Every Tuesday, I review the newest Blu-ray releases and let you know whether they’re worth buying, renting or skipping, along with a breakdown of the included extras. If you see something you like, click on the cover art to purchase the Blu-ray from Amazon, and be sure to share each week’s column on Facebook and Twitter with your friends.

WHAT: Jack Harper (Tom Cruise) is one of the last remaining humans on Earth – a drone repairman that’s part of an operation to extract vital resources from the planet after a decades-long war with an alien race known as Scavengers. But when Jack rescues the literal woman of his dreams (Olga Kurylenko) from a crashed spacecraft, her arrival triggers a series of events that forces him to rethink everything he knows about the world.

WHY: Following the massive disappointment of “TRON: Legacy,” Joseph Kosinski’s sophomore effort looked like it would just be more of the same, but much to my surprise, his latest sci-fi project is a lot better than expected. Unlike the “TRON” sequel, Kosinski created the world of “Oblivion” from the ground up, and it really shows, from the rich mythology to the Apple-inspired production design. Kosinski’s outstanding visuals are still front and center, but this time around, he’s also delivered an engaging story in addition to the effects-driven spectacle. Though genre fans will notice that “Oblivion” borrows pretty heavily from a recent sci-fi movie that will remain unnamed (not to mention other classics), it’s still a really great concept that, while not exactly original, is cool to see realized on a grander scale. The final act isn’t handled quite as gracefully as its indie counterpart, but between Kosinski’s visuals and Tom Cruise’s commanding performance, “Oblivion” is still one of the better sci-fi flicks of the past few years.

EXTRAS: There’s a good deal of bonus material here, including an audio commentary with star Tom Cruise and director Joseph Kosinski, a making-of featurette, four additional production featurettes on things like stunts, visual effects, the bubble ship and scoring the film, some deleted scenes, and the ability to watch the entire movie accompanied by M83’s isolated score.

FINAL VERDICT: RENT

WHAT: When motorcycle stunt rider Luke Glanton (Ryan Gosling) discovers that he has a son, he turns to robbing banks as a way to provide for him and his mother (Eva Mendes). But Luke’s actions place him on a collision course with a rookie policeman (Bradley Cooper) who gets caught up in an investigation involving some dirty cops.

WHY: Derek Cianfrance’s multi-generational crime drama is an incredibly ambitious piece of work, though he seems to have bitten off more than he can chew. Divided into three interconnected stories, there’s not much to each one, but they’re all necessary to telling the larger narrative, and that’s what makes the movie so frustrating. Cianfrance deals with some familiar themes of fatherhood, consequences and destiny, but it’s such an epic undertaking that it ultimately becomes too much movie for its own good. The opening segment is the standout, mainly thanks to some great performances by Gosling, Mendes and character actor Ben Mendelsohn, and although the other two stories aren’t bad, they’re noticeable weaker, causing the film to feel a bit lopsided. “The Place Beyond the Pines” isn’t perfect (the first hour makes up for some of the more unflattering heavy-handedness that Cianfrance resorts to in the latter half), but it’s a movie that demands a lot of respect for not only taking big risks, but the way that it resonates emotionally.

EXTRAS: There’s an audio commentary with director/co-writer Derek Cianfrance, a short but sweet making-of featurette and four deleted/extended scenes.

FINAL VERDICT: RENT

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Ryan Gosling, Bradley Cooper, Eva Mendes, Dane DeHaan, Emory Cohen

Derek Cianfrance

After watching Derek Cianfrance’s “Blue Valentine,” it was clear that the writer/director would be one to watch for the future, even if the anti-romance film wasn’t exactly my cup of tea. His follow-up feature, “The Place Beyond the Pines,” reunites Cianfrance with his “Blue Valentine” star Ryan Gosling, and though the movie is hindered by its own set of problems, the multi-generational crime drama makes good on the potential he showcased in his directorial debut. While it’s difficult to talk about the movie without wading knee-high into spoiler territory, “The Place Beyond the Pines” is an impressive piece of American filmmaking that’s every bit as compelling as it is annoyingly flawed.

The movie’s triptych structure is like watching three separate but interconnecting films, and Cianfrance kicks things off with what is easily the best of the bunch as we’re introduced to Luke Glanton (Gosling), a motorcycle stunt driver who reconnects with a former one-night stand named Romina (Eva Mendes) at the local fair where he plies his trade. When he learns that Romina has given birth to his son, Luke agrees to quit his nomadic job and stay in town, even though Romina has already moved on with another man. Determined to do his fatherly duties and provide for his son, Luke decides to put his unique skills to use and start robbing banks, placing him on a collision course with rookie policeman Avery Cross (Bradley Cooper), an honest family man who gave up his promising career as a lawyer to serve on the force. After becoming privy to some dirty cops in the department, however, Avery must decide what’s more important: his integrity or loyalty to his brothers in blue.

