A reverential tribute to the wacko and anarchic master-blaster of Gonzo Journalism; from his early days as investigative reporter and writer of 'Hell's Angels', his drug-fueled 'Fear and Loathing' episodes, the '68 Chicago convention, his bid to become sheriff of Aspen, Colorado, his coverage of the 1972 George McGovern campaign and onto his eventual decline as a writer. A must see for anyone interested in finding out more about this unique character who has so enlivened us with his writings. find out more...

Hoffman is outstanding, especially in the night club stand up comedy scenes, as the flawed cult NY genius Lenny Bruce, the Beat Generation kid who became a blueprint for a new kind of entertainer with his outrageous anti-establishment routine, his profanities, his attitude toward drugs, his irreverence and general anarchistic demeanour. A must for all budding stand up comedians and fans of good movies. find out more...

Winner of an Oscar for "Best Documentary", this film (beautifully shot in black and white) recaptures the life and music of the late, great jazz trumpeter Chet Baker. The founder of the Californian school of "Cool Jazz" this film is in itself remarkably cool and stylish. find out more...

A fascinating biopic of Francis Bacon, concentrating on his relationship with George Dyer, a burglar whom he caught in his house and promptly seduced, whose amorality and innocence he found attractive and whom he introduced to his Soho pals. Dyer's bouts with depression, his drinking, pill popping and nightmares strain the relationship in this clash between the arty, boozy Soho set and the East End criminal fraternity, as does his pain with Bacon's casual infidelities. Bacon paints and talks wit find out more...

Great doco about the early days of NY hip hop and life on the projects. One of the best features of this film is that it examines the political trajectory of Nas' career through his lyrics as well as the environment and familial situation that gave rise to his stardom. Must see for fans of his music. And anyone interested in the political side of rap music.

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A mesmerising dramatisation of one of the kings, Ray Charles. Unsurprisingly the soundtrack is pure bliss, but it is Jamie Foxx in the title role that pulls everything together, an hypnotic performance of a music legend, through all his highs and lows, and one of those increasingly rare examples of a leading actor Oscar that actually makes sense. find out more...

A wonderful portrait of Ian Dury - he the polio crippled lyricist and front man for punk icons The Blockheads and a self-pitying, class conscious, angry, supremely talented loud mouth - struggling to relate to his pre-teen son and familial duties.
'Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll' is a top notch drama about a real life person, warts, foul language and all, and you neither need to love his music, punk generally nor, indeed, any form of music to appreciate this gem of a film. find out more...

Be Here To Love Me: A Film About Townes Van Zandt is a 2004 documentary film directed by Margaret Brown which chronicles the often turbulent life of American singer-songwriter Townes Van Zandt. The film includes interviews of Van Zandt's immediate family and contemporaries such as Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, Emmylou Harris, Lyle Lovett, Steve Earle and Guy Clark along with home movies, old TV performances and, especially, early Seventies footage originally filmed by James Szalapski for find out more...

A tour de force of twisted weirdness, gonzo journalism and mutated nastiness, plus a bit of fear and loathing. Based on the writings and real life exploits of 60s journalist Hunter S Thompson. It's all here, the copious drink, the superhuman drug intake, and the wind-ups shot at whatever symbol of authority Thompson considers as fair game. Excellent. find out more...

Adapted from Cheryl Strayed's book of the same name, this is the story of one woman's journey, along the Pacific Crest Trail, back to herself. After the death of her mother, Cheryl is distraught and spirals into a world of sex and drug abuse. Determined not to let her grief consume her, she leaves everything she has - and all she has already lost - behind. Suffering, healing and continually searching, Cheryl is a complicated woman whose personal story is as moving as it is compelling. Withers find out more...