Netflix Releases THE IRISHMAN

Jeri Jacquin

Currently on Netflix from director Martin Scorsese is the highly anticipated film streaming with THE IRISHMAN.

Frank Sheeran (Robert De Niro) served in World War II and is now a truck driver trying to take care of his family in 1950's Philadelphia. When is truck breaks down, he meets Russell Bufalino (Joe Pesci) who seems to know how to fix it. Wanting to show his appreciation, Frank offers but Russell turns him down and both go on their way.

Selling a few things to a local crime family, he is accused of theft and lawyer Bill Bufalino (Ray Romano) convinces a judge that he is innocent. Bufalino introduces Frank to his cousin - Russel Bufalino and immediately he begins to work for Russell. As the head of the Scranton crime family, Russell is privvy to almost everything going on and becomes close friends with Frank. Their friendship starts real money coming to Frank and his family.

Jimmy Hoffa is the president of the Teamsters and an acquaintance of Russells. Sending Frank over to help Hoffa means dealing with Anthony "Pro" Provenzano (Stephen Graham) who is causing trouble. If that isn't hard enough, Hoffa is having problems with the government and blames the Kennedys for all his difficulties. Bringing Frank aboard, Hoffa starts to feel as if there is at least one person he can trust.

When Robert Kennedy is named Attorney General, Hoffa can't control his anger knowing that the President's brother is going to do anything possible to bring him down. Eventually that is exactly what happens and while in prison, Frank goes back to work for Russell and the Teamsters is being run by Frank Fitzsimmons.

While in prison, Hoffa gets into a scuffle with Provenzano when insults are exchanged. Not realizing that this is a bad idea, Frank consistently tries to smooth their beef over with no luck. In 1971, President Nixon pardon's Jimmy Hoffa but he can't get back in with the Teamsters for a while.

He may not be able to jump back in the ring but certainly make plans to do it and that's exactly what Hoffa does. Being as loud as everyone remembers him to be, Russell starts getting heat from the others that Hoffa is becoming a problem. Turning to Frank's friendship with Hoffa, they ask him to convey that Hoffa needs to curtail the rhetoric. Well that couldn't have had the worse effect on the former leader of the Teamsters.

Instead of cutting back a bit, he informs Frank loudly that he knows things about the dons that make him untouchable and all but dares them to try anything. When Bufalino's daughter is to be married, Russell, Frank and their wives make a road trip to attend. Everything is fine until Russell tells Frank that he is going to make a side trip to meet Hoffa and bring Provenzano so they can finally put things to rest.

Putting things to rest is what Frank does best.

De Niro as Frank "The Irishman" Sheeran is fantastic but then again I would expect nothing less. Scorsese knows that if he is going to do a Mafia film he can't exactly do it without De Niro. Having him start off as a younger man is a little unnerving and it is easy to spot the changes, but as the film goes along he just morphs into character and ages right along with him. What De Niro has the stunning ability to do is make you feel for a character that isn't exactly an saint. The effects of this are lost on Frank but not on the family as his daughters struggle with the knowledge of who their father is.

Pacino as Hoffa is portrayed as an incredible character in that he has a mouth that I'm not sure how he got away with for so long. Well, absolute power does corrupt absolutely and Hoffa was definetly on the right side of that saying. He ran the Teamsters the way HE wanted to run it and whoa-be anybody that got in his way. Even prison didn't stop him - much. Pacino adds a dynamic that is such a struggle for Frank and Russell, they want to understand, they try to understand but the noose starts to get tight around their necks. Pacino is everything marvelous and then some.

Pesci as Russell is such a treasure and what is interesting about this character is the eerie calmness. I'm used to seeing Pesci get loud, get crazy and make no excuses for any of it. In the role of Russell he gives a collected demeanor that never gets out of hand and plays everything close to the chest. There is nothing about the way that he behaves that gives anything away, no plans, no ideas…nothing. Instead, behind those eyes are plans upon plans and he makes no apologies for caring for those he loves first and foremost.

Graham as Provenzano is the thorn in Hoffa's side, the thing that rubs him the wrong way and the very thing that sets his teeth to grinding. Feeling he owes Hoffa nothing, Provenzano has no problem hitting below the belt or in the eye - which ever. Graham gives his character a Superman complex of huge proportion and puffs his chest whenever his enemy is near.

Other cast include Bobby Cannavale as Felix DiTullio, Anna Paquin as Peggy Sheeran, Stephanie Kurtzuba as Irene Sheeran, Kathrine Narducci as Carrie Bufalino, Welder White as Jo Hoffa, Jesse Plemons as Chuckie O'Brien, Jack Huston as Robert Kennedy, Domenick Lombardozzi as Anthony Salerno, Paul Herman as Whispers DiTullio, Louis Cancelmi as Salvatore Briguglio, Marin Ireland as Dolores Sheeran, Sebastian Maniscalco as Joseph Gallo, Jim Norton as Don Rickles, Al Linea as Sam Giancana, Joseph Riccobene as Jimmy Fratianno and Harvey Keitel as Angelo Bruno.

