Author Archives: Keith Garlington

New on Home Video: “Contagion” on 4K Ultra HD and Digital

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Warner Brothers Home Entertainment has announced the release of Steven Soderbergh’s acclaimed 2011 medical disaster thriller “Contagion” on 4K Ultra HD for the very first time. This smart and tightly-plotted nail-biter follows the outbreak of a highly contagious and deadly virus, the growing death toll, and the courageous efforts of those desperately working to identify and contain it. It features a star-studded ensemble that includes Marion Cotillard, Matt Damon, Kate Winslet, Laurence Fishburne, Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow, Bryan Cranston, Jennifer Ehle, Elliott Gould, and John Hawkes.

This 4K Ultra HD and Digital Copy edition of “Contagion” will be available to own on February 27th. See below for a full synopsis and release information.

About the Film

Year: 2011

Runtime: 106 Minutes

Director: Steven Soderbergh

Screenwriter: Scott Z. Burns

Cast: Marion Cotillard, Matt Damon, Kate Winslet, Laurence Fishburne, Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow, Bryan Cranston, Jennifer Ehle, Elliott Gould, Sanaa Lathan, John Hawkes, Chin Han

Rating: PG-13 for Disturbing Content and Some Language

Directed by Academy Award winner Steven Soderbergh (“Traffic”), “Contagion” features an all-star ensemble cast including Academy Award winner Marion Cottilard (“La Vie en Rose”), Academy Award winner Matt Damon (“Good Will Hunting”), Academy Award nominee Laurence Fishburne (“What’s Love Got to Do with it”), Academy Award nominee Jude Law (“The Talented Mr. Ripley”, “Cold Mountain”), Academy Award winner Gwyneth Paltrow (“Shakespeare in Love”), Academy Award winner Kate Winslet (“The Reader”), Academy Award nominee and Emmy winner Bryan Cranston (“Trumbo”, TV’s “Breaking Bad”), Tony Award winner Jennifer Ehle (Broadway’s “The Real Thing,” “The Coast of Utopia”), and Tony Award nominee Sanaa Lathan (“A Raisin in the Sun”).

Synopsis

An international traveler reaches into the snack bowl at an airport bar before passing her credit card to a waiter. A business meeting begins with a round of handshakes. A man coughs on a crowded bus… One contact. One instant. And a lethal virus is transmitted.

When Beth Emhoff (Paltrow) returns to Minneapolis from business in Hong Kong, what she thought was jet lag takes a virulent turn. Two days later, she’s dead in the ER and the doctors tell her shocked and grieving husband (Damon) they have no idea why. Soon, others exhibit the same mysterious symptoms: hacking coughs and fever, followed by seizure, brain hemorrhage… and ultimately, death. The numbers quickly multiply as the contagion sweeps across all borders, fueled by the countless human interactions that make up the course of an average day. A global pandemic explodes.

As the death toll escalates and people struggle to protect themselves and their loved ones in a society breaking down, one activist blogger (Law) claims the public isn’t getting the truth about what’s really going on and sets off an epidemic of paranoia and fear as infectious as the virus itself.

Special Features

“Contagion” Ultra HD Blu-ray disc and Digital contains the following previously released special features:

  • The Reality of Contagion – Featurette
  • The Contagion Detectives – Featurette
  • Contagion – How a Virus Changes the World –Featurette

“Borderlands” Gets New Character Posters Courtesy of Lionsgate

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Yesterday Lionsgate released the first trailer for their upcoming sci-fi action comedy “Borderlands”. Based on the popular video game series from Gearbox Software, “Borderlands” follows a ragtag group of misfits as they take on the countless dangers of planet Pandora in an effort to save the daughter of a powerful crime lord. Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, Edgar Ramirez, Ariana Greenblatt, Florian Munteanu, and others make up its wacky ensemble.

To help get us ready for the film’s near future release, Lionsgate has also released a series of killer character posters for “Borderlands”. Take a look….

REVIEW: “A Chance Encounter” (2022)

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It may be tempting to instantly dismiss “A Chance Encounter” as another warm and fuzzy romance, especially after the meet-cute between the film’s two protagonists, elegantly framed by the scenery of the gorgeous Italian countryside. While there is undoubtedly a tender component to its story, writer-director Alexander Jeffery steers clear of the overly sweet and syrupy. His interests lie elsewhere, namely in his two wandering artists and their struggle to find the courage to believe in themselves.

Hal Flynn (Paul Petersen) is a talented writer who owns a print shop with his brother in Iowa. He’s an aspiring poet but his lack of confidence in his own abilities leads him to keep his work to himself. After being left a sizable sum of money by his late mother, Hal decides to travel to Sicily in hopes of finding inspiration and to help cope with his loss.

