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Day: 24 October 2017

Review: Days of Wine and Roses

Written by Anuli Changa on . Posted in Theatre.

Adapted by Owen McCafferty from JP Miller’s screenplay about a couple in a mutually destructive relationship fuelled by alcoholism, Days of Wine and Roses is an evocative play set in 60s London, taking an episodical look at the life of this couple.

Beginning in an airport in Belfast, we meet Donal and Mona, both on their way to start new lives in London. From the very first scene we learn of Arkle, a racehorse Donal is obsessed with — now a legend in Irish racing history — and offers the name to Mona to bet on.

Donal offers Mona a sip from his flask, her first ever taste of alcohol but certainly not the last. In the simple studio theatre with clever set depicting sixties swinging London and photos of the races, the audience is surrounded by the changes Donal and Mona go through.

I found myself frequently forgetting I was watching a play, rather it felt like witnessing someone’s life unfold, with relatively short scenes interspersed with period music and set changes. We follow Mona and Dona into a marriage with a young son: Mona, a dissatisfied housewife, and Donal, a dissatisfied bookie.

The culture of drinking consumes them both and they spiral into a self-destructive and violent relationship. Beautifully directed by Jake Murray, capturing the nuances of a story of seemingly ordinary people dealing with a complicated addiction.

Incredibly performed by Alice Frankham and Danny Solomon, we witness the physical and emotional deterioration of these two once fresh-faced young people on an adventure in the big city. The physical violence portrayed is shocking and is cleverly contrasted with the love these two people share, and the conflict of their desire to lead better lives.

Audience emotions are wrenched from place to place as the couple successfully sober up — only to discover they’d both been hiding alcohol in the house and one celebration spells the end of their brief respite from the addiction.

We are prudently reminded of the time in history — not only by the minimal and movable set but also by historical references that didn’t intrude on the story. Perhaps the hardest-hitting reminder is Donal’s choice to take their son home to Belfast — leaving Mona — and she asks him if he would really be taking their son to a country gripped by the Troubles.

Donal’s decision to leave is influenced by Arkle the horse’s death. It is as if there is nothing left to keep him in London. Arkle is a fascinating motif and metaphor for the choices and behaviour of Donal’s character which Mona never seems to understand. The horse embodies Donal’s passion, obsession, how he loves, and also what he loses.

This performance captivated, surprised, and impressed me. Both actors were impeccable and I was left still invested in the story, we were let into snapshots of the life of a struggling couple but would never know how it ‘ends’. This in itself was an interesting and effective way of ending the play: life doesn’t have happy endings.

As the stage went dark on Donal packing to leave for Belfast, we were left with a strong sense that this story was far from over. I can’t wait to see more from Elysium Theatre Company.

Lisbon – a must-see city

Written by Megan Ritchie on . Posted in Lifestyle.

As someone who likes to get lost in their own world whilst reminiscing, I realise it was nearly a year ago my family and I took a trip to Lisbon. Writing this, it seems so difficult to pinpoint the best parts of my five-day trip to talk about. So, here’s just a little taste of both my experience in the City of Seven Hills and what it has to offer.

Image: Megan Ritchie

On our first day, we took a ride on Tram 28 — the pretty yellow Remodelado tram from the 1930s that can be seen on the majority of Lisboeta magnets and souvenirs. After departing from Praça do Martim Moniz, it takes those exploring Lisbon on the longest route around the city, so it’s an ideal way to take in all the views that Lisbon boasts from the narrow streets of Alfama to the Se Cathedral.

A quirky alternative to a rickety ride on Tram 28 is a more personalised tour on a tuk-tuk. Admittedly not traditional of Lisboeta culture, these have now become a part of a modern Lisbon as they line the streets in the city centre.

The drivers are clued-up on all things Lisbon and will personalise the route they take based on the places you want to see. On our final day, our driver took us to the sites we hadn’t yet visited and even stopped in places to let us look around and take photos.

Speaking of history in Lisbon, situated within the Baixa Pombalina in Sacramento is the Elevador de Santa Justa. The lift, built in 1837, took us 45 metres high to take in the views of the São Jorge Castle to the Tagus River. Those that are a little more daring can take the spiral staircase to the terrace for even higher views after the lift reaches its highest point.

Image: Megan Ritchie

I — reluctantly — made my way up the staircase to the terrace, but the views did not disappoint. It’s the ideal place to look down on this city and the landscape that rises and falls upon the seven hills that the city is built on.

Then from the terrace, a bridge connects the viewpoint to a walk-way back down to the lower streets of Baixa. The descent is also quite an adventure as we tackled the maze of windy roads back down to the ground.

If there’s time for a trip outside of Lisbon’s city centre, Belém is a must-see. It took us half an hour to get there from Cais do Sodré on the 15E bus. Home to Belém tower, Jerónimos Monastery and Padrão dos Descobrimentos — a historical landmark for Henry the Navigator —, Belém is perfect for those that want to gain some cultural and historical background knowledge.

To truly get a feel for Lisboeta tradition, it’s only right that we indulged in the famous pastel de nata — a Portuguese egg tart. We visited Pastéis de Belém — recently shown on The Great British Bake Off. The 180-year-old pastelaría holds the secret recipe for the first original pastels, so you really are taking a bite into history whilst relishing some more amazing sites in quaint Belém.

And on the subject of food, this brings me to one of the highlights of my trip. Situated a short walk away from the Cais do Sodré metro station is Time-Out Market — heaven on earth for food fans just like me!

Time-Out Market has it all with 30 different restaurants represented under one roof, meaning visitors can indulge in Portuguese classics, burgers, Asian food, seafood, and chicken, in the home country of peri-peri.

You simply order as much as you want from wherever you want and the place(s) you order from will give you a device that will light up and vibrate when your food is ready to collect. Over-indulgence has never been easier!

My favourite was sampling the petiscos á portuguesa at Cozinha da Felicidade — that’s ‘Kitchen of Happiness’ — that lived up to its name entirely. Time-Out Market is ideal for both the foodie and the fussy eater giving plenty choice but all-around great quality food.

It’s a cliché and the phrase gets thrown around but there really is something for everyone in this city. It’s a city bursting at the seams with history, its gothic architectural wonders stand tall in parts yet the narrow streets of its neighbourhoods are a multi-coloured wash of quaint houses and vibrant eateries.

That said, imagery doesn’t do this place justice; you can only really understand how wonderful it is when you’re wrapped up in its beauty yourself.

Flight prices from Manchester to Lisbon (with return) in January 2018 start at £42pp with Ryanair.
All flight prices were correct on the 18th October 2017.

HOME Cinema Preview: 20th October

Written by James Gill on . Posted in Film.

Films opening at HOME this week:

The Death of Stalin

Directed by Armando Iannucci – Rated 15

Based on graphic novel The Death Of Stalin by Fabien Nury and Thierry Robin, writer and director Armando Iannucci’s (Veep, The Thick of It) acerbic satire is set in the days following the Russian leader’s stroke in 1953 as his core team of ministers tussle for control. An all-star cast includes Steve Buscemi, Simon Russell Beale, Paddy Considine, Rupert Friend, Jason Isaacs, and Olga Kurylenko.

Click here to book tickets

I Am Not a Witch

Directed by Rungano Nyoni – Rated 12A

After a minor incident in her village, nine-year-old Shula is exiled to a travelling witch camp where she is told that if she tries to escape she will be transformed into a white goat. As she navigates through her new life, she must decide whether to accept her fate or risk the consequences of seeking freedom.

