Blu Tuesday is a weekly column where we review the newest Blu-ray and 4K releases, along with a brief rundown of the included bonus material, to determine whether they’re worth buying, renting or skipping.
Pick of the Week: “One False Move”
One of the best things about the Criterion Collection is the label’s ability to showcase films that have been lost, forgotten or underappreciated. Case in point: Carl Franklin’s directorial debut “One False Move,” which didn’t make a very big splash when it debuted back in 1992 but is actually a fairly solid American crime thriller featuring recognizable faces like Bill Paxton and Billy Bob Thornton (who also co-wrote the script). Paxton, in particular, is so damn charming as the gung-ho small-town sheriff that he helps mask some of the movie’s shortcomings, including a rather unremarkable performance by Cynda Williams that drags the film down at times. Despite these faults, “One False Move” is a tense and gritty neo-noir (like an Elmore Leonard novel set in the Deep South) that deserves more attention than it initially received — something that Criterion’s stellar new 4K release will hopefully remedy.
Extras include an audio commentary by Franklin, a newly recorded conversation with Franklin and Thornton about making the film, and an essay by author William Boyle. FINAL VERDICT: RENT
Also Out This Week:
“Magic Cop” — This 1990 supernatural horror-comedy may be extremely cheesy and totally bonkers — the main antagonist is a Japanese witch who’s using zombies to smuggle drugs into Hong Kong — but it’s kind of fun for what it is. Though there are some growing pains in the early half, especially when it comes to the goofy cop characters, “Magic Cop” slowly comes into its own as the film fully embraces its genre roots, including nods to Western influences like “The Evil Dead.” The old-school practical effects are also impressive for what is essentially a low-budget film, but that’s largely due to some clever camerawork and editing. Though “Magic Cop” is by no means a cult classic, it’s an entertaining midnight movie that genre fans will enjoy. Extras include an audio commentary by film historian Frank Djeng. FINAL VERDICT: RENT
“Justice League: Warworld” — The latest installment in the Tomorrowverse series would probably make for a pretty great comic book event, but as an animated movie, “Justice League: Warworld” feels too hastily thrown together to be effective. Though it’s fun to see alternate versions of DC’s greatest heroes dropped into different genres, like the American Western (Wonder Woman), sword-and-sorcery movies (Batman) and 1950s alien invasion films (Superman), they don’t really serve a purpose other than as filler for the larger story, rendering them rather pointless by the time the third act rolls around. The inclusion of lesser-known characters like Mongul and Lobo is a nice change from the typical DC animated fare, and the bold animation style helps to make the movie stand out, but while “Justice League: Warworld” is filled with potential, it doesn’t amount to much. Extras include a pair of behind-the-scenes featurettes. FINAL VERDICT: SKIP
Disclosure: Bullz-Eye was provided a copy of the above titles for review purposes.
