"Hugo" was nominated for 11 Oscars, including best director for Martin Scorsese and best picture.

Oscar nominations were announced today and, as usual, there were few surprises. That said, I didn’t expect to see Demián Bichir make his way into the best actor race for “A Better Life.” Certainly, people like his performance, but his chances seemed slim going into today’s nominations. So, you never know what’s going to happen. I was also pleased to see the strong support for Terrence Malick and “The Tree of Life.” This is a great film that got too little attention from Critics’ organizations.

Following is a complete list of nominees …

Best Picture

“The Artist”
“The Descendants”
“Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close”
“The Help”
“Hugo”
“Midnight in Paris”
“Moneyball”
“The Tree of Life”
“War Horse”

Actor in a Leading Role

Demián Bichir in “A Better Life”
George Clooney in “The Descendants”
Jean Dujardin in “The Artist”
Gary Oldman in “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy”
Brad Pitt in “Moneyball”

Actor in a Supporting Role

Kenneth Branagh in “My Week with Marilyn”
Jonah Hill in “Moneyball”
Nick Nolte in “Warrior”
Christopher Plummer in “Beginners”
Max von Sydow in “Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close”

Actress in a Leading Role

Glenn Close in “Albert Nobbs”
Viola Davis in “The Help”
Rooney Mara in “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo”
Meryl Streep in “The Iron Lady”
Michelle Williams in “My Week with Marilyn”

Actress in a Supporting Role

Bérénice Bejo in “The Artist”
Jessica Chastain in “The Help”
Melissa McCarthy in “Bridesmaids”
Janet McTeer in “Albert Nobbs”
Octavia Spencer in “The Help”

Directing

“The Artist” Michel Hazanavicius
“The Descendants” Alexander Payne
“Hugo” Martin Scorsese
“Midnight in Paris” Woody Allen
“The Tree of Life” Terrence Malick

Animated Feature Film

“A Cat in Paris”
“Chico & Rita”
“Kung Fu Panda 2″
“Puss in Boots”
“Rango”

Art Direction

“The Artist”
“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2″
“Hugo”
“Midnight in Paris”
“War Horse”

Cinematography

“The Artist”
“The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo”
“Hugo”
“The Tree of Life”
“War Horse”

Costume Design

“Anonymous”
“The Artist”
“Hugo”
“Jane Eyre”
“W.E.”

Documentary (Feature)

“Hell and Back Again”
“If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front”
“Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory”
“Pina”
“Undefeated”

Documentary (Short Subject)

“The Barber of Birmingham: Foot Soldier of the Civil Rights Movement”
“God Is the Bigger Elvis”
“Incident in New Baghdad”
“Saving Face”
“The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom”

Film Editing

“The Artist”
“The Descendants”
“The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo”
“Hugo”
“Moneyball”

Foreign Language Film

“Bullhead” Belgium
“Footnote” Israel
“In Darkness” Poland
“Monsieur Lazhar” Canada
“A Separation” Iran

Makeup

“Albert Nobbs”
“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2″
“The Iron Lady”

Music (Original Score)

“The Adventures of Tintin” John Williams
“The Artist” Ludovic Bource
“Hugo” Howard Shore
“Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy” Alberto Iglesias
“War Horse” John Williams

Music (Original Song)

“Man or Muppet” from “The Muppets” Music and Lyric by Bret McKenzie
“Real in Rio” from “Rio” Music by Sergio Mendes and Carlinhos Brown Lyric by Siedah Garrett

Short Film (Animated)

“Dimanche/Sunday”
“The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore”
“La Luna”
“A Morning Stroll”
“Wild Life”

Short Film (Live Action)

“Pentecost”
“Raju”
“The Shore”
“Time Freak”
“Tuba Atlantic”

Sound Editing

“Drive”
“The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo”
“Hugo”
“Transformers: Dark of the Moon”
“War Horse”

Sound Mixing

“The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo”
“Hugo”
“Moneyball”
“Transformers: Dark of the Moon”
“War Horse”

Visual Effects

“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2″
“Hugo”
“Real Steel”
“Rise of the Planet of the Apes”
“Transformers: Dark of the Moon”

Writing (Adapted Screenplay)

“The Descendants” Screenplay by Alexander Payne and Nat Faxon & Jim Rash
“Hugo” Screenplay by John Logan
“The Ides of March” Screenplay by George Clooney & Grant Heslov and Beau Willimon
“Moneyball” Screenplay by Steven Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin Story by Stan Chervin
“Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy” Screenplay by Bridget O’Connor & Peter Straughan

Writing (Original Screenplay)

“The Artist” Written by Michel Hazanavicius
“Bridesmaids” Written by Annie Mumolo & Kristen Wiig
“Margin Call” Written by J.C. Chandor
“Midnight in Paris” Written by Woody Allen
“A Separation” Written by Asghar Farhadi

Joseph Gordon-Levitt (left) and Seth Rogen star in the dramedy “50/50.”

