Bangarra Dance Theatre's new work Dark Emu is an exploration of the relationship between Australia's Aboriginal people and the land — and their extraordinary knowledge of Australia's plants, animals, landforms and climate. It's also a portrait of the harrowing impact European settlement had on this bond. The show takes inspiration from Bruce Pascoe's nonfiction book of the same name, which covers the complexities of indigenous farming, fishing and landcare techniques. "Before colonisation, Aboriginal people were one with the land and respect for earth, sky and ocean was central to life," says director Stephen Page. "We want to make people aware of the strength and resilience of Aboriginal people and celebrate their profound knowledge of agriculture and aquiculture, which belongs at the epicentre of Australian history." Coming to the QPAC Playhouse from August 24 to September 1, Dark Emu is Page's 25th project for Bangarra. In putting together the 70-minute, four-part show, he worked closely with dancers and collaborators Yolande Brown and Daniel Riley, as well as the Bangarra troupe. Image: Daniel Boud.
In the middle of the year, Melbourne received one of the city's rare pieces of good news for 2020, all thanks to the opening of Cannoleria's huge dedicated cannoli factory. If you love Sicilian sweet treats but you live elsewhere around the country, the dessert joint is now sharing the love your way, too — delivering its DIY cannoli kits around Australia. Fans of crunchy pastry tubes piped full of fresh ricotta, rejoice. The nationwide expansion is a collaboration with Co-Lab Pantry, and sees the kits available in New South Wales, Queensland, the Australian Capital Territory, South Australia and Western Australia. And, you have two options: a 12-cannoli kit, using mini shells, or a six-cannoli kit with full-sized shells. Whichever you choose, you'll be paying $24 — and you'll receive your chosen type of shell, a 450-gram piping bag of ricotta filling from Cannoleria's sibling venue That's Amore Cheese, and crushed pistachio and icing sugar as a garnish. Extra shells, in the large size, are also available to purchase for $9 (because no one can eat just a couple of cannoli). Also, because there's never a bad time to pick up new skills — but 2020 has certainly been the year for it — Cannoleria is also hosting a virtual cannoli class. Run by chef and co-owner Dario Di Clerico, the Zoom session will teach you how to make the traditional Sicilian dessert, from whipping up the dough and turning it into tubes to filling it with sweet ricotta, at 11am on Saturday, October 17. Tickets cost $65, which includes a Cannoleria school bag filled with cannoli-making ingredients delivered to your door. To order Cannoleria's DIY cannoli kits, visit the store's website.
First, it turned Speed into a play. Then, it gave Titanic the same treatment. They're not the only two classic flicks that've earned Act/React's attention, however — so get ready to say "yippee-ki-yay" to its version of the mother of all Christmas-set action films. Break out the white singlets, get festive and prepare to spend plenty of time watching someone crawl around in vents, because that's what happens with Die Hard hits the stage. This comedic theatre performance will transform the Brisbane Powerhouse's Turbine Platform into Los Angeles' Nakatomi Plaza, let European terrorist Hans Gruber do his worst and task New York cop John McClane with saving the day — with help from the dad from 80s and 90s sitcom Family Matters. Throw in more than a few one-liners, incredibly low-fi special effects and an all-round comic atmosphere, and that's Die Hard: The Movie, The Play, which'll unleash its mayhem from Sunday, December 12–Thursday, December 23. Yes, this is one hijacking that you'll want to witness.
One of the best known and most important figures in Australian history is Woollarawarre Bennelong, a senior Eora man who was captured by Governor Phillip in 1789, but then escaped, later becoming an interlocutor between Indigenous Australians and European settlers. His curiosity, diplomacy and humour were legendary, and played a major role in ensuring his community survived the trauma of invasion. Now Stephen Page, Bangarra's artistic director, has put Bennelong's story into an epic new dance piece that's about to tour the nation. Expect to be immersed in powerful soundscapes, stunning design and extraordinary movement. Bennelong will premiere at the Sydney Opera House in June before heading to Brisbane from August 25 till September 2. Check out the trailer below. Image: Vishal Pandey.
Perhaps your 2023 is off to a gorgeous start. Maybe you've broken your resolutions already. Whichever fits, a ray of sunshine is coming your way if you like Gelato Messina's decadent specials, the chain's frosty treats in general and all things red velvet. Behold Messina's new red velvet hot tub, aka its latest OTT creation — which is arriving just in time to add something sweet to your Valentine's Day. Messina's hot tubs are the brand's extra-special, always limited-edition treats. No, the word 'hot' doesn't reflect the required temperature. Indeed, in this case, the tub comes with layers of cream cheese gelato with red velvet cake and red velvet fudge, all to be eaten cold. On top: toasted red velvet cake crumbs, plus piped cream cheese chantilly. While the dessert is timed for the supposedly most romantic day of the year, who you share it and your Messina love with is up to you. Grab a spoon with your significant other, go all in for Galentine's Day instead, or treat yo'self to multiple days of pink- and red-hued gelato, cake and fudge — the choice is obviously yours. Tubs cost $40 each, and you'll need to place your order online on Monday, January 30. Because Messina's specials always prove popular, the brand now staggers its on-sale times — so folks in Queensland and the ACT are able to purchase at 9am, Victorians at 9.15am, and New South Wales customers are split across three times depending on the store (with tubs from Bondi, Miranda, Randwick, Circular Quay and Surry Hills on sale at 9.30am; Darlinghurst, Brighton Le Sands, Parramatta, Tramsheds and Manly at 9.45am; and Darling Square, Newtown, Norwest, Rosebery and Penrith at 10am). Wherever you live, you can then pick up the red velvet hot tubs between Saturday, February 11–Tuesday, February 14. Fans of Messina will know that the gelato fiends are quite fond of making these kinds of indulgent — and supremely tasty — specials, after previously serving up everything from its the chain's take on the Viennetta, Iced Vovo gelato and lamington sticky scrolls to a scoopable Ferrero Rocher flavour, Basque cheesecake gelato and fairy bread cookie pies. Gelato Messina's red velvet hot tub will be available to order from on Monday, January 30, from 9am local time in Queensland and the ACT, 9.15am in Victoria and between 9.30–10am in New South Wales.
When Australia's annual Spanish Film Festival returns this year, it'll offer cinephiles a two-for-one affair. Fancy seeing the latest and greatest movies from the European country? Keen to watch fresh flicks from Spanish-speaking Latin America too? They're both on the lineup. While Latin American cinema has received its own dedicated Aussie fest over the past three years, in 2019 the Cine Latino Film Festival will form part of the Moro Spanish Film Festival. In short: this year's April–May fest presents the best of both worlds across a 32-title program. In Brisbane, it kicks off on Wednesday, April 24, with the Aussie premiere of applauded and acclaimed Spanish comedy Champions, which picked up this year's Goya award for best film, as well as the best new actor prize for star Jesús Vidal. The feel-good flick follows an amateur Spanish basketball team comprised of players with mental disabilities and an arrogant coach who's sentenced to community service to help them bounce their way to glory. At the other end of the event is a bona fide classic: Pedro Almodóvar's Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, the 1988 black comedy is one of the movies that first helped bring Antonio Banderas to fame. Other program highlights include action-packed bank robbery drama 70 Big Ones and comedy Super Crazy, which focuses on a woman who suddenly can't stop speaking her mind. If you've ever wanted to know all there is to know about olive oil, there's also a documentary on the topic: Virgin & Extra: Jaén, The Land of the Olive Oil. And from the Cine Latino contingent, Argentinian title Rojo delves into corruption before the country's mid-70s coup, while Tremors explores a Guatemalan family's secrets. Across its full slate, the Spanish Film Festival also showcases 11 titles by female filmmakers, ranging from established talents to up-and-comers. Watch out for romance Carmen & Lola, which has proven a hit on the queer circuit; star-studded comedy-thriller Crime Wave, which stars Maribel Verdú, Javier Cámara and Luis Tosar; and the 1982-set The Good Girls, which follows the wives of wealthy Mexican men. The Moro Spanish Film Festival will screen at Brisbane's Palace Barracks and Palace James Street from April 24 to May 15. For more information and to book tickets, visit the website.
Brisbane's new permanent food truck hangout has been home to all kinds of things since it set up shop earlier this year — festivals dedicated to all kinds of foods mainly — but, come May 20, it'll welcome something different through its doors. While there's always some sort of party going at Welcome to Bowen Hills, and doggos are always welcome, the venue's Big Dog Festival see the space swarmed by puppers of the super-sized variety. If it sounds familiar, that's because the venue is following in its own paw prints and taking its other pooch party — the Tiny Dog Festival — to the opposite extreme. Taking place the day after all things small and cute scurry through, this one will focus on massive mutts, so bring your own or prepare to pat plenty of others. In addition to bites to eat from the site's food trucks, and just celebrating big dogs over a few beers, the fest will also feature a big dog race and a best dressed giant dog competition. If your pupper is speedy or has great style, then you'll want to take part. Plus, Welcome to Bowen Hills also wants to find Brissy's biggest adult dog, so prepare to spend a day staring at huge hounds that look like they need their own human-sized houses and saying "awwwwwww".
