Only Joel and Ethan Coen, masters of quirky and ultra-stylish genre subversion, would dare nick the plotline of Homer's Odyssey for O Brother, Where Art Thou?, their comic picaresque saga about three cons on the run in 1930s Mississippi. Our wandering hero in this case is one Ulysses Everett McGill, a slick-tongued wise guy with a thing for hair pomade (George Clooney, blithely sending up his own dapper image) who talks his chain-gang buddies (Coen-movie regular John Turturro and newcomer Tim Blake Nelson) to light out after some buried loot he claims to know of. En route they come up against a prophetic blind man on a railroad truck, a burly one-eyed baddie (the ever-magnificent John Goodman), a trio of sexy singing ladies, a blues guitarist who's sold his soul to the devil, a brace of crooked politicos on the stump, a manic-depressive bank robber, and--well, you get the idea. Into this, their most relaxed film yet, the Coens have tossed a beguiling ragbag of inconsequential situations, a wealth of looping, left-field dialogue and a whole stash of gags both verbal and visual. O Brother (the title's lifted from Preston Sturges' classic 1941 comedy Sullivan's Travels) is furthermore graced with glowing, burnished photography from Roger Deakins and a masterly soundtrack from T-Bone Burnett that pays loving homage to American 30s folk-styles: blues, gospel, bluegrass, jazz and more. And just to prove that the brothers haven't lost their knack for bad-taste humour, we get a Ku Klux Klan rally choreographed like something between a Nuremberg rally and a Busby Berkeley musical. --Philip KempOn the DVD: This two-disc set duplicates the original single-disc release of the film which included a handful of cast and crew interviews, and adds an additional disc with more interviews, two brief behind-the-scenes featurettes about the production design and the post-production digital colouring of the film, a couple of storyboard-to-scene comparisons and a music video of "Man of Constant Sorrow". There's also a 16-minute documentary to promote the companion Down from the Mountain concert. Frankly there's not a lot here to justify spreading it across two discs: a more pleasing not to say generous offering would have been to cram all these extras onto Disc 1 and give us Down from the Mountain as the second disc. --Mark Walker
Some things have to be believed to be seen. Suburbanites Steve (Nelson) and Diane (Williams) suddenly experience paranormal activity in their home. What begins as minor excitement quickly turns into nasty ghostly encounters. The disappearance of their daughter Carol Anne (O'Rourke) forces the Freelings to bring in parapsychologists and a professional exorcist to exorcise their home. Directed by Tobe Hooper and featuring Oscar Nominated Visual Effects by Richard Edlund Michael Wood and Bruce Nicholson Poltergeist is one of the most entertaining horror films of its time.
Later... with Jools Holland--Giants is a collection of classic live performances from a decade of the late-night BBC music show. Everyone will have their favourites and, no doubt, differing opinions on what constitutes a musical "giant". What is indisputable here is the sheer volume and variety of artists and styles on offer. The 32 performers range from Pete Towshend to Blondie; Paul Weller to Willie Nelson; Leonard Cohen to Jeff Beck; Page and Plant to Ronnie Spector and the Divine Comedy. The acts vary in quality--Brian Ferry's posturing, staccato rendition of "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?" and Georgie Fame's futile, asthmatic efforts to keep up with the beat on "Yeh! Yeh!" are notable low points--but thankfully the few weaker moments are more than compensated for by tour de force performances from the likes of Al Green, REM, Tony Bennett, Dusty Springfield and George Benson. Your enjoyment will obviously depend on a desire to see these greats play, but where else are you going to get both Robbie Williams belting out an impromptu performance of "Suspicious Minds" and Solomon Burke singing "Cry to Me" from an enormous golden throne? On the DVD: Later... with Jools Holland--Giants comes with a desirable selection of interviews with 10 of the featured performers. Sadly, they are tantalisingly short--never longer than three minutes, some little more than a minute--and never stretch beyond Holland's stock questions or brief, if entertaining, anecdotes. Also included are: a "playlist" feature, which allows you to select six of your favourite tracks and play them in an order of your choice, normal track selection, subtitles and a credit list. --Paul Philpott
