It doesn't take much to turn a day at the Regatta into a party — but when the iconic Brissie pub really wants to throw a shindig, they know how to go about it. Enter RegattaFair, the second annual occasion dedicated to three days of riverside food, booze and hanging out. Basically, it's an excuse to eat, drink and be merry at one of the city's favourite haunts, not that you'll hear us complaining about that. Who doesn't want to wander beneath the fairy lights in the venue's laneway, peruse stalls selling all your favourite stomach fillers and thirst quenchers, and listen to DJ sets and live music in the process? Anyone keen on wood-fired pizzas (including a Nutella variety) and slow-cooked lamb rolls won't be disappointed — and neither will those after an Asahi, Mountain Goat, Fat Yak, Peroni or Penfolds tipple. Plus, stopping by the warm Rekordelig station, getting your fortune told while tasting rum in the Walrus Club, and sampling amber spirits in the Whiskey Bar are all a must.
Do you try to indulge in your favourite dairy product at every meal? Do you have an entire shelf in your fridge dedicated to brie, cheddar and camembert? Have you become rather great at convincing yourself that alternating between soft and hard pieces is the same as eating a balanced diet? Don't worry, we all love cheese — and, as a result, we all love the people responsible for its deliciousness. Yes, we're talking about cheesemakers — and yes, they're the folks in the spotlight at just what might be the best event Cheese Therapy and Cloudland could whip up. At Blessed are the Cheesemakers, you'll pay homage to the origins of the edible item everyone finds irresistible, as well as the artisans behind it. You'll also devour plenty of cheese, of course, and enjoy some wine along with it. And, if you're after an indepth dairy experience, you can take part in a blue cheese masterclass. Just remember to get in quick: only three sessions will be held, and each 30-minute class can only accommodate 15 hungry cheese lovers.
If all a horror movie needed was a killer concept, then Lights Out would sit at the top of the spooky cinematic heap. At its core is an idea that's equally obvious, ingenious and universal: the unsettling feeling that springs in children and adults alike when a flick of a switch plunges a room into darkness. In fact, when Swedish filmmaker David F. Sandberg first toyed with the notion in his two-and-a-half-minute short film of the same name, it became a viral sensation, catching the eye of horror producer James Wan in the process. Three years later, Sandberg has fleshed out the attention-grabbing effort into his feature film debut. In Lights Out, stressing about whatever sinister presence just might lurk in the shadows isn't simply a sign of anxiety or an overactive imagination, as Rebecca (Teresa Palmer) and her ten year old brother Martin (Gabriel Bateman) come to realise in the wake of a family tragedy. Initially, Martin isn't overly concerned when his grief-stricken mother, Sophie (Maria Bello), starts speaking to someone who isn't there. But then he spies a ghostly figure that only appears when his lamp turns off. When he flees his dimly lit home to stay in Rebecca's apartment, she starts seeing the apparition too. It's enough to make them jump, run and scream repeatedly, in a movie that knows how to make the most of its unnerving moments. Indeed, although writer Eric Heisserer seems fairly content to keep playing in formulaic territory after penning the recent remakes of both A Nightmare on Elm Street and The Thing, Sandberg perfects the ominous look, uneasy mood and expert sense of timing that a film about things going bump in the dark requires. More specifically, Sandberg's spot-on directorial choices include a focus on the obvious but essential: if you're going to call a film Lights Out, you have to master the many flickers and silhouettes that tend to come with luminous bulbs and the like. From the glow of exterior lighting shining down on an eerie-looking warehouse in the film's opening shot, to the contrast of every high- and low-wattage source of brightness you can think of against gloomy interior surroundings, the movie becomes a striking exercise in setting a specific tone through lighting and cinematography. As a result, what it lacks in narrative surprises, it makes up for in successful scares and inventive imagery. Thankfully, the small but spirited cast follows suit, even though they're largely saddled with cookie-cutter horror roles. No time is wasted on jostling for laughs or taking things too seriously, with the 81-minute feature proving an example of economical yet mostly effective filmmaking. Accordingly, even as Palmer's heroine makes more than a few predictable choices, and Bello's frazzled parent does the same, they're both pitched at just the right, relatable level.
If you've ever been to Bangkok, you might've wandered along one of its most famous streets, stepped inside one of its go-go bars and pondered just where you were in life — or found the spark you needed to start heading in a different direction. Indeed, that's just what Aussie traveller Andy does when she takes a job at one of the busy strip's karaoke bars, meets Thai-American Arisa and starts trekking throughout the country, seeking answers about their role as tourists in a developing nation as much as themselves. Andy's tale sits at the heart of the brand new, Brisbane Powerhouse-commissioned production Soi Cowboy, as created by artists Gillian Cosgriff (music and lyrics), Julia-Rose Lewis (text) and Kat Henry (director). Or, to be more accurate, it will be when it takes to the stage. For now, they're giving audiences a taste with a professional run-through of what's sure to be the city's next musical theatre hit. Tickets are free, but registration is required.
Every Monday night between August 1 and September 26, something unexpected is happening at Dendy Portside. At 6.30pm, the cinema will dim their lights, project a beloved film onto their one of their big screens and encourage you to talk along with it. Yes, you read that correctly. Yes, chatting through the likes of Monty Python and the Holy Grail, The Fifth Element and The Princess Bride is allowed. In fact, at Quote-Along Films, keeping quiet would be inconceivable. If you know the dialogue from Wayne's World, The Breakfast Club and Step Brothers so well that it just flows out of your mouth, you are worthy of this unique movie-going experience. Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, Clueless and Mean Girls round out the line-up of cult classics everyone knows, loves and can rattle off more than a few phrases from. Here, no shushing will be tolerated. Instead, prepare to spout your favourite lines until your heart's content.
If circus can be considered a feat of physical magic, then prepare for Casus to do the acrobatic equivalent of pulling a rabbit out of a hat. In their latest show, the Brisbane troupe will transform an empty stage into an active expression of life, love and humanity's innate need for contact. Anyone who has ever tried to turn nothing into something — be it a blank page or an everyday situation — will appreciate the artistry at the heart of this world premiere performance. And with a name like Driftwood, so will anyone who feels like they're just floating through their existence. Indeed, as it explores explosive encounters, hidden looks and humorous discoveries, and tells tales of loved ones, enemies and complete strangers too, Driftwood champions another piece of trickery — aka how everyone we know helps influence the person that we become. That's a significant topic for anyone to examine, let alone a circus show.
