Reviews

As solo outlet for Carl Johns—leader of Wisconsin countryites NoahJohn—Charlemagne allows him the freedom to break the slow-shuffle shackles and explore pop. The headlong skip of "Dawn Upon" is typical, its happy quick-step framing a tale of a man tormented by moonlit visions of a lost love.

Cole Porter's lyrical and melodic genius is likely to endure as one of the last century's immortal contributions to culture. Lennon/McCartney, Holland/Dozier/Holland and possibly Bacharach/David may last as long; others currently revered will be forgotten in 50 years. So it's dandy that they're making a biopic about him, and fine that "an extraordinary range of contemporary artists" are performing his music for it. Trouble is, these artists are neither extraordinary nor a range. Consider what could have been risked here.

Enjoyable blues/R&B romps courtesy of ex-Stones bass player

New York's prolific eccentric vents anti-Bush spleen

Michael Moore takes on America's plutocrats and warmongers in his Palme D'Or-winning documentary

Haunted house shocker from Japan

John Singleton's explosive debut lifted the lid on South Central LA in the early '90s, and was arguably as influential as the burgeoning wave of hip hop of the same period in bringing black urban culture to a wider audience. It's characterised by Singleton's unflinching storytelling, plus a career-best performance from Cuba Gooding Jr.

Filmed in 1943, with memories of Pearl Harbor still raw, this WWII submarine movie sees Commander Cary Grant steering his boat into Japanese waters. Directed by no-nonsense action man Delmer Daves, the sub warfare is tightly handled, but the film is just as interested in the close interaction of the itchy crew, among them the great John Garfield.

Yes, on tuesday, June 13, 1978, voodoo rockabilly avatars The Cramps (in their greatest line-up, Lux Interior and Poison Ivy backed by Nick Knox and Byron Gregory) rolled into the recreation room of California's Napa State Mental Hospital, to play for the residents. Don't ask how this was ever allowed.

Explosive albums from turbulent jazz bassist impeccably demonstrate his raucous, propulsive take on jazz history