This Week in DVD & Bluray (02-16-10)

For what the winter box office season is giving us, renting may be a great alternative this week!  Check out all your options after the jump!

Law Abiding Citizen (2009) — (Unrated DVD/Bluray)

Director F. Gary Gray, who most recently brought us “The Italian Job” and “Be Cool”, architects a film about Clyde Shelton (Gerard Butler), a man whose wife and child are murdered during a home invasion.  Nick Rice (Jamie Foxx), a young hot shot prosecutor gets assigned to take down the assailants gets “convinced” to take it easy them in trial.  Several years later, one of the murderers winds up dead after getting out of prison.  Shelton comes out quickly and admits his guilt in this murder.  While he awaits trial, Shelton issues a challenge to Rice, either he fixes the corruption of the U.S. court system that failed to bring his family’s killers to justice, or he will begin organizing the killings of key members of the trial.  Rice and Shelton engage in a battle of wits in “Law Abiding Citizen” that should keep you entertained while you’re getting over seeing “Valentine’s Day” last weekend.

Black Dynamite (2009) — (DVD/Bluray)

Michael Jai White plays the gun-wielding, ninja-kicking ghetto hero in 70s-style blaxploitation film.  “The Man” has murdered his brother, put drugs on the streets, and is serving up bad malt liquor!  Enjoy watching White stir the spirits of Shaft in this action/adventure comedy.

Coco Before Chanel (2009) – (DVD/Bluray)

This biopic tells the story of Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel, a ridiculously famous fashion designer.  The film takes us from Gabrielle’s early days as a stubborn orphan to the days at her height of celebrity.  If you’re into fashion, and you love artfully made films, take the dive.  Watch out subtitle haters!  This one’s in French.

Other DVD/Bluray releases for 2/16/10:

–        Clint Eastwood: 35 Films 35 Years at Warner Bros. (2010) – Massive box-set with loads of extra interview and film footage for you Eastwood lovers out there.  Save your pennies!  To buy the full set, you’ll be dropping a cool $180!

–        Good Hair (2009) – A comedy documentary, hosted by Chris Rock, examines the depths of black culture and women’s hair.

–        Revanche (2008) – This foreign film won several awards at the 2009 Berlin International Film Festival and got nominated for Best Foreign Film at last year’s Oscars.  Brush up on your German and put this Austrian crime drama on your Netflix queue.

–        Hunger (2009) – Festival film + foreign + drama + politics & religion = “Hunger”.

–        Goodfellas (1990) – It’s the 20-year anniversary Bluray release of this Scorsese classic.  Go grab the crisp high-definition of this one before you go see “Shutter Island” this weekend!

As always, go forth and conquer the video stores, Netflix queues, and Redboxes near you!