That super long weekend felt good. You want another, and suddenly you're aware of how much leave you've managed to accrue. Planning your next break? While we're all about the awesomeness that Sydney has to offer, we have plenty of time for our southern sister too. From iconic rock venues and hidden cocktail gems to a far stretching food culture and enviable variety of record stores, there's always somewhere to be and something to do. Here's just a few of our top picks. 'Feed Me, Seymour.' Sonido! 69 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy (Map) Run by Santiago and Carolina Villamizar, a young Colombian couple, Sonido! is an awesome place to hang out. Naturally, the coffee is amazing and the food is even better. Get an empanada or the ropa vieja arepas and follow it up with a Brazilian cocada, or just sip an Inca Kola while you flick through the retro South American records stacked by the turntable. Swing by Chiquitica too, the new art space at Sonido!, dedicated to artworks that focus on South America. Handsome Steve's House of Refreshment Abbotsford Convent (Map) Steve Miller – Moodist, W.Minc co-founder and Geelong Cats fanatic – is a such a quintessentially Melbourne character, so it seems fitting that he'd set out to revive the quintessentially Melbourne 'wog bar', “where men played cards, smoked, watched TV and drank tiny cups of coffee or VB at quarter to nine in the morning.” The food's simple and tasty, the coffee's good and cheap and there's no bullshit to be had, nor would any be allowed. He'll seem sullen at first, but Steve's a sweetheart – more so if you're a Cats fan too. Head to the Convent then look around for the yellow umbrella. You'll find the place eventually. White Rabbit Record Bar 176 Bellair St, Kensington (Map) Decorated throughout in blue and white, the walls adorned with mirrors and lovely little ceramic rabbits, White Rabbit Record Bar has a vibe of casual elegance. While most of the space is dedicated to records, the main appeal here is in the gorgeous leafy courtyard. Share the antipasto plate with friends while you contemplate the intimidating cocktail list - the Mad Hatter (coriander vodka, wasabi, tomato juice and cucumber) could scare off any hangover. Or contribute to a new one. Yellow Bird Cafe 22 Chapel St, Windsor (Map) Owned by drummer Clint Hyndman, Yellow Bird's a great spot for a simple brunch or an evening beer. Get a spot inside to appreciate the rock 'n' roll blockmounted posters on sale (like Powder Monkeys, The Saints and Radio Birdman, from memory) while enjoying the Death Benedict - poached eggs, bacon and hollandaise on hash browns. Calorie counts are for sooks anyhow. 'One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer.' The Tote 67-71 Johnston Street, Collingwood (Map) So legendary is the Tote that when it closed its doors last year due to the pressures of restrictive licensing laws, thousands took to the street to protest. Though it looked unlikely at times, the Tote reopened under new management and continues to provide a home to both new and heritage acts. Step down into the pit before the stage or hang around in the front bar for a pot; just don't select Television's 'Marquee Moon' on the jukebox – the bar staff called a moratorium on it after too many plays. Yah Yahs 99 Smith Street, Fitzroy (Map) Entry to Yah Yahs is usually free, so it's handy if you're after a drink before dinner on one of Smith Street's bazillion restaurants, want to see the band, or just want to rage on after other places have closed. Score a booth seat as soon as one becomes available; they'll be hot property as the drinks continue to sink. Cherry Bar 103 Flinders Lane, Melbourne, Corner of AC/DC Lane (Map) What happens at Cherry Bar stays at Cherry Bar. Located in AC/DC Lane and owned by Bill Walsh of the Cosmic Psychos, Cherry Bar is a good, unpretentious rock bar with plenty of dark corners. See the bands then keep going until sunrise with a roster of local DJs. Don't request any Nickelback or you will be ejected. New Gold Mountain Levels 1 & 2, 21 Liverpool St, Melbourne (Map) If you can find New Gold Mountain it's a reward in itself – if you're beneath the bike on the wall, you're there. The drinks are identified only by number, which can make things tricky (read: fun surprises) after you've had a few of them, and they're talking points in themselves. We only wish we could remember the number of divine cocktail that came in two glasses, designed to be consumed in alternating sips, but by that point an entire algebra problem had been downed. 24 Moons End of AC/DC Lane, Melbourne (Map) Owner Simon Digby decided the two year lease on the club at the end of AC/DC Lane would be enough, hence the name. Nothing of the interior is permanently attached (though we had to be told this – there's nothing slapdash in its appearance), and everything can be easily removed when the time comes. Be sure to get in soon – we forgot to ask how much of the lease had already elasped, and you'll want to try the Charlie Chaplin cocktail at least once before it's gone. 'Right Round, Baby. Right Round.' Northside Records 236 Gertrude St, Fitzroy (Map) It's not all rock 'n' roll, nor should it be. Head to Northside for the best range of jazz, funk, soul, hip hop, dub, disco and boogaloo in the whole city. Make sure you chat to Chris Gill, the enthusiastic and afroed owner, who's also behind Diggin' Melbourne: a Tour Guide for Vinyl Record Lovers, too. His passion is utterly contagious. Pure Pop 221 Barkly Street, St Kilda (Map) An indie music haven in sunny St Kilda, Pure Pop is the best place to spend a summer afternoon. Previously, you could wander through the store and bag some rare vinyl before grabbing a cider out the back for a live gig at the small outdoor stage. These days, the gigs are inside (hopefully temporarily), so y'know, don't make things worse by being a dick while entering and leaving. Say hi to owner Dave Stevens if you see him, too; he's one of nature's gentlemen. Missing Link 405 Bourke Street, Melbourne (Map) One of Melbourne's longest running independent music stores, Missing Link is an institution. Not only can you pore over the rarities or stock up on old punk singles, you can also grab the latest from independent and small scale local labels not available in most bricks and mortar stores. Remember to wear a watch or you could lose days in there, and make sure you pick up the latest issue of Stained Sheets, too. Off the Hip 381 Flinders Lane, Melbourne (Map) Both a store and label, Off the Hip promises the best in Australian garage, power pop and rock 'n' roll. With the label roster ranging from the Pink Fits (RIP) to Johnny Casino and the Secrets, Wrong Turn and The Frowning Clouds, the variety of the store's wares is unquestionable, and so too is the quality. Cherry Bar pic by Carbie Warbie/Yellow Bird and Northside pics from their respective websites.
There's a new spot in town facilitating all-out luxury weekends away and lavish wellness retreats right by some of NSW's best wineries. Zensi Retreat has opened just outside of Mudgee, offering a regional oasis that's perfect for big group getaways (see: sophisticated hens parties or 30ths) and romantic couples trips, while also running one-off all-inclusive wellness weekends. If you've glanced at the photos and you're already daydreaming of a trip to Zensi, there are a few ways the accommodation functions. The first is the curated wellness retreats that the team runs semi-regularly. There are two wellness weekends scheduled over the next month: the Feminine, and the Rest and Slow Down. Both include two days and two nights of nourishing meals, spa treatments, yoga and workshops — with spots available for $660–1300 per person, depending on what section of Zensi you're looking to stay in. Whenever the property isn't being used for a bespoke retreat, it's bookable for both groups and couples across two different spaces. For getaways with the crew you can opt for The House which sleeps up to ten. This four-bedroom space includes a kitchen-dining area, sauna, plunge spa, firepit, barbecue, pool with day beds and an al fresco entertainment area — making it adaptable for both swim-filled summer trips and winter evenings around the fire. As expected, this massive all-inclusive luxury stay doesn't come cheap, but, if you can get a group of ten together, the house starts from just $125 per person for each night you stay. There are also added extras that you can splurge on including a personal chef. There's also a smaller, more intimate accommodation option called The Villa. With room for two, this space is all about secluded couples or solo stays. If you've got an anniversary or birthday coming up and you're looking to escape it all, The Villa offers a one-bedroom house set to the backdrop of the vast fields of central west NSW with a pool, firepit, living and dining room, sauna and al fresco area. All of this is set on a huge 33-acre property, with both spaces designed around natural hues, raw materials and minimal distractions so that you can switch and connect with the environment around you. Founders Ruby Chapman and Ray Tayoun say that the concept behind Zensi was: "To create an experience that immerses the body and mind, where one can find a sense of ease within a meticulously curated environment that caters to your every need." Zensi Retreat is located 173 Lowes Peak Road, St Fillans, 15 minutes from Mudgee. Head to the website to browse its upcoming wellness retreats and to book a stay at either The House or The Villa.
What does Brisbane have in common with music superstars Beyoncé, Björk, Lady Gaga and Rihanna, and also Oscar-winners Cate Blanchett and Tilda Swinton? An appreciation for fashion designer Iris van Herpen. The avant-garde Dutch talent has dressed them all, including creating the breathtaking Heliosphere dress that proved a showstopper on Beyoncé's Renaissance tour. The latter gigs haven't made it Down Under, but the Australian-exclusive Sculpting the Senses exhibition at the Queensland capital's Gallery of Modern Art will take you into the world of the haute couture figure who played a part in it. Fashion lovers have until Monday, October 7, 2024 to explore one of GOMA's big showcases for 2024, which continues to plunge the South Brisbane site into an enchanting and ethereal realm after Fairy Tales, its huge summer exhibition, did the same. Pieces by van Herpen can't be mistaken for designs by anyone else, sitting at the intersection of couture, art and design, while also exploring technological advancements such as 3D printing. In that field, she's widely considered the first to make a garment this way. [caption id="attachment_966401" align="alignnone" width="1917"] Installation view of 'Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses' including Fractal Flows dress, from the 'Sensory Seas' collection 2020 by Iris van Herpen with collaborator Perry Hall; and Cosmica gown, from the 'Shift Souls' collection 2019 by Iris van Herpen with collaborator Kim Keever / © Iris van Herpen / Photograph: C Callistemon © QAGOMA.[/caption] From gowns to accessories, a massive 130 of van Herpen's pieces are now on display in the River City. Across nine chapters — some nodding to the dreamlike sheen that accompanies the designer's pieces, others focusing on skeletal structures, inspirations, and how the sea and the cosmos are an influence — Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses steps through the work of a creative who boasts stints alongside Alexander McQueen and Claudy Jongstra on her resume. It was almost two decades back, in 2007, that the Maison Iris van Herpen came to life in Amsterdam. Evoking her studio, complete with a cabinet of curiosities, is also part of GOMA's celebration. In this section of the exhibition, attendees will also see a space dedicated to fashion shows and unpack the various development stages of a dress. Hitting Brisbane after a run in Paris, co-organised by the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, and boasting the organisation's Dr Cloé Pitiot and Louise Curtis on curatorial duties alongside QAGOMA's Nina Miall and Jacinta Giles, Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses takes its name seriously. This is a feast for the eyes, clearly, but also comes paired with a soundscape by Dutch sound artist Salvador Breed — not just a collaborator of van Herpen's, but her partner — to enhance the experience. [caption id="attachment_966406" align="alignnone" width="1917"] Installation view of 'Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses' at the Gallery of Modern Art, Brisbane / Photograph: C Callistemon © QAGOMA[/caption] Among the specific fashion gems featured, the exhibition draws from 2010's water-themed 'Crystallization' collection, which took its cues from water being splashed at models; 2020's 'Sensory Seas', with hydrozoa such as the bluebottle an influence; and 2012's 'Micro' and 'Hybrid Holism', each teeming with microscopic detail that mimics the natural world — just for starters. Elsewhere, van Herpen's designs use X-rays, MRIs, neuroscience, mythology, alchemy, biotech, NASA's James Webb space telescope and more as guides. In one clear highlight, 2019's cape-slash-dress Hypnosis, she deploys a kaleidoscopic pattern in inky black to touch upon the mind's movement between the conscious and unconscious — and, in the process, also fashions up an optical illusion. [caption id="attachment_966399" align="alignnone" width="1917"] Installation view of 'Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses' including Iris van Herpen / Netherlands b.1984 / Philip Beesely (Collaborator) / Canada b.1956. Hypnosis cape-dress, from the 'Hypnosis' collection 2019 / Laser-cut duchesse satin, mylar, tulle. Radiography dress, from the 'Magnetic Motion' collection 2014 / Laser-cut and thermally expanded PETG, silicone, microfibre. Iris van Herpen / Netherlands b.1984 / Shift Souls dress, from the 'Shift Souls' collection 2019 / Laser-cut Komon Koubou, silk organza, mylar. Courtesy: Iris van Herpen atelier / © Iris van Herpen / Photograph: C Callistemon © QAGOMA[/caption] Visitors will equally spy a range of complementary pieces surrounding van Herpen's designs, weaving in Yayoi Kusama, Cai Guo-Qiang, Japanese art collective Mé and Kohei Nawa, for instance. Megan Cope, Philip Beesley, Anne Noble, Damien Jalet, Casey Curran, Rogan Brown, Ren Ri and Courtney Mattison also have works in Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses, as does the Living Architecture Systems Group. Natural history objects add yet another layer. The dramatic staging, especially when van Herpen's work is set against a black background, achieves the same. Similarly featuring: installations, videos and photographs. Designs by van Herpen are unsurprisingly no stranger to galleries and museums, with New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art, Paris' Palais Galliera and Melbourne's National Gallery of Victoria among the institutions to include her work in their collections. [caption id="attachment_966414" align="alignnone" width="1917"] Installation view of 'Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses'. (l) Iris van Herpen / Netherlands b.1984 / Shelee Carruthers (Collaborator) / Australia b.1977 / Hydrozoa dress, from the 'Sensory Seas' collection 2020 / PETG, glass organza. (r) Iris van Herpen / Netherlands b.1984 / Hydromedusa dress, from the 'Sensory Seas' collection 2020 / Printed organza, laser-cut Komon Koubou, mylar, tulle. Courtesy: Iris van Herpen atelier / © Iris van Herpen / Photograph: C Callistemon © QAGOMA[/caption] [caption id="attachment_966412" align="alignnone" width="1917"] Installation view of the Cabinet of Curiosities in 'Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses', Gallery of Modern Art, Brisbane / © Iris van Herpen / Photograph: J Ruckli © QAGOMA.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_966409" align="alignnone" width="1917"] Installation view of 'Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses' including: Tim Walker (Photographer) / United Kingdom b.1970 / Iris van Herpen (Designer) / Netherlands b.1984 / David Altmejd (Sculptor) / Canada b.1974 / Duckie Thot (Model) / Australia b.1995 / Kiki Willems (Model) / Netherlands b.1996 / Fashion: Iris van Herpen 2018 / Exhibition print / Courtesy: Tim Walker Studio. Kohei Nawa / Japan b.197 / PixCell-Double Deer #4 2010 / Mixed media / Purchased 2010 with funds from the Josephine Ulrick and Win Schubert Diversity Foundation through the Queensland Art Gallery Foundation. Iris van Herpen / Netherlands b.1984 / Airborne dress, from the 'Aeriform' collection 2017 / Laser-cut crepe, mylar, tulle / Courtesy: Iris van Herpen atelier. © The artists / Photograph: C Callistemon © QAGOMA.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_966411" align="alignnone" width="1917"] Iris van Herpen: Runway films 2017-23 (installation view, 'Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses') / Video, colour, sound, 57:51 minutes (total, looped) / Editor: Simona Gol / Music selection: Salvador Breed / Courtesy: Iris van Herpen Atelier / © Iris van Herpen / Photograph: C Callistemon © QAGOMA.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_966407" align="alignnone" width="1917"] Installation view of 'Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses'. (l) Iris van Herpen / Netherlands b.1984 / Water dress, special project 2010 / Heat-moulded PETG / Collection: Groninger Museum, Netherlands / © Iris van Herpen. (r) David Spriggs / Canada b.1978 / Origins 2018 / PET film, acrylic Plexiglas, LED, acrylic paint, metal / Collection: Dr Pierre Miron / © David Spriggs. Photograph: C Callistemon © QAGOMA.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_966405" align="alignnone" width="1917"] Haruka Kojin / Japan b.1983 / Contact Lens (installation view, 'Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses') 2023 / Acrylic lenses, wire / Courtesy: The artist and SCAI THE BATHHOUSE, Tokyo / © Haruka Kojin / Photograph: C Callistemon © QAGOMA.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_966400" align="alignnone" width="1917"] Installation view of 'Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses' including: Iris van Herpen / Netherlands b.1984 / Kim Keever (Collaborator) / United States b. 1955 / Cosmica gown, from the 'Shift Souls' collection 2019 / Organza, tulle / Iris van Herpen / Netherlands b.1984 / Azari dress, from the 'Carte Blanche' collection 2023 / Laser-cut crepe de Chine, silk organza, tulle. Courtesy: Iris van Herpen atelier / © Iris van Herpen / Photograph: C Callistemon © QAGOMA.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_966396" align="alignnone" width="1917"] Installation view of 'Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses' including (l-r) Foliage dress, from the 'Ludi Naturae' collection 2018 by Iris van Herpen with collaborators Delft University of Technology and Stratasys Ltd.; Gaia gown, from the 'Roots of Rebirth' collection 2021 and Ammonite dress, from the 'Seijaku' collection 2016 both by Iris van Herpen; and Explosion Process Drawing for Dragon or Rainbow Serpent: A Myth Glorified of Feared: Project for Extraterrestrials No.28 1996 by Cai Guo-Qiang / © The artists / Photograph: C Callistemon © QAGOMA.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_966410" align="alignnone" width="1917"] Installation view of 'Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses' including (front) Cosmica gown, from the 'Shift Souls' collection 2019 by Iris van Herpen with collaborator Kim Keever / © Iris van Herpen / Photograph: C Callistemon © QAGOMA.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_966397" align="alignnone" width="1917"] Installation view of 'Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses'. (l) Iris van Herpen / Netherlands b.1984 / Entangled Life gown, from the 'Roots of Rebirth' collection 2021 / Hand-pleated silk organza, embroider thread, tulle, wire / Worn by singer-songwriter Lorde performing at Radio City Music Hall, New York, 2022 / Courtesy: Iris van Herpen Atelier / © Iris van Herpen. (r) Yann Arthus-Bertrand (Director and photographer) / France b.1946 / Michael Pitiot (Director) / France b.1970 / Wim van Egmond (Photographer) / Netherlands b.1966 / Terra 2015 / Video, colour, Dolby Digital, 98 minutes, France, French, English subtitles / Music: Armand Amar / Voice: Vanessa Paradis / Production: Hope Production / Courtesy: Hope Production. Photograph: C Callistemon © QAGOMA[/caption] [caption id="attachment_966408" align="alignnone" width="1917"] Installation view of 'Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses' including (l-r) Contact 2023 by 目[mé]; Hydrozoa dress, from the 'Sensory Seas' collection 2020 by Iris van Herpen with collaborator Shelee Carruthers; Mirror of the Mind dress, from the 'Micro' collection 2012 and Hydromedusa dress, from the 'Sensory Seas' collection 2020 both by Iris van Herpen / © The artists / Photograph: C Callistemon © QAGOMA.[/caption]Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses displays at the Gallery of Modern Art, Stanley Place, South Brisbane, from Saturday, June 29–Monday, October 7, 2024 — for more information, head to the venue's website. Top images: Iris van Herpen / Netherlands b.1984 / Daniel Widrig (Collaborator) / United Kingdom b.1977 / Materialise (Collaborator) / Belguim est.1990 / Crystallization top and skirt, from the 'Capriole' collection 2011 / 3D-printed polyamide using selective laser sintering, eco-leather, cotton, nylon thread / Purchased thanks to the patronage of Doctor and Madam Léon Crivain, 2018 / Collection: Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris. // Courtney Mattison / United States b.1985 / Malum Geminos 2019 / Glazed stoneware and porcelain / Courtesy: The artist. // Iris van Herpen / Netherlands b.1984 / Nicholas Koscinski (Collaborator)/ United States b.1992 / Futurama gown, from the 'Meta Morphism' collection 2022 / 3D-printed Bluesint (upcycled polyamide) using selective laser sintering, silver, silk, organza, tulle / Courtesy: Iris van Herpen atelier. // © The artists / Photograph: C Callistemon © QAGOMA Installation view of 'Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses' including (front l-r) Symbiotic asymmetric dress, from the 'Shift Souls' collection 2019 by Iris van Herpen; Fractal Flows dress, from the 'Sensory Seas' collection 2020 by Iris van Herpen with collaborator Perry Hall; and Cosmica gown, from the 'Shift Souls' collection 2019 by Iris van Herpen with collaborator Kim Keever / © Iris van Herpen / Photograph: C Callistemon © QAGOMA. Installation view of 'Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses'. (l) Iris van Herpen / Netherlands b.1984 / Holozoic dress, from the 'Hybrid Holism' collection 2012 / Eco-leather, Swarovski crystals / Courtesy: Iris van Herpen atelier / © Iris van Herpen. (r) Tim Walker (Photographer) / United Kingdom b.1970 / Iris van Herpen (Designer) / Netherlands b.1984 / David Altmejd (Sculptor) / Canada b.1974 / Duckie Thot (Model) / Australia b.1995 / Kiki Willems (Model) / Netherlands b.1996 / Fashion: Iris van Herpen 2018 / Exhibition print / Courtesy: Tim Walker Studio / © Tim Walker. Photograph: C Callistemon © QAGOMA. Installation view of 'Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses'. (l)目[mé] / Japan est.2012 / Contact 2023 / Mixed media / Courtesy: The artists. (r) Iris van Herpen / Netherlands b.1984 / Shelee Carruthers (Collaborator) / Australia b.1977 / Hydrozoa dress, from the 'Sensory Seas' collection 2020 / PETG, glass organza / Courtesy: Iris van Herpen atelier. Photograph: C Callistemon © QAGOMA. Installation view of 'Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses' including (front) Cosmica gown, from the 'Shift Souls' collection 2019 by Iris van Herpen with collaborator Kim Keever / © Iris van Herpen / Photograph: C Callistemon © QAGOMA.
Remember when your parents threw dinner parties when you were a kid? Your parents had likely planned the menu well in advance, pulled out the good crockery, and cleaned the house in a frenzy. It was gorgeous, of course, but it was also a colossal effort. Thankfully, the popularity of formal dining at home took a nosedive, and now we want the kind of easy and elevated dining experience that Pinterest has championed: relaxed, but still worthy of sharing pictures across the internet. Which brings us a new kind of challenge, when you search 'dinner party ideas' you'll get 275 million results and too many options to choose from. So to help cut through the anxiety you may be feeling about hosting your next dinner party, we've partnered with super premium French vodka Grey Goose to bring you a guide on how to host an elevated evening meal at home that won't cost you your entire pay cheque (or your sanity). Read on for some sensory inspiration. TASTE Arguably the most important part of a dinner party (aside from your guests) is the food and drink, so don't let this part trip you up. Repeat after me: delegation is key. Nobody expects you to do this on your own (and foot the expenses, too), so when people offer to bring something, assign them a dish immediately. Keep it simple with cheese, charcuterie or a salad. For drinks, rest assured that everyone will bring their own beer or wine, so flex your hosting skills by having a pre-dinner cocktail ready for when everyone arrives. So fancy! So adult! The Grey Goose Peach Spritz is an elegant cocktail that's easy to make. Simply build 40ml of Grey Goose Original with 20ml of peach puree, 10ml of lemon juice, 10ml of sugar syrup and 45ml of sparkling rose in a wine glass. Stir and top with a sprig of rosemary. Look at you go! [caption id="attachment_751536" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Creative Commons: Flickr/Eva Coudyser[/caption] SIGHT Your parents were onto something with all those candles they lit at their weekend soirees; lighting really is important. Fairy lights, lamps, tea lights = good ambiance. That dodgy fluro light in the living room = bad vibes. You don't live in a dive bar. Once you've picked out the lights that suit your home, spruce up the rest of the house. Hide any clutter, put something floral on the table, and pull out some old photos. Not only will this serve as decoration, but it'll also work as an ice-breaker for any guests that might not know each other that well. Bonus points if the photos contain questionable haircuts circa 2010. [caption id="attachment_751529" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Creative Commons: Flickr/Marco Verch[/caption] SMELL They say the smell of baking bread is used by real estate agents to attract home buyers — and it's a very comforting aroma. Rather than baking your own loaf of sourdough for the occasion (#toohardbasket), stop by one of the best bakeries in Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane and pick up something ready made. Heat it up in the oven, and cut up thick slices to throw on a cheese board. Your gluten-free/low-carb/Keto friends probably won't eat it, but everyone will appreciate the smell. And if your sense of smell is chef-level impressive, see if you can pick out the notes of French baguettes in the Grey Goose vodka, as the same winter wheat is used to make the vodka as bakers use to make the country's famed pastries. [caption id="attachment_751744" align="alignnone" width="1920"] InBed[/caption] TOUCH Two words: table linen. It makes a real difference — and you can create a tactile environment really easily with one throw-over table cloth from linen purveyors like InBed (from $110) to more affordable homewares stores like IKEA (from $19.99). In a pinch, you can always use a picnic rug, or a sarong, to dress the table. Next, create an inviting environment where people can congregate after a big meal. Grab all the blankets from your bedroom, and get some hygge happening. Imagine a pillow fort, but more chic. SOUND When it comes to music, people fall into one of two categories: the effortlessly cool people who have a record player (and a well-curated vinyl collection) and those who rely on the old faithful Spotify and wireless speakers, which wins points for being totally customisable. If you choose to use a music streaming service during dinner, please abide by the cardinal rules: pay for premium (so you don't have pesky ads interrupting the mood) and use 'private session' so you don't add the tracks to your algorithm. Alternatively, rely on pre-made playlists like Front Left; the latest tracks become conversation starters. [embed]https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1DX5WTH49Vcnqp[/embed] Upgrade your dinner party by choosing premium vodka Grey Goose. Each bottle is distilled in France, and the high quality vodka has a 100 percent traceable production process, from crop to cork.
Remember when hotels were just for vacationing and staycationing in? Of course you do. That's still the standard setup, but Hijinx Hotel isn't really a hotel. On the top level of Chermside shopping centre, it's actually an OTT challenge room bar with an accommodation theme. Think: The Grand Budapest Hotel, The Shining's Overlook Hotel mixed with Willy Wonka's chocolate factory, all with puzzles and games to play inside its doors (and drinks to sip while you're doing so). If you're new to the concept, it takes all that eye-catching and nostalgia-dripping theming, then uses it to give the escape-room concept a game-fuelled twist. Throw in cocktails and it's aiming to be the ultimate in kidulting fun, aka Funlab's adult-focused twist on sleuthing your way through various spaces with a beverage or several in your hand. The site forms a mini game-fuelled — and 350-person-capacity — precinct alongside Holey Moley. On the challenge room side of things, patrons can expect ten game rooms filled with entertaining things to do. That includes two brand-new spaces that haven't been seen at other sites: Battleship, based on the submarine-themed game, which involves trying to sink ships for points; and Cute as a Button, a new version of its Who Meme game, where you'll solve cartoon puzzles that feature characters from your childhood. Hijinx Hotel Chermside also boasts the Big-style piano room with a giant keyboard across the floor, ball pits and a giant version of Scrabble. Basically, the whole Hijinx Hotel Chermside site is a bar decked out like a hotel, but getting attendees to complete challenges rather than get a-slumbering in its various spaces. It also gleans inspiration from all those supremely Instagrammable pop-up installations that include ball pits, but this one is sticking around Brissie permanently. And it's home to bars for cocktail-drinking opportunities, nods to New York hotels in its facade, and just generally overflows with homages to movies and board games from the 80s and 90s. Shaking off your regular routine is clearly the name of the game here, and partying like you would've before you were old enough to drink alcohol — but with the hard stuff definitely on offer. That all starts when you enter via the faux hotel lobby bar, which is full of colour and surrealist touches. Instead of merely checking in, though, that's where you'll find cocktails. As for the not-quite-hotel rooms themselves, you gain access by heading to reception t0 pick up a swipe card. Also a highlight: those creative cocktails, breaking up all that kidulting with drinks like the Bubble and Pop and the Penthouse Party. Some of the venue's tipples are designed to share, most of them look ace on your Instagram feed, and there's also a range of non-alcoholic drinks — and food to line your stomach.
If you find yourself in the mood for some world-class pizza this week and you happen to be in Melbourne, you won't have to travel very far at all to get it. Simply head to 48h Pizza e Gnocchi Bar in South Yarra, where you'll experience the Best Pizzeria in the Asia Pacific, as decided by the experts for this year's 50 Top Pizza awards. The Victorian spot took out the prestigious title earlier this week at an awards ceremony in Bangkok, where the annual international pizzeria guide named its top 50 picks for the Asia Pacific region. The awards judge venues not just on the merit of their slices, but on each pizzeria as a whole, rating the food, drinks, service and overall ambiance. Running for the last five years, the 50 Top Pizza awards are chosen by around 1000 experts across the globe, who visit the pizzerias anonymously to judge and rank their offerings. 150 pizzeria 'inspectors' took on the task for the Asia and Oceania area specifically. With this new regional crown, 48h now scores an entry in the worldwide ranking, the 50 Top Pizza World 2022 competition, which will be announced in Naples on September 7. Of course, the southside pizzeria is no stranger to international praise, having claimed the title of Best Pizzeria In Oceania in last year's 50 Top Pizza awards. The chain's pizzas themselves, which are on offer at its Elsternwick and Spotswood venues as well, have also nabbed a stack of awards, including being crowned #1 Pizza in Australia at the Pizza World Championships in 2019. A handful of other Aussie venues were also named in this year's Asia Pacific top 50, including Sydney's Al Taglio (14), Bella Brutta (25), Gigi Pizzeria (27), Lucio Pizzeria (43) and Via Napoli (49); fellow Melburnians A25 (35), SPQR (37), Mozzarella Bar (39) and La Svolta (40); and Adelaide's Etica Pizza (42). Find 48h Pizza e Gnocchi Bar at 373 Malvern Road, South Yarra; 15 Gordon Street, Elsternwick; and Grazeland, Spotswood. For the full 50 Top Pizza Asia Pacific awards list, jump over to the website. Craving a slice, Melburnians? Check out our top picks for pizza in Melbourne.
