There are hundreds of documentaries that come out each year, but few force the hand of the viewer. "The Cove" is one of those docs. The pic teams photographer Louis Psihoyos and veteran dolphin activist Ric O'Barry in trying to expose the town of Taiji, Japan, a fishing port where more than 20,000 dolphins are reportedly killed each year. "The Cove" finds its strengths in solid investigative journalism and an intensity that emerges from the mission of the documentary. In trying to broadcast these inhumane practices to the world, Psihoyos and O'Barry put together a team a combination of expert outdoorsmen and scientists with some spying help from the movie industry to gather evidence in an area that's very high on security. Their goal is to quietly document the capture and slaughter of dolphins in Taiji, all the while slipping under the radar of paranoid authorities. Psihoyos, who also has directing credits here, does a fine job of weaving in the careful work of his group with the rich history of injustices that has lead activists to take a closer look at what's happening on these high seas. This presentation of a grim problem should land the filmmakers an Oscar nomination in the coming months as "The Cove" is one of the most important pieces of work of 2009. Extras for "The Cove" do a fine job of following up on the film. Featurettes examining the special cameras used to capture the horrors Taiji are worth a look, and another piece on the hazards of mercury in fish is also important. Deleted scenes and commentary are also on the bill. PG-13; 2009. Our Take: 4 Stars.
Buy It: A documentary that will have folks trolling the Web to offer their help.
The on-screen combination of Johnny Depp, Christian Bale and Marion Cotillard, along with the talent of director Michael Mann, is surely enough to push movie enthusiasts to see "Public Enemies," a biopic on the life of bank robber John Dillinger. Moving past the star power, though, Mann's newest is far from his best. The film never seems to find its identity, as it bounces from an insightful look into the man Dillinger was to a collection of bullet-riddled crime scenes. With a character as colorful as Dillinger, even with Depp playing him, it's impossible to have it both ways. Mann does a fine job of capturing the times, and the action sequences are incredibly entertaining, but the story is muddled under its own weight. The extras boost the DVD, especially in two-disc special edition and Blu-ray packages. Two making-of featurettes track production, but three additional pieces capture the tools of Dillinger's trade and the man himself. R; 2009. Our Take: 2.5 Stars.
Rent It: A decent gangster pic that fails to deliver a quality payoff.
Meryl Streep is at her brilliant best in the role of Julia Child in this film that charts the lives of two women in and around the kitchen. Directed by Nora Ephron, "Julie & Julia" is, on one hand, a portrait of Child and her trek in cooking up a household name. On the other, the film delves into the life of Julie Powell (Amy Adams), a NYC working wife tackling Child's immense cookbook "Mastering the Art of French Cooking" in a 365-day period and blogging about her adventures. The film does a masterful job in covering Child and her relationship with her husband (Stanley Tucci), and credit goes to the chemistry shared between Streep and Tucci. Powell's story fails to sizzle, though, and feels like a stale dish that generates little interest. Perhaps more time should have been given to Child and her rise to the culinary top. Standard DVDs house commentary and a making-of featurette focused on Adams and Streep. However, Blu-ray buyers will find interesting tidbits on Child's life and cooking lessons. PG-13; 2009. Our Take: 2.5 Stars.
Rent It: An interesting slice of life that has a few too many ingredients.
Robin Williams gives one of his greatest performances in this dark comedy directed and written by Bobcat Goldthwait. Williams plays a father trying to resurrect the name of a lousy son after his death, and he almost succeeds. "World's Greatest Dad" certainly deserves to be classified as a comedy based on its bundles of laughter, but it also has some touching moments that give the film a nice lasting impression. Commentary, a music video, deleted scenes, outtakes and a spectacular behind-the-scenes featurette stand in as special features on the DVD. R; 2009. Or Take: 3 Stars.
Rent It: This under-the-radar comedy is one of 2009's biggest sleepers.
