(Fox, $27.98)
Movie:   Disc:

The Movie: The Irish have historically looked to America as an antidote to misery, starting with the potato famines of the 19th century. With this lovingly crafted tale about an Irish family trying to recover from the death of its young son, cowriter-director Jim Sheridan (My Left Foot) faithfully carries on with that sentiment, though the benign urban jungle of New York City to which this bohemian clan relocates may seem as enchantingly foreign to Americans as it does to immigrant newbies. Dad (Paddy Considine) is a struggling actor, Mom (Samantha Morton) is a nurturing earth mother, and their two girls (Sarah and Emma Bolger) are wonderfully wise and naive in a way that recalls To Kill a Mockingbird.  In America is a modern fairy tale sans magic, as fresh and unpredictable as its message is eternal.

The Disc: Skip the deleted scenes but don’t miss Sheridan’s extraordinary commentary track—it’s as warm and charming and casually profound as the film itself.

—Howard Karren

Our First Impression:

. . . has a warmth that's utterly enchanting, and a tenderness that's genuinely touching. This is a real gem. read more