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Day: 15 April 2013

Manifesto: Jonathan Breen and Harriet Hill-Payne

Written by The Mancunion on . Posted in Features.

Manifesto for candidacy of:

Jonathan Breen: Editor

Harriet Hill-Payne: Deputy Editor

Jonathan – I think I would be a strong candidate for Editor of the student newspaper because I have extensive experience working on newspapers, and over this year have become intimately involved with the Mancunion, building on my previous work as a contributor to become a news editor this year.

As a committed member of the news team I have learnt a lot about producing content for the paper each week, as well as about how the paper comes together as a whole. Also, I have a close relationship with the current editor, through which I have developed a stronger understanding of what it takes to be an editor, more so I think than other members of the paper staff.

Harriet – As became evident in the second term of this year, having a separate magazine editor has had a really positive effect on the magazine section, and it is a proven model, which we would like to continue into next year. Having someone to specifically support the magazine section, and who has a background in writing for that section of the paper, has been invaluable, and the weekly meetings in which plans, ideas and concerns can be discussed has made the section feel more connected and, as a result, the paper as a whole more successful.

Having edited the Arts & Culture section of the paper for the past year, I feel I am a strong candidate for Deputy Editor. I have a good knowledge of Manchester’s cultural scene, which would be relevant to overseeing Music/Arts/Theatre, but also I have, from my own section and from the magazine section as a whole, a good sense of areas that have been successful and which we need to work on, and would, with the section editor team, use this opportunity to build on the strengths, and address where I think there are weaknesses.

Next year – We want to build on the impressive work done this year to enhance our online presence, making sure social media and WordPress/InDesign are covered extensively in the training sessions. We want to create better links with other student media, both in developing links with Fuse Radio/TV to potentially provide video and audio content for our website, but also trying to connect to some of the other student-led publications in Manchester, to access a wider readership and to bring in new content and new ideas.

We want to ensure the Section Editor training days deliver relevant information – potentially splitting the newspaper/magazine category to better think about the potential within each section, and to encourage editors to take ownership of their pages. For the paper, we want to see each section producing top quality student-related content, the news section and related sections continuing to tackle tough stories like they have this year, and more pages for sports to allow for wider university sport coverage. In the magazine section, we want to look at ways to build on the confidence our readership already has in us, hoping to introduce some regular columnists and features to give a sense of continuity and development week-on-week. We will look at ideas for weekly feature column/diary columns that are appropriate to each section, looking to ‘Craving and Saving,’ ‘Retro Corner’ or ‘Surviving Supper’ as examples of features which all anchor the page, encouraging readers to return to regular contributors/features, but allowing for flexibility in content each week.

The best/worst thing I’ve ever seen

Written by Ben Marshall on . Posted in Theatre.

The best thing I’ve ever seen: Blood Brothers (Phoenix Theatre, London, 2012)

Say it’s just a story! Well luckily Blood Brothers is, telling the highly emotional tale of un-identical twins who are separated at birth, and then unknowingly reunited later in life, with devastating consequences. Its perfect accompanying musical score features such classics as “Tell me it’s not true” and “Marilyn Monroe”, which along with the play’s richness of real life characters who the audience truly empathises with, were a great source of catharsis for me. The idea of the challenges of growing up in a rapidly changing world is ever-present, and since I saw this play just days before starting university last September, I was filled with an overwhelming epiphany of how my own life was changing. Sadly, gone are those care-free school days and long summers spent in the park when there were no worries in the world, “well, apart from deciding what clothes you’re gonna wear!”, and that’s exactly what we witness here – two lads going from chirpy children to troublesome teens full of freedom and fun, and into the big bad world of adulthood – poignant, heart wrenching and beautiful.

 

 

The worst thing I’ve ever seen: Sleeping Beauty (Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield, 2012)

I’m a huge fan of the timeless “It’s behind you” routines and the larger-than-life dames that pantos showcase, and this production of Sleeping Beauty did have both of these. However, these were the only positive droplets in this sea of theatrical shame. The acting overall was tired, bemusing and dull, with the comedy-clown character doing anything but make us laugh. At times, it was cringe worthy, due to this actor’s lack of melodramatic style. This is a character who is meant to delight the audience by handing out sweets and blowing up balloons etc, but the only balloons I noticed in the whole show were lead ones. The screeching villain Carabosse wasn’t much better, sounding more like a broken Witney Houston record than a wicked queen and as well as this, the storyline was all over the place, with an overly repetitive Act I, a terribly unstructured Act II and an ending that must have been written by a three year old. And this isn’t just my cynical views – I overheard conversations of my fellow audience members expressing their disappointment after the show. If it wasn’t for the brilliantly played dame, I would have walked out of the theatre at the interval. Oh yes I would!

Must See: 15th – 21st April

Written by Hannah Lawrence on . Posted in Theatre.

