STACK#127 May 2016

DVD & BD

REVIEWS

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The stakes are high. THE GAMBLER

A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption. UNBROKEN

Release Date: 27/05/15

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Release Date: 14/05/15

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It's good to see Mark Wahlberg in a dramatic role where he isn't playing a cop. In this slick remake of the 1974 film that starred James Caan, Wahlberg plays a self-destructive English literature professor with a gambling problem and a mountain of debt to unsavoury characters. Despite losing plenty on the blackjack tables, Wahlberg's compulsive gambler remains indifferent to his financial plight, so it's difficult to feel any sympathy for his cynical character. But there's plenty to enjoy in the terrific performances from Jessica Lange, as his

Hollywood's output of inspirational true stories continues to introduce viewers to individuals who triumph over incredible odds. Louis Zamperini's story is a great example; an Olympic athlete who became a bombardier during World War II, survived a plane crash into the ocean, and spent 47 days adrift before being captured by the Japanese Navy and interred in a POW camp. Unbroken is a testament to Zamperini's courage and fortitude, adapted from Laura Hillenbrand's bestselling biography (with input from the Coen brothers) and directed for the screen by Angelina Jolie.

frosty cashed-up mother, and a bald and fearsome John Goodman as a loan shark, whose repayment terms make payday lenders seem reasonable. Screenwriter William Monahan ( The Departed ) has a flair for colourful dialogue and tough guy ranting, which also pays dividends.

It's a big, epic and ambitious film, and Angelina impressively pulls it off; you can't fault her skill behind the camera, nor the committed performance by rising star Jack O'Connell ( Starred Up ). But something gets lost in translation: the film is never as involving or as moving as it should be. • See page 38

Gone girl. THE CAPTIVE

Hack attack. BLACKHAT

Release Date: 13/05/15

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Release Date: 14/05/15

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You can usually expect two things from Canadian filmmaker Atom Egoyan – a non-linear narrative and a cold and chilly atmosphere. His latest movie, The Captive , doesn't disappoint; Egoyan has crafted a fractured, slow burn mystery involving the abduction of a child and her father's desperate search for answers. Scott Speedman and Rosario Dawson play the detectives investigating the disappearance of another woman, whose connection to the kidnapping of Ryan Reynolds' daughter soon becomes apparent.

When cyber-terrorism creates chaos in the financial markets and compromises a nuclear plant in Hong Kong, convicted hacker and tech genius Chris Hemsworth is offered a temporary get-out-of-jail- free card in exchange for assisting the FBI to track down the person responsible. Directed by Michael Mann, who's been absent from screens since 2009's Public Enemies , Blackhat is a topical techno- thriller saturated in the filmmaker's signature visual dazzle and neon glow, with the camera plunging

This is a deeply disturbing thriller that taps into every parent's worst nightmare and adds a frightening new perspective on the subject of Internet predators. A companion piece to Denis Villeneuve's Prisoners – just don't watch them both as a double feature!

into and traversing the datastream in a flashy sequence worthy of David Fincher. Having bypassed local cinemas, this is a home entertainment exclusive and is best viewed on Blu-ray to better appreciate Mann's visual tour de force. Like Swordfish, only better.

MAY 2015 JB Hi-Fi www.jbhifi.com.au

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