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High-Def Digest's Essential Picks: January 2015Every month, dozens of Blu-rays hit shelves, littering stores with High-Def temptation. New releases, catalog titles, complete TV seasons, and elaborate box-sets all vie for attention, and with so many worthy releases targeting our wallets, choosing which discs to spend our hard earned cash on can be rather tricky. To make things a little easier, we here at High-Def Digest thought it might be helpful to bring you our top three must own recommendations for the month. From important classics to contemporary blockbusters, these are the discs that we consider to be the absolute cream of the crop. High quality releases with great video, audio, and supplements, these are the Blu-rays that are truly worth every penny. Last month we spotlighted a rag-tag group of space outlaws, monkeys who ride horses, and a golden age Hollywood classic. Be sure to check out the Essential Picks for November 2012, December 2012, January 2013, February 2013, March 2013, April 2013, May 2013, June 2013, July 2013, August 2013, September 2013, October 2013, November 2013, December 2013, January 2014, February 2014, March 2014, April 2014, May 2014, June 2014, July 2014, August 2014, September 2014, October 2014, November 2014, and December 2014. [teaser]For January, we're covering an innovative coming-of-age story, a riveting mystery thriller, and a crime drama's final season.[/teaser] Please be aware, that if you haven't already seen them, there are some MAJOR SPOILERS for the discs listed. If you can only buy three titles that hit Blu-ray in January, here's what we suggest you pick up, starting with the most essential... 'Boyhood' - More than any other medium, film allows artists to examine the concept of change. Unlike a painting or a photograph, cinema is able to capture successive moments building upon one another in motion, recording time itself in action. Fully embracing this concept to its fullest, director Richard Linklater exposes his camera to twelve years of growth, coming away with an emotional and unassumingly perceptive piece of filmmaking. Experimental in production but refreshingly straightforward in execution, 'Boyhood' follows one child as he goes through the natural ebb and flow of adolescence. Through girl troubles, first jobs, traumatic moves, and everyday occurrences, his experiences tap into universal themes about life, childhood, and adulthood. And while Mason (Ellar Coltrane) forms the movie's primary point of view and is the story's ultimate focus, the narrative is just as much about the character's parents and their struggles, forming a rich and multifaceted look at growth. As Mason's mother, Patricia Arquette is simply wonderful, crafting a fully formed woman struggling to provide for her children while navigating some emotionally and physically precarious waters. She imbues the role with a realistic sense of warmth and frustration, revealing all of the difficulties, sacrifices, and joys that motherhood brings, and though her choices don't always work out the way she hopes, she always remains there for her children. The scene in which she finally breaks down after Mason graduates -- both lamenting the loss of her little boy and confronting her own disillusionment and dissatisfaction about the increasing speed of her life -- is perfectly realized by the actress. Likewise, Ethan Hawke turns in an equally complex performance as the children's mostly absentee father. At first, the actor plays the role of a typical "fun weekend dad," but as Mason grows throughout the runtime, so too does his father. Through Hawke's portrayal, we bear witness to a man who simply was not ready to become a parent or a husband, and yet while his initial disregard for his responsibilities is inexcusable, he gradually begins to rise toward the challenge. Smart and compassionate, he instills Mason with genuinely thoughtful life lessons and their heart-to-hearts prove to be some of the film's best scenes. In fact, he would be a fantastic father… if he was actually around.Throughout it all, Linklater employs an understated and naturalistic aesthetic, creating a delicate sense of realism that is heightened by key visual choices. One particular stand-out scene features a fantastic extended single shot of Mason and a female classmate walking and talking together, drawing out the natural chemistry between the performers while serving as a fun nod to the director's celebrated "Before Sunrise" series. The aforementioned scene where Patricia Arquette breaks down right before her son leaves for college also features some strong direction, and is made all the more powerful thanks to the devastating framing Linklater