When it comes to wandering your way through Australia's vast expanses of forest, sometimes a well-worn phrase applies. If you can't see the forest for the trees when you're trying to find the absolute perfect place to stroll or camp from the wealth of choices, that's perfectly understandable. After all, the country has 125 million hectares of forest — which equates to 16 percent of Australia's land area — according to the Forests Australia website. For those doing their exploring in Victoria, the government has released a new app that should assist immensely. Called More to Explore, it offers an interactive map of the state's forests, including activities such as camping, picnicking, walking and fishing, plus four-wheel driving, mountain biking and trail bike riding. Almost 400 camping and picnic sites are featured, plus more than 240 recreational trails. Real-time information, as maintained by Forest Fire Management Victoria field staff, will help you both plan your trip according to the current conditions, and keep up-to-date while you're roaming. You can also use the app to download maps to your phone before you go, ensuring that you won't get lost if your phone loses reception. Which, obviously, is something that can happen when you're moseying through a leafy thicket of trees. "With more than three million hectares of State Forest to explore in Victoria, this app will make it quicker and easier for everyone to discover our state's breathtaking natural beauty," said Victorian Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D'Ambrosio. At present,More to Explore is available for free via iTunes, with an Android also version expected mid this year. For those stepping into New South Wales' state forests, My Visit is the NSW equivalent.
It's 2am and time to leave your watering hole of choice for the evening and catch a cab home. You reach your destination, pay and crash on the bed. In the morning you wake and reach for your phone to remember the night before only to realise you left it in the vehicle. Oh poop. That could soon be a thing of the past thanks to innovative new technology co-created by Japanese companies Kokusai Motorcars and Ideacross. Four cameras installed within the taxi — one beneath the driver's seat, one beneath the front passenger seat, one on the ceiling and one in the boot — photograph the interior and detect any changes in the environment, such as a phone or handbag that was previously absent, via comparison against previous images. If a change is detected then an alarm sounds, providing passengers the opportunity to collect their forgotten belongings before it is too late. Obvious privacy concerns have been raised but the company has assured the Japanese public that any faces captured by the cameras will be unidentifiable. Signage will also be posted within all vehicles operating the system, which will soon be all 3100 Kokusai taxis, so that passengers are aware cameras are there. Whilst only in Kokusai vehicles at the moment, the customer service benefits offered by the system will soon see other Japanese companies competing to install it in their vehicles. Hopefully I won't lose too many iPhones before something similar arrives on our shores. Via PSFK.
With social networks now pivotal for most businesses, entrepreneurs, artists and pretty much anybody with an Internet connection, it's not surprising that new websites are popping up more often than ever. The latest website to gain some real momentum around the world is Pinterest, a 'digital scrapbooking' website that lets you present and organise all of your interests and share them with the world. Users cluster their favourite things into small boards such as 'food' and 'music', with each interest receiving a neat image and hyperlink if applicable. Building upon the aesthetic appeal of visually-based websites such as Instagram and the sharing capabilities of Facebook, Pinterest has all the correct elements to become a huge success. In late 2011, it broke into the Top 10 most popular social media websites, and its recent growth has seen it become a bigger traffic referrer for women's websites than Facebook and Twitter in the U.S. However, if the revolving door of social media has taught us anything, it's that websites can fall just as fast as they skyrocket, and that trends can be embraced fully before fading into obscurity. The biggest challenge for Pinterest will be keeping up with technology and offering users greater ways to integrate the website with their daily routines and ideas. There are 12 million American users of Pinterest, and an overwhelming 83% of those are female. Complying with traditional gender stereotypes, the most popular Pinterest profiles are largely focused on fashion, decoration and interior design. This overwhelming dominance of female users has even caught the attention of the US Army, who are looking to Pinterest as a source for more women to join the ranks. Pinterest's simplicity and organisation have made it a joy to explore when online. Many companies have already taken to 'board hacks' in order to slice their favourite images and present them in creative ways. Like all effective social media websites, this allows users to personalise their pages with great innovation. Will you jump aboard the Pinterest bandwagon? Concrete Playground has already started to fill the Pinterest boards with all the best and brightest cultural news. Follow us here and share the love.
One of the ideas at the heart of Squid Game — and fellow battle-to-the-death fare like The Hunger Games and The Running Man, too — is that people like to watch others risk their lives, and sometimes give them, while striving to survive deadly contests. While the competitions at the heart of shows and movies with these storylines are purely fictional, folks IRL do indeed love viewing them. Indeed, with its final season, Squid Game notched up a few big firsts for Netflix. If you couldn't wait to discover Seong Gi-hun's (Lee Jung-jae, The Acolyte) fate when the South Korean hit dropped its third and last batch of episodes on Friday, June 27, 2025, you had company. Netflix reports that the six-instalment season notched up 60.1-million views in just three days, breaking the record for such a short period. [caption id="attachment_1011923" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Squid Game S3 Cr. No Ju-han/Netflix © 2025[/caption] Squid Game season three also became the first Netflix show to reach number one in all countries that the streaming platform ranks in the week it premiered, and the only series to hit the service's most-popular list in its debut week. Less than seven days out from releasing, season three is placed ninth among Netflix's most-watched shows ever in languages other than English as well. While the series' final run served up surprises on-screen, its success among audiences isn't one of them. The exploits of Player 456 in a secret tournament that turns childhood games fatal with 45.6-billion won up for grabs has been a must-see, and embraced as such, since its beginnings. Season one proved such a smash that more episodes were locked in, as was IRL competition series Squid Game: The Challenge (without the death, of course). The latter has been picked up for a second season. The next question: will there be more on the fictional side of the franchise? It has been rumoured that David Fincher (The Killer) is keen on an English-language remake — although he is working on directing a different return, stepping into Once Upon a Time in Hollywood's realm to helm the Brad Pitt (F1)-starring follow-up to Quentin Tarantino's Oscar-winning picture, at present. Also, the season-three finale swiftly sparked thoughts of Squid Game finding a way to continue. With Entertainment Weekly, series creator Hwang Dong-hyuk recently mentioned a spinoff idea set between seasons one and two — and has floated similar concepts before — but nothing beyond a new round of Squid Game: The Challenge has been confirmed in in the Squid Game universe so far. Watch the trailer for Squid Game season three below: Squid Game streams via Netflix. Images: Netflix.
