When a studio releases a film versus when a boutique releases a film, there can be, on occasion, a little worry that the former won’t be the *best* version of the release. There are always exceptions to the rule, of… Read More ›
Recommendation
Showcasing a terrific vulnerable performance from Jeffrey Wright, Julien Schnabel’s fluid and impressionistic biopic “Basquiat” comes home in a beautiful new edition, courtesy of Criterion.
It is more fitting than ironic that an impressionistic biopic about the acclaimed neo-expressionist painter Jean-Michel Basquiat would also be written and directed by another painter. For his directorial debut (the first in a line of acclaimed releases including Before… Read More ›
Academy Award-winning tragicomedy, anti-Cinderella story “Anora” comes available on director-approved 4K UHD and Blu-ray combo edition from The Criterion Collection.
In the popular children’s story Cinderella, the protagonist lives a miserable existence, mistreated by her evil stepmother and wicked stepsisters, but ultimately ends up living an enchanted life with Prince Charming, with a little help from her fairy godmother. Written… Read More ›
Seijun Suzuki’s third film restored by Radiance Films is the tragicomic “A Tale of Sorrow and Sadness.”
In January of 2025, Radiance Films released Underworld Beauty, a 1958 yakuza drama from filmmaker Seijun Suzuki, the second restoration by the boutique distributor of the filmmaker’s work. Now, with A Tale of Sorrow and Sadness (1977), Radiance Films offers… Read More ›
One of the most entertaining and charming high-concept films of the past few years, “A Samurai in Time” finally comes home in beautifully upscaled 1080p, courtesy of Third Window Films.
In a landscape of recycled IPs, a never-ending torrent of superhero fever, and films that are made for adults being shoved to the wayside, original high-concept films (strong examples being Inception (2010) and The Matrix (1999)) seem to be a… Read More ›
Sequel story “Batman Ninja vs. Yakuza League” is a remarkable love letter to yakuza cinema wrapped in a phenomenal DC Comics package.
“What If …” is not a question reserved for Marvel Comics; rather, it’s a question that’s been asked by philosophers, scientists, and more for the bulk of humanity’s existence. Within that question lives innumerable possibilities that no amount of planning… Read More ›
“Jazzy” brings friendship to the forefront.
Discovery itself is at risk. Last week I bought the 2-disc special edition of Sam Rami’s Drag Me to Hell (2009) at Eides Entertainment in Pittsburgh because I was scanning for Spike Lee’s Clockers (1995), and scanning titles with your… Read More ›
Brady Corbet’s “The Brutalist,” a beautiful, harrowing epic about the elusive American Dream, comes home in beautiful HD Blu-ray.
Clocking in at a whopping 215 minutes and being filmed in VistaVision (a high-resolution format once used for classic films such as Vertigo (1958) and The Ten Commandments (1956)), it is not hard to understand why someone would be quick… Read More ›
15 Atlanta Film Festival 2025 films that may be worth the watch.
For the second time in a row, Elements of Madness will officially be covering Atlanta Film Festival so, ahead of the festival start, here’s a few films that I’m hoping to see or recommend to keep an eye out for… Read More ›
Criterion’s 4K release of “Some Like It Hot” offers little relative to the Kino Lorber 4K release.
When a boutique label announces that they’re releasing a 4K copy of a movie that has already had a restoration done, the questions are inevitably going to be asked as to which transfer is better between the two disks, what… Read More ›
The Criterion Collection re-releases Kenji Mizoguchi’s “Ugetsu” in a first-time 4K UHD edition.
In November 2021, The Criterion Collection debuted their first 4K UHD edition — that of Orson Welles’s Citizen Kane. Since then, they’ve released and re-released 4K UHD editions of titles new and old in an effort to continually meet consumer… Read More ›
“Insomnia” keeps you from restful sleep on this DVD re-release with a trove of extended features.
Christopher Nolan’s Insomnia is one of those rare thriller movies that defies convention by substituting the disquiet of night with the unrelenting brightness of an Alaskan summer — a choice that paradoxically amplifies the film’s sense of terror. The movie… Read More ›
Missed the Don Lee-led action thriller “The Gangster, The Cop, The Devil” back in 2019? Now’s your chance with this home edition re-release.
True crime stories are nothing new in terms of being a source for adaptive works. Law & Order consistently takes their inspiration from real crime tales, as do a variety of films. The four-film deep Crime City series led by… Read More ›
Explore Shōhei Imamura’s “The Eel” via a strong HD release from Radiance Films.
What would you do to make amends with your past? For some, it means rolling up your sleeves and doing the hard work to atone; while, for others, it means living a life of abstinence. Both can be viewed as… Read More ›
Before you go fast to pick up “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” on home video, know your options and what you’re getting.
Of all the video game adaptations made (and there are several folks may not even realize are adaptations), none have met or exceeded expectations like director Jeff Fowler’s Sonic the Hedgehog trilogy. Each one is an entertaining family film with… Read More ›
Eight San Francisco International Film Festival 2025 films I hope to check out.
For the second time, Elements of Madness will officially be covering San Francisco International Film Festival 2025 and it’ll be the first time I’m doing as part of the EoM Team. Ahead of the festival start, here’s a few films… Read More ›
A look at the larger and personal legacy of “Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight” on its 30th Anniversary. [The Overlook Film Festival]
Trigger Warning: Though there is no rain, there’s a great deal of lightning in the film which may impact photosensitive viewers. If you’re a person of a certain age, one only needs to hear a few notes of Danny Elfman’s… Read More ›
Disney’s “Mufasa: The Lion King” is generic and forgettable yet gorgeous in 4K.
In a time where sequels, prequels, and legacy-quels run rampant, one hopes — even begs — for something different. A prequel to the live action The Lion King (2019) that revolves around Mufasa and his humbling, noble rise to power… Read More ›
Drew Hancock’s “Companion” is a rom-com for the modern era.
In the featurette “I Feel, Therefore I Am,” writer/director Drew Hancock (Fred 3: Camp Fred) talks about how sometimes, in relationships, there are those who are more invested than another. Personally, in the right circumstances, imbalance in one area can… Read More ›
Capsule Review: R.T. Thorne’s “40 Acres.” [The Overlook Film Festival]
R.T. Thorne’s feature-film directorial debut, 40 Acres anchors its tale of familial strife and global terror as the world teeters on the brink. Screening during The Overlook Film Festival 2025, audiences may presume 40 Acres to be a straight-forward horror-thriller… Read More ›