Actors: Ethan Hawke, Sarah Snook, Noah Taylor
Directors: Michael and Peter Spierig
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Sony Pictures Entertainment
Release Date: February 10, 2015
Run Time: 98 minutes

Film: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3.5 out of 5 stars

“Predestination” is one of those films that I can watch over and over again to catch all of the subtle nuances that I may have missed in a previous viewing. A sci-fi mind bender that explores the topic of time travel and how the actions of a small group of people can have a profound global effect, Predestination is more character-centric than previous films that tackled the same topic. It’s because of this that the viewer gets sucked into a perfectly crafted film by Writers/Directors Michael and Peter Spierig, with extremely witty dialogue, a complete puzzle of a story line, oh, and a series of plot twists that are more satisfactory with each step towards the film’s crescendo. Trust me when I say that if you think you’ve got Predestination figured out, you don’t, at least until the very end, when the credits roll and you have a moment to digest exactly what you’ve been watching.

Official Synopsis: Based on the short story “-All You Zombies-” by Robert A. Heinlein, Predestination chronicles the life of a Temporal Agent (Ethan Hawke) sent on an intricate series of time-travel journeys designed to ensure the continuation of his law enforcement career. Now, on his final assignment, the Agent pursues the one criminal that has eluded him throughout time.

Sony Home Entertainment brings Predestination to life in a beautiful 1080p high definition/ 2.40:1 transfer, which very much enhances the set pieces designed by the Spierig Brothers. The colors of the 1950’s and 60’s are extremely vivid and nostalgic, but not so prominent that it can distract the viewer from the story unfolding before their eyes. Included as bonus features on the blu-ray are a blooper reel, a featurette titled “A Journey Through Time” and an exclusive 75 minute documentary on bringing the film to life. After speaking with the Spierig brothers regarding the making of the film, I found the blu-ray exclusive documentary to be a fantastic exploratory device for the film’s origins and creation. This disc is HIGHLY recommended for fans of the Spierig’s previous offering “Daybreakers” and for science fiction fans that are interested in a great time travel story with a minimalist approach.

Actors: Robert Englund, Jill Schoelen, Bill Nighy
Directors: Dwight H. Little
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Shout! Factory
Release Date: February 17, 2015
Run Time: 93 minutes

Film: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3.5 out of 5 stars

There is definitely no shortage of theatrical version of “The Phantom the Opera” but this 1989 adaptation starred Freddy Krueger himself, Robert Englund. This Gothic horror tale is a cool play on this story and features some great make up by Kevin Yagher (A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge, Face/Off). The film also star Bill Nighy (“Pirates of the Caribbean” series, “Underworld” series), Alex Hyde-White (“Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade”), Terence Harvey (“From Hell”) and Molly Shannon (“SNL”), directed by Dwight H. Little (“Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers”. Besides the terrible tagline on the cover, this is a highlight for any horror fan.

Official Premise: An aspiring opera singer finds herself transported back to Victorian-era London – and into the arms of a reclusive, disfigured maestro determined to make her a star. The silver-throated Christine (Jill Schoelen, The Stepfather) enjoys success through the arrangements of her new lover (Englund)… until she realizes that he has been committing unspeakably grisly murders in her honor and won’t stop until he’s completed his masterpiece… in blood!

The 1080p transfer is solid on this release. It works for the black and red color use in the film and there is no shortage of red 😉 The same goes for DTS-HD Master Audio track which sounds great with the music. The special features include “Behind The Mask: The Making of The Phantom Of The Opera”, which includes all-new interviews with Director Dwight H. Little, actors Robert Englund, Jill Schoelen, and Alex Hyde-White, Screenwriter Duke Sandefur, Special Make-Up Designer Kevin Yagher, Special Make-Up Effects Artists John Carl Buechler, Everett Burrell and John Vulich, and Composer Misha Segal. There is also an audio commentary with Director Dwight H. Little and actor Robert Englund and a original theatrical trailer included.

Starring: Rod Taylor, J. Pat O’Malley, Betty Lou Gerson, Martha Wentworth, Ben Wright, Cate Bauer
Directors: Clyde Geronimi, Hamilton Luske, Wolfgang Reitherman
Number of discs: 2
Rated: G (General Audience)
Studio: Walt Disney Studios
Release Date: February 10, 2015
Run Time: 79 minutes

Film: 4 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3.5 out of 5 stars

“101 Dalmatians” may not be the best Disney animated film but it is a very important one. This film introduced the Xerox process that save Disney. The film was never very pretty or breathtaking in terms of animation but it was a hit for the studio and probably the reason why we are still getting new films today. Overall, it is still a fun film. I haven’t seen it in years and I enjoyed it quite a bit. My two year old also enjoyed it as well. So I see this being a must watch for the coming months.

Official Premise: Pick your favorite spot to watch — anytime and anywhere — and get ready for a fun-filled adventure with 101 DALMATIANS for the first time ever on Blu-ray and Digital HD! Pongo, Perdita and their super-adorable puppies are in for thrills, hilarious spills and an epic action-packed adventure when they face off with Cruella De Vil, Disney’s most fabulously outrageous villainess. Unleash all the excitement and suspense of Disney’s 101 DALMATIANS, a beloved classic you’ll want to share with your family again and again!

The Diamond Edition Blu-ray of “101 Dalmatians” comes in a combo pack with a Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy. The 1080p transfer looks good. There is little grain found here ala “The Sword in the Stone” or “Mickey’s Christmas Carol” but in a good way. I noticed through some blurring when the dogs were running. Not a major issue but definitely noticeable. There are two audio options for this release. First we have a DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 surround track which sounds quite great. The second is an original Dolby Digital Mono track, which doesn’t have what it takes to keep up with the 7.1 track.

