Macbeth at the Barbican review: Christopher Eccleston plays the Scottish traitor in this horror-inspired version by the RSC November 2, 2018 Macbeth lives and dies on its witches. “When shall we three meet again?” squeaks the first, a young girl in a red dress and white tights, ribbons in her hair. Two identically dressed girls answer, then run energetically off the stage, giggling shrilly. These escapees from The Shining weave in and out of this otherwise [...]
Composer Nitin Sawhney opens up about the dystopia inspired by his father’s death, Brexit and Schrodinger’s Cat November 2, 2018 Nitin Sawhney is difficult to pin down. He’s best known as a contemporary classical composer, but he’s also an impressive musician in his own right, playing the piano, classical and flamenco guitar, tabla and sitar. He’s written countless scores for films, TV and video games, as well as stand-alone studio albums; he received the Ivor [...]
Slaughterhouse Rulez is a British horror-comedy that needs more horror, and more comedy November 2, 2018 Simon Pegg and Nick Frost star in this British teen-horror flick that bears some of the hallmarks of the comedy duo’s glory days, while reminding you that they were, in fact, some time ago. There are nods to the Edgar Wright directed “Cornetto Trilogy”, comprising Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz and The World’s End, [...]
Mirai is a beautiful film about the trials and tribulations of childhood November 2, 2018 Many a coming-of-age tale about a plucky tween has been told in animation. The growing pains of a four-year-old brat, however, make for a less appealing subject. Who better to give it a shot, though, than Mamoru Hosoda, anime’s patron saint of families? In films like Wolf Children (2012), Hosoda used folkloric characters and fantastical [...]
Peterloo film review: Mike Leigh’s best since Secrets & Lies is a stunning piece of filmmaking November 2, 2018 First, a history lesson: on August 16th 1819, at a pro-democracy demonstration in Manchester, a skittish militia charged with keeping the peace rampaged with sabres drawn into a crowd of some 70,000 unarmed people, killing 15 and injuring hundreds. Though the crowd’s central demand – equal votes for all men – went unmet, Peterloo was [...]
Ollie Phillips: Eddie Jones goes physical as England name exciting but inexperienced side to face South Africa November 1, 2018 We knew there would be changes in England’s first squad for the autumn internationals, but Eddie Jones has still managed to spring a few surprises in the side to play South Africa on Saturday. I’ve been critical previously of the England head coach for not picking on form, so it’s pleasing to see some of [...]
Sri Lanka v England: Tourists risk being undercooked for first Test after insufficient warm-up matches November 1, 2018 As the oft-quoted adage goes if you fail to prepare then you are preparing to fail. Due to circumstances largely beyond their control there is a sense England are heading into Tuesday’s first Test against Sri Lanka undercooked and at risk of flaunting the Scouts’ most cherished motto. A two-day game against a Sri Lanka [...]
Arsenal v Liverpool preview: Goal machine Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang might have the combination to crack Reds’ air-tight defence November 1, 2018 There is no doubt that Unai Emery has guided Arsenal to an exceptional start to the post-Wenger era, but Saturday's clash with Liverpool will be an acid test of how far his side have actually come since opening the season with defeats. Arsenal have gone 13 games unbeaten since being undone by Manchester City and [...]
Red Dead Redemption 2 review: Rockstar’s cowboy sim is the most impressive game world ever created November 1, 2018 Never have I inhabited a video game like I have inhabited Red Dead Redemption 2. It's a mind-boggling achievement in open-world game design, to be mentioned in the same breath as The Witcher 3 or Breath of the Wild, setting a new high bar for immersion and visual fidelity. The sheer scale of human endeavour involved is [...]
Four things we learned from the EFL Cup: Chelsea’s stuttering defence, Son’s welcome return, Guendouzi’s recklessness and Palace’s rut October 31, 2018 Given none have received regular minutes this season, it was hardly surprising that Chelsea’s second-string defence might look off the pace against Derby. Gary Cahill, given the captain’s armband, was at fault for the Rams’ first goal, playing a poor pass into Cesc Fabregas before slipping over to allow Jack Marriott in to finish. Alongside [...]