Reviews – CineSavant

Prophecy — 4K 05/31/25

KL Studio Classics

4K Ultra HD

Known as a major critical disaster, John Frankenheimer’s eco-horror picture is conventional monster exploitation given high production values and a screenplay laden with environmental lectures. Tossed into a credibility-challenged wilderness ordeal, Talia Shire, Robert Foxworth, Armand Assante and Richard Dysart battle a 12-foot mutant bear on an urgent ursine killing spree. The film’s fixation on horrible birth defects is appropriate to the context, yet still unpleasant. One compensation is cinematographer Harry Stradling Jr.’s impressive Panavision forest vistas. On 4K Ultra HD from KL Studio Classics.
05/31/25

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Mystery Street 05/31/25

The Warner Archive Collection

Blu-ray

Terrible title, excellent noir: certain movies just seem to come out perfect. This mainline noir finds suspense and excitement in a police-lab manhunt that begins with just one clue: a human skeleton picked clean. John Sturges had an early hit, directing Ricardo Montalban in the starring role and shaping memorable parts for Jan Sterling, Elsa Lanchester, Bruce Bennett, Edmon Ryan, Marshall Thompson, Sally Forrest and Betsy Blair. The focus on forensics and autopsy detail may be a Hollywood first; it’s now required on every TV crime show. Filmed by the master cinematographer John Alton, on location in and around Boston. On Blu-ray from The Warner Archive Collection.
05/31/25

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Lili 05/27/25

The Warner Archive Collection

Blu-ray

MGM’s surprise hit has remained one of their more beloved musicals — a musical with one song! Leslie Caron is inspired casting as the lost orphan who drifts into a circus, is charmed by illusions but finds her place in life and love. Jean-Piere Aumont has his best Hollywood role and Zsa Zsa Gabor and Mel Ferrer possibly their best roles ever. Don’t let the ‘Hi Lili, Hi Lo’ song fool you; writers Paul Gallico and Helen Deutsch work some excellent theatrical effects here, and the romantic message comes off as sincere. Digitally remastered from 3-Strip Technicolor. On Blu-ray from The Warner Archive Collection.
05/27/25

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Tales of Adventure Collection 5 05/27/25

[Imprint]

Blu-ray

This 5th [Imprint] collection is in truth a varied Sci-fi sampler, with one bona fide classic, an ultra-cheap Sam Katzman item, a marvelous Camp hoot, a worthwhile idea turned into a terrible mess, and yet another weird expression of gonzo 50’s politics. In other words, fans of filmed Sci-fi will find these remastered oddities irresistible: Devil Girl from Mars, This Island Earth, The Gamma People, The Night The World Exploded and The 27th Day. Plus a bonus feature. On Blu-ray from [Imprint].
05/27/25

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The Silent Star 05/24/25

Eureka!

Region B Blu-ray

Aka Der schweigende Stern. East Germany’s interplanetary Sci-fi epic is finally remastered to Blu-ray quality, with original stereophonic soundtracks. What we once knew as the re-edited First Spaceship on Venus is now 14 minutes longer and laden with ponderous anti-American sermonizing. The sleek spaceship Kosmokrator is a marvel of design, and technical tricks pioneered for Metropolis turn images of the blasted surface of the planet Venus into a vision of Hell. Yoko Tani is the ship’s doctor in the international crew… the Reds even allow a Yank on board, while dissing America’s deplorable atomic aggression. It’s one feature in the four-title disc set Strange New Worlds: Science Fiction at DEFA. On Region B Blu-ray from Eureka!
05/24/25

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Themroc 05/24/25

Radiance Films

Blu-ray

Claude Faraldo’s absurdist ode to anarchy indulges in some gleeful taboo-breaking. A working man finds relief from daily dehumanization by converting his apartment into a primitive cave and rejecting every social convention, starting with his relationship to his own sister. The film has no screenplay credit and no dialogue, just grunts, gibberish and screams of the Primal persuasion. Michel Piccoli is brilliant as the nonverbal caveman-revolutionary. His rebellion proves to be contagious — women find his uncouth liberation irresistible. On Blu-ray from Radiance Films.
05/24/25

