Compelling ‘Lady MacBeth’ is dark and deadly
Far from a polite, Merchant/Ivory-esque period piece, “Lady MacBeth” (2017, Lionsgate, R, $20) explodes onto the screen with a riveting display of passion and betrayal. Set in 19th Century England, the movie stars talented newcomer Florence Pugh as a young bride who is locked in a loveless marriage with a man twice her age. When he’s away, she begins a passionate affair with an ambitious servant (Cosmo Jarvis.)
“Lady MacBeth” might begin as a somewhat conventional feminist drama but it quickly twists and turns into something darker and more deadly. It’s one of the year’s best. Extras: featurette.
Also New To DVD
Wish Upon (2017, Broad Green, PG-13, $28): A clever re-working of “The Monkey’s Paw” short story, this fast-paced horror entry centers on a teenager (Joey King) who is presented with a mysterious music box that grants seven wishes. Her joy at being able to get back at the mean girls at school and force a dreamboat to fall in love with her is diminished by the knowledge that the wishes come with an enormous price. “Wish Upon” is far from original yet it manages to be an unpretentious and effective suspenser that boasts a relatable heroine who’s easy to root for. Extras: featurettes. Jesus (2016, Breaking Glass, unrated, $22):
Based on a true story, this Chilean drama follows a millennial named Jesus (Nicolas Duran) as he and his drunken friends beat up a defenseless kid and leave
him for dead. After confessing the crime to his father Hector (Alejandro Goic), the action shifts to an isolated cabin in the woods where Hector tries to keep Jesus safe from his co-conspirators. Shot documentary style, “Jesus” plunges you into the mindset of its sexually confused protagonist but his actions are so repellent it’s impossible to care what happens to him. Extras: featurettes. Open Water 3 - Cage Dive (2017, Lionsgate, R, $20): Even though it comes in the wake of the vastly superior “47 Meters Down,” this shark movie is still worth a look, especially if you’re a fan of the man-eating genre. A found footage thriller, the plot revolves around three friends who go on a cage-dive adventure only to have their tour boat destroyed by a massive wave. In no time, the trio is out in the open sea, with night falling and hope dwindling. Extras: featurettes, deleted scenes and commentaries. Our Man In Havana (1959, Twilight Time, unrated, $30): The third and final collaboration between Graham Greene and director Carol Reed (“The Third Man”) delivers some sly laughs, witty performances and rich visuals. Set in post-revolutionary Cuba, the action pivots on a vacuum cleaner salesman (Alec Guinness) who’s enlisted into the spy game by a British agent (Noel Coward.) But Guinness prefers making up “secrets” rather than discovering them, which eventually puts him on a collision course with a corrupt chief of police (Ernie Kovacs). Even though Maureen O’Hara is wasted in the role of Guinness’ secretary, “Our Man” manages plenty of must-see moments.
Extras: none.
Dudes (1987, Shout Factory, R, $22): Barely released back in 1987, this buddy comedy from Penelope Spheeris (“Wayne’s World”) has aged surprisingly well. The action centers on a trio of New York punks (Jon Cryer, Daniel Roebuck and Flea) who decide to road trip it to Los Angeles. Along the way, they run into a vicious gang of psychopaths. A one-ofa-kind punk rock western, “Dudes” comes alive thanks to the cinematography of Robert Richardson (“JFK”), the nifty comic performances and Spheeris’ belief that friendship triumphs over all. Extras: featurettes. Dreamgirls - Directors Extended Edition (2006, Paramount, PG-13): Bill Condon’s musical about the members of a Supremesesque girl group (Jennifer Hudson, Beyonce Knowles, Anika Noni Rose) - and the men (Jamie Foxx, Eddie Murphy) who love them is a phenomenon of funk, friendship and good, oldfashioned razzle-dazzle. When you hear Hudson rip into “And I’m Telling You I’m Not Going,” you’ll know why she carried home the Best Supporting Actress Oscar. Bravo. Extras: audition footage, photobook and deleted scenes. The Law And Jake Wade (1958, Warner Archive, unrated, $20): In this character-driven oater, shot against the stunning backdrop of the snow-capped Sierras, a good man (Robert Taylor) tries to escape his outlaw past, personified by a thrill-killing desperado (Richard Widmark). Widmark kidnaps Taylor and forces him on a journey to dig up loot that Taylor buried years earlier. Along the way, there’s run-ins with the cavalry and Comanches but Buffy The Vampire Slayer (1992, Fox, PG-13, $16): Just in time for Halloween comes the delightfully cheesy horror comedy starring Kristy Swanson as a spoiled brat of a cheerleader who discovers there’s more to life than fashion after she learns she’s destined to drive a stake through the hearts of invading vampires.
Ned And Stacey - The Complete Series (19951997, Shout Factory, unrated, $45): Before starring in “Will and Grace,”