NEW ON DVD AND BLU-RAY

“THE BIG YEAR,” starring Steve Martin and Jack Black. Considering the star power and comedic potential of its three leads, “The Big Year” is a relatively restrained affair, with Martin, Black and Owen Wilson playing men who differ in most ways save one: An avid, near-rabid interest in bird watching. Rated PG. Running time: 1:40

Suggested retail price: $29.98; Blu-ray $39.99

“DREAM HOUSE,” starring Daniel Craig and Rachel Weisz. A would-be novelist (Craig) and his family settle down in their new suburban Connecticut home, only to have their domestic bliss routinely interrupted by threatening trespassers and seemingly otherworldly elements. This leads to an investigation of their new digs that uncovers a variety of disturbing explanations. Rated PG-13. Running time: 1:32

Suggested retail price: $29.98; Blu-ray $34.98

“DRIVE,” starring Ryan Gosling and Carey Mulligan. This ultra-stylish throwback thriller concerns an unnamed stunt driver/mechanic (Gosling), whose decision to help out an attractive neighbor (Mulligan) proves ill-advised at best once a decidedly criminal element enters the picture. “Drive” is a thinking man’s action movie, with several already classic scenes and a wonderfully unpredictable storyline. Rated R. Running time: 1:40

Suggested retail price: $26.99; Blu-ray $30.99

“THE DOUBLE,” starring Richard Gere and Topher Grace. A retired CIA man (Gere) is paired with an eager FBI rookie (Grace) to take down a Russian spy suspected of murdering a senator. Seemingly dated but mostly compelling, with Gere making an amusingly weary foil for Grace’s showy histrionics. Rated PG-13. Running time: 1:32.

Suggested retail price: $27.97; Blu-ray $29.97

“TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD: 50TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION,” starring Gregory Peck and Mary Badham. Nearly as beloved as the classic book that inspired it, “Mockingbird” is a 1962 classic drama in which crusading lawyer Atticus Finch (Peck) chooses to defend a young black man accused of rape in the face of complete lack of support and flat-out hostility from his racist community. Running time: 2:09

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

NEW TO BLU-RAY

“QUEEN: DAYS OF OUR LIVES,” documentary. This exhaustive, career-spanning retrospective doc provides enough Queen footage and info for several films. It’s loaded with rare backstage footage in addition to live performances, interviews and music videos. A no-brainer gift for fans, and a hugely entertaining watch for everyone. Running time: 3:41

Suggested retail price: $19.98

“BOARDWALK EMPIRE: THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON,” starring Steve Buscemi and Michael Pitt. Filling the considerable void left by “The Sopranos” proved no easy task for HBO, but this meticulously constructed drama comes closest. Set in Prohibition-era Atlantic City, “Empire” focuses on Buscemi’s Nucky Thompson, whose position as city treasurer affords him unique powers and connections, allowing him to rake in the dough through the illegal sale of alcohol while publicly condemning its usage. Running time: 12:00.

Suggested retail price: $79.98

VIDEOPORT PICKS

“THE MILL AND THE CROSS,” starring Rutger Hauer and Charlotte Rampling. Dizzying beautiful and inventive, this labor of love from writer-director Lech Majewski is an examination of an era by way of one painting in particular: “The Way to Calvary,” created in 1564 by Pieter Bruegel. The persecution of Christ parallels easily with the daily horrors experienced by the Flemish during the Spanish Inquisition in this one-of-a-kind production. Not rated; contains some graphic violence. Running time: 1:37

Suggested retail price: $29.95; Blu-ray $34.95

“OUTRAGE: WAY OF THE YAKUZA,” starring Takeshi Kitano and Ryo Kase. Often and aptly compared to Clint Eastwood both for his no-nonsense persona and multiple talents, Takeshi pulls out all the stops with his latest, an impossibly bloody depiction of an increasingly complex and dire series of misunderstandings between two Yakuza crews that escalates to levels of violence almost operatic in their nasty beauty. Rated R for violence, language and brief sexuality. Running time: 1:49

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

– Courtesy of Videoport

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