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LJ’s film columnist picks the month’s top indie, foreign, and classic films, now available on DVD and Blu-ray.
LJ’s film columnist picks the month’s top indie, foreign, and classic films, now available on DVD and Blu-ray.
This list features an even split between reissued classics and recent feature films that stand the test of time.
These Best Documentary selections include films newly available to libraries that are both important and intriguing. We hope these picks provide a means for readers’ advisory and (socially distanced) conversation.
Several restored classics, a stirring romance starring Issa Rae, a collection of Martin Scorsese's early shorts, and a tribute to Chuck Berry are now available on DVD/Blu-ray.
May's top indie, foreign, and classic DVD/Blu-ray picks include a British New Wave classic with a star turn by Julie Christie, the recent Sundance Grand Jury Prize winner, and a Soviet cinema landmark.
LJ's film columnist picks the month's top indie, foreign, and classic films, now available on DVD and Blu-ray.
Whether you're a fan of classic films or more modern picks, LJ reviews the best of recent and re-released DVDs.
LJ's top picks for documentaries from the February 2020 issue include gripping films on historical tragedies, social commentary, and modern issues.
PREMIUM
Charly
Experimental brain surgery makes a genius out of a mentally challenged man who cannot outwit a mouse, but his emotional development does not keep up in Ralph Nelson's big-screen adaptation of the classic Daniel Keyes short story-cum-novel Flowers for Algernon...
PREMIUM
Gift
Recommended for art and philosophy lovers. This film is especially valuable for its profile of the late Alfred (1981–2016).
This unusual sequel by visionary director Boorman delivers a powerful view of a world in which science, magic, and religion combine as an antidote to demonic horrors. Imperfections exist in editing and script, but the results remain boldly evocative.
PREMIUM
Chef Flynn
An examination of talent, ambition, maturity, and parent-child interaction in the context of exquisite cuisine.
PREMIUM
Elizabeth I and Her Enemies
Fans of the History Channel as well as readers who have devoured the novels of Philippa Gregory and Alison Weir will be equally entertained.
PREMIUM
Left Behind America
The documentary sums up the region's problems astutely and is highly recommended to everyone with an interest in the region or the nation's economy overall.
PREMIUM
Yellowstone: Season 1
Complicated, violent, and tension-filled, this series for adults should appeal to Western fans as well as those who enjoy family drama.
PREMIUM
No Date, No Signature
A forensic pathologist (Amir Aghaee) blames himself when the boy he injured in a car accident turns up in the morgue, in spite of an autopsy showing food poisoning as the most probable cause of death...
PREMIUM
Berlin Alexanderplatz
Recently released from prison for murdering a prostitute, Franz Biberkopf (Günter Lamprecht) tries hard to go straight by taking a series a menial jobs in Depression-era Germany...
PREMIUM
When Giants Fall
This film is often difficult to watch. Though elephants have survived for two million years, human ambition for unlimited wealth and living space seem to be dooming these intelligent social behemoths. Environmentalists of all stripes will be intrigued.
Particularly useful to therapeutic riding instructors, horse rescue workers, and anyone who likes to spend time around horses.
PREMIUM
The Guilty
Reassigned to emergency dispatching duties while awaiting a disciplinary hearing, a sidelined cop (Jakob Cedergren) at the end of his shift gets a frantic call from a woman being abducted by her husband...
PREMIUM
Poetry in America: Season 1
Viewers should freely sample the videos from the series website if they are still unconvinced that poetry discussions can be that fascinating. A quality addition to libraries' literature collections.
PREMIUM
Angry Inuk
This beautifully shot production makes a strong case to viewers. However, the argument is complex, and the group's resources are tiny and no match for the organizations that apparently intend to stop all commercial seal hunting.
PREMIUM
Obsession
Wealthy New Orleans real estate developer Michael Courtland (Cliff Robertson) loses his wife, Elizabeth (Genevieve Bujold), and nine-year-old daughter during a bungled kidnap rescue...
PREMIUM
Purdah
A multilayered chronicle that highlights many of the challenges facing young women worldwide, this will appeal to those concerned with women's rights and the global climate for women's sports.
A fascinating film about a flawed man who shares his point of view, literally, this could inspire future photojournalists or anyone with a camera to look past the selfie and toward creating a narrative with a picture. [See Trailers, LJ Winter 2018.]
PREMIUM
No Offence: Series 2
Fast-moving and entertaining, No Offence features an outstandingly strong female cast. Recommended for viewers who enjoy a particular style of British irreverence.
Like all great stories, they are best when told by those who lived them. An essential addition for all collections.
