Warner Bros. delaying DVD releases to libraries

Warner Bros. announced last week that they will not distribute their theatrical DVD titles to libraries until 28 days after their release dates. Additionally, the copies sent to libraries will not have any extras or bonus features. Read more about these changes at Library Journal.

Here are upcoming DVDs that will be affected by this policy:

Crazy, Stupid, Love: November 1 DVD release date; available to libraries November 28.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2: November 11 DVD release date; available to libraries December 9.

The Hangover Part II: December 6 DVD release date; available to libraries January 3.

Angry? Upset? Confused? Contact Warner Home Video:
Phone: 888-383-9483
Online: Warner Customer Service

DVDs out September 7th

Killers: This action-oriented romantic comedy stars Ashton Kucher as a former government assassin whose wife, doe-eyed Katherine Heigl, must come to grips with his past. Directed by Robert Luketic (Legally Blonde, The Ugly Truth).
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MacGruber: A feature-length version of the ongoing series of Saturday Night Live sketches, starring Will Forte as a comically inept MacGyver-type. Co-starring  Ryan Phillippe, Val Kilmer, and SNL alumni Maya Rudolph and Kristen Wiig. The soundtrack is appropriately loaded with dated '80s pop songs and goofy tracks performed by the cast members, but also features a song by Media Corner favorites The Black Keys.
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Solitary Man: Michael Douglas stars as a fifty-ish used car salesman whose dissatisfaction with his lot in life leads to a series of reunions and reevaluations. The supporting cast is full of ringers, including: Danny Devito, Jesse Eisenberg, Jenna Fischer, Mary Louise Parker, and the always reliable Susan Sarandon.
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DVDs out August 24th

Ajami: Co-directed by Palestinian filmmaker Scandar Copti and Israeli filmmaker Yaron Shani, this powerful drama focuses on the lives of a teenage boy named Nasri and his troubled family in the Ajami neighborhood of Tel Aviv, Israel. An insightful look at the human cost of violence and nationalism in the Middle East. Nominated for multiple awards, including Best Foreign Language Film at the 2010 Oscars, Ajami is highly recommended.
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The Back-Up Plan: This romantic comedy stars Jennifer Lopez as a New York pet shop owner who happens to meet the man of her dreams (Alex O'Loughlin) the very day she undergoes artificial insemination. The film's soundtrack features Colbie Caillat, Moby, VV Brown and, naturally, Jenny From The Block herself.
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City Island: A dark comedy centering on the dysfunctional lives of one Bronx, New York family. Starring Andy Garcia as the paterfamilias and Julianna Margulies as matriarch. Co-starring: Steven Strait, Dominik Garcia-Lorido, Alan Arkin, and the always exceptional Emily Mortimer.
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DVDs out August 17th

Furry Vengeance: This family-friendly comedy features Brendan Fraser as a businessman whose latest land-development project raises the ire of the area's woodland creatures. Yes, it's man vs. nature. Co-starring: Brooke Shields, Matt Prokop, and Angela Kinsey. And, keep an eye out for professional scene-stealers Ken Jeong and Wallace Shawn.
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The Last Song: Miley Cyrus takes the lead in this latest adaptation of a Nicholas Sparks novel. Cyrus stars as Veronica "Ronnie" Miller, a teenager whose life is forever changed by a summer spent at her father's home on Tybee Island, Georgia. Ronnie's father is played by the reliably affable Greg Kinnear, and Liam Hemsworth plays Ronnie's believably shirtless love interest. For those of us less susceptible to the treacly charms of Mr. Sparks and Co., I recommend Heather's light-hearted debunking of the Sparks franchise over on the Readers Block.
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DVDs out August 10th

