Five minutes with Gareth Cliff

Gareth Cliff is the driving force behind the hilarious and energetic morning team at 5FM. We spent time with the guy behind the mike to find out what makes him tick.

- What makes me get out of bed in the morning: the fact I have a radio show to start at 6 am - and I often wake up late in a panic.

- The best thing about working in the radio industry: the listeners and callers. It’s a big dysfunctional family.

- My biggest dream: to be emperor of the world.

- My favourite pastimes: sleeping, being with family and friends, historical architecture, genealogy and tequila.

- Being in love means: being tricked by chemicals into believing that procreating with one other person is your decision when it’s actually the work of your DNA trying to control you to replicate itself.

- The 2010 Fifa World Cup makes me feel: I cannot wait! I’m a MASSIVE soccer fan and I’m convinced we’ll host the tournament with aplomb.

- I just can’t do without: a car. I know this because someone drove into me the other day and not having a car is an impossible situation - I drive a lot.

- Music I can live without: I’m not wise enough to appreciate jazz yet.

- My most embarrassing moment: embarrassing things happen to me all the time. I don’t really care to remember the individual events any more.

- I drive: a rental car for the moment. Argh!

- If I were president for one day: I would sterilise stupid people.

Gran Torino

Drama. 2009. 112 min. With Clint Eastwood, Bee Vang and Scott Eastwood.
Director: Clint Eastwood. 16LV.
Rating: 4/5
Reviewer: Kim Van Reizig

We’ve waited four years to see the legendary Clint Eastwood on screen again and he doesn’t disappoint in this chilling crime drama. He plays a recently widowed grumpy old racist, Walt Kowalski, who moves into an Asian neighbourhood riddled with gang violence.

One night he’s woken by a gang brawl involving his teenage neighbour, Thao (Vang). It moves from his neighbour’s property to his own and Walt inadvertently saves the youngster, making himself the neighbourhood’s reluctant hero. He develops a protective relationship with the boy who’s being forced to join a gang.

Walt’s solitary life changes as he gets to know his neighbours and learns about their culture. But continued gang violence sees him caught up in a vendetta and everyone soon learns there’s much more to the old man. The film is simple but powerful with Eastwood delivering one-liners that induce goosebumps. Special features: featurettes.

PASSENGERS
Thriller. 2008. 93 min. With Anne Hathaway and Patrick Wilson. Directors: Rodrigo Garcia, Ronnie Christensen. 13PG.
Rating: 3/5
Reviewer: Dalena van Jaarsveld

Psychologist Claire Summers (Hathaway) has to help the survivors of a plane crash - but they have contradictory stories about how the disaster occurred. One passenger claims he’s being followed by someone from the airline and soon afterwards some of them start disappearing. A slightly creepy romance develops between Claire and one of the survivors, Eric (Wilson), as she struggles to put pieces of the puzzle together.

It’s a good attempt at a psychological thriller but you may find the plot predictable. However the eerie feeling throughout the movie is enough to keep you watching. And Hathaway is naturally talented, whether she’s playing for romance or thrills.

CD reviews

CD reviews
HI-NRG CLASSIX by various artists
Rating: 5/5
Reviewer: Jared Orlin
This double-disc compilation of 39 songs treats listeners to a foot-stomping variety of disco, electro and dance-pop classics. The songs are premixed so it’s perfect to play right through at a party. The best tracks are Mel & Kim’s Respectable, Rick Astley’s Together Forever and the slightly more mellow Commancero from Moonrays. Groovy stuff!

BORN IN 69 by Bob Sinclar
Rating: 4/5
Reviewer: Jared Orlin
The French hip-hop/house DJ and singer returns with his 11th album. This time there’s a more disco and electronica feel to a few of the 12 tracks. The first single, Lala Song, is already burning up the airwaves and we also love the reggae-inspired Love You No More (featuring Shabba Ranks on vocals) and the deliciously over-the-top We Are Everything.

SUNNY SIDE UP by Paolo Nutini
Rating: 4/5
Reviewer: Roger Katt
Half-Scottish, half-Italian Nutini is big news in the UK. And once you’ve heard his second album you’ll understand why. It’s almost impossible to define his style - it’s mostly folk rock but slips into reggae, big-band swing and pop every now and then. His raspy, unusual voice is mesmerising on the catchy love songs 10-10 and Pencil Full of Lead. Check him out - you won’t regret it!

