- Newsnight
- 13 Jun 08, 12:01 PM
We're planning to review The Incredible Hulk. Ang Lee's art-house version of the Hulk story in 2003 was not a hit with the fans. Will this one be? It'll be interesting to get our panellist (and comic book fan) Natalie Haynes' view.
Coldplay's latest album is out. Our panellist, the music critic John Harris, is a "Coldplay Cynic". Will he be won over by this more experimental album? And have you been?
Michael Frayn once again draws inspiration from 20th Century history in his latest play, Afterlife which opened at the National Theatre this week. He links the turbulent tale of the life of German theatre impresario Max Reinhart with the narrative of the play he famously directed - Everyman. And he makes the bold decision to write half the play in verse. What will the historian on the panel, Tristram Hunt, make of it?
And Bob Dylan is another musical legend who has turned his hand to visual art. An exhibition of his paintings has opened in London? What will our panel make of it?
Do leave your own reviews below - or suggest other things you'd like us to look at in the weeks to come.
- Newsnight
- 6 Jun 08, 02:08 PM
On Review tonight:
We'll take a look at the 大象传媒 Four drama about Margaret Thatcher's attempts to be adopted as a Tory candidate: The Long Walk to Finchley. It'll be interesting to see what our panellist - the MP Michael Gove - makes of the way the young Maggie's relationship with the young Ted Heath has been depicted - there's something of a "frisson" there, to say the least. Carol Thatcher is reported to have objected to that aspect of the drama.
'Gone Baby Gone' is Ben Affleck's directorial debut about the disappearance of a four-year-old girl - its UK release was delayed because of the Madeleine McCann case. There's certainly an eerie similarity between her and the young actress. But will our panel think it was overly sensitive to delay it?
Novelist Nick Harkaway secured a 拢300,000 deal for his first novel - 'The Gone Away World'. He's the son of John Le Carre - but don't expect a cold-war espionage thriller - this is altogether different. It'll be interesting to see if the panel thinks it lives up to the hype.
And - in her own words - "She's not the Dalai Lama...she's just a 'backwoods Barbie' in a push-up bra and heels". Really? It'll be fascinating to get Germaine Greer's take on Dolly Parton's latest album.
What issues should we raise with our guests? Have you read, seen or heard any of the items we're reviewing or do you suggest something else for us to review?
Let us know.
- Newsnight
- 18 Apr 08, 05:49 PM
As many of you who've used the 大象传媒's blogs will know, it has for some months been a deeply frustrating experience, not just for you but for us too.
The point of blogging about our programmes is to have a swift and informal conversation with our viewers. That's impossible if it takes hours to get your comment or our response through.
I'm relieved to say that as of yesterday we have a new system which should be much more robust and which I hope will usher in a new era of blogging for Newsnight.
One change is that in order to comment you'll need to register by filling in a simple form.
Once signed up, you'll be able to comment on any 大象传媒 blog using the same login.
Many of you have already commented on how it's working and one or two have suggested it's designed to introduce more censorship.
That's certainly not our intention. The aim is to encourage much more open discussion about the programme and much more interaction with the programme-makers. I'm sure it isn't perfect and that you'll let us know how it could be improved.
Thanks very much to all those contributors - the Bob Goodalls, Barrie Singletons, Mistress76UKs and many others - who have persevered through all the blog problems. Apologies for all the Error 502s, and welcome to the new era.
- Newsnight
- 16 Apr 08, 04:32 PM
From 1800 this evening (UK time), we'll be doing some essential maintenance to the blog. As a result of this, you won't be able to leave any comments on our blog posts from that time until Thursday morning and the comments function on all old posts will close. We apologise for any inconvenience.
The work will fix the very frustrating problems we've encountered for some time now with the whole comments system.
From Thursday a new system will be in place - this will mean you will need to complete a simple registration form in order to post a comment on the blog. Once signed up, you will be able to comment on all 大象传媒 blogs using the same login. There will be more details in the morning. In the meantime - if you wish to comment on the programme you can email us via newsnight@bbc.co.uk.
- Newsnight
- 10 Apr 08, 11:40 AM
Anyone who regularly reads the Newsnight blog will know that we have suffered from a series of technical problems for some time now. Comments disappear, the dreaded 502 'not available' message appears, and multiple copies of comments get submitted in error. (More on the problems here.)
Well, to much relief (not least here at Newsnight), a solution is about to be unveiled.
In the very near future the comments system that causes all the problems is being replaced by a 大象传媒-wide system.
Under the new system, anyone wishing to leave a comment will need to sign in - a relatively swift and painless affair that comes with the added bonus of enabling you to leave your thoughts on blogs and message boards across all 大象传媒 websites.
Finally, we hope to revamp and relaunch the whole Newsnight blog shortly, with more bloggers, more variety, and the odd bit of video thrown in. But one step at a time...
We'll update you on the changes next week.
- Newsnight
- 4 Apr 08, 05:10 PM
Joining John Wilson on the Review sofa this week are Paul Morley, Sharon Horgan and Sarah Churchwell.
They discuss: Son of Rambow Garth Jennings's film about two boys making a home video homage to Sly Stallone, with new-comers Bill Milner and Will Poulter; Gordon Burn's latest Born Yesterday - a novelisation of the year 2007; The Last Days of Judas Iscariot by critically acclaimed playwright Stephen Adly Guirgis; and a belated return for 90s ethereal pop-dub stars Portishead with their fourth album Third.
You can read more about all those on , there's a whole host of classic interviews too. And you can leave your comments on the programme and your own reviews below.
- Newsnight
- 29 Feb 08, 04:28 PM
Immigration
What do the new rules mean? Are they irrelevant to the main concern of many British people - the arrival of immigrants from Eastern Europe? In fact just how many people are the new rules expected to exclude who were not previously? We have the figures.
Which way Russia?
They are now speaking of "Putinism" in Russia - and it is always a bit of a warning sign when a politician becomes an "-ism鈥. But what will this weekend's presidential elections mean for Russia's future? A former Kremlin adviser will discuss it with a leading Putin sceptic.
