Admire the grandeur of ‘Basmati Blues’

A musical comedy set against the backdrop of rice wars in India, “Basmati Blues” (2017, Shout Factory, unrated, $17) isn’t perfect but it has a go-for-broke grandeur about it.

Brie Larson stars as a scientist who is sent by her greedy boss (Donald Sutherland) to India to sell rice farmers on a genetically-altered type of rice which, in the long run, would be bad business for them.

Larson winds up falling in love not only with India but with a young man (Utkarsh Ambudkar) who figures out Sutherland’s crooked scheme. Even though it goes on a bit too long, the musical numbers are charming and Larson and Ambudkar have chemistry to spare. Extras: featurette, deleted scenes and commentaries.

Also New on DVD

Father Figures (2017,

Warner, R, $28): Ed Helms and Owen Wilson star in this slapdash comedy about twin brothers who hit the road in search of their biological father. Along the way, they confront potential papas (Terry Bradshaw, J.K. Simmons, Christopher Walken) and discover more about their mom (Glenn Close) than they ever wanted to know. For every sequence that’s funny, there’s a clumsy, contrived scene that lays an egg. Still, there’s worse ways of killing two hours than watching the always-likable Wilson and Helms bicker and bond. Extras: deleted scenes and gag reel.

Killing For Love (2018,

IFC, unrated, $25): Fans of “Making of a Murderer” should check out this riveting true-crime documentary about the 1985 murders of Derek and Nancy Hansom and the subsequent trial and conviction of their daughter Elizabeth and her boyfriend Jens Soering. After initially confessing to the crime, Soering recanted and now maintains his innocence, a claim seemingly backed up by DNA evidence. Fascinating from start to finish, this doc charts every fascinating twist in a complicated case which touches upon themes of sexual obsession and thwarted justice. Extras: deleted scenes.

Proud Mary (2018, Sony,

R, $30): The paint-by-numbers plot of this underworld thriller would barely be enough to hold together an episode of “Miami Vice” let alone a feature-length film but kudos to “Empire’s” Taraji P.Henson for making it all gone down easy. Henson is the titular character, a hit woman who winds up caring for the teenage son (Billy Brown) of one of her victims, much to the dismay of her brutal boss (a miscast Danny Glover). Even though the action scenes are standard-issue, Henson and Brown have great chemistry as they banter back and forth like a veteran comedy team. Extras: featurettes.

Four Faces West (1949,

Kino, unrated, $20): Now on Blu-ray, this entertaining sagebrush saga scores points for its compelling love story and exquisite use of desert locations. Western icon Joel McCrea stars as an honest man forced to rob a bank in order to save his father’s ranch. While on the lam, McCrea befriends a gambler (Joseph Calleia) and begins a romance with a nurse (McCrea’s real-life wife, Frances Dee) until a lawman (Charles Bickford) forces McCrea to hit the road. There’s plenty of dynamic action scenes but it’s the last act, involving a great sacrifice, which really sets this oater apart. Extras: none.

Great Balls of Fire (1989,

Olive, PG-13, $30): Featuring a fearless, career-best turn from Dennis Quaid, this biopic about Jerry Lee Lewis boasts so many blistering musical interludes that smoke practically rises from the screen. While the film works as a character study of a complicated man, it’s a bit more problematic when it depicts Lewis’ marriage to his 13-year-old second cousin Myra (Winona Ryder), which led to the derailment of his career. Despite that, the movie, which is based on Myra’s book, remains a must-see examination of a rock ‘n’ roll pioneer. Extras: none.

The New Centurions (1972, Twilight Time, R,

$30): In this underrated thriller, Stacy Keach stars as a rookie LAPD officer who hits the streets with a embittered veteran (George C. Scott) and discovers how much he enjoys keeping the peace. The look and feel of the movie influenced such series as “Hill Street Blues” and “The Shield” but this entry, based on a novel by Joseph Wambaugh, carries a compelling undercurrent of despair. Directed by Richard Fleischer, “The New Centurions” is a mesmerizing tribute to the men in blue. Extras: commentaries.

Downfall (2004, Shout

Factory, R, $28): Here’s a chilling portrait of the damned is set in Berlin during the waning days of World War II. German helmer Oliver Hirschbiegel cuts back and forth between various civilians, soldiers and bureaucrats. But the main action takes place underneath the Reich Chancellery where Adolph Hitler (Bruno Ganz) and Eva Braun (Juliane Kohler) hole up, waiting to die. Now on Blu-ray, “Downfall” remains a masterpiece of sustained tension and looming despair. Extras: featurettes.

The Very Best of Victor

Borge: Volume 1 (19922017, PBS, unrated, $35): Fans of the man known affectionately as “the Great Dane” will be delighted by this three-disc collection which bundles together seven of the comedian’s TV specials, including a tribute celebrating his 80th birthday. On tap: plenty of one-liners, pratfalls, doubletakes and surprisingly entertaining musical interludes. Extras: none.

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