I don’t know about you, but I’m still reeling from final episodes of Top Of The Lake and Southcliffe on television over the weekend. Both, I suppose, had a loose thematic link – they were studies of tragedy in small communities – and I think in the end I preferred Southcliffe’s open-endedness to Top Of The Lake’s flurry of final act revelations; but that said, they were both brilliant TV, easily among the best things I’ve seen this year. It helped that were both directed by exceptional filmmakers, of course: Top Of The Lake by Jane Campion and Southcliffe by a relative newcomer, Sean Durkin. Incidentally, if you happen to be in East London next weekend, I’d recommend a visit to the Hackney Picturehouse, who’re showing Durkin’s previous film, Martha Marcy May Marlene, on Saturday, August 31 and hosting a Southcliffe all-dayer on Sunday, September 1. Both come with Q&As from Durkin, who’s accompanied by writer Tony Grisoni for the Southcliffe event.

Closer to home, I should mention that the latest Ultimate Music Guide is dedicated to Basildon’s finest, Depeche Mode. It’s in the shops now, or you can order it online here. As usual, it features a ton of vintage interviews from the Melody Maker and NME archives as well as brand new reviews of all the band’s albums from the Uncut writing team.

Advertisement

Finally, as you might have noticed in the current issue of Uncut, we produced a special promotional feature in association with hmv, celebrating six decades of music and movies. We’ve reached the 1990s now, so I’ll leave you with this playlist of some favourite music and films from that decade…

Have a good week!

Follow me on Twitter @MichaelBonner.

Advertisement

Michael

Music

My Bloody Valentine

Loveless

1991

Pavement

Slanted And Enchanted

1992

Belle And Sebastian

If You’re Feeling Sinister

1996

PJ Harvey

Rid Of Me

1993

Tricky

Maxinquaye

1995

The Flaming Lips

The Soft Bulletin

1999

Primal Scream

Screamadelica

1991

Portishead

Dummy

1994

Mercury Rev

Deserters Songs

1998

Bob Dylan

Time Out Of Mind

1997

Films

Fight Club

1999

Pulp Fiction

1994

The Big Lebowski

1998

Schindler’s List

1993

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUJt7ZvC6Ac

Goodfellas

1990

Wild At Heart

1990

Carlito’s Way

1993

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KE3BnGr–Uw

The English Patient

1996

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dr_xAhg_qV4

Dazed And Confused

1993

The Usual Suspects

1995