Obsession of the week: The Parlotones

Always on the move, SA’s biggest-selling rock band is about to embark on a tour of the UK, Australia and Europe. But the downside of touring, the band members say, is living out of suitcases and missing out on special occasions.

Image is important to them, which is why they always wear grey, black and red on stage. “They’re strong colours, which we like. We believe in music that encompasses all the elements - audio, visual and memorable,” lead singer Kahn Morbee says.

They’ve done loads of gigs overseas and locally but their best places to play are Kirstenbosch botanical garden in Cape Town and Blue Moon in Nelspruit because “they’re aesthetically beautiful and hold awesome memories”.

Their weirdest fan experience was when a guy interrupted them during a performance of I’ll Be There to propose to his girlfriend. They also had a fan who wanted to name her son after each of the band members - but her husband refused.

LOG ON!
If music is your first language, speakerbox.co.za is where it’s at. It has info on your favourite bands’ latest gigs and music news and if you’re an aspiring rocker or disco diva you can create your own band page. There’s also a mailing list for updates on what’s happening in the music industry, users’ pictures from live concerts and loads more.

Game of the week: X-Men

X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE
Xbox360. 2009. 18+
Rating: 3/5
Reviewer: Pieter Vermaak
After featuring as a co-star in the X-Men movies Wolverine takes centre stage in this visceral slash-fest. The game, based on the film, follows the story of his birth as a military experiment with a mind of its own. Wolverine combines his feral senses with devastating moves to chop up everything in his path. The action can be satisfying but becomes repetitive despite endless flashbacks and fights against various big (literally!) bosses. Just the ticket if you have to blow off steam.

Real hero Hayden

Our favourite Heroes hottie is back. Hayden Panettiere plays a cheerleader (again!) on the big screen in her new movie, I Love You, Beth Cooper. Here’s more on what she’s been up to

Being A Cheerleader
In I Love You, Beth Cooper, the latest teen comedy from Harry Potter director Chris Columbus, a nerdy high school graduate proclaims his love for the most popular cheerleader (Hayden) in school during his graduation speech.

Geeky Denis Cooverman (Paul Rust) knows unless he acts quickly he will forever regret not professing his true feelings for Beth Cooper. Never in his wildest dreams did he imagine she’d show up at his door that night. They’re not alone though; Beth’s ex stalks them, determined to ruin the evening.

It seems Hayden had no problem being nude in one scene in the flick; she’s apparently always been comfortable taking off her clothes with others looking on.

“I don’t think it takes much thought and much preparation as an actor. My dad always said I was an exhibitionist when growing up. So I didn’t find it very hard being naked. But that’s just me though. Maybe other people find it harder.”

TAT TROUBLE
Hayden is one chilled-out gal - not even the fact a tattoo artist made a spelling error in her latest piece of skin art ruffled her feathers.
The tat - on her back - should have read Vivere Senza Rimpianti which means “live without regret” in Italian . . . the artist misspelt it “rimipianti”.

“It is misspelt, whatever. Chances are I’ll get it fixed. That’s why I love having it on my back because I don’t get bored with it.”

ACTIVISM
Hayden is a hero in real life - fighting for the rights of animals.

In October 2007 a warrant for her arrest was issued after she protested against dolphin hunting. She was in a group of American and Australian surfers who confronted Japanese fishermen on a hunt. The six surfers were forced to return to the beach and they subsequently left the country. Although the Japanese Fisheries Agency denied issuing the warrant Hayden’s actions were heavily criticised by the Japanese media who saw her stand as an attack on their culture.

A month later People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) recognised her efforts to stop the hunt with the Compassion in Action award. At the time Hayden said, “It was really frightening. But in the end all we were really worried about was the dolphins.”

- I Love You, Beth Cooper is in cinemas now.

