THEGAYUK

Category: Entertainment

  • THEATRE REVIEW | F*cking Men

    THEATRE REVIEW | F*cking Men

    ★★★★ | F*cking Men

    If you’ve ever heard of the concept of ‘six degrees of separation’ then you’ll already know the theme of Arthur Schnitzel’s classic 1897 play Le Ronde. Couples copulate and the circle goes round with one-half of each couple appearing in the next scene with a new partner and the half of the first couple seen on stage appearing as one-half of the final shagging couple. Joe DiPietro’s updated version of his 2015 play features men f***ing. Lots of them. The three actors take on various roles including a rent boy, a soldier, a Hollywood actor, a married couple and a porn star. It’s a great concept and it actually works.

    The dialogue is sharp and witty and the play is by turns grimy, tender and darkly comedic as well as at times, erotic. Men fumble, fellate and f*** (you’d want your money back if they didn’t, wouldn’t you?). The situations are sometimes familiar, sometimes exotic and DiPietro manages to cover a lot of pertinent issues without being dull or preachy. From the young soldier pretending to himself that having his cock sucked doesn’t make him gay to the couple with intricate rules attached to their open relationship (which, of course, they aren’t abiding to); these are situations that are bound to resonate with a gay audience.

    A couple of the scenes jar slightly and there’s the odd discordant character but mostly these people feel spot on. The three actors are as talented as they’re hot. This is a feast for the intellect as well as the eyes and it’s a thought provoking and wise piece.

    I’d highly recommend getting down to The Vaults at Waterloo to catch this play. David Hare’s 1998 version of La Ronde (The Blue Room which starred a naked Nicole Kidman) was famously described as ‘pure theatrical Viagra’. This is a triple dose of Viagra in a tunnel at Waterloo. Now that’s not something you get offered every day.

    F***ing Men runs at The Vaults Theatre until 4th December

  • COMMENT | Why is it so difficult for men to hold hands in public?

    For the past six years, I’ve been touring a performance called ‘Walking:Holding’  where one person at a time is taken on a walk through the town and invited to hold hands with a range of local participants along the way. Next week I will be presenting this work in Leeds as part of Compass Festival with Live Art Bistro.

    Walking Holding
    CREDIT: Rosanna Cade

    The impetus for the performance came from my own experience of holding hands in same-sex couples and the complexity I discovered in this seemingly simple action. Across six years of touring the work to various towns across Europe, there have been many different experiences and reactions to the piece and the idea of holding hands with strangers. More often than not, there has been a lot of fear and tension around the action of two men holding hands in public.

    Recently there have been two incidents of male audience members attending the performance and then refusing to hold hands with the men on the walk. In two other instances in the past two months, male/male couples have been called names or laughed at while taking part in the performance.

    We have had many discussion around how our culture affects the way in which we view acceptable forms of intimacy in public, and also what we consider to be natural traits for men or women. I’ve worked with men from Nigeria and India, who talk about holding hands between male friends being common as a form of brotherly love. In western society, it seems that physical contact such as holding hands has been framed as feminine and therefore, perhaps, weak.

    Sadly there are many gay men who I talk to as part of the project who don’t feel safe enough to hold hands with other men in public. Ultimately, though, the performance is about challenging the idea that anyone should have to hide who they are, and hopefully inspiring those who haven’t felt confident enough before to change their behaviour.

    We toured to Dublin in 2013, and I felt that there was an accepted sense of homophobia in the city. Two gay men had been beaten up in the city centre about a week before I arrived, and there was a palpable tension in the air following this. A lot of the gay people that I spoke to said they would never feel comfortable expressing their sexuality in public, and carried a certain resignation and acceptance of that. However, for some of them the experience of taking part in Walking:Holding was transformative. Firstly, it broke a threshold – they held hands with another man and nothing bad happened. It also gave them a sense that they should be able to hold hands, that it shouldn’t be a privilege. They said they the experience had given them a whole new perspective.