Labour's Spring in the Step?
We've sent Michael Crick off to the Labour spring Conference to see if the party regulars feel any optimism about their chances of winning the next election, after some dismal showings in the opinion polls. Don't forget to read Michael's blog.
Newsnight Review
And then on Review, Sarfraz Manzoor, Kerry Shale and Rachel Campbell-Johnston join Kirsty to discuss: Nicole Kidman, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Jack Black in Noah Baumbach's Margot at the Wedding; Hanif Kureishi's new novel Something To Tell You; drama White Girl and documentary Last Orders, both from 大象传媒 Two's White Season; and an exhibition of Works by Banksy at the Andipa Gallery, London. More information on all those on the .
- Martha Kearney
- 15 Feb 08, 04:22 PM
Mark Kermode predicted on Review last week that Julie Christie wouldn't win an Oscar but she would get a Bafta for her performance in .
In fact, the surprise Bafta winner was the French star of La Vie en Rose, Marion Cotillard. This is the fourth time that Julie Christie has been nominated for a leading actress Oscar - she won for Darling in 1966.
Now she is playing a woman who is struck down by Alzheimer鈥檚 and decides to move into a home. The first-time director Sarah Polley co-starred with Christie in The Secret Life of Words.
This week's panel - , and - will be discussing Away From Her which has been re-released as a result of the Oscar nomination.
Art v commerce
By the way, one journalist blogged recently that they play Review roulette each week, predicting who will be on the panel. Guess they never read the email. Other people have told me they play Fantasy Guests. Do let me know who are yours.
Meanwhile, our real panel will also be discussing , a Mamet revival on at The Old Vic in London. It stars the theatre's artistic director Kevin Spacey and Jeff Goldblum as two Hollywood producers confronting the age old clash of art versus commerce.
Our third item is a work which was voted best novel of 2007 by Time magazine in the States. It took Junot D铆az 11 years to write after his highly acclaimed short story collection Drown.
The language of the book is bizarrely imaginative, switching between the Spanish of Oscar鈥檚 native Dominican Republic, the fantasy speak of Tolkien, sci-fi and street slang.
Amy Winehouse did brilliantly at the Grammys this week even though her visa came in too late for her to travel to the States. Whether down to her success or not, there is now a real vogue for young British women singer-songwriters.
We'll be looking at that new generation - Laura Marling who at 18 is picking up comparisons with Joni Mitchell; Adele whose album 19 is named for her age; and , the Welsh singer whom experts have picked as one of the key sounds of 2008.
Martha Kearney
- Newsnight
- 8 Feb 08, 04:43 PM
The Archbishop of Canterbury has attracted widespread criticism after appearing to back the adoption of some aspects of Sharia law in the UK. Dr Rowan Williams said the UK had to "face up to the fact" some citizens did not relate to the UK legal system.
Culture Secretary Andy Burnham said such moves would create "social chaos鈥. But Bishop of Hulme, the Rt Rev Stephen Lowe, criticised the "disgraceful" way in which the archbishop had been "ridiculed" and "lampooned" by some.
We'll be devoting the whole of the programme tonight to the main issues surrounding this story. Both traditionalists and liberals in the Church of England have criticised Dr Williams' comments. With just days to go to the meeting of the General Synod is his leadership now an issue?
We'll also be examining the reaction to this story. Is it Islamophobia or is there a genuine threat to British culture? Join the debate
The Bishop of Hulme will be debating these subjects with a critic of Dr Williams, a leading Muslim academic and a writer on social cohesion in Britain.
Newsnight Review
Joining Martha on Review are Sarah Churchwell, Mark Kermode and Ekow Eshun.
They'll be discussing British artist Peter Doig's retrospective at Tate Britain (Watch an extended version of Martha's interview here and read ); the film Juno with rising star Ellen Page; 大象传媒 One's new near-future surveillance drama The Last Enemy; and a new production of Harold Pinter's The Homecoming at the Almeida Theatre, London. Read more on and leave your reviews below.
- Gavin Esler
- 1 Feb 08, 06:17 PM
Today's Quote for the Day
"That image of myself soused in champagne being devoured by lusting women in a luxury hotel suite was the pinnacle of my rock and roll excesses. I thought as a rock star, I owed it to people to enjoy myself to the absolute limit" 鈥 Blur bassist turned farmer Alex James writing in his book A Bit Of A Blur.
In tonight's programme:
Parkinson's Disease
We've an exclusive report on the drugs used to help control Parkinson's disease which, sufferers say, can lead to aberrant behaviour including problem gambling. Read more about .
Yahoo!
Microsoft's takeover bid for Yahoo! affects all of us. We'll be asking who controls cyberspace - and who is likely to control it in the future?
Transparency
And at the end of another week when political sleaze of one sort or another constantly made headlines, it looks as though all the main parties are desperate to show that political cleanliness is next to Godliness. What does this rush to transparency tell us? Michael Crick is on the case.
Newsnight Review
Joining Kirsty on the Review couch are John Harris, Tony Parsons and Julie Myerson. They'll be discussing: Oscar nomination-covered There Will Be Blood, with Daniel Day Lewis; DCI Gene Hunt's return in Ashes to Ashes - the follow up to much-lauded 大象传媒 One time-slip drama Life on Mars; the new novel by dystopian master JG Ballard - Miracles of Life; and the film which pushed viral marketing to new heights, NY disaster flick Cloverfield. More details of all those on the .
- Gavin Esler
- 25 Jan 08, 05:35 PM
Today's Quote for the Day:
"This is just bad luck, it's Murphy's Law. We discovered it at the same time as the markets plummeted. US markets went up last night and we were really unlucky, but we had to settle these positions as fast as we could and we did so during the three-day market crisis" - Societe Generale chairman Daniel Bouton after it was revealed that a rogue trader lost the group 4.9 billion euros (拢3.7 billion).