The special features are impressive on this release. There is a all new feature “Lucky Dogs”, which features Disney Animation/Imagineering alum Rolly Crump, ink and paint artist Carmen Sanderson, animator Burny Mattinson, animator Floyd Norman and voice actress Lisa Davis talking about their experiences on the film. “Dalmatians 101” features actress Cameron Boyce, who plays Cruella De Vil’s son in the upcoming Disney’s “Descendants” giving facts about the film. “The Further Adventures of Thunderbolt” is an all new animated short following the black-and-white television star from the movie.

“The Best Doggoned Dog in the World” is actually the tenth episode of “The Wonderful World of Disney”, which aired during its fourth season in 1961. It is presented in its entirety and in high definition, this is a real treat. There are also a bunch of classic bonus features taken from past DVD releases of “101 Dalmatians”, including the seven part feature “Redefining the Line: The Making of 101 Dalmatians”, music videos, unused songs and promotional spots (no pun intended).

Starring: Kevin Costner, Octavia Spencer
Directed by: Mike Binder
Rated: PG 13
Running time: 2 hrs 1 min
Relativity Media

Our Score: 3 out of 5 stars

Elliot Anderson (Costner) is a very successful lawyer living the good life. But when we meet him it is one of the worse days of his life. His wife has been killed in an auto accident and he must now break the news to his granddaughter, Eloise (Jillian Estell), who they have raised since the death of their daughter. Things get complicated when Eloise’s paternal grandmother, Rowena (Spencer) petitions for custody. Did I mention that Elliot is white and Rowena is black?

A fine attempt at conveying the message that a child is best molded when love is the main ingredient, “Black or White” relies mostly on coincidence and disbelief to succeed. When Rowena and her extended family visit Elliot’s home after the funeral, Rowena scolds him for never inviting her family over to swim in his pool. Rowena, et all live in Compton. But in a very nice part of Compton. Rowena talks a good game but really, the only difference I can see between her neighborhood and Elliot’s is that Elliot’s has more pools per square inch. We also learn that Rowena is a successful businesswoman with multiple achievements. Why hasn’t she moved from Compton? Things get even worse for Elliot when Eloise’s father shows up and joins the custody case.

Kevin Costner has grown into a fine character actor. Here he plays Elliot as a man who loves his granddaughter but also loves his liquor. Rowena accuses him of being an alcoholic but actually he’s just sad. He’s already lost two women in his life and faces losing a third. Spencer gives Rowena a coolness that makes her endearing…not the caricaturistic “black granny” (see: Tyler Perry’s Medea). But credit is also due to the youngest members of the cast. Estell is cute but smart as Eloise and Mpho Koaho almost steals the film as the young math tutor that works with both Eloise and Elliot. Anthony Mackie and Andre’ Holland also do well as Rowena’s brother/attorney and Eloise’s father, respectively. The script, written by director Binder, tries to say too much, and in doing so, loses some of its charm.

Thank God for Disney since they have been delivering fans of Studio Ghibli films with new Blu-ray ever few months. The following three beloved films have never been available before on Blu-ray in the US. They are POM POKO, PORCO ROSSO and TALES FROM EARTHSEA. These films are not the most notable films in Studio Ghibli’s library but they are still classics. They also come with all-new digital masters featuring HD picture and sound. Having seen POM POKO and PORCO ROSSO back when I was a kid on VHS tape, this was quite the different experience. Almost felt like a different movie. The colors are absolutely vibrant and each films is accompanied with a DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track for both their original Japanese and English dub tracks.

POM POKO is directed by Isao Takahata know for his work on “Grave of the Fireflies” and “Heidi: A Girl of the Alps”). PORCO ROSSO is directed by the king of Studio Ghibli, Hayao Miyazaki himself (“Spirited Away,” “Princess Mononoke”). Lastly TALES FROM EARTHSEA is directed by the son of the king, Goro Miyazaki, who also directed “From Up on Poppy Hill”. Like I said these are great films. Personally, I am really hoping my breath for my favorite Ghibli films including “Spirited Away” and “The Castle of Cagliostro” to head to US on Blu-ray but for now, these are a great addition to my Studio Ghibli collection.

POM POKO Official Premise: Studio Ghibli presents a film about the clash between modern civilization and the natural world from acclaimed director Isao Takahata. The raccoons of the Tama Hills are being forced from their homes by the rapid development of houses and shopping malls. As it becomes harder to find food and shelter, they decide to band together and fight back. The raccoons practice and perfect the ancient art of transformation until they are even able to appear as humans. In often hilarious ways, the raccoons use their powers to try to scare off the advance of civilization. But will it be enough? Or will the raccoons learn how to live in balance with the modern world? Celebrate the magic of the forest and the beauty of the creatures who live among us in “Pom Poko”—now on Disney Blu-ray for the first time ever.

PORCO ROSSO Official Premise: Take flight with “Porco Rosso,” a valiant World War I flying ace! From tropical Adriatic settings to dazzling aerial maneuvers, this action-adventure from world-renowned animator Hayao Miyazaki is full of humor, courage and chivalry. When “Porco”—whose face has been trans- formed into that of a pig by a mysterious spell—infuriates a band of sky pirates with his aerial heroics, the pirates hire Curtis, a rival pilot, to get rid of him. On the ground, the two pilots compete for the affections of the beautiful Gina. But it’s in the air where the true battles are waged. Will our hero be victorious? For the first time ever on Disney Blu-ray, “Porco Rosso” is a thrilling ride you’ll never forget!

