Everything Must Go isn't perfect. Rush's script, based on Raymond Carver's short story "Why Don't You Dance," takes a few convenient turns that shield some of the darkness that hangs around Ferrell's character.
Hanna, Grade B-plus: A young girl is trained to be an assassin. Saoirse Ronan, Cate Blanchett, and Eric Bana star. Director Joe Wright's film at times has the excitement and visual grandeur of a big-budget action movie. Then there are moments when it takes on the emotional structure and smallness of an independent film. Under a less creative hand these cinematic styles might have clashed, but Wright blends them with such smooth transitions the movie works on both levels.
The big-budget part features the training of 16-year-old Hanna (Ronan) as a ruthless assassin and her quest to kill the government agent (Blanchett) who's determined to hunt her down.
X-Men: First Class, Grade A-minus: A look at how the team of mutants was brought together. James McAvoy stars.
The film retreats into the comic-book mythology to present the beginnings of the mutant heroes. Other films have touched on the origins, but none has offered as complete and entertaining a peek into the past.
Comic-book purists will have several points of contention with the screenplay by Ashley Miller, Jane Goldman, Zack Stentz, and Matthew Vaughn, which takes some major liberties with the X-Men history. But such liberties are OK when the final result is so impressive.
Also new on DVD this week:
Scarface: The special Blu-ray comes with a digital copy of the film and a DVD of the original 1932 Scarface.
Community, The Complete Second Season: Joel McHale stars in this college-based comedy.
Police Story, Season One: Police series created by Joseph Wambaugh.
Criminal Minds Suspect Behavior, The DVD Edition: Short-lived spin-off of Criminal Minds.
Assassination Games: Two rival assassins form an unlikely partnership.
Parks & Recreation, Season Three: A look at the funny side of local government with Amy Poehler.
Babar, Best Friends Forever: Animated series about a family of elephants.
Airwolf, The Movie: Jan-Michael Vincent stars in this high-flying adventure.
The Good Wife, The Second Season: Julianna Margulies plays a woman dealing with personal and professional lives.
Criminal Minds, Season 6: Team investigates bizarre crimes. Joe Mantegna stars.
No Ordinary Family, The Complete First Season: ABC series that lasted one year about a family with superpowers.
Law & Order Special Victims Unit, Year 12: Christopher Meloni stars.
Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer, The Complete Series: 1956 series starring Darren McGavin.
Rebirth: People affected by terrorist attacks of 9/11 talk about their lives.
Sigmund and the Sea Monster: The first season of the NBC series includes 17 episodes.
Fringe, The Complete Third Season: Fox series about what happens when dimensions collide.
Weakness: A high school teacher looks for help dealing with problems in his life.
Rodney Yee's Daily Yoga: Rodney Yee has developed a 5-in-1 yoga workout.
Olivia, Princess for a Day: Olivia trades places with a visiting princess.
Triad Underworld: A Triad boss makes plans to stop an assassination.
Bed & Breakfast: Two parties fight over a small California property.
Sesame Street, Elmo's Music Magic: Elmo and his friends perform with John Legend.
Team Umizoomi, Journey to Numberland: The Umi Team must identify shapes.
Dogs, Man's Best Friend: A look at dogs.
