'Rachel Getting Married' heads DVD releases

These new-to-DVD movies are led by Anne Hathaway's recent Oscar-nominated performance.

"Rachel Getting Married" (Sony Classics, 2008; R for language, sex, brief nudity, volence; $28.98). Is hot-headed Kym getting out of rehab to attend her sister's wedding so she can cause trouble, or does she really want to atone for sins past? Both, as it turns out.

Much of this is overly familiar, but Anne Hathaway's full-throttle, fast-talking performance makes Kym a force to contend with. She's witty, appalling, funny and tragic. Let's just say Hathaway's Oscar nomination was earned.

The supporting cast is also first-rate, with many notable performances, chiefly Rosemarie DeWitt and Bill Irwin. And it's a treat to see Debra Winger, who's not around enough these days.

Jonathan Demme's direction, however, should have invested in a tripod. The wobbly camera that follows Kym around documentary-style becomes annoying after a while.

Extras: widescreen, deleted scenes, audio commentaries, featurettes

"Cadillac Records" (Sony, 2008; R for language, sex, brief nudity; 39.95). This is one of those movies I wanted to like more than I actually did. The performances — Jeffrey Wright as Muddy Waters, Mos Def as Chuck Berry, and yes, Beyonce as Etta James — are all first-rate. But the script is all over the place in a case of biting off way more than one film can chew and indulging in a few too many cliches.

Extras: widescreen, deleted scenes, featurettes, exclusive to Blu-ray interactive playlist (also on DVD, $27.96)

"Primal Fear: Hard Evidence Edition" (Paramount, 1996; R for violence, sex, nudity, language; $14.99). This twisty thriller provided a starmaking showcase for Edward Norton in his first film. And while some of it is satisfying much of it is an example of how movies sometimes have contempt for the audience. The Catholic-bashing story has an altar boy (Norton) accused of killing the archbishop of Chicago who is defended by an egocentric headline-grabbing lawyer (Richard Gere). Laura Linney is the prosecutor who, naturally, is Gere's former lover. Alfre Woodard is the judge, Frances McDormand is a psychologist, and Maura Tierney and Andre Braugher are Gere's assistants.

Extras: widescreen, audio commentary, featurettes, trailer