In 2019, just one Australian bar made it into the World's 50 Best Bars list: Maybe Sammy. This year, not only has the innovative bar in The Rocks made the list again, it has jumped 32 places to number 11 — and it's joined by two more Sydney spots. Laneway mezcal bar — and one of Concrete Playground's favourite openings of 2019 — Cantina OK! came in at number 28, while Bulletin Place, which has made the list many times during its eight-year life, came in 39. If you've been looking for an excuse to spend a night drinking cocktails in the city, this is it. With many Sydneysiders WFH during the pandemic, CBD bars have done it tough, with some venues reporting drops in revenue of 40 percent and more. Now, it's more important than ever to go out and support them (in a COVID-safe way, of course). For those yet to be acquainted with Maybe Sammy, its luxurious styling nods to old-school Vegas glamour, all blush pink velvet banquettes and lush indoor greenery, while the list of theatrical signature drinks pays homage to the classics. Cocktails are served with the likes of scent-filled pillows, hand cream and rosemary bubbles. The latter, comes atop the much-Instagrammed Dunes cocktail, pictured below, which is a delicate balance of gin, fino sherry, watermelon and agave. [caption id="attachment_788842" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Dunes cocktail at Maybe Sammy by DS Oficina[/caption] While Sydney cleaned up in the top 50, only Melbourne venues (from Australia) featured in the 51–100 list, which was announced late last week. Fitzroy bar The Everleigh snagged the 73 spot, while newer CBD haunt Byrdi came in at 80. Petite Collingwood bar Above Board followed not too far behind at number 84 and the long-running Black Pearl — which has scooped a spot in the Top 50 list numerous times throughout the award's 12-year history — was voted in at 98. The annual World's 50 Best Bars awards are voted on by over 540 bar industry experts from around the world, including bartenders, consultants, drinks writers and cocktail specialists. You can check out the full lineup of the World's 50 Best Bars 2020 here, and see 51–100 here. Top image: Cantina OK! by Kimberley Low
Maybe you jumped on the Saltburn bandwagon early, catching Promising Young Woman filmmaker Emerald Fennell's second feature when it was in cinemas. Perhaps you saw the Barry Keoghan (The Banshees of Inisherin)- and Jacob Elordi (Euphoria)-starring thriller when it hit streaming over Christmas. Either way, once you watched the movie, you were probably as obsessed as Oliver Quick is about Felix Catton — and after you've ordered your Jacob Elordi's bathwater candle, you can hit up a party that's all about paying tribute to the instant cult-favourite flick. A series of shindigs is touring Australia, kicking off at Sydney's Oxford Art Factory on Thursday, January 25. From there, the Saltburn soirées will head to Ballers Clubhouse in Melbourne on Saturday, February 3, then to The Court in Perth on Friday, February 16. Come Saturday, March 2, it's Brisbane's turn at The Wickham. What does celebrating one of 2023's best movies at a boozy party entail? Dressing like it's Oliver's birthday party, for starters. From there, you'll enjoy a 'Murder on the Dancefloor' sing-along — even though you won't be dancing naked around a mansion — as well as crooning karaoke and hearing 'Mr Brightside', all while sipping Bathtub Brew, Grave Grinding Gulp and Felix's Fangirl Fizz drink specials. If you're keen to add some sparkle to your look while you're there, there'll be a free glitter bar. And the best-dressed attendee at each shindig will win a prize. In the film, Keoghan plays Oliver, who arrives at Oxford University as part of the future class of 2006, but finds himself stuck as an outsider among his well-off classmates. Enter Elordi as Felix Catton, the charming campus favourite who gains a helping hand in Oliver, then invites his new pal to his family's eponymous estate for the summer. Fennell won a rightly deserved Oscar for her Promising Young Woman script, and reteams with Carey Mulligan (Maestro) again here. Also demonstrating the actor (The Crown)-turned-filmmaker's knack for casting: 2023 Academy Award-nominee Keoghan, aka one of the screen's most interesting and talented rising stars, plus Elordi, Rosamund Pike (The Wheel of Time), Richard E Grant (Persuasion) and Lolly Adefope (Miracle Workers). As Felix's sister Venetia, Conversations with Friends' Alison Oliver is similarly excellent — as is Gran Turismo: Based on a True Story's Archie Madekwe as fellow Oxford student and Catton cousin Farleigh. 'SALTBURN' PARTY AUSTRALIAN TOUR: Thursday, January 25 — Oxford Art Factory, Sydney Saturday, February 3 — Ballers Clubhouse, Melbourne Friday, February 16 — The Court, Perth Saturday, March 2 — The Wickham, Brisbane Saltburn parties are touring Australia from January–March 2024. Saltburn is available to stream via Prime Video. Read our review.
If you've ever spent hours falling down the wildlife and nature video rabbit hole online late at night, this one's for you. National Geographic's Symphony For Our World will combine the best of the footage from the organisation's 130-year archives with a live orchestral performance, synchronising the triumphant moments of both music and nature under one spectacle. And, that soundtrack will feature a Hans Zimmer-flavoured score and feature a live choir as well. The natural history footage will be drawn from years of past images, drawing from Nat Geo's shots from all over the world. The accompanying symphony will be created by Bleeding Fingers Music, featuring the work of composers such as the legendary Hans Zimmer, as well as Austin Fray and Andrew Christie. Just like the recent Planet Earth II Live in Concert, Zimmer's score especially will make you feel things you didn't know you could about animals you'll never meet. A five-part composition that'll tour Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, Symphony For Our World will take the audience on a journey from the sea, along the coastlines, across the land, through the mountains and then finally into the sky, with differing orchestral movements for each world environment. It's the story of our planet, but brought to life in a different way — so why not get out of the house and off YouTube and go see some fully immersive nature. SYMPHONY FOR OUR WORLD TOUR DATES Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, Brisbane – Sunday, August 26 ICC Sydney Theatre, Sydney – Friday, August 31 Hamer Hall, Arts Centre, Melbourne – Sunday, September 2 Symphony For Our World will tour Australia from August 26 to September 2. For more information and to buy tickets, visit natgeo-symphony.com.
Mass environmental protests will flood the streets of Australia on Friday, September 20, when thousands of people across the country walk out of school and work to demand action on climate change. Part of the Global Climate Strike movement, and organised locally by School Strike 4 Climate, events will be held in cities and towns across the nation — not only in state capitals such as Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, but in more than 100 Aussie spots. With the United Nations' Climate Change Summit happening on Monday, September 23 in New York, the huge worldwide protests are timed to send a message. Taking place in 120 countries, they're the latest initiative to take the climate crisis to the streets, building upon the outcry expressed in other rallies this year. In March, a Global Climate Strike for Future attracted 1.4 million people around the globe. This week's strikes have significant community backing this time, too — thousands of Australian school students are expected to walk out of class to attend, more than 30 unions have pledged their support, and over than 1200 Australian and global businesses have committed to giving their employees time off so that they can head along as well. As well as drawing attention to Australia's horrific two years, weather-wise — as seen via soaring temperatures, prolonged drought conditions and the horrific bushfires that have plagued the Queensland and NSW for the last fortnight — protestors are fighting for three specific demands. They're asking for a ban on new coal, oil and gas projects, including the recently approved Adani mine; that 100-percent energy generated and exported by 2030 comes from renewable sources; and the funding of fair transition processes, including the provision of jobs, for fossil fuel industry workers and the communities currently reliant upon the sector. Unsurprisingly, most places across Australia can expect disruptions and delays on Friday as a result of the strikes, including possible road closures and traffic diversions. If you're planning to join the crowds or you're pondering your transport options for the day, here's how the events will go down in your city. And here are a few placard ideas, too: https://www.instagram.com/p/B2ev1lbHuwE/?igshid=yaz9l9ueayup SYDNEY Sydney protestors will converge on The Domain on Art Gallery Road at 12pm, then march to Hyde Park — heading down Macquarie Street, then along Elizabeth Street and ending on Park Street. For those keen to march through the city beforehand, a Global Climate Strike bridge walk will set off from Bradfield Park near Milsons Point Station at 10am. Accompanied by a marching band, walkers will stroll over the Harbour Bridge, then continue along the Cahill walk to The Domain. If you're looking for a caffeine hit before the strike, Single O in the CBD and Surry Hills will be doling out free coffees to protesters between 10–11.30am — don't forget to BYO cup (obviously). For public transport and traffic updates on the day, check Transport NSW and Live Traffic Sydney. MELBOURNE Melburnians will start their protest at the Treasury Gardens on Spring Street at 2pm, with people advised to arrive from 1.30pm. After a Welcome to Country, speeches and performances, a march will take place from 3pm. Protestors will walk down to Collins Street, keep going until Exhibition Street, then head down to Flinders Street — which'll bring them back to the gardens. If you're commuting to the strike via train, you may want to join one of the four pre-strike train parties — on the Belgrave, Mernda, Craigieburn and Upfield — where there'll be snacks, chanting, singing and dancing. For public transport and traffic updates on the day, check Yarra Trams and Vic Traffic. BRISBANE Brisbanites will assemble in Queens Gardens on the corner of George and Elizabeth Streets from 12.30pm, with speeches commencing at 1pm and a march to Musgrave Park — via Victoria Bridge — starting at 1.30pm. More speakers and performances will follow in West End's Musgrave Park until 4pm. Unions and workers will also be marching to Queens Gardens beforehand, meeting at 12.30pm at Brisbane Square in Reddacliff Place. For public transport and traffic updates on the day, check Translink and Qld Traffic Metro. Australia's Global Climate Strike protests will take place at various times on Friday, September 20. For further details, visit the School Strike 4 Climate website. Top image: School Strike
If you visited a supermarket on the weekend, you would've encountered mayhem: long lines, empty shelves, people battling over the last packets of beans. Many Australians are panic-buying in case they need to self-isolate because of COVID-19, and it's causing chaos at shops across the country. To help some of society's more vulnerable groups get the groceries and essentials they need, Woolworths has launched a dedicated shopping hour for the elderly and people with disability. Running from 7–8am from Tuesday, March 17 to at least Friday, March 20, stores nationwide will open exclusively to concession card-carrying people in these communities. The Woolworths stores will then open to the general public from 8am. https://twitter.com/woolworths/status/1239273390382276610 Woolworths says the decision was made after many elderly customers failed to purchase the items they needed. "While we'll continue to do our very best to restock our stores during this period of unprecedented demand, we know many of our elderly customers have been missing out on essential items when they shop," Woolworths Supermarkets Managing Director Claire Peters said in a statement. "This temporary measure will give them, and those with a disability, the opportunity to shop before our stores officially open - helping them obtain the essential items they need most in a less crowded environment." For now, the dedicated hour is only in place until this Friday, but Woolworths says it will "review opening arrangements" at this point. If you're unable to leave your house, Deliveroo has just added kitchen and household products to its remit and has implemented a 'no-contact' drop-off service, too. For more information about Woolworths' dedicated hour for elderly and people with disability, head to the Woolworths website. 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.
Are you feeling a bit left out at work when people are discussing their weekend whisky sour at Shady Pines because you are at a loss as to what is in that drink or where that bar is? Or do you miss the camaraderie that comes with a university pub crawl but feel your palette has matured beyond fire engines and snake bites? Do not fret if so, Sydney Bar Tours has arrived. Headed up by two of Sydney's most illustrious foodies, Alex Adams from EatDrinkPlay.com and Simon McGoram, drinks editor of Australian Bartender magazine, the tours are aiming to illuminate the ever changing Sydney nightlife landscape. The experience is simple but unique, a small group of ten (friends or strangers) introduced to Sydney's best new bars. You'll meet the owners, managers and bartenders, sample the bars menu and even have cocktails and drinks designed just for you. McGoram points out: "In short, you'll get the rock star treatment." Currently offering two tours focusing on the small bars in Darlinghurst and the CBD, the operation looks to expand to the locales of Surry Hills, Bondi Beach and Kings Cross. The tours run for a little over three hours, include food and drinks, and tickets are limited. Check out Eat Drink Play for more details.
