Didsbury-Magazine-Jun-Jul-2013

Reviews
Words John Waddington
DVDs
I GIVE IT A YEAR
I Give It A Year is a brandnew
comedy from the writer
of Borat and Bruno that lifts
the veil on the realities of the
first year of marriage. Starting
where other romantic comedies finish, I Give It A
Year asks what happens after the epic romance and
the fairytale wedding, when the confetti has been
recycled and the presents packed away.
TO ThE WONDER
To The Wonder is the beautiful
and acclaimed latest offering
from Terrence Malick, the
legendary director of The Tree
of Life and Badlands. Neil is a
man torn between the love of two women, Marina
and Jane, while his doubts about life and love are
reflected in the crisis of faith experienced by Father
Quintana, who only sees pain and the loss of hope
in the world. A romantic, sorrowful and moving film.
FOR ELLEN
Aspiring rock star Joby Taylor
finally agrees to sign divorce
papers with his estranged wife
but discovers he is about to forfeit
all custody of his six-year-old
daughter Ellen. Even though he has never been in his
daughter’s life, Joby suddenly realises he’s not ready to
give up his right to fatherhood, and aided by his goodnatured
lawyer sets across a wintry US landscape to try
and see her before it is too late.
FILMS
AFTER EARTh
Director: M Night Shyamalan
Sci-fi odyssey ‘After Earth’ follows Cypher and his son
Kitai, galactic adventurers who make an unscheduled
stop on Earth when their spaceship crashes. Finding
themselves on a planet evacuated by the human race
and now ruled by a super-evolved animal species, the
pair must undertake an epic and perilous journey to call
for help, with each depending on the other for survival.
The ever-dependable Will Smith shines in this classic
slice of sci-fi.
A hAUNTED hOUSE
Director: Michael Tiddes
Hilariously spoofing the ‘camcorder horror’ genre, A
Haunted House tells the story of what happens when a
lovestruck young couple realise they have an unwelcome
house guest. Starring Marlon Wayans, Essence Atkins
and Cedric the Entertainer as the hapless priest brought
in to rid their home of the troublesome demon, A Haunted
House promises screams of laughter all the way.
74 I JUNE/JULY 2013
Music
STEVE MARTIN &
EDIE BRICkELL
Love Has Come For You
Some straight-up banjo pickin’
bluegrass from that Steve
Martin, and US county/folk star
Edie Brickell. The banjo has always been a part of
Steve Martins life, so this isn’t just a case of ‘actor
tries his hand at music’ (hello Keanu Reeves). These
are really well-written songs, played impeccably and
with passion. However, the album is let down by
overly slick production - big budgets don’t always
mean great records.
MIChAEL BUBLé
To Be Loved
Everyone’s second-favourite
crooner, Micky Bubbles just
keeps setting them up and
knocking them down, hitswise.
Already a number one bestseller, the lovable
lothario’s new album has enough light jazz ballads
and up-tempo swing-dance numbers to keep any
wedding disco dance floor packed. Whether you
love him or hate him, you’ve got to admit the boy
can sing.
PhYLLIS hYMAN
Goddess Of Love ~
Expanded Edition
This classic piece of early 80s
soul finally gets a CD reissue,
with three bonus tracks!
Legendary soul producer Thom Bell’s production
work on the six songs provides Phyllis with the
perfect setting for her distinctive vocal style – a
fusion of pop, soul and jazz. Highlights include
brilliantly orchestrated ‘Your Move’, ‘My Heart’, the
poignant ‘Falling Star’, and the slice of classic Philly
soul,‘We Should Be Lovers’.
ThE BIG WEDDING
Director: Justin Zackham
Madcap romantic comedy ‘The Big Wedding’ invites
us to a wedding with a difference, where separated
couple Don and Ellie, played by Robert De Niro and Diane
Keaton, are forced to reunite and play husband and wife
at their son’s big day. But as the families gather, cracks
soon begin to show in the proud parents’ charade, with
hilarious consequences.
FILMS
After Earth
A Haunted House
Books
ThE FOSTER hUSBAND
Pippa Wright
Kate left her seaside home-town of Lyme Regis
for the bright lights of London when she was
18, and never looked back. She had it all: the
glamorous career, the lovely house, the gorgeous
husband. But now she’s back, and living in her
dead granny’s bungalow. Worse still, she’s forced
to share the bungalow with Ben, the clueless and
domestically challenged fiancé of her bossy sister
Prue. Of course, you don’t have to be Mystic Meg
to predict that romance ensues.
ThE WhITE PRINCESS
Philippa Gregory
The haunting story of the mother of the Tudors,
Elizabeth of York, wife to Henry VII. The young
princess Elizabeth faces a conflict of loyalties
between the red rose and the white. Forced
into marriage with Henry VII, she must reconcile
her slowly growing love for him with her loyalty
to the House of York, and choose between her
mother’s rebellion and her husband’s tyranny.
Makes today’s royalty look positively boring.
ONE WOMAN TOO MANY
Ruby M Ayres
A timely reprint of one of Ayres’ classic romantic
novels. Although Ayres was known primarily for
her romance titles, she also wrote serials for
the Daily Chronicle and Daily Mirror, as well as
motion pictures in the United States and England.
She is regarded as one of the most popular and
prolific romantic novelists of the 20th century,
and this is one of her best works, issued in a very
nice classic-style jacket.
The Big Wedding