It's been impossible to get your hands on tickets to see Courtney Barnett these past few weeks. On her first headline national tour, this charming singer-songwriter has been selling out huge strings of shows in the best venues of our major cities. But don't worry if you missed out on tickets to The Zoo tonight. Barnett's hitting up Southside Tea Room tomorrow afternoon for a free solo surprise show. All the hype surrounding this folksy Melbournian is well and truly deserved. Barnett has received a tonne of press since last year's release of her double EP A Sea of Split Peas, on which 'Avant Gardener' was the lead single. She's been compared to Bob Dylan by Rolling Stone, debuted in the US on Jimmy Fallon, and had the privilege of performing at Glastonbury and Coachella this year. Just this week, she also picked up Best Independent Single/EP at the AIR Independent Music Awards. Basically, she's killing it. Her show at The Zoo tonight kicks off at 8pm supported by Victorian multi-instrumentalist D.D. Dumbo. But if you want to catch her up close and personal, Sunday's gig at Southside will be from 4.30pm. Bar owner and Grates singer Patience Hodgson is set to be the "best merch bitch ever", so that's something to see in itself.
A recent survey showed that satisfaction with festivals are at an all time low, and ticket holders are saying that douchebags without shirts on are ruining it for the rest of us. I may be wrong, but I have an inkling that Parklife's organisers have known about this for years, and have just started to take it on board. Parklife has gone from an all-out fluoro fest to an actual legit event with some actual legit names. This combo equals less douches - because we all know douches don't like good music - and less douches means more satisfaction! There's something for everyone this year: for real music lovers, the lineup includes Gossip, Lykke Li, Death From Above 1979, Kimbra, Santigold and The Streets, and for all of you who like to get drunk and listen to music, there's something for you too! Listen to the one song you know by Adrian Lux, The Naked and Famous, and Duck Sauce! Oh, and never fear, rich kids, there is also the Ridiculously Expensive Ticket still up for grabs. You get a slip and slide entry, a personal rider, a ‘Coming to America’ style chair as transport, side of stage views, and a drinks caddie, all for the low low price of seven thousand big ones! It's time to get your Barbra Streisand face on and get down to the Botanical Gardens this weekend, even if it is to see if anyone does buy that ridiculously expensive ticket.
A skating session that's all about exercise — and sometimes rolling freely — Rollerfit finally arrived in Brisbane a few years back. It's still going strong in 2023, and it still wants you to go for a spin. Two days a week, you can hit the rink at the PCYC Lang Park in Milton, with separate one-hour sessions for beginners just learning to skate and intermediate-to-advanced speedsters. Yep, if this is the first time you've ever even thought about living out your Whip It or Xanadu dreams, don't worry — you're covered. The novice classes take place on Fridays from 6.30–7.30pm and Sundays from 3.30–4.30pm, while the more experienced skaters lace up on Friday nights from 7.30–8.30pm. And if you do just fancy rolling around openly, without instructors giving you tips, that's also on the agenda during disco hour from 8.30–9.30pm on Friday evenings. Dropping in costs $25, or you can take that down to $20 if you plan to visit regularly and sign up for a $25 membership. Five, ten and 20-class passes are also on offer, which can bring your per-session fee down to $14. If you don't have your own wheels, you can also rent them for an extra $5 per session. Rental covers sizes 5–13, and it's a first-come, first-served kind of deal. Images: Susie Yang.
Before 2021 is out, Australian will finally get to see the Tony Award-winning Moulin Rouge! The Musical, with the stage adaptation of Baz Luhrmann's beloved 2001 film set to hit Melbourne once the city's lockdown ends. Also happening this year — and also spreading the movie-inspired love — is a big Brisbane gig called Spectacular Spectacular, which'll turn the Fortitude Music Hall into a Parisian club to celebrate Moulin Rouge!'s 20th anniversary. It's news so exciting, the audience will stomp and cheer. That said, despite the song lyrics that you now have stuck in your head, Spectacular Spectacular will only play for one evening. Still, this event is going to make the most of its single night, serving up what's being dubbed a '20th anniversary live music show'. Think: a heap of Brisbane musos hopping on stage to play through Moulin Rouge!'s iconic soundtrack, all backed by a 15-piece band, accompanied by dancers and decked out in costumes. Powderfinger's Darren Middleton, The Grates' Patience Hodgson and Superjesus' Sarah McLeod will all take to the stage, the latter pair sharing the songs of Satine — the character played by Nicole Kidman in the film. The show's lineup also includes Sahara Beck, Hope D and Tia Gostelow, as well as actor Eddie Baroo playing Harold Zidler. And, Anji Greenwood VOIID, Zach Britt from Dream on Dreamer and Pauline Maudy from MZAZA are all on the bill, too, alongside opera aficionado Bradley Daley, theatrical art collective Boss Moxi and the award-winning Phluxus2 Dance Collective. If you're now thinking "come what may" — or planning to break out your best can-can — you'll want to block out Friday, December 10 in your diary. Pre-sale tickets go on sale from 9am AEST on Wednesday, October 20, and general tickets from 9am Thursday, October 21, with VIP packages that include champagne upon arrival and table service afterwards also available. And if you just can't wait for this celebration of truth, beauty, freedom and love — and a 2001 classic, obviously — you can check out the trailer for the film below: The Spectacular Spectacular 20th Anniversary Moulin Rouge Live Music Show takes place on Friday, December 10 at Fortitude Music Hall, Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley. For further information — or to buy pre-sale tickets from 9am AEST on Wednesday, October 20, or general tickets from 9am Thursday, October 21 — head to the event website.
Lofly Hangar’s still kicking about – we can’t let The Normanby take over Red Hill, now, can we? Just kidding, Norms will be the last one standing even after The Rapture actually happens, pumping Guetta and Gaga forevermore. But I digress. So, Toy Balloon are making a new album, right? But they need to raise some dosh to get them into the studio – this is where Lofly comes in. They’re hosting a fundraising party there – Toy Balloon’s Throwback Cosmic Shakedown. They’ll be playing all new tracks, joined by Melbourne’s Super Melody (formally of Architecture in Helsinki and now performing solo under this new moniker) who’ll be playing in Brisbane for the first time. There’ll be no strange silences between sets, thanks to DJ sets throughout the night from Dominic Stephens (Oh Ye Denver Birds), Benjamin Thompson (The Rational Academy) as well as the Toy Balloon dudes as well. What’s the cost of a Throwback Cosmic Shakedown? Just ten bones, but if you like these guys, give them more. It's all for a good cause.
Award-winning Brisbane author Ellen van Neerven brings together a panel of distinguished indigenous writers for an evening of discussion. At Indigenous Women Writing Their Stories, Mullumbimby author Melissa Lucashenko, Not Just Black and White's Tammy and Lesley Williams, and black&write editing intern Yasmin Smith will be sharing their experiences and views of the current state of indigenous women's writing. The evening has been organised in association with The Stella Prize and Black&write Indigenous Writing and Editing Project. Black&write is a first of its kind, national project developed to foster a significant indigenous writing community. The Stella Prize is a major literary award celebrating Australian women’s writing, and championing diversity and cultural change. Indigenous Women Writing Their Stories kicks of at Avid Reader this Wednesday at 6pm. Tickets are only $7.50 and can be purchased online.
Where would we be without movies during the pandemic? Even when cinemas were closed during lockdowns, we all still sought out the joy and escapism of watching a flick — and truly appreciated how cathartic it is. Still keen to queue up a big heap of movies, and a hefty dose of couch time, even though heading to the big screen is well and truly back on the agenda? Enter Movie Frenzy, the returning week-long online film rental sale. From Friday, February 10–Thursday, February 16, it's serving up a sizeable lineup of popular flicks from the past year, all from $3 per movie onwards. On the lineup: Jordan Peele's latest standout horror effort Nope, Tom Cruise indulging a new (and better) need for speed in Top Gun: Maverick, Baz Luhrmann's hip-shaking bio Elvis and star-studded rom-com Ticket to Paradise. Or, if you like scares, you'll find plenty in Smile, Bodies Bodies Bodies and Orphan: First Kill. The action-packed Bullet Train, adventure-romance The Lost City and game-to-screen sequel Sonic the Hedgehog 2 are also on the list — and while some of these flicks are more worth your attention than others, we'll let you do the choosing. You can nab the cheap movies via your digital rental platform of choice, including Apple TV, iTunes, Fetch, Google Play, the Microsoft Store, Prime Video, Fetch and YouTube Movies — although just what's available, and the price, will vary depending on the service. And you won't need a subscription, unless you decide to join in the fun via the Foxtel Store.
