John Nathan

Latest from John Nathan

Nightbitch review: ‘it’s a film for mums’

Bullied by a two-year-old’s tears, a woman’s fire extinguished in a pool of wee-wee and need, there is a kind of catharsis in this tale about the spirit-sapping reality of bringing up children

1 min read

Catharsis: Scoot McMairy and Amy Adams in Nightbitch

The cast of the Devils Wears Prada Photo: Matt Rockett

The Devil Wears Prada review: ‘style over substance’

1 min read

Kenneth Tigar plays Eddie Jaku in The Happiest Man On Earth Photo: Daniel Rader

The Happiest Man On Earth review: ‘epic yet intimate’

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Suppressed friendship: Ariana Grande as Galinda and Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba

Wicked review: ‘it’s a Grande entrance’

2 min read

Barcelona review: ‘Lily Collins has the acting chops to fill a stage’

The Emily in Paris star acquits herself well in her stage debut

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November 21, 2024 12:13

On the verge: Álvaro Morte and Lily Collins as Manuel and Irene in Barcelona Photo: Marc Brenner

Gladiator II review: ‘a swashbuckler that slays expectations’

Ridley Scott’s sequel is not the Hollywood boot-filling exercise you might expect

1 min read

November 12, 2024 17:33

Spitting blood: Paul Mescor as Lucius and (right) Pedro Pascal as Marcus Acacius

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button review: ‘nothing else like it in the West End’

This musical adaptation of F Scott Fitzgerald’s short story is right on the button

1 min read

November 12, 2024 17:21

Terrific: the cast on stage at Ambassadors Theatre

Anora review: ‘Romeo and Juliet with more sex and drugs’

This delve into the underbelly of Manhattan sex clubs and Brooklyn’s Russian émigré community has been compared to ‘Pretty Woman’, but it’s better than that

1 min read

November 8, 2024 14:30

Two rising Jewish talents: Mark Edelshtein as Vanya and Mickey Madison as Anora

Reykjavik review: “brimful of humanity and grief”

This beautifully balanced play gives an overlooked part of our martime nation’s culture its due

1 min read

November 8, 2024 13:13

Sophie Cox as Einehildur in Reykjavik at Hampstead Theatre Credit: Mark Douet

Midas Man review: ‘Epstein entrances in sympathetic biopic’

Jacob Fortune-Lloyd rehabilitates the young svengali’s reputation with charm in this film, but the Fab Four fall curiously flat

2 min read

November 4, 2024 13:21

Talent spotter: Jacob Fortune-Lloyd as Brian Epstein in Midas Man

Venom review: ‘it’s not Marvel-lous’

This is the Last Dance of his three-deal franchise and I suspect Tom Hardy is feeling rather relieved

2 min read

October 31, 2024 15:54

Slip of the tongue: an oleaginous alien in Venom

Dr Strangelove review: ‘Coogan is bang on the button’

The actor is priceless in this timely revival of Stanley Kubrick’s classic nuke comedy

1 min read

October 31, 2024 15:42

War room: Steve Coogan (centre) in Dr Strangelove Credit: Manuel Harlan

The Apprentice review: ‘What would Melania Trump say?’

The Trump portrayed here is no monster but it is a portrait of a hustler who is still hustling

1 min read

October 23, 2024 10:57

Rise of a hustler: Sebastian Stan as Donald Trump and Maria Bakalova as Ivana Trump

Almeida Theatre 1950s double bill: ‘An angry return to the kitchen sink’

Arnold Wesker’s Roots has been paired with John Osborne’s Look Back in Anger –eight decades on the East End Jewish playwright emerges as the more potent dramatist by far

2 min read

October 23, 2024 10:08