Films of the year: Our critics pick the best movies of 2014 December 18, 2014 With choice quotes from City A.M.’s film critics GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL ★★★★★ Anderson’s world is so lovingly crafted that checking into the Grand Budapest hotel is nothing short of a joy. UNDER THE SKIN ★★★★★ Scarlett Johansson has few lines, and barely wavers from a vacant stare into nothing, but it [...]
Stage fighting with the RSC: Theatrical combat is more about cooperation than violence December 17, 2014 In the run up to an evening’s performance it’s traditional for thesps to wish each other luck by saying “break a leg”. No one wants this to happen for real, but in any production in which there’s fighting, there’ll be a person dedicated to making sure it looks like it does. Terry King is one [...]
We take a look inside a fight director’s toolbox December 17, 2014 Bubblewrap Great for breaking necks. Just strap it to the inside of a collar and squeeze at the crucial moment. The loud sound is bound to elicit a wince Blood capsules Theatre and film directors have been using these since Shakespeare’s time. Just crunch down to simulate catastrophic internal wounds. Hollow-hilted dagger These daggers can [...]
Tom’s Kitchen in St Katharine Docks has great food, but who’s it for? December 16, 2014 Food: ★★★★☆Value: ★★★☆☆Atmosphere: ★★☆☆☆ 1 Commodity Quay, St Katharine Docks, E1W 1AZW; Tel: 020 3011 5433 Cost for two with wine: £150 I’m not sure what I think about Tom’s Kitchen, which is a problem because someone’s paying me to tell you about it. There are four in the chain now – five if [...]
Mix it up: There’s something fishy about Nobu’s new Caviar Martini December 16, 2014 Plenty of people like their Martinis with a thimble or less of dry vermouth. I've never understood the pleasure of sipping on a couple of shots of ice-cold vodka or gin, myself. But it's not just vermouth; I'm always liable to get itchy tastebuds without a suitable garnish, which is why one desperate evening, [...]
Car review: The Lexus RC F is a slow burner, but its bark is better than its bite December 15, 2014 The gated communities of Marbella are used to hearing the growl of attention-seeking supercars. But for all the Ferraris and Lamborghinis with their oversized exhausts, it was the bark of Lexus’s new V8-engined RC F sports coup that had people jumping out of their skin when I visited. Pedestrians, too, found it hard to ignore [...]
Not convinced? December 15, 2014 CHECK OUT THESE ALTERNATIVES… BMW M4 PRICE: £56,650 0-62MPH: 4.3 secs TOP SPEED: 155mph CO2 G/KM: 204g/km MPG COMBINED: 32.1mpg THE VERDICT: DESIGN Three Stars PERFORMANCE Four Stars PRACTICALITY Three Stars VALUE FOR MONEY Three Stars JAGUAR F-TYPE S COUPE PRICE: £60,250 0-62MPH: 4.9 secs TOP SPEED: 171mph CO2 G/KM: 213g/km MPG COMBINED: 31.0mpg THE VERDICT: DESIGN Four Stars [...]
Washington DC: Where to eat in the political capital of the western world December 14, 2014 Washington DC has grown from somewhere you work to somewhere to eat. Over the past few years, ravenous London scenesters have been snarfing down a vast array of steaks, burgers, hot dogs, shakes, pizzas, burritos and all sorts of other full-flavoured Americana from a diverse range of restaurants, pop-ups and food trucks. US [...]
48 hours in… Helsinki December 14, 2014 WHERE TO STAY The petit Haven Hotel hotel has only 77 rooms but each are individually-styled to perfection. It also offers packages for romantic or indulgent getaways, including dinner, shows and casino passes. Hotelhaven.fi WHERE TO GO A weekend in Helsinki isn’t complete without taking the fifteen minute ferry ride to the spectactular Suomenlinna sea [...]
Julie Verhoeven: Whiskers Between My Legs – art review December 12, 2014 ICA | ★★★★☆ Confrontational feminist art It’s Christmas! And that can only mean one thing at the ICA – bitingly confrontational feminist art from the brilliant Julie Verhoeven. Don’t be fooled by the title; Whiskers Between My Legs is at no pains to pussyfoot around the subject of women’s portrayal in the media. The [...]