Theatre review: Behind the Beautiful Forevers November 21, 2014 Olivier Theatre | ★★★☆☆ The dirtiest thing in the Annawadi slum is the language. Above the din of arriving and departing planes (Annawadi is located right next to Mumbai airport) millions of slum-dwellers bicker, joke and philosophise in words as colourful as the advertising hoardings above their heads. American author Katherine Boo depicted [...]
Film review: Get On Up November 21, 2014 Cert 12a | ★★★☆☆ Many films don’t feature a single scene in which two female characters talk about something other than a man. I’m not sure this film features a single scene in which any two characters talk about something other than James Brown. Like many biopics, Get On Up subscribes to [...]
Film review: The Homesman November 21, 2014 Cert 15 | ★★★☆☆ Many an American fictional character has dreamed a dream of loading up the wagon and heading way out west to roll the dice on the frontier. It says much of The Homesman’s contrarian spirit that it does the reverse. In his second directorial outing, Tommy Lee Jones trudges backwards [...]
Film review: The Hunger Games – Mockingjay Part I November 20, 2014 Cert 12a | ★★★☆☆ So what happens now The Hunger Games are over? The previous two instalments of the franchise revolved around these Battle Royale-style tournaments, in which two “tributes” from each district of dystopia Panem fought to the death in a grisly reality TV show devised by a fascist regime as a pretty [...]
Something for the weekend November 20, 2014 For a festive treat: winter wonderland Ice rink? Check. Fun fair? Check. 200 fairy-lit Bavarian wooden chalets? Check. Winter Wonderland, London’s most extravagantly christmassy spectacle, returns to Hyde Park today. Open every day from 10am-10pm. For a Christmas ride: Tally ho! cycle tour Tally Ho! have organised a cycle ride around all London’s best Christmas [...]
Wigan in crisis as Whelan joins Mackay in dock November 20, 2014 CONTROVERSY surrounding Wigan Athletic intensified last night after the Championship club’s owner, retail entrepreneur Dave Whelan, was accused of holding anti-semitic views and condoning racism. The row erupted as one of the team’s sponsors cut its ties over the appointment of Malky Mackay, who the Football Association said could still face charges over allegations of [...]
Ferrari confirm Vettel arrival in place of Alonso November 20, 2014 FORMULA One title favourite Lewis Hamilton’s world championship showdown preparations were overshadowed yesterday by confirmation of two big-money driver moves. Ferrari confirmed that current champion Sebastian Vettel is to join them next season, ending Fernando Alonso’s five-year spell at the team, in a deal reported to be worth as much £50m a year to the [...]
Giroud to return a month early for Arsenal but mixed news for United November 20, 2014 ARSENAL have received a timely boost for their crunch clash against old foes Manchester United tomorrow after France striker Olivier Giroud was declared fit – a month ahead of schedule. The 28-year-old broke his leg in August and was initially ruled out until the new year but is available for the sixth-placed Gunners along with [...]
Carroll primed for comeback November 20, 2014 WEST Ham record buy Andy Carroll could be set for his first start since May as leading scorer Diafra Sakho is a major doubt for the Hammers’ clash at Everton tomorrow. A back problem prevented six-goal Sakho featuring for Senegal on Wednesday, while Stewart Downing is also struggling with a knee injury, with the door [...]
Youngs: Orchestrator Ford will carry England fight November 20, 2014 RESURGENT England scrum-half Ben Youngs has dismissed any notion of having to take new boy George Ford under his wing when they reprise their half-back partnership against Samoa at Twickenham on Saturday. The duo were paired together at Leicester before Ford’s defection to Bath at the start of last season but England head coach Stuart [...]