TALES FROM EARTHSEA Official Premise: An epic animated adventure directed by Goro Miyazaki, “Tales From Earthsea” features the voices of Timothy Dalton, Willem Dafoe, Cheech Marin and Mariska Hargitay. Based on the classic “Earthsea” fantasy book series by Ursula K. Le Guin, “Tales From Earthsea” is set in a mythical world filled with magic and bewitchment. In the land of Earthsea, crops are dwindling, dragons have reappeared and humanity is giving way to chaos. Journey with Lord Archmage Sparrowhawk, a master wizard, and Arren, a troubled young prince, on a tale of redemption and self-discovery as they search for the force behind the mysterious imbalance that threatens to destroy their world. Featuring a timeless story and magnificent hand-drawn animation, “Tales From Earthsea” is now available for the first time ever on Disney Blu-ray.

POM POKO stars a great US cast including Clancy Brown (“The Shawshank Redemption,” “Starship Troopers”) as Gonta, J.K. Simmons (“Spider-Man,” “The Closer”) as Seizaemon, Jonathan Taylor Thomas (“The Lion King,” “Home Improvement”) as Shokichi, John DiMaggio (“Futurama,” “Adventure Time”) as Ryûtarô and Olivia d’Abo (“The Wonder Years,” “Conan the Destroyer”) as Koharu.

PORCO ROSSO does one up delivering an even better cast with Michael Keaton (“Batman,” “Toy Story 3”) as Porco Rosso, Cary Elwes (“The Princess Bride,” “Saw”) as Curtis, Kimberly Williams-Paisley (“According to Jim,” “Father of the Bride”) as Fio, Susan Egan (“Hercules,” “13 Going on 30”) as Gina, David Ogden Stiers (“Beauty and the Beast,” “Pocahontas,” and TV’s “M*A*S*H”) as Grandpa Piccolo and Brad Garrett (TV’s “Everybody Loves Raymond,” “Ratatouille,” “Finding Nemo”) as Mamma Aiuto Boss.

Lastly TALES FROM EARTHSEA does not disappoint either, especially including a former James Bond to the cast. For this we get the talents of Mariska Hargitay (“Law and Order: Special Victims,” “Leaving Las Vegas”) as Tenar, Willem Dafoe (“Spider-Man,” “Finding Nemo”) as Cob, Timothy Dalton (“The Living Daylights,” “License to Kill”) as Ged, Cheech Marin (“The Lion King,” “Nash Bridger”) as Hare.

The special features on these Blu-ray range a bit with POM POKO delivering the least goods. POM POKO  includes original Japanese storyboards and also original Japanese trailers. PORCO ROSSO also includes original Japanese storyboards and also original Japanese trailers as well as a Behind The Microphone featurette with the US cast and also an interview with the film’s producer Toshio Suzuki. Lastly TALES FROM EARTHSEA also includes original Japanese storyboards and also original Japanese trailers as well as a feature on the film’s score “The Birth of the Film Soundtrack” and a making of featurette with “Behind the Studio: Origins of Earthsea”. Not too shabby for lesser known titles and definitely enough to make these Blu-ray worth the purchase.

Number of discs: 1
Studio: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment
DVD Release Date: February 3, 2015
Run Time: 120 minutes

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

The Disney Junior favorite, “Doc McStuffins”, is back with it’s latest DVD. “Cuddle Me” focuses around everyone favorite cuddler, Lambie. It is also released perfect timing for Valentine’s Day. All you dad’s can take that cue and deliver this wonderful release to your daughters for that special day. There is something so sweet about this character. These episodes are really fun and after receiving it, my daughter demanded we immediately watch it at least twice.

Official Premise: No one gives better cuddles than Doc’s warm and fuzzy best friend! She’s a princess and a ballerina, and she’s always there for toys that need an extra helping of tender loving care. Just say three little words: “CUDDLE ME LAMBIE.” Join Doc and the whole gang as they laugh, play and have a ball fixing boo-boos and discovering great ways to stay happy and healthy. Celebrate the power of true friendship as new, sparkly heart toy Val shows Lambie there’s plenty of love to go around. Meet Donny and Alma’s monster creation Charlie – who turns out to be very sweet and not so scary after all. Then, see how Lambie gets out of a super-sticky jam! Bursting with five song-filled episodes and cuddles galore, this “hug-stravaganza” is magical fun your little one will adore!

The episodes includes on this DVD are: “My Huggy Valentine/Dusty Bear,” “Awesome Guy’s Awesome Arm/Lamb In A Jam,” “Kirby And The King/Bubble Monkey, Blow Your Nose!”, “A Day Without Cuddles/Collide-o-scope,” “Mirror, Mirror On My Penguin/Hide and Eek!”. Plus along with the episodes, there is also free exclusive Lambie Hair Clips, which are very cute as well.

It would be fair to say that the Smith family has a great admiration for the Keach family.  As a child, I enjoyed the many roles that Stacy Keach, Sr. played in most of the classic television westerns.  Then, in 1980, Mr. Keach’s children, James and Stacy, co-wrote and co-starred in the movie The Long Riders.  What makes that film so popular in our house is that James Keach played Jesse James.  My son, Phillip, is related to Jesse James on his mother’s side of the family, though thankfully he has never robbed a bank.

James Keach is probably best known on-screen as the motorcycle cop who pulls Chevy Chase over after the family dog is unwittingly tied to the back of the car in “National Lampoon’s Vacation.”  He has also appeared in such films as “The Razor’s Edge,” “Wildcats” and “The Experts,” a film that deserved a much better marketing effort (shame on you Paramount).  He also played the role of the Warden in the Johnny Cash bio-pic “Walk the Line,” which he also helped produce.  Cash was the godfather of Mr. Keach’s son, John.

