This January brings around some of the smash hits of last year’s end of Summer season, as well as a couple of gems that might have flown under your radar.

Detroit

Kathryn Bigelow’s dramatization of the horrific events at the Algiers Motel during the Detroit riots is a gripping and rage-inducing affair, that sadly tells a story that is still all to relevant half a century after its occurrence. Depicting racism and violence in an predominantly inextricable manner, it is an intense and horrifying viewing experience that, once it gets going (it does a fair amount of set up without characters, leaving it a little while to become fully involving), continually ramps up the tension. Whilst you may be familiar with the true tale, or can make educated assumptions based on historical context, the film manages to craft an atmosphere of unpredictability which helps to draw the audience further into the mindset of the characters involved. The direction, acting and cinematography maintain a feeling of authenticity, reminding you of the reality of the situation. It is an important film for the current climate, not just for a lesson in history.

Is it worth a Blu-ray? With most of the action being in the confines of one building, a Blu-ray isn’t necessarily worth it.

Read the full review: ‘Detroit’ Review

It

One of the sleeper smash hits of last year, this proves one of the more successful Stephen King adaptations in balancing scares with laughs to create a uproariously entertaining film. Set in the 1980s (an injection of nostalgia for some viewers, no doubt, and embodying the kind of Amblin tone you’d associate with that era), the film charts the hauntings of a group of self-proclaimed ‘losers’, who find themselves plagued by nightmarish visions seemingly caused by Pennywise, the murderous clown. The film rises on the fact that it doesn’t rely purely on cheap scares to carry you through. It crafts (mostly) fully dimensional characters, complete with backstories and home lives, that you grow to love and invest in, and portrays the typical moments of early teenage life (crushes, banter) in amongst the horror. Its varied, but well-managed, tone allows you to be laughing out loud one moment, and burrowing yourself into the back of your seat the next. Some laughs may be unintentional (it is unclear) in the fact that some of the visions – concerning what scares a 13 year old – may appear slightly comedic to older audience members, albeit laughing at the film, rather than with, is rare. The most frustrating thing about the film is the fact that its sole female lead, Beverly (Sophia Lillis), despite showing strength of mind and determination, is often relegated to the roles of ‘object of desire’ and ‘damsel in distress’. Yes, part of this can be attributed to the fact the book was written a few decades ago, but sadly this isn’t changed. In spite of this though, the film is incredibly entertaining, blending Amblin-esque features with horror and teen film tropes brilliantly.

Is it worth a Blu-ray? Seeing some of these nightmarish visions in high definition may be more likely to give you bad dreams.

Read the full review: ‘It’ Review

Good Time

The post-Twilight Robert Pattinson continues to prove himself a selector of interesting and unique projects with Good Time, a gritty and original thriller that was one of the best of last year. The film follows Connie (Pattinson) who, after a botched heist, is tasked with trying to break his mentally handicapped brother, arrested at the scene, out of prison through various means, all whilst the police are hot on his tail. Taking place almost entirely over one night, the film sets a brisk pace and injects an electrifying tension that doesn’t let up until its very end, pulling you to the edge of your seat, captivated by the neon-bathed antihero and the various accomplices he attains along the way. Functioning as a character piece as well as a thriller, the complexity of our protagonist, and the film’s ability to keep us on side despite his many morally dubious (and downright immoral) actions, allowing us to stay swept up in the urgency of the situation. The film stands out from other botched-heist pictures, not only in its visceral, visual style, but its layered narrative (Connie’s brother’s disability adds another level to the proceedings), and unique staging of certain film moments we may have seen before (e.g. the bank heist itself – a mostly silent affair). It is a gem that you might have missed, and is certainly worth catching up on now.

Is it worth a Blu-ray? The neon drenched scenes may become more luminous, but the fact that the film takes place predominantly at night, and the desired gritty nature of it means that a Blu-ray won’t necessarily elevate the viewing experience.

Read the full review: ‘Good Time’ Review

Kingsman: The Golden Circle

One of the rare sequels pretty much everyone wanted, sadly arrived with a bit of a disappointing thud, but still managed to be entertaining enough for some. Following up with Eggsy, the film begins with the kind of sequel kick-off you’d expect much further on in a franchise than in the second film; killing off almost all of the main characters, and blowing up the service’s headquarters. It is a reboot-level tactic that frustrated some, and left less familiar straws for the audience to grasp onto as the film embarks on a wildly different type of story and tone to the original. If you ignore the high expectations the first film may have left you with, this is a pretty entertaining film (if you forgive is many shortcomings). It is still funny and has some brilliant action sequences, it is just missing the well pitched tone that made the first one so loved (especially in this film’s first half). It has lost a lot of its charm and creativity, and has seriously cut down on the relationships between characters that grounded the service’s first outing. The film picks up more later on, and it is no doubt entertaining upon first viewing (if you forgo any high expectations), however, it seems unlikely to hold up anywhere near as well as its predecessor over time and rewatching.

Is it worth a Blu-ray? For the action-film junkies, the fight scenes will likely qualify the film as worthy of high definition, but for more casual viewers, it isn’t really warranted.

Read the full review: ‘Kingsman: The Golden Circle’ Review

Wind River

Taylor Sheridan’s follow up to his brilliant screenplays for Hell or High Water and Sicario (if you enjoyed those, you’ll enjoy this), is a similarly enthralling tale set in another landscape of the American Frontier, and delivers an emotionally and suspensefully satisfying mystery thriller, that builds to a poetic-feeling conclusion. Set in the eponymous American Indian reservation, the film follows the investigation into the death of a young woman whose body is found in the snow by wildlife officer, Cory Lambert (Jeremy Renner), that subsequently gets the FBI involved, represented by agent Jane Banner (Elizabeth Olsen), and the two characters begin to work together to try and solve the case. Whilst this set up may not sound too different from a multitude of other crime films, Sheridan’s tale doesn’t play out in a predictable manner. It morphs from its whodunit set up into something much more complex, and involving of its central characters, that spins a quiet emotional thread to provide a much deeper and more engaging story. To say any more would be to give it away, but rest assured Wind River is a brilliant piece of work and one of the gems from last year that deserves a greater audience. It is certainly worth a look.

Is it worth a Blu-ray? The action here, whilst brilliant, is quite understated, and the snowy landscape doesn’t demand high definition, although it certainly wouldn’t go amiss.

Read the full review: ‘Wind River’ Review