Netflix is the world's leading streaming entertainment service with over 158 million paid memberships in over 190 countries. Enjoying TV series, documentaries and feature films, Netflix is across a wide variety of genres and languages. Members can watch as much as they want, anytime, anywhere and on any internet-connected screen. For more information please visit www.netflix.com.

The project came from De Niro after he read the 2004 book by Charles Brandt I Heard You Paint Houses. Bringing it to the attention of Martin Scorsese meant that it couldn't have been placed in better hands. Industrial Light & Magic (emphasis on 'magic') did the de-aging for the film.

Scorsese said on The A24 Podcast that "there is a great deal of CGI because we're doing this youthification of De Niro, Pesci and Al Pacino. We're all concerned that we're so used to watching them as the older faces." I don't think he has anything to worry about as the storyline takes over any thoughts about the youthification.

THE IRISHMAN is everything I want in a film like this and more. In fact the running time of 209 minutes means that every part of the story is explored. From Franks marriages to the relationships with his daughter, especially the strain with daughter Peggy and how people perceived Frank. The story of Russell is shrouded in a bit of mystery except for what Frank knows and shares with us in his narrations and I don't mind that. The story of Hoffa and what got him in trouble with everyone is intense and constantly in flux.

The film is breath taking in scope and not a moment of time is wasted. Every minute is important and that's something views are agreeing on. The last half hour as we are part of Frank's mob-afterlife, I am even more giddy with De Niro, Pacino and Pesci's performances. THE IRISHMAN is a film that reminds us of what an amazing world cinema creates for us all.

In the end - his story changed history!

THE REPORT Outs Abuse

Jeri Jacquin

Currently on Amazon Prime Video from writer/director Scott Z. Burns, Unbranded Pictures and Amazon Studios is a story of what happened to detainees after 9-11 because of THE REPORT.

Daniel Jones (Adam Driver) is a staffer for California Democrat Senator Dianne Feinstein (Annette Benning). Chairing the senate Select Committee on Intelligence, she asks Jones to investigate the CIA. Specifically she wants to know about the terror suspects being detained after 9-11.

Putting a team together in a high security location that is practically a vault, Jones is joined by April (Sarah Goldberg) and Julian (Lucas Dixon) pouring through thousands of documents. From the beginning Jones is appalled by what they are finding. The room walls begin to fill up with photos of detainees and their connection to Al-Qaeda, Osama bin Laden and the 9-11 attacks.

What they also discover is the beginnings of the program of torturing also called EITs (Enhanced Interrogation Techniques), like water boarding, in order to get what they feel is vital information about on-going plans or future plans for attacks. It becomes clear to Jones and Feinstein that no one is willing to take responsibility although there is evidence. In particular is evidence of a Panetta Review that Jones is keeping to himself.

During a confirmation hearing of Caroline Krass, Senator Mark Udall (Scott Shephard) let it be known that the Panetta Review believed in the accuracy of the study. That opens pandora's box as Feinstein is under the gun and Jones is being accused of hacking. Feeling as if the walls are closing in, Jones is forced to make a choice about whether it is time to be a whistleblower or allow the process to have its day.

Believing in everything they have been working on for over six years, Jones and Feinstein put it on the line knowing that once the information is out, they have done their job. The frustration lay in those who would do anything to cover up what has happened and from the Panetta Report from coming out.

Driver as Jones is about as intense as a person could be given his profession. Being asked to head the investigation into the timeline of events and who knew what, when and is responsible for approving the EITs. Like a dog with a bone, Driver gives his character the fortitude to question everyone who is trying to double talk their way out of responsibility. Told not to make anything about his investigation personal, it is clear that personal is the way it needed to be taken in order to get accountability. It is clear Driver can give intensity (hellooooo…Kylo Ren!) and it is that characteristic that gets the viewer into the game asking questions of their own.

Benning as Feinstein wants answers to the questions that seem to be consistently deflected by her colleagues. With Jones at the helm she finds an ally who isn't going stop until they get to the root of it all. With ever meeting, ever hearing and every telephone call to the White House, she gets closer to calling the wide net bluff of the misrepresentation of what actually happened.

Shout out to Jon Hamm who plays Denis McDonough. First introduced in the beginning of the film meeting Jones for a job, I'm sure the McConough wished he had taken more of an interested in his job applicant! Trying to stay one step ahead of everything Jones finds, it is Hamm's character that always seems to be dodging bullets.

This film has a huge, and I mean huge cast and I want to make sure they all get a mention: Corey Stoll as Cyrus Clifford, Linda Powell as Marcy Morris, John Rothman as Senator Whitehouse, Victor Slezak as Senator Rockefeller, Guy Boyd as Senator Chambliss, Alexander Chaplin as Sean Murphy, Joanne Tucker as Gretchen, Maura Tierney as Bernadette, Michael C. Hall as Thomas Eastman, Ian Blackman as Cofer Black, Dominic Fumusa as George Tenet, Fajer Al-Kaisi as Ali Soufan, Douglas Hodge as James Mitchell, T. Ryder Smith as Bruce Jessen, Carlos Gomez as Jose Rodriguez, Tim Nelson as Raymond Nathan, Ted Levine as John Brennan, and Noah Bean as Senator Heinrich.

