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The Guardian
30-03-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
MobLand review – Tom Hardy can pull off miracles! And this show needs a few
Tom Hardy can be very persuasive. In Taboo, people did what he said because he'd growled something intimidatingly gothic at them; in Locke, they knew he'd only phone back later if they didn't give in; in the Kray brothers biopic Legend, there were two Tom Hardys and they were both holding claw hammers. Whenever he's the celebrity reader on CBeebies Bedtime Stories, meanwhile, half of the adults watching wouldn't need any persuading. The idea that a Tom Hardy character cajoling, threatening or influencing someone is an art form in itself is the core of MobLand, a decent new gangster epic that casts Hardy as top fixer Harry Da Souza. Harry works for the Harrigans, the Irish clan who dominate the London drugs and guns scene, but who are prone to excess and perhaps not as savvy as they once were. Their charming, clinical lieutenant Harry cleans up their messes. Problem one in episode one is that spoiled wild child Eddie Harrigan (Anson Boon) has been on a bender which ended with the stabbing of a geezer in a nightclub – 'I gave him a plunge,' says Eddie, his voice too plummy to pull off hardman vernacular – and which could cause the perennial tension between the Harrigans and cockney crime dynasty the Stevensons to develop into a properly naughty war. Harry has to bring Eddie to heel, placate enemy kingpin Richie Stevenson (Geoff Bell), and either sweet-talk or scare witnesses to the knifing, according to whether he wants them to share information or keep stumm. Then he ambles back to his luxury Thames-view apartment, where his neglected wife, Jan (Joanne Froggatt), demands he sign up for couples counselling – but before she can finish her list of grievances, Harry's phone goes off and he's reporting for duty again. Hardy's charisma here is made of confidence and competence: Harry is a guy whose strong hands sort things out. 'If I say I'm going to do something,' he says, when his reliability is questioned, 'it gets done.' MobLand's writer/creator Ronan Bennett is interested in organised crime as a business that runs on common sense and people management: while the Harrigans make the big decisions, the workaholic Harry liaises with their industry's toothless regulator (the police), disciplines errant staff members and implements the odd, rather sudden, redundancy. Harry is essentially a resourceful, well-connected executive, so Hardy gives him a penetrating articulacy, only occasionally flecked with the rough grit Harry must have had in his days as a foot soldier. 'Right now, I am in first gear,' says a gun-wielding Harry to two toerags who think they're hard enough to not do what he tells them. Hardy delivers the punchline – 'Would you like to see me shift to sixth?' so calmly that he's barely audible, which is awfully close to hilarious. But Bennett and Hardy are willing to lean in to Harry's comic potential, as when he tells another small-time crook what will happen if he crosses the Harrigans: 'I, or possibly one of my associates, depending on my availability, will find you.' The Harrigans are fun, too. There's the boss, Conrad, a wax-jacketed nouveau aristocrat who spits on his hands and claps when he receives good news, or murders people when he doesn't. What may be mistaken for an erratic performance by Pierce Brosnan is an attempt to embody a dangerously erratic man. Then there's the real boss, Conrad's omniscient wife, Maeve (Helen Mirren), and their son Kevin (Paddy Considine), Eddie's dad, whose missing ruthless streak means he's constantly professionally cuckolded by Harry, who is not blood but is the favoured child. If MobLand sounds like a more sophisticated take on the cartoon gangster shenanigans of a Guy Ritchie film, that's what it is: Ritchie directs the first two episodes. You expect either to dismiss a new Ritchie project as crass twaddle, or to quietly chide yourself for enjoying something that probably is crass twaddle, but has been made with enough mischief and flair for you to stop fussing and have a good time. This, however, isn't in either category. Ritchie's direction is … pretty good. Accomplished. Smooth. He flexes various muscles he has built up in previous work, as he takes us to old-school boxing gyms and flat-roofed Isle of Dogs boozers, gentleman's clubs and Cotswolds estates. We're tasting jellied eels in one mouthful and caviar in the next, the point being that successful criminals often achieve a level of wealth they were not born to handle. Aside from that, and some indications that Maeve's power comes from having learned to weaponise the dark perversities of the men in her life, there's not much of the psychological depth that a premium mob saga runs on. But if you ever start thinking MobLand isn't worth your time, Tom Hardy will be along shortly to convince you otherwise. MobLand is on Paramount+ now.