This week’s major home video releases include a third addition to the “Paranormal Activity” franchise, a family film about boxing robots and a terrific dramedy featuring Seth Rogen and Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

50/50

3½ stars (out of four)
Rated R for language throughout, sexual content and some drug use
Summit Entertainment
Available on: DVD and Blu-ray

Since “50/50” was released into theaters in September, it has racked up an impressive string of accolades, including a Golden Globe nomination for best motion picture (comedy or musical) and a National Board of Review award for best original screenplay. Written by Will Reiser and directed by Jonathan Levine, the movie walks a fine line between drama and comedy, creating a truly moving viewing experience.

The focus is on Adam Lerner (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), a 27-year-old public radio employee who learns that he has cancer. Naturally, the news hits hard, especially when an Internet search reveals that his chances for survival are about 50/50. Although this is unusual comedy fodder, Reiser and Levine keep the tone surprisingly upbeat by focusing not only on Adam’s disease but the reactions of those around him.

Most important is Kyle (Seth Rogen), Adam’s brash and mouthy best friend. Kyle is stunned by Adam’s plight, but he doesn’t take a dire outlook. Rather, he supports his friend with a brassy optimism that comes across as both crass and funny. Kyle is also a breath of fresh air for Adam. His girlfriend, Rachael (Bryce Dallas Howard), doesn’t cope with the illness well, and his mother (Anjelica Huston) is a wreck. That leaves Adam to rely on Kyle and his inexperienced therapist (Anna Kendrick) for emotional support.

“50/50” is frequently funny, but it also treats the issues within the movie with respect. Most importantly, it reminds viewers that cancer isn’t an instant death sentence. Regardless of whether a cancer victim is cured or succumbs to the disease, he/she is very much alive while battling it. Gordon-Levitt makes this point nicely by taking Adam through various stages of denial and acceptance and by imbuing him with emotions ranging from happiness to anger. Rogen is also terrific, as he taps into his comic talents, yet restrains himself enough to make his character plausible.

Reiser’s script is exceptional, and Levine executed it to perfection. Each scene moves at just the right pace, and the movie never becomes too maudlin or too goofy, despite the fact that it possesses both elements.

DVD and Blu-ray extras include a making-of featurette, deleted scenes and an audio commentary by Rogen, Levine and Reiser.

Real Steel

3 stars (out of four)
Rated PG-13 for some violence, intense action and brief language
Disney
Available on: DVD, Blu-ray, digital download and on demand

“Real Steel” is pure fiction, but it’s easy to believe in the world director Shawn Levy has created on screen. Set in the near future, the film focuses on robot boxing, a sport that pits giant human-shaped machines against one another in favor of actual human-to-human combat.

Robot boxing is loud and brutal because the competitors are frighteningly powerful, yet the sport has a human element since the robots are controlled by people. At the center of the action is Charlie Kenton (Hugh Jackman), a former boxer trying to recapture his glory days by taking robots into battle. Trouble is, he’s compulsive and irresponsible, and this has left him deeply in debt.

Charlie’s situation gets more complicated when he learns that the mother of his 11-year-old son, Max (Dakota Goyo), has died, leaving him to care for the boy for several months. Charlie has never attempted to be a proper father, so he and the boy don’t know each other, but they form a tenuous bond over their mutual love of robot boxing.

“Real Steel” is one part sports film and one part relationship drama, and director Shawn Levy (“Date Night,” “Night at the Museum”) does a nice job blending the elements. Although the film received a PG-13, it makes for reasonably good family viewing, with robot violence and brief moments of foul language being the only problematic elements.

The film’s commentary on what it means to be a parent is reasonably good, and Levy and Jackman get points for refusing to let Charlie go overly soft. The character progresses and changes during the course of the story, but the shifts are subtle enough to be believable.

Of course, one of the major draws of a movie like this are the robot combat sequences, and Levy does these well. The battles are impressive and fun, and the special effects are very good, leaving viewers with a futuristic drama that both parents and youngsters can enjoy.

DVD and Blu-ray extras include two making-of features and a blooper reel.

Paranormal Activity 3

2½ stars
Rated R for some violence and language, brief sexuality and drug use
Paramount
Available on: Blu-ray/DVD/digital combo pack and on demand

When “Paranormal Activity” was released in 2007, it was a reminder that suspense is more important to a horror film than special effects and a big-name cast. Made on a shoestring, the movie, which claimed to be comprised of “found video,” succeeded simply because it was creepy.

Now that the franchise has delivered a second sequel, it has become just as tired as the big-budget peers it originally displaced. The film is a prequel, and it focuses on the childhood of Katie and Kristi, the sisters referenced in the first two movies.

Set in 1988, the film introduces viewers to the girls’ mother, Julie (Lauren Bittner), and her videographer boyfriend, Dennis (Christopher Nicholas Smith). As in the earlier films, strange supernatural happenings occur, and this convinces Dennis to set cameras up around their house.