Click here to book tickets

Dina

Directed by Antonio Santini, Dan Sickles – Rated 15

Dina, an outspoken and eccentric 49-year-old in suburban Philadelphia, invites her fiancé Scott, a Walmart door-greeter, to move in with her. Having grown up neurologically diverse in a world blind to the value of their experience, the two are head-over-heels for one another, but shacking up poses a new challenge.

Filmmakers Dan Sickles and Antonio Santini construct seamless vérité scenes that lovingly frame Dina and Scott’s vulnerable, yet matter-of-fact romance. Whether at the local nail salon, the warm beaches of Ocean City, Dina’s racy bachelorette party, or on honeymoon in the Poconos, Dina captures the cadences and candid conversations of a relationship that re-examines the notion of love on-screen.

Click here to book tickets

The Inertia Variations

Directed by Johanna St Michaels – Rated 15

Matt Johnson, of the English band The The, has remained silent as a singer/songwriter for years. Now he attempts to challenge contemporary politics through his own 12-hour live radio broadcast. But sudden grief and a request to write a new song reveal old demons of inertia and bereavement.

Click here to book tickets

The Ballad of Shirley Collins

Directed by Rob Curry, Tim Plester – Rated 12A

Widely regarded as the 20th century’s most important singer of English traditional song, Shirley Collins stood at the epicentre of the folk-music scene during the 1960s and ‘70s. However, in 1980 she lost her voice in mysterious circumstances and was forced to retire from musical life. Rob Curry and Tim Plester’s documentary sets out to explore the story behind the icon, and chronicles Shirley’s battle, at the grand old age of 80, to rediscover that voice she lost so many years previously.

The film offsets this contemporary journey with a more literal one taken from the other end of her life and makes fertile use of authentic 1959 audio-archive to recount the tale of Shirley’s seminal road-trip around America’s Deep South alongside her then-lover, pre-eminent ethnomusicologist Alan Lomax.

Featuring cameos from the comedian Stewart Lee, and David Tibet of Current 93, the film eschews a straightforward biopic approach and mindfully sidesteps any rockumentary talking-heads; the filmmakers instead offering up a meditative and richly textured piece of portraiture. One which uses Shirley’s story as a prism through which to explore and reflect upon themes of heritage, posterity and the true ancestral melodies of the people.

Here then is a film about loss and redemption. A film about sacrifice, healing and rebirth. A film which suggests that, during these turbulent and increasingly untethered times, we might just need Shirley Collins now more than ever.

This event is part of the Manchester Folk Festival – a celebration of English folk in all its forms, from indie to traditional, familiar names alongside exciting new voices. From the 19th  to the 22nd of October, in and around HOME, the whole festival takes place in one area of Manchester over one weekend.

The Festival presents an incredible music line-up, as well as craft workshops, film, a proper pub singalong, artists in conversation, and a relaxed Festival Hub where you can watch the world go by. Friendly, inclusive and full of opportunities for discovery, it will have the spirit of a festival in a field, in the heart of the city.

Click here to book tickets

Films continuing this week:

The Party

Directed by Sally Potter – Rated 15

Sally Potter’s (Orlando) latest feature is a comedy wrapped around a tragedy which unfolds in real time in an upmarket London house.

Janet is hosting an intimate gathering of friends to celebrate her promotion to Shadow Minister of Health in the party of opposition. Her husband, Bill, seems preoccupied. As their friends arrive, the soirée gradually unravels. As people’s illusions about themselves and each other go up in smoke, along with the canapés, The Party becomes a night that began with champagne but ends with blood on the floor.

Click here to book tickets

Loving Vincent

Directed by Dorota Kobiela, Hugh Welchman – Rated 12A

Co-directors Kobiela and Welchman explore Vincent van Gogh’s most inspirational paintings to tell the story of his remarkable work, career and his untimely and controversial demise. A synthesis of painting and cinema, this is a lovingly crafted, intelligent and informative work.

Loving Vincent will also be screening as part of Manchester Animation Festival on 15 Nov 20:15.

Click here to book tickets

Blade Runner 2049

Directed by Denis Villeneuve – Rated 15

Thirty years after the events in Ridley Scott’s seminal sci-fi, a new Blade Runner, LAPD Officer K — played by Ryan Gosling —, unearths a long-buried secret that has the potential to plunge what’s left of society into chaos. K’s discovery leads him on a quest to find Deckard — Harrison Ford returning to his old role — who has been missing for 30 years. Acclaimed director Denis Villeneuve (Sicario) delivers perhaps the most eagerly anticipated film of the year.

Click here to book tickets

Special Events this week:

21st October – Yugoslavia, How Ideology Moved Our Collective Body + Intro Talk 

Popivoda’s work at the intersection of performance and film often explores the structure of the cultural and political spheres in both the former Yugoslavia and the broader contemporary world. Yugoslavia, How Ideology Moved Our Collective Body deals with the question of how ideology reveals itself in public space through mass performances.

The author collected and analyzed film and video footage from the Yugoslavia years (1945–2000), focusing on state performances (youth work actions, May Day parades, celebrations of the Youth Day, etc.) and counter-demonstrations (student and civic demonstrations in 1968 and the 1990s, the 5 October Overthrow of 2000, etc.). Going back through the images, the film traces how Communist ideology was gradually exhausted through the changing relations between the people, ideology, and the state.

The film will be preceded by a 30-minute talk by Jamie Rann, suitable for those with no prior knowledge of the subject.

‘Future Perfect, Past Perfect: Memory and the Russian Avant-Garde’

The Russian avant-garde of the early twentieth century is known as an unprecedented explosion of originality and idealism in art, music, and literature. But it was also a different way of thinking about time, of imagining the relationship between past, present and future.

Groups like the Russian Futurists nurtured ambitious hopes of breaking free from the burden of the past and building a utopian future. That was a century ago. What happens to the dream of the future once it is a part of the past? How do we remember the future? This talk looks at the life and legacy of Futurist poets like Velimir Khlebnikov and Vladimir Mayakovsky as a way of exploring the paradoxes of ambition and nostalgia that shaped the twentieth century and still resonate today.

Jamie Rann is Teaching Fellow in Russian at the University of Birmingham. He is the editor and a translator of Subkultura, by Artemy Troitsky, about histories of resistance in Russia, and is currently writing a book about Russian Futurist literature.

Click here to book tickets

21st October – The Ballad of Shirley Collins + Q&A 

See above for details about the film itself.

We will be joined by producer Paul Williams for a Q&A following this special preview screening chaired by Ian Anderson, Editor of fRoots Magazine

Click here to book tickets

22nd October – After this Our Exile 

Directed by Patrick Tam – Rated 15

Patrick Tam was another director to emerge during the Hong Kong new wave, and After this Our Exile is without doubt one of the best Hong Kong films since 1997. Set in an unspecified past, it is the story of a family, a father and a son, and the difficulty and disappointment of everyday life.  Another winner of Best Film at the Hong Kong film awards and the Golden Horse awards.

We are pleased to be able to screen the director’s longer edit of the film.

Click here to book tickets

22nd October – Angels of Revolution

Directed by Aleksei Fedorchenko – Rating TBA

Five friends — a poet, an actor, a painter, an architect, and a film director – are five red avant-garde artists who try to find the embodiment of their hopes and dreams in the young Soviet state. The Revolution is boiling up like a bottle of apple cider: winged service dogs and heart-shaped potatoes, dead Semashko, the People’s Commissar for Health, and cheerful angels, love for the Tsar, and love for the young secretary Annushka, executions and pregnancies — everything is interlaced and inseparable!

