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ARTS

FILM OF THE WEEK: The Raid

The Raid

An Indonesian martial-arts movie from a young Welsh director proves a surprisingly exciting affair.

FIRST NIGHT: The Sunshine Boys, Savoy

In his West End debut, Danny Devito makes this revival of Neil Simon's seventies comedy a hot ticket.

POP REVIEW: Willy Moon, Madame JoJo’s

Willy Moon

Sharp-dressed and ready to thrill this new face for 2012 combines hip-hop beats with primitive rock'n'roll in sharp, if brief, set. FIVE STARS

FIRST NIGHT: A Marvellous Year for Plums, Chichester Theatre

A Marvellous Year for Plums

In another drama about the Suez Crisis, writer Hugh Whitemore stumbles along a well worn path.

NEW FILM RELEASE: 2 days in New York

2 Days in New York

Starring Chris Rock, this fast-paced and sex-soaked picture picks up where the excellent 2 Days in Paris left off.

CANNES - FIRST REVIEW: Broken, Cannes Film Festival

If nothing else, theatre director Rufus Norris’s debut feature, adapted from Daniel Clay’s novel about the roots and results of family violence, provides a fine showcase of British acting talent.

NEW FILM RELEASE: She Monkeys

She Monkeys

An award-winning Swedish coming-of-age drama with an entirely abstract title.

THEATRE REVIEW: What the Butler Saw, Vaudeville

What the Butler Saw

An anarchic attack on traditional Englishness as Omid Djalili, Tim McInnery and Samantha Bond star in Joe Orton's anti-farce.

CANNES - FIRST REVIEW: Rust and Bone

Rust and Bones

Sensitive stars Marion Cotillard and Matthias Schoenaerts bring to life Jacques Audiard's unlikely love story.

POP REVIEW: Scissor Sisters, Shepherd's Bush Empire

Scissor Sisters

Jake and co still have that cutting edge as the New York band release their fourth album.

More

Slash is back
Slash

Rock’s great reformed guitarist has a rollicking new album, a classy lead singer and some great songs — now it’s all about the music.

Music box: the Manganivar Seduction
Womad festival

A high point at this year’s Womad festival will be the performance by the Manganiyar Seduction — their show is as much theatre as music, says Simon Broughton, and inspired by the red lights of Amsterdam.

CDs of the week: Tom Jones, Saint Etienne and The Temper Trap

Our critics round up the week's best pop, world and jazz albums...

Critics' choice: five best theatre

Our critics pick their top shows of the moment...

Listen to this...

Our critic David Smyth shares what he's listening to this week

Top ten films of the week

What's hot on the silver screen this week...

Unseen Queen - the new exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery
Queen Elizabeth II

One strand of the National Portrait Gallery’s new exhibition reveals how Elizabeth II transformed her image from remote royal to modern monarch, curator Paul Moorhouse tells Ben Luke.

COMEDY REVIEW: Mike Birbiglia, Soho Theatre

The American storyteller rallies through a beautifully observed and deftly delivered yarn of loves and loves lost.

THEATRE REVIEW: Detroit, National's Cottesloe

Detroit

Lisa D’ Amour’s shrewdly observed play finds both comedy and pathos in the decay of the suburbs.

OPERA REVIEW: Falstaff, Covent Garden

Falstaff

Under-rehearsed revivals are one thing. For a new co-production with La Scala and Toronto, there can be no excuse for such an operatic omnishambles.

POP REVIEW: Fun., XOYO

Fun.

The Billboard chart toppers you've probably never heard of prove they're no one hit wonders, channelling both Queen and Panic! At The Disco in an energetic set.

POP REVIEW: Haim, Shacklewell Arms

Haim

LA sisters get down and dirty in Dalston: if Haim can sign a deal, get ready for one of the albums of the year.

COMEDY REVIEW: Russell Brand, Lyric Theatre

Brand is back: as playful as ever, the newly single Hollywood star waxes lyrical in an off the cuff work-in-progress.

JAZZ REVIEW: Robert Glasper Experiment, Barbican Hall

The laid-back Texan pianist-composer proves he and his band really can walk the walk.

ART REVIEW: Island Stories: 50 Years of Photography in Britain, V&A

Island Stories

An engrossing encounter with tales of time and place in this visual documentary of British life.

Also in this section

Interview: Delilah
Delilah

The 21-year-old singer has overcome family tragedy and difficult managers yet now she’s supporting Prince on tour.

The latest in extreme theatre
The Great Gatsby

Based on a cover-to-cover reading of F Scott Fitzgerald’s Great Gatsby — with two intervals — Gatz is the latest in extreme theatre, says Fiona Mountford.

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