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Camp Bestival adds two new headliners to its 2025 lineup
Camp Bestival organisers have announced a new wave of acts for its 2025 event, revealing that Sir Tom Jones and pop group the Sugababes will join Basement Jaxx as its headliners. In its 17th year, the festival has unveiled a typically eclectic lineup of rock, indie, pop and drum and bass, along with a range of family-friendly activities such as CBeebies Bedtime Stories and the Horrible Histories show. Other artists on the lineup include indie rock bands Lightning Seeds and The Zutons, newcomers The Pill, Palestinian singer-songwriter Bashar Murad, singer-songwriter Nieve Ella and drum and bass legend Goldie, who will perform with a full live band. Welsh star Jones has a vast back catalogue, featuring classics such as 'It's Not Unusual', 'What's New Pussycat?', 'She's a Lady', 'Sex Bomb' and his James Bond theme, 'Thunderball'. Meanwhile, Basement Jaxx – formed of Felix Buxton and Simon Ratcliffe – recently announced their return to live shows, having DJ'd in headline performances at festivals and events around the world for the past 10 years. Sugababes rose to fame in 1998 with hit songs including 'Round Round', 'Push the Button', 'Freak Like Me' and 'About You Now'. In a statement, the group said: 'We're so excited to headline Camp Bestival this summer. We've always heard amazing things about this festival in particular, so [we're] looking forward to seeing everyone there!' Announcing the lineup, curator Rob da Bank commented: 'In over 20 years of booking Bestival and Camp Bestival we've always wanted to have Sir Tom Jones gracing our stage, and finally the man himself has agreed to belt out 'Delilah' for us! '[Creative director Josie da Bank] and I have been mates with Basement Jaxx since they started, and we think they're the best live dance act so get ready for the most colourful show of the year… Sugababes will be one hell of a party.' He continued: 'As ever it's not all about the headliners and I think we've got our strongest DJ lineup ever – from Annie Mac to Erol Alkan, Congo Natty to Greg Wilson plus some of the best live acts: The Zutons, Lightning Seeds… Goldie with his drum and bass attack live, plus a family knees up with Barrioke, Mr Tumble, Horrible Histories and Dick and Dom… and that's barely scratching the surface.' The Independent announced its exclusive news partnership with Camp Bestival last month, bringing readers a mix of exclusive news, updates and offers ahead of the event. Camp Bestival takes place from 31 July to 3 August at Lulworth Castle on Dorset's Jurassic Coast. Tickets go on general sale at 9am on 14 February, while an exclusive pre-sale for Three customers will be available via the Three+ rewards app from 9am on Wednesday 12 February.
The Independent
11-02-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Camp Bestival adds two new headliners to its 2025 lineup
Camp Bestival organisers have announced a new wave of acts for its 2025 event, revealing that Sir Tom Jones and pop group the Sugababes will join Basement Jaxx as its headliners. In its 17th year, the festival has unveiled a typically eclectic lineup of rock, indie, pop and drum and bass, along with a range of family-friendly activities such as CBeebies Bedtime Stories and the Horrible Histories show. Other artists on the lineup include indie rock bands Lightning Seeds and The Zutons, newcomers The Pill, Palestinian singer-songwriter Bashar Murad, singer-songwriter Nieve Ella and drum and bass legend Goldie, who will perform with a full live band. Welsh star Jones has a vast back catalogue, featuring classics such as 'It's Not Unusual', 'What's New Pussycat?', 'She's a Lady', 'Sex Bomb' and his James Bond theme, 'Thunderball'. Meanwhile, Basement Jaxx – formed of Felix Buxton and Simon Ratcliffe – recently announced their return to live shows, having DJ'd in headline performances at festivals and events around the world for the past 10 years. Sugababes rose to fame in 1998 with hit songs including 'Round Round', 'Push the Button', 'Freak Like Me' and 'About You Now'. In a statement, the group said: 'We're so excited to headline Camp Bestival this summer. We've always heard amazing things about this festival in particular, so [we're] looking forward to seeing everyone there!' Announcing the lineup, curator Rob da Bank commented: 'In over 20 years of booking Bestival and Camp Bestival we've always wanted to have Sir Tom Jones gracing our stage, and finally the man himself has agreed to belt out 'Delilah' for us! '[Creative director Josie da Bank] and I have been mates with Basement Jaxx since they started, and we think they're the best live dance act so get ready for the most colourful show of the year… Sugababes will be one hell of a party.' He continued: 'As ever it's not all about the headliners and I think we've got our strongest DJ lineup ever – from Annie Mac to Erol Alkan, Congo Natty to Greg Wilson plus some of the best live acts: The Zutons, Lightning Seeds… Goldie with his drum and bass attack live, plus a family knees up with Barrioke, Mr Tumble, Horrible Histories and Dick and Dom… and that's barely scratching the surface.' Camp Bestival takes place from 31 July to 3 August at Lulworth Castle on Dorset's Jurassic Coast. Tickets go on general sale at 9am on 14 February, while an exclusive pre-sale for Three customers will be available via the Three+ rewards app from 9am on Wednesday 12 February.
