The Balance review – film about Muslim entertainers treads a fine line

The rise of an Islamic arts industry is celebrated by its screen, music and comedy stars, but the view rarely strays beyond a western perspectiveIn this survey of the expanding Islamic entertainment industry, The Balance presumably refers to the line f…

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John Waters: False Negative review – the sultan of sleaze at the Barbican

Barbican, LondonThe veteran film-maker is on fine form in this motor-mouthed show, which mixes slick anecdotes with gleeful transgressionCommon as it now is for well-loved figures to bring their life stories, gossip and opinions to the touring stage, o…

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Chris Rock in a hard place: will he make comedy gold out of Will Smith’s slap?

As his hotly anticipated tour arrives in the UK, audiences are wondering whether Rock will share some freshly minted material on the Oscars bust-upMight “the slap” – when Will Smith walloped Chris Rock at the Oscars ceremony – have been a publicity stu…

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Gilbert Gottfried, comedian and actor, dies aged 67

The standup comic, also known for voicing Iago in Disney’s animated Aladdin, has died after a long illnessComedian and actor Gilbert Gottfried has died at the age of 67.His family announced his death after a long illness via his Twitter page. Gottfried…

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‘Chris Rock did the brave, smart, toughest thing’: comics on that Oscars slap

Four seasoned standups, all with the comic’s dread of hosting awards shows, on what to do when a gig goes very wrong – and how they might have reactedIt was the slap that was heard around the internet – Will Smith’s outraged stage invasion at the Oscar…

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Catherine Tate’s The Nan Movie: when sketch characters run out of road

Tate’s sweary grump went from TV to stage show to a misfiring film, proving how tricky it is to keep audiences on a lifelong journey with a comic creation‘Brutally unfunny.” “Lacking in charm and good jokes.” “As interminable as it is revolting.” The r…

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True romance: film, music and art to fall in love with on Valentine’s Day

From a mind-scrambling breakup drama to a tender video game, our critics suggest popular culture inspired by matters of the heartYes, it all takes place after Joel (Jim Carrey) and Clementine (Kate Winslet) have bitterly broken up, but Michel Gondry’s …

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From West Side Story to The Witcher: a complete guide to this week’s entertainment

Whether it’s a Spielberg musical, a global photography prize or a comedy Christmas show, our critics have your plans for the week coveredWest Side StoryOut nowSteven Spielberg takes on the classic musical (above), pitting Sharks against Jets in 1950s N…

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The long-awaited “MacGruber” TV series to debut on Peacock December 16th

The release of the long-awaited McGruber TV series is imminent. After being in development for years we’re finally going to… MORE
The long-awaited “MacGruber” TV series to debut on Peacock December 16th appeared first on Th…

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Mort Sahl obituary

Comedian and satirist who revolutionised US standup in the 1950s, skewering politicians of every hueThe comedian and satirist Mort Sahl, who has died aged 94, was a combination of Lenny Bruce and Bob Hope – with a little Will Rogers thrown in. Like Bru…

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