Reviews:
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Features:
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Sex
& Drugs & Rock & Roll
Ian Dury's distinctive musical style was one the best things to come out of
the
late '70s, and Andy Serkis captures the man to perfection. However
the script, which focuses on Dury the wayward family man at the expense
of Dury the musician, should have been revised. |

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My
Best Of The 2000s In Cinema
DVD
Times Best of the 2000s
A review of the best of the decade and a feature containing top ten lists from the DVD Times
contributors, together with some insightful comments. |
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Sherlock
Holmes
Guy Ritchie's take on the most filmed character ever is high on
action, fisticuffs and thrills, but lower on seriousness,
credible plotting and a sense of true Conan Doyle- style detection.
But nevertheless the movie remains an enjoyable Steampunkish romp. |
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DVD
Times Top 10 Films of 2009
2009 was another eventful year in cinema, and here is my top ten,
together with those of my DVD Times colleagues, which taken together
show a broad and interesting spectrum of taste. |
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Dennis Potter on DVD
A look at the increasing selection of the legendary film & TV
writer's works now available on disc - and what isn't and perhaps never will be available. |
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Synecdoche,
New York
Charlie Kaufman has surprised us as a screenwriter, with
reality-bending pieces such as Being John
Malkovich. Now writing and directing, he comes up with a
similarly intriguing tale of art mirroring life mirroring art to the nth
degree. Now out on DVD.
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Inglourious
Basterds
The Dirty Dozen
done Tarantino-style, with some exquisitely tense scenes mingling
with moments of knockabout comedy and a take on World War II you won't
find in any history book. As ever Tarantino blazes his own trail
down Pastiche Lane, and the results are constantly entertaining.
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This
Is Spinal Tap: Up to 11
A 25th Anniversary 3 DVD set of the celebrated rock-mockumentary,
with a host of new extras. What's great about it is the legend
continues 'in character', with the band members now older but no less
wacky, and the original movie seeming more ground-breaking than ever.
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The
Curious Case of Benjamin Button A film where the visual effects
almost eclipse the story, in which the eponymous Mr Button ages in
reverse from dotage to babyhood, giving us an intriguing tour of
Brad Pitts of the past and perhaps those of the future. Some will love it whilst others might find it
overblown. Now out on DVD. |
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Vicky
Cristina Barcelona After a stretch of patchy form, Woody
Allen comes up trumps with this sparkling comedy. Rebecca
Hall and Scarlett Johansson play against Javier Bardem and Penélope
Cruz to produce some vintage moments of Allenesque mayhem. Now out on DVD. |
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Revolutionary Road
Titanic couple Kate Winslet and Leo DiCaprio are re-united
here, in Sam Mendes new drama, and this
time the story goes beyond the first flush of love into the realms of
failed dreams, bitterness and recrimination. Now out on DVD. |
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The
Wrestler
In Darren Aronofsky's latest, a kind of Raging Bull of
wrestling, Mickey Rourke gives an inspirational performance as an
over-the-hill loser, desperately trying to stay afloat as everything
around him founders. Now out on DVD. |
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Female
Agents
This action-filled French World War II espionage thriller - in the
tradition of Carve Her Name with Pride - is exciting and edgy,
like the best war films, but also remains satisfying on the level of
drama. Now out on DVD. |
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Cassandra's
Dream
Woody Allen returns to London and the crime genre for this re-tread
of Match Point, which proves surprisingly weak - both on the
story-telling and the technical levels. Now out on
DVD. |
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The
Duchess
Keira Knightley and Ralph Fiennes rub each other up the wrong way in
this excellent and occasionally very gritty 18th Century costume
drama.
Now out on DVD. |
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Taras
Bulba
Optimum release two 60's classic epics featuring the legendary
bald-headed actor Yul Brynner. In this one he plays a Cossack
warload, battling with Turks and Poles in a colourful adventure
romp. |
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