We've all been there: watching our favourite Studio Ghibli movies, seeing how closely they combine wondrous fantasies and reality, and finding ourselves wondering what things would be like if life actually was that darn magical. Let this cute little clip help satisfy your imagination. Made by Kojer, aka a director in South Korea, it takes all of the Ghibli characters that you know and love, and places them in real-life settings. Think Spirited Away's Chihiro and No-Face on an actual train, My Neighbour Totoro's cute creature in the greenery of a real park, the abode that gives Howl's Moving Castle its name flying above cities, and the titular character from Kiki's Delivery Service floating through non-animated clouds. And yes, it really is as delightful as it sounds. In the absence of any new Studio Ghibli films on the horizon any time soon (although we're still crossing our fingers that their TV show will make it to Australia), it's just the dose of animated enchantment everyone needs. Plus, those keen on seeing just how it was done can also watch two behind-the-scenes videos, one stepping through the techniques used, and the other detailing the actual locations.
Netflix, HBO and Disney+ have already done it — tease their upcoming slates for 2025, that is. If you're wondering what else is heading to the small screen this year, now it's Stan's turn to reveal what's on its lineup. The service's program drop for 2025 doubles as a celebration, marking ten years since the Australian platform's debut. Get excited about everything from a new Aussie series starring Will Forte (Bodkin) and D'Arcy Carden (A Man on the Inside) to the second seasons of both Poker Face and Scrublands, plus Keanu Reeves' (Sonic the Hedgehog 3) latest movie, a homegrown flick about a time-travelling bottle of tequila, a horror-comedy series about murderous garden gnomes and more. Crime dramedy Sunny Nights, featuring Forte and Carden, should be high on everyone's must-watch list. Directed by Trent O'Donnell (No Activity, Colin From Accounts), co-starring Rachel House (Moana 2) and Jessica De Gouw (Ladies in Black), and even featuring an appearance by Patrick Brammall (also Colin From Accounts), it follows odd-couple American siblings trying to start their own spray-tan business in Sydney, then getting immersed in the city's criminal underworld. The second season of the delightful Natasha Lyonne (His Three Daughters)-led and Rian Johnson (Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery)-created Poker Face, one of the best new shows of 2023, is another firm standout — especially if you love whoddunnits, plus Lyonne playing detective. Also returning: Scrublands, which is called Scrublands: Silver for its second go-around and picks up its narrative a year after the events of the first season. This time, investigative journalist Martin Scarsden (Luke Arnold, Last King of the Cross) is back in Port Silver in Western Australia, his hometown, when he's tasked with digging into another murder. Keanu will be gracing Stan courtesy of The Entertainment System Is Down, the latest film from two-time Palme d'Or-winning director Ruben Östlund — and the latter's first since Triangle of Sadness. The setup: chronicling the results when the movie's title proves true on a long-haul flight between England and Australia. Kirsten Dunst (Civil War) and Daniel Brühl (The Franchise) also star, and the filmmaker described it as "once again a behaviouristic study, comical and tragic, about being a human being — and about contemporary times when we have become so addicted to these screens, and taking that away from us" while chatting with Concrete Playground about his previous feature. Set on New Year's Eve 1999, One More Shot is where tequila gets a new spin, with Emily Browning (Class of '07), Apple Cider Vinegar co-stars Aisha Dee and Ashley Zukerman, Sean Keenan (Exposure) and Pallavi Sharda (The Office) along for the ride. And those killer garden ornaments are the focus of Gnomes, which unleashes their rampage on a country town just as a Gnome-a-Palooza festival is about to kick off. Other upcoming Stan highlights include murder-mystery dramedy He Had It Coming, featuring Lydia West (Big Mood), Natasha Liu Bordizzo (Ahsoka) and Liv Hewson (Yellowjackets); Saccharine, the new Midori Francis (The Sex Lives of College Girls)-, Danielle Macdonald (The Tourist)- and Madeleine Madden (The Wheel of Time)-starring psychological horror from Aussie filmmaker Natalie Erika James (Apartment 7A); Brooke Satchwell (Triple Oh!) in Love Divided by Eleven, about a woman who goes looking for the people who received her fiancé's organs when he passed away; and Dee again in thriller Watching You, which adapts JP Pomare's novel The Last Guests and charts the quest to uncover the voyeur who filmed a one-night stand. There's also the return of Bump — this time as a movie, aka Bump: A Christmas Film, which takes the characters on a South American cruise. Or, you can look forward to Beast in Me, with Daniel MacPherson (Land of Bad) portraying a former mixed martial artist, and joined on-screen by Russell Crowe (Kraven the Hunter), Luke Hemsworth (Gunner) and Amy Shark making her feature film debut. If you liked The Tourist, The Assassin with Keeley Hawes (Miss Austen) and Freddie Highmore (The Good Doctor) hails from the same team. Season four of Hacks, Nicolas Cage (Longlegs) playing an expat Aussie returning home in The Surfer, Richard Gadd's first post-Baby Reindeer series Half Man, Amanda Seyfried (The Crowded Room) in crime drama Long Bright River, a series adaptation of Lord of the Flies, The Rainmaker making the same leap, Stephen King's The Institute following suit as well: they're all on the way, too. And, so is The Hack, which dramatises the UK phone-hacking scandal, with David Tennant (Rivals), Robert Carlyle (Cobra) and Toby Jones (The Instigators) leading the cast. New TV shows and movies will hit Stan throughout 2025 — head to the streaming platform for its current catalogue.
In Disney's non-stop quest to not only remake its animated hits, but to make them look as lifelike as possible, the Mouse House has already brought Dumbo, Aladdin and The Lion King back to our screens so far this year alone. But it's not done yet, with the company's new streaming platform set to welcome another high-profile do-over before the end 2019: a live-action version of Lady and the Tramp. To answer the question you've all been wondering, yes, it'll feature real spaghetti and meatballs. In all seriousness, the film does actually star real dogs — not photo-realistic canines cooked up by a special-effects team. The adorable pooches have still be given human voices, as the first trailer showed a few months back, with Tessa Thompson lending her tones to everyone's favourite pampered pupper and Justin Theroux doing the honours for her street-smart love interest. Playing an American cocker spaniel and a schnauzer, Thompson and Theroux aren't the only big-name talents going to the dogs. A Star Is Born's Sam Elliott gets gravelly as a bloodhound, Catastrophe's Ashley Jensen is a Scottish terrier, Avengers: Endgame's Benedict Wong voices a bulldog and Janelle Monae pops up as a pekingese. They're joined by a few cast members who are sticking with their two-legged forms, including Hearts Beat Loud's Kiersey Clemons, Me and Earl and the Dying Girl's Thomas Mann, and Community co-stars Yvette Nicole Brown and Ken Jeong. Story-wise, the film wags the same tale, as the upper middle-class Lady crosses paths with, eats pasta with and learns to appreciate the whole wide world with a downtown stray called Tramp. In the just-dropped second trailer, viewers can get a glimpse of more of their antics — and more of the other cute canines they interact with on their action-packed journey. Directed by The Lego Ninjago Movie's Charlie Bean and co-written by US indie filmmaker Andrew Bujalski (Computer Chess, Results, Support the Girls), Lady and the Tramp will sport a few changes when it drops on Disney+ upon the service's November launch, however. Monae is reworking 'The Siamese Cat Song' to remove the original's offensive connotations, and will also perform two new tunes for the soundtrack. Check out the latest trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4NtWb4WX20 The live-action Lady and the Tramp remake will be available on Disney+ when it launches Down Under on November 19.
Since 2016, the British royal family's ups and downs haven't just played out across newspaper headlines. They've also fuelled Netflix's hit drama The Crown. If you're fond of the streaming platform, regal intrigue and combining the two, then you're obviously a fan of the series — and you can now lock Wednesday, November 9 in your diary for your next date with the show. If this sounds familiar, that's because it was announced a year back that viewer would need to wait until November 2022 to watch season five of the series; however, Netflix has now revealed the exact premiere date. In focus in this batch of episodes: the royal family in the early to mid-1990s, including the breakdown of Prince Charles and Princess Diana's marriage. As the series is known to, it's shaking up its cast with this leap forward. After starting out with Claire Foy (The Electrical Life of Louis Wain) as Queen Elizabeth II, Matt Smith (House of the Dragon) as Prince Philip and Vanessa Kirby as Princess Margaret (Pieces of a Woman) in its first two seasons, which aired in 2016 and 2017, the series returned in 2019 with Olivia Colman (Heartstopper), Tobias Menzies (This Way Up) and Helena Bonham Carter (Enola Holmes) in those roles. Plus, it added Josh O'Connor (Mothering Sunday) as Prince Charles — and, in season four in 2020, Emma Corrin (Misbehaviour) and The X-Files icon Gillian Anderson joined the cast as Lady Diana Spencer and British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, respectively. When season five premieres in a few months, Downton Abbey, Maleficent and Paddington star Imelda Staunton will don the titular headwear, while Game of Thrones and Tales from the Loop's Jonathan Pryce will step into Prince Philip's shoes — and Princess Margaret will be played by Staunton's Maleficent co-star and Phantom Thread Oscar-nominee Lesley Manville. Also, Australian Tenet, The Burnt Orange Heresy and Widows star Elizabeth Debicki plays Princess Diana, with The Wire and The Pursuit of Love's Dominic West as Prince Charles. Netflix also dropped its first sneak peek at The Crown's fifth season as part of Tudum: A Netflix Global Fan Event — the streaming platform's big unveiling of everything set to hit your queue in coming months. The first teaser does indeed focus on Charles and Diana, and the tension between them as their separation is announced. Season five will arrive two months after Queen Elizabeth II's death in early September, and following a pause in the show's production afterwards. News around the show's fifth and sixth seasons, which'll follow the monarch into the 2000s, has changed a few times over the past few years. At the beginning of 2020, Netflix announced that it would end the royal drama after its fifth season. Then, the streaming platform had a change of heart, revealing it would continue the series for a sixth season after all. The first teaser for The Crown's fifth season is only available as part of Tudum: A Netflix Global Fan Event, at around 20 minutes in — you can check it out below: The Crown's fifth season will hit Netflix on Wednesday, November 9. Images: Keith Bernstein / Alex Bailey / Netflix
Gather your spoons and prepare to start throwing them at a screen: The Disaster Artist is nearly here. A behind-the-scenes recreation of the making of Tommy Wiseau's The Room, it's shaping up to be the best movie ever made about the worst movie ever made. Oh hi, instant cult classic (and Mark, Greg, Claudette and doggy). Based on the non-fiction book of the same name by the original flick's star Greg Sestero, and directed, produced and starring James Franco as Wiseau, the film takes almost every actor you can think of (Dave Franco, Seth Rogen, Alison Brie, Zac Efron, Hannibal Buress, Sharon Stone, Melanie Griffith, Megan Mullally, Josh Hutcherson and Jackie Weaver, for starters) on a tour of Wiseau's now infamous late-night favourite — and, in quite the change from The Room, it's garnering a massive amount of buzz and critical love. After premiering as a work in progress at this year's SXSW, it just screened at the Toronto International Film Festival, and will hit Australian cinemas on November 30. A first teaser was first released back in July, absolutely perfecting the shooting of one of The Room's many, many memorable moments, with a full trailer now providing an even bigger glimpse into Franco's take on Wiseau's world. The awkward dialogue, the odd game of catch, Wiseau's greasy locks, a sex scene that defies human anatomy, "you're tearing me apart, Lisa!!!" — they're all there, in the expected so-bad-it's-hilarious fashion. Wiseau himself has given the whole thing his 99.9 percent approval, and pops up in the movie, of course. And if you need more convincing or you've never hurled a spoon in your life, we'll let Franco's version of Wiseau say everything else that needs to be said about The Room — and why you should be interested in The Disaster Artist. "So there's this guy Johnny. A true American hero — to be played by me. He has it all. Good looks, many friends. And also maybe Johnny is vampire. We'll see." Check out the new trailer below — and the original teaser too, because more The Disaster Artist is only a good thing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMKX2tE5Luk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIXYaCWc2EM
2030 will mark 28 years since one of the best zombie movies ever made first hit screens: 28 Days Later from filmmaker Danny Boyle (Yesterday). Before that milestone arrives, however, it's likely that you'll be watching a new flick from Boyle in the same franchise. It'll still be called 28 Years Later — and it's officially in the works. 28 Days Later has already spawned one follow-up thanks to 2007's 28 Weeks Later, but Boyle didn't direct it. Screenwriter Alex Garland, who also penned Sunshine for Boyle, then hopped behind the camera himself with Ex Machina, Annihilation, Men and TV series Devs, also wasn't involved with 28 Weeks Later. But they're both back for the third film in the series, which might become the middle chapter. Not only is a new movie locked in, but it's being talked about as the start of a new trilogy. As detailed by The Hollywood Reporter, Garland is writing 28 Years Later, Boyle is helming, and they're looking for studios or streamers to jump onboard. It's expected that Boyle will only direct the initial new picture, while Garland will pen the entire trio. There's no word yet if any of the OG film's stars will return, with 28 Days Later among the movies that helped bring Oppenheimer star, newly minted Golden Globe-winner and likely Oscar-recipient Cillian Murphy to fame. He played Jim, a bicycle courier who wakes up from a coma in a deserted hospital 28 days after a pandemic of the rage virus changed the world forever — and from Boyle and Garland to audiences everywhere, who wouldn't want him to reprise the role? Marking Boyle and Garland's first proper collaboration after Boyle adapted Garland's best-selling novel The Beach for the big screen two years earlier, 28 Days Later still ranks among the best work on either's resume — and on Murphy's as well, even if it didn't win him any of Hollywood's top shiny trophies. Set in the aftermath of the accidental release of a highly contagious virus, the film's images of a desolated London instantly became iconic, but this is a top-notch movie on every level. That includes its performances, with then-unknowns Murphy and Naomie Harris (the Bond franchise's current Moneypenny) finding the balance between demonstrating their characters' fierce survival instincts and their inherent vulnerability. If you wondering why 28 Months Later hasn't been made, it was talked about for years, but the time has now passed unless the new trilogy includes a flick set between 28 Weeks Later and 28 Years Later. [caption id="attachment_910048" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Oppenheimer[/caption] 28 Years Later and any following sequels don't yet have a release date — we'll update you when more details are announced. Via The Hollywood Reporter.
