I don’t know about you, but I’m still reeling from final episodes of Top Of The Lake and Southcliffe on television over the weekend. Both, I suppose, had a loose thematic link – they were studies of tragedy in small communities – and I think in the end I preferred Southcliffe’s open-endedness to Top Of The Lake’s flurry of final act revelations; but that said, they were both brilliant TV, easily among the best things I’ve seen this year. It helped that were both directed by exceptional filmmakers, of course: Top Of The Lake by Jane Campion and Southcliffe by a relative newcomer, Sean Durkin. Incidentally, if you happen to be in East London next weekend, I’d recommend a visit to the Hackney Picturehouse, who’re showing Durkin’s previous film, Martha Marcy May Marlene, on Saturday, August 31 and hosting a Southcliffe all-dayer on Sunday, September 1. Both come with Q&As from Durkin, who’s accompanied by writer Tony Grisoni for the Southcliffe event.
Closer to home, I should mention that the latest Ultimate Music Guide is dedicated to Basildon’s finest, Depeche Mode. It’s in the shops now, or you can order it online here. As usual, it features a ton of vintage interviews from the Melody Maker and NME archives as well as brand new reviews of all the band’s albums from the Uncut writing team.
Finally, as you might have noticed in the current issue of Uncut, we produced a special promotional feature in association with hmv, celebrating six decades of music and movies. We’ve reached the 1990s now, so I’ll leave you with this playlist of some favourite music and films from that decade…
Have a good week!
Follow me on Twitter @MichaelBonner.
Michael
Music
My Bloody Valentine
Loveless
1991
Pavement
Slanted And Enchanted
1992
Belle And Sebastian
If You’re Feeling Sinister
1996
PJ Harvey
Rid Of Me
1993
Tricky
Maxinquaye
1995
The Flaming Lips
The Soft Bulletin
1999
Primal Scream
Screamadelica
1991
Portishead
Dummy
1994
Mercury Rev
Deserters Songs
1998
Bob Dylan
Time Out Of Mind
1997
Films
Fight Club
1999
Pulp Fiction
1994
The Big Lebowski
1998
Schindler’s List
1993
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUJt7ZvC6Ac
Goodfellas
1990
Wild At Heart
1990
Carlito’s Way
1993
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KE3BnGr–Uw
The English Patient
1996
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dr_xAhg_qV4
Dazed And Confused
1993
The Usual Suspects
1995