Poor Cuba Gooding, Jr. The man who won an Academy Award for “Jerry Maguire” and opened big studio releases like “Pearl Harbor” is now relegated to direct-to-DVD trash such as the tired and forgettable thriller “Ticking Clock.” In its generic plot, Gooding is an investigative journalist tracking down a serial killer. At least the Blu-ray looks nice. D

The explosive and engaging Australian crime family drama “Animal Kingdom” releases on Blu-ray in a beautiful transfer that easily conveys the sense of claustrophobia evident in the the gang/family breakdown in writer/director David Michod’s gangster-worthy entry in cinema’s crime pantheon. In addition, the filmmaker commentary and hour-long featurette shed more insight on this excellent film (sure to be nominated during awards season). A

Director Samuel Maoz’s exploration of the first Lebanon War in 1982 solely via the crew inside an Israeli tank is a searing condemnation of war in the highly lauded “Lebanon.” The Blu-ray is an excellent example of the format with truly lifelike replication of color and an almost tactile sense of dread. Another must-see. A