Susan Granger’s DVD Update for week of Fri., Sept. 28:
Independent writer/director Whit Stillman (“Metropolitan,” “Barcelona”) once again focuses on the articulate, preppie world of the ‘urban haute bourgeoise’ in “Damsels in Distress,” a caustic, whimsical, highly stylized and slightly surreal comedy set at (fictional) Seven Oaks College.
Samuel L. Jackson plays an ex-con trying to go straight in “The Samaritan,” a twist-filled crime drama, and a fairytale love story ends in the thriller “Last Will,” starring Tatum O’Neal and Tom Berenger.
For comedy, there’s “St. Roz,” the magical story of a statue with miraculous weight-loss powers that unexpectedly arrives in a poor parish church.
Director Ice T’s performance documentary “Something from Nothing: The Art of Rap” includes Chuck D, Grandmaster Caz, Eminem, Snoop Dogg, Melle Mel, Q-Tip, Redman, Mos Def, Afrika Bambaataa, B Real, Immortal Technique, Ice Cube, MC Lyte, Nas, Dr. Dre, KRS One, Common and Kanye West.
Looking for golf tips from the other side of the bag? Cathy Irby Durant’s “Through the Eyes of a Caddy” features masters caddy Carl Jackson.
On a serious note, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Lawrence Wright explores the underbelly of the Middle East in “My Trip to Al-Qaeda,” which premiered last year on HBO. And Nick Polizzi’s “The Sacred Science” tracks eight patients living in seclusion for one month in the heart of the Amazon jungle, participating in the powerful healing practices of Peru’s indigenous medicine men.
Based on the internationally acclaimed Danish TV series, “Klown” follows two friends (Frank Hvam, Casper Christensen) as they embark on a debauched, sex-mad river tour of their countryside only to be derailed when Hvam abducts his pregnant girlfriend’s 12 year-old nephew in a misguided attempt to prove his merit as a potential father; Todd Phillips (“The Hangover) is already planning a Hollywood remake.
For kids, “Best of Wubbzy” contains seven popular episodes, while “Tom & Jerry’s: Tricks and Treats” launches the Halloween season.
PICK OF THE WEEK: Amusing and entertaining “Marvel’s The Avengers” is an action-adventure in which Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) joins with Captain America (Chris Evans), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), The Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) and Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) to stop Thor’s brazen, bitter brother, Loki (Tom Hiddleston) from summoning intergalactic invaders.