Need a boost? A lift in mood? Something to stimulate your senses? Let Elevate try to help. Yep, its name really is telling. Fancy footwork and fluid movement can do that, with this trio of contemporary dance works offering all three. And that's not all, of course. Performed by a fresh group of emerging young dance artists, Elevate also boasts energy and passion that's bound to be contagious. If you're wondering why, it's because Elevate isn't just a dance performance — it's actually a showcase stemming from Metro Arts' Transitions Program. The six-week practical intensive closely replicates the range of activities experienced in a small contemporary company — and boasts the assistance of Sydney-based choreographer Craig Bary, Brisbane's own Prying Eye, and the up-and-coming Sammie Williams — so expect the end result to prove uplifting in a variety of ways.
It was headline news, and it caused exactly the reaction expected, as even those uninterested in fashion will recall. When Stella McCartney designed a line of clothing for Target, eager shoppers flocked to the department store — and we mean flocked. A frenzy ensued, with the shelves mostly bare moments after the fancy threads went on sale. As one disappointed customer explained, "by the time I got to the racks, half of the range was already gone." That might've been six years ago now; however today, it lives on in the hearts and minds of a group of emerging local artists — or in the title of their one-night-only group showcase at Cut Thumb ARI, at least. Combining pre-existing and specifically made new works by Loki Groves, Yannick Blattner, Naomi Blacklock, Sarah Poulgrain, Callum Galletly, Ursula Larin and Hailey Atkins, Stella McCartney for Target reflects the diverse outcomes of innovative art being produced in Brisbane. Yep, a consumerist experiment has sparked a creative response, as well as an exciting array of pieces across a range of media. Sure, it might be making a statement about everything from branding to conformity, but here's hoping the exhibition inspires even part of the frenzy of the couture collection that provides its moniker. Image: Hailey Atkins, SOFT CONCRETE SHARP SPONGE, Webb Gallery QCA, 2016.
You've been to Cloudland. You've probably even been downstairs to the venue's hidden, underground Cellar Bar. But even if it's your regular weekend hangout, we're guessing that you haven't experienced the kind of intrigue and indulgence they're about to start peddling. At a new Friday night popup series spanning June 17 to July 8, end your working week at Enigma Underground, complete with tasty tapas, live entertainment and luxury tipples. Just don't expect any old beverage when it comes to the latter, with the event showcasing the brand new vodka Absolut Elyx. There's a reason that magicians and illusionists will be putting on performances across each evening, after all — the drinks, including the new spirit in the spotlight, boast more than a few tricks up their sleeves. Where else can you grab a couple of espresso martinis on tap, learn how to make them for yourself, and recline in velvet couches? There's decadent Friday nights, and then there's this. Image: Joel Devereux.
Set in 1980, Everbody Wants Some!! follows a university baseball team as they prepare to commence the next semester, and feels in a lot of ways like the movie Richard Linklater was destined to make. As the film ambles through the antics of teens and twenty-somethings embarking upon the next chapter of their lives (read: drinking and chasing girls), it shouldn't come as a surprise that it's a spiritual sequel to the writer-director's 1993 effort Dazed and Confused. In painting a portrait of young men becoming adults in the most routine of ways, it also acts as a very apt follow-up to the filmmaker's last effort, Boyhood. Rather than charting the final day of high school, or capturing the process of growing up over the course of 12 years, Linklater's latest chronicles the weekend before the start of college classes. When Jake (Blake Jenner) parks his car outside of the team lodgings he's about to call home, he's clearly excited, and just as obviously trying to make sure he appears cool, calm and collected. That careful attitude colours his interactions with his new housemates, whether they're welcoming him with open arms or pronouncing their strong dislike of pitchers. By day, they mostly sit or drive around. By night, they try their luck with the opposite sex at bars and parties. Cue a film with plenty of talk and testosterone, not as much action as any of the characters would like, but plenty of the kind of carefree moments that everyone has experienced at some point in their lives. As Jake's fellow baseballers flit through the narrative, some make a bigger impression than others – including ladies man McReynolds (Tyler Hoechlin), bearded stoner Willoughby (Wyatt Russell), and confident veteran Finnegan (Glen Powell). However, as they sling insults at each other, trade in exaggerated stories and natter on about whatever comes into their heads, they all play their part in this freewheeling slice of life. Accordingly, Everybody Wants Some!! is the ultimate hangout flick, about a bunch of guys just shooting the shit when they're not expected to do anything else. There's no missing the nostalgia driving Linklater's warmly amusing movie, with his images tinted with the glow of happy memories, his camera placed to make the viewer think they're part of the gang, and his soundtrack overflowing with '80s hits like 'My Sharona' and 'Rapper's Delight'. That said, there's also no mistaking the way that the filmmaker simply presents rather than probes, such as when it comes to Jake's romance with fellow freshman Beverly (Zoey Deutch). He's not making a statement — he's just happy to linger in the group's company. Don't confuse the film's laidback vibe with a lack of smarts or precision though. As Linklater proved with his charming romantic trio Before Sunrise, Before Sunset and Before Midnight, it takes careful planning and pitch-perfect performances to make something look and feel so easy and effortless. Like their director, the ensemble cast rarely hit a bad note, with Jenner and Russell certain stars in the making. The film's title might stem from a Van Halen song, but as this group whiles away several days, Everybody Wants Some!! earns its exclamation marks.
Are you the type of person who sits down at a restaurant and asks them to whip you up whatever takes their fancy? If you are — or if you wish you were, and want to see how it feels for an evening — then Good Food Month's special event Trust the Chef is your kind of meal. First, you pay between $99 and $159 depending on whether you'd like matched wines. Then, you sit back and let 85 Miskin St head chef Brent Farrell strut his stuff. Just what he'll cook is anyone's guess, but given how mouth-watering his dishes normally are, we're certain that the end result of the eight-course degustation menu are going to be delicious.
When that slice of inner-city, riverside delights known as Teneriffe was officially named a suburb back in 2010, locals threw a party to celebrate. Seen years on and the shindig is still going strong. You know it as the Teneriffe Festival. For its 2016 outing, the event has compiled a wide-ranging lineup. For the first time, it welcomes Green Beacon and LONgTIME for some beer garden fun, for example. Plus, after last year's success, the Brisbane Cheese Market returns to the fold. Chilled riverside hangouts and tasty coagulated cow, goat and sheep secretions are only the beginning, of course. Elsewhere, the Tastes of Teneriffe showcases the area's bars and restaurants, for those after more sustenance than dairy products can give. Then, work off all that food by walking around 100 bespoke market stalls, or sit down and digest on a Magical Mystery History Tour. And in between, check out the packed program of local music.
