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What’s New in Home Video & Pop Culture – November 3, 2026 – The End of Oak Street, Mutiny, Super Troopers 3, Gone With The Wind and more

Posted by on Nov 3, 2026 in All, Books, Comics, DVD/Blu-ray, Film, Reviews, TV | Comments Off on What’s New in Home Video & Pop Culture – November 3, 2026 – The End of Oak Street, Mutiny, Super Troopers 3, Gone With The Wind and more

The End of Oak Street

So many cool releases this week! We’ve got a bunch of recent theatrical releases, some great catalog titles, and tons of graphic novels and novelties! Dig in!

In This Week’s Column:

  • The End of Oak Street (4K Ultra HD + Digital)
  • Mutiny (4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital)
  • Super Troopers 3 (Blu-ray + Digital)
  • Gone With the Wind (4K Ultra HD + Digital)
  • A Feast for a Tenday (Baldur’s Gate 3): The Official Cookbook
  • The Rocketeer: Amazing Tales – IDW Classic Collections (Graphic Novel)
  • 30 Days of Night Deluxe Edition: Book Four (Graphic Novel)
  • Dumpster Fire – My Day Was a Dumpster Fire, The Official Dumpster Fire Coloring Book, & Anti-Affirmations for Your Dumpster Fire Life: A 52-Card Deck and Stand (Books & Cards)
  • Franz (Blu-ray)
  • Elijah Peel (DVD)

The End of Oak Street (4K Ultra HD + Digital)

Official Synopsis:

When a cosmic anomaly shatters suburbia, one family is thrust into a high-stakes, reality-bending adventure where time collapses, chaos moves in next door, and survival depends on sticking together.

The Movie: 

I love that actors like Anne Hathaway and Ewan McGregor will still take a chance on a crowd-pleasing movie that isn’t quite a B-movie, but feels kind of like one.

The End of Oak Street is a fun sci-fi thriller about a family in the 1970s whose neighborhood is freakishly transported back to the cretaceous era – complete with dinosaurs and all. The film is a fast-paced and fun adventure that at times feels like a Jurassic Park movie and at other times more like a horror film. (There are a few scenes with some mild gore, but luckily the film doesn’t revel in it.) There are also a few genuinely suspenseful and tense moments, and even some humor mixed in for good measure.

Ewan McGregor is spectacularly unglamorous in his role as a put-upon dad wearing pretty awful ‘70’s clothes, while Anne Hathaway smartly chose a role that could have been a damsel-in-distress situation but is much more in the female-lead-as-the-kick-ass-problem-solver mode, which is much appreciated. The film isn’t without its flaws but it has lots of great action and I had a really good time watching it. I strongly suspect you’ll have just as good a time when you watch it.

The 4K Video/Audio:

The End of Oak Street looks and sounds exactly how you’d want it to on 4K Ultra HD. It’s bright and colorful, but the film also has a slightly warm tinge to it (that was present in theaters) that helps to sell the aesthetic of the film’s time period. (Well, it’s original 1970s time period, before it goes back in time.) Imagery is nice and sharp, the print is clean and detailed, and everything pops off the screen like you’d want. The surround soundtrack is nicely nuanced, offering up lots of surround activity when the action kicks in and allowing the quiet moments to breathe, all while ensuring dialogue never gets overpowered or muddied. All in all, it’s a terrific effort.

The Bonus Features: 

  • Banding Together: The Making of The End of Oak Street
  • Every Creature Tells a Story: The Dinosaurs of Oak Street
  • The Spinosaurus Attack: Driving Fear on Oak Street

Digital Copy Included: Yes

Mutiny (4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital)

Official Synopsis:

After his billionaire industrialist boss is murdered in front of him, Cole Reed is set up to take the fall for the crime— leaving him on the run as he works to uncover an international conspiracy.

The Movie: 

So I have good news and bad news about Jason Statham’s latest action outing, Mutiny. The good news is that it’s not nearly as much of a trainwreck as his last two films, The Beekeeper and especially A Working Man, both of which were huge letdowns. The bad news is that it’s still a fairly mediocre film that doesn’t come close to some of Statham’s best efforts.

