I’ve written about my love of 4K Blu-rays before, and being cooped up inside for the last few months, I’ve had plenty of time to watch more and more and more. Look, like you, I also love streaming. (I’ve watched a lot of HBO Max recently and I really didn’t see that coming. Their library of films is probably the most impressive of any streaming service right now.) But even 4K streaming can’t match the beauty of the 4K disc being pumped directly into your television with no internet bandwidth to worry about.

But a movie missing from 4K, up until now at least, as been Lawrence of Arabia, one of the most gorgeous looking films of all time. So when Sony sent me a review copy of their new set, Columbia Classics Volume One, yes, Lawrence Of Arabia was the first movie I popped in and it is breathtaking. Honestly, it looks like a movie that was made yesterday. I was floored. And just the right mixture of film grain to make it looks like you’re watching a theater screen. (There’s nothing worse than a transfer that takes out all the grain, making it look like it was shot with a digital camera circa 2005. If you want to see an example of this, watch the Terminator 2 4K disc.

The set is unusual because the movies included really have no relation to one another, not even the general time period they were made. The est includes the aforementioned Lawrence of Arabia, Dr. Strangelove, A League of Their Own, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Jerry Maguire, and Gandhi.

I had so many questions about this set and why these movies, and if Sony is targeting more the enthusiast crowd over mass market, that I reached out over email and asked Jeremy Glassman, the director of brand marketing for catalog titles, and asked what all went into how this set was developed.

Why were these specific films picked?

Columbia Pictures has a rich and varied library of films from its nearly 100 years of history. We wanted to celebrate a selection of those films that have become foundational within pop culture and reflected both the eras in which they were made as well as being relevant to today. It was also an opportunity to debut titles that would really shine on 4K Ultra HD and that fans have wanted to own. In the cases of Mr. Smith, Lawrence, Dr. Strangelove and Gandhi, those are some of our studio’s “crown jewel” titles and this was the perfect instance to bring them together in the highest quality. Particularly Lawrence, since it’s definitely been one of our most-requested titles for 4K UHD over the years. Then for the remaining two “modern classics,” we wanted to hear from fans about which titles to include. We created an online poll last summer where fans could select from some of our most memorable films from the last 30 years, and after over 30,000 responses, League and Jerry were the top two choices. While the titles do span a variety of genres and visual styles, there are common threads across the films of the characters battling against oppressive systems, being a force for change, and fighting for a better world (sometimes unsuccessfully). Of course, they’re also all enormously entertaining and quotable, too, so that’s definitely important!

What are the biggest challenges of converting older movies to 4K? Did 4K scans already exist from prior Blu-ray releases?

The asset management team here at Sony Pictures, led by Grover Crisp, has been working within the 4K space for nearly two decades now and has been an industry leader in terms of quality and abilities. So as long as the right elements are available, the work can be done. While the process of converting film into a 4K presentation for the home is different and often more complex than working with a movie that was shot digitally, the result of that work can be stunning, as demonstrated by the films within this set. There are specific details about the picture and audio restorations for each of the set’s six films within the included book, but most notable and challenging was probably the work done for Lawrence of Arabia. Following the original physical restoration of the film in the late 1980s, Grover and his team scanned the film’s 65mm negative at 8K resolution to capture the full scope of detail, and did an immense amount of cleanup and repair work from there at 4K resolution, resulting in the stunning presentation we have today. In addition to Lawrence, while we did already have 4K masters used on Blu-ray for Mr. Smith, Dr. Strangelove, and Jerry Maguire prior to creating this set, Gandhi and League have been newly upgraded, and all six films have received additional attention in terms of audio upgrades and restorations, additional picture cleanup and adjustments, and expansion into the High Dynamic Range (HDR) color space.

A few people have asked me on Twitter if I knew if any of these would get an individual release? (Obviously, people are very interested in the new Lawrence of Arabia.)

While it’s possible that one or more of the included titles might get an individual release in the future, there are no plans this year for individual releases.

This is a Volume One, should we expect a Volume Two and do you know yet what might be included?

