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Three Derek Jarman films from BFI in January
21 December 2007

A former production designer (he was the man who created the extraordinary sets for Ken Russell's The Devils) who became one of Britain's most respected and individualistic directors, Derek Jarman's untimely death left us with a memorable and sometimes controversial back-catalogue of work, some of which is long overdue for respectful DVD treatment. Enter the BFI, who have just announced three the region 2 DVD release of three of Jarman's films for January 2007, each made with the BFI Production Board, whose aim was to foster innovation in British filmmaking, and each now digitally restored and remastered and, we are assured, with extensive and illuminating extra features.

Caravaggio (1986) was a project Jarman struggled for seven years to bring to the screen, the story of seventeenth-century Italian artist Michelangelo da Caravaggio being released to considerable critical acclaim, a freely dramatised portrait of the controversial artist and a powerful meditation on sexuality, criminality and art whose cast includes Nigel Terry, Sean Bean, Robbie Coltrane, Nigel Davenport, Dexter Fletcher, Michael Gough and, in her first film role and first of several for Jarman, Tilda Swinton.

The new BFI disc will include the following special features:

Wittgenstein (1987) is Jarman's boldly offbeat biography of one of the great philosophers, a visually arresting work that addresses the the politics and sexuality of the great but troubled man, brilliantly played by Karl Johnson in what was to prove the director's penultimate film. Fine support, as ever, from a cast that includes Michael Gough and Tilda Swinton.

Special features will include:

All three films are released individually on 29th January at the RRP of £19.99 each.

More Directors' Showcase Titles from Warner in March
19 December

Following their announcement of the long-awaited release of both Performance and The Butcher Boy in February (full story here), Warner Brothers have confirmed a further six titles for their region 1 Directors' Showcase series. Although not quite as exciting as the first announcement, there are still some very interesting titles in here, some being given a little more than just the cursory movie-only release.

Payday (1973) is a rarely screened look at life on the road for a Johnny Cash-style country and western singer played by the splendid Rip Torn, and is regarded as one of the most true-to-life portrayals of this scene, not least for Torn's typically charismatic central performance. The film was directed by Canadian Daryl Duke, who also helmed the criminally unseen thriller The Silent Partner. The special features are:

Prince of the City (1981) arrives as a 2-disc special edition, although the listed extras give no clue as to quite why this status has been accorded the film, although it's 167 minute running time has presumably pushed what special features there are (and there aren't many) onto the second disc. Directed by Sidney Lumet from the book by Robert Daley, it stars Treat Williams as New York cop Danny Ciello, a man who agrees to help expose corruption in narcotics division in turn for charges against his own questionable practices being dropped by Internal Affairs, but soon finds himself unable to trust anyone around him. A typically powerful Lumet piece (based, like his previous and most famous cop corruption film Serpico, on a true story), it features a no-holds barred performance from Treat Williams and a fine support cast that includes Bob Balaban, Lindsay Crouse and Tony DiBenedetto. The named special features are:

Steelyard Blues (1972) was a notable early work for the dynamic but short-lived producing team of Tony Bill and Julia and Michael Phillips and was directed by first-timer Alan Mayerson, a promising director who moved almost immediately into television from which he has rarely strayed since (Police Academy 5, anyone?). Re-uniting Donald Sutherland and Jane Fonda from Klute as two members of a misfit group with just 10 days to restore an old Navy amphibian plane so that they can fly off to who knows where. Combining black comedy with 60's social protest, the film features a sparkling cast that includes Peter Boyle (sending up Marlon Brandon in The Wild One), Howard Hesseman, Morgan Upton and a young John Savage. Special Features:

Straight Time (1978) is an underrated study of an ex-con trying to play by the rules, but doomed by circumstance to fall back into his old ways, from the novel by Edward Bunker, then in San Quentin prison himself and later to find just a little acting fame as Mr. Blue in Reservoir Dogs. A pet project for its star, Dustin Hoffman, who started the project as director by eventually hired Ulu Grosbard to finish the film. Once again, a fine support cast, who include Theresa Russell, Gary Busey, Harry Dean Stanton and M. Emmet Walsh, make this one worth hunting out. The special features are listed as:

Tell Me a Riddle (1980) is probably the least seen and known of the bunch, this touching story of an elderly couple's last journey across America, starring Melvyn Douglas and Lila Kodrova and adapted from the short story by Tillie Olsen, honestly presents both the pains and the pleasures that come with old age. This one is a little short on extras, having only a Theatrical Trailer to back up the features.

Whose Life is it Anyway? (1981) stars Richard Dreyfuss is a sculptor who is paralyzed in a car accident and decides to fight in the courts for the right to die. A gripping and emotionally involving story with a fine supporting cast, including John Cassavetes, Christine Lahti and Bob Balaban (again). Special features are listed as:

All of the above titles will be released on 27th March 2007 at the SRP of $19.97.

New Police Story in February
18 December 2006

After a few years in Hollywood making watered-down actioners at the mercy of nervous insurance men, Jackie Chan makes a welcome return to Hong Kong cinema with the latest entry in the series that really established him on the international scene. New Police Story features Chan Hong Kong's top cop (also named Chan - now there's a chance thing!) who falls from grace when a disastrous raid leaves all of his men dead and the gang responsible still at large. Chan falls into a spiral of alcoholic despair, but is rescued from the gutter by the street-smart Frank (Nicholas Tse), who dreams of becoming a police officer, and the two set out to apprehend the gang and restore Chan's status with the department. New Police Story features Chan's old-school mix of slapstick comedy and show-stopping action scenes, including, including a destructive bus chase and an extended fight in a Lego store, reminding us just why Chan is still regarded as one of the greatest of all action stars.

New Police Story will be released on DVD in the UK on 5th February 2007 as a 2-disc set by Hong Kong Legends. The anamorphic widescreen picture and 5.1 and DTS Cantonese soundtracks will be supported by the following special features:

The RRP will be £19.99.

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