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NO WAY HOME COMES TO THE HOME
NEW JOINERS AT DEGI
ARROW GOES WILD
EUREKA PRIMSE REVOLVER…
AND CELEBRATES WITH VAMPYR…
…AND A CENTENARY FOR NOSFERATU
DOGWOOF GOES UNDERWATER
RESPONDER GETS THERE FIRSRT
OUT OF THE TRAPS
AN INTERESTING PROPOSITION
SOVEREIGN GOES XTREME
AT THE MOVIES
TWEET OF THE WEEK
TRAILERS OF THE WEEK
After the strong performance of recent blockbuster film releases on home entertainment, not least the stellar performance of the massive Bond blockbuster No Time To Die, it’s good to see another massive post-pandemic box office behemoth is on its way too… And Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has this week confirmed the impending arrival of Spider-Man in his latest and arguably finest outing, No Way Home. The major has officially announced the release date of the all-star wall-crawling, web-slinging hit, which features Tom Holland as Peter Parker alongside an all-star cast of other superheroes and baddies from all different dimensions, with No Way Home arriving in stores on April 4. It comes in assorted SKUs, including DVD, Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD, as well as three triple packs across the same formats featuring all three of Holland’s Spidey features. All are extras-laden and there are also assorted exclusives such as an Amazon Steelbook, alongside the digital release as well. No Way Home is still in the UK box office top 10 and is edging its way ever closer to the magic £100 million mark in box office receipts. Given that hugely impressive box office total, the film is not just one of the biggest comic book films ever, but one of the UK’s highest grossing films of all-time, as well as the post-lockdown precedents set by No Time To Die, things are looking good for Parker and co. SPHE is now finalising its marketing campaign for the release, more due in the coming weeks.
Sticking with Sony Pictures Home Entertainment and the major, along with contemporaries BBC Studios and Disney has joined The Digital Entertainment Group International (DEGI), The move will see the working with other key members Google, Lionsgate, Paramount, Universal and Warner to push digital across international territories and work on initiatives as well as sharing information and more. Joe Braman, Co-chair of the DEGI said: “The DEGI welcomes these three new members and their engaged membership at such an exciting time for the category. As the surge in new content continues across the next six months, their experience and ambition will be a huge benefit to our collective goals. In addition, increased consumer awareness of multiple formats in a post-lockdown screen landscape makes it more essential than ever that we come together to share our knowledge and expertise in conveying the many benefits of digital ownership and rental to audiences. In return, we offer our DEGI members leading market understanding, reporting and insights across the entire category.” Rob Crowe, Sales Manager, On-Line & Digital at BBC Studios said: “With the digital landscape and consumer choice changing faster than ever, it’s never been more important for us to come together as an industry to understand our customers and how best to engage them in digital ownership in the years ahead. I look forward to working with the other members of the DEGI to further our mutual ambitions for the category.” Laura Broadbent, Project Director, Transactional Digital Acceleration Program at Sony Pictures Entertainment said: “The Digital transactional landscape is evolving faster than ever before and at its heart is an increasing appetite for great Film and TV content from consumers. This presents a phenomenal opportunity for growth across international territories. The DEGI provides us with a strong platform for collaboration through the sharing of research, actionable insight and knowledge which will enable us to help our audiences understand how and where they can rent or buy the wealth of content available to them. We look forward to working with the other DEGI members to improve the consumer experience with the aim of further accelerating the growth of the International transactional digital markets in the coming years.” Johnnie Thompson, Director, Digital Stores, EMEA & Russia at The Walt Disney Company added: “With almost 18m digital purchases in the UK alone in 2021, the Digital Home Entertainment category continues to thrive. We know that people crave flexibility, and whether it’s a digital rental or purchase, in cinema, or via Disney+, there are more ways than ever for fans to enjoy Disney’s world-class storytelling. So, it’s essential that we come together as an industry to share our knowledge and expertise to drive the digital category forward, and DEGI provides a great platform to do just that.”
