Our weekly look at what’s weird in theaters, on hot-off-the-presses DVDs, and on more distant horizons…
Trailers of new release movies are generally available on the official site links.
IN DEVELOPMENT:
Routines (est. 2015): A stand-up comic goes off the rails when he witnesses his lover’s murder. We mention it because the director describes it as “David Lynch meets early Lindsay Anderson and has a baby named Celebrity von Trier.” To be crowdfunded it needs to raise $4730 in 49 days on Kickstarter. Routines Kickstarter page.
NEW ON DVD:
Bird People (2014): Two-parter set at a hotel by the De Gaulle airport: in the first segment, and American businessman abandons his career, and in the second something magically real happens to a hotel maid (no one wants to spoil the surprise). Reviews of this French drama have been love-it-or-hate-it, and it comes with a “slow” warning. Buy Bird People
Memphis (2013): Impressionistic portrait of a near-homeless, eccentric-genius blues singer (played by musician Willis Earl Beal) wandering the streets of Memphis. Distributor Kino says it’s “steeped in folklore, music, surrealism, and the abstract search for glory.” Buy Memphis
Wetlands (2013): Read our review. Be sure to order a pizza to eat while watching this one! (P.S. don’t order a pizza to eat while watching this one, and don’t blame us if you do). Buy Wetlands
Young Ones (2014): Family melodrama set on a parched post-apocalyptic ranch. Critics seem unable to figure out exactly what to make of this strange melange of genres from Jake (brother of Gwyneth) Paltrow, but they acknowledge it’s unique. Buy Young Ones
NEW ON BLU-RAY:
Memphis (2013): See description in DVD above. Buy Memphis [Blu-ray]
Wetlands (2013): See description in DVD above. Buy Wetlands [Blu-ray]
Young Ones (2014): See description in DVD above. Buy Young Ones [Blu-ray]
TELEVISION:
“Danger 5″ (2012, 2015): We rarely mention TV shows in this space, but this bizarre alternate-history Australian comedy series about five spies trying to take down Hitler demands an exception. Series 2 just started Down Under and features Mr. H hiding out in a 1980’s-inspired high school. Season 1 (which ran in 2012) had a 1960s James Bond/”Get Smart” (on acid) feel to it. The first season is available in the U.S. to Hulu Plus subscribers. We sure would like to see this on DVD. Danger 5 official page at SBS TV.
What are you looking forward to? If you have any weird movie leads that I have overlooked, feel free to leave them in the COMMENTS section.