Event The
Issue: 134
Art Fashion Film Internet Music Television
Rufus Wainwright Inside... ‘80s Revival Drugs in Cinema Amy Tan
Contents Features
Cover
$ISJTUNBT 57 BCPVU BT FYDJUJOH BT B UVSLFZ TBOEXJDI
8F IBWF B MPPL BU UIF QIFOPNFOPO UIBU JT 3VGVT 8BJOXSJHIU
TV 9
Centre Spread 12 & 13
Film 19 & 20 (BZ BOE -FTCJBO $JOFNB BOBMZTFE BOE EJTDVTTFE %SVHT JO $JOFNB " MPPL BU UIF QPSUSBZBM PG ESVH VTF PO mMN
Music 15 )BWF UIF A T DPNF ASJHIU SPVOE CBCZ SJHIU SPVOE BHBJO
Reviews
TV 8
%PDUPS 8IP 5IF 4JNQMF -JGF PO %7% 5IF 9 mMFT BOE PG DPVSTF TPBQZ TVET
Art 6
Art 7
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5SVF 8FTU BU 4U 1FUFS T )BMM )PMMZXPPE "CSJEHFE BOE %BO #SPXO
Fashion 4 & 5
Film 18, 21 & 22
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Regulars
Music 16 & 17
Creative Writing 10 Listings 17
5IF 4USPLFT 5IF %BSLOFTT "SDUJD .POLFZT BOE NPSF
Internet 23
)BQQZ 5SFF 'SJFOET ZPV MM OFWFS XBOU UP HP UP UIF XPPET BHBJO
Event The
Hello #ELEBRITY "IG "ROTHER LOOK AWAY NOW IF THAT HAS SENT THAT LAST SIP OF COFFEE HURTLING THROUGH THE AIR "UT SHAME ON YOU FOR YOUR BROADCASTING SNOBBERY /K IT ISN T THE VALUABLE LESSON ON THE FRAGILITY OF THE HUMAN CONDITION THAT SOME PEOPLE CLAIM IT IS BUT JUST BECAUSE SOMETHING IS COMPULSIVE VIEWING DOESN T MEAN THAT WE SHOULD REJECT THAT COMPUL SION ) WOULD RATHER BE ADDICTED TO TELEVISION THAN ANYTHING ELSE IN THE WORLD 3O STICK THAT IN YOUR NICOTINE PATCH AND CRAVE IT /H AND WHAT A CRACKER THIS YEAR IS 0EOPLE SAY THAT ABOUT EACH AND EVERY SERIES SO ) WON T OVERSTATE MY CASE TRYING TO CONVINCE YOU THAT YOU WANT TO SACRlCE YOUR EVENINGS TO $ERMOT AND $AVINA AND THAT 'EORDIE BLOKE BUT IF YOU VE BEEN WATCHING YOU LL PROBABLY AGREE 4HERE ARE AS WITH ANY EXAMPLE OF REALITY TELEVISION THE MOMENTS WHERE EVEN YOUR IN NER VOYEUR HAS HAD ENOUGH BUT THESE ARE EASILY AVOIDED IF YOU DON T GET ADDICTED TO THE @LIVE STEAM STYLE % STUFF !NYWAY ITS NOT THE WATCH ING PEOPLE IN THE SHOWER FEST THAT IT ONCE WAS 4HE REASON ) HAVE DEVOTED THIS PAR TICULAR ISSUE S EDITORAL TO WHAT MAY SEEM SUCH A FRIVOLOUS TOPIC IS BE CAUSE WHAT #ELEBRITY "IG "ROTHER
-BTU %BZT 5IF ,JMMJOH 'JFMET BOE 8PMG $SFFL PO %7% +BSIFBE 5IF 1SP EVDFST BOE #SPLFCBDL .PVOUBJO JO DJOFNBT
CAN TEACH US ABOUT LIFE ! BIT PRIMA RY SCHOOL ASSEMBLY BUT STICK WITH ME HERE 7E RE ALL TRYING TO MAKE THESE OVER ZEALOUS ATTEMPTS AT SELF IMPROVEMENT 3TOP SMOKING STOP DRINKING START JOGGING EAT RIGHT AND SO ON !T BEST WE MANAGE TO KEEP ONE OR TWO OF THESE UP FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS AND WE DON T EMERGE A BET TER PERSON COME THE END OF THE YEAR "UT FROM JUST TEN MINUTES OF #ELEB RITY "IG "ROTHER THERE IS ONE MESSAGE BEING GIVEN OUT LOUD AND CLEAR FOR GET ALL THE VICES WE LIKE TO INDULGE IN LET S JUST BE NICE 0EOPLE DON T HAVE ENDLESS WATERCOOLER MOMENTS OVER HOW MUCH -ICHAEL "ARRYMORE SMOKES OR HOW $ENNIS 2ODMAN REALLY SHOULD DO MORE WASHING UP .O ITS ALL ABOUT HOW VILE THEY ARE TO ONE ANOTHER WHICH MAKES ENGROSS ING 46 BUT ALSO SERVES QUITE NICELY AS A CAUTIONARY TALE 0ERHAPS YOUR NEW YEAR S RESOLUTION SHOULD BE TO WATCH MORE 46 .OW ) VE GOT A RIDICULOUSLY SMALL SPACE FOR ALL THE BIG THANKS THAT ) SHOULD BE DISHING OUT TO EVERYONE WHO PUT THE ISSUE TOGETHER IF YOU SEE ANYONE WHOSE NAME IS PRINTED TO THE LEFT OF THIS COLUMN IN THE STREET GIVE THEM A BIG HUG FROM ME
Editor-in-chief 3ARAH %DWARDES Editor & Designer +ATE "RYANT Deputy Editor !NNA 3TEWARD Art Editor 2OANNA "OND
#ONTRIBUTORS !NNA 3TEWARD 'LORIA 3ANDERS *OSEPH 7ELLS
Fashion Editor ,AURA #OBB Film Editor 3EBASTIAN -ANLEY
#ONTRIBUTORS #HARLOTTE +IMBLEY !NDY *UDSON ,AURA "URNETT 3EAN / 3HEA +ATE "RYANT *AMES "ERRILL
Music Editor #HARLES 2UMSEY #ONTRIBUTORS %LANOR 3TRINGER +ATE "RYANT TV Editor #HRIS (YDE #ONTRIBUTORS "ECKY 2UTT 2EBECCA (UNT "EN 3PARSHOT 0AUL "OUGOURD +IM $YER Creative Writing Editor -ERINNE 7HITTON #ONTRIBUTORS 2EBECCA "OWE *AMES #ONWAY ,ISA 2ODOLICO % - #RISP
Listings Editor &IONA "ILLINGS Internet Editor +ATE "RYANT Special Thanks to our proof-readers: &IONA "ILLINGS $AN &ITZHARRIS
Kate
Event 3 The
Fashion
A New Year, A Slightly 'O TO THE GYM lVE TIMES A WEEK /NLY DRINK ON SPECIAL OCCASIONS $ON T TAKE HOME OBSCURE MEN 7HY DOES A NEW CALENDAR MAKE EVERYONE COME OVER ALL "RIDGET *ONES ,AURA #OBB HELPS YOU MAKE THE CHANGES THAT WILL LAST
%
VERY #HRISTMAS WE ALLOW OUR SELVES TO OVER INDULGE IN THE MOST EXTRAVAGANT MANNER IN THE VAIN HOPE THAT THE DAWNING OF A NEW YEAR WILL PROVIDE THE RESTRAINT WE VE ALWAYS CRAVED 4HE SINNERS OF THE PREVIOUS YEAR REVEL IN MAK ING RIDICULOUS PROMISES THAT THEY CAN T KEEP 4HE SAME OLD RESOLU TIONS GET CARTED OUT EACH YEAR JUST AS THE ANCIENT #HRISTMAS TREE IS BEING SHOVED BACK IN THE ATTIC ALL THE DOG
EARED OLD RESOLUTIONS TAKE ITS PLACE 4HEY RE SO FAMILIAR THAT THEY VE LOST ALL MEANING AND CERTAINLY DON T HAVE A HOPE OF BEING KEPT )N FACT IT IS ESTIMATED THAT OUT OF EVERY RESO LUTION MADE IN "RITAIN THIS YEAR ONLY TWENTY PERCENT WILL BE KEPT 4HAT S AN AWFUL LOT OF GOOD INTEN TIONS NEVER BEING MET 0SYCHOLOGISTS BECAUSE WE NEED CONlRMATION THAT WE RE PLAIN LAZY HAVE RESEARCHED THIS AND SUGGEST THAT THE ANNUAL FAILURE IS BORN OF OVER ZEALOUS RESOLUTION MAKING AND ATTEMPTING TO EXERT TOO MANY CHANGES 7HY GIVE UP BOTH 'ALAXY
AND #ARLING 4AKING AWAY ALL OF LIFE S LITTLE PLEASURES IN ONE GO WILL MORE THAN LIKELY RESULT IN A BACK LASH BINGING SESSION WITHIN THE lRST WEEK OF *ANUARY )F YOU RE NOT IN SCOFlNG ONE YOU LL BE OUT DOWNING THE OTHER 7HAT MIGHT SEEM APPEAL ING AT THE END OF A BOOZE SOAKED NIGHT OUT FOR .EW 9EAR S OFTEN FEELS A BIT OVER AMBITIOUS WHEN VIEWED IN THE COLD HARD LIGHT OF DAY AS YOU RE BUSILY SEARCHING FOR THE FRYING PAN AND THE SAUSAGES WHILST CHUGGING ON SOME SOLUBLE ASPIRIN 4HIS TIME AROUND TRY PUTTING THE EMPHASIS ON MAKING MINOR IMPROVEMENTS THAT
ARE ACHIEVABLE YET NOTICEABLE 4HIS YEAR WHEN DASHING TOWARDS THE NEW YOU TRY TAKING BABY STEPS 3TART BY ADMITTING THAT YOU HAVE FAILURES WE ALL DO SO IT CAN T BE TOO BITTER A PILL TO SWALLOW /K GOOD PAT YOURSELF ON THE BACK FOR BEING SO HONEST !FTER ALL THIS RESOLUTION MALARKY HAS TO CONTAIN A LITTLE RE WARD HERE AND THERE OR YOU LL BE DOWN THE PUB IN NO TIME MAKING EMPTY CRISP PACKETS INTO LITTLE BOWS .OW THAT YOU VE LEVELLED WITH YOUR SELF lND OUT WHAT YOU REALISTICALLY FEEL LIKE YOU CAN CHANGE PREFERABLY SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN PUT INTO AC
TION IMMEDIATELY .OW THAT YOU VE FOUND YOUR CHOSEN TARGET DON T DEDICATE YOUR LIFE TO THIS PARTICU LAR GOAL EASE IT IN TO YOUR LIFESTYLE BABY STEPS DON T FORGET $ON T EX PECT ANYTHING TO CHANGE MUCH FOR A WHILE BUT DO GIVE YOURSELF TIME TO EXAMINE YOUR PROGRESS )F ALL IS WELL THEN BY -ARCH YOU LL BE A SELF IMPROVEMENT GURU /F COURSE IF DE SPITE BOUNTIFUL BABY STEPPING YOU STILL FALL mAT ON YOUR FACE THERE WILL ALWAYS BE NEXT YEAR FOR YOU TO GET UP FROM YOUR VICE RIDDLED HOVEL AND TRY TRY AGAIN
It Is How It Is 7HEN YOU SUBMITTED YOUR PAINSTAK INGLY PRESENTED PERSONAL STATEMENT TO 5#!3 ALL THOSE MOONS AGO YOU KNEW THAT UNIVERSITY WOULD MEAN SACRIlCES 9OU DIDN T KNOW THAT THAT WOULD MEAN NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE YOUR FEET IN THE SHOWER -AKING THE MOST OF UNIVERSITY MEANS DELICIOUS INDULGENCE BURGERS BEER AND JUST GOING TO THE GYM FOR THE INDUCTION 9OU MAY NOT HAVE THE lGURE YOU HAD IN SCHOOL BUT SURELY HAVING THE TIME OF YOUR LIFE IS WORTH MORE THAN LOOKING GOOD IN LEGGINGS
4
Event The
9OU RE NOT A GIRL ANY MORE 9OU RE A WOMAN AND HAVE THE HIGH HEELS TO PROVE IT 4HEREFORE WHEN REALITY HITS YOUR HIPS IN THE FORM A MAJOR hMUFlN TOPv THE RING OF mESH THAT SPILLS OVER THE TOP OF YOUR TROUSERS THAT FEW PEOPLE ARE EXCUSED FROM EXCEPT IT GRACEFULLY "UY A PAIR OF TROUSERS A SIZE BIGGER AND DONATE THE OLD ONES TO CHARITY 4HERE 'OOD DEED DONE AND BEING ABLE TO STUFF MORE AT DINNER WITHOUT YOUR TOP BUTTON DIVING INTO YOUR DRINK %VE RYONE S A WINNER
Fashion
Better You
Costume Drama %VERY FORTNIGHT AT THE %VENT WE ARE LITERALLY INUNDATED WITH CRIES FOR HELP FROM STUDENTS FALTERING IN THE FASHION DEPART MENT &EAR NOT FRIENDS -ISS LL &IX )T IS HERE TO SOLVE ALL YOUR WARDROBE WOES 4HIS WEEK 3IZE VS 3TYLE $EAR -ISS LL &IX )T ) VE RECENTLY STARTED SEEING A GUY WHO IS REALLY GREAT IN EVERY WAY APART FROM ONE HE S QUITE SMALL ) DON T WANT TO lN ISH THINGS OVER SOMETHING SO STUPID (OW CAN ) DRESS IN A WAY THAT MAKES HIM LOOK TALL AND ME LOOK SMALL WITHOUT SACRIlCING STYLE ,OFTY $EAR ,OFTY 7ELL DONE FOR lNDING A DECENT MAN AND NOT LETTING A LIT TLE THING LIKE HIM BEING A LITTLE THING GET IN THE WAY 4HE BEST WAY TO PLAY IT IS WITH PUMPS &LATS ARE STILL FASHION ABLE THIS YEAR AND THERE S A GALAXY OF VARIETY AVAILABLE IN THE SHOPS ,ITTLE SHOES AND SKIRTS GIVE A PETITE IMPRESSION AS DO CROPPED TROUSERS 4HIS WILL MAKE THE DIDDY FELLA FEEL A GOOD FEW INCHES TALLER 6ERTICLE STRIPES AND COMBINATIONS OF CLOTHES IN DARK AND LIGHT SHADES MAY ALSO MINIMISE YOUR FRAME "OOTS IN A mAT SOLE ARE ALSO MUCH MORE COMFORTABLE THAN THEIR COUSIN THE SKY SCRAPER HEEL "E WARNED THOUGH A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE ONCE ROMANCED A SMALL MAN 4O AC COMMODATE FOR HIS LACKING IN LENGTH SHE INVESTED IN SOME mIP mOPS 9OU CAN IMAGINE HER DEVASTATION ,OFTY WHEN SHE REALISED THAT EVEN WITH THE ADDITION OF THE MOST MINISCULE OF SOLES SHE STILL HAD TO BEND DOWN FOR A KISS .EEDLESS TO SAY THE mIP mOPS AND THE MAN WERE BOTH BINNED
Follow a Likely Idol -AKE THE YEAR YOU CALL TIME ON YOUR OBSESSION WITH CELEBRITY DIETS 1UIT POURING OVER THE POINT LESS PAGES SCATTERED WITH THE TOP TEN SKINNIEST STARS NEAREST TO DEATH 4HE SAD REALITY IS THEY RE ALL CALO RIE COUNTING COKE ADDICTS WHO ARE CLEARLY MANICALLY DEPRESSED $ON T FOLLOW THE EATING PLAN OF SOMEONE WHO IS DOING A GRAND TRADE IN PRO MOTING ADULT ANOREXIA 3EEMINGLY
THEY NEED TO LOOK LIKE EIGHT YEAR OLD BOYS IN ORDER TO FURTHER THEIR CAREER 9OUR JOB ISN T TO BE PHOTO GRAPHED AND STARED AT BY MILLIONS 9OU RE A STUDENT WHICH APPARENTLY MEANS YOUR JOB IS TO STUDY 4URN YOUR ATTENTION TO HEALTHY ROLE MOD ELS LIKE #HARLOTTE #HURCH WHO ONCE ATE THREE #HINESE TAKE AWAYS IN A DAY 4HAT S MORE LIKE IT 0ERHAPS THE ODD STICK OF CELERY WOULDN T BE TOO
FAR UP THE FAD DIET ROAD BUT KEEP THE TASTY TREATS 4HE ODD lSH lNGER SANDWICH OR ENTIRE TUB OF ICE CREAM WILL MAKE YOU A FAR HAPPIER AND MORE LIKEABLE PERSON THAN THAT VOL ATILE MESS YOU TURN INTO WHILST DIET ING )T S ALL ABOUT PERCEPTION THERE S A LOT TO BE SAID FOR A GIRL WHO CAN HOLD HER PORK BALLS
Dress Like You’re Leaving the House 7ELL DONE FOR MAKING THE TEAM SCORING ALL THOSE HAT TRICKS OR TRIES OR WHATEVER AND RUNNING REALLY FAST !ND YES EVERYONE ENVIES YOUR LEAN THIGHS AND YOUR ABILITY TO SPEND YOUR 7EDNESDAYS TRAINING RATHER THAN WATCHING BOTH EPISODES OF .EIGHBOURS "UT IS IT REALLY NECESSARY
TO WEAR YOUR 5%! SPORTS TEAM TRACK TOP TO ALL YOUR LECTURES -UST EVERY ONE BE INFORMED OF YOUR SPORTS STAR STATUS $OES "ECKHAM EVER WEAR NY LON TO DINE IN 3AVE YOUR SWEAT WEAR FOR ACTUALLY SWEATING IN AND STUN YOUR FANS WITH YOUR STYLE !FTER ALL THERE S NOTHING MORE EMBARRASING
TO A FASHION CONSCIOUS PERSON LIKE YOURSELF THAN BEING CAUGHT WEARING THE SAME OUTlT TWICE OR EVEN WORSE THE SAME OUTlT AS THE PERSON NEXT TO YOU 9ES WE ALL ENJOY BREATHABLE FABRIC BUT YOUR CALVES WON T SUFFO CATE FROM DONNING A PAIR OF JEANS ONCE IN A WHILE
Event 5 The
Arts
When it’s in your Hands 7HEN !MY 4AN VISITED 5%! TO BRING TH ANNUAL )NTERNATIONAL ,ITERARY &ESTIVAL TO A CLOSE 4HE %VENT S !NNA 3TEWARD TOOK THE CHANCE TO TALK TO THE WRITER ABOUT HER WORK IMMORTALITY AND THE AMAZING THINGS YOU CAN DO WITH A /UIJA BOARD
4
RUE STORY ! WOMAN GOES TO SEE A PSYCHIA TRIST AFTER HER FRIENDS SUGGEST THAT WORKING A HOUR WEEK MAY MAKE HER A WORKAHOLIC /N THE lRST SESSION WHILE SHE IS TALKING HE FALLS ASLEEP 4HIS IS A TECHNIQUE SHE THINKS AND CARRIES ON /N THE SECOND SESSION HE FALLS ASLEEP AGAIN MAYBE HE THINKS ) AM BEING TOO PASSIVE AND NOT DEALING WITH MY ANGER SHE CONCLUDES 4HEN WHEN IT HAPPENS THE THIRD TIME SHE DECIDES TO GIVE UP THERAPY AND INSTEAD LEARN TO PLAY JAZZ PIANO AND WRITE lCTION
6
&OR ALL HER ACHIEVE MENTS SHE IS A GROUNDED AND HUM BLE WRITER
Event The
/NE OF WHICH SHE KEPT UP ONE SHE DIDN T 4HE END 4HE BEGINNING -EET !MY 4AN INTERNATIONAL BEST SELLER AND MEM BER OF 4HE 2OCK "OTTOM 2EMAIN DERS "Y THE TIME HER lRST NOVEL 4HE *OY ,UCK #LUB CAME OUT IN PAPER BACK IT SOLD IN THE MILLIONS AND WAS LATER ADAPTED TO THE BIG SCREEN 4HE #HINESE 3IAMESE #AT IS A POPU LAR CHILDREN S SERIES IN !MERICA HER NOVELS HAVE NOW BEEN TRANSLATED INTO OVER LANGUAGES AND SHE IS CURRENTLY WORKING ON A OPERA OF 4HE "ONESETTER S $AUGHTER !MY 4AN WAS THE WRITER CHOSEN TO BRING THE TH ANNUAL )NTERNA TIONAL ,ITERARY &ESTIVAL TO A CLOSE 3HE ONLY MADE THREE PROMOTIONAL
TALKS AND READINGS WHILE IN THE 5+ ONE AT 5%! AND THE OTHERS AT /X FORD AND #AMBRIDGE 5NIVERSITIES &OR ALL HER ACHIEVEMENTS SHE IS A GROUNDED AND HUMBLE WRITER (ER READING BEGAN WITH PRAISE FOR 5%! AND A CLAIM THAT THE #REATIVE 7RIT ING SCHOOL HAS PRODUCED hTHE GREAT EST WRITERS IN THE 5NIVERSE v 4HIS WAS FOLLOWED BY A READING FROM HER NEW NOVEL 3AVING &ISH &ROM $ROWN WHICH SHE STARTING WRITING JUST AN HOUR AFTER SHE HAD lNISHED HER LAST BOOK 4HE QUIRKY TITLE WAS TAKEN FROM A "UDDHIST BELIEF AND IS EXPANDED ON IN THE FOREWORD !LTHOUGH THE FOREWORD IS GIVEN AS AN ANONYMOUS EXTRACT !MY CONFESSES THAT SHE HER SELF WROTE IT 3HE SAID h) VE OFTEN WONDERED WHO ANONYMOUS IS AND WHY PEOPLE DON T FEEL THE NEED TO TAKE CREDIT v !MY INTRODUCES SOME OF THE MAJOR THEMES OF HER NEW NOVEL BY EXPLAINING THAT SINCE PUB LISHING HER NOVELS WOMEN OFTEN STOP HER IN THE STREET TO THANK HER FOR lXING THEIR RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEIR MOTHERS 3HE SAYS h) CANNOT TAKE CREDIT FOR THAT ) OFTEN ASK MY SELF IF ) DO SOMETHING WITH GOOD INTENTIONS AND IT GOES WRONG WHAT DO ) DO $O ) BLAME MYSELF $O ) ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY )F SOMETHING GOOD HAPPENS COULD ) TAKE CREDIT v !MY GOES ON TO CLARIFY hWE CAN NEV ER COMPLETELY CONTROL OUTCOMES )F WE CAN T DO THAT THEN WHAT CAN WE DO 4HIS IS THE PUZZLE ) GIVE YOUv )T WAS THESE MUSINGS THAT LED TO THE THEMES OF MISCOMMUNICATION MISUNDERSTANDING AND INTENTION IN 3AVING &ISH &ROM $ROWNING 7HILST WRITING THE BOOK IT SEEMS AND THE )RAQ WAR ALSO FED THESE IDEAS @3EPTEMBER TH AND THE MEDIA COVERAGE SHARPENED THE FOCUS BUT THE NOTION OF THE MEDIA INmUENC ING THE WORLD HAD ALREADY BEEN IN MY MIND 7E DON T SIMPLY REPORT THE NEWS WE MAKE THE NEWS 4HAT IS TERRIFYING ) SUPPOSE IT ALSO HAS ITS GOOD SIDE IN THAT WHEN PEOPLE CALL ATTENTION TO SAY SUFFERING OF THE TSU NAMI VICTIMS THAT YOU CHANGE THE COURSE OF THOSE PEOPLES LIVES "UT THEN WHAT IF THE MONEY GOING IN GOES INTO THE HANDS OF CORRUPT OF lCIALS WHICH IS SEEMING TO BE THE CASE -ONEY WHICH WAS DIVERTED AWAY FROM MALARIA IN !FRICA AS A RESULT 3O A LOT OF QUESTIONS CAME FROM THESE IDEAS AND OF COURSE THE QUESTION OF INTENTION OBVIOUSLY IS ONE THE PEOPLE LOOK AT IN TERMS OF