Hello, sunshine and goodbye cold winter nights — that's right, summer is right around the corner, which means we can finally get our tan on at the beach or enjoy a sunny Sunday (boozy) brunch. There are a lot of things to take into consideration when planning a day out in the heat, so we've joined forces with Mr Black to compile a list of things for you to take note of to further elevate your summer experience. From revamping your picnic setup to stocking up on ready-to-drink Mr Black Espresso Martinis, here's your cheat sheet on how to be best prepared for the warmer days ahead. [caption id="attachment_870994" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Chloe Smith[/caption] UPGRADE YOUR PICNIC GEAR WITH A MULTI-PURPOSE BASKET Picnics usually happen on the spur of the moment, so having a multi-purpose basket on hand — like one of these sturdy, insulated ones by Picnic Season — is always a good idea. Consider opting for one with sturdy straps to keep cutlery, cups, plates and more in place, as well as a built-in thermally-insulated cooler bag to store your cold drinks (like a pack or two of Mr Black Espresso Martinis). A good rule of thumb: have a basket on hand that looks bigger than what you think you'll need. [caption id="attachment_870827" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Declan Blackall[/caption] INVEST IN A PICNIC TABLE WITH DRINK HOLDERS If there's one thing more heartbreaking than dropping your picture-perfect sanga on the ground, it's spilling your drink all over your picnic setup. To avoid potential disaster (and clutter), consider investing in a picnic table that comes with drink holders. Whether it's for your canned espresso martini or – if you're taking a break from alcohol – iced latte, a table like this one from Temple & Webster will save you from cleaning up a mess. Trust us, you'll thank us later. CATCH THE SUN WITH A SUNSET APP — AND MAKE SURE THERE'S PLENTY OF SUNSCREEN Admit it, there's a 99% chance that you've got at least one sunrise or sunset photo on your phone or camera. To make life a little easier for you and not disappoint your next sunrise or sunset adventure, download the Sun Chaser app to keep track of when the next Instagram-worthy sunrise or sunset will happen in your current location. The platform provides details like the intensity of the clouds and how colourful the light rays will be on any given day. And if you're chasing the sun, don't forget the sunscreen, too! [caption id="attachment_870828" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Declan Blackall[/caption] OVERSTOCK ON THE ICE (ESPECIALLY TO KEEP YOUR CANNED ESPRESSO MARTINIS COOL) The weather has been exceptionally unpredictable recently, so you've got even more reason to be prepared for the unexpected. Despite what your weather app says, you'll never know how hot the day could get. So if you're at the beach (or basically anywhere outdoors) this summer, always bring more ice than you need — especially if you're storing drinks that are best consumed cold, like a Mr Black Espresso Martini. [caption id="attachment_870830" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Declan Blackall[/caption] KEEP IT INTERACTIVE WITH ACTIVITIES LIKE FINSKA, KUBB OR A FRISBEE While sunbathing, eating and drinking sound like the perfect combination, why not kick it up a notch by taking part in an activity with your crew? Stick to the classics like Finska or Kubb, which will without a doubt unleash everyone's competitive side while also getting the endorphins going. You could also go for a laid-back activity like frisbee to get your fur baby involved as well. [caption id="attachment_871154" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Supplied[/caption] SEATING, BLANKETS AND CUSHIONS KEEP THINGS COSY AND COMFORTABLE Don't neglect your comfort. Be sure to always have a quality picnic blanket if you plan to spend the day at the garden or beach — we love the colourful, waterproof and eco-friendly designs by Central Coast maker Saltwater Picnic Co (pictured above). Spruce your setup with cosy cushions and extra blankets in case you decide to extend your stay. [caption id="attachment_870834" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Declan Blackall[/caption] PREPARE ONE-BITE FOOD THAT'S EASY TO EAT Some of you might love to go the extra mile and prepare a hearty spread when you're out and about. However, if you aren't in the mood to go through a 12-step recipe, you could always put together something simple like a hearty, veggie-filled sandwich or wrap. After something sweet that won't melt? On the morning of your trip, chop up fresh seasonal fruit and store them in a reusable container, with an ice block or two to keep it cool. [caption id="attachment_870835" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Artur Lewandowski (Unsplash)[/caption] A GOOD SPEAKER TO CREATE THE PERFECT VIBE Music not only brings people together, but it's the easiest way to set a mood. Which makes a speaker an essential item to bring when you're out with your crew. If you want to go the extra mile, curate a playlist for the day, too. If you currently don't have a portable speaker, look into the Marshall Emberton Portable Bluetooth Speaker or a UE MEGABOOM 3, which bring both style and good vibes to any gathering. [caption id="attachment_870847" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Declan Blackall[/caption] MAKE SURE THERE'S REAL CUTLERY AND GLASSWARE (PERFECT FOR ESPRESSO MARTINI O'CLOCK) Sipping on an espresso martini out of a lovely glass just hits different and you can't deny that. Treat yourself and your crew by elevating your picnic setup with stainless steel flatware, ceramic plates and wine or cocktail glasses for an upgraded experience. This is where your multi-purpose basket will come in handy as you won't need to worry about your cutlery and glassware shattering into pieces during your commute. Looking for more easy ways to elevate your summer gatherings — especially when espresso martini time hits? Head to the Mr Black website. Top image: Declan Blackall
Summer is well and truly upon us and that means one thing: it's boat party season. Whether you're a seasoned sailor or a nautical novice, packing for a boat trip can be a surprisingly tricky task. As space on board is limited, you'll want to make sure you pack the perfect mix of practical and pleasurable items to elevate your time on the high seas. To make things a little easier, we've teamed up with our friends at Jim Beam to bring you three essential items that'll upgrade your day, from covetable coverage to an impressive drink to make for the whole crew. UPGRADE YOUR SPF TO THIS CHIC THREE-IN-ONE Since the 80s, Sid the Seagull has been encouraging us to slip, slop and slap, and you best believe that includes during boat trips. With the sun's rays reflected off the water, your chance of getting sunburn increases — so you'll want to bring a seriously good sunscreen to protect you from those harmful UV rays. Level up your sun protection with Aussie brand Ultra Violette and its Supreme Screen SPF 50+ Hydrating Facial Sunscreen ($45). It's a moisturiser, sunscreen and primer all in one. This lightweight all-rounder is the perfect size to slip into your beach bag and it has super-cute packaging sure to make you appear sun-smart and chic all at once. BRING THE PARTY VIBES WITH FUN INFLATABLES The best thing about a boat trip is being able to oscillate between the wet and the dry so freely. And, for the party-starters among us, you can have the best of both worlds with inflatables. Thankfully, the team at Sunnylife has your back with Rosie, a rose gold inflatable flamingo ($79.95), that gives you a vibrant, show-stopping seat on which to soak up the summertime gladness and look the part for all those boat party snaps. It's perfect if you want to stay mostly dry while still getting your feet wet, so long as your mates don't dunk you into the drink. SWAP BEERS FOR A ROUND OF HIGHBALLS Speaking of drink, a day on the water is thirsty work. If you want to impress your mates with something other than beer or wine on your next outing, pack a bottle of Jim Beam and some cordials to make this no-fuss highball for everyone aboard. To make the drink, simply pour 15ml of lemon cordial (like this one by Bickford's), 5ml of lime cordial and 30ml of Jim Beam into a cup. Add ice and top with soda water. Easy! It's a refreshing beverage that is guaranteed to go down a treat among your friends this summer. Top image: Angelo Pantazis via Unsplash
US singer-songwriter Julie Byrne is returning to Australian shores for a run of east coast dates in 2024. The acclaimed folk musician is currently touring behind the release of her devastating new album The Greater Wings, a record which reckons with the passing of Byrne's longtime creative partner Eric Littmann. You can expect an intimate journey through the songs of The Greater Wings and Byrne's back catalogue at the Brisbane Powerhouse's Underground Theatre on Saturday, January 20. [caption id="attachment_641500" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jonathan Bouknight[/caption] If you want to inject some beautifully gentle, intensely personal music into your summer, this is your opportunity. Byrne will be bringing her kaleidoscopic folk to Brisbane for her first trip Down Under since her 2018 tour with Mount Eerie — a must-see for anyone whose Spotify Wrapped was filled with plenty of sad-girl indie. If you want to secure your spot, tickets are available for $59 via Ticketek. Top image: Alexander Kellner
If all this social isolation has left you keen to kick start some positive lifestyle changes, helping to save the planet seems like a pretty good place to start. After all, there's nothing like being cooped up indoors to inspire a newfound appreciation for blue skies, clean beaches and big, green open spaces. As a whole, Aussies have been gathering some momentum in the war against plastic waste in recent years, embracing bans on single-use plastic bags, swapping out plastic straws for sustainable alternatives and championing the humble reusable coffee cup. But, if you're feeling a little overwhelmed and unsure where to begin your own journey to a waste-free life, we've found a new local read that'll help put you right on track. Penned by ocean-lover and avid enviro-warrior Kate Nelson — aka Plastic Free Mermaid — I Quit Plastics And You Can Too is a practical guide to ditching disposable plastics and living more sustainably. And, given that Nelson broke up with single-use plastics over a decade ago, it's safe to say she's something of a guru on the topic. Whether you're keen to follow her lead completely, or simply want to learn how to live a little lighter, consider this book your new encyclopedia. It's chock full of handy, helpful information, served alongside manageable tips and how-tos aimed at reducing your plastic use, easily. Small, everyday changes can do big things for the environment. You'll discover how to cut down on waste, while shopping, cooking, cleaning and living with a more planet-friendly, plastic-free mindset. And Nelson shares lots of easy-to-implement strategies along the way, with more than 60 recipes to help de-plastic all areas of your life — from bodycare to breakfast. This is one online purchase the oceans will definitely thank you for. You can grab a copy of 'I Quit Plastics And You Can Too' for $26.25 from Booktopia. FYI, this story includes some affiliate links. These don't influence any of our recommendations or content, but they may make us a small commission. For more info, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy.
There's a knowing bit of casting at the heart of Yellowjackets for viewers who've been following Melanie Lynskey throughout her career. In the hit TV series — one of the best shows of 2021 when it first debuted, and equally as excellent in its just-arrived second season — the New Zealand actor plays Shauna, a New Jersey housewife and mother. Enlisting Lynskey in anything is always welcome, as everything from But I'm a Cheerleader and Up in the Air to I Don't Feel At Home in This World Anymore and Candy has proven. It's one of Yellowjackets' many strokes of genius with its stacked on-screen talent, which also includes Juliette Lewis (Welcome to Chippendales) and Christina Ricci (Wednesday). But it's a particularly savvy move to cast Lynskey as a woman who was once a teen stranded in the Canadian wilderness for 19 months, forced to do whatever it took to remain alive after her high-school soccer team's plane crashed, and has since spent a quarter-century since grappling with what came next. Lynskey herself was once a movie-starring teenager, debuting in Peter Jackson's Heavenly Creatures opposite Kate Winslet. There, she was a murderous teen, too, and kicked off her penchant for playing immensely complicated women (so much so that she earned a New Zealand Film and TV Award for her efforts). The glorious symmetry with Lynskey's role in Yellowjackets doesn't end there, however. As the adult Shauna — Monsieur Lazhar and The Book Thief's Sophie Nélisse plays the younger version — she's commanding and compelling in every scene as someone who survived having her life turned upside down, as Lynskey clearly did when she was thrust to fame at a young age. Of course, there's a vast difference between becoming a film star before you're old enough to drink and endeavouring to endure in spooky woods, through freezing winters, and with food in scarce supply — and, as Yellowjackets keeps hinting at, perhaps turning to cannibalism. Still, Lynskey couldn't be a better fit for the Emmy-nominated show's present-day timeline. There's not just complexity but persistence, strength and vulnerability in her portrayal. They've long been hallmarks of her work. Shauna has trekked over life's peaks and valleys, and knows that her journey onwards will never just be simple. Yellowjackets doesn't lack in phenomenal performances — with its packed team of talent playing both its teens and its adults, how could it? — but Lynskey is downright magnetic. With Yellowjackets' eagerly-anticipated return, its NZ star is also two for two on small screens in 2023. This year's big new hit also featured Lynskey in a pivotal part, and also in a survivalist thriller. She isn't the lead of The Last of Us' first season, but she left a firm mark as resistance leader Kathleen. She also hasn't been diving into this genre repeatedly on purpose. Ahead of Yellowjackets' season two debut on Friday, March 24 via Paramount+ in Australia and Neon in New Zealand, we chatted with Lynskey about that, being hooked on Yellowjackets since reading the very first script, having an instinct for killer roles and more. ON HER CURRENT SPATE OF SURVIVALIST STORIES When you've been a working actor for almost three decades, as Lynskey has since 1994's Heavenly Creatures, you're a survivor of sorts. Actively embracing on-screen stories about trying to endure through extreme events wasn't a concerted choice, however. You could throw in her part in Don't Look Up, too — but having two strong survivalist stories in Yellowjackets and The Last of Us is just a result of great roles coming her way, Lynskey notes. "I think it's just coincidence. I mean, for the character obviously in Yellowjackets, the survivalist part has already happened — so that's an interesting thing, and I think now I'm sort of grappling with the trauma of the aftermath." "And in The Last of Us, the character is in the middle of this crazy, apocalyptic scenario, so it feels like different kind of experiences of a similar thing." "But, it's interesting. It's fun to play kind of an ordinary person who is put into an extraordinary circumstance — and wonder how does that shape and change them." ON HER FIRST REACTION TO YELLOWJACKETS Survivalist thrillers might be having a moment on Lynskey's resume, but she was drawn to Yellowjackets based purely on the strength of its script. "Well, the main thing I think is that I finished reading it and I wished I had episode two, which is a good sign," she explains — having the same reaction to the show's debut episode that viewers everywhere did. "I wanted to know what was going to happen next. And I was like 'oh that was well-written'. It was really well-written!" "And as far as my character goes, there was something about her — you know, you see her in her domestic life, and then the scene with Taissa (Tawny Cypress, Billions) in the diner, you realise she has a huge amount of power somehow. And people are quite afraid of her." "And I was like 'oh that's interesting, like how did that happen and when did that end — or did it end?'. I just had so many questions. And it was a little bit of a leap of faith, but I'm very happy that I chose to do it." ON WHAT SHE LOOKS FOR IN A ROLE Lynskey's career isn't short on highlights between Heavenly Creatures and Yellowjackets. She's just as exceptional in two-season 2015–16 HBO dramedy Togetherness, and in parts big and small in Shattered Glass, Happy Christmas, Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later, Easy and Mrs America, too — just to name a few standouts on her resume. She puts her stellar choices down to going with her gut. "It's honestly an instinct. I just have to, when I'm reading it, if I start to read it out loud and a personality comes out of me. Or if there's like a voice — if there's some shape to what I'm reading where I feel like organically it can be created from me, then I'm interested." "If I'm just reading something and reading it as a script, and I start to think about how I could make it work or how I would play that part, then I know it's not a good fit for me." "It has to be something that comes — even Two and a Half Men, the first time I read the pilot for that, I just started to read it aloud, like the person just came off the page to me. So it's just an instinct, really." ON YELLOWJACKETS' COMPLICATED AND FULLY FLESHED-OUT WOMEN Yellowjackets has been likened to Lord of the Flies since day one thanks to its 90s-era woodland savagery between school students. One big difference: seeing girls, not boys, stuck in the woods and falling prey to their worst impulses to get by. That feels revolutionary in the series. It shouldn't, but it does. And, asked if the show's strong and complex female focus was part of the appeal, Lynskey is adamant: "very much — it was very much a draw." "I think the main thing about it was, in reading the script all the women were so fully realised. Even the smaller parts, the characters who didn't have that much to do in the pilot, or the younger cast — I understood them as human beings. I understood them as complex creations. And there were no sort of stereotypes." "There was no like 'here is the pretty one, here is the bitchy one, here is the whatever', you know. Everyone was very, very complicated and I felt like I had an understanding of who all of them were after the first episode — which is kind of a feat of writing wizardry, honestly." "So I was really, really intrigued to see writers [series creators Ashley Lyle and Bart Nickerson, who've previously written for Narcos, Narcos: Mexico and Dispatches From Elsewhere] who were that talented, who could give so much depth within one episode, to see where they would take all these different characters." "Because it's a lot to juggle with so many different characters — and they've done an amazing job, I think, of managing all the different storylines." Season two of Yellowjackets streams weekly from Friday, March 24 via Paramount+ in Australia and Neon in New Zealand. Read our review of season two — and our review of season one. Images: Colin Bentley, Kailey Schwerman and Lorenzo Agius/Showtime.
When was the last time that you picked up a pen, sat down in front of a piece of paper and wrote someone a letter? When was the last time you picked up a pen and wrote something other than a reminder note, shopping list or a scribbled signature, for that matter? Handwriting is no longer a daily part of many people's lives, and nor is corresponding with others via mail — but both are in the spotlight at Dead Letter Club. Founded in Melbourne and now making its way around the country, Dead Letter Club is reviving the art of simply writing letters, although it's doing so with a twist. It's also a creative writing night, where people grab some stationery, choose a pen name and start scrawling missives. The letters are then sent via secret post — that is, swapped with other attendees, with everyone paired up with a mystery pen pal — creating a back-and-forth of handwritten correspondence throughout the evening. On the club's website, creator Melanie Knight describes it as "a chance to turn the tides on consumerism. Rather than consume more, we can make something". Dead Letter Club also presents itself an antidote to today's texting, twittering, emoji-sending, like-clicking forms of communication, instead requiring someone to spend time and energy to carefully compose a long-form piece of correspondence to someone else. Celebrating its first birthday at Melbourne's Noisy Ritual Urban Winery on Wednesday, October 10, Dead Letter Club often takes place in boozy establishments — so if you need some inspiration, the liquid type is available to purchase. Hundreds of writing prompt cards are also on hand, should you simply need an idea to get you started. The club comes to Sydney on Wednesday, October 17 thanks to a session at Daisy's Milk Bar, with fellow nights following in Wollongong and Canberra as part of an east coast tour. A session also occurred in Brisbane in September — and the club welcomes enquiries from folks eager to start up regular events in their city or town. Image: Dead Letters Club.
Lewis Hamilton has called F1 "the most-authentic racing film you will ever experience in a cinema". "Audiences around the globe are going to feel like they're on the track and in the driver's seat," the superstar driver — who is one of the film's producers — has also advised. Director Joseph Kosinski, who knows a thing or two about making immersive high-octane movies thanks to 2022 smash Top Gun: Maverick, has talked about his determination "to make it authentic" and to represent the sport "in the absolute best way we could", including via collaborating with Hamilton and other Formula 1 insiders. F1 shot on real Formula 1 race weekends. Stars Brad Pitt (Wolfs) and Damson Idris (Snowfall) do their own driving, too. The world will discover how the end result turns out in cinemas Down Under from Thursday, June 26, 2025 — but if you'd like a taste of the flick's commitment to authenticity and immersion in advance, Apple's new haptic trailer will do the trick. Across the past few months, F1 has dropped multiple trailers, but its latest sneak peek is different — because it isn't just about watching. If you have an iPhone, Apple wants you to feel this glimpse at the film. It means that literally. That's where the haptics come in, with your iPhone vibrating as engines rev and roar throughout the trailer. Why Apple? Because, although F1 definitely has a date with cinemas and has been made for the big screen, the technology company's Apple Original Films is behind it. Accordingly, eventually it'll join Apple TV+'s catalogue — but long after it speeds into cinemas. This Formula 1 racing thriller tasks Pitt with feeling the need for speed as a former driver who returns to the track. Fictional team APXGP is at its centre, with Pitt as Sonny Hayes and Idris as his colleague Joshua Pearce — and reaching the sport's heights is their aim. Also featuring on-screen: Kerry Condon (Skeleton Crew) and Javier Bardem (Dune: Part Two), giving the movie a recent Oscar-nominee (for The Banshees of Inisherin), plus another winner (for No Country for Old Men) alongside Pitt. Tobias Menzies (Manhunt), Sarah Niles (Fallen), Kim Bodnia (Nefarious) and Samson Kayo (House of the Dragon) co-star as well. Hamilton's involvement comes courtesy of his Dawn Apollo Films production company. The feature is also being badged as a collaboration with the Formula 1 community, spanning its teams, drivers and promoters. Check out the regular trailers for F1 below — and hit up Apple's website via an iPhone for the haptic trailer. F1 releases in cinemas Down Under on Thursday, June 26, 2025. Check out the haptic trailer via Apple — and read what Joseph Kosinski and Lewis Hamilton told us about the film.
