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: “Bones and All”
Based on Camille DeAngelis’s 2015 novel of the same name, “Bones and All” is a somewhat problematic cannibal love story that is salvaged by Luca Guadagnino’s artful direction and a talented cast. Taylor Russell and Timotheé Chalamet strike up excellent chemistry as the star-crossed, flesh-eating lovers traveling the country as they learn to exist in a world that will never accept who they are, while Mark Rylance and Michael Stuhlbarg deliver suitably creepy supporting turns as fellow cannibals in search of their next meal. Unfortunately, it’s hard to become emotionally invested in a pair of characters who eat other people. Though Guadagnino doesn’t exactly romanticize the violence, the sheer nature of the duo’s cannibalistic lifestyle makes any attempts at uncovering their humanity seem a bit absurd.
Extras include some behind-the-scenes featurettes. FINAL VERDICT: RENT
Also Out This Week:
“Dawn of the Dead” (4K) — Love him or hate him, it’s hard to deny that Zack Snyder’s directorial debut — a reimagining of George A. Romero’s 1978 film “Dawn of the Dead” — is not only a damn good zombie movie, but it’s arguably one of the better horror remakes. With that said, it’s a very different film in many ways. Though it retains the original’s basic premise of a group of survivors taking refuge in a shopping mall, Snyder’s version (written by a young James Gunn) eschews Romero’s anti-consumerist social satire in favor of high-octane action. The movie checks off just about every annoying genre trope along the way, but it succeeds nonetheless thanks to a solid ensemble cast and some thrilling sequences. Shout! Factory’s new 4K release includes an audio commentary by Snyder and producer Eric Newman on the unrated cut, as well as a behind-the-scenes look at making the film, interviews with the cast and crew, storyboard comparisons and more. FINAL VERDICT: RENT
Disclosure: Bullz-Eye was provided a copy of the above titles for review purposes.
