Dheepan: review
How do you forge yourself a new life in a new country, with a new identity, language, and family you must adopt as your own? For most, this is unthinkable. For Dheepan, once a boy soldier for the Tamil Tigers (as was the actor), this is his only way out of a country ravaged with civil war and horror. As Dheephan and his adopted family … Continue reading Dheepan: review
A War: review
Choosing who has to die so that others can live is the unthinkable moral impasse facing Commander Claus M. Pederson (Pilou Asbæk) as he is caught under heavy crossfire in Afghanistan. The consequences of his decision will haunt him for life, both mentally and in the court of law. Director Tobias Lindholm uses real Taliban warriors and refugees to ground his Oscar contender in sobering … Continue reading A War: review
Review: Room
Can you imagine spending seven years locked in a 10 x 10 garden shed? Lenny Abrahamson, director of Room, leaves you no choice. Adapted from Emma Donoghue’s 2010 novel, inspired by the Fritzl case, Room traps the viewer for over an hour alongside its prisoners, a mother and son (Brie Larson and Jacob Tremblay), and explores the boundless love between mother and child; how “Ma” … Continue reading Review: Room
The Edge Building, published in the December issue of GQ
The Edge might just be the world’s smartest building. Yes, everyone goes on and on about technology becoming increasingly intrusive and killing our creativity, but I dare you to fault a building that boasts 40 000 sensors regulating temperature and movement, coffee machines that learn exactly how you like your espresso, a garage that recognizes your license plate and a mini robot cop on … Continue reading The Edge Building, published in the December issue of GQ
Teddy M, published in February GQ
When British pop artist Teddy M was creating his Love Woman collection of paintings, he had a litmus test for whether an image was developing as it should. “If it didn’t arouse me,” he says, “then it wasn’t right and I’d scrap it.” Although the figures in pieces such as “Yum Yum” (pictured) are anonymous, they were in fact inspired by the shapely physiques of … Continue reading Teddy M, published in February GQ
Ronald Searle’s America, published in January GQ
Remembered foremost for his drawings of spindly St Trinian’s girls in stockings and St Custard’s schoolboys for the Molesworth series, Ronald Searle, who died in 2011, has gone down in history alongside Gillray and Hogarth as one of Britain’s best satirical cartoonists. There’s more to the New Yorker artist than cheery caricature however, evident in this collection of illustrations virtually unseen since their original publication … Continue reading Ronald Searle’s America, published in January GQ
Verdura resort, GQ February Spa Guide
Verdura Resort: Rocco Forte Hotels Where: Palermo, Sicily Good for: An intense detox for those suffering from high levels of stress. Bad for: Vegetarians. The menu is very much meat and fish heavy. Don’t forget: Your gym gear for personal training, tennis and cycling. Don’t leave without: Taking home some authentic Sicilian olive oil. The luxury Verdura resort may be 5 Star, but … Continue reading Verdura resort, GQ February Spa Guide
Mr Fogg’s Tavern: Review for GQ magazine, January issue
“Fanny McGee? There’s a fanny in me!” bellowed a buxom, corseted wench (Fanny McGee) as I entered Mr Fogg’s Tavern – the sister venue to Mayfair bar, Mr Fogg’s, and the eighth project from Charlie Gilkes’ and Duncan Stirling’s Inception Group, whose venues are well loved for their conceptual themes. Serenaded by a couple of violins and armed with a garishly green but tasty glass … Continue reading Mr Fogg’s Tavern: Review for GQ magazine, January issue
Wringer and Mangle: Review for GQ magazine, February issue
Having spent a puzzling few minutes amidst a swarm of excited, effete, young men in an extraordinarily long queue for a gay club, I was eventually ushered into the welcoming arms of The Wringer and Mangle next door – Hackney’s hip new bar and restaurant, springing from London Field’s old laundry building as fresh as a bundle of clean linen. Gerry Calabrese, son of … Continue reading Wringer and Mangle: Review for GQ magazine, February issue
HOTEL DU VIN WIMBLEDON: Food Review for Absolutely magazines
The recently refurbished Hotel du Vin at Cannizaro House, which once hosted Lord Tennyson and Oscar Wilde, feels like a country retreat, with tranquil views of the sloping green banks of Cannizaro Park from every corner of the large French windows. Despite a wobbly start, with our excellent bottle of Albarei Albarino wine trembling for its life on the uneven legged wicker table, the rest … Continue reading HOTEL DU VIN WIMBLEDON: Food Review for Absolutely magazines
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