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: “Sinners”
Ryan Coogler has proven time and again why he’s one of the best filmmakers of his generation, and “Sinners” builds on that phenomenal track record with a wholly original genre flick that blends culture and history into a blood-soaked Southern Gothic thriller that’s dripping in racial subtext. Coogler packs so much great world-building and character work into the first 90 minutes that it doesn’t even matter that the final act is a bit of a mess. The vampire subplot certainly makes for a fun way to end the story, but it’s the weakest part of the movie, as it doesn’t get the same love and attention as the rest of the film. Despite these minor complaints, “Sinners” is yet another triumph from Coogler that boasts a great dual performance from frequent collaborator Michael B. Jordan as well as some stylish visuals and a haunting score.
Extras include a making-of featurette, two additional featurettes that explore the film’s score and creature effects, some deleted scenes and more. FINAL VERDICT: BUY
Also Out This Week:
“The Amateur” — Based on the 1981 novel by Robert Littell (which was also adapted into a film that same year), “The Amateur” is a run-of-the-mill spy thriller that doesn’t offer much in the way of thrills or surprises. It becomes pretty clear by the midway point that this would have made for a much better TV series, as so much story is packed into the movie’s two-hour runtime that it doesn’t have room to breathe. The final act feels especially rushed, quickly crossing items off its list like a hurried trip to the grocery store. Although the cast includes some talented actors, such as Rami Malek, whose introverted CIA decoder shares more than a few similarities with his “Mr. Robot” character, the clichéd script doesn’t give them much to work with. “The Amateur” is fine for what it is — it’s competently made and never boring — but it’s ultimately a rather forgettable experience. Extras include a behind-the-scenes look at making the film and some deleted scenes. FINAL VERDICT: RENT
“The Legend of Ochi” — Writer/director Isaiah Saxon’s feature film debut is an odd little movie, which makes it the perfect entry in A24’s growing collection of quirky indies. Clearly inspired by the family-friendly creature films of the 1980s (like “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” and “Gremlins”) mixed with the dark fantasy children’s movies of that same era, “The Legend of Ochi” feels every bit like a throwback adventure film by way of Wes Anderson or David Lowery. Unfortunately, it never quite comes together as well as its intriguing premise might suggest. Though it contains some nice visuals and impressive practical effects, “The Legend of Ochi” lacks the narrative and emotional depth to match its technical achievements. Extras include an audio commentary by Saxon, a behind-the-scenes look at making the film, a deleted scene and six collectible postcards. FINAL VERDICT: RENT
“Clueless” (4K) — It’s hard to believe that it’s been 30 years since Amy Heckerling’s “Clueless” arrived in theaters, but the coming-of-age teen comedy still holds up remarkably well. Loosely based on Jane Austin’s Regency-set comedy of errors “Emma,” “Clueless” is by far one of the best modern-day takes on classic literature, which was all the rage at the time. It’s also arguably one of the best high school movies ever made, thanks in large part to its smart and funny script as well as a dynamite cast that includes Alicia Silverstone, Paul Rudd and the late Brittany Murphy. Although the fashion and slang may be outdated, the reason “Clueless” has managed to endure all these years is that it captures the essence of high school life in ways that most teen movies fail to do. Paramount’s new 4K release won’t exactly wow you visually, but it’s a definite improvement over previous editions that makes the most of its Dolby Vision upgrade. Extras include a retrospective on the film’s legacy, a trio of behind-the-scenes featurettes, an interactive trivia game and more. FINAL VERDICT: BUY
Disclosure: Bullz-Eye was provided a copy of the above titles for review purposes.