If it’s the last Friday of the month, then it’s also tine for the latest announcement from Arrow, with, as regular as clockwork, the company outlining another batch of releases due on its ever-popular Arrow Video imprint. This time around, it was revealing the titles due to hit the shelves in May, with another impressive clutch of genre fare due and a wildly eclectic mixture ranging form kung fu to 80s-style erotic thrillers and from classic horror to a brace from visionary French helmer Gaspar Noe. Arrow’s Fran Simeoni talked us through the slate, saying: “This May we have something for everyone with a slasher revival, 90s erotic thriller, classic horror, kung-fu and a man who is a genre unto himself, two from singular Gasper Noe. The month kicks off with Girls Nite Out, a slasher featuring a familiar cast of genre names which has never been on a digital format is now unleashed on Blu-ray newly restored from original 35mm elements. It comes with our signature host of extras and arresting artwork by Justin Osbourne. Next up is iconic horror classic Candyman newly minted in a 4K HDR upgrade and presented on deluxe edition UHD with all the trimmings from our earlier Blu-ray. We continue the 90s UHD trend with Wild Things, our second John McNaughton film starring the sensational cast of Matt Dillon, Denise Richards, Neve Campbell, Kevin Bacon and Bill Murray in a twisty and steamy thriller that has not had a proper special edition, until now. Featuring a bounty of extras including interviews and commentaries and the cast and crew the release comes in multiple SKU options with two SteelBook variants and an alternative artwork for a rigid box limited edition featuring artcards, booklet and poster. While in the US we turn to One-Armed Boxer (released in the UK by Eureka), our first Golden Harvest title, the competitor studio to Shaw Brothers, a classic in its own right, starring the wonderful Jimmy Wang Yu, loaded with extras including an exclusive interview with Yu. Then finally two films by Gaspar Noe. Hopefully one of the most physically stunning release of the year, Enter the Void is released on Blu-ray for the first time in the UK and features two cuts of the film, multiple extras and comes packaged in a glossy rigid box. Alongside this, his penultimate film Lux Aeterna a film about filmmaking starring French icons Beatrice Dalle and Charlotte Gainsbourg about a pair of actresses in a film about witches. A typically hypnotic assault on the senses the films are released in time to coincide with a Gaspar Noe season at BFI’s Southbank and ahead of the release of Noe’s latest film Vortex, starring Dario Argento, another Arrow regular!”
Another label which tends to announce its wares around the same time as Arrow is Eureka and its assorted prints such as the ever-wonderful Masters Of Cinema. The company’s national accounts manager Marcus Garwood, as ever, talks us through its May titles, He said: “A violent crime thriller and a cornerstone of horror are the two genres we have lined up for the month of May here at Eureka Entertainment. Spaghetti Western supremo Sergio Sollima (The Big Gundown; Face to Face; and Run, Man, Run) turns his directorial hand to violent and action-packed 1973 Italian crime thriller Revolver in the first of this month’s releases. Starring Oliver Reed (Gladiator) and sporting the tagline ‘Makes Death Wish look like wishful thinking!’ Revolver is pumped full of high adrenalin action & enhanced still further by a soundtrack from the late, great maestro Ennio Morricone. The first print-run of 2000 copies will feature a limited edition O-card slipcase and collector’s booklet (with two new essays by author Howard Hughes; one covering the background to the making of Revolver, and an extensive piece on Ennio Morricone’s Eurocrime soundtracks), plus a brand new interview with film scholar Stephen Thrower, author of Nightmare USA, and will be released on May 16.”
Eureka’s Marcus Garwood continued the label’s May slate announcement, adding: “The Masters Of Cinema Series next and it’s a big release for all fans of the Collectors Series as Eureka proudly present a very special limited edition release of Carl Theodor Dreyer's 1932 early Horror masterwork Vampyr for its 90th anniversary. Presented from an all-new 2K restoration by the Danish Film Institute, supported by the MEDIA program Creative Europe, and taking more than a decade to complete – materials from several European archives (including the BFI, CNC and DFI) have been meticulously scanned and assessed to create the highest quality and most faithful version of Vampyr possible. A tour-de-force of supernatural phantasmagoria and creeping unease, via audacious camerawork and sound design Vampyr remains a cornerstone work of the horror genre. Disc extras include a new video interview with author and critic Kim Newman on Vampyr's unique place within vampire cinema, There are two audio commentaries: one by critic and programmer Tony Rayns; the second by filmmaker and Vampyr fan Guillermo del Toro, among many others. The release package is completed with a substantial 100-page book featuring rare production stills, location photography, posters, the 1932 Danish film programme, a 1964 interview with Baron Nicolas de Gunzberg (producer and actor Allan Gray), an essay by Dreyer on film style, and writing by Tom Milne, Jean and Dale Drum, and film restorer Martin Koerber. The film will be released theatrically on May 20, followed by the Limited Edition Blu-ray release just ten days later on May 30.”
