Tag Archives: Anna Paquin

American Underdog on 4K and Blu-ray in February

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The 2021 film “American Underdog” is coming to 4K UHD Blu-ray and Blu-ray on February 22nd via Lionsgate.  The biographical sports drama, based on the life of NFL quarterback Kurt Warner, was directed by Andrew Erwin & Jon Erwin and stars Zachary Levi, Anna Paquin, Dennis Quaid, Bruce McGill, and Adam Baldwin.

The tech specs for the 4K and Blu-ray release have not yet been fully detailed but stay tuned for an update.  There’s also no word yet regarding the bonus materials set to be included with the releases either.  It is known that both releases will come in the form of a “combo pack” with the 4K getting its Blu-ray counterpart, the Blu-ray getting its DVD counterpart and each receiving a digital code (copy) of the film.

You can now find the 4K UHD Blu-ray and Blu-ray both available for preorder over at Amazon.

1993 film The Piano on 4K and Blu-ray in January

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The 1993 film “The Piano” is officially coming to both 4K UHD Blu-ray and Blu-ray Disc on January 25th, 2022 via The Criterion Collection. The film, winner of 3 Academy Awards (“Oscars”), was written & directed by Jane Campion, and it starred Holly Hunter, Harvey Keitel, Sam Neill, and Anna Paquin.

This movie has received a new 4K restoration, as described below.

“New, restored 4K digital transfer, supervised by director of photography Stuart Dryburgh and approved by director Jane Campion”

The tech specs for the 4K UHD Blu-ray include a 2160p video presentation in the 1.85:1 aspect ratio with HDR10 and Dolby Vision forms of high dynamic range and DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless surround sound. Tech specs for the Blu-ray include a 1080p HD video presentation in the 1.85:1 aspect with the same DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 sound. The 4K UHD Blu-ray release will come in the form of a “combo pack” meaning that it will include the Blu-ray Disc counterpart.

You can now find both the 4K UHD Blu-ray and the Blu-ray available for preorder over at Amazon, as well as directly via Criterion’s website. The details about the releases and bonus materials set to be included are listed below.

  • New, restored 4K digital transfer, supervised by director of photography Stuart Dryburgh and approved by director Jane Campion, with 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack
  • In the 4K UHD edition: One 4K UHD disc of the film presented in Dolby Vision HDR and one Blu-ray with the film and special features
  • New conversation between Campion and film critic Amy Taubin
  • New interviews with Dryburgh and production designer Andrew McAlpine
  • Interview with actor Holly Hunter on working with Campion
  • “The Piano” at 25, a program featuring a conversation between Campion and producer Jan Chapman
  • Excerpts from an interview with costume designer Janet Patterson
  • Water Diary, a 2006 short film by Campion
  • Trailer
  • New English subtitle translation and English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
  • PLUS: An essay by critic Carmen Gray
  • New cover by Greg Ruth

Cameron Crowe film Almost Famous comes to 4K in July

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The 2000 film “Almost Famous“ is coming to 4K UHD Blu-ray in a limited edition SteelBook on July 13th via Paramount Home Entertainment. The film, both written and directed by Cameron Crowe, starred Patrick Fugit, Kate Hudson, Billy Crudup, Jason Lee, Anna Paquin, Zooey Deschanel, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Jimmy Fallon, and Frances McDormand.

UPDATE: So, as I promised you before, today Paramount has officially announced the upcoming releases of this film. Yes, releases, plural. You’ll hear more about the Blu-ray via Paramount Presents, spine #21 in the series, a bit further below. First off though, let’s discuss the 4K UHD Blu-ray limited-edition SteelBook. Tech specs for the 4K release include a 2160p video presentation in the 1.85:1 aspect ratio with HDR10 and Dolby Vision forms of high dynamic range and DTS-HD Master Audio. The movie has been remastered from a new 4K transfer that was supervised by Cameron Crowe. The 4K release will be a 2-disc set with both The Theatrical Cut (available for the first time) on the first disc and “The Bootleg Cut” on the second disc. The 4K SteelBook release will come with a digital code (copy) of the film, and it will NOT include a Blu-ray Disc counterpart. Below, you can find a glimpse (via Cameron Crowe in a tweet) of the 4K SteelBook’s interior artwork.

