Release

DVD weekly: Superpowers and silent film stars

Matt,
Ali

28th May 2012

Welcome to this week's new DVD and Blu-ray releases! Oh, you came here looking for the latest 'truthful posters' feature? (*sigh*) That's next door.

Released: Monday 28th May 2012

Chronicle (2011) DVD & Blu-ray
Buy the DVD on Amazon for £9.99

Chronicle

Since the start of Hollywood's most recent comic-book boom, we've seen every incarnation of superhero story: those with not-so secret identities, those with a super-powered family, those forced to come out of retirement, animated supervillains learning to love, alien superheroes, realistic superheroes, normal people playing at being superheroes in real life...and now this - normal kids all suddenly endowed with super-abilities. And the story is presented as found footage, because that's quite popular these days too.

Of course there's nothing wrong with any of this, particularly when the finished product is as well-told and polished as this tense, exciting story, which is wrapped up in angst, moral quandaries and an FX portfolio that will make you double take at super speed. The fairly basic plot involves three high school teens who discover a weird glowy thing that, weeks later, they discover has given them each the power of telekinesis. So far, so Alex Mack, but while two of the teens are very popular, the other one - Andrew - is a loser, mourning his dying mother, bullied by his dad and classmates and generally quite resentful at the world around him. Guess which one of the three starts to spiral out of control...

While this brief synopsis sounds a little simple, the film is a far more in-depth look at Andrew's deteriorating state of mind and how, even after he finds himself among friends for the first time, his newfound powers ultimately corrupt him into becoming a very serious, very real threat to those around him. With great power comes great responsibility? For Andrew, great power results in a chance to prove himself superior to everyone else. And it's a huge credit to lead actor Dane DeHaan, that Andrew still remains a sympathetic character, even when he is at his terrifyingly creepiest.

Then there's Chronicle's other big selling point. This is economic movie-making at its most eyebrow-raising, and the film sets a new high benchmark for 'the CGI is incredibly impressive considering the low budget' discussions. If Superman made you believe that a man can fly, Chronicle will make you believe a man can destroy cars with the power of his mind and lose all sense of morality. Considering the whole film looks like it could have been shot on a mobile phone, you'll spend half of the movie wondering "how the HELL did they film that?"

Admittedly, the found footage device might seem a little needless and forced in places - the whole film is shot as though being documented by Andrew, so when the story doesn't allow for this, we switch to other people's cameras instead, which jars a little. But overall it makes for an intimate and, at times, uncomfortable viewing experience that adds to the film's tightly wound tone.

Best of all, despite the moralising message presented here, you'll still finish this film wishing you had these powers. In fact, if it were me, I'd probably try to make someone's heart explode in their chest just to see if I could. Matt
The Artist (2011) DVD & Blu-ray
Buy the DVD on Amazon for £9.99

The Artist

What is left to be said about The Artist – Best Picture winner, Palm Dog champion, Toby Young's least favourite film of the year – that hasn't already been said? Not a lot, to be honest: thankfully, Michel Hazanavicius' silent ode to the golden age of cinema speaks for itself – or at least it would if it wasn't… well, you get the idea.

Jean Dujardin rightly got journalistic panties in all sorts of twists, with an expertly overplayed physical performance as over-the-hill film star George Valentin, but – Oscar nomination aside – not much has been made of Mrs Hazanvicius' contribution to her husband's picture. Bérénice Bejo is sublime as rising star Peppy Miller, giving a performance so light and radiant you half forget you're watching a black and white film. Together the pair share the best on-screen chemistry since Breaking Bad – it's so rare these days to have a romance that actually feels genuinely romantic at its core.

Without a doubt one of the most worthy Best Picture winners so far this millennium, surely only someone with a rock-like heart of stone could fail to find it utterly uplifting – it's a magic hot air balloon of a movie that'll whisk you away to another time and place entirely. It's entirely possible The Artist will be the only movie you and your nan will both enjoy.

I could have done without the new Linkin Park score on the DVD, mind. Ali

Read the original review
Also out this week

A Beautiful Mind Blu-ray
Awakening Blu-ray
Chinatown Blu-ray
Iron Sky DVD & Blu-ray
Island Of Lost Souls Blu-ray
Journey 2: The Mysterious Island DVD & Blu-ray
Klitschko DVD & Blu-ray
Like Crazy DVD
Love Story Blu-ray
Martha Marcy May Marlene DVD & Blu-ray

More:  DVD Weekly
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