Reviews

As detailed in Uncut (see Strange Days, Take 76), this 1974 debut from the super-effete Smiley has been rotting in obscurity for nearly 30 years. Unashamedly over-produced by Loog Oldham (who saw Brett as "the British Jobriath" rather than a pale Bowie), it's clear on the glam-baroque of "Queen Of Hearts" alone that Smiley had superstar potential. Just listen to his angelic cover of Neil Sedaka's "Solitaire" and mourn the career that might have been.

Meg Ryan drops good-girl act in Jane Campion chiller

Patchy, visually flashy remake by Neil Jordan of his favourite film, Melville's classic Bob Le Flambeur. Its art-robbery-scam story's all over the place, in truth, but Nick Nolte proves to be a wildly compelling force of nature as he kicks heroin, woos a young girl and beats casinos at their own game, all the while looking like he hasn't slept for a very taxing fortnight.

This strange, haunting film follows a middle-aged man who arrives in a remote Mexican village where he plans to commit suicide. Heavily indebted to Tarkovsky, the film strains for arthouse credibility with pretentious religious symbolism and achingly slow pace. Still much of the imagery is arresting, and its glimpses of rural life are raw and underpinned by an earthy comedy.

The definitive Hollywood western, George Stevens' Shane has inimitable narrative momentum, rolling effortlessly from the introduction of Alan Ladd's buckskin dandy to the initial saloon tensions ("You talking to me?") and the epic punch-up, through the homesteader murder and the final confrontation with Jack Palance's beguiling assassin. Magnificent.

Second album from Philadelphia roots poet and nu-soul star

NYC singer-songwriter covered by Ronnie Spector and Laura Cantrell

Stadium punk from ambitious LA quartet

Japanese import, recorded in Tokyo last November

Rare unplugged outing for leading Chicago bluesman