Frans Hals at the National Gallery: A jolly man in a grim time October 7, 2023 Frans Hals was a relatively unfashionable 17th century Dutch master who specialised in portraiture – not a summary that necessarily leaps out to audiences. And yet it is a testament to Hals that an exhibition that almost exclusively contains men and women decked out in black can be so jolly. Religious conflict convulsed Europe during [...]
Cartier’s Tank is the watch that keeps on giving October 7, 2023 Luxury watchmaking’s newly, seasonally uncoupled ‘drop’ culture means, like buses, you wait months after the industry’s formal fixture in spring, then two showstoppers arrive within a week. To wit: a Cartier celebrating a full 170 years of the Parisian grande dame making watches in all their wild and whimsical shapes. Joining fellow Richemont watchmaker, Jaeger-LeCoultre [...]
The Great Escaper review: Michael Caine prepares to bow out October 7, 2023 Sir Michael Caine recently hinted that his new film may well be his last. Having turned 90, and suffering ill health, he revealed in an interview that he is more or less retired, making The Great Escaper the last hurrah of a nearly 70 year career. The comedy-drama is based on the true story of [...]
Derren Brown interview: ‘Magic is childish, you’re just trying to impress people’ October 6, 2023 “There are people who can naturally command a room. I’m not one of them…” These are surprising words from the magician who once shot himself in the head live on TV in a game of Russian roulette. Backstage at the Criterion Theatre ahead of his new show, Unbelievable, the magician Derren Brown is telling me [...]
Blackberry the movie: A gripping real-life corporate tragedy October 6, 2023 Another week, another product biopic. Films about Air Jordan shoes, Flamin’ Hot Cheetos crisps, Beanie Babies, and Tetris have all been released this year to varying success. While the merit of some of those stories may be questionable, BlackBerry has arguably the most intriguing subject. Before everyone stared at their own black mirrors, BlackBerry phones [...]
Picture A Day Like This at ROH review: Beautiful ad memorable October 6, 2023 What does it mean to look for a miracle? Hope, as a uniquely human impulse, is the focus of composer George Benjamin and writer Martin Crimp’s latest operatic endeavour, Picture a day like this. This eagerly anticipated fourth collaboration between Benjamin and Crimp marks a departure from their grander operatic triumphs. Picture a day like [...]
We love the vampish dial of Jaeger-LeCoultre’s new chronograph October 6, 2023 There’s an intense richness to both concentric dial sectors of the Polaris Chronograph, laboriously lacquered in almost 40 opposing fades of grey. From black to snow white, this ‘graduated’ or ‘fumé’ (smoked) pattern is notoriously hard to apply – by hand – so consistently. Given the Swiss say the art of dial-making is already the [...]
What’s ticking? All the latest watch news, from Arcanaut to Zodiac October 6, 2023 Clerkenwell may not be the highly sprung horological hub it once was, but a visit to Kensington is all it takes to wind back the clocks, both sides of the Channel; while a visit to Leicester Square come November will strap you into all that’s ticking fast today, from Arcanaut to Zodiac. THE ENGLISH CONNECTION [...]
Just Stop Oil protesters disrupt West End performance of Les Miserables October 5, 2023 Just Stop Oil protesters disrupted a performance of Les Miserables at the Sondheim Theatre in London’s West End on Wednesday night. The protesters entered the stage during a performance of Do You Hear The People Sing? Just Stop Oil said that four protesters then locked themselves to the stage using flexible bicycle locks at around [...]
Trompe L’Oeil review: Trump is the butt of the joke again October 5, 2023 How many fringe theatre and cabaret shows have made Donald Trump the butt of their jokes? Surely it’s in the thousands. It must hard to offer fresh material, so kudos to Trompe L’Oeil for finding new life in him yet. In this musical cabaret the former president is played by Emer Dineen, who portrays a [...]