    Walking Holding
    CREDIT: Rosanna Cade

    Here is an account from a recent participant:

    “I suffer with social anxiety and agoraphobia meaning that I find it hard to leave the house without a purpose. I took part in Walking:Holding in Leith this summer. In the workshop, I was asked to walk outside and hold hands with one of the other male participants. He was the first man I have ever held hands with in daylight since being a child. There may have been some late night occasions when I’ve been drunk, but never in the broad light of day.

    “It’s amazing how daylight illuminates things. It felt like there was a spotlight on us, and everything was heightened. I identify as being a-gendered so don’t feel like a man but I’m aware of what I present. To the outside world, we looked like two big beardy men holding hands. We spoke about how we felt like we were doing something wrong. We both felt frightened but we also felt protected by each other, at the same time as realising we were protecting the other one. This experience was intense but through holding multiple people’s hands across the week of doing the performance it became much less extraordinary and I felt braver with every new hand that I held.

    “The thing that made me the most emotional was that it changed my perception of myself. It gave me more confidence because both men and women were saying we look like we could be in a relationship. It doesn’t mean that now I can just go out and find a partner, but it gave me a kind of confidence that people don’t mind being seen with me – I’m not as bad as I thought I was. They were proud of me of those few moments.

    And from the male artist Laurie Brown who has collaborated with me on the project many times:

    “I’ve been involved with Walking:Holding now for over 5 years, so naturally I’ve held countless strangers hands of all kinds of backgrounds. Being involved with this piece has allowed me to empathise with others on a totally new level. It has challenged every prejudice I had and continue to have, and it reminds me of how massively different people’s experiences are of the same world. It is also a reminder of the immense joy vulnerability can bring. Holding someone’s hand can be really revealing, both of the other person, but also about yourself. When you hold someone’s hand and really focus on that experience it’s impossible to be bored, it’s never simple, and it is never the same.

  • You won’t believe what X Factor’s Johnny Robinson looks like now

    You won’t believe what X Factor’s Johnny Robinson looks like now

    Remember Johnny Robinson from X Factor? Well, you won’t believe what he looks like now!

    CREDIT: Johnny Robinson / YouTube

    Well, Johnny Robinson, or should we say, Sarah Lee is looking rather fabulous as he talked to the Loose Women in October to promote his new single “Deliver Me”.

    CREDIT: ITV/YouTube

    Johnny appeared in the same series of X Factor as Kitty Brucknell. The series eventually crowned girl group, Little Mix as the winners.

     

    Speaking to the Loose Women panel, he quipped that he hadn’t had a “sex-change” but that Sarah was his drag self, which had been locked up in the closet along with all the wigs and frocks.

    He revealed that his alter ego had existed before his appearance in the 20011 series of the X Factor and had, in fact, auditioned for Britain’s Got Talent as his drag self, but didn’t get through.

    The production team from BGT suggested that he go for X Factor instead.

    Johnny Robinson
    CREDIT: ITV / YouTube

     

    Johnny Robinson
    CREDIT: ITV / YouTube

    Johnny/ Sarah rocked blonde locks and heavy eye makeup on set with the Loose Women panel.

     

    His follow-on single from “Eaten Alive” is called “Deliver Me” and is a high energy dance track and we have to say his vocals are AWESOME.

     

    You can buy the track from here

     

     

  • THEATRE REVIEW | Ballet Black Triple Bill – CAST Theatre and National Tour

    ★★★★ | Comprising of a trio of pieces, this mixed programme from Ballet Black combines abstract dance, drama, passion and narrative storytelling in a triple bill of short pieces which amounts to a stunning evening of dance.

    Photo Credit – Bill Cooper

    The piece opened with Cristaux, an abstract piece centring on the beauty of crystals and how mesmerising they can be. The piece was performed by Cira Robinson and Mthbuthuzeli November, who both carried precision, synchronicity and poise in their movement. Robinson’s costume was beautifully decorated with 1500 Swarovski crystals, which glistened in the light as the pair traversed the stage.  Despite the quality of the choreography and performance, this was the weakest of the three pieces, primarily as a result of its soundtrack comprising of tinny bells ringing in a mish-mash of patterns. Despite sitting well with the theme of the piece, the composition held the piece back, which is unfortunate for something which otherwise had a lot for it.

