Here are this week's hottest home video releases:
Crashing: Season 1 (Digital)
Stand-up comedian Pete Holmes stars in a dramatized version of his rough early-career days attempting to make headway in the industry. Fresh off a divorce, he struggles to make ends meet while developing his style on the unforgiving NYC streets. Hilariously awkward moments abound, and guest stars such as Sarah Silverman, T.J. Miller and Artie Lange pop up to show Pete the ropes. The HBO show is available on services such as Amazon, iTunes and Vudu.
Divorce: Season 1
Sarah Jessica Parker and Thomas Haden Church play a couple with kids who agree to try to keep their divorce civil, but end up engaging in a ruthless battle of one-upmanship as their plans blow up in their faces and long-gestating issues arise to wreak havoc. Darkly humorous and emotionally resonant thanks to grounded performances by the leads, the HBO dramedy is fascinating from beginning to end. The Blu-ray set includes a digital copy.
Fifty Shades Darker
Dakota Johnson plays Anastasia, a recent college graduate entangled in a sadomasochistic love affair with a wealthy, controlling businessman Christian Grey (Jamie Dornan). Taking off where "Fifty Shades of Grey" left off -- with the couple broken up -- and continues as Christian tries to sweep Anastasia back off her feet and convince her he seeks to love rather than abuse her. While much of the drama falls flat, this is catnip for obsessive fans of the books. Extras in the Blu-ray/DVD/digital copy combo include deleted scenes, a look at the writing process and cast and filmmaker interviews.
Jeanne Dielman, 23, quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles (Criterion)
The avant-garde 1975 film from French director Chantal Akerman explores the life of a widow who goes through a marginally mundane day, which is spiced up by her lascivious side job. An odd bird in the annals of cinematic history, the film is regarded by many as a forerunner of docudramas and reality shows. The Criterion set includes a fresh transfer, a making-of documentary, period and recent interviews, as well as a tribute booklet.
3:10 to Yuma (4K)
The 2007 Western, which stars Russell Crowe as a notorious outlaw who is being brought in by a lawman played by Christian Bale, gets a gorgeous transfer that takes advantage of director Rich Mongold's rich color palette. Extras in the 4K/Blu-ray/digital copy combo include Mangold's commentary, several insightful making-of featurettes and a conversation with Elmore Leonard, on whose work the movie was based.
Studios provided review screeners.
