Cary Grant teams with Hitchcock for the fourth and final time in this superlative espionage caper judged one of the American Film Institute's Top 100 American Films and spruced up with a new digital transfer and remixed Dolby Surround Stereo. Grant plays a Manhattan advertising executive plunged into a realm of spy (James Mason) and counterspy (Eva Marie Saint) and variously abducted framed for murder chased and in another signature set piece crop-dusted. He also holds on for dear life from that famed carved rock (for which back lot sets were used). But don't expect the Master Of Suspense to leave star or audience hanging...
Janacek's The Cunning Little Vixen is a real charmer of an opera, a tale that shows the natural world the composer had loved from childhood in its true colours: miraculous, beautiful, mysterious but also cruel. The inspiration came from a series of illustrated stories published in a Czech newspaper. The Vixen of the title is captured by a forester and taken home as a plaything for his children. She is soon thrown out of the house and has to make her own way in the world, encountering lust, stupidity, pride, love and ultimately death. This 1995 performance was taken from the Chatelet Theatre in Paris. Visually, Nicholas Hytner's production is a triumph, the animals wonderfully wittily wrought (the mosquito with its syringe for a nose, the mangey old dog, distasteful in baggy Y-fronts, the hideous, goggle-eyed frog). And it's also brilliantly cast: Eva Jenis's Vixen is funny, sexy, endearing and youthful enough in voice and figure to convince. Thomas Allen is a veteran of the role of the Forester, a huge presence and singing in impeccable Czech. In fact, there's not a weak performance here, and that goes for the dancers and instrumentalists as well as the singers. And at the helm, who better than Sir Charles Mackerras, arguably the greatest living interpreter of Janacek's music? This is in essence a grown-up fairy tale, ravishingly done and extremely highly recommended. On the DVD: The Cunning Little Vixen is presented on disc in vividly remastered PCM stereo, with 16:9 picture format that does full justice to the alluringly colourful designs. The disc is encoded for regions 2 and 5, and the menu and subtitle languages are English, German, French and Spanish. The useful booklet gives coherent background information and synopsis as well as full casting details. There's also a substantial (23-minute) trailer of other offerings from Arthaus Musik. --Harriet Smith
Seeking shelter from a pounding rainstorm in a remote region of Wales several travellers are admitted to a gloomy foreboding mansion belonging to the extremely strange Femm family. Trying to make the best of it the guests must deal with their sepulchral host Horace Femm and his obsessive malevolent sister Rebecca. Things get worse as the brutish manservant Morgan gets drunk runs amok and releases the long pent-up brother Saul a psychotic pyromaniac who gleefully tries to destroy the residence by setting it on fire!
SWAT (2003): Two wisecracking battle-hardened veterans (Samuel L. Jackson and Colin Farrell) team up with a pair of street-smart rookies (Michelle Rodriguez and LL Cool J) to form the most freewheeling - but effective - S.W.A.T. team ever.. Their first assignment: transport an international drug kingpin into federal custody - after he's offered 0 million to anyone who will free him! Stealth (2005): A trio of stealth bomber pilots (Jamie Foxx Jessica Biel Josh Lucas) are forced to fly with EDI (Extreme Deep Invader) a computer-manned prototype plane that specializes in extra-precision bombing. The brainchild of a programming wunderkind (Richard Roxburgh) EDI has the ability to learn at a fantastic rate but before long a freak accident causes it to question authority and launch an attack on Russia. In a top-secret military operation the three pilots struggle to bring the artificial intelligence program under control before it initiates the next world war... Tears Of The Sun (2003): In director Antoine Fuqua's action-adventure film Bruce Willis stars as Lt. A.K. Waters the loyal veteran officer of a Navy S.E.A.L unit. When he's sent into the heart of Africa the usually hard-bitten Waters finds himself deeply conflicted at having to choose between following orders and the dictates of his own conscience. Lt. Waters travels to war-torn Nigeria to rescue Dr. Lena Kendricks (Monica Bellucci) a U.S. citizen who runs a mission in the countryside. But when Lt. Waters arrives Dr. Kendricks refuses to abandon the refugees under her care... She implores Waters to escort them on a dangerous trek through the dense jungle to the nearby border of Cameroon. During the journey the S.E.A.L.s find themselves the unwitting guardians of a man sought by the rebel militia. This further endangers their already hazardous mission. But all the while it strengthens Waters' resolve to protect Lena -- for whom he has unexpectedly developed feelings -- and the refugees and to deliver them safely across the border. Ghost Rider (2007): Johnny Blaze (Nicolas Cage) was only a