From piecing together messages or wondrous discoveries hidden among the stars, to using the constellations as a guiding force for navigation, or simply sitting back and admiring the view, stargazing has proven to be an enduring hobby. To honour this, Vivid Sydney is taking to the skies with the return of its stunning annual drone shows, in partnership with the Australian Traffic Network. Across six nights from Sunday, May 28, you'll be able to look up and witness over 1000 drones lighting up the night sky to create the biggest drone show the Southern Hemisphere has seen to date. Written in the Stars will take audiences on a visual exploration of space, delving into the natural world of our solar system by featuring awe-inspiring landscapes from the Sun through to Jupiter — along with some unexpected stops and visitors. A rework of Gustav Holst's 'The Planets' by Peewee Ferris will soundtrack the shows, available via the Cinewav app (which you can download here), to heighten the experiential journey. And you'll be able to marvel at these sights for free. Catch the recurring light shows from 9.10pm from your vantage point of Circular Quay or The Rocks. This event will only light up Sydney Harbour for six nights throughout the duration of Vivid Sydney 2023. Written in the Stars is running from 9.10pm on Sunday, May 28 and Wednesday, May 31 then June 4th, 7th, 12th and 14th. For more information, visit the website.
Brightening up winter has always been Vivid Sydney's mission. Turning as much of the city as possible into a glowing sight has also been the festival's remit since its beginnings. Announcing its return for 2024, Dark Spectrum isn't the only example of how those aims come to fruition, but it's still a dazzling case in point. The luminous event heads into the Harbour City's depths, unleashes lasers and lights, adds electronic dance music as a soundtrack and gets attendees exploring a lit-up subterranean labyrinth. Dark Spectrum debuted in 2023, as a world-premiere installation in Wynyard's unused railway tunnels, which was the first time ever that the spot had been opened to the public. The light show beneath the streets has now joined the 2024 program, again in the same location, but this time as Dark Spectrum: A New Journey. Just like last year, we hope that you like lasers, secret passageways and bright colours, which will all be on offer from Friday, May 24–Saturday, June 15. As the name makes plain, this is an all-new version of Dark Spectrum, but the basic setup, of course, remains the same. A collaboration between Vivid Sydney, Sony Music, Mandylights and Culture Creative, this underground spectacle will again feature eight rooms, all heroing a different hue, with the entire concept initially inspired by raves and their dance floors. Across a one-kilometre trail — up from 2023's 900 metres — 300 lasers and strobe lights, 500 lanterns, 250 search lights and 700 illuminated arrows will make a shining impression. Wondering which tunes accompany this maze-like experience, which tasks everyone that enters with wandering through its expanse from start to finish as lights flash and flicker, and smoke and haze effects add to the mood? Dark Spectrum: A New Journey will draw upon club-favourite tracks from the past 30 years. And yes, if you want to dance your way through the chambers and tunnels, that's allowed (and understandable). "Vivid Sydney 2024 is exploring what makes us uniquely human, with a diverse program designed to foster connections, spark imagination and showcase the multitude of ways creativity enriches our lives. We are so excited to welcome back Dark Spectrum: A New Journey to Vivid Sydney 2024 to bring the festival theme to life with a brand-new wholly immersive experience," said Vivid Sydney Festival Director Gill Minervini. Also adding gleaming sights to the fest's lineup: the return of Lightscape, again at the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney; 40-kilometre-long laser beams shooting out of Sydney Tower; artwork by Archibald Prize winner Julia Gutman on the Sydney Opera House's sails; projected pieces on a range of buildings in the CBD; 4000 solar-powered LED candles glowing amid the sandstone blocks at Barangaroo Reserve; and Barangaroo's Stargazer Lawn welcoming a circular projection of the brolga's mating dance. Dark Spectrum: A New Journey will run from Friday, May 24–Saturday, June 15, 2024, during Vivid Sydney 2024. For further information and tickets, head to the event's website. Top image: Dark Spectrum 2023, Destination NSW.
When Twin Peaks wrapped up its original two-season run back in 1991, it left audiences with a damn huge cliffhanger. David Lynch revisited the series' distinctive world on the big screen the following year; however Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me was a prequel rather than a sequel, so the show's mysteries remained just that for more than a quarter-century. Then, in 2017, came Twin Peaks: The Return. The long-awaited 18-episode third season of the show continued the tale of FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan) and murdered Twin Peaks homecoming queen Laura Palmer (Sheryl Lee) — but, with Lynch directing every episode and co-writing the whole thing with fellow series creator Mark Frost, it did so in a very Lynchian way. In the words of Coop himself, it took you to a place both wonderful and strange, exceeding what even the most feverish Peaks fans expected. Eighteen hours of Lynch and Frost's unfiltered weirdness will do that. Indeed, Twin Peaks: The Return felt like stepping straight into Lynch's brain. That said, the next Twin Peaks project just might have that beat. While it's unlikely to deliver anything as mind-blowing as the third season's acclaimed eighth episode, Twin Peaks VR will let you wander around the show's famous settings — and solve puzzles while you're there. Created by Collider Games and Showtime, and available now — via Steam and Oculus for Oculus Rift, Oculus Rift-S, HTC Vive and HTC Vive Cosmos, with versions for Oculus Quest and PlayStationVR coming at a yet-to-be-revealed date — Twin Peaks VR takes players on a first-person journey through everywhere from the Red Room and Glastonbury Grove to the Sheriff's Department and the Glass Box Observation. Yes, that means that you can virtually walk past the iconic crimson curtains and along the zigzagging floors, rifle through Sheriff Truman's desk and watch out for Bob. Based on the trailer, you can also see the kettle-like machine that David Bowie's Fire Walk With Me character became in The Return as well. While escape room-type puzzles keep the game moving forward, it's really an excuse to hang out in the Twin Peaks realm in the most immersive way yet. And, if you've watched and rewatched the show's 48 episodes (and the movie) more times than you can count — and read the various books related to it, too — it's your next chance to scratch your Twin Peaks itch. Best grab yourself some coffee, cherry pie and doughnuts to enjoy while you're playing, obviously. Check out the trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHRXHvPRrJY Twin Peaks VR is now available via Steam and Oculus. For further information, visit the game's website.
Step inside Winston Quinn's Fortitude Valley warehouse, and you'll find one type of beverage on the menu: gin. That's all the Brisbane distillery makes and, in its freshly launched tasting room, that's all it sells as well. "We joke if people would like a gin, a gin or a gin," explains founder Megan Donsky. Of course, there are plenty of varieties of the beloved juniper-based spirit, as every gin lover knows — and plenty of ways to serve it, too. Winston Quinn whips up four types: Dry Cut, a citrus-flavoured tipple made with fresh lemon, orange rind and lemon myrtle; Skinny Jeans, a blue-hued gin with floral flavours; Pink Fit, which is infused with elderflower, grapefruit, wild apple and strawberry; and Slim Crop, which heroes cucumber. And, it offers tasting paddles ($30) featuring all four, cocktails made with each ($18–35), and gin and tonics ($12.50) boasting whichever one you choose. If you're eager for a cocktail, highlights include the Skinny Martini ($18), the Dry Cut Negroni ($20) and the Winston Jug ($35), with the latter featuring both Skinny Jeans and Pink Fit gins. Mocktails are also on offer for those eager to enjoy the taste but not the booze, and all drinks can be paired with a cheese board ($25) or a meat and olive tasting plate ($25). Customers can also purchase both 200-millilitre ($30) and 700-millilitre ($85–89) takeaway bottles — and you'll receive $10 off the latter if you book in for a tasting. Also included in those 90-minute sessions: either the aforementioned tasting paddle and a G&T (for $30), or a cocktail (for $20). Now open in a 60s-era brick building on Prospect Street, Winston Quinn Gin's tasting room was originally slated to launch earlier in the year. In fact, it was just one week away from opening when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. The site has a cosy yet light and airy feel, decor-wise, and it's only open to 20 people at a time at present, in line with Queensland's current restrictions. And if you're wondering about the distillery's moniker — and its dog logo, which is prominent both on its bottles and in the tasting room — Donsky named the place after her two golden retrievers. Find Winston Quinn Gin at 2 Prospect Street, Fortitude Valley — with tastings held from Thursday–Sunday.
Before you complete that huge spring clean, chucking out all the 'useless junk' that is taking up space, stop and think for a second if it could be transformed into something of use. Upcycling is all about using old materials to create new, useful and often beautiful products. These pieces of upcycled furniture have taken pieces of trash and turned them into treasure, with inventive designs that will be sure to get you rummaging through your storage or local warehouses. Milk Crate Staircase Danish architecture firm Lendager Arkitekter created this milk crate staircase as a key feature of their million dollar 'Upcycled House', and is made entirely from milk boxes and OBD boards. Washing Machine Drum Stools Knit Knacks is the new range from the designers Junk Munkez - creative designers with a green conscience - located in Beirut. These nifty little creations emerged from washing machine drums to create colourful and fun embroidered stools. Ski Chandelier Helsinki-based travel agency Elamysmatkat were searching for an interior design that reflected their philosophy that snow travel should be fun and daring. Enter Dutch designer Willem Heeffer, who created this chandelier, created from skis donated by Heeffer's Facebook friends and fans. Magazine Stool This innovative design, The Hockenheimer by German company NJU Studio, provides an original piece of seating from a stack of old magazines. Sea Chair British designers Studio Swine collect plastic from the UK's most polluted beach, Porthtowan, and compress this waste to create a series of beautiful and functional Sea Chairs. Nautical Mat Sophie Aschauer founded SerpentSea in 2011 after a sailing trip in which she started weaving mats by hand out of reclaimed marine ropes. The mats use four style of knots each named after the most infamous pirates from the 17th Century - Bonnie, Drake, Morgan and Killigrew. Suitcase Medicine Cabinet Give an old suitcase new purpose by hanging one up on your bathroom wall and transforming it into a medicine cabinet. Add some shelves inside and a mirror on the outside and you've got yourself a fancy wall feature to store your toiletries in. Watering Can Shower Jazz up your shower to make the daily ritual more exciting with an old watering can. The Interweb Chair The Interweb Chair comes from BRC Designs, a studio in South Carolina fronted by mastermind Benjamin Rollins Caldwell. The 1cm blue plastic sheets that frame the chair were originally bathroom dividers in an old mill. Binary Table The Binary Table is an assemblage of old computer and electronic parts that were discarded in a warehouse and rendered obsolete. The table is decked out with motherboards, CDs, computer chips, hard disc drives and LED screens held together by sheet metal screws.
Romance. Kidnapping. A farm girl called Buttercup. A scheming prince. A swashbuckling saviour. A giant. When William Goldman threw them all together, The Princess Bride was the end result — first in his 1973 novel, and then in the 1987 film that the late, great writer also penned. For more than three and a half decades, viewers have watched Fred Savage (The Afterparty) hear the world's best bedtime story, Robin Wright (Land) and Cary Elwes (Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One) frolic in fields, and Andre the Giant tower over everyone around, with The Princess Bride one of those beloved 80s flicks that never gets old. That said, if you've ever found yourself enjoying all of the above and dreaming that its soundtrack could fill the room around you while being played live by an orchestra, then you're about to be in luck. Despite what outlaw boss Vizzini (Wallace Shawn, Evil) might exclaim, The Princess Bride in Concert definitely isn't inconceivable. Instead, this tour is channelling another famous The Princess Bride line: as you wish. This delightful movie-and-music combo will hit both Perth and Brisbane in 2024, playing one show in each city — in Perth on Saturday, February 24 and Brisbane on Saturday, April 13. If you need a refresher on all things The Princess Bride, the comedy-romance-adventure flick follows farmhand Westley (Elwes) on a rescue mission to save his true love Princess Buttercup (Wright) — and also features Mandy Patinkin (Wonder), Billy Crystal (Monsters at Work) and Christopher Guest (Mascots). Being performed live: the entire score, as written by Dire Straits' Mark Knopfler — and with Slava Grigoryan and the Perth Symphony Orchestra doing the honours in Western Australia, then Grigoryan and the Queensland Pops Orchestra in the Sunshine State. And if you're wondering how many times someone will say "anybody want a peanut?" in the audience before and after the movie, the answer is: plenty. Check out the trailer for The Princess Bride below: THE PRINCESS BRIDE IN CONCERT AUSTRALIAN TOUR: Saturday, February 24, 2024 — Riverside Theatre, Perth Saturday, April 13, 2024 — Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, Brisbane The Princess Bride in Concert is touring Australia in 2024 — head to the event's website for further details and tickets.
Celine Song understands the power of a moment. Past Lives, her debut feature, is filled with scenes and meetings — minutes and mere seconds, too — that are so potent they're almost overwhelming. Making the leap to cinema from the stage, the playwright-turned-filmmaker has crafted a quiet, patient, contemplative and deeply felt romantic drama that knows intimately how emotions can swell to bursting point in something as simple and commonplace as a glance, walk, Skype call or drink at a bar. One of the movies that had 2023's Sundance Film Festival talking, plus everywhere from Berlin to Sydney to New Zealand since — and is destined to be showered in awards love, too — Past Lives is well-aware of what it's like to spend oh-so-many moments wondering what could've been or still might, and about what's meant to. Arriving after focusing on the stage, getting experimental with Chekhov live and online with The Seagull on The Sims 4 and writing for the initial season of streaming series The Wheel of Time, Song's first effort as a filmmaker springs from a specific moment, in fact — and one that she also recreates on-screen with her characters Nora (Greta Lee, Russian Doll), Hae Sung (Teo Yoo, Decision to Leave) and Arthur (John Magaro, The Many Saints of Newark). Past Lives takes inspiration from the writer/director's own experiences in a number of ways. "I would say it's an adaptation of my life, or inspired by," she tells Concrete Playground. It was the power of a moment sat in a New York bar with her American husband and Korean childhood sweetheart, however, that helped put the picture in motion. "I wasn't sure if there was a movie in it, but I think that what I really did feel is that it did feel like a significant and special moment, and a very revelatory moment in my own life," Song shares, chatting in August when she was in Australia for the Melbourne International Film Festival. "I feel like living your life as an ordinary person, I think that there are moments in your life where your life suddenly feels completely extraordinary — and it's totally epic, too. Then you just suddenly feel the total sheer scale of your life expand." "That kind of was this weird moment where I was like 'huh, nobody in this bar probably knows this or feels this, but I think that I just am feeling so massive sitting here in this little bar with these two people'," Song continues. "I think that it made me feel like 'maybe this is something that might connect with other people?'. And then, more and more, I learned that it does connect with a lot of people, and that honestly has made me feel less lonely more than anything." Past Lives begins with Nora, Hae Sung and Arthur sipping and chatting as fellow bar patrons observe, guessing about who the trio are to each other. From the outset, the film connects with that powerful moment in Song's own existence, with the three figures that'll wander through her feature's frames coping with love and life, and with viewers doing their own watching and pondering as well. From there, the movie heads backwards, first to Nora (Moon Seung-ah, Voice of Silence) and Hae Sung's (Leem Seung-min, Good Deal) time together as pre-teens, before the former and her family move to Canada. Then, it jumps forward twice in 12-year increments, checking in wth the pair — and Arthur once he enters Nora's life — as time passes on and distance stretches their youthful bond. As this tender and heartbreakingly honest picture unfurls, Past Lives' audience doesn't just experience an affinity with folks realising that they're having a moment, but with the "what if?" questions in life, being torn between the past and the present, and trying to work out who you truly are. With its title drawn from the Korean concept of in-yeon, aka the fate that connects anyone who crosses paths, Past Lives' viewers feel a date with destiny as well. Getting swept away by Past Lives is easy; making it play that way wasn't, of course. Song chatted us through the details, including subjectivity, authenticity, getting the personal to feel personal to everyone else, and the ins and outs of casting when you're taking cues from your own life. ON MAKING SONG'S FIRST FEATURE "I wish that I could give you some a lofty thing that I was trying to do. But honestly, I think because it was my first movie, it was just getting through the day and getting a movie made more than anything. I think that every day, the number-one goal that you're facing is just 'okay, how do I make this movie — how do I get through today, and get the footage and get the performances I need?'. That really was the primary drive. I wish I had big, lofty dreams for things, but it was so much more like I was like learning how to do it as I go because it was my first movie. That really was so fully occupying me that it was hard actually for me to feel like I could have any goals beyond making the movie." ON TAKING INSPIRATION FROM REALITY, AND FROM SONG'S OWN STORY "It really does start from that amazing subjective place — that is the part that is the autobiographical moment, which is that moment in the bar. But then, of course, in turning it into a script there is an objectification of the subjective moment, where it becomes a script that you're writing. And then from there, there's another layer of objectification, where you, with hundreds of people who are working on the movie, turn it into a film — which is then a whole other set of objectification. And, part of it is the subjectivity of the actors, for example: they come into the picture and you're working with the actors to create these characters. So, by the time that I was making the movie properly and then finishing the movie and all that, I really was looking at the thing as making this movie. I think that at that point I felt pretty distant from the aspects of the movie that were that started from an autobiographical place. But now that what I really love is it's kind of full circle now — the audience is coming to meet this movie, and they're actually then able to experience it subjectively. They feel like it connects with them autobiographically on their own, too. I think that's the process of making personal work, and I think that's really what the process was for this. I really do think of it as a very personal film because of that. And the words I would usually use, I would say it's an adaptation of my life, or inspired by, or something like that." ON MAKING A PERSONAL FILM THAT FEELS PERSONAL TO AUDIENCES, TOO "That's always the dream and goal for it, because I feel like I have to believe that if I'm being as honest and authentic with the experience of what it's like to be a person, I just know that there is an audience that's going to also connect to it like that. I've really treated it very much as a test of how real can I be with the audience, and how real can the filmmaking be. Of course, I'm talking about the truth of the thing, rather than the facts, because some of it is about the truth of what it's like to be a person. As long as it is communicated in the best way, as clearly as possible — I think I used the word 'clearly' often, as you want to be able to tell the story as clearly as possible — at the end of it you really do want the audience to come along for this journey. And even though it's really specific, I think that the dream is that you're able to see yourself in it and you're able to connect it to your own life. This movie doesn't have conventional ideas of spectacle. We don't have wild costumes. We don't have VFX. We don't do anything that is outside of what is likened to human experience. So I think some of it just had to be relying on the authenticity of performance, and that's where the story is going to be. That's how the story was going to connect with the audience — they're going to feel how real the movie is going to be, the way that the movie is going to reach everyone. I've been finding that no matter what walk of life you come from, you're going find something in the movie that you feel connected to." ON MAKING AN AUTHENTIC "WHAT IF?" STORY WHEN EVERYONE SHARES THAT TRAIN OF THOUGHT "That really is the the part that is difficult about making a movie where you can really feel connected to it. It's going to live and die on if the audience will come along for the journey and believe it, and believe the characters and believe the story. I think without question, that's where you're going to be able to see very, very high emotional standards. We do, of course, all experience 'what could have been?'. Sometimes it's the person, but sometimes it's a city — and sometimes it's a lifestyle or a job. If you ever have had an experience like that, I think you're going to connect to the movie." ON THE INTRICACIES OF CASTING WHEN YOU'RE TAKING CUES FROM YOUR OWN LIFE "I don't think that I was looking for actors who were going to play basically those people [IRL]. I was looking for people who were going to play the characters that I've written. So something that I wanted is to make sure that none the actors thought that what they were trying to do is to replicate people who exist. I wanted then to come with me in finding the characters that we're trying to to pick for the screen, because it's a completely different thing altogether — characters in movies are very different than people in real life. People in real life, it's not so clear what their arc is. In our lives, I don't think that we know what our arc is in our real life, because we don't live in narrative. We live in a life, compared to characters in a film who have to live in a narrative, because that's what we're going to be watching. Without question, the actors were not being asked to replicate real people. What they were being asked to do is the scenes, and part of the thing that I was looking for in the actors is, first of all, are they great actors? The way that I wanted to make the movie, sometimes I would ask the actors to just do the whole scene — which is, of course, something that comes from my background as a playwright — and I really wanted them to be able to do the whole scene if I asked them to. That's something that only actors that are really excellent actors are able to do. So, that was the first thing that I was looking for. The other thing I'm looking for is what I would call a soul match to the characters, where I really wanted the actors to have some deep kind of soul connection to the characters — it has to do with the way they're talking about the characters, but it's also, more importantly, the engine or the fire that a character has to have. It is something that the actors themselves could have — that the heart of Nora is going to be found in Greta's heart as well. I think you could really feel that in the film, where Nora is showing up but it's not just that Greta is playing Nora. I know that for the film, the only way that this movie can work is that Greta had become Nora. That's what's both amazing about casting and also what's very difficult." ON THE RESPONSE TO PAST LIVES SO FAR — AND THE SUNDANCE EXPERIENCE "You just hope for the best for the movie that you're making kind of in secret. I really did think about it as something that was a bit of a secret between me and everybody who was working on the movie. Then, as for how the world was going to receive it, that's been an amazing part — it's just nothing but joy and like excitement. I remember at Sundance, I'd been working on the movie again in secret with the people who worked on the movie with me for many years. Then I remember waiting at the backstage of Sundance, knowing that it's going to be in the in the public's hands from this moment on. I remember really feeling in that moment like everything's going to change, and this is going to be a moment where I'm going to have to let go of control or let go of everything. It really was like wandering into the unknown. I think that every time that there has been such a warm response, which is how it been, it's just such an exciting thing — because great word of mouth means that more people are going to come see the movie, and I think that's always the dream for it. You want to be able to share this thing that you made." Past Lives opened in cinemas Down Under on August 31. Read our review. Images: courtesy of A24.
When it comes to watching films in the open air when the weather is warm, Brisbane's trusty go-to is Moonlight Cinema, which screens from November through to February each year. Looking for somewhere to catch a flick under the stars this autumn instead? From Thursday, March 23–Saturday, April 27, Sunset Cinema returns to the River City as part of its national tour, making Northshore Hamilton's Maritime Green its new home. Maybe it's the twilight glow. Perhaps it's the stars twinkling above. Or, it could be the cooling breeze, the picnic blankets and beanbags as far as the eye can see, and just seeing a movie grace a giant screen with a scenic backdrop. When the weather is warm enough, as it is for much of the year in Brisbane, a trip to the cinema just seems to shine brighter when it's outdoors for all of these reasons and more — and that's what's on offer in Hamilton for just over a month. Kicking off the Northshore run is Magic Mike's Last Dance and its lusty thrills — and it pops up on the program again later in the season, too. Or, viewers can enjoy the John Wick franchise's latest outing, The Menu's savage take on the restaurant trade, 2022 blockbusters Top Gun: Maverick and Avatar: The Way of Water, and a retro double feature of Clueless and Mean Girls. It's an eclectic array of flicks, clearly. Other titles include the Tom Hanks-starring A Man Called Otto, Marvel's new Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, Adam Driver fighting dinosaurs in 65 and the old Hollywood excess of Babylon. Or, get blast from the pasts with 10 Things I Hate About You and a sing-along session of the animated The Lion King. With a setup perfect for cosy date nights or an easy group hangs outdoors, BYO picnics are encouraged here — but the event is fully licensed, so alcohol can only be purchased onsite. Didn't pack enough snacks? There'll be hot food options, plus plenty of the requisite movie treats like chips, chocolates, lollies and popcorn. And, on Fridays and Saturdays, Eat Street Northshore is right next door.