Turning his attention behind the camera, Mr. Keach is the director of the recent documentary “Glen Campbell:  I’ll Be Me,” which recently earned an Academy Award nomination for Original Song.  Mr. Keach and I spoke about the film and its impact before the nominations were announced.

Mike Smith:  How did you get involved in the project?
James Keach:  Julian Raymond, who had produced Glen’s last two projects, “Meet Glen Campbell” and “Ghost on the Canvas,” was producing my 18 year old son Johnny’s band.  He would come over to our editing room, which is also a rehearsal area, and would ask if I wanted to work on a project on Glen because he knew I had worked on “Walk the Line” several years ago.  We were very reluctant at first but we gave in to him.  He wanted us to make a documentary rather than a narrative film.  When we found out that Glen had Alzheimer’s it made me and Trevor (co-producer Trevor Albert) even more reluctant.  We thought, “oh my gosh, how can we make a movie that’s uplifting about THIS?”  And then we met Glen.  Once we met Glen and his family we realized that this man really wanted to make a difference in the world.

MS:  Is it difficult as a filmmaker, especially considering Glen Campbell’s situation, to not let your emotions dictate your approach to the material?
JK:  The big thing was…everything we had ever seen about Alzheimer’s, both in the documentary format and the narrative format, was very, very dark.  So the emotional resistance occurred prior to making the film.  Once we got to know Glen and we got to see his willingness to reveal the truth about what he was going through, it was like we were on the journey with him.  We were suffering it with him.  Emotionally we felt more for the family then we did for Glen because, when you’re going through it, you don’t realize what it’s doing to your family all the time.  Glen was very cognizant of what was happening and you see in the film that there is some remorse.  He knew things were getting weird and messed up but he really didn’t understand it, especially towards the end.  The real emotional impact came from watching his kids and his wife…the people that had known him for thirty or forty years…watch him going through the downward spiral.  And as an objective filmmaker you kind of had to stand back and observe everything and not become…you really just had to stand back.  And to reflect Glen’s personality, which has a lot of humor in it, and love, we could have easily gone on one track in the film and just shown one side of it.  But that wouldn’t have been Glen.  We also thought it was going to be a short journey.  We thought we’d be with him for five and a half weeks and we ended up spending two and a half years.  We kind of went down the rabbit hole with him.  Slowly but surely.  And even now, looking back at the film, it’s so courageous what he did and it’s a legacy for me as a filmmaker that I feel so proud that I was able to be a part of it.  To be at the helm, with my partner, Trevor, and to share this story.

MS:  Have you kept in touch with Glen?  How is he doing?
JK:  Yeah.  I saw Glen six weeks ago and the family sends pictures of him.  And I talk to Kim (Campbell’s wife).  He’s in good physical health.  He’s in good spiritual health.  He’s happy where he is.  He still has Alzheimer’s…it’s not going away.  But he’s not suffering.  He’s being well taken care of.  And I think that’s the most you can ask.  He has a lot of love around him.  He’s still full of love and full of laughter and full of faith.  Every once in a while he’ll lift his hands up and say “thank you, Lord.”  It’s kind of amazing.  I heard the other day…Kim said he played a little bit.

MS:  You’ve spent most of the past two decades behind the camera instead of in front of it.  Is that something you want to concentrate on?  Are you still open to acting jobs?
JK:  Have you got a job?  (laughs)
MS:  While I was curious if maybe they’ve talked to you about doing a cameo in the “Vacation” reboot.  Maybe you could be the cop that pulls Rusty over.
JK:  (laughing) That would be really funny.  Man, I had such a good time doing that.  That’s where my partner Trevor and I met.  He was Harold Ramis’ producer.

MS:  What do you have coming up next?
JK:  We have a lot of different films that are in various stages of development.  What we’re really trying to do is to make sure this film finishes correctly.  To make sure it gets in the right place in the digital realm because I think that is where most people are going to see it.  We’re chugging along and getting a lot of requests for screenings.  The most important thing is to school as many people as possible to see the film.  I think it will help change the conversation about Alzheimer’s.  It will certainly help leave a great legacy for Glen.  I think Glen’s intentions were to try and make a difference in the world…to create an awareness of how dire the situation is.  We did a screening for about 4,000 people in Nashville.  I went up on the stage…the Band Perry was there and we had a concert and a screening.  And during the concert, while they were setting up for their next song, I asked how many people in the audience had been affected by Alzheimer’s.  About 3,800 people stood up.  I think that there is a connection there with everybody.  People have to become more aware of this and do something about it before it really takes its toll on our country and each one of our families.

Starring:  Oscar Isaac, Jessica Chastain and Albert Brooks
Directed by:  J.C. Chandor
Rated: R
Running time:  2 hrs 5 mins
A24

Our Score: 4.5 out of 5 stars

So many things happened in New York City in 1981.  Julia Stiles and Paris Hilton were born there that year.  On the opposite side of the spectrum, over 1,800 people were murdered.  And, on a personal note, I saw my first Broadway musical, “42nd Street,” when I was visiting the city on my way to Germany. It’s also the setting and time period for the new film written and directed by J.C. Chandor, “A Most Violent Year.”

Abel Morales (Isaac) and his wife, Anna (Chastain) have built a good life for themselves.  With much hard work they have grown a small heating oil business into a mini-empire.  Which makes many of the other would be oil magnates angry.  Soon the Morales’ trucks are being hijacked, their drivers beaten. Compared to what is about to come down the pike, losing their inventory could be the best thing to happen to them.

