Drama

• The Miracle Worker | DVD | (03/05/2004) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £12.99

  Patty Duke and Anne Bancroft had been playing their respective roles as Helen Keller and her teacher, Annie Sullivan, on Broadway for some time before director Arthur Penn (The Left-Handed Gun) built a mesmerisingly beautiful film around their layers-deep performances. Duke is astonishing as the deaf, blind, mute Keller, who awakens to an awareness of language under Sullivan's determined guidance. Bancroft is fascinating and focused. Penn wisely kept his adaptation unencumbered by cinematic indulgence. The black-and-white film is sparse and charged with the immediacy of the drama. The Miracle Worker's script is by William Gibson, who also wrote the original play. --Tom Keogh

• The Madness Of King George | DVD | (28/01/2002) from £8.89   |  Saving you £1.10 (12.37%)   |  RRP £9.99

  More wit than wisdom? More style than substance? Both these charges have been levelled at The Madness of King George, but neither are entirely fair. It could be that the notional subject matter--the psychological collapse of George III, later attributed to the neurological disease porphyria--implies a profound, analytical approach of the kind associated with Oliver Sachs. However, as the screenplay was written by Alan Bennett, based upon his stage play The Madness of George III, what we have here is a typically shrewd, elegant and poignant depiction of how the world seems when viewed by someone who sees things in their own unique way. And as it is by Bennett, who allows himself a brief, bumbling cameo appearance, the dialogue is of course scalpel-sharp throughout and often extremely moving.The historical accuracy is strong on detail, but there's an element of artistic license, such as the depiction of HRH's apparent partial recovery at the close of the film (although the scene itself, in which Hawthorne's befuddled monarch rallies himself to address his subjects, is a joy). In the end, though, we really don't mind.On the DVD: the widescreen DVD extras include the theatrical trailer, a featurette and a lucid commentary by director Nicholas Hytner. --Roger Thomas

• Wings of Desire UHD SteelBook | Blu Ray | (12/12/2022) from £31.97   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

• ER: Complete Season 1 | DVD | (23/02/2004) from £18.88   |  Saving you £27.11 (143.59%)   |  RRP £45.99

  Set in a Chicago County General Hospital, the multi-Emmy winning ER is very much in the tradition established by the earlier Hill Street Blues. Like that series, ER also features a range of strong characters whose personal lives often reflect the turmoil of their working environment. It also similarly features a deft, fast-moving mix of comedy, intrigue and tragedy. It could also be seen as a precursor to The West Wing, in that we regard with some awe the ability of these characters to keep on top of the mounting chaos in their day-to-day lives and the myriad problems thrown at them. In ER, this chaos may mean crack addicts, violent patients tumbling through plate glass screens, vindictive colleagues or a chief of staff who insists that fellow surgeons operate on his sick dog. The first series is best known for introducing George Clooney to the world as the likable but maverick Dr Ross; the show has often featured star guests such as Sally Field and Ewan McGregor, among others, while several seasons have seen the coming and going of various personnel. However, if one character embodies the strength of ER it's Dr Mark Greene (Anthony Edwards), whose dedication to his job has seen him turn down lucrative and cosier offers in the private sector, and who is an exemplar of decency, selflessness and emotional stability. The episodes dealing with his father's death were among the most moving in the series, touching as they did on a theme never far from ER's surface, that of reconciliation with mortality. --David Stubbs

• Silence | DVD | (28/10/2013) from £8.52   |  Saving you £7.47 (87.68%)   |  RRP £15.99

  Eoghan is a sound recordist who is returning to Ireland for the first time in 15 years for a job capturing noises in areas free from man-made sound. His quest takes him to remote terrain away from towns and villages. Throughout his journey he is drawn into a series of encounters and conversations which gradually divert his attention towards a more intangible silence bound up with the sounds of the life he had left behind. Influenced by elements of folklore and archive Silence unfolds with a quiet intensity where poetic images reveal an absorbing meditation on themes relating to sound and silence history memory and exile. Special Features: Trailer

• Bewafaa | DVD | (20/05/2005) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £30.99

  Is infidelity ever excusable? That is the question raised in 'Bewafaa'. Kareena Kapoor plays Anjali the young vibrant daughter of an Indian father and Canadian mother who moves to New Delhi to marry her older brother-in-law Aditya following the death of her sister Aarti. At the time she thinks she is doing the right thing as she can help raise her two nieces however in doing so she leaves behind her first love Raja played by Akshay Kumar. Will she be able to live with the personal sacrifices she has made for the good of others or will her decision come back to haunt her?

• Appointment With Venus | DVD | (23/03/2020) from £6.49   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  Based on a true story, Appointment With Venus is a fine example of the indominable British spirit during World War 2 in the face of Nazi tyranny. The Nazis occupied the Channel Islands in 1940 and amongst the population on the tiny island of Amorel is Venus, a pedigree cow, whose ability to produce high quality milk is legendary. So well-known is Venus that she has even come to the attention of Hitler who wants to send her to Germany to breed with the Teutonic herds he claims are the best in the world. To deny Hitler and boost morale at home, British Special Forces, led by Major Moreland (David Niven) and ably assisted by Nicola Fallaize (Glynnis Johns) and the Islanders, mount a dangerous operation to rescue Venus and return her to England. A superb ensemble cast includes Kenneth More, Bernard Lee and Richard Wattis.

