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Albatross
(2011) Jessica Brown Findlay, Felicity Jones, Julia Ormond, Sebastian Koch. Emelia Conan-Doyle, the 17-year-old heir to the legacy of Arthur Conan Doyle, pursues a writing career while working at a stuffy seaside hotel run by blocked novelist Jonathan , his bitter wife and their daughter Beth. Emelia first befriends the bookish daughter and then begins an affair with her father, pulling the family apart. Formats: DVD. (IFC).
Billy the Exterminator: The Complete Season Four
(2011) Two-disc set with 12 episodes, $19.95. Formats: DVD. (A&E).
Chasing Happiness
(2011) Elisa Donovan, Claude Duhamel, Kashmera Shah, Cerina Vincent. Comedy follows the decidedly deceptive lives of four young people trying desperately to make a living in Southern California -- all revolving around sex -- including a skilled sex surrogate, a sultry dancer who's making a living in disguise as a no-nonsense guru/yoga instructor and a poker hustler whose beauty can only take her so far, depending on how the cards are played. Formats: DVD. (Stonelock Media Group/Tripod Entertainment).
Cinema Verite
(2011) Diane Lane, Tim Robbins, James Gandolfini. Compelling behind-the-scenes story of the revolutionary 1973 PBS documentary series "An American Family," which catapulted an ordinary family to notoriety and captivated audiences with the launch of a new television genre - reality TV. Believing that the lives of an everyday family would be relatable to Americans in a way that existing TV shows were not, filmmakers set out to chronicle the life of the Louds, a seemingly "perfect family." Once filming began though, the strain in the Loud's marriage, the ups and downs of raising five children, as well as the criticism Pat Loud received for asking for a divorce and openly supporting her gay son, came sharply into focus. A complete departure from television shows of the time, An American Family gripped the nation, making the Louds a television sensation while leaving them unprepared for the consequences. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, Digital. Extras: Commentary, "The Making of Cinema Verite." (HBO).
Contraband
(2012) Mark Wahlberg, Kate Beckinsale, Giovanni Ribisi, Ben Foster, Lukas Haas, Caleb Landry Jones, Diego Luna, J.K. Simmons. Formats: Blu-ray/DVD Combo, VOD, Digital Download, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: Deleted scenes, "Under the Radar -- The Making of Contraband," "Reality Factor -- The Stunts and Action of Contraband," commentary by director-producer Baltasar Kormakur and producer Evan Hayes. (Universal).
Contradictions of the Heart
(2011) Vanessa Williams, Wendy Raquel Robinson, LisaRaye, Michael DeLorenzo, Cedric the Entertainer. When a bartender and a party girl, a group of girlfriends out on the town, and four buddies all end up at the same nightclub, their interwoven stories unfold, setting them on a collision course that changes their relationships forever. Formats: DVD. (Entertainment One).
Crime After Crime
(2011) The award-winning documentary, which has inspired an upcoming feature-length film adaptation, chronicles the dramatic legal battle to free Debbie Peagler, a woman sentenced to life behind bars for her connection to the murder of her abuser. The inspiring film received critical acclaim nationwide, and more importantly, sparked global attention to the broken legal system between domestic violence and criminal justice. Formats: DVD. Extras: Special introduction from Oprah Winfrey and Rosie O'Donnell, extended scenes, "Crime After Crime in Context" featurette, Q&A at the Sundance Film Festival, film crew bios, musician bios, Debbie's Campaign, OWN Doc Club "Sizzle reel." (Virgil Films & Entertainment).
Dark Tide
(2012) Halle Berry, Olivier Martinez. A professional diver -- nine years after a near fatal encounter with a shark -- confronts her fears when she takes a thrill-seeking millionaire on a journey to the dangerous South African waters known as Shark Alley. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc,Digital Download. (Lionsgate).
Death and Cremation
(2011) Brad Dourif, Jeremy Sumpter, Scott Elrod, Debbon Ayer. A 59-year-old recluse who offers cremation services from the basement of his funeral home is in fact a deranged sociopath who eliminates anyone he perceives to be a bully. When he takes a fatherless, 17-year-old high school outcast under his wing, thee pair develop a demented relationship.
Formats: DVD. (Green Apple Entertainment).
Eclipse Series 32: Pearls Of The Czech New Wave
Of all the cinematic New Waves that broke over the world in the 1960s, the one in Czechoslovakia was among the most fruitful, fascinating, and radical. With a wicked sense of humor and a healthy streak of surrealism, a group of fearless directors -- including eventual Oscar winners Milos Forman and Jan Kadar -- began to use film to speak out about the hypocrisy and absurdity of the Communist state. A defining work was the 1966 omnibus five-part anthology film "Pearls of the Deep," which introduced five of the movement's greatest voices: Vera Chytilova ("Daisies," 1966), Jaromil Jires ("The Joke ," 1969), Jiri Menzel ("Capricious Summer," 1968), Jan Nemec ("A Report on the Party and Guests," 1966) and Evald Schorm ("Return of the Prodigal Son," 1967). This series presents that title, along with five other crucial works that followed close on its heels, one from each of those filmmakers -- some dazzlingly experimental, some arrestingly realistic, all singular expressions from a remarkable time and place. (The Criterion Collection).