Back in 2018, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced that it was adding a new award to the Oscars for Outstanding Achievement in Popular Film. If you can't remember which flicks have won it, there's a reason for that: the gong was scrapped quickly thanks to a heap of backlash. Across plenty of years since, the reason that that accolade wasn't needed has been proven. Black Panther, Joker, Everything Everywhere All At Once, Oppenheimer and Barbie have all featured heavily among the nominations, for instance — and everything except Barbenheimer so far has notched up wins. Both Christopher Nolan and Greta Gerwig's latest films are among the flicks with the most nominations in 2024, with 13 and eight apiece. They're also massive global box-office hits. So, going into this year's ceremony, you've likely seen at least those two contenders — but if you're wondering where to catch everything else, we've got the rundown. We've predicted who we think will emerge victorious, but the winners will be anointed on Monday, March 11, Down Under time. Right now in Australia, you can catch up with 31 movies that are hoping to score trophies. Some you need to hit the cinema to see. Others you can catch on the couch. With a few, you have the choice of heading out or staying home. From Barbenheimer (of course) and twists on Frankenstein to animated Spider-Man antics and devastating documentaries, here's where to direct your eyeballs. On the Big Screen: Anatomy of a Fall Nominations: Best Picture, Best Director (Justine Triet), Best Actress (Sandra Hüller), Best Original Screenplay, Best Film Editing Our thoughts: A calypso instrumental cover of 50 Cent's 'P.I.M.P.' isn't the only thing that Anatomy of a Fall's audience won't be able to dislodge from their heads after watching 2023's deserving Cannes Film Festival Palme d'Or-winner. A film from writer/director Justine Triet (Sibyl) that's thorny, knotty and defiantly unwilling to give any easy answers, this legal, psychological and emotional thriller about a woman (Sandra Hüller, The Zone of Interest) on trial for her husband's death is unshakeable in as many ways as someone can have doubts about another person: so, a myriad. Where to watch: In Australian cinemas. Read our full review. Four Daughters Nominations: Best Documentary Feature Our thoughts: There's a reason that Four Daughters can't include its entire namesake quartet, with just two appearing on-screen themselves and the other two played by actors. Unlike the younger Eya and Tayssir, the older Rahma and Ghofrane are no longer at home with their mother Olfa; instead, they left their family after becoming radicalised, with Islamic State in Libya their destination. So explores Tunisian filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hania (The Man Who Sold His Skin), in a documentary that's as gripping as it is heartbreaking — and uses recreations with a purpose unlike almost any other movie. Where to watch: In Australian cinemas. May December Nominations: Best Original Screenplay Our thoughts: May December takes inspiration from Mary Kay Letourneau, the teacher who had a sexual relationship with her sixth-grade student in the 90s. A simple recreation was never going to be Todd Haynes' (Dark Waters) approach, however. Starring Julianne Moore (Sharper) and Charles Melton (Riverdale) as its central couple decades after the scandal, plus Natalie Portman (Thor: Love and Thunder) as an actor about to feature in a movie about them, this a savvily piercing film that sees the impact on the situation's victim, the story its perpetrator has spun, and the ravenous way that people's lives are consumed by the media and public. Where to watch: In Australian cinemas. Read our full review. The Zone of Interest Nominations: Best Picture, Best Director (Jonathan Glazer), Best International Feature, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Sound Our thoughts: Quotes and observations about evil being mundane, as well as the result when people look the other way, will never stop being relevant. A gripping, unsettling masterpiece, The Zone of Interest is a window into why. The first film by Sexy Beast, Birth and Under the Skin director Jonathan Glazer in more than a decade, the Holocaust-set and BAFTA-winning feature peers on as the unthinkable happens literally just over the fence, but a family goes about its ordinary life. If it seems abhorrent that anything can occur in the shadow of any concentration camp or site of World War II atrocities, that's part of the movie's point. Where to watch: In Australian cinemas. Read our full review. In Cinemas or at Home: The Holdovers Nominations: Best Picture, Best Actor (Paul Giamatti), Best Supporting Actress (Da'Vine Joy Randolph), Best Original Screenplay, Best Film Editing Our thoughts: Melancholy, cantankerousness, angst, hurt and snow all blanket Barton Academy in Alexander Payne's (Nebraska) The Holdovers. It's Christmas 1970 in New England in this thoughtful story that's given room to breathe and build, but festive cheer is in short supply among the students and staff that give the movie its moniker. Soon, there's just three folks left behind: Angus Tully (debutant Dominic Sessa), whose mother wants more time alone with his new stepdad; curmudgeonly professor Paul Hunham (Paul Giamatti, Billions); and grieving cook Mary Lamb (Da'Vine Joy Randolph, Only Murders in the Building). Where to watch: In Australian cinemas, and streaming via YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. Killers of the Flower Moon Nominations: Best Picture, Best Director (Martin Scorsese), Best Actress (Lily Gladstone), Best Supporting Actor (Robert De Niro), Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, Best Film Editing, Best Original Score, Best Original Song ('Wahzhazhe (A Song For My People)', Scott George), Best Production Design Our thoughts: Death comes to Killers of the Flower Moon quickly. Death comes often, too. While Martin Scorsese will later briefly fill the film's frames with a fiery orange vision, death blazes through his 26th feature from the moment that the picture starts rolling. Adapted from journalist David Grann's 2017 non-fiction novel Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI, this is a masterpiece of a Lily Gladstone (Reservation Dogs)-, Leonardo DiCaprio (Don't Look Up)- and Robert De Niro (Amsterdam)-starring movie about a heartbreakingly horrible spate of deaths sparked by pure and unapologetic greed and persecution a century back. Where to watch: In Australian cinemas, and streaming via Apple TV+, YouTube Movies and Prime Video. Read our full review, and our interview with Martin Scorsese. Poor Things Nominations: Best Picture, Best Director (Yorgos Lanthimos), Best Actress (Emma Stone), Best Supporting Actor (Mark Ruffalo), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, Best Film Editing, Best Makeup and Hairstyling, Best Original Score, Best Production Design Our thoughts: Richly striking feats of cinema by Yorgos Lanthimos aren't scarce, and sublime performances by Emma Stone are hardly infrequent. The Favourite, their first collaboration, ticked both boxes. Screen takes on Mary Shelley's Frankenstein also couldn't be more constant. Combining the three in Poor Things results in a rarity, however: a jewel of a pastel-, jewel- and bodily fluid-toned feminist Frankenstein-esque fairy tale that's a stunning creation, as zapped to life with Lanthimos' inimitable flair, a mischievous air, Stone at her most extraordinary and empowerment blazing like a lightning bolt. Where to watch: In Australian cinemas, and streaming via Disney+, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. Via Streaming: American Fiction Nominations: Best Picture, Best Actor (Jeffrey Wright), Best Supporting Actor (Sterling K Brown), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Original Score Our thoughts: Here's Thelonious 'Monk' Ellison's (Jeffrey Wright, Rustin) predicament when American Fiction begins: on the page, his talents aren't selling books. So, sick of hearing that his work isn't "Black enough", he gets a-typing, pumping out the kind of text that he vehemently hates — but 100-percent fits the stereotype of what the world keeps telling him that Black literature should be. It attracts interest, even more so when Monk adopts a cliched new persona to go with it. Wright is indeed exceptional in this savvy satire of authenticity, US race relations and class chasms, and earns his awards contention for his reactions alone. Where to watch: Streaming via Prime Video. Read our full review. American Symphony Nominations: Best Original Song ('It Never Went Away', Jon Batiste and Dan Wilson) Our thoughts: Jon Batiste has enjoyed a dream career so far, with the musician packing more into his 37 years than most people do in a lifetime. Matthew Heineman's (Retrograde) American Symphony isn't that tale, though. Instead, it spends a year with The Late Show with Stephen Colbert's former bandleader and Soul Oscar-winner — a year where he's nominated for 11 Grammys, and endeavours to compose the symphony that gives this intimate and touching documentary its name. Also shaping the 12 months: in his personal life, grappling with the return of his wife and bestselling author Suleika Jaouad's leukaemia. Where to watch: Streaming via Netflix. Barbie Nominations: Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor (Ryan Gosling), Best Supporting Actress (America Ferrera), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Original Song ('I'm Just Ken', Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt; 'What Was I Made For?', Billie Eilish and Finneas O'Connell), Best Costume Design, Best Production Design Our thoughts: No one plays with a Barbie too hard when the Mattel product is fresh out of the box. The more that the toy is trotted through DreamHouses, though, the more that playing with the plastic fashion model becomes fantastical. Like globally beloved item, like live-action movie bearing its name. Barbie, the film, starts with glowing aesthetic perfection. It's almost instantly a pink-hued paradise for the eyes, and it's also cleverly funny. The longer that it continues, however, the harder and wilder that director Greta Gerwig (Little Women) goes, as does her lead-slash-producer Margot Robbie (Babylon) as Barbie and Ryan Gosling (The Gray Man) as Ken. Where to watch: Streaming via YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. Bobi Wine: The People's President Nominations: Best Documentary Feature Our thoughts: In western countries where democracy is entrenched, the system of government is too easily taken for granted. Bobi Wine: The People's President shows what the fight for a nation that's free, fair and gives its people a voice looks like, chronicling the plight of its titular figure. Bobi Wine was an Ugandan pop star, and a popular one. Then, in response to the autocratic rule of Yoweri Museveni since 1986, he turned to political activism. Filmmakers Moses Bwayo and Christopher Sharp, both first-time directors, also show how important and difficult his quest is — and there isn't a second of this documentary that isn't riveting. Where to watch: Streaming via Disney+. The Color Purple Nominations: Best Supporting Actress (Danielle Brooks) Our thoughts: On the page, stage and screen, The Color Purple's narrative has mostly remained the same, crushing woe, infuriating prejudice and rampant inequity included. Musicals don't have to be cheery, but how does so much brutality give rise to anything but mournful songs? The answer here: by leaning into the rural Georgia-set tale's embrace of hope, resilience and self-discovery. Ghanaian director Blitz Bazawule follows up co-helming Beyoncé's Black Is King by heroing empowerment and emancipation in his iteration of The Color Purple — and while it's easy to see the meaning behind its striving for a brighter outlook. Where to watch: Streaming via YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. The Creator Nominations: Best Sound, Best Visual Effects Our thoughts: Science fiction has never been afraid of unfurling its futuristic visions on the third rock from the sun, but the resulting films have rarely been as earthy as The Creator. Set from 2065 onwards after the fiery destruction of Los Angeles, this tale of humanity clashing with artificial intelligence is visibly awash with technology that doesn't currently exist — and yet the latest movie from Rogue One: A Star Wars Story director Gareth Edwards, which focuses on an undercover military operative Joshua (John David Washington, Amsterdam) tasked with saving the world, couldn't look or feel more authentic and grounded. Where to watch: Streaming via Disney+, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. El Conde Nominations: Best Cinematography Our thoughts: What if Augusto Pinochet didn't die in 2006? What if the Chilean general and dictator wasn't aged 91 at the time, either? What if his story started long before his official 1915 birthdate, in France prior to the French Revolution? What if he's been living for 250 years because he's a literal monster of the undead, draining and terrifying kind? Trust Chilean filmmaking great Pablo Larraín (Ema, Neruda, The Club, No, Post Mortem and Tony Manero) to ask these questions in El Conde, which translates as The Count and marks the latest exceptional effort in a career that just keeps serving up excellent movies. Where to watch: Streaming via Netflix. Read our full review. Elemental Nominations: Best Animated Feature Our thoughts: With Elemental, Pixar is in familiar territory — so much so that this film feels like something that was always destined to happen. Embracing the the studio's now-standard "what if robots, playthings, rats and the like had feelings?, it anthropomorphises fire, water, air and earth, and ponders these aspects of nature having emotions. The result from filmmaker Pete Sohn (The Good Dinosaur) is just-likeable and sweet-enough, despite vivid animation, plus the noblest of aims to survey the immigrant experience, opposites attracting, breaking down cultural stereotypes and borders, and complicated parent-child relationships. Where to watch: Streaming via Disney+, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. The Eternal Memory Nominations: Best Documentary Feature Our thoughts: After The Mole Agent, writer/director Maite Alberdi earns her second Oscar nomination in two successive films for a documentary that's just as layered — but she's no longer telling a caper-esque tale. This time, Augusto Góngora and Paulina Urrutia receive her attention. The former is an ex-former journalist and broadcaster. The latter is an actor and politician. Góngora's diagnosis with Alzheimer's disease sits at the centre of this haunting effort, which focuses on how its central couple endeavour to cope with his memory loss, the role that reflecting on the past has on our present and future, and how love endures. Where to watch: Streaming via DocPlay. Flamin' Hot Nominations: Best Original Song ('The Fire Inside', Diane Warren) Our thoughts: The feature directorial debut of Desperate Housewives actor Eva Longoria, Flamin' Hot is a product film, as Cheetos fans will instantly know. If you've ever wondered how the Frito-Lay-owned brand's spiciest variety came about in the 90s, this energetically made movie provides the answer while itself rolling out a crowd-pleasing formula. Eating the titular snack while you watch is optional, but expect the hankering to arise either way. This story belongs to Richard Montañez (Jesse Garcia, Ambulance) — and it's also an underdog tale, and an account of chasing the American dream, especially when it seems out of reach. Where to watch: Streaming via Disney+. Read our full review. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 Nominations: Best Visual Effects Our thoughts: Arriving to close out a standalone trilogy within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 zooms into the saga's fifth phase with a difference: it's still a quippy comedy, but it's as much a drama and a tragedy as well. Like most on-screen GotG storylines, it's also heist caper — and as plenty of caped-crusader flicks are, within the MCU or not, it's an origin story. The more that a James Gunn-written and -directed Guardians film gets cosy within the usual Marvel template, however, the more that his branch of Marvel's pop-culture behemoth embraces its own personality. Where to watch: Streaming via Disney+, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny Nominations: Best Original Score Our thoughts: Old hat, new whip. No, that isn't Dr Henry Walton 'Indiana' Jones' shopping list, but a description of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. While the fifth film about the eponymous archaeologist is as familiar as Indy films come, it's kept somewhat snapping by the returning Harrison Ford's (Shrinking) on-screen partnership with Phoebe Waller-Bridge (Fleabag). If you've seen one Indy outing in the past 42 years, you've seen the underlying mechanics of every other Indy outing. And yet, watching Ford flashing his crooked smile again, plus his bantering with Waller-Bridge, is almost enough to keep this new instalment from Ford v Ferrari filmmaker James Mangold whirring. Where to watch: Streaming via Disney+, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. Maestro Nominations: Best Picture, Best Actor (Bradley Cooper), Best Actress (Carey Mulligan), Best Cinematography, Best Original Screenplay, Best Makeup and Hairstyling, Best Sound Our thoughts: When a composer pens music, it's the tune that they want the world to enjoy, not the marks on a page scribbling it into existence. When a conductor oversees an orchestra, the performance echoing rather than their own with baton in hand and arms waving is their gift. In Maestro, Bradley Cooper (Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3) is seen as Leonard Bernstein in both modes. His portrayal is so richly textured that it's a career-best turn. But Cooper as this movie's helmer and co-writer wants Maestro's audience to revel in the end result — and if he wants love showered anyone's way first, it's towards Carey Mulligan (Saltburn) as Felicia Montealegre Bernstein. Where to watch: Netflix. Read our full review. Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One Nominations: Best Sound, Best Visual Effects Our thoughts: Just as its lead actor's gleaming teeth do, Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One, the seventh instalment in the TV-to-film spy series, thoroughly shines. Like Tom Cruise (Top Gun: Maverick) himself, it's committed to giving audiences what they want to see, but never merely exactly what they've already seen. This saga hasn't always chosen to accept that mission, but it's been having a better time of it since 2011's Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol, including since writer/director Christopher McQuarrie jumped behind the lens with 2015's Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation. Where to watch: Streaming via YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. Napoleon Nominations: Best Costume Design, Best Production Design, Best Visual Effects Our thoughts: When is a Ridley Scott (House of Gucci)-directed, Joaquin Phoenix (Beau Is Afraid)-starring trip to the past more than just a historical drama? Twice now, so whenever the filmmaker and actor team up to explore Europe centuries ago. Gladiator was the first; Napoleon follows — and where the Rome-set first was an action film as well, the second leans into comedy. This biopic of the eponymous French military star-turned-emperor can be funny. In the lead, Phoenix repeatedly boasts the line delivery, facial expressions and physical presence of someone actively courting laughs. When he declares "destiny has brought me this lamb chop!", all three coalesce. Where to watch: Streaming via Apple TV+, YouTube Movies and Prime Video. Read our full review. Nimona Nominations: Best Animated Feature Our thoughts: Bounding thoughtfully from the page to the screen — well, from pixels first, initially leaping from the web to print — Nimona goes all in on belonging. Ballister Boldheart (Riz Ahmed, Sound of Metal) wants to fit in desperately, and is willing to do whatever it takes to achieve it in this animated movie's medieval-yet-futuristic world, where there's nothing more important and acclaimed than being part of the Institute for Elite Knights. But when tragedy strikes, then prejudice sets in, he only has one ally. Nimona's namesake (Chloë Grace Moretz, The Peripheral) is a shapeshifter who offers to be his sidekick regardless of his innocence or guilt. Where to watch: Streaming via Netflix. Read our full review. Nyad Nominations: Best Actress (Annette Bening), Best Supporting Actress (Jodie Foster) Our thoughts: Most sports films about real-life exploits piece together the steps it took for a person or a team to achieve the ultimate in their field, or come as close as possible while trying their hardest. Nyad is no different, but it's also a deeply absorbing character study of two people: its namesake Diana Nyad (Annette Bening, Death on the Nile) and her best friend Bonnie Stoll (Jodie Foster, True Detective). The first is the long-distance swimmer whose feats the movie tracks, especially her quest to swim from Cuba to Florida in the 2010s. The second is the former professional racquetball player who became Nyad's coach when she set her sights on making history as a sexagenarian. Where to watch: Netflix. Read our full review. Oppenheimer Nominations: Best Picture, Best Director (Christopher Nolan), Best Actor (Cillian Murphy), Best Supporting Actor (Robert Downey Jr), Best Supporting Actress (Emily Blunt), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, Best Film Editing, Best Makeup and Hairstyling, Best Original Score, Best Production Design, Best Sound Our thoughts: Cast Cillian Murphy and a filmmaker falls in love. There's an arresting, haunting, seeps-under-your-skin soulfulness about the Irish actor, including when playing "the father of atomic bomb" in Christopher Nolan's (Tenet) epic biopic Oppenheimer. Flirting with the end of the world, or just one person's end, clearly suits Murphy. Here he is in a mind-blower as the destroyer of worlds — almost, perhaps actually — and so much of this can't-look-away three-hour stunner dwells in his expressive eyes, which see purpose, possibility, quantum mechanics' promise and, ultimately, the Manhattan Project's consequences. Where to watch: Streaming via YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. Past Lives Nominations: Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay Our thoughts: Call it fate, call it destiny, call it feeling like you were always meant to cross paths with someone: in Korean, that sensation is in-yeon. Partway through Past Lives, Nora (Greta Lee, Russian Doll) explains the concept to Arthur (John Magaro, The Many Saints of Newark) like she knows it deep in her bones, because both she and the audience are well-aware that she does. That's what writer/director Celine Song's sublime feature debut is about, in fact. The term also applies to her connection to childhood crush Hae Sung (Teo Yoo, Decision to Leave) in this sensitive, blisteringly honest and intimately complex masterpiece. Where to watch: Streaming via Prime Video. Read our full review, and our interview with Celine Song. Rustin Nominations: Best Actor (Colman Domingo) Our thoughts: After Selma, One Night in Miami and Judas and the Black Messiah arrives Rustin, the latest must-see movie about the minutiae of America's 60s-era civil rights movement. All four hail from Black filmmakers. All four tell vital stories. They each boast phenomenal performances, too, including from Colman Domingo (The Color Purple) as Rustin's eponymous figure. His turn as Bayard Rustin, who conceived and organised the event where Martin Luther King Jr gave his "I Have a Dream" speech, isn't merely powerful; it's a go-for-broke portrayal from a versatile talent at the top of his game while digging into the every inch of his part. Where to watch: Streaming via Netflix. Read our full review. Society of the Snow Nominations: Best International Feature, Best Makeup and Hairstyling Our thoughts: Society of the Snow isn't merely a disaster film detailing the specifics of Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571's failed journey, the immediate deaths and those that came afterwards, the lengthy wait to be found — including after authorities called the search off — and the crushing decisions made to get through. JA Bayona (Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom), who also helmed the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami-focused The Impossible, has made a weighty feature that reckons with the emotional, psychological and spiritual toll, and doesn't think of shying away from the most difficult aspects of this real-life situation, including cannibalism. Where to watch: Streaming via Netflix. Read our full review. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Nominations: Best Animated Feature Our thoughts: When 2018's Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse took pop culture's favourite web-slinger back to its animated roots, it made flesh-and-blood superhero flicks and shows, as well as the expensive special effects behind them, look positively trivial and cartoonish. The end result was a deservedly Academy Award-winning masterpiece — and its first sequel Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, which hails from directors Joaquim Dos Santos (The Legend of Korra), Kemp Powers (Soul) and Justin K Thompson (Into the Spider-Verse's production designer), plasters around the same sensation like a Spidey shooting its silk. Where to watch: Streaming via Binge, Prime Video, YouTube Movies and iTunes. Read our full review. To Kill a Tiger Nominations: Best Documentary Feature Our thoughts: A battle for justice sits at the heart of To Kill a Tiger, a documentary that is as powerful as it is heavy, and is also an essential piece of filmmaking. When his 13-year-old daughter becomes the victim of sexual assault, Ranjit is determined to bring the perpetrators to justice. Not that that's a straightforward feat anywhere, but it isn't the same quest in India as it is in western countries, as writer/director Nisha Pahuja (The World Before Her) examines. Ranjit is dedicated to the fight, even knowing how difficult it is — from the backlash that he receives across his village to the horrifying statistics regarding the frequency of rape in the country and the paltry conviction rate. Where to watch: Streaming via Netflix from Friday, March 8. 20 Days in Mariupol Nominations: Best Documentary Feature Our thoughts: Incompatible with life. No one ever hears those three devastating words — one of the most distressing phrases there is — in positive circumstances. Accordingly, when they're uttered by a doctor in 20 Days in Mariupol, they're deeply shattering. So is everything in this on-the-ground portrait of the first 20 days in the Ukrainian city as Russia began its invasion, as the bleak reality of living in a war zone is documented. Directed by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Mstyslav Chernov, that this film even exists is an achievement. What it shows — what it immerses viewers in, from shelled hospitals and basements-turned-bomb shelters to families torn apart and mass graves — can never be forgotten. Where to watch: Streaming via DocPlay. The 2024 Oscars will be announced on Monday, March 11, Australian time. For further details, head to the awards' website. Wondering who'll win? Check out our predictions.
Caffeine fiends of Brisbane's east are already fond of Bellissimo Coffee's Oxford Street outpost, which serves up caffeinated beverages, plus brunch, lunch and bakery bites seven days a week. Fans of Mediterranean-infused will now want to stop by the same venue after dark from Thursday–Saturday, with the old warehouse-turned-eatery transforming into Besitos three nights a week. A 80–90-seater restaurant, Besitos is a product of the location's 2021 revamp, which saw the venue nab a a sleek and rustic new look courtesy of interior designers Alkot Studio — and takes over the area that Bellissimo previously used to roast its coffee beans. On the menu: candle-lit dinners in an industrial-but-cosy space, plus a food lineup from Executive Chef Marco Torrisi (ex-Joey's) that heroes dishes prepared on the open kitchen's flaming charcoal grill. Yes, you'll get a prime view of your meal being cooked while you wait, with the culinary range changing seasonally. On Besito's launch menu: emu tartare, charred octopus, and bone marrow with salsa verde on toasted brioche, as well as baguettes paired with Spanish anchovies, burnt miso toothfish tacos, Mooloolaba king prawns and hot pot mussels. Most dishes are small, with patrons encouraged to order a heap — aka sample their way through, rather than agonise over picking just one thing. There are four large plate options, though: squid ink linguine, lamb ribs, chargrilled market fish and wagyu sirloins. For dessert, a trio of choices awaits, spanning a modern take on tiramisu with housemade espresso ice cream and coffee syrup, chargrilled pineapple given a chocolate crumb and paired with basil-infused ice cream, and a range of housemade gelato. Drinks-wise, 12 wines are available by the glass and plenty more by the bottle, while cocktails, beers and spirits also feature. Naturally, the Besitos martini features Bellissimo cold-press coffee, as well as vodka and coffee liqueur. When the restaurant kicks into gear at 5pm from Thursday–Saturday, don't go expecting the usual Bellissimo setup, but at night, however. The kitchen setup changes with the switchover to Besito's every evening, including the full roster of staff.
Brisbanites, next time you head to Albion, you might want to say cheers to the experience. You won't want to raise a glass of any old tipple, however, because drinking Albion Gin while in the inner north suburb should now sit on your must-do list. The new tipple is the creation of distillery Granddad Jack's, which originally set up shop on the Gold Coast and has now branched out to Brisbane. The craft outfit makes its own craft gin, whiskey, vodka, coffee liqueur and specialty spirits, including its new signature variety of juniper-flavoured booze. Visitors to its new Collingwood Street digs will also be able to sip their way through limited-edition releases, with new types launched monthly, or opt for one of two beers on tap. So, get ready to tuck into the brand's core range, which'll now also be made in the Albion venue's 300-litre still and brewhouse. The distillery also has a barrel room just to house its whiskey and barrel-aged gin, all of which you can enjoy in cocktails — and, in terms of decor, you'll be knocking back drinks while surrounded by a rustic brick, wood and leather look. Food-wise, the distillery is BYO, including from eateries in the area. Given that the new Craft'd Grounds precinct is also set to open on Collingwood Street, you'll have plenty of choices. You can bring your dog along to Granddad Jack's as well, so your pupper can also scope out the joint. Patrons will notice a greenhouse onsite, too, which is where the Granddad Jack's team will grow the different botanicals it needs to create its spirit blends, as well as its garnishes; think: edible flowers, strawberries, cucumbers and mint. That greenhouse isn't just a functional space, either. There really was a granddad Jack, the grandfather of the distillery's co-owner David Ridden, and he loved spending time in his garden and greenhouse. He also was known to hit up the race tracks at Albion Park, so Granddad Jack's new site pays him tribute in multiple ways. Ridden and his son Luke, who is also the brand's head distiller, have been operating Granddad Jack's since 2018. Find Granddad Jack's Brisbane distillery at 26 Collingwood Street, Albion — with the tasting room open Thursdays from 3–6.30pm, Fridays and Saturdays from 3–9.30pm, and Sundays from 2–6.30pm; and the liquor store operating from 12–6pm Thursday–Sunday.
Now before you say anything, this isn’t another fold-up bike. Let’s be honest, fold-up bikes can often be kind of awkward — even if they're as small as your umbrella. Indian company Lucid Design have created a conceptual 'Bike in a Bag' that would quickly disassemble into separate parts so you could fit it into your bag. The Kit Bike would be made up of 21 parts and assembled by twisting joints together using a rotating mechanism and secured with an Allen key. The diamond-shaped frame would be made up of hollow aluminium tubes and powder-coated white for a minimal, classic look. The bike would even come with its own circular leather bag designed specifically to carry the parts — wheels go on the sides and the extras in the middle compartment. "Conventional bikes are awkward in every way except when you ride them," says creative director of Lucid Design, Amit Mirchandani. "The Kit Bike was designed to make problems of shipping, traveling with and commuting with a bike, a thing of the past." Yes, there would be some challenges if you left home without your Allen key, and we have to admit we’d be a little worried about a detachable bike coming undone on our way to work, but there’s also great benefits to consider if you're travelling and you want to take in the sights on your own two wheels. Think about it. Just to clarify, this bike is not yet in production. It did receive a Red Dot 2014 Design Award earlier this year for the concept, but the comments left on the original Dezeen post show not everyone's as impressed: "Nice looking but I don't see it being sturdy enough." "It's awful, any design student can make a CAD model of a bike. No thought has gone into this design at all. Look how flimsy it is — does the designer even know what a bike is? Do they understand stress and material properties?" "Just look at that ridiculous gear ratio. Good luck pedalling over 10 mph on this thing... although I probably wouldn't feel safe riding it much faster." "People complain if they have to assemble an Ikea chair made of six pieces. Have fun assembling and disassembling your 20 piece bike every day, when commuting to work." "Never seen such bullsh*t." Watch this space, maybe Lucid Design can prove the haters wrong. Via Dezeen.
In recent years, there's been a growing perception that Australian nightlife is in decline, as rising cost-of-living pressures push more people to stay in and "enjoy their rent." With social habits shifting, particularly among younger generations, more than a quarter of nightclubs have closed since the pandemic. At the same time, Gen Z is increasingly being described as the "sober curious" generation, with drinking rates continuing to fall. All of these factors have resulted in quieter streets, restaurants that close earlier, and fewer people spending money in bars and clubs. The Visa Vibe Economy report, commissioned by Visa and conducted by McCrindle, surveyed Australians to learn how we spend our evenings (and how much cash we splash on a night out). It turns out that there are still a number of Australians getting out and about after dark. [caption id="attachment_1032801" align="alignleft" width="1920"] Getty Images Maskot[/caption] What's prompting Australians to get out? It should come as no surprise that we are a nation of foodies, with the research revealing the main reason we leave our homes after dark is to go out for dinner. With our major cities having thousands of world-class restaurants to choose from, it's no wonder that seven in ten Australians put food at the top of the list when deciding on a night out. Next on the list was the quality of entertainment, and interestingly, whether or not you can grab a pint at a night-time venue is low on Aussies' priority list. Only 28 percent of people surveyed felt that alcohol availability was necessary when choosing where to spend a night out. Aussies are heading out after dark for more than just a good time with mates—though that's still a big part of it. Half say they're hitting the streets to unwind and shake off the day, while many are keen to break the routine and discover something new. The call for fresh nighttime experiences is loud and clear, with over 50 percent of people wanting more night markets, festivals and late-night culture in their neighbourhoods. Of course, the cost of living also plays a crucial role, with 52 percent of us looking for more affordable options for a night out. With restaurants charging premiums due to the price of produce and the cost of living not seeming to slow down anytime soon, people's leisure budgets are clearly taking a hit. On average, 81 percent of Australians spend up to $120 per person on a night out, and cost was the most significant barrier for people not getting out and about in the evening. Who's getting out of the house the most frequently? The Visa Australia Night-time Index 2025, a new in-depth analysis measuring data such as spending, vibrancy, and venues open after dark, found Melburnians are the cohort spending the most evenings away from the couch, with the city being crowned as the number one night-time hotspot in the country. From the city's CBD laneway restaurants to the pubs in Brunswick and Fitzroy, Chapel Street's nightlife strip and St Kilda's live music scene, Melburnians have a number of precincts to choose from, all with a high standard of food, drink, and atmosphere. After the Victorian capital, Sydney was next on the list of Australian nightlife hotspots. The city and Inner South, Eastern suburbs, Parramatta, Inner South West, Inner West and North Sydney were all locations that saw the most spending after dark. Although you may feel your friends are staying in more than usual, the report finds that almost half of Australians go out in the evening at least once a week. Not bad. And despite their sober curious nature, Gen Z is leading that charge with 73 percent of the cohort getting out once or more a week. On average, the generation is spending 9.4 nights out per month, and boosting the economy at the same time. [caption id="attachment_1032802" align="alignleft" width="1920"] Getty Images Klaus Vedfelt[/caption] Where to next? Australians clearly love a night out. While we might not be hitting the clubs at the same rate as a few decades ago, the night-time economy is still contributing a lot to our way of life. So, get out there and try new restaurants, head to a night market you've not been to, and cheers to enjoying your city after dark. Discover the vibe near you. Lead image: Getty Images Thomas Barwick
Whether you love spicy food for the taste or the thrill, Betty's Burgers is ready to reveal a limited-time offering that sits at the extreme end of the spectrum. Topped with hot sauce made from Carolina Reapers — one of the world's hottest chillis, estimated to pack 200 times more punch than your average jalapeno — the experience is so extreme, customers must first sign a waiver to bite into The Madman. But with ego-boosting food challenges no new thing, Betty's Burgers are serving up this range without the bravado. That means your order, all 1.6 million Scoville, can also come with a glass of milk and refreshing cucumbers, so you can quickly extinguish your taste buds if the heat becomes too much. "The Scoville rating speaks for itself. The waiver speaks for itself. But this isn't about proving you're the toughest person in the room. If you need milk, grab it. If you want to tap out, tap out. It's about bringing your mates and making it fun," says Betty's Burgers Head of Culinary, Jonathan Alston. Yet this hot new range is balanced by The Hot Shot, which delivers a more manageable heat. Dialling back the insane spice, this stacked burger is a more flavour-forward option that still offers a solid burn. While Betty's rates The Madman at maximum heat, featuring crispy chicken breast layered with fiery gochujang sauce and a Carolina Reaper chilli infusion, The Hot Shot skips the most fiery ingredients for a more pleasant experience, depending on your spice tolerance, of course. While people have been eating chillis since around 7000BC, extreme food challenges are a more recent invention. But new research shows that over a quarter of people now avoid food experiences designed to make people prove something. With its cooling sides, The Madman is made for fun, not a test of toughness. "Australians still crave bold flavour — they just don't want gatekeeping," says Alston. "People want to opt in, not be dared." Available at Betty's Burgers locations nationwide from Thursday, March 12–Wednesday, April 22, the Burners' range is made for experiencing with all your pals, spice-lovers or not. Just head along and sign the waiver, and trust that the built-in culinary safety net will offer up some much-needed protection from one of the world's hottest chillis. The Burners' range is available at Betty's Burgers locations nationwide from Thursday, March 12–Wednesday, April 22. Head to the website for more information. Like what you see? Subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter to get stories just like these straight to your inbox.
When Shazam first hit mobile devices in 2008, it helped iPhone users solve a minor but common and often frustrating problem. By listening to a snippet of a song, the app identifies exactly what the tune is — so if you hear some music on TV, the radio or in the background but don't know what it is, you can easily find out. That's all well and good for songs that are playing somewhere around you, of course. But it doesn't help if you've got a ditty stuck in your head, have absolutely zero idea what it is and are becoming increasingly desperate to know what has wormed its way into your brain. We've all been there, and we've all been annoyed by it, too. Via a new addition to its search functions, however, Google has just announced a feature that resolves this very issue. If you want to find out what a specific tune is called, now all you need to do is hum, whistle or sing it — and Google will listen, then tell you what it is. The feature is available via mobile devices, through the Google app, the Google Search widget and Google Assistant. On the app and in the widget, you need to say "what's this song?" or click the "search a song" button before you start busting out a melody. With Google Assistant, you'll say "hey Google, what's this song?" first. It doesn't matter if you're not quite in tune (or nowhere near the right pitch), thankfully. After listening, Google will provide search responses that it thinks matches your song, so you can learn more about it, watch music videos, listen to the song itself, find the lyrics and more. The function uses Google's machine learning algorithm, building on work the company has been doing with artificial intelligence and music recognition technology — and it's now available in English on iOS, and in over 20 languages on Android, with plans to expand to other languages in the future. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DW61PpKJGm8&feature=emb_logo To use Google's new 'hum to search' feature, either visit the search engine on your mobile device or use Google Assistant. For further details, head to Google's blog.
