DVD Reviews

Frost/Nixon
Cast: Frank Langella, Michael Sheen, Kevin Bacon director Ron Howard
Genre: Drama/History
Rating: 15
In 1974, President Richard Nixon resigned after his involvement in the Watergate break-in, and its subsequent coverup, came to light. Some called it the greatest felony in American history, but soon he was granted full pardon by his successor Gerald Ford. British talk show host David Frost was in Australia when these events unfolded. Sensing the potential for worldwide fame, he put his own money on the line and got Nixon to agree to a TV interview. The president would get a fee of $600,000 and an opportunity to rebuild his reputation. The interview looked like a one-sided debate, with Nixon on top till the former President uttered the shocking words: "I'm saying that when a President does it, it's not illegal". Frost then got Nixon to admit that he had made mistakes: "I let them [the American people] down, I let down my friends, I let down my country".

Frank Langella as President Nixon and Michael Sheen as Frost are brilliant. Special features include clips from the actual interview and feature commentary with director Ron Howard.

24: Redemption
Cast: Kiefer Sutherland, Robert Carlyle, Hakeem Kae-Kazim, Cherry Jones, Jon Voight
Director: Jon Cassar
Genre: Action/Drama
Rating: 15
Fans of the television series 24 will be happy to know that Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) is back. But 24: Redemption also allows people who have never seen Bauer in action a chance to get to know him. Having watched this feature-length version, you will probably be surfing the TV channels for season seven of the show. In Sangala, a fictional country in Africa, Prime Minister Matobo is on the verge of being toppled by General Juma (Tony Todd). Assisting him in drafting child soldiers for the People's Freedom Army is Colonel Ike Dubaku (Hakeem Kae-Kazim).

Bauer, who has been subpoenaed by the US Senate and is on the run from his country, has taken temporary refuge in a mission for boys run by his friend Carl Benton (Robert Carlyle). When Dubaku's men try to overrun the mission and abduct the 14 inmates, Bauer is there to save the day.

But there's another twist in the plot: the coup attempt is sponsored by powerful people in the US Administration.

Marley and me
Cast: Owen Wilson, Jennifer Aniston, Eric Dane
Director: David Frankel
Genre: Comedy/Drama
Rating: PG
John Grogan (Owen Wilson) is right. Marley is the world's worst dog. Apart from zipping about on the streets as if his tail was on fire, Marley loves to wreck homes. The furniture, the carpet, the door anything he can lay his paws on is history. As Grogan says, "He once ate an answering machine, just polished it off& and then had the phone for dessert".

Even the dog trainer gives up on him. "This," she says, "is a classic example of a dog who has foolishly been allowed to believe he is the alpha male of the pack."

As the movie begins, Grogan gets Marley, a Labrador pup, as a gift for his wife Jen (Jennifer Aniston). He's a news reporter and she's a features writer. One day, Jen falls pregnant. After that she decides it's best to be a homemaker and quits the office. Then comes another baby, and then another one. Soon it's apparent that handling three kids is no joke and Marley just adds to Jen's misery. The dog, says Jen, has to go. But Grogan considers Marley a part of the family. How can he let him go?