More intense then violent, “A Most Violent Year” is a tightly written story carried along on the shoulders of its actors. Isaac plays Abel as an honorable man.  I’m sure it’s no coincidence that Abel was the brother killed by Cain and that you can’t spell Morales without “moral.”  Having just committed all of his savings as a deposit to the purchase of a new facility (if the deal does not go through he loses his money), Abel learns that the local D.A. is about to file charges against him for fraud – apparently the heating oil business is very shady. Couple that with the fact that one of his drivers, while being hijacked, pulled out an unregistered gun and traded shots with the bad guys.  Not too many banks like to take risks like that and Abel finds himself slowly drawn into a world he doesn’t want to be a part of.  Isaac’s performance brings to mind Al Pacino (both in choices and in appearance) in “The Godfather.”  On the opposite side you have Chastain’s Anna.  The daughter of a former wise guy, Anna is the tough one in the relationship, always staying one step ahead of the next search warrant.  It is as the couple slowly reverse roles that make the film entertaining.

Technically the film also delivers.  The period cars and clothing are spot on as are the shots of a much grittier and dirtier Big Apple.  Named the Best Picture of the Year by the National Board of Review, “A Most Violent Year” somehow avoided being nominated for anything Oscar-wise (I would gladly put Chastain in Laura Dern’s spot in the Supporting Actress race this year).  I don’t know if it’s the best film of the year but it’s certainly one of them.

With James Brown gone, Tanner Beard may easily be the new “hardest working man” in Hollywood. A recent acting job turned into a gig where he not only continued to star in the film but also co-write, co-direct, help produce, supervise the music AND do his own stunts! He is also executive producing the next two films by creative (and reclusive) filmmaker Terrence Malick. While preparing to head to Germany for the upcoming Berlin Film Festival where one of the Malick films, “Knight of Cups,” is representing the United States in competition, Mr. Beard took time out to talk to me about sixties-style movie making, who Martin Weiss is to him and whether or not there really IS a Terrence Malick.

Mike Smith: Hello fellow Virgo!
Tanner Beard: Virgo is the best you can be! Do we share the exact same birthday?
MS: Not the year, but the date.
TB: (laughing) My man!

MS: Give us a little introduction to “6 Bullets to Hell.”
TB: “6 Bullets to Hell” is a throwback to the classic Sergio Leone’ films back in the day. Kind of like Clint Eastwood – “A Fistful of Dollars” – or the original “Django” kind of style.

MS: You wear at least four different hats on the project. Was that something that was important to you to ensure a certain vision?
TB: You know, I haven’t told a lot of people this but I actually went out there as an actor and a little less than halfway through shooting they called a big meeting and we were told that the funds were about to run out. But because what we had shot so far looked so good my production company decided to come in and finish it. So we spent every night re-writing the script and making it the best we could with the time allotted that we had to shoot. It’s really an interesting story of how it got made that we haven’t shared with anyone yet.

MS: (slyly) Do you want to share it now?
TB: (laughing) Yeah. We kept sending the dailies back to the states and I kept saying it’s so great because we’re doing it like they did in the sixties. There was no sound. We decided to ADR everything after we were finished like they did in the sixties. We were shooting on the same set that literally made Clint Eastwood famous. Half of our crew was from all over the world. There were six or seven different languages spoken on set daily. We were literally making a “spaghetti” Western just like they did back in the sixties. And I said to my production company “what do you think about us coming in and taking it over?” To make it more for an American audience, as opposed to its original European market. And we ended up making a classic, late night, drive-in movie style film. It was so much fun. I learned how to ride a horse on that movie that’s for sure.

MS: What, if anything, can you share on “Knight of Cups?”
TB: “Knight of Cups” is a film with an unbelievable cast and an unbelievable director. I still pinch myself when I see my name near any of those people. People who I grew up studying and learning. I used to study Terrence Malick in film school. So now, later on, to even have my name anywhere next to his is unbelievable. It’s still settling in. Christian Bale is one of my favorite actors so to be up there with him is pretty surreal. I actually haven’t seen the full film yet…just bits and pieces. So I’m probably more excited about seeing it in Berlin then others since I haven’t seen the completed film yet.

MS: This questions is tongue in cheek but, I mean, the man is so reclusive. Have you ever actually SEEN Terrence Malick?
TB: (laughs loudly) I have! Though I’ve never seen him in America. My offices are very close to his so you would have thought I’d have run into him sometime…maybe seen him at the grocery store. But he is so dedicated to his work…he’s not out and about too often. There have been a couple times that we were supposed to go to dinner but some schedule conflictions came up. When I was in Cannes last year I got to meet him very briefly. It was a very cool moment for me because some people don’t even know what he looks like because he is SO dedicated to his craft. He’s not out on the red carpets. I am looking forward to spending more time with him in Berlin, which makes the trip so much more exciting and important to me.

MS: I had to ask. I saw a note on another untitled Malick project you are working on that stated on September 16, of last year, it was reported that a photo of Malick was taken on the set.
TB: Was that in Austin? The Ryan Gossling film?
MS: Yes.
TB: I’m surprised more pictures weren’t taken, since that’s a great day to take them on! (laughs)

MS: I couldn’t help noticing a big coincidence in your acting credits – who is Martin Weiss and why do you play him so often?
TB: (laughs) Oh my God! That’s a funny story. Probably six or seven years ago…maybe longer…I was beginning to find my way as an actor out here. Back when you used to answer actor ads on Craigslist. A really kind gentleman named Roger Lim actually was making a film and I thought it was just….that I was just making a baseball movie. But it turned out to be four movies. So it keeps showing up. He shot enough footage to make four films so my character keeps going. I actually haven’t seen them but I guess I shot more than a trilogy in two weeks!