Here’s the thing: I’m a MASSIVE Jason Statham fan. I’ve seen every single movie he’s made, and I know how much fun the good ones can be. Mutiny is… solidly okay. There are a few good action scenes, and the addition of the always-underrated Annabel Wallis to the cast helps give the film some weight. More importantly, it never devolves into the ridiculousness or over-the-top nature that was so rampant in his previous two films.

But it’s also largely toothless. There are a LOT of scenes of Statham creeping around the bowels of the container ship he’s stowed away on, looking apprehensively around corners, which does not make the most exciting movie ever. And there aren’t really a lot of surprises about who’s a good guy and who’s a bad guy. But at the end of the day, it’s at least a serious film and I liked it more than I didn’t, so that’s a good start.

The 4K Video/Audio:

The 4K Ultra HD presentation of Mutiny is certainly impressive. The image clarity is top-notch, and colors are both brilliant and muted in the way that the filmmakers clearly intended. There’s a sense of desaturation to the movie at times that is clearly how the movie was shot, and that is captured accurately. There’s a nice depth to the imagery as well, and overall the picture quality is quite impressive. The surround soundtrack is constantly active; even though this is a move that fluctuates between action sequences and quieter moments. The satellite channels offer up constant movement and activity, all while solidly anchoring the dialogue in the center channel. It’s a nice audio experience.

The Bonus Features: 

  • Theatrical Trailer

Digital Copy Included: Yes

Super Troopers 3 (Blu-ray + Digital)

Official Synopsis:

Everyone’s favorite cops are back with Super Troopers 3, the third installment of the comedy classic. When Farva’s over-the-top engagement to Thorny’s sister spirals into chaos, the Super Troopers must navigate Thorny’s schemes to break up the relationship while trying to crack a drug ring; all to save the day and maybe the wedding itself.

The Movie: 

I don’t want to come across as overly harsh in this review, but it’s going to take some work on my part. I mean, was anybody really asking for a third installment in the Super Troopers franchise? I find it hard to believe there was a huge groundswell of support for yet another one. And its $7 million gross would seem to support that after eight years since the last film, I’m not alone in thinking that.

But okay, after the first film became a sleeper hit on video in 2001 and the sequel that took 17 years to get made grossed a passable $30 million, maybe I can understand why they made Super Troopers 3. The problem is that the movie is just so incredibly annoying. I’ve never been a huge fan of the franchise, personally, but this installment takes it to new lows.

Here’s the problem with focusing a film on a character that all the other characters find incredibly annoying: the audience finds him incredibly annoying too. In this case, Kevin Heffernan’s Farva takes center stage when he and Thorny’s sister (New Girl’s Hannah Simone) fall in love and plan a wedding. But Farva is such an incredibly obnoxious and annoying character that I literally hate every scene he’s in. Even the scenes he’s not in just aren’t that funny. I imagine the Broken Lizard comedy troupe has a lot of fun making these movies, but that doesn’t always translate to a movie that’s a lot of fun to watch.

But hey, if you like lowest-common-denominator humor, then I have good news for you: Super Troopers 3 brought plenty of it.

The Bonus Features: 

  • Super Bloopers
  • Deleted Scenes
  • Set Tour

Digital Copy Included: Yes

Gone With the Wind (4K Ultra HD + Digital)

Official Synopsis:

Clark Gable, Vivien Leigh, Olivia de Havilland, Leslie Howard and Hattie McDaniel star in this classic epic of the American South. On the eve of the Civil War, rich, beautiful and self-centered Scarlett O’Hara (Leigh) has everything she could want – except Ashley Wilkes (Leslie Howard). As the war devastates the South, Scarlett discovers the strength within herself to protect her family and rebuild her life. Through everything, she longs for Ashley, unaware that she is already married to the man she really loves (Gable) – and who truly loves her – until she finally drives him away. Only then does Scarlett realize what she has lost … and tries to win him back.

