STACK #213 July 2022

FEATURE MOVIE

THE BEAST (1988)

A ruthless Soviet tank commander (George Dzundza) and his crew become lost in the Afghanistan desert, where they are pursued by a group of vengeful Afghan soldiers. Directed by Kevin Reynolds ( Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves ), this intense and underrated war drama

A four-film collection from director Jim Sheridan leads this month's Blu-ray bundle. STACK caught up with the Irish filmmaker ahead of its release. Words Glenn Cochrane

also stars Jason Patric ( Rush ) as a Russian soldier facing a moral dilemma. THINGSTO DO IN DENVERWHEN YOU'RE DEAD (1995)

This quirky crime-thriller stars Andy Garcia as a gangster who is given one last job by a powerful mob boss (Christopher Walken) – and it's an

offer he can't refuse! The all-star cast also features Treat Williams, Steve Buscemi and Christopher Lloyd. Extras include a new interview with director Gary Fleder, and more. NOBODY'S FOOL (1994) Paul Newman delivers an Oscar nominated performance as a

In the Name of the Father (1993)

working stiff prone to making bad decisions. But when his son and grandson re-enter his life, he's given an opportunity to right some past wrongs. This heartwarming drama also features a stellar

J im Sheridan is amongst the most prolific voices of Irish cinema and Imprint Films has brought together – for the very first time – his first four landmark films in one stunning Blu-ray box set collection. The collection features his Oscar-winning debut feature My Left Foot (1989), his instant follow-up The Field (1990), his provocative IRA story In the Name of the Father (1993), and his sports-drama The Boxer (1997). Speaking with STACK , Sheridan reflects on the runaway success of My Left Foot and his collaboration with Oscar-winning actor Daniel Day-Lewis. “It does hit you a

way, and we didn't have to speak that much to each other, you know? And that's hard to explain, it just happens. We kind of saw the world the same way”. Making its Blu-ray debut in Imprint's Jim Sheridan: Four Irish Films collection is The Field , a smaller, lesser-known movie about a rural land dispute, which Sheridan suspects was too culturally grounded to have captured a global audience. “ The Field was a more difficult movie because it was particularly Irish. I remember coming out of a screening in LA and as the audience came out one guy said

supporting cast, including Philip Seymour Hoffman, Bruce Willis and Melanie Griffith. THE MUSIC OF CHANCE (1993) A chance meeting between an

ex-fireman (Mandy Patinkin) with a large inheritance and a shady card shark (James Spader) leads to a high stakes poker game against two eccentric millionaires (Charles Durning and Joel Grey) – and bizarre consequences for them

to another, 'What was his problem? He didn't own the field. He rented the field.' And they really didn't get the [concept of] tenant occupancy the way

little bit like a freight train,” he admits of his debut film being met with such critical acclaim – winning two Oscars and two BAFTAs. "Especially

both. This unpredictable and largely unseen '90s gem makes a welcome return on Blu-ray. WHORE (1991)

Theresa Russell stars as a jaded LA sex worker looking to escape from her vicious pimp (Benjamin Mouton) in this uncompromising portrait of a streetwalker from oddball British director Ken Russell ( Crimes of Passion ). Imprint brings this confronting cult flick to Blu-ray with

when you're coming out of doing theatre, and you might

an Irish person would. "Essentially, the move

get one or two interviews for a show, or a couple of reviews. And then you do a movie and then it's everywhere in the world. It changes your living standard.” Day-Lewis stars in three of the four films (excluding The Field ) and his reputation as being a disciplined and difficult method actor is the stuff of legend. However, Sheridan recalls that made the job a whole lot easier. “You know the best situation with any collaboration is that you're not really having to do a lot of work. It's kind of understood intrinsically or on some level that's deeper than any logic can approach. Daniel and I were kind of connected that

to America for all of Southern Europe was the movement of peasants to the cities, and they were never going back to the f–ing land, where they had had a horrible life. And once they got to the city they forgot about the land. So people didn't really understand tenancy. And that's what made that movie very difficult.” Despite The Field 's obscurity at the time, it has become one of the great Irish films and perhaps Sheridan's most personal. It was also shot before My Left Foot had been released to the world (and before Sheridan had become an A-list director), which solidifies it as one of the most endearing films in his extensive catalogue.

a wealth of extras, including new interviews, audio commentary, Ken Russell appreciation, and more.

• The new Imprint range is out on July 27 for a limited time only (while stocks last).

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