Hot on Home Video: 'Hamnet'

HAMNET

 

The Hamnet 4K Ultra HD release is a masterclass in how physical media can elevate a quiet, interior drama into a visceral sensory experience. Directed by Chloé Zhao and based on Maggie O'Farrell’s celebrated novel, the film is a poetic exploration of grief and the alchemy of art. On this 4K disc, that poetry is rendered with staggering clarity. 

The 2160p transfer, featuring Dolby Vision, is the definitive way to see Łukasz Żal’s cinematography. Known for his painterly eye, Żal captures the 16th-century English countryside with a "pellucid" quality that feels almost tactile. HDR Performance: The use of light is transformative. Whether it’s the sun filtering through the dense Stratford forests or the flicker of candlelight against Agnes’s (Jessie Buckley) face, the contrast is deep and intentional. 

You can practically feel the coarse wool of the period costumes and the "earth-soiled fingers" of Buckley’s captivating Agnes. Audio: The Sound of Silence and Strings The Dolby Atmos track is surprisingly active for a period piece. It captures the atmospheric "folk-horror" vibes of the woods with subtle height cues—rustling leaves and the haunting cry of Agnes’s hawk—before swelling into Max Richter’s devastatingly beautiful score. 

The final sequence at the Globe Theatre is an acoustic triumph; the spatial delivery of the stage dialogue against the hushed, weeping crowd is enough to give anyone goosebumps. 

The two-disc set includes a thoughtful audio commentary by Chloé Zhao, which is a must-watch for those curious about her transition from the MCU back to intimate, expressionistic storytelling. The featurette Recreating the Tudor Period also provides a fascinating look at the production design's historical "imagining." Final Verdict: If you’re a fan of Buckley and Mescal at their "bone-deep" best, this disc is an essential purchase. It’s a gorgeous, heartbreaking package that proves why 4K isn't just for blockbusters—it’s for the fine brushstrokes of human emotion, too.

Studio provided screener for review.

Game Review: 'Fallout 4: Anniversary Edition' on Switch 2

 

It has been over a decade since we first stepped out of Vault 111, but arriving in the Commonwealth on the Nintendo Switch 2 feels like a homecoming we didn’t know we needed. For years, the dream of a fully realized, stable, and visually stunning portable Fallout 4 seemed as distant as a clean glass of water in the Wasteland. With the release of the Fallout 4: Anniversary Edition, that dream hasn't just arrived—it has thrived.

The Definitive Portable Wasteland

The jump to Switch 2 hardware is immediately apparent. Gone are the days of aggressive resolution scaling and stuttering framerates in downtown Boston. On the Switch 2, the Commonwealth is crisp, lighting effects are moody and atmospheric, and the loading times—previously long enough to grab a snack—are now impressively snappy.

This isn't just a "good enough" port; it’s a high-fidelity experience that finally lets you appreciate the micro-details of a rusted Power Armor suit or the eerie glow of a Radstorm while sitting on the bus.

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A Massive Radioactive Sandbox

The Anniversary Edition is a completionist’s dream. By bundling the base game with all six official DLCs, Bethesda has ensured you’ll likely never need another game on your memory card.

The Included Expansions:

• Far Harbor: Deep, atmospheric storytelling in a foggy, synth-filled landscape.

• Nuka-World: A vibrant, deadly theme park that lets you finally embrace your inner Raider.

• Automatron: Custom robot companions? Yes, please.

• Workshop Packs: Wasteland, Contraptions, and Vault-Tec Workshop provide endless hours for the builders and overseers among us.

Beyond the standard DLC, the real "Anniversary" kicker is the inclusion of 150+ pieces of Creation Club content. This adds a staggering amount of variety right out of the gate. From the iconic Tunnel Snakes Rule! quest to high-tier weaponry, unique skins, and brand-new settlement options, the world feels more lived-in and customizable than ever before. Starting a new save with all this gear available adds a layer of freshness that even veteran players will appreciate.

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Performance and Playability

The Switch 2’s ergonomics and improved screen make the VATS system feel tactile and responsive. Whether you’re sniping Raiders from a distance or using a Super Sledge in close quarters, the controls feel tight. There is something uniquely satisfying about reclaiming the ruins of civilization while lounging on a couch—it’s the ultimate "just five more minutes" game that accidentally turns into a five-hour session.

Note for Physical Collectors: While the digital version is available to download right now, fans of physical media should mark their calendars for April 28, 2026, when the code-in-box version officially hits shelves.

Final Verdict

Fallout 4: Anniversary Edition on Switch 2 is a triumph of portability. It offers hundreds of hours of top-tier RPG gameplay, a robust building system, and enough "New England" charm to melt a Mirelurk’s heart. If you’ve been looking for a reason to return to the Commonwealth—or if you’re stepping out of the Vault for the first time—this is the version to own. War never changes, but the way we play it certainly has, and it's never been better.

Publisher provided review code.

New on Home Video: 'All the President's Men,' 'Ben-Hur,' 'Now You See Me Now You Don't,' 'Song Sung Blue'

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Book Report: 'The Innocents Abroad'

 

The Innocents Abroad, Or, the New Pilgrims' Progress by Mark Twain
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A cocksure, 32-year-old Mark Twain lets fly with rabid wit and cynicism in his genre-twisting travelogue, which topples Europe and the Middle East on its head.

Mixing observational humor with intriguing historical nuggets and fascinating slice-of-life sketches, Twain delivers nonstop edutainment, hardly pausing to take a breath.