Also included in archival footage are Dick Cheney, John Kerry, Rachel Maddow, Donald Rumsfeld, John McCain and former President Barack Obama.

Amazon Prime offers television shows and original content included in its Amazon Prime subscription. Original programs such as CARNIVAL ROW, THE MAN IN THE HIGH CASTLE, and THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL are hit shows. Coming soon is the next series with GOLIATH starring Billy Bob Thornton and it promises to another successful and intense series.

THE REPORT is an in-depth look at what it takes for truth to surface. Driver's portrayal of Daniel Jones helps us understand the connections and how the departments of the government don't work together very well. What is actually a stand out statement is when Jones sees a lawyer Cyrus Clifford and is told he doesn't have a legal problem, he has a sunlight problem - meaning transparency.

That is a stunning way to put it and that statement caused me to listen even more to the story and especially pay attention to the details. So much so that I fell for every minute hook, line and actor. Each of them does an outstanding job with such a difficult subject matter. Keeping the intensity going (as if Driver wasn't enough!) throughout the film just adds layer upon layer of depth and, I loved it!

In the end - truth matters! 

READY OR NOT Because it's Back on Bluray!

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to Bluray and Digital from directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Tyler Gillett and 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment comes the usual lethal family drama in READY OR NOT.

It is the happiest day of Grace's (Samara Weaving) life as she is marrying Alex Le Domas (Mark O'Brien). Even as he uses humor to warn about the Le Domas family, Grace is just happy to finally be part of one.

After the wedding, Grace and Alex take a few moments for each other but are interrupted by the eerie Aunt Helene (Nicky Guadagni). She announces that the family is gathering wanting Grace and Alex to join them.

Surrounding the Le Domas table are Alex's brother Daniel (Adam Brody), his wife Charity (Elyse Levesque), mother Becky (Andi MacDowell), father Tony (Henry Czerny), sister Emilie (Melanie Scrofano), and husband Fitch (Kristian Bruun).

Tony announces that every time a new person comes into the family, they spend the first evening playing a game as a welcome. All Grace has to do is pick a card from a box which seems simple enough to her. The card 'hide and seek' is drawn and the entire family becomes silent and Alex gets pale.

Going along to get along Grace is given a head start and once gone the rest of the family start getting ready – by arming up. You see, the Le Domas family believes that if they don't seek Grace, something horrible will happen to the family.

Alex sneaks away to find Grace and finally fesses up as to what is happening. Grace is about to taken on a whole family proving she can take whatever nonsense they dish out, including crazy butler Stevens (John Ralston). The in-laws are on the hunt and they aren't about to stop!

Just another family get-together that goes crazy till dawn!

Weaving as Grace is absolutely fantastic and I loved every minute she was on screen. To go from a happy bride to Rambo-ette was very, very cool. I found myself sharing my feelings about her playing this role with lots of shouting and 'you go girl!' and cheering. Weaving says, "We had an amazing cast to pull this off and everything just fell into place". She made a grand entrance in white and she made an even grander exit leaving us all wanting more so that's exactly falling into place!

O'Brien as Alex marries Grace knowing full well what is about to happen. I'm was not sure how I felt about him throughout the film. I mean your fiancé knows his family is crazy but waits till after the 'I do' to say something? Every bride's worst fear right? Brody as brother Daniel has his own issues with the family but he'd rather go numb with alcohol than deal with any of it.

Czerny as Tony is just plain nutty but made me laugh a LOT. He wants to keep the family together and doesn't mind doing it with a shotgun. Bruun as Fitch just goes along to get along because being married to Emilie means happy crazy life-happy crazy wife! mother Becky (Andi MacDowell),

Scrofano as Emilie is just a little to tender to do what her family thinks must be done and Levesque as Charity doesn't have a problem with it what so ever. Guadagni as Aunt Helene is absolutely priceless and she cracked me up repeatedly even though I'm sure she was meant to scare me instead. Now Ralston as Stevens scared me more – well done sir!

MacDowell as mom Becky just stuns in this role. She is happy to have her son back home and thanks Grace for doing it. Hard to believe when she has a weapon in her hand right? Talking about the making of the film she says, "It's scary to think how everyone was perfectly cast in the film, especially with the role I play. I had a lot of fun being cast in this type of role because I've played so many sweet characters and I'm not sweet". She about sums it up perfectly!

Other cast include Liam MacDonald as Georgie, Ethan Tavares as Gabe, Hanneke Talbot as Clara, Celine Tsai as Tina and Daniela Barbosa as Dora.

Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment brings award-winning global product and new entertainment to DVD, Bluray, and Digital HD. There amazing collection offers fans an opportunity to expand their own home libraries with the best films. To discover what other titles they have please visit www.fox.com.

The Bluray Special Features include Let the Games Begin: The Making of READY OR NOT, Gag Reel, Audio Commentary by Radio Silence and Samara Weaving and Gallery.

READY OR NOT is a fabulous film filled with terror and laughs which, if you think about it, is an odd combination. That's what makes the film a must-see for me because of the combination of terror and laughs. I mean yes it has violence but it's by a bunch of people who are just completely out of their minds.