As in the previous movies, the story is told through video footage that was supposedly taken by the characters. This adds a sense of realism and immediacy to the project, but it’s not nearly as effective as it has been in the past, primarily because viewers have come to expect it. The one thing a horror film can’t afford is predictability, but directors Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman have made “Paranormal Activity 3” a retread from start to finish.

The DVD/Blu-ray combo pack includes both theatrical and unrated cuts of the film.

ALSO OUT THIS WEEK

“Wings”: Paramount is giving the very first best picture Oscar winner its DVD and Blu-ray debut. The 1927 silent film tells the story of two World War I fighter pilots who are in love with the same woman. Clara Bow, Richard Arlen, Charles “Buddy” Rogers and Gary Cooper star. Directed by William A. Wellman.

“The Whistleblower”: Rachel Weisz stars as a U.N. peacekeeper who finds herself in danger after uncovering a sex-trafficking ring in Bosnia. David Strathairn, Nikolaj Lie Kaas, Anna Anissimova, Monica Bellucci and Vanessa Redgrave also star. Co-written and directed by Larysa Kondracki.

“Restless”: Director Gus Van Sant’s story of a troubled man (Henry Hopper) who falls in love with a terminal cancer patient (Mia Wasikowska). Written by Jason Lew.

“Godzilla”: Criterion Collection release of the 1954 Japanese monster movie that changed cinema forever. The film, directed by Ishiro Honda, received a high-definition digital restoration, and it’s available on DVD and Blu-ray. Presented in Japanese with English subtitles.

“Another Happy Day”: Drama featuring Ellen Barkin as a woman forced to confront family drama when she attends the wedding of her eldest son. Kate Bosworth, Ellen Burstyn, Thomas Haden Church, George Kennedy, Ezra Miller and Demi Moore also star. Written and directed by Sam Levinson.

“The Moment of Truth”: Freshly restored release of Italian director Francesco Rosi’s 1965 drama about the rise and fall of a bullfighter (Miguel Mateo “Miguelin”). Presented in Italian with English subtitles.

Lethal Ladies Collection, Vol. 2: Two-DVD set featuring three exploitation films from the 1970s: “The Arena,” “Fly Me” and “Cover Girl Models.” “The Arena” stars Pam Grier and Margaret Markov in the story of four women kidnapped by Romans and forced to become gladiators. “Fly Me” focuses on a group of stewardesses who fight back when their plane is hijacked. “Cover Girl Models” is about three models implicated in a dangerous spy game.

– Forrest Hartman is an independent film critic whose byline has appeared in some of the nation’s largest publications. E-mail him at forrest@forresthartman.com.

Ryan Gosling plays an idealistic campaign strategist in the political drama “The Ides of March.”

This week’s home video releases include a thriller designed to turn Taylor Lautner into an action star and a powerful political drama from actor-director George Clooney.

Ides of March

4 stars (out of four)
Rated R for pervasive language
Sony
Available on: DVD, Blu-ray and digital download

George Clooney is a great actor, but he’s even more impressive as a director. Each of his previous directorial efforts – “Confessions of a Dangerous Mind,” “Good Night, and Good Luck” and “Leatherheads” – has been outstanding, and “The Ides of March” is just as solid.

Clooney not only directed the film, he co-wrote the screenplay and co-starred, succeeding each step of the way. The story centers on Stephen Meyers (Ryan Gosling), an up-and-coming campaign strategist working to elect Democratic presidential hopeful Mike Morris (Clooney). Meyers isn’t naïve, but this job feels different because he believes in everything Morris stands for. As the campaign moves forward, however, Meyers learns secrets that destroy his admiration of the candidate and remind him how underhanded politics can be.

Clooney is such a charismatic screen presence that he seems custom made to play political figures, and Gosling is terrific in every scene. Perhaps the most impressive thing about “Ides” is that the talent doesn’t stop with the two of them. The acting ensemble also includes Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Paul Giamatti, Evan Rachel Wood, Marisa Tomei and Jeffrey Wright, and each actor lives up to his/her usually high standards. That explains why the “Ides” cast was nominated for Best Acting Ensemble at the Critics’ Choice Movie Awards and why the film received four Golden Globe nominations, including nods for best picture and director.

“Ides” hit theaters in October, but it seems more timely now that the Republican presidential primaries are heating up. The film, adapted from playwright Beau Willimon’s “Farragut North,” is fictional, but it clearly drew inspiration from real-life happenings. The title, of course, refers to the March 15 political killing of Roman statesman Julius Caesar, and it is appropriate because U.S. presidential primaries tend to peak in March.

“The Ides of March” deserves the attention it’s getting from awards voters, and it will be a shame if it doesn’t wind up in this year’s Oscar race.

DVD and Blu-ray extras include two featurettes on the making of the film and an audio commentary by Clooney and co-writer Grant Heslov.

