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Month: September 2012

Review: Frontline by David Loyn

Written by Agnes Chambre on . Posted in Books.

“Is a story ever worth dying for?” “Yes. YES. Absolutely.”

This is the wildly captivating non-fiction account of the life of freelance television photo agency, Frontline (1989 – 2004), which trudges through minefields in Afghanistan and the forests of Chechnya. In search? of some sort of truth about “real war”: evidence of massacres and the effects of mis-directed bombings on civilians.

Instead of being turned away once more by the glaze that the words “non-fiction” induces, running to the new ‘adult’ novel from J.K. Rowling, give Frontline a chance. Rarely is a story (even a fictional one) so exciting, its telling so gripping. With dramatic dialogue and eloquent writing, the only snag you may perceive in this book is also its importance: the emotion that it induces cannot be pushed away, or ignored, with the comforting self-assurance that ‘it’s only a story’.

The opening quote above comes from Vaughn Smith (an ex-soldier turned photojournalist), who comprised one of the founders and original reporters of Frontline. The company was the driving force behind freelance journalists, and journalism, who refused to commit to the “24 hour news beast”, and the increasingly homogeneous and bland news coverage of conflict.

When photojournalists were told where to point their cameras and when to close their eyes, Frontline was formed. Independently finding and shooting the real stories of war; no money-making scheme (mostly no money), and no quick way to fame. Rory Peck, Peter Jouvenal and Vaughn Smith were not activists; they went to the front with no biased or political agenda, but with a determination to show the best and worst of the human character in the world’s most dangerous places.

Loyn quotes Jouvenal as saying he would often film things that he knew could not be broadcast, “If people are tied up and shot in the back of the head, then it is my duty to fim it…if you don’t, then it’s a form of censorship. It is as if the deaths didn’t happen”. This is testament not only to the dedication and personal beliefs of Frontline’s founders and journalists, who strove to document, in the hope of disarming (viewers and armies) and not entertaining, but is the driving impetus behind both company and book.

For my part, I had to struggle through the first 50 pages or so, but this work paid off tenfold. I came away completely involved, personally, with the story, and feel that I even learnt something from this book which conveys the extremes of human nature. This is an incredibly well written and important book.

Book Club: Ata Rahman

Written by Phoebe Chambre on . Posted in Books.

Name: Ata Rahman
Age: 23
Occupation: Student and co-editor of the Manchester Historian

Hi Ata!
What are you reading?

Well, I managed two books over the summer, Civilisation: The West and The Rest, which serves as an accompaniment to Niall Ferguson’s Channel 4 documentary on the predicted end of Western civilisation and a book about the lives of five Afghan women under the Taliban regime called The Little Coffee Shop of Kabul by Deborah Rodriguez.

Where have you been reading it (train, bus, beach, bath, internet, juice carton…)?

Mostly been reading it on modes of transport – bus, train, plane. Its always easier to read when you’re in a tunnel (or up in the air) as for those moments you can’t turn to your phone to distract you.

Is it a slow-burner or quick fire?

Civilisation is definitely a slow burner, you have to fully engage with his theories and critiques before you can get the most from the chapters about Chinese dominance, decline and distention. The Little Coffee Shop is much more of a quick fire with a kidnapping opening the setting, but it’s only until the middle when the five women’s interplay becomes more humanised and the action takes off.

Is it work or rest to read?

Honestly, depends on my frame of mind and the situation. Give me a book on holiday when I’m far removed from the trials and tribulations of uni/work/life and its one of the most pleasurable experiences. However, the thought of dragging yourself to a coffee shop on a Sunday afternoon after you’ve enjoyed somewhat more than a tipple the night before to try and get yourself into a reading mood is pretty difficult, even though once you’re into the book, you know why you bothered in the first place.

Paperback or e-book?

As a student, I spend far too much of my time in front of a screen (albeit over 50% of it for catching up on Big Bang Theory and Gossip Girl rather than for Uni work), so if I am going to read a book, its paperback all the way. My eyes couldn’t hack it otherwise.

Do you ever have time during the semester to read (for pleasure), or is free, unaccounted for time the unicorn of student life?

In all honestly, I probably could squeeze in about 3 or 4 books per semester, but given most of the work you do as an Arts student is reading anyway, you don’t want to spend your free time doing the same thing. I definitely regret not making the most of my free time in 1st year; I certainly could have educated myself on many topics outside of History if I’d sacrificed all the thoroughly important lazing time.

Any books that you’ve been meaning to read for ages, never quite mustering the strength to crack?

Essentially most classics, I’m ashamed to say I’ve never read an Austen (despite watching the BBC Pride and Prejudice Drama series far too many times), or a Tolstoy either.

What’s next?

Common Grounds, a book on the history of coffee. I am rather addicted to the stuff, and after a lecture in 1st year on its history, I became quite fascinated with how it spread across the world. If I manage to read it alongside all the work this semester, I may even treat myself to a fancy espresso machine.

Street Style

Written by Elizabeth Harper on . Posted in Fashion & Beauty.

