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ISSUE 192 OCT

CONTENTS

2020

NEWS 6 Life Tech news

YOUR TO FILM, TV,MUSIC, GAMING& LIFE TECH ESSENTIALGUIDE

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YOUR TO FILM, TV,MUSIC,GAMING& LIFE TECH ESSENTIALGUIDE

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FILM & TV 8 Roving Reporter 10 Local Hero 12 Bob J’s Movie Trivia 14-15 The King of Staten Island 16-18 Vikings 20-22 Classics on Blu-ray 24-28 Reviews 30-31 This month on 4K UHD LIFE TECH 34-48 Wearables and wellbeing 50-56 Smartphones 58-62 Filmmaking from home 64 Samsung’s Terrace 66 New at JB

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STACK Issue192 OCTOBER2020 “We’re like theonlyplace thatNew Jersey looksdownon.”

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WELCOME In movies this month, director Judd Apatow joins forces with SNL comic Pete Davidson for his most dramatic ‘comedy’ to date, The King of Staten Island ; collectors are well served with a plethora of classics on Blu-ray from Imprint Films; and TV’s Vikings lays the groundwork for an epic conclusion. Life Tech explores the world of the wearable, where heath and fitness report to your wrist; and our music interviews include Future Islands’ Sam Herring, The National’s Matt Berninger, rising UK alt- rock star Beabadoobee, and the one and only Tommy Lee. Gamers will be celebrating the arrival of this year’s FIFA, while Star Wars aficionados will be strapping in for Star Wars: Squadrons . Paul Jones, Editor-in-Chief

MUSIC 72-77 The Music Room: Interviews & bulletins 78 Jon Bon Jovi:

Giving Love A Good Name 80 AlbumTales: Queen’s A Night at the Opera (1975) 84 The STACK Record Club

86 This Month at JB 90-94 Album reviews

Founder Nic Short Editor-in-Chief Paul Jones Film & TV Editor Scott Hocking

Marketing Manager Fleur Parker Chief Contributors Bob Jones, Gill Pringle Contributors Bryget Chrisfield, Glenn Cochrane, Jeff Jenkins, Simon Lukic, Billy Pinnell, Denise Hylands, Simon Winkler, Nathan Lawrence, Jake Cleland, Tim Lambert, Holly Pereira, Adam Colby,

Anthony Horan, Nicholas Kennedy, Dan Nicholson, Alex Deutrom, Bec Summer Social Media Manager Imogene Lewis-Granland Production Manager Craig Patterson Correspondence STACK 33 Jessie Street, Richmond, VIC 3121

GAMING

FLIP MAG AND READ FROM BACK

Music Editor Zoë Radas Online Editor Amy Flower

6 Roving Reporter 8 Dear Duke 10-11 FIFA 21 12 Watch Dogs: Legion 14 DIRT 5 16 Accessories 18 Out this month 20 STACK recommends

Creative Director Gary Siewert Movies Consultant Kerrie Taylor Games Consultant Sachi Fernando Music Consultant Mike Glynn

RATINGS GUIDE

Parental guidance recommended

Recommended formature audiences

Notsuitableforpeople under15.Under15smust beaccommpaniedbya parentoradultguardian

Restricted to18andover

General

Disclaimer STACK is published by Scribal Custom Pty Ltd (ACN 092 362 135). © Copyright Scribal Custom Pty Ltd, 2020 All rights reserved. All material appearing in this publication is copyright unless otherwise stated or it may rest with the provider of the supplied material or advertisement. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written permission of Scribal Custom Pty Ltd. No responsibility is accepted for accuracy of advertisements or information. Whilst care has been taken in the research and preparation of this publication, the publishers, writers or anyone else associated cannot accept any responsibility for any loss, injury or hardship arising from the content contained herein or reliance therefrom, howsoever caused, and it remains your responsibility to evaluate the accuracy, completeness and usefulness of any such content. Views expressed are not necessarily endorsed by the publisher or the editor. By the very nature of this publication, things change daily and we cannot take responsibility for any changes or inaccuracies that occur subsequent to going to press.

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LIFE TECH NEWS

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THE 3DS GOES RETRO I t brought a stereoscopic 3D effect to handheld Nintendo’s 3DS and, after almost a decade, it’s now another piece of gaming history. Yes, Nintendo has now ceased production of all variants, from the XL down to the humble 3D-free 2DS. As well as delivering portable gaming beyond range also gave us several collectible special edition units. We have a stunning Animal Crossing one that we’d only part with if you prised it from our cold, dead hands. Now, of course, we have the Nintendo Switch, which ably caters for portability and sit-down home play. But that little clamshell 3DS will always have a place in our gaming hearts. what a humble phone could deliver, the 3DS gaming, along with a bunch of really cool exclusive games. It’s

SAMSUNG HIP TO BUILDING A BETTER ROBOT!

