Gather the family to experience ‘Coco’
Pixar does it again with “Coco” (2017, Disney, PG, $30), a visually spectacular, thematically rich coming-ofage saga that is like nothing you’ve ever seen before.
It begins conventionally enough with the 12-yearold Miguel (Anthony Gonzalez) longing to become a singer and guitarist even though his family has banned music from their lives. One stolen guitar later, Miguel finds himself plunged into the Land of the Dead where, in order to escape, he must snag the blessing of a deceased family member.
From the vibrant, neonbright imagery to the resonant characters to the songs by “Frozen’s” Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez, “Coco” is family entertainment of the highest caliber. Extras: deleted scenes, commentaries and featurettes.
Also New to DVD
Steve McQueen - American Icon (2017, Universal, unrated, $20): Here’s a faith-based documentary which examines the last year in the life of the King of Cool when he became a born-again Christian. In 1979, McQueen left Hollywood for Idaho where he hoped to settle down with his wife and indulge his newfound passion for airplanes. The actor, soon to be diagnosed with terminal lung cancer, also used his exile from the movie business to satisfy his spiritual longing. “American Icon” does a good job of chronicling a little-known chapter in the irreverent actor’s life. Extras: additional interviews. Tom of Finland (2017, Kino, unrated, $28): Even though homosexuality was illegal in Finland in the post-World War II era, underground artist Touko Laaksonen (Pekka Strang) refused to stop making erotic drawings celebrating his gay lifestyle. Signing his drawings as Tom of Finland, he wound up influencing art and fashion before crossing over into the wider cultural consciousness. This absorbing biopic chronicles Laaksonen’s story from the trenches of WWII to the porn palaces of Southern California in the 1970s. Extras: deleted scenes and featurettes. Hellraiser - Judgment (2017, Lionsgate, unrated, $20): The first entry in the “Hellraiser” franchise since 2011’s inept “Revelations,” this gorefest is a decent horror outing which brings back Pinhead (Paul T. Taylor) as well as introducing some newish denizens of hell, including the Auditor (writer/director Gary J. Tunnicliffe) and the Assessor (John Gulager.) In addition to all that weirdness, there’s a surprisingly suspenseful case involving three detectives tracking down a serial killer called the Preceptor. “Judgment” is just sharp enough to keep Pinhead fans happy. Extras: gag reel and deleted scenes. Benji (1974, Mill Creek, G,$ 20): Finally available on Blu-ray, this family film classic spins the saga of a lovable mutt (Higgins) who manages to save two small children from a kidnapping. Shot and acted with sincerity, “Benji” has aged surprisingly well. It was followed by a handful of sequels but the original remains the pick of the litter. Extras: commentary by director Joe Camp and featurettes. Tom Jones (1963, Criterion, unrated, $30): An Oscar winner for Best Picture, Tony Richardson’s adaption of Henry Fielding’s novel is a real delight, save for a gory hunting scene. A never-better Albert Finney stars as the title character, a foundling who is raised by a wealthy squire and his sister. Tom grows up to be a village playboy but his heart belongs to the wellborn Sophie (Susannah York) who always seems to be out of his grasp. A restaurant sequence, in which Tom and a prostitute do to their food what they’d like to do to each other, is justifiably famous and fun. Extras: featurettes and two versions of the film. Birdman Of Alcatraz (1962, Olive, unrated, $20): The second of five collaborations between Burt Lancaster and filmmaker John Frankenheimer is the enormously moving saga of Robert Stroud, a two-time killer who, during his 54 years in prison, became one of the world’s foremost bird authorities. Stroud is initially portrayed as a man ruled by anger but after nursing a baby bird back to health, he opens up to other prisoners (Telly Savalas) and guards (Neville Brand). Newly released on Blu-ray, “Birdman” might sound clichéd but it has a simple purity about it which makes it a true masterwork. Extras: commentaries. Farewell My Lovely/The Big Sleep (1975-1978, Shout Factory, R, $22): Available on Blu-ray for the first time are two underrated gems starring Robert Mitchum as private detective Philip Marlow. “Farewell” finds the hardboiled sleuth agreeing to help an ex-con track down his long lost girlfriend. Set in 1940s Los Angeles, Marlowe soon finds himself battling murderous madams, corrupt politicians and gun-toting thugs. While “The Big Sleep” changes the locale to modern London, it is a similarly intriguing mystery involving pornographers, deluded millionaires and cold-blooded killers. Humphrey Bogart might be the best Marlowe but Mitchum runs a close second. Extras: featurettes and commentaries. Scalpel (1976, Arrow, unrated, $40): Rescued from VHS obscurity by the folks at Arrow, this twisted Southern Gothic thriller – now on Blu-ray – is ripe for rediscovery. Robert Lansing stars as a plastic surgeon who gives a Jane Doe (Judith Chapman) the face of his daughter (Chapman) in order to collect a $5 million inheritance. Of course, nothing goes according to plan. Soon suspicions are raised, bodies start piling up and kinky stuff begins happening between the sheets. A precursor to David Cronenberg’s “Rabid” and Pedro Almodovar’s “The Skin I Live In,” this odd little suspenser is sheer shivery bliss. Extras: featurettes and booklet.