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Side Street 05/20/25

The Warner Archive Collection

Blu-ray

MGM’s ‘noir lite’ puts Farley Granger into a murderous bind involving blackmail and his own sticky fingers: he thinks he’s stealing $20 and then finds he’s walked away with $30,000. Director Anthony Mann and some eye-popping action direction on location in New York City make the show a must-see. The surprise is that the efforts of a great cast — Farley Granger, Cathy O’Donnell, James Craig, Paul Kelly, Charles McGraw, Adele Jergens, Harry Bellaver — are topped by the standout new talent Jean Hagen. On Blu-ray from The Warner Archive Collection.
05/20/25

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Killer of Sheep 05/20/25

The Criterion Collection

4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray

Charles Burnett’s most acclaimed film comes to 4K in a special edition that adds new interviews and documentaries to Milestone Films’ excellent restoration extras. The first chronicle of the Los Angeles Black experience creates an intimate portrait of how life is lived, how feelings are suppressed and how attitudes are passed on to the next generation. Henry G. Sanders, Kaycee Moore and Charles Bracy star; Charles Burnett produced, wrote, photographed, edited and directed. On 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray from The Criterion Collection.
05/20/25

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I’m Still Here 05/17/25

Sony Pictures Classics

DVD

Brazil’s Academy Award winner is the most emotionally affecting picture of 2024, the true story of a Rio de Janeiro household during the 20-year military dictatorship (1964 – 1985). Rubens Paiva thinks moving his family to the safety of London is unnecessary, until agents of the police state are at his door. Fernanda Torres’s performance is gold — her Eunice Paiva shows great personal strength against the regime’s interrogators. Our only domestic disc release appears to be a DVD.
05/17/25

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Springfield Rifle 05/17/25

The Warner Archive Collection

Blu-ray

Gary Cooper’s best oater for Warner Bros. may be this sharp action-espionage western directed with real verve by the dependable André De Toth. Coop must play traitor to get the lowdown on horse thieves in Civil War-era Colorado; the on-location action is exciting and the cast is capable — Phyllis Thaxter, David Brian, Paul Kelly, Philip Carey, Lon Chaney Jr.. It’s pretty sneaky politically — the under-theme supports military spending and a military counter-intelligence agency. The storyline is almost a replay of a Warners anti-Commie film … but we’ll just enjoy it as an exciting, superior thriller. On Blu-ray from The Warner Archive Collection.
05/17/25

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Devil Doll + Curse of the Voodoo 05/13/25

Vinegar Syndrome

Blue-ray

V is for ventrioloquist, and Vorelli is a voice-thrower who, thanks to an Eastern Cult, knows how to transfer souls. Little wonder that his wooden theatrical prop Hugo takes on a life of its own. One of producer Richard Gordon’s better films emphasizes fantasy and lechery in equal measure. “It walks. It talks. It kills”…”Can a Beautiful Woman Be Enslaved Against Her Will?” Reviewer Charlie Largent recalls a promotional gimmick from the original release. It stars Bryant Haliday, William Sylvester, Yvonne Romain and Karel Stepanek. The disc includes uncut and clothed versions, and also the film’s original co-feature Curse of the Voodoo. On Blu-ray from Vinegar Syndrome.
05/13/25

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The Andromeda Strain — 4K 05/13/25

Arrow Video

4K Ultra HD

The COVID pandemic has given new relevance to an entire category of Science Fiction thrillers, and Robert Wise’s original tale of a ‘germ invasion’ from outer space is especially vivid. Michael Crichton novel task scientists Arthur Hill, David Wayne, James Olson and Kate Reid with cracking the secret of an alien life form — only to find that it can mutate into newer and deadlier forms. The new 4K edition brings new textures to Boris Leven’s bold color designs; Douglas Trumbull headed up sophisticated visual effects that mix film and video. “The suspense will last through your lifetime!” On 4K Ultra HD from Arrow Video.
05/13/25

