2009 Annual Cultural Tales of Two Cities Awards

Best Film

Hurt Locker - directed by Kathryn Bigelow
Best film about the Iraq war I have seen - edge of seat action all the way but from the soldiers' perspective.

Runners up

Mesrine - Killer Instinct - directed by Jean-Francois Richet
Stylish and charismatic French baddie - what more could you want?

In The Loop - directed by Armando Iannucci
Funniest film of the year. So it couldn't possibly be true could it? And with the wonderful Peter Capaldi as the evil one.


Best Play

Julius Caesar - RSC, Stratford
Impressive staging of the bard's political murder tale.

Runners up

Life Is a Dream, The Donmar Warehouse
Classical Spanish tragedy from Pedro Calderón de la Barca with the superb Dominic West.

Punk Rock, The Royal Exchange
Simon Stephens' powerful teen school drama.

Best Exhibition

The Sacred Made Real, National Gallery
Moving and spiritual Spanish religious icons.

Runners Up

Angels of Anarchy, Manchester Art Gallery
Work from little acknowledged women surrealist artists.

Anish Kapoor, Royal Academy of Arts
Big scale sculpture to amaze and challenge the senses.

Best Book

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets’ Nest – Stieg Larsson
Last of the gripping and highly original Millennium trilogy. Salander rocks!

Runners Up

Let the Great World Spin – Colum McCann
Weaving the stories of lonely people cleverly around the 70’s Twin Towers high wire feat.

Michelangelo and the Sistine Chapel – Andrew Graham-Dixon
Fabulously readable book letting us see the famous masterpiece from a different angle


Best Gig

Take That – the Circus Tour, Coventry
The fab four entertaining admirers new and old – oh what a circus, oh what a show….

Ray Lamontagne – Lowry and Bridgewater Hall
Wonderfully moving sets from the bearded shy one.

Rufus Wainwright, Manchester International Festival
Ok so this is cheating a bit as it was an exclusive invite only intimate gig but Mr Wainwright was very wonderful.



Thanks for reading my blog in 2009 – it can only get better in 2010!
For all those who disagree with my views – get your own blog!!
Happy New Year......