STACK #149 Mar 2017

DVD&BD REVIEWS

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A reluctant hero. BILLY LYNN'S LONG HALFTIME WALK

An unlikely champion. QUEEN OF KATWE

Release Date: 01/03/17

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Release Date: 08/03/17

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Often the perceptions of wartime heroism can vary greatly from the realities, and it’s a theme that’s explored by Ang Lee in this adaptation of Ben Fountain’s satirical novel of the same name. A war correspondent catches baby-faced Iraq war army specialist Billy Lynn (Joe Alwyn) on camera, risking his life to drag his wounded sergeant to safety. The footage goes viral back home, unleashing a maelstrom of nationalistic fervour that culminates in Billy and his unit buddies riding in a stretch Hummer to be a part of the half-time show at the Dallas Cowboys’ Thanksgiving game

It’s dynamic! It’s thrill a minute! It’s... chess! Well, we tried. Sure, it may not be the greatest spectator sport, but chess is a marvel of strategy, and a game that most anybody can have a go at but which few truly master. In classic Disney style, Queen of Katwe is based on a true tale, in this case that of Phiona Mutesi, a chess prodigy from the slums of Uganda. Taken under the wing of a chess-loving missionary at the age of 10, Phiona shows an uncanny fervour and aptitude for the game. Being a Disney adaptation you may expect Phiona’s first

– complete with added Destiny’s Child. They ride with a film producer, are wined and dined by the Cowboys’ boss (Steve Martin), and winked at by cheerleaders. But the OTT production triggers memories and more in squad members – after all, war is hardly mere half-time entertainment. AF

tournament to be the crescendo of the story, but instead we’re privy to several of her years, as she dreams of a better life... A collision of Slumdog Millionaire and Searching for Bobby Fischer , director Mira Nair ( Monsoon Wedding ) gives real good feel-good. AF

Wilder. Drunker. Badder. BAD SANTA 2

Lard up! THE GREASY STRANGLER

Release Date: 24/03/17

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Release Date: 22/03/17

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Back in 2003, Billy Bob Thornton really put the ‘ho’ into the Chrissie season as the hard drinking, foul-mouthed (well, foul everything, really) Willie Soke. Despite being a shell of a man, he found some redemption in a story that managed to combine the sleaziest of humour with genuine witty subversion and a surprising amount of heart. Billy Bob aims to recreate that Christmas miracle in this sequel, which sees Thurman Merman (aka ‘The Kid’) grown up yet still wide-eyed and clueless, plus the return of Willie’s little ‘friend’ Marcus and the arrival

If John Waters had directed an episode of Steptoe and Son it would probably look a bit like The Greasy Strangler . Big Ronnie (Michael St. Michaels) and Big Brayden (Sky Elobar) live in a state of squalor and run a 'disco' walking tour of their rundown local neighbourhood, where a lard- covered serial killer is on the loose. When Brayden falls for tourist Janet (Elizabeth De Razzo), Ronnie decides to cut his son's grass and the scene is set for a love triangle that has to be seen to be disbelieved. Infused with a kooky rhythm and an eye for the absurd, Jim Hosking's

of his mother, Sunny (Kathy Bates). In true Soke style, Willie, Marcus and ‘Mom’ plan a heist on a kids’ charity – and also in true Soke style, things go horribly awry... Another relentless gag-fest, Billy Bob’s bleary and world-weary Santa remains the highlight of this anti-festive gift. AF

queasy and hilarious debut feature delivers a twisted father and son relationship filled with grotesque characters, hideous fashion, prosthetic genitals, quotable dialogue, and of course greasy strangling. The WTF? film of the year and destined for cult status. SH

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MARCH 2017

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