"Director: Jim Sheridan"

• Four Brothers/Hustle And Flow/Get Rich Or Die Tryin' | DVD | (16/10/2006) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £19.99

  Four Brothers (Dir. John Singleton 2005): When their beloved foster mother is killed in a holdup four tough brothers reunite in their old Detroit neighbourhood with revenge on their minds. Mark Wahlberg plays the brawl-hungry leader Bobby. His brother Angel (Tyrese Gibson) is a rowdy sailor with a high-strung Latina girlfriend (Sofia Vergara). Garrett Hedlun plays the young rock and roller of the clan. And Outkast's Andre - 3000 - Benjamin is the family man whose tenuous mob connection may link him to the killers. Director John Singleton ably blends his action skills (Shaft 2 Fast 2 Furious) and his gift for capturing the warm heart at the centre of violent urban masculinity (Boyz In The Hood) to create a cooked-to-perfection gangster stew. A soundtrack jammed with 1970s Motown classics roots everything firmly in the gritty tradition of the best of that decade's blaxploitation and urban revenge thrillers. Action highlights include a skidding car chase through snowy streets some rough street hockey and a bullet-intensive neighbourhood shoot-out. With its talented likeable cast clever plotting and sharp dialogue this is a real crowd-pleaser that nonetheless doesn't shy away from depictions of street violence. There's not an ounce of fat on it no extraneous romance and no going straight at the end. Terrence Howard (Hustle And Flow) is the well-meaning but ineffectual detective who tries to put a lid on the boys' rebelliousness. The spirits of Dirty Harry and Charles Bronson would be proud and action fans will be well pleased. Hustle & Flow (Dir. Craig Brewer 2005): DJay (Terrence Howard) is a pimp whose gritty hustle selling sexy Nola (Taryn Manning) and supporting pregnant Shug (Taraji Henson) leaves him wondering if this is all there is for him. When he learns that former local rapper turned superstar named Skinny Black (real life rapper Ludacris) is coming back to town for the 4th of July DJay teams up with a frustrated sound engineer (Anthony Anderson) and a geeky musician (DJ Qualls) to put together a demo tape that he hopes will be his ticket to fame and fortune. Get Rich or Die Tryin' (Dir. Jim Sheridan 2005): 'Fiddy' makes his motion picture debut in Get Rich Or Die Tryin'! a hard-hitting drama by Oscar-nominated director Jim Sheridan. Marcus once an orphaned street kid always knew he was going to be a rapper. However when his mother is murdered his life begins to spiral out of control. It's only a matter of time before he's hustlin' and selling drugs to pay the rent. Only his music keeps him alive as he madly scribbles the lyrics that fly around his troubled mind. Only when tragedy strikes does Marcus begin to change his life...

• Dear Frankie / In America / Girl With A Pearl Earring | DVD | (19/09/2005) from £8.25   |  Saving you £13.00 (185.98%)   |  RRP £19.99

  Dear Frankie: Nine-year-old Frankie and his single mum Lizzie have been on the move ever since Frankie can remember most recently arriving in a seaside Scottish town. Wanting to protect her deaf son from the truth that they've run away from his father Lizzie has invented a story that he is away at sea on the HMS Accra. Every few weeks Lizzie writes Frankie a make-believe letter from his father telling of his adventures in exotic lands. As Frankie tracks the ship's progress

• Dream House | Blu Ray | (03/12/2012) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £24.99

  Once upon a time, there were two little girls who lived in a house. Daniel Craig (Cowboys & Aliens, upcoming The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo), Naomi Watts (The Ring, Fair Game) and Oscar winner Rachel Weisz (The Constant Gardener, The Lovely Bones) star in Dream House, a suspense thriller about a family that unknowingly moves into a home where grisly murders were committed...only to uncover even darker mysteries within its walls. Successful publisher Will Atenton (Craig) quit a high-...

