It's hard to think of a couple better suited to play the romantic leads in Donizetti's comedy L'Elisir d'amore than husband-and-wife team Roberto Alagna and Angela Gheorghiu. Both are charming on stage, and both have voices to die for: Gheorghiu's dark liquid tones are particularly spine-tingling, and her coloratura abilities awe-inspiring, and though Alagna has mainly concentrated on the more spinto (powerful) roles of the tenor repertoire, in 1996 when this live production was recorded his voice was just a little fresher and lighter and thus perfect for the bel canto gracefulness of Donizetti's writing. His performance of "Una furtiva lagrima", for example, is meltingly sung and free from all temptation to overplay the high notes. Frank Dunlop's 1920s-set production doesn't quite produce the belly laughs some stagings manage (in Dulcamara's patter song, for example), but has a certain small-town wistful charm nonetheless. The orchestral accompaniment under Donizetti expert Evelino Pidò is spot on, and never falls into the banal "oom-pah" trap that such simple writing can often lead to. Overall, it's a production of great charm. On the DVD: L'Elisir d'amore comes to disc with a 52-minute film on the history of the opera and its recording, with contributions from Alagna and Gheorghiu, and subtitles in English, French, German, Spanish and Chinese. The Lyon opera house is particularly well set up for video recording, and Brian Large does a sophisticated job of capturing a live performance: it's hard to believe at some points that the cameras aren't actually on stage in the middle of the action. Just occasionally this leads to the singers not knowing where to look and seeming a trifle lost, but generally the performances work superbly well on the small screen. --Warwick Thomson
Autobiographical movies rarely get more truthfully moving than Antwone Fisher. The title is also the name of this fine drama's first-time screenwriter, a former Navy seaman who was working as a film-studio security guard when his life-inspired script was developed as Denzel Washington's directorial debut. This Hollywood dream gets better: unbeknown to the filmmakers, Derek Luke--a newcomer who won the title role over a throng of famous contenders--was also a friend of Fisher's, and the whole film seems blessed by this fortunate coincidence. Washington's sharp instincts as an actor serve him well, as both a subtle-handed director and Luke's costar playing Jerome Davenport, a Navy psychologist assigned to assess Fisher's chronic violent temper. Their therapy sessions prove mutually beneficial, as this touching true story addresses painful memories, broken desires, and heartfelt reunions without resorting to a contrived happy ending. Fisher's good life is worth celebrating, and Washington brings a delicate touch to the party. --Jeff Shannon Originally, Men of Honour was simply called Navy Diver and no doubt all involved held high hopes that it would be an award-winning biopic. Unfortunately, Carl Brashear's life as the first African-American Master Diver went through that vaguely distasteful contemporary Hollywood Marketing makeover and the result is not quite so worthy of its subject and intentions. The film's hopelessly clichéd tagline reads, "History is made by those who break the rules"; the direction is shot through with sunsets 'n' slow-mo; and the script is peppered with foreshadowing dialogue ("don't end up like me, son"). The plot devices follow a predictable arc: family poverty, a swiftly sweet romance, a shock accident, court hearing and, naturally, a grisly antagonist. It's with the last of these that the movie comes to life. We may have seen DeNiro spit nails countless times before, but his saltily intractable Master Chief is a terrific screen creation. Next to him, Cuba Gooding Jr really does shine as the endlessly persecuted Brashear. All-too brief cameos from Charlise Theron and Michael Rapaport lend sparkle too. But the film's message about how social attitudes toward race have changed is lost in a murky haze of Hollywoodisation. As one character declares, "some things just don't mix". --Paul Tonks
The best artists on the planet the biggest audience ever! The Berlin concert from the Live 8 simultaneous event that took place around the world on July 2nd 2005. Tracklist: 1. We Want Your Name (intro) 2. Die Toten Hosen - Wunsch Dir was 3. Die Toten Hosen - Steh auf wenn Du am Boden bist 4. Wir sind Helden - Nur ein Wort 5. Wir Sind Helden - Denkmal 6. Sohne Mannheims - Babylon system 7. BAP - Verdang Lang Her 8. Audioslave - Killing In the Name Of 9. Juli - Perfekte
In this Glasgow-set comedy, four twentysomethings - Sean, Vincent, Jody and Lenny - tackle those nagging issues, like growing up and being responsible.
Their story is written on his arm. If they can get a grip on each other maybe they can turn their lives around. Former hairdresser turned smart-mouthed junkie/loser known as J (Segal) spends his days looking for 'just one more fix' as his lifestyle alienates all those around him... This film is a gritty story of lust greed and deceit with Segal playing small time hustler lurking in the back alleys of the Big Apple trying to escape the self-spun web of treachery that threate
The odds were stacked against Ramn from the start. He was always an outsider and to keep himself sane he lived by a strict mantra: don't fight don't snitch and don't cry. When his family settles in Seville Ramn becomes victim to the unwanted attention of the school's most notorious crowd. Backed against a wall he is forced to break the first rule of his mantra. This sets in full swing a chain of events that opens Ramn's eyes to an entirely new world. In the throes of adoles
With a strong cast of Spanish stars Piedras is a pure reality bytes film. Following the story of five different women in Madrid all looking for a new start and a new chance in life - all leading seperate lives but their fates are soon entwined.