For most Australians, the past few days have been unprecedented: not since 1952 has the country experienced the death of its official head of state. Whether your main relationship to Queen Elizabeth II is watching The Crown or seeing her face on Aussie coins and $5 notes — and whether you follow the royal family's move through the media or not at all — the monarch's passing has unsurprisingly monopolised the news. It's also now the reason for a new one-off public holiday. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced today, Sunday, September 11, that Aussies will get a day off to commemorate the Queen. Mark Thursday, September 22, 2022 in your diary — that's being designated as the country's National Day of Mourning. On September 22 there will be a public holiday for the National Day of Mourning for Her Majesty The Queen. — Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) September 10, 2022 "It will be a one-off national public holiday. That's to allow people to pay their respects for the passing of Queen Elizabeth," the Prime Minister said on the ABC's Insiders. "I spoke to all premiers and chief ministers yesterday and I'm writing to them formally this morning, they will have received their letters by now. They have all agreed that it's appropriate that it be a one-off national public holiday," Albanese continued. The Prime Minister has announced Thursday 22 September will be a public holiday for the National Day of Mourning for Queen Elizabeth II. — Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) September 11, 2022 The public holiday will come three days after the Queen's funeral, which will take place on Monday, September 19 Australian time. And, the new day off means that Victorians will get a four-day long weekend, given that Friday, September 23 is already a public holiday for the AFL grand final. Aussies in other states who do the Monday–Friday grind will still have to work on the Friday, however, unless you take annual leave. Thursday, September 22, 2022 is now a public holiday in Australia, for a National Day of Mourning for the Queen. Top image: Elizabeth: A Portrait in Part(s).
You probably don't want to trek far from a chill spot when summer descends on Brisbane. But there's no shortage of incredible activities to explore between dips in charming river waters or beneath the waves at your favourite beach. The cultural calendar overflows with unique experiences luring you from your quiet place, from multi-sensory events that test your fear of flying to the must-see cinema at the British Film Festival. Best of all, these exciting events make it easy to hide from the humidity. Yet that doesn't mean you should avoid all heat this summer, especially when it comes to sporting excellence. The KFC Big Bash League returns with dramatic matches underneath the floodlights, where cool summer air contrasts with fierce on-field action. Supported by dazzling fireworks and crowd-pleasing vibes, it's just another way to make your summer even more satisfying.
When Twin Peaks wrapped up its original two-season run back in 1991, it left audiences with a damn huge cliffhanger. David Lynch revisited the series' distinctive world on the big screen the following year; however Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me was a prequel rather than a sequel, so the show's mysteries remained just that for more than a quarter-century. Then, in 2017, came Twin Peaks: The Return. The long-awaited 18-episode third season of the show continued the tale of FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan) and murdered Twin Peaks homecoming queen Laura Palmer (Sheryl Lee) — but, with Lynch directing every episode and co-writing the whole thing with fellow series creator Mark Frost, it did so in a very Lynchian way. In the words of Coop himself, it took you to a place both wonderful and strange, exceeding what even the most feverish Peaks fans expected. Eighteen hours of Lynch and Frost's unfiltered weirdness will do that. Indeed, Twin Peaks: The Return felt like stepping straight into Lynch's brain. That said, the next Twin Peaks project just might have that beat. While it's unlikely to deliver anything as mind-blowing as the third season's acclaimed eighth episode, Twin Peaks VR will let you wander around the show's famous settings — and solve puzzles while you're there. Created by Collider Games and Showtime, and available now — via Steam and Oculus for Oculus Rift, Oculus Rift-S, HTC Vive and HTC Vive Cosmos, with versions for Oculus Quest and PlayStationVR coming at a yet-to-be-revealed date — Twin Peaks VR takes players on a first-person journey through everywhere from the Red Room and Glastonbury Grove to the Sheriff's Department and the Glass Box Observation. Yes, that means that you can virtually walk past the iconic crimson curtains and along the zigzagging floors, rifle through Sheriff Truman's desk and watch out for Bob. Based on the trailer, you can also see the kettle-like machine that David Bowie's Fire Walk With Me character became in The Return as well. While escape room-type puzzles keep the game moving forward, it's really an excuse to hang out in the Twin Peaks realm in the most immersive way yet. And, if you've watched and rewatched the show's 48 episodes (and the movie) more times than you can count — and read the various books related to it, too — it's your next chance to scratch your Twin Peaks itch. Best grab yourself some coffee, cherry pie and doughnuts to enjoy while you're playing, obviously. Check out the trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHRXHvPRrJY Twin Peaks VR is now available via Steam and Oculus. For further information, visit the game's website.
When it comes to street art exhibitions, it really doesn't get any bigger than this. A retrospective of Banksy's work has made its way to Australia, featuring more than 80 of the artist's off-street masterpieces. Opening today, Friday, October 7 at The Paddock in Melbourne's Federation Square, The Art of Banksy is a massive collection of pieces by the art world's chief enigma — including the darkly satirical, overtly political work that has turned the stencil-loving artist into such an infamous icon. Endeavouring to take audiences on a journey through Banksy's output and mindset, the exhibition includes the well-known Girl with Balloon, Flag Wall and Laugh Now pieces, as well as three efforts that have never before been displayed to the public. If it sounds epic, that's because it is. The art featured has been sourced from over 40 different private collectors around the world, and comprises the largest showcase of Banksy pieces to ever make its way to our shores. As curated by the artist's former manager Steve Lazarides, the exhibition is also a little controversial. While every piece is original, unique and authentic, The Art of Banksy proudly boasts that the entire show is 100 percent unauthorised. No, Banksy hasn't signed off on the event. As well as displaying Banksy's work in a custom-built enclosure, The Art of Banksy also shines a light on a range of pieces by well-known and emerging local street artists. Expect to find them on the surrounding external surfaces and the inside walls of the exhibition's own Circle Bar, which will serve craft beers and cocktails. Outside, the Welcome to Thornbury team will corral a heap of food trucks into an area called 'The Railyard'. Plus, on Friday nights and Saturday arvos, DJs will also provide appropriate tunes to suit the occasion. Of course, Melburnians will know that this isn't the mysterious figure's first dalliance with the city. The artist's stencils have popped up around the city previously courtesy of a visit in 2003, though many have been destroyed and damaged in the years since. The Art of Banksy will run from October 7 to January 22 at The Paddock in Federation Square, Melbourne. For more information or to buy tickets, visit the exhibition website. Images: Olga Rozenbajgier. Words: Sarah Ward.
As you may well know by now, museums aren't just for 19th century historical artefacts and giant dinosaur models anymore. They're also for food. Last year New York got a permanent Museum of Food and Drink, which joins a whole slew of weird and wonderful food museums, like Japan's instant ramen museum and the Kimchi Field Museum in Seoul. So it's surprising that, considering our total obsession with food, Australia does not have its own. But that's all set to change, with plans for a brand new institution dedicated to our food culture to be set up in Adelaide. The proposal comes from Adelaide City Council, who believe a culinary cultural centre could help both locals and international visitors learn about and experience Australia's multicultural food culture. Considering the city's proximity to world-class wineries and its own burgeoning food and bar scene, Adelaide — while nowhere near as big as Sydney or Melbourne — makes a good case for being the new centre's home. The project has the support of the State Government and other local cultural institutions, but discussions on what the centre would actually include and who would establish it are still taking place. We'll keep an eye on this one to see where it goes. Via ABC News.
On July 3, 1973, Ziggy Stardust left the world. The on-stage alter ego of David Bowie played his final gig, and Ziggy played guitar for the last time. Documentary Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars captured the occasion, much to the delight of everyone who couldn't be there, not to mention the generations of fans that would follow. Thanks to the 90-minute concert film, the inimitable character's last hurrah would always live on. With Bowie himself leaving the world this week, revisiting the movie is a must — and one of the best ways to pay tribute to the iconic artist. Thanks to Kristian Fletcher and the New Globe Theatre, Bowie devotees can do just that. In fact, the flick is the centrepiece of their big-screen video tribute evening. When it comes to the real cool cat that was Bowie, there's always more, so that's not the end of the celebratory event. A compilation of other documentary clips, performance footage and music videos will also feature, including 20-minute short Jazzin' for Blue Jean. With so much of his work to choose from — Bowie made 25 albums over five decades, after all — it's bound to be an emotional ride through the career of a musical genius. Our advice: BYO tissues.
On the cusp of a sun-filled scorcher of a summer, it’s hard to imagine going as long as three months without seeing the sun. But it’s precisely this seasonal phenomenon that Norwegian designers Christine Istad and Lisa Pacini have responded to, creating a travelling circular sculpture whose warm-coloured LED light mimics the absent sun. Three metres in diameter, the glowing core of SUN changes in hue, moving from sunrise to sunset tones. The design is portable and adaptable, capable of being freestanding on a base or hung on a wall as an installation. The sculpture was transported by cruise ship and pick-up truck around Norway, bringing illumination to darkened cities starting from Tromsø in the country's north and ending in Bergen. The project most recently journeyed as far as London, where it made an appearance at London Design Festival as part of the 10th anniversary of the annual 100% Norway exhibition run by the Norwegian Embassy, Norwegian Design Council and Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Each year the exhibition showcases the best and brightest from Norway’s art and design world, with this year’s special focus being light. Via DesignBoom
"I'm a muddler freak," laughs mixologist Tomas Vikario. He's talking, of course, about the bartenders' tool which is used to muddle or mash ingredients together at the bottom of a cocktail glass. (Tomas has an unhealthy collection of 20 muddlers; one is even custom-made). Concrete Playground's favourite cheeky mixologist is showing us how to make a simple summer cocktail that's easy to recreate in the comfort of your very own herb garden. (Or kitchen. We just couldn't resist making ours in the sunshine.) For Tomas, a muddler is an essential tool for a good mojito. Tomas has been a mixologist ever since a graphic design course drove him to drink*, over eighteen years ago. Born in Croatia and now living in Sydney, he first shared his passion and experience with CP for our first DIY cocktail recipe 'A Perrier Tea Break'. Today, Tomas shows us his fresh, fruity twist on the classic Cuban mojito. "I like to put a twist on every classic drink," Tomas tells us. "The Perrier Summer Berry Mojito actually improves with every sip – the mint, rum, berry and lime flavours become more intense as the ingredients have time to mingle together." And mingling at home with friends and Ernest Hemingway's tipple of choice is exactly what we fancy doing this summer. Here's how you can too. *Half true. Tomas assures us that the end of his graphics design career and the beginning of his passion for mixology has no correlation. Ingredients: 30ml lime juiceWhite cane sugarBlueberriesStrawberriesMint50ml Havana Club rumPerrier sparkling mineral water STEP 1 It's just not a mojito without that fine balance between sweet and sour. So to start, add two spoons of white cane sugar to a tall glass; Tomas suggests using a highball or Collins glass. (Too many friends, not enough highballs? Tomas has the answer for that one too: old jam jars or tin cans. Be sure to clean them out first, obviously. Take a look at the final image for an example.) STEP 2 Add 30ml of freshly-squeezed lime juice (that's the juice of approximately one lime). STEP 3 Add two chopped strawberries and six blueberries, before gently pressing the sugar, berries and lime together using a muddler. This extracts the juice and aromas of the fruit. STEP 4 Now add two stalks of fresh mint (approximately 10-15 mint leaves). Tomas recommends tapping or scrunching the mint before adding it to the glass, this helps to release the flavour and aroma of the herb. Muddle the ingredients together and try not to break the leaves – 0r the glass! STEP 5 Add 50ml of rum. Tomas uses Havana Club rum for that authentic Cuban taste. STEP 6 Using a long-handled spoon, stir in a few cubes of ice. STEP 7 Top up with more ice and add chilled Perrier sparkling mineral water for 100% natural, long-lasting bubbles. STEP 8 Decorate with a sprig of mint. Place a straw next to the mint for extra minty aroma as you drink. MIX IT UP: FLAVOUR VARIATIONS "People have so many childhood memories of eating mangoes – so it's a great alternative flavour instead of the berries," says Tomas. If you like the sound of a Perrier Mango Mojito or a Perrier Watermelon Mojito, simply replace strawberries and blueberries with half a small mango, or four cubes of watermelon. Or, try all three. ¡Qué rico!
Keen for a sneak-peek at tracks from The Strokes' new album, 'Angles'? Not due for release until March 22, you cynically reply? Think again. Thanks to a glitch in the iTunes UK store, 30-second previews of every track from the album were prematurely uploaded. They've since been taken down, but not before being ripped by fans eager to hear what the band have been up to for the last couple of years. 'Angles' has been five years in the making. Check out snippets of the new songs, compiled conveniently into one YouTube video. https://youtube.com/watch?v=hjyIxgiryHo [Via Addict Music]
UPDATE, MARCH 18: Due to concerns around COVID-19, Spiral: From the Book of Saw will no longer release on its initially scheduled date of Thursday, May 14, 2020. At present, a new release date has not been announced — we'll update you when one has been revealed. 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. In 2003, James Wan and Leigh Whannell made a short film that completely changed the Australian duo's careers. These days Wan is known for directing everything from Fast and Furious 7 to Aquaman, while Whannell has jumped behind the lens on Upgrade and the upcoming The Invisible Man — but none of that might have happened if it wasn't for the Saw franchise. Running for just under ten minutes, the original Saw short was designed to help the Aussie filmmakers secure funding to make a feature — a horror flick of the same name, in fact. Not only did it achieve that aim, but it sparked a long-running big-screen series about the twisted Jigsaw Killer. And this unnerving saga just keeps spawning sequels. Spiral: From the Book of Saw is the latest Saw instalment, marking the franchise's ninth outing. Whenever a horror movie series starts approaching double digits, it can prove a case of diminishing returns; however Spiral has a few aces up its sleeves. Wan and Whannell have long since stepped back from leading the charge, instead taking on roles as executive producers — but the newest flick to spring from their gruesome short film stars Chris Rock and Samuel L Jackson. As the just-dropped first Spiral trailer shows, Rock plays Detective Ezekiel 'Zeke' Banks. With his rookie partner William Schenk (Max Minghella), he's soon investigating a spate of gory murders. For seasoned Saw fans, these killings should look more than a little familiar. Naturally, because that's how this series works, it doesn't take long for Banks to get caught up in a game with the perpetrator. The fact that Spiral is directed by Saw II, Saw III and Saw IV's Darren Lynn Bousman might temper your curiosity a little. Indeed, the last few Saw films mightn't inspire much confidence either — including 2017's Jigsaw, as directed by fellow Aussies Michael and Peter Spierig (Winchester). But seeing Rock and Jackson step into this franchise is intriguing at the very least. In case you were wondering, Jackson plays another police veteran with ties to the case, busting out his usual swaggering, swearing on-screen persona in the process. Check out the Spiral trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gaWj_c0-wM&feature=youtu.be Spiral was due to open in Australian cinemas on May 14, 2020; however it'll now release on a yet-to-be-revealed date — we'll update you when one is announced.
It's easy to delay playing tourist in your own backyard. We've all done it, thinking that we'll head overseas now and see Australia's sights later. Looking for motivation to make 2025 the year that you finally visit some Aussie must-sees, wandering around Uluru, relaxing on Hamilton Island or touring Tasmania? Virgin Australia's latest sale on domestic flights is here to help. You've got until Sunday, March 2 to nab a discounted fare — unless they're all snapped up earlier — for flights between Wednesday, April 30, 2025–Wednesday, February 11, 2026. That gives you options for most of this year and the start of next, and across all four seasons, whether autumn, winter, spring or summer getaways best suit your schedule. Prices start cheap at $49. Where can you head? To Byron Bay from Sydney for that low fare, which covers a one-way flight. Other specials include Brisbane–Proserpine from $59, Melbourne–Launceston for the same price, Sydney–Gold Coast from $65, Sydney–Sunshine Coast from $69, Melbourne–Adelaide for $85, Brisbane–Hamilton Island from $105 and Melbourne–Uluru for $109. Or, travel from Sydney–Hamilton Island, also from $109; Brisbane–Uluru from $129; Melbourne–Perth from $189; and Brisbane–Darwin from $195. The list goes on. This sale kicked off on Tuesday, February 25, 2025 — and the cheap fares, which cover both directions between each point in the discounted route, start with Virgin's Economy Lite option. With the travel periods available, all dates vary per route. Inclusions also differ depending on your ticket and, as usual when it comes to flight sales, you'll need to get in quick if you're keen to spend some, part or even most of April 2025–February 2026 anywhere but home. [caption id="attachment_976496" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Darren Tierney[/caption] Virgin's 'Gotta get away' sale runs until 11.59pm AEST on Sunday, March 2, 2025 — unless sold out earlier. 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.
