Latest news with #PoorThings
New Statesman
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- New Statesman
A samurai lost in the wilderness
The Scottish director John Maclean's austere second feature film opens halfway through the story, with its heroine, Tornado (played by the Japanese singer Kōki), trying to save herself from a group of hideously threatening men. The year is 1790 and the setting somewhere in the British Isles; the group chasing her is following the orders of head honcho Sugar (an enjoyably dead-eyed Tim Roth). We don't know yet why these ne'er-do-wells are after Tornado, but they obviously mean business. As they follow her, Sugar casually slits the throat of one of his own underlings; even when Tornado seeks refuge in a beautiful manor house, her chances of survival don't look great. The film has been described as a samurai western – Maclean's debut, the much-admired Slow West, was set in 19th-century Colorado – and it does feel like it's been made by someone who knows their way around Akira Kurosawa's collected works. But it's also a gory revenge thriller in which considerable amounts of blood end up darkening the wind-beaten heath, and a period drama that says audaciously little about the period or locations it's set in (much of it was in fact shot in the Pentland Hills, near Edinburgh). Tornado, we soon learn, is being pursued by the men, who are thieves, because she's nicked their stuff. Specifically, their gold. They've stolen two sacks' worth of coins from a church. First the gold was taken from the thieves by a young urchin (Nathan Malone), then Tornado took the gold from him and hid it beneath a tree. What she hopes to achieve with the loot long-term the audience is never told – no one does anything so gauche as explain themselves in this film – but she seems to want to strike out from her father, Fujin (Takehiro Hira), who runs a travelling puppet show. Fujin is also a samurai of sorts, who has taught Tornado how to wield a sword with deadly skill. When they aren't practising sword-swishing, or putting on their quaint little show for entranced and grubby locals, Fujin gives his daughter life advice in weighty proclamations. She finds them, and him, quite annoying. 'I hate you,' she tells him, before he is killed by one of Sugar's men. The film looks and sounds like a better film than it is. Beautifully shot by Robbie Ryan (the director of photography on Poor Things) in a wilderness that feels forsaken, it has the tawny look of a Toast ad campaign. The costumes, too, are gorgeous, if a little distracting: Tornado troops around in an enviable poncho-type outfit and yeti boots, and Sugar's men – including Jack Lowden as his taciturn son, Little Sugar – sport rugged sweaters and overcoats. The score (by Jed Kurzel, who also wrote the soundtrack for Slow West) is angular and appropriately melodramatic, and the production design, by Elizabeth El-Kadhi, is charming. Among the places Tornado seeks refuge is a circus, and every frame of this sequence reveals inventive attention to detail, from the delicate lace left drying in the open air to the circus troupe's rickety carriages. Subscribe to The New Statesman today from only £8.99 per month Subscribe Even so, moments of beauty aren't enough to make a film worth seeing, and there is something lacking here. Characters speak ponderously and act incomprehensibly. Though Tornado looks deeply cool, with her long black hair flicking in the biting wind, you never particularly care about her. Lowden and Roth acquit themselves perfectly in their roles, but they're not given that much to do. As top baddie, Roth spends his time looking disappointed with the life he's condemned himself to, while Lowden mainly strides through long grasses and remains impassive when Sugar punches him. It's not unusual for films that present themselves as avant-garde – as Tornado does in its trailer – not to have all that much to say. Depths are promised but never delivered; characters are well acted, but the words they're saying are banal. Viewers who go to the cinema to see such films may feel virtuous for doing so, like they're engaging with high culture, but they are unlikely to emerge moved or amused or changed in any way. It's not bad cinema, per se, just rather pointless. 'Tornado' is in cinemas now [See also: Bruce Springsteen faces the end of America] Related
Daily Record
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Celebrated Alasdair Gray artworks go on display for first time at Scottish museum
Artworks by Alasdair Gray are on show for the first time at Kelvingrove, including pieces gifted in memory of his late wife and the original art for Poor Things For the first time ever, artworks by the celebrated artist and writer Scottish Alasdair Gray are being exhibited at Kelvingrove Gallery, the very place he credited with inspiring his lifelong passion for art. The display features nine pieces from the Morag McAlpine Bequest, gifted to Glasgow Life Museums ten years ago in memory of Gray's late wife. Among the highlights is the original artwork for his 1992 novel Poor Things, recently adapted into a major feature film in 2023. These personal works, including portraits that later became characters in his stories and framed drawings for his own and others' book covers, were originally given to Glasgow Museums in 2014 following Morag's passing. This exhibition coincides with what would have been Gray's 90th year. The multi-talented Glaswegian, who died in December 2019 aged 85, was not only a novelist and poet but also a prolific playwright, painter, and printmaker. His creative legacy continues to thrive through books, exhibitions, conferences, and the annual Gray Day held every 25 February. The Morag