THE MAN IN THE IRON MASK Returns on 4K Ultra HD

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to 4K Ultra HD and Bluray from writer/director Randall Wallace, United Artist and Shout! Select in a Collector’s Edition is the classic 1998 film THE MAN IN THE IRON MASK.

France is almost in financial ruin as King Louis XIV (Leonardo DiCaprio) continues to wage war against the Dutch. The once four Musketeers Aramis (Jeremy Irons), Porthos (Gerard Depardieu), Athos (John Malkovich) have gone on to live separate lives away from the fray. Only D’Artangnan (Gabriel Byrne) remained to help the king.

Athos son Raoul (Peter Sarsgaard) wants to be a Musketeer like his father was and also is in love with the beautiful Christine Bellefort (Judith Godreche). The King has other plans for both Raoul and Christine angering Athos beyond measure. The King believes there is a traitor among the Jesuit priests and he tells Aramis that he must hunt down the person and dispose of him.

Aramis decides to bring Porthos, Athos and D’Artagnan together to show him a plan to rid themselves of a king who starves his people and only cares for his own glory. D’Artagnan makes it clear he will have no part in whatever Aramis is planning and Athos makes it clear they will never see each other as friends again.

Aramis, Porthos and Athos take it upon themselves to get a man in an iron mask at the Ile Sainte-Marguerite prison. What is discovered is that the man is none other than Philippe (Leonardo DiCaprio), a son of Queen Anne (Anne Parillaud) that no one knows about. Their plan seems simple enough to exchange Phillipe for Louis but it will take time and time is not on their side!

DiCaprio as the King and Phillipe get the opportunity to play a double role but totally different from each other. As the King he plays an uncaring, spoiled man who doesn’t care who he has to destroy to get what he wants. The role of Phillipe is a man who doesn’t understand what has been happening to him but the changes are slow when it is time to take his place in the world. This is one of my favorite films and DiCaprio adds to that reason.

Irons as Aramis is, out of the three friends, is the cool, level headed smart planner. He knows what must be done and even if his friends are unpredictable, he needs them to finish what they have started together. Byrne as D’Artangnan is torn between being a friend and a Musketeer loyal to the kingdom. I truly enjoy his portrayal of a man who is loyal but with a secret of his own.

Malkovich as Athos has a sincere and heart-breaking reason for wanting to be part of the plan to rid France of a bad king. Although his character rages from the start, he does find a softer part of himself in Phillipe. Depardieu as Porthos is a man who knows how to have a good time and is a bit overdramatic but when he is called upon to act like a Musketeer, it is not a good thing for any enemy.

Parillaud as Queen Anne knows that her son the King does not care for anyone else but his own selfish needs but manages to keep herself together. There is a feeling for one particular Musketeer and a history that they have kept to themselves for years. Parillaud is lovely and charming and, more importantly, makes you believe she is a Queen.

Other cast includes David Lowe as King Louis Advisor, Edward Atterton as Lieutenant Andre, and Hugh Laurie as Pierre.

SHOUT! Studios has grown into a tremendous multi-platform media company. Releasing new animated features such as the exquisite Long Way North, and the epic fantasy Beauty and The Beast. Also, their own original horror film, Fender Bender gives fans a good scare. For more of what SHOUT has to offer please visit www.shoutfactory.com.

Bonus Features include New 4K Transfer from the Original Camera Negative, Audio DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, 2.0, In Dolby Vision, Audio Commentary with Writer/Director Randall Wallace.  Interview with Producer Paul Hitchcock, Interview with Production Designer Anthony Pratt, “Myth and the Musketeers” Featurette, “Director’s Take” Featurette, “Alternate Mask Prototypes” Featurette, Original Behind-The-Scene Featurette and Theatrical Trailer.

I remember when THE MAN IN THE IRON MASK came out in theatres because I was so excited to see it. The period piece of me is always going to run to the theatre and with a historical family connection to France I am always curious as to a storyteller’s ideal of mixing history with action and adventure. It was an amazing time and thrilling to watch on the big screen.

Now, with the size of televisions, watching the film again is absolutely like being in the theatre once again. The action of the Musketeers and the adventure of the story is done with color and a vividness that has made the film a classic. The ensemble of actors truly makes the tale worthy of being part of any home entertainment library.

So, learn the secret and know the story of THE MAN IN THE IRON MASK!

In the end – the Musketeers take on a King!

Saddle Up and Prepare to Ride with the Bluray of CITY SLICKERS

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to Bluray from SHOUT! SELECT and director Rob Underwood is a classic

buddy comedy that is riding back into our homes with CITY SLICKERS.