In tonight's programme:
Who knew what and when about the French rogue trader? Did his stock market gamble really panic the US central bank, the Federal reserve, into cutting interest rates by 0.75%?
We're hopeful of a big interview from Davos... well, we live in hope.
Musharraf
Pakistan's president Musharraf is in London. Can he now preside over some kind of political compromise? Will the upcoming elections be free and fair?
Cocaine
FARC guerrillas in Colombia have a new way of thwarting the US government's war on drugs. We've a special report.
Watch our previous report from Colombia on cocaine production
Newsnight Review
John Wilson is joined by Sarfraz Manzoor, Jeanette Winterson and Peter Whittle to discuss:
In the Valley of Elah starring Oscar-nominee Tommy Lee Jones; Martin Amis' 9/11 novel, The Second Plane; a new London production of David Hare's The Vertical hour after its New York debut; and the exhibition that caused almost sparked international incident - French and Russian Master Paintings 1870鈥1925 from Moscow and St Petersburg at the Royal Academy.
Details on all those on the .
- Gavin Esler
- 18 Jan 08, 05:31 PM
Hello
Today's Quote for the Day
"I think he shatters the myth of white supremacy once and for all" - New York Congressman Charles Rangel when asked for his views about US President George Bush.
China and the World Economy
and says he wants trade with China to double in two years. Meanwhile to help the ailing US economy. I'll be exploring the significance of the Brown visit and the world economic problems with Senator Chuck Hagel, Chairman of the US Congressional China Commission and Lord Digby Jones, the new Trade Minister.
Heathrow
The Captain of the British Airways jet which crash landed at Heathrow airport yesterday on board Flight BA 038. Susan Watts has been trying to establish what caused the crash.
Bobby Fischer
The former chess champion, . He was 64 and had been seriously ill. He made his name as one of the world's greatest - and most temperamental - players. A Grand Master at 25, he won the world championship in the highly-publicised match with Boris Spassky in 1972, breaking the Soviet domination of the game. Steve Smith looks back at a Cold War legend.
NEWSNIGHT REVIEW
After Newsnight, Kirsty is joined on the Review sofa by Pablo Mukherjee, Denise Mina and Tom Paulin to discuss: No Country For Old Men, the Coen brothers' bloody new western based on Cormac McCarthy's novel; His Illegal Self the latest from Australian author Peter Carey; Tim Burton's take on the Sondheim musical version of Sweeney Todd, with Burton stalwart Johnny Depp; and a double bill from the Bush Theatre, London - Land of the Dead/Helter Skelter.
More details on all those on the , and read about and watch - Tim Burton and Johnny Depp.
- Newsnight
- 11 Jan 08, 04:52 PM
Tonight most of Newsnight comes from Liverpool to debate just what being European Capital of Culture means for the city.
Gavin Esler will be joined by Echo and the Bunnymen lead singer, Ian McCulloch, TV impresario Phil Redmond, and "Bread" actress Jean Boht to debate just how Liverpool will benefit from being Culture Capital and what Liverpool today has to offer.
Glasgow local and author Sanjeev Singh Kohli has a report from Glasgow about what being Capital of Culture in 1990 meant for that city.
But we lead tonight with a report from Michael Crick about the increasingly vulnerable position that Peter Hain finds himself in.
We'll debate whether he can survive the weekend with both his ministerial jobs intact - Peter is not only Work and Pensions secretary but also Secretary of State for Wales.
Newsnight Review
This week Martha Kearney is joined by Miranda Sawyer Johann Hari and Ian McMillan.
They'll be reviewing Charlie Wilson's War, Moving Wallpaper and Echo Beach, The Bad Girl by Mario Vargas Llosa and La Cage aux Folles. Find out more on the .
- Newsnight
- 12 Nov 07, 04:17 PM
This week鈥檚 programme comes from New York where Kirsty Wark is joined by Patricia Cornwell, Joe Queenan, Maureen Dowd and Sam Tanenhaus.
RICKY GERVAIS ON SET IN BROOKLYN
An interview with the comedian during filming of his first leading role in an American movie. He's playing Bertram Pincus, a dentist who dies for a few minutes and when he is revived realises he can hear the dead talking to him.
AMERICAN GANGSTER
The latest film from British director Ridley Scott starring Russell Crowe and Denzel Washington.
BIONIC WOMAN
Former EastEnders star Michelle Ryan who has been re-engineered into the 21st century Bionic Woman.
YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN
Re-engineering Young Frankenstein from the 1974 Oscar nominated black and white movie into a Broadway musical has given Mel Brooks the chance of another hit second time around.
THE ABSTINENCE TEACHER by TOM PERROTTA
Last year's movie Little Children starring Kate Winslet was based on the Massachusetts writer Tom Perrotta's novel, and it won Perotta an Oscar nomination for the best adapted screenplay.
- Newsnight
- 5 Oct 07, 05:55 PM
Queen Row
Today the Controller of 大象传媒 One, Peter Fincham, resigned on the publication of the report into the Queengate row, in which a tape was wrongly edited to show the Queen marching out of a photo session with the American photographer Annie Leibovitz, and played to the press as part of the 大象传媒's autumn launch.
The report paints a damning picture of both the 大象传媒's role in the affair, and the actions of the independent production company making the series, a Year with The Queen. We'll be hearing from former Director General Greg Dyke - who made his own sharp exit from corporation - and asking senior 大象传媒 management where the corporation goes from here.
Election
Michael Crick is back out on the hunt for clues to Gordon Brown's big nail biting decision, election or no election? He's been darting around some marginal seats, and talking to his deep throats. Does today's decision - after a 20 year wait - to go ahead with the London Crossrail project, signal a green light for Gordon?
We convene our top notch panel of political insiders for all the political gossip...
Newsnight Review
Presenter John Wilson is joined by panellists Paul Morley, Tom Paulin and Marina Hyde to discuss a new movie starring Colin Firth, the latest Richard Harris novel along with theatre, art and a new poetry collection which mixes English and Punjabi.