Ezekiel Ox is one talented man. He is best know for his rock and roll music and being the frontman of hardcore Aussie group Mammal, but this only scratches the surface. Ox has worked both at home and abroad, captivating audiences across the world with his impressive resume list of skills such as singing, acting, dancing, writing, voice over artist, filmmaking and poetry. Stop it Ezekiel, you're making us look lazy. If you're a musical theatre buff you may recall that he appeared in Mamma Mia and he was also invited by Eddie Perfect to help workshop the original script of Shane Warne: The Musical! But enough about the past. This Friday and Saturday night Ox will be in town performing his 2014 spoken word performance, River Mouth. Why not spend the evening transfixed by his tales and intermittent music performances. There's also an open mic soapbox if you're eager to get involved.
After introducing its cookie pies to the world last week, Gelato Messina is bringing the OTT dessert back for a second round. This time, the pie in question is red velvet and it looks just as decadent as it sounds. Hang on, a cookie pie? Yes, it's a pie, but a pie made of red velvet cookie dough with white chocolate chips. And it serves two–six people — or just you. You bake it yourself, too, so you get to enjoy that oh-so-amazing smell of freshly baked cookies wafting through your kitchen. While no longer free, these pies are now available for preorder — so if you missed out last week, here's your chance to get yourself a piece of the pie. On its own, the red velvet dessert will cost $20. But to sweeten the deal, the cult ice creamery has created a few bundle options, should you want some of its famed gelato atop it. For $28, you'll get the pie and a 500-millilitre tub, while with a one-litre tub or a 1.5-litre tub, it'll cost $34 and $39 respectively. A handful of the bake-at-home goods will be available via Deliveroo from Wednesday, April 29 for those who can't or don't want to leave the house. But your best bet of getting your hands on one is by peeling yourself off the couch and picking it up from your local Messina store. You can place your preorder now via Bopple, with pick up times available between Wednesday, April 29 and Sunday, May 3. You can preorder a Messina cookie pie via Bopple to pick up from all NSW, Vic and Queensland Gelato Messina stores (except The Star) from April 29–May 3 or you can order delivery via Deliveroo on April 29.
Arguably, winter is one of the best times to explore Sydney. As well as boasting picturesque coastal walks, a bevy of exceptional dining destinations and a buzzing live music scene, for a whole month the harbourside locale is transformed with beams of light, bundles of creativity and larger-than-life installations as Vivid Sydney ignites the city. After a two-year hiatus (for obvious reasons), the boundary-pushing festival is back — and it's set to be bigger than ever. Sites across the city are charging up to host international and homegrown musos, conversations among industry greats and masterpieces from some of the most creative minds. If you're an out-of-towner, Marriott Bonvoy have a suite of spots to rest that head of yours (ensuring you can make the most out of your after-dark adventuring). Pier One Sydney is the obvious choice if you're looking to be fully immersed in the festivities. Vivid Light Walk — which brings bubbles of magic with Atelier Sisu's Ephemeral Oceanic — is on your doorstep, as is the hotel's pontoon, so you can easily hop aboard a vessel and enjoy the lights from an aquatic vantage point. If dining under the lights is more your thing, schedule some time at the onsite Vivid Marquee Bar, where a $90pp food and drinks package will fuel you up over two hours. The fine people at Sydney Harbour Marriott have everything ready to truly indulge interstate guests. Dig into a Vivid Sydney-inspired goodie bag after check-in (who doesn't love a good freebie?) and get set for seriously good eating with a $100 dining credit. The on-theme offering doesn't stop with the hospitalities, with the pop-up Vivid Laneway Bar bringing an exclusive spot to sip. Thinking about an upgrade? Pick a Vivid Sydney View Room to score complimentary brekkie. If you're after a stay that has all the trimmings, Sheraton Grand Sydney is the weekend spot for you. Along with a divine room to hit the hay, your booking comes with the Vivid Sydney Lights and Colours High Tea for two, breakfast in the morning and parking (a truly fantastic feature when visiting the city). Plus, you're only minutes from all the Vivid Sydney action — there's even an exhibit in the lobby. Marriott Bonvoy has truly left Vivid Sydney visitors spoilt for choice, as there are also amazing stays — with lots of perks — available at Four Points by Sheraton Sydney Central Park and Courtyard by Marriott North Ryde (which is only a short train ride from all the illuminated excitement in the city). Don't miss the 2022 Vivid Sydney event highlights, and ensure your itinerary includes these bright installations. For more information and to book a premium Vivid Sydney stay at a Marriott Bonvoy hotel, head to the website.
It's been a rocky few years for Jamie's Italian in Australia, having relaunched with full ownership in 2017 only to lose ownership again just one year later. Luckily, the Brisbane-based Hallmark Group took over the management of the Australian restaurants, but not without some casualties — the Canberra and Parramatta outposts (the latter of which is set to become a steakhouse) quickly closed. But now, perhaps in an attempt to help us put our faith back in the brand, Jamie's Italian on Edward Street will launch a series of bottomless prosecco lunches for a very reasonable $50 per person. The one-month deal will run every Saturday from September 8 through to October 6 — and it includes a lot more than just an endless supply of sparkling wine. Each table will be served small bites to share (including those crispy polenta chips), and everyone will get a big bowl of pasta. You'll be be able to choose which one you want, too — think classics like prawn linguine and carbonara, and signatures including the truffle tagliatelle and fresh crab spaghetti. Plus, it'll all be topped off with panna cotta for dessert. If we know anything, it's that people really love Jamie's Italian. As such, these lunches are sure book out fast, so front a pineapple and book it already.
Sometimes it's just too much effort to get up and go to the markets. Who wants to get up at the crack of dawn on a Sunday to look at the same stuff? It's far too early to fully comprehend all the bargains on offer anyway. Thank the stars though that we now have the BrisStyle indie twilight markets. Markets at night? What a simple but oh so clever idea. For those of you out of the loop, etsy.com is the online crux of handmade knick-knacks and BrisStyle is the site's on the ground team, promoting the local independent art, craft, and design featured on the website. At the twilight markets, the team aims to offer an organic lantern-lit experience that combines the buzz of the CBD with our laid back south-east Queensland nature. Over 60 emerging and established locals have their wares on display; all handmade and one-of-a-kind. There is also a cafe, restaurant, and bar on site – does your local early morning market have that? So it's settled then. You're going to get down to King George Square and support your community aren't you? You'll feel good about it and you'll get to shop under the stars too (and not because it's 4am!).
Though the days of hypno-duo Oscar+Martin may be over, one half of the entity remains - stronger and dreamier than ever. Oscar Key Sung has quickly gained a reputation as one of Australia’s most vibrant new talents and proved he don’t need no man by his side to hit the charts. Already seasoned with a string of performances, 23-year-old Key Sung has been encapsulating an audience beyond just fans with his refreshing sounds and sumptuous voice. Most notably, he was handpicked by Ghostpoet to join his Australian tour, truly cementing Oscar as an rnb-pop alchemist worth keeping an eye on. Now, with a hearty collection of new material, Key Sung will be gracing Black Bear Lodge, introducing Brisbane to his new singles 'It’s Coming' and 'Sure Thing'. Don’t miss out on what will be a truly buoyant performance by a real, heart-on-sleeve talent. Check out Oscar Key Sung's 'It's Coming'
The premise of Between Two Ferns couldn't be more simple. Zach Galifianakis interviews other famous folks, all while sitting in the middle of two leafy plants. Staged to look like a no-budget community television show, it's purposefully silly and surreal, whether Galifianakis is nattering with Natalie Portman, Brad Pitt, Justin Bieber, Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama. Starting off as a short film, then becoming one of Funny or Die's hit webseries over the past decade, the wholly improvised show satirises the Hollywood publicity machine by making fun of the polished promotional chats that are so common whenever a big star has a new movie or TV series to plug. In its latest incarnation, Between Two Ferns will jump on another trend, turning its anarchic antics into a Netflix film. If you're wondering just how the Between Two Ferns concept can sustain a whole movie, there's a story to go with it. Embarrassed by the viral mockery he received when Will Ferrell uploaded his original series, Galifianakis — well, the show's version of Galifianakis — tries to track down a heap of celebrities in attempt to restore his reputation. That involves hitting the road, sitting down with everyone from Paul Rudd to Keanu Reeves and Tessa Thompson, and even momentarily killing Matthew McConaughey. Calling Jon Hamm an idiot and getting propositioned by Chrissy Teigen are also on the agenda. The list of high-profile figures making an appearance goes on — and includes Brie Larson, Peter Dinklage, Benedict Cumberbatch, David Letterman, Adam Scott, John Cho, Chance the Rapper and Rashida Jones. Based on the just-dropped trailer, all of the above folks are in for a rather ridiculous experience — as are Netflix viewers, too. Check out the trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjljgkCQv5c&feature=youtu.be Between Two Ferns: The Movie hits Netflix on September 20. Image: Adam Rose.
