New to View: Dec. 17

By Bob Bloom
The following titles are being released on Tuesday, Dec. 17, unless otherwise noted:

Downton Abbey (Blu-ray + DVD + digital)
Details: 2019, Universal Studios Home Entertainment
Rated: PG, some suggestive material, thematic elements, language
The lowdown: Fans of the British TV series will be entertained by this big-screen sequel.
Those who never watched the series, such as myself, may be in the dark about the characters, their relationships and previous plotlines from the show.
That, however, doesn’t mean you can’t savor this movie, which centers on the Crawleys and their staff preparing for a visit from the King and Queen of England.
Nothing is simple, so the announcement of the royal visit creates conflicts, scandal, intrigue and other dramatic situations that fans expect.
The movie, written by series creator Julian Fellowes, features the original cast.
Critics were pleased with the effort, giving the movie an 84 percent fresh rating at Rottentomatoes.com.
Technical aspects: Blu-ray: 1080p high definition, 2.39:1 widescreen picture; English 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio; English 2.0 Dolby digital DVS and French and Spanish 5.1 DTS digital surround; English SDH, French and Spanish subtitles; DVD: 2.39:1 anamorphic widescreen picture; English, French and Spanish 5.1 Dolby digital and English 2.0 Dolby digital DVS; English SDH, French and Spanish subtitles.
Don’t miss: Extras include deleted scenes, conversations with upstairs and downstairs cast members, a featurette on the royal visit, a look at staying true to the 1920s, featurettes on the making of the movie and Fellowes, a recap of the TV series and a commentary track.

Where’s My Roy Cohn? (Blu-ray)
Details: 2019, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Rated: PG-13, thematic content, violent images, sexual material
The lowdown: Roy Cohn was a controversial figure who, though he died in 1986, has cast a long shadow over the United States.
Cohn, a lawyer, is best remembered for his role in the 1950s “red scare” hearings led by Wisconsin Sen. Joseph McCarthy. In his later years, Cohn represented and was a mentor figure to Donald Trump, whose lessons the current president seems to have taken to heart and elevated.
This documentary looks at the life and career of Cohn, his malign and contentious influence on our culture and politics. The film looks at his roles as prosecutor in the trial of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, accused of espionage as Soviet spies and later executed; his work with McCarthy; and his mentorship of Trump.
Cohn was a divisive figure who seemed to embody the dark side of 20^th century politics.
Though Cohn was disliked by many, the movie about him was liked by critics, who gave it an 86 percent fresh rating at Rottentomatoes.com.
Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 1.78:1 widescreen picture; English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio and English 5.1 Dolby digital audio description track; English SDH, English, French and Spanish subtitles.
Don’t miss: Bonus offerings include a commentary track and a question-and-answer session with producer-director Matt Tyrnauer.

Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood (Blu-ray + DVD + digital)
Release date: Dec. 10
Details: 2019, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Rated: R, graphic and bloody violence, language, drug use, sexual references
The lowdown: Quentin Tarantino’s ninth film is one of my favorites of the year.
Often times, Hollywood was referred to as the “Dream Factory” because the stories the studios spun for the public were like fairy tales. Mostly everyone in films — despite what obstacles they had to surmount — lived happily ever after.
Movies were — and are — places where ordinary mortals like you and I can escape to far-off lands, the past, the future or even other galaxies.
And Tarantino’s “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” taps into our psyche about the movies.
The movie features a trio of strong performances headed by Leonardo Di Caprio as fading star Rick Dalton, Brad Pitt as his best friend-stuntman Cliff Booth and Margot Robbie as starlet Sharon Tate.
“Once Upon a Time …” is one of Tarantino’s most-assured works, and it showcases his affection and love for the film industry. It is simultaneously sprawling yet intimate, giving us a nostalgic picture of a time gone by and a fabled land of hopes and dreams.
This combo release features excellent digital transfers that heighten the home viewing experience. A vast majority of critics enjoyed the film, giving it an 85 percent fresh rating at Rottentomatoes.com.
Technical aspects: Blu-ray: 1080p high definition, 2.39:1 widescreen picture; English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio and English audio description track, French and Spanish 5.1 Dolby digital; English SDH, English, French and Spanish subtitles; DVD: 2.39:1 anamorphic widescreen picture; English, English audio description track, French and Spanish 5.1 Dolby digital; English SDH, English, French and Spanish subtitles.
Don’t miss: Bonus materials include a series of featurettes, such as “Quentin Tarantino’s Love Letter to Hollywood,” “Bob Richardson — For the Love of Film,” “Shop Talk — The Cars of 1969,” “Restoring Hollywood — The Production Design of ‘Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood’ ” and “The Fashions of 1969” as well as about 20 minutes of additional scenes.