Through our travel booking website Concrete Playground Trips, you can book unforgettable travel packages, exclusive accommodation deals and a whole series of experiences and tours. For this particular article, we're focusing on Australian adventure trips that are currently available on CP Trips for travellers who are keen to get out in nature and go exploring. These packages will take you swimming under remote waterfalls, hiking to breathtaking vistas and cycling from vineyard to vineyard. Book any of these deals to experience some of Australia's greatest sites in style, taking your holiday to the next level. QUEENSLAND [caption id="attachment_891464" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Guillaume Marques (unsplash)[/caption] KAYAK, SANDBOARD AND SNORKEL AT MORETON ISLAND Travel to Moreton Island from either Brisbane or the Gold Coast for a full day of fun in the sun. Your guide takes you by 4WD along the sands to the famous Tangalooma Wrecks, where you'll see incredible coral reefs on snorkel and kayak outings. You'll also go inland for an exhilarating sandboarding experience on the famous massive sand dunes. This action-packed tour also includes a lunch on the beach and time to soak up the scenery of Moreton Island, the third largest sand island in the world. BOOK IT NOW. ROCK CLIMBING IN BRISBANE AFTER DARK The Kangaroo Point cliff face is a unique sight in the heart of Brisbane. For this experience, you'll climb the urban cliffs while they are lit up in the evening, looking out at Brisbane's glimmering skyline and serpentine river. And thanks to the different climbing routes, it doesn't matter what your experience level is. Beginners to total pros can enjoy this three-hour adventure. BOOK IT NOW. [caption id="attachment_891465" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lacie Slezak (Unsplash)[/caption] OVERNIGHT TWEED COAST CAMPING AND SURFING GETAWAY This Tweed Coast overnight surfing getaway provides a two-day surf camp experience as you discover this world famous section of the Australian coast. Surf all day, make some new mates, spend the night camping, and enjoy provided meals including a beachside barbecue. Select your pickup location when booking; several locations are available from Brisbane to Gold Coast and Byron Bay. BOOK IT NOW. [caption id="attachment_891469" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Frankie Dixon (Unsplash)[/caption] THREE-DAY 4WD TOUR AROUND K'GARI (FRASER ISLAND) This is a proper Queensland bucket list experience for lovers of the outdoors. On this trip, you'll explore both coasts of the world's largest sand island on one eco-adventure. Start your getaway in style with a pre-night stay at Kingfisher Bay Resort. Relax on island time and enjoy full access to the resort facilities before you spend two days driving around K'gari's crystal-blue lakes, wild rainforests, hidden stretches of coast and cameo appearances from the island's wild dingo population. And if you want to charter your own yacht around the island (with your own skipper) then check out this luxury tour. BOOK IT NOW. VICTORIA CYCLING TOUR AROUND THE YARRA VALLEY WINE REGION This guided cycling trip will take you to several wineries in the Yarra Valley region, giving you the opportunity to taste some wine (in moderation, since you will be cycling on roads), tuck into some woodfired pizza for lunch and soak up the sights of this world-famous wine region. During the day, you'll cycle up to 20-kilometres — so prepare to get a bit active. BOOK IT NOW. [caption id="attachment_891472" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Shawnn Tan (Unsplash)[/caption] TWO-DAY CAMPING AND SURFING TRIP ALONG THE GREAT OCEAN ROAD This small-group tour (of 10-15 people) will start from Melbourne and take you down to Victoria's dramatic Great Ocean Road. You'll stop off at beaches for surfing lessons and lunches before setting up base at a new campsite — staying in a spacious teepee-style tents built by the beach. The two guides will take you to all the best secret viewing spots for kangaroos, koalas and Australian native birds before you set your sights upon the Twelve Apostles. BOOK IT NOW. [caption id="attachment_818655" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Julia Sansone[/caption] PRIVATE WILSON'S PROMONTORY HIKING TOUR FROM MELBOURNE Wilson's Prom is huge. It can be challenging to explore — especially if you don't have your own car. That's when a bespoke tour like this one is the perfect option. Your guide will take you on hikes to private beaches and sand dunes as well as epic summits with views across the whole region. You'll find some of the very best coastal views during this tour. And if you're looking for something a little more cost-effective, you can try this tour of Wilson's Prom. BOOK IT NOW. WHITE-WATER KAYAKING ADVENTURE ON THE YARRA RIVER Head to Wonga Park for a high-octane day trip just an hour or so out of Melbourne's CBD. You'll be geared up with life vests and helmets before jumping into a two-person inflatable kayak that will take you down the rolling rapids. Prepare to get soaked and have a good laugh. If you go in the wetter months, you're guaranteed even bigger rapids. BOOK IT NOW. WESTERN AUSTRALIA SUNRISE HIKE AND MEDITATION IN THE PERTH HILLS This one is for the morning people out there. Or those of us who wish we could be. Meet at Sullivan Rock carpark nice and early and follow the guide on a leisurely hike through jarrah and banksia forests before reaching the summit of St Vincent at sunrise. Find a spot on the large granite slopes overlooking the expansive Western Australian plains and let the first sunlight of the day wash over you during a guided meditation. It's an altogether unique and rejuvenating experience. BOOK IT NOW. QUAD BIKE AND SANDBOARDING EXPERIENCE This is a super fun way to explore Western Australia's Lancelin Sand Dunes. You'll ride quad bikes, get driven in dune buggies and go down massive dunes on sandboards with a bunch of other travellers. It's a great vantage point from which to see this part of the country, overlooking the Indian Ocean and surrounding bushland. BOOK IT NOW. [caption id="attachment_683983" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism Western Australia[/caption] ROTTNEST ISLAND CYCLE, SNORKEL AND FERRY TRIP Getting to Rottnest Island is easy enough – just jump on the ferry from Perth. But once you get there, getting around to explore the best bits of this spectacular natural playground could require a little direction. That why this tour is so good. You'll get a bike for the arvo and ride around hidden beaches before snorkelling in calm pristine waters, marvelling at the bright coral and marine life. Alternatively, you can book this five-day Perth staycation that will take you to Rottnest Island and the Pinnacles. BOOK IT NOW. [caption id="attachment_891479" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tobias Keller (Unsplash)[/caption] SIX-DAY COARAL COASTER FROM PERTH TO EXMOUTH (VIA NINGALOO REEF) Go on a proper Western Australia adventure during this week-long trip. With unspoilt beaches, deep red deserts and an abundance of wildlife, this will be an unforgettable Australian holiday. You'll also tick a bunch of spectacular destinations off your bucket list — including the Pinnacles, Hutt Lagoon Pink Lake, Murchison Gorge, Kalbarri National Park, The Stromatolites at Shark Bay and Ningaloo Reef. BOOK IT NOW. NEW SOUTH WALES UNDERWATER SCOOTER EXPERIENCE IN CLOVELLY This is a proper local Sydney experience set in the waters of beloved Clovelly Beach. You'll get to use an underwater scooter which is basically a small propellered device that you hold in your hands) that pulls you along underwater. Use this device to find the infamous blue groper or simply pretend you're chasing