Next time you stock up your wardrobe with new and pre-loved high-end fashion, you'll be doing so for a good cause. To raise money for the bushfire crisis, Brisbane's super-stylish sartorial community has sifted through its cupboards, and found a heap of upscale and designer pieces to donate, with everything up for sale at the day-long Ltd. Edition Fashion Fun-Raiser. All the proceeds will be donated to communities rocked by the blazes — so if you needed an excuse to get shopping, you've got one. As you're browsing the racks, you can also tap your toes to live music and DJ sets, grab a bite to eat from the onsite food trucks and nab a sneaky drink at the pop-up bar. Block out Sunday, January 19 in your diary — and make plans to head to The Station on Barry Parade in Fortitude Valley between 10am–5pm. If you have your own clothes to donate, you can also do so in advance and help those in need in another fashion — with fashion, too.
There's no one quite like Frank, the person, and there's nothing quite like Frank, the film. The former, as played by Michael Fassbender while wearing a papier mache mask, is a soul seemingly eccentric but really just looking for the essence of creation and contentment. The latter is quirky by design but beautifully bittersweet by execution, revelling in all life's failures and flaws. Frank leads an experimental rock band with the fittingly unpronounceable name of The Soronprfbs, and that's exactly where Jon (Domhnall Gleeson) finds him. Downtrodden in his dismal everyday routine, Jon wants desperately to be a musician but lacks the opportunity and the ability to extend himself. His unlikely encounter with his new friend with the obscured face brings both, one fruitful, the other less so. As the reconfigured group ventures from the Irish wilderness to the South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas in search of musical fulfilment, the solace they find comes from internal, not external, forces. Journalist turned screenwriter Jon Ronson, of The Men Who Stare at Goats fame, turns fact into fiction in Frank, taking his characters and narrative from his own experiences. With co-scribe Peter Straughan and director Lenny Abrahamson, he spins a story inspired by Frank Sidebottom, the comic persona of musician Chris Sievey, as fine-tuned and fleshed out where necessary. The basics remain, including the large and unusual headwear that demands attention in every scene that it appears in. Added in the tinkering with the tale is thoughtfulness that resonates like a homage while investing a layer of universality. That relatable spirit weaves through a film that ponders the oft-contemplated contrast between reality and perception in an interesting and endearing fashion. While Frank must resort to announcing his emotions on screen for the benefit of Jon, and to the disdain of his other avant garde band mates — Hysteria's Maggie Gyllenhaal and The Rover's Scoot McNairy among them — the sentiment of his every sentence is always clear, heightening the feature's commentary on communication and identity. Of course, much of the success stems from casting, including Fassbender in the titular role. Gleeson is wonderfully uncertain, Gyllenhaal convincingly curt and McNairy ever eclectic; however, it is the hidden figure that combines all their traits and more into a singular yet complex package. Again, it is his words that do all the talking, offbeat charm oozing from every wide-ranging conversation and progressive tune. Indeed, whilst shot with the same anarchic energy that adjusts to the mood of the story, Frank is a film to listen to as keenly as to watch — from every inflection in Fassbender's sometimes strange, sometimes touching dialogue to the diverse array of noisy, catchy, cute and unconventional songs. https://youtube.com/watch?v=IblHV2x64f8
Chosen by a panel of leaders in the fields of curation and editing, the works in this exhibition are those shortlisted for the FotoVisura Spotlight Grant, awarded to an outstanding student of photography. The recipient of the grant will be one who has demonstrated great commitment to the cause, as they are willing to go to great lengths for the sake of the priceless shot. They have also shown mastery of the visual story or the development of a unique concept. All in all, theirs is to be an image that shows the potential for positive societal change—an aspect worth celebrating all on its own. Since 2010, the FotoVisura Grant has aimed to promote and foster photography in a individual sense; telling a personal story rather than promoting for a commercial sense demonstrates a unique and unconditional love for the art. Come and see the works of artists whose love stretches as far as their imagination will take them, who have worked harder and gone further than their competitors to bring to you an image full of care and passion.
Brisbane's only celebration of queer cinema has announced its first films for 2017, with a fresh selection of lesbian, gay, bi, trans, gender diverse and multigenerational movies heading to New Farm Cinemas from March 10 to 19. Eager to take an in-depth look at the art form that is voguing, and the world that surrounds it? Explore the ups and downs of an intimate relationship? Catch an Aussie coming-of-age flick? Watch new Brazilian television? Dive into a romantic drama starring Mistress America's Lola Kirke? You'll find all of that and more in the Brisbane Queer Film Festival program this year. After impressing audiences at last year's Sydney and Melbourne film festivals, Kiki kicks off the BQFF 2017 lineup, while Berlinale 2016 Teddy award winner Tomcat bookends the fest with an intimate tale about two men and their beloved pet feline. In between, multicultural queer effort Teenage Kicks, four episodes of Portuguese-language runaway drama The Nest and small-town drama AWOL also prove highlights, alongside 12 other features and two shorts sessions that reflect modern queer life and contemporary forms of storytelling. If that sounds like must-see viewing, then keep your eyes peeled for a second announcement, with seven of the festival's titles due to be revealed on January 30. And, as exciting as it is to discover that you'll be feasting your eyes on everything US black comedy Women Who Kill to the launch of Brisbane web series Two Weeks to documentary Out Run, which tells the story of Bemz Benedito's attempts to become the first transgender woman in the Philippine Congress, that isn't the only news on offer. With BQFF turning 18, it's also branching out on its own and becoming an independent event. After forming part of Brisbane Powerhouse's slate of festivals, the fest moves out of home for its 2017 run. While BQFF has screened at external cinemas for the last two years, this year it will become its own individual entity. For eager movie buffs, that means a whole separate party in addition to and at a later date from Powerhouse's MELT — or, two ace reasons to celebrate queer arts and culture at two different times, rather than one. Brisbane Queer Film Festival 2017 runs from March 10 to 19 at New Farm Cinemas. For more information, visit their website.
The single greatest cult film this side of The Rocky Horror Picture Show is coming back to Brisbane for a timely Friday night engagement. With The Disaster Artist taking audiences behind the scenes not that long ago, and Greg Sestero hitting up our fair town last year, The Room never gets old — and it's back once again. Described by critics as "the Citizen Kane of Bad Movies", with one critic comparing the film to "being stabbed in the head", Tommy Wiseau's The Room is an indescribable mess of plot holes, non-sequiturs, blurry camerawork and soft-core sex scenes, topped off by some of worst performances ever put to film. So naturally, we're recommending you go and see it. Of course, the truth is that no one really sees this movie. Rather, they experience it. Screenings of The Room are fully interactive, with audience members screaming lines of dialogue, dressing up like their favourite characters and hurling plastic spoons at the screen. This behaviour is actively encouraged by screening organiser Kristian Fletcher — in fact, he'll even be providing cutlery at the door. The cinema bar will be open ahead of the screening, something you should probably take full advantage of. The Room screens twice on Friday, June 7, at 67pm and 9.30pm, with tickets costing $15.
If Parasite and Burning introduced you to the spectacular world of Korean cinema, we have great news: there's much, much more where they came from. As well as delivering two of the very best movies of 2019, Korea's film industry is filled with other gems. And, each year, the Korean Film Festival in Australia (KOFFIA) brings the latest and greatest to local screens. In 2020, KOFFIA in streaming its lineup to everyone's screens, actually. Adapting to the pandemic, the fest has curated a program of 18 features that'll be available to watch digitally nationwide from Thursday, October 29–Thursday, November 5. Plus, if you need some extra motivation to spend more time staring at your TV or phone, the event is entirely free. On the bill: crime caper By Quantum Physics: A Nightlife Venture, sporting comedy My Punch-Drunk Boxer and sibling drama Family Affair, the latter of which stars Parasite's Jang Hye-jin. Or you can check out the multiple stories in Fukuoka, page-to-screen adaptation Kim Ji-young: born 1982 and assassination thriller The Man Standing Next. The list goes on — but you will need to note the exact date and time that each film is available, with every title only on offer to start viewing within 30 minutes of its scheduled timeslot. Also, courtesy of SBS On Demand's free Korean Film Festival Selects, seven more flicks from past KOFFIAs will be available to stream — at your leisure — from Sunday, November 1–Sunday, November 8. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PT5w9y7OVy8
This is one suave-as-all-blazes tour announcement. After the recent announcement of their national tour set for November, Flight Facilities have revealed their perfect sidekicks for the road: Client Liaison. Currently touring the country on a cheeky headline tour of their own, the Melburnian duo are set to play their biggest shows to date with FF. They've recently released their perpetually listenable, essentially '80s-meets'90s debut LP Down to Earth through Dot Dash/Remote Control and now they're one of Australia's most must-see artists. Seriously. Flight Facilities have sold out their first Sydney and Melbourne shows, with extra dates announced all round. This is one show you're going to want to suit up for, lest you feel underdressed by the talent. FLIGHT FACILITIES + CLIENT LIAISON TOUR DATES: Thu 6 November — Adelaide HQ Sat 8 November — Perth CAPITOL Thu 13 November — Melbourne FORUM SOLD OUT Fri 14 November — Melbourne FORUM Sat 15 November — Brisbane TIVOLI Thu 20 November — Sydney ENMORE SOLD OUT Fri 21 November — Sydney ENMORE Tickets available here. https://youtube.com/watch?v=L_7DN_X4zsk
For decades, Park Road has been Milton's go-to bar and restaurant hub; however the popular strip is getting some stiff competition. A few blocks closer to the city, Cribb Street Social is taking up residence on the roadway that inspired its name — and serving up everything from craft beverages to leafy hangout spaces along with it. Set to open in mid-September, Cribb Street Social is the latest venture from the folks behind Mr Edward's Alehouse, which should give an indication of the type of vibe on offer. If their CBD space is the kind of city spot you could while away an afternoon in, then their venture further afield not only aims to replicate the same atmosphere in the city's inner-west, but to do so with a huge al fresco garden, a drinks menu that spans cold brews, cocktails and coffees, and charcuterie leading the food charge. Beverage-wise, the bar and restaurant will feature ten craft beers and four artisan cocktails on tap, plus a hefty list of wines, a focus on whisky and gin, and more spirit-filled concoctions. If caffeine is more your thing — and with the eatery trading across weekday breakfast, lunch and dinner, plus weekend brunch and dinner, it's bound to be at some point — they'll also be brewing Locale Coffee Roasters beans. When it comes to pairing your tipple with something tasty, it'll be a pick-your-own-board affair, allowing patrons to build their ultimate combination of meats, cheeses, antipasti and more — for one, and for groups. European-style meals will also be available amidst decor teeming with natural wood, copper and leather, and for eating on a picnic rug in the grassy outdoor area. Find Cribb Street Social at 19–23 Cribb Street from mid-September. Head to their website and Facebook page for more information.
