High stakes for an old-world journalist

Given the plight of the newspaper business these days, it’s hard not to feel like the lead gets buried in the slim collection of bonus materials on the crackling journalism drama-political thriller “State of Play’’ (2009). Adapted from a BBC miniseries, the film stars Russell Crowe as a shlubby Washington metro reporter whose professional and personal worlds collide when an assistant to congressman and friend Ben Affleck is murdered. Crowe’s intrigue-heavy investigation is nicely handled by documentarian-turned-feature director Kevin Macdonald (“Touching the Void,’’ “The Last King of Scotland’’). But for ink-stained wretches and anyone who appreciates them, Macdonald squeezes just as much drama out of the drastically changing landscape for newspapers and online media. Old dog Crowe forms a reluctant reporting partnership with an editor’s-pet blogger (Rachel McAdams, somewhat miscast), while newsroom boss Helen Mirren credibly sweats bottom-line considerations despite herself. A 20-minute production featurette notes a couple of nods to “All the President’s Men’’ - specifically, an action set piece in a parking garage and a quick trip to the Watergate - but there’s no discussion of the smart decision to get topical. The best we get is Macdonald’s comment on a wistful, visually captivating end credit sequence, in which we see the reporters’ exposé physically going to press and getting trucked off to the stands. “You see what a kind of lumbering, analog, old-fashioned technology this is,’’ Macdonald says, “and it’s a kind of requiem for newspapers.’’ (Universal, $29.98; Blu-ray, $39.98)

CRIME DRAMA

JULIA (2009)

In a film that bypassed local theaters, Tilda Swinton is a mean-tempered barfly who gets caught up in a kidnapping scheme that turns violent south of the border. French director Erick Zonca (“The Dreamlife of Angels’’) gives Swinton a real showcase for following up her “Michael Clayton’’ Oscar: She gets to play a mesmerizing wreck for one act, and a desperate de facto mom (shades of Cassavetes’s “Gloria’’) in the other two. But the dual-portrait effect also feels like a case of the 144-minute movie running an hour too long. Extras: Deleted scenes. (Magnolia, $26.98; available now)

COMEDY/DRAMA

ADVENTURELAND (2009)

“Superbad’’ writer-director Greg Mottola takes that film’s unexpected sentimentality and lets it flow, this time with a coming-of-age story about college grad Jesse Eisenberg (“The Squid and the Whale’’) playing carny at a generically lame amusement park circa 1987. We’ve seen Eisenberg do the halting/sensitive bit already, and Mottola’s ode-to-John Hughes approach makes for some overly familiar comedy. Still, you’ll hang in for the melancholy love triangle involving Eisenberg, quietly hurting co-worker Kristen Stewart, and philandering park stud Ryan Reynolds. Extras: Commentary by Mottola and Eisenberg. (Miramax, $29.99; Blu-ray, $44.99; available now)

MYSTERY

SURVEILLANCE (2009)

Jennifer Lynch (David’s daughter) directs a brooding effort that’s like a grounded variation on her father’s work, in a good way. There’s nothing inscrutable about the central murder investigation, but it’s tricked out with oddly mannered law enforcement (Bill Pullman, Julia Ormond, and, go figure, French Stewart); a desolate yet claustrophobic setting; and speaker-rattling sonic dread. Not so good: The film tips off a big twist in the early going, making this more about clue-spotting than suspense. Extras: Lynch admits in commentary that she toyed with an alternate final sequence after Dad called her ending sick. (Magnolia, $26.98; Blu-ray, $34.98; available now)

EARTH (2009)

This debut release from the Disney Nature banner marks the House of Mouse’s bid to get in on the box-office action generated by “March of the Penguins’’ and the like. Quality work, although ultimately, it’s still the world of “Wild Kingdom’’ and they’re all just living in it. Extras: On Blu-ray, filmmaker annotations and production diaries. (Disney, $29.99; Blu-ray, $39.99)

TCM GREATEST CLASSIC FILMS COLLECTION: HORROR (2009)

Turner’s latest affordably priced silver-screen survey includes the 3-D landmark “House of Wax’’ (1953), Spencer Tracy’s “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde’’ (1941), Tod Browning’s “Freaks’’ (1932), and Robert Wise’s “The Haunting’’ (1963). (Warner, $27.99)

THE INGLORIOUS BASTARDS (1978)

See where Tarantino got his inspiration in Italian director Enzo Castellari’s entertainingly low-rent “macaroni combat’’ epic, recently reissued on Blu-ray. (Severin Films, $34.95; available now)

RESCUE ME: SEASON FIVE, VOLUME ONE (2009)

Michael J. Fox makes his widely publicized, Emmy-nominated guest appearance as the new man in the life of Denis Leary’s ex. The set collects 11 episodes of the firefighter drama, currently wrapping an extended, 22-episode season after a strike-forced layoff. Extras: Production and stunt featurettes; gag reel. (Sony, $49.95)

HEROES: SEASON 3 (2008-09)

The series that originally scored by distilling superhero comics to their essence struggles with story lines that have gotten overly convoluted and incredible even by genre standards. Funny, sounds a lot like . . . superhero comics. Extras: On Blu-ray, season four preview; production featurettes; alternate stories. (Universal, $59.98; Blu-ray, $79.98) Titles are in stores Tuesday unless otherwise specified.