This week's DVD and Blu-ray releases

The following are capsule reviews of new and recent DVD and Blu-ray releases from the Office for Film & Broadcasting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Theatrical movies have a USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification and Motion Picture Association of America rating. These classifications refer only to the theatrical version of the films below, and do not take into account the discs' extra content.

Adventureland

Sensitive but downbeat coming-of-age tale, set in 1987 Pittsburgh, about an awkward college graduate (Jesse Eisenberg) who takes a summer job at a third-rate amusement park and falls for one of his co-workers (Kristen Stewart), not realizing she is having an adulterous affair with an older employee (Ryan Reynolds). Though generally restrained in its presentation of sexuality, director Greg Mottola's wryly nostalgic romance takes a benign view of its characters' frequent indulgence in marijuana and reaches a morally unacceptable conclusion. Nongraphic adulterous and premarital sexual activity, brief partial nudity, repeated drug use, some sexual and fleeting scatological humor, pervasive rough and crude language, and a few uses of profanity. Spanish titles option on Blu-ray edition. L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. (R) (Buena Vista Home Entertainment; also available on Blu-ray) 2009

Duplicity

Sophisticated romantic caper about two intelligence officers (Julia Roberts and Clive Owen) who turn to industrial espionage hoping to exploit the no-holds-barred feud between the CEOs (Tom Wilkinson and Paul Giamatti) of rival pharmaceutical companies. Writer-director Tony Gilroy's tartly clever globetrotting thriller, which boasts all the complexity of a master chess match, explores the paranoia produced by corporate greed and the redeeming potential of the love between its cynically untrusting lead characters, though their affection is expressed in an intense unwedded affair. Brief, nongraphic, premarital sexual activity, some sexual humor and references, occasional crude and crass language, and at least a dozen profanities. Spanish titles option on Blu-ray edition.  A-III -- adults. (PG-13) (Universal Studios Home Video; also available on Blu-ray) 2009

Fighting

Intermittently violent, but otherwise engaging boxing drama about a failed street salesman (Channing Tatum) who turns to underground fighting to survive, and bonds with his manager (Terrence Howard) while romancing a waitress (Zulay Henao). Scenes of punishing brutality and approval of premature sexual relations mar director and co-writer Dito Montiel's mostly moving portrait of a friendship between two down-on-their-luck New Yorkers. Graphic beatings, a premarital sexual encounter, and some crude and crass language. Spanish language and titles options. L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. (PG-13) (Universal Studios Home Video; also available on Blu-ray) 2009

The Last Days of Disco

Wryly observed tale, set in early 1980s New York City, follows the fluctuating social lives and fledgling careers of a half-dozen recent college grads who frequent a trendy disco over the course of a year. Writer-director Whit Stillman's talky comedy serves as a cautionary tale in exploring opinionated characters who discover there are consequences to sexual permissiveness. Momentary violence, a fleeting sexual encounter and nudity, implied affairs, a character's substance abuse and a few instances of profanity.  A-III -- adults. (R) (Image Entertainment, Inc.) 1998

The Mama Cass Television Program

In this delightful late-1960s period piece, folk-rock singer "Mama" Cass Elliot (1941-74) -- beginning a solo career after the initial breakup of the short-lived but classic group the Mamas and the Papas -- gives a groovy twist to the variety show format in an hourlong special that was originally conceived as the pilot for a series. Unsurprisingly, the emphasis is clearly on music, with some of the folk genre's then-reigning aristocracy appearing as Elliot's guests. Joni Mitchell performs "Both Sides Now" and Mary Travers of Peter, Paul and Mary sings "When I Die" before the two join Elliot in a memorable rendition of Bob Dylan's "I Shall Be Released." John Sebastian, also on his own after his departure from the Lovin' Spoonful, sings both a solo and a duet with the host. Comedian Buddy Hackett gets off some good one-liners, and there are a couple of gentle, bittersweet skits involving the husband and wife "Mission Impossible" stars Martin Landau and Barbara Bain, as well as Hackett and Elliot. The original commercials -- one about a shaggy-haired would-be rock star whose bandmates wise him up to the importance of fresh breath -- are another treat. Additional features on the full-screen DVD include footage of Elliot and Sammy Davis Jr. singing "I Dig Rock and Roll Music" and a recent interview in which Sebastian reminisces about his friendship with Elliot and the early days of the Mamas and the Papas. (Infinity Entertainment Group) 1969

Movies have been evaluated by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishop's Office for Film and Broadcasting according to artistic merit and moral suitability. The reviews include the USCCB rating, the Motion Picture Association of America rating, and a brief synopsis of the movie.

The classifications are as follows:

• A-I -- general patronage;
• A-II -- adults and adolescents;
• A-III -- adults;
• A-IV**
• L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. L replaces the previous classification, A-IV.
• O -- morally offensive.
  

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