Home Entertainment Guide May 2025: Better Man, Black Bag, Mickey 17, More | DVD/Blu-Ray | Roger Ebert
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Home Entertainment Guide May 2025: Better Man, Black Bag, Mickey 17, More | DVD/Blu-Ray | Roger Ebert

10 NEW TO NETFLIX

“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice“
“Hanna“
“I’m Nonetheless Right here“
“Paddington in Peru“
“Previous Lives“
“Smile“
“Starship Troopers“
“The Sugarland Specific“
“Practice to Busan“
“The Wild Robotic“

11 NEW TO BLU-RAY/DVD

“Better Man“

A lot of the dialog across the distinctive Robbie Williams biopic by which a CGI monkey takes the place of the Take That singer was in regards to the field workplace disappointment of the movie, which overshadowed two key takeaways. One, thank God there are nonetheless executives at main studios like Paramount prepared to take probabilities on a movie as unusual as this one. If we lose all ambition on the huge firms, we’re going to be in deep trouble. Two, the film is fairly intelligent, ingenious, and actually shifting, irrespective of how a lot cash it misplaced. It’s a bit longer than it must be, but it surely additionally comprises a number of the most ingenious filmmaking the musician biopic has seen in years. It’s price watching only for the “Rock DJ” sequence alone, a panoramic oner that finds the exuberance that’s so usually lacking from movies about inventive souls. One other factor in regards to the field workplace failure of “Better Man” is that the majority of you haven’t seen it. Right that at this time.

Particular Options

  • Let Me Entertain You: The Making of Better Man
  • Monkey Enterprise: The VFX

“Black Bag“

The second movie directed by Steven Soderbergh to be launched within the first few months of 2025 (after the superb “Presence“) was this good and horny spy thriller constructed round relationships and character greater than double crosses or something approaching motion. Michael Fassbender performs an MI6 agent who’s requested to analyze a attainable traitor in his midst, one other spy who simply occurs to be his spouse, Kathryn (Cate Blanchett). Working from a good script by David Koepp, Soderbergh directs a movie that’s in love with dialogue, each what we are saying and what we withhold from these to whom we’re closest. Blanchett and Fassbender are great, modern and fascinating with out being overly mannered. And, but once more, Soderbergh delivers a movie with out an oz. of fats on it. His current work has been so environment friendly, a trait that’s much more priceless in an period of bloated runtimes and streaming collection.

Particular Options

  • Deleted Scenes
  • The Firm of Expertise – On the earth of spies, there aren’t any small gamers. Be a part of the ensemble solid and study their distinct character motivations, secrets and techniques, and general inventive strategy to bringing every function to life underneath the route of Steven Soderbergh.
  • Designing BLACK BAG – Enter the world of espionage and accumulate intelligence on the manufacturing design, costumes, make-up, and particular results that got here collectively to embody the appears of every character and the aesthetic of every house they inhabit.

“Captain America: Courageous New World“

Man, what a waste of a good suggestion. The primary hour of Julius Onah’s “Captain America: Courageous New World” is definitely certainly one of Marvel’s strongest with tight combat choreography and fascinating concepts about how a lot we owe a rustic that hasn’t given us a lot in return. Anthony Mackie slides into the function simply, Danny Ramirez makes an efficient sidekick, and I get nice pleasure out of listening to an irascible Harrison Ford grumble via MCU nonsense like “celestial mass” with audible disdain. All of it feels prefer it’s going someplace, solely to do completely nothing with the concepts it units up, ending in a splash of shoddy CGI, most of which was given away within the trailers. Even the Blu-ray feels type of lesser in comparison with different Disney/Marvel releases. Cap (and Mackie) deserve higher.

Particular Options

  • DOLBY VISION/HDR PRESENTATION OF THE FILM
  • DOLBY ATMOS AUDIO TRACK
  • Audio Commentary – Hearken to Director Julius Onah and Director of Images Kramer Morgenthau speak in regards to the movie
  • Deleted Scenes:
  • A Heartfelt Thanks – President Ross praises Agent Taylor for her actions.
  • The Mission – Sam Wilson tries to extract info out of Agent Taylor within the boxing ring.
  • Stick Round – President Ross extends an apology and an surprising invitation to Isaiah.
  • Assuming the Mantle – Ever since his high-flying debut in “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” audiences world wide have recognized that Sam Wilson was destined for excellent issues. Be a part of the solid and crew as they take a look at Sam’s previous, current, and potential future within the MCU.
  • Previous Scores, New Scars – Courageous New World finds Captain America locked in a battle of brains and brawn within the types of The Chief, Crimson Hulk, and Sidewinder. From prosthetics to visible results to stunt work, get the lowdown on these formidable foes and the way they’re delivered to life.
  • Gag Reel – Take pleasure in some hilarious outtakes on set with the solid and crew of Captain America: Courageous New World.

