I generally expect something good from a David Cronenberg film and this one delivers in abundance. Set in London, Naomi Watts plays a hospital worker who becomes embroiled with a Russian mafia gang when she takes it upon herself to find answers about a young woman who died during childbirth. (read more…)

#1 - “In Rainbows” - Radiohead

While you could have paid any amount of money you liked for In Rainbows, what you definitely need to pay in full is attention. The album demands it and then rewards you for it. It’s a delectable treat. Dark yet beautiful. Heavy yet ethereal. Real yet dreamy. Lie down and listen to Nude with your eyes closed and you’ll imagine that you’re floating. (read more…)

A few people mightn’t like Zodiac as much as some of David Fincher’s previous films because it lacks the intensity of the likes of Se7en and Fight Club but that’s a necessity to the story. Although it’s about the hunt for a serial killer, Zodiac has more in common with a procedural thriller like All The President’s Men than it does with Se7en. (read more…)

#2 - “Sound Of Silver” - LCD Soundsystem

LCD Soundsystem’s 2005 self-titled debut album was very good. Some people raved about it but I thought it lacked some direction, meandering and wandering a bit too much. A lack of cohesiveness. His 2007 release, Sound Of Silver, can’t face the same accusation. It’s a solid, tightly packed nine tracks of amazing tunes. Dance/rock combo at its best. (read more…)

After winning the Palme d’Or at Cannes a few months ago, there are bound to be expectations when watching this Romanian film and thankfully it delivers. Being about a young woman trying to help her friend have an illegal abortion in Communist era Romania, this could be described as the antithesis of unplanned pregnancy comedies Juno and Knocked Up. (read more…)

#3 - “Neon Bible” - Arcade Fire

After the immense Funeral, there was a lot of anticipation as to how the Arcade Fire’s sophomore album would fare out. They certainly didn’t let me down with Neon Bible. It’s a typically energetic, frenetic, rousing, theatrical record. You can’t help but get caught up in its anthemic songs, marching drums, lush string sections and swells of brass. They’ve been a breath of fresh air in the  last few years. (read more…)

#4 - “Boxer” - The National

The National surpassed themselves with their fourth album. Like their previous efforts, Boxer contains the same type of intelligent lyrics delivered with melodic brooding intensity in both the vocals and music but with a close-knit intimacy to it all. (read more…)

What better way to spend Christmas Day than watching a western? Ok, there are lots of better ways but this isn’t so bad. This is a remake of a 1957 film which I haven’t seen. Russell Crowe plays the badass thief who gets caught and a posse is organised to escort him to a town three days away where he needs to be put on a train to Yuma. (read more…)

I thought this was pretty funny. Nothing too brilliant but quite a good parody on typical musical biopics. John C. Reilly plays the lead character who goes through the usual stages in the life of a musical legend - hard upbringing, become famous, do a lot of drugs, fall from grace, etc. (read more…)

This 2006 film is about a witless wannabe criminal and his unwitting accomplice getting up to no good in New Hampshire. Well, they think they’re getting up to no good when really they’re hardly a blip on the radar. (read more…)