STACK #217 November 2022

MOVIE FEATURE

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SCHOOLTIES (1992)

DISTANTTHUNDER (1988) John Lithgow plays a Vietnam War veteran in this drama exploring the impact of PTSD. Having retreated from society and his family to live in the wilderness with a group of fellow "bush vets", his reclusive lifestyle is rocked by a reunion with his estranged son (Ralph Macchio) after 15 years. Diane Lane) form a wildly successful punk band before inevitably succumbing to the pitfalls of the music biz. This obscure cult film has been rescued from the video vault and is now poised to find a new fanbase on Blu-ray. Nominated for four Oscars, including 'Best Director' (Fernando Meirelles) and 'Adapted Screenplay', this harrowing true story of crime and redemption is set in the violent world of Rio de Janeiro's notorious slum district, where a young boy aspires to a better life as a photographer. This coming-of-age drama features Brendan Fraser in an early role as a Jewish student at an exclusive school. A star athlete popular with his peers and the girls, his future course is changed when antisemitism raises its ugly head. Look out for Matt Damon and Ben Affleck in supporting roles. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,THE FABULOUS STAINS (1982) A trio of misfit teenage girls (led by a young CITY OF GOD (2002)

A new box of neo-noir thrillers, the films of director Roland Joffé, and some retro BritishTV leads a bumper Blu-ray bundle this month. Words Scott Hocking

Blue Steel (1990)

I mprint's first collection of neo-noir cinema was a box full of deliciously dark crime thrillers. For the second volume, the label has selected an equally eclectic range of underrated and forgotten films from acclaimed directors the likes of Kathryn Bigelow, Mike Figgis, Joe Carnahan and James Gray. This new seven-disc hardbox set also includes an 80-page companion booklet. Corrupt cops, gangsters, psychopaths and blue

include an audio commentary by Reno and Cassel, a documentary and featurettes. TheWay of the Gun (2000) marks the directorial debut of screenwriter Christopher McQuarrie ( The Usual Suspects ). This stylish, Tarantino-inspired crime caper stars Ryan Phillippe and Benicio Del Toro as a pair of no good drifters who kidnap a pregnant surrogate mother (Juliette Lewis) for ransom, inciting the wrath of a gangster determined to rescue her whatever

collar criminals populate After Dark: Neo-Noir Cinema Collection Two , which kicks off chronologically with Point

the cost. Extras include three audio commentaries and cast interviews. Set amongst the bleak environs of New York City's rail yards, The Yards (2000) is director James Gray's ode to blue-collar crime. Mark Wahlberg plays an

DIRECTED BY ROLAND JOFFE This six-disc hardbox edition collects four features from the visionary filmmaker along with a swag of bonus content including audio commentaries, featurettes and documentaries. Oscar-winner The Killing Fields (1984) is set in Cambodia during the Khmer Rouge regime; South American epic The Mission (1986) is much loved for Ennio Morricone's iconic score; historical drama Fat Man and Little Boy (1988) explores the Manhattan Project; and Patrick Swayze journeys to India in City of Joy (1992).

Break director Kathryn Bigelow's underrated and relentless cop thriller Blue Steel (1990), making a welcome debut

on Blu-ray. Jamie Lee Curtis stars as a rookie cop who is drawn into a dangerous game of cat-and mouse with an obsessed madman (Ron Silver). Extras TBC. As the title suggests, police corruption is the focus of Internal Affairs (1990), directed by Mike Figgis ( Leaving Las Vegas ) and starring Richard Gere as a decorated LAPD officer who's rotten to the core and under investigation by IA agent Andy Garcia. Extras include new interviews with the director, screenwriter and co-composer. Directed by Mathieu Kassovitz ( La Haine ), The Crimson Rivers (2000) is a grisly serial killer thriller in the tradition of Seven . Jean Reno ( Leon: The Professional ) plays a criminologist on the trail of a serial killer in the French Alps, who joins forces with a young cop (Vincent Cassel) investigating a possibly related crime in a nearby village. Extras

ex-con trying to go straight, only to be lured into corrupt business dealings by his

uncle (James Caan) and cousin (Joaquin Phoenix). Charlize Theron, Faye Dunaway and Ellen Burstyn round out a stellar supporting cast. Extras include the Director's Cut, new interviews, director commentary, deleted scenes and featurettes. A companion piece of sorts to Collection One's Rush , Narc (2002) sees Jason Patric as a suspended undercover narcotics cop who winds up back on the beat with a rogue partner (Ray Liotta) to investigate the murder of a young officer. Featuring knockout performances by the two leads and directed with style to burn by Joe Carnahan ( Smokin' Aces ), this cracking cop thriller is ripe for rediscovery on Blu-ray. Extras include audio commentary, featurettes and cast interviews.

THE AVENGERS:THE EMMA PEEL COLLECTION (1965–1967) The third volume in the Imprint TV range resurrects the swinging sixties' British cult series starring the great Diana Rigg as super spy Emma Peel. This 16-disc Blu-ray set collects every episode featuring the iconic character, along with new and vintage bonus content.

• The new Imprint range is out on November 30 for a limited time only (while stocks last).

20 NOVEMBER 2022

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