‘About Schmidt’ with little about the film

About Schmidt

Jack Nicholson, Kathy Bates

New Line, $28 for DVD; $23 for VHS

Writer-director Alexander Payne and his writing partner, Jim Taylor, recently did a commentary track for their first feature film, “Citizen Ruth.” But oddly enough, they didn’t do one for their latest -- a darkly comic drama about an embittered widower (Nicholson) and recent retiree from Omaha who sets out in his motor home for Denver to stop the marriage of his only daughter (Hope Davis) to a loser (Dermot Mulroney). Nicholson and Bates, who plays Mulroney’s hippie mom, both received Oscar nominations.

What is included on the DVD are several deleted scenes with a written explanation from Payne as to why they were cut -- there’s one fun sequence that’s a takeoff and tribute to Nicholson’s toast scene in “Five Easy Pieces -- and the “Woodmen Sequences,” original short films of the movie’s opening sequences that feature the Woodmen Tower in Omaha. Without the commentary track, the pickings are pretty slim on this DVD.

*

Die Another Day

Pierce Brosnan, Halle Berry

MGM, $30

Though nearing 50, Brosnan still looks good in a tux, and Oscar winner Berry seems to be having fun as the latest Bond girl. Of course, there are plenty of gadgets, exotic locales, action pieces and innuendo, but the latest entry in the James Bond canon is run-of-the-mill 007.

The digital edition of the box office hit is filled with tons of extras. The first disc features a fun “M16 Data Stream,” with trivia, interviews and 19 featurettes that can be accessed while watching the film, plus two audio commentaries: one with director Lee Tamahori and producer Michael G. Wilson, and the second with Brosnan and co-star Rosamund Pike.

Among the features on the second disc is a slick behind-the-scenes documentary that examines the opening surfing scene, the challenges of shooting on location in Spain and Iceland, the use of digital effects and modern editing techniques.

*

The Guru

Jimi Mistry, Marisa Tomei,

Heather Graham

Universal, $27

Though this romantic comedy doesn’t sustain its charm and good cheer, it’s still an enjoyable little film that saw limited release in theaters earlier this year. Mistry plays a young man from India who comes to New York in search of the American Dream and is transformed through a series of funny circumstances into a “guru of sex.” Mixed in with the comedy are kitschy musical numbers staged in the colorful “Bollywood” style.

The entertaining DVD has several deleted scenes including an expanded opening set in India, a photo gallery, enjoyable commentary by director Daisy Von Sherler Mayer and writer Tracy Jackson, and a separate commentary by Mistry.

*

Black Hawk Down

Josh Hartnett, Ewan McGregor

Columbia TriStar, $40

Last June, Columbia released a bare-bones DVD edition of Ridley Scott’s heart-pounding, Oscar-nominated action war drama based on true events when American Rangers and Delta Force soldiers were sent into Somalia in 1993 to capture a violent warlord whose crooked regime had led to the starving of thousands.

“Black Hawk Down” has returned in a compelling three-disc “Deluxe Edition.” The first disc features a commentary track with Scott and producer Jerry Bruckheimer and another track with screenwriter Ken Nolan and Mark Bowden, the author of the book on which the film is based. The best audio track features several veterans who participated in the raid.

Among offerings on the second disc are a six-part documentary on the making of the film and eight deleted and alternate scenes with commentary from Scott. A History Channel documentary, “The True Story of Black Hawk Down,” and an episode of PBS’ “Frontline -- Ambush in Mogadishu” -- round out the third disc.

*

Also this week

Get ready to laugh along with redneck comics like Jeff Foxworthy in the “Blue Collar Comedy Tour” (Warner Home Video: $26.97); “Swimming,” (Showtime: $24.99); “Invincible,” (New Line: $26.98)

Top VHS rentals

1. Catch Me If You Can

2. Antwone Fisher

3. Two Weeks Notice

4. Analyze That

5. The Hot Chick

Top DVD rentals

1. Catch Me If You Can

2. Antwone Fisher

3. The Hot Chick

4. Analyze That

5. Two Weeks Notice

What’s coming

Tuesday: “Frida,” “Old School,” “Jungle Book 2,” “Tears of the Sun,” “Biker Boyz” and “Wes Craven Presents: They”

-- Susan King