teenaged stunt biker when he sold his soul to the devil (Peter Fonda). Years later Johnny is a world renowned daredevil by day but at night he becomes the Ghost Rider of Marvel Comics legend. The devil's bounty hunter he is charged with finding evil souls on earth and bringing them to hell. But when a twist of fate brings Johnny's long-lost love (Eva Mendes) back into his life Johnny realizes he just might have a second chance at happiness-if he can beat the devil and win back his soul. To do so he'll have to defeat Blackheart (Wes Bentley) the devil's nemesis and wayward son whose plot to take over his father's realm will bring hell on earth-unless Ghost Rider can stop him. The Patriot (2000): Benjamin Martin (Mel Gibson) distinguished himself in the French and Indian Wars but now lives in peace with his seven children on his sprawling South Carolina plantation. The horrors of conflict come back to haunt him however when his headstrong eldest son Gabriel (Heath Ledger) defies his orders to join the American army. Unwilling to get involved himself Benjamin reluctantly joins the fight when second eldest son Thomas (Gregory Smith) is killed in cold blood by sadistic British officer Colonel Tavington (Jason Isaacs). Determined to protect the rest of his family and sister-in-law Charlotte (Joely Richardson) from harm Benjamin takes up arms alongside his patriotic son Gabriel leading a brave militia into battle against the overwhelming English army.
Hitch (2005): In Andy Tennant's delightful romantic comedy Hitch Will Smith stars as Alex Hitchens an urban date doctor who helps the common man woo the woman of his dreams. Hitch will use any means necessary--dance lessons back waxing--to instill romantic confidence in his clientele. Why? He was once a lonely wallflower himself who learned about love and heartbreak the hard way. His latest project Albert Brennaman (Kevin James) may be his most difficult. Brennaman a junior accountant prone to clumsiness has fallen head-over-heels for one of his clients Allegra Cole (Amber Valleta) a well-known celebrity. To complicate things further Hitch's dating dogma is shaken when he meets and falls for a beautiful gossip columnist Sara Melas (Eva Mendes) whose sharp wit easily pierces his cool fa''ade. Conflict arises when Melas uncovers Hitch's true profession and blames him for her best friend being dumped. 50 First Dates (2004): Henry Roth (Sandler) the local marina veterinarian only dates tourists because he's afraid of commitment - that is until he meets Lucy (Barrymore). Unfortunately Lucy lost her short-term memory months ago in a car accident and for her each day is October the 13th. She follows the same routine every day - breakfast at the same restaurant pineapple-picking with her dad and eventually bed time where sleep wipes away her short-term memory. Henry however refuses to be forgotten and as his puppy love matures he embarks on a quest to restore her memory or at least be a part of her everyday routine. But vying for Lucy's attention isn't always easy. Henry explores various approaches before making a video for Lucy to watch every morning reminding her of who she is and what she's doing... Closer (2004): Writer Patrick Marber adapted the screenplay from his own scathing stageplay in which a chance meeting between Englishman Dan (Jude Law) and American visitor Alice blossoms into a troubled relationship bringing together and then affecting a second couple involving Larry (Clive Owen) and Anna (Julia Roberts). Sex and love are explored capturing all the vulnerability and brutality of people falling in and out of love... Cruel Intentions (1999): Kathryn Merteuil (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and Sebastian Valmont (Ryan Phillippe) are two gorgeous filthy rich manipulative step-sibblings from Manhattan's upper east side. Bored of the girls he has so easily seduced in the past Sebastian has set his sights on the ultimate challenge - the beautiful virginal headmasters' daughter Annette Hargrove (Reese Witherspoon). Kathryn sees the perfect opportunity for a wager. If Sebastian fails to lure Annette into his bed he will have to surrender his priceless vintage Jaguar; if he succeeds he will win the most tempting prize of all - Kathryn. Sparks fly in this wickedly sexy tale of seduction as Kathryn and Sebastian play a dangerous game of sex and betrayal... Catch And Release (2007): Gray Wheeler just lost everything. But it could be the best thing that ever happened to her. After the death of her fianc'' Gray (Jennifer Garner) moves in with her late love's best friends. While Sam (Kevin Smith) and Dennis (Sam Jaeger) do their best to cheer Gray up Fritz (Timothy Olyphant) doesn't seem to care. Once Gray breaks through Fritz's defenses however she finally sees why her fianc'' thought so highly of him. As they spend more time together Gray learns that her chances for love have not died out with her fianc''. But when some surprise guests show up on their doorstep it'll take the love of all of her new friends to help Gray learn that life may be messy but love is messier.
