New DVDs: 'Slumdog Millionaire,' 'Marley & Me'

'Slumdog Millionaire' (R): Despite all of the Oscar love, "Slumdog Millionaire" isn't the best film of the year (that would be "The Dark Knight") -- but it's certainly one of the most compelling and original films to come down the pike.

The recent Oscar winner for Best Picture and Best Director for Danny Boyle, "Slumdog Millionaire" is rooted in the popular game show "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" But unlike the U.S. version (so far as we know), contestants on a hot streak in the Indian version are taken to a secret location and tortured when they're suspected of cheating.

The game show plot opens a unique gateway into the heart of the movie, which tells the rags-to-riches story of Jamal (played as teenager by Dev Patel), whose horrific experiences growing up on the streets of Mumbai provide him with the life lessons -- and ultimately, answers -- to be successful on "Millionaire." The trouble is, the show's host (Anil Kapoor) is convinced he's cheating.

But Jamal's success is tempered for his romantic longing for Latika (played as a teen by Freida Pinto), a childhood friend who's out of reach because of Jamal's wayward brother, Salim (played as a teen Madhur Mittal); and the odds of Jamal ever seeing her again intensify as he gets closer to hitting the "Millionaire" jackpot.

Boyle proved long ago that he's an incredible filmmaker ("Trainspotting" and "28 Days" are among his best), but he scales new heights with "Slumdog Millionaire." He masterfully tells the story in a fractured narrative with a mixture of scenes that hop back and forth between the past and present, before the final rounds of the game wrap up with burning intensity. The acting is impressive for a group of largely unknown actors (at least to American audiences) -- but there is no way the ensemble cast, as the Screen Actors Guild declared, is better than Meryl Streep, Phillip Seymour Hoffman and company in "Doubt."

Shot on location, Boyle doesn't paint a pretty picture of the slums of Mumbai, and the distressing conditions that some children are forced to grow up in are downright depressing. The film thankfully winds up as a tale of hope, though, topped by a Bollywood number that makes you want to get up and dance along with the cast. How many films can inspire that range of emotions?

DVD Features: The two-disc set includes audio commentary by Boyle and Patel; deleted scenes; an exclusive short film; a music video; a digital copy for portable media devices and more. (20th Century Fox Home Entertainment)

'Marley & Me' (PG): If you're a dog lover, you'll no doubt laugh and cry -- a lot -- at "Marley & Me," a funny yet poignant canine tale that every family should see. For anybody who has or is starting a family, it strikes a particular chord, and will no doubt leave you hugging your pooch by the time the credits roll.

Although the human actors -- Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson -- are terrific, the dog Marley is the true star of the film. Based on the book by John Grogan, the film finds John and Jennifer Grogan (Wilson and Aniston) on the night of their wedding, who soon after adopt a rambunctious Yellow Lab pup that John names after reggae great Bob Marley. As frequent fodder for John's newspaper column, Marley plays an important part in the couple's life, even as they begin to have children. But as the years roll on, the reality sets in that Marley won't always be there for them.

While the dog is for the most part the focus of the movie (and all of the reportedly 22 dogs who play Marley at various stages of his life are adorable), Aniston and Wilson's wonderful chemistry is a major contributor to the success of the film. Alan Arkin brings his wonderful dry sense of humor to the part of John's newspaper boss, while Eric Dane is solid as John's diehard journalist buddy.

True, director David Frankel pushes all the right buttons to get your tears flowing, the film hardly feels manipulative. Anyone who has owned a dog will completely understand the joys and sorrows that go with having them as a part of your family. "Marley & Me" really makes you take paws -- er, pause.

DVD Features: Deleted scenes with commentary by Frankel; production featurettes; gag reel and more. (20th Century Fox Home Entertainment)