The Hustler (Twentieth Century Fox) Pool ranks just a tad above golf on the sports-you-don't-want-to-watch-a-movie-about list. But this 1961 classic manages the impossible, mixing terrific scenes of cue-and-ball action with a topnotch story. Paul Newman is at his best as Fast Eddie Felson, a pool-hall con man who gets in over his head after he takes on a legend (Jackie Gleason, also great). The black-and-white photography adds to the grit. For its 50th anniversary and Blu-ray debut, The Hustler gets a deluxe book package and lots of bonus material, like interviews, documentaries, commentaries, and tips from a real pool pro.
All in the Family: Season Nine (Shout! Factory) — The final season of one of the best TV shows ever made is kinda depressing, and not just because the episodes got heavy on death, illness, and cheating spouses. There's also a little girl added to the household to make up for the missing Meathead. Boo!
Diabolique (Criterion) — This psychological thriller from 1955 often gets mentioned in the same breath as Psycho. And for good reason: It's a nail-biting classic about a murder, a missing corpse, and the twist behind them. The Blu-ray debut is stuffed with extras, including critical commentaries.
The Rite (Warner) — Anthony Hopkins gets all righteous on the devil's ass in this sorta-true possession movie with a priest, an exorcism, and a story you've seen dozens of times. It's dark and moody, but it's also slow and boring, and it takes itself way too seriously. At least Hopkins classes it up.
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