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Interstellar

This might traditionally be the time of year when we all reflect on the films, records, exhibitions, books and kitten memes that we’ve most loved during the past 12 months. But for some, it’s the ideal opportunity to simply get tore in. And before anyone starts, you lot out there are just as merciless as us lot in here.

Brutal is as brutal does, and boy, is Michael Wittmann unhappy that we dared to give Damien Chazelle’s Whiplash (dubbed by some in the know as ‘Full Metal Juilliard’) the top- drawer, five-star treatment. Here’s

a sample of his disdain: ‘Chazelle seriously subjects the audience to his belief that this deeply scarring rage and abuse is required to create a great musician. This movie is more of a disturbing example of why many men will never begin to heal from layers of shame, depression and rage. I’d hate to see this movie nominated for anything, and suggest its creator picks up a book about what really motivates people, and recent research into shame, humiliation and the real material of greatness.’

Dave E was similarly less

than impressed by space drama Interstellar. ‘I was keen to like this film and looked forward to seeing it. However, I was very sadly let down. It’s a stupid and unbelievable film in so many ways, from the rectangular robots with rectangular legs the size of filing cabinets on a spaceship that they could not possibly have moved around in, to the absolute misunderstanding of even basic science plus a storyline that’s like a bad and nonsensical remake of 2001. I seriously wouldn’t bother with this one.’ Bit late, there, Dave. In a hurry to get on with the rest

of her fab life, Michelle Huttley was succinct with an appraisal of Rotherham Rep’s take on John Osborne’s epochal 1960s angry young chap drama Look Bank in Anger: ‘utter rubbish’. Oof! We are fairly certain that Al Kerr won’t be giving the musical version of 1990’s finest pottery-based movie any kind of a slating: ‘Off to see me niece Scarlett Kerr in Ghost the Musical’. And from somewhere way left of leftfield comes Simone Bret with possibly the finest post of this or any other year. There are so many angles to come at this one that it’s possibly just best to leave it hanging all on its own: ‘I would like to receive some Hawick balls.’

GRAPHIC CONTENT What we’ve been talking about this month

The news might have not blown anyone away, but ‘vape’ has followed the likes of ‘omnishambles’, ‘selfie’ and ‘bovvered’ as the Oxford Dictionary’s prestigious Word of the Year. Quick straw polls of normal people around the country showed that virtually no one has used several of the words which came in the top ten: ‘normcore’: nope; ‘slacktivism’: oh, come on; ‘budtender’: only by our more reclusive neighbours who mainly sleep through the day. So, what are the words which, like, are most used by the general public . . . ? 2 THE LIST 11 Dec 2014–5 Feb 2015

DEFFO

SIGH DEALIE

THOT

VAPE

To inhale and exhale the vapour produced

by an electronic cigarette or similar device

SO TWERK

TOTES

LIKE OMNISHAMBLES

CONTRIBUTORS Publisher & General Editor

Robin Hodge Director Simon Dessain

EDITORIAL Editor

Yasmin Sulaiman Research Manager

Kirstyn Smith Senior Researcher Murray Robertson

Research

Alex Johnston, Rowena McIntosh, Rebecca Monks, Henry Northmore Subeditors

Mercy Breheny, Brian Donaldson,

David Kettle, Paul McLean Editorial Assistant

Eszter Simor

SALES & MARKETING Media Sales Manager

Chris Knox Senior Media Sales Executives

Nicky Carter Debbie Thomson

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Jessica Rodgers Digital Business

Development Director

Brendan Miles Partnership Director

Sheri Friers

PRODUCTION Production Director

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Lucy Munro

DIGITAL Web Editor Hamish Brown

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Bruce Combe

Software Developer

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ADMINISTRATION

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SECTION EDITORS Around Town Kirstyn Smith Books / Film Scotland

Yasmin Sulaiman Clubs Rosie Davies Comedy / Front Brian Donaldson

Dance / Kids Kelly Apter

Film Reviews Emma Simmonds Food & Drink Donald Reid

LGBT Kaite Welsh

Music / Shopping Claire Sawers

News David Kettle

Staying In Henry Northmore Theatre Gareth K Vile

Visual Art Rachael Cloughton

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