TGIF
Weekend Combo: a sad serial killer, Dennis Hopper gone wild and a very moshy xmas
Top image: Still, The House That Jack Built (2018) dir. Lars Von Trier
We bring you our guide to living well in the world’s capitals, from exhibitions to cinema, food, drink, fashion, music and beyond. Just call it culture and take it, it’s yours.
LONDON, FRIDAY 14th NOVEMBER – SUNDAY 16th DECEMBER 2018
Film
Bloody hell, Lars
Lars Von Trier is back, and if the initial scathing reviews for his latest film The House That Jack Built are anything to go by, he maybe shouldn’t have bothered. But film is subjective, so why not go watch it and make up your own mind.
At the centre of the existential mindfuck is Matt Dillon’s character Jack, an OCD serial killer reminiscing about his past crimes – which just don’t give him the satisfaction he so craves (awwww, it’s a hard life). In true Von Trier style, these horrific murders are played out throughout the film in graphic, blood-thirsty fashion.
Full of strange juxtapositions and looping self-reflexive notions, there’s even a few genuine laughs in there. Love it or loathe it, emotions will be stirred.
The House That Jack Built is out now.
Film
Sex, drugs and Dennis Hopper
If The House That Jack Built leaves you with a rather rank taste in your mouth, here’s a visual palette cleanser for you: Dennis Hopper’s brilliant The Last Movie is being screened at Dalston Rio.
Hopper’s 1971 directorial follow-up to the success of Easy Rider, his plans for The Last Movie were so incredibly bizarre and ambitious that it nearly killed his career – and quite possibly him too. Over budget, over schedule and overindulging in drugs, drink and free love, all of this combined to create a film backstory worthy of the 70s zeitgeist it was born within – “It was one long sex-and-drugs orgy,” Hopper said of the shoot. Seriously, Google it.
The last Movie is being screen at Dalstion Rio on Saturday 15th at 15:20 and Sunday 16th at 15:50.
Gig
Have a very moshy xmas
You may have noticed that Christmas is barreling towards us quicker than an oiled up turkey slipping out the oven. Cue pubs overfilling with Christmas work dos, all in their festive knits and tinsel accessories. Well, this week it’s Trashmouth Records’ Christmas party, where they’ll be none of that there jovial chat and casual flirting with Joanne from the office. NO. Here Christmas will be celebrated how the Bible preached; by getting as drunk as a brandy cake and watching the wild antics of Trashmouth’s finest, from Madonnatron to Bat-Bike, Afghan Sand Gang and Chupa Chupa (yes, these are all bands). It all takes place at Brixton’s Windmill this Friday. Merry Christmas y’all.
Trasmouth Records Xmas Party takes place on Friday 14th at Brixton Windmill, info here.
Gig
Option two
Follow that up by seeing London trio The Abjects on Saturday. Having just wrapped their debut LP they’re in the mood to celebrate, and they’ve only gone and gathered fellow bands Italia 90 and Moscow Nights along for the ride. Two great gigs in one weekend? Don’t say we don’t treat you.
The Abjects play at Shacklewell Arms on Saturday 15th.
PS. Why not head down to London Fields’ Christmas Market beforehand? An ideal place to hunt for Christmas presents, stock up on good food and, if it all gets too much, just slink into The Royal Oak for a mid-day tipple. We recommend the mulled wine for maximum Christmas points.
London Fields Christmas Market takes place on 16th December 10:00 – 16:00.
Exhibition
You’re such a melt
Depending on weather conditions over the next week, Olafur Eliasson’s ambitious public arts project Ice Watch is not expected to be around long. If you haven’t heard, the Icelandic-Danish artist has flown over thirty whopping slabs of ice from the Nuup Kangerlua fjord in Greenland to be displayed outside Tate Modern until they are reduced to nothing more than puddles.
The idea is to raise awareness, not just of climate change in the wake global superpowers turning their backs on the issue, but more specifically Greenland, where the melting of sheet ice on land presents one of the single greatest threats to sea level rise. Like the arctic ice that it represents, you’ll have to hurry if you want to see it in person.
Food + Drink
Scran on Southbank
Hungry now? You’re in luck, after you’re finished at Tate Modern, skip across to Southbank to the newly opened Art Yard Bar & Kitchen.
Inside the Bankside Hotel, the new space is helmed by Chef Lee Streeton (previously of 45 Jermyn Street and Brown’s Hotel), who is so committed to cooking with produce sourced as locally as possible, the restaurant even has their own own beehives. Buzzin’.
Go for the monkfish cataplana with roasted baby parsnips and end your evening with a Honey Washed Negroni. Just trust us.
Art Yard Bar & Kitchen is located inside the Bankside Hotel, 2 Blackfiars Road.