The 1992 film Juice, starring Omar Epps and Tupac Shakur, will be released on 4K Ultra HD for the first time on Jan. 11 from Paramount Home Entertainment, marking its 30th anniversary.
The gritty film, which continues to be celebrated for its realistic portrayal of Harlem life and the early New York hip hop scene, follows Q, Raheem, Bishop and Steel, who spend their days hanging out and looking for a way to get the power and respect they call Juice. Q hopes to earn respect by becoming a scratch ‘n’ mix DJ. Bishop has a deadlier plan — take it through an armed robbery with his crew.
Juice is the feature directorial debut of cinematographer Ernest R. Dickerson, whose collaborations with Spike Lee include Do the Right Thing and Malcom X. It features a soundtrack that includes Eric B. & Rakim, Naughty by Nature, Big Daddy Kane and Salt N’ Pepa.
The disc includes access to a digital copy of the film and legacy bonus content, including interviews with Dickerson, producer David Heyman (“Harry Potter” franchise), Epps, and fellow actors Khalil Kain and Jermaine Hopkins. The cast and crew look back on making the film, share stories of working with Shakur, and reveal the influence that Juice had on them both personally and professionally. The featurettes also include footage of the cast on set and vintage interviews with Shakur, Queen Latifah, Cindy Herron of En Vogue, the Shocklee brothers, Eric B, EPMD, Cypress Hill and more. Other extras include the original ending and commentary by the director.
The documentary Last Man Standing: Suge Knight and the Murders of Biggie & Tupac, the Kelsey Grammer romantic drama Charming the Hearts of Men and the sci-fi mystery Infinitum: Subject Unknown are among the titles being released on DVD and Blu-ray Disc by Gravitas Ventures in October.
Infinitum: Subject Unknown
Infinitum: Subject Unknown, starring Ian McKellen, Conleth Hill and Tori Butler-Hart, debuts on disc Oct. 5. The film follows Jane (Butler-Hart), who wakes up in a strange attic, in a parallel world, with seemingly no way out. She soon discovers that she is stuck in a time-loop, destined to relive the same day over and over again. With each “reset” she begins to reclaim her memories and piece together the clues to what is happening to her and the world around her, which seems to now be devoid of human life. Only through the help of Marland-White (McKellen) she will uncover the truth to help her escape from this never-ending nightmare.
Charming the Hearts of Men, starring Grammer, Anna Friel, Sean Astin and Courtney Gains, is available Oct. 12. In the romantic drama set during the politically charged early 1960s, a sophisticated woman returns to her southern hometown and discovers her options are limited yet discrimination is plentiful. With the help of a congressional ally, she inspires historic legislation which allows opportunities and protections never before afforded to women.
The documentary Last Man Standing: Suge Knight and the Murders of Biggie & Tupac is available Oct. 19. Suge Knight, the former CEO of legendary rap music label Death Row Records, was recently sentenced to 28 years in prison for manslaughter and other violent crimes not typically associated with a highly successful record executive. This film takes a look at Death Row and how L.A.’s street gang culture had come to dominate its business workings. The film also looks at the allegation of former LAPD detective Russel Poole that the reprisal killing of Biggie Smalls, a retaliation to the murder of Tupac, was commissioned by Suge Knight with the help of corrupt LAPD officers who were moonlighting at Death Row Records. These police officers were also members of Suge’s criminal gang the Mob Piru’s and with their resources helped orchestrate the hit on Biggie Smalls. The film produces new evidence and witnesses who actually saw these LAPD officers present on the night of Biggie’s murder, and who also testify that critical information had been deliberately withheld and concealed by the LAPD.
Another documentary, At the Ready, debuts Oct. 22. Just 10 miles from the Mexican border, students at Horizon High School in El Paso, Texas, are enrolling in law enforcement classes and joining a unique after-school activity: the criminal justice club. Through mock-ups of drug raids and active-shooter takedowns, they inch closer to their desired careers in Border Patrol, policing, and customs enforcement. The documentary follows Mexican American students Kassy and Cesar and recent graduate Cristina as they navigate the complications inherent in their chosen path and discover their choices may clash with the values and people they hold most dear.
Between Me and My Mind
Gravitas will release a third documentary, Between Me and My Mind, Oct. 26. As the frontman of the rock band Phish, Trey Anastasio’s virtuosic musicianship has made him an icon, beloved by his die-hard fanbase for the depth of his artistic output and the boundless enthusiasm that he exudes, both onstage and off. Between Me and My Mind offers a private and unprecedented tour of Anastasio’s musical mind as he focuses on the composing process that has produced hundreds of memorable songs over his 35-plus year career. In the film, Anastasio reflects intimately on his life and work while surrounded by his family and friends, those that nurture his creative inspiration.
The gritty film, which continues to be celebrated for its realistic portrayal of Harlem life and the early New York hip hop scene, follows Q, Raheem, Bishop and Steel, who spend their days hanging out and looking for a way to get the power and respect they call Juice. Q hopes to earn respect by becoming a scratch ‘n’ mix DJ. Bishop has a deadlier plan — take it through an armed robbery with his crew.
