STACK#127 May 2016

DVD & BD

REVIEWS

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Portrait of an artist. MR. TURNER

Night of the comet. COHERENCE

Release Date: 06/05/15

Release Date: 06/05/15

Format:

Format:

Mike Leigh departs from the housing projects of contemporary England for his third foray into historical drama. Set during the 19th century, Mr. Turner charts the final 25 years in the life of J.M.W. Turner, considered to be one of Britain's greatest landscape artists. Leigh's portrait focuses on the relationships that shaped the cantankerous and capricious painter during this period: notably his father, his housekeeper and lover, and an ex-mistress. Episodically constructed and exquisitely shot on a widescreen canvas, this biopic is

Writer-director James Ward Byrkit's minimalist – but ultra high concept – sci-fi thriller unfolds during an LA dinner party, while a comet is passing through Earth's atmosphere. The eight guests begin to suspect something strange is afoot when mobile coverage drops out, phone screens crack, and the power goes out. Things get even weirder following their retrieval of a box from a neighbouring house, which contains numbered photos of themselves – one of which was taken on that very night. We're not going to spoil

anchored by a superb performance from Timothy Spall, who received the Best Actor award at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival for his portrayal of Turner as a grunting, toad-like eccentric prone to moments of warmth. A must-see for lovers of quality British period drama.

what's going on, but all is revealed relatively early in the piece, allowing the viewer to fully appreciate the second half's myriad twists and turns. Simple, scary, and ingeniously constructed, Coherence stays true to its title, despite its serpentine structure. • See page 42

GOODBYE WORLD

SONG ONE

HOME SWEET HELL

LET'S KILL WARD'S WIFE

Release Date: 20/05/15 Format:

Release Date: 27/05/15 Format:

Release Date: 21/05/15 Format:

Release Date: 06/05/15 Format:

A viral text message bearing the name of this film shuts down the US in this indie apocalypse thriller (yes, another one). Gotham 's Ben McKenzie and Entourage 's Adrian Grenier are amongst an ensemble of college friends who use this cyber-armageddon as an excuse for an end of the world reunion to reminisce, bicker, and get high. Oh, and try to survive – especially when the National Guard shows up. Aptly described by one critic as "A hybrid of The Big Chill , The Trigger Effect and Into the Wild ", this is more about Gen Y and their first-world problems than fallout and toxic zombies.

The romance factor in Song One is cranked up to 11, so if you're in the mood for trembling lips and long glistening gazes, this is straight up your alley. We follow anthropology student Franny (Anne Hathaway), who makes it her mission to convince famous musician James Forester (Johnny Flynn) to play at her comatose brother’s bedside, in the hope he will be revived. Hathaway is so sensitive, it seems like she'd bruise if you breathed on her, but her genuine chemistry with Flynn and excellent delivery overcomes any cloying dialogue. Also, we should all watch everything that involves Mary Steenburgen, because she’s brilliant.

Rom-com regular Katherine Heigl is actually eerily convincing as a homicidal homemaker in this black comedy, which may have something to do with the actress's rumoured offscreen persona. When the rigid Mona (Heigl) discovers her spineless husband Don (Patrick Wilson) has impregnated a young and attractive colleague, she calmly shoves her beloved along a path of ever more devious and twisted methods to remove the woman from their carefully planned lives. Heigl is ferocious and Wilson quite delightful, but there aren't any curveballs here. And Home Sweet Hell is no Serial Mom , even though it wants to be.

This is the feature debut of actor Scott Foley (good old Noel from Felicity ), who wrote the blackly comedic script after he realised family pressures were hindering him from seeing his old mates. It's about a group of male adult pals who decide to snuff one controlling wife in their midst, which isn't a charming premise even without knowing Foley dreamed it up from his own (apparently sour) life's fodder. While the initial set-up does actually promise a few laughs, the film flops itself flat in the second half, but is still worth it for Patrick Wilson’s brilliant performance. And you should pick the allusion to a certain Hitchcock classic.

MAY 2015 JB Hi-Fi www.jbhifi.com.au

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