For more go to
- Newsnight
- 21 Sep 07, 05:12 PM
Richard Dannatt
Do we actually appreciate the work our soldiers are doing in Iraq? Never one to fear the outspoken word, the head of the army, General Sir Richard Dannatt has voiced his concern about the growing gulf between serving soldiers and the rest of the population. His worry is that men and women returning from war find the public increasingly dismissive or indifferent. Or just don鈥檛 understand the cause for which they've been offering their lives.
Newsnight has looked extensively at the covenant between soldier and public in recent weeks (watch here). But this is the first time a top military leader has explicitly shown his fear of this dislocation. And implicitly, perhaps, criticism of the mission itself?
Back in Business
If Gordon Brown ne Prudence was worried the past week of Northern Rockiness would have cost him his reputation as the Iron Chancellor, his mind may be put at rest after the results of this poll. Newsnight has found Labour comfortably ahead of the other parties when voters are asked whom they would trust to best run the economy. The ICM poll indicated a high level of confidence among the public about the economic climate, and surprisingly perhaps, even their own financial prospects. So armed with this knowledge and a possible spring in his step, is Gordon more likely to announce a snap election next week? We'll discuss the political fallout from Northern Rock and the Labour conference ahead.
Lack of Respect?
Is the Respect party - built upon a coalition of anti-war feeling, fronted by Big Brother inmate and MP for Bethnal Green and Bow George Galloway - on the point of collapse? Michael Crick has the story.
NEWSNIGHT REVIEW
Rosie Boycott, John O'Farrell and Sarfraz Manzoor join Martha for this week's look at film, art and tv.
Up for debate and dsicussion this week: Michael Clayton - George Clooney stars in a corporate law thriller; Billie Piper returns to the small screen as a high-class prostitute with a notorious blog in ITV2 drama Secret Diary of a Call Girl; a major retrospective of the work of German painter Georg Baselitz at the Royal Academy; and Ken Loach's film It's a Free World - a story of the exploitation of the thousands of immigrants who come to Britain each year seeking work.
- Newsnight
- 14 Sep 07, 05:24 PM
CREDIT CRUNCH
Northern Rock
The UK's fifth largest mortgage lender, Northern Rock, has urged customers not to panic as a result of the announcement that it's to receive emergency funding from the Bank of England. The price of Northern Rock's shares have plunged - queues of people have formed outside many of the bank's branches; some have withdrawn their savings.
Our Business Correspondent, Paul Mason will examine how and why this has happened. He'll see what the implications are for Northern Rock. And he'll ask could other banks and building societies follow?
We'll be getting reaction to events today from the Chief Executive of Northern Rock.
Bad money
Our Economics Editor, Stephanie Flanders is just back from the US where she's been investigating the roots of this credit crunch problem.
We hope to be debating the fate of Northern Rock and what can be done to resolve the credit crunch with a City regulator and senior politician live.
SIR MENZIES CAMPBELL ON MONDAY
The Newsnight interview with Sir Menzies Campbell in which he's quizzed on his leadership and policies will now be aired on Monday.
Newsnight Review
Joining Kirsty for Newsnight Review tonight are Germaine Greer, Ekow Eshun and Ian Hislop.
They'll discuss 3:10 to Yuma, the remake of the classic Western based on Elmore Leonard's short story, starring Russell Crowe and Christian Bale and directed by James Mangold, who gave us Walk The Line.
And Elmore Leonard's latest novel, Up in Honey's Room, is also on the agenda, along with the Chinese terracotta army exhibition at the British Museum library and TV drama Stuart: A Life Backwards.
- Newsnight
- 7 Sep 07, 06:00 PM
Search for Madeleine
A McCann family spokeswoman has said that the Portuguese police suspect the mother of missing four-year-old Madeleine McCann is involved in her death. Justine McGuinness said officers suggested that traces of Madeleine's blood were in the McCanns' car, which was hired 25 days after she vanished. Kate McCann was formally named as a suspect in the case earlier today, while her husband Gerry has arrived at a police station for further questioning a few minutes ago.
We'll have the latest in the extraordinary twists and turns in the investigation. And we hope to be speaking to a McCann family member and a Portuguese journalist about the case.
Foot and Mouth
A report into the the recent foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in Surrey has found it was probably caused by leaking drains, heavy rain and vehicle movement at a laboratory in Pirbright. The Environment Secretary Hillary Benn said there was no excuse for the outbreak. We'll be interviewing him on the programme tonight.
Newsnight Review
And on Newsnight Review, Tom Paulin, John Harris and Julie Myerson join Kirsty to discuss Joe Wright's big screen adaptation of Ian McEwan's novel Atonement, starring Keira Knightley and James McAvoy.
Plus, Michael Ondaatje's new novel Divisadero, PJ Harvey's new album White Chalk and the Klaxons perform on the programme, fresh from stunning the music industry by winning the Mercury Award for their album Myths of the Near Future.
Read more about and leave your comments below.
- Gavin Esler
- 27 Jul 07, 04:57 PM
Domino's Pizza
The Transport and General Workers Union claims Hungarian migrants employed at Domino's Pizza franchises in Derby have taken home virtually no pay for months because of illegal deductions from their wages. Tonight we put these allegations to Domino's Pizza live on the programme.
Floods
After the week of some of the worst flooding since records began in Britain there is a new appreciation of what some of the poorest people in the world face. We don't normally report the flooding in many of the world's countries but tonight we have reports from three other countries where flooding is devastating people's lives. And the causes are surprisingly similar to the ones you'll find in Britain - Victorian drains, building developments in the wrong place and cities built round the meeting points of big rivers.
Russian Youth
And while the coming week will see mass celebrations to mark the 100th anniversary of scouting in Russia more than 10,000 will gather for a very different youth movement. It's a pro-Kremlin youth group, called Nashi or 鈥渙ur-own.鈥 We've been finding out what the Nashi phenomenon means for Russia and potentially for its relations with the West.
