STACK Jun #128

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056 JUNE 2015 JB Hi-Fi
Also released...
DOWNTON ABBEY: SEASON FIVE
This prestigious English drama series counts the Duchess of
Cambridge amongst its legion of fans, so the pressure is on for
Season Five to return to the series' high standards after a faltering
fourth year. It's early 1924 and post-war change continues to
sweep the nation – and the titular estate. Word is that Season
Six will be the last for dour Dowager Violet Crawley, with Maggie
Smith deciding to call it quits. OUT: 04/06/15
FORTITUDE
This is a chilling crime series, and not just because it's set
in a snowbound European town. A grim mood pervades this
small Nordic locale following an unthinkable murder which
London cop Stanley Tucci is called in to investigate. In the
process, secrets are defrosted – and so is a mammoth. The
X-Files meets Fargo (or Broadchurch in the arctic) with all the
sex, violence and nudity of a HBO series. OUT: 10/06/15
WILD
Subtract 'Into the' and substitute Reese Witherspoon for Emile
Hirsch and you have a female take on Sean Penn's 2007 drama.
Grappling with the death of her mother and a serious drug habit,
Reese decides the best therapy is to hike the 1,100-mile Pacific
Crest Trail, solo. This stirring wilderness adventure from director
Jean-Marc Vallee (Dallas Buyers Club) features an Oscar-
nominated performance by Witherspoon. OUT: 10/06/15
THE COBBLER
Adam Sandler headlines this whimsical fantasy about a New York
cobbler in possession of a magical machine that can literally put
him in someone else's shoes – transforming him into their owner.
Sandler, minus his usual gang of buddy co-stars, is somewhat
muzzled in this comedy from indie director Thomas McCarthy, and
that's a good thing. But this is still an Adam Sandler film, so you
know exactly what to expect. OUT: 17/06/15
SHIVER
Wolf Creek's John Jarratt adds another serial killer to his resume with
this horror-thriller based on the novel by Brian Harper. Jarratt (sounding
weird with an Amercian accent) plays The Gryphon, a sicko who stalks
women and takes their heads as a trophy. When a potential victim
(scream queen Danielle Harris) escapes his clutches, he relentlessly
stalks her as the cops close in. Pre-order Shiver online from JB by June
16 and you'll receive a copy signed by Jarratt. OUT: 17/06/15
THE HUMBLING
There's more than a hint of Birdman about this backstage
dramedy from director Barry Levinson, featuring Al Pacino as
a suicidal, has-been actor attempting to make a comeback
on Broadway. But in this case, it's an unlikely romance
with a younger, lesbian woman (Greta Gerwig) that proves
instrumental in his salvation and coaxes all sorts of oddball
characters out of the woodwork. OUT: 10/06/15
he first season of this Michael Bay-produced pirate series – a
iolent prequel to Robert Louis Stevenson's classic Treasure
land – took its sweet time taking to the high seas for some
ood old fashioned piracy, but if you stuck with it, there was
easure to be found. Not so with Season Two, which joins the
nks of must-see TV somewhere between Vikings and Game
f Thrones . The Urca gold is now up for grabs, and Eleanor
uthrie struggles to maintain control of Nassau following
e arrival of a fearsome new pirate captain and the return of
harles Vane. Characters are more fully fleshed this season;
Captain Flint's backstory and relationship to Miranda Barlow yields some truly
unexpected surprises, and John Silver begins his progression from self-serving
rogue to respected crewmember. An explosive and legend-building final episode
guarantees not everyone will be back for Season Three. Highly recommended.
Proper pirates, not internet ones.
BLACK SAILS: THE COMPLETE SECOND SEASON
Release Date: 10/06/15 Format:
iev Schreiber returns for another round as the
ponymous LA fixer who works overtime covering up
he potentially scandalous behaviour of his celebrity
lientele – usually with his fists. He's also got a
eason-load of family and personal problems to fix,
cluding marital strife and teenaged kids, dealing
ith the psychological fallout from season one's big
evelation, and retrieving his ex-con father from hiding
Mexico. There's also an FBI agent (Hank Azaria)
nd a reporter (Vinessa Shaw) snooping about in the
aftermath of gangster Sully Sullivan's murder. A solid second season
then, in which the great Jon Voight (as Ray's despicable dad) once
again steals the show – making a loathsome character strangely
likeable and Ray Donovan immensely watchable.
Calm, cool and connected.
RAY DONOVAN: SEASON TWO
Release Date: 24/06/15 Format:
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