Date Night: The much anticipated match-up of comic heavyweights Steve Carell and Tina Fey. The duo play a couple whose somewhat dreary marriage is tested - and subsequently reinvigorated - by a night in Manhattan that goes drastically awry. Carell and Fey make the most of familiar material, finding a certain sweetness in the sometimes prickly characters. Supporting cast: Mark Wahlberg makes for a solid straight-man, and the quarrelsome James Franco and Mila Kunis nearly steal the show. My earlier Media Corner review can be found here.
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Death at a Funeral: An amiable American remake of the 2007  British film of the same name. This madcap funeral differs very little from the original, but proves to be pretty funny in its own right. The large cast includes: Danny Glover, Regina Hall, Martin Lawrence, Tracy Morgan, Chris Rock, and Luke Wilson. Directed by Neil LaBute (Your Friends & Neighbors, Lakeview Terrace).
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The Joneses: A satirical comedy centered on an all-too-perfect suburban family. David Duchovny and Demi Moore star as an affluent couple whose consumerism make them the envy of their neighbors. Co-starring: Amber Heard, Ben Hollingsworth, and Gary Cole.
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Letters to God: An "inspirational drama"  based on the true story of a young boy's bout with cancer and the effect his religious faith has on his community. This is a Christian-themed film from the producer of Facing the Giants and Fireproof.
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DVDs out July 6th

Brooklyn's Finest: This police drama stars Don Cheadle, Richard Gere, and Ethan Hawke, as NYPD officers whose lives intersect at a crime scene. Directed by Anotine Fuqua (Training Day, Shooter). Co-starring: Ellen Barkin, Vincent D'Onofrio, Wesley Snipes, and Lili Taylor.
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The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo: Stieg Larsson's international bestseller has been made into a film in the author's native Sweden. Roger Ebert gave the adaptation four stars in his review, and was particularly commendatory of actress Noomi Rapace as the heroine, Lisbeth Salander. You can expect a less-interesting Hollywood remake in the near future. (The film's U.S. distribution is being handled by Music Box Films, the company which runs Chicago's finest movie theater.)
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A Single Man: Adapted from the novel by Christopher Isherwood, A Single Man is the directorial debut of fashion designer Tom Ford. Set in 1962, Colin Firth plays a gay British expatriate mourning the loss of his lover. The wardrobe and set design are every bit as impressive as you'd expect, given the talent on hand. (Ford hired the same production designers that have made AMC's Mad Men the gold standard for vintage style.) Colin Firth and Julianne Moore give excellent performances.
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DVDs out June 29th

The Crazies: A remake of George A. Romero's 1973 horror thriller, The Crazies stars Timothy Olyphant as a sheriff sent to investigate madness and mayhem in a small town. Co-starring: Radha Mitchell (Melinda and Melinda).
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Hot Tub Time Machine: Rob Corddry, John Cusack, Clark Duke, and Craig Robinson star as reunited friends who travel back to the halcyon days of 1986, thanks to the titular hot-tub's magical properties. No, I am not making this up.
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Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief: The big screen adaptation of Rick Riordan's hugely successful young adult novel. Percy Jackson is a teen, living in New York and struggling with ADHD. As it turns out, he's also the child of a Greek god. Directed by Chris Columbus, who helmed the first two installments of the Harry Potter series. Co-starring: Sean Bean, Pierce Brosnan, and Uma Thurman.
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The White Ribbon: Austrian director Michael Haneke is known for exploring the coldest regions of the human heart. In his latest film, he casts his eye on the nascent fascism of a rural German village at the onset of WWI. The film is as visually beautiful as it is morally unsettling. The White Ribbon was awarded the 2009 Palme d'Or, the highest prize awarded at the Cannes Film Festival, and you can expect it to be a serious contender for Best Foreign Film this Oscar season.
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DVDs out June 22nd