I love the cinematography, costuming and the interesting choices of weapons (like Clue with Fitch-in-the-library-with-a-crossbow feel to it). The story behind the family gathering is pretty interesting as well because it is never let on whether it is true or not – until it is.

Prepare to have a good time because you might take a good look around at your own clan and not complain so much about your own family ever again.

In the end – let the game begin!

HUSTLERS Makes Their Own Rules on Bluray

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to 4K Ultra HD, Bluray/DVD and Digital from director Lorene Scafaria and Universal Pictures Home Entertainment comes a group of woman who take on Wall Street as their own HUSTLERS.

Destiny (Constance Wu) is a young woman who just wants to take care of her grandmother and make ends meet. Her first night working as a stripper she sees that this is not going to be as easy as she thought. Watching the stage she sees Ramona (Jennifer Lopez) dance and walk off stage with more money than she has ever seen in on night.

Ramona takes a liking to Destiny and shows her some moves that might help her. The other girls Tracey (Trace Lysette), Star (Marcy Richardson), Mercedes (Keke Palmer), Annabelle (Lili Reinhardt) and Diamond (Cardi B). Watching and listening to them all Destiny begins to make money. Dancing with Ramona she makes even more money from Wall Street clients and her life begins to change.

Taking care of Grandma, getting an apartment and even going back to school become her top priorities. The girls are all reveling in the money they are making with gifts to each other and upgrading how they are living. That is all about to change as 2008 strikes like a tornado when Wall Street is hit and the money dries up. All the girls scatter and Destiny is now in a shaky relationship with a baby.

Unable to find work anywhere else, Destiny returns to the strip clubs to discover that a new breed of dancers have taken over. She is thrilled to see Ramona and the two women come up with a plan to get the money flowing once again. Wanting to get the money that's left from the Wall Street clients, they start their own business away from the club and everyone is back in the money.

But all good things come to an end, even friendships when decisions are being made that Destiny is not happy about. Now what they have been doing are stories waiting to be told.

Lopez as Ramona is a powerful teacher for her young learner. Raising a daughter of her own she understands the frustration of making it in the business. Taking Destiny under her wing is just the thing to motivate her to move even further up the pole. Lopez makes sure that she looks good and absolutely does in this role as the big sister to the stripper family. There is a scene between herself and another recognizable face that is entertaining.

Wu as Destiny is struggling to take care of her Grandmother and make a life for herself. Turning to dancing isn't as easy as she thought. Watching the other dancers walk away with tons of cash, she wants to learn how to do the very same. Her relationship with Ramona is special to her and not just because the 'big sister' teachers her how to make money but because someone seems to care about her. Wu starts out sweet and remains so throughout the film but also becomes jaded along the way.

Lysette, Richardson, Reinhardt and Palmer seem to just be enjoying themselves in the film but then again that's the point of the story. They were all enjoying the money and the camaraderie which made their lives easier. Cardi B had no problem taking the stage being no stranger from the stripper life. She actually was a stripper in her younger days so this role isn't much of a stretch but still fun.

Other cast include Vanessa Aspillaga as Manuela, Jay Oakerson as DJ, G-Eazy as Johnny, Emma Batiz as 12-year-old Juliet, Mette Towley as Justice, Julia Stiles as Elizabeth and Mercedes Ruehl as Mother.

Universal Pictures Home Entertainment has just added an amazing film to their library and making it available for us to all experience and re-experience in our own home theaters. There are film of every genre available from scary to drama to family films. For more of what they have to offer please visit www.uphe.com.

STX Films and Entertainment is a global next-generation company who has taken on the mission to unlock the value of direct connection stars have with their fans through the development, production and distribution of film, television, VR, digital video, music and live entertainment content. It is the industry leader in transforming beyond traditional platform-driven content to creating talent-driven enterprises. To experience more please visit www.stxfilms.com.

HUSTLERS Bonus Features include a Feature Commentary with Director Lorene Scafaria.

This is a mixture of fun, sexy, fun and mischievous all wrapped up in a little bit of illegality. Look, it is not rocket science to figure out that the life of a stripper isn't an easy one. There are those who actually dance because they have family to take care of or are desperate to work just to survive. HUSTLERS puts all these options out on the table with no judgement of one another so they will get none here.

That being said, Ramona and Destiny are two women who didn't want to be tied down to a club where the money they make is being sucked up by the men who run the club. Pay outs are deep the more money you make and these two characters are done with that happening. I give them props for making sure that more of what they earn stays in their pockets.

These characters are feisty and smart which kept me interested in how they were constantly staying afloat. The film is inspired by journalist Jessica Pressler's 2015 viral New York Magazine article The Hustlers at Scores. 

In the end - this is inspired by a true story!

THE SIMPSONS: The Nineteenth Season Going Strong on

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to DVD from its 19th (yes I said 19th) season is one of the most hilarious animated series on television from creator Matt Groening and 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment with THE SIMPSONS: The Nineteenth Season.

The Simpsons had a very humble beginning in 1987 as a short on the equally hilarious Fox series with Tracey Ullman Show. It jumped from a half hour Christmas special in 1989 and regularly on 1990. For those of us who hate age-math, just know that in those 19 years all the laugh lines we have are 95% caused by this animated family we have come to embrace as our own.

Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and baby Maggie along with Grampa Simpson introduced us to characters that most of us could pin point as someone in our own. Who could realize that 19 seasons later, these characters would still be with us and, more importantly, still going strong with no signs of stopping (which those of us who love to laugh truly appreciate!)

The season begins with Homer being very upset that he isn't rich after saving boss Burns from dying. It takes only one flight on a jet with an awesome dinner to feed his already insecure insecurities. Next, Homer becomes an opera singer after an accident but he can only do it lying down!

Louie is a tow-truck driver who becomes friends with Homer and gives him a tour of the tow-truck life. Maggie has become too attached to Marge so she thinks a school to learn independence might not have been the best idea. Marge decides to be friends with a guy in prison and it doesn't turn out exactly how she planned.

Going into Halloween, the Simpsons do it up right with parodies of movies and their take E.T. GOES HOME with Bart finding alien Kodos, MR. & MRS. SMITH as Homer and Marge team up to assassinate Kent Brockman, and HECK HOUSE with Ned Flanders asking God for bad powers and the ability to teach about the seven deadly sins.

Homer is in deep do-do when not knowing the color of his wife's eyes while Bart's popularity is threatened when Millhouse takes over with a life without parents. Marge decides the world needs a gym for regular sized women and Homer's insecurities lead him to a little knife work from the local plastic surgeon.

Sideshow Bob still has it in for the family Simpson but it all goes a slide side-ways when Bart makes it impossible for Bob to get what he needs to survive. Of course this turns everyone against Bart. Homer is dealing with no memory and Marge, Bart, Maggie and Lisa seems to be missing along with his memory. Then Homer sets off election mayhem with a fast-food burndown, Ralph Wiggum being a joke and then it turns out not to be so funny after all.

Homer reminisces about being a musician big giving it up for Marge and all because he found her diploma. Valentine's Day turns into a little bit of a ride down famous couple lane when Homer and Marge become Bonnie and Clyde, Lady and the Tramp along with Sid Vicious and Nancy Spungen. Bart has to rethink hid pranks when realizing that someone might be causing them all to go wrong.

Marge thinks Homer may be cheating so makes a call to a reality show to track him down and get answers. Lisa and Bart are fearing they may be sent to the big house for murder! Chazz Busby accepts Lisa into his ballet school and her dancing feet get better with a strange odor around.

Mayor Quimby is after anyone late on their taxes and sultry seductress Lurleen Lumpkin is back and Marge is not in a forgiving mood. When Bart's 4-H Club friend Lou is being considered for hamburger, he tries to find a way to keep her - forever! Making a family film turns big time for Lisa as they all head to the Sundance film festival where her work is adored. Homer's Mom Mona is back and informs her son she is done with protesting but her final act turns out to be more of a protest than ever.

Finally, Lisa is Krusty the Clown's newest replacement and Sideshow Mel tells that story. Bart and Homer have other fun plans deciding to be the ones to find the Kissing Lincolns penny.

Special guests include Steve Buscemi, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Ted Nugent, Matt Dillon, Stephen Colbert, Maya Rudolph, Placido Domingo, Lionel Richie, Maurice LaMarche, Alan Moore, Jack Black, Dan Clowes, Kelsey Grammer, Keith Olbermann, David Hyde Pierce, John Mahoney, Jon Stewart, Dan Rather, Weird Al Yankovic, Kurt Loder, Terry Gross, Topher Grace, The Dixie Chicks, Beverly D'Angelo, Zooey Deschanel, John C. Reilly, Jim Jarmusch, Drew Carey, Lance Armstrong and Glenn Close.

Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment brings award-winning global product and new entertainment to DVD, Bluray, and Digital HD. There amazing collection offers fans an opportunity to expand their own home libraries with the best films. To discover what other titles they have please visit www.fox.com.

The DVD includes the Special Features of 4-Disc Set Containing The Complete Nineteenth Season With All 20 Episodes listed below, "A Plea for Santy" by Matt Groening, Special Language Feature, Thank You Audio Commentary on Every Single Episode with Writers, Actors and Directors.

Episodes include He Loves to Fly and He D'ohs, The Homer of Seville, Midnight Towboy, I Don't Wanna Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Treehouse of Horror XVIII, Little Orphan Millie, Husbands and Knives, Funeral for a Friend, Eternal Moonshine of the Simpson Mind, E Pluribus Wiggum, That '90s Show, Love Springfieldian Style, The Debarted, Dian "N" for Nerder, Smoke on the Daughter, Papa Don't Leech, Apocalypse Cow, Any Given Sundance, Mona Leaves-a, and All About Lisa.

Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment brings award-winning global product and new entertainment to DVD, Bluray, and Digital HD. There amazing collection offers fans an opportunity to expand their own home libraries with the best films. To discover what other titles they have please visit www.fox.com.

Creator Groening has had an amazing career as a cartoonist, writer, producer, animator and, in many cases added his own voice to The Simpsons. His work has brought home a slew of awards including Primetime Emmy(s) Award(s) for Outstanding Animation as well as Outstanding Character Voice-Over, Outstanding Achievement in Animation, Outstanding Original Music, Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Cartoon and TV Show, People's Choice Award for Favorite New TV Comedy and Favorite TV Family and Favorite Animated TV Show, NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Writing, Teen Choice Award, TCA Award, TCA Heritage Award, Satellite Award, British Comedy Award, GLAAD Media Award and Peabody Award. Many of these awards have been won several times over.