The hit Broadway musical from the 1940s gets a lavish if not always exciting workout in this 1955 film version directed by old lion Fred Zinnemann (High Noon). Gordon MacRae brings his sterling voice to the role of cowboy Curly and Shirley Jones plays Laurie, the object of his affection. The Rodgers and Hammerstein score includes "The Surrey with the Fringe on Top", "Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin'" and "People Will Say We're in Love", and Agnes DeMille provides the buoyant choreography. Among the supporting cast, Gloria Grahame is memorable as Ado Annie, the "girl who cain't say no", and Rod Steiger overdoes it as the villainous Jud. --Tom Keogh
Pity poor Vic (Alan Bates): when he begins a relationship with Ingrid (June Ritchie), a typist at the Lancashire factory where he works as a draughtsman; his life comes apart at the seams. Ingrid's gossiping, malicious friends are bad enough, but her mother Mrs Rothwell (the terrifying Thora Hird) is something else. Vic has to marry Ingrid-she's pregnant--and the only place for them to stay is chez Rothwell. There's a tenderness about A Kind of Loving which you don't find in the more abrasive "kitchen sink" films of the 60s. Vic is not a rebel like Arthur Seton in Saturday Night, Sunday Morning or a macho lunk like Richard Harris' rugby-league player in This Sporting Life. He's a likable, easygoing youngster who soon discovers that real-life love affairs are infinitely messier than he and his mates could ever have imagined. The acute, witty screenplay, adapted by Willis Hall and Keith Waterhouse from Stan Barstow's novel, shows how limited Vic and Ingrid's choices really are. They have no privacy or independence. Bounced into a marriage that neither necessarily wants, their romance quickly sours. Mrs Rothwell is truly the mother-in-law from Hell--a busybody and a tyrant. Look out for the Queen Victoria-like expression on her face when a drunken Vic throws up in her front room. Debut-feature director John Schlesinger captures the humour and the pathos in the young lovers' plight without ever making fun of them. --Geoffrey Macnab
A Star is Born, stars four-time Oscar nominee Bradley Cooper ( American Sniper, American Hustle, Silver Linings Playbook ) and multiple award-winning, Oscar-nominated music superstar Lady Gaga, in her first leading role in a major motion picture. Cooper helms the film, marking his directorial debut. In this new take on the tragic love story, he plays seasoned musician Jackson Maine, who discovers-and falls in love with-struggling artist Ally (Gaga). She has just about given up on her dream to make it big as a singer... until Jack coaxes her into the spotlight. But even as Ally's career takes off, the personal side of their relationship is breaking down, as Jack fights an ongoing battle with his own internal demons. Extras: The Road to Stardom: Making A Star Is Born Jam Sessions and Rarities: Baby What You Want Me to Do (Jam Session) Jam Sessions and Rarities: Midnight Special (Jam Session) Jam Sessions and Rarities: Is That Alright by Lady Gaga Music Videos: Shallow Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper Music Videos: Always Remember Us This Way by Lady Gaga Music Videos: Look What I Found by Lady Gaga Music Videos: I'll Never Love Again by Lady Gaga
The sinister supernatural forces return in this heart-pounding otherworldly thriller filled with jolting state-of-the-art special effects (Leonard Maltin). The Freeling family (JoBeth Williams Craig T. Nelson Heather O'Rourke) settles into a new home following the annihilation of their former residence by terrifying visitors from the netherworld. But the spirits of the dead are still hell-bent on luring the family's clairvoyant daughter Carol Anne to the other side!
C.S.I. is an acclaimed edgy fast-paced drama series about a passionate team of forensic investigators (among them William Petersen and Marg Helgenberger) who work the graveyard shift at the Las Vegas Criminalistics Bureau. Their job - to find the missing pieces at the scene that will help to solve the crime and vindicate those who often cannot speak for themselves - the victims. Between the hidden clues and the buried motives lies the trail to the truth because people lie... but the evidence never does. Following on from the explosive Season 5 finale which saw the kidnap of team member Nick Stokes Season 6 sees the once fractured team reunited. With Las Vegas's bright lights and glamour as the backdrop the Clark County CSI night shift once more takes on the task of cleaning up what lies beneath the neon and the money. In this 3-disc release we learn of Warrick taking a walk down the aisle Nick tries to cope with his near death experience and Grisson will begin to open up and engage with his emotions and people. Features Part 2 of Series 6 Episodes 13 - 24. Episodes Comprise: 13. Kiss Kiss Bye Bye 14. Killer 15. Pirates of the Third Reich 16. Up in Smoke 17. I Like to Watch 18. The Unusual Suspect 19. Spellbound 20. Poppin' Tags 21. Rashomama 22. Time of Your Death 23. Bang-Bang 24. Way to Go
George Clooney stars in the latest film from the Coen brothers, a musical about a con on the run in the Deep South of the 1930s.
