DVD Releases - Feb. 20

“Babel” (R) - From the director of “21 Grams” comes another film with overlapping storylines, with this one featuring a pair of high profile supporting players in Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett. However, it was Adriana Barraza and Rinko Kikuchi who both picked up Oscar nods for their performances, two of seven nominations the movie received.
Extras: Negative.
Official Web site

“Family Ties: Season 1” - Amazingly, its been 25 years since this hit NBC sitcom debuted on TV, launching the career of Michael J. Fox and introducing us to the unmistakeable talents of Tina Yothers. Gotta love those Keatons!.
Extras: Filled with 22 episodes, but not one extra. Thanks a lot, Paramount Home Video!
No official Web site.

“Flushed Away” (PG) - Yes, yes, it’s another film featuring animated animals. But this one is produced from the same animation studio that worked on “Wallace and Gromit” and “Chicken Run.” Plus, its got vocal talent from Hugh Jackman, Ian McKellen and Kate Winslet. So that’s got to be considered a good thing.
Extras: Filmmakers commentary, a behind the scenes interactive tour, numerous games, an animator’s gallery and more.
Official Web site

“For Your Consideration” (PG-13) - From the minds of satricial standouts Christopher Guest and Eugene Levy (“Best in Show,” “A Mighty Wind”) comes a comedy that pokes fun at the Academy Awards hype. Three actors in a crappy drama based in the 1940s begin hearing rumors their performances are generating Oscar buzz, setting off a feeding frenzy in and around the production. Breaking from his traditional mockumentary style of filming, Guest’s latest film received a mixed response in theaters.
Extras: Commentary with Guest and Levy, along with lots of deleted scenes and outtakes.
Official Web site

“Gandhi: 25th Anniversary Collector’s Edition” (PG) - Taking home multiple Oscars in 1982, including Best Picture, this highly acclaimed film gets a worthy release. Ben Kingsley (who’s practically been slumming in movies lately) starred in a great, Oscar-winning performance as the title character.
Extras: The two-disc release includes many featurettes with a couple focusing on director Richard Attenborough’s work at getting the movie made, as well as Kingsley reflecting on Gandhi.
No official Web site.

“Man of the Year” (PG-13) - A comedy-drama starring a solid cast, including Robin Williams, Laura Linney, Christopher Walken and Jeff Goldblum, “Man of the Year” didn’t meet with great success in theaters. Director Barry Levinson (“Wag the Dog”) has covered some similar ground before in this slightly satirical look at an election ballot snafu (sound familiar?) that gets a talk-show host (Williams) elected as President of the United States.
Extras: A behind-the-scenes look at Williams, along with a making-of video diary.
Official Web site

“The Prestige” (PG-13) - The very busy Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale star as magicians who begin as friends, only to become bitter rivals, locked in a game of one-upsmanship. The equally busy Scarlett Johansson and Michael Caine co-star for director Christopher Nolan (“Batman Begins”) in this satisfying thriller that earned two Academy Award nominations.
Extras: A ‘director’s notebook’ featurette and an art gallery of the movie.
Official Web site

“Shut Up and Sing” (PG-13) - In what certainly plays as fotuitous timing after their big night at this month’s Grammy Awards, the documentary on the Dixie Chicks hits DVD. The film follows the popular musical trio as they deal with the huge amount of attention and backlash they received after lead singer Natalie Maines criticized President Bush at a 2003 concert.
Extras: Surprisingly, nothing.
Official Web site