Toy Story 4 review: A visually stunning nostalgia fest that lives up to the franchise legacy June 28, 2019 The question on my lips when Toy Story 4 was announced was: why? Toy Story 3 seemed like the perfect finish to a trilogy that never made a misstep. As the film ended, the sight of Woody, Buzz Lightyear et al with their new owner, Bonnie, as their original one, Andy, drove off to college, [...]
The Hunt at the Almeida review: A powerful but uncomfortable film adaptation June 28, 2019 The Hunt, a tale of a man’s world crumbling around him in the wake of false accusations of paedophilia, is so utterly harrowing it barely qualifies as entertainment. It’s two hours of nauseating tension, each escalation arriving like a physical blow. It’s a nightmare given solid form, and its transition from screen to stage only amplifies the [...]
Never Look Away review: New film from The Lives of Others director is a bloated, pretentious mishmash June 28, 2019 Fifteen years after his masterful The Lives of Others, director Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck has returned to his native Germany with a bungled, overwrought epic set across the three defining political epochs of the 20th century. Over 188 minutes, we follow Kurt Barnert (Tom Schilling), who experiences the Third Reich as a child, communist East [...]
Norway 0-3 England: Lucy Bronze stars as Lionesses reach World Cup semi-finals in style June 27, 2019 News of England’s injury problems may have been greatly exaggerated. If the build-up to the Lionesses’ World Cup quarter-final against Norway was dominated by discussion over the potential absentees, then the event itself could hardly have been more different. All those said to be struggling played – and played their part in what felt like [...]
Chris Tremlett: England should take Jason Roy gamble to turn around their World Cup against India June 26, 2019 Last week I defended the World Cup format in anticipation of the dead rubbers many believed would soon be on the horizon. A week on and there’s no such debate, with England’s defeats by Sri Lanka and Australia and Pakistan’s win over New Zealand today ensuring there’s plenty left to play for. England are feeling [...]
England v Norway: Lionesses have injury problems for World Cup quarter-final June 26, 2019 Phil Neville might not have acknowledged it but England go into their World Cup quarter-final against Norway tomorrow evening with a problem. Centre-backs Steph Houghton and Millie Bright are both “major doubts” to play in Le Havre, while right-back Lucy Bronze is also a worry. Houghton is battling against an ankle injury picked up in [...]
Eoin Morgan admits England are ‘struggling with the basics’ at the Cricket World Cup after damaging Australia defeat June 25, 2019 They say it’s the hope that kills you. When Mitchell Starc ran in and delivered a rapid, inch-perfect inswinging Yorker to hit the base of the off-stump, send the zing bails flying and send Ben Stokes trudging off to the pavilion that’s when most Englishmen inside Lord’s felt theirs’ slip away. Stokes was at the [...]
England v Australia: World Cup ante upped for hosts after defeat by Sri Lanka June 24, 2019 A week ago people were worried about dead rubbers. The International Cricket Council have Sri Lanka to thank for changing the conversation, because with England meeting Australia at Lord’s tomorrow that concern is nowhere near the top of the agenda. England’s defeat on Friday has put the cat amongst the pigeons, upping the ante and [...]
Sam Torrance: Reavie’s Travelers Championship win shows the importance of staying power in golf June 24, 2019 Chez Reavie would have been delighted with his third-place finish at the US Open a few weeks ago, but his victory at the Travelers Championship on Sunday was something special for the American. Reavie had gone nearly 11 years without a PGA Tour win – a period spanning 250 tournaments and 3,983 days – but [...]
MLB London Series: Baseball sending big-hitters Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees to woo UK audience June 23, 2019 Almost 70 years after Glasgow-born Bobby Thomson hit baseball’s Shot Heard ‘Round the World, the echo has finally reached London. This weekend, Major League Baseball will join its cousins from the NFL and NBA in offering British fans the opportunity to see regular season games live on their own turf. Given the New York Giants [...]