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Metro
21 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
The 18-year journey of new movie dubbed 'one of the greatest British films ever'
Today marks the release of one of the most quietly anticipated British films of 2025, one 18 years in the making which has been heaped with praise by critics. Rom-com extraordinaire Richard Curtis has proclaimed The Ballad of Wallis Island 'one of the 10 greatest British movies of all time' and it's currently sitting pretty at 98% on Rotten Tomatoes. The brainchild of actor-writers Tim Key and Tom Basden, alongside director James Griffiths, this feature-length film has been painstakingly cultivated from a 2007 short that was nominated for a Bafta. Expanding the story of eccentric lottery winner Charles (Key), who invites alt-folk singer Herb McGwyer (Basden) to play a gig on his remote island, by adding three-time Oscar nominee Carey Mulligan as Herb's musical and romantic ex, Nell Mortimer, has given the film an attention-grabbing Hollywood shine. But it hasn't in any way dimmed the comedic genius of Key and Basden's writing, as they negotiate the central trio's evolving relationship. Charles is thrilled to have McGwyer-Mortimer together again, while Nell, who finds Charles's wittering endearing, is trepidatious – and Herb, who knew nothing of his ex's invitation (and also finds Charles very annoying), is livid. It's the perfect set-up for a juicy drama, as well as providing an impressive barrage of one-liners and puns – mainly from Key's Charles, who just can't help himself, in a winning performance. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video 'You just commit to these characters, however bizarre and observed they feel at the time. And Tim's really good at finding the truth in those moments; even though he's playing an eccentric character, you still have to believe that he's a real person,' director Griffiths tells me of the film's impressive ability to expertly shape characters. We're speaking at Sands International Film Festival, held in St Andrews, at the end of April. The Ballad of Wallis Island screened as the opening film to a raucous reception; I don't remember the last time I had such a joyous experience at the cinema. Despite the impressive rhythm and patter of the gags, Griffiths says that there wasn't much improvisation on set – rather Key and Basden started 'with a very clear observation of people'. They have been a writing and performing partnership, on and off, for years on radio and the stage, as well as enjoying individual success – Key is recognisable as Alan Partridge's Sidekick Simon, while Basden has been in Ricky Gervais's After Life and is the co-creator of Plebs. Griffiths first met Key and Basden in the noughties while they were performing their slapdash double-act sketch show Freeze!, later collaborating with them on their short, The One and Only Herb McGwyer Plays Wallis Island. They've been in it for the long haul together since then, guiding Wallis Island carefully through to its feature-length destiny. For Griffiths, who is fittingly wearing a McGwyer-Mortimer tour T-shirt for our chat, he's clear on what he needs to bring to the table as the unofficial third member of the duo: capturing Key and Basden's dynamic. 'My job is to make sure that I've got the camera in a place that allows them to do that and not interfere with that process. So often I'm cross-shooting, or I'm putting both of them in the frame, just so we can capture the natural rhythm that they have, the natural music.' As he points out: 'A lot of it is these very small interferences with what the other person is saying, so that's a delicate kind of musical balance to get right so it doesn't feel annoying or jarring but just keeps the pace moving along.' This, in a nutshell, is what The Ballad of Wallis Island manages to do so supremely well, and the group's longstanding friendship likely has a lot to do with that – Griffiths also notes that his role is to 'set them up for success'. 'I'm really passionate about seeing my friends shine – I love them, and I know I wanted to capture their magic,' he adds. 'But also there's a discipline to that, and they're very good at staying in their lanes, and hopefully I am in mine, and we all respect each other on set.' I'm really passionate about seeing my friends shine I quiz Griffiths on how on earth they were able to exercise restraint in their approach to the film's near-relentless humour to find that balance. The director agrees that they could have 'gone forever' trying new puns (you may perhaps wish they did). 'But you have to call it at some point – and that's hard because I'm enjoying myself like they are. But there's a thing with comedy, and I think we're all quite allergic to it, when you can feel actors over-indulging that style of improvisation, and it kind of loses track and story.' Griffiths admits that he still finds it really hard not to laugh while on set watching Key and Basden as the characters of Charles and Herb, after so many years. And Maestro star Mulligan was the same, although it helped that her character Nell warms to Charles immediately. 'The laughter in the scene is real,' Griffiths says of the Suffragette actress's reactions. '[Tim] genuinely tickles her, so that was a constant thing, having to kind of stay in character but also allow herself to laugh when genuinely the character would.' Mulligan's casting was 'crucial' for the film's success Griffiths insists, with him, Basden and Key agreed on the direction to take. 