W e know Samsung for everything from their range of mobile phones to their smart TVs, but they’re also big in robotics. With an aim to deliver rich AI experiences to all, they have so far developed the likes of the ‘Bot Air’, which is an autonomous air-purifying robot, and the ‘Bot Retail’ service robot to automate menial functions in shopping centres and restaurants and give staff more time to concentrate on customers. Samsung’s commitment to robots goes beyond more simple conveniences though to their ‘GEMS’, or ‘Gait Enhancing and Motivating System’ Hip.

This is what they have dubbed a “walking assist wearable robot” that has been designed for the elderly to assist in mobility. It works by applying appropriate torque to both hip joints in accordance with the wearer’s motion, and Samsung claim that the GEMS Hip can reduce 24 per cent of the metabolic cost of walking, while accelerating the speed by 14 per cent. Given time, this support will lead to a more energy- efficient and stable gait pattern in the wearer. GEMS has now achieved a milestone, becoming the first such device to obtain the ISO 13482 personal robot safety certification in Korea.

“The acquisition of this international certification of safety is an important milestone for us,” said Samsung Research’s Sungchul Kang, senior vice president and head of robot centre. “The certification will allow us to bring robots closer to our daily lives and enhance their accessibility and utility. We will utilise this momentum to further drive our commitment in robotics research.”

IN SYNC WITH PHILIPS

I magine if your smart lights could be even smarter. If you’re in the Philips Hue ecosystem then that’s now possible, with the release of their updated Hue Play HDMI Sync Box.

Housing four HDMI inputs, and connectable to any HDMI media device, the unit syncs the coloured light displayed by your Hue setup to what you’re watching, playing or listening to. It speaks Google, Alexa

and Siri, and is equipped to pass through all the latest in visual tech such as Dolby Vision and HDR10+. It can give the illusion of expanding a movie off the screen – imagine some of those animated classics bursting out in magical colour… or, if you’re a horror head, all of those realistic reds bathing your room!

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“I started off in sales, but my heart’s always been in software,” he admits. “It’s probably the only job I’ve ever had where I really enjoy coming in and just being a part of that culture of good vibes, being positive, and having fun with the team. I think it’s really important to have a great team around you.” Anthony says that the clientele at The Glen love their 4K discs, action flicks and superheroes, as well as

TV dramas like Outlander and The Crown , with season three of the latter currently the most frequently requested title. “Documentaries are really popular here too,” he adds. “The new Peter Brock documentary [ Brock: Over the Top ] is doing exceptionally well at the moment.” When it comes to his personal viewing preferences, Anthony says he’s a ‘90s kind of guy. “I love The Fifth Element and The Crow . And in terms of TV shows, I’d probably go with the Archer series. I’m a big fan! It’s really nice to lay back and chill out after a big day and have a few laughs. I like The Mighty Boosh as well.” Does he have a guilty pleasure? “I actually didn’t mind the Power Rangers movie when it came out,” he confesses after a pause, “because it was very nostalgic for me. It probably wasn’t the best movie but it took me back to the old Power Rangers series’ days, which was really cool.” Anthony says that when it comes to his home collection, he tends to waver between movies and music. “My collection slowly increases over time. I don’t go too crazy, I try to be a little bit selective.” And his format of choice? “I’m close to switching 4K soon from Blu-ray, I just need to upgrade the TV.”

SHOP TALK

A nthony Esposito store in Melbourne’s east before making the move to The Glen shopping centre in Glen Waverley to take up the position of full time media advisor. spent a year working at JB’s Forest Hill

1 Brock: Over the Top 2 Yellowstone: Season 1 3 NCIS: Season 17 4 Ava 5 Yellowstone: Season 2 6 Harry Potter: Complete Collection 7 Capone 8 The Flash: Season 6 9 Supergirl: Season 5 10 Elementary: Season 7

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1 Brock: Over the Top 2 Superman: Man of Tomorrow 3 Ava 4 Ford v Ferrari 5 The Flash: Season 6 6 Black Panther 7 Supergirl: Season 5 8 1917 9 Capone 10 When Worlds Collide (1951)

Anthony Esposito at JBThe Glen, VIC

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what turned out to be incredible is that Milla is in transition from the moment she starts the film. And so actually, her ability to shape-shift was just what I needed.”

SHANNON MURPHY

W hen Shannon Murphy was offered a chance to make her directorial feature film debut, bringing Rita Kalnejais’ hit stage play Babyteeth to the big screen, she knew the project would attract major talent. “And I was lucky enough to get my dream cast with Ben Mendelsohn, Eliza Scanlen, Essie Davis and Toby Wallace,” says Murphy, a theatre veteran whose list of TV credits include homegrown dramas Love Child , Offspring , Rake , On the Ropes and, more recently, directing a couple of episodes of hit BBC series Killing Eve . One of Kalnejais’ most personal plays, Babyteeth was inspired by a dear friend who died of lymphatic cancer, aged 21, during which time she embraced her death sentence by falling in love, painting and dancing, seemingly without a care in the world. Murphy knew she had to find the perfect young star to play Babyteeth ’s cancer-stricken yet spirited heroine, Milla, looking at more than 100 potential candidates before finally casting former Home and Away actress Eliza Scanlen. Not that she even watched the soap. “I watched some shorts and tests she’d done. Then she auditioned quite a few times for me because with the lead of your first feature, you really want to make the right decision.”