The Movie: 

I think Gone With the Wind often gets lumped into the category of being one of “those” movies. By which I mean a movie that was a global sensation when it came out in 1939 and is still revered as a classic; a movie that everyone know and knows about, but not necessarily one that a lot of people have actually watched it in recent memory.

Which is a shame, because Gone With the Wind, for my money, is one of the truly great classic Hollywood films. Not only is it a terrific drama with charm and romance to spare, but the scope of it is so grand and so epic that it really does blow you away while you’re watching it. And yes, I realize there are some politically troubling aspects of the film in this day and age; I won’t make excuses for what happened in Hollywood almost a hundred years ago but I also won’t let it stop me from watching a film I truly love and just making it a point to recognize that aspects of the film involving things like slavery were a Hollywood fabrication.

The new 4K Ultra HD release of Gone with the Wind (which also comes in a lovely Steelbook case, although I only received the standard edition for review) not only sees the film in 4K Ultra HD, but it is done right, meaning we get three new documentary features, not just a repackaging of existing materials (although those are included here as well, which is much appreciated.) Gone With the Wind isn’t a movie I watch all that often, but when I do a get a chance to revisit it, I want it to look and sound as spectacular as possible, which this new release delivers in spades.

If you haven’t watched Gone With the Wind in a while, now is a great time to revisit it with this excellent new 4K release!

The 4K Video/Audio:

Gone With the Wind deserves to be treated with care and this new disc from Warner Bros. doesn’t disappoint. This is the closest you’ll come to seeing the film the way it looked in theaters without going to a theatrical screening. Colors pop off the screen, imagery is sharp and textured, blacks are deep and rich, and contrasts are strong. Likewise, the surround soundtrack doesn’t give your speakers a lot of time to rest, as they are getting a workout from the very first scene to the last. Well-balanced, active, directional, and nuanced, this mix is everything you could want in a big-budget classic Hollywood spectacle.

The Bonus Features: 

  • Gone with the Wind: The Influence that Endures (NEW) – Film critics and scholars discuss the continued cinematic influence of GWTW and the film’s enduring place within popular culture.
  • Gone with the Wind: Restoring and Preserving an Epic (NEW) – Get a glimpse inside the detailed processes used to restore the vibrant colors, picture quality, and audio fidelity of a classic with the artists who handled the restoration work.
  • Scarlett O’Hara: A Woman Ahead of her Time (NEW) – Explore Vivien Leigh’s portrayal of Scarlett O’Hara, a trailblazing character far ahead of her time.
  • Introduction to the Film: Hosted by Turner Classic Movies (TCM) host Jacqueline Stewart.
  • TCM Presents: The Complicated Legacy of Gone with the Wind: A panel discussion examining the film’s controversial depictions and racial context.
  • TCM Presents: A Conversation About Slavery in Film: A featurette addressing historical representation.
  • Archival & Legacy Special Features (Included on Disc/Bonus Disc)
  • Audio Commentary: Featuring film historian Rudy Behlmer.
  • The Making of a Legend: Gone with the Wind (1988): Feature-length documentary.
  • Melanie Remembers: Reflections by Olivia de Havilland (2004)
  • Gone with the Wind: The Legend Lives On (2009)
  • Gone with the Wind: Hollywood Comes to Atlanta (2014)

Digital Copy Included: Yes

A Feast for a Tenday (Baldur’s Gate 3): The Official Cookbook

Official Synopsis:

Make the most of your Long Rest and fully restore yourself with 65 delicious dishes inspired by the award-winning video game Baldur’s Gate 3. Join the adventure as a cook traveling with Lae’zel, Shadowheart, Astarion, Gale, Wyll, and Karlach from the Wilderness, through the Underdark and the Shadow-Cursed Lands, all the way to Baldur’s Gate, transforming the food they’ve foraged into delicious meals that fuel their magic and fill your hunger.