THE )RAQ WAR !LTHOUGH THE NOVEL DEALS WITH MANY POLITICAL ISSUES !MY IS CLEAR THAT SHE @DIDN T WANT TO WRITE A STRAIGHT POLEMICAL POLITICAL NOVEL ) WANTED IT TO BE AN OPEN ENDED MORALITY TALE WITH NO CONCLUSION OF WHAT THE MORALITY SHOULD BE "Y TACKLING THESE ISSUES WITH SUB VERSIVE HUMOUR SHE DOES MANAGE TO ACHIEVE THIS (OWEVER SHE ALSO CLEARLY ACKNOWLEDGES THAT HER IN TENTIONS MAY BE LOST ONCE THE BOOK IS PASSED ON TO THE READER @) DON T ALWAYS KNOW WHAT A READER WILL GET FROM MY NOVELS ) lND IT DIFlCULT TO TALK ABOUT THIS BOOK AT TIMES ! NOVEL FOR ME HAS A VERY DEEP AND PERSONAL MEANING THAT ) CAN T EASILY TRANSMIT UNLESS YOU HAVE LIVED MY LIFE 7HEN A BOOK IS WRITTEN WHEN IT IS IN YOUR HANDS IT IS A DIFFERENT BOOK !MY HAS NO CHILDREN OF HER OWN AND DOES NOT PLAN TO SHE MUSES h7E OFTEN WONDER WHAT OUR LEGACY WILL BE "UT ) THINK THAT MANY PEO PLE WANT TO WRITE BOOKS AS IT S A FORM OF SYMBOLIC IMMORTALITY 4HAT MORTALITY MAY ONLY LAST SIX WEEKS ON THE BOOK SHELVES BUT IT S THAT HOPE THAT YOU LL LEAVE SOMETHING BEHIND AND IT WILL BE YOUR THOUGHTS AND YOUR ESSENCE WILL REMAIN (OWEVER IT WOULDN T BOTHER ME IF MY READER SHIP DWINDLED IN LATER LIFE ) DOUBT THERE S GOING TO BE A BOOKSHOP UP IN THE SKY WHERE ) HAVE TO WORRY v &ROM A YOUNG AGE !MY HAD LEARNT THE ART OF lCTION /NCE WHEN SHE DIDN T WANT TO GO TO THE TOILET SHE LIED AND SAID THERE WERE GHOSTS IN THERE &ROM THAT DAY ON HER MOTHER BELIEVED SHE COULD TALK TO THE DEAD AND WOULD ASK THEM QUES TIONS THROUGH HER DAUGHTER !MY RECALLS @) WOULD CHANGE THE COURSE OF MY LIFE BY MAKING UP ANSWERS -Y MOTHER WOULD ASK THINGS LIKE h!MY TREAT ME SO BAD WHAT SHOULD ) DO SEND HER TO SCHOOL FOR BAD GIRLS v AND ) WOULD POINT TO @NO ON THE /UIJA BOARD )T IS STORIES SUCH AS THESE THAT THREAD THEIR WAY INTO !MY S lCTION (ER RELATIONSHIP WITH HER MOTHER THE FACT THAT SHE DIDN T KNOW HER MOTHER S NAME UNTIL THE DAY SHE DIED AND THE DAUGHTERS HER MOTHER HAD TO LEAVE BEHIND IN #HI NA ARE ALL ELEMENTS THAT ARE CLEAR IN HER NOVELS 7ITH THE FANTASTICAL LIFE SHE HAS LED IT IS DOUBTFUL THAT !MY 4AN WILL EVER RUN OUT OF STORIES )F SHE DOES WE LL RE READ THE OLD ONES
Arts
Theatre
Books
True West
3T 0ETER S (ALL TH TH $ECEMBER
4HE lRST THING THAT STRUCK ME ON EN TERING THE (ALL IN WHICH @4RUE 7EST WAS BEING PERFORMED WAS THE FACT THAT THE DIRECTORS HAD CHOSEN TO RE JECT THE STAGE IN FAVOUR OF TRAVERSE STAGING ON THE mOOR 4HIS IMMEDIATELY CREATED AN IN TIMATE SETTING FOR A COMEDY THAT ALMOST MAKES VOYEURS OF THE AUDIENCE LOOKING INTO THE HOUSE FROM EITHER SIDE 4HE NATURALISTIC SET WITH WHAT SEEMED TO BE A FULLY lTTED KITCHEN AT ONE END CREATED A SPACE IN WHICH THE ACTION WAS CONTAINED AND SOMETIMES CLAUSTROPHOBIC 3AM 3HEPARD S SNAPPY HUMOROUS DIALOGUE WAS DELIVERED WITH UNDERSTAND ING AND FEELING BY THE TWO PROTAGONISTS 4HE CASTING OF $ANI 4HOMAS AND 4OM (AR TILL AS THE BROTHERS WORKED WELL THEIR CONTRASTING PHYS ICALITY ADDING TO THE SENSE
OF DEEPER DISPARITIES BETWEEN THEM $ANI 4HOMAS AS THE RESERVED (OL LYWOOD SCRIPTWRITER !USTIN HELD THE AUDIENCE S SYMPATHY WHEN CON FRONTED WITH 4OM (ARTILL S ARROGANT
AGGRESSIVE ,EE 4HE VIOLENT CLIMAXES OF THE RELATIONSHIP SPRUNG FROM NOWHERE WITH BARELY ANY WARNING EXPLODING AND THEN SUBSIDING 4HIS ADDED TO THE DISCOMFORT OF THE AU DIENCE HIGHLIGHTING THE SENSE OF IN TRUSION CREATED BY THE STAGING 4HE PROBLEM WITH THE STAGING HOW EVER WAS THE NOTICEABLE SIMILARITY TO COURTSIDE SEATS AT 7IMBLEDON WITH HEADS SNAPPING FROM LEFT TO RIGHT IN AN ATTEMPT TO KEEP UP WITH THE DIALOGUE )T WAS HARD NOT TO BE DISTRACTED BY THE AUDIENCE OPPOSITE AS THEIR HEADS MOVED AS ONE IN TIME WITH THE CONVERSATION 4HE CHARACTER DEVELOPMENTS WERE HANDLED SMOOTHLY AND BELIEVABLY WITH GENEROUS DIRECTION ALLOWING THE ACTORS TO REVEL IN THE ABSURDITY OF THE PLOT -ATT (ASSAL AND *ESSICA 0IDSLEY TURNED IN ENJOYABLE PER FORMANCES AS A BEMUSED PRODUCER AND CRAZED MOTHER RESPECTIVELY 'LORIA 3ANDERS
4HE $A 6INCI #ODE $AN "ROWN
$AN "ROWN S 4HE $A 6INCI #ODE IS THE MOST EXCITING BOOK 4HE %VENT HAS READ IN YEARS 4HE NOVEL HAS CREATED A WIDE SPREAD CONTROVERSY ACROSS THE GLOBE &OR MANY THIS IM MENSE MEDIA ATTENTION IS ENOUGH REASON TO IMMEDIATELY REJECT 4HE $A 6INCI #ODE AS POPULAR TRASH (OWEVER A NOVEL DOESN T BECOME POPULAR WITHOUT REASON &ROM THE MOMENT YOU OPEN THE lRST PAGE YOU ARE THRUST INTO A THRILLER THAT HAS SUSPENSE MYSTERY AND EVEN PUZZLES WITH DIAGRAMS "ROWN LEADS US THROUGH %NGLAND &RANCE AND FAR BACK IN TIME ON A QUEST TO lND THE (OLY 'RAIL A 'RAIL UNLIKE ANY OTHER WE HAVE BEEN TAUGHT TO BELIEVE IN BEFORE 1UITE PLAINLY THIS BOOK IS A REAL PAGE TURNER )F YOU CHOSE TO DELVE A LITTLE DEEPER $AN "ROWN S THEOLOGI CAL SCRUTINY WILL MAKE YOU QUESTION ART HISTORY AND RELI GION IN AN ADDICTIVE SURPRISING WAY THAT CAN ONLY ENHANCE YOUR ENJOYMENT OF THE STORY 7HATEVER UNDERLYING TRUTHS IT MAY OR MAY NOT UNCOVER IT IS SIMPLY AN ENJOYABLE lCTIONAL PIECE NOT TO BE TAKEN TOO SERIOUSLY /F COURSE THE BOOK IS SET TO HIT THE BIG SCREEN VERY SOON SO FOR THOSE OF YOU NOT PARTIAL TO SOME BEDTIME READING THE JOYS OF 4HE $A 6INCI #ODE CAN SOON BE EXPERIENCED BY ALL
%RIN 3MITH
Hollywood Abridged 4HEATRE 2OYAL TH $ECEMBER
4HE %VENT HAS SEEN THREE SEPARATE SHOWS BY THE INFAMOUS 2EDUCED 3HAKESPEARE #OMPANY 3HAKESPEARE !LL 4HE 'REAT "OOKS AND (ISTORY OF 4HE 7ORLD ALL ABRIDGED AND WE VE COME CLOSE TO WETTING OURSELVES SEVERAL TIMES 3ADLY HOWEVER THIS PLAY WAS DECIDEDLY AVERAGE !S ALWAYS THERE WAS A GREAT DEAL OF CLEVER AND BRILLIANTLY EXECUTED PHYSICAL COMEDY BROAD HUMOUR TERRIBLE PUNS AND SLAPSTICK MADNESS $UE TO THE NATURE OF THE SHOW THE MOVIE REFER ENCES CAME IN THICK AND FAST BUT UNFORTUNATE LY @THICK AND FAST APTLY SUMMED UP THE ENTIRE SHOW IT WAS UNSUBTLE PUERILE AND INCREDIBLY SUPERlCIAL 4HIS IS NORMALLY A WONDERFUL THING FOR THE 23# THEY DID THE SAME THING IN ALL
THEIR EARLIER SHOWSx 3O WHY WASN T THIS ONE FUNNY TOO 4HE !CHILLES HEEL OF THE SHOW WAS ITS SUBJECT MATTER 4HE #OMPLETE 7ORKS /F 3HAKESPEARE !BRIDGED WAS FUNNY BECAUSE IT DEALT WITH IN TELLECTUAL MATERIAL IN A SILLY AND INFANTILE WAY (OWEVER (OLLYWOOD IS ALREADY SILLY AND IN FANTILE SO IT JUST DIDN T WORK 4HAT SAID THERE WAS AS ALWAYS SOME JOYOUS AUDIENCE PARTICI PATION RUINED ONLY BY THE COMPULSORY WAN NABE COMEDIAN WHO ALWAYS GAVE MORE THEN WAS NECESSARY 5NFORTUNATELY HE WAS ABOUT AS FUNNY A BRAIN HAEMORRHAGE /H WELL *OSEPH 7ELLS
Bestsellers
1. Jamie’s Italy ^ *AMIE /LIVER
7.Does Anything Eat Wasps?: And 101 Other Questions “New Scientist” ^ "EN 3CHOTT
2. Margrave Of The Marshes ^ *OHN 0EEL 3HEILA 2AVENSCROFT
3.The World According to Clarkson ^*EREMY #LARKSON
4. Untold Stories ^!LAN "ENNETT
5. Sharon Osbourne Extreme: My Autobiography ^ 3HARON /SBOURNE
9.Is It Just Me or Is Everything Shit?: The Encyclopedia of Modern Life ^ !LAN -C!RTHUR 3TEVE ,OWE
10.Talk to the Hand: The Utter Bloody Rudeness of Everyday Life (or Six Good Reasons to Stay Home and Bolt the Door) ^ ,YNNE &ENNS
6.The Broker ^ *OHN 'RISHAM
Event 7 The
TV
Primetime
Dr Who Xmas Special ""# PM #HRISTMAS $AY %VERY #HRISTMAS THE 46 SCHEDULES ALWAYS GET A SPRINKLING OF @SPECIALS n THE INEVITABLE EXTENDED FESTIVE EPISODES OF THE PAST YEAR S BIGGEST SHOWS $R 7HO PROVIDED A SLIGHT EXCEPTION TO THE RULE OF #HRISTMAS SPECIALS n WHILE IT FEATURED THE TO KEN #HRISTMAS TREES 3ANTAS AND SNOW THAT ALL #HRISTMAS SPECIALS MUST HAVE IT ALSO PROVIDED A LINK BETWEEN THE LAST SERIES AND THE FORTHCOMING SECOND SERIES #HRISTOPHER %CCLESTON S BRIL LIANT PORTRAYAL OF THE $OCTOR AS A BROODING RISK TAKER IN THE LAST SE RIES MADE THE SERIES THAT LITTLE BIT MORE EXCITING BUT HE IS NOW NO WHERE TO BE SEEN )NSTEAD THE ROLE
HAS NOW BEEN TAKEN BY $AVID 4EN NANT #ASANOVA THIS COMPLETE CHANGE OF APPEARANCE IS DUE TO THE $OCTOR REGENERATING AGAIN IN THE SERIES lNALE !ND SO THIS BRINGS US TO THE #HRISTMAS SPECIAL 4HE PLOT BOILED DOWN TO AN ALIEN THREAT THAT SEEMED TO SPELL DOOM FOR ALL THE EARTH UNTIL THE $OCTOR n WHO HAD BEEN IN A DEEP SLEEP AFTER HIS TRANSFORMATION n REAPPEARED AT THE LAST MOMENT TO DESTROY THE BADDIES 4ENNANT S DEPICTION OF THE $OCTOR IN THE FEW SCENES HE WAS IN WAS BRIL LIANT WITHIN MOMENTS OF HIM STEPPING INTO THE FRAY YOU WERE CHEERING HIM ON AS HE SNEERED AT
Suds 9OUR DOSE OF SOAP NEWS (OLLYOAKS !FTER A LONG BREAK THE RESIDENTS OF (OLLYOAKS VILLAGE ARE STILL PROVIDING US WITH LOTS OF DRAMA AND ENTERTAINMENT #AMERON IS STILL HIDING HIS ILLNESS FROM 3TEPH AND REFUS ING TO GO TO THE DOCTOR FUELLING /LIVIA AND *ESSICA S ARGU MENT TO GET HIM EVICTED .ANCY AND .ICOLE ARE STILL lGHTING OVER THE ESTRANGED LOVE RAT *USTIN WHO IS ALSO CONTINUING TO CAUSE PROBLEMS WITH *AKE AND "ECCA -EL SUBMITS TO HER MOTHER S NAGGING AND DECIDES TO TURN TO ALCOHOL ABUSE AND $ANNI IS BACK AFTER #HRISTMAS BUT WITH BAD NEWS AS SHE REVEALS TO A DEVASTATED 2USS THAT SHE IS LEAVING #HESTER /" AND -AX ARE STILL ARGUING OVER #LAIRE AND THEIR PROBLEMS COME TO A HEAD IN NEW BABY !NTONIA S CHRISTENING /NCE AGAIN THE UPCOMING WEEK WILL REVEAL SEVERAL SURPRISES AND SHOULD DElNITELY NOT BE MISSED "ECKY 2UTT .EIGHBOURS )T HAS BEEN A GOOD #HRISTMAS FOR .EIGHBOURS FANS AS CON TRARY TO TRADITION THE ""# HAS DECLINED FROM TAKING THE SOAP OFF OUR SCREENS !ND WHAT A FEW WEEKS IT HAS BEEN REmECTED IN THE INCREASINGLY IMAGINATIVE EPISODE TITLES SUCH AS THE INGENIOUS @'AY )T )SN T 3O +ARL TOLD 3USAN THAT HER lANCÏE !LEX WILL SOON DIE OF CANCER ,YNN lNALLY PUT HER FOOT DOWN AND CHUCKED THE 4IMMONDS OUT FROM HER 4ARDIS LIKE HOUSE TENSIONS BETWEEN )ZZY AND %LLE REACHED BOILING POINT AND $YLAN WAS BLACKMAILED INTO COMMITTING AN ARMED ROBBERY BY AN OLD CHUM FROM @JUVIE LOOKS SET TO BE DRAMATIC AS THE ,ASSITERS PARTY PLANE EMBARKS UPON A mIGHT OF TERROR WITH TRAGIC CONSEQUENCES (OW WILL THE BUDGET STRETCH FOR THE SPECIAL EFFECTS ) PREDICT THAT A WOBBLING CAMERA FAMILIAR DRAMATIC MUSIC AND A FEW DARK SHOTS WILL HAVE TO SUFlCE 2EBECCA (UNT
8
Event The
THE 3YCORAX THE INVADING RACE AND IT FELT AS IF HE D ALWAYS BEEN $R 7HO BY THE EPISODE S END 4HE INTROSPECTIVE CHARACTER PLAYED BY %CCLESTON IS CLEARLY NO MORE n THIS NEW $OCTOR IS MUCH MORE OUTSPO KEN AND ACTIVE WHICH WAS CLEARLY DEMONSTRATED IN THE EPISODE S CLI MACTIC SWORDlGHT IN WHICH 4EN NANT BOUNCED AROUND THE SCREEN EXCHANGING BOTH BLOWS AND WITTY INSULTS WITH THE 3YCORAX LEADER 7HILE THE DRAMA AND COMEDY CAME THICK AND FAST DURING THE AL IEN INVASION ONE PROBLEM WITH THE EPISODE WAS THAT IT FELT A BIT PREACHY AT TIMES n SOME VERY CLEAR DIGS AT BOTH "RITISH AND !MERICAN
POLITICS AND ATTITUDES TOWARDS WAR MADE IT CLEAR WHERE 2USSELL 4 $AV IES THE SERIES CREATOR STANDS ON THE ISSUE OF WAR 4HE DRAMA DIDN T REALLY STAND UP TO MUCH UP UNTIL THE ALIENS APPEARED PHYSICALLY EITHER n THE SIGHT OF A DEMONIC #HRISTMAS TREE WOULD PROBABLY HAVE MADE MOST PEOPLE OVER HELP THEMSELVES TO ANOTHER 1UAL ITY 3TREET 4HE EPISODE LED IN NICELY TO THE SECOND SERIES SETTING THE TONE AND PACE FOR 4ENNANT S INTERPRETA TION OF THE CHARACTER 2EFERENCES TO BOTH EPISODES PAST AND FORTH COMING MEANT THAT THE SPECIAL lTTED WELL INTO THE $R 7HO SAGA
AND IF THIS EPISODE WAS ANYTHING TO GO BY THEN THE NEW SERIES HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE EVEN MORE BRIL LIANT THAN THE LAST AND A POSSIBLE CONTENDER ALREADY FOR 46 HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR #HRIS (YDE
TV DVD
4HE 3IMPLE ,IFE a 2ELEASED 0ARIS (ILTON AND .ICOLE 2ICHIE FORM PART OF THE GROWING CLAN OF CELEBRITIES WHO ARE FAMOUS FOR DO INGx WELL NOT A LOT REALLY UNLESS YOU CLASS SPONGING OFF YOUR RIDICU LOUSLY RICH PARENTS AS STRENUOUS LA BOUR 4HE THIRD SERIES OF 4HE 3IMPLE ,IFE SEES THE PAIR TRAVELLING AROUND !MERICA ON A 'REYHOUND COACH !T EACH DESTINATION THEY STAY WITH A @HOST FAMILY AND INTERN AT A DIF FERENT COMPANY EARNING UP TO A DAY 4HE OPENING TITLES SHOW THE TWO REAL LIFE "ARBIE DOLLS TOTTERING ON AND OFF THE COACH WITH THEIR ,UIS 6UITTON BAGS WITH THEIR THREE RAT LIKE POOCHES ROUND THEIR *IMMY #HOOS 4HE GIRLS RARELY ACTUALLY DO ANY WORK AND SPEND MOST OF THE TIME IN FRONT OF ANY SURFACE IN WHICH THEY
CAN SEE THEIR REmECTION 4HEY OBVI OUSLY ADORE THE ATTENTION THEY RE CEIVE EVERYWHERE THEY GO EVEN IF IT IS MAINLY FROM PERVY MIDDLE AGED MEN LEERING AT THEIR @BELT LIKE SKIRTS AND BARELY THERE TOPS )S IT HUMOR OUS OR IN BAD TASTE THAT WHEN THE PAIR INTERN AT A MORTUARY THEY TAKE A DETOUR TO GET HOT CHOCOLATE AND PROCEED IN PLAYING @"RICK (OUSE BY 4HE #OMMODORES AT FULL VOLUME INSTEAD OF DRIVING A HEARSE AND COF lN TO THE CEMETERY )T GOES DOWN HILL AS THEY TRANSFER SOME ASHES INTO URNS MOST OF THE REMAINS END UP ON THE mOOR SO .ICOLE DOES THE HU MANE THING BY HOVERING THEM UP 3UCH INCIDENTS BRING TO LIGHT THE GIRLS CAREFREE AND ARROGANT PERSO NAS THEY OBVIOUSLY HAVE NO RESPECT FOR THE PEOPLE AROUND THEM AND
