Phil Villarreal's novel, Zeta Male, is available at Amazon.
TUCSON (KGUN9-TV) - Here are the best recent home video releases:
Ballers: Season 2 (Digital)
Dwayne Johnson thrives in his most nuanced role yet in this HBO series, playing a former NFL player who shifts to a just-as-cutthroat sports agency and financial management realm. Providing a cutting look into the seedy inside world of pro sports while maintaining a breezy, comical feel, this is one of the finest half-hour dramas on TV. Available on iTunes, Vudu, Google Play, Amazon, Flixster and other online retailers.
The Executioner (Criterion Collection)
The darkly humorous 1963 Spanish film spins the politically-tinged tale of an undertaker who enters a relationship with an executioner's daughter during the Franco regime, reluctantly assuming his father-in-law's job. The macabre film had to fight off censorship efforts in its day, but thankfully survived to emerge in its most lavish form yet, thanks to a brilliant 4K transfer. Extras include an interview with Spanish film maven Pedro Almodovar, a 2012 Spanish TV program on the movie and filmmaker interviews.
Gregory Peck Centennial Collection
While calling this two-film set a "collection" is a bit of a stretch, there is no arguing with the quality level here. Two of the legendary actor's defining films -- "Cape Fear" and "To Kill a Mockingbird" -- come together looking fantastic in HD. Peck is at peak form in both films, which also happen to feature some of the finest mid-20th century writing and directing. Extras include a making-of featurettes, filmmaker commentary, production stills and in-depth interviews.
Lights Out
One of the year's better horror films stars Billy Burke, Teresa Palmer, Alexandra DiPersia, Maria Bello and Gabriel Bateman in an often terrifying battle with a mysterious apparition that thrives in darkness and wilts away in light. Playing out in the disturbingly incongruous manner of a Korean or Japanese horror film, "Lights Out" leaves you cringing. For my full review, click here. Extras in the Blu-ray/digital copy combo include deleted scenes.
The Marx Brothers Silver Screen Collection
All five feature-length Marx Brothers movies("Duck Soup," "Horse Feathers," "The Cocoanuts," "Monkey Business" and "Animal Crackers") show up on Blu-ray for the first time, looking fantastic in a new restoration. Never-before-released bonus features include a documentary on the lives of the comedic legends, as well as commentary tracks on each film.
Vice Principals: Season 1 (Digital)
Danny McBride and Walton Goggins play rival vice principals who form an uneasy alliance to take on a commandeering principal (Kimberly Hebert Gregory) who took over the job they coveted. Ribald and unflinchingly wrong, this often wince-inducing comedy is as ridiculously funny as McBride's last HBO series, "Eastbound and Down." Available on iTunes, Vudu, Google Play, Amazon, Flixster and other online retailers.
Studios provided screeners for review.
