A Hologram For The King starring Tom Hanks is a feel-good frolic for those who admire easy charm May 19, 2016 A Hologram For The King | ★★★☆☆ Tom Hanks is enjoying something of a renaissance, courting Oscar once again with both Captain Phillips and last year’s Spielberg reunion Bridge of Spies. His new film, based on the 2012 Dave Eggers novel, sees him playing a charismatic American businessman looking to seal a tech deal in a [...]
The Rose and the Ring at The Charterhouse: How to enjoy country opera within the Square Mile May 19, 2016 The Rose and The Ringw | The Charterhouse | ★★★★★ Country-house opera is a peculiar experience. You dress up, park your car on a rich Englishman’s estate, drink champagne and have a picnic, all the while being immersed in the operatic experience. The Charterhouse hosted a City-based version last week with a riotous production of [...]
Muirfield stripped of right to host the Open after voting against allowing female members May 19, 2016 Muirfield has lost the right to host the Open Championship after members voted against allowing women golfers to join the club. The East Lothian links has hosted the Open 16 times since 1892, most recently in 2013, but will now be removed from the tournament roster after members failed to reach a two-thirds majority vote [...]
Jeff Koons: Now at Damien Hirst’s Newport Street gallery features Three Ball 50/50 Tank, Balloon Monkey (Blue) and Bowl With Eggs (Pink) among other star attractions May 19, 2016 Jeff Koons: Now | Newport Street gallery | ★★★★★ Whatever your opinion of Damien Hirst’s own artwork, it’s hard to fault his activity as a collector and proprietor of the fantastic Newport Street gallery. A strong start with his debut exhibition of John Hoyland paintings continues in this blockbuster survey of Jeff Koons: Now. Hirst’s [...]
David Baddiel’s My Family: Not the Sitcom at The Menier Chocolate Factory is deeply personal, cathartic and very, very funny May 19, 2016 David Baddiel – My Family: Not the Sitcom | The Menier Chocolate Factory | ★★★★☆ A couple of years ago, after a long hiatus, David Baddiel returned to stand-up. Fame: Not the Musical was a wide-ranging investigation of what it means to be famous; it wove together personal anecdotes and dick jokes to produce a show [...]
French Open 2016: Andy Murray’s statistics on clay are at a career-best level and suggest he is ready to triumph at Roland Garros May 19, 2016 Andy Murray is better placed than ever to reach the final of the French Open for the first time in his career after his best year on clay. For the majority of his career, grass and hard courts proved to be more hospitable surfaces for the world No2 yet Murray, who has reached the final of [...]
Liverpool 1, Sevilla 3: Klopp criticises side’s “loss of faith” as Reds boss loses fifth successive final to leave Anfield club with no European football next season May 19, 2016 Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp lambasted his side’s “loss of faith” after a second-half collapse handed Sevilla an unprecedented third successive Europa League crown and denied the Reds a place in next season’s Champions League. A second-half blitz, consisting of an equaliser from prolific marksman Kevin Gameiro and captain Coke’s double, saw Sevilla destroy a previously [...]
Harlequins prop Joe Marler rules himself out of England’s Australia tour and admits he needs break May 18, 2016 Harlequins prop Joe Marler has pulled out of England’s summer programme, including next month’s three-Test tour of Australia, after admitting he needs time away from the game. Marler was an integral member of England’s front-row as head coach Eddie Jones guided the Red Rose to their first Six Nations Grand Slam since 2003 in March, [...]
Doom 2016 review: Bethesda’s demon-blasting Martian hellscape is the best shooter of the year so far May 18, 2016 The Battlefield franchise sparked a fevered debate this week over its decision to stage its upcoming first-person shooter in the trenches of the first World War. Should a conflict synonymous with futile loss of human life be used as the setting for casual entertainment? Should any war, for that matter? The makers of Doom face [...]
Chinese businessman Tony Jiantong Xia buys Aston Villa for £60m May 18, 2016 Aston Villa are set to become the first major English club to fall into Chinese ownership after the club confirmed a takeover by businessman Tony Jiantong Xia. The deal, which still has to be ratified by the Premier League and Football League, is thought to be for £60m – roughly the same price current owner [...]