Exam Nation by Sammy Wright review – an essential lesson for Britain’s grade-obsessed education system | Society books
TThe back-to-school landscape is often categorised by celebrities who humble-braggingly claim that poor grades had no impact on their subsequent brilliant lives. “I think of Jeremy Clarkson,” the Headmaster author writes. Test Country“I always tweet during exam season. He said he failed his A-level exams but that it was OK.” On the one hand, we […]
The Golden Road by William Dalyrmple review – when India ruled the world | History books
aAfter the Roman conquest of Egypt in 30 BCE, at the height of the Roman Empire's power, Indian luxury goods suddenly became available to Europeans in unprecedented quantities. No one could resist it. So much gold and silver flowed into India to pay for these goods that Pliny the Elder complained that the subcontinent became […]
Damaged review – Samuel L Jackson comes to Edinburgh in crime thriller | Movies
HIt appears to be a full-on crime thriller set in the rough streets of Edinburgh and starring the unlikely trio of Gianni Capaldi (Blood of Redemption), Samuel L. Jackson (Pulp Fiction), and Vincent Cassel (Les Rêves). If you've ever wondered what a British police procedural TV show starring this cast would be like (and why […]
Elvis Costello and Steve Nieve review – 50 years of hits only improved by age | Elvis Costello
'W“I'm walking where Houdini, Charlie Chaplin, Frank Carson and Ken Dodd did,” Elvis Costello cried in Leeds' famous, now restored 19th-century music hall, touching on the venue's more comedic traditions between songs. There's the difficulty of describing Blackpool to Americans; there's the story of how, having pantomimed on Top of the Pops, “the BBC didn't […]
Is ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ worth watching? | REVIEW
The Marvel Cinematic Universe has all but ruined its reputation with the string of excruciatingly woke films it has produced over the past few years. Lauren Chen has been a scathing critic of the franchise's progressive agenda in films such as: “The Fantastic Four”” “Madame Web” “Amazing” and “echo.“ But Deadpool & Wolverine, starring Ryan […]
Culture secretary vows to end ‘rip off’ gig ticket sales and review surge pricing | Music
Ministers will review ticket price gouging after tickets to an Oasis concert more than doubled in price while on sale, the culture minister has confirmed. Lisa Nandy said the rise in ticket prices was “incredibly depressing”, with standard tickets increasing from £148 to £355 on the Ticketmaster website. The price increase was based on a […]
Wolfs review – Pitt and Clooney are job-sharing loners in Spidey-meme of a thriller | Movies
BRudd Pitt and George Clooney play two sides to the same coin in Jon Watts' hilarious, high-concept comedy-thriller about a duo of self-proclaimed mavericks who find themselves double-booked. Watts, who made his name directing the big-money Spider-Man: Homecoming trilogy, approaches The Wolfs with the breathless relief of a man who now feels comfortable, at ease, […]
Sambre: Anatomy of a Crime review – the misogyny of the French police will make you want to scream | Television
TThe six-episode series fictionalizes the story of a notorious French serial rapist who assaulted more than 50 women and minors in more or less the same style, in more or less the same locations, over a period of 30 years. The series is depressing and often painful to watch; the fact that it took 30 […]
Broken Bird review – creepily brilliant psych-horror of control-freak funeral-parlour attendant | Movies
circleThere's something about Sybil (Rebecca Calder) that's too conventional, with her neat demeanor, midcentury chic and 180-degree ramparts of fringe. But her politeness helps her land a job at Mr. Thomas' (James Fleet) funeral parlor. Like Amelie Poulain's twisted sister, Sybil is prone to fantasies, including an affair with museum curator Mark (Jay Taylor) whom […]
Strictly Amy: Cancer and Me review – an exceedingly raw real-time battle | Television
and othersLast year, Amy Dowden felt a lump in her breast the day before her honeymoon. She knew right away. Her body instinctively knows when something’s not right, and it was a moment she couldn’t ignore. “I felt a bit sick,” the Strictly Come Dancing regular, now 34, tells the camera. “So I went to […]