The annual celebration of independent music merchants, Record Store Day, is back this Saturday, April 22, and there are a heap of exciting activations across the country hoping to draw patrons out to their local shop and have them flicking through stacks of vinyl. One such activity is a nationwide record treasure hunt being held by the Australian Music Vault. If you want to take part in the hunt and possibly get your hands on a free record from a beloved Aussie artist, all you have to do is head to your local record store and keep an eye out for releases marked with special Australian Music Vault branding on the front. If you find one of these gems, flash it at the counter where they'll confirm it's a winner and you can take it home to spin on your turntable, free of charge. [caption id="attachment_782966" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kitti Gould[/caption] Created by the Arts Centre Melbourne, the Australian Music Vault celebrates contemporary Aussie tunes by exhibiting and archiving important pieces of music history and working with artists to facilitate the growth of the country's music scene. All of the vinyl available as part of the Record Store Day treasure hunt will be from featured Australian Music Vault artists. While the exact location of these freebies are being kept under wraps, hints will be given over on the Australian Music Vault Facebook and Instagram pages on the day. "There's a magical energy about Australia's music culture. Record stores are often a meeting place of inspiration for creatives, and we can't wait to see stores full of activity for Record Store Day," said Australian Music Vault Senior Curator Carolyn Laffan. "It's a treat to be a part of this amazing initiative and good luck to all on the lookout for hidden Australian Music Vault gems." Alongside the treasure hunt, you can also expect limited-edition releases from the likes of Bluey, Ball Park Music, Foals and Groove Armada, plus Confidence Man, Peking Duk, Orville Peck and Loyal Carner to be available on the day. And the celebrations don't stop there, with performances from Ella Thompson, Close Counters, Redhook and Tropical Strength; Peking Duk's in-store signing at Beatniks on the Gold Coast; and a stack of MTV specials and giveaways among the other activations popping up across the country. Record Store Day will be taking over record stores across the country on Saturday, April 22. Head to the Record Store Day website for the full list of special-edition releases. Top image: Destination NSW
The zombie apocalypse has evolved. When just 28 days had passed, survivors faced a nightmare. Little had improved when 28 weeks had gone by. Now, following 28 years of chaos, Jodie Comer (The Bikeriders), Aaron Taylor-Johnson (The Fall Guy), Ralph Fiennes (The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar), Jack O'Connell (Back to Black) and Alfie Williams (His Dark Materials) are dealing with the aftermath of a society ravaged by a horrific infection for decades. Yes, the trailer for the aptly named 28 Years Later is here. Although 2030 will mark 28 years since viewers were treated to one of the best zombie movies ever, aka 28 Days Later from filmmaker Danny Boyle (Yesterday), you'll be watching a new flick from Boyle in the same franchise in 2025. First confirmed at the beginning of 2024, the movie has dropped its first full sneak peek to help close out the year — complete with Teletubbies, towers of skulls and bones, a possibly familiar-looking zombie, and the grim reality after days became weeks and then years of coping with the new status quo. 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, Civil War and TV series Devs, wasn't involved with 28 Weeks Later, either. But they're both onboard for the third film in the series, which is the start of a new trilogy. The saga's fourth feature 28 Years Later Part II: The Bone Temple has already been shot, in fact, with Candyman and The Marvels' Nia DaCosta directing. The setup this time around: almost three decades after the rage virus initially seeped through humanity after escaping from a biological weapons laboratory, some survivors have etched out a life on a small island. Elsewhere, quarantine remains a key way of tackling the infection. With that starting point — and with unease dripping through the first trailer, complete with stunning imagery — expect Boyle and Garland to dig into the terrors that linger when two of the island's residents venture over to the mainland. With 28 Days Later among the movies that helped bring Oppenheimer Oscar-winner Cillian Murphy to fame, the actor is an executive producer on 28 Years Later. That mightn't be all that's in store for him, though, if you pay close attention to the trailer. In the original film, he played Jim, a bicycle courier who wakes up from a coma in a deserted hospital 28 days after an outbreak changed the world forever. Marking Boyle and Garland's first proper collaboration after Boyle adapted Garland's best-selling novel The Beach for the big screen two years prior, 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 wasn't 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. Check out the first trailer for 28 Years Later below: 28 Years Later releases in cinemas Down Under on Thursday, June 19, 2025.
What happens when a touring showcase of music throughout Queensland joins forces with an annual citywide celebration of arts and culture in Brisbane? Sweet Relief!, the latest event from both Qld Music Trails and Brisbane Festival. A collaboration between both fests, but taking place in Brissie in September, this one-day-only excuse to get dancing will make its debut in 2023 with a helluva electronic-focused lineup, starting with Groove Armada, The Avalanches and Ladyhawke. Sweet Relief! also involves the folks at Untitled Group, the team behind festivals such as Beyond The Valley, Grapevine Gathering and Wildlands — and they've helped bring in quite the names. Groove Armada and The Avalanches will both play Australian-exclusive gigs, in fact, with the former doing a DJ set and the latter performing live. [caption id="attachment_907867" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Grant Spanier[/caption] We see you, festival-loving babies. The day to block out in your diary: Saturday, September 16. The place to head: the Maritime Green at Northshore Brisbane. As well as New Zealander Ladyhawke, the bill also spans Cut Copy doing a DJ set, plus Nina Las Vegas, Latifa Tee and YO! Mafia. Poof Doof Pride Patrol featuring Jimi the Kween is on the lineup as well, and additional Brisbane acts are still to be announced. [caption id="attachment_907869" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kath Gould[/caption] "We're so excited to be heading up to Brisbane to play at Maritime Green at Northshore Brisbane. It's such a cool looking spot — we've got a feeling it's gonna be a very special one," said The Avalanches. "Brisbane's history is littered with iconic festival moments such as Livid, Boundary Street Festival and Valley Fiesta that gave the Brisbane community an opportunity to bring their weirdest and wildest selves out to create an electric atmosphere of togetherness, diversity and inclusion," added Joel Edmondson, CEO of Qld Music Trails, announcing Sweet Relief!. "We hope that Sweet Relief! can establish itself as a place where people travel from around the country to experience Brisbane's local flavour and global appeal." SWEET RELIEF! 2023 LINEUP: Groove Armada (DJ set) The Avalanches (live) Ladyhawke Cut Copy (DJ set) Nina Las Vegas Latifa Tee YO! Mafia Poof Doof Pride Patrol featuring Jimi the Kween + more Brisbane acts to be announced Sweet Relief! will take over the Maritime Green, Northshore Brisbane, on Saturday, September 16. For more information and images — and to register for ticket presales from 6pm on Wednesday, July 5, with general sales from 12pm on Thursday, July 6 — head to the event website.
First, the bad news for Marvel Cinematic Universe fans: the reports about the big- and small-screen franchise starting to space out its output are coming to fruition with its next big streaming series Echo. Now, the good news: the five-part miniseries just released its first trailer, and promises rage, darkness, focusing on a superhero who is deaf, bringing back Kingpin and also dropping its entire season at once come January. Echo was previously locked in for a November release, as one of two MCU shows due to stream this spring. While the first series on that list, the second season of Loki, did indeed arrive as planned, Echo has now been pushed to 2024. Hopefully good things will come to those who wait, with this Hawkeye spinoff slated for Wednesday, January 10. While Maya Lopez (Alaqua Cox) is at Echo's centre — as first seen in Hawkeye, she's the gang leader who is deaf that had Clint Barton in her sights for a stint of revenge — the show's debut trailer gives narrating duties to Kingpin (Vincent D'Onofrio, Dumb Money) to set a brooding tone. "You have so much pain in you, so much rage, that you can't contain it," says the character also seen in Hawkeye, and before that in Daredevil as well. "You and I are the same," Kingpin continues amid sound design that lives up to the show's moniker. When all five instalments of Echo hit at once, the series will enjoy a first for the MCU on streaming. As viewers who've been watching along since WandaVision's small-screen arrival know, Disney+ usually drops a few episodes at once for each MCU entry, then unfurls the rest weekly afterwards ‚ but this one will arrive all at once on the same day. Story-wise, Echo follows Maya as Kingpin's criminal empire chases her down — and as the initial sneak peek illustrates, that ties in with her past. So, yes, this is an origin story. Also featuring alongside Cox and D'Onofrio: Chaske Spencer (The English), Tantoo Cardinal (Killers of the Flower Moon), Devery Jacobs (Reservation Dogs), Cody Lightning (Run Woman Run), Graham Greene (The Last of Us) and Zahn McClarnon (Dark Winds). Check out the trailer for Echo below: Echo will stream via Disney+ from Wednesday, January 10, 2024. Images: Chuck Zlotnick. ©Marvel Studios 2023. All Rights Reserved.
Over the past few years, Jamie's Italian has taken a rollercoaster ride through Australia's hospitality scene. An offshoot of Jamie Oliver's UK eateries, the local chain of restaurants has changed ownership several times — with Oliver buying them back in 2016, relaunching them in 2017 and then bringing in a new operating partner in 2018. For the last year and a half, Brisbane-based hospitality outfit Hallmark Group has been running the show — and now they're expanding the brand. In the next few weeks, Australia's first Jamie Oliver's Pizzeria will open, setting up shop at Pacific Fair on the Gold Coast. While an exact launch date hasn't yet been revealed, Jamie Oliver's Pizzeria will be serving up its doughy slices in a 148-square-metre space at Broadbeach's sprawling Pacific Fair Shopping Centre. The menu hasn't been unveiled either; however, pizzas that feature at the chain's international locations — in India, the Netherlands and Dubai — include pepperoni, four cheese, chicken pesto, Chilli Freak (with jalapeños, chilli sauce and fresh chilli), spicy meatball and a carbonara number. Expect salads, entrees and a pasta or two to make an appearance, too. Diners can also expect to watch their pizzas, salads and desserts get made in the open kitchen. Of course, Oliver himself won't be tossing the dough or removing fresh pizzas from the speciality ovens — although the new Aussie joint is inspired by his experiences in Italy. Jamie Oliver's Pizzeria currently operates in India, Dubai and Hungary. Find Jamie Oliver's Pizzeria at Pacific Fair, Hooker Boulevard, Broadbeach in the coming weeks — we'll update you with an opening date when we have one.
If warm and welcoming cafes are your kind of thing, then you're going to want to head to Ascot for your next food fix. At The Precinct at St Leger, you'll curl up on padded single seaters and chat next to an indoor vine. Settling in for a coffee, snack or meal has rarely felt so cosy. Of course, you're going to want to feel comfortable when you tuck into The Precinct's menu. When you're making the tough call between a breakfast baguette and a croque monsieur to start the day, or a lasagne and a coconut chicken curry for lunch, you want to be as relaxed as possible. We could keep listing food options, such as the morning muesli bowl and the mindful plate with roasted kale, sweet potato and feta with spiced almonds and a fried egg, but you get the picture. And, if chilling out with a few drinks takes your fancy, then get excited about their next addition: a bar, which is due to open soon. Plus, your visit to the inner north's newest hangout will take you to a place you probably rarely frequent if you're not into horses running around in circles. Yep, this brekkie and brunch spot is located inside Eagle Farm Racecourse. In fact, its name stems from one of the venue's stands, which dates back to 1913.
It's the ultimate holiday dream, particularly when the weather's warm: golden shores and blue waters as far as the eye can see, comfortable surroundings for all-day lazing around, and your full run of the resort facilities. For most of us, it'll remain a fantasy; however, if you happen to have a cool $5.99 million burning a hole in your bank account, you can head to the Whitsundays and make this beachy vision become a reality. Mackay and Marina Real Estate have listed the Cape Gloucester Beach Resort for sale, and the inclusions are epic. Your fat stack of cash will get you thirteen hectares of sand and bush, plus a licensed bar, a restaurant and an array of beach-side, self-contained cabins boasting 45 beds. The resort was established in 1995, offers visitors everything from snorkelling and kayaking to bird- and whale-watching, and is located 45 minutes by car from Airlie Beach — or 20 nautical miles by boat, if that's your preferred mode of transport. The current owners are four Brisbane friends who put their funds together to purchase the property around six years ago, but are no longer able to make the most of having their own beach getaway. If you'd like to follow in their footsteps (or pretend that you might, just for a minute or so), check out the listing. Via realestate.com.au. Images: Mackay and Marina Real Estate.
Art galleries don't just showcase great works by renowned talents on their own walls. They also loan out their collections, touring them to other sites around the globe. That's great news for Australians, who've been able to check out pieces from London's Tate Britain and New York's Museum of Modern Art in recent years, all without leaving the country. In 2021, you'll also be able to feast your eyes on two big collections of European masterpieces from two different overseas institutions: from New York's The Met, which is heading to Brisbane's Gallery of Modern Art, and from London's National Gallery, which'll take over the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra. The latter, called Botticelli to Van Gogh: Masterpieces from the National Gallery, London, will hit the Australian Capital Territory from March 5–June 14, 2021. If you were looking for a reason to take a local holiday interstate this year, the NGA has not just one but 60, because that's how many works this huge exhibition will feature. The gallery isn't joking about the showcase's title, either. When you'll be exhibiting Van Gogh's Sunflowers, you can throw around the word 'masterpiece' as much as you like. Other high-profile works include Rembrandt's Self Portrait at the Age of 34, plus Vermeer's A Young Woman seated at a Virginal. And, artist-wise, Titian, Velázquez, Goya, Turner, Renoir, Cézanne, Botticelli, El Greco, Constable, Van Dyke, Gainsborough and Gauguin are all also on the bill. [caption id="attachment_792837" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Vincent van Gogh, Sunflowers 1888, National Gallery, London, Image courtesy the National Gallery, London[/caption] When peering at the exhibition's pieces, art aficionados will be taken through seven important periods in Western European art history, from a range that spans 450 years. That means exploring work from the Italian Renaissance, checking out the Dutch painting of the Golden Age, and feasting your eyes on British portraiture — as well as scoping out pieces from the 17th- and 18th-century Grand Tour, Spanish art from the 17th century, works that focus on landscape and the picturesque, and examining the birth of modern art. When Botticelli to Van Gogh: Masterpieces from the National Gallery, London hits our shores, it'll mark a big milestone, too — as the largest batch of works to venture beyond the United Kingdom in National Gallery's 192-year history. Announcing the exhibition, National Gallery of Australia Director Nick Mitzevich mentioned exactly what you're probably now thinking — that is, that the showcase is a nifty way to see the world in a period when we can't venture far physically. "At a time when Australian audiences are unable to travel overseas, we are thrilled to be able to welcome visitors to Canberra to see this exclusive showcase of world-class art," he said. Botticelli to Van Gogh: Masterpieces from the National Gallery, London exhibits at the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra from March 5–June 14, 2021, with tickets on sale now. Top images: Installation view, Vincent van Gogh, Sunflowers, The National Gallery, London © The National Gallery, London; installation view, Anthony van Dyck, Lady Elizabeth Thimbelby and Dorothy, Viscountess, The National Gallery, London © The National Gallery, London; installation view, Giovanni Giralomo Savoldo, Mary Magdalene (far left), The National Gallery, London © The National Gallery, London.
Been spending the first few months of 2021 pondering the future? Given how the past year has panned out, that's only natural. But come Wednesday, May 26, you might want to look to the skies as well — and feast your eyes on a luminous lunar sight. For folks located Down Under, this is when you'll see this year's 'blood' supermoon. While super full moons aren't particularly rare — two usually happen each year, and one occurred just last month — there are plenty of reasons to peer upwards this time around. It's the last supermoon of 2021, for starters. It's also a total lunar eclipse. If you're wondering what else you need to know, we've run through the details below. WHAT IS IT? If you're more familiar with The Mighty Boosh's take on the moon than actual lunar terms, here's what you need to know. As we all learned back in November 2016, a supermoon is a new moon or full moon that occurs when the moon reaches the closest point to Earth in its elliptical orbit, making it particularly bright. They're not all that uncommon — and because May 2021's supermoon is a full moon (and not a new moon), it's called a super full moon. It's also a flower moon, too, which doesn't refer to its shape — obviously — but to the time of year. In the northern hemisphere, the May full moon usually arrives as spring wildflowers are blooming. Of course, it's currently autumn in the southern hemisphere, but the name still sticks. This May's supermoon also happens to coincide with a total lunar eclipse, which is why it's also called a blood moon. When the astronomical body passes directly into the earth's actual shadow, it turns a blood-red shade thanks to sunlight that's filtered and refracted by the earth's atmosphere. WHEN CAN I SEE IT? If you're keen to catch a glimpse — and you didn't nab a ticket for Qantas' flight above Sydney just for the occasion — you'll want to peek outside on Wednesday, May 26. In the New South Wales capital, and in Melbourne and Brisbane, the lunar eclipse is due to begin at 6.47pm, reach its maximum at 9.18pm and end at 11.49pm, according to Timeanddate.com. In Adelaide, all of those times move forward half an hour — so it'll begin at 6.17pm, reach its maximum at 8.48pm and end at 11.19pm. And in Perth, it'll start at 5.16pm, reach its maximum at 7.18pm and end at 9.49pm. You'll want to have your cameras at the ready, of course — and see if you can outdo previous big batches of supermoon snaps and super blue blood moon pics. WHERE CAN I SEE IT? According to NASA, folks in the Pacific Rim will be best placed to see the supermoon total eclipse — which includes in Australia. Naturally, you'll be hoping for clear skies that evening. You can take a gander from your backyard or balcony, but the standard advice regarding looking into the night sky always applies. So, city-dwellers will want to get as far away from light pollution as possible to get the absolute best view. If you can't get a clear vantage, The Virtual Telescope Project will be live-streaming from the skyline above Rome from 5am AEST. And Timeanddate.com will be hosting its own livestream, too, starting at 7.30pm AEST. The 'blood' supermoon and total lunar eclipse will take place from 6.47pm AEST on Wednesday, May 26. For further information, including about timing, head to either NASA or Timeanddate.com.
