John Nathan

Latest from John Nathan

Who is Claude Cahun? review: ‘The subject is endlessly fascinating’ ★★★

The achievements of this French Jewish lesbian living a non-conformist life under Nazi occupation is filtered through our 21st century obsession with gender politics – at the expense of conveying her bravery

2 min read

Subversive campaign: Rivkah Bunker (left) and Amelia Armande in Who is Claude Cahun? (Credit: Paddy Gormley)

Review: F1 ★★★ A Pitt stop for Brad

1 min read

So Seventies: Eli Gelb and Andrew R. Butler in Stereophonic (Photo: Marc Brenner)

Review: Stereophonic ★★★★★ ‘Everything about this play is miraculous’

2 min read

Sweet melodies: Tim Key (left) and Tom Basden

The Ballad of Wallis Island review: ‘hits the sweet spot’ ★★★★★

1 min read

Fiddler on the Roof’s golden couple: ‘Our Tevye and Golda chemistry is real’

Lara Pulver and Adam Dannheisser reveal what it’s like to play husband and wife in the latest garlanded production of the world’s most loved musical

7 min read

June 12, 2025 11:36

Happy together: Adam Dannheisser and Lara Pulver in Fiddler on the Roof (Credit: Marc Brenner)

Fiddler on the Roof review: ‘As joyous as it is necessary’ ★★★★★

This Fiddler is both lyrical gold and the best antidote to the myths driving today’s tsunami of Jew-hate

2 min read

June 11, 2025 09:48

Shtetl life: the cast of Fiddler on the Roof on stage at the Barbican (Photo: Marc Brenner)

The Fifth Step review: ‘Booze, sex, religion and class go head to head’

Martin Freeman and Jack Lowden perfectly pit two versions of masculinity in this darkly funny two-hander

1 min read

June 5, 2025 13:29

Eyeballing: Martin Freeman (left) and Jack Lowden as James and Luka in The Fifth Step (Credit: Johan Persson)

The Salt Path, review: ‘Jason Isaacs in touching tale of homelessness’

The Jewish star is the tent born in this feel-good film about the sanctuary of a good marriage

2 min read

May 29, 2025 16:26

Home is where the heart is: Gillian Anderson and Jason Isaacs in The Salt Path

Shucked, review: ‘Not quite the cream of the crop’

This is an entertaining musical comedy, and its corny gags are fun, but only fleetingly does it soar

2 min read

May 29, 2025 15:06

Cord-fed wordplay: the cast of Shucked ultimately failed to raise the roof at the Open Air Theatre in London's Regent Park

The Phoenician Scheme, review: ‘Wes Anderson’s latest absurd comedy’

It’s an enjoyable romp with a succession of big star cameos, but you leave unsure if your time was well spent

1 min read

May 29, 2025 14:08

Symmetrical shot: Benico del Toro and Mia Threapleton in a scene from director Wes Anderson's The Phoenician Scheme

Mission Impossible – the Final Reckoning, review: ‘Tom Cruise takes action to the next level’

The 62-year-old actor takes the physicality of the action movie to previously unattained heights and remains cinema’s biggest box office draw for it

1 min read

May 23, 2025 18:38

A Comedy about Spies, review: ‘an irresistible comedy of chaos’

The espionage is a farce – just give into the slapstick silliness, and enjoy

1 min read

May 23, 2025 17:53

I spy: Charlie Russell in A Comedy about Spies (Photo: Mark Senior)

The film-maker revered by Hitler...and Quentin Tarantino

The director of a new documentary about the Nazi propagandist Leni Riefenstahl explodes the myth that she was more than a mere witness to Third Reich crimes

5 min read

May 15, 2025 10:46