Theatre review: The Trial is a cultural vegetable July 2, 2015 Young Vic | ★★★☆☆ New York Times writer Dan Kois popularised the phrase “eating your cultural vegetables” – the idea that you need to wade through challenging material you don’t necessarily enjoy to offset the times you feel like binging on candyfloss. For all its prophetic brilliance, Kafka’s The Trial would qualify on most people's list [...]
Film review: Magic Mike XXL is a fun but inferior summer sequel July 2, 2015 Cert 15 | ★★☆☆☆ When a modestly budgeted film goes on to make $100million, a sequel is near-enough guaranteed. The follow up to Steven Soderbergh’s Magic Mike finds the eponymous Mike living a life away from dancing. He’s successful but somewhat unfulfilled until he receives a call from his old colleagues, “The Kings of Tampa”, who [...]
Film review: Amy is a moving, sober tribute to a tragic genius July 2, 2015 Cert 15 | ★★★★☆ “Amy had the most emotional connection with music of anyone I’ve ever known,” says Winehouse’s pianist Sam Beste in Asif Kapadia’s documentary, Amy. “It was like a person in her life who she loved. She would die for it.” He doesn’t need to say it, it’s clear from the very first [...]
Wimbledon 2015: Victory nets James Ward £100k July 2, 2015 British wildcard James Ward insists there are greater rewards than the minimum £100,000 he has earned by beating big-serving Czech Jiri Vesely and reaching Wimbledon’s third round yesterday. Read more: Boost for James Ward as eighth seed Ferrer withdraws On a day when fellow Briton and world No3 Andy Murray also progressed after [...]
British Grand Prix: Jenson Button resigned to more pain at Silverstone July 2, 2015 Former world champion Jenson Button admits he is unlikely to break his British Grand Prix curse this weekend when Formula One returns to Silverstone. Read more: Button ditches the fast lane to promote life on two wheels Button has never finished on the podium in 15 attempts at his home race and the 35-year-old [...]
Ben Stokes: I won’t back down if Aussies target my short fuse at Ashes July 2, 2015 England all-rounder Ben Stokes insists he will not shy away in the face of Australian attempts to rile him during the Investec Ashes series this summer. Read more: We’ll fight fire with fire in Ashes, England boss Trevor Bayliss tells Aussies The 24-year-old has reaffirmed his international quality this season with the standout [...]
Australia toil in final Ashes warm-up vs Essex July 2, 2015 Australia bowlers were made to toil on the second day of their final Ashes warm-up clash against Essex at Chelmsford yesterday. Read more: England outcast Kevin Pietersen tips Australia to win Ashes Essex closed on 299-3 but still trailed the tourists by 263 runs after Michael Clarke’s side had earlier been dismissed for 562. [...]
Wimbledon 2015: Rafael Nadal admits he might never win title again July 2, 2015 Former world No1 Rafael Nadal admitted that he may never recapture the form which saw him twice crowned Wimbledon champion after crashing out to unheralded qualifier Dustin Brown yesterday. Read more: Dustin Brown set for most lucrative year of career Out of form tenth seed Nadal was beaten in four sets, 7-5, 3-6, 6-4, [...]
Lionesses join pantheon of teams who hurt us the most July 2, 2015 England women’s World Cup woe is a defining moment. IN THE absence of antiquated measures such as, you know, winning things, the mark of an England team worth remembering has become that it endured – and from a fan’s perspective, inflicted – emotional trauma. Twenty-five years ago it was the heartache highwater-mark that was the [...]
West Ham: Westley denies Bilic disrespect following Europa League romp vs FC Lusitans July 2, 2015 West Ham academy manager Terry Westley denied that new boss Slaven Bilic had shown a lack of respect by choosing to watch his side’s commanding victory over FC Lusitans in the Europa League first qualifying round from the Upton Park stands last night. Read more: I want to take West Ham to Champions League, [...]