What's in the Cinema this Week? (Aug 9-16)

Opening this week in Oxford is Surf's Up, starring Jeff Bridges, Brian Benben, and Zooey Deschanel. Based on the idea that penguins invented surfing, this animated film is an amusing mockumentary that takes us behind the scenes at the Penguin World Surfing Championship, complete with daredevil displays of surfing prowess. This film contains mild language and innuendo. (PG)

Also opening this week in Oxford is Rush Hour 3, starring Jackie Chan, Chris Tucker, and Vinnie Jones. Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan return as LAPD Detective Carter and Chinese Chief Inspector Lee in the third instalment of this high-kicking action series. This time they fight organized crime in Paris. (12A)

Bratz: The Movie opens in sneak preview this weekend, starring Logan Browning, Nathalia Ramos, Janel Parrish, and Skyler Shaye. Yasmin, Jade, Sasha and Cloe have been best friends since they can remember, but can high school and peer pressure break that friendship? (PG)

Also in sneak preview this week (Wednesday) is Bourne Ultimatum. Matt Damon returns as Jason Bourne in the follow-up to The Bourne Identity and The Bourne Supremacy, this time evading a government agent across Moscow, Paris and North Africa. (12A)

Opening at the Phoenix this week is The Walker starring Woody Harrelson, Kristin Scott Thomas, Lauren Bacall, Ned Beatty, Lily Tomlin, and Willem Dafoe. Harrelson stars as Carter Page III, an escort for middle-aged women in the upper-crust circles of Washington. Among his regular clients, Carter is closest to a politico’s wife, Lynn Lockner (Scott Thomas), who also has a lover, the lobbyist Robbie Kononsberg. When Kononsberg is murdered and Lynn discovers his body at his condo, Carter attempts to protect Lynn and her husband from media intrusion by informing the police that it was he who discovered the body. Finding himself a suspect, Carter decides to investigate the crime, and uncovers a deep, dark well of scandal and intrigue. This is a biting and intelligent political thriller. (15)

Also at the Phoenix this week is Waitress starring Keri Russell, Nathan Fillion, Jeremy Sisto, and Cheryl Hines. An audience hit at the Sundance Film Festival, WAITRESS serves up a sweet, sassy and delicious slice-of-life tale, revealing the power of friendship, motherhood and the willingness to take a chance. It follows a small-town waitress who transforms her hopeless life into a hilarious and unexpected love story. At Joe’s Diner, Jenna (Russell) is known as a ‘pie genius’, and she names her confections after the tumultuous events of her life. When she discovers that she is pregnant, she immediately bakes an ‘I Don’t Want Earl’s Baby’ pie. But the pregnancy changes the course of her life, giving her an unexpected and newfound confidence via letters to her unborn baby. This film contains adultery and domestic abuse themes and one use of strong language. (12A)

The OXFORD FILM FESTIVAL continues at the Phoenix with Some Like It Hot (U) on Friday and Pulp Fiction (18) on the final Saturday.

Get showtimes for all the cinemas in Oxford

What's in the Theatre this Week? (Aug 9-16)

Oxford Playhouse:

Blonde Bombshells of 1943 - The most glamorous all-girl swing band in the North return to the Playhouse due to popular demand. Another chance to catch this warm and witty musical play, packed with live performances of 1940s songs.

Herges Adventures of Tintin - Join Tintin, his loyal dog Snowy, and the curmudgeonly Captain Haddock as they battle to rescue their friend Chang lost in a plane crash in the high Himalayas.

Creation Theatre Company:

The Taming of the Shrew - Baptista Minola has two daughters; obedient Bianca and ill-tempered Katherine. Baptista has declared that no-one may court Bianca until Katherine is married. Undaunted by tales of Katherines shrewish behaviour, the eccentric Petruchio decides that he is the man to tame her and sets about doing so, with surprising consequences. Enjoy a sparkling new production of one of Shakespeares best-loved comedies in our brand new setting at the foot of the Castle Mound.

The Oxfordshire Passion Play - A man born out of controversy, a political prisoner betrayed by a friend and murdered for his beliefs. Sinner, saviour or Son of God? As part of the Oxfordshire 2007 celebrations, Creation Theatre Company takes the traditional street theatre of the Mystery Play and transforms it into a striking contemporary production featuring a large community chorus. Castle Gardens.

Old Fire Station:

Journey's End - When Journey's End was first staged in 1929 it was dubbed "the play that swept the world" and did so like no other. Stanhope, a young captain promoted beyond his years, prepares his men for a daring raid across No Mans Land and an impending enemy attack. A gifted winner in all life's races, he and his men await the enemy's onslaught with astonishing bravery and poignant inevitability.

