The week’s DVDs begin in Australia:
DVDs and streaming for March 17 by Boo Allen
This week, we begin in Australia:
Son of a Gun (***) Ewan McGregor stars in this action-filled Australian crime drama as Brendan Lynch, a jailed convict who befriends a naïve young prisoner, JR (Brenton Thwaites), and protects him from prison abuse. But in return, JR, upon his release, must help Lynch and two other prisoners escape in a daring helicopter extraction. After, JR unwittingly falls in with Brendan’s gang, a sadistic bunch who seems to do little more than plan their next heist. In between, JR finds time to fall for the dangerous Tasha (Alicia Vikander), a femme fatale linked to the gang’s boss. Julius Avery wrote and directed with an eye towards a fast pace and grim atmospherics. Rated R, 109 minutes.
Extras: director’s commentary and a 13 minute “making of” featurette.
Russell Madness (***)
Robert Vince directed and co-wrote this fanciful family tale from a script by a quartet of writers, of whom at least one was overly familiar with the wiles and endless energy of a Jack Russell terrier. The star Jack Russel terrier, Russell (voice of Sean Giambroni), naturally, is an adorable pooch who escapes from a pet store only to end up with the dog-friendly Ferraro family. Incongruously, the Ferreros are themselves in the middle of attempting to revive a pro wrestling arena. Naturally, the talking Russell gets help from Hunk (Will Sasso), a talking monkey, to launch his, Russell’s, career as a wrestler. Seems he’s a natural. Russell succeeds in his unusual pursuit until it looks like he, Hunk, and the Ferraros may lose all they have worked for. But not to worry in this kid-friendly, family-friendly amusement. Fred Willard, reprising his role from “Best in Show,” hilariously delivers commentary during the so-called wrestling matches.
Rated PG, 93 minutes.
Extras: a three minute gag reel, a five minute featurette on training the featured terrier, and a two minute monkey sing-along.
Victory at Sea (***)
In 1952, NBC produced the 26 episode television documentary “Victory at Sea.” Two years later, the series was condensed into this more friendly feature-film length version, now available digitally restored. Alexander Scourby narrates over a succession of actual war scenes, often brutal and painfully authentic. Devoid of, and better because of, any modern special effects or re-enactments, the often grainy work uses footage not only from the U.S. government but also from Great Britain, as well as captured footage from Germany and Japan. The overall sense is of seeing the war as it was actually was—on board ships, below submarine decks, in fox holes, and many other settings. Richard Rodgers composed a thundering score to complement the often gritty scenes.
Not rated, 98 minutes.
The Divine Move (***)
This Korean thriller again confirms the postulation that Korea now makes the world’s best action films. Some of the most important sequences take place in the chaotic gambling dens featuring the game GO. But knowledge of the game is not necessary (thankfully), as Tae-seok (Jung Woo-sung) sees his brother lose his money and then be murdered at one of the dens. Tae-seok wrongfully takes the fall for the murder. Once inside prison, he learns how to play the game from another, unseen, prisoner while also learning martial arts moves. Once released, Tae-seok seeks revenge from several criminal king-pins but not before director Beom-gu Cho mixes in a blind GO guru, a child prodigy, some goofy, colorful sidekicks, and even a touch of romance. The fast-paced work slides from one action sequence to another.
Not rated, 118 minutes.
Extras: a five minute “making of” featurette.
And, finally, from this week’s TV arrivals:
TURN: Washington’s Spies—season one
The best thing about this AMC series is that everyone knows how it will eventually end: we win. Think of it as “American Sniper”–Revolutionary War style. Based on Alexander Rose’s book “Washington’s Spies,” the series’ ten episodes, on three discs, begin in 1776 New England and then jump around and through New York, New Jersey, Connecticut (but filmed in Virginia). In an expansive cast filled with impressive British and American talents, Jamie Bell takes the lead role as Abraham Woodhull, an actual New England farmer who claimed allegiance to King George III and the troops who occupied his small town Setauket, Long Island. When Abraham finds himself alienated from the British for various reasons, he begins shuttling secrets to his friends in the rebel Continental army, forming what became known as the Culper Spy Ring. Abraham’s father, Judge Richard Woodhull (Kevin McNally), an ardent Royalist, believes his son to be loyal and inadvertently lets slip information gleaned from the area’s British officer, Major Hewlett (Burn Gorman). Meanwhile, every episode unveils another sub-plot involving either the locals or many of Woodhull’s friends, many taken from historical records. During the season, various familiar figures appear, however briefly, such as the generals Howe, Cornwallis, and a guy named Washington whom the Brits love to under-estimate.
Not rated, 452 minutes.
Extras: deleted scenes for each episode, a five minute featurette on “From Art to Image,” and a five minute “making of” featurette “The History of TURN: Washington’s Spies.
Also on DVD and streaming: Annie, Dust of War, Full Circle, Muck, Penguins of Madagascar, The Physician, Song of the Sea, Top Five.