PICK OF THE WEEK: AWAY FROM HER

When the striking directorial debut of actress Sarah Polley ("Dawn of the Dead," "The Sweet Hereafter") arrived in theaters its debut weekend competition was a little movie called "Spider-Man 3." Fortunately, the raft of minor titles hitting DVD this week should give "Away From Her" a better shot at standing out in the crowd.

Based on Alice Munro's short story, "The Bear Came Over the Mountain," the film garnered positive reviews, solid arthouse box office and Oscar buzz for leading lady Julie Christie, but it deserves even wider exposure. A bittersweet story of a mature couple (Oscar winner Christie and Canadian stage vet Gordon Pinsent, both excellent) whose world turns upside down when the wife shows symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, Polley's thoughtful and intelligent work avoids conventional sentimentality and disease-of-the-week clichés.

The DVD promises an audio commentary from Christie and deleted scenes with commentary from Polley.


Also released:
"Cautiva"
"D.O.A. Dead or Alive"
"Even Money"
"Ever Again"
"A Few Days in September"
"Griffin & Phoenix"
"I Have Never Forgotten You: The Life and Legacy of Simon Wiesenthal"
"Private Property"
"Snow Cake"
"Triad Election"

Older titles and special editions:
"The Burning"
"Face/Off (Two Disc Special Collector's Edition)"
"The Food of the Gods"
"From Beyond (Unrated Director's Cut)"
"The Graduate (40th Anniversary Collector's Edition)"
"Scarecrows"

Hi-def:
"The Replacement Killers (Extended Cut)" (Blu-ray)

Boxed sets:
"The Fly Collection"
"Vincent Price: MGM Scream Legends Collection"

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