MS: After fourteen years you’re releasing “The Beaver Trilogy, Part IV.” Is this a continuation? Is Bill Hader taking over from Crispin Glover?
TB: No, Bill Hader is actually narrating the documentary piece. “The Beaver Trilogy” has been a very interesting cult film for a long time. Jack Black was very aware and interested in it. The director has just done so much with it. It’s based on a real encounter that was videotaped and then it was re-created with various actors. Crispin Glover did a version of it very, very early on. Sean Penn did a version of it way before “Fast Times at Ridgemont High.” So there were three different versions of it. It was the filmmaker’s thesis project. He created this really weird chance encounter. And now part IV is the documentary that ties all three of them together and lets the story in on where these interesting pieces came from. It’s a very cool and quirky documentary. I think people are going to like it. And it drew the attention of Sundance early on. So it’s very odd that a chance encounter from 1979 is still being talked about today.

MS: What else do you have in the pipeline?
TB: There is an animated feature that we’re working on now. We’re very early in the pre-production stages. It’s called “Fridgeport.” And we’re working on a Christmas movie called “Just Claus,” which we just started casting to being shooting in February that hopefully will be out by Christmas.

Jan. 21 – Call it a pre-Oscar victory lap. Tuesday night in New York Julianne Moore was honored by the Museum of the Moving Image at their annual gala. This salute comes right as Moore is tipped to win Best Actress this year for her portrayal of a linguistics professor facing a devastating Alzheimers’ diagnosis in Still Alice. On her way into the presentation, she described taking on the role as “a privilege. It was a privilege to learn about [Alzheimers’]. And the people, because I had no personal experience with it, I spent about four months doing research and the people that I spoke to were so incredibly generous with their time and their experience and their information. So I learned a tremendous amount and it was a great experience.”

Moore was supported by her children, Cal and Liv, husband Bart Freundlich and friends at the tribute who enjoyed a presentation about the museum in Queens before taking a thorough look at her cinematic career. On hand to introduce highlights of Moore’s work were former co-stars including Chloe Grace Moretz (Carrie), Sarah Paulson (Game Change), Ethan Hawke (upcoming Maggie’s Plan) and in a pre-recorded message, Mark Ruffalo (The Kids are All Right) who said acting alongside Moore and Annett Bening at the same time was like “sharing the court with Michael Jordan.”

Some of the most joyful crowd reaction came from Steve Buscemi introducing a clip from “Stoner Citizen Kane”, The Big Lebowski which featured both Moore and Buscemi though never on screen at the same time. On the red carpet prior to the event, Buscemi said he “certainly had no idea” that Lebowski would go on to be the cult classic it’s seen as today. He also had nothing but kind words for her when asked what people take away from her work: “She always puts her heart into anything she does. It’s amazing all the different characters that she played and yet there’s something of herself. She really gives I think to every character and that’s what I think everybody responds to.”

 Also on the carpet, actor Billy Crudup described working with Moore and her director husband, on their two films, World Traveler and Trust the Man as “Superb. It was so easy, I was dying for either of our movies to be hugely successful so we could do it again and again and again because the joy of getting to work with your friends in your home city is, for people who travel all the time and have to form new families every time they go somewhere else, you know it was one of a kind.” Asked his favorite role of Julianne’s Crudup replied “I was just thinking of a couple of them but A Single Man…I thought that was an exciting, excellent performance.”

Moore graciously accepted the award from MMI director Carl Goodman and MMI Co-Chairman Herbert Schlosser before creditting her own family story “with Bart and Cal and Liv that has given [her] life so much meaning.”

Julianne Moore will next be seen in Maggie’s Plan.

For more information about the Museum of the Moving Image, visit their website.

Actors: Hugo Weaving, Angus Sampson, Leigh Whannell, John Noble
Directors: Angus Sampson, Tony Mahony
Rated: Unrated
Studio: Xlrator
Release Date: January 20, 2015
Run Time: 102 minutes

Film: 3 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 2 out of 5 stars

Are you a fan of the “Insidious” franchise? If so they you might recognize that “The Mule” was co-scripted by two of its stars, Angus Sampson and Leigh Whannell. Whannell is also directing the upcoming third “Insidious” feature and Sampson also co-directed this film as well. I love these guys, they are funny and they continue bringing the funny here.

“The Mule” co-stars John Noble from”Fringe” and Hugo Weaving from “The Lord of the Rings” and “The Matrix” franchises. Clever, funny but personally, I felt a little long or in this case had a bit of constipation. Still brilliant cast and based on a true story, which makes it a bit more interested.

Official Premise: A naïve man transporting lethal narcotics in his stomach is detained by the police. Alone and afraid, the mule makes a desperate choice — to defy his bodily functions and withhold the evidence…literally. By doing so becomes a human time-bomb, dragging cops, criminals. lawyers and his mother into his impossible escapade. Inspired by true events, THE MULE is a comic nightmare of stomach-churning suspense and belly laughs.

The Blu-ray itself didn’t blow me away with any technical merits. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track benefits from a fun score with an 80’s feel to it, thanks to composers Cornel Wilzcek and Mikey Young. The 1080p transfer is crisp and solid, so no major compliant there either.