• The Boxer | DVD | (03/09/2001) from £22.95   |  Saving you £0.03 (0.15%)   |  RRP £19.99

  Director Jim Sheridan links up once more with Daniel Day-Lewis for 1997's The Boxer, a study of a violent Belfast's uneasy crossover into the peace process (they had previously worked on My Left Foot among other films). Day-Lewis stars as Danny Flynn, imprisoned in his late teens for terrorism, now out after 14 years. A once promising boxer, he's initially looking to resume what's left of his career. However, his rekindled love for Maggie (Emily Watson), daughter of local IRA boss (Brian Cox), is coupled with a need to be a part of the healing process in Northern Ireland. With the help of his former trainer (Ken Stott), he reopens a non-sectarian gym. However, the non-pacific wing of the IRA, personified by Gerard McSorley, resents Flynn, not least for consorting with Maggie, who is another IRA prisoner's wife. Day-Lewis plays Flynn as an almost spiritual figure, still caught in the introspection that enshrouded him during his years in jail. Ironically, the well-executed boxing scenes provide a respite from the air of serious violence that pervades the rest of the film, symbolised by the ominous rotorblades of the ever-present helicopters, from which much of the action of this sad, yet gripping and ultimately uplifting movie, is shot.On the DVD: Generous extras include commentaries from producer Arthur Lappin, who offers a tourist's guide to various locations, as well as one from director Jim Sheridan, who offers technical info and remarks drily of a brief, tart exchange between Maggie and Flynn, "This is an Irish love scene". There's also an alternative (though not that alternative) ending, extra scenes which probably deserved to stay on the cutting room floor and, most illuminatingly, a featurette on the movie. This reveals that the career of Barry McGuigan (boxing advisor here) provided Sheridan with the impetus to make The Boxer, inspired by the courage and grace he showed in the ring to rise above partisanship. --David Stubbs

• Greatest Ever Heroic Movies Collection | DVD | (27/10/2008) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £34.99

  This Box Set contains the following films: Gladiator: The great Roman General Maximus (Russell Crowe) has once again led the legions to victory on the battlefield. The war won Maximus dreams of home wanting only to return to his wife and son; however the dying Emperor Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris) has one more duty for the general - to assume the mantle of his power. Jealous of Maximus' favor with the emperor the heir to the throne Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix) orders his execution - and that of his family. Barely escaping death Maximus is forced into slavery and trained as a gladiator in the arena where his fame grows. Now he has come to Rome intent on avenging the murder of his wife and son by killing the new emperor; Commodus.... In The Name Of The Father: The true-life saga of Gerry Conlon. A petty thief in strife torn '70s Belfast Gerry's main interests are getting drunk and partying much to the dismay of his quiet frail father Giuseppe (Pete Postlethwaite). When Gerry angers the IRA his father sends him to England where his antics put him in the wrong place at the wrong time. Innocent but forced to confess to an act of savage terrorism he is sentenced to life imprisonment as one of the 'Guildford Four'. An innocent Giuseppe is also arrested and while behind bars Gerry learns that his father's seeming frailty masks an unmatched inner strength and wisdom. Working with a fiercely dedicated lawyer Gerry determines to prove his innocence clear his father's name and expose the truth behind one of the most shameful legal events in recent history. Catch A Fire: A political thriller that powerfully tells the real-life story of a South African hero's journey to freedom. In the country's turbulent and divided times in the 1980s Patrick Chamusso (Derek Luke) is an oil refinery foreman and soccer coach who is apolitical - until he and his wife Precious (Bonnie Henna) are jailed. Patrick is stunned into action against the country's oppressive reigning system even as police Colonel Nic Vos (Tim Robbins) further insinuates himself into the Chamussos' lives. Philadelphia: Up-and-coming young lawyer Andrew Beckett (Tom Hanks) has just been fired by his prestigious law firm. They say he hasn't got what it takes. Andrew knows it's because he's got AIDS. Determined to defend his professional reputation Andrew hires fierce brilliant personal-injury attorney Joe Miller (Denzel Washington) to sue his former employers for wrongful dismissal. Joe is initially reluctant to take on the case. Although he as grown up knowing the pain of prejudice he's never had to confront his own prejudices against homosexuality and AIDS...until now. The Shawshank Redemption: City banker Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins) arrived at Shawshank Prison in 1947. Convicted of two brutal murders he received a double life sentence and discovers that when they send you to Shawshank State Prison for life that is exactly what they take. Within the confines of Shawshank Andy forms an unlikely friendship with the prison fixer Red (Morgan Freeman). He also becomes popular with the Warden and the prison's guards as Andy is able to use his banking experience to help the corrupt officials amass personal fortunes. With an extraordinary twist in the tale Andy finds that survival comes down to a simple choice: get busy living or get busy dying...