His Girl Friday (Dir. Howard Hawks 1940): Perhaps the funniest comedy ever made. This inspired adaptation adds an extra dimension of exploitation by turning Hildy Johnson into Walter Burns ex-wife. A classic unrelenting hilarious war-between-the-sexes comedy in which a reporter and her ex-husband editor helps a condemned man escape the law - while at the same time furthering their own ends as they try to get the big scoop on political corruption in the town. One of Howards H
The fashion industry and Paris provide the sophisticated background for a comedy of wrong impressions. Joanne Woodward is mistaken as a high-priced call girl. Paul Newman is the journalist interviewing her for insights on her profession...
Film-maker Damon Gameau travels the world to investigate the ways that humans can help improve the outlook of planet Earth by the year 2040. Inspired by his young daughter Zoe, Gameau speaks to industry experts to try to work out a plan of action for himself and for the world.
Following her 2017 debut feature Filthy, writer and director Tereza Nvotová returns with Nightsiren, a spellbinding contemporary drama that expertly blends psychological and supernatural horror to explore the intersections of misogyny and religious zealotry. In the wake of a tragic past, Šarlota (Natália Germáni) returns to her mountainous hometown after years of absence. After befriending Mira (Eva Mores), a spirited young herbalist, Šarlota stumbles upon the forgotten tale of an ancient witch and a wild child. Together, they embark on a quest to unearth the village's buried secrets. But as Šarlota delves deeper into the mysteries, she becomes entangled in a web of ancient legends turned reality. Accused of witchcraft and murder by fearful villagers, she must explore the darkness at the heart of the town to clear her name and confront the shadows of her past. Tereza Nvotová has created a captivating cinematic experience which has wowed audiences and critics alike on the international festival circuit, including Locarno where it won the Golden Leopard Filmmakers of the Present award. Beguiling and atmospheric, Nightsiren is a superb effort from one of the most exciting new voices in cinema.LIMITED EDITION CONTENTS High Definition (1080p) Blu-ray presentation Original stereo audio and 5.1 surround audioOptional English subtitles New audio commentary by film critic Kat Ellinger Witches and Sisterhood, a brand new video essay on witches and the idea of sisterhood as it pertains to both biological bonds and feminist collectivity by film critic and author Alexandra Heller-Nicholas Taboo, a brand new video essay exploring the relationship of femininity, the unknown and sexuality in Nightsiren by film critic and festival programmer Theatrical trailer Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Beth Morris Double-sided foldout poster featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Beth Morris Illustrated collector's booklet featuring new writing on the film by Anton Bitel, Cerise Howard and Alexandra West THIS FILM CONTAINS A SEQUENCE OF FLASHING LIGHTS WHICH MIGHT AFFECT CUSTOMERS WHO ARE SUSCEPTIBLE TO PHOTOSENSITIVE EPILEPSY
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