Entertaining 1973 comedy with Glenda turning in an Oscar-winning performance. 8/10
Part Jason Bourne, part Nikita and part Brothers Grimm, this is a brave attempt to marry action flick with arthouse. It’s not entirely successful although there are some good sequences and Cate Blanchett is deliciously evil. 5/10
When the director introduces a film as requiring patience, and the opening few shots quite literally have you counting sheep it doesn’t necessarily suggest an entertaining afternoon ahead. Fear not, Sweetgrass is a documentary set in Montana that manages to be virtually narrative-free and yet oddly compelling. It won’t be everyone’s thing, but if you… Read More
An action film Groundhog Day with a clever premise that just about works. 7/10
I Never Get Dressed ’til After Dark on Sundays is an unpublished Tennessee Williams work that adopts the play-within-a-play ruse. It’s hard to believe though that the audience ever really cares about the framing device. The play being rehearsed is far more compelling and classic Williams fare. This was a strong production of an enjoyable… Read More
Nicely paced film from director Tanya Hamilton set in mid 1970s Philadelphia against the backdrop of the black power movement and the Black Panthers. Strong performances from the leads, but there’s a detachment to the characters that means you don’t quite invest or root for them as you might. 6/10
Still Life at Pentameters Theatre
A double-bill of short Noël Coward dramas at the tiny Pentameters restored my faith in the theatre after the Nutcracker debacle. First up, Red Peppers, a behind-the-scenes view of a 1930s vaudeville act struggling in a world that was fast overtaking them. Funny and quick, although perhaps a little heavy on the shouting (it really… Read More
A bit of a higgledy-piggledy collection this one, and stretching the conventional definition of the medium. Some interesting paintings in and among some frankly random selections. Glad I saw it; probably won’t trouble it again unless I really want to look at a Hodgkin, a Nash, a Heron, a Frederick Lewis or of course the… Read More
A mixed bag at this event, and headliner Harry Shearer could only join by Skype, which didn’t work. Judith Kerr was the stand-out highlight, Jay Rayner was surprisingly entertaining, Janet Street-Porter woeful. Expensive for what it was, especially when deprived of Shearer. 4/10
Strange one this – more hour-long art installation than conventional play. Almost no dialogue but plenty of noise. Director Katie Mitchell very successfully creates an uncomfortale mood of claustrophobia and psychological imprisonment, but does nothing with it. 6/10
All a bit Emperor’s New Clothes for me. Experience marred by modern NY Yankees hats lying around, modern umbrellas, and warnings about CCTV cameras. Waste of what was probably a good idea. Could work better if you were really alone and not lining up with other visitors to experience the “bonding warmth of a generous… Read More
Everyone’s been raving about this film. I don’t plan to buck the trend. The acting – especially Firth – is superb, and the direction excellent. If I was to quibble, I thought the screenplay was a little clunky at times. It has Oscars written all over it. 9/10
It’s my own fault for leaving it so late. I’m not a big fan of Gauguin, but thought I should check out this blockbuster before it closes on Sunday. Far far far too busy to see much. Couldn’t take it after five minutes and just walked through. Shame, because from what I did see, it… Read More
I feel less qualified to talk about classical music than any other art form, so will just say that I saw Jukka-Pekka Sarastre conduct the London Philharmonic. The programme was Beethoven’s Overture, Egmont followed by Bohuslav Martinů’s Violin Concerto No.2 with Frank Peter Zimmermann as the soloist. After the interval, there was a performance of… Read More
This re-imagining of the classic Christmas ballet is a curious beast. At times Mitteleuropean rock opera, at times slightly amateurish school play, this imaginatively staged production in Hampstead’s minuscule upstairs theatre will not be to everyone’s taste. Little of the original score remains although everyone will recognise the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy. It’s… Read More
Hilariously funny, incredibly poignant and brilliantly acted. The script flows effortlessly from believable dialogue to philosophical musing. Musical interludes work well and it’s hard to imagine a more fun evening out in the snow. Go and see Midsummer now. 10/10
The day that London got its head round the imminent closure of Kilburn’s Luminaire saw me there amidst a sea of Canadians listening to Joel Plaskett accompanied by his Dad Bill. Imagine a young Ralph Feinnes crossed with Neil Finn to get a sense of Plaskett’s mix of boyish charm and folk-inspired songs. The crowd… Read More
Four artists on this year’s shortlist: Dexter Dalwood paints expressive luminous pieces full of hidden characters. White Flag was my favourite. Angela de la Cruz’s objets trouvés sculptures are a little harder to love, but still engaging. My favourite was “Untitled” (two large black “boxes” joined together). Susan Philipsz’ sound installation required more time than… Read More
Selection of Muybridge’s early landscape photos before vast numbers of his famous horse-trotting pics and other extracts from Animal Locomotion. Interesting but not compelling. Feels like it’s stretched out to fill the exhibition space. 6/10 Exhibition archive
Stewart Lee – Vegetable Stew
Britain’s least well-known brilliant stand-up Stewart Lee testing out more material for that telly. Mostly genius if at times more theatrical monologue than stand-up comedy but Lee’s audience tends to know what it’s letting itself in for. Still the master of technique – and knows it. 8/10