"Actor: James R"

• White Palace | DVD | (17/04/2019) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £9.99

  Glenn Savan's depressing and self-loathing novel about a 27-year-old upper-class Jewish widower mired in self-pity after his beloved wife dies, and who finds love and sexual rebirth with a trailer-trash older woman, was brought to the big screen by the competent director Luis Mandoki (When a Man Loves a Woman, Message in a Bottle). But the savage irony in Savan's book has been face-lifted by screenwriters Ted Tally (The Silence of the Lambs) and Alvin Sargent (Ordinary People) into something else entirely: what passes for low-rent "slumming" in Hollywood means hiring sexy Susan Sarandon to play Nora Baker, the poor, uneducated 43-year-old waitress in a White Palace burger joint who strikes up an unlikely relationship with sad Max Baron (James Spader). Widower Max attends a bachelor party for best pal Neil (Jason Alexander) and discovers that the local White Palace has stiffed the boys a whopping six burgers. Max barges into the joint, bent on getting his money back, and meets a testy Nora, who is bemused at the young man's insolence. While driving home, Max stops abruptly at a bar for a drink. Inside, Nora is nursing a vodka and takes a shine to the tuxedo-clad, handsome, and morose younger man. He gives her a lift, she seduces him, and the rest of the movie examines how two such opposites in manners and morals can find happiness. The only common bond they have is great sex and a private tragedy. White Palace nudges at the dark journey and the smashing of illusion that was at the heart of the novel, but there is still a fairy-tale element to the film that negates the earthy essence that distinguished the book. In Mandoki's vision, White Palace is about overcoming class, family, and outside opinion to find true love. In Savan's book, Max wastes into decline while Nora ultimately thrives in the quest for truth, redemption, and self-forgiveness. She becomes his salvation only after he stops hating himself. But mainstream Hollywood shuns making "protagonists" so mad, bad, or sad, and as such, too much glitter is tossed on Spader, while Sarandon, as usual, is the only one who seems to embody and understand her character's angst. She deserved her Oscar for Nora, not the nun in Dead Man Walking. --Paula Nechak

• Sparrows Can't Sing | DVD | (12/10/2015) from £7.99   |  Saving you £10.00 (125.16%)   |  RRP £17.99

  Sparrows Can't Sing, directed by Joan Littlewood and starring Barbara Windsor (Carry on Camping) in her BAFTA nominated role as Maggie, is a 1963 kitchen sink classic filmed in the East End of London. There's panic in Stepney; from the stalls in the street to the bar of the Red Lion the word goes out: tearaway Charlie Gooding (James Booth, Zulu) is back from two years at sea, and on the way home to his old stamping ground. The trouble is that Charlie isn't up to date with the news. Bonus Features: INTERVIEW WITH PETER RANKIN (JOAN LITTLEWOOD BIOGRAPHER) LOCATIONS FEATURETTE WITH RICHARD DACRE (FILM HISTORIAN) STILLS GALLERY INTERVIEW WITH MURRAY MELVIN BFI Q&A WITH BARBARA WINDSOR & MURRAY MELVIN TRAILER

• The Conspirator | DVD | (24/10/2011) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £12.99

  Based on a true story, The Conspirator tells the powerful story of a woman who would do anything to protect her family, and the man who risked everything to save her.In the wake of Abraham Lincoln's assassination, seven men and one woman are arrested and charged with conspiring to kill the President, Vice President, and Secretary of State.The lone woman charged, Mary Surratt (Wright) owns a boarding house where John Wilkes Booth (Toby Kebbell) and others met and planned the simultaneous attacks. Against the ominous back-drop of post-Civil War Washington, newly-minted lawyer, Frederick Aiken (McAvoy), a 28-year-old Union war-hero, reluctantly agrees to defend Surratt before a military tribunal.Aiken realizes his client may be innocent and that she is being used as bait and hostage in order to capture the only conspirator to have escaped a massive manhunt, her own son, John (Johnny Simmons). As the nation turns against her, Surratt is forced to rely on Aiken to uncover the truth and save her life.