Dubstep? Fuhgeddaboudit. Call me biased (I am a Kiwi, so you're probably right) but New Zealand artists have been making big waves recently in musical fields that have nothing to do with dubstep or flying anything, whether Conchords or Nuns. Here are ten of our favourites, which while in name might seem alarming (hello Cut Off Your Hands and Die! Die! Die!) are really very pleasant to listen to. https://youtube.com/watch?v=c-36lCKovBg 1. UNKNOWN MORTAL ORCHESTRA One of the best things to come our of New Zealand in the early '00s was The Mint Chicks, an experimental noise rock/schizo-pop trio who once played a gig so loud that part of the St James Theatre complex actually fell down. The psychedelic spin-off formed by Ruban Nielson is just as good, albeit a little lighter on the ears. https://youtube.com/watch?v=gQSiiNrW8P4 2. OPOSSUM Ruban's brother Kody (also ex Mint Chicks) own pop-sych project is Opossum, a more polished musical venture that also features Michael Logie and solo singer Bic Runga. See the video for single 'Blue Meanies' above, which comes from their excellent just-released album Electric Hawaii and features Kiwi model/ultimate babe Zippora Seven, and see them live this Friday in support of Jinja Safari. https://youtube.com/watch?v=sIDCRga1LjI 3. LAWRENCE ARABIA Blending the quintessentially Kiwi sounds of Flying Nun with influences ranging from classical songwriting to 1970s West Coast Americana, James Milne played bass in The Brunettes and the Ruby Suns before his alter ego Lawrence Arabia was born. His quirky low-key songs have earned him praise in New Zealand for years, but it was a move to London (and a job selling Kiwi goods to homesick expats) that allowed him to gain global recognition. https://youtube.com/watch?v=Uq7aVOzRQow 4. ELECTRIC WIRE HUSTLE Wellington's Electric Wire Hustle have created a rather unique sound fusing hip hop, psychedelica, funk and soul. They're currently giving Europe a taste of their famously colourful live show (the Northern Hemisphere jumped on board the EWH bandwagon back in 2007), but unfortunately their Australian shows are considerably more sporadic. https://youtube.com/watch?v=LAJBwXcexxc 5. CUT OFF YOUR HANDS Cut Off Your Hands find influences in both the late '70s post-punk of Talking Heads and Gang of Four and the poppier sound encapsulated by the aforementioned Mint Chicks and This Night Creeps. The five-piece employ busy musical textures and soft harmonies to create a sound far more pleasant than the name suggests. Late last year the band toured Australia off the back of their album Hollow, which was recorded in Brent Harris' Auckland bedroom and mixed in Sydney. https://youtube.com/watch?v=46A3fqahGlM 6. SURF CITY Don't be confused by the name, Surf City has little to do with the also-good-but-different sound of Wavves, Best Coast, Beach Fossils and Surfer Blood. They were originally called Kill Surf City before they found out another band had already seized that tag, and while the earlier name is a bit sinister it's well suited to the darker, janglier spin they put on an indie surf rock sound. We're eagerly awaiting the follow up to 2010's Kudos. https://youtube.com/watch?v=bsAAZwLPGBg 7. THE VIETNAM WAR 'High Window' is a single from Auckland's alt-country kids The Vietnam War. Though a debut effort the album rattles along like a rollicking, jovial, booze-stained war veteran (in the best way possible), and the video injects some welcome roadside Americana into the Kiwiana outfit. https://youtube.com/watch?v=EKlm-PM-hMc 8. GLASS VAULTS Two boys from rural Manawatu who met at university in Wellington, Richard Larsen and Rowan Pierce make lush textural pop that sounds like nothing else coming out of the windy city. They are best known for 2010's Glass EP (and for recording it on Rowan's grandmother's farm) but new single 'Crystallise', the first offering from their upcoming debut album, promises that the best is yet to come. https://youtube.com/watch?v=4Jf4dwzTx_c 9. DIE! DIE! DIE! Thought their roots are in hardcore punk and their vocals deliciously abrasive, Die! Die! Die! put their own twist on noise pop with rhythms and drums that are both tight and danceable. As indefatigable as their name suggests, these guys are relentless at the gigging in between spitting out albums and will be playing a particularly exciting show at The Standard on Thursday 23 August. https://youtube.com/watch?v=1fdwOd5ACyU 10. STREET CHANT Street Chant has been gigging around Auckland's K Road since 2007, brought into being by a teenage binge drinker, a girl who hated her current band and the fully sick drummer from Don Julio and the Hispanic Mechanic. Since then their sharp, ballsy brand of punk has been winning over fans everywhere from Auckland to Texas, where they drew a massive crowd playing SXSW with The Naked and Famous. The girls also have super rad wardrobes.
Dreaming of cooler pastures? Swap your ice skates for a snorkel and kick back because the only ice you'll find here is in your frozen margarita. For the ultimate Aussie getaway, we head north to Port Douglas, the Daintree Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef. There's so much to do, see and eat — not to mention the promise of pristine beaches that stretch for years. Sitting on the picturesque Four Mile Beach, it's only a hop, skip and a jump to the Daintree Rainforest. They're bucket list places to visit, so why not tick them off this summer? Do To get the most out of the Daintree, make your first stop the Daintree Discovery Centre (Corner Baileys Creek & Tulip Oak Road, Cow Bay; open daily 8.30am-5pm). Grab an audio tour as you meander about the forest on the aerial walkway. Climb a few short flights of stairs to get to the top of the tower and gaze out, high above the treetops. It will be one of the best things you'll do all year. The Discovery Centre is a world-class facility and has won a bunch of awards. They're ecotourism masters, and every possible precaution is taken to protect the delicate rainforest. A trip to the Discovery Centre will set you back $32/adult, $16/child. Family passes are $78. Prices include audio tour. It's worth every dollar. If you heard the words 'an hour-long discussion about fruit', you'd be forgiven for hesitating. But the Cape Tribulation Exotic Fruit Farm (Lot 5 Nicole Drive, Cape Tribulation; open Nov - June, Sun, Tue, Thu, 2pm-4pm and every day Jun - Oct) is a seriously good time. You taste ten kinds of fruit, and we don't mean your standard Coles fare. We're talking incredibly rare, tropical fruit from the Amazon, South-East Asia and the Caribbean. Dark, pudding-like fruit that tastes like chocolate. Giant weird fruits that taste like bubble gum. Tiny magic seeds that make everything you eat for the next few hours taste super sweet. Tastings are followed by a tour of the beautiful farm.The groups are reasonably small (depending on what time of year you go) and it will give you an experience unlike anything you've ever had before. Who knew fruit could be so exciting? Bookings must be made in advance. The tasting costs $23/adult, $10.50/child or $62 for a family. Your kids will love it and so will you. See The Great Barrier Reef sells itself. It's easily one of the most beautiful places in the world and you're only a few hours away from it. Grab your flippers and snorkel, hop in, and prepare to be amazed. Fish in every conceivable colour, reef sharks, stingrays, gloriously coloured coral and all manner of delights lie under the ocean's surface. The guys at Ocean Safari are the best tour guides in the area. They're acutely aware of the peril currently facing the reef and take every precaution to preserve the delicate environment. Eco tourism at its best. Prices vary depending on the tour you select but a morning tour will set you back $123/adult, $79/child or $366 for a family pass. Sleep The recently renovated Ferntree Rainforest Lodge (36 Camelot Close, Cape Tribulation) is an environmentally friendly resort set in the heart of the Daintree Rainforest and a short walk from Cape Tribulation's Myall Beach. They have a wide variety of affordable rooms and accommodation options so you'll be able to arrange a wonderful tropical getaway without it costing you the earth. You're looking at $28/night for a budget dorm, $140/night for a private cabin and $200/night for the Pool Room Suite. The lodge is designed to fit in with the surrounding rainforest and its spectacular gardens are specially designed to attract native animals. Take our advice and book a Pool Room Suite. These private rooms each have a balcony that backs onto the lodge's second swimming pool. The pool is surrounded by a lush tropical oasis and is a few steps away from the Ferntree Rainforest Lodge's restaurant. All this at a reasonable price? Yes, please. If you fancy yourself a bit of a luxury bunny then Ultra Port Douglas is the place for you. It offers five-star, highly personalised, VIP holiday house rentals, and you can count on a first-class experience. Limousine transfers, private chefs and butler services are part of some of the packages and pretty much anything you could possibly dream of can be arranged. Now, luxury doesn't come cheap — Ultra Port Douglas is a holiday letting service that operates out of some of the most seriously grown-up real estate in the country. However, if you're cashed up and want to be treated like a celebrity, world leader or member of the European royalty, then Ultra Port Douglas is most definitely the place to be. Pass us the Dom Perignon. Thala Beach Lodge (Oak Beach, Port Douglas) is the only deluxe resort in Port Douglas set on a private headland. What does this mean? The most spectacularly mind-blowing views you could possibly imagine. The panoramic vista encompasses the far north Queensland coast from Double Island to Cape Tribulation and overlooks the Great Barrier Reef and World Heritage forests. It's considered to be one of the best eco-tourism resorts in the world. The Lodge sits on 145 acres of gorgeous rainforest and backs onto its own private beach overlooking the Great Barrier Reef. All individual bungalows have views to either the beachfront or the rainforest. Accommodation ranges from around $219 to $1030/night. There's a lot to do at Thala Beach Lodge: star-gazing, nature walks, turtle spotting, sea kayaking, yoga and swimming. Ospreys Restaurant, located within the complex, offers a delicious modern Australian cuisine. You can't go wrong here. Drink The Court House Hotel (Wharf and Macrossan Streets, Port Douglas) is Port Douglas's oldest and most famous hotel. They've been in business for over a century, serving up food and drinks for locals and tourists alike. The hotel is located in the town centre and offers gorgeous views of Anzac Park and the coast. Boasting three bars, two gaming rooms and a restaurant, the 'Courty' (as it's known to locals) is definitely the place to go after a long day's sightseeing. If you're feeling peckish, head to the hotel's restaurant, the Wharf St. Bistro. They're well-known for their great steaks. If you're in the mood to drink, then the hotel offers heaps of outdoor seating and reasonably priced drinks. It's the perfect place for a holiday sundowner. Eat 2 Fish (56 Macrossan Street, Port Douglas) is one of Port Douglas's most awarded restaurants. Specialising in seafood, only the freshest produce is used in the wide range of dishes on offer. The staff know their fish, so it's a good idea to ask for their recommendations. If you're a fan of oysters, start with the mixed dozen, a selection of variously seasoned oysters including Kilpatrick, lime and gin ($34), Bloody Mary, Vietnamese and crispy shallots, Tabasco and lemon and natural oysters. The dishes on the tasting plate menu can be ordered individually as entrees or combined to make a more substantial meal. Order a few, but make sure you don't miss out on the Malaysian butter prawns ($12) or the Atlantic salmon gravlax ($10). The star of the show is the market catch (prices vary). Ask the waiter what the catch of the day is and then choose your garnishes accordingly. A word to the wise: make a booking well in advance. They're seriously popular.
If bliss to you means peering at infinite reflections in lit-up mirror rooms, wading through brightly coloured ball pits and having pillow fights — plus hanging out in digital forests, watching tales told via shadows and hopping over musical tiles, too — then prepare to beam with joy when Dopamine Land arrives Down Under. The latest multi-sensory experience that's hitting Australia, it's being pitched as an interactive museum. Inside, you'll find themed spaces that you can mosey through, engage with their contents and, ideally, bask in nothing but pure happiness. With a name like Dopamine Land, it's immediately clear that contentment, glee, merriment and exuberance is the aim of the game here. So is evoking those feel-good sensations through nostalgia, because this is another kidulting activity — it's all-ages-friendly as well — and it's making its Aussie debut in Brisbane from Tuesday, May 28, 2024. Brisbanites, and anyone keen for a Sunshine State trip to revel in more than the sun's glow, can look forward to wandering around Dopamine Land at Uptown in the River City's Queen Street Mall. Locals know that the site was previously the Myer Centre — and, decades back, was home to a dragon-themed rollercoaster. So, it's a fitting venue to get everyone channeling their inner child, unleashing their imagination and, yes, hitting each other with cushions. Heading this way direct from London, the experience combines optical illusions, engaging soundscapes and more across its ten themed rooms. The ball pit is self-explanatory, but also takes its cues from Miami in the 80s, complete with a pina colada scent, an electro soundtrack and LED lights that pulse to mirror waves. The pillow-fight space also doesn't need much explaining; however, the decor is inspired by marshmallows and boxes of lollies, Mexican wrestling is also an influence and you can win the pillow-fighting championship. Fancy seeing stories play out via shadows? There's a room for that featuring a big top-style roof. If you try your hand at the musical tiles — well, your feet, to be more accurate — you'll create a melody as you jump around, with the lights changing as you go as well. And if getting as serene as possible is your aim, head to the Keep Calm Forest, which artificially recreates a woodland via LED trees, mirrors and sounds to match. There's even a room dedicated to the autonomous sensory meridian response, or ASMR, which goes big on projections and animations by Australian digital artist Cassie Troughton. As is always the case with these kinds of pop-ups — Fever, the company bringing Dopamine Land to Australia, has also been behind The Art of Banksy: Without Limits, The NBA Exhibition, Dinos Alive: An Immersive Experience and Unko Museum: The Kawaii Poop Experience — there'll be ample opportunities to take photos. Accordingly, you know what you'll be seeing on your social-media feeds. There's no word yet whether Dopamine Land will head to other Australian cities beyond Brisbane, but expect it to be popular either way. Find Dopamine Land at Uptown, Queen Street Mall, Brisbane from Tuesday, May 28, 2024, with tickets on sale from 7pm on Thursday, April 11. For more information, or to join the ticket waitlist, head to the experience website.
Mention Caxton Street to a Brisbanite and a few things automatically spring to mind: the football stadium, pubs and seafood, to be specific. No matter how you feel about sports or even booze, the roadway's regular ode to the ocean's finest is always worth a trip to Paddington — and yes, The Caxton Hotel Seafood Festival is back for 2024. This street party loves everything from fish and prawns to oysters and calamari — and tunes, brews and a good time all round as well. On the culinary side of things, expect seafood galore on the menu on Sunday, May 5, including from food trucks, plus all the drinks that the Caxton Hotel serves to wash it down with. Also on the agenda: live music across two stages. Across its beer garden and beyond, the aforementioned pub is driving the whole shindig, with the watering hole a fest staple since the event first launched more than a quarter-century ago. And, while you're sipping brews and cocktails with a soundtrack, and tucking into seafood platters, there will be sports on the big screen — it is The Caxton, after all. Entry is free, but you'll need your wallet for whatever you're eager to eat and drink.
Perhaps you’ve already bought a virtual coffee to help out people in Christchurch, donated some artwork to raise money for Japan, and you still want to give... then why not offer your spare room? Sparkrelief is a brilliantly simple idea, that meets a serious need. Basically, it’s couchsurfing for people affected by disasters, directly connecting those in need of a place to stay, with those offering one. As highlighted by founder Eli Hayes, there is a difference between staying in temporary emergency accommodation, and staying in someone’s home: “when you go into someone’s house and they take you in and start cooking you breakfast in the morning ... you have that community back again.” Recently launched, the website is focussing on finding housing for those displaced by the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, but intends to continue on a permanent basis acting as a source of information and temporary housing for those affected by disasters. With thirteen major earthquakes every year, Sparkrelief can expect to be kept busy. [via Mashable]
Worlds have collided and a few of your favourite chocolate and booze brands have come together in snack-friendly harmony. Renowned chocolate maker Haigh's has rallied three top Aussie gin distilleries to create one of the year's dream collaborations — a series of boozy chocolates. Fusing smooth Haigh's chocolate with artisanal spirits and boasting a careful marriage of botanicals, the limited-edition trio is known simply as The Collaboration. Not just a celebration of local produce and Aussie craftsmanship, it also makes for one pretty swanky gift, packaged in a handmade navy and copper embossed box, and complete with tasting notes. On the lineup, you'll find a dark chocolate creation crafted with Archie Rose's Signature Dry Gin, studded with pieces of macadamia and sandalwood nut, and infused with peppermint gum and mountain pepper leaf. Then, there's a milk chocolate number enveloping a white chocolate ganache centre, which pairs the bitter orange aperitif and 78° classic gin from Adelaide Hills Distillery with real honey and peach. And flying the flag for Victoria is a milk chocolate fudge treat made on Melbourne Gin Company's Melbourne dry gin and finished with an extra sprinkle of juniper. The gift box comes packed with four of each chocolate variety (so 12 in total) and tasting notes for $49.90, or you can buy them by the individual piece. Stay tuned also for details of an exclusive virtual chocolate and gin tasting flight, presented by Haigh's Chocolates Product Manager Ben Kolly, along with guests from each gin distillery. We'll let you know more about that closer to the date. The Collaboration chocolates are available now to buy individually, or as part of a $49.90 gift box. Find them online and in Haigh's stores.
