Politics Sunday

UK

Internal documents claim Labour has failed the UK on crime.

Brown is being told to drop his Scots.

That could become a key issue.

Brown’s problems right now seem everywhere.

US

The DNC is closing its meetings on the delegates from Florida and Michigan with half votes for each (overall favours Obama). Democrats have quite rightly been contesting the whole deal.

Hillary’s reserving her right to protest.

Some Clinton supports still say they would vote for McCain if Obama gets the nomination… Matthew Yglesias discusses the flaws in this foolish plan.

Welcome to the Linkle

Slate has a host of articles about Sex and the City. There’s a review, a look at the fashion and a question as to whether it will change the fortunes of luxury retailers amid the current market climate.

Anthony Lane offers his thoughts on the film.

Chris Dahlen finally catches up with Blonde on Blonde.

The new Comics Panel went up yesterday. Includes the new Love and Rockets.

Interview with Jeffrey Tambor right here. The new Leslie Nielsen?

Pitchfork rounds up Sasquatch.

I’ve already got my tickets for this but all should know. Built to Spill are playing Perfect From Now On for the Don’t Look Back series in London in November.

Mogwai have released more details on their new EP and LP.

Mad Men is back on July 27.

Elizabeth Berkley officially in Donnie Darko 2. Is there a way this film can be good?

Here’s an update on what the cast members of The Wire are up to.

Estonian goth-pop stars. Read on.

Here’s an interview with the monobrowed genius that is Mark Eitzel.

Mudhoney rock. Just ask PopMatters.

A teaser for Zack and Miri has turned up.

You must download this Paul Rudd screensaver. You just must.

The trailer for Choke is also doing the rounds.

Linkin’ on a Hole in a Paper Heart

Julianne Moore talks to The AV Club.

Popless moves on to local heroes including Joe Walsh and Jane’s Addiction.

Uwe Boll’s new film is receiving a mostly confused reaction.

Pitchfork has some interviews, tributes and music from and to Steve Reich. Plus, Pelican and Cut Copy.

The new album from Martha Wainwright is streaming.

Guitar Hero: World Tour, will essentially copy Rock Band.

Sasha Frere-Jones talks about the move of Usher into manhood.

Rainn Wilson will quirk-up Transformers 2.

The line-up for this year’s Field Day is looking okay.

Who are the actors who just immediately turn you off?

Chuck D is all about Barack.

Joanna Page is treading the boards in London.

EW lists its twenty-two summer TV classics.

Carry on Wayward Link

I’m digging this site. Digestible film reviews that don’t skimp on detail. Good stuff.

The new Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy record is getting some love.

So is the new Spiritualized.

The new Hold Steady single will come with tattoos.

Sigur Ros have nude folk on their new sleeve cover and will sing a song in English.

Sidney Pollack died today. Say what you like about Tootsie (I still enjoy it), Three Days of the Condor is a classic and Yakuza is something of a gem.

Here’s one of many, many tributes online.

Boyzone trying to be sexy? No thanks.

This American Life, and other shows from the Showtime stable, are now online.

HBO is developing a US version of Bad Girls.

Who are the least intimidating gangs in movie history?

Submit your questions for Yuko Yamaguchi, designer of Hello Kitty.

The Russians aren’t too happy about Indy’s new adventure.

Tarantino is finally going to make Inglorious Bastards.

Ron Perlman has joined the cast of FX’s Sons of Anarchy.

Woolworths has scrapped CD singles sales.

Mountain Goats did a session for Daytrotter.

PopMatters interviews Times New Viking.

Diggin

Music: I’ve been considering since yesterday the concept of ‘favourite albums’ following the Poptimist column on Pitchfork. It is a very individually definable phenomena and one that can change over time vastly. I’m going to write about it in full very soon. But this has prompted me to think about that exact deal and the two albums that I keep coming back to, Daydream Nation by Sonic Youth and Let It Be by The Replacements, have been getting a good chunk of play this week.
The Dodo’s Visiter album is growing on me and I got hold of Blue Cheer’s Vincebus Eruptum this week, a loud and slow proto-punk masterpiece. I’m still really unsure about My Morning Jacket’s latest which is a little too Prince-pastiche for me in places.
Camille remains on the playlist with her new record and I rediscovered one of my girlfriend’s favourite records this week, Joy Zipper’s American Whip. The album is among the most heartfelt and beautiful in the collection but avoids any sense of soporific lameness by maintaining a posturing cool and recalling the most dreamy parts of JAMC at all times.

Film: Lots of films watched this week. You can read my reviews of Bandit Queen and Alice in the Cities on Screenjabber. I’ll tell you in preview that I enjoyed one much more than the other.

DVDs This Week May 26

Pick of the Week

4 Months, 3 Weeks, 2 Days – The hugely acclaimed Cristian Mungiu humanist thriller about two girls seeking an abortion in communist Romania. A Palme D’Or winner and mini-masterpiece, this should be required watching for any film student or anyone put off by subtitles and tough subject matter. It’s an intense watch but rewarding on any level you need.