As anyone who loves caffeinated beverages knows, not all cuppas are created equal. Indeed, there's a reason there is an entire type of beans called speciality coffee, which are grown in microclimates to create full flavours and unique tastes. And whether you can always tell the difference or your brew-loving tastebuds are now salivating at the thought of better coffee, Brisbane's newest festival is dedicated to them. Hosted by Wolff Coffee Roasters, aka a bean-loving roaster and supplier focused on providing specialty coffee to everyday coffee drinkers, the Speciality Coffee Festival promises an entire day of celebrating the very best beans and brews. Taking place at Wolff's Hendra warehouse on September 2, the free fest will showcase everything from cupping to roasting, offer up tours of the facilities, and serve up coffee in various forms. Highlights include classes and chats with Costa Rican coffee producer Alejo Castro of Volcán Azul, plenty of caffeinated goodness at the fest's specialty laneway, and food trucks galore, including That Greek Truck, Mr Burger, Wild Rissole and the coffee ice cream selling Queen of Pops. Anyone eager to get roasting themselves can pay for a two-hour roasting experience (although at $295 per person, it isn't cheap), while those keen on watching coffee experts do their best can check out the AeroPress Championships for $10, which includes free beverages and a dance off. More details are set to be announced; however it's shaping up to be the coffee fiend's equivalent of Christmas in September. The Specialty Coffee Festival also helps cap off what's proving to be a great time for firsts in Brisbane, and an ace time for devouring deliciousness as well, coming hot on the heels of Brisbane's maiden espresso martini festival and Japanese festival.
Sometimes you just want to leave the city behind and get back to nature. Recharge and reconnect. Go off-road or underwater or deep into the outback. Where can you do it all? Western Australia's Coral Coast. On this stretch of coast, you'll find everything from wildflowers and wonderfully weird geological sights to beautifully preserved coral habitats. See vibrant underwater ecosystems to rival those on the tropical east coast and swim with gentle giants of the sea. Take road trips through storied landscapes of deep cultural significance, stand up high for sweeping vistas across ancient formations and hike, hike, hike to your heart's content. Stay on family-owned cattle stations with luxe amenities or simply set up your tent by the river for a truly rustic getaway. Whether you want a day trip from Perth (Boorloo) or a dedicated adventure north, underwater encounters or desert exploration, country home comforts or nights sleeping out under the stars, here's a few ways you can get in touch with nature during your Coral Coast trip. Get ready for a breath of fresh air — and a heavy dose of wonder and awe. [caption id="attachment_895302" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism Western Australia[/caption] UNDERWATER WILDLIFE ENCOUNTERS The western beaches are world-class — and, if you head offshore (and underwater), you can get up close and personal with a really special place. Ningaloo Reef (Nyinggulu) is a healthy, vibrant reef that plays host to some incredible marine life. To meet them, head out by boat from Coral Bay or Exmouth (Warnangoora). The whale shark is the largest fish in the world and swims by between March and August. You'd be silly to miss taking a snorkel tour to join these gentle and beautiful giants in their home. In this part of the world, you're also well-placed to catch one of the huge manta rays soaring gracefully through the water. Around 30,000 humpbacks pass through the marine park between June and October, and you can set off on a boat tour for a closer look at the pods of these gargantuan guests. For a glimpse of a rare species, take a cruise to see the sea lions in Jurien Bay playing in the ocean and resting on their 'haul out' islands. [caption id="attachment_896070" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lavender Patch at Ningaloo Reef, Coral Bay[/caption] CORAL VIEWING TOUR It may not be as well known as the Great Barrier Reef, but Ningaloo Marine Park is a thriving World Heritage-listed area — and the world's largest fringing coral reef. The Coral Coast has more than 200 coral varieties and more than 500 species of fish; joining them is an abundance of charismatic mammals and seabirds. For what lies beneath the sparkling blue waves, you can't beat a glass-bottom boat tour — some even include fish-feeding. The clear, shallow waters make it a cinch to view these underwater worlds teeming with marine life; you never know what you're going to spy gliding under the glass. You don't have to be a coral expert when you've got one on board talking you through it, and with passionate guides operating out of a roll call of local businesses — like this one-hour coral-filled trip with Ningaloo Glass Bottom Boat — you'll be schooled on all the ins and outs of the reef. Plus, many are eco-certified, so you know your guides love the reef and are dedicated to preserving it for future generations. [caption id="attachment_895352" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism Western Australia[/caption] YAMAJI DRIVE TRAIL The Yamaji Drive Trail near Geraldton (Jambinu) is an epic 195-kilometre stretch of road where history, art and natural wonders are entwined. Featuring 14 significant Aboriginal sites, this experience takes its name from the word meaning 'human' or 'man' in the language of the Wajarri people. You'll traverse a diversity of landscapes in this patch of the world, from idyllic beaches, tree-lined rivers and red, red dirt to midden sites, meeting places and stellar wildflower-spotting places to wander. There's no need to keep yourself cooped up in the car: there are numerous walking trails through parks and reserves along the drive. See native quandong trees on the Warlgu trail, go bird-spotting along the Greenough River nature trail, and visit Ellendale Pool, watched over by Bimarra the serpent. Depending on how often you'd like to stop and explore, the whole trip can take between one and two days. Looking to break it up with a stay? We recommend Geraldton, Greenough or Mullewa as overnight pitstops. [caption id="attachment_895316" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism Western Australia[/caption] NAMBUNG NATIONAL PARK Only a few hours' drive from Perth, Nambung National Park feels a world away from the shining city. Explore this mesmerising area via dedicated walks or drives through the desert. Visit the Pinnacles, the famous ancient limestone rock formations, standing stark in the sandy flats like some alien landscape. Take the boardwalk at Lake Thetis and learn all about the curious geology of the place — and the unique rock forms known as thrombolites. From August to October, the oceanside dune vegetation flowers beautifully, covering the sandy scenery in life and colour. The park also has beaches perfect for swimming, snorkelling and surfing from the white sands and blue waters of Kangaroo Point to Hangover Bay in Jurien Bay Marine Park and the rocky shoreline of Grey beach area (if you brought a fishing rod, this is the spot). Head to the Desert Discovery Centre to find out more about the history, significance and ecology of this fascinating park. [caption id="attachment_895310" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism Western Australia[/caption] KALBARRI SKYWALK The Kalbarri Skywalk (Kaju Yatka) offers an unbeatable view of the 80-kilometre expanse of the Murchison River Gorge. Formed millions of years ago, the gorge is part of an ancient landscape replete with fossils and fascinating geology. The cantilevered platforms sit 100 metres above the gorge, making it feel like you're really floating in the sky. Look down or gaze out and take in the vast view of scrub, sand and stone below, with the river snaking through. There are a few more spectacular places to catch a sunset around here, too. If you want to get a bit closer, take a hiking track down to the gorge to catch the seasonal wildflowers blooming in the rugged terrain. Learn about the flora and fauna, the history of the place and of the Nanda Aboriginal people from sculptures and helpful signs. Stay a while and refresh yourself at the kiosk or set up a picnic at the table. You won't find a better lunchtime vista than this. CORAL COAST WILDFLOWER TRAIL Love wildflowers? Really love them? Then set off on this 11-day trail along a stretch of the Coral Coast in bloom. From late July to early October, this driving trail and its many points of interest burst into florals — with a few rare plant species to spot as well. Native wildflowers surround historical sites, tourist activities and places of cultural significance. Pick up a map and set out on an adventure. Each day on this road trip offers a new landscape, a different mix of wildflowers and wildlife, and a compact diversity of geological wonders, national parks and sweeping beaches. You can stop off in Carnarvon — the 'food bowl' — to sample delicious local produce while spotting the fuchsia dream parakeelya, delicate bluebells and seasonal everlastings. While you're on this adventure, you could opt to stay at Peron Homestead, relax in an artesian spa, explore 8 kilometres of walking trails in Mullewa, get amongst the gum trees, carpets of wildflowers and native scrub (and a few rare orchids) in Kalbarri National Park and visit historic buildings to discover the stories of the vibrant communities along the way. [caption id="attachment_895309" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism Western Australia[/caption] OUTBACK STATION STAYS: BULLARA, QUOBBA, WOORAMEL Want the real outback experience? Stay at a working station and see it all firsthand. Bullara Station (Punurrba; pictured above) lies between Coral Bay and Exmouth, offering an authentic cattle station experience complete with friendly country hospitality. Stay in a self-contained cottage or shearers' lodge, or on a bush-camping site. Take coffee and scones in the wool shed garden, join your host and guests for special meal nights, stay for the yearly muster, or just wander, stargaze, fish and recharge. For an eco-certified option, head to Quobba Station instead. The Meecham family operates this 187,000-hectare station, which was established in 1898. You can stay in the original cottage outbuildings, including the blacksmith's workshop, stables or jackaroo quarters. You're close to the sea here, so make the most of fishing, whale watching and even snorkelling with turtles. The station campground at Wooramel River Retreat sits on the banks of the Wooramel River. It's a delightful balance between the rugged outdoors and home comforts, with a private campfire, naturally heated artesian bore baths, walking trails and a cafe and nightly dinners. The family-owned outback station backs onto a World Heritage area and splendid surrounds that are hard to beat if you're looking to partake in wildlife spotting. Whichever part of Western Australia beckons you over, Concrete Playground Trips is the ideal place to start planning. Ready to go? Head to the website. Top images: Tourism Western Australia (Exmouth Adventure Co; Quobba Station; Bullara Station Stay; Bullara Station Stay; Ningaloo Reef; Coral Bay; Kalbarri Skywalk; Exmouth Dive).
Since launching in 2013, Four Pillars has given Australian gin lovers plenty to drink, including its famed Bloody Shiraz Gin, an annual Christmas-themed tipple, barrel-aged gins and even a boozy ode to Melbourne landmark The Espy. Next time you pour yourself a sip of one of the above juniper spirits, you'll actually be pouring yourself a drop from the world's best gin producer, with the Yarra Valley-based distillery earning that title at this year's International Wine and Spirits Competition. In the event's 50th year, Four Pillars nabbed what's considered the industry's top gin gong, receiving the prize in London on Thursday, November 28 UK time. And if you're wondering about the size and scale of the IWSC, it's the globe's largest international competition for spirits, receiving more than 3000 entries worldwide. Winning for its impressive range of gins — which also includes its Rare Dry Gin, Spiced Negroni Gin and Navy Strength Gin — Four Pillars also made history by becoming the first Australian distillery to win the award. It's the latest exciting chapter in the company's short but substantial run so far, with the gin outfit founded by Cameron Mackenzie, Stuart Gregor and Matt Jones six years ago, earning plenty of acclaim and awards since, and selling a 50-percent stake to beer giant Lion earlier in 2019. In anointing Four Pillars this year's IWSC International Gin Producer of the Year, the organisation also recognised the company's role in the gin industry, its commitment to collaboration and creativity — and its full lineup of tipples. "When we started making test batches of gin back in 2012 we never in our maddest, wildest dreams thought this could happen so quickly," said Mackenzie. "This award is not for a single one of our gins but for the whole of our gin business and that's what makes it so incredibly special." To peruse the full list of International Wine and Spirits Competition winners, visit the organisation's website.
When it comes to a snow holiday in Australia, Thredbo is at the top of a lot of people's lists. And, after the ski resort was named Australia's best for the fifth year running at the World Ski Awards earlier this year it makes sense that so many holiday makers flock there each winter. If you're not a regular at Thredbo, you might be wondering what exactly makes it stand out from other snow holiday destinations — and that's where we come in. Turns out there's a whole lot more on offer than exceptional alpine activities, from live music to excellent food and, of course, the top-notch skiing and snowboarding. We've teamed up with Thredbo to showcase all the cool ways to have fun there this winter. THE NIGHTLIFE A fully fledged nightlife scene might not be the first thing you imagine when you picture Thredbo. But, at this bustling alpine village, that's exactly what you'll find. The après ski sessions at Thredbo attract loads of snow lovers every year. And, the jewel in the crown at this year's winter festivities is the return of the much-loved evening soirée First Base happening across three Saturdays — July 26, August 20 and September 3. In the past the music event has featured artists like Hayden James, Mickey Kojack, Touch Sensitive and Joyride, and its 2022 lineup is set to be just as impressive. There'll also be regular music events on weekends at Merritts Mountain House and plenty of fun to be had at Alpine Bar. THE FEASTS Thredbo is filled with top-notch eats to keep you fuelled for those big days on the mountains. But it's not just delicious eats that the hospitality venues are serving up. Some of these incredible feasts are their own full-blown events. One upcoming highlight is the Bavarian-inspired dinner happening every Saturday evening from June 18 till September 17 at Merritts Mountain House. To get there, you'll ride a gondola under a starry night sky to your dining destination before enjoying a gluhwein on arrival and an unforgettable feast to follow. Another stand out culinary experience is the Kareela Hutte Snowcat Dinner happening on Wednesdays from July 13 till August 31 — complete with a snowcat ride, champagne and a four-course dinner at the cosy European-style hut, no less. THE SPECIAL SNOW EVENTS A trip to Thredbo wouldn't be complete without some time on the slopes. And there are loads of different ways to get your fix on the mountain that go beyond your standard snowboarding and skiing. Consider yourself an early bird? Wake up before the sun and see it rise from the top of Australia's highest lifted point with a sunrise session. You'll get to have breakfast at the country's highest restaurant, Eagles Nest, and then carve the first tracks into the longest run in the country after the overnight snowfall. If you time your trip right, you might even get to catch some of the action at the Thredbo Snow Series competition, the eighth Annual Transfer Banked Slalom snowboarding event or get involved in Australia's longest and fastest downhill race, Top to Bottom, for it's 30th race happening on August 6. Ready to lock in a trip to the snow this winter? For more information and to book, visit the website. Or, enter the competition before February 28 to win a VIP trip to the slopes this winter.
Got a greasy pizza box that you can't recycle? Hold on to it, as you'll soon have a chance to put it to good use. That's because Pizza Hut is hosting its first-ever nationwide free pizza exchange, taking over stores across the country from 4–7pm on Friday, November 21, and celebrating the launch of their garlic and cheddar golden stuffed crust. Representing the latest evolution in Pizza Hut's ever-popular crust upgrade, this brand-new offering features a generous blend of cheddar cheese combined with signature hot dust garlic seasoning. Making for a golden, crispy finish that adds a whole new element to your slice, expect serious cheese pulls with every bite. With the prospect of free pizza almost impossible to resist, this fun-loving exchange will be up and running in four states. In NSW, head to Pizza Hut Surry Hills and Pizza Hut Waterloo, whereas QLD fans can visit Pizza Hut Forest Lake and Pizza Hut Runaway Bay. Meanwhile, Victorians can visit Pizza Hut South Melbourne, as those in WA are invited to complete the swap at Pizza Hut Morley. "Pizza Hut has always been about fun, flavour and innovation, and we wanted to give Aussies a reason to fall back in love with our crusts," says Pizza Hut Australia's Chief Marketing Officer, Wendy Leung. "The new Golden Stuffed Crust delivers on all three." If you decide to swing by your nearest exchange, the equation is simple. Just hand over a pizza box from any rival brand and walk out with a steaming hot Pizza Hut Golden Stuffed Crust Pepperoni Pizza. Why a rival? Well, the idea is that Pizza Hut is the only place to get the real deal when it comes to stuffed crust pizza that never misses the mark. Says Leung: "The Get Stuffed Free Pizza Exchange brings that spirit to life by giving people the chance to trade in their pizza frustrations for something they'll actually love." The Pizza Hut Get Stuffed Free Pizza Exchange is happening at various store locations around Australia from 4–7pm on Friday, November 21. Head to the website for more information. Images: supplied
Another week, another new streaming service — or that's the way it feels, at least. By now, we all know that plenty of online platforms are constantly vying for our eyeballs, and that new ones will keep joining the fold. But, even as the list of streamers just keeps growing, we all love having options, too. We like knowing we have oh-so-many things to choose from, all at the touch of a button — because settling in for a binge-watching marathon is taking up a hefty amount of our leisure time these days. So, the fact that Australia has just scored a new streaming service — and that said platform, Paramount+, features 20,000 episodes and films — is obviously welcome news. But if you're now wondering what to watch and what'll help you fill your hours at home (whether you're in lockdown or under other COVID-19 restrictions), that's understandable. If you need some assistance, we've picked ten new and classic shows you can start binging right now. ANNE BOLEYN As an actor, Jodie Turner-Smith's resume isn't all that lengthy yet — but it will be. So far, ever since first popping up on-screen in the likes of True Blood and The Neon Demon, she has gravitated to roles that make the utmost of her presence. See: Queen & Slim, one of 2020's standout movies, and now miniseries Anne Boleyn. In the latter, Turner-Smith plays the titular character, and does so with a clear understanding of just how precarious the famed historical figure's place in her marriage to Henry VIII was. We all know how this story ends, of course. Even if you don't know that chapter of England's past inside out, this tale has played out in films and TV shows before, and will keep doing so. But Anne Boleyn's specific take on the tale draws plenty of power from its central casting, and pairs its formidable lead performance with sumptuous period details across its three-episode run. DARIA Eventually, Daria is set to get a spinoff series, focusing on the eponymous sardonic teen's classmate Jodie and following her post-college life. Until that arrives — or even once it does — the OG show is still a treasure. That'll never stop being the case, especially if you grew up watching it in the late 90s and early 00s. And, even if you didn't, it's never too late to give it a whirl. Nostalgia isn't the only reason that Daria still has a devoted following, because this a supremely savvy animated exploration of being a teenager. A high-school outsider who doesn't ever care about fitting in, and is comfortable with her sarcastic view on the world, Daria, the character, has become an icon for being herself and never wanting to be anyone else. The series overall fits the same description, and spent five seasons combining relatable adolescent angst and spot-on social satire. TWO WEEKS TO LIVE When Two Weeks to Live begins, it does so with a twenty-something woman getting into an altercation with an unpleasant stranger, and refusing to merely grin and bear it. That main character is played by Game of Thrones' Maisie Williams, so it all feels familiar, but this six-part miniseries doesn't just ask its star to follow in her own footsteps. Instead, the show's protagonist Kim Noakes has been raised to be able to fend for herself, because she has also been brought up to believe that the end is near. Most of her life has been spent off the grid with her mother Tina (Sian Clifford, Fleabag), in fact, until she decides to experience the world before it all grinds to a halt. Then, after a chance meeting in a pub, she's told by a couple of strangers that everything really is about to go kaput. That's a prank, but it sets off quite the chain of events — and lets Williams turn in a stellar performance. DETROITERS Netflix's I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson is only two seasons in, but it has already proven itself as one of most bizarre and brilliant comedies there is. It's one of the easiest to binge in one sitting, then start rewatching again straight away, too. The sketch show isn't Robinson's first amusing outing, however. He also spent a couple of seasons on Saturday Night Live, and co-starred in (and co-created and co-produced) the hilarious sitcom Detroiters. Featuring opposite Veep's Sam Richardson, Robinson plays a Detroit advertising agency creative with more than a few out-there ideas — but that term encompasses his life working beside his best pal anyway. It only spans two seasons, but the show will never stop being sidesplittingly funny. And, it also includes guest stars such as a pre-Ted Lasso Jason Sudeikis and the always-welcome Keegan-Michael Key. THE REN & STIMPY SHOW It's aimed at kids, it's just as entertaining for adults and, as it celebrates its absorbent, yellow and porous hero, it's one of the most anarchic and eccentric shows there is. We're talking about SpongeBob SquarePants and everything it has spawned — movies and musicals included — but it wouldn't exist if it wasn't for 90s cult favourite The Ren & Stimpy Show. The latter definitely isn't for very young viewers, as everyone who sat up late to watch it back when they were kids knows. That's obvious from its animation style alone, and from its gags and rich vein of all-round dark humour. In fact, plenty of the adult-friendly animated series that've graced screens over the past 30 years owe an enormous debt to this iconic effort about a chihuahua and a cat, their constant fighting, their differing emotional and mental states, and the mania of their exaggerated, acerbic and always absurd lives. KEY & PEELE These days, Jordan Peele has an Oscar to his name for Get Out, while Keegan Michael-Key has his own sitcom thanks to Schmigadoon!. But they'll always be known for their 2012–15 sketch comedy series Key & Peele, which won them some Emmys, showcased their considerable talents as comedians, actors and writers, and constantly delivered clever and ridiculously funny skits episode after episode — bits that weren't just amusing, or commented on popular culture, but tackled race relations in a perceptive and impassioned way as well. The highlights are too many to mention, although you've likely already seen the sublime aerobics sketch that's one of the very best things that hit screens of any size in the past decade. It's always worth watching again, as are all of Key & Peele's skits — from the gushing over "Liam Neesons" to President Obama's anger translator Luther. PENNY DREADFUL If you're going to make a TV series that mixes some of horror fiction's best-known and most iconic characters into the same tale, you need to do three things. Firstly, you need to treat those figures with respect and complexity, because there's a reason that the likes of Frankenstein's monster, Dorian Gray and Count Dracula have stood the test of time. Secondly, you need to embrace a gothic vibe, as that's the era that gave birth to these stories. And, you need to cast every part exceptionally well — including when you're working other characters into the tale as well. Across its initial three-season run, Penny Dreadful ticked all these boxes masterfully. It did so in an intoxicatingly lavish and smart manner, in fact. And, in its 19th-century London-set story, it gifted the world one of the great Eva Green's very best performances, plus also-excellent work from Timothy Dalton and Josh Hartnett. TWIN PEAKS It's the mind-bending small-town mystery-drama that comes with its own menu — and with plenty of thrills, laughs and weirdness. Whether you're watching Twin Peaks for the first or 31st time, you'll want to do so with plenty of damn fine coffee, fresh-made cherry pie and cinnamon-covered doughnuts to fuel your journey to this place most wonderful and strange. And, of course, David Lynch and Mark Frost's seminal TV series doesn't just serve up 90s-era oddness centred around the tragic murder of popular high-schooler Laura Palmer (Sheryl Lee), but returned for a mesmerising third season back in 2017 as well. There's simply never been anything on television like Twin Peaks, because no one can make movies and TV shows like Lynch. No one can play a kind and quirky FBI boss like Lynch either, or a dedicated agent like Kyle MacLachlan as Dale Cooper. THE TWILIGHT ZONE When The Twilight Zone made a return back in 2019, it did so in the best possible hands. After wowing horror movie lovers with Get Out and Us, Jordan Peele took on the task of presenting, narrating and redeveloping the legendary sci-fi anthology show for the 21st century, and did it well. Picking up where Rod Serling's original five-season 50s and 60s show left off (and short-lived versions in 1985 and 2002, too), the two season revival series blends the old with the new — both remaking previous episodes and coming up with fresh, thrilling stories. It's as entertaining as you'd rightfully expect, complete with a cast that features everyone from Adam Scott and Kumail Nanjiani to Steven Yeun and Zazie Beetz. And, because the 20 episodes might not be enough, Paramount+ is also streaming both the 50s/60s and the 80s iteration of the iconic science fiction series as well. OZ Before The Sopranos, the show that everyone thinks of when they think of HBO's early big-name dramas — and before The Wire, the other seminal series that made the US cable network a must-watch destination — there was Oz. Talk about starting out as you mean to go on, because this prison-set show is phenomenal. It's as grim as it is gripping, though, as you'd expect of a drama set inside a maximum-security state penitentiary. Across six seasons, the series follows the daily ups and downs in Oswald State Correctional Facility, spending time with prison newcomers struggling with life inside and hardened crims who've behind bars for years. The end result is an acting powerhouse, too, complete with a sea of familiar faces. If you think JK Simmons well and truly earned his Oscar for his formidable performance in Whiplash, you're right, but his work here is next-level.
In cinemas, viewers repeatedly flock to Marvel and Star Wars movies. We've had more than a decade of the former and more than four decades of the latter to prove that fact. But now that both franchises have expanded to the small screen as well, they've been making an impact there, too — and they've now got a swag of 2021 Emmy nominations to prove it. Both The Mandalorian and WandaVision have picked up plenty of nods for this year's awards, with nominations just announced in the early hours of Wednesday, July 14 Australian time. The adventures of Baby Yoda and his titular companion nabbed 24 noms, while Marvel's first Disney+ series landed 23. Among the heavy hitters, The Crown also picked up 24 nominations, while The Handmaid's Tale nabbed 21 nods, Ted Lasso earned 20, Lovecraft Country and The Queen's Gambit scored 18 a piece, and Mare of Easttown collected 16. They're the big contenders that'll be vying for shiny trophies in just over two months time — on Monday, September 21 Down Under — and their nominations are filled with highlights. Pretty much every main actor involved with the heartwarming Jason Sudeikis-led Ted Lasso scored a nod, for example, with seven cast members nominated. Just a week after Lovecraft Country was cancelled by HBO, its noms stand out as well, especially its acting nominations for Jonathan Majors, Jurnee Smollett, Michael K Williams and Aunjanue Ellis. Plenty of the other shows that everyone has been watching over the past year nabbed some attention, too. The immensely dissimilar The Boys and Bridgerton have been nominated for Best Drama — with the latter's Regé-Jean Page also getting a Lead Actor in a Drama nomination. In the comedy field, The Flight Attendant, PEN15 and Emily in Paris are all represented, some more deservingly than others. And, over in the Limited Series categories — which is where WandaVision, The Queen's Gambit and Mare of Easttown all sit — Michaela Coel's phenomenal I May Destroy You rightly got some love after being completely overlooked by the Golden Globes earlier this year. It picked up nine noms, in fact. Also doing big things: Hamilton. That shouldn't come as a surprise anywhere anymore; however, the exceptional filmed version of the smash-hit musical nabbed 12 nods, including for most of its cast members — Lin-Manuel Miranda, Leslie Odom Jr, Daveed Diggs and Jonathan Groff among them. And if you're noticing a big trend towards streaming shows this year, the fact that plenty of the Emmys' usual favourites didn't air over the past 12 months due to the pandemic — shows like Succession and Westworld, for instance — obviously played a part. There were still some noticeable omissions, though, including the lack of love for Girls5eva and for the Ethan Hawke-starring The Good Lord Bird. Also, while Hugh Grant picked up a nod for his work on The Undoing, Nicole Kidman didn't for hers. Being an Australian publication, we have to mention that. The 73rd Emmy Awards will take place on Monday, September 20, Australian time. Here's a rundown of the major nominations — and you can check out the full list of nominees on the Emmys' website: EMMY NOMINEES 2021 OUTSTANDING DRAMA SERIES The Boys Bridgerton The Crown The Mandalorian Lovecraft Country Pose The Handmaid's Tale This Is Us OUTSTANDING COMEDY SERIES Black-ish Cobra Kai PEN15 Emily in Paris Hacks Ted Lasso The Flight Attendant The Kominsky Method OUTSTANDING LIMITED SERIES Mare of Easttown I May Destroy You WandaVision The Queen's Gambit The Underground Railroad OUTSTANDING TELEVISION MOVIE Uncle Frank Sylvie's Love Oslo Robin Roberts Presents: Mahalia Dolly Parton's Christmas on The Square OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES Regé-Jean Page, Bridgerton Sterling K. Brown, This Is Us Billy Porter, Pose Jonathan Majors, Lovecraft Country Matthew Rhys, Perry Mason Josh O'Connor, The Crown OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES Emma Corrin, The Crown Olivia Colman, The Crown Uzo Aduba, In Treatment Elisabeth Moss, The Handmaid's Tale Jurnee Smollett, Lovecraft Country Mj Rodriguez, Pose OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES Jason Sudeikis, Ted Lasso Anthony Anderson, Black-ish Michael Douglas, The Kominsky Method William H Macy, Shameless Kenan Thompson, Kenan OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES Aidy Bryant, Shrill Jean Smart, Hacks Allison Janney, Mom Kaley Cuoco, The Flight Attendant Tracee Ellis Ross, Black-ish OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR TELEVISION MOVIE Paul Bettany, WandaVision Hugh Grant, The Undoing Ewan McGregor, Halston Lin-Manuel Miranda, Hamilton Leslie Odom Jr, Hamilton OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR TELEVISION MOVIE Kate Winslet, Mare of Easttown Michaela Coel, I May Destroy You Anya Taylor-Joy, The Queen's Gambit Elizabeth Olsen, WandaVision Cynthia Erivo, Genius: Aretha OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES Michael K. Williams, Lovecraft Country Bradley Whitford, The Handmaid's Tale Max Minghella, The Handmaid's Tale O-T Fagbenle, The Handmaid's Tale John Lithgow, Perry Mason Tobias Menzies, The Crown Giancarlo Esposito, The Mandalorian Chris Sullivan, This Is Us OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES Gillian Anderson, The Crown Helena Bonham Carter, The Crown Emerald Fennell, The Crown Ann Dowd, The Handmaid's Tale Yvonne Strahovski, The Handmaid's Tale Samira Wiley, The Handmaid's Tale Madeline Brewer, The Handmaid's Tale Aunjanue Ellis, Lovecraft Country OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES Bowen Yang, Saturday Night Live Kenan Thompson, Saturday Night Live Brett Goldstein, Ted Lasso Brendan Hunt, Ted Lasso Nick Mohammed, Ted Lasso Jeremy Swift, Ted Lasso Paul Reiser, The Kominsky Method Carl Clemons-Hopkins, Hacks OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES Kate McKinnon, Saturday Night Live Cecily Strong, Saturday Night Live Aidy Bryant, Saturday Night Live Rosie Perez, The Flight Attendant Hannah Einbinder, Hacks Hannah Waddingham, Ted Lasso Juno Temple, Ted Lasso OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR TELEVISION MOVIE Daveed Diggs, Hamilton Jonathan Groff, Hamilton Anthony Ramos, Hamilton Thomas Brodie-Sangster, The Queen's Gambit Evan Peters, Mare of Easttown Paapa Essiedu, I May Destroy You OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR TELEVISION MOVIE Jean Smart, Mare of Easttown Julianne Nicholson, Mare of Easttown Kathryn Hahn, WandaVision Phillipa Soo, Hamilton Renee Elise Goldsberry, Hamilton Moses Ingram, The Queen's Gambit
It's an occasion everyone should be excited about, as well as one you mightn't realise is coming. Queensland's public holidays have jumped around over the past few years, switching between May, June and October — but the most important thing is that Monday, October 3 is (for most of us) not an ordinary work day. Instead, it's the date the state is celebrating the Queen's birthday — and it's mighty regal reason to plan a royally massive long weekend. As with every three-day break from the daily grind, there's plenty to do around town. Here's our top ten choices.
