The week’s interesting video choices

If you’re interested in mainstream fare, here are the week’s DVD releases for you: “The Caller,” “The Day the Earth Stood Still,” “The Tale of Despereaux” and “Yes Man.”

But if you’re interested in films that offer something just a bit different, or are otherwise interesting, consider the following (all of which became available today):

“Doubt”
This John Patrick Shanley film tackles a familiar problem: that of a priest who is suspected of sexually abusing a student at the middle school where she teaches. Philip Seymour Hoffman plays the priest, Meryl Streep plays the nun/principal who blows the whistle on him and Amy Adams plays the novice who gets caught in the middle. The film is a triumph of acting, even if the story itself never develops to a point where guilt or innocence is resolved. Shanley’s purpose is to explore doubt, and that’s exactly what he does. (1:44; rated PG-13 for thematic material)

“Glass: A Portrait of Philip in 12 Parts”
Not everyone is a fan of Philip Glass. But Australian documentary filmmaker Scott Hicks’ Oscar-nominated film gives you every reason to appreciate the classical composer’s work. Included are interviews with the likes of Woody Allen and Martin Scorsese. (1:45; not rated)

“The Goldwyn Follies”
One of Hollywood’s classic musicals, starring Adolphe Menjou and the Ritz Brothers, this 1938 effort that features the music of George Gershwin. Look for ventriloquist Edgar Bergen and his once-famous dummy Charlie McCarthy. (1:43; not rated)

“La Grande Bouffe”
Four friends (one of whom is played by Marcello Mastroianni) meet for a weekend of gluttony and ends up being a suicide pact: They’ll eat themselves to death. As Roger Ebert wrote about Italian director Marco Ferreri’s1973 film, “the critics chose up sides and attacked it as either (a) the most disgusting and decadent film in the history of France or (b) a savage, radical attack on the bourgeois establishment.” (2:10; rated NC-17 for explicit sexuality)

“Tales of Ordinary Madness”
Another Marco Ferreri film, this one stars Ben Gazzara as the Charles Bukowski-like protagonist based on Bukowski’s own short-story series “Erections, Ejaculations and General Tales of Ordinary Madness.” (1:41; not rated)