McAlpine Bequest enriches the existing Alasdair Gray collection at Glasgow Life Museums, which already includes his City Recorder series from the late 1970s, some of which are displayed at the Gallery of Modern Art. The new exhibition, housed in the Fragile Art Gallery, marks a decade since the donation. Alongside Poor Things, visitors can view the wrap-around jacket for Old Negatives, artwork in progress for Agnes Owens' People Like That, and the piece A Working Mother. The display offers a fascinating glimpse into Gray's artistic methods, highlighting how he reused imagery and drew from historical artworks to shape his distinctive style. Katie Bruce, producer curator with Glasgow Life, said: "Alasdair Gray showed great generosity when he gifted The Morag McAlpine Bequest to the city, following the passing of his wife. "These personal gifts for anniversaries, birthdays, and Christmas, include portraits later transformed into characters in his work and framed drawings for book covers and dust jackets, both for his own publications and those of fellow writers. "It is fitting and wonderful to display this collection in a place that meant so much to Gray, and to offer audiences a deeper understanding of his innovative practice and extraordinary talent." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Visitors to Kelvingrove can also admire Cowcaddens Streetscape in the Fifties, painted in 1964. This evocative work, which Gray described as "my best big oil painting," captures life in a Glasgow neighbourhood deeply changed after the war. It stands as a significant example of his painting during the decade following his graduation from Glasgow School of Art in 1957. This painting captures the changes in landscape and community life in Cowcaddens, one of Glasgow's oldest districts. It is an important reminder of the city's past, reflecting the post- war transformation that shaped modern Glasgow. The combination of this artwork alongside the Morag McAlpine Bequest creates a rich and diverse showcase of Gray's talents, allowing visitors a rare insight into the breadth of his artistic career and the influences behind his work.
STV News
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- STV News
Nine Alasdair Gray works to go on display at Glasgow museum for first time
Nine works by Alasdair Gray, including the original cover design for Poor Things, will be displayed in Glasgow for the first time. The works were gifted to Glasgow Life Museums by Gray over a decade ago in memory of his wife, and will go on display at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum from June 14. The display, entitled Alasdair Gray: Works from The Morag McAlpine Bequest, marks the first time the works have been on display since they were gifted to the city. The collection includes nine works, including the original art for his 1992 novel Poor Things, which was made into a major feature film in 2023. Glasgow Life Four Folk in Glasgow Publishing 1977: Simon Berry and Bill McLellan, Glasgow Publishers, Jim Taylor, Australian Writer and Printer, Shelley Killen USA Artist (1977/2004) by Alasdair Gray. It also includes the wrap-around jacket for Old Negatives, artwork in progress for the jacket design of Agnes Owens' People Like That, and A Working Mother, among others. Exhibited in the Fragile Art Gallery, the display opens in what would have been Gray's 90th year, in the very place where he credited a weekend art class with sparking his early love of painting. Born in Riddrie, in the east end of Glasgow in 1943, Gray was a prolific poet, playwright, novelist, painter, and printmaker. The artist died in 2019 at the age of 85, but his work continues to be celebrated annually on February 25, also known as Gray Day. Katie Bruce, producer curator with Glasgow Life, said Gray showed 'great generosity' when he gifted The Morag McAlpine Bequest to the city, following the passing of his wife. 'These personal gifts for anniversaries, birthdays, and Christmas, include portraits later transformed into characters in his work and framed drawings for book covers and dust jackets, both for his own publications and those of fellow writers,' she said. 'Among them is the original cover design for Poor Things, which many will now recognise from the recent film adaptation.' She added: 'It is fitting and wonderful to display this collection in a place that meant so much to Gray, and to offer audiences a deeper understanding of his innovative practice and extraordinary talent.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Glasgow Times
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
Famous Glasgow artist's works to go on show in city for first time
Alasdair Gray generously donated The Morag McAlpine Bequest to Glasgow Life Museums following the death of his wife in 2014. Now, a selection of pieces from this significant collection will be on show at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, from Saturday (June 14).Alasdair Gray: Works from The Morag McAlpine Bequest celebrates 10 years since this treasured gift was donated to the city that meant so much to the legendary artist. Poor Things by Alasdair Gray, 1992 (Image: Glasgow Life Museums/The Estate of Alasdair Gray) The exhibition opens in the Fragile Art Gallery in what would have been Gray's 90th year. The artist, who died in December 2019, credited a weekend art class at Kelvingrove with sparking his early love of painting. Works on display include the original design artwork for Poor Things – his novel published in 1992, made famous by the 2023 movie starring Emma Stone. Emma Stone in Poor Things (Image: Searchlight Pictures) Others include the wrap-around jacket for Old Negatives, artwork in progress for the jacket design of Agnes Owens' People Like That, and A Working Mother, among others. This display offers insight into key aspects of Gray's artistic practice, tracing the creation of artwork for publications from inception to print and explores how he reused imagery, and reimagined the influence of historical artworks in his own distinctive style. It also highlights Gray's innovative and resourceful approach, including his willingness to use whatever was close at hand, such as Tippex and sticky labels, to make instant changes to his work. It was a process that echoes the idea of erratum, where errors or alterations become a meaningful part of the creative act, explains Katie Bruce, producer curator with Glasgow Life. 