Mar. 9–Those enthralled with the art of film can roll out red carpets in front of their homes for stay-at-home viewing of the best picture winner of the 82nd annual Academy Awards.

“The hurt Locker” was released in January on DVD, meaning those who prefer the theater experience to fully appreciate award-winning performances likely won’t find the best film/best director winner showing at area theaters.

Already, copies of the best picture flick were in popular demand at local video stores, including California Video in Manchester, which carries seven rentals.

“All of the ‘Hurt Lockers’ were gone by 2 p.m.,” said Ron Staltzer, an employee at the rental shop. “The movies that get nominated always get picked up.”

however, those looking for the theater experience can still see best picture nominee “An Education” at 3 and 7 p.m. Sunday at the Capitol Theater at 50 N. George St. in York City.

Already shown: the Capitol Theatre has been ahead of the curve in York County in screening “A Single Man,” for which Colin Firth was nominated for best actor, and best picture nominee “A serious Man.” “Precious,” which garnered several nominations and a couple of Oscars, played last month.

the theater’s film curator, Donna Nicklow, says a panel chooses the winter

lineup in November, focusing on films that are rarely picked up by commercial theaters.

“We book the smaller, independent films that Regal (Cinemas) doesn’t,” Nicklow said. “We played (‘The hurt Locker’) here because we felt so strongly about the film.”

Nicklow is working on the spring lineup and says it likely will include the Academy’s best foreign and documentary films. she expects to release the lineup by late March or early April.

Still at theaters: meanwhile, other Oscar winners including “Crazy Heart,” “Avatar” and “The Blind Side” are playing at Regal West Manchester 13 and Regal R/C Hanover, York County’s two wide-release multiplexes.

Kim Underwood, manager at the R/C Hanover Movies, said “usually we do see some response” following the Oscars, but that the theater hasn’t picked up any additional Oscar nominees for showing yet. however, she said that could change as more moviegoers express an interest in the Oscar films.

Already “Avatar” has far surpassed other films in box office earnings, taking in $720 million compared to $14.7 million for “The hurt Locker,” a dramatization of the Iraq war. “The hurt Locker” and Pixar’s “Up,” another best picture nominee, are available on DVD. “Precious” is being released to DVD Tuesday.

According to Moviefone.com and other entertainment Web sites, award-winners that have not yet been released on DVD will stay in theaters to take advantage of the box-office boost from their Oscar status.

meanwhile, those who enjoy foreign films and documentaries may look forward to seeing “El Secreto de Sus Ojos” and “The Cove” at the Capitol in coming months.

— Reach Kathy Stevens at 505-547 or kstevens@yorkdispatch.com. Staff writer Jessica Anderson contributed to this article.

to see more of the York Dispatch or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to yorkdispatch.com.

Copyright (c) 2010, the York Dispatch, Pa.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to the Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.

A service of YellowBrix, Inc.