That all being said and kudos by the way, The Simpsons have been in my home from the very beginning. It has affected our humor in a major way and brought us into the world of merchandising buy outs. My sons had to have Bart Simpson tee-shirts, what can I say. The show was constantly on in our house and anytime there was a marathon you could find this family front and center with snacks and pajamas at the ready.

The amazing thing about The Simpsons is that we all feel like they are a part of us in a way that no other animated series ever has. We know them inside and out and still we tune in and laugh ourselves into a tizzy. We know Homer is just a walking disaster area, we know Marge is a saint in the way she deals with her family even if she makes a mistake a time or two, we know Lisa won't ever let herself be put in a box with labels, and we know Maggie is never going to give us more than the smacking sound of her pacifier.

What we know even more is that Bart is always going to be Bart and in a way gives us all hope to be the best naughty versions of ourselves. He is the prankster we all strive to be and has given us over the years one liners that are still in use 19 seasons later. That's something to be awesomely proud of.

Watching THE SIMPSONS: The Complete Nineteenth Season together with my family is a continual journey for our animated friends and this family is thrilled to be a part of seeing it again and again. It is equally pretty cool to have it now as part of our home entertainment library in the "frikken awesome animated stuff" section.

So prepare for the next season by bringing on the iconic 19th season with Homer, Marge, Lisa, Bart, Maggie and the rest of the Springvillians because their home is our home.

In the end - do'h!

A REINDEER'S JOURNEY is Full of Heart

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to DVD from writer/director Guillaume Maidatchevsky and Screen Media comes the fascinating story of Ailo from birth onward with Donald Sutherland narrating A REINDEER'S JOURNEY.

In Lapland in Finland, a young reindeer named Ailo is born in the cold but up on his feet because he lives in a world that doesn't let you wobble long. His Mom is on her own to raise her baby and get him strong enough to be able to join the herd once again. Young Ailo begins to see the world he lives in with the ever present danger, species different from himself and growing into a young reindeer with his own destiny.

A REINDEER'S JOURNEY is just an absolute delight that captured my four-year-old granddaughters attention immediately. She couldn't take her eyes off the young reindeer, the forest, snow and other animals. Yet, she wasn't the only on delighted by what was on the screen.

I've always been an avid watcher of stories about the animals that live in our world but, and perhaps it's because it is the holiday season, watching baby Ailo just made my heart melt more. Adorable from birth, watching his bond with his mother and be so curious about the world around him is everything.

The other animals from the fox, bunny, badger, white owl and the very hyperactive ermine (it is a very white, beautiful and hilarious weasel) are equally stunning to see in their own environment. This is the world these beautiful animals live in and it is almost as if watching is a weird encroachment on their privacy but I thank them for sharing.

Screen Media Ventures, a Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment acquires the rights to high quality, independent television series and feature films for the US and Canada. Screen Media has a library of over 1,500 television series and motion pictures and is one of the largest independent suppliers of high-quality tv series and motion pictures to US and international broadcast markets, cable networks, home video outlets and a new media venues. For more information please visit www.screenmedia.net.

A REINDEER'S JOURNEY has the Bonus Feature of Making of A REINDEER'S JOURNEY.  For more information please visit www.areindeersjourney.com.

This is the type of film that is absolutely made for families to watch together. It is a great way to bring everyone to the sofa and cuddle up watching the story of Ailo. It is a story of his struggles to survive the land he lives in, learn to be a reindeer and know when it is time to leave to begin a life all his own.

Surrounded by stunning cinematography of a location I could only dream of visiting in person, that's what filmmaking like this does. I think I'll have to add Finland to my list of places to visit. Listening to the calming and entertaining voice of Donald Sutherland is just an added bonus that certainly pleased me. He is a treasure in his own right.

In the end - every day is a new adventure!

BATTLE OF LENINGRAD Fights onto Bluray

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to Bluray from writer/director Aleksey Kozlov and MPI is the story of hope and survival when BATTLE OF LENINGRAD.

It is war between the Russian people and German soldiers in the Soviet Union in 1941 and the people of Leningrad are being evacuated. On Lake Lodoga is an old barge, number 752, that is being loaded with soldiers and civilians. Trying to get on board is cadet Kostya Gorelov (Andrey Mironov-Udalov) and his girlfriend Nastya Tkachoyva (Maria Melniova). Also getting on board is Vadim Petruchik (Gela Meskhi), a NKVD investigator who has papers that he deems important to the war.

When Gorelov's group is taken off the boat to head to the front, his father Col. Nikolai Gorelov (Vitaliy Kishchenko) makes a last minute decision. What Nastya doesn’t know is that after leaving her mother Nariya (Anastasiya Melnikova) behind, that her father Alexandr (Valeriy Degtyar) has been released from prison and sent to that very front.

