DVD/Blu-ray Release Calendar: October 2014
October 7
All movies are 2013/14 releases unless otherwise noted. Availability:
DVD |
Blu-ray |
Both Blu-ray and DVD
Edge of Tomorrow 71 Watch Trailer
Or should we say "Live. Die. Repeat."? What once was the film's tagline has now—if the box art and online store listings are to be believed—become the title of a Tom Cruise sci-fi action film that was originally known as All You Need Is Kill before switching to the forgettable Edge of Tomorrow. (It proved so forgettable that moviegoers couldn't remember to go to the cineplex to see it, making it one of this summer's bigger flops.) Still, reviews were good for director Doug Liman's (The Bourne Identity) return to action filmmaking with an adaptation of Hiroshi Sakuraska’s sci-fi novel about an inexperienced Army officer (Cruise) who plays a key role in a war against alien invaders. When he is killed, he becomes stuck in a time loop and must repeatedly relive the battle, dying each time but becoming a better fighter along the way. Think Groundhog Day with more combat and fewer laughs.
Million Dollar Arm 56 Watch Trailer
Jon Hamm stars as a down-on-his-luck sports agent who heads to India to look for cricket players he can transform into Major League Baseball stars ... via a televised reality competition show. The cast of this based-on-a-true-story dramedy from Disney also includes Lake Bell, Aasif Mandvi, and Alan Arkin. Directed by Craig Gillespie (Lars and the Real Girl) from a screenplay by Tom McCarthy (Win Win), Million Dollar Arm didn't make much of an impression on critics, who found it rather formulaic, predictable, and derivative. That said, many also found it pleasant enough—perhaps enough so to merit a look in a month lacking a large number of great home video releases.
A Million Ways to Die in the West 44 Watch Trailer
Seth MacFarlane's follow-up to his successful debut feature Ted was—well, not so successful (on any level). The Family Guy creator writes, directs, and stars as Albert, a cowardly farmer who loses his girlfriend (Amanda Seyfried) to a mustachioed slickster played by Neil Patrick Harris. Luckily for Albert, he befriends the new-to-town Anna (Charlize Theron). Unluckily for Albert, Anna's husband (Liam Neeson) is an outlaw looking for a gunfight. Joining MacFarlane in the comically dangerous Old West are Giovanni Ribisi, Sarah Silverman, Wes Studi, and Christopher Lloyd. The unrated Blu-ray release adds plenty of alternate, extended, and deleted scenes, plus the original movie, which you obviously didn't see when it was in theaters.
Obvious Child 75 Watch Trailer
Certainly one of the better indie comedies to reach theaters this summer, writer-director Gillian Robespierre’s debut feature stars Jenny Slate as a comedian who is dumped by her boyfriend, gets pregnant from a one-night stand, and contemplates abortion. (Yes, we said it’s a comedy, and we mean it). The film impressed viewers and critics at January's Sundance Film Festival and did the same when it opened in June; critics especially admired Slate's performance. She's joined in the cast by Jake Lacy (The Office), Gaby Hoffman, Richard Kind, Gabe Liedman, and David Cross.