Raise Hell: The Life and Times of Molly Ivins
Release date: Dec. 3
Details: 2018, Magnolia Home Entertainment
Rated: Not rated
The lowdown: A documentary that profiles firebrand columnist Molly Ivins, a larger-than-life Texan, who zeroed in on corruption wherever she discovered it.
Her acerbic and sharp wit and her mighty pen did not suffer fools, no matter which side of the political aisle they sat.
She once wrote that, “Polarizing people is a good way to win an election and a good way to wreck a country.”
Her words are proving prophetic today. The film captures her wit and sense of right and wrong.
Technical aspects: 1.78:1 widescreen picture; English 5.1 Dolby digital; English closed-captioned.
Don’t miss: The major extra consists of additional clips of Ivins.

“Universal Horror Collection: Volume 3” (Blu-ray)
Details: 1939-41, Scream Factory
Rated: Not rated
The lowdown: Another series of horror-thriller features from the Universal Pictures vault.
The set contains one prestige picture, “Tower of London,” a retelling of Shakespeare’s “Richard III” starring Basil Rathbone as Richard and, to add some chiller moments, Boris Karloff as Mord, his club-footed, evil executioner and assassin.
The film is more a historical drama that typical Universal supernatural feature.
The other movies in the collection are “Man Made Monster” (1941) with mad scientist Lionel Atwill transforming carnival worker Lon Chaney Jr., making his science fiction-monster debut, into being immune to electricity with deadly results; “The Black Cat” (1941), a comedy-old-dark-house-mystery with Basil Rathbone, Broderick Crawford, Hugh Herbert, Bela Lugosi, Anne Gwynne and Gale Sondergaard; and “Horror Island” (1941), a mystery-thriller about a series of treasure hunters lured to a supposedly haunted mansion on an island, where, one-by-one, they are murdered.
The cast includes Dick Foran, Leo Carrillo, Peggy Moran, Fuzzy Knight and John Eldridge.
Frankly, with the exception of “Tower of London,” these are basic programmer, B-movie fodder that helped fill Universal’s releasing schedule.
Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 1.37:1 full-screen picture; English DTS-HD Master Audio monaural; English SDH subtitles.
Don’t miss: The major extras are commentary tracks on each of the movies.

Heartbreak Hotel (Blu-ray)
Details: 1988, Kino Lorber
Rated: PG-13, violence, language
The lowdown: Chris Columbus wrote and directed this fantasy set in 1972 about teenager Johnny Wolfe (Charlie Schlatter) who, to help cheer up his dispirited single mom, steals her car, drives to Las Vegas and kidnaps Elvis Presley (David Keith).
It seems Johnny’s mom is a fervent Elvis fan, so he brings him back to their small hometown to cheer her up.
Sure, the movie is preposterous, and Columbus pushes his premise over its limits. But this is one of those not-so-good movies that kind of envelop you in a sweetness, despite its flaws.
Presley fans will most likely enjoy it more than the causal filmgoer.
Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 1.85:1 widescreen picture; English DTS; English SDH subtitles.
Don’t miss: A commentary track is the major extra.

Silver Bullet: Collector’s Edition (Blu-ray)
Details: 1985, Scream Factory
Rated: R, graphic violence, gore, language, smoking, alcohol use
The lowdown: This movie was adapted by Stephen King from his novelette, “Cycle of the Werewolf.”
It centers on a small and peaceful town that is suddenly terrorized by a crazed killer. The people of the town believe a maniacal killer is on the loose, but wheelchair-bound 13-year-old Marty Coslaw, played by Corey Haim, knows the truth — a werewolf is hunting its prey.
The boy enlists his Uncle Red (Gary Busey) to help him stop the killings and reveal the identity of the supernatural being.
The movie, which costars Everett McGill, is an OK King adaptation. It has some fun moments that complement the horror.
Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 2.35:1 widescreen picture; English 2.0 DTS-HD Master Audio monaural; English SDH subtitles.
Don’t miss: Extras include two commentary tracks, interviews with actors Everett McGill and Kent Broadhurst, editor Daniel Loewenthal, director Daniel Attias and special effects artists Matthew Mungle and Michael McCracken and isolated score selections and an audio interview with composer Jay Chattaway.

The Returned: The Complete Second Season
Details: 2012-15, Music Box Films
Rated: Not rated
The lowdown: The second season of this French TV series begins six months after the valley has been flooded.
Most of the population has fled. Those who have remained are hoping to find loved ones. But their lives are upended when a new wave of Returned reach them.
Adding to the many complications are the secrets those Returned have that can shed light on the village’s mysterious and dark history.
Technical aspects: 1.78:1 (16:9 enhanced) widescreen picture; French 5.1 Dolby digital surround; English subtitles.