'We've obviously got a lot of friends in that comedy world who we talked about playing that role, but we were all keen to introduce a voice that wouldn't necessarily play the same instrument as those two. And all of our comedian friends, you feel like a lot of them would assimilate to that rhythm, and then that becomes, I think, too much.' In Mulligan, they found someone who could come in 'with their own very strong point of view', which for Griffiths 'grounded' the film. She also became a producer on The Ballad of Wallis Island and had the handy addition of her Mumford & Sons frontman husband Marcus, who helped with the harmonies Nell would perform during the film. Griffiths shares that the couple were big fans of Key's Late Night Poetry Programme on BBC Radio 4, so much so that Mulligan had previously asked Key to do something for her charity, War Child. He had said no – 'he doesn't do that stuff' – but it meant they had an in when they wrote their list of actors who could play Nell, and Mulligan 'was absolutely number one'. 'And [Tim] said, 'Oh, I know Carey.' We're like, 'Yeah, bulls**t, of course you know her.' And he wrote her the most important email he could have written, and she said yes immediately. It was a lovely moment when Marcus and he met and they swapped and signed each other's albums.' While many have described The Ballad of Wallis Island as a rom-com, Griffiths is hesitant to lump it in that category, the same as he and Key and Basden didn't want it to be a spoof either. 'I wanted the film to be a kind of fairy tale, to have a kind of magical realism – the setting of the island, and the sense of it being slightly timeless or placeless was intentional. Tonally, I wanted it to feel slightly other. I wanted it to be funny – obviously – entertaining, musical, and have a lot of heart.' Griffiths isn't a credited writer on the film, but he still considers the story a 'very personal' one – 'that grief of a relationship lost and trying to get back to it but never realising you can't get back to something'. The Ballad of Wallis Island has been steadily building hype since it premiered at Sundance Film Festival in January, which led to its inclusion at Sands, hosted by St Andrews' film studies department and lead sponsor AGBO, Marvel filmmakers Anthony and Joe Russo's studio. For Griffiths, his film is an ideal example of Sands' concept and mirrors the advice he would give to aspiring filmmakers. 'Stick with your peers that you grow up with, find those creative relationships that you really love, that you gut will tell you that you have an alignment with, and just cling to them – like Tom, Tim and I. 'Because however long that journey is, that's the thing you'll keep returning to. Don't think about making the next Hollywood movie, think about making something with your friends and building your voice and your peer group into a bunch of really fun, good filmmakers.' Considering the rapturous response The Ballad of Wallis Island has received so far, it seems sensible to take Griffiths' advice. With such a fairy tale end – finally – for this long-gestating film, I have to ask if he, Key and Basden have anything else in the works? More Trending 'I think we've all been slightly surprised by it. I had a feeling that we'd need to get Tom and Tim working, because they take their time, so I was trying to get ahead of it a bit,' he reveals. 'But there's conversations being had about the next thing, and there's a few projects that we're talking about. But it's mostly starting with characters. What dynamic do we want to create? '[We'll] make sure that we give it as much time and love as this one – not 18 years, but a few!' he laughs. 'So we're not in a hurry, but we do want to ride the wave a little bit, and while audiences are enjoying it see if we can give them something else.' The Ballad of Wallis Island is in cinemas from today. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: 11 years on, I'm still mourning comedy legend Rik Mayall MORE: New BBC drama smashes records despite viewers 'switching off' after 5 minutes MORE: Don't expect another Lindsay Lohan rom-com on Netflix this Christmas
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- General
- Hindustan Times
TS DOST 2025 Phase 1 seat allotment results today, here's how to check at dost.cgg.gov.in
The Telangana State Council of Higher Education, TSCHE, is scheduled to release the TS DOST Phase 1 seat allotment results on Thursday, May 29, 2025. Candidates who registered for undergraduate admissions will be able to check their seat allotment results on the official website at Also read: AP EAMCET 2025 Answer Key: Objection window for A&P closes today at link here As per the official schedule, following are the important dates after the phase 1 seat allotment results are out: For the full schedule, candidates can click here. Also read: JEECUP Admit Card 2025: UPJEE hall ticket out for Group A candidates at download link here Students can check their phase 1 seat allotment results by following the steps mentioned below: Also read: Bihar CET Answer Key 2025 released at download link here For more related details, candidates are advised to visit the official website of TSCHE.
