D Tuesday, January 19, 2010 metrolife 13 Stand-up but not quite stand-out... DVD Of The Week Funny People Universal, 15, 23 Book Star: The Life & Times of Warren Beatty by Peter Biskind Simon & Schuster, 20 Headline-raising claims that Warren Beatty slept with give or take 12,775 women have undoubtedly helped raise the profile of this semi-official biography. It was a cunning move given that the very intro admits no one under 40 (maybe 50?) knows who he is. So who was Beatty? Well, according to author and sort-of-friend Peter Biskind, the now-72-year-old lothario who got his first taste of fame as Joan Collinss toy boy was one of the most versatile and skilled talents of his generation. Bridging the gap between the old Hollywood and new, Beatty wasnt just a pretty face. The first four films he produced Bonnie And Clyde, Shampoo, Heaven Can Wait and Reds racked up 35 Oscar nominations. But enough of the boring film buff stuff less than 20 pages in, were given racy revelations about the likes of Jane Fonda and Jack Nicholson, and told that Beatty liked sex five times a day. Biskinds elliptical portrait is hardly an airbrushed puff piece and balances horses mouth gossip with intelligent cinematic context. Beatty emerges as a vain, dithering pseudo-intellectual whose aspirations to be the new Brando dont extend much beyond mumbling. Biskinds book, not Beatty, is the star attraction here. Larushka Ivan-Zadeh Game Just Dance Wii, 30 Released before Christmas, Just Dance is a good choice for parents struggling to keep their children occupied while the weather continues to keep young ones indoors. The game asks players to do exactly what it says on the box, offering more of a genuine dance experience for Wii players than other similar games because theres no dance mat and no button presses. Instead, you actually have to perform a variety of often challenging moves that your Wiimote plays out on screen via a colourful avatar. Overall graphical presentation is basic and the premise is simple: the better you execute the specified moves, the higher your score. You can play against three other people, battling out to see who can get the best score from a catalogue of 30 tunes, from Technotronics Pump Up The Jam to Blurs Girls & Boys. Diverting enough for a rental if the niece and nephew are coming over. Steven Fox Music Eels: End Times V2 Fans of melancholic US altrockers Eels wont be surprised to hear their world view doesnt necessarily get better on eighth album End Times although life does resolutely go on. End Times swiftly follows 2009s Hombre Lobo but here the central themes are the death throes of a love affair and frontman Mark E Everetts realisation that hes reached middle age. Es brooding revelations might have lapsed into self-parody if it werent for his open, matter-of-fact tone. Theres no doubting his lyrical candour on standout tracks including In My Younger Days and I Need A Mother. End Times is moving stuff, rich in achingly beautiful guitar melodies such as Little Bird. Few other artists could deal heart-on-sleeve sentiments with such off-the-cuff wit. Arwa Haider TV Pick Of The Day How To Look Good Naked... With A Difference Channel 4, 8pm Gok Wan is focusing on body confidence issues among the disabled for this new series, starting with 40-year-old wheelchair-bound single mum Tracy, who is mostly a perky sort but cant stand her boring wardrobe and roly-poly tummy. There are, of course, the usual tears and punch-the-air triumphs at the end, and its all handled with the shows hallmark grace and sensitivity. apologised (and the offending article was removed from the bill), the replacement chai never came. Im so sorry, I do hope youll come back again, said the matre d apologetically. Of course, I replied, with absolute conviction. Lucy White 31 Lennox Street (off Richmond Street) D8. Tel: (01) 478 9966 Theres an interesting actor lurking deep inside Adam Sandler (pictured). Lo-fi 2002 romance Punch-Drunk Love first showcased it, proving he could be better than many of his lightweight comedies suggest, and it surfaces again in Funny People, the latest movie from his long-term pal and omnipresent comedy king Judd Apatow. This time Sandler is George Simmons, a stand-up turned star of, um, lightweight comedies that have become box office hits. He lives alone in his LA mansion, mainly bedding his female fanbase and being arrogant to those who cross his path. When hes diagnosed with terminal cancer, hes suddenly aware of his isolation and ropes in Ira (Seth Rogen), a budding stand-up and writer, ostensibly to supply material for his gigs but in reality to become an emotional crutch. So Funny People isnt really that funny George swings between cold-hearted cynicism, bombast and vulnerability; protg Ira is nervous in his presence; Georges ex-wife (Leslie Mann) is waiting unhappily in the wings; and theres conflict between Ira and his ambitious friends as they try to make their mark in the entertainment world. Essentially, its a well-observed critique of the comedy industry, from the struggles at the bottom of the live circuit to the egotism of Hollywood. Its deeper than Apatows other work, and thats both a blessing and a curse; its interesting and very personal with much emotional range but also over-long and occasionally convoluted. Still, treat it as a drama rather than a comedy and Funny People hits the mark. Extras: include deleted and extended scenes, gag-reel, director and cast commentary, backstage diaries in which the cast perform at real stand-up gigs. Sharon Lougher Film Of The Day Syriana TG4, 9.05pm DINE IN THIS WEEK Your quick-fix meal solution courtesy of EasyFood magazine Viu Manent Secreto Carmnre 2007, Colchagua Valley, Chile, 13.99 This award-winning wine from Chile will keep you warm through the cold nights of January. Rich and loaded with lots of black cherry, mocha and herbs, enjoy it with a venison stew with root vegetables. Available from Next Door nationwide and at good independent off- licences. WINE NOTES NET RESULT www.jaman.com: Jaman wants to keep its users glued to their screens with its extensive catalogue of online movies, including some that can be viewed for free. The site has many films and documentaries in a range of categories, including kung fu, film festivals, foreign-language films and thrillers. A free gem on the site is The Real Bruce Lee, featuring previously unseen footage of the martial arts star (pictured). www.soundsofsoulradio.com: Whether youre into contemporary rnb, neo soul or Motown, this internet radio station aims to play them all. The station regularly takes listeners requests for songs and feedback, and also gives unsigned acts a chance by including them on playlists. So whether youre a fan of Alicia Keys, Eric Roberson, Bobby Womack, Leroy Hutson or Tina Turner, theres something for all soul fans here. Anthony Gibson A complex series of interlocking stories examining different facets of the oil industry offers George Clooney (pictured) the chance to shine in a role that demands more than his usual suave charm. A tough, intelligent thriller with an excellent supporting cast that includes Matt Damon, Chris Cooper and William Hurt, this film will make you think. Adam Hyland Spiced Carrot & Lentil Soup Ingredients (serves four): 2tsp cumin seeds; pinch chilli flakes; 2tbsp olive oil; 600g carrots, unpeeled, washed and coarsely grated; 140g split red lentils; 1 litre hot vegetable stock (from a cube is fine); 125ml milk; 40g plain yoghurt Method: 1. Heat a large saucepan and dry-fry the cumin seeds and chilli flakes for one minute, or until they start to jump around the pan and smell fragrant. 2. Scoop out about half of the seeds with a spoon and set aside. 3. Add the oil, carrots, lentils, stock and milk to the pan and bring to the boil. Simmer for 15 minutes until the lentils have swollen and softened. 4. Whizz the soup with a stick blender or in a food processor until smooth (or leave chunky if you prefer). Allow to cool, transfer the soup to a flask or other sealed container. 5. Season to taste and finish with a dollop of yoghurt and a sprinkling of the reserved toasted spices. www.easyfood.ie gap index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html24.html25.html26.html27.html