More movie releases on October 7, 2014
48
4 Minute Mile DRAMA | Richard Jenkins, Kim Basinger
83
Alien (1979) 35th anniversary Blu-ray edition includes theatrical release plus director's cut
Billion Dollar Brain (1967) ACTION/ADVENTURE | Michael Caine
Duck, You Sucker! [aka A Fistful of Dynamite] (1971) WESTERN | James Coburn, Rod Steiger
57
The Grand Seduction COMEDY | Taylor Kitsch, Brendan Gleeson
Holiday Inn (1942) MUSICAL/COMEDY | Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire
56
Jack and The Cuckoo Clock Heart ANIMATION
The King & I (1956) MUSICAL | Yul Brynner
87
Level Five (1996) FOREIGN/EXPERIMENTAL | Directed by Chris Marker
Mulholland Falls (1996) THRILLER | Nick Nolte, Melanie Griffith, Michael Madsen
Nekromantik (1987) FOREIGN/HORROR
72
A People Uncounted DOCUMENTARY
35
Radio Free Albemuth SCI-FI/THRILLER | Scott Wilson, Alanis Morissette
School Dance DRAMEDY | George Lopez
64
Supermensch: The Legend of Shep Gordon DOCUMENTARY
29
Tasting Menu COMEDY | Jan Cornet, Fionnula Flanagan
67
To Be Takei DOCUMENTARY
Topkapi (1964) FOREIGN/ACTION/COMEDY | Peter Ustinov
True Confessions (1981) THRILLER | Robert De Niro, Robert Duvall
TV on DVD/Blu-ray
Adventure Time Season 4
Afterlife Series 2
66
The Almighty Johnsons Season 1
71
American Horror Story: Coven
Ancient Aliens Season 6 Vol. 1
67
Bates Motel Season 2
China Beach Complete series
Duck Dynasty Season 6
45
The Following Season 2
44
Hemlock Grove Season 1
51
Houdini Miniseries
87
In the Flesh Season 2
The Legend of Lizzie Borden 1975 TV movie
Psych Complete series
85
Rick and Morty Season 1
50
Sharknado 2: The Second One TV movie
77
Vikings Season 2
80
The Wonder Years Season 1
October 14
Fargo: Season 1 85
It seemed unlikely that a television series—and one with an all-new cast and a new writer—could capture the quirky but menacing tone of one of the Coen brothers' most beloved films, but Noah Hawley's FX series appears to have done just that. While Fargo the series borrows slightly more than just the Minnesota setting from the 1996 Oscar-nominated feature, many of the storylines, details, and characters are new, while staying true to the original's spirit. Strong performances from a top-notch cast (including Billy Bob Thornton, Martin Freeman, and relative newcomer Allison Tolman) made Fargo a favorite among critics this year, and Emmy voters rewarded it with 18 nominations. But you'll probably have to wait until late 2015 for a second season, which will feature a new cast and a different time period.
Los Angeles Plays Itself (2004) 86
It's the best documentary about movies—and, for that matter, Los Angeles—that you've never had a chance to see, until now. A 169-minute filmic essay about how L.A. has been reflected through the lens of Hollywood throughout the decades, the documentary is almost magically constructed out of clips from over 300 films set in the city, accompanied by narration written by director (and film professor) Thom Andersen. The multiple award-winning Los Angeles Plays Itself has received the occasional theatrical screening over the past decade, but now finally comes to home video for the first time.
X-Men: Days of Future Past 74 Watch Trailer
Bryan Singer’s legal troubles didn't prevent him from making a triumphant return to the X-Men movie franchise, returning to the series for the first time since X2: X-Men United. This time-traveling story, based on one of the most beloved X-Men comics, unites the the original film's cast (Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Hugh Jackman, Halle Berry, Ellen Page, Anna Paquin, Shawn Ashmore, and Daniel Cudmore) with that of X-Men: First Class (James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Nicholas Hoult, and Lucas Till) to fight Peter Dinklage’s Bolivar Trask as he tries to wipe out the mutants with his deadly invention, the Sentinels. In an already crowded film, there are some new faces as well, including Omar Sy as Bishop, Fan Bingbing as Blink, Booboo Stewart as Warpath, Evan Peters as Quicksilver, and Adan Canto as Sunspot. DOFP became the highest-grossing film in the series, and a sequel, X-Men: Apocalypse, is headed to theaters on May 27, 2016.