“Within the Warmth of the Night time” (Criterion)

It’s been virtually six a long time for the reason that slap heard world wide on this Oscar winner for Greatest Image, Greatest Actor, and Greatest Tailored Screenplay. Rod Steiger could have taken residence the Academy Award, however this was then and at all times shall be Sidney Poitier’s film. As Virgil Tibbs, a Philadelphia detective investigating a case in Mississippi, Poitier provides a career-defining efficiency, now obtainable on 4K for the primary time from the great people over at Criterion. They’ve not solely restored the movie however imported the earlier options that embody wonderful archival footage like interviews with Norman Jewison, Lee Grant, and Poitier himself. There’s additionally a superb program about Quincy Jones’ marvelous soundtrack. Lastly, don’t miss a fantastic essay from Okay. Austin Collins.

Particular Options

  • 4K digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack
  • Alternate 5.1 encompass DTS-HD Grasp Audio soundtrack
  • One 4K UHD disc of the movie and one Blu-ray with the movie and particular options
  • Interviews with director Norman Jewison and actor Lee Grant
  • Phase from a 2006 American Movie Institute interview with actor Sidney Poitier
  • Interview with Aram Goudsouzian, writer of Sidney Poitier: Man, Actor, Icon
  • Audio commentary that includes Jewison, Grant, actor Rod Steiger, and cinematographer Haskell Wexler
  • Turning Up the Warmth: Film-Making within the ’60s, a program in regards to the manufacturing of the movie and its legacy, that includes Jewison, Wexler, producer Walter Mirisch, and filmmakers John Singleton and Reginald Hudlin
  • Quincy Jones: Breaking New Sound, a program about Jones’s progressive soundtrack, together with the title track sung by Ray Charles, that includes interviews with Jones, lyricists Alan and Marilyn Bergman, and musician Herbie Hancock
  • Trailer
  • English subtitles for the deaf and onerous of listening to
  • PLUS: An essay by critic Okay. Austin Collins

“Killer of Sheep” (Criterion)

Charles Burnett initially submitted this masterpiece as his thesis to on the UCLA College of Movie in 1977. It had a premiere the following 12 months in New York, however by no means received formally launched due to music rights, solely discovering an viewers three a long time later when it was restored by Milestone Movie & Video. It even made just a few prime ten lists for 2007 (together with Glenn Kenny and Dana Stevens), marking its timelessness and historic significance. Now, a half-century after its manufacturing, a brand new 4K restoration is making its Criterion debut, a significant occasion for cinephiles. This is without doubt one of the most important Blu-ray releases of 2025 up to now, a doc not simply of the significance of “Killer of Sheep” however its place in movie historical past. It righteously elevates Burnett, who seems on a commentary and new interviews, and it consists of two brief movies he made earlier than this one. It additionally encompasses a documentary about Burnett by Robert Townsend and an appreciation of the movie by Barry Jenkins. “Killer of Sheep” was rightfully acknowledged as a masterpiece when it was lastly seen in 2007, however that is the discharge that locations it on the shelf with different masterpieces of the ’70s and claims its place in film historical past.

Particular Options

  • New 4K digital restoration, accredited by director Charles Burnett, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack
  • One 4K UHD disc of the movie and one Blu-ray with the movie and particular options
  • Audio commentary that includes Burnett and movie scholar Richard Peña
  • New interviews with Burnett and actor Henry Gayle Sanders
  • New appreciation by filmmaker Barry Jenkins
  • Two brief movies by Burnett: A number of Mates (1969) and The Horse (1973), with a brand new introduction to the latter by Burnett
  • Excerpt from the 2010 UCLA LA Riot Oral Historical past Undertaking, that includes an interview with Burnett by movie scholar Jacqueline Stewart
  • A Stroll with Charles Burnett (2019), a documentary by Robert Townsend
  • Documentary by Ross Lipman on 2007 solid reunion
  • Trailer
  • English subtitles for the deaf and onerous of listening to
  • PLUS: An essay by critic Danielle Amir Jackson

