THE WOLF OF WALL STREET
(2013, Blu-ray released March 25, 2014 – MSRP $26.98)

THE FILM:

“Revered filmmaker Martin Scorsese directs the story of New York stockbroker Jordan Belfort (Leonardo DiCaprio). From the American dream to corporate greed, Belfort goes from penny stocks and righteousness to IPOs and a life of corruption in the late 80s. Excess success and affluence in his early twenties as founder of the brokerage firm Stratton Oakmont warranted Belfort the title – “The Wolf of Wall Street.”

Sex. Money. Power. Drugs. Brace yourself for an outrageous true story from legendary filmmaker Martin Scorsese. Leonardo DiCaprio stars as a young stockbroker hungry for a life of non-stop thrills where corruption was king and more was never enough. His rise to power earned him the title The Wolf of Wall Street. Together Scorsese and DiCaprio deliver a story of American excess.

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THE HIDDEN FORTRESS
(1958, Blu-ray released March 18, 2014 – MSRP $39.95)

THE FILM:

“A grand-scale adventure as only Akira Kurosawa could make one, The Hidden Fortress stars the inimitable Toshiro Mifune as a general charged with guarding his defeated clan’s princess (a fierce Misa Uehara) as the two smuggle royal treasure across hostile territory. Accompanying them are a pair of bumbling, conniving peasants who may or may not be their friends. This rip-roaring ride is among the director’s most beloved films and was a primary influence on George Lucas’s Star Wars. The Hidden Fortress delivers Kurosawa’s trademark deft blend of wry humor, breathtaking action, and compassionate humanity.“

Ladies and gentlemen, Criterion have The Beatles! It’s hard to believe they were able to grab back the rights to A Hard Day’s Night – possibly the greatest film ever made about a rock band, released by Criterion on laser disc back in 1987 – but it looks like they’ve put the license to good use, affording it a 4K restoration and a brand new 5.1 mix by Apple studios! Exciting! June will also see the long awaited high-def upgrades of several popular DVD titles – Peter Weir‘s Picnic at Hanging Rock, Douglas Sirk‘s All That Heaven Allows and Michelangelo Antonioni‘s l’Eclisse. It’s gonna be a great month for classic Criterion!