The Eiffel Tower and Alien Artifacts Down Under | Coming Attractions

Upcoming DVD and Blu-rays to watch include an adaptation of Isabel Wilkerson’s Caste, River Phoenix with a prank turned bittersweet, and the story of fearless flight attendants. 

American Experience: Fly with Me. 120 min. PBS. 2024. DVD UPC 841887048750. $29.99. Rated: TV-14. DOCUMENTARY

Being a flight attendant was a cutting-edge job opportunity for single women in the early era of leisure-class air travel. Based on the historical record and firsthand accounts, the story of pioneering “stewardesses” shows they had no fear of flying.

Dogfight. 93 min. Nancy Savoca, Criterion Collection. 1991. Blu-ray UPC 715515295215. $39.99. Rated: R. DRAMA

A Vietnam-bound marine (River Phoenix) brings a waitress and aspiring singer (Lili Taylor) to an “ugly date” contest, but he ends up regretting his cruelty and making a real connection with his victim in this newly restored bittersweet tale.

Fletch. 98 min. 1985. Blu-ray UPC 738329266400. Fletch Lives. 95 min. 1989. Blu-ray UPC 738329266417. Ea. vol.: Michael Ritchie, Kino Lorber. $24.95. COMEDY

Original Saturday Night Live cast member–turned–movie star Chevy Chase takes on the role of investigative reporter Irwin Fletcher, based on Gregory Mcdonald’s best-selling humorous mystery novels. Restored, with interviews, commentary, and more.

High Noon. b/w. 85 min. Fred Zinnemann, Kino Lorber. 1952. Blu-ray UPC 738329266394. $24.95. WESTERN

An Oscar-winning Gary Cooper stars as a retiring marshal poised to marry his pacifist fiancée (Grace Kelly)—until he’s forced to face down vengeful outlaws without the help of his fellow townsfolk. Zinneman’s classic gets a high-definition reissue.

Monolith. 94 min. Matt Vesely, Well Go USA. 2023. Blu-ray UPC 810348036735. $29.99. Rated: R. SCIENCE FICTION

Trying to resuscitate her career, a discredited journalist (Lily Sullivan) starts a podcast focusing on a conspiracy theory involving an alien artifact. Shot on a single location, this low-budget Aussie SF thriller garnered nods Down Under.

Nostalghia. 126 min. In Italian & Russian w/English subtitles. Andrei Tarkovsky, Kino Lorber. 1983. Blu-ray UPC 738329265915. $29.95. DRAMA

Homesickness troubles a Russian academic (Oleg Yankovsky) doing research in Italy while enamored with his beautiful translator (Domiziana Giordano) and the musings of a self-destructive drifter (Erland Josephson). Restored in high-def.

Nova: Building the Eiffel Tower. 60 min. PBS. 2024. DVD UPC 841887048774. $29.99. Rated: TV-PG. DOCUMENTARY

Completed in little more than two years for the 1889 World’s Fair, the iconic Eiffel Tower easily superseded the record for tallest structure on Earth at the time. This engineering feat is detailed for its innovative construction born of failures as well as successes.

Origin. 141 min. Ava DuVernay, Decal Releasing. 2023. Blu-ray UPC 843501042366. $26.99. Rated: PG-13. DRAMA

The director of Selma adapts Isabel Wilkerson’s nonfiction book Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents, which holds that caste (in all countries) depends more on racism than skin color. Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor stars as Wilkerson on a far-reaching investigation.

The Tin Star. b/w. 92 min. Anthony Mann, Arrow Video. 1957. Blu-ray UPC 760137145936. $39.99. WESTERN

A lawman–turned–bounty hunter (Henry Fonda) offers up his wisdom to an inexperienced small-town sheriff (Anthony Perkins) on how to deal with the local bully (Neville Brand) in this genre-busting Western given a digital spit-and-polish.

Werckmeister Harmonies. 145 min. In Hungarian w/English subtitles. Béla Tarr, Criterion Collection. 2000. DVD UPC 715515295116. $29.99; Blu-ray UPC 715515295017. $39.99. DRAMA

In an unspecified time and place, an enigmatic circus arrives in a small village and incites its residents to violence. Shot in a series of long takes exemplifying the “slow cinema” genre, from the director of The Turin Horse. Newly restored with extras.

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