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An awesome and ridiculous film that leaves you thrilled beyond the point of your natural endurance
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Hot tickets: London's going out guide
14.09.09
Chilled out: Reggis Love, the President's personal aide
EXHIBITION
Obama's People
Flowers East, E2
****
Following the New York Times Magazine's publication of portraits of President Obama's White House staff by London-based photographer Nadav Kander, the work was exhibited at the Birmingham City Art Gallery. The show was packed for weeks. Now the 52 large colour photographs are in London and the waxen, groomed Hillary Clinton stares coldly onto Kingsland Road.
Kander's intention was to explore and expose a group from Obama's potent inner circle. He employed the classically simple format of positioning subjects against a plain background — a style reminiscent of Richard Avedon and August Sander, and let them choose props or accessories and the pose. By not styling the shots himself, he exposes details of identity through a soccer ball, a BlackBerry, a Texan hat. The men's characterless striped ties and ordinary shirts shift the focus to body language, and the (many) women boost it with their outfits.
Obama's chilled “personal aide”, Reggie Love, grins, his iPod on and jacket off, while in contrast the military men stand to attention; James L Jones, representing the previous era, wears his George Bush tie.
The practised, fixed smiles of Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Hillary Clinton reflect years in politics, incongruous against the earnest youthfulness of alluring Presidential assistant Eugene Kang, who poses like a model, avoids the camera and reads his contacts book. As the President faces increasing vulnerability, these portraits will immortalise today's freshness and optimism.
Until 10 October. Information: 02
BOOK NOW
An Inspector Calls
22 September-14 November, Novello Theatre, WC2 (0844 482 5170, www.aninspectorcalls.com) £12.50-£47.50
Stephen Daldry's production of JB Priestley's twist on the whodunnit returns to London as part of its UK tour. First staged in 1992, Daldry's groundbreaking revival of the drama became a West End fixture before going on to Broadway success. In the midst of celebrating their daughter's engagement to the son of a wealthy businessman, the Birling family are interrupted by Inspector Goole; later, their house literally falls apart.
MEET ME AT
Boho Mexica
153 Commercial Street, E1 (020 7377 8418, www.bohomexica.co.uk). Open Mon-Tues noon-2.30pm & 5.30-10pm, Wed-Sat noon-2.30pm & 5.30-11pm. £12pp ex-drinks
This newcomer is a jolly little place that is unsure whether it is a restaurant, a bar or a taco bar. The Mexican dishes on offer are unfussy and make perfect nibbles to accompany either cocktails or cold beer. Very keen prices too: a plate of three carnitas tacos is £3.50; guacamole tia paty, £3.45; a bottle of Bohemia £3; a Mexican mojito, £6. iArriba!
