The Blind Side Is it the angle Sandra Bullock got hit by the news that her hubby is a philanderer, or the movie for which she won a Best Actress Oscar this year? Probably both. For these purposes, we’ll just talk about the movie in which she plays Leigh Anne Tuohy, a Southern woman who takes a homeless black teenager under her wing and gives him the opportunity to find success as a football player. Based on the true story of Michael Oher, now in his rookie season as a Baltimore Ravens offensive tackle, the heartwarming tale is at once sassy and moving. Extras: Exclusive Michael Oher interview, “Behind the Blind Side,” a conversation with Bullock and Tuohy, more (BD); deleted scenes only (DVD)
Fantastic Mr. Fox George Clooney is the voice of Mr. Fox, who has 12 years of domestic bliss behind him. When he slips into his old chicken-hunting ways, he incurs the wrath of a couple of evil farmers, who vow to take down not just Fox but the entire animal community. Based on the best-selling book by Roald Dahl, the movie’s voiceover cast also includes Meryl Streep, Jason Schwartzman and Bill Murray. Extras: The Blu-ray and DVD combo pack include a ton of features: “Making Mr. Fox Fantastic,” “The World of Roald Dahl,” “Puppet Animation” and more. Single DVD includes 3 featurettes.
The Men Who Stare at Goats Also starring George Clooney is this oddball film about a reporter who gets involved with an experimental military branch that believes paranormal abilities like ESP can be harnessed to fight in the enemy. Extras: “Goats Declassified: The Real Men of the First Earth Battalion,” “A Classified Report from the Set,” commentaries and more (DVD); the BD includes all that plus a digital copy. Exclusive! Watch Jeff Bridges and Ewan McGregor in one of four deleted scenes featured in the extras here.
Brothers Yet another entry in the Middle East war drama genre, this one stars Tobey Maguire as a soldier thought killed in Afghanistan who ends up returning home to find his brother (Jake Gyllenhaal) shtupping his wife (Natalie Portman). Kitchen-sink drama ensues. Extras: Commentary by director Jim Sheridan, “Remade in the USA: How Brodre Became Brothers,” “Jim Sheridan: Film and Family.” (DVD/BD)
Red Cliff John Woo’s breathtaking epic pits a power-hungry general against two rebel warlords that are getting in the way of his domination of China. One of Asia’s hugest hits and the most expensive Asian film production of all time, the movie is a must-see for fans of the genre and those looking for gorgeous battle scenes.
Blu-ray Debuts
The African Queen Just when you thought they’d put all your favorite classic films on BD comes this newly restored version of The African Queen, starring Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn, the last of AFI’s top 100 films to be converted onto Blu. Execs arranged to get feedback from the original cinematographer and using digital scans, have cleaned the dirt, scratches and age from the print—see the results for yourself.
Before (top) & After (bottom)
A single DVD or BD includes the documentary: Embracing Chaos: Making The African Queen. The commemorative set includes that, plus an audio broadcast, Hepburn’s out-of-print memoir chronicling the making-of process, a collectible film frame and postcards.
Toy Story 1 & 2 The Pixar classics come to vivid life in high-def with nine all-new bonus features, including an exclusive look at Toy Story 3. (Special combo packs are also available on DVD and include all the features, just not the BD Live capability.)