Sure World War II was nothing to laugh at, but the series "Hogan's Heroes" made it somewhat possible. The show tracked a handful of slick POWs, lead by Col. Robert Hogan (Bob Crane), guiding the U.S. attack from their Nazi compound. The show's largely forgotten when discussing the best sitcoms in TV history, but it definitely deserves a place in the conversation. The show lasted six seasons and 168 episodes. Now, it's possible to relive the adventures of Stalag 13 with "Hogan's Heroes: The Komplete Series, Kommandant's Kollection." This 27-disc package includes each episode of the show and plenty of special features. Alternate and extended versions of the show's pilot kick off the special features, and interviews with cast and crew along with photo-montages are also available. Just in time for the holidays, this wonderful package of TV gold is a wonderful addition to any DVD collection. 2009; NR. Our Take: 4 Stars.
Buy It: Still delivers the laughs all these years later.
Jumping into the 1990s, a new pack of artists emerged and found their place in NYC in developing a brand of art inspired by skateboarding, punk and hip-hop music and graffiti. Today, these artists have moved on to develop international fame, and it's possible to see their work on billboards, commercials or even political campaigns. For example, one of these artists, Shepard Fairey, was responsible for the President Obama "Hope" poster and currently has an exhibit at the Andy Warhol Museum on the North Shore. "Beautiful Losers" details the birth of this movement and carries the viewer into the eventual commercialization of these creative works. The film, directed by Aaron Rose, an art show curator partly responsible for bringing these artists to the public, is a wonderful tribute to these talents who found their inspiration in life experiences. Extras find a collection of artists, one by one, tutoring students on finding their own inspirations in putting forth works of art. NR; 2009. Our Take: 3.5 Stars.
Rent It: An accomplished piece of work that deals in some beautiful history.
• "Carriers" (Chris Pine, PG-13, Paramount): Four young men set out across the country to escape a deadly virus that's wiping out the United States. As they search for refuge, they encounter a world where rules no longer apply. Extras.
• "Home Movie" (Adrian Pasdar, NR, IFC): An All-American family is turned on its ear when it's discovered that the kids are definitely not all right in this directorial debut from Christopher Denham. No extras.
• "The Skeptic" (Timothy Daly, NR, IFC): Tennyson Bardwell directs this supernatural thriller about a rational lawyer who mixes it up with the supernatural in a haunted house. No extras.
• "Dog Eat Dog" (Blas Jaramillo, NR, IFC): This gangster pic has drawn comparisons to the work of directors Quentin Tarantino and Fernando Meirelles. The film gives the viewer an in-depth look into the inner workings of the drug trade in Colombia. No extras.
• "McLeod's Daughters: The Original Movie" (Jack Thompson, NR, E1 Entertainment): This is the film that inspired the television show that surpassed 200 episodes earlier this year. Set in Australia, the movie provides a beginning point for the TV series. Extras.
• "Runaway" (Robin Tunney, NR, E1 Entertainment): Two brothers flee from an abusive past in a feature film best described as a psychological thriller. As the two boys find out, though, it's a lot harder than they think to outrun their past. Extras.
• "Brigitte Bardot: Classic Collection" (Bardot, NR, Image): This three-disc set includes "The Night Heaven Fell" (1958), "Plucking the Daisy" (1956) and "Don Juan" (1973). No extras.
• "Johnny Mercer: The Dream's on Me" (documentary, NR, Warner Bros.): This two-disc package examines the life of renowned music lyricist Johnny Mercer. The Georgia native is responsible for such titles as "Moon River," "Jeepers Creepers" and "Hooray for Hollywood." The feature's presented by famed director and actor Clint Eastwood. Extras.
• "Lost: The Complete Fifth Season" (five discs, 17 episodes, extras).
• "Rescue Me: Season Five, Volume Two" (three discs, 11 episodes, extras).
• "Dhani Tackles the Globe: Season 1" (two discs, 10 episodes, extras).
