the list 2015 our predictions
The Edge talks to
domhnall gleeson
best live music to catch in 2015
Issue Five Welcome to Issue Five! As you’re reading this you’ll have forgotten all about the horrors of January exams, and will be settled nicely into Semester Two - what better time to try something new? If you’ve just picked up The Edge and have never written for us before, why not check out our Facebook page, or drop me an email to find out how to get involved.
Editor Rebecca James editor@theedgesusu.co.uk Deputy Editor Caitlin Hobbs deputy-editor@theedgesusu.co.uk
Semester One has been a busy time for The Edge - we have a brand new website which is up and running, we’ve had some exciting opportunities for reviews and interviews (you can read one of them in this issue, with Ex Machina’s Domhnall Gleeson and Alicia Vikander on page 19) We have also been working alongside the Wessex Scene, SUSU LGBT Society, and SUSU’s Equality and Diversity Committee to create the very special LGBT History Month Magazine - I hope you’ve had the chance to pick up a copy and see all of the exciting content! We are working hard on our plans for some other special editions of The Edge, so make sure to keep your eyes peeled.
records Editor Hannah Mylrea records@theedgesusu.co.uk
February brings about the start of the 2015 awards season, and Issue Five has been a very exciting project for us, with its focus on all of the award-worthy film and television that has been on our screens in the past year. You can read our reviews of some of the films nominated for the Academy Awards and BAFTAS this year on pages 17-18. You can also look at our reviews of the shows that won Best Drama Series, and Best Comedy at the Golden Globes, as well as some of our picks for snubbed shows on pages 23-24.
live Editor Annabelle Asker live@theedgesusu.co.uk
As well as looking at the works that have been nominated for awards, we’ve also taken the chance to point out the people we think will be winning awards this time next year - look at some of the entries from The List 2015 on pages 7-8 - and you can look at the rest of our picks online at www.theedgesusu.co.uk. Looking for a gig in the coming months? Have a look at our Live section, which features some of the gigs that we’re most excited about. I hope everyone is having a successful start to the new semester, and enjoy this award season issue! Rebecca James Editor
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Features Editor Siân Blewitt features@theedgesusu.co.uk film Editor Virginie Robe film@theedgesusu.co.uk C u lt u r e e d i t o r Natalie Fordham culture@theedgesusu.co.uk
news Editor Lewis Taplin news@theedgesusu.co.uk head of design Joe Buckingham design@theedgesusu.co.uk Head of external relations Jenny Simpson relations@theedgesusu.co.uk Head of publicity Henna Patel publicity@theedgesusu.co.uk Head of events Alex Meehan events@theedgesusu.co.uk online manager Emily Mitchell manager@theedgesusu.co.uk editor in chief Megan Downing vpdci@susu.org
Contents editorial
01 Welcome to Issue Five
NEWS
03 The Newsbox 05 Nostalgic News
Features
07 The List 2015 09 Interview: Ex Machina 10 Games to Look Out For In 2015 11 Always a Nominee, Never a Winner...
Records
13 Mark Ronson - Uptown Special 14 Fall Out Boy - American Beauty/American Psycho 15 Joey Bada$$ - B4.DA.$$ 15 Megan Trainor - Title 16 Years and Years - King 16 Taylor Swift - Style 16 Imagine Dragons - I Bet My Life
film
17 Film Awards Favourites 19 Ex Machina 21 Gone Girl
culture
22 Upcoming Shows You Simply Cannot Miss 31 The Golden Globes : Winners and NearMisses
live
25 Live Music To Look Forward To: February 26 Live Music To Look Forward To: March 27 Live Music To Look Forward To: Later in 2015 28 Can Gerard Way Be Successful After My Chemical Romance 29 Listings
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09
25
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NEWS
THE NEWSBOX THE KEATS OF TWEETS
TOP TOP FIVE FIVE NEWS NEWS STORIES STORIES 1
Common People, Southampton’s new music festival from the creators of Bestival, revealed some of its line-up, including Fatboy Slim and Clean Bandit.
2
Taylor Swift has been confirmed to headline Radio 1’s Big Weekend, which will take place later this year in Norwich.
3
Glee star, Melissa Benoist, will star in Supergirl, an upcoming CBS series, in its lead role.
4
Kelly Hoppen has quit Dragons’ Den, meaning that the latest season of the BBC show (which is currently airing) will be the interior designer’s last.
5
The creator of Mrs Brown’s Boys has confirmed that they are currently working on a new show for the BBC.
Party
@TheGreen
eGreens #InviteTh 4:12AM -
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19 Jan 20
The Green Party’s response to not being invited to the televised leaders debates resulted in them earning a very worthy space. What are you afraid of, boys? Got a celeb to nominate for next issue? Let us know:
@theedgesusu
THE THE EDGE EDGE IS EAGER IS EAGER FOR... FOR... The annual BRIT Awards, where the likes of Taylor Swift and Sam Smith will perform. The release of Fifty Shades of Grey, due to hit cinemas on Valentine’s Day. It is rumoured that Chiwetel Ejiofor may star opposite Benedict Cumberbatch in the upcoming Doctor Strange. This is a combination we’d like to see.
THE ONE TO
WATCH
Lady Gaga and Adele’s potential collaboration, which has been hinted by Gaga via Instagram.
YEARS & YEARS
Winners of BBC’s Sound of 2015 as well as nominees for this year’s Critic’s Choice BRIT Award, this London trio are this issue’s one to watch.
A G E 16 READ MORE: P
for all the latest entertainment news
theedgesusu.co.uk/news 3
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Fifty Shades of Grey
EH, COOL
THE HYPE-O-METER Common People
OMG
2015’s Oscars
CALL 999
NEWS
FIVE-TIER-CAREER: FIVE-TIER-CAREER: AWARD AWARD CEREMONIES CEREMONIES In 2014, when introducing Idina Menzel who was about to perform ‘Let It Go’ from the hit film Frozen, John Travolta famously mispronounced Menzel’s name, introducing the still-unknown Adele Dazeem to the stage. In 2013, when Jennifer Lawrence was being interviewed about her winning of the Best Actress Oscar, Jack Nicholson interrupted resulting in a stunned, adorable fan-girl moment. Back in 1974, David Niven was interrupted by a streaker as he was introducing Elizabeth Taylor to the stage, who then reacted by saying, “the only laugh that man will ever get in his life is by stripping off and showing his shortcomings.” In the 66th Academy Awards ceremony, when accepting an Oscar for his role in Philadelphia, Tom Hanks accidentally outed his high school teacher, later inspiring the creation of Kevin Kline’s comedy, In and Out. In the 45th Oscars, Native American Sacheen Littlefeather turned up on behalf of Marlon Brando to announce that he would not be accepting his award for his role in The Godfather because of Hollywood’s mistreatment of Native Americans.
COMMON COMMON PEOPLE: PEOPLE: DREAM DREAM MYSTERY MYSTERY HEADLINER HEADLINER Southampton is all a-buzz with talk of Common People, a new festival to be held on the Common this May... but who would our ideal mystery headliner be?
MUST-HEAR MUST-HEAR TRACKS TRACKS ‘ELASTIC HEART’ - SIA
4:27
‘LOVE ME LIKE YOU DO’ - ELLIE GOULDING
3:31
‘IF YOU LOVE SOMEONE’ - THE VERONICAS
3:02
‘KING’ - YEARS & YEARS
3:34
THE THE EDGE’S EDGE’S ENTERTAINMENT ENTERTAINMENT PICKS PICKS The Editor’s pick: House of Cards, Season Three (27th February) Film Editor’s movie pick: The Duke of Burgundy, Peter Strickland (20th February) Live Editor’s gig pick: NME Awards Shows, (3rd -17th February) Culture Editor’s TV pick: The Librarians, Series One (8th December, Syfy UK) Record Editor’s album pick: Record Editor’s album pick: The Pinkprint, Nicki Minaj (15th December) The Pinkprint, Nicki Minaj (15th December) THE EDGENews | 44
NEWS
nostalgic news
Friendly reminder that we’re closer to 2020 than we are to 2010.
the breakfast club released 30 years ago Amy Wooten This month marks 30 years since the release of teen classic, The Breakfast Club, a film that brings together the different ‘labels’ in the high school social system – the Athlete, the Brain, the Basketcase, the Criminal, and the Princess – by placing them in detention together. Throughout the day these labels evaporate as the group bond over their backgrounds, dancing, and some marijuana. Written and directed by John Hughes, the film became his most recognisable work as well as leading to the group of young actors starring in it being termed the ‘Brat Pack’ after consistently working together in various comingof-age films of the 80s.
