‘Kaleidoscope’ asks a tough question
Largely set in a dingy London flat belonging to a mild-mannered ex-con named Carl (Toby Jones), “Kaleidoscope” (2018, Shout Factory, unrated, $22) is an intoxicating psychological thriller that occasionally feels like “Psycho” crossed with “Twin Peaks.”
It all begins with Carl waking up to find the corpse of a young woman (Sinead Matthews) in his bathroom. As he struggles to clean up the mess, his mother (Anne Reid) turns up for an unexpected visit. But flashbacks complicate matters, with Carl unable to distinguish between fantasy and reality.
Debuting director Rupert Jones pulls off some stunning visual flourishes while managing to ask the question, “is it possible to escape the past?” Extras: featurettes.
Also New to DVD
12 Strong (2018, Warner, R, $30): Set in the days following 9⁄11, this chronicle of a critical mission in Afghanistan, fought by U.S. special forces operatives (Chris Hemsworth, Michael Shannon, Michael Pena) and Afghani horse soldiers, is a good movie that should have been a whole lot better. Besides Hemsworth and Shannon, the U.S. fighting men are barely differentiated, which is a shame since the picture runs more than two hours. That said, “12 Strong” does a stellar job staging perilous battle scenes and drawing you into the story of brave men struggling to take back a Taliban stronghold. Extras: featurettes. The Insult (2017, Cohen, unrated, $30): An Oscar nominee for Best Foreign Language film, this expert drama examines how a conflict between a Lebanese Christian garage owner (Adel Karam) and a Palestinian construction foreman (Kamel El Basha) leads to an explosive trial which winds up dividing the nation. Surprisingly even-handed, the film is, essentially, a razorsharp courtroom thriller but it also manages to examine the ways that racial hatred can take root in even the most tolerant of souls. Extras: featurettes. Blue Denim (1959, Twilight Time, unrated, $30): An unwanted pregnancy upends the lives of a pair of 15-year-olds (Carol Lynley, Brandon de Wilde) who are too scared to tell their parents (MacDonald Carey, Marsha Hunt) about their predicament. As the kids try to apply for a marriage license and raise money for an illegal abortion, their desperation is so palpable, it redeems a tale that starts out in sitcom territory. As flawed as “Blue Denim” is, it is strangely compelling, especially for the way it takes the kids’ dilemma so seriously. Extras: none. Glenda Farrell Triple Feature (1936-1937, Warner Archive, unrated, $22): All three movies in this collection are delights, including the backstage satire “Dance, Charlie, Dance” and “Here Comes Carter,” a look at the comic chaos stirred up by a press agent-turnedgossip columnist (Ross Alexander.). But the standout is “The Law In Her Hands,” a remarkable dramedy about a pair of women lawyers (Farrell, Margaret Lindsay) who reluctantly become mouthpieces for the mob. Marred only by a tacked-on ending, “The Law In Her Hands” is a lovely tribute to the friendship between two smart and sometimes scheming barristers who are determined to succeed in jobs usually reserved for men. Extras: none. Sacha Guitry - Four Films (1936-1938, Arrow, unrated, $70): A nifty companion set to Criterion’s “Presenting Sacha Guitry,” this four-film volume finds the man who was once referred to as “the French Noel Coward” examining the gender wars with considerable wit and sophistication. While the final film “Up The Champs-Elysee” offers up a history of one of Paris’s most famous streets, the other three entries – “The New Testament,” “My Father Was Right” and “Let’s Dream” – are enjoyable, mostly light-hearted looks at lust and betrayal. Extras: featurettes. Harry And Walter Go To New York (1976, Twilight Time, PG, $30): This comedy might be top heavy with talent - James Caan, Elliot Gould, Diane Keaton and Michael Caine - but the end result is a big bore. Caan and Gould star as oafish vaudevillians who long to become big-time bank robbers like their hero (Caine). Not only is the plot tiresome but the buddy chemistry between Caan and Gould is non-existent. The best parts of the movie involves Caine’s flirtation with Keaton, who plays a crusading newspaper reporter. Extras: commentaries. Rock & Roll Hall of Fame In Concert (2018, TimeLife, unrated, $40): Turn up the volume on this Bluray set which boasts 53 classic performances from the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremonies. The highlights include Pearl Jam thundering through “Alive,” “Given To Fly” and “Better Man,” Ringo Starr being introduced by Paul McCartney, and Bruce Springsteen joining the E Street Band for a rousing “E-Street Shuffle.” Extras: none. Bill Nye - Science Guy (2018, PBS, unrated, $25): Here’s an absorbing documentary about the former star of the popular PBS kids’ show as he attempts to reverse the trend toward anti-scientific-thinking. Whether working on a solar-propelled spacecraft or taking on those who deny climate change, Nye, now 61, campaigns for the importance of science, research and discovery in public life. “Science Guy” isn’t all about advocacy; Nye also discusses his personal life with surprising candor and insight. Extras: featurettes.