Couch Potato - DVDs Out This Week

Couch Potato this week comes to you a day later than usual. The Oscar nominations yesterday knocked me back a bit so I do apologise. We have an interesting if unexceptional line-up this week, but there should be a little something in the sack to suit everyone’s tastes.

First out this week is Surrogates, the latest Bruce Willis flick directed by Terminator 3′s Jonathan Mostow. Set in a near future utopia the movie sees human being sequestered at home, no longer needing to venture out into the world, as all human activity is now conducted via surrogates, mechanical versions of the person sent forth to do their bidding. Bruce Willis plays a cop who is forced to investigate a murder where the user is killed after the surrogate is shot by an unknown weapon. It’s an odd movie, and it falls between two stools as it’s neither an action flick nor an intellectual sci-fi drama. Instead it tries to cram too much into its scant 90 minute running time and fails to connect with its audience in any meaningful way. It’s like a less good version of I, Robot. Mostow does show some great visual flair and Willis is more than adequate as the grizzled cop, but the story is lacking any real depth. Worth watching to see what could have been, and certainly a decent hour and a half’s entertainment if you’re a sci-fi nut, the movie is out now on Blu-Ray and DVD.

Movie two is one for the little ones. Aliens in the Attic tells the story of a group of kids who must defend their holiday home from an alien invasion. These knee-high invaders are hell-bent on claiming Earth for the “Zirkonians” and ensnare one of the girls’ boyfriend by means of mind-control. With the adults completely unaware of their impending doom, the kids set about countering the alien threat with a help from Sparks, the alien tech-specialist and one non-hostile invader. I haven’t seen this movie, it didn’t interest me at the time and it still doesn’t. It’s meant to be an amusing distraction for children but not one that will engage the parents in the way that Shrek and Toy Story do. Out now on Blu-Ray and DVD.

Movie three is Broken Embraces, a delightful Spanish film from one of the greats, Pedro Almodovar. Working once again with muse Penelope Cruz, the movie tells the story of a screenwriter and ex-director, Mateo Blanco, who changes his name to Harry Caine after losing his sight in a car crash. After the death of a close colleague brings tension to those around him the movie flashes back to 14 years earlier and unveils a scandalous sequence of events that have led him to where he is. A beautiful, spell-binding movie, it is equally unsettling and enveloping. Luscious primary colours light up the screen but the true heart of what makes it great is in the performances. Penelope Cruz is never as good as when viewed through the eyes of Almodovar, and here she gives an epic performance of power and grace. The supporting cast are all equally adept but Cruz is the real draw. I cannot encourage you enough to view this movie, which is out now on DVD.

The fourth movie out this week is Invention of Lying, a comedy starring British comedian de-jour Ricky Gervais. Set in a world where absolutely everybody tells the truth all the time, the movie sees Gervais’ character , a lowly screenwriter, concoct a fantastically web of deceit once he discovers the means to do so. Gervais directs himself hear and it’s clear to see that everything is set-up to revolve around him. This isn’t the wisest course of action as many of the ancillary characters deserve more screen-time. Bit roles and cameos abound for the likes of Philip Seymour Hoffman, Edward Norton, Jason Bateman, Christopher Guest and Tina Fey, but the movie never becomes the sum of its parts. Often-times funny, it’s just not quite as good as it should be. Liar Liar in reverse then, with the Jim Carrey vehicle being perhaps a tad better. Still it’s worth a quite night in front of the fire. Out now on Blu-Ray and DVD.

The fifth and final movie out this week is a remake of the 1989 British classic The Firm. Focusing on the world of football hooliganism the film follows Dom, a bright, funny young man who is quickly caught up in the glamour of the football firms. When the violence begins to get out of hand he seeks a means of escape, but once you’re in then you’re in for life. The movie moves away from the original in following a minor character from the first rather than the one portrayed by Gary Oldman, and it’s a wise move. It’s a slick, polished affair that manages to convey a powerful message without vilifying or glamorising violence. A very watchable, if not quite enjoyable movie, it’s out now on DVD.

TV on DVD

In Treatment- Season 1: Featuring our very own Gabriel Byrne, In Treatment is a HBO series which follows the trails and tribulations of a therapist and his interactions with those he treats. Each of the nine episodes eavesdrops on a weekly therapist-patient session, and are as much an insight into the lives of the patients as they are the doctors. A unique and deep thinking series it’s one for those who like their TV with a heavy dose of intellectualism.

Doctor Who - Dreamland: This was the second animated Doctor Who series to air on television, starring David Tennant as the Tenth Doctor. The original series aired in 6 parts, one 12 minute episode followed by five 6 minute ones. All are included here alongside three 60 minute Greatest Moment features about the last 4 years of the Doctor. The series sees the TARDIS land in a remote American desert, where the Doctor is swiftly led to Area 51, and sets about freeing Rivesh Mantilax from the threat of the ruthless Viperox and the clutches of the American military. The writing is not on the level of the proper TV show but it’s an enjoyable distraction whilst we wait for the Eleventh Doctor’s first outing.