• My Left Foot / The Fiel | DVD | (03/02/2003) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £17.99

  Daniel Day-Lewis won a much-deserved Oscar for My Left Foot, with a wily and passionate performance as Irish artist and writer Christy Brown, whose cerebral palsy kept him confined to a wheelchair. Filmmaker Jim Sheridan (In the Name of the Father) adapts Brown's own autobiography for this spirited piece, focusing on the, sometimes difficult, fellow's formative years in his large family and in love with sundry women. Day-Lewis is inspired, and Brenda Fricker (also a recipient of an Oscar for her part in this movie) is almost luminous as Christy's dedicated mother. So, too, are Ray McAnally as the hero's stormy father, and Hugh O'Conor (The Young Poisoner's Handbook) as the child Christy. All in all, this is a complete pleasure for viewers. --Tom Keogh , Amazon.com

• Get Rich Or Die Tryin'/Tupac - Resurrection | DVD | (16/10/2006) from £24.28   |  Saving you £-9.29 (-62.00%)   |  RRP £14.99

  Get Rich or Die Tryin' (Dir. Jim Sheridan 2005): 'Fiddy' makes his motion picture debut in Get Rich Or Die Tryin'! a hard-hitting drama by Oscar-nominated director Jim Sheridan. Marcus once an orphaned street kid always knew he was going to be a rapper. However when his mother is murdered his life begins to spiral out of control. It's only a matter of time before he's hustlin' and selling drugs to pay the rent. Only his music keeps him alive as he madly scribbles the lyrics that fly around his troubled mind. Only when tragedy strikes does Marcus begin to change his life... Tupac - Resurrection (Dir. Lauren Lazin 2003): Seen as one of the most colourful and much loved personalities in the hip-hop music industry Tupac Shakur the legend now lives on in this definitive documentary. Meticulously assembled from seemingly innumerable sources this documentary begins on the street corners of Compton- Los Angeles and tells the tale of the rise and fall of one of the most inspirational music artists of the 90s. It is a frank portrait of a young man who rose from a life of adversity into a global icon who touched millions of lives. This inspirational life story told entirely in his own words features never-before-seen concert footage private home movies and excerpts from Tupac's poetry and journals. Produced by former Black Panther Afeni Shakur Tupac's own mother this is a very personal portrayal of a sensitive passionate and often provocative artist who died before his time. The film's producer and director Lauren Lazin does a remarkable job in catching Tupac in the act of discovering himself. For a fan it's the greatest homage for a non fan it's an enthralling documentary about a character a way of life and a culture. By the time you have heard the gunshot signal his death you will believe the world has lost a very important voice.

