This week's new DVD & Blu-ray

Animal Kingdom DVD & Blu-ray, Optimum With the cinemas stuffed with movies about toys or superheroes, people who like their films to have dialogue that goes a little deeper than "Run!" and "Noooo!" can get their fix with this quietly stunning Australian crime drama. Based on the lawless antics of Melbourne's Pettingill family, here renamed Cody, we're introduced to them when estranged 17-year-old family member Joshua (played by assured newcomer James Frecheville) calls for help when his mother overdoses. Soon it transpires that having a heroin-addicted mother is a relatively normal and safe way of life compared to the even more deadly routines the Codys live by day to day. The brothers of the family are in a constant battle with the police, winding them up so much that both sides ignore the law and play by high-stakes rules. He may be of the same blood, but Joshua is not cut from the same criminal cloth, and this costs him dearly as events spiral out of control. While the Cody boys grab the attention, it's their mother who you should keep an eye on. Played by Australian theatre stalwart Jackie Weaver (who snared a much-deserved Oscar nomination for best supporting actress for her troubles), she's pottering around in the background, fixing grub and reassuring her sons for the first half. But when things go bad – and they do – she takes centre stage and is even more terrifying than her offspring. This is a film of rare power and tension, a high point of Australian cinema. Essential Killing DVD & Blu-ray, Artificial Eye At 73 years old, legendary Polish director Jerzy Skolimowski shows there's still plenty of fire in his belly with this compelling, almost dialogue-free war thriller. Vincent Gallo plays a Middle Eastern man who is captured by US forces following a desert skirmish with mercenary rent-a-soldiers. He's bundled off to another country, possibly Poland (hard to say as nothing is named), for internment and interrogation. A road crash gives him an opportunity to escape, which he does, only to find himself doggedly pursued by soldiers through a harsh and endless snowy forest, the complete opposite of the desolate desert land he's used to. While the camera moves across some stunningly beautiful landscapes, there's no time for sightseeing; this is a pure chase movie that still works as arthouse fare with plenty of unexpected twists. With the film so tight-lipped about names and places, Skolimowski seems to have stripped all the politics from his story. But by keeping it ambiguous he's actually done the opposite, creating an affecting human drama that could apply to any and every modern conflict. Armored Car Robbery Richard Fleischer's textbook, lean, mean 1950 heist movie. DVD, Odeon My Dog Tulip An old man, a dog and plenty of opportunities for a good old cry with this beautifully animated tale. DVD, Axiom Obsession Brian De Palma effort from the days when he was entertainingly ripping off Hitchcock. Stylish and complex, with a twist. Blu-ray, Arrow Fair Game Real-life story of outed CIA agent Valerie Plame makes for compelling viewing. Naomi Watts stars . DVD & Blu-ray, Entertainment One