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Taking a look ahead at the week's DVD releases is always dicey for your wallet. Nearly every week, there's a disc that would fit nicely into any size collection. When it comes time to decide what to buy, there are really two determining factors: how much you love the content and the quality of the extra features on the disc. The unreleased studio (film and television) back-catalogue means that every week there's likely something for you.

Now this is more like it. After nearly two months of doldrums, this is a DVD week that can ruin your budget in a stroke.

For really big fans of Atom Ero...oh who cares - THREEWAY!: Where the Truth Lies (Unrated) (2005)

Atom Egoyan's film about the death of a girl in the hotel room of a famous comedy duo features Alison Lohman (as the reporter writing a story on the comedians), Kevin Bacon and Colin Firth as the comedians (who have a three-way with her). Given the film's relative lack of success and my relative lack of interest, the three-way ends up being the most notable thing about the film. Particularly when you look at the lack of extra features...some deleted scenes and a making-of featurette.

For every gay bank robber who has been waiting for a special edition of their "how not to" film: Dog Day Afternoon (2-Disc Special Edition) (1975)

Ironic that Dog Day Afternoon is finally receiving the special edition DVD it deserves just days before Brokeback Mountain is the frontrunner at Sunday's Academy Awards ceremony. Considering all of the fuss about two major actors playing gay in Brokeback Mountain, you'd think that the sight of Al Pacino and John Cazale playing lovers who rob a bank in Dog Day Afternoon would have generated more controversy. Of course, at no time in the film does Pacino spit in his palm and, probably just as importantly, it was the 1970s, when Hollywood had some guts. Pacino and Cazale play lovers who attempt to rob a bank to pay for Cazale's sex change operation. Naturally, when you rob a bank to pay for your lover's sex change operation, hijinks ensue. Hijinks so well done that the film, Pacino, Cazale, Lumey, and screenwriter Frank Pierson were nominated for the Academy Award (with Pierson winning). Dog Day Afternoon's long-awaited special edition DVD release is impressive. The DVD set features a commentary with director Sidney Lumet; a making-of featurette; a four-part 30th-anniversary documentary; and a 1975 era featurette on Lumet. It's just too bad Pacino couldn't be convinced to shout his way through an audio commentary.

For mean trumpeters: Kind Hearts and Coronets (Criterion Collection) (1949)

Certainly not Alec Guinness' most famous role, in Kind Hearts and Coronets, he actually plays eight famous roles. Guinness plays eight different members of the same family in this dark comedy billed as "A hilarious study in the gentle art of murder". Receiving a Criterion release that will certainly do it justice, the DVD features a fully restored high-definition digital transfer of the film; a BBC documentary on the history of (Kind Hearts producing) Ealing Studios; a talk show appearance by Alec Guinness from 1977; an extensive gallery of archived production and publicity photographs; and a new essay by film critic and historian Philip Kemp on the film.

For everyone mad as hell that DVD selections have sucked the last few weeks: Network (2-Disc Special Edition) (1976)

Sidney Lumet week continues in How To Spend $20 with the special edition release of Network. It features Peter Finch's Academy Award-winning portrayal of Howard Beale, an aging news anchor who is fired by his network and announces his intent to commit suicide on the air. His famous encouragement to viewers to open their windows and shout "I'm mad as hell, and I'm not going to take it anymore" is a pillar of the pop culture hall of fame, even echoed (poorly) by other movie characters (like George Clooney in Out of Sight). The reaction to Beale's on-air meltdown makes him a star again and forms the backbone of this cynical take on Network news and big business. It's a classic and this DVD is a terrific way to see the film, which also stars Faye Dunaway (who also won the Academy Award, as did screenwriter Paddy Chayefsky), Robert Duvall and Ned Beatty. Included on the disc are an audio commentary with Lumet; a vintage interview from the Dinah Shore show with Chayefsky; a six-part documentary on the film and an interview with Lumet. It's a great set.

For everyone hoping for a sequel to Pushing Tin: The Ice Harvest (Widescreen) (2005)

Certainly there were high expectations for The Ice Harvest. Starring John Cusack, Billy Bob Thornton, Connie Nielsen, Randy Quaid and Oliver Platt and directed by Harold Ramis, the film was written by Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Richard Russo and Robert Benson. All that didn't translate to huge box office success, just an array of good reviews and poor marketing. The film centers around Cusack and Thornton as they attempt to embezzle money from a mob boss (Quaid) on Christmas Eve. Nielsen plays a strip club owner who is the potential romantic interest for Cusack's character. It's a great pedigree for a film and continues Thornton's streak of rogues to something like his last 37 films. Included on the disc are outtakes; alternate endings; breakdowns of a scene and the screenwriting process; a making-of featurette; and an audio commentary with Ramis. For Kim Hollis' significantly more thoughtful and interesting look at the film, click here.

