Based on a legendary Thai ghost story, Ghost of Mae Nak, just out today on DVD, will send a chill down your spine. GreenCine's Jonathan Marlow spoke with British cinematographer-turned-writer/director Mark Duffield about his film, which Variety wrote "accentuates atmosphere over gore and emerges as one of the more accessible recent Thai horrors." Full article >>

The King Rent | Buy

Director James Marsh, whose previous film was the eclectic doc Wisconsin Death Trip, made his feature debut with this "fascinating psychological drama that puts the boot into the delusions, hypocrisy and cruelty of American Christian fundamentalism" (Guardian UK). Gael García Bernal plays 21-year-old Elvis, son of a deceased Hispanic prostitute, who returns from the navy hoping to become part of the family of his father - a born again Christian preacher (William Hurt). Unsettling and underrated. DVD ($21.45) features commentary with Marsh and writer/producer Milo Addica.

Prairie Home Companion Rent | Buy

"The kind of picture Robert Altman was born to make," wrote Premiere's Claire Evans. "His famously light touch with actors pays dividends in freewheeling brilliance among this once-in-a-lifetime cast" - which includes Meryl Streep, Lily Tomlin, Kevin Kline, Lindsay Lohan and, of course, Garrison Keillor, who adapted his long-running radio program to the screen. The DVD ($21.45) adds an amiable commentary track from Altman and Kline (though one from Keillor would have been a nice bonus, too).

Art School Confidential Rent | Buy

Ghost World's Terry Zwigoff and Daniel Clowes, reunited for this bemused take on art school hijinx, assembled a first-rate cast, too (including John Malkovich, Anjelica Huston and the always superb Jim Broadbent). If it's more straightforward, sloppy and silly than expected, there's also many a knowing chuckle to be had. Read our interview with the creators.
Only $20.80.

Reds ($14.95): We've been waiting for Warren Beatty's multi-Oscar winner to arrive on DVD for ages and then here it comes out a week ahead of schedule, with a lavish treatment.

Hail Mary ($21.78); Wonder Showzen: Season 2 ($20.95); Land of Plenty [Wim Wenders interview]; Ju-On 2 ($19.95); 12 and Holding ($21.45) [related interview]; Black Dahlia (no, not that one; $22.95).

GreenCine's review blog: Guru | A complete list of this week's new releases and all titles coming soon is available here | Your Queue

Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law vol. 2 Rent | Buy

Space Ghost may have gotten the talk show but as far as revived Hanna-Barbera characters go, failed superhero Harvey Birdman (voiced here by Gary Cole) hasn't fared too badly either: he's become a lawyer representing a wide range of characters from the HB stable, all of whom come to Harvey despite his lack of credentials in the field of law. Irreverent, silly - nostalgia twisted in just the right way.

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The Uninvited Guest Rent | Buy

Who is The Uninvited Guest? This question, along with a number of others, may stick with you after viewing this rich, engrossing Spanish film that does not easily give up its secrets... Read more on Guru...

More like this The Devil's Backbone | The Others

The Horror Hotel Rent | Watch

"Instead of delivering cheap shocks and overdone graphic effects like modern horror films, [director] John Llewellyn Moxey employs eerie atmosphere and creepy claustrophobia, something sorely missing from contemporary efforts." (says DVDCult of Horror Hotel. Available to watch now via GreenCine's Video-on-Demand service. (You can also watch a version hosted by The Mortician.)

More like this The Shunned House | Circus of Fear

The Departed is already a hit and widely hailed by reviewers as one of Martin Scorsese's best films in a while. As Manohla Dargis writes in the New York Times, "the camera work and cutting feel faster, lower to the ground, more urgent." Some credit for that can go to Scorsese's long-time collaborator, editor Thelma Schoonmaker. Jonathan Marlow spoke with Schoonmaker about the film and about what Scorsese learned from the man he introduced her to, the man who would become her husband, Michael Powell. Full article >>

Five years after In the Bedroom was nominated for five Academy Awards, Todd Field talks about his follow-up, Little Children, in theaters now. Full article >>

Congratulations to the winners of our I am a Sex Addict/Russian Dolls contest: toddandsteph and waynep275. They'll both receive a copy of each film on DVD. Look for future contests on Guru and on GreenCine!

Cuddle up on the couch with the GreenCine member list of the week: jonastheleper's So this is love: Good date flicks.

Coming next month: GreenCine and Cabinetic presents This is Gary McFarland, a film by Kristian St. Clair at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. This is a San Francisco premiere with the director in attendance for a post-screening Q&A! More details forthcoming.