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: “Terms of Endearment”
It says a lot about the period in which “Terms of Endearment” was released that the movie was not only nominated for Best Picture but actually won, as it’s not a particularly great film. In fact, it’s a rather depressing dramedy about a dysfunctional mother-daughter relationship that’s filled with unlikable characters. Though Shirley MacClaine and Debra Winger (the movie’s MVP) both deliver good work in their respective roles, the characters are written so coldly that it’s hard to become emotionally invested in their stories. The same goes for Jack Nicholson’s womanizing retired astronaut, though his charisma provides a much-needed boost to the film’s second act. And yet, while “Terms of Endearment” is not without its issues, it nails its tear-jerker ending so well that it’s not hard to see why the movie has become so beloved over the past 40 years.
Extras include an audio commentary by writer/director/ James L. Brooks, co-producer Penney Finkelman Cox and production designer Polly Platt, as well as a new retrospective on making the film. FINAL VERDICT: RENT
Also Out This Week:
“The Nun II” — Warner Bros. has managed to crank out nine different films within the so-called Conjuring Universe since the release of the first “Conjuring” in 2013, but for the most part, it’s been a series of diminishing returns. “The Nun II” is no different, as it’s a largely directionless horror film that seems to be making things up as it goes along. The demonic nun at the center of the series remains the scariest thing to come out of the “Conjuring” franchise, but she spends most of this movie terrorizing a bunch of school children without doing anything of actual consequence. Though there are a handful of cool visual tricks scattered throughout, “The Nun II” is mostly just a dull attempt at continuing a story that didn’t have much else to say. 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.
