New to Buy:- Take a Trip Back to 80s

SON OF RAMBOW

(Cert 12, 91 mins, Optimum Home Entertainment, Comedy/Drama, also available to buy DVD pounds 19.99/Blu-ray pounds 24.99)

Starring: Bill Milner, Will Poulter, Jessica Hynes, Ed Westwick, Jules Sitruk, Neil Dudgeon.

Will Proudfoot (Milner) is an outcast. His mother, Mary (Hynes), is a member of the Plymouth Brethren, which forbids Will from film, TV and the radio. Consequently, the youngster retreats into his sketchbook, where he conjures up imaginary worlds. At school, Will meets troublemaker Lee Carter (Poulter), who lives with his older brother Lawrence (Westwick).

The boys spend the afternoon together, during which Will watches a pirate copy of Rambo: First Blood. Inspired, Will agrees to perform stunts in Lee’s home movie, to enter in a national competition.

Tensions flare when French exchange student Didier (Sitruk) tries to muscle in.

Son Of Rambow is a delightful coming of age story harking back to the 80s. Garth Jennings’ film is irresistibly charming, blessed with lead performances from the two youngsters: Milner the vulnerable dreamer, Poulter the cheeky rapscallion.

DVD Extras: Director, producer and actors’ commentary, featurette, interviews, contest winner, short film, geography lesson.

IN BRUGES

(Cert 18, 104 mins, Universal Pictures (UK), Comedy/Thriller/ Action/Romance, also available to buy DVD pounds 19.99)

Starring: Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, Ralph Fiennes, Clemence Poesy, Jordan Prentice, Thekla Reuten.

In the aftermath of a bungled hit, gunmen for hire Ray (Farrell) and Ken (Gleeson) head for the continent to await instructions boss Harry (Fiennes). Ken is delighted by the detour, but Ray drowns his sorrows.

During one session, Ray charms drug dealer Chloe (Poesy) and befriends a dwarf American actor called Jimmy (Prentice).

Meanwhile, Ken makes contact with Harry and is given his next assignment, to be kept secret from his partner in crime. Blessed with the same moribund wit and explosive violence as his award- winning stage plays, Martin McDonagh’s film directorial debut is a gloriously offbeat jaunt through modern day Belgium in the company of two hopelessly mismatched hit men. Rapport between the leads is interrupted by a slightly undernourished romantic subplot.

DVD Extras: Extra scenes, gag reel, three featurettes.

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