Frantz Arrives on DVD/BD on June 13

At once a mysterious, romantic period piece and a somber, soul-searching melodrama, FRANTZ presents a tale of love and reflection as it unfurls in a small German town in the days following World War I through the memories and relationships of loved ones left behind. It is the latest acclaimed film from the prolific French writer/director François Ozon, whose previous critical and commercial successes in the U.S. include Swimming Pool ($10 million domestic box office), 8 Women ($3 million) and Potiche ($1.6 million).

Set in Germany and France in the aftermath of the First World War, FRANTZ recalls the mourning period that follows great national tragedies as seen through the eyes of the war’s “lost generation.” They are Anna (21 year-old Paula Beer in a breakthrough performance), a bereft young German woman whose fiancé, Frantz, was killed during trench warfare, and Adrien (Pierre Niney, Yves Saint Laurent), a French war veteran who shows up mysteriously in Anna’s town, placing flowers on Frantz’s grave. Adrien's presence is met with resistance by the small community still reeling from Germany’s defeat, yet Anna gradually gets closer to the handsome and melancholy young man, as she learns of his deep friendship with Frantz. What follows is an exploration of how Anna and Adrien wrestle with their conflicting feelings - survivor’s guilt, anger at one’s losses, the overriding desire for renewed happiness, and the longing for sexual, romantic and familial attachments.

 Ozon drew his inspiration from a post-WWI play by Maurice Rostand that inspired the 1932 film adaption by Ernst Lubitsch under the title Broken Lullaby. Not surprisingly, Ozon was initially leery about the prospect of “remaking” a film by the late, great filmmaker.

Frank & Lola Comes to DVD, BD in March

An intoxicating thriller filled with obsession, jealousy, betrayal and love, Frank & Lola comes to  Blu-ray and DVD on March 7, 2017 (delayed to libraries due to Uni's rental policies) from UPHE Content Group. This official 2016 Sundance Selection stars Academy Award nominated Michael Shannon (Midnight Special, Elvis & Nixon), Imogen Poots (Need for Speed, That Awkward Moment), Justin Long (Funny People, He's Just Not That Into You), and Michael Nyqvist (Mission Impossible-Ghost Protocol, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) .


A seductive and intense noir romance for our times, Frank & Lola is the story of two people locked in a battle of passion. When talented chef Frank meets aspiring fashion designer Lola, he is instantly and violently in love. As the secrets of Lola's dark past are revealed, the lovers are drawn into a web of sex, jealousy and revenge. With outstanding performances from Michael Shannon and Imogen Poots, Frank & Lola is a haunting examination of love, obsession and domination that weaves a twisted yet irresistible spell.

"The Light Between Oceans" Set for Jan. 24 DVD/BD Release

DreamWorks Pictures' "The Light Between Oceans," a lush, classical romance, starring two-time Academy Award nominee Michael Fassbender (Best Actor, Steve Jobs), Oscar winner Alicia Vikander (Best Supporting Actress, The Danish Girl), and Oscar and Golden Globe winner Rachel Weisz (Best Supporting Actress, The Constant Gardener), arrives home on Digital HD, Blu-ray and DVD on January 24, 2017 via Walt Disney Home Entertainment,  The mesmerizingly beautiful film is based on the 2012 best-selling novel by M.L. Stedman, which swept readers away with its transporting story of fate, love, moral dilemmas and the lengths one couple will go to see their hard-fought dreams realized.

The home video release of "The Light Between Oceans" will carry audiences even deeper into this timeless tale of love and impossible choices through never-before-seen bonus features, including a documentary which reveals director Derek Cianfrance's unique approach that allowed the all-star cast to embody their characters and examine the power of love; a historical look at New Zealand's Cape Campbell Lighthouse that serves as Janus Rock, a key element in Stedman's novel; and insightful and in-depth audio commentary led by Cianfrance.

