Are you looking for something to watch on a rainy Saturday evening? Looking to catch up with something that you missed the first time around? Then here’s a brief guide of the best things to watch on Blu Ray/DVD during the month of June.
Ex Machina
Released 1st of June
Blu Ray/DVDÂ 
By far and away my personal favourite film of 2015 (so far), Alex Garland’s intelligent, funny and often slightly terrifying science-fiction/psychological drama finds its way on Blu Ray/DVD on June 1st.
The story focuses on Caleb (Domhnall Gleeson), a 26-year-old coder at the world’s largest Internet company, who wins a competition to spend a week at a private mountain retreat belonging to Nathan (Oscar Isaac), the reclusive CEO of the company. But when Caleb arrives at the remote location he finds that he will have to participate in a strange and fascinating experiment in which he must interact with the world’s first true artificial intelligence, housed in the body of a beautiful robot girl.
If you haven’t heard of it or had a chance to see this superb thriller, by all means you should try to find the time to discover it for yourself. EX MACHINA is a film that will shake your core.
Whiplash
Released 1st of June
Blu Ray/DVD
Who could have thought that you could make last year’s most intense and terrifying drama about the topic of jazz drumming? WHIPLASH may be last year’s most undiscovered treats. Although praised by critics who lauded the film with award upon award, it seems to be something of an unknown pleasure for many of the general cinema going community.
Andrew Neiman (Miles Teller, in a true career defining role) is an ambitious, young jazz drummer, in pursuit of rising to the top of his elite music conservatory. Terence Fletcher (Oscar nominated, J.K. Simmons), an instructor known for his terrifying teaching methods, discovers Andrew and transfers the aspiring drummer into the top jazz ensemble, forever changing the young man’s life. But Andrew’s passion to achieve perfection quickly spirals into obsession, as his ruthless teacher pushes him to the brink of his ability and his sanity.
One of last year’s most vibrant and electrifying films, WHIPLASH will have you on the edge of your seat from the very beginning to, its now somewhat iconic, last 10 minutes. After you see WHIPLASH you’ll certainly see other drama’s being not quite your tempo.
Kingsman: The Secret Service
Released 8th of June
Blu Ray/DVD
From director Matthew Vaughn comes this year’s most talked about wonderfully violent, crude and stylish spy film in recent years.
Following the story of Gary “Eggsy” Unwin (Taron Egerton), whose late father secretly worked for a spy organization. He lives in a South London housing estate and seems headed for a life behind bars. However, dapper agent Harry Hart (Colin Firth) recognizes potential in the youth and recruits him to be a trainee in the Secret Service. Meanwhile, villainous Richmond Valentine (Samuel L. Jackson) launches a diabolical plan to solve the problem of climate change via a worldwide killing spree.
In bad taste? Too much ‘laddish’ humour? Or just a brilliant satire of 1970’s era James Bond? Decided for yourself on June 8th when KINGSMAN is released.
Selma
Released 15th June
Blu Ray/DVD
One of last year’s most heartfelt and moving films, SELMAÂ is a film about the violent aftermath of the Civil Rights Act in Alabama. Although the Civil Rights Act of 1964 legally desegregated the South, discrimination was still rampant in certain areas, making it very difficult for black people to register to vote. In 1965, an Alabama city became the battleground in the fight for suffrage. Despite violent opposition, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (David Oyelowo) and his followers pressed forward on an epic march from Selma to Montgomery, and their efforts culminated in President Lyndon Johnson signing the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Ava DuVernay’s Martin Luther King Jr. biopic was horrifically looked over by many of the awards committees, but will shine as time goes on for not only being a fantastic period drama about one of the 20th Century’s most influential and socially important figures, but also as a great mirror to 2014 police riots that are still continuing to this day.
It Follows
Released 29th of June
Blu Ray/DVD
This year’s best horror film (and quite frankly it’ll be hard to beat), IT FOLLOWS focuses on carefree teenager Jay (Maika Monroe), who, after sleeping with her new boyfriend, Hugh (Jake Weary), for the first time, she learns that she is the latest recipient of a fatal curse that is passed from victim to victim via sexual intercourse. Death, Jay learns, will creep inexorably toward her as either a friend or a stranger. Jay’s friends don’t believe her seemingly paranoid ravings, until they too begin to see the phantom assassins and band together to help her flee or defend herself.
IT FOLLOWSÂ embraces its B-movie-esque story and neon aesthetic to create a film full of dread and uncertainty. With a great new horror icon for a new generation, IT FOLLOWS SHINES through in a sea of mediocrity that is the America horror scene at the moment.
TV Release Of The Month:
Luther Seasons 1-3
June 8th
Blu-Ray Only
BBC’s stand out drama that features the coolest man on the planet, Idris Elba as emotionally troubled London detective who is faced with often-impossible cases from serial killers to kidnapping rings to pure psychopaths. Also Starring Ruth Wilson as his unofficial partner in most of these cases.
LUTHERÂ was one of the best television shows the BBC has produced in recent memory, a mini movie per-episode with the quality to match.
If you haven’t seen LUTHER already, or if you want to catch up before the American spin-off/remake, the new release of the original three series on Blu-Ray will be a perfect chance to catch up on the show that everyone is talking about.
For more news, reviews and previews of the latest cinematic and home releases keep checking back to Film and TV Now.