THE JOBS THAT THEY PERFORM 4HEY GET THEMSELVES OUT OF STICKY SITUA TIONS BY SIMPLY mASHING A BIT OF LEG THIS SURELY SAYS SOMETHING ABOUT THEMSELVES THE MEN AROUND THEM AND A CULTURE WHERE CELEBRITIES ARE ABOVE THE LAW !DDITIONALLY CERTAIN SITUATIONS ARE BLATANTLY ENGINEERED TO SHOCK AND AMUSE FOR INSTANCE 0ARIS ENTERS AND WINS A BEAUTY PAG EANT EVEN THOUGH SHE REPEATEDLY SWEARS THROUGHOUT HER SPEECH 4HE SERIES IS COMICAL IF TAKEN ON A SUPERlCIAL LEVEL WHAT ELSE IS TO BE EXPECTED FROM THESE ,! HEIR ESSES AND IN SMALL DOSES WITH IT BEING DIFlCULT TO RELATE TO 0ARIS AND .ICOLE AS THEY BOTH CLEARLY HOLD NO PROPER KNOWLEDGE OF THE @REAL WORLD 2EBECCA (UNT
Telly Classics 4HE 8 &ILES 4HE 8 &ILES INVOLVED A MIXTURE OF SCIENCE lCTION AND HORROR AND FOLLOWED THE ASSIGNMENTS OF &OX -ULDER AN &") AGENT DEDICATED TO SOLVING MYSTERIOUS CASES KNOWN AS THE 8 lLES IN THE HOPE OF lNDING HIS MISSING SISTER 7ORKING WITH HIM WAS $ANA 3CULLY WHOSE DUTY IT WAS TO TRY AND INVESTIGATE THE 8 lLES BY SCIENTIlC MEANS TO PROVE THAT THERE WAS NO PARANORMAL ACTIVITY %PISODES OF 4HE 8 &ILES EITHER
FOCUS ON THE CONSPIRACY OR ARE JUST SEPARATE MISSIONS IN WHICH -ULDER AND 3CULLY ARE FORCED TO lND VARI OUS MONSTERS 4HE CONSPIRACY IT SELF IS VERY DIFlCULT TO FOLLOW AND SEEMS TO SOMEHOW INVOLVE EVERY MAIN CHARACTER BUT IT RUNS ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE SERIES TO THE FEA TURE LENGTH lNAL EPISODE 4HE lLLER EPISODES ARE INlNITELY MORE ENTER TAINING AND CONTAINED SOME OF THE MORE FAMOUS @MONSTERS SUCH AS
THE LIVER EATING %UGENE 4OMBS AND THE MUTANT mUKE WORM THAT AP PEARED IN THE FAMOUS @4HE (OST 4HE 8 &ILES STILL HAS A HUGE CULT FOLLOWING WORLDWIDE EVEN FEATUR ING IN A POPULAR SONG BY #ATATONIA )N TOTAL IT SPANNED NINE SEASONS ONE MOVIE AND ONE SHORT LIVED SPIN OFF SERIES STARING A TRIO OF HACK ERS KNOWN AS @THE ,ONE 'UNMEN AND IS A DElNITE CLASSIC 46 SHOW +IM $YER
TV
Bah Humbug
4HE #HRISTMAS 46 SCHEDULES lLLED WITH FANTASTIC PROGRAMMING GUARANTEED TO WARM THE HEARTS OF MAN OR JAMMED WITH PREDICTABLE SPECIALS AND lLMS YOU VE SEEN HUN DREDS OF TIMES BEFORE 0AUL "OUGOURDE POURS SCORN OVER THE FESTIVE LISTINGS
,
ET US THINK MATH EMATICALLY FOR JUST A MOMENT #HRISTMAS DESPITE THE BATTLE CRY OF THE ANTI COMMER CIALISM NAYSAYERS AMONG US IS GREAT ,IKEWISE WE CAN AGREE THAT TELEVI SION INSTEAD OF COMPLAINING ABOUT ITS MIND FRYING POTENTIAL IS IN FACT A RATHER MARVELLOUS INVENTION 4HEREFORE BY SIMPLE DEDUCTION WE CAN CONCLUDE THAT FESTIVE TELEVISION MUST BE THE PINNACLE OF HUMAN EN DEAVOUR TWO OF LIFE S POSITIVES COM BINED TO HELP THE AVERAGE HUMAN THROUGH THE POST GIFT MELANCHOLY AND INEBRIATED LETHARGY THAT INVADE THAT SPECIAL DAY IN $ECEMBER 3O WITH THAT IN MIND SITTING IN THE AZ URE GLOW OF SEASONAL PROGRAMMING WE REALISE ONLY THAT THIS PRESUMABLY INFALLIBLE MATHEMATICAL TRUTH THAT #HRISTMAS PLUS 46 EQUALS DELIGHT APPLIES ONLY FOR THAT OFTEN TOO ELU SIVE PERFECT WORLD AND IN REALITY WE ARE LEFT WITH JUST ANOTHER EXCUSE TO FALL BLOATEDLY ASLEEP ON THE COUCH 3CHEDULES OVER THE HOLIDAY ARE SOMEWHAT PREDICTABLE ANIMATED lLMS #HRISTMAS SPECIALS %ASTEND ERS AND PRACTICALLY ANYTHING THAT HAS BEEN CONJURED UP OVER THE YEARS FEATURING SNOW )N FACT WE SHOULD NOT EXPECT TOO MUCH OF BROADCAST ING AT THIS TIME BECAUSE WE PROBABLY MORBIDLY ACCEPTED HALF THE SAME MATERIAL LAST YEAR 3HREK AND 7HO &RAMED 2OGER 2ABBIT NUMBERING AMONG THOSE lLMS THAT HAPPEN TO REPEATEDLY SUIT THE PERIOD )N TERMS OF SPECIALS OF OUR AHEM FAVOURITE SHOWS SAW IN THEIR NUMBER !NT AND $EC S #HRISTMAS 4AKEAWAY 7HAT .OT TO 7EAR PREPARING THE IN SECURE FOR THE PARTY n JOY AND EVEN #HANNEL S INDOLENT 'REAT EST SERIES THIS TIME RANKING FAMILY lLMS (AVING SPENT THE MONTHS PRECEDING $ECEMBER SHREWDLY AVOIDING SUCH PROGRAMMES BRING ING ONESELF TO DELIGHT IN THEM JUST BECAUSE THEY ARE SANDWICHED WITHIN A JOLLY TIMETABLE IS RATHER UNLIKELY 4HIS MAY APPEAR NO MORE THAN AN EMBITTERED RECOLLECTION FROM A BLEAK NEW YEAR S PERSPECTIVE SCORN FUL OF THE FESTIVE MERRIMENT THAT HAS BEEN AND HASTILY DEPARTED BUT TO ALLAY SUCH CONCERNS WE CAN HIGH LIGHT SOME GREAT MOMENTS $OCTOR 7HO WAS A MASTER CLASS IN HOW A #HRISTMAS SPECIAL SHOULD BE DONE ARGUABLY THE BEST SHOW ON THE TH WHILE 4HE 4WO 2ONNIES 3KETCHBOOK WAS GUARANTEED ENTERTAINMENT AND ALSO PARTICULARLY POIGNANT IN FEATUR
ING SOME OF THE LAST WORK OF GENIUS 2ONNIE "ARKER #REATURE #OMFORTS ON )46 WAS ALSO A PLEASANT SUR PRISE THE !ARDMAN ANIMALS AMUS INGLY mAUNTING THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF 4HE 4WELVE $AYS OF #HRISTMAS )N TERMS OF lLMS .ATIONAL ,AMPOON S #HRISTMAS 6ACATION IS PROBABLY THE BEST OF THE REGULARS lNDING ITS WAY ONTO #HANNEL &IVE THIS YEAR ALONG WITH TERRESTRIAL PREMIERES OF 4OY 3TORY IN THE AFTERNOON ALWAYS A TREAT AND 4HE )MPORTANCE OF "EING %ARNEST IN THE EVENING A HUMOROUS AND UNCOMPLICATED lLM IN FRONT OF WHICH WE CAN SOBER UP AND DIGEST TURKEY ,ODGED NEATLY BETWEEN THE GOOD AND THE BAD WAS THE #HRIST MAS %VE OUTING FOR ,ITTLE "RITAIN MANAGING ONLY WHAT THE THIRD SERIES OF THE SKETCH SHOW HAS IN GENERAL n ACHIEVED BEING GREAT AT TIMES BUT MORE OFTEN FALLING BELOW PAR ,ITTLE MORE THAN AN EASY LAUGH SHOULD BE EXPECTED FROM THIS FORMAT AND UN FORTUNATELY SOMETIMES WE ARE NOT EVEN AFFORDED WITH THAT 4HE #ATH ERINE 4ATE 3HOW APPEARS TO BE THE LATEST BIG NEWS ON THE SKETCH SHOW MARKET THE #HRISTMAS SPECIAL AS EXPECTED ACHIEVING SOME COMIC HIGHS PARTICULARLY .AN MEETING #HARLOTTE #HURCH BUT DISPLAYING ONLY THE SAME POTENTIAL ,ITTLE "RIT AIN DID A YEAR OR TWO BACK #HRIST MAS COMEDY WAS AT A LOW WITH -Y &AMILY WHICH PARTICULARLY WITHOUT .ICK HAS LOST MUCH OF ITS SPARKLE "ACK IN ITS PRIME 3USAN S COMPUL SIVE BEHAVIOUR SET AGAINST "EN S SARCASTIC QUIPS COULD RAISE A SMILE BUT NOW IT TENDS TO GRATE THIS EPI SODE ALSO SUFFERING FROM A RELIANCE ON SLAPSTICK DRUNKEN IDIOCY AND 'OD FORBID EXCITABLE CHILDREN 4HE PROGRESS OF THE STORY WAS AS PREDICTABLE AS THE CAR CRASH BASED DISASTER THAT WOULD OCCUR YET AGAIN WHEN #ASUALTY DECIDED TO MEET (OLBY #ITY AND NOT WITH DISSIMILAR RESULTS 3O ONTO WHAT HAS UNFORTU NATELY BECOME QUITE THE FESTIVE lXTURE %ASTENDERS 3OMEHOW THIS DIRE DEPRESSING EXAMPLE OF "RITISH TELEVISION HAS BECOME AN INSTITU TION NO LESS ON #HRISTMAS $AY AND .EW 9EAR S %VE FOR ITS SPECTACULAR BUST UPS AND EPIC SWINGS OF FORTUNE USUALLY FOR THE WORSE THAT PLAGUE !LBERT 3QUARE ON THESE MILESTONE DATES OF THE YEAR 4HE SPIRIT OF THE SEASON HOWEVER INVADED WHAT MUST TRULY BE THE MOST DISMAL FRA TERNITY OF WRITERS IN THE WORLD IN FUSING A SPARK OF HAPPINESS IN EACH OF THEIR HEARTS AS THEY DECIDED JUST
THIS ONCE TO LET A FAIRYTALE ENDING PREVAIL 4HE STRANGE SORCERY OF THE SHOW THAT SEEMS TO LURE IN SO MANY VIEW ERS FOR THE SAME OLD TRIPE WAS ONCE AGAIN AT FULL STEAM AS MAGAZINES AND PAPERS HAD ALREADY PLUGGED THIS UNIQUE TURN FOR A HOLIDAY EPISODE WEEKS IN ADVANCE %VEN WITHOUT READING ABOUT THIS FACT OR GLANC ING AT IT ON THE COVER OF A MAGAZINE IN THE NEWSAGENT SOMEBODY WAS BOUND TO HAVE MENTIONED IT DURING THE TITLE SEQUENCE OF THE HOUR LONG SPECIAL EITHER WAY THERE CANNOT HAVE BEEN A HUMAN BEING IN THE COUNTRY WATCHING THE EPISODE IN IGNORANCE #OULD ANYBODY REALLY HAVE BEEN IN SUSPENSE AS THE SHOW TOOK ITS TRADEMARK MISERABLE TURN AS !LlE LEFT +AT BEHIND ALLOWING FOR THE FAVOURED CRYING ON THE STAIRS SCENE OR YET ANOTHER CHANCE TO IM PLEMENT THE LOUD DRUNK IN THE PUB MOMENT 9ET VIEWERS ACROSS THE LAND mICKED ONTO ""# TO WITNESS THIS DRAMATIC PEAK -ORE IMPORTANTLY HOW WAS IT HANDLED n STAGGERING PERFORMANCES BEAUTIFUL SCRIPTING A TRUE EMOTION AL JOURNEY .O QUITE SIMPLY )N FACT A HAPPY ENDING IN %ASTENDERS LEAVES AS MUCH OF A SOUR TASTE IN THE MOUTH FOR IT IS JUST AS DEPRESSING TO REALISE THAT ONE WHOLE HOUR OF YOUR LIFE AND NOT JUST THAT n YOUR #HRIST MAS HAS BEEN WASTED WATCHING THE SHOW 4HIS SOAP HAS BECOME THE BROADCASTING EQUIVALENT OF THE SPROUT ALWAYS THERE ON #HRISTMAS $AY ALWAYS THE SAME AND GRIMLY SWALLOWED EVERY YEAR 3EASONAL VIEWING WAS HOWEVER
4HERE WERE SOME GEMS BUT 46 WAS MOSTLY A BIT RUB BISH
SAVED BY A FEW GEMS &OR EXAMPLE "OXING $AY S 4HE "IG &AT 1UIZ OF THE 9EAR WAS HILARIOUS *IMMY #ARR 2OB "RYDON AND *ONATHAN 2OSS ALL ON TOP COMIC FORM LOOKING BACK ON THE NEWSWORTHY EVENTS OF 4HERE WAS ALSO A HOST OF DECENT TER RESTRIAL PREMIERES ACROSS THE PERIOD WHICH PROVIDED WHOLESOME (OLLY WOOD FUN AND ENOUGH OF A SELEC TION TO SATISFY A NUMBER OF VARYING TASTES /NE OF THE PINNACLES IN THE SCHEDULE CAME ON .EW 9EAR S $AY WITH ""# S 'EORGE "EST .IGHT AN INTERESTING AND EXCITING COMPILA TION OF ARCHIVE FOOTAGE INTERVIEWS AND CELEBRITY APPRAISALS THAT STUD IED THE LIFE OF THE LATE FOOTBALL AND ALL ROUND LEGEND AND CONCLUDED WITH THE %UROPEAN #UP QUAR TER lNAL AGAINST "ENlCA 4HE ONLY PROBLEM WITH THE EVENING WOULD COME TO THE MANY ANTI 5NITED FOLK OUT THERE WHO ) DARE SAY MIGHT OBJECT TO AN HOUR LONG REVIEW OF -ANCHESTER 5NITED HEROES AND SUC CESSES OVER THE LAST YEARS 4HE FESTIVE SEASON OVERALL HOSTED NUMEROUS ENCHANTING MOMENTS TO SAVOUR SOME THE USUAL SOME NEW AND UNIQUE BUT #HRISTMAS $AY IT SELF ASIDE FROM A lLM OR TWO AND THE NEW $OCTOR 7HO WAS SOME WHAT DISAPPOINTING ON THE BOX LEAVING THE VARYING PLEASURE CON TAINED WITHIN THESE SIMPLE OPTIONS INDISCRIMINATELY DOZING IN FRONT OF ANY ARBITRARY CHANNEL ACTUALLY CON VERSING WITH OUR RELATIVES OR BEING TRULY THANKFUL FOR THE FACT THAT OUR LETTERS TO 3T .ICK WERE LOADED WITH ALL MANNER OF $6$ REQUESTS
Event 9 The
Creative Writing
Poetry
TAXI
The Alarm Went Off
#ABBY S #ORNER
@
#ABBY S CORNER IS DEDICATED TO THE TAXI DRIVERS OF .ORWICH WITH THEIR ENDLESS FACTS STORIES AND REVELATIONS .EXT TIME YOU GET A TAXI BRING YOUR NOTEPAD AND EMAIL YOUR OWN CABBY S CORNER TO CON CRETE CREATIVEWRITING UEA AC UK 4O THE STATION 'OING HOME FOR #HRISTMAS ARE YOU 'OT LOTS OF PRESSSIES IN THERE ) SUPPOSE ) DON T KNOW THOUGH EH WHAT S THE POINT TAKE TEN TON OF STUFF BACK WITH YOU THEN A WEEK LATER COME BACK WITH TEN TON MORE AFTER SOME BIG SWAP 3TILL ) SUPPOSE IF IT MAKES PEOPLE HAPPY !ND OF COURSE PUBLIC TRANSPORT S ALL TO HELL SO ) M QUIDS IN 7HAT DID YOU NOT KNOW WE RE ON DOUBLE TIME .O /H WELL JUST GOT YOUR CHRISTMAS BONUS ) SUPPOSE NO BOTHER TO YOU a 6ERY NICE ) M SURE ) WON T TAKE YOU DOWN 0RINCE OF 7ALES 2OAD THAT LL BE CHOCK A BLOCK #HRISTMAS %VE 7E LL GO ROUND THE HOUSES A BIT AND COME UP 2IVERSIDE 2OAD 7ELL YES IT SEEMS LIKE THE LONG WAY ROUND BUT AH HERE WE ARE &IFTY QUID PLEASE
Prose
Your Comic Hubris 9OU STUMBLE OVER CLICHÏ MINES 7HILE ) mINCH AT THE ERUPTING PREDICTABILITY OF IT ALL 4HE PAINFUL PASSIVE PRONUNCIATION /F SUCH PROFOUND FALSITIES !STOUNDS ME &LAILING IN DARKNESS YOU TREAD TOO HEAVILY 9OU CANNOT POSSIBLY ESCAPE MY CRUEL CONDEMNATION NOW 3O ) STRING YOU ALONG NEVERTHELESS 4AUT TESTING UNTIL BREAKING POINT 7AITING TO POUNCE ) PURR PROVOCATIVELY 3INKING MY CLAWS IN WHILE YOU PREEN 0AINFULLY PRETENTIOUS AND OBLIVIOUS TO IT ALL 6ANITY YOUR COMIC HUBRIS
,IFE ALWAYS SEEMED TO BE GOING WRONG FOR ME LIKE THE PERPETUAL STORM EVERYTHING ALWAYS GREY DARK AND LOOMING 4HE LONG STRETCHING PERIOD OFDAMPENED COLOURS THAT UNDERLIES MY PLASTIC EXISTENCE NEVER PROM ISED HOPE OR POSSIBILITY OF CHANGE FOR THE BETTER &ITTING THEN THAT SUCH MISERY WILL BENOBODY S INHERITANCE "UT HOW COULD ) EVER HAVE THOUGHT OF HAVING A CHILD TEAS ING THE COLLECTIVE WITH THOUGHTS OF HAPPY CHANGE ) TRIED REGARDLESS THE SUN SHONE THROUGH PRESENTING THE HINT OF A MAGICAL TURNAROUND ONLY TO HAVE THE EYE OF LIFE S NATIVITY LOOK THE OTHER WAY &OR A BRIEF FEW MOMENTS NOTHING MAT TERED FOR WHAT SEEMED LIKE AN ENDLESS 3UN DAY AFTERNOON ) WALKED IN THE PARK PURE BEAUTY HELD IN MY ARMS ) LOOKED INTO THE EYES OF THE CREATOR AND HIS MAGNUM OPUS MY OWN HEARTBEATFELT AGAINST THE WARM MOIST mESH OF MY OWN PROGENY 7E WERE BOTH ALIVE IN THOSE FEW MO MENTS MOMENTS OF LIGHT MOMENTS OF PARTING CLOUDS MOMENTS THROUGH WHICH THE SUN S YELLOW BEAUTY ILLUMINATED MY WORLD WITH ONE MAGICAL BRUSHSTROKE )N COLOURS OF A NEW PALETTE EVERY RAINDROP
10
Event The
"EHIND THE LAMPPOST THE DRAGON OPENED ONE EYE AND ANNOYED BY THE CONFUSION SNORTED AND WENT BACK TO SLEEP $RAGONS AREN T BOTHERED BY lRE ) HURRIED PAST THE ASSEMBLY POINT SUN STRUCK EYES FOLLOWED ME DOWN THE STREET AND ROLLED TO THE SKY
January 16th
4HE RED CYLINDRICAL lRE EXTINGUISHER UNDERNEATH THE STAIRS GROANED &OR ONCE MORE THERE WAS NO MISSION TO ACCOMPLISH
4EN THOUSAND ODD WORDS 4HAT COULD HAVE BEEN PUT TO VERSE $ISSERTATIONS SUCK
! FEW MINUTES LATER THEY WERE ALL BACK IN THE lVE STORY BUILDING BEING EATEN AWAY BY ROUTINE
- Rebecca Bowe
- James Conway
Cherry Coke #OLUMBIANS DIE !T THE WHIM OF YOUR MAKER "UT YOU RE SO TASTY
- Anon
I ’m Sorry World
4HE ONLY PLAUSIBLE PARALLEL FOR THE DAY ) LOST MY BABY IS ONE OF THOSE MOMENTS OF SUNSHINE THAT INTERRUPT THUNDERSTORMS 4HE EYE OF THE STORM WAS LESS MY MIN UTES OF FAME THAN MY MINUTES OF VITAL ITY )N REALITY IT WAS A HIATUS OF SECONDS NOT MINUTES WHICH FELT LIKE YEARS
4HE ALARM WENT OFF ) SHOVED MY WAY OUT OF THE EMERGENCY EXIT AND INTO THE STREET
ARRESTED FROM ITS DESCENT TOWARDS A WATERY lNISH EVERY GREEN LEAF OF EVERY CITY TREE STOOD TO GLISTENING ATTENTION EACH FULLY CLAD IN A VIVACIOUS NEW COAT OF VERVE ) CURLED UP INTO A PROTECTIVE NAKED BALL SQUEEZING LIFE S ROCK FOR ONE MORE DROP OF OXYGENATED BLOOD 4HEN PAUSED FEARING THE SLIGHTEST MOVEMENT WOULDDISTURB THE GREAT ARTIST AT WORK THAT THE DROPPING OF AN EYELID WOULD MAKE IT ALL DISAPPEAR THAT THE SHIEST SOUND WOULD SUMMON BACK THE CLOUDY SHADOWOF REALITY )N THAT MOMENT ) FELT PULCHRITUDE FROZEN LIKE THE RAINDROPS IN THE SKY MY BODY WAS ABSORBED INTO AN INlNITE ABANDONMENT 4IME HAS PASSED YET THE MEMORY SUR ROUNDS ME AS DEARLY AND FRESHLY AS THE POST STORM AIR 4HE mEETING RAYS OF SUN SHINE SCARRED MY MIND S EYE THE BUNDLE OF JOY TESTIlED @THE ONLY LIGHT ) WILL EVER GIVE TO THE WORLD IN HIS BRIEF MOMENT OF RADI ANCE CAUGHT IN PRE EXTINGUISHMENT ! TEAR DROPS ROLLS AND SPLASHES ONTO MY BABY S RED CHEEK (IS EYES ONE HAZELNUT AND THE OTHER GREEN THE ONLY SIGNS OF ESSENCE lLL FROM BELOW THE SURFACE AS CAPILLARIES LEAK BLOOD 4HE ORBS COMPLEMENT HIS EPHEM ERALLY RED LITTLE FACE UNTIL IT TURNS TO MATCH THE UNFORGIVING PURPLE OF THE UMBILICAL KNOT THAT CONlNES HIS LITTLE NECK