Romance Fiction Doc "Love Between the Covers" Out September 27

Romance fiction is the behemoth of the publishing industry; it outsells mystery, sci-fi, and fantasy combined. Yet no filmmaker has ever taken an honest look at the global community romance writers and readers have built - until now.
This funny and inspiring look into a billion-dollar industry turns up trailblazers who've found fortunes and fulfillment in romance, who are on the front lines of a revolutionary power shift in publishing. Creating online empires and inventing new markets are authors like pioneer of African American romance Beverly Jenkins, Shakespeare professor and romance rockstar Eloisa James, surgeon and lesbian romance legend Len Barot, and the incomparable Nora Roberts.

For three years, we follow the lives of five published romance authors and one unpublished newbie as they build their businesses, find and lose loved ones, cope with upheaval, and earn a living doing what they love. In the process, we discover a global storytelling sisterhood.
Love Between the Covers takes us into one of the few spaces where strong female characters are always center stage, where justice prevails in every book, and the broad spectrum of desires of women from all backgrounds are not feared, but explored unapologetically.

OST from Woody Allen's Cafe Society Out Now

Sony Classical released the original soundtrack for Woody Allen’s CAFÉ SOCIETY on CD on July 8, 2016. The soundtrack includes a great compliation of the music from the 1930’s, largely from the Rodgers and Hart, chosen by Allen and featured prominently in the film. The album includes original performances by Vince Giordano & The Nighthawks as well as the on-screen performance of “Mountain Greenery” with Sony Music Masterworks recording artist Kat Edmonson.

Set in the 1930s, Woody Allen’s bittersweet romance CAFÉ SOCIETY follows Bronx-born Bobby Dorfman (Jesse Eisenberg) to Hollywood, where he falls in love, and back to New York, where he is swept up in the vibrant world of high society nightclub life. Centering on events in the lives of Bobby’s colorful Bronx family, the film is a glittering valentine to the movie stars, socialites, playboys, debutantes, politicians, and gangsters who epitomized the excitement and glamour of the age. With CAFÉ SOCIETY, Woody Allen conjures up a 1930s world that has passed to tell a deeply romantic tale of dreams that never die.

The film opened the 69th annual Cannes Film Festival to rave reviews and is scheduled for wide release July 15. Allen becomes the first and only director to have three opening night films selected for the Cannes Film Festival (HOLLYWOOD ENDING opened in Cannes in 2002 and MIDNIGHT IN PARIS in 2011).

“The soundtrack consists of music from the 1930s, since that’s when the picture takes place,” Allen stated. “Most of the material is Rodgers and Hart, who are very dominant in those years, and have that bittersweet romantic quality that defines the spirit of the movie itself.”

The success of CAFÉ SOCIETY wouldn’t be complete without the partnership of composer Richard Rodgers and lyricist Lorenz Hart. Rodgers and Hart were an American songwriting duo that worked together on 28 stage musicals and more than 500 songs. From 1936 to 1943, the duo wrote a series of Broadway musical comedies, each of which seemed to top the one before in terms of innovation and box office success. ON YOUR TOES (1936), BABES IN ARMS (1937), I'D RATHER BE RIGHT (1937), I MARRIED AN ANGEL (1938), THE BOYS FROM SYRACUSE (1938), TOO MANY GIRLS (1939), HIGHER AND HIGHER (1940), PAL JOEY (1940), and BY JUPITER (1942) dazzled Broadway in spectacular succession, and collectively offered such classic songs as "There's A Small Hotel," "I Wish I Were In Love Again," "My Funny Valentine," "Where Or When," "The Lady Is A Tramp," "Spring Is Here," "Falling In Love With Love," "Sing For Your Supper," "This Can't Be Love," "I Didn't Know What Time It Was," "It Never Entered My Mind," "Bewitched," "I Could Write A Book," "Nobody's Heart," and "Wait Till You See Her."

Vince Giordano’s passion for music from the 1920’s & 30’s, and the people that made it, began at age 5. He has amassed an amazing collection of over 60,000 band arrangements, 1920’s and 30’s films, 78 recordings and jazz-age memorabilia. Giordano’s passion, commitment to authenticity, and knowledge led him to create a sensational band of like-minded players, the Nighthawks. For over 40 years, Vince Giordano has single-handedly kept alive a wonderful genre of American music that continues to spread the joy and pathos of an era that shaped our nation. Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks can be heard on the soundtracks of films including The Cotton Club, The Aviator, Finding Forrester, Revolutionary Road, and on TV on HBOs Boardwalk Empire.

