Current release: THE NEW TEN COMMANDMENTS

THE NEW TEN COMMANDMENTS, mentioned here previously, hasn't exactly been a recent release as such, but it's had some cinema outings and a showing on TV. Not so much a film as a collection of films, each film (by a different filmmaker or team of filmmakers) examines one of the articles of the declaration of human rights. In hindsight, it makes you wonder about the name since it covers rights rather than commandments, but we'll let that slide since it's such an accomplished work.

Stand-outs are both of the contributions by Mark Cousins (one with Tilda Swinton which captures a love of cinema like few other films; the other with Irvine Welsh about the incarceration of Kenny Richey); examinations of the trial of the alleged Lockerbie bomber; the portrait of a man campaigning for a Scottish Republic; and an amusing look at a serious breach of privacy.

Truth be told, nearly all the films are very good, the only weak link in my humble opinion being Douglas Gordon's contribution which is little more than a dark room with random sounds. It's probably exactly what he was aiming for but it's not particularly cinematic.

I have no idea what further plans there are for this film but if it surfaces on DVD any time soon, pick it up.