Name: Louisa Roffe

Occupation: Student, 3rd year at University of Manchester studying Design Management for Fashion Retail.

Spotted: Fallowfield Wearing: Leather shorts, grey woollen jumper and black heeled ankle boots all from River Island.

Style Icon: ‘Whitney Port. She is classy and always looks effortlessly chic’.

The Manchester Art Group

Written by Mancunion on . Posted in Arts, Freshers' Guide.

The Manchester Art Group is an undergraduate collective from the Art History and Visual Studies department at the University of Manchester. We curate events, talks, and exhibitions and promote those organised by other institutions that engage with contemporary art.

With the popularity of the Art History Society in swift decline it was widely acknowledged that, unlike other departments within the university, Art History and Visual Studies lacked a sense of community away from the lecture halls. Hence, a group of third year students alongside Charlie Miller, an AHVS lecturer at Manchester University, established MAG in 2011 with hopes of forming stronger bonds between students, staff and the art world.

MAG is a fantastic platform for up and coming local and amateur artists to display their work in a non-intimidating but professional environment. The Mansfield Cooper corridor is now home to an ever changing exhibition that showcases the work of students and local artists, from across the city. Previous exhibitions, curated by Charlotte Baker and Humphrey Hendrix, have included mediums ranging from photography to etchings that follow a rough theme given by MAG. The current exhibition, for example, is loosely based around the idea that “to live is to leave traces”, a quote taken from the art critic, Walter Benjamin. – go have a look!

As a collective, we have curated a range of innovative and interesting events and exhibitions all inspired by art and artists around us. MAG events, such as the art night and private view of ‘COTTON: Global Threads’ at the Whitworth Art Gallery, which was attended by over 300 people, is an example of not only what MAG can do for you, but what you can do for MAG. It gave people a chance to integrate with the exhibition and collective through creative workshops, whilst sipping on complimentary drinks and listening to the local sounds of DJs, Bug and Leaf, who spun not only tunes but cotton too.

Naomi Kashiwagi is an artist and student liaison officer between the Whitworth Art Gallery and Manchester Museum. She brings an exciting dynamic to the group keeping us up to date with local events and connects the art group with the northern art scene. The latest opportunity she has presented to the group is co-curating the Student Weekender (part of the Manchester Weekender), which will be a snapshot of the city’s best art and culture. This is an exciting chance for MAG to expand their network by becoming involved with such a prestigious event. We are hoping this collaboration will inspire others to join the collective.

Thanks to the hard work, determination and creative outlook set down by founding members, the grounds have been laid for MAG to become a prolific player in the whole of the northern art scene. MAG is going places and we would love for you to join us! Keep an eye out for future events and exhibitions on our Facebook page, under Manchester Art Group, and if you are interested in becoming a part of the committee or submitting works for future exhibitions, email us at [email protected].

Welcome to October: Harajuku Lovers

Written by Elizabeth Harper on . Posted in Fashion & Beauty.

The end of British Summer Time is upon us and there is an increasing sense of doom pervading these Mancunian streets. The catwalks of New York, London, Paris and Milan have had their say in the fashion stakes and you would be forgiven for thinking that there are no more sartorial delights to keep us upbeat and optimistic in the face of dreaded winter. However, I would like to bring to the attention of all fashion fanatics the news that there are still shows and designers to get excited about even this late on in the fashion calendar.

The fashion weeks of Tokyo, Moscow, Belgrade and Dubai are all scheduled to take place this month. These may not be as prestigious as the big four fashion capitals; however that is what makes them exciting. Of course we get silly about seeing the big guns in action: Chanel, Versace, Dior, Vivienne Westwood and Louis Vuitton etc. Yet there is something equally (if not more) thrilling about leaving the safety of the big four and not really knowing what to expect. Even though they are big in their own countries, these events do not seem to attract much international coverage. This has resulted in the likes of The Independent affording them an ‘underdog’ status. Everyone loves an underdog, so for the next few weeks, we’ll be giving you a background of the designers, culture and who to look out for as we venture off the beaten track into fashion’s emerging capitals.

The rise of Tokyo as a contender for fashion capital status has been inevitable, and this October, its fashion week will see 40 brands showcasing their work. Tokyo is renowned for its Harajuku district, a haven for the lover of avant-garde dressing. A whole subculture of young people live here, dressing up in cartoon-esque punky outfits, congregating and socialising on the Jingu Bashi bridge and parading the streets in their extravagant and decadent attire. It is little wonder that the city has captured the imagination of the likes of Katy Perry and Gwen Stefani, the latter of whom has created songs and clothing lines paying homage to Harajuku, and for a period of time had a posse of Harajuku girls to accompany her across the globe. She went as far as to nickname them Love, Angel, Music and Baby.

There is something inherently free spirited and eccentric in the Tokyo street style with Lolita, Hello Kitty, fairies and glam rock proving to be important recurrent themes. The vibrancy and colour on the street has been refined and translated onto the catwalks through the work of Kamishima Chinami, and Naoashi Sawayanagi.