Texas native Kat Edmonson grew up listening to the Great American Songbook. She has performed alongside Willie Nelson and Lyle Lovett and been featured on “The Tonight Show,” “Austin City Limits” and NPR’s “All Things Considered.” To date, Edmonson has released three albums to critical acclaim, Take To the Sky, Way Down Low and The Big Picture. She is currently working on a new album that is scheduled for release in 2017.

Tracklisting:  

1. The Lady Is A Tramp - Vince Giordano & The Nighthawks*      
2. Jeepers Creepers - Vince Giordano & The Nighthawks           
3. Mountain Greenery - Kat Edmonson / Vince Giordano & The Nighthawks*       
4. Have You Met Miss Jones - Vince Giordano & The Nighthawks*      
5. I Didn't Know What Time It Was - Benny Goodman & His Orchestra*
 6. Taxi War Dance - Count Basie & His Orchestra                 
7. Zing Went The Strings Of My Heart - Vince Giordano & The Nighthawks          
8. Manhattan -Vince Giordano & The Nighthawks*          
9. My Romance - Vince Giordano & The Nighthawks*      
10. Pick Yourself Up - Vince Giordano & The Nighthawks                
11. I Only Have Eyes For You - Ben Selvin               
12. The Peanut Vendor - YeraSon      
13. There's A Small Hotel - Vince Giordano & The Nighthawks*       
14. Out of Nowhere - Conal Fowkes [piano] / Brian Nalepka [string bass] / John Gill [guitar]               
15. This Can't Be Love - Conal Fowkes*
*Composed by Rodgers & Hart 

 

"The Longest Ride" Arrives on July 14

What would you do for the love of your life? Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment invites you to grab the bull by the horns in THE LONGEST RIDE, which releases on Blu-ray and DVD July 14., 2015.   Up-and-coming stars Britt Robertson and Scott Eastwood will tug at your heartstrings as they bring Nicholas Sparks’ beloved novel to life.

Based on the bestselling novel by master storyteller Sparks, THE LONGEST RIDE centers on the star-crossed love affair between Luke, a former champion bull rider looking to make a comeback, and Sophia, a college student who is about to embark upon her dream job in New York City’s art world.  As conflicting paths and ideals test their relationship, Sophia and Luke make an unexpected connection with Ira, whose memories of his own decades-long romance with his beloved wife deeply inspire the young couple.  Spanning generations and two intertwining love stories, THE LONGEST RIDE explores the challenges and infinite rewards of enduring love.

 

THE LONGEST RIDE Blu-ray comes packed with 45 minutes of extra features that will take you further into the film’s two central love stories. Join Eastwood on the ranch as he learns from the world’s best bull riders to control the beasts and learn more about the production with audio commentary from director George Tillman, Jr. and star Oona Chaplin.

The Last of Robin Hood Arrives in March

Featuring an all-star cast including Academy-Award winners Kevin Kline (Last Vegas, In & Out) and Susan Sarandon (Thelma & Louise, The Big Wedding), and Dakota Fanning (The Runaways, The Twilight Saga), The Last of Robin Hood is a gripping tale of Errol Flynn's sensational romance with starlet Beverly Aadland.  The Last of Robin Hood is available on Blu-ray, DVD on March 3, 2015 from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. 

Academy Award-winning actor Kevin Kline stars as Errol Flynn, one of Hollywood's greatest leading men: a lusty and vivacious actor who lived a swashbuckling life of glamour and scandal on and off the screen. But few remember the icon's last May-December romance that shocked a nation. Joining Kline, Academy Award winner Susan Sarandon and Dakota Fanning star in this glamorous, gripping story about Flynn's high-flying affair with aspiring starlet Beverly Aadland – and how her ambitious mother, Florence, enabled it every step of the way. The Last of Robin Hood is a sensational, unforgettable look at Hollywood's golden age and the desire for fame and acceptance.