Green Zone: Matt Damon stars as Chief Warrant Officer Roy Miller in this thriller, set during the United States occupation of Baghdad. Based on the book Imperial Life in the Emerald City: Inside Iraq's Green Zone, by Rajiv Chandrasekaran. Directed by Paul Greengrass (The Bourne Supremacy, The Bourne Ultimatum, United 93).
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The Last Station: Christopher Plummer stars as Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy, the literary titan who authored Anna Karenina and War and Peace. Co-starring: Anne-Marie Duff, Paul Giamatti, James McAvoy, and Helen Mirren as Sofya Tolstoy.
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Remember Me: This romantic drama stars Edward Cullen, I mean, Robert Pattinson and Lost's Emilie de Ravin. Critics and viewers alike were baffled by the film's denouement, but the actors involved might make this project worth watching. Co-starring: Pierce Brosnan, the always amazing Chris Cooper, and Lena Olin.
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She's Out of My League: Apatow alumnus Jay Baruchel takes the lead in this romantic comedy. He plays an "average" guy who attracts a "stunning" woman. The mismatch premise has been done a thousand times, but Baruchel is a charmer and the film is surprisingly good natured.
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DVDs out June 15th

The Book of Eli: A post-apocalyptic action film, directed by brothers Albert and Allen Hughes (Menace II Society, From Hell). Denzel Washington stars as a grim loner on a quest to preserve the future of mankind. Co-starring: Jennifer Beals, Mila Kunis, and Gary Oldman.
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When in Rome: Kristen Bell stars as a museum curator whose cynical theft of several coins from a wishing well makes her the recipient of lots of unwanted attention. Will this plot-device ruin her chances with hunky  reporter Josh Duhamel? Perhaps this will answer your question: "From the studio that brought you The Proposal." Co-starring: Will Arnett, Danny DeVito, Jon Heder, and Dax Shepard.
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Youth in Revolt: The perpetually awkward Michael Cera stars as Nick Twist, a teenager whose sublimated lust becomes a mustachioed alter-ego named, wait for it, Francois Dillinger. Based on the popular teen novel by C.D. Payne.
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DVDs out June 8th

From Paris With Love: Jonathan Rhys-Meyers (The Tudors) plays an inexperienced CIA agent, partnered with a way-over-the-top hothead played by John Travolta. Expect considerable gun-play, "buddy cop" humor, and gratuitous closeups of Travolta's goatee.
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Shutter Island: A brilliant psychological thriller from director Martin Scorsese. Leonardo DiCaprio stars as a Federal Marshall investigating the disappearance of an inmate from a heavily protected asylum, located on the eponymous island. Co-Starring: Mark Ruffalo, Sir Ben Kingsley, Jackie Earle Haley, and Michelle Williams. The cast is uniformly excellent, but Emily Mortimer gives a particularly strong performance. Based on the novel by Dennis Lehane. My full review can be found here.
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DVDs out June 1st: Unusually U.K.-Centric

Alice in Wonderland: Lewis Carroll's enduring novels get the Tim Burton treatment. Burton regular Johnny Depp gives an appropriately deranged performance as the Mad Hatter, but the real highlight is Helena Bonham Carter as the psychotic - and possibly hydrocephalic - Red Queen. Australian actress Mia Wasikowska plays the title role.
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The Barbara Stanwyck Show: Vol. 2: Hollywood siren Barbara Stanwyck (Double Indemnity, Sorry, Wrong Number) hosted her own television anthology series on NBC from 1960-1961. The show featured a host of notable actors and actresses as guest performers, including: Dana Andrews, Joan Blondell, Joseph Cotten, Lee Marvin, Anna May Wong, and Hollywood newcomers Dennis Hopper and Jack Nicholson.

Foyle's War: Set 6: The sixth season of the popular British detective series. Michael Kitchen anchors the show as Chief Superintendent Christopher Foyle, a man who "fights his own battle on the home-front."