DVD of the week: Britney: For the Record

Documentary. 2008. 63 min. With Britney Spears and Madonna. Director: Phil Griffin. PGL.
Rating: 3/5
Reviewer: Lara Atson
It was one of the most talked-about meltdowns in showbiz history. After her divorce from one-time backing dancer Kevin Federline pop starlet Britney Spears lost the plot two years ago and after a stint in rehab shaved her head and temporarily lost custody of her kids. In this doccie, filmed over three months during her much-anticipated comeback last year, Brit opens up about the episode and her hopes for the future. Pop queen Madonna also offers insight into the singer’s troubled life, saying Brit never had the chance to make mistakes without the world knowing about it.

The film was first screened on MTV in November but due to huge ratings has now been released on DVD with added footage. It was clearly a publicity stunt to promote her 2008 album, Circus, but is still worth watching, especially for the emotional moments - such as when Brit talks about being used by people close to her. A must-have for fans. Special features: six MP3 remixes of the hits Circus and Womanizer.

NEW IN TOWN
Romantic comedy. 2009. 97 min. With Renée Zellweger and Harry Connick Jnr. Director: Jonas Elmer. 13PGL.
Rating: 3/5
Reviewer: Dalena van Jaarsveld
Lucy, a career-focused businesswoman from Miami, is sent to freezing Minnesota to downscale the workforce in a factory. However her first high-heeled step into the new town shows things may not go as planned - and Renée Zellweger perfectly displays the polite disgust Lucy feels when she’s confronted with small-town America. But besides the cold weather there’s good-looking union man Ted (Connick Jnr) and an over-friendly secretary with a curious love for tapioca.

It’s a typical romantic comedy in the style of Sweet Home Alabama and The Wedding Date but the jokes and the romance are nothing outstanding - even the makeover scene, usually the part in a chick flick where the fun gets going, is mediocre. It’s good fun for a girls’ get-together though, with no raunchy scenes or toilet humour to get you down. Special features: deleted scenes.

Music reviews and downloads

TRANSFORMERS: REVENGE OF THE FALLEN SOUNDTRACK by Various Artists
Rating: 4/5
Reviewer: Jared Orlin
This blockbuster sequel offers tons of explosive action so it should be no surprise that the film’s soundtrack serves up 13 catchy rock songs. All the songs are worth a listen especially Nickelback’s Burn It To The Ground, Green Day’s 21 Guns and The All-American Rejects’ Real World.

THE LAST KISS by Jadakiss
Rating: 4/5
Reviewer: Gilda van Schalkwyk
It’s been a long wait for Jadakiss fans but the rapper has returned with a release that’s lyrically brilliant. This album features some of the best work he’s ever done and collaborations with practically every hot artist of the moment. The album’s best tracks are Who’s Real with Swizz Beatz and OJ Da Juiceman and Death Wish with Lil Wayne.

REVELATION by Journey
Rating: 3/5
Reviewer: Franco Ferrarese
This double disc features 12 of Journey’s greatest hits plus a few new tracks. Unfortunately new lead singer Arnel Pineda disappoints and the latest material is filled with clichéd lyrics and mismatched vocals. Their older stuff, especially Don’t Stop Believin’, is excellent though. If you buy the album you’ll probably enjoy only the older material unless you’re a die-hard rock/Journey fan.

DOWNLOAD OF THE WEEK
Her Diamonds by Rob Thomas from itunes.com
The first single off Rob’s second album, Cradlesong, confirms the Matchbox Twenty frontman’s solo career is skyrocketing (remember the smash-hit Lonely No More off his debut album?). He wrote it to reflect wife Marisol’s battle with an autoimmune disease and she sings back-up vocals on the track. The music video stars Clueless actress Alicia Silverstone trapped in ice which slowly melts as the song progresses - a metaphor for a woman frozen by her fear, Rob says. Despite the ice it’s pretty hot stuff!

WIN!
Five readers will each win a copy of the Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen soundtrack. To enter SMS the word REVENGE, your name, surname and address to 34923 by 5 pm on 6 August. Each SMS costs R2.

Movie of the week: My Life in Ruins

Comedy. With NIA VARDALOS, ALEXIS GEORGOULIS and RICHARD DREYFUSS. Director: Donald Petrie. PG. Opens on 31 July.
Rating: 3/5
Reviewer: Leon van Nierop

WHAT’S IT ABOUT?
After a series of failed romances a nerdy tour guide is sick of being a glutton for punishment - but when she has to take a group of difficult tourists through Greece a hunky bus driver puts her love-life on the right track.

