"Actor: Graham Beckel"

• Dark Blue | DVD | (13/10/2003) from £5.99   |  Saving you £12.00 (200.33%)   |  RRP £17.99

  Set in the Los Angeles Police Department in April 1992, Dark Blue is a dramatic thriller that takes place just days before the acquittal of four white officers in the beating of black motorist Rodney King and the subsequent L.A. riots.

• Leaving Las Vegas | DVD | (31/01/2000) from £13.00   |  Saving you £2.99 (23.00%)   |  RRP £15.99

  One of the most critically acclaimed films of 1995, this wrenchingly sad but extraordinarily moving drama provides an authentic, superbly acted portrait of two people whose lives intersect just as they've reached their lowest depths of despair. Ben (Nicolas Cage, in an Oscar-winning performance) is a former movie executive who's lost his wife and family in a sea of alcoholic self-destruction. He's come to Las Vegas literally to drink himself to death, and that's when he meets Sera (Elisabeth Shue), a prostitute who falls in love with him--and he with her--despite their mutual dead-end existence. They accept each other as they are, with no attempts by one to change the other, and this unconditional love turns Leaving Las Vegas into a sombre yet quietly beautiful love story. Earning Oscar nominations for Best Director (Mike Figgis), Best Adapted Screenplay (Figgis, from John O'Brien's novel) and Best Actress (Shue), the film may strike some as relentlessly bleak and glacially paced, but attentive viewers will readily discover the richness of these tragic characters and the exceptional performances that bring them to life. (In a sad echo of his own fiction, novelist John O'Brien committed suicide while this film was in production.) --Jeff Shannon

• Jennifer 8 | DVD | (18/03/2002) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £12.99

  Written and directed by Bruce Robinson (Withnail and I), this fast-moving potboiler finds its creator getting about as far from Withnail's fine wines and London and Lake District settings as it's possible to get, and into the world of bloody homicides, narrative red herrings and emotionally damaged policemen. John Berlin (Andy Garcia) is a big-city cop and, yes, that means he drinks a lot of coffee and has a terrible personal life (in this case, signified by a wife who just can't stop cheating on him). Leaving town to visit his understanding brother-in law and fellow detective Freddy Ross (Lance Henriksen), he promptly finds himself embroiled in the hunt for a serial killer with a grisly modus operandi for murdering blind women. As you might expect, it's not long before he's bumbling his way into a number of confrontations with the hick cops around him and an affair with Helena (Uma Thurman), the blind room-mate of one of the killer's victims. Slick and pacey, Jennifer 8 throws out so many plot that it eventually winds up falling over them in its haste to get to the overblown climax. Nothing here makes a great deal of sense and yet, despite its inherent cosmic silliness, Robinson handles the suspense-and-relief routine with a flashy aplomb, and the cast do well in the face of the material's shortcomings. (John Malkovich's brief appearance is a redemptive highlight, even if you do have to wait almost 90 minutes for it). --Danny Leigh

• Blue Streak | DVD | (26/06/2000) from £5.51   |  Saving you £0.48 (8.71%)   |  RRP £5.99

  If Eddie Murphy's comic tone turns on a dime, Martin Lawrence can perhaps be described as sauntering around the dime, looking around to see if anyone else has seen it, then picking the dime up, pocketing it, and casually walking off. He lazily indicates his humour, as if it's too much trouble to actually make the joke--and that distance is what makes him funny. At his best, Lawrence describes a kind of comic space and wanders around in it, claiming it for himself the way a dog might mark his territory, suggesting that what you think is funny doesn't matter to him; he just happens to be where the jokes are, and if you aren't laughing, that's your problem. In Blue Streak, Lawrence plays a jewel thief who plants a stolen diamond in the ventilation duct of a building under construction. When he's released from prison a few years later, he discovers that the building is now a Los Angeles police station. His solution: he impersonates a detective. Of course, everyone believes his disguise. Not only that, using his inside knowledge, he solves several crimes and earns the general admiration of the force. It's a standard fish-out-of-water setup and the plot doesn't take any chances with the formula, but Lawrence wears his role like a loose suit and does a little low-key boogie whenever he can, drawing you into the absurdity with a cock of his head and a roll of his eyes. --Bret Fetzer, Amazon.com

• True Believer | DVD | (14/05/2001) from £7.17   |  Saving you £12.82 (178.80%)   |  RRP £19.99

