In a week light on feature films, one of the early limited series on Apple TV+ tops the DVD releases for the week of July 6.
“Defending Jacob”: Chris Evans of “Captain America” fame stars as a Massachusetts assistant district attorney whose world is turned upside down when his teenage son is accused of killing a classmate.
Based on the bestselling novel by William Landay, “the eight-part series stars an A-list cast, adheres to familiar crime genre convention and steps so carefully toward the finale reveal that it often feels more sleepy than suspenseful,” writes Los Angeles Times critic Lorraine Ali in her review. “The idea is to keep viewers guessing up until the end, but the true challenge is sticking with this unimaginative story long enough to find the answers.”
While mostly critical of the show, Ali concedes that “the series does explore a few interesting theories about baked-in predispositions toward violence, and convincingly pits the deep love of father and son against the churn of a compromised criminal justice system.”
Also new on DVD July 6
“Equal Standard”: This drama takes current policing issues head-on, with the consequences reverberating throughout New York City after a white NYPD officer is shot and killed by a fellow officer who is Black.
“A Nightmare Wakes”: Mary Shelley loses her grip on reality as she writes her masterwork at a remote estate in this adaptation of the novel “Frankenstein.”
“Locked In”: Mena Suvari is a storage unit employee in the wrong place at the wrong time who must protect her daughter and herself after jewel thieves on the run arrive at the facility and turn against each another.
“48 Hrs.” and “Another 48 Hrs.”: The two classics starring Eddie Murphy and Nick Nolte get the Blu-ray treatment, newly remastered from 4K transfers. Both Blu-rays also include a foldout image of the movie’s theatrical poster, as well as new bonus content with director Walter Hill discussing the films.
“Dark Spell”: A heartbroken wife tampers with dark magic after her husband leaves her in this Russian horror film. The husband does return as wished, but with a love for his wife that has become dangerously twisted.
“Ran”: Akira Kurosawa’s gorgeous 1985 epic based on “King Lear” about an aging Japanese warlord and his three warring sons gets a 4K transfer.