Abduction

3 stars
Rated PG-13 for sequences of intense violence and action, brief language, some sexual content and teen partying
Lionsgate
Available on: DVD, Blu-ray and on demand

“Abduction” is obviously designed to coax Taylor Lautner’s “Twilight” fans to another genre because everything about it screams, “teen movie.” That may sound like a terrible thing, but it’s not. Action movies have their place, and there’s nothing wrong with a shoot ’em up made specifically for young people.

Directed by John Singleton (“Boyz n the Hood,” “2 Fast 2 Furious”),
“Abduction” begins with Nathan Harper (Lautner) attending a high school party with his pals. This sequence is designed primarily to let viewers know that he has a longstanding thing for his next door neighbor, Karen (Lily Collins), and that his father (Jason Isaacs) is a real hard ass when Nathan gets out of line. Both of these developments become important when Nathan and Karen discover a Web site featuring a missing child who looks surprisingly like him. Intrigued, Nathan begins to investigate and comes to the conclusion that his parents aren’t who they say they are. When he confronts them, a series of bizarre happenings put both Nathan and Karen in danger and force them to go on the run.

“Abduction” isn’t the smartest movie to hit theaters in 2011, but it is reasonably well plotted, especially for a flick that is essentially attempting a “90210”/“Die Hard” hybrid. Some of what happens is predictable, but Singleton and screenwriter Shawn Christensen deliver enough fresh bits to keep things interesting.

“Abduction” also scores points for using surprisingly solid actors in supporting roles. The underappreciated Maria Bello plays Nathan’s mom, Sigourney Weaver portrays an eclectic psychiatrist and Alfred Molina plays a CIA agent who is appropriately enigmatic. Lautner is yet to establish himself as a “serious” actor, but he is physically gifted and has lots of onscreen charisma, which is all the role of Nathan requires.

It’s doubtful that “Abduction” will turn Lautner into the next Bruce Willis or Matt Damon, but the movie serves its primary purpose, which is to provide teens with a satisfying slice of weekend fun.

DVD and Blu-ray extras include two making-of features, a gag reel and a video production journal featuring Lautner.

ALSO OUT THIS WEEK

“Courageous”: Faith-based movie from the creators of “Fireproof” (2008). The plot follows four Georgia police officers forced to adjust their beliefs about life, family and religion after one of them experiences a tragedy. Alex Kendrick co-wrote, directed and stars in the film. Ken Bevel, Ben Davies and Kevin Downes also star.

HBO movies about black Americans: February is Black History Month, and HBO is getting a jump on the celebration by rolling out three titles celebrating the accomplishments of black Americans: “The Tuskegee Airmen,” “Thurgood” and “The Josephine Baker Story.” “Airmen” is a 1995 HBO film that focuses on America’s first squadron of black combat pilots. “Thurgood” is a taping of Laurence Fishburne’s one-man tribute to civil rights pioneer and U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. “Baker” is a 1991 drama looking at the personal and professional life of its title character, a performer who became a sensation in 1920s Paris. Each film received widespread acclaim when shown on HBO, and all are available on DVD, Blu-ray and digital download.

“Belle de Jour”: Criterion Collection release of director Luis Bunuel’s 1967 drama about a Paris housewife (Catherine Deneuve) who works as a prostitute by day. The film won the Golden Lion and Pasinetti Award at the 1967 Venice Film Festival. Presented in French with English subtitles.

“Age of Heroes”: Thriller based on the true story of 30 Assault Unit, a British special forces group formed by James Bond creator Ian Fleming. Sean Bean and Danny Dyer star. Directed and co-written by Adrian Vitoria.

“Delocated!” – Seasons 1 & 2: With season three of this Adult Swim comedy debuting in February, Warner Brothers is bringing the first 19 episodes to DVD. The show stars Jon Glaser as the patriarch of a family living in the witness protection program while simultaneously appearing on a reality TV series.

“Adam-12” – Season Six: All 24 episodes of the second-to-last season of Jack Webb’s popular television drama about Los Angeles police officers. Martin Milner and Kent McCord star.

“Bombay Beach”: Documentary film telling the stories of three people living in the poor, Southern California community of Bombay Beach, next to the Salton Sea. The movie, directed by Alma Har’el, won best feature documentary at the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival.

“Cold Sweat”: Argentinian horror film written and directed by Adrian Garcia Bogliano. The movie focuses on a young man (Facundo Espinosa) trying to rescue his girlfriend from demented political radicals. Presented in Spanish with English subtitles.

“Sliders” – The Fifth and Final Season: Last 18 episodes of the 1990s science-fiction TV series about characters with the ability to travel between parallel universes. Cleavant Derricks, Kari Wuhrer, Robert Floyd and Tembi Locke star.

– Forrest Hartman is an independent film critic whose byline has appeared in some of the nation’s largest publications. E-mail him at forrest@forresthartman.com.

Personal biases aside, these awards have an excellent track record of predicting future Oscar nominees and winners. So, if you watch this show and the Golden Globes (Sunday), you’ll be well prepared for the Academy Awards race.

Brad Pitt, left, and Jonah Hill star in the sports drama “Moneyball.”

