Blu Tuesday: “Roman Holiday” and More

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: “Roman Holiday”

William Wyler directed some pretty big movies throughout his lengthy career, but with the exception of “Ben-Hur,” none are as iconic as “Roman Holiday.” Like a lot of movies from that era, however, its reputation is better than the film itself. It’s entirely too long for having such a paper-thin plot, and Gregory Peck (though a celebrated actor in his own right) doesn’t make for a very compelling romantic lead. As a result, “Roman Holiday” gets by solely on the charm of its leading lady, Audrey Hepburn, who’s so captivating in her first major film role that it’s not difficult to see why audiences immediately fell in love with her. Though that doesn’t make “Roman Holiday” any less overrated, Hepburn is such a joy to watch as the runaway princess that she makes the movie infinitely more entertaining.

Extras include a look back at Hepburn’s films for Paramount, a tribute to screenwriter Dalton Trumbo, a retrospective on the film with Leonard Maltin and more. FINAL VERDICT: RENT

Also Out This Week:

“Asteroid City” — After the disappointment of “The French Dispatch,” I was really hoping that Wes Anderson would bounce back with something that could measure up against his best work. Instead, he’s delivered one of his weakest films to date with “Asteroid City,” a movie that’s dripping in the filmmaker’s trademark quirkiness but lacks the substance required to keep you engaged. Though Adam Stockhausen’s production design and Robert Yeoman’s cinematography are superb, “Asteroid City” doesn’t offer much beyond looking great. The ensemble is solid, but there are no real standout performances, and while the story within the titular town contains moments of charm and wit, it’s constantly being disrupted by an intricate framing device that feels superfluous. As someone who has enjoyed most of Anderson’s filmography, “Asteroid City” is a rare letdown that is even more frustrating coming off the back of his previous effort. Extras include a behind-the-scenes look at making the film. FINAL VERDICT: RENT

Disclosure: Bullz-Eye was provided a copy of the above titles for review purposes.