Heaven Tonight

Although most films about the tribulations of rock stars are utterly awful, the occasional oddball which slips through the net keeps the 'pop film' genre alive and interesting. This tiny-budget Antipodean offering centres on an ageing has-been whose son's flourishing singing career provokes much domestic hassling and heartache. Taking a resolutely downbeat approach, and featuring some convincing footage in which the participants actually appear to be playing their instruments (a miracle!), this avoids all the naff 'let's-do-the-gig-here' clichés, for which praise is due indeed. Not as hard-hitting as Slade in Flame, perhaps, but nicely grim none the less.