Film review: Poltergeist reboot is bereft of inspiration May 22, 2015 Cert 12a | ★☆☆☆☆ Since its release in 1982, countless films have borrowed from Poltergeist’s slow-burning scares. Who knew that carefully stacked kitchen furniture could be so frightening? Or television static? In this Sam Raimi produced reboot, the franchise seeks to redress the balance by appropriating imagery from every horror movie between then and [...]
Theatre review: World Factory May 22, 2015 Young Vic | ★★★★☆ If you’re wary of audience interactivity in theatre, cast your doubts aside for World Factory, an innovative and thoroughly well-researched exploration of the global textile industry, which remains not only comprehensive and coherent, but genuinely enthralling from start to finish. We take our seats around communal tables, upon [...]
Film review: A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night May 22, 2015 Cert 15 | ★★★★☆ Striking visuals and a wicked sense of style are just enough to carry this enigmatic, at times frustrating Iranian-American vampire story. Director Ana Lily Amirpour’s black and white neo-noir debut is a dream-like stream of ideas and images rather than a coherent whole. It’s loosely evocative of many things [...]
Theatre review: High Society marks end of Kevin Spacey’s Old Vic reign May 22, 2015 Old Vic | ★★★★☆ High Society is the final show of Kevin Spacey’s eleven-year tenure at the Old Vic, and in the circumstances feels like a valedictory party. Adapted from a Cole Porter musical film starring Grace Kelly, Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra, it is a gleeful mélange of sizzling one-liners and ravishing tunes, [...]
Film review: Tomorrowland is a dizzying Disney disappointment May 21, 2015 Cert PG | ★★☆☆☆ If you were at all sceptical about Christopher Nolan’s status as the preeminent director of the age, behold Tomorrowland, a Disney film starring a ten-year-old that contains lines like “with every second that ticks by, the future is running out.” Disney is an empire built on character and storytelling – in [...]
Something for the weekend May 21, 2015 MUNCH! FOODIE FESTIVAL Forget gimmicky little pop-ups manned by moustachioed posers: this is a real food festival. Head to Brentford’s Syon park this weekend for the biggest gastronomic event of the year, featuring appearances from celebrity chefs and 200 artisan food stalls. Visit foodiefestival.com SNAP! PHONOGRAPHY WORKSHOP Everyone’s an amateur photographer these days, but if [...]
The ultimate half-term guide: From Chelsea’s Victory Parade to In The Night Garden at the O2 May 21, 2015 I know what you’re thinking: it can’t be half-term again already. Well, I’m afraid it is, but fear not: the life and style team at City A.M. have put their heads together and come up with the ultimate guide to the weeklong school holiday, featuring everything from Chelsea FC’s victory parade to a family orientated [...]
As the Bank of England calls for ideas, these are the artists who could feature on the new £20 note (spoiler: it’s unlikely to be a woman) May 19, 2015 The Bank of England today put out a call for ideas as to who could feature on its next £20 note. The Bank said the note will "celebrate Britain's achievements in the visual arts" – and asked for the public's ideas as to who should feature. Mark Carney, the Bank's governor, said the note could [...]
Adam Smith to be replaced by artist on £20 note May 19, 2015 Economist Adam Smith will be replaced by a historic figure from the visual arts on the new £20 note to be released next year. The Bank of England (BoE) will invite the public to nominate candidates on who should adorn the new bank note, via its website until the deadline of 19 July. In particular, [...]
Film review: Clouds of Sils Maria May 15, 2015 Cert 12a | ★☆☆☆☆ Clouds of Sils Maria takes the acting profession so seriously the entire script could be printed off and submitted to Private Eye’s Luvvies column. Juliette Binoche plays a fading Hollywood star, Kristen Stewart her assistant, and together they hit every cliché short of air-kissing and telling each other they’re marvelous. [...]