For being a Keira Knightley movie without Tony Scott directing: Pride and Prejudice (Widescreen) (2005)

Starring in an adaptation of a Jane Austen novel can be a tricky proposition, particularly when there's a relatively recent BBC adaptation that was extremely well-received. But when you're Keira Knightley and your only other true lead role in a film was in Tony Scott's execrable Domino, it's an even trickier proposition. Fail, and you fail miserably, potentially further damaging your burgeoning career and being mocked for ruining a classic. Succeed, and you could add to your luster and be nominated for an Academy Award. Knightley, impressively, was successful. Pride and Prejudice is a terrific adaptation and a fantastically entertaining movie. Knightley's work in the film is terrific, as are Rosamund Pike, Matthew Mcfayden, and in particular, Donald Sutherland. The DVD also lives up to the promise of the film, with an audio commentary by director Joe Wright and featurettes and interviews. It is too bad Knightley's not involved in the audio commentary, but this is a nice set.

You know, I spent ten minutes trying to come up with a joke here and just can't do it: Lady and the Tramp (50th Anniversary Edition) (1955)

Disney continues its run of outstanding DVD releases of their classic animation library. Really, there's nothing like a love story between dogs (including one from the wrong side of the tracks) to make you want to buy a DVD. Actually, if you have kids, it's tough to resist these new Disney DVDs. Snow White and Bambi were the first must-haves in the collection, and with more to come, you'll probably have to pick and choose, but if nothing else, you can feel safe that the films look better than they ever have. Lady and the Tramp is also loaded with special features, including deleted sequences; the original 1943 storyboards and a look at the storyboarding process; a making-of featurette; DVD-rom games; trivia and a music video.

For remembering why it's cool to wear black: Walk the Line (2-Disc Collector's Edition) (2005)

Using the successful template set out by Ray last year, Walk the Line features a similar storyline and conceit, but improves on it by actually having the actors actually sing and not be total raging egomaniacs (coming soon, Jamie Foxx - The Cereal!). While Joaquin Phoenix may not follow Foxx with an Academy Award win, his performance was much more brave. Without the distinctive walk and performance tics of Ray Charles, or the sunglasses to hide behind, Phoenix is able to inhabit Johnny Cash in a meaningful way, while still facing the daunting challenge of having to sound like him in speaking and singing. It's an impressive performance. Former anti-Christ Reese Witherspoon manages to put her usual acting crutches aside to play June Carter, with very tangible results. As the favorite to win the Academy Award on Sunday, it's clear that Witherspoon took a giant acting leap forward in Walk the Line. Witherspoon has the advantage of Carter not being seared into the public consciousness, but that may make her characterization and acting nuances more impressive, as she doesn't have audience buy-in quite as automatically. While Walk the Line is missing something deep and epic that would have made it great, it manages to be compelling all the same.

Equally compelling is the set of extra features on the Collector's Edition. Features include an audio commentary from director James Mangold, who literally worked for years to get the film made; deleted scenes (with optional commentary); featurettes and music videos. The shame of it is the near total lack of presence from the film's stars. Particularly given the subject matter and their time spent with Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash, an audio commentary with Phoenix and Witherspoon would have been fascinating. Hearing both stars discuss their time researching and preparing to play such iconic characters would shed real light on the filmmaking process.

For growing a porno mustache to get chicks: NewsRadio: The Complete Third Season (3-DVD Set) (1996)

Even in a week this busy, there's only one DVD I'll be running out to get, NewsRadio: The Complete Third Season, your DVD Pick of the Week. NewsRadio is one of the least appreciated television comedies of the last ten years. Starring Dave Foley, Maura Tierney, Andy Dick, Vicki Lewis, Stephen Root, Khandi Alexander, Joe Rogan and the late great Phil Hartman as the on-air talent and management of a New York news radio station, the show's run captured some of the finest office-based absurdities of any television show not called The Office. Even as a fan of the show, watching the first two seasons was instantly refreshing, particularly in the age of The World According to Jim and endless reality television.. The show's finest moments were in seasons three and four, and, as with the first two seasons, the DVD sets match the show for quality. Included on the discs are audio commentary tracks with the cast and creators on ten episodes; a gag reel and featurettes. Don't miss out.

February 28, 2006

Axe (2005)
Camara Oscura (2003)
Charmed: The Complete Fourth Season (6-DVD Set) (2001)
Death Tunnel (2005)
Dog Day Afternoon (2-Disc Special Edition) (1975)
Edge of America (2005)
Fear of Clowns (2004)
The Ice Harvest (Full Frame) (2005)
The Ice Harvest (Widescreen) (2005)
Joshua (2006)
Keep Your Distance (2005)
Kind Hearts and Coronets (Criterion Collection) (1949)
La Scorta (1997)
Lady and the Tramp (50th Anniversary Edition) (1955)
The Lords of Discipline (1983)
Luella Miller (2004)
Network (2-Disc Special Edition) (1976)
NewsRadio: The Complete Third Season (3-DVD Set) (1996)
Pride and Prejudice (Full Frame) (2005)
Pride and Prejudice (Widescreen) (2005)
Scum (Limited Edition) (1979)
Soldiers of Change (2001)
Three...Extremes (2004)
Tokyo Psycho (2004)
The Untold Story of Emmett Louis Till (2005)
The Visitation (2006)
Walk the Line (2-Disc Collector's Edition) (2005)
Walk the Line (Full Frame) (2005)
Walk the Line (Widescreen) (2005)
When a Killer Calls (2006)
Where the Truth Lies (Rated R) (2005)
Where the Truth Lies (Unrated) (2005)
Yours, Mine and Ours (Full Frame) (2005)
Yours, Mine and Ours (Widescreen) (2005)