    The second piece, To Begin, Begin was choreographed by Christopher Marney, a former performer with Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures. Warming the stage with subtle lighting comprising of hues of blue and orange; and accompanied by gentile compositions of swathing strings and piano, this piece had a warm, dreamlike quality to it which felt comforting and familiar. The second abstract piece of the evening had a more contemporary slant to it, and knitted together both the traditional and modern movements beautifully; and kept building the momentum with the music and movement. To Begin, Begin was evocative, atmospheric and utterly absorbing.

    Rounding off the programme was Storyville, a narrative driven piece choreographed by Christopher Hampson. Set in 1915, the ballet tells the tale of a young girl who finds herself working in an infamous dancehall in the red light district in New Orleans. Taken advantage of because of her youth and innocence, her spiral into self-destruction cannot be halted, even by a young sailor that she falls in love with. Brimming with passion and sadness, this piece had a clear narrative relayed by well-defined characters. Added into that was a collection of music which was evocative of the time period of the setting and a subtle undertone of fears of voodoo and black magic, reflective of the culture of New Orleans; which both added gravitas to the piece.  Storyville rounded off the evening perfectly.

    Having never seen this company before, for me, the triple bill was a fascinating insight into the company and an impressive taster of what Ballet Black has to offer, leaving me keen to see more from them.  With a consistency of quality, precision and emotion running through the three pieces and with their impressive choreography and presentation, Ballet Black is thoroughly recommended.

    Ballet Black is currently on tour across the UK. Details of the company can be found at www.balletblack.co.uk . Ballet Black were seen at CAST Theatre, Doncaster, who have a variety of art, dance, performance and shows, from West End shows to world premieres, in their upcoming season. Details can be found at www.castindoncaster.com

     

  • FILM REVIEW | The Magnificent Seven

    THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN – 56 years on from the original we get an almost note for note remake of the most famous Western ever made with big stars and modern day stunt action.

    Nutshell – They just don’t make films like this anymore. This is as old-fashioned as a guy using a condom for a shag in a London gay fetish bar or sauna. A town in peril recruits Seven loners to help defend them against a veritable army of bad guys, cue a very extended climax which not everyone is going to make it through in one piece – it feels very dated but that might be its charm and with two massive lead actors it is a worthwhile popcorn guzzler.

    Running Time – 133 minutes; Certificate – 12A

    Tagline – ‘Justice Has A Number’.

    The Gay UK Factor – Two hours of hot men in cowboy gear, it’s like Brokeback Mountain with a lot more sweat and testosterone. There is a massive subliminal gay undercurrent between two of the Mag 7 who always seem just 5 seconds away from slipping their tongues up each other’s mouths and jumping into the ‘saddle’ to explore the reverse cowboy position for a decent shag. The fact that the two guys in question are the hottest men here namely Pratt and Garcia-Rulfo make this virtual Western gay porn.

    Cast – The Seven are – Denzel Washington, Chris Pratt (Hot off of Guardians of the Galaxy and Jurassic Park), Ethan Hawke, Vincent D’Onofrio, our newest man crush Manuel Garcia-Rulfo plus two more and Peter Sarsgaard on bad guy duties.

    Key Player – Denzel Washington just has that star quality that holds your attention in any scene of any movie and no difference here – and it’s his first time in cowboy gear.

    Budget – $90 Million, Not a runaway hit but will turn a small profit we predict.

    Best Bit – 1.40 mins; When the bad guys get out their secret weapon and the tables take a major turn for the worse against our team of Seven and their townsfolk buddies.

    Worst Bit – 0.45 mins; Still travelling around the Midwest recruiting the allotted number of outlaws/vigilantes but it’s getting a bit repetitive now.

