Film review: Fantastic Four? More like a fantastic bore August 7, 2015 Cert 12a | ★★☆☆☆ Even in this superhero-obsessed age, the latest incarnation of Marvel’s The Fantastic Four represents something of a risk, given the franchises turbulent recent history. There’s the 1994 version, made to retain the movie rights and infamously shelved without ever reaching cinemas. Then there are the dreadful noughties films starring Jessica [...]
West Ham’s Olympic Stadium bargain is another example of the public sector’s poor planning hitting the taxpayer August 7, 2015 If it wasn’t so costly, it would almost be funny. One, a prototypical English big man up front with a tendency to not be nearly as good in the air as he should be. The second, a £700m gleaming structure in the heart of the new jewel of East London, Queen Elizabeth Park. [...]
KPMG: Barcelona can reach €1bn turnover by 2021 August 7, 2015 Ahead of his successful re-election last month, Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu revealed his ambitious plans to make the European champions the first football club to generate €1bn in turnover by the 2021 season. Read more: Barcelona forecast €600m income from treble-winning season Yet according to KPMG's football advisory arm, such a statement wasn't just an [...]
Ashes 2015: England’s Stuart Broad rips through Australia attack and equals quickest five wicket haul record August 7, 2015 England's Stuart Broad obliterated Australia in the first day of the fourth Ashes test at Trent Bridge, taking eight wickets as the tourists were struck all out for 60. Read more: Tremlett – time for Broad to take the lead and give England vital early edge On home turf the Nottingham-born bowler remarkably completed a five-fer for [...]
Adidas mulls sale of golf brands after tough day on the fairway August 7, 2015 ADIDAS has launched an overhaul of its struggling TaylorMade golf business, including a potential sale of some of its brands, as the sport continues to lose popularity. The German sportswear firm said yesterday that it has hired investment bank Guggenheim Partners to explore options for the golf business after revenues fell by 26 per cent [...]
Premier League preview: Arsenal now ready to reclaim title, Chelsea to prioritise Europe and Manchester United neeed a striker August 7, 2015 For the first time in more than a decade it feels like the conditions are right and the ingredients in place for Arsene Wenger to add to his three Premier League titles. Read more: Jose swipe as Arsenal land the first blow Retaining the FA Cup and improving on their league position last [...]
Broad joy as he destroys Australia’s Ashes hope August 7, 2015 England lead by 214 after seamer’s 8-15 helps skittle Aussies before lunch ENGLAND paceman Stuart Broad admitted his pride after he produced an extraordinary, career-defining display of 8-15 to give the hosts an iron grip on the Investec Ashes at Trent Bridge yesterday. Nottinghamshire’s Broad wrought havoc on his home ground, tearing through Australia’s batting [...]
Europa League: Bilic bullish as Hammers eliminated August 7, 2015 ASTRA GIURGIU 2 WEST HAM UNITED 1 ASTRA WIN 4-3 ON AGGREGATE WEST Ham manager Slaven Bilic insists he remains confident of a strong Premier League campaign despite crashing out of Europe last night to unheralded Romanian side Astra Giurgiu. A second-string Hammers team paid the price for letting another lead slip as two goals [...]
Theatre review: Bakkhai August 6, 2015 Almeida Theatre Three Stars The Almeida’s stirring new production of Euripides’ Bakkhai begins with a promise. “I will thrill you,” says Ben Wishaw as Dionysus, clearly enjoying the rapt attention commanded by his shamanic appearance. His look: Jesus in drag, or a beardy Ophelia. Movement-wise he’s like Madonna, sporadically voguing throughout his opening monologue. He’s [...]
Film review: The diary of a teenage girl August 6, 2015 Cert 18 Four Stars Fifteen-year-old Minnie starts her diary with a confession; “I had sex today. Holy shit”. When her lover is revealed to be her mother’s 34-year-old boyfriend, Monroe, it begs the question: is she doing something bad or is something bad being done to her? It’s a dilemma the film revels in, depicting [...]