employs, highlighting her loss and loneliness. Together, the film's acting, direction, and unconventional production result in a rare sense of authenticity. The twelve-year conceit could have been nothing more than a buzz-worthy gimmick, but Linklater and company turn that passage of time into an integral component of the story. In fact, at its core, the movie is actually about that passage of time, and simply would not work if we could not feel its weight build upon us. Using the unique attributes of filmmaking to his advantage, the director has crafted one of the most unassuming and innovative coming-of-age films ever made, fully examining the essence of growth by literally capturing it before our eyes. Heartfelt and honest, 'Boyhood' is a singular achievement, one of 2014's very best films, and easily this month's most essential release. Buy the Blu-ray 'Gone Girl' - Can we ever really know another human being? Surely, we'd like to think so, but is it actually possible to know what someone else is really like inside? People only show us what they want us to see. And far too often, we only see in people what we want to see. But what's really there, behind the pleasantries, behind our own blinded perceptions? David Fincher's twisting and absorbing thriller, 'Gone Girl,' tackles this ambiguity head on, becoming an engrossing mystery steeped in dangerous facades and precarious points of view. A decidedly dark examination of marriage, murder, and the media, the film leaves a haunting aftertaste tinged in ominous satire.Perfectly playing with the audience's perception, the plot initially keeps us on our toes, keeping the characters' true motivations and potential guilt up in the air. To this end, the filmmakers carefully decide just when and how we learn certain information, gradually clueing us in on the realities behind the movie's carefully constructed lies. And while most thrillers might lose steam after their central mysteries are revealed, 'Gone Girl' bucks this trend by evolving its narrative into something else entirely. The truth behind the disappearance of Amy Dunne (Rosamund Pike) is only part of the story here, as Fincher's tale becomes just as much about the perversions and manipulations of that truth. Through Nick Dunne's (Ben Affleck) ordeal as an accused murderer, we are given a front row seat to the horror that is the contemporary media circus, where guilt and innocence are decided upon by poorly timed smiles and charming television interviews rather than actual evidence. And enhancing this larger examination of mass perception, is a more concentrated look into the dangerous facade of one woman. As "Amazing Amy," Rosamund Pike is exceptional, putting a deceptively beautiful face on a deadly sociopath. But far from a one-dimensional killer, Amy is an extremely complex and fascinating character, and through her twisted point-of-view we are allowed to sympathize with her skewed motivations. Sort of. With his pitch-black look at marriage, David Fincher crafts an artfully constructed genre thriller that places new twists on classic Hitchcock themes and conventions, fully bringing the master's tropes into the 21st century. In the end, this is a film about a missing woman who, in many ways, never really existed at all. Though it's disappointingly light on supplements, this Blu-ray release features an exceptional technical presentation, bringing the film's ominously dreamy visuals and sound design to life. Gripping, twisted, and darkly satirical, 'Gone Girl' presents both an entertaining and inventive murder mystery and a thought provoking examination of facades, manipulation, control, perception, and growing resentments. In other words, it's the perfect date movie. Buy the Blu-ray 'Boardwalk Empire: The Complete Fifth Season' - For all the glitz and glamour that Hollywood uses to depict their rise toward the top, things rarely end very well for gangsters. Most get gunned down or wallow away unceremoniously in prison. HBO's 'Boardwalk Empire' seems to be very well aware of this fact, and its uses its final season to bring a bullet-laden curtain call to its ensemble of criminal stars. But as bloody as these last episodes are, the violence is often tinged in a delicate sense of loss or a matter-of-fact sense of abruptness. Unlike Tony Montana, no one here goes out in a blaze of drug-addled "glory." No, for its coda, the show takes a much more contemplative and character-driven emphasis, finally taking Nucky Thompson's story full circle. Featuring a seven year time jump, season five begins in 1931, taking us into the Great Depression and closer to the end of prohibition. This casts a certain dwindling malaise over the entire season, as one era limps toward its end and