Publications & Sites 
‘Albert Nobbs,’ ‘Grey’ out on video
Hungry like the wolf: Liam Neeson finds terror on the tundra in “The Grey.”
Updated: May 19, 2012 6:06PM
NEW THIS WEEK
ALBERT NOBBS ★ ★ ★ 1/2
Rated: R for some sexuality, brief nudity, and language
Stars: Glenn Close, Janet McTeer, Mia Wasikowska
In addition to her exquisitely subtle, Oscar-nominated performance in the title role, Close produced and co-wrote the screenplay to this odd, painful, but ultimately moving indie drama. Close plays a 19th-century Dublin woman disguised as a man for employment and safety, who lives a life of extreme loneliness and isolation — until love lures her out of hiding with tragic results. Extras include commentary and deleted scenes.
THE GR EY★ ★ ★
Rated: R for violence/disturbing content including bloody images, and for pervasive language
Stars: Liam Neeson, Dermot Mulroney, Ben Bray
Lean, mean and suspenseful from its opening moments, “The Grey” wastes no time sinking its teeth into you and never lets go — until the slightly disappointing, ambiguous ending. Neeson is perfectly cast as the reluctant alpha male trying to lead a half-dozen oil-rig workers to safety after a plane crash in Alaskan wilderness, fighting off cold, hunger and a ravening pack of wolves. Not bad at all. Extras include commentary and deleted scenes.
RECENT RELEASES
THE BIG HEAT★ ★ ★ 1/2
Rated: No MPAA rating
Stars: Glenn Ford, Lee Marvin, Gloria Grahame
A tough crime-noir that pulls no punches in its expose of police corruption, this 1953 classic benefits greatly from the emotional intensity director Fritz Lang wrests from the scenario and from a remarkably hard-boiled performance by Ford as an honest detective investigating the suicide of a fellow cop mixed up with a ruthless crime lord. But the only thing anyone really remembers about “The Big Heat” is sadistic thug Marvin disfiguring showgirl Grahame by tossing scalding coffee in her eyes. Well, that’s one way to get noticed.
ALSO NEW
BEING JOHN MALKOVICH
The surreal 1999 comedy from director Spike Jonze and screenwriter Charlie Kaufman, about a frustrated puppeteer (John Cusack) who finds himself inhabiting the mind of Malkovich, gets the Criterion treatment. In addition to a new hi-def digital restoration, extras include audio commentary by filmmaker Michel Gondry, the mini-doc “An Intimate Portrait of the Art of Puppeteering” and a conversation between Malkovich and humorist John Hodgman.
CHRONICLE
When three high-school friends make a discovery that accidently gives them super powers, their new abilities spin their lives out of control. Josh Trank (TV’s “The Kill Point”) directed the action drama. Rated PG-13 for intense action and violence, thematic material, some language, sexual content and teen drinking
THE DEVIL INSIDE
A young woman (Fernanda Andrade) asks exorcists to help her prove that her mother was possessed by demons and not criminally insane when she murdered three people. William Brent Bell (“Stay Alive”) wrote and directed the horror thriller. Rated R for disturbing violent content and grisly images, and for language including some sexual references
ONE FOR THE MONEY
An unemployed recent divorcee (Katherine Heigl) lands a job as a bounty hunter for a bail bondsman and the chance to bring in a wanted local cop (Jason O’Mara) with whom she has a romantic history. Julie Ann Robinson (“The Last Song’) directed the romantic comedy. Rated PG-13 for violence, sexual references and language, some drug material and partial nudity.
TIME TEAM: UNEARTHING THE ROMAN INVASION
In this popular British science-reality series, host Tony Robinson (“Blackadder”) travels across England with archeologists unearthing secrets from the Roman occupation. Twelve episodes are included, along with a 16-page viewers guide.
WALKING TALL TRILOGY
This three-disc set from Shout! Factory features remastered versions of all three films about big-stick-carrying Tennessee sheriff Buford Pusser: “Walking Tall” (1973), “Walking Tall Part 2” (1975) and “Final Chapter: Walking Tall” (1979). Extras include the documentary “Walking Tall: The Buford Pusser Story.”
THE WAR
Ken Burns’ 2007 seven-part PBS documentary on World War II traces the history of the war through personal accounts of veterans from four American towns. Blu-ray debut extras include commentary and deleted scenes.
NEXT WEEK
Where did Robert Downey Jr. get his irreverent sense of humor? Check out “Up All Night,” the collected short films of Robert Downey Sr. for at least part of the answer. And while you’re at it, check out the Blu-ray debuts of three films by Japanese animation master Hayao Miyazaki: “The Secret World of Arrietty,” “Castle in the Sky” and “Whisper of the Heart.”