WHO WILL ENJOY IT?
Anyone addicted to once-upon-a-time Cinderella stories. This candyfloss movie, full of romantic scenery and awkward tourists who make Cruella de Ville look like Mother Teresa, is like bubblegum for a dull brain and really not very good. Why then the three stars? Because it pleads like a beggar at a traffic light for you to like it and it carries a positive message. Yes, the plot twists are artificial and clumsy and the romance forced but it’s quaint in its own shallow way.

WAIT FOR DVD?
Yes. It’s the perfect DVD for when your family from the sticks come to visit and want to see a playful romance where no one swears or takes their clothes off. It’s like relaxing on the beach with an old-fashioned romantic novel where life smiles on geeks who think not every Jack will find his sexy Jill. The story is as wet as a used teabag but one that can still make a strong cup of tea. And Nia Vardalos knows how to make an ordinary character believable in a Hollywood movie.

SIMILAR FILMS
My Big Fat Greek Wedding, The Other End of the Line.

Game of the week: Donkey Kong

Donkey Kong: Jet Race
Nintendo Wii. 2008. 3+
Rating: 3/5
Reviewer: LJ Moller

Crazy about kart- racing games? Or waggling the Wii remote like mad while competing against friends? Donkey Kong: Jet Race offers a unique way of racing against computer opponents or three friends. You’re constantly required to wiggle the remote to turn your jet-propelled barrel kart. This becomes tiring after a few minutes - so unless you’re very fit you’ll need to take a break between races. It’s fun, looks cool and has a few inventive power-ups to help while trying to overtake the competition.

In studio with Taxi Violence

Indie rock group Taxi Violence are back in studio recording their second album, The Turn. Pressplay caught up with the Cape Town band to find out how things are progressing.

MONDAY
Louis has finished tracking the drum sections. Not much will be recorded because George will have to rest his ears. Tomorrow Jason will go in to start tracking the bass - this takes about three days.

TUESDAY
Jason and George spend the entire day trying to replicate the bass sound we got during pre-production. Jason had a photo of the settings (it showed the settings of the bass pedals on the guitar) but he lost it - maybe he drinks too much beer. Everyone has KFC to soothe the pain.

WEDNESDAY
The mood in the studio is much better than the previous two days. Shows you what the right sound can do to a musician. Some documentary-makers spend time with us and George and Louis goof around in the control room, chuckling at the concentration on Jason’s face when he tracks songs.

THURSDAY
Being in studio is much more demanding than playing a massive show. Every bum note is recorded and played back. Take after take the song is recorded until it’s perfect.

FRIDAY
It’s 10 pm and Jason still has two songs to work on. George has a splitting headache. At 1 am we decide to head over to the Shack for a pint or two and tequila!

SATURDAY
We work on lyrics before vocal recording for the tracks and then start mixing. Awesome! Admin, details of music videos and interviews take up the rest of the day.

SUNDAY
This is the last day for recording the drums and Louis manages to break them because he’s hitting so hard!

DVDs of the week

Confessions of a Shopaholic
Romantic comedy. 2009. 99 min. With ISLA FISHER, Hugh Dancy and Joan Cusack. Director: PJ Hogan. PG.
Rating: 3/5
Reviewer: Claire Reddie

Super-stylish journalist Becky Bloomwood’s biggest talent is her ability to shop till she drops. She’s also good at keeping her head firmly stuck in the sand when it comes to understanding money matters and managing her debt. So when she inadvertently lands a job at a financial magazine she flounders. Add a dishy boss and a never-say-die debt collector to the mix and Becky is entirely out of her depth.

This fun film is based on the quirky books by Sophie Kinsella. Adorable Isla Fisher does well as the irrepressible, goofy heroine Becky, who discovers muddling her way through fiscal matters for a possible front-page story may be the answer to her own money issues.

It’s great escapism so give Becky and her fabulous outfits a shot if you need a pick-me-up from all the recession-related news. You may even pick up a money-wise tip or two. Special features: Bloopers, deleted scenes, music video.