Begin at the Wilderness Camp with a Beregost Blue Cheese Souffle, some Garlicky Buttery Potatoes, or perhaps even a scotched Owlbear Egg. Soups and stews are on the menu in the Underdark Camp, from a bubbling pot of frugal Everything Soup and a hearty bowl of Neverwinter Stew, to a vibrant serving of Emperor’s Fiddlehead Soup. Camp at the Last Light Inn and tuck into a Hearty Dinner, grill a Campfire Pizza, or indulge in an aromatic Sun-Dappled Paella. Finish your meal with something from the bakery in Baldur’s Gate Harbor, whether it’s a fresh Berry Tart or a batch of Bex’s Handmade Cookies, and don’t forget to quaff a Frostkiss Ale or Turmishan Tea from the Elfsong Tavern.

Serve the same camp supplies, ingredients, and prepared meals found within the game at your own table with these mouthwatering and immersive recipes from Baldur’s Gate 3. The 65 recipes are organized by course and camp location, and dishes that are perfect for sharing are marked as Romanceable. With original chapter-opener illustrations and 45 recipe hero photographs, A Feast for A Tenday provides delectable instructions for restoring your hit points—no dice roll required!

The Book: 

So I’ll admit that I don’t know a whole lot about Baldur’s Gate III. I know mainly two things about it: 1) It’s a fantasy/Dungeons & Dragons-inspired video game, and 2) my teenage son is obsessed with it and considers it one of the greatest video games ever made.

So I was quite tickled to get the new Baldur’s Gate inspired A Feast for a Tenday (Baldur’s Gate 3): The Official Cookbook. This gorgeous hardcover book offers up over 50 recipes, all of which are themed around the kinds of dishes you’d find in either Baldur’s Gate III or at least a similar fantasy-inspired world.

Now, I’ve actually reviewed a far number of cookbooks over the years, and this is one of the better ones I’ve seen. Not only do the recipes look quite delicious, but the book is lavishly illustrated. There are fully-drawn chapter headers with Baldur’s Gate-inspired artwork, while the photos of the finished recipes are presented as if they were taken in-world, with lavish set-ups and backgrounds that make it feel like you’re actually in the world of Baldur’s Gate. It’s also got something for every category from main dishes to desserts to even beverages. It’s a really impressive effort and I think it will make a great gift or cookbook addition for any fantasy fans.

The Specs: 

  • Publisher: Ten Speed Press
  • Format: Hardcover
  • Page Count: 224 pages
  • Cover Price: $38.00

The Rocketeer: Amazing Tales – IDW Classic Collections (Graphic Novel)

Official Synopsis:

The adventures of Dave Stevens’ classic character continue in these comics that feature the first new full-length stories since the original series! Step into the world of the Rocketeer with these action-filled stories by some of comics greatest talent that continue the legacy of Dave Stevens’ classic pulp-style character. Included in this volume are three graphic novels: Hollywood Horror by Roger Langridge and J Bone; Cargo of Doom by Mark Waid and Chris Samnee; and The Rocketeer at War by Marc Guggenheim, Dave Bullock, and J Bone.

Missing scientists! Plucky girl reporters! Betty and Cliff on the rocks! The mysterious Church of Cosmicism! And who is the sinister Otto Rune? Pulp thrills the way you like them as the Rocketeer comes up against a brand-new adversary in…The Hollywood Horror! In Cargo of Doom, a ship docks in Los Angeles harbor from a far-off and exotic locale—with big, mysterious, and living cargo! Danger and mayhem abound as our hero leaps into the fray! Europe, 1942—the world is At War! As the Allies battle against the Axis, able-bodied men everywhere enlist in the war effort, including Cliff Secord. The Rocketeer is thrust full throttle into the heat of battle, and—with or without his jet pack—he will depend on his wits and daring if he is to survive!

The Rocketeer: Amazing Tales includes over 300 pages of comics action in a convenient 6″ x 9″ format that lets you take the fun of reading wherever you want!

The Book: 

At this point, IDW has run out of ways to repackage Dave Stevens’ original seminal run on The Rocketeer, and most fans have read them (probably more than once) by now. So it only makes sense that the company would start to publish new tales of the daring adventurer, which they started doing a couple of years ago with a series of four-issue miniseries.

