Cash in on Euro parliament with Brussels buy-to-let June 4, 2009 IF you think that politicians in this country have a good life, then take a look at the European Parliament. It is estimated that, if they have little shame, Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) can take home €200,000 (£173,000) a year. The first reaction to this might well be outrage. But the second should [...]
Acer’s deal with Google is bad news for Microsoft June 4, 2009 ACER’S announcement that it will start selling a laptop pre-loaded with Google’s Android operating system will come as a blow to Microsoft. For the last quarter of a century, the firm founded by Bill Gates has dominated the operating software space with a monopoly that has earned awe and anger in equal measure. But Google’s [...]
The robots are back, and this time they’re noisy June 4, 2009 TERMINATOR SALVATIONCert: 12ADESPITE the hi-tech sci-fi and bone-crunching, metal limb-crushing action sequences, the excitement of the first two Terminator movies came from the simple thrill of the chase. The execrable T3 pretty much did for that element, and it’s hardly been revived for the fourth instalment (though a chase sequence does account for the film’s [...]
OUT THIS WEEKEND PREVIEWS June 4, 2009 FILMANYTHING FOR HER Highly-praised French thriller starring Diane Kruger. SUGAR Superior baseball movie from the makers of 2007 indie hit Half Nelson. THE HIDE Intriguing, two-handed mini-drama, starring In The Loop’s Alex MacQueen. DVDVALKYRIE Tom Cruise and a host of British thesps fail as military plotters against Hitler. THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON Brad [...]
Law’s puckish interpretation of Hamlet is a palpable hit June 4, 2009 HAMLETWyndhams TheatreTHE second major celebrity to lift Yorrick’s skull this year, Jude Law has more at stake than David Tennant, after too many mediocre films and bad tabloid headlines. Luckily, in making the opening night without slipping a disc he’s already outdone the Timelord – and as it happens, he carries off Hamlet rather well. [...]
EXHIBITIONS June 4, 2009 TRACEY EMINWhite CubeWE have a slightly different Tracey Emin here from the one who thrust her unmade bed into Tate Britain a few years ago. Mature, Royal Academician Emin is hardly settling back with her pipe and slippers, but this is a show that puts the emphasis back on her skills of draftsmanship. Not that [...]
NOW SHOWING SIX OF THE BEST June 4, 2009 ART: Abstract America The Saatchi Gallery is hosting a display of the best of contemporary abstract art from emerging artists across the Atlantic. THEATRE: All’s Well That Ends Well The National Theatre’s acclaimed version of Shakespeare’s comedy, directed by Marianne Elliott. FILM: Spartacus A new showing for Stanley Kubrick’s historical epic, with Kirk Douglas as [...]
Shivers abound in this Gothic page-turner June 3, 2009 THE LITTLE STRANGERBy Sarah WatersVIRAGO, £16.99 THIS venerable, multi-award winning novelist (shortlisted for the Booker Prize twice with Fingersmith and Nightwatch) has returned to historical fiction with a blazing, immaculate Gothic ghost story set in postwar Britain. Welsh-born Waters is known for her Victorian lesbian drama and fans of that style might be sad the [...]
OUT OF OFFICE June 2, 2009 SISTER ACT AT THE PALLADIUMWhoopi Goldberg, star of the 1992 hit comedy Sister Act, has produced the new production of the singing nuns-in-habits taking the West End by storm (just in case it needed another musical). American actress Patina Miller has taken the baton from Ms Goldberg in this production as its star; with Sheila [...]
English wine comes of age June 2, 2009 KETTNER’S in Soho is one of the best-known wine bars in London, with a champagne list of over 100. So it was intriguing to hear that, for one week only, it was having an English Wine Festival. It was a small affair, with four wines on the list, but I was curious. If even Kettner’s [...]