“Inside Man”
UNIVERSAL, $29.98
Who’s in it: Denzel Washington, Clive Owen, Jodie Foster
Recap: Spike Lee’s most commercial and entertaining movie to date–about a bank heist gone right, for once–still manages to pack in plenty of the director’s trademark idiosyncrasies and social commentary.
Best extra: “Number 4” is a short conversation between Lee and Washington about working together for the fourth time.
Secrets revealed: Check out one of the deleted scenes to hear three of the stars determine the meaning of the ambiguous song title “No Woman, No Cry.”
Feature to skip: When in doubt, always skip the route “Making Of” bits, which barely run long enough to impart more than a few minutes of banal boosterism.
Trivia: Spike Lee recorded his commentary not just on the day of the film’s premiere, but back on his 49th birthday as well–March 20.
If you liked this, try: “Malcolm X,” featuring what may be Washington’s best performance, in a Lee film or not.
RATING: 2 PLAYS
“Brick”
UNIVERSAL, $29.98
Who’s in it: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Nora Zhetner, Noah Fleiss
Recap: A clever homage to film noir set in the world of high school, “Brick” plays up the tough-guy talk and teenage alienation but doesn’t forget that they live in the real world of parents, teachers and homework.
Best extra: When a first-time director makes a movie for well under a million dollars, movie nerds and aspiring filmmakers should heed his commentary.
Secrets revealed: The movie was filmed in writer/director Rian Johnson’s hometown, including his former high school.
Feature to skip: “The Inside Track: Casting the Roles” shows how one goes about putting together a cheap flick populated primarily with unknowns.
Trivia: “Brick” was edited on Johnson’s home computer.
If you liked this, try: “Veronica Mars,” the smart ‘n’ sharp TV series about a high school detective.
RATING: 2 PLAYS
“The Wire: The Complete Third Season”
HBO, $99.98
Drug users, pushers, the cops who arrest them and the politicians who pull the strings intermingle in the gritty crime series set on the streets of Baltimore. A five-disc set has Season 3’s 12 episodes, with commentary on five and a panel discussion among cast and crew.
“Laguna Beach: The Complete Second Season”
PARAMOUNT, $38.99
The lives of the young, wealthy and beautiful are chronicled as they live the good life along the California coast. The 17 episodes are packaged in a three-disc set whose DVD extras included deleted scenes.
BEST OF THE REST
– “Manderlay” (IFC, $24.95) – “Prison Break: Season One” (Fox, $59.98)
– “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air: The Complete Fourth Season” (Warner Bros., $29.98) – “Don’t Come Knocking” (Sony, $24.96)