A must-have for serious collections—appealing to casual TCM fans even if best treasured by die-hard film buffs. [See Trailers, LJ 10/1/18.]
Strongly recommended for public libraries, as well as education and history collections. Some of the film is graphic, and before viewing, students would need preparation, especially high school classes.
PREMIUM
Hidden: Series 1
As a police procedural, this atmospheric miniseries is a cut above the competition; for audiences who enjoy suspenseful crime dramas.
PREMIUM
Shampoo
For movie fans interested in revisiting a significant if not quite classic 1970s-era film. [See Trailers, LJ 9/1/18.]
PREMIUM
Genesis 2.0
Equal parts thought provoking and frightening, Genesis 2.0 takes viewers deep into the world of synthetic biology.
PREMIUM
The Apparition
A dedicated journalist (Vincent Lindon) recovering from a traumatic injury agrees to assist a Vatican-directed team investigating the claim of a teen novitiate (Galatéa Bellugi) to have witnessed an apparition of the Virgin Mary...
PREMIUM
Instinct: Season One
TV crime junkies who need a new binge-worthy series will find Instinct to be just the ticket. [See Trailers, LJ 11/1/18.]
This well-done program is sure to be a welcome addition to public library collections for families and young adults. High recommended.
With plenty of revealing film clips, intelligent commentary, and surprisingly frank viewpoints from Iranian filmmakers.
PREMIUM
Christmas at Rosemont
A cut above the usual sentimental holiday movie; suitable for public libraries. [See Trailers, LJ 11/1/18.]
Environmental change is challenging all coastal cities to develop strategies to live with the sea for the long term. For all viewers.
An intriguing glimpse into Morrison's intellectual and artistic vision and how art can elicit powerful conversations about the human condition.
PREMIUM
3rd Night
This effective microbudget slasher emphasizes mystery over gore to create crackerjack tension.
Highly recommended for educators, medical professionals, caretakers, and loved ones and friends of those who are "different."
The tag line is "Never stop doing what you love," and the filmmakers waste no time in demonstrating why that is so important, using this most unlikely pastime.
An easy introduction to Fleming's cautionary but optimistic assessment of the future. Redefining Prosperity (2017) presents the story of how Nevada City, CA, created its version of a community-based economy.
PREMIUM
Impulso
A shock and surprise to many aficionados of flamenco but an appealing inclusion to any serious dance collection, though the price might be prohibitive for many libraries.
Newcomers to the series will be immediately smitten, while longtime fans will savor every moment of this superbly produced finale.
Fans of Doctor Who will be overjoyed by Whittaker's portrayal as the memorable title character. Highly recommended for all libraries.
PREMIUM
And Then They Came for Us
Though both films address important history, Resistance at Tule Lake goes deeper and brings lesser-known stories to light. Recommended for historians and World War II buffs.
PREMIUM
Shoplifters
The father and preteen boy in a multigenerational Tokyo clan compensate for a meager household income by shoplifting...
PREMIUM
In the Heat of the Night
Stopping at a Mississippi town for a train layover, Philadelphia detective Virgil Tibbs (Sidney Poitier) is pressed into helping the local police chief (Rod Steiger) solve a touchy murder case...
PREMIUM
The Process
A valuable addition to acting, directing, and general theater collections; an entertaining film for all libraries.
PREMIUM
4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days
A college student (Anamaria Marinca) goes to great lengths to help her desperate roommate (Laura Vasiliu) get an illegal abortion in Cristian Mungiu's (Beyond the Hills; Graduation) humanizing story about a dilemma usually framed in political terms...
A genuine, intimate, and informative production on the all-too-short life of a comic genius. [See Trailers, LJ 12/18.]
PREMIUM
The Captain
A German army deserter (Max Hubacher) puts on a discarded captain's uniform only to allow the authority it confers to go to his head...
PREMIUM
Winning
Sage advice from five athletes who reached the pinnacle of their sport. Will appeal to young athletes looking for inspiration, coaches looking to motivate their athletes, and fans of the featured activities.
An undeniable treat for Potter fans and an indispensable reminder to all libraries, museums, and archives that connecting to the Potterverse is an ideal way to promote themselves as the places where magic lives.
Series 2 successfully expands viewers' understanding of the main players, while the Indian location and culture contribute a colorful setting. Recommended for serial drama devotees.
PREMIUM
The Chinese Lives of Uli Sigg
Like Sigg himself, this documentary pulls off impressive tasks without pretension—a strong optional suggestion for general viewers interested in contemporary art or China.
An important and engaging film that will be of interest to history and art students as well as general audiences.
PREMIUM
The Outer Limits: Season Two
This essential companion volume to the first season showcases an original network TV series—a moody sf/horror anthology—with a cult following sure to appreciate this high-def update over prior releases.
