England blow as Lawes out of two Six Nations dates January 18, 2015 ENGLAND head coach Stuart Lancaster has been dealt a Six Nations headache after Northampton Saints boss Jim Mallinder revealed second-row Courtney Lawes will today undergo surgery to cure an ankle injury. Lawes is set to miss the opening clash against Wales on 6 February and the match with Italy a week later, while Lancaster’s back-row [...]
Martin Kaymer flops, rookie profits January 18, 2015 WORLD No357 Gary Stal landed his maiden European Tour title after US Open champion Martin Kaymer suffered a spectacular collapse at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship yesterday. Kaymer led by 10 during the final round but carded a double-bogey and triple-bogey to allow Frenchman Stal, 22, to overtake him with a superb 65 that [...]
Novak Djokovic hit by flu and stomach bug but ready for grand slam tilt January 18, 2015 FOUR-TIME Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic insists he is ready to launch his challenge for a fifth title in Melbourne despite suffering from flu and a stomach bug on the eve of the tournament. Djokovic sparked fears that he would withdraw from the grand slam when he cancelled a training session and media appearance on [...]
De Villiers belts fastest ODI ton January 18, 2015 SOUTH AFRICA batsman AB de Villiers recorded the fastest one-day international century in history after reaching three figures from just 31 balls as his side thrashed West Indies yesterday. The 30-year-old beat the previous record of 36 posted by New Zealand all-rounder Corey Anderson against the same opposition last year, smashing nine fours and 16 [...]
Film review: Whiplash is in need of a (script) doctor January 16, 2015 Cert 15 | ★★★☆☆ Whiplash opens with a shot of 19-year-old Andrew (Miles Teller) practising the drums in a room in the Julliard-like conservatory he attends, apparently alone. He soon notices he’s being watched by Fletcher (JK Simmons), the notorious conductor of the school’s jazz band. There ensues a tense exchange in which Fletcher barks [...]
Theatre review: Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown January 16, 2015 Playhouse Theatre | ★★★★☆ Oh, to be one of Pedro Almodovar’s women, constantly in and out of love, popping pills and jumping off balconies. The Spanish director is well-known for his love of erratic women and it doesn’t get more exhausting than Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown. This is the second time [...]
Art review: Adventures of the Black at Whitechapel Gallery January 16, 2015 Whitechapel Gallery | ★★★★☆ In the final, shattering line of Anthem for Doomed Youth, Wilfred Owen writes of “a drawing down of blinds.” This returned to me when standing before Kazimir Malevich’s Black Square, painted exactly a century ago when hundreds of thousands of young soldiers were coming up against industrial killing machines for the [...]
Film review: Testament of Youth is visually arresting but emotionally flat January 16, 2015 Cert 12a | ★★★☆☆ Based on Vera Brittain’s best-selling memoir of events surrounding the First World War, Testament of Youth is well-acted and pretty, but lacks emotional impact. Testament of Youth has already been adapted for television and radio. But if you haven’t encountered the story before, it will still seem terribly familiar. Hovering [...]
Film review: American Sniper wide of mark January 15, 2015 Cert 15 | ★★★☆☆ Clint Eastwood’s directorial career rivals even that of Woody Allen in terms of sheer volume of output, encompassing 30-odd movies over 40-odd years. But the theme of violence – usually carried out by men – and its place in the American psyche is an itch he just can’t seem to scratch. [...]
Something for the weekend January 15, 2015 Eat Amaru Restaurant London’s latest Japanese-South American cross-over restaurant is something special, with delicate sashimi, Peruvian ceviche and the odd truffle shaving. A welcome addition to St Katharine Dock. Visit amaru.london or call 0207 704765. THINK TEDXCLAPHAM Head down south for the inaugral TEDxClapham conference this Saturday. Speakers include brains behind Movember Justin Coghlan and [...]