We’re very enthusiastic about the overall response to our Volume One set, and it’s certainly been encouraging for any future opportunities. There are definitely a lot of amazing titles from the Columbia library that would work well for a theoretical Volume Two set and we still have a lot of feedback to sort through from last year’s 4K fan poll.

Does this show Sony is committed to 4K films? We all realize streaming is very popular now, but there are still a lot of us (like me) who still love owning discs. Especially great 4K transfers that can’t be duplicated over even 4k streaming. But does this kind of package show that the strategy for older titles might be more toward collectors?

From a library perspective, it’s important to make our films available as broadly as possible and offer choice in how fans and families choose to watch. To that end, we are dedicated to continuing to bring our films to 4K UHD disc, as well as to digital platforms. We definitely see the passion of the physical consumer, especially for 4K UHD, and share in the excitement of bringing our movies to the format in the highest possible quality all around. While the Columbia Classics set is certainly one way to bring together our films for collectors, it’s not our sole strategy going forward. We recently released standalone 4K Ultra HD editions of the adventure favorite The Mask of Zorro and the acclaimed masterpiece Boyz N The Hood, and have many other 4K UHD releases of both recent and classic titles planned beyond any other possible higher-end packages.

And related to the prior question, I guess I’m just wondering about the strategy of what catalog films get the 4k release treatment. The Bridge on the River Kwai had a prior release (and it’s a beautiful transfer), but going forward would movies like that be part of this kind of package?

There are a combination of factors that go into deciding what catalog titles get released in 4K, and it’s often a blend of the creative, the cultural, and the commercial. We usually consider key anniversaries as a driving factor, as well as theatrical drafting opportunities for related library films, important global or focused events. And sometimes just fun or meaningful movies from the catalog that sometimes may offer a cool filmmaker or special feature opportunity. The availability of 4K masters for the films is also a consideration, and we’re always enthusiastic to further expand our studio 4K asset library. The way we bring a title to market is also driven by a variety of considerations, so it wouldn’t necessarily be the case that titles like The Bridge on the River Kwai or similar would only be available within a larger set, it entirely depends on the specifics of a given title.

You can contact Mike Ryan directly on Twitter.

A worldwide debate has been raging over the past few years over statues of historical figures.

People in the United States have been tearing down statues of Confederates and known racists. In Europe, people are tearing down statues of historical leaders associated with colonialism and the slave trade.

“I believe it’s a paradigm shift that’s happening right now,” activist Mike Forcia, who helped topple over a statue of Christopher Columbus in Minnesota, told The Washington Post.

---

White people are “losing their ability to say this is history and this is how we write it, and this is how we teach it,” he added. “We need a true history of this country in order to heal and to fix that shaky foundation, that sick foundation, that the country is built on.”

Surprisingly, the movement to eradicate monuments built to racists and murderers has its detractors. Most claim that removing the statues somehow erases history. As if we will suddenly forget the Civil War happened if we don’t have a big ass statue of Robert E. Lee in front of the courthouse.

Upworthy’s Annie Reneau put it all in perfect perspective.

The entire reason for their removal is that people are finally becoming aware of history that had been erased, through whitewashed history books and glaring omissions in the heroic stories we tell. As a result, people are making history by taking down monuments that symbolize historic erasure.

Over 20,000 people have signed a petition to remove all Confederate statues in Tennessee and replace them with statues of a national treasure who didn’t fight to subjugate an entire race of people: Dolly Parton.

The petition makes a great point, why don’t we honor people that we can all agree on?

There are plenty of statues of people and things across the world that no one thinks should be vandalized or set ablaze and thrown in the ocean. Here are 15 of the best.

The Bronze Fonz — Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Arthur Fonzarelli was the coolest character to ever grace the small screen. He was also a fierce protector of his friends and always stood up for what’s right. He also once jumped over a shark on water skis.

via Patsy Delcine / Twitter

Freddie Mercury — Montreaux, Switzerland

The lead singer of Queen had one of the most beautiful singing voices in the history of rock and wrote some of the most memorable songs of the last 50 years including, “We are the Champions,” “Bohemian Rhapsody,” and “Somebody to Love.”

via cb_agulto / Flickr

Oprah Winfrey — New York City

Orpah is one of the most important media personalities over the past century. Her unique blend of strength and compassion has inspired people for over five decades.

via New Age

Bruce Lee — Mostar, Bosnia

Lee was a martial artist, actor, and philosopher who is responsible for bringing martial arts films to western audiences. He also worked tirelessly for equality and to change the perception of Asians in American culture.

via Patsy Decline / Twitter

Josh Gibson — Washington, D.C.