Also Out

In The Valley of Elah – Paul Haggis’ flawed but decent fist at exploring the difficulties of readjustment for homecoming Iraq soldiers in the US. The central performance from Tommy Lee Jones is great but again with Haggis the script is overwritten and loses its power due to stagy dialogue and a pretty awful turn from Charlize Theron.
Weeds: Season 3 – Mary Louise Parker shines as a suburban mom with a pot-dealing empire. She’s the star and the beating heart of the series but most of the adult performances are strong even if the series as a whole never rises beyond being just ‘good’.
The Hills: Season 1 – The Hills baffles me to my core. This is a show so post-modern that its almost post-post-modernist. Staged reality. It’s hideous, vacuous, irratating and manipulative. But I love it.
The Savages – Mostly loved actorly drama starring Philip Seymour Hoffman and Laura Linney as grown-up kids dealing with the deterioration of their father.
Before The Devil Knows You’re Dead – Another Philip Seymour Hoffman movie, this time an uneven film overall but still interesting for his performance and the quality of Sidney Lumet’s direction.
Wristcutters: A Love Story – Awful, pretentious nonsense derived from a great concept: a purgatory for people who commit suicide. Only good when Tom Waits turns up for a cameo.
I’m a Cyborg – Oldboy director Park Chan-Wook makes a robot love story. Not seen it but his previous films are great so it’s likely worth a look.
The Sun’s Burial – Cult Japanese work from Nagisa Oshima that I’m really looking forward to checking out.
Alice in the Cities – Wim Wenders’ breakthrough film. Another I’m anticipating greatly. You can check out my review of the film on Screenjabber.
Paul Verhoeven Collection – The early Dutch films of the provocative and wildly unpredictable director of Showgirls. Likely better than that makes it sound.
Over the Edge – Matt Dillon-starring late-70s exploration of teen dislocation in small town America.
He Was a Quiet Man – Christian Slater plays loner psycho turned hero who forms a relationship with a disabled Elisha Cuthbert. Could be awful but seems at least interesting.

Region 1

Rambo – Literally nothing else of note from the US so it’s down to Sly Stallone to keep it going. This is a ridiculously violent ‘exploration’ of the human rights crisis in military-occupied Burma. It’s watchable but I would not allow the kids anywhere near it.

Hier Linkt Alex

Rock Band obsession has commenced so the puns are all Guitar Hero classics folks.

Try as you might, but resistance to the Wii is futile.

The New York Times profiles the work of Derek Jarman.

Al Green is paying tribute to his former self.

Jason Pierce prescribes a playlist.

The new Pigeon Detectives album is predictably rubbish.

Sebastian Faulks interviewed here.

Tarantino won’t trust a composer. Blame Elfman for it all I say.

The Times has its ten favourites from Cannes. Here’s what actually won the Palme D’Or.

The Telegraph profiles the career of Susan Sarandon.

Screenjabber extols the virtues of The Satan Bug.

The critics are readying and sharpening knives for James Frey’s return.

Political Weekend

Just a reminder for those who do enjoy the political linkage, check out the Slate Political Gabfest and KCRW’s Left, Right and Center podcasts. Both are excellent. For the British politics, try the BBC’s Weekly Political Review.

UK

Gordon Brown is being put under pressure appoint a viable successor as deputy.

Allegedly, ‘Blair-ite’ left-wing figures are plotting and have approached someone to consider taking the job.

The leading candidate at the moment is Miliband.

What about Alan Johnson though?

John Rentoul says only Labour can really be blamed for this.

It should also be noted this week that our government rejected restrictions on IVF (which really pissed off The Daily Mail and therefore must be good) which would have discriminated against lesbian and gay couples seeking adoption and we voted to keep the current upper abortion limit at 24 weeks.

US

One must-read this week, George Packer’s excellent piece from The New Yorker on the fall of conservatism in America.

He’s been getting a few responses since publishing the essay.

Link I Go Again on My Own

You can stream the new record from Dresden Dolls here.

Scarlett Johannson talks to The Wall Street Journal.

Battlestar chicas appear in Interview.

Win a PS3 simply by loving Steven Seagal enough that you want to be him. Not too hard is it?

Hopkins as King Lear. Oh yes.

Anthony Lane shares his comments on The Edge of Heaven.

Just what is a ‘favourite album’?

Spike Lee is making a documentary about Michael Jordan.

Slate really enjoyed the new Indiana Jones.

Madonna’s Malawi documentary is getting plaudits.

Every Rose Has It’s Link

So everyone’s favourite David is Cook.

Fast, Cheap and Out of Control. A cult classic?

Here’s a clip from Clint’s Changeling/The Exchange.

The Chili Peppers are on hiatus.

Runaways is coming the big screen.

Here’s an early review of Soderbergh’s two-part Che.

Jams for the summer with Sasha Frere-Jones.

Winehouse wins Novellos.

Harp features Nellie McKay.

Jonathan Demme has replaced Scorsese on the upcoming Marley doc.