"BOOMERANG." (1947. NOT RATED. 20TH CENTURY FOX. $14.98.)This compelling crime drama, based on an unsolved 1924 murder case in which a parish priest was shot to death in Bridgeport, Conn., is from Louis de Rochemont, creator of the "March of Time" documentary series. It isn't quite "film noir" as critics have come to define it but "docu-noir," utilizing black-and-white location photography, non-actors as extras and the authoritative voice of Reed Hadley as narrator."Boomerang" becomes a hard-hitting re-creation of the political and legal aftermath of the murder. Director Elia Kazan and screenwriter Richard Murphy expose corruption (manipulated by the mayor, played by Ed Begley Sr.), police brutality (Karl Malden and Lee J. Cobb head the team that coerces a confession from derelict Arthur Kennedy), the manipulations of newspaperman Sam Levene and intriguing courtroom procedures.At the core of this glimpse into the complexities of American values is state prosecutor Dana Andrews, who does an about-face to defend the accused -- and shakes the town to its core, including his own wife, Jane Wyatt. The climactic courtroom sequence remains one of the most startling of its kind.Extras are limited to the theatrical trailer, a photo gallery and a good commentary track by noir experts Alain Silver and James Ursini.-- John Stanley"THE SACRED FAMILY." (2004. NOT RATED. FIRST RUN FEATURES. $24.95.)One of the many great things about Chilean director Sebastian Campos' "The Sacred Family" ("La Sagrada Familia") is how it sneaks up on you. Much like "XXY," directed by Argentine Lucia Puenzo, "Family" builds naturally and convincingly without feeling the need to metaphorically shout out every time the plot is about to turn.At first, the film seems to be about a pleasant Easter weekend, as young Marco (Nestor Cantillana) shows up at his parents' house with Sofia (Patricia Lopez), the older woman he loves. Marco's parents (Sergio Hernandez and Coca Guazzini) try to overlook their skepticism about the relationship and welcome Sofia into their home.Everyone is having a good time, but then things slowly begin to change. It may have something to do with the drugs Sofia has brought with her, but, in truth, it's Sofia herself who is the catalyst for everything going bad.The film bears a thematic resemblance to Pier Paolo Pasolini's "Teorema," including the religious implications. Marco, an architect like his father, idolizes the work of the great Spanish designer Antoni Gaudi, whose most famous creation is Barcelona's cathedral La Familia Sagrada, still under construction 82 years after Gaudi's death.Of course, the real "sacred family" here is Marco's, and it's soon shown to have significant cracks in its foundation. "The Sacred Family" is a compelling and wonderfully dark comedy.In Spanish with English subtitles.-- David Wiegand(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, www.scrippsnews.com.)
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