I spy a tired espionage caper with The Man From U.N.C.L.E. August 14, 2015 Cert 12a | ★★☆☆☆ Guy Richie’s big screen adaptation of the 60s spy show has been in development for over 20 years, with everyone from George Clooney to Quentin Tarantino linked with the project. It hasn’t been worth the wait. The story takes place at the height of the Cold War, focusing on a secret [...]
Film review: Trainwreck August 13, 2015 Cert 15 Four Stars It would be easy to dismiss Trainwreck as another adult comedy about a party animal who needs to grow up, but writer-star Amy Schumer is no Vince Vaughn. Her character’s foul mouthed partying belies an underlying fragility, and her fraught negotiation of life-altering events – most notably, falling for a sensible [...]
Film review: Mistress America August 13, 2015 Cert 15 Three Stars “Don’t let me hear you say life’s taking you nowhere,” croons David Bowie in Golden Years, the song that bookends Noah Baumbach’s last film While We’re Young. We could well take this as a maxim aimed at Baumbach’s characters – at least in his cautiously optimistic later films, which all follow [...]
Opera review: Carmen August 13, 2015 Soho Theatre Four Stars This pioneering OperaUpClose production of Carmen is raw and unpolished, and that’s why it works. The DIY set, inventive costume design and earthy, enthusiastic performances conspire to revivify this staple of the operatic repertoire. Carmen is the tale of a sexually liberated woman killed by a culture of machismo. OperaUpClose has [...]
Film review: Paper towns August 13, 2015 Cert 12a Two Stars There was a time in the not-too-distant past when teenage films were a mindless cluster of fart jokes, jock posturing and boobs. But now there’s a new kind of teen film on the block – ushered in by novelists like Nicholas Sparks and John Green – that’s all about feelings. Gushing [...]
Perfect Saturday August 13, 2015 BRUNCH OF CHAMPIONS PROVIDORES You’ve heard of Continental and full English, but Kiwi? New Zealand restaurant Providores in Marylebone offers one of the best brunch menus in London. Forget bubble and squeak and margarine on toast, go for the grilled chorizo with sweet potato and miso hash. A luxurious start to the weekend. Visit theprovidores.co.uk [...]
The Glorious Twelfth is here: Make this your most stylish grouse-shooting season yet August 12, 2015 SWILLOW FEDORA IN CHARCOAL WITH BLACK BRAID & FEATHER BAND BY PENMAYNE Keep the sun out of your eyes and your aim true with a Penmayne fedora. The colourful feather is the perfect way to brighten up your shooting get-up. £299; williamandson.com HELMSLEY TWEED FIELD COAT No self-respecting grouse shooter takes [...]
Five of the best places to eat game August 11, 2015 Tom’s Kitchen Get your game on while looking out over the marina at St Katharine Docks, where Tom’s Kitchen will be serving up a whole roast grouse for two to share with pate en croute, game chips and plenty of bread sauce. tomskitchen.co.uk/st-katharine-docks Bluebird This Chelsea institution – known for its sprawling courtyard on the [...]
Car review: New Bentley Mulsanne Speed is silent but speedy August 11, 2015 We’ve all been there. You’ve booked to go to the theatre or a restaurant with friends and the day before, they cry off. This time it was down to a rugby tackle from a small child to the side of my friend’s knee. The result was strapping, crutches and a level of pain that rendered [...]
Not convinced? August 10, 2015 CHECK OUT THESE ALTERNATIVES… ASTON MARTIN DB9 PRICE: £133,495 0-62MPH: 4.6 secs TOP SPEED: 183mph CO2 G/KM: 333g/km MPG COMBINED: 19.8mpg THE VERDICT: DESIGN Four Stars PERFORMANCE Four Stars PRACTICALITY Two Stars VALUE FOR MONEY Three Stars MERCEDES S 65 AMG COUPE PRICE: £181,305 0-62MPH: 4.1 secs TOP SPEED: 155mph CO2 G/KM: 279g/km MPG COMBINED: 23.7mpg THE VERDICT: DESIGN [...]