Then came the deal-breaker: “From the very beginning, I said, ‘The actress 100 per cent has to agree to shave her head’. There’s no way you can make that work with a bald cap. It also sucks up a huge amount of time to do that every day and use special effects. So it’s impossible on our budget.” Surprisingly, only 10 per cent of the candidates dropped out. Thankfully, Scanlen was onboard. “It was amazing that Eliza felt

Director Shannon Murphy

Photo © Rupert Reid

Even more remarkable was that Murphy persuaded the largely US-based Ben Mendelsohn to come and slum it back home for the six-week shoot in Australia. “We were shooting in January and February and it was disgustingly hot and all of us were in a non air-conditioned house.

very strongly that, in order to authentically play that character, it was essential to go through that experience.” While Scanlen, 21, went on to make a big Hollywood splash in HBO’s Sharp Objects and in the all-star Little

It was hard and intense because we had to shoot Ben very quickly ‘cause he had to go start filming his TV show [ The Outsider ], so we were under the pump. “But it was still a joyful place to work because Ben brings on his boom box and the music and he’s dancing and it’s really fun. But I’m sure he was happy to get back to some cooler weather. “I knew he could do comedy. I mean

...with the lead of your first feature, you really want to make the right decision

Women , Murphy makes no apology for not recognising her talent sooner. “It wasn’t that I didn’t see it. I was still trying to work out who Milla was. Eliza is such an extraordinary actress in terms of her range that she could pretty much give me anything and then I was like, ‘Yes, but that’s not helping me understand who Milla is, in a way.’ But

you look at his early films, oh my god. And he’s such a natural goofball and so funny on set. I’m just so happy he was up for it.” GP

Babyteeth is out on Oct 28

Eliza Scanlen andToby Wallace in Babyteeth

Photo © Lisa Tomasetti

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success, the pair might never have signed on for movie careers if they hadn't been given a chance to showcase their talented act at Maxie Rosenbloom's famous nightclub in Los Angeles. Amongst the packed audience that night were all of the Hollywood studio moguls who had been told they were going to see another Hope and Crosby. By the time Martin and Lewis had taken their final bows they had been offered a movie contract from Hal Wallis, who was releasing his films through Paramount Studios. All of Martin and Lewis's movie themes were simply based on Jerry's nutty idiot and Dean as the handsome singer who gets the girl. But the combination worked as proved with their early films My Friend Irma Goes West (1950) and The Stooge (1951), which caused the public to flock to the box-office in such droves that American movie exhibitors voted them the most popular two-man comedy movie act of all time. Over the next five years their popularity continued in such movies as The Caddy , Money from Home and Artists and Models – each and every one of them a massive box-office hit. However, by the time of their final movie together, Hollywood or Bust (1956) – ironically one of their best – their relationship had soured and off-camera the two men were not speaking to each other. Martin had gradually come to resent playing stooge to Lewis, who with his enormous ego had now taken total control

THE DEANMARTIN & JERRYLEWIS STORY

B ud Abbott and Lou Costello had been the number one comedy duo in movies throughout the 1940s. But as the new decade began, the duo's comedy – which had perfectly fitted the war years – now seemed dated. Exactly as A&C had taken over the top comedy movie spot from Laurel and Hardy, there was now a new partnership in Hollywood that would take over from them. By 1952, Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis were moviegoers' favourite big screen comedy duo.

of their movie productions. When Martin refused to appear in their next proposed production, The Delicate Delinquent, their ten-year partnership came to an abrupt end. Hollywood predicted that Martin working alone was doomed to oblivion as a saloon crooner. But Martin proved to be an extremely competent actor and his solo film career rocketed. Lewis, too,

The Caddy film poster (1953) Artists and Models poster (1955) Hollywood or Bust poster (the final Martin & Lewis movie – 1956)

reinvented himself as a successful solo star and went on to direct himself in various popular comedy films. In 1963, Lewis wrote and directed The Nutty

number, Jerry appeared as a waiter precariously balancing a large tray of dishes on one hand raised over his head. As he wove through the audience's tables, the whole tray went crashing to the floor. “Oh! Sorry, Mr. Martin, I hope I didn't interrupt anything?“ apologised Jerry, as Dean stopped his song mid-lyric. “No, I was getting pretty tired of that song, anyway“, responded the quick-thinking singer. The audience now roared with laughter as Jerry got down on his knees muttering and picking up the crockery pieces, whilst Dean came down to help him. All the while, the two of them continued to hilariously ad-lib. Martin's smooth nonchalance in the presence of chaos made him a perfect foil for Lewis. That night their two-star act was born. By 1948 the duo's singing and zany slapstick comedy act was packing them in at New York's top nightclub, the Copacabana, earning each of them an astonishing $10,000 a week (which equates to $110,000 today). Despite the enormity of their nightclub

Professor, in which his character Prof. Julius Kelp invents a potion that transforms him into Buddy Love – a suave crooning lounge lizard. Everyone in Tinseltown recognised this as a satirical swipe at his ex-partner, Dean Martin.

Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis

Much like A&C, who had begun their show business careers in vaudeville, Martin and Lewis started out separately on the American nightclub scene. The handsome Dino Crocetti had one legitimate talent – he could sing. Adopting the stage name of Dean Martin and copying the style of Bing Crosby, he sang in various clubs accompanied by the resident band. Jerry Lewis' (real name Joseph Levitch) comedy act often played the same East Coast nightclub circuit as Martin, and over time they became firm friends. One night in late 1946, Lewis's monologist act was a total disaster; continually heckled by a tough audience, he left the stage almost in tears. Martin was due to start the second act when Lewis asked him if he could fool around with him after Dean had finished his full act, to which the vocalist agreed. During Dean's last

Jerry Lewis's dual personality in The Nutty Professor – Prof. Julius Kelp and Buddy Love.

Join STACK ‘s resident filmhistorian Bob J and our community of cinema buffs to have your say eachmonth in ‘ Bob J‘s Classic Movie Club ‘ Facebook group.

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Who is Pete Davidson and why is he so good in Judd Apatow’s new comedy- drama, The King of Staten Island ?

J udd Apatow’s movies generally champion the slacker and serve as vehicles for established comics like Seth Rogen ( Knocked Up ) and Amy Schumer ( Trainwreck ), delivering comedy that’s improvisational, gross-out funny and bittersweet. For his latest film, The King of Staten Island , Apatow’s muse is Saturday Night Live regular and stand-up comic Pete Davidson, who also co-scripted what is essentially a semi- autobiographical story. Davidson was seven years old when he lost his firefighter father to the 9/11 tragedy, and his character Scott Carlin is similarly grappling with the fallout of his dad’s death during a heroic rescue attempt in a burning building. Set in New York’s less trendy borough of the title (the one with the famous ferry), the film explores the impact of grief, PTSD and social withdrawal, while plotting a circuitous road to self-improvement for its floundering protagonist. Davidson had been mulling the possibility of turning elements of his personal experiences into a film, and turned to friend and SNL writer Dave Sirus. The pair agreed to partner up on a script, although neither had written a screenplay before, so the search for an experienced guide began. It was Amy Schumer who had first put Davidson on Apatow’s radar, leading to a cameo role in Trainwreck (2015). “Amy was making me aware of comedians she liked,” Apatow recalls. “And one night she said, ‘You’ve got to see this guy. He’s 19 years old and crazy funny.’ We watched a video of him and knew we had to put him in the movie. “I always want to plant a flag, just so I can say I knew someone was going to be big before anyone else,” he adds dryly. Of his involvement in the co-writing of The King of Staten Island , Apatow says, “Pete and Dave wrote a script for me that didn’t pan out. Then one day, Pete mentioned that he wanted his mom to be in a relationship and to be happy. We started

Kelsey (Bel Powley) and Scott (Pete Davidson)

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FEATURE FILM

THE 40-YEAR-OLD-VIRGIN (2005) Steve Carell plays the nerd who’s never “done the

deed” in one of Apatow’s funniest films. The famous chest-waxing scene was done for real, with the committed Carell telling the director prior to shooting, “It has to be

real. It won’t be as funny if it’s mocked up, or if it’s a special effect. You have to see this is really happening.” Ouch!

kicking around

real emotions, and some of the events, of Pete’s life,” explains Apatow. “This isn’t a story about 9/11, but it is a story about a young man whose firefighter father died while fighting a fire. “In a lot of ways, it’s an imagining of what Pete’s life would have been if he didn’t find comedy and was still in Staten Island in his mid-20s, going nowhere. “When we started writing together, Pete, Dave and I would sit down and just talk,” he continues. “We would spend hours talking about all of the things that Pete’s been through and how he feels about it. Our story evolved out of those conversations.” “My character in the movie is probably about 75 very advanced and mature, as both a writer and a comic thinker. It was immediately clear he’s a special person. He’s someone that people are interested in and sympathetic to. He’s charismatic, and we are interested in his struggle. People want to know how he’s doing. This movie is a way for him to express what he’s been through, and how’s he’s fought through it. “It’s an incredible thing to share something that’s this hard with others. It’s a real gift. I don’t know if Pete thought about that a lot while we were making it. But I am always aware that it’s beautiful to be willing to open up to the world with what you’ve gone through. I think it makes people feel a lot better about their own struggles. This story is a way for him to connect with people and to say, ‘I’m struggling but I’m getting per cent me,” Davidson says. “Maybe more, I can’t really tell.” The director believes that no one but Davidson could be this raw. “When I first met Pete, I was just amazed at how funny he was,” Apatow says. “He was

this idea, what would happen if Pete’s mom started dating a fireman… and how would that affect Pete’s character? What would that bring up? There’s nothing funnier Davidson’s trials and experiences growing up, the film required more than just jokes, with Apatow providing the crucial character arc and story that enabled the script to resonate on a deeper level. “Judd showed us the than hating your mom’s boyfriend.” As a semi-fictionalised account of

