Rare Beasts review – a biting debut from Billie Piper May 20, 2021 The laws of cinema dictate that the directorial debut of a famous star should be an exercise in self-service. Somewhat shallow stories are lifted into the spotlight because of the involvement of the celebrity, who has spotted a chance to get some behind-the-camera cred while also giving themselves the meatiest part. Rare Beasts lives up to [...]
Peter Rabbit 2 review – better than the first, but only just May 19, 2021 The sequel to 2018’s Peter Rabbit is finally upon us, which is a full circle moment for cinemas as they open up, hopefully for good this time. Along with A Quiet Place Part II, this was one of the films that was just about to release when the world went into lockdown, to the extent [...]
Hockney at Royal Academy: I hate these paintings in my bones May 19, 2021 I have a theory. I think someone has done a Kathy Bates on David Hockney. They have kidnapped him, stuck him in a chair, handed him an iPad and told him – on pain of a sledgehammer to the knees – to paint. And paint he has, again and again and again. Tree after tree, [...]
Tate Britain Commission: Heather Phillipson’s brilliant apocalypse May 19, 2021 Filling a huge gallery space with a single, cohesive piece of installation art is no mean feat – just ask the Tate Modern, which has for years struggled to recreate the early magic of its Turbine Hall commissions. The Tate Britain’s equivalent, in its cavernous neo-classical Duveen Galleries, seems to be on the opposite trajectory, [...]
Sneakers Unboxed: Studio to Street at the Design Museum May 18, 2021 I don’t usually give much thought to my footwear when visiting an exhibition. But before setting off to the Design Museum this week I spent a couple of minutes mulling over the dozens of pairs of trainers I’ve accumulated over the years. I glossed over the three pairs of Nike Internationalist – mustard, burgundy and [...]
Banksy exhibition to open this week in Covent Garden May 18, 2021 A new Banksy exhibition is to open in Covent Garden this Thursday, showcasing famous works including Girl With Balloon (Red) and Kate Moss. More than £30m worth of the graffiti artist’s works will be displayed in a rare collection of Banksy’s work in the UK. The unofficial exhibition is made up of pieces owned by [...]
Those Who Wish Me Dead: Angelina Jolie’s back in action thriller May 17, 2021 It’s been an interesting decade for one of the world’s most famous stars. Angelina Jolie has arguably enjoyed a profile higher than most actors this century, but celebrity hasn’t always translated into box office. After being one of the big draws of the 2000s, her live action output in the 2010s has garnered mixed results [...]
What top London chefs really think about Instagram May 14, 2021 Heston Blumenthal is famously exacting about the dining experience. He tries to create “sensory memories”, controlling not only the way his dishes look and taste, but what his diners are listening to while they eat. His The Sound of the Sea, a signature dish at The Fat Duck, came with an iPod Nano playing, well, [...]
The Woman In The Window is a dreadful Hitchcock imitation May 14, 2021 When a film is delayed or undergoes reshoots, the first thing those behind the production will say is that this doesn’t necessarily mean the film is doomed. This can be true – Rogue One, for example, is a film that benefitted from a second pass. However, for every success story there are many more projects [...]
Chris Rock brings weight to worn out Saw franchise with Spiral May 13, 2021 Eyebrows were raised a few years ago when comedian Chris Rock was linked to a revamp of the Saw franchise. The stand-up/actor has made a few films in the past, including the excellent 2015 comedy Top Five, but the torture porn franchise seemed a world away from his performance style. Nevertheless, studio bosses were impressed [...]