1934: the legendary Communist fighter, the beautiful Polina-Revoluzia, is asked by the newborn Soviet government to bring order to the north of the Soviet Union. The shamans of the two native populations, Khanty and Nenets, refuse the new ideology. Polina convinces five of her friends to go with her, former colleagues-in-arms who have now become metropolitan artists: a composer, a sculptor, a theatre director, a Constructivist architect, a famous director. They will have to try and reconcile the culture of the Russian Avant-garde with the Ancient Paganism of the peoples who live in the virgin forest around the great Siberian river Ob.

The film is based on a true story.

Click here to book tickets

23rd October – The Inertia Variations + Q&A 

See above for details about the film itself.

We will be joined by Matt Johnson and Johanna St Michaels for a Q&A following the screening on Mon 23 Oct at 18:10.

Click here to book tickets

24th October –  UK Premiere/ Dalida + Post-Screening Discussion 

This film will be followed by a post-screening discussion led by Dalia Mostafa, Lecturer in Arabic and Comparative Literature at the University of Manchester.

Although she remains largely unknown in the UK, Dalida was France’s best-selling female singer in the 20th century and a much-loved artist throughout Europe and her native Middle East. Her versatile music output, which spanned a 1950s Latin style, 1960s yéyé rock and 1970s disco, ensured her success and epitomized an oft-mocked Euro-pop sound.

Yet her tragic private life, marred by the suicides of those she loved, also aroused the sympathy of her international audience and contributed to her immense popularity. Released to coincide with the 30-year anniversary of the singer’s death, the biopic Dalida foregrounds all the essential characteristics of a modern pop star: musical hybridity, glamour, showmanship, and vulnerability. A moving and unforgettable experience!

Click here to book tickets

25th October – Grace Jones: Bloodlight & Bami – Live with Friends 

Rated 15

Grace Jones and Friends Live promises to be a thrilling and enlightening evening with the inimitable icon, as she discusses her life and work with some of her closest collaborators, from the worlds of music, fashion, art and film, following an exclusive preview of Sophie Fiennes’ highly anticipated new film Grace Jones: Bloodlight and Bami.

Grace Jones: Bloodlight and Bami takes the viewer on an intimate and electrifying journey that moves between four cinematic layers — performance, family, artist and gypsy – to explore the fascinating world of this pop cultural phenomenon. Here we see her behind the mask as a daughter, mother, sister and grandmother, alongside taking to the stage for a specially commissioned performance, with legendary hits including Pull Up To The Bumper and Slave to the Rhythm showcased in full. Larger than life, bordering on cartoon, wild, scary and androgynous — Grace Jones plays all these parts.

Click here to book tickets

26th October – Preview: 78/52 + Q&A

Directed by Alexandre O. Philippe – Rated 15

In 78 setups and 52 cuts, the deliriously choreographed two-minute shower sequence in Psycho ripped apart cinema’s definition of horror. With a shocking combination of exploitation and high art, Alfred Hitchcock upended his own acclaimed narrative structure by violently killing off a heroine a third of the way through his film, without explanation, justification, or higher purpose.

Psycho played out like a horrific prank, forcing audiences to recognise that even the banalest domestic spaces were now fair game for unspeakable mayhem. With black-and-white film-geek reverence, director Alexandre O. Philippe breaks down this most notorious and essential scene shot for shot, enlisting the help of film buffs and filmmakers alike—including Guillermo del Toro, Bret Easton Ellis, Karyn Kusama, Eli Roth, and Peter Bogdanovich.

We will be joined by director Alexandre O. Philippe for a Q&A following this screening.

Click here to book tickets

26th October – Psycho

Directed by Alfred Hitchcock – Rated 15

After exploring the background to Psycho’s famous shower scene in 78/52, here’s a chance to put that carefully constructed murder in context with Alfred Hitchcock’s 1960 game-changer. Audiences that had come to expect horror in the form of Universal creatures or the Gothic flourishes of Hammer were stunned by Anthony Perkins’ all-too-recognisable monster, especially when the resulting chills were presented in such a deceptively simple style. A landmark genre film and a brilliant big-screen experience that seems to become more fascinating – and more suspenseful – the more one learns about it.

Click here to book tickets

Preview: Liam Fray

Written by Yasmin Duggal on . Posted in Music.

Liam Fray, frontman and songwriter of Courteeners — one of the country’s biggest and most loved home grown bands — has announced a series of intimate acoustic shows across the country in October and November. All dates have now sold out with further shows being added to the tour, and two dates are planned for Manchester’s Albert Hall.

At the gigs, Liam promises Courteeners’ classics as well as a deep dive into rarely heard songs from the band’s decade-old back catalogue. Lesser known tracks from St Jude, Falcon, and Anna can expect to be heard, as well as more recent songs from later albums, Concrete Love, and Mapping the Rendezvous.

Having played Courteener’s biggest gig to date at Old Trafford Cricket Ground in May to 50,000 fans, Fray is now swapping the huge electric-fuelled arenas for acoustic, relaxed shows at small venues around the UK. Fray has previously toured on his own in 2013, in between the release of Anna and Concrete Love, to huge success, and this tour is sure to receive similar praise.

With Courteener’s gigs usually rampant with chanting, lad-about-town, boozy crowds — a thrilling atmosphere for any indie fan —, this tour will embrace a different ambience. Tracks are stripped back and a mellow atmosphere is expected in the smaller venues. Dedicated Courteeners fans will be treated to an alternative experience — and a different side of Manchester’s best-loved noughties frontman.

Though diehard fans of the band should fear not — this solo break does not spell the end for the band, more a chance for Liam Fray to play fan favourites that they would not usually have the chance to play live, and treat avid fans to something different.

You can catch Liam Fray’s Solo Acoustic Tour at Manchester’s Albert Hall on Friday the 3rd and Saturday the 4th of November.

Jerk Ham, Egg, and Chips

Written by Samuel Pigott on . Posted in Food & Drink.

Jerk Ham, Egg, and Chips

Ingredients:

500g Smoked gammon

1 handful black peppercorns

1 red onion

2 fresh bay leaves

1 carrot roughly cubed

Oven chips

1 or 2 eggs per person

For the Jerk Marinade

2 cloves garlic

2 scotch bonnet chillies

1 red onion

1 tbsp honey

½ bunch fresh thyme

2 fresh bay leaves

1 tbsp each of ground allspice, nutmeg, ground cloves

½ tbsp. each of ground cinnamon, ground cumin, oregano and cayenne pepper

100ml spiced rum

50g fresh ginger

½ bunch spring onions

Sunflower oil

Salt and pepper

1 tin of pineapple rings

Method

Place the gammon into a pan of cold water so it is entirely submerged. Add to this the red onion peeled and cut into wedges, the carrot, bay leaves and the peppercorns. Bring to the boil, reduce to simmer and cook for 20 mins per 450g/½kg(lb) + 20 mins.

Once the gammon is cooked take it out of the pan and leave to cool. Once cooled remove any fat with a sharp knife and then score approximately 1cm into the skin in a diagonal pattern all along the surface.

To make the jerk paste simply add all the ingredients apart from the pineapple and oil into a food processor. Begin to blend and add a little oil until a paste is formed. Spread this paste all over the gammon and leave for at least 1 hour, but ideally overnight.