In the cozy tourist town of Taormina, Hal has the titular ‘chance encounter’. He meets a fellow American named Josie Day (played by singer Andrea von Kampen in her acting debut). Josie is a famous-ish folk singer from Minnesota who’s having a hard time putting together songs for her sophomore album. So she strolls through town with her Martin acoustic guitar, singing and playing whatever comes to mind.

I won’t spoil the details of their meeting but there is clearly some chemistry between them. The two meet up several times over the next few days, just walking and talking (think Richard Linklater but with lighter and less existential musings). As they do, Jeffery treats us to a buffet of captivating locations including historical landmarks, quaint parts of town, and stunning vistas that highlight Italy’s beauty.

The more time Hal and Josie spend together the more they begin opening up to each other and us. We learn they both have secrets that they’re not quite ready to share and insecurities that are weighing them down like an anchor. Yet they find solace in each other’s company. Things really accelerate after Josie invites Hal to come stay with her in her lavish villa. Nothing romantic she insists. “A writer’s retreat.”

Of course we can tell they’re avoiding the obvious. Jeffrey (who co-wrote the script with Peterson) lures us into wondering if the same lack of confidence that keeps them from pursuing their art will also keep them from admitting their feelings for one another. To his credit he avoids the temptation to go the conventional route. And there’s something refreshing about a relationship that remains mostly platonic, which allows the characters to grow naturally rather than by some by-the-book genre blueprint.

The story gets needlessly complicated by the introduction of another American tourist whose sole purpose seems to be a hurdle. There are also times where the lack of acting experience from the two leads is pretty evident. But there’s so much to like in this sincere and engaging indie drama. Von Kampen’s soulful original music, the choice to shoot on location, the willingness to explore a relationship beyond what we have come to expect from these films – just some of the strengths that make this such a treat to watch.

VERDICT – 3.5 STARS

First Glance: “Borderlands”

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Video games have a history of not translating well to the big screen. But that hasn’t stopped gaming studios from taking their cinematic swings. The latest to try is the popular action looter-shooter “Borderlands” from Gearbox Software. This wacky looking adaptation is directed and co-written by Eli Roth and features a truly bonkers ensemble. There’s certainly lots of potential. But much like the video game series, there’s also a lot of question marks.

Set within a space-Western sci-fi fantasy world, “Borderlands” follows a ragtag team of misfits that includes Cate Blanchett as a bounty hunter named Lilith, Kevin Hart as a mercenary named Roland, Jack Black as wisecracking robot named Claptrap, Jamie Lee Curtis as a mad scientist named Tannis, Ariana Greenblatt as an explosives guru named Tiny Tina, and Florian Munteanu as Tina’s musclebound protector Krieg. They set out to rescue the daughter of a gangster (Edgar Ramirez) on the most dangerous planet in the galaxy. Again, lots of potential, but just as many ways for it to go off the rails.

“Borderlands” is coming soon to theaters. Check out the trailer below and let me know if you’ll be seeing it or taking a pass.

REVIEW: “Lisa Frankenstein” (2024)

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There’s a morbidly funny idea hidden somewhere inside of “Lisa Frankenstein”. Unfortunately it never rises to the surface in what turns out to be a messy, rhythmless, and forgettable horror-tinted romantic comedy. Pulling from the Mary Shelley literary classic and countless teen comedies that came before it, “Lisa Frankenstein” attempts to meld its multiple inspirations into something playful, ghoulish, and original. But the movie flatlines early and never is able to gain any kind of momentum.

The film is the feature-length directorial debut from Zelda Williams who shows off some occasional flash. But the bigger surprise (or should I say disappointment) is that it’s written by Academy Award winner Diablo Cody. This is Cody’s first script since 2018 and it’s a far cry from the much lauded work that launched her career. In fact, it’s the script that weighs things down. Williams makes some vain attempts to energize the movie. But the story sputters, the characters go nowhere, and the humor consistently falls flat.

Among the few bright spots is lead actress Kathryn Newton. She does what she can with the character Lisa Swallows, a socially awkward outcast trying to fit in at a new high school. Many of her problems stem from her difficult past, most notably her mother being killed by an axe murderer. In the years since, her father Dale (Joe Chrest) has remarried. Lisa’s insufferable new step-mother Janet (Carla Gugino) gave her a new stepsister, the shallow, sometimes snobby, but oddly sympathetic Taffy (Liza Soberano).

To find solace, Lisa spends her free time in the old abandoned Bachelor’s Grove Cemetery where she takes a special liking to a young man’s Victorian-era grave monument. But then something happens that alters the course of Lisa’s life. Lightning strikes the young man’s grave somehow reanimating his corpse (science I guess). In a number of ways that defy belief, Lisa keeps her new zombie beau (played by Cole Sprouse) hidden, slowly growing closer to him in the process.

