New movies to be released this week on DVD

Chronicle of an Escape (2007) **1/2 Turns the chilling story of Argentina’s military regime and its large scale political murders into a tense, exciting escape thriller. Though functional on its own terms, this fourth feature by Israel Adrian Caetano feels hollow at the core, leaving a feeling of lingering disappointment over a missed opportunity to probe recent history.

Deal (2008) * To think that a semi-major studio financed a production this low-rent and listless is amazing: Since when did MGM start making student films?

Freshman Orientation (2007) *1/2 This movie is not incompetently made. Nor is it badly acted. But there’s not a fresh idea in it, and everyone on screen seems to be in a different comedy.

Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert Tour (2008) **1/2 For parents who were unable to secure tickets for the young fans in their households, this movie is nothing short of a godsend. She has boundless energy, a wardrobe that won’t quit, and enough real teenager in her to come across as more than a mere Disney creation.

The Life Before Her Eyes (2008) *1/2 Director Vadim Perelman is big on slo-mo lyrical effects and confusing time shifts, making the movie unnecessarily arty and detracting from what could have been a searing psychological study.

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day (2008) *** Bharat Nalluri directs with a light touch and a great eye for costumes and sets, which are gorgeous enough to make up for any contrivances in the plot. It’s pure romantic fantasy, and you won’t believe it for a minute. But it’s fun to watch Miss Pettigrew and Miss Lafosse live for a couple of hours. Francis McDormand’s performance slowly builds a solid integrity, and contrasts well with Amy Adams’ more flamboyant turn.

Prom Night (2008) * Director Nelson McCormick and screenwriter J.S. Cardone don’t have one original thought between them, but they do appear to share an obsession with characters opening hotel-room closets in which the steel hangers gleam ominously. The movie offers less gore than the average Band-Aid commercial and fewer scares than the elimination episodes of "Dancing With the Stars."

Quid Pro Quo (2008) **1/2 The first half of this film is among the most jaw-dropping things I’ve ever seen: Who knew there was a closeted subculture of people pretending to be paraplegics? Nick Stahl and Vera Farmiga give layered, restrained performances that keep what might have been a schlock fest with an improbable twist ending from devolving into trashiness. Instead, writer-director Carlos Brooks and his actors manage to render an involving and thoughtful story from some pretty dubious material.

Street Kings (2008) ** I enjoyed parts of this movie but I didn’t believe one thing about it, and I couldn’t get past Keanu Reeves’ unsuitability to his role. He may someday play a cop on the edge convincingly, but the edge needs to be sharper than this.