Reviews

Filmed on his final 1976 tour, before he became Yusuf Islam and rejected music, Majikat finds the artist formerly known as Cat enhancing the simplicity of songs such as "Moonshadow" and "Father & Son" with a show featuring live magicians and a stage set of Floyd-style grandeur. Less precious than on record, he proves to be a surprisingly engaging performer.

Sparky, angular second from luckless young Brit-rockers

Stripped-down follow-up to 2000's Mercury-winning Stories From The City...

Dreamy debut from tender contenders

Italian dance music old and new

Diamond Dogs is often cited as the beginning of Bowie's cocaine psychosis period. In fact, it was recorded before he started giving Hitler salutes at railway stations and aggravating Eastern European customs officers with the books on Goebbels he carried in his rucksack, and now presents something of a field day for hindsight-lovers.

Intense Tarkovsky-esque Russian thriller

Hunter S Thompson, that is. Wayne Ewing shot the bulk of this loose but extremely entertaining documentary during the pre-production for Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas. The author wavering between guru and asshole, and Johnny Depp getting into character by following Thompson around like a groovy little monkey, are good value. For fans of Dr Gonzo, a must-see. (Available exclusively through www.breakfastwithhunter.com)

Craig Lahiff's impassioned, if wearily familiar, courtroom drama is based on Australia's (apparently) infamous 1958 "Max Stuart Case"—where a rape and murder confession was beaten out of a young aborigine. It's got two crusading, system-shaking lawyers (Robert Carlyle and Kerry Fox), an oily Crown Prosecutor (Charles Dance) and plenty of rousing speeches about justice. Watchable.

Ken Russell's 1975 adaptation of The Who's rock opera cast Roger Daltrey as the deaf, dumb and blind boy who finds enlightenment, but downplayed the mysticism in favour of addled Freudian guff. It's a real mish-mash, with some truly embarrassing moments (Paul Nicholas, for one), but is redeemed by the performances of Ann-Margret and Oliver Reed, interesting cameos from Elton John and Tina Turner, and a stylish sense of design.