Even John Malkovich can’t save this tepid satire Opus March 12, 2025 In Opus, the latest from cult studio A24, Ayo Edebiri (The Bear) stars as Ariel, a rookie music journalist who is mysteriously invited to a listening party for the new album by music icon Alfred Moretti (John Malkovich). The flamboyant star has been I’m seclusion for 30 years, inviting Ariel and a group of journalists [...]
The Electric State review: A mega-budget Netflix flop March 12, 2025 Streaming giant Netflix has long desired a blockbuster franchise to rival the likes of Fast & Furious or Marvel. Over the years, millions have been poured into action movies for the platform that have been watched by many, but remembered by few. The Electric State represents their biggest gamble to date, bringing in Avengers: Endgame directors [...]
The Seagull review: Cate Blanchett camps it up at the Barbican March 7, 2025 The Seagull | The Barbican | ★★★★☆ “I know that’s not what you expected,” says Zachary Hart’s Simon as he dismounts from his quad bike. Neither did I expect him to whip out a guitar and start belting out Billy Bragg’s The Milkman of Human Kindness. But this is not your run-of-the-mill Chekhov adaptation. This [...]
Punch at the Young Vic: A powerful look at restorative justice March 7, 2025 Punch | The Young Vic | ★★★★☆ Jacob was “itching for some fucking action”. So begins this dramatisation of the true story of Jacob Dunne, who killed 28-year-old paramedic James Hodgkinson in an unprovoked attack on a drunken New Year’s Eve with one fatal blow. Jacob did not mean to kill James, but in the [...]
Mickey 17 review: Parasite director has another five star hit March 6, 2025 One of 2025’s most anticipated movies, Mickey 17, arrives this week, as Oscar winner Bong Joon-Ho returns to the big screen for the first time since 2019’s Parasite. Robert Pattinson stars as Mickey, a nice but dim-witted man living in a future version of Earth. In financial difficulties, he signs up to be an “expendable” [...]
A look back to last year’s Oscars: Oppenheimer and Poor Things won big March 1, 2025 Ryan Gosling was the Oscars biggest talking point for his stellar performance of Barbie song “I’m Just Ken”
Otherland at the Almeida review: Saccharine and melodramatic February 25, 2025 Otherland | Almeida | ★★☆☆☆ Chris Bush’s best-known play to date, Standing at the Sky’s Edge, divided opinion at City AM. I found this strange musical about a Sheffield housing estate to be quite charming, if a little twee, while my colleague, reviewing the West End transfer, hated it with every fibre of her being. [...]
Much Ado About Nothing: Tom Hiddleston stars in glitterbomb show February 20, 2025 Much Ado About Nothing | Theatre Royal Drury Lane | ★★★★★ Jamie Lloyd’s production of Much Ado About Nothing is a blockbuster of such proportions the entire street outside the Theatre Royal Drury Lane was closed so fans could gather en masse to catch a glimpse of Tom Hiddleston and Hayley Atwell. The festival vibe [...]
Three Sisters at The Globe: Tragedy reimagined as farce February 13, 2025 The bijou, candlelit stage at The Globe’s Sam Wanamaker Playhouse gives the feel of a doll’s house to this production of Anton Chekhov’s Three Sisters. Dressed in puffy, floaty period costume and framed against exquisite wood panelling, the actors seem like they’ve been picked up and placed on the stage to read their lines rather [...]
Love Hurts review: February 13, 2025 Love Hurts | ★★☆☆☆ | Dir. Jonathan Eusebio Ke Huy Quan completed an astounding career comeback with 2023’s Everything Everywhere All At Once, winning an Oscar for his part in the surreal action hit. Other than a support role in Marvel’s Loki series, things have been relatively quiet since then. Love Hurts is Quan’s first lead [...]