'Locker' among new DVDs

Among the 2009 movies that have been getting some early Oscars talk is the little-seen Iraq war drama "The Hurt Locker."

The film, as well as both director Kathryn Bigelow and actor Jeremy Renner, have received multiple nominations from various organizations, including the Golden Globes, the Screen Actors Guild and the Independent Spirit Awards.

Propelled by Renner's vivid, believable turn as a member of the U.S. Army's Explosive Ordinance Disposal units, it is a tense thriller that is arguably the best feature film made about the Middle East conflicts so far. In terms of content, it features strong war violence and imagery, and some strong language.

"The Hurt Locker" is now available in a variety of DVD formats. The standard, one-disc version (Summit, $26.99) features a behind-the-scenes minidocumentary, as well as interviews with the cast and crew. (The Blu-ray version, $35.99, also contains those features and boasts a digital copy of the film, which can be downloaded to home-electronics devices.)

Other DVD releases next week include:

"Amreeka" (Virgil, $24.99) —★★★— A comedy-drama that's honest about the way it depicts family relationships and racial prejudices. With subtitles.

PG-13 (profanity, drugs, violence, slurs, vulgarity)

"Big Fan" (Vivendi, $26.99) —★★★ — This sports-obsession comedy-drama has a real ring of truth to it, and Patton Oswalt is terrific.

R (profanity, violence, vulgarity, slurs, brief sex, brief drugs, brief partial nudity)

"The Brothers Bloom" (Summit, $19.99) —★★★— A peculiar, darkly comic caper film with clever lines of dialogue and some serious literary references.

PG-13 (violence, profanity, vulgarity, slurs, brief nudity, brief sex, gore)

"Departures" (E1, $26.98) —★★★— This thoughtful drama's deliberate tempo may test the patience of some. Japanese with subtitles.

PG-13 (vulgarity, sex, brief partial nudity, brief gore, mild profanity, slurs)

"Fame" (Fox/MGM, $29.99) —★★ — This updated take on the original 1980 movie is played too straight-faced.

Special features: Two-disc "Extended Dance Edition" ($39.99, available in Blu-ray format only) features 15 deleted scenes, music video, movie trailers.