your favourite Bond villain for 90 minutes. Instructors will also be on hand to help you out. BOOK IT NOW. [caption id="attachment_891481" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jacques Bopp (Unsplash)[/caption] BLUE MOUNTAINS 4WD ADVENTURE If you've got a car and are willing to hike a little, you can see some spectacular parts of the Blue Mountains — but this trip takes you even deeper. Your driver will traverse rough roads to take you into rarely explored parts of the national park including exclusive access to private property in Capertee Valley and experience the epic views. It will also include a lunch in a cosy country pub. Winner. BOOK IT NOW. BATEMANS BAY OYSTER TASTING KAYAK TOUR Yup, you read that right. This trip combines oyster tasting with kayaking — think of it as a pub crawl, but on the water and with super fresh oysters. Paddle around local oyster farms along the Clyde River Estuary system in Batemans Bay with a guide, tasting some of the freshest molluscs you'll ever have the pleasure of eating. It's a whole lot of fun. And done in stunning surrounds. BOOK IT NOW. FULL-DAY CANYONING TRIP IN EMPRESS CANYON For the uninitiated, canyoning is a type of mountaineering that involves travelling into canyons in a variety of ways. And this trip ticks most of them off the list. The day will include abseiling down waterfalls, cliff jumping and bouldering. It has got to be one of the most thrilling ways to explore this rainforest in New South Wales. BOOK IT NOW. NORTHERN TERRITORY [caption id="attachment_840362" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Helen Orr for Tourism NT[/caption] KING'S CANYON HIKING TOUR King's Canyon, famously where the queens from Priscilla Queen of the Desert hiked in feather-clad bird outfits, is a big bucket list destination — not just for fans of the film. Located between between Alice Springs and Yulara, this has to be one of the very best places to go hiking in Australia. Walk along red rock cliffs, through maze-like gorges and around beautiful bushland. The views across the surrounding desert are also just next level. And this big day trip takes you to all the best bits. BOOK IT NOW. CHAMBER PILLAR AND RAINBOW VALLEY 4WD TRIP Go off-road during this full-day tour around the Rainbow Valley — a remote region in Australia's Red Centre. The small group 4WD experience takes you deep into the Red Centre's beautiful and remote sand hill country in comfort and style. You will discover the history of the early explorers, local First Nations culture and stories, the iconic Simpson Desert and stunning landscapes and rock formations. In between short hikes, you'll be driven around in an air-conditioned 4WD car to catch your breath and cool down. BOOK IT NOW. DAY TRIP TO LITCHFIELD NATIONAL PARK WATERFALLS If you've ever seen images of people jumping into spectacular natural waterholes and pools in a tourism ad for the Northern Territory, there's a very good chance the footage was shot at Litchfield National Park. Making a visit here is an experience we should all have at some point in our lives. And booking this package will get you right there. You'll be picked up from Darwin and transported to the famous Florence Falls for a day of exploring and swimming in extraordinary (croc-free) waters. BOOK IT NOW. TASMANIA [caption id="attachment_891488" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Josh Fotheringham (Unsplash)[/caption] THREE-DAY ACTIVE ADVENTURE FROM LAUNCESTON TO HOBART This trip explores some of Tassie's most scenic locations. Start your journey with a huge day out at Cradle Mountain World Heritage area, an area of immense grandeur with amazing walks and scenery. Travel onwards to Hobart via the Wineglass Bay lookout for some of the world's best coastal scenery. Keep your eyes open and your footsteps light to encounter the local animals in the wild. Lastly, walk amongst the history at the World Heritage Port Arthur Historic Site and enjoy the action of a Tasmanian Devil feeding. It's an incredible way to experience Tasmania's vast natural landscape. BOOK IT NOW. SAILING TRIP IN HOBART'S BAY AND THE DERWENT RIVER During this experience, you'll be sailing in a Sydney to Hobart race maxi — really sailing. This isn't a champagne-and-sunset-dinner on a luxury yacht kind of experience. You'll be getting a workout as you cruise around Hobart's breathtakingly beautiful bay. You might see penguins, dolphins or seals (regular visitors) and sometimes even whales and orca. That is when you're not grinding the winches and taking a turn on the helm. End the experience with an altogether civilised afternoon tea in town. BOOK IT NOW. KAYAK IN THE TASMAN PENINSULA Get up-close and personal with the southern hemisphere's highest sea cliffs and resident Australian fur seals. At sea level you'll truly appreciate its scale, gazing up at 200-metre-high fluted rock formations, peering into natural sea caves, photographing the towering Candlestick, and searching for climbers on the Totem Pole — a sheer column famed amongst thrill-seeking rock climbers. BOOK IT NOW. BMX RIDE DOWN MOUNT WELLINGTON On this adventure, you'll ride a mountain bike down the foothills of Mount Wellington past bushland and wildlife as you feel the wind rushing through your hair. At the end of the ride, you'll be invited to join the guide at a local Hobart pub for a few beers and enjoy the unique opportunity to drink from the famous (to locals, at least) handlebar that holds a glass of beer. Look it up. BOOK IT NOW. SOUTH AUSTRALIA FARM FOR OYSTERS IN COFFIN BAY This is a great little experience to tag onto any trip along South Australia's Eyre Peninsula. You'll don some sexy looking waterproof overalls, wading in the water as you learn about oyster farming while tasting some of the freshest oysters you'll ever have — straight out of the clear blue waters. For more sightseeing, you can even take this longer boat tour around the oyster farm. BOOK IT NOW. KANGAROO ISLAND QUAD BIKE TOUR Explore an otherwise inaccessible part of Kangaroo Island on a guided ATV tour through open grassland, native bush and rocky terrain. Master the controls of your own bike as your group zooms past gorgeous scenery, and Australian wildlife such as kangaroos, koalas and more. For something a little different, check out the Sunset Safari, a more wildlife orientated tour which heads out just as more of the island's famous critters start to emerge for the evening. Or do you prefer two wheels? Try this cycling tour of the island instead. BOOK IT NOW. KAYAK TRIP IN A DOLPHIN SANCTUARY It's not every day that you get the opportunity to paddle your way down a 10,000-year-old mangrove forest creek with the opportunity to see dolphins along the way. But that's not all. You'll also be kayaking up close to shipwrecks and relics of a bygone era. It's a special experience that simply can't be replicated anywhere else. BOOK IT NOW. [caption id="attachment_883581" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Michael Skopal (Unsplash)[/caption] THREE-DAY ADVENTURE IN THE FLINDERS RANGES This is small group Eco tour of the famous Flinders Ranges gives guests the opportunity to see the incredible rock formation of Wilpena Pound and the Ranges themselves while learning about local Aboriginal culture. You'll search for the rare Yellow Footed Rock Wallaby, see an abundance of kangaroos, emus and wedge tailed eagles, visit ancient Aboriginal cave paintings, meet the locals and enjoy campfires and camp cooking. BOOK IT NOW. Feeling inspired to book a truly unique getaway? Head to Concrete Playground Trips to explore a range of holidays curated by our editorial team. We've teamed up with all the best providers of flights, stays and experiences to bring you a series of unforgettable trips in destinations all over the world.
