DVD Release Calendar: April 2011

April 5

Casino Jack 51 Add to Netflix Queue

The final film from late director George Hickenlooper stars Kevin Spacey as disgraced Washington lobbyist Jack Abramoff. (The similarly-titled 2010 film Casino Jack and the United States of Money 68 received better reviews for its documentary look at the same subject.)

The Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader 53 Add to Netflix Queue

[April 8] Based on the third -- and some would say, best -- book in the series of children's adventures by C.S. Lewis, Dawn Treader's magic-filled sea voyage made less of a positive impression on critics than its two predecessors, despite direction from Michael Apted.

I Love You Phillip Morris 65 Add to Netflix Queue

A pleasant surprise from late 2010 that scared away some moviegoers (and would-be distributors) due to its subject matter, this dark comedy from the writers of Bad Santa stars Jim Carrey as father, husband and con man Steven Jay Russell, who falls in love with his male cellmate Phillip Morris (Ewan McGregor) after he is imprisoned. When Morris is released, Russell escapes from prison -- four times -- in order to be with him again.

Little Fockers 27 Add to Netflix Queue

The third -- and, given its miserable reviews and box-office drop-off compared to 2004’s Meet the Fockers, hopefully final -- film in the comedy franchise, Little Fockers revolves around Ben Stiller’s character being a parent of twins. Robert De Niro, Owen Wilson, Barbra Streisand, and Razzie-winner Jessica Alba also star, with director Paul Weitz (American Pie) taking over for Jay Roach.

Tron: Legacy 49 Add to Netflix Queue

Despite over a year of hype and millions of dollars worth of impressive 3D effects, this belated sequel to Disney's 1982 videogame-centric film Tron -- itself, never a hit -- was mostly a disappointment, both commercially and critically. Jeff Bridges and Bruce Boxleitner return from the first film, joined by Garrett Hedlund and Olivia Wilde, while electronica duo Daft Punk provides the score.

Other Releases on April 5, 2011

Title	Netflix	Metascore
A.I. Artificial Intelligence [Blu-ray] Haley Joel Osment, Jude Law		65
Arthur [Blu-ray] Original 1981 Dudley Moore comedy		n/a
Benny & Joon [Blu-ray] Johnny Depp, Mary Stuart Masterson, Aidan Quinn		n/a
The Cove [Blu-ray] Documentary		84
Mystic Pizza [Blu-ray] Julia Roberts, Lili Taylor, Annabeth Gish		60
The People vs. Larry Flynt [Blu-ray] Woody Harrelson		79
Taxi Driver [Blu-ray] Robert De Niro, Jodie Foster, Cybill Shepherd		93
Tron [Blu-ray] Bruce Boxleitner, Jeff Bridges		n/a
TV on DVD:
Any Human Heart Masterpiece Classic miniseries	Add to Queue	54
Friday Night Lights Season 5	Add to Queue	83
Life Unexpected The Complete Series	Add to Queue	69
Sarah Palin's Alaska Season 1	Add to Queue	49
Sister Wives Season 1		66
Tyler Perry's House of Payne Vol. 7	Add to Queue	n/a

April 12

Country Strong 45 Add to Netflix Queue

Gwyneth Paltrow stars (and sings) alongside real-life country star Tim McGraw in this music-filled drama centered on a washed-up country singer.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 65 Add to Netflix Queue

[April 15] With Part 2 of the final Harry Potter film arriving in theaters July 15, you'll have three months to get reacquainted with last fall's Part 1, which finds Harry, Ron, and Hermione going on a road trip of sorts as they seek out the source of Voldemort’s power. The film features the same director (David Yates) and writer (Steve Kloves) as the well-received sixth installment.

White Material 81 [Criterion Collection]Add to Netflix Queue

The latest critically acclaimed film from a director (Claire Denis) who has many to her name, this French-language drama is set in an unnamed, war-torn African nation, where a white landowner (Isabelle Huppert) refuses to abandon her coffee plantation when rebel soldiers advance on the area.

Other Releases on April 12, 2011

Title	Netflix	Metascore
Behind the Burly Q Alan Alda, Dixie Evans	Add to Queue	60
Cars [Blu-ray] Bonnie Hunt, Owen Wilson, Paul Newman		73
Heartless Jim Stugess, Vera Drake	Add to Queue	58
The Incredibles [Blu-ray] Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, Jason Lee		90
Marwencol Documentary	Add to Queue	81
The Paranoids Daniel Hendler	Add to Queue	52
Plastic Planet Documentary	Add to Queue	55
TV on DVD:
Car 54 Where Are You? Season 1	Add to Queue	n/a
Dragnet 1970 Season 4	Add to Queue	n/a
Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List Seasons 3 & 4	Add to Queue	n/a
Man vs. Wild Season 5	Add to Queue	n/a
The Rachel Zoe Project Seasons 1 & 2		n/a

April 19

Gulliver's Travels 33 Add to Netflix Queue

Only a strong foreign take saved this effects-heavy Jack Black comedy -- based on Jonathan Swift's classic story about a man who finds himself a giant when he is shipwrecked in a land of miniature people -- from being a complete failure.

The King's Speech 88 Add to Netflix Queue

A winner of four Oscars including best picture, Tom Hooper's period dramedy follows the future King George VI (Academy Award winner Colin Firth), who must overcome his stuttering problem with the help of a speech therapist (Geoffrey Rush) when his brother Edward abdicates the English throne. The top-notch cast also includes Helena Bonham Carter and Guy Pearce.

Rabbit Hole 76 Add to Netflix Queue

Adapted by David Lindsay-Abaire from his own Pulitzer Prize-winning play, this positively-reviewed drama focuses on a couple (Nicole Kidman and Aaron Eckhart) fighting to save their marriage after the death of their 4-year-old son in an auto accident. John Cameron Mitchell (Hedwig and the Angry Inch) directs.

Somewhere 67 Add to Netflix Queue

The fourth feature from Sofia Coppola is, like her second (Lost in Translation), a dramedy set mostly within the confines of a landmark hotel, though it didn't connect with critics or audiences the way that earlier film did. This time, the hotel in question is Hollywood’s Chateau Marmont, and the action (such as it is) revolves around hotel resident Johnny Marco (Stephen Dorff), a bad-boy actor who receives an unexpected visit from his 11-year-old daughter (Elle Fanning).

The Way Back 66 Add to Netflix Queue

[April 22] Released in January, Peter Weir's historical drama about escapees from a Siberian labor camp in the 1940s was the only general release film to receive positive reviews this winter. Colin Farrell and Ed Harris star.

Other Releases on April 19, 2011

Title	Netflix	Metascore
Ip Man 2 Donnie Yen	Add to Queue	67
Kes Criterion Collection	Add to Queue	n/a
The Last New Yorker Dominic Chianese, Kathleen Chalfant	Add to Queue	41
Mortal Kombat: Annihilation [Blu-ray] James Remar, Robin Shou, Talisa Soto		11
TV on DVD:
American Dad Vol. 6	Add to Queue	n/a
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Season 6	Add to Queue	n/a

April 26

[No major releases scheduled.]

Other Releases on April 26, 2011

Title	Netflix	Metascore
Blow Out Criterion Collection	Add to Queue	n/a
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas Criterion Collection		41
TV on DVD:
Growing Pains Season 2	Add to Queue	n/a
Human Planet The Complete Series	Add to Queue	n/a
The Larry Sanders Show Season 3	Add to Queue	n/a
South Park Season 14	Add to Queue	n/a
Testees The Complete Series	Add to Queue	37
Upstairs Downstairs 2010 miniseries	Add to Queue	n/a