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Category:    Home > Reviews > Mystery > Drama > Murder > Detective > Crime > Kidnapping > Religious Extremism > Sexism > Misogyny > Disapp > Gosford Park (2001/Arrow)/Not Without My Daughter (1991/MGM/both MVD Blu-rays)/Picnic At Hanging Rock (2018 TV remake/Acorn Blu-ray Set)/Sharp Objects (2018/HBO Blu-ray set)/To Catch A Killer (1992/Um

Gosford Park (2001/Arrow)/Not Without My Daughter (1991/MGM/both MVD Blu-rays)/Picnic At Hanging Rock (2018 TV remake/Acorn Blu-ray Set)/Sharp Objects (2018/HBO Blu-ray set)/To Catch A Killer (1992/Umbrella Region Free PAL Import DVD)



Picture: B+/B/B/B+/B- Sound: B+/B/B/B+/B- Extras: B/C+/C+/B/D Main Programs: B/B/B/A/B



PLEASE NOTE: The To Catch A Killer Import DVD is now only available from our friends at Umbrella Entertainment in Australia, can only play on Blu-ray, 4K and DVD players that can handle the PAL DVD and can be ordered from the link below.



Here are serious releases about serious crimes in various forms...



Robert Altman's Gosford Park (2001) gets the deluxe treatment from Arrow Academy in this startling new HD transfer. Starring Kristin Scott Thomas amongst many others, the film centers around a weekend getaway for a group of wealthy persons that goes horribly awry when one of them in murdered. Set in the 1930s, the award winning film is beautifully made in all aspects which makes it a must see for cinephiles.


The all star cast includes Bob Balaban, Maggie Smith, Ryan Philippe, Michael Gambon, Helen Mirren, Stephen Fry, Alan Bates, Richard E. Grant, Jeremy Northam, Kelly MacDonald, Charles Dance, Clive Owen, and Emily Watson among others.


The film is presented in 1080p on Blu-ray disc with a widescreen aspect ratio of 2.35:1 and a nice sounding track in DTS-HD MA (Master Audio) 5.1 lossless audio. This is a brand new 2K restoration from a 4K scan was carried out by Arrow films exclusively for this released and was supervised and approved by director of photography Andrew DunnWhile. Needless to say, the work done here is nothing short of spectacular and it could be only improved by a 4K UHD release.


Special Features include...


Audio commentary by director Robert Altman, production designer Stephen Altman and producer David Levy


Audio commentary by writer-producer Julian Fellowes


Brand-new audio commentary by critics Geoff Andrew and David Thompson (author of Altman on Altman)


Introduction by critic Geoff Andrew


Brand new cast and crew interviews recorded exclusively for this release


The Making of Gosford Park archive featurette


Keeping Gosford Park Authentic archive featurette


Q&A Session with Altman and the cast


Fifteen deleted scenes with optional Altman commentary


Trailer


and reversible sleeves featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Matthew Griffin.




Available for the first time on Blu-ray, Not Without My Daughter (1991) stars Sally Field and Alfred Molina and is a touching thriller/drama that's based on a true story. The film centers around an American woman (Field) who ends up trapped in strictly Islamic Iran thanks to her mean husband (Molina) who tricks her and her daughter into going there.


Once they get there, Molina decides that he wants to stay and in turn forces Fields and their young daughter to comply. Soon on the run, Fields must do whatever she can to get back to America and keep their American daughter from becoming a victim. The film features great performances by Field and Molina both, and is a scary and frighteningly relevant film to this day.


Not Without My Daughter also stars Sheila Rosenthal, Roshan Seth, and Sarah Badel.


The film is presented in 1080p on Blu-ray disc with a widescreen aspect ratio of 1.85:1 and a nice sounding track in an English 2.0 Stereo Sound (PCM) mix and lesser Dolby Digital 2.0 tracks in Spanish and French depending on your personal taste. While it's not as impressive as Ultra HD, the film looks and sounds fine and doesn't have any glaring issues on Blu-ray that hinder the presentation, and goes without saying that its the best that this film has looked since its original release in theaters.


Special Features include...

