Riverside Studios

The death of double-bill cinema was covered in Sight & Sound magazine (Aug 08) a year ago this month. Even they, with their most astute research, failed to mention the Riverside Studio's long standing history in this, the most dedicated form of cinema-going. A cynic would attribute this slight oversight as an attempt to disregard the one cinema that bucks the very trend and main argument of the article. I on the other hand, would put this down to a lack of consumer awareness, something I'm trying to repair today.

One year later and TFI Friday's old home is still going strong. Tonight's choice is as calculated as ever. Dead Man (1995) vs. Public Enemies (2009) sees Johnny Depp as both poet William Blake and gangster John Dillinger. The themes are very much alike yet the styles couldn't be further apart. One is direct, up-close and frenetic; the other is stolid, methodical and hypnotic. Comparing Jarmusch and Mann defeats chalk and cheese but at least we have Neil Young and Otis Taylor to guide us.

Having seen and loved Public Enemies already, a third viewing is more than welcome. As a huge fan I think all efforts should be made to see a Mann film at the cinema. Whilst not perfect by any means Collateral (2004) remains one of the most readily accessible and easily watched films in my DVD collection. Tonight, however, I feel Dead Man will steal the show. Having never seen it I am anticipating a lost gem in 90's cinema. Costing $5m and recuperating only $1m, a critical flop at the time of release, it sounds right up my street. Greil Marcus is one of its few defenders, titling his film review "Dead Again: Here are 10 reasons why 'Dead Man' is the best movie of the end of the 20th century". Strong words indeed, we shall see...

Dead Man is showing at 18:00 and Public Enemies is showing @ 20:20. Tickets are £7.50and that includes both films.