OutKast’s ‘Ms. Jackson’ reaches number one in the US 14 years ago
will scott 14 years ago, OutKast’s hip-hop classic ‘Ms. Jackson’ hit the top of the US charts. It also rose up to number two in the UK, but was held off by Atomic Kitten’s ‘Whole Again’ back in February 2001. The second single from the Atlanta duo’s fourth album Stankonia spent a total of 12 weeks in the top 10 of the Billboard Top 100 as well as going onto win a Grammy for Best Rap Performance by a Group/Duo. Andre 3000 and Big Boi went on to continue their success with their Speakerboxxx/ The Love Below album, which spawned the singles ‘Roses’ and ‘Hey Ya!’.
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Springsteen’s first Greatest Hits album released 10 years ago Camilla Cassidy American rock legend Bruce Springsteen released his first ever compilation album 10 years ago this month, back in February 1995. The album features songs recorded since the beginning of his career in 1974, but additionally includes four new songs both recorded for the album and cut from Springsteen’s previous album Born in the U.S.A. These included ‘Secret Garden’, which peaked at number 17 in the UK after featuring in the Tom Cruise’s 1996 film Jerry Maguire. The album summarised Springsteen’s greatest chart successes up to that point, including ‘Thunder Road’, ‘Dancing in the Dark’ and ‘Glory Days’. It preceded the release of eight further albums including the most recent High Hopes, in 2014.
Amy Winehouse wins five Grammys seven years ago
Caitlin Hobbs Perhaps at the peak of her pop career, the 2008 Grammy Awards brought in five wins for Amy Winehouse off the back of her sophomore record, Back to Black. Winehouse beat out other huge household names in pop music to claim some of the most prestigious awards on February 10th, seven years ago. Nominated for Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Female Pop Vocal (all for hit single ‘Rehab) as well as Best New Artist and Pop Vocal Album (for Back to Black), Winehouse won across the board.
FEATURES
the List 2015
In the spirit of looking at award winners, The Edge writers predict who will be winning awards this time next year.
Joey Bada$$ Evan Smithson espite being only 19, Joey Bada$$ has the makings of a career that puts most to shame. Co-founding hip-hop collective Pro Era at the age of 14, he gained enough attention from YouTube freestyles to gain record deals for himself and Pro Era. Two acclaimed mixtapes followed, 1999 and Summer Knights. His debut album B4.DA.$$ (pronounced Before Da Money) is due for imminent release, to coincide with his 20th birthday.
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Alongside Pro Era (who have recently gained surprising support from the White House) Joey Bada$$ has toured with the likes of Wiz Khalifa, performed for Jimmy Fallon, and has already racked up an impressive list of features with other artists, including A$AP Rocky’s ‘1 Train’ beside Kendrick Lamar and others.
B4.DA.$$ should cement his place as an established artist, making the transition from a promising newcomer to the scene. The album features collaborations with hiphop heavyweights The Roots and DJ Premier, as well as fellow rising stars Raury and Maverick Sabre. His music is an homage to 90s East Coast hip-hop, echoing Wu Tang Clan and J Dilla. While the sound is nostalgic, he hasn’t forgotten his youthfulness, being perhaps the only rapper who could get away with namedropping Dragonball Z’s Vegeta in a verse alongside Michael Jackson and Ike Turner. In addition to his hip-hop credentials, the young rapper has twice collaborated with Kiesza, proving that he also has an ear for the dancefloor and the potential to expand his audience further than B4.DA.$$ is bound to.
prides Amy wootten lasgow’s synth-pop trio, Prides, first emerged early in 2014 with their The Seeds You Sow EP. The success of the energetic band has since snowballed, and 2015 will bring the release of their debut album and their first headline tour.
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Prides consists of lead vocalist Stewart Brock, Callum Wiseman, and drummer Lewis Gardiner. 2014 saw the release of their first EP, The Seeds You Sow, as well as concluding the year with the release of the enticingly catchy ‘Out of the Blue’ (that also happens to come with a very cool video). They can be recognised from their performance of ‘Messiah’ at the 2014 Commonwealth Games Closing Ceremony, as well as touring with Foxes and twentyonepilots. Prides have already managed to set the benchmark for creativity with their 2014 mixtape. The mixtape consists 07
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of a compilation of the band’s favourite songs from 2014, featuring the likes of Taylor Swift, Sam Smith, and even Iggy Azalea’s ‘Fancy.’ The band managed to get the nine minute medley played, in full, on Radio 1. The mixtape itself is nothing short of brilliant, and the couple of wrong lyrics along the way (as admitted by Stewart) lend themselves to presenting the rawness of the band’s creativity and talent. It is available for free download from Prides’ website. The band’s sound can be compared to the likes of Bastille and Wild Beasts, paving a unity between pop and an electronic edge with intensely clever lyrics throughout. 2015 will see Prides on their first full blown headline tour, which kicks off in Inverness at the start of February and ventures to Brighton, London and Sheffield. A full album is also on the horizons, so expect great things from Prides this year.
FEATURES
rae morris Henna patel aking her debut in 2011, Rae Morris has built up her image, sound and talent over the last few years, making 2015, the year of her highlyanticipated full-length record release, her year to shine.
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The Blackpool-born singer-songwriter immersed herself within music at a young age learning the piano, writing songs and taking influence from a host of talented artists including Kate Bush and Björk. She sent her first songs to BBC Introducing in Lancashire in 2011, leading to her debut performance on the BBC Introducing Stage at Reading and Leeds festivals of August that year, aged just 18. That same month, Morris was signed to Universal Music Publishing Group, then to Atlantic Records a month later. Since then Morris has released a handful of EPs - For You, Grow, From Above, Do You Even Know?, Cold and Closer - all wonderfully teasing fans for the release of her debut album.
Whilst working on her own music, Morris has gained support from many artists. She has toured alongside the likes of Tom Odell and George Ezra as a support act, as well as having collaborated with Bombay Bicycle Club on their most recent number one album So Long, See You Tomorrow where she provides the euphoric vocals for single ‘Luna’, and also with Clean Bandit on ‘Up Again’ on debut album New Eyes. Details of Morris’ debut album Unguarded were announced late last year and news of a 2015 headline UK tour ensued. Morris will be playing at the likes of Electric Brixton in London and Wedgewood Rooms in Portsmouth to promote her new record, which has spawned the recent mellow electronic single ‘Under The Shadows’, currently on Radio 1’s A List. With her ethereal voice and hauntingly beautiful lyrics, Morris’ forthcoming new material is bound to be heard on a multitude of platforms in the coming months.
seinabo sey joel foreman einabo Sey (pronounced “Say-Na-Bo Sea”) recently described her picture being put on a Swedish stamp as the most surreal thing to happen so far in her fledgling but promising career, but this is just a sign of how far the twenty-four year old Swede has come.
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To bind Sey’s music to a definitive genre is difficult – ‘Pistols at Dawn’ is the lead track off of her For Madeline EP and it is a dark, moody pop song but ‘Younger’ is an electro-soul anthem. It is this variety of sound combined with her quite simply fantastic vocals that makes this young vocalist, whose father was a star in his homeland in Gambia, such an intriguing prospect. In an interview with the Guardian in 2014 she suggested
that Beyoncé was her idol and that Erykan Badu and CeeLo Green are her biggest influences. Yet to say she sounds distinctly like any of them would be a stretch, none combine the same sounds that Sey does. ‘Hard Time’ as well as the two aforementioned hits were made in collaboration with producer Magnus Lidehäll, who had just finished working with the likes of Britney Spears and Kylie Minogue, highlighting Sey’s vast potential. Such potential has been recognised from all corners: she was one of the performers at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert in December. While there has not been an outright number one yet for Sey, she topped both Hype Machine and Shazam charts in 2014 and even greater success is sure to come in 2015.
to see who else made the list, go to theedgesusu.co.uk THE EDGE
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Interview:
Domhnall Gleeson, Alicia Vikander and Alexander Garland Ahead of the release of Ex Machina Hollie Geraghty sat down with the director and stars Domhnal Gleeson and Alicia Vikander.
