"Swing Grace" might be of interest too. For those of us who turn a blind eye so that others struggling along may survive by their wits, and sodding the system!

Dennis, please! You over-use of Roget's has my head reeling around the fountain of PAIN! This article was not very reader friendly. I didn't even get to any reference of Morrissey/Smiths/comparisons or like-wise. I anyone had the ability to make it all the way through this article, could you please break it down to me in a nutshell? I consider myself fairly intelligent, but (as Velma said to Scooby Doo) JINKIES!

I have seen the film and found it vaguely interesting. Anyone who is familiar with pathos and melancholy will tell you that humour is the shadow of sadness. But not as far Michael Winterbottom is concerned!

Like "Butterfly Kiss" which was equally dreary and depressing, this film just wades in a cesspool of morbidity, maudlin angst and urban isolation which in itself wouldn't be a problem if there were comical characters or some funny lines written into the screenplay. But as it is, Winterbottom wants to focus on the downside of London life too much and as such loses the power to convey powerful emotions such as urban alienation. A film that is ceaslessly humourless is not anchored in everyday reality regardless of jittery handheld cameras and hidden microphones and lines litterd with monosyllables.

The fact that the reviewer has to quote well known Smiths lyrics in order to entice NY readers into to the film theatre to see this rubbish is a gross indictment of the film itself.

Save your money, experience the ultimate in human misery and humour which is bathos and go out and buy 'A Hatful of Hollow' if you haven't done so already!