Michael Dwyerand Donald Clarkereview this week's new releases.
I'M NOT THERE
Directed by Todd Haynes. Starring Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett, Marcus Carl Franklin, Richard Gere, Heath Ledger, Ben Whishaw, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Julianne Moore, Michelle Williams, Bruce Greenwood 15 cert
In his fascinating experiment "inspired by the music and many lives of Bob Dylan," Haynes imaginatively chose six actors to enact those lives. Artfully drawing a portrait of the artist at the points when his life and music intersect, Haynes invests it with a depth of curiosity and a wry sense of humour. DVD extras include an interview with Haynes, the making of the soundtrack, and a tribute to Ledger.
MICHAEL DWYER
RAMBO
Directed by Sylvester Stallone. Starring Sylvester Stallone, Julie Benz 18 cert
A gang of humourless Christians hire Rambo, currently enjoying retirement in southeast Asia, to transport them upriver to distribute medicine and salvation. The film certainly delivers bang-for-bucks, but the story is so hokey and the star so creaky that it doesn't even work as an exercise in violent nostalgia. The DVD is packed with dull featurettes.
DONALD CLARKE
PENELOPE
**
Directed by Mark Palansky. Starring Christina Ricci, James McAvoy, Catherine O'Hara, Reese Witherspoon, Peter Dinklage, Richard E Grant PG cert
Ricci's character is born with the nose and ears of a pig. In order to lift the curse she must marry a posh bloke. The film is not odd like a David Lynch film. It's odd like the odd feeling you sometimes get before you have to rush to the lavatory with your hand over your mouth. Still, they deserve an extra star for sheer chutzpah.
DONALD CLARKE
MY BLUEBERRY NIGHTS
Directed by Wong Kar-wai. Starring Norah Jones, Jude Law, David Straithairn, Rachel Weisz, Natalie Portman 12 cert
Wong's first English-language film is a simplistic and contrived romantic yarn featuring singer Jones in an unremarkable movie debut as a lovelorn waitress and Law as an Englishman in New York.
MICHAEL DWYER
