Slasher flick with added pliés January 20, 2011 Film BLACK SWAN Cert: 15 NATATLIE Portman plays ballet dancer Nina in this psychological thriller from director Darren Aronofsky (the Wrestler). She’s just landed the lead role in Swan Lake: it’s The Biggie. Notorious for being mentally and physically exacting, the challenge is made even tougher when the talented Lily (Mila Kunis) joins the company. [...]
Suiting that’s fit for a king January 20, 2011 THERE’S a moment in the movie du jour, The King’s Speech, when Colin Firth’s Bertie, Duke of York (and future George VI) goes to Balmoral where his brother Edward, the Prince of Wales (Guy Pearce, above right) is hosting a rather racy party. Firth shows up wearing a kilt, and looks rather a ninny compared [...]
ALSO OUT THIS WEEKEND January 20, 2011 FILM THE DILEMMA Vince Vaughan and Kevin James (no, us neither) star in this predictably lame bloke comedy. Avoid it – et voila, dilemma solved! NEDS Actor/director Peter Mullan’s terrific portrait of delinquent life in Glasgow’s tough estates in the 1970s. DVD THE SWITCH Jason Bateman and Jennifer Aniston star in a romantic comedy about [...]
Get booked in early for a Valentine’s to remember January 19, 2011 RESTAURANTS Sauterelle The cosy bolthole overlooking the inner courtyard of the Royal Exchange (right) is serving up a special Valentine’s menu on the day. Diners will be given a rose cocktail on arrival, followed by a five course meal showcasing head chef Robin Gill’s sophisticated seasonal style. And of course, while you’re there, you can [...]
Speakeasy cocktails come to Chinatown January 19, 2011 WHILE the new year has already seen a fresh batch of new London openings, one of the most original happened just before Christmas with the small but extremely endearing Parisian import, the Experimental Cocktail Club (www.chinatownecc.com). Touching down in Chinatown, an unusual destination address for discerning cocktail aficionados, ECC is nestled innocuously amongst the dim [...]
Electric cars get their city socks on January 18, 2011 THIS year will belong to zero emission cars, particularly the electric vehicle. A bunch of small city cars are coming to market with nine of them officially recognised by the government’s incentive grant scheme. And with city populations increasing, even the most cynical of car drivers must at least concede that this could be a [...]
CAR TALK January 18, 2011 ORLA KIELY CITROEN COLLECTION British designer Orla Kiely has created a limited edition version of Citroen’s DS3. Known for her distinctive prints that usually adorn purses and mugs, the Orla Kiely Collection DS3 features her trademark acorn and stem patterns on the cars’ roof, floor carpets, headrests, windows and tailgate. Just 500 of the cars [...]
House prices steady, says Rics January 17, 2011 THE decline in house prices may be slowing down, according to data released today by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). The survey’s headline net price balance improved for the second month in a row in December, RICS said. And expectations for sales edged upwards, with eight per cent more surveyors expecting sales to [...]
Russians hold the key to the coolest sushi spot in Mayfair January 17, 2011 Sumosan 26 Albemarle Street, W1S 4HY Tel: 020 7495 5999, www.sumosan.com FOOD SERVICE ATMOSPHERE Cost per person without wine: £40 ALMOST entirely lacking the fanfare of Nobu, Roka and Zuma, Sumosan is nevertheless one of the best Japanese dining spots to name drop. It certainly ticks the boxes: a Russian-operated, clubby restaurant in the heart [...]
ROOM WITH A VIEW: THE NEW OXO TOWER BAR January 17, 2011 A VERITABLE COCKTAIL FRENZY The Oxo Tower always startles me by how far away it is from wherever you are coming from. There it glows, a powerful beacon despite its relatively small size. But as you walk towards it you realise it’s not getting nearly close enough. The night I visited the revamped bar, it [...]