Australians, your suitcases are about to come in handy again. Your passports, too. Since March 2020, the country has been under an indefinite ban on international travel to control the spread of COVID-19; however, today, Friday, October 1, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced how and when that restriction will end. Just like COVID-19 rules around the country in general — lockdowns, the restrictions that apply when stay-at-home conditions aren't in effect and the like — the situation will vary in each state and territory. Allowing fully vaxxed Aussies to enjoy overseas travel again falls under the National Plan to transition Australia's National COVID Response that was announced back in July, and has been slated to kick in when 80 percent of Australians over the age of 16 have been double-jabbed since then. That's still the case, but it'll now come into effect in each state and territory as they reach that vax mark. "Within weeks, large parts of the country will be moving to Phase B and then to Phase C of the National Plan to safely reopen Australia and to stay safely open," said the Prime Minister in a statement. "Under Phase C, international travel is on track to reopen safely to fully vaccinated Australian travellers. Many countries around the world have now safely reopened to international travel and it will shortly be time for Australia to take the next step." Accordingly, each state and territory will be able to begin international travel again when they hit that 80-percent fully jabbed threshold, with the Federal Government expecting that to first happen in November. And, when that occurs, there'll be no limits on where you can head — from an Australian perspective, at least. "The current overseas travel restrictions related to COVID-19 will be removed and Australians will be able to travel subject to any other travel advice and limits, as long as they are fully vaccinated and those countries' border settings allow," said the PM. "These changes mean there will be no travel restrictions if you are a vaccinated Australian entering or leaving our shores." There will be a quarantine requirement, though, but the system that's currently in place isn't expected to apply to double-vaxxed Aussie travellers. After undertaking home quarantine pilots in New South Wales and South Australia, that's likely to be the option in each state and territory for fully jabbed Australian citizens and permanent residents — and for seven days. If that doesn't apply to you because you aren't double-dose vaxxed or you've had a vaccine that isn't approved for use in Australia or recognised by the Therapeutic Goods Administration, you'll still need to go into the fortnight-long managed quarantine that's been operating throughout the pandemic. The announcement comes just over a week since Australia's Federal Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Dan Tehan revealed that the country's international border will open back up "at this rate, by Christmas at the latest." Today's news beats that timeframe by more than a month. The PM also revealed that Australia will work towards quarantine-free arrangements once overseas travel restarts, such as the trans-Tasman travel bubble with New Zealand that's presently on hold until at least mid-November. Previously, the Federal Government also floated the possibility of opening a similar arrangement with Singapore — and extending travel bubbles to some countries, such as Singapore and places in the Pacific, is specifically mentioned in the nation's roadmap. As a nation, Australia hit the 50-percent double-vaxxed mark a week ago, on Friday, September 24. At the time of writing, that figure now sits at 54.2 percent of people aged over 16. You can keep an eye on the jab rates at a number of different websites and, if you still need to get vaccinated, these helpful maps show you where in NSW, Victoria and Queensland. Also, if you're wondering which state or territory is likely to hit 80-percent double-jabbed first, it's currently New South Wales. Unsurprising, just when Australia will reopen its international borders has been the subject of much discussion over the 18 months since ban came into effect, only allowing Aussies to leave the country in very limited circumstances. But with Australia's vax campaign gathering speed recently, Qantas and Jetstar have already begun selling tickets for overseas flights for trips scheduled from December, because that's when the two airlines hoped the country's international travel rules could ease. For further information about Australia's plan to restart international travel, head to the Prime Minister's website. More details about the National Plan to transition Australia's National COVID Response can be found on the same site. And, to find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Australia and how to protect yourself, head to the Australian Government Department of Health's website.
Despite brighter-than-summer colours and clearer-than-Crater Lake sound, virtual reality is still bigger on virtuality than it is on reality. That's largely because the acceptance of digital life demands the denial of touch, smell and taste. Researchers at the National University of Singapore, however, are hoping to change this. They're one step closer to adding at least one sensory dimension to cyberspace. An electrodes-driven simulator has been developed that stimulates the tastebuds to recreate four of the sensations essential to the gustatory experience: sweet, salt, sour and bitter. A digital interface enables micro-alterations in temperature. Engineer Dr Nimesha Ranasinghe told the UK Telegraph, "It uses two methods — electrical stimulation and thermal stimulation to stimulate the tip of the human tongue non-invasively ... By manipulating the magnitude of current, frequency and temperature — both heating and cooling — thus far salty, sour, sweet and bitter sensations have been successfully generated ... Simulating food is one of the future directions of this technology." It's intended that users will be able to share meals virtually and taste the results of popular cooking shows. However, there's still work to be done. The simulator is yet to prove successful at stimulating at the fifth basic flavour, umami. Plus, researchers have acknowledged that our experience of taste is shaped by a variety of complex factors, including texture, colours and smell. In a side-project, the team is simultaneously developing a digital lollipop. The plan is to provide consumers with a sweet hit without the usual risks: weight gain and tooth decay. Previous attempts at facilitating digital taste have been rendered unsuccessful by their dependence on chemicals. Requiring constant mixing and frequent renewing, they're messy, costly and impractical. Via PSFK.
Hoping that 2022 proves brighter than the last couple of years? Aren't we all — and, in Sydney, it's set to do exactly that in one particularly eye-catching way. After cancelling its 2020 and 2021 events due to the pandemic, Vivid will be back with its citywide celebration of creativity, innovation and technology (and luminous lights) from Friday, May 27–Sunday, June 18, and the festival has just revealed the first must-sees on its lineup. Words like dazzling, glowing, radiant and vibrant get thrown around a lot when describing Vivid, but there's a great reason for that: its installations and events — and especially its art displays and light projections — really are spectacular. 2022's bill looks to live up to the hype, too, based on the four inclusions revealed from first-time Festival Director Gill Minervini's program so far. Get ready to see plenty of Sydney in a whole new light, naturally. At The Goods Line at Central Station, Convergence will surround Sydneysiders in an immersive light-and-sound experience — all in the disused Goods Line railway tunnel, which'll be used for the first time ever. It'll actually be Vivid's largest-scale laser exhibition ever, too, if you need any more convincing. Next, over at Customs House at Circular Quay, none other than famed Aussie artist Ken Done will be joining forces with Sydney-based projection specialists Spinifex Group to deliver a work called For Sydney With Love. Yes, it's a love letter to the city, and it spans everything from Sydney's landmarks to its natural environment, which Done will bring to life. Also a highlight: Earth Deities, which'll set up at Hickson Road Reserve in The Rocks. It's the work of Western Sydney-raised artist Ramesh Mario Nithiyendran, who is known for making large-scale sculptural forms out of compacted earth, steel and paint. Here, Nithiyendran will craft what's been dubbed as a "multi-limbed avatar", which'll come complete with animated fire and electricity. And, spanning an eight-kilometre continuous stretch from Sydney Opera House to Central Station, Future Natives will guide folks along Vivid's Light Walk. You'll find your way along thanks to sculptures along the route, including a flock of 200 Sydney bird species created by Sydney artist Chris Daniel. [caption id="attachment_843269" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Future Natives, Chris Daniel[/caption] The full Vivid 2022 lineup will be announced mid-March, but you can also look forward to spending time elsewhere in the Sydney CBD, Circular Quay, The Rocks, Barangaroo and Darling Harbour, and at the Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge, MCA and Customs House. Can't wait? You have to, sorry, but because Wednesday, February 16 marked 100 days till Vivid 2022 kicks off, the event has also stationed countdown clocks designed by artist Elliott Routledge — who'll also feature in the full festival program — outside the Queen Victoria Building at Town Hall and at Gateway Plaza at Circular Quay. So, you'll always know how many days are left until Sydney gets brighter for a few wintry weeks. [caption id="attachment_843267" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Dallas Kilponen / DestinationNSW[/caption] Vivid Sydney 2022 will run from Friday, May 27–Sunday, June 18. We'll update you with the full lineup when it's announced in mid-March — and for further information in the interim, visit the event's website. Top images: Convergence, Mandylands / Earth Deities, Ramesh Mario Nithiyendran, Jessica Maurer, Kane-Sullivan.
Whenever an Australian state experiences a new COVID-19 outbreak, a few things tend to happen — and fast. As cases grow, restrictions are implemented, masks are mandated and other parts of the country start shutting their borders. Usually, the latter happens incrementally, starting with banning folks from certain areas, then moving onto the entire city, and then perhaps even the whole state. That's the process that has been playing out over the past week regarding Sydney's current COVID-19 cluster. Masks are back, restrictions came into effect yesterday, Wednesday, June 23, and other states have started closing their borders to the New South Wales capital. In fact, after closing up shop to seven Sydney Local Government Areas over the past couple of days, Queensland and Victoria are now doing the same with the whole Greater Sydney area. So, if you're a Queenslander or a Victorian with a trip to Sydney in your future — or vice versa — the pandemic has definitely interrupted your plans again. All of Greater Sydney is now considered a hotspot by Queensland and a red zone by Victoria. Queensland's ruling came into effect at 1am today, Thursday, June 24, while Victoria's will kick in at 1am tomorrow, Friday, June 25. https://twitter.com/AnnastaciaMP/status/1407611107594825733 Accordingly, folks who've been in Greater Sydney will no longer be permitted to enter either Victoria or Queensland, other than in a few circumstances. Queensland residents coming home from Greater Sydney, the Central Coast, Blue Mountains, Wollongong and Shellharbour will need to go into hotel quarantine for 14 days — and non-residents will only be allowed to enter if they receive an exception, and will also need to go into hotel quarantine for a fortnight. Plus, everyone going to Queensland will need to complete one of the state's online travel declarations first, after that system was brought back into effect last week. Under its traffic light-style permit system, Victoria will allow the state's own residents who've been in Greater Sydney and Wollongong to obtain permits to return home — but they'll then need to quarantine for 14 days. If you're not a Victorian resident and you've been in the NSW capital, you will no longer be able to enter Victoria. In separate press conferences today, leaders in both states advised that people from Sydney have been turned away after trying to enter both Queensland and Victoria — and put on flights back to Sydney. Victoria's Acting Premier James Merlino also announced that a case linked to the current NSW outbreak has been identified in Melbourne, after a man in his 60s flew into the city from Sydney, was tested and returned a positive result. For more information about Queensland's COVID-19 border restrictions, or about the status of COVID-19 in the state, visit the Qld COVID-19 hub and the Queensland Health website. For more information about COVID-19 in Victoria and the state's border restrictions, head over to the Department of Health website.
It seems it's not enough for George Clooney to simply write, direct and act in compelling stories — they also need to be important. They need to have meaning. They need to prove the Hollywood machine isn't a Sophie's Choice between entertainment and education. As an audience member, Clooney wants you to know you can have both and you should have both, and with Goodnight and Good Luck, Syriana and The Ides of March, he made his point well. Then came The Monuments Men, and — on paper at least — it seemed he'd found his perfect project. Based on true events, the story is endowed with all the elements of an old-time war classic: a rag-tag bunch of recruits, a secret mission behind enemy lines and — most importantly — importance. Not only was this a film set in one of the 'good wars' (WWII) but it was centred around something far more 'meaningful' than a conflict over territories and ideologies. This was about art; about buildings, monuments, history and enlightenment. As Clooney's character explains, "If you destroy an entire generation of people's culture, it's as if they never existed." For that reason, the eponymous 'Monuments Men' were dispatched to Europe charged with protecting the continent's great works from both thievery and ruin on both sides of the War. It is, in all, a fascinating, beautiful and mostly untold tale of courage and dedication — the only problem being, the film doesn't do it justice. It's a tonal defect more than anything else. The first half strays so close to comedy it almost feels like Stripes meets Saving Private Ryan (and not just because the antiquities troupe boasts both Bill Murray and Matt Damon). The music, especially, is distractingly full of pomp and pageantry, a sort of Oh! What A Lovely War without the irony. As the team disembarks to one particularly sanguine number on the beaches of Normandy, you find yourself thinking: "…you guys do know what just happened here, right?" It is, to be fair, a somewhat defensible flaw, since the Monuments Men did enter the latter stages of the war thinking it more an adventure than a perilous and uncertain undertaking. Moreover, as the reality of their situation makes itself devastatingly apparent, so too does Alexandre Desplat's score shift moods, but from then on, the tonal problems are replaced by shortcomings in both pacing and subtlety. Rarely a quiet moment is permitted to pass without Clooney's Lt. Frank Stokes reminding his brothers in art why they're there, or repeatedly asking (then answering) whether a man ought rightly give his life for antiquity. Similarly, when there is action, it comes so quickly and so sporadically and in so many different locations that it robs the film of both suspense and cohesion. It's not a bad movie, and with a top-heavy ensemble cast that also includes Cate Blanchett, John Goodman, Bob Balaban and Jean Dujardin, the performances were never going to be a problem. It's just that — with a few excellent scenes notwithstanding — The Monuments Men feels altogether flat and expressionless, like a punctured tyre that gets you to your destination yet denies you the pleasant diversion along the way. https://youtube.com/watch?v=SziPDANik18
Counting down to see legendary electronic music duo Groove Armada perform in the Auckland Domain during Spring City next month? You're not alone. The festival's new inner-city setting and exciting headliners have already seen most tickets snapped up — and now we know who'll be joining the superstylin' duo on stage. A lineup of epic local and international dance acts will bring the vibes on Saturday, November 26, so you can groove for all eight hours across the Domain's expansive lush lawns. Adding to the international setlist are electro-synthpop group Hot Chip and Californian rapper and house producer Channel Tres. You might know the latter from such house hits like 'Controller' (a 2018 Triple J favourite) or 'Fuego' with Tyler the Creator. To check out how his tunes go down on a sunny afternoon, check out his rooftop set below. Aotearoa will also be nicely represented — industry icon and ex-Radio 1 DJ Zane Lowe is popping in off the back of interviewing some of the biggest names in the business like The Arctic Monkeys and Fred Again to perform a DJ set. He'll be joined by fellow locals like George FM host and DJ SIN, Indie artist Ladyhawke and Auckland rock/pop band Coast Arcade. So yeah, it's a pretty stacked lineup and one you're going to want to make the most of — so do it in the best way possible. If you want to enjoy the full celeb-worthy experience including press-lane access into the festival, entry into the VIP tent, premium toilets and access to the VIP bar you'll probably want to check out this epic CP Trips Package — it's the only way you can still get your mitts on a VIP ticket which have already sold out individually. The celeb-worthy package also includes accommodation at uber-chic inner city accommodation Hotel Britomart (including a delish daily brekkie to line the tum), lunch on Waiheke and more. If you're a local looking to party with the other normies, there are still a few final release tickets available too — head to the website to find out more. Spring City kicks off at 1.30pm at Auckland's Domain on Saturday, November 26 — for full event info head to the website. To check out our CP Trip Spring City package, head here.
When August arrives this year, the Melbourne International Film Festival will celebrate its 70th-anniversary edition — and it's planning to give one lucky filmmaker an enormous gift. To commemorate the longest-running film fest in the southern hemisphere's huge milestone year, the event is launching its own film prize. Cannes has one, and the Venice and Berlin film festivals, too, and now MIFF is joining the party to the sum of $140,000. From a pool of up to ten films, all of which will screen at the fest as part of the new MIFF Film Competition, one movie will be chosen to win the Best Film Award. And if that $140,000 sum sounds like a lot of money, that's because it is. In fact, it's the southern hemisphere's richest feature film prize. Indeed, Sydney Film Festival also has a competition and an accompanying gong, which the New South Wales film fest launched back in 2008 — but while MIFF is setting up its own prize 14 years later, it's more than doubling the amount of cash on offer. MIFF's award will cover all types of feature-length films, spanning fiction, documentary, animation and combinations of the above — and they'll also need to screen at the fest as an Australian premiere (so they won't also be able to show at other fests first, including at the Sydney Film Festival in June). And, the MIFF Film Competition will be focusing on emerging filmmakers, with the official selection also limited to a director's first or second feature-length films. A jury comprised of prominent international and Australian guests will pick the winning feature, with further details about who'll sit on the panel in 2022 — and which films they'll be choosing between — set to be announced closer to MIFF's Thursday, August 4–Sunday, August 21 dates. As for when you'll find out who wins, that'll be revealed at the fest's closing night soiree on Saturday, August 20. [caption id="attachment_769568" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tony Zara / Dean Walliss[/caption] Announcing the MIFF Film Competition and MIFF Best Film Award, festival Artistic Director Al Cossar said that "the competition will recognise and amplify the new, the next, the breakthrough and the best in-screen from Australia and across the globe, bringing incredible films and filmmakers to Melbourne – and making MIFF truly unmissable in 2022 and beyond." The hefty new award is being supported by the Victorian Government, and is one of two new gongs for this year — with MIFF also introducing the Australian Innovation Prize, which'll recognise an outstanding Australian creative within a festival film that plays in the MIFF program. That award is designed to span a large number of roles, including the winning film's director, technical or creative lead, or other craft positions. MIFF's new prizes come after two tricky years for the fest, with the event screening solely online in both 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic. They also now see MIFF become the only film festival in the southern hemisphere with its own film competition, screen content financing market, commissioning fund and talent programs. Movie buffs, August clearly can't come fast enough. The 2022 Melbourne International Film Festival will run from Thursday, August 4–Sunday, August 21. The festival program will release in July — we'll update you when further details are announced.
