The best alcoholic advent calendars for Christmas November 27, 2022 Christmas is coming! Count down the days with one of these alcoholic advent calendars, putting a grownup spin on a festive childhood tradition. WHISKY EXCHANGE SPIRITS ADVENT CALENDAR The Whisky Exchange has assembled a veritable smorgasbord of spirits for the holiday season. Each day will bring a new surprise, with this diverse collection consisting of [...]
The She Said movie lacks the urgency needed from a film about Me Too November 27, 2022 It was inevitable that Hollywood would eventually make a movie chronicling the origins of the MeToo movement. Following in the footsteps of greats like All The Presidents Men and Spotlight, director Maria Schrader (I’m Your Man) tells Hollywood’s recent history through some of its finest practitioners. Carey Mulligan and Zoe Kazan star as Megan Twohey [...]
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery gives Daniel Craig another chance to shine November 27, 2022 Although it’s being released in cinemas initially, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery represents a curious twist in the streaming wars. Netflix beat out rivals Apple and Amazon to win the rights to the sequels for Knives Out, the 2019 cinema release that was a surprise hit, in a reported nine figure deal. It’s a [...]
A Christmas Carol, the Old Vic review: Bright and joyous, even Scrooges can’t dislike this November 25, 2022 Joy to all – including you Scrooges out there – it’s Christmas! We’ve collectively spent weeks ignoring the Christmas cards and wrapping paper that appears pointlessly early in shops, but now that it’s December it’s actually time to start getting in the mood for the festive season – and the best way to do that, [...]
David Harewood: White actors should be able to play Black roles November 24, 2022 For some, being a role model can feel like a weight. Emmy-nominated Black actor Samira Wiley said recently it can be “overwhelming sometimes, representing so much for so many people.” And trans artists Travis Alabanza and Ezra Furman have spoken about how being seen as “inspirational” overlooks their daily struggles. But not for David Harewood. [...]
The year the music died? What energy bills and recession will mean for gigs November 21, 2022 Gigs have always been a great way to escape from the toils of everyday life – a few friends, usually a few drinks and great bands. But, what does a live music scene look like once you factor in spiralling inflation and rocketing energy bills for venues and consumers who can no longer afford to [...]
Liam Gallagher returns in new documentary Knebworth 22 November 18, 2022 This summer, Liam Gallagher returned to the scene of one of his greatest triumphs. The sold out two nights at Knebworth, 26 years after his band Oasis played there, was a marked achievement for the aging rocker who has been performing solo since 2016. This new documentary follows a similar path to last September’s Oasis: [...]
Spirited is a flawed but entertaining riff on A Christmas Carol November 18, 2022 Another year, another twist on the Scrooge formula. Apple’s Spirited is one of two films loosely based on A Christmas Carol (Netflix’s musical version arrives in December), but few others could offer a more compelling duo of leads. The yuletide fable imagines that Dickens’ ghostly visitations are not only real, but a yearly occurrence run [...]
The Rape of Lucretia at the ROH is a muddled show that signals opera has a long way to go November 18, 2022 The Rape of Lucretia at the Royal Opera House is almost a great success. Director Oliver Mears’ intense staging possesses moments of pure violence and raw emotion, impressively pulled off by a cast drawn exclusively from operatic young artist programmes. However, it’s not quite a win for The Linbury Theatre, with the sexual politics of [...]
The Menu is a deliciously dark satire of extreme wealth November 18, 2022 The self-absorbed world of the rich foodie is taken to task in The Menu, a comedy/drama from Mark Mylod, producer and director of TV hit Succession. The story takes place on Hawthorne, an island containing a restaurant so exclusive that just 12 diners at a time are shipped in, paying $1,250 a plate. Among the [...]