Miami Herald
2 days ago
- Miami Herald
Ocean views and a taste of the sea: José Andrés opens a new restaurant on Miami Beach
A new restaurant and a new cocktail concept from Chef José Andrés' hospitality group are now open at a new Miami Beach hotel. The Andaz Miami Beach from the Hyatt Lifestyle Group, formerly The Confidante Hotel, opened earlier this month and is now home to the Mediterranean restaurant Aguasal (named for agua salada, which is Spanish for saltwater) and Bar Centro, an all-day spot for small bites and drinks. Fittingly, Aguasal is inspired by the sea, according to Andrés, who says the restaurant 'brings with it the flavors of both the Mediterranean coast and Florida's abundant produce.' Aguasal, which serves breakfast and dinner, is located on the ground floor of the hotel, with indoor and outdoor dining and oceanfront views. Expect teak and woven furniture, stone floors, and lush tropical greenery. Breakfast is what you might expect: eggs, pancakes and French toast, while the dinner menu leans to seafood. Highlights include chilled seafood like kumamoto oysters with harissa mignonette and Meyer lemon, stone crab and pink gulf shrimp as well as dishes like mussels Saganaki with feta cheese, chives and lemon. There's also a fried whole snapper and cobia with lemon-butter sauce, dill, braised fennel and trout roe. You'll also find such vegetable dishes as grilled leeks with stracciatella, sumac, hazelnuts and brown butter breadcrumbs and roasted cauliflower with tahini, sesame seeds, ground coriander, pomegranate and puffed quinoa. Meat lovers can try the hanger steak with a marash rub, harissa roasted carrots and potatoes. On the upper lobby level, Bar Centro features ocean views and is all about the cocktails like the house specialty, a Key lime pie daiquiri, although you can order small bites like croquetas, a new take on a classic Caesar salad or four-cheese grilled cheese. There's caviar service as well. Aguasal and Bar Centro won't be the only dining concepts at the Andaz. In 2026, The Bazaar by José Andrés will open at the hotel, drawing on Andrés' Spanish heritage and featuring some of his most popular signature dishes. The hospitality group also operates Zaytina, a Mediterranean restaurant at the Ritz Carlton, South Beach. The Andaz Miami Beach is the first hotel in Florida for the brand and sprawls across 25,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor space. It's a Michelin Guide-recommended hotel. Amar Lalvani, president and creative director of Hyatt's Lifestyle Group, said the Andaz and the José Andrés group were a perfect match. 'Our close collaboration with José and his talented team will bring some very special experiences to the Andaz Miami Beach,' he said. 'The combination of the freshest local ingredients and bold flavors with global influences aligns perfectly with what Andaz is all about.' Aguasal Where: Andaz Miami Beach, 4041 Collins Ave, Miami Beach Hours: 7-11 a.m. breakfast daily; dinner 6-10 p.m. Monday-Friday, 6-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday. Bar Centro Hours: Noon-10 noon-11 p.m. Friday Saturday More information: @aguasalmiamibeach or @barcentrobyjose
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- General
- Hindustan Times
UPSC introduces new portal for applications, here's all you need to know
The Union Public Service Commission, UPSC, has introduced a new online portal for registration and filling up of application form online. The official notice issued by the commission states, 'The UPSC Online Application Portal has four parts, arranged in 4 separate cards at the home page, three of which namely, Account Creation, Universal Registration and Common Application Form contains information which are common to all examinations and can be filled anytime by the candidates. The fourth part i.e. Examination contains examination notices, Examination Application and applications status. Only examination specific information is to be filled up in this part by candidates during the time period allowed in the notification of an examination.' Also read: AP EAMCET 2025 Answer Key: Objection window for A&P closes today at link here The notice further added that the new arrangement is aimed at facilitating candidates to fill up first three parts anytime and keep ready for applying to any UPSC examination whenever notified with updates as may be required, thereby saving time and avoiding last minute rush. In this regard, the commission has asked all candidates to fill up the application and upload their documents in the newly introduced portal afresh through the website Also read: JEECUP Admit Card 2025: UPJEE hall ticket out for Group A candidates at download link here It added that the previous One Time Registration (OTR) module will not be applicable henceforth. For verification purpose, candidates have been strongly advised to use their Aadhar Card as ID document in the Universal Application for easy, effortless and seamless verification and authentication of ID and other details. The commission said doing so will serve as a permanent and common record for all examinations. Also read: Bihar CET Answer Key 2025 released at download link here As informed by the UPSC, applications for CDS II and NDA & NA II examinations 2025 will be accepted through the new online application portal. For more related details, candidates are advised to visit the official website of UPSC.
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- General
- Hindustan Times
AP EAMCET 2025 Answer Key: Objection window for A&P closes today at cets.apsche.ap.gov.in, link here
Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, JNTU will close the AP EAMCET 2025 Answer Key objection window on May 29, 2025. Candidates can raise objections against Agriculture & Pharmacy course answer key through the official website of AP EAMCET at The AP EAPCET answer key for the Agriculture & Pharmacy course was released on May 27, 2025. The objection window will close at 5 pm today. To raise objections against the answer key candidates can follow the steps given below. 1. Visit the official website of AP EAMCET at 2. Click on AP EAMCET 2025 Answer Key objection window link available on the home page. 3. A new page will open where candidates will have to enter the login details. 4. Click on submit and your answer key will be displayed. 5. Check the answer key and raise objections against it. 6. Make the payment of processing fee and download the confirmation page. 7. Keep a hard copy of the same for further need. The AP EAMCET was conducted on May 19 and 20 for Agriculture and Pharmacy streams, and on May 21 and 27, 2025, for the Engineering stream. The exam was held in two sessions every day - from 9.00 A.M. to 12.00 P.M. and 2.00 P.M. to 5.00 P.M., through the Online mode only. The results are tentatively scheduled for June 14, 2025. For more related details candidates can check the official website of AP EAMCET.