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The Three Musketeers / The Four Musketeers Two Films by Richard Lester 05/10/25

The Criterion Collection

4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray

Richard Lester’s superb epic succeeds in every way — with a glorious production, dazzling swordplay, witty comedy, and fidelity to the spirit of the Dumas novel. It’s a showcase for a wonderful cast, and is probably the best movie of both Oliver Reed and Raquel Welch. Criterion’s massive box includes a feature-length, 4-part making-of tale that’s the most engaging piece of its kind we’ve yet seen — two solid hours of fascinating behind-the-scenes stories. On Blu-ray from The Criterion Collection.

05/10/25

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The Iron Rose 05/10/25

Powerhouse Indicator

Blu-ray

Jean Rollin takes a break from nude vampires à la française for a direct-from-the-crypt meditation on morbid romanticism. Inspired by a 19th century poet, he locks two impressionable young lovers in a cemetery, where an emotional response to the maze of crypts and tombstonestakes over. Françoise Pascal has a starring role as la femme seduced by a death wish. The show almost attains its goal of annihilating delirium; it’s an honorable stab at art horror for Rollin. On Blu-ray from Powerhouse Indicator.
05/10/25

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The Good German — 4K 05/06/25

Warner Home Video

4K Utra HD + Blu-ray

We just got finished praising a picture by the ace filmmaker Steven Soderbergh, but have little choice but to be honest with this 2006 homage to postwar intrigue movies set in divided European cities. It stars George Clooney, Cate Blanchett and Tobey Maguire, and we’re sad to report that it’s a real catastrophe. Expect brief, sympathetic coverage, accompanied by ‘what happened?’ questions. Is what’s wrong as obvious as it looks, or does everybody love this picture? On 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray from Warner Home Video.
05/06/25

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Film Noir the Dark Side of Cinema XXV 05/06/25

KL Studio Classics

Blu-ray

Volume 25 in Kino’s long-running noir series could be called ‘The John H. Auer Collection’ — the trio of thrillers include Auer’s almost-a-classic City that Never Sleeps, the odd Hawaii-set noir Hell’s Half Acre and the newly remastered ‘annihilating romance’ The Flame. The trio does not lack for interesting noir personalities: Marie Windsor, Gig Young, Mala Powers, William Talman, Evelyn Keyes, Wendell Corey, Elsa Lanchester, Edward Arnold, Broderick Crawford, Nancy Gates, Chill Wills, Constance Dowling. All are newly remastered. On Blu-ray from KL Studio Classics.
05/06/25

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Sands of Iwo Jima — 4K 05/03/25

KL Studio Classics

4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray

Once upon a time the reigning WW2 battle action movie was this rough & tumble Republic offering, that cemented John Wayne’s glowing image as THE movie star who won the war. The production scored plenty of defense department cooperation to become an efficient recruitment tool — its leathernecks are no-nonsense killers but also complete gentlemen with the ladies — Adele Mara and Julie Bishop. John Agar gets a place of pride in the credits, with solid input from Forrest Tucker, Wally Cassell, and familiar faces Arthur Franz, Richard Jaeckel, John McGuire and Martin Milner. The finish is an impressive recreation of the flag-raising on one of the bloodiest battlefields of the war. On 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray from KL Studio Classics.
05/03/25

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The Informant! — 4K 05/03/25

Warner Home Video

4K Ultra HD

This Steve Soderbergh true-life ‘comedy’ drove us nuts: the audience I saw it with wanted to leap up and kill Matt Damon’s insultingly fraudulent corporate Veepee. The ‘nice guy jerk’ poses as a whistleblower while betraying everyone who crosses his path. Yet he squeaks by with an ‘oh I’m so innocent’ act. It’s more a comment on a new kind of business vermin that cover their greed and chicanery with oh-so-sincere personality quirks. It’s another worthy Soderbergh creation, now on 4K Ultra HD from Warner Bros..
05/03/25

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