In terms of special features, starting off we get seven deleted scenes running about 10 minutes, which are decent. There are four very brief featurettes with clips of interviews with Sampson, Whannell, Weaving and more. “Who. What. Where. When.” has interview clips talking about the plot and its characters. “Ego” features cast talking about characters motivation.

“Ticking Time Bomb” is a short featurette outlining the film’s focus. “1983 America’s Cup” features the cast discussing the importance of the America’s Cup in the film, which I did not catch at all. Lastly there are trailers for the film and other trailers as well included.

Actors: Josh Henderson, Jesse Metcalfe, Jordana Brewster, Julie Gonzalo, Brenda Strong
Producers: Cynthia Cidre, Michael M. Robin, Robert Rovner
Number of discs: 3
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Warner Home Video
DVD Release Date: January 13, 2015
Run Time: 660 minutes

Season: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 1.5 out of 5 stars

I never watched “Dallas” during its original run but I was certainly aware of its presence growing up. When “Dallas” came back in 2012, I tuned in from episode 1 and loved every minute of it. When Larry Hagman (J.R. Ewing) passed after at the end of 2012, I thought it would be the end of the show. The show continued on and completed out the series with this final third season. I thought this was a solid season even without J.R. I am sad to see this show end but at least it had a nice comeback and delivered three entertaining and exciting seasons.

Official Premise: In season three, Ewing patriarch Bobby Ewing (Patrick Duffy), now the senior member of the family after the death of his older brother, J.R., butts heads with John Ross (Josh Henderson), who is out to prove he can be just as powerful an ally or enemy as his infamous father. Meanwhile, Christopher (Jesse Metcalfe) is newly single and determined to make a name in the world of natural gas. Elena (Jordana Brewster) is blinded by thoughts of justice for previous wrongs, and Pamela Rebecca Barnes (Julie Gonzalo), the daughter of longtime Ewing rival Cliff Barnes (Ken Kercheval), is now married to John Ross and determined to have a happy ending.

The third and final season of Dallas stars Josh Henderson (90210), Jesse Metcalfe (Desperate Housewives), Jordana Brewster (The Fast and Furious films), Julie Gonzalo (Veronica Mars), Brenda Strong (Desperate Housewives), Mitch Pileggi (Grey’s Anatomy), Emma Bell (The Walking Dead), Juan Pablo di Pace (Mamma Mia!), Patrick Duffy (Dallas [original series]) and Linda Gray (Dallas [original series]). Recurring guest stars this season include AnnaLynne McCord (90210, Nip/Tuck) and Judith Light (Ugly Betty, Who’s the Boss?).

“Dallas: The Complete Third and Final Season” includes all 15 episodes: 1. The Return; 2. Trust Me; 3. Playing Chicken; 4. Lifting the Veil; 5. D.T.R.; 6. Like Father, Like Son; 7. Like a Bad Penny; 8. Where There’s Smoke; 9. Denial, Anger, Acceptance; 10. Dead Reckoning; 11. Hurt; 12. Victims of Love; 13. Boxed In; 14. Endgame; 15. Brave New World. The only special features included are some deleted scenes. Not a major send off in that department for this legendary series.

Starring: Bradley Cooper and Sienna Miller
Directed by: Clint Eastwood
Rated: R
Running time: 2 hrs 12 mins
Warner Brothers

Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars

As he looks through the scope of his high-powered rifle, Chris Kyle (Cooper) describes the scene. A young boy and his mother are standing on the street while a group of American soldiers approaches. The woman hands the boy something and he starts walking towards the soldiers. Kyle thinks the woman handed the boy a grenade and asks for confirmation. No one else saw the handoff so now it’s up to Kyle to make a decision. Shoot an innocent boy and cause a world-wide uproar, or defend the troops he’s there to protect. He releases the safety, exhales quietly and….

Featuring an amazing performance by Bradley Cooper, “American Sniper” is Clint Eastwood’s return as an important filmmaker. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed Eastwood’s take on “Jersey Boys” last summer but musicals are not his bread and butter. After years of “one for you” (a “Dirty Harry” flick) and “one for me” (“Honky Tonk Man,” “White Hunter, Black Heart”) with Warner Brothers, Eastwood created “Unforgiven,” winning his first directing Oscar along the way. He followed that film up with “Mystic River” (another Oscar nod) and “Million Dollar Baby” (another Oscar) as well as two very different films that looked at war through different eyes, “Flags of My Father” and “Letters From Iwo Jima.” A musical was probably a nice break but Eastwood is best when he’s looking at life and the moral questions it asks.

Based on the exploits Kyle himself highlighted in his book of the same name, “American Sniper” is a film that will have you on the edge of your seat constantly. Eastwood puts the viewer INTO the war. It’s you looking through the scope, fingering the trigger and praying you’re not wrong.

Carrying an extra 40 pounds of muscle, Cooper transforms himself in to Kyle. Gone is the smart-alecky Phil from “The Hangover.” Instead we gaze upon one of America’s finest. Cooper loses himself in the performance giving a believability that is often lost in films like this. He is matched emotion for emotion by Miller, who portrays his frightened wife, Taya. Her fear, home alone, is just as real as the fear Kyle faces in the field. But that fear doesn’t stop him from doing his job, emerging from his tours of duty as the most deadly sniper in U.S. military history. Kyle is so feared by the enemy that “Wanted” posters featuring just images of just his tattoos begin springing up. His story is uplifting as well as it is tragic, and should be remembered for a long time to come.

