BY SEAN O’CONNELL A couple of Best Picture nominees announced their DVD release dates this week. “An Education,” starring Carey Mulligan as a British ingénue who falls under the spell of an older suitor (Peter Sarsgaard), arrives on DVD and Blu-ray March 30 from Sony Home Entertainment. Lone Scherfig’s insightful coming-of-age story has attracted much attention this awards season, scoring three Oscar nods, eight BAFTAs and a Golden Globe nomination for Mulligan. Bonus features on the DVD include deleted scenes, “The Making of An Education,” “Walking the Red Carpet” and a commentary track with Scherfig, Mulligan and Sarsgaard. Lee Daniels’ “Precious,” also up for Best Picture, hits shelves March 9 from Lionsgate Home Entertainment. The six-time Oscar nominee stars newcomer (and Best Actress nominee) Gabby Sidibe as the title character, an overweight and undereducated African American teenager trying to escape the dark shadow cast by her wicked mother (Mo’Nique, yet another Oscar nominee from this appreciated film). The DVD and Blu-ray disc will feature an audio commentary track with the director, numerous featurettes, a deleted scene, an interview with “Precious” author Sapphire and Daniels, Sidibe’s audition and more. That means that seven of the 10 Best Picture nominees will be available on home video. Jason Reitman’s “Up In the Air” carried a rumored release date of March 9, but Paramount did not confirm. Also, Sandra Bullock’s inspirational “The Blind Side” should arrive on March 23, but street dates can be fluid. Of course, the one we’re really concerned with is James Cameron’s “Avatar.” When will it arrive on home video? And how will we be able to replicate the immersive 3-D experience with our non-IMAX television sets? Stay tuned.