Snowden Review – London Film Festival
No stranger to controversy, Oliver Stone continues his exploration of personal conflict enmeshed with the political, in his latest film Snowden. Bringing fresh perspective on Edward Snowden - the man, and his whistleblowing on covert civilian data monitoring by the NSA (National Security Agency), the film casts a paranoiac shadow over labyrinthine, secretive government operations resulting in a tense, dramatisation of events. Building on Laura Poitras Oscar winning documentary Citizenfour, the film starts at the now infamous rendezvous at the...
RIP Jean Alexander…A true northern star
I was stood waiting for a train on platform 14 at Manchester Piccadilly station about 10 years ago. I was going to see my Mum who was in hospital in Chester, she was not very well at all, I was very worried about her. Whilst on the platform, I noticed a lady standing quietly by the entry to the waiting room wearing a raincoat, and clutching a handbag. She had perfectly set hair, like ladies of a certain age and...
Theresa May tells Leprechauns “About that pot of gold…”
Tory PM Theresa May has finally admitted that the leprechaun community will not get the pot of gold they were promised. The leprechauns set off in mid summer, with high hopes for a better future, but after a few days some of their number started to question if it was a good idea. They were told they were traitors and they needed to take back control of the rainbow, and that had it been looming over them for so long....
The Weekly Cocktail Recipe – Hoxton Gin ‘Hoxton Cooler’
Having previously launched bars that include The Hoxton Pony and Baroque at the Playboy Club, Gerry Calabrese – son of world-famous barman Salvatore Calabrese – has created Hoxton Gin. Distilled with coconut and grapefruit, it would be fair to say that his riff on gin is exotic and somewhat wildly contemporary. Combining Hoxton Gin with Aperol, Sauvignon Blanc, lemon and grapes, the ‘Hoxton Cooler’ is one of the signature libations associated with the spirit and we have the very simple...
Slum landlord caught cramming 18 people into flat on same street Churchill died
A dodgy landlord has been slapped with a huge fine after he was found cramming 18 people into a flat, which was dangerous to live in. This area of London usually hosts the super-rich, living in lavish luxury, but not at this particular address. Abbas Rasul,64 was making a staggering £15k a month letting out the dwelling, which is in a Grade II listed building in uber-pricey Kensington, West London. Properties can be sold for tens of millions and attract...
Alex Lodge: Weekly Report Vol. 51
By Alex Lodge (@alexlodgemusic | Insta @alexlodgemusic7) Alex Lodge is a music supervisor for film, TV and advertising at Thirty Two. Winter is coming, so get your ears round this box-fresh new list of weird electronica, spiritual jazz, broken beat, soul and other peculiar aural curios. We’re one week off 52 editions of the Weekly Report now. Reach out on Twitter or Instagram if you’re listening and enjoying. https://open.spotify.com/user/11123730619/playlist/4RPYt3uaXUVH8wVH8e5CiU
People Must Have the Power to Decide What Sort of Brexit we Get
By Marcus Hendriks The referendum on 23rd June was only the third in the history of the United Kingdom. In other words, it was only the third time that true, direct democracy was witnessed. With precedent set by a nation-wide vote on membership of the European Economic Community in 1975, it was correct that the decision 41 years later should also be made by the people, rather than just the 1,400 members of the Houses of Commons and Lords. But the...
TLE Meets…Amy Lennox lead role in the new Bowie’s Lazarus show
Olivier nominated actress and west end star of Kinky Boots Amy Lennox will play the lead role ‘Elly’ in the new Bowie’s Lazarus show at King’s Cross Theatre. Can you give us any details on what to expect for David Bowie’s Lazarus theatre show? It’s loosely based on the sci-fi novel “The man who fell to Earth” by Walter Tevis- a kind of sequel. It’s difficult to describe in a nutshell (you’ll know exactly what I mean when you see...
Watch – ‘Hard Brexit’ or ‘no Brexit’ says EU president Tusk
This will be music to the ears of staunch Brexiteers, but will terrify everyone else. The EU council president, Donald Tusk, has said that there is only one type of Brexit…and it’s a Hard Brexit. Tusk rejected Boris Johnson’s claim that the UK would end up with a better deal with the EU than it has now. Donald’s remarks are the first time he has taken such a hardline against the UK. This comes as there are various reports US...