Film Review: The Artist (2011)

'The Artist' (UK Release: 6 Jan '12) // Words: Saam Das

'The Artist' is a film almost entirely devoid of dialogue - a throwback to the silent era of cinema. Film critics have fallen over themselves in their praise of the latest offering from French writer-director Michel Hazanavicius. The film has received a dizzying twelve BAFTA nominations and ten Academy Award nominations, as well winning three Golden Globes. But is it quite the triumph that is has been portrayed as? I'm not so certain.

DVD Review: A Separation (2011)

'A Separation' (UK Release: 6 Dec '11) // Words: Raman K

Exactly a week has passed since I watched the Golden Globe winning 'A Separation' and I cannot shake it from my thoughts. Tense from the immediate opening divorce court scene, shot from the judge’s perspective, the film masterfully rakes you into its tragedy. Its screenplay compels you to respond throughout as parent, lover, child, citizen and law enforcer. The signature of director Asghar Farhadi’s creation is that every character’s position is both justifiable and yet may equally be objectionable by our gut-feeling of what is inherently correct.

Surfacing: Fox The Cat [New Band]

Words: Saam Das

I don't normally feature new American bands. Mainly because the few that interest me have already been discussed at length on the hundreds of excellent blogs across the pond. But Chicago's Fox The Cat seem rather devoid of such attention. Or any attention really. So here's where I step in and tell you a little more about their compellingly solemn sound.

Surfacing: Mercy [New Artist]

Words: Saam Das

On Saturday, I ventured along to XFM's annual All Dayer at the Camden Barfly to see numerous bands. One of them was Hatcham Social. Their set was a miserable experience, albeit made somewhat interesting by the appearance of a guest vocalist in a (dubious) onesie for the final song. That was Mercy. Otherwise known as former major label popstar, Amy Studt. Turns out she's doing exciting new things.

Film Review: The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (2011)

'The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo' (UK Release: 26 Dec '11) // Words: Lauren Johnson-Ginn

With a hugely successful novel and a well-received Swedish language adaptation released just a couple of years ago, David Fincher’s re-imagining of 'The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo' had to go quite some distance to avoid straying into pointless Hollywood remake territory – and I believe it has, perhaps even outdoing the original.

Album Review: Craig Finn - Clear Heart, Full Eyes

Craig Finn – 'Clear Heart, Full Eyes' (UK Release: 23 Jan '12) // Words: Simon Opie

The Hold Steady are a relentlessly old fashioned band and this horribly titled solo album by front man Craig Finn is a similarly old school effort. Most people use solo albums to expand their horizons, but this is an album of demos, designed to show what The Hold Steady might sound like if they were a country rock band.