What were you doing on 10/10/10? It appears that innumerable professional and amateur filmmakers from over 200 countries were filming the world around them as part of the One Day On Earth Project. The initiative aimed to collect the many and varied stories and images of that particular day - pregnant bellies, soccer games, guitar playing, arrests, little colourful fish and hair-washing to name but a few - and in the process became one of the biggest participatory events in history. The project was the brainchild of founder Kyle Ruddick who, in 2008, had the idea of using cinema to connect people from across the globe. Since then, with the support of non-government organisations and the United Nations Development Program, it has turned into a social networking phenomenon where not only films but stories and information are shared. A feature length film of the project will be released in the near future, but for now a trailer has been released to give a brief glimpse into this ambitious project.
Glamping has been having a renaissance in recent times. For too long, your fussy friend was always the one to kill the vibe on every camping trip. You know the kind — the one fumbling with expensive battery packs and car adaptors for their hair straightener while the rest of the group settle into full Bear Grylls-style wildling life. But now, the tables have turned. Now, the glamper has an awesome arsenal of James Bond-level gadgets at their disposal and, if you laugh at them, they won't let you into their amazing impromptu hot tub. The latest invention to set glampers' hearts aflutter, the Nomad Collapsible Hot Tub is exactly what it sounds like. Delivered to you in what must seem like the most infuriating IKEA-style flat pack ever, the tub is easily transportable within a regular-sized duffle bag. When fully assembled, this vinyl-coated slice of heaven transforms to a structure 1.5m wide and 60cm tall. It holds 850 litres of water and approximately four or five super-chilled adults. As idyllic as this concept sounds, it obviously hinges on a few important things. For instance, unless you carry 850 litres of water with you wherever you go, you really need to be camping somewhere with easy water access. The tub needs to be filled with the help of a pretty hardcore water pump, and it has to be heated with a nifty little water heater coil. This means two things: you really have to be prepared — this isn't the $2 shop blow-up pool you fill up with the hose on Australia Day — and you have to willing to pay for it. In a special sale offer, Nomad are selling both the tub itself and the water heater coil for US$990. But that's not taking into account the water pump you'll need to fill it or the inevitable postage you'll rack up in shipping both to Australia. All in all, you'd surely be looking at around $1500 for a dip in the spa. Plus whatever exorbitant costs you and your glamping buddies are already paying for a tent with a king size bed in it. All things considered, it still has a crazy amount of pulling power. Even if you can't assemble an IKEA flat pack to save your life, even if you consider a ticket to the hot springs a splurge in the budget, even if you get pruny fingers immediately after jumping into any form of hot water, you really can't deny how much better your camping trip will be with a gadget like this.
Has anyone ever cracked open a VB — stubby, tinnie, throwie or tallie, whichever takes your fancy — and not gotten the beer brand's "hard-earned thirst" jingle stuck in their head? Not since the late 1960s, they haven't. Even if you're not a fan of the company's brews, or you've had the hankering for a different type of beer, you've probably found yourself humming the tune to yourself anyway. You can get it lodged in your mind while you're talking, walking, lifting, shifting and any old how, after all, because it's that damn catchy. (Matter of fact, you're probably singing it to yourself now — aren't you?) You can also get that classic anthem stuck in your head while you're getting vaccinated, too, with VB releasing a new advertisement to encourage Australians to get the jab. You'll recognise most of the images, but the tune has had a bit of a revamp to note the impact of lockdowns on going to the pub and indulging that hard-earned thirst. "Right now you can't get it goalin', you can't get it bowlin'. You can't get it takin' a vow, or chasin' a cow," the new riff on the jingle says. "A hard earned thirst comes from being all over town. Not from being in lockdown," it continues. Obviously, it's all a bit daggy, because that's how the OG ad has always played. But the new twist on the song, and the ad, sees Victoria Bitter join a growing list of local companies that've been finding ways to encourage Aussies to get vaxxed so that restrictions and lockdowns can ease and life can look a little more normal again. Running the ad for at least a month to help support the national aim of getting 80-percent fully vaccinated, and therefore loosening more restrictions at that point, VB also joins campaigns by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, a heap of Australian hospitality figures and the local live entertainment industry to promote the country's vaccination rollout. Check out the VB vaccination ad below: You can also view VB's television commercial by heading to YouTube.