Michael Bay movies, Michael Bay movies, whatcha gonna do? Since the action-film director leapt from commercials and music videos to his big-screen debut Bad Boys more than a quarter-century back, there's only been two options. Slickly and unsubtly dripping with gleeful excess, his high-concept flicks embrace explosions, chases, heists, shootouts, jittery chaos and perpetual golden-hour hues with such OTT passion that you surrender or roll your eyes — having a blast or being bored by the bombast, basically. Too often, the latter strikes. That proved true of all five of his Transformers films, which are responsible for more cinematic tedium than any filmmaker should legally be allowed to crash onto screens. That his pictures are lensed and spliced as if lingering on one still for more than a split second is a heinous crime usually doesn't help, but it's what Bay is known for — and yet when Bayhem sparkles like it mostly does in Ambulance, it's its own kind of thrilling experience. Following a high-stakes Los Angeles bank robbery that goes south swiftly, forcing two perpetrators to hijack an EMT vehicle — while a paramedic tries to save a shot cop's life as the van flees the LAPD and the FBI, too — Ambulance is characteristically ridiculous. Although based on the 2005 Danish film Ambulancen, it's Bay from go to whoa; screenwriter and feature newcomer Chris Fedak (TV's Chuck, Prodigal Son) even references past Bay movies in the dialogue. The first time, when The Rock is mentioned, it's done in a matter-of-fact way that as brazen as anything Bay has ever achieved when his flicks defy the laws of physics. In the second instance mere minutes later, it's perhaps the most hilarious thing he's put in his movies. It's worth remembering that Divinyls' 'I Touch Myself' was one of his music-clip jobs; Bay sure does love what only he can thrust onto screens, and he wants audiences to know it while adoring it as well. Ambulance's key duo, brothers Will (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, The Matrix Resurrections) and Danny Sharp (Jake Gyllenhaal, The Guilty), are a former Marine and ostensible luxury-car dealer/actual career criminal with hugely different reasons for attempting to pilfer a $32-million payday. For the unemployed Will, it's about the cash needed to pay for his wife Amy's (Moses Ingram, The Tragedy of Macbeth) experimental surgery, which his veteran's health insurance won't cover — but his sibling just wants money. Will is reluctant but desperate, Danny couldn't be more eager, and both race through a mess of a day. Naturally, it gets more hectic when they're hurtling along as the hotshot Cam (Eiza González, Godzilla vs Kong) works on wounded rookie police officer Zach (Jackson White, The Space Between), arm-deep in his guts at one point, while Captain Monroe (Garrett Dillahunt, Army of the Dead), Agent Anson Clark (Keir O'Donnell, The Dry) and their forces are in hot pursuit. Everything from Armageddon, Pearl Harbour and The Island to 2019's Netflix flick 6 Underground has trained viewers in what to expect from Ambulance — plus the movies name-checked in Ambulance's frames, obviously — but Bay is also the filmmaker who gave cinema 2013's exceptional Pain & Gain. His latest doesn't reach the same savvy heights, and it's both boosted by its hearty embrace of Bayhem and occasionally a victim to it, but it's rarely less than wildly entertaining. As the director's best efforts have long shown, he boasts a knack for heist-style films. Capers about break-ins of various sorts, even into Alcatraz, suit Bay because they're typically about chasing hefty scores no matter the cost. Ambulance was made for only $40 million, which is a fifth of most Transformers movies and somehow around half of non-Bay-directed recent release Morbius' budget, but bold moves with eyes on a big prize aren't just fiction in Bay's orbit. When Ambulance works, it enthrals with its shameless hug of classic Bay trademarks — putting them to fitting use, rather than simply splashing them around because that's his familiar schtick. Drone shots (yes, Bay has discovered drones) are frequently a bane of modern filmmaking, trotted out just because they can be, but they careen and prowl here to add urgency, capture the on-the-road frenzy and plot out LA. Bay's fondness for constantly circling camerawork, as seen when director of photography Roberto De Angelis (Faces Places) can't even shoot Will asking Danny for cash without revolving around Abdul-Mateen and Gyllenhaal, also conveys the many non-stop onslaughts crucial to the movie. In that specific scene, the relentless motion expresses the toll of Will's ongoing struggle for funds, the heady excitement of Danny's lifelong grifting and also the continually spinning dynamic between the two brothers. Of course, Ambulance's pièce de résistance is all that time spent in its key mode of transport, intensely zipping and zooming around the City of Angels like Bay is making Point Break-meets-Mad Max: Fury Road (and after attempting to riff on Heat first). His commitment to kinetic and frenetic practical effects and stunts instantly makes the movie's stellar midsection stand out — and yes, that Bay's overall aesthetic and approach now looks worlds away from the franchise action fare that monopolises blockbuster cinema at present is part of what makes Ambulance feel like such a treat. Given this was never going to be a flick with clever dialogue, as those nods to The Rock and company make plain, Abdul-Mateen, Gyllenhaal and González all get their finest moments to shine while speeding along as well. All three turn in charismatic performances that invest one-note parts with flair and as much depth as they can in the circumstances, but it's Gyllenhaal in villainous mode who's always utterly mesmerising. Just like Bay, he's having a ball, it shows and it's infectious. Absent, thankfully, is the filmmaker's past fondness for leering at women (see: the first two Bad Boys movies and anytime Megan Fox appears in the Transformers flicks for especially egregious examples). Instead, that's swapped for ogling LA, its skyscrapers and landmarks, and the chases that blow past them — but Ambulance is still noticeably a sausage fest. It also can't resist overextending its running time at 136 minutes, resulting in a dragging finale. And, it throws in law enforcement- and military-worshipping patriotism that comes as no surprise from the helmer of the dire 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi, and clumsily leans on stereotypes with queer and Latino characters. Ambulance's rough patches are eclipsed by its rush, rollicking, dash and dazzle, though, inherent absurdity and all — even if welcoming Bayhem as the current pinnacle of action cinema sounds as preposterous as, well, hijacking an ambulance.
Like the finer stuff when it comes to eating and drinking? Keen on multi-course meals with carefully matched food and beverage options? If you said yes to both and you love craft beer, then let Newstead Brewing Co. take you on a journey. Browse through pale, golden and amber ales as well as porters, as served with a mouth-watering selection of tasty treats, while you enjoy everything from a fire-twirling performance to an auction — complete with prizes. And not only will the event fill your bellies with goodness, but it'll make a difference too, with all funds raised going towards providing vital services for people with cystic fibrosis.
Back in 2018, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced that it was adding a new award to the Oscars for Outstanding Achievement in Popular Film. If you can't remember which flicks have won it, there's a reason for that: the gong was scrapped quickly thanks to a heap of backlash. Across plenty of years since, the reason that that accolade wasn't needed has been proven. Black Panther, Joker, Everything Everywhere All At Once, Oppenheimer and Barbie have all featured heavily among the nominations, for instance — and everything except Barbenheimer so far has notched up wins. Both Christopher Nolan and Greta Gerwig's latest films are among the flicks with the most nominations in 2024, with 13 and eight apiece. They're also massive global box-office hits. So, going into this year's ceremony, you've likely seen at least those two contenders — but if you're wondering where to catch everything else, we've got the rundown. We've predicted who we think will emerge victorious, but the winners will be anointed on Monday, March 11, Down Under time. Right now in Australia, you can catch up with 31 movies that are hoping to score trophies. Some you need to hit the cinema to see. Others you can catch on the couch. With a few, you have the choice of heading out or staying home. From Barbenheimer (of course) and twists on Frankenstein to animated Spider-Man antics and devastating documentaries, here's where to direct your eyeballs. On the Big Screen: Anatomy of a Fall Nominations: Best Picture, Best Director (Justine Triet), Best Actress (Sandra Hüller), Best Original Screenplay, Best Film Editing Our thoughts: A calypso instrumental cover of 50 Cent's 'P.I.M.P.' isn't the only thing that Anatomy of a Fall's audience won't be able to dislodge from their heads after watching 2023's deserving Cannes Film Festival Palme d'Or-winner. A film from writer/director Justine Triet (Sibyl) that's thorny, knotty and defiantly unwilling to give any easy answers, this legal, psychological and emotional thriller about a woman (Sandra Hüller, The Zone of Interest) on trial for her husband's death is unshakeable in as many ways as someone can have doubts about another person: so, a myriad. Where to watch: In Australian cinemas. Read our full review. Four Daughters Nominations: Best Documentary Feature Our thoughts: There's a reason that Four Daughters can't include its entire namesake quartet, with just two appearing on-screen themselves and the other two played by actors. Unlike the younger Eya and Tayssir, the older Rahma and Ghofrane are no longer at home with their mother Olfa; instead, they left their family after becoming radicalised, with Islamic State in Libya their destination. So explores Tunisian filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hania (The Man Who Sold His Skin), in a documentary that's as gripping as it is heartbreaking — and uses recreations with a purpose unlike almost any other movie. Where to watch: In Australian cinemas. May December Nominations: Best Original Screenplay Our thoughts: May December takes inspiration from Mary Kay Letourneau, the teacher who had a sexual relationship with her sixth-grade student in the 90s. A simple recreation was never going to be Todd Haynes' (Dark Waters) approach, however. Starring Julianne Moore (Sharper) and Charles Melton (Riverdale) as its central couple decades after the scandal, plus Natalie Portman (Thor: Love and Thunder) as an actor about to feature in a movie about them, this a savvily piercing film that sees the impact on the situation's victim, the story its perpetrator has spun, and the ravenous way that people's lives are consumed by the media and public. Where to watch: In Australian cinemas. Read our full review. The Zone of Interest Nominations: Best Picture, Best Director (Jonathan Glazer), Best International Feature, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Sound Our thoughts: Quotes and observations about evil being mundane, as well as the result when people look the other way, will never stop being relevant. A gripping, unsettling masterpiece, The Zone of Interest is a window into why. The first film by Sexy Beast, Birth and Under the Skin director Jonathan Glazer in more than a decade, the Holocaust-set and BAFTA-winning feature peers on as the unthinkable happens literally just over the fence, but a family goes about its ordinary life. If it seems abhorrent that anything can occur in the shadow of any concentration camp or site of World War II atrocities, that's part of the movie's point. Where to watch: In Australian cinemas. Read our full review. In Cinemas or at Home: The Holdovers Nominations: Best Picture, Best Actor (Paul Giamatti), Best Supporting Actress (Da'Vine Joy Randolph), Best Original Screenplay, Best Film Editing Our thoughts: Melancholy, cantankerousness, angst, hurt and snow all blanket Barton Academy in Alexander Payne's (Nebraska) The Holdovers. It's Christmas 1970 in New England in this thoughtful story that's given room to breathe and build, but festive cheer is in short supply among the students and staff that give the movie its moniker. Soon, there's just three folks left behind: Angus Tully (debutant Dominic Sessa), whose mother wants more time alone with his new stepdad; curmudgeonly professor Paul Hunham (Paul Giamatti, Billions); and grieving cook Mary Lamb (Da'Vine Joy Randolph, Only Murders in the Building). Where to watch: In Australian cinemas, and streaming via YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. Killers of the Flower Moon Nominations: Best Picture, Best Director (Martin Scorsese), Best Actress (Lily Gladstone), Best Supporting Actor (Robert De Niro), Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, Best Film Editing, Best Original Score, Best Original Song ('Wahzhazhe (A Song For My People)', Scott George), Best Production Design Our thoughts: Death comes to Killers of the Flower Moon quickly. Death comes often, too. While Martin Scorsese will later briefly fill the film's frames with a fiery orange vision, death blazes through his 26th feature from the moment that the picture starts rolling. Adapted from journalist David Grann's 2017 non-fiction novel Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI, this is a masterpiece of a Lily Gladstone (Reservation Dogs)-, Leonardo DiCaprio (Don't Look Up)- and Robert De Niro (Amsterdam)-starring movie about a heartbreakingly horrible spate of deaths sparked by pure and unapologetic greed and persecution a century back. Where to watch: In Australian cinemas, and streaming via Apple TV+, YouTube Movies and Prime Video. Read our full review, and our interview with Martin Scorsese. Poor Things Nominations: Best Picture, Best Director (Yorgos Lanthimos), Best Actress (Emma Stone), Best Supporting Actor (Mark Ruffalo), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, Best Film Editing, Best Makeup and Hairstyling, Best Original Score, Best Production Design Our thoughts: Richly striking feats of cinema by Yorgos Lanthimos aren't scarce, and sublime performances by Emma Stone are hardly infrequent. The Favourite, their first collaboration, ticked both boxes. Screen takes on Mary Shelley's Frankenstein also couldn't be more constant. Combining the three in Poor Things results in a rarity, however: a jewel of a pastel-, jewel- and bodily fluid-toned feminist Frankenstein-esque fairy tale that's a stunning creation, as zapped to life with Lanthimos' inimitable flair, a mischievous air, Stone at her most extraordinary and empowerment blazing like a lightning bolt. Where to watch: In Australian cinemas, and streaming via Disney+, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. Via Streaming: American Fiction Nominations: Best Picture, Best Actor (Jeffrey Wright), Best Supporting Actor (Sterling K Brown), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Original Score Our thoughts: Here's Thelonious 'Monk' Ellison's (Jeffrey Wright, Rustin) predicament when American Fiction begins: on the page, his talents aren't selling books. So, sick of hearing that his work isn't "Black enough", he gets a-typing, pumping out the kind of text that he vehemently hates — but 100-percent fits the stereotype of what the world keeps telling him that Black literature should be. It attracts interest, even more so when Monk adopts a cliched new persona to go with it. Wright is indeed exceptional in this savvy satire of authenticity, US race relations and class chasms, and earns his awards contention for his reactions alone. Where to watch: Streaming via Prime Video. Read our full review. American Symphony Nominations: Best Original Song ('It Never Went Away', Jon Batiste and Dan Wilson) Our thoughts: Jon Batiste has enjoyed a dream career so far, with the musician packing more into his 37 years than most people do in a lifetime. Matthew Heineman's (Retrograde) American Symphony isn't that tale, though. Instead, it spends a year with The Late Show with Stephen Colbert's former bandleader and Soul Oscar-winner — a year where he's nominated for 11 Grammys, and endeavours to compose the symphony that gives this intimate and touching documentary its name. Also shaping the 12 months: in his personal life, grappling with the return of his wife and bestselling author Suleika Jaouad's leukaemia. Where to watch: Streaming via Netflix. Barbie Nominations: Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor (Ryan Gosling), Best Supporting Actress (America Ferrera), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Original Song ('I'm Just Ken', Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt; 'What Was I Made For?', Billie Eilish and Finneas O'Connell), Best Costume Design, Best Production Design Our thoughts: No one plays with a Barbie too hard when the Mattel product is fresh out of the box. The more that the toy is trotted through DreamHouses, though, the more that playing with the plastic fashion model becomes fantastical. Like globally beloved item, like live-action movie bearing its name. Barbie, the film, starts with glowing aesthetic perfection. It's almost instantly a pink-hued paradise for the eyes, and it's also cleverly funny. The longer that it continues, however, the harder and wilder that director Greta Gerwig (Little Women) goes, as does her lead-slash-producer Margot Robbie (Babylon) as Barbie and Ryan Gosling (The Gray Man) as Ken. Where to watch: Streaming via YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. Bobi Wine: The People's President Nominations: Best Documentary Feature Our thoughts: In western countries where democracy is entrenched, the system of government is too easily taken for granted. Bobi Wine: The People's President shows what the fight for a nation that's free, fair and gives its people a voice looks like, chronicling the plight of its titular figure. Bobi Wine was an Ugandan pop star, and a popular one. Then, in response to the autocratic rule of Yoweri Museveni since 1986, he turned to political activism. Filmmakers Moses Bwayo and Christopher Sharp, both first-time directors, also show how important and difficult his quest is — and there isn't a second of this documentary that isn't riveting. Where to watch: Streaming via Disney+. The Color Purple Nominations: Best Supporting Actress (Danielle Brooks) Our thoughts: On the page, stage and screen, The Color Purple's narrative has mostly remained the same, crushing woe, infuriating prejudice and rampant inequity included. Musicals don't have to be cheery, but how does so much brutality give rise to anything but mournful songs? The answer here: by leaning into the rural Georgia-set tale's embrace of hope, resilience and self-discovery. Ghanaian director Blitz Bazawule follows up co-helming Beyoncé's Black Is King by heroing empowerment and emancipation in his iteration of The Color Purple — and while it's easy