More movie releases on October 14, 2014
62
Beneath the Harvest Sky DRAMA
The China Syndrome (1979) THRILLER | Jack Lemmon, Jane Fonda, Michael Douglas
64
Chinese Puzzle COMEDY | Audrey Tautou
73
The Deer Hunter (1978) DRAMA | Christopher Walken, Robert De Niro
Desperately Seeking Susan (1985) COMEDY | Madonna, Rosanna Arquette
43
Kingpin (1996) COMEDY | Woody Harrelson, Bill Murray, Randy Quaid
Last Embrace (1979) THRILLER | Roy Scheider, Janet Margolin
71
Married to the Mob (1988) COMEDY | Alec Baldwin, Michelle Pfeiffer
59
Mr. Peabody & Sherman ANIMATION/FAMILY | Ty Burrell, Allison Janney
My Darling Clementine (1946) Criterion Collection release
51
Nothing Bad Can Happen FOREIGN/THRILLER
11
Persecuted THRILLER | James Remar, Bruce Davison
Steven Spielberg Director's Collection 8-film set includes 4 films never before on Blu-ray
45
Vanilla Sky (2001) THRILLER | Tom Cruise
69
Venus in Fur DRAMA | Directed by Roman Polanski
72
Violette DRAMA | Emmanuelle Devos
74
Whitey: United States of America v. James J. Bulger DOCUMENTARY
TV on DVD/Blu-ray
2 Broke Girls Season 3
55
Dracula Season 1
Murdoch Mysteries Season 7
71
Penny Dreadful Season 1
Robot Chicken DC Comics Special 2: Villains In Paradise
Star Wars Rebels: Spark of Rebellion TV movie
Two and a Half Men Season 11
October 21
Life After Beth 50 Watch Trailer
The second entry in the growing zombie rom-com genre (following last year’s Warm Bodies) stars Aubrey Plaza as the titular Beth, whose death motivates a grieving Zach (Dane DeHaan) to spend time with her parents (John C. Reilly and Molly Shannon). When he begins to feel they are shutting him out, he discovers that Beth is actually alive. Zach initially sees it as a fortunate second chance, but maybe he’s ignoring the difficulties of loving someone who wants to eat human flesh. Anna Kendrick, Cheryl Hines, Paul Reiser, and Alia Shawkat also star in writer-director Jeff Baena’s debut feature. Though Beth earned good-to-mixed reviews when it premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, critics were a bit less kind upon its theatrical release in August.
Sex Tape 36 Watch Trailer
Well, you may be better off watching an actual sex tape. Critics found little excitement in this flaccid, R-rated comedy from the team behind Bad Teacher (director Jake Kasdan and stars Cameron Diaz and Jason Segel). The script by Kate Angelo (The Back-Up Plan) follows Annie and Jay, a couple with two kids, whose love life needs a spark. Unfortunately for them, the video of their three-hour marathon Joy of Sex session gets uploaded to the cloud and onto the iPads they gave out as gifts. Rob Corddry, Ellie Kemper, and Rob Lowe play just a few of the people Annie and Jay would like to prevent from seeing their video.
Snowpiercer 84 Watch Trailer
The film the Weinstein Company wanted to butcher for its American release (by trimming 20 minutes and adding voiceover) finally reached theaters early this summer in its original director's cut, though on fewer screens than originally planned. That distribution strategy only deprived audiences of one of the best and most inventive films to come out this year. An adaptation of the French graphic novel Le Transperceneige, Bong Joon-ho's stylized sci-fi action tale takes place in the near future, when a new Ice Age wipes out most of the life on the planet and the remaining human survivors take refuge on a train that remains in perpetual motion on a trans-global journey. Virtually the entire movie takes place aboard the train, following the lower class inhabitants (led by Chris Evans) from the rear cars as they attempt to make their way to the front and start a revolution. Also starring are a memorable Tilda Swinton, plus Octavia Spencer, John Hurt, Jamie Bell, Alison Pill, Ed Harris, Ewen Bremner, and Kang-ho Song.
