SPRINGSTEEN: Deliver Me From Nowhere

 

Jeri Jacquin

Currently on Digital and coming to 4K Bluray from director Scott Cooper and 20^th Century Studios is the story of an icon with SPRINGSTEEN: Deliver Me From Nowhere.

Spending some time after his latest tour, Bruce Springsteen (Jeremy Allen White) finds a house in Freehold, New Jersey so that he spent time writing songs. Spending time with friend Matt (Harrison Gilbertson), he also buys a car and heads to the play with The Stony Pony. He also ran into people he knew whether they liked his music or not. Trying to deal with a rush of memories, the record executive Al Teller (David Krumholtz) is asking Springsteen’s manager Jon Landau (Jeremy Strong) when the next album would be ready.

Springsteen is being haunted by the memories of his father Douglas (Stephen Graham) who was an alcoholic and mother Adele (Gaby Hoffmann) who consistently tries to keep harm from coming to a young Bruce. The words start pouring out of him and he realizes that the music might not please the executive. Springsteen and his tech Mike (Paul Walter Hauser) create a makeshift studio on the house and record from there. Not understanding his behaviors is Faye (Odessa Young), a woman trying to have a relationship with Springsteen but she can’t get past the walls he has created.

When the cassette is delivered to the execs, they are clearly not happy with the results. Landau explains that these songs are deeply personal for Springsteen and that the conditions for the album are set in stone. In the studio, another album coms together. would also include the song Born in the U.S.A. Landau turns to masters who manage to save the raw words and music Springsteen created in his home which comes in the form of the album Nebraska.

His dynamic with his father begins to change but everything, the memories of childhood, his musician’s life and relationships push him into a dark place that frightens him to the point of collapse. Turning to his friend, it is time for Springsteen to face the past and embrace the future he was born to.

White as Springsteen takes his performance into the darker side of the iconic musician’s life. Battling demons, he spent his life pushing so hard against. As with all demons, they eventually push there way into life and it is through words and music that it all comes back. White gives a stellar performance showing a man very clear on what is causing his inability to do what he wants to do but unclear on how to keep it from owning him. White gives a harsh but painful reality to that confusion and does so with a grace that is steeped in heartbreak.

Strong as Landau is a man clearly in touch with what Springsteen is able to accomplish and, although he might not understand it at times, he is the one man who will fight for him to the end. Strong’s performance is thoughtful, insightful and giving us a look at a friendship most of us will never know in this life.

Graham as father Douglas is a man with his own liquid demons that also cannot be controlled. It is not a surprise where Springsteen learned it from. Graham’s performance is one of harshness and a regret that comes with age. Hoffmann as mother Adele is a woman who, in essence, fights back until her son can fight on his own. She comes from an era where you don’t throw away a husband because of his flaws and you support a son that is doing what he loves.

Krumholtz as record exec Teller cannot seem to grasp the concept of Springsteen’s music but that’s because he only sees dollar signs and not music. Krumholtz gives his character the right amount of ick-factor to get the job done. Hauser as Mike is another supporter of his friend Springsteen and is the constant messenger that takes nothing but his friend’s music to heart.

Other cast include Marc Maron as Chuck Plotkin, Grace Gummer as Barbara Landau, Chris Jaymes as Dennis King, Johnny Cannizzaro as Steven Van Zandy, and Brian Chase as Max Weinberg. Also, Jay Buchanan, Jake Kiszka, Sam Kiszka as Cats on a Smooth Surface.

Twentieth Century 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.20thcenturystudios.com

MOVIES ANYWHERE gives viewers the ability to download the Movies Anywhere App. With that you can view films by downloading or streaming to your favorite device using a Digital Code. For more information on Movies Anywhere please visit www.MoviesAnywhere.com.

Digital & 4K Bluray Bonus Materials include Exclusive Four-Act Documentary: Making SPRINGSTEEN: Deliver Me From Nowhere and Act 1: From Book to Screen, Act 2: Beyond the Music, Act 3: Becoming Bruce Springsteen, and Act 4: Deep Authenticity.

