"Director: Curtis Hanson"

• The Hand That Rocks The Cradle | DVD | (05/02/2001) from £6.99   |  Saving you £8.00 (114.45%)   |  RRP £14.99

  A potboiler featuring a demented caretaker and a seemingly hapless suburban family, this is The Nanny of the 1990s. However, it is much more predictable than that 1965 Bette Davis psychodrama, and more graphic. It works only because Rebecca De Mornay makes us intensely uncomfortable as the disturbed au pair who wants to take care of much more than her employer's well-being. Annabella Sciorra plays the perfect mother of a flawless family. Her obstetrician, however, is less than wonderful, having enjoyed her examination much more than he should have. When she files sexual harassment charges against the repugnant doctor, he loses face--literally--after shooting himself in the head. Several months later, an ideal nanny shows up at her home. You guessed it--she's the doc's widow. The movie follows a tried and trusted formula, with the audience in on everything. However, the story does surprise us in intense and intimate ways. The visit to the obstetrician is one of the creepiest moments in the film. You definitely hear the voice of writer Amanda Silver in a plot concerned with the vulnerabilities of a family, a newborn, a marriage. Since we know so much up front, there is an overall lack of inventiveness in the plot machinations. It may not jolt us, but De Mornay does. It's unsettling to watch someone who appears so attractive and who behaves so kindly suddenly reveal hideous psychopathic tendencies. Restraining herself from going over the top, she instead oozes such malevolence you'll want to shudder. --Rochelle O'Gorman

• 8 Mile | DVD | (02/08/2010) from £6.08   |  Saving you £13.91 (228.78%)   |  RRP £19.99

  Eminem makes his movie debut in this tale of an aspiring talented rapper in Detroit, and the most crucial week of his young life.

• Wonder Boys | DVD | (03/09/2001) from £5.99   |  Saving you £4.00 (66.78%)   |  RRP £9.99

  Michael Douglas stars as a feckless middle aged literary professor struggling to live up to his own successful past and sort out his chaotic present in this ensemble comedy that also stars Tobey Maguire, Frances McDormand and Robert Downey Jr.

• L.A. Confidential | DVD | (01/06/2006) from £8.42   |  Saving you £5.57 (66.15%)   |  RRP £13.99

  In a time when it seems that every other movie makes some claim to being a film noir, LA Confidential is the real thing--a gritty, sordid tale of sex, scandal, betrayal and corruption of all sorts (police, political, press--and, of course, very personal) in 1940s Hollywood. The Oscar-winning screenplay is actually based on several titles in James Ellroy's series of chronological thriller novels (including the title volume, The Big Nowhere and White Jazz)--a compelling blend of LA history and pulp fiction that has earned it comparisons to the greatest of all Technicolour noir films, Chinatown. Kim Basinger richly deserved her Supporting Actress Oscar for her portrayal of a conflicted femme fatale; unfortunately, her male costars are so uniformly fine that they may have canceled each other out with the Academy voters: Russell Crowe, Guy Pearce, Kevin Spacey and James Cromwell play LAPD officers of varying stripes. Pearce's character is a particularly intriguing study in Hollywood amorality and ambition, a strait-laced "hero" (and son of a departmental legend) whose career goals outweigh all other moral, ethical and legal considerations. If he's a good guy, it's only because he sees it as the quickest route to a promotion. --Jim Emerson

• The River Wild | DVD | (31/05/2002) from £9.97   |  Saving you £0.02 (0.20%)   |  RRP £9.99

  Hang on tight for a suspense-filled action-thriller starring Oscar-winner Meryl Streep in a stunning performance that will take your breath away! Streep portrays a former river guide who arranges a white-water rafting trip to celebrate her son's birthday and salvage her shaky marriage. Her skills and courage are soon put to the test when three mysterious strangers threaten to turn their vacation into a living hell...

• Chasing Mavericks | DVD | (04/11/2013) from £6.89   |  Saving you £13.10 (190.13%)   |  RRP £19.99

  Gerard Butler stars in this surfing drama. Santa Cruz teenager Jay Moriarty (Jonny Weston) discovers that the Mavericks surf break, one of the biggest waves on Earth, exists only a few miles from his home. Instantly gripped by the dream of surfing the wave, he begs local surfing legend Frosty Hesson (Butler) to help him achieve his goal. But with tide patterns dictating that the Mavericks is due to reappear in just 12 weeks, has Jay got what it takes to conquer this epic wave?

• The River Wild (Blu Ray) | Blu Ray | (21/05/2018) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  Oscar-winning actress Meryl Streep turns her hand to action films in this white-water knuckle-biter. Having decided to heal some family rifts, expert rafter Gail (Streep) takes her husband and their young son for a day out on the river. But the pleasant family adventure takes a turn for the worse when they encounter a couple of armed bank robbers (Kevin Bacon and John C. Reilly) who hijack the raft and take them into seemingly impassable rapids. It's now up to Gail to save the day and return them to safer waters.

• In Her Shoes | DVD | (13/03/2006) from £2.89   |  Saving you £17.10 (591.70%)   |  RRP £19.99

  Cameron Diaz and Toni Collette headline this romcom based on Jennifer Weiner's chick lit novel.

• 8 Mile | Blu Ray | (30/03/2009) from £14.83   |  Saving you £5.16 (34.79%)   |  RRP £19.99

  Eminem makes his movie debut in this tale of an aspiring talented rapper in Detroit, and the most crucial week of his young life.

• L.A. Confidential | DVD | (09/03/2009) from £13.48   |  Saving you £2.51 (15.70%)   |  RRP £15.99

  L.A Confidential a sordid tale of sex scandal betrayal and corruption throughout the police politics and press in 1940's Hollywood is a film noir masterpiece. The Oscar-winning screenplay is a compelling blend of LA history and pulp fiction. Kim Basinger's potrayal of conflicted femme fatale is outstanding and Pearce's character is an intriguing blend of amorality and ambition.

• Chasing Mavericks | Blu Ray | (05/11/2013) from £7.99   |  Saving you £17.00 (212.77%)   |  RRP £24.99

  Gerard Butler stars in this surfing drama. Santa Cruz teenager Jay Moriarty (Jonny Weston) discovers that the Mavericks surf break, one of the biggest waves on Earth, exists only a few miles from his home. Instantly gripped by the dream of surfing the wave, he begs local surfing legend Frosty Hesson (Butler) to help him achieve his goal. But with tide patterns dictating that the Mavericks is due to reappear in just 12 weeks, has Jay got what it takes to conquer this epic wave?

• L.A. Confidential | Blu Ray | (02/10/2017) from £7.99   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  In a time when it seems that every other movie makes some claim to being a film noir, LA Confidential is the real thing--a gritty, sordid tale of sex, scandal, betrayal and corruption of all sorts (police, political, press--and, of course, very personal) in 1940s Hollywood. The Oscar-winning screenplay is actually based on several titles in James Ellroy's series of chronological thriller novels (including the title volume, The Big Nowhere and White Jazz)--a compelling blend of LA history and pulp fiction that has earned it comparisons to the greatest of all Technicolour noir films, Chinatown. Kim Basinger richly deserved her Supporting Actress Oscar for her portrayal of a conflicted femme fatale; unfortunately, her male costars are so uniformly fine that they may have canceled each other out with the Academy voters: Russell Crowe, Guy Pearce, Kevin Spacey and James Cromwell play LAPD officers of varying stripes. Pearce's character is a particularly intriguing study in Hollywood amorality and ambition, a strait-laced "hero" (and son of a departmental legend) whose career goals outweigh all other moral, ethical and legal considerations. If he's a good guy, it's only because he sees it as the quickest route to a promotion. --Jim Emerson

• L.A. Confidential | Blu Ray | (09/03/2009) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £19.99

  L.A Confidential is a sordid tale of sex scandal betrayal and corruption throughout the police politics and press in 1940's Hollywood is a film noir masterpiece. The Oscar-winning screenplay is a compelling blend of LA history and pulp fiction. Kim Basinger's potrayal of conflicted femme fatale is outstanding and Pearce's character is an intriguing blend of amorality and ambition.

