HOME VIDEO SPOTLIGHT: Black Swan, Tangled, and Fair Game

Brief capsules  of  new  DVDs worth renting.

By  R. Kurt Osenlund, The Good Life film critic

BLACK SWAN

One of the quintessential films of 2010, Darren Aronofsky's wild psychodrama "Black Swan" is a movie to talk  about, a movie to happily obsess over, and definitely a movie to watch more than once. By turns gorgeous and  grotesue, seedy and sophisticated, it's a  mad hybrid of art forms and genres. It features last year's best  female  performance, which rightfully won an  Oscar for star  Natalie Portman. Still haven't seen  "Black Swan?" Get  on it, and see what  everyone's  been talking about. (Available March 29)








TANGLED

Bless "Toy Story 3's" big,  big  heart, but this  Disney  princess throwback gets my vote for best animated film  of  2010. Pixar's Oscar winner may  have found a way to evoke everyone's  childhoods (a grand  achievement, to be  sure),  but  "Tangled" felt very  personally, very specifically  evocative of mine. It's a classic adventure tale, complete with memorable  songs and a true diva of a Disney villain. Not to mention,  it boasts one of last year's most breathtaking scenes,  and  anyone who's seen it knows  precisely which I mean. Don't miss this beaut. (Available March 29)








FAIR GAME

Just when you thought you've vented out all the distaste  you can muster for  the Bush administration,  this bold indictment of a political  thriller  comes along to  air the story behind the outing of CIA agent Valerie Plame (Naomi Watts), whose husband's NY Times editorial about a lack of WMDs ruffled the wrong feathers. The film's acting and domestic scenario have their weaknesses, but its political intrigue and infuriating implications are terribly engrossing. (Available March 29)