As is customary in these parts we like to share with you our annual picks of all things cultural.  So here’s our take on 2008.
Firstly, our favourite books featured two by Cormac McCarthy with Mark choosing The Road and Pete, No Country For Old Men, Iain plumped for one of the Wallander series of books; [...]

Welcome back to stunning form Ethan and Joel. Tom Paulin complained on Newsnight Review (BBC2, 18.02.08) that the audience is unable to relate or identify with any of the central characters…but that sense of alienation in a world no longer familiar or comprehensible within one’s own terms (as experienced by Tommy Lee Jones’ Sheriff Bell) [...]

The inaugural 60 Watt best of 2007 poll has been conducted and these are the results.
Best Movie

A tight fought thing between Atonement and Last King of Scotland, but the award has to go to Atonement because Last King was, strictly speaking, a 2006 movie although most of us saw it in 2007.
These were closely followed [...]

Before: I’ll give it 4.5 out of 5 even though I haven’t seen it yet. That’s hype working for you!
After: Atonement is a majestic and moving novel, one of my favourites by one of my favourite authors, so I approached the movie with optimism and trepidation in equal measure.
I need not have worried; it is [...]

Never has the human condition been so out of condition. Nicolson is sicker than Mr Queasy from Nauseaville, Throwhio. Lovingly made, powerful, yet ultimately, a tad depressing.
Having said that, the film is a masterpiece and, no question, 2006’s movie of the year.

8/10