Glittering stage numbers showcase a commanding Barbra Streisand as Dolly Levy a New York matchmaker who can find a mate for anyone. Anyone but herself that is. Determined to marry wealthy Walter Matthau she lures him out of Yonkers and sets about wooing him.
Perhaps best known as the writer of Alain Resnais' classic cine-conundrum Last Year of Marienbad, Alain Robbe-Grillet was also the director a number of stylish, controversial and erotic films which starred such icons of French cinema as Jean-Louis Trinignant (Haneke's Amour, Bertolucci's The Conformist), Marie-France Pisier (Truffaut's Stolen Kisses and Bed and Board) and Isabelle Huppert (Claire Denis' White Material, Haneke's Amour). Impossible to see for decades, these enigmatic, sexually.
Roger Moore was nearing the end of his reign as James Bond when he made Octopussy, and he looks a little worn out. But the movie itself infuses some new blood into the old franchise, with a frisky pace and a pair of sturdy villains. Maud Adams--who'd also been in The Man with the Golden Gun--plays the improbably named Octopussy, while old smoothie Louis Jourdan is her crafty partner in crime. There's an island populated only by women, as well as a fantastic sequence with a hand-to-hand fight on a plane--and on top of a plane. The film even has an extra emotional punch, since this time 007 is not only following the orders of Her Majesty's Secret Service, but he is also exacting a personal revenge: a fellow double-0 agent has been killed. Two Bond films were actually released in 1983 within a few months of each other, as Octopussy was followed by Sean Connery's comeback in Never Say Never Again. The success of both pictures proved that there was still plenty of mileage left in the old licence to kill, though Moore had one more workout--A View to a Kill--before hanging it up. And that title? The franchise had already used up the titles to Ian Fleming's novels, so Octopussy was taken from a lesser-known Fleming short story. --Robert Horton, Amazon.com On the DVD: The high standard of these 007 discs is maintained here, with another extra-packed selection. The "Inside Octopussy" documentary details the making of the movie, which faced competition from Sean Connery's Never Say Never Again, as well as being handicapped by a potentially risible title. The initial story was developed by George Macdonald Fraser, author of the "Flashman" books, whose knowledge of Indian history and locales proved invaluable. Roger Moore prevaricated about signing on as Bond, so American James Brolin was screen-tested instead. The movie also produced the worst accident of the series while filming the train sequence and the stuntman involved was hospitalised for six months. Director John Glen provides a solo commentary that reveals a wealth of technical detail and also that this is one of his favourite Bond movies. Rita Coolidge performs "All Time High", and there are also some storyboard sequences and trailers. --Mark Walker
It's time for some more murderous games from Jigsaw and his apprentice.
A man's infidelity with his secretary causes an intriguing love triangle in this lauded French black comedy.
Ram Bowen (Paul Newman The Hustler) and Eddie Cook (Sidney Poitier In the Heat of the Night) are jazz musicians who live for music. Their Paris is one of underground, smoke-filled Jazz bars and the rain-drenched streets of the Left Bank at night. However their carefree idyll is disturbed when two American tourists (Joanne Woodward and Diahann Carroll) enter their lives, and against the backdrop of music and moonlight, they find themselves falling in love. All too soon however, romance is put to the test, as the men find themselves torn between their love for the women, and their passion for music. Featuring the legendary Louis Armstrong as Wild Man Moore, the film's score by the incomparable Jazz musician Duke Ellington was Oscar nominated in 1962. Extras Original trailer Fully illustrated booklet with new writing on the film
The Walking Dead spin-off series. Season 1 Following his departure from The Commonwealth, Daryl Dixon (Norman Reedus) washes ashore in France, raising the ire of a splintered but growing autocratic regime centred in Paris and endangering a young boy at the heart of a benevolent religious movemenT. Season 2 Picks up where Season 1 left off, following fan-favorite characters Daryl Dixon (Reedus) and Carol Peletier (McBride).
Hugh Dancy stars in this moving drama about the Rwandan genocide.
Features SHOOT THE PIANIST, JULES ET JIM, THE SOFT SKIN, ANNE & MURIEL, A GORGEOUS GIRL LIKE ME, THE LAST METRO, THE WOMAN NEXT DOOR, FINALLY SUNDAY.
