2015 is off to a great start in home entertainment, with one of last year’s most acclaimed – and longest in-the-making – features, Boyhood, and the first season of HBO’s Looking (above) to binge-watch before season two’s January 11th debut. All this plus a delightful U.K. import about a boy staring mortality in the face, Ways To Live Forever.
Here are the deets!
Looking: The Complete First Season
($39.99 Blu-ray, $29.99 DVD; HBO)
January 11th sees HBO’s dramedy series about modern gay love in San Francisco (and Oakland!) begin its second season. Get ready by binge watching — or re-watching — the first season. It definitely grows on you, and these boys rock hipster duds and ‘staches like nobody else!
($39.99 Blu-ray, $29.99 DVD; Paramount)
Director Richard Linklater’s literal coming of age film was shot over 12 years, charting the journey from 5-year-old to high school graduate of its protagonist Mason, played by Ellar Coltrane. Patricia Arquette and Ethan Hawke play Mason’s divorced parents, while the slice-of-life dramas Mason encounters include an alcoholic stepfather, sibling rivalry, and first love. An amazing piece of filmmaking that flows seamlessly and unpredictably. Extras include a making-of featurette and an hour-long post-screening Q&A with the cast and Linklater.
($29.95 DVD; Alive Mind Cinema)
A British 12-year-old, Sam, learns he will succumb to leukemia sooner rather than later, so he whips up a bucket list and with help from family and friends — and some nifty animation — gets to work living life. Adapted from Sally Nicholl’s bestselling novel, Ways is surprisingly upbeat and inspiring, while avoiding insipid trappings of the “dying young” genre. A sleeper worth a watch now that it’s on DVD. Extras include an introduction by the director, making-of featurettes, outtakes, and more.
ALSO OUT:
No Good Deed
Get On Up
Supermensch: The Legend of Shep Gordon
The Guest
The Houses October Built
robho3
Boyhood was a really good movie- highly recommend it. Looking- not so much.
CoachS
Really looking forward to seeing Boyhood. Such a cool concept, Appealing cast. Loved Arquette in the TV show where she was a medium. Ways to Live Forever looks pretty deep. That’s on my list now too.
Cam
Boyhood was good, and the fact that the actors were naturally aging during the movie made it so different from other movies where it is obvious make-up. Really worth a watch.