More movie releases on October 21, 2014
69
Cannibal FOREIGN/THRILLER
64
Canopy DRAMA
63
A Coffee in Berlin FOREIGN/DRAMA
53
Earth to Echo FAMILY/SCI-FI
F For Fake (1973) Criterion Collection (first Blu-ray release)
56
The Fluffy Movie COMEDY/DOCUMENTARY | Gabriel Iglesias
Gorky Park (1983) THRILLER | William Hurt, Lee Marvin
56
Kundo: Age of the Rampant FOREIGN/ACTION
La dolce vita (1960) Criterion Collection
60
The Last Sentence FOREIGN/DRAMA
43
Le Chef FOREIGN/COMEDY
65
A Letter to Momo ANIMATION/FAMILY
81
Norte, the End of History FOREIGN/DRAMA
69
Nuclear Nation FOREIGN/DOCUMENTARY
50
The Purge: Anarchy HORROR/THRILLER/ACTION | Zach Gilford, Frank Grillo
27
The Scribbler THRILLER | Katie Cassidy, Garret Dillahunt
To All a Goodnight (1980) HORROR
TV on DVD/Blu-ray
The Equalizer Season 3
Ghost Hunters Season 9 Part 2
85
Mad Men Season 7 Part 1
Pee-wee's Playhouse Complete series (newly remastered for Blu-ray)
The Soul Man Season 2
October 28
Life of Crime 60 Watch Trailer
When it premiered at last year’s Toronto International Film Festival, Daniel Schechter's adaptation of Elmore Leonard’s novel The Switch earned positive reviews and an extra bit of fascination from film nerds for the performances of Yasiin Bey (aka Mos Def) and John Hawkes as young Ordell Robbie and Louis Gara, characters originally portrayed by Samuel L. Jackson and Robert De Niro in Quentin Tarantino’s Jackie Brown (which itself was based on another Elmore Leonard novel, Rum Punch). Here, Ordell and Louis kidnap Margaret “Mickey” Dawson (Jennifer Aniston), the wife of corrupt real estate developer Frank Dawson (Tim Robbins), with the hopes of extorting money from him. Unfortunately for the kidnappers, Frank has a mistress (Isla Fisher), so he’s in no hurry to get his wife back. Unfortunately for the filmmaker, critics were less fond of his movie this year, finding it just a bit lifeless and underwhelming.
Wish I Was Here 43 Watch Trailer
You probably won't be hearing a reference to Wish I Was Here on the next Spoon album. Unlike Zach Braff's divisive (but still widely praised) first film Garden State, his second directorial effort made little impression on anyone, and doesn't appear to be entering anyone's idea of the zeitgeist. Not that anyone actually saw it; poor reviews followed Wish from Sundance to theaters, and there was also some backlash against Braff's decision to crowd-fund the film, and the result was one of the worst opening weekends for any film this year. Braff himself stars as Aidan Bloom, an actor, father, and husband struggling with financial woes, a dying father (Mandy Patinkin), and an irresponsible brother (Josh Gad), all while trying to home school his two kids (Joey King and Pierce Gagnon). Kate Hudson plays his hardworking and forgiving wife.
WKRP in Cincinnati: The Complete Series
Maybe WKRP and DVD were never meant to be. As with other shows that rely heavily on music, licensing issues have made WKRP's journey to DVD a long and nearly impossible one. But here it is, courtesy of a new Shout! Factory set that includes all four seasons (1978-82) of the sitcom about the employees of a fictitious Cincinnati radio station, including deejay Dr. Johnny Fever (Howard Hesseman), newsman Les Nessman (Richard Sanders), and receptionist Jennifer Marlowe (Loni Anderson). It's the first ever appearance of seasons 2-4 on DVD, and Shout! Factory has managed to license most (though not quite all) of the original songs. It's probably worth the purchase price alone for a full version of Thanksgiving episode "," one of the funniest half hours in TV history.
More movie releases on October 28, 2014
62
Begin Again DRAMA | Keira Knightley, Mark Ruffalo, Adam Levine
18
Behaving Badly COMEDY | Nat Wolff, Selena Gomez, Mary-Louise Parker
50
Child of God DRAMA/THRILLER | Scott Haze, James Franco, Tim Blake Nelson
The Complete Jacques Tati Criterion Collection box set (6 features, 7 short films)
40
Deliver Us From Evil HORROR/THRILLER | Eric Bana, Edgar Ramirez
72
Dormant Beauty FOREIGN/DRAMA | Isabelle Huppert
42
Good People ACTION/THRILLER | James Franco, Kate Hudson
49
Jamie Marks is Dead DRAMA | Cameron Monaghan, Liv Tyler
66
Moebius FOREIGN/DRAMA
32
Plastic ACTION/COMEDY | Ed Speleers, Will Poulter
17
The Prince ACTION/THRILLER | Bruce Willis, Jason Patric, John Cusack
59
Running From Crazy DOCUMENTARY | Mariel Hemingway
TV on DVD/Blu-ray
How We Got to Now With Steven Johnson Complete series
Masterpiece: Death Comes to Pemberley
Vera Set 4
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