While each series has been collected into its own trade paperback already, now IDW has released The Rocketeer: Amazing Tales, part of their awesome IDW Classics Collection line, which packages all three miniseries together in the 6 x9 digest format, all for the super-low price of $13.99. For over 300 pages of Rocketeer action?!? It’s hard to beat that!

Now, nothing will ever compare to Dave Stevens’ original stories, but these stories are all fairly enjoyable high adventure tales. My favorite of the three is Cargo of Doom, which was not only written by comic book legend Mark Waid, but also drawn by his frequent collaborator Chris Smanee, one of my favorite artists. It stands out among the three stories as the strongest, but The Hollywood Horror and The Rocketeer at War are also both enjoyable tales.

So you get a timeless character, fun stories, and a huge page count, all for under 14 bucks. What more could you ask for? The Rocketeer: Amazing Tales – IDW Classic Collections delivers the goods!

The Specs: 

  • Publisher: IDW Publishing
  • Format: Softcover
  • Page Count: 304 pages
  • Cover Price: $13.99

30 Days of Night Deluxe Edition: Book Four (Graphic Novel)

Official Synopsis:

Revisit the vampire tale that kick-started a modern horror comics revival in this fourth collected deluxe edition that features three graphic novels. A town plunged into darkness, a group of vampires hungry for blood, and only a husband-and-wife sheriff’s team to stop them. This premise set the stage for an iconic horror franchise that went on to become a feature-length film from Sony Pictures in 2007. Book four collects 30 Days ’Til Death, Night Again, and the 2018 30 Days of Night series! The horrible events of Barrow have rippled throughout the world. In 30 Days ’Til Death by David Lapham, a war has started in the secret society of vampires. A death squad of elders has come to America to “thin the herd” of the troublesome new breed. Fleeing the site of a secondary vampire infestation in the cold wilds of Alaska, a band of survivors arrive at a climate-change facility during the final days of a long period of extended daylight. The inhabitants of the research compound are trying to determine the nature of a strange object found in the ice when the survivors arrive, leading to a frightening and bloody confrontation between humans and vampires in Night Again by Joe R. Lansdale and Sam Kieth. As the sun sets over an isolated Alaskan township—not to rise again for a month—a new evil emerges from the shadows to terrorize the town. But after a series of strange events and horrific killings, the question becomes…What lurks in the shadows? 30 Days of Night is reborn in an all-new reimagining of the series designed to titillate the mind and horrify the senses by co-creator Steve Niles and Piotr Kowalski.

The Book: 

IDW continues to bring us the chronological (in terms of release date) saga of 30 Days of Night, the groundbreaking vampire sage by Steve Niles. This fourth hardcover volume collects three of the later miniseries in the run: 30 Days ’Til Death, Night Again, and 30 Days of Night (2018).

Let’s work in backwards order. 30 Days of Night (2018) is particularly interesting, as its sort of a remastered version of the original story, still written by Steve Niles but with art by Piotr Kowalski instead of Ben Templesmith. This time around, Niles stretches the original three-issue story to six issues, but he changes key events, including some which I felt impacted the story in a negative way. Without giving any spoilers, I’ll just say that some main characters take a back seat this time around. It’s an interesting read; I didn’t love it, I didn’t hate it.

Night Again is a solid story by Joe R. Landsdale which suffers due to the art by the late Sam Kieth. I know Kieth had a devoted legion of fans, and no disrespect meant, but I never cared for his artwork and this story didn’t do much to change my mind. Finally, 30 Days Til Death is a cool story that sees both the impact of the events of the original story on the vampire community but also offers up a neat mystery/survival story in the midst of all the action.

As with the previous volumes, this beautiful hardcover book includes all three series, plus bonus art, cover galleries, and design and concept sketches. It’s a terrific package that belongs right next to the first three volumes on your shelf.

