Flick Picks 3/19/13: The Hobbit, Zero Dark 30, This is 40

New This Week!

ENTERTAINMENT: Zero Dark Thirty was shut out at the Oscars (though it had 5 nominations) but was certainly one of the more buzzed-about and controversial movies of the year. It tells the story of the hunt for Osama Bin Laden, focusing on one CIA officer's (played by Jessica Chastain) persistence. It's available on DVD and Blu-ray. Also this week, everybody's favorite hairy-footed protagonist Bilbo Baggins get his own adventure in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, the first part of Peter Jackson's most recent attempt at adapting the J.R.R. Tolkien oeuvre. Martin Freeman is the title character and Ian McKellen reprises his Lord of the Rings role of Gandalf. We've got it on DVD and Blu-ray. The other big release this week is This is 40, Judd Apatow's latest comedic look at adulthood. Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann's Knocked Up characters turn 40 while balancing their careers, children and relationship. It too is available on both DVD and Blu-ray.

A couple movies that you might not have heard of also come out this week. The comedy Bachelorette has a great cast of Kirsten Dunst, Lizzy Caplan and Isla Fisher as bridesmaids looking for fun on the night before their friend's wedding. Also this week, the always delightful Parker Posey stars in Price Check as the new boss who pulls one of her executives into her crazy life.

SERIES: A Mind to Kill is a gritty Welsh import about a brilliant detective who seeks to protect his daughter from the criminal world that he knows all too well.

SUBTITLED: Marion Cotillard's latest French language role is in Rust and Bone, about a woman who loses the use of her legs in a tragic accident and becomes romantically involved with a Belgian boxer. The Other Son is a drama about two young men, one Israeli and one Palestinian, whose families must deal with the consequences when they discover that the boys were switched at birth. Finally, Catherine Deneuve fans (and who is not a Deneuve fan?) will enjoy having 1970's Tristana, directed by Luis Bunuel, finally available on DVD. It explores the relationship between Deneuve's character and an older man (Fernando Rey).

DOCUMENTARY: In Search of Memory is the story of Eric Kandel, a neurologist whose pioneering work on memory as well as his personal ties to Judaism are explored. Or try Kumare which follows an American filmmaker who transforms himself into a "guru". Initially simply inspired to teach a lesson about blind faith, he ends up forming bonds with some of his followers which leads him to question his experiment.

Art on DVD
After enjoying our Picasso program this week, you just might feel inspired to learn more about your favorite artists. Luckily we've got a DVD collection that supports your needs!

• Simon Schama is a well-known art historian whose Power of Art series focuses on 8 iconic works and the time in history that helped produce them.
• The Great Courses set The World's Greatest Paintings consists of 24 lectures of 30 minutes each that is like having a college course in your own living room.
• The Landmarks of Western Art series is another long survey of art throughout history.
• Art expert Sister Wendy is well represented the four discs of Sister Wendy: The Complete Collection.
• Explore the history and art within one of the world's great art museums with the Hermitage Masterpieces set.
• There are also many videos on impressionism and post-impressionism, such as From Monet to Van Gogh as well as individual artists such as Monet, Seurat, Rousseau and Cezanne.