  True Believer is an effective mystery by thrillmeister director Joseph Ruben (Sleeping with the Enemy), that allows star James Woods to do some real acting as he conveys his character's denial and sense of disappointment in himself. Eddie Dodd (Woods) is a former '60s radical lawyer who now spends his time cynically defending drug dealers for the big bucks. But an idealistic young protégé (Robert Downey Jr.) convinces him to take one case from the heart: a young Chinese immigrant unjustly accused in a gang slaying. Woods (complete with add-on ponytail) fairly hums with energy once he gets cooking here. Playing the been-there-done-that mentor--not to mention legal gadfly--gives him plenty of opportunity to run off at the mouth with spicy one-liners and zingers. --Marshall Fine, Amazon.com

• L.A. Confidential | Blu Ray | (02/10/2017) from £7.99   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  In a time when it seems that every other movie makes some claim to being a film noir, LA Confidential is the real thing--a gritty, sordid tale of sex, scandal, betrayal and corruption of all sorts (police, political, press--and, of course, very personal) in 1940s Hollywood. The Oscar-winning screenplay is actually based on several titles in James Ellroy's series of chronological thriller novels (including the title volume, The Big Nowhere and White Jazz)--a compelling blend of LA history and pulp fiction that has earned it comparisons to the greatest of all Technicolour noir films, Chinatown. Kim Basinger richly deserved her Supporting Actress Oscar for her portrayal of a conflicted femme fatale; unfortunately, her male costars are so uniformly fine that they may have canceled each other out with the Academy voters: Russell Crowe, Guy Pearce, Kevin Spacey and James Cromwell play LAPD officers of varying stripes. Pearce's character is a particularly intriguing study in Hollywood amorality and ambition, a strait-laced "hero" (and son of a departmental legend) whose career goals outweigh all other moral, ethical and legal considerations. If he's a good guy, it's only because he sees it as the quickest route to a promotion. --Jim Emerson

• L.A. Confidential | DVD | (02/10/2017) from £8.25   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  In a time when it seems that every other movie makes some claim to being a film noir, LA Confidential is the real thing--a gritty, sordid tale of sex, scandal, betrayal and corruption of all sorts (police, political, press--and, of course, very personal) in 1940s Hollywood. The Oscar-winning screenplay is actually based on several titles in James Ellroy's series of chronological thriller novels (including the title volume, The Big Nowhere and White Jazz)--a compelling blend of LA history and pulp fiction that has earned it comparisons to the greatest of all Technicolour noir films, Chinatown. Kim Basinger richly deserved her Supporting Actress Oscar for her portrayal of a conflicted femme fatale; unfortunately, her male costars are so uniformly fine that they may have canceled each other out with the Academy voters: Russell Crowe, Guy Pearce, Kevin Spacey and James Cromwell play LAPD officers of varying stripes. Pearce's character is a particularly intriguing study in Hollywood amorality and ambition, a strait-laced "hero" (and son of a departmental legend) whose career goals outweigh all other moral, ethical and legal considerations. If he's a good guy, it's only because he sees it as the quickest route to a promotion. --Jim Emerson

• Bulworth | DVD | (30/06/2003) from £8.22   |  Saving you £-2.23 (N/A%)   |  RRP £5.99

  Jay Bulworth is your typical senator going through a nervous breakdown. The empty speeches, lies, money and pressure have led him to plan his own assassination on a weekend trip home to California just before the election. However, a cord snaps in him and like Jim Carrey's rambling lawyer in Liar, Liar, Bulworth can only tell the truth. This new freedom turns Bulworth on and he spews the ugly truth about politics: he tells mass media they are as corrupt as insurance companies; lambastes a black church for not having leaders; and riles the Jewish power elite of Hollywood. He enters South Central running away from advisors (including a bemused Oliver Platt) and mixing it up with a potential new girlfriend (Halle Berry) and a local boss (Don Cheadle). He offends across the board, even developing an inherent knack to rap his speeches. And the public loves it. The weekend becomes a clarifying point for Bulworth: he finds a reason to live.Beatty's rude and relevant comedy is a one-joke movie but the joke is pretty good. It's a courageous film that is always sharp even though it loses narrative focus. Beatty's hilarious raps are so inspired they deserve repeated viewings. As usual, Beatty surrounds himself with a great crew, Ennio Morricone's music and Vittorio Storaro's cinematography being especially noteworthy. Beatty and Storaro even have the audacity to imitate two very famous photographs in the film's final seconds. The script by Beatty and Jeremy Pikser won the LA Film Critics award and was nominated for an Oscar. --Doug Thomas