- E M Crisp
) INSTEAD WASN T GOING BACK 4HE OLD LADY ON 7EDNESDAY HAD TOLD ME THAT SHE COULD SEE THAT MY WHOLE LEG WAS GONE AND ALSO PART OF MY STOMACH $RAGONS DO EXIST ) TELL YOU ) FELT LIKE A POPSICLE IN ITS CONTAINER FORGOTTEN IN THE FREEZER 4HE CANDY mOSS MAN IN 2UE DE &LORENCE WAVED CHEERFULLY (E DOES NOT KNOW ) M A HERMIT IN DIS GUISE IN SEARCH OF A QUIET PLACE TO BE "UT ) WASN T WILLING TO GIVE UP MY SECRET AND NEITHER WILL YOU TELL NOW THAT ) VE TOLD YOU SO CLINGING TO MY STRIPED SCARF
&EELING #REATIVE $ON T BE SHY SEND YOUR POEMS PROSE PLAYS AND PICTURES TO
M WHITTON UEA AC UK AND SEE THEM IN The Event’s
# R E A T I V E 7 R I T I N G 3 E C T I O N
MY HAND mAGGED THE AIR lERCELY AS IF REMOVING lNGER PRINTS FROM A MIR ROR 2ATTLING ON ) GOT TO MY DOOR RED PAINT HAS FALLEN OFF IT SO NOW IT HAS PATCHES OF BROWN REAPPEARING AT THE SURFACE ) WONDER IF THE WOOD FELT NEGLECTED WHEN WE COVERED IT UP ) CLIMBED INSIDE THERE IS A STEP TO GET IN MY HOUSE AS IF ONTO A BOAT AND ONCE MORE ) MUST CLIMB 4HE LADY WHO RENTED ME THE ROOM SAID ) WAS BOUND TO GET lT BY THE END OF IT AND YET ) AM STILL STRUGGLING TO MAKE IT TO THE TOP /UT OF BREATH ) SEARCHED FOR THE LIGHT SWITCH ALONG THE WALL &LICK PITCH DARK 4HE &RISBEE MUST HAVE BROKEN THE BULB 4HERE ARE NO WINDOWS IN THE HALL SO ) FELT MY WAY THROUGH THE AIR TO MY DOOR ) HIT THE SWITCH /UCH THREW MY BAG ON THE CHAIR SET MY ALARM CLOCK AND WENT TO BED 4HAT WAS THE DAY THREE DAYS BEFORE ) MET YOUR FATHER AND SIX DAYS AFTER YOU TOLD ME YOU WERE LEAVING ON WHICH ) CHOSE TO LEAVE THE BUILDING WHICH A YEAR LATER BURNED TO THE SOIL DUE TO THE DRAGON THAT NO ONE BELIEVED EXISTED
- Lisa Rodolico
Feature
Feature
What’s all the Rufus? )MAGINE WHAT MUSIC YOU WOULD GET IF YOU CROSSED %LTON *OHN AND 3CHUBERT AND YOU LL BE FAIRLY CLOSE TO 2UFUS 7AINWRIGHT ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING lGURES ON THE CONTEMPORARY MU SIC SCENE +ATE "RYANT HAS A LOOK AT JUST WHAT S SO APPEALING
2
UFUS 7AINWRIGHT mOUNCED ON TO THE STAGE AT 5%! LAST $ECEMBER LIKE SOMEONE TURNING UP TO A HOUSE PARTY DE VOID OF A BOTTLE OF WINE EMPTY HANDED AND PRESUMP TUOUS 4HE STAGE HE WAS mOUNCING ON TO WAS RATHER MORE SPACIOUS THAN EXPECTED AS WHILST 2UFUS WAS TAKING HIS SEAT AT THE PIANO HIS BAND WERE WINGING THEIR WAY BACK TO THE 3TATES LEAVING HIM TO GO UNACCOMPANIED ON THE LAST NIGHT OF HIS 5+ TOUR !L THOUGH THE NOTION OF A SINGER SONG WRITER WHO SHEDS HIS BAND LIKE A DULL OVERCOAT AND PERFORMS AN IMPROMPTU SOLO ACT IS EXACTLY THE KIND OF ROMAN TIC IDEA THAT WOULD BE AT HOME IN ONE OF 2UFUS MORE GRANDIOSE NUMBERS OR A "ROADWAY MUSICAL IT WOULD KNOCK THE EXPECTATIONS OF THIS PARTICULAR AU DIENCE ON THIS PARTICULAR NIGHT INTO A COCKED HAT n PRECISELY WHAT HE PRO CEEDED TO DO 4HE SUCCESS OF 7ANT /NE RELEASED IN ESTABLISHED 2UFUS AS A BIG ARTIST .OT ONLY IN TERMS OF THE GUSH ING REVIEWS HE STARTED RECEIVING OFF EVERYONE FROM %LTON *OHN TO 2OLLING 3TONE BUT BECAUSE OF HIS PENCHANT FOR ROCOCO STYLE MUSICAL ARRANGE MENTS FAR MORE ORNATE THAN ANY THING ELSE HITTING THE CHARTS THAT YEAR 7ANT /NE S OPENING TRACK /H 7HAT A 7ORLD IS A PRIME EXAMPLE OF THIS BIG SOUND BUILDING FROM CELESTIAL VOCALS ACCOMPANIED SPARINGLY BY TUBA INTO A RENDITION OF 2AVEL S "OLERO FOR THE SONG S lNALE PERFORMED BY A FULL OR CHESTRA 2UFUS IS VERY FOND OF EMBEL LISHMENT HIS SOUND OWES A GREAT DEAL TO COMPOSERS LIKE &RANZ 3CHUBERT AND 'IUSEPPE 6ERDI AN UNCOMPROMIS INGLY MELODRAMATIC COMPOSER YET RETAINS A SENSE OF THE CONTEMPORARY IN ITS LYRICAL FASCINATION WITH DYSFUNC TIONAL FAMILY RELATIONS DRUG ABUSE AND HOMOSEXUALITY 4HIS DICHOTOMY HAS LEFT 2UFUS WITH A UNIQUE APPEAL AN ACQUIRED AND RATHER RICH TASTE WITH A RAW HUMAN ELEMENT AT ITS PUNGENT CORE 2UFUS BEGAN HIS MUSICAL CAREER EARLIER THAN MOST (E WAS ENLISTED TO SING WITH HIS MOTHER FOLK SINGER +ATE -C'ARRIGLE AND AUNT AS PART OF THEIR DUO 4HE -C'ARRIGLE 3ISTERS WHEN HE WAS JUST THIRTEEN 2UFUS YOUNGER SIS
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Event The
TER -ARTHA ALSO JOINED THEM WHO IS CURRENTLY TOURING THE 5+ WITH HER BAND AND OFTEN COLLABORATING WITH HER BROTHER -C'ARRIGLE HAD DIVORCED 2UFUS FATHER SINGER SONGWRITER ,OU DON 7AINWRIGHT ))) WHEN 2UFUS WAS THREE ! GREAT DEAL OF 2UFUS WORK CAN BE TRACED BACK TO HIS TURBULENT RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS FATHER WHO RE MAINED A PRESENCE IN 2UFUS LIFE AFTER THE DIVORCE ALBEIT A PROBLEMATIC ONE )T SEEMS THAT 2UFUS ABILITY TO IMBUE HIS LYRICS WITH SUCH CLEAR EMOTION IS A RESULT OF THE WAY HIS FAMILY RELIEVE THEIR EMOTIONAL BAGGAGE ONSTAGE THROUGH THEIR LYRICS ,OUDON MARKED THE BIRTH OF HIS SON WITH A JEALOUS NUMBER ON BREASTFEEDING TITLED 2U FUS IS A 4IT -AN AND -ARTHA S "LOODY -OTHER &UCKING !RSEHOLE IS DEDICAT ED TO ,OUDON 4HIS METHOD OF COM MUNICATION PEPPERS 2UFUS FAMILY LIFE WITH AN UNSTEADY BACK AND FORTH TAKING PART BETWEEN -ARTHA +ATE ,OUDON AND 2UFUS 2UFUS $INNER AT %IGHT ABOUT HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS FATHER h"UT @TIL THEN NO $ADDY DON T BE SURPRISED )F ) WANNA SEE THE TEARS IN YOUR EYESv OFTEN FORMS THE lNALE OF HIS LIVE PERFORMANCES AND IS ONE OF HIS MOST LOADED AND ACCOMPLISHED SONGS $URING HIS PERFORMANCE 2UFUS MENTIONS THAT HE WILL BE PERFORMING
WITH HIS MOTHER OVER #HRISTMAS AND SINGS 3POTLIGHT HIS CONTRIBUTION TO THE -C'ARRIGLE 3ISTERS FESTIVE ALBUM (E MENTIONS HIS MOTHER AND -ARTHA OFTEN 2EMEMBERING WHERE HE IS HE JOKES hTHIS IS A UNI RIGHT ! COLLEGE v STILL LIGHTLY STRUMMING AWAY ON THE GUITAR HE HAS PICKED UP h) STUDIED MUSIC AT COLLEGE AND ) WENT TO ART SCHOOL ) WENT TO ART SCHOOL AND THEN ) DROPPED OUT -Y MUM TOLD ME ) SHOULD BECAUSE THAT S WHAT "OB $Y LAN DID (E WENT TO ART SCHOOL THEN HE DROPPED OUT v 2UFUS DROPS LITTLE COMMENTS LIKE THIS THROUGHOUT HIS SHOW OBVIOUSLY NO STRANGER TO TELL ING ANECDOTES ABOUT HIMSELF BUT RATHER GOOD AT IT NONETHELESS (E IS CHARMINGLY OBLIVIOUS TO THE FACT THAT HIS MOTHER S HAND IN HIS ACT OF YOUTH FUL REBELLION TAKES A GREAT DEAL OF ITS STING AWAY /UTSIDE OF HIS FAMILY LIFE 2UFUS HAS MORE THAN ENOUGH OTHER DEMONS TO BATTLE (E SPENT MOST OF HIS TWEN TIES mIRTING WITH AN UNDERGROUND .EW 9ORK DRUGS SCENE 4HERE WERE PERIODS WHERE HE WOULD LOSE HIS VI SION FROM TAKING TOO MUCH #RYSTAL -ETH %VENTUALLY IN HIS LATE TWEN TIES HE BOOKED HIMSELF INTO A CLINIC AND BY ALL ACCOUNTS HAS STUCK TO THE PROGRAMME #IGARETTES AND #HOCO LATE -ILK A SINISTER LOOK AT EXCESS
AND ADDICTION FORMS A HIGH POINT OF 2UFUS SET YET ANOTHER SKELETON HE WANTS TO GIVE AN AIRING hEVERYTHING IT SEEMS ) LIKE S A LITTLE BIT STRONGER A LITTLE BIT THICKER A LITTLE BIT HARM FUL FOR MEv 4HE SINGER S DEXTEROUS YET WRY VOICE WRAPS AROUND THE SENSITIVE LYRICS LIKE AN ARTIST BEYOND HIS YEARS IN MANY WAYS 4HE TONE OF THE SONG TAKES NICELY TO THE SIMPLE ACCOMPA NIMENT IT RECEIVES WHEN 2UFUS PER FORMS IT THIS EVENING SITTING ALONE AT HIS PIANO !S HE CONTORTS HIS FACE HITTING THE IMPRESSIVE HIGH NOTES IT BECOMES APPARENT THAT HE IS MUCH OLDER THAN HE LOOKS 4HERE IS SOME THING ABOUT THE JOYFUL SELF INTEREST OR PERHAPS IT COULD BETTER BE DESCRIBED AS SELF DISCOVERY THAT SUGGESTS HE IS FAR YOUNGER 2UFUS PICKS UP HIS GUITAR AGAIN HE HAS SPENT ALL EVENING SWAPPING BETWEEN HIS TWO INSTRUMENTS (E IS OBVIOUSLY MORE COMFORTABLE AND TAL ENTED AT THE PIANO BUT HOLDS SUCH A PRESENCE STANDING CENTRE STAGE THAT THE GUITAR SEEMS PREFERABLE TO THE CROWD BEFORE HIM &OR THE lRST MO MENT IN THE SHOW 2UFUS SEEMS A LIT TLE TONGUE TIED h) M GONNA PLAY YOU THIS SONG AND IT S A BITxDARK A BIT SINISTER 7ELL IT S A GAY SONGv (E THEN PROCEEDS TO PLAY A RENDITION OF 'AY -ESSIAH A COMICAL SONG WHICH HAS
2UFUS FATHER MARKED THE BIRTH OF HIS SON WITH A JEALOUS NUMBER ON BREASTFEEDING TITLED 2UFUS IS A 4IT -AN
COME TO BE LOADED WITH POLITICAL COM MENT h"ETTER PRAY FOR YOUR SINS @#UZ THE GAY MESSIAH S COMINGv (IS HO MOSEXUALITY HAS ALWAYS BEEN A SOURCE OF INSPIRATION FOR 2UFUS WHO CAME OUT WHILST HE WAS IN HIS TEENS 7HILST HIS LYRICS ARE OFTEN FOCUSED ON UNRE QUITED LOVE HE ALSO WRITES CONlDENTLY AND ACCESIBLY FROM A GAY PERSPECTIVE 4HE !RT 4EACHER ALTHOUGH WRITTEN FROM A FEMALE PERSPECTIVE PLUMBS THE DEPTHS OF 2UFUS MOST MASCULINE REGISTER IN ITS DESCRIPTION OF A YOUNG GIRL REMINISCING ABOUT HER lRST CRUSH ON HER HIGHSCHOOL TEACHER h(E TOLD ME HE LIKED 4URNER !ND NEVER HAVE ) TURNED SINCE THENv 2UFUS WAITS FOR THE APPLAUSE FOR 4HE !RT 4EACHER TO DIE DOWN BEFORE INTRODUCING HIS NEXT SONG h/K FOR THIS NEXT SONG ) M GONNA PLAY YOU CAN CLAP "UT CLAP ON THE OFF BEAT LIKE THIS v (E SLAPS HIS GUITAR h$ON T GET IT WRONG OK v (E BEGINS SINGING AND THE AUDIENCE CLAPS ALONG AS ACCURATE LY AS CAN BE EXPECTED )T SUDDENLY BE COMES OBVIOUS THAT 2UFUS IS ENTIRELY IN CONTROL 7HILST THE ORCHESTRAL FULL BODIED SOUND OF HIS ALBUMS MAKES FOR WONDERFUL LISTENING IT ULTIMATELY CAN BE BOILED DOWN TO JUST HIM AND HIS PIANO $ESPITE HIS OBVIOUS BRAVA DO HE S GOT EVERYONE WHERE HE WANTS THEM n CLAPPING TO THE OFF BEAT OF HIS SONG
Event 13 The
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The Strokes Golden Sounds First Impressions Of Earth
4HE #LASH ,ONDON #ALLING
9OU DIDNT HAVE TO BE AROUND IN THE EARLY @ S TO HAVE APPRE CIATED THE TRUE IMPACT OF THE 0UNK ERA ,ONDON #ALLING WAS RELEASED AT THE COLLAPSE OF PUNK AND THE UNCERAIN TRANSITION INTO A NEW DECADE WHICH ALREADY HAD THE BLACK CLOUDS OF SOCIAL INSECURITY HANGING HEAVILY )T SEEMED THAT 4HE #LASH WERE PREDICTING AN ANARCHICAL APOCALYPSE WITH THEIR THIRD ALBUM BUT IT WAS BY NO MEANS WITH THE GLAMOUR THAT IS SO OFTEN ASSOCIATED WITH ROCK AND ROLL 4HE STRUGGLING BAND HAD RECEIVED LITTLE ATTENTION AND THE CASH mOW AT THE TIME OF RECORDING WAS NEXT TO NOTHING )F THE PUNK SCENE WAS DYING THEN 4HE #LASH HAD STARTED SOMETHING NEW BY MASHING SKA AND REGGAE INmUENCES INTO AN ALREADY HEADY ROCK AND ROLL ENERGY THE BAND CREATED A SPLENDID SIDE TO THE UNTAMED GENRE 4HE CONTENT OF THE SONGS THEMSELVES HOWEVER REMAINED TRUE TO THE GENERATION WHO STILL CELEBRATED PUNK ROCK AS IF IT WERE A LEGACY AND IN DEED IN 3TRUMMER S DEATH AS IS OFTEN THE WAY THE FULL WORTH OF ,ONDON #ALLING WAS lNALLY FOUND 4HE SOUL OF THE BAND IS BY NO MEANS LOST IN THE MODERN MUSIC INDUSTRY AND A CLEAR UNDENIABLE RESPECT FOR THE GROUP KEEPS ,ONDON #ALLING IN EVERY ALL TIME GREAT ALBUM CHART AROUND #HARLES 2UMSEY
3NAPPY TUNES NATTY THREADS AND SEXY BOYS WITH THAT COMBINATION 4HE 3TROKES WERE ALWAYS GOING TO BE GOOD 4HE MANIA WITH WHICH %NGLAND EMBRACED THE .EW 9ORK QUINTET S DEBUT @)S 4HIS )T PROMPTED CLAIMS THAT THESE HIP !MERICANS HAD CHANGED THE FACE OF ROCK AND ROLL FOREVER SOMETHING BACKED UP BY THE SUDDEN EXPLOSION OF SPARE CHORDED GUITAR BANDS IN SKINNY JEANS AND #ONVERSE TRAINERS "UT 4HE 3TROKES HAVE STUCK IT OUT TO BECOME A BAND THAT HAS MADE IT BIG IN BOTH THE COMMERCIAL AND CRED IBILITY STAKES @&IRST )MPRESSIONS OF %ARTH THEIR lRST ALBUM FOR TWO YEARS SEES THE BAND TRYING HARD TO EXPAND UPON THE RECOGNISABLE REPETITIVE GUITAR RIFFS THAT MADE THEIR NAME SOME THING PERHAPS EXPLAINED BY GUITAR IST .ICK 6ALENSI S OWN ADMISSION THAT PLAYING THE OLD SONGS IS NOW JUST @TOO EASY 3HAMBLING FRONTMAN *ULIAN #ASABLANCAS HAS ALSO STATED HIS DESIRE WAS TO WRITE MORE SOPHIS TICATED SONGS CLAIMING THAT THIS IS AN ALBUM FOR @GROWN UP 3TROKES FANS "UT THEY HAVEN T ABANDONED THEIR CHARACTERISTIC SOUND AND FROM THE OPENING CHORDS OF @9OU /NLY ,IVE /NCE YOU KNOW THAT YOU RE IN SAFE 3TROKES TERRITORY #ASABLANCAS SOUNDS MORE AWAKE AND COHERENT
THAN HE HAS DONE FOR A LONG TIME OR AT LEAST LESS AS IF HE S ABOUT TO COL LAPSE INTO A DRUNKEN HEAP &IRST SIN GLE @*UICEBOX IS STILL AN UNAVOIDABLE MOVER DESPITE VEERING DANGEROUSLY CLOSE TO RADIO OVERKILL BUT THERE ARE PLENTY OF OTHER POTENTIAL HITS HERE 3TAND OUT TRACKS INCLUDE @(EART IN A #AGE AND THE SUNNY @2AZORBLADE WHICH MANAGES TO LEAVE YOU FEELING WARM AND SUN DRENCHED DESPITE THE CHEERY REFRAIN h-Y FEELINGS ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN YOURS DROP DEAD ) DON T CAREv @/N THE /THER 3IDE ALSO PRETENDS TO BE A SUMMERY
POP HIT UNTIL YOU REALISE THAT WHAT *ULIAN S SLURRING IS h) HATE MYSELF ) HATE THEM ALLv 0ERHAPS THE MOST UNUSUAL TRACK IS THE STRIPPED DOWN @!SK -E !NYTHING WHICH SEEMS TO HAVE SOME ELECTRO SYNTH CELLO AS THE BACKGROUND MUSIC AND SOUNDS EERILY AMAZING #ONSIDERING THEIR LOVE FOR STRONG REPETITIVE BEATS IT MAKES YOU WONDER WHY 4HE 3TROKES HAVEN T VENTURED INTO THE JOYS OF ELECTRO BEFORE )F THIS IS THEM @GROW ING UP IT S CERTAINLY WORKING %LEANOR 3TRINGER
Albums
&ABRIC 'LOBAL #OMMUNICATION
!MERICAN 2ECORDINGS *OHNNY #ASH
!NOTHER ASPIRATIONAL ANTHOLOGY AL BUM OF AUDIO ALCHEMY ASSEMBLED BY RESPECTABLE RECORD FORMULATORS &ABRIC 'LOBAL #OMMUNICATION CONJOINS GENRE SPANNING SAMPLING OF HIP HOP TECHNO AND ELECTRO A VERITABLE MASH UP ELEGANTLY FORM ING A RESOUNDINGLY DIVERSE TRACKLIST "UT WHISPERS OF PSYCHOACOUSTICS TELEMETRY AND % 3 0 4HE WORLD OF SAMPLING AND PRODUCING IS DEEPLY EMBEDDED IN CONTEXT DEPENDANT INTRALINGUALISM WHICH HAS SURPRIS INGLY MAINTAINED AN EXTREMELY HIGH QUALITY OF JARGON TOLLERANT $*S 4HE SAMPLERS THAT MAKE UP 'LOBAL ARE 4OM -IDDLETON AND -ARK 0RITCHARD ACCOMPLISHED VETERANS OF THE MUSIC PRODUCING SCENE 4O A LAYMAN HOWEVER 'LO BAL #OMMUNICATION HAS PRODUCED A BEAUTIFULLY SIMPLE COMPILATION OF EFFORTLESS SOUND 4HE MUSIC IS SOULFUL AND DEEP BUT MAINTAINS AN EXCITED VIBE OF HOOKS AND CATCH ES !BOVE ALL THE ALBUM IS SOME THING NEW A STEP FORWARD NOT JUST A NOVELTY 3UCH INNOVATION MAY BE A SNEAK PEEK INTO THE FUTURE OF THE INDUSTRY HIGHLY TECHNICAL BUT HIGHLY SATISFYING