“Kingdom of Heaven”

Folks usually joke about Ridley Scott’s predilection to tinker together with his work, producing director’s cuts of movies like “Alien” and “Blade Runner” that many individuals think about superior to the theatrical releases. Whereas the removing of Deckard’s narration is important to appreciating “BR,” I would argue that that is truly probably the most transformative of the Scott DCs, a recut that takes a clunky, ineffective, swords-and-sandals blockbuster and turns it into certainly one of Scott’s finest movies. The story goes that unhealthy check screenings compelled Scott to chop 45 minutes, returned on this model in a means that makes the movie truly really feel shorter because of how a lot it enriches the tempo and the general storytelling. This wonderful steelbook model additionally consists of the Roadshow presentation, that includes an overture and an intermission, together with tons of particular options in regards to the varied cuts and the manufacturing general. It’s a must-own, as evidenced by how onerous it at present is to search out on-line. Maintain looking. It’s price it.

Particular Options

  • THREE-DISC COMBO PACK
  • RESTORED AND REMASTERED DIRECTOR’S CUT OF THE FILM
  • DOLBY VISION/HDR PRESENTATION OF THE FILM
  • DOLBY ATMOS AUDIO TRACK
  • DISC ONE – 4K BLU-RAY
  • Director’s Lower Roadshow Model & Director’s Lower
  • Introduction by Director Ridley Scott
  • Roadshow Commentary with Orlando Bloom, Ridley Scott and Author William Monahan
  • 2 Extra Roadshow Commentaries with Filmmakers
  • The Enginer’s Guide (Roadshow Model solely)
  • Non-compulsory English SDH, Spanish and French Subtitles
  • DISC TWO – BLU-RAY
  • Director’s Lower Roadshow Model & Director’s Lower
  • Introduction by Director Ridley Scott
  • Roadshow Commentary with Orlando Bloom, Ridley Scott and Author William Monahan
  • 2 Extra Roadshow Commentaries with Filmmakers
  • The Enginer’s Guide (Roadshow Model solely)
  • English SDH, Spanish and French Subtitles
  • DISC THREE – BLU-RAY
  • The Path to Redemption
  • Sound Design Suite
  • Visible Results Breakdowns
  • Press Junket Walkthrough
  • World Premieres
  • Particular Shoot Gallery
  • Poster Explorations
  • Deleted & Prolonged Scenes with Non-compulsory Commentary
  • Orlando Bloom “The Journey of a Lifetime”
  • Extra Featurettes and A lot More

“Lilo & Sew“

As a result of the live-action adaptation pattern is right here to remain, the brand new model of “Lilo & Sew” truly outgrossed the unique animated model in its first three days of launch. What’s up with the love for Sew? I’ve to confess to being startled on the sturdiness of the character. For years now, once you go to Disney World or different such locations, you’ll see loads of merch and toys with the lovable blue man. It’s a product of timing in that children in 2002 probably have their very own little ones at this time, but additionally a personality who crosses a number of demographics, and speaks to the surface in everybody. I haven’t seen the live-action and don’t love the unique, however I’m clearly in an growing minority. All you Sew lovers on the market? This 4K version is for you.

Particular Options

  • Deleted Scenes
  • Hula Lesson
  • Animating The Hula
  • Audio Commentary
  • DisneyPedia: The Islands – Discover Hawaiʽi, Oʽahu, Maui, Kauaʽi, Lǡnaʽi and Molokaʽi
  • 2 Music Movies and a Behind-The-Music Featurette
  • A Sew in Time: Observe Sew Via The Disney Years

“Mickey 17“

Folks have been too onerous on Bong Joon Ho’s newest. It’s not excellent. Sure, it repeats some themes that Bong has explored extra curiously in different works. However I think that this can be a movie that can develop in historical past and with reappreciation. Say what you’ll about it, it’s an extremely bold swing, the type of factor we don’t get from studios all that always, and a reminder that Robert Pattinson is certainly one of our most fascinating and brave performers alive. He took the business energy he received from “Twilight” and used it to work with auteurs like Claire Denis, Christopher Nolan, Lynne Ramsay, David Cronenberg, and Bong Joon Ho. He’s the most effective. Nonetheless, this Blu-ray? Not so nice. “Mickey 17” deserves greater than a half-hour of particular options and no audio commentary. Criterion has launched some Bong movies up to now. Possibly they’ll get the rights to this one. I volunteer to put in writing the essay. I’ll even write it twice.

