The latest movies on DVD reviewed
ATONEMENT *****
Directed by Joe Wright. Starring James McAvoy, Keira Knightley, Saoirse Ronan, Romola Garai, Brenda Blethyn, Vanessa Redgrave, Juno Temple, Gina McKee 15 cert
Ian McEwan's riveting novel, in which a reckless allegation wrecks lives and causes decade-long guilt and regret, transfers seamlessly to the screen in a consummate adaptation that is nominated for seven Oscars. Outstanding among the fine cast are McAvoy in a touching, understated performance and remarkable young Irish actress Ronan, who demonstrates a distinctive screen presence.
THE HEARTBREAK KID ***
Directed by Peter Farrelly and Bobby Farrelly. Ben Stiller, Michelle Monaghan, Jerry Stiller, Malin Akerman 16 cert
The Farrellys' passable updating of a 1970s Neil Simon comedy finds Stiller's nerd falling in love with another woman while on honeymoon. As is often the case with these film- makers, the comedy is at its best when at its most stupid and, sadly, there is a little too much insipid spooning going on for comfort. The brothers provide a surprisingly sober commentary for the DVD.
AND WHEN DID YOU LAST SEE YOUR FATHER? ***
Directed by Anand Tucker. Starring Jim Broadbent, Colin Firth, Gina McKee, Juliet Stevenson, Matthew Beard 15 cert
This solid adaptation of Blake Morrison's meditation on his troubled relationship with his father - the old bully had an affair with a family friend - is beautifully shot and features grounded performances from Firth and Broadbent. The picture is, however, somewhat short on psychological insight. Decent, but far from incandescent.
HALLAM FOE ****
Directed by David Mackenzie. Starring Jamie Bell, Sophia Myles, Ciaran Hinds, Jamie Sives, Claire Forlani, Maurice Roeves 18 cert
Bell precisely captures a disturbed teen in all his intensity and anxieties as he becomes besotted with an older woman, an Edinburgh hotel manager (Myles) who closely resembles his recently deceased mother. Writer-director Mackenzie laces the intriguing, pleasingly unpredictable drama with streaks of dark humour. MD
PARIS, JE T'AIME ***
Various directors. Starring Fanny Ardant, Juliette Binoche, Steve Buscemi, Willem Dafoe, Ben Gazzara, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Bob Hoskins, Nick Nolte, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Natalie Portman, Gena Rowlands, Rufus Sewell, Elijah Wood 15 cert
Inevitably, the standard is uneven in this omnibus of 18 short films set in the French capital. The most satisfying segments are directed by Walter Salles, Gurinder Chadha, Gus Van Sant, Isabel Coixet, Frédéric Auburtin and Gérard Depardieu, Joel and Ethan Coen, and best of all, the final episode by Alexander Payne. MD
ROCKET SCIENCE ***
Directed by Jeffrey Blitz. Starring Reece Daniel Thompson, Anna Kendrick, Nicholas D'Agosto 15 cert
Blitz follows the spelling bee documentary Spellbound with a calculatedly quirky picture of teen angst, set among ambitious high school debaters. It's refreshingly unconventional as it adeptly sidesteps the potential cliches of the coming-of-age genre.