Regarded as one of the best adaptations of the classic Bram Stoker tale Count Dracula benefits from a critically-acclaimed performance from Louis Jourdan as the title character. A cult classic from the seventies the film faithfully recreates Stoker's characters and prose.
Loner Zack Mayo (Richard Gere) enters Officer Candidate School to become a Navy pilot, and in thirteen tortuous weeks, he discovers what it means to be a man of honour. Louis Gossett, Jr. won an Oscar® for his portrayal of Foley, the drill instructor who teaches Zack that no one can make it alone. While Foley tries to warn the young officer about the local girls trying to land themselves pilot husbands, he finds himself caught by one (Debra Winger). His fellow candidate and friend Sid (David Keith), struggles with a very different fate.
Feisty female homicide detective Angie Flynn matches wits with killers in this deadly cerebral game of cat-and-mouse. Her team with the help of the Coroner's Office must find their way through twisted complicated and at times diabolical mazes on a quest to analyse the evidence and ultimately to discover... the Motive. Includes 13 gripping episodes from Season One.
In 1987 The Gate was at the forefront of what came and went as a purely 80s genre: Kiddie Horror. Just like The Lost Boys or The Monster Squad of the same year, the idea was to let a couple of younger-than-teenage kids loose in a well-worn horror scenario and play it for as many laughs as scares. Its 15 certificate (PG-13 in the States) meant The Gate had an enormous opening weekend, and a considerable shelf life. The kids in question here are a very young Stephen (Blade) Dorff as Glen and his best friend Terry. After some tree felling in Glen's seemingly miles-square back yard they discover a hole full of precious rock. This is of course the Gate to a demonic dimension. As things start levitating, Glen's dog dies and moths get into the most awkward of places, it becomes obvious that the Gate is open! A teenage sister does little to help early on, but naturally the story develops into one about banding together under extreme circumstances. The make-up and stop-motion animation effects remain impressive in scope and there are a couple of frights still just on the right side of cliché. Since it was so successful, the writer and director went on to make an inferior sequel some years later. On the DVD: Viewers should note this is a very murky transfer that's in an unspecified widescreen ratio. There's also an unspectacular (equally unspecified) sound mix. But a gallery of 10 photos and the theatrical trailer makes up for that, right? --Paul Tonks
In this visually arresting action drama from acclaimed director Johnnie To (Mad Detective, Election), legendary Judo fighter Szeto Bo (Louis Koo; Flash Point, The Legend of Zu) unexpectedly gave up the sport and now lives the life of an alcoholic gambler who runs a pub. However, cocky Judo newcomer Tony (Aaron Kwok) wants to challenge him, while old foe Kong (Tony Leung Ka Fai, Ashes of Time) demands Szeto to finish the match that never took place, Soon Szeto's pub becomes the ultimate arena where the greatest Judo fighters challenge one another. Filled with brutal, no-holds-barred Judo fight scenes, Throw Down is director To's ultra-stylish homage to the great Japanese director Akira Kurosawa, and is an emotional tale of one man's determination to rediscover himself and win at all costs. The Masters of Cinema Series is proud to present Throw Down in its UK debut from a 4K restoration. Special Features: LIMITED EDITION O-CARD SLIPCASE [2000 units] 1080p presentation on Blu-ray, from a stunning 4K restoration Cantonese and English audio options Optional English subtitles Brand new and exclusive feature-length audio commentary by Asian film expert Frank Djeng (NY Asian Film Festival) Audio commentary by Hong Kong film expert Ric Meyers Lengthy interview with director Johnnie To (40 mins) Making of Throw Down featurette Theatrical trailer and TV spots Reversible sleeve PLUS: a collector's booklet featuring new writing on the film
In this French thriller from Francois Ozon Alice (Natacha Regnier) and her boyfriend Luc (Jeremie Renier) find themselves in a terrifying trap when they sneak out into the woods to cover up a crime they committed together and then cannot find their way back out. Compared to 'The Blair Witch Project' and to 'Shallow Grave' the tale is creepy and twisting involving rape murder burying dead bodies and perhaps the worst of all: getting lost in the woods...