Dust off your best bling bling and scour your wardrobe for something Anna Wintour would approve of, because James Street's Resort is back for its sixth year. It's all about eating, drinking and shopping like you're on holidays, with emphasis on the last part when the annual extravaganza brings yet another fashion frenzy to New Farm. Between Thursday, October 10 and Saturday, October 12, James Street will transform into a shopping mirage; however this event is about more than just restocking your wardrobe. Global inclusivity activist, disability advocate, educator and academic Sinéad Burke is Resort's special guest this year, with inclusivity, acceptance and empowerment on the agenda at a round table discussion, a luncheon and a forum. Resort After Dark also makes its return, with late-night shopping, music, art installations and more taking over James Street until 8pm on Friday, October 11. Sounds oh-so-chic, doesn't it? And, it sounds like fun. Regardless of how many Hadids you follow on Instagram or how big your wardrobe is, this is the event of events for anyone interested in the contemporary and future states of fashion. Splash out on an outfit you can't afford — and enjoy.
For a lot of us, 2020 so far has involved a whole heap less travel than we'd usually like. With devastating bushfires raging across the country, many had to forego our annual summer trips and stay at home. Then, COVID-19 hit Australia, resulting in nationwide restrictions on travel. Recently, the Australian Government announced its three-step roadmap out of COVID-19 lockdown, with talks of interstate and possibly trans-Tasman travel happening before the end of July. Finally, we can start dreaming of our next trip away. And to help inspire your post-iso plans, Tourism Australia is hosting an online program of virtual travel experiences and entertainment. Best of all, it's completely free. Dubbed Live from Aus, the program will run from Saturday, May 16 to Sunday, May 17 via its YouTube channel and Facebook page. It'll feature everything from Phillip Island's penguins to underwater reef tours at the Great Barrier Reef, music by First Nations artists with Uluru as its backdrop, Mona's Spectra light show, an Australian wine tour with Adelaide Hills' Unico Zelo, a cheesemaking session with Jo Barrett and Matt Stone, sunrise yoga at Byron Bay and cooking the ultimate Aussie brunch with Darren Robertson, Mark LeBrooy and Andy Allen from Three Blue Ducks (if you want to cook along, you can check out the recipes here). All up, expect a taste for Australia's natural beauty, food, music, wildlife and culture. Other highlights include a disco party with The Wiggles, an exploration of Indigenous Australian ingredients with famed chef and MasterChef Australia judge Jock Zonfrillo, tours of Australia's greatest golf greens, pub trivia, a coffee making tutorial with Ona Coffee, a tour of Kangaroo Island, a night at the Opera House and Dreamtime stories with Darren 'Capes' Capewell. You can check out the full program and times here. Live from Aus will kick off at 7am AEST on Saturday, May 16 till Sunday, May 17. You can tune in for free via Facebook or its website. Images: Uluru Sunset Session with First Nations music curated by Sounds Australia, Underwater Reef Tour at the Great Barrier Reef, Penguin Parade Bedtime Stories from Phillip Island and Kangaroo Island Tour with Craig Wickham — all courtesy of Tourism Australia.
It has only been four years since the Stones Corner Festival launched, unleashing a day of food and music on the inner east; however it has swiftly become one of the city's must-attend street fests. With the 2017 event fast approaching, they've announced the first taste of things to come on April 30. Expect local legends and a giant new beer garden for starters. Leading the music lineup is Regurgitator, instantly turning the festival into a celebration of one of the city's best and longest-running bands. They'll be joined by Sahara Beck, Luke Daniel Peacock, Hemingway, The Stress Of Leisure and Sarah Booker, with others set to be added before the event. As for that outdoor drinking area on the corner of Logan and Old Cleveland roads, expect it to be bigger, cashless, include a dedicated beer garden for the first time, and bring together a host of yet-to-be-revealed breweries and wineries. Food trucks, market stalls, a petting zoo and a range of activities will round out what's shaping up to be another great — and free — day out, all on a Sunday that's oh-so-conveniently before a public holiday. The Stones Corner Festival takes place from midday on April 30, 2017 on the corner of Logan and Old Cleveland roads, Stone Corner. Check out their website and Facebook page for further details.
If you've been craving that unmissable sense of adventure, you don't have to plan months in advance to make it happen. Just take a look through Adrenaline's wealth of awesome activities. You'll quickly discover you can simply make a booking, load up the car and hit the road with only a few hours' notice. From Brisbane to the Sunshine Coast and across to the flourishing hinterland, there are striking experiences ranging from fighter jet flights to skydiving and even the chance to take a dip with migrating whales. Treat yourself to a heart-pumping extreme adventure and make next weekend a memorable one. [caption id="attachment_777586" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Adrenaline[/caption] TAKE A HELICOPTER FLIGHT TO SIRROMET WINERY If you've been suffering from the wintertime blues, a glamorous private helicopter flight is bound to make you feel like a million bucks. Experience the high life for a day as you take flight over Brisbane CBD en route to the renowned Sirromet Winery, one of the leading estates in the Granite Belt winemaking region. You'll have two hours to roam the charming property, sample several of its acclaimed wines and enjoy lunch on the sprawling 75-metre deck of the on-site Italian restaurant, The Tuscan Terrace. Once you've seen enough, make the ultimate power move by letting your pilot know your entourage is ready to fire up the chopper and cruise back to Brisbane. RACE THROUGH A CANYON ON A ZIPLINE Tamborine Mountain is one of Queensland's top hiking destinations for a reason. Located just an hour from Brisbane, it's an outdoorsy wonderland with lush rainforests, scenic waterfalls and panoramic countryside views in every direction. It's also home to some of the country's most action-packed ziplines, with seven high-speed cables to ride. They stretch across the stunning Cedar Creek Gorge at a dizzying 60 metres above the forest floor. You'll hurtle through the treetops forwards, backwards and upside down at up to 70 kilometres per hour. Within touching distance of Brisbane, this three-hour zipline tour is a surefire way to liven up your weekend. [caption id="attachment_777571" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Adrenaline[/caption] ABSEIL DOWN WATERFALLS IN THE HINTERLAND Sandy beaches might be the Gold Coast's main draw, but if you head a little inland, a sprawling hinterland offers a completely different experience. This adventurous day-long canyoning tour carries you deep into the subtropical rainforest where you're encouraged to take a dip in countless freshwater pools, leap down waterfalls and abseil along the towering rockfaces. Don't stress if this is your first time on the ropes — you'll be joined by an expert instructor who will safely guide you through the rugged landscape. Plus, you won't have to worry about bringing food as this tour comes complete with a tasty lunch. ZOOM OVER BRISBANE IN A FIGHTER JET If being strapped into a genuine fighter jet doesn't get your blood pumping, we're not sure what will. This thrill-seeker's dream adventure welcomes you into the fighter pilot base at Archerfield Airport where you'll get ready for take-off. And you'll look the part dressed in a military-style flight suit and helmet. Following an operational briefing on the aircraft, you'll be ready to get buckled into the cockpit of the L-39 jet. Featuring high-energy aerobatic capabilities and a breakneck top speed of 800 kilometres per hour, this turbojet-powered plane gives you a front-row seat of Flinders Peak or Lake Wyaralong as you pierce through the clouds. JUMP OUT OF A PLANE OVER THE SUNSHINE COAST Skydiving is one of those extreme activities everyone has to try at least once in their lifetime. Tick it off your bucket list in style by tandem leaping out of a plane above the Sunshine Coast town of Caloundra. Following a 20-minute flight that carries you to jumping altitude of 14,000 feet, you'll free-fall for up to 70 seconds strapped to the chest of your expert partner. Then, you can take charge of the parachute as you admire the stunning coastal views on the way back down to earth — keep an eye out for sea life, too. RACE OFF-ROAD V8 BUGGIES OVER A DIRT TRACK When you combine a powerful V8 engine with a purpose-built dirt circuit, things are no doubt going to get a little bit sideways. This white knuckle-inducing driving experience places you inside a powerful off-road vehicle that normally competes in some of Australia's toughest desert races. You'll be joined by a professional motor racing coach and provided handy live tips on car control and drifting, ensuring you improve upon every lap time. After you've crossed the chequered flag for the last time, you'll also be provided with morning or afternoon tea. SWIM WITH WHALES OFF THE SUNSHINE COAST Drinks with friends certainly aren't bad weekend plans, but it doesn't quite have the same ring to it as swimming with whales, right? This is how you could be spending four hours of your time in Mooloolaba. You'll start by sailing out into the ocean searching for some of nature's most incredible creatures. Once the boat is about 100 metres away from a whale, it's time to don your provided wetsuit and snorkelling equipment as you swim out and gain a better look at these remarkably graceful animals. Give yourself a much-needed rush this weekend. Head to the Adrenaline website to book a life-changing adventure experience. Top image: Adrenaline