The Fields
(2011) Cloris Leachman, Tara Reid,Joshua Ormond, Faust Checho. A young boy -- fascinated with the notorious Manson Family and their gruesome killing spree -- discovers a terrifying secret lurking in the fields outside his Pennsylvania countryside home. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. (Fabrication Films).
The Innkeepers
(2011) Sara Paxton, Pat Healy. During the final days at the Yankee Pedlar Inn, two employees determined to reveal the hotel's haunted past begin to experience disturbing events as old guests check in for a "last" stay. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. Extras: "The Innkeepers: Behind the Scenes," commentaries. (Dark Sky Films/MPI Media Group).
Let the Bullets Fly
(2010 -- China) Chow Yun-Fan, Ge You, Jiang Wen. In China in the warring 1920s, notorious bandit chief Zhang (Jiang Wen) descends on a remote town posing as its new mayor, an identity that he hijacked. Hell-bent on making a fast buck, he soon meets his match, the tyrannical crazy local Huang (Chow Yun-Fat) as a deadly battle of wit and brutality ensues.
Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. Extras: Making-of featurette, interviews, deleted scenes. (Well Go USA).
Masterpiece Classic: Birdsong
(2011) Eddie Redmayne and Clemence Poesy star as two lovers whose fiery affair precedes World War I in this adaptation by screenwriter Abi Morgan of Sebastian Faulks' impassioned novel. Dreamlike, the film weaves together the stories of the past and present -- each tempestuous in its own way and fated to intersect. Also stars Matthew Goode, Anthony Andrews, Marie-Josee Croze, Joseph Mawle, Laurent Lafitte, Richard Madden. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. (PBS Distribution).
Marvel Animated Features 3-Movie Collection
Three-disc set includes "Planet Hulk," "The Invincible Iron Man" and "Doctor Strange," $19.99. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. (Lionsgate).
"A Mother's Love"
(2011) Rolonda Watts, Vanessa A. Williams. Inspirational drama about a strong, independent woman whose taste for the good life doesn't necessarily include her husband or her daughter, until "a mother's love" prays her down to earth. Formats: DVD. (Magnolia Home Entertainment).
Night Wolf
(2012) Isabella Calthorp, Tom Felton, Joshua Bowman, Gemma Atkinson. On a long-postponed trip back home, a young woman's family is visited by a terrifying creature. Formats: DVD, VOD, Digital Download. (Lionsgate).
The Organizer
(1963) In turn-of-the-20th-century Turin, an accident in a textile factory incites workers to stage a walkout. But it's not until they receive unexpected aid from a traveling professor (Marcello Mastroianni) that they find a voice, unite, and stand up for themselves. This historical drama by Mario Monicelli ("Big Deal on Madonna Street") is a beautiful and moving ode to the power of the people, brimming with humor and honesty. "The Organizer (I compagni)" features engaging, naturalistic performances; cinematography by the great Giuseppe Rotunno; and a multilayered, Oscar-nominated screenplay, by Monicelli, Agenore Incrocci ("The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly)", and Furio Scarpelli ("Il postino"). New high-definition digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray edition. Extras: Introduction by director Mario Monicelli from 2006, trailer, an essay by film critic J. Hoberman. (The Criterion Collection).
Paradise Recovered
(2010) Heather Wallis, Dane Seth Hurlburt, Oliver Luke. A devout young woman learns about faith, living, and love from a surprising source when she takes a job at the local health food store and her beliefs collide with her more bohemian co-workers' views. Formats: DVD. (Monarch Home Entertainment).
Pariah
(2011) Kim Wayans, Adepero Oduye, Aasha Davis, Charles Parnell. A Brooklyn teenager juggles conflicting identities and risks friendship, heartbreak, and family in a desperate search for sexual expression. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. Extras: "Dee Rees: A Director's Style," "A Walk in Brooklyn," "Trying Out Identity: Pariah's Wardrobe." (Universal).
Return
(2011) Linda Cardellini, Michael Shannon, John Slattery, Talia Balsam. A soldier returns to her family, friends, and old job after a tour of duty, though she finds herself struggling to find her place in her everyday life. Formats: DVD. Extras: Commentary by director Liza Johnson, deleted scenes. (Entertainment One).
Some Days Are Better Than Others
(2010) Carrie Brownstein, James Mercer, Renee Roman Nose. A sad valentine to the forgotten discards of a throwaway society, set in rainy Portland, Oregon. Katrina is a twentysomething reality TV enthusiast, video diarist and animal shelter worker whose world falls apart when she finds that those important to her are often not what she hopes they would be. Eli is a mid-30s slacker trying to get over a recent heartbreak. And Camille is a socially handicapped thrift store attendant. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. Extras: Deleted scenes. (Palisades Tartan).