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=PLNXHJB5Mto BABYTEETH Usually, cancer movies aren't just terrible and generic — they're insulting. Too often focusing on pretty young things succumbing slowly to the insidious disease, they generally tug at the heartstrings with shameless abandon, treating their protagonists and their plights as a mechanism to wring weepy tears out of the audience. The Fault in Our Stars did it. Me and Earl and the Dying Girl did too, and even won awards at Sundance for its efforts. So when a film also hones in on a cancer-afflicted teenager yet refuses to trot out the same old tropes and cliches, it firmly stands out. Based on the play of the same name, Babyteeth is that movie, and it could never be mistaken for the usual illness drama. As directed by feature first-timer Shannon Murphy, this lively, vibrant, insightful and genuinely moving Australian film truly sees its main character, Milla (Little Women's Eliza Scanlen), as a person first and foremost. She's not a mere tool used to evoke easy emotion. She isn't a secondary figure primarily deployed to explain someone else's troubles, either. Rather, she's a passionate Sydney high schooler who unexpectedly falls for drug dealer Moses (Acute Misfortune's Toby Wallace) as her already-struggling parents watch on. Also starring Essie Davis and Ben Mendelsohn as Milla's mother and father, this is a raw, sensitive, astute and arresting addition to a genre that rarely (if ever) earns any of those terms. It's also visually striking and, unsurprisingly given the cast, boasts fantastic performances — and it's one of the best Aussie movies that'll hit cinemas in 2020. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wplr6eN2ajQ THE BURNT ORANGE HERESY In The Burnt Orange Heresy, Mick Jagger plays a rich, ruthless art collector who visibly enjoys toying with everyone in his orbit. This isn't the Rolling Stone's first acting role, with the superstar musician famously playing Ned Kelly in the 1970 film of the same name, and popping up in the likes of Freejack and The Man from Elysian Fields over the years — but in this Italy-set art-centric thriller, he's worth the price of admission. He's clearly having fun with his wily character and Cockney drawl, even though he's just a supporting player. As a reclusive artist who lives on the collector's sprawling Lake Como property, Donald Sutherland falls into the same category, too. Alas, thanks to a by-the-numbers narrative, the slow-burning, handsomely shot film itself can't quite match them. When Jagger's shrewd Joseph Cassidy invites art critic James Figueras (Claes Bang) to his estate, the latter isn't sure why — so he takes American tourist Berenice (Elizabeth Debicki) along for the trip. Upon their arrival, the new lovers become immersed in a plot to unearth the latest paintings by Sutherland's art legend, although that's just the tip of the subterfuge and duplicity surrounding Figueras. The second feature by Italian director Giuseppe Capotondi, The Burnt Orange Heresy doesn't lack in plot, themes or attempts to ape Patricia Highsmith's best tales, but its twists prove as routine as its insights into authenticity and forgery on multiple levels. And, while excellent when he last dallied with art in The Square, and in this year's Dracula as well, Bang is never commanding as his co-stars — including Widows' Debicki, who overcomes an underwritten role in her tender scenes with Sutherland. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4MRcUzmFv8 CALM WITH HORSES Living in a sleepy rural Irish town, Douglas (Cosmo Jarvis) has tied his fortunes to the region's crime heavies, working as an enforcer for the Devers family. The former boxer largely pals around with young up-and-comer Dympna (Barry Keoghan), but when the latter is instructed to jump by his menacing uncles (Ned Dennehy and David Wilmot) — and, specifically, to rough up an old man who has committed a heinous act against one of their own — Douglas must also do what he's told. But this is a task that tests his loyalty, even with his violent history. Complicating matters are Douglas' ex Ursula (Niamh Algar) and their autistic five-year-old son Jack (Kiljan Moroney), who want to move to Cork — and away from Douglas and his brutal cronies — so that Jack can attend a better school. Best known until now for Lady Macbeth, Farming and Peaky Blinders, Jarvis is exceptional in Calm with Horses, a downbeat crime film that doubles as a tense and probing character study. This is a social realist-leaning (and sometimes blackly comic) look at life on the margins, a sharp exploration of toxic masculinity and a potent quest for redemption, too, and Jarvis' quiet, internalised but powerful performance couldn't be more pivotal. In fact, it's a career-best portrayal amongst a top-notch ensemble cast (including Dunkirk's Keoghan). Also crucial: the emotive, immersive stylistic approach favoured by filmmaker Nick Rowland, who makes his feature helming debut. As the movie charts Douglas' gradual awakening to the consequences of his chosen path, the first-time director conveys the character's inner conflict through juxtaposed colours, the noticeable jumping between closed-in interiors and wide-open landscapes, and a pulsating soundtrack by Benjamin John Power — and, yes, with tender scenes involving Douglas, Jack, Ursula and gentle equines as well. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mrkt44f83k THE VIGIL If something goes bump in the night, it causes jumps or both, then it's in Blumhouse Productions' wheelhouse. A hefty list of recent films have demonstrated that fact — including the Paranormal Activity, Insidious, Sinister, Ouija and Happy Death Day franchises, as well as the relaunched Halloween series — and, in case audiences needed another reminder, now The Vigil is here to do the same. The differentiating factor here is the focus on the Orthodox Jewish faith, including one of its rituals. Fresh from stepping out of a support-group meeting for Hasidic New Yorkers who are slowly encroaching upon a more secular worldview, Yakov Ronen (Dave Davis) is enlisted to spend a night working as a 'shomer' in a crumbling Borough Park home. His task: to watch over the body of recently deceased holocaust-survivor Mr Litvak (Ronald Cohen) until dawn. From the moment that Yakov steps inside the Litvaks' townhouse at his friend Reb Shulem's (Menashe Lustig) urging — and the moment he meets the eerie Mrs Litvak (Lynn Cohen), spies her husband's corpse under a sheet and notices the unmistakably moody lighting — The Vigil is content to lurk in standard jump-scare territory. It feigns at delving deeper, including into Orthodox culture and the weight left by the atrocities of the Second World War, but this is primarily an exercise in evoking dread and suspense in the usual haunted house-focused horror movie mould. First-time feature writer/director Keith Thomas still conjures up a creepy atmosphere and crafts a number of spine-tingling, anxiety-inducing visuals. As the increasingly perturbed protagonist, Davis (Greyhound, Logan) deftly navigates all of the above, too. But, even with its tense score always going for broke, the film always feels like it is simply dressing up well-worn genre elements in different packaging. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4aM_3JJ_Us HOUSE OF CARDIN He trained as a tailor before the Second World War, then worked for the Red Cross during the conflict. Afterwards, he made costumes for the 1946 big-screen version of Beauty and the Beast, became the head of Christian Dior's atelier, then launched his own fashion house in 1950. From there, he pioneered an avant-garde, boundary-breaking style that's marked by its constant evolution as much as its love for geometric designs. The man in question: Italian-born, French-raised and -based designer Pierre Cardin, the subject of P. David Ebersole and Todd Hughes' (Mansfield 66/67) energetic, affectionate and informative — albeit slickly formulaic — documentary House of Cardin. Unlike its eponymous figure or recent fellow fashion doco Halston, this film doesn't aim to push any limits or stand out — in its form or function, that is. Instead, it sticks to the oft-used template (think: talking-head interviews with other famous faces, enticing shots of eye-catching designs, archival footage aplenty and an overt score) to celebrate the now 98-year-old Cardin. The movie's straightforward approach and structure is always obvious; however it also helps push Cardin, his work and his jam-packed life story front and centre. And in a documentary that benefits from its subject's sometimes-abrupt recollections about his experiences and career, as well as ample examples of the designer's dazzling pieces — both of which sprawl in a plethora of directions — that ultimately proves a savvy and engaging choice. 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 and July 16 — and our full reviews of The Personal History of David Copperfield, Waves and The King of Staten Island. Top images: The Burnt Orange Heresy © joseharo.
Get cracking, southsiders: Brisbane now has not one but two Claw BBQ crab shacks serving up shellfish feasts and boozy slushies over sports and arcade games, with the second opening in Carindale. The suburb's shopping centre dining precinct underneath Event Cinema is fresh from a revamp, and this red- and white-hued, American-inspired joint is one of the big new additions. There's bibs, seafood, screens aplenty and a 4.5-metre boat built into the ceiling. It was back in August 2023 that Claw BBQ first launched on King Street — a move that's clearly gone well enough to inspire an expansion to another part of town. The chain announced in July that it was doubling its local footprint come spring, and also that that boat would give the new venue quite a point of difference. Food-wise, this is a place with a bucket list. One chilled option comes packed with bugs, prawns and crab. Another is all prawns, whether you're keen on a half kilo or the full thing. From the hot buckets, you can go with prawns, crawfish, sand crab and Moreton Bay bugs alone, all in kilo servings with corn and potato — or for two different mixes, including one with lobster tails. Louisiana-style crab claws are on the appetisers lineup, too, as are everything from cheeseburger spring rolls to fried calamari. The rest of the menu extends to fried chicken, whole grilled chooks, barbecue ribs, striploins, seven types of burgers and more. In a space with those large-screen televisions broadcasting sport, and consoles for you to mash buttons at, the brand's eating challenges have also made the jump. Adventurous (and hungry) patrons can attempt to wolf down a one-kilogram burg with a side of fries in just half an hour or half a kilogram of hot wings in 20 minutes. The new crustacean-slinging eatery boasts ice cream shakes (in banoffee pie, rocky road and chocolate peanut butter) and mocktails among its drinks range, sitting alongside a hefty number of tap beers, a small wine list, and cocktail choices such as cactus apple margaritas, strawberry and kiwi mojitos, frozen cola with rum and lime, mango macadamia piña coladas and sangria towers.
Carrie Bradshaw once said that Vogue fed her more than dinner – a hot take in the early 2000s, when skipping a few meals was á la mode. Alas, flipping (or scrolling) through a fashion mag today might not have the same effect. Tinned fish, cherries, lemons and lobsters appear on the clothes, like one big grazing plate. Every Loewe ad features sculptural heirloom tomatoes, while Jacquemus' are a reminder to butter your toast. [caption id="attachment_1042055" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Maison Batard servers wearing bespoke tuxedos from The Service Club.[/caption] The obsession has even spilled over to the beauty industry in recent years — Nude by Nature's lippies are stirring martinis and scooping up whipped butter. Food motifs aren't new in fashion, but in the latest wave of the food-fashion zeitgeist, the people behind what we eat are also shaping what we wear for the first time. Amidst workplace misconduct and financial pressures, working in hospitality is notoriously tough. But 'chefcore' has officially become a thing, thanks to shows like The Bear, which have turned our attention to what chefs wear. Fashion publications dissect the show's thoughtful costuming every season, with iconic looks including vintage designer pieces that reference Chicago history, Carmy's perfect (and pricey) white t-shirt, and the $600 Thom Browne chef whites gifted to Sydney in the season two finale. Another thing: The Bear doesn't shy away from the industry's harsh realities — and the grittiness appeals. It's why Jeremy Allen White, who plays Carmy, now fronts Calvin Klein campaigns. And why Gio Luciano, a real-life line cook in New York City, went viral on TikTok for "line cook food hauls". It makes sense that brands are clamouring to cash in on this cultural cachet. Incu asked Messina to reimagine its brands as gelato flavours in 2020. In Hollywood, Mel's Drive-In made a sky-high pancake stack for Skims, which homegrown Scarlet and Sam referenced with its monogrammed birthday pancakes. Last month, Tarts Anon teamed up with Birkenstock Australia to spotlight their professional footwear range. [caption id="attachment_1042052" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tarts Anon Head Chef Gareth Whitton in his trusty work clogs.[/caption] "Fashion brands want to be part of culture and create experiences that feel tangible and memorable," Tarts Anon founder Gareth Whitton says. "Food and hospitality are inherently social and sensory experiences, which makes them perfect for lifestyle storytelling." Borrowing from the thyme-hued Boston clogs he wears around the kitchen, Whitton created a one-weekend-only thyme, chocolate and verjus tart, finished with a cocoa dusting in Birkenstock's signature bone pattern. [caption id="attachment_1042054" align="alignnone" width="1920"] An exclusive thyme, chocolate and verjus tart at Tarts Anon that pays homage to Head Chef Gareth Whitton's Birkenstock Bostons in Thyme.[/caption] These collabs are a win-win for Whitton: his team is excited to experiment, while retail brands gain exposure to "a highly curated audience in a relaxed social setting". This face time is especially valuable to brands without a brick-and-mortar presence, but it's also a way for those with a physical storefront to draw more curious browsers. [caption id="attachment_1042053" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Birkenstock's iconic Boston clogs, made for work.[/caption] Luxury maisons have long paired fashion with fine dining. In 2004, Chanel brought on celebrated chef Alain Ducasse to open Michelin-starred French restaurant Beige alain Ducasse Tokyo in its Ginza flagship. Gucci, Prada, Ralph Lauren and more followed with similar concepts, all meant to draw crowds to their stores. As designers join diners at the table, Whitton warns against collabs that feel "forced and gimmicky". He offers a hot tip for fashion marketers: "Typically, chefs collaborate with brands that share a similar aesthetic, ethos, or target audience. The best collaborations are always the ones where both sides feel the partnership enhances their story, rather than serving as a one-off promotion." Keeping that in mind, workwear labels might have an edge in the game. Sydney-based designer Johnny Schembri, who started hospo-dedicated diffusion line The Service Club, explains: "Chefs are incredibly particular, and rightly so, they spend long hours in these garments. We listen carefully to their notes around comfort, heat, and movement. The same goes for waitstaff; they need to be able to move freely, and everything must be easy to wash and wear." Schembri has been dressing women under his namesake label, By Johnny, for the past 16 years, but he earned his stripes making uniforms for the now-defunct Keystone Group. Two years ago, the designer turned his eye back to the kitchen with The Service Club. Venues can pick from a collection of 40 ready-to-wear garments or opt to collaborate with Schembri on custom uniforms. [caption id="attachment_1042057" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The crew at Bobbys Cronulla kitted out in nautical-inspired uniforms designed by The Service Club.[/caption] "Historically, chef uniforms have all looked the same, very standard and not especially considered," Schembri says. But now, chefs are looking for design-led options to inject personality into their attire. The Service Club outfitted 20 venues in its first 12 months, ranging from a breezy all-white look punctuated by blue and clay aprons at Sydney's beachside restaurant Bobby to tailored-yet-functional tuxes for Melbourne's Maison Bâtard team. While uniforms are a masthead for venues — Schrembi calls them "walking billboards" — the clothes worn during a busy shift still have to strike a balance between function and style. In an era of countless microtrends, practicality might be a virtue; The Bear's style explosion demonstrates a love for clothes that go just as hard as the people who wear them. Beyond chefcore, the people and pulse of a restaurant can also inspire the fashion world in its own right. London-based Melt Jewellery's most-hyped collection in five years features sculptural sterling-silver-and-gemstone rings and pendant necklaces that nod to the movement in a kitchen. [caption id="attachment_1042056" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Bertrand Kerleo shows off Melt Jewellery's new collection.[/caption] The collection took shape when Melt founder Prachi Jan met French pastry chef Bertrand Kerleo on the tube. Kerleo became the muse of the campaign, which is centred around his culinary journey and shot in a working kitchen where he busies himself making an avant-garde take on European milk pudding called blancmange. While Jan is well aware that no chef would actually wear jewellery during service, it's the unlikely crossover that intrigues her. "We're not encouraging people to sauté in silver," she says. "You see Bertrand wearing the jewellery while cooking, moving [and] sweating — all those human details that you don't usually associate with fine jewellery. It feels slightly surreal." With all the hype around hospo, high-concept collaborations like this could be where we're headed. As Schembri puts it: "There's something raw and real about the hospitality world that cuts through the noise; it's tactile, it's lived-in, and it feels genuine, which is exactly what people want from brands right now." Images supplied
Because you’re reading this, we know you’re not someone who received a pet for Christmas, only to decide it wasn't for you. We know you're one of the good folks. You're probably wishing that you did receive a loveable animal as a gift, even if you already have one — or several — that you adore. We understand your yearning, and so does RSPCA Queensland. In trying to find permanent homes for dogs, cats, puppies and kittens surrendered into their care from all over the state, they’re bringing all those cuddly creatures to the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre on Saturday 17 January for their first-ever pop-up adoption event. Entry is free, and includes demonstrations, entertainment, food, and activities, as well as RSPCA stalls and information. And then there’s the hundreds of animals waiting for your affection — and for you to take them home with you. Although you can't put a price on the happiness a new four-legged friend will bring, discounted rates do apply on the day for those willing to adopt an older cat or dog. Kittens and puppies aged under four months will also be looking for someone to love them. The time and place is perfect for many a Brisbane resident, coinciding with the first day of the biannual secondhand free-for-all that is Lifeline Bookfest. Who doesn’t want to go out for a day of book browsing, puppy perusing and cat patting? You might just come home with six month's worth of reading, and a new pal to keep you company. There's more to pet adoption than overdosing on cuteness, of course, with making the commitment to care for an animal serious business. For further information, read RSPCA Queensland’s FAQs.
A chat with Moritz Mohr about Boy Kills World is a chat about the things that he loves. His DVD copy of Battle Royale comes up, and his DVD and Blu-Ray collection in general. So does spending "months and months and months" listening to the soundtrack to Park Chan-wook's Oldboy, and the fact that the iconic South Korean revenge thriller is now being turned into a TV series. Boy Kills World, the German filmmaker's first feature, is a movie eagerly and overtly made from the things that Mohr adores. "That's a very correct assessment of the situation," he tells Concrete Playground. "We — me and all my collaborators, the writers — we really put into that movie everything that we love. So it should feel like that because that's basically what it is," he continues. Accordingly, yes, Mohr and the Boy Kills World team are fond of vengeance stories, martial arts films and fight-to-the-death flicks. And, they've worked that affection into a wild ode to action cinema starring Bill Skarsgård (John Wick: Chapter 4), featuring the voice of H Jon Benjamin (Bob's Burgers) and produced by Evil Dead filmmaker Sam Raimi (Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness). The involvement of each of those key figures also stems from enthusiasm. Skarsgård was the first actor cast, for a role that makes him a silent film star — Boy, the movie's protagonist, is an orphan who has spent his childhood training for a quest for retribution, and is also deaf and mute — and trades on his physicality as a form of expression as a result. It required him to get ripped, too. "I was like 'are you up for that? Are you up for the training and all?'. And he promised me he would be up for it," explains Mohr. Was he ever; the proof is in the movie. Boy doesn't speak, a choice that plays with the usual strong and silent action-hero archetype; however, viewers are still clued into his every thought and feeling thanks to Benjamin. He gives the flick Boy's inner monologue, and his involvement came about exactly as you'd expect. "I love H Jon. I love his comedy. I love Archer. I love Bob's Burgers. So that's the reason — that's the only reason, because I love him and I thought he would be a great fit," says Mohr. As for Raimi, getting him onboard — and getting compliments from him at Mohr's very-first meeting with him — had Boy Kills World's helmer thinking "oh my god, I can die now", he tells us. It's an inspirational result for anyone who has ever dreamed with their friends of making a movie, and specifically making the kind of movie you'd love to see yourself. Indeed, that's exactly the starting point for the film that premiered at 2023's Toronto International Film Festival, has scored a spinoff video game and is also seeing that button-mashing title get an animated series. [caption id="attachment_954583" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Julian Leshay[/caption] Story-wise, Boy Kills World plunges into a dystopian world that brings The Hunger Games to mind, complete with death as a televised spectacle. When Boy is a boy (Nicholas and Cameron Crovetti, Goodnight Mommy), he loses family at the hands of a despot (Famke Janssen, Locked In), then commits himself to revenge. Cue carnage once he's an adult, as brought to the screen with energetic glee — and with a cast that also includes Yayan Ruhian (The Raid, The Raid 2) as the Shaman who teaches Boy his ferocious fighting skills, plus Michelle Dockery (Downton Abbey: A New Era), Sharlto Copley (Monkey Man), Jessica Rothe (the Happy Death Day franchise) and Andrew Koji (Warrior). How did Boy Kills World evolve from an idea bandied about in Berlin to bouncing through cinemas? What goes into making the movie a balancing act of action and comedy, and also genres and styles? With Mohr, we also discussed the above, adding complexity to vengeance tales, casting Skarsgård, directing a wordless performance and ensuring that the film goes on a helluva ride. On How Boy Kills World Went From Idea and Proof-of-Concept Short to Getting Sam Raimi Producing and Hitting the Screen "In 2016, there were five people in Berlin: producer, writer, director, fight choreographer and action guy. And we're like 'we really want to make something that we would watch ourselves', because we're all working in advertising and TV, and there's not much of an action scene in in Germany — there's basically no action movies, never have been. And we were like 'we want to do something and we want to feature the unique talent of our brilliant action designer Dawid Szatarski [an alum of Black Widow and Kingsman: The Golden Circle]. And that's why we shot this proof-of-concept trailer, which I think we shot for like five days. It took us a year to wrap it up. And at one point, I got a call from a friend who went to the AFM, the American Film Market in LA. He's like 'hey Moritz, do you want to come along? I'm kind of lonely and I have a couch'. So I was like 'yeah, sure, I'll finish the trailer, wrap it up, stop tinkering with it and just go over there and give it a shot, and see what happens'. When I arrived there I had like four meetings, and the first meeting was like 'this is a great trailer, cool — do you have a script?'. I was like 'no, I don't have a script yet'. So like 'oh sorry, then we can't help you'. And I thought that's how it would stay, basically because I knew everybody told me 'if you want to sell something, you need a script'. Yeah, well, I don't have one. We had a treatment, a five-pager or something. But through very nice people who kept connecting me to other people, about four days later I was in contact with Sam Raimi. And I met him. He's the nicest guy ever. We had this beautiful moment that I will probably remember forever: it was the first meeting and I was like 'I'm such a huge fan of yours' — he's just like 'and I'm a big fan of yours Moritz'. And I was like 'oh my god, I can die now. This is great'. So after that meeting, it's basically sort of a handshake agreement, we're going to do this together. Also Stuart Manashil [Irma Vep, Malcolm & Marie] and Roy Lee [Late Night with the Devil, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire]. Roy Lee, he's a great producer in his own right, he did the IT movies and Lego and The Ring remakes and all that. Then we found a studio, basically, developing a script — and then it just took us five little years and lots of lots of detours. When we finally found our final partners Nthibah Pictures in South Africa and Hammerstone studios, that were ready to put all the money we needed in the film and really make the movie as it was intended to be made — and really believed in us — that's when we started shooting in Cape Town three years ago." On the Film's Balancing Act in Mashing Up Genres and Styles, and Getting the Mix of Action and Comedy Right "That's what I was worried about the entire time — it was like 'alright, we've got the comedy, but we've also got the drama. And we've got the action, and putting that in in the right amount'. Can we cut this joke? Is the movie still funny enough? Can we linger on that dramatic scene a little longer, or is it dragging everything down? Or is it too much action? Are the action scenes too long? Obviously lots of that stuff is very subjective, but it's definitely something you're worried about the entire time." On Adding Complexity to Boy Kills World's Revenge Tale "I really think there's so many revenge movies out there that I just didn't want to add something that is exactly like anything else. And as a thinking human being, usually in a revenge movie you go like 'isn't that enough revenge now? You killed like 50 people. You don't think this is enough now for whatever happened to you?'. Because it is never black and white, right? And it shouldn't be. One of my favourite directors is Park Chan-wook and his revenge trilogy — and with every one of the three movies, he put a different spin on revenge. And that definitely heavily inspired me because it just shouldn't be that easy. If you add something to the great, great genre of revenge movies, I feel like you should these days put a slight twist to it." On Boy Being a Literally Silent Hero — and Unpacking the Trope in the Process "The whole voiceover concept was there pretty much from the start. It was like 'hey, let's combine this young hero with an old narrator voice', that split. It's definitely a disconnect for the audience that the audience has to get used to, but it also makes it special. That's what was, in the beginning, when pitching the project and developing it — besides everything else, besides the story and all — it was one of the things that was like 'oh yeah, that's what makes the whole thing special, that's what sets it apart'. That was very, very deliberate. I read a comment once that was like 'oh, they probably added the voiceover after the fact when they realised that the mute hero doesn't work'. I was really hurt at that moment. I was like 'oh, no, I hope people don't think that'." On Casting Bill Skarsgard as Boy "Bill's a terrific actor, obviously. He was basically the first person we cast, and the only caveat besides him being a great actor and obviously having a super-expressive face that felt very right for role, was that he had never done any action — or not as a lead in an action movie. For a moment I was like 'ohh, can he do that?'. And in my first call, I asked him about it. I was like 'are you up for that? Are you up for the training and all?'. And he promised me he would be up for it. And I was like 'alright, you're good enough for me'. And he really delivered on his promise. He started training in Stockholm. We sent somebody over to go through the basics, the punching and kicking, and then just the motions, and he really put in the work. Like, he got in shape. He got ripped. He trained. The action scenes are basically dance routines to a degree, where you have to remember the movements and the punches and all. So that just takes time, and he was fully, fully committed to this— and spent hours and hours and days and weeks in the gym with our guys creating these scenes." On the Direction That You Give Someone When Their Performance Is Purely Expressive with No Dialogue "It is absolutely, right. So this may sound very stupid, but it was literally – because, giving direction, usually you talk to the actors and then they give you their performance. And then most of the time, if you have good actors, you just go 'oh yeah, can you go a little bigger there in the end? Or take a break?' Just like small things. When I started directing people back in the day, I just talked at them, like 'oh, you need to do this, this and this' — 15 years ago, film school days, basically. But now I'm working with all these great actors, and you really work with what they give you. And you watching the first take is usually magic, or the rehearsal — when you're like 'ohhh, this is amazing. I could never have dreamed to get something like this. That's the perfect start to these scenes'. With Bill in particular, since there's no lines, it was usually very simple directions. We're basically just 'oh yeah, do a little more here, be a bit more expressive, be more intense — or less intense'. And that's the way to go, because I did not have a lot of work with Bill in that regard; he delivered on that." On Making the Film a Wild Ride Where It Feels as If Anything Could Happen "Balancing all that, that's the big task, and we had created a canvas for ourselves where we could do some crazy stuff — and since we created our own world, nobody told us how things should be, so we had all the freedom in that regard. There are some major tonal shifts in the movie, and I was definitely worried that the audience wouldn't be along for them or [would be] like 'oh my god, the tone of that movie is all over the place'. I was literally waiting for — I'm still waiting for somebody to just call me out on that. But I actually love movies where you don't know where they're going to go, and I think that's the most exciting kind of movie — where you can be actually surprised where it's going to go." Boy Kills World opened in cinemas Down Under on Thursday, May 2. Read our review. Film stills: Roadside Attractions.