Some of the highlights involve his mockery of stuffy ritual and self-importance. His uncanny ability to ridicule convention with deadpan, understated sarcasm is a joy to behold.

"The Innocents Abroad" portends the novelist that Twain would evolve into, while retaining his yellow journalistic roots. Many of the book's passages are reprints of dispatches he wrote for newspapers while on tour, and those portions blend seamlessly into his storytelling web.

Few hold "The Innocents Abroad" as peak Twain, but I found it a refreshing and absorbing read that gets to the DNA of America's greatest author. The one-of-a-kind mind delivered a one-of-a-kind debut book.

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Book Report: "Mark Twain"

 

Mark Twain by Ron Chernow
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

In an exhaustive and exhilarating biography that only could have been written after 2010, when Mark Twain's massive autobiography was finally published, a century after his death, Ron Chernow delves into the plainspoken observational genius of the greatest American author.

Chernow goes deeper than cataloguing Twain's successes, weaving in substantial psychoanalysis in an effort to peek under the hood of what made his engine hum. Written with a confident sense of tale spinning that would have impressed Twain, Chernow explores Twain's iconoclastic gusto, his deep, if overbearing, love of his daughters, his uncanny ability to bungle investments and his disturbing tendency to idolize and collect strangely intimate relationships with teenage girls.

There is an air of Greek tragedy to Twain's life, which was plagued with medical maladies, financial insecurity and misdirected passions. Yet no matter what difficulties he faced, Twain managed to keep afloat with a bitter wit that managed to mine humor out of the darkest of circumstances.

Twain's boldness and bravery shines throughout the ups and downs of his career, and Chernow's novellistic yarn cuts through the tapestries of his grandeur and sizes up the man as he was. Exhaustive research and fevered storytelling make for yet another Chernow home run.

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Broadway in Tucson Review: 'The Wiz'

"The Wiz" injects L. Frank Baum's whitewashed world of Oz with a dose of soul early 20th century audiences might have found hard to fathom. But the incongruous blend of folksy morality with disco fervor seems just as right now as it must have more than 50 years ago.

The 1975 Broaday musical, which was adapted into the iconic 1978 film starring Diana Ross, Michael Jackson and Richard Pryor, is especially relevance now that all things Oz are surging in popularity thanks to the "Wicked" films. The touring production high-steps into Centennial Hall just in time to seize its moment, hamming it up onstage to chew the scenery for all it's worth and then some.

A cavalcade of toe-tapping, booming song-and-dance numbers reinterprets Dorothy's quest with exuberant vision. The current production updates the jokes and numbers while embracing the nuts and bolts that have granted "The Wiz" a timelessness akin to Baum's novels and the 1939 film.

Dana Cimone thrives in the lead role of Dorothy, emitting midwestern charm as she bursts into sudden operatic arias or slips seamlessly into intricate dance explosions. 

At its heart, "The Wiz" is a dance spectacle with "Solid Gold"-style flair. Buttressing an athletic and endlessly capable ensemble are standouts Elijah Ahmad Lewis as Scarecrow and D. Jerome as Tinman. Lewis's lanky, rubber-limbed moves bring his bendy, straw-stuffed character to life, and Jerome's precise, angular movements cut indelible marks into the stage.

The backdrop is a whirlwind of inspired projections, which whisk you through twisters, sprawling cities, forests and starry skies. The costumes are just as breathtaking, designed with flash and pizzazz that enhance the lyrics and moves.

Most importantly, each member of the superbly talented cast seems to be having every bit as much fun as the audience members. Every scene of "The Wiz" pops with the joy and vivacity of an impromptu jam session at a party filled with best friends. Performers punctuate particularly explosive moments with pauses that acknowledge the crowd's adulation, taking half a beat to soak in the moment of theatrical bliss.

"The Wiz" takes you on a visceral ride that goes not only over the rainbow, but straight through it, rejoicing in sound, color and triumph. There's no place like the audience at this rambunctious revival.

"The Wiz" plays through Jan. 11 at Centennial Hall. Buy tickets here.

Saguaro City Music Theatre Review: 'Annie'

If ever there were a show that was tailor made for a youth community theater, it's "Annie." The eager and able crew of Saguaro City Music Theatre infuses its talents into the upbeat, bouncy tale with infectious gusto.

Bolstered by a commanding title performance from Julia Wetzel and tempered by a grounded, authoritative turn from Christopher Younggren as Daddy Warbucks, the well-rehearsed, boisterous cast jolts life into the musical's beloved hit parade. Whether it's "Tomorrow" as a lead solo or one of its several reprises, the cynical "Little Girls" or the raucous "It's a Hard Knock Life," the radiant performance reverberates throughout the crowd, leading to toe-taps, head bops and roaring applause.

In the nearly 50 years since the show was first performed on Broadway, "Annie" spawned many a TV and film adaptation. It feels most at home, of course, as a live theatrical production, ringing with a special authenticity when the band of orphans are played from kids from around the block. Credit director Drew Humphrey for wrangling his cast of students, part-timers and volunteers into a precision machine that cranks out endless chuckles, sentiment and cheer.

"Annie" thrives on its familiarity, like a reassuring affirmation or a warm hug. When it's done right, as it is by the Saguaro Music Theatre crew, "Annie" transports you into a realm in which optimism for its own sake triumphs over any adversity, and the promise of tomorrow helps you float through the harshest times.

"Annie" plays through Jan. 4 at the Berger Performing Arts Center. Buy tickets here.