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Region 1 DVD Releases for April 17, 2007

This week, three Oscar-nominated performances in two films.

The Last King of Scotland

Forest Whitaker earned a well-deserved Oscar for his portrayal of Idi Amin in this powerful indie. James McAvoy’s none too shabby either as the young doctor who gets drawn into Amin’s world of tyranny and paranoia. Touching the Void director Kevin Macdonald kicks things into high gear in the final act, taking a typical African-conflict-through-Western-eyes tale and turning it on its head. Extras include director’s commentary and deleted scenes.

Notes on a Scandal

Cate Blanchett and Judi Dench both earned Oscar nods for their portrayals of a schoolteacher with a secret and her colleague with an obsession, respectively. If that’s not enough, Bill Nighy’s up in here, too, in an Oscar-nominated script by Closer scribe Patrick Marber. A conversation with Blanchett and Nighy is among the “webisodes” that round out the extras.

The Venture Bros. - Season Two

As much fun, and maybe even funnier, than season one, season two of Adult Swim’s hilarious take on Johnny Quest blasts out of the gate with one of their best eps. The season’s funniest arc follows archvillain The Monarch’s attempt to reunite with his love Dr. Girlfriend and rebuild his empire culminating in a fabulous season finale. Extras include commentaries by cast and creators.

Smokin’ Aces

I was so looking forward to Joe Carnahan’s follow up to the you-must-go-watch-it-now-if-you-haven’t-yet masterpiece Narc and so disappointed to see it get lousy reviews, espeically with a cast that includes Jason Bateman, Andy Garcia, Alex Rocco, Ray Liotta, Jeremy Piven and Peter Berg. General buzz had it as a Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels rip. I’ll still, of course, rent it. Extras include an alternate ending and deleted scenes.

Freedom Writers

Before you write this off as another Dangerous Minds, know it got more than twice as many good reviews. Based on several students’ post-L.A. riots diaries, the film follows the efforts of a teacher (Hilary Swank) to increase the peace in her Long Beach school. Extras include commentary by Swank and director Richard LaGravenese.

More here.