Foxcatcher Blu-ray Review

     Actors: Mark Ruffalo, Steve Carell, Channing Tatum

Format: Multiple Formats, Closed-captioned, Color, Widescreen, NTSC

Language: English

Subtitles: French

Dubbed: French

Number of discs: 1

Rated: R (Restricted)

Studio: Sony Pictures

DVD Release Date: March 3, 2015

Run Time: 130 minutes

 

        Director Bennett Miller often takes years in-between his film projects. It took him six years to make Moneyball after winning Best Director at the Academy Awards for Capote in 2005, and despite there being a shorter gap prior to making Foxcatcher, Miller seems to have applied the same careful consideration in choosing the material. In many ways a striking comparison film to In Cold Blood, the 1967 film adaptation of the Truman Capote true-crime novel at the center of Miller’s film. It is a film about unimaginable, unexpected and mostly unexplained acts of violence in America. And it is also another opportunity for Miller to showcase his ability to elevate the film with unexpected casting.

 

Believe Me Blu-ray Review

     Actors: Zachary Knighton, Miles Fisher, Alex Russell, Sinqua Walls

Format: Blu-ray, Widescreen

Language: English

Aspect Ratio: 1.77:1

Number of discs: 1

Rated: PG-13

Studio: Virgil Films

Release Date: March 3, 2015

Run Time: 93 minutes

 

 

        There is a solid foundation of successful faith-based films within the Christian community, but these safely constructed movies made by Christians for Christians tend to inspire little thought. Not only are they shoddily made and too often starring Kirk Cameron, they shy away from any real discussion in favor of ‘safe’ entertainment that won’t offend. At the same time there is usually a spiritual message or theme that the audience is pounded with, using all of the subtlety of a sledgehammer. Then there are the Hollywood imitations, which try to imitate this success for a sincere cash grab. Oddly enough, there are very few independent Christian filmmakers trying to insert their beliefs into more subversive content, though I would consider Believe Me a sincere effort to do just that.

 

Fellini Satyricon Blu-ray Review

     Actors: Martin Potter, Hiram Keller, Max Born

Director: Federico Fellini

Format: Multiple Formats, Blu-ray, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen

Language: Italian

Subtitles: English

Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1

Number of discs: 1

Rated: R 

Studio: Criterion Collection (Direct)

Release Date: February 24, 2015

Run Time: 129 minutes

        Fellini Satyricon has the look of a spectacular box office failure, richly filled with extravagant visuals and an often incoherent storyline. Loosely based on the classic Roman satire written by Petronius during the reign of Nero, Fellini’s film is an episodic collection that plays up the infamous Roman excessiveness in decadence for visual splendor and disgust, in equal measure. Story becomes nearly insignificant compared to the film’s visual self-indulgence, though there are a series of characters we follow through much of the narrative.