'Alasdair Gray showed great generosity when he gifted The Morag McAlpine Bequest to the city, following the passing of his wife,' she said. 'These personal gifts for anniversaries, birthdays and Christmas, include portraits later transformed into characters in his work and framed drawings for book covers and dust jackets, both for his own publications and those of fellow writers. 'Among them is the original cover design for Poor Things, which many will now recognise from the recent film adaptation.' Alasdair Gray (Image: Newsquest) Katie added: 'It is fitting and wonderful to display this collection in a place that meant so much to Gray, and to offer audiences a deeper understanding of his innovative practice and extraordinary talent.' Visitors to Kelvingrove Museum can also see Cowcaddens Streetscape in the Fifties, which shows life in an area of Glasgow where the landscape and community radically changed post-war. Painted in 1964, it is one of Gray's best-known works and what he referred to as 'my best big oil painting.' It represents a significant example of his painting within the decade following his graduation from the renowned Glasgow School of Art in 1957. Born in Riddrie in 1934, Gray and his family were evacuated from Glasgow during World War II but he later returned to attend Whitehill Senior Secondary School and Glasgow School of Art. He went on to work as a part-time teacher and a scene painter for local theatres. Throughout the 1960s and 70s he wrote plays for television, radio and the stage. (Image: Newsquest) He worked on his first novel, the highly-acclaimed Lanark, for decades and when it was finally published in 1981, it was hailed as a landmark of Scottish literature. In 2001 he became a professor of creative writing at the University of Glasgow. Gray was a prolific poet, playwright, novelist, painter and printmaker, whose work continues to be celebrated in books, exhibitions, conferences and the annual Gray Day on February 25. The Morag McAlpine Bequest enriches the Alasdair Gray collection held by Glasgow Life Museums, which includes the City Recorder series (1977–78), some of which can be viewed at the Gallery of Modern Art.
BBC News
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Unseen works by Alasdair Gray go on display at Kelvingrove
Art works by the artist and writer Alasdair Gray will go on display for the first time this works - given to Glasgow Life Museums a decade ago in memory of his wife - will go on display at Kelvingrove, the gallery he said inspired his love of nine creations - including the original art for his 1992 novel Poor Things which was made into a major feature film in 2023 - were given to Glasgow Museums in 2014 following the death of Gray's wife items were personal gifts for anniversaries and birthdays, and include portraits later transformed into characters and framed drawings for his own book covers and those he created for others. They go on display in what would have been his 90th died in December 2019 at the age of 85. He was one of Scotland's most multi-talented artists. Born in Riddrie, in the east of Glasgow, he was also a prolific poet, playwright, novelist, painter, and printmaker whose work continues to be celebrated in books, exhibitions, conferences, and the annual Gray Day on 25 Morag McAlpine Bequest enriches the existing Alasdair Gray collection held by Glasgow Life Museums, which includes the City Recorder series (1977–78), some of which can be viewed at the Gallery of Modern new exhibition celebrates 10 years since the works were donated. The collection will be exhibited in the Fragile Art well as the Poor Things artwork, the display will include the wrap-around jacket for Old Negatives, artwork in progress for the jacket design of Agnes Owens' People Like That, and A Working display offers insight into key aspects of Gray's artistic practice and explores how he reused imagery, and reimagined the influence of historical artworks in his own distinctive style. Katie Bruce, producer curator with Glasgow Life, said: "Alasdair Gray showed great generosity when he gifted The Morag McAlpine Bequest to the city, following the passing of his wife. "These personal gifts for anniversaries, birthdays, and Christmas, include portraits later transformed into characters in his work and framed drawings for book covers and dust jackets, both for his own publications and those of fellow writers. "It is fitting and wonderful to display this collection in a place that meant so much to Gray, and to offer audiences a deeper understanding of his innovative practice and extraordinary talent."Visitors to Kelvingrove Museum can also see Cowcaddens Streetscape in the Fifties, which shows life in an area of Glasgow where the landscape and community radically changed post-war. Painted in 1964, it is one of Gray's best-known works and what he referred to as "my best big oil painting".It represents a significant example of his painting within the decade following his graduation from Glasgow School of Art in 1957.