Preheat the oven to 180C. Layer the pineapple rings along the bottom of a baking tray and then place the meat on top, with any excess paste scraped from it. Roast for 30 minutes.

Once the meat is cooked remove it from the oven and leave to rest covered in foil for the time it takes to cook the oven chips and fry the eggs and then serve!

 

Review: Loving Vincent

Written by Tobias Soar on . Posted in Film.

Six years in the making, composed of over 65,000 hand-painted frames by over a hundred artists, “Loving Vincent” is a one-of-a-kind, once-in-a-generation spectacle, that pushes the boundaries of what we thought was possible in the art of cinema. Backed up by a moving soundtrack and an incredibly talented cast, the story of Van Gogh’s death is brought to light in this work of fiction.

Everyone’s talking about it, and rightly so: this film is jaw-droppingly gorgeous; it feels like you’re watching an infinite stream of Van Gogh’s paintings being brought to life because you quite literally are doing just that. When this film eventually releases on Blu-Ray, I’m going to stick it on a loop on my desktop PC; the visuals alone are worthy of belonging in a museum.

Believe me when I say that at various moments during the film I wanted to step out of my seat at Cinema 5 of HOME Cinema to touch the screen and feel the brushstrokes under my fingertips in front of the full showing.

Technically speaking, the process behind making this film is a refinement of an age-old technique known as rotoscoping. The all-star cast composed of Saoirse Ronan, Jerome Flynn and Chris O’Dowd, to name a few, was filmed using a standard cinema-grade camera. Then the footage was used as

Then the footage was used as a reference and was painted over, by hand, by over a hundred artists, frame by frame, in Van Gogh’s style, to achieve the desired effect presented in a 4:3 aspect ratio, exactly like a landscape oriented painting.

The attention to detail achieved by these artists is simply mind-blowing. Light sources such as stars and candles flicker in the background while their reflections on wine and beer glasses shimmer in a dream-like manner.

A couple of scuffles occur in the story and their animation is just sublime, smooth, and a pleasure to watch.

The dreaminess of the film is enhanced by the clever “camerawork” – if you can even call a non-existent camera in an animation that — that isn’t constrained by the physical limitations of the real world, adapting to its environment and achieving angles that may be possible in our reality if we ever break through to using the fourth dimension as a cinematographic tool.

To top it off, the transitions between scenes are ingenious, presenting the viewer with a melting, flowing blend of colours and shapes, just as Van Gogh painted, in the place of traditional jump-cuts.

Van Gogh’s last days are a mystery, to say the least, however directors and writers Dorota Kobiela and Hugh Welchman gathered as much real evidence as they could from multiple books and the artist’s letters to his brother Theo, to tell the story.

If Agatha Christie were to write a story about Vincent’s death, this would be it. Eyewitness accounts of his last days are unreliable and incoherent with one another, adding to a great sense of mystery that shrouds the film. The plot isn’t anything we haven’t seen before but it’s presented so beautifully that it’s totally permissible. It’s pacing is laid back, I wouldn’t call it slow but it isn’t racing forward at a breakneck speed, either.

The plot isn’t anything we haven’t seen before, but it’s presented so beautifully that it’s totally permissible. It’s pacing is laid back, I wouldn’t call it slow but it isn’t racing forward at a breakneck speed, either.

Although the voice acting is top notch, the fact that many characters are extremely British, despite having a plot that takes place in France, caught me off guard initially but then made sense as the performance continued. Using faux French accents would be distasteful and even more unsettling than regional accents from Great Britain, therefore the decision is a wise one, in my eyes, at least.

Lovers of drama, murder-mysteries, art, Van Gogh or visual spectacles, I urge you to go and watch this film. It’s, hands down, the most beautiful film I have ever laid my eyes upon. It’s hypnotising and will suck you into its dreamy canvas, despite having a good yet slightly cliché plot.

Going to watch this gorgeous, groundbreaking work of art is essential to anyone who likes to brag about “having been there” when this film was in cinemas. But, most of all, please remain in your seat, I doubt your fellow cinema-goers will appreciate your loving caresses of the silver screen.

 

Rating: 4/5

Halloween’s unlikely style icons

Written by Talia Lee-Skudder on . Posted in Fashion & Beauty.

It’s that time of year again. The leaves have started to fall, the nights are drawing in, and Halloween is looming just around the corner. In previous years, I have struggled to fully embrace the 31st of October, the memories still haunt me of lathering decade old makeup onto my face as a child and coming out in a rash.

Most people seem to give the night a very halfhearted attempt. Usually, fancy dress involves a very cute — albeit, revealing — outfit, with killer makeup which is less than scary.

And that’s just the lads. It’s tricky ground, you don’t want to appear as though ‘you are too cool to bother’, but you also don’t want to find yourself having a Cady Heron moment. Halloween is the most complicated event in the fashion social calendar.

Aside from manoeuvring the do’s and don’t’s of this festive period, Halloween does also provide us with some very unlikely style icons. As we move into the winter months, take inspiration from some of the most memorable Halloween characters and fancy dress favourites and incorporate their styles into your everyday winter wardrobe.

Morticia Addams

Whilst her trademark long black hair has become a staple of every Halloween party, The Addam’s Family matriarch Morticia is a very improbable fashionista and knows exactly how to rock a fitted black dress and a red lip.

Although her complexion is on the paler side, her makeup and nails are always immaculate. If you can take any fashion advice from this fictional character, let it be to find what suits your body shape and stick with it.

Morticia wears the same black dress throughout the much-loved series, was this because of the small wardrobe budget or because she knew her fitted black fishtail dress was a flattering, failsafe signature look? I am fairly convinced it has to be the latter.

Take inspiration from her, know what suits your body and never be afraid to wear black lace.

SJP in Hocus Pocus

When I was little, watching Hocus Pocus was a regular feature in the run-up to Halloween. I was always so desperate to dress up as Sarah Sanderson, who just also happens to be the very stylish Sarah Jessica Parker — I had good taste even as a five-year-old, but I didn’t understand that a child wearing a corset was just not appropriate.

Now, it is perfectly okay to incorporate a corset into an evening look, whether you wear it over a t-shirt or under a jacket, the corset is a great way to update your outfit. In their SS18 runway show, JW Anderson showcased their relaxed take on the classic style by creating less structured corsets that can be worn every day.

Chokers

Chokers have been big on the scene for the past year or so now and their popularity does not seem to be wavering. A choker is Halloween chic at its finest and an easy addition to complete any outfit.

The origins of the choker trace back to the French Revolution in the 18th Century when women wore a red ribbon around their necks in homage to those who met their death at the guillotine. The red colour of the choker symbolised the blood of the dead. From its bloody background to the choker craze of the 1990s, the popular necklace trend is now enjoying a long revival.

Velvet

Think Debbie Reynolds in Disney’s cult classic film Halloweentown. The fun-loving grandmother knew how to wear velvet in rich autumnal shades, whilst the style is outdated velvet certainly is not.

The sumptuous and lavish material has always been a staple in the autumn/winter wardrobes of the rich and famous. Velvet clothing is great for transitional clothing and taking you into those colder winter months — less witchlike, more chic. The perfect Halloween inspired fabric.

Michael Keaton in Beetlejuice

The 1980s classic Beetlejuice provided us with Michael Keaton’s famous fitted striped suit, a statement look that would not look entirely out of place in our everyday wardrobes. The striped suit is not reserved solely for men but is a super stylish choice for all of the fashion-forward women out there.

