I like that Magnolia (and subsidiary Magnet) will release varied titles to disc in the same week. This week's couldn't be more different, though they have in common the fact you probably missed both theatrically.
Yonkers Joe stars Chazz Palminteri as a dice hustler who goes for a big score to help his son, who has mosaic Down Syndrome. Palminteri impresses as always, playing a guy who is a straight up crook. If he didn't care about his son, Joe would not gain anyone's sympathy. If you're the type given to be offended by a movie glamorizing criminals, that's not what is at play here. Joe's motivation goes back very simply to "would you steal [something] to save your family/wife/son/daughter?" In short, this movie is best appreciated by the working class, not Donald Trump.
The supporting cast features Christine Lahti, Michael Lerner, and Linus Roache, along with the most excellent Tom Guiry standing out as Joe Jr. Guiry does an excellent job of sensitively and accurately evoking Joe Jr.'s Down Syndrome in a way few actors have ever done. There is no hall of fame for actors who've portrayed people with developmental disabilities because only three or four have actually done it well. Tom's in there.
Extras include video from the Yonkers Joe premiere, and a Behind the Scenes piece. There are three additional featurettes that cover The Look, The Moves, and one where you Meet Fast Jack. These are the most worthy of you time due to the fact they really dig into how real-life crooked gamblers do their thing.
Eden Log is the newest release in Magnet's Six Shooter Film Series, and it's not even your average genre piece. Visually, it's soaked in darkness mirrored by the progression of the plot, which only gives you tidbits along the way as to what is going on. A man wakes up alone inside a cave, unable to remember anything. He's being pursued by a creature. It's engaging, interesting, and overall a very fun ride. Definitely worth at least a rental for the curious. The only quibble I have is that the original language track version (in French) is listed as the DVD's sole Special Feature. That reminds me of the days studio marketing departments listed Chapter Selections as Special Features. If it had lacked the French version entirely, I'd have been annoyed. All I'm saying is that I found this humorous.