To get 2023 started in style, Adelaide scored a brand-new music festival back in January, with the team at Secret Sounds unveiling Heaps Good. The one-day event featured Arctic Monkeys as headliners, and gave the South Australian capital a taste of the summer fest circuit. It clearly went well, because the fest is now tripling its footprint to see out this year and begin 2024. Adelaide Showground will still host the SA stop, this time on Saturday, January 6, 2024 — but Heaps Good will first hit up Sidney Myer Music Bowl in Melbourne, then Sandstone Point in Brisbane. That's ace news if you live in either city, or plan to be in Victoria or Queensland over the summer. Sydneysiders, it's an excuse for a trip either north or south, too. The Melbourne leg will kick off Heaps Good's three-city, three-state tour in the fest's second year. Need something to do for New Year's Eve? That's now sorted, because that's when the event is coming to town. Sandstone Point in Brisbane gets the nod to usher in 2024, taking place on Tuesday, January 2. Yes, that's all the reason you need to extend your Christmas and New Year break. "The inaugural Heaps Good was such a great day, and we're thrilled to take it on the road to more music lovers around the country over the coming New Year. Heaps Good is all about keeping it simple... single-day shows in convenient locations with great artists and your best mates," said Heaps Good producer Paul Piticco, announcing the fest's new cities. And the lineup? That hasn't been revealed as yet, so watch this space. As well as Arctic Monkeys, Heaps Good's debut fest also featured Peggy Gou, CHVRCHES, Jamie xx, Ocean Alley, Spacey Jane, PinkPantheress, Young Franco, King Stingray, Peach PRC and Ebony Boadu. HEAPS GOOD 2023–24 DATES: Sunday, December 31, 2023 — Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne Tuesday, January 2, 2024 — Sandstone Point, Brisbane Saturday, January 6, 2024 — Adelaide Showground, Adelaide Heaps Good will hit Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide across December 2023–January 2024, with lineup details and ticket sales to come. We'll update you when more details are announced — head to the festival's website for further information in the interim. Images: Dylan Minchenberg.
Have you launched a hospitality business that deserves some love? Think you could be Australia's next great business success story? Been in business for five years or less? Keep reading because you could be in with a chance to win a business-changing worthy prize. Here at Concrete Playground, we love championing the hospitality businesses that keep the country fed and entertained. We also understand that times are tough right now. That's why, in partnership with Square, Concrete Playground is giving away a marketing package worth $20,000. If you've been in business for five years or less, the Boost Your Business competition aims to shine a light on your brand. By entering the competition, you could be in with a chance to win a native editorial feature on Concrete Playground and get your business in front of our dedicated readers, as well as inclusion in Concrete Playground's hospitality directory. You'll also receive a social media push as we promote your business across various channels and help you reach engaged audiences with an eDM inclusion. Intrigued? Simply tell us in 25 words or less why your hospitality business is Australia's next great success story. For the full details, see the comp form below. T&Cs apply. [competition]1022571[/competition]
If you consider yourself a Lord of the Rings fan — of JRR Tolkien's books, Peter Jackson's movies or both — then one TV series has sat at the top of your most-anticipated list for the past few years. That'd be Amazon Studios' new LOTR show, bringing the beloved property from the page to the cinema to your TV. A five-season series was first announced in 2017, then received the official go-ahead in mid-2018. In case anyone thought that the new program would just be a simple rehash, it was revealed back in 2019 that it wouldn't simply be remaking events already covered by the movies, with show's official Twitter account hinting at spending time in Middle-earth's Second Age. If you're a little rusty on your LOTR lore, the Second Age lasted for 3441 years, and saw the initial rise and fall of Sauron, as well as a spate of wars over the coveted rings. Elves feature prominently, and there's plenty to cover, even if Tolkien's works didn't spend that much time on the period — largely outlining the main events in an appendix to the popular trilogy. Knowing when the new series will be set is all well and good, but that description is still rather scarce on details. Thankfully, Amazon has now dropped an official synopsis for the show that provides more information. "Amazon Studios' forthcoming series brings to screens for the very first time the heroic legends of the fabled Second Age of Middle-earth's history," it confirms. "This epic drama is set thousands of years before the events of JRR Tolkien's The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, and will take viewers back to an era in which great powers were forged, kingdoms rose to glory and fell to ruin, unlikely heroes were tested, hope hung by the finest of threads, and the greatest villain that ever flowed from Tolkien's pen threatened to cover all the world in darkness." https://twitter.com/LOTRonPrime/status/1349519737655611392 Yes, you can expect Sauron to feature, and to give the show's main figures some trouble. "Beginning in a time of relative peace, the series follows an ensemble cast of characters, both familiar and new, as they confront the long-feared re-emergence of evil to Middle-earth," the official synopsis continues. "From the darkest depths of the Misty Mountains, to the majestic forests of the elf-capital of Lindon, to the breathtaking island kingdom of Númenor, to the furthest reaches of the map, these kingdoms and characters will carve out legacies that live on long after they are gone," it also advises. Exactly when Amazon's series will arrive on screens hasn't yet been revealed but, pre-pandemic, it was originally expected to drop sometime in 2021. It is currently in production, though — in New Zealand, of course. A huge number of cast members have been announced, however — plus some talent behind the scenes. Among the actors traversing Middle-earth are Tom Budge (Judy & Punch), Morfydd Clark (Saint Maud), Ismael Cruz Córdova (The Undoing), Joseph Mawle (Game of Thrones), Cynthia Addai-Robinson (The Accountant), Maxim Baldry (Years and Years), Peter Mullan (Westworld), Benjamin Walker (Jessica Jones) and comedian Lenny Henry. And, the series is being overseen by showrunners and executive producers JD Payne and Patrick McKay, while filmmaker JA Bayona (A Monster Calls, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom) directs the first two episodes. Amazon's new Lord of the Rings series will hit screens sometime in the future — we'll update you with release details when they come to hand.
A grim historical drama that recreates France's final instance of trial by combat, The Last Duel can't be described as fun. It hinges upon the rape of Marguerite (Jodie Comer, Free Guy), wife of knight Jean de Carrouges (Matt Damon, Ford v Ferrari), by his ex-friend Jacques Le Gris (Adam Driver, Annette) — aka the event that sparked the joust — so that term will obviously never apply. Instead, the movie is exquisite in its 14th-century period staging. After a slightly slow start, it's as involving and affecting as it is weighty and savage, too. When the titular battle takes place, it's ferocious and vivid. And with a #MeToo spirit, the film heartbreakingly hammers home how poorly women were regarded — the rape is considered a crime against Carrouges' property rather than against Marguerite herself — making it an expectedly sombre affair from start to finish. The Last Duel must've been fun to make from a creative standpoint, however. Damon sports a shocking mullet, and Ben Affleck (The Way Back) dons a ridiculous blonde mop while hamming up every scene he's in (and demanding that Driver drop his pants), although that isn't why. Again, the brutal events seen don't earn that term, but teasing out Marguerite, Carrouges and Le Gris' varying perspectives is fascinating. Director Ridley Scott (All the Money in the World) and his screenwriters — Good Will Hunting Oscar-winners Damon and Affleck, plus acclaimed filmmaker Nicole Holofcener (Enough Said) — have clearly seen Rashomon, the on-screen benchmark in using clashing viewpoints. In their "he said, he said, she said" tale, journeying in the iconic Japanese film's footsteps proves captivating. It must've been an enjoyable challenge for its cast, too, terrible hairstyles and all; as moments repeat, so much of the movie's potency stems from minuscule differences in tone, angle, emphasis and physicality. "The truth according to Jean de Carrouges" proclaims The Last Duel's first chapter, adapting Eric Jager's 2004 book of the same name in the process. (Le Gris and Marguerite's segments, following in that order, receive the same introduction.) Even in his own instalment, Damon plays Carrouges as a scowling and serious soldier, and as petulant and entitled. He's also a victim in his own head. That attitude only grows as Le Gris finds favour with Count Pierre d'Alençon (Affleck), cousin to teenage King Charles VI (Alex Lawther, The Translators), and starts collecting his debts — including Carrouges' own. And when the knight marries the beautiful and well-educated Marguerite, it's purely a transaction. It also deepens his acrimony towards Le Gris long before the rape, after land promised in the dowry ends up in his former pal's hands via the smarmy Pierre. Still, Carrouges is instantly willing to fight when he hears about the sexual assault. That said, it's also just another battle against Le Gris and the Count, after taking them to court and the King over their property squabble. In Le Gris' chapter, where Driver broods with an intensity that's fierce even for him, Carrouges' joylessness and pettiness is given even more flesh. Also explored here: the Count's hedonism, the ambition and greed driving the opportunistic Le Gris, and the fixation he develops with Marguerite. Scott ensures that the rape lands like the horror it is, too, leaving no doubt of its force and coercion despite Le Gris' claims otherwise. When Marguerite's turn comes, the words "the truth" linger for a few seconds longer; what follows is the most nuanced and best third of the film, with immense thanks to Holofcener and Comer. The Last Duel is often blunt movie, but there's a wealth of subtlety to this chapter — and a world of nuance in Marguerite's struggles in general and after her attack at Le Gris' hands. Holofcener doesn't rely upon big speeches, and Comer doesn't trade in big feelings. In fact, they're both economical and poignant, conveying exactly what they need to in as precise a way as possible. Both recognise that the situation, and all that Marguerite endures, is inherently abhorrent and distressing, and let those emotions radiate organically rather than with overstressed compulsion. The film's structure helps enormously, of course. After showing Carrouges glower and pout, and Le Gris pair charm with manipulation, The Last Duel makes its allegiance to Marguerite plain. That happens from the outset, actually, with the film knowingly arriving in a world where gender equality is still far from the status quo. That's why all those tiny tweaks over the three chapters couldn't be savvier or more engaging. Everyone is always the hero of their own story, but The Last Duel commits that idea to film by showing what it means in such horrendous circumstances — a life-and-death matter for Marguerite, Carrouges and Le Gris alike. This is a movie about power that examines how it manifests in broad, societal and overarching ways as well as on an everyday and intimate basis, all through its trio of perspectives. The Last Duel releases 44 years after Scott debuted with 1977's The Duellists. That nice bit of lexical symmetry is also a reminder that history and conflict have long been in his wheelhouse. As his second movie illustrated — that'd be Alien — he's similarly no stranger to tales of female survival in unforgiving conditions. Plus in Blade Runner, his third film, Scott showed his talent for getting contemplative via spectacular imagery. Both opening and closing The Last Duel, the eponymous joust is firmly a spectacle here. Visceral, exciting, tense and thrilling, it's shot and staged with rhythm, flair, grit, gore and an edge-of-your-seat level of anxiety. But this Gladiator-topping scene would ring empty if almost everything around it — not just within it — wasn't so piercing. Come for vain and selfish men brawling on horseback, stay for a compelling interrogation of the kind of world that sees them as its leaders while constantly casting women aside. Image: Patrick Redmond. © 2021 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.
If your last holiday seems like a distant memory and you're yearning to get away from the bustle of city living, a new arrival to Aotearoa's tourism scene is set to provide some much-needed peace and quiet. Australian startup Unyoked was founded by twins Cam and Chris Grant back in 2016, as an off-the-grid experience bringing you the convenience and comforts of four solid walls, alongside the adventure, spontaneity and closeness-to-nature of camping. Since then, it's been a raging success, with a number of compact cabins located around NSW, Victoria and Queensland catering to burnt out city slickers looking for some R&R in remote — and sometimes pretty rugged — areas. It's all in the name of wellness: Cam and Chris believe spending time in the wild is beneficial to the body, mind and soul. The company's ethos is about total immersion in nature — something New Zealand has a lot of, making it a fairly natural fit as their next country to conquer. Launching next month, the company's first New Zealand cabins will be dotted around some of the country's most stunning and remote spots, including the tropical bush of the Bay of Islands, the rugged west coast of the North Island and around stunning Port Waikato coastline. The exact locations are still under wraps — and you'll be waiting to find out as Unyoked often only reveals the address of where you're headed until it's basically time to depart. It's all part of the adventure. You might choose to take yourself on a working retreat and let the fresh air and beautiful scenery spark inspiration — or leave the laptop at home and instead get around to finally reading that book. How you spend your time off the grid is up to you. And don't worry, it's not total Man Vs Wild vibes. There will be plenty of creature comforts to help elevate your time away. Unyoked promises they're working with some truly excellent local brands to prepare for the launch, including Raglan Roast coffee, McLeod's Brewery, J.M.R & Co, Webster's tea and Sleepyhead beds. That hints that there will at least be a good cuppa, a few brews and a damn comfy spot to lay your head during your getaway. Unyoked joins a host of other small hideaway-type booking accompanies including international juggernaut Airbnb, and local glamping specialists Canopy Camping. But the founders see it less as a site to nab accommodation, and more as a fully immersive experience beneficial to wellbeing. They say they hope users will treat a stay in nature as they do a fitness routine or meditation app. And to be honest, if our search for wellness sees us choosing between waking in New Zealand's breathtaking surroundings or sweating it out in a hot gym — we know which one we're choosing every time. Unyoked will launch its first New Zealand accommodation options in July 2022. For more information, head to the company's social media pages or the official website.
We have a quick chat with the people behind new theatre company Arthur about their new play Dirtyland, and their novel approach to funding the project. If you want to score some tickets to the play, and support new Australian theatre in the future, head to their funding page, but be quick, there's only one day left! Tell us a little about yourselves? We are Arthur and we are a brand new independent theatre company in Sydney. Our motto — well one of them — is organised chaos. This means, amongst other things, that we're pretty interested in having fun in making our work — and in delivering a fair amount of heart and a wallop of surprise to our audience. To split Arthur into personalities, we are Paige Rattray (director), Elise Hearst (writer) and Belinda Kelly (producer). You can meet Paige and Elise here, as they spruik for Arthur's first production, Dirtyland on the Pozible crowdfunding website. The Arthur people have a common link with the mighty Griffin Theatre Co in Kings Cross. Paige, a recent NIDA directing graduate, is a current resident director there. Elise, who has had residencies further afield including at The Royal Court, was resident writer in 2009, and Belinda is the company's Artistic Associate. Tell us a little about your project? We will be bringing the world premiere of Dirtyland to Sydney audiences in April as part of the inaugural Spare Room season at the New Theatre. This eight-character play is set in an unspecified village following the massacre of one half of the residents by the other. Nice. However, it's not just your standard post-apocolyptic tale. What should audiences expect? A play that is rowdy, entertaining, and, for those who fear an interval, pretty short. With live sound, epic atmospheres and striking visuals, the show is also pretty funny and very involving as you desperately barrack for our anti-heroes; willing them on to escape their dirty, dystopian world. Phew, that sounds full on, but fun no? What's the inspiration behind Arthur? We are setting up a new company because we want to make work that wouldn't otherwise see the light of day. Paige our director first came across Elise's writing while reading a stack of plays for a playwriting award. This was the beginning of Arthur. We didn't know it at the time, but we realized that this was the kind of work we needed to see and the only way it was going to happen was if we made it ourselves. Dirtyland is a cracking play that has generated a fair bit of industry interest, but the commercial reality is that a new play by a new writer with a cast of eight is never going to be a likely project to back for the main stage in Australia. What are your ambitions for the company in the future? We would like to stage 2-3 plays per year, and work on the development of a further 2 plays for future production. Arthur is very much interested in new Australian work, but also in creating devised work and text/performance/musical fusions. We plan to stay true to the company's touchstones of serious fun and organised chaos. Why have you taken the crowd-funding route? Because we only had three weeks' notice that we had secured a spot in the Spare Room season until rehearsals kicked off — yikes! The short lead time meant that we did not have access to more established forms of funding, such as government and foundation grants, nor the time to source company sponsorship. We decided to think laterally. I think we were actually drinking some beers at the pub and thinking of different models and really very much talking about old subscription models for publishing of books and so forth. The next day a few friends sent some links to crowdfunding websites, and we were off. It feels very much of the zeitgeist. How is it going? So far, so good. But — argh! We are 80% funded with a day left. Our target is $8000, so we have $1600 to go. Our target is high considering the amount of time until our project cuts off. In this all-or-nothing model, if you don't reach the target, the project receives none of the pledged funds. You also can't change the target or time limit once the project is away — so very nerve racking and we are obsessed with checking twenty times a day (give or take) to see if any more pledges have come in. It's going down to the wire!