KNOCKED UP (2007) Having worked with Seth Rogen on TV series Freaks

& Geeks , Apatow cast him in his first leading role as a slacker who discovers he’s going to be a dad following a drunken one-night stand with Katherine Heigl’s character. The screenplay was partially inspired by the birth of Apatow and Leslie Mann’s first daughter, Maude.

importance of treating a comedy with the same level of respect that any story should deserve,” Sirus says. “Judd helped us learn how to keep things organic and real, as well as to never feel like you’re cutting and pasting.” Adds Davidson: “Our first draft was just 90 pages of jokes; once Judd dug in with us it became 120 pages of jokes with emotion.”

My character in the movie is probably about 75 per cent me. Maybe more...

THIS IS 40 (2012) Knocked Up ’s supporting players Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann reprise their roles of Pete and Debbie,

who are now nearing the titular milestone in this “sort-of-sequel”. Although Seth Rogen and Katherine Heigl don’t appear, Jason Segel and Tim Bagley are back as Jason and Dr. Pellagrino, respectively.

The filmmaker was also keen to balance the humour with a positive message about healing. “I wanted for our character to open up to love,” Apatow says, “as well as have the potential for a father figure in his life.” Apatow admits that his films are usually comedies with drama, but with The King of Staten Island he wanted to make a drama that has comedy in it. “I tried to reverse my priorities,” he says. “The most important thing here was the story and the characters and the people. I thought, ‘Well, I’d like it to be funny, but it doesn’t have to be riotous in every scene. Let’s just tell this story with very entertaining people in it, and we’ll see where it lands comedically.”

TRAINWRECK (2015) Amy Schumer plays a free spirit who must overcome her fear of commitment when she begins a relationship with a prominent orthopedic

surgeon (Bill Hader). Schumer wrote the screenplay with Apatow in mind to direct, including elements she hoped would lure him to the project. It worked!

One of the initial conversations between the three writers was how honest the story should be. “We decided that it could be completely fictional but use all the

• The King of Staten Island is out on Oct 28

better. It’s hard and here’s what my path looks like; you’re going to be okay also.’”

15

TV FEATURE

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After five seasons of brave deeds, bloody battles and intense sibling rivalry, the saga of Ragnar Lothbrok and his sons is coming to an end in the sixth and final season of Vikings . Words Scott Hocking

T he penultimate ten episodes that comprise Vikings : Season 6, Part 1 sees Bjorn Ironside (Alexander Ludwig) now ruling

LAGERTHA DIRECTS After six years of playing fan-favourite Lagertha, shield-maiden and former queen of Ragnar, Canadian actress Katheryn Winnick steps behind the camera for the first time to direct the eighth episode of season six, Valhalla Can Wait . “As an actress, you look at your story as your little movie, but it’s a completely different perspective and learning curve to get behind the camera,” said Winnick during the Comic-Con@Home panel. “This show, in particular, each episode feels more like a movie and you have the creative freedom to play and have something epic on screen. It was an incredible experience directing 6.08, and invaluable.”

Kattegat, while his tyrant brother, Ivar the Boneless (Alex Høgh Andersen), has joined forces with the

equally mad Prince Oleg in Kiev, who is plotting an invasion of Scandinavia – with Ivar’s assistance, of course. Speaking with Variety , showrunner and writer Michael Hirst revealed that after six seasons, he believed he had achieved all that he wanted to say about Ragnar and

Bjorn (Alexander Ludwig) and Lagertha (KatherynWinnick)

his sons. Describing the first half of season six as “the most ambitious and intensely emotional episodes of Vikings ever,” he added, “We have new worlds, new landscapes, new characters… and the scope just seems to be much bigger, as are a lot of the issues.” Hirst also considers the final season to be the series’ best to date. “It’s incredibly strong. Production did us proud and it looks

On the matter of the series’ polarising villain, Ivar, Hirst promises that after pushing the character to the limit in season five, fans will learn a lot more about the crippled despot and self-proclaimed “God” – and perhaps feel a degree of sympathy – through his alliance with Oleg. “Oleg is fascinated by Ivar and he wants to know about him. That includes finding out whether he’s scared of anything, what his anxieties are, what really motivates him. “We’re going to see other aspects of his character and things we didn’t expect from him. I’m very pleased with the way his character deepens and changes. He’s still Ivar and he’s still unpredictable and crippled in many ways, but we do see these other aspects in him emerging. Clearly he hasn’t been a very successful ruler. We know the obstacles he’s had to overcome in order to

The show is so big now that when we had battles in season six, we would have up to 900 extras

quite astonishing. The show is so big now that when we had battles in season six, we would have up to 900 extras. We would be traveling around with sometimes up to 1500 people, going to locations. So the scale of it has multiplied.”

