DONALD CLARKEreviews a selection of new DVDs
WATCHMEN **
Directed by Zach Snyder. Starring Jackie Earle Haley, Patrick Wilson, Billy Crudup, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Malin Akerman 16 cert
This adaptation of Alan Moore’s classic comic book – in which aging superheroes come together to avert nuclear annihilation in an alternate 1985 – is slavishly, unquestioningly faithful to the text. What we end up with is a colossal animated storyboard, augmented by indifferent performances and some moronically obvious music cues. A packed two-disc version is available.
CADILLAC RECORDS ***
Directed by Darnell Martin. Starring Adrien Brody, Jeffrey Wright, Beyonce Knowles, Cedric the Entertainer, Mos Def 15 cert
This lively biopic of Chess Records – the label that recorded Chuck Berry and Muddy Waters – plays fast and loose with the facts. Leonard Chess (Brody) is only about 50 per cent as devious as the real thing, and the chronology is highly compromised. But the performances (Knowles as Etta James, Mos Def as Berry) and recreations of the music are consistently first rate.
RELIGULOUS ***
Directed by Larry Charles. 15 cert
Bill Maher, HBO's wry agnostic libertarian, has a crack at religion. The film focuses to an unfair extent on soft targets. It cynically juxtaposes hilarious clips from dated religious films with shots of trusting, devout interviewees. In short, it is ad hominemand snide. It's also absolutely hilarious. Mind you, it seems Mr Maher has no more belief in DVD extras than he does in God.
