STACK #130 Aug 2016

DVD & BD

REVIEWS

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Love letters but no notebook. THE LONGEST RIDE

Gold rush. BLACK SEA

Release Date: 26/08/15

Release Date: 12/08/15

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Opposites attract and two worlds collide in the latest adaptation from prolific (and formulaic) romance specialist Nicholas Sparks ( The Notebook , Dear John , et al). Cowboy Scott (son of Clint) Eastwood falls for college senior and art gallery intern-in-waiting Britt Robertson, they have lots of sex, and she worries about him sustaining a serious head injury from too much bull-riding. When the pair rescue Alan Alda from a car wreck, Robertson helps him recover in hospital by reading aloud love letters from his late wife; suddenly we're back in the past and the film

Recently retrenched underwater salvage expert Jude Law learns of the location of a sunken Russian submarine full of Nazi gold, and assembles a British and Russian team to go get it. Their U-boat is as antiquated as the 70-year-old wreck they're searching for, and the language barrier and mutual distrust between the crew results in a pressure cooker environment that can only lead to disaster. Part sub- movie, part treasure hunt adventure, Black Sea is a thrilling example of both genres. There's allusions to Alistair MacLean, The Hunt for Red October and even Aliens (a

offers two romantic tales for the price of one, cross-cutting between the timelines and setting up an unlikely twist ending of M. Night Shyamalan proportions. Clocking in at over two hours, The Long Ride delivers on its title, but it's a ride Sparks devotees will be more than happy to take.

slimy corporate type with a hidden agenda is also onboard), and Cold War tensions are invoked within a contemporary setting. Law is great as the salty commander and backed up by a fine supporting cast including Ben Mendelsohn, Scoot McNairy and Grigoriy Dobrygin. Recommended.

THE GUNMAN

TOP FIVE

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

INTO THE GRIZZLY MAZE

Release Date: 20/08/15 Format:

Release Date: 29/07/15 Format:

Release Date: 12/08/15 Format:

Release Date: 05/08/15 Format:

A mercenary’s last assassination in the Congo forces him into leaving not only the country, but also the woman he loves. Upon returning, it’s soon clear he himself is the new target. A formulaic 'hunter becomes the hunted' thriller that fancies itself as a political actioner, The Gunman boasts a heavy duty cast, including Sean Penn in a constant state of poised concentration. Much attention is given to methodical approaches to the art of killing, and Penn excels in us believing him – so too the casting of Ray Winstone as a crusty confidante, and the gritty ‘put-em down fast’ attitude to action, a la Bourne.

It’s almost obligatory for comedy stars to bemoan the fact they are not taken seriously, but Chris Rock brings enough mocking self- humour to the subject to ensure that his latest film (he also writes and directs) avoids most of the usual clichés. Rock plays Andre Allen, a stand-up comic who has found Hollywood fame playing a cop in bear suit, but has just made his first serious drama about a Haitian slave uprising. Rosario Dawson is equally good as the journalist he reluctantly agrees to spend a day with to promote the film, while cameos from the likes of Jerry Seinfeld, Cedric The Entertainer, Tracy Morgan and Adam Sandler add to the fun.

He might be headlining the second series of True Detective , but Vince Vaughn is back in his old comedy stomping ground in Unfinished Business . Having started his own company and hired old timer Tom Wilkinson and clueless youngster Dave Franco, Vaughn and co. head for Berlin to close a major deal with Nick Frost and James Marsden. But things naturally get out of control following a boozy night out showing their clients a good time. The quality cast assembled for this below-the-belt comedy allows many of the gags to pay off better than they should; where else can you see Wilkinson pulling a bong or Franco used as a human dartboard?

This man vs. nature flick isn't as much fun as its 1976 antecedent Grizzly , but it does serve up a name cast (James Marsden, Thomas Jane, Billy Bob Thornton, Piper Perabo, Scott Glenn) as potential prey for a (mostly) real bear in the Alaskan wilderness; production values are slick and locations spectacular. Marsden and Jane play estranged brothers who attempt to reconcile their differences whilst being stalked by the belligerent bear, who's turned nasty in response to man's treatment of its environment. Given everyone is such a lousy shot, the beast's rampage continues unhindered for much of the film's running time. And did we mention it's grisly as well as grizzly?

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

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