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x Machina is a film which raises many questions, answers some, but leaves most ambiguous. However it is clear after speaking to the cast and crew that there are many hidden elements and special aspects of this film. Domhnall Gleeson (Caleb) and Alicia Vikander (Ava) possess a strong chemistry between each other off screen, and are both very passionate about what is possibly their most unique roles yet. The protagonists spoke about how their preparation for the role was so different, as the film is scientifically focused. Domhnall explained how he read and watched documentaries, but the experience for Alicia was different, and perhaps more important, as she had to be in the mindset of something artificial. She explained how creating Ava was a ‘clean sheet’, however it was interesting that through exploring the irrational fear that some have of robots and technology, she began to question herself as a person, asking herself why she felt like that, and rather than researching artificial intelligence, she instead researched about the human body and brain function. She explained ‘I started to feel like a machine’ as she opened up and became more welcoming to the idea of artificial intelligence.
“I want to be part of telling good stories...and being central to these stories is something I really treasure.” Domhnall Gleeson Gleeson explained his first reaction when reading the script as ‘phonomenal’, with Vikander adding that it was probably the best one she’s read. Domhnall spoke very highly of mentor Garland explaining ‘I love the way he writes, I love the sort of material he creates, and I love how concise he is’, Alicia agreed saying that ‘one sentence tells you everything’. Both actors spoke of the clarity in the script in the way that the story is largely within the dialogue. For example Alicia spoke of the freedom she had in creating Ava as she isn’t really described in the script, she stated ‘it’s all just subtle, but in there’. She met with director Alex Garland to figure out just who she was, but was not limited in her creative input to discover who Ava is as a person. 09
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Both actors highly praised Garland in explaining ‘he got the best out of everybody’, and constantly reminded them of what was important in film. Domhnall explained how ‘mystery’ was the word Alex constantly used, and Domhnall even wrote this on the front of his script to remind himself to make sure mystery was consistent throughout the film. Both Alicia and Domhnall recognised something special in their time working in this film, as Alicia described the experience as ‘rare’ through acting with such a small cast in such a limited setting. The film had clearly stood out for Domhnall also as he explained what draws him into working on a specific project, ‘I want to be part of telling good stories...and being central to these stories is something I really treasure’.
“I started to feel like a machine” Alicia Vikander Garland is undoubtedly a talented and unique director with a great humbleness in his attitude to film making. ‘It’s all about the collaboration’ he explained, ‘what I have seen has always been filmmaking between a group of people...I really do see directors as just one of the people doing a job’. He recognises film making as a team effort, and certainly gives due credit to his whole cast, ‘there will be moments in this film that will be attributed to me...they’ve got nothing to do with me’. As well as this, although this is Garland’s first film he has directed, he does not lose sight of his true passion, ‘I came to film from novel writing...I still see myself as a writer’. Garland is confident in who his sympathies lie with in the film, ‘I was on the side of Ava...I was with her...my issues are not with her, it’s with the people who are making her’. In this way Garland explained that there is also a moral and ethical element to the film in the extent which humans should have control over AI’s. After speaking in depth to the cast and crew of this unique and thrilling film, it is clear that the film possesses many deep and personal qualities to everyone involved, which ultimately all contribute to making the film as incredible as it is.
read hollie’s review of ex machina on page 19
FEATURES
GAMES TO LOOK OUT FOR IN 2015 After some amazing game releases in 2014 ashleigh millman, joe gibson, conor kavanaugh and tom hopkins take a look at some key games that you simply cannot afford to miss in 2015.
THE WITCHER 3: WILD HUNT
A medieval fantasy game full of sex, violence and a whole bunch of monsters to be killed - why wouldn’t you be looking forward to The Witcher’s latest release this year? As the grande finale to Geralt’s story, the third Witcher game promises to be the best yet. With a sprawling open world environment (at least 30 times bigger than the second installment) that can be manipulated in all sorts of weird and wonderful ways, CD Projekt Red’s known and acclaimed development of characters, and a storyline that is accessible to new and old players alike; The Wild Hunt will definitely be one to watch in 2015.
UNCHARTED 4: A THIEF’S END
As someone who has never played any of the games in the Uncharted series, this PS4 exclusive is sure to justify my purchase of Sony’s new console, and I will enjoy seeing what all the hype is about. Whilst little about the title is known at present, save for a couple of demos which have been shown off, Uncharted 4 will be top of my ‘to-play’ list when it is released later in 2015. The game is apparently set three years after the events of Uncharted 3 and will again feature the popular protagonist Nathan Drake in all his next-gen glory. A popular action-adventure game, this is certainly a game to look forward to this year.
BATMAN: ARKHAM KNIGHT
Batman: Arkham Knight is the third and final part of Rocksteady’s Arkham Trilogy. Following the excellent Arkham Asylum and Arkham City, the new game will introduce a brand new villain, the Arkham Knight, who is to be voiced by Troy Baker. There are more reasons than ever to be excited about an Arkham game now that the series has moved to next generation consoles. The open world map will be five times the size of the one in Arkham City, the Batmobile can be driven at all times and the new villain will give Batman fans something they have never seen before. All this, in addition to the excellent fighting mechanics, the deep story, and detailed world we have come to expect from Rocksteady games, makes Arkham Knight one of the most anticipated blockbuster releases of 2015.
METAL GEAR SOLID V
Metal Gear Solid V is Hideo Kojima’s latest project in the Metal Gear Solid universe. It is a direct follow up to 2014’s Ground Zeroes and 2010’S Peace Walker. Set in 1984 this sequel will follow the fall of Big Boss, Naked Snake, from glorified hero to the antagonist of the series. Following the tone of Ground Zeroes it is set to be the darkest entry in the series and will also bridge the gap between the Big Boss saga and the original Metal Gear Solid. The gameplay has significantly changed from traditional Metal Gear action to huge open world arenas with varying guard routes based on the new day and night cycle. Combined with a fully customisable home base this is shaping up to be the biggest and best Metal Gear Solid game to date.
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FEATURES
In the wake of the Academy Award nominations Rebecca James looks at the actors who have yet to win the prestigious award.
Always a nominee, Never a winner... I think you’d have to have been living under a rock for the last few years to not have seen the viral outrage at the fact that Leonardio Di Caprio has never been awarded an Oscar. However, there are many other actors who have been snubbed by the academy, and here are just a few.
chameleon like ability to immerse himself completely into a character.
julianne moore
Samuel L Jackson is a name synonymous with blockbuster box office revenues and engaging and entertaining performances. His filmography is varied and vast, and the 66 year old has starred in over 100 films in his career - He is one of those actors who you would expect to have won an Academy Award, but yet has not. In Pulp Fiction he gave an award winning performance, and several of his other roles seemed to have flown under the radar. The fact that he was not even nominated as best supporting actor for his performance in Django Unchained (2013) is puzzling, as his performance was nuanced and engaging, fully portraying the internal contradictions that comes from being the favoured slave in the deep South of America.
The Kids Are Alright was undoubtedly one of Moore’s best performances, equaling co-star Annette Benning’s (who was nominated for Best Actress in the 2010 awards) performance, and yet she was largely unrecognized for the role. With five Academy Award nominations to her name, Julianne Moore equals Leonardio DiCaprio’s (everyone’s favourite permanant nominee) record. Amongst many other accolades Moore was nominated as both Best Actress in a drama, and Best Actress in a Comedy or Musical at this years Golden Globe awards, and is only the forth person, and second actress ever to have won awards at Cannes, Berlin and Venice - all this comes together to paint the picture of an actress who is undoubtedly worthy of an Academy Award. This may change this year, however, given that Moore is the favourite to go on to win the award for her performance in Still Alice.
gary oldman
amy adams
Samuel L Jackson
Veteran actor Oldman has managed to have a film career which includes fan favourite characters, such as Jim Gordan in Nolan’s Dark Knight franchise, and yet he has made plenty of film choices which would seem on the surface to be cherry picked for the Academy Awards Lee Harvey Oswald in JFK, and Beethoven in Immortal Beloved. In 2012 Oldman was nominated for his one and only Academy Award, for Tinker, Tailor, Solider, Spy and unfortunately lost out to style over substance (Jean Dujardin in The Artist). While he is still making several films a year, it appears that Oldman’s award worthy days are behind him, which seems a shame, given his 11
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Like DiCaprio and Moore, Amy Adams has been nominated for five Academy Awards and has yet to recieve one. The fact that she missed out to co-star Melissa Leo for The Fighter in 2010 still feels unjust, as Adams gave a career defining performance. What is even more puzzling is the fact that she is missing from the nominations roster this year for her performance in Big Eyes. Whilst Adams may not have acted in hundreds of films, or be as far into her career as Oldman, Moore or Jackson, her almost back to back nominations since 2010 combine with her increasingly nuanced acting to suggest that Adams is an actress who is worthy of this big accolade.