Mitch (Billy Crystal) is having another birthday but this one seems to be hitting him a little harder that the last. Now 39, Mitch is finding his life a bit tedious at best and his wife Barbra (Patricia Wettig) notices. That’s when she suggests that he ‘go find himself’ which is exactly what he does.

He talks best friends Ed (Bruno Kirby) and Phil (Daniel Stern) into joining him in the fresh air and cow pie sky for a little rid in the saddle. They join up with others to herd cattle in New Mexico to Colorado and meet their leader Curly (Jack Palance).

Curly isn’t exactly your friendly type but that doesn’t stop Mitch from trying to learn a little more about him. There is also Barry (Josh Mostel) and Ira (David Paymer) Shalowitz, Bonnie (Helen Slater) along with doctors’ Ben (Bill Henderson) and Steve Jessup (Phill Lewis). They begin to work as a team and Mitch even delivers a cow who takes to his new Mitch-Mom and is named Norman.

All the warm fuzzies cool off in the night desert air when the cook gets drunk, food goes wrong and Curly leaves without a word. That leaves trouble makers Jeff (Kyle Secor) and T.R. (Dean Hallo) who themselves get drunk and threats are thrown like punches. The rest of the group believes the fun is over and decide to head back.

That is except Mitch who wants to get the cattle to Clay Stone’s (Noble Willingham) ranch as promised – along with Ed and Phil they beat the elements doing what could have been seen as the impossible.

Find themselves!

Crystal as Mitch embraces this character or maybe its just that I love him in this character. As a man who isn’t happy with his life and thinks an adventure might just be what he needs to get the pep back in his step. Crystal spent a greater part of the 80’s making such films about changes in life and what truly makes us happy. With CITY SLICKERS he takes it a step further and literally looks farther than even I would have to discover happiness is closer than you think.

Kirby as Ed is that friend who isn’t afraid of much but yet secretly afraid of allot. Keeping his life closed off to his two best buddies, it takes a night by the fire and herding cattle to come clean about the status of his own happiness – and the truth about it all.

Stern as Phil is the friend who is hiding behind life to get through life. Realizing he has spent a great deal of his life being a ‘yes man’ to keep everyone happy – including his own wife, has cost him years of happiness. Stern is awkward but does it so that I can’t help but want to save him. Slater as Bonnie comes in with a broken heart and an eye for Phil as well as proving to herself that she is just as tough a cowboy as the rest.

Palance as Curly is the clear winner in all of this. He doesn’t outshine his cast mates but his presence is such that even this quiet role screams awesomeness. I have been watching him in films for longer than I want to admit and I have to say that as Curly – he stole my film loving heart.

Other cast include: Tracey Watter as Cookie, Jeffrey Tambor as Lou, Karla Tamburrelli as Arlene, Yeardley Smith as Nancy, and Walker Brandt as Kim Furillo.

SHOUT! Factory has grown into a tremendous multi-platform media company. Releasing new animated features such as the exquisite Long Way North, and the epic fantasy Beauty And The Beast. Also their own original horror film, Fender Bender gives fans a good scare. For more of what SHOUT Factor has to offer please visit www.shoutfactory.com.

The Bluray also includes the Special Features of Audio Commentary by director Ron Underwood and Stars Billy Crystal and Daniel Stern, Back in the Saddle: CITY SLICKERS Revisited, Bringing in the Script: Writing CITY SLICKERS, A Star is Born: An Ode to Norman, The Real City Slickers and Deleted Scenes you won’t want to miss!

Designed with the film lover in mind, SHOUT SELECT shines a light on films that deserve a spot on your shelf. From acknowledged classics to cult favorites to unheralded gems, SHOUT SELECT celebrates the best in filmmaking, giving these movies the love and attention they deserve.

CITY SLICKERS is a buddy film that is full of everything we love this type of genre for. There are life crisis that we can all relate to, friends that will do everything with you even if they are a little bit scared of life, good times to be had even in a saddle and becoming the parent of an animal as lovely as Norman – perhaps not quite as big though.

This is a fun family film that brings out just about every human emotion and I’m more than okay with that. Laughs, a tear or two, surprise and finding yourself becoming a cheering section is pretty much every cool thing about CITY SLICKERS.

So, gather up your own herd of friends and family and revisit a trail ride that is still as much fun today as it was when released in theatres in 1991!

In the end – yesterday they were businessmen, today they’re cowboys and tomorrow they’ll be walking funny!