THE PROMOTION
Comedy-drama. 2008. 82 min. With Seann William Scott and John C Reilly. Directed by Steve Conrad. 16L.
Rating: 3/5
Reviewer: Willem Moller

With Scott (American Pie) and Reilly (Walk Hard) in the leads you’d think silly, slapstick, gross-out comedy - but that’s not the kind of humour on offer here. It’s an understated, witty film in the English or European style, about two supermarket employees who have pinned their hopes for a better life on getting promoted to manager.

Young, ambitious Doug (Scott) is told he’s a shoo-in and puts down a deposit on a house. Older Richard (Reilly) is a recovering alcoholic who grimly listens to motivational tapes to keep him from going off the rails. For him getting the job is his last chance at redemption. While their rivalry is bitter both come to recognise something of themselves in the other.

Scott and Reilly brilliantly bring to life their characters’ quiet desperation, and with a strong supporting cast, a clever script and smooth editing this is an enjoyable movie that’ll stay with you.

CDs of the week

BITTERSWEET SOUL VOLUME 2 by Various Artists
Rating: 4/5
Reviewer: Claudia Pillay
If you’re feeling nostalgic and want some old-school magic this is the CD for you. It has plenty of great names such as Anita Baker, Bill Withers and Chaka Khan. Toni Braxton kicks off her toe-tapping, man-bashing hit He Wasn’t Man Enough and Deborah Cox’ Sentimental is another winner. Fabulous stuff.

THE E.N.D. by Black Eyed Peas
Rating: 3/5
Reviewer: Annelene Moses
Is it an experiment gone wrong or are the Peas merely taking their music to the next level? They were rooted in hip-hop and flirted with funk but this psychedelic song-and-dance showcase will alienate fans. But you’ll recognise the Peas on some tracks - Boom Boom Pow is one. Sadly many of the other tracks are bouncy trance.

ABNORMALLY ATTRACTED TO SIN by Tori Amos
Rating: 3/5
Reviewer: Franco Ferrarese
Tori marries her original, unusual sound with a commercial one that has worked well for her recently. There’s a jarring beginning but it leads to an even-tempered ending. Her lyrics are also a bit unbalanced - some make sense and others are simply confusing. In typical Tori style each song is a story but not all are worth hearing. A good offering but not her usual greatness.

Movie of the week: Fighting

Drama. With CHANNING TATUM, Terrence Howard and Zulay Henao. Director: Dito Montiel. 16LV. Opens 24 July.
Rating: 3/5
Reviewer: Leon van Nierop

WHAT’S IT ABOUT?
A virile young mass of muscles tackles street thugs, gamblers and career criminals with his bare fists. New York will never be the same again!

WHO WILL ENJOY IT?
Do you have red blood flowing in your veins? Get your thrills from the roar of a motorcycle? Pump iron till your fingers bleed? Enjoy boxing? Then you have to experience this. It’s a tough movie about a no-nonsense character with fists and arms of steel who’s out to conquer New York on his terms and won’t let anyone stand in his way. If this sounds like your kind of dude this exciting, hard action movie is for you. The fight scenes are as good as Fight Club’s and the hero’s macho charisma will impress guys and girls.

WAIT FOR DVD?
No. Go see it with the guys before a soccer match or a rugby celebration. Who knows, you may learn a few new tricks. This movie gets the testosterone flowing so it’s for anyone who’s in the mood for breaking bad guys’ jaws and kneecaps just to make their lives hell. Channing Tatum is definitely an action hero of the future - Jason Statham and Brad Pitt may as well take up knitting. This iron-muscled hero will end up on the walls of many teens’ bedrooms. He’s a fresh, inspiring new role model.

SIMILAR FILMS
Fight Club, Crank, Never Back Down.

Game of the week: Wrestling

LEGENDS OF WRESTLEMANIA
PS3. 2009. 15
Rating: 3/5
Reviewer: Terence Fullex

I felt like a little boy sitting in front of my TV watching Hulk Hogan fight the mammoth Andre the Giant in this game. It takes us back to the ’80s and early ’90s; a time when the wrestling world was simple and one legend ruled: Hulk Hogan.