• The 70s | DVD | (02/06/2003) from £15.80   |  Saving you £-9.81 (N/A%)   |  RRP £5.99

• Just Ask My Children | DVD | (13/05/2002) from £17.97   |  Saving you £-15.98 (-803.00%)   |  RRP £1.99

  A family are falsley accused of child abuse and find themselves guilty until proven innocent while their lives fall apart around them.

• The Final Days | DVD | (04/03/2002) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £3.99

  This compelling drama traces the activities of Richard Nixon's (played by Lane Smith) last days in office as he and his aides try desperately to repair the damage and clear up all allegations about the Watergate scandal. Based on the riveting book by the Pultizer Prize-winning team of Woodward and Bernstein The Final Days not only captures the feverish intensity of the Watergate era but also offers a valuable insight into the psyche of Nixon.

• Liebestraum | DVD | (02/02/2004) from £9.43   |  Saving you £3.56 (27.40%)   |  RRP £12.99

  Mike Figgis (Leaving Las Vegas) directs an incredibly sexy cast (Kevin Anderson Pamela Gidley and Kim Novak) in this tale of lust and murder -- one of the most visually stunning films of the '90s.

• Marie - A True Story | DVD | (17/06/2008) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £5.99

  Marie: A True Story charts the rise of Marie Ragghianti (Sissy Spacek) from her violent marriage through her struggle as a single mother putting herself through school right up to her appointment as head of the state parole board. Uncovering widespread corruption in the parole system Marie makes the life changing decision to blow the whistle on the grafters and sentence the governor and his officials to the very prisons they sought to control...Through powerful oppostition and a barr

• Murder Of Innocence | DVD | (25/03/2002) from £9.97   |  Saving you £-3.99 (N/A%)   |  RRP £2.99

  A woman who seemingly has everything becomes increasingly unhinged and a danger to everyone around her...

• The Final Days | DVD | (01/05/2006) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £3.99

  How could a U.S. President recognised as one of the most accomplished international statesmen in world history allow the presidency to be bought to it's knees by such a seemingly insignificant incident. In 1974 President Richard Nixon pressured by public scrutiny ordered a federal investigation of the Watergate scandal. The ordeal blew open a covert operation and cover-up which eventually led to charges bought against members of the Nixon administration for obstructing justice including allegations against the President.This compelling drama traces the activities of Nixon's final days in the office as he and his aids try desperately to repair the damages and clear up all allegations charged. But due to congress' successful investigation which directly implicated Nixon in the cover-up the feat of impeachment forces him to resign. On the night before his resignation the fallen president asks a stunned Henry Kissinger his secretary of state to kneel down beside him and pray. Struggling with mental anguish and helplessness he knew there was no chance to escape his ultimate fate.

• Blue Streak / I Spy / National Security | DVD | (17/05/2004) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £19.99

  Blue Streak: Jewel thief Miles Logan (Martin Lawrence) finds the only way he can recover a diamond he stole two years prior is to impersonate a detective who along with his rookie partner ends up using his wits to solve crimes... I Spy: A super-powerful experimental spy plane is stolen by an evil arms dealer and is about to be handed over to an international terrorist. The U.S. Government drafts an egotistical boxing star (Murphy) to join a suave special agent (Wilson) on a dangerous top secret mission to get the plane back. Armed with the latest high-tech gadgets and a whole lot of attitude this ultimate odd couple might be able to save the world; if they can just get along! National Security: In this hilarious action-packed comedy Martin Lawrence stars as cocky L.A.P.D. cadet Earl Montgomery who would probably be a great cop if he weren't such a show-off. Earl's rebellious attitude gets him thrown out of the police academy and he has to settle for a job as a lowly security guard with 'National Security'. After a run-in with an uptight police officer Hank Rafferty (Steve Zahn) Earl accuses him of harassment. Hank loses his badge is thrown into jail and eventually winds up working for National Security as well. Earl's overzealous behavior leads to a sophisticated smuggling operation led by Nash (Eric Roberts) and a possible police cover-up. Now everyone wants Earl and Hank dead - though they just may kill each other first!