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After suffering through the doldrums of winter, it’s encouraging to see that the quality (and selection) of movies will improve along with the weather. Though many of this month’s films probably won’t be remembered by the time summer rolls around, there are a few indie flicks with real cult potential and a pair of tentpole-type movies based on popular properties that will benefit from opening during a less competitive time of year.

Who: Nicholas Hoult, Ewan McGregor, Eleanor Tomlinson, Ian McShane and Bill Nighy
What: When a young farmhand unwittingly opens a gateway between our world and a fearsome race of giants, he must fight for his kingdom and the princess he loves.
When: March 1st
Why: It’s been awhile since Bryan Singer directed a movie that I was genuinely excited about, and unfortunately, “Jack the Giant Slayer” doesn’t break that trend. Though the fantasy film sounds great in theory, the trailers don’t look very promising, particularly in regards to its uneven tone (is it for children, adults or the whole family?) and cartoonish CGI. It doesn’t even bare much resemblance to the fairy tales on which it’s based, and while the cast is filled with some great actors (Nicholas Hoult appears to be the real deal), there’s probably a good reason why the original summer release date was axed.

Who: Mia Wasikowska, Nicole Kidman, Matthew Goode and Jacki Weaver
What: After India’s father dies, her Uncle Charlie comes to live with her and her unstable mother, only to discover that he has ulterior motives.
When: March 1st
Why: Continuing the Korean invasion that kicked off in January with Kim Ji-woon’s “The Last Stand,” Park Chan-wook’s English-language debut hits theaters in time for U.S. audiences to get accustomed to the director’s unique style ahead of the long-awaited remake of his 2003 cult hit “Oldboy.” It’s taken longer than expected for Park to export his talents to Hollywood, but “Stoker” is the perfect project if there ever was one. It’s also clear from the cast he’s assembled that the director is well-admired within the industry, and all three leads don’t seem to be holding back. Early buzz has been mostly positive, drawing comparisons to Hitchcock, and that alone should be enough to get you excited.

Who: James Franco, Michelle Williams, Mila Kunis, Rachel Weisz and Zach Braff
What: A small-time magician with questionable ethics arrives in a magical land and must choose between becoming a good man or a great one.
When: March 8th
Why: Disney is putting a lot of faith in Sam Raimi’s “Wizard of Oz” prequel, no doubt hoping that it can reach “Alice in Wonderland” levels of success, but was anyone really clamoring for another movie? It’s not even based on any of L. Frank Baum’s novels, despite the fact that Disney owns the rights to nearly every book in the Oz series, and though it’s supposedly inspired by his works, the risk of upsetting fans of the original film doesn’t seem worth it. Then again, “Oz the Great and Powerful” is exactly the kind of franchise-ready cash cow that Disney loves to produce (i.e. “Pirates of the Caribbean”), and while it’s depressing to see Raimi wasting his talents, at least it’s in good hands.

Who: Colin Farrell, Noomi Rapace, Dominic Cooper and Terrence Howard
What: In New York City, a crime lord’s right-hand man is seduced by a woman seeking retribution against his boss.
When: March 8th
Why: Park Chan-wook isn’t the only foreign director making his English-language debut this month, as Niels Arden Oplev follows up his award-winning Swedish version of “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” with a new film that reunites him with star Noomi Rapace. This is one of those movies that flew completely under my radar until it came time to start planning the preview, but from what I’ve seen so far, “Dead Man Down” has the potential to be the big surprise of March. Colin Farrell is capable of delivering great work with the right material, and Terrence Howard is an excellent choice to play the silky-smooth villain, but more than anything else, this could be Oplev’s coming out party as a director now that he’s no longer stuck in the shadow of Stieg Larsson’s popular novel.

Who: Steve Carell, Jim Carrey, Steve Buscemi, Olivia Wilde and James Gandolfini
What: After magician Burt Wonderstone splits from his longtime stage partner, he sets out to rediscover what made him love magic in the first place.
When: March 15th
Why: “The Incredible Burt Wonderstone” may sound like comedy gold on paper, but it’s hard to get past that terrible trailer, which almost certainly doesn’t do the movie justice. Though pairing Steve Carell and Jim Carrey together in a film would have been a brilliant stroke of casting five years ago, neither actor has done anything of note recently. It’s also a little strange that the movie will be opening South by Southwest this year, because it doesn’t seem to have the type of comic edge I’ve come to expect from the Austin-based film festival. Then again, if it’s good enough for SXSW, then I’m willing to remain cautiously optimistic that it won’t be nearly as bad as the early trailers suggest.

Who: Gerard Butler, Aaron Eckhart, Morgan Freeman, Ashley Judd and Rick Yune
What: Disgraced Secret Service agent Mike Banning must rescue the President after he’s held hostage by terrorists inside the White House.
When: March 22nd
Why: Over the past 20 years, there has been a bizarre trend of likeminded disaster movies opening within months of each another, so it seems only natural that director Roland Emmerich (who’s no stranger to this phenomenon) is involved in Hollywood’s latest instance of copycat action thrillers. Though his similarly plotted “White House Down” won’t arrive in theaters until June, “Training Day” director Antoine Fuqua has beaten him to the punch. Both movies will probably be pretty interchangeable in terms of plot and action, but while “White House Down” features the more box office-friendly duo of Channing Tatum and Jamie Foxx, I’d take Gerard Butler and Aaron Eckhart any day of the week. For those waiting for a “24” movie, this could be the next best thing.

