Get pumped up by superb body building film

Filmgoers would be wrong to assume that a movie about body builders is centered around a man. Instead, “Body Odyssey” (IndiePix) follows a mid-40s female body building champion who contends to become Miss Body Universe.

Obsession is the watchword for not only Mona the body building, but also Kurt the coach. He makes “The Shadow” look like a slacker. Kurt watches Mona like a hawk, including details about her training, doping, nutrition, sleep, and sexual life. The latter complicates the entire regimen, as Mona gets entangled in a brief romantic encounter with a young man.

This has all the earmarks for a classic psychological drama, complete with tinges of body horror.

The film magnificently ponders the  deals that people make in the pursuit of everlasting beauty. 

Real-life body builder Jacqueline Fuchs shines in the starring role. In his penultimate movie, the late Julian Sands gives it his all as the creepy Kurt. And director Grazia Tricarico captured Best Director at the Sitges Film Festival in 2024.

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“Scent of a Woman” (Shout! Studios), the 1992 film starring Al Pacino that won him an Academy Award, makes its 4K UHD debut with a collector’s edition that includes Blu-ray. Pacino’s blind retired lieutenant colonel character and his complete-opposite assistant embark on a wild weekend trip that changes both of their lives forever. The disc is enhanced by several new bonus features, including a new retrospective interview with director Martin Brest and a new interview with co-editor Michael Tronick.

“The Alto Knights” (Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment) stars Robert De Niro in a dual role in which he portrays two of New York’s most notorious crime bosses who vie for control of the city’s streets. Former friends, these two are on a deadly collision course. Barry Levinson directs. Special features include a “One Legend, Two Mobsters” featurette.

Article written by Steve Slosarek

Staff Writer
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