This week's new DVD & Blu-ray Jul 20th 2013, 05:00
Beware Of Mr Baker | Post Tenebras Lux | In The House | Runaway Train | The ABCs Of Death
Beware Of Mr Baker
Ginger Baker is not one to suffer fools gladly. Actually, he's not one to suffer anyone or anything gladly. As sticksman alongside Eric Clapton and Jack Bruce in what was arguably the first supergroup, Cream, he laid down the template for what a rock drummer should be. If you're looking for similar clues on how a human being should behave, look elsewhere.
Ginger Baker has pretty much done it all as far as drumming goes, and done most of it before it even occurred to anyone else. With bags of natural talent he excelled in some of the UK's greatest jazz and blues bands. He hit superstardom in Cream and then, after the world of rock presented no further challenges to him (and he imploded spectacularly in a storm of bile and hard drugs), he travelled to Nigeria to study Fela Kuti's Afrobeat. It seems odd that no one has made a documentary on this great musician before, then you realise why: Ginger Baker is his own worst enemy. There are plenty of guests appearances here to testify to the man's talent, such as the Police drummer Stewart Copeland and Afrobeat legend (and Damon Albarn collaborator) Tony Allen. But there's no one who comes up to praise his character: no friend, family member or fan. And that seems to suit this curmudgeonly character just fine. His is an oddly moving story, full of victories and losses that would have broken lesser mortals.
Blu-ray & DVD, Curzon
Post Tenebras Lux
Wonderfully dark mix of autobiography and subconscious surrealism from Carlos Reygadas.
DVD & Blu-ray, Drakes Avenue Pictures
In The House
A schoolboy's essay starts off a series of chilling twists in François Ozon's thriller.
DVD & Blu-ray, Momentum
Runaway Train
Action thriller with two escaped cons stuck on an out-of-control locomotive. Stars Jon Voight, with screenplay by Kurosawa.
DVD & Blu-ray, Arrow
The ABCs Of Death
Ben Wheatley contributes to this alphabet-themed collection of 26 horror shorts.
DVD & Blu-ray, Monster Films
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