Culture Diary 27-05-13

Monday – Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan 8.30pm @ FACT

When JJ Abrams was tasked with breathing new life into the Star Trek franchise, one concession he may have made to the source material was to the second movie in the series, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. With a strong, believable nemesis (the titular Khan, who reappears following 15 years of exile), it is broadly considered the best of the first generation of films kicking off a story arc revolving around the much loved Spock.

Tuesday – Reality 6pm @ FACT

The winner of the Grand Prix at Cannes last year, Reality is director Matteo Garrone’s follow up to Gomorrah. In sharp contrast to the film that helped make his name, this time he has delivered a sharply satirical – though often tragic – look at the perils of obsessing over that which remains tantalisingly close while ultimately out of reach.

Twilight Portrait 7.30pm @ Camp and Furnace

The latest Darkness Into Light screening from critic and director DW Mault, Twilight Portrait could be the most daring and challenging to date. The controversial debut feature from Angelina Nikonova, Twilight Portrait – currently without a UK distributor – centres on social worker Marina, whose life is transformed suddenly following her rape by three policemen.

Wednesday – Liverpool Art Prize 2013 Award Ceremony 6pm @ the Grand Hall, Albert Dock

With £2000 up for grabs to the overall winner and £1000 for the recipient of the peoples’ choice award, this Wednesday sees the awarding of the Liverpool Art Prize. With a line up including Kevin Hunt, Laurence Payot, Tabitha Moses and Julieann O’Malley, it’s anyone’s guess which of those shortlisted will land the accolade.

Thursday – The Kazimier and Deep Hedonia present: Sequence 7pm @ the Kazimier Gardens FREE

Described as “different, elemental, mesmeric, dronesome”, Sequence is a new and regular addition to the Kazimier Garden’s summer programme. Boasting free electronic and experimental music every last Thursday of the month until September, this inaugural night features UpItUp Records’ Union Jaques, the “dance music for drone-heads” of Kepla and the “convulsive troublefunk” of Other Earth.

PICK OF THE WEEK: Friday – Rushing to Paradise 6pm @ The Royal Standard Project Space

An exhibition of new and recent work by artists from the London-based Florence Trust residency, Rushing to Paradise sees nine artists take over the new project space at The Royal Standard. Amongst them (and returning to the gallery after showing there in 2010 show, Hierarchies of Allegiance) are Christian Newby and Liverpool-born Ryan McClelland.

Failure 8pm @ the Unity Theatre £10

How did people become marketable products with unique selling points and personal branding? Is success measurable by a person’s ability to package and sell herself? FAILURE (& other opportunities for non linear success) sees performance artist Mary Pearson – combining contemporary dance, comedy, live art and experimental theatre – return to grapple with these questions following last year’s incarnation of the show

Saturday – Alasdair Roberts 8.30pm @ Liverpool Philharmonic Hall £12

Largely described as a folk musician, this hardly does justice to the long and storied career of Glasgow-based Alasdair Roberts. Starting out playing under the moniker Appendix Out, the alt-balladeer – who has performed with the likes of Jason Molina and Will Oldham – is in Liverpool touring latest album (the seventh under his own name), A Wonder Working Stone.

Sunday – Angels With Dirty Faces 6pm @ FACT

This 1938 mixture of gangster flick and social comment film follows the disparate lives of a pair of back street tenement kids (played in adulthood by James Cagney and Pat O’Brien). One, Cagney, turns to a life of criminality, while his childhood friend turns instead to religion, becoming a priest. Directed by Michael Curtiz, Angels With Dirty Faces is a classic example of the 1930s Warner crime/melodrama formula.

Posted on 27/05/2013 by thedoublenegative