SPRINGSTEEN: Deliver Me From Nowhere is quite a powerful biopic and what makes it so is that most of us during the time were Dancing in the Dark , there was no way to know what lie beneath the surface. It follows that what we see on stage, the performance and the energy, might not always be what lives in the heart of the performer. This story is more personal than I have seen from biopics in recent years (with perhaps the exception of Bohemian Rhapsody).

I loved the telling of the story that isn’t hindered by anything other than White giving us a nosedive into where Springsteen was at that time in his life. Wanting to create something that would last instead of what can be listened to and forgotten after a few plays, all of that came at a cost – the past. Finding his way forward, the journey was hard, frightening and yet life affirming. We could all use a bit of that at the moment.

In the end – he finds music his way!

 

The HBO Hit Series SUCCESSION Comes to Bluray

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to Bluray is the massively successful HBO hit series for fans who want to revisit the family of SUCCESSION: The Complete Series.

The Roy clan owns a media conglomerate called Waystar RoyCo. headed by the family patriarch Logan Roy (Brian Cox). The family also includes son Kendall (Jeremy Strong), daughter Shiv (Sarah Snook) and her husband Tom (Matthew Macfadyen), son Roman (Kieran Culkin), son Connor (Alan Ruck) and nephew Greg (Nicholas Braun). At a family party, Logan sends shockwaves through his family by announcing major shake ups and changes to the company. When Logan collapses, emotionally entitled son Kendall rushes to make deals but learns from general counsel Gerri Kellman (J. Smith-Cameron) that not everything is as it seems.

As Kendall shifts and twists with maneuvers, Roman and Shiv have other ideas along with Frank Vernon (Peter Friedman). He is not the only one that can play the conglomerate game. When things don’t go according to plan, meaning Logan is not one to be toyed with, Kendall is left in the cold but has plans of his own to go up against his own father. In England, a wedding is happening but that doesn’t stop Logan and the family from as the family is dealing with affairs, hostile takeovers, relapses and cover ups – more than usual for the family.

Back in the states, the family gathers again in the Hamptons as Logan tries to get an honest opinion from his family about the company. Shiv learns of her fathers plans but so do Logan and Kendall who are trying to find a way to deal with Logan. Connor has decided to run for president much to the amusement of his family. While all of this is happening, Logan rehires Frank and wants to go after a rival media company but finds out that someone has been telling a writer about his personal life history and is furious.

Logan and Kendall off a price to PGM, the media company they want but during the meeting, a gun shot rings out. Keeping the meeting going, Greg and Tom are going at it in a blackmail way while Roman is having a freak fest with Gerri. That doesn’t slow down a deal with PGM and Kendall is back on his self-destructive tour. Thinking they are celebrating a deal; the Roy’s learn of a potential scandal that could destroy everything. But, as with the Roy’s, there is always juggling happening. Tom is dealing with the investigation; Logan believes his daughter has not been loyal and Shiv suspects that another woman is trying to sabotage her plans.

Over in Dundee, Scotland, Logan is celebrating 50 years at Waystar and Shiv isn’t going to let anything get in her way. Gerri tells her that there is a whistleblower about the cruise rumors and Shiv finds a way to put all the blame on someone else. At the Senate hearing, things become a bigger disaster as Tom can’t string two believable sentences together. Escaping to the Mediterranean, its time for each to try and smooth over the problems plaguing the Roy family. Logan decides who will be the fall guy for the cruise ship disaster but there is one person that is not going to let that happen.

Logan makes changes in his inner circle sending Roman, Gerri and Shiv are back in New York and thinks about who will temporarily take over. Kendall decides it is time to re-vamp and re-create his public image with the thought of still going after his father and trying to convince his siblings to join him. Shiv has other plans and if she can wait it out, things might just go her way. In the meantime, Logan has made it clear he will not help the Department of Justice in anyway wanting the President to favor him. Kendall is still on a tear and his aim now is to his sister Shiv in the most brutal way forgetting that she can be just as lethal as he is.

