15th Feb2023

Women Talking (Film)

by timbaros

Image 15-02-2023 at 16.58‘Women Talking is so unique that we can declare we’ve not seen anything like it in a very long time.

It’s got an amazing female cast (Rooney Mara, Claire Foy, Jessie Buckley, Frances McDormand, Judith Ivey), with one male (Ben Whishaw ably holding his own) in this film that’s basically an all female production (the Director and Writer is Sarah Polley, McDormand is one of the producers). The action never strays far from where the women are ‘talking,’ and debating, their move, or not, to leave the compound where they (Mennonites – set in as recent as 2010) live to escape the abuse they have suffered at the hands of the men (the men are never seen but their presence is eerily felt). The women are all dressed in similar garb, it’s getting dark outside, and they are all upstairs in a barn on their compound. You could call this film a debate movie – a few of the woman want to stay and a few want to go. Watching it you never know how it’s going to end – the debate is that good, and it never gets boring. Foy is particularly memorable in scenes where she clutches her young daughter, knowing from that moment their lives will never be the same again. August (Whishaw) is tasked to take the minutes, the debate is led by Ona (Mara), Salome (Foy), and Mariche (Buckley), and ultimately a decision has to made. ‘Women Talking’ is more than just women talking – it’s taut, suspenseful, and will get you talking too. 
Category : Film
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15th Feb2023

Cirque Berserk! (Theatre)

by timbaros

Globe-of-Death-by-the-Lucius-Troupe-Photographer-Piet-Hein-Out-T0031612574451-wwwCircusphotographerCom-e1485783246469Britain’s biggest and boldest theatre-circus spectacular Cirque Berserk!, is now at  Riverside Studios in Hammersmith London for five weeks from 9th February to 11th March, 2023.

 
It’s a show that is full of suspense, razzle, dazzle, comedy, thrills and chills by a cast that seems to be dozens. Cirque Beserk! combines all of this and more in a show that is guaranteed to entertain you, whether you are a child or a grandparent – it’s a must for every and all family members.
Following sold-out seasons in the West End and at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Cirque Berserk! celebrates its tenth anniversary with this five-week season at the Riverside Studios.

Presented by Zippos, Britain’s biggest and boldest theatre-circus spectacular showcases the finest in traditional circus thrills and skills, bringing this treasured form of live entertainment bang up-to-date in a jaw-dropping show created especially for the stage. Combining contemporary cirque-style artistry with adrenaline-fuelled stunt action, this astoundingly talented international troupe includes over thirty fearless acrobats, aerialists, and daredevil stuntmen whose act is truly breathless!

With up to 3 shows daily, Cirque Berserk! is the perfect evening out for you and your friends or daytime shows perfect for the young ones! The children at the press show we attended were in awe of what they were watching on stage, and their parents too!

One of the highlights of the show is the act that is ‘Globe of Death;’ (photo below). They are three motorcyclists who defy gravity and risk life and limb traversing the inside of a spherical steel cage at increased speeds of up to 80 miles per hour. It’s heart stopping!

They are joined by a magnificent company of over 30 jugglers, acrobats, aerialists, dancers and daredevil stuntmen from all corners of the globe, including, The Mongal Hoard – a multi-talented troupe from Mongolia plus, and brilliant physical-comedy star (and Brazilian capoeira champion!), 3ft 6in (107cm) Paulo Dos Santos!

This is what you’ll get so see:
Globe-of-Death-by-the-Lucius-Troupe-Photographer-Piet-Hein-Out-T0031612574451-wwwCircusphotographerCom-e1485783246469.jpeg
The Lucius Team – Photo ©Piet Hein-Out
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Jackie Armstrong © Piet Hein-Out 
 
 
Cirque-Berserk-Tuvshin-Troupe-hand-voltige-03-_-Photographer-Piet-Hein-Out-CircusphotographerCom.jpeg
Mongolian Troupe © Piet Hein-Out 
CIRQUE-BERSERK-Timbuktu-Tumblers-02-Photographer-Piet-Hein-Out-wwwcircusphotographercom.jpeg
Timbuktu Tumblers © Piet Hein-Out 
 
 
CIRQUE-BERSERK-Paulo-dos-Santos-05-Photographer-Piet-Hein-Out-wwwcircusphotographercom.jpeg
Paulo dos Santos © Piet Hein-Out 
 
 
Many other acts are in this show in which the The Sun newspaper declares ‘‘Great for kids and even better for adults!’
 
 

Cirque Berserk!   

Riverside Studios, Hammersmith, London

9th February to 11th March 2023

Category : Theatre
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15th Feb2023

The Whale (Film)

by timbaros
httpscdn.sanity.ioimagesxq1bjtf4productione7cc08bbd5c97e4a3557e0bc6b7be0a216c98e2e-2808x2109Brendan Fraser is receiving praise and awards for his performance in this film where he plays an extremely obese and dying college professor. It’s a performance, and a film, that completely looks and feels manufactured. 

Adapted for the big screen from a 2012 play by Samuel D. Hunter (the film looks like a play), ‘The Whale’, directed by Darren Aronosky, is directed with too much precision that it becomes both sloppy and misguided and completely fails in its message. Housebound Charlie (Fraser – wearing a fat suit) conducts his college courses on zoom so his obese and grotesque body (600 pounds) is not seen by his students. He can barely get around his apartment; he uses a wheelchair to go from room to room. He has a carer who comes in to help him out (a very good Hong Chau) but is she caring for him out of obligation or love? You see, she is the sister of Charlie’s deceased lover Alan.

More ridiculous conflict is introduced as his daughter Ellie (Sadie Sink) from a previous relationship with Mary (Samantha Morton) re-appears into his life whom he’s trying reconcile with before his ultimate demise. And to top it off he continues to receive visits from an evangelical Mormon (Ty Simpkins) who has other motives that are not very clear. 

The music swells during the ‘dramatic‘ moments as Aronofsky plays with your emotions, and not very effectively. And we all know what’s going to happen to The Whale. Fraser tries his hardest to ‘act’ (including donning a fat suit and using a prosthetic for a shower scene) but it’s a performance, and a film, that’s unworthy of its alcolades. You’ll finish the movie shaking your head at having your emotions falsely played with and a deep resentment that this film is not as good as it should’ve been. Fraser was in the audience at the screening we saw the film at, and he received a 20 minute standing ovation. We’d like to think it was for this comeback, and not necessarily for his performance in this film, or for the film itself.

FABUK saw this film at the 2022 London Film Festival
 
‘The Whale’ is currently playing in UK cinemas
Category : Film
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