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Grand Theft Parsons

What They Say: Based on the post mortem events following country rock cult figure Gram Parsons death, the film features Johnny Knoxville, who plays the role of Parsons' best friend and road manager Phil Kaufman, who decides to make good on a pact they made by stealing Parsons' coffin in order to perform a cremation ceremony in the desert. With a motley crew of personalities on their tail, including two ex-girlfriends, Parsons' father and the police, Knoxville must race to Joshua Tree, California if he's to keep his promise.

What We Say: Why are all quirky American indy films set in the desert? Ever actually gone out there and spent any time in one? It sucks. Overall a good film, largely because despite what we were told about the rock musicians' excess lifestyles, it would appear that country stars' lives are far more disturbing and beyond the pale of socially accepted norms. We were pleasantly surprised to learn that Jackass star Knoxville can also act in scripted films.

The Lowdown: Cannonball Run meets Almost Famous.

Best Bit: Hippie gets the Vegetarian Burger. Hadda been there.

Starring: Johnny Knoxville, Christina Applegate, Michael Shannon, Robert Forster.

Rating:: 5/5

Playing: Gorbushka

Friday Night Lights

What They Say: Based on the 1988 season of the Odessa, Texas Permian High Panthers football team, the film takes us from the pre-season big talk, through to the drama of the finals. Abusive parents, low-end prospects and an entire town's hopes press on the high school team to achieve a post season victory. Footage from 2003 Panthers season was used to give the film a more realistic feel.

What We Say: Despite the fact that in real life the 1988 Panthers were taken out in the quarterfinals, this is an enjoyable film. Unfortunately, our pirate copy's sound was almost 30 seconds off from the on-screen action, so we kind of had to reconstruct the film in our heads. Might work better if you're dosing. Our recommendation is to wait for its cinema release or ask your local DVD pirate for a proper copy. We were a little disappointed that The Superbowl Shuffle was not a featured track in this 80's football flick.

Best Bit: The sound of a career ending as Boobie Miles tears his ACL.

Starring: Billy Bob Thornton, Lucas Black, Garrett Hedlund, Derek Luke, Jay Hernandez, Lee Jackson, Lee Thompson Young.

Rating:: 4/5

Playing: Gorbushka.

Team America: World Police

What They Say: With the world trembling at the hands of international terrorism, only Team America has the gusto and mandate to deal with this problem. Transcending political borders and opinion polls, Team America must stop the evil Kim Jung Il, who, with the aid of an internationally assembled team of terrorists and the Film Actors Guild (F.A.G.), headed by Alec Baldwin, has plotted to convert the planet into a collection of third world feudal states.

What We Say: America...Fuck yeah! The greatest contribution puppeteers ever made to humanity. A great film, except that, just as we saw in a recent incident in Holland, some martyr will now be looking to off Parker and Stone to indicate his displeasure with their humorous take on the subject of fundamentalist culture. Features a steamy puppet sex scene, which was edited 12 times in order for the producers to receive the desired R rating. We predict that after your visit home over the holidays, having to hear the film's catch phrases by every idiot within earshot will leave you exhausted by January. See it now before it's ruined for good.

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