Life: A 10-episode nature documentary, created by the BBC as a highlight of its Darwin Season 2009. Narrated by Richard Attenborough for the BBC and Oprah Winfrey for Discovery Channel.
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Midsomer Murders: Set 15: If you're a fan of British detective dramas, this is a banner week for you. In addition to the aforementioned Foyle's War box-set, the fifteenth Midsomer Murders collection also comes to DVD. The set includes four complete episodes, all set in the fictional county of Midsomer.
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The Wolfman: An effects-heavy remake of the 1941 Universal Pictures classic, starring Benicio del Toro as the lycanthrope. Co-starring: the genuinely British thespians Emily Blunt Anthony Hopkins.
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DVDs out May 25th

Dear John: A romance between a buff soldier (Channing Tatum) and a young college student (Amanda Seyfried). This is the fifth Nicholas Sparks novel to be adapted for the big-screen. For spoilers of this and other titles in the Nicholas Sparks canon, check out Heather's hilariously smarmy blog entry on the Reader's Block.
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The Road: Viggo Mortensen stars as an unnamed father in this starkly harrowing post-apocalyptic drama. Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Cormac McCarthy. Directed by John Hillcoat (The Proposition).
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Stagecoach: The Criterion Edition of John Ford's classic 1939 Western, starring John Wayne and Claire Trevor. Restored high-definition transfer and a host of bonus features, including a 1917 silent film by the director and a 1949 radio dramatization.
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Adam Scott: Jerk of My Dreams

 Not to be confused with the hunky golfer of the same name, Adam Scott is a character actor who has appeared in several movies and TV shows including Knocked Up, Leap Year, and The Aviator.  Scott is most frequently cast playing characters who aren't very nice guys.  Probably because Scott excels at playing hilariously smarmy characters like the coked-up baseball agent Pat Anderson on the TV series Eastbound and Down.  Scott is perhaps best known for his performance in Step Brothers, where he plays Will Ferrell's biological brother Derek.  Derek is annoyingly perfect in every way, but strangely hostile towards his screw-up brother Brennen (Ferrell).  One of the most memorable scenes in the movie is when Derek and his family sing along to "Sweet Child O' Mine" while driving in their car; there is a YouTube sensation of people re-enacting this scene.

In spite of his propensity for playing jerks, I actually like Scott the best when he is playing straight man roles.  My favorite performance of his is as Henry Pollard from the TV series Party Down.  Henry is an out-of-work actor forced to get a job as bartender with a catering firm.  Like many real life actors, Henry first gained notoriety from a beer commercial, but unfortunately that role didn't lead to much else.  Much to Henry's chagrin, party guests often force him to say his catchphrase from the commercial, "Are we having fun yet?"  Henry and his coworker Casey (Lizzy Caplan) have one of most realistic romances on television, like a less idealistic Jim and Pam before they settled down into smug coupledom.  Recently, Scott has appeared on NBC's Parks and Recreation playing a state auditor named Ben Wyatt sent to Pawnee to deal with the budget crisis in the department.  Scott is signed on to be in more episodes of the show, and I for one couldn't be happier.  Ben seems poised as a love interest for the Parks department deputy director Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler), and he's the most exciting prospect she's had yet- except, of course, for her soul mate Ron Swanson (Nick Offerman).  Scott is also appearing in meta-horror film Piranha 3-D out in theaters this summer. 

Watch Adam Scott in one of the DVDs available through the library:

Party Down (2010)*.
Find it in the Catalog!

The Vicious Kind (2010).
Find it in the Catalog!

Leap Year (2010).
Find it in the Catalog!

Eastbound and Down (Season 1, Episode 6) (2009)*.
Find it in the Catalog!

The Great Buck Howard (2009).  
Find it in the Catalog!

Step Brothers (2008)*. 
Find it in the Catalog!

Knocked Up (2007)*. 
Find it in the Catalog!

The Return (2006).
Find it in the Catalog!

The Matador (2006).  
Find it in the Catalog!

Monster-in-Law (2005).  
Find it in the Catalog! 

Veronica Mars (Episode: "Mars vs. Mars", Season 1, Episode 14) (2005)*. 
Find it in the Catalog!  

The Aviator (2005).
Find it in the Catalog!

*Highly Recommended.

