‘The Mountain Between Us’: a good, old-fashioned survival saga
Yes, “The Mountain Between Us” (2017, Fox, PG-13, $28) is a bit heavy-handed but director Hany Abu-Assad (“Omar”) uncorks a good, old-fashioned survival saga about two strangers (Kate Winslet, Idris Elba) who find themselves stranded together in a remote mountain area following a plane crash.
There’s some exciting scenes involving a hungry cougar, a secret cabin in the woods and dangerously thin ice. But the real draw is the slow-burn romance between Elba and Winslet’s characters who quickly realize they’re stronger together than apart. Extras: commentary track, deleted scenes and featurettes.
Also New To DVD
Brad’s Status (2017, Universal, R, $30): As he accompanies his son (Austin Abrams) on a week long tour of East Coast colleges, Brad (Ben Stiller) begins to reevaluate his own life. Despite the fact that he loves his wife (Jenna Fischer) and his job, Brad can’t stop comparing himself to his more-successful college buddies (Michael Sheen, Luke Wilson.) Writer/ director Mike White uses Brad’s discontent to examine themes of envy, ambition and white privilege. In the final analysis, it’s a big-hearted film which refuses to take cheap shots at any of its complicated, flawed characters. Extras: featurettes. Shock Wave (2017, Cinedigm, unrated, $20): Hong Kong action star Andy Lau is a commanding presence in this thriller about an undercover police officer and bomb disposal expert who finds himself targeted for revenge after he arrests a gangster’s brother. Lau defuses fiery attacks all over the city until he is plunged into a nightmare scenario involving a busy tunnel rigged with explosives. While too long, “Shockwave” has the fluid urgency and emotional heft of an oldschool action movie tricked out with new-school special effects. Extras: featurette. This World, Then The Fireworks (1996, Kino, R, $25): Back in the 1990s, pulp master Jim Thompson underwent a revival thanks to such movies as “After Dark, My Sweet” and “The Grifters.” While this stylish outing isn’t as good as either of those two films, it does do a fine job of soaking up the sleaze of 1950s Los Angeles, home to an incestuous pair of twins (Billy Zane, Gina Gershon) determined to separate a lonely police officer (Sheryl Lee) from her beachfront property. The problem with the picture is that it has no momentum. The siblings’ con game should generate suspense instead of being continually eclipsed by random scenes of lust and murder. Extras: featurettes. A New Leaf (1971, Olive, G, $35): One of writer/director Elaine May’s best films centers on a penniless uppercruster (Walter Matthau) who decides to marry - and then murder - a wealthy botanist (May.) The movie’s darkly funny heart resides with May, who is a klutzy, adorable delight. You may think that the oddball couple is bound to fall in love but May has more surprisingly things in store for her characters. A year later, May would score a major triumph with “The Heartbreak Kid” but “A New Leaf” is nearly as good. Extras: commentary and featurettes. Humoresque ( Warner Archive, unrated, $20):
If “Feud” piqued your curiosity about Joan Crawford, check out one of her best movies, which is newly back in print. The actress plays a
troubled socialite who treats most men like playthings, at least until she meets a gifted violinist (Jack Garfield) in need of her patronage. Sparks fly between the pair, with Crawford and Garfield trading banter like the virtuosos they are. It might be based on a purple-ish Fannie Hurst short story but this powerful exploration of desire rises above the suds thanks to scripter Clifford Odets’ caustic wit, Jean Negulesco’s elegant direction and the fiery performances of its stars. Extras: none. Terminator 2 - Judgment Day (1991, Lionsgate, R, $22):
If you picked up a new 4K player over the holidays, here’s the movie to best demonstrate its bells and whistles. Looking and sounding better than ever, James
Cameron’s action epic resurrects Arnold Schwarznegger’s robotic killing machine as a good guy sent by future resistance leaders to help protect Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton) and her son (Edward Furlong) from the machines, including the shape-shifting T-1000(Robert Patrick). It’s fun reacquainting yourself with the reasons why “T2” ranks as one of the top 10 action movies of all time. Extras: featurettes, deleted scenes and commentaries. Luke Cage - The Complete First Season (2017, Disney, unrated, $40): Originally aired on Netflix, the latest Marvel series is a superior superhero adventure which showcases escaped convict Luke Cage (Mike Colter) as he decides to come out of the shadows and help save his beloved Harlem from the likes of crime boss Cottonmouth Stokes (Mahershala Ali). With a cast that includes Rosario Dawson, Alfre Woodard and Frank Whaley, the show really clicks. Extras: feaurettes. Acceptable Risk (2017, Acorn, unrated, $40): What would happen if you discovered your whole life was a lie? That’s the dilemma facing the seemingly happily married Dubliner Sarah (Elaine Cassidy) after she discovers her husband has been murdered on a business trip. As more and more lies surface, Sarah comes to believe that her spouse’s slaying might be linked to the murder of her first husband. A terrific performance by Cassidy helps distinguish this six-episode thriller. Extras: featurettes.