New on DVD: Feb. 17

New DVD’s This Week: Feb. 17

Representing a widow in a civil suit against a powerful corporate consortium is Wendall Rohr (Dustin Hoffman), whose opponent is not the attorney representing the corporation, but Rankin Fitch (Gene Hackman), a brilliant and ruthless jury consultant, who with his team work on the surveillance and assessment of potential jurors. One of the jurors, Nick Easter (John Cusack), seems to have his own plan for swaying the panel. Working with his accomplice Marlee (Rachel Weisz), they let both Rohr and Fitch know the jury’s for sale to either of them–and that the verdict won’t come cheap. While the case is argued in court, a dangerous cat-and-mouse game begins to play out.

What’s
Cool:

Commentary by director Gary Fleder
Deleted scenes with commentary
“Exploring the Scene”–Hackman and Hoffman’s first scene together
Featurettes: “The Ensemble: Acting”; “The Making of Runaway Jury“; Shadow and Light: Cinematography”; “A Vision of New Orleans: Production Design”; “Rhythm: The Craft of Editing”

	From Our Review:
	Even with all the mechanisms of a typical courtroom drama, Runaway Jury and its high-powered cast takes things up a notch by giving audiences a fresh point of view–while nailing a worthy adversary. More. . .

Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star

Dickie Roberts (David Spade) is a 35-year old former child star. Now an out-of-work actor turned parking valet, Dickie is desperate to audition for a great role that could revitalize his career, but the part requires him to play a "normal" guy. Problem is, Dickie is anything but normal. He decides to hire a family to adopt him so he can relive his childhood and, in essence, grow up from scratch.

What’s
Cool:

Commentary by director Sam Weisman, star David Spade
Deleted scenes
Featurettes: “Behind ‘Child Stars on Your Television'”; “Pencil Dickie: Writing the Story”; Reel Comedy: Dickie Roberts“; “The True Hollywood Story”
Extended music video: “Child Stars on Your Television”

	From Our Review:
	If you ever wonder what happened to those child stars of the ’70s and ’80s, Dickie Roberts sheds some light, but it doesn’t make you necessarily laugh as hard as it intends to. More…

Still Hot

Intolerable Cruelty

Clooney plays Miles Massey, a prominent Los Angeles divorce attorney bored and looking for new challenges after years of success. Miles soon meets his match in the devastating Marilyn Rexroth (Zeta-Jones). Marilyn is the soon-to-be ex-wife of his client Rex Rexroth (Edward Herrmann), a wealthy real estate developer and habitual philanderer. With the help of a private investigator, she has Rex nailed and is looking forward to the financial independence a successful divorce will bring. But thanks to Miles’ considerable skills, she ends up with nothing. Not to be outdone, Marilyn has schemes of her own, involving a marriage to oil tycoon Howard Doyle (Billy Bob Thornton). Underhanded tactics, deceptions and an undeniable attraction escalate as Marilyn and Miles square off in this classic battle of the sexes.

What’s Cool:

“Hilarious outtakes and Hysterical Hijinks” featurette with Catherine Zeta-Jones and George Clooney
“The Wardrobe” featurette on the fashions of Intolerable Cruelty
“A Look Inside Intolerable Cruelty” making-of featurette

	From Our Review:
	A clever romp with something to say about love and marriage, Intolerable Cruelty may not be the Coen brothers’ best work, but it’s still several steps above the other romantic comedies Hollywood’s churned out in recent memory. More. . .

In The Cut

Based on the best-selling novel by Susanna Moore, In the Cut is a psychological thriller starring Meg Ryan and directed by Jane Campion (The Piano). Ryan plays Frannie Avery, a lonely New York college professor who discovers the darker side of passion after becoming involved with Malloy (Mark Ruffalo), a tough homicide detective, who shows up in her apartment building one afternoon to investigate a series of murders in her neighborhood. The film becomes increasingly claustrophobic as her suspicion that Malloy himself is committing the murders grows. Jennifer Jason Leigh costars in this sexually explicit thriller.

What’s Cool:

Feature commentary with director Jane Campion and producer Laurie Parker
“Frannie Avery’s Slang Dictionary” featurette
“In the Cut: Behind the Scenes” featurette
Theatrical trailers
Available R-rated or unrated versions

	From Our Review:
	As much as In the Cut wants to push the envelope with its sexuality, and as much as Meg Ryan wants to win an Academy Award, unfortunately, neither makes the cut. More…

The Lion King 1½

The story of The Lion King as seen through the eyes of Timon and Pumbaa, King‘s lovable meerkat and warthog comedy duo. Nathan Lane, Ernie Sabella and Matthew Broderick reprise their vocal roles.

What’s Cool:

Who Wants To Be King of the Jungle? trivia game hosted by Meredith Vieira
Timon: Behind the Legend hosted by Peter Graves
The Making of The Lion King 1½
Timon & Pumbaa’s Virtual Safari 1.5
Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound
DTS Digital 5.1 Surround Sound
THX-certified
French Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound
Widescreen (1.66:1) enhanced for 16×9 televisions

Compiled by Anne Reiman

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