Reviews

After falling out with Tarantino over the credits for Pulp Fiction, Roger Avary made this violent Paris-set heist movie in a bid to establish his creative autonomy. It was hammered by critics, who dubbed it "Reservoir Frogs" and dismissed Avary as derivative. Zoe's better than its reputation suggests, though, and has the added pleasure of Jean-Hugues Anglade going spectacularly bonkers as a smack-shooting gang leader.

With grim, grubby retro-future styling, Michael Radford's movie, originally released in the eponymous year, is the best adaptation of George Orwell's feel-bad totalitarian parable. As reluctant rebel Winston Smith, John Hurt is perfect—looks like he's spent his life in misery. The revelation is Richard Burton, weighed down with strange love, melancholy and menace in his final role as O'Brien, the investigator who takes Hurt under his wing to crush him.

Unremarkable dregs from the 1980s metal vaults

Does exactly what it says on the tin

From Yardbirds' fan-club secretary to "the face of '68"...

Quirky duo display backbone on 10th studio album

Dark, ambitious second album from fast-rising Derby producer

Hilarious US left-field comedian

Diverse, patchy covers album from Greg Dulli

Magnificently barmy indie-opera from NY's squabbling Friedbergers