Latest DVDs, CDs, books: Feb. 22, 2011
A look at some of the DVDs, CDs and books hitting stores this week:
DVDS
"Megamind" (PG): Will Ferrell, Brad Pitt and Tina Fey lead the vocal cast of this computer-animated romp about a super-villain who’s lured to the good side.
Robert Downey Jr. and Zach Galifianakis make odd-couple traveling companions in the comedy "Due Date" (R). Robert Duvall, Bill Murray and Sissy Spacek headline "Get Low" (PG-13), about a Depression-era hermit planning his funeral — to be held before his death. A shotgun-wielding stranger (Michael Madsen) terrorizes a diner in "The Killing Jar" (not rated). On the foreign-language front, "Mesrine: Killer Instinct" (R) delivers the first chapter of a two-part saga about a notorious French gangster ("Black Swan’s" Vincent Cassel); the second half arrives in late March. And the "Stieg Larsson Trilogy" (R) collects the original Swedish adaptations of "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" and its sequels, starring Noomi Rapace as goth hacker Lisbeth Salander.
"Memento" (R) gets the 10th-anniversary treatment, while 1957’s "Sweet Smell of Success" (not rated) and 1982’s "48 Hrs." (R) debut on Blu-ray.
Also in stores: Rutger Hauer and F. Murray Abraham in "Sword of War" (R); Kristin Scott Thomas in the French drama "Leaving" (not rated); the French documentary "Two in the Wave," about directors Francois Truffaut and Jean-Luc Godard; the Chinese documentary "Last Train Home" (not rated); "Les Miserables: The 25th Anniversary Concert" (not rated); and the TV transfers (all unrated) "Survivor 20: Heroes vs. Villains," "Weeds: Season Six," "Nurse Jackie: Season Two," and "Have Gun Will Travel: Fifth Season, Vol. Two."
CDS
Johnny Cash, "From Memphis to Hollywood: Bootleg Vol. 2": He may be dead, but his record label won’t let him die. And that’s a good thing, as Johnny Cash has earned a measure of immortality.
Still, not even 2Pac has had as many posthumous releases as The Man In Black.
The latest is a two-disc collection of rarities from his early Sun Records years and his first decade at Columbia.
Yeah, it’s another Cash grab, but one worth grabbing, nevertheless.
Also in stores: Adele, "21"; Joan Armatrading, "Live at the Royal Albert Hall"; Bayside, "Killing Time"; Jeff Beck, "Rock ‘n’ Roll Party: Honoring Les Paul"; DevilDriver, "Beast"; Evergrey, "Glorious Collision"; The Low Anthem, "Smart Flesh"; Gil Scott-Heron & Jamie xx, "We’re New Here"; and Tahiti 80, "The Past, the Present & the Possible."
BOOKS
"Treachery in Death" by J.D. Robb: An overheard conversation puts Detective Eve Dallas and her partner Peabody on the trail of some crooked killer cops in the 32nd installment in the series set in a futuristic New York City.
Kim Harrison continues her paranormal series this week with "Pale Demon," which finds witch Rachel Morgan hitting the road with a vampire, pixie and elf.
Also in stores: "Darkest Mercy" by Melissa Marr; "Death of a Chimney Sweep" by M.C. Beaton; "Devil’s Food Cake Murder" by Joanne Fluke; "Georgia Bottoms" by Mark Childress; "Gideon’s Sword" by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child; "Night Vision" by Randy Wayne White; "Now You See Her" by Joy Fielding; "The Paris Wife" by Paula McLain; "A Simple Government: Twelve Things We Really Need from Washington (and a Trillion That We Don’t!)" by Mike Huckabee; "Snowdrops" by A.D. Miller; "The Union Quilters" by Jennifer Chiaverini; and "When the Killing’s Done" by T.C. Boyle.