Religulous (Momentum): A smart and frequently hilarious documentary directed by Larry Charles in which US comedian Bill Maher explores the subject of religion.
Mad Men Season 2 (Lionsgate): The second season of the best show currently on television continues to explore the fictional Sterling Cooper advertising agency on New York City’s Madison Avenue during the early 1960s.
The story lines still centre around creative director Don Draper (Jon Hamm) and the people in his work and personal life.
With the action now moving to 1962, notable plot lines in the second season include more revelations about Don’s personal life and big changes at Sterling Cooper.
After the first season proved a huge critical hit, it won numerous awards including three Golden Globes, a BAFTA and six Emmys and became only the second cable series ever to win the Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series.
US cable network AMC deserve a credit deal of credit for green lighting the show and when an HBO exec like Richard Plepler says: “Mad Men is a magnificent show, and the only problem with it is itâs not on HBO”, you know that the quality must be high.
The level of writing, direction, acting and production design is as good as anything you can currently see on TV or at the cinema.
The true genius of the show, created by Matthew Wiener, is that it manages to put a modern slant on the past by going beyond the period detail into something genuinely absorbing and profound.
The regular DVD has episodes are spread across three-discs presented in anamorphic widescreen with English DD5.1 Surround audio.
Extras include:
Those Who Think Young: Audio Commentary by Matthew Weiner
The Gold Violin: Audio Commentary by Matthew Weiner and Elisabeth Moss
Six Month Leave: Audio Commentary by Jon Hamm, John Slattery and Joel Murray
The Inheritance: Audio Commentary by Jon Hamm, January Jones and Vincent Kartheiser
âBirth of an Independent Woman, Part 1 and Part 2â â from housewives to working women, this featurette examines the rise of female independence in the Mad Men era
âAn Era of Styleâ – featurette explores the fashion of the 1960âs and its lasting influence on designers today
On the Blu-ray Disc there are a few more extras, with a lot more audio commentaries:
For Those Who Think Young: Audio Commentary by Matthew Weiner
For Those Who Think Young: Audio Commentary by Jon Hamm and January Jones
Flight 1: Audio Commentary by Matthew Weiner and Jon Hamm
Flight 1: Audio Commentary by Lisa Albert and Vincent Kartheiser
The Benefactor: Audio Commentary by Matthew Weiner and Elisabeth Moss
The Benefactor: Audio Commentary by Lesli Linka Glatter, Melinda McGraw and Rich Sommer
Three Sundays: Audio Commentary by Matthew Weiner and Marie and Andre Jacques
Three Sundays: Audio Commentary by Elisabeth Moss and Colin Hanks
The New Girl: Audio Commentary by Jennifer Getzinger and Robin Veith
The New Girl: Audio Commentary by Jon Hamm, Elisabeth Moss and Melinda McGraw
Maidenform: Audio Commentary by Matthew Weiner and Robin Veith
Maidenform: Audio Commentary by Phil Abraham and Mark Moses
The Gold Violin: Audio Commentary by Matthew Weiner and Elisabeth Moss
The Gold Violin: Audio Commentary by Bob Levinson, Josh Weltman and Bryan Batt
A Night To Remember: Audio Commentary by Matthew Weiner and Robin Veith
A Night To Remember: Audio Commentary by Lesli Linka Glatter and January Jones
Six Month Leave: Audio Commentary by Matthew Weiner and Mike Uppendahl
Six Month Leave: Audio Commentary by Jon Hamm, John Slattery and Joel Murray
The Inheritance: Audio Commentary by Matthew Weiner and Lisa Albert
The Inheritance: Audio Commentary by Jon Hamm, January Jones and Vincent Kartheiser
The Jet Set: Audio Commentary by Matthew Weiner, Phil Abraham and David Carbonara
The Jet Set: Audio Commentary by Scott Hornbacher, Dan Bishop and Amy Wells
The Mountain King: Audio Commentary by Matthew Weiner and Blake McCormick
The Mountain King: Audio Commentary by Robin Veith, Christina Hendricks and Robert Morse
Meditations in an Emergency: Audio Commentary by Matthew Weiner and January Jones
Meditations in an Emergency: Audio Commentary by Kater Gordon, Elisabeth Moss and Vincent Kartheiser
âBirth of an Independent Woman, Part 1 and Part 2â â from housewives to working women, this featurette examines the rise of female independence in the Mad Men era
âAn Era of Styleâ – featurette explores the fashion of the 1960âs and its lasting influence on designers today
âTime Capsuleâ – interactive featurettes paying homage to historical events of the 1960’s and the daring generation that lived through them
There are also supporting performances from Paul Bettany (as Prime Minister Lord Melbourne) and Miranda Richardson as Victoria’s mother, the Duchess of Kent.