Cara Delevingne and Olivia Palermo are fans of wearing a fitted tuxedo on the red carpet, and Beetlejuice’s vibrant vertical striped suit would not be out of place here. Vertical stripes are also a winner for elongating your legs, what’s not to love?

Alternatively, you could wear each item separately. Team a black and white striped blazer with your black skinnies or some striped trousers with a leather jacket and be more understated in your channelling of Halloween’s favourite film character, Beetlejuice.

Whilst Halloween only lasts one day, these pieces will become timeless additions to your autumn/winter wardrobe.

Live Review: The Australian Pink Floyd

Written by Yasmin Duggal on . Posted in Music.

Sunday 15th October at Liverpool Echo Arena

Celebrating Pink Floyd live since 1988 and selling over 4 million tickets across 35 countries, The Australian Pink Floyd have created a legacy in their own right. Tribute bands are often mocked as a poor attempt to recreate the real-life magic of the world’s greatest, but the Aussies remain a spectacle of their own. They so perfectly capture the essence, the politics, the colours, the immense instrumentals of such an influential band; it’s an honour to still be able to experience the awe.

An eclectic set list cohesively bound the show together, undulating between decades, styles, and albums, with the flow of an extremely well-oiled machine. They exquisitely encapsulated that imperative listening etiquette with Pink Floyd; their albums are a narrative, and the band successfully delivered, telling their own story, with a sentimental reference to Syd Barrett during ‘Shine On You Crazy Diamond’.

‘Breathe’ set the bar for an extravagant show, back up singers Lara Smiles, Emily Lynn, and Lorelei McBroom astonishing with their vocals on their solos, and front man Chris Barnes commanding attention with his hugely powerful presence as he stepped forward to the microphone and unleashed David Gilmour, with his own added flare. What was effective was there was no attempt to physically imitate the band, just a wholeness to the respect they paid Pink Floyd.

Visually stimulating moments came during the use of giant blow-up puppets, which hovered ominously above the crowd, the teacher, kangaroo and pig all creating spectacles at relevant moments in the tribute. Montages of bumbling political figures, provocative Banksy works, and Pink Floyd’s own visuals elevated the show to an overwhelming aesthetic level. If the music wasn’t spot on individually, the theatricality of Pink Floyd’s legacy was made to be felt.

A stand-out moment, besides every monumental track, was ironically a stripped back ‘Wish You Were Here’, which needed the assistance of just a solitary acoustic guitar, but which filled the arena with a tangible nostalgia.

Lasers imitating the movement of guitar strings was strikingly poignant as that familiar five note sequence signalled the start of the unmistakable Floyd track. With the spotlight centred on guitarist and vocalist David Domminney Fowler, it was one of those pin-drop moments which inevitably induce a tear — or two.

The competence and fluidity with which The Australian Pink Floyd capture the wizardry of the real thing is astounding. They are all incredible musicians in their own right, and remind us that recapturing such a niche art form is not an easy thing to do, but when done successfully, can evoke the same power that their predecessors held in decades gone by.

10/10

Halloween makeup on a student budget

Written by Jennifer Knowles on . Posted in Fashion & Beauty.

Up until recently, your Halloween make-up was probably stolen from your younger sibling’s dress-up box and smeared on in a desperate attempt to make a successfully scary, but not completely disastrous, Halloween makeup.

When I took a trip to my local Superdrug, I was pleasantly surprised by the vast number of new affordable products on the makeup stands.

Revolution, the cheap and animal-friendly make-up brand, have come out with a range of Halloween themed makeup.

Standing out immediately was their ‘Ghost sculpt’ pallet (£4), containing a duo of grey/black powder to carve out cheekbones and accentuate hollows of the face and a white powder to give you that pale spooky look — no fake tan necessary for this holiday season. In addition, they have also introduced realistic fake blood and scar liquid latex for just £2 each if you’re going for a more realistically scary look.

Photo: Superdrug

MUA’s ‘undress your skin’ highlighters are a personal favourite of mine, at only £3 for a large pan that will last months. These can give a natural or intense glow depending on how much you build up the product, making them very versatile for any radiant look.

This year, on MUA’s shelves are the new range of Halloween-themed highlight shades including ‘Black magic’, a dark glittery powder for a more Gothic highlight, or ‘Glistening amethyst’ and ‘Aqua shine’ if you’re going for something more mythical, such as space or mermaid themed.

Photo: Superdrug

With Stephen King’s IT on the must-watch horror movie list of the year, the clown trend is more popular than ever.

All you need is some smeared eyeliner — the Rimmel ‘Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal Eye Liner’ is the perfect blacker than black pencil you need to create this creepy look — paired with some overdrawn red lipstick; the ‘Scarlett Moisturising Lipstick’ from New Look’s makeup range is bright red, joker-style, and at only £3.99 is a complete bargain. Use MUA’s red lipliner, pricing at only £1, which also includes a sharpening lid to ensure that you can draw a precise outline.

With just a few cheap products it’s never been easier to create so many spooky-chic makeup looks this Halloween. Head over to the Superdrug website where you can watch some Halloween-inspired makeup tutorials.

Top 5 Horrorcore Songs

Written by Tobias Soar on . Posted in Music, Uncategorised.

‘Mark’ — Shahmen

The mysterious and dark rapper, Shahmen, brings a hard-hitting production and his deep, earthy voice to the table in this track.

‘South Side Suicide’ — $uicideboy$

Though the New Orleans duo doesn’t consider themselves horrorcore, their themes of suicide are dark enough to warrant that title.

‘Yonkers’ — Tyler, The Creator

His most recent album Flower Boy presents a departure from his original style, however, ‘Yonkers’ screams classic Tyler.

‘1-800-Suicide’ — Gravediggaz

Horrorcore creators Gravediggaz mix a laid-back production with smooth prose on this song that sarcastically tells the listener to embrace their ignorance.

‘OkayButThisIsTheLastTime’ — BONES

This horrorcore tune achieved meme status as the soundtrack to bottle-flip videos. Despite this, the track’s lyrics are dark, moody, and quintessentially horrorcore.

Review: The Party

Written by Jamie McEvoy on . Posted in Film.

Renowned for 1992’s Orlando and the more recent Yes (2004), Sally Potter has thus far had an understated yet critically acclaimed career.  Her two aforementioned features, as well as her 1997 movie The Tango Lesson, have both won and been nominated for various awards, from BAFTAS to accolades at the Berlin International Film Festival.

Her films have always been experimental and profound.  Yes was a cinematic response to the 9/11 attacks, and her 2009 feature Rage, starring Jude Law, Judi Dench and Steve Buscemi, was a visually jarring, stripped down portrayal of the power of performance.  Her latest project is surprisingly conformed for the director, yet it is by no means your run-of-the-mill comedy of manners.

The Party has a modest running time of 71 minutes, and its events take place in real time.  Kristin Scott Thomas plays Janet — a politician who has recently been appointed the position of Shadow Health Minister for an unnamed party.  She lives with her husband — the seemingly docile academic Bill (Timothy Spall) — in an upmarket London house, and the film follows an attempted celebration of her success, with the couple’s friends.

Seeds of the incoming chaos and rancour are planted early on — Janet is seen covertly speaking to an unknown lover on the phone, and Patricia Clarkson’s April incessantly blurts out passive aggressive remarks and insults.  Emily Mortimer and Cherry Jones play a gay married couple, the former recently conceived with triplets, to the concern of her wife. Bruno Ganz plays April’s hippy husband, and Cillian Murphy rocks up as a suited and booted banker gone full on Wolf of Wall Street, with cocaine and gun in tow.