For every Australian that was a toddler from the 90s onwards, and their counterparts worldwide as well, heroes wear blue, yellow, red and purple skivvies. Since the early 90s, The Wiggles have been one of the biggest Aussie names in children's entertainment, and one of the country's most-successful global hits. Alongside Bananas in Pyjamas and Bluey, they're part of a trio of homegrown icons in pop culture's early-childhood space, all thanks to the decision by Anthony Field, Jeff Fatt, Greg Page and Murray Cook to turn their university studies in the area, plus their experience in music — Field and Fatt were part of The Cockroaches, while Page was in Dead Giveaway and Cook in Bang Shang a Lang — into an album for kids. The rest is history, which The Wiggles just keep making. In Triple J's Hottest 100 of 2021, three decades after the group's self-titled debut album, they topped the poll with a cover of Tame Impala's 'Elephant'. Also among the troupe's recent achievements and highlights: appearing at the Mardi Gras parade, playing Falls Festival, earning some love from Lil Nas X and bringing the OGs back together for adults-only shows. Premiering at the first-ever SXSW Sydney, documentary Hot Potato: The Story of The Wiggles — which is now streaming via Prime Video — has joined their resume as well. Onstage for today's toddlers — plus every batch of preschoolers since 'Get Ready to Wiggle' and 'Dorothy the Dinosaur' first started echoing — The Wiggles serve up business as usual. Whether playing at home or around the world, the Aussie entertainers put on a child-pleasing live show. Other than Field, the folks donning the skivvies have changed, with the troupe becoming bigger, more culturally diverse and championing gender balance. At gigs specifically focused at 90s and 00s kids who are now well past The Wiggles' prime demographic, Field, Fatt, Page and Cook have reformed for reunion tours. As seen in Hot Potato: The Story of The Wiggles, both types of concerts draw huge crowds. For Field, Fatt, Page and Cook, life has been shaped by wearing bright colours, singing to fans young and older alike, and getting 'Hot Potato' and 'Fruit Salad' lodged in everyone's brains — and lives have been moulded by their efforts in turn. Early-childhood teaching philosophies have always sat at the forefront of The Wiggles, which the OG four attribute to their success. Young devotees who dance along to their tunes then become adults who still think fondly about their first-ever favourite group. Hot Potato: The Story of the Wiggles clearly has much to cover, then, all within a 104-minute doco that does much more than trade in nostalgia: as directed by Valerie Taylor: Playing with Sharks and David Stratton: A Cinematic Life filmmaker Sally Aitken, it chronicles how four friends started a phenomenon that's taken them everywhere from small Aussie shows to Madison Square Garden, and sparked a beloved group that shows no signs of stopping. With the movie now delighting audiences, Field, Fatt, Page and Cook spoke to Concrete Playground about all things Wiggles, including reflecting upon their careers via the doco, the whirlwind last few years for the OGs and why they're so beloved. And if you're wondering if Fatt, Page and Cook wear skivvies or their famous colours now, Page bought yellow sneakers just for the film's premiere "to have something yellow in my wardrobe", Fatt says he "definitely avoids the purple" and Cook does "have some skivvies though, but they're black". ON THEIR RESPONSE TO A DOCUMENTARY BEING MADE ABOUT THE WIGGLES Anthony: "This New Zealand company approached us about doing it. So they were filming us for the last couple of years and being with us, and then got all this archival footage, and got fans to send in a whole lot of stuff — and just got all these incredible photos right through our career. We were all a step away from the actual creatives of it, and the storytelling. It was pretty well Sally [Aitken] and Fraser [associate director Fraser Grut] with the guys in New Zealand who put it together. But I was a bit scared to see it. I found it very emotional and beautiful — and sad and happy, all that stuff. A lot of great memories." Murray: "When someone's going to make a documentary about you, you're not involved in the decision-making. There's a bit of trust involved and you just hope that they do the right thing. But once we met the filmmakers, Fraser and Sally, we got to know them a bit, and I felt very trusting that they'd tell the story honestly. You don't want to whitewash — you just want the the truth to be told, I think." Jeff: "And Fraser grew up with The Wiggles. So, he held us in very high esteem." Greg: "I think, too, that because he did, because he was a fan as a child, he got the essence of what the documentary is, and that is showing that connection between us and the children, and that connection that continues on today with the new Wiggles. I think that really sums it up beautifully. And I think the overall tone of the picture is one — can you believe I said picture, like moving picture? — the tone of the documentary is one of joy and happiness. Really, that's what it's about. And I think he's done a great job, and so has Sally." ON REFLECTING ON THEIR CAREERS VIA THE FILM Greg: "It must have been such a challenge to try and cram 30 years into probably 100 minutes or so. But they've done a really good job at capturing those high points and the low points along the way — the milestone moments of The Wiggles. To sit there and watch it back for us, I know personally it was really interesting because living it from the inside, you see it very differently to how other people have seen it. But then to step outside of that now and watch it in a different perspective, it's really quite fascinating." Anthony: "You see little bits on YouTube of things we did 15 years ago, but this was like a line of just what happened. And just at the end of it, I was overwhelmed by it all." Murray: "I thought it was quite moving at at times. There was a lot of joy there, but there were a few tears. It does give you an opportunity to reflect on what it was that we achieved and what we created. I think it's really great for the world to see the people behind The Wiggles — that it's not just four goofballs, although we are that — but that there's theory and philosophy behind it. But also just seeing the journey that we went on together, it was really lovely to be able to see that." Greg: "It's interesting because when people ask us questions like they did in the documentary, they're asking questions that we probably never asked each other. And a lot of things we kind of took for granted that we're on the same page about, or we just felt that we would all feel the same way about, but I think there were some differences — not major differences at all. It's kind of funny, like we never sat around and shared a lot about our own feelings about things. A lot of the time, we were talking about the show, the production that we were going to do, there was a lot of that stuff. So I think for me it was really a chance to hear the other guys' perspective on what The Wiggles was to them." ON REALISING THAT THE WIGGLES WERE BECOMING A PHENOMENON Anthony: "In Australia, we went from birthday parties to playing fundraisers for the Nursing Mothers Association, which was really good. They'd sell the tickets and get a percentage of the tickets, they were fundraisers for them and it was great because, basically, it just was word of mouth. The Wiggles in those days, we weren't on television and we weren't on the radio. But the big step up in America, when I knew that things had changed, was when we went over and the people in customs recognised us — not in a bad way. That's when I went 'things have changed here'. It was because Disney took our TV series and put it on four times a day on their channel. And we became massive in America and Canada, and it was amazing." Murray: "I don't think we thought it would go around the world until we actually spent a bit of time in America. For us in the 2000s, from about 2002 on, America was a fairly big focus because it was very successful there. Once we started doing things like playing Madison Square Garden and doing the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade, it became a little bit surreal, for me anyway. We'd