RECORDS
Mark Ronson uptown special Marcus Bridgeland takes a look at the album which features the infectiously catchy ‘Uptown Funk’.
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ptown Special, the latest album from music producer Mark Ronson, had incredibly high expectations, especially after the instantaneous success of a certain ‘Uptown Funk’ but could it live up to those heights? The London-born musician is most famous for his collaborations with high-profile artists such as Robbie Williams, Lily Allen, and who could forget the incredible, Ronson-produced Amy Winehouse cover of ‘Valerie’. His most successful album Version, released in 2007, featured the aforementioned artists and many more, entering at a high of number two in the UK Album Chart. So on to his latest record, a funky, R&B based collection of tracks featuring, once again, an impressive array of musical talent. As a whole the record has a different feel to his previous hits, almost as though Ronson is reinventing himself, after the genre-defining (and very much inspirational to recent successful artists across the world) Version (2007) and Record Collection (2010). The opening track, ‘Uptown’s First Finale’ introduces the album with vocals from Stevie Wonder and Andrew Wyatt, with a Harmonica backing tune. A strong start, backed up by the following ‘Summer Breaking’ and the energetic and soulful ‘Feel Right’, my personal highlight of the album. The enthusiastic, albeit crude, vocals from 13
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Mystikal, such as “Grabbing on my pants, she trying to pull it out my pocket” add a great and memorable feel to the track. Track four on Uptown Special is the record breaking smash hit ‘Uptown Funk’, featuring Bruno Mars on the vocals. Apart from possibly one of the catchiest songs to have been released in the last few years, the lyrics are what stand out for me. “I’m too hot (hot damn), make a dragon wanna retire man” is just one of a number of unforgettable lines in this chart epic. Unfortunately the rest of the record doesn’t exactly live up to the heights of the Ronson-Mars collaboration, seeming to peter out without leaving any lasting memories on me. The album could be split into two parts: Uptown Special (tracks 1-4) and then Downtown Regular (4-whatever it finishes at). Having said this, looking just at the second ‘half ’, it does flow quite nicely, with the obvious Motown roots definitely being reflected in the musical style of the record. Overall, compared to the all-conquering Version and the already classic single ‘Uptown Funk’, I can’t lie that although there are a couple of decent tracks on Uptown Special, the majority is just Motown-style fillers that leave a minimal, if anything at all, impression on the listener. I would recommend listening to the album though, as it does flow rather well in the second half and is a decent record – just unfortunately Uptown Special is nothing special.
RECORDS
can the second album of fall out boy’s comeback live up to expectations? will scott reviews Having set the bar high for themselves after their previous comeback release Save Rock and Roll, Fall Out Boy have taken another step in a new direction with their latest release. American Beauty/American Psycho is a perfect depiction of Fall Out Boy’s insistence on growing and developing as a band, along with the music industry itself. Entering the music scene in 2003 with Take This to Your Grave, the Chicago group hit peak pop-punk popularity in May 2005 with the release of their sophomore album From Under the Cork Tree. The follow up Infinity on High showed their first development in sound, leading toward more mainstream popularity and a number one album in the USA. After the release of their fourth album Folie a Deux, a musical variety pack, a hiatus was taken. Their return four years later with Save Rock and Roll signaled another step forward, working with a variety of artists such as Elton John and Big Sean to produce a record which went straight to number one in the USA. Having had all of their albums to date reach at least Gold status in the UK and America, which is an incredible achievement, proves that their desire to develop cannot be understated. The record opens with a hook played by a chorus of brass instruments on the track ‘Irresistible’. This opening sound builds up a regal image, as if to roll out the red carpet for the rock royalty that Fall Out Boy are. The instantly catchy tune isn’t overcomplicated, and has a gritty edge that is continued throughout the album. The upbeat energy follows through onto the title track ‘American Beauty/
American Psycho’, which really displays the full range of Patrick Stump’s voice as he switches between his fast paced pseudo-rapping and soulful crooning. However the song does stray into the repetitive nature that is prevalent in today’s pop music, and I’m not sure this is entirely intentional. The third song is one that everyone should know, as it was the first single released from the album. ‘Centuries’ is a perfect example of pop rock and the new Fall Out Boy again led by Stump’s strong vocals. ‘The Kids Aren’t Alright’ offers an opportunity to catch your breath before being hit by the massively upbeat ‘Uma Thurman’ which samples the theme from classic television show The Munsters. The band are said to have genuinely asked for permission to use the actress’ name in their hit, which reference’s the iconic scene from Pulp Fiction. This song has been quietly successful, already earning a remix from future touring partner Wiz Khalifa. The latter half of the album is almost a comedown from the high energy it opens with, only ‘Novacaine’ bearing all the intensity of the early tracks. Stump’s soulful voice is on much better display in the latter half of the album, as it moves forward from the arena rock styled hits, common in the earlier songs. Featured track from Disney’s Big Hero 6, ‘Immortals’ is slotted in near the end to bring some sort of final energy to the listener. Overall the album is a great stand-alone, energetic, poprock offering. However fans of Fall Out Boy’s earlier stuff would certainly feel some disappointment toward American Beauty/American Psycho, and their newest sound. THE EDGE
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Joey Bada$$ B4.Da.$$
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he expectations for B4.DA.$$ (articulated Before Da Money) never got past the perennial Joey Bada$$ debate. A debate which argues whether the Brooklyn rapper is a reincarnated member of ‘Boot Camp Clik’, a natural modern day boombap artist whose lyrical style harks back to the mid-1990s and pleases the demands of hip hop purists. Or is he an imitation, performing an obsolete form of music in a way that lacks sufficient imagination and creativity to make it relevant? These have been the two opposing opinions that have been voiced by the hip hop community since his 1999 mixtape was released in 2012, unfortunately, anyone hoping for the release of his commercial debut album to put this dispute to bed will be disappointed. The production on this album is pretty exciting, a smooth reworked J Dilla joint, a busy yet clean DJ Premier piece, and then the accepted mix of in house Pro Era stuff, Statik Selektah and the likes of Hit Boy. Lyrically, there was never any doubt, the album is full of intricate multi-syllablic rhymes and
incessant wordplay, invariably the purist will be satisfied. However as a project and an album it quickly runs out of ideas, becomes one dimensional and lacks a high point. In the most frustrating manner the album builds beautifully to a pinnacle and then falls completely flat. Tracks one through seven are broody, mellow and melodic, the 20-year-old addresses what would usually be considered repeated themes in an interesting and creative way. The second half of the album craves fluidity and soul, the percussion is often too crashy and the vocal distortions lack sincerity. It honestly seems like Joey Bada$$ ran out of ideas but battled on regardless. It’s frustrating as the promise and the potential that was established in the early sections of B4.DA.$$ which quickly turned into boring monotony, despite the low points, could have been avoided if the album had been ordered the other way around. B4.DA.$$ is out now via Relentless Records.
megan trainor title
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s debut albums go, Meghan Trainor’s album Title is a confident and commanding first release that displays a variety of talents indicating that Trainor could create a piece of work that will be amazing. Unfortunately, that piece of work is not this debut album, which although has moments of quality, suffers from many problems and I doubt it will be a memorable release this year. Following on from the sass that appears to have defined Trainor through ‘All About That Bass’ and ‘Lips Are Movin’, this tends to come and go throughout the album, creating a contrast between this and a more vulnerable side that is displayed in tracks such as ‘Like I’m Gonna Lose You’. This makes the album interesting to listen to, and it feels as though we are getting some insight into her personal life. This is a brave move by Trainor in her debut album, as for a new artist, it must be questioned exactly how many people would care about her life story, 15
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charlie maidment has a listen to the debut from retro rapper joey bada$$
dan linstead reviews controversial bassadvocate megan trainor’s debut
as she is only just coming into the public consciousness. Fortunately, love and heartbreak is a common theme in music, and surely will not do any harm to the album’s sales. The biggest problem facing this album however, is the overproduction and use of auto-tune. Trainor’s vocals are not bad, and in many songs, such as ‘3am’, these are shown. This makes it disappointing that some tracks rely on auto-tuning her voice, creating sounds that are clearly unnatural and are a disservice to her and the great songs that are on the album. Overall Title is a confident debut, that is certainly worth a listen. Mixing some great tracks with terribly catchy lyrics and common themes results in an album that is enjoyable and easy to listen to. Title is out now via Epic records.
