Latest DVD releases

Shame (Momentum, cert 18, Blu-ray/DVD)

Like Hunger, another bulletin from the fraying edge of life from director Steve McQueen and actor Michael Fassbender, playing a sex addict falling apart in cold, depersonalised New York. Brutal, brittle and essential viewing.

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (Warner, cert 12, Blu-ray/DVD)

Yes, yes, yes – a million times better than Robert Downey Jr and Jude Law’s first go as Holmes and Watson, a raffish, fast-moving adventure from Guy Ritchie, one ear directed towards Oscar Wilde, one eye on the Pink Panther.

Tuesday, After Christmas (Second Run, cert 15, DVD)

Brilliantly acted, hothouse Romanian drama about a guy cheating on his wife with his child’s orthodontist, shot in 1970s French arthouse style and under it all asking the big question – what has the West ever done for us? A low-key marvel.

Hadewijch (New Wave, cert 12, DVD)

The fault line between religious conviction and onanistic self-absorption is examined in this cool French drama following a girl back into civvie street in Paris after she is expelled from a convent for being too devout. Hot-button stuff.

L’Atalante and the Films of Jean Vigo (Artificial Eye, cert PG, DVD)

Dead from TB at just 29, Jean Vigo only made four films. This two-disc pack has them all, including L'Atalante, the stylistically influential 1934 drama about lovers on a barge. Simple, captivating, beautiful and frequently on "best ever" lists.

Underworld: Awakening (EV, cert 18, Blu-ray/DVD)

“Defend the Second Rotunda – move!” Slinky, rubberised Kate Beckinsale is back in black for the fourth instalment of the inexplicably popular vampires v werewolves series, this time pumped up on Arnie’s 1980s back catalogue.

The Divide (Momentum, cert 18, DVD)

Disaster movie set in a basement where things go badly badly bad for survivors of a building collapse after a nuclear apocalypse sort of thing. Michael Biehn and Rosanna Arquette line up for indignity in this chaotic and nasty re-run of Lord of the Flies.

L’Atalante and the Films of Jean Vigo (Artificial Eye, cert PG, DVD)

Dead from TB at just 29, Jean Vigo only made four films. This two-disc pack has them all, including L’Atalante, the stylistically influential 1934 drama about lovers on a barge. Simple, captivating, beautiful and frequently on “best ever” lists.

Born and Bred Series 1-4 (Acorn, cert PG, DVD £99.99)

Blend together Doc Martin, HeartBeat and all the character actors from Midsomer and you get this Sunday night stalwart, starring James Bolam and Michael French as father and son doctors in 1950s Lancashire. Sweet.

The King of Queens: The Entire Package (Paramount, cert 12, DVD £140)

This gentle blue-collar comedy spin-off from Everybody Loves Raymond stars Kevin James and functions chiefly as a “If this is on, then I”m late for work” giddy-up.