Dealing with Stewy and Sandi, Shiv manages to find a way to keep Waystar functional while Logan recuperates from an illness. Kendall decides to go to the DOJ against his father but things don’t, once again, go as he plans. In Tuscany, Italy, the siblings learn their mother is engaged but Kendall decides to use the moment to once again attempt family to his side to no avail. In the meantime, Logan wants to meet the CEO of GoJo Lukas Matsson (Alexander Skarsgard) to obtaining the streaming service but Roman wants a way in. Soon Roman discovers that business is a more brutal and unforgiving business than he could have imagined for himself.

As the siblings decide to fight Logan using a small piece of information, they are equally shocked when it is discovered that Tom was not on their side. As time passes, Kendall, Shiv and Roman decide they want to purchase PGM and rival bid against their father. Returning to New York, Logan and Matsson seem to be on a high of their own but Logan isn’t done playing the siblings against one another. At a very gloomy gathering at Logan’s apartment, the fight once again takes on sibling form were once together, now at cross purposes with each other.

Making separate decisions, it all comes to a head with Matsson causing senior management to make a crucial decision about Waystar. Shiv, Roman and Kendall can’t seem to get out of their own way but only one thing is going to save them – a lie that is not coming out of their mouths. That doesn’t take care of their problem with GoJo, especially with election night happening as everyone is running around insane trying to control every little event. Once again, the siblings are against one another as there is a made scramble for power and even more lies are being told and betrayed against one another.

No one sees how it is all going to end!

Cox as Logan Roy is a powerhouse that I have always admired as an actor. He has a stellar presence and a voice that forces you to listen whether you want to or not. As Logan, he has spent his life making deals and crushing anyone that gets in his way – including his own family members. I loved watching him play this role and it seemed to much fun to do. There is something to be said about playing a devious character and Cox absolutely nails it.

Strong as Kendall is a hot mess who can not seem to get it right. He fights against his father and it is like hitting a brick wall again and again. He definetly doesn’t seem to have the ability to understand why there are problems instead of recognizing that he IS the problem. Strong plays this role masterfully and has left an impression on his ability to chose such a complex role. Snook as Shiv is exactly like Logan Roy with her attitude. She wants something from her father that he dangles in front of her like a pot of gold continually and she tries to find ways around him to get it on her own terms. Shiv is such an amazing character and the Snook makes it every bit hers and the show would have a huge void without her.

Culkin as Roman is a character with a magazine rack full of insane issues. One minutes he is just the wisecracking son enjoying the rich life and the next he shows that he has potential to be a leader and then he switches it up again. Culkin may be the ‘comic’ relief of the show but his penchant for bizarre behavior is stunning. Macfadyen as Tom knows which side his bread is buttered on but that doesn’t mean he isn’t going to try and get a slice of bread all on his own. He is insecure for sure and not someone I’d tell a secret to, but he makes it work in his favor in the oddest and most unexpected ways. Well done, Macfadyen! Ruck as Connor is that family member that people know about but don’t expect anything from. In this case, it is absolutely true. The family basically keeps him out of everything and when he does silly things like running for President, they say, “that’s great” out loud but privately they are rolling their eyes and laughing.

Smith-Cameron as Gerri is a keeper of secrets, keeper of keys to the vault of family lies and deceptions and most of all, the most loyal to Logan Roy. Watching her always remain calm is the most stunning performance in the four seasons of this show. Smith-Cameron is always the strongest person in the room and spins lies into truth with precision. Braun as Greg is slightly under equal footing to that of Tom. He brings a childlike presence who seem oblivious to the real world, cannot be trusted with company secrets (or private family ones for that matter). He had me slapping my head consistently with his inability to read the room but Logan keeps him around anyway. Alexander Skarsgard as Matsson comes in to be the final adversary in the show. He is sleek, charming and a bit ditzy, but when it comes to what he wants for his company, he is enjoying the game of who is going to get what in the end. Skarsgard stands out and watching his performance is sharp, sly and enjoyable to watch.