Without anyone really realising it, low and slow barbecuing has become Brisbane's favourite style of food preparation, and there's a festival to prove it. Come July 2, the Brisbane Showgrounds will be engulfed in the kind of smoky, spicy taste sensations that can only come from taking your time to lock in as much goodness as possible. At the second annual Brisbane BBQ Festival, a convoy of food trucks, burger joints and ore will converge upon Bowen Hills to prove their culinary patience. They'll be starting up their ovens long before their doors open, and you'll get to devour the long-simmering rewards. Between sampling from the likes of Ze Pickle, Bella BBQ, German Sausage Hut and How We Rolls (to name a few), sipping frosty bevs at pop-up bars, and learning up at masterclasses and workshops, you'll also watch teams of professionals battle it out to be crowned the low and slow champions — while scoring free samples of their creations. And if your own gastronomic itches need scratching, you can then browse the boutique marketplace for barbecue-related products to help you whip up a storm at home. The sounds of the John Steel Singers will provide your ultimate barbecue soundtrack, with The Hi Boys and Big Blind Ray among the others on the bill. If that seems like too much fun for just one day, that's because it is. Image: Brent Hofacker.
If movies about sports, music and anything else either competitive or creative have taught us anything, it's this: everyone has a special skill, and everyone gets their time to shine. If your particular talent is shredding, then the next six weeks might just give you your moment in the spotlight. So You Think You Can Shred is exactly what it sounds like, aka a contest of dexterity and artistic integrity of the rockin' kind. Picking up a guitar is actually the easy part. Unleashing the full might of your inner music god, well, that's hard. With the comp a winner-takes-all type of situation, the virtuoso crowned the city's best over the course of the contest will receive $1000 cash, a new guitar and guitar set-up, a private keg party and more. And even if you can't play, we still recommend heading along. Where else are you going to hear these kind of intricate, extended, fret-busting sounds?
Any time is a good time to head to Noosa; however anyone needing an additional excuse will find plenty between July 15 to 24. That's when the Noosa Long Weekend Festival takes over the Sunshine Coast hotspot for ten days of artistic entertainment, delicious meals and all-round enjoyment. Whether it's theatre, literature, music, dance, film, visual arts or cuisine that you're after, you'll find it here in the event's 15th year. And while the fest's name might seem like a tease given that there's no public holiday in sight, we choose to take it another way: as a friendly suggestion to take a couple of days off for an extended trip. The Carnivale Infusion Parade will wander down Hastings Street to get things started — and yes, that's only the beginning. The rest of the schedule includes everything from a cabaret performance by Meow Meow and the latest iteration of the international One-Act Play Festival to a long Italian lunch and a screening of indigenous dance flick Spear. In other words, it's just the kind of program you'd expect at a vacation destination.
When the ancient Sumerians created their own version of the Egyptian Book of the Dead, they can't have known the horrors they'd unleash. First, the Necronomicon Ex-Mortis would accidentally fall into the hands of a group of college kids. Then, it would terrorise a big-chinned guy by the name of Ash, taking his right hand, sending him back to Medieval times, and still stalking him decades later. Now, the whole hellish adventure at the heart of The Evil Dead franchise has inspired yet another terrifying ordeal. No, we don't mean the 2013 remake. Instead, we're talking about The Scratch's artistic tribute to the Bruce Campbell-starring movie series. Featuring pieces by 30 creatively minded fans, Dead by Dawn: An Evil Dead Art Show amasses what we can only assume is the grooviest collection of paintings and drawings of Deadites, boomsticks and chainsaws the world has ever seen. It all kicks off with a boozy shindig on July 13 — complete with Brewtal Brewers' Malt Monster imperial stout, and timed as a precursor to the dive bar's annual Weekend of Darkness drinking festival — and then continues its demonic display until the end of the month.
For the past 23 and a half years, one woman has shaped the musical tastes of Brisbane. And over the past five in particular, she's helped unearth a wealth of talent, including Jeremy Neale, Babaganouj, WAAX and Baskervillain. It should come as little surprise, then, that the quartet of bands are keen to pay tribute to Joc Curran. As the original co-founder and manager of The Zoo, she played no small part in helping their careers, as Farewell to Joc From The Last Five Years recognises. It's the sendoff every beloved venue head deserves, showcasing the music and the vibe that's made the Ann Street mainstay what it is under Curran's reign. And it's not the only goodbye event in her honour, with The Zoo also hosting 23.5 — A Dual Celebration to mark Curran's departure and welcome her replacement Pixie Weyand; however with that all-star homage selling out in record time, it is the only farewell shindig with tickets still available.
If you like your music experimental and artistic, then you probably know all about the Institute of Modern Art's MONO series. Exploring the possibilities of sound is what this regular evening performance is all about — and championing the kind of talents that aren't likely to become household names, too. For MONO 22, John Chantler is in the spotlight in a performance that's also a homecoming. Born in Bundaberg but based everywhere from Japan to London to his most recent home of Stockholm for most of his life, he's one of the state's great synth masters, and he's coming back to Brisbane to prove it. Watch Chantler work with a quadraphonic set up, control voltage to unexpected ends and create sonic treats that are equally beautiful and abstract. He'll be joined by percussionist Vanessa Tomlinson, who'll offer up a brand new solo work for gong. And if you're keen on arriving early, the event will also double as a birthday celebration for composer, artist and curator Lawrence English — because every showcase needs electronic rhythms, vibrating instruments and cake, of course.
Counting down until the second Queensland Film Festival starts? Can't wait to watch your way through their 40-title 2016 lineup? If so, then you'd best head to the Institute of Modern Art at 3pm on July 9, because that's when this year's QFF really kicks off. Dedicating ten days to showcasing the best of international cinema just isn't enough, so QFF is hosting a preview screening before the festival's official opening night. Who doesn't want to spend their Saturday afternoon feasting their eyes on a specially curated selection of experimental shorts? That's what film festivals are all about, after all. Telling the tale of a young anthropologist seeking to push the limits of her discipline, Mathieu Kleyebe Abonnenc's Sector IX B, is the main attraction — as well a film that really should be seen in a darkened room. Add Ben Rivers' meditative A Distant Episode, Shezad Dawood's hallucinatory Towards the Possible Film, and an introduction by Professor Sue Best, and it's the kind of session that cinephiles' dreams are made of.
Every band starts somewhere — such as a showcase for the city's unsung new talent, perhaps? In fact, strutting their stuff on stage in front of a home crowd is what all fledgling groups dreams of. Trust the ace combo that is New Globe Theatre and 4ZZZ to kick off a monthly event that gives them that chance. At Hidden TreasureZZZ, the next generation of local musos will show audiences what they're made of, whether it's grunge, punk, pop, funk or something that just doesn't conform to any label. And, as the name suggests, the Saturday arvo jam session isn't just about the newest kids on the block; you'll also a smattering of more established bands that Brissie's favourite independent radio station already knows and loves. Check out Marville, Regular Band, Mutanteer Premium, Cheesy Crust and The Wet Fish at the first event on August 6, and then setting a recurring date in your calendar to come back regularly after that. Remember, you're not just rocking out to the Brisbane music scene's freshest faces — you're getting a glimpse of the rock stars of tomorrow.
