Reviews

Blow-Up

To explode a myth: in 1966 Antonioni's first English film was pitched not on the Italian director's vision or its meditations on the interface between reality and fantasy, but on its 'unflinching' portrayal of Swinging London—ie, much nudity. The original trailer, included here, makes that perfectly clear: it was popular because of breasts, not because it asked what 'meaning' meant. And photographer David Hemmings' romps with models and Vanessa Redgrave remain icons of "yeeeah, baby" wish fulfilment for lensmen everywhere.

The Osbournes: The Second Series

Sharon's cancer treatment underlies these episodes, producing scenes of poignancy and humour as the family come to terms with her illness. Obviously darker than its predecessor, this also sees a certain loss of naivety, with the Osbournes increasingly aware of good camera moments. The success of the first series has led the teenagers into extreme territory, with Jack, the "man-whore", heading off the rails while Kelly struggles with celebrity.

Break For The Border

Tucson's finest bring their unique compression of American musical styles to DVD with a London concert recording

Violet Indiana – Russian Doll

Second album from Robin Guthrie's post-Cocteau Twins project

The Magnetic Fields – I

The Cole Porter of the Lower East Side adrift in his own wake

Joanna Newsom – The Milk-Eyed Mender

Startling label debut for Bay Area singer/harpist

Jeff Beck – Beck-Ola

Originally released in September 1969, left Beck's second album read like a superstar summit meeting, but for the guitarist it was just another day at the office. He'd already replaced Eric Clapton in The Yardbirds, supported The Beatles in Paris, and appeared in Antonioni's movie Blow-Up, livening up the psychedelic club scene with some extreme axe-mangling GBH.

Various Artists – John Lennon’s Jukebox

Forty songs extracted from records found in the Beatle's portable jukebox

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter… And Spring

A young man's struggles with the monastic life

Balzac And The Little Chinese Seamstress

Dai Sijie's beguiling, semi-autobiographical movie is set during China's Cultural Revolution, when two reactionary city students are sent to the mountains to be re-educated in the ways of Chairman Mao. But their forbidden love for Western art, music and literature is soon infecting the locals, including the tailor's beautiful daughter. Lightweight, but gorgeous to look at.
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