Videos: Recorded delivery

Fiona Sturges
Saturday 21 March 1998 00:02 GMT
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My Best Friend's Wedding (PG), Columbia, rental, 25 Mar

A revivified Rupert Everett steals the show in PJ Hogan's matrimonial comedy of revenge. He plays George, Jools's (Julia Roberts) chief adviser in her plan to sabotage the nuptials of her best friend, Michael (Dermot Mulroney), and his saccharine bride-to-be, Kimmy (Cameron Diaz). Everett does a wonderful gay-man-pretending-to-be-straight-pretending-to-be-gay as Jools's faux fiance, but just as their plan comes together, she has a rather unconvincing flash of humanity and tries to patch things up. It is interesting to see Hollywood dealing with platonic relationships, though more enticing is Hogan's employment of music - best of all is George's fabulous rendition of Dionne Warwick's "I'll Say A Little Prayer". HH

Love! Valour! Compassion! (15), Entertainment, rental, 23 Mar

In an adaptation of Terence McNally's award-winning play, Joe Mantello's well-intentioned film follows the ups and downs of eight gay men over three summer holiday weekends. Despite the endless stereotyping - clanging references to Judy Garland, Liberace, and their predilection for ballet dancing - there are some touching moments, particularly from Buzz (Jason Alexander) as he comes to terms with HIV. HHH

Hard Eight (18) Entertainment, rental, 23 Mar Sidney (Philip Baker Hall) takes it upon himself to look after young no-hoper John in this peculiar picture from Paul Thomas Anderson. Is Sidney a pimp, a pervert or an avenging angel we ask ourselves as John's twilight existence is framed by bars, casinos and seedy hotel rooms. Powerful performances from Samuel L Jackson and Gwyneth Paltrow serve to make Hard Eight's ambiguities murkier while increasing its eerie fascination. HHH

Trees Lounge (15), BMG, retail, pounds 10.99, 23 Mar

The beauty of Trees Lounge is that nothing really happens. Written, directed and starring Steve Buscemi, it follows an inconsequential couple of days in the life of small-town loser Tommy. He hangs out at the local bar, bemoaning the loss of his girlfriend and job, and accidentally seduces his best friend's 17-year-old daughter (Chloe Sevigny). Oddly interesting. HHHH

HHHH excellent HHH good HH average H poor

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