Theatre Review: My Night with Reg, Donmar Warehouse August 8, 2014 ★★★★☆ Kevin Elyot’s 1994 play charts the romantic entanglements of a group of gay university friends, now well into their 30s, set against the backdrop of the Aids crisis. It explores issues of love, loss, infidelity and insecurity, and how they are all tainted by the shadow of the disease. The Donmar’s new production is [...]
Film Review: Welcome to New York August 8, 2014 ★★★★☆ Welcome to New York is a grotesque character study of the French head of a world bank – not to mention Presidential hopeful – who stands accused of raping a maid in a New York hotel. Director Abel Ferrara’s film is certainly bold. In fact, you wonder how he got away with it: the [...]
Dish of the Day: Salt Yard’s Ben Tish on the perfect strawberries and cream August 6, 2014 There’s nothing like the sight and scent of perfectly ripe, red strawberries to get summer spirits soaring. My take on the quintessentially English classic of strawberries and cream is quick and easy to prepare, making it a great choice of pudding for a spontaneous barbecue or al fresco lunch. Macerated simply means you’re throwing it [...]
Mix it up: Take a victory sip of the cocktail created by the UK’s best bartender August 6, 2014 For centuries, we got along just fine making cocktails without the need to turn it into a competition – the winning was in the drinking. But in recent years, drinks companies have been putting on more cocktail competitions than you can shake a shaker at. Don’t let the thought of competitive drinking lure you in [...]
Car review: Ferrari’s California T model – now with cutting-edge Formula One technology August 4, 2014 If you listen to the “purists”, the Ferrari California is a bit of a wet blanket. For some reason this 490 horsepower V8 hairdryer never quite set the experts alight. Too soft, they crowed, and – possibly – too ugly. Ferrari was never going to stand for that, so now there’s a new version [...]
Learn how to fight like a gladiator in Rome August 1, 2014 Things started badly. Paolo tried to convince me to hold the sword in my right hand. “I really can’t. I’m very left-handed,” I whined back. “OK. You will die first,” he replied nonchalantly. Paolo was my gladiator training instructor and it was a beautiful sunny day – a “great day to die” as they shout [...]
48 Hours in… Panama City August 1, 2014 Where to stay Panama City isn’t exactly lacking in hotels but the five star Bristol stands out among a wealth of good options. With 125 comfortable rooms offering views of Panama City’s great architecture, it’s the ultimate choice if money is no object. Visit thebristol.com Where to go With the Pacific to the west [...]
Film review: Mood Indigo July 31, 2014 ★★★☆☆ Mood Indigo is a return to form for the tirelessly creative French director Michel Gondry, albeit one with some rather large caveats. The surreal, densely-packed opus combines the DIY aesthetic of his Be Kind Rewind with the darker, more psychological tone of the sublime Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (and, thankfully, nothing at [...]
Film review: A Promise July 31, 2014 ★★☆☆☆ Director Patrice Leconte’s A Promise is an implausible, often ridiculous period drama revolving around a predictably doomed love affair. Richard Madden stars as brooding Friedrich, an ambitious clerk in a steelworks in early 20th century Germany. He catches the eye of the boss Herr Hoffmeister, played by an austere Alan Rickman, who recruits Friedrich [...]
Film review: Guardians of the Galaxy July 31, 2014 ★★★★★ The Guardians of the Galaxy marketing team have been flogging their horse so long and hard it’s a wonder it’s not already dead. With hype so merciless and protracted, the latest Marvel movie seemed destined to disappoint. Factor in that it’s based on a relatively minor branch of the Marvel comics universe and stars [...]