Other cast include Hiam Abbass as Marcia Roy, Natalie Gold as Rava Roy, Rob Yang as Lawrence Yee, Dagmara Dominczyk as Karolina Novotney, Juliana Canfield as Jess Jordan,Arian Moayed as Stewy Hosseini, Justine Lupe as Willa, Scott Nicholson as Colin, David Rasche as Karl Muller, and Fisher Stevens as Hugo Baker.

HBO Home Entertainment brings critically acclaimed and groundbreaking programming throughout the world. Releases include the global hit Game of Thrones, True Detective, Girls, The Sopranos, Sex and the City, True Blood, The Wire and Entourage. The company's catalog contains hundreds of titles including Big Little Lies and Band of Brothers. For more of what they have to offer please visit www.hbo.com.

Warner Brothers is home to one of the most successful collections of brands in the world and stands at the forefront of every aspect of the entertainment industry from feature film, television and home entertainments with worldwide distribution to DVD and Bluray, animation, comic books, videogames and broadcasting. For more please visit www.warnerbros.com.

Special Features include Over Two Hours of Bonus Content, Including INSIDE THE EPISODE Featurettes, Character Recaps, Cast and Crew Interviews, and much more!

This is a family that is brutally verbal from the first scene to the last and I absolutely loved it. SUCCESSION is an absolute four season joy no matter how you slice it. This is a family that is loyal to no one yet loyal to who ever is on their side till they are not on their side – you follow? The games they play with each other and their thought process should be on someone’s psychology curriculum because they are all a hot mess in the grand scheme of things. Speaking of schemes, there are plenty, an absolute plethora of them which means there is never a boring episode or break in the game they are all playing.

I watched the series when it ran on HBO but trust me when I saw I spent most of my time stunned at the performances. Being able to revisit the complete series on Blu-ray, I had the opportunity to remember why I feel SUCCESSION was one of the greatest HBO shows ever. I once again cheered for my favorite characters and boo’d those who tried to take them down. The family one-liners are still my favorite and the cutting way they interact with each other reminds me that my family isn’t so bad after all.

As summer comes to a close and we spend more time indoors, get your own copy of SUCCESSION: The Complete Series and let the heat from the Roy family keep you warm.

In the end – take what’s yours!

THE GENTLEMEN Charms us all on Bluray

Jeri Jacquin

This week on Bluray, DVD and Digital from writer/director Guy Ritchie and Universal Pictures Home Entertainment comes the story of a different kind of shill game with THE GENTLEMEN.

Fletcher (Hugh Grant) has decided he wants to tell Ray (Charlie Hunnam) a story. It’s quite a detailed story about a man named Michael Pearson (Matthew McConaughey) who learned early in life that the way to grow a bank account is by growing marijuana on several estates in London. Married to the lovely Rosalind (Michelle Dockery), the couple become part of the elite in the social circles.

Deciding it might be time to leave the game, Pearson meets with Matthew (Jeremy Strong) who is interested in purchasing the business for a large sum of money. Things are going well until a group of kids raid one of the farms. Pearson sends Ray to investigate who is responsible which leads him to the Coach (Colin Farrell) and a group of his boxing boys.

Coach helps Ray find Dry Eye (Henry Golding) who is linked with Lord George (Tom Wu) believing there is a connection. In the meantime, Pearson is trying to finish the deal with Matthew, but Matthew has decided that with the recent hit that the business may not be worth it.

While wife Rosalind is trying to keep her own business together, she lets her husband know that no one is going to get in their way. Yet Fletcher is a distraction who has a story he wants to either sell to Hollywood for big bucks or get a payday from Pearson, he doesn’t mind either way.

Are you confused? Well, let’s just say that nothing is as it seems, and everything is as it seems and run with that!

