Behind the intrigue and redemption

Two Golden Globe contenders arrive today on DVD: the urban drama “Hustle & Flow” and the political thriller “The Constant Gardener.”

Based on the bestselling novel by John le Carre, “The Constant Gardener” (Universal, $30) is nominated for the Globes for best dramatic picture, director (Fernando Meirelles) and supporting actress (Rachel Weisz).

Ralph Fiennes stars as a quiet low-level official with the British High Commission in Nairobi who uncovers far-flung corruption in the pharmaceutical industry after his activist wife (Weisz) is brutally murdered. Though the DVD would have benefited by commentary from the Brazilian filmmaker Meirelles, the well-produced extras augment the viewing experience, especially the documentary on filming on location and in Kenya, and a candid interview with Le Carre.

Terrence Howard is nominated for a Globe for best actor in a drama for his turn in “Hustle & Flow” (Paramount, $30) as a Memphis pimp and drug dealer who attempts to become a successful rapper with the help of a high school buddy (Anthony Anderson). The digital edition of the indie hit that also stars Taryn Manning and DJ Qualls features some behind-the-scenes documentaries -- the best one is a look at the creation of the score -- and breezy commentary from writer-director Craig Brewer.

Also new:

“Red Eye” (DreamWorks, $30): Effective Wes Craven thriller about a young woman forced into a political assassination plot by the young man sitting next to her on an airplane. Rachel McAdams and Cillian Murphy star. The DVD features a serviceable “making of” documentary, a funny gag reel and lively commentary from Craven, editor Patrick Lussier and producer Marianna Maddalena.

“The Bad Sleep Well” (Criterion, $30): Akira Kurosawa’s mesmerizing 1963 variation on “Hamlet” casts frequent collaborator Toshiro Mifune in one of his most complex roles, as a young man who seeks revenge upon the corrupt corporate officials who caused the death of his father five years earlier. The DVD features only one extra: a 33-minute Japanese TV documentary on the making of the film.

“Good Morning, Vietnam” (Touchstone, $20): Robin Williams received his first best actor Oscar nomination for his performance as an unorthodox DJ who is the first to play rock music at the U.S. Armed Services radio station in Vietnam. This “special edition” features ho-hum retrospective documentaries and no commentary.

The best of the extras is raw footage of Williams’ irreverent improvs as the DJ.

“Dead Poets Society” (Touchstone, $20): Special edition of the award-winning 1989 drama that stars Williams -- in his second Oscar-nominated performance -- as a young English teacher at a boys’ boarding school. The disc features heartfelt interviews with costars Robert Sean Leonard and Ethan Hawke about the life-changing experience of working with director Peter Weir, along with a collection of deleted scenes, a lovely tribute from Weir and director David Lynch on the late sound designer Alan Splet, and compelling commentary from Weir, writer Tom Schulman and cinematographer John Seale.

“Ferris Bueller’s Day Off -- Bueller Bueller Edition” (Paramount, $20): Though Matthew Broderick is best known today for playing timid accountant Leo Bloom onstage and in the film version of “The Producers,” when “Ferris Bueller” was released 20 years ago, the actor excelled at playing confident go-getters.

In this hit, written and directed by John Hughes, who hasn’t directed a movie in 15 years, Ferris, his girlfriend (Mia Sara) and his best friend (Alan Ruck) take the day off from high school. Extras include an affectionate retrospective documentary -- Sara and Hughes don’t participate -- and fun interviews with the cast shot during production.

“An Unmarried Woman” (Fox, $15): Writer-director Paul Mazursky was one of the brightest lights of the 1970s with such critical and commercial hits as “Blume in Love,” “Harry & Tonto,” “Next Stop, Greenwich Village” and this luminous 1978 romantic drama. Jill Clayburgh plays a supposedly happily married woman whose “perfect” world collapses when her husband (Michael Murphy) leaves her for another woman. The DVD features astute commentary from Mazursky, who discusses such topics as the freedom directors had in the 1970s and why he likes nudity in his films. Clayburgh also offers clear-eyed commentary about her experience making the film.

Later this month:

Jan. 17: “Two for the Money,” “Lord of War,” “The Man,” “Junebug,” “Asylum,” “Sueno,” “Underclassman,” “Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room.”

Jan. 24: “Flightplan,” “The Fog,” “Oliver Twist,” “Thumbsucker,” “The Aristocrats,” “My Big Fat Independent Movie.”

Jan. 31: “Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride,” “The Legend of Zorro,” “In Her Shoes,” “Supercross,” “The War Within,” “The Bubble.”

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DVD sales

Here are the 10 top-selling DVDs for the week ending Jan. 1. Rankings are compiled from a variety of major retailers, including Amazon.com, Best Buy, Blockbuster, Circuit City and Tower.

1. “The 40-Year-Old Virgin”

2. “American Pie Presents: Band Camp”

3. “Into the Blue”

4. “Four Brothers”

5. “Dark Water”

6. “Serenity”

7. “The Exorcism of Emily Rose”

8. “Mr. & Mrs. Smith”

9. “Fantastic Four”

10. “Star Wars: Episode III --Revenge of the Sith”

Source: DVDExclusive.com

Los Angeles Times