• Marley & Me / in Her Shoes | DVD | (04/08/2010) from £9.43   |  Saving you £-1.44 (N/A%)   |  RRP £7.99

  Marley And Me: Marley is the yellow lab adopted by Grogan (Owen Wilson) a columnist for the Philadelphia Inquirer and his wife. Their idea was to give them a taste of parenthood but the dog proved to be a hyperactive handful. He wreaks havoc everywhere he goes gets kicked out of obedience school and gets even worse when the children begin to arrive yet becomes an indispensable part of the family. In Her Shoes: Flirty flaky party girl Maggie (Diaz) and plain dependable lawyer Rose (Collette) are sisters best friends and bitter rivals who seem to have only two things in common: DNA and size 8 feet. Only when their love-hate relationship veers towards the hate end of the spectrum do they accidentally discover they also share a long-lost grandmother (MacLaine) who enriches their lives and helps them make peace with each other - and themselves!

• L.A. Confidential / The Negotiator / Devil's Advocate | DVD | (04/11/2002) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £23.99

  L A Confidential: L.A. Confidential is tough gorgeous and vastly entertaining (The New York Times) a genuine masterpiece that will knock your socks off (Rex Reed) and won 1997 Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actress (Kim Basinger) and Best Adapted Screenplay. Director Curtis Hanson and a terrific cast serve up a ravishing thrilling tale of police corruption and Hollywood glamour in this film version of James Ellroy's novel. Three Cops (Kevin Spacey Russell Crowe Guy Pearce) a call girl (Kim Basinger) a mysterious millionaire (David Strathairn) a tabloid journalist (Danny De Vito) and the Chief of Detectives (James Cromwell) fuel a labyrinthine plot rife with mystery ambition romance and humour. The Negotiator: Maverick hostage negotiator Danny Roman (Samuel L. Jackson) is framed for embezzlement and murder. Newly married and unjustly faced with prison Roman turns hostage-taker to smoke out the guilty ones. Squaring off against him is respected methodical negotiator Chris Sabian (Kevin Spacey). Under siege and racing the clock the two lock in a deadly battle of wits. Devil's Advocate: In this gleeful modern gothic fable Keanu Reeves plays eager Lomax and Al Pacino is the charismatic firm founder who knows there are cases to be won.... And soul to be lost. From Lomax's court triumphs and skyrocket rise to its double-twist ending The Devil's Advocate is red-hot entertainment. Lomax's life wife (Charlie Theron) and soul are on the line. He's landed a job that's Heaven on Earth...and which could lead him straight to hell.

• Lucky You | DVD | (22/10/2007) from £2.42   |  Saving you £14.57 (602.07%)   |  RRP £16.99

  Eric Bana stars as a poker ace who must face up to his demons both on and off the table in this drama.

• L.A. Confidential | Blu Ray | (15/04/2013) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £19.99

  Director Curtis Hanson and a terrific cast serve up a thrilling tale of police corruption and Hollywood glamour in this film of James Ellroy's novel. Three cops (Kevin Spacey Russell Crowe Guy Pearce) a call girl (Kim Basinger) a mysterious millionaire (David Strathairn) a tabloid journalist (Danny DeVito) and the Chief of Detectives (James Cromwell) fuel a plot rife with mystery ambition romance and humour. The film captured 1998 Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actress (Basinger) and Best Adapted Screenplay (Brian Helgeland and Curtis Hanson).