    Little Secret – This is a remake of the original Mag 7 from 1960 which itself was a remake of the Seven Samurai from Six years earlier. The ‘So Far So Good’ joke told by Chris Pratt is the same as the Steve McQueen joke in the original. Pratt’s horse was the same talented beast that starred in Spielberg’s War Horse movie.

    Further Viewing – This is as generic a Western as you will see so anything from True Grit to Rio Bravo, High Noon, The Searchers, Stagecoach, Unforgiven or even gay cowboy porn like Fisting Ranch Hands or To The Last Man where a bottle of Jack Daniels is used as a dildo!

    Any Good – Actually yes it is – there is nothing overly clever here but you will be engaged as the slow build of the film leads to the extended action climax where you really route for all the protagonists some of which probably won’t make it out alive.

    Rating – 54/100 (54th out of the last 100 films reviewed with 1 being Gay UK filmatic heaven and 100 being a dud).

  • THEATRE REVIEW | The Last Five Years

    ★★★ | The Last Five Years, St James Theatre

    CREDIT: Scott Rylander

    The St James Theatre near Victoria has had a poor recent track record with widely panned shows such as “Miss Atomic Bomb” and the deeply unfunny comedies “Pig Farm” and “Three Lions” denting their reputation.

    It’s soon to be re-launched as “The Other Palace” (what were they thinking of with that name?). Things may be looking up with the addition of the duo that brought smash hit “In the Heights” to London (artistic director Paul Taylor-Mills and choreographer Drew McOnie) for their first production. Now acquired by Andrew Lloyd-Webber’s Really Useful Company, the intention is that this will be a home for established productions as well new musicals.

    Before the name change, we have the 2001 two-hander “The Last Five Years”. It concerns a New York couple and looks at their failing relationship. Failing actress Cathy tells the story backwards from the point where they split up whilst rising star novelist Jamie tells the story from the time they first meet. There’s a midpoint where their stories match up and they join each other on stage. Told in solo songs, it’s a quirky musical that hasn’t dated much in its style since it was written in 2001 and the form almost works. There is something odd, though, about numbers in which the couple sing to each other but are alone on stage with the other half of the relationship occasionally loping through.

    Star of Les Miserables, Samantha Barks is a gutsy Cathy and can certainly belt out a tune as well as convey emotion. Good-looking “Broadchurch” beau Jonathan Bailey is almost her vocal equal. There are some moving songs, comedic moments and the odd deft touch of lyricism mixed with some heavy-handed metaphors. The main problem lies in connecting with the couple. They appear. They meet. They split up (and do the same in reverse, if you’re watching Cathy’s numbers). We don’t learn an awful lot more. Cathy is a struggling actress who is late a lot. Jamie writes a book and finds success, ultimately neglecting Cathy. It doesn’t feel enough and there’s a limited amount of depth to the story and characterisation that makes the numbers hard to connect with fully. The set is clumsy, pushed and pulled by stagehands with creaky moving parts jerkily appearing and wobbling a la “Crossroads” motel.

    In spite of the flaws: there can’t be many of us who don’t identify with the elation of a fledging relationship or the hideous pain of parting when it all goes wrong. There are some great songs, wry humour and touching moments. There’s a lot to like here (especially the two stars) and hopefully, this is a sign of better things to come (except for the new theatre name).

     

    The Last Five Years plays at St James Theatre until the 3rd December

    Follow Chris Bridges on Twitter

  • THEATRE REVIEW | What Shadows, Birmingham Rep

    ✭✭✭✭ | What Shadows

    CREDIT: Ellie Kurttz

    Is prejudice innate or learned? Is racism okay if everyone is? And is there such thing as racism equality? These are some of the questions that What Shadows evoked, and are still riddling my mind.

    In 1968, Enoch Powell made a speech in Birmingham that created a fissure along the street where it was famously delivered and divided a nation with words that scarred those who became a target of it. The Birmingham Rep put on the production of What Shadows and a troubling moment of history was resurfaced.