When it comes to throwing an Ekka party, Alfred and Constance are taking it a bit easy this year. They know that the simplest things are often the best. They also know that throwing open the doors to their three bars and two dance floors is all that's really needed. Yep, their annual pre-public holiday shindig couldn't be more chill as far as preparations are concerned — but that's what house parties are all about, aren't they? They'll supply one of Fortitude Valley's favourite venues — and DJs and drinks, of course — so that you find your own kind of fun.
What a difference 128 years can make. Back in August of 1888, the final bricks were laid on The Prince Consort Hotel. Now, after weathering many a change over many a decade, the place now known as The Elephant is throwing a party to commemorate their longevity. Saying that it's going to be quite the gathering is probably one of the understatements of the venue's century-plus of operation, so prepare for a wild night whooping it up in heritage-listed confines. Dallas Frasca, Aerials and The Strums will take care of the live music, and all The Elephant's usual drinks, meals and revelry will be on offer. Remember, you only celebrate an iconic pub's 128th birthday once.
Everyone has an Ekka routine. For most of us, it involves trying to get someone you know to buy you a Bertie Beetle show bag, and then still managing to get the flu even after steering clear of the RNA Showgrounds. But this year, make a new tradition. Black Bear Lodge will help. Enter the Pre-Ekka Wrekka, aka the Brunswick Street venue's inaugural public holiday bash. To get things started, Shady Bliss, The Dollar Bill Murrays, Bixby Canyon and Nice Biscuit will crank out some tunes, and Sailor Jerry will lend their boozy support. Yep, it already sounds like something we'll be looking forward to in years to come. Image: Rachael Baskerville via The Dollar Bill Murrays.
Because every big event needs an alternative, Riverlife has come up with the thing to go to when you're not going to the Ekka. Their Winterfest is a riverside chillout session at Kangaroo Point, where relaxing in the sun is the main affair. Every ticket includes a winter warmer meal complete with freshly made waffles and a hot chocolate rum, i.e. the perfect food and drink for the season. If you're feeling a little cool — well, Brisbane-level cold — while you're browsing the markets and watching DJ Cliftonia and Sharif on the sax provide live entertainment, you won't be shivering for long, as blankets and heaters will even be provided.
No one really looks forward to the middle of the week — but this week, you just might. Wandering Cooks, Calibre Craft Beer Trading Co., and a heap of their friends want you to wind down your Wednesday with great brews and food. Now that's what we call a hump day with style. If it's beer you're after, you'll find folks from Feral Brewing Co., Ekim Brewing Co., Boatrocker Brewery, Red Hill Brewery, BrewCult and Cavalier Brewing all hanging around, ready for a few beverages and yarns. And if you've worked up quite a hunger after a day at work, For The Pickles and Juan More Taco have your dinner sorted. Yep, it's a good ol' fashioned block party, which may be little more than an excuse to hang out, chat, eat and drink; however you won't hear us complaining. Entry to the event is free, which is how you make something great even better. Just remember to bring some cash for whatever you want to put in your stomach.
You've gotta love a pre-festival party. It's the shindig that caters for both of the two groups that every event like Splendour forces the population into: those who are about to head to Byron Bay for a weekend of muddy music mayhem, and those who missed out on a ticket. Whichever camp you fall into, you can either get a jump start on the fun or distract yourself from the envy to come at the Official Splendour In The Grass Pre-Party: Brisbane. Just put on your dancing shoes, head to the Triffid, and enjoy an evening of live tunes from Years & Years, Lido, Moonbase Commander and Twinsy. Yep, it's the closest you can get to the real thing without hanging around outside the North Byron Parklands from Friday to Sunday hoping you can overhead some of the action — but hey, who wants to do that? And, it's also an alternative for everyone who didn't get in quick enough to go to Byron equivalent, complete with a set by The Avalanches, that's on the same night.
So, you've been strolling the streets day and night looking for Squirtles, Meowths, Psyducks, Jigglypuffs and Geodudes. We're not saying that's not fun, obviously — but how about trying to catch 'em all with fellow Pokemon trainers while you're all in the same room? Trust the pop culture-themed party fiends at the Brightside to throw the shindig every Pokemon GO player in Brisbane has been waiting for: the Pokemon GO Social Club Meet. The whole venue will be a Pokestop, phone chargers will be available to make sure everyone has enough juice, and bringing along whatever kind of other Pokemon stuff you have — be it a Gameboy game or cards — is definitely encouraged. There'll also be Valor, Mystic and Instinct bucket cocktails, plus live tunes by Earth Caller, Deadlights, Daybreakers and Among The Ruined. Members of the city's 4000-strong crew will receive special badges, which should be all the incentive you need to join one of the biggest and most active groups in the country. Just head to their Facebook page right now to sign up online, and then to Warner Street from 6pm to meet up in person.
It hasn't always been whirring since the world was turning; however, in the six years since CERN's Large Hadron Collider first had its first research run, everyone has heard of it. Ever wondered how it works, why it took the work of 10,000 men and women to come to fruition, and how it helps scientists understand the secrets of the universe? Well, Queensland Museum wants to help you find out. From December 9, 2016 until April 25, 2017, the South Bank site will play host to Hadron Collider: Step inside the world's greatest experiment. It's not quite the same as venturing deep under the border between Switzerland and France, but, in an exhibition that comes direct from Science Museum, London, it is the next best thing. And, it wouldn't be one of Queensland Museum's major attractions without an evening component: Hadron After Dark. On December 9, February 3 and March 3, you can experience the wonder by night, complete with expert talks, demonstrations, live music and access to the entire museum.
If eating, drinking and being merry is your idea of a mighty fine birthday shindig, then you'll want to help Newstead Brewing Co. celebrate another year of existence. Yes, one of the inner-north's favourite watering holes — and favourite sources of freshly made beverages — has now seen this great planet of ours journey around the sun three times. That calls for beer, obviously. A variety of guest brewers will be helping Newstead's taps flow freely, with White Lies Brewing's Busta Nut Brown Ale, Brouhaha Brewery's Black IPA and Your Mates Brewing Co's Larry Pale Ale already confirmed. Add the Doggett Street venue's own amber liquids, and you've got a party going on. Food, music, great vibes, cake: they're all on offer from 11am on December 11 as well. And with this time of year basically one big shindig, what better place to get festive than a brewery?
