Vengeance (2022)

"Excellent - A Real Surprise"

Probably best known for appearing in the US version of the TV comedy The Office, writer-director-star B J Novak's feature film debut gets its DVD and Blu-ray release courtesy of Mediumrare Entertainment.

Ben Manalowitz is a writer with The New Yorker, busy enjoying the trendy New York way of life while trying to find an angle for a podcast that will make an impression on society and thus increase his own sense of self worth. One night he receives a telephone call to say that his girlfriend has died. The girl, Abilene (Lio Tipton) was actually just a brief flirtation but Ben finds himself travelling to a tiny town in the wilds of Texas to attend her funeral.

Once there Abilene's brother Ty (Boyd Holbrook, most recently seen as The Corinthian in The Sandman TV series) tells Ben he is convinced Abilene was murdered despite there being no evidence to suggest it. Initially reluctant to stay and help, Ben quickly views this as an opportunity for him to immerse himself in a community that he sees filled with ignorance and conspiracy theories. But there's a lot more going on than he realises.

Cinema trailers for VENGEANCE sold it on its comedy aspects, and there are plenty of laughs to be had here. But the film has a lot more going on than that, and to say what would be to spoil what is a surprisingly thoughtful movie about the things in modern life that can divide a nation. Novak makes for a good leading man with a performance that means you're with him all the way even when his initial plan is to exploit the locals for his podcast. There are some breathtaking shots of the Texas landscape and overall VENGEANCE successfully achieves a difficult balance of comedy, satire and thriller all to satisfying effect.

Mediumrare's Blu-ray contains a trailer but no other extras.

B J Novak's VENGEANCE is out on Blu-ray and DVD from Mediumrare on Monday 16th January 2023

The Death of Stalin (2017)

"Brilliant Comedy of Terrors"

One of the best films of last year, and quite possibly one of the best satires of all time, Armando Ianucci's THE DEATH OF STALIN gets its UK DVD and Blu-ray release courtesy of Entertainment One.

Moscow 1953. When soviet leader Joseph Stalin (Adrian McLoughlin) dies following complications from a stroke, the regime is plunged into chaos as the remaining members of his council plot and backstab in their attempts to attain the prime position of power. 

A UK / French / Belgian co-production it's perhaps unsurprising that THE DEATH OF STALIN received an outright ban in Russia two days before it was due to be released. It's certainly the kind of biting satire we might expect from the man behind so much British comedy gold from THE DAY TODAY to THE THICK OF IT and beyond. 

Performances are all excellent from a talented cast of well-known faces including Steve Buscemi, Michael Palin, Simon Russell Beale, Andrea Riseborough, Jeffrey Tambor and Paul Whitehouse. Ianucci wisely avoids getting everyone to speak with Russian accents, and once you get used to Kruschev talking like Mr Pink from RESERVOIR DOGS and Field Marshall Zukov sounding as if he's about to tell everyone that there's 'Trouble at Mill' this approach doesn't feel intrusive at all. 

Those unfamiliar with this particular episode of Russian history should be warned, however. While satire can be humorous, and while THE DEATH OF STALIN has been praised as a comedy, it does have its fair share of torture and murder, especially at the end, so do be prepared - this isn't a film that will leave you chuckling when you turn it off.

It should, however, leave you feeling educated and enlightened. Growing up in the 1970s and 1980s I was familiar with quite a few of the names here but I couldn't have told you the series of events that had led to them becoming so familiar. And that's part of Ianucci's genius. THE DEATH OF STALIN is funny, it is clever, and it's also a very good history lesson. As such, it joins the ranks of brilliant satires like MONTY PYTHON'S LIFE OF BRIAN in its effortless presentation of an important episode of world history as easily digestible entertainment. 

Entertainment One's Blu-ray and DVD has a commentary track by the films' writers and director (David Schneider, Ian Martin, Peter Fellowes and Armando Ianucci). You also get cast and crew interviews and deleted scenes.

Armando Ianucci's THE DEATH OF STALIN is out on Blu-ray and DVD from eOne on Monday 26th February 2018 and on Digital Download from Monday 19th February 2018.