NEW ON DVD AND BLU-RAY

“THE BEAVER,” starring Mel Gibson and Jodie Foster. What can Hollywood do with Mel Gibson now that he’s forever tarnished his once fairly pristine reputation with much-publicized hate speech? Why, put him in a movie about a guy who suffers a mental breakdown and communicates solely via a beaver puppet, of course! Despite undertones of black comedy, director and co-star Foster mostly treats the situation seriously, depicting depression as the crippling disease it is. And although viewers will unavoidably have a difficult time accepting Gibson back into their living rooms, he delivers a likable and complex performance. Virtually unmarketable for a variety of reasons, but fascinating and worthwhile nonetheless. Special features include an audio commentary from Foster and deleted scenes. Rated PG-13. Running time: 1:31

Additional Photos

Jodie Foster and Mel Gibson in "The Beaver," in which Gibson's character suffers a breakdown and communicates exclusively through a puppet. Summit Entertainment

Suggested retail price: DVD $26.99; Blu-ray $30.49 

“THE GREATEST MOVIE EVER SOLD,” starring Morgan Spurlock and Peter Berg. Spurlock (“Super Size Me”) serves up another hotly debated docu-comedy with this clever jab at advertising, in which the former Big Mac scarfer films his attempts to finance the very film you’re watching entirely via product placement. The results are both hilarious and eye-opening, with many candid interviews (including sit-downs with fellow filmmakers Berg and Quentin Tarantino, and a particularly amusing back-and-forth with Ralph Nader) and amusing animations to drive home the data. While Spurlock isn’t really telling us anything we don’t already know in that advertising is insidious, annoying and unfortunately essential, he remains a talented documentarian and an engaging screen presence. Rated PG-13. Running time: 1:30

Suggested retail price: DVD $30.99; Blu-ray $35.99 

“WIN WIN,” starring Paul Giamatti and Amy Ryan. Dependably turning out ideal antidotes to dumb summer blockbusters, writer-director Tom McCarthy has another excellent character study on his hands with this shaggy charmer. Giamatti headlines as Mike, a down-on-his-luck attorney moonlighting as a high school wrestling coach, whose general air of quiet desperation clears considerably upon making the acquaintance of Kyle (impressive newcomer Alex Shaffer), the grandson of a client and an undiscovered wrestling prodigy. As ever, character takes precedence over action and plot, and “Win Win” is full of wonderful throwaway moments and small, believable nuances that add up in a big way. Rated R for language and drug content. Running time: 1:46

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

NEW ON DVD

“BLITZ,” starring Jason Statham and Paddy Considine. Based on the novel by Ken Bruen, this hard-edged thriller finds action mainstay Statham (“The Transporter”) back on his home turf in London, where a serial killer is targeting cops, thus incurring the wrath of our steely-eyed, unsmiling hero. While “Blitz” didn’t get a lot of attention stateside, it’s a bit brainier than fare such as “The Mechanic” and “Death Race,” and Considine provides top-notch support as a similarly no-nonsense boy in blue. Rated R. Running time: 1:37

Suggested retail price: DVD $28.99; Blu-ray $29.99

“NCIS: THE COMPLETE EIGHTH SEASON,” starring Mark Harmon and Michael Weatherly. Once the unsung little brother of the unbeatable “CSI” franchise, this lighter-toned Navy-based offshoot eventually became the highest-rated drama on network TV, with Harmon attaining the role of his career as ornery Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs. Injecting some much-needed humor into the proceedings without sacrificing any of the customary action and gore, “NCIS” is mainstream TV entertainment at its finest. Special features include interviews and commentaries from cast and crew. Not rated; contains language and violence. Running time: 16:40

Suggested retail price: $64.99 

NEW ON BLU-RAY

“ROUNDERS,” starring Matt Damon and Edward Norton. Well-loved 1998 drama finds card shark Damon reluctantly returning to the world of high-stakes poker in an effort to help troublesome friend Norton pay off some particularly unsavory loan sharks. Pure entertainment from start to finish, with terrific supporting turns from John Turturro, Martin Landau and especially John Malkovich as the formidable Teddy KGB. Rated R. Running time: 2:01

Suggested retail price: $14.99 

“SWINGERS,” starring Vince Vaughn and Jon Favreau. Star-making comedy from 1996 introduced audience to Vaughn, who is electric in his big-screen debut as Trent, a motor-mouthed, would-be playboy going the extra mile to reintroduce his mopey pal (Favreau, who also scripted) to the dating scene. Endlessly quotable (“You’re so money and you don’t even know it!”), “Swingers” is right up there with “Clerks” and “There’s Something About Mary” as one of the greatest comedies of the ’90s. Rated R. Running time: 1:36

Suggested retail price: $14.99 

VIDEOPORT PICKS

“I WILL FOLLOW,” starring Salli Richardson-Whitfield and Michole White. Beautifully shot and impeccably acted, this independently produced drama from Ava DuVernay (“Middle of Nowhere”) is less notable for what it is about than for how it goes about it.

It revolves mainly around the grieving process of Maye (Richardson-Whitfield, “Eureka”) as she works to pack up the belongings of her recently deceased aunt with whom she lived for the past few years.

While dealing with this difficult and emotional task, Maye is visited by 12 people, ranging from estranged family members to former lovers to people just looking to buy furniture, and all of them end up helping her deal with the loss in one way or another.

While race, gender, and sexual orientation are all important factors in the storyline, none are singled out or dwelt upon as glaring issues or problems, and it’s the film’s lack of heavy-handedness that causes it to ring so true. Incredibly moving and cathartic, “I Will Follow” is an understated gem. Not rated; contains language, sexual content and thematic material. Running time: 1:20

Suggested retail price: $19.98 

“TROLLHUNTER,” starring Otto Jespersen and Glenn Erland Tosterud. Norway’s answer to such films as “The Blair Witch Project” and “Cloverfield” is this clever, atmospheric and occasionally quite frightening horror mockumentary from director Andre Ovredal.

A group of squabbling. college-aged, would-be documentarians encounter Hans (Jespersen, “Odd Little Man”), an enigmatic fellow who allows the inept film crew to accompany him as he sets about ridding the Norwegian countryside of hulking, deformed trolls.

The trolls in question are a wonder to behold, especially considering the reportedly shoestring budget, and each new encounter with the creatures is more exciting and scary than the last. What sets “Trollhunter” apart from the pack is a refusal to take itself too seriously, a wise move given the somewhat ridiculous nature of trolls in general.

But the chuckles complement the scares rather than detract from them, and the results are an electrifying shot in the arm for a tired subgenre. A one-of-a-kind viewing experience for certain.

Rated PG-13 for some sequences of creature terror. Running time: 1:30

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

– Courtesy of Videoport

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