)N ANTICIPATION OF #ASH S BIOPIC 7ALK THE ,INE SET FOR GENERAL RE LEASE IN THE 5+ EARLY THIS YEAR A GREAT DEAL OF THE SINGER S WORK IS BEING RE RELEASED )T S A lNE THING TOO AS *OHNNY #ASH HAS PRODUCED SOME OF THE MOST POWERFUL EMO TIVE MUSIC OF THE LAST CENTURY 3INCE HIS DEATH IN THERE HAS BEEN RENEWED INTEREST ESPECIALLY IN HIS LATER WORK SPARKING OFF NOT JUST A MOVIE BUT ALSO A MUSICAL DUE TO HIT "ROADWAY IN &EBRUARY 4HE !MERICAN 2ECORDINGS SERIES INCLUDING THE OUTSTANDING THIRD ALBUM IN THE SERIES 3OLITARY -AN IS #ASH AT HIS BEST (IS OUTPUT IS CHARACTERISED BY HIS BOOMING DARK VOICE A WINDOW TO THE COPI OUS AMOUNT OF SIN THE SINGER HAS DABBLED IN THROUGHOUT HIS CAREER %VERY #ASH ALBUM PORTRAYS SOME THING OF THE CAR CRASH OF EVENTS THAT FORMED HIS LIFE !LTHOUGH THE COUN TRY VIBE IS ENOUGH TO PUT OFF THE LESS ADVENTUROUS LISTENER THE COVERS FROM ARTISTS AS DIVERSE AS .INE )NCH .AILS AND 5 GIVE THE 3OLITARY -AN SERIES A MORE UNIVERSAL APPEAL THAN #ASH S EARLIER WORK AND GO TO PROVE HIS UNIVERSAL APPEAL
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Event The
*OHNNY #ASH
Music
Rock chic: ‘80s revisited? &ROM THE DECADE THAT BROUGHT YOU "ANANAMAN (UNGRY (UNGRY (IPPOS AND -AR GARET 4HATCHER COMES A MUSICAL INmUENCE WHICH IS RESHAPING CONTEMPORARY POP AS WE KNOW IT %LLEY 4AYLOR CELEBRATES THE REBIRTH OF @ S MUSIC
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HE S MUSIC SCENE WAS NEVER REALLY HERALDED AS BEING INTELLIGENT OR REVOLUTIONARY YET IT BREATHES LIFE INTO OUR CON TEMPORARY MU SIC &REQUENTLY THE S AS A DECADE IS BRANDED A PERIOD OF TOMFOOLERY 'RANTED THE LARGER THAN LIFE FASHIONS AND HEAVILY HAIR SPRAYED HAIRSTYLES LEFT MUCH TO BE DESIRED BUT THE %LEC TRONIC AND .EW 7AVE SCENE WAS A DElNITIVE REACTION AGAINST S PUNK AND ROCK OUTlTS AND TRULY WAS INSPIR ING 3UCH INmUENCE ON TODAY S MU SICAL HANDIWORK FUNCTIONS TO PROVE THIS UNDENIABLY ! GLORIOUS S TAKE OVER HAS MOUNTED THE GRATEFUL "RITISH MUSIC SCENE WHICH WAS BUCKLING UNDER THE WEIGHT OF LADLE AFTER LADLE OF TEDIOUS MUSICAL FAILURES 4HIS VIBRANT AND EC LECTIC MUSICAL ENTOURAGE BRINGS WITH IT ECHOINGLY HAUNTING OR VIVACIOUSLY lZZY AND SPARKLING VOCALS 4HESE RUN SMOOTHLY ALONGSIDE AN ENERGETIC FAST PACED GUITAR NOT FORGETTING THOSE ACHINGLY IMPORTANT KEYBOARDS DRUM MACHINES SYNTHESISERS AND GENER ALLY ANY FRESH AND QUIRKY SOUND BY THE BUCKETFUL 4HE WORST CASES OF S ENVY ARE FOUND SWIMMING IN THOSE BA NAL AND FRANKLY OUTRAGEOUS COVER SONGS !TOMIC +ITTEN DID IT A WHILE BACK MURDERING "LONDIE S 4HE 4IDE )S (IGH AND MORE RECENTLY FRUSTRAT INGLY DULL +ATIE -ELUA HAS RIPPED TO SHREDS ALL CREDIBILITY OF THE #URE S *UST ,IKE (EAVEN !ND PERSONALLY LIFE FELT QUITE TERRORISED WHEN ,OUISE .URDING REMEMBER HER /F GLORI OUS S GIRL GANG %TERNAL FAME SET OUT ON HER SOLO CAREER THREATENING TO COVER &IVE 3TAR S 4HE 3LIGHTEST 4OUCH &IVE 3TAR LABELLED THE "RITISH *ACK SON lVE WITH DANCE ROUTINES TO RIVAL 3TEPS AND LYRICS TO BLOW YOUR MIND
TRUE CLASS BUT THANKFULLY AS LUCK WOULD HAVE IT SUCH FEARS WERE NEVER BROUGHT TO LIFE /N THAT NOTE AN EXTREME BOUT OF VOMITING IS IMMINENT ON HEAR ING .ELLY S RUBBISH EXCRETING ALL OVER 3PANDAU "ALLET S 4RUE 7HY DO THEY DO IT -OST PEOPLE WILL HAVE ALREADY HEARD THE ORIGINAL AT SOME POINT SO THE NEW VERSION IS IMMEDIATELY RECOGNISABLE THEN ASSOCIATING THE BAND DOING THE COVER WITH OBVIOUSLY FAR SUPERIOR ARTISTS "UT THIS DOESN T MEAN YOU RE AS GOOD ,ISTENERS SING ALONG AND THE TRACK IS IMMEDIATELY POPULAR BECAUSE EVERYBODY ALREADY KNOWS IT !RE THEY JUST USING THE POPULARITY OF OTHER BAND S CREATIVITY TO GAIN SUCCESS "UT OF COURSE THERE ARE THE EX CEPTIONS TO THIS THE &UTUREHEADS COVER OF +ATE "USH S (OUNDS OF ,OVE PROVIDED A PERKY SLICE OF HEALTHY ORIGINALITY !LTHOUGH ITS COMMON PLACE TO SCOWL AT SUCH REWORKING OF GENIUS THIS VERSION WAS ACTUALLY REASONABLY STIMULATING AND INSPIRES A LONG LINE OF TRUSTWORTHY CREDIBLE ACTS THAT DRAW THEIR INmUENCES DEEP FROM THE S GENRE )F YOU RE GOING TO COPY SOMETHING IT MAY AS WELL BE DONE WITH SOME THREAD OF INGENUITY AND PRIDE 4HE 'O 4EAM ARE A PRIME EX AMPLE OF A BAND PURSUING THEIR S INmUENCE BUT WITHOUT BEING COM PLETELY DOMINATED BY IT THEY THROW A HELL OF A LOT OF DIFFERENT STREAMS INTO THEIR WORK %VERY TIME YOU LIS TEN TO ONE OF THEIR TRACKS YOU lND SOMETHING NEW THEY REVIVE THE S AS THE BLISSFUL PARTY DECADE 4HE DAYS WHEN THE 4OP OF THE 0OPS SET WAS AWASH WITH BALLOONS AND CONFETTI AUDIENCE MEMBERS BEAMED WITH EN THUSIASM AND DANCED TO THEIR OWN BEAT AND OF COURSE BANDS MIMED OFTEN EVEN WITHOUT THE RIGHT EQUIP MENT "UT IT DIDN T MATTER BECAUSE IT WAS ABOUT A SENSE OF ENERGY AND
FREEDOM EVERY SONG GIVES YOU A WHOPPING GREAT BUZZ THEY SOUND LIKE MEMORIES HOLIDAYS AND THEME TUNES 4HIS IS WHAT 'O 4EAM READILY REVIVES EVEN IF THEIR NAME DOES RE FER TO THE PEOPLE WHO COLLECT ALL THE BODIES AND WRECKAGE AFTER A PLANE CRASH 4HEIR CHOONS HAIL SUCH INmUENC ES AS EARLY "EASTIE "OYS AND .ENEH #HERRY S "UFFALO 3TANCE AMONGST SO MANY MORE IT WOULD BE ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO PIN POINT JUST ONE OF THEIR INmUENCES 4HEY RE SO PEPPY AND LIVELY EVERY TRACK IS LIKE A MINI MUSICAL DISPLAYING THINKING ALONG THE LINES OF 5LTRAVOX S 6IENNA %ACH SONG TRAVELS ITS OWN COURSE ANI MATING A LIFE LIVED *UST AS WITH THE S 'O 4EAM PRESCRIBES NON STOP RHYTHM THERE S A PARTY IN THE STEREO AND YOU RE ALL INVITED "UT THEN THERE ARE BANDS THAT STOMP ON SUCH A FEELING BY RE LIVING IT WITH NO SENSE OF ART OR IMAGINA TION 0LEASE STEP FORWARDx4HE "RAV ERY 'OLLY YOU COULD TRULY WHINE ON ABOUT THESE WOODEN TASTELESS BEAST IES FOR YEARS TO COME BUT TO KEEP IT SIMPLE THEY RE A MISH MASH OF ALL THINGS S 4HEIR SOUND IS A DEADLY VIRUS OF STOLEN $URAN $URAN AND &LOCK OF 3EAGULLS "EAUTY AND THEIR APPEARANCE SEEMS TO SUM UP A NEW ROMANTIC 'OTH IF EVER THERE WERE ONE 4HE LEAD SINGER 3AM %NDICOTT DESPERATELY POSES POUTS AND DRONES INTO THE MICROPHONE FRANTIC FOR COMPARISONS TO -ORRISSEY 4HE BAND PATHETICALLY DENY ALL KNOWLEDGE OF THEIR BLATANT INmUENCES BUT THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT THEIR MORE POPULAR TRACKS ARE LACED @ S ENERGY (OWEVER TWO EXCELLENT EXAM PLES WHICH mOAT IN ON THE BLUSTERY WINDS OF ORIGINALITY ARE ,ADYTRON AND #LOR NEVER OVERPLAYED BUT AL WAYS WELL DOCUMENTED ,ADYTRON ARE THE GRAND MAMMAS AND PAPAS OF THIS ELECTRONIC AWAKENING THEY VE
4HE @ S EVER A VI BRANT AND ECLECTIC MUSICAL ENTOURAGE
BEEN AT IT FOR YEARS 4HEIR DARK AND BREATHY SOUND IS REMINISCENT OF WORK BY THE 0ET 3HOP "OYS AND $E PECHE -ODE WITH AN INKLING OF *ESUS AND -ARY #HAIN THE SLOW POISON OF 6ISAGE S &ADE TO GREY BESIDE A GENER OUS SLICE OF "RONKI "EAT S POIGNANT VOCALS ALL FOR GOOD MEASURE 4HEY COMBINE DEEP LAYERS OF SOUND FOR A COMPLETELY MESMERISING AFFECT LEADING WHERE OTHER EAGER mOCKS DElNITELY FOLLOW 4HE BAND CLAIMED THEY WANTED THE WHOLE OF THE ALBUM ,IGHT AND -AGIC TO SOUND LIKE THE END SCENE IN 4HE "REAKFAST #LUB WONDERFUL S TEEN mICK JUST BE FORE 3IMPLE -INDS KICKS IN #LOR ON THE OTHER HAND ARE THE FRESH SPAWN OF ELECTRONIC CREATIVITY OPTING MORE FOR THE BOUNCY ECLECTIC SIDE ROOSTING IN THE SOULS OF THE (U MAN ,EAGUE 3PARKS AND MOST IM PORTANTLY EARLY WORKS BY $EVO THE MUSIC IS PURE QUIRKY GENIUS 4HERE S UPBEAT KEYBOARDS AND THE PURE TECH NO PULSE OF THOSE ELECTRONIC DRUM MACHINES IT IS GLORIOUSLY REMINIS CENT OF S MOVIE SOUNDTRACKS AND THAT S HOW IT SHOULD BE 3HOCKING AS IT MAY SEEM #OLD PLAY RECENTLY CLAIMED GREAT INmUENCE FROM +RAFTWERK "UT ONCE YOU START LOOKING S INmUENCES ARE EVERY WHERE !RCADE &IRE HAS A SIMPERING PROJECT WITH EDGY RELATIONS TO THE #URE AND EVEN .EW /RDER S DRUM RHYTHMS AND THEY HAVE A BAND MEMBER WHO HITS HIS BUCKET CLAD HEAD FOR ADDED RHYTHM REMINISCENT OF +RAFTWERK S SEARCH FOR NEW AND INTRIGUING SOUNDS &RANZ &ERDINAND HAVE GAINED FAME THROUGH THEIR COMPLETE EMBRACE OF 'ANG OF &OUR AND 4ELEVISION S DANCE GUITAR TWANG BUT THEY VE FOUND SUCCESS NONE THE LESS 3O DOES IT REALLY MATTER IF MUSI CIANS KEEP WAVING ORIGINALITY *OOLS (OLLAND RECENTLY CLAIMED @WE RE ALL BEGGARS AND THIEVES IN MUSIC AS #OLDPLAY OPENLY ADMITTED TO HAP PILY STEALING IDEAS FROM PAST ART ISTS )TS NOT COOL AND ITS NOT CLEVER BUT PEOPLE WILL KEEP BUYING IT SO WHAT CAN BE DONE BUT TO AT LEAST AC KNOWLEDGE THE ORIGINAL ARTISTS /N A POSITIVE NOTE IT GETS PEOPLE HEARING BANDS THEY MAYBE NEVER PREVIOUSLY KNEW EXISTED 4HE DECADE OF THE S WAS FAR FROM THE CLICHÏD AND INSIPID LABEL PEOPLE SLAP ON IT IT WAS A GROUND BREAKING AND VIBRANT AGE THAT DE SERVES SOME RECOGNITION 9OU VE GOTTA LOVE THE S
Event 15 The
Music
Kerrang XXV ,#2
!S FAR AS STUDENT MUSICAL INTEREST IS CONCERNED DOES THIS YEARS +ERRANG TOUR HOLD ANYTHING AT ALL COMPARED TO THE POPULARITY MIGHT THAT IS THE .-% AWARDS TOUR "OTH SOLD OUT IN A mASH BUT SOMEHOW THE GLAM OUR WHICH HAS BEEN PASTED OVER THE !RCTIC -ONKEYS ETC IS TOO GREAT TO COMPETE WITH &OR "ULLET &OR -Y 6ALENTINE (AWTHORNE (EIGHTS 3TILL 2EMAINS AND !IDEN HOWEVER THE PROSPECT OF BEING ENDORSED BY THE METAL MAGAZINE IS IMMENSE IN COMPARISON TO .-% THESE FOUR BANDS HAVE SO FAR RECIEVED VERY LIT TLE ACCLAIM OR BUILD UP &ANS OF ESTABLISHED MAKE OUT METALLERS &UNERAL &OR ! &RIEND WILL ALREADY KNOW WHAT "ULLET &OR -Y 6ALENTINE ARE CAPABLE OF 4HE EMO CORE SCENE HAD QUITE FRANKLY NEVER BEEN SO SLICED UP AS BY THE FORMER -ETALLICA COVER BAND ON THEIR TOUR WITH &&!& LAST YEAR 4HE WORLD OF METAL LAPPED UP DEBUT RELEASE 4HE 0OISON AN ALBUM ROOTED IN CLASSIC
"RITISH METAL BUT BENElTTING FROM A YOUTHFUL EMOTION REMINISCENT OF $EEP %LM GLORY DAYS )T SEEMS THAT 7ALES HAS BECOME THE HOMELAND FOR SUCH A SUPERCHARGED GENRE +ERRANG AS A MAGAZINE HAS AL READY BEEN CREDITED WITH BRINGING THE WORLDS OF 'UNS . 2OSES -E TALLICA AND 3LIPKNOT TO THE MASSES NAMES WHICH ARE HAILED AS LEGEN DARY WITHIN THE ALTERNATIVE SCENE (AWTHORNE (EIGHTS SECOND ON THE BILL HAVE ALREADY BEEN CREDITED WITH SUCCESS ACROSS IN THE 53 BUT AIM TO PENERTRATE THE MINDS OF 5+ POST HARDCORE FANS WITH THEIR SELF ADMITTED POP MELODIES INFUSED WITH A BACKDROP OF EMOTION ROCKED SCREAMING 9OU KNOW THE SCORE KIDS WITH UNIFORM BLACK HAIR AND LOW CUT JEANS 4HIRD ACT 3TILL 2EMAINS CLAIM TO HAVE BEEN +ERRANG FANS SINCE THEIR YOUTH DESPITE BEING FROM THE 53 ,AST YEAR THEY MANAGED TO LATCH ON TO A RECORD DEAL ALONGSIDE THE SOUL LESS NOISEMAKINGS OF SUPERHYPED
Off the Record -ORE .EWS ON 0ETE
.OT TO DISPARAGE THE VETERANS OF MUSIC JOURNALISM BUT WITH PIECES OF INFORMATION SUCH AS h.-% IS TARGETED AT YOUNG MUSIC FANSv AND h0ETE $OHERTY WAS KICKED OUT OF THE ,IB ERTINES FOR HIS DRUG ADDICTIONv HOW COULD 0ETE BE PLACED AT THE TOP OF .-% S h#OOL ,ISTv AND TH IN LAST YEAR S )T MAKES NO SENSE FOR SUCH A CHARACTER TO BE VOTED AS A ROLE MODEL AND AN INSPIRATION TO ALL MAYBE GETTING MASHED IS THE MOST ARTY ROCK AND ROLL THING TO BE DOING BUT IT IS HARD LY RESPONSIBLE TO CLASS HIM AS hAN INSPIRATION TO THE ROCK WORLDv ,ETTING DOWN 5%! STUDENT FANS ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION AND PERFORMING A THIRD RATE SHOWS DUE TO INTOXI CATION DOES NOT MAKE SOMEONE COOL 7HEN YOUNG PEOPLE SEE THEIR IDOL RAISED UP ON A PLATFORM ABOVE THEM IT DOES NOT TAKE A GENIUS TO WORK OUT THAT THE FUTURE OF ROCK CAN ONLY FOLLOW IN 0ETE S FOOTSTEPS 0ETE S MUSIC ITSELF AND HIS SHORT LIVED FAME AS A ,IBERTINE CAN IN ITS OWN RIGHT JUSTIFY .-% S BRANDING OF HIM WITH SUCH RESPECT BUT THE VERY YOUTH CULTURE IT HAS CREATED HAS ELEVATED IMAGE AND VOGUE HIGH ABOVE THE ROLE OF MUSICAL SKILL -OST PEOPLE SEEING 0ETE BEING MOBBED OUTSIDE THE COURT ROOM LAST WEEK CAN SURELY ONLY LOOK AT HIM WITH PITY FOR SOMEONE HAS LOST THE WAY FROM A PATH THAT COULD HAVE MADE HIM TRULY GREAT (IS ONE NIGHT ON BAIL LAST WEEK WAS SPENT DISAPPOINTING FANS AT A SEMI CONCIOUS 3HEFlELD GIG 4HE WAY HE LEADS HIS LIFE IS WHAT HAS BROUGHT HIM TO THE CENTRE OF THE MEDIA HIS MUSIC HAS TAKEN A BACK SEAT AND THUS AN INSPIRATION FOR MUSIC FANS HE IS NOT 4HE PATHETIC STORIES OF 0ETE AND +ATE HAVE BY NO MEANS BEEN APLAUD ED BUT NEITHER HAVE THEY BEEN DISPARAGED BY .-% WHICH MAINTAINS A POWERFUL GRIP ON THE OPINIONS OF YOUNG MUSIC FANS #HARLES 2UMSEY
16
Event The
ROCKERS 4RIVIUM -ICHIGAN MET ALLERS 3TILL 2EMAINS HOWEVER DON T SHARE THE SAME LUST FOR INCOHERENCE AS THEIR LABEL MATES BUT DO HAVE THE HIGH HOPES OF IMPRESSING US "RITS !ND lNALLY AS IF THE INTENTIONS OF +ERRANG WERE TO MAKE 53 METAL NO MORE THAN A CLICHE COME 3EATTLES BASED !IDEN !LMOST COMPLETELY UNHEARD OF HEAR IN THE 5+ TEH GROUP MAINTAIN STRONG LINKS TO THE STERE OTYPED NU METAL IMAGE IS IT HARSH TO SAY THAT THEIR MUSIC IS ALREADY A FOREGONE CONCLUSION 4HERE IS NO DOUBT THAT +ERRANG WILL SUPPLY THE 5%! WITH A WELCOME WAKE UP CALL FOR STUDENTS LOST IN THE MONOTONY OF "RITPOP BUT THE SHOCK WAVES OF THE EVENT MAY ONLY SPREAD AS FAR AS .ELSON #OURT !T LEAST THE 7ELSH METALLERS MADE THE BILL OVER AND ABOVE THE OTHER THREE 53 PRE TENDERS ATTEMPTING TO HOIST THE BAN NER OF THE $OWNLOAD FESTIVAL MAYBE A LITTLE TOO EARLY #HARLES 2UMSEY
Live Gigs January At The LCR 4HE $ARKNESS ARE RETURNING TO THEIR HOME COUNTY A WEEK ON 4HURSDAY 4HEY VE BEEN BRANDED A POOR LIVE ACT AS COMPARED TO THEIR PHENOMINAL RECORDED SUCCESSES BUT WITH AN AVERAGE OF THREE COSTUME CHANGES PER GIG AND FESTIVAL STYLE PROCESSIONS THE QUALITY PANTOMIME THAT IS 4HE $ARKNESS WILL SURELY NOT FAIL TO IMPRESS 4HE ECCENTRICITIES OF *USTIN AND THE GANG ARE WHAT
MAKE THEM SUCH AN APPEALING ACT THEIR mAMBOUYANT RETURN LATE LAST YEAR WITH /NE 7AY 4ICKET 4O (ELL !ND "ACK EPITOMISED THEIR CLASSIC METAL PARODY 4HE .ORWICH GIG IS NATURALLY AN EXCLUSIVE WARM UP FOR THE PROMOTIONAL TOUR OF THEIR NEW ALBUM 5NFORTUNATELY THE GIG HAS ALREADY SOLD OUT BUT GIG GOERS WHO FAILED TO GET TICKETS CAN ALWAYS TURN TO THE SIMILARLY EPIC ROCK OF (I ON