    In the Studio Theatre, real trees had been planted to give the idea of wilderness and lighting cast shadows on the wall for different moments of the play. I found myself staring at them a lot to figure out their purpose, and it dawned on me, halfway through, that the trees were probably the same ones that had witnessed history across the decades that the play was set in. They were the shadows of time.

    Cast-wise, each performer was equal in acting craftsmanship. Most actors multipart played different roles showcasing dexterity and natural flair, which contributed to an extremely believable production that took you on a chronological journey of identity. Chris Hannan, the writer of What Shadows, summoned a mixture of feelings in the audience, and without bias, created a story that made the audience ask and debate inwardly how they felt about their own identity: what is natural for human beings to feel? And, is double standards of racism correct?

    Ian Mcdiarmid not only looked the part but his physicality, as well as his tone of voice, were uncannily accurate. The power and fragility of Enoch was brought out by Ian in a subliminal way, and it was one of those performances that stunned you and made you feel incredibly glad to have had the opportunity to watch it.

    Bríd Brennan played Enoch’s wife, Pamela, and Sofia Nicol, an unrivalled genius of the early 90’s, which were played in a delicate and powerful way. The actor who stood out for me for his passionate, strong and utterly convincing portrayal of the Sultan was Phaldut Sharma. When he begged for his wife, Grace Hughes (Paula Wilcox), to remember him was close to tear-jerking, and the racial divide was felt the strongest when he gave a speech about serving with the Punjabi regiment and in the British Army as well as being a comrade of Enoch’s, and then Enoch’s dismissal and belittling of the sacrifices made by his regiment brought racism home. A superb performance I will never forget.

    Paula Wilcox did a sterling job as Grace Hughes, a lady who lost her husband during the war, and embodied, with impeccable skill, a racist resident in Birmingham who sided with Enoch’s views, but when she got to know the Sultan, the racial tension fell away, and left room for love.

    What Shadows plays at The Birmingham Rep until the 12th November

  • FILM REVIEW | Beautiful Something

    ★★★★ | BEAUTIFUL SOMETHING

    Four gay men, all with issues in their lives, experience a night of mystery and sex in the beautifully told Beautiful Something.

    Writer Brian (Brian Sheppard) is sexy and picks up guys in bars and on the street – but they love him and leave him. Then there’s Jim (Zack Ryan), a wannabe actor who doesn’t realise that the man he lives with really really loves him. And that man is Drew (Colman Domingo), a tortured and passionate artist who uses Jim as his muse and model. And then there’s Bob (John Lescault), a wealthy talent agent who is chauffeured around town picking up men but not necessarily for sex. It’s one night in Philadelphia, and these men’s lives intertwine in search of meaningful connections on a night when anything is possible.

    After a one night stand that for some reason goes horribly wrong, Brian goes for a walk and meets Jim, who’s just had a bust-up with Drew. They are immediately attracted to each other and have sex in the house that Jim shares with Drew. Drew, meanwhile, is so involved in his artwork that he’s doesn’t realise that Brian and Jim are downstairs getting it on. But this is not enough for Jim, and after Brian leaves and not wanting to stay home, Jim goes for a walk and is picked up, and intrigued by, Bob. They share a meal only after Bob tells Jim that if he’s an actor he must get out of the car. So Jim lies to Bob and they have dinner and eventually go back to Bob’s palatial home. Meanwhile, Brian looks up an old flame and Drew wonders what is really going on in Jim’s head. All this drama takes place in one sublime night, with the sprinkling lights of Philadelphia providing a romantic and perfect backdrop to the movie.

    Beautiful Something beautifully explores the need for us gay men to seek out romance and adventure in the hopes of finding something, anything, meaningful. Director and writer Joseph Graham successfully captures a night these men, nor us, won’t forget.

    With excellent and realistic performances throughout, Beautiful Something, inspired by real-life experiences, will put a twinkle in your eye and the optimism of love in your heart.

