Happy Birthday, David Letterman!

Jamrach's Menagerie

Carol Birch

Set in Victorian England, this adventure on the high seas is an interesting-enough take on the exploration tale, however, it by its end feels slightly repetitive and slightly off in tone. The ultimate decision made by Tim is a difficult one and Birch doesn't pull any punches in showing the reality of the piece, yet Jaffy's story in the end doesn't feel like it measures up to that ultimate sacrifice. It's definitely better than Miller's Snowdrops but one has to wonder whether the Booker judges really did get it wrong when it came to picking that shortlist. Two significant misses so far.

Red Hill

Patrick Hughes

Tonally interesting and featuring a very good Ryan Kwanten, this confused Australian genre pic falls short in the end due to its predictable storyline and willingness to go the urban legend route without much thought for authenticity. The racial debate is one that should be investigated in Australian cinema more so it is interesting that Hughes has done it in this way but it doesn't quite work for all its efforts.

Further Explorations [Live]

Chick Corea, Eddie Gomez & Paul Motian

This live album from the jazz great sees him produce a lively mix of jazz pieces firmly showing his skill at the piano. Structured really nicely and developing an almost storylike quality to the set this is Corea at his best. His 51 Grammy nominations would indicate that this is an artist of formidable talent who covers a formidable scope within the jazz world. Further Explorations, as the title suggests, demonstrates that hunger to widen the scope he has already put to considerable use.