Independent 11,824 by Angel

by

The Independent crossword web site had issues earlier, seems to working again now.

The Angelic one returns for one of her rare outings.

I take it Angel is a Keanu Reeves fan, but it’s also his 60th birthday and the clues and solutions are packed with his film titles or references, I may well have missed some as I’m not a huge film buff. Thanks Angel, quite enjoyed this.

 

ACROSS
1. Array of postgraduate cheats, reportedly (6)
MATRIX

MA – graduate & sounds like TRICKS

4. University lecturer protected by a cover business somewhere in Mexico (8)
ACAPULCO

U(ni) * L(ecturer) inside CAP – cover & CO – business

10. Close examinations of beauty? (4,5)
GOOD LOOKS

Double def

11. Stop and indicate (5)
POINT

Double def

12. Beginning to suspect, went and put one’s foot down (5)
SPEED

Start of S(uspect) & PEED, the indy setters do like to use terms for bodily functions more than other outlets

13. Great period of austerity following number-crunching program (9)
EXCELLENT

EXCEL – spreadsheet program & LENT fasting period

14. Heavyweight broadcasters? (7)
ANCHORS

Cryptic def

16. Interjection supplied by lead characters in weird Hardball opera adaptation (4)
WHOA

Primary letters clue & possible clue as def

19. Disposing of journalist, evil one brings fuel to the flame (4)
WICK

WICK(ed) – evil minus ED – journalist

21. Middle section of Watcher is high value (7)
CHERISH

Hidden in watCHER IS High

24. Much Ado project is a thrill ride (9)
ADVENTURE

Most of AD(o) & VENTURE – project

25. Opposes Greens (5)
BUCKS

Double def, Greens – dollars – bucks

26. Neo had it backwards, concealing ID (5)
IDAHO

Hidden reversed in neO HAD It. ID is the US code for Idaho

27. One is keen on Blade (5-4)
KNIFE-EDGE

Cryptic def

28. Seasonal issue produced by whimsical tosser for Spooner (3,5)
HAY FEVER

Spoonerism of FEY HEAVER

29. Beckinsale secured by senior expert on the board? (6)
SKATER

KATE (beckinsale) in S(enio)R

DOWN
1. Hugely successful entertainer reinvented as art gem (8)
MEGASTAR

[AS ART GEM]* reinvented

2. Free church supporting vacuous talk-show – it’s not worth much (8)
TWOPENCE

I’m more used to seeing it as TUPPENCE but a vacuous T(alksho)W & OPEN – free & CE – church

3. Mind already regularly relaxed (5)
IDLED

Alternate letters of mInD aLrEaDy

5. Source of funds, somewhat bigger than a piggy bank? (4,3)
CASH COW

Cryptic def

6. Pie top all crumbly in papery frill (9)
PAPILLOTE

A crumbled [PIE TOP ALL]*

7. Hang around unfinished toilet when working on River’s Edge (6)
LOITER

Most of a working TOILE(t)* & edge of R(iver)

8. Next month, Spielberg film season premiere provides musicians (at least 16) (6)
OCTETS

It’s September so next month if OCT(ober) & the film ET & start of S(eason). OCTET is a group of 8 players so octets implies at least 2 x 8 players

9. Python handlers perhaps – like some in The 1A? (6)
CODERS

Cryptic def python is a programming language

15. In no mood to be excited over Eastern religious structure (5,4)
ONION DOME

An excited [IN NO MOOD]* & E(astern)

17. Song about Ted going up as trainee pilot (3,5)
AIR CADET

AIR – song & CA – circa, about & TED reversed

18. Crushes a mixture cooked in a wine sauce (8)
CHASSEUR

A mixed [CRUSHES A]*

20. Digital component that may be cracked? (7)
KNUCKLE

Knuckles can be cracked, usually to the discomfort of the person hearing it

21. Constantine initially leads half-hearted online community to information on IMDB (6)
CREDIT

C(onstantine) & a half hearted RED(d)IT

22. District hospital located below a Hilton (6)
PARISH

PARIS (hilton) – US socialite & H(ospital)

23. Crossing Canada via Ryan Gosling’s family home, perhaps? (6)
AVIARY

Hidden in canadA VIA RYan

25. Rest sounds like what the bus in 12 cannot do? (5)
BREAK

In the film SPEED – 12a, the bus will blow up if it slows down – sounds like BRAKE

Party on dudes!

17 comments on “Independent 11,824 by Angel”

  1. Well, I did see the theme just before the end. I’m a bit slow on the uptake in the theme ball-park, n not just cos it’s Monday… would have been more helpful if I’d known Python as a language, which I did but was thinking of the reptile for too long, hence LOI… some great cluing going on, loved the WP in 23d, made me laugh.. and the double def of ID in 26ac gave me pause.. so many allusions in the clues, sometimes i wonder if I’m deliberately obtuse.. anyway party on dudes, indeed
    Thanks Angel n flashling

  2. Thanks flashing and Undrell and any other early birds who managed to solve this before the site started to have technical issues! Bogus! Fingers crossed it will be available again soon.

  3. Hmm. I came here to see if others, like me, were having the same experience with the web-site: ‘Sorry, this puzzle is not available. Please try again later’ – but at least one solver has managed to access it. Obv this means I now know there is a theme but, fortunately, not one to which I am particularly close so I doubt I would have spotted it and doubt it will spoil things for me later.

  4. Happy 60th Keanu! Speed co-star Sandra Bullock reached the same milestone on 26 July, and I was disappointed there was no theme for her then.
    Instead there were three boring old Olympic themes, it being the opening day. This almost makes up for it. The Matrix (1999, a 25th (Silver) anniversary)…

  5. No problem for me with the website, but a DNF as I couldn’t see 9D. 29A had to be SKATER but I don’t understand it. Thanks Angel and Flashling.

  7. Tatrasman @8. I could only think it referred to a skateboarder but don’t know if they are ever referred to ‘skaters’.

  8. There’s also – half of 27a – [River’s] EDGE (1987), and in the clues: 16a Hardball (2001);
    17d AIR CADET has Ted, but where’s Bill?; 24a ADVENTURE – Much Ado [About Nothing] (1993)…
    [PostMark@6 – Obvs Stamp’s theme was the exception, and not at all boring (or old)]

  9. Avril Lavigne’s Sk8er Boi (2002 – my kids were fans at the time):
    ‘…about her rocker boyfriend and a girl he knew in high school who rejected him because he was a skateboarder and she did ballet.’

  10. …21a [The] Watcher (2000); Oops – All of River’s Edge (1987) is in 7d, so forget the half at 27a; 21d Constantine (2005).
    Thanks A&F

  11. Not knowing much about computer languages, social media platforms or films like MATRIX, I had my work cut out with this one! Not to worry, Mr Google was a great help in most instances.
    Rather liked KNIFE EDGE & CASH COW in any event.

    Thanks to Angel and to flashling for the blog.

  13. Finally, I have been able to access the puzzle. Perfect for a Monday with a gentle theme, some of which I spotted though I am no expert on the actor. Nicely clued with some fun surfaces. My only slight quibble would be that BREAK appears to work either way which is often the problem with homophone indicators in the middle of the clue. I was equally convinced by both and needed crossers to resolve the dilemma.

    Thanks Angel and flashling

  14. [Anyone renember when the 1a was released, before it became a 5d, it was panned as only any use to test how well your new-fangled DVD player worked? Still seems a fair assessment. I’m just pleased Angel hasn’t reminded us of Klaatu (2008).]
    I did wonder how a foul mouthed cuddly toy fitted the theme. Oh, not that Ted.
    Thanks Angel and flashling.

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