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: “Monster”
It may not have been selected as Japan’s official submission for Best International Feature at this year’s Academy Awards, but director Kore-eda Hirokazu’s twisty, “Rashomon”-style drama is a really solid film. Though it starts out as a tale about a single mother who discovers that her son’s strange behavior is the result of a bullying teacher at school, as “Monster” slowly unfolds, revealing new layers of information through the story’s different perspectives — the mother, the teacher and the young boy — the audience learns that the truth is more complex than it initially seems. “Monster” is all about the power of perception, and Kore-eda uses this to his advantage to keep the audience on their toes, even if the method is somewhat manipulative. Though the film’s ending is a bit too ambiguous for my liking, those who lean toward the happier conclusion will likely find “Monster” to be a much more rewarding experience. FINAL VERDICT: RENT
Also Out This Week:
“The Roundup: No Way Out” — In the third installment of the “Crime City” series, which goes by “The Roundup” in the U.S., Don Lee once again pummels his way to justice as the aptly nicknamed Beast Cop, a punch-happy mountain of a man whose charm is almost as deadly as his fists. Lee is the main reason why the “Roundup” movies are so enjoyable, and though “No Way Out” isn’t as entertaining as its predecessor, due in large part to an overly complex plot and the lack of an engaging villain, Lee’s charismatic performance makes it worthwhile. “No Way Out” can feel a bit formulaic at times, but it contains enough good action beats and comedic moments to propel the film beyond its dull narrative. FINAL VERDICT: RENT
“Lisa Frankenstein” — Writer Diablo Cody has been largely MIA since 2018’s “Tully,” so it’s nice to see her back in action with this campy spoof of the classic Frankenstein tale, even if it’s a limp and rather unfunny homage to ‘80s teen comedies that never really takes off. Though the movie aims for a John Hughesian tone by way of Tim Burton (think “Weird Science” meets “Edward Scissorhands”), “Lisa Frankenstein” lacks the wit and charm required to pull off its kooky premise. Kathryn Newton delivers great work as the titular heroine, and newcomer Liza Soberano is also good as Lisa’s sweet and chipper stepsister, but the cast is ultimately underserved by a sloppy script and amateurish direction that renders the film dead on arrival. Extras include an audio commentary by director Zelda Williams, a trio of behind-the-scenes featurettes, deleted scenes and a gag reel. FINAL VERDICT: SKIP
“Night Swim” — You know Hollywood is running out of ideas when it starts making movies that resemble the fake trailers in “Grindhouse,” like this Blumhouse-produced horror film about an evil swimming pool. “Night Swim” is every bit as stupid as it sounds, and to make matters worse, it’s not even remotely scary. The film has a total of three deaths — one is a pet cat, and another takes place during the opening minutes — so there’s not much in the way of actual stakes, either. It’s hard to blame any of the actors, as they’re doing the best they can with the material provided, though you’d hope Wyatt Russell and Kerry Condon had better judgment than this. Though “Night Swim” isn’t as bad as some other Blumhouse movies thanks to Russell and Condon’s work, it’s a pretty dire affair. Extras include an audio commentary by director/co-writer Bryce McGuire, as well as a behind-the-scenes look at making the film. FINAL VERDICT: SKIP
Disclosure: Bullz-Eye was provided a copy of the above titles for review purposes.
