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14 / 03 / 2010
Fantasy F1:
The results from the first race in Bahrain are in! Check the results, see how your team did or enter a new team. Next race is Australia on 28th March.

09 / 03 / 2010
Fantasy F1!
Yes, there's a brand new Fantasy Formula One game! Check the rules or enter your team by Friday night to qualify for the first race in Bahrain!

08 / 03 / 2010
Fantasy Rally:
The results from Rally Mexico are in! Check the results, see how your team did or enter a new team. Next race is Jordan on 1st April.

17 / 02 / 2010
Fantasy Rally:
The points awarded for a win have changed in the real WRC, so we've reflected the changes in our scoring too. Check the rules to see the details. Next rally is Mexico on 5th March, teams will be frozen at midnight on the night of Thursday 4th March.

16 / 02 / 2010
Fantasy Rally:
The results from Rally Sweden are in! Check the results, see how your team did or enter a new team.

31 / 01 / 2010
Fantasy Rally:
The new rally season is upon us - 2010 Fantasy Rally is now open! Check the rules or pick a team ready for the start on 12th Feb.

25 / 10 / 2009
Fantasy Rally:
All previous years' Fantasy Rally results are online - Check the 2009 season.

02 / 08 / 2009
Reviews:
Sorry, there won't be any more movie reviews for the foreseeable future. Events have overtaken me. Catch up on reviews you may have missed.

18 / 08 / 2005
Sudoku!
Have a go at the online Sudoku game.

 

Burn After Reading

Burn After Reading

Cast: Brad Pitt, George Clooney, John Malkovich, Frances McDormand, Tilda Swinton, JK Simmons.

Written and directed by the Coen brothers Joel and Ethan.

Story: Stupid people try blackmail.

Running Time: 1hr 35 minutes.

UK certificate 15, US certificate R.

 

Ooooo, I was looking forward to this one. If you like the Coen brothers, you'll love this one.

Hey, who's stolen Brad's frisbee? A high expectation can often curse a movie - many's the time a sure-fire hit has turned into a mild disappointment (Shrek 3, for one) - and twenty minutes into Burn After Reading I was rather regretting the high recommendation I'd made to my moviegoing posse. Although the Coens are possibly the world's best at character development, it isn't the most fascinating opening reel I've ever seen. Once the train has moved out of the station, however, we're treated to the typically deft story-handling that defines all of the Coens best, from O Brother, Where Art Thou? to last year's Oscar winner No Country for Old Men.

John Malkovich wasn't trained to deal with three bears eating his porridge. Brad Pitt is brilliant as the dimwitted fitness instructor, transforming every scene he touches, while George Clooney, Frances McDormand and Tilda Swinton are all highly watchable in their various eccentric niches. The star quality really helps - although this isn't one of Clooney's finest performances, he still commands the screen in a way that would elude any unnamed actor, no matter how talented. And the CIA guys, well they're just hilarious. My only caveat would be that you really do have to watch it to get the most out of it - if you like to let movies wash over you then you won't get it at all. If you liked Fargo, then this will be right up your vegetable garden.

Burn After Reading is rare on two counts. One - that it can survive a high expectation. Two - that it left me wanting more, thanks to the rather sudden and unexpected ending. One of the movie highlights of the year.

I enjoyed this film: 4/5

I think the average moviegoer will enjoy it: 5/5

Testosterone Satisfaction Rating: 0/5

To enjoy this film you should: appreciate the Coens' quirkier back catalogue, such as O Brother, Where Art Thou?, The Big Lebowski and Fargo.

 

Burn After Reading was released in the UK on 17th October 2008.