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In the Heart of the Sea includes an incredible cast led by Chris Hemsworth. Based on In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex by Nathaniel Philbrick, the movie follows a crew whose ship sinks after encountering a giant whale. In the Heart of the Sea received mixed reviews when it premiered in 2015 and has a 42% Rotten Tomatoes score. Despite the divisive response the movie got, the performance of the actors is one of its saving graces.

Directed by Ron Howard, In the Heart of the Sea is a film adaptation of the story that inspired Moby Dick. In the Heart of the Sea stars Chris Hemsworth, along with other renowned actors such as Cillian Murphy and Brendan Gleeson.

Actor

Character

Chris Hemsworth

Owen Chase

Benjamin Walker

George Pollard Jr.

Cillian Murphy

Matthew Joy

Tom Holland

Young Thomas Nickerson

Brendan Gleeson

Old Thomas Nickerson

Ben Wishaw

Herman Melville

Michelle Fairley

Mrs.

Alice Walker published her acclaimed novel “The Color Purple” in 1982. It sold five million copies; Walker became the first Black woman to win the Pulitzer Prize and she also received the National Book Club Award. Three years later, Steven Spielberg directed the lauded film version which made stars out of Whoopi Goldberg, Oprah Winfrey and Danny Glover. It earned 11 Oscar nominations. The story revolves around a young woman who suffers abuse from her father and husband for four decades until she finds her own identity. Not exactly the stuff of a Broadway musical.

But the 2005 tuner version received strong reviews, ran 910 performances and earned ten Tony nominations, winning best actress for Lachanze. The 2015 production picked up two Tonys for best revival and actress for Cynthia Erivo. The movie musical version opened strong Christmas Day with $18 million and is a strong contender in several Oscar categories especially for Fantasia Barrino and Danielle Brooks.

Region B Blu-ray-capable noir fans have a formidable six-pack of noir crime pictures on tap: a WW2 espionage thriller, two caper pix and the show that launched the notion of a hit man who’s both charismatic and psychopathic. The list of leading actors is stellar as well: Glenn Ford, Kim Novak, Eli Wallach, Brian Keith, James Whitmore and Nina Foch. Do you like extras? Like to read about the movies you see? No video extra has been left behind, and Pi’s big yellow box contains a 120-page book. Plus — several newly remastered Three Stooges shorts. Don’t forget, Noir and Stooges go together like sanity and American politics!

Columbia Noir #1

Region B Blu-ray

Escape in the Fog, The Undercover Man, Drive a Crooked Road, 5 Against the House, The Garment Jungle, The Lineup

Powerhouse Indicator

1945-1958 / B&w / 1:85 widescreen, 1:37 Academy / 8 hours, 11 min. / Street Date November 30, 2020 / available...