New To Rent

Starring: Helen Mirren, Julie Walters, Celia Imrie, Penelope Wilton, Annette Crosbie, Linda Bassett, John Aldridge, Philip Glenister

BASED on the true story of Rylstone and District WI members from the Yorkshire Dales, Calendar Girls is a quintessentially British comedy inspired by the real life escapades of the Rylstone and District Women's Institute, who became overnight celebrities when they posed naked for an alternative calendar to raise funds for leukaemia research. Helen Mirren and Julie Walters lead the brilliant ensemble cast as best friends Chris and Annie, who hit upon the novel fund-raising idea when Annie's husband John (Alderton) dies from the disease.

The other members of Knapely WI are initially opposed to the hare-brained scheme. However, Chris and Annie's enthusiasm is contagious and soon nine other women - including bohemian Celia (Imrie), dowdy housewife Ruth (Wilton) and plucky Jessie (Crosbie) - are throwing caution and their aprons to the wind to pose for local photographer Lawrence (Glenister). The calendar is a roaring success and Chris, Annie and co are propelled into the glare of the media spotlight.

The film's blend of earthy humour and heart-rending tragedy, with an underlying message about the enduring power of friendship, is utterly irresistible. Juliette Towhidi and Tim Firth's screenplay is beautifully observed, punctuated with plenty of laughs and the odd tear. DVD Extras: The Naked Truth featurette, Creating The Calendar featurette, deleted scenes.

Ned Kelly (Cert 15, Universal Pictures Video, also available to buy DVD £17.99/VHS £12.99)

Starring: Heath Ledger, Orlando Bloom, Geoffrey Rush, Naomi Watts, Laurence Kinlan, Kerry Condon, Kris McQuade, Phil Barantini, Joel Edgerton, Kiri Paramore

GREGOR Jordan's epic film attempts to put flesh on the bones of one of Australia's greatest folk heroes, who won the hearts and minds of a nation by standing up to what he saw as police corruption and injustice.

At the tender age of 16, Ned (Ledger) is falsely accused of stealing a horse and is sentenced to four years behind bars for a crime he did not commit. Upon his release, Ned and his mother Ellen (McQuade) are wrongly accused of attempted murder by a lovesick copper who is humiliated by Ned's sister Kate (Condon). While his mother is taken into custody, Ned, his brother Dan and friends Joe Byrne (Bloom) and Steve Hart (Barantini) escape and form the Kelly Gang, striking back against the bogus charges by running rings around the local police. Superintendent Hare (Rush) is appointed to take charge of the manhunt and bring the outlaws to justice.

DVD Extras: Ned Kelly background information, footage from the premiere, photo gallery, artist conception drawings to final feature comparison, theatrical posters.

Published: 05/02/2004