Reviews

Office Space

In 1999, Beavis & Butthead creator Mike Judge made his first foray into live action with this good-natured satire on the mind-numbing life of the white-collar worker. Ron Livingstone is the drone desperate to escape his corporate existence, whose attempts to get sacked leave a team of troubleshooters convinced he's management material. Jennifer Aniston co-stars. Over-looked, but often screamingly funny.

Movietone – The Sand And The Stars

Gorgeous fourth album from the subtlest band in Britain

Growing – The Sky’s Run Into The Sea

Mesmerising chamber-metal ambience

Me’Shell Ndegeocello – Comfort Woman

Underrated Basement Jaxx guest star's fifth album

Creedence Clearwater Revival – Bad Moon Rising: The Best Of

Solid hits and more from America's blue-collar workers

Tom Jones – The Definitive Collection 1964-2002

Four-CD box charting the journey from Treforest to Tinseltown and beyond

Reasons To Believe

Career-spanning best-of for New Jersey's finest offers a generous helping of rarities

Dracula: Pages From A Virgin’s Diary

Dancing Dracula doesn't suck

In View 1988-2003—The Best Of R.E.M.

Sequenced in reverse chronological order, these videos show Stipe in his element and Buck very much not in his, counting the seconds till he gets to go home. Still, thanks to Stipe, R.E.M. were always enhanced by video. The collection begins with "Bad Day", before Stipe's face de-wrinkles as we regress into the starkly exuberant "What's The Frequency, Kenneth?" and arresting "Everybody Hurts". Then Stipe regains his hair for "Losing My Religion".

Springtime In A Small Town

This marks Tian Zhuangzhuang's return to directing after a nine-year ban by China's authorities. Zhichen visits old school friend Liyan in a bombed-out town in post-war China. Though welcomed by the household, Zhichen's relationships with the family break down when he rekindles a romance with his childhood sweetheart—now Liyan's wife. Exceptional cinematography and sensitive performances are let down by a clumsy screenplay and drawn-out pacing. Shame.
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