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Out on 2 November and 9 November
Asif Kapadia pays tribute to Amy Winehouse. Kodi Smit-McPhee follows his compass, except its really Michael Fassbender leading the way. Yes, heres this fortnights new DVD and Blu-Ray releases. Click on for our reviews of Amy, The Goonies: 30th Anniversary Edition, Slow West, Song Of The Sea, Bowfinger, Belleville Rendez-Vous, Bob Roberts, A Christmas Horror Story and Spy. For the best movie reviews, subscribe to Total Film.
AMY
Hidden behind hair and make-up, addicted to excess and emotionally crippled by a string of awful relationships, Amy Winehouses shamefully public tragedy is one for us all to have felt the sting of and one that Asif Kapadias astonishing musical documentary reminds us of with alarming power and dignity. Affording the same effortless intimacy that brought 2010s Senna to light, Kapadia lets the story tell itself with home videos, backstage clips and goosebump gig footage taking the place of talking heads. A genuine, rare talent, Winehouse steps out of the archives as a funny, sweet, intelligent young girl making it all the more heart-breaking to watch her let-down and betrayed by almost everyone that she loved. Controversial on its release when Amys dad, Mitch, started crying libel, Kapadia clearly isnt out to demonise anyone. Silently pointing fingers at everyone to blame for Amys downward spiral, no one comes out unscathed. Theres the father who used her for his own fame game; the boyfriend who dragged her into addiction; the media who hounded her like a frightened animal; the public who lapped up the headlines; and Amy herself a self-destructive hurricane who anyone could, and should, have seen was always heading for ruin. Far from just another act in Winehouses on-going celebrity circus, Amy is a classical tragedy for the 21st century a silent scream with a killer Camden soundtrack and easily one of the most deeply affecting films of the past year. EXTRAS: > Featurette > Unseen footage > Commentary > Interviews (BD, HD) Director: Asif Kapadia Starring: Amy Winehouse, Mitch Winehouse, Mark Ronson DVD, BD, Digital HD release: 2 November 2015 Paul Bradshaw
THE GOONIES: 30TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION
Thirty years on, is there anything more to this than nostalgia for those halcyon days of Steven Spielbergs Amblin imprint? Yes: The Goonies is a minor classic of its kind, a joyful, breezy adventure allied to a delightfully naturalistic tone whose occasionally rough edges only enhance its coarse charm. Crucially, in todays age of superheroes and teen dystopias, its a fantasy fuelled by easy-going naturalism. Sure, Christopher Columbus screenplay sees the titular gang dodge the booby traps of long-dead pirate one-eyed Willy and the cartoonish criminality of the Fratelli family a dry run for his later direction of Home Alone but the story is rooted in everyday, existential crises: moving home and losing touch with friends. The real baddie, as so often in 1980s movies, is the yuppie Trent and his property developer dad. What still enthrals about The Goonies today is not only that its kids-eye-viewpoint never wavers, but how refreshingly unpretentious and unsanitised those particular kids are. A gauche profanity holds sway, from the gag about a statues broken penis, to the copious swearing, let alone the unmentioned innuendo of Willys name. As a vision of childhood, The Goonies is far preferable to todays stage-managed moppets and this is one of the most iconic youth ensembles ever brought together (bettered only by Corey Feldmans cohorts in Stand By Me a year later). At the time, Ke Huy-Quan (aka Indiana Jones pal short round) was probably the biggest name and noticeably gets the lions share of stuntwork. But the show is stolen by Jeff Cohen as Chunk, so lovable he can carry a subplot on his own: his fake puke story might be the films best moment, based partly on Cohens own memories. The biggest surprise, though, is that neither of these young actors nor 1980s stalwarts Feldman or Martha Plimpton would forge the most durable adult careers. Who would have imagined that Sean Astin would achieve immortality as a hobbit, or that Josh Brolin would later go on to become one of Americas most reliable movie stars? To some extent the cast calls the shots, but its obvious that theres a lot of talent behind the camera too. The Goonies benefits from having a bona-fide a-list director in Richard Donner, whose unarguable pedigree is apparent throughout. The autumnal location filming is gorgeous, while Nick McLeans widescreen, permanently-dollying camerawork gives the kids space to interact without ruining the cocksure exuberance expected of a Spielberg production of this vintage. On-disc extras are mainly holdovers but good ones: an indispensable Donner-plus-cast commentary and the infamous, preposterous octopus deleted scene. The set also includes storyboard art cards and a souvenir booklet, although neither sheds fresh light on the film. EXTRAS: Commentary > Deleted scenes > Booklet > Storyboard art cards Director: Richard Donner Starring: Sean Astin, Josh Brolin, Jeff Cohen, Corey Feldman DVD, BD release: 9 November 2015 Simon Kinnear
SLOW WEST
Westerns are by now not westerns but meditations on westerns, and meditations on meditations of westerns. So Slow West treats the grand expanse of America with the reverence of John Ford or Clint Eastwood, and reality with the side-eye scepticism of the Coen brothers. In between is a quiet coming of age story love, distance, growing up and dying which benefits from the awkward excellence of Kodi Smit-McPhee, a young fool chasing his heart across the plains, and the reptilian ambivalence of Michael Fassbender, the bounty hunter watching over him with one eye, and costing him up with the other. EXTRAS: > None Director: John Maclean Starring: Kodi Smit-McPhee, Michael Fassbender, Ben Mendelsohn, Aorere Paki DVD, BD release: 2 November 2015 Nathan Ditum
