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  Specs
  • Widescreen 1.85:1
  • 16:9 Enhanced
  Languages
  • English: Dolby Digital Stereo
  Subtitles
    English - Hearing Impaired
  Extras

    Sweet Revenge

    Roadshow Entertainment/Roadshow Entertainment . R4 . COLOR . 86 mins . M15+ . PAL

      Feature
    Contract

    Henry Bell, devoid of any semblance of a life and having his job taken by one Bruce Tick, decides to end it all by jumping off the Tower Bridge. On the verge of doing so he hears a distress cry and is soon rescuing Karen Knightly from a similar fate. Deciding they’re mad at the people who put them there, they each swear to avenge the other’s nemesis, which puts Henry in the position of getting back at snooty Imogen Staxton-Billing. However, things aren’t always as they seem, and Henry soon discovers that as more information comes to light about Karen and her relationship to Imogen.

    This is a truly surprising comedy and one that I really enjoyed. It has some wickedly dark moments and some bizarre and unexpected moments lurking among its 86 minutes. Sam Neill is perfectly cast as the bookish Henry, talked into anything by anyone faster with words than he. Helena Bonham Carter is the true highlight of this film though, and it really belongs to her. In her manic evil child she is obviously enjoying herself immensely and this comes through in every scene she appears in. There is also an incredible supporting cast with marvellous character performances from Martin Clunes as the embittered husband of Imogen. Kristen Scott Thomas steps away from her usual roles and plays a gawky farmer’s wife in perfect style and Steve Coogan plays the whiny wanker Bruce Tick to perfection. Rupert Graves has fun with his role of Karen’s long-suffering brother Oliver, and the servants of their household are yet another source of surprise comical moments.

    The performances alone are enough to carry this film, but the script and story really deliver in the comedy department. Based on The Revenger’s Comedies, a series of plays by Alan Ayckbourn, the ideas and varied characters portrayed bring rural and aristocratical English life into hilarious focus.

    And then there are the surprise twists thrown in that we couldn’t possibly expect to see. Those I’ll allow you to find out about yourself. I shouldn’t like to ruin it for you...

      Video
    Contract

    Filmed in 1997, the picture here is deliciously clean. There are occasional film artefacts thrown in here and there, but for the most part the picture is crystal clear and fiendishly sharp. Shadows are good at divulging their details whilst blacks and colours are all true to life. Flesh tones are nice and even and thankfully not too pallid as can be the case in English films. Allover, this is a great picture that comes across to DVD smoothly and incident free. Being a DVD 5 (and therefore single layered) there isn’t any layer change to get tangled up in either.

      Audio
    Contract

    Though only delivered in Dolby Digital stereo, this is more than adequate. Another mostly dialogue driven vehicle, there is little need for the full surround package so they haven’t bothered. However, everything sounds fine. The music is fabulous when they’ve used tracks, but for the most part the score fills out the story well, rising and falling according to the intent of any given scene.

    Any sound effects that have been used have been recorded on site I imagine, save perhaps for some motorcycle engine noises that sounded a little familiar. Even these, though, are suitable as they don’t hang about very long.

      Extras
    Contract

    Unfortunately not a one. Some interviews would have been nice at least, particularly with such a huge ensemble cast but alas, no. Oh no, wait - there's a trailer for a Queensland amusement park before the picture starts and the Dolby Egypt trailer... so, no, nothing. Sorry.

      Overall  
    Contract

    This is a quirky little comedy that is filled with diabolical creatures so well drawn that we cannot help but feel something for all of them, regardless of whether they’re bad or good. There are some great laughs sneaking around within the film and some surprises hidden among lines, with the occasional classic English double entendre slipping in here and there. All performances are superb with the player’s good humour coming through in each of their roles. The lack of extras is truly disappointing and does cast a pall over this genuinely funny film, although some may not find the humour quite to their tastes. However, the fun of the film may be enough to carry it on shelves, although I can’t say I’d heard much of this before it arrived on my doorstep. Some extras would certainly have helped move units, but hopefully the fun of the film will be enough.


  • LINK: http://www.dvd.net.au/review.cgi?review_id=3082
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      And I quote...
    "This very funny, short and bittersweet black comedy is deflated by the lack of any extras. Don't you hate that?"
    - Jules Faber
      Review Equipment
    • DVD Player:
          Nintaus DVD-N9901
    • TV:
          Sony 51cm
    • Receiver:
          Diamond
    • Speakers:
          Diamond
    • Surrounds:
          No Name
    • Audio Cables:
          Standard Optical
    • Video Cables:
          Standard Component RCA
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