Alphabet Video
Red road is probably the best British film in recent years.
| 10 Feb 2007
The Departed - 12 Feb
Martin Scorcese's latest film is an excellent reinterpretation of the Hong Kong trilogy Infernal Affairs. With an amazing cast (including Jack Nicholson, Martin Sheen and Leonardo DiCaprio) this crime, cops and corruption thriller is a must for film fans. Probably Scorcese's best film since Goodfellas, The Departed follows the fortunes of two undercover operatives. Matt Damon's character Chris goes undercover in the police for the local Irish Mafia while DiCaprio's character infiltrates the same gang on behalf of the police.
Oz - 5 Feb
First shown over here in the '90s, the US HBO drama Oz finally gets a DVD release. It's a brutal, uncompromising TV series about an experimental, maximum security prison facility and its dangerous inmates.
One of HBO's earliest productions, this series paved the way for The Sopranos, Deadwood etc. It was controversial in its time for its no-holds-barred depiction of the inmates' violent lives. This is hard-hitting, intelligent drama at its very best and if you're a fan of HBO's work you must watch this.
Red Road - 26 Feb
Andrea Arnold's first full length feature is a brilliant noir-ish thriller following a CCTV operator who gets dragged into the seamier side of Glasgow life after following a man she's been watching while at work. A deeply heartfelt and stylishly shot film, this deservedly recieved the Prix Du Jury at last year's Cannes festival. Katie Dickie's sensitive portrayal of the CCTV operator stands at the center of probably the best British film in recent years.
Clerks 2 - 12 Feb
A follow up from Kevin Smith's 1994 hit, Clerks 2 returns to the lives of Dante & Randal ten years on and finds them running a fast-food restaurant. Like the original, this is very funny and very, very crude. Sequels usually pale in comparison to the original but Smith manages to retain the good natured feel of the original, bringing back much loved characters like Jay & Silent Bob and featuring Smith Stalwarts Ben Affleck and Jason Lee. This is a great film, full of laughs but definitely not one for the prudish.
Volver - 12 Feb
Almodovar's new film is a supernatural comedy with a fantastic central performance from Penélope Cruz. Three generations of women survive the east wind, fire, insanity, superstition and even death in this unusual and distinctive film. Almodovar has assembled a brilliant cast for this his 16th movie. With an excellent score and some fine cinematography this has to be the best foreign language film from last year - miss it at your peril.
Martin Scorcese's latest film is an excellent reinterpretation of the Hong Kong trilogy Infernal Affairs. With an amazing cast (including Jack Nicholson, Martin Sheen and Leonardo DiCaprio) this crime, cops and corruption thriller is a must for film fans. Probably Scorcese's best film since Goodfellas, The Departed follows the fortunes of two undercover operatives. Matt Damon's character Chris goes undercover in the police for the local Irish Mafia while DiCaprio's character infiltrates the same gang on behalf of the police.
Oz - 5 Feb
First shown over here in the '90s, the US HBO drama Oz finally gets a DVD release. It's a brutal, uncompromising TV series about an experimental, maximum security prison facility and its dangerous inmates.
One of HBO's earliest productions, this series paved the way for The Sopranos, Deadwood etc. It was controversial in its time for its no-holds-barred depiction of the inmates' violent lives. This is hard-hitting, intelligent drama at its very best and if you're a fan of HBO's work you must watch this.
Red Road - 26 Feb
Andrea Arnold's first full length feature is a brilliant noir-ish thriller following a CCTV operator who gets dragged into the seamier side of Glasgow life after following a man she's been watching while at work. A deeply heartfelt and stylishly shot film, this deservedly recieved the Prix Du Jury at last year's Cannes festival. Katie Dickie's sensitive portrayal of the CCTV operator stands at the center of probably the best British film in recent years.
Clerks 2 - 12 Feb
A follow up from Kevin Smith's 1994 hit, Clerks 2 returns to the lives of Dante & Randal ten years on and finds them running a fast-food restaurant. Like the original, this is very funny and very, very crude. Sequels usually pale in comparison to the original but Smith manages to retain the good natured feel of the original, bringing back much loved characters like Jay & Silent Bob and featuring Smith Stalwarts Ben Affleck and Jason Lee. This is a great film, full of laughs but definitely not one for the prudish.
Volver - 12 Feb
Almodovar's new film is a supernatural comedy with a fantastic central performance from Penélope Cruz. Three generations of women survive the east wind, fire, insanity, superstition and even death in this unusual and distinctive film. Almodovar has assembled a brilliant cast for this his 16th movie. With an excellent score and some fine cinematography this has to be the best foreign language film from last year - miss it at your peril.