Oleg (Danila Kozlovsky and Ivar (Alex Høgh Andersen)

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16 OCTOBER 2020

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THE STORY CONTINUES…

continued

get to the position he gets to. Whatever terrible things he does, somehow you never stop being interested in him or having sympathy for him… He is capable of changing.” Played by Russian actor Danila Kozlovsky, Prince Oleg is perhaps more ruthless and power mad than Ivar, and claims a shared ancestry. His real-life counterpart was the

Set 100 years after the conclusion of Vikings , spin-off series Valhalla will introduce other famous historical Norsemen and women including Leif Erikson – the son of Erik the Red – and his half-sister Freydis Eriksdottir; and the last great Viking king of Norway, Harald Hardrada. William the Conquerer will also feature, as England stands against the Scandinavian raiders and the age of the Vikings draws to a close. Vikings showrunner Michael Hirst will be onboard as an executive producer, and considers Valhalla a continuation rather than a spin-off. “I am beyond excited that we are announcing the continuation of our Viking saga,” he said in a statement. “Jeb Stuart, a truly wonderful writer, will bring new storylines and a powerful, visceral vision to stories about some of the most famous Vikings known to history.” The lead cast is yet to be announced, and the series of 24 episodes is currently on track to premiere late 2021 or early 2022.

• Vikings: S6, Part 1 is out on Oct 14

forgotten languages.”

Teasing the second half of season six at this year’s Comic-Con@Home online panel, Hirst said,” The characters

Oleg of Novgorod, a Varangian prince who ruled Kievan Rus – the cultural wellspring of Belarus, Russia and Ukraine – during the late ninth and tenth centuries. Indeed, ‘Rus’ is derived from the Old Norse word for “the men who row”. “It’s fantastic to take the characters to different places as in this case, Russia,” noted Hirst. “I didn’t know that Russia is called Russia because it was founded by the Rus Vikings. I learned so much myself and I always do learn when we go to different places and explore new cultures and

that we’ve all grown to love will all have their fates decided. Whether they live or die is of course in the hands of the gods – although I had a hand in it too. I think the conclusion of the saga is deeply satisfying. It’s a proper and meaningful ending, and I hope all our fans will feel the same way. I tried to do justice to all my characters, and I hope that I’ve succeeded.”

S E A S O N 6 • V O L U M E 1

Artwork – DVD Only

Strong themes and violence

Special features may not be Hi-Def.Vikings“V” logo © 2013A&E.VIKINGS™TM Prod.Ltd.An Ireland-Canada Co-Production. © 2020 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc.andWarner Bros.Entertainment Inc.All rights reserved.

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Boutique Blu-ray label Imprint Films is unleashing its biggest slate to date on October 28, including classics from directors Mario Bava, Sam Peckinpah and Paul Thomas Anderson. Words Scott Hocking

stuff of legend, as is the studio’s editing of the film without Peckinpah’s consent. This Limited 2-Disc Hardbox Edition includes both the original theatrical cut and the 2005 extended cut that restores the missing footage, along with a 2019 feature-length making-of documentary and new audio commentary by film historians Glenn Erickson and Alan Rode. Additional extras include extended/deleted scenes and outtakes, vintage featurette, Peckinpah Anecdotes, isolated scores for both versions, original trailers and more. Making its worldwide Blu-ray premiere is Boogie Nights’ director Paul Thomas Anderson’s first film, Hard Eight (1996).

Danger: Diabolik (1968)

pop, even moreso in HD! Blu-ray extras include new 2020 audio commentaries by Bava biographer Tim Lucas and John Phillip Law, a new video essay by Kat Ellinger, 2005 featurette, trailer, and Beastie Boys’ music video Body Movin ’ with optional commentary by BB’s AdamYauch. Charlton Heston and Richard Harris lead the cast of Sam Peckinpah’s western epic Major Dundee (1965), in which a Union

Boasting the kind of quality cast that would become Anderson’s forte – Philip Baker Hall, John C. Reilly, Samuel L. Jackson, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Gwyneth Paltrow – this is an absorbing crime-drama involving a professional gambler (Hall) who teaches a down on his luck loser (Reilly) the tricks of the trade. Look out for SLJ in a memorable bad guy role! Anderson contributes two audio commentaries to this forgotten gem that’s ready to be rediscovered. Richard Bach’s bestseller Jonathan Livingston Seagull is as synonymous with the seventies as string art, and the ambitious 1973 live-action film adaptation captures the spiritual themes of the book. James Franciscus voices the rebellious gull that embraces his need for speed after being banished from the flock, while Neil Diamond provides the soundtrack (which was more