Gibson’s statue sits outside of the Washington Nationals’ ballpark, but sadly, he never played in the major leagues. During his playing career, Black people were not allowed in Major League Baseball, but his incredible play in the Negro leagues earned him the nickname the “Black Babe Ruth.” (Or perhaps Babe Ruth should have been known as the “White Josh Gibson”?)

via Wally Gobetz / Flickr

Large Salmon — Portland, Oregon

Nobody passes this massive statue of a salmon stuck in a brick building and thinks, “Gee, I gotta pull this sucker down.” Nope, that’s because salmon are among of the most dignified creatures in the ocean.

Jim Henson and Kermit the Frog — University Of Maryland

These two brought a lot of love and laughs into the world.

via zhurnaly / Flickr

Samantha from “Bewitched” — Salem, Massachusetts

The relationship between Samantha, a witch, and Darrin, a mere mortal man, proved that no matter what our differences, we can make a relationship work … even if it does take a little witchcraft.

via Patsy Decline / Twitter

The Knotted Gun — New York City

“The Knotted Gun” was originally created as a memorial to John Lennon, a man struck down by senseless gun violence.

via Daily Photo Stream

Columbo — Budapest, Hungary

Did Columbo own slaves? No. Did he colonize a country and pilfer its national resources? No. Did he spread small pox to indigenous people. No. This statues stays up.

via Patsy decline / Twitter

The Headington Shark — Oxford, England

While this bit of whimsy seems like a joke, it actually has a deeper meaning. The shark represents the impotence that people feel when they have no control over disastrous world affairs. I think we can all agree this sentiment is universal and should stay.

via Art Russia

David Bowie — Buckinghamshire, England

David Bowie became an icon for his constant evolution from Ziggy Stardust to Lazarus. He never settled on a persona or musical style for too long, teaching us all how to embrace change.

via R P M / Flickr

Michael Jordan — Chicago, Illinois

When you’re known as “the guy who did his job better than anyone else has done their job” you’re deserving of a statue that stays up.

Josh Kinal / Flickr

Mary Tyler Moore — Minneapolis, Minnesota

When your name is the answer to the age-old question: “Who can turn the world on with her smile?” your statue status is secure.

via Mark Reilly / Twitter

---

View Entire Post ›

While anticipation is high for Robert Pattinson‘s performance in both Tenet and The Batman, the actor quietly slipped a turn in an upcoming period piece under the radar.

In the new trailer for Waiting for the Barbarians, Pattinson plays a young officer who serves Johnny Depp‘s villainous Colonel Joll as he metes out torture and abuse to local barbarians while Mark Rylance’s unnamed magistrate struggles to protect them. The film is based on the 1980 award-winning novel of the same name by South African author J. M. Coetzee, which has often been cited for its brutal criticism of imperialism. Judging by the trailer, the film will not be kind to colonialism by way of military force.

Here’s the official synopsis:

The Magistrate of an isolated frontier settlement on the border of an unnamed empire looks forward to an easy retirement until the arrival of Colonel Joll, whose task it is to report on the activities of the ‘barbarians’ and on the security situation on the border. Joll conducts a series of ruthless interrogations, which leads the Magistrate to question his loyalty to the empire.

The pairing of Pattinson and Depp will no doubt pique the interest of comic book fans who have been campaigning for Depp to play the Joker in Matt Reeves’ The Batman trilogy. Noted nerd master Kevin Smith has been especially vocal about fan-casting the Pirates of the Caribbean actor. “Of all the actors out there that could possibly take a role of the dice on the Joker, Johnny Depp (is) actually kinda f*cking perfect,” Smith said on his podcast back in March. “You gotta admit he’d be fun man, like of all the parts he’s played, he’s kind of perfect for a take on The Joker.”

Waiting for the Barbarians hits VOD on August 7.