be sitting on buses going to these cities in America that in a lot of cases we've heard of but never been to, and it was a great adventure but it was also a little bit hard to get your head around." Jeff: "From the early days, for example, when we put out the first video and it really made a connection with our audience — and just little steps like that. We'd quite often play for the Nursing Mothers Association in little halls, and that started getting traction. So the audience was continually building in those regional areas and in the city. So there were these little steps along the way, so it wasn't like a huge leap — it was a very gradual thing for us." Greg: "I think, too, it's interesting that people use words like 'global phenomenon' or 'global empire'. For us, it was never about that. It was just about being able to do something that we loved and do it well. And for that reason, every time we had a little bit of success, it felt like we had achieved so much more than what we ever set out to do. And every step along the way, it just kept building and building. So on reflection, I think that was probably the biggest thing about the doco — to sit back and watch those milestone moments be played back. It's like 'well, god, I can't believe we did that because we never set out to do it' — it was just all these happy bonuses that came along. We've had a a blessed time and I think, I hope, that people take away from the doco the fact that when you do something in life that you really enjoy, if it brings joy to other people and that joy is something that's shared both ways, and if everybody's life can be filled with joy, then it's a really great thing." ON THE WIGGLES' ONGOING SUCCESS Murray: "I think that what made The Wiggles successful in the first place is a few things. One of them is that we had this philosophy that was being child-centred, which is a philosophy from early-childhood education where you put the child first and you think about where they're at in terms of their development. We tried to use that in The Wiggles, I think quite successfully. Also just things like we're pretty genuine about it. We're very genuine about what we're doing and what we're trying to achieve. And the songs are good, I think, and really connect with the audience. What's happened after we moved on is that mostly Anthony's seen to it that those things are intact, that the philosophy's still there, that the way of speaking to the audience is still there, the songs are there. So I think that has carried on through the decades and kept The Wiggles in the forefront." Anthony: "I think the bottom line for us is that we have to entertain, and keep children interested and educate them if we can. We're more about pro-social skills, and I think that we've kept the early-childhood philosophies at the forefront, and we haven't gotten too carried away with too many bells and whistles. When we play a live show, we can go off the script at any time, as opposed to a lot of children's shows that are taped. We can, if a child calls out something, we can go with it. That keeps it interesting for us as well. I think that for all those reasons we still love it. I love it still." ON THE WIGGLES' TARGET DEMOGRAPHIC GROWING UP, BUT REMAINING WIGGLES FANS Greg: "I think for those fans, it's the connection to their childhood, when they were young — hopefully carefree and innocent. It's a time of your life where, if you can connect to that inner child when you're in your 20s or 30s, it's something to celebrate. And if The Wiggles are that connection for people, it's a great channel to be able to play music for them and come to our shows, and it's great for us too, actually." Murray: "Oh it's fantastic." Greg: "Because it connects us to that time of our lives as well, when we were doing something that we absolutely loved doing and very privileged to be a part of so many people's lives in a way where they did embrace us and they still do." Jeff: "And for Australian fans, us topping the Triple J, Hot 100, that certainly boosted things with our older audience now." Anthony: "We get told that it was a positive part of their childhood. And when those shows, when we do those adult shows, we don't change our show at all. I mean, pretty well, we're just the same — in the documentary, Paul Paddick, who plays Captain Feathersword, thought it was going to be a chance to swear on stage. And we said 'no, it's got to be exactly how it was or we're going to ruin what these people think about us'." ON THE HOTTEST 100, LIL NAS X AND THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE LAST FEW YEARS Anthony: "It's been awesome. I'm still going with The Wiggles, so the eight Wiggles, and I'm loving that we've had Jeff come on stage, Murray come on stage, Greg come on stage with us — and it just proves that we're all part of the Wiggles family. Lil Nas was amazing. He made a couple of fun tweets that he'd like to do a collaboration — I really did think it was tongue in cheek — but we did get to meet him at Falls. Falls Festival was just the best, and hanging out with Australian bands that are in their 20s that grew up with the Wiggles, it's just been great. The Hottest 100 was surreal. And musically, it was great because I got to experience Tame Impala, who I knew nothing about — so it was educational for me." We're ready to wiggle with you! 💛💜💙❤️ — The Wiggles (@TheWiggles) April 27, 2022 Murray: "It's funny that so much of what we've done over the years, like going to America, quite a lot of the things we've done have been uncharted. And we've always had this sense of doing things for the adventure of it — and I think this is again something that we never expected. We never expected the initial success that we had, and we never expected that 30 years later we would be playing for those kids who grew up — and no one ever thought that we'd be on Triple J at all, let alone topping the Hottest 100. So it's just wonderful. It's like some sort of icing on the cake, I guess, that we can still get together and have fun with our audience, but also to spend time with each other, and really go back and do this thing that we loved and this amazing thing we created together. Jeff: "At the time we didn't even know who he [Lil Nas X] was. I was totally out of touch with all. But looking at it now, it's crazy." Hot Potato: The Story of The Wiggles streams via Prime Video. Read our review.
Once again, the famed grounds of Taronga Zoo will come alive with lights and projections when Vivid Sydney kicks off this Friday, May 25. This year, as part of the after-dark light program that takes over various precincts across Sydney, Taronga's set-up will include 19 brand new captivating installations. As the zoo continues its mission to raise awareness and support for endangered species in Australia and Sumatra, this year's Lights Of The Wild gives zoo visitors the opportunity wander the harbourside site after dark, encountering everything from multi-coloured elephants to schools of fish along the way. This year's event incorporates 19 new installations and three revamped ones, including ten 3D transformations of drawings submitted by local school children.Here's a peek at some of the animalistic magic you can look forward to when you visit. The light show begins from the moment you hit the zoo's entrance, stepping through the mouth of this two-storey-high Port Jackson shark. You'll have the chance to snap a photo alongside three giant glowing gorillas for the Vivid Gorillagram installation. See a nine-metre-long goanna emerge from the shadows, then move beneath a weedy sea dragon and cluster of sea turtles by the zoo's piazza. And encounter enormous illuminated bees hanging out among the trees. Multi-coloured crocodiles round out a cast of Aussie natives, along with red back spiders, platypus and echidnas. Other highlights include an award winning animated projection in a 270-degree cinematic experience, by Taronga Centenary Theatre, and an initiative that allows visitors to support Taronga's wildlife conservation work by purchasing a glowing yellow Ties for the Wild ribbon. Vivid Sydney will run from May 25 until June 16, and Taronga Zoo will be open every night of the festival. The experience is ticketed — you can buy tickets to the nightly 5.30pm, 6.30pm, 7.30pm sessions here. Images: Steve Christo.