another begins. Likewise, the air of impending change complements the episodes' sense of finality, as it becomes abundantly clear that this really is the final chapter in Nucky's story, complete with a season long peek into his childhood and path toward crime. The rest of the ensemble also feature strong arcs, bringing various storylines to powerful though sometimes rather abrupt conclusions. One quickly gets the sense that no one is safe, as major characters get whacked left and right. And then there's Nucky's demise itself. Though the circumstances behind his death seem obvious and telegraphed in hindsight, I somehow didn't see the show's final ironic twist coming. But the reemergence of Tommy Darmody puts one last nail in Nucky's coffin, and reveals the tragically cyclical inevitabilities of violence and murder.I was initially skeptical about the need for the season's flashback scenes, but as the series comes to its final moments it becomes clear why they were necessary. Through their inclusion, we're allowed to see Nucky before he was corrupted by greed. We are allowed to see the character when he was innocent. Likewise, we bear witness to one of the man's defining moments. The day he handed a poor young girl over to a monster. It's his original sin, the instance that truly created the criminal we've followed since day one, and it's only fitting that this haunting moment helps to inform the thematic arc of the character's swan song. Though comparatively subdued, 'Boardwalk Empire' ends on an appropriately tragic and somber note; a violent yet sudden end for a complex but irreversibly flawed gangster. Buy the Blu-ray So, there you have it. While there were many titles worth picking up this January, those are our top three must own recommendations. We'll be back next month with three more essential picks, but for now, what do you think of our selection? What are your choices for January's must own titles?Posted Mon Feb 2, 2015 at 01:00 PM PST by: -
Bonus Features Revealed for Jennifer Kent's 'The Babadook' Blu-ray[teaser]The acclaimed Australian horror flick is planned for Blu-ray in April. [/teaser] As previously reported, Shout Factory will be releasing 'The Babadook' on Blu-ray on April 14. A Special Edition Blu-ray will also be available on the same date. Six years after the violent death of her husband, Amelia (Essie Davis) is at a loss. She struggles to discipline her 'out of control' 6 year-old, Samuel (Noah Wiseman), a son she finds impossible to love. Samuel's dreams are plagued by a monster he believes is coming to kill them both. When a disturbing storybook called 'The Babadook' turns up at their house, Samuel is convinced that the Babadook is the creature he's been dreaming about. His hallucinations spiral out of control, he becomes more unpredictable and violent. Amelia, genuinely frightened by her son's behaviour, is forced to medicate him. But when Amelia begins to see glimpses of a sinister presence all around her, it slowly dawns on her that the thing Samuel has been warning her about may be real. Specs have yet to be revealed, but supplements will include cast and crew interviews and a look behind-the-scenes of the making of the film, and theatrical trailers. The Special Edition will add director Jennifer Kent's short film MONSTER, deleted scenes, and director-approved limited run "pop-up book" slipcover packaging. You can find the latest specs for 'The Babadook' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under April 14. Order the Blu-ray Order the SE Blu-rayPosted Mon Feb 2, 2015 at 12:00 PM PST by: -
Award Winning Documentary 'The Overnighters' Blu-ray Detailed[teaser]Director Jesse Moss' latest documentary is heading to Blu-ray in February. Pre-orders are now live. [/teaser]In an early announcement to retailers, Cinedigm is preparing 'The Overnighters' for Blu-ray on February 3. A modern-day Grapes of Wrath, award-winning documentary 'The Overnighters' is an intimate portrait of job-seekers desperately chasing the broken American Dream to the tiny oil boom town of Williston, North Dakota. With the town lacking the infrastructure to house the overflow of migrants, a local pastor starts the controversial overnighters program, allowing down-and-out workers a place to sleep at the church. His well-meaning project immediately runs into resistance with his community, forcing the clergyman to make a decision which leads to profound consequences that he never imagined. The Blu-ray/Digital Copy combo pack will feature 1080p video, a DTS-HD MA 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements will include: Deleted scenes; Follow-up interview with subject Jay Reinke; Booklet; and Theatrical trailer. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $29.93. You can find the latest specs for 'The Overnighters' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under February 3. Order the Blu-rayPosted Mon Feb 2, 2015 at 10:00 AM PST by: -