This week’s major home video releases include an all-out action film, a by-the-book romantic comedy and an excellent sports drama.

Moneyball

3½ stars (out of four)
Rated PG-13 for some strong language
Sony
Available on: DVD and Blu-ray

“Moneyball,” director Bennett Miller’s fascinating biopic about Oakland Athletics manager Billy Beane, was a critical hit in theaters. Now, it seems primed for an Oscar run. The movie is up for multiple honors at both the Golden Globes and Critics’ Choice Movie Awards, and these ceremonies have a good track record predicting Oscar nominees.

Regardless of how the film fares in the Oscar race, movie lovers should seek it out because it succeeds on multiple levels. The subject matter is intriguing, and one needn’t be a sports nut to enjoy. That’s because “Moneyball” is as much about personal relationships and numbers as bats hitting balls.

The film starts with Beane (Brad Pitt) lamenting a post-season loss to the New York Yankees. It then follows his efforts to build a competitive team for the next season. That task is monumental because, as Beane notes, professional baseball isn’t fair. Well-funded teams like the Yankees are able to spend more on players, stacking the odds against small-market organizations like the Athletics.

Still, the frustrated Beane perseveres, eventually stumbling upon Peter Brand (Jonah Hill), a young baseball executive who believes he can field a winning team for pennies on the dollar. Brand’s strategy forgoes traditional scouting routines in favor of finding inexpensive players who get on base a lot.

Although the film, which was adapted from Michael Lewis’ 2003 book, is based in reality, it is fictionalized. Most notably, Brand is a composite character based on more than one of Beane’s assistants. It’s hard to complain about the change, however, because Hill is great. The young actor is most-often tapped for comic roles, and it’s nice to see him stretch out.

Pitt is equally strong, and he paints Beane as a likable and charismatic leader who is willing to risk his career for the things he believes in. Out of necessity, the movie has a few baseball scenes, but most of the action takes place off the field, with Beane and Brand maneuvering to make the A’s better than they should be. That leaves the film accessible to people who aren’t baseball fans, but it doesn’t alienate the faithful.

DVD and Blu-ray extras include deleted scenes, a blooper reel and a featurette on Beane.

Killer Elite

3 stars
Rated R for strong violence, language and some sexuality/nudity
Universal
Available on: DVD, Blu-ray, digital download and on demand

Jason Statham has become a master of the pure action movie: the sort that doesn’t bother with wit or melodrama because it’s too busy blowing things up. That may sound like a slam, but it isn’t. Sometimes, it’s nice to watch a film that wears its testosterone on its sleeve, and “Killer Elite” fits the bill.

Statham plays Danny, a hired killer who retires only to learn that his former partner, Hunter (Robert DeNiro), has been kidnapped. Despite his reluctance to kill, Danny learns that the only way to save Hunter’s life is to complete three additional assassinations. Making the mission particularly difficult is the fact that his targets are former British special forces operatives.

Screenwriter Matt Sherring and director Gary McKendry don’t get any points for originality, but their execution is solid. In large part that’s because the cast is great. Statham never shows much range, but he’s good at playing killers, and he’s charming enough to make them likable, even when their actions are ruthless and immoral. DeNiro isn’t a typical action star, but he is good at playing tough guys, and the swagger serves him well in “Killer Elite.” The cast also gets a nice lift from Clive Owen, who plays a former British operative who learns of Danny’s assassination plans.

The plotting is standard stuff. Danny targets his victims, and the assassinations play out with varying degrees of violence, allowing McKendry to deliver a lot of great action sequences. “Killer Elite” isn’t the sort of film one carefully dissects and continues to talk about days after a viewing. It is, however, fun.

DVD and Blu-ray extras include deleted and extended scenes.

What’s Your Number?

2½ stars
The home video release contains rated and unrated versions of the film. The rated version received an R for sexual content and language
20th Century Fox
Available on: DVD and Blu-ray

When Ally Darling (Anna Faris) learns that the average woman has only 10.5 sexual partners in her lifetime, she flies into a panic. Having already surpassed that number as a thirty-something, she becomes determined not to take new lovers. Instead, Ally decides to revisit past boyfriends and see if time has made them more appealing. Since she doesn’t have the research skills to track them down alone, she enlists the help of her neighbor, a handsome player named Colin (Chris Evans).

The setup has appeal and Faris, who is hit and miss, turns in a fine performance. Unfortunately, the movie suffers from a bad case of predictability. As with most Hollywood romantic comedies, “What’s Your Number?” tips its hand too early, allowing viewers to figure out what’s going on long before the characters.

Faris and Evans do have chemistry, which is half the battle in a romantic comedy. Director Mark Mylod uses them effectively and moves the film at a reasonable pace, so there are many worse options for date night. That’s not saying much, however. “What’s Your Number?” may be innocuous, but it’s hardly must-see cinema.

Both the DVD and Blu-ray releases have a theatrical and extended cut of the movie. Other extras include deleted and extended scenes and a gag reel.

