Saturday 20 April 2013

This Week's DVD Releases - 15-22nd April

Pitch Perfect (2012)

'Aca-scuse me?!'

DVD/Blu-Ray

Release Date: 15/04/2013

Directed by: Jason Moore
Starring: Anna Kendrick, Skylar Astin, Rebel Wilson, Anna Camp, Brittany Snow, Adam DeVine - with John Michael Higgins and Elizabeth Banks
Written by: Kay Cannon

Rating: 6.5/10

A film that is so terrible with plot, it could bother not to have one. The saving grace?

It's utterly hilarious.



Your standard musical farce comedy about the maturing of a group of budding students  - their illustrious leader (notoriously mocked in the film for a visual spectacle at last year's Championship), Aubrey (played by Anna Camp) is relentless in her pursuit to keep things traditional and conservative - to stop the process and revert back to what she idealises the group as. Anna Kendrick plays the new comer Becca, who throws everything into turmoil and helps all the characters, including herself, reinvent themselves.

The film's shining star though? Rebel Wilson as Fat Amy. Not only are there great comic moments throughout, but Wilson's timing is impeccable and her performance is side ripping hilarious. The songs will have you tapping and singing along, wanting to join the Bellas in their quest for a win at the Acapella championships. If you want a laugh or like musicals, this one is a do-not-miss.

Seven Psycopaths (2012)

Released 15/04/2013

DVD/Blu-Ray

Directed by: Martin McDonagh
Starring: Colin Farrell, Sam Rockwell, Woody Harrelson, Christopher Walken, Tom Waits, Abbie Cornish, Olga Kurylenko
Written by: Martin McDonagh

Rating: 7/10

A brilliant film by Martin McDonagh, which sees him reunite with Colin Farrell from his first feature outing, "In Bruges" (2008). Sure, it has echoes of Tarantino, and in fact, Quentin does some of it better, crisper and sharper. But, still, the film and it's own little world inside the life of Hollywood, is finely crafted, down to a tee.




Marty (Farrell) is a writer with huge writer's block - all he has is a title for his next piece of work 'Seven Psychopaths'. It's a great send up of self-referential humour and great use of black comedy. Marty's friend, Billy (Sam Rockwell), ends up dognapping a Shih Tzu from the unbalanced gangster Charlie Costello (Woody Harrelson). The underworld of Hollywood then intermeshes with Marty's writing to create an eclectic, offbeat but entertaining mix.

I, Anna (2012)

Released 15/04/2013

DVD

Directed by: Barnaby Southcombe
Starring: Gabriel Byrne, Charlotte Rampling
Written by: Barnaby Southcombe

Rating: 5.5/10

A film that didn't make as much of a splash as some of the feature films, but definitely one worth a second look. Bernie Reid (Gabriel Byrne) is investigating a homicide that leads him to the mysterious Anna (Charlotte Rampling) and a conspiracy that will unravel around them.




A stylish looking neo-noir thriller; another 'lemonade' film.


Classics on Blu-Ray:
A whole slew of old classics have been released onto Blu-ray this week and as always - deserve some love and attention and are all recommended.

Films include: Blade Runner (1982), Dances With Volves (1990), The Color Purple (1985), The Goones (1985), The Empire of the Sun (1985), Casablanca (1942), Ben-Hur (1959), Aladdin (1992), Heat (1995), One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest (1975).. Among many others. A great way to bring back some of the greatest films to ever grace the screen and into your home - and to reintroduce them to a new generation.


Boxsets:

Castle Seasons 1-4

Created by: Andrew Marlowe,
Starring: Nathan Fillion and Stana Katic

Rating: 7/10

Castle has to be one of the most oddball crime dramas that have graced TV over the last few years - but definitely worth a watch. If you're looking for your next box-set and haven't seen Castle, this is it!

Castle stars mystery and crime writer Castle (Nathan Fillion) who, through connections and almost unbridled wealth, becomes part of the NYPD in Kate Beckett's (Stana Katic) homicide squad. The two develop feelings for each other and then spend the majority of the seasons fighting them.

Seasoned fans of Whedon's "Firefly" series (or "Serenity") will love to see Nathan Fillion in fine form as a quick witted writer who always has a quip. The pairing of Fillion and Katic is sublime.

The best parts? Castle's attempts to explain the murders as if they were written in 'pop' fiction by coming up with hilariously un-plausible reasons for their murders.


But you didn't hear it from us,

Mr & Misses

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