A lthough revered for his ultra-stylish forays into gothic horror, Italian filmmaker Mario Bava’s work spans numerous genres, and his 1968 action- comedy Danger: Diabolik is a psychedelic romp with a Barbarella meets James Bond vibe. Master criminal Diabolik (John Philip Law) and his girlfriend (Marissa Mell) pull off seemingly impossible heists and attempt to keep one step ahead of the law in this beloved cult classic. Based on an Italian comic book series and featuring a score by the late, great Ennio Morricone, Danger: Diabolik is tremendous fun and pure eye candy – if you’ve ever seen a Bava film, you’ll know that the primary colours really

officer leads a motley crew of prisoners into Mexico to hunt down a band of murderous Apaches. The volatile working relationship between the director and his stars is the

20 OCTOBER 2020

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OUT OCT 7

OUT OCT 7

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The much-loved and critically acclaimed series comes to DVD

Every episode of the popular Australian series on DVD

Based on the beloved books by Lucy MaudMontgomery

The brand-new Australian drama starring Hermione Norris

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Complete Series of the exhilarating medical drama

Second season of the hit comedy starring Christopher Meloni

From executive producers Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg

A celebration of the great Dolly Parton with performances from special guests

Martin Clunes & Neil Morrissey star in the classic British comedy series

First season of the hit new family drama

The Suits spin-off on DVD for the first time ever worldwide

Russell Crowe & Naomi Watts star in the thrilling series

The iconic British police procedural series comes to DVD

Complete Series of the Man About House spin-off

Join Benny and the gang in the hilarious 12-disc set

Complete Collection of the hilarious UK sitcom

FILM FEATURE

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continued

and femme fatales with the Essential Film Noir Collection , featuring icons of the genre like Glen Ford, Ray Milland, Eleanor Parker, Audrey Totter and William Bendix, and complemented by new 2020 audio commentaries from noir historians Alan Rode and Eddie Muller. The four films included in this Limited 4-Disc Hardbox Edition are Framed (1947), starring Ford as a truck driver embroiled in a criminal plot; Alias Nick Beal (1949), which sees an honest district attorney (Thomas Mitchell) succumb to the malign influence of the mysterious title

Nigel Hawthorne and Rebecca Pidgeon, making-of featurette and theatrical trailer. The Bob Hope Collection bundles two of the legendary funnyman’s comedy thrillers

successful than the film). Oscar-nominated for Cinematography and Editing, this existential oddity makes its global debut on Blu-ray featuring a 2020 audio commentary by filmmaker Adam Zanzie. Directed by John Schlesinger ( Midnight Cowboy ), The Day of the Locust (1975) is a dark exploration of 1930s Hollywood featuring a knockout performance from Karen Black as an aspiring, albeit untalented,

in a Limited 2-Disc Hardbox Edition. The Cat and the Canary (1939) reimagines the 1927 silent film adaptation of John Willard’s stage play (that was remade again in 1978), set in an old dark house where murder and madness reigns during the reading of a will. Hope adds some comic relief to the role of cowardly Hollywood actor Wally Campbell and would reunite with co-star Paulette Goddard for the other film in this collection, The Ghost Breakers (1940) – another effective mix of horror and humour, with Hope playing a radio broadcaster stuck in a haunted castle. Kim Newman and Stephen Jones provide new 2020 audio commentaries for both films, and Ghost Breakers features a new 2K scan from the original negative. Get your fix of tough guys, mobsters

character (Milland); director WilliamWyler’s acclaimed Detective Story (1951), involving a righteous New York cop (Kirk Douglas) whose investigation leads too close to home; and The Garment Jungle (1957), where a union-busting syndicate threatens a New York sweat shop.

actress who wants to be a star. Joining her on the boulevard of broken dreams are Burgess Meredith as her father, a former vaudevillian turned salesman, and Donald Sutherland as an awkward accountant (named Homer Simpson!) who becomes obsessed with Black. The film received two Oscar nominations – Best Supporting Actor (Meredith) and Cinematography (Conrad L. Hall) – and makes its global premiere on Blu-ray with a new 2020 commentary track by Kat Ellinger and new interviews with actor William Atherton and film critic Kim Newman. Another world first for Blu-ray is the classy 1999 British period drama TheWinslow Boy . Directed by David Mamet ( Glengarry Glen Ross ), it’s the story of a young naval cadet who is accused of the theft and forgery of a postal order, prompting his banker father to bring out the big guns in legal representation. Extras include an audio commentary by Mamet and cast members Jeremy Northam,

IMPRINT TELEVISION O ctober sees the first release under the new Imprint Television banner, which will run concurrently with the Imprint Films label. The brand will deliver an ongoing line of TV series in stunning HD with carefully curated bonus material, and all first pressings of each release will be available in strictly limited-edition deluxe packaging, while stocks last. Imprint Television kicks off with Hammer House of Horror: The Complete Series , the 1980 anthology show that captures the strong production values and creepy atmosphere of the famous British studio behind the Dracula and Frankenstein flicks starring Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee. Indeed, the series features several Hammer Films alumni including Cushing and Denholm Elliott in the episodes The Silent Scream and Rude Awakening , respectively. All 13 episodes are presented in HD and in their full screen aspect ratios, with Guardian of the Abyss also available as a widescreen option. Bonus

features include exclusive 2020 audio commentaries on selected episodes, and featurettes. A must-have for every horror fan!