Cinephiles, picnic-lovers and everyone in between, rejoice — the annual combination of movies, outdoor eating and park hangouts that is Moonlight Cinema is back for another round. After locking in their dates back in September, Australia's biggest outdoor cinema has confirmed their full 2016-17 summer program — and it's a goodie. Kicking off on December 8 in New Farm Park next to Brisbane Powerhouse, this year's setup boasts all the regular features that make this one of the country's most popular summer events. Big screen shimmering beneath the stars? Check. Food trucks serving the ultimate movie munchies? Check. Letting super-organised patrons BYO their own snacks? Check. A huge lineup of new releases and cult classics? You betcha. Expect all the big summer releases, like sci-fi thriller Passengers, the much-anticipated La La Land with Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling, and Lion, based on the true story of Saroo Brierley who found his birth mother in India via Google Earth after 25 years of separation. Naturally, they'll also be playing Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (which was released today) as well as the yet-to-be-released Star Wars: Rogue One and game-turned-film Assassins Creed. As always, they'll also throw in a few cult favourites — this year it's Grease and Back to the Future — and some Doggie Nights, which will kick off with The Secret Life of Pets. Of course, heading to Moonlight isn't just about the movies shown, as fun as getting a sneak peek of upcoming flicks or sharing the joyous glow of watching iconic favourites on a big screen is. It's also about the experience, which is why you're allowed to start getting excited without knowing which films you'll be watching — and why you should be blocking out December through to March in your calendar. Tickets are on sale now.
Here's Underworld: Blood Wars in brief: in the millennia-old conflict between werewolves and vampires, the werewolves (or Lycans) are regrouping while the vampires are down to their last two covens. The good news, however, is that the Paris coven is impregnable. Never been breached in 15 centuries. Not once. Give up now, Lycans. It cannot. Be. Pregged. Well…unless you have a small, mid-priced sedan driven by animatronic Gucci model Theo James, which ploughs through the coven's single-frame, wrought-iron gate like a knife through butter that isn't even butter because it's actually nothing. Not to be deterred, however, the vampires quickly re-attach the gate with a solding iron, rendering the coven once again...impregnable. To quote The Princess Bride, "You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means". So here's what we need to do. First, we go buy some red baseball caps – bright red ones – then embroider them with the following message: MAKE UNDERWORLD OKAY-ISH AGAIN. The people will follow us. Landslide, guaranteed. The original Underworld, released in 2003, was not without its merit. It didn't have much merit, mind you, but some is still better than none. Kate Beckinsale proved a fantastic choice for the death-dealing werewolf hunter Selene, whose talents and temerity outstripped compatriot and opponent alike. Alongside her, Bill Nighy, Scott Speedman and Michael Sheen rounded out a not-unimpressive supporting cast capable of making even the most laughably bad line somehow resonate with a sense of class and purpose. Yes, it was fetishist-heavy and contained a whole lot of gun porn, but it was a film of its time and found a willing fan base to propel it into a franchise. Underworld: Blood Wars, however, is now the fifth film in said franchise, one that definitely ought to have stopped at two – and my, how the largely-passable have fallen. Honestly, people have written more compelling stories on toilet paper, and they didn't need a pen. This latest instalment takes every one of the already scant, okay-to-decent aspects of the original film and dispenses with them wholesale aside from Beckinsale herself. What little story there is comes across in heavy-handed dialogue which mostly exists to bridge one dull fight scene to the next. The characters, meanwhile, continue to clad themselves in comically revealing black lace or leather like extras from a Judas Priest video. Except for the ones in all white, because they're pacifist vampires, don't ya know. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSlaWHDu5WU
There are many different ways of giving thanks, not that the American holiday dedicated to the occasion has been adopted in Australia. You can enjoy the bliss that is a good meal shared with good people. Or, you can head out, indulge in a few beverages and listen to some great music. You know who's suggesting the latter, don't you? New Farm Records, Control zine and... yep, The Brightside. After a massive event last year, they're back for more. Several courses worth, in fact. At Danksgiving, you'll get a feast of the sonic kind, with your ears treated to Waax, Wolver, Feelsclub, Sleep Club, Concrete Surfers and Keta Beats. Okay, okay, so it's happening a couple of weeks before the US holiday, but hey, it's all about getting into the spirit of things really. Here's hoping that doesn't mean awkward conversations with your relatives are part of the proceedings.
Maybe exploring graves on the outskirts of the Brisbane CBD, singing songs adjacent to a cemetery and pretending to be a corpse that's being washed and prepared for burial is your idea fun. Maybe it isn't. Either way, indulging in morbid-leaning pastimes or challenging yourself to face the end that awaits us all is on the agenda at Brisbane's newest festival, Deathfest. Running from November 12 to 20, Metro Arts' latest program of live art, music, film, visual art, discussions and social events wants attendees to confront death, literally. No, the grim reaper won't be there, but you will have to contemplate the weighty subject. We know, we know, it's a topic most of us choose not to think about, other than in a vague, YOLO-like way by reading trashy vampire fiction, or crying when the killer year that is 2016 keeps offing our artistic heroes. The Brissie arts venue knows this too, in fact, increasing death literacy in the community and finding a new way to embrace grief are among its chief aims. No wonder it's the first arts and culture festival of its kind in Queensland. And, no wonder it has compiled an array of out-of-the-box (or coffin) events and activities designed to push attendees out of their comfort zones. Taking place at a number of locations around the city, they include a concert of songs about leaving people and life behind, a theatrical dance piece about love and loss, a Yarn storytelling session focused on the experience of mourning, and a musical performance that uses sounds of endangered and extinct animals. And, plenty of talking: about dying in general over wine and cheese, and in an artist-filled panel session on what it means to die well. Elsewhere, you'll spy divination cards in Fish Lane that draw attention to bigger existential questions, and images of wildflowers in Eagle Lane stressing the importance of thinking about what came before. Plus, tying in with Metro Arts' newly revamped Lumen Room, a feast of appropriately themed films also feature. Griefwalker provides a poetic portrait of dying people talking about their predicament, while Oscar-winning Japanese effort Departures follows a man working at a funeral home. Or, relive what still ranks as Hayley Joel Osment and M. Night Shyamalan's career highlight, aka The Sixth Sense. You know exactly why it's appropriate.