Naoshi Sawayanagi

Although Japan’s biggest fashion exports Issey Miyake, Yojhi Yamamoto and Comme Des Garcons exhibit elsewhere with a much more Western eye for style, Tokyo fashion week’s selection of designers reflect and refine what is current and desirable on Japanese streets. Many have studied fashion abroad and worked for large labels in Europe and America, for example Yasutoshi Ezumi who attended Central Saint Martin’s School of Design in London before contributing at Alexander McQueen and Aquascutum. It is extremely telling that he has gone back to his home country to show in his capital city. Tokyo is becoming a concentrated melting pot of talent and the world is taking note: it is not only the Japanese who are flocking home, they are bringing with them wide-eyed and bedazzled Westerners desperate for a taste of their vibrant clothing culture.

Love or hate her gaudy and ornate style, Italian born Anna Dello Russo is notable for her continued contribution to Japanese fashion. Since 2006 she has been the editor-at-large and creative consultant for Vogue Japan. As a woman who will quite happily wear a pineapple hat, she clearly lives in touch and in celebration of the Harajuku mood. Interestingly, American Apparel, who are quick to publicise that their clothing is all-American and made in ‘downtown LA’ will be showing at Tokyo fashion week for the first time this October. Although paradoxical, this move is actually incredibly shrewd. The city it appears is a designer’s heaven. The markets are constantly propelled by its youth culture on the street. Therefore in Tokyo’s case, there will always be a customer for your clothes as long as you meet their flamboyant needs. American Apparel’s metallic gold leggings and glittery leg warmers will be selling like hot cakes in no time!

Fashion week in Tokyo is more than just a bunch of designers showing off their work and raking in money. It is a cultural event, where the city’s fashion is characterised and driven by its people. There is little wonder then that the legions of enamoured admirers, looking to it as a source of inspiration and fashion democracy, are growing.

Street Style on the Catwalk in Tokyo

The greatest gaming movie ever?

Written by Sam Dumitriu on . Posted in Games.

It took just under 24 hours for Pure Pwnage: The Movie to reach its target of $75,000 on crowd funding website Indiegogo.  The creators of Pure Pwnage Jarett Cale and Geoff Lapaire aim to produce the greatest gaming movie ever, which with competition like 1989’s The Wizard doesn’t seem like the highest aspiration.

Pure Pwnage started life in 2004 as a web show. The show is a mockumentary that centres on the life of Jeremy, known online as Teh_Pwnerer. Jeremy is pro at games; he lives with his n00b brother Kyle an aspiring filmmaker. Kyle follows Jeremy from behind the camera as Jeremy goes through his life as a pro gamer; humping his monitor, eating sandwiches with ludicrous levels of bacon in, and going to the park so he can draw out C&C strategies in the sand pit.

In the show Jeremy shares his thoughts on religion; ‘Some religions just want you to give them all your time and money, they’re like MMO’s.’ and refers to police officers as admins, this shows us that Jeremy is a man who’s only frame of reference is video games. However, he’s no match for FPS_Doug a man who carries a knife everywhere because its known fact that in Counter Strike you run faster with a knife.

With characters like this, it was no wonder the show became a hit amongst gamers, its popularity lead to Canadian TV channel Showcase commissioning eight episodes. While the TV show never had the crossover appeal of something like Spaced, the fact it even got made demonstrated the power of the Pure Pwnage fanbase.

Cale and Lapaire have talked about their ambitions on the Indiegogo page. They wish to take Pure Pwnage to a truly global scale and show the reality of pro gaming in countries like South Korea. I for one can’t wait.

YOLO Burger & Milkshake Bar

Written by Hanisha Sethi on . Posted in Food & Drink.

YOLO. You will have heard this abbreviation floating around conversations and in the hip-hop industry. It is the contraction of the popular motto ‘you only live once’ and, in my opinion, the perfect excuse to use when you want to avoid living by the rules and eat lots of burgers.

The menu specialises in its large selection of gourmet burgers including beef, chicken and fish.  A couple of choices that caught my eye were the ‘YoMexicano Burger’ which contains a special spicy sauce and salsa, and the ‘B’n’C’ which consists of strips of bacon and chicken. Other options include pizzas, southern fried or grilled chicken and chicken wings. YOLO has vegetarian options, all food is 100% halal and is supplied locally.

The restaurant opened recently so I asked about any special offers. Assad, the owner, laughs as he tells me about the food challenge ‘Man vs. YOLO’- it includes eating two 8oz beef patties, a chicken and bacon burger, hot chicken wings, onion rings, potato wedges and a large milkshake. It’s worth £14.99 but is free if you can eat it in under half an hour.

Special opening deals also include a 10% discount for students and for those who ‘check in’ on Facebook. YOLO is also one of the only restaurants that offer a delivery service during the day so look out for the YOLO smart cars driving around Manchester. Their first franchise is due to open soon in Bolton.

Let’s not be superficial about this…

Written by Jessica Cusack on . Posted in Fashion & Beauty.

I would like to take the next nine months as Beauty Columnist to make some changes, to really nurture this little section of the paper and develop it… much like something else which happens over the course of nine months, but before you shriek and drop the paper with alarm, I am not in fact with child.

Rather, every so often I would like to take the focus away from fun stuff like make up and hair styles and glittery nails, to talk about – cue cheesy Miss Universe one-liner – beauty from the inside out. There. I said it.

I believe that we can get more out of this beauty column by widening our focus from the face to the bigger picture: it’s beauty in a bigger sense. And once again, before you roll your eyes, I’m not going to lambast you with how to be a better person, or a good citizen. Screw other people: look after yourself. ‘Wellbeing’ is the name of the game, because actually ‘being well’ is bloody difficult to do alongside university. It often doesn’t make the checklist and can fall far behind essay deadlines, reading lists, foraging for something to eat in the god-forsaken fridge, and trying to maintain a social butterfly status.

Added to this, uni plays havoc with your looks, your body, and thus your confidence. Both the academic and the social spectrums can have damaging effects: early mornings after little sleep, rushed meals in the library, too much coffee and staring at a computer screen all day can be just as troublesome as an excess of late nights, cheap booze, and the morning-after food binge. Dominos may, depressingly, be the Fallowfield food du jour but it doesn’t do a lot for your waistline or indeed your pores. And before you start heckling and throwing rotten tomatoes at me in the street like some seventeenth century killjoy, I am not for a second saying we should abandon these debaucheries or marathon library sessions altogether. Indeed they are an integral part of student life. I am, however, suggesting that we should take time to look after ourselves and allow these concerns to move up on our list of priorities, before we emerge exhausted, hung-over, and out of touch with our minds and bodies.

So welcome to my column! Where wellbeing – or Beauty in the Bigger Sense, as I will dub it – will live harmoniously alongside the more sparkly aesthetics of beauty, which, fear not, will also feature heavily. In between bouts of beautiful beauty stuff, I will be writing on food, fitness, health, sleep, and a whole host of other things to make you feel better and ultimately look better. Because no amount of make up, hair spray or perfume can hide someone who’s not looking after themselves: if you’re putting junk in, you can’t conceal the junk that’s coming out.

Must See This Week In Theatre: 1st October-8th October

Written by Josephine Lane on . Posted in Theatre.

Fields of Grey

Hardhitting new drama about the Afgan-US war. A collaborative piece written by New York-based actor and emcee Mtume Gant and Avaes Mohammad (co-writer of Crystal Kisses).

Runs from 3rd to 13th October at Contact. Tickets £5

 

Pat Kirkwood is Angry

One-woman play about Manchester-born singer and actress, Pat Kirkwood. Most famous for her alleged affair with Prince Philip in the 1940s, the play explores the repercussions of the affair that haunted her for rest of her life.

Runs from 3rd to 6th October at The Royal Exchange. Tickets £12.

 

Light-Hearted Intercourse

This play from Bolton’s most famous playwright, Bill Naughton, has its world premiere this week after being unearthed from Naughton’s archives and being brought to life by director David Thacker. The play looks at a young couple in the 1920s adjusting to married life whilst keeping secrets from their pasts from each other.

Runs from 4th October to 3rd November at The Bolton Octagon. Tickets £9.50-£15.50

 

Julius Caesar

A Royal Shakespeare show, originally created as part of the World’s Shakespeare Festival, the classic tale of power and betrayal comes to the Lowry this week as part of its UK tour. The production, set in Modern Africa, has so far been receiving rave reviews.

Runs from 2nd October to 6th October at The Lowry. Tickets £20-£24

Retro Corner: Lylat Wars

Written by Matthew Humphreys on . Posted in Games.

Lylat Wars was launched alongside the N64 and is, in my opinion, one of the strongest titles of that generation. A single run through of the game would only take a couple of hours but there were several routes available between the first and final level, which made for a potentially different experience and combination of stages with each play through. Although the successor of Starwing (SNES), Lylat Wars dropped the obnoxious difficulty in favour of allowing you to pick easy, medium or hard levels and customise their route between the first and final stage. The ability to customise your route allowed you to tailor the difficulty to your ability. An additional expert mode became available after full completion of the game for anyone requiring a tougher challenge.

The real addictive quality of this game was the arcade style high scores. I would spend many hours with friends trying to push each other off the leader board. Mixing this addictive feature with the ability to choose the route from the first to final level meant you had to be smart and pick the route you thought you would be able to get the highest score on, balancing the difficulty of the route with the points you could achieve. Multiplayer was a solid experience, with decent player vs. player dogfights; it was a fun addition to the incredibly solid single player mode.

In my opinion the real appeal of Lylat Wars was the ability to customise the experience to have you play your way, whether you wanted easy, medium or hard single player, to fight directly against your friends or to compete to see who could achieve the best score in single player. The variety available made for a long lasting experience that easily ate up many rainy afternoons.

Gamers get social

Written by Robert Muirhead on . Posted in Games.

Gamers have sadly always attracted derogatory social labels, such as shut-in, anorak or sad case. In the early ’90s one needed to plead with their parents to buy the latest console release, or required IT proficiency to acquire and install anything that came close to a game on PC. It’s no wonder we are often stereotyped as a shy, immature, and nervous demographic. But with the growth of gaming over the last decade, this view is gradually changing. Increased interactivity in-game is demanding the same of gamers in real life. As the gaming industry surpasses every other market in entertainment, businesses have taken note.

Kyoto Lounge is one such example. Located on Grosvenor Street beside other popular pubs and clubs, it offers the hire of computers or consoles alongside more typical bar food and booze. Unlike an internet café or arcade, the emphasis is on socialising rather than convenience. One can walk in, grab a beer and a controller, and immediately be playing and talking with someone hitherto unknown. There’s enjoyment to be had in fighting or racing a physical person, rather than some nameless avatar across the internet. When you start playing, you don’t know whether or not you’re about to be schooled by the guy sitting next to you, adding a little intrigue to the experience. Casual and non-gamers often become regulars – pulled in by the novelty of a gaming bar, then pleasantly surprised by the social environment.

In many circumstances, it isn’t necessary to be playing anything at all. Alongside the casual and social, competitive gaming has grown more mainstream than ever. International tournaments fly players around the world to compete for hundred-thousand dollar prize pools – one such recent event received more viewers globally than the Diamond Jubilee. Fans turn out in droves to support their favourite pro-gamers, whilst those unable to attend watch online or at organised local broadcasts.

Kyoto Lounge in particular holds regular Barcrafts: live-streaming the real-time strategy Starcraft 2 from around the world to a local audience, paralleling the way pubs show big football matches. The scope and variety of competitive play makes these appealing for supporters, whether they seek to discuss tactics in a friendly environment or simply enjoy the company of their compatriots. Whilst free to attend, the food and drink provided ensure the bar isn’t making a loss, and patrons can rent out a PC or two afterwards to test their strategies against each other. For games played competitively on a smaller scale, local tournaments can be arranged. Games like Tekken and Street Fighter are regularly played to a professional level at the bar.

Barcrafts and tournaments like these are not unique. Though uncommon in the UK, hundreds of Barcrafts spring up across the globe whenever a large event is underway, and arcades have held fighting tourneys for years. Though it seems contrary, most gamers have never truly lived solitary lifestyles. Expos and conventions occur with regularity as a place for the industry to promote their wares, attracting a particularly geeky crowd. Play Expo is one such event in Manchester, exhibiting the latest, yet to be released generation of consoles alongside other aspects of gaming culture. LAN parties have existed since the dawn of gaming – the suggestion that without somewhere like Kyoto we’d be sitting alone in darkened rooms avoiding society at large is archaic at best.

Kyoto isn’t an attempt to make gamers socialise, and shouldn’t be sold as such. It’s a business. There is a largely untapped gap in the market for a dedicated adult gaming environment. Arguably gimmicky in the past, they run a sustainable model in an ever-expanding market. They aren’t just competing with expos and other large digital events – those are for dedicated gamers alone – they appeal to all types of gamer, particularly the largely untapped casual and social variety. Entrepreneurs and firms are following in their footsteps in major cities, both in the UK and across the world. In the long term, we can expect gaming to become a big feature in even the most mainstream of social venues. All those children brought up on a diet of Nintendo and PlayStation are adults now, and they’ve got money to burn.

Odeon cinema listings 1st – 8th October

Written by Sophie James on . Posted in Film.

 

Head down to the Odeon, AMC, Cineworld or the Cornerhouse.

HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET (15)

DIRECTOR: MARK TONDERAI

STARRING: JENNIFER LAWRENCE, MAX THIERIOT

RUNNING TIME: 101 MIN

GENRE: THRILLER

SHOWING:  1330, 1600, 1830, 2100  (MONDAYS: 1830, 2100)

 

HYSTERIA (15)

DIRECTOR: TANYA WEXLER

STARRING: MAGGIE GYLLENHAAL, HUGH DANCY, JONATHAN PRYCE

RUNNING TIME: 99 MIN

GENRE: ROM COM

SHOWING: 1515, 1745, 2025 (MONDAYS: 2025)

 

TO ROME WITH LOVE (12A)

DIRECTOR: WOODY ALLEN

STARRING: PENELOPE CRUZ, ELLEN PAGE, WOODY ALLEN, JESSE EISENBERG

RUNNING TIME: 112 MIN

GENRE: ROM COM

SHOWING: WEDNESDAYS AND THURSDAYS,  1750

 

SAVAGES (15)

DIRECTOR: OLIVER STONE

STARRING: AARON TAYLOR-JOHNSON, TAYLOR KITSCH, BLAKE LIVELY, BENICIO DEL TORO

RUNNING TIME: 130 MIN

GENRE: THRILLER

SHOWING: 1520, 1820, 2120 (MONDAYS: 1820, 2120)

 

 

OUT THIS WEEK:

 

LOOPER (15)

 

DIRECTOR: RIAN JOHNSON

STARRING: JOSEPH GORDON-LEVITT, BRUCE WILLIS, EMILY BLUNT

 

RUNNING TIME: 119 MIN

GENRE: SCI FI, ACTION

 

CINEMA INFO:

 

ODEON Manchester ,
The Printworks, 
27 Withy Grove, Manchester
, M4 2BS


Scandal and Debauchery in the Round

Written by Joshua Harris on . Posted in Theatre.

Four out of five stars

As a drama student and avid theatre goer for many years, it is with some shame that I admit that, before The Country Wife, I had never seen a piece of theatre in the round. Now that my round virginity has been broken however, I have grown quite attached to the format. It produces a far more intimate relationship between the audience and the performers, which is perfect for a play full of asides and small nods and winks to the audience. And just such a play is William Wycherley’s The Country Wife.

Written in 1675 and transported, powdered wigs and all, into the Twenty-first Century by director Polly Findlay, the plot makes Shakespeare’s Comedy of Errors seem blissfully straightforward. The womanising cad, Mr Horner, returns from a trip to France with a devilish plan to seduce the entire female population of London by pretending to be a eunuch. Meanwhile, the well-meaning but possessive Mr Pinchwife has just returned to London with his newlywed country wife, Margery, whom he keeps locked up for fear that she will fall into the clutches of Mr Horner, which, of course, she inevitably does.

Meanwhile, Mr Pinchwife’s sister Alithea, who is engaged to loveable moron Mr Sparklish, is being pursued by Mr Harcourt, friend of Mr Horner, goaded on all the while by her maid Lucy. Keeping up? I haven’t even mention the Squeamish family yet, or the Dainty-Fidgets!

There were points where I found myself going “wait, what? Who’s that now?” That said, it’s a testament to the cast and the production that I never completely lost track of the various plot-threads. I’d rather be in a state of bemused, confused enjoyment than being patronised by characters spelling out every twist and turn to me. The acting is solid throughout. Special mention should be made for Oliver Gomm, who throws himself into the role of the oafish Mr Sparklish with Gusto. Amy Morgan, the titular “country wife” possesses naivety and childishness, coupled with a divine Welsh accent. She is so wonderful you just want to run onto stage and give her a hug!

The set, designed by Helen Goddard, is a master class in effective simplicity, all chintz armchairs and wig stands. Complete with running wine taps and a sort of antler chandelier, nothing ever seems overcrowded or unnecessary. Set changes are accompanied by Jimi Hendrix riffs played on screeching violins, a nice little reminder of the contemporary edge the production is putting on the story.

All in all, if you like your comedies intelligent, relentless, bawdy and, above all, round, then The Country Wife is definitely worth a look.

 

The Country Wife runs at the Royal Exchange Theatre until October 20th

Borderlands 2 – Review

Written by Alasdair Preston on . Posted in Games.

5 out of 5 stars

There are a lot of enemies that need killing in Borderlands 2. From the wide variety of dangerous beasties, to the vicious locals, to the private robot army of one amusing jerk known as Handsome Jack, there is no shortage of things wanting Vault Hunters dead. It’s good, then, that there are so very many guns to kill them with. 87 bazillion of them, if the developers at Gearbox are to be believed.

Borderlands 2 is a well-worked fusion of shooting, looting, role playing and co-operative play. All the pick-ups are procedurally generated, ensuring that you will almost never find two items the same. The compulsive need to scour every area, just in case, one chest contains an extremely rare weapon becomes powerful fast.

As well as a meaty and entertaining main story, Borderlands 2 packs a healthy proportion of side quests to be tracked down and completed for extra XP and potentially rare loot. Earning XP helps your character progress along the skill tree, allowing them to choose from a wide range of new abilities. Each of the four character classes has their own unique action skill and skill tree to match. For example, the slightly mad Gunzerker can temporarily duel wield any two guns and go on a spree, whereas the more reserved Commando can deploy a powerful turret.

For maximum fun, Borderlands 2 should be played with a group of friends either online or locally. Roaming around the visually impressive landscape of Pandora in a heavy duty vehicle running over and/or shooting every living thing is much more satisfying if you’ve got a friend or three to share the road.

Borderlands 2 is a proper sequel that never takes itself too seriously and vastly improves on its predecessor. It has more guns, more environments, more enemies, more laughs. Put simply, it has more.

‘Barbara’

Written by Sophie James on . Posted in Film.

Following my accidental “films in a foreign language” theme, our Cornerhouse Pick of the Week is the German film Barbara.

Set in 1980s East Germany, Barbara is the tale of a physician trying to live and practise amidst the bleak landscape of Cold War Germany.

Wishing to leave the German Democratic Republic, physician Barbara (Nina Hoss) files for an exit visa, but instead finds herself banished from Berlin to a small country hospital. This is the story of the encounters and problems she experiences, even whilst leading a supposedly sedate and tranquil country lifestyle. Barbara finds herself torn between her desire for freedom and her duty as a doctor, her love for a man and her devotion to her patients. Facing love and friendship amidst turmoil and suspicion- the film starkly depicts the difficulties of daily life experienced by everyone during the Cold War.

Barbara is directed by German director Christian Petzold, and is the fourth film to see him working with his muse Nina Hoss. This combination obviously works, as the film won the Silver Bear for Best Director at the Berlin International Film Festival in February, and has also been selected as Germany’s entry for this year’s Oscars.

Bleak but brilliant – Barbara is a must-see and is out on the 28th September.

Top 5: Films that make men cry

Written by Joshua Brown on . Posted in Film.

5) Twilight (every minute of every one): I have to confess I have never sat through longer than seven seconds of any of the Twilight films, I don’t even know how many there are. Seven seconds is more than enough to conclude that any man who has sat through a Twilight film would be reduced to uncontrollable tears.

4) Saving Private Ryan: This is the curveball of the five because it’s a compelling all-action World War II blockbuster, not your traditional tearjerker. But, a combination of Spielberg’s enthralling opening scene at Normandy, along with the heroic deaths of many comrades-in-arms, results in an overwhelming emotional experience.

3) Green Mile: Tom Hanks’ wonderful performance as the inspirational prison guard will leave his male viewers weeping uncontrollably. This is a film with great character development mixed with a compelling story; add in an array of fantastic performances, and the result, a perfect cocktail to shed a tear.

2) One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest: A simply wonderful and engrossing film with an ending that will cause even the toughest of lads to reach for the Kleenex. The ray of sunlight that emerges from such a dark and depressing ending only intensifies the low-pitched sobbing.

1) Bambi: Describing this film as the biggest tearjerker of all time is understating the affect this seventy-year-old Disney classic has had on many men. A tale of a young deer whose mother is shot by hunters, Bambi portrayed every child’s biggest fear, and this fear can resurface at any time resulting in grown men blubbering at a cartoon.

Review: ‘Lawless’

Written by Andrew Home on . Posted in Film.

Much like director John Hillcoat’s last film The Road, Lawless is a story of families surviving. Now its Prohibition era America rather than the apocalypse and The Road’s father and son have become three intensely loyal Bondurant brothers. Lawless, however, is a far less unrelenting film than The Road and suffers for it. Ultimately, it’s solid direction and gripping story (with a charmingly authentic screenplay by long time Hillcoat collaborator Nick Cave) redeem it from being a missed opportunity but it certainly lacks the bite of Hillcoat’s previous work.

Forrest (Tom Hardy), Howard (Jason Clarke), and Jack (Shia LaBeouf) make moonshine  and defend their profession with brutal ferocity. Jack dreams of bigger things, fancy cars and expensive suits much to the annoyance of his two older siblings. Early on they give local sheriffs a few jars of their finest product so that they’ll look the other way. That is until Special Agent Charlie Rakes (played with a constant, menacing sneer by Guy Pearce) arrives from Chicago to put an end to their business and, potentially, their lives. The film really goes out of its way to establish just how evil the foppish Rakes is. Pearce is clearly trying his best to be anything less than completely obvious but his efforts get lost amidst the noise of scenes which serve no purpose other than to make sure you know what a villain he is when the issue was never in much doubt to begin with.

For all the subtlety that Rakes lacks, it can be found in droves in Hardy’s Forrest, who may well be one of the characters of the year. Much like in the excellent Bronson, Hardy plays a man capable of extreme violence, but Forrest is not the crazed sadist that Bronson was. His violence is never for show and is always done purposefully: to protect himself and those around him.  He is a man of closeted emotions, so much so that when new arrival Maggie Beauford (Jessica Chastain) begins to show signs of affection, Forrest reacts with a schoolboy shyness which makes him so much more than just another violent thug.

In the end, Forrest shines so brightly that he drowns the rest of the film out. The Road managed to arrange all of its parts into a far greater whole but Lawless has to content itself with being a film of impressive surface but little substance.

Preview: ‘Taken 2’

Written by Andrew Home on . Posted in Film.

Taken (2008) may have left many of those who went to see it with the impression that there was no one in Europe left for Bryan Mills (Liam Neeson) to kill. Apparently there are enough caricatured Albanian gangsters left to warrant a sequel, the simply titled Taken 2. The action now moves from Paris to Istanbul where Bryan, his daughter, Kim (Maggie Grace, who somehow managed to come out of the last film completely unscathed) and now friendly ex-wife, Lenore (Famke Jannsen) are on holiday. Lenore is promptly captured by some more of those pesky Albanians and Bryan goes off to find her while Kim is left to fend for herself.

The plot isn’t what makes people want to go and see Taken though, it’s the opportunity to turn one’s brain off and put your feet up while an unreasonably big body count piles up before you. It’s a typical Luc Besson (who writes and produces both of the Taken movies) film where the ridiculous nature of the plot is only overshadowed by the even more ridiculous violence. Taken 2 will certainly bring more of the same sort of thrill that the original did, sure the director’s changed but that hardly matters. The appropriately named, Olivier Megaton directs this time who, like previous director Pierre Morel, has worked with Besson on a number of projects before, including the critically panned Hitman (2007).

So perhaps the story will be weak and the violence silly, but at least this means that there’s another film with Liam Neeson in it who has proved over the past couple of years just how intriguing an action star he can be. Anyone who saw the absolutely mesmerising, The Grey earlier this year will surely agree.

Societies Events Listings – 2nd – 5th October

Written by Kate Bullivant on . Posted in Societies.

SOCIETY EVENTS LISINTGS

Monday 1st October

PANTO SOCIETY – AUDITIONS

Club Undergroud, North Campus Student’s Union: 17 30 till late.

The Panto Society beginning of year auditions. Held in the Northern Campus, but there is a ‘walking bus’ leaving the University of Manchester Student’s Union at 5 30 if you feel you might get lost. It’s a chance you to meet them and vice versa, with some fun games, a bit of dance and some script reading.

STUDENT RUN SELF HELP (SRSH) – B-EAT

Student’s Union, Room 4: 16 30 – 17 30

B-eat’s first meeting, B-eat offers peer support for people with eating disorders.

‘We believe that students should always have the time and space to talk about mental health in a supportive environment.” SRSH

Tuesday 2nd October

PANTO SOCIETY  – Second day of Auditions

Club Undergroud, North Campus Student’s Union: 17 30 till late

ZUMBA CLASSES – £3

Student’s Union, Khaled Said Room/Council Chambers: 17 00 – 18 00

Women for Women International Soc hosts a weekly Zumba class for only £3.This amazing charity helps women of war all around the world, and all money raised goes straight to the charity.

Wednesday 3rd October

CIRCUS SKILLS

Burlington Society: 14 00 – 15 00

Circus Skills is an opportunity to do something different and fun with your Wednesday afternoon, anyone is welcome – whether you can juggle or not!

DANCE SOCIETY

Manchester University Student Union, Academy 2:  14 00 – 16 00

Manchester Street Dance Team Auditions.

Want to be part of a wicked prize-winning hip-hop dance team? NOW IS YOUR CHANCE! Come audition for your chance to be a part of this great opportunity to have fun, make new friends, perform, compete and most importantly DANCE!

Thursday 4th October

RAW MANCHESTER ROCKS SOCIETY

Hardy’s Well – Rusholme: 20 00 – 21 00

The Manchester Rocks Society has a weekly social from 8pm until late. Go along, have a drink and find out what they are all about.

 

Top 5… Book Lists

Written by Phoebe Chambre on . Posted in Books.

In tribute to our top spotholder, Flavorwire.com, Books takes a look at the premiere five book list sites the Internet has to offer. True, the exercise quickly devolved into just book-related websites we think are cool/great/rad, but still they all mention books, so go ahead, compile reading wishlists, and reading wish wishilists from the recommendations we recommend:

1. Flavorwire.com

It’s the best listmaker (and tastemaker) in the business of listmaking, and has everything from How To Talk About 10 Important Books You Probably Haven’t Read (if you’ve read more than one of these walk tall, be proud) to The 20 Most Beautiful Bookshops in the World. Current favourite is 10 Great Novels and the Cocktails You Should Pair Them With. Delicious.

2. The Book Cover Archive

“For the purposes of appreciation and categorization.”
If you abide by the dictum always choose a book by its cover (and you should, many beloved treasures have been discovered from their surface value), this site is it. Listed randomly by cover, you can then search by author, pub date, genre or designer. Never have more happy coincidences occured. I now want The Way Through Doors by Jesse Ball.

3. Michael Silverblatt’s Bookworm

It’s not intended as a recommendations list, but scroll through the episodes of Silverblatt’s ubiquitous radio show and you have the most comprehensive and up-to-date reading list of contemporary American fiction. Try keeping up, though.
Each show, the host invites the author of a new book on to discuss its contents, and their other works. Expect involved, intimate discussions. Dave Eggers is always a favourite – check out his latest appearance, for his new novel A Hologram for the King.

4. ‘As If You Don’t Have Enough to Read’: New York Times Magazine’s 100 Greatest Nonfiction Books (by Hugo Lindgren)

Representing nonfiction. The NY Times Magazine asked very member of its staff to pick their five favourite nonfiction books. It’s not rigourous, or democratic, Susan Sarandon gets bashed, and the Bible gets a mention, but neither does it pretend to be definitive. For these reasons, I would trust it with my reading future.

5. Miranda July’s Reading List for VICE

Whether or not VICE is a valid and/or valuable magazine that shoots itself in the publication every time it opens its mouth, Miranda July’s (she of film The Future, and book No One Belongs Here More Than You, fame) list for them of everything she read in one day (emails, milk carton, billboards) shows us how its done, and holds the list bar high. And she’s a Lydia Davis fan.