Reviews

Slo-mo drama starring ageing French heartthrob

Indie tyro Doug Liman (Go!) takes a gripping premise (amnesiac superspy is hunted by CIA while seeking clues to his own identity), an efficient leading man in Matt Damon, and a raft of stellar supporting players including Brian Cox, Chris Cooper, Clive Owen and Franka Potente, and delivers a confident if ultimately soulless knockabout thriller.

The culmination of a sell-out 2002 tour sees a middle-aged Williams return to his maniacal roots, musing on Michael Jackson, the Puritans and Viagra, among other topics. However, his breakneck delivery, camp mannerisms and array of accents (including a dismal Winston Churchill) only emphasise, rather than conceal, the weakness of his material. And the "Joe I'm Pregnant" routine is shamelessly lifted from Sam Kinison.

Since The Last Seduction, John Dahl hasn't quite delivered the skilful thrills we hoped for. This pacy revamp of Duel and Breakdown is a lunge in the right direction, though. Paul Walker, Steve Zahn and Leelee Sobieski star as brash young things who turn yellow when a trucker they've taunted chases them cross-country, vengeance in mind. Fast and furious.

Third album from the other duo Dorfmeister (one half of nu-acid jazz stars Kruder & Dorfmeister) calls home

Mini LP from Oxfordshire quintet follows 2002's fine Don't Bring Me Down

The soundtrack from Eminem's gamble-that-paid-off movie has done so well that second helpings have arrived. No verbals from the man himself here, but an irresistible set of just-left-of-familiar hip hop. Among the most inventive work-outs are OutKast's "Player's Ball" and Ol' Dirty Bastard's "Shimmy Shimmy Ya". Accompanying the movie's 'romantic' interlude—a wordless hump against a factory wall—is "You're All I Need" from Method Man and Mary J Blige.

Avant-garde noise merchant turns it down to brilliant effect

South London duo head out West to beef up sound for follow-up to The Optimist LP

Top-notch 1967 reissue plus zany studio and BBC sessions