DVDs out May 18th

Extraordinary Measures: Inspired by the true story of a father's valiant attempt to find a cure for the disease that is slowly killing his two children. This tearjerker stars Brendan Fraser as the determined father and Harrison Ford as a brilliant scientist enlisted to help.
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Invictus: Clint Eastwood helms this political thriller, based on the book by John Carlin. Invictus is the story of South African President Nelson Mandela's support for his nation's rugby team. Morgan Freeman stars as Mandela, Matt Damon stars as the team's captain. Both actors earned Oscar nominations for their performances.
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The Messenger: Woody Harrelson and Ben Foster give outstanding performances as officers in the U.S. Army's Casualty Notification Office. Harrelson was nominated for an Academy Award in the Best Supporting Actor category, but the entire supporting cast is uniformly excellent.
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The Spy Next Door: Jackie Chan takes the lead in this family-friendly picture as a former CIA agent who attempts to win over his fiance's children. Co-Starring: Billy Ray Cyrus, George Lopez, and Amber Valletta. Expect 95 minutes of physical comedy and reaction shots.
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Valentine's Day: A fuzzy romantic comedy starring roughly 1/3 of Hollywood's current roster of actors and actresses. Some of the parties involved: Jessica Alba, Kathy Bates, Jessica Biel, Bradley Cooper, Patrick Dempsey, Hector Elizondo, Jamie Foxx, Jennifer Garner, Topher Grace, Anne Hathaway, Ashton Kutcher, Taylor Lautner, George Lopez, Shirley Maclaine, Queen Latifah, Emma Roberts, Julia Roberts. Pop singer Taylor Swift makes her big-screen debut as a comically energetic cheerleader; two of her songs are featured on the soundtrack. Directed by Garry Marshall.
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DVDs out May 11th

Daybreakers: This sci-fi/horror thriller is set in a future world where vampires are the majority and humans are harvested as food. Ethan Hawke plays a scientist, and vampire, who must confront the eminent "food" shortage.
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Edge of Darkness: Mel Gibson stars as a detective investigating the murder of his politically active daughter. Based on the BBC series of the same name. Co-starring the always reliable Ray Winstone.
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Legion: A fantasy/thriller concerning fallen angels brandishing automatic weapons and generally running amok in Los Angeles. Starring: Paul Bettany, Tyrese Gibson, and Dennis Quaid.
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DVDs out May 4th

Leap Year: This romantic comedy stars Amy Adams as a woman on a mission; she is determined to travel to Dublin, Ireland and propose to her boyfriend (Adam Scott). Along the way, she makes the acquaintance of Matthew Goode. Love triangle? Indeed. The setup seems fairly predictable, but Adam Scott can be counted on to give a first-rate performance as a pompous jerk.
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Nine: A big-screen adaptation of the Tony Award-winning musical of the same name. Daniel Day-Lewis (My Left Foot, There Will Be Blood, and perhaps half a dozen of the greatest onscreen performances of the past twenty years) stars as Guido Contini, a successful director experiencing something like a mid-life crisis. His angst is both aided and compounded by his relationships with the various women in his life, including: Marion Cotillard, Penelope Cruz, Judi Dench, Fergie, Kate Hudson, Nicole Kidman, and Sophia Loren. Reviews were mixed, but, again, Daniel Day-Lewis.
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Tooth Fairy: Dwayne Johnson stars as a hockey player somehow transmogrified into the mythical tooth fairy. Yes, you read that right. Co-starring: Julie Andrews, Billy Crystal, and Ashley Judd. Rated PG.
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Alec Baldwin: A Second Look