• District 9 (2 Discs - UHD & BD) | Blu Ray | (19/10/2020) from £19.99   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  From producer Peter Jackson (The Lord of the Rings Trilogy) and director Neill Blomkamp comes a startlingly original science-fiction thriller. With stunning special effects and gritty realism, the film plunges us into a world where the aliens have landed only to be exiled to a slum on the fringes of Johannesburg. Now, one lone human discovers the mysterious secret of the extra-terrestrial weapon technology. Hunted and hounded through the bizarre back alleys of an alien shantytown, he will discover what it means to be the ultimate outsider on your own planet.

• Criterion Collection: The Life & Death of Colonel | Blu Ray | (19/03/2013) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

• Cat's Eyes | DVD | (28/02/2011) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £15.99

  From the macabre imagination of Stephen King (the best-selling author of 'Firestarter' 'The Shining' and 'Carrie') comes this trio of terrifying tales linked by a stray cat that roams from one story to the next. In the first episode a New York man (James Woods Vampires Nixon) has trouble giving up cigarettes. He turns to a shady self-help operation whose hot-headed owner outlines a litany of incrementally harsh penalties for those who cannot resist having another puff. The second story centers on Cressner (Kenneth McMillan) an Atlantic City mobster. His wife has been having an affair with a tennis pro (Robert Hays) so Cressner forces the athlete to walk the ledge around his high-rise apartment. If the athlete can complete one lap along the overhang he gets to be with Cressner's wife forever. In the closing narrative a young girl (Drew Barrymore Scream E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial) has difficulty sleeping. Though her parents suspect the family cat of wrongdoing the girl knows better especially after she spots a foot-high troll coming out of her bedroom wall...

• The Relic | Blu Ray | (15/06/2015) from £7.53   |  Saving you £7.46 (99.07%)   |  RRP £14.99

  The Relic is the story of a monster that runs amok in a Chicago museum on the very day the institution is holding a glitzy reception. Naturally, the museum bosses want to go ahead with their public relations even as the creature is decapitating victims. Penelope Ann Miller plays a scientist on the run from the critter (which is at times computer generated and reminiscent of the raptors in Jurassic Park), and Tom Sizemore is a cop looking for his cold-blooded (in every sense) killer. Peter Hyams (Timecop) directs, and as always he excels at managing the plastic action at the cost of real feeling and logic. (Much of the story is pretty laughable.) --Tom Keogh

• Commando | DVD | (25/08/2003) from £6.86   |  Saving you £0.39 (6.96%)   |  RRP £5.99

  A massively underrated action thriller which kept Schwarzenegger occupied between blockbusters, Commando may be one of the last shoot-out films ever to have real characters in it. Not, of course, that they're anything other than stereotypes, but they're painted with such detailed, positive strokes that it's impossible not to relate to them. Arnie plays a retired military special-ops officer whose daughter (played with an expert balance of cute/feisty by Alyssa Milano) is kidnapped by the baddest of bad guys, who'll only hand her back as and when he's assassinated a tiresome banana-republic president on their behalf. Needless to say, Arnie is deeply annoyed by this, rescues the moppet single-handed amid more bullets and explosions than you can shake a stuntman's pay cheque at, and... well, why spoil the fun by revealing any more? Co-star Rae Dawn Chong gets some nice one-liners as the innocent bystander who gets caught up in the mayhem. The DVD comes with no additional features at all, but who needs 'em anyway? --Roger Thomas

• Water For Elephants | DVD | (14/11/2011) from £3.59   |  Saving you £16.40 (456.82%)   |  RRP £19.99

  Sara Gruen's bestselling novel comes to glossy life in this period romance. A sparkle-free Robert Pattinson plays Jacob Jankowski, who studies veterinary medicine during the Great Depression. After a family tragedy, he loses everything, including the chance to graduate from prestigious Cornell, so he hops a train, where he finds himself part of the struggling Benzini Brothers Circus. Ringleader August (Christoph Waltz, echoing his Oscar®-winning Inglourious Basterds performance) has doubts about the softhearted lad, but a fellow Pole smoothes the way, and Jacob becomes the company vet, which leads him to platinum-blonde equestrian Marlena (Reese Witherspoon), August's wife. The two make eyes at each other, but an affair would surely end badly, so they concentrate on their work. When Marlena's prize steed falls ill, August purchases an elephant, hoping Rosie will turn their fortunes around, and enlists Jacob to train her. Unfortunately, she's slow to respond to commands until Jankowski unlocks her secret--and after August has beaten the poor thing into submission. After that, things start to look up until Jacob steals a kiss from his dream girl. As in The Notebook, the film it most closely resembles, an elderly version of the central character (Hal Holbrook, touching) narrates in the present day (screenwriter Richard LaGravenese also adapted The Bridges of Madison County). He tells an interesting tale, so it's too bad the leads strike so few sparks. For those who find big-top classics like Nightmare Alley too dark, however, Francis Lawrence's feel-better variant may be just the ticket. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

