Competition: Win Tickets To The Jack Daniel's Birthday Gig And Goody Bag

'Tennessee Is Coming To Town'

September is Mr Jack’s Birthday and this year the good folk at Jack Daniel’s are bringing Tennessee to Town with a month of fantastic giveaways and an exclusive gig featuring Jarvis Cocker, Richard Hawley, Ellie Goulding and Tennessee guitar legend Duane Eddy.

In addition to their original material all four will bring the spirit of Tennessee to life when they perform a Jack Daniel’s birthday exclusive of very special collaborations themed around great Americana classics. They follow in the footsteps of Patti Smith, Frank Black and The Flaming Lips who are just some of the names to have played at previous Birthday gigs.

Film Review: Scott Pilgrim vs The World (2010)

Words: Ced Yuen

'Scott Pilgrim vs. The World' (2010)

Director: Edgar Wright
Cast: Michael Cera, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Kieran Culkin, Ellen Wong

Let’s get one thing clear: 'Scott Pilgrim vs. The World' will not be a universally-loved classic. It will not be well-received by the majority of the cinema-going public. The reason for this is that it is a niche movie. It is a celebration of all things geek, and is too quirky for an audience expecting a conventional summer flick. The film's mediocre showing at the box office is perhaps an indication of its advertising, which has alienated the mainstream. With that out the way, let’s get talking about marmite.

BBC iPlayer: Grandma's House (2010) Episode Four

Words: Paul Dean

'Grandma's House' Episode Four: 'The Day Simon Decided He Was Forlorn'

SYNOPSIS: "Simon is having a life crisis and is depressed. The situation is exacerbated when a guest he interviewed on his show attacks him in the press. Tanya moves into Clive's house, much to Simon's irritation. Meanwhile, Grandma and Grandpa plan a cruise."

It's been pointed out to me that so far I've largely avoided writing about the plot or finer details of 'Grandma's House'. Much as I detest spoilers and the ruining of good jokes by quoting them out of context, I must admit that I've only avoided mentioning specifics simply because I never thought they were going to matter all that much. I now find myself alert to all the subtle details in this show, the quips instead of the quarrels, the asides much more than the arguments. No matter how brash or blatant they might seem, both the plot and the characters are largely built from very fine parts, the latter shaped so that they can never really fit together but will forever be jarring.

Surfacing: Run On Sentence

Words: Simon Opie

Released earlier this month, 'You The Darkness & Me' (sadly not a concept album about an obsession with Justin Hawkins) is the second album by a ‘band’ called Run On Sentence.

Film Review: Salt (2010)

Words: Ced Yuen

'Salt' (2010)

Director: Phillip Noyce
Cast: Angelina Jolie, Liev Schreiber, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Daniel Olbrychski

“Who is Salt?” ask the posters. “You think everyone’s who they say they are?” ask the trailers. The point being that this is a character of ambiguity. But at one point, even the filmmakers themselves didn’t know. The project originally placed Tom Cruise in the eponymous role, but he backed out to do action-romantic-comedy 'Knight And Day'. Cue a series of rewrites: Angelina Jolie was signed up, male became female, and Edwin became Evelyn. So – who is Salt?

BBC iPlayer: Grandma's House (2010) Episode Three

Words: Paul Dean

'Grandma's House' Episode Three: 'The Day Simon Announced That He Was in Control of the Universe'

SYNOPSIS: "Simon has fallen in love. He’s also read a book which leads him to believe that he might be able to control the universe. The family aren’t very impressed with either. Grandpa has invited Deborah Adler to visit, Grandma doesn’t like her and is less than happy. Liz has had to take extreme measures to try and get her son Adam into a new school."

I think I'm beginning to warm to 'Grandma's House', particularly if I decide I should see it more as a dysfunctional drama with comic elements, rather than simply a comedy. Its characters certainly benefit from the growth and the depth they gain by having a few episodes behind them and, although he may be the central figure, Simon Amstell is probably the least entertaining of the lot. Then again, I suppose its mostly his role to suffer and to be bounced around between their various arguments and demands, a sort of helpless pinball at the mercy of their whims and moods.