McConaughey as Pearson is charming, well spoken and doesn’t lose his cool in the midst of reasons to lose his cool. He comes to the edge of it a few times but still manages to remain – gentlemanly. I love when McConaughey gets a chance to be this cool because he does so with such ease that it made me laugh on a few occasions.

Hunnam as Ray is equally a cool customer and Pearson’s right-hand man. Trusted and informed about the business, he is willing to hear what Fletcher has to say about what he thinks he knows. Their conversation is filled with colorful language, yet it is in those conversations that everything becomes clear. It’s good to see Hunnam back on the screen and this role is so suited for him.

Grant as Fletcher is a sleazy journalist that is looking for a big pay day. He doesn’t care who pays him as long as someone pays him. Telling Ray the story, Fletcher feels that this situation has the biggest chance of a payout – plus a wagyu steak. It is clear that Grant had a good time playing this role but then again, I would have too. It’s a great character!

Dockery as Rosalind is charming, endearing, beautiful and if that isn’t enough – very, very smart. She stands behind her husband not because she’s a woman but because she’s a businesswoman in all aspects. It must be said that Dockery gave chic a whole new and stunning look. Strong as Matthew jumps into the business proposition given to him by Pearson. Seeing what it could do for his own business, he does his homework.

Golding as Dry Eye is a gangster who wants to rid himself of anyone who doesn’t see things his way. Not afraid to take everybody on, Golding gets the chance to shed his romantic/thriller roles and embrace his badass side from start to finish.

 Farrell as Coach just wins me in this film. He is engaging, a respectful gentleman and with that said, just as gangster as any of the others wearing a fine suit! I just loved every minute he was on the screen because, like Pearson and maybe even more so, he kept his cool at all times. A killer combination and winning role for Farrell.

Other cast include Lyne Renee as Jackie, Chidi Ajufo as Bunny, Simon Barker as Frazier, Jason Wong as Phuc, John Dagleish as Hammy, Lily Frazer as Lisa, Gershwyn Eustache Jr. as Roger, Samuel West as Lord Pressfield, Geraldine Somerville as Lady Pressfield, Eliot Sumner as Laura, Franz Drameh as Benny, James Warren as Jim, Sean Sagar as Mal, Bugzy Malone as Ernie, Tom Harries as Power, Danny Griffin as Aslan, Ashley McGuire as Maureen, George Asprey as Lord Snowball and Eddie Marsan as Big Dave.

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 films of every genre available from scary to drama to family films. For more of what they have to offer please visit www.uphe.com.

The Bluray includes the Bonus Features of Behind the Scenes of THE GENTLEMEN: Get up close with the talented cast of THE GENTLEMEN as they give an inside look at the making of the film and share their experiences working with legendary directory Guy Ritchie, Best Gentlemanly Quips: A selection of some of the funniest lines from THE GENTLEMEN that spotlights the witty writing behind the film, Glossary of Cannabis: Viewers are given a fun educational montage highlighting the numerous nicknames of Marijuana shown throughout the film, Photo Gallery.

THE GENTLEMEN is nothing short of brilliant and so much fun to watch. You almost need a score card to keep up which makes this film all the more fun. Yes, it is filled with action which comes in always at just the right moment but also so very much more.

I found myself jaw dropping, laughing, yelling “I knew it!”, clapping, laughing some more. The cast is responsible for so much of this. They each brought their best to the table and I couldn’t help but thing they had a good time making this film.

Keeping the film’s story line in generalities is important because I want each person to unravel it all on their own. We are all in a stressful time right now, but THE GENTLEMEN is such a marvelous distraction from all of that. That’s what a good film does, distract us with such a good yarn that all else gets pushed aside, even if for only a little while.

This is definitely a film for the adults as the colorful language gets sassy and salty at times, oh who am I kidding, it’s in the film from start to finish. So be aware and wait for the kiddies to go to bed if they happen to be around.

THE GENTLEMEN is a story of what money can do to those who have it and those who want it.

In the end – criminals with class!