'Bala Brothers' Concert Blu-ray Dated for March[teaser]The South African musicians will serenade Blu-ray in March, and you can pre-order the disc now. [/teaser]In an early announcement to retailers, Warner Bros. is preparing 'Bala Brothers' for Blu-ray on March 24. These three extraordinary brothers from South Africa - Loyiso, Zwai and Phelo - combine operatic voices, rich harmonies, R&B energy and traditional South African melodies and rhythms into something entirely unique. They broke the color barrier of the famous Drakensberg Boys' Choir during the depths of Apartheid, they headlined at the Cape Town Stadium tribute to Nelson Mandela in 2013, and here they perform an inspiring live program of music ranging from the Lion King to Paul Simon, in their hometown Johannesburg's beautiful Lyric Theatre. As a tribute to the late South African President Mandela, the Bala Brothers perform the Labi Siffre classic, "Something Inside So Strong" a moving moment in the program made all the more poignant by the presence of Winnie Mandela in the audience. Specs and supplements have not been detailed yet. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $29.99. You can find the latest specs for 'Bala Brothers' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under March 24. Order the Blu-rayPosted Mon Feb 2, 2015 at 10:00 AM PST by: -
William Dieterle's 'Syncopation' Announced for Blu-ray[teaser]The classic musical will debut on Blu-ray in February, and you can pre-order the film here. [/teaser]In an early announcement to retailers, Cohen Media Group is preparing 'Syncopation' for Blu-ray on February 10. A one-of-a-kind cinematic extravaganza, 'Syncopation' is both a love story about two young musicians and a celebration of some of the greatest popular music of the first half of the 20th century. The romance between a young trumpeter (former child star Jackie Cooper of 'The Champ' and 'Our Gang' fame) and a New Orleans-born piano player (Bonita Granville, the silver screen's original Nancy Drew and the future producer of TV's 'Lassie') serves as the narrative plot line. But the core of the film is its celebratory history of "syncopated" music - jazz - tracing it from the turn-of-the-century sounds of ragtime, through Dixieland, the blues, Chicago jazz and the swing era. Full specs have not been detailed yet but the Blu-ray will feature a new 2K restoration, and supplements will include a 2015 re-release trailer and nine short musical films. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $39.98. You can find the latest specs for 'Syncopation' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under February 10. Order the Blu-rayPosted Mon Feb 2, 2015 at 08:00 AM PST by: -
Marina Zenovich's Documentary 'Richard Pryor: Omit the Logic' Slated for Blu-ray[teaser]The legendary comedian will hit the stage on Blu-ray in February, and you can pre-order the disc here. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Magnolia is preparing 'Richard Pryor: Omit the Logic' for Blu-ray on February 3. Mike Epps, Richard Pryor Jr. and others recount the culture-defining influence of Richard Pryor one of America's most brilliant comic minds in this new documentary. Pryor remains an inspiration to many: a man who broke taboos, provoked change and propelled himself through life as a result of sheer force of personality. Directed by Emmy® winning filmmaker Marina Zenovich, executive produced by Emmy® winning producer Roy Ackerman and Pryor's widow, Jennifer Lee Pryor. Supplements have not been detailed yet, but the Blu-ray will feature 1080p video and a DTS-HD MA 2.0 soundtrack. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $29.98. You can find the latest specs for 'Richard Pryor: Omit the Logic' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under February 3. Order the Blu-rayPosted Mon Feb 2, 2015 at 06:00 AM PST by: -
HDD Deal of the Week: 'Jurassic Park Ultimate Trilogy' Blu-ray $34.99 and $65.99 at Amazon[teaser]The first three films in the epic franchise are on sale this week at Amazon![/teaser] Amazon is selling 'Jurassic Park Ultimate Trilogy' for $34.99 (56% off the suggested retail price). The limited edition Blu-ray that includes a T-Rex statuette is also on sale for $65.99 (45% off suggested list price). Each set includes all 3 films digitally remastered with new 7.1 audio plus hours of all-new bonus features. Click here to embark on a high-definition dinosaur safari (but please try not to get eaten). This offer is available from now through February 8.Posted Sun Feb 1, 2015 at 06:58 AM PST by: -