-AIDEN PLAYING THE 3UNDAY BEFORE !S THE OFlCIAL TRIBUTE TO THE LEGEN DARY ROCKERS )RON -AIDEN (I ON ARE REGULARS TO THE TOURING CIRCUIT 4HE MELODIC HARDCORE OF .9 QUINTET 4AKING "ACK 3UNDAY GRACES THE ,#2 ON &RIDAY TH 4HEIR EMO TIVE PLETHORA OF RELATIONSHIP STO RIES IS UNDENIABLY THE lNEST THEIR GENRE HAS TO OFFER MAINLY DUE TO THEIR UNIQUE LAYERING OF CANON STYLE VOCALS )T S THE lRST TIME THE NEW LINE UP HAS APPEARED IN THE 5+ BUT HOPES ARE STILL HIGH FOR THE MODEST LEADERS OF EMO 0OPULARITY FORCED 4HE 2AKES LATE *ANUARY GIG TO BE MOVED FROM THE 7ATERFRONT TO THE HIGHER CA PACITY ,#2 4HE 2AKES ARE SAID TO EMBODY THE REAL LIFE OF OUR CAPITAL CITY ARGUABLY ONE OF THE MOST EXIT ING BANDS CURRENTLY RISING THE RANKS OF MUSICAL ATTENTION THERE LIVE GIGS ARE CLASSED AS THE IDEAL EVIDENCE FOR THEIR POSITIVE PRESS AND CREDIBILITY ! ,ONDON BASED GUITAR BAND WHO TAKES NO INmUENCE FROM THE ,IBER TINES HAS lNALLY EMERGED )T MIGHT BE STUCK OUT IN THE MID DLE OF NOWHERE BUT .ORWICH ALWAYS ATTRACTS THE lNEST MUSIC AND THUS CHURNS OUT EQUALLY lNE ARTISTS OF ITS OWN #HARLES 2UMSEY
Music
Artists of 2006
2
ECORD SALES DROP DRA MATICALLY IN THIS INEVI TABLE DRY SEASON BUT IT IS NOT ALL BAD NEWS 4HE ALBUMS BEING RE LEASED AT THIS THE START OF ARE OF A QUALITY WHICH THE WHOLE YEAR SHOULD BE JUDGED BY THESE ARE THE ARTISTS WHO ARE LAYING DOWN THE RED CARPET FOR ANOTHER SUMMER THESE ARE THE ARTISTS WHO WILL BE TALKED ABOUT FOR THE NEXT SIX MONTHS 2E LEASED AT VARIOUS POINTS IN THE NEXT TWO MONTHS THIS PLETHORA OF ALBUM AGE IS 4HE %VENT S UNRIVALLED GUIDE TO THE IMPORTANT LANDMARK RELEASES 4AKE NOTE AND MAKE THE MOST OF YOU #HRISTMAS PRESSIE (-6 VOUCHERS
!RCTIC -ONKEYS 7HATEVER 0EOPLE 3AY ) !M 4HATS 7HAT ) !M .OT 7HAT IS IT ABOUT THESE GARAGE PUNK STERS WHICH IS SO APPEALING IS IT THEIR YOUTH 4HEIR LOVEABLE BLASÏ NORTHERN ACCENTS /R JUST THEIR FASHIONABLE NU MOD IMAGE 7HAT EVER IT MAY BE THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT THIS DEBUT WILL FOLLOW THE FOOTSTEPS OF THEIR lRST SINGLE @) "ET 9OU ,OOK 'OOD /N 4HE $ANCEmOOR WHICH WENT STRAIGHT TO NUMBER ONE IN THE SINGLES CHARTS 4HOSE TOUTING THEM AS THE NEXT BIG THING ARE A LITTLE BE HIND AS THE -ONKEYS HAVE ALREADY ACHIEVED A HUGELY RESPECTABLE STATUS SINCE FORMING IN 7HATEVER 0EOPLE 3AY ) !M 4HAT S 7HAT ) M .OT IS RELEASED ON THE RD OF THIS MONTH AND WILL HOPEFULLY SET THE
BENCHMARK OF QUALITY FOR ALBUMS FOLLOWING IT THIS YEAR 7ITH THE GRITTY UNPRETENTIOUS SOUNDS OF THE .ORTH REMOULDING THE EXPECTATIONS OF "RITISH ROCK
2ICHARD !SHCROFT +EYS 4O 4HE 7ORLD *ANUARY RD IS ALSO A DATE FOR 2ICH ARD !SHCROFT TO PROVE ALL THOSE POST VERVE DOUBTERS WRONG WITH HIS THIRD SOLO RELEASE .ATURALLY THE CONSERVA TIVE MUSIC SCENE HAS SLATED !SHCROFT FOR HIS ATTEMPTS TO KEEP HIS FORMER BANDS MESSAGE ROLLING BUT FEW HAVE DOUBTED HIS ABILITY TO PEN A DIVERSE BALANCE OF ROCK @N ROLL SONGS AND lNE BRIT BALLADS 4HE lRST SINGLE "REAK 4HE .IGHT 7ITH #OLOUR WAS RELEASED JUST LAST WEEK BUT WILL THE TAGLINE hTHE lNEST SET OF SONGS SINCE 5RBAN (YMNSv CAUSE THE LEGENDARY SONGWRITER TO BECOME A VICTIM OF HIS OWN SUCCESS WHEN TRADITIONALISTS AT TACK HIM FOR DIGGING UP THE GRAVE OF HIS FORMER GLORY )T S DOUBTFUL
What’s On Wednesday 18/1/06
3CORCHING "AY 4OUR .ORWICH !RTS #ENTRE
a
Thursday 19/1/06
4HE #HURCHlTTERS a PM .ORWICH !RTS #ENTRE 5NION &ILM 7ALLACE AND 'ROMIT #URSE OF THE 7ERE 2ABBIT a PM ,4
Friday 20/1/06
+ERRANG 886 4OUR 3/,$ /54 PM ,#2 #REST .AVIGATOR 0ASSING #LOUDS a PM .ORWICH !RTS #ENTRE
4OOL 3CHISM 0ARABOLA !LSO THIS MONTH BIZARRE ART MET ALLERS 4OOL ARE SET TO RELEASE TWO $6$ SINGLES IN ADVANCE OF A NEW AL BUM SET FOR RELEASE IN EARLY SPRING 3CHISM AND 0ARABOLA TWO OF THE DE lNITIVE SONGS FROM THE ALBUM ,ATALARUS WHICH SPELT A WHOLE NEW ERA FOR NU METAL -AYNARD *AMES +EENAN S MUSICAL RÏSUMÏ IS VASTE AND RESPECTFUL ! 0ERFECT #IRCLE MAY HAVE BECOME A MORE USER FRIENDLY WAY TO MAKE HIS TRADEMARK POLITICAL STATEMENTS BUT IT WAS HIS ORIGINAL EFFORTS WITH 4OOL THAT CHARACTERISED HIM AS A PIONEER OF ART METAL 4HE FAMOUS HAUNTING ART OF 4OOL AS SEEN MOST PREDOMINANTLY IN THEIR VIDEOS IS BACK TO PUT A PECULIAR AND EERIE PERSPECTIVE ON WHAT WE THOUGHT NU METAL HAD BECOME
0HARRELL )N -Y -IND 0HARRELL S MUSICAL EMPIRE THE .EP TUNES . % 2 $ 3TAR 4RAK AND AN UNCOUNTABLE LIST OF (IP (OP 2 " COLLABORATIONS HAVE BRANDED HIM THE WIZARD OF HIS GENRE 4HE MAN HIMSELF SPEAKS OF TRANSCENDING GE NERIC STEREOTYPE WITHIN THE COLD SHOULDERED RELATIONSHIPS OF HIP HOP WITH PUNK OR ANY OTHER NARROW MINDED DIVISION OF MUSIC WHICH SHOULD BE A PERSONAL EXPRESSION NOT A BRACKET OF SOCIETY !ND SO HE HAS MOULDED THE MUSIC INSTEAD OF LETTING THE MUSIC MOULD HIM AND SUCH A ROMANCE HAS LEAD TO )N -Y -IND RELEASED ON THE TH &EBRUARY
Saturday 21/1/06
&ANTAZIA PM .ORWICH !RTS #ENTRE .OW S FEAT 3COTT -ILLS PM ,#2
Sunday 22/1/06
(I /N -AIDEN PM 4HE 7ATERFRONT
Monday 23/1/06
a
THE SOUNDTRACK OF HIS LIFE 0HARRELL WANTS HIS MUSIC TO INSPIRE PEOPLE TO MANIPULATE THEIR LIVES IN THE SAME WAY HE MANIPULATES HIS RECORDS REmECTING THE SAME SELF PROFESSED PRACTICE OF INDIVIDUALISM THAT HE HAS SO SUCCESSFULLY HARNESSED
#LAP 9OUR (ANDS 3AY 9EAH #LAP 9OUR (ANDS 3AY 9EAH 4HE SELF TITLED DEBUT FROM .EW 9ORK QUINTET HAS ALREADY BEEN RELEASED IN THE 53 AND DESPITE SELLING A QUARTER OF A MILLION COPIES THE BAND IS AL MOST TOTALLY UNHEARD OF THIS SIDE OF THE OCEAN )T MAY BE AN UNDERSTATE MENT BUT THE NAME PRETTY MUCH SAYS IT ALL CHARMING MELODIES AND CATCHY TUNES 3HARING THE SAME IN STRUMENTAL DIVERSITY OF !RCADE &IRE IT HIGHLIGHTS A MORE LAYERED STYLE OF ROCK THAT !MERICAN ARTISTS HAVE AL READY POINTED TO AS THE WAY THINGS ARE GOING !LTHOUGH PIONEERS OF "RIT ROCK WOULD BEG TO DIFFER THE QUALITY AND CATCHINESS OF SOUND WILL BE HARD TO CONTEND WITH IN THE COMING YEAR
.O 'OOD
ON THE SCENE WITH HIS INDIVIDUAL COMBINATION OF ACOUSTIC GUITAR AND UNCOMPROMISING RAPPING )T IS IN FACT HARD TO DETERMINE WHETHER "EN $REW IS ACTUALLY AN UNPLUGGED MU SICIAN WHEN HIS FOLK STYLE MELODIES COME THROUGH BUT THEN THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT CONFRONTATION OF lERCE RAP CREATES A UNIQUE SOUND IN ITS UR BAN CONTEXT (IS NEW ALBUM IS IN ITS lNAL STAGES AND THE TRANSGENERIC QUALITIES IT HAS WILL SURELY PROVE HIM SUCCESS AS A HOME GROWN MUSICIAN #ERTAINLY AN ARTIST TO KEEP AN EYE PERHAPS MORE OF A SLOW BURN THAN A SMASH HIT
3WAY 4HIS )S -Y $EMO ,AST YEAR THE CHARISMATIC ,ONDON RAPPER BEAT NON OTHER THAN #ENT TO WINNING THE BEST HIP HOP PRIZE AT THE -OBO AWARDS 4HIS )S -Y $EMO IS RELEASED AT THE START OF &EBRUARY AND WILL STAND UP TO REPRESENT THE LESS GLAMOROUS BUT STILL JUST AS IM PORTANT 5+ HIP HOP SCENE 3WAY S RISE FROM THE UNDERGROUND HAS BEEN DUE TO HIS SHEER DIRECTNESS EDGED WITH A UNIQUE SENSE OF HUMOUR OF TEN LOST IN THE MELODRAMATIC WORLD OF RAP -UCH OF THE ALBUM IS ALSO TOUCHING ON THE MORE POPULAR 2 " MARKET WHICH COULD BE THE KEY TO COMMERCIAL SUCCESS BUT EITHER WAY THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT THE UNDER GROUND (IP (OP SCENE WILL EXPLODE INTO MAINSTREAM RECOGNITION
0LAN "
!S THE VOID OF %MINEMS LEGACY GROWS LARGER BY THE DAY THE POP SCENE HERE IN %NGLAND IS CRYING OUT FOR A RAP PER WHO IS AS APPEALING AND MAR KETABLE 0LAN " IS NOT A FRONT RUN NER FOR SUCCESS IN BUT IS BACK
Tuesday 24/1/06
!USSIE "EACH 0ARTY PM ,#2
a
Saturday 28/1/06
0AM S (OUSE PM ,#2
a
a
Wednesday 25/1/06
4ERROR AND OTHERS PM 7ATERFRONT
a
Sunday 29/1/06
4HE 3TARTING ,INE VS -808 PM 7ATERFRONT
a
a
#ORD a PM .ORWICH !RTS #ENTRE !NDY :ALTZMAN PLUS OTHERS COMEDY a PM 4HE (IVE
Thursday 26/1/06
4HE $ARKNESS PM ,#2
3/,$ /54
Friday 27/12/05
4AKING "ACK 3UNDAY PM ,#2
3/,$ /54
Monday 30/1/06
4HE 2AKES PM ,#2
a
Do you want to place a listing? #ONTACT CONCRETE EVENT
UEA AC UK
Event 17 The
Film
Main Feature
Jarhead
%JS 4BN .FOEFT 3FMFBTF %BUF 3AM -ENDES S EXTRAORDINARY MEDITATION ON THE VERY ORDINARY NON ACTION OF MODERN WAR TAKES ITS TITLE FROM A NICKNAME GIVEN MARINES JARHEAD AS IN AN EMPTY VESSEL TO BE lLLED BY MILITARY DOCTRINE *ARHEAD HAS SOME &ULL -ETAL *ACKET INSPIRED TRAINING SEQUENCES COMPLETE WITH THE @THIS IS MY RImE MANTRA BUT IT S NOT REALLY CONCERNED WITH MEN MADE MACHINES MUCH LESS WAR S INDIFFERENCE TO INDIVIDUAL DEATH 4HERE ARE ONLY TWO MARINE DEATHS
IN THE lLM AND THEY BOTH OCCUR OUTSIDE OF THE @WAR PROPER ONE ACCIDENTAL IN TRAINING THE OTHER BACK HOME IN !MERICA )T S AN IRONY QUITE TYPICAL OF *ARHEAD WHICH DOES ITS LEVEL BEST TO AVOID THE CLICHÏS OF BOTH PYROTECHNIC WAR ACTION mICKS AND ALSO THE MORE RESPECTED TRADITION OF MAINLY 6IETNAM ANTI WAR lLMS n BOTH !POCALYPSE .OW AND 4HE $EER (UNTER ARE SHARPLY UNDERCUT IN SCENES WHERE MARINES HOOT AND CHEER AT THE lLMS DISPLAY OF MILITARISTIC MIGHT
0LATOON S MURMURED VOICEOVER IS EVOKED TOO HERE RERUN THROUGH THE REAL LIFE 'ULF 7AR MEMOIRS OF !NTHONY 3WOFFORD !S READ BY *AKE 'YLLENHAAL OUR SOMETIMES HERO WHO IS ALSO NAMED 3WOFFORD THE PASSAGES TAKE ON A STRANGE DISTANT QUALITY HEAVY WITH INSTANCES OF AMBIGUOUS METAPHOR @WE ARE STILL IN THE DESERT AND REPETITION THE LIST OF SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES TO KILL TIME AND AVOID LONELINESS IN THE DESERT RUNS @-ASTURBATION 2E READING OF LETTERS FROM UNFAITHFUL
WIVES AND GIRLFRIENDS #LEANING YOUR RImE &URTHER MASTURBATION 2E WIRING 7ALKMAN THAT EMPHASISE THE DREAMLIKE EXISTENCE OF MARINES WHO KNOW THEY HAVE SOMETHING IMPORTANT TO DO n THAT IT SHOOT AND KILL n BUT ARE CONTINUALLY FRUSTRATED FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO DO IT !S 3WOFF LOSES HIS MARBLES ONE BY ONE BECOMING INCREASINGLY UNABLE TO ACCEPT HIS SITUATION AS REALITY THE lLM TOO BEGINS TO REPLACE ITS OBSERVATIONAL HUMOUR WITH PSYCHOLOGICAL ASIDES AND FANTASTICAL STYLISATION /NE SCENE HAS 3WOFF VOMIT SAND AS SHE STARES INTO A BATHROOM MIRROR IRRESISTIBLY RECALLING 'YLLENHAAL S lRST RABBIT HALLUCINATION IN $ONNIE $ARKO ,ATER THE PLATOON SETS UP CAMP IN +UWAIT S BURNING OIL lELDS n A HELLISH LANDSCAPE OF BLACK SAND AND lERY PILLARS STUNNINGLY PHOTOGRAPHED BY #OEN "ROTHERS REGULAR 2OGER $EAKINS !PART FROM THE STRIKING IMAGERY ANDCOMMITTEDPERFORMANCES 0ETER 3ARSGAARD AS 3WOFF S SNIPING PARTNER 4ROY IS ESPECIALLY GOOD *AMIE &OXX DOES A GLEEFULLY ABUSIVE 3TAFF 3GT *ARHEAD IS MOST MEMORABLE FOR ITS LACK OF POLITICAL STANCE )T S A FRUSTRATING EVASION FOR SOME CRITICS AND THOUGH ANY DEPICTION
OF THE 'ULF 7AR GETS MARKS FOR @REMEMBERING A WAR THAT THE MEDIA IS TOO PREOCCUPIED TO DISCUSS RIGHT NOW THERE S A LIMIT TO THE AMOUNT OF UNANSWERED QUESTIONS A lLM CAN COMFORTABLY ACCOMMODATE 7HEN ONE OF THE CHARACTERS DOES lND A POLITICAL VOICE HIS REMARKS ABOUT THE 53 GOVERNMENT S ARMS DEALING ACTIVITIES AND THE MARINES IMPINGED FREEDOM OF SPEECH FEEL SELF CONSCIOUS AND CONTRIVED n BUT THEN MAYBE IT S ALL PART OF THE *ARHEAD STRATEGY 5LTIMATELY -ENDES S lLM WORKS BEST AS EXPRESSIONISTIC PORTRAIT OF MADNESS ALBEIT ONE PEPPERED WITH JOKES WRY AND FOUL MOUTHED 'YLLENHAAL SUSTAINS A MAGNIlCENTLY MULTIFACETED PERFORMANCE FROM THE MOMENT HE STUMBLES INTO THE -ARINES WITH A #AMUS BOOK ASKED WHY HE JOINED THE MARINES 3WOFF ANSWERS THAT HE @GOT LOST ON ;HIS= WAY TO COLLEGE TO HIS lNAL INCARNATION AS A DAMAGED SURVIVOR *ARHEAD S lNAL SCENE OBSERVES THE FUNERAL OF A MARINE WHO HAVING SURVIVED THE WAR HAS DIED IN A CAR ACCIDENT /NE lNAL DElANT MOMENT OF IRONY PERHAPS BUT AFFECTING ALL THE SAME 3EB -ANLEY
Five Great: Loose Trilogies 3EQUELS AND n TICKET SALES PERMITTING n TRILOGIES ARE THE LIFEBLOOD OF (OLLYWOOD AS ANYONE CONFRONTING THE MULTIPLEX PROGRAMME BOARDS IN THE PAST FEW YEARS WILL ATTEST "UT BEYONDTHENUMERAL EDBLOCKBUSTERS THERE DO EXIST SOME LESS CALCULATED TRIPTYCHS LINKED BY THEMES FORMS AND PERSONNEL INSTEAD OF NARRATIVE AND PROlT STRATEGIES (ERE ARE lVE THAT OFFER MORE THAN THE SUM OF THEIR THREE PARTS 4HE RELIGIOUS TRILOGY 4HROUGH A 'LASS $ARKLY ! 7INTER ,IGHT 4HE 3ILENCE "ERGMAN HIT HIS SUPREMELY DESOLATE STRIDE IN THE S FOLLOWING A DECADE AND A HALF OF EQUIVOCALLY OPTIMISTIC PICTURES 4HROUGH A 'LASS $ARKLY ANNOUNCED WHAT WOULD COME TO BE KNOWN AS HIS @RELIGIOUS TRILOGY WITH ITS NARRATIVES OF LOST
18
Event The
BELIEF AND INESCAPABLE ISOLATION COMPLETED IN CONSECUTIVE YEARS BY ! 7INTER ,IGHT AND 4HE 3ILENCE 4HE lRST /SCAR WINNING lLM IS THE MOST FAMOUS CHIEmY FOR ITS CHILLING @VISION OF 'OD AS A GREAT BIG SPIDER 4HE ALIENATION TRILOGY , !VVENTURA ,A .OTTE 4HE %CLIPSE &ORMALLY DAZZLING AND LIKE "ERGMAN S lLMS HIGHLY PESSIMISTIC ALTHOUGH SOME CRITICS WOULD PLUMP FOR @SCEPTICAL !NTONIONI S BLACK AND WHITE TRIPLE BILL OF MODERN ALIENATION IS AS STARTLING TODAY AS WHEN IT KICK STARTED )TALIAN MODERNIST CINEMA IN THE EARLY S -ONICA 6ITTI STAR OF ALL THREE lLMS AND ALSO !NTONIONI S NEXT 2ED $ESSERT IS THE KEY lGURE HERE AN EERIE EMBODIMENT OF MODERN EXISTENTIALISM AND BOURGEOIS ENNUI
4HE PICARESQUE TRILOGY 4HE -ILKY 7AY 4HE $ISCREET #HARM OF THE "OURGEOISIE ,E &ANTOME DE LA ,IBERTE !FTER THE INTENSELY SUBJECTIVE DREAM GAMES OF "UNUEL S FAMED MASTERPIECE "ELLE DE *OUR 4HE -ILKY 7AY AND ITS UNOFlCIAL BRETHREN 4HE $ISCREET #HARM OF THE "OURGEOISIE AND ,E &ANTOME DE ,IBERTE COMPILED A lTTING CONCLUSION TO THE GRAND 3URREALIST S CAREER IN THE FORM OF A RETURN TO ITS BEGINNINGS THE RAMBLING ANTICS OF , !GE D /R 4HE THREE lLMS ARE TIED TOGETHER BY AN EPISODIC STRUCTURE BASED ON THE 3PANISH PICTURESQUE NOVEL 4HE MEDITATION TRILOGY 'ERRY %LEPHANT ,AST $AYS 'US 6AN 3ANT S THREE MOST RECENT
PICTURES FOCUS ON YOUNG MEN AND DYING YOUNG 3HAKING OFF MEMORIES OF A STRING OF FAIR TO MIDDLING COMMERCIAL lLMS n INCLUDING 'OOD 7ILL (UNTING AND &INDING &ORRESTER n 6AN 3ANT HIT THE AUTEUR ROAD AGAIN WITH THIS BREATHTAKING TRILOGY OF @MEDITATIONS ON TRAGIC DEATH IN A VAST DESERT 'ERRY A SUBURBAN #OLUMBINE LIKE HIGH SCHOOL %LEPHANT ABOVE AND +URT #OBAIN S GREENHOUSE ,AST $AYS
4HE CRUEL HORROR TRILOGY 0SYCHO 4HE "IRDS &RENZY )N THE MASTER OF SUSPENSE AWARE OF WHAT HIS %UROPEAN ARTHOUSE FRIENDS WERE UP TO ON THE CONTINENT TURNED HIS HAND TO A DISTINCTLY MODERN FORM OF HORROR BASED ON NARRATIVE EXPERIMENTATION AND A MORBID n IF AMUSED n CYNICISM 3EB -ANLEY
Film
How Out is Hollywood?
!NG ,EE S "ROKEBACK -OUNTAIN HAS DRAWN PRAISE FOR ITS UNSENSATIONALIST PICTURING OF GAY SEXUALITY "UT IT S AN UNUSUAL GAY lLM THAT DECLINES BOTH (OLLYWOOD S SYSTEM OF STEROETYPING AND .EW 1UEER #INEMA S OBSCURE AESTHETIC "Y #HARLOTTE +IMBLEY
!