Hammer House of Horror

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Star-crossed lovers. BABYTEETH

A case of arrested development. THE KING OF STATEN ISLAND

RELEASE DATE: 28/10/20

FORMAT:

RELEASE DATE: 28/10/20

FORMAT:

Australian director Shannon Murphy’s accomplished feature debut gives the terminally-ill-teen-drama a new lease on life. Adolescent love in the shadow of death has been played out with maximum waterworks in films like The Fault in Our Stars , but Murphy isn’t interested in recycling mawkish genre clichés. Babyteeth 's cancer- stricken protagonist, 16-year-old Milla (Eliza Scanlen), possesses a lust for life and for her new boyfriend, Moses (Toby Wallace). This feral, twenty-something drug

The new comedy-drama from writer-director Judd Apatow ( Knocked Up , Trainwreck ) stars SNL regular and stand-up comic Pete Davidson, who also co-scripted what’s essentially a semi-autobiographical story. Davidson was a child when he lost his firefighter father in the 9/11 tragedy, and his character Scott Carlin is similarly grappling with the fallout of his dad’s death during a heroic rescue attempt. A stoner with zero self esteem and an unrealistic dream of opening a ‘tattoo restaurant’,

dealer isn’t the kind of guy you’d invite home to meet your bourgeois parents, but Milla’s therapist father (Ben Mendelsohn) and musician mum (Essie Davis) are a highly dysfunctional pair who, while initially aghast, come to realise Moses might be exactly what their daughter needs right now. A vibrant coming-of-age tale that celebrates life and first love. SH

he’s left to lament the loss of his dad, his sister’s departure for college, and his mother’s new relationship with a firefighter, which he’s determined to sabotage. A heartfelt and entertaining character study that resonates with truth, this is one of Apatow's most dramatic films to date, and Davidson commits to the role with humour and honesty. SH (See page 14)

THE 2ND AMENDMENT

FOLLOW ME

HARD KILL

ALIVE

RELEASE DATE: 14/10/20 FORMAT:

RELEASE DATE: 28/10/20 FORMAT:

RELEASE DATE: 28/10/20 FORMAT:

RELEASE DATE: 07/10/20 FORMAT:

En route to collect his estranged son from college, a Secret Service agent (Ryan Phillippe, who proved his credentials as an action man in TV's Shooter ) is caught up in a terrorist plot to kidnap the daughter of a Supreme Court judge who is ruling on a landmark legal case involving the 2nd Amendment of the US Constitution – always a hot button issue! Phillippe must use his 'special set of skills' to save the girl and his son from the terrorists and their ruthless leader, played by Casper Van Dien ( Starship Troopers ). Taking its cues from Die Hard and Taken , this is a good old fashioned action flick that rarely lets up. AC

Some people go to crazy lengths in order to make their vlog stand out, and this tourists-in-peril horror- thriller takes content creation to the extreme. An obnoxious social media personality (Keegan Allen) and a bunch of his friends take a trip to Moscow – bankrolled by a billionaire – to shoot an anniversary special for his popular vlog: a look inside an exclusive escape room that caters to the super rich. But what they didn’t count on was said room being a torture chamber from which there’s no escape... Combining the suspense of Escape Room with the shocks of Hostel and Saw , Follow Me packs a surprise twist that you may or may not see coming. BS

Bruce Willis continues on his merry way starring in the sort of action flicks that are great fun if you want to give your brain a night off. In Hard Kill , Bruce actually receives second billing to Jesse Metcalfe, a name that fans of Desperate Housewives will know well. Metcalfe plays a mercenary, hired by an apparently too-old- for-this-spit Bruce, who in this instance is a billionaire tech CEO. Why the merc? Bruce possesses a valuable AI code that's coveted by a terrorist called The Pardoner (!), who has abducted his daughter for leverage. If you're in the mood for an indie actioner with gunfights, revenge and redemption, Hard Kill delivers all of the above. BS

An injured man and woman (Thomas Cocquerel and (Camille Stopps) awaken bloody and bandaged in a rundown sanatorium with no memory of how they got there or who they are. Offered assistance by a concerned caretaker (Angus Macfadyen) who likes to play doctor, the pair soon discover his bedside manner leans towards the sadistic. Abandoned hospitals are catnip to horror filmmakers and director Rob Grant ( Harpoon ) exploits the formula to good effect here, conjuring a grim atmosphere and ramping up the suspense and gore as the film builds to a killer payoff. AC

24 OCTOBER 2020

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