When you stay in a hotel, you expect certain things. A comfy bed, decent in-house dining, a nice view: they're on everyone's list. How about an arts festival right in the same building? Well, that's what Hotelling offers up. It's the latest stroke of genius from the folks at QT Gold Coast — and if you've ever been there before, you'll know that the Surfers' hotel doesn't offer your usual accommodation experience. Whether you're opting to stay for a night or two, or just want to enjoy the festivities, it all starts with a plunge Down the Rabbit Hole on November 4. Featuring newly commissioned performances by media artist Craig Walsh, variety entertainer Moira Finucane, dance collective The Farm, actor and La Boite artistic director Todd MacDonald, and acclaimed composer Lawrence English, the QT is calling it "an artistic rollercoaster" that'll take over everywhere from the penthouse to the tennis courts. It'll also be repeated November 5. Don't worry, there's other Saturday fun to be had too — in The Afternoon Playground, in fact. There, you'll hangout with the artists, enjoy everything the QT has to offer, and even embark upon a Qu Te mystery bike tour guided by performers Alicia Min-Harvie and Jonny Haselam. Yep, your next trip to a hotel just got arty, party-filled and amazing.
The Ryan vs Seth debate incited gang wars (it's all Seth, all the time people, come on). Marissa made our eye twitch with stiff acting and then tore our hearts out in season three (no spoilers hey). Summer retrospectively became our life and style guru. And still, no true O.C. fan can hear Imogen Heap's 'Hide and Seek' without tearing up just a little bit. For everyone whose teenage expectations of life and love were shaped by the O.C. and Peter Gallagher's eyebrows, listen up: in conjunction with Melbourne's The Bait Shop, Woolly Mammoth is throwing a huge O.C.-themed party this weekend. Cue Youth Group, Death Cab for Cutie, Eels, Jem, The Futureheads, Spoon et al playing on repeat. They're offering a bar tab for the winner of 'Most Early 2000s Inspired Outfit' (a complex but honourable title), life-sized cutouts and O.C. visuals, and it's all part of a nostalgic 2006: A Year in Dance shindig (because living in the past is the perfect party theme). Entry is free, so cancel all existing plans and start fashioning an outfit with maximum spaghetti straps and low-waist jeans that are neither skinny nor flared.
Before every movie started being turned into television shows, they were adapted into musicals. And before Brisbane's stage-loving Theatremakers team decided to put on a Halloween event, they clearly brushed up on everyone's favourite film-to-theatre efforts. At their Music Theatre Jam on October 31, they'll host a spooktacular live concert filled with thrilling, frightening and disturbing in musical theatre. Expect songs from Evil Dead: The Musical, Hunchback of Notre Dame: The Musical, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Heathers The Musical, Sweeney Todd, The Craft and more. Here, even if you're scared, you'll be singing.
One day. Two acts. One play. Throwing some more figures into the mix, 41 years, two Tony Award nominations and one film adaptation are also relevant. That's David Mamet's American Buffalo in a nutshell, or in numbers at least. It's had quite the impact since it premiered in Chicago back in 1975 — and it's bound to again in its latest staging at Brisbane Powerhouse. The drama tells the tale of Teach, Don and Bobby, as the latter pair plan something and the former tries to get in on the action. This is a world of junk shops, collectors, a rare coin, a robbery and a small-time crook — and of manipulation and other scheming. Sounds riveting, doesn't it? Given that Mamet is also responsible for greats such as Glengarry Glen Ross and Speed-the-Plow, that's hardly surprising. In Brissie, Troop Productions will be bringing his work to life and trying to fill some rather considerable shoes. Did we mention that William H. Macy, Robert Duvall, Al Pacino, Hayley Joel Osment and John Goodman have starred in previous US and UK versions?
Like zines? Want to buy a whole heap, learn about new titles you haven't yet discovered, and just show your support for the folks that make them? If so, then you're going to want to go along to the first-ever Brisbane Convention of Alternative Press. Don't be put off by the fact that it's called a convention — this is an indie, alternative comic-con kind of deal, not something business-like and formal. Basically, from 2pm on October 23 at The Zoo, BCAP will bring together a bunch of local zine makers and alternative comic artists, who'll all be selling their creative wares. Plus, they'll be chatting about them too. A 'Panel Talk at The Bar' is on the agenda, featuring a few of Brisbane's finest discussing the potential of the medium. Then, come 5pm, the mood will change ever-so-slightly — or the noise level, at least. That's when Mutanteer Premium and Amaringo will take to the stage and help you celebrating getting your zine on. Bring all of your pals, and hopefully this will become an annual shindig. Image: Eugene Peretz.
What are the two things every fun Sunday needs? If your stomach was grumbling and your toes were tapping as you read that sentence, then you know the answer. So does Bites & Vibes, as its name suggests. You'd expect nothing less from the combo that is Foodora and The Brightside, after all. Yep, the former is letting loose on the latter to bring a whole heap of tastiness to Warner Street on October 23, and some great tunes too. Music-wise, Blair Jackson, Alexandra, Hailey Calvert and Josh Lovegrove will keep your ears happy; however the main attraction really is the food. With Tara Thai Brisbane, Dumpling Republic Brisbane, Tuckeria Fresh Mexican, The Boroughs of New York Pizza, District 1., Super Bowl Chinese Restaurant & Noodle Bar, La Macelleria, Ouzeri, Paddington Curry House and Fusion Cafe all serving their tasty dishes, you'll understand just why the culinary lineup is in the spotlight. And yes, it wouldn't be a party at good ol' Brighty without Lucky Egg pumping out some fry fry chicky chick as well. You'd best wear something stretchy and comfy.
The act of making a movie in Iran is saddled with restrictions; however that hasn't stopped the nation's filmmakers soldiering on regardless. From the late, great Palme d'Or recipient Abbas Kiarostami to A Separation's Asghar Farhadi to banned director Jafar Panahi, Iranian film is thriving. So is Australia's only festival dedicated to their output. For the sixth year, the Iranian Film Festival Australia shines a spotlight on the country's cinematic voices, and on contemporary life as well. Kicking off in Brisbane before touring other state capitals, the fest boasts yet another busy lineup of features, spanning opening night's highly anticipated drama Life and a Day, social-realist gang effort Lantouri and the award-winning Daughter. Elsewhere, Sound and Fury dives into the life of a pop singer who has an affair with a fan, Drought & Lies adapts a well-known Iranian play, and I follows a woman who acts outside the law under the police scrutiny. Add familiar faces and restored classics to the mix — including first Iranian New Wave feature The Brick and the Mirror — and audiences can explore both the history and the future of Iranian cinema.