PREMIUM
Polluting Paradise
Viewers concerned about the environment and democracy in developing nations will be strongly disturbed by this horrific situation.
PREMIUM
The Bounty
The true story of mutiny on the high seas in 1787 benefits from a new perspective taken by scriptwriter Robert Bolt (Lawrence of Arabia) and New Zealand director Roger Donaldson (Smash Palace)...
A totally engaging series filled with unconventional characters and amusing situations; an A+ choice for public libraries.
PREMIUM
Gosford Park
Featuring a who's who of British performers and a smattering of lesser-known but gifted American ones, Robert Altman's tongue-in-cheek comedy of manners laced with a period murder mystery à la Agatha Christie plays like a trial run for scripter Julian Fellowes's subsequent Downton Abbey...
This fascinating look at an important but poorly understood country reveals the gulf that lies between the government's harsh anti-American rhetoric and the feelings of ordinary Iranians. Highly recommended.
PREMIUM
Panique
Reclusive suburban-Paris photographer Monsieur Hire (Michel Simon) falls for his fetching new neighbor (Viviane Romance), fresh out of jail for taking a robbery rap for her boyfriend...
PREMIUM
I Am Another You
Both Olsen and Wang unveil a growing awareness before viewers' eyes in this absorbing portrait of a young man.
PREMIUM
Elementary: The Sixth Season
Recommended for viewers who are fans of the series as well as those who enjoy police dramedies. [See Trailers, LJ 10/1/18.]
PREMIUM
Horrors of Malformed Men
Based on works and themes by the classic Japanese detective writer Edogawa Rampo, this surrealist dream of mystery, imagination, and grotesque experimentation captures the author's fevered narratives, both beautiful and chilling.
PREMIUM
The Third Murder
Winner of seven Japanese Academy Awards, Hirokazu Kore-eda's (Like Father, Like Son; After the Storm) "murder mystery" unfolds more like a psychological thriller owing to an accused (Koji Yakusho) who, much to the consternation of his lawyer (Masaharu Fukuyama), keeps changing his story after having confessed...
An ultimately uplifting film not only about Circle of Dust but also about committing to creativity and continuing through adversity. Recommended for any fan of industrial music and the mid-1990s alternative music scene.
PREMIUM
Ghost Stories
A carefully paced modern take on traditional tales of phantoms and monsters, with some nifty, reality-rending twists and unusual filmmaking sleight of hand, the film delivers scares and dramatic storytelling equally. [See Trailers, LJ 8/18.]
This moving documentary is a must-see for students of history and anyone interested in World War II and the Holocaust.
PREMIUM
TVTV: Video Revolutionaries
Former members recall their hits and misses, proudly noting the roles of actor-comedian Bill Murray and future director Harold Ramis, plus their mixed legacy as reality TV pioneers.
Some scenes are unsuitable for children; overall, this film is highly recommended for a general audience.
PREMIUM
Doom Asylum
A gonzo horror comedy that nauseates with ludicrous puns as well as gore, Doom Asylum's off-kilter humor will tickle some viewers' funny bone.
This version of Hillary as an ordinary man who had extraordinary adventures is recommended for general audiences.
PREMIUM
The Official Story
High school teacher Alicia (Norma Aleandro) gradually learns that her five-year-old adopted daughter was illegally procured by her government-official husband (Roberto Ibáñez)...
Fans of British period dramas that are served up with a generous side dish of danger will gobble up this superbly crafted cinematic jewel.
Gibney's slick film, produced in association with HBO and Rolling Stone Productions, could have used better editing for what is, essentially, a puff piece. Despite the film's congratulatory tone, viewers are left with the sense that the magazine was a reaction to the culture, not its creator.
PREMIUM
Itzhak
A loving film about a massively talented artist with a genial, expansive personality.
Excellent memory prodders and conversation starters, these items provide flexible, professional resources for those working with dementia and memory-impaired patients. They will be of interest to elder-care facilities, activity directors, and those supporting home caregivers. [Additional collections—e.g., Farms, Cats, Dogs, Signs—are available on the producer's website.—Ed.]
Our society must find a way to compensate veterans for the lingering, hidden costs of our recent wars. Highly recommended for adult collections.
PREMIUM
95 and 6 to Go
A tender and gentle examination of a man nearing the end of his days, full of humor and small moments about loss, family, romance, and the will to survive. Recommended.
PREMIUM
End of Life
A moving portrait of dying (the actual moment of death is not shown), as viewers are made privy to this phase of life in a most intimate way and are almost challenged to consider how they would approach death or help another approach that state.
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