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 [...]
Where to watch the world cup: Best London pubs for Qatar 2022 November 18, 2022 The first winter World Cup is finally upon us. Here are our top London venues to watch it. VINEGAR YARD Vinegar Yard, located next to London Bridge station, is showing all the big games on its giant screen. Those who work in the area have probably already experienced its summer beer garden, which now shifts [...]
How Instagram is changing the way people think about wine November 18, 2022 Though a few of the old guard may prefer wine to remain solely in the cellar (preferably theirs) or the members club tasting room, savvy wine brands have been working with social media to expand their reach, diversify their client base and make the industry, essentially, more enjoyable. “The wine trade was late to the [...]
A Bunch of Amateurs is the cinema documentary we need right now November 18, 2022 With the death of cinema having been debated repeatedly over the last few years, award-winning British documentary A Bunch of Amateurs seems timely. Surviving since the 1930s, Bradford Movie Makers Club is a shell of its former self. Once a thriving institution, it’s now down to a few aging members who meet every Monday in [...]
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is a fitting tribute to Chadwick Boseman November 18, 2022 The tragic death of Chadwick Boseman in 2020 left many mourning the loss of a man who had entertained and inspired millions. However, it also raised an uncomfortable question for the Black Panther follow up. Traditionally, it would be unthinkable to continue a franchise where the star had died, but the nature of the Marvel [...]
La Clique Leicester Square review: Camp cabaret is essential for Christmas November 16, 2022 Leicester Square is probably number one on the list of places Londoners avoid at all costs, but during Christmas there’s a surprisingly decent market there that’s atmospheric enough to justify breaking our avoidance pacts. The centrepiece of it is the Spiegeltent, an in-the-round theatre space hosting La Clique, which has become the Christmas cabaret tipple [...]
Covid bereaved families fly banner over I’m A Celeb camp telling Matt Hancock to ‘get out of here’ November 15, 2022 Families of coronavirus victims flew a banner above the jungle in protest of former health secretary Matt Hancock’s appearance on the ITV show. The stunt led to a noise complaint from locals after the plane sent a message to Hancock urging him to head back to Westminster. This comes after the former health secretary during [...]
The Unsteady Rise & Decline of Poverty and How to Tackle It November 14, 2022 | City Talk One of the largest issues that concern the world is poverty. Someone is described as living in poverty if they survive on less than $1.90 per day. From 2015 to 2018, global poverty continued to decline as it has done for the past 25 years. From 2015 to 2018, the number of those living in [...]