You can already find the 4K UHD Blu-ray SteelBook available for preorder over at Amazon and at retailer Best Buy. The bonus materials set to be included with the release are listed below.

  • Filmmaker Focus — Cameron Crowe on Almost Famous—NEW!
  • Casting & Costumes — NEW!
  • Rock School — NEW!
  • Extended Scenes — NEW!
  • Odds & Sods — NEW!
  • Audio Commentary with Cameron Crowe and Friends (Bootleg cut)
  • Intro by Cameron Crowe
  • The Making of Almost Famous
  • Interview with Lester Bangs (optional audio intro by Cameron Crowe)
  • Cameron Crowe’s Top Albums of 1973
  • “Fever Dog” music video
  • “Loves Comes and Goes” (optional audio intro by Cameron Crowe)
  • Rolling Stone Articles (optional audio intro by Cameron Crowe)
  • B-Sides (optional audio intro by Cameron Crowe)
  • Cleveland Concert (optional audio intro by Cameron Crowe)
  • “Small Time Blues”
  • Stairway (optional audio intro by Cameron Crowe)
  • Script
  • Theatrical Trailer
  • Hidden Talent (Unhidden Easter Eggs)

Also, as I mentioned a bit earlier, there will be a Paramount Presents Blu-ray release of the film available as well on July 13th, pictured below, using this new remaster of the film. You can find that Paramount Presents Blu-ray also now available for preorder over at Amazon. Tech specs for that include a 1080p HD presentation in the 1.85:1 aspect ratio and DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 sound, spanning across 2 discs with the first getting The Theatrical Cut (making its Blu-ray debut) and the second disc getting “The Bootleg Cut” of the film. The bonus materials will be identical to those listed above, as well as include a digital code (copy) of the film.

Lastly, if you’re subscribed to Rolling Stone there’s a featured story regarding Cameron Crowe discussing how he’s expanding the soundtrack for the film in the month of July as well, which you can read about here.

Now, further below, after the break, you can find the official full announcement regarding the upcoming releases of this film.

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2019 Scorsese film The Irishman on Blu-ray November

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The 2019 “The Irishman“ film directed by Martin Scorsese is officially coming to Blu-ray Disc on November 24th via The Criterion Collection. The movie originally debuted both in theaters and streaming on Netflix, and it was nominated for 10 Academy Awards (“Oscars”). The Irishman starred Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Joe Pesci, as well as co-starred Harvey Keitel, Ray Romano, Bobby Cannavale, Anna Paquin, and Stephen Graham. The Criterion Blu-ray will feature a “new 4K digital master, approved by director Martin Scorsese” in the 1.85:1 aspect ratio (presented in 1080p HD) with Dolby Atmos sound. Right now, you cannot yet find the Blu-ray available for preorder over at Amazon but stay tuned for an update on that. You can now however find the Blu-ray available for preorder directly from The Criterion Collection website. Details about the release and the bonus materials can be found listed below.

  • New 4K digital master, approved by director Martin Scorsese, with Dolby Atmos soundtrack on the Blu-ray
  • Newly edited roundtable conversation among Scorsese and actors Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, and Joe Pesci, originally recorded in 2019
  • New documentary about the making of the film featuring Scorsese; the lead actors; producers Emma Tillinger Koskoff, Jane Rosenthal, and Irwin Winkler; director of photography Rodrigo Prieto; and others from the cast and crew
  • New video essay written and narrated by film critic Farran Smith Nehme about The Irishman’s synthesis of Scorsese’s singular formal style
  • The Evolution of Digital De-aging, a 2019 program on the visual effects created for the film
  • Archival interview excerpts with Frank “the Irishman” Sheeran and International Brotherhood of Teamsters trade union leader Jimmy Hoffa
  • Trailer and teaser
  • PLUS: An essay by critic Geoffrey O’Brien
  • New cover by Gregory Manchess

