HUNDREDS OF FREE PREVIEW TICKETS

M etrodome Distribution is giving Eye readers the chance to see a pre-release screening, tomorrow, 20 July, of the criminally comic film Palookaville (cert 15), in any one of the following cinemas in seven cities around the country: the Curzon West End (11am for 11.30am screening), London; Arnolfini, Bristol (2.30pm for 3pm); Tyneside, Newcastle (10.30am for 11am) ; Odeon, Glasgow ,The Quay (10am for 10.30am); Cornerhouse, Manchester (10.30am for 11am); Phoenix, Oxford (11.30am for 12noon) and Picture House, Exeter (2pm for 2.30pm).

The film chronicles the "I've got no money, the only solution to this intense unemployment is to turn to a life of crime" mentality of its three central Italian-American characters: Sid (William Forsythe), Russ (Vincent Gallo) and Jerry (Adam Trese).

The three Palookaville no-hopers, who feel that they have nothing to lose, set out to commit the perfect crime. But this proves far from easy. They are inept law breakers - their various heist attempts ending with comic consequences. Their idea of robbing a jewellers backfires, for example, when they mistakenly break into the bakery next door and stay to eat the cakes.

Alan Taylor's debut feature won the 1995 Kodak Prize for Best First Feature at the Venice Film Festival, and features a cracking cameo from Oscar-winner Frances McDormand as a hard-drinking prostitute whom the guys lean on when they need somewhere to sort their heads out.

The first 50 readers to turn up at each of the cinema box offices listed above, today (or tomorrow if seats are still available) with this copy of The Eye will get a pair of tickets to see the film.

Palookaville is released at selected cinemas around the country from 25 July.