As seen in Tarantino’s The Hateful Eight (2015), it is impossible to have so many prestigious acting names in such a confined space without chaos erupting.  Before the first splash of prosecco has been poured, Pandora’s box has been well and truly opened.  Both physical and verbal blows are exchanged, relationships are shattered, and dark secrets are unleashed bitterly by the guests.

The concept of The Party sounds very much like it belongs on stage, yet this would be a criminal injustice to the performances of its cast.  The film is essentially a showcase for the superb acting abilities of its stars, every character given intimate close-ups as they speak.  Yet the narrative and drama is just compelling enough to prevent the film from becoming a mere acting exhibition.

Nevertheless, it is the cast which is doubtlessly the pièce de résistance of the short but sweet film Potter has served up.  Ganz, Murphy and Spall are superbly comical, and Scott Thomas is on form as per usual, yet it is Patricia Clarkson who ultimately steals the show.  The acid-tongued, Iago-esque April often acts as the devil whispering in Janet’s ear, and the tension between Clarkson’s and Jones’ characters could be cut with a knife.

The film’s climax somewhat fails to match up to the spiralling and boiling tension of its preceding events, but it still draws titters from the audience.  Potter appears to have gone for an After-Eight mint rather than a three tiered, candle-lit birthday cake, to round off her cinematic shindig.

If the film had surpassed the 90 minute mark, certain characters may have outstayed their welcome on screen and the melodrama could potentially have become tedious.  However, Potter has succeeded in creating a concise, entertaining dramatic comedy, which despite not quite adhering to her experimental style, is a pleasant amuse-bouche ahead of the tirade of awards season winter releases.

3/5

Jodrell Bank Observatory nominated for UK’s next candidate for UNESCO World Heritage status

Written by Kieran O'Brien on . Posted in News, Science & Tech.

Following the UK’s Mark II radiotelescope gaining Grade I listed status over the summer, the Jodrell Bank Observatory in Cheshire — owned by the University of Manchester — has now been selected as the UK’s next candidate to join UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization) as a World Heritage Site. Other UNESCO sites include the Taj Malal, Machu Pichu, and Stonehenge.

Having just celebrated the 60th anniversary of the Lovell Telescope, which is famous for detecting the radio signals from the world’s first artificial satellite in 1957, this nomination will add further world recognition of the groundbreaking work the University of Manchester has contributed to the history of astrophysics and cosmology.

Speaking in a press release for the University of Manchester, Professor Teresa Anderson, Director of Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre said: “We have been preparing the case for the World Heritage Site inscription for Jodrell Bank Observatory for some years now, so it’s absolutely fantastic to reach this milestone. The Lovell Telescope, in particular, has become an icon for science and engineering, and we look forward to showcasing the rich scientific heritage of this and the wider site on an international stage.”

The nomination for UNESCO World Heritage status will be submitted in January 2018 and, if accepted, will become the UK’s third UNESCO site for a scientific research facility — the other two, both in London, being the Greenwich Observatory and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

As part of the celebrations for nominating Jodrell Bank in the World Heritage List, the site is working on a project to create a new gallery space to exhibit the achievements of radio astronomy carried out at Jodrell Bank over the last seven decades. This project is supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund and will include other improvements of the visitor facilities.

Professor Tim O’Brien, Associate Director of the Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics, said in another press release that “Jodrell Bank is the one remaining radio astronomy site worldwide which dates from the early days, so it is very important that we protect and celebrate the physical record of our involvement in the creation of a new science.”

The Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre is open to anyone with excellent admission discounts for students. As well as galleries educating on the cosmos and history of science carried out at Jodrell Bank, the grounds itself are free to walk around, allowing visitors close-up and breath-taking views of the famous Lovell Telescope.

7,500 runners take part in Manchester half marathon

Written by Sam Cooper on . Posted in Sport.

In the second iteration of the event, many elite runners competed in the hopes of breaking the previous record of 1:04:41 due to the course’s flat and fast nature. Pre-race, Glasweigan Luke Traynor was touted by many as a potential winner and the first time half marathon runner did not disappoint, completing the 13.1 mile route in 1:04:10.

The fastest female was Rebecca Hilland of Team Bath who recorded a time of 1:15:40 and four athletes completed the wheelchair race with Adam Goldspink-Burgess recording the quickest time at 1:18:32.

Race day saw perfect weather conditions for the runners with no sign of rain but significant cloud coverage to block the sun from overheating the runners. There was also little to no wind meaning the runners could enjoy a stress free run.

The event was in support of Manchester Evening News’ #WeStandTogether campaign which sims to create a more peaceful Greater Manchester in the wake of the Arena bomb attack. Many athletes ran with yellow wristbands decorated with the hashtag #WeStandTogether.

Out of 7,656 runners, 7,568 finished the race and they were cheered on by the residents of the Trafford area. Children lined the outside of the route asking for high fives from the runners or to hand out sweets to in-need competitors whose legs had begun to give way.

The finishers will now be setting their eyes on the full marathon in April.

Campaign underway against government’s Universal Credit scheme

Written by Hannah Murray on . Posted in News.

As criticism mounts over the government’s Universal Credit scheme, the NUS has launched a campaign to protect the rights of disabled students affected.

The scheme is currently being rolled out over the country, changing the way in which welfare benefits are distributed. Under this new scheme the six working-age benefits, now labelled as ‘legacy benefits’, will be replaced by one monthly payment.

Legacy benefits, especially the Housing Benefit and Employment Support Allowance, provide a key source of support for many disabled students to be able study and crucially, manage the extra costs associated with disability. In 2014, a study by Scope UK found that disabled people pay on average £550 per month on such everyday living costs.

Under Universal Credit, these payments would be drastically changed.

For many disabled students in further and higher education, this poses a huge threat. Due to new regulations under this system, Disability Rights UK claims that “most disabled students are now effectively barred from Higher Education due to Universal Credit rules.”

This will only widen the disparity between disabled and non-disabled students with a degree level qualification, which currently stands at around 50 per cent.

The battle is being fought as a damning UN report accuses the UK government of breaching the Convention on the Rights of Disabled People with a “continuing retrogression” of rights. Disabled people are increasingly left open to “serious discrimination” in educational, employment and social opportunities.

The Universal Credit scheme has received much criticism, even from members of the Conservative party itself. Studies show that around 2.5 million low-income working households will be more than £1,000 a year worse off after moving to Universal Credit due to its lower rate of payment. In addition, a six week waiting time has left many claimants without money, fuelling food bank use, personal debt, rent arrears, eviction and mental distress.

On Wednesday, an advisory vote held in parliament to pause universal credit rollout received unanimous support, with 299 MPs voting for the motion. This is a symbolic victory for the disabled students’ campaign, which has been encouraging students and students’ unions to pressure MPs to vote and show their support for a pause in the rollout.

To strengthen support, Rachel O’Brien, Disabled Students’ Officer at the NUS, has called upon students’ unions to be aware of the struggle disabled students face and to campaign alongside their disabled students for their rights.

Riddi Viswanathan, Diversity Officer at the Student’s Union, said she supported  “the NUS stance on Universal credit and support the article by the NUS Disabled Students’ officer Rachel O’Brien. I believe that universal credit will significantly reduce the benefits received by our disabled students, especially as it is replacing the employment support allowance and housing benefit which are essential for disabled students. Also, there are significant concerns associated with Universal Credit like the six-week delay in receiving payments and also lower rate of payment compared to the previous five separate working age benefits it is replacing.