Whether you're a political junkie or simply appreciate the 44th American President's annual end-of-year culture lists, block out your diary for March: you've got a date with Barack Obama. The former US leader is heading Down Under in autumn 2023 for a two-date, two-city speaking tour about leadership — marking his first Australian visit since 2018. President Obama is making the trip for an event dubbed An Evening with President Barack Obama, as presented by business leadership and events provider Growth Faculty. He'll be the organisation's first headline speaker as part of its return to in-person events, in fact — and restarting with the ex-US leader is quite the statement. Obama will take to the stage on Tuesday, March 28 at Aware Theatre in Sydney and on Wednesday, March 29 at Melbourne's John Cain Arena. For folks who can't make it, won't be in either city or miss out on tickets, the Sydney session will also be livestreamed. As for exactly what Obama will be focusing on — leadership is a broad topic — Growth Faculty quoted the man himself, from back in November 2019, as a guide. "Being a leader is not a matter of having your name up in lights, making speeches or corralling power at the top. It's identifying the power in other people and unleashing it," Obama said. The former US President will also cover unpredictable futures and how to navigate them, something that comes with his past job. In-person tickets start at $195, or there's a VIP option in Sydney with a pre-speech cocktail party — although Obama won't be there sipping drinks before taking the stage. AN EVENING WITH PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA 2023: Tuesday, March 28 — Aware Theatre, Sydney Wednesday, March 29 — John Cain Arena, Melbourne An Evening with President Barack Obama heads to Sydney and Melbourne in March 2023, with tickets on sale from 9am on Thursday, November 24. Head to the Growth Faculty website for further details. Top image: Carol M Highsmith via Wikimedia Commons.
If you're starting to think hard about next year's travel plans, we've got a stay that warrants an extra stop on the list — and it's not a beachfront villa or five-star skyrise. South Island sheep and cattle farm Lake Hāwea Station is the only New Zealand property to have made Condé Nast's prestigious Gold List of accommodation options for 2023. Now in its third decade, the international publication's hand-selected Gold List consists of the international team of writers' favourite places to stay around the world. And, recognised for its eco-practices and luxe transformation of the farm's historic cottages, Lake Hāwea Station made the cut in the publishing house's Best Sustainable Hotels category. [caption id="attachment_882820" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Thomas Greenway[/caption] We can see why — just 15 minutes from Wanaka, Lake Hāwea Station is the first certified carbon-zero farm in Australasia, offering travellers an authentic farm experience while they stay on-site in one of its four luxe accommodation options. In their notes, Condé Nast editors wrote that it was "simply, one of the most impressive, can't-believe-this-place-could-possibly-exist retreats you'll ever be lucky enough to stay in." "[The] property's true point of difference is its pioneering ethos in New Zealand's approach to cultivation and sustainability." [caption id="attachment_882821" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Thomas Greenway[/caption] The farm has four accommodation options available: the three-bedroom glass-walled Lake House, the studio-like Little L tiny house (which comes complete with a miniature library), the simple two-bedroom Homespur cottage and the historic Packhouse cottage, which sleeps six. All houses boast stellar lake views, outdoor firepits, hot tubs and outdoor dining. [caption id="attachment_882819" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Thomas Greenway[/caption] Owners Jussie and Geoff Ross received recognition for their renovation and transformation of the 16,000-acre property which they purchased in 2018. They were also recognised for the farm's focus on animal welfare practices, enhanced farm biodiversity and their work to slow climate change — including the planting of more than 100,000 native trees. [caption id="attachment_882818" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Thomas Greenway[/caption] Jussie says that it's a sign of a changing travel industry to see a working farm on a list usually reserved for luxury hotels. "It shows that high-end travellers want to be part of a climate-positive experience," she said in a statement. "In an age of increasing demand for both climate action and transparency, Lake Hāwea Station immerses its guests in every aspect of their fight for the climate." [caption id="attachment_882817" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Thomas Greenway[/caption] Lake Hawea Station is the only New Zealand property to be crowned in Conde Nast's Gold List for 2023. You can find more info about the station's sustainability practices — and perhaps book your stay — on the official website. Top image: Thomas Greenway
Whether you watched along during its original 2010–12 run, or you've been hooked to repeats of old episodes over the past nine years, there's no denying the joys of SBS game show Letters and Numbers. It celebrates clever contestants doing word and number puzzles, each episode has an engagingly low-key vibe — all while still remaining tense as competitors try to work out the right answers, of course — and it's very easy and immensely enjoyable to play along with from home. The show didn't use a new format, though, with the Aussie series taking its cues from both French TV's Des chiffres et des lettres, which dates back to 1965, and also from Britain's Countdown, which has been on the air since 1982. So, now that Letters and Numbers is coming back — which is obviously fantastic news — it's doing so with a twist that also takes inspiration from overseas. Get ready to spend your time watching Celebrity Letters and Numbers. Yes, the change of focus is right there in the title, with famous folks rather than everyday people battling it out — to make words out of nine randomly selected letters, to use six also randomly chosen numbers in equations to reach a set figure, and to rearrange a jumble of nine more letters into one lengthty word in the final round. There's a big emphasis on comedians this time around, too, so this is basically SBS's Aussie version of the great 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown (which SBS also airs, so it clearly knows that it's ace). Celebrity Letters and Numbers will start airing from 7.30pm on Saturday, October 2, with its twelve-episode first season dropping new instalments weekly on both SBS on TV and via SBS On Demand. You'll be getting twice as much puzzling this time, with eps running for an hour. Also, the series will air at least two seasons, with the second set to land in 2022. There is one other significant change, too, with comedian Michael Hing taking over hosting duties from Richard Morecroft. That said, Lily Serna will return to flip numbers and show off her maths skills, and David Astle will again tell contestants whether they've found real words or just made them up, all with his trusty dictionary in hand. And, if you're wondering who'll be competing, guests include Hamish Blake, Matt Okine, Merrick Watts, Jennifer Wong, Aaron Chen and Susie Youssef. They'll each be vying for a single book per episode, which is being sourced from a vintage 80s encyclopaedia collection that's been gifted by Michael Hing's parents (after they cleaned out their garage). Check out the trailer below: Celebrity Letters and Numbers will start airing on SBS and SBS On Demand from Saturday, October 2, with new episodes dropping weekly.