Rutherford and Son

Northern Broadsides directed by renowned theatre director Jonathan Miller bring a classic Edwardian Drama to The Lowry. Following John Rutherford a father and industrial tyrant who rules over both a work force and his family obsessed with keeping the business in the family. Where better to see a play set during a key moment in Britain’s industrial history, than in Manchester, a city steeped in industrial history!

Runs 16th – 20th April at The Lowry. Tickets £10.

 

 

The Thing about Psychopaths

Set in modern day Britain following a young man, Noel, who gets a big break at a major financial institution, finding himself out of his depth and struggling to cope as her realizes how small his compared to those who make the rules.

Runs 18th – 19th April at The Lowry. Tickets £5.

 

 

The Full Monty

On its way to the West End, via Manchester, the famous film based on the screen play by Oscar winner Simon Beaufoy has hit the stage. Now Beaufoy has headed back to Sheffield to rediscover the city and the place where the story started. Following six unemployed Northern steel workers and their job creation strategy the play, from the producers of Calendar Girls is sure to offer much hilarity

Runs 15th April – 20th April at The Lowry. Tickets £14.

 

 

Prequel vs Remake

Written by Lloyd Hammett on . Posted in Film.

It is always a worry for long term fans when either a prequel or a remake is announced of their favourite films or franchises. It is a credit to the original idea that these films get made, but which one is more likely to give a serious tribute to what we loved in the first place?

I am always a fan of the idea of prequels as it allows us to dive back into the world we so loved with new elements added to it. In possibly the greatest prequel ever, The Godfather Part II (aspects of it), you get to follow the story of young Vito Corleone (Robert De Niro). It is this sort of story that can make a prequel, as it is so greatly written and acted; it brings a whole new life to the character. The beginning of the story is always intriguing for fans and X-Men First Class provided amazing backdrop on two of the biggest characters in the X-Men universe, Professor Xavier (James McAvoy) and Magneto (Michael Fassbender). After the previously poor prequel in X-Men Origins: Wolverine we were won back, similar to Rise of the Planet of the Apes, helping us to forget the disappointing 2001 remake of Planet of the Apes. A Star Wars prequel centring on Han Solo has been rumoured and although exciting, can anyone play that character better than Harrison Ford? Oz the Great and Powerful recently came out as the prequel to the classic 1939 film The Wizard of Oz, which is the perfect way to relive the magic that this era defining film brought.

The creation of a remake is always a dangerous task, especially as they usually look to emulate previously great films. There are many cases where a remake has worked wonders, The Departed (Infernal Affairs remake), the 1984 Scarface and Christopher Nolan’s Insomnia. No one could complain that these films equalled, if not bettered the original, and that we are better off for them. However, it is often the case that the remake, although not bad, just does not touch the original, which begs the question do we really need them? The Mark Wahlberg starring Italian Job is enjoyable enough, but it just doesn’t hold the old school class and charm that Michael Caine’s 1969 version does. Disturbia is a good attempt with twists on its original, but the fact is it isn’t Rear Window, an Alfred Hitchcock masterpiece. A remake has to be absolutely perfect in its delivery otherwise previous fans will never warm to it. Those who grew up with Arnold Schwarzenegger being the biggest action hero there ever was, no doubt didn’t view Conan the Barbarian and Total Recall as quite matching up to their predecessors.

Christopher Nolan used the now loved ‘darker’ theme in his Batman Trilogy to reboot the franchise with the same characters, same world, but a completely new film. The Zack Snyder directed and Nolan produced Man of Steel being released this year also seems to have this dark, grittier touch. Possibly such innovation has come from Tim Burton and his darker takes on Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Alice in Wonderland.

There are examples of both good and bad prequels as well as good and bad remakes, leaving it all down to how the director decides to take on the project. When it comes to the film itself I can safely say I’d prefer a prequel, mainly because remakes always walk the line of embarrassing the original (I’m looking at you 1998 Psycho). But when it comes to it, an original script and movie should always be the first choice.

Come fly with me

Written by Sophie James on . Posted in Film.

This May sees the release of I’m So Excited or Los Amantes Pasajeros, the latest film from the titan of Spanish Cinema, Pedro Almodóvar. Whilst the title cleverly describes the current state of most Almodóvar fans, the film itself seems to be about a topic few of us would get excited about – following one fated plane journey towards Mexico City and the events that occur between passengers, crew and everyone in between.

This “stuck in a vehicle” scenario may seem familiar. After all, it was about this time last year that audiences were eagerly anticipating the release of the Cronenberg/Pattinson masterpiece Cosmopolis. But one look at the trailer tells us that I’m So Excited will be poles apart from the tense tale of a brooding hunk and his exploits in the back of a limo. King of the camp, flamboyant and extrovert, and with very much an “anything goes” philosophy; Almodóvar is always the one to knock us out with his crazy scripts and equally unpredictable characters. With Almodóvar himself describing the film as “a light, very light comedy” and with cameos from previous muses and Spanish acting royalty Penélope Cruz and Antonio Banderas, I’m So Excited is set to be a celebration of all things Almodóvar!