Spot and His Grandparents Go to the Carnival
(2012) Spot, the star of Eric Hill's beloved children’s books, joins his grandparents on a trip to the carnival; $9.97. Formats: DVD. Extras: Two additional 4-minute stories: "Spot's Grandpa" and "Spot Helps Grandma." (BBC Home Entertainment).
Stony Island
(1977) Richie Davis, Edward "Stoney" Robinson, Gene "Daddy G" Barge. Director Andrew ("The Fugitive," "Under Siege") Davis' first film. Shot on the gritty streets of Chicago's south side, the film tells the story of Richie Bloom, the only white kid on the block, as he forms an R&B band with his best friend, Kevin. With the help of their mentor, aging sax legend Percy, they pull together a funky supergroup, stealing practice time at night in the local funeral home. Despite few resources and heavy losses, the resilient group of dedicated musicians -- armed only with wit, sleight of hand and outrageous Chicago bravado -- come together to finally make their smash debut. A tribute to Chicago's South Side with: saxophone legend Gene Barge, George Englund, Ronnie Barron, Rae Dawn Chong, Oscar Brown Jr. and many more of Chicago’s finest musicians and actors. Original score by David Matthews featuring David Sanborn. Formats: DVD, Digital Download. Extras: "The Making of Stony Island," including interviews with Quincy Jones, Susanna Hoffs and Chuck D., alternate ending. (Cinema Libre Studio).
The Theatre Bizarre
(2012) Six stories of ancient evil, love, obsession, addiction, gluttony, sexual nightmares, pain, brutality and of course, death. A young woman enters a seedy theater in which an odd marionette-like man introduces her to six tales of the bizarre. Formats: DVD. (Image Entertainment).
The Time That Remains
(2009) Ali Suliman, Saleh Bakri. Funny, heartwarming film that explores life among the Israeli Arab community, from 1948 to the present. In Arabic and Hebrew. Formats: DV. (IFC).
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy BLU-RAY DEBUT
(1979) Alec Guiness, Ian Richardson, Michael Aldridge, Joss Ackland, Ian Bannen, Bernard Hepton, Terence Rigby, Michael Jayston, Hywel Bennett, Anthony Bate, Patrick Stewart. Two-disc set with all six episodes, $59.99. Extras: New interview with director John Irvin. (Acorn Media).
Ultimate Avengers Movie Collection 3-Movie Set
Three-disc set with "Ultimate Avengers: The Movie," "Ultimate Avengers 2" and "Next Avengers: Heroes of Tomorrow," $19.99. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. (Lionsgate).
The Wicker Tree
(2011) Graham McTavish, Brittania Nicol, Henry Garrett. Sequel of sorts to 1973's "The Wicker Man," directed by Robin Hardy, who also helmed this outing (And the original's Christopher Lee makes a cameo appearance). Charmed by the residents of Tressock, Scotland, two young born-again Christian missionaries accept the invitation to participate in a local festival, fully unaware of the consequences of their decision. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. Extras: Behind-the-scenes featurette, deleted scenes. (Anchor Bay).
Young Goethe In Love
(2010 -- Germany) Alexander Fehling, Miriam Stein, Moritz Bleibtreu, Volker Bruch, Burghart Klaussner, Henry Hubchen. A beautifully innocent yet achingly insightful romantic drama about the 23-year-old Johann Goethe, his summer of self-discovery and unrequited love, and the birth of the first-ever literary superstar. Formats: DVD. (Music Box Films).
Contraband
Fast-paced thriller about a man trying to stay out of a world he worked so hard to leave behind and the family he'll do anything to protect. Set in New Orleans, the film explores the cutthroat underground world of international smuggling -- full of desperate criminals and corrupt officials, high-stakes and big payoffs -- where loyalty rarely exists and death is one wrong turn away. Chris Farraday (Mark Wahlberg) long ago abandoned his life of crime, but after his brother-in-law, Andy (Caleb Landry Jones), botches a drug deal for his ruthless boss, Tim Briggs (Giovanni Ribisi), Chris is forced back into doing what he does best -- running contraband -- to settle Andy's debt. Chris is a legendary smuggler and quickly assembles a crew with the help of his best friend, Sebastian (Ben Foster), for one final run to Panama and back, hoping to return with millions in counterfeit bills. Things quickly fall apart and with only hours to reach the cash, Chris must use his rusty skills to successfully navigate a treacherous criminal network of brutal drug lords, cops and hit men before his wife (Kate Beckinsale) and sons become their target.
Vitals: Director: Baltasar Kormakur. Stars: Mark Wahlberg, Kate Beckinsale, Giovanni Ribisi, Ben Foster, Lukas Haas, Caleb Landry Jones, Diego Luna, J.K. Simmons.
2012, CC, MPAA rating: R, 110 min., Thriller, Box office gross: $65.860 million, Universal.
Camelot 45th Anniversary
(1967)
The Red House
(1947)
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
(1979)
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April 22, 2012
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