to see the meaning behind its striving for a brighter outlook. Where to watch: Streaming via YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. The Creator Nominations: Best Sound, Best Visual Effects Our thoughts: Science fiction has never been afraid of unfurling its futuristic visions on the third rock from the sun, but the resulting films have rarely been as earthy as The Creator. Set from 2065 onwards after the fiery destruction of Los Angeles, this tale of humanity clashing with artificial intelligence is visibly awash with technology that doesn't currently exist — and yet the latest movie from Rogue One: A Star Wars Story director Gareth Edwards, which focuses on an undercover military operative Joshua (John David Washington, Amsterdam) tasked with saving the world, couldn't look or feel more authentic and grounded. Where to watch: Streaming via Disney+, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. El Conde Nominations: Best Cinematography Our thoughts: What if Augusto Pinochet didn't die in 2006? What if the Chilean general and dictator wasn't aged 91 at the time, either? What if his story started long before his official 1915 birthdate, in France prior to the French Revolution? What if he's been living for 250 years because he's a literal monster of the undead, draining and terrifying kind? Trust Chilean filmmaking great Pablo Larraín (Ema, Neruda, The Club, No, Post Mortem and Tony Manero) to ask these questions in El Conde, which translates as The Count and marks the latest exceptional effort in a career that just keeps serving up excellent movies. Where to watch: Streaming via Netflix. Read our full review. Elemental Nominations: Best Animated Feature Our thoughts: With Elemental, Pixar is in familiar territory — so much so that this film feels like something that was always destined to happen. Embracing the the studio's now-standard "what if robots, playthings, rats and the like had feelings?, it anthropomorphises fire, water, air and earth, and ponders these aspects of nature having emotions. The result from filmmaker Pete Sohn (The Good Dinosaur) is just-likeable and sweet-enough, despite vivid animation, plus the noblest of aims to survey the immigrant experience, opposites attracting, breaking down cultural stereotypes and borders, and complicated parent-child relationships. Where to watch: Streaming via Disney+, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. The Eternal Memory Nominations: Best Documentary Feature Our thoughts: After The Mole Agent, writer/director Maite Alberdi earns her second Oscar nomination in two successive films for a documentary that's just as layered — but she's no longer telling a caper-esque tale. This time, Augusto Góngora and Paulina Urrutia receive her attention. The former is an ex-former journalist and broadcaster. The latter is an actor and politician. Góngora's diagnosis with Alzheimer's disease sits at the centre of this haunting effort, which focuses on how its central couple endeavour to cope with his memory loss, the role that reflecting on the past has on our present and future, and how love endures. Where to watch: Streaming via DocPlay. Flamin' Hot Nominations: Best Original Song ('The Fire Inside', Diane Warren) Our thoughts: The feature directorial debut of Desperate Housewives actor Eva Longoria, Flamin' Hot is a product film, as Cheetos fans will instantly know. If you've ever wondered how the Frito-Lay-owned brand's spiciest variety came about in the 90s, this energetically made movie provides the answer while itself rolling out a crowd-pleasing formula. Eating the titular snack while you watch is optional, but expect the hankering to arise either way. This story belongs to Richard Montañez (Jesse Garcia, Ambulance) — and it's also an underdog tale, and an account of chasing the American dream, especially when it seems out of reach. Where to watch: Streaming via Disney+. Read our full review. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 Nominations: Best Visual Effects Our thoughts: Arriving to close out a standalone trilogy within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 zooms into the saga's fifth phase with a difference: it's still a quippy comedy, but it's as much a drama and a tragedy as well. Like most on-screen GotG storylines, it's also heist caper — and as plenty of caped-crusader flicks are, within the MCU or not, it's an origin story. The more that a James Gunn-written and -directed Guardians film gets cosy within the usual Marvel template, however, the more that his branch of Marvel's pop-culture behemoth embraces its own personality. Where to watch: Streaming via Disney+, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny Nominations: Best Original Score Our thoughts: Old hat, new whip. No, that isn't Dr Henry Walton 'Indiana' Jones' shopping list, but a description of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. While the fifth film about the eponymous archaeologist is as familiar as Indy films come, it's kept somewhat snapping by the returning Harrison Ford's (Shrinking) on-screen partnership with Phoebe Waller-Bridge (Fleabag). If you've seen one Indy outing in the past 42 years, you've seen the underlying mechanics of every other Indy outing. And yet, watching Ford flashing his crooked smile again, plus his bantering with Waller-Bridge, is almost enough to keep this new instalment from Ford v Ferrari filmmaker James Mangold whirring. Where to watch: Streaming via Disney+, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. Maestro Nominations: Best Picture, Best Actor (Bradley Cooper), Best Actress (Carey Mulligan), Best Cinematography, Best Original Screenplay, Best Makeup and Hairstyling, Best Sound Our thoughts: When a composer pens music, it's the tune that they want the world to enjoy, not the marks on a page scribbling it into existence. When a conductor oversees an orchestra, the performance echoing rather than their own with baton in hand and arms waving is their gift. In Maestro, Bradley Cooper (Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3) is seen as Leonard Bernstein in both modes. His portrayal is so richly textured that it's a career-best turn. But Cooper as this movie's helmer and co-writer wants Maestro's audience to revel in the end result — and if he wants love showered anyone's way first, it's towards Carey Mulligan (Saltburn) as Felicia Montealegre Bernstein. Where to watch: Netflix. Read our full review. Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One Nominations: Best Sound, Best Visual Effects Our thoughts: Just as its lead actor's gleaming teeth do, Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One, the seventh instalment in the TV-to-film spy series, thoroughly shines. Like Tom Cruise (Top Gun: Maverick) himself, it's committed to giving audiences what they want to see, but never merely exactly what they've already seen. This saga hasn't always chosen to accept that mission, but it's been having a better time of it since 2011's Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol, including since writer/director Christopher McQuarrie jumped behind the lens with 2015's Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation. Where to watch: Streaming via YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. Napoleon Nominations: Best Costume Design, Best Production Design, Best Visual Effects Our thoughts: When is a Ridley Scott (House of Gucci)-directed, Joaquin Phoenix (Beau Is Afraid)-starring trip to the past more than just a historical drama? Twice now, so whenever the filmmaker and actor team up to explore Europe centuries ago. Gladiator was the first; Napoleon follows — and where the Rome-set first was an action film as well, the second leans into comedy. This biopic of the eponymous French military star-turned-emperor can be funny. In the lead, Phoenix repeatedly boasts the line delivery, facial expressions and physical presence of someone actively courting laughs. When he declares "destiny has brought me this lamb chop!", all three coalesce. Where to watch: Streaming via Apple TV+, YouTube Movies and Prime Video. Read our full review. Nimona Nominations: Best Animated Feature Our thoughts: Bounding thoughtfully from the page to the screen — well, from pixels first, initially leaping from the web to print — Nimona goes all in on belonging. Ballister Boldheart (Riz Ahmed, Sound of Metal) wants to fit in desperately, and is willing to do whatever it takes to achieve it in this animated movie's medieval-yet-futuristic world, where there's nothing more important and acclaimed than being part of the Institute for Elite Knights. But when tragedy strikes, then prejudice sets in, he only has one ally. Nimona's namesake (Chloë Grace Moretz, The Peripheral) is a shapeshifter who offers to be his sidekick regardless of his innocence or guilt. Where to watch: Streaming via Netflix. Read our full review. Nyad Nominations: Best Actress (Annette Bening), Best Supporting Actress (Jodie Foster) Our thoughts: Most sports films about real-life exploits piece together the steps it took for a person or a team to achieve the ultimate in their field, or come as close as possible while trying their hardest. Nyad is no different, but it's also a deeply absorbing character study of two people: its namesake Diana Nyad (Annette Bening, Death on the Nile) and her best friend Bonnie Stoll (Jodie Foster, True Detective). The first is the long-distance swimmer whose feats the movie tracks, especially her quest to swim from Cuba to Florida in the 2010s. The second is the former professional racquetball player who became Nyad's coach when she set her sights on making history as a sexagenarian. Where to watch: Netflix. Read our full review. Oppenheimer Nominations: Best Picture, Best Director (Christopher Nolan), Best Actor (Cillian Murphy), Best Supporting Actor (Robert Downey Jr), Best Supporting Actress (Emily Blunt), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, Best Film Editing, Best Makeup and Hairstyling, Best Original Score, Best Production Design, Best Sound Our thoughts: Cast Cillian Murphy and a filmmaker falls in love. There's an arresting, haunting, seeps-under-your-skin soulfulness about the Irish actor, including when playing "the father of atomic bomb" in Christopher Nolan's (Tenet) epic biopic Oppenheimer. Flirting with the end of the world, or just one person's end, clearly suits Murphy. Here he is in a mind-blower as the destroyer of worlds — almost, perhaps actually — and so much of this can't-look-away three-hour stunner dwells in his expressive eyes, which see purpose, possibility, quantum mechanics' promise and, ultimately, the Manhattan Project's consequences. Where to watch: Streaming via YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. Past Lives Nominations: Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay Our thoughts: Call it fate, call it destiny, call it feeling like you were always meant to cross paths with someone: in Korean, that sensation is in-yeon. Partway through Past Lives, Nora (Greta Lee, Russian Doll) explains the concept to Arthur (John Magaro, The Many Saints of Newark) like she knows it deep in her bones, because both she and the audience are well-aware that she does. That's what writer/director Celine Song's sublime feature debut is about, in fact. The term also applies to her connection to childhood crush Hae Sung (Teo Yoo, Decision to Leave) in this sensitive, blisteringly honest and intimately complex masterpiece. Where to watch: Streaming via Prime Video. Read our full review, and our interview with Celine Song. Rustin Nominations: Best Actor (Colman Domingo) Our thoughts: After Selma, One Night in Miami and Judas and the Black Messiah arrives Rustin, the latest must-see movie about the minutiae of America's 60s-era civil rights movement. All four hail from Black filmmakers. All four tell vital stories. They each boast phenomenal performances, too, including from Colman Domingo (The Color Purple) as Rustin's eponymous figure. His turn as Bayard Rustin, who conceived and organised the event where Martin Luther King Jr gave his "I Have a Dream" speech, isn't merely powerful; it's a go-for-broke portrayal from a versatile talent at the top of his game while digging into the every inch of his part. Where to watch: Streaming via Netflix. Read our full review. Society of the Snow Nominations: Best International Feature, Best Makeup and Hairstyling Our thoughts: Society of the Snow isn't merely a disaster film detailing the specifics of Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571's failed journey, the immediate deaths and those that came afterwards, the lengthy wait to be found — including after authorities called the search off — and the crushing decisions made to get through. JA Bayona (Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom), who also helmed the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami-focused The Impossible, has made a weighty feature that reckons with the emotional, psychological and spiritual toll, and doesn't think of shying away from the most difficult aspects of this real-life situation, including cannibalism. Where to watch: Streaming via Netflix. Read our full review. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Nominations: Best Animated Feature Our thoughts: When 2018's Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse took pop culture's favourite web-slinger back to its animated roots, it made flesh-and-blood superhero flicks and shows, as well as the expensive special effects behind them, look positively trivial and cartoonish. The end result was a deservedly Academy Award-winning masterpiece — and its first sequel Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, which hails from directors Joaquim Dos Santos (The Legend of Korra), Kemp Powers (Soul) and Justin K Thompson (Into the Spider-Verse's production designer), plasters around the same sensation like a Spidey shooting its silk. Where to watch: Streaming via Binge, Prime Video, YouTube Movies and iTunes. Read our full review. To Kill a Tiger Nominations: Best Documentary Feature Our thoughts: A battle for justice sits at the heart of To Kill a Tiger, a documentary that is as powerful as it is heavy, and is also an essential piece of filmmaking. When his 13-year-old daughter becomes the victim of sexual assault, Ranjit is determined to bring the perpetrators to justice. Not that that's a straightforward feat anywhere, but it isn't the same quest in India as it is in western countries, as writer/director Nisha Pahuja (The World Before Her) examines. Ranjit is dedicated to the fight, even knowing how difficult it is — from the backlash that he receives across his village to the horrifying statistics regarding the frequency of rape in the country and the paltry conviction rate. Where to watch: Streaming via Netflix from Friday, March 8. 20 Days in Mariupol Nominations: Best Documentary Feature Our thoughts: Incompatible with life. No one ever hears those three devastating words — one of the most distressing phrases there is — in positive circumstances. Accordingly, when they're uttered by a doctor in 20 Days in Mariupol, they're deeply shattering. So is everything in this on-the-ground portrait of the first 20 days in the Ukrainian city as Russia began its invasion, as the bleak reality of living in a war zone is documented. Directed by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Mstyslav Chernov, that this film even exists is an achievement. What it shows — what it immerses viewers in, from shelled hospitals and basements-turned-bomb shelters to families torn apart and mass graves — can never be forgotten. Where to watch: Streaming via DocPlay. The 2024 Oscars will be announced on Monday, March 11, Australian time. For further details, head to the awards' website. Wondering who'll win? Check out our predictions.
When 2023 first kicked in, it brought a multi-sensory Frida Kahlo installation Down Under, letting art lovers in Sydney immerse themselves in the iconic Mexican artist's works. Consider that exhibition the appetiser before the main meal that is Frida & Diego: Love & Revolution: a huge winter-long tribute to Kahlo, her well-known spouse Diego Rivera and the entire Mexican modernism movement, which is now on display in Adelaide. Open at the Art Gallery of South Australia since Saturday, June 24, running until Sunday, September 17 and one of the venue's headlining exhibition for 2023, this showcase is sizeable. Visitors can currently see more than 150 works, spanning everything from paintings and photographs to works on paper and period clothing, as drawn from the Jacques and Natasha Gelman Collection. Frida & Diego: Love & Revolution has two key aims: examining why Kahlo's work, and Kahlo herself, holds such enduring appeal; and placing Kahlo and Rivera's art in context with their contemporaries. "'Each generation brings a new lens to the profoundly inspiring figure that is Frida Kahlo. A 21st-century muse, Kahlo is today revered as a feminist and as a singular political and creative force. Frida & Diego: Love & Revolution speaks to the influence and ingenuity of art practice in Mexico and aims to recontextualise the enduring allure of Kahlo within today's society," said AGSA Director Rhana Devenport ONZM. "These iconic paintings from the extraordinary Jacques and Natasha Gelman Collection form the heart of this exhibition. Close friends of Kahlo and Rivera, the Gelmans were pioneering collectors who formed an outstanding collection of works foregrounding Mexican modernism," adds Tansy Curtin, AGSA's Curator of International Art, Pre-1980s. Amid suitably colourful walls, attendees can also spy large-scale reproductions of folk art-heavy Rivera's murals. Another highlight: exploring Kahlo and Rivera's home life and artistic practice, as inspired by their La Casa Azul house and studio. That said, while Kahlo, Rivera, and their art, connection, politics and influence all sit at the centre of this wide-ranging showcase, it also highlights pieces by Manuel and Lola Álvarez Bravo, Miguel Covarrubias, María Izquierdo, Carlos Mérida, David Alfaro Siqueiros and more — as any survey of Mexican modernism should and must. Focusing on the first half of the 20th century, this an Australian-exclusive exhibition, too — meaning that you'll have to go to Adelaide to see it — as well as most comprehensive exhibition of Mexican modernism that the country has ever seen. Unsurprisingly, South Australia expects it to be a big tourist attraction. Accordingly, Frida & Diego: Love & Revolution is being accompanied by a series of events, and not just at AGSA, to cater for locals and travellers alike. Think: clay and cocktails sessions, making paper-cut flowers in the traditional Mexican decorative craft style, a dining experience to mark Mexican Independence Day, Mexican-themed menus at Adelaide restaurants and a La Casa Azul installation in Rundle Mall. Frida & Diego: Love & Revolution is on display at the Art Gallery of South Australia until Sunday, September 17, 2023. For more information or to buy tickets, head to the AGSA website. Images: installation view: Frida & Diego: Love & Revolution, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide; photos: Saul Steed.