ALSO OUT THIS WEEK

“Boardwalk Empire” – The Complete First Season: First 12 episodes of HBO’s Emmy Award-winning drama about a corrupt political figure (Steve Buscemi) holding court in 1920s Atlantic City. The critically acclaimed series was developed by writer and producer Terence Winter (“The Sopranos”), and Martin Scorsese is an executive director. Along with Buscemi, the cast includes Michael Pitt, Kelly Macdonald and Michael Shannon.

“Transformers” – The Japanese Collection: Thirteen-disc set containing every episode of the three animated Transformers series that ran in Japan in the late 1980s. Available exclusively from ShoutFactory.com, the set features more than 40 hours of material that was previously unavailable in the U.S.

“Higher Ground”: Vera Farmiga directs and stars in this drama about a woman’s ongoing struggle with faith. The cast also includes John Hawkes, Taissa Farmiga and Donna Murphy.

“G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero” – Series 2, Season 1: Twenty-four episodes of the 1989 animated series about elite American soldiers and their ongoing battle with the Cobra organization. This release includes the five-part miniseries titled “Operation Dragonfire.”

“Bratz: Desert Jewelz”: Seventy-four minute animated feature centered on the Bratz characters. The plot sends Yasmin, Cloe, Sasha and Jade on a wild adventure where they must find a mystical treasure before it falls into the wrong hands.

“Answer This!”: Comedy about a group of nerds who form a trivia team in hopes of winning some quick cash. Christopher Gorham, Arielle Kebbel, Kip Pardue and Chris Parnell star. Written and directed by Christopher Farah.

Forrest Hartman is an independent film critic whose byline has appeared in some of the nation’s largest publications. E-mail him at forrest@forresthartman.com.

Matt Damon, right, and Anna Jacoby-Heron try to survive a deadly viral outbreak in “Contagion.”

This week’s home video releases range from a lightweight tribute to working mothers to a terrifying thriller about a fictionalized pandemic.

Contagion

3½ stars (out of four)
Rated PG-13 for disturbing content and some language
Warner Brothers
Available on: DVD, Blu-ray and digital download

Steven Soderbergh has a catalog of great movies, including “Traffic” (2000), “Erin Brockovich” (2000), “Ocean’s 11” (2001) and “The Informant!” (2009). Now, he can add “Contagion” to that list.

The film takes a multi-pronged look at the spread of a virus that kills within days and leaves international healthcare professionals baffled. Viewers first meet Beth Emhoff (Gwyneth Paltrow), a travelling businesswoman who returns to her Minneapolis home after a trip to Hong Kong. After suffering a seizure, she dies in the emergency room, leaving her husband (Matt Damon) baffled. In the meantime, people from around the globe begin succumbing to similar symptoms, convincing professionals from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization that a pandemic is imminent.

The movie follows its characters, including doctors played by Laurence Fishburne, Marion Cotillard and Kate Winslet, as they try to grasp the severity of the situation. Soderbergh also considers the broad social consequences of an uncontrolled outbreak. Normally right-thinking people – even those who aren’t infected – begin to panic, and a crusading blogger (Jude Law) begins to command the respect that only medical professionals typically receive.

Soderbergh has always been good at taking expansive issues and filtering them through a personal lens, and he does that here. A number of the characters demonstrate how terrifying a global epidemic would actually be and how helpless a simple virus can make even the most educated and affluent individuals.

The cast, which also features John Hawkes, Elliott Gould and Bryan Cranston, is a fantastic group, which is important because no single character is central to the movie’s success. Despite the talent in every realm of production, it’s Soderbergh and screenwriter Scott Z. Burns who deserve the bulk of the credit. Without proper guidance, a film like “Contagion” could have easily bogged down in technical details or simply become irredeemably gloomy. Soderbergh and Burns avoid those trappings, delivering a film that is appropriately somber, yet never overbearing or dull.

DVD extras include a short on how viruses can change the world.

Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark

2½ stars
Rated R for violence and terror
Sony
Available on: DVD, Blu-ray and digital download

The original “Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark” was a 1973 TV movie that became a cult favorite among horror fans, so it’s no surprise that Guillermo del Toro was compelled to bring it to the big screen. Del Toro, the director of “Pan’s Labyrinth,” “Mimic” and both “Hellboy” movies, is a horror guru, and he acknowledges that the original “Dark” was a childhood favorite. Fortunately, his remake is entertaining enough that it might, in turn, affect future generations of filmmakers.

This new version of “Dark” is imperfect, but it’s also creepy enough to merit a viewing, even though Del Toro served only as co-writer and producer. The directorial reigns were handed to Troy Nixey, a newcomer who does a reasonably good job with the fanciful material.

The story centers on Kim and Alex (Katie Holmes and Guy Pearce), a couple who renovate homes for a living. When Alex’s troubled daughter, Sally, comes to live with them, strange happenings plague the historic Rhode Island home they’re working on. Although Kim and Alex don’t initially realize it, viewers see that the house is full of tiny, malevolent creatures who want to steal Sally away.

