Holy Motors
(Artificial Eye, cert 18, Blu-ray/DVD)
A French drama that starts to make sense only towards the end, after Kylie Minogue has sung us a song, just part of a mad mix of situationist vignettes featuring the physically amazing Denis Lavant in many bizarre disguises. Brilliant.
Keep the Lights On
(Peccadillo, cert 18, Blu-ray/DVD)
Ten years in the relationship of a New York gay couple — from breathless early coupling, through drugs and promiscuity to … well, that would be telling. It’s a part-autobiography by writer/director Ira Sachs and, like his Forty Shades of Blue, it’s a breath of fresh air.
Looper
(Entertainment One, cert 15, Blu-ray/DVD)
A striking, noirish stroll in Philip K Dick territory in which Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays a hitman killing guys from the future. Until his own future self (Bruce Willis) turns up. Uh oh.
The Queen of Versailles
(Dogwoof, cert E, DVD)
A cracking documentary asking us to feel the pain of billionaire David Siegel and his trophy wife as his timeshare empire falters. The West’s financial crisis in one fascinating, frequently boggling story.
Ashes
(Entertainment One, cert 15, DVD)
Ray Winstone as a hard man with Alzheimer’s — the USP of this thriller that plays like a cross between Rain Man and Unforgiven. The subject matter isn’t exactly going to revive Blockbuster but Winstone and co-star Jim Sturgess pull it off.
5 Broken Cameras
(New Wave, cert E, DVD)
The cameras belong to a Palestinian whose land was cut in two by the Israeli security barrier and we get to see how they got broken — a bullet is lodged in one. A powerful documentary, and not as partisan as you might expect.
Paranorman
(Universal, cert PG, Blu-ray/DVD)
After a slow start this kiddie-flick in the new Aardman style (CGI pretending to be claymation) — about a boy who can see dead people — manages 40 minutes of whizzy Roald Dahl-ish fun before heading for an affirmative icky ending.
BOX SET
Die Hard 25th Anniversary
(Fox, cert 18, Blu-ray, £39.99)
With A Good Day to Die Hard out soon, a commercially sensible time for the Blu-ray debut of the first four films. The shedload of new extras should get a yippee-ki-ay from Die Hard diehards, at least.
