New on DVD this week鈥�.
No Good Deed
Idris Elba and Taraji P. Henson star in the classic tale of don鈥檛-let-a-stranger-use-your-phone-during-a-thunderstorm, otherwise known as No Good Deed. Henson plays Terri, a mom of two living in the Atlanta suburbs, irked that her husband has sneaked away for a boys鈥� weekend. Elba is the 鈥渕alignant narcissist鈥� recently escaped from prison whose car hasn鈥檛 really broken down. Henson is a powerhouse here and Elba is always fun to watch (and not just in the shower scene) but both actors are worthy of a meatier story. A behind-the-scenes feature includes conversations with producers, Elba鈥檚 鈥淟uther鈥� director Sam Miller and cast members. Other extras on the Blu-ray: The Thrill of a Good Fight, which breaks down some of the film鈥檚 stunts, and Good Samaritan, which focuses on the film鈥檚 script.
The Equalizer
You鈥檒l never look at a trip to that big-box hardware store the same way again after watching Denzel Washington find new and sinister uses for a blow torch and a tin of paint. Washington resurrects the McCall of 1980s TV, playing the former secret agent turned vindicator of the oppressed. Chloe Grace Moretz is the underage damsel whose distress prompts McCall to come out of obscurity and start settling scores again. Robert McCall鈥檚 special skill palette has taken on a decidedly horror-movie hue: corkscrew to the soft palate, anyone? Director Antoine Fuqua (Training Day) zooms in nice and close on his vigilante hero, and makes sure you don鈥檛 miss a single blood splatter. Special features on the DVD include a discussion with Moretz, who did some gritty research into child prostitution for her role; plus Home Mart: Taking Care of Business One Bolt at a Time, a play-by-play of McCall鈥檚 DIY weapons expertise. 聽聽
Magic in the Moonlight
Emma Stone charms in this Woody Allen film about a young clairvoyant working the Euro circuit in the late 1920s and edging in on the territory of Stanley Crawford (Colin Firth), a 鈥渟erious鈥� magician who goes by the stage name Wei Ling Soo. So begins Stanley鈥檚 ego quest: to expose the seemingly guileless Sophie Baker as a schemer and a fraud. It鈥檚 a film about skepticism, optimism and mortality set against luxe Cote d鈥橝zur backdrops; so what if some of the film鈥檚 central questions go unanswered, what could be lovelier? Bonus features on the Blu-ray include a making-of extra, as well as coverage of the Los Angeles red-carpet film premiere.
Dominion: Season One
It鈥檚 been 25 years since God abandoned heaven and earth and the archangels waged war on humans, looking for revenge and approbation from the man upstairs. Archangel Michael (Tom Wisdom), however, has defied his brother Gabriel, siding with humanity and helping to protect a man he believes is the 鈥渃hosen one鈥� (Christopher Egan). Training base for this war between good and evil: the post-apocalyptic ruins of a former Las Vegas, naturally. Exclusive to the Blu-ray is an alternate, extended version of the Syfy series' finale, in addition to a gag reel and deleted scenes.
