DVD Pick of the Week: Stranger Than Fiction

Welcome to another week of the DVD Pick of the Week. This week has a few highlights among its number. I was able to boil down the near 500 titles set for release down to a mere handful of notable titles. Is that to say that the other releases are not worthy of you attention? No, but I am sure many of them aren't worth the time. Does this mean that my pared down handful are necessary to be seen? No, some are there as mere warnings, and others may appear interesting, but may ultimately disappointing. I just hope to highlight a few of the weeks releases. OK, enough of that.

This week's pick features a little seen, at least to this point of his career, Will Ferrell. It is a film that employs a well written script that is more about its subtleties than the usual in your face style of Ferrell. The film is Stranger Than Fiction. It is a movie which lives up to its title, telling a story that is touching, and is stranger than fiction.

Ferrell plays a man who suddenly finds that his life is being narrated by a woman who has a better vocabulary than he. The story finds his life being dramatically thrown off the course that he had been following. He searches to find the source of the voice and regain control of his life. Ferrell is fantastic in the role, playing the subdued role effortlessly, not appearing as if he is holding back, and by doing so, giving rise to the range that he has. I am sure it helps that Zach Helm's script moves along very nicely, and is a very good script.

In any case, this is a movie that you should see, not only for Ferrell's performance, but for the fact that it is a good movie. It is funny, it is touching, and it is just very good. OK, I didn't have as much to say as I thought, but I still believe you need to see it.

Also out this week:

• Nine Inch Nails: Live - Beside You in Time. Always good for a wild show, I look forward to seeing how Trent fared on his latest tour.
• Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny. Not as good as I had hoped, but it still had some very funny moments, and some great music.
• A Good Year. The latest Ridley Scott film was a box office disappointment, will it find an audience on DVD?
• Alexander: The Final Cut. How many cuts are needed? I admit, I did not see the first alternate cut, and did not care for the theatrical version. Still, I have no interest here.
• Tideland. Terry Gilliam's latest film is a must see. I know nothing about it, but it's Gilliam, and that is all that I need to know.
• The Return. This is here as a warning, unless you suffer from insomnia. This is a dull, dull film. It does have a cool cover, but that's about it.
• Reno 911!: Reno's Most Wanted. To cash in on the recently released film, here is a best of collection from the series of the bumbling sheriff's department.
• Everybody Hates Chris: The First Season. This series based on Chris Rock's youth is one of the best sitcom's currently in production, and perfect for family viewing.
• George Carlin: Life is Worth Losing. How can you not like a new set of Carlin material? I hear this set is dark and funny, sounds perfect for me.
• Planetfall. Science fiction from 2003, the title sounds familiar, but I cannot place it. The story looks interesting with a ship crash landing on a war torn planet in search of a psychic drug. Sounds like fun.

What are you getting this week?