Petruchik recognizes Nastya and can't stop himself from bringing up her father's past or putting thoughts in her head about Kostya. He also realizes who Kostya's father is but has no problem threatening him as well. Trying to make the best of the frightening situation isn't helping the couple deal with their own issues.

On land the fighting increases as the soldiers march toward the battle. In front of them is a hill that is wiping out soldier after soldier. That doesn't stop the men from doing what they must to hold the enemy back. When leaders of the platoons fall, new leaders emerge with a call to arms that the Germans couldn't even imagine coming.

Believing the barge is the only chance for evacuation, it is sent out onto the lake for the crossing. What they didn't expect was a storm that ravages the ship to the point of bring on water and have to start dumping everything on the deck. Nastya sees that Kostya is doing his part as more and more being to try and save the ship.

Thinking they might still have a chance, from the air comes more terror as the scattering begins. Those on board don't have much to fight with and try to fight back with all they have but it might not be enough to save the barge or the people below in the holds.

This is a story of survival.

Mironov-Udalov as Kostya is clearly a young man in love but he is also a soldier. Sort of a considered a lady's man, no one is really sure if the new girl is serious or he's just trying to impress her. That perception changes quickly when he makes sure she is safely aboard the barge. It is his own father that makes arrangements for Kostya and it is something that troubles him not wanting problems for his father. With the decision made, Kostya doesn't hesitate to do whatever is necessary to save the people on board.

Melniova as Nastya is a young woman in love who will follow her man to start a new life. The problem is the old one isn't quite finished with either of them yet. Trying to be supportive, she does manage to let Petruchik get into her head questioning Kostya's motives. Eventually she sees what her man is made of! Melnikova as mother Nariya has tried to live her life raising daughter Nastya alone while her husband is in prison. Trying to stay clear of losing her job with the government (not a good idea to anger them), she knows her daughter is on the barge and husband is being sent to war. 

Meskhi as Petruchik is a power hungry narcissist who has a penchant for striking fear into people. He causes trouble between Kostya and Nastya in different ways. Petruckik makes it perfectly clear that all he has to do is snap his fingers and life will be difficult for them both, the thing is they have more serious problems waiting for them than his snappy fingers. Absolute power corrupts absolutely and the character of Petruckik could be their poster child!

Degtyar as Nastya's father Alexandr is finally released from prison but doesn't escape his fate. Being sent to fight the war may seem crazy considering his age but he accepts it and is stronger than most of the soldiers. Kishchenko as Col. Nikolai Gorelov is definetly a military man who is facing some hard and painful decisions. He may be a soldier but he's also Kostya's father and when those two parts of him collide, one side wins out. 

Other cast include: Aleksey Shevchenkov as Erofeev, Elena Zimina as Zoya, Sergey Zharkov as Gena Bukin, Ivan Lyrchikov as Andrey Babintsev, Maria Kepustinskaya as Sveta,Yesenia Raevskaya as Pomerantseva, Vadim Andreyev as Skyortsov, Inga Strelkova-Oboldina as Galochka, Vladimir Petrov as Sasha, Stepan Yakovlev as Seryozha, Vladimir Seleznev as Yarygin, Mikhail Morozov as Vitya, Evgenia Lyubimova as Lyusya, Pavel Grigoriev as Mikhail and Natalya Tkachenko as Liza.

The MPI Media Group is a leading producer and distributor of films founded in 1976. It is one of the largest independent entertainment companies with a compelling slate of the world's most respected cinema, documentaries, performances and television programs. A subsidiary of Dark Sky Films, they represent some of the most talented directors working today such as Ti West's THE HOUSE OF THE DEVIL and THE INNKEEPERS as well as GIRL ON THE THIRD FLOOR, WE ARE STILL HERE AND CATFIGHT. For more information follow them on twitter: @darkskyfilms and @mpimediagroup.

BATTLE OF LENINGRAD is a story of a young couple in love, parents and their children, soldiers, enemies and war. It is also about decisions made because of connections people have with one another. There are good guys and there are bad guys and the problem can often be that both of those are on the same side.

I am a serious lover of period pieces and this film falls nicely into that category. The costuming and sets all take the viewer into that time period. It is in the costuming and sets that we as the viewer either go for the ride the story is telling or fall behind. I went completely for the ride. Having never heard this story I was interested in every aspect of what was happening and shared in the characters ultimate acceptance of how it all turns out.

They story is based on the actual events of barge number 752. Initially, the barge was used to transport supplies to Leningrad for the survival of the people. Their food transport had to be used for people because an evacuation was deemed an emergency and 1,000 people were loaded on. On September 17, 1941, 460 people would lose their lives on barge 752 and the tow boat Selemzha.

Although BATTLE OF LENINGRAD is a film about the war between Germany and Russia, once the boat sails it becomes about the barge 752 and those aboard. Already considered a dangerous proposition, the fight for survival began the moment it left the dock - little did they know that survival was about to be taken to a higher level.

In the end - the fight has just begun!

WHERE'D YOU GO, BERNADETTE? Questions Life on Bluray

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to Bluray from director writer/director Richard Linklater, Anna Purna Pictures and 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment is best seller by Maria Semple come to screen with WHERE'D YOU GO, BERNADETTE?

