Live By Night film review: Ben Affleck’s gangster epic can’t match its lofty aspirations January 12, 2017 For his fourth outing behind the camera, Ben Affleck sets his sights on the gangster epic, a genre that for many is the yardstick against which directorial greatness is measured. Returning once again to Boston (three of his four movies as director have been shot in the state where he grew up), Affleck also screen-writes, [...]
BU21 play review: London terror drama justifies transfer to Trafalgar Studios January 12, 2017 A plane explodes over West London. It’s been shot, we are told, by a handheld missile launched somewhere in Vauxhall. The wreckage kills hundreds, injures hundreds more, and reduces most of Fulham to rubble. Part of the force of Stuart Slade’s courageous, bitterly funny play comes from its plausibility – there is a sense, morbid [...]
Britons head into Australian Open on form as Johanna Konta and Dan Evans continue their march in Sydney January 12, 2017 British No1 Johanna Konta continued her encouraging preparations for next week’s Australian Open on Thursday by reaching only her third WTA Tour final at the Apia International in Sydney. Her progress capped a fine evening for British players at the tournament, after Dan Evans defeated a top-10 ranked opponent for the first time to advance [...]
Why the rise in footballers’ image rights values mean clubs and players are locked in contract negotiations for longer January 12, 2017 When David Beckham was asked in 2002 why his contract negotiations with Manchester United, which eventually took a year to complete, were taking so long, he was frank in his response. “It’s not the salary that’s a problem,” he admitted. “It’s just the image rights that needed a little perking.” Go onto any football social [...]
Manchester United and Uber strike multi-year deal to provide Old Trafford taxi stop for fans January 12, 2017 Manchester United have become Uber’s first ever global sports partner, after the Silicon Valley firm struck a multi-year deal providing it with designated travel routes to Old Trafford. The taxi-hailing app will “enhance fans’ match-day experience at Old Trafford” according to United, who will set up an Uber-dedicated pick-up and drop off zone outside their stadium [...]
Manchester by the Sea starring Casey Affleck deserves its Oscar buzz January 12, 2017 Regular Scorsese collaborator Kenneth Lonergan’s first film in five years has become an Oscar front runner, with rapturous receptions on the film festival circuit and a win at last weekend’s Golden Globes. Set in the titular Massachusetts town, a restrained, quiet handy man (Casey Affleck) returns to his former home in the aftermath of his [...]
Southampton 1, Liverpool 0: Saints march on but let Reds off the hook January 11, 2017 Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp urged his side to make the most of their reprieve after admitting the Reds were fortunate to escape their EFL Cup semi-final first leg at Southampton with only a slender one-goal deficit. A first-half strike from forward Nathan Redmond kept Southampton on course to reach their first League Cup final since Lawrie [...]
Sir Andy’s pledge of allegiance to Queen’s: World No1 Murray commits to Aegon Championships for rest of his career January 11, 2017 Queen's Club has received a major boost after world No1 Sir Andy Murray committed to playing the Aegon Championships, the west London venue’s traditional Wimbledon precursor, for the rest of his career. Murray is the current champion and a five-time winner of the tournament, which he has traditionally used to acclimatise to grass courts in [...]
Manchester City charged by Football Association over anti-doping rules January 11, 2017 Manchester City have been slapped with a Football Association (FA) charge of infringing anti-doping rules. The two-time Premier League champions, who have until 19 January to respond to the charge, are accused of breaching FA rules concerning players’ whereabouts for the purposes of facilitating drug-testing. Clubs are required to provide the FA with up-to-date details [...]
It’s a massive series for England one-day captain Eoin Morgan where only runs will silence critics and banish scrutiny January 11, 2017 It's a big series for England’s limited-overs skipper Eoin Morgan and only scoring runs will silence those who have criticised him for pulling out of the tour of Bangladesh in October because of security fears. There will undoubtedly be increased scrutiny of Morgan during the three one-day tussles with India, which start on Sunday in [...]