Film Reviews This Weeks Releases Hes a 21st centurymetro Arts & Entertainment life Buzzcocks In Town This Weekend In July 1976, Buzzcocks made their debut opening for the Sex Pistols in Manchester. Fast forward 33 years, and John Lydon and Malcolm McLaren are larking about on reality TV. But not the Buzzcocks the punk survivors have released five albums since 1993 Tonight, The Academy, 57 Middle Abbey Street D1, 7.30pm, 28.50. Tel: 0818 719 300. www.buzzcocks.com Director This summer, the Malahide quartet came back with guns blazing on second LP Ill Wait For Sound theyd toughened up their sound, and Michael Moloneys vocals only got stealthier across catchy riffs and blustering drums Tomorrow, Whelans, 25 Wexford Street D2, 7.30pm, 15. Tel: 1890 200 078. www.directormusic.co.uk Billy Talent Moralising pop-rock? Check. Adenoidal vocals? Check. Epic guitars? Check? Hair style to out- quiff even La Roux? Hell, yes! While the Toronto four-pieces album Billy Talent III didnt win any originality awards, their live shows are fairly spunky affairs Sun, The Olympia, 72 Dame Street D2, 7.30pm, 24. Tel: 0818 719 300. www.billytalent.com The only booty at Dublin port on November 7 will be rump-shaking, poe- faced electronica imported by New Young Pony Club who are headlining this Coors Light PEAK gig. The British new wavers havent released a new album since 2007s Fantastic Playroom, so it remains to be seen whether or not their young fans jumped ship in the interim to the likes of Ladyhawke, Bat For Lashes and Santogold. Either way, theyll be bolstered by Dublin electro outfit Codes and one-man band R.S.A.G. at this free custom-built concert staged in the port and constructed from shipping containers. For tickets, register your details at the website below Nov 7, Dublin Port, East Wall D2. www.coorslightpeak.ie Free Book Now New Young Pony Club AND ANOTHER THING... Cirque Du Freak: The Vampires Assistant (12A) Running time: 109min The Cove (PG) Running time: 91min The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard (16) Running time: 90min Fantastic Mr Fox (PG) Running time: 87min I ndulgent messes like The Darjeeling Limited and The Life Aquatic rather made you suspect Wes Anderson had exhausted his creative energy, along with our patience. He brilliantly refreshes both with this snappy, sophisticated animation. Roald Dahls beloved story of wily father Mr Fox, who poaches from the revolting local farmers Boggis, Bunce and Bean is here necessarily fleshed out, mainly by a distinctly Anderson-flavoured sub-plot involving rivalry between Mr Foxs runty, comic-book obsessed son (voiced by Jason Schwartzman) and his sporty, yoga-practising cousin (voiced by Wess own brother Eric). A dysfunctional family comedy populated by artificial characters, quirky, off-beat humour and a soundtrack including The Stones? This is less Roald Dahl, more The Royal Tenenbaums with a tail and whiskers. Visually, as youd expect from Anderson, its gorgeous. The screen glows with foxy oranges, russet reds and sunset yellows autumnal hues are the nostalgic palette of Wess 1970s childhood and the jerky, stop-motion characters in their toweling, felt and hand-knitted clothes are more Wind In The Willows than Toy Story. Much of the dryly funny, adult-aimed screenplay will trip over small childrens heads: I love you too, but I shouldnt have married you, sighs Mrs Fox hardly Disneys simple happily ever after. But then the joy of Dahl is that he never talked down to children. His Mr Fox is certainly no heroic role model: a vain, self- aggrandising liar, whose daredevil antics put his entire community in lethal danger, you should despise him, yet, here warmly voiced by George Clooney, hes a loveable rogue whose tongue is as smooth as hot apple sauce sliding off a roasted goose leg. That all the baddies are British may be unoriginal. But adults particularly will find Mr Fox fantastic by name and by nature. Larushka Ivan-Zadeh 14 metrolife Friday, October 23, 2009 Vampires are totally the craze, arent they? First the Twilight saga set teen pulses racing; then True Blood started upping the erotic ante on the box. Now comes this curious adaptation of a vampire trilogy by Limerick author Darren Shan. An American production, it stars wide-eyed, well-cast 17-year-old Chris Massoglia as hero Darren, who leads a normal life, routinely badgered about homework by his dad and led astray by his truant friend Steve (Josh Hutcherson), until he checks out his towns visiting freak show. Here hes wowed by a bearded woman (Salma Hayek), a snake boy (Patrick Fugit), and showman Larten Crepsley (John C Reilly, pictured with Hayek), who turns out to be a vampire. A series of mishaps see Darren, now a half- vampire, whisked off to live with the circus folk. But jealous Steve is a ticking bomb who could threaten Darrens new friends as well as his family. With its dark themes and heaving bosoms (well, Salmas), Cirque Du Freak hints at a grown-up watch. But the tone dips into bland, child-friendly territory with confusing regularity. Anna Smith The thing that turned me around was the death of Flipper, recalls her tearful trainer, Richard OBarry when she committed suicide in my arms. Youll be weeping too, mainly hot tears of injustice, throughout this fearless save the dolphin doc. Now in his sixties, obsessive activist OBarry admits he spent ten years building up the performing- creature-water- park-experience- industry, and the next 30 trying to tear it down explaining that a dolphins smile is natures cruelest illusion, given dolphins frequently die of depression and stress in captivity. Worse, however, is their senseless and bloody slaughter in Japan, here captured for the very first time by OBarry and his fellow mavericks who deploy thrilling tactics like hiding cameras in Thunderbirds- style fake rocks. Even the fact that a live dolphin is worth $150,000, a dead one merely $600 and that its meat is highly toxic anyway currently doesnt stop their culling heres hoping this eye-opening documentary might. LI-Z Entourage fans will have high hopes for this clumsy comedy starring Jeremy Piven, particularly given his sharp-talking, self-centred salesperson here isnt a million miles from the agent he plays on the hit TV show. But The hoTTesT TickeTs in Town We have three pairs of tickets to see BUZZCOCKS tonight at The Academy, 7.30pm For a chance to win, e-mail your answer to the question below to life@metroireland.ie by noon today with Hot Tickets in the subject line. With your answer please include your name, address and a number where you can be contacted between 1pm and 3pm. Strictly one entry per person; entrants must be age 18+. Q. What is the title of Buzzcocks debut album? A Love Bites B Another Music In A Different Kitchen The winner of yesterdays tickets to see Whitney Houston is: Jessica OMalley Andrew Maxwell Smug vignettes and socio-political banter from the Kilbarrack- raised comic and The Panel regular Tomorrow, Vicar Street, 58-59 Thomas Street D8, 7.30pm, 28. Tel: 0818 719 300. www.maxwellsfullmooners.com Funeral For A Friend Welsh-spawned rock led by frontman Matthew Davies-Kreye (pictured) at this booze-free show for emo kids over the age of 14. With support from Zulu Sun, The Academy, 57 Middle Abbey Street D1, 7pm, 25. Tel: 0818 719 300. www.funeralforafriend.com Stewart Lee Check out Lees version of Galway Girl at this stand up show entitled If You Prefer A Milder Comedian, Please Ask For One... Mon, Vicar Street, 58-59 Thomas Street D8, 7.30pm, 28. Tel: 0818 719 300. www.stewartlee.co.uk index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html