NEW ON DVD AND BLU-RAY

“EAT PRAY LOVE,” starring Julia Roberts and Javier Bardem. Based on Elizabeth Gilbert’s runaway best-seller of a memoir, this involving “dramedy” finds Roberts indulging her long-suppressed desire to travel, traversing four countries and making and abandoning friends alike on an entertaining if somewhat superficial path to fulfillment. Director Ryan Murphy (creator of the inescapable “Glee”) brings more invention and enthusiasm to the table here than he did with his last best-seller adaptation, 2004’s uninspired “Running with Scissors.” Whether this type of feel-good escapist fare is up your alley or not, it can’t be denied that it all looks beautiful. Rated PG-13. Running time: 2:13.

Suggested retail price: DVD $28.95; Blu-ray $34.95.

“THE EXPENDABLES,” starring Sylvester Stallone and Jason Statham. A veritable dream come true for ’80s fans, this willfully over-the-top testosterone explosion crams as many former action heroes as it can fit into the frame, with Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Mickey Rourke and Bruce Willis all joining Sly in the bullet-riddled fun. Bloody chaos and dumb one-liners are the name of the game here, so if you want to watch a few good-natured has-beens blow each other up real good, look no further. Unlikely to inspire thought-provoking discussion, but difficult to resist all the same. Rated R. Running time: 1:43.

Suggested retail price: DVD $29.95; Blu-ray $39.99.

“FLIPPED,” starring Madeline Carroll and Callan McAuliffe. It’s refreshing to come across a film that recognizes that conversations between kids can be just as intricate and fraught with tension as those of their often less-interesting parents. Director Rob Reiner (“Stand Me,” to which this film is receiving favorable comparisons) follows a typical boy (McAuliffe, “I Am Number Four”) and girl (the extraordinary Carroll, “Swing Vote”) from grades 2 through 7, chronicling the highs and lows of a deceptively complex relationship. Rounding out the cast are Rebecca De Mornay, Anthony Edwards, Penelope Ann Miller and Aidan Quinn as the parents. Rated PG. Running time: 1:30.

Suggested retail price: DVD $27.98; Blu-ray $35.99.

“THE LAST AIRBENDER,” starring Dev Patel and Noah Ringer. Director M. Night Shyamalan’s critically panned live-action version of the popular “Avatar” anime series packed enough visual stimuli in between the deadening scenes of dialogue to keep audiences entertained in theaters. However, viewers unfamiliar with the source material or soured on effects-heavy flicks may find it hard to become terribly invested. Kids will undoubtedly find plenty to entertain them here, but anyone intrigued by the previews would do well to check out the original animated series instead. Rated PG. Running time: 1:43.

Suggested retail price: DVD $29.99; Blu-ray $39.99.

NEW ON DVD

“LENNON NYC,” starring John Lennon and Yoko Ono. Arguably the most beloved of The Beatles, John Lennon probably would have told you that his real life began once he made the controversial decision to leave that pioneering rock group to be with wife Ono and begin raising a family. Interviews with Elton John and “Double Fantasy” producer Jack Douglas help paint a helpful portrait of Lennon’s mindset at the time, but it’s a discussion with Ono that proves the most enlightening and poignant. A loving and essential look at a beloved but oft-misunderstood talent. Not rated, contains language and nudity. Running time: 1:52.

Suggested retail price: $24.95.

“LUTHER,” starring Idris Elba and Steven Mackintosh. First-rate escapist fare from creator Neil Cross (“MI-5”) outfits the always terrific Elba (“The Wire”) with an ideal star vehicle, here playing an authority-averse London homicide detective whose obsessive nature serves to both help and hinder his cases. While the whole “cop who doesn’t play by the rules” thing isn’t exactly a groundbreaking concept within this particular genre, rarely has it been put forth with this much polish. Not rated, contains violence, language and sexual content. Running time: 6:00.

Suggested retail price: $34.98.

VIDEOPORT PICKS

“I’M STILL HERE,” starring Joaquin Phoenix and David Letterman. This defiantly unclear quasi-documentary purports to reveal the secret life of Phoenix, the acclaimed actor and Oscar nominee whose notoriously bizarre appearance on Letterman incited a rash of online speculation as to the man’s mental state.

If one takes “Here” at face value (and recent interviews with director Casey Affleck would seem to indicate that one probably shouldn’t), things in general aren’t going so well. His much-abused personal assistants despise him, the once-steady stream of offers from Hollywood is drying up, and he spends most of his spare time snorting coke with prostitutes. On top of that, his burgeoning rap career doesn’t seem to be taking off nearly as well as he might have hoped. Yes, you read that correctly.

Whether it be elaborate hoax or exploitative expose, “I’m Still Here” is some good, watch-cringingly-through-your-fingers theater of discomfort, and Phoenix, love him or hate him, commits fully to the cause. Rated R for sexual material, graphic nudity, pervasive language, drug use and crude content. Running time: 1:48.

Suggested retail price: DVD $26.98; Blu-ray $29.98.

“THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT,” starring Annette Bening and Julianne Moore. The teenaged children of a lesbian couple (Bening and Moore, both at the top of their game) take it upon themselves to seek out their biological father (Mark Ruffalo), whose sudden re-entry into their lives affects the tight-knit family in ways both expected and less so. Director Lisa Cholodenko (“Laurel Canyon”) again demonstrates an ability to not only create memorable and believable characters, but to fashion complex relationship networks within the framework of a deceptively simple narrative, resulting in a singular viewing experience that brings out the best in her talented cast. Rated R for strong sexual content, nudity, language and some teen drug and alcohol use. Running time: 1:46.

Suggested retail price: DVD $29.98; Blu-ray $39.98.

 

Copy the Story Link