Nixey does a reasonably good job setting the scene and an excellent job with special effects. The creatures in the movie are so small that they could be laughable, but Nixey makes them appropriately scary by demonstrating that they are eerily smart and stealthy.

The human characters, on the other hand, aren’t so sharp. Thinking viewers will find it frustrating that Kim, Alex and Sally make one silly decision after another, but it’s hard to beat a film up over something like that. It’s a tradition for the victims of a horror film to make dumb decisions. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be victims.

DVD and Blu-ray extras include a three-part making-of documentary.

I Don’t Know How She Does It

2 stars
Rated PG-13 for sexual references throughout
Anchor Bay
Available on: DVD and Blu-ray

Director Douglas McGrath’s “I Don’t Know How She Does It” is a respectable tribute to working mothers, but it is not particularly insightful or engaging. Based on the novel by Allison Pearson, the film spends most of its time reinforcing the fact that women who balance careers and child rearing have a lot on their plates. Although this is a worthy message, it’s hardly breaking news. It doesn’t help that this common-sense mantra is hammered home by a group of characters who seem more like cartoon figures than actual people.

At the heart of the action is Kate Reddy (Sarah Jessica Parker), a Boston finance executive trying to keep her husband (Greg Kinnear) and two children happy while pursuing a significant opportunity at work. This means balancing school bake sales and lice outbreaks with important business meetings led by a powerful New York associate (Pierce Brosnan).

All the actors are likable, and they prevent the film from becoming disastrous, but there’s no real depth. Brosnan’s character is a typical old-school charmer, willing to overlook an employee’s quirks in favor of his/her talents. Kinnear is the perfect husband, always ready to say the right thing at the right time while making sure his children are cared for. Parker’s reading of Kate comes closer to real life, but even she feels like the prototypical working mother.

Along with this, McGrath allows his tale to unspool with an unusual mix of linear storytelling, first-person voiceovers and documentary-style interviews. Why the audience receives so many viewpoints is never explained, and the result is a convoluted structure that feels inauthentic.

There’s little doubt that working women will identify with Kate’s dilemma. They may even laugh as they recognize bits of themselves in her struggle. What they may not appreciate is the neat and tidy conclusion that seems at home in the movies but isn’t easily achieved in real life.

DVD and Blu-ray extras include a conversation with Pearson.

ALSO OUT THIS WEEK

“The Guard”: Irish comedy about a policeman (Brendan Gleeson) and FBI agent (Don Cheadle) who team up to bust a drug smuggling ring. Gleeson received a best comedic actor Golden Globe nomination for his performance in the film. Written and directed by John Michael McDonagh.

“Mildred Pierce”: HBO miniseries based on the 1941 novel by James M. Cain. The series, like the book, is focused on a single mother (Kate Winslet) struggling to survive and maintain the affection of her daughter in Depression-era Los Angeles. The series was nominated for 21 Emmys and won five, including best actress in a miniseries for Winslet and best supporting actor in a miniseries for Guy Pearce.

“Shark Night”: Horror film about a group of college students who discover that the Louisiana lake they are partying on is filled with man-eating sharks. Sara Paxton, Sinqua Walls and Katharine McPhee star. Directed by David R. Ellis (“Snakes on a Plane”).

“The Fat Boy Chronicles”: Inspirational drama about a teen boy who doesn’t allow bullying to prevent him from reaching his goals. Christopher Rivera stars. Directed by Jason Winn.

“Justified” – The Complete Second Season: More episodes of the FX series starring Timothy Olyphant as a modern U.S. Marshal with old-school sensibilities. Nick Searcy, Joelle Carter, Jacob Pitts and Erica Tazel also star. Based on a short story and two novels by Elmore Leonard.

Miramax romantic comedies on Blu-ray: With Valentine’s Day around the corner, Lionsgate is bringing two Miramax romance films to Blu-ray for the first time: “Serendipity” and “She’s All That.” “Serendipity”  stars John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale as a couple who share a special evening but leave their relationship to fate. “She’s All That” features Freddie Prinze Jr. as a popular teen who wagers that he can turn any classmate into the school prom queen.

– Forrest Hartman is an independent film critic whose byline has appeared in some of the nation’s largest publications. E-mail him at forrest@forresthartman.com.

Nicholas D’Agosto plays a character doing his best to cheat death in “Final Destination 5.”

It’s a slow week for home video, as studios decided to release only a handful of major titles between Christmas and New Year’s Day.

Final Destination 5

2 stars (out of four)
Rated R for strong violence, gruesome accidents, and some language
New Line Cinema
Available on: DVD, Blu-ray and digital download

The “Final Destination” films have been around since 2000, and there is no foreseeable end to the franchise, despite 2009’s entry being heralded as the last. How do filmmakers continue a trip that was supposedly over? They make a prequel, of course.

