This week, two fantastic films from last year, and not a whole lot else.

Good Night, and Good Luck
The triumphant sophomore effort from obscure American director George Clooney sees Edward R. Murrow taking on Senator Joe McCarthy using only his heat vision to defeat the would-be tyrant. Actually he just talks a lot, but it's still very exciting.

One of my favorite films from last year, this flick boasts some wonderfully understated performances, dialogue that runs the gamut from snappy to eloquent, and a portrait of the media that makes you weep for the crap they turn out today.

Extras include director's commentary, and having seen his work on the Confessions of a Dangerous Mind DVD, let me tell ya, Clooney gives good commentary.

A History of Violence
Although it's a bit of a joke that William Hurt's almost laughably bad Philadelphia accent got an Oscar nod while the unbelievably complex work of David Cronenberg, Viggo Mortensen, and Maria Bello went unheralded, this remains one of the best meditations on violence since Unforgiven. Arguably better.

Extras include director's commentary and featurettes with interesting titles like "Violence's History: U.S. vs. International Versions," "Too Commercial for Cannes," and "The Unmaking of Scene 44."

The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio
The reviews of this true story of a mother (Julianne Moore) who supports her numerous children and brokedown husband by writing jingles were decidedly mixed, but no one seemed to have a problem with Moore's performance. If you ask me, it's the fact that this was co-produced by Revolution Studios that tainted the pot, but I probably complain about them too much.

Extras include commentary by Moore, and to hear an actress of her caliber comment on her work may alone be worth the price of admission.

Marebito
This shocker from Japanese horror maestro Takashi Shimizu (both the Japanese and American versions of The Grudge) isn't so much shocking as creepy and doesn't so much make sense as not at all, ever. Still, if you like the whole ghostly technology vibe and perhaps have a thing for hot, naked, bloodsucking Japanese girls, go nuts!

MacGyver - Season Five
MacGyver builds a freakin' plane. From scratch. And that's just in the first five minutes! Sadly, there are still oceans of cheese to navigate in some of these eps.

In the long list this week, it's a great time to love Bach or college football.