Categories
DVD & Blu-ray

UK DVD & Blu-ray Releases: Monday 27th June 2011

DVD & BLU-RAY PICKS

Never Let Me Go (20th Century Fox Home Ent.): Although it died at the box office, the film adaptation of Kazuo Ishiguro’s dystopian novel was a hauntingly beautiful drama about love, loss and time. Directed with considerable skill and taste by Mark Romanek, it features excellent performances from Carey Mulligan (especially outstanding), Andrew Garfield and Kiera Knightley. [Buy it on Blu-ray or DVD] [LFF Review and some longer thoughts on the film]

Akira (Manga Entertainment): Katsuhiro Otomo’s landmark animated sci-fi epic set in futuristic Japan is about a biker who learns of a secret government project involving the title character. Released on Blu-ray in a limited Collector’s Edition pack it has been remastered and comes with special 40-page booklet exclusive to the UK. [Buy it on Blu-ray or DVD from Amazon UK]

The Andrei Tarkovsky Collection (Artificial Eye): Although we recommended it a few weeks ago (the release was delayed by a few weeks) this DVD box set features several classic titles from the Ruassian director, including: Ivan’s Childhood (1962), Andrei Rublev (1966), Solaris (1972), The Mirror (1975), Stalker (1979), Nostalgia (1983) and The Sacrifice (1986). [Buy it on DVD from Amazon UK]

The Paolo Sorrentino Collection (Artificial Eye): Another DVD boxset from Artificial Eye features the first four films of Italian director Paulo Sorrentino, one of the most dazzling directors to have emerged from Europe in the last decade. This set includes the masterful political drama Il Divo (2008), the absorbing tale of a moeny lender The Family Friend (2006), classy psychological thriller The Consequences of Love (2004), and his breakout film One Man Up (2001). [Buy it on DVD from Amazon UK]

ALSO OUT

Coeur Fidele (Eureka) [Blu-ray / with DVD – Double Play]
Cold Fish (Third Window) [Blu-ray / Normal]
March of the Dinosaurs (Fremantle Home Entertainment)[Blu-ray / Normal]
Miracle at St. Anna (Revolver Entertainment) [Blu-ray / Normal]
No Strings Attached (Paramount Home Entertainment) [Blu-ray / Normal]
Pigs and Battleships/Stolen Desire (Eureka) [Blu-ray / with DVD – Double Play]
Season of the Witch (Momentum Pictures) [Blu-ray / Normal]
Siren (Matchbox Films) [Blu-ray / Normal]
Tenebrae (Arrow Video) [Blu-ray / Normal]
The Lord of the Rings Trilogy: Extended Versions (EV) [Blu-ray / Normal]
The Tourist (Optimum Home Entertainment) [Blu-ray / Normal]
Tron (Walt Disney) [Blu-ray / Normal]
Yogi Bear (Warner Home Video) [Blu-ray / Normal]

UK Cinema Releases for Friday 24 June 2011
The Best DVD & Blu-ray releases of 2010

Categories
Cinema Interviews Podcast

Interview: Paolo Sorrentino on Il Divo

Il Divo UK poster

Paolo Sorrentino is the director of Il Divo, a new film that explores the extraordinary career former Italian prime minister Giulio Andreotti.

It spans the period since the seventh election of Andreotti (plyed by Toni Servillo) as Prime Minister of Italy in 1992, until the trial in which he was accused of collusion with the Mafia.

It has been a favourite on the festival circuit in the past year and was nominated for the Palme D’Or at the Cannes Film Festival last May, where it was awarded the Prix du Jury.

I recently spoke with Paolo on the phone when the film screened at the Dublin Film Festival.

Listen to the interview here:

[audio:http://filmdetail.receptionmedia.com/Paolo_Sorrentino_on_Il_Divo.mp3]

You can download this interview as a podcast via iTunes by clicking here

Il Divo is out at selected UK cinemas on Friday 20th March

> Download this interview as an MP3
Paolo Sorrentino at the IMDb
> Official website for Il Divo
> Find out more about Giulio Andreotti at Wikipedia