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: “Perfect Days”
Japan’s official selection for the Academy Awards has only been nominated six times in the past four decades, so it’s pretty remarkable that one of those nominations belongs to a movie made by a foreign director. German-born filmmaker Wim Wenders’ “Perfect Days” may not be very eventful, as it follows the daily routine of a public toilet cleaner in Tokyo, but it’s a delightful slice-of-life drama that finds the beauty in life’s simple pleasures. Star Koji Yakusho delivers incredible work as the main protagonist, showcasing a wide range of emotions despite barely speaking throughout, while the film’s well-curated soundtrack only amplifies his performance. Though “Perfect Days” is admittedly a bit long for what it has to offer, there’s an almost calming, therapeutic effect to watching the Zen-like mundanity unfold, making for quite a singular experience.
Extras include a collection of interviews with Wenders, Yakusho and producer Koji Yanai, as well as the Wenders-directed short film “Some Body Comes Into the Light.” FINAL VERDICT: RENT
Also Out This Week:
“The Last Stop in Yuma County” — Writer/director Francis Galluppi’s feature debut is an American crime thriller set in the 1970s that feels like it was made in the 2000s. Aiming for a cross between early Tarantino and “Fargo”-era Coen brothers, “The Last Stop in Yuma County” is a slow and mostly uneventful genre flick that completely misses the mark. The film isn’t as clever or as thrilling as it thinks, and the characters are so paper-thin that it’s hard to care what happens to any of them. Though Jim Cummings is always fun to watch due to his unique screen presence, he has so little to do until the final act that he’s unable to make much of an impact. Extras include an audio commentary by Galluppi, Cummings, actor Jocelin Donahue, executive producer James Claeys and cinematographer Mac Fisken, as well as a making-of featurette. FINAL VERDICT: SKIP
Disclosure: Bullz-Eye was provided a copy of the above titles for review purposes.