The days are long and drenched with sunlight, and you've got time on your hands to lie on the sand or in the grass and while it away with a book into the late summer hours. But you want the hours to be worthwhile, and sometimes it's really difficult to make a decision or to know where to start. Moreover, you want something enjoyable and easy to read that isn't going to turn your brain to marshmallow. So to help you out, Concrete Playground has come up with some suggestions for the best books to read over your summer. We've got new stuff and old stuff. Books you've never heard of and books everybody's heard of. Romances, mysteries, high quality smut, and stories both sweet and weird and wonderful. Compiled lovingly by somebody who's found the first legitimate use for her English major, we hope that these books delight you and make summer all the more wonderful. 1. 1Q84 by Haruki MurakamiJapanese author Haruki Murakami has a cult following and a legion of literary groupies so devoted that when the English translation of 1Q84 was published in October, bookstores stayed open late to cope with a demand not seen since the world was hit by the latest escapades of a certain Harry Potter. And upon publication, the word 'genius' was merrily tossed around by a legion of doe-eyed bookish types, as well as mutterings about Nobel Prizes. Quite deservedly too. 1Q84 is set in Tokyo in a fictionalised 1984 and follows the parallel story-lines of Tengo, a solitary maths teacher and ghost writer, and Aomame, a lady who works a sideline in ridding the world of abusive men. Over the course of a year their lives intertwine around religious cults, eccentric geniuses, reclusive dowagers and unexplained coincidences and mysteries. At roughly nine hundred pages long it isn't the slimmest book to carry around, but 1Q84, and everything by Murakami in general, is unlike anything else out there. It's beautiful and it's complex and you get completely lost inside the labyrinthine worlds he creates. 1Q84 on Amazon 2. A Visit From The Goon Squad – Jennifer EganA Visit From The Goon Squad is a series of thirteen interlocking stories centered around aging music executive and a once-talented musician, Bennie Salazar. The book opens with Salazar's former assistant, Sasha, a kleptomaniac trying desperately not to steal her date's wallet, and shuttles back and forth in time to the 1970s San Francisco punk scene, a tortuous African safari and a New York of the not too distant future. A Visit From The Goon Squad won the Pulitzer Prize this year, and it's insanely fun to read, moving so quickly you can easily eat up a day reading it. All the stories centre around the music industry and rock and roll, but ultimately it's more about what it means to grow up and how that often translates into a loss of innocence. According to Google, trusted research tool, HBO is turning the book into a television series next year, but I can pretty much guarantee the book will be better, because at the end of the day it's going to be hard to translate a chapter formatted like a Powerpoint presentation, amongst others, into entertaining television. A Visit from the Goon Squad on Amazon 3. The White Album – Joan DidionIn the sixties Joan Didion was a journalist and writer who described herself as anxious, confused, rotten at interviewing people and only ever got decent stories out of people because she was so tiny and neurotically inarticulate in front of others that she tended to blend into the background. And as somebody who's anxious and neurotically inarticulate myself, Joan Didion has endeared herself to me ever since this book occupied me for the entire abominable flight between Sydney and London without me ever having to resort to watching a Judd Apatow movie. The White Album is a collection of essays put together at the end of the seventies which, very broadly, cover the disintegration of the sixties and everything the sixties had hoped to achieve. If I was a proper literary critic I would say it wove together fragmented narratives of sixties cultural phenomena, like the Black Panthers and the Manson Family, with the author's own personal experiences and problems, lending the work a compelling quality of tenderness and loss which seems to express something integral to the contemporary human condition. But I'm not going to say that, cause that would ruin it, right? Seriously though, read this book. It is excellent. The White Album on Amazon 4. The Raw Shark Texts – Steven HallThe Raw Shark Texts is what I imagine would be produced if Michel Gondry and David Lynch got together one night, got plastered and decided they quite fancied writing a thriller. The Raw Shark Texts is Steven Hall's debut novel, published in 2007. The story opens with the narrator waking up in a room and having absolutely no idea who he is. Gradually he learns that he is the Second Eric Sanderson, the first having been destroyed by virtue of being the prime target of vicious conceptual creatures who linger in thought and text. After the death of his girlfriend several years earlier, Eric, working with the Un-Space committee, tried to preserve his memories of her inside a conceptual creature, which unintentionally lead to the release of a Ludovician, the most dangerous of conceptual fish, which feeds on human memories and the sense of self. The novel follows the journey of the Second Eric Sanderson as he tries to track down the people who'll explain and help him eventually defeat the Ludovician. It sounds complex, but like anything by the likes of Michel Gondry or David Lynch, it's surprisingly lucid and massively engrossing, and makes for one of the most compelling books you could read about language, memory and the devastating power of love. The Raw Shark Texts on Amazon 5. On The Road – Jack KerouacFamously typed in three weeks on a continuous 120-foot roll of teletype paper, On The Road is the hallmark work of the beat generation, and the work that inspired generations of young people to take off, get out of the city and find themselves. The novel centers around jazz, drugs and poetry and follows the adventures of narrator Sal and the iconic maverick Dean Moriarty, based in real life on Neal Cassady, as they hitchhike across America. Bob Dylan once described On The Road as having changed his life, and it taught a whole generation of people the world over that revelation is to be found in the streets, in the destitute, in the bums and the dark places. Incidentally, On The Road is being turned into a movie, probably to be released in the coming year, featuring Sam Riley and Kristen Stewart. Make of that what you will. Either way, On The Road is iconic, and it's here because if you haven't read it, you probably should, particularly during the summer when it feels as though you could pack up any minute and re-claim your freedom. Plus it's published in the Popular Penguins series, so it'll save you monies and earn you a modicum of hipster cred when you read it on the bus. On the Road on Amazon 6. The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao – Junot Diaz The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao reads like Childish Gambino and David Foster Wallace got together to narrate the life of a second-generation Dominican high school geek who's mastered writing in Elvish, knows more about the Marvel universe than Stan Lee and couldn't pass for normal even if he tried. Oscar is a fat, Tolkien-loving kid with a bad case of self-hatred, and makes the mistake of using words like 'indefatigable' too many times, scaring off the ladies and inviting blows to the head. The book is narrated in turns by Lola, Oscar's tough-talking punk sister, and Yunior, his one-time room mate. The language is one of the best things about the book, an easy to follow Spanglish giving the words body-language, or 'swag'. Weaving in Dominican history, family tragedy and and curses passed down through the generations, The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao essentially proves that if you want to know what it feels like to be an X-Man, you just need to be a smart, bookish, ethnically marginalised kid living in a contemporary U.S. ghetto. The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao on Amazon 7. Ask The Dust – John FanteAsk The Dust almost missed becoming a classic, and if it weren't for Charles Bukowski hailing him as a genius the book might not have been in print today. But it is, making Bukowski a blessed legend (more on that below). Arturo Bandini is twenty. He's moved alone to Los Angeles in the '30s to try and be a writer. But he's failing at the writing, he's hungry as hell and he's a miserable virgin tortured by beautiful women and the Californian sun. Moreover, he's obsessed with a Mexican waitress wearing broken shoes who he can't stop treating like shit. I read Ask The Dust two summers ago, and spent a whole day at Maroubra beach obsessively quoting dog-eared passages of it to my long-suffering and ever indulgent friend. In that instance, I'm pretty sure my fierce enthusiasm scared her off, so I'll try and tone down just how awesome I believe this book to be, but I encourage you to imagine me shaking you furiously by the lapels if you decide not to read it. Ask the Dust on Amazon 8. You'll Be Sorry When I'm Dead – Marieke HardyMarieke Hardy is wildly entertaining, even though I know she can occasionally rub people the wrong way (although, given that Google suggests 'Marieke Hardy + breasts' as one of the most popular search options you've got to think more than a couple of people are keen). The former Triple J Breakfast host and writer of ABC TV series Laid is opinionated, acerbic and sometimes a little controversial. You'll Be Sorry When I'm Dead is her first book, a collection of personal essays which are hilarious but also heart wrenching in their honesty and attention to detail. She details her penchant for drinking to excess, childhood ambitions of growing up to be a prostitute, how football broke her heart, and having her first kiss with a Young Talent Time 'idol'. Grandiose, passionate and often hilarious, this series of mini-memoirs is engrossing and oddly relatable, particularly when you finish an unflinching story about an ex-boyfriend or Bob Ellis and then get to read their frank opinion about what she had to say. You'll Be Sorry When I'm Dead on Allen & Unwin 9. Women – Charles BukowskiBukowski is the poet laureate of seedy bars, gamblers, drunks, womanisers and dirty old men. He was a man who had no time for adjectives, who was bored with most literature because it had no guts or dance or moxy and believed the writer had no responsibility "except to jack off in bed alone and to type a good page." If that quote puts you off, read something else, but remember there's a reason why Bukowski is beloved by so many. All of Bukowski's novels (barring one) follow the trials and tribulations of his fictional alter-ego Henry Chinaski. Ugly, misanthropic and an appalling drunk, Bukowski wrote like a madman for decades, but didn't start getting much recognition until the 1970s. Women is Bukowski at his drunken, raw essence, written in his fifties, when he was making up for lost time with all the women who wouldn't notice him when he was young and poor and hideous. Women on Amazon 10. Middlesex – Jeffrey EugenidesSo Jeffrey Eugenides has a new book out at the moment, The Marriage Plot. But I've read it, and, um...Middlesex is better. Moreover, Middlesex won the Pulitzer Prize in 2003. Middlesex could in many ways be construed as your average inter-generational family drama with a hint of multiculturalism thrown into the mix. But it's much more than that. Middlesex is the history of a single gene through a century of tumultuous history, lyrical and strange and incredibly hard to put down. The narrator was born twice, first as a girl and then again as a teenager on an operating table, emerging as a young man, an eventuality which can be attributed to the revelation that his grandparents were actually brother and sister who escaped the stigma they would have received in Greece by immigrating to Detroit in the U.S. There's history and political drama, heartbreaking stories of first love and medical incompetence. But it's not a tragedy - it's heartfelt and terribly funny. Middlesex on Amazon
Almost everyone has their own podcast these days, or so the joke goes — and that observation isn't new. Also tried and tested: the idea that every news headline is likely destined to get the true-crime treatment at some point in the future. When it comes to both of these statements, comedy-meets-mystery series Only Murders in the Building doesn't pretend otherwise. In fact, the latest addition to Disney+ firmly leans into these two notions. Here, three New York neighbours who don't think they have anything at all in common initially bond over their favourite true-crime podcast — and then, when someone in their building turns up dead, they start their own. The wannabe Sarah Koenigs? Actor Charles-Haden Savage (Steve Martin, It's Complicated), who used to play a detective on a long-running 90s television show; theatre producer Oliver Putnam (Martin Short, Schmigadoon!), who is better known for his big flops than his hits; and the much-younger Mabel Mora (Selena Gomez, The Dead Don't Die), who had a penchant for Hardy Boys books when she was a kid. They first cross paths during an elevator ride, where they hear banker Tim Kono (Julian Cihi, The Tick) berating someone over the phone. The same evening, the unlikely trio are forced out of their apartments by a fire alarm, reluctantly share a table at the downstairs restaurant, then realise they're all hooked on the same podcast (with Only Murders in the Building's true-crime podcasting guru called Cinda Canning, and played by Tina Fey). When Charles, Oliver and Mabel all return home that night, they then discover that Tim has been murdered. From there, these new pals are determined to do three things: find out who killed Tim, record their sleuthing and release the results in audio form. They all have different stakes in their quest; Charles is lonely, and likes having something to fill his days other than auditions, while Oliver is hoping it'll be a big financial success and Mabel secretly has personal connections to the case. They're new acquaintances, too, so they're investigating each other in a way — asking questions and getting to know one another, because that's how all friendships starts — as they're trying to track down the killer. And, plenty of that to-and-fro gets recorded. The name of their podcast: Only Murders in the Building, naturally. As created by Martin with actor-turned-screenwriter John Hoffman (Grace and Frankie), Only Murders in the Building keeps leaning in again and again — to its upbeat satire of true-crime obsessions, podcasting's pervasiveness and the intersection of the two, and also to everything else it fits within its frames. It lets its main trio all play exactly the kind of characters you think they will, especially in Short's case. It mines their mismatched vibe, particularly with Gomez, with hearty affection. It adores its single-setting Agatha Christie-lite setup, and also loves peppering in highly recognisable co-stars and guest stars such as Fey, Nathan Lane (Penny Dreadful: City of Angels), Amy Ryan (Late Night) and even Sting. With the latter, it isn't above making puns about not standing so close to him, or just serving up jokes on that level in general. On paper, so much about Only Murders in the Building hits all the expected notes — and yet, everything about the series is also joyously entertaining. Indeed, the show initially seems like it shouldn't work as well as it does, yet quickly proves immensely easy to keep binging (even if you only originally plan to watch just one episode). The fact that it's made with a breezy spirit, ample charm and an astute awareness of its many targets couldn't be more crucial. That it takes the time to flesh out its characters within its 30-minute episodes, and to keep its central whodunnit twisting and turning amidst the jokes, also helps. And, Only Murders in the Building also embraces two inescapable facts that long precede the true-crime podcast boom: that we all like knowing what's going on around us, and that we tend to love the sound of our own voices as well. Another key facet: spot-on casting. Again, it doesn't initially seem as though Martin, Short and Gomez will be stretched by their parts, as likeable as all three usually are on-screen. But settling into comfortable grooves also gives the trio room to play around with everything that makes Charles, Oliver and Mabel tick — and Only Murders in the Building does love getting playful. It makes gags about Charles' old TV show, Oliver's stage bombs (Splash! The Musical is one of them) and Mabel's secrets, and makes plenty of them. And yet, it's also written and acted with enough depth to pair relatable character insights with its bubbly, clownish fun. If Knives Out was a sitcom, and also a little goofier, it'd turn out like this — and that's a delight, obviously. Check out the trailer for Only Murders in the Building below: The first three episodes of Only Murders in the Building are available to stream now via Star on Disney+, with new episodes dropping weekly. Images: Craig Blankenhorn/Hulu.
Before the pandemic, when a new-release movie started playing in cinemas, audiences couldn't watch it on streaming, video on demand, DVD or blu-ray for a few months. But with the past few years forcing film industry to make quite a few changes — widespread movie theatre closures will do that, and so will plenty of people staying home because they aren't well — that's no longer always the case. Maybe you haven't had time to make it to your local cinema lately. Perhaps you've been under the weather. Given the hefty amount of titles now releasing each week, maybe you simply missed something. Film distributors have been fast-tracking some of their new releases from cinemas to streaming recently — movies that might still be playing in theatres in some parts of the country, too. In preparation for your next couch session, here are 13 that you can watch right now at home. Civil War Civil War is not a relaxing film, either for its characters or viewers, but writer/director Alex Garland (Men) does give Kirsten Dunst (The Power of the Dog) a moment to lie down among the flowers. She isn't alone among this stunning movie's stars on her stomach on a property filled with Christmas decorations en route from New York to Washington DC. Also, with shots being fired back and forth, no one is in de-stressing mode. For viewers of Dunst's collaborations with Sofia Coppola, however — a filmmaker that her Civil War co-star Cailee Spaeny just played Priscilla Presley for in Priscilla — the sight of her face beside grass and blooms was always going to recall The Virgin Suicides. Twenty-five years have now passed since that feature, which Garland nods to as a handy piece of intertextual shorthand. As the camera's focus shifts between nature and people, there's not even a tiny instant of bliss among this sorrow, nor will there ever be, as there was the last time that Dunst was framed in a comparable fashion. Instead, Civil War tasks its lead with stepping into the shoes of a seasoned war photographer in the middle of the violent US schism that gives the movie its name (and, with January 6, 2021 so fresh in everyone's memories, into events that could very well be happening in a version of right now). The US President (Nick Offerman, Origin) is into his third term after refusing to leave office, and the fallout is both polarising and immense. Think: bombed cities, suicide attackers, death squads, torture, lynchings, ambushes, snipers, shuttering the FBI, California and Texas inexplicably forming an alliance to fight back, Florida making its own faction, journalists killed on sight, refugee camps, deserted highways, checkpoints, resistance fighters, mass graves and, amid the rampant anarchy, existence as America currently knows it clearly obliterated. (Asking "what kind of American are you?" barely seems a stretch, though.) The front line is in Charlottesville, but Dunst's Lee Smith is destined for the White House with Reuters reporter Joel (Wagner Moura, Mr & Mrs Smith), where they're hoping to evade the lethal anti-media sentiment to secure an interview with the leader who has torn the country apart. Civil War streams via YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. Monkey Man Dev Patel means business in Monkey Man, both on- and off-screen. Starring in the ferocious vengeance-dripping action-thriller, he plays Kid, a man on a mission to punish the powers that be in Yatana (a fictional Indian city inspired by Mumbai) for their injustices, and specifically for the death of his mother Neela (Adithi Kalkunte, who Patel worked with on Hotel Mumbai) when he was a boy. As the film's director, producer and co-writer, he isn't holding back either, especially in adding something to his resume that no other project has offered in his almost two decades as an actor since Skins marked his on-camera debut. Dev Patel: action star has an excellent ring to it. So does Dev Patel: action filmmaker. Both labels don't merely sound great with Monkey Man; this is a frenetic and thrilling flick, and also a layered one that marries its expertly choreographed carnage with a statement. In the post-John Wick action-movie realm, it might seem as if every actor is doing features about formidable lone forces taking on their enemies. Patel initially began working on Monkey Man over ten years ago, which is when Keanu Reeves (The Matrix Resurrections) first went avenging, but his film still acknowledges what its viewers will almost-inevitably ponder by giving John Wick a shoutout. Thinking about the Charlize Theron (Fast X)-led Atomic Blonde and Bob Odenkirk (The Bear)-starring Nobody is understandable while watching, too — but it's The Raid and Oldboy, plus the decades of Asian action onslaughts and revenge-filled Korean efforts around them, that should stick firmest in everyone's mind. All directors are product of their influences; however, Patel achieves the rare feat of openly adoring his inspirations while filtering them through his exact vision to fashion a picture that's always 100-percent his own (and 100-percent excellent). Monkey Man streams via YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review, and our interview with Dev Patel. Love Lies Bleeding In Love Lies Bleeding, a craggy ravine just outside a dusty New Mexico town beckons, ready to swallow sordid secrets in the dark of the desert's starry night. Tumbling into it, a car explodes in flames partway through the movie, exactly as the person pushing it in wants it to. There's the experience of watching Rose Glass' sophomore film emblazoned across the feature's very frames. After the expertly unsettling Saint Maud, the British writer/director returns with a second psychological horror, this time starring Kristen Stewart in the latest of her exceptionally chosen post-Twilight roles (see: Crimes of the Future, Spencer, Happiest Season, Lizzie, Personal Shopper, Certain Women and Clouds of Sils Maria). An 80s-set queer and sensual tale of love, lust, blood and violence, Love Lies Bleeding is as inkily alluring as the gorge that's pivotal to its plot, and as fiery as the inferno that swells from the canyon's depths. This neon-lit, synth-scored neo-noir thriller scorches, too — and burns so brightly that there's no escaping its glow. When the words "you have to see it to believe it" also grace Love Lies Bleeding — diving into gyms and in the bodybuilding world, it's no stranger to motivational statements such as "no pain no gain", "destiny is a decision" and "the body achieves what the mind believes" — they help sum up this wild cinematic ride as well. Glass co-scripts here with Weronika Tofilska (they each previously penned and helmed segments of 2015's A Moment in Horror), but her features feel like the result of specific, singular and searing visions that aren't afraid to swerve and veer boldly and committedly to weave their stories and leave an imprint. Accordingly, Love Lies Bleeding is indeed a romance, a crime flick and a revenge quest. It's about lovers on the run (Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania's Katy O'Brian pairs with Stewart) and intergenerational griminess. It rages against the machine. It's erotic, a road trip and unashamedly pulpy. It also takes the concept of strong female leads to a place that nothing else has, and you do need to witness it to fathom it. Love Lies Bleeding streams via YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review, and our interview with Rose Glass. Late Night with the Devil If David Dastmalchian ever tires of acting, which will hopefully never happen, he'd make an entrancing late-night television host. He even has the audition tape for it: Late Night with the Devil. Of course, the star who earned his first movie credit on The Dark Knight, and has stood out in Blade Runner 2049, The Suicide Squad, Dune and the third season of Twin Peaks — plus Boston Strangler, The Boogeyman, Oppenheimer and Dracula: Voyage of the Demeter all in 2023 alone, alongside Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania — might be hoping for a less eerie and unsettling gig IRL. Dastmalchian is a fan of horror anchors, writing an article for Fangoria about them. Here, putting in a helluva can't-look-away performance, he plays one. That said, the namesake of Night Owls with Jack Delroy isn't meant to fit the mould so unnervingly, nor is the series that he's on. Delroy is a Johnny Carson rival — and, because Australian filmmakers Cameron and Colin Cairnes (100 Bloody Acres, Scare Campaign) write and direct Late Night with the Devil, he's also a Don Lane-type talent — who isn't afraid of embracing the supernatural on his live talk show. On Halloween in 1977, airing his usual special episode for the occasion, he decides to attempt to arrest the flagging ratings of what was once a smash by booking four attention-grabbing guests. What occurs when Delroy, who is grieving the loss of his actor wife Madeleine Piper (Georgina Haig, NCIS Sydney) a year earlier, shares the stage with not only a famous skeptic and a psychic, but also with a parapsychologist and a girl who is reportedly possessed? That might sound like the setup for a joke, but it's this new Aussie horror gem's captivating premise. Late Night with the Devil streams via YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review, and our interview with Colin and Cameron Cairnes. Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire Godzilla is finally an Oscar-winner. It's about time. But the septuagenarian reptile didn't score Hollywood's top trophy for curling up in the Colosseum for a snooze, rocking electric-pink spikes, thundering into Hollow Earth — the world literally within our world where titans spring from — and teaming up with King Kong to take on a rival giant ape that rides an ice-breathing kaiju and uses a skeletal spine as a rope. Japan's exceptional Godzilla Minus One, which took home 2024's Academy Award for Best Visual Effects, wasn't that kind of monster movie. Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, which hails from the American-made Monsterverse, definitely is. Arriving shortly after one of its titular figures received such a coveted filmmaking accolade (and also after the US franchise's ace streaming series Monarch: Legacy of Monsters), this sequel to 2021's Godzilla vs Kong is patently from the goofily entertaining rather than deeply meaningful brand of Godzilla flicks. Yes, there's room for both. It might seem a hard job to follow up one of the best-ever takes on the nuclear-powered creature with an action-adventure-fantasy monster mash that also features a Hawaiian shirt-wearing veterinarian (Dan Stevens, Welcome to Chippendale) dropping in via helicopter to do dental work on King Kong, the return of the Monsterverse's resident conspiracy-theorist podcaster (Brian Tyree Henry, Atlanta), a complicated mother-daughter dynamic (via Rebecca Hall, Resurrection, and Kaylee Hottle, Magnum PI) and a mini Kong called Suko — plus, in its very first minutes, several other animals being ripped apart by Godzilla and Kong. When he took on the gig of helming pictures in this franchise, however, You're Next, The Guest, Blair Witch and Death Note filmmaker Adam Wingard chose fun chaos. His two entries so far aren't dreaming of competing for thoughtfulness with the movies coming out of the country that created Godzilla. Rather, they're made with affection for that entire legacy, and also Kong's, which dates back even further to 1933. Getting audiences relishing the spectacle of this saga is the clear aim, then — and Wingard's attempts put exactly that in their sights above all else. Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire streams via YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review, and our interview with Rebecca Hall, Dan Stevens, Brian Tyree Henry, Kaylee Hottle and Adam Wingard. Abigail Abigail, aka the tween vampire ballerina film that unveiled that premise in its trailer, is still an entertaining time irrespective of your starting knowledge, thankfully. Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett's fifth full-length directorial effort — and their first after bringing back Ghostface in 2022's Scream and 2023's Scream VI — begins as a blend of a heist affair, horror mansion movie and whodunnit. It kicks off with a kidnapping skilfully pulled off by a motley crew (is there any other type?), then with holing up in the mastermind's sprawling and eerie safe house with their 12-year-old captive, then with fingers being pointed and their charge toying with them. Bettinelli-Olpin and Gillett are slick with their opening, from breaking into a well-secured estate to avoiding surveillance cameras while speeding through the streets afterwards. They're playful, too, when corralling everyone in their next location — a setup that they've turned into an ace horror watch before in 2019's Ready or Not — and letting suspicions run wild. The six abductors here, as given nicknames Reservoir Dogs-style but with a Rat Pack spin, and told not to divulge their true identities or histories to each other: Joey (Melissa Barrera, Carmen), a recovering addict with medical skills; Frank (Dan Stevens, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire), who has a background in law enforcement; Rickles (William Catlett, Constellation), an ex-marine; Sammy (Kathryn Newton, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania), the resident hacker; Peter (Kevin Durand, Pantheon), the dim-witted muscle; and Dean (Angus Cloud, Euphoria), the stoner wheelman. The middleman for their employer: the no-nonsense Lambert (Giancarlo Esposito, The Gentlemen). And the girl: Abigail (Alisha Weir, Wicked Little Letters), of course, who is the daughter of someone obscenely rich and powerful. She's just finished dance rehearsals, is still in her tutu, and proves the picture of scared and unsettled when she's snatched from her bedroom, drugged and blindfolded — until she isn't. Abigail streams via YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. Wicked Little Letters Whether it's via a post or tweet or message, in a comment or status update, thanks to a Notes app screenshot or in an email, mean words aren't hard to share two decades into the 21st century. Click a few buttons, slide your finger across a touchscreen, then vitriol can be directed virtually instantaneously worldwide. Countless people — too many, all sticklers for unpleasantness — do just that. Such behaviour has almost become a reflex. A century ago, however, spewing nastiness by text required far more effort. Someone had to put ink to paper, commit their hatred to physical form in their own handwriting, tuck it into an envelope, pay for postage, then await the mail service to deliver their malice. Wicked Little Letters isn't an ode to that dedication, but there's no avoiding that sending offensive missives in its 1920s setting was a concerted, determined act — and also that no one could claim just seconds later that they were hacked. Times change, and technology with it, but people don't: that's another way of looking at this British dramedy, which is indeed based on a true tale. Director Thea Sharrock (The One and Only Ivan) and screenwriter Jonny Sweet (Gap Year) know that there's a quaintness about the chapter of history that they're bringing to the screen, but not to the attitudes behind the incident. In Sussex by the sea on the English Channel, spiteful dispatches scandalised a town, with the situation dubbed "the Littlehampton libels". In Wicked Little Letters' account, Edith (Olivia Colman, Wonka) keeps receiving notes that overuse vulgar terms, and the God-fearing spinster, who lives with her strict father (Timothy Spall, The Heist Before Christmas) and dutiful mother (Gemma Jones, Emily), is certain that she knows the source. Living next door, Rose Gooding (Jessie Buckley, Fingernails) is an Irish single mother to Nancy (Alisha Weir, Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical), has Bill (Malachi Kirby, My Name Is Leon) as her live-in boyfriend, and is fond of a drink at the pub and of sharing her opinion. The two neighbours are as chalk and cheese as women of the time could get, but were once friendly. When Edith blames Rose, the latter's pleas that she's innocent — and that she'd just tell the former her grievances to her face, not send them anonymously — fall on deaf ears among most of the resident police. Wicked Little Letters streams via YouTube Movies. Read our full review. Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person What if a vampire didn't want to feed on humans? When it happens in Interview with the Vampire, rats are the solution. In Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person, Sasha (Sara Montpetit, White Dog) gets her sustenance from pouches of blood instead, but her family — father (Steve Laplante, The Nature of Love), mother (Sophie Cadieux, Chouchou), aunt (Marie Brassard, Viking) and cousin Denise (Noémie O'Farrell, District 31') — are increasingly concerned once more than half a century passes and she keeps avoiding biting necks. Sasha still looks like a goth teenager, yet she's 68, so her relatives believe that it's well past time for her to embrace an inescapable aspect of being a bloodsucker. What if she didn't have to, though? The potential solution in the delightful first feature by director Ariane Louis-Seize, who co-writes with Christine Doyon (Germain s'éteint), is right there in this 2023 Venice International Film Festival award-winner's title. With What We Do in the Shadows, both on the big and small screens, the idea that vamps are just like the living when it comes to sharing houses has gushed with laughs. Swap out flatmates for adolescence — including pesky parents trying to cramp a teen's style — and that's Louis-Seize's approach in this French-language Canadian effort. As much as Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person brings fellow undead fare to mind, however, and more beyond, the Québécois picture is an entrancing slurp of vampire and other genres on its own merits. There's an Only Lovers Left Alive-style yearning and A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night-esque elegance to the film. Beetlejuice and The Hunger bubble up, too, as do Under the Skin, Ginger Snaps and The Craft as well. But comparable to how drinking from someone doesn't transform you into them — at least according to a century-plus of bloodsucking tales on the page, in cinemas and on TV — nodding at influences doesn't turn this coming-of-age horror-comedy into its predecessors. Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person streams via iTunes. Read our full review. You'll Never Find Me When The Rocky Horror Picture Show starts with just-engaged couple Brad Majors and Janet Weiss knocking on a stranger's door on a dark and rainy night, with the pair hoping to find both shelter from the elements and assistance, no one could predict what awaits inside. There isn't much that connects the stage-to-screen cult musical-comedy hit from nearly 50 years back with expertly tense and atmospheric Australian horror film You'll Never Find Me, but that basic setup gets a spin — and a wild ride is again the end result. Also, if you're the type to take life tips from pop culture, a familiar piece of advice proves true once more. Even the most casual of filmgoers know that little that's good ever comes from an unexpected thump on someone's house, regardless of whether you're doing the banging or hearing it from the other side. Knock at the Cabin, Knock Knock, The Strangers: they all back this idea up, too, and the list goes on. In You'll Never Find Me — which Indianna Bell and Josiah Allen write, direct and produce as their first feature — the weather is indeed violently stormy and the evening is inescapably black when a young woman (Jordan Cowan, Krystal Klairvoyant) taps on the caravan that Patrick (Brendan Rock, The Stranger) calls home. They're both tentative, anxious and unsettled. She asks for help, he obliges, but suspicion lingers in the air as heavily as the sound of thunder and the wail of wind. The thick blanket of distrust doesn't fray as they talk, either, with the new arrival — named only The Visitor in the feature's credits — claiming that she fell asleep on the beach, hence her presence on her host's doorstep at 2am. But Patrick keeps finding holes in her story. She's also doubtful about his claims that he doesn't have a phone that she could use, public facilities are too far away for her to get to without him driving her to it and they'll need to wait until the rain subsides to depart. You'll Never Find Me streams via YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire There's nothing strange in Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, even with the spirits of sewer dragons, Slimer and pre-Sumerian demons all lurking about. There's nothing unusual about the movie's neighbourhood, either, with the supernatural comedy franchise revisiting New York after Ghostbusters: Afterlife's detour to Oklahoma. No surprises are found among the characters, mixing OG faces from 1984's Ghostbusters and its 1989 sequel Ghostbusters II with cast members from the saga's last flick (and still sadly pretending that 2016's excellent female-led Ghostbusters didn't happen). But something unexpected does occur in this fifth film to ask "who ya gonna call?", this time directed by Gil Kenan (A Boy Called Christmas) with Jason Reitman (The Front Runner), Afterlife's helmer and the son of the first two films' Ivan Reitman (Draft Day), scripting: its love of nostalgia is as strong as in Afterlife; however, Frozen Empire is welcomely absent its immediate predecessor's needy force. That said, simply being better than Afterlife is a low hurdle to clear. It's also what Frozen Empire achieves and little more. Kenan ain't afraid of a by-the-numbers script that stitches together references to the franchise's past and as many characters as can be jam-packed in. Frozen Empire begins with Callie (Carrie Coon, The Gilded Age), her teen kids Trevor (Finn Wolfhard, Stranger Things) and Phoebe (McKenna Grace, Crater), and their former science teacher Gary (Paul Rudd, Only Murders in the Building) all in Ecto-1, in hot pursuit of an otherworldly wraith in Manhattan — and the fact that Callie parents, Gary yearns to be seen as a parent and Trevor reminds everyone that he's 18 now sets the scene for their parts moving forward. So does Phoebe taking charge, but Kenan and Reitman only make half an effort to push her to the fore. When Phoebe links up with Dan Aykroyd's (Zombie Town) Ray Stantz, who now runs a store that buys possessed possessions, the Ghostbusters saga gets its best path forward so far with this cast. And yet, possibly scared of the ridiculous backlash to Kate McKinnon (Barbie), Kristen Wiig (Palm Royale), Melissa McCarthy (The Little Mermaid) and Leslie Jones (Our Flag Means Death) in jumpsuits almost a decade back, Frozen Empire largely pads itself out with filler to stop Phoebe always being the main point of focus. Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire streams via YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. The Great Escaper Two British acting icons enjoy their last on-screen hurrah in The Great Escaper, which is reason enough to see the based-on-a-true-story drama about a World War II veteran making a run for it. At the age of 90, Michael Caine announced that playing 89-year-old Bernard Jordan would be his last role in a film career that dates back to 1950. Glenda Jackson only returned to acting in 2015, after decades in politics since the 90s, then passed away after lending her talents to Bernard's wife Irene. The film they're in doesn't always match their efforts, with William Ivory's (Isolation Stories) script happy to hit the obvious notes, and forcefully — and director Oliver Parker just as content to do the same, as he also was on Johnny English Reborn, Dad's Army and Swimming with Men. Still, as it tells a spirited tale, it unsurprisingly does so with far more weight beyond its formula — as real as its events are — with Caine (Best Sellers) and Jackson (Mothering Sunday) in the lead parts. Normally when a movie links to the Second World War and involves fleeing, it's a period-set flick, but not this one. Jordan's stint of absconding came in June 2014, when he took his leave from his East Sussex nursing home without informing anyone to travel to Normandy for the 70th-anniversary D-Day commemorations. That makes The Great Escaper a breaking-out adventure of a unique kind — and Caine and Jackson, the latter as the spouse following her absent husband's antics from afar, are an excellent pair who bring gravitas to their roles whether they're sharing the frame or their characters are in different countries. The flashbacks to their younger years (featuring The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power's Will Fletcher and Bad Education's Laura Marcus) are less compelling. There's also little in the way of subtlety to the film's old-fashioned telling. But this story also proves affecting in pondering how war heroes are celebrated, then forgotten as they age, and also the human toll of every conflict long after it has been waged. The Great Escaper streams via YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Baghead Sit in a chair. Embrace the otherworldly. Whether you're ready for it or not — physically and emotionally alike — bear witness to the dead being summoned. Speak to those who are no longer in the land of the living. Perhaps, while you're chatting, get caught in a dialogue with something nefarious as well. Talk to Me used this setup to audience-wowing and award-winning effect. Now comes Baghead, which stems from a short film that pre-dates 2023's big Australian-made horror hit, and was shot before Michael and Danny Philippou's A24-distributed flick played cinemas, but still brings it to mind instantly. Audiences can be haunted by what they've seen before, especially in a busy, ever-growing genre where almost everything is haunted anyway and few pictures feel genuinely new. Here, as first-time feature filmmaker Alberto Corredor adapts his own applauded short (which has nothing to do with the mumblecore effort starring Greta Gerwig before she was directing Lady Bird, Little Women and Barbie), there's no shaking how Talk to Me gnaws at Baghead. The director and screenwriters Christina Pamies (another debutant) and Bryce McGuire (Night Swim) make grief their theme, and with commitment; the pain of loss colours the movie as much as its shadowy imagery. But, despite boasting two dedicated performances, Corredor's Baghead is routine again and again. At The Queen's Head in Berlin, Owen Lark (Peter Mullan, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power) oversees a ramshackle four-centuries-old pub where customers aren't there for the drinks. The basement is the big drawcard for those in the know, with the being that resides in it, in a hole in a brick wall, luring punters in the door. Everyone who arrives with cash and a plea for help is in mourning. When Neil (Jeremy Irvine, Benediction) makes an entrance, he knows exactly what he wants. Baghead begins not with Owen letting his latest patron meet the entity that shares the movie's title, though, but with him endeavouring to vanquish it. If he was successful, there'd be no film from there. Because he isn't, his estranged daughter Iris (Freya Allan, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes) is summoned to the German city by a solicitor (Ned Dennehy, The Peripheral), becoming the watering hole's next owner. Baghead streams via YouTube Movies. Read our full review, and our interview with Freya Allan. Kung Fu Panda 4 What happens when you've scored your dream job, especially when getting everything that you've ever wanted has meant navigating a lengthy and challenging quest — and when you've always been an underdog (well, an underpanda to be precise)? So asks Kung Fu Panda 4, posing that question to Po (Jack Black, The Super Mario Bros Movie), the black-and-white mammal whose journey to becoming a martial-arts master has sat at the heart of this franchise since 2008. Po loves being the Dragon Warrior, even when 2011's Kung Fu Panda 2 and 2016's Kung Fu Panda 3 have thrown ups and downs his way. In the movie series' fourth big-screen entry, however, Shifu (Dustin Hoffman, Sam & Kate) advises that it's time to start thinking about his successor in the post, as Po should be moving up the ranks to take on the job of the Valley of Peace's Spiritual Leader. One big problem: the panda isn't thrilled. Another: he doesn't love any of the candidates. There's also The Chameleon (Viola Davis, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes), a sorceress, to deal with — potentially with the help of thieving fox Zhen (Awkwafina, IF). Black's voice has always done plenty of heavy lifting in the Kung Fu Panda flicks, alongside the general concept — a panda as a kung fu whiz — and the slapstick silliness that comes to the screen with it. None of that changes in Kung Fu Panda 4, and no one involved appears to want it to. Also still a constant: the reliance upon well-known names lending their vocals to the movie's menagerie (Argylle's Bryan Cranston, Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai's James Hong, John Wick: Chapter 4's Ian McShane and Dumb Money's Seth Rogen have been here before; Everything Everywhere All At Once Oscar-winner Ke Huy Quan and Unfrosted's Ronny Chieng are among the newcomers). The visuals remain vivid, but the story is in a rush to ping pong to the next sight gag or excuse to get the film's cast bantering. As directed Mike Mitchell (The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part) and Stephanie Stine (She-Ra and the Princesses of Power), the film bounces, leaps, kicks and rolls along merrily enough, though — just — for younger audiences. Kung Fu Panda 4 streams via YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Looking for more viewing options? Take a look at our monthly streaming recommendations across new straight-to-digital films and TV shows — and fast-tracked highlights from January, February, March and April 2024 (and also January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November and December 2023, too). We keep a running list of must-stream TV from across 2024 as well, complete with full reviews. And, we've also rounded up 2023's 15 best films, 15 best straight-to-streaming movies, 15 top flicks hardly anyone saw, 30 other films to catch up with, 15 best new TV series of 2023, another 15 excellent new TV shows that you might've missed and 15 best returning shows.