When asked if the Union’s and University’s support of disabled students was good enough, Riddi said “in comparison to other unions and the universities, we are doing a good job with respect to supporting our disabled students. However, I have seen some students with hidden disabilities who have significant concerns over receiving exam support.”

Riddi explained how she could not move forward with support for disabled students alone. However, she looked “forward to actively working with the new elected disabled student officers and the disabled students’ societies on campus to understand their concerns and represent them to the university and union actively.”

Wahaca Manchester: where Mexican street food dreams are made

Written by Anokhi Shah on . Posted in Food & Drink.

Greeted with a bustling atmosphere on a Saturday evening, we were quickly seated in the courtyard area of the corn exchange. I highly recommend requesting to be seated inside the restaurant which has a more dinner friendly, charming atmosphere. Unfortunately outside had food court-esque vibes, however it was quickly relieved by a cocktail.

I opted for a passion fruit margarita from the range of Mexican concoctions on offer. It was the perfect balance of sweet and sour. If I wasn’t feeling so fragile, a couple more would definitely have been on the cards.

The extensive food menu left me wanting to delve into everything, the selection is a vast range of tacos, quesadillas, tostadas, taqitos and empanadas, all of which sounded like a Mexican dream. Wahaca suggest two or three street food plates per person. Here is a lowdown on their best street food dishes too avoid getting utterly bewildered by the menu and opting to try everything like we did:

1. Buttermilk chicken baja tacos — two soft mini tortillas topped with juicy buttermilk chicken, tangy salsa, a chilli mayo and coriander. This was by far my favourite ‘Mexican tapas’ plate, full of punchy zingy flavours that complimented the chicken beautifully

2. Sweet potato and Feta taquito — roast sweet potato, feta and caramelised onion wrapped in a crisp blue corn tortilla. My friend said this was a “taste sensation” and she wanted more…

3. Mexican style chorizo and potato quesadillas — two pieces of oozing sumptuous gooey quesadillas. Chorizo, cheese and potato…How can you go wrong?

Photo: Anokhi Shah

Wahaca Manchester have just launched a new lunchtime taco menu where you can get two plates of tacos and a side for just £8!

Additionally, Wahaca have introduced a new student offer. Students dining at Wahaca Manchester will be presented with a traditional Mexican Pirniola spinning top and invited to ‘spin and win’ to claim a free dish or a drink from tacos to margaritas. Each side of the Pirinola will feature a different prize including: Wahaca’s signature Pork Pilbil tacos, Legendary Churros y Chocolate or a classic Margarita or ice cold Mexican beer.

I totally suggest taking a trip to Wahaca to embrace some tongue tingling magic, an innovative combination of flavours that should be married and fabulous offers!

Review: The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected)

Written by Eloïse Wright on . Posted in Film.

Noah Baumbach’s latest picture, The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected), differentiates itself from most of the past year’s films, in the best way possible.

Each of the Meyerowitz kids are introduced by vignettes, giving us the feeling of an assemblage of short stories that are connected, especially with the bracketed “New and Selected”. It is the story of a dysfunctional Jewish family in New York, portrayed by a refreshingly talented cast including the likes of Dustin Hoffman, Ben Stiller, Emma Thompson and Elizabeth Marvel to name a few.

The script is full of quickfire Jewish New-Yorker wit reminiscent of Woody Allen classics such as Annie Hall or Crimes & Misdemeanours, as are the apartments we see, full of books and art. The Stories emanate from the “only artist in the family”, Harold Meyerowitz, as he puts it himself. His three children, Danny, Jean and Matt, all have very different relationships with each other and especially their father.

Constantly working on his sculpture and aspiring for appropriate recognition led to the displacement of time and care that should have been spent on his kids. As a result, they all share a bizarre mixture of respect and hatred towards him — but equally have become extremely self-critical of themselves.

Danny — played Adam Sandler in an uncharacteristic role — is the eldest, and it’s by focussing on his sense of failure in the Meyerowitz clan that we begin. We’re introduced to him and his daughter as he tries to find a parking space in the East Village, a notoriously stressful experience. Through a lot of commotion and a song on the radio, the pair radiate a comfortable, sarcastically-fuelled relationship.

Upon arrival, we meet the others and get a taste of what’s to come. It is a relief to discover Dustin Hoffman’s performance is not embarrassing or forgettable like Meet the Fockers (2004).

Something that built Harold’s character in the film was his repeating of the same anecdote to each of his children, each time differently, each time searching for a specific reaction, and each time failing to get the reaction he wanted. He has expectations of how people should treat him and when those expectations are not met, Hoffman knows how to conjure up just the right amount of self-entitlement and passive-aggressiveness.

One of the best scenes of the movie occurs at the MoMA, where Harold’s friend L.J. has a new art collection on display. Arriving with Danny, apparently the only two in tuxedos, they are declined entry to the private showing as they are “not on the list” – Harold’s embarrassment starts here.

Thankfully L.J. happens to walk by, greats them with a warm embrace and begins introducing him to New York’s social elite. It is clear that Harold can’t help but wonder why his friend and equal has his art exposed in prestigious galleries, but his own art has only gained a small degree of success, most of it still in the garage at home. The night goes on, Harold keeps getting ignored or cut off, and soon he must leave.

The script is fluid in its reflection of authentic human behaviour. An example of this is the day Matt — brilliantly played by Ben Stiller — and his father, go to lunch. The dialogue goes back and forth without stopping for breath which the camera mirrors with a singular tracking shot. Matt wants to sell his father’s house and art, his life’s work. Both get increasingly flustered and amidst all the distractions never actually order any food.

Elizabeth Marvel as Jean gives one of the most vibrant and unusual performances of the film, playing her awkward, deadpan but sensitive character to perfection. Her talent and role left me wanting a longer segment devoted to her, but the way it is is fitting to her part, as Jean is more of a wallflower, content with being on the sidelines.

The Meyerowitz Stories take you on a drawn-out emotional ride that is quite tiring, and it works. Baumbach hits the perfect balance of comedy and tragedy, proving his directorial and screenwriting talents. This is a film about the family you are given and the long-lasting effects of the quality of the relationships one has within that family. It’s about your life’s work, and ultimately how much we let that define our self-worth.

Review: The Eagle Inn, Salford

Written by Joe Taylor on . Posted in Food & Drink.

Nestled in a hubbub of new development — the kind that Tim Darcy laments in his ode to the banality of modern day life — The Eagle Inn feels incongruous with its surroundings. Yet it feels wrong to deem it so, for the Salford institution dates back to 1903, and its beautiful red brick facade, panelled windows, and cosy indoor space are precisely what this northern city is known for.

Inside, the small bar offers a limited selection of traditional, local ales, as well as a comprehensive selection of bar snacks. The jukebox in the entrance has killer collection of albums, from The Clash to Nick Cave, all lovingly written out by hand. From open ’til close, the pub plays BBC Radio 6 Music, paying homage to its esteem as a small venue too — I was lucky to be there for Marc Riley’s show on which The Eagle is frequently mentioned, and by whom The Eagle is often frequented.

To the average student in Manchester, a trip to Salford may seem as daunting as a mounting an expedition to the Moon. But to the curious, to the probing, to the adventurous, a trip to Salford and its Eagle Inn is really just a short journey, with a big reward at the end of it.