Excited yet? Well prepare to go into overdrive. If you’re unable to wait for its general release on the 3rd May, The Cornerhouse is hosting a UK launch screening of the film on Tuesday 23rd April, followed by a satellite interview with Pedro Almodóvar himself. Described as the most internationally successful Spanish director since Luis Buñuel, and having written and directed some of the most brilliant, outrageous and hilarious pieces of cinema the world, let alone Spain, has ever seen, an insight into the mind of this Oscar-winning director is an opportunity few will be able to pass up on. So fasten your seatbelts, this is one flight – I mean film – you won’t be needing your emergency exits for!

Review: ‘Spring Breakers’

Written by Alice Hughes on . Posted in Film.

Spring Breakers could be described as a spectacle of pop-art aesthetics, glorified violence and objectification amplified by an appropriately hyper-aggressive Skrillex score. All this is reminiscent of pornographic franchise, Girls Gone Wild and in its heightened sensationalism, reflects popular MTV inspired culture. So, it must be perverse trash right? Well, not necessarily.

Harmony Korine first gained notoriety as the writer of Kids (1995), a doped up picture of teenage drug taking and sex. In Spring Breakers, he has returned to youth culture in a slightly sleazier tale of four wayward college students who, dissatisfied with the mundanities of their life, escape to Spring Break.

Ultimately, this film completely immerses itself in spring break culture. Rather than objectively observing and criticising, each part of the film is seduced and embraces the hedonistic delights of the spring break holiday. In its fast-paced editing, vivid colours and inebriated camera angles, the camera eye leers at and joins the girls on their intoxicated dream.

Of course, this has caused much uproar and dislike amongst critics. Many have talked of its overt sexism, unsatisfactory plot and lack of charm. Others have gone so far as to argue that it glorifies and encourages the rape culture that seems to be emerging within America. All in all, many have agreed it to be a one-dimensional, shallow, drug and sex-fuelled headache.

However, one cannot deny its humour. The opening scene is a montage of ‘boobs and bums’ jiggling to the accompaniment of Skrillex. Additionally, James Franco gives an excellent humorous performance of a gangster called ‘Alien’. To set up the film with these shots, Korine is telling us what he wants to achieve. He wants to shock, embrace and parody the spring break culture. Additionally, by reflecting the camera style of that of ‘MTV culture’, perhaps his objectified gaze and lack of plot substance is a reflexive and ironic reflection of this culture.

But you can never be sure. Maybe Harmony is simply living out his perverted fantasies. One cannot deny that it is a little odd that he cast two ‘disney’ girls into a role which is hyper-sexualised, and quite frankly, lacking development and depth. Even if he is being ironic, you can’t deny the feeling that he is fully glorifying a culture that is so heavily criticised for its destructive nature.

However, I believe that this is an interesting reflection of our movie and video game obsessed culture. There are constant references to going back to ‘reality’ and spring break being in a ‘dream’, hinting that perhaps these protagonists get stuck in their idealised vision of themselves ‘as in a movie’.

Whatever your opinion, one cannot deny that this has potential to become a cult film. In its controversy, it has a certain mystique, and that is why, love it or hate it, it is worth seeing.

Top 5: Musicals!

Written by Olivia Stevens on . Posted in Film.

 5. The Muppets

This film follows the Muppets on a journey to reunite in order to save their old theatre from an evil oil tycoon. With songs by Flight of the Concords’ Bret McKenzie, who won an Oscar for the wonderful ‘Man or a Muppet’, it is one of the happiest films I have ever seen.

 

4. Funny Face

Funny Face stars Audrey Hepburn and Fred Astaire, both on form, as the reluctant model Jo and fashion photographer Dick Avery respectively. This is the best film to cheer me up on a rainy Sunday afternoon with beautiful views of Paris and a wonderful wardrobe.

 

3. Moulin Rouge!

A tale of doomed love between a young poet and a beautiful courtesan, loosely based of Verdi’s La Traviata, Moulin Rouge is a modern masterpiece.  It has a sumptuous set and a brilliant score that reworks modern songs into the 19th century time frame. It is a film that is a treat for the eyes and ears.

 

2. The Rocky Horror Picture Show

With an unforgettable performance by Tim Curry as Dr. Frank-N-Furter and classic songs such as ‘The Time Warp’, The Rocky Horror Picture Show has become famous for its devoted fans and midnight screenings. A true cult classic.

 

1. Cabaret

While it may not have the cheeriest subject matter, being set in Berlin during the early 1930s, Cabaret is a truly great musical. Winning 8 Oscars, it has brilliant songs and fabulous performances from the whole cast especially by Liza Minnelli and Joel Grey.