Today's workplace isn't what it used to be. While there are plenty of reasons for this, technology is a big factor as is a shift in what most people consider important in regard to job satisfaction. In order to keep pace with such societal changes, workplaces are constantly adapting the type of skills they look for in new hires. Don't be too concerned though. Open Universities Australia (OUA) and its university partners are well aware of what it takes to succeed. That's why we've teamed up with OUA to outline five of the core skills you need to thrive in every work situation. The best part? There's a fantastic range of relevant courses through university partners across Australia. Regardless of your previous education, you can enrol instantly in a number of uni subjects that will help you upskill quickly and excel in the workforce. LEARN TO NAVIGATE THE CHANGING DIGITAL LANDSCAPE We live in a time of rapid change, particularly when it comes to technology. In the modern workplace, you don't necessarily need to be the one pumping out code or building expertly designed websites, but it is important to have an understanding of how technology intersects with your work. Studying subjects like Digital Culture and Everyday Life with Curtin University through OUA allows you to get acquainted with the basics. You'll learn how the internet became a part of everyday life and its general impact on society and culture. If you're keen to get more in-depth, you can also take a look at more focused subjects such as Writing for Digital Media or Cyber Crime, which both offer very specific skillsets. LEARN TO SET BOUNDARIES AND MANAGE YOUR TIME Knowing how to set boundaries is a crucial skill in every aspect of your life. However, striking the right balance between work and play isn't always a simple task. When the lines blur (as they often can), it's common for anxiety and stress to arise, so knowing how to separate the two is a valuable skill to have. And when your student life is full-time online, meaning your university exists wherever your computer does, you'll quickly learn that those essential clear and concise limits are the only way to properly manage your time. While it may not be fun at the time, it'll definitely stand you in good stead later down the line. LEARN HOW TO LEAD AND MANAGE PEOPLE Leadership skills. We all know we're supposed to have them but how do you actually hone them? The answer is simpler than you think. Just by taking online university courses you'll learn how to keep up with deadlines and work autonomously — skills which many places look for in leaders. Or, if you want to take it a step further, you can study the 14-week Project Leadership and Teams course with the University of South Australia via OUA. You'll learn all about managing teams effectively, critical problem solving and understanding and harnessing different people's strengths and weaknesses. Plus, you'll gain some great interpersonal skills. LEARN TO MAKE AND KEEP A SAFE WORKPLACE ENVIRONMENT It should come as no surprise that workplace safety is critical. After all, everyone wants and deserves to work in a secure and protected environment. But what may come as a shock is that plenty of people don't even know their own workplace rights, let alone what to do if they suspect those rights are being violated. Enrolling in Griffith University's Work Health and Safety through OUA will have you up to speed with the 2011 Work Health and Safety Act in no time. Plus, you'll get a clear understanding of the main types of hazards at work — be it in the office or out in the field. LEARN HOW TO BE APPROPRIATELY CULTURALLY AWARE People from all sorts of cultural backgrounds are represented in the workplace. Aside from the fact that cultural respect and an understanding of one's own privilege should be an inherent part of life anyway, having that sort of awareness and the ability to lead by example can be extremely beneficial in a work setting. From working in teams and avoiding miscommunication to scheduling mishaps during religious holidays, studying something like Curtin University's Human Rights History Across Cultures and Religions via OUA is a great first step to building your knowledge of a diverse range of cultures beyond the western viewpoint. Because everyone deserves to be treated equally both in and outside of the workplace. Start looking at all the subjects on offer online from leading Australian unis through Open Universities Australia and you could have a new skill by the end of the year. Hop to it.
It sure is no secret that Sydney's a pretty exxy place to call home. But here's some news to make you really start plotting that move interstate: a recent report on the cost of living has stuck it right up at number 10, above both New York and London. That's right, all your mates battling those killer Hackney rent prices now, apparently, have it better than you. As The Guardian reported this week, the Economist Intelligence Unit's 2018 study pushed our harbour city up four spots higher than in the same list last year, seeing it crack the top ten for the first time ever. This comes after another pice aggregation website Numbeo saw Sydney and Melbourne move up on its list too. The study compared prices across more than 150 products and services, looking at things like food, transport, utilities, clothing and rent in all the major cities. Singapore has again claimed the title of the world's most expensive city, followed by Paris, which jumped five points, and Zurich, which climbed one position. New York swapped last year's number nine ranking for a spot in 13th, while at number 30, London scored its lowest position in two decades — a fall the report's authors say has a lot to do with a little thing called Brexit. Via The Guardian.
The Art Gallery of NSW has announced the finalists for the 2016 Archibald Prize — and this year's got some good'uns. This is the 95th year for the highly sought-after portraiture award.Considered the "who's who of Australian culture", portraits entered into the prize generally depict notable Australians, from politicians and celebrities to artists and athletes. This year's finalists include Natasha Bieniek's oil painting of Wendy Whiteley (above), Clara Adolphs' portrait of actor Terry Selio, Betina Fauvel-Ogden's painting of MasterChef's George Calombaris (which is also the winner of the Packing Room Prize) and — our personal favourite — Carla Fletcher's portrait of fashion icon Linda Jackson. Seriously, look at those colours. [caption id="attachment_579238" align="alignnone" width="455"] Carla Fletcher, Twin souls, Linda Jackson, mix media on board, 200 x 150.5 cm, © the artist, Photo: AGNSW, Felicity Jenkins.[/caption] The Archibald finalists will be exhibited at AGNSW from July 16 to October 9, along with the finalists for the Wynne Prize (which awards the best landscape painting of Australia or figure sculpture) and the Sulman Prize (for the best subject painting, genre painting or mural project), which were also announced yesterday. After exhibiting in Sydney, the finalists will then tour regionally until August 2017, after which time the winner will be announced by the trustees of AGNSW. The winner will be awarded $100,000 in prize money and some serious bragging rights to boot. The prize was created by Jules Francois Archibald, the founding editor of The Bulletin magazine. He established the prize with the goal to promote both great Australian portraiture and great Australians. The only real stipulation within the contest is that the painting must have been created in the last 12 months and include at least one live sitting with the subject. The award is an open competition, which means that any resident of Australia or New Zealand can enter. Something to keep in mind for next year. Top image: Natasha Bieniek, Wendy Whiteley, oil on wood, 34.5 x 32.5cm, © the artist Photo: AGNSW, Mim Stirling.
Even vegetarians and vegans need a filthy food option sometimes — and Lord of the Fries is one of few fast food joints that really gets this. Now, Australia's homegrown vegetarian chain is expanding their offering to include all-day vegan breakfast. The photos may look like Maccas knock-offs, but the brekkie options — like the rest of the Lord of the Fries menu — are 100 percent vegan. Think BLTs, sausage and hash brown muffins, and a fried chicken and waffle bun with bacon, butter and maple syrup. Plus, there's also an English muffin stuffed with the holy trinity of 'bacon', 'egg' and 'cheese'. All made without any animal products, of course. The idea of vegan eggs might make some people squirm, but the mere fact that vegan fast food breakfast options are readily available is roof-raising news for those who like to keep their hangover cures cruelty-free. The all-day breakfast is now available nationwide and in all stores. Check out the full menu here.
Bumps and jumps can happen at any time, but they feel extra eerie when October rolls around each year. So, when it comes to unleashing its spooky tales upon horror-loving Melburnians, acclaimed West End hit Ghost Stories has obviously chosen the exact right part of the calendar. Coming to Australia for the first time, Ghost Stories will bring its thrills and chills to the Athenaeum Theatre from this October. Exact dates are yet to be announced, but the season will run for eight weeks. And, it'll be doing so with the team behind a couple of other unsettling recent experiences: Melbourne-based Realscape Productions, who've been responsible for shipping container installations Seance, Flight and Coma, plus a number of horror audio experiences since 2020. Created, written and directed by Andy Nyman (Derren Brown) and Jeremy Dyson (The League of Gentlemen), and first staged in the UK back in 2010, Ghost Stories offers exactly what its name suggests. Leading the charge is fictional Professor of Parapsychology Phillip Goodman, who takes audiences through three of his cases. If it sounds familiar even though the production hasn't ever made it to our shores as yet, that's because Ghost Stories was turned into a film with The Office, The Hobbit and Sherlock star Martin Freeman a couple of years back — and also featuring Nyman as Goodman. This is the type of show where the less you know going in, the better. You want to experience those frightening tales afresh, after all. Audience members have been known to physically jump in their seats while they're watching, too, which is part of the point. "If people are paying their hard-earned money to see the show, we have a responsibility to give them more than they pay for," said Dyson in a statement. "We knew that we wanted to craft a play that would deliver something of substance to an audience, some solid ground underneath the fun, that would leave a deeper, darker residue and be harder to shake off," continued both Dyson and Nyman. Yes, the show has been likened to watching a horror movie play out on stage — so if you that sounds like your ideal way to spend 80 minutes, prepare to be in your element. If you're easily scared, you probably already know to stay away. Check out Ghost Stories' Australian trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfabPFfTm6g Ghost Stories will hit Melbourne's Athenaeum Theatre sometime this October, with exact dates yet to be announced. For further details, and to sign up for the ticket waitlist, head to the production's website. Top image: Chris Payne.
Acai has to be one of the most mysterious of all the much-hyped superfood clan. What's all the fuss? Where did these things even come from? Why are all your friends ditching coffee to go out for 'a bowl'? In an effort to get answers to these Very Important Questions, we've gone to the masters. Ben Day and Sam Carson are the owners of Redlands' first ever organic superfood bar. Though each one of them cuts a pretty impressive physique, they don't have protein shakes to thank for their healthy glow. These two muscular men rely on a much more natural source — they call themselves the Acai Brothers. So, what is Acai? Acai (pronounced ah-sigh-ee) is a Brazilian superfood originating in the Amazon rainforest; an antioxidant-packed berry which can be consumed in various forms, but which according to the current trend is most frequently turned into an aesthetically pleasing and highly refreshing dish known as a 'bowl'. In this form, the acai is blended with ice and other clean ingredients to become the base layer of the dish, and is presented in a similar way to a dessert. Just search #acaibowl on Instagram and you'll get the gist (and a fairly strong craving to boot). Who eats acai? Nutrition is often seen as a woman's game, but thankfully that's gradually changing and the Acai Brothers are actively helping to break down that stereotype for their fellow blokes; they're two macho men, passionate about putting the right things into their bodies for continued good health, and even more passionate about practicing what they preach. "How about we open male minds a little bit?" says Sam. He says guys are slowing getting weened off their protein shakes and coming around. But it's not just gym junkies who should get on board. "Right now we've got a specific target market of gym-goers, business people, naturopaths, mums and little kids, but there's a big market of people who have no idea that eating healthily can be cheap, quick and highly beneficial," says Sam. "One of our main goals is to tap into that school market and educate young people about the benefits of eating superfoods ... It’s going to take time, like any movement." It's more than a fashion trend Taking this superfood to the next level means better educating young people. Ben and Sam are trying to cut through the hype and get kids to understand the actual benefits. Their long-term aim is to prove that eating superfoods is more than a passing fashion; it's a dietary choice. "Acai is tremendously beneficial to gut health, it assists the absorption of nutrients and aids the removal of fatty acids," says Sam. This little berry is spectacularly high in antioxidants and vitamins (packed with three times that of blueberries). It improves your immune system and helps prevent common ailments like colds and flu; when taken to the extreme and coupled with supergreens, acai can be a total powerhouse. It gives you energy and improves your mental focus. That's better than some superficial Insta-post. There are a bunch of ways to eat it Brisbane is currently the only location within Australia that boasts acai specialist cafes, so residents are spoilt for choice when it comes to beautifully-presented bowls. Kiss the Berry, Coco Bliss and Raw PawPaw are among the many vendors. But according to the boys, acai is also an easy product to introduce into your diet at home. Australian company Amazonia provides three options for acai consumption: frozen puree (for use in bowls and smoothies), freeze-dried powder (a great ingredient when you're making a batch of bliss balls) and freeze-dried capsules (the pop-in-your-mouth-and-go option). One quick trip to your local health food shop, or a few clicks online, and you're set. According to Ben, if you have a blender it couldn't be easier to put together a tasty bowl yourself. "No matter what you put on top, it tastes great. A guy recently requested avocado on his bowl, which was something different! We've got thousands of recipe ideas that we'll explore over time. We try to present something that looks incredibly appealing, bright and vibrant." First-timers can expect the texture of sorbet (it should never be runny, nor too thick), purple in colour, with a slightly tart, berry flavour. Toppings can include all manner of deliciousness: fruit, muesli, buckini, coconut, cacao, yoghurt or coyo, seeds, nuts and just about anything raw or dehydrated you can get your hands on. You can even add edible essential oils if you're feeling particularly brave and creative. For Sam, the ideal bowl consists of banana, kiwifruit and strawberry. For Ben, it's all about lemon, shredded coconut, goji berries, cacao nibs and gluten-free buckini which forms a great crumb. It's perfect for summer Sam and Ben opened their new superfood bar at just the right time; summer is here and we're all in need of something refreshing. Their drive to educate people about the advantages of acai is also timely, as our city's hunger for all things healthy is at an all-time high. Thankfully this is starting to catch on with guys too. The Acai Brothers claim they've seen a noticeable shift in the balance between male and female customers. It could be that their dude-led acai love is encouraging others to try something new. When all is said and done, it doesn't seem to matter how we consume it; the point is that we should all inject some acai into our diets. So go, explore, experiment and enjoy all the amazing-ness of the Amazon's finest fruit. And, if you happen to visit the Acai Brothers in the Redlands, tuck into a Raw Lemon bowl. It'll seriously rock your world. The Acai Brothers Superfood Bar is located at 683 Old Cleveland Road East, Wellington Point. Images courtesy of Rosie Greenaway, Amazonia, Breno Peck and eliduke and readandrewrite via photopin cc.