You know what kind of music sucks? The kind people have heard of. You know what kind of music is good? The kind that is played live, by bands. Fortunately, Brisbane is starting to become a little bit famous for it’s underground gigs, and no one hosts one quite like Spunk. Actually, maybe Hand Games could give them a run for their money. Man, if those two organised a show together it would be amazing… Presenting Spunk X Handgames – Unofficial Big Sound Showcase. Starting at 7pm there will be a whole line-up of awesome music from the likes of Bored Nothing, Kieran Ryan, Ocean Party, Fascinator and others! Haven’t heard of them? That means they are cool. Have heard of them? That means you're cool. The showcase is on the 10th of September, starts at 7pm and will be jamming till 1.50am the next day. So, if you have $11 and you don’t have a bed time, why not come down, listen to some great music, and meet some just as great people. Check out Bored Nothing's 'Popcorn'
As a kid, did you ever dream about getting to roam around your favourite store after hours? As a fashion-loving adult, would you adore nothing more than being surrounded by your go-to label on an overnight stay? Thanks to House of Sunny, the latter is now becoming a reality — but for just two people for one night only, at its Hackney showroom and to celebrate London Fashion Week. The good news: this collaboration with Airbnb looks like the ultimate fashion fantasy, and it's also free. The trickier news: getting to slumber in a space that's basically House of Sunny's latest collection turned into a pop-up hotel means needing to be in London this week, because the stay is for Friday, September 22. If you've seen news of Airbnb's past one-off listings — think: Barbie's Malibu DreamHouse, the Ted Lasso pub, the Moulin Rouge! windmill, Gwyneth Paltrow's Montecito abode, Hobbiton, the Bluey house, the Paris theatre that inspired The Phantom of the Opera, the Scooby-Doo Mystery Machine, The Godfather mansion, the South Korean estate where BTS filmed In the Soop and the Sanderson sisters' Hocus Pocus cottage and Japan's World Heritage-listed Suganuma Village — then nothing about this situation should come as a surprise. Just like previous extremely short-term themed stays, this one is only up for reservations at a set time, too, with bookings opening at 3am AEST on Wednesday, September 20. With what's been dubbed Sunny's House, you'll kick back at a spot that's been given a stunning makeover — and you'll also get to improve your own style. The digs include an entrance that's all about greenery, taking its cues from the Hockney dress; a red and orange bedroom designed to look like the sundown cardigan; a crimson bathroom that splashes the colour all over the room, this time paying tribute to the La Belle dress; and hanging out in the cloud-adorned "wardrobe of dreams". Sunny Williams will be on hand to give you design tips one on one, and your time in the wardrobe of dreams will involve trying on House of Sunny threads. Also, due to the showroom's location, you'll be able to head beyond Sunny's House for brunch on Broadway Market, visiting the Columbia Road Flower Market and grabbing dinner. "House of Sunny's design and ethos has always been inspired by the intersection of culture, architecture, interior, and our community's love for travel, home and aesthetics. I am excited to welcome you to my house; this immersive Airbnb is unique, crafted and eye-catching, the perfect partnership of fashion and special stays," said Williams. As always, whoever scores the booking is responsible for their own travel, including if they have to get to and from London. Money literally can't buy the overnight stay, however — so best of luck to your busily clicking fingers. For more information about the Sunny's House sleepover on Airbnb, or to book at 3am AEST on Wednesday, September 20 for a stay on Friday, September 22, head to the Airbnb website. Images: Alix McIntosh. Feeling inspired to book a getaway? You can now book your next dream holiday through Concrete Playground Trips with deals on flights, stays and experiences at destinations all around the world.
A ride in one of London's famous black cabs is on every tourist's must-do list, but for locals and visitors alike, they're about to get a whole lot busier. Five years after obtaining a license to operate in the UK capital, ride-sharing alternative Uber has been told that its permit won't be renewed when it expires at the end of September. In a statement, transport regulator Transport for London has announced that they will not be granting the company a new private hire operator licence after concluding "that Uber London Limited is not fit and proper" to operate according to its regulations. Specifically, "TfL considers that Uber's approach and conduct demonstrate a lack of corporate responsibility in relation to a number of issues which have potential public safety and security implications." The government body raised particular concerns about Uber's approach to background checks and reporting serious criminal offences, as well as its use of "software that could be used to block regulatory bodies from gaining full access to the app and prevent officials from undertaking regulatory or law enforcement duties." Uber, which boasts more than 40,000 drivers in London, has 21 days to appeal the decision. The company will be allowed to continue operating until the appeals process has been completed. Unsurprisingly, in a city where the ride-sharing app is used by more than 3.5 million passengers, Uber hasn't taken the news lightly, responding that "London is closed to innovative companies who bring choice to consumers," according to the ABC. No stranger to regulatory woes, the current situation follows in the footsteps of similar troubles in other places around the globe — from withdrawing from Denmark and having its apps blocked in Italy, to struggling with the necessary reforms in the Northern Territory following an earlier ban and facing tougher legislation in Queensland. Via the ABC.
Hailing from the USA, the buffalo wing is a deep-fried chicken wing coated with cayenne pepper sauce, butter, herbs and spices, usually served with a range of dipping sauces. Brisbane seems to have an affinity with these finger-licking bites of spice and sauciness, so it's no surprise that there's plenty of places where you can get your fix of high quality buffalo wings. We've narrowed it down to the top four places where you can buy these spicy little suckers. From food trucks to German-style beer houses (of all places), here's our wrap up of the best buffalo wings in Brisbane.
When the middle of any and every year approaches, we all yearn for a holiday. Summer feels forever ago, for starters. Months of life's chaos always spark getaway cravings. A change of scenery starts calling, too. With May more than halfway through and winter almost upon us for 2024, cue the ideal timing for Virgin's midyear sale on international flights. Return fares are a focus in this excuse to pack your suitcase — so whether you're keen on a trip to Tokyo, Bali, Fiji, Samoa, Vanuatu or Queenstown, you'll get discounts on the legs both there and back. And while the sale includes fares from Saturday, June 1, 2024, you can plan a trip as far away as autumn 2025, with Friday, April 11, 2025 the last date covered. Return flights start at $315, which'll get you from Melbourne to Queenstown and back. Sydneysiders will pay $365 and Brisbanites $425. If Fiji awaits you, return fares begin at $449 from Sydney. Bali flights start at $499 from the Gold Coast, while Vanuatu flights kick off at $579 and Samoa trips from $599, both out of Brisbane. And Tokyo fares come in at $675 to begin, which is out of Cairns. If you're only looking to make the trip to Queenstown without heading back, that's the only destination where you can choose between a one-way and a return option. The sale prices are for economy light fares — and, as usual when it comes to flight sales, you'll need to get in quick. Virgin's discounted fares are now on offer until midnight on Friday, May 24 or sold out, whichever arrives first. Some legs do have the pick of a choice fare as well, at a more expensive — but still on sale — price. Virgin's 2024 midyear international sale runs until midnight AEST on Friday, May 24 — or until sold out. Feeling inspired to book a getaway? You can now book your next dream holiday through Concrete Playground Trips with deals on flights, stays and experiences at destinations all around the world.
It's the ultimate in work-life balance, an antidote to non-stop after-hours emails and Slack messages, and a guaranteed way to ensure what happens at work stays at work. In Apple TV+'s mind-bending new thriller series Severance — which plays like Black Mirror meets the Charlie Kaufman-penned Being John Malkovich and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, with Wes Anderson's aesthetic if he designed soulless office complexes, plus sprinklings of everything from George Orwell to also-excellent 2020 TV effort Devs — switching off when clocking off at Lumon Industries is easy. There's a brain implant for exactly that, and it's a condition of employment on "severed" floors. Accordingly, when quittin' time comes for Macrodata Refinement division employee Mark (Adam Scott, Big Little Lies), he physically steps into a tiny, shiny elevator to descend back into his after-hours life — but the version of him that works for Lumon won't recall anything beyond the company's walls. The instant that the one-person lift plummets at the end of the day, it goes back up for Mark's "innie", as his office-bound consciousness is dubbed. Voila, it's clocking-on time once more. For Mark's "outie", as the rest of his brain is labelled, the reverse occurs. Each day, he enters an elevator, hops out immediately, then drives to the suburban estate he calls home and repeats the process the next morning. Mourning the death of his wife, he's consciously chosen to separate his work and home selves in the most drastic of ways, giving him an eight-hour-a-day reprieve from his grief. But while it may sound like a dream escape — from Mark's pain, and for any employee eager to reclaim mental real estate from their job — this dark, twisty and instantly gripping series is firmly dystopian. Severance's attention-grabbing premise springs from creator Dan Erickson, a TV first-timer, and understands how most folks feel about office life. The show is knowing in its lead casting, too, given that Scott is best recognised for two workplace comedies: the joyous hug that is Parks and Recreation, as well as the acerbic, astute and soon-to-return Party Down. But as savvily and evocatively directed by Ben Stiller in its first three season-one episodes (and again in its last three, with Kissing Candice filmmaker Aoife McArdle helming three in the middle), Scott's new series dwells in 'be careful what you wish for' territory. For the part of Mark's brain that blanks out work, Severance initially seems like heaven. For the half that only knows the office, it's hell. The series begins with Mark two years into his time at Lumon, and newly installed as a division head after Petey (Yul Vazquez, The Outsider), his workplace BFF, leaves suddenly. One of his first tasks: onboarding Helly (Britt Lower, Future Man), who awakes in innie form for the first time sprawled atop a conference table. The camera gazes down, the eerie tone resembles leaping out of a nightmare but being unable to pick if you're still dreaming, and she hears Mark asking questions. Helly has queries herself, including: "am I livestock?". The severance process is jarring for newcomers, but they're expected to adjust swiftly. Innie Helly hasn't gotten that memo, however — and no, Party Down fans, neither her nor Mark are having fun yet. He grapples with his new role and the sudden loss of Petey, with his cold, unsevered boss Harmony Cobel (Patricia Arquette, The Act) and her omnipresent, also-unsevered assistant Mr Milchick (Tramell Tillman, Hunters) scrutinising every move, and his fellow severed MDR employees Irving (John Turturro, The Plot Against America) and Dylan (Zach Cherry, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings) handling Lumon life by being controlling and competitive, respectively. As for Helly's innie, she starts waging war on the new world order she definitely didn't sign up for, including writing briskly denied resignation requests to her outie. From The Truman Show and The Matrix to The Office and Office Space, Severance's list of influences is lengthy. It's Kafkaesque and Lynchian, too, and wandering its labyrinthine hallways — corridors designed like a maze to keep Lumon departments apart — is like being trapped in a surreal workplace version of Twin Peaks' red room. Indeed, every production design and cinematography choice enhances the feeling of being trapped in an off-kilter and deeply unnerving corporate purgatory. It's there in the 70s- and 80s-style technology, the green-and-white colour scheme, and the camera placement that flits between claustrophobic and cooly expansive. Lumon's innies don't have the choice, but Severance is also a series to willingly get lost in. Apple TV+ is dropping episodes week to week, following a two-instalment premiere, but the compulsion to lap up more of its unsettling mysteries springs quickly. Just like other standout shows of the past few months, such as Yellowjackets and Station Eleven, the desperation to piece together Severance's puzzles echoes strongly while watching — but this meticulously made head-trip is in no rush to unveil its answers. Given the wealth of wonders to be found within its frames — and the allure of its slow-drip secrets, including exactly what MDR is doing as its workers sort through screens of "happy" and "scary" numbers — it's hardly surprising that Severance isn't in a rush. It also boasts Christopher Walken (Percy vs Goliath) putting his distinctive on-screen presence to great use as another of Lumon's severed wager-earners, and is home to stellar performances across the board, including Scott's latest everyman turn, Turturro playing the office pedant with aplomb, a compellingly icy Arquette and the mesmerising Tillman. And, crucially, equally calling out, questioning and satirising today's ideas about work is always on the show's agenda. With a wry sense of humour, Severance sees the nine-to-five grind as the hellscape it can be, probes the control we've relinquished for paycheques and pokes fun at everything that's become normalised about the modern workplace. The hold our jobs have over our lives, the cult-like worship that large companies demand from underlings, the awkward office exceptions and social conventions, and these always clocked-on times in general: none of them escape this perceptive and addictive series' attention. Not so fond of the corporate treadmill? As it immerses, engages and intrigues, Severance truly understands. Check out the trailer for Severance below: The first three episodes of Severance's first season are available to stream via Apple TV+, with new episodes dropping weekly.
It's times like these that you can add a big summer gig to your diary, with Foo Fighters announcing their next trip Down Under for a two-country, eight-city stadium tour. Kicking off in Perth in late November to see out spring, then doing the rest of the Australian rounds in December before hitting New Zealand in January, the Dave Grohl-fronted rockers will embark on their first headline tour of Australia and NZ since 2018. It's also their first visit Down Under since drummer Taylor Hawkins passed away in March 2022. Foo Fighters were last in Australia that same month and year, playing a huge Geelong show to help launch Victoria's post-COVID-19 lockdowns live music program. The band unsurprisingly took a break from touring after Hawkins' death, only returning to live gigs just last month. Alongside Perth, they'll play Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, as well as Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington in Aotearoa. [caption id="attachment_903618" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jo via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] Picking up the sticks: ex-The Vandals, Devo, Guns N' Roses and A Perfect Circle drummer Josh Freese, taking on the likely-daunting task of being the touring drummer in a band led by Nirvana drummer Grohl. Freese's stint with the band was announced in May, ahead of their first tour dates. When they hit our shores, the new-look Foo Fighters will weave in tunes from their new record But Here We Are, which released on Friday, June 2. Of course, all the hits from across their career will get a whirl, with their current setlist including everything from 'This Is a Call', 'Big Me' and 'Monkey Wrench' through to 'Learn to Fly', 'The Pretender' and 'Best of You'. And, yes, 'Everlong', because it wouldn't be a Foo Fighters show without it. [caption id="attachment_903619" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mr Rossi vi Wikimedia Commons[/caption] 'I'll Stick Around', which is also on the list, isn't just a song title from the group's first album. Given that their new tour comes 28 years after that debut release in 1995, it perfectly sums up Foo Fighters' longevity. Over the years, they've made it Down Under a heap of times, released 11 studio albums including the just-dropped But Here We Are, and made 2022 horror movie Studio 666. When they take to the stage again in Australia, they'll do so with Queensland punk act The Chats in support on a stack of dates, Manchester's Hot Milk also playing with them on the east coast, Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers doing Melbourne and Body Type in Adelaide. In NZ, Dick Move are doing the honours, plus yet-to-be-announced special guests. FOO FIGHTERS AUSTRALIAN 2023 AND NEW ZEALAND 2024 TOUR DATES: Wednesday, November 29 — HBF Park, Perth, with The Chats and Teenage Jones Saturday, December 2 — Coopers Stadium, Adelaide, with The Chats and Body Type Monday, December 4 — AAMI Park, Melbourne, with Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers and Hot Milk Saturday, December 9 — Accor Stadium, Sydney, with The Chats and Hot Milk Tuesday, December 12 — Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, with The Chats and Hot Milk Saturday, January, 20 — GO Media Stadium Mt Smart, Auckland, with special guests and Dick Move Wednesday, January 24 — Orangetheory Stadium, Christchurch, with special guests and Dick Move Saturday, January 27 — Sky Stadium, Wellington, with special guests and Dick Move Foo Fighters are touring Australia in November and December 2023, and New Zealand in January 2024. Tickets go on sale on Thursday, June 15, with times varying per city — and an Amex pres-sale from Friday, June 9, then a Frontier pre-sale from Tuesday, June 13 from staggered times. Head to the tour website for further details. Top image: Scarlet Page.