The multiplayer part of the game takes the fun to a different level. The single-player option can be boring but the various modes make up for it. It doesn’t have the 24/7 mode Smackdown vs Raw offered but overall it’s still an enjoyable gaming experience.

10 things you didn’t know about the Black Eyed Peas

Just when you thought the Black Eyed Peas could not get any better they return with another chart-topping album. The E.N.D. is sure to be as successful as their previous releases.

1. Their first single, Boom Boom Pow, topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart for 12 consecutive weeks.

2. The album’s title stands for The Energy Never Dies.

3. Frontman Will.i.am describes the music as “a lot of dance stuff, real melodic, electronic, soulful. We call it electric static funk, something like that”.

4. Will.i.am took inspiration for the album from the electro-club music he heard while shooting the movie X-Men Origins: Wolverine in Australia.

5. Their second single, I Gotta Feeling, was produced by David Guetta, who along with rapper Kid Cudi, makes a cameo appearances in the music video.

6. The group is one of only 11 artists to hold the No 1 and 2 spots on the Billboard Hot 100 at the same time.

7. More than 300 000 copies were sold in the first week - the group’s biggest first-week opening so far.

8. This is the Peas’ second album to reach the top 10 album charts.

9. The music video for Boom Boom Pow was shot in Los Angeles. Singer Fergie, who sports a new brunette look in the video, says the concept of the video is the Peas’ birth into the digital afterlife.

10. The album’s original title was Evolution but they changed it because Ciara chose the same title for her 2006 album. They then called it From Roots to Fruits but decided that would better suit a future compilation album.

CDs of the week

GUILTY PLEASURE by Ashley Tisdale
Rating: 5/5
Reviewer: Jared Orlin
The High School Musical star has traded in her blonde locks and Disney image for a grown-up look and sound on her second album. The result is a mostly up-tempo and fast-paced pop album. The 14 songs will appeal to pop-lovers - stand-out singles are It’s Alright, It’s OK, Hot Mess and the rocking Acting Out. Highly listenable.

ULTIMATE R&B: THE LOVE COLLECTION by various artists
Rating: 4/5
Reviewer: Jared Orlin
These 19 gems are hits from the past two years. A few are slightly older and no longer played regularly on radio such as Fergie’s Big Girls Don’t Cry and Tears Dry on Their Own by Amy Winehouse. Newer R&B tracks include the Pussycat Dolls singing I Hate This Part.

FANTASY RIDE by Ciara
Rating: 3/5
Reviewer: Golda van Schalkwyk
The sexy Super C (as she now calls herself) has returned with an amazingly produced third album. There are plenty of potential hits on this 16-track disc and after a few listens you’ll realise it’s because of the great collaborations and skilful production. Thankfully Ciara hasn’t changed her original hip-hop style. Love Sex Magic, Work and the opening track, Ciara to the Stage, will soar up the charts.

WIN
Five readers will each win a copy of Ashley Tisdale’s Guilty Pleasure. To enter SMS the word GUILTY, your name, surname and address to 34923 by 5 pm on 23 July. Each SMS costs R2.

Movie of the week: Crossing Over

Drama. With HARRISON FORD, Jim Sturgess and Ray Liotta. Director: Wayne Kramer. 16LVNSP. Opens on 17 July.
Rating: 3/5
Reviewer: Leon van Nierop

WHAT’S IT ABOUT?
Every day hundreds of Mexicans cross the border from Mexico into America. A customs official sometimes makes the process easier for these immigrants - but he ends up in an unenviable situation.

WHO WILL ENJOY IT?
If you can’t get tickets for the new Harry Potter which also opens this week (it wasn’t shown to the media in time for us to review) Crossing Over is a good alternative, especially if you’re looking for entertainment with a bit of substance. It’s a little different to the usual blood-and-guts action sagas set on the Mexican border and deals with serious issues immigrants face. It reveals shady dealings in the customs department and how strict immigration regulations actually promote corruption and the problems experienced by people trying to immigrate. Harrison Ford is his usual stony-faced self, grumbling his lines through his stubble, but his authoratative performance gives this dramatic look at corruption a touch of class.

