Get the low-down on next week's DVD releases with Tom Leins, Devon's top critic

Sex, Leins & Videotape #5: Paignton’s resident film critic Tom Leins gives us the low-down on next week’s top DVD titles.

Inspired by the critically acclaimed BBC series of the same name, State of Play (Universal) is a heavyweight mainstream thriller that packs a fierce political punch.

A well-fed Russell Crowe turns in one of his best performances in years as Cal McAffrey, a hard-nosed veteran reporter who finds himself drawn into a case involving the murdered lover of a prominent politician. Stephen Collins (Ben Affleck), the politician in question, is an old college buddy of McAffrey, and the journalist finds his best interests sorely tested as the plot starts to thicken. The increasingly murky world of Dirty City politics is convincingly portrayed, and the post-9/11 political landscape seems suitably toxic. Taking its cue from the engrossing political thrillers of the 1970s, State of Play follows a sure-footed narrative curve that avoids clichés with refreshing verve. Admittedly, after the artfully handled build-up the climax does fall slightly flat, but there is much to enjoy here.

With his prolific work-rate, funny-man Seth Rogen leaves himself wide open to accusations that he is spreading himself too thin. Indeed, to many critics Observe & Report (Warner Home Video) was the overwhelming proof of this predicament. However, far from the laugh-free dirge it was portrayed as, Observe & Report is actually a darkly amusing character study peppered with bleakly hilarious one-liners. Rogen plays Ronnie Barnhardt, a delusional shopping mall security guard who launches his own bizarre investigation when a flasher starts to torment the mall’s patrons. Suffice to say, his antics don’t go down well with laid-back local cop Detective Harrison (Ray Liotta). If the plot sounds unremarkable, then the sting-in-the-tail is Ronnie’s Bipolar Disorder. The fact that Bipolar Disorder is being played for laughs will make some viewers feel understandably uncomfortable, but Ronnie’s affliction provides many of the best comedy moments. The ridiculous blend of crude gags and daft physical comedy recalls the similarly uneven Pineapple Express, and while Observe & Report may not be Rogen’s finest hour, the ubiquitous star possesses the charisma to keep things ticking over.

A big hit on the festival circuit, Blue Eyelids (Axiom Films) is a dreamy meditation on loneliness and desire in Mexico City. When factory employee Marina wins an all expenses paid trip to a sought-after beach resort, her solitary existence is thrown into chaos and she struggles to find a willing companion to accompany her on the trip. When fellow misfit Victor approaches her one day, claiming to be a long-lost school friend, Marina has no recollection of him, but allows him to befriend her nevertheless. The ensuing narrative explores the strange decisions that shy, awkward loners make in order to avoid solitude. The muted passions and big city anonymity are part of a very modern malaise, and Blue Eyelids is sweet and convincing throughout. This quirky, anti-rom-com is a remarkably self-assured debut, and what it lacks in excitement it makes up for in sweet-natured angst. A subtle, low-key treat.

Mismatched romance is also on the cards in Gigantic (Universal/Indi Vision), the latest in a long line of maladjusted US indie comedies. Brian Weathersby (Paul Dano) is a glum mattress salesman searching for fulfilment in an uncooperative world. When he crosses paths with the kooky Harriet (Zooey Deschanel) he quickly becomes infatuated with her dreamy free-spirit. Romance blossoms, but the odds are stacked against them. Just as the pair start to drift closer, Brian’s inexplicable plan to adopt a Chinese baby gathers steam and threatens to drive a wedge between the curious couple. Unfortunately, considering Gigantic’s comic intentions, genuine laughs are few and far between. Harriet’s brash father Al (John Goodman) provides most of the funniest moments, but in truth he feels like a refugee from a funnier movie. Too weird for genuine crossover success, Gigantic is a frustratingly patchy affair.

posted by Tom Leins