"Making of" Featurette

and an Original Theatrical Trailer



Natalie Dormer (Game of Thrones) stars in Picnic at Hanging Rock (2018), an eerie Australian supernatural series that is presented here in beautiful 1080p in its first season. Boasting high production value, the money is on the screen here to create a beautiful past Victorian setting that takes place around the turn of the 19th Century.


The story centers around three schoolgirls and a teacher from Appleyard College disappear on Valentine's Day in 1900, when they go to a picnic on hanging rock. After their obscure disappearance, the school is affected deeply by their loses and many try to piece together what exactly happened to them. The series is based on the 1967 novel by Joan Lindsay made famous by the Peter Weir feature film from Australia in the 1970s.


The show also stars Lily Sullivan, Lola Bessis, Harrison Gilbertson, Samara Weaving, and Madeleine Madden. Behind the camera, the directors here are Larysa Kondracki, Michael Rymer, and Amanda Brotchie.


Six episodes span two Blu-ray discs and include New Beginning, The Senior Fete, Quite a Reputation, St. Valentine's Day, Heading Out, and The Rock. Total run time is 321 minutes.


The series is presented in 1080p high definition with its original 2.00:1 widescreen aspect ratio and a high end 5.1 DTS-HD MA (Master Audio) lossless mix, that both easily best the original presentation of the show on television. The production design is on point and the show is beautifully photographed and stylistic with various colors dominating various moments.


Special Features...

Cast Videos

Crew Videos

and Behind the Scenes Featurettes


The series is nicely produced and if you're familiar with the story or original film, then this seems to be a thorough and proper adaptation.



Amy Adams stars in Sharp Objects (2018), an HBO limited series that's based on a novel of the same name by the writer of Gone Girl, Gillian Flynn. This intense eight episode miniseries directed by Jean-Marc Vallee (Wild, Dallas Buyers Club), is a highly cinematic and interesting filmmaking achievement that isn't too be missed!


Sharp Objects supporting cast includes Patricia Clarkson, Chris Messina, Matt Craven, Elizabeth Perkins, Sophia Lillis, Will Chase, and Jackson Hurst to name a few.


The eight episodes include Vanish, Dirt, Fix, Ripe, Closer, Cherry, Falling, and Milk.


The story centers around a troubled reporter (Adams) who returns to her hometown to cover a murder, and in the process she butts heads with her mother (Clarkson) and others and ends up awakening many of her past demons, many of which are self inflictions. This miniseries is perfect for HBO as it has all of the company's trademark ingredients in that the show is daring, sexy, and shockingly dark at times.


Sharp Objects is presented in 1080p on Blu-ray disc with a widescreen aspect ratio of 1.78:1 and a nice sounding lossless mix in DTS-HD MA (Master Audio) 5.1. While it's not as impressive as Ultra HD, the program looks and sounds fine and doesn't have any glaring issues on Blu-ray that hinder the presentation. There are also Spanish tracks in DTS 2.0 and DTS 5.1.


Also included is a digital copy.


Special Features include...

Creating Wind Gap

Inside the Mind of Gillian Flynn

Anatomy of a Scene: Calhoun Day

and character pieces


This show is very addictive and very well done. I don't want to give away too much in this review, but I will say if you enjoy thrillers like Gone Girl, True Detective (also an HBO series), or The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo then Sharp Objects should be on your watchlist.



Originally a Fox Television mini-series in the U.S., To Catch A Killer (1992) remains one of the creepiest biopics out there on serial killer John Wayne Gacy, who infamously dressed up as a clown and was responsible for 33 killings in Chicago in 1980. The film stars Brian Dennehy (Cocoon, First Blood) as the serial killer and is told from the perspective of a detective (Michael Riley) who is on a mission to track him down.


The miniseries also stars Michael Riley, Meg Foster, Martin Julien, and the late Margot Kidder.


Presented in standard definition on DVD with a 1.33 x 1 full frame aspect ratio and a lossy Dolby Digital 2.0 English mix, the film looks and sounds fine for the format. Compression issues evident (especially when comparing directly to HD), but the overall presentation doesn't have any noticeable issues outside of its limitations.



To order the To Catch A Killer Region Free PAL Import DVD, go to this link for it and other hard to find titles at:


http://www.umbrellaent.com.au/



- James Lockhart

https://www.facebook.com/jamesharlandlockhartv/


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