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You Can’t Take It With You

This 1938 Frank Capra outing may have won an Oscar but its tale of the son of a wealthy family (Jimmy Stewart) looking to buy up the property of Lionel Barrymore's cheerful brood of eccentrics (who include an improbably youthful Jean Arthur), is over-treacled with Capra-esque sentimentalism. Stewart...

This 1938 Frank Capra outing may have won an Oscar but its tale of the son of a wealthy family (Jimmy Stewart) looking to buy up the property of Lionel Barrymore’s cheerful brood of eccentrics (who include an improbably youthful Jean Arthur), is over-treacled with Capra-esque sentimentalism. Stewart’s role is underplayed, the plot is slow-moving and the comedic pickings lean.

The Fourth Man

Paul Verhoeven's last pre-Hollywood film (from 1983) is a minor classic. Depressed alcoholic writer Gerard Reve (a tremendous, dishevelled Jeroen Krabb...

Paul Verhoeven’s last pre-Hollywood film (from 1983) is a minor classic. Depressed alcoholic writer Gerard Reve (a tremendous, dishevelled Jeroen Krabb

Manhattan Murder Mystery

We tend to damn Woody Allen's lighter comedies as 'just' comedies: if anyone else had come up with this 1993 nugget, we'd acclaim it as a pearl. Allen and Diane Keaton-telepathic together again?are paranoid that the woman next door's been bumped off; Alan Alda and Anjelica Houston stir the confusion...

We tend to damn Woody Allen’s lighter comedies as ‘just’ comedies: if anyone else had come up with this 1993 nugget, we’d acclaim it as a pearl. Allen and Diane Keaton-telepathic together again?are paranoid that the woman next door’s been bumped off; Alan Alda and Anjelica Houston stir the confusion. A wholesome whodunnit, but, chiefly, a hoot.

Jabberwocky

Terry Gilliam's solo directorial debut. Inspired by Lewis Carroll's poem, like Python's Holy Grail it deals with medieval muck and monsters?in this case a fearsome dragon to be slain by hapless hero Dennis (Michael Palin). Lots of good ideas and a very odd cast of British comedy talent, but mired in...

Terry Gilliam’s solo directorial debut. Inspired by Lewis Carroll’s poem, like Python’s Holy Grail it deals with medieval muck and monsters?in this case a fearsome dragon to be slain by hapless hero Dennis (Michael Palin). Lots of good ideas and a very odd cast of British comedy talent, but mired in darkness, only the occasional laugh.

Bad Company

Slick odd-couple blockbuster which sees secret service grandee Anthony Hopkins forced to team up with street-punk Chris Rock in Prague as a nuclear bomb in a suitcase goes up for sale. Jerry Bruckheimer ensures the noisy pace never lets up; an anarchic Rock plays it strictly for laughs and a horizon...

Slick odd-couple blockbuster which sees secret service grandee Anthony Hopkins forced to team up with street-punk Chris Rock in Prague as a nuclear bomb in a suitcase goes up for sale. Jerry Bruckheimer ensures the noisy pace never lets up; an anarchic Rock plays it strictly for laughs and a horizontal Hopkins looks mighty bored. Great stuff, all the same.

Mr Deeds Goes To Town

Much-emulated screwball comedy, directed by Frank Capra and starring Gary Cooper as the disingenuous rustic type who inherits a $20 million fortune and a new life in New York. There he's pitted against a variety of shysters, cynics and dodgy lawyers who lend the film its edge as well as material for...

Much-emulated screwball comedy, directed by Frank Capra and starring Gary Cooper as the disingenuous rustic type who inherits a $20 million fortune and a new life in New York. There he’s pitted against a variety of shysters, cynics and dodgy lawyers who lend the film its edge as well as material for the underlying homily against urban sophistication. Jean Arthur adds charm as the hard-bitten tabloid hack who falls for Cooper.

Baise-Moi

Described by its proto-feminist French director Virginie Despentes as an attempt "to seize woman's true sexuality back from the male gaze", Baise-Moi is therefore a visceral, explicit re-imagining of the road movie (Thelma And Louise with cum shots), buffered by chunks of jaded '70s film theory. Too...

Described by its proto-feminist French director Virginie Despentes as an attempt “to seize woman’s true sexuality back from the male gaze”, Baise-Moi is therefore a visceral, explicit re-imagining of the road movie (Thelma And Louise with cum shots), buffered by chunks of jaded ’70s film theory. Too inept to be engaging, too light to be controversial. A mess.

