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MOVIE OF THE WEEK: DEEPWATER HORIZON
Who’d have thought one of the most politically angry American films of 2016 would come from the director of Lone Survivor, the star of the Transformers fifth edition, and be endorsed by Hollywood to the tune of $150 million? Director Peter Berg puts on his Paul Greengrass hat and thrusts Mark Wahlberg into a nightmarish recreation of the events that led to 11 men dying on the eponymous oil rig in 2010, and although the succeeding ecological disaster barely gets a look-in, that’s all old news. The careful presentation of how corporate pressure on the skilled hands of crew led to the catastrophe never feels heavy-handed, and their heroic efforts to limit the damage feels compellingly, almost overwhelmingly real. Not one to enjoy if you work for BP. Times & trailer
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ORIGINAL PATTY MEN: MARS BRANCH
"Get your ass to Mars" via Regency Wharf where a much needed Broad Street-annexing continues with the launch of the Rum Runner Yard. Named after The Rum Runner (deduct a gazillion Brummie points if you didn't know what that was) the outdoor event space is slap bang on top of where the famous gig venue once sat. Adjacent to the Hyatt and next door to Gas Street Basin, they'll be showing space-based 1990 Arnie epic Total Recall on Friday October 7. Original Patty Men will be crafting an ode to Arnie burger — expect Mars-style red bun, sauerkraut, pickled pink onions, beef patty etc — while Rub Smokehouse are on free marshmallow or bacon and maple popcorn. Cocktails will be 2-4-1, tickets (£15) won't. But they will include your boiger.
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COME DINE WITH YUMZEE
If you're up for every aspect of Come Dine With Me except the obligatory character assassination delivered in the form of a jaunty northern voiceover, Yumzee is probably your jam. A new kind of supper club, you can host a meal, or attend one. We went for the latter and — forward thinking though we are — weren't sure we were quite Shoreditch enough for an evening of raw vegan food. That our host for the evening turned out to be an established private chef certainly avoided the need for a midnight drive through on our way home, as well as making for three beautiful plates of food. Kamila Szewczyk specialises in artisan raw puds (pictured), but the beetroot soup with which she kicked off proceedings makes us confident her talents extend to all areas of the kitchen. Extending to all areas of the globe are the forthcoming Yumzee meals which you can sign up to, starting at £15. Though you can of course go with a chum, we went stag and couldn't have asked for a better table of food appreciators. De-light-ful.
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PRAISE YOU AT THE CHURCH
When Carl Finn throws a party, you show up, even if it starts before your alarm more typically goes off. He invented The Church for chris'sake. Rise and rave and yoga (and eat some eggs) in the JQ from 6.30am on Wednesday October 19, then troop off to your day job and feel what researchers are predicting is at least seven times better than you usually do. It's all to do with the Praise You Project. Yoga will be ongoing, while brekkie's served from 8am. Tickets are £5.
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PINNING THE
UPSIDE DOWN
Stranger Things is said to have pulled in more than 8.2 million viewers within 16 days of dropping. To put that into context, House of Cards managed just under 4.8 million. And HOC did not a Birmingham-made pin badge receive. The Upside Down (pictured) went on general release at 12.01am on Tuesday, thanks to those sentient folk at Pin Game. The enamel number comes on a limited edition backing, and at £7, includes UK shipping.
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Venue: Gusto, The Grand Hotel, Colmore Row, B3 2DA; website
Choice: Italian fried courgettes (£3.50) Chooser: Sebastian, Waiter
Gusto is a solid addition to Colmore Row, and together with sister cocktail bar The Alchemist — which opened simultaneously next door last Friday — will change the way the CBD looks and feels, especially on a gloomy winter's eve. The food is good rather than great. Wins included a pan-fried sea bass fillet which we had as a starter (£12.25), the Italian fried courgettes (£3.50) a side which our most excellent waiter Sebastian insisted we try, and a Nutella-filled Calzone (£6.25), because we are in fact six years and almost two months old. More of a pull than the food was the feel of the place. Well lit, buzzy and with a quality of service far greater than the five days for which the restaurant had been open when we visited, Gusto is a safe pair of hands for a business lunch and has a well priced pre-7pm supper menu which will be deservedly popular with the post-work Colmore crew. Don't bother with the steaks. Do bother with an Aperol Spritz. Menu
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