• Victoria And Albert | DVD | (05/08/2002) from £26.98   |  Saving you £-1.99 (N/A%)   |  RRP £24.99

  In revealing the strength of the marriage which left Queen Victoria so devastated as a widow, the colourful costume drama Victoria and Albert could almost serve as a prequel to the film Mrs Brown. In common with that dramatisation, this TV drama features performances (and cameos) from some of Britain's finest actors, this time including Jonathan Pryce, David Suchet, Penelope Wilton, Peter Ustinov, Richard Briers and the wonderful Nigel Hawthorne as Lord Melbourne. Victoria Hamilton and Jonathan Firth are the impressive leads who command the viewer's attention through the lengthy process of turning Albert and Victoria's arranged marriage into a love story, from their first inauspicious meetings, to Albert's dissatisfaction over the impotence of his position. Concentrating as it does on Victoria's early reign means the drama does tend to skip over the couples' later years with their children and disappointments over their heir, Bertie, but overall this story has all the romance, settings, make-up and wigs of a fine costume drama. On the DVD: Victoria and Albert comes as a two-disc set that features an informative 25-minute "making of" documentary presented by the producer, that includes contributions from the Screenwriter, Director, stars Jonathan Firth and Penelope Wilton, and the Director of Photography. The filmographies are somewhat abridged but the Victoria Timeline is interesting for those wanting to learn more about the authentic history of events. --Rachel Ediss

• That Mitchell And Webb Look - Series 3 | DVD | (17/04/2019) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £19.99

  More skits and sketches from comedy duo Mitchell And Webb.

• East of Eden | Blu Ray | (27/11/2023) from £17.99   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  Based on John Steinbeck's novel and directed by Elia Kazan, East of Eden was James Dean's breakout big-screen performance, one that will forever be remembered in Hollywood history. The emotionally charged film tells the story of lonely youth Cal (Dean), who view for the affection of his hardened father (Raymond Massey) and favored brother, Aron (Richard Davalos). The film received four Academy Award nominations, and Jo Van Fleet won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her role as Cal's wayward mother. Product Features On-Disc Special Features 4K: Commentary by Richard Schickel BD: Documentary Forever James Dean Featurette East of Eden: Art in Search of Life 1955 New York City Premiere Actors' Screen Tests Wardrobe Tests Deleted Tests Theatrical Trailer

• The Philadelphia Story | Blu Ray | (13/11/2017) from £17.99   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  James Stewart, Cary Grant, and the unstoppable Katharine Hepburn star in Hollywood's greatest romantic comedy With this furiously witty comedy of manners, KATHARINE HEPBURN (Woman of the Year) revitalized her career and cemented her status as the era's most iconic leading lady thanks in great part to her own shrewd orchestrations. While starring in the PHILIP BARRY stage play The Philadelphia Story, Hepburn snapped up the screen rights, handpicking her friend GEORGE CUKOR (Adam's Rib) to direct. The intoxicating screenplay by DONALD OGDEN STEWART (Holiday) pits the formidable Philadelphia socialite Tracy Lord (Hepburn, at her most luminous) against various romantic foils, chief among them her charismatic exhusband (His Girl Friday's CARY GRANT), who disrupts her imminent marriage by paying her family estate a visit, accompanied by a tabloid reporter on assignment to cover the wedding of the year (JAMES STEWART, in his only Academy Award®winning performance). A fast-talking screwball comedy as well as a tale of regrets and reconciliation, this convergence of golden-age talent is one of the greatest American films of all time. BONUS FEATURES SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES New 4K digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack Audio commentary from 2005 featuring film scholar Jeanine Basinger New introduction to actor Katharine Hepburn's role in the development of the film by documentarians David Heeley and Joan Kramer In Search of Tracy Lord, a new documentary about the origin of the character and her social milieu Two full episodes of The Dick Cavett Show from 1973, featuring rare interviews with Hepburn, plus an excerpt of a 1978 interview from that show with director George Cukor Lux Radio Theatre adaptation of the film from 1943, featuring an introduction by filmmaker Cecil B. DeMille Restoration demonstration PLUS: An essay by critic Farran Smith Nehme

