NewDVDs

Latest DVDs reviewed

Latest DVDs reviewed

TRISTAN & ISOLDE **

Directed by Kevin Reynolds. Starring James Franco, Sophia Myles, Rufus Sewell, David Patrick O'Hara, Henry Cavill, JB Blanc 12 cert

An Irish princess carries out an illicit affair with her new husband's surrogate son. James Franco (about to cry) and Sophia Myles (recovering from a blub) generate scarcely enough chemistry to dissolve a Disprin, let alone spark up a romance sufficiently volatile to resonate through the ages. Bog-standard DVD extras.

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TAKE THE LEAD **

Directed by Liz Friedlander. Starring Antonio Banderas, Rob Brown, Yaya DaCosta, Dante Basco, Laura Benanti, Alfre Woodard PG cert

Lord save us from films where folk salvage broken lives by teaching some pastime to residents of the South Bronx. This time round it's ballroom dancing. Based on the life of the man whose story inspired the documentary Mad Hot Ballroom, Take the Lead, though blessed with a good lead performance, is too predictable to bother with.

Donald Clarke

Donald Clarke

Donald Clarke, a contributor to The Irish Times, is Chief Film Correspondent and a regular columnist