Particular Options

  • Behind the Lens: Bong Joon Ho’s Mickey 17 (11:32)
  • Mickey 17: A World Reimagined (9:44)
  • The Faces of Niflheim (8:00)

“The Umbrellas of Cherbourg” (Criterion)

Demy’s masterpiece has been launched just a few instances by Criterion, each alone and in a superb field set, however by no means in 4K. Demy’s son Mathieu oversaw the restoration of his father’s beloved musical, and the 4K is sharp with out ever wanting overly polished. It’s a fantastic switch of a necessary movie. As for the remainder of the discharge, it’s all of the beforehand obtainable stuff, together with materials courting again to the final restoration in 2013, a documentary in regards to the movie from 2008, and a col interview with Demy and Michel Legrand from all the best way again in 1964. There’s additionally an audio clip from the legendary Catherine Deneuve. In case you personal that Demy field set, I wouldn’t say that is well worth the improve, but it surely’s the easiest way to select it up you probably have but to take action.

Particular Options

  • New 4K digital restoration, undertaken by Ciné-Tamaris and accredited by Mathieu Demy, director Jacques Demy’s son, with 5.0 encompass DTS-HD Grasp Audio soundtrack
  • Alternate uncompressed monaural soundtrack
  • One 4K UHD disc of the movie and one Blu-ray with the movie and particular options
  • As soon as Upon a Time . . . “The Umbrellas of Cherbourg,” a 2008 documentary
  • Interview with movie scholar Rodney Hill
  • French tv interview from 1964 that includes Jacques Demy and composer Michel Legrand discussing the movie
  • Archival audio interviews with Legrand and actor Catherine Deneuve on the Nationwide Movie Theatre in London
  • Demonstration of the 2013 restoration
  • Trailer
  • PLUS: An essay by critic Jim Ridley

“The Wind Will Carry Us” (Criterion)

It’s onerous to consider that it’s been virtually a decade since we misplaced Abbas Kiarostami, a necessary determine within the Iranian movie actions of the ’80s and ’90s. A controversial determine (Roger notoriously didn’t like “Style of Cherry” however had come round by the point he launched “Licensed Copy,” my favourite Kiarostami and probably the greatest movies of the 2010s), “The Wind Will Carry Us” is certainly one of his most acclaimed works, referred to as a masterpiece by Jonathan Rosenbaum and even getting votes in Sight & Sound polls for the most effective movies of all time. Criterion has remastered the movie in 4K for the primary time, accompanying it with a superb video essay that includes a collaborator of the Kiarostami, Massoumeh Lahiji, who reads the director’s poetry. It’s a phenomenal particular characteristic, the type of bonus materials that separates Criterion from the remaining.

Particular Options

  • 4K restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack
  • A Week with Kiarostami (1999), a documentary by Yuji Mohara on the making of the movie
  • Interview from 2002 with director Abbas Kiarostami
  • New video essay presenting Kiarostami’s poetry narrated by Massoumeh Lahiji, a longtime translator and inventive collaborator of the director’s
  • Trailer
  • New English subtitle translation
  • PLUS: An essay by poet and novelist Kaveh Akbar

“The Girl within the Yard“

Jaume Collet-Serra’s Blumhouse horror flick begins with probably the greatest first acts within the style of the previous couple of years. Danielle Deadwyler, more and more the most effective factor about unhealthy motion pictures, performs Ramona, a widowed mom who spots a lady in black in her yard sooner or later. Her kids are curious, however Ramona senses one thing could be very incorrect, and it’s not simply due to the blood on her arms. Single-setting horror is commonly my jam, however “Girl within the Yard” runs out of concepts rapidly, working higher when it’s allowed to be mysterious in these efficient early scenes than when it leans into Grief Horror 101.

Particular Options

  • MAKING THE WOMAN IN THE YARD- Journey via the darkest corners of the movie throughout this behind-the-scenes journey the place filmmakers work with solid to craft a narrative that’s each haunting and human.
  • BENEATH THE VEIL – Solid and filmmakers carry the veil on the movie’s scary determine for this revealing take a look at the themes, designs, and kinds that form her eerie specter into a strong presence.