• Westworld - Season 1 | 4K UHD | (06/11/2017) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  Inspired by the 1973 motion picture of the same name, Westworld is a one-hour drama series about a futuristic theme park populated by artificial beings. Written and directed by Michael Crichton this dark odyssey about the dawn of artificial consciousness and the evolution of sin is set at the intersection of the near future and the reimagined past. It explores a world in which every human appetite, no matter how noble or depraved, can be indulged. 1. Pilot 2. Chestnut 3. The Stray 4. Six Impossible Things 5. Contrapasso 6. Trace Decay 7. Trompe L'Oeil 8. The Adversary 9. Job's Root 10. The Bicameral Mind.

• Macho Callahan | Blu Ray | (21/09/2021) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

• The Muppets Take Manhattan | DVD | (06/11/2000) from £6.49   |  Saving you £6.50 (100.15%)   |  RRP £12.99

  Broadway-bound the Muppets Take Manhattan by storm in this magical musical about breaking into show business! Fresh out drama school Kermit Fozzie Bear and the entire cast of Kermit's musical - Manhattan Melodies - head for the Big Apple with plans to turn their small play into a big hit! All they need now is someone to produce their show! But when no one in town will even meet with them it's up to Kermit to believe hard enough for all of his friends that the show WILL go on!

• All Creatures Great And Small - The Complete Series | DVD | (09/11/2009) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £129.99

  Based on James Herriot's autobiographical best sellers 'If Only They Could Talk' and 'It Shouldn't Happen to a Vet' the long running TV series All Creatures Great and Small continued to satisfy the Herriot hysteria of the British public.

• Psych: Season 3 | DVD | (21/02/2011) from £4.80   |  Saving you £25.19 (524.79%)   |  RRP £29.99

  Psych: Season 3 (4 Discs)

• Merlin - The Complete Collection - Series One to Five | DVD | (28/10/2013) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £59.99

  In a land of myth and a time of magic... the destiny of a great kingdom rests on the shoulders of a young man. His name... Merlin. Swords Sorcery and swashbuckling adventure rule in the hit BBC series Merlin. The Complete Collection brings together all five series on DVD as we follow the young warlock; Merlin (Colin Morgan) as he attempts to fulfil his destiny at the side of the once and future king; Arthur (Bradley James). Featuring a stellar cast including Angel Coulby Katie McGrath Anthony Head Richard Wilson and John Hurt as the voice of the Dragon the Complete Collection tells the epic story of the golden age of Camelot. With superb action sequences and stunning CGI captivating the imagination as never-before-seen. Special Features: Making of Merlin Series Documentaries Out-Takes Cast and Crew Audio Commentaries Deleted Scenes Wallpapers Series 2: Secrets and Magic Photo Galleries

• Sex, Chips And Rock 'n' Roll | DVD | (08/08/2003) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £24.99

  Sex, Chips and Rock 'n' Roll spins a complex web of secret loves and twisted ambitions against the backdrop of the early British music scene. It's a rock n' roll soap opera, but it's smartly written and engagingly acted, full of subtle commentary on the cultural changes cutting across British society. Manchester in 1965 seems like a dead end to two sisters, flirty Arden (Emma Cooke) and bookish Ellie Brookes (Gillian Kearney). They ache to get out from under the thumb of their domineering grandmother (Sue Johnston), and when their cousin Norman (David Threlfall) proposes to Ellie, she accepts. But just then the sisters meet a struggling band called the Ice Cubes, who grudgingly play back-up for a smarmy singer named Larry B Cool (Phil Daniels) while trying to land a record deal. Arden throws herself at the group's leader, Dallas (Joseph McFadden), but Dallas finds himself drawn more to Ellie, who's also an aspiring songwriter. From there the multi-dimensional characters take unexpected turns, and you'll quickly find yourself drawn into their lives. --Bret Fetzer, Amazon.com