New on DVD:
are only a few new titles being released this week, but among the picks are a film that will make you think and a cable series that will make you laugh.
“Annihilation”; 3 stars: Some movies work better once they are available on DVD, and this is one of them. Director/ writer Alex Garland’s adaptation of Jeff VanderMeer’s novel forces the viewer to mentally engage with the story in an effort to decipher the psychological and scientific riddles. It will help to be able to move forward and backward in the story to see how the threads start, stop and then begin in a completely different direction.
All of this unfolds through Lena (Natalie Portman), a former soldier and biologist, who is shocked when her missing husband (Oscar Isaac) comes home near death after a top-secret mission into an area known as The Shimmer.
It is a quarantined zone where all life is going through unexplainable transformations and only one person who has entered the area has returned.
Lena, driven by understanding what happened to her husband, is part of an elite team that goes into the beautiful but deadly world of mutated landscapes and creatures. What she finds changes her perspective on life.
Be patient with the film as it unfolds slowly with grace and big visions. “Annihilation” goes against the current norm in sci-fi movies in that there are no big explosions or massive special effects. This is a movie that is more about grand ideas than grand explosions.
“I’m Dying Up Here: Season One”; 3 stars: The Showtime series takes a look at the efforts of a handful of comedians with big dreams of success trying to navigate their way through life on the Sunset Strip in the ’70s. The Los Angeles spot was the place where comedians from Richard Pryor to Robin Williams got their start. The series captures the freedom of the time period in regards to sex, drugs and making people laugh along with the conzie tinued frustrations of trying to get ahead in a system designed to control star growth.
A group of inspired, damaged and complicated comics are being mentored by Goldie (Melissa Leo), a comedy club owner who rules with an iron fist designed to get her comedians ready for the struggles they will face. The cast also includes Ari Graynor, Clark Duke, Michael Angarano, RJ Cyler, Andrew Santino, Erik Griffin, Al Madrigal and Jake Lacy.
This is both a compelling look inside the minds of those who live very dramatic lives in the name of comedy. Graynor is particularly compelling as she reflects the additional angst of being a female comic in a male-dominated comic world. Also new on DVD May 29 “Detectorists: Season Three”: This is the final season of the series starring MackenThere Crook and Toby Jones as two oddball metal detecting enthusiasts who scour the English countryside for treasure while working on their own problems.
“Paws P.I.”: Man and his dog (voiced by Jon Lovitz) investigate a robbery.
“They Remain”: Efforts to discover what horror took place at a remote location of a mysterious cult brings danger to those doing the investigation.
“East West 101: Series 2”: Real stories serve as the inspiration for this series set in the Major Crime Squad in Sydney, Australia. Don Hany stars.
“On the Map”: Story of the Maccabi Tel Aviv’s 1977 European Championship and how one team captured the heart of a nation amid domestic turmoil and the Cold War.
“Midnight Cowboy”: The special edition of the Dustin Hoffman/Jon Voight film is being re-released on Blu-ray.
“Jackass: Complete Movie and TV Collection”: The 11-disc DVD set includes 16 hours of pure stupidity. Johnny Knoxville stars.
“DC 5 Film Collection”: “Justice League,” “Wonder Woman,” “Suicide Squad,” “Man of Steel” and “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” are on one DVD. Being released on digital HD May 29
“Peter Pan”: Disney’s animated tale of a boy who refuses to grow older is being re-released with two hours of bonus material. Will be available on Blu-ray June 5.
“Love, Simon”: Gay teen doesn’t know the identity of the classmate he’s fallen for online.
“A Wrinkle in Time’: Young girl and her brother go in search of their scientist father. It will be available on Blu-ray June 5.