S A RESULT OF ALL THE MEDIA HYPE SURROUNDING !NG ,EE S NEW CINEMATIC V E N T U R E "ROKEBACK -OUNTAIN @.EW 1UEER #INEMA HAS FOUND ITSELF UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT OF COMMERCIAL CINEMA 4HE TERM .EW 1UEER #INEMA WAS lRST PENNED BY THE lLM THEORIST " 2UBY 2ICH TO DESCRIBE THE EMERGING CINEMATIC MOVEMENT THAT WAS BEING CREATED BY GAY lLMMAKERS DURING THE S 4HESE lLMMAKERS EMBRACED THEIR SEXUALITY ON CELLULOID THROUGH ART HOUSE AND INDEPENDENT CINEMA 4HEIR RAPID SUCCESSES AT lLM FESTIVALS MEANT THAT .EW 1UEER #INEMA FOUND ITSELF WITH A VAST BODY OF FANS CREATING AN EVER POWERFUL AND CONTINUALLY GROWING CULT AUDIENCE 4HE POPULARITY OF THE MOVEMENT WAS DUE TO ITS DEEP CONCERN WITH DELIVERING ACCURATE PORTRAYALS OF GAY AND LESBIAN LIFESTYLES WHILST NOT CONFORMING TO THE INTENSELY CONTRIVED HOMOSEXUAL CHARACTERS THAT (OLLYWOOD HAD BEEN CHURNING OUT FOR DECADES .EW 1UEER #INEMA AIMS TO TELL STORIES THAT ARE GRITTY AND FRESH CHALLENGING THE AUDIENCE S POTENTIAL PREJUDICE THROUGH STRONG NARRATIVES THAT ARE PULLED FROM A DIVERSE MIXTURE OF GENRES 4WO SUCH ALTERNATIVE LOVE STORIES INCLUDE !NNE 7HEELER S MODERN DAY LESBIAN FAIRYTALE "ETTER 4HAN #HOCOLATE AND THE RECENTLY RELEASED CONTROVERSIAL AND HIGHLY INNOVATIVE COMING OF AGE TALE -YSTERIOUS 3KIN DIRECTED BY THE CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED 'REGG !RAKI .EW 1UEER #INEMA AIMS TO APPEAL TO BOTH STRAIGHT AND GAY AUDIENCES AND ALWAYS ATTEMPTS TO lGHT THE STEREOTYPES THAT (OLLYWOOD HAS CREATED IN ORDER TO APPEAL TO A LARGELY HETEROSEXUAL AUDIENCE AND TO THEREFORE REAP THE LARGEST PROlT BY REMAINING UNCONCERNED WITH MINORITIES (OLLYWOOD INTRINSICALLY SEEMS TO SPLIT GAY AND LESBIAN CHARACTERS BETWEEN THREE DISTINCTIVE CATEGORIES 4HE BITCHY GAY BEST FRIEND %ROTIC ATTRACTIVE LESBIANS AND 4HE GAY PSYCHOPATH 4HE 'AY "EST &RIEND )N THE ABSENCE OF THE NOW @OFFENSIVE TOKEN BLACK FRIEND A NEW HYBRID HAS BEEN BORN ,ADIES AND GENTLEMAN PUT YOUR HANDS TOGETHER FOR THE HIGHLY CONTRIVED AND STEREOTYPICAL BITCHY CAMP GAY BEST FRIEND SEEN lRST IN #RUEL )NTENTIONS PLAYED BY *OSHUA *ACKSON AND MOST RECENTLY
AS THE LATEST ACCESSORY FOR ,INDSAY ,OHAN IN -EAN 'IRLS 4HE BITCHY CAMP GAY BEST FRIEND IS EVERY WANNABE FAG HAG S NEW DOLL 4HIS NEW STEREOTYPE HAS EVEN MADE AN IMPACT IN ROMANTIC COMEDIES FOR EXAMPLE IN *ULIA 2OBERTS S CHICK mICK -Y "EST &RIENDS 7EDDING (OLLYWOOD CREATES THESE LIGHT HEARTED IMAGES OF GAY LIFESTYLE BECAUSE THEY ARE CONSIDERED TO BE MORE ACCEPTABLE TO THE MAJORITY THEREFORE THEY ARE CONSIDERED LESS OF A lNANCIAL RISK ENSURING THAT THE STUDIOS REAP THE LARGEST POSSIBLE PROlT BY NOT @OFFENDING ANYONE IN EVANGELICAL !MERICA 3AUCY ,ESBIANS $ESPITE MAINSTREAM (OLLYWOOD S DESIRE TO CENSOR REPRESENTATIONS OF THE QUEER MINORITY IT ALSO MANIPULATES STEREOTYPES TO REAP IN A PROlT &OR EXAMPLE IN THE ADVERTISEMENTS FOR #HARLIE S !NGELS &ULL 4HROTTLE THE MARKETING CAMPAIGN SUGGESTED THAT #AMERON $IAZ AND $EMI -OORE SHARE A KISS 4HE LINGERING SHOT IN THE lLM ADVERTS IS IN THE MOVIE JUST A GLIMPSE OF THE TWO ACTRESSES TALKING (OWEVER THE STUDIO DECIDED TO SLOW DOWN THE IMAGE IN THE lLMS TRAILER TO MAKE IT APPEAR EROTIC n CONFORMING TO THE STEREOTYPICAL IDEA THAT ALL HETEROSEXUAL MALES HAVE A PREOCCUPATION WITH SEXY LESBIANS
CONSIDERED SO OFFENSIVE BY THE GAY COMMUNITY WAS BECAUSE HISTORICALLY GAY AND LESBIAN PEOPLE HAVE BEEN PLACED OUTSIDE THE @NORMAL SOCIAL IDEOLOGICAL REALMS AND THEREFORE PERCEIVED AS MONSTROUS BY CULTURE ON THE WHOLE (OWEVER THE GAY lLMMAKER 4OM +ALIN WHO WROTE AND DIRECTED 3WOON THE CONTROVERSIAL lLM WHICH TRACKS TWO GAY LOVERS IN THE S WHO KIDNAP AND MURDER A CHILD FOR THRILLS SPOKE OUT AGAINST THE MAJORITY OF HIS GAY PEERS STATING THAT @7E RE IN A SORRY STATE IF WE CAN T AFFORD TO LOOK AT hUNWHOLESOMEv LESBIAN OR GAY PEOPLE 4HE PROBLEM BEING THAT IN MAINSTREAM CINEMA DURING THE S AND THE PRIOR DECADES WAS THAT THIS WAS THE ONLY WAY THAT HOMOSEXUAL PEOPLE WHERE REPRESENTED AS ',!!$ ARGUED (OLLYWOOD ANSWERED ITS CRITICS IN WHEN 4RI3TAR 3TUDIOS CAST TWO OF ITS LARGEST AND BANKABLE MALE STARS WITH VERY HETEROSEXUAL IMAGES FOR THE lRST CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED AND MAINSTREAM HOMOSEXUAL SUCCESS STORY 0HILADELPHIA 4HIS lLM FOR THE lRST TIME IN MAINSTREAM CINEMATIC HISTORY CONVEYED A BROADER RANGE OF HOMOSEXUAL CHARACTERS THAT COVERED THE CONTROVERSIAL AND UNEASY SUBPLOTS OF THE !)$3 EPIDEMIC AND HOMOPHOBIA IN !MERICA (OLLYWOOD PROVED THAT IT COULD PRESENT A BREED OF GAY CHARACTERS
(OLLYWOOD CREATES LIGHT HEARTED IM AGES OF GAY LIFESTYLE BECAUSE THEY ARE CONSIDERED MORE ACCEPTABLE AND LESS OF A lNANCIAL RISK
THAT DO CHALLENGE THE AUDIENCE AND HOMOPHOBIC PREJUDICES PRESENT IN WESTERN CULTURE 0HILADELPHIA WAS S CRITICAL SUCCESS STORY AND WAS RECOGNISED BY (OLLYWOOD OFlCIALLY WHEN 4OM (ANKS RECEIVED HIS lRST /SCAR NOD FOR "EST !CTOR 4HE STORY SET IN THE TITULAR CITY FOLLOWS THE NARRATIVEOF!NDREW"ECKETT (ANKS WHO IS lRED FROM HIS CONSERVATIVE LAW lRM AFTER HE DEVELOPS !)$3 4HE lLM ITSELF DOES NOT CENTRALISE ON "ECKETT S SEXUALITY 4HERE IS NO KISS OR SEX SCENE BETWEEN HIM AND HIS PARTNER !NTONIO "ANDORES n THIS IS BECAUSE THE lLM IS ABOUT HOW HOMOPHOBIC PREJUDICE JUST LIKE !)$3 IS LETHAL &ORWARD TO THE YEAR AND NUMEROUS lLMS RECOGNISED BY CRITICS AND AUDIENCES ALIKE ARE lLMS THAT HAVE PLOTS THAT CENTRALISE AROUND GAY AND LESBIAN CHARACTERS &ROM &RANCE THERE WAS 3WITCHBLADE 2OMANCE THE INTELLIGENT TEEN SLASHER IN 3PAIN THERE WAS THE lLM NOIR "AD %DUCATION AND FROM OUR OWN "RITISH SOIL WE HAD THE SUPERB COMING OF AGE TALE -Y 3UMMER OF ,OVE 4HEREFORE IT IS NOT TOO SURPRISING THAT WITHIN THE lRST MONTH OF "ROKEBACK -OUNTAIN HAS RECEIVED SUCH POPULARITY AND ACCLAIM 0ERHAPS IF THIS WAS SURPRISING THEN ON A SOCIOLOGICAL LEVEL WE REALLY WOULD HAVE SOMETHING TO WORRY ABOUT
4HE 'AY PSYCHOPATH &ROM 3ILENCE OF THE ,AMBS TO RECENT CINEMATIC OUTINGS SUCH AS %NDURING ,OVE AND &RANCE S SLASHER PSYCHODRAMA 3WITCHBLADE 2OMANCE THE WORLD OF CINEMA INDEPENDENT OF THE DOMINANT !MERICAN MARKET LIKES TO LINK HOMOSEXUALITY WITH OBSESSION AND DESTRUCTION !FTER THE RELEASE OF 3ILENCE OF 4HE ,AMBS IN THE 'AY 2IGHTS MOVEMENT WERE OUTRAGED WITH WHAT THEY CONSIDERED THE MOVIE WORLD S REPEATED DESTRUCTIVE PORTRAYAL OF HOMOSEXUAL CHARACTERS 3ILENCE OF THE ,AMBS FAMOUSLY CENTRALISES AROUND THE 0OLICE $EPARTMENT S CAT AND MOUSE CHASE TO lND A SEXUALLY AMBIGUOUS CROSS DRESSING PSYCHOPATHIC MALE )N RESPONSE TO THE REPEATED USE OF DEROGATORY REPRESENTATIONS OF HOMOSEXUAL PEOPLE 4HE 'AY AND ,ESBIAN !LLIANCE !GAINST $EFAMATION ',!!$ WAS SET UP TO PROTECT THE GAY COMMUNITY FROM MISREPRESENTATION STEREOTYPES AND PREJUDICE IN THE MEDIA 4HE REASON THAT HOMOSEXUAL CHARACTERS AFlLIATION WITH HORROR lLMS WAS
-Y 3UMMER OF ,OVE
Event 19 The
Film
Celluloid Intoxications )MAGES OF DRUG USE HAVE BECOME A BADGE OF INDIE COOL IN RECENT YEARS BUT THE HISTORY OF (OLLYWOOD SHOWS A DIVERSE AND EVER CHANGING ATTITUDE TOWARDS TABOO SUSTANCES !NDY *UDSON TRACKS THE DEVELOPMENTS FROM 4ELL 9OUR #HILDREN TO 4RAINSPOTTING
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2EQUIEM FOR A $REAM
S lLMS HAVE BECOME AN IMPORTANT PART OF M O D E R N CULTURE SO THEY HAVE COME TO REmECT THAT CULTURE AND ALL OF ITS ASPECTS 4HIS OFCOURSE INCLUDESDRUGS ANDIN EVERY FORM IMAGINABLE .OWADAYS DRUGS CONSTITUTE ALMOST THERE OWN SUB GENRE IN lLM INCLUDING SUCH RENOWNED MODERN CLASSICS AS 4RAINSPOTTING AND 3CARFACE 2EQUIEM FOR A $REAM AND 4RAFlC $RUGS ARE REPRESENTED IN ALL SHAPES AND FORMS AND IN DIFFERENT WAYS TOO FROM THE CHILDISH BUT FUNNY PARODIES OF TEENAGED POTHEADS TO THE TRAGEDY OF FAMILIES TORN APART BY HEROIN $RUGS GET GIVEN A MIXED TREATMENT SOMETIMES GLAMORISED OFTEN VILIlED AND EVERYTHING FROM THEIR CREATION DISTRIBUTION TO CONSUMPTION HAS MADE ITS WAY ONTO THE BIG SCREEN "UT WHAT EFFECT HAS THE PORTRAYAL OF DRUGS ON lLM HAD ON REAL LIFE $URING THE EARLY PART OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY WHEN (OLLYWOOD BEGAN TO TAKE OFF OFTEN CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES WERE AVOIDED AND SO DRUGS REMAINED ON THE SIDELINES "UT THAT S NOT TO SAY THEY DIDN T HAVE AN INmUENCE 4HE S WERE A PERIOD FAMOUS FOR A CULTURAL CHANGE IN MANY 7ESTERN COUNTRIES AS MUSIC AND PARTIES BEGAN TO BECOME A LIFESTYLE ALL OF THEIR OWN 4HIS COULD BE SEEN MOST OF ALL IN THE BURGEONING (OLLYWOOD WHICH BECAME A REPRESENTATION OF THIS CHANGE (OLLYWOOD BECAME THE CENTRE OF FAME RICHES AND GLAMOUR
20
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Event The
THAT IT IS TODAY IN THIS PERIOD "UT IT ALSO ATTRACTED A SOMEWHAT SEEDIER ASPECT OF LIFE AS WELL PROSTITUTION CRIME AND OF COURSE DRUGS #OCAINE USE BEGAN TO RISE AS WEALTHY (OLLYWOOD CELEBRITIES FOUND A WAY TO SPEND THEIR RICHES !T THE TIME THE ACTIVITIES OF (OLLYWOOD WERE OFTEN CRITICISED FOR BEING DEBAUCHED AND CORRUPT BUT STILL THE INmUENCE IT HAD ON CHANGING CULTURAL VALUES WAS VERY EVIDENT &ILM STARS TOOK ON HIDDEN LIVES WHERE THEY COULD JOIN IN COKE PARTIES AND THERE WAS MORE THAN ONE DEATH AMONGST THE STARLETS ATTRIBUTED TO DRUGS "UT DRUGS WOULD REMAIN AN UNDERGROUND ISSUE AS PEOPLE S ATTITUDES TO IT REMAINED THAT WAY #ERTAINLY NOTHING AS CONTROVERSIAL AS DRUGS WOULD BE ALLOWED IN MAINSTREAM CINEMA ,ATER ON IN THE TH CENTURY GOVERNMENTS WOULD BEGIN TO USE LARGE lLM PRODUCERS TO MAKE EDUCATIONAL ANTI DRUG lLMS ALONG WITH ANTI COMMUNIST PROPAGANDA lLMS SUCH AS 4ELL 9OUR #HILDREN !TTEMPTS TO PORTRAY DRUGS IN RELATION TO THEIR ACTUAL EFFECTS ON SOCIETY SUCH AS THE BRAVE 4HE -AN 7ITH THE 'OLDEN !RM WERE SHUNNED BY (OLLYWOOD AND THE -OTION 0ICTURE !SSOCIATION (OWEVER AS ATTITUDES BEGAN TO CHANGE IN THE BLOSSOMING OF THE S SO DID lLMS $RUGS BEGAN TO TAKE A MORE CENTRAL PART OF HUMAN LIFE AND BECAME MORE ACCEPTED BY THE YOUNG HIPPIE GENERATION AND SO THEY BEGAN TO ENTER INTO lLMS BOTH SUBTLY AND IN A MORE OBVIOUS WAY &ILMS WERE PRODUCED SPECIlCALLY FOR THOSE ENJOYING ,3$ TRIPS TO ENHANCE THE EXPERIENCE SUCH AS 4HE 4RIP PRODUCED BY 2OGER
#ORMAN 7ITH PHANTASMAGORICAL SYMBOLISM COSMIC RIDDLES AND QUESTIONS OF REALITY THESE lLMS BLEW MINDS WORLDWIDE OR AT LEAST TRIED -EANWHILE MORE MAINSTREAM lLMS BEGAN TO REPRESENT DRUGS AND DRUG RELATED MATERIAL ! 3PACE /DYSSEY WAS AND STILL IS FAMOUS FOR THE SCENE WHERE $AVE "OWMAN ENTERS A STRANGE WARP THROUGH SPACE AND TIME DEPICTED AS ONE OF THE MOST PSYCHEDELIC AND EYE STRAINING SCENES IN CINEMA HISTORY AWASH WITH BRIGHT COLOUR 5NDERGROUND SOURCES SOON REVEALED TO TRIPPERS THE BEST TIMES IN THE MOVIE TO TAKE ,3$ OR OTHER HALLUCINOGENS SO AS TO FURTHER HEIGHTEN THE EXPERIENCE OF THAT PARTICULAR SCENE .OW DRUGS BECAME AN ACCEPTABLE PART OF lLMS #RIME THRILLERS SUCH AS 3CARFACE WERE ABLE TO SHOW DRUG USAGE DRUG SMUGGLING AND THE RELATED CRIME WITHOUT THE MORAL BACKLASH THEY ONCE WOULD HAVE RECEIVED $RUG USAGE WAS ACTUALLY SHOWN ON THE BIG SCREEN NOW AND lLMS BEGAN TO MORE REALISTICALLY REVEAL THE TRUTHS OF MODERN SOCIETY THAT PEOPLE TOOK DRUGS BOTH RICH AND POOR THOUGH THE TYPE OF DRUG VARIED REGARDLESS OF WHO THEY WERE (OWEVER DRUGS STILL GENERALLY REMAINED AS A SIDE ISSUE IN THESE lLMS )T WAS DIFlCULT FOR PRODUCERS TO REALLY SHOW THE TERRIBLE SOCIAL EFFECTS THOUGH THAT DOESN T MEAN THAT lLMS LIKE THIS DIDN T EXIST S 4HE 0ANIC IN .EEDLE 0ARK WHOSE CAST INCLUDED A YOUNG !L 0ACINO WAS A HEARTBREAKING STORY SHOWING THE TERRIBLE FATES OF TWO LOVERS ADDICTED TO HEROIN "UT SUCH DRUG lLMS ONLY REALLY BECAME THE NORM DURING THE S AND S WHICH BECAME ALMOST A GOLDEN ERA FOR DRUG lLMS /NSCREEN DRUGS AND HIGHS BEGAN TO BECOME MORE COMMONPLACE AS ATTITUDES CHANGED AND DRUGS BEGAN TO ACTUALLY BECOME COOL OR EVEN THE SOURCE OF HILARIOUS PARODY 2ECENT TEEN mICKS SUCH AS (AROLD +UMAR 'ET THE -UNCHIES HAVE SHOWN DRUG TRIPS AS FUNNY AND HARMLESS ALTHOUGH OF COURSE CONCENTRATING ON THE MUCH SOFTER DRUG OF CANNABIS "EFORE THEN 0ULP &ICTION TOOK AN ALMOST COMICAL VIEW TO THE SCENE OF -IA 7ALLACE OVERDOSING AND HAVING TO BE RESUSCITATED IN A WAY THAT ONLY 1UENTIN 4ARANTINO COULD PULL OFF EFFECTIVELY /THER lLMS BEGAN TO SHOW THE MORE TRAGIC SIDE SUCH AS $RUGSTORE #OWBOY
WHICH STARRED -ATT $ILLON AND (EATHER 'RAHAM ALTHOUGH THERE WAS STILL AN EMPHASIS ON FUNK AND HIP LIFESTYLES /FF SCREEN THOUGH DRUGS WERE ANYTHING BUT FUNNY 4HE COKE FUELLED REVELRY OF THE S HIT (OLLYWOOD FAST AND ONCE AGAIN HARD WORKING CELEBRITIES TOOK DRUGS UP WITH ABANDON TO THEIR OWN DOWNFALL #ELEBRITY DEATHS BEGAN TO HIT (OLLYWOOD HARD WITH THE MOST INFAMOUS AND HEARTBREAKING BEING THAT OF THE YOUNG 2IVER 0HOENIX IN (IS DEATH CREATED A SHOCK IN (OLLYWOOD ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING HIS YOUTH AND THE PROMISE HE SHOWED AS AN ACTOR )T SEEMED THAT THE TOLL OF DRUGS IN SOCIETY WAS BEGINNING TO BE SHOWN IN lLMS 4RAINSPOTTING ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL AND FAMOUS "RITISH lLMS EVER PORTRAYED THE GRIM REALITY OF HEROIN ADDICTS AND THE TERRIBLE LIVES THEY LED AS SLAVES TO THE DRUG !LTHOUGH THE lLM MAINTAINS A SEMBLANCE OF BLACK HUMOUR IT STILL REMAINS A TRAGIC STORY !ND SO DRUG lLMS NOW SEEM TO MORE REmECT THE REALITY OF DRUG LIFE AND MORE MODERN lLMS THAT HAVE GONE ENTIRELY FOR TRAGEDY INCLUDE 4RAFlC AND 2EQUIEM FOR A $REAM 4RAFlC REMOVES ALL GLAMOUR AND SHOWS THE DRUGS TRADE IN ITS ENTIRETY AND ITS SOBER APPROACH AND WILLINGNESS TO SHOW THE UGLY SIDE OF THE TRADE WAS A MUCH MORE HONEST AND REAL VIEW OF DRUGS 2EQUIEM IS A PARTICULARLY DISTURBING EXAMPLE OF JUST HOW DRUGS AND ADDICTION COMPLETELY DESTROYS THE LIVES OF ALL THOSE IT TOUCHES )N FACT THE SHOCKING IMAGES AND SCENES IN 2EQUIEM BECAME INFAMOUS AND DIRECTOR $ARREN !RONOFSKY IS QUOTED AS SAYING @$ON T BE FOOLED n THIS IS A HORROR MOVIE 3O THE ATTITUDES TO DRUGS IN lLMS HAVE REMAINED CLOSE TO THE ATTITUDES OF MODERN SOCIETY &ROM HIDING IN THE BACKGROUND TO ACCEPTANCE INTO THE MAINSTREAM INTO ALMOST GLAMORISATION AND BACK INTO A TRUTHFUL AND SOBER ATTITUDE TO THE REAL PROBLEM OF TACKLING DRUGS 3O HAVE (OLLYWOOD AND OTHER lLM INDUSTRIES HELPED TO TACKLE THE PROBLEMS CAUSED -ANY HAVE CLAIMED THAT lLMS HAVE GLAMORISED THE DRUGS INDUSTRY AND CONSUMPTION "UT 4RAINSPOTTING WAS MUCH MORE EFFECTIVE IN PUTTING ME OFF OF DRUGS THAN ANYTHING ) WAS SHOWN AT SCHOOL
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Other Screens -ATCH 0OINT $IR 7OODY !LLEN 2ELEASED ,IKE :ACH "RAFF S 'ARDEN 3TATE 7OODY !LLEN S LATEST OFFERING WAS APPLAUDED IN THE 53 WHILE CRITICS OVER HERE WERE LESS IMPRESSED AND RIGHTLY SO .EITHER lLM IS MUCH GOOD NO MATTER HOW MUCH ) WANTED TO LIKE THEM -ATCH 0OINT FOLLOWS EX TENNIS PRO #HRIS 2HYS -EYERS WHO WEDS #HLOE -ORTIMER THE DAUGHTER OF AN EXTREMELY WEALTHY BUSINESSMAN (OWEVER WHAT HE REALLY MARRIES IS THE LIFESTYLE SO WHEN HE BEGINS AN AFFAIR WITH .OLA *OHANSSON HE IS TORN BETWEEN LOVE AND LUXURY 4HE PLOT S NOT BAD BUT !LLEN CANNOT WRITE FOR %NGLISH PEOPLE !MERICAN .OLA S DIALOGUE SOUNDS NATURAL BUT THE REST HAD THE AUDIENCE LAUGHING AND THIS IS NOT A COMEDY .OR HAS THE DIRECTOR S MOVE FROM .EW 9ORK TO ,ONDON WORKED 4HIS IS NOT ,ONDON FOR THOSE OF US WHO LIVE THERE BUT FOR TOURISTS THE ,ONDON THAT PREVIOUSLY LIVED ONLY IN 2ICHARD #URTIS S IMAGINATION !S USUAL *OHANSSON PLAYS HER ROLE WELL AND 0ENELOPE 7ILTON IS ALWAYS GREAT 4HE REST ARE PASSABLE THOUGH NO CHARACTER IS LIKEABLE ! DISAPPOINTMENT *AMES "ERRILL
*UST &RIENDS $IR 2OGER +UMBLE 2ELEASED ! DERIVATIVE GROSS OUT ROMANTIC COMEDY ENLIVENED BY AN ON THE MONEY PERFORMANCE FROM !NNA &ARIS *UST &RIENDS IS LOW ON AMBITION BUT BLESSED WITH A FAIRLY HIGH LAUGH RATE 4HE PLOT REPEATS 4HERE S 3OMETHING !BOUT -ARY S POST HIGH SCHOOL BOY GIRL REUNION #HRIS "RANDER 2YAN 2EYNOLDS
BUMPS INTO HIS ADOLESCENT CRUSH *AMIE 0ALAMINO !MY 3MART YEARS AFTER GRADUATION AND A ROMANTIC HUMILIATION 4HE SUBSEQUENT RE WOOING IS AWKWARDLY PLAYED WITH *AMIE OBVIOUSLY ATTRACTED TO #HRIS FOR HIS NEW GOOD LOOKS HE WAS FAT IN SCHOOL AND SQUARELY IN *AMIE S @FRIEND ZONE AS HE PUTS IT AS THE lLM SIMULTANEOUSLY TRIES TO DEMONSTRATE #HRIS NEW WOMANISING BIG SHOT PERSONALITY 3OME QUITE UNFATHOMABLE ROMANTIC MOTIVATIONS ARE PROlCIENTLY GLOSSED OVER BY A SHARP SCRIPT WHICH MIXES SPECTACLES OF EMBARRASSMENT n THE INADVERTENT lERY DESTRUCTION OF A FAMILY HOME THOUGH NICKED FROM -EET THE 0ARENTS IS A HIGHLIGHT n AND SPIKY ONE LINERS 3TICK AROUND FOR THE END CREDITS WHICH PLAY ROCK STARLET 3AMANTHA *AMES &ARIS SONG @&ORGIVENESS IN FULL @&ORGIVENESS $OES NOT MEAN COMPROMISING ,ETS FORGIVE AND FORGET !ND SOLVE THIS !FRICAN DEBT 3EB -ANLEY
"ROKEBACK -OUNTAIN $IR !NG ,EE 2ELEASED !NG ,EE S LARGE CANVAS ROMANCE TAKES IN SOME STUNNING 7YOMING LANDSCAPES AND SEVERAL DECADES BUT IT IS THE ASSORTMENT OF DETAILED UN SHOWY PERFORMANCES THAT LEAVE THE DEEPEST IMPRESSION (EATH ,EDGER AND *AKE 'YLLENHAAL ARE THE TWO FARMHANDS WHO SHARE A PASSIONATE ON AND OFF AND OF COURSE SECRET RE LATIONSHIP FROM THEIR MEETING TENDING SHEEP QUITE INEXPERTLY ON "ROKEBACK -OUNTAIN THROUGH THE S ALL THE WHILE MAINTAINING SEPARATE FAMILY LIVES 4HE DOMESTIC DRAMA IS AS SUBTLY HANDLED AS ANY OF ,EE S ENSEMBLE PIECES 3ENSE AND 3ENSIBILITY 4HE )CE 3TORM AND THE
TWO FEMALE LEADS -ICHELLE 7IL LIAMS AND !NNE (ATHAWAY ARE SU PERB BUT "ROKEBACK S MAIN DRAW IS NATURALLY ITS @QUEERED ROMANCE n PLAYED QUITE CLASSICALLY BUT WITH AN EYE TO THE LATENT HOMOEROTICISM PRESENT IN MANY TRADITIONAL 7EST ERNS !MID THE CRISES AND HEART BREAK %NNIS ,EDGER KEEPS THE lLM WELL SUPPLIED WITH LAID BACK HUMOUR MUMBLING ABOUT *ACK S 'YLLENHAAL HARMONICA PLAYING AND HOW THE MOST HE HAS EVER TRAV ELLED IS @ROUND A COFFEE POT LOOKING FOR THE HANDLE 3EB -ANLEY
Cinefile N o 64 Women on the Verge... .
