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In need of entertainment during your day off? Playbill.com's column "The DVD Shelf" frequently reviews newly released DVDs while offering insider's information about their cast and production history. While the snow falls outside, pick a movie (or two... or three...) to make the day fly by.
Click through to read some of The DVD Shelf's top choices.
NEW RELEASES
"Love Is Strange"
John Lithgow and Alfred Molina play a long-time couple who have to live separately after they finally get married.
"Pride"
This historical, heart-warming drama looks at the collaboration between striking British miners and gay rights activists.
"Inside Llewyn Davis"
The Coen Brothers present a moody, atmospheric drama about an troubled singer-songwriter.
"Blue Jasmine"
Cate Blanchett gives an incredible performance in Woody Allen's drama about a formerly wealthy woman lost in the world after her husband is imprisoned.
"The Normal Heart"
This screen adaptation of Larry Kramer's award-winning play about AIDS is moving and insightful. Don't watch this unless you have a box of tissues on hand!
CLASSICS
"Double Indemnity"
One of the most influential and important film noir pictures follows a bored housewife longing to escape her boring family life by teaming up with an insurance salesman to murder her husband.
"City Lights"
One of Charlie Chaplin's most famous films, this story follows the Little Tramp as he falls in love with a blind girl.
"From Here to Eternity"
This film follows the lives of three soldiers Hawaii in the months leading up to the attack on Pearl Harbor. Warning: The famous love scene on the beach may cause you to wish you were in a warmer climate!
"On the Waterfront"
This crime drama about union violence features Marlon Brando in one of his best roles, where he speaks the famous line, "I coulda been a contender."
"Brief Encounter"
This film about a chance meeting at a railway station with between a woman and a man, and the resulting love between them, was the inspiration for a play of the same name.
MUSICALS
"A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to the Forum"
Zero Mostel reprises his Tony Award-winning performance as Pseudolus, the slave longing to be freed from his master who embarks on a series of madcap adventures in order to do so.
"Show Boat"
This classic film brought the landmark, ground-breaking musical to the big screen.
"Les Misérables"
Tom Hooper's big-screen adaptation of the blockbuster musical features an all-star cast - Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway and Aaron Tveit, just to name a few.
"Oklahoma! With Hugh Jackman"
The weather can't be that bad when you're watching Hugh Jackman singing, "Oh, What a Beautiful Morning!" This production brought new insight into the classic musical.
"Newsies"
This cult favorite Disney musical about a group of striking newsboys was the inspiration for the award-winning Broadway production. Look for a young Christian Bale singing and dancing!
