The Given Day, by Dennis Lehane Aspiring to reveal the long roots of 20th century America’s fantasies of itself, Lehane’s new book nails some while reproducing others. Boston…
The Baader Meinhof Complex, directed by Uli Edel This new German blockbuster adopts a relatively neutral view of 1970s urban guerilla group the RAF Propaganda of the Oedipal Deed. Film review –…
Gomorrah, directed by Matteo Garrone (2008) Capturing the corruption of a criminal organisation as de facto government, this film lets the real state off the hook.
Jar City, directed by Baltasar Kormakur (2007) Jar City juggles the clichés of police procedurals and conventions from Icelandic myth to suggestively modern effect, finds Tom Jennings
Linha De Passe, directed by Walter Salles & Daniela Thomas (Brazil, 2008) Walter Salles returns to Brazilian social realism with “the best football film ever”, says Tom…
Somers Town, directed by Shane Meadows (2008) Tom Jennings appreciates Shane Meadows’ sly cinematic commentary on our changing times in Somers Town’s low-key coming-of-age tale.
Standard Operating Procedure, directed by Errol Morris (2008) In addition to its revealing ‘worm’s eye view’ of the Abu Ghraib scandal, Tom Jennings sees Standard…
Gone, Baby, Gone: novel by Dennis Lehane (1999); film directed by Ben Affleck (2007) Essay on contemporary US crime fiction comparing Dennis Lehane’s 1999 novel Gone, Baby, Gone with…
The 3rd World, by Immortal Technique and DJ Green Lantern (Viper Records 2008) The new release from Immortal Technique, hip-hop’s most implacable class warrior, thoroughly links…
Couscous, directed by Abdellatif Kechiche (France 2007) Tom Jennings is captivated by Couscous and its sympathetic but unflinchingly honest portrait of an…
The Ghost, by Robert Harris (2008) Tom Jennings chuckles at a recent New Labour rat leaving the sinking ship.
Happy-Go-Lucky, directed by Mike Leigh (2008) Belying his miserabilist reputation, Mike Leigh’s new film Happy-Go-Lucky celebrates incorrigible optimism – but with the usual twists, finds Tom Jennings
