Can You Ever Forgive Me? film review: Melissa McCarthy shines in this odd-couple heist movie February 1, 2019 The normally jovial Melissa McCarthy completely transforms herself to play Lee Israel, a New York biographer who finds a new stream of income forging personal letters from famous writers of the past. It’s a fascinating premise (adapted from the real life Israel’s 2008 memoir), playing out as a simple but well executed heist movie. The [...]
Premier League clubs’ January transfer window spending falls for first time since 2012 February 1, 2019 The amount Premier League teams spent in the January transfer window fell for the first time since 2012, according to football money experts Deloitte. England's top tier clubs spent just £180m on permanent signings, some way off the £430m that was lavishly shelled out last winter. Nearly a third of this window's total outlay was [...]
The Six Nations is becoming increasingly competitive but Ireland are still clear favourites according to a supercomputer February 1, 2019 The Six Nations has rarely been more competitive. Last year’s championship saw an average points difference of just 14 across the 15 games – the lowest since 2013 – according to Gracenote Sports. Although Ireland ran out Grand Slam winners, there were just five points separating second-placed Wales and fifth-placed England come the end of [...]
Ollie Phillips: Ireland are favourites but the opening round could shape a tight Six Nations January 31, 2019 The Six Nations finally gets under way tomorrow and the fixture list has thrown up some fascinating ties to kick off with. England travel to Dublin to face defending champions Ireland on Saturday, which I think might actually prove to be a blessing rather than a curse as there is little pressure to improve their [...]
Problems mounting for stubborn Maurizio Sarri as his footballing philosophy shows its weaknesses at Chelsea January 31, 2019 On the face of things Chelsea are far from a club in crisis. They sit outside of the Premier League’s top four on goal difference and are still in all four competitions, having progressed to the final of the Carabao Cup and the fifth round of the FA Cup in the last eight days. The [...]
Escape Room is a fun, trashy but ultimately gutless horror flick that deftly tunes into a booming trend January 31, 2019 When future historians look back on the twenty-teens, perhaps on a nostalgia-fuelled talking head show called ‘I Love 2018’, they’ll remark on the popular trends that characterise our present day. “Who remembers flossing?” the cadaver of Victoria Beckham will rasp, what remains of her body elegantly propped up in a Christian Dior gurney and kept [...]
A family affair: England captain Owen Farrell must unlock an Ireland defence organised by father Andy January 31, 2019 England kick off their Six Nations campaign with the toughest test possible when they face Ireland in Dublin on Saturday, but for the Farrell family it is a game with extra meaning. Owen Farrell, England’s captain, will not only be coming up against the world’s No2 side but also his father, Andy, Ireland’s defence coach [...]
Formula E founder to take electric motorsport to extreme new heights with revolutionary racing series January 31, 2019 The founder of Formula E has doubled down on his involvement in electric motorsport with the creation of a new series that will take vehicles to race in the most extreme environments on earth. The new series, called Extreme E, will be unveiled today in London by Alejandro Agag and partner Gil de Ferran, the [...]
Chris Tremlett: Joe Denly has a fantastic opportunity – he must grasp it to stake a claim in England’s batting line-up January 30, 2019 After the horrendous defeat in Barbados there were bound to be changes for England’s second Test against West Indies in Antigua, but I was still a bit surprised to see Keaton Jennings dropped. I thought his unbeaten 146 against Sri Lanka in November might have bought Jennings a bit more time at the top of [...]
Los Angeles Rams v New England Patriots: Sean McVay’s newcomers hoping to upset Bill Belichick’s dynasty in Super Bowl LIII January 30, 2019 On Sunday, in Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the New England Patriots will take on a new pretender to their NFL throne. But while Super Bowl LIII will be business as usual for the Patriots – a third in succession – their opponents are in a completely different position. The Los Angeles Rams are back in the [...]