SONG OF THE SEA
Director Tomm Moores bold, enchanting Oscar-nominated animation mixes Celtic legend into a grabby, family-friendly adventure, in which seven-year-old Ben and little sister Saoirse struggle to use the latters magical selkie powers to save their family. Theres a Miyazaki feel (Ponyo, particularly) in the storytelling, combined with gorgeous landscapes, serious themes, and dark folklore. Yet the stunning hand-drawn 2D visuals are fluid and funky, their painterly patterns sweeping the twisty story along. Lively voicework by David Rawle (Moone Boy) as Ben gives the film a delightful cheekiness and emotional honesty. EXTRAS: Featurettes > Commentary > Art Cards (BD) Director: Tomm Moore Starring: David Rawle, Brendan Gleeson, Fionnula Flanagan, Lisa Hannigan DVD, BD, Digital HD release: 8 November 2015 Kate Stables
BOWFINGER
Hollywood is glitz and glamour, but its also Bobby Bowfinger (Steve Martin), a desperate wannabe producer who convinces his cast and crew that hes landed Kit Ramsey (Eddie Murphy), the worlds biggest action star; in reality, he plans to secretly shoot action-thriller Chubby Rain around Ramseys life (sending the paranoid star doolally in the process), and fill in gaps with a dumb stunt double (Murphy again). Martins script, directed by Frank Oz, offers a thin but savvy plot, at once ridiculous and knowing. Brilliantly performed, Bowfinger stands tall as a sharp satire on the farce of fame and failure EXTRAS: Featurettes > Deleted scenes > Alternate ending Director: Frank Oz Starring: Steve Martin, Eddie Murphy, Heather Graham DVD, BD release: 2 November 2015 Stephen Kelly
BOB ROBERTS
Set in the lead-up to 1990s Operation Desert Storm, the US is seduced by Tim Robbins eponymous right-wing folk-singing politician in this ever-timely faux-documentary. Its not essential to be acquainted with the classic Bob Dylan touring movie Dont Look Back to get the most out of Robbins directorial debut, but it helps; there are dozens of crafty homages throughout sitting somewhat uneasily alongside the (barely satirical) heavy-handed commentary on personality politics and Washingtons business interests. Still, the triumphs (the songs alone are genius) and general sense of goodwill outweigh the flaws. EXTRAS: None Director: Tim Robbins Starring: Tim Robbins, Giancarlo Esposito, Alan Rickman DVD, BD release: 2 November 2015 Ali Catterall
BELLEVILLE RENDEZ-VOUS
From the kitchenware cabaret to the sound of teeth grinding on a spoon, Sylvain Chomets fast, frisky and very funny junk-jazz escapade remains a one-off miracle of meticulous 2D and 3D animation. The off-piste plot involves a kidnapped Tour De France pedal-pusher, lowering mobsters, a foot-stomping vocal trio, a jowly mutt and a daredevil granny, but the world- building delights most. Even with nods ranging from 101 Dalmatians to Jacques Tati, Chomet crafts a uniquely tactile vision. Generous extras include footage of a sound man playing a vacuum cleaner. EXTRAS: Featurette > Making Of > Selected commentary > Interview Director: Sylvain Chomet Starring: Batrice Bonifassi, Lina Boudreault, Michel Robin DVD release: 9 November 2015 Kevin Harley
A CHRISTMAS HORROR STORY
The problem with Christmas is inflated expectations. So it is with this yuletide Trick r Treat-alike, more stocking filler than main present. Co-directed by Canadians Grant Harvey, Steven Hoban and Brett Sullivan, it intertwines tales of a badass Santa, a haunted nunnery, a changeling, and a rampaging Krampus, although a stretched budget means its best story, location and SFX are in different strands. Still, theres fun to be had if you want to see William Shatner excelling as a cheesy DJ and bloodied elves dropping the c-bomb. EXTRAS: Featurette Directors: Grant Harvey, Steven Hoban, Brett Sullivan Starring: William Shatner, George Buza, Rob Archer DVD release: 9 November 2015 Matt Glasby
SPY
Sitting somewhere between Bridesmaids (ace) and Identity Thief (awful) on the Big List of Melissa McCarthy Comedies, this action spoof takes aim at Bond and Mission: Impossible, but its hit rate is disappointingly low. Thats no fault of McCarthy, whos on top form as a desk monkey turned secret agent, lumbered with hilariously crap secret identities (cat lady; an unintentional Dawn French look-alike) and impressing in gory, slow-mo scraps. At two hours, though, the materials stretched very thin (the extended cut is 10 minutes longer still), and even McCarthy looks irritated by Miranda Harts dippy Brit routine as a co-worker. EXTRAS: > Interviews > Commentary > Gag reel > Extended cut Director: Paul Feig Starring: Melissa McCarthy, Rose Byrne, Jason Statham, Miranda Hart Digital HD release: 23 October 2015 DVD, Blu-Ray release: 9 November 2015 Josh Winning
LORENZOS OIL
Mad mad main man George Miller sure has range: he trained as a doctor before turning to movies, so hes in his wheelhouse with this medical drama, even if theres not a Dr. Dealgood in sight. Nick Nolte and Susan Sarandon star as a couple frantically searching for a cure for their terminally ill son. What could have been a fairly rote tale of struggling against the odds is made memorable by an unsentimental focus on just how bloody difficult it is for the couple and the pressure it puts on their marriage. The only extra is a solitary trailer. EXTRAS: Trailer Director: George Miller Starring: Nick Nolte, Susan Sarandon, Peter Ustinov DVD release: 2 November 2015 Andrew Lowry
