Review Archive: January 2009
This Happy Breed
Directed by David Lean, This Happy Breed is Noel Coward's story of a family between the two World Wars, released this week in a two-disc set by Network. Review by Gary Couzens.
Futurama: Into the Wild Green Yonder
Good news everyone, the last of the four Futurama films is pretty good. James joins the Planet Express team for one final adventure in a largely spoiler-free review for the forthcoming release. ...
Who Killed Teddy Bear
A young woman trying to break into New York showbusiness is plagued by obscene phone calls in Who Killed Teddy Bear, a sleazy 1964 thriller starring Sal Mineo and Juliet Prowse. Banned by the BBFC in its day, it now appears on DVD from Network. Review by Gary Couzens.
Divorce Iranian Style / Runaway
Two superb documentaries by Kim Longinotto and Ziba Mir-Hosseini examine the cases of a number of Iranian women and young girls unable to cope with the country's repressive laws.
West End Jungle
"Looking for business, sir?" Once banned, West End Jungle takes us round the seedy side of 1961 London. Gary Couzens has his dirty mac at the ready....
Escape from Sobibor
Escape from Sobibor tells the story of the most successful prisoner uprising of World War II, in a 1987 TV film starring Alan Arkin, Rutger Hauer and Joanna Pacula. Review of the Network DVD by Gary Couzens.
Import Export
Ulrich Seidl's brutally unflinching and uncompromising view of two enterprising individuals struggling to find their place in the new Europe comes to DVD. Noel Megahey reviews.
Survivors (2008)
Adrian Hodges' remake of the classic Terry Nation series......
The Times of Harvey Milk
With Milk in cinemas now, Anthony Nield takes a look at ICA/Drake's Avenue's rather pleasing handling of Rob Epstein's classic 1984 documentary, The Times of Harvey Milk, which they've released this week...
The Living End
'New Queer Cinema' auteur Gregg Araki's uncompromising feature is heavy on road and heavy on penis metaphors....
Breakfast at Tiffany's - Centennial Collection
As stale as a 48-year-old croissant, the film that features Audrey Hepburn's most famous wardrobe plays more like an excuse to play dress up than a sincere look at romance.
The Flying Doctors: Series 1, Volume 1
A bit of a rum deal for fans of this series......
Careful He Might Hear You
A child custody battle in 30s Australia is the basis of Careful, He Might Hear You, winner of eight AFI awards and one of the great Australian films of the 80s. Umbrella's two-disc set is reviewed for Australia Day by Gary Couzens.
Lucky Miles
Three refugees trek across Australia's harshest desert in Lucky Miles, a comedy/drama from 2007. Australia Day continues with this two-disc Region 4 release from Madman, reviewed by Gary Couzens.
The Flying Doctors: The Mini-Series
Not as exciting as it might sound......
Monkey Grip
Free love and drugs in bohemian Melbourne - but who is addicted to what? Australia Day at DVD Times continues with Monkey Grip, a 1981 drama from Helen Garner's novel featuring an award-winning performance from Noni Hazlehurst. Gary Couzens reviews the Australian Region 0 release from Umbrella Entertainment.
The Black Balloon
Australia Day at DVD Times begins with the comedy-drama The Black Balloon. Elissa Down's semi-autobiographical first feature was the big winner at the Australian Film Instute Awards last month. Review by Gary Couzens.
Viva Maria
Brigitte Bardot and Jeanne Moreau as exotic dancers recruiting for the revolution in central America - what's not to like, thinks John......
Immortal Beloved
Gary Oldman in a costume and doing a European accent, just what could go wrong? ...
Alexandra
Alexander Sokurov presents a singular view of the war in Chechnya through his characteristic poetic approach to filmmaking. Noel Megahey reviews.
Tropic Thunder (3-Disc Directors Cut)
James reviews next week's release of Ben Stiller's Hollywood comedy based around the filming of a Vietnam epic and discovers whether it's more Apocalypse LOL or just a yawn on the 4th of July. ...
As You Like It
To coincide with tonight's UK network television premiere, Anthony Nield takes a look at Kenneth Branagh's fifth Shakespearean adaptation and Lionsgate's limited Region 2 handling of it.
Trial & Retribution: The Fourth Collection
With the latest series of Trial & Retribution currently airing on ITV1, Michael Mackenzie examines the fourth volume of the series on DVD, which contains the final three episodes from the 2007 series.
The British Transport Films Collection Volume Nine: Just the Ticket
Anthony Nield takes a look at the latest British Transport Films collection from the BFI, now at a remarkable ninth volume yet still to show any dip in overall quality...
Speak Easily
Anthony Nield takes a look at the disappointing first release from new distributor Powis Square Pictures, a Region 2 release of Buster Keaton's mediocre 1932 talkie Speak Easily.