The Times Herald (Norristown, PA)
‘Ocean’s 8’ full of implausibilities, even by heist movie standards
“Ocean’s 8” (2018, Warner, PG13, $28), the all-female “Ocean’s 11” spin-off, is wildly enjoyable thanks to director Gary Ross’s irresistible pacing and the performances of the all-star cast — particularly Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway and Sandra Bullock.
Bullock stars as an ex-con who re-teams with her old partner (Blanchett) and a handful of other thieves (Rhianna, Sarah Paulson, Helena Bonham Carter) to steal $150 million in jewels at the Met Gala.
“Ocean’s 8” looks fabulous, springs plenty of surprises and gives nearly all of its cast members the opportunity to shine. Dig in. Extras: deleted scenes and featurettes.
Also new to DVD
That Summer (2018, IFC, unrated, $25): Featuring narration by both photographer Peter Beard and socialite Lee Radziwill, this fascinating documentary is a prequel of sorts to “Grey Gardens,” the 1975 cult classic about the eccentric, down-on-theirluck Beales. Originally, Radziwill hired the Maysles Brothers to film Big Edie and Little Edie Beale, her aunt and cousin, for a film she wanted to make about East Hampton. Radziwill eventually abandoned the movie project, leaving the rare footage of the Beales unseen, at least until now. If you enjoyed the Maysles’ “Grey Gardens,” this new doc is essential viewing. Extras: none.
The Tree of Life (2011, Criterion, unrated, $30): Terrence Malick’s masterwork gets the Criterion treatment, complete with lots of special features, including a 50-minutes-longer edition that is more of a variant version than a director’s cut. An unclassifiable mind-bender of a drama that encompasses everything from dinosaurs to small-town American life in the 1950s, “Tree of Life” boasts lovely turns by Brad Pitt, Jessica Chastain and Sean Penn, as well as a spiritual inquiry into what came before us and what comes after. The expanded edition digs deeper into the lives of extended family members while retaining the same magical, questing feel of the original. Extras: longer version and featurettes.
Trapeze (1956, Kino, unrated, $25): From the great Carol Reed (“The Third Man”) comes a colorful romantic drama which unreels against the backdrop of a Parisian circus. There’s tension galore between a crippled former aerialist (Burt Lancaster), a young American acrobat (Tony Curtis) desperate to pull off a triple somersault, and the scheming trapeze artist (Gina Lollobrigida) who comes between them. Even when a whiff of misogyny creeps into the proceedings, “Trapeze” still dazzles with stunning cinematography and robust performances. Extras: commentary track.
Christine (1983, Sony, R, $30 ): “Halloween” mastermind John Carpenter takes his sweet time with this adaptation of the Stephen King best-seller about an evil 1958 Plymouth Fury. The result is a thriller that is oddly believable from the first frame to the last. Kevin Gordon is terrific as a hapless high-schooler who experiences a big personality change after he sits behind the wheel of an indestructible automobile. Soon he and Christine are taking revenge on the bullies who tormented him. Newly released on 4K, “Christine” still has plenty of fuel left in the tank. Extras: featurettes.
Bram Stoker’s Shadowbuilder: Special Collector’s Edition (1998, MVD, unrated, $30): Thanks to the folks at MVD, “Shadowbuilder” might be the first straight-to-DVD movie which receives a special-edition Bluray package. Michael Rooker stars as a gun-toting priest who is on the trail of a demon looking to posses the soul of a smalltown youngster (Kevin Zegers) who has been born without sin. “Shadowbuilder” is occasionally too busy, but the characters are likable and it boasts some cool special effects, particularly when the devilish spirit turns innocent bystanders into piles of dust. Extras: featurettes and commentaries.
Wyeth (2018, PBS, unrated, $25): Originally broadcast on PBS as part of its “American Masters” series, this involving documentary celebrates the most American of painters, Andrew Wyeth. Director Glenn Holstein does a superb job chronicling the turning points in the artist’s life, but the most fascinating segments delve into the ways that rural Pennsylvania impacted Wyeth. At one point Wyeth’s son mentions that his dad painted the same Chadds Ford farm, and its surrounding lands, for more than 30 years. From Wyeth’s courtship of his wife Betsy to the 1986 release of the “Helga Paintings,” this doc covers all of the bases and then some. Extras: none.
Young Sheldon: The Complete First Season (2018, Warner, unrated, $40): As funny as “The Big Bang Theory,” this spin-off series centers on a younger version of everybody’s favorite theoretical physicist. Narrated by Jim Parsons, who stars as Sheldon on “Big Bang,” the show is an origin story that, occasionally, cuts deep with its insights about what it’s like to be a rule-breaker in a small town full of rule-followers. The first-rate cast includes Annie Potts as Sheldon’s grandmother and Zoe Perry as his mom. Extras: featurettes.