DVD releases: ‘The Town’ brings out Affleck’s best
Available this week:
“The Town”: Ben Affleck stars in and directed this compelling crime thriller, about a band of Boston bank robbers and the relationship one falls into with their hostage, a bank manager. With Rebecca Hall, Jon Hamm and Jeremy Renner. (2:03; R for violence, language, sexuality and drug use) • • •
“Nanny McPhee Returns”: In this larky sequel to the 2005 surprise hit, Emma Thompson reprises her role as the caregiver who transforms a three-ring circus of a family farm (replete with flying pigs and lumbering elephants) into a serene household. With Maggie Smith and Rhys Ifans. (1:40; PG for rude humor and language) • • •
“Mother and Child”: Rodrigo Garcia’s compelling, if sudsy, film about interconnectedness considers the impact of adoption on the lives of three women. First-rate performances from Annette Bening. Kerry Washington and Naomi Watts, with solid support from Jimmy Smits, Samuel L. Jackson, Cherry Jones and S. Epatha Merkerson. (2:05; R for sexuality, nudity and language) • • •
“Despicable Me”: Affable, inconsequential animated feature about an archvillain (voice of Steve Carell) whose hard heart is softened by a trio of orphans who interfere with his nefarious plan to steal the moon. With voicework by Jason Segel and Julie Andrews. (1:35; PG for rude humor) • • 1/2
“Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole”: Zach Snyder’s eye-popping, animated 3-D combat film about civil war in the owl kingdom has adversaries who wear armor on beaks, breasts and talons. Beautifully rendered, but hard to tell the owls apart. (1:30; PG for some sequences of scary action) • • 1/2
“The A-Team”: “Overkill is underrated,” Liam Neeson’s Hannibal harrumphs in this long, loud adaptation of the ’80s TV action series. Turns out, he’s wrong. With Bradley Cooper as Face, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson as B.A., Sharlto Copley as Murdock, and Jessica Biel as the Army officer gazing awestruck and dumbfounded over the clandestine group’s brazen recklessness. (1:57; PG-13 for violence and language) • •
“The Other Guys”: Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg are a mismatched NYPD duo in Adam McKay’s flat-footed buddy cop parody. Dwayne Johnson and Samuel L. Jackson show up as “Lethal Weapon”-like police department superstars, and Eva Mendes and Michael Keaton are a wife and a cop boss, respectively. Maybe three good gags. (1:47; PG-13 for crude and sexual content, language, violence and drug material) • •
“Cyrus”: A newly divorced man (John C. Reilly) gets involved with the woman of his dreams (Marisa Tomei) – and her son (Jonah Hill). (1:32; R for language and some sexual material)
“Exit Through the Gift Shop”: A filmmaker following celebrated British graffiti artist Bansky finds the camera turned back on himself. (1:27; R for language)
“Micmacs”: A violence-scarred man and his eccentric friends plot to destroy two major weapons manufacturers. (1:45; R for some sexuality and brief violence)
“Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work”: A documentary glimpse into the comedic process and private dramas of the legendary comedian and pop icon. (1:24; R for language and sexual humor)