Pump Action Moves At A Gentle Pace

Sydney Morning Herald

Monday May 12, 2008

Sacha Molitorisz and Michael Idato with Bernard Zuel

GARAGE

Force Entertainment, 81 mins, MA15+, drama A DD 2.0 stereo R 16:9 enhanced

Josie is a solid, childlike bloke who calls to mind Lennie Small from John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men. He works at the quiet, rural Irish petrol station where he also sleeps, his life buoyed by an optimism that survives despite his dodgy hip, limited prospects and the occasional taunts. When 15-year-old David arrives for weekend shifts, Josie strikes up an improbable friendship over beer cans and mutual alienation. Wonderfully played by Irish comic Pat Shortt, the gentle protagonist even begins to contemplate the possibility of romance with Carmel (Anne-Marie Duff from Shameless). Life is looking up; but summer doesn't last long in these parts. A poetic, haunting drama about the terrible consequences of a small misjudgment.

Extras None.

Sacha Molitorisz

LIFE ON MARS: SERIES 2 - COLLECTOR'S EDITION

Roadshow/Hopscotch, 462 mins, M, dramaA DD 5.1 surround R 16:9 widescreen S

John Simm, lately the Doctor's nemesis in Russell T. Davies's reinvention of Doctor Who, is the dashing DCI Sam Tyler, stranded in 1973 after being hit by a car in the present day. Coma, madness or a wrinkle in time? There are clues and this season provides the answer. Much of the show's character stories are driven by the culture clash of present and past society, in particular by the politically incorrect DCI Gene Hunt (Philip Glenister) - a character so popular he's been spun-off into the 1980s in a new series, Ashes To Ashes. The question is, will Tyler belatedly realise his life in the 1970s has more meaning than the one he left behind? The finale is thrilling, with an inspired nod to the BBC's famous Test Card F.

Extras Five behind-the-scenes featurettes and two short documentaries, The Return Of Life On Mars and The End Of Life On Mars.

Michael Idato

DVD KEY A Audio (DD = Dolby Digital) R Aspect ratio S English subtitles

MUSIC DVD

OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN AND THE SYDNEY SYMPHONY LIVE AT THE SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE

Warner, G, 120 mins A DD 5.1 surround R 4:3 full screen

Anything short of loving praise for the saintly Olivia Newton-John is asking for karmic trouble, so let's look for all possible silver linings. The thin but pleasant voice can still perform her second-best moments, those soft country-pop songs such as Please Mr Please and Let Me Be There (but she won't go near her best stuff, Totally Hot and A Little More Love). Her Latinesque take on Physical rescues what was always a naff song. And, um, she's still the nicest person ever. Best not to talk about the waste of an orchestra (who tart themselves about these days), the notes her voice can't carry and some very bad songs.

Extras None.

Bernard Zuel