John Wick plays the hits in this fourth instalment film review Nine years ago, John Wick went on a violent rampage of revenge over the death of his pet dog. The grimy, low budget 2014 action film bucked the trend. Using an old school formula just as the Marvel Universe was taking flight, the film was the start of an unlikely franchise, and cemented star Keanu [...]
80 For Brady is pure cinematic comfort food film review Four elder stateswomen of Hollywood team up for 80 For Brady, which follows a group of friends (Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, Sally Field and Rita Moreno) who embark on one last girls’ trip to the Superbowl to see their hero, Tom Brady, play for the New England Patriots. However, a series of misadventures mean their [...]
Vault Festival reports record year but still hangs in balance after eviction Vault Festival has reported a record-breaking year as it prepares to be turfed out of its decade-long home by its landlord. The second largest arts festival in the UK after the Edinburgh Fringe welcomed more than 81,000 guests over the eight-week festival, with over 4,000 artists performing in the space beneath Waterloo Station and the [...]
Volkswagen ID. Buzz review: Love Buzz March 24, 2023 The ID. Buzz channels the spirit of the classic Volkswagen Microbus into a modern, fully electric MPV. Does it live up to the hype?
Infinity Pool review: Brandon Cronenberg is no clone of his father March 24, 2023 In an industry currently debating its own nepotism, Brandon Cronenberg is setting himself apart from the crowd. The son of legendary director David, he shares his father’s interest in surreal imagery, but takes it in new and interesting directions. In his third film, Infinity Pool, Alexander Skarsgård stars as James, a writer who escapes to [...]
Turandot at the ROH: Stunning production can’t mask a problematic opera March 23, 2023 The operatic canon offers many examples of the spectacular being mingled with the problematic. In this respect, Puccini is a regular offender. Despite many of his operas representing the very pinnacle of classical music, there is no denying the blatant orientalism present in the heart-breaking Madam Butterfly. This even tarnishes his last opera, the magnificently [...]
John Wick Chapter 4 review: More of the same bubblegum violence March 23, 2023 You could make a strong case for John Wick being a satire. The first movie took the tropes of an action movie – a relentless, taciturn hero reluctantly dragged back into the underworld, motivated by his love for a dead/kidnapped family member – and reduced them to absurdity by making the trigger for his triple-figure [...]
How Succession became the must-watch TV show of the decade March 23, 2023 The first episode of Succession, aired all the way back in June 2018, only hints at the Shakespearian epic that would follow. On first watch it seemed a little goofy: Kendall rapping along to the Beastie Boys in the back of his car; cousin Greg puking from behind the eyes of a fairground mascot. It’s [...]
Cardiovascular Disease – To know, you’ve got to know March 23, 2023 | Sponsored Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of deaths in England. Many people don’t know about it, or think it doesn’t affect them – yet it is the cause of one in four deaths across England. The good news is that CVD is largely preventable – and your blood pressure is the easiest way to tell [...]
Kia EV6 GT review: Dancing on ice March 22, 2023 A frozen lake is the perfect playground for the 585hp Kia EV6 GT. Tim Pitt travels to Norway and learns how to drift.