‘ Crimson’ is ripe for discovery
Crimson Peak
Universal, $ 29.98; Blu- ray, $ 34.98 Available on VOD on Tuesday
One of last year’s great disappointments in film was the middling box office performance of “this wildly entertaining gothic horror romance, sporting sumptuous set design and a deliriously over- the- top visual style from director Guillermo del Toro (“Pacific Rim” and “Pan’s Labyrinth”). Mia Wasikowska plays a trusting American heiress, Tom Hiddleston is the destitute inventor who marries her and Jessica Chastain is the creepy sister- in- law who knows the secrets of her family’s crumbling, clay- covered estate. Some audiences may have had trouble with the cast’s deliberately broad performances, but for viewers who can appreciate Del Toro’s homages to the theatrical flourishes of classic old movies, “Crimson Peak” is a joy. It’ll be ripe for discovery on a DVD and Blu- ray set packed with featurettes, deleted scenes and a commentary track.
Grandma
Sony, $ 26.99; Blu- ray, $ 34.99 Available on VOD on Tuesday
Every now and then, someone in showbiz remembers what a gift we have in Lily Tomlin, a comic genius who doesn’t appear in movies anywhere near as often as she should. Tomlin gets one of her best showcases in years in director Paul Weitz’s “Grandma,” playing a blunt older gay woman who tries to help her granddaughter ( Julia Garner) round up $ 600 from their friends and family. The result is a modest personal odyssey, telling the story of one memorable character’s life through the people she encounters over the course of one day. The DVD and Blu- ray add featurettes and a commentary track by Weitz, Garner and Tomlin.
Welcome to Leith
First Run, $ 24.95
One of the most fascinating and infuriating documentaries of recent years tells the story of what happened when a few white supremacist families tried to take over a small North Dakota town, intending to found a new Aryan homeland. Directors Michael Beach Nichols and Christopher K. Walker ask provocative questions about whether a free society has the right to make life difficult for obnoxious bigots. The filmmakers also rely heavily on home movie footage shot by the residents and the interlopers, who each tried to get the public on their side via YouTube posts. “Welcome to Leith” is a complex slice of modern life, explaining how these days people increasingly turn to social media for justice and community when they can’t stand their neighbors.
The Leftovers
The Complete Second Season
HBO, $ 39.98; Blu- ray, $ 44.95
The f irst season of this HBO drama drew a small-but-devoted audience who tuned in each week to marvel at how “Lost” co- creator Damon Lindelof could find poignant short stories within Tom Perrotta’s elliptical novel about the survivors of an inexplicable supernatural event. Season 2 shifts the action to an exclusive, possibly miraculous Texas town, allowing new characters to grapple with the meaning of life in a world where loved ones sometimes disappear for no reason. The great performances by first season stars Christopher Eccleston, Justin Theroux and Carrie Coon are enhanced in the second season by the excellent Regina King and Kevin Carroll. Add to that Lindelof ’s continued dedication to making each episode into an intense minimovie and an already great show finds a higher level. “The Leftovers” remains full of life and wit, even when coming from a place of morose, impotent fury.
And …
The Emigrants/ The New Land
Criterion, $ 39.95; Blu- ray, $ 49.95
Freaks of Nature Sony, $ 25.99; Blu- ray, $ 26.99 Available on VOD on Tuesday
Love the Coopers Lionsgate, $ 26.99; Blu- ray, $ 34.99 Available on VOD on Tuesday
99 Homes Broad Green, $ 26.99 Available on VOD on Tuesday
Spectre MGM/ UA, $ 29.98; Blu- ray, $ 39.99 Available on VOD on Tuesday