Tree hugging isn’t optional on this full moon retreat in countryside near the capital September 5, 2022 THE WEEKEND: The historic market town of Cuckfield in West Sussex has changed little over the centuries – and residents plan to keep it that way. In a passionate effort to retain the area’s bucolic setting, they even clubbed together to buy (!) the New England Forest to stop developers building a holiday camp. In [...]
The best things to do in London this September and October September 2, 2022 Massive new musicals, snooping around some of the best private houses in the capital, eating with Tom Kerridge and making the most out of those final long late-summer evenings. There are still so many things to do in London this September, including three more festivals before the summer calls it quits. Here’s the best of [...]
I, Joan, The Globe, review: Trans lead makes London theatre history with gripping performance September 2, 2022 Gay men had it in the 1980s and 1990s when two landmark plays, Angels In America and The Normal Heart, humanised the tragedies of the AIDS crisis on major theatre stages. And now I, Joan, a new adaptation of the story of Joan of Arc, feels similarly like a crucial and history-making piece of theatre [...]
Al Mare restaurant review: Forget La Dolche Vita, there’s an ideal Italian escape in SW1 August 31, 2022 Living and working in the Square Mile, I rarely venture too far west, but when I do I get all the rush of a foreign holiday. There’s the expansive feel of the grand parklands and the glamorous feel of the hotels with air-conditioned lobbies. Then there’s the contrasting intimacy of the red brick mansions on [...]
Paul Stephens Porsche 993R review: past master August 30, 2022 The 993R from Paul Stephens is a restomod Porsche 911 that combines old-school charisma with ferocious modern performance. We drive it.
Beast review: Idris Elba takes on the Jaws of the Savannah August 28, 2022 There can’t be many actors who keep as busy as Idris Elba, and that’s without all the stories linking him to James Bond. The Londoner has five films out in 2022, having appeared in Sonic The Hedgehog 2 and Thor Love and Thunder already. The third release in that list is Beast, an action-thriller from [...]
The man who helped Tom Cruise act at 7Gs in Top Gun: Maverick August 26, 2022 Top Gun: Maverick has ascended like a graceful jet to become the sixth highest grossing film in US history. Quite some doing given it was only released three months ago. A mixture of cynicism and wonder drove people back to the cinema: the promise of Tom Cruise flying in real fighter jets at hundreds of [...]
Mr Malcolm’s List review: by-the-numers but pleasantly entertaining August 26, 2022 The stale genre of costume dramas has been given a boost in recent times by productions that have opted for a more diverse approach in casting. Amando Iannucci’s David Copperfield and Netflix smash hit Bridgerton have all the hallmarks of the classic tales, but with stars that revive character tropes with a different approach, and [...]
Official Competition: Penelope Cruz shines in biting movieland satire August 26, 2022 One thing Hollywood loves to celebrate is itself. There are numerous movies of the highs, lows, and in-betweens of the American film industry, but not as many that focus on European cinema. New comedy Official Competition puts prestige cinema in the spotlight, and comes up with a winner. Set in Spain, an elderly millionaire (José [...]
Beast review: A surprisingly straight story of man vs lion, and actually good August 26, 2022 Let’s tackle the elephant – or should that be the lion? – in the room. The concept of new Idris Elba film Beast is flatly ridiculous. It features a deadly serious scene in which Elba fights a lion with his bare hands. It’s about a man-munching lion skulking around South Africa tearing limbs off locals [...]