The Merchant of Venice at the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse review March 9, 2022 Abigail Graham’s production of The Merchant of Venice, at the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, sets out with the stated intention to “reclaim Shakespeare’s disturbing tale”, from whom it is not clear, but it successfully reframes the ancient hatreds central to the text in a way that will sit even more uncomfortably with contemporary audiences. If it [...]
New version of The Batman really puts the ‘dark’ in the Dark Knight March 9, 2022 The new version of The Batman really puts the “dark” into the Dark Knight. It’s the meanest, most sinister take on the character yet, set in a squalid, rain-soaked Gotham full of thugs and perverts, the Batman most definitely among them. Starring the always-excellent Robert Pattinson, it’s a decidedly emo take on a character who [...]
Animal Kingdom at Hampstead Theatre is theatre as therapy March 8, 2022 The intimate Hampstead Downstairs is just the setting for the emerging playwright to display their wares – all the more so when the work in question introduces its audience to the very private, innermost space of a family therapy session. From the other side of an imaginary two-way mirror, the audience observes an exposed, unadorned [...]
Ali and Ava film review – a wholesome modern British romance March 8, 2022 British director Clio Barnard returns with her first film since 2017’s Dark River, and it’s an uplifting story of a second chance at love. As the title suggests, this is the story of Ali and Ava, two lost souls who seems to find each other in their bustling Bradford community. Ava (Claire Rushbrook) is a [...]
The Duke is a gentle farewell to British cinema great Roger Michell March 8, 2022 A long-delayed film finally getting its release is a weekly occurrence at the moment, but British comedy-drama The Duke arrives with some sadness. It is the final film of Roger Michell, the beloved British director of Notting Hill, Venus, and Enduring Love, coming just five months after his passing. The BAFTA winner’s final bow is [...]
Even after 50 years, The Godfather is still the Don Corleone of movies March 8, 2022 Even half a century since its release, it shouldn’t be difficult to convince you why The Godfather is worth catching this weekend for its anniversary. It’s The Godfather – the title itself is practically a synonym for good cinema. Adapted from Mario Puzo’s novel, Francis Ford Coppola had to fight to get his vision on [...]
Postwar Modern at the Barbican is a timely exhibition full of energy March 8, 2022 How do you make sense of war? How can the human psyche comprehend senseless, wanton de- struction and loss of life for supposed political reasons? This question is searing red hot across the world following Russia’s inva- sion of Ukraine, and adds an un- nerving poignancy to this vibrant survey of 48 artists working in [...]
The Batman – Robert Pattinson stars in a new twist on a familiar hero March 7, 2022 Strap in, everyone, blockbuster season has officially begun. It’s the first opportunity for Hollywood to return to some kind of normal release schedule since 2019, and who better to bring back the crowds than The Dark Knight himself? Robert Pattinson’s debut as The Batman is the 8th Batman-related film in the last decade. It won’t [...]
Cyrano is a sweeping and sentimental musical March 7, 2022 The 19th film adaptation of French play Cyrano de Bergerac brings with it to cinemas an advantage. This new version, directed by Joe Wright (Darkest Hour, Atonement), is based on the well-received 2019 Broadway musical by Erica Schmidt. She serves as screenwriter here, while the production’s lead Peter Dinklage is also on board. The Game [...]
Batman returns with a bang: Box office debut hits £97m March 6, 2022 Batman well and truly returns this weekend, with “The Batman” raking in $128.5m (£97.1m) in its box office debut. The blockbuster has not only had the best opening weekend of 2022 so far, but it has also followed in the footsteps of Sony’s superhero hit “Spider-Man: No Way Home”, which broke records with its $260m (£197m) [...]