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The Blind Side (out 09 August 10, Cert. 12) Monkey Score: 91% Michael Oher (Quinton Aaron) is doing his best to survive on his own, crashing on friends couches when he can and carrying his few belongings around in a plastic bag. He's a big boy, and quite athletic - and somehow gets a scholarship to get into a decent school at the insistence of the coach. Leigh Anne Tuohy (Sandra Bullock) spots him in the street once night, wearing shorts and a t-shirt on a cold winter evening. Learning that the young man is one of her daughter’s classmates, Leigh Anne insists that Michael to stay at the Tuohy home for the night without a moment's hesitation. Despite the huge gap between their backgrounds Michael becomes part of the Tuohy family. Living in his new environment, the teenager faces a completely different set of challenges. As the family helps Michael fulfill his potential, both on and off the football field, Michael’s presence in the Tuohys’ lives gives a chance to their family to fulfil its true potential. Try to think of two recent major studio releases about American Football - Leatherheads (George Clooney wearing a funny hat???) & The Express (huh?!?) : chances are the mind goes blank at best. To say that films about American Football are a difficult proposition this side of the pond is a very British understatement. There are however two exceptions to this: Jerry Maguire and The Blind Side. Thanks to Sandra Bullock's blinding performance (seems the Academy agrees with us there!), the story of Leigh Anne and Michael takes precedent over the college football nonsense. There is a bit of Erin Brokovich in Leigh Anne, and indeed Sandra Bullock's turn is as memorable as Julia Roberts'. She strikes the right balance between pushiness and good humour, strong will and Southern Belle charm. Strong women make good film material, providing the rest of the film is up to scratch. The Blind Side support cast, from country star Tim McGraw to the legendary Kathy Bates, add depth and nuance but it is the kids who almost manage to steal Sandra Bullock's light. They - and let's include 26-year-old Quinton Aaron in this - manage maturity and subtlety beyond their years, with young Jae Head playing kid brother S.J. to sheer perfection. The Blind Side is a special treat - endearing, inspiring and very funny. We
have 3 copies of The Blind Side Triple Play (DVD, Blu-Ray and Digital Copy) for you this week to celebrate this release - just follow the link below
and answer a simple question!
Kamui The Lone Ninja (out 09 August 10, Cert. 12) Ken'ichi Matsuyama, Koyuki, Kaoru Kobayashi, Kôichi Satô, Hideaki Ito, directed by Yoichi Sai, 2009, cert. 15, in Japanese with subtitles Monkey Score: TBC%
REVIEW COMING SOON
Manson Girl (out 09 August 10, Cert. 18) Gregory Smith, Kristen Hager, Tom Barnett, directed by Reginald Harkema, 2009, cert. 18 Monkey Score: TBC%
Straight-laced chemist Perry (Gregory Smith) begins questioning society's standards and
confronting his own darkest desires after falling for the all-American
homecoming queen who joined a hippie death cult and made headlines for
her murderous exploits. REVIEW COMING SOON |
Spiral Season 2 (Engrenages) (out 09 August 10, Cert. 18)
With Caroline Proust, Grégory Fitoussi, Philippe Duclos, Audrey Fleurot,
Fred Bianconi, Thierry Godard, Daniel Duval, Stéphan Wojtowicz, originally broadcast in France in May-June 2008, cert. 18
When a burned corpse is found in the boot of a car, a seemingly isolated
case turns into a dangerous tangle with each piece of evidence uncovered. The hard-hitting French police drama returns for this second series with a gruesome case, providing the perfect backdrop for a complex web of deceit and unsavoury characters. It's not without reminding us of Law & Order, as Engrenages (as it's known in France) mingles the work of the police, prosecution office and defense lawyers. It is however vastly different from the U.S. series both in form and in tone, with pure grit in lieu of the American polish. More importantly for a DVD release Spiral manages to nail something that has eluded the creators of Law&Order for years. By resolving each case by the time the end credits roll the US series certainly dots the i's but it doesn't make you beg to see the next episode: it's very easy to get your fix by surfing satellite channels. Start watching this gallic variation on the theme, however, and you'll be hard-pressed to move away from the TV until all 8 episodes have played. Does this make this DVD release essential? You betcha. Just make sure you have supplies with you when you start watching, as you may not be able to stop until the end of the series.  
White Feather (out 09 August 10, Cert. PG) Robert Wagner, John Lund, Debra Paget, Eduard Franz, Jeffrey Hunter, directed by Robert D. Webb, 1955, cert. PG Monkey Score: TBC%
Keen to peacefully co-exist with the white settlers a Cheyenne tribe accepts to relocate from their native Wyoming hunting grounds, making way for greedy gold prospectors. The resettlement journey is led by Colonel Lindsay (John Lund), under the guidance of rugged land surveyor, Josh Tanner (Robert Wagner.) As Tanner falls for the fiancee of a Cheyenne warrior,the fragile peace is threatened. REVIEW COMING SOON
The Return Of Frank James (out 09 August 10, Cert. U) Henry Fonda, Gene Tierney, Jackie Cooper, Henry Hill, John Carradine, Charles Tanner, directed by Fritz Lang, 1940, cert. PG Monkey Score: TBC% In this sequel to 1939's JESSE JAMES Henry Fonda reprises his role as the late Jesse's brother. He has move on from his criminal past and became a farmer, yet never given up his search for Jesse's killer, the treacherous Ford (John Carradine.) As the killer and his posse are captured then given a political amnesty, Frank take justice in his own hands. Making her screen debut is Gene Tierney, in the role of an Eastern reporter who wants to tell Frank's true story to the world. REVIEW COMING SOON |
The Seven-Ups (out 09 August 10, Cert. 12) Roy Scheider, Victor Arnold, Jerry Leon, Ken Kercheval, Tony Lo Bianco, directed by Philippe d'Antoni, 1973, cert. 12 Monkey Score: TBC% Buddy (Roy Scheider), member of a New York police unit more motivated by results than the respect conventional methods,is trying to find out who killed his partner.
Fatbelly - Chopper... Unchopped (out 02 August 10, Cert. 18)
Documentary featuring Mark Brandon 'Chopper' Read, 2009, cert. 18
Monkey Score: 70% A portrait of Mark 'Chopper' Read's life in his own words, FATBELLY recounts the story of Australia''s most notorious gangster. From mental hospitals to the infamous Pentridge H Division, the story of the man that is 'Chopper' is a graphic and brutal tale of violence, blood, love and survival. This is no TV series or the Hollywood version of events, but Mark Brandon 'Chopper' Read's own story. As in over 23 years in jail, 10 of which in H Division for the criminally insane, stabbed 13 times, bashed, shot, ran over, 60 helpings of shock therapy and certified thrice. To say that this is a harrowing story wouldn't do it justice. The man is psycho, and hearing his take in his own words is a sobering yet compulsive experience. Fascinating. |
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