RECORDS
Singles Reviews
king // years and years
style // taylor swift
Marcus Bridgeland After recently being crowned the BBC’s “Sound of 2015” (which has previously been won by the likes of Adele, Ellie Goulding and Sam Smith), Years & Years are back with their latest single ‘King’. Following on from ‘Take Shelter’ and ‘Desire’, ‘King’ is another brilliant pop track from the trio with singer Olly’s original and unique vocals taking centre stage once again.
Bridie Pearson-Jones The third single on Swift’s criticallyacclaimed pop album, 1989, is just as catchy as ‘Blank Space’ and ‘Shake it Off ’. Possibly the highlight of Swift’s whole album, the song’s title and lyrics “You got that long hair, slicked back, white t-shirt” has caused critics’ speculation that the song is about Swift’s ex, One Direction member Harry Styles.
The mix of lively synthesisers and these dynamic vocals result in a very likeable and inventive tune and a chorus that rivals anything out at the moment. Also, the originality of the composition is a breath of fresh air in the music industry and is great to see from a young up-and-coming band.
The song, opening with a warm, headbopping guitar riff echoes the original Miami Vice soundtrack. While staying true to the pop style of the album, Swift echoes her country roots with the story-telling lyrics and a wrath of emotionally damp vocals. Swift’s voice flips between being cynical at the start to flirtatious by the chorus. Undoubtedly, this will be playlisted to the extent that it won’t be out of your head. There’s no doubt this will be as successful as her first two pure-pop singles.
The band are destined for very big things in the near future, and with a debut album rumoured for June and an ever increasing fanbase there’s no limit as to where the Londoners can go. ‘King’ will be released on 1st March via Polydor Records.
‘Style’ is scheduled to be released as the third single from 1989 on February 10, 2015 via Big Machine Records.
i bet my life // imagine dragons Will Scott More than 2 years after the release of their debut album Night Visions, Imagine Dragons are back with their first single taken from the upcoming album Smoke + Mirrors. ‘I Bet My Life’ is a folky anthem, which strays from the electronic, thunderous sound of their most popular hit ‘Radioactive’. The song sticks to the previous triedand-tested recipe that the Vegas quartet has used in the majority of their hits to date: a quiet emotional verse that gradually adds layers of sound, building up to an explosion in the chorus, before suddenly returning to the relative serenity of another verse. The heavy bass drum, along with the volume, in the chorus helps to generate a great chant like feel which is incredibly catchy. Whilst a different sound to what many would’ve expected, I can see plenty of chart success to come. ‘I Bet My Life’ will be released on February 8th 2015 via Polydor Associated Labels
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Film Awards Favourite The Theory of Everything
Director: James Marsh Studio: Universal Pictures Nominations: 5 Academy Awards, 4 Golden Globes, 10 BAFTAs Anneka Honeyball he Theory of Everything is James Marsh’s spectacular biopic, focusing on the lives of renowned theoretical physicist, Stephen Hawking (Eddie Redmayne) and his first wife, Jane Wilde (Felicity Jones). Based on Wilde’s memoir, Travelling to Infinity: My life with Stephen, the film offers a touching insight into the struggles the young couple faced; the most infamous and prevalent of all, being Hawking’s tragically endless decline in health after he was diagnosed with Motor Neuron Disease at the age of 21. As well as depicting Hawking’s gradual deterioration, the film also makes a determined effort to provide insight into how Jane, as the wife and mother of a family in constant need of supervision, became overwhelmed by the weight of juggling her dedications at home with her own scholarly ambitions.
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The performances in the film, by Redmayne and Jones are more than awards-worthy, showcasing an immense dedication to their roles as Stephen and Jane. However, the film’s plot is arguably quite linear, and sugar-coats many of the darker scenes, with the over-bearing message of irrevocable romance.
Whiplash
Director: Damien Chazelle Studio: Sony Pictures Nominations: 5 Academy Awards, 1 Golden Globe, 5 BAFTAs Tom Hopkins hiplash follows Andrew Neyman (Miles Teller), a student at the prestigious Shaffer Conservatory music school in New York, who has ambitions to become the best jazz drummer in the world. Once he realises Terence Fletcher (J.K.Simmonds) is searching for another drummer for his band, he gives all his time and effort in an attempt to impress the charismatic conductor. The wonderful central performances and the perfectly written script have created one of the most thrilling dramas in recent memory. From the start, when Andrew and Terence first meet, the tension is incredible, with each scene involving the two leaving the audience breathless. J.K. Simmonds’ powerful and emotional performance creates a character that seems ready to explode at any moment, with much of the film’s tension coming from the anxious wait for him to finally crack and Teller’s reaction once he does. The audience shares Andrew’s sense of dread; the heart-stopping emotion is relentlessly ramped up until the film’s incredible finale. Whiplash’s only flaw is that is fails to explore Andrew blossoming relationship with Nicole (Melissa Benoist) as well as it should, but this does not stop it from being anything other than a stunning piece of cinema.
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The palpable tension created by Teller and Simmonds’ magnificent performances. Andrew’s relationship with Nicole could have been developed further.
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the film writers give us their pick of the films tipped to do well at the awards this year
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Director: Wes Anderson Studio: 20th Century Fox Nominations: 9 Academy Awards, 4 Golden Globes, 11 BAFTAs Natalie Fordham he Grand Budapest Hotel is a kaleidoscope of film fun, and with a delightfully camp Ralph Fiennes at the helm as Mr. Gustave and an all star cast it falls ever so slightly short of perfect. The story focuses on the titular hotel but more importantly a single character’s life there: Zero (Tony Revolori). Though of course it is more complicated than this, as is everything. It seems Mr Gustave the concierge has been left a painting by a dead lover, something her family are none too happy with. Queue a large chase involving imprisonment and effectively a chain of hotels and a scary Jopling played by Willem Defoe and you have yourself one of the most fantastic movies to date. Though Jude Law’s screen time does little but create a sense of nostalgia the majority of the film is sweet and delightful on the palette. Ending on a bitter note, this film truly deserves all of its nominations.
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the Film is filled with the wit and visual style we’ve come to expect from Wes Anderson Jude Law is wasted and slightly unnecessary
Birdman or (the Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) Conor Kavanagh Director: Alejandro Gonzáles Iñárritu Studio: 20th Century Fox Nominations: 9 Academy Awards, 7 Golden Globes, 10 BAFTAs irdman is the story of an actor, Riggan, who used to play the super hero Birdman in a blockbuster franchise, aptly casted as Michael Keaton. It follows his attempt to re-gain fame by writing, directing and starring in a Broadway play all while dealing with personal demons. The most unique feature of Birdman is the cinematography which gives the illusion that the film has been shot in a single take, using close ups and tracking shots expertly. This, combined with a consistent up-beat drum score, greatly contributes to the film’s unyielding pace. The supporting cast of Edward Norton, Emma Stone, Naomi Watts and Zach Galifianakis are all at their best and all are given small personal scenes to flesh out their characters. Keaton particularly steals the film, giving the best performance of his career as the unhinged Riggan. The drama of the play is enjoyable but the film also has a lot to say about social media, film critics and super hero films in general. Overall the film is a masterpiece in film making with great performances and poignant underlying themes.