If you're in need of some purrfect company in Brisbane these days, cuddling a kitten has never been easier. Not only have a couple of cat cafes in Red Hill and Annerley finally brought feline-fancying establishments to Queensland, but the RSPCA have added their own addition to the fold. You can't have a coffee here, but you can befriend plenty of cute cats — and dogs too, to the delight of canine lovers. In fact, at RSPCA Sit, Drop, Shop at DFO Jindalee, they're hoping that you really will make a new meowing mate or barking buddy. As well as playing with the animals on site, you can also adopt them. It's like speed dating for pet ownership. In addition to four-legged creatures that just might become new members of your family, the pop-up shop features stationery, giftware, apparel and pet supplies, should you need another reason to visit. The store's grand opening takes place from 9am on October 16; however it's open seven days a week for the next few months, so you can keep dropping by. Don't worry, no one will judge you.
Some of the biggest names in Australian comedy will take part in coast-to-coast benefit gigs this month in order to draw attention to a very unfunny problem. For one night only on Friday, October 14 in capital cities across the country, local stand-ups will stand up for the victims of domestic violence. In Sydney, the event will be headlined by Celeste Barber at the Harold Park Hotel in Forest Lodge; in Melbourne, Dave Thornton at the Athenaeum Theatre in the CBD; and in Brisbane, Anne Ferguson-Howe at the Kedron-Wavell Services Club in Chermside. Each city will also feature a number of supporting acts, as well as smatterings of live music and other surprises. Tickets to each gig cost $49, with all proceeds being used to pay for the funerals of women who have lost their lives to domestic violence. Image: Oscar Keys.
When you consider the conventional response to the Deepwater Horizon disaster, one of impassioned environmental outrage, you almost feel like director Peter Berg accepted his latest film as a dare. "Hey Pete, here's one for ya. You know that Deepwater thing that happened back in 2010? Worst oil disaster in US history? 4.9 million barrels of oil spilled into the Gulf of Mexico? 11 workers missing and never found. Millions upon millions of marine animals wiped out and a $100 billion company doing everything it could to avoid liability? Yeah, well…make that an uplifting story". Impressively – and to Berg's definite credit – he's done a more than solid job of it. Deepwater Horizon does indeed find its heart by telling the story of the 'roughnecks' who kept the rig running right until it didn't: the engineers, the riggers, the crane operators and the cleaners. BP executives feature too, but you'd better believe they're the bad guys, especially in the eyes of the Deepwater team. Penny-pinching and regulation-bending, the BP/Transocean head honchos (led by John Malkovich) come across like comic book villains, delivering silver-tongued insults and making unyielding demands of their subordinates through toothy, moustachioed grins and deep-south Louisiana drawls. If Deepwater Horizon were a cartoon, Foghorn Leghorn would be the first one cast ("I say, I say, I say, I do protest sir that this here rig be nigh on 43 days past delivery date, yiiiih-ha!!") Squaring up against the suits is a solid ensemble cast of hard-arses and hillbillies from the Transocean team responsible for keeping the Deepwater rig afloat. At the helm, Mark Wahlberg plays Mike Williams, a straight-talking electronics technician, husband (to Kate Hudson) and father who tells his buddies how to fix their cars and his superiors how to fix their floating oil station. Alongside his boss Mr Jimmy (Kurt Russell), Williams has no difficulty in seeing that BP's determination to complete the drilling project and advance to the next site as quickly as possible puts at risk not just the oil reserve but all the crew members responsible for drilling it. Greed and gross negligence, in the film's frustratingly simplistic estimation, explain what happened next. We say frustrating, because in Deepwater Horizon there existed an opportunity to delve deep into the specifics of what precipitated the massive blow-out and subsequent explosion on that fateful evening. Sadly the script, based on the New York Times article "Deepwater Horizon's Final Hours", rarely advances beyond repeated mentions of a 'cement bond log test' not being performed. Berg's focus is clear from the beginning: this is a human story centred on a very specific couple of hours from within a much larger tale. But whatever the movie lacks in narrative depth, it does its best to make up for in action. As with any real-world disaster movie, the inevitable cataclysmic conclusion endows it with an inherent suspense. Berg's job is to simply build the pressure until its explosive release can be held no longer – and he's happy to take his time. As in Clint Eastwood's recently released Sully, the film's patience in delivering the heart-thumping disaster moment means its eventual arrival is almost overwhelming, aptly showcasing the horrors endured by those on board, and the heroism of the few whose actions saw so many others survive. An intense and gripping piece of cinema, Deepwater Horizon ultimately resonates more than one might have expected for a film of this type and subject matter, offering at once an earnest tribute to the men who lost their lives and a solid rebuke to those who were responsible. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-UPJyEHmM0
When groups of creative types first decided to band together to present their own work, ARIs — or artist-run initiatives — were born. And when Brisbane's various cohorts crossed paths, BARI came into the world. BARI Festival is the next step, showcasing the innovative work that the city's ARIs craft, providing a fresh platform for their efforts, and endeavouring to expand their engagement with audiences. A biennial event, its 2016 program is jam-packed with exciting artistry. A tour of Brissie on a CityCycle with a bag of goon in the front basket; a warehouse party filled with bands, live painting, skateboarding and performances; or an immersive sound and swimming event, anyone? Or, view a piece inspired by two weeks spent analysing a pile of rubbish dumped in a shopping centre car park, discover what happens when a collective explores sex-positivity by undertaking short residencies in an adult entertainment venue, or enjoy a Sunday salon to chat about your own endeavours. Experimentation, discussion, celebration, contemplation: BARI Festival has it all.
If you've spotted any street art in Sydney or Melbourne, odds are that you've seen some of Phibs' work. Originally from the former but spending plenty of time in the latter, he has become one the most respected and renowned names in the Australian scene — and one of the most prolific. Now he's heading north to Brisbane, but not to cover the city in paint. Instead, he's the subject of a solo exhibition at The Culprit Club, which kicks off on October 7 and runs until November 6. At FACE/FACE, graffiti goes gallery. With his pieces largely inspired by nature, Phibs brings his menagerie of signature characters and styles together for an intimate showcase. It's designed to help audiences get face-to-face with the energy that fuels the creation of his larger gallery works and street murals, and it's bound to do just that. It's also certain to highlight just why he's become such a shining street art star.