• The Irish Collection | DVD | (09/03/2009) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £16.33

  Far And Away (1992): Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman star in this critically acclaimed romantic adventure from director Ron Howard. This breathtaking epic opens on the West Coast of Ireland 1892. Joseph Donelly (Cruise) a poor tenant farmer is determined to bring justice to an oppressive landlord. Instead he finds himself accompanying the landlord's daughter Shannon (Kidman) to America in a quest for land. Arriving in Boston Joseph finds a place for them to live while proving a natural at bare-fisted boxing. But his triumph is short-lived as he and Shannon are thrown out into the bitter cold. Joseph sets off for work on the railroad until a passing wagon train reminds him of his original goal to possess his own land. Preparing to stake his claim in the new territory he runs into Shannon who is unhappily reunited with her former fianc''e. In the excitement of the Oklahoma land rush they realise their dreams of land and life together in this satisfying grand-scale adventure that has been called a wondrous epic! The Boxer (1997): When Danny Flynn (Daniel Day-Lewis) returns to his Belfast neighbourhood after 14 years in prison all he wants is to find peace resume his career and reclaim the love of the woman who has remained etched in his mind. As they slowly embrace the possibilities of renewed romance they realise cultural taboos stand in the way and fighting for love could cost them their lives. Angela's Ashes (1999): Angela's Ashes the Pulitzer Prize-winning memoir comes to life in this stirring film from acclaimed director Alan Parker starring Academy Award-nominee Emily Watson and Robert Carlyle. Life in impoverished Depression-era Ireland holds little promise for young Frank McCourt the oldest son in a tightly knit family. Living by his wits cheered by his irrepressible spirit and sustained by his mother's fierce love Frank embarks on an inspiring journey to overcome the poverty of his childhood and reach the land of his dreams: America. Circle Of Friends is a story of first love first kisses and first betrayals. Three girlhood friends are re-united in college ready to experience life to the fullest. Eve an orphan quiet and observant; Nan socially and sexually precocious; and Benny (Minnie Driver) a modest self-conscious dreamer. It doesn't take long for them all in their exciting new world to meet men and fall in love. But Benny unsure of herself and scared of rejection follows her heart out on a limb for the brightest best-looking boy on the campus (Chris O'Donnell). Will her shyly adventurous spirit be rewarded? One thing is sure. Whatever happens in affairs of the heart Benny will always rely on the people she loves and the people who love her in her Circle Of Friends.

• Far And Away / Angela's Ashes / The Boxer | DVD | (04/07/2005) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £14.99

  Far And Away (1992): Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman star in this critically acclaimed romantic adventure from director Ron Howard. This breathtaking epic opens on the West Coast of Ireland 1892. Joseph Donelly (Cruise) a poor tenant farmer is determined to bring justice to an oppressive landlord. Instead he finds himself accompanying the landlord's daughter Shannon (Kidman) to America in a quest for land. Arriving in Boston Joseph finds a place for them to live while proving a natural at bare-fisted boxing. But his triumph is short-lived as he and Shannon are thrown out into the bitter cold. Joseph sets off for work on the railroad until a passing wagon train reminds him of his original goal to possess his own land. Preparing to stake his claim in the new territory he runs into Shannon who is unhappily reunited with her former fiance. In the excitement of the Oklahoma land rush they realise their dreams of land and life together in this satisfying grand-scale adventure that has been called ""a wondrous epic!"" The Boxer (1997): When Danny Flynn (Daniel Day-Lewis) returns to his Belfast neighbourhood after 14 years in prison all he wants is to find peace resume his career and reclaim the love of the woman who has remained etched in his mind. As they slowly embrace the possibilities of renewed romance they realise cultural taboos stand in the way and fighting for love could cost them their lives. Angela's Ashes (1999): Angela's Ashes the Pulitzer Prize-winning memoir comes to life in this stirring film from acclaimed director Alan Parker starring Academy Award-nominee Emily Watson and Robert Carlyle. Life in impoverished Depression-era Ireland holds little promise for young Frank McCourt the oldest son in a tightly knit family. Living by his wits cheered by his irrepressible spirit and sustained by his mother's fierce love Frank embarks on an inspiring journey to overcome the poverty of his childhood and reach the land of his dreams: America.