PARIS IS BURNING

1990, Rated R

Inevitably, the underground breaks through into the mainstream. Jennie Livingston's documentary captures the emergence of a movement in which three strikes -- being black, male and gay -- become the foundation for self-acceptance and a new definition of family. The essential question, which remains unanswered, is in the quest for realness -- the ability to pass for straight -- what does it truly mean to be gay. The subculture of balls, initially drag showcases that evolved into runway shows, which eventually spawned vogueing, was full of aspiring legendary figures who desired fame and fortune, but also the freedom to be who they were without the threat of violence and shame. Much like Disco and Hip Hop, the heart of the balls beats fiercely in the hungriest members of the tribe. This long overdue DVD reminds audiences of these old-school days with a touch of sadness in that the commentary feels like a eulogy for a star that went supernova before its heat could truly blaze a trail into history. (tt clinkscales) Grade: A

CRASH

CRASH (LIONS GATE)

2004, Rated R

Los Angeles is like no place on earth. In fact, sometimes it seems like an entirely different planet. Climate and terrain play a large role. So does race. Writer/director Paul Haggis knows this as well as anybody. "In any real city you walk, you know. You brush past people, people bump into you. In L.A., nobody touches you," says Don Cheadle's Graham, an L.A. police detective who, like the rest of Crash's diverse ensemble cast, grapples with his place in an ever more disconnected society. Haggis' crosscutting narrative tackles the issue of race head on, investigating perceptions with an unblinking honesty rare in big-budget studio fare. There's also a palpable sense of atmosphere, largely due to Mark Isham's evocative score and J. Michael Muro's lush cinematography. Yet Paul Thomas Anderson's Magnolia and Robert Altman's Short Cuts immediately come to mind as much more organic, L.A.-set mosaics -- too often Crash's screenplay feels like a contraption, an exercise in shock tactics disguised as brutal truth. But the cast, led by the ever-stellar Cheadle, brings genuine emotion. (Jason Gargano) Grade: B-

THE TRUMAN SHOW

THE TRUMAN SHOW (PARAMOUNT)

1998, Rated PG-13

Reality shows, such as they are, have not hit upon the ultimate premise dramatized in director Peter Weir's The Truman Show. Rather than shoot in a documentary style, the rich narrative feature format obviously solidified the template for everything from MTV's The Real World and Survivor down to The Bachelor and its spin-offs. While the subtleties of Jim Carrey's performance as Truman impresses far more with repeat viewings, Ed Harris' Oscar-nominated turn grabs attention right out of the box. The film is about our love affair with characters on screens, both large and small, but there is a deeper intimacy on display between subject and producer/director that speaks to the metaphysical link we have with whatever we acknowledge as our higher power. In the two-part "making-of" bonus feature, the craft of Weir and crew illustrates the seamless nature behind the creation of reality and truth more honest than an entire season of reality programming. (ttc) Grade: A

THE MIND OF THE MARRIED MAN: THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON

THE MIND OF THE MARRIED MAN: THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON (WARNER HOME VIDEO)

2001, Not Rated

Welcome to The Mind of the Married Man. Creator and executive producer Mike Binder also stepped in front of the camera in this short-lived HBO series that delved into the comically emasculated psyches of modern married males. Micky (Binder), Doug (Taylor Nichols) and Jake (Jake Weber), a trio of Chicago newspaper writers, constantly struggle to maintain their sense of fidelity to their wives, growing families and themselves. The first season hones in on Micky's terminal case of sex on the brain, which seemingly revolves around everyone except his wife (Sonya Walger). While Sex and the City proved that girls could play sex games as well as boys, The Mind offered conclusive evidence that the playing field belongs to the horny boys. This 10-episode, two-disc set is brutally honest in its assessment of the boys' juvenile fantasies, which only highlights how the eventual loss of the series was a terrible blow. Fortunately, Binder rebounded -- with his skewed humor brilliantly intact -- earlier this year with The Upside of Anger. (ttc) Grade: A