A 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 THEATERS (LIMITED RELEASE):
World on a Wire (1973): Originally made for German television, this dystopian Rainer Werner Fassbinder story scooped the virtual reality storyline more than twenty-five years before The Matrix. According to the press release, it’s a “satiric and surreal look at the weird world of tomorrow from one of cinema’s kinkiest geniuses.” Janus Films digitally restores this rarely seen sci-fi classic (?) and takes it out on tour across the US this summer and early fall. World on a Wire official site.
NEW ON DVD:
Skidoo (1968): Jackie Gleason drops acid and Groucho Marx plays God in this notorious flop attempt by notable squares (including director Otto Preminger) to play to the Sixties counterculture. It’s been out of circulation since its release—some say it’s been buried to prevent embarrassment to the cast and crew. Does this release mean that Carol Channing, John Phillip Law, Frankie Avalon, George Raft, Cesar Romero, Mickey Rooney, Burgess Meredith, Frank Gorshin, and Peter Lawford have all finally passed away? Buy Skidoo
NEW ON BLU-RAY:
Amélie (2001): Jean Pierre-Jeunet‘s enormously popular quirky fantasy is about a waifish waitress with magical powers to heal others; can she turn them on herself? The 2008 Canadian Region 1 release of this film was largely disappointing; Miramax’s heavy-on-the-extras release should put the film’s North American fans back at ease. Buy Amélie [Blu-ray]
Beauty and the Beast [La Belle et la Bete] (1946): The Criterion Collection upgrades Surrealist Jean Cocteau’s dreamlike treatment of the famous fairy tale to Blu-ray. The new release adds a few minor supplements that were not on the 2003 DVD edition (the trailer, a look at the restoration of the film, and a large stills gallery). Buy Beauty and the Beast [Blu-ray]
NEW ON VIDEO-ON-DEMAND:
Vixen Highway 2006: It Came from Uranus (2009): A grindhouse genre mish-mash spoof involving aliens, zombies, and a kick-ass gang of sexy girl bikers, from the director of Frankenpimp. This does not appear to be available on DVD (yet, at least). As always with Amazon VOD, you can watch the first two minutes for free. Rent Vixen Highway 2006: It Came from Uranus! on demand
FREE (LEGITIMATE RELEASE) MOVIES ON YOUTUBE:
C Me Dance (2009): Read our capsule review. Heretics and unbelievers of all stripes will want to flock to this free showing of the incompetently inspirational movie about a young leukemia-stricken Christian ballerina converting the globe while fighting the Devil. “What do you know of Hell, creature?” Watch C Me Dance free on YouTube.
Vampyr (1932): Carl Theodore Dreyer‘s expressionist vampire film (Sheridan Le Fanu’s “Carmilla”) is a (far weirder) European companion piece to Dracula. Watch Vampyr free on YouTube.
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.