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superb lead and supporting cast performance its structure is slightly repetitive
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Review:
Director: Alex Garland Studio: Universal Studios Out: 23rd January
ex machina
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lex Garland’s directorial debut Ex Machina depicts the story of Caleb, (Domhnall Gleeson) a young programmer who is selected as the winner of a competition to spend a week at the reclusive estate of his boss Nathan (Oscar Isaac). Caleb however, soon learns that Nathan has requested him to test his revolutionary AI, Ava (Alicia Nikander). The film touches on many thought provoking themes such as change, evolution, and humanity, and ultimately presents a unique take on a familiar concept. The first introduction of the incredible Ava is somewhat uncomfortable as the audience attempts to comprehend just what she is. Her face is beautiful and pure, connoting ideas of an almost perfect human being. However Ava is clearly not as human as her soft face appears. Other than her hands and feet, the rest of her body is made up of hundreds of cables, and live wires, concealed in a female shaped body covered in metal mesh. Despite this inhuman appearance, Ava quickly grows to become a character which the audience can identify with as someone human, and not a robot. Ava is enthusiastic, eager, and willing to learn more about the world in which she had been created. Nikander’s chemistry with Gleeson is captivating, and from early on in Ava’s observations, it can be concluded that Ava is very fond of Caleb. Both characters take part in daily sessions of interaction which 19
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Hollie Geraghty allows the audience to see her grow. It becomes clear that although she has been created by man, her needs, desires, and interests are all very real and very human. Her desperate desire to leave her confined room whereby a single wall of glass separates her and Caleb leaves the audience questioning what it is to be human, and even so far as to question the morality of the acts we are witnessing. The underlying sinister nature of the film is emphasised by the film’s unique soundtrack, never overpowering the narrative yet enhancing it simultaneously. The soundtrack, like other elements of the film is constantly playing games with the audience, misdirecting us and persistently changing our views. Overall the film exudes suspense, tension and unease, catapulting to a pulsating finale. Every character in this film is unpredictable, which requires concentration and analysis of every moment even as minuscule as a moment of eye contact. Ex-Machina is a completely different Sci-Fi AI movie from anything which has been created before. It is exhilarating, gripping, thought provoking and arguably Garland’s best piece off work yet.
FILM
On Blu-Ray
gone girl Director: David Fincher Studio: 20th Century Fox Out: 2nd February harrison abbott
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one Girl, is David Fincher’s latest directorial offering, based on the hugely successful novel by Gillian Flynn. It tells the story of Nick and Amy Dunne (Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike), and their difficult marriage. When, on their fifth wedding anniversary, Amy goes missing, Nick becomes the prime suspect and the focus of much media attention. As evidence piles up against Nick, and the story of the couples marriage becomes more and more complicated, everything becomes thrown into question. That’s about as much as is fair to give away. One can see why Fincher would be attracted to the material; with dark subject matter and complex, disturbed characters, it’s practically purpose built for him. One third mystery, one third thriller, one third absurdest satire, the film does juggle a lot of competing elements. The changeover in tone during the final stretch may be jarring for those who are unprepared, but for viewers who are more open to it, it really is quite a genius move. Still the middle act is where the film is at its best, tense, layered and piling on startling revelation after revelation. In fact, if the whole thing measured up to the quality of the high points, Gone Girl could well have been the film of the year. In terms of that troublesome ending, it probably won’t explode with the fireworks of your desired conclusion, but it hammers home the thematic concerns of the rest of the
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film and shows a commitment on the part of both Flynn and Fincher to sticking to their guns. Ninety percent of the cast pull off great performances. Affleck subverts his regular nice-guy persona by playing a character with a more despicable edge than usual. He’s also resoundingly convincing as the vilified, putupon man, who is hounded on in the public spotlight. Meanwhile Rosamund Pike who, whilst never giving a bad performance before, has never quite popped, finally shows exactly what she’s capable of. When she’s on screen, you don’t see an actress - you see Amy Dunne, and given how extreme a personality Amy is, that’s really saying something. By pushing mainstream cinema to its darkest edges (one bedroom scene is deeply disturbing) whilst still remaining accessible and entertaining, Gone Girl emerges as a gripping and intelligent thriller likely to provoke a strong response.
CULTURE
Upcoming Shows You Simply Cannot Miss assassins @ menier chocolate factory, london hannah mylrea
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ssassins is the latest musical by Stephen Sondheim to take to the Menier Chocolate Factory, London. First performed Off-Broadway in 1990, the macabre musical is based on an idea by Charles Gilbert, Jr. It follows the stories of the men and women who attempted to assassinate the Presidents of the United
States, with varying music used to represent the style of music popular in the era of each assassination. The music expertly spans almost a hundred years, with Sondheim’s magnificent musical writing skilfully leading us through each assassination (or attempted assassination) and onto the next. The current production, directed by Olivier awardwinning director Jamie Lloyd runs until March 7th. The production stars a host of prolific actors including Aaron Tveit (Graceland, film adaptation of Les Misérables), Catherine Tate (The Catherine Tate Show, Doctor Who, The Office) and Jamie Parker (The History Boys), amongst others. With such a strong cast and an excellent show, this production is a sure fire success. Tickets for the production are completely sold out on the Menier Chocolate Factory website, but may be available elsewhere.
Romeo & Juliet @ the nuffield theatre, southampton caitlin hobbs
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ackling one of Shakespeare’s best-known plays, with a 26-strong cast, amateur company Gone Rogue are bringing their theatrical efforts to the Nuffield Theatre on campus for the first time. Directors Jamie Hemingway and Sally White told us they’ve been focusing on “the intricate web of relationships” in the play - and seeing them in rehearsal a month before the curtain goes up, this has certainly been effective across the entire cast. The larger ensemble scenes that open the play are pacy and slick, with an excellent group effort provided by the Montague and Capulet rabble that creates the pivotal rivalry from the off. The more intimate scenes showcase some of the cast’s finest talent: there’s no doubt that Amy Fitzgibbon’s performance as Nurse will bring the house down, and Rhys Hillan and Sarah Divall are gut-wrenchingly sweet as the eponymous lovers of the play. A mix of Theatre Group veterans and absolute newcomers, it remains to be seen if the entire company will live up to
White’s description of them as “extremely talented” - but my money’s on yes.
Romeo and Juliet is on at the Nuffield Theatre from 11th to 14th February. Tickets can be purchased on the Nuffield website. THE EDGE
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the golden globes:
the winners and the near-misses With the dust settling over the results of the Golden Globes, we at The Edge take a look at the shows nominated for Best Television Drama, and why they are worthy of the big award, or not.
the affair
natalie fordham he Affair explores the extra-marital relationship between two people, a Brooklyn novelist named Noah Solloway (Dominic West) and a waitress named Alison Lockhart (Ruth Wilson). Each is married to another, hence the title. Noah has four kids, a rich wife (Maura Tierney), a fatuous author for a father-in-law who he is financially dependent on, and writer’s block. Alison is married to Cole (Joshua Jackson), the tattooed owner of a horse ranch, who seems like the guy you’d cheat with, not on. Early on, we learn that Alison had a son who drowned, which is used as her motive for this taboo entanglement though it often feels somewhat superficial. Yes it’s believable but through logic, not through the acting.
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The Affair becomes award-worthy because of one element only. It explores the emotional and psychological effects of the relationship from both points of view. Although oddly Dominic West comes off as a villain somewhat in both, in his own point of view he is seduced by the physically
deprived Allison and in hers he’s the man who has preyed on an emotionally unstable woman. Shared experiences are often so distorted through the opposing views that it seems either someone’s memory is lacking or one of them is lying. But why? Though The Affair delivers an uncomfortable amount of realism, its often blended genres: domestic fiction, noir mystery, chronology experiment and its indie film/upscale erotica style should be incredibly powerful but it never quite delivers. Though The Affair is interesting as it demonstrates the reality of extramarital relations, it is often poorly handled.