(Via Samuel Goldwyn Films)

Revolt TV recently made the decision to publish an episode of its Drink Champs podcast that featured Russell Simmons in a discussion about Black Lives Matter. The episode, which was hosted on Tidal, came after the recently released HBO Max documentary On The Record, which details allegations of sexual assault made against the record executive. Ultimately, people didn’t care for the decision to include Simmons in the Drink Champs episode, and they let Revolt and Tidal hear it online. Now, following the backlash, Tidal has removed the episode from their platform.

One of the most vocal detractors of the episode was journalist Sil Lai Abrams, one of the women who made allegations against Simmons in On The Record. She wrote on Twitter, “What in the entire hell are Jay Z and @TIDAL doing by giving Russell Simmons a platform to discuss #BlackLivesMatter? Why do people continue to give him a pass? @marclamonthill did you ask him about the multiple rape allegations against him??? […] There is *absolutely* an underground movement by powerful Black men in music to help Russell avoid accountability and whitewash his legacy.”

Marc Lamont Hill explained his involvement in the episode, tweeting, “A few weeks ago, I appeared on Drink Champs. I was asked to join a discussion with Bun B, Talib Kweli, and Mysonne. About 2.5 hours into the show, Russell Simmons appeared. I had NO IDEA he was scheduled. I would NEVER have appeared if I had known. During Russell’s 20ish minutes on the show, I was texting the producers telling them that I was not comfortable with his press and asking to wrap. After the show, I expressed my frustration with what happened. I also asked them not to air Russell’s portions.”

Breakout singer Samia workshopped demos from her debut album, The Baby, with seasoned indie artists like Hippo Campus and Active Bird Community. Now, the singer is getting ready to finally share her music with the world. Following her serene lead single released in April, Samia takes an aim at the all-consuming diet culture today’s young women are born into with the breezy track “Fit N Full.”

In a statement alongside “Fit N Full,” Samia said the single is a reflection on the crushing pervasiveness of body image issues: “For some reason the words ‘fit’ and ‘full’ have always felt mutually exclusive to me. I wrote this while I was living in the east village, so overwhelmed by the magic and culture around me and literally only capable of thinking about my f*cking body. I tried to write this from the perspective of the person I wanted to be instead of the person who stares at her reflection in the window of Veselka.”

Watch the “Fit N Full” video above and find Samia’s The Baby album artwork and tracklist below.

1. “Pool”
2, “Fit N Full”
3. “Big Wheel”
4. “Limbo B*tch”
5. “Stellate”
6. “Triptych”
7. “Does Not Heal”
8. “Waverly”
9. “Winnebago”
10. “Minnesota”
11. “Is There Something In The Movies?”

The Baby is out 8/28 via Grand Jury Music. Pre-order it here.

It’s anyone’s guess whether the Emmy Awards will still happen on September 20, as scheduled, but either way, at least we’ll know who’s nominated on July 20. I have thought about this long and hard, and if Rhea Seehorn doesn’t receive a nomination for her performance on Better Call Saul, I am going to shove someone(s) down a well in the middle of the desert. And they (you?) won’t have Mike to save them (you???).

Anyway, as a reminder of how good Seehorn and Bob Odenkirk were last season (and every season), AMC is re-airing BCS season five beginning Thursday, July 9, with “special ‘hosted’ breaks during the final two episodes.” According to the network, Odenkirk and Seehorn will “discuss these pivotal episodes, the evolution of their characters’ relationship, and the season at large, as well as answer fan questions.” The network is also releasing a digital short-form series, The Broken and the Bad, hosted by Gus Fring himself, Giancarlo Esposito.

The series is inspired by the most memorable characters, situations, and themes of the Better Call Saul and Breaking Bad universe and focuses on the real-world stories that mirror the fictional worlds of both shows. With the help of Esposito, the docuseries explores the psychology of con artists and hit men, the economics of drug operations, and even finds the one town in America where you can live in peace with electromagnetic sensitivity, among other topics and stories.

The Broken and the Bad, which had better spend at least three hours on all the real-life Walter Whites, premieres on AMC.com on July 9.

