Robert Tanitch reviews the latest DVDs
THE FALL SERIES 1-3 (Acorn) is a superior psychological thriller set in Northern Ireland. The confrontation between the Detective Inspector (Gillian Anderson) and the serial killer (Jamie Dornan) is long delayed. Allan Cubitt, in his script and direction, constantly shifting from him to her and back, keeps up the pace and tension. Can she book him? Such is their attraction for each other It is always possible they will end up in bed together; well, in their dreams, at the very least. The personalities and performances of Anderson (glamorous, iceberg-cold, emasculating everybody she comes in contact with) and Dornan (loving dad, amnesia faker and very dangerous) are evenly matched. And then just when you think it’s all over, there’s another series and then another series on top of that. A mistake; the longer it goes on the slacker it becomes and loses its grip. The gory hospital sequences are over-extended. Still worth watching, though
THINGS TO COME (Fusion). Mia Hansen-Love’s much-admired film asks what happens to women after they reach 50. How do they cope? A middle-aged teacher of philosophy (Isabelle Huppert) loses her husband (divorce after 25 years of marriage), her mother (death), her children (left home) and her publisher. She thought her husband would love her forever. She is very philosophical about it and survives to enjoy her freedom. She loses a lot of her books, too (taken by her husband); but, hey, she gets to keep her mum’s obese black cat and is befriended by a former pupil (Roman Kolinka) turned radical. There is no drama. That’s the point. You think there will be sex but there is no sex. And that’s the point, too. Huppert, one of the best actresses, takes each blow in her stride.
LA GRANDE VADROUILLE (SudioCanal). Don’t Look Now We’re Being Shot At. 17 million French went to see this French World War 2 farce during its opening weekend in 1966 and it remained the most popular film in France until The Titanic was released. The French (Andre Bourvil and Louis de Funes) reluctantly help the Brits (a bomber crew led by Terry-Thomas who have parachuted into Paris) to escape the Nazi-Germans and fly-glide to the Free Zone. The French had a bad war and presumably enjoyed it because it was so far removed from reality. Allo Allo audience might enjoy it. But I doubt it. The actors work hard for very few laughs.
NOW YOU SEE ME 2 (Fox). Jesse Eisenberg, Mark Ruffalo, Woody Harrelson (playing twins), Dave Franco, Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman are back in a complicated and totally pointless and totally humourless sequel. They are joined by a bearded Daniel Radcliffe. None of them is likeable and there’s no magic whatsoever (except in the editing). Lots of people are going to be awfully disappointed and bored stiff. If you have seen the first Now You See Me, don’t bother.
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