New Moon is nothing if not an international advertisement for the hungry virtues of virginity and young people can’t get enough of it
The Twilight Saga: New Moon
Theatre
A smart, prickly and rewarding view of sexual and emotional confusion
Cock
Restaurants
Kitchen W8 is a bargain for this area, if such sophistication is what you crave
Kitchen W8
Too long and drawn out but very entertaining with excellent special effects
This is a peculiar play and does not work for me. Some of it is very funny but there are real flaws
Alex has a strong powerful voice and was faultless, she is far better now than she was on the X-Factor
London,
Derek Malcolm's rating
Reader rating
Dir: Dito Montiel.
Cast: Robert Downey Jr, Shia LaBeouf, Channing Tatum
Description: Energetic coming of age story set on the mean streets of 1980s Queens, based on the director's own memoir. We've been here before, but this is confidently made and well performed. With Robert Downey Jr, Shia LeBoeuf and Rosario Dawson.
Country: US. 2006. 99mins
Grappling with an abusive father: Channing Tatum as Antonio
Praised at Sundance and winner of the Critics' Week at Venice, author Dito Montiel's first film as director is based on his own upbringing in Queens, New York, during the Eighties.
There, a group of youths stride along the mean streets of their neighbourhood behaving badly enough to incur British Asbos, but not really doing anything too terrible. The only way out of their impoverished lives is to move well out of town.
The trouble is that their families think that leaving is tantamount to desertion. We learn that Dito eventually escaped to LA; the older Dito (played by Robert Downey Jr) only returns to Queens when his father (Chazz Palminteri) has a heart attack.
Travelling back in time, the film recalls his untidy youth, as the young Dito (Shia LaBeouf) hangs with his childhood sweetheart (Melonie Diaz), the young Scot (Michael Compston), who wants to become a rock star, and his handsome best friend (Channing Tatum), who is grappling with an abusive father.
The cast - which also includes Dianne Wiest and Rosario Dawson - tries hard and mostly achieves veracity.
Montiel marshals them well, but we've seen this sort of thing before. Still, you feel he knows what he is talking about, especially regarding the strong family ties that survive practically everything and render our hero's return after 15 years so redemptive.
Montiel is also good at showing how those who can't express themselves adequately at moments of crisis often turn to violence. Apparently the director came out of it all unscathed. Most of his friends ended up either in prison, on drugs or dead.
Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.
I think you'll find that young Scot is Martin Compston not Michael Compston.
- Peter, Sheffield , England
One of most amusing parts of this movie was watching its portrayal of Astoria Queens. Don't let this movie fool you. Even during the 80s, Astoria was one of the safest areas in all of NYC.
- John, Astoria, NY USA
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