Here's a look at what's new in home video and DVD releases and a calendar or what's coming:
TWO FOR THE MONEY (UNIVERSAL, $29.98): Al Pacino dives into his persona of manic intensity to the point of caricature with an over-the-top performance as a mogul in the high-stakes business of sports betting. Matthew McConaughey stars as a former college quarterback with an uncanny knack for picking winners, who becomes the protg of gambling consultant Mr. Pacino - until the newcomer's luck starts running out. The DVD comes with deleted scenes accompanied by commentary from director D.J. Caruso and screenwriter Dan Gilroy. The disc also has a making-of feature and a segment in which Mr. Gilroy interviews the former caddie who inspired the McConaughey character.
THE MAN (NEW LINE, $27.98): Samuel L. Jackson and Eugene Levy star in a mismatched-buddy action comedy. The uninspired tale of mistaken identity features Mr. Jackson as a trash-talking federal agent who enlists a nice-guy dental-supplies salesman (Mr. Levy) in his sting to bring down a gang of weapons dealers that stole a cache of arms. Along with deleted scenes, the DVD offers a batch of featurettes examining the look of Mr. Jackson's flashy wheels and the actor's "guide to cursing."
UNDERCLASSMAN (MIRAMAX, $29.99): Another entry in the bad action-comedy genre is this dreary flick that plays like a cross between Beverly Hills Cop and 21 Jump Street, minus the entertainment value. Nick Cannon stars as a detective who goes undercover as a student at a private school to hunt down a teen's murderer and infiltrate a stolen-car ring. Director Marcos Siega and the movie's two co-writers team for commentary.
JUNEBUG (SONY, $26.96): This comic gem of clashing values features a breakout performance from actress Amy Adams. Embeth Davidtz stars as a classy British art dealer living in Chicago with her new husband (Alessandro Nivola), who travels to North Carolina to pursue a local folk artist and meet her husband's relations, including her sister-in-law (Ms. Adams). Ms. Davidtz and Ms. Adams collaborate for DVD commentary, and the DVD has deleted scenes.
ENRON: THE SMARTEST GUYS IN THE ROOM (MAGNOLIA, $26.98): Director Alex Gibney provides an insider's look into modern finance's most notorious corporate meltdown in a documentary that is both informative and entertaining. The film relies on archival footage, corporate audio and videotapes and interviews with employees to spin a tale of greed and unbridled hubris by Enron executives that resulted in the collapse of the energy giant, leaving shareholders and workers out in the cold. The DVD features a segment with Fortune reporters Bethany McLean and Peter Elkind, whose book was the basis for the documentary. Also included is a "Where Are They Now?" segment on key players in the saga.
ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN: THE COMPLETE SECOND SEASON (20TH CENTURY FOX, $29.98), AND LOIS & CLARK: THE NEW ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN - THE COMPLETE SECOND SEASON (WARNER BROS., $59.98): Warming up the audience for this summer's Superman Returns on the big screen, these sets offer two of television's takes on the superhero from Krypton. George Reeves stars in the 1950s show Adventures of Superman, whose second season comes in a five-disc set with 26 episodes, plus commentary on two by Noel Neill, who plays Lois Lane. Dean Cain is Supe and Teri Hatcher is Lois in the 1990s incarnation Lois & Clark, whose 22 second-season episodes are in a six-disc set.
- David Germain,
Coming attractions
Just out: Junebug, Lord of War, The Man, Underclassman, Two for the Money and Venom
Coming Tuesday: Aristorcrats, Flightplan, The Fog, Oliver Twist and Thumbsucker
Jan. 31: Corpse Bride, Dear Wendy, In Her Shoes and Supercross
Feb. 7: Cote d'Azur, Daltry Calhoun, Doom, Eros, Mirrormask, Paper Clips and A State of Mind
Feb. 14: Proof
Feb. 21: Left of the Dial