All those positive little jerks like the OK sign, peace sign and thumbs up are about to have a pesky new emoji neighbour — Microsoft has added a middle finger to your array of textual gestures, as announced by Emojipedia (it's a thing). Scheduled for released mid-2015 and only available in the latest update to Microsoft's upcoming operating system, Windows 10, the middle finger emoji has been long awaited by flirty teens, Twitter trolls and the rest of us angry, angry folk for years. But not all platforms are on board with flipping the bird, with most keeping to the more polite high-five signs in the arsenal. Looks like Microsoft users will be the only customers able to tell each other to fuck off with a middle finger which honestly looks like an appendage meets... an apple. Figures. The emoji isn't technically new either; according to Quartz it was added by the Unicode Consortium (the not-for-profit organisation responsible for keeping certain standards' in software, emojis included) last year. But then it's up to the individual companies behind the smartphone in your hot little hand (Apple, Google) and also social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook to allow the emoji to show up. Apple and Google recently updated their emojis (with Apple especially making headlines for racially diversifying its range) but both left the bird out of it. No fun. Via Quartz.
A lighthearted tech agency, Aesthetec, is resurrecting the general concept of Tamagotchi — albeit updated for the 21st century — in the form of Little Robot Friends. That's right, soon the black pit of loneliness and despair occupying the centre of your existence could be filled by an 8-bit 32K Arduino-compatible microcontroller with eyes. The Kickstarter campaign for this magical initiative has been so popular, it's already far overshot its goal and is gaining more pledges as I type. Aesthetec has already created plenty of cute and pretty things, like their glowing, interactive SMILE cubes that have lit up both exhibitions and parties. What's so good about these new miniature robots Aesthetec have been developing for over a year? The little tykes respond to light, sound and touch, and even have programmable personalities, allowing their owners to get some early tech education. The ostensibly simple construction of each robot actually features touch-sensitive hair, RGB LED eyes, a sensor for ambient light, microcontroller, MEMs microphone and lrDA tranceiver. Watch the video below and you'll hear the cute noises they make when spoken to. Apparently their behaviour changes as well, depending on how you treat them — bringing back vivid memories of your plaintive Tamagotchi whining in the next room when you hadn't fed it for a whole day. These guys don't seem to complain, thankfully, but it's likely that with more development (and the inevitable sharing of new programming ideas as they enter the market), all manner of human-like personality traits will emerge, some good, some bad. As Aesthetec say on their website: "We know that most adults are really just kids in a grown up body. Everybody loves to play with blinking lights and musical toys. We create custom projects for events as well as bringing existing projects for temporary installations. Our projects are designed to inspire and bring out the smiles."
Australian design student Alexander Vittouris has managed to not only design an all-bamboo velobike, but has also incorporated the natural growth process of bamboos in the design of a fully sustainable vehicle, the Ajiro Bamboo Velobike. The Monash University student's design was a finalist at the 2011 Australian Design Awards. He uses the term 'growth mobility' to describe the incorporation of the "strength and rapid growth of bamboos" in the final structure of his design. Vittouris borrows from the principals of arborsculpture, or 'tree shaping' techniques, whereby the shape of a tree or plant is controlled and instructed by various techniques (leaf trimming, wiring and pruning, for example). In this case, Vittouris has used an inner skeleton structure that the bamboo grows around. He says the manipulation technique used becomes economical and environmentally-friendly, in comparison to the cost of metal and energy exerted in assembling a traditional bicycle frame. In his Australian Design Awards entry, he writes: "The skeleton frame is then proposed to be reused, for future plant generations as an ongoing cycle. In this case, the manipulation and intervention is more akin to a farming process, whereby bamboo plants need time for thorough establishment to form the required energy mass to produce new culms."
Over the past few years, Gelatissimo has whipped up a number of creative flavours, including frosé sorbet, gelato for dogs, and ginger beer, Weet-Bix, fairy bread, hot cross bun, cinnamon scroll, chocolate fudge and bubble tea gelato. Earlier this year, it made its own spin on Caramilk gelato, too. For its latest offering, the Australian dessert chain is still turning something that everyone loves into gelato. This time, though, it's taking inspiration from a drink. Can't choose between sipping a cold brew coffee made with oat milk or licking your way through a few scoops of ice cream? Gelatissimo has the solution. That very combination is on the menu from Tuesday, June 1, adding a new vegan special to its range — but only for a limited time. Exactly how long it'll be hanging around hasn't been revealed, so getting in quickly in recommended. Whether you opt for a cone or a cup, you'll be tucking into gelato made with oat milk that's specifically designed to go with coffee. And as for the caffeinated part of the flavour, that comes about via a concentrate made by steeping coffee beans in water for around 24 hours. You can get the cold brew with oat milk flavour in stores Australia-wide, including within your five-kilometre radius if you're in Melbourne. Or, Gelatissimo also delivers take-home packs via services such as Uber Eats, Deliveroo and Doordash. Gelatissimo's cold brew with oat milk gelato is available from all stores nationwide from Tuesday, June 1.
Since 2007, Korean designer Yvette Yang has been exploring the boundaries between image and text with 'fashion font'. Each year, she creates a new typography out of the season's fashion statements, mixing and matching ideas by hand to maximise the chance of discovering successful graphics. The designs are carefully compiled collages made up of jackets, pants, dresses, skirts, shirts, shoes, hats and jewellery that have been clipped, flipped, cropped and rotated. Yang's project aims to imbue the alphabet with a meaning derived from images, rather than from the arrangement and rearrangement of letters, as well as to record changes in fashion over time. 'Image is message . . . One alphabet delivers various messages,' her website states, 'as it contains many different items and trends.' 'Fashion font' has appeared in a high school textbook in South Korea and in publications far and wide, including Italy's Out of the Box and China's Modern Weekly. Yang has taught 'font image creating' workshops to students in Seoul and collaborated with Vogue South Korea on a font to present Chanel's 2009 collection. All five of the alphabets that she has put together since 2007 can be viewed in detail on her official site. Images: Fashion Font [Via PSFK]
Seeing the Great Barrier Reef sits on every Australian's bucket list, especially given the thriving underwater expanse is under threat from climate change. And while most of us have been content to simply swim, snorkel or sail through it — or stay in the Whitsundays and gaze out at it from a sandy beach — visitors to Queensland's far north will soon be able to spend a night underwater. Prepare to sleep under the sea at Reefsuites, the Great Barrier Reef's very own underwater hotel. It's not the first space of its type around the world — a resort in the Maldives, submerged villas in Dubai and a room at an African hotel all boast similar experiences — but it will be the first at this Aussie natural wonder. Due to open at a yet-to-be-revealed date this summer and built into a new floating pontoon called Reefword, Reefsuites will feature two underwater rooms that can sleep four in total, with guests able to choose between king double or twin single options. A stay onsite includes all meals and beverages, a night dining experience under the stars, a guided snorkelling tour and a semi-submarine tour. Of course, that's all well and good, but it's the floor-to-ceiling views of the Great Barrier Reef and its marine life that are the real drawcard — not only in the bedrooms, but in the attached private ensuites. Enjoying all of the above will start from $749 per night per person, so it doesn't come cheap — to the surprise of no one. If you'd be happy to sleep above sea level, that's also available on the pontoon's upper deck, catering for 28 people at $595 per night. As for the $8 million Reefworld pontoon itself, it's a partnership between Cruise Whitsundays and the Queensland Government, and will have the capacity to host 300 visitors per day. Measuring 12 metres by 45 metres, it'll be located at Hardy Reef off Airlie Beach, and will feature an underwater observatory. A hub for diving and snorkelling, it'll also offer guests access semi-submersible vessels. Announcing the project, Queensland Tourism Industry Development Minister Kate Jones noted that Reefworld and Reefsuites will add something new and unique to the popular tourist hotspot. "This will give more people the chance to see the Great Barrier Reef and will allow tourists to experience this natural wonder in new ways." The aim, of course, is to ramp up tourism, with an extra 60,000 visitors per year expected thanks to the new attraction. For more information about Reefsuites, visit the Cruise Whitsundays website. Images: Cruise Whitsundays.
Feel like you're always seeing shows in the same places, Brisbanites? Wondering why some of the big productions don't make their way to our theatres, even if they're playing in Sydney and Melbourne? There's a reason for both — but if a new proposed 1500 to 1700 seat venue comes to fruition, those problems might become a thing of the past. Released on January 16, Building Queensland's Infrastructure Pipeline Report recommends something that theatre, music and live performance fans have long been hoping for, and is rather obvious really: that the State Government builds a new performing arts centre. The city's spread of performing arts venues hasn't changed in quite some time, meaning that there's only so much room for so many performances. Chatter about another addition to the fold springs up every few years — but this report might just see that talk turn into action. The report cites the fact that Brisbane's major performing arts venues are currently at capacity, which is a pretty big deal. That means that they probably couldn't fit in something like The Book of Mormon (which has just opened in Melbourne this week) if they wanted to. For example, with the city's biggest venue — the Queensland Performing Arts Centre at South Bank — already staging events for Queensland Ballet, Queensland Theatre Company, Opera Queensland and Queensland Symphony Orchestra, it's pretty darn busy. That's not really a reason that stands up to growing pressure from the arts sector, including local, national and international companies looking to stage mid-sized and large-scale productions, or to audiences. And it will only continue to be an issue into the future. No further specifics are offered, although putting together a complete detailed business case is outlined as the next step (albeit without a timeline). And as we mentioned above, the government has played in this territory before, with nothing actually eventuating. Debate has raged about the size of any new venue over the years, with preferences ranging from 500 to 1500 seats. And while the latter was included in the winning Queen's Wharf proposal — aka the space that's about to drastically change on the northern side of the river in the CBD — it's no longer mentioned on the project's website. Via Brisbane Times.
Not all that long ago, the idea of getting cosy on your couch, clicking a few buttons, and having thousands of films and television shows at your fingertips seemed like something out of science fiction. Now, it's just an ordinary night — whether you're virtually gathering the gang to text along, cuddling up to your significant other or shutting the world out for some much needed me-time. Of course, given the wealth of options to choose from, there's nothing ordinary about making a date with your chosen streaming platform. The question isn't "should I watch something?" — it's "what on earth should I choose?". Hundreds of titles are added to Australia's online viewing services each and every month, all vying for a spot on your must-see list. And, so you don't spend 45 minutes scrolling and then being too tired to actually commit to watching anything, we're here to help. From the latest and greatest to old favourites, here are our picks for your streaming queue from December (yes, we're assuming you've already watched Sound of Metal, Mank and The Flight Attendant). BRAND NEW STUFF TO WATCH https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ord7gP151vk MA RAINEY'S BLACK BOTTOM Chadwick Boseman, Oscar-winner. That combination of words is very likely to become a posthumous reality for the late, great actor, thanks to his last screen role. Boseman is just that phenomenal in Ma Rainey's Black Bottom. He has earned that term before in Get on Up, Black Panther and Da 5 Bloods, but his performance in this stage-to-screen production is such a powerhouse effort that it's like watching a cascading waterfall drown out almost everything around it. He plays trumpeter Levee Green, who is part of the eponymous Ma Rainey's (Viola Davis, Widows) band. On a 1920s day, the always-nattering, big-dreaming musician joins Ma — who isn't just a fictional character, and was known as the Mother of Blues — and the rest of his colleagues for a recording session. Temperatures and tempers rise in tandem in the Chicago studio, with Levee and Ma rarely seeing eye to eye on any topic. Davis is in thundering, hot-blooded form, while Colman Domingo (If Beale Street Could Talk) and Glynn Turman (Fargo) also leave a firm impression. It's impossible take your eyes off of the slinkily magnetic Boseman though, as would prove the case even if he was still alive to see the film's release. Adapting the play of the same name by August Wilson (Fences), director George C. Wolfe (The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks) lets Boseman farewell the screen with one helluva bang. Ma Rainey's Black Bottom is available to stream via Netflix. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7X0O9lZ_jQ WOLFWALKERS From FernGully: the Last Rainforest to Moana — and including everything from Studio Ghibli's Pom Poko and Princess Mononoke to Pixar's Wall-E, too — many an animated movie has combined eye-catching frames with an important message about the environment. Irish film Wolfwalkers joins the pile and rockets to the top, thanks to one of the most visually and emotionally enchanting features of the year. Story-wise, it follows young wannabe hunter Robyn Goodfellowe (Honor Kneafsey, The Bookshop). In a tale set centuries ago, she moves to Ireland with her father Bill (Sean Bean, Snowpiercer) when he's hired to eradicate the last wolf pack lurking in the woods. The locals, as overseen by an English Lord Protector (Simon McBurney, The Loudest Voice), want to wipe out the wolves so that they can tear down the forest in the name of progress. But, after sneaking out to go exploring, Robyn befriends a girl called Mebh (feature first-timer Eva Whittaker) who just might be a member of a mythical tribe that's able to shapeshift into the creatures while they're dreaming. As well as a rousing eco-conscious narrative, Wolfwalkers delivers distinctive and delightful animation. Expect earthy, natural colours, with greens, browns, oranges and yellows dancing across the screen. Expect a line-heavy visual style, too, which is almost reminiscent of woodblock prints. And, expect another all-round beauty from co-director Tomm Moore, who also helmed the Oscar-nominated and equally beautiful duo The Secret of Kells and Song of the Sea. Wolfwalkers is available to stream via Apple TV+. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAveuCPBYSw I'M YOUR WOMAN Normally, when a criminal's latest job takes a turn for the worst for whatever reason, the film that tells their tale follows their part in the aftermath. I'm Your Woman isn't that movie. It looks like that kind of feature. It resembles one with exacting precision. But that isn't the narrative that's on offer here, and refreshingly so. Directed and co-written by Julia Hart (Fast Colour) with such a supreme handling of style, story and genre, this is a 70s-esque crime affair, but it focuses on Jean (Rachel Brosnahan, The Marvelous Mrs Maisel), the wife of a thief who has gone missing after a big score goes south. The aggrieved gangsters chasing her husband are also unlikely to be kind to Jean and her baby, so she's whisked off into hiding in the middle of the night with zero notice. That's a drastic change that she's unprepared to cope with — but, with help from the her spouse's ex-acquaintance Cal (Arinzé Kene, How to Build a Girl), she also discovers that she's far more resilient than she thinks. Compelling from the moment it opens with Jean clad in a magenta robe, add I'm Your Woman to the pile of movies that serves up a big shift in a familiar genre (see also: Sylvie's Love below), and does so in a spectacular fashion. I'm Your Woman is available to stream via Amazon Prime Video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcqItifbNUA SMALL AXE British filmmaker Steve McQueen hasn't directed a bad movie — and, dropping five new features as part of the Small Axe anthology, that isn't changing now. The director of Hunger, Shame, 12 Years a Slave and Widows gifts viewers a quintet of films that are as exceptional as anything he's ever made, with every entry in this new series taking place in England, in the 60s, 70s and 80s, with London's West Indian community at its centre. The first, Mangrove, tells an infuriating true tale about a police campaign to target a Caribbean restaurant in Notting Hill. From there, Lovers Rock spends time at a house party as two attendees dance into each other's orbits, and Red, White and Blue follows a young forensic scientist who decides to join the force to change it from the inside. Next, Alex Wheatle explores the life of the award-winning writer of the same name, while Education unpacks unofficial moves to segregate children of colour in schools. There's no weak link here — only stunning, stirring, standout cinema that tells blistering tales about Black London residents doing everything it takes to resist their racist treatment. Every film is sumptuously shot, too, thanks to cinematographer Shabier Kirchner (Bull), and the cast spans everyone from Lost in Space's Shaun Parkes and Black Panther's Letitia Wright to Star Wars' John Boyega. All five Small Axe films are available to stream via Binge. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gs--6c7Hn_A SOUL Released earlier in 2020, Onward definitely wasn't Pixar's best film — but Soul, its straight-to-streaming latest movie, instantly contends for the title. The beloved animation studio has always excelled when it takes big leaps. Especially now, 25 years into its filmmaking tenure, its features prove particularly enchanting when they're filled with surprises (viewers have become accustomed to seeing toys, fish, rats and robots have feelings, after all). On paper, Soul initially seems similar to Inside Out, but switching in souls for emotions. It swaps in voice work by Tina Fey for Amy Poehler, too, and both movies are helmed by director Peter Docter, so there's more than one reason for the comparison. But to the delight of viewers of all ages, Soul is a smart, tender and contemplative piece of stunning filmmaking all on its own terms. It's Pixar at its most existential, and with a strikingly percussive soundtrack by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross to further help it stand out. At its centre sits aspiring jazz musician-turned-music teacher Joe (Jamie Foxx, Just Mercy). Just as he's about to get his big break, he falls down a manhole, his soul leaves his body, and he's desperate to get back to chase his dreams. But that's not how things work, and he's saddled with mentoring apathetic and cynical soul 22 (the always hilarious Fey) in his quest to reclaim his life. Soul is available to stream via Disney+ from Friday, December 25. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmXPgbrI2tU FOUR WEDDINGS AND A FUNERAL Mindy Kaling knows a thing or two about romantic comedies. For six seasons between 2012–17, she made an entertaining and often also very amusing TV sitcom that paid tribute to them in a big way, with her on-screen character frequently navigating situations that referenced plenty of classic flicks. To do just that, Kaling has clearly watched a plethora of rom-coms in her time — and she's the perfect person to turn the Hugh Grant and Andie MacDowell-starring early 90s favourite Four Weddings and a Funeral into a new and updated show. First, a word of (very obvious) warning: the ten-episode miniseries that results won't dislodge the original movie as your favourite version of the type of tale. That said, it's pleasant, extremely watchable (and bingeable), and makes enough twists to the premise to carve its own niche. It's also nicely cast, featuring Game of Thrones' Nathalie Emmanuel, plus Rebecca Rittenhouse (The Mindy Project), Brandon Mychal Smith (You're the Worst) and John Reynolds (Search Party), as some of the folks involved in four ceremonies celebrating nuptials, and one farewell. Four Weddings and a Funeral is available to stream via Stan. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbjakuJZgww SYLVIE'S LOVE The year is 1957 when Sylvie (Tessa Thompson, Westworld) and Robert (Nnamdi Asomugha, Hello, My Name Is Doris) meet in Harlem. She's working in her father's record store, he asks about the 'help wanted' sign in the window, and her dad (Lance Reddick, John Wick: Chapter 3 — Parabellum) gives him the job. The already-engaged Sylvie wants to be a TV producer, a dream everyone thinks is out of reach for a Black woman in the era, but she's determined. Robert is an impressive jazz musician; however, it isn't paying the bills and he isn't certain where his career is going to go. From there, writer/director Eugene Ashe (Homecoming) traverses their ups and downs, both professionally and personally. He does so in swoon-worthy fashion, in fact, leaping wholeheartedly into melodrama, eagerly ramping up the emotion at every moment, and adding a film to the genre that focuses on people of colour in a way that simply hasn't been done before. Love radiates from the screen, whether Sylvie and Robert are feeling it together or yearning with it while apart — and in the affection that Ashe clearly has for making a gorgeous-looking, deeply moving, quietly revolutionary movie that feels like a throwback to six-plus decades ago. Sylvie's Love is available to stream via Amazon Prime Video from Friday, December 25. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=veUqfcyZ_Bo DEATH TO 2020 Across its five seasons to date, Black Mirror has dedicated 22 episodes to imagining dystopian futures. It makes for compelling, entertaining and often disturbing viewing; however, none of the sci-fi anthology series' predictions are particularly pretty. But, for all of its prognosticating, the Charlie Brooker-created show didn't foresee 2020's chaos. And now we've all endured this hectic year and are about to see it come to an end (finally, thankfully, and good riddance to it), the team behind Black Mirror has something to say about the whole mess. The end result: new comedy special called Death to 2020. Just before this garbage fire of a year fades away forever, the show will look back on the year via a documentary-style program that uses real-life archival footage from the past 12 months. It'll also deploy narration from fictitious characters played by the high-profile likes of Samuel L Jackson, Hugh Grant, Lisa Kudrow, Kumail Nanjiani, Tracey Ullman, Samson Kayo, Leslie Jones, Diane Morgan, Cristin Milioti and Joe Keery, all chatting to camera and — based on the trailer — inhabiting the types of folks that 2020 has been full of. Yes, it's the year's last must-watch show. Death to 2020 is available to stream via Netflix from 6pm AEST on Sunday, December 27. A WORLD OF CALM It's not every day that you get to sit on your couch, stare at scenic sights, lose yourself in an on-screen taste of a specific story and a distinctive patch of the world, and listen to Keanu Reeves' inimitable voice all at the same time. Actually, thanks to new documentary series A World of Calm, you could now really stream and re-stream the above daily if you want to. The series is based on the immensely popular (and self-explanatory) Calm app, so it's designed to be as soothing as possible. It's also made by HBO, in the US network's first venture into this kind of lifestyle content. Although delivered via individual episodes rather than as one big long marathon (compared to an extended train documentary or a tour of the Cadbury chocolate factory, for instance), it falls under the recent slow TV trend, too — because you'll be peacefully guided through a different topic in each chapter. Idris Elba, Oscar Isaac, Nicole Kidman, Zoë Kravitz, Kate Winslet, Lucy Liu, Cillian Murphy, Priyanka Chopra and two-time Oscar-winner Mahershala Ali also lend their voices to the show, chatting through everything from woodworking to noodles, plus coral, bird migration, space, snow, water and horses. New episodes of A World of Calm are available to stream via SBS On Demand every day from Friday, December 25–Sunday, January 4. CULT CLASSICS TO REVISIT AND REDISCOVER https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPypBiQz_OM ELEMENTARY They're called procedurals: TV shows that work their way through the investigation of different crimes, usually focusing on a new case in every episode. You're currently thinking of plenty (every take on Law & Order, for example), because they're that much of a television staple. And, they're often entertaining in an undemanding but easily addictive way. Viewers know a series' particular formula from episode one, but seeing how it plays out again and again with the same inquisitive characters is what keeps you watching. Accordingly, bringing Sherlock Holmes into this format was always going to be a great move — and, as set in modern-day Manhattan, and focusing on a just-out-of-rehab version of the ex-Scotland Yard, now-New York Police Department consultant, Elementary doesn't disappoint. The show's casting is a big part of its appeal, with Jonny Lee Miller getting sleuthing (as his co-star in Danny Boyle's stage version of Frankenstein, Benedict Cumberbatch, obviously did too in the British-made Sherlock) and the always-welcome Lucy Liu playing Dr Joan Watson. When Moriarty shows up — this is a Sherlock story, after all, so it's inevitable — the series also keeps serving up twists. All seven seasons of Elementary are available to stream via Amazon Prime Video.
In April, Australia scored a promise of international hotel luxury, when global chain Waldorf Astoria announced plans to open its first Aussie outpost in Sydney in 2025. Then, we learned famed Marriott-owned hotel brand the Ritz-Carlton is set to open a sprawling property on the Gold Coast by 2026. But before that all comes to pass, it's Melbourne's turn for a slice of the action, with the Ritz-Carlton also gearing up to launch in the Victorian capital in March 2023. Perhaps best known for its iconic Manhattan hotel that overlooks Central Park and has starred numerous times on the big screen, the Ritz-Carlton will now be making its home on Lonsdale Street. And it's on track to be Australia's tallest hotel, soaring high at an ear-popping 80 storeys, with 257 guest rooms and suites. [caption id="attachment_881631" align="alignnone" width="1920"] By Gabriel Saunders[/caption] The hotel itself will have all the high-end trimmings you could imagine, including marble bathrooms, custom-made leather and velvet furniture, and a heated indoor infinity pool with views across the city. The glam lobby is perched all the way up on that 80th floor, too. It's also set to deliver some primo food and drink offerings, if the newly-appointed culinary team is anything to go by. Taking the reins as Executive Chef is the renowned Michael Greenlaw, who counts stints at London's Bibendum, Gilt in New York and Vue de Monde on his star-studded resume. Backing him in the role of Culinary Advisor is Aussie food legend, and the celebrated chef behind classics like Peninsula Bistro and Marque, Mark Best. The Ritz-Carlton Melbourne's upscale dining offering will include a restaurant perched high up on the 80th floor, open to both hotel guests and visitors. [caption id="attachment_881634" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Best and Greenlaw[/caption] Find the Ritz-Carlton Melbourne at 650 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne, from March 2023. We'll share more details as they drop.
Ever woken up from a deep sleep, only to forget what you were dreaming about? Well the problem may be that your dreams just aren't memorable enough. A new iPhone app can solve this problem, as it apparently allows sleepers to control their own dreams. The app, named Yumemiru (translates to "see the dream" in English), uses a microphone to somehow detect when you are in your deepest sleep and most prone to mental influence. It then plays a soundtrack according to which dream scenario you have selected. Yumemiru currently offers eight different scenarios for users to choose from. These include a walk through the forest, a lazy day at the beach, getting rich, flying, and falling in love. Importantly, the romantic scenario has options for both men and women. Although this is a fascinating concept, I think that some of these scenarios are pretty pedestrian. If I'm going to stimulate my own dreams, I want my subconscious to come out with both guns blazing. There should be an option that allows you to become Godzilla or rob a bank. Regardless, give this app a try and see if your sleeps become any more exciting. After all, they may be so enjoyable that you'll never want to wake up. [via PSFK]
Where else but Sydney Film Festival could host the world premiere of The Pool? The documentary hails from Ian Darling, the Australian director behind The Final Quarter, and sports another supremely Sydney-centric focus: Bondi Icebergs. Think of a pool in the Harbour City, and this frequently photographed place for a dip likely springs to mind. So, Darling has spent a year charting its ins and outs to create this cinematic portrait, which will debut at SFF in 2024. The Pool is one of 17 titles that've been announced by the festival team ahead of dropping the event's full 71st-annual program in early May. Movie lovers will be watching the hundreds of flicks that make the final cut to kick off winter, from Wednesday, June 5–Sunday, June 16 — and including The Pool on its lineup likely marks the first time that anyone wished that the film fest took place in summer instead. When you're not exploring a Sydney icon at a Sydney icon — because both Bondi Icebergs and SFF are that pivotal to the New South Wales capital — you can watch your way through a carefully curated roster of flicks overseen by long-running Sydney Film Festival Director Nashen Moodley. As announced back in January, 2024's event will also boast the world's largest cash prize for Indigenous filmmaking, aka the new $35,000 First Nations Award. One title that'll be competing for the gong in its inaugural year is The Mountain, the directorial debut of New Zealand actor Rachel House, with the Heartbreak High and Hunt for the Wilderpeople star following three kids who set off on an adventure (yes, their destination is right there in the title). Also on the bill so far: horror classic Hellraiser, but not as audiences know it. The movie remains unchanged, but this is a Hear My Eyes screening, which means that it comes with a brand-new live score. Hieroglyphic Being aka Jamal Moss is doing all-new tunes, while visual artist Robin Fox will add a live laser performance — and the event hits Sydney after also being a part of Melbourne's RISING Festival. Suspended Time, the latest from French director Olivier Assayas (Irma Vep), is another big highlight. The drama is about a filmmaker and his brother in COVID-19 lockdown in their childhood home, is drawn from Assayas' own experiences and, although actors play the characters, features the director reading narration that's based on his own diary. Or, there's documentary The Contestant, about an IRL person on a Japanese television show who wasn't aware that his months spent naked in a room were being broadcast. From there, cinephiles can also start looking forward to Frederick Wiseman's (City Hall) Menus-Plaisirs — Les Troisgros, which brings his observational gaze to three-Michelin-star French restaurant; COPA '71, about the 1971 Women's World Cup; Green Border, with Mr Jones' Agnieszka Holland honing in on the refugee experience on the Belarus–Poland border; and In Vitro, an Aussie sci-fi thriller about a couple doing biotech experiments. Keen to see a restaurant-set dramedy starring Rooney Mara (Women Talking) and directed by Alonso Ruizpalacios (A Cop Movie). La Cocina has you covered. Interested in the newest film out of Bhutan by Pawo Choyning Dorji, whose Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom was nominated for an Oscar? That's where The Monk and the Gun comes in. If you're eager for a movie from Norway that features conversations about getting intimate — and dreams about David Bowie — then Sex is the answer. And, for those who've ever wondered about the hippos in Pablo Escobar's illegally imported private zoo, check out Pepe. For now, the list wraps up with Hungarian culture-war satire Explanation for Everything, Korean family drama House of the Seasons and the Kenya-set The Battle for Laikipia — plus The Rye Horn, which is about a midwife and won Best Film at the San Sebastián International Film Festival. "This first look at the 2024 program delves into the profound and the peculiar, from remarkable true stories to works of fiction and ingenious hybrid films that land somewhere in between," said Moodley. "This selection, though diverse in setting and scope, reveals some common themes: resilience foremost amongst them. These films offer a taste of a Festival program rich with discovery and insight, poised to captivate and inspire." Sydney Film Festival 2024 takes place from Wednesday, June 5–Sunday, June 16 at various cinemas and venues around Sydney. For more information, head to the festival's website — and check back here on Wednesday, May 8 for the full 2024 lineup.
