Bad girls, from The Other Woman to The Roommate, dominate the new DVD releases this week.

THE MECHANIC (2011)

Muscleman Jason Stratham  stars in this action thriller about a professional assassin who sets out to train an apprentice (Ben Foster). Outstanding action sequences, fairly graphic violence and an unusually intricate plot makes The Mechanic a cut well above standard action fare. Earned an R-rating in the U.S., which means the producers didn’t wimp out on the violence to get a PG-13 rating.

THE RITE (2011)

Anthony Hopkins goes to the evil well once too often in this poorly received good-vs.-evil supernatural thriller. Earned a mere PG-13 rating, indicating a tepid level of scares and violence, and a dismal 19 per cent positive ratings from critics on Rotten Tomatoes. Allegedly inspired by true events.
THE OTHER WOMAN (2011)

Is it just me, or does there seem to be a new Natalie Portman movie either on DVD or in the theatres every other week? In this offering, Portman plays a woman who married her ex-boss, who was married at the time of their affair. The spurned ex-wife, Lisa Kudrow, causes no end of grief. Performances by Portman and Kudrow were well received, but the film was not. Described as high-toned soap opera.

THE ROOMMATE (2011)

Everything you need to know about The Roommate can be summed up in this blurb: “She’s cute. She’s loyal. She’s psychotic. And, unfortunately for college freshman Sara (Minka Kelly) she’s The Roommate.” Rated PG-13 for, among other transgressions, depictions of “teen partying”, the film scored a shockingly low four per cent on the Tomatometer. Even Pete Travers of Rolling Stone, who’s usually willing to provide a kiss-ass blurb, said The Roommate “sucks bad, real bad”.

FROM THE VAULTS

DIABOLIQUE (1955)

This week’s offering from Criterion, this French horror/thriller is generally credited as a classic of the genre, and the inspiration for Psycho. Two women conspire to kill a nasty boarding school headmaster, whose body then disappears. Famous for its intricate plot and surprise ending, Roger Ebert writes: “Diabolique is so well constructed that even today it works on its intended level — up until, say, the last 30 seconds.”

NEW ON BLU-RAY

Paul Newman and Jackie Gleason in the film The Hustler (1961); Eddie Murphy’s break-out role Beverly Hills  Cop (1984); The Twilight Zone Season Four (1963); and three films from Sophia Loren (Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow; Marriage, Italian Style; Sunflower).

TV ON DVD

THE BIONIC WOMAN, SEASON 2

Second season of the spin off of The Six Million Dollar Man stars Lindsay Wagner as tennis pro Jamie Sommers who is turned into a bionic superwoman Wagner actually won an Emmy for her role in this briefly popular piece of late 70s-schlock. Best known for one episode where she battles the notorious fembots.Yes, fembots.

ESPN FILMS 30 for 30, Vol. 2

ESPN, the American TV sports behemoth, celebrated its 30th year by commissioning a series of original documentaries with sports themes. This second volume includes The Two Escobars (a gripping story of soccer and drugs) and NBA Star Steve Nash’s Into the Wind, a lovely tribute to Terry Fox.