12.21.09 | Jerry Frebowitz | New Releases This WeekPrint this Post
New DVD Releases for this week include Extract, the very funny new comedy from Mike Judge and humans discover they are not welcome in District 9, produced by Peter Jackson; then there's the remake of Fritz Lang's 1954 thriller, Beyond A Reasonable Doubt and Sandra Bullock and Bradley Cooper are back in All About Steve. And, for fans of uniquely offbeat romantic comedies, (500) Days Of Summer is sure to please. Also making its' debut this week is one of TV's most entertaining comedy shows, Taxi: The Complete Series.
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Extract (2009)
Hilarious workplace comedy from "Office Space" writer/director Mike Judge with Jason Bateman as the owner of a food extract plant who's bored by his job and trapped in a sexless marriage. On the advice of his stoned bartender buddy (Ben Affleck), Bateman hires a gigolo (Dustin Milligan) to seduce his wife (Kristin Wiig) so he's free to cheat with a sexy scam artist (Mila Kunis) who's masquerading as a new employee. With J.K. Simmons, David Koechner, and Gene Simmons.
All About Steve (2009)
After a blind date, quirky crossword puzzle writer Mary (Sandra Bullock) is convinced she and news station cameraman Steve (Bradley Cooper) are a match made in heaven. Steve is not so sure. Egged on by a smarmy reporter (Thomas Haden Church) looking to make Steve's life miserable, Mary follows her would-be boyfriend across the country in a hilarious attempt to make him fall for her. With Ken Jeong, DJ Qualls, Keith David, and Howard Hesseman.
(500) Days Of Summer (2009)
Clever, honest, and delightfully offbeat romantic comedy about Tom (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), a sincere greeting card writer, and Summer (Zooey Deschanel), the beautiful and smart co-worker he falls for. Depicting the days Tom and Summer spend together in random order, the film examines what happens when one half of a couple sees the relationship as true love while the other views it as a casual fling. With Geoffrey Arend, Chloe Moretz, Matthew Gray Gubler.
District 9 (2009)
Twenty years after their ship arrives in the skies above Johannesburg, South Africa, an alien race--nicknamed "Prawns" due to their shrimp-like appearance--lives separated from humans in a slum called District 9. When an agent from a shadowy corporation tasked with moving the creatures to a new internment camp is infected with an otherworldly liquid, he attempts to stop himself from being transformed into a Prawn. Sharlto Copley, Jason Cope, Nathalie Boltt star.
Beyond A Reasonable Doubt (2009)
When a television reporter (Jesse Metcalfe) becomes suspicious that a powerful district attorney (Michael Douglas) is manipulating the legal system to advantage his run for higher office, he sets himself up as the suspect in a murder case and hopes that his romantic entanglement with the D.A.'s assistant (Amber Tamblyn) will be key to the prosecutor's undoing. Peter Hyams ("Outland") helms this remake of Fritz Lang's 1954 thriller. Orlando Jones, Joel Moore co-star.
Staten Island (2009)
In the often overlooked New York City borough, a septic tank cleaner (Ethan Hawke) determined to give his unborn child a better life, a small-time gangster (Vincent D'Onofrio) with an eye on preserving Staten Island Forest, and a deaf-mute grocer (Seymour Cassel) find their lives violently intersecting as a result of Hawke's ill-conceived plan to steal $50,000 of D'Onofrio's money. Julianne Nicholson also stars in this involving crime drama.
American Pie Presents: The Book Of Love (2009)
Noah Levenstein (Eugene Levy), Jim's dad, is back! The "American Pie" series regular is on hand again for another ribald romp, as three innocent young men are disappointed to find the book that contains the secret help they need to lose their virginity has been soiled. Whom will they turn to for advice on how to score with the ladies? Will they just have to do it the hard way? "That's what she said." Bug Hall, John Patrick Jordan, and Beth Behrs co-star. Includes both the R-rated and unrated versions.
Blind Date (2007)
A remake of the 1996 Theo van Gogh film of the same name, this hypnotic drama stars Stanley Tucci (who also directed and co-wrote) and Patricia Clarkson as an estranged married couple. After suffering a personal tragedy, they decide to reignite their relationship by going on a series of "blind dates" in which they take on different personas. But will the role-playing save their marriage?
It Might Get Loud (2009)
What happens when three of the world's finest rock guitarists gather to discuss music? Find out in this engrossing documentary that brings together Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page, U2's The Edge, and The White Stripes' Jack White for a candid conversation about the impact that the invention of the electric guitar has had on society as well as their lives and careers.
Motherland (2009)
Issues of grief and redemption are explored in this enthralling documentary about how a 17-day trip to South Africa transforms the lives of six American women who each endured the loss of a child. Brought together by their shared tragedies, the women embark on a remarkable journey that helps put their experiences into perspective and gives them the strength needed to move forward.
Family Guy Presents Something, Something, Something, Dark Side
The Griffins take on "Star Wars: Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back" in this hilarious "Family Guy" special. This time around, the gang joke and reference their way through a galaxy far, far away while encountering new friends (including Yoda...who looks a lot like Carl) and foes (Peter's nemesis the Giant Chicken as Boba Fett).
Sweet Valley High: The Complete First Season (1994)
Based on Francine Pascal's best-selling young adult novels, this winning 1994-1998 series chronicled the lives of cute teenage twins Elizabeth and Jessica. As the pair coped with peer pressures and other tumults of adolescence, they surrounded themselves with their family and an eclectic variety of friends. Cynthia Daniel, Brittany Daniel, Amy Danles, Michael Perl, Harley Rodriguez star. All 22 episodes from the debut season are included in this three-disc set.
Taxi: The Complete Series Pack
Airing on ABC (and later NBC) from 1978 to 1983, this acclaimed sitcom followed the day-to-day travails of the employees of New York's Sunshine Cab Company. Judd Hirsch played veteran cabby Alex Rieger, Danny DeVito was diminutive, despotic dispatcher Louie De Palma, and Andy Kaufman was quirky mechanic Latka Gravas; Jeff Conaway, Tony Danza, Marilu Henner, and Christopher Lloyd also starred. All 114 episodes of the series are included in this 17-disc set.
For details and availability of more of this week’s new releases, click here