There 'aint a whole lot new about Antoine Fuqua's The Magnificent Seven. The iconic Western was previously an American TV series running from 1998-2000, which itself was based on the 1960 movie of the same name, which in turn was based on Akira Kurosawa's 1954 epic The Seven Samurai. The story, of course, is always the same: when a big bad man runs riot through a small, peace loving town of good and decent god-fearing folk, the survivors turn to a lone vigilante and offer their every last possession in the hope of driving the evil away. In Fuqua's version, that vigilante is Denzel Washington's Sam Chisolm. As seen in recent Tarantino fare Django Unchained and The Hateful Eight, the African-American lead cowboy has become a popular choice for the 'neo western', and Washington, as always, is outstanding. His silky-soft voice, penetrating stare and wily smile are so perfectly suited to the genre, it's extraordinary to think it hasn't happened sooner. Washington is joined in this adventure by a motley crew of historical and cultural juxtapositions: the exiled Comanche and the Scalper, the Confederate and the Yankee, the Mexican outlaw and the Irish gambler (whose grandpappy died at the Alamo). They should all hate each other, but they don't, and while it's a fun crew to camp with, the total absence of tension between them is as baffling as it is clearly a missed opportunity. All the same, the ensemble cast – Chris Pratt, Ethan Hawke, Vincent D'Onofrio, Byung-hun Lee, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo and Martin Sensmeier – play nicely off each other, and support Washington as best they can. On the direction front, Fuqua is no fool when it comes to high-end action, having helmed previous heart-thumpers such as Southpaw, Shooter, Training Day and The Equalizer (the latter two both with Washington in the lead). Here in The Magnificent Seven the gunplay feels impressively fast and frantic, if also wildly generous in the range and accuracy of the old-time six-shooters. It's also surprisingly gore-free despite the extreme body count, which makes for a welcome change and contributes to the old-school western vibe. In all, while The Magnificent Seven is far from perfect, it's undeniably fun, and that has to count for something. It's a western, with good guys, bad guys, gunplay and grit, and thanks to Fuqua and Washington, you get more than enough bang for your buck. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-RBA0xoaWU
New year, new you, new place to do yoga… right? Even if you've tried every type of yoga there is (silent yoga, silent disco yoga, cat yoga, blindfolded yoga, hip hop yoga, brewhouse yoga, Beyonce yoga, Drake yoga, Rihanna yoga and stand-up paddleboard yoga, for example), we're guessing you haven't stretched your limbs beneath a Brissie sunset on a CBD rooftop. Flow and Frolic offers just that in an hour-long session from 6pm on January 13 on top of the Next Hotel Brisbane, plus it offers something more asa post-workout, end-of-week bonus. Once you're done striking a pose, exercise-wise, you can throw some shapes when Shri Yoga's shindig turns into a dance party. Bend then boogie, and grab yourself a drink and a nibble too if all that physical activity has made you hungry and thirsty. Entry costs $10, and remember to BYO yoga mat, as equipment won't be provided.
How many times can you listen to Toto's 'Africa' in one sitting? Not sure? Well, you're about to find out. Drums will echo and quiet conversation will be whispered at Black Bear Lodge's entire evening dedicated to appreciating the almost 35-year-old song. And yes, the rains will be blessed. It's gonna take a lot to take anyone away from a whole night focused on Toto's finest moment, even though the American band actually had some other catchy tracks. You'd expect that you won't be hearing 'Rosanna', which is commonly assumed to refer to actress Rosanna Arquette. Or 'Hold the Line', the track that first put them on the map. Instead, it's 'Africa' all the way from 7pm on January 11, and there's nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do to stop it. If you think you might find some long forgotten words or ancient melodies, think again. But, as sure as Kilimanjaro rises like Olympus above the Serengeti, we're betting that somewhere there'll be a screen playing the music video on repeat as well.
Back in 2007, when the original, UK version Skins started airing and you started watching, you didn't know deep you were going to fall for it. And for plenty of good reasons: the writing, the drama, the music, and the excellent cast, for starters. These days, an actor from the first generation of the series (and the second) pops up in just about everything. Nicholas Hoult was in Mad Max: Fury Road and the last three X-Men movies. Dev Patel is currently nailing it in Aussie flick Lion, and also starred in Slumdog Millionaire and The Best Exotic Marigold flicks. And don't forget Hannah Murray and Joe Dempsie are in Game of Thrones. Yes, watching big and small screens is a pretty good way to get a great dose of Skins nostalgia these days, but consider that a warmup. We're going to stop listing all the awesome things former Skins talent have done, because you might want to chat about them at Bistrotheque's Skins shindig. Yep, they're throwing a Skins First Generation 10th Birthday Party. We know, we know — there really is a night for everything these days; however you know you want to go to this one. It's free, The Seefelds and Bistrotheque house band Reckless at Tiffany's will be playing the appropriate British tunes, and there'll be plenty of dancing.
Triple 9 is the film equivalent of a song that catches your attention with a recognisable beat, yet still manages to get stuck in your head. You know you've seen this brand of testosterone-fuelled, tightly written crime effort before, but you can't help getting immersed in it anyway. There's plenty that's familiar in this blood-soaked tale of cops, robbers and ruthless Russian gangster, including the ways in which it uses its high-profile cast. But just because you know what to expect doesn't mean that the end result isn't effective or powerful. Starting with a chat between two shady figures, then barrelling into a bank heist, John Hillcoat's latest film explores the intersection of law and order in Atlanta. As it happens, most of the men behind the theft are current police officers or ex-military operatives. Corrupt detectives Marcus (Anthony Mackie) and Franco (Clifton Collins Jr.) work both sides of the line; shifty siblings Russell (Norman Reedus) and Gabe (Aaron Paul) lurk in the shadows; and former special forces contractor Michael (Chiwetel Ejiofor) oversees their operations. He's a pawn for mob boss Irina (Kate Winslet), who keeps threatening to take his son (and her nephew) away from him. Irina uses that leverage and her penchant for violence to not only strong-arm the crew into doing the first job, but to blackmail them into making a follow-up smash-and-grab on Homeland Security. Enter their nasty solution to the seemingly impossible task: distract the bulk of the city's police force by killing a cop. Marcus' new, straight-down-the-line partner Chris (Casey Affleck) is their target. Though newcomer Matt Cook is responsible for the screenplay, Triple 9 is a Hillcoat film through and through. The movie doesn't just follow in the footsteps of other gritty, murky crime fare — think Heat, Killing Them Softly and Sicario — but of the Australian filmmaker's own back catalogue, including The Proposition, The Road and Lawless. In his hands the film seethes with intensity, delivering menacing, mesmerising thrills. With Woody Harrelson, Gal Gadot, Theresa Palmer and Michael K. Williams joining the other well-known names, Hillcoat's stellar cast is on form. The film is an ensemble effort filled with fine actors doing what they do best — Paul playing drugged up and down-and-out; Winslet mastering yet another accent; Ejiofor navigating morally complex territory; and Affleck once again proving that he's more nuanced and compelling than his famous sibling. When the actors aren't snarling their lines at each other with distrust, they're stalking through hallways and shooting up freeways, in the film's most distinctive segments: its set pieces. Shot with energy and anxiety, and accompanied by an insidiously unsettling score, they're the feature's hooks. No matter how familiar everything else might seem, these sequences are sure to buzz through your brain, and ensure that you can't stop watching. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zU817AmOOk
