That was the pizza wars that was.. and other tales

Richard Lutz reviews the shards of the last week, taking in woods, squandering a British heritage and the passing of a good man.

Review: Birmingham Royal Ballet’s The Tempest

Richard Lutz takes his pew for the premiere of a Shakespeare classic at the Birmingham Hippodrome.

Review: Tamsin Waley-Cohen

Richard Lutz reviews the classical violinist suffused with the blues

Exhibition dedicated to Birmingham film-maker opens

City university launches celebration of noted producer’s work.

Trump flames out in prez deebate

Richard Lutz somehow stayed awake through the wee hours in England for the Trump/Clinton bunfight.

Review: Dead Sheep

Richard Lutz takes a pew at the Birmingham Rep to watch Maggie savaged by a dead sheep.

Review: Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre

Richard Lutz takes his pew for a legendary Stateside dance troupe

Screengrab: Sellers and Keith TV

Richard Lutz cans the TV film listings to find the diamonds among the dross – and delivers a surprise to top it all off.

Lights, camera, dereliction

Birmingham is being used as a location once again by Hollywood. This time, by one of movieland’s best directors. Guess why, asks Richard Lutz

Cracked Mirror

Labour MP Keith Vaz is under fire after a tabloid secretly recorded alleged trysts with male escorts. We’re all victims, says Richard Lutz

That was the west wing that was …and other tales

Richard Lutz rummages through the waste bin of the last seven days.

Screengrab: Letters from a rock queen

The must-watch movie on the crystal flatscreen parked in the corner of your living room this week? There’s no second guessing, says Richard Lutz

That was the trump that was…and other tales

Richard Lutz reviews the past seven days.

Screengrab: Journey to an unheralded death

Richard Lutz orbits the TV listings to find the hidden movie gem.

Trump l’oeil: a case of sleight of mouth

Richard Lutz takes a look at Donald Trump’s failures when it comes to the candidate’s business acumen.

Cattle class

Richard Lutz settles into a quiet corner of Britain for a yearly farming show.

Screengrab: Iconic, not ironic

Richard Lutz points to the films to watch this week on the box.

Come what May and other tales

Richard Lutz tries to review the past week.

That was the walk that was …and other tales

Richard Lutz reviews the last seven days.

Blair to Bush: Love letter to an idiot and other tales

Richard Lutz digests the first draft of history with the pubIication of the hardhitting  Chilcot Inquiry report

Driving over the edge

Richard Lutz watches Britain head for the precipice.

Of Cox, the referendum and Trump

Richard Lutz steadies himself for the forthcoming week

Gun Crazy

Richard Lutz learned to shoot a rifle when he was 11. That made him realise just how dangerous the weapons are

Pascoe Perfect

Richard Lutz watches one of Britain’s better comediennes earn her keep.

Music to the Ears

Richard Lutz digests three biopic films with a tune in their hearts. But which one rung his bell?

The Alchemist: A sharp, wicked comedy aimed at greed and gold

Richard Lutz takes his pew for the Ben Johnson classic that caustically sends up his fellow Londoners of 1610.

Muhammad Ali: Stung like a butterfly

Richard Lutz pays homage to the great Muhammad Ali, who died earlier today.

A full life

Richard Lutz reviews his past seven days; the loss of a neighbour and a forgotten church in a small valley.

Gordon Lightfoot: A raspy old troubadour sings in the twilight

Richard Lutz takes a pew for Canadian legend Gordon Lightfoot.

King Lear: a powerfully bleak vision of a destroyed soul

Richard Lutz watches Shakespearean power usurped by chaotic insanity at The Birmingham Rep