After shutting up shop in February, Copenhagen's Noma is still making preparations for its move to a new location. As anyone who has shifted houses will understand, that means not only packing up the existing site, but sorting through everything within in — and saying goodbye to all of the bits and pieces that won't be needed in the restaurant's new home. When René Redzepi's eatery decides it doesn't need its existing wares, however, it doesn't just give them away to friends and family. Instead, the place considered one of the best culinary haunts in the world is auctioning off their unwanted furnishings, décor, tableware and art, letting fans own a piece of their distinctive aesthetic. The range of items on offer is considerable, and includes chairs, lounges, dining tables, coffee tables, cabinets, sculptural installations, stuffed birds, vases, a map of Scandinavia and even the wine list. From the serving, dining, stone and glassware, you could fill your kitchen cupboards with everything you need, with the crockery sold in sets. And, for anyone who visited the Australian Noma pop-up and wanted a souvenir, vases from their Aussie visit are also on offer. Prices range from $150 to $30,000, so turning your house into your very own Noma won't come cheap. The auction will be held on November 2 by Chicago auction house Wright, and accepts bids online, by phone and via their app. As for what Noma's new digs will look like now they're getting rid of their current furniture, fans will have to wait until 2018 to find out — but bookings will open on November 16. Via Eater. Image: Wright.
We're calling it: 2021 will be the year of road trips. After all, there's never been a more perfect time to scratch that travel itch by hitting the road. The best thing about road trips? You can take your time and truly explore. The best part about road tripping around New South Wales is, when it comes to eating, we're not stuck with servo snack foods and truck-stop drive-thrus anymore. The Brisbane-to-Sydney route is a foodie paradise for those in the know. Whether you're taking the coastal route or heading inland, if you're exploring NSW by car, you can eat very well indeed. Start planning your pit stops and overnight stays around these one-of-a-kind establishments. Please stay up to date with the latest NSW Government health advice regarding COVID-19. [caption id="attachment_794824" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sabine Bannard[/caption] PIPIT, POTTSVILLE There's a good reason Pipit has scooped up multiple awards since it opened 18 months ago. Its constantly changing set menu showcases the best of the Northern Rivers with a focus on ethical, local produce. You're unlikely to find red meat on either the short menu (five servings) or the long menu (nine servings), but Pipit creates bold flavours with experimentation instead, via woodfired cooking techniques, smoking, fermentation and wild foraging for native ingredients, including bunya nuts and lemon myrtle. It aims to surprise and delight with every new seasonal dish, but some favourites tend to stick around, like a tasty waste paste (fermented greens) and kelp madeleines with grouper fat caramel. [caption id="attachment_794820" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Destination NSW[/caption] THE WORKSHOP KITCHEN, TAMWORTH If you're heading inland instead of following the coastal route, stop to take a photo with The Big Golden Guitar and treat yourself to a memorable lunch at The Workshop Kitchen in Tamworth. The forerunner of regional fine-dining since 1986, it has an impressive, globe-spanning list of 201 wines. The dining menu is also broadly international: you'll find arancini alongside pork bao, curries and the specialty Filipino-style leche flan. The common thread is an emphasis on championing fresh, local produce and the techniques of its open, wood-grill kitchen. With ingredients this good, the dishes needn't be overcomplicated. Take, for example, the Jack's Creek Beef wagyu rump cap, aged for six months and cooked perfectly over charcoal, served with seasonal vegetables, truffle potato mash and spiced slaw. BIRDIE NOSHERY, ORANGE Birdie Noshery is a new venture from the team behind Orange's renowned Lolli Redini. Here, it's less fine dining and more fun posh nosh. Birdie Noshery is an all-day, community-focused hangout, which means more grazing and share plates, plus some fancy brunch dishes. Have a spritz or house cocktail at the bar, enjoy south coast oysters with live music, sip a sherry with your croquetas and antipasto, or fuel up before the day's drive with the world's fanciest breakfast cheese toastie of truffle gruyere, smoked ham and dijon bechamel. There's a changing daily specials board for larger dishes, and a wine list of the finest local and international drops. If you're missing the urban wine bar vibe, Birdie Noshery is the perfect pit stop. [caption id="attachment_794821" align="alignnone" width="1920"] MJK Creative[/caption] BISTRO MOLINES, POKOLBIN When you're heading into the Hunter Valley for a wine pilgrimage, you owe it to yourself to make a quick stop in Provence. Robert Molines, the chef at Bistro Molines, brings the essence of southern French cuisine to the heart of NSW wine country. That means seasonal fare with locally sourced ingredients, including some from his own kitchen garden. Think classic French dishes, such as duck à l'orange and filet mignon with gratin dauphinoise. The rural chic ambiance of the bistro is matched with an incomparable view of rolling vineyards. A premium wine list makes this spot a long-time favourite of foodies and wine-enthusiasts alike. BERT'S, NEWPORT Before you reach the big city, take a detour to the northern beaches. Bert's Bar and Brasserie offers coastal European-style dining in the waterside town of Newport. Sit at the bar or in the lounge and enjoy a Bert's Marteeny while you graze on snacks from the Larder Table menu — think sourdough with cultured butter, steak tartare and anchovies in lemon thyme oil. Being this close to the water means fresh seafood is prominent across the entire menu, from the luxurious tidbits of oysters, crab, crudo and caviar to main dishes of pipis with vermouth or slow-grilled rock lobster. If you'd prefer to lean into the old-world elegance of the main dining room, opt for a multi-course sharing menu ($120–180 per person). Hot tip: you'll want to leave room for Bert's desserts. [caption id="attachment_773848" align="alignnone" width="1920"] An artist's impression of Nobu in Crown Sydney[/caption] NOBU, SYDNEY Celebrate the journey's end in style. Nobu almost needs no introduction: this high-class Japanese fusion restaurant has outposts across the globe with its newest location opening in Crown Sydney. Here, Nobu Matsuhisa brings Nobu's signature dishes, such as black cod with miso, as well as new items fusing native and seasonal Australian ingredients with Japanese flavours. Key to Japanese tradition is the element of visual ceremony in multi-course cuisine. Simply put, this dining experience is not merely delicious, it's also beautiful to look at. It's the perfect way to finish your road trip — splashing out on Sydney's best. Start planning your great escape to New South Wales this season by visiting the Visit NSW website. Top image: Bistro Molines, MJK Creative
This spring, you won't be jetting over to the Italian riviera. You can still eat and drink like you are, though. Fortitude Valley's La Costa Restaurant and Bar takes its cues from that sunny and scenic part of the globe all year round, and it's carrying that vibe over to its new Sunday Seafood and Spritz specials. Kicking off just before the flowers start blooming again for this year — on Sunday, August 29, with a second session planned for Sunday, September 18, too — these two-hour sessions pair bottomless spritzes with a tower of seafood. You'll sip orange-hued cocktails, or wine and beer if you'd prefer. Food-wise, you'll feast your way through scallops, oysters and prawns, as well as calamari, ceviche and the grilled catch of the day. Two sittings are being held each day, from 12–2pm and 2.30–4.30pm. So, you just need to decide how early you want to get out of bed — and whether you'll be paying $59 per person for a midday seafood feast or a late-afternoon session.
In Hobart for Dark Mofo 2023 earlier this month, Max Richter performed all night. That mightn't seem like surprising news at the winter festival, but his show was designed to be listened to while attendees slept. Keep that in mind for a second. Also, take note of the upcoming plan in Brisbane to break the world record for the most amount of kazoos played at once. Supernova at HOTA, Home of the Arts is primarily about the piano, but this Gold Coast event is also playing music all evening as Friday, June 23 becomes Saturday, June 24. And, it's endeavouring to get into the history books in the process. Composer Charlie Chan will tinkle the ivories for more than 24 hours in an effort to set the world record for the longest improvised piano concert — with a slumber-focused 8.5-hour sleep experience where you'll get some shuteye to binaural beats part of the performance. The sleepover costs $40, but the rest is free to attend as Chan — and a few friends — hit the keyboard. Supernova kicks off at 4pm on the Friday with yoga and tunes, greets Saturday morning the same way, welcomes dogs over breakfast, will feature First Nations stories about the sky, and pays tribute to Charlie's 40-year career as a pianist and composer across the full stretch. Also on the lineup: learning about composing for the screen with Elvis' Elliott Wheeler, tunes with local Indigenous didgeridoo players and a jazz-fusion orchestra for the big-bang finale.
This Christmas, all you need is love — plus a festive little cabaret that showcases all of the hit tunes from Love Actually. It's the way to celebrate the season when you're not just leaving the seasonal favourite flick on repeat at home. Yep, that's Christmas Actually. Created by the folks behind Rumour Has It and Lady Beatle, and starring Naomi Price (Ladies in Black, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical), Christmas Actually features all of the tracks that've become synonymous with this merry time of year — including Mariah Carey's 'All I Want for Christmas Is You', naturally. Songs by Joni Mitchell, Norah Jones, Eva Cassidy, The Beach Boys and The Beatles are all on the bill as well — and, to help belt them out, Price will be joined by Luke Kennedy, Irena Lysiuk, Doron Chester, Scott French, Mik Easterman, OJ Newcomb and Luke Volker. There'll even be more than one nativity lobster, plus a jolly mood and a whole room full of festive cheer. That room is Brisbane Powerhouse, where Christmas Actually plays its 2023 season from Wednesday, December 13–Sunday, December 17. Get excited by revisiting Love Actually's trailer below. 'Tis the season, after all. Top image: Katy Bedford.
Named one of the best places in the world to visit in 2022, southeast Queensland's Scenic Rim region isn't short on highlights, whether it's gorgeous scenery or farm-fresh produce you're after. Keen on the latter but can't make the trip south from Brisbane on Saturday, December 3? Don't worry — Scenic Rim Brewery, Towri Sheep Cheeses, Tommerup's Dairy Farm, Valley Pride Produce, Bee All Natural, Tamborine Mountain Distillery, The Overflow Estate 1895 and more are coming to you. Save the road trip for another weekend — instead, head to the Farm Gate to City Door Christmas Market at the Breakfast Creek Lifestyle Precinct. It'll operate from 8am–12pm, serving up everything from fruit and vegetables, salted cultured butter and cheese through to craft beer, boutique spirits and honey straight from the hive. You can also nab handmade bath and body products, as well as some seedlings to help start your own garden. It's the second time that the Breakfast Creek Lifestyle Precinct has hosted this country-meets-city event, after an earlier event back in September — and, if it gets you thinking about holidaying in the Scenic Rim, there's a stall for planning that as well. Live music will provide a soundtrack, plus Mica Brasserie will be doing coffees. Feel like hitting the river afterwards, and tucking into some of the produce you've just bought? GoBoat and its picnic boats is also right there. Also, because it's the season for it, Santa will make an appearance. [caption id="attachment_874978" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Markus Ravik[/caption]
There's never a bad time for a food truck meal — whether you just can't face another brown bag sandwich come midday, or you're in the need for something to soak up last night's fun. Or, maybe you've just finished work and want something more exciting to eat on a Tuesday evening, or you're looking for a Sunday afternoon meal with a couple of beverages. Enter Truckin' Hungry. Brisbane's newest food truck hub, they're setting up shop on the corner of O'Keefe Street and Ipswich Road in Woolloongabba — opposite the Princess Alexandra Hospital — and they're not just dropping by for a short stay. Seven days a week, from 7am to 10pm, you'll find between five and eight of the city's finest meals-on-wheels purveyors cooking up a storm. And, if you'd like a couple of brews while you're there, it's BYO so you can bring your own. The foodie fun begins from midday on December 9 — and the first 100 customers will score themselves a free gluten-free doughnut from the folks at Bad Boys Doughnuts. Opening night will feature Dan's Dim Sim Kitchen and Shanks A Lots, while the first week will see the likes of Hello Yummi Fruit Icecream, Mad Coffee, King of the Wings, Brat Haus, CheeseLane, Curry in a Cone, I Heart Calamari and more make themselves comfortable. Find Truckin' Hungry on the corner of O'Keefe Street and Ipswich Road in Woolloongabba. Visit their website for further information.
Christmas means many things: chaos in the shops, carols invading your brain, and a focus on all things red and green. In Brisbane, it also means Queensland Ballet's final production for the season, with The Nutcracker brightening up the QPAC stage every year. It really wouldn't be the festive season without it. Whether you've experienced the Tchaikovsky-scored two-act performance about sentient toys, dancing snowflakes and the Sugar Plum Fairy before, or you're joining little Clara on her Christmas Eve journey for the first time, you're certain to get swept up in the show's magic. And if you don't already have a ticket for 2024, don't delay — selling out is also an annual tradition. Queensland Ballet's The Nutcracker dances across the Lyric Theatre stage from Friday, December 12–Saturday, December 21 — and, depending on the day, you can either hit up an evening session or a matinee. The company has been bringing the show to the stage since 2013, but the ballet itself dates back more than 130 years because this kind of Christmas magic never gets old. Top image: David Kelly.
There's more than one countdown that's worth paying attention to at the end of January in Australia. Music lovers have triple j's version, which ranks the 100 best songs of the past year — and fans of a brew have the GABS Hottest 100 Aussie Craft Beer poll. Run by the folks at the Great Australasian Beer Spectapular, the huge beer fests that tour the country each year, this list rounds up the top homegrown craft brews as voted by you. And the best way to celebrate, of course, is sipping along. For the latest countdown, which is held in 2024 but focuses on 2023's beers, Revel Brewing Co's Rivermakers' venue in Morningside is getting in on the action by hosting a party from 11am on Saturday, January 27. There'll be drinks, the poll's results, prizes and more, all at a riverside brewery. Fancy a parmigiana with your brews? Tuck into a $25 parma and drink special. If you have little ones in tow, kids get a free meal as long as an adult is buying something to eat that costs over $15. Entry is free, you'll pay for what you eat and drink, and you'll be hanging out in a brewpub that was once the Commonwealth Acetate of Lime Factory, which dates back to the 1920s.
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. THE GRAY MAN It's been four years since Ryan Gosling last graced screens, rocketing to the moon in First Man. No, Barbie set photos pored over on every internet-connected device don't count. Since he played Neil Armstrong, much has happened. There's the obvious off-screen, of course — but then there's Chris Evans farewelling Captain America, and also appearing in Knives Out with the scene-stealing Ana de Armas. After co-starring in Blade Runner 2049 with Gosling back in 2017, she leapt from that Evans-featuring whodunnit to palling around with 007 in No Time to Die. Also during that time, Bridgerton pushed Regé-Jean Page to fame, and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood earmarked Julia Butters as a young talent to watch. This isn't just a history lesson on The Gray Man's cast — well, some of them, given that Billy Bob Thornton (Goliath), Jessica Henwick (The Matrix Resurrections), Dhanush (Maaran), Wagner Moura (Shining Girls) and Alfre Woodard (The Lion King) also pop up, plus Australia's own Callan Mulvey (Firebite) — for the hell of it, though. Back in 2018, before all of the above played out, it's unlikely that this exact film with this exact cast would've eventuated. But plenty of action-thrillers about attempting to snuff out hyper-competent assassins already did flicker across celluloid — both John Wick and Atomic Blonde had already been there and done that, and the Bourne and Bond movies, and countless other predecessors. Still, the combination of this collection of current actors and that familiar setup isn't without its charms in The Gray Man, which makes the leap from the pages of Mark Greaney's 2009 novel to the big and streaming screens. Reportedly Netflix's most expensive movie to date, it lets its two biggest names bounce off of each other with chalk-and-cheese aplomb, and isn't short on globe-hopping action spectacle. The off-the-book spy versus off-the-book spy killer flick is knowing amid all that box-ticking formula, too, although not enough to make its cheesy lines sound smart and savvy. Gosling plays Court Gentry, aka Sierra Six; "007 was taken," he jokes. Before he's given his codename — before he's paid to do the CIA's dirty work as well — he's in prison for murder, then recruited by Donald Fitzroy (Thornton). Fast-forward 18 years and Six is a huge hit at two things: being a ghost, because he no longer officially exists; and covertly wreaking whatever havoc the government tells him to, including knocking off whichever nefarious figure they need gone. But one stint of the latter leaves him in possession of a USB drive that his arrogant new direct superior Carmichael (Page) will ruthlessly kill to destroy. Actually, to be precise, he'll pay Lloyd Hansen (Evans) of Hansen Government Services to do just that, and to do the dirty work that's too dirty for the criminals-turned-government hitmen in the Sierra program, with Six the number-one target. If you've seen one espionage-slash-assassin flick that sends a shadowy life-or-death fight bounding around the planet — here, Hong Kong, the Czech Republic, Croatia, Azerbaijan, Germany and Austria all feature, among other spots — then you've seen The Gray Man's template. Directing duo Joe and Anthony Russo helmed the Marvel Cinematic Universe's versions with Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Captain America: Civil War, so they know the drill. That they've seen a heap of other entries in the genre is never question, either. That feeling radiates from the script, which is credited to Joe Russo with seasoned Marvel scribes Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely (Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: End Game), and clearly styles its one-liners after superhero banter. Having Gosling and Evans sling it, one playing bearded, silent and virtuous and the other moustachioed, jabbering and unhinged, makes a helluva difference, however. Read our full review. THE PHANTOM OF THE OPEN If The Phantom of the Open was part of a game of golf, rather than a movie about the club-flinging, ball-hitting, bunker-avoiding sport, it wouldn't be a hole in one. It couldn't be; perfection doesn't suit the story it's telling, which is as real and as shaggy — as so-strange-it-can-only-be-true, too — as they can possibly come. That other key factor in spiriting dimpled orbs from the tee to the cup in a single stroke, aka luck, is definitely pertinent to this feel-good, crowd-pleasing, happily whimsical British comedy, however. Plenty of it helped Maurice Flitcroft, the man at its centre, as he managed to enter the 1976 British Open despite never having set foot on a course or played a full round of golf before. It isn't quite good fortune that makes this high-spirited movie about him work, of course, but it always feels like a feature that might've ended up in the cinematic long grass if it wasn't so warmly pieced together. When Maurice (Mark Rylance, Don't Look Up) debuts on the green at the high-profile Open Championship, it doesn't take long for gap between his skills and the professionals he's playing with to stand out. In the words of The Dude from The Big Lebowski, obviously he's not a golfer — although what makes a golfer, and whether any sport should be the domain of well-to-do gatekeepers who reserve large swathes of land for the use of the privileged few, falls into The Phantom of the Open's view. So does a breezily formulaic yet drawn-from-fact account of a man who was born in Manchester, later settled in the port town of Barrow-in-Furness in Cumbria and spent much of his life as a shipyard crane operator, providing for his wife Jean (Sally Hawkins, Spencer), her son Michael (Jake Davies, Artemis Fowl), and the pair's twins Gene (Christian Lees, Pistol) and James (Jonah Lees, The Letter for the King). Maurice had never chased his own dreams, until he decided to give golfing glory a swing. For audiences coming to all this anew, director Craig Roberts (Eternal Beauty) clues viewers in from the get-go, via a recreation of an 80s TV interview with Maurice. The film's key figure chats, looking back on his sporting efforts after his attempts at golf have clearly earned him a level of fame, but he'd also rather just sip a tea with six sugars. That's an easy but pivotal character-establishing moment. He's a cuppa-coveting everyman accustomed to finding sweetness in modest places, which aptly sums up his whole approach to his middle-aged pastime. The jovial humour of the situation — in caring more about his beloved tea than talking on the television — is also telling. Using a screenplay by Simon Farnaby (Paddington 2) based on the actor and writer's 2010 biography of Maurice, Roberts laughs along with and never at his protagonist. He affectionately sees the wannabe golfer's eccentricities, and also values the new lease on life he's eagerly seeking. That quest starts while watching late-night TV, after Michael advises that the shipyard where both men work — and Jean as well — will be making layoffs. With Bridge of Spies Oscar-winner Rylance dripping with sincerity and never cartoonish quirkiness, Maurice eyes the game on-screen like a man having a life-altering and surreal epiphany. Befitting anyone who's ever had a sudden realisation, he's instantly convinced. That he has zero know-how, nor the cash for the right attire, equipment and membership to the local club to practice, doesn't put him off. Neither does filling out the Open entry form, where he instructs Jean to tick the 'professional' box because that's what he wants to be. On the ground at Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport, he swiftly attracts attention for hitting 121 — the worst score ever recorded — with the press, as well as tournament bigwigs Keith Mackenzie (Rhys Ifans, The King's Man) and Laurent Lambert (Farnaby, Christopher Robin). 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; June 2, June 9, June 16, June 23 and June 30; and July 7. 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, Ali & Ava, Thor: Love and Thunder, Compartment No. 6 and Sundown.
When the Queensland Symphony Orchestra turned 75 in 2022, it put on a huge free concert to celebrate, taking over QPAC's Concert Hall for an evening. It doesn't have a milestone birthday to mark in 2023, but it is hosting another free gig anyway — this time outdoors as part of a new annual tradition. Taking place at Roma Street Parklands, Queensland Symphony Orchestra's Symphony Under the Stars will enjoy its debut hour-long outing on Saturday, March 25, in what's set to launch a yearly show. Attendees will hear 'Fanfare for the Common Man' by Copland to begin, followed by Tower's 'Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman'. Also on the list Dvořák's 'Carnival Overture', Delius' 'Summer Evening', Dohnányi's 'Symphonic Minutes', Tchaikovsky's 'Capriccio Italien' and Glinka's 'Overture to Ruslan and Lyudmila'. Given how popular last year's 75th-birthday show was, expect the maiden Symphony Under the Stars to prove the same. Although attendance is free, registration from 9am on Sunday, February 26 via the QSO website is recommended. Bringing picnic baskets is encouraged, too, and there'll be food options available onsite. If you're wondering about the history of the QSO, it made its debut on March 26, 1947, with 45 members playing to a crowd of 2500 people at Brisbane City Hall. It now boasts 74 musicians, and is the state's largest performing arts organisation. Images: Peter Wallis.
The idea behind The Lume was always a stunner, giving Australia its first permanent digital-only art gallery. When the Melbourne venue started welcoming in patrons in 2021, it lived up to its immersive, multi-sensory promise, initially with a spectacular Van Gogh exhibition that let visitors feel like they were walking right into the artist's work, and then with the French impressionism-focused Monet & Friends Alive. The latest showcase set to grace the site's agenda has those past shows beat, however, heroing First Nations art and music. On display from Friday, June 23, Connection features more than 110 Indigenous visual and musical artists in a dazzling fashion. At this Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre gallery, the art gracing its walls towers over patrons, with the space filled with large-scale digital pieces. And Connection is full thanks to more than 550 works — digitals and originals alike. Earning some love: art by Emily Kame Kngwarreye, Tommy Watson, Anna Pitjara, Lin Onus, Sarrita King, Kate Constantine, Wayne Qulliam, Clifford, Gabriella and Michelle Possum Nungurrayi, and many more, in a walk-through exhibition that presents its pieces through the themes of land, water and sky Country. Their work is scored a soundtrack by Yothu Yindi, Archie Roach, Emily Wurramara, Gurrumul, Alice Skye, Baker Boy and others, plus composers such as William Barton. Grande Experiences, the company behind The Lume and its touring exhibitions — Van Gogh Alive made its way around Australia, plus Monet in Paris from June — says that Connection boasts the largest representation of First Peoples art and culture ever assembled. It spans over 3000 square metres, and its remit is just as sizeable: highlighting pieces by past and present artists, and surveying the entire country and Torres Strait. Shining a spotlight on emerging talents while showing their work alongside their inspirations is another key mission. If it sounds familiar, that's because a smaller version premiered at the National Museum of Australia in 2022, with Grande Experiences joining forces with the Canberra gallery. Connection also benefits from an advisory panel featuring Constantine, Quilliam, King, Aboriginal art specialist Adam Knight, the National Museum's lead Indigenous curator and academic Margo Ngawa Neale, arts executive Rhoda Roberts AO, and designer and film producer Alison Page. Updated: Thursday, October 12.
Sometimes, you just want to forget what year it is. You don't need to remember anything that's happening in your life right now, or any of your worries or deadlines, or whatever you have to do tomorrow or next month. Instead, you just want to listen to old-school tunes and feel like you've stepped back a couple of decades — or more. Yes, they're the nights that Retro's probably calls your name. The Fortitude Valley spot has been celebrating nostalgic bangers for six years now, so we're guessing you've probably popped by for some 80s, 90s and 00s tunes and a fishbowl cocktail at some point. It'll keep going on in the same way, of course, but the venue is also throwing a big birthday party to mark its new milestone. Head by on Friday, July 23 or Saturday, July 24 to wish Retro's many happy returns, sip cocktails and enjoy all those suitably retro tracks. The fishbowls will be birthday-themed, and there'll be a photo booth as well, so you can take a memento home. Finding something that's been in your wardrobe for a decade or so to wear is completely acceptable, too.
Art doesn’t need to be sad, sooky, made at the hands of a tortured artists, or ride reminiscent feelings of depression and gloom to be art. It just needs to provoke feeling. And to be honest, the fresher and more fun the feeling the better! Nancy Stilianos', Anthotopia, couldn’t be more fresh and fun – making for some top notch art and even topper notched feelings. Using raw cotton, dyed with vegetable juices and food colouring, her handmade gentle giants of sculpture are a site of beauty. Cloud-like, these organic pieces steal the room, like a gentle breeze of relief, calm surprise and wonder – that’s real art for you. Stilianos makes her cotton clouds from locally grown and sources materials, encapsulating the belief that beauty is so easy to find in the natural resources around us. Her art is a stance against the mass produced and convenient – there’s something special about a piece that’s grown from loving hands in an act of self-determination. Experience this rather unique, art-provoked feeling at Metro Arts from October 16 to November 2. You can even catch Nancy Stilianos in the flesh on October 23 as she explains her investment in Anthotopia.
Not all fresh seafood is created equal. Sure, whatever your local fish 'n' chippery sells was probably caught that day, but it wasn't caught just moments ago. If you're keen on the freshest batch of prawns you can get short of catching them yourself, then head to Shorncliffe. Around Cabbage Tree Creek, you'll hit the payload, trawlers unloading their latest ocean bounty. There's nothing like chatting to the folks that caught your seafood, after all — your meal just might come with a story. Arriving early and taking an esky with you is highly recommended — then, go exploring for the ideal spot to eat your feast. Getting the most out of your fresh batch involves peeling them yourself and devouring them as fast as possible, and whether you head to a park or the pier, you're in the right place to do just that.
If you make your way to Crystal Cascades, it's worth checking out its little sister swimming spot located close by, too. Tucked away in the dense rainforest next door to the cascades, you'll soon realise what's so magical about Fairy Falls. Take the track to the left of the carpark at Crystal Cascades to make your way to the mystical falls a 15-minute walk away. The narrow waterfall shoots into a clear blue swimming hole and the log wedged in the centre of its stream makes it easy to imagine fairies frolicking in this picture-perfect rainforest pool. Just make sure you follow the path along the creek when you're trying to find this veiled treasure — the alternative track at the fork won't lead you to the magical place you're seeking.
In their stories and themes, Pixar often play in the same territory over and over. Generally, they take an object, animal or concept – say a toy, a fish or a car – and instill it with consciousness and emotion. And yet when it comes to visuals, they rarely do the same thing twice. Each new Pixar movie might feel somewhat similar, but they always look different. The Good Dinosaur, the animation studio's latest effort, demonstrates both extremes. "What if lumbering prehistoric creatures had feelings?" is the question the feature asks, then attempts to answer in heart-warming, lesson-learning fashion. A green, long-necked apatosaurus by the name of Arlo certainly has plenty, mostly of the melancholy variety. As a child (voiced by Jack McGraw), he's worried about his lack of size, strength and skill around the family farm, particularly in comparison to his bigger siblings. A few years later (now voiced by Raymond Ochoa), those self-doubts are put to the test when he wanders far from home and has to find his way back again. Director Peter Sohn (short film Partly Cloudy) and writer Meg LeFauve (Inside Out) take Arlo through well-worn territory — and not just for Pixar, but for many other animated movies about talking animals. Arlo is forced to face his fears, come of age and survive in the wild, with only a scampering, growling, primitive human boy, who he names Spot (Jack Bright), for company. They forge a connection despite having some initial troubles, and help each other through episodic encounters with other dinosaurs and creatures. Yes, it's a routine narrative, and it's mostly told as such, hitting all the expected beats. In fact, The Good Dinosaur is the kind of film that will cause your eyes to wander away from the main action — although given the artistry on display around the primary characters, that's a good thing. It's not often that the background proves more engaging than the figures at the centre of the frame, or that the direction makes sure you're noticing that peripheral beauty. Yet that's frequently the case here. The photorealistic details evident in images of fields, mountains, waterfalls, trees and other natural features are the real stars of the show, and provide the picture with a distinctive, eye-catching appearance. Of course, the film isn't without its other modest pleasures. For starters, there's its alternate timeline, one that sees dinosaurs not only roaming the planet long after an asteroid should've hit, but living an agrarian lifestyle. There are nods to the western genre, a brief but inventive hallucinatory sequence, and enjoyable voice-acting by Frances McDormand, Sam Elliott and Steve Zahn in smaller parts. Like the familiar story though, they simply pale in comparison to the splendour that surrounds them. Sure, the movie might be about a good dinosaur, but what it best serves up is great, gorgeous visuals.
Winter is coming, as Game of Thrones has been telling us for years — but the show's final season is coming first. Before the weather turns cold again in the southern hemisphere, fans of the epic HBO series will be able to discover how the popular series wraps up, so mark your calendars accordingly. After leaving everyone hanging for the entirety of 2018, HBO has announced that Game of Thrones' eighth and final season will hit the small screen on April 14, 2019, US time — so Monday, April 15 in Australia — nearly two years after season seven premiered in July 2017. If you're eager to get your fix of the series' staples — that is, battles, bloodshed, betrayal, bare chests, family bickering, Jon Snow knowing nothing (including about his long-lost aunt) and plenty of dragons — then you can start counting down the days: there are 90 to go. HBO revealed the launch date this morning at the end of slightly creepy new teaser, featuring Jon Snow and Sansa and Arya Stark in the crypts of Winterfell. They're faced with the talking statues of Lyanna, Catelyn and Ned Stark, and look set to battle White Walkers, but you can watch it all below. You can check out the other season eight teasers here. Of course, we all know that this isn't really the end of the world created by author George RR Martin — and no, we're not talking about the now seven-year wait for his next book in the literary franchise, The Winds of Winter. A prequel TV series to Game of Thrones is in the works, set thousands of years before the events we've all be watching since 2011, with Naomi Watts set to star. Come next year, you'll also be able to tour original GoT filming locations in Northern Ireland. https://youtu.be/wA38GCX4Tb0
Let's face it, you can't buy a whole lot for one buck in 2019. But today, consider that little dollar coin your best friend. Fast food giant McDonald's is celebrating National Cheeseburger Day — yes, that's today, September 18 — by treating the whole country to $1 burgs. Across all Aussie stores, from 5am until stock runs out, McDonald's is dropping the price of its classic cheeseburgers to just $1 a pop — for beef, bun, onion, pickles, ketchup, cheese and all. To claim your cheap burger, you'll first need to download the MyMacca's app via the Apple Store or Google Play. Then, log on, check the My Rewards section and boom — Ronald's your uncle. https://www.instagram.com/p/B2h6vl0DgSN/ Unfortunately, there's a limit of one $1 cheeseburger per customer, which probably isn't enough to make a meal of. But we're sure there are a few other Macca's menu items that might tempt your tastebuds while you're there. And, if you fancy a cheap cheeseburger tour of your city, today's the day to do it. Neil Perry's Burger Project is slinging $5 Cape Grim cheeseburgers at select Sydney and Melbourne stores, Merrywell Burger Bar at Crown Melbourne is offering 100 lucky punters free customised 'Chooseburgers', and at Bentleigh's Good Times Milk Bar, there are $5 burgs up for grabs between 11am and 4pm. McDonald's $1 cheeseburger are available from 5am on Wednesday, September 18 until sold out via the MyMacca's app.
Riding the rails is one of the best ways to see a new destination, as anyone who has ever caught a train through Japan or across Europe already knows. Staring out the window isn't the only thing to do on some locomotive journeys, however. Mexico has an all-you-can drink tequila train tour, for instance — and now Queensland's Mary Valley region is launching its first murder-mystery train tour. Murder on the Rattler Express is the themed railway trip you can take even while you can't leave the country — and an excuse to see a part of the Queensland you mightn't have ventured to otherwise, too. Yes, it's basically the Mary Valley Rattler's version of Murder on the Orient Express. When Agatha Christie's book was turned into a movie again a few years back, these type of events were always bound to pop up. Sequel Death on the Nile is due to release in cinemas next year as well, so consider this your excuse to get sleuthing again in the interim. Dressing up, trying to solve a murder, scoping out the sights, sipping drinks, eating dinner: they're all part of the ride. And if it all sounds a bit familiar — other than from your reading and watching — you might be thinking of the 13-hour escape room train trip that recreated Murder on the Orient Express en route from Helsinki to Rovaniemi in 2017. For this Queensland-based opportunity to step into Hercule Poirot's shoes — or to emulate whichever other detective you prefer — you'll need to don your 1920s-style finest, pretend you're in Hollywood a century ago and enjoy an onboard gala soiree. Of course, that's when the murder-mystery component of the trip starts. You know how it works from there, with each passenger becoming a character in the story and charged with trying to work out who offs someone on the journey. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mary Valley Rattler (@maryvalleyrattler) After departing from Gympie Station, attendees will travel to the village of Amamoor, which is where the fictional murder will take place. Then, you'll spend the return leg unleashing your inner Sherlock. Afterwards, at the Rusty Rails Cafe back at Gympie Station, the culprit will be revealed over a two-course dinner — with tickets to take part costing $195 per person. Murder on the Rattler Express makes its debut on Friday, August 13 from Gympie Station, Tozer Street, Gympie. For further information — or to book — head to the Mary Valley Rattler website.
If you and your mates are looking for something blokey yet informative, reasonably priced and delicious, then we have just the thing for you. The Bavarian Bier Café at Eagle St Pier is offering Bier Akademies where you can sit at the bar and be taught about the brewing process for five of the Pure German biers that are on offer. You will also learn trivial but awesome conversation-making facts like this: back in ancient times, Monks who abstained from food during Lent lived solely on bier. Also, bier is best served between 4 and 6 degrees Celsius. For $35 per person, you and your mates sit at the bar with Sam, the resident bier expert who will take you through the brewing process and discuss aromas, taste, colour and all things bier-related with you. You get to sample five of the biers on tap – three lagers and two ales, learning about their origin and how they get to taste so damn good. After your lesson you are brought tasting platters of some of the BBC’s best Bavarian food including a freshly baked pretzel, chicken schnitzel, pork belly, three types of sausage, mash and sauerkraut. The Bier Akademy would be the perfect precursor for a Buck’s night, a great ice-breaker with your future father-in-law, or an opportune way to win over your clients. Girls – if you love beer, then by all means, you will also love this night out. It would also be the perfect way to treat your boyfriend on his birthday with something unexpected. Bookings can be made by email: reservations@bavarianbiercafe.com Level 1, 45 Eagle Street, Eagle Street Pire; 07 3015 0555; http://www.bavarianbiercafe.com
Feeling uncertain about your identity isn't unique, but Waiata Telfer's retelling of her troubles and struggles just might be. A Narrunga-Kaurna woman of mixed heritage from South Australia, she grew up in the thick of 1970s social-political issues, then turned her search for her sense of self into a witty and moving piece of original theatre. Accordingly, SONG the story of a girl, a bird and a teapot charts the efforts of Aboriginal girl who feels disconnected from her past and becomes inspired to challenge the notion of tradition and community. With a treasured family relic in her hands and the song of an unseen bird in her ears, she goes looking for a new way forward. A poetic, personal one-woman play is the end result of Telfer's efforts, as conveyed with raw honesty and grit, coupled with ample humour, and accompanied by the sounds of musician Jay Kleinschmidt. SONG doesn't just tap into the need to belong in a different way, but invites audiences to share in the experience. Attendees aren't relegated to just watching — they're also asked to bring a small stone to the performance.
Just another Grill’d in the city, you might think. You're wrong. Grill’d located in the CBD's fresh faced Wintergarden offers more than its suburban counterparts. This Grill'd combines the two joys of burger eating and post-work drinking with both an extensive burger menu and drinks list. Upon entrance you are confronted with an interesting chandelier made out of shiny silver spatulas - an homage to burger flipping. The atmosphere is fun and bustling, and the perfect place for Friday afternoon drinks. You have the choice of sitting in a booth, outdoors or at the bar at the back. The bar serves local beers such as Burleigh Brewing and Little Creatures, Stone & Wood and Matilda Bay Dirty Granny cider (all around $8 for a stubby). For wine lovers we recommend the Innocent Bystander Pinot Gris ($ 9 glass or $38 bottle) or the St Hallett Shiraz ($7 glass or $32 bottle). If you're just after some nibbles, this Grill'd serves delicious bites such as the Moroccan Lamb Meatballs and Chicken Satay Meatballs ($3 each).
Flowers aren't the only things that'll be blooming when spring comes around — at Newstead House on Saturday, September 7, botanical-based spirits will be as well. The juniper juice will be flowing as Brisbane celebrates its second Jacaranda Gin Festival, this time in a new location. The event will also take over the historic spot for a day of gin-fuelled boozing, with more than 25 Australian and international distillers serving up their beverages for your tasting pleasure. One of the great aspects of the setting ties into the fest's name, so prepare not just to down botanical drinks, but to be surrounded by jacarandas. Entertainment-wise, expect DJs, demonstrations and discussions, so that you can dance, learn more about gin and chat about it — or all three, of course. Expect food trucks as well, because you can dedicate a day to this delicious spirit without lining your stomach. A number of ticketing options are available, starting at $35 for early birds and $45 afterwards, with ten tastings included. If you'd like to hang out in a dedicated lounge area and receive a welcome cocktail, nab a $88 ticket — or if you're feeling flush and really love your gin, $220 lets you sample until your heart's content.
It's bright, bouncy, witty and fun, but Bob's Burgers isn't a show to just watch casually while you're doing other things. Unless you give it your full attention, you might miss the details — every line of the hit animated sitcom's delightful food-themed songs, and each one of its culinary puns, too. Both help tell the story as much as the ordinary dialogue. Take the latest trailer for The Bob's Burgers Movie, for instance. It serves up another sneak peek at TV's favourite burger-slinging family on their first-ever cinematic jaunt, following the last trailer drop back in January. And, in a moment that has happened in every single small-screen episode or thereabouts, the chalkboard inside the Belcher family's burg joint sports a glorious and fitting gag. On the menu and in the movie, everything is stuck between a broc and a chard place. Set to hit cinemas in May, The Bob's Burgers Movie sees Bob Belcher (H Jon Benjamin, Archer) and his nearest and dearest facing two big dilemmas: financial troubles, and also a ruptured water main that causes a huge sinkhole right in front of the store. But that isn't all that the film promises to dish up, with a mystery that only Belcher kids Tina (Dan Mintz, Veep), Gene (Eugene Mirman, Archer) and Louise (Kristen Schaal, What We Do in the Shadows) can solve also part of the fun. This flick has been a long time coming — and not just because the series it springs from has been on the air for a whopping 12 seasons now. The Bob's Burgers Movie was originally due to reach the big screen back in mid-2020, but the pandemic got in the way. Think of it as the movie version of IRL supermarket shortages. Thankfully, 2022 is here, and The Bob's Burgers Movie is a real thing that we'll all get to feast our eyeballs on soon — before winter hits, in fact. And if your appetite for a movie-length musical comedy-mystery-adventure flick about the Belchers wasn't already ravenous, it will be after watching the latest trailer. Also, The Bob's Burgers Movie does something that no other episode of the show has been able to do so far. That'd be offer a solution to the feeling that every fan has felt more than once: not wanting this colourful, hilarious and engaging animated meal to end when you're binging through it in 20-minute episode blocks. Check out the new trailer for The Bob's Burgers Movie below: The Bob's Burgers Movie will open in cinemas Down Under on May 26, 2022. Images: Courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2022 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.
If you're the type of staycationer who chooses their hotels for the perks and extra inclusions, then you'll be particularly excited about an upcoming new addition to Brisbane's accommodation offerings. Mövenpick Hotel Brisbane Spring Hill is set to launch in 2024, marking the Swiss brand's third site in Australia — after Mövenpick Hotel Hobart and Mövenpick Hotel Melbourne both opened earlier in 2021. If either the chain's name or its country of origin have you thinking of sweet treats, yes, they're part of the hotel's menu. For starters, Mövenpick Hotel Brisbane will celebrate chocolate hour every afternoon. Going on the Hobart setup, that's when you'll receive a free dessert — such as an eclair, brownie or truffle — when you purchase a chocolate-flavoured cocktail, mocktail or affogato. Mövenpick's hotels all serve the brand's line of food and beverages as well, which means that Mövenpick ice cream will also be available. Because Brisbane's own Mövenpick site is still a few years off, exactly what'll be on the menu hasn't been revealed quite yet. But the 15-storey, 96-room site will include restaurants and bars — as well as a 25-metre swimming pool, a fitness centre and conference facilities. [caption id="attachment_818960" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Victoria Park[/caption] Setting up shop at 447 Gregory Terrace, bordering Victoria Park — which has just closed its golf course and reopened as a huge 65-hectare public park — Mövenpick Hotel Brisbane will also sport an art deco look to suit its location. Spring Hill is one of Brisbane's oldest suburbs, after all. With MAS Architecture Studio working on the art deco-inspired design, international design firm Hirsch Bedner Associates doing interiors, and the project — and a neighbouring residential tower — being delivered by development group Keylin, the hotel will include a two-storey foyer featuring eight-metre ceilings, marble columns and terrazzo flooring and intricate details, too. Plus, there'll be elevated gardens across its façade to create a cascading greenery effect. And, each room will have city views as well — because chocolate hour won't be the only luxe feature here. Find Mövenpick Hotel Brisbane Spring Hill at 447 Gregory Terrace, Spring Hill from sometime in 2024. Head to the Accor website to keep an eye out for further information.
What do the Star Wars theme song and its Jurassic Park, Jaws, Superman and Harry Potter equivalents all have in common? Two things. Firstly, when you hear each and every one, they instantly transport you into the world of their respective films. That's what a good piece of movie music does — whether or not the accompanying images are playing in front of you. Secondly, they're all the product of one man: five-time Oscar-winner and 52-time nominee John Williams. On Friday, April 29 and Saturday, April 30, all of the above pieces will also echo through QPAC's Concert Hall. Similarly set to get a spin: Williams' tunes from Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Hook, Memoirs of a Geisha, Schindler's List, JFK, The Terminal and more. The Queensland Symphony Orchestra will be playing them, putting on a show dedicated to the iconic composer. You won't be watching the relevant flicks, but rather soaking in their sounds as they're all played live. The reason: Williams turned 90 this year, although no one ever needs an excuse to send copious amounts of love his way. As part of its Cinematic series, QSO will be performing three concerts, at 7.30pm on both nights, and also at 1.30pm on the Saturday. And to get you in the mood, here's an excerpt from the always-enchanting Jurassic Park soundtrack:
If you thought seafood was best suited to sultry days, then Aussie-born chain Kickin' Inn hears you. It started in New South Wales in 2018, then hit up Melbourne when it first branched out interstate last year, and now it's headed Brisbane's way. This town of ours is home to warm weather basically all year round, after all — aka the perfect climate to eat the ocean's finest whenever you feel like it. From Thursday, April 14, you'll find Kickin' Inn at 477 Boundary Street, Spring Hill — and its signature offering of seafood tossed through punchy house-made 'Kajun' sauces as well. For the uninitiated, Kickin' Inn offers an all-in, bibs-and-gloves experience, where diners do away with cutlery and get their hands messy with bags full of prawns, mud crab, pipis and shellfish using only the tools that Jesus gave you. The Cajun-inspired house sauces — here, dubbed 'Kajun' — are more than mere support acts, with the venue boasting five flavour-charged secret recipes. If feasting is on the agenda, you'll find an abundance of snacks to kick things off including battered squid tentacles, jalapeno cheese bites, freshly-shucked Sydney rock oysters and wings. After that, you've got some big decisions to make. Choose your main event from a slew of ocean-fresh goodies including whole lobster, pounds of peeled prawns, a pile of baby octopus, blue swimmer crab pieces, or a mess of mussels and pipis. Pick a matching sauce, whack in some additions like corn or chorizo, and dial up the heat level as high as you dare — keeping in mind the 'inferno' option is only just over halfway up the scale. Meanwhile, a separate lunch menu features more solo-friendly feeds from a prawn spaghetti to peeled prawns served with rice. Kickin' Inn Spring Hill is launching with a few opening specials this Thursday, April 14 and Friday, April 15, too — so, for two days only, you can enjoy free signature shrimp martinis when you book a table, and win prizes. Find Kickin' Inn at 477 Boundary Street, Spring Hill, from Thursday, April 14.
Thanks to multiple lockdowns and ongoing restrictions, we've all spent more time eating at home over the past 18 months than we probably would've otherwise. We've all tried to cook sourdough, too, and also put our culinary skills to the test attempting to whip up plenty of other dishes. Sometimes, though, the urge to hop into the kitchen just isn't there. Also a pandemic mainstay: takeaways and food deliveries. They help us all escape a stint of cooking for a night, and also support local hospitality businesses doing it tough when they can't welcome in dine-in customers. And, to the delight of tastebuds across Brisbane, some places around town have been hatching inventive ideas to keep us all fed — and help us avoid playing chef ourselves. Mac in the Box is one such new arrival. Obviously, mac 'n' cheese is its dish of choice — and it takes the pasta-and-dairy combination seriously. A drive-thru run by Fortitude Valley's City Winery and set up at its Wandoo Street base, it'll have you forgetting all about packet-mix versions of its cuisine of choice. Serving up mac 'n' cheese made with three cheeses, truffles, smoked ocean trout and Italian pork will do that. Fancy all the cheese? The three-cheese version is Mac in the Box's bestseller, and also comes in bundles with some of City Winery's 2020 Gerler sav blanc and shiraz. That's the benefit of picking up some pasta from a winery, clearly. Or, you can opt for the gooey version with truffles; the ocean trout, herbs and spring onion variety; or the Italian pork, fennel and tomatoes dish. Prices range from $13–24 just for a mac 'n' cheese, and from $32–40 with a bottle of vino. Customers can also add some wine to their orders anyway, with ten varieties available. And, house-baked sourdough is also on the menu as a side dish. With Brisbane back in lockdown until at least 4pm on Sunday, August 8, Mac in the Box is operating daily during the stay-at-home conditions — so that could be your dinner sorted for a few nights this week. Orders can be collected from 4.30pm each afternoon. Mac in the Box is operating daily during Brisbane's current lockdown, which is presently due to run until 4pm on Sunday, August 8. To place an order for collection from 4.30pm each afternoon, head to the Mac in the Box website.
Few things will ever be better than seeing Mads Mikkelsen get day drunk and dance around while swigging champagne in an Oscar-winning movie, which is one fantastic film experience that 2021 has already delivered. But the always-watchable actor is equally magnetic and exceptional in Riders of Justice, a revenge-driven comedy that's all about tackling your problems in a different and far less boozy fashion. In both features, he plays the type of man unlikely to express his feelings. Instead of Another Round's mild-mannered teacher who's so comfortably settled into his adult life that his family barely acknowledges he's there, here he's a dedicated solider who's more often away than home. Beneath his close-cropped hair and steely, bristly beard, he's stern, sullen and stoic, not to mention hot-tempered when he does betray what's bubbling inside, and he outwardly expects the same of everyone around him. Mikkelson excels at transformational performances, however. He's also an exquisite anchor in films that dare to take risks. The aforementioned Another Round and Riders of Justice make a great double on his resume, in fact, and they're both bold and glorious in their own ways. In, Riders of Justice, Mikkelson's Markus isn't just the strong, silent type from the feature's first frame to its last. No matter what part he's playing, the Danish star is gifted at conveying subtlety, which is ideal for Markus' slow realisation that he needs to be more open with his emotions. And, while Mikkelson is usually expertly cast in most entries on his resume — the misfire that is Chaos Walking being one rare exception — he's especially in his element in this genre-defying, trope-unpacking, constantly complex and unpredictable film. With a name that sounds like one of the many by-the-numbers action flicks Liam Neeson has starred in since Taken, Riders of Justice initially appears as if it'll take its no-nonsense central figure to an obvious place, and yet this ambitious, astute and entertaining movie both does and doesn't. After a train explosion taints his life with tragedy and leaves him the sole parent to traumatised teenager Mathilde (Andrea Heick Gadeberg, Pagten), Markus returns home from Afghanistan. Talking is her method of coping, or would be if he'd let her; he refuses counselling for them both, and opts not to discuss the incident in general, because clamming up has always been his PTSD-afflicted modus operandi. Then statistician Otto (Nikolaj Lie Kaas, The Keeper of Lost Causes), his colleague Lennart (Lars Brygmann, The Professor and the Madman) and the computer-savvy Emmenthaler (Nicolas Bro, The Kingdom) arrive at the grieving family's door. They're a trio of stereotypically studious outsiders to his stony-faced military man, but they come uttering a theory. Mathematically, they don't think that the events surrounding the accident add up, so they're convinced it wasn't just a case of pure misfortune — because it's just so unlikely to have occurred otherwise. The nervy Otto, who was on the train with Mathilde and her mother Emma (Anne Birgitte Lind, The Protector), has even started to narrow down possible culprits with his pals. Markus, with his action-not-words mindset, is swiftly eager for retribution, but again, this isn't like most films of its ilk. Writer/director Anders Thomas Jensen (Men & Chicken) and screenwriter Nikolaj Arcel (A Royal Affair) do take the movie to its blatant next destination, yet never in the routine and formulaic sense. Narratives about seeking justice often ride the expected rails on autopilot, getting from start to finish on the standard vengeance template's inherent momentum; this one questions and subverts every usual cliche, convention and motif along the way. Its chief tactic: putting characters first. Jensen and Arcel don't just twist and turn a recognisable setup for the sake of it, but ground every change and choice in the personalities and backstories of their protagonists. Accordingly, Markus isn't just taciturn because that's the kind of figure that always stalks around reprisal-centric flicks, Otto and Lennart aren't merely booksmart geeky sidekicks eager for attention, and Emmenthaler is keenly aware of how the world sees him, not only because of his fondness for technology but also due to his weight. Riders of Justice doesn't add flesh to its characters to neatly explain away their decisions, either, diving into the myriad of factors that push and pull people in various directions without them even knowing it. The term 'emotional intelligence' might be so overused in self-help speak that it now feels largely meaningless, but it genuinely applies to this attentive and layered film. With calm and control, Jensen and Arcel also take a darkly comedic approach to Riders of Justice's storyline, as plenty goes wrong on their retaliatory quest. While that's where the movie's anarchic plot developments come in, and its witty dialogue as well, the film never jeopardises its investment in its characters' depth. In one case in point, the four men decide to hide their plans from Mathilde. Needing a cover, Otto and his friends claim to be counsellors dispatched to help after all. "I've had over 4000 hours of therapy," exclaims Lennart, who is quick to both embrace the ruse and spit out the appropriate terminology — and this scenario not only speaks volumes about him, but leads the feature to keep unpacking what that means. Indeed, this is a picture with a thoughtful and tender core, particularly when it comes to men facing their troubles. It's also shrewdly aware that that's what its chosen genre is always about amidst the overblown violence, and purposefully opts for a different alternative. Action, thrills and confrontations still lurk in Riders of Justice, of course. Blood and brutality do as well, as does a definite body count. But, although convincingly shot and staged, these scenes are never the picture's reason for being, or its point. Riders of Justice packages hilarity with its payback, understanding and empathy with its bullet-riddled affrays, and morality and ethics with its showdowns. It's set at the end of the year, too, so it also counts as a screwball Christmas movie — and it uses the visual references that come with that merry period to underscore its musings on togetherness, redemption, and valuing what really matters most. Another movie it'd make a stellar double with: the Nicolas Cage-starring Pig, because this year has been great for star-led revenge crusades that delight, surprise and ruminate on much, much more than getting even.
How do you take something great and make it even better? Add goats. That probably doesn't apply in every situation, but it certainly seems to with HBO comedy Barry and its long-awaited third season — at least if the just-dropped new trailer is anything to go by. All killer, no filler: when it comes to this Bill Hader-starring gem, that notion firmly applies. The premise is pure TV gold, following an assassin who'd rather be an actor, but finds it hard to cut ties with his murderous gig. Making it even better is the pitch-perfect casting of former Saturday Night Live great Hader, of course, who has never been better than he is playing the eponymous hitman here. The setup: when Hader's Barry Berkman heads from Cleveland to Los Angeles for his job, he discovers a previously unknown passion for acting after he stumbles into a class held by veteran thespian Gene Cousineau (Henry Winkler, The French Dispatch). The catch? Barry kills people for money, and that isn't a line of work that you can leave easily, especially when you become caught in the Chechen mafia's violent and deadly dramas. As SNL fans will already know, Hader is an on-screen treasure. He's truly something else in this part-comedy, part-tragedy series. Barry's struggle mightn't seem that relatable on paper, but it proves exactly that with Hader in the role. Also excellent is Winkler, expectedly. And, similarly great is Bill & Ted Face the Music's Anthony Carrigan as Chechen gangster Noho Hank — who befriends Barry, isn't that skilled at the whole crime business and quickly becomes one of the most memorable characters to ever grace a TV series. It's no wonder that fans have been hanging out for the third season of this Emmy-winner, which finally arrives in April — on Monday, April 25 in Australia via Binge, in fact — after a three-year gap since season two. Based on both the initial teaser trailer and this new sneak peek, Barry's quest to go on the straight and narrow — and pursue acting — is still as chaotic as ever. In fact, this season will focus on the other factors, including his own psyche, that saw Barry become a killer to begin with. Another big part of the new episodes, according to HBO: fellow characters trying to make the right choices. Also returning are Stephen Root (The Tragedy of Macbeth) as Barry's former handler Monroe, who is in hiding; Sarah Goldberg (The Night House) as Barry's girlfriend Sarah, who is also an actor; D'Arcy Carden (The Good Place) as a fellow acting student; and Sarah Burns (Werewolves Within) as Detective Mae Dunn. And Hader isn't just phenomenally excellent on-screen in Barry — he also co-created it, has directed a heap of episodes, and also co-wrote others. Check out the full trailer for Barry season three below: Barry's third season will start streaming via Binge in Australia and Neon in New Zealand from Monday, April 25. Images: Peter Iovino and Merrick Morton/HBO.
A trip to HOTA, Home of the Arts' Wonder arts festival is one of the best ways to spend a spring day on the Gold Coast, especially if you like being surrounded by glowing art. From Friday, October 6–Sunday, October 15, the precinct's returning fest is filling nights with light and colour — and sound. The big highlight: Dan Acher's stunning outdoor artwork Borealis, which will make you feel like you're wandering around beneath either the southern or northern lights from 6–9pm. His take is gleaming in the night sky above HOTA's outdoor stage, in a big return after the artwork first featured back in 2019. And on soundtrack duties: Guillaume Desbois. Also on the Wonder lineup: music by the MZAZA ensemble during Fridays on the Lawn, and Sunny Coast Rude Boys as well; activities for kids; and bites to eat at Night Bites Under Lights on Saturday, October 14. The event runs daily except for Saturday, October 7 and Friday, October 13, when other ticketed events are happening at HOTA.
When you're taking your pet pooch to the park at the end of October, you want your four-legged friend to look as frightening as possible. Halloween is for all creatures, big and small, after all. While puppers are generally pretty adorable — and not in any way scary — that will all change when it dons a terrifying spider or pumpkin (maybe not so much) costume courtesy of Big W's new range of Halloween-themed petwear. This way, your dachshund can go trick-or-treating as a dangerous dinosaur, your jack russell terrier can run around the backyard in a witchie tee or your shih tzu can snooze in a ghoulish sweater. They're all super-affordable, too, with costumes starting from $8 and bandanas from $4. A heap of hair-raising costumes are currently available (including various sizes and colours) for pets and the full Halloween range also includes costumes for humans (big and small) and decorations, such as pumpkins, gravestones, buckets and skulls aplenty. While Big W has dubbed the line its 'petwear', so far it's all for dogs. That said, if you can somehow manage to get your cat into a vest or sweater, then you might just be able to get them into a dinosaur suit. [caption id="attachment_785479" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Leo the Cavoodle[/caption] Big W's Halloween petwear is currently available to purchase online, with contactless home delivery and pick up available.
The humble parmigiana is a pub staple, and for a very good reason. When you're cooking up crumbed schnitzel, slathering it in a tomato-heavy sauce and topping it with cheese, it's very hard to go wrong. So, as part of its new menu, Bald Hills' Bonny View Hotel serves up classic, Mexican-style (with jalapeños, guacamole, pico de gallo and sour cream) and Aussie (with bacon, beetroot relish and slaw) varieties. Relaunching after a $1.3 million renovation, the northside site also boasts something else on its food lineup. Parmigiana fans, meet your new must-try mashup: the parmi hot dog. Which is exactly the Frankenstein's monster of a dish that it sounds like. You'll tuck into a crumbed chicken sausage on a hotdog bun, with said banger topped with napoli sauce, bacon and liquid cheese. Cheeseburger spring rolls, wagyu brisket croquettes, fish pies, chicken kievs, steaks, baked half-shell scallops, pulled chicken tacos and salmon fillets are also on the gastropub-esque menu; however, let's face it, those parmi hot dogs are the main attraction. Australian Venue Co, the hospitality outfit behind Bonny View Hotel, clearly recognise this — with 150 freebies being given away over the pub's relaunch weekend from Friday, August 21–Sunday, August 23. If you're just keen to check out the venue's new look, it'll all be unveiled on Thursday, August 20, with the 85-year-old location undergoing quite the facelift. As overseen by Brisbane architects Push, every space inside and out has had a revamp, from the front bar and indoor dining area to the outside bistro and covered deck. And, while parmi hot dogs are the big ticket item, they're not the only kind of dogs that Bonny View Hotel is interested in. Bring your pooch along and you'll be able to sit in the woofer-friendly outdoor area and nab them some puppy snacks, too. Find the Bonny View Hotel at 2077 Gympie Road, Bald Hills, open Monday–Saturday from 10am–4am and Sunday from 10am– 1.30am — and head by from Thursday, August 20 to see its new look and tuck into its new menu. Images: Cat Thuemling.
Miss Phryne Fisher might be known for solving mysteries; however from July 15 to September 4, her sleuthing skills aren't required. Trying to unravel the hidden truth behind the character's gorgeous attire is futile. As Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries Costume Exhibition at Old Government House makes plain, their artistry speaks for itself. Everything that made season three of the ABC TV series sparkle with 1920s glamour will be on display, including both outfits and props. As a result, so will the award-winning work of costume designer Marion Boyce. Of course, Miss Fisher came to the page courtesy of Australian author Kerry Greenwood — and then to the screen in the guise of actress Essie Davis — but the important efforts of the woman responsible for her stylish look can't be underestimated. As well as showcasing sartorial delights, the Miss Fisher-focused season will also offer up a selection of special events, talks, tours and workshops. Whether you head along to the free lawn party, kick up your heels at the pop-up speakeasy bar, contemplate Brisbane's art deco history or learn about making flapper headbands, just make sure that you dress for the occasion — if there's an exhibition that you'll want to look your best at, it's this one.
It's the time of the year when the days begin to shorten, the evenings get cooler and your stomach starts grumbling for comfort food. But, while that'll remain true for the next few months, only one particular day will bring free tacos. Tex-Mex giant Taco Bell has been steadily opening stores around the country since 2017, with a new Sydney store in Green Square launching on Tuesday, May 4 — and it's doing a big giveaway nationwide on the same day. If you're a big fan of Mexican-inspired food and you live in Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane, chances are you've already started to make your way through the brand's extensive menu. If you haven't tried its Crunchy Taco Supreme, though, this is your chance. Or, if you have and you just like freebies, count yourself in as well. Either way, on Tuesday, May 4 , you can pick one up at any Taco Bell location nationwide without paying a cent. There is a catch, though. This free taco day, as Taco Bell is calling it, is themed around the moon — because the chain has decided to name the half-moon the 'taco moon'. So, to get your freebie, you need to mention 'taco moon' or say 'I saw the taco moon' when you get to the counter. Yes, it's a gimmick, but if you've already spent this week obsessing over all things lunar due to the 'pink' supermoon, you'll be in the right mental space for it. Also, there's a limit of one free taco per person, so you won't be able to stuff your stomach full of them. What's a Crunchy Taco Supreme? A crunchy taco, as the name suggests, as filled with seasoned beef, sour cream, fresh lettuce, tomato and cheese — or black beans for vegetarians. If you happen to be one of the first 20 people through the door at each store, you'll also score a taco moon party kit — which includes merchandise. And if you're wondering where to head, Taco Bell has stores in Albion Park, Ballina, Blacktown and Jesmond in New South Wales — plus the about-to-launch Green Square, which'll be the closest venue to the Sydney CBD. In Victoria, the chain is located in Altona North, Hawthorn, Roxburgh Park and South Yarra. For Queenslanders, you'll be going to Annerley, Beenleigh, Cairns, Cleveland, Currajong, East Ipswich, Keperra, Logan Central, Morayfield, North Lakes, Robina and Southport. Taco Bell is offering free Crunchy Taco Supremes to every customer who mentions 'taco moon' on Tuesday, May 4. To find your nearest store, head to the chain's website.
Looking for something to fill your time (that's not live streaming koalas or re-watching Tiger King over and over again)? TAFE Queensland is offering free online short courses that you can home complete at home — without spending a cent. The fee-free courses are to help people diversify their skills during the COVID-19 pandemic, and are broken into two categories: micro-credentials and skill sets. The former are open to anyone, take about an hour to complete and, once finished, come with a 'digital badge', which can be shared with future or current employees. There are six micro-credentials courses available, including one on cyber security, another on data analysis and a course all about using software and technology to increase productivity (which could be extra-helpful if you're currently WFH). You can complete one or more of these, if you like. The skill sets are open to Queensland residents whose work has been impacted by COVID-19 and/or are on Jobseeker, with an aim of helping them upskill or retrain while unemployed (or working less). If you tick these boxes, you can enrol in one of nine skill sets, with courses running for between 2–12 weeks. There are currently courses focused on the medical industry — including ones about community care, health support and mental health — administration, transport, hospitality and agriculture. While you can only enrol in one of these at a time, you can complete multiple. TAFE Queensland has adapted how it offers its courses during COVID-19, with many of them now mostly (or completely) online. You can find out more here. To find out more about and enrol in one of TAFE Queensland's fee-free online short courses, head to the TAFE Queensland website.
Another day, another burger, another $2. Yes, you read that correctly. Brisbane has a new burg-slinging joint, with Burger Face not only ferrying its greasy spoon favourites direct to your door, but also offering up cheap cheeseburgers to celebrate. A delivery-only outfit that takes orders exclusively through UberEATS and Deliveroo, Burger Face is kicking off its first days of business with burgers that genuinely cost less than their chips. On July 26 and 27, the smallest gold coin in Australia's currency gets you a beef patty, American cheese, ketchup, mustard and pickles between a burger bun. And in case you thought we were joking, if you really do want fries with that, expect to pay an $6 for regular and $7 for sweet potato. When they're not tempting your tastebuds with an American-style burger bargain, Burger Face's full menu also boasts both spicy and crispy chicken options, plus lamb, breakfast-happy bacon and egg, maple bacon cheeseburgers and burgers turned into salad bowls — all priced between $12 and $14. As well as the aforementioned fries, there's also six types of sauce (including truffle mayo and beetroot relish), plus chocolate brownies for dessert. And, ready-made for seedy mornings, their hangover pack features a brekkie burg, hash brown and Berocca. The fresh addition to the city's bustling burger scene aims to cater for the CBD lunch crowd, and anyone who's hankering for a burger but can't be bothered leaving home after hours. And as for their name, we're assuming they're called Burger Face because you'll be shovelling heaps of the former into the latter. Fair call, really. Order Burger Face via UberEATS and Deliveroo, or check out their Facebook page for further info. Image: Natalie Hoo.
There's something whimsical and deeply satisfying about that first sip of an ice-cold, extremely creamy milkshake. The clever folk at the Southside Tea Room seem to have figured out this milkshake malarkey, serving up flavours like Oreo, Nutella, chocolate, salted caramel, vanilla, and strawberries and cream from their digs on Wynnum Road in Morningside. Kill two birds with one stone, get your shake fix and fix your caffeine shakes with a shot of espresso in your milky drink. And just a heads up: once you get a look at their menu, you'll most likely add some food to your order too. Their toasties with dipping sauce are out of this world. Image: Anwyn Howarth.
The cinemas that it plays in have changed over the years, and the organisations that run the event as well. If you love movies and you live in Queensland's capital, however, the Brisbane International Film Festival has been the must-attend big-screen date of the year for more than three decades. Now settled into a spring timeslot and in its third year under Film Fantastic, who also organise the Gold Coast Film Festival, BIFF is fast approaching for 2023 — and it has just dropped six first titles from its program to get cinephiles excited. One huge must-see from Thursday, October 26–Sunday, November 5: Anatomy of a Fall, a drama about an author (Sandra Hüller, Toni Erdmann) accused of her husband's murder, which won French director Justine Triet (Sibyl) the Cannes Film Festival's Palme d'Or winner back in May. Triet became just the third female filmmaker to earn the coveted prize after Jane Campion for The Piano in 1993, plus Julia Ducournau for Titane in 2021. Also a big drawcard is 2023 opening-night pick Uproar, which comes to Brisbane fresh from premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival. Set to launch this year's BIFF at Reading Newmarket, one of this year's venues alongside other Reading, Dendy and Five Star locations, the New Zealand film stars Hunt for the Wilderpeople's Julian Dennison, Our Flag Means Death's Rhys Darby and Starstruck's Minnie Driver. They feature in a movie that's set in Dunedin in 1981 and focuses on a boy exploring his Māori heritage as the South African Springboks team arrive in Aotearoa amid protests. Ahead of the full BIFF program on Wednesday, September 20, BIFF's first announcement also spans Hirokazu Kore-eda's Monster, the prolific helmer's latest on a lengthy resume that also includes Shoplifters and Broker; body-horror film Tiger Stripes, which is set in the Malaysian jungle and won the 2023 Cannes Critics' Week Grand Prize; and the talk show-set horror Late Night with the Devil — all of which have been doing the rounds of the international festival circuit, with Brisbane their next stop. And, when The Ending Goes Forever: The Screamfeeder Story makes its world premiere at the fest, it'll clearly do so with a big homegrown angle, focusing on of Brisbane's 90s indie-music favourites. "The first six films represent a sneak peek of the diverse and entertaining broader program," said BIFF Head of Programming Sasha Close. "BIFF is proud to be presenting award-winning and highly anticipated feature films in this first release." While Brisbane's major film fest initially launched in 1992, the 2023 festival marks BIFF's 29th thanks to a chaotic few years — after the event was unceremoniously cancelled after its 2013 fest in favour of the short-lived Brisbane Asia Pacific Film Festival, then revived by Palace Cinemas in 2017, and then run by the Gallery of Modern Art from 2018–20 before falling under Film Fantastic's remit. The 2023 Brisbane International Film Festival runs between Thursday, October 26–Sunday, November 5 at selected Dendy, Reading and Five Star cinemas around Brisbane. For further information, or to buy tickets, head to the festival website — and check back here on Wednesday, September 20 for the full program.
Something delightful is 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 starting to reopen — spanning both big chains and smaller independent sites in Sydney and Brisbane (and, until the newly reinstated stay-at-home orders, Melbourne as well). 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 over the past three months, 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. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=loGLiMU5fuI TENET Christopher Nolan has never made a Bond film. He certainly didn't helm The Matrix franchise, either. But pick and twist aspects of each, including narrative tropes, sci-fi trickery and special effects wizardry, and the writer/director's latest slick, bold, mind-bending action-thriller Tenet is the end product. Spy flick elements are evident from the outset, thanks to a tense, taut, supremely well-executed opening attack on the jam-packed Kiev Opera House. When a gun fires during the chaos, but the bullet returns to the weapon rather than shooting out from it, Tenet's nods to late 90s and early 00s sci-fi are apparent, too. Soon afterwards, a scientist (Clémence Poésy) talks the film's CIA operative protagonist (BlacKkKlansman's John David Washington) through some of the nuts and bolts of the shadowy situation he finds himself in, explaining that inverted objects being sent back through time from the future, that a war is coming, and detailing the reverse trajectory of the bullet — and the Protagonist, as he's literally called, exclaims a Keanu-esque "whoa!" that's particularly memorable. Armed with the relevant background — tidbits the film wants viewers to pay close attention to as well — the Protagonist must hop around the world to stop life as everyone knows it from ending. He has suave handler Neil (Robert Pattinson) for company, but if Tenet's premise sounds a tad vague and convoluted, well, that's the movie's wavelength. As obsessed with time, space, existence and consciousness as much of Nolan's work, the cerebral feature doesn't get any less tangled or labyrinthine, or try to. It boasts the kind of plot that is actually quite straightforward, yet is told in an overly complicated fashion to keep viewers puzzling. Nolan likes messing with audiences' heads, so this shouldn't come as a surprise; however he jumps even beyond Inception's leaps, The Prestige's magic tricks and Interstellar's temporal dilations. As a result, as entertaining and downright spectacular as it is when it's at its action-packed best, there's also a sense that Tenet is bounding forward in some ways, while also needlessly looping back on itself in others. It's stirring, but also laborious. It's designed to overwhelm viewers in an inventive head trip, yet it makes the audience feel like they're working. It's intricate and exacting, and also messy and repetitive. It's a Nolan film through and through, in other words — usually to a mesmerising degree, but too indulgently as well. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIsEZ2tTavU&t=6s LES MISÉRABLES Almost 160 years since Victor Hugo immortalised the Montfermeil commune in Les Misérables, first-time feature writer and director Ladj Ly heads there to tell a different story. Or, to be exact, his Cannes prize-winning, Oscar-nominated crime-thriller that's also called Les Misérables stops by the spot to explore comparable themes in contemporary France — and to interrogate the reality of life in the Les Bosquets housing estates in one of the capital's banlieues. The latter and their communities have featured in the likes of 1995's La Haine and 2014's Girlhood before, two hands-down French movie masterpieces, but the approach here is especially inspired. Drawing parallels with a globally known, much-adapted, long-popular classic to shine a spotlight on modern-day class and cultural clashes is smart and savvy and, in the hands of a filmmaker from the area who is already known for making documentaries about the area, results in an especially compelling and confronting piece of cinema with revolution at its heart. Every neighbourhood bubbles with stories. So, focusing on Les Bosquets, Ly relays as many tales as he can. With propulsive and fittingly restless energy, his film flits between the locale's cops, kids and gangs — with troubles between all three groups reaching boiling point over the course of two summery and eventful days. The catalysts: familiar prejudices, long-held beefs, a stolen lion, a wrongful shooting and some controversial drone footage. The fallout: considerable. Unrelentingly terse and unafraid to filter real-world unrest through every frame, this Les Misérables is not always subtle; however, given the complicated terrain that it traverses, it needn't be. As a portrait of social tensions drawn from real-life situations, this is a movie of explosive emotional and visceral power even when it's clearly lacking in nuance. As an examination of how one event can escalate, detonate and spark a chain of chaos, and, Hugo-style, how insurrectionary acts come about, it hits hard. This definitely isn't a musical, but Ly's gripping, evocatively shot, deftly choreographed and impressively acted feature is still a rousing cinematic song of angry Parisians. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtCmpNdsA44 THE EIGHT HUNDRED The first Chinese film shot entirely on IMAX cameras, The Eight Hundred delivers exactly what that status demands. That'd be an impressively staged and shot spectacle, and plenty of it. Indeed, this big-budget dramatisation of the October 1937 Sihang Warehouse standoff during the Second Sino-Japanese War (which also formed part of the Second World War) is filled with fights, frays, combat and bloody confrontations to an almost relentless extent. Of course, that's the war movie formula, with the genre routinely endeavouring to steep viewers so deeply in the minutiae of the action that they feel both the mass and the personal toll. In The Eight Hundred's case, that means spending the bulk of its lengthy 147-minute duration with the 400-plus soldiers from the 524th Regiment of the National Revolutionary Army's 88th Division, who hold their ground for four days as the Imperial Japanese Army closes in on and wages an assault on the building — with the latter already overpowering Chinese forces at large during the Battle of Shanghai, and the former now representing China's last stand in the city. Complicating matters tactically, at least for the Japanese, is the warehouse's location. Adjacent to Suzhou Creek, and therefore across from Shanghai's International Settlement, the structure is in full view of the neutral zone. For writer/director Guan Hu (Mr Six), however, that gives the film an extra opportunity to dazzle visually. On one side of the waterway sits carnage; on the other, luxury, shining lights and streets filled with well-dressed onlookers all beckon. Yes, The Eight Hundred is that blunt. Yes, it takes every opportunity to be as blatant as possible on as many levels as possible, too. This is a feature that uses a white horse galloping through the mayhem as one of its overt metaphors, after all, and deploys 'Londonderry Air', aka 'Danny Boy', as its emotive song of choice. Also among its sizeable list of heavy-handed touches: repeatedly making the case for sacrifice and bloodshed in the name of China's glory and greater good, visibly adoring solider point-of-view shots, and offering little in the way of depth amongst its heaving roster of characters. If you're wondering what else is currently screening in cinemas, check out our rundown of new films released in Australia on July 2, July 9, July 16, July 23, July 30, August 6, August 13 and August 20 — and our full reviews of The Personal History of David Copperfield, Waves, The King of Staten Island, Babyteeth, Deerskin and Peninsula.
Christmas is a time for coming together and appreciating the good things in life. However, in a year that saw way too many creative icons pass away, it's also a time to celebrate the great things that have been and gone. Enter Santa Barbara, the excellently named yuletide gathering hosted by Fortitude Valley bar Barbara. Yes, there will be Prince and Bowie. To be specific, there'll be DJ sets paying tribute to two of the greatest musicians that ever lived when Barbara gets festive from 7pm on December 22. And as always, the two legends have already said it best. Let's go crazy and let's dance, indeed. Teen Sensations will also be doing their thing live, and Barbara's bartenders will be making their finest boozy concoctions. All that's left is for you to spend your Thursday night enjoying the Christmas party trifecta of an ace venue, excellent music and stellar vibes aplenty.
Take a group of A-grade acrobats, add some bells, horns and sepia stage lighting, dowse it all in whiskey and you have Scotch and Soda. They’re a group of Australia’s finest performers and music-makers, who’ve graced stages as Cantina, Smoke and Mirrors, La Clique, Circa and Tom Tom Crew. But you’ll be forgiven if you can’t pick a familiar face under their swanky new beards, budgies and blazers as part of this new, exciting ensemble. Scotch and Soda are bringing their gypsy infused stylings and unruly showcase to The Judith Wright Centre as part of Brisbane Festival. Their riveting talents, paired with their raucous behaviours makes for a show that will viewers laughing as often as they cover their eyes in fear. With the driving beats of Ben Walsh setting a musical backdrop to unsuspected activity, dangerous acts and a little nudity, brace yourself for the extreme. Tickets range between $33 and $39, and you can catch Scoth and Soda till September 27.
Master sommelier Madeline Triffon describes Pinot Noir as 'sex in a glass', while winemaker Randy Ullom calls it 'the ultimate nirvana'. One of the most challenging grapes in the world of vinification, it's also one of the most surprising and rewarding. No wonder Bottle Shop Concepts — the good folk who brought Game of Rhones our way in June — are coming back to town with Pinot Palooza, an epic travelling wine festival celebrating all things Pinot Noir. For just one day, wine connoisseurs in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane will have the chance to sample more than 150 drops, direct from the Southern Hemisphere’s best producers. Think Ata Rangi, Yabby Lake, Bay of Fires, Rippon, Kooyong, Mount Difficulty — and that’s just the first few leaves on the vine. Whether you’re a newbie who wants to start with something light and inviting, or a Pinot pro ready for the biggest, most complex mouthful on the menu, there’ll be an abundance of selections at either end — and plenty along the spectrum, too. You’ll even be able to vote for your favourite and go in the draw to win some wine-driven prizes. If, at any point, you need to take a pause in your tasting adventures, you’ll be able to pop into the Alfa Romeo Lounge. There’ll be cosy places to sit and mull over your chosen Pinot, loads of food and the epic Burgundy Bar – a kind of Pinot Noir mecca where you’ll be able to sample bottles worth $150+ at affordable, by-the-glass prices. Expert sommeliers will also be on hand to help you make selections. What's more, those keen to fuel their brains (and not only their tastebuds), can indulge in a 'Back Stage Pass'. It's a chance to partake in a master class with some of Australia's smartest wine educators and learn all about what's happening in Burgundy, France — Pinot Noir’s spiritual home. Pinot Palooza will hit Melbourne on Saturday, October 4 at St Kilda Town Hall, Sydney on Monday, October 6 at Carriageworks and Brisbane on Sunday, October 12 at Light Space. Tickets are $60, which includes tastings, a take-home Riedel 'Heart to Heart' Pinot Noir glass and the latest issue of Wine Companion magazine. You can buy tickets right here.
It sounds like somewhere James Bond might hide away between missions — or, during a job, where he'd hunt down his latest nemesis. But inside the summit of Sölden's Gaislachkogl Mountain in Austria, visitors will soon find a museum dedicated to 007, particularly focusing on the character's most recent movie outing. If you're wondering why — why Sölden and why Spectre, specifically — it's because the latter flick shot scenes at the former location. It seems that's enough reason to bring 007 Elements to town, with the project being called "a new James Bond cinematic installation." From its description, however, it sounds rather like a series of galleries. When the space opens on July 12, it'll walk audiences through the various signature elements that go into making a Bond flick, giving fans a behind-the-scenes look in a new and inventive way. With Casino Royale, Quantum of Solace, Skyfall and Spectre art director Neal Callow acting as the project's creative director, expect the museum to boast some serious insider know-how — all in a bespoke 1300-square-metre building that has been constructed within the mountain, spans two levels and is situated 3050 metres above sea level. "We want to use this incredible location to place our guests into Bond's environment, and bring the stories to life in a unique and unforgettable way," explains Callow. The franchise's other 24 movies to date will also feature, as will spectacular views over the Ötztal Alps.
"Nature holds us all to account" is one of Force of Nature: The Dry 2's trailer-friendly lines. Even for those who didn't see the film's sneak peeks in the months between its arrival and the feature's release — a period stretched by Hollywood's 2023 strikes, pushing the picture's date with cinemas from August to February 2024 — it sounds primed for promo snippets when it's uttered in the movie itself. But this Australian detective franchise has earned the right to occasionally be that blunt and loaded with telling importance in its dialogue. And, it makes it work. In 2021's The Dry and here, in a flick that could've been called The Wet thanks to its drenched forest setting, the Aaron Falk saga uses its surroundings to mirror its emotional landscape. Nature holds its characters to account not just in a narrative sense, but by reflecting what they're feeling with astute specificity — so much so that the parched Victorian wheatbelt in the initial movie and the saturated greenery in Force of Nature are as much extensions of the series' on-screen figures as they are stunning backdrops. Chief among this page-to-film realm's players is Falk, the federal police officer that Eric Bana and his Blueback director Robert Connolly treat like terrain to trek through and traverse. His stare has its own cliffs and gorges. His life upholding the law and beyond has its peaks and valleys as well. In The Dry, it was evident that the yellowed, drought-stricken fields that monopolised the frame said plenty about how much Falk and everyone around him was holding back. In Force of Nature, all the damp of the fictional Giralang mountains — Victoria's Otways, Dandenong Ranges and Yarra Valley IRL — speaks volumes about what's streaming through the movie's characters inside. Cinematography is one of this franchise's strengths, and that Andrew Commis (Nude Tuesday) lenses the second picture's location just as evocatively and meticulously as Stefan Duscio (Shantaram) did the first is crucial: these features make their audience see every detail that envelops Falk and company, and therefore constantly spy the parallels between their environs and their inner turmoil. As adapted from author Jane Harper's bestselling books, the two Falk films so far understand one of the basic aspects of being human that's also rarely grasped so convincingly: that there's no escaping the fact that who we are and what we've experienced colours how we see what's in front of us. As Connolly keeps exploring both as a director and a screenwriter — he penned Force of Nature's script solo — this truth rings accurate whether a person has spent decades trying to ignore something or if they're drawn into territory linked to a matter that's always cascading in their heart and mind. The latter is the second flick's scenario, with Falk on a missing-person investigation in a place that connects to his history. The Dry used a similar setup, but it only comes across as neat and repetitive if you can't see how closely art is aping life and how everyone inherently views the world. New locale, scenery, weather conditions, colour palette, case, involved parties and reasons that Falk is pondering his past: they're among Force of Nature's departures from its predecessor. Same protagonist, flashback-heavy structure, emotional approach, revealing use of topography, star, filmmaker: so goes the returning elements. This is a movie that combines new shoots with old foliage, then, and compellingly. The Dry was a solid twisty Aussie mystery aided by Bana at his best in the lead and thematically meaningful imagery, as Force of Nature is now. Its most-unsuccessful part is its title, blatantly stressing the relationship between the features as if viewers wouldn't pick it anyway. (If Harper's third and final Falk book gets the cinematic treatment as well, which likely depends on how well Force of Nature backs up The Dry's $20-million-plus in Aussie box-office takings, presumably that picture will be clunkily dubbed Exiles: The Dry 3.) Sodden ranges beckon one of Australia's rare whodunnit sagas due to a corporate hiking retreat for the Melbourne-based Bailey Tenants, where Alice Russell (Anna Torv, The Last of Us) works. After setting off with just her boss Jill (Deborra-Lee Furness, Blessed) and three colleagues — Lauren (Robin McLeavy, Homeland), who has a daughter (debutant Matilda May Pawsey) the same age as her own (Ingrid Torelli, Five Bedrooms); and sisters Beth (Sisi Stringer, Mortal Kombat) and Bree (Lucy Ansell, Strife) — for company, plus one map between them and only basic supplies, she isn't with the group when they re-emerge. None of the remaining women have answers about Alice's whereabouts. They've all visibly been through an ordeal. And Alice's absence isn't deeply mourned, as Falk and his partner Carmen Cooper (Jacqueline McKenzie, Ruby's Choice) are soon diving into with the returnees, plus Jill's husband Daniel (Richard Roxburgh, Prosper). This isn't the detective duo's introduction to Alice. This isn't Falk's first time at this spot, either. So spreads Force of Nature's branches (and so gives the editing a workout, with Alexandre de Franceschi back from The Dry and and Penguin Bloom's Maria Papoutsis joining). The film tracks the search for Alice in the present, what happened leading up to her disappearance, Falk and Cooper's attempts to get her to be a whistleblower against her employer before that, and Falk's childhood (with The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart's Jeremy Lindsay Taylor returning as Erik Falk, his father, and Preacher's Archie Thomson playing the younger Aaron). Force of Nature isn't short on plot — and thankfully it also isn't lacking in weight and texture in Connolly's hands, just as atmosphere, tension and intrigue aren't an issue. It was a masterstroke to enlist Bana as Falk — a choice that, aided by his fine-tuned mixed of charisma and intensity, continues paying off in his second spin in the part. This is a contemplative performance with gravitas again, including in probing the ethics of his on-screen alter ego's actions. As the headstrong Alice, Torv is equally exceptional, especially as someone who is far from the dutiful informant or likeable potential victim. Indeed, the casting all round is spot on, with Furness dynamite in her first feature beyond voicework in a decade and a half, McLeavy putting in another complicated portrayal in an Aussie movie 15 years after making a helluva debut in The Loved Ones, Roxburgh as excellent at playing cunning as he was in Prosper, and Stringer and Ansell commandingly digging into their sibling characters' layers. Their efforts match the rain in the forest, the unease among the traipsing women and the thrall of this franchise as it grows — because all three keep soaking in.