Beyond May and there are more birthdays for classic titles, with another biggie from Eureka’s catalogue celebrating this year. Marcus Garwood said “And talking of anniversaries, the profile of one of the best selling titles within The Masters of Cinema Series, namely Nosferatu, will be raised over the coming months as 2022 brings the centenary of the most influential horror film of all time. The screen's first, albeit unauthorised adaptation of Bram Stoker's Dracula (which itself celebrates its 125th anniversary this year) features Max Schreck's unforgettable performance as the vampire Count Orlok, the most chilling portrayal of cadaverous evil in film history. Although a court order to destroy the film was successfully brought by Stoker's widow, some copies escaped, and subsequently gave the 20th century some of its defining images of supernatural terror and dread. Remade by Werner Herzog in 1979 (and inspiring films as diverse as Abel Ferrara’s King of New York and The Addiction, and E. Elias Merhige’s Shadow of the Vampire), F. W. Murnau’s surreal 1922 cine-fable remains the original and landmark entry in the entire global tradition of “the horror film”. A towering masterpiece whose legacy is truly incalculable, Nosferatu remains as mesmerising - and haunting - as ever. In celebration of the centenary, Nosferatu will be returning to cinemas in the UK and Ireland throughout 2022"
One of Monday February 28’s biggest release sees Dogwoof donning a snorkel and wetsuit and going under the see for Becoming Cousteau, a documentary looking at the life and times of the noted underwater explorer and groundbreaking environmentalist Jacques-Yves Cousteau. Commenting on the release, Dogwood’s Nafi Gordon-Sy said; “We are incredibly excited about the release of Becoming Cousteau: an amazing story which charts Jacques-Yves Cousteau’s evolution as an explorer, inventor and filmmaker to ultimately become one of the world’s leading environmentalists. Director Liz Garbus is an Emmy-winning and twice Oscar-nominated filmmaker who has expertly crafted a film that captures our imaginations and reveals a seldom explored side to one of our most iconic adventurers. It is BAFTA-nominated for Best Documentary Film and winner of Best Documentary at BFI London Film Festival 2021 – essential viewing for any documentary lover.”
In a strong 2022 thus far for homegrown UK TV drama, one of the most acclaimed offerings has come in the shape of Responder, which starred Martin Freeman as the policeman with a highly credible Scouse accent. And it arrives in stores on Monday courtesy of Dazzler, which has had a strong slate of telly titles this year. The company’s Paul Holland said: “The Top 5 TV series in January 2022 measured by ratings was heavily Dazzler dominated. Trigger Point, The Tourist and Responder all getting over 7 million viewers and over the next four weeks all will be released starting with Responder on Monday February 28. Martin Freeman again demonstrated his skill to deliver outstanding character driven performances as a Liverpool copper who still plays by many of the old rules and even bends those to get the real criminals convicted. The Guardian among others gave this a five star review. With Trigger Point, The Tourist, A Discovery Of Witches and the new series of Shakespeare and Hathaway all released in the coming weeks, it a bumper time of TV drama coming from Dazzler.”
More releases for in stores on Monday February 28 and due up from Second Run is another rarely seen classic and a further addition to its burgeoning library of Czech film classics in the shape of The Devil’s Trap. Comment on the release came from the company’s Chris Barwick who said: “Having long-championed of the works of legendary Czech filmmaker Frantisek Vlacil - and were the first to release his works in the UK - we’re thrilled to be bringing his 1961 film The Devil's Trap to Blu-ray for the first time anywhere. The first of his visionary historical epics, The Devil's Trap prefigures his masterwork Marketa Lazarová. As you would expect, it’s a detailed and visually stunning film and an essential addition to our slate of Czechoslovak film classics.”