The good wife Rebecca James
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he Good Wife focuses on Alicia Florrick, a Chicago lawyer who is forced to go back to work after her husband, States Attorney Peter, is arrested for bribery and corruption. It follows her as she goes to work at law firm Lockhart, Gardner and Bond as a first year associate, as she gets to grips with practising law, whilst dealing with the fall out of her husband’s appeal and his infidelity with a prostitute. Inspired by many of the political sexual scandal of recent years, The Good Wife could have easily pandered to the most common denominator, presenting a desperate, reliant wife. Instead what develops as the narrative continues is a diverse cast of characters, and some truly intriguing legal cases. The legal complexities and moral dilemmas presented throughout the show’s weekly episode, combines with very well written long running storylines to create a show which is compelling and compulsive. 23
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Julianna Margulies is undoubtedly the highlight of the show - as the central character Alicia, Margulies creates an emotionally nuanced performance, combining the anger of a wife at her husband’s infidelity with the raw strength and desire to support her family. While her performance is outstanding, she is supported by a uniformly stellar cast. Archie Panjabi and Christine Baranski both join with Margulies to create a core of female characters who are uniquely powerful and interesting as women and as characters, something which is unfortunately still a rarity. Likewise, the male members of the cast each hold their own, rounding out the world created by the show as realistic and raw.
CULTURE
transparent caitlin hobbs
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ransparent leaves no box unchecked. Engrossing web of storylines? Check. Perfect handling of urgent social issues? Check. Gorgeous aesthetic, addictive piano soundtrack, faultless script? Check, check, check. It’s no wonder that Jill Soloway’s creation landed a win at the Golden Globes this year, and is nominated for a smorgasbord of other upcoming and prestigious television awards. Telling the story of Maura, the transgender matriarch of a family that sits perfectly on the line between troubled and believable, through ten half-hour online episodes, watching Transparent feels more like watching a segmented film than a television series. The advantage of streaming services’ original content comes into play here: the series is made for people who are already interested. There’s no filler episodes, there’s no shoehorned-in guest stars, there’s no ‘here’s what you missed last time’. The result is an intelligent and compelling drama that doesn’t patronise its audience, and is all the better for it. Jeffrey Tambour leads a stellar cast as vulnerable Maura – it’s refreshing to see a protagonist in a drama aimed at 20-somethings who is not only transgender but is also of the older generation. Amy Landecker, Jay Duplass
and Gaby Hoffmann provide the younger voice as siblings Sarah, Josh and Ali – each perfectly cast as their gorgeously well-developed characters. The series balances screen time between each character well – while Maura’s story drives the narrative and forms a common plot strand for the whole family, the show has an ensemble feel overall, moving from storyline to storyline seamlessly. The final three of the ten episodes drop the pace a little – the series really climaxes in the seventh episode, ‘Symbolic Exemplar’, followed by an eighth episode set entirely in a flashback, which is somewhat frustrating. However, it’s worth pushing through to the end, and the series closes leaving the viewer hungry for a second series to appear on their Amazon account. Following the successes of Netflix’ original series Orange is the New Black and House of Cards, Transparent brings Amazon to the forefront as a worthy competitor for audiences’ streaming subscriptions – and between the two services, it’s very much looking like this might be where we start to look for the best of new television.
girls lewis taplin
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ocusing on the lives of a group of four twentysomething women, Girls is the Lena Dunham-created drama-comedy which got the world talking back in 2012 with its heroic fearlessness.The beginnings of Girls was surrounded with discourse that questioned its originality with a central plot that echoed Sex and the City, the US phenomenon back in the late 90s and early 21st century. But Girls offers something quite different from what has transpired on our television screens before: a smart authenticity which proves itself far from Sex and the City’s purposeful (albeit, clever) construction of female exploration. Rather than a show that overtly endeavours to tackle life’s issues, Girls just does, effortlessly manifesting into issues at the very heart of every young person’s rite of passage. Without plunging the depths of a Lena Dunhamappreciation monologue, it is evidently down to Dunham’s masterfulness that Girls glows with spectacular grittiness. Her construction of each character skilfully
means that we rarely slip into archetypes that are inserted into the narrative for comedic value, but we receive characters with various intricacies without predictable traits but with complexity. Along with some of the wittiest, impromptu but dramatic screenwriting, Girls tackles a whole array of tough issues that many would shy away from, shot in a naturalistic and explicit fashion. Dunham never shies away from providing the audience with life just as life is, conveying both beauty and darkness, comedy and drama, warts and all. Girls is still a breath of fresh air because despite how hard others may try, only Dunham manages to unearth some of society’s most troubling topics whilst simultaneously illuminating the comedy in our mundane everyday. THE EDGE
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Live Music To Look Forward To In 2015
february You Me At Six and All Time Low the O2 Arena, London 14/02/15
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ou Me At Six and All Time Low are teaming up to play a co-headline show at the O2 Arena this Valentine’s Day. Their London date will be the final stop of their fiveleg arena tour. 2014 was an eventful year for both bands. British rockers You Me At Six scored a number one album with Cavalier Youth, their fifth studio release. The Surrey quintet then
rae morris
embarked on a headline tour of Europe in support of the record, culminating in a sold-out show at London’s Alexandra Palace in April. Meanwhile, Baltimore poppunks All Time Low toured the UK and the US, and recorded their new album, Future Hearts, to be released on the 7th April this year. The band recently released the music video for the record’s lead single, ‘Something’s Gotta Give’. After their five-date tour with You Me At Six, All Time Low will embark on a headline tour this spring, playing dates in Australia, Europe and the US. You Me At Six will play Ohio’s Rock on the Range festival in May, and the Isle of Wight festival in June.
electric brixton, London 12/02/15
collaborating with Clean Bandit on their track ‘Up Again’ and providing vocals for Bombay Bicycle Club’s latest number one album So Long, See You Tomorrow alongside close friend Lucy Rose.
o celebrate the release of her debut full-length record Unguarded, up-and-coming singer-songwriter Rae Morris will be embarking on her first headline tour this month (February 2015).
For her latest release, Morris worked with a number of producers to create a record that truly shines; one of which was producer and artist Fryars who co-produced Lily Allen’s most recent album Sheezus. Fryars will be Morris’ support act throughout her UK tour.
Over the last few years Morris has released a number of EPs showcasing her songwriting talent, her euphoric vocals, and mellow, yet layered, production. Whilst working on her own music, the Blackpool-born artist has gained support from a number of bands and singers, touring alongside the likes of George Ezra as well as
In the lead-up to the release of Unguarded, Morris had a mini tour in 2014, playing at the likes of Village Underground in London, but this month she will be making her biggest headline appearance to date when she performs at London’s Electric Brixton.
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LIVE
march nick mulvey
the roundhouse, London 27/03/15
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owen middleton
fter failing to win the title, Mercury Prize nominee Nick Mulvey heads back to London’s own Roundhouse venue on the 27th March where, this time, all eyes will be on him. With the success of Mulvey’s stunning debut solo album, First Mind, the musician is heading on a tour that will take him to Holland and France as well as many loved UK venues. Since studying music in Cuba, surrounded by a diverse range of musicians and cultures, Mulvey has played in the
lucy rose
engine rooms, southampton 28/03/15
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amy wooten
t the end of March, the lovely Lucy Rose is coming to Engine Rooms (previously known as Mo’ Club). With a new album on the horizon, that Lucy is putting the ‘finishing touches’ to, the night is sure to be full of both new and old material that will please all fans. Lucy Rose will be supported by the equally folky and atmospheric The Half Earth, one of her good friends. Lucy initially came into the spotlight after collaborating on Bombay Bicycle Club’s third studio album A Different Kind of Fix, and her career has snowballed since. Her
band Portico Quartet before venturing on a solo career. His debut solo album features singles such as ‘Fever to the Form’, ‘Cucurucu’ and latest single ‘I Don’t Want To Go Home’ and radiates a unique sound which has the essence of worldly musical knowledge and talent. Following a stunning performance at Roundhouse at the Mercury Prize event last October, it is obvious that his next performance at the venue will be even greater. Tickets are still available for the 27th March and, if you like relaxing, acoustic-inspired vibes, will be a night not to be missed. Otherwise, if you are feeling more adventurous, why not take a couple of days out from the 29th March to the 1st April and see Nick Mulvey at a fantastic venue in Holland?
music emits a relaxing aura of folky instruments that showcase her beautiful voice. Lucy’s debut album, Like I Used To, was released in September 2012 and a headline tour came with that too- so it has been a long wait for her fans. Hopefully her second album is not too far away and will be released before her coming tour. Fans have already been teased with the release of ‘Cover Up’ last June, which shows an exciting progression from Like I Used To with a more fullbodied sound compared to her previously more acoustic feel. Tickets have already sold out for Lucy Rose’s London shows, but are still available for her appearance in Southampton’s small venue on 28th March!
