‘Forever My Girl’ wins you over
Hollywood turns out so few romances these days that even the conventional “Forever My Girl” (2018, Lionsgate, PG, $25) is cause for celebration.
A smidge more earthy than the typical Nicolas Sparks adaptation, “Forever” finds a weary country singer (Alex Roe) returning home to New Orleans to discover that he has a daughter with the woman (Jessica Rothe) he abandoned at the altar eight years earlier.
Smartly directed by Bethany Ashton Wolf, the movie doesn’t always hit its mark but there’s a sincerity about it which wins you over in the end. Extras: none.
Also New to DVD
The Greatest Showman (2017, Fox, PG, $28): It might be strange to praise a movie called “The Greatest Showman” for its modesty but this exuberant gem loosely based on the life and career of P.T. Barnum (Hugh Jackman) is about nothing more than keeping you entertained. Running a breezy 105 minutes, the movie boasts lively dance numbers, a message about the importance of outcasts sticking together, and a romantic triangle that gives Michelle Williams and Rebecca Ferguson the chance to belt out a couple of torch
songs. It’s a winner. Extras: featurettes and sing-along machine.
Doris Day - A Sentimental Journey (1991, MPI, unrated, $15): Finally available on DVD, this PBS documentary is a well-made if too tidy exploration of the legendary singer/actress who ruled the box-office during the 1950s. Day doesn’t give any interviews these days but in 1991, she sat down with the filmmakers for a series of sessions covering her days as a big band songbird, movie star and animal rights activist. Co-stars, family members and film critics provide context but it is Day herself who offers the most interesting takes on her career
and personal life. Extras: vintage TV episodes and trailers.
Claws - The Complete First Season (2017, Warner, unrated, $25): Dig into all ten episodes of this overthe-top TNT series about five Florida manicurists with more on their minds then acrylic tips and silk wraps. Led by part-time money launderer Desna (Niecy Nash), the nail artisans (Jenn Lyon, Carrie Preston, Judy Reyes, Karrueche Tran) find their efforts to open an upscale salon thwarted by members of the Dixie Mafia. But don’t count out these ladies: they take matters into their own hands with surprisingly funny and ferocious results. Extras: none. The Incident (1967, Twilight Time, unrated, $30): Three years after neighbors failed to come to the assistance of a dying Kitty Genovese as she was murdered outside her Queens apartment, Larry Peerce directed this compelling saga of two thugs (Tony Musante, Martin Sheen) terrorizing a subway car full of passengers (Thelma Ritter, Beau Bridges, Ruby Dee, Donna Mills) who, thanks to their diversity, fail to stand up for each other. Shot almost documentary-style, “The Incident” is a bit like an urban spin on “High Noon,” with an even harsher indictment of those who refuse to get involved. Extras: commentary by Peerce. A Trip To The Moon (1902, Flicker Alley, unrated, $35): Back in 2011, this groundbreaking sci-fi gem by Georges Melies was restored to its original hand-painted glory by the folks at Lobster Films. Now, Flicker Alley is making that lovely edition available with a bevy of new scores by composer Jeff Mills, musical group Dorian Pimpernel and Serge Bromberg. The film, which tracks the adventures of scientists who visit the moon, makes exquisite use of special effects while offering a teasing satire of pompous know-it-alls. Extras: a doc about the film’s restoration and two additional Melies shorts. King of Jazz (1930, Criterion, unrated, $30): Long unavailable in any home-viewing format, this early movie musical starring symphonic jazz maestro Paul Whiteman arrives on Blu-ray, looking and sounding better than ever. Thanks to the revue format, the movie unspools all kinds of delights, including song and dance numbers featuring Bing Crosby, corny comedy sketches and, in the opening number, an eye-popping cartoon interlude. The highlight is a scrumptious treatment of “Rhapsody In Blue” which features technically audacious special effects and a band blowing its collective heart out. Extras: shorts, introductions, cartoons, featurettes and deleted scenes. The Hanging Tree (1959, Warner Archive, unrated, $20): Gary Cooper is at his brooding best in this underrated western about a physician with a shady past who opens up shop in a Cascade Mountains’ mining village. Cooper’s sour outlook on life begins to change as he nurses a temporarily blind woman (Maria Schell) back to health. Western specialist Delmer Daves (“3:10 to Yuma”) makes dramatic use of the Washington locations, telling the story of a broken man’s redemption with minimal dialogue and breathtaking imagery. Extras: none. The ‘Burbs - Collector’s Edition (1989, Shout Factory, PG, $30): If anybody knows how to juggle comedy, horror and suburban satire, it’s “Gremlins” helmer Joe Dante. But this uneven offering doesn’t have enough plot to justify its 100 minute running time. Tom Hanks stars as a suburbanite who, thanks to his nosy neighbors (Rick Ducommun, Bruce Dern), comes to believe that something creepy is going on with folks next door. It starts well but goes nowhere fast. Extras: featurettes, alt ending and commentary.