The Specs: 

  • Publisher: IDW Publishing
  • Format: Hardcover
  • Page Count: 336 pages
  • Cover Price: $29.99

Dumpster Fire – My Day Was a Dumpster Fire, The Official Dumpster Fire Coloring Book, & Anti-Affirmations For Your Dumpster Fire Life (Books & Cards)

Official Synopsis:

My Day Was a Dumpster Fire – Vent your feelings with this journal inspired by the impossibly adorable Dumpster Fire! Use the two included sticker sheets to add some flair to your journaling. When life feels like everything is going up in flames, remember that the Dumpster Fire smiles through it all anyway! Get any big feelings out of your system and onto the page with this adorable journal. Perfectly suited for school, work, or home, this journal features smooth, lined pages, and two sticker sheets with artwork of the iconic Dumpster Fire. Use this journal to record your most nihilistic inner monologues, list your grievances, or chronicle the burning hellscape of contemporary life—then get back to rising to the occasion.

The Official Dumpster Fire Coloring Book – Laugh your way through life’s disasters as you get to know the world of Dumpster Fire in this humorous and snarky official coloring book featuring 38 illustrations printed on high-quality, bleed-resistant perforated pages. Feel like your life is a waking nightmare? You’re in luck, ‘cause Dumpster Fire is here to cheer you up! Cute, chaotic, and endlessly relatable, Dumpster Fire is the mascot that keeps you going when everything has gone from bad to worse. They are a symbol of happy nihilism, embodying all of your most sassy thoughts as you plow through life’s disasters, and they’re ready to turn your day around!

Filled with 38 black-and-white illustrations on high-quality, bleed-resistant paper, The Official Dumpster Fire Coloring Book is the official coloring book by internet sensation Dumpster Fire’s founder, Truck Torrence (aka 100% Soft). Get to know Dumpster Fire and their garbage-loving friends like Trash Panda, Trash Kitties, and Pizza Rat as you follow them through nuclear explosions, torrential floods, alien abductions, and everything in between!

Anti-Affirmations For Your Dumpster Fire Life – This deck of 52 cards will remind you that there is a light at the end of the tunnel… but it’s a Dumpster Fire! These anti-affirmations are packaged in a sturdy, keepsake box modeled after the iconic and adorable Dumpster Fire. This papercraft Dumpster Fire contains 52 displayable anti-affirmation cards and serves as a testament to the universal truth that inner peace is a myth and the void awaits us all. Each card features a humorous one-liner, advice that you probably shouldn’t follow, or a message that’s actually pretty deep if you really think about it: “Live. Laugh. Combust.” “Be a possum: Play dead and do nothing.” “A dumpster without dents is a dumpster without stories to tell.”

For each week of the year, draw a card from its compartment. Then, flip open the Dumpster Fire’s lid, watch the flame “ignite” as it pops up, and place the card in its display slot. Each card can inspire a chaotic morning meditation, offer support during a mid-week spiral, or provide nihilistic comfort on a weekend. Full of relatable humor, this anti-affirmation deck will be there for you whenever life feels like it’s going up in flames.

The Goods: 

We have three fun Dumpster Fire products out this week, and boy, if there was ever a time when we needed more Dumpster Fire goodies in our lives, I’d say that time is now!

These three officially licensed Dumpster Fire products offer a little something for everyone. The first one, My Day Was a Dumpster Fire, is pretty simple: it’s a lined hardcover journal that features occasional artwork and “motivational” quotes. It also comes with two sticker sheets that you can add to your entries to spice them up a little. It’s a standard journal size and offers almost 200 blank (lined) pages, so it’s perfect for a notebook or journal for someone with a sense of humor.

Then you have The Official Dumpster Fire Coloring Book, which is exactly what it sounds like. You get cartoony Dumpster Fire pictures in various scenes, along with supporting cast members (I love Pizza Rat!), all for you to color to take your mind off your dumpster fire of a day! What I like about these illustrations is that they’re big and cartoony, not the uber-detailed ones you see in some coloring books. They’re perfect for killing some time but not so detailed you’ll need hours or days just to finish one page. Again, the book is standard square-grown-up coloring book-sized, and it features nice thick, click paper that should be perfect for coloring in.