Tobe Hooper's 'Invaders from Mars' Planned for Blu-ray[teaser]The 1986 remake of the classic thriller is bound for Blu-ray in April. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Scream Factory is working on 'Invaders from Mars' for Blu-ray on April 7. Little David Gardner's starry-eyed dreams turn into an out-of-this-world nightmare when invaders from the red planet land in his backyard and unleash their hostilities on unsuspecting earthlings! Paralyzed with fear as the aliens take over the minds of his mother, father and even his classmates, David must somehow find a way to stop them- before they turn the whole human race into brain-dead zombies! Showcasing special effects from John Dykstra (Star Wars) and the creations of Stan Winston (Aliens), and starring Karen Black (House Of 1,000 Corpses), Hunter Carson (Paris, Texas), Timothy Bottoms (Rollercoaster), Louise Fletcher (Flowers In The Attic), James Karen (The Return Of The Living Dead) and Bud Cort (Harold And Maude), this thrilling remake is a must-own for horror fans. Specs and yet to be revealed, but supplements include: New audio commentary with director Tobe Hooper; The Martians Are Coming! - The Making of "Invaders from Mars", an all-new retrospective featuring interviews with director Tobe Hooper, actor Hunter Carson, special creature effects artists Alec Gillis and Gino Crognale, and composer Christopher Young; Theatrical Trailer/TV spot; Original Storyboards; Original Production Illustration Gallery with commentary from artist William Stout; And Still Gallery. You can find the latest specs for 'Invaders from Mars' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under April 7. Order the Blu-rayPosted Fri Jan 30, 2015 at 12:00 PM PST by: -
Ridley Scott's 'Exodus: Gods and Kings' Blu-ray and Blu-ray 3D Up For Pre-Order[teaser]The epic with a plague of eyeliner arrives on Blu-ray in March. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, 20th Century Fox will bring 'Exodus: Gods and Kings' to Blu-ray and Blu-ray 3D on March 17. From acclaimed director Ridley Scott (Gladiator, Prometheus) comes the epic adventure "Exodus: Gods and Kings," the story of one man's daring courage to take on the might of an empire. Using state-of-the-art visual effects and 3D immersion, Scott brings new life to the story of the defiant leader Moses (Christian Bale) as he rises up against the Egyptian Pharaoh Ramses (Joel Edgerton), setting 600,000 slaves on a monumental journey of escape from Egypt and its terrifying cycle of deadly plagues. The Blu-ray (pre-order here) has a suggestion list price of $39.99 while the Blu-ray 3D (pre-order here) is $49.99. You can find the latest specs for 'Exodus: Gods and Kings' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under March 17.Posted Fri Jan 30, 2015 at 10:00 AM PST by: -
Kate Barker-Froyland's 'Song One' Announced for Blu-ray[teaser]The film starring Academy Award-winner Anne Hathaway is bound for Blu-ray in March. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Cinedigm will be releasing 'Song One' on Blu-ray on March 24. Set against the backdrop of Brooklyn, New York's vibrant music scene, the "delicate drama" (Variety) is written and directed by first time filmmaker Kate Barker-Froyland and produced by Hathaway and Jonathan Demme (Silence of the Lambs). Also starring Academy Award winner Mary Steenburgen (The Help) and Ben Rosenfield ("Boardwalk Empire"), Song One features original music composed by indie duo Jenny Lewis and Johnathan Rice, with live performances by a vast group of popular artists within the thriving New York music community, including Sharon Van Etten, The Felice Brothers, Paul Whitty, Naomi Shelton and the Gospel Queens, Cass Dillon and Lola Kirke. Franny (Hathaway), a PhD candidate in anthropology, has not spoken to her brother Henry (Rosenfield), a struggling musician in Brooklyn, in six months because she strongly disagrees with his career choices. However, when she receives a phone call that Henry has been in a terrible accident leaving him in a coma, she returns home to her estranged family to mend the broken wounds. Unsure if Henry will ever wake up, Franny uses her brother's journal to indirectly try and understand his world. While learning more about her brother's life by visiting the local music hotspots he frequents, Franny finds love in the least likely place, a musician (Johnny Flynn). Bonus features include deleted scenes and a behind the scenes look at the recording of the soundtrack. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $19.97. You can find the latest specs for 'Song One' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under March 24. Order the Blu-rayPosted Fri Jan 30, 2015 at 08:00 AM PST by:
