UPDATE: Thursday May 6, 2021 — New COVID-19 restrictions have been announced. We'll keep you updated on this event as the situation changes. For the latest information, visit NSW Health. More than ever, we're looking for opportunities to immerse ourselves in another universe for a few hours. Luckily, that's exactly what you can do this summer when the hit Frozen the Musical premieres in Sydney. The stage production, based on the legendary 2013 Disney animated film, opened on Broadway in 2018 and proceeded to break box office records. After a US tour in 2019, the production is expanding to international markets with Sydney as its first stop this summer. Why was our city the lucky chosen destination? Perhaps the producers took the advice of everyone's favourite snowman Olaf when he sang "the hot and the cold are both so intense. Put 'em together, it just makes sense." If the cultural phenomenon has somehow passed you by until now, Frozen was inspired by the Hans Christian Andersen tale The Snow Queen, and it tells the story of Princesses Anna and Elsa. At the latter's coronation to become Queen, she accidentally reveals her magical powers to control and create ice and snow and inflicts an eternal winter on her kingdom, Arendelle. She flees to the North Mountain and, while singing the iconic ballad 'Let it Go', builds herself an ice castle in which to hide. Anna sets out to find her sister, proving the bonds of sisterhood can overcome all obstacles. The musical adaptation brings the beloved story to life before your eyes with opulent costumes, stunning sets and awe-inspiring special effects. All of your favourite tunes from the film will be performed — including 'For the First Time in Forever' and 'Love Is an Open Door' — plus 12 new songs as the stage production expands upon the film's narrative. The Sydney production has an all-Australian cast, led by Jemma Rix (Wicked) as Elsa, Courtney Monsma (Aladdin, Six) as Anna and Matt Lee (Mary Poppins) as the lovable Olaf. As we live in uncertain times, there are flexible ticket options available, which might suit those planning to travel to Sydney especially for the show. The Capitol Theatre also has a COVID-19 safety plan in place, in accordance with NSW Health. Frozen the Musical is running from Tuesday, December 1, 2020 to Sunday, May 23, 2021. Tickets start at $49.50 and can be purchased via Ticketmaster. Images: Frozen the Musical, Original Broadway Cast, Deen van Meer, courtesy of Destination NSW.
UPDATE, August 9, 2020: Kusama: Infinity is available to stream via Google Play, YouTube and iTunes. Early in Kusama: Infinity, a series of black-and-white drawings and paintings take pride of place. Unsurprisingly given the documentary's subject, they're filled with dots. The artworks rank among Yayoi Kusama's earliest creations, with the Japanese icon starting her love affair with the medium — and with the circles that she repeatedly wields as a motif — when she was ten years old. Nearly eight decades later, she's still following those passions in pieces littered with dots and pumpkins, and in infinity rooms filled with orbs too. Of course, now the entire world gets to share in the eye-catching results. The path from creatively curious child to international superstar hasn't been quick or smooth for Kusama, which is the crux of Heather Lenz's film. As a kid, Kusama's mother would snatch away her paper while she was still drawing — and even as a twenty-something, it was only writing to American artist Georgia O'Keeffe that gave her the confidence to move to the US. Virtually ignored in conservative post-war Japan, she was hardly the toast of New York when she arrived in the late 1950s. That's the reality of an artist considered a sensation in her eighties: all of that fame and acclaim only came after a lifetime of hard work. Directing, writing, producing and editing her first full-length documentary, Lenz explores the inescapable truth at the heart of Kusama's story. In the process, she also gives viewers a Kusama 101 lesson. The dots, dilemmas and dramas flicker across the screen, furnishing a tale that's as much about the doors that wouldn't open to the young artist as it is about the boundaries that she dared to push. In Japan, she was a woman who defied convention by refusing to become a dutiful housewife. In America, she was both a woman in a male-dominated realm and a foreigner in an unwelcoming land. Everything about Kusama's story is vital and essential — as important and affecting as staring into one of her mirrored cubes, or seeing her dots completely envelop a room. But while Kusama: Infinity clearly recognises that fact, the movie remains happy to chronicle its subject in the usual art doco manner. Experts impart explanatory narration, sometimes as talking heads. Clips showcase a feast of different pieces, spanning paintings, sculptures, installations, videos and even America's first queer wedding ceremonies. Kusama herself lends her thoughts, which are relayed as interviews as well as voiceover. There's gorgeous sights and biographical insights aplenty, but the film never quite breaks the mould in the same fashion as the artist at its core. Thankfully, Kusama: Infinity's array of artwork works its charms. How could it not? If Kusama's pieces feel more than a little otherworldly just as they are, seeing them blown up on a big screen makes them larger than life. Colour, shape, movement, an intoxicating sense of repetition — they all dance through her creations, and through the movie as a result. As they do, one of the picture's opening remarks lingers: "I convert the energy of life into dots of the universe," Kusama offers. "And that energy, along with love, flies into the sky." Kusama herself proves the film's other highlight, for devotees and newcomers alike. Her work may tell a thousand stories — tales that the doco's well-selected archival photographs of the artist only enhance — however there's nothing like hearing about Kusama's life, motivations and roadblocks in her own words. There's nothing like seeing her chat to the camera either, with her bobbed red hair a-blazing. First spied wearing a vibrant crimson dress peppered with white polka dots while standing in front of one of her monochrome circle-filled drawings, she provides an instant visual reminder of why her art strikes a chord. It might be impossible to capture the enigma that is Kusama in one 85-minute documentary, but her inimitable allure is evident every time the artist herself brightens up the screen. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRqxWNn3iQU
Icy poles and booze — they're the two staples of a long, hot Aussie summer. And now they've come together as one, in the form of Calippo-style Champagne icy poles. They're the genius creation of POPS, a UK brand that has been keeping folks stylishly cool since 2014, when it launched its first frozen Champagne treat — apparently supermodels like Kate Moss and Bella Hadid are on board, if that's something to sway you. The Champagne pop (called The Classic) contains half a glass of Champers (wahee!), and the range has since expanded to include another grown-ups-only creation: the Bellini, which blends hibiscus flowers, blood orange juice, peach Schnapps, and half a glass of Prosecco. Plus, there are a couple of all-ages products too, which see the alcohol swapped out for real fruit. The frozen delights are arriving in our eskies just in time to be eaten in front of the fan (or, y'know, in the sun) this summer. They'll launch in Melbourne first, with a series of pop-up events, and festival appearances aplenty. No word yet if you'll be able to buy a box for the freezer, but let's hope. POPS will launch in Melbourne soon. For more info, visit wearepops.com.
Already home to everything from raindrop cakes to Nutella gyoza and salted caramel gyoza — and known to experiment with lemon meringue dumplings and marshmallow dumplings as well — Harajuku Gyoza clearly likes getting creative with its sweet treats. The chain is also fond of trying out new things with its savouring dumpling range, too, as its mac 'n' cheese and pepperoni pizza versions showed; however, it obviously has a soft spot for the kind of desserts that you won't find on any old menu. From Thursday, September 1, that includes Japanese air cheesecakes, the latest addition to the Australian gyoza brand's dessert lineup. You might've seen them online. Afterwards, you might've tried to whip them up yourself as well. The viral recipe hails from the back of a cream cheese packet in Japan, and has won fans thanks to its simplicity — but getting someone else to make it is even easier, naturally. Harajuku Gyoza now has its own two takes on the dessert available, both for $6. One comes dusted with kinako powder and paired with a pot of brown sugar syrup for you to pour over the top. Or, you can opt for the matcha variety of the fluffy air cheesecake, which features a white chocolate and matcha sauce. Whichever you choose, you'll find them at the chain's four stores — two in Brisbane, one on the Gold Coast and one in Sydney. And if you fancy tucking into the new gyoza after devouring two old favourites — cheeseburger gyoza, which is stuffed with burger pieces, aged cheddar, onion, pickles, mustard and tomato sauce; and mozzarella gyoza, which is filled with the obvious, then deep-fried and sprinkled with Twisties salt — that's up to you. Harajuku Gyoza's Japanese air cheesecakes are available at all Australian stores — at Darling Harbour in Sydney; at South Bank and the CBD in Brisbane; and in Broadbeach on the Gold Coast — from Thursday, September 1.
New Zealanders wanting to enter Australia without quarantining will have to hold off a little longer on their travel plans, after the Australian Government extended the existing pause on the current one-way trans-Tasman travel bubble. New Zealand's previous quarantine-free border arrangements were halted on Monday, January 25 after a NZ resident tested positive to the new, more transmissible B1351 variant of COVID-19. The bubble was scheduled to resume today, Thursday, January 26, after a 72-hour pause; however, the suspension will now continue for another three days. As announced in a statement by Australian Health Minister Greg Hunt, the pause will now run through until 2pm, Sunday, January 31, in line with the recommendation from the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee and the Australian Government Chief Medical Officer. The latest suspension comes after two more New Zealanders tested positive to COVID-19 in recent days, with both linked to the same Auckland hotel as the initial case. The bubble suspension will give health authorities a chance to do further digging and gather test results for all the close contacts linked to the outbreak. In a press conference, Australia's Acting Chief Medical Officer, Professor Michael Kidd, also advised that there are concerns that a small group of people who had stayed at the Auckland hotel at the same time as the other cases have since travelled to Australia under the previous quarantine-free arrangement. They flew into the country before the bubble was paused on Monday, and are now being contacted by local health authorities. https://twitter.com/healthgovau/status/1354640405485248514 Anyone who has entered Australia from NZ since January 9 is also encouraged to get a COVID-19 test immediately, and go into self-isolation until results are received. The one-way travel bubble from NZ to Australia was introduced in mid-October last year, initially allowing New Zealanders to travel into certain Australian states without quarantine, before being expanded to include access to most of the country. It was also hoped that a reciprocal arrangement wouldn't be far off, after New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced in December that the NZ Cabinet had agreed to establishing a two-way bubble from early 2021. It's unknown what impact the recent outbreak will have on those plans. 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. To find out more about the virus and travel restrictions in New Zealand, head over to the NZ Government's COVID-19 hub.
There's nothing like a big, warm welcome to make you feel instantly at home, whether you're wining and dining out or enjoying a hard-earned weekend escape. At some places, it might be a traditional greeting, called cheerfully when you walk through a restaurant's front door, for others, a thoughtful gesture that's steeped in culture. Then, there are the greeting rituals that'll please your taste buds as well as give you the warm and fuzzies — like DoubleTree by Hilton's signature 'cookie welcome', which sees all of its guests gifted with a freshly baked, warm chocolate chip cookie on arrival. Keen to feel at home away from home? We've scouted out some of Melbourne's best global eateries dishing up warm welcomes of their own. BHANG, BRUNSWICK At contemporary Brunswick spot Bhang, Indian street food gets a freshen-up with classic flavours married to modern techniques and served up in a funky, new-school setting. Here, a lot of thought goes into making visitors feel welcome, with gestures both traditional and not. If you're digging the vibe, it could be because the figure of Hindu deity Ganesha is given fresh flowers at the start of each service, as a way of increasing the positive energies and inviting health and prosperity. You'll also catch welcoming wafts of incense throughout the restaurant and enjoy complimentary house-made pappadums to kick-start your meal. 1/2A Mitchell Street, Brunswick. DOC, CARLTON Enter through the doors of Carlton's legendary DOC and you'll be welcomed with the scent of baking pizza dough, as well as a cheery chorus of ciao, Italy's well-known greeting. Here, crisp-based traditional pizzas are the stars of the show, but to start things off right, let the friendly staff invite you aboard the aperitivo train. An alcoholic sip designed to help fire up the appetite, consider this the proper Italian welcome to any hearty meal. At DOC, fuel up with a glass of prosecco or a spritz, and you'll know you've been invited to enjoy some serious feasting. 295 Drummond Street, Carlton. AKACHOCHIN, SOUTH WHARF For fresh, honest Japanese fare served with a side of warm hospitality, you'll find it hard to beat a visit to South Wharf's Akachochin. Named after the red paper lanterns you'll often spy strung up outside a Japanese izakaya, this waterfront spot plays to tradition — from the serious knife skills on display in the open kitchen to the menu of sushi, sashimi and tried-and-true classics. Of course, you'll find it hard not to get swept up in tradition yourself, when you're greeted with a cheerful staff chorus of irasshaimase — Japan's customary call of 'welcome' or 'come on in'. 33 S Wharf Promenade, South Wharf. MOVIDA, CBD Spain's renowned tapas culture is about much more than just chowing down on tasty small food — it's about sharing a meal and wine with friends and celebrating social interactions. And when you partake in the tradition, it's hard not to feel like you're part of some big Spanish eating club. Here in Melbourne, Frank Camorra's famed MoVida is one of the best spots to get your authentic tapas fix — all funky tunes, moody lighting and a menu filled with top-notch small bites, like mini beef tartares and pressed pork tostadas. 1 Hosier Lane, Melbourne. PASTUSO, CBD Dining at ACDC Lane restaurant Pastuso is a bit like embarking on a journey through the many flavours of Peru, from the lively seafood dishes of the dedicated ceviche bar to the charry, meaty offerings coming hot off the traditional grill. And of course, the proper welcome to any authentic Peruvian adventure comes in the form of a fresh, tangy pisco sour — Peru's widely celebrated national cocktail, made from a grape-based spirit. To have you dining like a true Peruvian, the staff here are always eager to steer you towards an expertly crafted concoction from the pisco bar. 19 ACDC Lane, Melbourne. BON AP', FITZROY This cosy Fitzroy gem is like a little slice of provincial France, with fare as charming and authentic as the staff's French accents. The aim here is to replicate the familiarity of a quaint village bistro from back home, so expect a hearty bonjour upon entering, a warm bon appétit and an easygoing energy for as long as you stay. It's an inviting spot for breakfast, lunch or dinner — settle in with some charcuterie, a serve of mussels and a few glasses of great French wine and you'll find it pretty hard to say goodbye. 193 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy. LOS HERMANOS, BRUNSWICK At cosy Brunswick haunt Los Hermanos, bank on being greeted by authentic Mexican eats, a festive vibe and a serious collection of Mexico's national drink, tequila. But for all the choice, you won't be left daunted, with staff always keen to help hook you up with your ultimate agave match — their way of welcoming you into the fray. For full effect, pair your chosen drop with a few of the kitchen's drool-worthy tacos, featuring fillings like beer-battered fish, slow-cooked lamb leg and bold chipotle chicken. 339 Victoria Street, Brunswick. SON IN LAW, COLLINGWOOD Rooted in tradition, yet unafraid to unleash its creativity, Collingwood's Son In Law is one of Melbourne's best-loved Thai joints. Named after the dish of deep fried eggs that's said to be served up to misbehaving Thai sons-in-law, it's a colourful spot that's guaranteed to charm. Owner Piyawut Tony Rungpradit says his aim is to welcome diners to an authentically Thai dining experience by offering this namesake dish, as well as traditional share plates like the rich green curry and pad see ew noodles. Expect a sunny Aussie welcome to make you feel at home while you tuck into a proper Thai feast. 56 Johnston Street, Collingwood. DIN TAI FUNG, CBD Famed for its signature dumplings and boasting venues across the globe, Din Tai Fung sure knows how to pull the crowds. But no matter how busy the Melbourne Emporium restaurant might get, you'll always be met with a friendly call of ni hao — a Mandarin version of 'hi' or 'how are you' that's commonly used in China and Taiwan. It's just a kind little reminder of the Taiwanese deliciousness that awaits — drunken chicken, fragrant wonton soup and, of course, a parade of juicy, perfectly-crafted dumplings. Emporium, 287 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne. HOFBRAUHAUS, CBD In Germany, one of the world's largest consumers of beer, the heartiest welcome you'll find comes in the form of a nice, cold stein. For centuries it's been part of the social fabric, bringing people together and creating homes away from homes. And you'll experience exactly this with a visit to Market Lane's historic German restaurant, Hofbrauhaus. Here, staff sport classic Bavarian outfits, live German tunes set a cheerful tone and generous serves of pork knuckle are primed for feasting sessions. A range of traditionally brewed biers rounds out the whole lively experience. 18–28 Market Lane, Melbourne. Discover the many ways to feel welcome in Melbourne — from an authentic aperitivo hour to a chorus of 'irasshaimase' to the warm, freshly baked cookies waiting to welcome you to your home away from home at DoubleTree by Hilton on Flinders Street.
Back in 2022, celebrity chef Adrian Richardson opened his first Brisbane restaurant with BŌS, a meat-heavy eatery with riverside views on Queen Street in the CBD. Now, he's bringing another debut to the Queensland capital — and, yes, it's also something tasty. Already a hit down south, including regularly selling out in Melbourne, Richo's Suckling Pig Festival is heading to the Sunshine State on Saturday, April 22–Sunday, April 23. Taking place at BŌS, naturally, this pork-loving feast is all about its namesake dish, which comes crispy, roasted, succulent and tender. The event's four-course lineup comes in waves, starting with bacon and onion bread with pork butter, then moving onto cured meats handmade by Richardson. After that, the spread also spans various pig products grilled, fried and sautéed; pigs ears done in a balsamic glaze; bacon croquettes with bacon jam mayonnaise; bull boar sausages; and pork fried potatoes. For your $225 ticket, dessert is included as well — presumably without pork, but it is the ingredient of the fest — and so are matching wines and beers. Richo's Suckling Pig Festival is running for lunch on both days, kicking off at 12pm, with spots limited and bookings required.
Today, Eric Bana is a world-renowned film and TV star with a resume that spans Australian and Hollywood fare. Black Hawk Down, Hulk, Troy, Munich, Star Trek, Hanna, Aaron Falk movies The Dry and Force of Nature: The Dry 2, US television shows Dirty John and Untamed: they're all on the Aussie actor's resume. At the beginning of 2000, however, he had a part in The Castle as his sole big-screen appearance, alongside his small-screen sketch comedy work in the likes Full Frontal, plus a few episodes of medical drama All Saints. Then came Chopper. Ever since Bana portrayed Mark 'Chopper' Read in the exceptional Andrew Dominik (Blonde)-directed flick, it's been one of the first roles that springs to mind whenever anyone thinks about the Australian talent. Well-deserved accolades came his way, including Best Actor at the Australian Film Institute Awards (which have since become the AACTAs). If you need a reminder of why his performance demanded such praise — and the film, too — catching a 25th-anniversary cinema screening of the iconic feature will do the job. To celebrate a quarter of a century since Chopper first hit Aussie picture palaces, the film is returning to local big screens for a limited season from Thursday, August 21, 2025. As well as the movie itself — one of the finest Australian entries in the true-crime genre, and a stunning feature debut from Dominik — audiences will also see 13 minutes of bonus behind-the-scenes footage, chats with Bana, Dominik and Read among them. How does Bana look back on the role that made him an international movie star, and tells one of the most-infamous crime tales in Aussie history? "Chopper was an incredibly unique and distinctive character. Getting the chance to play someone like him is rare. It's always a treat if a film holds up over time, and I'm proud of its space in the Australian film landscape," he advises. This isn't Chopper's first return to the big screen — it also enjoyed 20th-anniversary sessions, pops up on retrospective programs and received the Hear My Eyes treatment at MIFF 2022 — but it's always worth watching in cinemas. Marking the leap from making music videos to features, the movie also helped catapult Dominik's career, too, with The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, Killing Them Softly and Blonde all following, plus episodes of Mindhunter, and Nick Cave-focused documentaries One More Time with Feeling and This Much I Know to Be True. Check out the 25th-anniversary trailer for Chopper below: Chopper is returning to Australian cinemas from Thursday, August 21, 2025.
Did you forget Father's Day was coming up? Again? Okay, this year you have more of an excuse with everything that's been happening. But that doesn't change the fact that Father's Day is around the corner — on Sunday, September 6 — and you still haven't thought of what to get your dear old dad. And let's be honest, trying to figure out what to get him is more than half the battle. A bottle of his favourite spirit is always a safe bet — at least you know it's something he likes and will use, right? Unlike the shirt you bought him for Christmas that you've never seen him wear. So, if you're feeling a little guilty about a somewhat predictable gift, why not use it as a fun bonding exercise and host a cocktail making sesh? Here are four super-easy recipes that use Maker's Mark bourbon to get you started, and to help make this Father's Day one to remember. OLD FASHIONED This classic aperitif will have your dad feeling like the classy gentleman he wishes he really was. – 60ml Maker's Mark or Maker's 46 – 1 teaspoon sugar – 2 dashes bitters – 15ml water – Orange peel – Sphere ice or ice cubes Combine sugar and bitters with water in a mixing glass and stir until sugar is dissolved. Pour Maker's Mark, add ice and stir gently. Strain, pour over ice and garnish with orange peel. BOURBON AND GINGER A zingy, spritz-like tipple that's so easy to make, even you can't mess it up. – 45ml Maker's Mark – Ginger ale – Lime wedge Fill highball glass with ice. Add Maker's Mark and top with ginger ale to taste. Garnish with a lime wedge. FANCY BOURBON PUNCH This fruity, bubbly punch will help your dad feel a bit better about all his cancelled 2020 travel plans. – 1 litre Maker's Mark – 1 cup granulated sugar – Peels of three lemons and one orange – Juice of the peeled lemons and orange – 1 litre of strong sweetened tea (preferably green tea) – 250ml champagne or soda water Muddle the sugar and citrus peels in the bottom of a large punch bowl. Let sit for two hours. Stir in the juice of the peeled fruit, tea and Maker's Mark. Top with champagne or soda water just before serving and stir gently. HOT TODDY Serve this one to Pops on cold, wintry nights with a sweet treat — it's more fun than a cuppa. – 45ml Maker's Mark – 15ml lemon juice – 1 large teaspoon of honey – 1 cinnamon quill – 3 whole cloves – 1 lemon twist – Boiling water to top up Combine Maker's Mark, lemon juice and honey together in a heatproof mug. Stud your lemon peel with cloves and wrap it around cinnamon quill and add to mug. Top up mug with boiling water and stir until honey is dissolved. Find more Maker's Mark cocktail recipes by visiting the website here.
One Australian town is about to get a whole lot brighter, gain a towering new landmark, radiate queer pride and become a must-visit tourist destination. That's what's bound to happen when the lucky spot welcomes the most colourful big thing there is: Tinder's new Big Rainbow. Australia loves its big things. If you're not stopping to gawk at a giant pineapple, lobster, watermelon, sheep, prawn or avocado, have you really taken an Aussie road trip? No, no you haven't. So adding this super-sized wave of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet to your travel itinerary will be an easy no-brainer. Your possible destinations, and the rainbow's potential new homes? The coastal spot of Broome in Western Australia, Victoria's Daylesford, Hay in New South Wales and the Northern Territory's Katherine. They've all been picked from a submissions process that launched during this year's Sydney Mardi Gras — and Tinder now wants you to vote for which place ends up with the rainbow. The public vote is open now until June 30, after The Big Rainbow Project team came up with the shortlist in consultation with community advisors and experts from the LGBTQIA+ community. Beaming with pride is the whole aim of the huge rainbow, of course, which Tinder envisions will stand tall as a massive symbol of equality and unity. If you're wondering where to pick — and you're thinking beyond whatever is the closest drive for you — Broome is the Traditional Land of the Yawuru people, and also home to one of Australia's most remote Mardi Gras celebrations. Daylesford boasts the Chillout Festival, one of the longest-running regional LGBTQIA+ pride events, and is also the Traditional Land of the Dja Dja Wurrung people. NSW's finalist, Hay, is where you'll find the Rainbow on the Plains — the first Mardi Gras of the region — as well as the Traditional Land of the Wiradjuri people. And sat in the Big Rivers region of the NT, Katherine is the Traditional Land of the Jawoyn, Dagoman and Wardaman peoples, and throws an annual pride shindig. Whichever spot gets the nod, there'll be a pot of gold for a heap of organisations that support and uplift LGBTQIA+ folks. Tinder has also pledged to give $100,000 to regional outfits that fit that description, to go towards programs for regional queer communities To cast your vote for where Tinder's Big Rainbow should live, head to the Big Rainbow Project website before Thursday, June 30.
The permanent closure of Newstead Brewing Co, one of the first key names in Brisbane's craft beer scene, remains a heartbreaking development for the River City. The doors to its former Milton home didn't remain shut for long, however. Last Man Standing Brewing has not only announced that it has taken over the Castlemaine Street location — under its management, the site is already up and running again, opening its doors mere days after Newstead announced that it had bid farewell. Since Friday, March 14, 2025, the brewery co-founded by Olympian Steven Bradbury is pouring its Australian-owned and -made lager at the Suncorp Stadium-adjacent spot, and running the place in a temporary setup. If that sounds like a quick turnaround, that's because it was, with the onus on getting the place up and running ASAP — both bar service and the kitchen — before the proper Last Man Standing brewery experience launches on Friday, March 28. Befitting the Brisbane-born brewery's ownership, which also includes the sons of former Wallaby Roy Prosser, the venue's new guise will be all about sports, including big screens showing games and pub fare on the menu. And yes, if you know your Aussie Olympics history — and how short-track speed skater Bradbury won gold in the 1000 metres at the 2002 Salt Lake City games after his competitors in the final all crashed — then you'll know why Last Man Standing has its name. "Opening our own brewery and venue is not only the logical next step in our growth, but it's the realisation of our plans, dreams and hard work over the past five years," said Managing Director Damian Prosser, one of Last Man Standing's co-founders, about setting up shop in Milton. "The opportunity has come a little sooner than expected, but this is a fantastic venue in an iconic location and we're excited to create an exciting space. We'll keep the taps pouring for sports fans and locals while we get set up properly." "Independent Aussie brewers continue to be under threat from ridiculous taxes, overseas corporations, pandemics and up here, the weather — but we're not going to be swayed from our mission," added Bradbury. "We want to bring some good news to the industry, buck the trend and inspire fellow indie brewers to push on. Courage, determination, self-belief and just a little luck — that's what being the Last Man Standing is all about, and I should know!" "I love Australia, I love sport and boy do I love a few beers with my mates, and I can't think of a better sporting venue in the country to sit alongside than Suncorp Stadium. It would be a crime for this fantastic brewery to be closed while there's so much happening at the stadium and in Brisbane. We had to step in and make sure that didn't happen," Bradbury continued. Although it announced the news afterwards, Newstead Brewing Co closed down before Tropical Cyclone Alfred. As Brissie was shutting up ahead of the wild weather, so was this favourite — but forever, sadly. When it revealed that it had said goodbye, the brewery's team said "it's a sad time for Brisbane craft beer and our beloved industry," via a statement on social media, but looked back fondly on its beginnings, plus what came next, before noting the impact of the 2022 floods and how it avoided closure at the time only to say farewell now. In its prime, Newstead Brewing Co not only boasted its original location on Doggett Street — which it left in 2023 — and its second home in Milton, but also a taphouse inside Brisbane Airport's domestic terminal. Find Last Man Standing at 67 Castlemaine Street, Milton — head to the brewery's website for more details.
When Fortitude Valley favourite Gerard's Bistro said goodbye to Adam Wolfers in March, with the Executive Chef departing for health reasons, it was just one of the acclaimed restaurant's farewells for 2023. Another adieu is coming, and soon, but thankfully this one is only temporary. After the last dinner service on Saturday, July 1, the James Street eatery will shut up shop for two months for hefty renovations. "The upcoming two months will see us trade our culinary utensils for construction tools, immersing ourselves into this labour of love for a comprehensive makeover. Our team is eager to commence this renovation project, which will culminate in a reimagined exciting dining space," announced the Gerard's Bistro crew via Instagram. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Gerard's Bistro (@gerardsbistro) Exactly what the new-look Gerard's Bistro will entail hasn't yet been revealed, but diners can clearly expect significant changes at the Gerard's Lane spot, which has ranked among Brisbane's best restaurants since first opening its doors 11 years ago in 2012. For fans of Gerard's Bistro's banquet-style feasts brimming with Maghreb and Middle East flavours — the current menu includes everything from smoked Moreton Bay bugs with baba ghanoush to sujuk-glazed octopus and cardamom ice cream — whether the refurbishment will also come with a revamped menu also hasn't been announced. Although Gerard's Bistro's won't be welcoming in patrons across until September, with an exact reopening date also yet to be unveiled, Gerard's Bar will remain open. Head to 23 James Street from Thursday–Sunday not just for a mezze spread, and meat and cheese options, but for a full menu. Also a highlight: the watering hole's cocktail-heavy Sunday sessions, and the drinks list that features baharat margaritas, mango coolers, palomas and mandarin no-gronis among its standout sips. Find Gerard's Bistro in Gerard's Lane, 14/15 James Street, Fortitude Valley — operating 6pm–late Monday–Thursday, 12–3pm and 6pm–late Fridays, and 5.30pm–late Saturdays until Saturday, July 1, when it closes for two months for renovations. We'll update you with a reopening date when one is announced.
There's no need to ask whether you can take your pet pooch to Tarragindi's newest coffee shop. From the moment you spot their sign, you'll know. And as you might've figured out, their name also gives away the answer. Taking their moniker from the owner's beloved black Labrador Audrey, Black Lab Coffee is the southside's latest cafe for caffeine fiends and dog lovers alike. Indeed, as you're enjoying Di Bella's finest brew, you might spot the canine in question — and a batch of tasty cookies that bear her likeness. Yep, hound-spotting and hot cuppas are the main attractions here, with the latter also available to order by text and collect from the Kuring-Gai Avenue establishment's takeaway window (aka the perfect system for anyone walking their four-legged friend). Tea lovers will also find T Bar varieties on the menu, while a selection of snacks have been sourced from Gerbino's. BYO dog treats, of course.
Autumn is still beach weather on Hamilton Island. Getting cosy in Tasmania is one of the best ways to embrace an Australian winter. Celebrating spring or kicking off summer on either the Gold Coast or Sunshine Coast, or in Byron Bay, will get you primed for sunny days. With Qantas' latest flight sale, discounting one-million seats across routes to 60 domestic destinations — with 35-plus routes under $150 — they're all options. The airline's usual sale starting price for a one-way fare is $109 — and this time, that'll get you either from Brisbane to Proserpine on the Whitsunday Coast or from Sydney to Byron Bay/Ballina (and vice versa on both routes). Flights between the Gold Coast and Sydney kick off at $119, as do fares from Adelaide to Kangaroo Island. For $129, you can head from Sydney to the Sunshine Coast or Tamworth. Then, specials on the Sydney–Brisbane route begin at $139, as do Sydney–Hobart, Melbourne–Adelaide, Sydney–Bendigo and Adelaide–Whyalla. If you're eager to venture between Melbourne–Sydney or Albury–Sydney, that'll set you back $149. Brisbane–Hamilton Island, Burnie–Melbourne, Orange–Sydney and Melbourne–Mildura fares are all $159. Or, $169 covers Brisbane–Melbourne, Davenport–Melbourne, Adelaide–Mount Gambier and Merimbula–Sydney legs, while $179 will get you from Perth–Geraldton, Mt Isa–Townsville and Griffith–Sydney. For those feeling flush and keen to travel business class, that's also part of the airline's sale, starting at $369 from Brisbane to Proserpine. Wherever you're hoping to vacation, you'll need to be able to travel between Tuesday, April 29–Thursday, June 26, Tuesday, July 22–Thursday, September 18 or Tuesday, October 14–Wednesday, December 10, all in 2025. So, that gives you choices across autumn, winter, spring and early summer trips, although the specifics vary per destination — as always. If this is the answer to your holiday dreams, you'll need to get in before 11.59pm AEDT on Sunday, March 2, 2025. And yes, the usual caveat applies: if fares sell out earlier, you'll miss out. [caption id="attachment_928567" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism Tasmania, Luke Tscharke[/caption] Qantas' 'The 1 million seat sale' runs until 11.59pm AEDT on Sunday, March 2, 2025, or until sold out if prior.
For the past 14 years, the seedy side of Albuquerque, New Mexico has never been far from screens, first courtesy of Breaking Bad and then via its prequel spinoff series Better Call Saul. A Breaking Bad Netflix movie, El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie, also popped up in 2019, because viewers just haven't been able to get enough of Walter White (Bryan Cranston, Your Honor), Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul, Westworld), Saul Goodman (Bob Odenkirk, Nobody), Mike Ehrmantrout (Jonathan Banks, The Commuter) and Gus Fring (Giancarlo Esposito, The Boys). Soon, however, this almost decade-and-a-half run of all things Breaking Bad-related will hit an end, with Better Call Saul about to air its last episodes. Perhaps more spinoffs will come. Fingers crossed that's the case. American network AMC, which airs both shows, has said it is open to it. But unlike when the OG series ended, viewers don't have a confirmed new date with the Breaking Bad universe in their future. That means that a big goodbye is coming audiences' way, and soon — and the trailer for the second half of Better Call Saul's sixth and last season knows it. The just-dropped 52-second clip is filled with familiar places from Saul Goodman's life (and from his time as Jimmy McGill, when he was using his birth name, too), all given the black-and-white treatment that the series has reserved for its flashes forwards and backwards over the years. Check out the trailer below: The locations featured have all played a big part in the story so far — and the melancholy mood certainly sets the tone for the episodes to come. After the first seven instalments in season six started airing back in April, the final six will begin showing weekly from Tuesday, July 12 in Australia and New Zealand. No one should've been expecting a happy ending anyway. We already know where Saul's story takes him next, because we've seen Breaking Bad. Indeed, Better Call Saul remains television's greatest tragedy, because it makes its viewers desperately hope that things turn out better for its eponymous figure than we know they will — so we watch his dreams crumble, his ethics slide, and his full transformation from earnest and legitimate lawyer to happily getting shady. The new trailer doesn't tease much in the way of narrative, but it does also feature Saul saying "let justice be done till the heavens fall". One time only. #BetterCallSaul pic.twitter.com/QmBFBbUENS — Better Call Saul (@BetterCallSaul) June 28, 2022 If you're keen on a few more sneak peeks at the end of season six — which'll see the return of Walt and Jesse in some capacity — Better Call Saul has also been dropping teasers via social media. There's a lot to wrap up, given that former cop-turned-private investigator, fixer, cleaner and hitman Ehrmantrout, Los Pollos Hermanos owner Fring and drug kingpin Hector Salamanca (Mark Margolis, My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2) are also key parts of Better Call Saul's story — and Saul's partner and fellow lawyer Kim Wexler (Rhea Seehorn, Veep), too. Exactly how the latter's tale will end is the biggest source of tension, given that Kim wasn't ever in Breaking Bad. And after the way Better Call Saul's first seven season-six episodes played out, that stress definitely hasn't subsided. Take the oath. #BetterCallSaul pic.twitter.com/Cs2y0BLkFi — Better Call Saul (@BetterCallSaul) June 14, 2022 The second half of Better Call Saul season six starts streaming in Australia via Stan and New Zealand via Neon from Tuesday, July 12. Images: Greg Lewis/AMC/Sony Pictures Television.
You've watched your way through every episode of Stranger Things to date, including the just-dropped first part of the show's fourth season. Thanks to your latest binge, you've now got Kate Bush's 'Running Up That Hill' stuck in your brain permanently, too. You've eaten a demogorgon burger, seen an Upside Down rift open up in Bondi and played Netflix's Stranger Things mobile game as well. Yes, there's no shortage of ways to indulge your love for the 80's-set streaming hit — but only one involves both singing and laughing. Stranger Things is heading to the stage — well, Stranger Sings! The Parody Musical is, to be exact. Because every popular TV show and movie seems to tread the boards eventually, whether in a serious (Back to the Future, Moulin Rouge!, Amelie) or satirical (Friends, Shrek, The Simpsons) guise, everyone's favourite tale about kids fighting monsters in Hawkins, Indiana has also made that leap. Even better: it is now venturing Down Under for the first time. Already an award-winner in the US, where it picked up seven 2021 BroadwayWorld Off-Broadway Awards — including Best New Musical (Off-Broadway) — Stranger Sings! The Parody Musical retells the tale we all already know, but on-stage, with amusing songs and while making fun of the whole thing. So, you'll be watching Mike, Eleven, Dustin, Lucas and the rest of the Hawkins gang navigate the wild antics that've made their town the worst place to grow up in since Buffy the Vampire Slayer's Sunnydale, and both tapping your toes to tunes and giggling along. Obviously, creepy creatures are a feature — singing and dancing ones, in fact. And, so are pop-culture references aplenty, big hair, throwback fashions, a synth-heavy soundtrack and possibly justice for Barb. Penned by Jonathan Hogue — book, music, lyrics and all — Stranger Sings! The Parody Musical will make its Australian debut thanks to Melbourne's Salty Theatre, with co-founders Ashley Taylor Tickell directing and Sarahlouise Younger assisting. So far, only dates for the Victorian capital have been announced — so lock November 3–19 in your diary, and get ready to hear a song-filled account of Hawkins' weirdness at Meat Market Melbourne. Tickets aren't yet on sale, but you can sign up to be notified when they do at the production's Australian website Fingers crossed that Stranger Sings! The Parody Musical eventually brings the Upside Down to other Aussie cities, obviously. Stranger Sings! The Parody Musical will play Meat Market Melbourne from November 3–19, 2022. For more information, or to sign up to be notified about tickets, head to the production's Australian website. Images: Bruce Glikas / Danny Hildago.
Prior to 2020, if someone told you that Chess the Musical was a very real thing that definitely exists, you could've been forgiven for being a little perplexed. But it does and, with everyone obsessed with the chess-focused Netflix series The Queen's Gambit over the past few months, it's hitting Australia's stages in 2021. Chess the Musical actually dates back decades, first hitting London's West End in 1986. In line with that era, it's set against the background of the Cold War. Here, Soviet and American forces both try to use an international chess championship for political gain, and manipulate the outcome. The tale that also involves a love triangle, between Hungarian-born refugee Florence Vasse and two chess grandmasters. If you thought that singing about chess mightn't be all that exciting, ABBA's Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus wrote the tunes, while Ulvaeus and musical veteran Tim Rice (Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita, Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King) penned the lyrics. And, if you've ever heard 80s tracks 'I Know Him So Well' and 'One Night in Bangkok', they actually hail from Chess the Musical. Folks in Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane will get to experience the show for themselves from April–June next year, with the production hitting up Melbourne's Regent Theatre on Saturday, April 24, Perth's Concert Hall on Saturday, June 5 and Brisbane's QPAC Concert Hall on Thursday, June 10. It's doing two shows on each date, at 2pm and 7.30pm — each with a 25-piece orchestra. Tickets are on sale now for Melbourne and Perth, and will be available from 9am on Thursday, December 17 in Brisbane. Keen for a glimpse of what you're in for? Check out the video for Elaine Page and Barbara Dickson's 'I Know Him So Well' below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2SDInk6voA Chess the Musical heads to Melbourne's Regent Theatre on Saturday, April 24, Perth's Concert Hall on Saturday, June 5 and Brisbane's QPAC Concert Hall on Thursday, June 10 — for more information, and to buy tickets, head to the production's website.
Three Michelin stars. Two hats. One of the biggest culinary names in the world, one of Australia's best-known chefs as well, plus another Aussie wiz in the kitchen. Throw in a famed London restaurant and a top Sydney fine-diner, and you get you get one of 2023's biggest food events in Australia: Restaurant Gordon Ramsay coming to Aria. For three nights this autumn, from Monday, May 8–Wednesday, May 10, Gordon Ramsay's eponymous restaurant will hit up the Harbour City for one-of-a-kind residency — because it's never been done before. This is the first time that the London venue has popped up anywhere outside of the British capital. On the menu: a dining experience curated by Ramsay and Matt Moran, naturally. While the pair are joining forces to oversee the residency, Australian chef Matt Abé will be in the kitchen with the Aria team. Dubbed 'Restaurant Gordon Ramsay comes to Aria', the hot culinary ticket capitalises upon a hefty history between Ramsay, Moran and Abé. Ramsay and Moran have been friends for more than a quarter-century, while Abé got his first culinary job at the age of 17 at Aria — and now, 21 years later, he's chef patron at Restaurant Gordon Ramsay. On offer: a seven-course menu for $495 per person, plating up signature Restaurant Gordon Ramsay dishes, but with British produce replaced with Australian ingredients. The menu hasn't been revealed; however, it's likely that shellfish raviolo and a pecan praline dessert will feature. And, Aria's wine program will be doing a premium vino pairing on top for another $295 a head. "What an absolute honour to have Restaurant Gordon Ramsay do their first residency outside London at Aria. Gordon is one of my closest mates, and Abé spent five years cooking with me in the Aria kitchen before moving to London where he has cemented his place as one of the world's finest chefs. These three nights will be a real highlight in the 23 years of Aria; I can't wait," said Moran. "Collaborating with my dear friend Matt Moran, and talented chef patron Matt Abé at Aria, with its magnificent views across Sydney harbour, and creating a menu that utilises Australia's incredible local produce whilst delivering the finesse of our three-star Michelin menu, is a dream come true," added Ramsay. "I'm so excited to be heading back to the restaurant where my love for fine dining began. It means so much to be coming home as the first and only three-star Australian chef, to showcase what I have learnt over the years of working for Gordon. It really is an honour to be stepping back into the kitchen at Aria, a place where I first met Gordon, and to show my earliest mentor and friend, Matt Moran, the chef I am today," noted Abé. Restaurant Gordon Ramsay's stint at Aria joins the growing list of high-profile Sydney culinary pop-ups in 2023, with France's Mirazur just finishing a three-week stay at The Gantry at Pier One Sydney Harbour at the end of March — and three Michelin-starred English restaurant L'Enclume, from British chef Simon Rogan, making Balmoral Beach's Bathers' Pavilion its home away from home in July and August. Restaurant Gordon Ramsay comes to Aria takes place from Monday, May 8–Wednesday, May 10, costing $495 per person with a wine pairing from $295 per person — with tickets on sale from 9am on Thursday, April 13 via the Aria website.
Southeast Queensland's penchant for a party boat has a long history, from The Island to Seadeck and now Yot Club. Haven't had the joy of revelling on the water on Halloween? Give it a try while cruising around the Gold Coast on Saturday, October 26, 2024. Yot Club has been making quite a big splash over the past few years, as you'd expect from a huge yacht with two bars, a stage, a dance floor and a 400-person capacity. The glamorous, custom-built vessel calls itself "the world's first super yacht entertainment venue", and it's certainly something that the region hadn't seen before it hit our waters. Sprawling over two levels, it measures nearly 40-metres long and over 22-metres wide, and blends a licensed floating club and a luxe function space. With lounges across an open deck and undercover, a VIP room in the hull, and the promise of bands and DJs on its lineup, Yot Club wants to be the region's one-stop watery hangout. It serves up more than water, of course, thanks to a menu of classic and creative cocktails, plus brews chilled in the 45-keg-capacity cool room. Yot Club is setting off from Arm C, Mariners Cove, Main Beach for its Halloween bash, boarding at 6pm for a 6.30pm departure. On offer: spooky-themed cocktails, a photo booth to snap all those costumes and prizes for best dressed as well. Yes, you do need to don something to suit the occasion to hop onboard; "only guests in full costume can board this ghost ship of a party," the venue advises. Prices vary, starting at entry from $49.95 with drinks and food purchased separately, and also including a $99.95 option with a sip upon arrival. Images: Richard Greenwood / Yot Club.
Whatever you've been dreaming about getting for Christmas, here's one thing that you don't have to write a letter to Santa for: a festive action-comedy about a Christmas Eve heist where a certain red suit- and white beard-wearing fellow kicks ass and tries to save the day. Making Violent Night an extra present of a film when it hits cinemas in December (when else?) is the man getting jolly, too: Stranger Things favourite David Harbour. The actor behind Hopper will get ho-ho-hoing in the seasonal flick — and dispensing with mercenaries like he's a Father Christmas version of John Wick. Hawaiian shirts are out, clearly, replaced by the expected Santa getup. The same no-nonsense attitude remains, though, as seen in the movie's just-dropped first trailer. Harbour as the merriest figure there is rescuing Christmas when a kid calls for his help? That's the basic plot, but there is slightly more to it. Those aforementioned mercenaries break into a wealth family compound on the night before the big festive day, taking everyone hostage. But Santa also happens to be there — and uttering lines like "time for season's beatings" as he gets to work. Those John Wick comparisons are by design, with 87North, the producers of franchise plus Nobody, Atomic Blonde, Deadpool 2, Bullet Train and Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw, behind the film. And yes, there's more than a little bit of Die Hard thrown in as well — just in a home rather than Nakatomi Plaza. Brooklyn Nine-Nine's Jake Peralta would approve. On-screen, Harbour is joined by John Wick's John Leguizamo, plus Cam Gigandet (Without Remorse), Alex Hassell (Cowboy Bebop), Alexis Louder (The Terminal List), Edi Patterson (The Righteous Gemstones) and Beverly D'Angelo (Shooter). And behind the lens, Norwegian director Tommy Wirkola (Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters, the Dead Snow franchise) is in the director's chair — and the script is penned by by Pat Casey and Josh Miller, after writing the terrible Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic the Hedgehog 2. Check out the trailer below: Violent Night opens in cinemas Down Under on December 1.
Something delightful has been happening in cinemas across the country. After months spent empty, with projectors silent, theatres bare and the smell of popcorn fading, Australian picture palaces are back in business — spanning both big chains and smaller independent sites in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. During COVID-19 lockdowns, no one was short on things to watch, of course. In fact, you probably feel like you've streamed every movie ever made, including new releases, comedies, music documentaries, Studio Ghibli's animated fare and Nicolas Cage-starring flicks. But, even if you've spent all your time of late glued to your small screen, we're betting you just can't wait to sit in a darkened room and soak up the splendour of the bigger version. Thankfully, plenty of new films are hitting cinemas so that you can do just that — and we've rounded up, watched and reviewed everything on offer this week. THE CONJURING: THE DEVIL MADE ME DO IT Starting in 2013 with The Conjuring, expanding with 2014's Annabelle, and also including The Conjuring 2, both terrible and much better sequels to Annabelle, the dismal The Nun and the formulaic The Curse of the Weeping Woman, The Conjuring Universe now spans eight evil-fighting flicks — and they're all as straightforward as it gets when it comes to battling the nefarious. Circling around real-life paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, the franchise posits that the supernatural exists, darkness preys upon the innocent and its central couple usually has the tools to combat everything untoward. That template remains firmly in place in The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It. With director Michael Chaves (The Curse of the Weeping Woman) and screenwriter David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick (Aquaman) doing the honours — taking their cues from James Wan, the Australian Saw and Insidious co-creator who helmed the first two Conjuring flicks — it once again serves up the usual bumps, jumps and scares that have haunted this franchise since day one. That said, the third Conjuring flick within the broader Conjuring realm does attempt a few changes. Rather than getting creeped out by haunted houses, it gets spooked by a kid and then a teenager who are both possessed. True to form, bone-shakingly horrific things can't simply occur without some kind of excuse and entity at play. The Warrens (Patrick Wilson, Aquaman, and Vera Farmiga, Godzilla: King of the Monsters) are first tasked with saving eight-year-old David Glatzel (Julian Hilliard, WandaVision) from a demon after his family moves to stereotypically sleepy Brookfield, Connecticut. Their efforts seem successful, even if Ed has a heart attack mid-exorcism, but the evil force they're fighting has really just jumped ship. Arne Johnson (Ruairi O'Connor, The Spanish Princess), the boyfriend of David's sister Debbie (Sarah Catherine Hook, NOS4A2), is quickly besieged by strange occurrences. He's soon also covered in blood after stabbing his landlord to Blondie's 'Call Me'. The death penalty beckons; however, the Warrens convince Arne's lawyer to plead not guilty by reason of demonic possession — the first time that ever happened in the US — and then commit to unearthing whatever paranormal details they can to save his life. The trailer for The Devil Made Me Do It teases legal thrills, but in a bait-and-switch way, because this film is barely concerned with Arne's court case. The true tale, which was previously dramatised in a 1983 TV movie starring Kevin Bacon, merely provides an easy setup for souped-up demonic antics and a routine, happily by-the-numbers, never remotely terrifying threequel. Indeed, the fact that more flicks will undoubtably still follow is the scariest thing about the film. Read our full review. LAPSIS 9 to 5 and Working Girl hail from the genre. Everything from Office Space to The Assistant do, too. But films about working in offices, TPS reports and navigating the desk-based daily grind might eventually become a dying breed or a nostalgic retro curiosity. Because art always mirrors life, the gig economy may swoop in and draw the silver screen's focus instead. Sorry We Missed You already has in a resonant warts-and-all manner, and Lapsis now endeavours to do the same via a smart and searing sci-fi satire. There's much to ponder, probe and dissect about the mode of employment that's becoming the status quo, after all, and that isn't bound to change as it spreads and grows. Corporations don't just dictate workers' behaviour during office hours now, supplying a reliable wage and perks such as holiday and sick leave in return. Attempting to monopolise entire fields such as food and package delivery, transportation and caregiving, big companies (you know the ones) hire independent contractors, scrap the benefits, and keep them toiling on-demand or on-call just to earn the bare minimum. This new kind of technology-driven rat race has been normalised, and quickly — and what it means for the labour force, employment, capitalism, corporate greed, class structures and basic human rights demands to be interrogated in thousands of movies as sharp and scathing as this one. In Lapsis and its alternative vision of New York via writer/director Noah Hutton, quantum computing is the next big thing. It requires a network of giant metallic cubes connected via thick black wires, with stringing them together the gig economy's new growth area. It's such an in-demand field and so lucrative for workers, in fact, that cablers can earn thousands of dollars just for a weekend's work. They can also pay off their mortgages within months — if the advertisements spruiking the supposed new employment dream can be trusted, that is. Technology-phobic delivery driver Ray Tincelli (first-timer Dean Imperial) is sceptical, so much so that he won't even use a quantum computer himself, even though they're essential to viewing up-to-date websites and just generally existing in Lapsis' parallel world. But his unwell brother Jamie (fellow debutant Babe Howard) suffers from a pervasive form of exhaustion called omnia, and requires expensive medical treatment. After finding a way into the cabling industry via acquaintance Felix (James McDaniel, The Deuce), Ray's need to make a quick stash of hefty cash quickly overrides his misgivings. Read our full review. BREAKING NEWS IN YUBA COUNTY Celebrity worship is one of popular culture's stupidest side effects. Stars get paid well beyond the average person and live far more lavish lives, but yes, they're people too. And, even if you round up a hefty number of famous faces in the one movie — award-winners and -nominees among them — they can still make absolutely terrible career decisions. Case in point: Breaking News in Yuba County, exactly the type of film that dispels any ridiculous notion that well-known actors opt for better choices than the rest of us. No one has done themselves any favours by featuring in this equally derivative and preposterous mess. No one will by watching it either. Director Tate Taylor might have both The Help and Get On Up to his name, but this addition to his resume sinks lower than The Girl on the Train, Ma and Ava. First-time screenwriter Amanda Idoko pens a script that aims for quirky crime-comedy with a side serving of societal satire, but really just repackages every tired cliche and trope her chosen genre has ever brought to the screen, and every obvious observation about small-town life, middle-aged women and the media as well. Also, every performance seems pitched at a different type of picture to each other — and, even in the silliest cases, none of them gel with the film's perky, almost sitcom-esque aesthetic. Allison Janney (Bombshell) plays Sue Buttons, dutiful wife to local banker Karl (Matthew Modine, Operation Varsity Blues: The College Admissions Scandal). He's inattentive at the best of times, and she's too meek-mannered to say anything — but when she sneakily follows him to a hotel on her birthday, which he seems to have forgotten, their marriage takes a turn. Soon she's telling whoever will listen that Karl has gone missing. Her sister (Mila Kunis, The Spy Who Dumped Me) is a local news reporter, so TV attention follows. But Sue really just wants to be on one particular host's (Juliette Lewis, Music) show, and to elicit the kind of reaction the town has been giving the parents of a missing young girl. That's only part of Breaking News in Yuba County's narrative, though. Karl'x brother (Jimmi Simpson, Unhinged) is trying to go on the straight and narrow to please his pregnant wife (Samira Wiley, The Handmaid's Tale), but his ex-boss (Awkwafina, Raya and the Last Dragon) and her henchman (Clifton Collins Jr, Waves) would prefer otherwise. Jokingly at first, so would his new employer (Wanda Sykes, Black-ish), who is bored of just owning and running a furniture store. The more all of these characters' paths intersect — and those of a local detective (Regina Hall, Little), one of Karl's colleagues (Chris Lowell, Promising Young Woman) and his mistress (Bridget Everett, Unbelievable) as well — the more obvious three things are. Firstly, Idoko has clearly seen To Die For and Fargo more than once. Secondly, her script feels like it was written in the 90s, too, and then barely read again before filming started. And thirdly, this doesn't even approach the same league as its influences, or work as a goofier farce either. BYE BYE MORONS When Bye Bye Morons begins, it's with the kind of overdone setup that hardly screams 'Best Picture winner'. The film did indeed garner that gong at this year's César Awards — and six others as well — and, thankfully, twists its template beginnings into something far more intriguing than it initially seems set to deliver. When hairdresser Suze Trappet (Virginie Efira, Police) is told that she's afflicted with an auto-immune disease that stems from the chemicals she uses at work, and that it'll soon take her life, she's shocked and horrified. She also has unfinished business to attend to, after giving up a baby for adoption almost three decades earlier. That quest brings her into the path of civil servant Jean-Baptiste Cuchas (Albert Dupontel, also the movie's writer and director), who is being replaced by new technology at his paper-pushing job and happens to be staging a suicide attempt when Suze visits the office trying to track down her child. Soon, they're unlikely allies alongside a blind archivist (Nicolas Marié, Knock), and they're all endeavouring to thwart the multiple systems and bureaucracies that have defined and dictated so much of their lives. As its name makes plain, subtlety isn't Bye Bye Morons strong point, but when it finds its heartfelt groove, this French comedy also finds its charm. It helps that Dupontel has cast his feature superbly, including via his own involvement. The See You Up There filmmaker and star turns in a performance that's far more nuanced than the overwhelming bulk of the movie itself, as does the always-watchable Efira — with the pair playing exasperated ordinary folks who leap into outlandish territory not so much out of necessity, but in utter and gleeful defiance of the misfortune-laden cards that the world keeps dealing them. It also helps that, scripting with contributions from collaborating writers Xavier Nemo (Girafada) and Marcia Romano (Losing It), Dupontel fleshes out his characters more than his scenario. In fact, he makes his own on-screen job easier as a result. And, he gives his audience a much-needed anchor amidst all the broad, loose, chaotic and often over-the-top comedy he repeatedly swings in Suze and Jean-Baptiste's direction. Bye Bye Morons isn't short on plot, but when the feature is at its sweetest and most poignant, it's because viewers have become invested in its protagonists, their plight and their connection, rather than the ins and outs of their intertwined crusades. In fact, when the film is at its silliest — and when it attempts to wring easy comedy out of its absurdist and anarchic energy — it's a far less entertaining affair. BREAKING BREAD Food unites us all, or so the oft-spouted rhetoric tells us — and now documentary Breaking Bread does as well. On paper, it mightn't seem hard to demonstrate that every single one of us shares a need for sustenance and a love of culinary delights; however, debut writer/director Beth Elise Hawk doesn't merely explain what we already literally know in our guts. Instead, the filmmaker focuses on Dr Nof Atamna-Ismaeel. Originally a microbiologist, she became the first Arabic contestant to win Israeli's version of Masterchef back in 2014. After that pioneering feat, she set her sights on another: founding the A-Sham Arabic Food Festival in Haifa. Unity is baked into the fest's very existence, with the event bringing together chefs of both Arabic and Jewish descent to cook a range of Levantine dishes, and then share their creations with eager attendees. And, the festival's purpose is never far from view on the plate or in discussions with the participants. The common sentiment: while the conflict in Israel commands the bulk of the attention directed the country's way, that isn't the lived reality for most of the region's residents. Breaking Bread releases in Australia just as headlines again document rising tensions and increasing combat in the area, but Atamna-Ismaeel and her fellow chefs endeavour to espouse the opposite in their delicious-looking meals. The usual food documentary advice applies here, unsurprisingly, because watching on an empty stomach will only get tastebuds watering and hunger pangs grumbling. Hawk isn't above using slow-motion culinary shots that actively attempt to entice salivation, and to use them to pad out the already brief 86-minute feature. That said, every glimpse in the kitchen or at a plate is handsomely filmed, framed and staged, and is never too far away from lively conversation as well. Indeed, the movie's wide range of dishes might whet the appetite, but they're really just the entree. Alongside the engaging Atamna-Ismaeel, the festival's chefs speak through their backgrounds, cooking dreams, experiences with conflict and generational traumas in their own talking-head segments. The doco hears multiple accounts of how the simple act of eating, or of combining different types of food, can and has brought people together, and yet that kind of sentiment will never prove repetitive. Perhaps because of Atamna-Ismaeel's TV background, it's easy to see how a longer project that spent an entire episode or several with these interviewees would provide a satisfying meal — and get its audience thinking even further about the region, food and unity. MINAMATA It has been ten years since Johnny Depp starred in The Rum Diary, openly inviting comparisons to — and happily standing in the shadows of — his role in fellow Hunter S Thompson adaptation Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas 13 years earlier. Minamata boasts no ties to the gonzo journalist, but it does initially endeavour to ape Depp's past work; playing a hard-drinking member of the press will do that. This drama draws its details from reality, though, not mere impersonation. Its subject: photographer W Eugene Smith, and his late-career series of snaps in the titular Japanese town. Informed of a story worth his and the world's attention by a translator, Aileen Mioko (Miami, Tezuka's Barbara), who'll later become his wife, Smith (Depp, Waiting for the Barbarians) convinces his Life magazine editor (Bill Nighy, Emma) to dispatch him to capture the results of chemical company Chisso's dumping of mercury in the local water. It's an important story, both for the celebrated Second World War photographer at the waning end of his career and for the movie now telling the tale, although second-time director Andrew Levitas (Lullaby) stages his earnest adaptation of Aileen and Eugene's book in a blunt manner. It doesn't help that his film arrives after the far superior Dark Waters and its own story of corporate poisoning, or that Depp is once again the point focus in a story where his character is a white outsider looking in, as he also was in the woefully misguided City of Lies. As it charts Smith's quest to bring the coastal spot's plight to the world, as aided by activist Kiyoshi (Ryô Kase, To the Ends of the Earth), Minamata does boast one crucial factor — other than its grim real-life basis. Whether seen for the first time or the thousandth, Smith's photos of Minamata residents afflicted with mercury poisoning (or Minamata disease, as the severe neurological condition particular to the town has been dubbed) are nothing short of striking. Indeed, they say so much in their single frames that a movie like Minamata was always going to feel as if it's merely sketching in filler details around these unforgettable images. As a director working with first-timer David Kessler's script, Levitas clearly understands this, and obviously appreciates the weight and importance of Smith's revelatory snaps. Accordingly, the film is as much an origin story for these famous pictures as it is an explainer for the context around them. The most recognisable photo of all — Tomoko Uemura in Her Bath, which depicts mother Ryoko Uemura bathing her daughter Tomoko — understandably garners the most focus. It's here that Minamata is at its most urgent and affecting, but so much that surrounds it proves the antithesis of Smith's shots: derivative and cliched. If you're wondering what else is currently screening in cinemas — or has been lately — check out our rundown of new films released in Australia on January 1, January 7, January 14, January 21 and January 28; February 4, February 11, February 18 and February 25; March 4, March 11, March 18 and March 25; and April 1, April 8, April 15, April 22 and April 29; and May 6, May 13, May 20 and May 27. You can also read our full reviews of a heap of recent movies, such as Nomadland, Pieces of a Woman, The Dry, Promising Young Woman, Summerland, Ammonite, The Dig, The White Tiger, Only the Animals, Malcolm & Marie, News of the World, High Ground, Earwig and the Witch, The Nest, Assassins, Synchronic, Another Round, Minari, Firestarter — The Story of Bangarra, The Truffle Hunters, The Little Things, Chaos Walking, Raya and the Last Dragon, Max Richter's Sleep, Judas and the Black Messiah, Girls Can't Surf, French Exit, Saint Maud, Godzilla vs Kong, The Painter and the Thief, Nobody, The Father, Willy's Wonderland, Collective, Voyagers, Gunda, Supernova, The Dissident, The United States vs Billie Holiday, First Cow, Wrath of Man, Locked Down, The Perfect Candidate, Those Who Wish Me Dead, Spiral: From the Book of Saw, Ema, A Quiet Place Part II, Cruella and My Name Is Gulpilil.
In the dramedy that bears his name, which streams in Australia via Stan, Ramy Youssef is a quintuple threat. The standup comic and Mr Robot and Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot actor created Ramy. He plays the eponymous Ramy. He also executive produces the series and, across all three seasons to-date, he frequently writes and directs. It's a show about a Queens-born first-generation American Muslim raised in New Jersey to Egyptian parents, too, as Youssef himself is. Indeed, there's no doubting that Ramy springs from a personal place, a feeling that echoes in every one of its 30 episodes so far. There's a difference between bringing your own exact existence to the screen and conveying the truth behind your experiences, however. Ramy falls into the second category. As the series charts its titular figure's struggles, specifically as his faith conflicts with his lifestyle, it doesn't pretend for a second that its two Ramys — Youssef off-screen, Hassan on-screen — are one and the same. Instead, it proves deeply steeped in the lived reality of feeling torn between two cultures, and so specific in the details that stem from that fact, while also universal and relatable in its emotions and insights. That's been the case since Ramy's first Golden Globe-winning season in 2019, and none of the above changes in the newly released third batch of episodes, which rank among the show's finest moments yet. In this ten-episode latest run, the lives of Ramy and his loved ones are rarely blessed with fine moments, no matter how eagerly and desperately they seek them. Youssef's on-screen alter-ego keeps threatening his own heart, mind and soul with his choices, and being disappointed with the outcome. Season two ended with a brief marriage to Zainab (MaameYaa Boafo, The Mysterious Benedict Society), the daughter of Sheikh Malik (Mahershala Ali, Swan Song). With one lustful bad decision, Ramy blew up his personal and religious connections, leaving him alone in a car with only an incarcerated pal's dog for company in its last scene. A year has passed on-screen now, but the fallout still lingers because nothing is easy to escape in this series. Zainab won't talk to Ramy, but there's a cash payout that needs settling for breaking their marriage contract. Accordingly, Ramy has thrown himself into making his Uncle Naseem's (Laith Nakli, Ms Marvel) diamond dealership a success — as a distraction, and to take care of his debt — and, as the season continues, he branches out on his own with Jewish friend Michael (Michael Chernus, Severance) and his Israeli-syndicate backers. He now has money, as well as his own place. Soon, he has his own jewellery business, and the boost to his ego that its triumph brings. But none of this herald's happiness, or comfort, or the ability to truly work out who he wants to be as he still tussles with balancing his beliefs with impulses, and overcoming his selfishness in general. It's easy to think of Uncut Gems while watching Ramy stake his sense of self on the money and hustle of the jewellery game, but that isn't the only Safdie brothers film that springs to mind in season three. Youssef doesn't sport bleached hair as Robert Pattinson did in Good Time, but he has a similarly careening vibe — and the same propensity to always put himself first, usually by making the worst move he can, while thinking he's helping others. In the new season's Ramy-focused instalments, the show sports the same feverish energy, too; there's no heists here, but that's the engrained mood. Actually, is Ramy heisting himself all along? He thinks he can bluff his way to contentment by getting big in the jewellery game and boosting his bank balance, but he's just as conflicted in this run of episodes as he's always been. One of Ramy's strengths has always been its willingness to see its protagonist, his flaws and poor choices with clear eyes, while remaining empathetic to his attempts to honour his faith — even as he makes such terrible decisions. Also one of the series' highlights: that it isn't simply about Ramy, with full episodes surveying his family and friends' lives as they grapple with their own woes. For his sister Dena (May Calamawy, Moon Knight), striving hard to take the bar exam isn't paying off, especially when her parents Maysa (Hiam Abbass, Succession) and Farouk (Amr Waked, Wonder Woman 1984) are open about how differently they see her and her future to Ramy's — and she's reassessing not only her dreams, but what's behind them. That's one of the third season's big themes, with a question bubbling up again and again: are the lives that the Hassans have been working towards truly what they want, and what'll bring them emotional, physical, psychological and spiritual fulfilment? That query ripples with an immense sense of melancholy with the elder Hassans, who are adjusting to Farouk being out of work, a bad financial investment that might mean they have to sell the family home and decades of feeling like they're treading water. And, it informs the subplot with Naseem, who is visibly hurt by Ramy leaving him behind, and also frantic about potentially being outed when one of his app-driven hookups turns out to be friends with Dena. Storylines involving Ramy's friends Steve (Steve Way, Nepotism), Ahmed (Dave Merheje, Mr D) and Mo (Mohammed Amer, Mo) are all guided by a similar train of thought, thoughtfully so. Season three serves up character study after character study, and with humour and insight in tandem, including laughs that echo because sometimes that's the only way to cope with life's chaos. Three seasons in, the fact that Ramy boasts one of the best casts on TV isn't new news. That said, an appearance by Bella Hadid as Steve's new The Office-worshipping girlfriend plays awkwardly, but James Badge Dale's (The Empty Man) bit part as televangelical-style Muslim convert is a cringe-inducing scene-stealer — as is Christopher Abbott's (On the Count of Three) efforts as one of Ramy's wealthy customers. No matter who pops up around them, though, the show's core group of actors keep turning in standout work. That Ramy keeps remaining a stunningly perceptive and engaging exploration of the battle to remain true to oneself — and one's hopes, dreams and religion — is firmly a communal effort. That it's a rich, authentic, poignant and devastatingly potent comedy that just keeps getting better and diving deeper is as well. Check out the trailer for Ramy season three below: Ramy streams via Stan.
Even if you won’t be rolling in the Byron grass with Outkast and Lily Allen come July, you can still get a slice of Splendour action with Festival sideshows. At least 22 international acts will bring some love to Sydney and Melbourne, with a few going west-side for Perth-based fans. Tickets go on sale via Secret Sounds at 9am AEST on Friday, May 9. Here’s who’s going where. Melbournians will be able to catch up with London Grammar at the Festival Hall on Tuesday, July 22, and Sydneysiders at the Horden Pavilion, on Thursday, July 24. Their debut album, If You Wait, sauntered straight into the ARIA Charts at no.2 when released in September last year. The week following, Foster the People will make appearances at the Palais Theatre on Monday, July 28, and the Enmore Theatre on Tuesday, July 29. Since last visiting Antipodean shores for the Big Day Out 2012, they've been busy putting together new album Supermodel. English songwriter Ben Howard will be playing songs from his Mercury debut album Every Kingdom, as well as a few more recent creations at the Palais on Wednesday, July 30; the Enmore on Thursday, July 31; and the Astor (Perth) on Friday, July 25. And for a dose of Memphis soul and infectious Afro-beat, see Kelis in action at Melbourne's Prince Bandroom on Tuesday, July 22, and Sydney's HIFI on Wednesday, July 23. Meanwhile, London electro-pop darlings Metronomy will appear at Perth’s Astor Theatre on Wednesday, July 23, Melbourne’s Forum Theatre on Friday, July 25, and Sydney’s Metro on Wednesday, July 28. They’re hitting Australia hot on the heels of playing Glastonbury and Primavera Sounds. Expect fresh yet timeless tunes from their Mercury Prize-nominated The English Riviera and new album Love Letters. There’ll also be guest appearances from Liverpool-based indie poppers Circa Waves, who’ll then play their own headline show on Tuesday, July 29, at Sydney’s Newtown Social Club. If you’re under 18, The Strypes will have you covered. They’re four Irish lads whose birth certificates prove they’re not yet legal, but they sound more like old guys who’ve been hanging out in blues-rock clubs for eons. They’ll be at Sydney’s Newtown Social Club on Wednesday, July 23, and Melbourne’s Northcote Social Club on Tuesday, July 22. Similarly bluesy and rock-driven are Nashville group The Wild Feathers. But they also throw a significant dash of folk into the mix. In fact, they recently played the ultimate in songwriter support gigs — Bob Dylan’s pre-show set. Catch them in Melbourne at the Northcote Social Club on Friday, July 25, and in Sydney at the Newtown Social Club on Saturday, July 26. Another folksy act is Seattle six-piece The Head and the Heart. One minute they were busking and playing open mics; the next, they were selling out San Francisco’s Fillmore and appearing on the Late Show with David Letterman. They’ll be bringing their intelligent songwriting, sweet harmonies and minimalist percuth. For a more punksy take on rootsy music, check out NYC four-piece Skaters, who’ll be at the OAF on Thursday, July 24, and Melbourne’s The Corner on Saturday, July 26. Triple J recently named their debut full-length, Manhattan, album of the week. At the other end of the groove spectrum is collective Jungle, who are all about floating melodies and ethereal electronica. They’re heading our way after accompanying Haim across Europe, impressing crowds at SXSW and playing Fuji Rock. Catch them at The Corner, Melbourne, on Tuesday, July 29, and the Oxford Art Factory, Sydney, on Wednesday, July 30. While we’re on the topic of the ethereal, Australian-turned-LA-resident Ry X will be travelling his homeland in two manifestations — as part of enigmatic trio The Acid and solo. See the former at Goodgod Small Club (Sydney) on Wednesday, July 23, and Northcote Social Club (Melbourne) on Thursday, July 24, and the latter at the Oxford Art Factory (Sydney) on Tuesday, July 29, and Howler (Melbourne) on Wednesday, July 30. Other sideshows to watch out for include Grouplove, The 1975, Sky Ferreira, Phantogram, Future Islands, Mikhael Paskalev, Asgeir, Darlia and Mas Ysa.
For playing Princess Diana in Spencer, Kristen Stewart earned an Oscar nomination. For doing the same in Diana the Musical, Jeanna de Waal just won a Golden Raspberry Award. Given out the day before the Academy Awards and rewarding the worst in cinema for the past year — rather than the best and brightest like their counterparts — the Razzies have named their picks from 2021's flicks. And yes, singing through the life of Princess Di wasn't considered movie magic. A filmed version of the stage production, Diana the Musical earned five awards in total — after leading the nominations with nine. The Golden Raspberries also considered it the Worst Picture of the year, and gave it the Worst Director, Worst Supporting Actress and Worst Screenplay prizes as well. If you haven't seen it yet, you might to stick with The Crown. Also winning big: needless Space Jam sequel Space Jam: A New Legacy, which picked up three awards from four nominations. It received the Worst Actor prize for LeBron James, as well as the Worst Remake, Ripoff or Sequel award, plus Worst Screen Couple. With those two movies scoring eight awards between them, there wasn't much room for many other winners at the 42nd Razzies (although, are Razzie recipients really considered winners?). But Jared Leto's awful efforts in House of Gucci still scored him the Worst Supporting Actor prize, even over Diana the Musical's Gareth Keegan. One person who was always going to end with a Razzie to his name this year was Bruce Willis. The awards even created their own category for him — because he released eight flicks last year, and all of them were terrible. Wondering which one was deemed the worst of the lot? That'd be Cosmic Sin, which saw Willis pick up the accolade for Worst Performance by Bruce Willis in a 2021 Movie. Ahead of likely winning an Oscar today, Will Smith also earned some love from the Razzies as well. The former Fresh Prince received the only Golden Raspberry anyone ever wants to get, though: the Razzie Redeemer, for actors who've come back from a spate of Razzie-worthy roles. Smith's win came for King Richard, the part he's expected to get that Academy Award for. Check out the full list of nominees and winners below: GOLDEN RASPBERRY NOMINEES AND WINNERS 2022: WORST PICTURE Diana the Musical — WINNER Infinite Karen Space Jam: A New Legacy The Woman in the Window WORST ACTOR Scott Eastwood, Dangerous Roe Hartrampf (as Prince Charles), Diana the Musical LeBron James, Space Jam: A New Legacy — WINNER Ben Platt, Dear Evan Hansen Mark Wahlberg, Infinite WORST ACTRESS Amy Adams, The Woman in the Window Jeanna de Waal, Diana the Musical — WINNER Megan Fox, Midnight in the Switchgrass Taryn Manning, Karen Ruby Rose, Vanquish WORST SUPPORTING ACTOR Ben Affleck, The Last Duel Nick Cannon, The Misfits Mel Gibson, Dangerous Gareth Keegan (as James Hewitt, the muscle-bound horse trainer), Diana the Musical Jared Leto, House of Gucci — WINNER WORST SUPPORTING ACTRESS Amy Adams, Dear Evan Hansen Sophie Cookson, Infinite Erin Davie (as Camilla), Diana the Musical Judy Kaye (as both Queen Elizabeth and Barbara Cartland), Diana the Musical — WINNER Taryn Manning, Every Last One of Them WORST PERFORMANCE BY BRUCE WILLIS IN A 2021 MOVIE Bruce Willis, American Siege Bruce Willis, Apex Bruce Willis, Cosmic Sin — WINNER Bruce Willis, Deadlock Bruce Willis, Fortress Bruce Willis, Midnight in the Switchgrass Bruce Willis, Out of Death Bruce Willis, Survive the Game WORST SCREEN COMBO Any klutzy cast member and any lamely lyricised (or choreographed) musical number, Diana the Musical LeBron James and any Warner cartoon character (or Time-Warner product) he dribbles on, Space Jam: A New Legacy — WINNER Jared Leto and either his 17-pound latex face, his geeky clothes or his ridiculous accent, House of Gucci Ben Platt and any other character who acts like Platt singing 24-7 is normal, Dear Evan Hansen Tom and Jerry (aka Itchy and Scratchy), Tom & Jerry WORST DIRECTOR Christopher Ashley, Diana the Musical — WINNER Stephen Chbosky, Dear Evan Hansen Coke Daniels, Karen Renny Harlin, The Misfits Joe Wright, The Woman in the Window WORST REMAKE, RIPOFF or SEQUEL Karen (inadvertent remake of Cruella deVil) Space Jam: A New Legacy — WINNER Tom and Jerry Twist (rap remake of Oliver Twist) The Woman in the Window (ripoff of Rear Window) WORST SCREENPLAY Diana the Musical, script by Joe DiPietro, music and lyrics by DiPietro and David Bryan — WINNER Karen, written by Coke Daniels The Misfits, screenplay by Kurt Wimmer and Robert Henny, screen story by Robert Henny Twist, written by John Wrathall and Sally Collett, additional material by Matthew Parkhill, Michael Lindley, Tom Grass and Kevin Lehane, from an "original idea" by David and Keith Lynch and Simon Thomas The Woman in the Window, screenplay by Tracy Letts, from the novel by AJ Finn RAZZIE REDEEMER Will Smith for King Richard
Australia and New Zealand, you're getting more chances to dance the night away: Dua Lipa's already-huge Radical Optimism tour has expanded its trip Down Under. When it was first announced, there were three shows on the itinerary. Due to demand — and before general tickets even go on sale — the tour has been expanded to nine gigs. It's still only playing three cities, however. Accordingly, Dua Lipa fans will still need to head to Sydney, Melbourne or Auckland to catch the Grammy-winner's live shows. She's now doing three gigs in the New South Wales capital, four in the Victorian capital and two in Aotearoan city. Dua Lipa last travelled this way to bring her Future Nostalgia tour Down Under in 2022, and hit the stage at the post-parade party at the 2020 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras before that. The Radical Optimism gigs kick off in November 2024 across Asia, with concerts in Singapore, Jakarta, Manila, Tokyo, Taipei, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok and Seoul. Fans in Australia and Aotearoa get their turn to find the star under lights and turning the rhythm up in March and April 2025, thanks to shows at Rod Laver Arena, Qudos Bank Arena and Spark Arena. [caption id="attachment_963582" align="alignnone" width="1917"] Raph_PH[/caption] 2024 has been a huge year for the 'Don't Start Now', 'Physical', 'Break My Heart', 'Cold Heart' and 'Houdini' singer, with her third studio album Radical Optimism releasing in May and then the artist headlining Glastonbury. She also popped up in Argylle in cinemas. 2023 was no slouch, either, given that 'Dance the Night' graced the Barbie soundtrack and Dua Lipa featured in the film as a Barbie. The Aussie and NZ leg will restart the Radical Optimism tour in 2025, with dates also locked in across Europe in May and June next year, and in North America in September and October afterwards. As well as Radical Optimism and Future Nostalgia, Dua Lipa has tracks from her self-titled 2017 debut record to bust out, including 'Be the One', 'Hotter Than Hell', 'Lost in Your Light', 'New Rules', 'IDGAF' and 'Blow Your Mind'. [caption id="attachment_972947" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tyrone Lebon[/caption] Dua Lipa Radical Optimism Tour 2025 Australia and New Zealand Dates Wednesday, March 19–Thursday, March 20 + Saturday, March 22–Sunday, March 23 — Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne Wednesday, March 26 + Friday, March 28–Saturday, March 29 — Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney Wednesday, April 2 + Friday, April 4 — Spark Arena, Auckland Dua Lipa's Radical Optimism tour heads Down Under in March and April 2025, with general ticket sales from 1pm local time on Friday, September 20. Head to Dua Lipa's website for more details. Live images: Raph_PH via Flickr.
Some events feel like they've always been part of Brisbane's cultural scene, and Stones Corner Festival is one of them — even though it'll only host its eighth fest when it returns in 2023. That's the sign of something special, with this free street party swiftly becoming one of the city's must-attend festivals. It was sorely missed during pandemic shutdowns as well, but made a glorious comeback in 2022. This year, when Sunday, April 30 hits, Stones Corner Festival will once again unleash a day of food and music on the inner east, too. And when that happens, the event is going big. On the lineup: Art vs Science, local legends Resin Dogs and the retro stylings of Yacht Rock Revival. They'll be joined by Good Will Remedy, Jem Cassar-Daley, John Hanley & The Hurricanes, Dusty and Andy Martin. That's who you'll be listening to — or dancing in the street to, to be more accurate — however, the music bill is only part of the Stones Corner Festival fun. You can also expect more than 20 craft breweries pouring beers, including Your Mates Brewing Co, 4 Pines, Slipstream, Balter, Eumundi, Brookvale Union, Stone & Wood and Green Beacon. Burleigh Brewing, Newstead Brewing, Young Henrys, Heads of Noosa and Better Beer will be on hand as well, so you'll have sipping options. Eating-wise, a heap of food trucks will pop up to keep your stomach lined, including with burgers, paella, tacos and pizza. And as for what else awaits on the corner of Logan and Old Cleveland roads — and during the Labour Day long weekend, handily — there'll also be market stalls via The Market Folks. If you're planning a big one, that public holiday the next day is oh so convenient. Also, entry remains free, but giving a gold coin donation to the MND and Me Foundation is recommended. STONES CORNER FESTIVAL 2023 LINEUP: Art vs Science Resin Dogs Yacht Rock Revival Good Will Remedy Jem Cassar-Daley John Hanley & The Hurricanes Dusty Andy Martin Stones Corner Festival 2023 takes place from 12–10pm on Sunday, April 30 on Logan Road, Stones Corner. For more information, head to the festival's website.
Life has been a cabaret for one of the world's inimitable designers since 2018, when Jean Paul Gaultier's Fashion Freak Show first premiered in Paris. Couture, colour, flair, excess, passion, a larger-than-life attitude: they're all channelled into this fashion show-meets-musical revue that steps through its namesake's career and promises a time at the theatre like nothing else. More than 200 original Gaultier pieces feature. His 50 years making threads are in the spotlight. Unsurprisingly, the whole thing also plays out like a party. So far, London, Tokyo, Munich, Porto, Lisbon, Milan, Barcelona and Osaka have also revelled in the Jean Paul Gaultier's Fashion Freak Show experience. Next, it's Brisbane's turn. The River City will welcome the Australian debut of the show — and the Aussie-exclusive season, too — during Brisbane Festival 2024. Donning attire that Gaultier would approve of isn't a prerequisite of attending the production, but you know that you want to dress the part if you're heading along. Jean Paul Gaultier's Fashion Freak Show will kick off with Brisbane Festival itself, starting on Friday, August 30. The Australian season runs until Sunday, September 15, taking over the South Bank Piazza — which forms part of the Festival Garden for the duration of Brisbane Festival. "I am pleased and honoured that my Fashion Freak Show will be presented in Australia, as part of the Brisbane Festival," said Gaultier about the production's trip Down Under. "I could never imagine that it would travel this far and I hope that the Australian audiences will enjoy the show as much as I enjoyed making it with the fantastic team that you will see in Brisbane. It's the story of my life told through music and dance and fashion. The story of a boy from the suburbs who dreamed of being a couturier — who lived his dream with all the highs and lows of his destiny." Of course Jean Paul Gaultier's Fashion Freak Show emphasises its titular figure's boundary-pushing work, his focus on individual expression, and his championing of queer aesthetics and LGBTQIA+ causes. Alongside the hefty range of outfits, it also features a suitable genre-defying soundtrack of disco, funk, pop, rock, new wave and punk tunes as actors and dancers — plus circus artists as well — take to the stage. The diverse cast of faces bringing the show to life spans even further, too, with celebrities and other special guests filming cameos that play during the production. [caption id="attachment_960525" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jean-Paul Gaultier: Freak & Chic[/caption] In another highlight of Jean Paul Gaultier's Fashion Freak Show's Brisbane visit, a couture piece by Queensland Indigenous designer Grace Lillian Lee has been chosen by Gaultier to feature for the season. "The coming together of Grace Lillian Lee and Jean Paul Gaultier will forever be one of my proudest moments and the epitome of Brisbane Festival as local and global," said Brisbane Festival Artistic Director Louise Bezzina. "And in an Olympic year when eyes will turn from Paris to Brisbane, the festival is perfectly placed to host this shining blockbuster event that brings together superstar talents from Europe and First Nations Australia." [caption id="attachment_960526" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Grace Lillian Lee[/caption] Lee is no stranger to Brisbane Festival thanks to 2021's First Nations Fashion: Walking In Two Worlds, and will debut her first solo exhibition The Dream Weaver: Guardians of Grace from Friday, August 30–Saturday, September 21 during this year's fest. For more of Brisbane Festival's ode to Jean Paul Gaultier, the event has also included a screening of documentary Jean-Paul Gaultier: Freak & Chic on its 2024 lineup. Jean Paul Gaultier's Fashion Freak Show will play the South Bank Piazza, Festival Garden, South Bank, Brisbane from Friday, August 30–Sunday, September 15 as part of Brisbane Festival 2024. Head to the festival website for tickets and more details.
There's nothing that says 'Australian' quite like being the first ever company to crowdfund booze. But one company has found a way to combine Sydneysiders' two favourite beverages in one delicious, stylishly packaged drink. Sydney-based distillery MR BLACK recently launched a $10,000 Pozible campaign, harnessing the power of crowds and their love of coffee and alcohol to help launch their flagship product, MR BLACK Cold Drip Coffee Liqueur. The rewards for pledges range from invites to their launch party to actual bottles of MR BLACK, varying in size depending on the donation. According to head distiller Philip Moore, "MR BLACK is not for everyone. It’s not some cloying, sickly-sweet kiddie drink that makes your teeth hurt. Using the cold-drip method we’ve created a rich, intense coffee liqueur that actually tastes like coffee." MR BLACK is the brainchild of Moore and designer Tom Baker, and it's already getting quite a bit of attention from overseas, especially after winning the gold medal at the 2012 International Wine & Spirits Competition in London. Co-founder Baker says that not only are MR BLACK "at the intersection of Sydney coffee and bar culture" but they're also big supporters of the arts and creative scene — their bottle artwork is designed by local artist Dale Bigeni.
Escaping to Tasmania has long been a popular way to get away from it all, especially if you're keen to swap the Australian mainland's hustle and bustle for the Apple Isle's stunning surroundings for a brief spell. Vacationing in a tiny house has also become a beloved way of leaving the daily grind, your usual routine and everyday stresses behind — so a tiny house in Tassie is clearly a holiday dream. Make that two tiny houses, actually, thanks to eco-friendly tiny house company Tiny Away. Good things definitely come in small packages here — and in scenic locations, too, with the accommodation network making its first leap to Australia's southern-most state. The two new spots join Tiny Away's 120-plus tiny house lineup, with each small-scale home architecturally designed, set on private land in rural and regional locations, and available for short bookings. If you're keen for a getaway in a fishing village around 45 minutes from Hobart, then Quirindi in Dunalley is your ideal destination. It sits on an eight-acre property, in the middle of wildlife-filled bush and grassland, that's been in the same family for three generations. The small abode even comes with its own nine-hole putting course — which, yes, you can use amid warming up by the fire pit, cooking on the barbecue or exploring the area. Nearby drawcards include the coastline at Eaglehawk Neck, plus seafood joints The Cannery and Bangor Wine & Oyster Shed. If you're eager to venture to Launceston — well, around half an hour away — then Cottesloe in the small town of Hagley is for you. This tiny house sits among a small farming operation on the edge of Meander Valley, which means that green pastures and farm animals come with the territory. Here, local highlights include Georgian and Victorian buildings in the town of Deloraine — and bakeries for a snack — plus the Western Tiers Distillery and the limestone caves at Mole Creek Karst National Park. With not only getting back to nature but respecting the natural environment a key part of Tiny Away's ethos, each of the company's homes is fashioned out of sustainable materials, and also includes waterless compost toilets, rainwater collection tanks for showers, plus solar panels. Checking that leave balance already? Scouring your calendar for a free weekend getaway slot? We understand. Tiny Away's new Quirindi and Cottesloe tiny houses are available to book online. For more information, head to the company's website.
West End has long been a buzzing cultural and artistic hub in Brisbane. From the ever pumping Hi-fi, to the regular cultural festivals and markets, this small, life-filled suburb has provided a grounds for many of Brisbane's finest artists to sprout. Now, community minded DIY arts and music space, The Waiting Room, celebrates one year of providing a place for such budding Brisbane artists to host their musical, art and performance pieces. The Waiting Room will be kicking up their heels with three nights of local music performances from an array of artists including four-piece girl band Go Violets, self proclaimed 'Space Garage Pilots' Tiny Migrants, and drone-folk locals Rational Academy. It's been a rampant ride for The Waiting Room, but in one year they've well and truly cemented themselves into the Brisbane music and arts scene - that's more than enough reason for a three day long, musical celebration.
Just a few steps from Lang Park, Paddington Social is a new community hub in a crooked old Queenslander home, steeped in years of easy Brisbane living. Whether you're basking on the verandah or settling inside on one of their long tables, the sparsely decorated environment of light woods with navy blues takes a backseat to the star of the show, the menu. [caption id="attachment_1025594" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image supplied[/caption] A triple threat of culinary offerings, each of the three chef-owners (Gibb 'Gibbi' Mookachonpan, Tyler Sargent and Alex Senee) are behind their own offerings. Tyler heads up the breakfast and lunch menu, a lively lineup of nostalgic comfort foods reimagined. Highlights include a spicy chorizo scotch egg, coconut rice pudding and smoked mushroom mac and cheese over a thick wedge of sourdough. Sweets and coffee sidekicks come via English-trained pastry chef Gibbi, whose flaky Pandan croissants are so sweet and fragrant, you can take one home as a candle. Tuesday to Saturday evenings, Lek's Thai Popup Kitchen is Alex's tribute to the vividly sweet, spicy and sour flavours of classic Thai noodles, curries and fried starters. Modern twists include Larb Calamari and massaman pork curry puffs. [caption id="attachment_1025595" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Katie Anne Morfoot[/caption] At the risk of sounding obsessed, our pet love of this gastronomical myriad is the specialised spritz menu. There's the classic mimosa, alongside other fruity bubbles like peach bellini and a ginger kombucha-lime digestif — order a few to turn a catch-up into a long brunch.
This summer, when we tell you to get your skates on at HOTA, Home of the Arts, we aren't just recommending that you check out the venue's towering new art gallery as soon as you can. We actually mean literally lacing up your boots on wheels, because the Gold Coast spot is turning its concert lawn into a roller rink. The pop-up is open to skaters of all ages — Xanadu fans and Whip It devotees included. Here, you'll also be rolling around with Surfers Paradise as your scenic backdrop (because there's far more things to do on the Goldie than just hit the beach). Launching on Friday, December 10, the roller rink is doing $10 passes from 4–9pm its opening night. After that, opening times change daily until it finishes up on Sunday, January 23, and adult entry will set back $18. Head by on Thursday, January 13 and Thursday, January 20 for Roller Nights, which'll get you skating to DJ-spun beats — and hitting up pop-up bars — from 4.30pm. [caption id="attachment_804622" align="alignnone" width="1920"] default[/caption]
With Mystery Road, True Colours and now High Country, Australia's screen industry has been increasing its Indigenous detective tales of late. It's a welcome shift, and one that Leah Purcell chalks up to the strength of the genre. "I think a cop show is a great drama. You've got everything in it, and we do cop shows very well in this country," she tells Concrete Playground about her stint as Andie Whitford, the character that was written for her — in the series that was also penned for her — by Wentworth duo Marcia Gardner and John Ridley. "Then when you've got a mystery-thriller, it's an opportunity to get audiences together, sitting on the lounge at home with their family — and actually, it brings about discussion," Purcell continues. "That's when you know that you've got a good show. We did a screening, and people got around and were wanting to work out who'd done it, and they saw that opportunity with only one episode," Purcell continues. Debuting its eight-episode first season in March — which is now available to watch in full via Binge — High Country gives viewers much to talk about and sleuth along with. In the Mystery Road and The Dry mould, it's about a city detective digging into a rural case and cracking the secrets of close-knit communities. It's also about the landscapes that shape not only small towns but also the people in them, and reflect their strengths and struggles in the terrain. And, High Country follows a personal journey. Andie didn't grow up in the town of Broken Ridge, only to return now, as the protagonists of Mystery Road and The Dry did with their respective settings; however, she's trying to embrace the place as home after making a tree change with her artist partner Helen Hartley (Sara Wiseman, Under the Vines) and high-schooler daughter Kirra (Pez Warner, making her TV debut). The setup: Andie and her family move to Victoria at its most mountainous (where Force of Nature: The Dry 2 also traversed earlier in 2024) just as a spate of missing-person cases pile up. Sam Dryson (Ian McElhinney, The Boys in the Boat), the retiring police chief that she's replacing, has an older disappearance that he's determined to solve — a missing boy that he's insistent that former teacher Damien Stark (Henry Nixon, The PM's Daughter) abducted — but also notes that deaths and vanishings aren't uncommon in the region. He's still a helpful mentor, though, as Andie endeavours to stop people going AWOL or worse from being a local fact of the life. But even before she begins asking questions, the rest of the town isn't always as accommodating, nor are all of her new colleagues. [caption id="attachment_953804" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Narelle Portainer[/caption] Purcell's acting career spans three decades now, and everything from 90s dramas such as GP and Police Rescue, then Lantana and The Proposition on the big screen, through to the likes of Redfern Now, Black Comedy, Wentworth, The Drover's Wife The Legend of Molly Johnson, The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart and Shayda recently. It wasn't just the whodunnit Aussie-noir angle that appealed to her about High Country, but also Andie's complexity, the challenge of being first on the call sheet on a major series and co-stars that also include a first-time dramatic collaboration with Aaron Pedersen (High Ground). As she did with The Drover's Wife — which she made as a play, a book and then a movie — showcasing a part of the country that she fell in love with while filming Somersault and Jindabyne in the 2000s was a big factor. That passion on Purcell's part is evident in every scene that she's in throughout High Country, as it always has been whenever she's in front of the camera — or, with The Drover's Wife, also behind it. What gets her excited about a role, the series and the part of Andie being specifically penned for her, championing more than just the stereotypical vision of Australia's landscape, digging into Andie's backstory and the response to her arrival beyond the dialogue, working with the rest of the show's cast: we chatted with Purcell about all of the above. [caption id="attachment_953802" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Martin Philbey[/caption] On Both High Country and the Part of Andie Being Written for Purcell "The project was written for me, so that was pretty awesome and humbling. Marcia Gardner and John Ridley, who were the creators behind Wentworth — when we were wrapping up that series, Marcia said 'we'd love to work with you again, Leah. And guess what? I've written something for you and a show around you'. And she said 'would you be interested in being in it?'. And I said 'mate, if you get it up, give me a call'. So six months later, she rings me and says 'I've got it up'. But what was also appealing is the beautiful high country. I'd just finished, a couple of years before, The Drover's Wife The Legend of Molly Johnson, my first feature — that was done in the high country, the Snowy Mountains on New South Wales side. So to come across to Victoria to film in that location was amazing. The stories were really interesting. Who doesn't love a good cop show and a mystery-thriller whodunnit? To be a part of it and being in the rural area — I'm a country girl from country Queensland in Murgon, so to go back and portray that sort of setting on our TV was important to me as well." On Championing More Than Just the Stereotypical Vision of Australia's Landscape "Normally it's the reds and the brown and the heat. I fell in love with the high country when I did Jindabyne and Somersault in that area. And I just went 'gee, we don't utilise this landscape enough'. Then when I got the idea to pursue The Drover's Wife, I said 'we've got to do it in the high country and have that beautiful big sky, and the blues and the greens that we don't see'. Even when I was selling the project overseas, people said 'what, there's snow and green in Australia?'. And I thought 'yes, there is'. [caption id="attachment_815948" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Drover's Wife The Legend of Molly Johnson[/caption] As I said, it was one of the drawcards to High Country for me. And also because that landscape is so alive, it is a character within this show as well. It's also important to Andie on a couple of levels. One, yes, as the detective, the sergeant trying to solve the mysteries — because is it just that these people took a wrong step on a trail in the bush? Or is there more behind it? And also for her and her journey, the land really speaks to her and makes her look at herself. You want a character with many story threads to it, so you've got depth to play in emotionally. So that was another drawcard. But the location, your eyes will be stimulated — the beauty in the landscape is just phenomenal." On Purcell's First Read on Andie — and What She Knew That She Could Bring to the Part "She's a fearless woman, but also there's a vulnerability to her, which is nice. She's a great detective — and it was something that I had done before, but the challenge was to find what I could bring to her that was new to me as a performer. It was different from the other roles that I had done, so that's where the challenge was for me. And what I liked is that she's quieter, she's an observer. And I guess that's what makes her a great cop. She observes things, takes things in — and a deep, a deep thinker. But I really wanted to show her vulnerability as well as the brilliance in her detective work — and that she's a strong, strong woman in the face of what she has to do for her job." On Conveying the Tough Journey That Andie Has Had in an Unspoken Way "We're women. We've lived it. It wasn't anything too difficult. We've all had those sort things thrown at us — and it was just great to have an opportunity to play with that on-screen. And then Andie finding the power, and showing that she's worthy of the position that she's in, and that she's good at what she does, and the respect comes. But it's a great place to start in a series, so you've got a place to go — and she works hard to do it, but she does it." [caption id="attachment_910859" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Shayda[/caption] On What Gets Purcell Excited About a Role Three Decades Into Her Acting Career "Getting a lead role is something that's important to having a look, because you want the challenge. And I think that I've earned my stripes. So that was appealing, of course. And I just want to be able to connect. To be challenged, I think, is important, so that you stay engaged and you want to be there, and work hard." [caption id="attachment_953803" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Martin Philbey[/caption] On What Purcell Learns From a Part Like Andie and a Show Such as High Country "Be careful what you ask for in being number one on the call sheet. There's a lot of hard work, that's what I've learned. But I love that. Thirty-three years [in], I want to be engaged. I want to be challenged. That's what was appealing that for me in taking on the role of Andie." On Working with the Rest of High Country's Impressive Cast "Believe it or not, this is the first time that Aaron [Pedersen] and I have actually shared work together in a drama. It was awesome. Our chemistry is really, really great. And he was a pleasure to work with. Then you've got Ian McElhinney from Belfast in Ireland. Mate, what a legend — just what he brought. We all challenge one another. There's some really awesome people that are doing awesome acting, and it's a challenge in a friendly way. But it's like 'ohh, so you're going to do that — right, can I top you on this?'. So that made the project fun, and it was a joy to go to work every day. We had an awesome cast that worked so hard and tirelessly. That was pretty demanding. There were really cold days and rain, and there was snow, and there was minus-zero days where I had to stand there with no jumper on, and I had too many clothes on to put the thermals underneath. But it was just a pleasure to be on, and I'm so excited and I just want our Australian audiences to really support Australian stories — to tune in, and hopefully the ratings will be there and we'll be able to go again on a second season." High Country streams via Binge. Read our review. High Country images: Sarah Enticknap / Narelle Portanier.
If you liked choosing your way through Black Mirror: Bandersnatch — or telling Bear Grylls what to do in interactive series You vs. Wild — then Netflix has more where that came from. Come Tuesday, May 12, you'll be able to decide what happens to everyone's favourite kidnapping victim turned wide-eyed New Yorker in a one-off Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt special. While the Tina Fey co-created, 18-time Emmy-nominated comedy finished up its regular run with 2019's batch of episodes, which closed out the show's fourth season, it's coming back this month to put viewers in control. Netflix has actually been in the interactive game for a couple of years thanks to its children's shows like Puss in Boots, Buddy Thunderstruck and Stretch Armstrong; however this'll mark the streamer's first interactive comedy. Always wanted to curb Kimmy's (Ellie Kemper) ample enthusiasm? Keen to steer ex-socialite Jacqueline White (Jane Krakowski) towards a few sensible decisions? Think that landlord Lillian (Carol Kane) could be more eccentric and misanthropic? Just love everything that aspiring actor and singer Titus Andromedon (Tituss Burgess) does? Then this is for you, obviously. If you're fond of Jon Hamm's Reverend Richard Wayne Gary Wayne, too, you're also in luck — this interactive episode is called Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy vs. the Reverend, after all. A whole heap of other famous faces co-star as well, including Daniel Radcliffe, Amy Sedaris, Fred Armisen, Chris Parnell, Jack McBrayer and Johnny Knoxville. Story-wise, as the just-dropped trailer shows, Kimmy is preparing to marry Radcliffe's Frederick in three days. Then she finds an old library book in her beloved childhood backpack, which sets her on a collision course with the Reverend — who just might have another bunker hidden away. Viewers can expect a wedding, a journey across three US states, explosions, an evil plan and potentially starting a war against robots. Along the way, you'll help Kimmy decide if she should make out with Frederick, and choose whether Titus should wait 4000 minutes for an Uber instead of walking — and they're just the two decision points shown in the trailer. Announcing the special last year, Tina Fey explained that "fans will be able to make choices on behalf of our characters, taking different story paths with, of course, different jokes," in a Netflix statement. Check out the trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZWmRUxOj9g Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy vs. the Reverend will hit Netflix on Tuesday, May 12. Top images: Netflix.
Festive season means party season, as your calendar no doubt attests. Expect enough food to make you feel merry, plenty of drinks to keep you jolly, and to frequent many a Brisbane bar and restaurant. There's no shortage of places to celebrate all things end-of-year, but not every venue is primed for your posse of pals in partying mode. In partnership with Oyster Bay Sparkling Cuvée, here are ten with enough room for you and a group of your best buddies to kick up your heels in and crack open a bottle of bubbly. 'Tis the season to have some fun and stay stylish, after all. ARIA, BRISBANE River views? Check. Mouthwatering food? Check. A classy sit-down dinner kind of shindig? Check check check. Head to Aria at Eagle Street Pier for a feast that'll keep your tastebuds satisfied until the new year, including a groups menu specifically geared towards ten to 20 people. Fresh seasonal produce is what chef Matt Moran is all about, so that's what your selection is certain to boast. Plus, private dining is available for bigger cohorts — which is probably perfect if you and 40 of your closest mates are in the mood for eating well and knocking back a few barrel-aged cocktails and glasses of bubbly. LENNON'S POOL BAR AND TERRACE, BRISBANE If you're after a venue with wow factor — and somewhere where you can sit by and maybe even dip your feet in an inviting body of water — then Lennon's Pool Terrace and Bar is the party place for you. Sure, the name gives you a great indication of the kind of fun you're in for; however, you mightn't realise that you'll be on a rooftop in the Queen Street Mall, surrounded by palm trees and overflowing with indoor and outdoor areas where you can sip on a refreshing glass of bubbly. Sounds like celebration central to us. CLOUDLAND, FORTITUDE VALLEY Sipping cocktails, tucking into tasty meals, dancing the night away, hanging out in style: whichever fits your idea of seasonal celebrating, you'll find it at Cloudland. Whatever you opt for, you'll probably want to make a beeline for one of their booths — aka the hottest seats in the house. Whether your idea of a group gathering means eight or 70 people, the decadent Fortitude Valley venue has you covered, complete with food and beverage packages. Fun fact in case you need some dinner and drinks conversation: the original Cloudland dance hall, located in Bowen Hill and demolished in 1982, was originally called Luna Park. THE CHARMING SQUIRE, SOUTH BRISBANE Can you remember what South Bank's Grey Street was like before The Charming Squire set up shop? No, neither can we. In terms of a one-stop spot for enjoying beers brewed on the premises and eating a hearty meal, there's nowhere like it in the vicinity. Whether you opt for the bar or restaurant, there's ample room to invite everyone you know, and a menu to match. You'll be in good company — The Charming Squire is often packed with people, so call ahead to book out a space. LIBERTINE, BRISBANE Nestled into the Barracks complex on Petrie Terrace, Libertine works the best kind of magic on its patrons. Sure, you're sitting a stone's throw away from a busy main road; however, once you have a vodka-filled Vietnamese lemonade in your hand and a plate full of easy-to-share croquettes and dumplings in front of you, you'll forget all about that. Given the gorgeous indoor and outdoor digs on offer, that's easy to do. Sitting under the stars having canapés and cocktails with your best buddies is something everything Brisbanite needs to do, too. BITTER SUITE, NEW FARM In the mood for the kind of celebration that feels like a festive Sunday session? Try Bitter Suite. The fact that you'll find it on a New Farm corner surrounded by houses and apartments should give an idea of the laidback vibe the British-inspired watering hole offers, but in the best kind of way. Think everything from fried green tomatoes and ham hocks to eat, and a rotating array of beers and ciders on tap to drink. And, if you're after some daytime shenanigans — a leisurely lunch outside, perhaps — you couldn't be in a better place for it. THE WICKHAM, FORTITUDE VALLEY Nothing says partying like relaxing in the beer garden of one of Brisbane's best pubs. And, to make the experience even more special, lounging around in a reclaimed shipping container can also be part of the merriment. They're just two of the spaces worth taking all your mates to The Wickham to enjoy a celebratory drink — and there's more where that came from. If you're in the mood for top comfort food-style nosh and a happening atmosphere, you'll find it at the 131-year-old establishment on Wickham Street. [caption id="attachment_600593" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Image: A Darling Affair.[/caption] THE LOFT, WEST END Weddings, parties, anything: it's not just a name of an Aussie band from the '80s and '90s that nobody really remembers. Those three words also describe everything that The Loft can host, whatever kind of get-together you're after included. And, crucially — although, fittingly given its Boundary Street location in West End — you'll never feel like you're in a function venue here. You'll kick back, knock back a few drinks, eat up everything you can, and you'll do so surrounded by more greenery than you'd expect in a place that's also a lounge bar and nightclub. ALFRED AND CONSTANCE, FORTITUDE VALLEY To you and me, Alfred & Constance is the best kind of hangout: multiple bars, multiple moods, multiple beverages… the list goes on. To the powers-that-be responsible for making it one of the city's must-visit spots, it's a hospitality complex — and boy oh boy, do they treat it like one. That means every kind of celebratory experience you could think of is on offer. Whether you're keen on feasting on a carving board in the beer garden, drinking wine in the downstairs disco, chilling out with an alcoholic smoothie or grabbing a late-night dessert, you'll find it here. SONO PORTSIDE, HAMILTON Don't just party like the calendar says you must — party like you've been whisked away to a far-off place. The moment you spy cherry blossoms, you'll feel like you're far, far away from Brisbane, and that's just the beginning of the Sono Portside experience. River views, an interactive teppanyaki bar, fresh sushi and sashimi prepared in front of your eyes, and so, so much sake: that's all in store here. Be warned: you'll also find plenty of inspiration to take your celebratory shindig to another country next year. Celebrate this season with Oyster Bay Sparkling Cuvée — available at your local supermarket or liquor store.
If you've ever wanted to indulge in an immersive fine-dining feast onboard a luxe yacht, here's your chance. Acclaimed chef Nelly Robinson will be plating up a six-course sensory fare for this year's Vivid Sydney. NEL's founder and chef patron will take over the kitchen of superyacht The Jackson on Saturday, May 25, for what promises to be a colourful culinary journey backed by front-row views of the iconic Sydney Harbour. Robinson is known for his avant-garde and often kooky degustation menus, so prepare for the kind unbridled creativity that's been on display in his previous degustations, which span from Disney-inspired dishes and Christmas-themed festivities to a dedicated showcase of native Aussie ingredients and even a bold take on KFC. Upon boarding the multimillion-dollar cruiser, you'll be met with free-flowing sparkling for the first hour, as well as a selection of small bites including beetroot and tuna tarts, smoked oysters and a chicken and macadamia toastie. For the sit-down portion of the evening, you'll tuck into a lemon myrtle-infused poached salmon for entree, lamb shoulder with herb risotto for main and a banana-starring dessert. To finish the cruise on a high, head on upstairs for a boogie accompanied by a rose heart canapé. Tickets cost $325 per person, but you can add an additional $65 for a Tyrrell's Wine pairing to accompany your meal. At the end of the evening, you'll disembark at King Street Wharf where you can continue partying into the night. If you love fine food, immersive creative experiences and fabulous views, you best consider adding this to your list of must-book Vivid Sydney events. Head to The Jackson's website to purchase tickets to A Night with Nelly Robinson before they sell out.
Summer is a mere few weeks away and there's no better seasonal combo than a weekend barbecue and icy cold craft beer. We’re on mission to inspire and enhance your barbecue experience this silly season by bringing to you recipes that go beyond the simple sausage sizzle. We've searched Sydney's most talked-about restaurants from the buzzing inner west to the slick CBD, the stylish eastern suburbs and all the way to the chilled-out northern beaches for recipes that will earn you a pat on the back and cheers from your soon-to-be-impressed guests. Ten top-notch chefs from across town with a talent for wielding a set of barbecue tongs have matched one of their favourite grill-friendly recipes with a brew from James Squire's solid craft beer range. Crisp pilsners with zesty Hartsyard octopus for the sun lovers. Strong Porters to wash down Neil Perry ribeyes. Golden ales with Pinbone's barbecued duck hearts for the adventurous. Thank us later; your summer barbecues will be talked about for many moons. BARBECUED DUCK HEARTS WITH CUMQUAT AND MUSTARD — PINBONE INGREDIENTS: Duck hearts Handful of cumquats (or oranges and mandarin) Creme fraiche Hot English mustard Bitter leaves METHOD: Brine duck hearts in a 5 percent salt/water solution for 30 minutes. Remove and dry with paper towel. Grill on the barbecue for 2 minutes on each side and rest. Cut cumquats in half and grill on barbecue until nicely charred (orange and mandarin also work nicely if you can’t find cumquats). Mix equal parts creme fraiche and hot English mustard together and lay the mustard base on one half of the plate. To serve: Season generously and garnish with bitter leaves. Pair with James Squire Stow Away IPA. BBQ FREMANTLE OCTOPUS — GREGORY LLEWELLYN FROM HARTSYARD Serves 4 INGREDIENTS: 1kg Fremantle Octopus separate into individual tentacles only 4L Water 300g salt 100g paprika smoked peel of one lemon 4 cloves of crushed garlic tbsp peppercorn tbsp fennel seed tbsp coriander seed METHOD: Heat half the water with the salt until dissolved. When dissolved pour warm solution into remaining cold water. Toast all spices (minus the paprika) together over a medium/high heat until fragrant. Add to liquid mixture. Add garlic, paprika and lemon peel. When mixture is cool add octopus tentacles and brine for 12 hours. Remove from brine, rinse and dry. Place into a heavy bottomed saucepot and cover with extra virgin olive oil. Cook on stove top at about 75-80°C ensuring the oil does not boil for 2-2.5 hours. Remove the octopus from pot. It should be fork tender with a tiny bit of chew. Refrigerate until cold (this should probably be done the day before). Prepare BBQ to about 200°C. BBQ octopus until suction pads are crispy and the tentacles are evenly cooked but not black. When cooked toss into a bowl with the following dressing: DRESSING: 100ml olive oil 2 tbsp sliced garlic 1 tbsp fresh oregano leaves picked 1 tbsp fresh parsley leaves picked 1 tsp crushed red chilli flakes Cook olive oil and garlic until slightly brown. Add the rest of the ingredients until crispy. Remove from heat. Let cool. Season with the juice of two lemons. Pair with James Squire Four 'Wives' Pilsener. STICKY LAMB RIBS WITH POMEGRANATE AND SOY GLAZE — DANIEL SAN INGREDIENTS: 30gm peeled eschallots 0.1gm pomegranate 60gm cos lettuce 5gm flat leaf parsley 5gm mint 2gm extra virgin olive oil 300gm Junee lamb American ribs GLAZE: 50gm peeled garlic 4gm lemons 80gm frozen wasabi tube 150gm castor sugar 15gm sea salt flakes 60gm sesame oil 400gm pomegranate molasses BRAISING STOCK: 2L water 10ml Kikkoman soy 10ml mirin 10ml sake 5gm radish daikon 20gm young ginger METHOD: Place ribs in braising stock and place in oven on 160°C for two hours. Take ribs out and leave to cool in the stock for one hour. Cook ribs on the bbq and glaze with the above. Serve on cos lettuce with pomegranate drizzled on top. Pair with James Squire's The Constable Copper Ale. SMOKED BARBECUE WINGS w/ BULLEIT BOURBON BARBECUE SAUCE — HENRIETTA SUPPER CLUB INGREDIENTS: 2.5L pork (or beef stock in a pinch) stock FOR BARBECUE SAUCE: 250ml Bulleit bourbon 2 cinnamon sticks 3 star anise 2 cloves 1 lime (juice and zest) 2 lemon (juice and zest) 100ml good sherry vinegar 1 x can of coca cola 1 x can ginger ale 25g whole black pepper corn 100ml real Canadian maple syrup 500ml of store bought barbecue sauce METHOD: Place in a large pot on a medium heat-high heat. Reduce until sticky. pass through a chinois or large sieve. Store in an airtight container and refrigerate once cooled. To prepare the wings, poach desired quality of wings in a good-quality wings chicken stock for 25min. Coat with a seasoned flour (we use 'Cajun flour' — corn flour, plain flour, Cajun spices and seasoning). Deep fry for five minutes on 180 degrees or brown on the barbecue hot plate in good quality cooking oil. Place cooked wings in a steel bowl and coat generously with the barbecue sauce. Garnish with chives and serve with chipotle mayo (real mayonnaise with a slug of chipotle hot sauce like El Yucateco or Tabasco). Pair with James Squire Nine Tales Amber Ale. SMOKED PORK RIBS — PATRICK FRIESEN AND CHRISTOPHER HOGARTH FROM PAPI CHULO INGREDIENTS: 4 USA-style cut pork ribs BBQ rub BBQ sauce Apple wood and oak chips METHOD: Try to find pork ribs with the most amount of meat you can. Clean the silver skin off the back of the ribs using a fork to pry it off and a tea towel to hold onto the silver skin when you pull it off. Season both sides lightly with BBQ rub and smoke straight away. Smoke at 120°C over oak and applewood for one hour. Wrap in foil and smoke at 120 degrees for another hour and a half. Brush with BBQ sauce and enjoy. BBQ SAUCE: 50gm Heinz ketchup 16gm Frank's RedHot sauce 20gm Yamasa soy 10gm water 30gm brown sugar 6gm black pepper 3gm smoked paprika 3gm sweet paprika 2.5gm onion powder 2.5gm garlic powder 5gm Korean chilli powder Mix all ingredients in a bowl and let sit for an hour. BBQ RUB: 100gm salt 20gm cracked black pepper 4gm onion powder 2gm garlic powder 20gm paprika 5gm smoked paprika 5gm cayenne Mix in a bowl right before you want to use. Pair with James Squire Sundown Australian Lager. RIB EYE ON THE BONE — NEIL PERRY FROM THE BURGER PROJECT INGREDIENTS: 4 x 360g rib eye on the bone Sea salt Extra virgin olive oil for grilling 4 lemon wedges METHOD: Heat the barbecue or grill — whether using wood, charcoal or gas — until extremely hot. Salt and oil each side of the steaks and allow to come to room temperature. Place steaks on the grill, cook for approximately five minutes, rotate the steak 90 degrees to get the cross pattern on the meat halfway through the cooking. Turn the steak over and cook for another four minutes. Allow the meat to rest for a few minutes off the grill. Place on a cutting board and slice each of the steaks into five or six slices, form the meat back to its original shape and serve on a plate with a sprinkle of salt, drizzle of olive oil and a wedge of lemon. Pair with James Squire Jack of Spades Porter. LAMB BURGER WITH PICKLED EGGPLANT, WATERCRESS AND HARISSA — MICHAEL RANTISSI FROM KEPOS STREET KITCHEN Serves 4 INGREDIENTS: 750gm good-quality coarse lamb mince 2 teaspoons coriander seeds, toasted and crushed 1 bunch coriander, leaves picked and finely chopped 3 - 4 tbsp olive oil 4 tbsp harissa 1 tsp chilli flakes Salt and pepper to season 4 brioche burger buns, toasted ½ cup makdous (pickled eggplant stuffed with walnuts available from Middle Eastern grocers) 1 bunch watercress Harissa aioli METHOD: Combine the lamb mince, coriander seeds, fresh coriander, olive oil, harissa and chilli in a large bowl. Season with salt and pepper and mix to combine. Once combined, divide the mixture into four and then gently shape the burger patties with your hand. Don't overwork the patties too much as it makes them tough. These burgers can be cooked in a frypan on the stove top or the grill on your barbeque. Cook to your taste, two to three minutes per side for medium rare or longer for your requirement. To assemble toast the brioche burger buns (inside of bun only). Take the base of the burger bun and add a dollop of the harissa aioli, a spoonful of the pickled eggplant with walnuts, watercress, then the patty, add another handful of watercress and another dollop of aioli and then top with the bun. Pair with James Squire One Fifty Lashes Pale Ale. BARBECUE CHICKEN WINGS — CHUR BURGER INGREDIENTS: 1kg mid cut chicken wings BARBECUE SAUCE: 1 onion, finely chopped 6 cloves garlic, finely chopped 100ml olive oil 150g brown sugar 150ml Worcestershire sauce 500g ketchup Juice of 2 lemons 1 tbsp finely chopped fresh thyme Place chicken wings in a large pot and cover with cold water. Bring water to the boil, stir chicken wings gently and then turn heat off. Let wings sit in water for 12 minutes and then pour wings into a colander. Place on trays in a single layer and refrigerate overnight to dry out. Sweat off onion and garlic in the olive oil until soft but with no colour (about 2-3 minutes). Add everything else, bring to a simmer and cook out for about 10 minutes. Cool down and store in refrigerator. Toss in the barbecue sauce mix and then place on hot grill until smokey and charred. Remove from grill and place into a clean bowl and toss with some further barbecue sauce and a squeeze of fresh lemon. Serve. CHIPOTLE MAYO: 1L plain mayonnaise 150ml Melbourne Hot Sauce Chipotle & Cayenne 10g rosemary, chopped 10g fresh oregano, chopped 10g parsley, chopped Mix all together. Pair with James Squire Hop Thief American Pale Ale.
The island of Lombok is Bali's equally magical (but considerably less crowded) neighbour. Here, you get long white sand beaches, deep forests hiding waterfalls and small villages filled with friendly locals. Yes, Bali has all this too. But Lombok is significantly quieter and cheaper. Experienced travellers come here for all the luxury trimmings at beachside or mountaintop villas but at a fraction of the price. Read on to find our favourite places to stay in Lombok, all of which can be booked through Concrete Playground Trips. HOTEL TUGU LOMBOK This luxury Lombok hotel is full of character. One of the dining rooms sits under an enormous wooden pavilion filled with locally made furniture. The bar is located within a traditional hut decorated with a smattering of artworks and sculptures. And the uniquely designed rooms include features like private rooftops, lotus ponds, outdoor baths, plunge pools and more. Add the private beach and spa facilities and you're left with the total wellness package. Plus, it's only a short boat ride away from the famous Gili Islands — so your day trips are sorted. BOOK IT NOW. KU VILLAS This small resort has a few different accommodation types, ranging from individual rooms and suites (with or without a plunge pool) to larger villas with private gardens and larger pools. Modern simplicity is also key when it comes to design and amenities — expect large open rooms with classic wooden furniture and crisp white linens. The in-house spa and small restaurant both make spending entire days by the pool all too easy. We're so impressed with KU Villas that we've teamed up with them to bring our readers one massive island holiday deal. Guests will get a three-night stay, an hour-long massage, a personal chauffeur, a $200 food and beverage voucher for the nearby SIWA Clubhouse and daily breakfast for only $455 — an absolute bargain by anyone's standards. BOOK IT NOW. SELONG SELO RESORT AND RESIDENCES These villas and studios feel more like luxury homes than travel accommodations. Guests have their own modern kitchens, living rooms and bedrooms as well as private balconies with barbecues and private plunge pools. And the views — well, they are just serene. Whether you're sitting in your room or dining by the main pool and restaurant, you'll have uninterrupted sea views framed by wide-open plains and dramatic mountains. Plus, with the option to book a seven-bedroom villa, Selong Selo Resort and Residence is great for large groups of travellers. BOOK IT NOW. RINJANI BEACH ECO RESORT This rustic eco-resort has all the essentials required for having a super comfortable holiday on a tropical island — but it's the location and long list of adventure experiences that make it one of the best places to stay in Lombok. The resort's team will organise snorkelling and diving trips and hikes up to the Rinjani volcano where you'll see large emerald-green lakes and hidden waterfalls. What else is on the menu? Day trips to the nearby Gili Islands, massages at the spa and the opportunity to watch turtles hatch on the beach. Head here to immerse yourself in nature. BOOK IT NOW. JEEVA BELOLAM BEACH CAMP Now, this is the ultimate glamping destination. The off-the-grid recycled wood and alang alang beachfront lodges combine elements of Robinson Crusoe with East Indonesia aesthetics to create a boutique beach camp experience. When staying here, you'll feel totally removed from the outside world. Jeeva Beloam's 11 rooms lie within a 55-hectare nature forest preserve, facing the Timor Sea from a sand dune above a quiet 250-metre-long white sand beach. This Lombok paradise is made for true escapism. BOOK IT NOW. HARMONY VILLAS LOMBOK Is minimalism your vibe? If so, you've got to check out these beautifully designed villas in Kuta, Lombok. On the property, you'll find just five boutique villas (painted stark white inside and out) set around a luxurious lagoon-style swimming pool. It's gorgeous and calming — especially thanks to its adults-only policy. You won't find little kids running around this joint, disturbing your relaxing holiday. BOOK IT NOW. NOVOTEL LOMBOK RESORT AND VILLAS This is a stellar middle-of-the-budget resort on Lombok. You're not spending a heap of money, but you still get to stay right on the beach — free from crowds — getting all the top luxury resort inclusions. You've got large air-conditioned rooms by the water, free daily activities, three outdoor pools and a great restaurant and bar. Tick, tick, tick. It has it all. BOOK IT NOW. THE OBEROI BEACH RESORT This beachside resort is made for chilling out. Spend your days jumping from the pool to the beach and then to the bar — all before starting the rotation again. Sure, you can go on one of its snorkelling trips or have a private dinner on the shore, but you've got to take your time just hanging at the property too. That's especially true of you book the enormous luxury villa that has its own pool and private courtyard. BOOK IT NOW. Feeling inspired to book a truly unique getaway? Head to Concrete Playground Trips to explore a range of holidays curated by our editorial team. We've teamed up with all the best providers of flights, stays and experiences to bring you a series of unforgettable trips in destinations all over the world. Top image: Selong Selo Resort and Residence
Every film festival has its traditions. At the Sydney Film Festival, adding to its program just days before the curtain lifts is a tried-and-tested part of its annual cycle. First, the Harbour City's major cinema showcase reveals a few titles in April to start getting movie lovers excited. Then, it advises who'll be the focus of its big retrospective. Next, it drops its complete lineup in May, but it isn't actually quite complete. This year, closing night's film was unveiled after that. And, once the Cannes Film Festival takes place, SFF also throws in a few more picks from France's prestigious event. SFF 2023 starts on Wednesday, June 8, running until Sunday, June 19 — and the day before the fest kicks off, it has boosted its bill with nine more features. The huge drawcard: Anatomy of a Fall, a drama about an author (Sandra Hüller, Toni Erdmann) accused of her husband's murder, which just won French director Justine Triet (Sibyl) the Palme d'Or. She became just the third female filmmaker to earn the coveted prize after Jane Campion — the subject of this year's SFF retrospective — for The Piano in 1993 and Julia Ducournau for Titane in 2021. Also hitting Sydney after competing for Cannes' major prize are Club Zero and May December. Helmed by Little Joe's Jessica Hausner, the former stars Mia Wasikowska (Blueback) as a boarding-school teacher spearheading a conscious-eating movement. The latter hails from Carol director Todd Haynes, is led by Natalie Portman (Thor: Love and Thunder) and Julianne Moore (Sharper), and dives into a scandal. SFF has also added body-horror film Tiger Stripes, which is set in the Malaysian jungle and won the 2023 Cannes Critics' Week Grand Prize — and Inshallah a Boy, about a woman in Jordan who fakes a pregnancy because it's the only way she can secure her inheritance. Plus, from Cannes Directors' Fortnight comes Georgian feature Blackbird Blackbird Blackberry, about an autumn romance. Also from the Croisette: Anselm, Wim Wenders' (Submergence) portrait of artist Anselm Kiefer; and Four Daughters, which won Cannes' top documentary prize for its tale about a Tunisian mother and her missing children. And, while it screened at Sundance instead, The Persian Version — an Audience Award-winner at the Utah fest, focusing on Iranian American filmmaker Leila (Layla Mohammadi, The Sex Lives of College Girls), her romantic life and her mother Shireen's (Niousha Noor, Kaleidoscope) story before her — rounds out the new additions. SFF attendees, you'll now need to rejig your schedule. That's one of this film festival's annual traditions, too. Sydney Film Festival 2023 runs from Wednesday, June 7–Sunday, June 18 at various Sydney cinemas — head to the festival website for further information and tickets.
Something delightful has been happening in cinemas in some parts of the country. After numerous periods spent empty during the pandemic, with projectors silent, theatres bare and the smell of popcorn fading, picture palaces in many Australian regions are back in business — including both big chains and smaller independent sites in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. During COVID-19 lockdowns, no one was short on things to watch, of course. In fact, you probably feel like you've streamed every movie ever made, including new releases, Studio Ghibli's animated fare and Nicolas Cage-starring flicks. But, even if you've spent all your time of late glued to your small screen, we're betting you just can't wait to sit in a darkened room and soak up the splendour of the bigger version. Thankfully, plenty of new films are hitting cinemas so that you can do just that — and we've rounded up, watched and reviewed everything on offer this week. THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER What do you call a movie filled with giant screaming goats, magic weapons vying for attention like romantic rivals, a naked Chris Hemsworth and a phenomenally creepy Christian Bale? Oh, and with no fewer than four Guns N' Roses needle drops, 80s nostalgia in droves, and a case of tonal whiplash as big as the God of Thunder's biceps? You call it Thor: Love and Thunder, and also a mixed bag. The fourth film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe to focus on the now 29-title saga's favourite space Viking, and the second Thor flick directed by Taika Waititi after Thor: Ragnarok, it welcomely boasts the New Zealand filmmaker's playful and irreverent sense of humour — and the dead-serious days of the series-within-a-series' first two outings, 2011's Thor and 2013's Thor: The Dark World, have definitely been banished. But Love and Thunder is equally mischievous and jumbled. It's chaotic in both fun and messy ways. Out in the cosmos, no one can swim, but movies about galaxy-saving superheroes can tread water. Thor Odinson (Hemsworth, Spiderhead) has been doing a bit of that himself — not literally, but emotionally and professionally. Narrated in a storybook fashion by rock alien Korg (also Waititi, Lightyear), Love and Thunder first fills in the gaps since the last time the Asgardian deity graced screens in Avengers: Endgame. Ditching his dad bod for his ultra-buff god bod earns a mention. So does biding his time with the Guardians of the Galaxy crew (with Chris Pratt, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, Bradley Cooper and company popping up briefly). Then, a distress call from an old friend gives Thor a new purpose. Fellow warrior Sif (Jaimie Alexander, Last Seen Alive) has been fighting galactic killer Gorr the God Butcher (Bale, Ford v Ferrari), who's on a mission to do exactly what his name promises due to a crisis of faith — which puts not only Thor himself but also New Asgard, the Norwegian village populated by survivors from his home planet, at grave risk. In MCU movies before Ragnarok, many of which Thor has smouldered and smiled his way through, he would've attacked the problem — this time literally — with enchanted hammer mjolnir. It's been in pieces since the last standalone Thor film. Courtesy of the god's ex, it doesn't stay that way for long. Love and Thunder nabs itself two Thors for the price of one, after Dr Jane Foster (Natalie Portman, Vox Lux) hears mjolnir a-calling following a stage-IV cancer diagnosis. Soon, the astrophysicist is also the Mighty Thor, brandishing the mallet, wearing armour and sporting flowing blonde locks. When the OG Thor finds out, he's overcome with post-breakup awkwardness, but there's still a god killer to stop and also kidnapped kids to rescue. Cue a couple of Thors, plus Korg and New Asgard king Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson, Passing), trying to prevent the worst from happening. Love and Thunder is a film where those yelling oversized goats pull a boat into the heavens; where Hemsworth is gloriously in the goofiest mode he has, aka the best mode; and where Russell Crowe (Unhinged) plays a tutu-wearing, lightning bolt-flinging Zeus with the worst on-screen accent this side of House of Gucci (Greek instead of Italian, though). The movie is rarely more than a few seconds from a one-liner or a silly throwaway gag, and it loves colour more than a rainbow does — except when it doesn't, including in the desert-set opening that introduces Gorr and his god-slaying necrosword, and when it follows him into an eerie shadow realm. Love and Thunder also adds Bale, an actor forever linked with helping bring superheroes back to the blockbuster realm via Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy, to the ranks of terrific caped crusader foes. This Thor flick contains plenty, clearly; however, for everything that works, something else doesn't. Read our full review. COMPARTMENT NO 6 Handheld camerawork can be a gimmick. It can be distracting, too. When imagery seems restless for no particular reason other than making the audience restless, it drags down entire films. But at its best, roving, jittery and jumpy frames provide one of the clearest windows there is into the souls that inhabit the silver screen in 90-minute blocks or so, and also prove a wonderful way of conveying how they feel in the world. That's how Compartment No. 6's cinematography plays, and it couldn't be a more crucial move; this is a deeply thoughtful movie about two people who are genuinely restless themselves, after all. Finnish director Juho Kuosmanen (The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Mäki) wants what all of the most perceptive filmmakers do — to ensure his viewers feel like they know his characters as well as they know themselves — and in his latest cinematic delight, he knows how to get it. How Kuosmanen evokes that sense of intimacy and understanding visually is just one of Compartment No. 6's highlights, but it's worthy of a train full of praise. With the helmer's returning director of photography Jani-Petteri Passi behind the lens, the film gets close to Finnish student Laura (Seidi Haarla, Force of Habit) and Russian miner Ljoha (Yuriy Borisov, The Red Ghost). It peers intently but unobtrusively their way, like an attentive lifelong friend. It jostles gently with the locomotive that the movie's central pair meets on, and where they spend the bulk of their time together. It ebbs and flows like it's breathing with them. It rarely ventures far from their faces in such cramped, stark, 90s-era Russian surroundings, lingering with them, carefully observing them, and genuinely spying how they react and cope in big and small moments alike. Pivotally — and at every moment as well — it truly sees its key duo. With their almost-matching names, Laura and Ljoha meet on a train ride charting the lengthy expanse from Moscow to Murmansk. She's taking the journey to see the Kanozero petroglyphs, ancient rock drawings that date back the 2nd and 3rd millennium BC, and were only discovered in 1997; he's heading up for work. Laura is also meant to be travelling with Irina (Dinara Drukarova, The Bureau), her Russian girlfriend, but the latter opted out suddenly after an intellectual-filled house party where mocking the former for her accent — and claiming she's just a lodger — threw a pall of awkwardness over their relationship. Making the jaunt solo is still sitting uneasily with Laura, though. Calls along the way, answered with busy indifference, don't help. And neither does finding herself sharing compartment number six, obviously, with the tough- and rough-around-the edges Ljoha. It's been 71 years now since Alfred Hitchcock gave cinema the noir thriller Strangers on a Train. It's been 27 years since Richard Linklater also had two unacquainted folks meeting while riding the rails in Before Sunrise, which started a terrific romance trilogy starring Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy. Accordingly, the idea behind Compartment No. 6 is instantly familiar. Here, two strangers meet on a train, a connection sparks and drama ensues. Kuosmanen, who nabbed an award at Cannes for The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Mäki and then earned the 2021 competition Grand Prix, which comes second only to the prestigious Palme d'Or, for this, is clearly working with a well-used setup. But even though this isn't a movie that's big on surprises, it's still a stellar film. It's also a reminder that a feature that's personal and raw, also attuned to all the tiny details of life in its performances, mood and style, and firmly character-driven, can make even the most recognisable narrative feel new. Read our full review. SUNDOWN In Sundown's holiday porn-style opening scenes, a clearly wealthy British family enjoys the most indulgent kind of Acapulco getaway that anyone possibly can. Beneath the blazing blue Mexican sky, at a resort that visibly costs a pretty penny, Alice Bennett (Charlotte Gainsbourg, The Snowman), her brother Neil (Tim Roth, Bergman Island), and her teenage children Alexa (Albertine Kotting McMillan, A Very British Scandal) and Colin (Samuel Bottomley, Everybody's Talking About Jamie) swim and lounge and sip, with margaritas, massages and moneyed bliss flowing freely. For many, it'd be a dream vacation. For Alice and her kids, it's routine, but they're still enjoying themselves. The look on Neil's passive face says everything, however. It's the picture of apathy — even though, as the film soon shows, he flat-out refuses to be anywhere else. The last time that a Michel Franco-written and -directed movie reached screens, it came courtesy of the Mexican filmmaker's savage class warfare drama New Order, which didn't hold back in ripping into the vast chasm between the ridiculously rich and everyone else. Sundown is equally as brutal, but it isn't quite Franco's take on The White Lotus or Nine Perfect Strangers, either. Rather, it's primarily a slippery and sinewy character study about a man with everything as well as nothing. Much happens within the feature's brief 82-minute running time. Slowly, enough is unveiled about the Bennett family's background, and why their extravagant jaunt abroad couldn't be a more ordinary event in their lavish lives. Still, that indifferent expression adorning Neil's dial rarely falters, whether grief, violence, trauma, lust, love, wins or losses cast a shadow over or brighten up his poolside and seaside stints knocking back drinks in the sunshine. For anyone else, the first interruption that comes the Bennetts' way would change this trip forever; indeed, for Alice, Alexa and Colin, it does instantly. Thanks to one sudden phone call, Alice learns that her mother is gravely ill. Via another while the quartet is hightailing it to the airport, she discovers that the worst has occurred. Viewers can be forgiven for initially thinking that Neil is her cruelly uncaring husband in these moments — Franco doesn't spell out their relationship until later, and Neil doesn't act for a second like someone who might and then does lose his mum. Before boarding the plane home, he shows the faintest glimmer of emotion when he announces that he's forgotten his passport, though. That said, he isn't agitated about delaying his journey back, but about the possibility that his relatives mightn't jet off and leave him alone. Sundown is often a restrained film, intentionally so. It doles out the reasons behind Neil's behaviour, and even basic explanatory information, as miserly as its protagonist cracks a smile. The movie itself is eventually a tad more forthcoming than Neil, but it remains firmly steeped in Franco's usual mindset: life happens, contentedly and grimly alike, and we're all just weathering it. Neither the highs nor lows appear to bother Neil, who holes up at the first hotel his cab driver takes him to, then starts making excuses and simply ignoring Alice's worried calls and texts. He navigates an affair with the younger Berenice (Iazua Larios, Ricochet) as well, and carries on like he doesn't have a care in the world. His sister returns, frantic and angry, but even then he's nonplussed. The same proves true, too, when a gangland execution bloodies his leisurely days by the beach, and also when violence cuts far closer to home. Read our full review. If you're wondering what else is currently screening in Australian cinemas — or has been lately — check out our rundown of new films released in Australia on April 7, April 14, April 21 and April 28; and May 5, May 12, May 19 and May 26; and June 2, June 9, June 16, June 23 and June 30. You can also read our full reviews of a heap of recent movies, such as Fantastic Beasts and the Secrets of Dumbledore, Ambulance, Memoria, The Lost City, Everything Everywhere All At Once, Happening, The Good Boss, The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, The Northman, Ithaka, After Yang, Downton Abbey: A New Era, Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy, Petite Maman, The Drover's Wife The Legend of Molly Johnson, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Firestarter, Operation Mincemeat, To Chiara, This Much I Know to Be True, The Innocents, Top Gun: Maverick, The Bob's Burgers Movie, Ablaze, Hatching, Mothering Sunday, Jurassic World Dominion, A Hero, Benediction, Lightyear, Men, Elvis, Lost Illusions, Nude Tuesday and Ali & Ava.
Set in the backstreets of suburban Brisbane, Trent Dalton's award-winning 2018 novel Boy Swallows Universe is destined to become an Aussie classic. It follows a young boy, his prophetic brother and his jailbreaking best friend as they navigate the heroin-filled underworld of 80s Queensland. And it's about to come to life on the stage. In September 2020, the stage version of the novel will world premiere in Brisbane. It'll be a co-production between Queensland Theatre and Brisbane Festival, with the former's Artistic Director Sam Strong directing the adaptation, which will be written by playwright Tim McGarry. Brisbane-born author Dalton said in a statement it was only fitting that the stage show should premiere in his hometown, "It was the people of Brisbane who took that wild, strange book and ran with it first and that book belongs to them now and this production will belong to them, too." It has not yet been revealed if the stage show will then travel to interstate theatres, but we'll keep our fingers crossed — and let you know if it does. Boy Swallows Universe has snagged a slew of local awards, including Book of the Year, Literary Book of the Year and Audio Book of the Year at the 2019 Australian Book Industry Awards. The novel, which has sold 160,000 copies in Australia alone, has also been longlisted for Australia's most prestigious literature prize, the Miles Franklin Award. The winners will be announced on July 30. Fans of the novel will be excited to hear that it won't stop at the stage, either — Boy Swallows Universe is also destined for the small screen. Last week, it was announced that Harper Collins had sold the television rights to the novel, with Australian actor and director Joel Edgerton (who recently wrote, directed and produced Boy Erased) set to produce the show alongside Dalton as executive producer. Boy Swallows Universe will world premiere in Brisbane in September 2020 as part of Brisbane Festival. You can sign-up to receive updates from Queensland Theatre here. Top image: Trent Dalton and Sam Strong by Luke Marsden.
When news of Albion's soon-to-launch new dining precinct first broke, Brisbanites were promised that Craft'd Grounds would feature quite the array of drawcards. On the list: a brewery, pop-up restaurant, patisserie, craft bottle shop, coffee roaster, street food, specialty espresso bar, wine and cocktail bar, events space, and laneway filled with street art. Now, as the Collingwood Street space inches closer to opening, Brissie caffeine fiends have something concrete to look forward to. When the spot launches in October, it'll boast Australian coffee roaster Seven Miles' new Queensland flagship coffee roastery. Previously, Seven Miles has operated out of Newstead; however, come spring, Albion will be its local base of operations. And, it won't just be roasting behind closed doors. Its new setup is all about immersing coffee lovers in the experience — so, while you're sitting in the open-plan venue, you'll be able to see through wall-to-ceiling glass and witness everything that happens to bring the brand's roasts to your cuppas. "From the ceiling-high glass walls, open seating plan, our dedicated training spaces for masterclasses and public cuppings and barista-art competitions — it'll be a lively, immersive, and fully transparent experience," says Ben Graham, the ex-owner of Parallel Roasters and now Seven Miles' Queensland Operations Manager. "You'll witness specialty coffee roasters in action, taste our coffees in the way we taste it — learning what to look for and why it's important — whether you're in the industry or just an avid coffee lover." Seven Miles' will continue to serve up its Brisbane-made roast The Cat's Pyjamas, which will be joined on the menu by its other brands such Wilde and Cultivar, as well as a range of monthly rotating Single Origin coffees. The focus on giving coffee fans a glimpse of the work behind the brews firmly fits in line with Craft'd Grounds' overall mission to celebrate all things handcrafted — which its resident brewery Brewtide, onsite patisserie and fromagerie, and regular markets will obviously also tap into. Seven Miles also operates roasteries in both Sydney and Melbourne, and supplies coffee to more than 800 cafes around the country, including over 120 in Queensland. Find Seven Miles' new Queensland flagship roastery at Craft'd Grounds, Collingwood Street, Albion, at a yet-to-be-revealed date in October. We'll update you when exact opening details are announced. Images: Justin Ma.
You should never be too far away from German beer, huge plates of pork and salty pretzels — or that seems to be Brisbane's new motto, at least. Just weeks after Munich Brauhaus opened its doors in South Bank, and a year after The Bavarian set up shop in Chermside, the city has now welcomed another huge Deutsch-themed haunt: the Bavarian Beerhaüs in the King Street precinct. Along with Bavarian Bier Cafe at Eagle Street Pier, the whole lot are run by Rockpool Dining Group, if you're wondering who's responsible for this tasty German onslaught. For the company's latest effort, it has set up a 350-seat beer hall that takes inspiration from its RNA Showgrounds setting, all within the old Royal Snack Bar. Yes, that means brews paired with carnival-style food — as well as the expected pork overload, of course. Opening its doors on May 24, the Bavarian Beerhaüs boasts 40 beer taps pumping out a range of German draught beers, which the venue claims is the largest selection in Queensland. A selection of Australian craft beers is also on offer for those sipping brews in the 150-seat beer garden — or thirsty patrons can opt for a sizeable range of schnapps, espresso martinis on tap or frozen margaritas. Food-wise, there are two components to the menu. Firstly, German-style dishes such as pork knuckle, pork belly, schnitzels, sausages and shared meat platters feature heavily, alongside barbecue fare like coffee-spice rubbed pork ribs and spice-rubbed wagyu. If it's something Ekka-style that you're after, however, then tuck into dagwood dogs, chicken wings, hot dogs, loaded fries and even a strawberry sundae. Even better — complimentary snacks, including mini loaded fries, dagwood dogs and chicken wings, are available with drinks between 4-6pm daily. The entire place blends its brewhouse vibe with modern touches — think concrete, brick walls, an exposed ceiling and vintage decor — and throws in plenty of activities to keep the fairground theme going. Weekly ping pong tournaments, trivia nights, comedy and games afternoons are all part of Bavarian Beerhaüs' regular entertainment lineup, with two days of partying getting things started across May 26-27. That includes a two-day beer carnival, plus two days of 10-cent chicken wings and $2 hot dogs as well. Find The Bavarian Beerhaüs at Shop 6, 45 King Street, Bowen Hills. Drop by seven days a week from 11am, or head to the venue's website for further details.
Whatever else the past couple of years have served up, it has been an impressive time for folks who like staring up at the sky. 2016 ended with a huge supermoon that had everyone looking to the heavens, then 2018 began with an extremely rare super blue blood moon (a supermoon, a blue moon and a total lunar eclipse all at once). Next, at the end of July, an epic lunar eclipse will mark the next notable celestial happening. WHAT IS IT? On Saturday, July 28, earth will bear witness to the longest lunar eclipse of this century — with the penumbral eclipse lasting just shy of four hours (236 minutes, to be exact) and the total lunar eclipse spanning 103 minutes. If you're wondering what the difference is between the two (because we're all more familiar with The Mighty Boosh's take on the moon than actual lunar terms, aren't we?), a penumbral eclipse is when the earth's outer shadow falls on the moon's surface, while a total lunar eclipse involves the moon passing directly into the earth's actual shadow. WHAT'S SO SPECIAL ABOUT IT? As well as offering a great excuse to go stargazing, the 103-minute total eclipse pips the 100-minute event that took place on June 15, 2011 — although it falls just short of the 108-minute event on July 16, 2000. That said, eclipses that last this long are rare. When the super blue blood moon came around earlier in 2018, its full eclipse only lasted 72 minutes. In fact, if you miss it, you'll need to wait until 2029 for a 102-minute total lunar eclipse, with others lasting the same duration expected in 2047 and 2094. Nothing that reaches 103 minutes will in length will occur again this century — and no total lunar eclipses of any length will be visible from Australia again until May 2021. During the main event, the moon will also turn a blood-red shade thanks to sunlight that's filtered and refracted by the earth's atmosphere. So as well as a total lunar eclipse and a full moon, it'll be a blood moon as well. WHEN CAN I SEE IT? Australians will be able to spy the penumbral eclipse from 3.14am local time and the partial eclipse from 4.24am, before the full thing at 5.30am. If you're not able to tear yourself out of bed that early on a winter weekend morning, the maximum eclipse will occur at 6.21am. We won't be able to see the end of it, however, as the moon will be below the horizon when the full, partial and penumbral eclipses end (at 7.13am, 8.19am and 9.28am local time, respectively). For the full details, timeanddate.com has put together a handy to-the-minute schedule of when the eclipse will be happening in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. [caption id="attachment_678443" align="aligncenter" width="1080"] Sydney total lunar eclipse times via timeanddate.com[/caption] Have your cameras at the ready, obviously — and see if you can outdo the previous big batches of supermoon snaps and super blue blood moon pics. WHERE CAN I SEE IT? Being in the southern hemisphere, we get some of the best views in the world — weather permitting, of course. Everyone in Australia should be able to catch a glimpse, but, even so, if you're living in the city, it would be best to as far away from light pollution as you can. Unsurprisingly, possible showers are predicted for the day in Sydney and Melbourne, which could have an impact upon visibility; however Brisbane is supposed to be mostly sunny. For Sydneysiders looking for a specific stargazing (or moon-viewing) spot, Sydney Observatory will be open from 5am. If you can't get a clear view, The Virtual Telescope Project will be live-streaming what they're calling 'The Night of the Red Moon and the Red Planet' – because Mars will also be visible in the sky — from the skyline above Rome from 4.30am AEST. Via Space.com and timeanddate.com.
If the way that cinema depicts cancer was plotted out on a scale, Babyteeth and Me and Earl and the Dying Girl could easily demonstrate its extremes. One sees its protagonist as a person first and a patient last; the other uses terminal illness as a catalyst for other people's sorrows and struggles (the "dying girl" part of its moniker, right there at the end, is oh-so-telling about how it regards someone with cancer as little but an afterthought). Nowhere Special thankfully sits at the Babyteeth end of the spectrum. That said, its premise screams weepie, and being moved by its story happens easily. But there's an enormous difference between earning that response through an intimate and delicate story about a person's plight — and, here, their quest to provide for the person dearest to them after they're gone — and merely treating their life-and-death tussle as easy grist for the tear-jerking mill. Nowhere Special follows a 35-year-old single father in Belfast, John (James Norton, Little Women), who needs to find an adoptive family for his four-year-old boy (first-timer Daniel Lamont). His cancer has progressed, and now the doting dad and window cleaner's days are numbered, so he's determined to save his son Michael from more sorrow than his absence will naturally bring — in a situation that's pure emotion-courting fodder, but never manipulatively treated as such. Indeed, writer/director Uberto Pasolini opts for understatement and realism, including over overtly endeavouring to incite the kind of non-stop waterworks that most movies with this premise would eagerly turn on. The filmmaker's last feature, 2013's Still Life, was also just as beautifully measured and tender without mawkishness. Although the gap between his two latest pictures is sizeable time-wise, Pasolini hasn't lost his touch for making sensitive and affecting cinema. Suffering an illness that's turned fatal, and possessing little energy to get through everything that comes with being a single father, John's own fate isn't his primary concern. Nowhere Special takes time to dwell in the routine that marks its protagonist's remaining days — washing panes of glass, making the most of the time he has left with Michael, trying to secure his son new parents, feeling exhausted by all of it but still soldiering on while he can — which seems both mundane and extraordinary in tandem. The always-unspoken fact that life goes on even when it doesn't lingers throughout the film, as stark as a freshly cleaned, newly gleaming window, and contributes to the prevailing bittersweet mood. That's Nowhere Special's baseline. As it charts John's efforts to get Michael the best future he possibly can without himself in it, it soaks in the ups and downs of the pair's life together, recognising that it's both ordinary and remarkable — because all lives are. The search at hand is a difficult one, even when pursued with the best of intentions — by John and with the help of social worker Shona (Eileen O'Higgins, Misbehaviour). Unsurprisingly, finding the right people, or person, to entrust your child to forever is a heartbreaking job, and the weight of what John grapples with never fades from the film's emotional landscape. Features that treat ailing characters so considerately may be uncommon, and they are; however, pictures that willingly face the complicated questions, worries and fears that come with knowing your existence is about to end are rarer still. It might come as little surprise that Pasolini found his tale in reality, reportedly after reading a newspaper article about a man in the same circumstances as John, but how gracefully, attentively and still unflinchingly Nowhere Special fleshes out its story never fails to astonish. Both visually and in his storytelling, Pasolini's approach is to dwell on small moments, as well as times shared in passing that might be forgotten by many but mean the world to John. See: the type of mirrored behaviour that a young son adopts from his dad, the sight of them walking around in matching baseball caps, and the joy that Michael gets from washing his toy truck — doing what his dad does in a way that he can, and showing how he idolises his father without needing to voice it. There's an unfussy, unsentimental but always empathetic feel to the Northern Ireland-set movie, and every shot, including in John's mission to relish every second that remains, and with his interviews with prospective new parents both doting and disastrous. While a lesser movie would've used the latter for comedic purposes, that's never part of Nowhere Special's remit. With windows such a key focus — being cleaned and peering into homes that might become Michael's — it's also little wonder that viewing Nowhere Special resembles gazing into a slice of life that isn't just poignant but cherished. Perhaps better known for his television work to-date courtesy of Black Mirror, McMafia, Grantchester and Happy Valley, Norton offers a glimpse into John's soul via his exceptional performance, which conveys a world of devotion and sorrow even when he isn't saying anything. In fact, Pasolini uses dialogue sparingly between his two main characters, knowing that this father-son duo don't always require words to express what they mean, and also recognising that finding the right thing to utter is arduous on both sides. With the also-magnificent Lamont, Norton inhabits scenes of comfortable and treasured silence. Also made plain as a result: that Michael's young mind will only keep the haziest of memories from these times, so it's the loving mood that truly matters above all else. Nowhere Special is easy to sum up: in contrast to its name, it's something outstanding. Its potency also springs from the lens it turns on the kind of character that's infrequently given such thoughtful attention, with or without terminal cancer. Every dollar counts for John, but it's clear that he spends what he has on Michael — as seen in the kid's new clothes and bedding — rather than himself. He's had his own experiences in the social-services system, which beats at the heart of his quest to lock in his son's future. He's been robbed of most of life's opportunities, and he's devoted to ensuring the same doesn't happen for his boy. He's also still wounded by Michael's mother leaving without providing any contact details in her absence, and he's as doting a dad that anyone could ask for. Thanks to both Pasolini and Norton, John is a fleshed-out portrait of someone on the margins, even before his illness factors in. Feeling for his plight isn't just a case of heartstring-tugging; here, it comes as naturally as breathing.
Ryan Matthew Smith doesn't just cook and eat food - he spills its, throws it, sets it on fire and then shoots it with a sniper rifle to make sure. He's also a photographer, and has documented these sick culinary experiments in a 2,400 page tome on the subject, Modernist Cuisine: the Art and Science of Cooking. From collating several individual exposures for one delectable cutaway shot of hamburgers on a grill to shooting a lineup of eggs with a sniper rifle at 6200 frames per second, Smith shot 1,400 images for the cookbook/artwork. Despite little experience in studio work, Smith explains in an interview with Feature Shoot that his extensive portfolio of nature and architecture photography helped prepare him for the task. "Having a strong artistic sense towards photography in general can easily transfer through any of the disciplines from advertising all the way to fine art," he says. [via Coolhunting]
The force is strong with this one — the Lego-building force, that is, with the largest collection of life-sized Lego Star Wars models ever assembled, as well as the biggest touring Lego exhibition, set to hit Australia in 2025. Earlier in 2024, news arrived that Lego Star Wars: The Exhibition was on its way in this very galaxy, world-premiering Down Under. Now, exactly when and where you'll be able to check it out has been revealed. Melbourne has locked in the first-ever Lego Star Wars: The Exhibition season — and yes, of course it'll open on Sunday, May 4. Melbourne Museum will be filled with more than eight-million bricks, all making models based on the George Lucas-created space saga. What music goes best with turning all that Lego into a Star Wars fan's dream? 'Luke's Theme', aka the franchise's main tune? 'The Imperial March' when things get tricky? 'Parade of the Ewoks', just because? That's a question for Ryan McNaught aka Brickman, who has indeed been spending time turning plastic rectangles, squares and other shapes into a recreation of a galaxy far, far away. The exhibition is set to take 25,000-plus hours of building, which is occurring at McNaught's headquarters in Tullamarine. Here's a question for attendees, too: which tunes will pair well with walking through this Lego Star Wars wonderland? You've got a few months to think about it, but you can start getting as excited as a Skywalker learning how to first use a lightsaber. The full list of models that'll feature hasn't been unveiled so far, but one will be life-sized — and that'll be a Lego Star Wars first. A huge 64,759 bricks are being used to craft the three-metre-high X-wing Red-5, taking 382 build hours. Attendees can also expect to see battle scenes between Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader, plus Qui-Gon Jinn and Darth Maul duelling, and also Emperor Palpatine's throne flanked by two Royal Guards. If you're keen to check it out and you don't live in Melbourne, you'll need to head to the Victorian capital to wander through Lego Star Wars: The Exhibition. As well as the hosting the world-premiere season, which will run until Monday, January 26, 2026, the stint at Melbourne Museum is an Australian exclusive. While you're there, you won't just be looking at all things Star Wars in Lego — you'll be able to get building yourself. As it constructs an immersive experience and follows in the footsteps of the Jurassic World franchise, which has also scored the Lego treatment from Brickman, Star Wars: The Exhibition has plenty of material to draw upon. On-screen, the series spans the initial film trilogy that released from 1977–83, then the prequels from 1999–2005, then the sequels — including The Force Awakens, The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker — from 2015–2019. Rogue One, Solo, The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Andor, Ahsoka, The Acolyte: the list goes on across the big and small screens, including the wealth of animated efforts in the saga. "Building these iconic scenes and characters in Lego Star Wars form is an extremely complex task — taking the humble Lego brick and using it by the millions to translate into Star Wars builds and models at an epic scale the world has never seen before," said McNaught about Lego Star Wars: The Exhibition. "My team and I are super excited to launch this mind-blowing experience right here in Melbourne. My inner seven-year-old self still can't quite believe this is happening. I can't wait till May the Fourth next year to be able to share this incredible galaxy-first exhibition with the fans." Lego Star Wars: The Exhibition will make its world-premiere from Sunday, May 4, 2025, running until Monday, January 26, 2026 at Melbourne Museum, 11 Nicholson Street, Carlton. Head to the exhibition's website for more details and to join the ticket waitlist. Exhibition images: Museums Victoria.
With 2020's Soul and 2023's Elemental, Pixar took a few cues from its gorgeous 2015 hit Inside Out, but the animated studio isn't done with emotions having emotions. After the original Oscar-winning film spent time inside an 11-year-old's head, seeing how joy, fear, sadness, anger and disgust bounce around her mind, Inside Out 2 will reach cinemas in June 2024 to explore the feelings coursing through the now-teenage Riley. As the just-dropped first teaser trailer shows, she has a newcomer in anxiety. Like Riley herself (who was voiced by Transmission's Kaitlyn Dias in the first movie), the emotions that she's experiencing aren't just sensations — they're characters trying to guide their human in the best way they can. And when Anxiety (Maya Hawke, Stranger Things) shows up, Joy (Amy Poehler, Moxie), Fear (Tony Hale, Quiz Lady), Sadness (Phyllis Smith, Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar), Anger (Lewis Black, The Last Laugh) and Disgust (Liza Lapira, The Equalizer) aren't quite sure how to react. The first sneak peek at Inside Out 2 hints at more emotions joining the fold, too, although exactly what they'll be — and who'll voice them — hasn't been announced. The poster for the film shows three other new figures trying to burst through alongside the orange-hued Anxiety, but without enough detail to reveal who they are. Everyone who has been a teenager knows the whirlwind of feelings that can spring, however, and therefore why Riley's mind is about to get crowded. And, you'll also recognise that Anxiety isn't about to just become a barely seen sidekick. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Pixar (@pixar) Fans of the first Inside Out will also spot that Hale and Lapira are new additions to the voice cast, replacing Bill Hader (Barry) and Mindy Kaling (The Morning Show) respectively. As Inside Out 2 charts big changes for Joy and the gang — and for Riley — first-time feature director Kelsey Mann (who has a story credit on The Good Dinosaur) directs, while Meg LeFauve (Captain Marvel) wrote the screenplay, as she did with Inside Out. Check out the first teaser trailer for Inside Out 2 below: Inside Out 2 releases in cinemas Down Under on June 13, 2024. Images: © 2023 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.
Over the past few years, the air travel industry has been flitting back and forth between two extremes. The desire for longer flights — especially non-stop from Australia to London and New York — keeps getting stronger. At the same time, the push to reduce the environmental toll of soaring through the sky has also been growing. Where the latter is concerned, Portuguese charter airline Hi Fly set itself a goal of becoming the world's first plastic-free carrier. Closer to home, Qantas pledged to phase out single-use plastics and boarding passes — and has been using mustard seed biofuel to power its planes. For Canadian seaplane outfit Harbour Air, however, the solution is electric. And, this month, it launched the first fully electric commercial aircraft. So far, the ePlane — a six-passenger DHC-2 de Havilland Beaver magnified by a 750-horsepower (or 560 kilowatt) magni500 propulsion system — has only just completed its first test flight, which took place in Vancouver on December 10. Still, with Harbour Air aiming to build world's first completely electric commercial seaplane fleet for its 30,000 commercial annual flights across 12 routes around Vancouver and Seattle, it's the first step. The ePlane's magni500 propulsion system is the key to turning Harbour Air fully electric dream — and its desire to focus on clean, efficient, environmentally friendly power — into a reality. It's created by a company called magniX, which has its headquarters in the US but actually started in Australia — on the Gold Coast, where it still has an engineering centre. Before Harbour Air can bring its fleet to fruition, the two outfits will first need to get the magni500 propulsion system certified and approved — and then retrofit the airline's aircraft. For further information about Harbour Air, visit the company's website. Images: Harbour Air
