This week's DVD and Blu-ray releases

The following are capsule reviews of new and recent DVD and Blu-ray releases from the Office for Film & Broadcasting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Theatrical movies have a USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification and Motion Picture Association of America rating. These classifications refer only to the theatrical version of the films below, and do not take into account the discs' extra content.

Confessions of a Shopaholic

Mostly silly romantic comedy set in New York about a ditsy compulsive shopper (Isla Fisher) who achieves improbable success writing an anonymous advice column for a financial magazine, despite being deeply in debt herself, and who falls for her good-looking boss (Hugh Dancy). Director P.J. Hogan's glossy adaptation of Sophie Kinsella's novels is lively and colorful, and the leads are not without charm, but the film is a paean to materialism even as it pretends to convey a contrary message, while an overabundance of slapstick greatly undermines the humor. A premarital relationship, a few crude words and expressions, mild innuendo, and an undue emphasis on materialism.  A-III -- adults. (PG) (Buena Vista Home Entertainment; also available on Blu-ray) 2009

Eastern Promises

Taut, grippingly powerful story of the Russian underworld as a midwife in a London hospital (Naomi Watts) tries to locate the family of Russian girl who died giving birth; when she reveals she has the dead girl's incriminating diary, she becomes the target of a restaurateur-mobster (Armin Mueller-Stahl), his alcoholic bully of a son (Vincent Cassel) and their taciturn chauffeur (Viggo Mortensen). Director David Cronenberg's somber thriller is crafted with impressive artistry, and performances -- including those of Sinead Cusack and Jerzy Skolimowski -- are excellent, but though the violence is artistically valid extreme caution is advised as there are some graphic images and one intense sexual encounter. Brutal violence with bloodshed, the mutilation of a corpse, a graphic sexual act, rear and fleeting full-frontal-male and upper-female nudity, blood hemorrhaging, an extended tattooing sequence, rough language and profanity, and drug and rape references. Spanish titles option. L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. (R) (Universal Studios Home Video; also available on Blu-ray) 2007

Hoffa

Key moments in the career of Teamsters union boss Jimmy Hoffa (Jack Nicholson) are recalled by a longtime aide (Danny DeVito) as they wait for a meeting with a powerful crime lord (Armand Assante) on the last day of their lives. Also directed by DeVito, the energetic but erratic production has its center in Nicholson's convincing performance as a man of action, equally willing to use his fists or cut a deal to achieve his ends, but precisely what they were and what Hoffa wanted out of life remains an enigma. Some graphic violence, several sexual situations, brief nudity and recurring rough language. A-III -- adults. (R) (20th Century Fox Home Entertainment) 1992

High Hopes

Low-key British satire focuses on one working-class couple (Ruth Sheen and Philip Davis) and their interaction with family members and wealthy neighbors who don't share their concern about economic reform. Writer-director Mike Leigh offers an especially savage portrait of nouveau riche relatives, snooty yuppies and a painfully real family dynamic in which communication and love play minimal roles. Some rough language laced with sexual vulgarities, brief abuse within an adulterous liaison and a common-law cohabitation. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association of America. (BFS Entertainment & Multimedia) 1989

Inkheart

Lavish, though sometimes awkward, fantasy adventure about a bookbinder (Brendan Fraser) who accidentally brings a fictional juggler (Paul Bettany) and a villain (Andy Serkis) to life by reading aloud to his daughter (Eliza Hope Bennett) the novel in which they are characters and who teams with the author (Jim Broadbent) to return them and retrieve his wife (Sienna Guillory), who disappeared into the story. Director Iain Softley's adaptation of Cornelia Funke's 2004 best-seller, which also features Helen Mirren as the girl's aunt, is a paean to fiction and family relationships and, though there is some moderate action violence that might frighten the very youngest viewers, is otherwise acceptable for all. A-I -- general patronage. (PG) (Warner Home Video; also available on Blu-ray) 2009

Miller's Crossing

Tough Prohibition-era gangster movie about a mob war in which the right-hand man (Gabriel Byrne) of the city's top boss (Albert Finney) goes to work for the opposition after the two have a falling out over a woman (Marcia Gay Harden). Written, produced and directed by the brothers Joel and Ethan Coen, the hard-boiled story has some interesting twists about personal loyalty and the criminal code, the melodramatic performances and the period setting go well together and the hard-edged violence is neatly stylized for the most part. Considerable violence and menace, references to illicit sexual relationships and occasional profanity.  L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. (R) (20th Century Fox Home Entertainment) 1990

Out of Sight

Giddy crime caper from Elmore Leonard’s novel about a federal marshal (Jennifer Lopez) torn between romancing or arresting a charming con man (George Clooney) who is about to pull off a diamond heist with traitorous partners. Steven Soderbergh’s stylish direction of the result doesn’t compensate for the highly contrived plot and shallow characterizations. Some nasty violence, jokey treatment of criminal activity, an implied sexual encounter, occasional profanity and much rough language. Spanish titles option. L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. (R) (Universal Studios Home Video) 1998

The Pink Panther 2

Modestly amusing sequel in which bumbling, but ultimately brilliant Inspector Clouseau (Steve Martin) joins an international dream team of detectives (Alfred Molina, Andy Garcia, Yuki Matsuzaki and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan) to solve the theft of various national treasures, a pursuit aided by his loyal assistant (Jean Reno) and his secretly beloved secretary (Emily Mortimer). Despite a lavishly talented cast, which also includes John Cleese and Lily Tomlin, director Harald Zwart's addition to the decades-old franchise has little more to offer than some effectively chaotic slapstick, though the humor in comic scenes featuring a kindly fictional pope is at Clouseau's expense, not the church's. An implied premarital encounter and some sexual and mildly irreverent humor. A-III -- adults. (PG) (20th Century Fox Home Entertainment; also available on Blu-ray) 2009

The St. Valentine's Day Massacre

Movies have been evaluated by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishop's Office for Film and Broadcasting according to artistic merit and moral suitability. The reviews include the USCCB rating, the Motion Picture Association of America rating, and a brief synopsis of the movie.

The classifications are as follows:

• A-I -- general patronage;
• A-II -- adults and adolescents;
• A-III -- adults;
• A-IV**
• L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. L replaces the previous classification, A-IV.
• O -- morally offensive.
  

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