"The Big Bang" (Unrated): Antonio Banderas stars in this off-kilter blend of film noir, satire and a touch of science fiction. He plays a hard-boiled Los Angeles private eye hired to find a missing stripper (Sienna Guillory) and the $30 million in diamonds she took with her. The supporting cast includes Snoop Dogg, Sam Elliott, Bill Duke, William Fichtner and James Van Der Beek. Extras include commentary, a featurette and extended scenes.
"The Great Dictator" (Unrated): Charlie Chaplin's most daring role came in this scathing parody of Adolf Hitler, released in 1940. Chaplin plays a dual role as a Jew and as a bumbling megalomaniac named Adenoid Hynkel. This new release, on DVD or Blu-ray, is from the Criterion Collection, and includes extensive behind-the-scenes featurettes, analysis of the film, and a companion booklet.
"The Ron Howard Action Pack" (Unrated): Howard, best known for wholesome TV roles and his later directorial career, stars in two destructive action comedies from the 1970s, "Eat My Dust!" and "Grand Theft Auto." They are part of the "Roger Corman's Cult Classics" DVD series, and include interviews with Howard and Corman.
Also New This Week: "I Am Number Four," a teen-friendly sci-fi thriller; "Gnomeo & Juliet," a computer-animated movie about life among the garden statuary; "Disney's Lemonade Mouth," about a group of high schoolers who form a rock band; "Burning Palms," a dark comedy-drama about relationships among Los Angelenos; "Forget Me Not," a thriller about high schoolers and the vengeful ghost of a former classmate; "Death Hunter: Werewolves Vs. Vampires," an action/horror film; and "Anton Chekhov's The Duel," a story of decadence among 19th-century Russian aristocrats.
Steve McQueen on Blu-ray: The iconic actor stars in two new-to-Blu-ray titles out this week. "Papillon," with Dustin Hoffman; tells the story of a prison escape from Devil's Island. It comes with a 32-page companion booklet. "Le Mans," from 1971, is a fast-paced story set during a French car race, with McQueen as a driver trying to make a comeback. Extras include a making-of featurette. McQueen fans may also want to check out the DVD of "The Honeymoon Machine," a military comedy that is available online from the Warner Archives at www.wbshop.com.
Also New to Blu-ray: "The Hustler" with Paul Newman and Jackie Gleason, in a 50th anniversary edition with extras including retrospectives, biographies featurettes, all packaged in a hardcover booklet with behind-the-scenes articles; "The Comancheros," with John Wayne as a tough Texas Ranger trying to bring in a charming outlaw played by Stuart Whitman, also loaded with extras and packaged in a companion booklet; "Tigerland," a gritty 2000 drama about the Vietnam War starring Colin Farrell and directed by Joel Schumacher; and "Grand Prix," a 1966 racing drama with James Garner and Eva Marie Saint.
From staff and wire reports
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