John Nathan

Latest from John Nathan

Film

Marty Supreme review: ‘Timothée Chalamet is monumental’ ★★★★★

The Jewishness of Chalamet’s Marty is both defining and lightly worn in Josh Safdie’s classic American fable

2 min read

Ping pong prodigy: Chalamet's bespectacled Marty is inspired by real-life Marty Reisman

Christmas Day at Almeida Theatre. (Photo: Marc Brenner)

Christmas Day review: A not-quite-realised effort at Jewish catharsis ★★★

2 min read

2025 in review: Film

4 min read

2025 in review: Theatre

4 min read

It is called Christmas Day but it is about being Jewish

Nigel Lindsay on why he’s pleased to play a Jew on the London stage amid soaring antisemitism

5 min read

December 18, 2025 14:12

Short fuse: Nigel Lindsay in Christmas Day at Almeida Theatre (Photo: Marc Brenner)

This version of Roald Dahl’s BFG shows that giants can be small and pathetic ★★★★

Unlike The Witches in which Dahl was accused of having Jews in mind when he created the cabal of child-killers, Jewish theatregoers can relax with this adaptation

2 min read

December 16, 2025 17:40

Not so gentle: Ellemie Shivers (as Sophie) with the gargantuan puppet (Photo: Marc Brenner)

Peter Hujar’s Day review: ‘a hymn to the wet process of photography’ ★★★★

The Jewish, gay and fearless independent film-maker Ira Sachs turns an interview with the renowned photographer Peter Hujar into a captivating film

1 min read

December 10, 2025 13:22

Time capsule: Ben Whishaw and Rebecca Hail in Ira Sach's film

A Dracula spoof to enjoy, but no fangs for my seat ★★★

Excellent music and the jokes come thick and fast. I just wish I could have seen what was happening centre stage!

1 min read

December 10, 2025 11:45

Ciarán Dowd in Dracapella (Photo: Craig Sugden)

The moment Tom Stoppard revealed his Jewish soul to me

The great playwright discovered his Jewishness late in life – and the impact was huge

5 min read

December 3, 2025 10:39

Blue Moon review: ‘Ethan Hawke turns in a superb performance’ ★★★★

The actor’s portrayal of the waspish, Jewish lovelorn lyricist Lorenx Hart is excellent

1 min read

December 2, 2025 18:37

Extreme combover: Ethan Hawke as Lorenz Hart and Margaret Qualley as Elizabeth Weiland

The Spy Who Came In From The Cold review: ‘hugely satisfying stage adaptation’★★★★

There is a strong Jewish presence in this taut le Carré Cold War thriller which has more twists than a cheese stick

1 min read

December 2, 2025 18:25

Setting the trap: Rory Kennan as British spy Alec Leamas (Credit: Johan Persson)

All My Sons review: Bryan Cranston is terrific in this new Arthur Miller revival ★★★★

Ivo van Hove’s direction of the author’s 1955 hit peels back the central family’s secrets with cinematic vigour

1 min read

November 26, 2025 15:07

ALL MY SONS. Marianne Jean-Baptiste (Kate Keller) and Richard Hansell (Dr Jim Bayliss). Photo: Jan Versweyveld

Wicked: For Good: Pitch-perfect escapism that surpasses the smash-hit original ★★★★★

Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande are superbly matched in the roles of Elphaba and Glinda in this film version of Stephen Schwartz’s musical

1 min read

November 19, 2025 17:26

Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo as Glinda and Elphaba in Wicked (Photo: Universal Pictures)

The Hunger Games On Stage: Concept and spectacle aplenty but no heart ★★

This theatrical adaptation of the trailblazing dystopian movie by Jewish director Gary Ross lacks the emotional depth of the film and book franchises

1 min read

November 19, 2025 17:06

Hunger Games on stage at the Troubadour Theatre (Photo: Johan Persson)

Nuremberg review: ‘It all feels too sexy, glamorous even’ ★★★

This crowd-pleaser about the first post-war international war crimes tribunal hits some wrong notes

2 min read

November 13, 2025 12:59

The Wanderers – review: Marriage? Be careful what you wish for ★★★★

The first act of this clever play about two Brooklyn marriages is a little ponderous, but stick with it – the second act is more than worth the wait

2 min read

November 12, 2025 16:36

I am my beloved's: Eddie Toll as Schmuli and Katerina Tannenbaum as Esther

1 2 3 4...98

John Nathan

Latest from John Nathan

Marty Supreme review: ‘Timothée Chalamet is monumental’ ★★★★★

Christmas Day review: A not-quite-realised effort at Jewish catharsis ★★★

2025 in review: Film

2025 in review: Theatre

More from John Nathan

It is called Christmas Day but it is about being Jewish

This version of Roald Dahl’s BFG shows that giants can be small and pathetic ★★★★

Peter Hujar’s Day review: ‘a hymn to the wet process of photography’ ★★★★

A Dracula spoof to enjoy, but no fangs for my seat ★★★

The moment Tom Stoppard revealed his Jewish soul to me

Blue Moon review: ‘Ethan Hawke turns in a superb performance’ ★★★★

The Spy Who Came In From The Cold review: ‘hugely satisfying stage adaptation’★★★★

All My Sons review: Bryan Cranston is terrific in this new Arthur Miller revival ★★★★

Wicked: For Good: Pitch-perfect escapism that surpasses the smash-hit original ★★★★★

The Hunger Games On Stage: Concept and spectacle aplenty but no heart ★★

Nuremberg review: ‘It all feels too sexy, glamorous even’ ★★★

The Wanderers – review: Marriage? Be careful what you wish for ★★★★