When Joost Bakker helped pile 3000 kilograms of clothing waste in Melbourne's Federation Square in April 2022, all to draw attention to fast fashion, he viewed the project with his usual optimism. "Even if it's just one person who walks through that structure and gets inspired and comes up with a solution — that's what's so exciting," the renowned zero-waste campaigner noted. Those exact words could've been uttered about the venture at the centre of Greenhouse by Joost, too. A three-storey home made entirely out of recyclable materials that don't generate waste, and designed to operate as a closed food system with everything catered for onsite and not a scrap spared, it predates his spotlight on the textile industry. Clearly, it boasts the same sustainability focus. In fact, Bakker could've said the same thing about past pop-ups in the same spot over more than a decade, including fellow waste-free eateries also called Greenhouse since 2008. Scratch that — it isn't merely likely that the Dutch-born floral designer and activist could've expressed the same sentiments; it's certain he must've. Eliminating waste is Bakker's passion. Not wasting any time trying to put that aim into action is just as much of an obsession. His work doesn't merely talk the talk but walks the walk, and attempts to help the world see how crucial it is to reduce humanity's impact upon the earth. The habitable Greenhouse is quite the undertaking, though, given its purpose: building an abode that two people can get shelter, food, water and energy from, all in one cosy and clever self-sustaining ecosystem. Chefs Jo Barrett and Matt Stone (ex-Oakridge Wines) agreed to do the residing, and to put Bakker's Future Food System to the test. They were named among the world's 50 best next-generation hospitality leaders in 2021 for their efforts, for what's a vital, pioneering and fascinating enterprise. It's no wonder that filmmakers Rhian Skirving (Matilda & Me) and Bruce Permezel (The Obesity Myth) — both directing, the former writing and the latter lensing — were driven to document it. Shot since the conception and building stage, then chronicling the COVID-19 setbacks, the logistical and setup woes, and the daily reality of living in the structure, it's also no wonder that the resulting Melbourne International Film Festival Audience Award-winner makes such compelling viewing. Greenhouse by Joost is both a record and an aspirational tool: it shows what can and has been done and, as Bakker always hopes, it wants to get everyone watching following in his, Barrett and Stone's footsteps. Of course, for most, money will be a very real and practical obstacle. There's no doubting that Greenhouse stems from considerable resources, both in finances and time. But that's the thing with ambitions: they have us shooting for the stars, breaking our goals down into everyday pieces and finding ways to make even small parts of them happen. Evoking that exact response when it comes to making life's basics sustainable — what we eat and drink, where we stay and sleep, and how we power it all — is Bakker's aim, too. With Bakker as the film's on-screen guide, Greenhouse by Joost does just that itself as well, stepping through the idea and the execution like it's laying out a roadmap for its audience to chart. Viewers won't walk out of the doco ready to move into their own such dwelling, but learning plenty about the ingenious design, the bits and pieces that go into it, and the work required — to get it up, ready and operating smoothly, and also to have it function as a small-scale restaurant — comes with simply watching. Although the cooking, serving, welcoming in eager diners and sharing the titular building comes later in the movie, obviously, it's a crucial piece of the project overall and of Skirving and Permezel's feature. How much more doable does just living in the Greenhouse and taking care of yourself seem compared to running it as a mini eatery? Oh-so-much. How much easier does putting some of its principles to use in your own home seem, too? The answer remains the same. For anyone who isn't as immersed the ins and outs of sustainable possibilities, practices and technologies as Greenhouse by Joost's namesake — aka almost everyone except the film's namesake — the details behind the abode are illuminating as well as inspiring. During the construction phase, for instance, the documentary gets informative about different building materials, including panels made from compacted hay that help put farming offcuts to use. Moving beyond concrete slabs as a base, and therefore avoiding the emissions spat out by cement production methods, involves weighing down the Greenhouse from the roof rather than anchoring it from below. The solution? Soil and plants atop the home, which is also where the bulk of the food comes in. Planters blossom with fruit, vegetables and herbs. A beehive provides honey. Fish and yabbies live in an aquaponics system. With each component, the film offers pivotal data — again, not exactly a how-to, but enough to firmly pique interest. Skirving and Permezel, plus Bakker as their chief talking head, complement the behind-the-scenes insights with a front-loaded array of facts and figures, instantly placing the need for an innovative solution like Greenhouse into context. While none of it should be new news given how widely the message about humanity's destruction of the planet is known — as it needs to be — it still leaves an imprint. (One such tidbit: that 27,000 trees a day are cut down just to make toilet paper.) In the process, there's little that's creative about the movie's structure, crisp imagery and overall approach, letting the project at its centre draw the audience in on its merits (well, with assistance from the over-emphasised score). Still, pairing such sobering data with ways to make a difference — and, in the case of the Greenhouse itself, a game-changing dream solution — is a smart and powerful move. Online during its 18-month stint in Fed Square, Bakker's creation attracted ample attention, unsurprisingly. Although Skirving and Permezel include a glimpse at the reaction on social media, Greenhouse by Joost is far more potent when it's showing what people are responding to — when it's doing rather than basking. Again, there's no mystery why that's the case. From the first Greenhouses through to zero-waste cafe Silo by Joost, later soup bar Brothl, this Greenhouse and those aforementioned clothes, that's always been Bakker's modus operandi. He's a natural showman and spokesman, but he knows that making his zero-waste crusade tangible is his most important task — and his best tool for inspiring even just one person.
It's Halloween, 1968, in the fictional town of Mill Valley. With an opening montage reminiscent of many a movie, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark shows viewers just what that means. Locals prepare to celebrate the spookiest day of the year, with decorations littering the town. Pumpkins are a common sight, naturally. Horror-obsessed aspiring writer Stella (Zoe Margaret Colletti) and her fellow teen outcast pals, Auggie (Gabriel Rush) and Chuck (Austin Zajur) are getting ready to go trick-or-treating, too; however it's the bully they're afraid of that initially proves pivotal. At his family farm, Tommy (Austin Abrams) and his offsiders attack a scarecrow. Under the autumn sky, surrounded by towering crops stretching far and wide, they smash and bash the figure mercilessly. Each blow knocks the straw man around, but it doesn't fight back. It can't — it's inanimate. But that doesn't mean that there won't be repercussions. Based on the 80s and 90s children's book series of the same name, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark doesn't trade in a 'what goes around, comes around' mentality — although Tommy isn't destined for a hero's journey. Rather, director André Øvredal (The Autopsy of Jane Doe) and his screenwriters (The Lego Ninjago Movie's Dan Hageman and Kevin Hageman, plus Oscar-winning The Shape of Water filmmaker Guillermo del Toro) explore the idea that pain is part of a cycle. Whether you're inflicting, receiving or helping to relieve it, trauma isn't a one-way event or a one-off occurrence. In the film's intermittent narration, Stella explains this in a different way, more befitting the movie's literary origins: "Stories hurt. Stories heal". After a trip to a supposedly haunted local house leaves Stella in possession of a spooky collection of stories, her words start ringing true. Decades earlier, the book belonged to Sarah Bellows, who was brutalised by her wealthy family, locked in the basement and — as the legend goes — lured in kids with eerie tales, then killed them. Stella doesn't necessarily believe the myths, until fresh tales begin writing themselves into the dusty tome in a bloody scrawl. Each new story mentions someone that Stella knows, such as Tommy, Auggie, Chuck and the mysterious drifter, Ramon (Michael Garza), that she meets at a drive-in screening of Night of the Living Dead. As foretold on the page, scarecrows soon seek revenge, monsters shuffle through creepy asylums and stews come seasoned with body parts, among other unnerving incidents. Tasked with adapting short stories, the filmmakers find an effective solution to what could've been the movie's big struggle: moulding standalone tales into a cohesive whole. Working through a selection of the printed collection's chapters, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark still feels episodic. Indeed, each segment could work on its own as a short film. That said, this isn't a cobbled-together anthology linked by loose connective tissue (or, if they've sprung to mind, a Stranger Things or IT rip-off). Delving deep into what each spooky tale means to Stella and her friends, Øvredal gives his framing narrative as much weight as the movie's individual parts. These stories reflect events, emotions, fears and worries in the characters' lives, and tie into the picture's setting and time period. The Vietnam War rages on, Richard Nixon is about to be elected to America's highest office and racism makes its presence known — and, via all of the above, a generation just coming of age begins to realise that horror really exists. When it comes to the tangible frights — the bumps, jumps, creaks and the like — Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark also finds an apt approach. As he demonstrated in both The Autopsy of Jane Doe and Troll Hunter, Øvredal knows that less is often more. When needed, though, he's not afraid to throw severed heads around, unleash a stream of spiders or watch dissembled limbs combine into a demon. He's not averse to pushing his fresh-faced cast to their limits, either, or deploying Breaking Bad's Dean Norris (as Stella's dad) as the fount of all gravitas. But, whether in subtle or overt mode, the film always sticks to its point, showing how frightful sights, and the underlying forces and troubles they represent, can manifest in many forms. Still, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark does tussle with one tricky spot. While vastly darker than Goosebumps, this is an adolescent-friendly affair, sparking an all-too-generic ending and sequel setup. When it takes the easy route in wrapping things up, the movie is at its worst. Thankfully for horror buffs of all ages, that's doesn't spoil the preceding fun. For most of its running time, this is a suitably creepy and thoughtful film, taking familiar parts, twisting them in unnerving ways, and layering its stories with both scares and meaning. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYPRyBN3Kz8