Gunsmoke: The Sixteenth Season
Gunsmoke: The Seventeenth Season
Release date: Dec. 10
Details: 1970-71, 1971-72
Rated: Not rated
The lowdown: These pair of six-disc sets feature 48 episodes, 24 from each season, as Marshal Matt Dillon keeps the piece in Dodge City and the surrounding terrain, with the help of Deputy Festus Haggen (Ken Curtis), Doc Adams (Milburn Stone) and saloon-owner Miss Kitty (Amanda Blake).
The season 16 episodes finds Dillon chasing outlaws, battling Indians and dealing with various visitors to Dodge, most of whom are up to no good.
In season 17, Dillon fights for his life in a three-part arc, Kitty is injured in a stagecoach crash and Dillon tries to reunite a young boy with his mother.
Among the guest stars are David Carradine, Pat Hingle, Tom Skerritt, Jodie Foster, Yaphet Kotto and Sam Elliott.
Technical aspects: 4:3 full-screen picture; English Dolby digital monaural; English SDH subtitles.
Don’t miss: Extras include episode previews and “Ben and Beckey Talk ‘Gunsmoke’ ” with a look back at the two seasons.

Freaks (Blu-ray + DVD)
Release date: Dec. 10
Details: 2018, Well Go USA
Rated: R, violence, language
The lowdown: A 7-year-old girl is confined to her home by her paranoid father. But the girl, Chloe, who lives in fear and is overwhelmed with curiosity about the outside world, wants to venture there.
Her father, though, teaches her to fear Abnormals, telling her they are a constant threat to their safety.
Soon, a mysterious stranger offers Chloe a look at what is really happening outside her home. She soon discovers that the truth is not as simple as her father has related, but that many of the dangers are real.
The movie, told through the perspective of Chloe, is intriguing, but falls short of its imaginative premise.
Technical aspects: Blu-ray: 1080p high definition, 2.39:1 (16×9 enhanced) widescreen picture; English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio; English SDH and French subtitles.
Don’t miss: Extras include a commentary track, and a behind-the-scenes featurette.

Feast of the Seven Fishes (Blu-ray)
Details: 2019, Shout! Studios
Rated: Not rated
The lowdown: A romantic-tinged holiday feature about Tony Oliverio, a young man preparing to celebrate the traditional Feast of the Seven Fishes festivities, a time-honored ritual that dates back to the old country.
Amidst all of this, Tony meets and falls in love with Beth, a gorgeous Ivy Leaguer. But a few obstacles appear to create bumps in their budding romance — including Tony’s great-grandmother who believes Beth isn’t good enough for him, Tony’s former girlfriend and Beth’s former suitor.
Being it’s the holidays, everything works out for the best because this is a feel-good celebration of love and family.
Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 1.85:1 widescreen picture; English DTS-HD Master Audio; English subtitles.
Don’t miss: Supplemental options include a commentary track, a behind-the-scenes featurette and a short film by the movie’s director.

Shade (Blu-ray)
Details: 2003, MVD Marquee Collection
Rated: R, language, violence, nudity, sexual content
The lowdown: A movie set in the underground Los Angeles gambling scene features a group of grifters trying to defeat the top card player, named The Dean (Sylvester Stallone).
This movie features what could be called an all-star cast: Jamie Foxx, Melanie Griffith, Hal Holbrook, Gabriel Byrne, Thandie Newton and Stuart Townsend.
The movie, like the Oscar-winning “The Sting,” offers a breakdown of the various grifts that lead to the big score.
The film did not get a widespread release for some reason, but it is well worth viewing.
Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 2.35:1 widescreen picture; English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio and 2.0 LPCM monaural; English and French subtitles.
Don’t miss: Bonus options include featurettes on the making of the movie, the various card tricks used in the film, interviews with writer-director Damian Nieman, Foxx, Griffith,, Townsend, Byrne, Newton, Stallone and technical adviser Paul Wilson and a commentary track.