Burton Taylor Theatre:

Jali Fily Cissokho: The Griot Grooves - After his visit last year, praise singer and kora player Jali Fily Cissokho returns to the Studio. This time, he is joined by The Griot Grooves Band for an evening of traditional Senegalese music.

New Theatre:

Scooby-Doo! In Stage Fright - Live On Stage! - Enter the world of the Mystery inc. gang as they find themselves solving another mystery of supernatural ghosts wreaking havoc once again. Featuring a full-size Mystery Machine, hilarious physical comedy, popular tunes and awe inspiring special effects. Fun for the whole family including big kids who grew up watching the TV show and littler kids who have just discovered Scooby-Doo for this first time. This is Scooby-Doo and the gang at their finest and funniest - don’t miss the chance to see whether ‘those pesky kids’ solve the mystery and save the day.

Magic - A Kind Of Queen - Widely regarded as the finest tribute to Queen in a show featuring all their greatest hits including "Bohemian Rhapsody", "A Kind of Magic", "Under Pressure", "We Are The Champions" and many more.

Oxford Shakespeare Company Productions:

Romeo and Juliet - Wadham College

A violent street brawl between their rival families is the prelude to Romeo’s first meeting with Juliet. Despite this, and the fact that Juliet has been promised to another man in marriage, a love is born. Can the relationship survive against the background of enmity between Capulet and Montague? The threat of death hangs over both families should they dare to disturb the peace again. Shakespeare's Globe brings their world-famous style of Elizabethan performance to Oxford for the first time. A small troupe play out Shakespeare's tragic tale of star-crossed lovers in the stunning setting of Wadham College.

For all theatre information, times and dates, click here

This Week's Music Highlights (August 9-16)

Friday:

• Sugar Creek Trio - Chester Arms


• Jonny Race + Shortwave Face + Waiting for Sirens - Jericho Tavern

Saturday:

• City of Oxford Orchestra: Baroque Classics - Sheldonian Theatre


• Dirty Boys All-Dayer with Meet me in St Louis + Look See Proof + Envy & Other Sins + Stornoway + 303 Did This To Me + Mewgatz + The Young Plan + The Blitz Cartel - Port Mahon


• Coo Coo Club with The Half Rabbits + Witches + Brickwork Lizards - Jericho Tavern

Sunday:

• Coffee Concert with the Adderbury Ensemble - Holywell Music Room


• Charivari Agreable's Early Music by Candlelight: A Musical Offering - Exeter College Chapel


• Jack Gibbons plays Bach Goldberg Variations - Holywell Music Room

Monday:

• Famous Monday Night Blues with Funky Dory (UK) - Backroom at the Bully

Tuesday:

• Abi Strevens Trio + gues saxophonist - The Big Bang


• The Oxford Jazz Club with The Howard Peacock Quintet - Backroom at the Bully


• Charivari Agreable's Early Music by Candlelight: Tangos & Trios - Exeter College Chapel

Wednesday:

• Charivari Agreable's Early Music by Candlelight: The Queen's Revels - Exeter College Chapel

Thursday:

• Wintermute + Secondsmile + This Town Needs Guns - The Cellar

Get information for Music Events in Oxford: Classical, Gig Guide, Folk, Jazz

Norrington Table Results

The results of the most recent Norrington Table are in! For those of you unfamiliar with the table, The Norrington Table is an annual ranking that lists the colleges of the University of Oxford in order of the performance of their undergraduate students on that year's final examinations.

The following was taken from Wikipedia, and all of the links will take you to articles on that site:

Position	College	Norrington Score (%)
1	Merton College	76.63
2	Magdalen College	74.81
3	Christ Church	73.23
4	Balliol College	73.10
5	New College	72.46
6	St John's College	71.64
7	Trinity College	71.36
8	Lincoln College	70.57
9	Hertford College	70.20
10	Pembroke College	69.47
11	Worcester College	69.08
12	St Edmund Hall	68.67
13	St Anne's College	68.50
14	University College	68.38
15	Jesus College	68.28
16	Queen's College	67.76
17	Wadham College	67.37
18	Keble College	66.92
19	Somerville College	66.27
20	St Peter's College	66.10
21	Brasenose College	65.98
22	Lady Margaret Hall	65.94
23	Corpus Christi College	65.48
24	Exeter College	65.27
25	St Hugh's College	65.25
26	St Catherine's College	65.15
27	St Hilda's College	64.88
28	Mansfield College	64.13
29	Oriel College	63.43
30	Harris Manchester College	53.64