‘J. Edgar,’ ‘Tower Heist’ out on video

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Leonardo DiCaprio has the title role as FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover in Clint Eastwood’s “J. Edgar.” Judi Dench, Naomi Watts and Armie Hammer co-star.

Updated: February 27, 2012 7:55PM

NEW THIS WEEK

J. EDGAR
★ ★ 1/2

Rated: R for brief strong language

Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Judi Dench, Naomi Watts, Armie Hammer

DiCaprio’s subtle performance as the much-feared FBI director almost compensates for all that goes astray in this long, slow psychological bio-drama — but not quite. There’s too much complex material here to be handled comprehensively, especially since the heart of “J. Edgar” is Hoover’s supposed frustrated love affair with his deputy director (Hammer). And it doesn’t help that the leads are plagued with outrageously bad old-age makeup whenever the film isn’t in flashback mode.

TOWER HEIST
★ ★ 1/2

Rated: PG-13 for language and sexual content

Stars: Eddie Murphy, Ben Stiller, Casey Affleck, Alan Alda

There’s not much in the way of either suspense or laughs in this so-so heist comedy. When Wall Street kingpin Alda gets busted for ripping off clients (including the staff of the luxury apartment building where he lives), building manager Stiller decides to steal back $20 million or so for his friends. It doesn’t help that the heist isn’t credible for even an instant. Murphy is a plus as a consulting neighborhood thief. Extras include commentaries, alternate endings, deleted scenes and a gag reel.

RECENT RELEASES

THE RUM DIARY
★ ★ ★

Rated: R for language, brief drug use and sexuality

Stars: Johnny Depp, Aaron Eckhart, Richard Jenkins, Amber Heard

A generally satisfying adaptation of Hunter S. Thompson’s early-days novel about his experiences working for a dead-end Puerto Rican newspaper in the late ’50s. A virtually guaranteed delight for Thompson fans, especially with Thompson pal Depp playing the already hard-drinking young reporter coping with a corrupt real-estate grab, a sleazy editor (Jenkins), degenerate co-workers and a gorgeous young femme fatale (Heard).

THE TWILIGHT SAGA:
BREAKING DAWN -
PART 1
★ ★ 1/2

Rated: PG-13 for disturbing images, violence, sexual/partial nudity and some thematic elements

Stars: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner

The first half of the two-part final installment of “The Twilight Saga” is the dullest entry in the series so far — all setup with little in the way of payoff. True believers will have to make do with tortured drama as the longed-for wedding of 100-year-old vampire Edward (Pattinson) and 18-year-old Bella (Stewart) twists the knife in Bella’s unrequited werewolf-boy lover Jacob (Lautner). Extras include commentary by director Bill Condon, a six-part making-of documentary and, of course, a wedding video.

ALSO NEW

ANATOMY OF A MURDER

Otto Preminger’s 1959 courtroom drama features James Stewart as a small-town lawyer defending an Army officer (Ben Gazzara) for killing the man he believes raped his wife. This Criterion Collection reissue features a new hi-def digital transfer and a critical exploration of Duke Ellington’s jazz score.

FORT APACHE

John Ford’s 1948 Western classic about an arrogant army officer (Henry Fonda) whose ambition leads to unnecessary bloodshed during an Indian war. Extras in this Blu-ray debut include the documentary “Monument Valley: John Ford Country.”

I AIN’T SCARED OF YOU:
A TRIBUTE TO BERNIE MAC

This documentary on the comedian, who died in 2008, includes early footage and never-before-seen concert material.

LAWRENCE WELK CLASSIC EPISODES: VOLS. 1-4

Highlights from the 27-year run of bandleader Welk’s nationally broadcast “champagne music” show, featuring “Champagne Lady” Norma Zimmer, polka star Lil Wally Jagiello and more.

THE SON OF NO ONE

A second-generation New York City cop (Channing Tatum) uncovers a secret during an investigation
that threatens to destroy
his family. Rated R for violence, pervasive language and brief disturbing
sexual content. Dito Montiel (“A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints”) directed the drama.

UNFORGIVEN

Clint Eastwood’s 1992 revisionist Western about a reformed gunfighter dragged back into a life of violence gets the deluxe 20th anniversary Blu-ray treatment. Extras include a 54-page book, commentary by critic Richard Schickel, interviews with co-stars including Morgan Freeman, and a 1959 “Maverick” TV episode in which Eastwood plays a younger virtual copy of his character.

NEXT WEEK

Four old friends (Jeremy Piven, Rob Lowe, Christian McKay, Thomas Jane) suffer through mid-life crisis in “I Melt With You,” while Rowan Atkinson throws the espionage world into crisis in the spy-comedy “Johnny English Reborn.” And no crisis is too great for animated feline “Puss in Boots.”