Wife and Mom Bernadette (Cate Blanchett) is having a bit of a problem. First, she hates people with the exception of husband Elgin (Billy Crudup) and daughter Bee (Emma Nelson) which causes problems for everyone around her. Second, she hates to leave the house being perfectly happy staying away from said other human beings. The one person who seems to test both of these is neighbor Audrey (Kristen Wiig).

From bushes to mothers talking behind her back to blaming Seattle for her erratic emotions, Bernadette learns Bee wants a family trip to Antarctica. Seeing that husband Elgin is emotionally away, a plan is thrust into action to try and keep the family moving forward. The problem is Elgin has already decided that Bernadette needs an intervention after discovering she has been using a virtual assistant that is actually wanted by the FBI.

Informing her that he will be taking Bee on the family trip, Bernadette finds a way to escape the situation and heads for the snow by herself. From making a friend to being a stow away, Bee and Elgin are hot on her trail realizing that all they want is Bernadette to be happy!

Blanchett as Bernadette is comical yet I understand her. Her grouchiness with people keeps her creativity flowing in how to irritate them more than they irritate her. Although I wouldn't go so far as the sign she posted, I get it, I totally get it. Perhaps that is why I went on this journey with the character, when she discovers that life has been keeping her weighed down in the most twisted of ways, we cheer her ability to recognize and jump outside her comfort zone. I'm not sure I need to go to Antarctica but far away where there is warm beaches is a thought. That is the brilliance of Blanchett, she has always made her characters relatable and Bernadette, although slightly off kilter, is what I have come to expect.

Nelson as Bee has an attachment to her mother that is both loving and protective. She knows Mom isn't exactly like all the other Moms but then again, it's her Mom and no one, and she means NO ONE is going to change the life they have. Loving her father, she also realizes that he is partially responsible for the slipshod way the family is being handled. Nelson is such a delight to watch and even when she stands up for the situation, who could ever help but do whatever she needs to make her world right.

Crudup as Elgin is a husband who is basically moving on autopilot when it comes to his wife and daughter. Knowing that Bernadette was always different, it is the same story that what was adorable at the beginning of a relationship is no longer so adorable. Trying to sustain and shrug off his wife's behavior as 'oh well' isn't working for him so he turns to an intervention. Even daughter Bee knows the way he handled it was nothing short of a bone head plan. It takes extremely cold temperatures for Crudup's character to snap back into reality.

Wiig as Audrey is hilarious in a really gotta-hate-that-neighbor sort of way but there is another side that is revealed and very touching. Fishburne stops by as Jellinek is someone who knows Bernadette and after a five minute quick rant realizes what we all do, that she needs to get her butt back to work!

Other cast include James Urbaniak as Marcus, Judy Greer as Dr. Kurtz, Troian Bellisario as Becky Claudia Doumit as Iris, Katelyn Statton as Vivian and Laurence Fishburne as Paul Jellinek.

Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment brings award-winning global product and new entertainment to DVD, Bluray, and Digital HD. There amazing collection offers fans an opportunity to expand their own home libraries with the best films. To discover what other titles they have please visit www.fox.com.

Annapurna,  founded  by  Megan  Ellison  in  2011,  focuses  on  creating  sophisticated,  high-quality content that is critically and commercially conscious while still appealing to a diverse audience. Authentic creative voices no matter the genre or medium, has garnered a total of 52 Academy Award nominations, including five Best Picture nods for American Hustle, Her, Zero Dark Thirty, Phantom Thread and Vice.

Movies Anywhere simplifies and enhances the digital movie collection and viewing experience by allowing  consumers  to  access  their  favorite  digital  movies  in  one  place  when  purchased  or redeemed  through  participating  digital  retailers.  Movies  Anywhere  brings  together  the  movies from  Sony  Pictures  Entertainment,  Twentieth  Century  Fox  Film,  Universal  Pictures , The Walt Disney Studios, and  Warner  Bros.  Participating  digital  retailers  are  iTunes.

The Bluray, DVD and Digital Special Features include Bringing Bernadette to Life, Who is Bernadette? and Gallery.

WHERE'D YOU GO, BERNADETTE? is a film that doesn't give a moment to rest up between scenes because that is not who Bernadette is. Her brain and mouth are going light speed and everyone around her is exhausted trying to keep up. She doesn't see it because that would mean accepting that she has fallen into a hole that she can't build her way out of.

That is the sad part of the film, that she doesn't recognize what has been happening to her life. It takes a few slaps to wake her up and wanting to fix it becomes her new fixation. The problem is everyone around her has already had enough, unfortunately that includes husband Elgin.

So, this is a film that carries so many themes and it is Blanchett that carries the weight of it all. Nelson and Crudup do their character best to keep up but I'm giving this one to Blanchett. There are times in the film that are so genuinely relatable to so many people in that sometimes it all gets away from us. We all feel the effects of warp speed living and this film gives us a chance to understand that slowing down and making time to do the things we love for those we love is imperative.

And - remember that it's absolutely acceptable to love ourselves as well. Those around us are perfectly capable of seeing when we don't so let's not fool ourselves any longer. You don't have to go to Antarctica to bring happiness to life so pick a spot on the map and go for it.

In the end - disappearances can be deceiving!