Roman Holiday

You could argue a case for Funny Face or Breakfast At Tiffany's, but this William Wyler rom-com?now 50 years young?is perhaps Audrey Hepburn's shining moment. An incognito princess who leaps into love with journalist Gregory Peck (well, we can all dream), you'd have to be brutish not to catch its sp...

You could argue a case for Funny Face or Breakfast At Tiffany’s, but this William Wyler rom-com?now 50 years young?is perhaps Audrey Hepburn’s shining moment. An incognito princess who leaps into love with journalist Gregory Peck (well, we can all dream), you’d have to be brutish not to catch its spark. And Rome’s not bad-looking either.

My Big Fat Greek Wedding

A massive worldwide hit, Nia Vardalos' no-budget romp must be something special, right? Well, nope. Inoffensive as it undoubtedly is, it appears to the un-Greek eye to latch 99 per cent of its gags onto national stereotypes. The better scenes, lampooning office hierarchies, are like a good episode o...

A massive worldwide hit, Nia Vardalos’ no-budget romp must be something special, right? Well, nope. Inoffensive as it undoubtedly is, it appears to the un-Greek eye to latch 99 per cent of its gags onto national stereotypes. The better scenes, lampooning office hierarchies, are like a good episode of Friends. The rest is Victoria Wood at her most tired. Granny’ll love it on telly at Christmas.

The Centre Of The World

It's close to implausible that this graphic vignette about a computer geek falling foolishly for a hooker is co-written by Paul Auster and wife, and directed by Wayne Wang. It's not as insightful as it thinks it is, but it's certainly 'erotic'if you consider Molly Parker one of the planet's most all...

It’s close to implausible that this graphic vignette about a computer geek falling foolishly for a hooker is co-written by Paul Auster and wife, and directed by Wayne Wang. It’s not as insightful as it thinks it is, but it’s certainly ‘erotic’if you consider Molly Parker one of the planet’s most alluring women. And she plays the drums.

The Apu Trilogy

Satyajit Ray's superb 1955 debut Pather Panchali is released here as a three-disc package, including its sequels, Aparajito and The World Of Apu. Influenced by "new realist" European cinema, it tells the ongoing story of a poor, luckless Brahmin family in Bengal, following the fortunes of their youn...

Satyajit Ray’s superb 1955 debut Pather Panchali is released here as a three-disc package, including its sequels, Aparajito and The World Of Apu. Influenced by “new realist” European cinema, it tells the ongoing story of a poor, luckless Brahmin family in Bengal, following the fortunes of their youngest son, Apu. No Bollywood-style histrionics or musical interventions?this is beautifully shot, understated, quietly authentic, emotionally devastating cinema.

Romeo And Juliet

When compared to Baz Luhrmann's hysterical synapse-splitting kitsch, there's something strangely reassuring about Franco Zeffirelli's stodgy '68 classicist version of Romeo And Juliet. Here, the many pleasures include Michael York's fantastic cheekbones as Tybalt, a cherubic Bruce Robinson as Benvol...

When compared to Baz Luhrmann’s hysterical synapse-splitting kitsch, there’s something strangely reassuring about Franco Zeffirelli’s stodgy ’68 classicist version of Romeo And Juliet. Here, the many pleasures include Michael York’s fantastic cheekbones as Tybalt, a cherubic Bruce Robinson as Benvolio, and a plethora of badly choreographed sword-fights. Even the infamous shots of Olivia Hussey’s 17-year-old breasts seem quaint rather than smutty.

Satyricon

"The Beatles tours were like Fellini's Satyricon," John Lennon once remarked, and seeing the director's 1969 masterpiece of decadence again, you can only wonder how they made it through alive. A bleak but visually stunning crawl through the paranoia, bisexuality and corruption of ancient Rome, it's ...

“The Beatles tours were like Fellini’s Satyricon,” John Lennon once remarked, and seeing the director’s 1969 masterpiece of decadence again, you can only wonder how they made it through alive. A bleak but visually stunning crawl through the paranoia, bisexuality and corruption of ancient Rome, it’s hardly easy viewing, but stunning all the same as a lurid portrait of a world tipped over into the realms of madness.

Christie Malry’s Own Double-Entry

A former Uncut film of the month, shamefully under-promoted by the British film industry. Imaginatively based on the cult BS Johnson novel, it stars Nick Moran as a misanthropic bank clerk who elects to wreak vengeance on society for perceived injustices. A sort of Billy Liar with fire in its belly,...