21 Bridges follows an embattled NYPD detective (Chadwick Boseman), who is thrust into a citywide manhunt for a pair of cop killers after uncovering a massive and unexpected conspiracy. As the night unfolds, lines become blurred on who he is pursuing, and who is in pursuit of him. When the search intensifies, extreme measures are taken to prevent the killers from escaping Manhattan as the authorities close all 21 Bridges to prevent any entry or exit from the iconic island.
SGU follows a band of soldiers, scientists and civilians, who must fend for themselves as they are forced through a Stargate when their hidden base comes under attack. The desperate survivors emerge aboard an ancient ship, which is locked on an unknown course and unable to return to Earth. In Season 2, the Destiny continues its journey through the Universe, while its crew suffers from a lack of supplies and no knowledge of its final destination. Struggling to control the ships systems, tempers and personalities of the crew clash. Facing uncharted space and enemies who would take the ship by force, the Destiny crew persevere in their struggle to stay alive and find a way home.
Long before superhero movies were packing out multiplex cinemas, Freddy Krueger creator Wes Craven followed-up the success of Richard Donner's SUPERMAN (1978) with this fondly remembered DC adaptation that brings a comic book favourite to livid and lunatic life! Following the success of THE HILLS HAVE EYES (1977), SWAMP THING was also evidence of its director trying to adapt his style to less rough 'n' ready thrills and spills - and the result is an adventure thriller that highlights not just a mutant-monster with good intentions, but such sights as the timeless terror-star Adrienne Barbeau (THE FOG), future Twin Peaks star Ray Wise and David Hess (THE LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT) in one of his best-remembered villainous turns. Released in 1982 to an appreciative cult following, SWAMP THING remains one of Craven's most mesmerising achievements - with a faithful DC-comic outlay and plenty of action-packed special effects that hold their ground even today. 88 Films is delighted to present SWAMP THING in a very special edition BluRay release that packs a pristine punch and highlights this creature feature classic in all of its bayou-tinged brilliance!
The final section of the late Krzysztof Kieslowski's acclaimed Three Colours trilogy (preceded by Blue and White) is the least likely of the three to stand alone, and indeed benefits from a little familiarity with the first two parts. Nevertheless, it's a strong, unique piece that reflects upon the ubiquity of images in the modern world and the parallel subjugation of meaningful communication. Irène Jacob plays a fashion model whose lovely face is hugely enlarged on a red banner no one in Geneva, Switzerland, can possibly miss seeing. Striking up a relationship with an embittered former judge (Jean-Louis Trintignant), who secretly scans his neighbours' conversations through electronic surveillance, Jacob's character becomes an aural witness to the secret lives of those we think we know. Kieslowski cleverly wraps up the trilogy with a device that brings together the principals of all three films. --Tom Keogh
Julien Duvivier taps into postwar France's paranoia in a long unavailable thriller, adapted from a Georges Simenon novel Proud, eccentric, and antisocial, Monsieur Hire (Michel Simon) has always kept to himself. But after a woman turns up dead in the Paris suburb where he lives, he feels drawn to a pretty young newcomer to town (Viviane Romance), discovers that his neighbours are only too ready to be suspicious of him, and is framed for the murder. Based on a novel by Georges Simenon, the first film made by Julien Duvivier after his return to France from Hollywood, finds the acclaimed poetic realist applying his consummate craft to darker, moodier ends. Propelled by its two deeply nuanced lead performances, the tensely noirish Panique exposes the dangers of the knivesout mob mentality, delivering a pointed allegory of the behaviour of Duvivier's countrymen during the war. SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES: New 2K digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack The Art of Subtitling, a new short documentary by Bruce Goldstein, founder and copresident of Rialto Pictures, about the history of subtitles New interview with author Pierre Simenon, the son of novelist Georges Simenon Conversation from 2015 between critics Guillemette Odicino and Eric Libiot about director Julien Duvivier and the film's production history Rialto Pictures rerelease trailer New English subtitle translation by Duvivier expert Lenny Borger PLUS: Essays by film scholar James Quandt and Borger
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