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View from the Couch You are in: surefish > faith > DVDs Date: 28 February, 2008
Steve Couch reviews Atonement, Ratatouille, Stardust and Run, Fat Boy, Run, as well as other new films on DVD Click on the title of the film to buy the DVD from amazon.co.uk and part of the sale will go to Christian Aid Atonement It’s always difficult when someone makes a film of a book that you love. Adapting a book to screen always involves changes, and there’s always the danger that some of the things that are most cherished by fans of the book won’t make it into the film. Often the result is a good film that is hated by fans of the book, and the greater the love of the book the greater the danger of disappointment. That said, let me declare my position: Ian McEwan’s Atonement is one my favourite books of recent years. For all the glowing critical reviews and award season buzz, I approached this with some anxiety: could it live up to the book? Faithfully recreates The answer is ‘sort of’. This is a fine piece of film-making, with an excellent cast whose acting faithfully recreates the style of the 1930s. None of the changes or omissions detract from the story, and the necessarily changed ending to the film achieves cinematically precisely what the novel’s finale achieves on the page. My one gripe is that Robbie’s experiences in France are rather truncated from the book. Even on this point, I happily concede that what we get in the film is true to the nature of those experiences, and works perfectly in the context of a movie. Atonement is a notable cinematic achievement. Not as towering an achievement as the book, but an excellent piece of work nevertheless. Anxious McEwan fans can sleep easily: his masterpiece is in safe hands. Non readers can also approach with confidence: this is an engrossing couple of hours for fans of serious drama, regardless of whether or not they know the book. And after you’ve watched the film, go and read the book too. • Click here for a Culturewatch TV video discussion of Atonement • Click here for a Damaris article about Atonement • Click here for a Damaris study guide to the book version of Atonement
So much that could have gone wrong. It’s a film about a rat who loves to cook. Rats and kitchens: hardly a recipe for winning over the squeamish. Hot (well, warmish) on the heels of the underwhelming Flushed Away, we are presented with another rodent-flavoured CGI offering. Would Ratatouille be as sumptuous as a Marks and Spencers ad, or just a warmed-through pile of soggy leftovers? Relax. Writer/director Brad Bird follows up The Incredibles with another legitimate contender for the title of Pixar’s best ever feature. Ratatouille is funny, sweet, and – yes – delicious. The tale of Remy the gourmet rat and his ambition to cook in a top Paris restaurant is a delight. The animation is Michelin star quality, with Bird and his team managing to chew everything they bite off. There are action set-pieces, comic set-pieces and all the subtle little touches that we’ve come to expect. The characters are rich and well-developed, and Remy the rat turns out to be one of Pixar’s most human leading men. One small gripe: an abundance of bonus material, spread over two discs, but it’s hard to tell who it’s aimed for. There’s not enough fun stuff for the kids (although what there is is very good indeed), and the plentiful range of ‘making of’ shorts are too, well, short to satisfy the curious movie buff. Extras apart, Ratatouille is a delight, a tasty treat from the first mouthful to the moment you find yourself licking the plate clean. My compliments to the chef.
Delightfully inventive fairytale nonsense. A young man enters an enchanted world in search of a fallen star, and gets caught up in political intrigue and evil witchcraft. Needless to say, a satisfying romp of an adventure follows, and it all ends happily ever after. Main baddies Michelle Pfeiffer and the ever-malevolent Mark Strong provide a sense of genuine jeopardy, and you should watch out for cameos from Robert DeNiro, Ricky Gervais and the great and the good of young British comic acting. That said, it’s the endearing performances from Charlie Cox and Claire Danes that provide the heart among the hokum. A Princess Bride for the noughties. • Click here for a Damaris article on Stardust
The premise of Run Fat Boy Run is a pattern of love as old as the hills: boy meets girl, boy impregnates girl, boy gets cold feet and runs out on wedding day, five years later boy tries to win girl back by running a marathon. This isn’t quite in the same league as Pegg’s recent successes Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz – perhaps the funniest two British movies of recent years – but Run Fat Boy Run is still an entertaining hoot with a gloriously ludicrous ending. Pegg’s regular cohorts – director and co-writer Edgar Wright, and supporting man Nick Frost – are replaced here by former Friends star David Schwimmer (his first movie as a director) and laconic stand-up Dylan Moran. In spite of Schwimmer’s presence behind the camera, this feels like a very British movie (so full credit to Mr. S’s sensitivity and willingness to immerse himself in the material, rather than bending it to his own personality). This is an undemanding watch, but none the worse for it. Run Fat Boy Run is probably the best comedy on DVD so far this year. If it is unlikely to keep its hands on the title all the way through to December, it will do just fine until something better comes to surge past it on the final lap. Good fun. Also released Michael Clayton Another of George Clooney’s moody and earnest projects. George is the eponymous lawyer in this tale of corporate sleaze and corruption. Gripping and tense, but somehow finishes up delivering less than it promises. And can anyone explain to me what makes him go look at the horses? Maybe I’m missing something. • Click here for a Damaris article on Michael Clayton Knocked Up Superbad Two slacker comedies from producer Judd Apatow, one (Superbad) for the teens and one (Knocked Up) for the Twentysomethings. Both are full of laddish grossness, as well as some subtler humour. Both of them (Knocked Up in particular) also have a considerably warmer heart than the casual observer might expect. But if you mind plentiful swearing, genitalia jokes and generally course subject matter, these really aren’t going to be your cup of tea. sherrybaby The ever-excellent Maggie Gyllenhaal brings hard-edged vulnerability as a single mum coming out of prison and off drugs, and trying to rebuild a life and a relationship with her young daughter. The film is OK, Gyllenhaal is fantastic. • Click here for a Damaris study guide on sherrybaby • Click here for a Damaris article on sherrybaby Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip This really did deserve better than cancellation after just one series. On the plus side, at least you can buy this knowing that you can get the complete works without having to fork over hundreds of pounds. It’s like The West Wing with a bit less gravitas, more of the playful funny stuff and that girl from The Office being English. A Mighty Heart Disappointing ‘based on a true story’ tale about a woman whose husband is kidnapped in the Middle East. Angelina Jolie has received rave reviews for her starring role, but A Mighty Heart just didn’t do it for me. • Click here for a Damaris article on A Mighty Heart
• Other DVD recommendations Steve Couch is a writer for Damaris Trust
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Ratatouille
Stardust
Run Fat Boy Run
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