I suppose there are a few paper-thin coming-of-age themes and the movie has a little to say about self-discovery. But those kinds of things feel like afterthoughts. The film has no real convictions of any kind. It has nothing much to say about anything. You could make a case that it tries. But its efforts are so lackadaisical that any message is easily lost as you slog through the unfunny antics, the flat dialogue, and the uninspired characters. Lisa (thanks to Newton) is the exception. She’s someone we really want to root for, but unfortunately the material doesn’t let us.

“Lisa Frankenstein” wraps up with a truly awful ending that falls somewhere between crude absurdity and lazy predictability. It pretty much kills any sympathies you may have held onto. It’s the final straw for a movie that never seems sure of itself, wastes so much potential, and squanders a gothic horror-comedy idea that could have been a slam-dunk. It even fails to tap into the nostalgia of its late 1980s setting. Altogether it left me with a lot of frustration and one big sigh of relief once the final credits started to roll. “Lisa Frankenstein” is in theaters now.

VERDICT – 2 STARS

EDFF REVIEW: “Tapawingo”

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I’m guessing few people expected 2004‘s oddball comedy “Napoleon Dynamite” to go from a low-budget indie debuting at Sundance to the absurdly funny and infinitely quotable cult classic it is today. The film made a star out of its lead, Jon Heder who over the years has helped nurture the film’s vocal and devoted fan base (I have several fellow card-carrying “Napoleon Dynamite” enthusiasts in my family including a cousin who actually ventured to the small town of Preston, Idaho just to visit the shooting locations).

Now 20 years later we see Heder tapping back into that successful formula with “Tapawingo”, a proudly and profoundly offbeat feature film that recently screened at the El Dorado Film Festival. While the comparisons to “Napoleon Dynamite” are inescapable, “Tapawingo” isn’t some shameless clone. Director Dylan K. Narang (who also wrote the script along with Brad DeMarea) has plenty of his own comic twists up his sleeve.

“Tapawingo” has a uniquely zany brand of humor, and much like its comedic kin “Napoleon Dynamite”, it probably won’t click for everyone. But what can I say – it’s my kind of comedy. Yes it’s incredibly silly and utterly preposterous. But it’s also meticulously made, with funny bits scattered everywhere. Narang finds the means to make us laugh in nearly every facet of the filmmaking – the dialogue, the costumes, the camerawork, the editing, the music, even the production design.

Heder plays a small town oddball named Nate Skoog (what a great name). When he and his best friend Will (Jay Prichard) aren’t cruising around in Nate’s dune buggy or killing a few hours playing bingo at the Elk’s Lodge, they’re training to one day become high-paid mercenaries (yep, you read that right). “High risk, high reward.”

Nate still lives at home with his mother Ramona (Amanda Bearse) who has an annoying new boyfriend, Tom (John Ratzenberger) who’s always hanging around their house. As far as a job, Nate works in the mailroom at Amalgamated Insurance where he’s routinely hounded by an overly flirtatious co-worker (Gina Gershon). He’s also tasked with picking up his boss’ geeky son Oswalt (Sawyer Williams) after school.

One day while dropping off Oswalt, Nate gets a glimpse of the tough-as-nails Gretchen (a really good Kim Matula). He’s instantly smitten but their interactions are hilariously awkward due to his inability to communicate. Over time they slowly warm up to each other and soon sparks begin to fly (at least the best way they can in a movie this goofy).

But things take a turn when Nate and Will upset a local hoodlum named Nelson Tarwater (Chad Dukes) after rescuing Oswalt from Nelson’s two dimwitted younger brothers (played by Jacob Tyler Kemp and Ariel Flores). This sets off a chain of events that ultimate leads to Nelson calling in his big brother, Stoney (a subtly hilarious Billy Zane who’s given no dialogue and whose only task is to look menacing). A showdown is all but inevitable.

Narang and DeMarea’s script is the biggest reason “Tapawingo” works so well, but there are so many other key ingredients. First is the top-to-bottom game cast. Heder is no stranger to kind of material so it’s no surprise he nails it. But everyone else seems to be on the same wacky wavelength. And I haven’t even mentioned George and Paul Psarras who play self-proclaimed martial artists and mustachioed twin brothers Glen and Ben.

There’s also the DP Jarrod Russell’s fabulous cinematography that cleverly incorporates a variety of snap zooms, camera whips, and cross-cuts among other things. It works especially well alongside the outstanding production designs and costumes. Then there’s the synthesized percussive score laced with countless killer needle-drops from Quiet Riot, Pat Benatar, Kiss, and ELO among so many other.

“Tapawingo” is still working out distribution so there is no concrete date for its official release. But keep an eye out, especially if your a fan goofy self-aware comedies. Dylan Narang and his talented cohorts have made something right up my alley. Not all of the gags land as intended and occasionally a side character is pushed a little too far. But for the most part Narang is able to wrangle everything together into a fun and cohesive movie full of big-time laughs. “Tapawingo” recently screened at the El Dorado Film Festival.

VERDICT – 4 STARS