'Up in the Air' gets DVD release date

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 17 (UPI) -- Best picture Oscar contender "Up in the Air" is to be released on DVD and Blu-ray in the United States just days after Academy Awards are handed out.

The unemployment-themed comedy, which also earned individual Oscar nods for its stars George Clooney, Vera Farmiga and Anna Kendrick, as well as its writer-director Jason Reitman, will be released March 9, Paramount Home Entertainment announced Tuesday. The Academy Awards show is slated to take place March 7.

The DVD and Blu-ray versions of "Up in the Air" are expected to include commentary by Reitman, director of photography Eric Steelberg and first assistant director Jason Blumenfeld; deleted scenes with optional commentary; and the featurette "Shadowplay: Before The Story." The Blu-ray also includes additional deleted scenes, storyboards, an American Airlines prank and the "Help Yourself" music video by Sad Brad, Paramount said.