Recommended song for the walk: Beautiful Blue Sky — Ought.
Recommended drink: Two Hoots Golden Ale — £3.50 — Brewed in Manchester.

Live Review: Dizzee Rascal

Written by Tobias Soar on . Posted in Music.

When you combine one of the most energetic grime artists who’s been around since 2003 with the manic audience of Manchester, you’re in for an explosive show. To quote my buddy Max: “It was a two-hour sweat-fest of absolute madness.”

It’s fair to say that Dizzee Rascal has become a household name in the UK; earning the number one spot in the British charts five times is sure to warrant you the status of a modern grime icon. For goodness sake, even my dad knows who Dizzee is.

Following an average warm-up from Donae’O, who made it very clear that his mixtape Sixteen is out now and that we should all stream it on Spotify and Apple Music, the star of the show came on to a roar from the crowd at Academy. The room was absolutely packed and the audience was buzzing, we couldn’t wait to get moshing.

Dizzee opened his set with ‘Space’ which was very well received. The lyrics were echoing around the room and the crowd even spoke along to the outro of the song, the famous quote from JFK’s speech on the moon landing: “We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard”.

The show raged on with a nice blend of some songs off Raskit, his latest album, and his classic bangers that range all the way back to his debut LP Boy In Da Corner. ‘Heavy’ hit HARD — the bass for that track was overwhelming, some girls next to me were miming to each other that their ears hurt. I was definitely thankful to be wearing plugs  — which I cannot recommend enough, stay safe out there, kids!

Of course, his collaboration with Calvin Harris, ‘Dance Wiv Me’ got the room grooving until he stopped the song halfway through to break up a fight. “Aww, come on girls, we don’t want none of that in here,” he remarked as a bouncer braved the crowd to intervene and take one of them out of the room.

“Nah! Security! Don’t take her out, just separate ‘em, we want everybody to have a good time in here”. A well-deserved round of applause spread throughout the room in response to Dizzee’s gentlemanly conduct preceded the track being restarted to keep the party train rolling.

Listening to the crowd sing along to ‘Bassline Junkie’ felt strangely ironic. Earlier on in the show, my mate Max and I had bumped into a group of underage lads who were under the influence of alcohol — and something else, we were sure of it. Being in Manchester, in a crowd where many people were swimming in the sauce, I couldn’t help but chuckle when the room sang the lines “I don’t need no speed, I don’t need no heroin, I don’t want no coke, You can keep your ketamine, I’m a bassline junkie”.

‘I Luv’ U’, ‘Jus’ a Rascal’, and ‘Holiday’ were met by an ecstatic roar from the audience, as expected. Dizzee is an incredible showman with exceptional crowd control. Although his hypeman was backing him up the whole time, he may as well have not been there at all; the Rascal didn’t miss a beat and didn’t skip any lines, a welcome sight in hip-hop gigs.

The lights dimmed at 22.30 and the crowd booed and jeered. How could our main man betray us by walking off stage without a goodbye and, more importantly, not performing ‘Bonkers’? He walked back onstage to a cheer that was followed by him proclaiming “We’ve run overtime, we gotta cut the show short. Sorry, Manchester”. Another round of booing followed. “Only joking motherf******, let’s do this s***!” paved the way for the encore that everyone wanted and deserved: ‘Bonkers’.

In the mad, sweaty mosh that the club banger produced, a young lady had flung her bra onto the stage from the shoulders of a tough looking lad. Dizzee chuckled at the end of the show and pointed at her while expressing his amazement to his hypeman and DJ.

With an elegant toss, he returned the woman’s undergarment and told the crowd: “Take this, yeah? Make sure you give this to her or I’ll smack on you, I swear to God. Make sure you’re safe, yeah? We don’t want no funny business around here” followed by a raucous cheer from the audience.

Dizzee Rascal’s fun tunes, great interaction with the crowd, high energy performance, and chivalrous moments made for an absolutely bonkers gig that left me sweaty, battered, tired, and grinning like a crazed concertgoer I was.

Manchester Academy — Saturday the 15th of October 2017

‘I champion the university… but they have treated me poorly’

Written by Rosa Simonet on . Posted in News.

On Friday the 8th of October Majid Ahmed posted on Lemn Sissays’ wall, saying the Chancellor’s apparent refusal to meet him was “disappointing.”

In the post, he claimed he was experiencing “poor treatment and unprofessional conduct by the University of Manchester and they have left me in a position where they are unfairly pressurising me to pay them £12,000 to be awarded my PhD – no academic issues whatsoever.”

Majid, a clinical research fellow from Bradford, grew up around “crime and drugs.” He thanks the university for all the opportunities they have given him but found himself without support or advice in a situation creating both financial and mental stress.

Majid Ahmed’s dispute began in 2014. After receiving a grant from the British Heart Foundation of £167,000 pounds in April, Majid asked the university for a costing of his PhD, which he received in September of the same year. In the letter, it clearly states Majid’s tuition fees would be covered by the grant. Majid claims this had been the impression given by the university since his grant application success.

However, a couple of weeks later, the university emailed Majid telling him this was no longer the case and he would have to pay his tuition fees himself.

Majid was left in a difficult financial position. Since receiving the grant he had turned down the opportunity to train as a doctor and took a staff position at the university. He now needed an advance on his salary.

While on a trip to the states, which Majid began planning in the time between correspondence with the University, the dispute began. He received some support, particularly from his supervisor in the states, Professor Mark Nelson. However, in the last three years, Majid claims he has struggled to gain support or advice from the Student’s Union, the doctoral academy, the Head and then Director of his department. Many have told him there was simply nothing they could do.

In his third year, Majid had been contacted by credit central. He said he was in great debt and was being threatened. Reaching out, again, to the University, Majid was told of a “Staff Fee Remission Form” in which he could potentially claim 50% of his tuition fees. “No one had told me before,” and this was “very late in the process.” Majid said it made you wonder “who is/isn’t entitled to it.”

He went on to submit a “retrospective application.” Majid believes this was a generous offer from himself. He had not meant to pay fees at all and as a member of staff also was being taxed and putting money towards his pension.

His application was, however, declined. He said this was because he was a “clinical research fellow,” the PhD was for his own benefit. Majid disputes this claim. He had been recruited after receiving a distinction in his Masters and developing a partnership with Dr Adam Greenstein. “It was a comprehensive case.”

After contacting Nancy Rothwell, Majid was referred to Professor Peter Clayton. Clayton had all correspondence reviewed, following which Majid finally received an apology for the curtness in the original email. A review of payment was also conducted and the university offered to pay for Majid’s final year, as well as the £300 for an extra year while he defended his PhD. Majid declined the offer claiming they had “not gone far enough”.

Taking his struggle to social media has led to what Majid described as “threats of disciplinary action from the University.” Since the post, Majid has met with Lemn Sissay in person, who has now given him support and advice, sharing his post on social media, calling it a “wake up call.”

Majid fears his decision to go public has ruined his academic career and questions whether to leave and return to his work later on. Though he adds “maybe I won’t because I was pushed out.”

The University is unable to provide a comment as the dispute is still ongoing.

Majid is still devoted to his work, despite his struggles. He wants to encourage young people to strive for a career in science and not put them off by his own experience.

Majid is committed to such projects as “I’m a scientist get me out of here” and is currently working on a digital academic networking site “Vascular Physiology” for those working in his field.