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later in 2015 Superfood
heaven, london 09/04/15
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nariece sanderson
ack in the summer of 2013, Birmingham four-piece Superfood literally brought the house down. Now it’s 2015, and since then the band have been making psychedelic waves on the indie music scene. This fresh talent is already receiving attention from DIY Magazine and NME, recently being nominated for their ‘best new band’ award. Founded by a joining of friends and an interest in music, the band has already supported the likes of We Are Scientists and Temples.
fall out boy
bic, bournemouth 10/10/15
A
marcus bridgland
long with six other UK dates, pop-punk band Fall Out Boy will be playing at the Bournemouth International Centre at the end of 2015. The four-piece, who released their 6th studio album American Beauty/ American Psycho on the 19th January, are back touring again in the UK after their two year hiatus between 2010 and 2012.
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THE EDGE
If you are nostalgic for the 90s, this funky band may be a fine new discovery for 2015. Previous music videos throw listeners back to the wild and colourful pits of brit-pop, their sounds reminiscent of bands such as Blur and Pulp. If you have a taste for care-free festival melodies laden with guitars and moody beats, this sort of Superfood may be exactly to your taste. After releasing their debut full-length album Don’t Say That last November, the band embarks on a spring headline tour around Europe, including their hometown’s Rainbow Warehouse and London’s Heaven in April. Known for their eccentric live antics and boundless energy, the forthcoming shows are expected to be a blast. These shows are their biggest headline gigs to date and should not be missed.
Heralding from Chicago Illinois, their breakthrough single, ‘Sugar, We’re Goin Down’, went Double-Platinum in the US and their popularity has rocketed ever since. The resulting album From Under The Cork Tree, released in mid-2005, has been their most successful album to date in terms of sales, however my personal favourite of theirs, Infinity on High reached number one in the US charts, a major accolade for the band. Renowned for their energetic live performances and punk melodies, Fall Out Boy are one of those bands that are a must-see live, so if you’re lucky enough to have one of the sought after tickets then you’re in for a treat!
LIVE
H
eadline act Gerard Way took the stage at nine o’clock to ear-splitting screams from dozens of adolescent female fans. The charismatic frontman instantly encouraged the crowd to increase their volume before jumping straight into ‘The Bureau’. Punk-pop anthem ‘Action Cat’ followed to the delight of the energetic crowd. Way maintained the upbeat environment, before bringing it down a notch or two, coincidentally after taping a bouquet of red flowers thrown to him by a young fan to his mic stand, for ‘Drugstore Perfume’. The showman, donning his familiar bleached-blonde look, was sure to show his appreciation to his loyal fans at every given opportunity, thanking them for their support since the launch of his solo career. Despite the move away from the emo-scene associated with MCR, his countless fans donning their t-shirts, hoodies and wristbands of his former band, all seemed to enjoy his new, revitalised, rock-and-roll sound. To the delight of his adoring fans, a teenage girl dressed in a pink monkey suit joined Way on stage to tap the tambourine for ‘Get The Gang Together’, which really got the crowd going again. And never one to disappoint, Way also treated the Guildhall to a new track, ‘Cheap Lights’ - a slower, more emotive song than many of the others performed on the night, that fans were able to wave along to. Gerard Way has truly transformed himself into an artist in his own right. There is no denying that his work with My Chemical Romance will go down in 21st Century rock history; but his new rock-and-roll, Britpop inspired sound could lead him back up to those dizzying heights. As always, Gerard Way did not disappoint.
G
rowing up is hard, but you’ve gotta do it. Still, some clasp desperately on to the atrophying wings of their youth, wishing to relive their dreaming, idealised years. I entered the Guildhall with open ears and an open mind. As soon as Way approached the stage he was met with the kind of adulation usually reserved for Japanese pop starlets or despotic dictators; this was not particularly troubling, in fact at first it was rather encouraging to see a crowd get behind a new project so voraciously. However, I soon realised this was not the case; this was hero worship. As a brand, Gerard Way is on shaky ground; the Southampton date appears half-sold, if that. In response, Way does appear genuinely grateful for those who have remained loyal, however the way in which he communicates this is discomforting. His attempt to harbour a deeper connection was not only unsettling in itself but also at times felt disingenuous and even manipulative. In rallying his troops he’s indulging in what is tantamount to emotional blackmail. This reached its crescendo when Way began to speak to an audience member on the barrier who had camped outside for 24 hours; he called them a trooper and the audience proceeded to give a round of applause. Let’s make one thing clear; to camp outside a concert hall on a cold winters’ day for 24 hours is not the behaviour of a well adjusted, mentally sound human being. It is a matter of contention as to whether Gerard Way has truly moved on, however his fans have unequivocally not. And he is begging for them to stay put. THE EDGE
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Listings 9th February
»» Don Broco + We Are The In-Crowd @ o2 Guildhall, Southampton
10th february
»» Kaiser Chiefs @ BIC Windsor Hall »» Penguins of Madagascar @ Union Films »» Kodaline – Coming Up For Air »» Evolve (Xbox One, PS4, PC)
11th february
»» SUSU Theatre Group Romeo and Juliet @ The Nuffield (until 14th) »» Our Hollow, Our Home @ Joiners »» Strange Magic (PG)
18th february
»» LOpSoc Iolanthe @ The Annex (until 21st)
19th february
»» SUSU Theatre Group Butterflies Are Free @ Murray Building »» Strictly Southampton @ The Cube »» The Wizard of Oz @ Bournemouth Pavilion Theatre (until 21st)
20th february
»» Quadrophenia Night @ Joiners »» The Order 1886 (PS4)
21st february
12th february
»» The War On Drugs @ O2 Guildhall, Southampton »» Katherine Jenkins @ BIC Windsor Hall
13th february
»» The Theory of Everything @ Union Films »» Gus G + Guests @ Joiners
»» The Body Guard @ The Mayflower (until 28th) »» The Lost Boys @ Joiners
»» Fifty Shades of Grey (cert) »» The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask 3D (3DS)
14th february
»» Collabro @ BIC Windsor Hall »» Hawk Eyes + God Damn @ Joiners
15th february
»» Pride + Exodus: Gods and Kings @ Union Films
16th february
»» Enter Shikari @ Pyramids, Portsmouth »» Jettblack @ Joiners
17th february
»» Jungle @ Pyramids, Portsmouth »» Birdman @ Union Films »» Imagine Dragons – Smoke + Mirrors 29
THE EDGE
22nd february
23rd february
»» Seafoal @ Joiners
24th february
»» Desolated @ Joiners »» Taken 3 @ Union Films »» Dan Deacon – Gliss Riffer
25th february
»» A Number @ The Nuffield (until 7th March) »» Dapper Laughs @ o2 Academy, Bournemouth
26th february
»» Martin Harley @ Talking Heads »» Max Raptor + Guests @ Joiners
27th february
»» Gnarwolves + Boxkite @ Joiners »» Milton Jones and the Temple of Daft @ Bournemouth Pavilion Theatre
28th february
»» The Hobbit Trilogy @ Union Films
1st march
»» The Lord of the Rings Trilogy @ Union Films
2nd March
»» History Boys @ Theatre Royal, Winchester (until 7th) »» Royal Blood @ Portsmouth Guildhall »» Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds – Chasing Yesterday
3rd march
»» NME Awards Tour 2015 @ Pyramids, Portsmouth »» Kingsman @ Union Films
4th March
»» People on Vacation @ Joiners
5th march
»» The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies @ Union Films
6th march
»» Chappie (Cert TBA) »» Unfinished Business (Cert TBA)
7th march
»» Paul Weller @ Portsmouth Guildhall »» The Sherlocks @ Joiners
8th march
»» Wednesday 13 @ Joiners »» Big Hero 6 @ Union Films