After the cheek-clenching thriller No Country For Old Men, anyone unfamiliar with Joel and Ethan Coen's back catalogue of distinctive indie film farce might be slightly taken aback by the goofball comedy of Burn After Reading. Brad Pitt and Frances M
cDormand star as the unlikely duo who stumble across secret FBI files which were to be printed as part of John Malkovich's expose memoirs of his time in the squad. The chase ensues, and involves Tilda Swinton and George Clooney romping around as part of the confusion, but the scene stealer is most definitely the man who puts the Bra in Brangelina. Rather than doing his usual smouldering quiet man routine, Pitt plays the idiot with aplomb. If you've already seen Tropic Thunder, this is definitely the best comedy of the weekend.
A far grittier tale is the Cannes Grand Jury Prize-winning tale of the mafia, in Gomorra, based on Robert Saviano's expose on the brutal dealings of the underground crime lords of Naples. Violent verite cinema at its most scintillating.
Other new releases this weekend include Eagle Eye starring Shia LaBeouf, The Rocker from Full Monty director Peter Cattaneo and zombie thriller The Mutant Chronicles.
MUSICDundee's rapscallion rockers the View are hitting the road with new material this weekend, and are spreading themselves Scotland-wide. With their second album, Which Bitch, due for release early 2009, there's a feverish anticipation now that the new single, 5 Rebeccas, has been unleashed on the airwaves. Catch them tonight at Raigmore Motel, Inverness; tomorrow at East Grange Loft, Forres; and on Sunday at Cabaret Voltaire, Edinburgh.
The best of the rest of this weekend's live music offering includes Eddi Reader at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, and the Kaiser Chiefs at Barrowland, tonight.
Saturday night gigs include Jenny Lewis at Queen Margaret Union, Glasgow; and Lena Martell at the Pavillion Theatre, Glasgow.
Scottish Opera are busy this weekend with productions countrywide: The Two Widows at Theatre Royal Glasgow, tonight; The Merry Widow at Carran Halls, Oban, Saturday and The Secret Marriage at Theatre Royal, Glasgow, Saturday.
Sunday night's highlights are Mercury Music Prize-winners Elbow playing at Carling Academy, Glasgow and Bloc Party at Barfly, Glasgow.
DAYS OUTTwo top ways to keep the kids occupied during the Tattie Holidays are on offer this weekend, with children's drama classes being staged at the Citz theatre in Glasgow, for 4-15-year-olds on Saturday and Sunday from 10.30am until 5.30pm See
www.citz.co.uk for more details.
Big Draw: North is at the Scottish Storytelling Centre, Edinburgh, Saturday 1pm-4pm, where professional storytellers entertain the kids and help them turn their imaginations into art.
Also happening this weekend is a celebration of all things Latin American at the
Hispanic Festival in Edinburgh. Taking place at the Storytelling Centre, the Caves, Dancebase and the Lot, the music, dance and fiesta fun kicks off today and runs until Sunday.
The full article contains 493 words and appears in Scotland On Sunday newspaper.