A former Uncut film of the month, shamefully under-promoted by the British film industry. Imaginatively based on the cult BS Johnson novel, it stars Nick Moran as a misanthropic bank clerk who elects to wreak vengeance on society for perceived injustices. A sort of Billy Liar with fire in its belly, it’s intense, inventive and, finally, explosive.

The Beatles—Anthology

The crowning glory of the Anthology project, this DVD box set features the 10 hours of footage originally seen on TV and video, plus an extra 80 minutes on a fifth disc. A relaxed Paul, George and Ringo, talking to interviewer Jools Holland, relate The Beatles story from top to bottom with humour, ...

The crowning glory of the Anthology project, this DVD box set features the 10 hours of footage originally seen on TV and video, plus an extra 80 minutes on a fifth disc.

A relaxed Paul, George and Ringo, talking to interviewer Jools Holland, relate The Beatles story from top to bottom with humour, a wealth of anecdote and personal revelation, and a surprising willingness to relive the arguments, the bitter financial battles and the split.

Inter-cut with historic clips of the Fabs in action, this definitive documentary arrives with improved picture quality and stereo, and 5.1 surround sound.

Brian Wilson—On Tour – The Beach Boys—Live At Knebworth 1980

Knebworth 1980 is the last time all six Beach Boys appeared together in the UK. Brian is now a zombie, and Dennis is a mess. Nice harmonies, though, and the songs aren't bad, either. On Tour is riveting. Cameras track a content 21st-century Wilson on stage and off. Carol Kaye, Pet Sounds bassist, in...

Knebworth 1980 is the last time all six Beach Boys appeared together in the UK. Brian is now a zombie, and Dennis is a mess. Nice harmonies, though, and the songs aren’t bad, either. On Tour is riveting. Cameras track a content 21st-century Wilson on stage and off. Carol Kaye, Pet Sounds bassist, insists he “still has the power to do something mind-blowing” before he performs a new song that is, indeed, mind-blowing.

The Osbournes—Series One

Sharon Osbourne, reviewing Series One, sighs wistfully to her son: "I wish it was back then, Jack... we were innocent then." Jack replies: "I think we've been robbed of our innocence."And it was precisely those na...

Sharon Osbourne, reviewing Series One, sighs wistfully to her son: “I wish it was back then, Jack… we were innocent then.” Jack replies: “I think we’ve been robbed of our innocence.”And it was precisely those na

The Pink Floyd And Syd Barrett Story

He hasn't made a record since 1970, but the Syd Barrett legend continues to grow. Narrated by Newsnight's Kirsty Wark and first shown as a BBC documentary, this serious-minded 50-minute film examines the legacy of the Floyd's original Crazy Diamond, mostly through interviews with former band members...

He hasn’t made a record since 1970, but the Syd Barrett legend continues to grow. Narrated by Newsnight’s Kirsty Wark and first shown as a BBC documentary, this serious-minded 50-minute film examines the legacy of the Floyd’s original Crazy Diamond, mostly through interviews with former band members Dave Gilmour, Rick Wright, Nick Mason and Roger Waters. They paint a harrowing picture of Barrett’s disintegration, although the Madcap himself is reduced to a ghost-like presence, seen only in a few flickering frames of archive footage. That it feels like a tribute to someone long dead only emphasises the overwhelming sadness of Barrett’s fate.

Rishtey

A pretty convoluted and derivative 2002 Bollywood outing, ranging over several years and telling the story of Suraj and Komal (Anil and Karisma Kapoor), who are estranged following the machinations of the latter's snobbish billionaire father. Heavy-handed melodrama and some risible musical sequences...

A pretty convoluted and derivative 2002 Bollywood outing, ranging over several years and telling the story of Suraj and Komal (Anil and Karisma Kapoor), who are estranged following the machinations of the latter’s snobbish billionaire father. Heavy-handed melodrama and some risible musical sequences, reminiscent of a raunchy ’80s nightmare, try the patience.

Hidden Agenda

Set during the Ulster 'Troubles', Hidden Agenda begins admirably enough with director Ken Loach's usual muscular dissection of political realities. Then Maurice Roeves suddenly appears as a mysterious Captain (think Donald Sutherland's X in JFK) who implicates the RUC, the Tories, MI5 and the CIA in...

Set during the Ulster ‘Troubles’, Hidden Agenda begins admirably enough with director Ken Loach’s usual muscular dissection of political realities. Then Maurice Roeves suddenly appears as a mysterious Captain (think Donald Sutherland’s X in JFK) who implicates the RUC, the Tories, MI5 and the CIA in a grand, preposterous plan to ruin the Labour Party.