Tuesday 27 May 2014

Spiral Notebook: Lutfur Rahman - here comes the new boss, same as the old boss?

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COMMENT
By Giles Broadbent

Racked by weariness and relief, the new Mayor of Tower Hamlets wept. He was hurt, he said, by accusation that he was racist, that he was a disciple of division.

Wednesday 21 May 2014

Stage review: Incognito, Bush Theatre

STAGE_incognito.jpgIncognito
Bush Theatre
★★★★✩

The image repeats itself throughout Nick Payne's engrossing new play: a ribbon of starlings flocking together, flashes of silver on the wing, creating apparent order from a frenzy of dots.

Exhibition: Comics Unmasked, British Library

COMIC_vendetta.jpgThe novel is dead, declared Will Self recently. Really dead this time, he said, certainly as the prince of artforms.

So what will take its place as the pre-eminent, written narrative structure of the new century?

Wednesday 14 May 2014

Film review: The Two Faces Of January (12A)

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WHAT'S ON


The Two Faces Of January
(12A) 96mins
★★★✩✩

Film-maker Hossein Amini confesses this, his directorial debut, is a labour of love, a project he has nurtured for years ever since he first read Patricia Highsmith's difficult novel of guilt, secrets and self-destruction.

Book review: The Madness Of July, by James Naughtie

BOOK_madness.jpgThe Madness Of July
James Naughtie (Head Of Zeus)
★★★✩✩

James Naughtie, via his Radio Four Today programme, has spent years prowling the corridors of Whitehall, sniffing out discord, examining motive and exposing double-dealing.

His love of dark politics conducted in low voices in secret nooks over finest brandy finds voice in this slow-burning spy thriller that owes much to the master himself, John Le Carre.

Monday 5 May 2014

Film review: Plastic (15)

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WHAT'S ON


Plastic
(15) 102mins
★★✩✩✩

"Hollyoaks meets Hustle" is what springs to mind as this glossy, crime caper - based on a true story - begins to reveal its twisting tale of twentysomething wheeler dealers.