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DVDs of the week
Metro 06.06.07
Scheming: Cate Blanchett and Judi Dench in Notes On A Scandal
Music And Lyrics
Infamous
For Your Consideration
Onedotzero
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Oscar-winning Notes On A Scandal and Hugh Grant's Music And Lyrics are among this week's DVDs.
Notes On A Scandal
20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, 15, £19.99
*****
When fey, pretty, middle-class liberal Sheba (Cate Blanchett) stoops to take a post as art teacher in a rough North London comp, she gets more than she signed up for. Lustful glances come not just from her horny male pupils but also from her colleague Barbara (Judi Dench, pictured with Blanchett). Barbara is a scheming, lonely older woman whose obsession with Sheba turns to blackmail as Sheba gets rather too friendly with a gifted pupil - gifted in many ways.
A twisted school flick for clever adults, this tight psychological drama seethes with repressed passion, resentment and emotional betrayal. There are no victims - everyone's out for something. No surprise, since it's penned by Patrick Marber, whose sharp, darkly witty Closer portrayed relationships as hotbeds of manipulation.
Notes On A Scandal has also divided audiences: some argue it's too melodramatic; others bridle at the negative portrayal of lesbianism (beefed up from Zoe Heller's novel). But you can't fault the Oscar-worthy performances or Richard Eyre's direction. Top marks all round.
Extras: Commentary from Richard Eyre, mini featurettes, 'webisodes' and cast interviews. Larushka Ivan-Zadeh
Music And Lyrics
Warner Home Video, PG, £18.99
****
A terrifically jolly romcom that's an absolute must-buy. The opening 1980s music video spoof alone will have you wetting yourself with laughter. Reprising his usual role of loveably dashing, emotionally incapable bachelor, an ever-more crinkly-eyed Grant plays Alex Fletcher, a cheerful has-been who was essentially the Andrew Ridgeley of a group called, er, Pop! until a new Britney/Aguilera-alike sensation gets him to write her new song.
Trouble is, Alex can only do melody. Where will he find words? Enter Drew Barrymore's ditzy plant waterer with a gift for lyrics. Given there are no obstacles to their romance, the answer's even more predictable than usual.
Hugh's presence makes you notice the script's distinct lack of Richard Curtis and the whole thing's cheesier than a cheddar Cupid. But lighten up - it's a romcom! There are loads of giggles, Drew is lovely and you'll be humming 'Pop goes my heart!' for longer than any song from Dreamgirls.
Extras: Making-of, gag reel, extra scenes, music video. LI-Z
Infamous
Warner Home Video, 15, £19.99
****
This, sadly, was pipped to the post for the Oscars when Capote, the Philip Seymour Hoffman film dealing with the same period in Truman Capote's life, began filming a matter of months earlier. However, Infamous is arguably Capote's equal, also focusing on the writer's relationship with convicted killer Perry Smith.
There's a terrific performance from diminutive Brit Toby Jones in the lead role (seems Capote really did speak like Cartman from South Park). Pre-Bond Daniel Craig is a brooding, blokeish Perry, whose homoerotic friendship with Capote is made much more explicit here.
There's excellent support from Sandra Bullock as author Harper Lee, who accompanies Jones to where the murders took place. Humour abounds as Capote wins over the townsfolk with his flamboyant name-dropping. His glittering New York social life is just as enjoyable, full of long lunches with gossiping rich bitches (enter a glamorous Sigourney Weaver). Entertaining and enlightening - particularly if you haven't seen Capote.
Extras: Fascinating director's commentary. Anna Smith
For Your Consideration
Warner Home Video, 12, £19.99
***
There's a lot riding on duff wartime movie Home For Purim, the subject of the latest comedy from Spinal Tap god Christopher Guest. 'Veteran' actors Marilyn and Victor (Catherine O'Hara and Harry Shearer) are using it to relight their fading careers. Dopey actress Callie (Parker Posey) is seeking a break. Then pre-awards gossip has it that the trio are to be nominated for Oscars. And everyone gets overexcited.
There's not a single dud performance in this enjoyable, left-field comedy of shattered Hollywood dreams. Even the supporting cast, which counts Eugene Levy, Ricky Gervais and the brilliantly funny John Michael Higgins as a non sequitur-spouting PR man, form a rich background tapestry. But sadly, three things mar this 83-minute effort in its final throes: the disappearance of a coherent story; too much screen time for the film's least vital characters; and a sudden, lacklustre ending. Somewhere along the line, cash or imagination hit the buffers. This could have been a bigger hit.
Extras: Commentaries, gallery, trailer, deleted scenes, entertaining skit with Tom Conti's ventriloquist daughter... Sharon Lougher
Onedotzero_select dvd5
Vital Distribution, no cert, £17.99
***
Onedotzero_select dvd5 continues to explore the digital moving image, from anime to music videos, via video game animation and motion graphics, through 20 short films from around the world. Music videos include an alternative promo to Bloc Party's Helicopter with the band as anime characters. Coldcut's The State We're In features expressionless Japanese office automata delivering a diatribe on global politics. Ian Gouldstone's Bafta-winning short, Guy 101, is a captivating forum encounter cleverly relayed through a PC and narration.
Guilherme Marcondes's Dali-esque Tyger combines puppetry, cartoon characters and photography, and hints at the dizzying possibilities of cross-fertilising multimedia platforms in one film. This is where to unearth the cutting-edge filmmakers of tomorrow or the latest digital techniques that brought us Citroen's dancing robot car.
Extras: Six music videos from new British filmmakers for record labels including Ninja Tune, Warp and 679 Recordings.