Who: Tina Fey, Paul Rudd, Nat Wolff, Michael Sheen and Gloria Reuben
What: A Princeton admissions officer takes a professional risk after she meets a college-bound alternative school kid who might be the son she gave up years ago.
When: March 22nd
Why: Despite its sitcomy premise, “Admission” has one thing going for it that most romantic comedies don’t: Tina Fey and Paul Rudd. The two stars are not only some of Hollywood’s most likeable comic actors, but they tend to make everything they’re in more enjoyable. Fey hasn’t appeared on the big screen since 2010’s “Date Night,” but now that “30 Rock” is over, here’s hoping that audiences will see more of her in the future, because she’s the kind of leading lady that could reinvigorate the rom-com genre. Director Paul Weitz has had his share of flops in recent years, but he’s proven with “About a Boy” and “In Good Company” that he’s capable of making a great movie.

Who: Vanessa Hudgens, Selena Gomez, Ashley Benson and James Franco
What: Four college girls who land in jail after robbing a restaurant to fund their spring break vacation find themselves in the debt of a drug and arms dealer.
When: March 22nd
Why: Guaranteed to be one of the most controversial films released all year, Harmony Korine’s “Spring Breakers” is the kind of movie that people are either going to really love or really hate. I’m not sure which group I’ll end up in, but Korine has definitely perked my interest with his sumptuous visuals and timely social satire. The big story, however, is the cast, which includes former Disney stars Vanessa Hudgens and Selena Gomez trying to break free from their squeaky clean images with more adult roles, and James Franco continuing his bizarre acting career with a turn as a cornrowed, gold-toothed wannabe gangster that should make the movie worth seeing whether it’s good or not.

Who: Dwayne Johnson, Bruce Willis, Channing Tatum, Ray Park and Adrianne Palicki
What: The G.I. Joes are not only fighting their mortal enemy Cobra; they are forced to contend with threats from within the government that jeopardize their very existence.
When: March 29th
Why: The quasi-sequel to 2009’s ill-fated “G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra” has had a pretty bump road on its way to theaters after its initial summer 2012 release date was pushed back nearly a year amid reports that Paramount wanted to convert the film to 3D. Of course, the real reason for the delay was some not-so-secret reshoots with Channing Tatum, whose reported death in the beginning of the movie didn’t go down well with test audiences. Regardless of what the finished product looks like now, it would be pretty hard to do any worse than Steven Sommers’ first film. And between the addition of guys like Dwayne Johnson and Bruce Willis and director John M. Chu’s professed love for the property, “Retaliation” could be just what the franchise needs to get it back on track.

Who: Ryan Gosling, Bradley Cooper, Eva Mendes and Rose Byrne
What: A motorcycle stunt rider turns to robbing banks to provide for his lover and new child, a decision that puts him on a collision course with an ambitious rookie cop.
When: March 29th
Why: I wasn’t crazy about Derek Cianfrance’s anti-rom-com “Blue Valentine,” but his second outing with Ryan Gosling looks much better, despite the fact that some people are already lazily comparing it to “Drive.” The movie premiered last year at the Toronto International Film Festival to glowing reviews, and there’s a good chance that Gosling and Bradley Cooper will earn Oscar nominations for their work here. Both men have proven themselves capable of delivering excellent performances, and it’s only a matter of time before they win the big prize. What really makes the film stand out, though, is that it doesn’t seem to be your average crime thriller. There’s something smarter and more emotional about the story being told, and that’s usually the sign of a great movie.

Bullz-Eye: I was able to check out “Snowmen” – they sent me a screener – and it was a great little movie. My highest praise is that I’ve got a 6-year-old daughter, and I’d be comfortable with her watching it with me.

Ray Liotta: Yeah, it’s really a good movie, and it definitely…it’s more than just entertaining. It definitely touches on a lot of issues for grown-ups or kids.

BE: How did you find your way into the film?

RL: It just so happens that the producer has a kid in school where my kid goes, and they were gearing up and had cast all the kids, and they were thinking about the adult roles, and my name came up. We talked, he gave me the script, and I loved it and decided to do it.

BE: So how much of the character was on the page, and how much were you able to bring to the character?

RL: It was all on the page. All of it. It was really well written. I mean, my job is to make it as real as possible and try to add as much depth and dimension to it as I can. To pretend that I was a dad whose son was sick and thinks he’s going to die, the bills that I have to pay, the guilt that I have from just working too much to pay those bills, maybe missing some of the things that are going on in his life.

BE: How well did you and Bobby Coleman get on? You seemed to have a pretty strong father-son dynamic going on.

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