Thanks to social distancing restrictions, we're having to take a break from some of our favourite food experiences right now, from mimosa-matched bottomless brunches, to sit-down dinners at actual restaurants. But at least in the meantime, you can get your culinary fix delivered via soundwave, by tuning into one of the many podcasts dedicated to life's tastiest of pleasures — food. Whether you're hungry for some fun food history facts, or fancy tucking into an interview with one of Australia's hospitality legends, we've pulled together a menu of food podcasts to satisfy all your culinary cravings. And, unlike a visit to your favourite fine diner, these won't require you to change out of your trackies. Get downloading and whet your appetite with a few of these audio gems. DEEP IN THE WEEDS For an especially timely, locally focused food fix, try this new podcast headed up by restaurant critic and food journalist Anthony Huckstep. A real no-holds-barred look at the impact COVID-19's had on the Australian hospitality industry, Deep In The Weeds is dishing up honest conversations with a range of chefs, restaurateurs, producers and other hospo folk who are riding the storm. You'll get insight into the many issues currently facing our venues and their staff, and learn about the creative plays being made in an effort to help keep things afloat, sitting down with names like Jacqui Challinor (Nomad), Rockpool's Neil Perry, Attila Yilmaz (Pazar Food Collective) and Colin Fassnidge (4Fourteen, Banksia). HOME COOKING WITH SAMIN NOSRAT Born in response to the world's newfound passion for kitchen projects — thanks, COVID-19 — Home Cooking is the new podcast from chef Samin Nosrat (star of Netflix's Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat) and producer Hrishikesh Hirway (Song Exploder). As the name suggests, it's designed to be the ultimate companion to your home cooking adventures, no matter where your skill levels are (or aren't) at. These affable hosts will help you whip up culinary success with whatever random ingredients you've got lying in the pantry, turning the everyday basics into inspired food creations. You might learn how to transform those tinned beans into something fab, or find an unexpected use for that less-than-fresh loaf. Best of all, Nosrat and Hirway are even taking audience requests for upcoming episode topics. THE UNBEARABLE LIGHTNESS OF BEING HUNGRY Aussie food journalist Lee Tran Lam hosts this largely Sydney-centric podcast, where each episode features a sit-down with a different local food legend, the program ranging from star chefs to renowned restaurateurs. You'll hear tales from the industry frontline, behind-the-scenes goss and plenty of colourful personal back stories, interspersed with hot tips on all the city's (and Melbourne's) best spots for eating and drinking. Seafood maestro Josh Niland (Saint Peter), celebrated chef Monty Koludrovic (Icebergs Dining Room, The Dolphin) and croissant queen Kate Reid of Lune are just some of the high-profile names to be found among this rich back catalogue. A worthy antidote for anyone who's missing dining out. RADIO CHERRY BOMBE A big ol' celebration of the boss ladies that have helped make our food scene what it is. Radio Cherry Bombe is an audio spin-off of the US magazine of the same name, now with over 270 episodes under its belt. That juicy back catalogue is brimming with inspiring stories about the industry's clever, creative female talent, starring guests ranging from chefs and cookbook authors, to food stylists and gutsy entrepreneurs. Get up close and personal with the likes of best-selling writer and activist Yasmin Khan, Canadian cake queen Lyndsay Sung (Coko Cake Land), cereal artist Jessica Siskin (aka Misterkrisp) and loads more. And if you tune in to recent episodes, you'll get the low-down on how some of our female hospo heroes are handling the global pandemic. GASTROPOD What kind of food crops might we one day be able to grow in outer space? How did liquorice become England's first branded candy? What the heck are blue raspberries and where did they come from? They're the kind of quirky questions you'll find answers to over at long-running podcast Gastropod, which aims to sate your inner foodie, history buff and science nerd, all at once. Co-hosts Cynthia Graber and Nicola Twilley take listeners on a series of fun, investigative journeys, with each of the fortnightly episodes diving into the often surprising science and history behind a different food-related topic. Listen in for a treasure trove of cool facts you can throw around at your next dinner party. THE SPLENDID TABLE A spin-off of the acclaimed debut book from food writer and cooking teacher Lynne Rossetto Kasper, The Splendid Table began life as a public radio show way back in the 90s. These days, it's a weekly podcast hosted by renowned food writer Francis Lam, continuing the same mission of celebrating the countless ideas and stories of our global food culture. Sharpen your skills with expert cooking tips, catch sit-downs with top international food heroes, explore the history of your favourite ingredients and dishes, and get acquainted with a smorgasbord of cuisines from all across the globe. One week, you might find yourself hearing René Redzepi chat all things fermentation, while the next, you're reigniting your passion for dairy with tales from a team of international cheese experts. RACIST SANDWICH A food podcast served up within a slightly different context, Racist Sandwich dives into the politics behind what you're eating, and why. It's hosted by a pair of American writers, with (mostly) fortnightly episodes that explore the various ways in which concepts like race, gender and class intersect with the big wide world of food. Prepare to catch a diverse spread of insightful investigations and guests, from one food justice advocate's mission to preserve Salvadoran culture through its recipes, to an interview with a French prisoner and Instagram food star who's whipping up culinary magic behind bars. Make yourself a cuppa and settle in to score some fresh perspectives. EATER'S DIGEST Famed food publication Eater backs up its online feed with this weekly podcast serving up all the tastiest news morsels from the culinary world, both across the USA and further abroad. Join Amanda Kludt and Daniel Geneen as they dissect food trends, unearth new hot-ticket dining destinations, celebrate favourite cuisines and touch base with a swag of big-name hospitality heroes. You could tune in to a discussion about the world's new obsession with food TV, learn some unexpected secrets from a top restaurant critic, or get taken through a definitive list of all the very worst dining-out habits, as revealed by New York hospo staff. Right now, Eater's Digest is also dishing up plenty of honest insight into how COVID-19 is affecting the restaurant game as we know it.
It's happening again, awards fans. 2024 has already delivered one Emmys ceremony, after Hollywood's 2023 TV accolades were delayed until January due to last year's strikes, and now it's time for the official 2024 event. With the nominees freshly announced on Thursday, July 18 Australian and New Zealand time, absent are some of the shows that notched up big wins or nominations last time around, such as Succession, Beef, The Last of Us and The White Lotus. In their place, Shōgun, True Detective: Night Country and Baby Reindeer have earned a whole lot of affection — plus returnees The Bear and Only Murders in the Building, of course. The Bear is sure to feature when 2025 nominees come around as well, because 2024's contenders span the hit culinary dramedy's second season, not its just-dropped third season. So, it might make history again next year, as it has this year. Who now holds the record for the most amount of nominations by a comedy in a single year? This stellar series with 23, beating 30 Rock with 22 in 2009. Historical Japanese drama Shogun — one of the year's best new TV show so far — topped the full list of nominations with 25, with Only Murders in the Building notching up 21, the long-awaited True Detective: Night Country picking up 19 and The Crown nabbing 18. Mere months after getting the world obsessed with its true tale, Baby Reindeer collected 11 nominations. Other shows tallying up plenty of love include The Morning Show and Mr & Mrs Smith in the drama fields; Abbott Elementary and Hacks among the comedies; and Fargo, Lessons in Chemistry and Ripley from the limited series. After finishing up with its third season in 2023, the sublime Reservation Dogs finally received the Emmys' attention in the Best Comedy category, with D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai also nominated for Best Lead Actor in a Comedy. Lily Gladstone and Kali Reis' nominations for Under the Bridge and True Detective: Night Country, respectively, saw them become the first Indigenous women recognised in the acting categories by the awards. Other standout noms include Matt Berry for What We Do in the Shadows, Walton Goggins for Fallout, Slow Horses picking up its first nods, Maya Rudolph and Kristen Wiig for not only Loot and Palm Royale but for guest-hosting Saturday Night Live, Ryan Gosling for the same gig, Bowen Yang for his cast role on the famous sketch series, True Detective: Night Country's Jodie Foster and John Hawkes also collecting nominations, and Robert Downey Jr recognised for playing multiple roles in The Sympathizer. On the Australian front, Elizabeth Debicki and Naomi Watts picked up nods for The Crown and Feud: Capote vs The Swans. Downey Jr, like Da'Vine Joy Randolph for Only Murders in the Building, scored Emmy affection just months after each winning Oscars for Oppenheimer and The Holdovers. Sadly, because not all excellent shows win gongs — or even noms — Poor Things' Emma Stone hasn't done the same with The Curse. But that omission sparks the usual reminder: if a show is excellent, as the also-ignored Tokyo Vice is, shiny trophies are just a bonus. The 2024 Emmy winners will be revealed on Monday, September 16, Australian and New Zealand time, so you've got a couple of months to predict who'll emerge victorious. Here's a rundown of the nominations in the major categories: Emmy Nominees 2024: Outstanding Drama Series The Crown Fallout The Gilded Age The Morning Show Mr & Mrs Smith Shōgun Slow Horses 3 Body Problem Outstanding Comedy Series Abbott Elementary The Bear Curb Your Enthusiasm Hacks Only Murders in the Building Palm Royale Reservation Dogs What We Do in the Shadows Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series Baby Reindeer Fargo Lessons in Chemistry Ripley True Detective: Night Country Outstanding Television Movie Mr Monk's Last Case: A Monk Movie Quiz Lady Red, White & Royal Blue Scoop Unfrosted Lead Actor in a Drama Series Idris Elba, Hijack Donald Glover, Mr & Mrs Smith Walton Goggins, Fallout Gary Oldman, Slow Horses Hiroyuki Sanada, Shōgun Dominic West, The Crown Lead Actress in a Drama Series Jennifer Aniston, The Morning Show Carrie Coon, The Gilded Age Maya Erskine, Mr & Mrs Smith Anna Sawai, Shōgun Imelda Staunton, The Crown Reese Witherspoon, The Morning Show Lead Actor in a Comedy Series Matt Berry, What We Do in the Shadows Larry David, Curb Your Enthusiasm Steve Martin, Only Murders in the Building Martin Short, Only Murders in the Building Jeremy Allen White, The Bear D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, Reservation Dogs Lead Actress in a Comedy Series Quinta Brunson, Abbott Elementary Ayo Edebiri, The Bear Selena Gomez, Only Murders in the Building Maya Rudolph, Loot Jean Smart, Hacks Kristen Wiig, Palm Royale Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie Matt Bomer, Fellow Travelers Jon Hamm, Fargo Tom Hollander, Feud: Capote vs The Swans Richard Gadd, Baby Reindeer Andrew Scott, Ripley Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie Jodie Foster, True Detective: Night Country Brie Larson, Lessons in Chemistry Juno Temple, Fargo Sophia Vergara, Griselda Naomi Watts, Feud: Capote vs The Swans Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Tadanobu Asano, Shōgun Jon Hamm, The Morning Show Mark Duplass, The Morning Show Billy Crudup, The Morning Show Takehiro Hira, Shōgun Jack Lowden, Slow Horses Jonathan Pryce, The Crown Supporting Actress in a Actor in a Drama Series Christine Baranski, The Gilded Age Nicole Beharie, The Morning Show Elizabeth Debicki, The Crown Greta Lee, The Morning Show Lesley Manville, The Crown Karen Pittman, The Morning Show Holland Taylor, The Morning Show Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Lionel Boyce, The Bear Paul W Downs, Hacks Ebon Moss-Bachrach, The Bear Paul Rudd, Only Murders in the Building Tyler James Williams, Abbott Elementary Bowen Yang, Saturday Night Live Supporting Actress in a Actor in a Comedy Series Carol Burnett, Palm Royale Liza Colón-Zayas, The Bear Hannah Einbinder, Hacks Janelle James, Abbott Elementary Sheryl Lee Ralph, Abbott Elementary Meryl Streep, Only Murders in the Building Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie Jonathan Bailey, Fellow Travelers Robert Downey Jr, The Sympathizer Tom Goodman-Hill, Baby Reindeer John Hawkes, True Detective: Night Country Lamorne Morris, Fargo Lewis Pullman, Lessons in Chemistry Treat Williams, Feud: Capote vs The Swans Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie Dakota Fanning, Ripley Lily Gladstone, Under the Bridge Jessica Gunning, Baby Reindeer Aja Naomi King, Lessons in Chemistry Diane Lane, Feud: Capote vs The Swans Nava Mau, Baby Reindeer Kali Reis, True Detective: Night Country Best Guest Actor in a Drama Series Néstor Carbonell, Shogun Paul Dano, Mr & Mrs Smith Tracy Letts, Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty Jonathan Pryce, Slow Horses John Turturro, Mr & Mrs Smith Best Guest Actress in a Drama Series Michaela Coel, Mr & Mrs Smith Claire Foy, The Crown Marcia Gay Harden, The Morning Show Sarah Paulson, Mr & Mrs Smith Parker Posey, Mr & Mrs Smith Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series Jon Bernthal, The Bear Matthew Broderick, Only Murders in the Building Ryan Gosling, Saturday Night Live Christopher Lloyd, Hacks Bob Odenkirk, The Bear Will Poulter, The Bear Best Guest Actress in a Comedy Series Olivia Colman, The Bear Jamie Lee Curtis, The Bear Kaitlin Olson, Hacks Da'Vine Joy Randolph, Only Murders in the Building Maya Rudolph, Saturday Night Live Kristen Wiig, Saturday Night Live The 2024 Emmy Awards will take place on Monday, September 16, Australian time. For further details, head to the Emmys' website.
Like karaoke? Fond of singing along to well-known songs, especially with a drink in your hand? Happy to belt out a tune in a crowd? If you answered yes to all of the above questions, then it's time to up your crooning game during Pub Choir's new Australian tour — aka the boozy sing-along that's all about giving your lungs a workout between sips. Since early 2017 in Brisbane, Pub Choir has been amassing brew-loving music fans in venues around the Queensland city. The regular event asks its attendees to learn a particular song in three-part harmonies, with talented professionals on hand each time to show everyone the ropes and lead the way. Every evening then culminates in a big boozy singing session, with the event making its way to bigger Brissie locations over the years, as well venturing around the country. Now, it's hitting up every Aussie capital across January and February 2022. The vibe: a far more organised version of exactly what happens whenever someone puts 'Wonderwall' or 'Weather With You' on the pub jukebox. And, now that communal singing in public is back after all the various pandemic-related restrictions that've come our way over the past two years, you can expect this tour to feel particularly celebratory, too. Pub Choir was a big hit during lockdowns, and as life started to return to normal as well; you might've taken part in Couch Choir in 2020, or watched the Australia's Biggest Singalong special on SBS earlier in 2021. Run by Astrid Jorgensen and Waveney Yasso, its IRL events are mighty popular, too — unsurprisingly — with tickets getting snapped up very quickly each time. So if you're keen to sing and drink with a theatre full of people, you'll want to book asap. PUB CHOIR CHEAP THERAPY 2022 TOUR: Tuesday, January 11 — The Kambri Precinct, Canberra Wednesday, January 12 — Enmore Theatre, Sydney Monday, January 17 — Astor Theatre, Perth Tuesday, January 18 — Freo Social, Fremantle Wednesday, January 19 — Adelaide Town Hall, Adelaide Thursday, January 20 — Darwin Entertainment Centre, Darwin Tuesday, January 25 — Odeon Theatre, Hobart Thursday, January 27 — The Palais Theatre, Melbourne Tuesday, February 1–Wednesday, February 2 — The Tivoli, Brisbane Pub Choir's Cheap Therapy tour runs from January 11–February 2, 2022. For further details or to book tickets, head to the Pub Choir website. Top image: Jacob Morrison.
Niche eateries are the culinary trend no one seems to be able to get enough of, just like the food items they're devoted to. Add New York's upcoming cream cheese cafe to a list that already includes cereal, avocados, mayonnaise, cookie dough, peanut butter on toast and marshmallows. Sugary treats and spreadables — when it comes to dedicated restaurants, they seem to hit the sweet spot. Indeed, when it sets up shop in NYC's East Village over the American summer, Becky's Bites will offer both. Given that cream cheese is quite the versatile — and delicious — substance, the new venture will serve desserts and savoury snacks. Start off with a bagel filled with the good stuff, then move on to cream cheese parfaits, cream cheese tarts, cream cheese cookie sandwiches and even cream cheese-filled chocolates. A cream cheese-topped hot chocolate might also make an appearance. https://www.instagram.com/p/BVncD3cHEDo/?taken-by=beckysbitesnyc The store, which will be the bricks-and-mortar digs for the existing catering company of the same name, will also offer up cream cheese in more flavours than you might expect. Vanilla, strawberry, peanut butter and cookies n' cream might all sound standard, but apple pie, cappuccino and bacon and egg definitely aren't. For other creative concoctions, there'll also be a cream cheese flavour of the month. Via Gothamist.
Austin Butler will be in the building at Sydney Film Festival 2024. After scoring an Oscar nomination and Golden Globe win for playing the king of rock 'n' roll in Elvis, which was shot in Australia, the actor has locked in a visit to the Harbour City to launch his latest movie The Bikeriders at the State Theatre. When the full 2024 SFF program was announced, The Bikeriders was among its big-name titles. It stars not only Butler, but also Jodie Comer (Killing Eve), Tom Hardy (Venom: Let There Be Carnage) and Mike Faist (Challengers), so that's understandable. But the movie's place on the lineup is now even heftier with Butler hitting the fest and the country in person. He'll be at the session — complete with a red carpet event — on Thursday, June 6. Written and directed by Jeff Nichols, in what marks the Take Shelter, Mud and Midnight Special filmmaker's first feature since 2016's Loving, the picture casts Butler as Benny, a member of The Vandals, a midwestern motorcycle club. It's the 60s in Chicago, and Comer's Kathy is the audience's guide through the movie. She's also Benny's wife. Hardy plays The Vandals' leader, while Benny is the gang's newest member — and if you've seen a tale of a motorcycle club on-screen before (American TV series Sons of Anarchy and Ryan Corr-starring Australian drama 1% might come to mind), you'll know that loyalty tend to play significant parts in the story. Michael Shannon (The Flash), Norman Reedus (The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon), and Australians Toby Wallace (The Royal Hotel) and Damon Herriman (The Artful Dodger) also feature. If you can't make it to SFF, the film will hit Aussie cinemas in general release on Thursday, July 4. On Sydney Film Festival's guest lineup, Butler is joined by the members of Midnight Oil for opening night's world-premiering documentary The Hardest Line, New Zealand director Lee Tamahori for The Convert, Jemaine Clement for The Moon is Upside Down, Rachel House in filmmaker mode for her directorial debut The Mountain and Aussie icon Peter Weir for a retrospective session of The Cars That Ate Paris — and plenty more, of course. Check out the trailer for The Bikeriders below: Sydney Film Festival 2024 takes place from Wednesday, June 5–Sunday, June 16 at various cinemas and venues around Sydney. For more information and tickets, head to the festival's website. Images: Kyle Kaplan/Focus Features. © 2024 Focus Features. All Rights Reserved.
It doesn't matter if you've been with your person for a year or a decade, for most couples, the days of frivolous first dates are probably a bit of a distant memory. But cast your mind back, and try to remember those early days — before you started bickering over whose turn it is to take out the bin, where did it all begin? Maybe you chose your anniversary based on a classic courtship checkpoint (first date, first kiss), or you may have known it was real when you finally both agreed to delete your Tinder accounts. Our mates over at American Express are really just big ol' marshmallows when it comes to finding a top-notch spot to celebrate another lap around the sun with your partner. We've tried and tested the best spots in Brisbane to dazzle your partner (and maybe even coax them into forgiving you for that drunk text). Also, you can use your American Express® Card so you can maybe even put those points towards a romantic trip for your next landmark anni. Got yourself in another dining situation and need some guidance? Whatever it is, we know a place. Visit The Shortlist and we'll sort you out.
Sun, surf, sand, plus somewhere to sip drinks and snack on seafood — that's every beachgoer's dream. Burleigh Heads on the Gold Coast has long had the warm weather, waves and waterside lounging spots covered, and now it has a new bar and eatery positioned right on the popular strip's beachfront. A 640-person capacity venue as close to the shore as you're going to get, Burleigh Pavilion has taken over level one at 43 Goodwin Terrace. It's a two-in-one kind of place, with a 240-seater restaurant at one end and a huge hangout space at the other — all beneath four-metre-high ceilings held up by timber rafters, and within a space that goes heavy on beachy pastel hues. For those after a sit-down meal, The Tropic is the place to go. As well as water views, diners will look into the open kitchen, where head chef Guillaume Zika oversees the culinary side of things. His menu serves up plenty of seafood — think seafood platters, servings of octopus, and grilled tiger prawns with dry vermouth butter and shellfish oil — while also finding room for sobrassada with pickles, rib eye, plus coconut sorbet for dessert. Food is also available in The Terrace, Burleigh Pavilion's 400-capacity bar. Of course, you'll want a few cold beverages to go with your prawns on ice, freshly shucked oysters, beer-battered fish and chips, and four types of pizza. Drinks-wise, more than 90 wines are on offer, alongside 14 beers on tap — including locals Burleigh Brewing and Balter. Cocktails span a gin and ginger kombucha blend; Bacardi spiced rum with strawberry, lime and vanilla sugar; and another rum tipple with Malibu, pineapple, ginger syrup and lime.