NEWSNIGHT REVIEW
is joined by , , and to discuss: The Simpsons Movie; Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows; Glyndebourne Festival Opera's Macbeth; and the film The Hoax. Read more about all those on the and add your thoughts below.
- Newsnight
- 6 Jul 07, 05:28 PM
Presented by .
Live Earth
鈥淲ould you,鈥 one viewer asked 鈥渉old a hog roast to promote vegetarianism?鈥 The analogy takes a moment. But it's there. Just.
Does the staging of an enormous carbon-spewing series of concerts across the globe really raise awareness of green issues? Perhaps, inadvertently, it does. Just as the hog roast - like the proverbial visit to the abattoir - really could convert you to the joys of a meat free life.
Tonight, we'll debate the point of Live Earth. We'll ask whether those involved really should practice what they preach. Or whether it's nice just to have a tree hugging sing-a-long anyway.
Lords
Gordon Brown made it clear this morning that he would be holidaying at home. No borrowed rock star villa in Barbados for him. Unfortunately, the man in charge of sanctioning the final touches to the Government of Talents is vacationing as we speak. Peter Gwynn-Jones is the man who can grant titles to the new peers. Without him nothing happens. And the Lords, as they say, are revolting.
Newsnight Review
Presented by .
Die Hard 4.0; FX's new forensic drama Dexter; photos from Fleet Street, at the National Portrait Gallery; and The Last Confession.
Leave your comments for Newsnight and Newsnight Review below.
- Newsnight
- 29 Jun 07, 07:03 PM
is joined by Paul Morley, Miranda Sawyer and John Harris for a special extended programme from the .
The panel will be reviewing: Monkey:Journey to the West, a circus opera based on the most famous of the Chinese myth cycles, the fable of the monkey king - now reinvented by Damon Albarn, Jamie Hewlett and Chen Shi- Zheng; an intriguing theatre experience by Johnny Vegas and Stewart Lee called Interiors; Perverted by Languange - a book of short fiction inspired by Manchester band The Fall (Steve Smith then speaks to namesake and singer Mark E, read more about that ); Lou Reed's British premiere of his dark, drug-infested narrative album Berlin; and the film Shrek the Third.
More about all those - leave your reviews and comments below.
- Newsnight
- 15 Jun 07, 02:07 PM
Edith Piaf's voice is legendary; her unmistakable delivery invokes equal parts Parisian heartbreak and hopefulness. Marion Cotillard gives a rousing performance as Piaf in the film La Vie en Rose 鈥 the Review panel give their verdict.
Plus, David Hockney鈥檚 selection of watercolours by English artist JWM Turner has opened at Tate Britain 鈥 Review takes a look. They also leaf through The Diana Chronicles, a biography by Tina Brown; and reveal whether they were switched on by 大象传媒 ONE鈥檚 new drama Jekyll.
Martha Kearney is joined on the sofas by Rosie Boycott, Mark Kermode, Andrew Roberts and Ian Rankin. Do you agree with their views? Leave your comments below.
For more details on the items featured in this week鈥檚 programme, .
- Newsnight
- 8 Jun 07, 05:00 PM
Kirsty is joined by Johann Hari, Rachel Holmes, Jonathan Freedland and Anthony Horowitz.
MEMORY ALMOST FULL by PAUL McCARTNEY
We review Paul McCartney's new album - Memory Almost Full. It's named for the text that pops up on your mobile phone and just to reinforce the fact that the former Beatle is fully conversant in new technology, he is now part of the YouTube generation, where you can see snippets of conversation with Macca, his pop video and rehearsal sessions. The CD is also his first release on the Starbucks label Hear Music, and mines his past and his writing days with John Lennon.
MICHAEL TOLLIVER LIVES by ARMISTEAD MAUPIN
Armistead Maupin first introduced us to the liberal gay San Francisco scene in the late 70's with the start of his Tales From The City series. Now over 20 years on, he revisits some of his characters in Michael Tolliver Lives. Michael, the gay gardener, now in his 50s, lives with HIV and is married to a much younger partner. Their lives are bound up with biological family - Christian fundamentalists - and a "logical family" gay, straight, transgenerational and transexual with whom they work, rest and play.
THE DROWSY CHAPERONE
The first smash hit musical out of Toronto is some accolade, but The Drowsy Chaperone is just that - now in London's West End, by way of Broadway where it picked up five Tony Awards. The star billing goes to Elaine Paige who plays the sozzled spinster of the title, but the middle aged, cardiganed, musical-loving geek in the armchair at the corner of the stage is a star too.
H脡LIO OITICICA: THE BODY OF COLOUR
The Brazilian artist H茅lio Oiticica was a leader of the modernist avant-garde art movement in his country in the 60s and 70s and was obsessed with colour until his premature death in 1980. His inspiration was artists such as Malevich, Klee and Mondrian but he went further in his desire to liberate colour into space. Now Tate Modern is holding the first major UK exhibition of his work in 35 years entitled The Body of Colour - including work the Tate has recently acquired.
Comment on the programme below.
- Newsnight
- 1 Jun 07, 07:33 PM
In a special extended interview, Kirsty Wark talks to Britain's most successful artist, Damien Hirst, about his passions and the most expensive artwork ever made.
, or you can comment on the programme below.
- Newsnight
- 25 May 07, 06:25 PM
From .
Newsnight Review decamped to the Cannes Film Festival and tonight , , and I will have our distilled thoughts on the films we鈥檝e seen.
I can tell from the panel鈥檚 body language when we emerge blinking into the light from screenings that there鈥檚 going to be some major disagreements on the show.
The deal on Newsnight Review is that the guests are not allowed to confer on films before the show 鈥 it鈥檚 been tough because we鈥檝e all had such strong reactions to what we鈥檝e seen. I know that because John, Mark and Julie can talk to me individually and I keep schtum about their views.
It has been such an extraordinary festival and before I tell you what we鈥檝e all seen, we鈥檝e also bagged the only British interview with Martin Scorsese, who has just launched the World Cinema Foundation here in Cannes to save neglected, damaged and "orphan" films from all over the world.
