Alexander Payne burst onto the movie scene in 1999 with the darkly humorous Election for which he garnered an Oscar nomination for the screenplay that he co-wrote. He quickly followed that up with About Schmidt in which Kathy Bates and Jack Nicholson grabbed Oscar nominations for best actor and actress. In 2004, he picked up [...]

Ok. ? It’s list time. We know it’s not very original but we do like to share our picks with our esteemed readers and please do share with us your own thoughts. In no particular order then… Album of 2011 Our contenders are… Tom Waits, Bad as Me King Creosote and John Hopkins, Diamond Mine [...]

While the curves may be slightly less compelling, the flesh a pinch less palpable, Michelle Williams has the wiggle and the walk, the giggle and the talk – and will almost certainly sashay off with an Oscar nomination (at least) for her performance as Marilyn in this tender and delicious wee film. Her mesmerising performance [...]

Ryan Gosling has attracted the attention of the 60 Watters big style in the past year. He first came to our attention whilst getting it on, intimately, with Michelle Williams (soon to star in 5 nights with Marilyn) in Blue Valentine, for which she was Oscar nominated – Gosling went one better winning Best Actor [...]

Scotland’s own Lynne Ramsay (Ratcatcher, Morvern Callar) has finally brought to screen Lionel Shriver’s best-selling novel? We Need to Talk About Kevin and although it’s not setting the box office alight, it’s the talk of the steamie (okay, Facebook) right now. Centred on a truly astounding (and Oscar nomination worthy) performance from Tilda Swinton as [...]

An interesting and, at times, tricky year that saw us pick up some great new clients, but bid adieu to a few others.? This was the year that saw the arrival of three fabulous ladies in our lives; Sue Bourne (of Cottages and Castles), Jane Innes (of Springfield Properties) and Sarah Chater (of Johnston Press).? [...]

? As is customary in these parts we like to share with you our annual picks of all things cultural.? So here’s our take on 2008. Firstly, our favourite books featured two by Cormac McCarthy with Mark choosing The Road and Pete, No Country For Old Men, Iain plumped for one of the Wallander series [...]

Welcome back to stunning form Ethan and Joel. Tom Paulin complained on Newsnight Review (BBC2, 18.02.08) that the audience is unable to relate or identify with any of the central characters…but that sense of alienation in a world no longer familiar or comprehensible within one’s own terms (as experienced by Tommy Lee Jones’ Sheriff Bell) [...]

The inaugural 60 Watt best of 2007 poll has been conducted and these are the results. Best Movie A tight fought thing between Atonement and Last King of Scotland, but the award has to go to Atonement because Last King was, strictly speaking, a 2006 movie although most of us saw it in 2007. These [...]

Before: I’ll give it 4.5 out of 5 even though I haven’t seen it yet. That’s hype working for you! After: Atonement is a majestic and moving novel, one of my favourites by one of my favourite authors, so I approached the movie with optimism and trepidation in equal measure. I need not have worried; [...]