Hamilton London review: Believe the hype, this American smash has all the makings of a modern classic December 23, 2017 Victoria Palace Theatre Believe the hype: there's plenty of it. Ever since Lin-Manuel Miranda's hip-opera made its Broadway debut two years ago, it's been a cult phenomenon, catapulting Alexander Hamilton, previously America's most overlooked Founder, into one of its most revered overnight. Many Brits have been playing the soundtrack on repeat in eager anticipation of [...]
Jumanji review: Not quite a rumble in the jungle, but a good stir nonetheless December 21, 2017 Jumanji, an entertaining enough 1995 film about rampaging jungle animals that definitely exists on a VHS cassette in your attic somewhere, embedded itself into the pop culture fabric thanks to its now-terrible, but then-mind blowing CGI effects. Effervescent clown-person Robin Williams helped too, as did the kitschy cryptic allure of the central board game’s [...]
The Greatest Showman review: A musical airbrushing of the sordid history of the freak show December 21, 2017 Like a circus-themed, two-hour long Adele video with original-Jumanji-era CGI elephants and lions, The Greatest Showman is a whitewashing movie-musical about the life and trials of PT Barnum, originator of the big top and freak show, and infamous exploiter of hirsute women. Hugh Jackman stars, and does a decent and sincere enough job belting [...]
Race to Dubai 2017 prize money: How much did Tommy Fleetwood win by triumphing at DP World Tour Championship November 20, 2017 As the European Tour’s curtain call event, this weekend’s DP World Tour Championship in Dubai settled the outcome of the season-long Race To Dubai and the lucrative bonus pot that comes with it. England’s Tommy Fleetwood yesterday pipped fellow Englishman Justin Rose to the overall title. Both men finished out of contention for the final [...]
Network at the National Theatre review: Bryan Cranston is electric in Ivo van Hove’s brilliant take on this Oscar-nominated movie November 17, 2017 Dutch theatre director Ivo van Hove is nothing if not ambitious. This year alone he’s had Jude Law running on a treadmill as he delivered his lines in Obsession and filled the Barbican’s stage with water for his outstanding Persona. But Network, based on the 1976 satirical film of the same name, is on a [...]
Impressionists in London at Tate Britain doesn’t have enough impressionists in it November 7, 2017 The year is 1871 and French artists are pouring out of Paris like so much spilled milk, the pail they once called home having been kicked over by the recalcitrant mule that, in this metaphor, is the Franco-Prussian War. Among the thousands who sought refuge in Britain were conscription-dodging Claude Monet and his associated network [...]
World Cup 2018 prize money: Fifa increases financial offering to $400m October 28, 2017 The winning team at next year's World Cup in Russia will be awarded a record $38m (£29m) in prize money, after world football governing body Fifa boosted its financial offering to record levels. A total prize money pool of $400m represents a 12 per cent increase on the $358m paid out to teams at the [...]
World Cup 2018 prize money: Fifa increases financial offering to $400m October 28, 2017 The winning team at next year's World Cup in Russia will be awarded a record $38m (£29m) in prize money, after world football governing body Fifa boosted its financial offering to record levels. A total prize money pool of $400m represents a 12 per cent increase on the $358m paid out to teams at the [...]
Uefa figures reveal Leicester banked more money from Europe last season than Champions League winners Real Madrid and Europa League winners Manchester United October 20, 2017 Leicester City made more money from playing in Europe last season than Champions League winners Real Madrid, new figures from Uefa reveal. The European football governing body has published the exact sums earned in prize money and TV payments by clubs playing in the Champions League and Europa League last season. Leicester, currently in the [...]
Tinder’s ‘menducation’ doctrine dispels the notion that women are best served by other women October 17, 2017 A few weeks ago, Tinder announced a new chat feature. “Designed by the women of Tinder”, says the announcement, “the feature gives women extra tools to express themselves”. It concludes: “sometimes men need a little bit of guidance when it comes to communicating….” So many things are wrong with this pitch. Tinder’s new chat feature [...]