CD Alicia Keys: The Element Of Freedom RCA/Jive Arch self-publicist Lars Von Trier seems to delight in getting people fuming: the outrage Antichrist produced must have left the Danish director giddy with glee. It is, undoubtedly, a disturbing film to watch leaving you feeling squalid and slightly sick. But berating the extreme violence seems to be playing into his hands. Whats more pertinent is youre left feeling short-changed, as what could have been a taut study of sexual guilt and consuming grief is thrown away in favour of shallow torture-porn shock tactics. A prologue shot like a designer perfume ad (black and white, slo-mo, Handel aria) shows Charlotte Gainsbourg and Willem Dafoe engaged in vigorous sex, oblivious to the fact that their young son is falling to his death from a window. Therapist Dafoe decides to ignore best practice and treat his grief-addled wife himself. So off they head to their forest retreat, Eden, and a titanic struggle of psyches ensues. A self-mutilating fox hissing chaos reigns is the clue things are heading off-piste. Von Triers idea seems to be that the inherent evil of nature and the evil nature of humanity now takes over. So when Gainsbourg, pathologically incapable of keeping her pants on, discovers the cottage toolbox, her inner banshee is unleashed. Cue deeply unpalatable violence, hateful behaviour on all sides and crude woman-is-witch intimations. You will, certainly, be unable to get some of the images in Antichrist out of your mind but they persist there devoid of meaning, as Von Trier isnt really interested D Tuesday, January 12, 2010 metrolife 13 Devilish in the detailsDVD OF THE WEEK Antichrist Artificial Eye, 18, 18 BOOK Captured by Neil Cross Simon & Schuster, 15 It wont take you more than two or three sittings to read Neil Crosss eighth novel, a psychological thriller for which the term page- turner might have been coined. The suspense-laden tale opens with its middle-aged main character, Kenny, discovering he has terminal cancer and only weeks to live. He then draws up a list of people to whom he would like to make good a wrong, including his ex-wife and closest friend, Mary, and Callie, his junior school sweetheart. On learning that Callie mysteriously disappeared several years before and that her husband, Jonathan, was suspected of involvement but never charged, he becomes obsessed with uncovering the truth, taking the law into his own hands. Psychologically, it seems pretty implausible that this obsession with the memory of a 12-year-old girl should lead Kenny to forget about Mary. If you can surmount this obstacle there is much to enjoy in the contrast between the peaceful suburban and countryside settings and the increasingly ghastly events that unfold. An atmospheric, if not wholly convincing, thriller. Tom Cameron GAME Bayonetta XBox 360, 57 (also available on PS3) Overblown, over- sexualised and frustrating are just a few words that apply to Bayonetta. Breathtaking, original and thrilling are some more. Although you might want to hate Bayonetta, if you pick it up and give it a whirl youll be extremely happy you did. The story defies any logic: youre a witch who fights hordes of enemies with your hair. Attack combos grow ever more outlandish and satisfying, as do cut scenes veering between the hysterically bad and the offensively obscene. Its worth a look, even just to get in the swing for the impending releases of Dantes Inferno and God Of War 3. Steven Fox TV PICK OF THE DAY Katherine Lynchs Single Ladies RT2, 10.50pm The love-her-or-loathe-her comedian Katherine Lynch returns to our screens tonight with more from demented alter egos Singing Bernie Walsh, Miss Sheila Chic and Liz Hurley. Will much have changed in Bernies Hi-Ace, will the Tallaghtfornian find the man of her dreams and will Mohills Liz Hurley still be waxing lyrical about lovely Leitrim? Stephen Mulkearn Cry foul! It seems Sir David-in-waitings latest goal to appear on The Simpsons is to be as cruelly denied him as, inevitably, his World Cup dreams. Its claimed he hoped to make the Springfield team, running out in Homers cartoon strip. And why not? Isnt a Simpsons gig, with its huge audience, the ultimate self-promotional coup? Whether the idea was entirely his, or a cunning stunt planned by some brand-building Lady