Reviews

The Ukrainians – Respublika

The Sex Pistols go Cossack

Serene

Promising opener from US alt.rock quartet

Reed shows off "heavy bear" side on two-CD tribute to 19th-century poet

Various Artists – Aktion Mekanik

Compilation of hardcore electro and New Beat from Belgium-based label

Will Smith – Greatest Hits

Grammy-winners and million-sellers from the once-Fresh Prince

Monday Morning

Dull mid-life crisis yarn

Rollerball

Die Hard director John McTiernan remakes the '70s extreme-sports classic with a sledgehammer where the subtle social comment should be. Chris Klein, the poor man's Keanu, is the Rollerball superstar learning that league-owner Jean Reno has all the morals of a snake. Loud, brash and dumb, though cameos by LL Cool J and Pink might thrill pop completists.

Monster’s Ball

Halle Berry's blubbing Oscar win shouldn't obscure the fact that this is a brave, harrowing film, echoing the intimacy of '70s cinema's heyday. Billy Bob Thornton is uncannily intense as a Death Row prison guard who cracks up when his son Heath Ledger can't handle his job. An odd coupling with convict's wife Berry may or may not redeem him. Inspirational.

The Shipping News

Not as bad as they said, until you hit the magic realism. Lasse Hallström is safer on the brief establishing scenes, and Newfoundland is refreshingly unfamiliar Both sadsack Kevin Spacey and closed Judi Dench endure a near-Theban family history in rotten weather. Journalists will savour the local paper.

Carpenters – The Essential Collection 1965-97

Chronological 73-track, four-CD anthology of avant-MOR avatars
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