• When The Wind Blows | DVD | (26/09/2005) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £19.99

  Jim and Hilda Bloggs are the typical retired couple in rural England. They drink endless cups of tea and have an unwavering faith in the wisdom of their government. They understand that a Third World War is imminent between the US and the Soviets. However they fail to grasp the concept that war will be fought by nuclear means and what consequences this will have. With the help of government issued pamphlets Jim builds a shelter to protect the couple and although they survive a n

• The Mother | DVD | (24/05/2004) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £19.99

  From the director of "Changing Lanes" and the writer of "The Buddha of Suburbia" comes a bittersweet tale of a mother whose life is transformed when she embarks on an intense affair with a younger man.

• Eroica | DVD | (02/05/2005) from £29.93   |  Saving you £-4.94 (N/A%)   |  RRP £24.99

  By the time the first public performance of Beethoven's Symphony No. 3 (Eroica) took place in Vienna in 1805 a privileged few had already heard the work at a private play-through at the Lobkowitz Palace. Nick Dear's award-winning period drama starring Ian Hart as Beethoven brings to life the momentous day that prompted Haydn to remark 'everything is different from today'.

• The Rockford Files - Season 1 | DVD | (21/08/2006) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £10.00

  In the spirit of James Garner's other famous small-screen character, Bret Maverick, Rockford is the kind of guy who'd rather avoid the fight and go fishing instead.

• Dirty Dancing | DVD | (02/07/2001) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £19.99

  Patrick Swayze returns to our screens as rebellious dance teacher Johnny Castle in the re-release of this classic '80s hit.

• Deadlier Than the Male | DVD | (17/02/2020) from £16.98   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  British agent Bulldog Drummond is assigned to stop a master criminal who uses beautiful women to do his killings.

• The Age Of Adaline | Blu Ray | (11/01/2017) from £8.99   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  Having miraculously remained 29 years old for almost eight decades, Adaline Bowman (Blake Lively) has lived a solitary existence, never allowing herself to get close to anyone who might reveal her secret. But a chance encounter with charismatic philanthropist Ellis Jones (Michiel Huisman) reignites her passion for life and romance. When a weekend with his parents (Harrison Ford and Kathy Baker) threatens to expose the truth, Adaline makes a decision that will change her life forever.

• Nil By Mouth (2-Blu-ray disc) (Limited Edition) | Blu Ray | (05/12/2022) from £22.79   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  !Gary Oldman revealed himself as a filmmaker of uncompromising talent with Nil by Mouth, his debut and so far only directorial feature.Set on a council estate in New Cross, south east London (the area where Oldman himself grew up), a dysfunctional family encounters domestic violence, drunkenness, drug addiction and petty crime. Featuring career-best performances from Kathy Burke (winner of Best Actress at Cannes), Ray Winstone and Charlie Creed-Miles, all superbly supported by Laila Morse and Jamie Foreman, Nil by Mouth was awarded Best British Film and Best Original Screenplay at the 1997 Bafta awards.This intensely powerful and emotional landmark of British cinema has been remastered in 4K for its 25th anniversary by the BFI National Archive, and this release is the first time on Blu-ray anywhere in the world.ExtrasNewly remastered in 4K by the BFI National ArchiveLimited edition 2-disc setNewly recorded audio commentary by writer and director Gary Oldman and producer Douglas UrbanskiInterviews with the cast and crewPerfect-bound book featuring new and archive writing on the film, and rare production materials from Gary Oldman's personal archiveTrailerNewly created English subtitles for the Deaf and partial hearingNewly created audio description trackOther extras TBC**All extras are TBC and subject to change**

• Flight | Blu Ray | (03/06/2013) from £5.99   |  Saving you £21.00 (350.58%)   |  RRP £26.99

  Few directors can meld high-tech whiz-bang with solid narrative values like Robert Zemeckis, a filmmaker whose best work (Who Framed Roger Rabbit, the Back to the Future trilogy, Cast Away) stands tall among the blockbusters. Although there have been times when Zemeckis's insistence on pushing the special effects envelope can end up overshadowing the story being told (as in his animated version of A Christmas Carol), his innate gifts persist: when he's in the groove, he can show you something you've never seen before, as well as a reason to care about it. Flight, the director's first wholly live-action film in over a decade, serves as a reminder of just how good he can be, featuring both an exquisitely terrifying crash sequence and a fearless central performance from Denzel Washington. John Gatins's script serves as a bizarro inversion of the Sully Sullenberger tale: when a routine flight over Atlanta goes terrifyingly wrong, the aircraft's pilot (Washington) saves his passengers with a near-miraculous display of skill. As the investigation into the disaster begins, however, it becomes apparent that its hero's impromptu bravery hides a multitude of bad habits. Washington does a brilliant job as a man who is all too aware of his feet of clay, subverting his innate nobility to shattering effect. (As in the earlier Training Day, when he goes to the dark side, the shock ripples the screen.) The strength of his central performance is only amplified by some outstanding supporting work from Kelly Reilly (as a recovering heroin addict), Don Cheadle, Bruce Greenwood, and a scene-stealing John Goodman, who gets a few lines crass enough to remind you that yes, Zemeckis is the same person who once made the low-taste classic Used Cars. Impressive as the cast is, though, it's unlikely that things would work nearly as well without the director's grasp of the material, which shifts between horror, black comedy, and uplifting pathos without missing a beat. In his hands, this potential sap story makes for a smart, worldly addiction saga that blessedly refuses to stay within the usual melodramatic lines. Just don't ever, ever expect to see it as the in-flight entertainment. --Andrew Wright

