Drafthouse Films has officially announced the Blu-Ray, DVD & Digital Download releases of Sion Sono’s ‘Why Don’t You Play In Hell?’ set to arrive on January 27th, 2015. Hit the jump to check out the official announcement including artwork, disc specs, special features listings and more.
To Pre-Order Your Copy of the Blu-Ray on Amazon at a discounted price click here!
“Quite possibly mankind’s greatest achievement.” David Ehrlich, Film.com
DRAFTHOUSE FILMS AND CINEDIGM PRESENT THE NEW OVER-THE-TOP ACTION FEST FROM JAPANESE MASTER SION SONO
WHY DON’T YOU PLAY IN HELL?
On Digital Download, Blu-ray and DVD on January 27th
To Pre-Order Your Copy of the Blu-Ray on Amazon at a discounted price click here!
“A blood-soaked gang saga that builds to a madcap battle royal.”
– STEVE DOLLAR, THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
A renegade film crew becomes embroiled with a Japanese crime gang feud in Why Don’t You Play in Hell?, an outrageous actioner that also pays thrilling tribute to classics of the yakuza genre. The latest wild epic from writer-director Sion Sono comes to Digital Download, Blu-ray and DVD on January 27, 2015, from Drafthouse Films, in conjunction with Cinedigm (NASDAQ: CIDM). The extras-filled discs have SRPs, respectively, of $29.93 and $24.99.
Master filmmaker Sion Sono (Love Exposure, Cold Fish) describes his frenzied, gleeful new masterpiece as “an action film about the love of 35mm.” Based on a screenplay he wrote nearly 15 years ago, Why Don’t You Play in Hell? is among Sono’s very best work, as his trademark excess and outrageousness are infused with an affection for the previous century of Japanese cinema. This is Sono with his talent and unique vision completely unleashed.
“A twisted valentine to moviemaking and the disappearing medium of 35mm film.” Alonso Duralde, The Wrap
Ten years ago, the Kitagawa yakuza clan attacked the Muto yakuza clan at Muto’s own home, only to have Muto’s wife fight back. This unexpectedly left the Kitagawa clan in shambles, with their top hit man Ikegami wounded and Muto’s wife in prison. Despite the carnage, the most unfortunate fallout from this attack is when Muto’s beloved actress daughter, Mitsuko, has her adorable toothpaste commercial taken off the air. Now, Ikegami seeks revenge, while Muto only has one desire: to have his wife return from prison to see Mitsuko star in her first movie. Enter The F★★★ Bombers, an eager but untalented group of wannabe filmmakers whose dreams of making movies have come crashing down after 10 years of 8mm efforts. Circumstances have brought them to this fateful moment where they’ll be able to film – in 35mm! – the actual climactic battle between yakuzas in an over-the-top, blood-splattering epic for the ages.
Endlessly irreverent and wildly, hilariously visceral, Why Don’t You Play in Hell? is a Tarantino-esque ode to the yakuza films of yore and features an over-the-top, blood-soaked finale for the ages.
“A deliriously gaudy celebration of the decline of everything.” Anton Bitel, Sight & Sound
When filmmaker Sono started writing the script for this movie, it was the beginning of the digital age of filmmaking. While it’s now common to shoot and show commercial and independent movies digitally, back then, 8mm film was widely used by independent film groups like The F★★★ Bombers (yes, they really existed). Therefore, to the amateurs, 35mm films became the symbol of the professional movie. By having the yakuza shoot in 35mm, Sono makes Why Don’t You Play in Hell? an homage to cinema. The film also includes specific references to the work of Kinji Fukasaku, whose scores of yakuza films, including the monumental series Battles Without Honor and Humanity, greatly influenced Sono.
Why Don’t You Play in Hell? was an official selection at various 2013 festivals, including the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Film Festival, the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival, the Independent Film Festival Boston, the Nashville Film Festival and the RiverRun International Film Festival.
“Fans, rejoice: This is the Sono film you’ve been waiting for.” Todd Brown, Twitch
Special Features on Why Don’t You Play in Hell? will include:
- Press conference with director Sion Sono
- 11×17-inch fold-out poster by comic artist James Callahan
- 24-page booklet
- Theatrical trailers
- Digital download
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About Drafthouse Films
Drafthouse Films, the film distribution arm of the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, is a curated brand of provocative, visionary and artfully unusual films new and old from around the world. Following the earnestly simple motto of “sharing the films we love with widest audience possible,” Drafthouse Films debuted in 2010 with the theatrical release of Four Lions which was named of Time Magazine’s “Top 10 Films Of The Year.” The 2012 release slate includes the acclaimed Best Foreign Language Oscar®) Bullhead, the internationally celebrated Danish comedy Klown (currently slated for a Warner Bros/Todd Phillips produced US remake), Cannes Film Festival 2013 Official Selection The Congress starring Robin Wright, Harvey Keitel and Jon Hamm, the 40th anniversary restoration of landmark Australian thriller Wake In Fright, the Werner Herzog/Errol Morris produced documentary The Act Of Killing and British auteur Ben Wheatley’s psychedelic trip into magic and madness A Field In England. Drafthouse Films distributes films theatrically, through home video, VOD and their direct-to-consumer platforms integrating into the ever-growing Alamo Drafthouse entertainment lifestyle brand, which along with the Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas includes: Mondo, the collectible art boutique; Fantastic Fest, the largest international genre film festival in the US; and the pop culture website Badass Digest.
About Cinedigm
Cinedigm is the leading independent content distributor in the United States, with direct relationships with over 60,000 physical and digital retailers, including Wal-Mart, Best Buy, Target, iTunes, Netflix, and Amazon. The company’s library of over 32,000 titles and episodes encompasses award-winning documentaries from Docurama Films®, next-gen Indies from Flatiron Film Company®, acclaimed independent films and festival picks through partnerships with the Sundance Institute and Tribeca Films and a wide range of content from brand name suppliers, including National Geographic, Discovery, Scholastic, WWE, NFL, Shout Factory, Hallmark, Jim Henson and more. Cinedigm proudly distributes numerous Oscar®-nominated films, including The Invisible War, Hell and Back Again, GasLand, Waste Land and Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory; current and upcoming theatrical releases include Destin Daniel Cretton’s highly acclaimed Short Term 12, Godfrey Reggio’s Visitors and Shaul Schwarz’s Narco Cultura.
Cinedigm™ and Cinedigm Digital Cinema Corp™ are trademarks of Cinedigm Corp www.cinedigm.com.
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Why Don’t You Play in Hell?
FEATURES: Press conference with director Sion Sono; 11×17-inch poster by comic artist James Callahan; 24-page booklet; theatrical Trailers; digital download
Genre: Action crime drama
Rating: Not rated
Running time: 129 mins. plus extras
Languages: Japanese, with English subtitles
Year: 2013
SRP: $29.93 (Blu-ray), $24.99 (DVD)