STACK #151 May 2017

DVD&BD REVIEWS

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The greatest comeback in sporting history. BLEED FOR THIS

A legend will be born. BLACK Sails: SEASON 4

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Release Date: 03/05/17

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Release Date: 24/05/17

With the likes of Raging Bull , Southpaw , The Fighter and myriad Rocky outings, it’s fair to say that the underdog boxer tale space is well and truly chockers. They all need to huddle up a bit closer now though, for this hard-hitting tale of triumph over adversity, starring Miles Teller, Aaron Eckhart and Katey Sagal, deserves its time in the ring. It’s the story of Vinny Pazienza (Teller). He may not be a household name like many of his contemporaries, but he did make world champion – although only through sheer

The fourth and final season of Starz's superb swashbuckling series wraps up in an action-packed 10-episodes that bring the conflict between the pirates and the British to all-out war. The scope is epic, the battles bloody, and the conclusion immensely satisfying. Shiver me timbers! As Captain Flint (Toby Stephens) and Blackbeard (Ray Stevenson) attempt to wrest control of Nassau fromWoodes Rogers (Luke Roberts), newly appointed pirate king 'Long' John Silver (Luke Arnold) sails towards a date with destiny

determination, after his manager wanted him to retire. An upcoming match against Roberto Durán has Vinny hungry like the wolf (sorry), but fate has other plans. Will Vinny get back up off the canvas, or will he be floored for good? AF (See page 30)

(and learns to fight on one leg) as the iconic buccaneer of Robert Louis Stevenson's classic tale Treasure Island . A masterful blend of fact and fiction, love and loss, Black Sails takes its place alongside Vikings as must-see historical drama. AC (See page 28)

BROADCHURCH: SERIES 3

THE LAST KINGDOM: SEASON 2

A STREET CAT NAMED BOB

THE LEGEND OF BARNEY THOMSON

Release Date: 17/05/17 Format:

Release Date: 10/05/17 Format:

Release Date: 10/05/17 Format:

Release Date: 03/05/17 Format:

The titular British seaside community is shaken by another shocking crime in the third and final season of this gripping police procedural. Investigating the sexual assault of a local woman at a 50th birthday party, DI Alec Hardy (David Tennant) and DS Ellie Miller (Olivia Colman) uncover sordid secrets and hidden agendas as the list of male suspects grows. After a lacklustre second season, Broadchurch returns to form with a cracking central mystery that will keep you guessing to the final episode. And once again, Colman and Tennant's detective double act is the highlight – the latter hasn't been this irascible since berating the Daleks! Highly recommended. SH

Shall we play a game...? Since the roaring success of Game of Thrones it isn’t surprising to find other tales of hairy folk with pointy weapons and pointier politics hitting our screens. Bernard Cornwell’s ninth century- set The Saxon Stories novels – now renamed to match the TV series’ title – are no exception, and the first series of eight episodes was impressive. This time we get 10 eps, continuing the story of Saxon orphan and fearless warrior Uhtred (Alexander Dreymon), who was raised by Vikings. As the war between his blood and those who took him in rages, his loyalties are naturally torn. As is anybody who gets in his vengeful way... AF

Renowned action director Roger Spottiswoode winds things down several notches from 007 and Air America , taking to London’s streets for this family dramedy based on the best-selling true story. Given a last chance to get his life on the rails, homeless recovering druggie James (Luke Treadaway) ekes out an existence busking. However, it’s a burglar in the shape of a cat, subsequently named Bob (Bob), that really helps James take command of his life. The two become inseparable, and a smash hit both busking and on YouTube... Any other flick hoping to be the feel-good tale of the year will really be pushing kit up hill to beat this. AF

Playing to type in canny fashion, Robert Carlyle's directorial debut shares a blackly offbeat theme with Trainspotting , which features one of the actor's best known characters in the wiry, ever menacing Begbie. The contrast here is Carlyle's character starts out as the titular mild-mannered barber, but when he accidentally kills his boss, events rapidly escalate, and soon the threat of violence hangs over everything like the setting's Glasgow damp. To cover his tracks, Barney Thomson turns to the most logical person – his mother (a grotesque and very funny Emma Thompson), and the pair find themselves matching wits against the veteran city detective played by no less than Ray Winstone! AC

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MAY 2017

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