Macbeth indoors, Becks reportedly offered his services, only to be politely knocked back by executive producer Al Jean, on the grounds that David who? is not a big enough star for an American audience. Its enough to make Goldenballs wince as if hard man Vinnie Jones just grabbed him, Gazza-style, in the penalty area. Keith Barker-Main PLANET CELEB Welcome to the world of David Beckham supplied it with dentures it could have happily resumed chewing the cud. And my beef number served with a tangy, full-flavoured jus was, likewise, carnivore heaven. Both dishes were ably jollied up with sides of veg so, unless youve really got your heart set on a gastric band, steer clear of sides. I finished with an old-school bread and butter pudding from the specials board which was served with layers of piquant apricot: a flawless dish which really deserves to make its way onto the set menu. A chocolate mousse, though oversized and more grainy than foam-like, was also quickly demolished. With an excellent bottle of Rioja our bill came to just over 100, which, if not quite a steal, certainly didnt cost a Mint. Daragh Reddin 47 Ranelagh Road D6. Tel: (01) 497 8010. www.dillingers.ie in exploring representations of women and grief. Not when he can cheaply raise howls of protest with an auto-clitoridectomy, anyway. Extras: Von Trier commentary, Gainsbourg and Dafoe interviews, lots of featurettes. Siobhn Murphy bank WINE NOTES B & G Sauvignon Blanc Reserve 2008, Vin de Pays des Ctes des Gasgognes, France This is an elegant wine full of classic sauvignon blanc character, intense citrus and aromatic tropical fruit flavours. Delicious, and fantastic value for money, this easy-going white punches well above its weight in terms of quality. Enjoy it with friends, great for casual mid-week suppers. Available from Supervalu, Centra, Dunnes and Tesco at 9.49 approx. EVENT An Evening Of Spoken Word With Henry Rollins Before hes even made a sound, the musclebound US hardcore rocker turned spoken word activist and actor strikes a formidable figure on stage. And when he gets stuck into his hard- hitting, often hilarious narratives, theres no stopping him as ever, he promises unadulterated fresh material for his latest dates, so dont expect spoken word greatest hits here. I couldnt do a rerun with a live crowd; I dont want to be a human jukebox, he explains in a genial boom. The aim of the talking shows is to bust my ass to do two hours of brand new gear. Hes a tireless international traveller, rolling off a list of countries hes toured in recent months: including Cambodia, Vietnam, Nepal, Saudi Arabia (on a diplomatic visa), China, Indonesia and India (where he attended the 25th anniversary of the Bhopal disaster). My experiences come from being in the territory its the only way I can talk in upper case. Its not exactly stand-up comedy, as Rollins gives short shrift to hecklers (but I am always around after the show if anyone wants to talk about it, he offers). Irish audiences will be able to catch Rollins on TV this spring when he stars in FXs biker drama Sons Of Anarchy, and hes also launching an audio series entitled Spoken Word Guy. But it sounds like he wants to get his audience on the road too: When we get more people travelling to other countries, its the end of discrimination and conflict as we know it, he insists. The global community needs to start happening. Arwa Haider Tonight, Vicar Street, 58-59 Thomas Street D8, 7.30pm, 29. Tel: 0818 719 300. www.henryrollins.com US soul diva Alicia Keys might have been spicing up her love life this year but her music remains surprise-free. Fourth studio album The Element Of Freedom is a collection of dont scare the horses rnb tracks which showcase Keyss abilities without reaching any true artistic heights. Opener Love Is Blind is a sparse elegy to loving a wrong un and Try Sleeping With A Broken Heart gambles on the current fad for 1980s film score sounds (check out those synths) and largely wins. The stand- out track, as on Jay-Zs The Blueprint 3, is Empire State Of Mind this time a Part II version that balances the soaring chorus with restrained verses and Keyss rolling piano. Big, bold and slightly corny: give this track a Broadway musical already. Siobhn Murphy index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html