But my favorite product this week is the Anti-Affirmations For Your Dumpster Fire Life card deck. I’ve seen a lot of affirmation card decks (my wife has several), and most of them just come in a simple traditional box. This one comes in a Dumpster-shaped box, and the cards come out of a secret compartment on the bottom. Even better, when you open the top, it reveals a pop-up flame graphic where you can display the card for the week. With 52 cards in the deck (all of which are typically sardonic, sarcastic, and mildly pessimistic), you’ll have enough to get you through a whole year, watching these anti-affirmations go up in flames. I love it!!

The Specs: 

  • Publisher: Clarkson Potter/Ten Speed Press/Clarkson Potter
  • Format: Hardcover/Softcover/Box
  • Page Count: 176 pages/80 pages/52 Cards
  • Cover Price: $20.00/$14.99/$20.00

Franz (Blu-ray)

Official Synopsis:

Award-winning director Agnieszka Holland (Green Border) embarks on her most ambitious project to date, a biopic of the iconic 20th-century Czech writer Franz Kafka. Conceived as a kaleidoscopic mosaic, the film follows the imprint Kafka left on the world from his birth in 19th-century Prague to his death in post-WWI Vienna. Franz gives audiences a brand new perspective on the life of the man behind the literary giant. Poland’s Official Entry to the 98th Academy Awards®.

The Movie: 

I think it’s probably safe to assume that – unless you’re from Poland – you don’t know a lot of Polish filmmakers. But if you had heard of one, it would likely be Agnieszka Holland. Not only did she direct 1993’s The Secret Garden (starring Maggie Smith and produced by Francis Ford Coppola), but she’s been an acclaimed and award-winning filmmaker in her native country for going on five decades now.

Her latest film, Franz, is a biopic (of sorts) of Franz Kafka, the writer best known for his story The Metamorphosis. As Kafka’s own works were often esoteric and dreamlike, so too is Holland’s own film. Rather than a straightforward biopic, we get a movie with shifting timelines, talking head “interviews” about Kafka that are portrayed by actors playing characters, not real interview subjects, and occasionally dreamlike imagery. There’s one sequence involving a short story of Kafka’s called The Penal Colony, which is quite intense.

Holland’s filmmaking is challenging, and that’s obviously something she does deliberately. The real standout of the film is Idan Weiss, who plays Kafka and turns in a very strong performance. The film as a whole wasn’t quite my cup of tea, but arthouse fans and literary-minded viewers will likely find more to enjoy than I did.

The Bonus Features: 

  • Interview with Director Agnieszka Holland
  • Trailers

Digital Copy Included: No

Elijah Peel (DVD)

Official Synopsis:

From executive producers Willie and Korie Robertson (Duck Dynasty), a famous rock star faces a near-fatal heart attack caused by severe addiction. During recovery, a bond with a young, faithful girl helps guide him toward healing and redemption.

The Movie: 

This month’s requisite faith-based film comes in the form of Elijah Peel, a new drama produced by Willie & Korie Robertson, one of the main couples behind the Duck Dynasty franchise. In this one, a drug-and-alcohol fueled rock star comes face-to-face with his own mortality after suffering a massive heart attack. Luckily, a little girl in the hospital he’s in has strong faith despite suffering from cancer, and she’s there to teach him a few things.

Now, I’m not trying to come across sarcastic; in fact, for what it is, Elijah Peel is a perfectly good movie. It just does a lot of things by the numbers, pulling heavily from the faith-based film playbook. Character who sins but isn’t completely unlikable? Check. Other character who’s there to show the first character the error of their ways? Check. Strong message about faith and Christianity? Check. Nearly overnight transformation of the first main character? Check. We’ve got it all.

That said, young star Evelyn Grace Kite steals the show, and her on-screen relationship with Robert Malcolm Cumming, who plays the titular character, really keeps the film together, especially when the script veers into some questionable territory where things come a little too easily. In that respect, the film is a success, even if the story is a little familiar. For the target demographic, Elijah Peel is probably a movie that most viewers will enjoy.

The Bonus Features: 

There are no bonus features on the disc.

Digital Copy Included: No

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