    Available on DVD & Digital HD on November 7th, 2016

  • THEATRE REVIEW | Fool For Love, Found 111

    THEATRE REVIEW | Fool For Love, Found 111

    ★★★ | Fool For Love, Found 111

    This revival of Sam Shepherd’s 1983 drama marks the end of Found 111, the intimate Charing Cross Road performance space. Housed in the old St Martin’s College building next to Foyle’s, this odd little space has seen some triumphant plays in the past year. We’ve had Andrew Scott as one of a pair of reclusive brothers burying themselves in their own hoard of junk in The Dazzle, James Norton delusional, semi-naked and sweaty in Bug and Matthew Lewis as a hot shirtless hustler (a long way from Harry Potter’s fellow student Neville Longbottom) in Unfaithful.

    Fool For Love theatre review
    CREDIT: Marc Brennan

    Fool for Love is a claustrophobic play, suited to the closed, low-ceilinged space and seems a fine choice. Stuntman Eddie and his lover May are acting out the death throes of an on/off relationship in a motel room on the edge of the desert, overlooked by a brooding cowboy. The dialogue is terse as they parry and pace around each other and there are more slamming doors than in a house full of truculent teenagers. It’s a one-act play running at 70 minutes and whilst neither the plot nor theme enthral, the language frequently does.

    Eddie is played to brooding perfection by Ripper Street star Adam Rothenberg. He’s a strutting piece of sexually enthralling, bruised masculinity. His angular face pouts and he cheekily arches eyebrows. He’s also very easy on the eye and is a constant visual draw whenever he’s on stage. Equally strong is Lydia Wilson as May, convincingly showing us a character on the edge, veering between rage and even more rage. The problem is in the chemistry between them. For some reason, it doesn’t entirely work. However strong they are individually, there’s something lacking between them as a pair of long-term lovers. The space doesn’t help. The back of the theatre is opened up into a more expansive space and the atmosphere of an oppressive motel room that was achieved in ‘Bug” doesn’t quite come across here, however, much smoke they pump in.

    Found 111 isn’t going out with a bang (apart from the slamming doors) but nor is it a whimper. This play lies somewhere in between the two. It’s well worth seeing, especially if you’re planning to see Ed Harris in Buried Child at Trafalgar Studios. It fits neatly into the cannon of Shepherd’s work and provides interesting background. Also worth paying cash for is the sight of Adam Rothenberg. Thankfully, the production team are planning on resurfacing in similar quirky spaces that bring theatre away from the proscenium arch and into your lap. Watch this space.

    Fool For Love plays at Found 111 until the 17th December

     

    Follow Chris Bridges on Twitter

  • 5 totally spooky gay Halloween films to watch on Amazon Prime

    5 totally spooky gay Halloween films to watch on Amazon Prime

    It’s the night of spooks and we’ve got 5 totally gay Halloween horrors for you to download or stream on Amazon!

    1313: Giant Killer Bees

    Released: 2011

    Length: 1 Hour 20 Mins

    Description: A young college student inadvertently unleashes a global biological disaster in the form of giant, zombie, killer bees…

    Amazon Prime User Rating: ★★

    TheGayUK Rating: (Not Rated)

    DOWNLOAD / STREAM NOW

     

    Fraternity Massacre at Hell Island

    Description: Locked down on a haunted gloomy island with no escape route, the ZAP pledges mysteriously disappear as a maniacal clown reaps personal revenge on the unsuspecting frat boys. Homophobia abounds as frat pledge Jack Jones must quickly formulate a plan to stop the devious clown and save his fraternity brothers.

    Released: 2016

    Length: 1 hr 21 mins

    Amazon Prime Rating: ★★

    TheGayUK Rating: (Not Rated)

    DOWNLOAD / STREAM NOW

     

    Mae Of The Dead

    Description: April and Mae fell in love during the zombie apocalypse, and this one-night stand could be their last.