In Australia, January means warmth, more warmth and heading to the movies to watch Oscar contenders to escape it. In Park City, Utah, it means snow, a celebration of cinema started by none other than Robert Redford, and the first big international film festival of the year. Yes, the Sundance Film Festival has just played its slate of 2017 flicks — or, as we like to look at it, the titles that will hopefully be heating up Aussie big screens in the near future. Last year, number one on our Sundance wish list was Hunt for the Wilderpeople. Thankfully, that turned out to be pretty majestical. Plenty of our other 2016 picks have shown up at local festivals around the place too, such as Werner Herzog talking about the internet in Lo and Behold, Reveries of the Connected World; singing Polish mermaids in The Lure; and Kristen Stewart, Laura Dern and Michelle Williams at their best in Certain Women. And, speaking of Williams, her Oscar-nominated performance in Manchester by the Sea from last year's choices is about to open in Australian cinemas. Enough looking backwards, though — 2017's lineup delivers a massive new list of movies to get in front of your eyeballs. First, the good news: from Sundance's latest batch, plenty are already coming our way. To name a few, they include US Dramatic competition winner I Don't Feel At Home in This World Anymore, which will drop on Netflix worldwide in February; Berlin Syndrome, the third feature from Australian Somersault and Lore director Cate Shortland, which is already slated for an April cinema release; and all-female horror anthology XX, which Monster Fest is championing. Plus, Netflix strikes again with documentary Casting JonBenet from Aussie filmmaker Kitty Green, environmental doco and audience award favourite Chasing Coral, and anorexia drama To the Bone by former Buffy writer turned UnREAL showrunner Marti Noxon. As for the rest? Here's the ten we're crossing our fingers and toes to see in our local cinemas (and a few others as well). CALL ME BY YOUR NAME Most actors wouldn't want to walk in the footsteps of the inimitable Tilda Swinton and Ralph Fiennes, but that's just what Armie Hammer does in the film that became the talk of the fest, Call Me By Your Name. Set in 1983, the queer coming-of-age drama is the latest effort from Italian I Am Love and A Bigger Splash director Luca Guadagnino, which virtually guarantees how good its summery images will look. Bound to be more powerful than that, though, is the underlying tale of desire, as well as the accompanying performances. Also watch out for: Mudbound, which delves into the stories of two families in America's south post-World War II with an all-star cast of Carey Mulligan, Jason Clarke, Mary J. Blige, Garrett Hedlund, Jonathan Banks and Jason Mitchell. THE BIG SICK If you've watched Silicon Valley or Portlandia (or caught 2016 flicks Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates or Central Intelligence), you'll recognise Kumail Nanjiani — though his list of credits runs much longer than that. In fact, with his wife Emily V. Gordon, he has added feature film screenwriter to his resume with The Big Sick, and turned their own culture-clash dating story into an amusing and insightful film in the process. Michael Showalter of Wet Hot American Summer fame directs, with the pair re-teaming after Nanjiani featured in his last ace movie, My Name is Doris. Also watch out for: Aubrey Plaza in everything, always — or, specifically, in Ingrid Goes West. Here, her titular character befriends an Instagram lifestyle guru played by Elizabeth Olsen, because that's a thing. Next-generation actors O'Shea Jackson Jr. (who played his dad, Ice Cube, in Straight Outta Compton) and Wyatt Russell (son of Kurt) also star. LANDLINE There have been plenty of comedies about pregnancy, but when Obvious Child took on the topic back in 2014, it showed the world what a frank, funny, empathetic and earnest look at unexpectedly discovering you're expecting could turn out — and helped show just how great a talent Jenny Slate is in the process. Three years later, the actress reunites with writer/director Gillian Robespierre for a trip to the '90s. Yes, it's set at a time when people chatted on the phones that you couldn't take with you, and it makes for a darkly amusing effort that's certain to bring the same honesty and hilarity to exploring family troubles. Also watch out for: Jenny Slate again, this time in The Polka King opposite Jack Black. They play husband and wife, with the former scamming his way to a polka music empire. Jason Schwartzman and Australia's own Jacki Weaver are among the cast. BEACH RATS Pay attention to the name Eliza Hittman. She received the US Dramatic comp's best director prize, and if her sophomore feature is anything like her moody, evocative debut It Felt Like Love, she's a certain talent to watch. In Beach Rats, the filmmaker charts the efforts of Brooklyn teen Frankie to brighten up a thoroughly unhappy summer — and explore his own wants and needs — when he simultaneously starts hooking up with guys at a beachside cruising spot and dating a young woman. Also watch out for: After featuring in 2015 flick People Places Things, The Daily Show's Jessica Williams once again joins forces with writer/director Jim Strouse in The Incredible Jessica James, this time taking the lead as an aspiring playwright who forges a new bond to cope with a breakup. I DREAM IN ANOTHER LANGUAGE Talk may be the focus of the Mexican-set I Dream in Another Language — getting the two last native speakers of a dying language to speak after a 50-year feud, to be exact — however this thoughtful love story says just as much with images as it does with words. Think deeply-felt cinematic poetry that leans towards the lyrical, patient style of filmmaker favoured by Apichatpong Weerasethakul (the director behind Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives and Cemetery of Splendour). Also watch out for: Carpinteros (Woodpeckers), an engrossing romance that introduces viewers to a world they've probably never thought of and a form of communication they likely haven't heard of — neighbouring prisons in the Dominican Republic and the form of sign language their inmates use to communicate. A GHOST STORY Don't you just love secret films? We're talking about the type that just spring up out of nowhere, made without anyone knowing. A Ghost Story fell into that camp when it first made headlines in November, and the talent involved with the movie makes it all the more exciting. After working together on 2013's Ain't Them Bodies Saints, director Dave Lowery (Pete's Dragon) re-teams with Rooney Mara and likely future best actor Oscar winner Casey Affleck (for Manchester by the Sea) to examine death and grief — and, yes, the spiritual presence you're expecting based on the title. Also watch out for: With Jon Hamm and Tim Robbins among the cast, Marjorie Prime similarly broods over mortality, focusing on the last days of an 86-year-old — spent with a computerised version of her dearly departed hubby. STEP They don't just give any old film a Special Jury Award for inspirational filmmaking, the gong Step took out in Sundance's US Documentary field. Treading the same turf that 2016 festival hit The Fits made its own with such style and skill, the doco follows three high-schoolers trying to chase their step dance team dreams. Expect more than just the usual formula as first-time director Amanda Lipitz peers inside the Baltimore Leadership School for Young Women, the ladies striving for a better future and the crowd-pleasing journey that results. Also watch out for: Tokyo Idols, which joins the growing ranks of factual efforts trying to understand just what makes Japanese girl bands, pop music, its stars and their fans tick. PATTI CAKE$ Does the road to rhyme-slinging rap success start in New Jersey? And is the rags-to-riches path paved with assistance from a goth-metal muso named Basterd? For the wannabe hip hop artist who calls herself both Killer P and Patti Cake$, it just might be. For Aussie actress Danielle McDonald, the energetic underdog effort that shares Patti's name could also be her stepping stone to broader acclaim — and, for music video director turned first-time feature helmer Geremy Jasper, his as well. Also watch out for: Roxanne Roxanne, a biopic about a big hip hop beef known as the Roxanne wars — aka a series of songs answering the last, with 14-year-old emcee Roxanne Shanté in the middle. Playing Shanté, newcomer Chanté Adams won a Special Jury Award for Breakthrough Performance. AXOLOTL OVERKILL And the prize for best title goes to…actually, German drama Axolotl Overkill won a jury award for cinematography in the World Dramatic comp, but it'd have a fair shot if the other contest was a real thing. The feature debut of writer/director Helene Hegemann is based on her own semi-autobiographical novel, which she wrote when she was 17. Not only does it take the coming-of-age genre into partying and nightlife territory — which, yes, you've seen before — but the stylistic exploration of teen excess promises to traverse contemplative and surreal terrain as well. Also watch out for: A fellow contender in the great name stakes, Don't Swallow My Heart, Alligator Girl! brings professional and non-professional actors together to tell a fairytale-like story of teenage love, colonial oppression and gang struggles in three languages. 78/52 Every film festival has one: a movie that cinephiles just won't be able to contain their excitement about. 78/52 takes the honours at this year's Sundance, with its moniker referring to the number of setups and edits it took to film the most iconic shower scene in cinema history. Alfred Hitchcock and Psycho fans will be in their element as the doco breaks down this famous sequence, and explores just how it changed filmmaking as we know it. And, the likes of Guillermo del Toro, Bret Easton Ellis, Karyn Kusama Eli Roth and Peter Bogdanovich are all on hand to help. Also watch out for: The Nile Hilton Incident, a Cairo-set corrupt cop flick charting an investigation into a murdered singer — and the film that took out the Grand Jury Prize in the World Cinema Dramatic competition.
If you firmly believe that you can never have too much Idris Elba, then you have most of the planet for company. Right now, the Hijack-watching world and streaming service Apple TV+ are also firmly in that camp. After the British actor's high-octane thriller series hit the small screen in 2023 and swiftly hooked viewers, the platform has announced that it will return for a second season. And yes, Elba will be back — although what'll be testing his negotiation skills this time is yet to be revealed. In its first season, Hijack featured the Beast, Three Thousand Years of Longing and Luther talent as Sam Nelson, a veteran negotiator who was on his way home to the UK from Dubai when terrorists took over the flight. Accordingly, it was up to the actor that everyone would like to see as 007 tries to try to get everyone to their destination safely, all in a series that took place in real time. Nelson's onboard tasks switched from relaxing in the air to trying to talk his captors down, let authorities on the ground know what was happening and minimising casualties. If you're not only thinking about Bond but also 24, that's the right wheelhouse. And yes, non-stop tension does go down smoother when Elba is looking calm and collected under pressure, a fact that helped make the series one of Apple TV+ most-popular dramas last year. Created by Criminal's George Kay and Jim Field Smith — with Kay also behind Lupin — Hijack's first season also boasted Elba as an executive producer, a role that he'll retain again when it returns for its second season. Field Smith will again be the show's lead director as well. "I was floored by the overwhelming audience response after season one. It's top secret what new situation unfolds for Sam Nelson but I can assure you we will bring the high-octane back!" said Elba, announcing the show's renewal. Alongside the show's storyline for its second season, when Hijack will return hasn't yet been announced, and neither have any co-stars that'll feature opposite the series' The Harder They Fall, Fast and Furious: Hobbs & Shaw, The Suicide Squad and Thor: Ragnarok alum leading man. Fingers crossed that whatever the scenario, and whoever else features on-screen, another quickly addictive nail-biter results, even if you'd expect that it won't focus on Idris Elba on a plane again. Check out the trailer for Hijack season one below: Hijack streams via Apple TV+ — and season two doesn't yet have a release date. Read our full review of season one.
What begins in Milan, then heads to Puglia and the Italian Alps, plus Naples, Sicily, Tuscany, Florence and Rome, too? An impressive getaway, and also the 2023 Italian Film Festival. What dives into history, includes love and treasures, and also soul-searching journeys, stunning threads, labyrinths and great art? Again, a dream holiday, and also Australia's annual celebration of Italy's best and brightest on the big screen. Running from Wednesday, September 27–Wednesday, October 25 at Palace Barracks and Palace James Street in Brisbane, 2023's IFF will open with The Last Night of Amore, which is where the fest's jaunt to Milan comes in, and one of its thrillers as well. Making its Australian premiere after a successful stint at the Italian box office, writer/director Andrea Di Stefano's (The Informer) police flick stars Pierfrancesco Favino (The Hummingbird) as it tells of an about-to-retire honest cop facing a chaotic, crime-riddled, corruption-fuelled situation. Also among the event's spotlight flicks, Kidnapped sits in the centrepiece slot, recreating the tale of the Vatican's abduction of a young Jewish boy in the 19th century, plus as the scandal that unsurprisingly followed. As part of a focus on actor, filmmaker and screenwriter Massimo Troisi, 1994's The Postman, the talent's two-time Oscar-nominated final film, will close out the fest with a 50s-set whirlwind of love and friendship. There's more where they both came from — more special-presentation and special-event movies, and more of Troisi's work. First, the features getting some extra IFF love. Starring Josh O'Connor (Mothering Sunday) and directed by Alice Rohrwacher (Futura), La Chimera heads to 80s-era Tuscany as a British archaeologist gets caught up in ring selling stolen Italian wares — while Beautiful Boy's Felix van Groeningen shares directing duties with his The Broken Circle Breakdown co-screenwriter Charlotte Vandermeersch on The Eight Mountains, which stars Luca Marinelli (Martin Eden) and Alessandro Borghi (Devils), and won 2022's Cannes Jury Prize. Also, Burning Hearts dives into crime and revenge in black and white, Carravagio's Shadow features Riccardo Scamarcio (John Wick: Chapter 2) as the eponymous painter, and documentary The Genius of Gianni Versace Alive unravels its namesake fashion designer's career. With IFF's Troisi retrospective, viewers can see three more of his films: 1981 comedy I'm Starting From Three, his debut as both a big-screen actor and director; Nothing Left to Do But Cry, where he acts opposite and travels back in time with Roberto Benigni (Pinocchio); and the cinema-adoring Splendour, also featuring the late, great Marcello Mastroianni. And, there's also Mario Martone's (Nostalgia) doco Somebody Down There Likes Me, about his exploration of Troisi's movies. Elsewhere on the bill, Nanni Moretti (Three Floors) directs himself playing a director grappling with today's streaming reality in A Brighter Tomorrow; Strangeness enlists Toni Servillo (The Hand of God) as Literature Nobel Prize-winning playwright Luigi Pirandello; The First Day of My Life also features the prolific actor, this time in the latest effort from Perfect Strangers' helmer Paolo Genovese; and both Like Sheep Among Wolves and Prophets sit among the fest's thrillers. The list goes on, including the family-friendly Supernova and The Properties of Metals, plus comedies Orlando and My Shadow Is Your Shadow. And, there's the music-focused My Soul Summer featuring Italian X Factor-winner Casadilego.
If you're an Uber One member who's headed to the Australian Open, you're in luck. Complimentary rides to the Rod Laver Arena in snazzy EVs are on the cards — and they'll even drop you home. For the duration of the tournament until Sunday, January 28, Kia is serving up a fleet of 30 brand-new EV9s and EV6s, which are available in the 'Kia Electric' option on your Uber app — assuming that they haven't all been snapped up at the time you're looking, of course. Given that Kia is the major partner of the Australian Open, these same types of EVs will be transporting the players to and from the tournament. So you'll have the chance to experience travelling to the matches like a star of the game, even if you get winded going up the stairs. [caption id="attachment_935839" align="alignnone" width="1920"] annieb via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] How do you snag one of these rides? Simple. When heading to the tennis, just pop 'Rod Laver Arena' as your destination. If you're going home, just pop in your address or anywhere else you feel like heading within a five-kilometre radius. If an EV is available between 9am–7pm, from until Sunday, January 28, you can select it and enjoy the ride on Kia's dime. Here's the fine print: it's capped at $100, and only available if you're an Uber One member and booking within a five-kilometre radius of the arena. Free trip to one of the greatest sporting events on the planet, all in the quiet comfort of a slick EV? That's not a bad start to any day at the tennis. The Australian Open is held at Melbourne Park. It runs from Sunday, January 14 to Sunday, January 28. Top image: Tourism Victoria via Flickr.
Imagine if there was a drug that could make the person you have saved as your iPhone wallpaper fall in love with you. "Gimme gimme," I hear you screaming at your screen. Well sorry, outside of Shrek 2 such thing doesn’t exist. But the latest Queensland Theatre Company’s play, The Effect, shows that maybe, just maybe, the best love drug of all doesn’t come in a little pink capsule. When Connie signs up for a clinical trial for a new, super-duper anti-depressant she meets fellow volunteer Tristan and flirtation ensues; but not in cafes, or studio apartments, or outside Pie Face on Queen Street Mall – rather, in the confines of their clinical trial room, with no contact with the outside world. In time, the chemicals running through their systems tamper with their youthful bodies, igniting canoodling, kissing and all things that make Nicholas Sparks smile. This threatens to throw the whole drug-trial off course, and that’s when the real trouble begins. The Effect is playing at Billie Brown Studio until the 5th of July. Whether you're head over heals in love, or a cynical spinster, you won't be disappointed by the twists and turns of this production. Plus, it's a little reassuring to know that the best way to someone’s heart is to get jacked up on anti-depressants, and lock yourself in a room with them – cue Tom Jones.
Four days, one coastal hotspot, and oh-so-much to see, eat, drink and do: that's your latest excuse to treat yourself to a trip to Byron Bay. Back in July, it was announced that the seaside New South Wales town was getting a brand-new festival that's all about food and culture — and now that event, Caper Byron Bay Our Food and Culture Festival, has announced its program. Firstly, yes, the fest has undergone a name change. Rather than just lapping up all that the region has to offer under its old title Revel, the new moniker now encourages attendees to go a-frolicking. But other than that one switch, the idea is still the same, spanning eating, drinking, checking out art, listening to tunes and being merry in gorgeous surroundings. Taking place between Thursday, November 10–Sunday, November 13, Caper boasts a hefty culinary component as curated by Chef David Moyle, who has been Chief of Food at Harvest Newrybar since 2020. Highlights include bottomless oysters and bellinis at Balcony Bar & Oyster Co, natural wine-fuelled degustations at Supernatural, distillery tours at Brookie's Gin and a sourdough workshop with Bread Social. Soon-to-open newcomer Bar Heather is doing a five-course dinner with Palisa Anderson, while 100 Mile Table at Stone & Wood is hosting a backyard barbecue — and Treehouse on Belongil is opting for a mix of beats, bubbles and brunch. A farm-to-table feast with The Farm and Three Blue Ducks and The Hut's Spanish fiesta are also on the bill, alongside pop-up yum cha — with the Brunswick Picture House being taken over by Melbourne Chinatown diner ShanDong MaMa on the Saturday and Sunday. Also making the journey, but from Brisbane: Louis Tikaram from Stanley, who'll be part of a cabaret takeover at the same space. Another standout: celebrating embrace Bundjalung Nation's Indigenous culture via a walk on Country tour led by Explore Byron Bay owner and Arakwal woman Delta Kay, then a five-course lunch curated by Karkalla chef and owner Mindy Woods. An 'anti-bad vibes circle' with OneWave Fluro Friday; free exhibitions at Yeah, Nice Gallery, art salon Gallery 7, Gallery 3 and ThomGallery; and horse-riding followed by brunch or lunch at Zephyr Shack are also on the wide-ranging agenda, with more than 30 events filling out the program If you're keen to see where the day takes you in-between the official activities, head to the Caper Village, aka a massive food, beverage, music and art precinct that's set to sprawl across the whole North Byron Hotel in the Byron Arts and Industrial Estate. It'll host live music, DJs and art installations, as well as workshops, panels and talks. Caper Byron Bay Our Food and Culture Festival runs from Thursday, November 10–Sunday, November 13 at various locations around Byron Bay and the Northern Rivers region. For more information, head to the festival's website. Images: Jess Kearney.