A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints (Blu-ray)
Details: 2006, MVD Marquee Collection
Rated: R, language, violence, sexual content, drug use
The lowdown: Robert Downey Jr. stars in writer-director Dino Montiel’s coming-of-age story about his youth in Queens in the mid-1980s.
Downey’s Dino is called home after 15 years because his father is ill. There, he must deal with his old and lost friends, the ones he left behind, the ones he can’t remember and the memories of his younger years.
It’s also a story of a father’s rage and paternal love. Costarring with Downey is Shia LeBeouf as the younger Dino, Chazz Palmintieri as his father, Dianne Wiest, Channing Tatum and Rosario Dawson.
Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 1.85:1 widescreen picture; English 5.1 Dolby digital; English and Spanish subtitles.
Don’t miss: Extras include a making of featurette, a commentary track, deleted scenes, an alternate opening four alternate endings, an interview with Montiel’s day and audition tapes.

Fuller House: The Complete Fourth Season
Details: 2018, Warner Home Entertainment
Rated: Not rated
The lowdown: This two-disc set features all 13 episodes of this series, which has been renewed by Netflix for its fifth and final season.
The fourth season is packed with more laughs and life-changing moments for the Tanners, Fullers and Gibblers, including relationship pressures, children learning to drive and playing high school sports and other family issues.
The cast is headed by Candace Cameron Bure, Jodie Sweetin and Andrea Barber, with guest appearances by cast members of ABC’s original “Full House.”
Technical aspects: 16×9 widescreen picture; English 5.1 Dolby digital; English SDH, French and Spanish subtitles.

The David Susskind Archives: Interview with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Details: 1963, MVD Visual Entertainment
Rated: Not rated
The lowdown: During the many years he was on television, David Susskind interviewed many celebrities and newsmakers.
On June 9, 1963, Susskind sat down with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to discuss the state of the Civil Rights movement and the events in Birmingham, Ala., which included a church bombing that killed four little black girls.
The full interview has not been seen since its original airing and has been restored by The Paley Center.
During the interview, King expressed his disappointment with the pace of the Kennedy Administration’s progress regarding civil rights legislation.
His remarks so rattled President Kennedy that he later went on national television to defend his administration’s position and to outline his plans for what would become the Civil and Voter rights Acts.
Technical aspects: 1.33:1 full-screen picture; English 2.0 Dolby digital; English subtitles.

Barbara Rubin & The Exploding NY Underground
Details: 2018, Juno Films
Rated: Not rated
The lowdown: A documentary that looks at the life and career of Barbara Rubin who, at 16, shocked New York City’s experimental film scene with her art-porn movie, “Christmas on Earth” (1963-65).
For the next four years, her artistic vision helped expand and shatter artistic and sexual boundaries.
It was Rubin who introduced Andy Warhol to the Velvet Underground and Bob Dylan to the Kabbalah.
She later retired to a farm with Allen Ginsberg, then shocked most of the people who knew her by converting to Hasidic Judaism. Later, still, she married and moved to France to live an anonymous life.
Rubin died in 1980 after giving birth to her fifth child.
The film features letters written by Rubin as well as some of her film sequences.
The documentary celebrates Rubin’s life and her contributions to the 1960s artistic counterculture.
Technical aspects: 1.33:1 full-screen picture; English 5.1 Dolby digital; English SDH subtitles.
Don’t miss: Extras include a short film.

Other titles being released on Tuesday, unless otherwise indicated:
A Feast of Man (IndiePix Films)
Acceleration (Blu-ray & DVD) (Cinedigm)
Bernie the Dolphin 2 (DVD & digital & VOD (Lionsgate Home Entertainment)
Crypsis (DVD & VOD) (Uncork’d Entertainment)
Melody Makers (Cleopatra Entertainment)
“Sylvester Stallone: Double Feature”: Avenging Angelo/Shade (MVD Marquee Collection)
“Sylvester Stallone Double Feature”: Eye See You/Reach Me (MVD Marquee Collection)
Holly Near: Singing for Our Lives (Omnibus Entertainment, Dec. 10)

DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, STREAMING or VOD
Joker (Warner Home Entertainment)
Lucy in the Sky (Fox Home Entertainment)
Ronny Chieng: Asian Comedian Destroys America (Netflix)
The Gulf: Episode 3 (Sundance Now, Dec. 18)
Wisting: Episode 1 (Sundance Now, Dec. 18)
The Lighthouse (Lionsgate Home Entertainment, Dec. 20)
Tekashi69 vs. the World (Snap, Dec. 21)
From Father to Daughter (Acorn TV, Dec. 23)
The Victorian House of Arts & Crafts (Acorn TV, Dec. 23)

I am a founding member of the Indiana Film Journalists Association. I review movies, Blu-rays and DVDs for ReelBob (ReelBob.com), The Film Yap and other print and online publications. I can be reached by email at bobbloomjc@gmail.com. You also can follow me on Twitter @ReelBobBloom and on Facebook. My movie reviews also can be found at Rottentomatoes: www.rottentomatoes.com.