Scorsese has put together a committee of some of the best directors including Wong Kar Wai, Walter Salles and Bernard Tavernier and their aim is to encourage old archives to come forth with material for a new and eager audience.
Scorsese talked about films leading to a better cultural understanding between nations and it struck me that his outfit is a bit like a United Nations of cinema.
But where are these films going to be shown? The multiplexes? Are they going to put a Kenyan or a French film from the 1960s on their screens? But it鈥檚 not just neglected films 鈥 what about Scorsese鈥檚 own films? It鈥檚 such a pity that my kids will never see Taxi Driver or Raging Bull on anything but a DVD. Wouldn鈥檛 it be great if a multiplex had a Scorsese day or a Wim Wenders day or a Kurosawa day? Fat chance.
He also talks to me of his upcoming documentary on the Rolling Stones, his new project with Mick Jagger, and sex on screen.
Among the films we鈥檝e seen, Persepolis 鈥 up for the Palme D鈥橭r 鈥 falls into the category of aiding cultural understanding with great wit and warmth.
Iranian director Marjane Satrapi has turned her autobiographical graphic novel into a feature length cartoon about growing up during the Islamic Revolution with her co-director Vincent Paronnaud.
Also in the running is Quentin Tarantino鈥檚 homage to 70s Grindhouse films 鈥 Deathproof - originally designed as a companion piece to Robert Rodriguez鈥檚 Planet Terror.
Deathproof is a slasher movie with Kurt Russell as the psycho Stuntman Mike 鈥 out to murder a posse of beautiful women. It has all the hallmarks of the B-movies of the seventies which Tarantino fed on when he was growing up - seemingly random jump cuts, refocusing, scratches, rough joins all perfectly composed by Tarantino.
In the competition, by contrast, Julian Schnabel鈥檚 film, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly - Le Scaphandre et Le Papillon 鈥 is an exercise in restraint, beauty, wit and honesty.
It鈥檚 based on the autobiographical novel by the former chief editor of French Elle who suffered a massive stroke when he was 43. It left him totally paralysed but alert, able to use only one eye to communicate.
And so Jean-Dominique Bauby, this once fast-living, charismatic seducer told his story by the blink of an eye and Julian Schnabel has in his film made the audience Jean-Do鈥檚 confidante locked in from the world around him.
It鈥檚 a privilege to see films here in Cannes. So few complain about queuing in 30 degrees for up to an hour to secure a seat at a screening. Once in a cool dark cinema you are taken to some strange places. One such place is the Scottish highlands as imagined in Harmony Korine鈥檚 film Mr Lonely. The cast are all impersonators living in a commune. Samantha Morton is Marilyn Monroe and Anita Pallenberg is the Queen. The Mr Lonely of the title is Michael Jackson played by Diego Luna. But Korine also pursues a parallel seemingly unconnected story about flying nuns in South America, a phenomenon which is regarded as a miracle by their local priest, played by Werner Herzog. Mr Lonely is in competition for Un Certain Regard.
Not in competition at all is Michael Winterbottom鈥檚 A Mighty Heart. And in fact there are no British films up for the Palme D鈥橭r at all this year. The film is based on the book of the same name by Mariane Pearl about her husband Daniel鈥檚 abduction and murder in Pakistan in January 2002.
Pearl, the Asia Bureau chief of the Wall Street Journal, was pursuing a lead on the failed shoe bomber Richard Reid when he was kidnapped by jihadists 鈥 among the first of many journalists captured post 9/11 during the war on terror. Dan Futterman plays Daniel Pearl and Mariane Pearl is played by Angelina Jolie.
We鈥檒l also be discussing Gus Van Sant鈥檚 skater boy nightmare Paranoid Park. It鈥檚 based on Blake Nelson鈥檚 novel about teenage disaffection in Portland, Oregon and it鈥檚 classic Van Sant territory.
Death also stalks Bela Tarr鈥檚 film of the Georges Simenon novel The Man from London. It鈥檚 a mesmeric black and white film about mortality, sin and punishment and the often unrealisable longing for happiness.
The Coen brothers are also in the running for the Palme D鈥橭r with their adaptation of Cormac McCarthy鈥檚 novel No Country for Old Men, set on the frontier between Texas and Mexico, starring Tommy Lee Jones and Javier Bardem.
Our Newsnight Review guests have also been to see Control, Anton Corbijn鈥檚 film about the death of the Joy Division鈥檚 frontman, Ian Curtis, which also features Michael Winterbottom鈥檚 24 Hour Party People.
So it is going to be a packed programme. John, Mark and Julie will also reveal which film they loved the most and the one that they loathed.
We鈥檙e broadcasting from the UK Film Council's beachside pavilion and as it鈥檚 outside we鈥檝e been watching the forecast as intently as we鈥檝e been watching the films. There is a threat of thunder and lightning but if it doesn鈥檛 materialise we hope they鈥檒l be plenty of sparks on the programme anyway.
Join us to find out.
Watch the latest available edition of by clicking here.
- Newsnight
- 18 May 07, 05:21 PM
The panel discusses: Zodiac the San Francisco serial killer thriller based on a true story; Dave Egger's latest 'novel' What is the What; Antony Gormley's Blind Light Exhibition at the Hayward Gallery; and Rufus Wainwright's new album Release the Stars.
Read more about all those and and let us know if you agree with the views of 's guests , , and below.
- Newsnight
- 11 May 07, 06:00 PM
The panel discuss:
The film Jindabyne; Don DeLillo's latest Falling Man; Vernon God Little at the Young Vic Theatre; and 大象传媒 Three's Gavin and Stacey.
Comment on the programme here and let us know if you agree with the views of Paul Morley, Germaine Greer, Lionel Shriver, Kwame Kwei-Armah
- Newsnight
- 27 Apr 07, 06:15 PM
The panel discuss:
The film This is England; Engleby, the latest novel from Sebastian Faulks; the catchily titled Called To Account: The Indictment of Anthony Charles Lynton Blair for the crime of aggression against Iraq - a hearing; and the new album from Icelandic singer Bj枚rk.
