New DVDs | 'American Violet,' 'The Proposal,' 'Land of the Lost'

New DVDs |

"American Violet," a fact-based drama that opened the Langston Hughes African American Film Festival here, is bypassing theaters and going straight to DVD today.

Movie reviewer John Hartl says the drama, which concerns a waitress and mother of four (Nicole Beharie) wrongly accused of dealing drugs in small-town Texas, is about as damning an indictment of good-ole-boy racism as anything the movies have given us lately.

To read his three-star review of Tim Disney's film — with co-stars Alfre Woodard, Will Patton, Tim Blake Nelson and Michael O'Keefe — go to www.seattletimes.com/movies.

Other releases

Here are more of today's DVD releases. Star ratings are by Seattle Times movie reviewers, freelancers or wire services. For full reviews, search the movie title at seattletimes.com.

"Every Little Step" (PG-13): This documentary takes a backstage look at a backstage musical: the 2006 Broadway revival of "A Chorus Line."

"Adoration" (R): Atom Egoyan's drama is about a young man (Devon Bostick) who writes a controversial (and false) story of his family's "terrorist" history, creating a huge buzz online.

"Drag Me to Hell" (PG-13): A bank-loan officer (Alison Lohman) becomes cursed after throwing a bankrupt woman out of her home in Sam Raimi's horror flick.

"The Proposal" (PG-13): On bended knee, Sandra Bullock pops the question in this by-the-book romantic comedy, directed by Anne Fletcher and written by Northwest native Peter Chiarelli.

"Land of the Lost" (PG-13): A rehash of the 1974 television series about dinosaurs and time travel starring Will Ferrell.

TV on DVD

"Flashpoint: The First Season"

"Legend of the Seeker: The Complete First Season"

"The Mighty Boosh: Special Edition"

"My Little Pony: Twinkle Wish Adventure"

Lori Taki Uno: luno@seattletimes.com