NEW ON THE SHELF

“ENDLESS LOVE,” Gabriella Wilde, Alex Pettyfer. The 1981 movie that turned Brooke Shields into a household name has been homogenized for tweens with this relatively squeaky clean update. Those who fondly remember the original may find it to be a bit defanged. Rated PG-13. Running time: 1:44.

“GAMBIT,” Colin Firth, Cameron Diaz. Loose update of the 1966 farce has been reimagined by the ever-industrious Coen brothers, who add their distinct comic sensibilities to this sprightly tale of a put-upon art appraiser (Firth) who teams with a Texan cowgirl (Diaz) to pull one over on his miserably condescending boss (Alan Rickman, the king of miserable, albeit hilarious, condescension). It’s certainly good for more than a few over-the-top laughs, and the three leads work marvelously well together. Rated PG-13. Running time: 1:29. Suggested retail price: $26.99; Blu-ray $30.99.

NEW TO DVD

“COVERT AFFAIRS: SEASON FOUR,” Piper Perabo, Christopher Gorham. Having been referred to a time or two in the past as “The Spy Barbie Adventure Hour,” USA Network’s hit series has benefited considerably from a darker tone. Though we doubt anyone had a problem simply staring at Piper Perabo each week, it’s nice that they’ve given her CIA operative more of an arc. Not rated. Running time: 11:21. Suggested retail price: $39.99.

“SUITS: SEASON THREE,” Gabreil Macht, Patrick J. Adams. Another offering from USA, “Suits” should please fans of “Psych” with its buddy dramedy motif and its many sly pop culture references, but beyond these familiar tropes, “Suits” brings it home with some fine writing and terrific performances, with college dropout-turned-lawyer Mike (Adams, “Rosemary’s Baby”) and formidable attorney Harvey (Macht, “Love & Other Drugs”) proving ideal foils and partners. Not rated. Running time: 11:38. Suggested retail price: $44.99.

Advertisement

NEW TO BLU-RAY

“RED RIVER,” John Wayne, Montgomery Clift. Director Howard Hawks enduring 1948 classic remains a universally beloved western, one that introduced audiences to Montgomery Clift, a face they’d soon be seeing a lot within this particular genre but was a fresh-faced upstart here, giving The Duke no end of grief on a disastrous pilgrimage to deliver 9,000 head of cattle from Texas to Missouri. With its stunning cinematography and memorable characterizations, “Red River” is an ideal introduction to a oft-overlooked genre. Not rated. Running time: 2:27. Suggested retail price: $39.95.

– Courtesy of Videoport

“SLEEPAWAY CAMP,” Felissa Rose, Jonathan Tiersten. Another grisly, wonderfully dated chiller courtesy of the Scream Factory, this 1983 cult favorite is a true labor of love, a film that at first glance appears to be another cookie-cutter young-campers-in-peril slasher so typical of the era, but turns about to be just about anything but typical. The expected unintentional comedy and distinctly non-CGI effects are all in place, but “Sleepaway Camp” just has a certain je ne sais quoi about it, and it’s certainly never looked better than in this deluxe hi-def set. Special features include new commentaries from co-stars Rose and Tiersten and director Robert Hiltzik, as well as new interviews with cast and crew. Rated R. Running time: 1:24. Suggested retail price: $29.93.

VIDEOPORT PICKS

“CHEAP THRILLS,” Pat Healy, David Koechner. Second fiddles get a chance to shine in this by turns amusing and disturbing black comedy from first-time director E.L. Katz, which upgrades the likable and versatile Healy from his usual supporting roles (including memorable turns in “Compliance” and “The Innkeepers”) to leading man as Craig, an extremely down-on-his-luck would-be writer avoiding his financial woes in a bar, where he runs into both old friend Vince (Ethan Embry, “Can’t Hardly Wait”) and amiably loudmouthed Colin (Koechner of “Anchorman”, another perennial second-stringer getting a much-deserved upgrade in screen time), a man with a seemingly endless supply of money and spare time, who begins to entertain himself and his easily bored wife (Sara Paxton, “The Innkeepers”) by making a series of bets with Craig and Vince, wagers that start fairly benign but quickly escalate to bloodier business. Though “Thrills” is clearly intended to evoke queasy laughter, the cast plays everything admirably straight, with Healy especially effective at portraying a beaten-down man truly examining the depths of his own desperation. A midnight movie with a bit more to say than most, but at heart it’s mainly down and dirty fun for those with an “Evil Dead” sense of humor. Rated R. Running time: 1:25. Suggested retail price: $19.95; Blu-ray $24.95.

“RUN & JUMP,” Will Forte, Maxine Peake. What may look like an attempt to capitalize on Forte’s surprisingly well-modulated dramatic turn in the Oscar-nominated hit “Nebraska” was actually filmed before Alexander’s Payne well-received dramedy, suggesting the normally outlandish SNL vet and “Macgruber” star has been trying to branch out for a while now. Directed by Steph Green (“New Boy”), “Run & Jump” is a lovely, understated look at an Irish family led by supermom Vanetia (Peake, “Shameless”) and subdued father Conor (Edward MacLiam, “EastEnders”), whose personality has been seriously altered by his recent stroke, and not for the better. Enter Ted (Forte), an American doctor who takes up residence with the family, with a scientific interest in Conor that naturally leads to a romantic interest in the irrepressible, and now lonely, Vanetia. Rather than beating the audience over the head with emotions and revelations, Green wisely stands back and observes some very relatable human behavior, even in the midst of a not terribly relatable situation, with a uniformly terrific cast that uses Forte to charming and believable effect, but in the end it’s Peake who’ll stay in your mind after the credits have rolled. Not rated. Running time: 1:46. Suggested retail price: $24.98.


Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.