The Good Boss Blu-ray Review

 

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• Director ‏ : ‎ Fernando León de Aranoa
• Actors ‏ : ‎ Javier Bardem, Manolo Solo, Almudena Amor
• Studio ‏ : ‎ Cohen Media Group
• Aspect Ratio ‏ : ‎ 2.39:1
• MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ NR (Not Rated)
• Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1

• Run time ‏ : ‎ 2 hours
• Release date ‏ : ‎ November 1, 2022

 

         My expectations were quite high when I heard that The Good Boss earned a record-breaking 20 nominations at the 36th Goya Awards, winning six of them including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Original Screenplay. While the filmmaking is undeniably solid, I was somewhat disappointed by the overly familiar path the narrative took in satirizing big business and the upper class. It is well done, but also contained little that hasn’t already been covered in many films before this one. If you don’t mind narrative tropes being recycled, however, The Good Boss has a lot to offer audiences onboard with a comedic take on bad behavior, both personal and in business.

 

Entre Nous Blu-ray Review

 

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• Director ‏ : ‎ Diane Kurys
• Actors ‏ : ‎ Isabelle Huppert, Miou-Miou, Guy Marchand, Jean-Pierre Bacri, Daniela Rocca
• Studio ‏ : ‎ Cohen Film Collection
• Aspect Ratio ‏ : ‎ 2.35:1
• MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Country of Origin ‏ : ‎ France
• Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1
• Media Format ‏ : ‎ Subtitled
• Run time ‏ : ‎ 1 hour and 51 minutes
• Release date ‏ : ‎ November 29, 2022

         Entre Nous is a biographical film from director Diane Kurys (Peppermint Soda) based on her parents’ relationship and the woman that came between them during her childhood. The dedication to events sometimes hinders the film, jumping forward in time periods quickly and without developing major events, starting with World War II. This abbreviated recounting of events is also primarily focused on a potential lesbian romance which never develops, which may have seemed groundbreaking when Entre Nous was released in 1983 despite feeling underdeveloped nearly forty years later.

 

A Knife in the Head Blu-ray Review

 

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• Director ‏ : ‎ Reinhard Hauff
• Actors ‏ : ‎ Bruno Ganz, Angela Winkler, Heinz Hoenig
• Studio ‏ : ‎ Cohen Media Group
• MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ NR (Not Rated)
• Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1
• Media Format ‏ : ‎ Anamorphic
• Run time ‏ : ‎ 1 hour and 54 minutes
• Release date ‏ : ‎ November 29, 2022

 

         Part political thriller and part character-driven drama, the 1978 German film A Knife in the Head is difficult to pin down. It doesn’t adhere to a traditional narrative structure and the film’s themes are directly tied to a specific time and place. For those familiar with the politics and history of the country during this period, A Knife in the Head may be easier to understand, but there is also an ambiguity to the plot that may be off-putting for some. Even though I appreciated dissecting and analyzing the film, the lack of resolution made the viewing experience slightly unfulfilling.

 

Alienoid Blu-ray Review

 

• MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ NR (Not Rated)
• Media Format ‏ : ‎ Subtitled
• Dubbed: ‏ : ‎ English
• Studio ‏ : ‎ Well Go Usa
• Country of Origin ‏ : ‎ South Korea
• Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1
• Release date ‏ : ‎ December 6, 2022
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         For those who think that Hollywood is the only film industry to capitalize on big, dumb, spectacle-driven films, Alienoid is solid proof that this isn’t true. Not only is this South Korean full of overblown action sequences, tons of special effects, and cheesy humor, it is also a cliffhanger with the sequel already filmed and planned for future release. Because the sign of a successful blockbuster is no longer a stand-alone film but the potential for a franchise, Alienoid could be seen as accomplishing this assuming audiences are interested enough to return for the continuation of the narrative. Personally, I found myself underwhelmed. Then again, I have had the same experience with a majority of thriving Hollywood franchises as well.