Something delightful has been happening in cinemas across the country. After periods spent empty during the pandemic, with projectors silent, theatres bare and the smell of popcorn fading, Australian picture palaces are back in business — at present, spanning both big chains and smaller independent sites in Melbourne and Brisbane. During COVID-19 lockdowns, no one was short on things to watch, of course. In fact, you probably feel like you've streamed every movie ever made, including new releases, comedies, music documentaries, Studio Ghibli's animated fare and Nicolas Cage-starring flicks. But, even if you've spent all your time of late glued to your small screen, we're betting you just can't wait to sit in a darkened room and soak up the splendour of the bigger version. Thankfully, plenty of new films are hitting cinemas so that you can do just that — and we've rounded up, watched and reviewed everything on offer this week. BLACK WIDOW Closure is a beautiful thing. It's also not something that a 24-film-and-growing franchise tends to serve up often. Since 2008, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has operated with the opposite aim — extending and expanding the series at every turn, delivering episodic instalments that keep viewers hanging for the next flick, and endeavouring to ensure that the superhero saga blasts onwards forever. But it's hard to tick those boxes when you're making a movie about a character whose fate is already known. Audiences have seen where Natasha Romanoff's (Scarlett Johansson, Marriage Story) story finishes thanks to Avengers: Endgame, so Black Widow doesn't need to lay the groundwork for more films to follow. It's inexcusable that it has taken so long for the assassin-turned-Avenger to get her own solo outing. It's indefensible that this is just the second Marvel feature to solely focus on a female figure, too. But, unlike the missed opportunity that was Captain Marvel, Black Widow gives its namesake a thrilling big-screen outing, in no small part because it needn't waste time setting up a Black Widow sequel. Instead, the pandemic-delayed movie spends its 143 minutes doing what more MCU flicks should: building character, focusing on relationships, fleshing out its chosen world and making every inch of its narrative feel lived-in. The end result feels like a self-contained film, rather than just one chapter in a never-ending tale — which gives it the space to confidently blend family dramas with espionage antics, and to do justice to both parts of that equation. Sporting an impressive cast that also includes Florence Pugh (Little Women), David Harbour (Stranger Things) and Rachel Weisz (The Favourite), Black Widow begins in 1995, in small-town Ohio. Here, Harbour and Weisz play Alexei and Melina, parents to young Natasha (Ever Anderson, Resident Evil: The Final Chapter) and Yelena (Violet McGraw, Doctor Sleep), and the portrait of all-American domesticity — or that's the ruse, at least. The film doesn't revel in small-town life, neighbourhood playtimes, 'American Pie' sing-alongs and an existence that could've been ripped from The Americans for too long, however, with the quartet soon en route back to Russia via Cuba at shady puppetmaster Dreykov's (Ray Winstone, Cats) beckoning. When the action then jumps forward to 2016, and to the aftermath of that year's Captain America: Civil War, Natasha hasn't seen her faux family for decades. On the run from the authorities, she isn't palling around with the Avengers, either, with the superheroes all going their separate ways. Then the adult Yelena (Pugh) reaches out, because she too has fled her own powers-that-be: Dreykov, the fellow all-female hit squad she's been part of for the last 21 years, and the mind-control techniques that've kept her compliant and killing. There's an unmistakable air of Bourne and Bond to Black Widow from there, but this deftly satisfying flick doesn't trade the MCU's blueprints for other franchises' templates. With Australian filmmaker Cate Shortland (Somersault, Lore and Berlin Syndrome) in the director's chair, this welcome addition to the franchise spins a thoughtfully weighty story about women trapped at the mercy of others and fighting to regain their agency. Read our full review. THE SPARKS BROTHERS "All I do now is dick around" is an exquisite song lyric and, in Sparks' 2006 single 'Dick Around', it's sung with the operatic enthusiasm it demands. It's also a line that resounds with both humour and truth when uttered by Russell Mael, who, with elder brother Ron, has been crafting art-pop ditties as irreverent and melodic as this wonderful track since 1969. Sparks haven't been dicking around over that lengthy period. They currently have 25 albums to their name, and they've taken on almost every genre of music there is in their highly acerbic fashion. That said, their tunes are clearly the biggest labour of love possible, especially as the enigmatic duo has always lingered outside the mainstream. They've had some chart success, including mid-70s hit 'This Town Ain't Big Enough for the Both of Us', Giorgio Moroder collaboration and disco standout 'The Number One Song in Heaven', and the supremely 80s 'Cool Places'. They're beloved by everyone from Beck and 'Weird Al' Yankovic to Jason Schwartzman and Mike Myers, too. They're the band that all your favourite bands, actors and comedians can't get enough of, but they're hardly a household name — and yet, decade after decade, the Maels have kept playing around to make the smart, hilarious and offbeat songs they obviously personally adore. Everyone else should love Sparks' idiosyncratic earworms as well — and, even for those who've never heard of the band before, that's the outcome after watching The Sparks Brothers. Edgar Wright, one of the group's unabashed super fans, has turned his overflowing affection into an exceptional documentary. It's the Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz and Baby Driver's first factual effort, and it's even more charming and delightful than the films he's best known for. That said, it'd be hard to mess up a movie about Sparks, purely given how much material there is to work with. Russell and Ron, the former sporting shaggier hair and the latter donning a pencil-thin moustache rather than the Charlie Chaplin-style top lip he's brandished for much of his career, are also heavenly interviewees. That's the thing about these now-septuagenarian siblings, every Sparks tune they've ever blasted out into the world, and this comprehensive yet always accessible film that's instantly one of 2021's best: they're all joyously, fabulously, eccentrically fun to an infectious and buoyant degree. The world has always needed more Sparks on a bigger stage; now, to the benefit of everyone that's ever loved them and anyone just discovering them, it's stopped dicking around and is finally delivering Read our full review. DATING AMBER "You look like a shit version of that guy from Blur". Before his reluctant first kiss, they're the exact words that the shy Eddie (Fionn O'Shea, Normal People) hears from the gum-chewing Tracey (Emma Willis, Vikings) — and the rest of their behind-the-building encounter, which is the result of pure peer pressure from Eddie's bullying classmates and zero actual desire on his own part, goes just as well. Afterwards, he soon finds himself face to face with another girl from his grade. This time, the similarly picked-on Amber (Lola Petticrew, A Bump Along the Way) has a far different assessment. In fact, she has a proposal, suggesting that they start dating each other to stop their peers from constantly taunting them about their sexuality. She's gay, she's picked that Eddie is as well, and this arrangement will help them stay in the closet in County Kildare circa 1995 until they finish the school year, graduate, and then both chase different futures. Plucky, no-nonsense and enterprising — she makes cash by renting out caravans in the park her widowed mother (Simone Kirby, Calm with Horses) runs to teens looking for somewhere to have sex — Amber wants to move to London to open "an anarchist bookshop with franchise potential". Quiet, determined to convince himself and the world that he's straight, and accustomed to tiptoeing around his parents' (This Way Up's Sharon Horgan and Extra Ordinary's Barry Ward) unhappy marriage, Eddie is training to join the military just like his dad, a path he clearly doesn't really want to follow. A warm and witty hormone-fuelled coming-of-age tale about seeking happiness, following your heart and breaking free of others' expectations, Dating Amber charts Eddie and Amber's faux relationship — including the camaraderie they feel as they play their parts, the comic subterfuge that comes with pretending they're the school's hottest couple, and the complications that spring the longer their charade continues. In another rom-com, this charming pair would simply be the queer best friends always by the straight protagonist's side, but thankfully that isn't the film that writer/director David Freyne brings to the screen. Instead, making his second feature after impressive zombie flick The Cured (and demonstrating his ability to hop seamlessly between genres in the process), the Irish filmmaker crafts a movie that's tender, thoughtful, perceptive and hilarious. His knack for 90s-era teen dialogue helps every exchange feel authentic, especially in the schoolyard. Even with the picture clocking in at a mere 92 minutes, the time and space he gives his central characters, as well as their hopes, dreams, fears and yearnings, is always noticeable. He helms a sunny but never visually glossy movie, too; however, alongside his insightful screenplay, he's served best by his core duo. In this amusing and astute gem, O'Shea and Petticrew put in wonderfully nuanced and layered performances that bring depth and emotion to every frame, and give them both a strong calling card for future roles. If you're wondering what else is currently screening in cinemas — or has been lately — check out our rundown of new films released in Australia on January 1, January 7, January 14, January 21 and January 28; February 4, February 11, February 18 and February 25; March 4, March 11, March 18 and March 25; and April 1, April 8, April 15, April 22 and April 29; May 6, May 13, May 20 and May 27; June 3, June 10, June 17 and June 24; and July 1. You can also read our full reviews of a heap of recent movies, such as Chaos Walking, Raya and the Last Dragon, Max Richter's Sleep, Judas and the Black Messiah, Girls Can't Surf, French Exit, Saint Maud, Godzilla vs Kong, The Painter and the Thief, Nobody, The Father, Willy's Wonderland, Collective, Voyagers, Gunda, Supernova, The Dissident, The United States vs Billie Holiday, First Cow, Wrath of Man, Locked Down, The Perfect Candidate, Those Who Wish Me Dead, Spiral: From the Book of Saw, Ema, A Quiet Place Part II, Cruella, My Name Is Gulpilil, Lapsis, The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, Fast and Furious 9, Valerie Taylor: Playing with Sharks, In the Heights, Herself and Little Joe.
Sometimes, vacations are the result of weeks, months and years of planning. At other times, they simply come about because an airline has cheap flights on offer. Both are perfectly acceptable ways to lock in a getaway, and you've likely had trips happen thanks to each — however, if you're ready to book your next getaway now based on Jetstar's latest specials, the airline is doing a big 48-hour sale with cheap fares to Hawaii, Thailand, Japan, Vietnam and New Zealand, among other destinations. Actually, the Australian carrier is doing discounted flights across Australia as well as to international spots — but venturing to other countries is on everyone's must-do list again after the past couple of years. Wherever you'd like to head, the key part of this sale is coming home without paying for the flight. Yes, Jetstar's 'return for free' sale is back again. Running from 12am AEDT on Thursday, October 27–11.59pm AEDT on Friday, October 28, or until sold out, it really is as straightforward as it sounds. Whatever flights you opt for as part of the sale, you'll get the return fare for nothing. On the list: fares from Sydney to Honolulu from $479 return, from Melbourne to Ho Chi Minh City from $339 return, from Cairns to Osaka from $444 return and from the Gold Coast to Queenstown from $270 return. Locally, options include Sydney to the Gold Coast for $88 return and Melbourne to Adelaide from $104 — among other routes, with Darwin and Perth legs also on the list. Tickets in the sale are for trips across a variety of dates depending on the destination. Fancy heading to the newly reopened Japan before summer hits? Skipping Australia's next winter by jetting over to Hawaii? They're among your choices. There are a few rules, as is always the case. You have to the same departure and arrival ports for the two fares — so you can go from Melbourne to Honolulu and back, for instance, but can't return via another place or to another city. And, the sale fares don't include checked baggage, so you'll need to travel super light or pay extra to take a suitcase. Also, if you're a Club Jetstar member, you'll get the jump on the sale — with access from 12pm AEDT on Wednesday, October 26 until midnight. Jetstar's 'return for free' sale runs from 12am AEDT on Thursday, October 27–11.59pm AEDT on Friday, October 28 — or until sold out. Feeling inspired to book a getaway? You can now book your next dream holiday through Concrete Playground Trips with deals on flights, stays and experiences at destinations all around the world.
Back in mid-2019, the revamped section of Fortitude Valley around the Alfred Street and Brunswick Street area underwent a revamp, with Foresters and Altitude rooftop bar opening in the slick FV by Peppers precinct. Plenty can change in a couple of years, however, with both venues saying goodbye — and La Costa among the newcomers taking their place. The space at 209 Brunswick Street now actually features four new places. For those eager for a cocktail and a bite to eat on the ground level, that's where the two La Costa venues come in. The restaurant serves up dinner Wednesday–Sunday and lunch Friday–Sunday, while the bar does cocktails, antipasti, tapas and brunch — plus live tunes and DJs. For those keen for a food-focused experience, La Costa restaurant takes inspiration from summers in the Italian Riviera, so seafood features heavily. Think Moreton Bay bug spaghetti ($32), clam linguini ($24), mussels with sun-dried tomatoes and Italian sausage ($26), and whole baby barramundi ($34). You can also opt for a sirloin steak marinated in chilli and garlic ($36), three other types of pasta ($26–32) and eight varieties of pizza ($24–26), plus Italian doughnuts filled with tiramisu cream ($14) and limoncello meringue tarts ($14) from the dessert range. At La Costa bar, there's fresh burrata ($12), baked sardines ($12) and two types of bruschetta ($9–12), plus mango coffee margaritas ($22, made with tequila, Mr Black coffee liqueur, mango and lime) and Olive and Tonics ($22, with olive leaf gin, madeira, tonic, rosemary and olives) from a nine-option cocktail list. If you'd rather, you can pick from the three spritzes on offer ($18–22), or peruse the sparkling, wine and beer selection. For brunch at La Costa Bar, highlights include Spanish eggs ($18); haloumi, mushroom and avocado burgers ($16); eggs benedict ($18); and beetroot and quinoa salad ($17). Your mid-morning meal also comes with a range of choices from the special brunch cocktail menu. And yes, the Hangeroni ($15, with gin, Campari and vermouth rosso) definitely stands out. Those drinks menus hail from the folks at Sydney's Maybe Sammy — which was named one of the world's best bars late in 2020. And, the venues themselves are the latest ventures from the team behind Salt Meats Cheese and Roman-style eatery Eterna. They also sit in a building that was first erected in 1889, was originally known as Foresters' Hall, initially housed a community meeting place and then became Fortitude Valley's first cinema in 1910.
Ginuwine's 90s banger 'Pony' is about to get another workout — because Magic Mike, the Channing Tatum-starring franchise about male strippers chasing the American dream one shirtless dance at a time, is heading back to screens. That's great news for Ginuwine's royalties, and even better news for fans of the savvy — and sweaty, and scantily-clad — movie saga, which has also spawned its own Tatum-produced live show. And, yes, Tatum will be returning in Magic Mike's Last Dance as the eponymous Mike Lane. Well world, looks like Mike Lane's tapping back in. @hbomax pic.twitter.com/V9Ce62n710 — Channing Tatum (@channingtatum) November 29, 2021 If you somehow missed the 2012 hit, it saw Tatum turn his own background as a stripper in Tampa, Florida into one of that year's most perceptive flicks. The Matthew McConaughey, Matt Bomer, Joe Manganiello and Alex Pettyfer-starring film unsurprisingly became a box-office hit, too, with its combination of blue collar struggles and gyrating on-stage antics striking a chord to the tune of $167.2 million in takings. It was then followed by 2015's Magic Mike XXL, which did indeed manage to live up to its name — not merely by doubling down on what made the first movie such a success, but by also shrewdly recognising the power of the female gaze. Filmmaker Steven Soderbergh (Logan Lucky, Unsane) directed, shot and edited the initial movie, then just shot and edited the second; however, he's sitting back in the helmer's chair for Magic Mike's Last Dance. Also returning is screenwriter Reid Carolin, who has done the honours all the entire franchise so far. As for what it's about, Tatum's tweet announcing the movie didn't provide any details other than the fact that Mike is tapping back in — and, thanks to the film's title, that this is his final outing. Exactly when you'll be able to see the feature hasn't yet been revealed either, but it's heading to HBO Max, the cable network's streaming platform, in the US when it does surface. There's no word yet on where and when the bumping and grinding will appear Down Under. Also, there's clearly no sneak peek for Magic Mike's Last Dance so far, either, but here's the original film's trailer to get you in the mood: Exactly when Magic Mike's Last Dance will release — and where it'll be available Down Under — hasn't yet been revealed. We'll update you with more details when they come to hand.
Four months after it first hit Australian cinemas, Bohemian Rhapsody is still showing on the big screen — and on DVD, pay television and on planes too. Basically, it's everywhere, with the Freddie Mercury and Queen biopic proving an enormous success. It's nominated for five Oscars, and it has rocketed up the Australian all-time box office charts, currently sitting in sixth place just shy of Titanic, and only behind Avatar, Star Wars: Episode VII — The Force Awakens, Avengers: Infinity War and Star Wars: Episode VIII — The Last Jedi otherwise. Clearly filmgoers love seeing the origin stories of iconic musicians played out on screen, a trend that Rocketman looks set to continue. This time around, Elton John gets the movie treatment, with Kingsman's Taron Egerton stepping into his winged shoes, oversized glasses and over-the-top outfits to relive the singer's early years. Egerton both stars and sings all of the expected tunes in the Dexter Fletcher-directed movie, which also features Jamie Bell as Elton's lyricist and writing partner Bernie Taupin, Richard Madden as his first manager John Reid, and Bryce Dallas Howard as his mother. And John himself is one of the executive producers, so expect this tale of 70s excess to be of the officially sanctioned variety. The film's timing couldn't be better, with the muso himself set to play a slate of Australian gigs late in 2019 through until early 2020, all as part of his huge worldwide farewell tour. If you think it's gonna be a long, long time until then, check out Rocketman's latest trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTm5DWgL-MU&feature=youtu.be Rocketman opens in Australian cinemas on Thursday, May 30. Image: David Appleby / © 2018 PARAMOUNT PICTURES. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Caffeine fiends of Brisbane's east are already fond of Bellissimo Coffee's Oxford Street outpost, which serves up caffeinated beverages, plus brunch, lunch and bakery bites seven days a week. Fans of Mediterranean-infused will now want to stop by the same venue after dark from Thursday–Saturday, with the old warehouse-turned-eatery transforming into Besitos three nights a week. A 80–90-seater restaurant, Besitos is a product of the location's 2021 revamp, which saw the venue nab a a sleek and rustic new look courtesy of interior designers Alkot Studio — and takes over the area that Bellissimo previously used to roast its coffee beans. On the menu: candle-lit dinners in an industrial-but-cosy space, plus a food lineup from Executive Chef Marco Torrisi (ex-Joey's) that heroes dishes prepared on the open kitchen's flaming charcoal grill. Yes, you'll get a prime view of your meal being cooked while you wait, with the culinary range changing seasonally. On Besito's launch menu: emu tartare, charred octopus, and bone marrow with salsa verde on toasted brioche, as well as baguettes paired with Spanish anchovies, burnt miso toothfish tacos, Mooloolaba king prawns and hot pot mussels. Most dishes are small, with patrons encouraged to order a heap — aka sample their way through, rather than agonise over picking just one thing. There are four large plate options, though: squid ink linguine, lamb ribs, chargrilled market fish and wagyu sirloins. For dessert, a trio of choices awaits, spanning a modern take on tiramisu with housemade espresso ice cream and coffee syrup, chargrilled pineapple given a chocolate crumb and paired with basil-infused ice cream, and a range of housemade gelato. Drinks-wise, 12 wines are available by the glass and plenty more by the bottle, while cocktails, beers and spirits also feature. Naturally, the Besitos martini features Bellissimo cold-press coffee, as well as vodka and coffee liqueur. When the restaurant kicks into gear at 5pm from Thursday–Saturday, don't go expecting the usual Bellissimo setup, but at night, however. The kitchen setup changes with the switchover to Besito's every evening, including the full roster of staff.
