New DVD releases on Sept. 11 included a touching family story and a fun heist tale.
• “Hearts Beat Loud”: This is a quiet film in tone and delivery. Don’t let that fool you, because the production from writer/director Brett Haley actually shouts in clear tones its messages about love, family and the addictiveness of passions. Haley has shown how commanding a film delivered in lean-in-to-hear quiet tones can be.
Nick Offerman turns in a powerful performance as both the caring father and the passionate musician. Each note of his performance resonates with emotional tones anchored in reality and accented with heart. It’s a balanced performance that at times makes the viewer sympathetic to his need to hang on to the two greatest loves of his life — music and his daughter — while feeling pity for him when he takes such a stubborn stance.
• “Ocean’s 8”: If nothing else, “Ocean’s 8” proves eight women can easily do the work of 11, 12 or 13 men and at times do it far better. The all-female take on the “Ocean’s” franchise takes over after the male-dominated remakes of “Ocean’s 11, “Ocean’s 12” and “Ocean’s 13,” which hit theaters in 2001, 2004 and 2007.
Sandra Bullock holds everything together. She plays Ocean as a smart and determined felon who holds a grudge with the same passion she embraces friendships. The evil twinkle in her eye is a constant reminder that these are people committing a crime, but they are all so likable, the larceny can be forgiven.
There’s plenty of action and the story is smart, but overall, it never rises above being entertaining.
Also on DVD
• “Superfly”: Career criminal faces numerous roadblocks in his efforts to change careers.
• “Rolling Stone: Stories from the Edge”: A look at how the magazine has covered pop culture over a 50-year span.
• “This Is Us: Season 2”: NBC drama looks at how events in the past have an impact on the present. Milo Ventimiglia stars.
• “The Seventh Sign”: The 1988 supernatural offering starring Demi Moore is being released on Blu-ray.
• “The Big Bang Theory: Season 11”: CBS comedy still generates laughs. Jim Parsons stars.
• “Revolution: New Art for a New World”: Documentary looks at the Russian avant garde movement.
• “Modern Family: Season 9”: DVD set includes the season finale where Mitchell (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) goes to “Hero-Con” with Phil (Ty Burrell) dressed as their favorite characters from “Clash of Swords.”
• “The Watcher in the Woods”: Forest surrounding a British manor is full of danger. Anjelica Huston stars.
• “Scooby-Doo and the Gourmet Ghost”: The gang travels to New England to investigate a haunted inn. Bobby Flay and Giada De Laurentiis are guest voice talents.
• “PJ Masks: Mighty Moon Problem”: Romeo creates a space laser to carve his face into the moon and the PJ Masks and Luna Girl are ready to stop him.
