New on DVD: January 17

Pick of the Week

Ides of March

George Clooney co-wrote, directed and stars in this drama about Stephen Myers (Ryan Gosling), a naive young press secretary to a Democratic presidential hopeful (Clooney). When he finds himself embroiled in a scandal, Myers is given a hard lesson in high-level politics that just may result in bringing down his beloved and respected boss. SPECIAL FEATURES include an audio commentary from Clooney and writer/producer Grant Heslov as well as several short “making of” featurettes. (Sony)

Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star

When naïve loser Bucky Larson (Nick Swardson of Reno 911) discovers that his parents used to be porn stars, he realizes his destiny and heads to Hollywood to follow in their footsteps, which turns out to be a path fraught with slapstick pitfalls in this comedy from Adam Sandler’s production company.

Abduction

When teenage Nathan (Taylor Lautner) stumbles on to the fact that he was kidnapped as a child and that the people who raised him were not his parents, it sets off a cataclysmic course of events involving secrets and danger that put him on the run for his survival in this thriller that should appeal to both the Twilight crowd and their parents.

Killing Bono

This Irish comedy set in the early 1980s follows the true story of two brothers (Ben Barnes & Robert Sheehan) who start a band with dreams of fame and fortune, but never manage to come out of the shadow of another band at their school – U2.

Dirty Girl

Juno Temple stars in this 1980s-set comedy (written and directed by Abe Sylvia, in his feature-film debut) about a high school girl with a bad reputation who hits the road with her unlikely gay friend (Jeremy Dozier), who she meets in a Special Ed class, to find her real father (William H. Macy).

Courageous

Alex Kendrick (the co-writer, director and star of this film and several other Christian dramas like Facing the Giants and Fireproof) stars as one of a group of four police officers who find their faith challenged after a tragedy strikes close to home.

Age of Heroes

This action film, based on the true-life experiences of James Bond creator Ian Fleming (played here by James D’Arcy) during the Second World War, chronicles the creation of the 30 Commando Unit, which would later evolve into the British SAS. Sean Bean of Game of Thrones co-stars.

Action Double Feature: The Last Hard Men/Sky Riders

In the little-seen 1976 Western The Last Hard Men, James Coburn plays Zach Provo, a convict who escapes from a prison road gang intent on finding the Marshall (Charlton Heston) who not only put him away, but also killed his wife. Sky Riders is an implausible but fun 1976 action film which again stars Coburn, this time as Jim McCabe, a swinging adventurer who finds himself forced to help rescue his ex-wife and their kids after they are kidnapped. After he finds that they are being held in a mountain-top monastery, he enlists the help of some other men and devises a plan to hang glide in and save them. While far from classics, both of these films have enough of an entertainment factor to hold your interest and create a pleasant cinematic diversion. (Shout! Factory)

Kevin Hart: Laugh at my Pain

Actor and stand-up comic Hart is back with a feature-length film version of his 2011 Laugh at My Pain concert tour. Given this platform, the comedian tackles more personal subject matter (like his role as a father and the death of his mother) than the usual TV special, but manages to make it all funny and thought-provoking.

Division III: Football’s Finest

Andy Dick plays radically against type as a redneck thug named Rick Vice in this wild comedy about a small university whose desperate attempt to win at football for the first time in decades results in the university president (Mad TV’s Mo Collins) hiring unpredictable felon Vice as their new coach. (Anchor Bay)

Redline

This hand-drawn anime feature tells the story of a determined race car driver who risks his life to win a dangerous tournament that is held only once every five years. TV on DVD

Merlin: The Complete Third Season

This third season begins with Merlin’s (Colin Morgan) old friend Morgana (Katie McGrath) turning up after she’s been missing for a year, and although the King (Anthony Head of Buffy the Vampire Slayer) is thrilled to have her back, Merlin finds it difficult to believe that she’s changed her evil ways. Guest stars this season include Warwick Davis (Life’s Too Short); Mark Williams (the Harry Potter films) and John Hurt (Hellboy). This five-disc set features all 13 episodes plus BONUS FEATURES including outtakes, bloopers, footage from the 2010 San Diego Comic Con and much more. (BBC)