EDITORIAL NOTE: First off, yes, I know the movie itself actually aired in 4K Ultra HD with HDR (high dynamic range) on Netflix but we’re not receiving a 4K physical release here for yet another title from Criterion. That’s pretty much a sign that Criterion really has no plans for releasing to the 4K UHD Blu-ray format, at least anytime soon. I hate that, but it is still great to see this film getting a physical release, and from the folks at The Criterion Collection, nonetheless — even if it is only in 1080p, as it is. It is what it is. Yes, I just went there. I’ll end this by stating the obvious: it’s 2020 and I think that it’s about time that maybe Criterion got with the whole 4K UHD Blu-ray game.

“Trick ‘r Treat” Collector’s Edition Blu-ray coming October gets fully detailed

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The 2007 Michael Dougherty written & directed film “Trick ‘r Treat“ in “Collector’s Edition” form slated for an October 9th Blu-ray Disc release from Scream Factory has now been fully detailed. Tech specs for the release include full 1080p HD video in the 2.35:1 aspect ratio and DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio sound. There is a already a PRE-ORDER listing available over at Amazon for this release. Bonus materials set to be included (now fully detailed) are listed below.

  • NEW 2K Scan of the original film elements supervised and approved by director Michael Dougherty
  • NEW Tales of Folklore & Fright: Creating Trick ‘r Treat – including interviews with writer/director Michael Dougherty, conceptual artist Breehn Burns, and storyboard artist Simeon Wilkins.
  • NEW Tales of Mischief & Mayhem: Filming Trick ‘r Treat – in-depth interview with Michael Dougherty on the making of the film
  • NEW Sounds of Shock & Superstition: Scoring Trick ‘r Treat – including interviews with Michael Dougherty and composer Douglas Pipes
  • NEW Tales of Dread and Despair: Releasing Trick ‘r Treat – a look at the release and fandom with Michael Dougherty and writer Rob Galluzzo
  • Season’s Greetings – NEW 2K scan of the original 16mm elements – a short film by Michael Dougherty with optional commentary by Dougherty
  • NEW Storyboard and Conceptual Artwork Gallery
  • NEW Behind the Scenes Still Gallery
  • NEW Monster Mash – a story from the TRICK ‘R TREAT graphic novel
  • NEW FEARnet.com Shorts
  • Audio Commentary with director Michael Dougherty
  • Trick ‘R Treat: The Lore and Legends of Halloween featurette
  • Deleted and Alternate Scenes with optional commentary by director Michael Dougherty
  • School Bus FX Comparison
  • Theatrical Trailer

The full announcement for this release can be found below, after the break.

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Fox is bringing an “X-Men 3-Film Collection” to 4K UHD Blu-ray in September

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The first three films in the “X-Men” film franchise will be getting released in the form of the “X-Men 3-Film Collection“ on the 4K UHD Blu-ray format on September 25th via Fox, according to retailer listings. The title has not yet officially been announced by the studio, so we don’t have any specific tech specs to go on here. It’s worth noting that this joins the three latter “X-Men” films already available on the format, also released bundled together, but also separately. No word yet on if these will receive individual releases, like the latter films, anytime soon or not.

The release will be a 6-disc “combo pack” with the Blu-ray Discs of the three films also included, along with a Digital Copy of each film. The three films included in this set are “X-Men” (2000), “X2: X-Men United” (2003) – both directed by Bryan Singer – and “X-Men: The Last Stand” (2006) directed by Brett Ratner. The 4K set is now available for PRE-ORDER over at Amazon. UPDATE: This title is now available for PRE-ORDER also over at Best Buy, again with the cover art I originally featured.

EDITORIAL NOTE: The artwork (pictured above) comes from UK retailer HMV, and is of the UK version. However, it could be what we see here stateside. [CONFIRMED]