Whether beloved bands are reuniting, old lineups are reforming or still-touring groups who hit the charts decades ago are simply heading our way again, we're living in a golden age of musical blasts from the past. On a stage near you at any given time, one of your old-school favourites is likely taking to the microphone, spanning across a huge range of genres. The latest to join the trend: Sugababes. The British girl group is hitting up Australia's east coast this summer, with shows in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane in February. If you're a fan, you likely now have 'Push the Button' or 'Overload' stuck in your head — or a medley that includes 'Freak Like Me', 'Round Round', 'Hole in the Head', 'Walk This Way' and 'About You Now' as well. This isn't just any old throwback tour, however. It will also see Mutya Buena, Keisha Buchanan and Siobhan Donaghy — aka Sugababes' OG members — bust out the group's hits. Each of the trio left individually in the 00s, with Heidi Range, Amelle Berrabah and Jade Ewen taking their places, but they've been back together with the initial lineup since 2012. This'll be the first time in more than two decades that Buena, Buchanan and Donaghy have hit Australia together, which is massive news for fans. And, given that Sugababes were one of the British girl groups of the early 21st century — and are one of the biggest-selling British girl groups of all time — there's plenty of those around. SUGABABES AUSTRALIAN TOUR 2023: Thursday, February 23 — Enmore Theatre, Sydney Friday, February 24 — Margaret Court Arena, Melbourne Monday, February 27 — Fortitude Music Hall, Brisbane Sugababes are touring Australia in February 2023, with pre-sale tickets available from 9am local time on Tuesday, December 20 and general sales from 9am local time on on Wednesday, December 21. Head to the tour website for further details.
Yeah, we're thinking he's back — John Wick, that is. Five years after Keanu Reeves introduced everyone's favourite assassin (and dog owner) to the world, and two years after the film scored its first sequel, the action-packed franchise is bringing its third instalment to the big screen in 2019. Entitled John Wick: Chapter 3 — Parabellum and due to hit cinemas in May, the series' latest follow-up picks up where the last flick left off, aka with Wick being hunted down by his fellow killers. With a $14 million price tag on his head, plenty of hitmen and women are out to collect the bounty. And all of this because, in the first film, he became the proud owner of an adorable puppy. If you're not up on your Latin, parabellum means 'prepare for war', which is just what a kick-ass Keanu looks primed to do. This time, he'll have Halle Berry in his corner — and he's not adverse to brandishing some firepower while riding a horse. As for the rest of the cast, Ian McShane, Lance Reddick and Jason Mantzoukas all return from the previous flicks, as does Reeves' The Matrix co-star Laurence Fishburne, while Anjelica Huston ranks among the new additions. Check out the first trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7v2P3cpPOXY&feature=youtu.be John Wick: Chapter 3 — Parabellum releases in Australian cinemas on Thursday, May 16.
Watching a cursor move around a computer screen doesn't sound very exciting, let alone frightening. There's only so much intrigue to be found in basically watching over someone's shoulder as they flick between YouTube, Skype, Facebook, Spotify, Gmail and iMessage — or is there? It depends what they're up to, of course, and in these always-online times, that could be anything. In Unfriended, the MacBook user in question, high schooler Blaire Lily (Shelley Hennig), is doing quite a few things. First, she's watching shocking footage of her friend, Laura Barns, committing suicide exactly a year earlier, as well as the embarrassing video that drove her to her death. Next, she's cyber flirting with her boyfriend, Mitch (Moses Jacob Storm). Then they're both video chatting with pals Adam (Will Peltz), Jess (Renee Olstead), Ken (Jacob Wysocki) and Val (Courtney Halverson). They're not the only ones taking part in the conversation, as they soon realise. Their Skype call also includes an unknown party, but hanging up on the unpleasant troll isn't as easy as it should be. At the same time, Blaire starts receiving strange Facebook messages from Laura, despite her dearly departed status. Mitch suggests that their virtual gatecrasher is Laura's ghost in the machine, a prediction that seems laughable at first, but less so as the interloper's taunts get increasingly violent — and personal. Yes, this is a supernatural revenge film. Yes, it swaps a handheld camera for a computer screen in the next evolution of the found footage genre. Yes, that means that the entirety of Unfriended unfolds on a laptop, as scared teens are taunted by an unseen foe. Director Levan Gabriadze, writer Nelson Greaves and producer Timur Bekmambetov — the helmer of Wanted and Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, as well the most famous name involved with the ultra low-budget production — simply toy with the usual horror narrative in the same way their villain plays with the characters. It's both obvious and ingenious, and it mostly works. Setting the movie within an overlapping cascade of constantly minimised and maximised application windows places the potential victims in an immensely relatable situation — i.e. staring at a computer for hours on end. More than that, it also ramps up the suspense. A couple of bloody set pieces aside, the usual jumps are largely absent, with few scares to be found in pixilated video that keeps the characters' fearful faces on screen as much as possible. However, tension ripples through every typed then deleted message and every mouse move to the wrong place. Blaire and her friends are on the edge of their keyboards, and the audience is inching towards the edge of their seats. Unfriended also offers a critique of online interaction from bullying to shaming, though there's nothing new in its exposé of the awful ways people behave when they think they're anonymous. There's nothing new in the cast's performances as self-absorbed, fighting and terrified teens, either, other than accurately reflecting the right age and behaviour. Innovation doesn't matter here, though; the movie only ever promises a modern update. When it clicks, it clicks. When it doesn't, it's still not enough to make you want to log off.
You've watched the original movie to death, surely had some of that sweet 80s merch, and probably watched the all-female reboot flick when it hit cinemas in 2016. Now, you can take your Ghostbusters obsession to the next level, as a spooky new escape room inspired by the cult film lands in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne just in time for Halloween. Dubbed GhostMaze, the immersive pop-up will take over a secret location in each city, where you can live out your wildest ghostbusting fantasies and soak up some old-school gaming nostalgia. Details are scarce, but we do know that this movie-inspired adventure will take the form of a full-sized maze, with dark corners to navigate, prizes to hunt down and ghosts to avoid... unless you fancy being slimed. GhostMaze will be held across various sessions, with each one will featuring DJ tunes, a pop-up bar pouring Ghostbusters-themed cocktails and, of course, more prizes for the punters with the best costumes. Better start rounding out some mates to join in the fun — who you gonna call? In the meantime, you can rewatch the trailer for outfit inspiration: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vntAEVjPBzQ To find out more details as they drop and to register for pre-release GhostMaze tickets, sign up now at the website.
Like theatre? Then you're going to love La Boite's latest offering. They're not just bringing a new show to the stage — they're presenting a snapshot of the current state of the city's performing arts, and thinking about how it'll evolve in the future. And just how is the Kelvin Grove-based company managing to do that? Just let us count the ways. Their La Boite HWY program is overflowing with works in progress, talks and forums that showcase fresh scripts, ideas and productions, ponder issues of relevance to today's theatre practitioners, and fine-tune essential skills. If you're an emerging theatre type, that means workshops on producing, directing and playwriting, plus panel sessions about sticking it to the straight white man and navigating your career trajectory, too. And if you just like to watch the end result of someone else's creative endeavours, then you can check out nine efforts in various stages of evolution, from readings to rehearsals to mini-showings.
