Doubt (available on DVD and Blu-ray April 7th, 2009)
Taking place in 1964, “Doubt” tells the story of a nun who suspects a priest of abusing a teenage boy at a New York City Catholic school. The nun is Sister Aloysius Beauvier (Meryl Streep), the school’s principal. She’s a stern, unsympathetic, conservative woman with a keen eye for misconduct. Some would say it’s too keen; there’s a sense that she actively looks for something to discipline, be it a student not sitting up straight, the obvious pagan undertones to “Frosty the Snowman,” the undignified usage of ballpoint pens, or teachers with an innocent outlook on life. Such a teacher is Sister James (Amy Adams), the school’s eighth grade teacher; despite a relatively pleasant disposition, she’s also somewhat reserved, afraid to provoke Sister Aloysius by not living up to her standards. Consider this moment when all the Sisters eat their dinners in silence--when Sister James takes a bit of food out of her mouth and puts it on the side of her plate, Sister Aloysius gives her a piercing stare, one that says, “Not in my school, you don’t.” Read the Theatrical Review HERE!
Both DVD and Blu-ray Hi-Def versions of Doubt include the following
bonus features:
• From Stage to Screen—An intimate discussion with playwright,
screenwriter and
director John Patrick Shanley about the history of Doubt, including
his inspirations for
the story, the acclaim the play’s Broadway run received, the Pulitzer
Prize and the
process of adapting it for the screen. Joining the conversation are
Meryl Streep and
Sister Margaret McEntee (a consultant on the film and Shanley’s
former teacher).
• Scoring Doubt—Renowned composer Howard Shore discusses
his inspiration for the
music in the film and his collaboration with both John Patrick Shanley
and producer
Scott Rudin.
• The Sisters of Charity—In an insightful and lively dialogue,
Meryl Streep and John
Patrick Shanley discuss the interviews that Shanley did before shooting
with real nuns to
discuss their lives and make sure they would be accurately portrayed
in the film.
• Feature Commentary with John Patrick Shanley
• The Cast of Doubt—A conversation with actors Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams and Viola Davis.
Bedtime Stories DVD/Blu-ray Combo Pack (available April 5th, 2009)
As a handyman at the hotel his father used to own, Skeeter Bronson (Adam Sandler) spends his days changing light bulbs and competing with the hotel’s smarmy manager (Guy Pearce) for the attention of the new owner’s beautiful, hard-partying daughter, Violet (Theresa Palmer). When his sister Wendy (Courteney Cox) asks Skeeter to babysit her kids for a week while she’s out of town, Skeeter entertains his niece and nephew with elaborate, original bedtime stories that transport them to exotic locales, including ancient Greece, the Wild West and outer space. When he tries to help his family by telling one outlandish tale after another, it’s the kids’ unexpected contributions that turn all of their lives upside down. Full of imaginative special effects and good-natured hilarity, Bedtime Stories is a winning combination of comedy and adventure.
Both the 3-Disc Combo Pack and 2-Disc Deluxe Edition DVD of Bedtime
Stories include these exciting bonus features plus DisneyFile Digital
Copy:
• Until Gravity Do Us Part - A behind-the-scenes look at the film’s
mindboggling special effects
• It’s Bugsy – A close up look at the breakout star
of Bedtimes Stories, Bugsy the big-eyed guinea pig
• To All The Little People
• Hilarious Bloopers and Deleted Scenes
The 2-Disc Deluxe Edition DVD set also comes with the featurette “Dylan & Cole Sprouse: Blu-ray is Suite.”
One-Disc DVD and Two-Disc Deluxe Edition DVD Arrive April 7, 2009
Check out these Behind-the-Scenes clips:
No Country For Old Men Collector’s Edition (2-Disc Blu-ray and 3-Disc DVD available on April 7th, 2009)
Relentless in method, challenging in presentation, and unforgettable in execution, the Coen Brothers’ adaptation of Cormac McCarthy’s acclaimed novel glimpses upon pure genius in its characters and suspenseful build, but sacrifices much of the clarity (though not the power) of its narration in the strict adherence to its source material. Boasting some of the finest performances of the year, the Coen’s fantastically intricate thriller demands an astute mind and a perceptive eye to decipher the multi-layered parallels that lie in No Country for Old Men.
When Llewelyn Moss (Josh Brolin) stumbles upon a drug deal gone wrong and leaves with $2 million in cash, he is relentlessly pursued by several interested parties, including cunningly vicious psychopathic killer Anton Chigurh (Javier Bardem), cocky hitman Carson Wells (Woody Harrelson), and Sheriff Ed Tom Bell (Tommy Lee Jones) . While Llewelyn struggles to stay alive and protect those he loves, the inevitable confrontation with his pursuers steadily closes in on him, as does unflinching fate and its inescapable finality. Read the Theatrical Review HERE!
Bonus Features
• The Making Of No Country For Old Men – A behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to create a Coen Brothers’ movie.
• Working with the Coens – The cast and crew of No Country for Old Men talk about working with the legendary duo.
• The Diary of A Country Sheriff – A look at the relationship between Javier Bardem’s Anton Chigarh and Josh Brolin’s Lewellyn Moss through the eyes of Sheriff Ed Tom Bell (Tommy Lee Jones).
• A treasure trove of in-depth interviews and conversations with the Coen Brothers, Tommy Lee Jones, Josh Brolin and Javier Bardem—never before available on disc—offering viewers the most comprehensive look ever at the making of No Country for Old Men.
• Digital Copy Download
As complex and multi-layered as the film is, these in-depth special features are a real treat. For anyone who liked the film but couldn’t quite figure it all out, this set will shed some light on the suspenseful story with a deep, “you’re not in control” twist. You’ll probably end up liking the film even more, and may understand why so many others did, catapulting No Country for Old Men into 2007’s Best Picture Oscar status.
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- Mike Massie
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