• L.A. Confidential | DVD | (02/10/2017) from £8.25   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  In a time when it seems that every other movie makes some claim to being a film noir, LA Confidential is the real thing--a gritty, sordid tale of sex, scandal, betrayal and corruption of all sorts (police, political, press--and, of course, very personal) in 1940s Hollywood. The Oscar-winning screenplay is actually based on several titles in James Ellroy's series of chronological thriller novels (including the title volume, The Big Nowhere and White Jazz)--a compelling blend of LA history and pulp fiction that has earned it comparisons to the greatest of all Technicolour noir films, Chinatown. Kim Basinger richly deserved her Supporting Actress Oscar for her portrayal of a conflicted femme fatale; unfortunately, her male costars are so uniformly fine that they may have canceled each other out with the Academy voters: Russell Crowe, Guy Pearce, Kevin Spacey and James Cromwell play LAPD officers of varying stripes. Pearce's character is a particularly intriguing study in Hollywood amorality and ambition, a strait-laced "hero" (and son of a departmental legend) whose career goals outweigh all other moral, ethical and legal considerations. If he's a good guy, it's only because he sees it as the quickest route to a promotion. --Jim Emerson

• The River Wild | DVD | (13/08/1999) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £19.99

  Meryl Streep tried her hand at action films with this Curtis Hanson film and proved herself quite credible, bringing emotion as well as the willingness to kick butt. She plays a suburban mum and former white-water rafting guide who is taking her family on a raft trip for summer vacation. But overworked Dad (David Strathairn) can't make the trip so she and her son leave without him--and walk right into trouble. Killers on the run (Kevin Bacon and John C. Reilly) abduct them and force Streep to take them down the most dangerous stretch of river to elude the cops. Hanson understands how to pace and construct this kind of action fodder but it's strictly formula stuff, enlivened only by the depth of Streep's portrayal and the viciousness of Bacon's character. --Marshall Fine

• 27 Dresses/What Happens In Vegas/In Her Shoes | DVD | (08/06/2009) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £9.99

  Titles Comprise: 27 Dresses centres around Jane (Ketherine Heigl) an idealistic romantic and completely selfless woman. Jane has always been good at taking care of others but not so much in looking after herself. Her entire life has been about making people happy - and she has a closet full of 27 bridesmaid dresses to prove it. One memorable evening Jane manages to shuttle between wedding receptions in Manhattan and Brooklyn a feat witnessed by Kevin (James Marsden) a newspaper reporter who realizes that a story about this wedding junkie is his ticket off the newspaper's bridal beat. Jane finds Kevin's cynicism counter to everything she holds dear - namely weddings and the two lock horns. Further complicating Jane's once perfectly-ordered life is the arrival of younger sister Tess (Malin Akerman). Tess immediately captures the heart of Jane's boss George (Edward Burns). Tess enlists her always-accommodating sister to plan yet another wedding - Tess and George's - but Jane's feelings for George lead to shocking revelations... and maybe the beginning of a new life. What Happens In Vegas stars Cameron Diaz and Ashton Kutcher as Joy and Jack two strangers who wake up together to find that they've gotten married following a night of debauchery in Sin City. To make matters worse one of them has won a huge jackpot after playing the other's quarter! The newlyweds devise ever-escalating schemes to undermine each other and get their hands on the money - only to find themselves falling in love amid the mutual backstabbing. In Her Shoes: Flirty flaky party girl Maggie (Diaz) and plain dependable lawyer Rose (Collette) are sisters best friends and bitter rivals who seem to have only two things in common: DNA and size 8 feet. Only when their love-hate relationship veers towards the hate end of the spectrum do they accidentally discover they also share a long-lost grandmother (MacLaine) who enriches their lives and helps them make peace with each other - and themselves! Adapted for the screen by Oscar-winning writer Susannah Grant (Erin Brockovich) from Jennifer Weiner's bestselling novel.