Southeast Queensland, meet your new vegan shindig — and your new excuse to spend a day on the Sunshine Coast. To its already considerable list of charms, Noosa is adding its first vegan festival, taking place from 10am on April 21. Attendees can expect a day filled with food, cruelty-free products, entertainment, cooking demonstrations and informative speakers. Or, in other words, a plant-based bonanza. There'll be around 55 exhibitors and vendors in total, helping you scratch your particular vegan itch. Doughnuts? Doggie treats? Human treats? Pizza? Ice cream? You'll find it here, as well as vegan wine. The J Noosa is the place to head to, with tickets available for $15 at the door. It's a cash-only affair, and bring some extra if you'd like to buy your own keep cup ($20), sample-filled showbag ($20) or t-shirt ($30). Plus, with the fest supporting a plastic-free environment, you're also advised to bring your own reusable water bottle, mugs, containers and bags. Image: Rawlicious Delicious.
As far as annual traditions go, slathering yourself in pale makeup, splattering on some fake blood, shuffling along the streets and pretending you have a hunger for human flesh is up there with the most interesting. For eleven years now, that's what Brisbanites have been doing thanks to a yearly celebration of all things undead and not-quite-living. Yes, the Brisbane Zombie Walk has become entrenched in the city's calendar of activities, and the event's purpose is twofold: revel in a horror staple and raise awareness for The Brain Foundation. That it does so while combining shock and silliness is one of the reasons it has endured, becoming the most successful gathering of its type in the world. This year, markets, movies, music and a makeup booth — for touchups of extra ghoulishness, of course — are all part of the all-ages mayhem. You know what the zombie component is all about at 3pm; however the browsing and hanging around part of proceedings starts at 10am, and includes stalls from Wildhart Studio Skull Emporium, Cherry Kitten and Red Octopus, plus food and beverages. Pretending to be undead is hungry and thirsty work.
Maybe you've sipped mulled wine at a winter market. Perhaps, when the weather gets colder each year, you make a beeline to whichever bar is serving the coveted concoction. Or, you could have fond memories of vacations spent in Europe downing plenty of glühwein. Whichever fits, drinking warmed-up wine is one of the best parts of the frosty season — and you shouldn't have to miss out just because Brisbane is in lockdown, or because we're all spending a bit more time at home during the pandemic. Yes, everyone should be able to sip this delicious tipple even if they're not leaving the house — because of stay-at-home restrictions, winter lethargy or any other reason — so Brisbane's inner-city winery has started selling DIY mulled wine kits. City Winery's packs include a bottle of its grenache mataro, all the herbs and spices you'll require, and a mulled wine recipe by its executive chef. The ingredients have been pre-measured, too, to make it super easy for you to whip up some steamy and spicy vino yourself. The DIY kits cost $36, and are available to order via City Winery's online store. Or, because the Fortitude Valley-based winery has been treating Brisbanites to fancy versions of mac 'n' cheese during the current lockdown — thanks to its Mac in the Box drive-thru — you can also pick some up with your next batch of three cheese, truffle, smoked ocean trout, and Italian pork, fennel and tomato mac 'n' cheese pasta. And yes, only drinking mulled wine all winter — out of all the different types of booze you could possibly choose from — is completely acceptable. City Winery's DIY mulled wine kits are available to purchase via its website.
Put down your So Fresh CD. Crack open your teenage piggy bank. Keep practicing your Usher slide glide. Because a full-blown R&B frenzy is set to sweep the nation this November as live party tour RnB Fridays returns for five mammoth shows. Descending on Brisbane Showgrounds on November 16 (yes, a Friday), the event has managed to pull a pretty serious lineup of international music legends straight from the 90s and early 2000s. Heading the bill is none other than singing, songwriting, dancing superstar Usher, in what will be his first Aussie shows since 2011. He'll be joined by hip hop queens Salt-N-Pepa, rappers T-Pain and Lil Jon, mononymous ladies Eve and Estelle, Grammy Award-winning trio Naughty By Nature, Fatman Scoop and 'Pony' Ginuwine. All of them. Together. In one show. Ticket prices are as momentous as the lineup, with each one starting at $109.90. If you fancy really splashing out, you can opt for $349.90 platinum package — it comes complete with a commemorative lanyard, express entry, front-row real estate and the chance to meet Usher himself. Image: Mushroom Creative House.
Advertising all the new films and TV shows coming our way, trailers are designed to get audiences excited. If you're seeing them in a cinema, they're telling you what you should be heading back to watch next. If you're checking out sneak peeks for new television and streaming releases, they want you to add them to your viewing list. Sometimes, however, a trailer stands out because it has fun with the concept — and the sneak peek at Netflix's new Cowboy Bebop series is one such example. Not only does it send its three central characters on a lively bounty and drop plenty of snarky, quippy dialogue, but it also gets them playing with a split-screen setup in quite the slick, vivid and eye-catching way. Hopefully, that's a sign of visually inventive things to come when the show hits the streaming platform on Friday, November 19, and of the tone that both existing fans of the cult Japanese anime of the same name and newcomers can expect as well. Like its source material, this live-action series is filled with space western hijinks — it wouldn't be Cowboy Bebop otherwise — all as bounty hunters Spike Spiegel (John Cho, The Grudge), Jet Black (Mustafa Shakir, The Deuce) and Faye Valentine (Daniella Pineda, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom) chase down all of the most dangerous criminals in the solar system. Obviously, Netflix's algorithm told it that everyone loves the original animated 90s series — and that everyone loves Searching, Gemini and Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle star Cho as well. When it's right, it's right, clearly. Alex Hassell (The Boys), Elena Satine (Twin Peaks) and New Zealand actor Rachel House (Cousins, Thor: Ragnarok, Hunt for the Wilderpeople) also feature on-screen, while the High Fidelity remake's André Nemec leads the charge behind the camera as Cowboy Bebop's showrunner. Check out the Cowboy Bebop trailer below: Cowboy Bebop will be available to stream via Netflix from Friday, November 19. Top image: Geoffrey Short/Netflix.
From dead characters to killer plants, M Night Shyamalan's films are known for veering off in out-there directions, as everything from The Sixth Sense and The Village to The Happening and Split have shown. So, when a trailer for one of his movies drops, you can expect that it'll tease a strange twist — and the first look at his latest flick, Old, doesn't disappoint. This initial sneak peek only runs for 30 seconds, so it doesn't have time to give too much away. Still, it manages to convey the film's basic premise and establish an eerie tone. A family led by Gael García Bernal (Ema) and Vicky Krieps (Phantom Thread) are enjoying a beachside holiday, and everyone seems to be lapping up the secluded setting. Then, the couple's kids disappear behind a few rocks, only to return looking much older than they did mere seconds ago. If you're wondering where Shyamalan will take the concept from there, you'll have to wait until the thriller releases in cinemas in July. The filmmaker has penned the movie's script, too; however, he's based it all Pierre Oscar Lévy and Frederik Peeters' graphic novel Sandcastle. Hoping that it turns out more like Unbreakable and less like The Visit is understandable. As well as Bernal and Krieps, Old has amassed a hefty cast, although most don't appear in the teaser. However the premise plays out, though, it'll involve Rufus Sewell (The Man in the High Castle), Ken Leung (Star Wars: Episode VII — The Force Awakens) and Alex Wolff (Hereditary), Australian actors Abbey Lee (Lovecraft Country) and Eliza Scanlen (Babyteeth), and New Zealand's Thomasin McKenzie (Jojo Rabbit). None of them say "I see old people" in the trailer, and hopefully that'll remain the same in the movie itself. Check out the teaser trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eB1m-WogYeg Old opens in Australian cinemas on July 22. Top image: 2021 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.
Award-winning Brisbane artist Victoria Reichelt brings her latest exhibition Future Ruins to Jan Murphy Gallery. Continuing her investigation into society's shift from the analogue to the digital, this series of skilfully crafted paintings looks at our past and digital future through abandoned haunted interiors of libraries and archive spaces. Since graduating from the Queensland College of Art in 2005, Reichelt has shown work across the nation and been the recipient for of some of Australia's most esteemed and sought after art prizes and grants. She has been a finalist in a number of significant prizes including the Archibald Prize, the Doug Moran National Portrait Prize and the Brett Whiteley Travelling Art Scholarship. Reichelt was also the 2013 winner of the Sulman Prize, and her art is held in the BHP Billiton collection, QAGOMA, Artbank and the Universty of Queensland gallery, as well as many more national and international collections. Future Ruins exhibits at Jan Murphy Gallery from October 6 to 31.
If an item or an image can inspire an emotional response, then think of Jessica Row's current exhibition as a showcase of sentiments. The artist and arts worker has captured poignant moments from her past five years, then turned them into memento/momentum. Yes, you can expect to feel something while you're looking at them. You can expect to feel joy, adventure, heartbreak, loss and self-discovery, for starters, with those the sensations on Row's mind. Her collection of printmaking, photography, video and sculpture is designed to conjure just that, and to take viewers on a journey through themes of identity, memory, mortality and belonging. Indeed, celebrating ordinary things, everyday people and unique connections is part of her plan — and part of the latest highlight of her blooming career. Prior to memento/momentum, Row has featured at Jugglers Art Space several times, as well as Bleeding Heart Gallery, POP Gallery, Sydney's Globe Gallery and Melbourne's Brunswick Street Art Gallery, with her pieces held in the Griffith University Art Collection in Brisbane, the University of West England Centre for Fine Print Research in Bristol and private collections around Australia. Image: Jessica Row.
