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Tuesday, 26 August 2014 14:05

Doogan’s Queue for August 26, 2014

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Summer is almost over. Lots more to do, though, before it starts getting cool again. But September is almost here, which means a lion’s share of the horror titles will be streeting soon. Everyone else super excited for my colleague Adam’s Hellapolooza this year? It’s going to be grand, I bet. I have no idea why, but horror movies and acerbic wit are two things I love, love, love. That’s me shrugging off this week’s slightly lame releases, BTW. Best of the bunch: a Criterion release that’s long overdue and Walking Dead’s newest season on collected Blu. But there’s other stuff if you look hard enough. Let’s do that together shall we?  [Read on here…]

All That Jazz (Criterion Blu-ray Disc)

Age of Uprising: The Legend of Michael Kohlaas – Mads Mikkelsen stars as local man who has his property seized by a greedy local businessman as part of a border tax. He seeks justice with the local constable but is turned away, so he sets their town on fire. Seems fair when it’s Mikkelsen. I’m actually looking forward to this, the story of Kohlaas as seeped into a lot of other stories and this looks like a righteous adaptation.

Blended – Adam Sandler in a modern Brady Bunch-esque story about two families forced to endure each other on a vacation in Africa. I’m not expecting much from this, even with the Drew Barrymore reunion.

Criterion Editions: All That Jazz and Vengeance Is MineVengeance is a baller Japanese film and this is an upgrade reissue, but All That Jazz is the real deal kids. If you haven’t seen it and you think musicals are for girls and theater majors, get over yourself and pick this effin’ disc up today. Life changer. Now Criterion needs to get Star 80 on Blu and we’ll really be thankful.

The Double (Blu-ray Disc)The Dance of Reality – Alejandro Jodorowsky dips once more into the semi-biographical inkwell to draw a new story about his life, his passions and his art, all in the singular way only he can. This guy can do no wrong.

The Double – Fyodor Dostoyevsky by way of Submarine’s Richard Ayoade starring Jesse Eisenberg as a man who learns he has a double who wants to invade his life. Curious.

Legends of Oz: Dorothy’s Return – I’m just not interested in this, not when the 1939 film holds up so well. An animated pseudo-sequel is just... not interesting to me. But if you’re interested, it’s here for you.

The Normal Heart – Ryan Murphy joins forces with Larry Kramer to bring Kramer’s 1985 HIV/AIDS play to life for HBO, and damnit, it works well. Starring everyone and their mother, if you didn’t catch it on HBO or HBO Go, here’s your chance.

Queen Margo: 20th Anniversary Director’s Cut – Riding off the 4k remaster that was recently done, this beautiful reissue is definitely worth checking out if you’re a fan of this bloody bodice ripper.

The Walking Dead: Season Four (Blu-ray Disc)Trust Me – Marvel Universe and Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. Clark Gregg makes his directorial debut with this Hollywood insider dramedy. Looks cute and the all-star cast including Amanda Peet, Sam Rockwell and Felicity Huffman give it some hope. It’s in my queue.

TV Releases of Note: Almost Human: The Complete Series / Elementary: The Second Season / Sons of Anarchy: Season Six / The Walking Dead: The Complete Fourth Season – A few good shows getting collected this week. The sad-to-see-it-wasn’t-picked-up sci-fi buddy show Almost Human is good, but was a slow go. Elementary is a smart show with some great performances, Sons is awesome and this season was awesomer. And Walking Dead is just something we need to all jump on board because everyone talks about it and you don’t want to sound dumb on Mondays when everyone at work is all “Oh, my God!”

Young & Beautiful – From Swimming Pool’s director, François Ozon, comes this teenage sexual awakening film that could ONLY be French. And I love French movies, so, it’s on my list. Bite me.

Next week we get Costner, a documentary about Ralph Steadman, a fake rom-com, a whole slew of Universal Horror films. Yes, September is here. See what I was saying?

Keep spinnin’ those discs,

– Todd Doogan