Comment on the programme here, and let us know if you agree with the views of Dotun Abebayo, Mark Kermode, Bidisha and Peter Whittle.
- Newsnight
- 13 Apr 07, 07:16 PM
The panel discusses: The Lives Of Others - a Cold War paranoia film set in 1980s East Berlin; Joe Penhall's last play Landscape With Weapon; 大象传媒 Four's Diary Of A Nobody by Andrew Davies; and Joshua Ferris's debut novel Then We Came To the End.
Details on the .
Martha is joined by Matthew Sweet, Nikki Gemmell, Sarah Churchwell and Johann Hari.
Watch on 大象传媒 Two at 2300BST after Newsnight and on the Review website from Saturday.
- Newsnight
- 30 Mar 07, 07:30 PM
The panel discuss: the film Sunshine, which is a sci-fi thriller set 50 years in the future; the novel On Chesil Beach by Ian McEwan; Surreal Things at the V&A and Channel 4's drama The Mark of Cain. More details of those on
Kirsty is joined by PD James, Rowan Pelling, Michael Gove and Anthony Horowitz.
Watch on 大象传媒 Two at 2230 after Newsnight and on the Review website from Saturday.
- Newsnight
- 23 Mar 07, 06:39 PM
The panel discuss: the film Amazing Grace, which examines MP William Wilberforce's driving through parliament the bill which outlawed the slave trade in Britain 200 years ago; Irvine Welsh's Channel Four comedy Wedding Belles; The Lady From Dubuque currently at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket London; and the novel Two Caravans by Marina Lewycka. More details of those on the .
Kirsty is joined by Kwame Kwei-Armah, Sue Perkins, Tristram Hunt and Natasha Walter.
Watch on 大象传媒 Two at 2230 after Newsnight and on the Review website from Saturday.
- Newsnight
- 16 Mar 07, 07:07 PM
The panel look at two biopics: Factory Girl, about Warhol muse Edie Sedgwick starring Sienna Miller; and Fur a study of the photographer Diane Arbus, played by Nicole Kidman.
Plus an exhibition of unknown Monets; Channel Five drama Shark; and Blake Morrison's South of the River.
Martha presents , your comments and reviews below.
- Newsnight
- 9 Mar 07, 06:50 PM
Martha Kearney and panel discuss: Stephen Soderbergh's painstaking 1940s noir The Good German; ITV's Jane Austen season; Robert Lindsay in The Entertainer; and Tahmima Anam's debut novel A Golden Age.
Details of all those on the and the whole programme will be available to watch on Saturday.
Panellists John Carey, Jonathan Freedland, Julie Myerson and Dotun Adebayo give their verdicts on Friday at 2300 right after Newsnight, 大象传媒 Two. You can give your verdict below.
- Newsnight
- 2 Mar 07, 07:14 PM
The Review panel, chaired by Kirsty Wark, discuss the film Inland Empire, Daniel Radcliffe in Equus, Jed Mercurio鈥檚 new book Ascent, and 大象传媒 TWO鈥檚 The Trap.
Let us know if you agree with the views of Kerry Shale, Natalie Haynes, Paul Morley and Matthew Sweet.
You can read more about each item on the .
- Newsnight
- 16 Feb 07, 05:53 PM
The panel review the film Hot Fuzz, the Gilbert and George exhibition at Tate Modern, the new TV import Heroes, and Underneath the Lintel at the Duchess Theatre.
You can watch the programme back on the and leave your comments here.
- Newsnight
- 9 Feb 07, 05:04 PM
In : For Your Consideration; Hogarth, Tate Britain; The Verdict, and The Castle in the Forest by Norman Mailer.
Sarah Churchwell, Johann Hari, David Aaronovitch and Rosie Boycott join Martha on tonight's Newsnight Review.
You can watch the programme back on the and you can leave your comments on the work covered below.
- Newsnight
- 2 Feb 07, 05:41 PM
On Notes on A Scandal; Pinter's People, David Golder by Irene Nemirovsky; Citizens and Kings exhibition.
Charles Saumarez Smith, Stephanie Merritt, Sarfraz Manzoor and Michael Gove join Martha on tonight's Newsnight Review.
You can watch the programme back on the and you can leave your comments on the work covered below.
- Newsnight
- 26 Jan 07, 06:15 PM
On this week's programme: Venus; The Seagull at Royal Court; Party Animals; and Salmon Fishing in the Yemen by Paul Torday.
Mark Kermode, Julie Myerson, Natalie Haynes and Hari Kunzru join Kirsty on tonight's .
You can watch back on the Review website and you can leave your comments on the work covered below.
- Newsnight
- 19 Jan 07, 06:42 PM
Paul Verhoeven's latest film Black Book, Ricky Gervais on fame, Celebrity Big Brother, and the poetry of immigration with Daljit Nagra's Look We Have Coming To Dover.
Paul Morley, Denise Mina, Sarah Churchwell and Ian McMillan join Hardeep on .
You can watch the programme back on the and you can leave your comments on the work covered below.
- Newsnight
- 16 Jan 07, 04:29 PM
John Harris, Sue Perkins, Bidisha, Kwame Kwei-Armah discuss The Good, The Bad & The Queen; The Last King of Scotland; Doris Lessing - The Cleft; and Ugly Betty.
You can watch the programme back on the .
- Newsnight
- 15 Dec 06, 06:44 PM
Germaine Greer, Johann Hari, Anna Blundy, Paul Morley join Kirsty to discuss Flags of our Fathers, This Life + 10, the Chapman Brothers' Bad Art for our People, and Merry Wives The Musical.