A couple weeks before New York City shut down, I was at what would be my last bar trivia night for the foreseeable future. Anyway, the question was, “What woman has starred in the most sequels to movies that won Best Picture?” When you combine both The Godfather movies and the Rocky movies, it’s not really even close. (Shire seemed delighted by this, and also enjoys that her name is often used in crossword puzzles.

Which is kind of interesting that the topic of the day was the 1986 BMX racing movie, the cult favorite, Rad (which is getting a brand new 4k release). As Shire says, this movie was a family affair, spearheaded by her and her husband, Jack Schwartzman as a way to make movies for young people. (Shire also costars as our BMX hero’s understandably worried and protective mother.) And she explains it broke their hearts when the movie didn’t find an audience in theaters, but still can’t believe it became a cult favorite. And now, after all these years, it’s her son Robert who is leading the charge to remaster the film for this new release and Shire seems legitimately thrilled to be talking about it again.

I hadn’t seen Rad since I was maybe 10. It was fun to have an excuse to watch it again.

I know. [Laughs] You know, for me too, because I was only 10 when it came out as well.

Yes, I remember that being the case.

Sure, I played the mother, but I’m a character actor so it’s easy.

You were great.

But when I saw it again I felt it had this, it really has life. It is a life force.

Had it been a while since you saw it?

No, because my son, Robert Schwartzman, is the one that put the whole thing together and has given it really an extraordinary restoration. And a really better live sound for its score. I loved the score back then. I even love it more now.

Is it a brand new score?

No, it’s not a brand new score, but it’s been given the best digital remastering. And it was exciting back then but boy do I love it now.

When Cru wins his first race, against your wishes, the, “you’re in trouble now,” look you give him is perfect.

Oh, yes. Don’t think my children didn’t hear that from me. I have to say, it brings back a lot of memories of Calgary. We were doing two movies in Calgary back then. What was it? 85. And Jack [Schwartzman] and I love Calgary. So it brings back the nostalgia of all these really gifted young bike riders. You know, these were BMX riders who have gone on and they basically made the Olympics competition happen. BMX is now an Olympic sport. So it brings back those memories and the impact of that movie on BMX riding today and I have to say it brings a certain, oh God, sadness because Jack and I had such hopes. And then the movie tanked at the theaters. It broke our hearts.

Are you surprised how much people like it today? When the new 4k disc was announced people seemed pretty excited.

Have you ever heard of the town that refused to die? This is a movie. It just refused. I mean, I find that fascinating. Why? The concept of a cult movie, what is it that makes the movie say, “Okay. Nobody came to see it, but we’re not going to die.” And now it’s all these years later and yet there is an incredible enthusiasm and I think that’s because there’s something pure at the core of this movie.

You’re in a lot of movies that don’t die.

Yeah! To me that’s fascinating, but this movie didn’t have a chance to live as Jack and I had hoped it would. You know, because that was our dream, to make movies for young people. That spoke to their value system. That spoke to empowerment. And we thought Rad was one of those movies that spoke to empowerment and discipline that you could go up against corruption in a town and you could win. And then we were really heartbroken when it didn’t work, but here it is again. And here it is very much alive.

There really is an innocence to this movie. There are a lot of scenes of just kids hanging out and laughing.

It does! And, yes, I’ll use that word pure and innocence and the power of that. This is a kid who’s lost his father. He delivers newspapers in the morning. Right? It is that kind of joy that youth should have. Because that’s a power.

What was working with Hal Needham like, because that guy seemed kind of crazy?

What do you mean? What do you mean?

Well, he’s the director of Smokey and the Bandit, director of The Cannonball Run, there are all the stories of him living in Burt Reynolds backyard house and stuff like that?

No, no, you’re right. He was a really interesting guy. I tell you, the first day of shooting, he gathered us, all of us in a circle, the actors, people in the crew. And his mother was there and she led a prayer. So he was a good guy at core. A really good man. And I was very intimidated. I mean, he was Hal Needham! He had a sense of legend around him, but he was a really a nice man.

Obviously you’ve worked with a lot of great directors, and obviously some are closer to you than others, but that’s interesting that you found Hal Needham intimidating.

Well, you know, I think as an actor, when I’m acting I always come from respect. I hate to tell you this, but a movie set is not a democracy. I mean, time is money. So you really want to respect your director. And he was such a lovely, good man. And remember when we had Hell Track. Do you know that Hell Track section?

At the end, yes. With a three-story drop.

Oh my God. And I thought, oh, I was terrified. First of all, I don’t like heights and I had such respect for Hal. That he would be protective and make sure everybody would be okay. Because, I’ll tell you, when you really look at that drop. I mean, really. It was scary! It was like being on top of a building. Gee whiz.

At what point over the years did you get the sense that people were starting to watch this movie again?

Certainly in the ’90s, late ’90s. And my children who were always saying, “Hey ma, you know Rad?” And so there were many complexities regarding trying to get Rad to have a new life. Those are legal issues. So, I knew that everyone loved that movie … look I have a BMX bike.

Really?

Downstairs.
Was Jason hanging out on set?

Josh was. The oldest son, he was a young 19-year-old USC film student and he was the cameraman of all those beautiful shots in the opening of Rad. All those beautiful, beautiful shots of the bicycle? That’s John Schwartzman. Who is a major DP today.

Right, he shot Jurassic World.

Yes, and he’s back in England doing that. So if you’re saying, was it a family thing? Sure. Yes, Jason was there. He was five. Robert who has put this together and allowed it to have this magnificent other life. He was three years old. But he was there.

See, that seems like a cool set to hang out on. If I’m a little kid I don’t know if I want to hang out on the set of Godfather III, but on the set of Rad, that sounds amazing.

But yeah my kids were part of it, and by the way Robert was on the set of Godfather III. So they’ve been on the set.

I’m in New York City. So I’ve been inside a lot. I’ve been rewatching a lot of movies.

Hey, I’m in California. I’m inside for three months!

I rewatched Godfather III. I really liked it a lot more than I thought I would. I know people don’t like it as much as the other two, but more people should see it. It was kind of surprising.

Well, I appreciate hearing that. Actually, Francis has done a reworking of Godfather III and he’s refined it.

Oh really?

And he’s very proud of it. And hopefully you will see that, too. You know, that movie was about money laundering which is very pertinent these days.

Oh, before we go…

Mike, are you doing okay in New York?

Well, it’s much better than it was. April was pretty scary.

Yeah. I know, but we must still operate with caution and hand sanitizer and masks.

I remember the last time I got to play trivia, you were an answer.

Really?

The question was what woman has starred in the most sequels to movies that won Best picture? I don’t even think there’s anyone close.

Ha! Oh, not just Rocky, but also The Godfather.

Right.

Oh, well that’s … hey, that’s me? Listen, it’s interesting to be a trivia question. I’m also a crossword puzzle. A lot of times because of the way the letters are in my name. My two names Talia and Shire are very useful for vertical and horizontal.

You can contact Mike Ryan directly on Twitter.

Portland rapper Aminé broke out in 2016 with “Caroline,” his bouncy ode to the “handful of women [he’s] met in [his] life that [he] would put genuine effort in,” which became a massive hit and helped launch his debut album Good For You to No. 31 on the Billboard 200. Now, he looks to repeat the feat with another rollicking salute to the potential loves of his life, “Riri,” releasing the social distance-friendly video after a week of hype.

Unlike “Caroline,” though, “Riri” sees Aminé lamenting the women who gave him headaches while he gave them “too many chances.” He even names names, shouting out “Imani” and “Lola” — women with whom his dealings were seemingly in stasis before he became a star and who broke his heart multiple times. Aminé, however, was too “blinded by your beauty” to notice the signs and found himself in lost in the sauce. The video features scenes of Aminé and his usual crew speeding along the highway in a convertible intercut with self-shot footage of beautiful women preening in front of their webcams and singing along, including a cameo from sports journalist Taylor Rooks.

Aminé’s new video accompanies “Shimmy” in helping him to promote his upcoming follow-up to Good For You and the 2018 “EpLpMixtapeAlbum” OnePointFive, which featured his second big hit, “Reel It In.” While the title and release date for the new album remain a mystery, “Riri” is a promising sign of more enjoyable bangers to come.

Watch Aminé’s “Riri” video above.

---

View Entire Post ›