Hecklerspray DVD Dirge: Vera Drake, Enduring Love, Taxi

There’s something of a British theme this time around, folks, what with two of the major releases over the next seven days having a distinctly Anglo-Saxon twist to them.

No, wait. Come back. There’s nothing to be scared of. Because - and believe us, hecklerspray has already scanned the heavens for signs of flying little piggies - these British films are actually quite good. Yes, the fart-lingering stench of The Full Monty and Snatch may have taken a temporary reprieve …

Instead, we get a big old slab of Mike Leigh earnestness in the shape of Vera Drake - don’t be put off by the snivelling Oscar nominations, as you’ll be missing a perfectly-crafted slice of cinematic heartbreak.

You wouldn’t want to watch Vera Drake if you’re in one of those special ‘antidepressant’ moods - obviously - but if intelligent provocative moviemaking floats your boat, we urge you to give it a spin. Not quite as good as Naked, true … but then nothing is ever quite as good as Naked, is it?

Of similar high quality is Enduring Love,  which comes as a huge surprise considering the fact that it emerged from the directorial gland of one Roger Michell, he of the mediocre Changing Lanes and the truly diabolical Notting Hill.

 In a thriller which - quite literally - hits the ground running, Daniel Craig fends off the unwelcome advances of scraggy-headed madboy Rhys Ifans with camera-stealing actorly aplomb. The supremely talented (although undeniably Moomin-like) Samantha Morton hovers around too, nestled in the background all nice and captivating.

Enduring Love isn’t perfect by any means, but in a world where drivel like Cellular is heralded as ‘gripping’ by the Sunday Times (whorey old Paul Ross in the News Of The World we could understand, but The Sunday Times?) something of this calibre is like finding a Faberge egg in a dirty pub toilet.

Two little charmers, then. But - as thousands of worn-out supply teachers are probably all saying this very moment - there’s always one, isn’t there? There’s always one class clown who has to spoil it for everybody else.

Hello there, Taxi 

Let’s face it - the original French version of this silly speeding cab caper wasn’t exactly a masterpiece. It had its moments (most notably the luminous Marion Cottillard) but - holy weeping petrol-fumes - a remake? A remake populated entirely by non-actors like Jimmy Fallon and Queen Latifah?

Why? hecklerspray has no idea, but after twenty minutes of this garbage the only thing we wanted to do with a four-wheeled vehicle was throw ourselves in front of it.

Anyway. There we go - another weekly dose of digital disc-shaped magic. All the above are available to buy or rent from Monday. Have fun …

[story by C J Davies]