DVD previews: 'Lincoln,' 'Killing Them Softly'

Coming March 26

“Lincoln” (PG-13, 149 minutes, DreamWorks/Disney): A peculiar, powerful alchemy takes hold in Steven Spielberg's masterful portrait of the 16th U.S. president. Through that strange mix of realism, artifice, intimacy and scope that cinema uniquely possesses, viewers find themselves transported to 19th-century Washington, where Abraham Lincoln — portrayed in an Oscar-winning performance by Daniel Day-Lewis — has just been re-elected to a second term. But instead of a grand tableau vivant that lays out the great man and his great deeds, Spielberg brings the leader and viewers down to ground level. Thus “Lincoln” gratifyingly dodges the kind of safe, starchy hagiography that some Spielberg skeptics feared. Working from a dense, lively screenplay by playwright Tony Kushner (who last collaborated with Spielberg on “Munich”), Spielberg infuses “Lincoln” with energy, acumen, surprising humor and the unabashed affection for his subject that most Americans will wholly understand and probably share. Contains an intense scene of war violence, some images of carnage and brief strong language. DVD extras: behind-the-scenes featurette. Also, on Blu-ray: “A Historic Tapestry: Richmond, Virginia,” about the choice of this landmark area as a shooting site. A four-disc combo set adds more featurettes: “In the Company of Character,” on Day-Lewis' portrayal of Lincoln; “Crafting the Past,” the re-creation of Lincoln's era through authentic period details in production design and costume; “Living With Lincoln” production short; and a look at the film's editing, sound design and the musical score by John Williams.

“Killing Them Softly” (R, 97 minutes, The Weinstein Company/Anchor Bay): This alternately bitterly funny and labored gangland parable possesses a modicum of swagger and style. Though anchored by a terrific lead performance from Brad Pitt, it perpetuates some of the crime genre's more tedious clichés, from slow-motion savagery to facile cynicism. Director Andrew Dominik tries to ratchet up the relevance by larding “Killing Them Softly” with references to the 2008 election, the financial meltdown and the similarities between Darwinian capitalism and street crime at its most thuggish and unforgiving. But rather than bitingly of-the-moment, the allegorical efforts feel strained, completely at odds with the air of seedy spontaneity that graces the film's most indelible and even delectable moments. Contains violence, sexual references, pervasive profanity and some drug use. Extras: making-of featurette, deleted scenes.

“Parental Guidance” (PG, 105 minutes, Fox): With a script that relies heavily on gags about vomiting, urinating and defecating, this generation-gap comedy about grandparents taking care of bratty grandchildren seems like it's not just made for children, but written by one. On the other hand, stale jokes about sciatica and the cluelessness of the elderly when it comes to modern technology seem like they popped out of the VCR in the old folks' home. The film is badly overacted, syrupy, phony looking, implausibly scripted, formulaic and about 15 minutes too long. When yuppie parents go out of town for a few days, they decide to leave their brood of three spoiled crumb-snatchers with the grandparents (Billy Crystal and Bette Midler). What ensues is exactly what you would expect: disaster involving cake frosting on the face and apoplectic mugging, followed by scenes of saccharine reconciliation so insincere they make Crystal's dye job and Midler's facelift look natural. Contains juvenile humor about bodily fluids and body parts. Extras: commentary with Crystal and director Andy Fickman, deleted scenes. Also, on Blu-ray: gag reel and “In Character With Billy Crystal, Bette Midler, Marisa Tomei” featurette.

Also: “The Collection,” “Stand Off,” “Adventures in Zambezia” (animation), “White Elephant” (Argentina), “House Arrest,” “Monsieur Verdoux” (1947, The Criterion Collection), “A Man Escaped” (1956, The Criterion Collection), “Easy Money” (2010, Sweden), “Bangkok Revenge” (France/Thailand), “Shakespeare Uncovered” (PBS), “Either Way” (Iceland), “Frontline: Inside Obama's Presidency,” “Midsomer Murders: Tom Barnaby's Last Cases,” “N.A.S.A. The Spirit of Apollo” (music documentary), “Dartworth” (Australia), “The Springtime Collection Featuring Max's Chocolate Chicken” (three-disc set from Scholastic Storybook Treasures), “Tom Green: Live” and “Johnny Sokko and His Flying Robot: The Complete Series.”

Television series: “The Carol Burnett Show: This Time Together” (six-disc set with 17 complete episodes and multiple special features), “The Borgias: The Second Season” (Showtime), “Men at Work: The Complete First Season,” “MADtv Season 2,” “Continuum: Season One,” “Veep: The Complete First Season” (HBO), “Oliver Twist” (1982 CBS miniseries), “Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries Series 1” (ABC Australia series), “Maigret Set 7” and “Maigret Set 8” (six-disc sets of 2001-02 French TV series) and “The Official Digimon Adventure Set: The Complete Second Season.”