• Northfork | DVD | (06/09/2004) from £12.96   |  Saving you £10.02 (100.50%)   |  RRP £19.99

  A dream-like story of loss and redemption set in the lost Montana town of Northfork, flooded to make way for a hydroelectric damn in 1955.

• Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichael | DVD | (17/09/2001) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £6.99

  In 1990, Welcome Home Roxy Carmichael showed Winona Ryder as cinema's top teenage role model. Her edge was a delinquency-equals-sympathy angle that held true throughout Beetlejuice, Mermaids, Heathers and Edward Scissorhands. Here as Dinky Bossetti she's chasing the ghosts of a past no one can explain. She's adopted; her town of Clyde, Ohio is mysteriously stuck in the 1950s; but weirder still is everyone's fixation with the imminent return of once-famous homecoming girl Roxy Carmichael. Dinky's school peers conform to the John Hughes 80s look and mindset, but it's the retro adult population that really winds her up. Jeff Daniels ought to be a perfectly conditioned suburbanite, but can't get over having once been married to Roxy. Imparting the secret that they'd had a child and given it away, Dinky's own confusions and obsessions suddenly make sense. The tangle of B-plots are given purpose at the same time she is. Her silent admirer (Thomas Wilson Brown) is able to approach her at last, and her school guidance counsellor becomes the friend she's never had. Ultimately the story's about the notion that no teenager ever feels like they fit in. Of course the real problem facing Ryder, Dinky and any viewer is that all teens grow up. What then? On the DVD: This is a bare-bones package with a simple two-channel stereo and 16:9 anamorphic ratio transfer. That said, it looks and sounds just fine. There's only one trailer, but someone's tried with the diner-style menu at least. --Paul Tonks

• Twin Falls Idaho & Northfork (2 Disc Box Set) | DVD | (07/08/2006) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £24.99

  Northfork: Northfork is a mythical tale of loss and resurrection continuing The Polish Brothers' cinematic obsession with the American heartland and the country's shifting dreams and visions. It is 1955 and the barren town of Northfork is quite literally about to be 'dammed'. Plans for a new hydro-electric plant in the area mean that the plains on which the town stands are soon to be flooded. With most of the townsfolk already evacuated several stoic citizens remain among them a lustful young couple a modern-day Noah who has built an ark for his two wives and a frail orphan boy who dreams he is the lost member of a host of wandering angels. Charged with removing the last of the residents is an Evacuation Committee comprising of six trench-coated agents some of whom will discover their own lives profoundly changed before the deluge is over. (Dir. Michael Polish 2003) Twin Falls Idaho: A different kind of love story. The minute he wakes up and the minute before sleep - for two minutes each day Blake Falls feels alone. He tries to grab those minutes before they vanish. They are enough to remind him who he is. Francis Falls understands that if it weren't for Blake he wouldn't be able to make it. His conjoined twin's heart is very strong. Blake he knows could live without him. The brothers live quietly in an eccentric hotel peopled with odd characters talking in a shorthand formed over 25 years. They dress impeccably in a custom-tailored suit adjusting each other's ties; they dine on cotton candy and on their birthday their only meal is their trademark chocolate cake; they blow out two candles one at a time. They can keep straight faces while telling outrageous tales from their earlier days in show business. When Francis becomes ill Blake holds him through the night the way he always has. Together they feel complete. When Penny (Michele Hicks) a beautiful young woman enters their lives for the first time someone sees the brothers' world from the inside. She makes them think of possibilities when they're certain there aren't any. They start to wonder how it would be to feel complete in new ways. ""Maybe I'll call you when I'm single "" Blake quips. They imagine living not as medical anomalies but as individuals who can breathe walk and dream on their own. (Dir. Michael Polish 1999)

• Murder Of Innocence | DVD | (25/08/2008) from £6.79   |  Saving you £-1.80 (N/A%)   |  RRP £4.99

  Initially Laurie Wade's life could not seem more perfect: she has loving parents a beautiful home and a handsome husband. But beneath the veneer Laurie is highly disturbed and her family remains chillingly blind to her plunge into insanity. As Laurie's behaviour veers from the irrational to the lethal only her husband seems capable of realising just how dangerous his wife has become. But has he realised too late?