Nathan Rabin, author of The Big Rewind: A Memoir Brought to You By Pop Culture, has neatly and affectionately summed up Alec Baldwin's considerable assets: "The moody 30 Rock star has just about everything: devastating good looks, a voice like aged scotch, impeccable comic timing, boundless charisma, simmering intensity, voluminous talent, and a bizarre, colorful family dynasty. Yet he’s found countless ways to sabotage his career." The sabotage Rabin refers to is most evident in Baldwin's sometimes questionable career choices. (We'll leave aside the familial drama that has, on occasion, made him a target of the tabloids and "entertainment news.") For instance, the role of Mr. Conductor in Thomas and the Magic Railroad may not have been the most appropriate outlet for his talents. After all, this is the man whose shockingly aggressive performance in Glengarry Glen Ross is continually cited as one of the outstanding performances of the 1990s. His screen-time in that film? Well under ten minutes. Now that's charisma. Baldwin recently co-hosted the Academy Awards; he continues to shine on the NBC hit 30 Rock; and the new-to-DVD comedy It's Complicated was a considerable commercial success. So, why not take a closer look at this mercurial actor's career.

DVDs out April 27th

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus:  Director Terry Gilliam (Brazil, The Brothers Grimm) brings his distinctive creative flair to this retelling of the Faust tale. Notably, this is Heath Ledger's final onscreen performance. Starring: Christopher Plummer, Lily Cole, Peter Stormare, and actor/musician Tom Waits as Satan himself.
Find it in the catalog!

It's Complicated: Meryl Streep is the object of affection for both her ex-husband, played by Alec Baldwin, and the architect in her employ, played by Steve Martin. It's Complicated is a charming romantic comedy that offers some serious laughs, as well as some surprisingly sweet domestic detail. Written and directed by Nancy Meyers (Father of the Bride, The Holiday). Co-Starring: John Krasinski, Lake Bell, Mary Kay Place, and Rita Wilson.
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DVDs out April 20th

Crazy Heart: This musical-drama stars Jeff Bridges as a country singer whose years of hard-living have left him broken; his relationship with a young journalist (played by Maggie Gyllenhaal) offers him a chance at redemption. Bridges was awarded a Best Actor Oscar for his performance. Co-Starring: Robert Duvall and Colin Farrell. Also, check out the soundtrack, which features the Academy Award-winning song "The Weary Kind."
Find it in the catalog!

The Lovely Bones: Based on the novel by Alice Sebold, The Lovely Bones is the story of a 14-year-old girl (Saoirse Ronan) whose consciousness continues after she is murdered. In the afterlife, she prompts her father (Mark Wahlberg) to find her killer. Co-Starring: Michael Imperioli, Susan Sarandon, Stanely Tucci, and Rachel Weisz. Directed by Peter Jackson (King Kong, The Lord of the Rings Trilogy).
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The Young Victoria: A biopic of Queen Victoria (Emily Blunt), from the time of her coronation through her marriage to Prince Albert (Rupert Friend). Written by Julian Fellowes, whose screenplay for the 2001 film Gosford Park earned him an Academy Award.
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DVDs out April 13th

Faces of America: A four-part PBS series that traces the genealogical histories of twelve well-known Americans: author Elizabeth Alexander, super-chef Mario Batali, comedian Stephen Colbert, author Louise Erdrich, journalist Malcolm Gladwell, actress Eva Longoria, virtuoso cellist Yo-Yo Ma, director Mike Nichols, global advocate Queen Noor, Dr. Mehmet Oz, Academy Award winning actress Meryl Streep, and olympic figur skater Kristi Yamaguchi. Hosted by Henry Louis Gates, Jr.
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Pirate Radio: Set in 1966, Pirate Radio is the comedic tale of a group of rock 'n roll enthusiasts who illegally broadcast their own radio station to the United Kingdom. Their gleeful counter-culturalism puts them at odds with conservative English politicians. The ensemble cast includes Philip Seymour Hoffman, January Jones, and a host of British thespians, including Kenneth Branagh, Nick Frost, Rhys Ifans, Bill Nighy, Talulah Riley, and Emma Thompson. Directed by Richard Curtis (Love Actually).
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Tenderness: A crime drama adapted from the novel by Robert Cormier. Russell Crowe (Gladiator, A Beautiful Mind) stars as a police detective on the trail of a young man wanted for murder. Co-starring: Jon Foster, Sophie Traub, and Laura Dern.
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