Reviews

Big Jake

Underrated late John Wayne vehicle, a bracing 1971 western with The Duke, in formidable form, in hot pursuit of Richard Boone's gang of colourfully villainous and cheerfully murderous kidnappers. Surprisingly brutal, with Boone a fearsome presence and several very bloody shoot-outs. Much enjoyed by John Carpenter, who appropriated the "I thought you were dead" catchline for Escape From New York.

The Green Ray

This tender 1986 romance is generally considered one of Eric Rohmer's finest films, though you have to be in the mood: it's as slow as it is gently touching. A lonely secretary (Marie Rivière, who co-wrote) holidays alone, fails for a while to meet anyone special, then possibly does. Eventually, its charm and delicacy—and underneath them, realism—get you where it counts.

Rod Stewart And The Faces – A Video Biography

Rod Stewart was a better singer than Mick Jagger—and at least as good a bottom-wiggler—but the Faces were always a poor boy's Stones, and this DVD can't rewrite history. Cheaply produced with ugly thumbnail factoids running below it, the fragmentary live footage intermittently captures the band's rootsy swagger but also reminds one of what an old tart Rodney could be. Singing "I'd Rather Go Blind" in a gold jumpsuit, he could be Freddie Mercury.

Various Artists – The Concert For George

Tribute to the former Beatle, also available as a DVD

Corey Harris – Mississippi To Mali

Authentically rootsy Delta blues meets the ancestors

Spaced Odyssey

Startlingly inventive poetry&sound outing by two of the brightest boys in the class

All In The Family

Four-CD box and DVD on the story of an extraordinary musical dynasty

Twinkle – Michael Hannah: The Lost Years

Previously unreleased 1974 tribute to a former beau

Warren Zevon – Life’ll Kill Ya

The last two albums prior to his farewell LP, The Wind, Uncut's Album Of The Year for 2003

Paint It Black

School's out forever, dude, in the new Jack Black comedy
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