He’s the archetypal screen tough guy, but Al Pacino hates guns, drinks only coffee, writes Simon Hattenstone.
Outside of making a tough statement about South Africa’s language issues <i>Zulu love letter</i> breaks new ground in creating in representation a language for a character who is both black and deaf, writes Muff Andersson.
If our film critics are going to be with us for life, asks Muff Andersson, should we not think about forcing them to go on regular upgrade programmes?
Israeli troops pushed through a barricade of flaming cars and fanned-out throughout the small Gadid settlement on Friday, a day after youths holed up on a synagogue rooftop pelted soldiers with acid, oil and sand in the most violent protest against Israel’s Gaza pullout.
Montpellier was the place to be on Wednesday. Not for the sun, or the sandy beaches, nor the fine cuisine and local wines. And not even because this beautiful southern town is reputed to have one of the most attractive populations in France, thanks to its three universities. No, there was a football match taking place, and it wasn’t the usual second-division fare served up by the locals.
My cellphone illuminates the time, beeps at me. 4.45am. I get up in the dark — the power is off again — and fumble my way to the car, scooping up Jasper, my Jack Russell, as I go. He’s comfort, a slab of warmth across my lap as I wait. There are rumours of petrol at some shack of a garage out on the fringes of the industrial sites, owned by some crony with ties to the army. I ought to have a conscience: I don’t.
National carrier South African Airways (SAA) will remain in state hands, but government ”may bring in another partner”, Public Enterprises Minister Alec Erwin said on Thursday. Erwin said that the airline industry was critical for Africa and he said that in the next year some ”extremely interesting announcements” could be expected from SAA.
It is just one month since the Springboks flew home from Australia with their tails between their legs, having been drubbed 30-12 by the Wallabies in Sydney. Back then Bok coach Jake White was being castigated for playing too few players of colour, and for imagining that he could beat Australia by kicking the ball to them.
It is the ultimate conundrum for vegetarians who think that meat is murder: a revolution in processed food that will see fresh meat grown from animal cells without a single cow, sheep or pig being killed. Researchers have published details in a biotechnology journal describing a new technique, which they hailed as the answer to the world’s food shortage.
At last! You’ve worked all year long for this and you’re finally heading off on that much-needed holiday of which you’ve been dreaming. Fantastic. Of course, you’ll need to be fully prepared and packing wisely is the first step. So make a checklist: mobile phone, laptop, Blackberry, printed itineraries, workout clothes, video camera and fat-burning pills.