When the going gets tough the tough get going! In the blockbuster 'Romancing The Stone' novelist Joan Wilder (Turner) and wanderer Jack Colton (Douglas) went sailing off into the sunset together. In this thrill-packed sequel Ralph is back on their trail and they're back in the fast lane on a perilous trek through the fierce North African Desert with treacherous tribes deadly dungeons and seemingly endless villains to contend with!
The complete first season of madcap mayhem from the Muppets! Episodes comprise: 1. Jim Nabors 2. Sandy Duncan 3. Rita Moreno 4. Ruth Buzzi 5. Joel Grey 6. Paul Williams 7. Lena Horne 8. Peter Ustinov 9. Florence Henderson 10. Valerie Harper 11. Candice Bergen 12. Bruce Forsyth 13. Harvey Korman 14. Charles Aznavour 15. Ben Vereen 16. Vincent Price 17. Twiggy 18. Phyllis Diller 19. Ethel Mermann 20. Connie Stevens 21. Avery Schreiber 22. Juliet Prowse
Life sucks for Stanley Coppersmith (Howard) a teenage outcast who's bullied by everybody at the strict military academy to which he was sent following the death of his parents. When Stanley discovers the crypt of a 16th century Satanist beneath the school's chapel he creates a computerised Black Mass that unleashes unholy revenge upon his tormentors. Now all Hell is breaking loose and Stanley's flesh-eating demon pigs are just the beginning! Disc one contains the U.S. feature length
The comic 'Bluntman and Chronic' is based on real-life stoners Jay and Silent Bob, so when they get no profit from a big-screen adaptation they set out to wreck the movie.
A friendly troll with a magic green thumb grows one flower too many for the queen whose laws require all trolls to act meanly...
Rodgers and Hammerstein's charming and vigorous tale of romance and adventure set in the Wild West. Songs include 'People Will Say We're In Love' 'Oh What A Beautiful Morning' and the title song 'Oklahoma!'
An all-star dramatization of the Japanese attack on the island of Midway in 1942, which saw US forces finally wresting control of the waves and staving off the threat of its West Coast being invaded. Henry Fonda heads the cast as Pacific Fleet Commander Chester W. Nimitz.
Catholic priest Father Frank Dowling (Tom Bosley) continually stumbles over murders, abductions and all manner of crimes in his hometown of Chicago. Assisted by street-smart nun Sister Stephanie Steve Oskowski (Tracy Nelson), wherever the holy duo go, someone usually turns up dead. While the local police are quick to find a likely suspect, the snooping priest just as quickly finds a good reason to take a closer look. Now for the first time on DVD, this three disc collection includes all eight episodes of the first series, including the Original TV Pilot Movie. Special Features: Picture Gallery Subtitles
Produced by Emmyaward winning Tom Hanks, Gary Goetzman and Mark Herzog, The Nineties is the fourth series in the acclaimed documentary strand chronicling American society and popular culture in the later twentieth century. A decade that saw technological triumphs and terrorist tragedies, inter-racial conflict in Los Angeles to New York and all points in between, the grunge revolution and hip-hop's ascendance to the mainstream. A series of extraordinary events crowded across the world stage, including the collapse of the Soviet Union, the reunification of Germany and the end of apartheid in South Africa, while everything from culture to commerce was irrevocably altered as the world went online, and a groundbreaking, genre-bending new era of television changed the world forever. This epic series uses rare archival footage and interviews with renowned journalists, historians, musicians and television cast and crew to give us a window into the decade that set the stage for the way we live today.
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