FILM: RECORDED DELIVERY
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Swingers (15), Fox, rental, 26 January
Doug Liman's sparkling directorial debut follows a few beleaguered days in the life of wannabe actor Mike (an excellent performance from the film's writer, Jon Favreau) who, having left his girlfriend for Hollywood, receives lessons in love from his equally aspiring friends. Revolving around Mike's social inadequacy, the film follows their rakish efforts to "be money" (be cool) and seduce "pretty babies" (attractive women) in a series of ghastly LA bars. This quest for notoriety is also seen in their stuttering careers - Charles (Alex Desert) cannot tell his parents that he failed to get a part in Deep Space Nine, while Trent pursues a job as a theme- park Goofy. In turns despondent and optimistic, Swingers forms a warm, witty and observant portrait of young hopefuls with the odds stacked against them. HHHH
A Further Gesture (15), Film Four, rental 26 January
The ever morose Stephen Rea plays Sean Dowd, an IRA terrorist who escapes from a Belfast prison and tries to build a new life for himself in New York. After meeting a pretty Latino girl (Rosana Pastor) and her heavily moustached brother, Dowd finds himself embroiled in a ludicrous plot to assassinate a Guatemalan gangster. After a promising opening sequence, Robert Dornhelm's film soon slides into that old "he killed my father" routine. Although it professes to be about terrorism, the political pasts of its protagonists are never revealed and their morality is never explored. What remains is an extremely sketchy plot. HH
Michael (PG), Columbia, retail pounds 14.99, 26 January
A saccharine comedy from Nora Ephron with John Travolta as the beer-bellied seraph. Jaded journalist Frank Quinlan (John Hurt) has no interest in women until he receives a letter from an elderly lady who claims to be living with an angel. Dorothy (Andie MacDowell), an alleged "angel expert", is sent to assist Frank with his investigation. Travolta's irreverent rendering makes the film watchable as he reveals some less-than-angelic habits - slurping his cornflakes, scratching his testicles and slouching about in his underwear - though the burgeoning romance between Dorothy and Frank is too sickly for words. HH
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments