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Month: October 2018

Image: Playground Games

Review: Forza Horizon 4

Written by David Uncle on . Posted in Games.

As I fly down a country lane at 200 miles per hour in a heavily modified Ford Transit van, drift around a corner and overtake a sports car, I think to myself, is this realistic? The answer is quite clearly no, not in the slightest. But that’s what makes Forza Horizon 4 so fun.

Forza Horizon 4 is Playground Games’ new racer and this year has come home to Britain. The world is an amalgamation of some of Britain’s most beautiful places, and it really shows. There are parts of Oxfordshire and the Cotswolds, the Lake District, the Scottish Highlands and even a very compact representation of Edinburgh. It immediately feels like Britain. The fields of various crops, the distinct post-boxes and telephone booths, even wind turbine farms that have been slowly appearing over the countryside for last few years – the map is incredibly true to life.

Moreover, the map is full of all kinds of different races. Street races in Edinburgh and around small rural villages, dirt rallies through autumnal forests and cross-country races over the hills and fields. Thus, there are plenty of races if you prefer supercars, 4x4s or even dirt buggies. In addition, there are numerous ‘showcase’ races that you unlock as you climb the ranks, and these are some of the most exciting, silliest races in the game. In Top Gear-style, there are races against hovercraft, trains, planes, dirt bikes and more, yet the best showcase is a special Halo-themed one where you must escape Covenant forces in a Warthog.

My only real issue with the map is in all the glory of the British countryside, it is less exciting to race around and look at than Australia was in Forza Horizon 3. I miss the dense jungles and sandy Outback areas, and apart from some light woodland and small beaches, Forza Horizon 4 doesn’t really have these environments.

I think Playground Games knew this would be the case, so have added the seasonal system. After the tutorial segment of the game, it switches to this cycle. Each week the season changes, drastically changing the aesthetics of the world as well as the way you drive, to an extent.

While I appreciate what they were trying to do, and admittedly the map does look stunning in autumn and winter, the seasons other than winter didn’t really change gameplay much. During winter, equipping snow tyres is recommended and trying to drive a sports car the same way you would otherwise won’t go well. The differences between summer, autumn and spring, however, felt like they weren’t substantial enough to make me drive differently. Granted, rain and a few puddles on the roads may reduce traction slightly, but otherwise I was quite underwhelmed. To me, all the fuss about the season cycling seems like a bit of a marketing gimmick, and only really comes into play in winter.

I am impressed by the online elements of the game, however. Almost like an MMO, when you enter ‘Horizon Life’, pretty much every car you see on the road is being driven by another player, and this makes the world feel much more alive than one full of dull AI driving slowly. When it comes to races, you can opt to race against real people or AI, and I appreciate that you’re not forced to always be online.

On this topic, it’s worth noting that the AI in races are quite… unsophisticated. I found that increasing the difficulty didn’t make the AI drive smarter, just more violent, being more likely to ram you off the road than wait for a clever opportunity to undertake you on a corner. I’m by no means a pro driver, but I’ve had no problem consistently winning races on the hardest difficulty, and it just feels a bit too easy.

But being a hardcore racing simulator isn’t the essence of Forza Horizon 4. It’s an accessible game about racing all kinds of gorgeously rendered cars in a beautiful world, and it absolutely succeeds at this. The cars look almost real and have clearly received exceptional attention to detail in how they look, sound and drive, and the world, although perhaps not as invigorating as its predecessor, is a well-designed and scenic representation of Britain.

Image: Playground Games

Forza Horizon 4 is therefore another excellent racing game following in the footsteps of Forza Horizon 3. The seasonal system may be underwhelming and hardcore racing fans may want to look elsewhere if they want a realistic game, but if you’re looking for a racing game with a large open world, hundreds of cars, detailed graphics and a huge amount of racing variety, this is the game for you.

8/10.

Photo: Alice Barron Eaves

We Are 11: Stanley Grove Primary Academy

Written by alicebarroneaves on . Posted in Arts.

Curated by 11-year olds from Stanley Grove Primary Academy, the Whitworth Art Gallery’s new exhibition explores what it means to be an 11-year-old living in Manchester today. I was slightly surprised to hear the stress of SAT exams was their main concern, claiming that “life’s getting more serious”. It was interesting to see that adult issues affect children in modern society.

They were also worried about fitting in on their move to high school in September and being “babies again” in the playground. As they approach adolescence and leave childhood they have coined the phases “tweenager” and “mid-kid” to describe their liminal phase and they’ve decided to reflect this through their artwork.

Being a curator was a big responsibility as the children had to consider many things about the artwork that had never crossed my mind. They were very keen to use an embroidered casket created by an 11-year-old called Hannah Smith in the 1640s. The team at the Whitworth were unsure about this initially, as the casket had been on exhibition a lot and were worried about light damage. The children, however, felt all their creativity from the project stemmed from the casket and it was important to their exhibition. As a result, the casket is on display, but with an umbrella on top of it to ensure the light doesn’t affect it.

The children told me the best bit of their exhibition was the modern-day response to the casket consisting of micro bits and flashing lights. In my opinion, however, the best bit of the exhibition was the self-portraits of the children that are blown up and printed on the glass wall of the gallery. This was a surprise to them and caused quite a stir as they all jumped about pointing themselves out to me. What was also interesting about the exhibition was the personal responses each of the children made to their chosen artwork through drawings.

I was told by the gallery staff that this is the first time at the Whitworth that artwork is displayed alongside drawn responses, rather than a piece of text, as they felt this better expressed how the 11-year olds felt. The gallery has also tailored the opening of the exhibition to the children by having a slushie machine instead of wine for the opening night.

To round off the interview I asked the children how much they enjoyed doing this project at the Whitworth and was pleased to hear it was “the best experience of primary school” for many of them. It was great to hear that Stanley Grove is encouraging 27 other primary schools to get involved with the We Are 11 project and make their own caskets, hoping for around 9000 in total to demonstrate their personal responses to being a young person in Manchester.

The exhibition opened on the 6th October and shall remain on display until 27th January 2019. 

 

Photo: Drew de F Fawkes @ Wikimedia Commons

Album Review: Trench by Twenty One Pilots

Written by Eleanor Roberts on . Posted in Music.

Trench, Twenty One Pilots’ fifth album, experienced what might be called some unprecedented troubles along the way during its release, specifically in terms of a leak. Nevertheless, following its official release, fans will have been delighted to notice that it retains much of the charm associated with the rest of their discography.

The songs continue to change in tempo and sound halfway through; as is a staple of the band. This is particularly highlighted in tracks such as ‘Chlorine’, with a switch from the chorus to a faster, slightly more cheerful rapping verse. Similarly, ‘The Hype’ moves to the use of the ukulele now often associated with Twenty One Pilots due to its prominence in the band’s sound.

This is not to say that the album is without its flaws. Tyler Joseph’s penchant for bizarre lyrics is out in full force, particularly in ‘Pet Cheetah’, where he states that he has “got a pet cheetah down in [his] basement”. Despite the meanings that have been attached to this (regarding Joseph’s studio being in his basement) it can be quite jarring to hear, especially given the following lines in which he announces that he would name the animal Jason Statham.

Nonetheless, the links between the songs which are intended to make up the narrative regarding the fictional city of Dema are pleasing to hear, particularly in contrast to each other. The singles ‘Jumpsuit’ and ‘Nico And The Niners’ both feature references to jumpsuits, whilst the latter is echoed in the beautiful piano-driven closer ‘Leave The City’. The mentions of fire allow for a cohesive link which is particularly pleasing in terms of the conceptual story of the album.

The notable exception to the narrative is ‘Smithereens’, a song written by Joseph for his wife. Whilst its position near the centre of the album is slightly strange, the track is oddly endearing in its suggestion that Joseph felt that he could not release the album without a song for his spouse.

All in all, the album is coherent in the narrative it aims to create, and variable in the sounds it produces. In spite of this, its sound is still definitively that of Twenty One Pilots. The record is a pleasing listen, from the energy of ‘Jumpsuit’ to the relaxed nature of ‘Neon Gravestones’, and is definitely worth at least one listen; in fact, more is encouraged.

Rating: 8/10

Photo: Press Shot

In Conversation with Col3trane

Written by Alex Coupe on . Posted in Music.

Coming off the back of six dates down under, and having played Soup Kitchen in February, Col3trane returned to Manchester on Wednesday night for an intimate live set at Night People to kick off his European tour.

Having quickly made a name for himself in the British urban music scene after releasing his debut mixtape in 2017, 19-year-old Col3trane, or Cole Basta, claims he “doesn’t really believe too much in genres anymore”. Before the gig, the North London native sits, eating a kebab and olives, donned in a hoodie brandishing the slogan, “I’m not a rapper”. “I don’t really put myself in one thing, because I feel like I do a lot of different things” he continues, and this disregard to typical ways of categorising music is clear to see in his own work.

In debut project Tsarina, Col3trane set about laying down a precedent for young artists. By developing his own, progressive spin on tones of R’n’B, trap, and electronic music, he avoided comparison and in August, his second release, BOOT, proved him not to be one-hit-wonder. The mixtape itself plays around with a variety of sounds, ‘Chemicals’ intertwines soulful vocals over a trap beat, whereas ‘Tyler’ harnesses a definite pop vibe. Having recently signed to Interscope in the US, but remaining independent in the UK, the dark and unexpected sounds which have become typical of Col3trane’s projects make him one the hottest acts coming up right now.

If his music doesn’t set him apart from the rest, his visuals most definitely do. “I do as much as is necessary,” he says while discussing the video recently released for ‘Britney’. Working with director Oscar Hudson, (whose previous collaborations include Radiohead and Young Thug) on a strange, dystopian video shot in Kazakhstan, Col3trane is evidently drawing the attention of big names in every department of the music business. As for on-stage visuals, Cole is backed by a full band and moves with an air of confidence unlike that of any 19-year-old I’ve ever seen before.

As his set got underway in the packed, and fairly sweaty venue, Night People, it was clear to see that he has earned himself an adoring fanbase. At the end of the first track, BOOT’s roaring electronic opener ‘Fear and Loathing’, one girl handed a bouquet of roses to the singer, and screamed uncontrollably when he returns to the microphone to mutter “Thank you, Anna, shout out to Anna”.  The second track was ‘Smart Aleck Kill,’ the 2017 collaboration with electronic producer SG Lewis, which recently notched over six million streams on Spotify.

Over the following hour, Col3trane went through the hits from both of his mixtapes, pausing from time to time to engage with the crowd with whom he is literally eye-to-eye with. Performing consistently danceable tracks, Col3trane maintained high energy from both himself and for his crowd for the entire set, which came to a head during final, and most well-known track, ‘Penelope’. The unnerving two-part track leers from a quiet ballad to a stomping bass-driven R’n’B track and acted perfectly as a closing song.

With age on his side, a clear musical and artistic vision driving his work, and an incredible work ethic, Col3trane’s rise will only continue. Talk of an album on the horizon “probably next year” will put him in an ideal position to start creeping up festival line-ups and headline bigger venues. The future of British urban music remains as exciting as ever, and Col3trane looks to be a safe bet as a future star.

Photo: Tara Bharadia

Review: Jamali Maddix – Vape Lord

Written by Tara Bharadia on . Posted in Arts.

A cosy night in Gorilla. The room is packed with loud and proud Mancunians ready for a night comedy. We can see Jamali peering his head out on stage to let the lighting guy know he’s ready. The act who appears on stage is Alfie Brown.

Brown is a well-seasoned comic, opening for Jamali on this tour. If you get a chance to see him, you won’t be disappointed. He knows how to work the crowd (or should we say pick on it), and spends his time making light of vegans, his friend’s significant other, and one particularly muscular guy in the front row.

There was clearly a very tangible friendship between Brown and Maddix: Brown made it clear he was happy for Maddix’s success despite having been working the circuit for twice the amount of time.

After a bar break, Jamali comes out on stage for his set which lasts an hour and a half. Hailing from East London, Maddix won the 2014 Chortle Student Comedian of the Year Award, and rose to fame through hosting the Vice documentary ‘Hate Thy Neighbour’.

Throughout the night Maddix made many jokes about how Vice had ruined his life and how he hated the show. He explains how his life was put in danger several times during filming, especially at a KKK bar.

Maddix was able to get laughs out of the crowd with minimal effort, especially once he started to vape on stage and asked the audience to buy him drinks. The second half of his set focused on his hatred for cats, his ways to cure the blues (by watching Paedohunters) and joining ISIS. He could make light of these difficult and crowd-dividing issues (I’m more of a dog person myself) all while sipping on a can of Red Stripe.

The show, in all, was chilled and relaxed but full of laughs. Maddix is on tour with Vape Lord until early next year, travelling through the states and the rest of Europe.

Photo: Nicola Freitas

The mid-week cheap eats of dreams

Written by Elena Meritxell Bradley on . Posted in News.

You need a food cheat, and you deserve a treat. Luckily for you, we’ve got a run down of the best Manchester has to offer when you’re searching for that edible oasis. Cheap, Instagram-worthy food made to soothe your soul and put leftover tuna pasta bakes everywhere to shame.

50% off Sushi, Monday: Whether you’re planning cocktails with the girls, an upmarket date or you’re just a lover of all things Japanese and sushi, head to 23 Peter Street for 50% off sashimi and rolls at Sakana. Aesthetic goals and absolutely divine, you can expect to find rich, pink slices of salmon sashimi, soft shell crab and mango rolls or even treat yourself to the tempura lobster roll, all for half the price! Remember to book in advance to secure the deal. (23 Peter Street, M2 5QR, @23peterstreet on Instagram)

£1 Taco Tuesdays: For Mexican-mezcal debauchery you cannot miss El Capo’s incredible ‘Taco Tuesday’! Five minutes walk from Piccadilly Station, this Mexican food is worlds away from the tired old fajitas on your meal plan. For £1 a pop enjoy soft tortilla taco-heaven; orange-braised pork carnitas, smoked chipotle sweet potato (or my personal favourite) the chipotle panga; shallow fried crispy white fish with sour cream and luscious chunks of avocado. At £1 a taco you may even want to treat yourself to a naughty margarita, or 4… (12 Tariff Street, M1 2FF, @elcapo_cantina on Instagram)

10p Wings: On ‘Wing Wednesdays’ we don’t wear pink; we eat lots of thrifty chicken. Feeding this frugal tradition is Bunny Jackson’s; five minutes from Oxford Road Station and decked out in obnoxiously American dive bar decor. Heaven for all my chicken connoisseurs out there, the wings are 10p each and the offer is daily! That’s correct, 50 wings for £5. At 10p you can choose between classic buffalo or barbecue and for an extortionate price of 20p your choices extend to Jack Daniels glaze, southern comfort Cajun or sailor Jerry sticky sesame. If 10p wings weren’t enough, from 5pm to 9pm enjoy Happy Hour, £3 pilsner pints and £5 selected cocktails. 10p wings after 5pm only. (1 Jack Rosenthal Street, M15 4RA, @bunnyjacksonsmcr on Instagram)

Crazy Pedro’s Happy Hour: Below Affleck’s Palace resides one of the Northern Quarter’s gems, arguably one of the ultimate cheat eat destinations, Crazy Pedro’s. A tequila-laden paradise of fusion pizza, frozen cocktails and lurid lucha-libre decor. Happy Hour, Sunday-Friday 5pm-9pm, means 16″ pizzas for £10 (what’s a fiver each between pizza pals?). Choose from wacky toppings such as  ‘Fried Chicken and Waffle’ or ‘Nacho Libre’ (nachos, guacamole, sour cream, jalapenos and pico de gallo) or perhaps opt for something more purist: ‘Summer B’, wild mushrooms, garlic ricotta and truffle oil. (Short street NQ or 55 Bridge Street for the bigger branch, @crazypedros on Instagram)

50% of lunch, Friday: From Albert Square you’re minutes away from Dogs ‘n’ Dough. This hip and trendy haunt with it’s green leather seats, metro tiles and neon bar lights offers the dirtiest dogs off Deansgate (by dirty I mean absolutely delicious). For 50% off on Fridays enjoy the ‘punniest’ menu items: ‘Pickle Ricks’ (beer-battered pickles with szechuan dipping sauce) or ‘Cheesus Christ Superstar’, a three cheese, caramelized onion, hot dog dream. Plus, all beef and pork dogs can be switched out for veggie if you’re not about the meat! Note, this offer is from 12pm – 4pm. (17 Bow Lane, M2 4FW, @dogsndough on Instagram)

Photo: The Other Richard

Review: Knaïve Theatre’s ‘War With the Newts’

Written by Urussa Malik on . Posted in Theatre.

“On a scale of purple to red, how has the crisis affected you?” This is the question we were met with before the play began.

I replied with pink and was met with a strange look (I later learnt I wasn’t the only one) and a stamp on my hand that read ODDJOBS. My plus one answered within the guidelines and got a more ‘positive’ stamp of LEADING. I was taken to my seat, and greeted with a harsh, loud ‘SIT HERE’, whereas those marked LEADING received a choice and pleasant demeanour accompanying them to their chosen seats. It was an interesting concept to bring the audience the first a taste of the hierarchy and tension which pervades through the whole production.

The show, aired at the Royal Exchange Theatre, promotes itself as an education about the history and future of civilisation. The cast members Everal A Walsh, Nadi Kemp-Sayfi, and Sam Redway play more than ten characters between them, spanning over multiple episodic-style acts. With a running time of 70 minutes, it feels longer than it is. There are chorus-like interruptions which become more and more erratic as the ‘programme’ becomes more and more digitally, metaphorically and literally corrupted.

‘War with The Newts’ is actually a book — a science fiction written by Karel Čapek published in 1936. This was a horrifying realisation, as I thought it was written especially for our modern times. The theatrical production brings the horror of the 1930’s era of tension to new heights.

This ‘height’ was often literal, as in one of the major scenes when Kemp-Sayfi stood on a staircase in a bright spotlight, spouting comments about new civilisations and regenerated communities. Fascism is well and truly back, in theatrical fashion.

The show engages with multiple, interconnected themes, such as technological developments through the semi-autonomous newts who are utilised (enslaved) to become a new workforce, and the subsequent disenfranchisement of workers. One powerful scene was the bathos-infused scene culmination of England becoming a form of reparation for the newts and the subverted idea that immigration has left the disenfranchised British population as the largest refugee population in Kazakhstan. It would be a privilege to call the show absurd: unfortunately, it makes all the sense in the world.

Photo: Gage Skidmore @wikimedia commons

Review: Venom

Written by anishgulati on . Posted in Film.

Ruben Fleischer makes his directorial introduction into the Marvel universe with Venom; an action-packed, sci-fi thriller but also brings his trademark comic tinge into the mix. With so many avenues already explored in the genre, the audience has been wondering if this new entrant could live up to the expectations.

Well, in my opinion, it could have been a lot better.

Being an avid follower of the genre, I had similar qualms. I have to confess that all my fears seemed to come true as the film introduced itself. There was an air of recurrence in the initial phases of the film. The plot seemed quite predictable and there seemed to be a void that could not be filled throughout the film.

The film follows a righteous, driven and successful journalist, Eddie Brock, whose life has everything a sane human needs.  That’s before it all falls apart when one of his interviews goes awry, landing him in hot water. It all arises from an experimental space odyssey gone wrong, which brings some uninvited malevolent aliens to the earth. Eddie Brock acquires the role of a protagonist as he unexpectedly encounters one of the members of the alien species and develops a parasitic relationship with it.

Tom Hardy does a superb job of portraying a role that was very dissimilar from his usual characters. He is the only shining beacon in the otherwise incompatible cast. Jenny Slate didn’t really fit her character, and there was no obvious chemistry between Anne Weying, the female lead played by Michelle Williams, and Eddie Brock. The rogue mastermind, Carlton Drake, played by Riz Ahmed, seemed to be too helpless with good fortune being his saviour.

Despite everything, there are a few positives about the film. The visual effects live up to the expectations and the cinematography is good. The sound effects and musical score were probably the highlights of the show. This was probably down to Ludwig Grandson who reached the standards he set for himself in doing the music for Black Panther. The film had all the resources to be a standout Marvel creation, an (anti) hero character, a backstory and, most importantly, the budget to back it all up. But there were some definite plot-holes that they were unable to fill. There was a feeling of disconnect throughout.

Coming from the director of Zombieland and Two Night Stand, Ruben Fleischer tried to retain his identity by introducing his characteristic sarcastic humour into the film. But as they say, “excess of everything is bad”. The comic sequences were too many to still justify the film as a sci-fi thriller, it just left the audience confused about what to expect. There were also some elements of the film that seemingly took inspiration from elsewhere; such as the lair of the antihero which looked like Tony Stark’s place in the Iron Man movies. Overall, the film lacked a sense of originality.

Looking at the bigger picture, the film is a one-time watch if you lower your expectations a little and want to be introduced to a character that might grow into the Marvel Universe with time. And, as a piece of friendly advice, if you do decide to watch the film stay for the post-credit sequence. It might surprise you.

2.5/5.

Photo: Ian Smith @wikimedia commons

Review: A Star is Born

Written by alfieclark on . Posted in Film.

Emotional, funny, and featuring a killer soundtrack, A Star is Born will surely go down as one of 2018’s greatest films.

Bradley Cooper proves himself as a true renaissance man; directing, producing, co-writing, and starring in this musical drama. A remake of the 1937 film of the same name, A Star is Born tells the story of Ally (played to perfection by Lady Gaga), a singer-songwriter who is discovered by famed musician Jackson Maine (Bradley Cooper). It follows the two as Jackson helps propel her to stardom, whilst a passionate romance blooms between them.

The chemistry between the them is the highlight of the film, creating one of the most believable film romances I’ve seen in years. This is largely achieved through deft screenplay, with comedic and awkward scenes, particularly in the first half — making the characters feel human and relatable, despite their star-power both within and outside of the film.

In terms of performances, I also feel it wrong to ignore the contribution of much of the supporting cast. Sam Elliott as Jackson’s older brother and manager convincingly conveys love and awe for his sibling, along with some slight resentment of his success and concern for his drinking habits. Additionally, Andrew Dice Clay does a great job as Ally’s supportive father, providing some of the film’s funniest lines. With regards to the soundtrack, the music created by these two characters is fantastic, with “Shallow” in particular being a track that is sure to become a hit outside of the film.

This film is told in two distinct halves, and whilst I felt that the first half was the fresher, more enjoyable and memorable of the two, the second half of this film is still strong. I would argue that the first half belongs to Gaga, and the second to Cooper, who presents his best acting material yet. Presenting Jackson’s struggle with alcoholism and tinnitus with heartbreaking intensity, in scenes that are sure to make some viewers sob.

However, there was one out-of-character moment for Jackson, in which he drunkenly insults Ally repeatedly, that I do not feel was addressed as much as it should have been, ultimately leaving me to feel that the scene stood out as inconsistent with the rest of his arc.

When I first saw posters for this film, I assumed it was just going to be another cheesy romantic musical, but it’s so much more than that. It is not just the story of love and the rise to stardom, rather it presents the ever-changing nature of fame and success and the damage that this can do to relationships and family. It deals with troubling issues in a respectful and maturity, lightened up with charisma from the characters that will keep you invested for its entire 135 minute run time. I have no doubt that this film will be a significant player when the Oscars come around again, and this is more than deserved.

A Star is Born was released on 3rd October 2018 and is currently playing at the Odeon Great Northern, Showcase Cinema and Cineworld Cinema-Didsbury.

Rating: 4.5/5

Photo: @Breve Storia del Cinema - Flickr

First Watch: Casablanca

Written by Steven Hogg on . Posted in Film.

Casablanca is one of those films that should be taken seriously, yet enjoyed. At first glance, the film may be seen as just another lovey-dovey tale of a damsel in distress. Upon closer inspection, Casablanca is a romantic fantasy that has made an everlasting impact on the genre of romance and, most importantly, cinema as a whole.

A-list actors such as Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, and Peter Lorre star in this 1940s Hollywood classic. Set during the dark, early days of WWII, the film starts off with the main protagonist Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart) running a nightclub in the titular city of Casablanca, Morocco.

Blaine is the type of character who carries around a heavy bag of melancholy and nostalgia with him everywhere, reminiscing about the ‘good old days’. Smoking cigars and drinking alcohol, Blaine drowns his sorrows to the thoughts of his lost lover whilst listening to the sensational masterpiece of  ‘As Time Goes By’.

Then, Blaine is forced to abandon his daydreams when his lost lover becomes found, by appearing at his nightclub one day. Ilsa Lund, played by the iconic actress Ingrid Bergman, steps back into Blaine’s life alongside her husband, Victor Laszlo. Faced with the nostalgic memories of a man she once loved, against a loving husband she now adores – which man is Ilsa running off with at midnight?

If romance isn’t your cup of tea, then you will be delighted to hear that darker themes such as the war, past versus present, sacrifice and loyalty are consistent in the film. All of these themes bind into one to make Casablanca an all-time classic. Its original release in 1942 gave the people of America and its allies hope and optimism towards winning WWII.

By using heroic characters such as Rick Blaine, the film demonstrates how there is light at the end of the tunnel by fighting for what you believe in. Even today, it is hard to ignore Casablanca for what it stood for and how its meaning remains to be relevant in the 21st century.

Casablanca is available to buy on DVD and Blu-Ray.

5/5.

Photo: Mike Turner of England @ Flickr

Introducing the MECD

Written by Rona McCann on . Posted in Science & Tech, News.

The University has set out its ambitious vision for the new Manchester Engineering Campus Development (MECD) project.

It’s investment in world-class research, teaching, and learning will provide modern facilities in a “bespoke environment” as well as spaces for both staff and students that will allow them to lead the way in the use of innovative technology and working practices.

Another aim of the MECD is to preserve Manchester’s identity of being a home of pioneers, led by discovery. The new, vibrant, and consolidated engineering hub will reflect the pride Manchester has in its rich academic and civic heritage. It will be a welcoming environment for the community and be a destination where “revolutionary science is visible to all.”

Funding for the project is part of the first phase of the University of Manchester’s £1 billion ten-year ‘Campus Masterplan’. The build of the MECD will eat up a £300 million chunk of the investment and will be the new learning home of 7000 engineering students. This moves their studies from the University’s North Campus located on Sackville Street to the Main Campus on Oxford Road, allowing them to join students belonging to most other courses.

The MECD will be great in size (76,000 square metres, to be exact) to allow room for four Schools, two research institutes, the Faculty Offices, study lounges and a range of centrally-timetabled teaching spaces. To put that into perspective, it will have floor space of eleven football pitches, stretched across eight floors.

Naturally, a detailed project timeline has been set out. The build is scheduled to take six years, but designing began as early as 2014. Initial construction commenced in late 2016, and by mid-2018 the first MECD core had reached full height. The skilled workers behind the MECD over this time has entered the thousands. At peak construction periods the project will employ a workforce of a 1000. Many of whom are Manchester locals being trained by the University itself through its Works Programme.

When the MECD is complete it will be open to students at a location besides the Manchester Aquatics Centre, on the site bounded by Grosvenor Street, Upper Brook Street, and Booth Street East. Housed in the site will be the Schools of Chemical Engineering and Analytical Science, of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, of Materials and of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering.

Also to be introduced to the campus will be The Dalton Nuclear Institute, supporting nuclear professionals with expertise, training and facilities. The International Centre for Advanced Materials (ICAM) will allow students to be on the very same premises as leading fundamental and applied research aiding the oil and gas industry. Project completion is due during 2021, after which the existing engineering campus, including sites such as North Campus’ Sackville Street Building, will be decommissioned as a teaching facility.

The University has invited anyone to be involved in this historic build and significant contribution to the world’s engineering research infrastructure. Listed on the University’s website is a call to “share your memories of your time studying engineering or working on the North Campus on (its) heritage boards,” to be displayed along the walls of the MECD, and an ask for people to share their ideas of what they would like to more generally see in the building upon its opening.

Photo: SKA Project Development Office and Swinburne Astronomy Productions @ Wikimedia Commons

Scientist imprisoned during Apartheid gives Fanaroff Lecture

Written by antritheodorou on . Posted in Science & Tech.

This year’s main speaker at the inaugural Fanaroff Lecture was Dr Rob Adam, the Project Director of the Square Kilometer Array (SKA) in South Africa and former anti-Apartheid activist.

The event took place in the Imperial War Museum North and was co-organised with the University of Manchester. The Fanaroff lecture was hosted to highlight the importance of science communication in policy making, a suitable topic for this year’s keynote speaker. Dr Rob Adam, introduced by Dr Bernie Fanaroff, spoke at length about his childhood, imprisonment during Apartheid, and involvement in science projects over the years.

Dr Bernie Fanaroff is a recipient of the Order of Mapungubwe, South Africa’s highest honour for the critical role he played in the country’s scientific and political development. Through his extensive involvement with the SKA project, Dr Fanaroff contributed largely to South Africa’s international stature as an international research destination.

SKA is a multi-radio telescope project that will begin construction in 2019. Aptly named, its total collecting area will be one square kilometre, and it is projected to be 50 times more sensitive than any current radio astronomy instrument. The SKA’s headquarters are located not far from here, at our very own Jodrell Bank Observatory.

Before passing the stage on to the main speaker, Fanaroff reminded his audience — which consisted mainly of academics of various scientific disciplines — of their duty to keep the public informed. After all, who better to communicate science to the wider public than the scientists themselves?

The mood undeniably shifted during Dr Adam’s speech, with Dr Fanaroff’s humorous and optimistic remarks about the future contrasting to Adam’s sober descriptions of life during Apartheid. As a member of the African National Congress, he was sentenced for 10 years in prison in 1981. Nevertheless, imprisonment did not stop Adam in his pursuit for knowledge — he revealed to us that he wanted to continue his studies in chemistry, but was not allowed to have a chemistry book in prison.

Therefore, theoretical physics was the next best thing. He recalled how his first lecture in quantum mechanics was “through bullet-proof glass, in bullet-points.” When describing the day he was released, Dr Rob Adam uttered the phrase that carried the most gravity out of everything said that night: “I hadn’t seen the stars in nearly nine years.”

“Resilience born of deprivation confers immense power.”

Dr Adam went on to list various projects he has since participated in after his release. In each case, he was responsible for outlining the team’s objectives, and any obstacles they had to overcome. Scientists often had to convince governments to trust and invest in their vision. In this case, Dr Adam suggested making powerful people see that “scientific thinking is applicable in other areas.”

This is was discussed as another point that in the Q&A session thoroughly, in which Dr Fanaroff suggested that we need to “help governments see the digital skills out of astronomy.” In his concluding remarks, Dr Rob Adam shared with us some of the lessons he had learned from successes and failures, including “Don’t skimp on prototype. Separate research and development from construction; Have more than one strong champion, have a lot of political allies; Understand your market. Don’t confuse your current with potential market; Understand your limitations.”

The wisdom these men shared with us resonated deeply, as I believe that science communication is becoming ever more important in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Photo: Antri Theodorou, Antri Theodorou and Dr Rob Adam at the University of Manchester’s inaugural Fanaroff lecture
Photo: Netflix

Netflix returns us to the golden era of rom-coms

Written by georgiachurch on . Posted in Film.

When hearing the phrase ‘rom-com’, the over-saturated, sickly sweet and tediously predictable offerings of the last decade are the quickest to spring to mind.

Movies such as Good Luck Chuck (2007) are prime examples of the way in which the genre has departed from the more thoughtful films of the classic rom-com era in favour of crude humour and formulaic plots. The genre has earned a reputation of being trashy as the magic of classic films such as When Harry met Sally or Notting Hill seems to have been forgotten. Amy Schumer shagging John Cena (Trainwreck) can hardly be compared to Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan in that diner scene. This reputation, however, is something that Netflix seems to be attempting to dismantle with its recent movie Set It Up.

It is true that these classic films are at times problematic, and the crass overdone rom-coms that saturate the market today are tired. In a world where romance seems confined to swiping left and right, the perfectly timed Instagram post or a well-crafted Snapchat response, perhaps what we need is a little old fashioned romance. The industry currently overridden by money guzzling giants such as Marvel is lacking a bit of heart and soul. Enter Netflix’s Set It Up.

Set it Up, directed by Claire Scanlon and forefronted by power duo Zoey Deutch and Glen Powell provides the perfect antidote to both superhero fatigue and obscenity overload, reviving the rom-com genre in a way that is both superbly entertaining and progressively modern.

It tells the warm-hearted story of two frenetic PA’s who, in a bid for freedom, attempt to set their tyrannical bosses up. In a meet cute that doesn’t necessarily usurp a bookshop in Portobello Road but certainly stands up to it, Deutch and Powell’s chemistry sparks straight out of the screen. Their easy banter and seamless rapport propels the movie, ensuring that it doesn’t lean back on the crude humour of many modern romantic comedies. Set It Up, as with many of the golden era rom-coms, will surely become part of rom-com history (see that pizza scene).

What truly makes Set It Up great, however, is the way that it modernises the old style rom-com. While the classics stand the test of time, there is no doubt that they are frequently archaic in the way they present gender dynamics. Relationships are often unbalanced (eg. Pretty Woman, You’ve Got Mail) with gender stereotypes rampant. What Set It Up does so successfully is to present an entertaining love story while also highlighting important issues without ever seeming forced.

Through the character of Kirsten, we get a self made woman who at first seems overbearing but is revealed to be caring and supportive, inviting discussion of the struggles of being a career woman. We even get a redemptive character arc in the hyper-masculine Rick who finally taps into his emotions. This kind of successful representation of varying gender dynamics on screen is extremely valuable, and yet the film never loses sight of its goal – to entertain.

Netflix is certainly attempting to inject some heart back into the romantic comedy genre, taking the classic template and modernising it and in doing so reminding us of why we always loved rom-coms so much. Its other offerings such as To All The Boys I Loved Before show that this trend shows no signs of stopping and while films such as The Kissing Booth don’t sit quite so well, it seems romantic comedies are on the up. Besides, the path of true love never did run smooth.

Rating: 4/5

 

Photo: Ilovetheeu @ Wikimedia Commons

‘No Deal’ Brexit expected to cause chaos in Manchester

Written by George Walker on . Posted in News.

Lack of clarity from government ministers has caused local leaders to undertake their own contingency plans on Brexit, revealing that a ‘No Deal’ exit could leave Manchester with critical shortages in labour, medicine, and food.

Local businesses have highlighted that supermarkets and public services alike are not equipped for stockpiling of resources; and so could be caught short if European deliveries cannot reach Greater Manchester after the UK leaves the EU.

A Manchester City Council report said “urgent work” was required in a range of areas, including housing, investment, higher education and the environment.

The report highlighted that as a city with a high university population, and with the University of Manchester being the city’s biggest employer, Brexit will hit education in Manchester hard. With projected fewer international applications, limited or non-existent EU funding and more limited access to European research and innovation, the University of Manchester is expected to suffer along with the city and region.

With many workers coming from the EU to work at both the University and across the city, this is anticipated to have huge implications. The report states that Brexit “will have significant social implications”, confirming that an analysis into how social cohesion and issues are playing out is already underway.

For students who travel far and wide, or even avoid train prices by flying domestically, Brexit is also set to disrupt that. Changes in aviation rules and border control may well cause major disruption on surrounding roads, and long queues at Manchester Airport. This has led Manchester Councillors to push the government to ensure access to the single aviation market in order to allow Manchester Airport to continue growing. 

With more analysis and discussions planned, the future is in no way certain for what a post-Brexit Manchester will look like.

Photo: Rona McCann

Fallowfield bids farewell to Fallow Café

Written by Rona McCann on . Posted in News.

Fallow Café released a statement earlier this year that it was closing its doors for good. A post made on its Facebook page pre-empted the announcement. The post thanked its customers for the good times and portrayed their employees as “a lovely bunch of mischievous staff”.

The Landcross Road venue was sentimentally described as “the perfect hangout” and that “(we) were really proud of the place”.

The opening date of Fallow Café’s return “in one shape or form” was on the post as well, said to be in “late September”. A new bar/restaurant, HAUS, the café’s new form, has since been revealed. However, HAUS is still not open and no new expected date of opening has been provided.

The reason for the closure and subsequent rebranding of the Fallow Café site is still unknown. Prior to this academic year, Fallow Café had had an unusually late closing time, of 3AM. However, throughout last year, its set daily closing time had been 1am.

Recent incidents relating to the bar’s management include its hygiene inspection in August 2017, when it received a one star rating.

The news of HAUS comes at the same time as the opening of two other local bars, The Drop Inn and Arabian Nights, both located along the Fallowfield stretch of Wilmslow Road.

Fallow Café opened in 2013 and remained popular among Fallowfield students over the years with its provision of brunch and late-night drinks.

During the day the venue acted as a coffee house whilst serving a range of meals and snacks. It then remained open until late each day, serving as a bar. Fallow Café acted as host of regular gigs for up-and-coming bands and performers in its 80 person capacity upstairs room.

The Mancunion reached out to HAUS to find out more about its proposed food and drinks menu and what the restaurant will bring to the Fallowfield scene. Their reply stated that no such information could be shared at this moment. However, for news and updates, anyone interested should follow HAUS’s Instagram, ‘@hausmcr’.

Photo: HOME Manchester

Review: The Miseducation of Cameron Post

Written by Urussa Malik on . Posted in Film.

Desiree Akhavan’s third project, The Miseducation of Cameron Post, is carried out carefully and instructively as she wrote, produced and directed the film.

It follows the stories from a gay conversion camp which justify a hard-hitting drama and sensationalist approach, while managing to maintain a sense of calm.

In this book turned film, an amazing power seeps from the protagonist, Cameron Post, played by Chloë Grace Moretz, who refuses to buy into the doctrine whilst coming to an understanding of why people were against homosexuality. The apparent alternative nature of homosexuality, the ‘weakness’ as it is called, was paradoxically also a strength.

As such, this film reveals how the very Biblical belief used to condemn homosexuality can also be used, not to condone it, but to create an emphatic atmosphere around it. Not to just tolerate homosexuality but to be accepting that some people are different in ways you do not understand.

The female perspective lends an interesting, underused lens. Female homo-sociability operates on a much more intense level than cis-male homo-sociability. Female friends can, and do, kiss each other on the cheek, under the pretence of blotting lipstick, and it’s considered innocent. Yet we cannot imagine the same happening for men.

Indeed, the beginning of the film is a series of heteronormative habits. A prom dance, photos where the couples awkwardly hold each other around the waist, the obligatory compliments of the girls by the boys, and the chaste dancing. All these give way to Cameron dancing vivaciously with her friend, Coley, which later cuts dramatically to them in the back of a car, familiar in heterosexual contexts.

These beginning sequences emphasise how heterosexuality permeates our culture and how interactions are loaded when it comes to the opposite sex, so clearly and so frustratingly. Moretz perfectly captures this awkwardness, which is actively encouraged between the opposite sex, as a way of controlling sexuality and still directing it towards the heterosexuality.

The climax of the moment revolves around a secondary character: a boy called Mark. He seems to have not just been converted, but is also interested in Cameron, but again a reserved-ness stops him from fully expressing that. Nevertheless, he is “cured” and feels can return home. His father’s refuses his return, because Mark has “a weakness [he] cannot handle” undoing the entire idea that conversion camps get results. This suggests that these places become a dumping ground for vulnerable young adults.

Mark is distraught, but reveals a poignancy in this supposed ‘weakness’. By quoting “when I am weak, I am strong” from the Bible, the same book that is used to subdue and eradicate a part of him, it is also where he draws hope and strength from. As he speaks and shouts louder and louder, a visibly tense camp leader puts her foot down. Literally. As Mark struggles to get up, his bloodied nose foreshadows a larger, more horrific attempt of harm. This entire scene is potent, focusing on the perspective of those forced at camp, whereas most religious dogmatic focused films often focus on the evilness of the perpetrators. It is not glossed over, but priority is given to Cameron, Mark and the rest. Their stories are important and their reactions are not romanticised, or used to show their growth. The scene shows pain. It shows the reality of psychological abuse.

The film turns your head. Angles often are turned sideways or in other ways, alluding to different perspectives. Is sexuality a parallel to angles? I suppose people are said to swing between. This is a film which gives sensationalism a pass and instead successfully utilises perspective to explain and empathise.

Score 4/5

Photo: Antwerp Mansion

Antwerp Mansion reveals sister venue for Halloween

Written by laurafinn on . Posted in News.

Earlier this week, popular Rusholme nightclub ‘Antwerp Mansion’ revealed on Facebook that they will be twinning with a sister venue this Halloween.

The club is currently only licensed to open until 11pm due to council regulations, and often partners with other venues to continue events later into the night.

Their Halloween event, ‘Deathtrap Disco’, will be twinned with a new sister venue — the location of which is yet to be announced.

They have also reached out to young artists offering paid positions to decorate this sister venue to the same standards as the Mansion.

Speaking to The Tab, the owner, Andy Barnfield stated that it had become difficult to “fit all [their] arts events and music into one venue due to the restrictions placed on [them] by the council.”

He added that, given the time restrictions, he’d been looking for a sister venue for sometime now, but it had taken time to find one “interesting” enough to exist alongside the infamous Antwerp.

Organisers have been asking for “graffiti artists and lovers of décor” to help them with new ideas.

The aim of this is to “support young independent emerging artists”, the Arts Coordinator Lizzie stated.

More information is available on the Antwerp Mansion Facebook page @ https://tinyurl.com/yago9z4a.

 

Photo: KGGucwa @Wikimedia Commons

Langdale Hall expansions opposed by local community

Written by Felix Hanif-Banks on . Posted in Investigations.

A proposal to build six ‘townhouses’ with 36 bedrooms for students in Victoria Park has been turned down by Manchester City Council after opposition from nearby residents.

Originally proposed in July 2017, Njoy Accommodation Management wanted to expand Langdale Hall, a listing building in Upper Park Road, by taking the space currently occupied by tennis courts and greenery.

Following an on-site visit, the Planning and Highways Committee said the development would be “harmful to spacious character and landscaped setting of the site”.

Minutes from a planning meeting said: “The committee carefully considered all of the representations that had been made, but concluded that the negative impact of this development on the character of the conservation area and the setting of Langdale Hall would be so great that any benefits of the scheme would be outweighed by the detriment to the conservation area.”

There were 55 letters of complaint to the council, with many saying that further building work would be damaging to “the character of the existing conservation area” while also “having a detrimental effect on the setting of a listed building and the privacy of the nearby family homes”.

Residents cited a wide array of criticisms of multiple aspects of the build, many centred around the Victoria Park conservation area. Despite Njoy’s apparent “full consideration” of the area, locals claimed the build would contribute to further noise pollution, adding to the already busy area containing Xaverian College and a number of other student halls.

One complainant described such a new build within the grounds of a listed building as “outrageous”, stating “the building does not engage with the landscape in a positive way”.

An agent of Njoy Accommodation justified the new proposals, saying the housing would be aimed at “older students who wanted a quiet setting”, while the heritage and location of the site had been “fully considered.”

Despite widespread opposition, Njoy was granted permission in March to build a further studio flat and one-bedroom flat, but being basement rooms these were much less controversial or disruptive.

 

Album Review: Chris by Christine & The Queens

Written by Urussa Malik on . Posted in Music.

Christine & The Queens‘ new album Chris is a stunner. Embracing her androgynously beautiful looks to new heights, Christine embodies an aesthetic, which combined with her music, is surreally good.  She also claims to be “playing around with the male gaze” as outlined in a Guardian interview, thus creating a cheeky, brazen dynamic.

There seems to be no escaping Christine’s music without mentioning her theatrical aesthetic which permeates every single one of her music videos. It is hardly style over substance, however, with Christine appearing to embrace a new-found confidence in all aspects of this record.

‘Girlfriend’, the second track on the album, sounds like a classic from the first note and is overtly laced with innuendo before reaching a simple, yet incredibly catchy, chorus. I am in awe of how she manipulates her words so well so as to become an auditory beauty. In the video, a whole masculine entity is embodied with the flexing of her arms. Her shoulders and hips move in unison with a group of male dancers, echoing Christine’s blurring of gender binaries. Yet again, she infuses the dramatic element when the lighting goes haywire and she gives a performance to match.

‘Doesn’t Matter’ is a dance sequence embellished with an aggression between Christine and a boy. A struggle ensues and the dance ceases to be comical it degenerates to the point that Christine is strewn over the floor, having exhausted herself of… herself? Purposefully, the lyrics don’t seem to follow the beat of the song. The chorus is extravagantly existential: “It doesn’t matter does it? […] If I believe in God, and if God exists”. “Uh, I soliloquise” seems a meta-reference whereby her audience are suddenly privy to her inner thoughts, but can they be? Regardless, she ends the song with the damning “It doesn’t matter, does it?”.

‘5 dollars’ is a croon of a tune whilst the video starkly focuses on her muscles and scratches – she seems to mock metrosexuality by revealing its softer, theatrical side. The real tease is when the clothes are put on – the whole routine of dressing up and absolutely feeling yourself and my god, I would feel it too if I was her.

‘Goya soda’ has a hymn-like background melody fused with funk for its introduction – the chime adds a hallucinatory feel to the song with the chorus flitting between French and English lyrics. If anything, it sounds more like Urdu to me by the time the chorus arrives. A whole French verse follows, adding to the psychedelic fleeting that the entire song is harbouring. The piano solo at the end captures this radical fluidity very well.

Christine & The Queens will be touring Europe soon so do make yourself familiar with the album first. You don’t want to pass out in public when you hear them for the first time.

 

Charity shopping: the guilt free way to shop

Written by freyapoppywild on . Posted in Fashion & Beauty.

Inspired by this week’s focus on sustainability, I took some time to remind myself of the joys of second hand shopping.

Charity shopping allows you to get a whole outfit for less than £10, while helping charities to continue their amazing work. What could be better? Yet there still seems to be some stigma attached to buying second hand clothes, which I think is ludicrous.

This week I went on a charity shop crawl around Manchester city centre and I have to say, I was delighted at what I found and how little I paid. There are so many pros to reusing and recycling old clothes as it is a sustainable and economically friendly way of giving your wardrobe a boost, and as they say — one man’s trash is another man’s treasure!

I started off at Oxfam on Oxford Road, which is just a minute’s walk from the University of Manchester campus. I was delighted to find a haul of autumnal jumpers, skirts and boots here, which makes the approaching season a whole lot more exciting.

Pictured is a Topshop jumper that I picked up for just £3 and some Clarks boots which I paid only £8 for in Oxfam. Next, I went to the RSPCA charity shop located just off Tib Street, where I found some major high street brands such as Topshop, H&M, and Urban Outfitters. The pick of the bunch was a Julian McDonald dress which would’ve cost a small fortune originally.

The dress seen in the picture is the perfect autumn piece which I got for just £5 and the accompanying bag was just £3. Finally, I went to Barnardo’s near Piccadilly, which was equally lucrative, and I left with a new bag and some lovely real silver jewellery, all for less than £10. So, I think that anyone who has yet to discover the joys of charity shopping should give it a try — you never know you might find your new favourite item of clothing for a fraction of the retail price!