X at the Royal Court review: a terrifying, claustrophobic space horror that comes unravelled April 7, 2016 Royal Court | ★★★☆☆ The best science fiction is virtually always a vehicle for social commentary, a metaphor for talking about the here and now. Alien can be read as an advocation of abortion; Dune reflects the geopolitics of the Cold War-era oil industry; Dawn of the Dead is a critique of consumerism. But, crucially, you [...]
Whistler at the Fine Art Society shows an artist who was rightly considered thoroughly radical April 7, 2016 James McNeill Whistler is best known for his painterly concern for harmony of tones and mood, rather than overtly symbolic or moral content. This is famously evident in his Arrangement in Grey and Black No.1 of 1871, commonly known as Whistler’s Mother. What is less known is that he was also an extraordinary pioneer both [...]
Anthony Joshua v Charles Martin: Callow Joshua insists he is ready to seize first world title chance April 7, 2016 British heavyweight Anthony Joshua admits he is taking a risk by challenging for a world title just 15 fights into his career but insists he is ready to dethrone IBF champion Charles Martin. London 2012 Olympic gold medallist Joshua, who has won all of his fights by knockout since turning professional, clashes with American Martin at [...]
New photography exhibition seeks out the implausible in the everyday April 7, 2016 Photographer Stephen Shore’s most striking work comes from his epic tour across 1970s America in search of what could be called the “extraordinary ordinary”. Many of his pictures depict the everyday life of Americans that, frozen in time, divorced from the mundanity of life, seem unbelievable. Badlands National (pictured) shows a tiny, unremarkable house, a [...]
West Ham v Arsenal: Arsene Wenger defends Jack Wilshere’s dedication following nightclub controversy April 7, 2016 Aresnal manager Arsene Wenger has defended Jack Wilshere’s dedication after the injury-plagued England midfielder was caught up in an apparent row at a West End nightspot last weekend. Wilshere, 24, is yet to play this season after fracturing his calf bone in August but is set to make his comeback for the club’s under-21s on [...]
Paris Saint-Germain 2, Manchester City 2: Shaky City ride luck as Pellegrini demands end to mistakes April 7, 2016 Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini insists a second-leg repeat of the defensive mistakes on show at the Parc des Princes last night will scupper his side’s hope of making further history and reaching a first Champions League semi-final. A second-half Fernandinho strike drew City level after goal-machine Zlatan Ibrahimovic and midfielder Adrien Rabiot turned the [...]
Forget all the World Twenty20 despair and Stokes sniping, this England side is something special April 6, 2016 So much of the fallout from Sunday’s World Twenty20 final defeat has focused on all-rounder Ben Stokes and England despair, but Eoin Morgan’s side deserve a huge pat on the back for getting that far in the competition. This England team is starting to become something very special. Getting to the final proved that, it’s [...]
Former US Open champion Rose content to fly under Masters radar in bid for Green Jacket April 6, 2016 Britain's Justin Rose is content to begin the Masters incognito as he bids to be become the first European player to win a Green Jacket at Augusta and win the US Open. Much talk leading into the first Major of the year has focused on the big three – defending champion Jordan Spieth, world No1 [...]
Gianni Infantino caught in Panama Papers storm as Swiss police raid Uefa for contracts signed by new Fifa president April 6, 2016 Storm clouds gathering over new Fifa president Gianni Infantino have darkened after Swiss police raided European governing body Uefa in relation to the Panama Papers leak. Former Uefa secretary general Infantino, who succeeded tarnished Fifa kingpin Sepp Blatter in February, co-signed a contract with two Argentinian businessmen in 2006 who have since been accused of bribery by the FBI. [...]
Newcastle financial results: Magpies enjoy £32m profit but chiefs admit fans won’t care April 6, 2016 Newcastle chiefs have conceded that an increase in profits to £32.4m is likely to be of little comfort to supporters contemplating possible relegation from the Premier League. The Magpies – second bottom of the table and six points from safety with seven games remaining – enjoyed a 73 per cent rise in profit for the [...]