Something delightful has been happening in cinemas across the country. After months spent empty, with projectors silent, theatres bare and the smell of popcorn fading, Australian picture palaces are back in business — spanning both big chains and smaller independent sites in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. During COVID-19 lockdowns, no one was short on things to watch, of course. In fact, you probably feel like you've streamed every movie ever made, including new releases, comedies, music documentaries, Studio Ghibli's animated fare and Nicolas Cage-starring flicks. But, even if you've spent all your time of late glued to your small screen, we're betting you just can't wait to sit in a darkened room and soak up the splendour of the bigger version. Thankfully, plenty of new films are hitting cinemas so that you can do just that — and we've rounded up, watched and reviewed everything on offer this week. IN THE HEIGHTS Lin-Manuel Miranda isn't the first lyricist to pen tunes so catchy that they get stuck in your head for years (yes, years), but his rhythmic tracks and thoughtful lines always stand out. Miranda's songs are melodic and snappy, as anyone who has seen Hamilton onstage or via streaming definitely knows. The multi-talented songwriter's lyrics also pinball around your brain because they resonate with such feeling — and because they're usually about something substantial. The musical that made his name before his date with US history, In the Heights echoes with affection for its eponymous Latinx New York neighbourhood. Now that it's reverberating through cinemas, its sentiments about community, culture, facing change and fighting prejudice all seem stronger, too. To watch the film's characters sing about their daily lives and deepest dreams in Washington Heights is to understand what it's like to feel as if you truly belong in your patch of the city, to navigate your everyday routine with high hopes shining in your heart, and to weather every blow that tries to take that turf and those wishes away. That's what great show tunes do, whisking the audience off on both a narrative and an emotional journey. Miranda sets his words to hip hop beats, but make no mistake: he writes barnstorming songs that are just as rousing and moving, and that've earned their place among the very best stage and screen ditties as a result. Watching In the Heights, it's hard not to think about all those stirring tracks that've graced previous musicals. That isn't a sign of derivation here, though. Directing with dazzling flair and a joyous mood, Crazy Rich Asians filmmaker Jon M Chu nods to cinema's lengthy love affair with musicals in all the right ways. His song-and-dance numbers are clearly influenced by fellow filmic fare, and yet they recall their predecessors only because they slide in so seamlessly alongside them. Take his staging of the tune '96000', for instance. It's about winning the lottery, after word filters around that bodega owner Usnavi (Anthony Ramos, a Hamilton alum) has sold a lucky ticket. Due to the sweltering summer heat, the whole neighbourhood is at the public pool, which is where Chu captures a colourful sea of performers expressing their feelings through exuberantly shot, staged and choreographed music and movement — and it's as touching and glorious as anything that's ever graced celluloid. Of course, $96,000 won't set anyone up for life, but it'd make an enormous difference to Usnavi, In the Heights' protagonist and narrator. It'd also help absolutely everyone he loves. As he explains long before anyone even hears about the winning ticket, or buys it, every Heights local has their own sueñitos — little dreams they're chasing, such as his determination to relocate to the Dominican Republic. And that's what this intoxicating, invigorating, impassioned and infectious captures with vibrant aplomb. Read our full review. TALL POPPY — A SKATER'S STORY When skateboarding makes its debut as an Olympic sport in Tokyo this winter, it'll do so with Poppy Starr Olsen flying the flag for Australia. A world champion since her teens, she first hit the Bondi Skate Park at the age of eight, and proclaimed at the time that she'd like to spend her adult life carving, ollieing, flipping and grinding — one of those childhood wishes that, in this case, has proven more than just a kid's outlandish fantasy. Audiences know about this youthful exclamation because it was caught on camera. Yes, Tall Poppy — A Skater's Story belongs in the camp of documentaries that are inescapably blessed by the constant lens through which many of our lives have been captured since video cameras became a household gadget and then a standard mobile phone feature. Accordingly, making her first feature-length doco, filmmaker Justine Moyle has ample material to draw upon as she weaves together a portrait of Olsen's life from pint-sized bowl-rider to Australia's best female skater, the fourth best woman on a board in the world and an Olympian, all by the age of 21. This isn't just a film compiled from home videos, though, although the feature. In front of Dane Howell's (Without a Tracey) lens as she has grown up, Olsen is candid, open and relaxed as she literally comes of age before the camera, and her skateboarding skills are just as riveting to watch. You can tell much about Olsen by just seeing her in the bowl or on the park, no matter her age, wherever she happens to be at the time, or if she's competing, practicing or just skating for fun. It hardly comes as a surprise that she takes to the pastime because it feels so freeing; as she rolls up and down in Bondi after first giving skateboarding a try, she may as well be flying. Tall Poppy — A Skater's Story captures the rollercoaster ride from there, as she's eager and enthusiastic at both local and international competitions, visibly nervous at her first X Games, and also a little disillusioned once she's put on an Olympic path. She's a teenager, in other words, and her emotional ups and downs mirror those on the board. This is a film about resilience, perseverance and taking on the world on your own terms, however, as Olsen works out who she wants to be and how that ripples through in her skateboarding. She's already a role model, whether or not you want to follow in her footsteps. Here, she's doubly so for her personal ebbs and flows, including through COVID-19, as much as her professional achievements. Tall Poppy — A Skater's Story is an affectionate movie, of course. Its release is also impeccably timed, it's as deservedly loving towards female skaters as the fictional Skate Kitchen and its TV spinoff Betty, and it shows the beauty in every commonplace and exceptional skateboarding trick. But Olsen's presence, passion and prowess drive this rousing documentary above all else. THREE SUMMERS Not to be confused with the 2017 Ben Elton-directed Australian rom-com of the same name, Brazilian drama Three Summers takes its title literally: in writer/director Sandra Kogut's (Campo Grande) film, the action takes place across a trio of consecutive Decembers. In the first chapter, set in 2015, the lively Madá (Regina Casé, The Second Mother) flits around the opulent condominium that she oversees on behalf of the wealthy Edgar (Otávio Müller, Silence of the Rain) and his wife Marta (Gisele Fróes, Edge of Desire) — a space that's soon a hive of activity due to the family's Christmas party. She keeps her staff bustling as her employers, their relatives and their friends relax, all so that she can work towards her own dream of opening a roadside kiosk. For the latter, she needs Edgar, who agrees to buy her the land she needs. He's also more interested than anyone should be in her out-of-date pre-paid mobile phone, which ties into the changed state of play come summer 2016. By then, the family has fallen from grace. Only Edgar's elderly and kindly father Lira (Rogério Fróes, Magnífica 70) remains alongside Madá, her staff, and the police who show up to search the house in the wake of a corruption scandal. Next, in 2017, the housekeeper has adapted to the new normality, teaming up with Lira to rent out the condo on Airbnb. Largely confining the action to her chosen setting, Kogut hasn't quite made a savage eat the rich-style indictment of Brazil's class disparities — but she does have a probing eye for what the country's chasms between the haves and the have nots means for the latter. Madá goes from being reminded that she couldn't pay for the condo's decor in a lifetime to hustling to turn the space to her advantage; in a world where everyone is either striving to make more money or just enough, trying to make the most of every opportunity is as much the domain of the working class as the well-to-do. For those just attempting to get by, it's a necessity, though. For their bosses, it's all about greed, power and status. Three Summers saves its sympathies for Madá and her colleagues, and never for Edgar and his family, although it doesn't always have the bite the story, subject matter and real-life situations it parallels call for. Still, this is an involving character study of a woman continually placed at the mercy of others, and just as constantly battling to retain what control she can over her own destiny. And, as she was in The Second Mother, Casé is superb, this time playing a talkative, determined but haunted everywoman who is always trying to make the best of whatever she's saddled with. THE HITMAN'S WIFE'S BODYGUARD Someone involved with The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard must really love paperwork; that's the only reason anyone could've given its script the go-ahead. Perhaps Australian filmmaker Patrick Hughes, who also directed 2017's The Hitman's Bodyguard, likes nothing more than keeping his documents in order. Maybe returning screenwriter Tom O'Connor (The Courier) falls into that category, or his debuting co-scribes Phillip and Brandon Murphy — they all made the subject the focus of their screenplay, after all. Whoever fits the bill, their attempt to force audiences to care about bodyguard licensing falls flat. So does the misguided idea that the certification someone might need to unleash their inner Kevin Costner would ever fuel an entire movie. Instead, what was already a needless sequel to a terrible action-comedy becomes even more of a dull and pointless slog, with this by-the-numbers follow-up showing zero signs that anyone spent more than a few seconds contemplating the story. A significant plot point here: that Michael Bryce (Ryan Reynolds, The Croods: A New Age) has lost his official tick of approval. He's no longer triple A-rated after a mishap in the line of duty, and he isn't coping well. To be fair, no one watching The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard will handle that news swimmingly either, but only because they're made to hear about it over and over, all as Bryce rekindles his begrudging association with assassin Darius Kincaid (Samuel L Jackson, Spiral: From the Book of Saw) and the latter's con artist wife Sonia (Salma Hayek, Bliss). When Darius gets snatched up by nefarious folks during his belated honeymoon with Sonia, only Bryce can help — or so says the angry Mrs Kincaid. She interrupts the latter's vacation with swearing, shouting and shootouts, because that's the kind of feisty Mexican wife that Hayek plays. From there, Reynolds primarily complains, Hayek sticks with stereotypes and Jackson attempts to exude his usual brand of couldn't-care-less cool; however, even more than in Spiral: From the Book of Saw, he's on autopilot. As also seen in Jackson's last big-screen appearance, The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard insists on reminding its audience about its stars' better movies. You don't cast both Hayek and Antonio Banderas (who plays a European tycoon plotting the world's demise) if you don't want to bring Desperado and Once Upon a Time in Mexico to mind (and Frida and even Spy Kids 3, too). Thinking about the pair's shared past highlights is far more enjoyable than enduring their current collaboration, unsurprisingly. Making fun of accents is considered the height of comedy here, women can only be hot-headed nags and manchild daddy issues get almost as much love as paperwork. The jokes aren't just scattershot; they're non-existent. The messy, incoherent and over-edited action scenes fare just as badly. None of the above is likely to save us from a third movie, though, which'll probably be called The Hitman's Wife's Baby's Bodyguard's Lost Birth Certificate. BUCKLEY'S CHANCE When a film saddles Bill Nighy with an Aussie twang and has him threaten to throw someone into a billabong, it isn't a great sign. When the same movie makes a big deal about a kangaroo less than three minutes in and stresses the dangers of dingoes just as quickly, it's clear that it has only been made with overseas viewers in mind. The dingoes don't eat anyone's babies, but it must've taken quite the self-restraint on Canadian writer/ director Tim Brown (Treasure Hounds) and screenwriter Willem Wennekers' (From the Vine) parts to leave that plot development out. They definitely haven't held back on the hackneyed and banal inclusions otherwise, though. The pair seems to have seen the Crocodile Dundee movies, The Simpsons' much-mocked Australian episode and the Red Dog films, then decided that they had all the tools they needed to make a outback adventure-thriller in the mould of Wake in Fright, Razorback and every other flick about overseas arrivals confronting the Great Southern Land's vast expanse — but in family-friendly packaging. From that dubious starting point, Brown and Wennekers are only interested in trading in Aussie cliches. In other words, they're only making a Down Under-set flick for audiences anywhere but here. That's why Nighy is stuck struggling with an unconvincing accent and roaming around in the dust: he's a recognisable, big-name star known the world over who'll help entice eyeballs, and he's also an outsider who wouldn't instantly grimace at every overdone stereotype. Here, the title has it — because there really is Buckley's chance that local viewers, even children, will find much to enjoy. Relocating to the titular property with his recently widowed mother Gloria (Victoria Hill, The Secrets We Keep), 13-year-old New Yorker Ridley (feature first-timer Milan Burch) doesn't think he'll discover much to his liking either. He certainly doesn't warm to his grandfather Spencer (Nighy, Minamata), even before he's forced to accompany the no-nonsense station owner on an overnight wander through the surrounding outback. That camping trip does see the boy save and befriend a dingo, at least. And, when he's later lost in the desert after spying a couple of dimwitted locals (Top of the Lake's Ben Wood and Packed to the Rafters' Anthony Gooley) trying to burn down his grandpa's property over a land feud — and then hides in the back of their ute, gets caught and is forced to escape their bumbling clutches — said canine becomes Ridley's trusty offsider. Every turn that Buckley's Chance takes steers it into been-there, done-that territory. Every film this stale retread resembles did it better, too, including last year's crims-and-kids comedy A Sunburnt Christmas. The one shining light, in a movie with few high points and largely monotonous performances: Kelton Pell (The Heights). Playing Spencer's righthand man, he's the only actor who plays anything approximating an engaging character, even in his brief screentime. RHAPSODY OF LOVE Her best friend Ben (Benjamin Hanly, Janet King) is getting married, she's the best man, and she's running late — so much so that she's doing her hair and makeup while chatting on the phone with her sister Jade (Joy Hopwood, also the film's writer and director). She also finishes getting dressed in the car to the ceremony, too, while asking her driver to get her there as speedily as possible. That's how Rhapsody of Love introduces Sydneysider Jess Flowers (Kathy Luu, The Script of Life), in one of those pure rom-com scenes that aims to make all the chaos seem charming and whimsical rather than disorganised and messy. Indulging in romantic comedy tropes is this film's glue, and it pastes those well-worn cliches around everywhere it can. At the wedding, the stereotypically bubbly Jess meets photographer Justin (Damien Sato, At First Hello), and of course sparks fly over awkward then flirty banter. The PR whiz also finds a new friend and client in baker Victoria (Lily Stewart, Ascendant), who has whipped up the cake for Ben and his bride Natasha (Jessica Niven, Dirt Music), and is also instantly attracted to waiter Hugh (Tom Jackson, Bloom). Unbeknownst to Jess, though, Victoria happens to be Justin's long-term girlfriend — resulting in several waves of personal and professional pandemonium. In a tongue-in-cheek scene partway through the film, the Flowers sisters try to pick a rom-com to watch one evening. They're both fans, obviously. Among the DVDs scattered across Jade's floor: the wholly fictional Sleepless in Sydney and Crazy Middle Class Asians. Even from just their monikers, those two faux flicks say plenty about Rhapsody of Love — that's exactly how it pitches itself, after all, and with more enthusiasm than the over-the-top zeal oozing from Luu's performance. Adding an Asian Australian focus to the nation's small and hardly diverse collection of romantic comedies is a welcome and important feat. Leaning on all the genre's hallmarks, especially when sporting a tone that oscillates between winking and earnest, tempers the film's impact, though. Even when a formulaic new entry in an overpopulated genre splashes much-needed diversity across the screen, coats on its eagerness just as thick and is visibly warm to look at, there's no escaping the by-the-numbers air. Rhapsody of Love's wooden performances don't do it any favours, either, and neither does the rote dialogue, or the predictable complications that blight not only Jess and Justin's path to true love, but Ben and Natasha's, Victoria and Hugh's, and Jade and her new trainer Phil's (Khan Chittenden, Book Week) as well. If you're wondering what else is currently screening in cinemas — or has been lately — check out our rundown of new films released in Australia on January 1, January 7, January 14, January 21 and January 28; February 4, February 11, February 18 and February 25; March 4, March 11, March 18 and March 25; and April 1, April 8, April 15, April 22 and April 29; May 6, May 13, May 20 and May 27; and June 3, June 10 and June 17. You can also read our full reviews of a heap of recent movies, such as Nomadland, Pieces of a Woman, The Dry, Promising Young Woman, Summerland, Ammonite, The Dig, The White Tiger, Only the Animals, Malcolm & Marie, News of the World, High Ground, Earwig and the Witch, The Nest, Assassins, Synchronic, Another Round, Minari, Firestarter — The Story of Bangarra, The Truffle Hunters, The Little Things, Chaos Walking, Raya and the Last Dragon, Max Richter's Sleep, Judas and the Black Messiah, Girls Can't Surf, French Exit, Saint Maud, Godzilla vs Kong, The Painter and the Thief, Nobody, The Father, Willy's Wonderland, Collective, Voyagers, Gunda, Supernova, The Dissident, The United States vs Billie Holiday, First Cow, Wrath of Man, Locked Down, The Perfect Candidate, Those Who Wish Me Dead, Spiral: From the Book of Saw, Ema, A Quiet Place Part II, Cruella, My Name Is Gulpilil, Lapsis, The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, Fast and Furious 9 and Valerie Taylor: Playing with Sharks.
Welcome to the joys of major film festivals in spring, Sydney. Getting holed up in a cinema for a week or so is usually a winter activity in the Harbour City, because that's when Sydney Film Festival takes place; however, the first-ever SXSW Down Under is arriving in 2023 with its very own celebration of peering at screens. So, for eight October days, movie lovers can wander in and out of darkened rooms while the weather is pleasant outside, not frosty — and see everything from Saltburn, the new Jacob Elordi (Euphoria)-starring thriller from Promising Young Woman director Emerald Fennell, to the freshly remastered 4K version of iconic Talking Heads concert flick Stop Making Sense. SXSW Sydney's debut Screen Festival will boast 75-plus sessions that'll get projectors a-flickering from Sunday, October 15–Sunday, October 22. It all starts with opening night's Australian thriller The Royal Hotel from Casting JonBenet and The Assistant director Kitty Green (and starring the latter's Julia Garner), then features the world premiere of documentary Hot Potato: The Story of The Wiggles and everything from features starring Indonesian rappers and docos about Tokyo Uber Eats riders. Saltburn will enjoy its Australian premiere at SXSW Sydney, while Stop Making Sense will get The ICC's Darling Harbour Theatre echoing in glorious 7.1 surround sound. The venue will be home to the fest's biggest titles, which also includes opening night and The Wiggles doco; ONEFOUR: Against All Odds about the eponymous drill rap band; and Ryuichi Sakamoto|Opus, which covers the recorded concert by the late, great The Revenant composer, who passed away in March 2023. Also on the bill: supervillain parody The People's Joker, which gives the caped-crusader realm a queer coming-of-age spin; TLC documentary TLC Forever; Sleep, a Korean horror-comedy by Bong Joon-ho's former assistant; the Hugo Weaving (Love Me)-starring The Rooster, which follows a hermit and a cop who form a bond during a crisis; and a retro session of Aussie classic Lake Mungo. Or, SXSW Sydney's film fans can see Black Barbie, a Barbie flick that isn't filled affection; the Indian Australian Sahela, which tells a queer tale set in Western Sydney; Satranic Panic, a homegrown road movie and a creature feature; Milli Vanilli, another of the event's music docos; and Uproar, as starring Hunt for the Wilderpeople's Julian Dennison, Our Flag Means Death's Rhys Darby and Starstruck's Minnie Driver. Among a feast of screen content that also encompasses 40 shorts, plus 20 music videos and 13 XR projects, TV will get some love — that's why the event is called a Screen Festival, not a film fest. Standouts span Night Bloomers, a horror anthology from both Korea and Australia; Erotic Stories, another anthology that'll deliver exactly what it sounds like; and Doona!, a Korean rom-com led by Suzy Bae. Alongside indoor sessions at Darling Harbour Theatre and Palace Cinemas Central, free outdoor screenings are also on the bill at the SXSW Sydney 2023 hub in Tumbalong Park. The complete lineup there is still to come, but the program will survey the OG fest's best and brightest, starting with Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement's What We Do in the Shadows — the movie, not the also-ace TV show — as well as classic anime masterpiece Ghost in the Shell and Richard Linklater's Dazed & Confused. As well as viewing movies and TV shows aplenty, the 2023 SXSW Sydney Screen Festival also features an array of speakers. Black Mirror's Charlie Brooker is one of the headliners — not just of the screen component, but of SXSW Sydney overall. Similarly getting chatting: Indigenous filmmakers Leah Purcell (The Drover's Wife The Legend of Molly Johnson), Kodie Bedford (Mystery Road: Origin) and Jub Clerc (Sweet As); Osher Günsberg recording an episode of his podcast Better Than Yesterday with a yet-to-be-announced special guest; and Gone Girl, The Nightingale, The Dry, Big Little Lies and Nine Perfect Strangers producer Bruna Papandrea and Binge's Executive Director Alison Hurbert-Burns. [caption id="attachment_917938" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Netflix[/caption] If you're keen to make the most of Australia's first SXSW, take advantage of our special reader offer. Purchase your SXSW Sydney 2023 Official Badge via Concrete Playground Trips and you'll score a $150 credit to use on your choice of Sydney accommodation. Book now via the website.
The end of the year is fast approaching, and with it the time to start making lists. 2017 has been a tough one on a number of fronts, but fortunately we've had movies to see us through. Over the past 12 months out critics have sat through hundreds of hours of motion picture magic, from blockbuster space operas to critically acclaimed indies, surprising local gems and more. After much reflection, they've put together the following list of the ten best films to hit screens in Australia since January. If you missed them in theatres, make it your mission to seek them out. If you've seen them already...well, see them again. 10. THE BEGUILED With The Beguiled, Sofia Coppola won a directing gong at Cannes, making her the first woman in more than 50 years to do so. After catching the film ourselves, it's easy to understand why. An immaculately shot Southern gothic thriller, the movie takes place in an all-girls boarding school during the dying days of the American Civil War, where life is suddenly thrown into turmoil by the arrival of a wounded Yankee soldier. Seething with sexual tension, and surprisingly funny, The Beguiled also benefits from an absolutely stellar cast, with Nicole Kidman, Kirsten Dunst, Elle Fanning and Colin Farrell all operating at the top of their game. – Tom Clift 9. GOD'S OWN COUNTRY God's Own Country isn't a film that romanticises the Yorkshire countryside where it takes place. Rather, it's a film that gets down to the nitty gritty, the blood and the sweat, the rain and the isolation. It's also a film that leaves your heart hurting: a love story between a young farmer Johnny and a visiting worker from Romania. Johnny is an angry, binge drinking man who hasn't come to terms with his sexuality — but when Gheorghe arrives, this all changes. In his directional debut, Francis Lee has made a film which captures beautifully the minutiae of falling for someone (sharing a cup of noodles, making each other laugh), as well as Johnny's painful internal struggle at letting something good into his life. This movie will have you wanting to hug someone, hard. – Kat Hayes 8. THOR: RAGNAROK In a movie-going year — hell, a movie-going decade — that has been defined by the adventures of caped crusaders, one superhero movie in 2017 stood out above all the rest. Helmed by New Zealand indie director Taika Waititi, Thor: Ragnarok was an unexpected curveball from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and one that was long overdue. Yes it's got the action and the super-powered team-ups and the vague, ominous references to Infinity Stones. But the thing that makes this movie such a delight is Waititi's quirky, self-deprecating, distinctly Kiwi sense of humour. Chris Hemsworth gets the chance to work out his comedic muscles, while Mark Ruffalo, Tom Hiddleston and universe newbie Tessa Thompson are at the tops of their games as well. This is the kind of film you get when studios are willing to take risks with their flagship franchises. Let's hope the rest of Hollywood was paying attention. – Tom Clift 7. WAR FOR THE PLANET OF THE APES At a glance, War for the Planet of the Apes might seem like little more than another monsters-versus-men, CGI-driven blockbuster. Instead, what it delivers is a sensitive, intelligent and profoundly moving war drama to round out one of the most surprising and imaginative trilogies of all time. In the vein of Terrence Malick's The Thin Red Line, this is a film about the quieter dimensions of combat; the internal conflicts, family tragedies and moral ambiguities that can harden and darken the soul. Boasting special effects of extraordinary realism, the film's leads – all of them computer generated – are no less human than the humans they fight, allowing us to wholly indulge in a Shakespearean saga full of heartache, betrayal, courage and redemption. – Tom Glasson 6. THE FLORIDA PROJECT If every filmmaker looked at the world in the same way as Sean Baker, we'd be living in a much kinder and more empathetic place. In The Florida Project, his follow-up to the critically acclaimed Tangerine, the director heads to the spot most commonly associated with Disney World, only to turn his focus to the families living day-to-day in the low-rent hotels nearby. When rebellious six-year-old Moonee (impressive child actress Brooklynn Prince) isn't running around the purple-hued Magic Castle she calls home — and cheekily annoying manager Bobby (an awards-worthy Willem Dafoe) in the process — she's watching her mother Halley (Bria Vinaite) do whatever it takes to get by. Clear-eyed in its depiction of their troubles and struggles, yet affectionate and exuberant as well, this chaotic kid's-eye view of life on the margins is tender, tragic, humorous and openhearted all at once. – Sarah Ward 5. THE BIG SICK If you haven't already, put your pajamas on and snuggle up on the couch to watch The Big Sick. It's a cute, tight, funny film that follows an intimate narrative between two star-crossed lovers. Kumail Nanjiani (playing himself) meets Emily (Zoe Kazan) and things look great, until life throws two fairly significant hurdles in the way. The first: the expectations of Kumail's religious parents. The second: a mysterious illness that threatens Emily's life. We won't give too much more away, other than to say that what follows is both funny and genuinely sweet. Moreover, the story is based on Kumail's real-life romance with his wife. Nawww. A rare rom-com that was a hit with viewers and critics alike, this movie has it all: cross-cultural romance, modern dating scenarios, and probably the best performance of Ray Romano's career. – Imogen Baker 4. ALI'S WEDDING Part of what makes Ali's Wedding so enjoyable is the fact that it's all just a little bit silly. But to be clear, we mean that in a good way. Writer-actor Osamah Sami's take on the rom-com from an Australian-Muslim perspective is a bit ridiculous, yes, but it's also warm-hearted, deceptively smart, and hits you right in the feels. Playing on that near-universal desire to live up to our parents' expectations, the film is as incisive and important as it is funny and fun, while the whole cast does a great job (although Don Hany and Helana Sawires are the undeniable highlights). Once you get to the scene where they perform a musical about Saddam Hussein at their Melbourne mosque, you won't look back. You're along for the ride, and a surprisingly touching one at that. – Kat Hayes 3. CALL ME BY YOUR NAME It's easy to fall in love with Call Me By Your Name on sight. Full of the kind of sumptuous visuals that director Luca Guadagnino (A Bigger Splash) is known for, the 80s-set effort proves a gorgeous piece of filmmaking from its opening frames. That said, it's the movie's sun-dappled dalliance that will really make you swoon, as Guadagnino follows the blossoming romance between 17-year-old Elio (Timothee Chalamet) and grad student Oliver (Armie Hammer) over the course of a sweltering Italian summer. A seductive and sensual queer romance, and a pitch-perfect account of yearning and desire — one that features an emotionally intricate turn from Chalamet in particular — Call Me By Your Name is the film that stories about first love will be judged against for many years to come. – Sarah Ward 2. MOONLIGHT No wait, we meant La La Land! Actually, no, Moonlight. Warren Beatty's debacle notwithstanding, this was absolutely the deserving winner of the most recent Best Picture Oscar. A sensitive, imaginative and deeply affecting coming-of-age tale set in the poor neighbourhoods of Miami, Barry Jenkins' film tells the story of a boy becoming a man and discovering his sexuality in three distinctive chapters – each of which boasts a performance of extraordinary nuance by Alex Hibbert, Ashton Sanders and Trevante Rhodes respectively. With sumptuous cinematography by James Laxton, Moonlight delivers an almost impossible fusion of visual splendour and unsparing emotion, in a film that lingers long in the memory after the credits have rolled. – Tom Glasson 1. GET OUT There's no denying that Jordan Peele's Get Out was one of the most unexpectedly provocative and entertaining films of 2017. A white woman (Allison Williams) takes her black boyfriend (Daniel Kaluuya) upstate to meet her parents for the first time. It's a ripe setup that paves the way for a tense and twisting mix of genuinely terrifying horror, savage dark comedy, and timely social commentary. Its technical credentials are similarly impressive: it's beautifully shot, phenomenally acted and boasts a genuinely satisfying ending. Not to mention the fact that Williams' involvement gave us a chance to exorcise some of our Girls-related rage. – Imogen Baker
Having quite literally broken the internet within 24 hours of landing — thanks to an Australian designer dress and a baby announcement — the Duke and Duchess of Sussex (aka Prince Harry and Meghan Markle) are now deep into their Antipodean adventures. During the royals' 16-day tour of Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga, they're getting up to all kinds of shenanigans — from meeting koalas at Taronga Zoo to visiting socially conscious cafes in Melbourne to hopping over to picturesque Fraser Island. Even if you don't live according to a royal budget, the royal itinerary is a handy guide for showing first-time visitors around Australia. Here's the nitty-gritty of the itinerary, with a few extra suggestions from the Concrete Playground team thrown in for good measure. Don't worry, it's nice and accessible for us mere plebs. ROYALS IN SYDNEY After meeting the Governor-General, the royals' first port of call was Taronga Zoo, where they met their koala namesakes — two ten-month-old joeys, which were wedding gifts from the people of NSW — among other unique Aussie fauna. Harry asked if the koala was a "drop bear" — and we're really glad to see that local legend has made it all the way to the monarchy. For your visit, we recommend adding an adrenalin rush with the Wild Ropes course followed by a snooze among wildlife at Roar and Snore. From there, take a brief ferry ride to Circular Quay, to see a show at the Opera House. The royals couple sat in on Bangarra Dance Theatre's rehearsal of Spirit 2018, but you can choose from a multitude of other performances and live music events. After a few days in other states, Harry and Meghan returned back to Sydney and made tracks to Bondi Beach. The couple spent time in an "anti-bad vibes circle", met local surfers and talked about mental health with OneWave. The non-profit group meets weekly on a heap of different beaches, if you want to get involved. https://twitter.com/KensingtonRoyal/status/1053065957571092481 To channel those good vibes on your trip, we suggest you swing by one of Bondi's vegan-friendly cafes or treat yourself to some natural wine at Bondi Hall. Alternatively, make tracks to the Harbour Bridge — where later today Meghan and Harry will tackle the famous BridgeClimb (which has just relaunched with new owners) with Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Don't mess it up, ScoMo. Or, head to Cockatoo Island, where the duo will head to attend an event at the Invictus Games Sydney 2018. Terrifying ghost tours take place after dark, if you're looking for a something a little extra spooky to do. ROYALS IN MELBOURNE The couple's Melbourne escapades included a stop by South Melbourne beach — of course, it was overcast — and a cooking class at social enterprise restaurant Charcoal Lane. The forward-thinking eatery is also covered in colourful murals paying homage to the area's Indigenous identity. You can see the royals checking it out here: https://twitter.com/KensingtonRoyal/status/1052823771910832128 If you're keen to mirror this socially conscious agenda, Melbourne has added several new cafes to its already impressive collection this year — including a throng of social enterprise cafes from Kinfolk, where 100 percent of profits go to charity, to Wild Timor Coffee Co., where the coffee is bought directly from Timorese farmers, at fair prices. On the shores of Port Phillip Bay, Meghan and Harry learnt all about how to keep Melbourne's beaches and waterways clean, from both school students and grown-up volunteers. If you've been thinking about lending an eco-friendly hand, get in touch with Earthcare St Kilda. ROYAL ISLAND HOPPING With 8,222 Australian islands to choose from, there's no shortage of inspiration when it comes to island hopping. The royals have their sights set on the biggest sand island in the world, the legendary Fraser Island, whose magnificent giant dunes shimmer in 72 colours. It's a shame the two don't have more time on their hands, to embark on the epic, eight-day Great Walk, which visits many of Fraser's 100 freshwater lakes. If you've been contemplating an island hop of your own, check out this handpicked selection of paradises. [caption id="attachment_681271" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nicole Reed.[/caption] ROYALS GO REGIONAL As magnetic as Australia's major cities and beautiful coastline are, no visit Down Under is complete without a trip inland. Meghan and Harry also stopped by Dubbo, which is perched on the Macquarie River, 300 kilometres northwest of Sydney, to meet drought-stricken farmers and host a community picnic. We suggest returning by car, to explore some of the Central West's other friendly country towns. There's Parkes, home to The Dish and the annual Elvis Festival; Orange, where you can hike to the summit of Mount Canobolas and go truffle hunting at Borrodell Vineyard (in between tasting scores of wines); and Bathurst, for an innovative regional art gallery and woodfired pizza inside a candle-lit former church schoolhouse. Meanwhile, in Victoria, regional adventures should definitely include a journey along the Silo Art Trail, a 200-kilometre road trip through Australia's biggest outdoor art gallery. Top image: Sydney Opera House, Hamilton Lund
