By far the best week of the year so far with 3 releases I’d be very happy to part with my cash for.

PICK OF THE WEEK: DRIVE (Nicolas Winding Refn, 2011, USA)

No surprsies here then.

It’s the ESLF number 1 film of 2011, I’ve already reviewed the DVD here, I will be picking up the HMV exclusive steelbook during my lunchbreak at work tomorrow and despite having only watched it last weekend, I’m already itching for another go around. Nothing more to say here, go buy the bloody thing.

TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY (Tomas Alfredson, 2011, FRA/UK/GER)

It was always going to be that whatever Tomas Alfredson did after his stunning Let The Right One In, it would be followed by a great many people but he certainly made things hard for himself by deciding to get behind a film adaptation of John le Carre’s classic spy thriller which for many was already defenitively put on screen by the BBC decades ago. It’s a minor miracle then that Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is as good as it is. And it’s not just good, it’s great.

On my first go around in the cinema, I knew this was a brilliant film but in having a re-watch on the Blu late last week, the second viewing is really the one where the film rises above the crop and if I’d seen this again before the end of 2011, it would have been in my Top Ten. Many have said that the film is hard to follow and I certainly agreed with that in part first time round but on a re-watch the little bits of connective tissue are far plainer to see and the effect is that it makes the film’s plot and crucially the characters become fully formed and absolutely captivating.

The technical aspects are also impeccable with fantastic production design, muted of the period cinematographer and a now Oscar nominated score which never insists upon itself but instead informs the events on screen in a perfect way throughout. Oh yeah, and the ensemble cast are uniformly brilliant, headed up by a subtle Gary Oldman who out-acts everyone by merely looking at people.

The AV quality of the Blu is also very strong, the graininess of the 35mm projected image replicated here lending the film a wonderfully analogue feel, yet the DTS-HD 5.1 audio is thoroughly modern with complex work in the surround sound and an active but never overwhelming bass present throughout.  I haven’t had a chance to delve into the extras yet but Alfreson gave good commentary on LTROI and on this he’s joined by Gary Oldman who I can’t remember ever hearing on a commentary before. The rest of the extras consist of short interview and making of pieces, and an interview with le Carre which should prove very interesting, and hey, look at that steelbook cover above, gorgeous eh? For around £14.99 online and in a Double Play edition. TTSS is a must buy for me and will be for many.

CRAZY STUPID LOVE (Glenn Ficcara, John Requa, 2011, USA)

I don’t talk about romantic comedies much in this column but I have no problem with them if they’re done well and this is an example of one which is in a big way.

An ensemble screwball comedy where Steve Carrell is trained in the art of picking up women by Ryan Gosling’s smooth operator, who himself winds up falling for Emma Stone’s young lawyer character, this is made up of a great many narrative threads stretching to Carrell’s son and Kevin Bacon trying to mack on Julianne Moore, it all could have gone horribly wrong but never does, instead feeling warm, emotionally affecting, and crucially very funny throughout. Carrell and Gosling make a magnetic comedic pair on-screen, Gosling and Stone have electric chemistry in their moments and everything comes together in a 3rd act which introduces some surprising elements into the mix which knocked me sideways on first watch and still impress on a re-watch. Better than I had expected and a lot of fun.

What doesn’t look so great though is the disc’s extras which consist only of deleted scenes and 2 short featurettes, something disappointing especially in the fact that I’d love to hear more on how the filmnmakers juggled so many narrative balls at once. At around £13.99 online, it’s not exactly a rip-off and is an early Triple Play with an Ultraviolet Digital Copy, allowing the user and family the ability to stream the film on a variety of devices, but overall this will personally be a buy when it gets a little cheaper.

ALSO OUT THIS WEEK

Four Flies On Grey Velvet – Yet more Argento goodness comes to Blu, this time from Shameless

Rolling Thunder – Cult Paul Schrader written revenge thriller which I’m looking forward to checking out.

Lady & The Tramp – Classic Disney animation coming out for the Valentine’s crowd.

Win Win – Thomas McCarthy’s excellent dramedy finally gets a Blu release.

Alien/Aliens/Alien 3/Alien Resurrection – The series gets individual releases for those who only want the first 3 in their houses. Note: Single disc releases with lacking extras, just get the box set!

Cleopatra – Elizabeth Taylor’s mega blockbuster in HD for the first time.

What’s Your Number? – Anna Faris/Chris Evans romcom bomb.

More next week!