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You are here: Community Film Blu-ray/DVD Roundup for Sept. 2, 2022

Blu-ray/DVD Roundup for Sept. 2, 2022

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Welcome back to another look at highlights arriving on Blu-ray and DVD. Once again, there’s a wide variety of offerings coming your way, with a particular emphasis on documentary films. So, if you can’t make it out to the movies this week or need to keep yourself in quarantine, be sure to give one of these titles a try!

BIG NEW RELEASES!

FACING NOLAN: Major League Baseball pitcher Nolan Ryan is the subject of this documentary. Described as an athlete whose professional career was filled with extremes, the movie goes over many stories from the mound as well as his personal life. These include pitching a game in a blood-covered jersey, as well as his involvement in an on-field brawl with Robin Ventura. The filmmakers also note that while he struck out a great many batters and pitched seven no-hitters, he also gave away more grand slams and stolen bases than any other pitcher.

Critics really enjoyed the picture. Only one reviewer panned it, saying that the presentation did nothing to make them care about the subject. But everyone else thought it would intrigue and entertain any baseball fan and included plenty of fantastic and bizarre stories.

GABBY GIFFORDS WON’T BACK DOWN: And if you haven’t gotten your fill of documentaries, you can check out this feature about Arizona Democratic congresswoman Gabby Giffords. Known for being a moderate while serving in office, she became an outspoken advocate for gun control after a man attempted to assassinate her in public. Six citizens were killed in the shooting spree and Giffords was shot in the head. The film details what occurred, her incredible recovery and rehabilitation (involving physical and speech therapy) and her attempts to prevent gun violence.

There were no negative write-ups for this feature. All reviewers thought it did an excellent job of telling Giffords’ story and how she overcame a horrific ordeal. They also called the project inspirational and were moved by how the subject’s family came together during the tragedy.

THE PHANTOM OF THE OPEN: If you’re looking for something a little lighter, you might want to try this biopic about British golfer and hoaxer Maurice Flitcroft. The events depicted actually occurred in 1976 and became something of a media sensation. After discovering the British Open was being played near his home, this crane operator decided to get himself into the tournament (despite never having played a full round of golf). The trickster manages to get himself entered in the competition, becoming a folk hero in the process.

Critics were taken by the movie’s charms. A few did criticize the finished product for taking too many liberties with the real story and painting a bland picture of the real figure. Yet, everyone else enjoyed the work of the cast, calling it an amusing and respectful portrait of an entertainingly eccentric figure. Mark Rylance, Sally Hawkins, Rhys Ifans, Jake Davies and Christian Lees headline the feature.

VISIT: WWW.CINEMASTANCE.COM

By Glenn Kay
For the Sun