The Fifth Seal review – a spiky political cabaret of cruelty and fear | Movies
TThe Seventh Seal, the title of Ingmar Bergman’s film, is said to herald the opening of seven angels blowing trumpets and pouring out seven bowls of God’s wrath on poor sinners. Hungarian director Zoltán Fabry’s 1976 film is an adaptation of Ferenc Santha’s novel, after which it takes its name, but in a less dramatic […]
The Turkish Detective review – downright ridiculous, in a good way | Television & radio
IIn one of the opening scenes of Turkish Detective — yes, it’s about detectives, yes, it’s set in Turkey, and yes, the extremely literal meaning of the title foreshadows the less mentally demanding nature of this detective drama — Turkish-born, British-raised police officer Mehmet Suleyman is greeted at Istanbul airport by his new boss, a […]
Acosta Danza: Carlos Acosta’s Carmen review – never quite reaches boiling point | Dance
vinegarI’ve seen three versions this year. Carmen (2 ballet and 1 opera) I’m seriously beginning to question whether she’s the right role model for women. Brave, feisty, confident, but a tragic heroine? I’d rather she focus on her career rather than an unreliable man. At least in Carlos Acosta’s version, her fate is taken out […]
Starlight Express review – Lloyd Webber’s bizarre juggernaut is bigger, camper and more OTT than ever | Stage
circleWas it the sheer audacity that led Andrew Lloyd Webber to dream up a show about the lives and loves of a train carriage that sings as it races along a nighttime track on roller skates? Is Starlight Express the most outlandish musical ever put on stage? Certainly, its 40-year revival seems like an even […]
Coldplay at Glastonbury review – Chris Martin takes tens of thousands on the adventure of a lifetime | Glastonbury 2024
IAs Chris Martin points out, it’s been 25 years since Coldplay first appeared at Glastonbury Festival, and tonight they’re marking that anniversary with an unexpected acoustic performance of “Sparks” from their debut album, Parachutes. Perhaps more appropriately, this is the fifth time they’ve headlined the festival, and they’re so on point it feels increasingly like […]
Kasabian’s secret set at Glastonbury review – indie hits belted out to a bumper crowd | Glastonbury 2024
GRustonbury loves secret sets. God only knows why. From the outside, they seem more trouble than they’re worth. It’s a tough balance to strike; if the people you pick are disappointing, your special guest won’t seem so special. But to get someone really important, especially at a big festival, you have to deal with crowds, […]
Yorùbá Boy Running by Biyi Bándélé review – a historic hero | Fiction
and othersLike the protagonist of the Yoruba book Boy Running, Biyi Bandele started running at a young age. At 14, he won a school essay contest. In his 20s, he won a radio play script, Rain, and in 1990, moved to London. He got off to a good start there, publishing his first novel, The […]
Dua Lipa at Glastonbury review – headliners are rarely this hook-laden and hedonistic | Glastonbury 2024
aThe most interesting bit of Dua Lipa’s between-song dialogue reveals that her Glastonbury headlining career was the result of a childhood behavioral manifestation. She explains that she detailed her desire to headline the Pyramid Stage right up to the night of the event, so that Friday would be the day “so I could party the […]
‘Horizon: An American Saga—Chapter 1’ Review: A Must-See Epic Western
Kevin Costner’s Horizon: An American Saga—Chapter 1 is an incredibly ambitious production in every respect. For starters, Costner is the director, producer, star, and co-writer of the film. Additionally, the chapters are three hours long. Additionally, while reports vary on the exact figure, it’s clear that Costner has pumped in tens of millions of dollars […]
Orlando by Virginia Woolf audiobook review – a superb reading by Juliet Stevenson | Books
vinegarSpanning 350 years, Orlando is a time-travel adventure that tells the story of a seemingly immortal aristocrat and aspiring writer who catches the eye of Queen Elizabeth I in the 16th century. Upon his arrival at court, he becomes Elizabeth’s lover, who is upset when she sees him kissing a younger woman, but grants him […]