Your best choice on Blu-ray this week never played in theaters, so it is making its world premiere in your house:
1.) Unthinkable (Sony, $30.95), debuting on Blu-ray instead of theaters, is as well-produced, provocative and engaging as any theatrically-released political thriller in recent years, starring Samuel Jackson as a sympathetic expert in secret torture interrogation for the U.S. government, his latest victim being an American former anti-terrorism officer (Michael Sheen) turned Muslim who issues a warning about nuclear bombs set to go off in three cities within 24-hours. Carrie-Anne Moss plays an FBI agent filled with objections to the unofficial actions.
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— Top-notch acting by Jackson, Moss, Sheen, and Stephen Root.
— Extreme intensity and torture scenes, though not as graphic as many horror films.
— Extended version with 90-extra seconds at end to intensify the ambiguous ending
— Director audio commentary: test audiences didn’t like cliff-hanger ending so new ending was written but production company went bust before it could be shot.
2.) “When in Rome” (Disney, $39.99) is a cute and whimsical romantic comedy starring Kristen Bell, who demonstrates a knack for some lightweight physical comedy when she gets caught up in bit of magic sparked when her New York art museum curator makes a wish while standing in a fountain during a business trip to Rome that results in her being pursued by three slapstick suitors (including the unlikely Danny DeVito) and a fourth who could be the real thing.
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— Just the right length at less than 90-minutes.
— Amusing deleted six-minute opening scene of chaos during a museum event.
— Alternate ending in the fountain doesn’t change the result bud adds a gag involving the suitor dressed as a mummy.
— Humorous bloopers.
— A fun music video by 3OH!3 featuring Katy Perry (“Starstrukk”) and “Stupid Love Letter” music vid by Friday Night Boys.
3.) Youth in Revolt (Sony, $34.95) is yet another coming-of-age story about a geeky young man played once again by Michael Cera that is once again filled with many frank references about sex (including funny/uncomfortable dialogue between two guys about the shape of each other’s penis).
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— Revealing audio commentary also offered in time-saving subtitles, featuring Michael Cera repeating almost everything said by director Miguel Arteta and sounding surprised at many edits and apparent deleted scenes as if this is the first time seeing the film.
— More of the fun animated sequences, which Cera complains is not flattering to him.
— Always interesting audition footage.
4.) The Book of Eli (Warner, $35.99 for combo Blu-ray/DVD/digital copy) is another bleak and dreary depiction of our post-apocalytic world where people become scavengers and form their own little societies and mini-fiefdoms led by tyrannical oppressors. This time it’s Denzel Washington as the lone wolf carrying the flag for a return to civility with the power to re-create the writings in the Bible while wielding a very deadly sword as his protector.
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— Maximum Movie Mode — best in class — once again delivers fun behind-the-scenes info and commentary from cast and crew in well-place video pop-ups during the movie.
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5.) “Showgirls 15th Anniversary Sinsational Edition” (MGM/Fox, $29.99) brings the campy Vegas sex romp to HiDef:
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— Still mostly only notable for seeing “Saved by the Bell’s”e Elizabeth Berkeley completely naked and doing wildly over-the-top erotic lap dances, pole dancing/stripping, and having such convulsive sex with Kyle Machlachlan in a pool that it nearly causes a tidal wave.
— Goofy box cover art looks like a CGI’d stripper Barbie
— Previous DVD extras such as tutorials on pole and lap dancing
— By Scott Hettrick