4HE 0RODUCERS $IR 3USAN 3TROMAN 2ELEASED .EITHER FOR LOVE NOR MONEY WILL THE MAJORITY OF US EVER GET TO SEE .ATHAN ,ANE PERFORM AS THE AWFUL -AX "IALYSTOCK ON "ROADWAY )N .EW 9ORK HOT CAKES ARE DESCRIBED AS SELLING @LIKE TICKETS TO SEE 4HE 0RODUCERS AND ,ANE IS A FULLY mEDGED CELEBRITY NOT REmECTED IN HIS FEW BRUSHES WITH (OLLYWOOD 3USAN 3TROMAN KNEW THIS WHEN SHE DIRECTED THE REMAKE OF 4HE 0RODUCERS AND AS A RESULT IT S NOT A REHASHING OF ORIGINAL BUT A SLICE OF ONSTAGE ACTION %ACH SCENE JOLTS YOUR MIND TOWARDS WHAT SEEING THE SHOW LIVE MUST FEEL LIKE 5NSURPRISINGLY ,ANE TAKES CENTRE STAGE WITH -ATTHEW "RODERICK PLAYING A VERY WEAK SECOND lDDLE AS ,EO "LOOM 5MA 4HURMAN IS AMUSING AS THE DITSY BUT SEXY 5LLA BUT OBVIOUSLY ISN T STRETCHING HERSELF #ONTROVERSY PEPPERS THE MOVIE AFTER ALL THERE IS A CAMP !DOLF (ITLER IN THERE SOMEWHERE BUT THERE ARE NO SURPRISES (ONEST ABOUT WHAT IT IS AND ENTIRELY UNASHAMED +ATE "RYANT
7OMEN ON THE 6ERGE OF A .ERVOUS "REAKDOWN ! GOOD SENSATIONALIST CHAT SHOW HEADERx 7ELL DIRECTOR 0EDRO !LMODOVAR WAS CERTAINLY NO STRANGER TO MELODRAMA AND 7OMEN ON THE 6ERGE LIKE MANY OF HIS lLMS EXPENDS A GOOD DEAL OF ENERGY ON INVESTING TRADITIONALLY @STRAIGHT GENRES WITH A BRASH ANARCHIC SENSIBILITY -ADE IN NOT LONG AFTER THE DEATH OF &RANCO IN 3PAIN !LMODOVAR S lLM TOOK FULL ADVANTAGE OF THE NEW FREEDOM INTRODUCED INTO THE INDUSTRY OFFERING A MIX OF 0OP !RT PLAYFULNESS CANDID SEXUALITY CINEPHILIC IN JOKES AND ,UIS "UNUEL ISH DOMESTIC DUCKS )S THERE A PLOT IN THERE TO 9ES OF SORTS n 0EPA -ARCO PLAYED WITH TYPICAL APLOMB BY EARLY !LMODOVAR REGULAR #ARMEN -AURA LEADS THE NARRATIVE IN A MADCAP PURSUIT OF HER MYSTERIOUSLY DEPARTED BOYFRIEND HER FRIEND -ARISA MISINTERPRETS A POLICE INVESTIGATION AS AN ATTEMPT TO EXPOSE HER CRIMINAL CONNECTIONS A LAWYER WITH A SECRET TURNS UP TO HELP AND A GOOD NUMBER OF THE CAST END UP DRUGGED ON SPIKED GAZPACHO $OES IT PUSH ITS IDIOSYNCRATIC CREDENTIALS AT THE EXPENSE OF BEING ENTERTAINING $ESPITE ITS INDULGENCES 7OMEN ON THE 6ERGE IS A COMEDY THROUGH AND THROUGH AND ONE OF JUST A FEW !LMODOVAR lLMS WITH REAL MASS APPEAL IT BROKE A STACK OF BOX OFlCE RECORDS ON ITS 3PANISH RELEASE AND BECAME THE MOST SUCCESSFUL FOREIGN lLM IN THE 53 SINCE &ELLINI S 4HE CAST ARE UNIFORMLY WONDERFUL n AN EARLY ROLE FOR A BESPECTACLED BEQUIFFED !NTONIO "ANDERAS SEES HIM EXERCISE HIS EXQUISITE SENSE FOR COMEDY n AND THE EXTENDED TAXICAB CHASE COMPLETE WITH VIOLENTLY SWAYING mUFFY DICE IS A HOOT 7HERE DID !LMODOVAR GO FROM HERE 4HE NEXT PROJECT WAS S SIMILARLY ABSURDIST PASSION DRAMA 4IE -E 5P 4IE -E $OWN WHICH REWARDED "ANDERAS WITH A HEFTY ROLE AS AN OBSESSIVE BUT SWEET KIDNAPPER !FTER THAT CAME SOMETHING OF A SLUMP FOR THE @KING OF KITSCH WITH A COUPLE OF SLIGHTLY EARNEST FAMILY MELODRAMAS (IGH (EELS AND +IKA BUT THE LATE S AND EARLY S SAW HIM RISE TO GREAT HEIGHTS WITH THE ACCLAIMED !LL !BOUT -Y -OTHER AND 4ALK TO (ER !LMODOVAR S NEW MATURITY IS VERY WELCOME BUT 7OMEN ON THE 6ERGE REMAINS HIS mAT OUT FUNNIEST WORK 3EB -ANLEY
"ROKEBACK -OUNTAIN
Event 21 The
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Special Feature The Killing Fields
$IR 2OLAND *OFFE 2ELEASED /PTIMUM (OME %NTERTAINMENT 4HIS CREATION NOW CONSISTS OF TWO FANTASTIC DISCS 4HE SECOND DISC IS DEDICATED TO EXTRAS THAT MAKE THE lLM MORE UNDERSTANDABLE AND EVEN MORE OF A MASTERPIECE 4HE +ILLING &IELDS HAS A POLITICAL CONTEXT SET IN #AMBODIA WHERE THE NEIGHBOURING 6IETNAM 7AR HAD BURST INTO 3TILL AS AMAZING AS ON ITS lRST RELEASE THE FEATURE lLM REVOLVES AROUND TWO JOURNALISTS !MERICAN 3YDNEY 3CHANBERG AND #AMBODIAN $ITH 0RAN 4HE PAIR DEVELOPS A BIZARRELY STRONG FRIENDSHIP AMONGST THE BOMBINGS AND COUNTLESS DEATHS 4HE +HMER 2OUGE INVADES THE CAPITAL 0HNOM 0ENH CAPTURING BOTH MEN AND THEIR FELLOW JOURNALISTS 4HE !MERICANS ARE EVACUATED AND DESPITE 3CHANBERG DESPERATELY TRYING TO PASS 0RAN OFF AS AN !MERICAN CITIZEN ALL FAILS AND THE CHARISMATIC #AMBODIAN IS SADLY LEFT BEHIND $IRECTOR 2OLAND *OFFÏ WAS NOT AFRAID OF HORRIFYING VIEWERS WITH BLOODY SCENES THAT
MAKE YOU SICK TO THE STOMACH 4HIS MAKES THE FRIENDSHIP ALL THE MORE INCREDIBLE A WONDERFUL CONTRAST TO THE TERRIBLE VIOLENCE 4HE ECHOING SOUND OF CRYING CHILDREN OCCURS THROUGHOUT AND EVEN THE ODD CHILD SOLDIER IS SEEN 4HE SOUNDTRACK GREATLY SUPPORTS THE lLM n LOUD PECULIAR NOISE OF HELICOPTERS COMING AND THE SUDDEN APPEARANCE OF THE +HMER 2OUGE TANK IN PARTICULAR 4HE CONTEXT AND BRILLIANT CINEMATOGRAPHY STOPS THE FRIENDSHIP FROM BECOMING SICKLY SWEET 4HE h+HMER 2OUGE (OLOCAUSTv SCENE AS 0RODUCER $AVID 0UTTNAM PUTS IT FORCES A VIEWER TO WISH 0RAN WAS ANYWHERE BUT THERE PREFERABLY IN .EW 9ORK WITH 3CHANBERG 0RAN CRAWLS THROUGH A lELD WITH THE MESS OF ROTTING SKELETONS COATED IN MUD !N INCREDIBLY BREATH TAKING IMAGE ! LOT OF THE STORY IS SPOKEN IN #AMBODIAN A REFRESHING CHANGE FROM THE DODGY FOREIGN ACCENTS OF !MERICAN ACTORS THAT SO OFTEN
APPEAR ON OUR SCREENS 4HE VIEWER BECOMES PART OF THE lLM WITH A REAL SENSE OF WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE AS AN OUTSIDER TO THE NATIVE LANGUAGE WHERE NO SUBTITLES APPEAR $ISC TWO STARS THE REAL LIFE 3CHANBERG AND 0RAN WHO SUFFERED THIS ORDEAL TEN YEARS PREVIOUS TO THE INTERVIEW 3CHANBERG IS PUSHY EASILY ANGERED
AND AS THE lLM SPLENDIDLY PORTRAYS DEDICATED TO HIS STORIES 3CHANBERG NOT BEING A SAINT BRINGS THE lLM S PORTRAYAL OF THE FRIENDSHIP TO LIFE 3OME COULD CONCLUDE THAT IT WAS NOT REAL FRIENDSHIP BUT A SENSE OF GUILT THAT CAUSED HIM TO HUNT 0RAN DOWN YET 3CHANBERG SEES 0RAN AS A hCOLLEAGUE IN EVERY WAY v (E FEELS
A SENSE OF DUTY AS A HUMAN BEING TO SAVE HIM !N INTERVIEW WITH 0UTTNAM SPEAKS OF THE TERRIlC TEAM WHO WORKED ON THE lLM BRINGING "RITISH lLM TO ANOTHER LEVEL 4HIS TRUE STORY OF FRIENDSHIP WILL LEAVE YOU THINKING ABOUT IT FOR DAYS ,AURA "URNETT
DVD Releases ,AST $AYS $IR 'US 6AN 3ANT 2ELEASED /PTIMUM (OME %NTERTAINMENT 'IVEN THE CRITICAL FETISHISM AND LU RID MYTHMAKING THAT SURROUND 3EAT TLE GRUNGE LORD +URT #OBAIN S DEATH ,AST $AYS IS AN ALMOST PERVERSE EX ERCISE IN COOL DETACHMENT -ICHAEL 0ITT PLAYS "LAKE WHO NAME APART IS CLEARLY BASED ON #OBAIN RIGHT DOWN TO THAT RED AND BLACK STRIPED SWEAT ER #OMPOSED LARGELY OF LENGTHY SLOW MOVING OR STATIC LONG SHOTS 'US 6AN 3ANT S CHARACTER STUDY SEES "LAKE BUT NEVER PRESUMES TO UNDER STAND HIM WE WATCH AS HE SHUFmES THROUGH THE WOODS AND MAKES MAC ARONI CHEESE BUT WE RE OFFERED NEXT TO NO DIALOGUE AND THERE ARE NO IM AGES OF DRUG USE OR INDEED THE PRE SUMED SUICIDE THAT ENDS THE lLM 4HE DOCUDRAMA STYLE IS OCCASION ALLY ENLIVENED BY A ROCK STAR CAMEO OR A MOMENT OF ABSURD COMEDY BUT FOR THE MOST PART THE lLM REMAINS SPARE AND HAUNTING TO THE END 3EB -ANLEY
7OLF #REEK $IR 'REG -C,EAN 2ELEASED /PTIMUM (OME %NTERTAINMENT
,AST $AYS
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!USTRALIAN /UTBACK THEMED (ORROR MIGHT NOT EXACTLY BE A TERM THAT S
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SWEEPING THROUGH (OLLYWOOD BUT AFTER THIS SCARE FEST MAYBE IT SHOULD @"ASED ON REAL EVENTS WE FOLLOW THREE UNFORTUNATE BACKPACK ERS JOURNEY THROUGH THE OUTBACK HELPED BY LOCAL -ICK 4AYLOR *OHN *ARRATT 7HO UNFORTUNATELY TURNS OUT TO BE A PSYCHOTIC SADIST INVERT ING THE TRADITIONAL CHIRPY #ROCODILE $UNDEE STEREOTYPE OF !USSIE OUT BACK MEN 4HE lLM TAKES A DIFFERENT PACING FROM MOST HORROR lLMS n THE lRST HALF IS SLOW AND STEADY AS WE SIMPLY FOLLOW THE TRAVELLERS ON THEIR JOURNEY BUT THIS SETUP INCREASES THE INTIMACY OF THE SITUATION AS WE ARE TRULY HORRIlED BY WHAT HAPPENS !NDY *UDSON
4HE ,ONG 7EEKEND $IR #OLIN %GGLESTO 2ELEASED /PTIMUM (OME %NTERTAINMENT )T S A LONG MINUTES SPENT IN THE COMPANY OF BICKERING COUPLE *OHN (ARGREAVES AND "RIONY "EHETS IN #OLIN %GGLESTON S SLOW BURN ECO HORROR %XPLOITING AN UNUSUAL AND FAIRLY SENSATIONALIST @REVENGE OF NA TURE SCENARIO 4HE ,ONG 7EEKEND NEVERTHELESS PREFERS TO KEEP ITS MONSTERS SMALL AND NON LETHAL A DOG A SEAGULL AN IRRITABLE POS SUM IN FAVOUR OF DETAILING THE TWO CHARACTERS MUTUAL BREAKDOWN n EE RILY REPRESENTED BY THE CORPSE OF A
@SEACOW INEXPLICABLY MOVING BIT BY BIT UP THE BEACH AND TOWARDS THE CAMP 4HE LEADS ARE GOOD BUT IRREDEEMABLY PETULANT AND SOME SUBLIME LANDSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHY AND SURREALISTIC PASSAGES OF ANI MAL ACTIVITY ARE ROUTINELY SPOILT BY HEAVY HANDED SYMBOLISM 3EB -ANLEY
"ATTLE 2OYALE $IR +ENTA +INJI &UKASAKU 2ELEASED 4ARTAN 6IDEO /NE THING S FOR SURE THIS CERTAINLY ISN T AS GOOD AS THE lRST ONE 4HE SECOND "ATTLE 2OYALE !CT IS INTRO DUCED THREE YEARS AFTER THE lRST WITH THE AIM OF ELIMINATING .A NAHARA WHO PROSPERED FROM THE ORIGINAL GOVERNMENT LEGISLATION 4HE lLM BEGINS WITH THE SAME IN TENSITY AND INTRIGUE WITH OBVIOUS COMPARISONS TO REAL LIFE EXAMPLES SUCH AS 3EPTEMBER TH AND !L 1AEDA (OWEVER THE EARLY PROMISE DESCENDS INTO A SOMEWHAT BORING AND PREDICTABLE AFFAIR %VIDENCE OF OUTSTANDING DIRECTION AS SEEN IN THE lRST INSTALLMENT BECOMES MORE AND MORE INFREQUENT 4OWARDS THE END THE ACTION SCENES ARE SOMETHING .ICHOLAS #AGE WOULD BE ONLY TOO HAPPY TO BE A PART OF 3EAN / 3HEA
Internet
With Friends like these (APPY 4REE &RIENDS IS QUITE POSSIBLY THE MOST WORRYING CARTOON ON THE NET AND THERE S A LOT OF COMPETITION FOR THAT TITLE +ATE "RYANT BRAVES THEIR $ WORLD OF DE CAPITATION EYE GOUGING AND CUTENESS
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OR ANYONE WHO HAS EVER WATCHED A 4OM AND *ERRY CAR TOON AND WISHED THAT THE VIOLENCE WAS JUST A BIT MORE CARTOONY AND ABUNDANT (APPY 4REE &RIENDS IS A GODSEND 0ICTURE THE CUTEST LITTLE CRITTERS YOU CAN THEN DOUBLE THEIR mUFlNESS PERHAPS ADD A BOW AT YOUR DISCRETION /K NOW PUT THIS PICTURE THROUGH A MINCER 4HIS IS ROUGHLY THE PREMISE OF EVERY (APPY 4REE &RIENDS CARTOON WHICH YOU CAN VIEW AT HAPPYTREEFRIENDS COM FOR FREE )T IS CERTAINLY REFRESH ING TO SEE THAT THE INTERNET CAN STILL SHORE UP GOOD OL TIMEY NO STRINGS ATTACHED FREEBIES ONCE IN A WHILE /F COURSE THERE S ENOUGH (APPY 4REE &RIENDS MERCHANDISE AVALI ABLE ON THE SITE TO SINK A SHIP BUT YOU DON T NEED TO BUY ANYTHING TO WATCH THE CARTOONS 4HERE S ALWAYS A GOOD SELECTION ON THE SITE AND ITS UPDATED REGULARLY 4HE WARNINGS ON THE SITE ARE CLEAR ENOUGH THESE CARTOONS ARE NOT FOR hSMALL CHILDREN OR BIG BA BIESv AND IT S SOUND ADVICE )N ONE EPISODE ALONE A BEAVER GETS BRAINED BY A RHINO AND A LITTLE BUNNY ACCI DENTALLY INmATES ITS EYE WITH HELIUM AND HAS IT TURNED INTO A BALLOON ANIMAL 4HIS IS NOT AN EXTREME EX AMPLE DO NOT WATCH THESE CARTOONS UNLESS YOU HAVE A STRONG STOMACH OR A VIGOROUS HATE FOR ANYTHING THAT HAS BUCK TEETH 4HIS SAID THE ANIMATION IS CLEARLY INDEBTED TO THE CLASSIC SATURDAY MORNING CARTOON STYLE THAT WE RE ALL SO FAMILIAR WITH !LL THE SCENERY IN THE (APPY 4REE
&RIENDS EPISODES LOOKS LIKE IT COULD BE FROM AN EARLY ,OONEY 4UNES WITH ONLY THE LIGHTEST SPRINKLING OF KITSCH THROWN IN 4HEY RE NOT MASTERPIECES AND YOU CERTAINLY WON T BE INSPIRED TO BUY ANY OF THE SEVERAL $6$S THAT ARE CURRENTLY AVALIABLE PERHAPS WHY SO FEW OTHER SITES HAVE FREE MATERIAL BUT YOU MAY lND THAT YOU SPEND MORE TIME WATCHING THEM THAN YOU RE HAPPY TO ADMIT 4HE NUMBER OF CARTOONS AVAILABLE ON THE SITE HIGHLIGHTS HOW LITTLE THE INTERNET IS USED AS A SOURCE OF ENTER TAINMENT ESPECIALLY IN COMPARISON TO TELEVISION (APPY 4REE &RIENDS MAY NOT BE THE IDEAL SHOW TO BREAK NEW GROUND REVOLUTIONISING THE INTERNET BUT YOU LL FORGIVE THEM ALMOST ANYTHING WHEN YOU SEE JUST HOW DAMN CUTE THEY ALL ARE
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