Ronin is the Japanese word used for Samurai without a master. In this case, the Ronin are outcast specialists of every kind, whose services are available to everyone - for money.
Tumble down the rabbit hole with Alice for a fantastical new adventure from Walt Disney Pictures and Tim Burton. Inviting and magical, Alice In Wonderland is an imaginative new twist on one of the most beloved stories of all time. Alice (Mia Wasikowska), now 19 years old, returns to the whimsical world she first entered as a child and embarks on a journey to discover her true destiny. This Wonderland is a world beyond your imagination and unlike anything you've seen before. The extraordinary characters you've loved come to life richer and more colorful than ever. There's the Mad Hatter (Johnny Depp), the White Queen (Anne Hathaway), the Red Queen (Helena Bonham Carter), the White Rabbit (Michael Sheen) and more. A triumphant cinematic experience - Alice In Wonderland is an incredible feast for your eyes, ears and heart that will captivate audiences of all sizes.
Rupert And The Snowglobe: Fun and adventures with Rupert The Bear and his friends. Features the episodes 'Rupert And The Snowglobe', 'Rupert's Magic Car', 'Rupert And The Weather Machine', 'Rupert And The Oldest Tree', 'Rupert Flies To Chedder Moon' and 'Rupert And The Toy Soldiers' Postman Pat's Magic Christmas: Christmas fun with Postman Pat and his black and white cat, Jess. Features the episodes: 'Postman Pat And The Greendale Rocket' in which the children find Greendale's forgotten train and all the village works hard to get the train back in working order for the opening of the new train station. In 'Postman Pat's Magic Christmas' Postman Pat has so many parcels to deliver in time for Christmas that he is not sure that he can make it in time... First Snow Of Winter: A hopeful tale about a brave little duck named Sean. When he misses the annual migration South for the winter, he is left alone and frightened. He stumbles into a friendship with a humorous friend named 'Voley', and it is their relationship that keeps them alive and optimistic. Frosty The Snowman: Remember when frosty was brought to life by a top hat on Christmas day? Sing along with your family to these memorable songs and relieve the adventures of Frosty and his friends. This original Christmas classic is a must-have for the holidays!
A young girl tries to cope with her mother's suicide in her own way in this chiller - but things soon turn nasty.
Adam: Giselle (Smith The Elizabethan Melbourne Orchestra)
This highly-rated production of Manon by The Australian Ballet was recorded live at the Adelaide Festival Centre in 1995 and features premier dancers Justine Summers Steven Heathcote Nigel Burley Jonathan Kelly Lynette Wills and Paul De Masson. In 18th century Paris Manon a captivating young woman falls passionately in love with a penniless student des Grieux. Manipulated by her avaricious brother she makes a fatal decision to shun her true love and exploit the pleasures of w
An opera in three acts from the Teatro Real Madrid. Enjoy the world premiere of the full and original version of Merlin by Isaac Albniz over a century after he completed the work. Albniz composed this 'Wagnerian' opera to an English libretto by his patron Francis Burdett Money-Coutts between 1898 and 1902. Many believed the score was lost until the conductor Jos De Eusebio reconstructed it from various manuscript sources and publishers' proofs. For this stunning production dire
In a country ruled by an occupying foreign empire Elenn an arrogant young noblewoman accompanies her aunt on a mission to bring an ancient relic to the secret coronation of the rightful king of their people. When her aunt is murdered Elenn hires a smuggler and criminal to escort her across the dangerous country to take her aunt's place at the coronation. But when Corvus a rogue magister employs a dark magic to retrieve the ancient relic for his own evil designs Elenn must find the humility and strength within herself to fulfill her aunt's calling to unite her people before the power of the relic falls into the hands of the empire.
A young woman inherits a decaying hotel on the edge of a Louisiana swamp unaware that more that fifty years ago it served as the gateway to hell and that it's horrific evil lives on to this day. Her dream to build a new life for herself becomes a nightmarish fight for survival as horrors straight out of Lovecraft's Book of Eibon lay their own claim to her property and the souls around her...
New York City detectives ""Popeye"" Doyle (Gene Hackman) and Buddy Russo (Roy Scheider) hope to break a narcotics smuggling ring and ultimately uncover The French Connection. But when one of the criminals tries to kill Doyle he begins a deadly pursuit that takes him far outside the city limits. Based on a true story this action-filled thriller with its renowned chase scene won five Academy Award in 1971 including Best Picture Best Director (William Friedkin) and Best Actor for
39 Steps: Alfred Hitchcock considered The 39 Steps to be one of his favourite films partly because it launched his classic theme of the innocent man on the run from villains and lawmen. Robert Donat stars as Richard Hannay in this freely adapted version of John Buchan's story. Despite repeated remakes Hitchcock's riveting original remains unequalled. The Man Who Knew Too Much: A husband and wife's holiday in Switzerland goes horribly wrong when their daughter is kidnapped leading them into a web of mystery and intrigue...
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