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Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Viola Davis and Wei Tang
Directed By: Michael Mann
Rated: R
Running Time: 133 minutes
Universal Pictures

Our Score: 1.5 out of 5 stars

May I state the obvious? I shall. It seems like every week, and sometimes every day, there’s a breaking update on how someone’s social media account was hacked or how hacktivists have leaked thousands of valuable government or company documents (U.S. military and Sony, I’m looking at you). Cyber terrorism might end up being the most highly used news term for 2015 with how the landscapes of battles are changing. It’s a fascinating new realm in which to play with story ideas and birth high concepts. So why does “Blackhat” feel like such an outdated product?

Scrawny, pencil thin nerds are what we’ve come to expect in techno thrillers. We imagine them sitting behind a computer, clicking and clacking away at the keyboard, pushing their glasses up the brim of their nose, but instead we have the muscular, wavy golden haired Chris Hemsworth. He plays Nicholas Hathaway, one of the world’s greatest hackers, who’s incarcerated and still able to hack from prison by the way. He does push-ups in solitary, talks with piercing confidence, and seems un-phased by life in prison.

His skills will be needed after a criminal begins hacking his way into the financial systems of China and causes a nuclear power plant to go haywire. He’s recruited by Chen (Leehom Wang), a high ranking military expert for the Chinese government who, by the strangest coincidences of the movie, was Nick’s college roommate. They may have just as well have lived across the hall from our criminal by that logic.

After some unnecessary negotiations with Chinese and U.S. governments to get Nick free, the two meet, and along for the ride, is Chen’s sister, Lien (Tang). Oh by the way, she’s also a master hacker, computer expert, and anything else the script requires. The exact moment Nick and Lien lay eyes on each other, you know they’re going to hook up. It’s usually an obligatory character relationship that’s created to add tension or complicate matters for our group. It doesn’t.

The more I think about “Blackhat”, the more I wonder when this was written and who wrote it. Nick’s on the trail of a supposed genius that neither the U.S. or Chinese government can catch, but his knack for picking up on clues or finding evidence is ludicrously easy or frustratingly unrealistic. It makes you wonder why neither government wouldn’t already have the manpower or staff to catch someone who, as the movie says, is incredibly dangerous. Although it’s example as to why he’s so dangerous is because he’s not doing these attacks for political or financial gain. By the way, one of those ends up being true anyway.

It’s really hard to flat out hate something that tries so admirably. It’s almost like listening to a kindergarten class sing a beloved song. They’re butchering it, but they definitely got some room to grow. Director Michael Mann’s previous movies include “Last of the Mohicans” and “Heat”, but loses so much dramatic flair amidst techno babble. The cast is spick and span despite a baffling script. There are some neat visuals and gorgeous establishing shots. But this movie is just frustrating because it just can’t bring everything together.

Someone might want to consider programming some better hardware into this movie before releasing it. There’s a lot to enjoy, but it’s suppressed by mundane talk sets. It’s even more vexing for me because I keep trying to put my finger on it. What happened? It has a style that screams exciting, but constantly had me stretching my legs and covering my mouth as I yawned.

Starring: Alfre Woodard, Annabelle Wallis, Eric Ladin, Tony Amendola (I), Michelle Romano, Ward Horton
Director: John R. Leonetti
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Warner Home Video
Release Date: January 20, 2015
Run Time: 98 minutes

Film: 3 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3 out of 5 stars

Raise your hand, who loved the character Annabelle from James Wan’s “The Conjuring”? She creeped the hell out of us all. This spin-off was based over from Wan to John R. Leonetti, who served as cinematographer on “The Conjuring”. If you loved “The Conjuring” though, it doesn’t mean that you will love “Annabelle”. The back story was decent but the major scares from “The Conjuring” are almost all but missing. There are two or three good scans courtesy of my buddy Joseph Bishara (aka the demon), other than that, this feels more like a TV version spin-off of a great horror film.  The cast of “Annabelle” includes Annabelle Wallis (“X-Men: First Class”), Ward Horton (“The Wolf of Wall Street”), Oscar nominee Alfre Woodard (“Cross Creek,” “12 Years a Slave”), Kerry O’Malley (TV’s “Those Who Kill”), Brian Howe (“Devil’s Knot”), Tony Amendola (TV’s “Once Upon A Time”) and Eric Ladin (TV’s “Boardwalk Empire”).

Official Premise: She terrified you in “The Conjuring,” but this is where it all began for Annabelle. Capable of unspeakable evil, the actual doll exists locked up in an occult museum in Connecticut—visited only by a priest who blesses her twice a month. New Line Cinema’s supernatural thriller “Annabelle” begins before the evil was unleashed. John Form has found the perfect gift for his expectant wife, Mia—a beautiful, rare vintage doll in a pure white wedding dress. But Mia’s delight with Annabelle doesn’t last long. On one horrific night, their home is invaded by members of a satanic cult, who violently attack the couple. Spilled blood and terror are not all they leave behind. The cultists have conjured an entity so malevolent that nothing they did will compare to the sinister conduit to the damned that is now…Annabelle.

“Annabelle” released by Warner Bros as a combo pack with a Blu-ray disc, a DVD, and a digital version of the movie in Digital HD with UltraViolet. The 1080p transfer is good. There isn’t really music dazzle in this low-budget horror film to make it stand out. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 does shine though with Joseph Bishara’s score (yes, the guy who also played the demon), which is definitely a highlight for the film. The special features are decent but a little short and lacking a commentary track. There are four featurettes including “The Curse of Annabelle”, “Bloody Tears of Possession”, “Dolls of the Demon” and “A Demonic Process”. If you enjoyed the films, the special features are certainly worth checking out. Lastly there are a few deleted scenes included.

Own “Annabelle” on Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD, and Digital HD on January 20th

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