Broken Hill, Grade A-minus: An Australian sheep herder dreams of a career as a music composer.
The film reaches a final act that is part Rocky and part Mr. Holland's Opus, where the struggle to defeat impossible odds is driven by an uncontrollable passion for music.
Like a well-written piece of music, it builds to an amazing crescendo.
Covert Affairs: Season One, Grade B-plus: The cable action series works because of strong performances by Piper Perabo and Christopher Gorham. Gorham plays a blind CIA agent who uses his computer skills to mentor a CIA trainee (Perabo).
It's a perfect mix of action, drama, and comedy.
The Rite, Grade B: Hollywood's latest look at exorcism is creepy and at times a little kooky, but it never gets mysterious or scary enough to qualify as a standard horror movie. Its examination of religion makes the film more like a Roman Catholic Mass presented in a carnival house of horrors.
Anthony Hopkins puts on an acting clinic as the elder priest. It's Hopkins' best work since his Oscar-winning performance in Silence of the Lambs.
Other new DVD releases this week include:
The Bionic Woman: Season 2: Lindsay Wagner series about a woman given robotic powers.
The Roommate: A college freshman (Leighton Meester) becomes obsessed with her new roommate.
Flashpoint: The Third Season: Action series about an elite police squad.
All in the Family: The Complete Ninth Season: Includes 27 episodes from the show's final season.
The Other Woman: A woman (Natalie Portman) fights back from a tragedy.
South Riding: A 1930s Yorkshire community is embroiled in political and romantic struggles.
Thomas & Friends: The Birthday Express: There's a party on the Island of Sodor.
Barney: I Can Do It!: Barney shows little ones how to have fun.
Deadly Shooter: A gunslinger helps a small town. Randy Travis stars.
Thor: Tales of Asgard: Animated adventures of the god of thunder.
Vanishing on 7th Street: A group of strangers bands together when the lights go out.
The Beautiful Person: French drama about a high schooler drawn to a loner.
Araya: The 1959 film that marked the beginning of the New Latin Cinema has been restored.
The Wild Thornberrys: Season One: The Thornberry family travels the world looking for rare animals to film.
Circles of Deceit: Dennis Waterman stars as an ex-SAS operative freelancing for the British.
The Greatest Places: IMAX adventure features Greenland's massive icebergs and the Amazon River.
Daydream Nation: A defiantly different look at teen life starring Kat Dennings.
Nickelodeon Favorites: Food with Friends: Team Umizoomi music videos are featured.
Sons of the City: New York: A look at the best New York players who went to the NBA.
