Reviews

This one proves Tim Burton's an absolute master. Billy Crudup hears his dying dad (Albert Finney) recount his implausible life story. Ewan McGregor embodies the young Finney as these tall tales are realised with wow-factor wizardry: a giant, a war, a circus—it's Fellini with a colour box. The climax skilfully plays your scepticism off against your dreams, somehow allowing both to win. Small ponds of audience tears ensue.

Jack Nicholson and Diane Keaton prompt begrudging smiles in this long, over-elaborate rom-com which tells the ageing intended audience what it wants to hear: you can still get laid at 60. It helps if you're Jack, here an incorrigible Lothario servicing Amanda Peet until he picks on someone his own age, her mum (Keaton, Oscar-nominated). Keanu Reeves and Fran McDormand make with the filler plot and chuckles.

Tense and grim war manoeuvres from director Lewis Milestone. Richard Widmark brings hints of mania to his portrayal of a Marine lieutenant leading his troops into enemy territory, scouring a battered Pacific island for prisoners who can reveal the whereabouts of a Japanese rocket base. Plagued by migraines, Widmark is a tough guy, but constantly in touch with fear he tries to mask from his men, among them the more fully neurotic Jack Palance.

It's not an exhilarating concert. Even "The Boys Are Back In Town", "Jailbreak", "Waiting For An Alibi" and "Don't Believe A Word" lack lustre, as do Phil Lynott's eyes and the dynamics of the band. The audience is polite, excepting the odd permed headbanger. Uninspiring.

Four under-21s from Tyne & Wear with a sharply cut punk debut

A fetish nurse cover shot that could've been lifted from a Jim Thompson paperback. A regular flicker between white noise and mellow, Jefferson Airplane circa Volunteers melody... It could only be the return of Thurston Moore, Kim Gordon, Lee Ranaldo, Steve Shelley and their incumbent guru Jim O'Rourke. Having squared up as aggravating aural elders, the Youth sound rejuvenated as they alternate between Stoogey metal rattlers like "Pattern Recognition" or the fetish-laden "Dripping Dream" and irate hippie singalongs.

The Texan troubadour tackles the Big Questions

Two-CD compilation of Doug Sahm's pioneering Texan outfit

Compilation of wistful folk delights

The director of Get Carter gets back with the British mobsters