• The Last Emperor UHD | Blu Ray | (13/02/2023) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  Director of The Spider's Stratagem, The Conformist, and Last Tango in Paris, Bernardo Bertolucci was one of the greats of Italian cinema. In 1987 his acclaimed epic The Last Emperor made with British producer Jeremy Thomas (Naked Lunch, Crash) swept the 60th Academy Awards winning nine Oscars including Best Picture and Best Director. Following the life of Pu Yi, the last of the Emperors of China, from his birth in 1908 through his childhood in the fortress-like Forbidden City and his later misguided collaboration with the Japanese in World War II, The Last Emperor tells the history of China through the eyes of the man brought up to believe he was the country's divine ruler. Filmed on location in China, Bertolucci and Thomas were the first western filmmakers to be allowed access to previously forbidden locations. Together with a cast including John Lone, Joan Chen and Peter O'Toole, and director of photography Vittorio Storaro's lushly evocative cinematography, they created a classic film of sweeping scope and delicate intimacy that stunned critics and audiences alike. The Last Emperor arrives on UHD in a brand new 4K restoration that will take your breath away. Product Features New 4K restoration of the original theatrical version Original and extended versions of the film presented in their original aspect ratio of 2.39:1 Original uncompressed stereo 2.0 audio, plus 5.1 audio option for theatrical version Reversible sleeve featuring two artwork options Eight double-sided postcard sized lobby card reproduction artcards Fold-out double-sided poster featuring two artwork options Illustrated collectors book featuring new writing by film critics Kat Ellinger and Philip Kemp, plus select archival material DISC 1 - THEATRICAL VERSION (4K ULTRA HD BLU-RAY) 4K (2160p) Ultra HD Blu-ray presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible) Original uncompressed stereo 2.0 and 5.1 audio options Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing First to Last: The Road to the Forbidden City, a new visual essay by film critic David Cairns exploring Bernardo Bertolucci's career prior to The Last Emperor Open the Door, a new visual essay by film critics David Cairns & Fiona Watson in which they follow Bertolucci into the Forbidden City to explore in-depth The Last Emperor and the truth on which it is based Archive interview with director Bernardo Bertolucci Archive interview with star John Lone Archive interview with star Joan Chen Postcard from China, video footage shot by Bernardo Bertolucci while location scouting in China Theatrical trailer Image gallery DISC 2 - EXTENDED VERSION (BLU-RAY) High Definition (1080p) Blu-ray presentation Original uncompressed stereo 2.0 audio Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing

• Jane Eyre | DVD | (13/03/2006) from £6.98   |  Saving you £9.01 (129.08%)   |  RRP £15.99

  The stunning BBC production of Charlotte Bronte's inspiring story is available for the first time on DVD. Jane Eyre (Zelah Clarke) is a mistreated orphan who learns to survive by relying on her independence and intelligence. Her first job in the outside world is governess to the ward of Mr. Rochester (Timothy Dalton) a man of many secrets and mercurial moods. The tentative trust between them slowly develops into romance but their hopes for happiness will soon be jeopardized by a te

• Blue Jasmine | Blu Ray | (17/02/2014) from £8.49   |  Saving you £14.50 (170.79%)   |  RRP £22.99

  After everything in her life falls to pieces, including her marriage to wealthy businessman Hal (Alec Baldwin), elegant New York socialite Jasmine (Cate Blanchett) moves into her sister Ginger's (Sally Hawkins) modest apartment in San Francisco to try to pull herself back together again. Jasmine arrives in San Francisco in a fragile mental state, her head reeling from the cocktail of anti-depressants she's on. While still able to project her aristocratic bearing, Jasmine is emotionally pre...

• Laurence Anyways | DVD | (25/03/2013) from £8.98   |  Saving you £7.01 (78.06%)   |  RRP £15.99

  Multi-awarding 23-year-old filmmaker Xavier Dolan writes and directs his most ambitious feature to date - Laurence Anyways, the epic love story of a man (Melvil Poupaud) who decides to undergo a sex change and thedramatic effect it has on his relationship with his girlfriend (Suzanne Clement). Thought-provoking and stylishly shot the film dazzles, featuring music from Fever Ray, The Cure, Duran Duran, Visage, Depeche Mode and Scottish composer Craig Armstrong. Laurence Anyways is Dolan's third award-winning film following on from I Killed My Mother (also starring Clment) and Heartbeats. Special Features: Filmed interview with Suzanne Clement and Melvil Popaud Trailer