New on DVD

These DVDs were released this week:

"American Gangster"

Denzel Washington plays a Harlem drug lord in the 1970s who rules the streets, while Russell Crowe heads up a narcotics unit whose goal is to take down Washington. Josh Brolin is terrific as a crooked New York City detective.

"Michael Clayton"

George Clooney is nominated for Best Actor for his portrayal of an in-house fixer at his law firm. His toughest assignment is to deal with a fellow attorney whose crisis of conscience leads him to blow the whistle on a major lawsuit against one of his company's biggest clients.

"Rendition"

This excellent political thriller, with an ensemble cast led by Reese Witherspoon, Jake Gyllenhaal and Meryl Streep, tells a personal story that centers around the policy of "extreme rendition" in which detainees are sent to prisons where they get no due process and can be tortured to get information. Alan Arkin and Peter Sarsgaard are outstanding as a Senator and his top aid.

"In the Valley of Elah"

Tommy Lee Jones received a Best Actor nomination for his portrayal of an ex-military cop looking for his son, who is missing after returning from Iraq.

Available next week

• "30 Days of Night"

• "Beowulf"

• "The Darjeeling Limited"

• "Death at a Funeral"

• "Fugitive: Season One, Volume Two"

• "Goya's Ghosts"

• "Silk"

• "Slipstream"

-- Jeff Tuckman, videoanswerman@comcast.net