WAIT FOR DVD?
Yes. It’s not an easy watch and demands you pay attention to the story rather than your cooldrink and popcorn if you want to follow the intricate plot. It’s made even harder-hitting by Jim Sturgess’ performance as a geek with big dreams of American citizenship, showing how the reality of the situation affects him. It’s definitely a movie to enjoy in front of the fireplace with your family or best buddy. Recommended.

SIMILAR FILMS
The Pledge, State of Play, Traitor.

DVDs of the week

GHOST TOWN
Romantic comedy. 2008. 101 min. With RICKY GERVAIS, Greg Kinnear and TÉA LEONI. Director: David Koepp. 13PGL.
Rating: 4/5
Reviewer: Willem Möller

Pincus (Gervais), an English dentist working in New York, is a rude, utterly selfish misanthrope with no friends or desire to make any. But then he has a near-death experience during surgery and starts seeing ghosts with unfinished business on Earth. They realise Pincus can see them and harass him to help their souls find rest. Of course he refuses but one, Frank (Kinnear), pesters him with his requests to stop his widow, pretty scientist Gwen (Leoni), from marrying the wrong man. Pincus soon falls for her - but first he has just about everything to learn about being human.

This may be a romantic comedy but it’s unlike any you’ve seen: the romance is merely hinted at and the laughs are rounded out by truly profound moments. With an original script, excellent performances and beautiful cinematography it’s a wonderfully entertaining movie you simply have to see. It will leave you with real food for thought. Special features: commentary, featurettes, gag reel.

REVOLUTIONARY ROAD
Drama. 2008. 115 min. With Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet and Kathy Bates. Director: Sam Mendes. 13LNS.
Rating: 4/5
Reviewer: Brenda Pienaar

This is Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslow’s first film together since the 1997 box-office smash Titanic. It’s based on Richard Yates’ novel of the same name and set in ’50s America.

Frank (DiCaprio) and April (Winslet) Wheeler, an attractive couple with two young children living in an upmarket part of Connecticut, appear to embody the American Dream. Frank commutes to his office job in New York and April is a housewife. But they’ve always believed they’re destined for greater things. Will they be able to escape their boring suburban existence without drifting apart?

The performances are brilliant and the excellent costume design adds to the impact of the film. It’s a dark, shocking drama that will leave you with plenty of food for thought. Don’t see it if you’re in need of escapism. Special features: commentary, featurette, deleted scenes.

Hot news of the week

ALBUM DOWNLOAD OF THE WEEK
Lines, Vines and Trying Times by Jonas Brothers
Website: www.billboard.com
The group’s fourth album topped US charts, selling 247 000 copies so far. It definitely has a more mature sound than previous offerings. Nick Jonas says the album was inspired mostly by personal experience. Their musical influences for the album include Elvis Costello, The Zutons, Coldplay and Neil Diamond. And there’s even a song dedicated to fans.

Check out the track Much Better which they wrote to thank fans for their support. Their single Fly with Me can be heard on the soundtrack to the Ben Stiller comedy Night at the Museum 2: Battle of the Smithsonian.

MUSIC NEWS OF THE WEEK
Everybody’s talking about the Oppikoppi WildCard Festival from 7-9 August at Northam, Limpopo. Check out more than 70 artists on four stages for three days of nonstop music - from rock to hip-hop. Acts include aKing, Karen Zoid, Tasha Baxter and Sipho Hotstix Mabuse. The first 2 000 online SMS tickets sold from the Oppikoppi website will receive a pre-fest limited edition Levi’s OppiKoppi T-shirt. Tickets are on sale now for R399 from www.oppikoppi.co.za and R400 at the gate.

OBSESSION OF THE WEEK
Blake Lively (21) works 18-hour days on the set of Gossip Girl. But with all those gorgeous clothes and hot GG boys we don’t feel too sorry for her.

She’s super in love with her co-star and real-life BF Penn Badgley (Dan Humphrey). “If a guy can play Guitar Hero with me, sit at home and watch the Food Network and read magazines with me, that’s good,” she says.

You can see her in the upcoming films New York, I Love You and The Private Lives of Pippa Lee.