NEW ON THE SHELF

“SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK,” starring Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence. One of the most widely acclaimed movies of 2012, director David O. Russell (“The Fighter”) brings his unruly passion to the table once again for this hugely affecting and intriguingly shot dramedy. Recent mental hospital patient Pat (a revelatory Cooper in easily his best performance to date) pairs off with promiscuous widow Tiffany (Oscar-winner Lawrence of “The Hunger Games”). It’s a seemingly volatile relationship founded on the fact that she knows Pat’s estranged wife, with whom Pat is unsuccessfully attempting to reunite. Rated R. Running time: 2:02

Additional Photos

Jennifer Lawrence, who won the Best Actress Oscar for her role, and Bradley Cooper in “Silver Linings Playbook.” The Weinstein Company

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

“BROKEN CITY,” starring Mark Wahlberg and Russell Crowe. Having avoided murder charges due to the efforts of devious Mayor Hostetler (Crowe), down-and-out private investigator Taggart (Wahlberg) is called upon by Hostetler to repay the favor by spying on his wife (Catherine Zeta-Jones), whom he suspects of having an affair. Reminiscent of certain aspects of ’70s cinema, this sprawling, ambitious tale of big-city corruption ultimately bites off a bit more than it can chew, but director Allen Hughes and the uniformly excellent cast work overtime to deliver an above-average thriller. Special features include an alternate ending. Rated R. Running time: 1:49

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

“GANGSTER SQUAD,” starring Ryan Gosling and Sean Penn. This unabashedly cartoonish, old-timey mob flick is an opportunity for a roster of enjoyable actors to play cops and robbers for a couple of hours. As such, “Squad” is a bullet-riddled funfest for all, with Penn especially amusing as would-be kingpin Mickey Cohen — but he has fair competition from Josh Brolin, Emma Stone, Robert Patrick and the always crustily enjoyable Nick Nolte. Special features include a commentary from director Ruben Fleischer. Rated R. Running time: 1:53

Suggested retail price: $28.98; Blu-ray $35.99

“THE GUILT TRIP,” starring Barbra Streisand and Seth Rogen. A road trip turns into an entirely different experience for young inventor Andrew (Rogen) when a quick stop to visit his mother (Streisand) results in her joining him to track down an old boyfriend from her distant past. Rogen’s presence promises a ribald raunch-fest that never arrives, and in fact the actor’s grouchy pushover qualities make for a great pairing with Streisand’s overbearing diva. Audiences expecting the big laughs of “Knocked Up” or “Superbad” may be surprised to find a charming, relatively low-key affair that one could comfortably watch with their own crazy mom. Rated PG-13. Running time: 1:35

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

“THE DETAILS,” starring Tobey Maguire and Elizabeth Banks. Pitch-black comedy puts otherwise successful doctor Jeff (Maguire) in an unending, awkward nightmare of his own design when his carefully concealed infidelities and various bad decisions all come back to haunt him simultaneously. As if that weren’t enough, his lawn has become overrun by a raccoon infestation. Rated R. Running time: 1:41

Suggested retail price: $24.98; Blu-ray $29.99 

“NOT FADE AWAY,” starring John Magaro and Jack Huston. “Sopranos” creator David Chase makes a rare big-screen appearance with this affectionate and startlingly well-realized ode to the early ’60s and the amazing music that informed the era. Aimless New Jersey teens Magaro and Huston attempt to ride the wave of messy blues-rock and scraggly fashion introduced by The Rolling Stones in spite of authority’s misgivings. Chase brings the early ’60s vividly to life without resorting to comic exaggeration. Rated R. Running time: 1:52

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

NEW TO BLU-RAY

“FUNNY GIRL,” starring Barbara Streisand and Omar Sharif. Whippersnappers looking to enjoy “The Guilt Trip” but unaware of the greatness that is Streisand may want to bone up with this 1968 classic, the stage musical to end all stage musicals and one that netted Streisand the coveted Best Actress Oscar. In bringing Fanny Brice’s story to the stage and screen, Streisand found herself experiencing a very similar rise to stardom, a parallel that adds considerably to the already infectious energy and fun on display here. Rated G. Running time: 2:31

Suggested retail price: $19.99 

“STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION, SEASON THREE,” starring Patrick Stewart and Brent Spiner. Looking to beef up your already enormous “Star Trek” collection? Make it so! Season three is where most hit series tend to really hit their stride, and that’s especially the case with “TNG,” when a new bullpen of writers injected the occasionally stodgy show with renewed creative vigor. Not rated. Running time: 19:41

Suggested retail price: $129.99 

VIDEOPORT PICKS

“CRAZY WISDOM,” documentary. Buddhists don’t come much more hedonistic than Chogyam Trungpa, a ’60s icon given a grand re-introduction in Johanna Demetrakas’ (“Some Nudity Required”) funny and enlightening doc. Whether instructing his students to bring all their marijuana stashes to him and then burning them all in a fire pit to make a statement about addiction (and subsequently getting everyone within range extremely high) or having sex with as many of his female students as possible, Trungpa certainly did not fit the typical Buddhist mold. Yet his influence at the time cannot be overstated, and his essential teachings are recognized by even the staunchest Buddhists as valuable and sound. Not rated. Running time: 1:26

Suggested retail price: $29.95 

“WALK AWAY RENEE,” documentary. Last seen sharing his emotionally devastating teenage video diaries with the world in 2003’s “Tarnation,” fearless filmmaker Jonathan Caouette now brings us up to date with “Renee,” a movie that reminds us that when “The Guilt Trip” happens in real life, it’s not nearly as funny. “Renee” is indeed Caouette’s mother, a mentally ill, constantly hostile woman whose suspect parenting tactics were on full display in “Tarnation.” But the tables have turned, and now she finds herself reliant on her son, who provides care as best he can under the circumstances. Not rated. Running time: 1:28

Suggested retail price: $24.98

– Courtesy of Videoport

Related Stories