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Paul Schrader deals with intriguing, uncomfortable issues here, but with, for him, a slightly saddening conservatism. Telling the story of Bob Crane, the '50s star of Hogan's Heroes, whose career nosedived as he became increasingly addicted to filming his own sexploits, it's initially vibey and buzzing, with a terrific turn from Greg Kinnear, but later lapses into soggy moralising and mopey depression.

Terminator 3: Rise Of The Machines

Impossible to watch this already without wondering how Arnie must've calculated it'd boost his electoral campaign. The Governor of California returns in a shiny sequel to T2 which borrows much of that film's story and dynamics. Jonathan Mostow helms explosively, Nick Stahl and Kristanna Loken stand up strong, and it's loudly functional. But thank God he can't be Prez.

Ghost In The Shell

The year is 2029, the city is Hong Kong, and the subject is a semi-naked cyborg supercop Major Kusanagi (Atsuko Tanaka). She's an animé fanboy's wet dream with improbably pert buttocks, muscular breasts, pneumatic nipples and a penchant for quoting Corinthians while questioning the nature of 'self' and simultaneously pursuing a mastermind cyber-hacker. Sublimely realised, intellectual ponderous, cheesy fun.

Russian Ark

Already a by-word for meaningfully ambitious technical accomplishment, Alexander Sokurov's epic was shot in St Petersburg's Hermitage Museum in one unbroken steadicam shot. Moving through the rooms, we're tossed across history, from Peter the Great to Catherine the Great. And it IS great: saying much about Mother Russia then and now, but also visually gorgeous.

Method Madness

Brando stars in and directs whopping, overlooked 1961 western that cries out for iconic status

Short Cuts

The seemingly ageless Chrissie Hynde storms her way through 26 songs on Pretenders Loose in LA EAGLE VISIONRating Star , recorded at the Wiltern Theater in February this year. The run-in is particularly impressive as she turns the clock back almost a quarter of a century to the band's spectacular debut album with a sequence that includes "Tattooed Love Boys", "Precious", "Mystery Achievement" and the mighty "Brass In Pocket".

Soylent Green

Pre-Star Wars, '70s Hollywood loved its post-apocalyptic sci-fi dystopias—think The Omega Man, Rollerball and Logan's Run. With a brilliant cast—Charlton Heston, Edward G Robinson in his final role—and a superbly ghoulish twist, few come bleaker or better than this.

Kid Galahad

As boxing movies go, it's not exactly Raging Bull. As Elvis movies go, it's not exactly King Creole either (though Michael Casablanca Curtiz directed both). Even so, Presley's 10th movie is no turkey, aided by some half-decent tunes and solid support from a youngish Charles Bronson.

The Happiness Of The Katakuris

Truly wonderful Japanese black comedy about a nice family who open a quiet B&B in the mountains, only to watch all their guests accidentally perish in increasingly macabre ways. Utterly barking stuff, this has something for everyone—surreal musical numbers with dancing zombies, claymation sequences and an exploding volcano! With movies like this around, who needs drugs?

Let It Ride

You would have thought that Richard Dreyfuss might have analysed his own contribution to the wretched Krippendorf's Tribe. Yet here he is again, hamming wildly from start to fin, as a perennial loser enjoying one startlingly successful day at the races. David Johansen and the adorable Jennifer Tilly provide brief but inspired moments of comic brilliance, but it's dear, dear Dickie's show. More's the pity.
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