Blogs
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Netflix: Down for the Count?
Netflix has traditionally been tight-lipped about its viewership, refusing to share data and blasting third-party services that seek to estimate how popular Netflix programs really are. But last year, when the subscription streaming pioneer – and longtime champ – found out it would soon be getting some high-profile competition, there all of a sudden came … Continue reading “Netflix: Down for the Count?”
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‘Gemini Man’: Home Entertainment Shows Off Again With Will Smith
Whenever a new format hits the home entertainment market promising a leap in quality, there’s always that one disc that you choose to show it off. When we were first demonstrating our HD system, the Blu-ray Disc of I, Robot, starring Will Smith, was our go-to title to wow the neighbors. As 4K Ultra HD … Continue reading “‘Gemini Man’: Home Entertainment Shows Off Again With Will Smith”
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Can Netflix’s ‘The Irishman’ Avoid Awards Letdown at 92nd Oscars?
Netflix’s expansive marketing push for Martin Scorsese’ mobster movie, The Irishman, paid dividends Jan. 13 when the film was nominated for 10 of the streaming pioneer’s record-setting 24 Academy Awards nods. The three-and-a-half hour movie was nominated for Best Picture, Supporting Actor (Al Pacino, Joe Pesci), Adapted Screenplay, Cinematography, Film Editing, Production Design, Costume Design … Continue reading “Can Netflix’s ‘The Irishman’ Avoid Awards Letdown at 92nd Oscars?”
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Mike’s Picks: ‘Holiday’ and ‘Trapped’
Holiday Criterion, Comedy, $29.95 DVD, $39.95 Blu-ray, NR. Stars Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant, Lew Ayres, Doris Nolan, Edward Everett Horton. 1938. Adapted from a play Philip Barry wrote well before he concocted The Philadelphia Story, this comic portrait of the unapologetic rich featured one of the four pairings of Katharine Hebburn and Cary Grant. Hepburn … Continue reading “Mike’s Picks: ‘Holiday’ and ‘Trapped’”
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Netflix: Down for the Count?
Netflix has traditionally been tight-lipped about its viewership, refusing to share data and blasting third-party services that seek to estimate how popular Netflix programs really are. But last year, when the subscription streaming pioneer – and longtime champ – found out it would soon be getting some high-profile competition, there all of a sudden came … Continue reading “Netflix: Down for the Count?”
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‘Gemini Man’: Home Entertainment Shows Off Again With Will Smith
Whenever a new format hits the home entertainment market promising a leap in quality, there’s always that one disc that you choose to show it off. When we were first demonstrating our HD system, the Blu-ray Disc of I, Robot, starring Will Smith, was our go-to title to wow the neighbors. As 4K Ultra HD … Continue reading “‘Gemini Man’: Home Entertainment Shows Off Again With Will Smith”
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Can Netflix’s ‘The Irishman’ Avoid Awards Letdown at 92nd Oscars?
Netflix’s expansive marketing push for Martin Scorsese’ mobster movie, The Irishman, paid dividends Jan. 13 when the film was nominated for 10 of the streaming pioneer’s record-setting 24 Academy Awards nods. The three-and-a-half hour movie was nominated for Best Picture, Supporting Actor (Al Pacino, Joe Pesci), Adapted Screenplay, Cinematography, Film Editing, Production Design, Costume Design … Continue reading “Can Netflix’s ‘The Irishman’ Avoid Awards Letdown at 92nd Oscars?”
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Mike’s Picks: ‘Holiday’ and ‘Trapped’
Holiday Criterion, Comedy, $29.95 DVD, $39.95 Blu-ray, NR. Stars Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant, Lew Ayres, Doris Nolan, Edward Everett Horton. 1938. Adapted from a play Philip Barry wrote well before he concocted The Philadelphia Story, this comic portrait of the unapologetic rich featured one of the four pairings of Katharine Hebburn and Cary Grant. Hepburn … Continue reading “Mike’s Picks: ‘Holiday’ and ‘Trapped’”
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Closing Thoughts — and Shots — on CES 2020
Moments after my obligatory Facebook posting of pictures from my visit to CES 2020, industry veteran Gary Khammar — who for 10 years, from 1980 to 1990, was EVP at RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Entertainment, the precursor to Sony Pictures Home Entertainment — commented, “How many CES shows have you attended in your career? The number … Continue reading “Closing Thoughts — and Shots — on CES 2020”
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Netflix Leaves Globes With a Whimper
Fueled by 34 nominations, including 17 for movies, Netflix entered the Jan. 5 Golden Globes Awards in Los Angeles a heavy favorite to take home the hardware. In the end, the SVOD behemoth walked off with just two Globes: Laura Dern’s win for Marriage Story and Olivia Colman starring in the third season of “The … Continue reading “Netflix Leaves Globes With a Whimper”
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A Message to Our Readers for 2020
As we put a wrap on 2019, I want to send my thanks to all of our loyal readers for your support of Media Play News — and our mission to cover the at-home and direct-to-consumer sector of the entertainment business, from transactional to streaming. Thanks to you — and, of course, to our team … Continue reading “A Message to Our Readers for 2020”
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Mike’s Picks: ‘The Bad and the Beautiful’ and ‘The Story of Temple Drake’
The Bad and the Beautiful Available via Warner Archive Warner, Drama, $21.99 Blu-ray, NR. Stars Lana Turner, Kirk Douglas, Dick Powell, Gloria Grahame, Walter Pidgeon. 1952.The Bad and the Beautiful, a critical/commercial hit in its day, is tops of its kind if you’re into Vincente Minnelli’s specialized approach to sometimes gasket-blowing melodrama. A dissection of … Continue reading “Mike’s Picks: ‘The Bad and the Beautiful’ and ‘The Story of Temple Drake’”
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Mike’s Picks: ‘The Far Country’ and ‘The Bells of St. Mary’s’
The Far Country MVD/Arrow, Western, $39.95 Blu-ray, NR. Stars James Stewart, Ruth Roman, Corinne Calvet, Walter Brennan. 1954. Though his infectious smile directed mostly at Walter Brennan goes a long way to defuse this perception, The Far Country surprises a little by casting James Stewart as a real hard-ass with some unattractive traits, given that … Continue reading “Mike’s Picks: ‘The Far Country’ and ‘The Bells of St. Mary’s’”