All of them have combined to make a much more substantial film than may have been expected which explores part of Victoria’s reign not really seen on screen before, namely the problems of her accession to the throne and her early relationship with Albert.
Extras include:
Deleted Scenes
Making of The Young Victoria
The Coronation & The Wedding: Behind the scenes look at the production
Lavish History: Look at the costumes and locations
Adapted by Peter Morgan and directed Tom Hooper (best known for his TV miniseries work on Longford and John Adams) it lacks the dark, interior qualities that made the book so riveting but features some excellent performances.
Sheen does a fantastic job in the title role, bringing the same kind of charm and authenticity that featured in his previous portrayals of Tony Blair and David Frost.
It is unusual for Sony to do a British film like this but they have done an excellent job in marketing as a film as something football and non-football fans can enjoy.
Given the competition this week, it stands a chance of claiming the top spot given the good reviews and positive word of mouth. Â Â
Knowing (E1 Films): The current number 1 film at the US box office stars Nicolas Cage as a scientist who comes across a set of numbers that appear to predict disasters.
Directed by Alex Proyas, it mixes drama, action and sci-fi and whilst plodding for the most part, does actually contain three excellent set-pieces and an ending that may surprise people with its ambition.Â
E1 Films were a little reluctant to screen it for critics and actually released it early on Wednesday to bump up the opening weekend’s figures.
Given that Cage is still quite a big draw in the action genre (despite his incessant frowning in films like this) it should crack the top two and depending on how well The Damned United does, looks like the marginal favourite to claim the top spot. Â Â
The Haunting in Connecticut (Entertainment): Another horror film hits UK cinemas and this one is about the allegedly true story (which almost certainly means its total bollocks) of the Snedeker family’s encounter with the paranormal in Southington, Connecticut.
This is one of those films with plenty of posters and billboards and virtually no real buzz.
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Given that the most well-known actors in it are Virginia Madsen and Elias Koteas, Entertainment will be hoping that horror fans will be up for it and that all those billboards have had some impact.Â
I’m guessing that it will have a short cinema life and will make most of its money on DVD. [Cert 15 / Vue West End & Nationwide]
Directed by James Gray, who has made films such as The Yards and We Own the Night, it is a pleasingly old fashioned and charming film with Phoenix excellent in the central role (easily his best since Walk The Line in 2005) and good work from Paltrow and Shaw.
The technical work (notice the lack of sets) and cinematography by Joaquin Baca-Asay are all first rate and although it is getting a limited release, is well worth seeking out. [Cert 15 / Apollo Picc Circus, C’World Haymarket, Curzon Mayfair & Key Cities]
Genova (Metrodome): Another film from the festival circuit last year is the story of two American girls and their British father (Colin Firth) who move to Italy after their mother dies.
It was filmed in the titular city of Genoa (Genova in Italian) during the summer of 2007. [Cert 15 / Curzon Soho, Ritzy Clapham, Odeon Swiss Cottage, Barbican & Key Cities]
Traitor (Momentum Pictures): A political thriller about an FBI agent (Guy Pearce) who heads up the investigation into a dangerous international conspiracy, which seems to lead back to a former U.S. Special Operations officer, Samir Horn (Don Cheadle). [Cert 12A / Empire Leicester Square & Key Cities]
Aa Dekhen Zara(Eros): A Bollywood romantic sci-fi action thriller (yes, you did read that right), starring Neil Mukesh and Bipasha Basu. [C’Worlds Feltham, Ilford, S’bury Ave., Odeon Greenwich, Vue O2 & Key Cities]
Afghan Star (Roast Beef Prod): A documentary exploring how contestants on Pop Idol in Afghanistan risk their lives to appear on the show. [ICA Cinema]
We have 3 DVD copies of Genova give away courtesy of Metrodome.