The BFI is readying itself for a busy few months with a packed slate and it marked the impending release of a newly-restored 4K presentation of The Proposition with a special screening at its Southbank home by the Thames in London. The screening, which took place ahead of the 4K Blu-ray release on March 28, saw director John Hillcoat and others join in for the screening and subsequent Q&A. Here’s the BFI’s John Ramchandani on the event, he said: “The original Super 35mm negative of The Proposition has been scanned at 4K and presented in its original aspect ratio (2.35;1). Director John Hillcoat and cinematographer Benoit Delhomme were involved in the colour grading process so we were thrilled to screen it in all its brutal, bloody glory in NFT1 at the Southbank. The packed screening was followed by a Q&A hosted by BFI’s new Executive Director of Public Programme & Audiences, Jason Wood and attended in person by Emily Watson and producers Cat Villiers and Chiara Menage. As a testament to the film’s ongoing popularity and status as a modern classic we were also joined live by John Hillcoat, Danny Huston, Ray Winstone and Guy Pearce, all of whom dialled in via zoom. One Q&A across five time zones to launch the forthcoming UHD and two-disc Blu-ray release on March 28.”
Sovereign, the distributor through to production company (and more) is currently riding high thanks to recent theatrical success such as the marvellously titled Bad Luck Banging Or Loony Porn as well as Apichatpong Weerasethakul’s Memoria, has launched a new imprint Actin Xtreme. Its current head of film distribution Chee Keong Cheung, himself an action director and producer of some renown, will head up the label, which is aimed at creating content for film, TV and online. It is developing properties for film, TV, graphic novels and comics as well as games and merchandise. Cheung said: “Cheung said; “I am excited to embark on this adventure with Action Xtreme, with the support and backing of Sovereign. Our goal is to put the UK on the map for original, thrilling and entertaining action content, drawing on the incredible wealth of emerging talent that the UK has to offer. We want to tell stories that challenge, fascinate and ignite passions, and we’re hungry to find new voices and stories.” Sovereign CEO Andreas Roald said; “I’ve known Chee for many years and have seen how his energy, focus and hard work translates into exciting business opportunities and inspiring content. I am delighted to see his unique talent and entrepreneurial flair develop and prosper with Action Xtreme.”
AT THE MOVIES
Uber-director James Mangold, with a lengthy and varied CV and filmography behind him, is lining up his next project for when he’s finished shooting the soon-to-wrap Indiana Jones 5. For it’s been revealed this week that the man behind the likes of Logan and Le Mans 66 is to direct and produce a film based on the life of silent film great Buster Keaton. The film, based on the biography Buster Keaton: Cut to the Chase, will come under the director’s deal with 20th Century Studio. A writer is currently being sought for the project.
Another director keeping himself super-busy is Steven Spielberg. And it appears as if the director is returning to a classic slice of 60s action for his next project. He is reviving the adventures of San Francisco cop Frank Bullitt, from the film of the same name, for a new outing. The original Bullitt, of course, started a Steve McQueen as the tough cop and features a car chase that truly deserves the description “iconic” up and down the city’s streets. This is no mere remake, however, but will instead offer up a completely new story featuring the cop. McQueen’s son Chad is among the executive producers. Before this, there’s still Spielberg’s semi-autobiographical The Fablemans due…
The fourth series of The Marvelous Mrs Maisel is currently dropping weekly on Amazon Prime and the streamer has this week announced that a fifth and final outing for the comedy show has been commissioned from creators and producers Amy Sherman-Palladino and Daniel Palladino. “Amy, Dan, and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel have blazed an unparalleled path, elevating the stories we tell about women, challenging the norms in our industry, and forever altering the entertainment landscape with their one-of-a-kind storytelling,” said Jennifer Salke, head of Amazon Studios. “The dozens of awards cement Maisel’s legacy in many ways, but what’s even more enduring and poignant are the characters Amy created and the joyous, brilliant, singular world she and Dan brought to life. This series has meant so much to Prime Video and the effects of its success will be felt long after its final season. I can’t wait for fans and our worldwide Prime Video audience to savour each moment as we embark on the culmination of this groundbreaking and unforgettable series.”
TWEET OF THE WEEK
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TRAILERS OF THE WEEK
Due from Bulldog…
Are we the baddies?
“I’m an influencer…”
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