VIDEO VIEW: ‘Still Alice’ touches on a wide range of emotions

For Julianne Moore, the key to understanding “Still Alice” is to embrace its theme about making every minute count in life.
In “Still Alice” (to be released today on DVD and Blu-ray Disc, and available on Video on Demand), Moore, who won a well-deserved best actress Oscar for her performance, plays Alice Howland, a brilliant linguistics professor who has early onset Alzheimer’s disease.
That devastating diagnosis causes major changes in her world and a ripple effect on the lives of her family members, including three grown children.
The PG-13 picture is based on the 2007 novel by Lisa Genova and delivers an emotionally challenging tone.
“Memory is based on feelings and experience, and I think for Alice, what she realizes is that as it goes, the only substitute for those feelings is being as present as you can (be) in the moment that you have,” Moore told the huffingtonpost.com at the time of the film’s release. “And I think that’s kind of the lesson of ‘Still Alice.’
“That’s what the movie is about — it’s really about how do you fully occupy that moment that you’re in.”
According to Hi-Def Digest, the extras include a making-of documentary (“Directing Alice”), three deleted scenes and “Finding Alice” (a feature with the cast members, filmmakers and Alzheimer’s experts discussing how they worked to create an accurate depiction of Alice Howland’s illness).
New arrivals
The following DVD and Blu-ray Disc titles either have been or soon will be released (certain titles may also be available on Video on Demand):
“Blackhat,” with Chris Hemsworth and Viola Davis in director Michael Mann’s R-rated thriller about a computer expert convict who’s released from prison to destroy a cybercrime network.
“The Cobbler,” with Adam Sandler, Steve Buscemi and Ellen Barkin in a PG-13 fantasy about a bored New York man who owns a shoe repair shop and learns he has the power to change into any of his customers.
“Hombre,” with Paul Newman in an unrated frontier picture (1967) about a man who was raised by Native Americans and faces prejudice from stagecoach passengers who need him to survive a deadly situation.
“Jupiter Ascending,” with Channing Tatum, Mila Kunis, Sean Bean and Eddie Redmayne in a PG-13 sci-fi epic about a genetically engineered warrior transported to a planet to stop a tyrannical reign. Andy and Lana Wachowski, the team responsible for “The Matrix,” co-wrote and co-directed.
“Jurassic Park Collection,” with repackaged offerings of the PG-13-rated “Jurassic Park,” “Jurassic Park 3-D,” “Jurassic Park: The Lost World” and “Jurassic Park III” in DVD and Blu-ray Disc.
“Just Before I Go,” with Seann William Scott and Olivia Thirlby in an R-rated tale of a divorced guy with nothing important left in his life, a situation that inspires him to return home and face the people he blames for his personal misfortunes.
“A Man For All Seasons,” with Paul Scofield, Wendy Hiller, Orson Welles, Susannah York and Robert Shaw in the Oscar-winning unrated British drama (1966) about Thomas Moore, who refused to allow King Henry VIII to obtain a divorce and remarry.
“Mortdecai,” with Johnny Depp in an R-rated farce about a fast-talking art dealer hired to locate a stolen painting. Ewan McGregor, Gwyneth Paltrow and Paul Bettany costar.
“The Organization,” with Sidney Poitier in his third and final appearance as police detective Virgil Tibbs (after 1967’s Oscar-winning “In the Heat of the Night” and 1970’s “They Call Me Mr. Tibbs!”) in a PG-13 picture (1971) about a battle against a narcotics operation.
“The Premature Burial,” with Ray Milland and Hazel Court in an unrated chiller (1962) which is based on an Edgar Allan Poe tale and deals with a man who fears early entombment. Roger Corman directed.
“Tracers,” with Taylor Lautner in a PG-13 action thriller about a bike messenger who uses parkour fighting moves to elude mobsters chasing him.
“Two Men in Town,” with Forest Whitaker and Harvey Keitel in an R-rated drama about a friendship that develops between an ex-convict and his parole officer.
“Wet Hot American Summer,” with Janeane Garofalo, David Hyde Pierce and Paul Rudd in an R-rated cult comedy (2001) that’s set in 1981 and deals with the behavior of counselors and campers on the final day of a Maine summer camp.
“X: The Man with the X-Ray Eyes,” with Ray Milland in an unrated sci-fi-thriller (1963) about a doctor who has X-ray vision after using special eye drops. Roger Corman directed.