New movies on DVD this week are led by Clint Eastwood's underrated "Invictus" and the all-star "Valentine's Day."
"Invictus" (Warner/Blu-ray, 2009, PG-13, two discs, $34.99). Morgan Freeman is a commanding presence as Nelson Mandela in this true story of how the South African leader used the power of the nation's passion for rugby to bring blacks and whites together after apartheid was abolished. And Matt Damon matches him as the captain of the team, who is quite surprised when Mandela asks him to win the World Cup!
Somewhat ignored by audiences and critics late last year, Clint Eastwood's latest directing effort is nonetheless a rousing story of the human spirit, wrapped in the cloak of a cheer-to-win sports yarn. But the cheer in this film goes out for much more than merely winning a title.
Extras: widescreen, picture-in-picture commentary by Eastwood, featurettes, DVD/digital versions, trailers (also available as single-disc DVD with fewer bonus features, $28.98)
"Valentine's Day" (New Line/Blu-ray, 2010, PG-13, two discs, $35.99). This episodic romantic comedy has an amazing cast, led by Julia Roberts, Jennifer Garner, Ashton Kutcher, Jamie Foxx, Anne Hathaway, Shirley MacLaine — even Taylor Swift has a role.
There are some amusing sequences and charming characters, but the overall affect is of missed opportunities as so many of the storylines fall flat.
Extras: widescreen, deleted scenes, audio commentary, featurettes, bloopers, DVD/digital versions, trailers (also available as single-disc DVD with fewer bonus features, $28.98)
"Everyman's War" (Virgil Films, 2009, $24.99). Here's something you don't see very often, a low-budget period piece about World War II. "Saving Private Ryan" it ain't, and there are flaws. But what this picture lacks in slick moviemaking skills it more than makes up for in heart and storytelling.
Filmmaker Thad Smith based this true story on the experiences of his father, as the film shows a variety of disparate characters coming together in uniform, then finding themselves on the beaches of Normandy and deep in a snow-covered German forest as their combat experiences lead them to the Battle of the Bulge.
The screener I received had none of the bonus features, so those listed below are based on press materials.
Extras: widescreen, making-of featurette, trailer
Louis L'Amour Western Collection" (TNT/Warner, 1979-91, PG-13, four discs, $19.97). This set of DVD reissues includes two TNT cable movies and one theatrical film based on the works of L'Amour, the prolific and oft-filmed writer who died more than two decades ago.
"The Sacketts" is an excellent, sprawling two-part miniseries about three brothers going divergent ways until they ultimately come together for an "OK Corral"-style showdown. Sam Elliott, Tom Selleck and Jeff Osterhage star, with Glenn Ford, Jack Elam, Gilbert Roland and Slim Pickens in support. "Conagher" has Elliott and real-life wife Katharine Ross fending off rustlers. And the offbeat "Catlow" has outlaw Yul Brynner pursued by marshal Richard Crenna and bounty hunter Leonard Nimoy.
Extras: full frame/widescreen, trailer
"The Bible Stories: Jeremiah" (Sony, 1998, $14.94). "The Bible Stories: Solomon" (Sony, 1997, $14.94). These TV movies retell the Old Testament stories of the title characters, and, this being Hollywood, liberties are taken. Both films are also a bit slow and way too long at nearly three hours each (shown on television in two parts).
But they are worth watching, sincere productions that make genuine attempts at accuracy (the Bible gives us limited information, after all) and pull together some fine actors backed by lavish production values. "Jeremiah" is played by Patrick Dempsy, with Klaus Maria Brandauer as King Nebuchadnezzar. "Solomon" is played by Ben Cross, with Vivica A. Fox as the Queen of Sheba, along with David Suchet, Anouk Aimee (as Bathsheba) and Max Von Sydow (as David).
Extras: full frame
"American Bandits: Frank and Jesse James" (E1, 2010, PG, $24.98). Yet another tale of the James Brothers, with Jesse wounded after a holdup, Frank splitting up the gang for four days, a marshal (Peter Fonda) in pursuit — all leading up to a violent confrontation in a deserted ghost town.
Extras: widescreen, audio commentary, photo gallery
"The World Unseen" (E1, 2008, PG-13, $24.98). A café owner and a traditional Indian woman fall into a lesbian relationship in this melodrama set against South Africa's apartheid policies.
Extras: widescreen, audio commentary, featurettes
"Jermal" (IndiePix, 2010, $24.95). Set in the Malacca Straits off North Sumatra, this coming-of-age drama has a 12-year-old boy sent to live with his father after his mother's death, where he falls in with a rough crowd and toughens up to survive.
Extras: widescreen, in Indonesian with English subtitles, bloopers, trailers
"The Disappeared" (IFC, 2008, $24.98). An 8-year-old boy vanishes in London and years later his older brother begins experiencing what may be his brother's apparition with an enigmatic warning.
Extras: widescreen, featurettes, trailer
"Southern Gothic" (IFC, 2007, $24.98). A strip club bouncer grieves over the death of his daughter, then takes up with a stripper whose own daughter fills a void in his life. But then the girl is kidnapped by a psychotic vampire preacher.
Extras: widescreen, featurette, trailers
"Sherlock Holmes: Greatest Mysteries" (Mill Creek, 1932-54, b/w, five discs, $14.98). More recycled public domain material, including four Basil Rathbone Holmes films and a few that are more obscure from the 1930s. But the real surprise here is the complete 39-episode Holmes TV series starring Ronald Howard.
Extras: full frame, eight movies, 39 episodes
"Classic Movie Musicals" (Mill Creek, 1938-62, color and b/w, four discs, $14.98). These public domain films are available elsewhere, but this is quite a bargain for this many movies, "The Duke Is Tops," with Lena Horne in her film debut; "Royal Wedding," starring Fred Astaire; "Till the Clouds Roll By," featuring an array of stars, etc.
Extras: full frame, 20 movies
"Clash of the Olympians" (Mill Creek, 1959-65, four double-sided discs, $14.98). These 1960s muscleman epics, mostly Italian sword-and-sandal costume pictures dubbed in English, include seven Hercules films ("Hercules Against the Moon Men!"). Three films star Steve Reeves and another has Gordon Scott, who was famous as Tarzan during this period.
Extras: widescreen, 16 movies
"Love, Loss & Affliction" (Mill Creek, 1983-2000, three double-sided discs, $14.98). This collection of TV movies, most about tragedies in some form, feature a long list of familiar faces — Morgan Freeman, David Duchovny, Rachel McAdams, Meredith Baxter, Melissa Gilbert, Michael Cera — in such generically titled features as "Custody of the Heart," "Happy Endings," "The Hired Heart," etc.
Extras: full frame, 12 movies
"Love, Lies & Betrayal" (Mill Creek, 1986-2003, three double-sided discs, $14.98). Another collection of TV movies, these focus on crimes and deceit. "Deception," "Deadly Betrayal," "The Fatal Image," etc., starring Keanu Reeves, Kiefer Sutherland, Angie Harmon, Keri Russell, Katey Sagal, etc.
Extras: full frame, 12 movies
e-mail: hicks@desnews.com