This eclectic collection of movies released on DVD this week includes a 40-year-old independent production, a new documentary on Mike Tyson, early Japanese sci-fi and several made-for-TV movies.
"Husbands" (Columbia, 1969, PG-13, $19.94). After "Faces" but before "A Woman Under the Influence," John Cassavetes wrote and directed this searing look at midlife crises, focusing on three middle-age working men with families and mortgages who are best friends — volatile Ben Gazzara, chatterbox Peter Falk and introspective Cassavetes.
The story has the trio going on a bender after another pal dies, then they briefly return to work before impulsively heading for London, exchanging stories and philosophies, feeling sorry for themselves and looking toward an uncertain future.
A bit self-indulgent at times, as Cassavetes' films tend to be, heavy on improvisation for what is essentially an acting exercise. At 142 minutes (11 minutes longer than the theatrical release), it feels long, but there are rewards, and all three stars are at the peak of their considerable abilities.
Extras: widescreen, audio commentary (by Cassavetes biographer Marshall Fine), featurette, trailers
"Tyson" (Sony Classics/Blu-ray, 2009; R for language; $39.95). It ain't pretty, but this documentary is very much a no-holds-barred look at former heavyweight champ Mike Tyson, including his fall from grace and seemingly sincere penitence.
Filmmaker James Toback chronicles Tyson's life without sugarcoating it, relying on interviews with Tyson and archival footage. The result is alternately startling and amusing.
Extras: widecreen, audio commentary, featurettes, trailers
"Icons of Sci-Fi: Toho Collection" (Columbia, 1958-61, three discs, $24.96). This collection boasts three films from the heyday of cheesy Japanese sci-fi thrillers, offering silly fun for fans.
"The H-Man" (1958) has radioactive blobs destroying Tokyo — and they're reproducing!
"Battle in Outer Space" (1959) focuses on efforts to thwart an attack by aliens who cause catastrophes around the globe.
"Mothra" (1961) is the most famous of these, as a caterpillar/giant moth wreaks havoc searching for two tiny telepathic girls.
Extras: widescreen, three films,
"These Old Broads" (Sony, 2001, $14.94). An amazing cast of older stars — Shirley MacLaine, Debbie Reynolds, Joan Collins, Elizabeth Taylor — was gathered for this comedy penned by Reynolds' daughter, Carrie Fisher. But the result is surprisingly sloppy and crude in the story of a reunion of estranged former stars. (Check out "The Sunshine Boys" instead.)
Extras: widescreen
"High Noon" (Sony, 2009, $24.96). "Midnight Bayou" (Sony, 2009, $24.96)."Northern Lights" (Sony, 2009, $24.96)."Tribute" (Sony, 2009, $24.96). These four Lifetime cable movies are based on novels by Nora Roberts, and though your first instinct may be to dismiss them, I found them to be fairly (if not highly) entertaining romantic mysteries with attractive stars.
"High Noon" is about a hostage negotiator (Emilie de Ravin) with a young daughter and an agoraphobic mother (Cybill Shepherd) who finds herself targeted by a psycho.
"Midnight Bayou" has Jerry O'Connell buying a plantation with a haunted house; Faye Dunaway co-stars.
"Northern Lights" stars Eddie Cibrian as the new police chief of an Alaska city called Lunacy (!) where he falls in love with a pilot (singer LeAnn Rimes, who should keep her day job); Rosanna Arquette plays her mother.
"Tribute" has a former child star (Brittany Murphy) buying grandma's farmhouse to get some normalcy in her life but instead sees ghostly visions; Tippi Hedren and Diana Scarwid costar.
These films are being sold exclusively at Walmart stores.
Extras: widescreen, trailers
e-mail: hicks@desnews.com