That gives “Final Destination 5” the dubious honor of becoming redundant on two fronts. First, prequels have been wildly overdone. Second, there hasn’t been anything original about this franchise since the first film laid the groundwork.

Despite what fans may argue, the only real attraction to a “Final Destination” movie is watching the characters die under bizarre circumstances, most depicted in long, drawn-out sequences recalling the workings of a Rube Goldberg machine. Eleven years ago, that concept – along with the idea that death would not be “cheated” – was fun and somewhat inventive. Today, it’s a reminder of how shallow Hollywood can be.

As in the previous “Final Destination” flicks, part five starts with the characters escaping a situation where they were supposed to die. Sam Lawton (Nicholas D’Agosto) and his co-workers are travelling to a retreat when he has a premonition that the suspension bridge their bus is crossing is about to collapse. Panicked, he exits the vehicle, convincing a handful of his friends to follow him. Sure enough, a huge section of the structure falls into the water, but only after Sam and his pals have escaped.

Shortly afterward, the survivors begin to fall victim to gory and bizarre tragedies, including a gruesome death at a massage parlor. Director Steven Quale does a reasonably good job building to each bloody accident but, for anyone who’s seen the previous films, the suspense will be minimal. At least the movie bares all the hallmarks of its ancestors. There’s plenty of blood, there’s a smattering of comedy and the cast is mostly young and attractive. D’Agosto is joined by Emma Bell, Miles Fisher, Ellen Wroe, Jacqueline MacInnes Wood, P.J. Byrne, Arien Escarpeta and David Koechner.

What’s missing is anything surprising or thoughtful. “Final Destination 5” is essentially a color-by-numbers effort in which Quale and screenwriter Eric Heisserer went out of their way to recreate the previous films, varying little but the way that the characters die. The result is a worn-out, grisly mess that’s recommended only for “Final Destination” diehards (pun intended).

DVD extras are limited to a short, making-of feature. The Blu-ray release, which also includes a DVD copy of the film, has several additional extras, including alternate scenes and special effects split-screen sequences.

ALSO OUT THIS WEEK

“Apollo 18”: Horror film based on the premise that America’s cancelled Apollo 18 mission was actually launched, but failed to return to Earth. The movie is presented in the “found-footage” documentary style popularized by movies like “The Blair Witch Project” and “Paranormal Activity.” Warren Christie, Ryan Robbins and Lloyd Owen star. Directed by Gonzalo Lopez-Gallego.

“The First Grader”: True story of an 84-year-old Kenyan man who fights to obtain the education he couldn’t afford as a youngster. Directed by Justin Chadwick.

“Shameless” – The Complete First Season: First 12 episodes of the Showtime dramedy featuring William H. Macy as the alcoholic single father of six children. The series also stars Emmy Rossum, Jeremy Allen White, Cameron Monaghan, Emma Kenney and Ethan Cutkosky. Season two is set to air in early January.

“The Borgias” – The First Season: Showtime drama focused on the controversial Papal family that held power in the Catholic Church during the Renaissance. Jeremy Irons stars as Pope Alexander VI. Francois Arnaud, Holliday Grainger, David Oakes and Aidan Alexander also star.

“A Good Old Fashioned Orgy”: Jason Sudeikis plays a perpetual party boy who decides to organize an orgy with his friends. Leslie Bibb, Lake Bell, Michelle Borth, Nick Kroll and Tyler Labine also star. Written and directed by Peter Huyck and Alex Gregory.

“Hostel – Part III”: Direct-to-video sequel to the ongoing “Hostel” franchise. This time, four guys attending a bachelor party in Vegas find themselves at the heart of a horrifying game of torture. Brian Hallisay, Kip Pardue, John Hensley, Chris Coy, Skyler Stone and Sarah Habel star. Directed by Scott Spiegel.

“Brighton Rock”: British thriller about an up-and-coming gangster (Sam Riley) who seduces a waitress (Andrea Riseborough) in order to prevent her from implicating him in a murder. Also stars John Hurt and Helen Mirren.

“The Pool Boys”: Independent comedy about working-class guys (Matthew Lillard and Brett Davern) who start an escort service in a mansion they don’t own. Rachelle Lefevre and Effren Ramirez also star. Directed by J.B. Rogers.

“The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret” – Series 1: IFC comedy about a temp worker (David Cross) who fakes his way into a high profile sales job. Will Arnett, Blake Harrison, Sharon Horgan and Amber Tamblyn also star.

Looney Tunes Super Stars – Pepe Le Pew: Seventeen short cartoons featuring Warner Brothers’ love struck skunk. Included is “For Scent-imental Reasons,” the 1950 Academy Award winner for best animated short.

“Jersey Shore” – Season 4: With the fifth season of this popular reality series debuting in January, producers are inviting fans to relive season four, which followed the infamous cast to Italy.

– Forrest Hartman is an independent film critic whose byline has appeared in some of the nation’s largest publications. E-mail him at forrest@forresthartman.com.