Dietrich and von Sternberg in Hollywood was easily the best classic Blu-ray release within the last twelve months, but what were the other “bests” of this period?

Looking back and slightly ahead, here are my top picks from October 2017 through September 2018:

October 2017

Best New Release – Baby Driver (2017)
Best Classic Release – The Old Dark House (1932)

Edgar Wright’s high adrenaline thriller Baby Driver was one of last year’s most exciting films while James Whale’s The Old Dark House is more a comic gem than a genuine horror classic given class A treatment by Cohen Media.

November 2017

Best New Release – Wind River (2017)
Best Classic Release – The Philadelphia Story (1940)

Taylor Sheridan’s Wind River was one of last year’s best films, one that was both a taut thriller and contemporary social drama. George Cukor’s The Philadelphia Story is an ageless comedy of manners given deluxe handling by Criterion.

December 2017

Best New Release – Dunkirk (2017)
Best Classic Release – The Apartment (1960) / Auntie Mame (1958) (tie)

I had some problems with the narrative flow of Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk but the film is overall a compelling depiction of its place in history. Billy Wilder’s masterpiece The Apartment has never looked better than in Arrow Academy’s limited special edition and neither has Morton Da Costa’s Auntie Mame in its restoration from Warner Archive.

January 2018

Best New Release – Goodbye Christopher Robin (2017)
Best Classic Release – Young Mr. Lincoln (1939)

Simon Curtis’ Goodbye Christopher Robin is an underappreciated biography of writer AA Milne while John Ford’s Young Mr. Lincoln is a justly celebrated biography of the 16th President’s early days.

February 2018

Best New Release – Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri (2017)
Best Classic Release – Tom Jones (1963)

Martin McDonagh’s Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri was my favorite film of 2017, while Tony Richardson’s Tom Jones remains one of my favorite films of all-time, and one whose original version was missing on home video thanks to a boneheaded 1989 “director’s cut” that was the only version available until now.

March 2018

Best New Release – Lady Bird (2017)
Best Classic Release – The Lion in Winter (1968)

Greta Gerwig’s Lady Bird was my second favorite film of 2017 released in a month in which my 3rd, 4th, and 5th favorites, Call Me by Your Name, The Shape of Water, and Coco also came home. Anthony Harvey’s The Lion in Winter was my favorite film of fifty years ago.

April 2018

Best New Release – The Greatest Showman (2017)
Best Classic Release – The Awful Truth (1937)

Michael Gracey’s The Greatest Showman may be light on substance but is heavy on entertainment. Leo McCarey’s The Awful Truth may have been the wrong 1937 film to have won him an Oscar, but it’s right for hilarity any time.

May 2018

Best New Release – Winchester (2018)
Best Classic Release – Midnight Cowboy (1969)

The Spierig Brothers’ Winchester may be a disappointing film overall but it was the best of the new home video releases in a month that was short on good ones. John Schlesinger’s Midnight Cowboy would likely take best-of honors no matter what month it was released in.

June 2018

Best New Release – Love, Simon (2018)
Best Classic Release – Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954)

Greg Berlanti’s Love, Simon was an unexpected charmer. Stanley Donen’s Seven Brides for Seven Brothers is a legendary charmer.

July 2018

Best New Release – Isle of Dogs (2018)
Best Classic Release – Dietrich and von Sternberg in Hollywood (1930-1935)

Wes Anderson’s Isle of Dogs is the year’s best animated feature thus far. The Dietrich and von Sternberg in Hollywood compilation is one of the best compilations of any year.

August 2018

Best New Release – On Chesil Beach (2018)
Best Classic Release – The Day After (1983)

Dominic Cooke’s On Chesil Beach is an intriguing take on a marriage in turmoil. Nichoals Meyer’s The Day After is an intriguing take on a world in turmoil.

September 2018

Best New Release – None
Best Classic Release – My Man Godfrey (1936)

No new releases held my interest this month, but Gregory La Cava’s screwball classic My Man Godfrey still interests me to no end.

This week’s new releases include Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom and the Criterion release of My Man Godfrey.