DVD six-pack.

Pop open a gay or lesbian home video releases--and get even more on disc

Title & Talent                    In a nutshell

All About My Mother               The death of her son sends
(Columbia TriStar) Written        a woman (Roth, at left)
and directed by Pedro             searching for an alternative
Almodovar, who won the            family; she bonds with a
foreign-language Oscar for        transsexual booker, a diva
it; starring Cecilia Roth,        actress, and a pregnant nun.
Penelope Cruz

Divine Trash                      Rare footage from the making
(WinStar) A documentary           of Waters's Pink Flamingos is
directed by Steve Yeager,         intercut with follow-up
featuring John Waters, Divine.    interviews from 1997.
Mink Stole, and celebrity         Captures Divine (at left)
Waters fans such as Steve         behind the scenes in 197],
Buscemi and Jim Jarmusch          and Divine's mom in 1997.

Girl, Interrupted                 Call it Gia Flew Over the Cuck-
(Columbia TriStar) Directed       oo's Nest: A vaguely troubled
by James Mangold; starring        young woman (Ryder) in a
Winona Ryder, Angelina Jolie;     mental ward befriends a viva-
Clea DuVall, Brittany Murphy,     cious, destructive fellow
Jared Leto, Whoopi Goldberg,      patient (Jolie, at far left, with
Vanessa Redgrave                  Ryder).

Interview With                    In the 18th century, vampire
the Vampire                       Louis (Pitt) loves mentor
(Warner) Directed by Nell         Lestat (Cruise, at left);
Jordan; written by Anne Rice;     Armand (Banderas) loves
starring Tom Cruise, Brad         Louis; prepubescent Claudia
Pitt, Antonio Banderas,           (Dunst) just loves blood.
Kirsten Dunst, Christian Slater

Mansfield Park                    Poor but spirited Fanny
(Miramax) Written and direct-     (O'Connor) clicks with pal
ed by Patricia Rozema; star-      Edmund (Miller, at left, with
ring Frances O'Connor, Jonny      O'Connor) but is wooed by
Lee Miller, Alessandro Nivola     charmer Henry (Nivola),
                                  Adultery, comedy, and straight
                                  romance ensue.

The Talented                      Poor but chameleonlike Tom
Mr. Ripley                        Ripley (Damon) falls hard for
(Paramount) Written and           rich, devilish Dickie (Law, at
directed by Anthony Minghel-      far left, with Damon)--or does
la; starring Matt Damon, Jude     he just covet his life? Murder,
Law, Gwyneth Paltrow, Cate        intrigue, and gay romance
Blanchett                         ensue.

Title & Talent                    DVD extras

All About My Mother               All the basics (trailer, bios,
(Columbia TriStar) Written        "making of" short), plus a
and directed by Pedro             15-minute interview with
Almodovar, who won the            Almodovar and an isolated
foreign-language Oscar for        music track
it; starring Cecilia Roth,
Penelope Cruz

Divine Trash                      None to speak of; the real
(WinStar) A documentary           treat here is Yeager's amaz-
directed by Steve Yeager,         ing, long-buried record of the
featuring John Waters, Divine.    original Waters team in
Mink Stole, and celebrity         situ--exploding trailers,
Waters fans such as Steve         pitching fits, eating ... stuff.
Buscemi and Jim Jarmusch

Girl, Interrupted                 HBO's on-set report, plus
(Columbia TriStar) Directed       deleted scenes--but we most
by James Mangold; starring        took forward to using the
Winona Ryder, Angelina Jolie;     music-only track for making
Clea DuVall, Brittany Murphy,     up our own dialogue.
Jared Leto, Whoopi Goldberg,
Vanessa Redgrave

Interview With                    An on-screen Jordan-Rice
the Vampire                       introduction, plus the
(Warner) Directed by Nell         documentary In the Shadow
Jordan; written by Anne Rice;     of the Vampire
starring Tom Cruise, Brad
Pitt, Antonio Banderas,
Kirsten Dunst, Christian Slater

Mansfield Park                    Like most Disney-made DVDs;
(Miramax) Written and direct-     extras are minimal bios and
ed by Patricia Rozema; star-      a "making of" short.
ring Frances O'Connor, Jonny
Lee Miller, Alessandro Nivola

The Talented                      Two "making of" shorts (one
Mr. Ripley                        on Gabriel Yared's score), two
(Paramount) Written and           music videos, plus cast and
directed by Anthony Minghel-      crew interviews--but, sadly,
la; starring Matt Damon, Jude     no Minghella commentary
Law, Gwyneth Paltrow, Cate        track to explain the ending to
Blanchett                         those who just don't get it

Title & Talent                    Buy, rent, or avoid?

All About My Mother               By turns hysterical and heart-
(Columbia TriStar) Written        rending, it's the culmination
and directed by Pedro             of Almodovar's love of misfits
Almodovar, who won the            and melodrama. Fans should
foreign-language Oscar for        snap it up, and even the
it; starring Cecilia Roth,        dubious will enjoy an
Penelope Cruz                     evening's rental.

Divine Trash                      Waters is a tack-sharp
(WinStar) A documentary           interview, the 1971 on-set
directed by Steve Yeager,         segments are jaw-dropping,
featuring John Waters, Divine.    and the egg lady speaks!
Mink Stole, and celebrity         A must-rent--or add it to your
Waters fans such as Steve         Waters collection.
Buscemi and Jim Jarmusch

Girl, Interrupted                 Gets points for including a
(Columbia TriStar) Directed       lesbian patient (Jillian
by James Mangold; starring        Armenante), but it's otherwise
Winona Ryder, Angelina Jolie;     vintage melodrama. A safe
Clea DuVall, Brittany Murphy,     bet for Winona fans--or go
Jared Leto, Whoopi Goldberg,      rent the more harrowing Gia,
Vanessa Redgrave                  now on DVD as well.

Interview With                    Worth a rental just for its
the Vampire                       homo allegory (take pride in
(Warner) Directed by Nell         your difference!), Pitt and
Jordan; written by Anne Rice;     Banderas's sizzling near kiss,
starring Tom Cruise, Brad         and Dunst's daring debut;
Pitt, Antonio Banderas,           Rice purists (silly humans)
Kirsten Dunst, Christian Slater   will have issues.

Mansfield Park                    Fans of Rozema's stunning
(Miramax) Written and direct-     I've Heard the Mermaids
ed by Patricia Rozema; star-      Singing must catch this lively,
ring Frances O'Connor, Jonny      lesbian-feminist adaptation;
Lee Miller, Alessandro Nivola     Jane Austen purists (snobs)
                                  will have issues.

The Talented                      With scenery and a cast so
Mr. Ripley                        pretty, why not own it? The
(Paramount) Written and           warmth Minghella added to
directed by Anthony Minghel-      lesbian novelist Patricia
la; starring Matt Damon, Jude     Highsmith's cold, dark vision
Law, Gwyneth Paltrow, Cate        just raises the moral stakes.
Blanchett