Fences & Elle now on DVD and Blu-Ray
Wednesday, March 15, 2017 at 8:48AM 
By the end of April nearly all the Oscar's favorite 2016 films will be available on Blu-Ray and DVD (La La Land is the caboose on April 25th) in case you accidentally missed any. And if you purchase them from Amazon, by clicking over from TFE we get a teensy tiny cut as an Amazon affiliate (hint hint).
Last Week's Fresh Batch
The Eyes of My Mother - Daniel recently paid tribute to this indie horror film's award winning production design film's
Jackie - We've sung its praises plenty and interviewed Pablo Larraín, too
Moana - a favorite among the podcast team
Brand New This Week
Elle - Verhoeven and Huppert's provocative collaboration had long legs at the arthouse and we called that Oscar nomination super early. Yay
Fences - Denzel & Viola reprising their Tony winning roles in this American classic of a black family in the 1950s from August Wilson's Pittsburgh cycle. The other nine will supposedly be filmed, too, albeit for TV rather than as theatrical features. Which is a pity since Fences proved the audience is there
Collateral Beauty - I swear Chris is obsessed with this film's badness. Will it one day be a camp classic?
Passengers -Daniel looked at its Oscar nominated production design. It did look like a million dollars despite its narrative problems.
How do you think these films will age? Will you be adding any to your collection?
Reader Comments (7)
I think Elle will be studied as a masterclass in coherent tonal balance AND for its unconventional narrative of a rape victim.
I think Fences, unfortunately, will be used as an example of an adaptation that is too reverential to the original source. But the performances of the whole cast will be used as an example of great ensemble acting, casting the right person for the part (despite being a Name or not) and the benefits of using actors from the stage version.
Passengers will be a footnote between Lawrence's 4th and 5th nominations.
I think my reaction to Elle was similar to others' reactions to Nocturnal Animals. We shrug off provocation-for-provocation's-sake when it's French, I guess.
Saw ELLE last week and loved it. Isabelle Huppert's frosty performance... wow. She should have won the Oscar!!
As it's been said before on here, Elle is ahead of its time and will be regarded as a masterpiece, also gaining a cult following. We will see Isabelle Huppert's performance on of all time lists. Her Oscar loss will always cause scorn.
I feared they were going to use that cover for the DVD/Blu-ray. I was hoping they would use the one with the cat, which was brilliant. I have sneaking suspicion that it will get a Criterion release in the future.
Fences... we'll see. Obviously Denzel, Viola, and everyone are amazing and it's a wonderfully written play. It's just so uncinematic, with an obvious Oscar intent. Like, August: Osage County. Where does that film adaptation belong outside of the Oscar season? Besides Netflix streaming.
I wish Jackie was a near-silent film, Mica Levi's genius leading the way. Cut out the interview scenes. Then I think I'd love it.
I feared they were going to use that cover for the DVD/Blu-ray. I was hoping they would use the one with the cat, which was brilliant.
The American cover art for the home video release implies a generic suspense thriller. Elle feels unclassifiable. I don't feel comfortable with it placed in the canon of black comedy. Humor is used to dilute some of the tension but it is operating somewhere else. Somewhere in between.
/3rtful - Indeed. What a shame! That's why the cat one was so wonderful. It's so mysterious, almost bizarre. I love it.
I think Jackie will be considered a classic years from now, because it's my favorite film of the year, and I have taste that is way ahead of my time. Did you expect me to say anything else?