- Newsnight
- 8 Dec 06, 06:40 PM
The panel discusses: The Nativity Story - a biblical big screen outing based on the gospels of Matthew and Luke; Mark Ravenhill - best known for Shopping and F***ing - changes tack to oversee the Barbican's first pantomime, Dick Whittington & His Cat; Housewife, 49, Victoria Wood's wartime drama; and Patrick Marber's new play
Don Juan in Soho.
Join Martha and co at 2300GMT on 大象传媒 Two after Newsnight and watch it again from Saturday on .
As ever, your comments are welcome below.
- Newsnight
- 1 Dec 06, 06:12 PM
A special edition from New York. David Hare's new play Vertical Hour opens on Broadway, a new film about Bobby Kennedy, Gordon Ramsay cooks for America, and Television satire Studio 60 gets the Review treatment.
Watch the panel - 大象传媒 Two 7 pm Friday 1 December and on from Monday lunchtime - then tell us what you think.
- Newsnight
- 17 Nov 06, 07:17 PM
The latest incarnation of Bond; the result of Andrew Lloyd Webber鈥檚 TV search for Maria 鈥 the stage version of The Sound of Music; 大象传媒 Two鈥檚 dramatisation of the Asian tsunami; and the panel get to grips with Nintendo鈥檚 new games console 鈥 Wii. More detail on all of those items .
Martha is on 大象传媒 Two at 2300GMT and you can watch the programme back on the on Saturday.
- Newsnight
- 10 Nov 06, 09:40 PM
The head of MI5 warns us of the potential terrorists in our midst. We examine Dame Eliza Manningham-Buller's claim that young men are radicalised and ask why MI5 made these announcements now. An internal investigation into the abuse of prisoners at Wormwood Scrubs prison from 1995 to 2000 has just been made public. We have the shocking findings. And Lord Sainsbury is to quit as Science Minister. Michael Crick looks at his ministerial career.
And on Newsnight Review, the panel discuss the Victorian-era magic of the film The Prestige, Porgy and Bess the musical, 大象传媒 One comedy Jam and Jerusalem from the pen of Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Newsom's new album.
Join Kirsty at 22.30GMT on 大象传媒 Two and live on the Newsnight website and at 2300GMT for Review (watch it back on the from Saturday).
- Newsnight
- 3 Nov 06, 06:58 PM
John Harris, Bidisha, Nick Moran and Ekow Eshun join Kirsty to discuss: Kazakhstan's most famous journalist in Sacha Baron Cohen's film Borat: Cultural Learnings of America For Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan; Into the West - a new TV western from Stephen Spielberg; Cormac McCarthy's new novel The Road; and the sculptor David Smith - whose work is a featured at the Tate Modern in a major retrospective.
Join Kirsty at 11.00pm on 大象传媒 Two and leave your comments below.
Don't forget you can watch the whole programme back from Saturday on the .
- Newsnight
- 27 Oct 06, 10:07 PM
The panel, chaired by Martha Kearney, discuss:
Anthony Minghella's Breaking and Entering; Lisey's Story by Stephen King; Dirty Dancing The Musical; and Yusef Islam.
Comment on the of Newsnight Review here.
- Newsnight
- 20 Oct 06, 07:50 PM
The panel, chaired by Martha Kearney, discuss:
All the King鈥檚 Men; Monty Python鈥檚 Spamalot; Longford; and Velazquez at the National Gallery.
Comment on the of Newsnight Review and let us know if you agree with our panel Brian Sewell, Grayson Perry, Sue Perkins and David Aaronovitch.
- Newsnight
- 13 Oct 06, 07:44 PM
The panel, chaired by Kirsty Wark, discuss:
The History Boys; Cabaret; Test Site at the Tate Modern; David Hockney Portraits; plus there鈥檚 music from The Lemonheads.
Comment on the of Newsnight Review and let us know if you agree with our panel Julie Myerson, John O鈥橣arrell, Natalie Haynes and Kerry Shale.
- Newsnight
- 6 Oct 06, 06:40 PM
The panel, chaired by Kirsty Wark, discuss: The Devil Wears Prada; Peter Pan in Scarlet; Robin Hood; USA Today and The Turner Prize.
Comment on the of Newsnight Review and let us know if you agree with our panel Antonia Fraser, Meredith Etherington-Smith, Mark Kermode and Mark Bolland.
- Newsnight
- 29 Sep 06, 05:22 PM
The panel, chaired by Kirsty Wark, discuss Oliver Stone鈥檚 World Trade Center, the 鈥渕ockumentary鈥 Death of a President, Wicked at the Apollo Victoria Theatre, and the exhibition Holbein in England at Tate Britian.
Comment on the of Newsnight Review and let us know if you agree with our panel, Sir John Mortimer, Nikki Gemmell, Rachel Campbell-Johnston and Johann Hari.
- Newsnight
- 22 Sep 06, 06:02 PM
The panel, chaired by Hardeep Singh-Kohli, discuss the film Children of Men; the book Kingdom Come from author JG Ballard; Piano/Forte at the Royal Court Theatre; and Rodin at the Royal Academy.
Comment on the of Newsnight Review and let us know if you agree with our panel Rosie Boycott, Ian McMillan, Paul Morley and Michael Portillo.
- Newsnight
- 15 Sep 06, 05:28 PM
This week the panel, chaired by Martha Kearney, discuss the film The Black Dahlia; the latest novel by William Boyd, Restless; Ta-Dah, the new album by the Scissor Sisters; the Leonardo da Vinci exhibition at the V&A; plus Rupert Everett reads from his autobiography in the studio.
Comment on of Newsnight Review and let us know whether you agree with our panel Kwame Kwei-Armah, Mark Kermode, Rowan Pelling and Sarah Churchwell.
- Newsnight
- 8 Sep 06, 06:25 PM
Helen Mirren in The Queen; Gaddafi, the Musical; Mark Haddon鈥檚 new novel A Spot of Bother; and Little Miss Sunshine. Comment on the of Newsnight Review and let us know whether you agree with the views of our panel, Julie Myerson, Michael Gove, Toby Young and Jari Kunzru.
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