D Tuesday, August 10, 2010 metrolife 13 DVD FOCUS That this inspirational, based-on-a-true- story schmaltz fest was Oscar-nominated for Best Picture says more about the Oscars than it does about the films quality. We all know how those Americans lap up that turn-your-life-around, live- your-dreams schtick like it was cupcake butter cream. But the one thing that makes what is essentially a formulaic sports movie meets Sunday School parable so gosh-damned knockout is Sandra Bul- locks marvellous, deservedly Oscar-winning performance. Strong, charismatic, warmly appealing, Bullock works the Erin Brockovich-thing to the hilt as Leigh Anne Tuohy, the wealthy wife of a former American football player. A strong believer in Republican and Christian values, and with a successful interior design agency and two high-achieving children to her name, she embarks on a new crusade when she meets Big Mike (Quinton Aaron). Hes a troubled, mono- syllabic, seemingly illiterate, homeless black teenager whos run away from his crack ho momma. Clich? Never! But when Leigh Anne adopts Mike into her impossibly cheerful, character-free family, she not only gives him a stable home but also nurtures his outstanding football skills that, just might, turn him from zero to hero. Youve changed his life, accuses Leigh Annes bemused friend. No, hes changed mine, Leigh Anne declares, her eyes misting up. Barf. Meanwhile Big Mike gets sidelined within his own story as all the white folks, including Kathy Batess college tutor, help him help himself. Doughy, racially patronising, way too long and irritatingly watchable. I cried, dammit. Extras: deleted scenes. Larushka Ivan-Zadeh The Blind Side Warner Home Video, 12, 25 This memoir from journalist Gwen Willow Wilson is subtitled A Young Womans Journey To Love And Islam; more appropriate, perhaps, would have been something along the lines of OMG, Muslims Are Adorable Too!!! The subject matter is fundamentally interesting, the story of how a white teenager raised in a secular New Jersey family found herself drawn towards Islam with little prior knowledge of the worlds second most popular religion. Yet her motives arent explained in any depth. Most frustrating of all, though, is the authors writing style, which aims for sassy but is frequently excruciatingly saccharine, with endless corrections of misapprehensions about Islam that a reasonably liberal, educated reader is unlikely to hold anyway. Maybe it is aimed at a more Middle American audience but those who prefer their non-fiction un-Disneyfied will find Wilson has made a real meal of what could have been a thought-provoking story. Andrzej Lukowski The Butterfly Mosque by G Willow Wilson Atlantic, 19 BOOK What happens when an enfant terrible grows up? In the case of former Fatima Mansions anger-management candidate Cathal Coughlan, the answer is that they find new things to be furious about. Where once he railed against the Church and Gombeen Ireland against a backdrop of screeching industrial feedback, nowadays the Cork- born, London-based singer delivers droll critiques of unchecked consumerism while pianos and acoustic guitar twirl politely behind him. Not that Rancho Tetrahedron is exactly a mild record. Inspired by a six-month sojourn in San Diego, Coughlans fifth solo album sees the Scott Walker-soundalike in a truly apocalyptic state of mind. Shocked by Americas culture of wanton consumption, he has written a calm, meditative concept piece about the moral decay of the West and the inevitable (as he sees it) future dominance of China. It wont blast the ears off you in the manner of Fatima Mansions classics such as Only Losers Take The Bus. But, beneath the glossy FM-friendly surface, Coughlan remains as aggrieved as ever by the sorry state of the world. Long may he continue ranting, raving and lobbing brickbats at the status quo. Eamon de Paor Cathal Coughlan And The Grand Necropolitian Quartet: Rancho Tetrahedron Kitchenware CD The juggernaut that is the Need For Speed series is branching out. Instead of continuing the one-size-fits- all approach, different formats are getting more appropriate versions of the game. Need For Speed World marks the launch of a dedicated PC version, which to all intents and purposes is the first real massively multiplayer online racing game. Players can start for free with a basic car and explore an enormous game world, trying solo challenges or racing other online players. Everything you do earns you experience points; the more you get, the more you can unlock from better cars to more challenging missions. As with all MMOs, its a grind to start with but once you invest the time, the rewards are plentiful. Free players can only get to level ten but rather than being subscription-based, NFSW is founded on micro-transactions players can spend real cash on upgrades or in-game vanity items such as car stickers. It makes it pretty accessible but its still early days and games like this need months to develop into living, breathing virtual communities. Steven Fox Need For Speed World PC, from free GAME Katy On A Mission by Benga and Katy B: I never realised dubstep could sound so pop until I heard this. They havent compromised in any way, though; the music sounds like its come straight from the club and Katy shows how much potential she has as a songwriter on this. Barbra Streisand by Duck Sauce: This is the latest project from Armand Van Helden and A Trak two amazing producers and DJs in their own right who have come together on a project called Duck Sauce. They specialise in the finest disco house and this is warm and fun and set to be a summer smash. Where You Should Be by Skream feat Sam Frank: Im addicted to Skreams forthcoming LP and this is one of the best tracks off it. It is heartbreakingly sad and amazingly produced. Street Fighter Riddim by D Double E: D Double E is one half of grime duo Newham Generals and signed to Dizzee Rascals label Dirtee Stank. I love this rhythm, and D Double E is brilliant on it. Neon Valley Street by Janelle Mone: This is my favourite song from Janelle Mones new LP The ArchAndroid. She is like Judy Garland, Lauryn Hill and Minnie Riperton all rolled into one, and the track sounds like its from a musical from another planet. One by Sky Ferreira: I love this track. Sky is only in her teens but this is a really strong effort. Its just electronic pop done really, really well. ON MY IPOD Annie Macs six-track mix Louise Deans favourite fictional figure CHARACTER STUDY When it comes to people in books, I prefer them served up messily. I like them crass and disobliging and defiant in pursuit of their own shabby desires. Just so with Mr Van Wonderen, or Father, in Gerbrand Bakkers fine book The Twin. After denying his son Henk happiness in life one way or another, he denies him the death which would salvage Henks chances with an old flame. And yet, sequestered upstairs, on his way to heaven in stages, hidden from house callers, his father manages a final humorous bravery. A farmhand asks him: Hows the dying going, Mr Van Wonderen? Fine, Father answers just as cheerfully but quietly. The thing with these self- centred, unrepentant, gnarly old types is that just the littlest tenderness or sweetness from them is enough to make your day and prove the point of any good book: hope. Louise Deans novel The Old Romantic (Fig Tree) is out now, priced 16 index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html