The release of the week for TDG is Criterion’s Blu-ray of LE CERCLE ROGUE: http://amzn.to/f9hQaF. This is by far my favorite heist film of all time and may in fact be my favorite Melville film of all time as well. Though LE SAMOURAI has a muted brilliance to it, LE CERCLE ROGUE is stunning in the way it captures the act of criminals doing what they do best. I dare anyone to watch this and not have a strong urge to pick up a pack of smokes and pop a heater in your mouth while contemplating illegal activity. Here is a breakdown of what’s on this disc:
Restored, complete, uncut version, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack
Excerpts from Cinéastes de notre temps: “Jean-Pierre Melville”
Video interviews with assistant director Bernard Stora and Rui Nogueria, the author of Melville on Melville
Thirty minutes of rare on-set and archival footage, featuring interviews with director Jean-Pierre Melville and stars Alain Delon, Yves Montand, and André Bourvil
Original theatrical trailer and 2003 Rialto Pictures rerelease trailer
PLUS: A booklet featuring essays by film critics Michael Sragow and Chris Fujiwara, excerpts from Melville on Melville, a reprinted interview with composer Eric Demarsan, and an appreciation from director John Woo
Here is a list of the other titles that are sitting in our cart this week…
DIRTY MARY CRAZY LARRY/RACE WITH THE DEVIL ACION PACKED DOUBLE FEATURE - http://amzn.to/h4CF16 - If we could get these on Blu-ray I would hump the leg of the person that made that commitment, which may explain why we can’t get these on Blu-ray. This is a great double feature though and the disc is dirt cheap at $10.99.
THE INCREDIBLES (Blu-ray) - http://amzn.to/flST7o - One of my favorite superhero films of all time (Top 5). This film works on multiple levels and Disney does a great job with their releases.
JIMI HENDRIX AND THE BAND OF GYPSIES: LIVE AT THE FILLMORE - http://amzn.to/gyuqv2 - This performance capture Hendrix in his prime and features the only known footage of the entire group in concert. Here is the full track list:
1.Who Knows
2.Machine Gun
3.Them Changes
4.Power of Soul
5.Stepping Stone
6.Foxey Lady
7.Stop
8.Earth Blue
BEHIND THE BURLY Q - http://amzn.to/fT06p7 - A great documentary from Leslie Zemeckis (wife of Robert) on the history of Burlesque.
Last but never least, we have heard rumblings on the Blu-ray release of BATTLE BEYOND THE STARS - http://amzn.to/eQsIw2 - This was way off my radar and the link provided shows that amazon is out of stock which I find hard to believe since it was just released today supposedly. We will stay on this and let you know what’s up.
That’s it for this week kids, next week we look at the release of IP MAN 2 and some other titles you are going to want to grab.
See you on forty deuce,
G