    Released: 2013

    Length: 20 mins

    Amazon Prime Rating:

    TheGayUK Rating: (Not Rated)

    DOWNLOAD / STREAM NOW

     

    Vampire Boys 2: The New Brood

    Description: Jasin and Caleb’s eternal bliss is put to the test when Jasin’s century old rival Demetrius returns to get his revenge. Demetrius plots to destroy Jasin by creating an army of vampires by recruiting unwilling victims from the local boxing gym for his new brood. In his quest for domination, he recruits Jasin’s ex, Tara, who is still quietly grieving from Jasin’s rejection.

    Released: 2013

    Length: 1 hr 14 mins

    Amazon Prime Rating: ★★1/2

    TheGayUK Rating: (Not Rated)

     

    DOWNLOAD / STREAM NOW

     

    Jeepers Creepers 2

    via GIPHY

     

    Okay, not officially gay, but the homoerotic nature of this film makes it a must see on this list!

    On a deserted highway, a school bus is carrying a basketball team and its cheerleaders back from a triumphant game. The bus breaks down on a lonely stretch of road and the thrill of victory is quickly replaced by terror, as the journey becomes a road trip to Hell. As the sun sets, the Creeper descends on the bus and picks off the athletes one by one, sniffing out his victims. Will any of them survive, or will they all provide the Creeper with another horrific helping of mouth-watering morsels, in this nerve-jangling horror?

    DOWNLOAD / STREAM NOW

  • FILM REVIEW | Inferno

    FILM REVIEW | Inferno

    INFERNO – First we had The DaVinci Code then Angels and Demons now the fourth Robert Landon story becomes the third Dan Brown film adaption.

    film review of Inferno with Tom Hanks
    Jonathan Prime – (c) 2015 CTMG, Inc. All rights reserved.

     

    Nutshell – Tom Hanks globe trots across Europe once again working out cryptic historical clues in another intelligent adventure from one of the Worlds favourite authors. This time the race is against the clock to save mankind from an apocalyptical plague that a nutter has created who has laid the trail along the descent Dantes legendary inferno.

    Running Time – 121 minutes that fly by; Certificate – 12A

    Tagline – ‘Every clue will take him deeper’, ‘Humanity’s last hope’

    The Gay UK Factor – Mr blue eyes himself and one of America’s finest hunks of manhood Ben Foster struts his sexy as f*** stuff as the bad guy and boy does he fill out a designer suit well and we love a stud who dresses to the left suited and booted.

    Cast – Tom Hanks (looking old) v Ben Foster (looking buff) helped by Felicity Jones, Omar Sy and Irffan Khan reunited after living through Jurassic Park.

    Key Player – Dan Brown, the writer who stopped the world with the DaVinci Code’s reveal about the Last Supper picture and Jesus having a child comes up with more great inventive twists in a great thriller that wraps straight from today’s headlines mixes in great art and historical locations and then adds loads of chases so what’s not to like.

    Budget – $75 Million but the yanks aren’t getting it so not busting blocks there but it is storming museum and cinema walls Internationally making a small fortune so easily making up for America’s lack of class here.

    Best Bit – 0.58 mins; A deadly chase across a museum rooftop which is oh so tense with a stunning final stunt… Does everyone live?

    Worst Bit – 1.40 mins; A very aged Hanks has to start fighting the baddies mano et mano when he would obviously rather be at home watching Country File with a mug of Horlicks.

    Little Secret – Neither Director Ron Howard or star Tom Hanks ever do live action sequels (The exception being Toy story). This trio is their one exception but they see the books as all stand alone projects so don’t count as sequels. So don’t get your hopes up for Forrest Gump 2:Back to the chocolates, Apollo 14, Sleepless In San Francisco or Philadelphia:The PrEP Years.

    Further Viewing – Obviously The DaVinci Code and Angels and Demons then Jack Reacher, The Girl On The Train, The Game, Gone Girl and Insomnia.

    Any Good – It is not as good as the previous two films but they set a very high bar. This is still a very entertaining two hours with not a wasted scene as all the explanation is craftily woven in and out of the action and the big set pieces. Another very clever piece of work from this franchise.

    Rating – 56%