What DVD have you just watched?

Set in Poland in 1962, IDA is the story of a young girl who is about to take her vows to become a nun. Before she can do that though she must visit with her only surviving relative, an Aunt. She and her Aunt then begin a journey to find their family’s tragic story.

Very good B&W cinematography though the constant use of a wide-angle lens gives it a colder and more distant look at the characters and the bleak landscapes. Recommended.

Adam,

I saw the original True Grit at its release in the theater as a six year-old, with my family. The strength of character of The Duke as Rooster Cogburn will be forever etched in my memory and the film has remained one of my favorite Westerns. I was skeptical of the remake, but saw that in the theater with my children some 40 years later. It is also excellent with the strength of character falling to Hailee Steinfeld's outstanding performance. I've since read the book. The later film is truer to the original language of the book. If you enjoyed the incidental poetry of the remake, I'd encourage you to read the book. Eloquent yet succinct prose from a bygone era.

Arrau and Brahms:  The Two Romantics

A film by Peter Rosen

They just don't make pianists like Arrau anymore.   Here already elderly and not quite as strong as he would of been in his prime.  You get the sense that there is something bigger going on in the music.  A few missed notes here or there doesn't matter either as the overall bigger picture is so perfect. 

Really enjoyed this last week....

A documentary of the painter David Hockney returning to paint his native Yorkshire.

Ppppoker face ...pppokerface! Excellent. We maxed out on season 3 (or was it 4?) over Christmas.

Great ensemble cast - Even Rob Lowe is brilliant!

G

Edge of Tomorrow

Saw it at the cinema, and found enough in it to buy the BluRay; and there is enough here to really enjoy .....but, I do find the ending a bit of a let down. I feel that they ran out of imagination and so ran with a standard action movie trope. Still worth watching.

M

Recorded this over Christmas on C4 HD so not strictly a DVD/BR watch but it is a must see if you haven't already. 

As a friend of mine has a major role in it.

From Sky+, The Grand Budapest Hotel, most enjoyable and amusing, but ultimately silly film.

Excellent casting with BC as JA. What's the movie like?

A beaut Tony. what a film!

I can't do so much.

But you have a choice instead.

You're still on time for change Giovanna.

Don't settle for surviving.

You must insist on living in a better world.

Not only dream about it.

Cumberbatch is excellent  as J A. I did enjoyed the film but at times I really wanted to reach for the FF button. The script in not tight enough and some of the performances,  including that of Capaldi's, lacks credibility. 

It certainlyis Kev. I am revisiting some of his films from my student days back in the late 70s which I watched in some dark and hidden "cine club".

Next is in line is The Passion of Ana. Lib Ullmann's expression and performance were always  mesmerizing.

A good effort follow up to the far better: Ipress File.

Extremely hyped up theatre trailer, and introduction start with the film.

Realistic landscape and fine acting but a sense of something lacking in the plot, and a waisted opportunity to create a better film of it.

Debs

Liv is fantastic as well in Persona and Scenes From A Marriage as well Tony.

On Sky+ this very bizarre film, I guess when Terry Gilliam is involved it will get weird:-

The Zero Theorem

They watered down the book but the film is still funny.

Really enjoyed watching this again; Dexter Gorgon received an Oscar nomination for his part in the film.