With breweries seemingly popping up on every corner, it's no wonder that Brisbanites have an appetite for a few cold ones. And given the city's close proximity to plenty of waterways, it's no surprise that we're rather fond of seafood either. Sure, Brissie residents like other things as well, but we're particularly fond of spending entire days devouring drinks while eating the ocean's finest bounty. Waves & Haze is your latest opportunity to do just that, with Bacchus Brewing Co in Capalaba throwing a free one-day festival from midday on Saturday, September 14. It'll be pouring its own New England-style IPAs, including old faves, some newbies, and tipples to enjoy on the spot and take away. There'll also be live music to keep everyone entertained, Ballandean Estate Wines if you need something other than a brew, and the other part of the beer and seafood equation: the seafood. If you like oysters, mussels and prawns, then Mussel Brothers will have you covered.
Already an enormous success on Broadway, in London's West End and in Melbourne, Tony and Olivier award-winning musical Come From Away has been touring its remarkable true tale around Australia's east coast over the past couple of years. Based on real post-September 11 events, the acclaimed production brought its kind-hearted charm to Brisbane in 2021, and now it's the Gold Coast's turn — at HOTA, Home of the Arts for a three-week run from Thursday, July 7. If you aren't familiar with the musical's plot or the actual events that inspired it, it's quite the exceptional story. In the week after the September 11 attacks in 2001, 38 planes were unexpectedly ordered to land in the small Canadian town of Gander, in the province of Newfoundland. Part of Operation Yellow Ribbon — which diverted civilian air traffic to Canada en masse following the attacks — the move saw around 7000 air travellers grounded in the tiny spot, almost doubling its population. Usually, the town is home to just under 12,000 residents. To create Come From Away, writers and composers Irene Sankoff and David Hein spent hundreds of hours interviewing thousands of locals and passengers, using their experiences to drive the narrative — and, in many cases, using their real names in the show as well. The result is a musical not just about people coming from away (the term that Newfoundlanders use to refer to folks not born on the island), but coming together, all at a time when tensions were running high worldwide. Since being workshopped in 2012, having a run in Ontario in 2013, then officially premiering in San Diego in 2015, Come From Away has become a global smash hit. After opening on Broadway in 2017, it was still running before the theatre district closed due to COVID-19. The musical wowed crowds in the West End, too — and, when it first opened in Melbourne in July 2019, it became the Comedy Theatre's most successful musical in the venue's nine-decade history. Along the way, the show has picked up a Tony Award for best direction of a musical, six other nominations, and four Olivier Awards out of nine nominations. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zmvy1p2FOE&feature=emb_title Images: Jeff Busby.
There's more to going to the movies than just seeing the flicks that fill megaplexes, as Australia's thriving film festival scene demonstrates. The country's third-largest capital city might've just been robbed of its major annual cinema showcase, but our love of films beyond the mainstream can't be thwarted that easily. As far as Hollywood's addition to the movie-making fold is concerned, that's where the American Essentials Film Festival comes in. Founded in 2016 as a way to fill select Aussie cinemas with the kind of US titles that don't usually make it to our shores, the touring festival returns for its second run with another lineup of noteworthy inclusions — 31 films and 20 Aussie premieres, in fact. Making its way around the country in May, with a complete run in Brisbane at Palace Centro, the fest kicks off with an Oscar-nominated performance, boasts a documentary dedicated to a talent who makes films (and TV shows) like no one else, and features everyone from Greta Gerwig (twice!) to Australia's own Bond to Ewan McGregor jumping behind the camera. Prepare for a busy movie-viewing month. Fresh from earning a nod for best original screenplay at this year's Academy Awards — and garnering lead actress Annette Bening a Golden Globe nomination, too — 20th Century Women will get the festival started, marking writer/director Mike Mills' first movie since 2010's Beginners. Bening stars as a mother coping with the fact her son is growing up, and calling in pals played by Gerwig and Elle Fanning to help. As promised, Gerwig also features in Todd Solondz's Wiener-Dog, which comes to the fest after having its Australian premiere at last year's Sydney Underground Film Festival. Also on the bill, and impeccably timed given that the third season of Twin Peaks starts airing during May, is highly anticipated doco David Lynch: The Art Life, while docudrama Becoming Bond keeps the factual fun going by delving into the Aussie that once played oo7. American Pastoral is the aforementioned McGregor's first stint as a director; California Dreams explores the real folks trying to make it in LA, La La Land-style; G-Funk dives into the style of hip hop started by Warren G, Snoop Dogg and Nate Dogg; and 2016 Cannes hit The Transformation follows a 14-year-old who thinks he's a vampire. As well as highlighting new flicks, with Are We Not Cats' magical realism and Detour's crime thrills also on offer, American Essentials shines a spotlight on classic titles in its Masters & Masterpieces retrospective. That's where audiences can watch Lynch's inimitable debut Eraserhead for its 4oth anniversary, as well as his 2001 standout Mulholland Drive — plus the Carrie Fisher-written Postcards on the Edge; Andy Warhol's Bad, which is the last film the artist produced before his death; and a Charles Bukowski double of doco You Never Had It: An Evening with Bukowski alongside the semi-autobiographical, Mickey Rourke-starring 1987 favourite Barfly.
It's possible to believe that a film needn't necessarily exist, and still be thrilled that it does. That's the case with Gloria Bell, Sebastián Lelio's English-language remake of his 2013 Chilean drama Gloria — which keeps the same plot, brings in Julianne Moore and transfers the action to Los Angeles. The first time around, Lelio's tale of a 50-something divorcee trying to reclaim her life proved a potent character study, made blisteringly real not only thanks to an empathetic, keenly observed script, but via an exceptional lead performance. That rings true here as well, yet this narrative, its honest exploration of womanhood at a mature age and its rich texture doesn't get old. If we can have oh-so-many cookie-cutter movies about slacker man-children just trying to find a girl to love them despite their obvious flaws, we can have two versions of this story. Played with a luminous air, a sense of vulnerability and a determined spirit by the always-stellar Moore, Gloria Bell has long become accustomed to her unattached existence. Her days are spent working in insurance, singing 80s hits in her car and snatching whatever time she can with her grown-up kids (Caren Pistorius and Michael Cera), while her nights usually end beneath the disco ball at a singles bar. "When the world blows up, I hope I go down dancing," she proclaims happily, and it's fancy footwork that brings her to recently divorced theme-park owner Arnold (John Turturro). Sparks fly, but life and love haven't been easy for Gloria thus far, and they won't be from this point onwards. Reworking his initial script with actor and writer Alice Johnson Boher, Lelio fills Gloria Bell with detail. That applies equally to the film and to the figure that gives the movie its name. While the plot is straightforward — a woman and a man meet, connect and try to work out if their messy lives fit together — every character, scene and moment is gloriously layered, ensuring that nothing about the picture is simplistic. It's true when Gloria commiserates with a colleague (Barbara Sukowa) about their respective retirement savings, a conversation that speaks to the uncertainty that often greets women who've spent time out of the workforce to raise a family. It's true when the film spies its protagonist attending a laughing group, allowing herself to giggle away her troubles while participating in a pastime with a very specific audience. And it's true when Lelio pushes his heroine to finally complain about her unstable upstairs neighbour, with Gloria wavering between caring for a troubled soul and looking out for herself. From wondering how a hairless cat keeps finding its way into her apartment, to lighting up on the paintball range with Arnold, to running free on a trip to Las Vegas, Gloria Bell keeps showing what makes the open-hearted Gloria tick — and why. This isn't just a slice-of-life journey of discovery for those watching, however, but for the restless yet quietly relentless woman herself. It's this, in particular, that makes the film so evocative and meaningful. On multiple occasions, Gloria is given a choice to either go with the flow or to shape her own path and, even when her actions end in chaos, she grabs hold of her future with both hands. Gloria doesn't merely navigate ups and downs, but uncovers her strengths and limits. She doesn't just tackle dramas, but learns how to cope with whatever comes her way. She's never ashamed of being a lonely divorcee, but she also won't let it define her. Unsurprisingly, Moore couldn't be more pivotal; if Lelio remade his own movie solely to work with her, it'd be justification enough for Gloria Bell. Behind large glasses, with more blonde than red in her hair, and reuniting with her Big Lebowski co-star Turturro, Moore's radiant to the point of transcendence — middle-aged malaise rarely looked so stripped-bare and so simultaneously vivid. It helps, of course, that the acclaimed Chilean filmmaker matches his visual style and overarching tone to his leading lady, as he also did so winningly in queer dramas A Fantastic Woman and Disobedience. It worked a charm for Paulina García in the original Gloria, and it works captivatingly with Moore in Gloria Bell. One happily stands beside the other, and viewers will want to lose themselves on the dance floor with both. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k38zjD2QVSg