In 2021, the Golden Globes are taking place more than a month later than usual. The awards are also staging a different kind of ceremony than normal, with hosts Tina Fey and Amy Poehler steering the show from separate cities, and Zoom certain to feature heavily. Still, the first big event of this year's film and television awards season definitely knows how to get everyone talking — about its achievements and inclusions, as well as its snubs. The nominations for the 2021 Golden Globes were announced in the early hours of Thursday, February 4, Australian and New Zealand time, and they made history. For the first time ever, three women were nominated for Best Director, with Nomadland's Chloe Zhao, One Night in Miami's Regina King and Promising Young Woman's Emerald Fennell all getting a nod. If you're wondering how monumental this is, the Globes has never nominated more than one woman in the category in a single year, and it has only given out seven nominations to female filmmakers — yes, in total — in its 77-year history before now. David Fincher's Mank picked up the most amount of nods in the film categories, with six, but other highlights include Chadwick Boseman's nod for Best Actor in a Motion Picture — Drama for Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, Riz Ahmed's nomination in the same category for Sound of Metal, the filmed version of Hamilton picking up two nods in the comedy fields (including Lin-Manuel Miranda's nomination for Best Actor in a Motion Picture — Comedy), and Sacha Baron Cohen getting a look for both Borat Subsequent Moviefilm (in the Best Actor in a Motion Picture — Comedy category) and The Trial of the Chicago 7 (Best Supporting Actor). Borat's breakout star Maria Bakalova also earned a nomination (for Best Actress in a Motion Picture — Comedy), too, becoming the first Bulgarian actor to do so. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Rsa4U8mqkw The Globes also recognise TV, which is good news for the likes of Unorthodox, The Great and The Mandalorian, all of which received some love. There's a big omission in 2021's nods, however, with Michaela Coel's exceptional I May Destroy You — the best new show of 2020 hands down — absolutely nowhere to be seen. Instead, The Crown came out on top with six nominations, and everything from Normal People and Small Axe to Lovecraft Country and The Flight Attendant earned some attention. Aussie actors Nicole Kidman and Cate Blanchett also scored nods in the television fields, thanks to The Undoing and Mrs America. Every list of nominees for every awards ceremony has gaps, of course, and I May Destroy You isn't alone in missing out at this year's Globes. In the movie fields, Spike Lee's Da 5 Bloods was also completely overlooked — as was Zendaya's performance in Malcolm & Marie and the entire cast of Minari. In the TV categories , the Globes didn't sink its teeth into What We Do in the Shadows at all, and barely paid Better Call Saul any attention either. If you're wondering who else is actually up for an award, though, you'll find the full list of nominees below. And, as for who'll emerge victorious, that'll be announced on Monday, March 1 Australian and New Zealand time. GOLDEN GLOBE NOMINEES 2021: BEST MOTION PICTURE — DRAMA The Father Mank Nomadland Promising Young Woman The Trial of the Chicago 7 BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE — DRAMA Carey Mulligan — Promising Young Woman Frances McDormand — Nomadland Vanessa Kirby — Pieces of a Woman Viola Davis — Ma Rainey's Black Bottom Andra Day — The United States vs Billie Holiday BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE — DRAMA Riz Ahmed — Sound of Metal Chadwick Boseman — Ma Rainey's Black Bottom Anthony Hopkins — The Father Gary Oldman — Mank Tahar Rahim — The Mauritanian BEST MOTION PICTURE — MUSICAL OR COMEDY Borat Subsequent Moviefilm Hamilton Music Palm Springs The Prom BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE — MUSICAL OR COMEDY Maria Bakalova — Borat Subsequent Moviefilm Kate Hudson — Music Michelle Pfeiffer — French Exit Rosamund Pike — I Care a Lot Anya Taylor-Joy — Emma BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE — MUSICAL OR COMEDY Sacha Baron Cohen — Borat Subsequent Moviefilm James Corden — The Prom Lin-Manuel Miranda — Hamilton Dev Patel — The Personal History of David Copperfield Andy Samberg — Palm Springs BEST MOTION PICTURE — ANIMATED The Croods: A New Age Onward Over the Moon Soul Wolfwalkers BEST MOTION PICTURE — FOREIGN LANGUAGE Another Round La Llorona The Life Ahead Minari Two of Us BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN ANY MOTION PICTURE Jodie Foster — The Mauritanian Olivia Colman — The Father Glenn Close — Hillbilly Elegy Amanda Seyfried — Mank Helena Zengel — News of the World BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN ANY MOTION PICTURE Sacha Baron Cohen — The Trial of the Chicago 7 Daniel Kaluuya — Judas and the Black Messiah Jared Leto — The Little Things Bill Murray — On the Rocks Leslie Odom, Jr — One Night in Miami BEST DIRECTOR — MOTION PICTURE David Fincher — Mank Regina King — One Night in Miami Aaron Sorkin — The Trial of the Chicago 7 Chloe Zhao — Nomadland Emerald Fennell — Promising Young Woman BEST SCREENPLAY — MOTION PICTURE The Father Mank Nomadland Promising Young Woman The Trial of the Chicago 7 BEST ORIGINAL SCORE — MOTION PICTURE The Midnight Sky Tenet News of the World Mank Soul BEST ORIGINAL SONG — MOTION PICTURE 'Fight for You' — Judas and the Black Messiah 'Io Si' — The Life Ahead 'Speak Now' — One Night in Miami 'Hear My Voice' — The Trial of the Chicago 7 'Tigress & Tweed' — The US v Billie Holiday BEST TELEVISION SERIES — DRAMA Ratched Ozark The Crown Lovecraft Country The Mandalorian BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES — DRAMA Emma Corrin — The Crown Olivia Colman — The Crown Jodie Comer — Killing Eve Laura Linney — Ozark Sarah Paulson — Ratched BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES — DRAMA Jason Bateman — Ozark Josh O'Connor — The Crown Bob Odenkirk — Better Call Saul Al Pacino — Hunters Matthew Rhys — Perry Mason BEST TELEVISION SERIES — MUSICAL OR COMEDY Emily in Paris The Flight Attendant Schitt's Creek The Great Ted Lasso BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES — MUSICAL OR COMEDY Lily Collins — Emily in Paris Kaley Cuoco — The Flight Attendant Elle Fanning — The Great Catherine O'Hara — Schitt's Creek Jane Levy — Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES — MUSICAL OR COMEDY Don Cheadle — Black Monday Nicholas Hoult — The Great Eugene Levy — Schitt's Creek Jason Sudeikis — Ted Lasso Ramy Youssef — Ramy BEST TELEVISION LIMITED SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION Normal People The Queen's Gambit Small Axe The Undoing Unorthodox BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR A MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION Cate Blanchett — Mrs America Daisy Edgar-Jones — Normal People Shira Haas — Unorthodox Nicole Kidman — The Undoing Anya Taylor-Joy — The Queen's Gambit BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR A MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION Bryan Cranston — Your Honor Jeff Daniels — The Comey Rule Hugh Grant — The Undoing Ethan Hawke — The Good Lord Bird Mark Ruffalo — I Know This Much Is True BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, LIMITED SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION Cynthia Nixon — Ratched Gillian Anderson — The Crown Helena Bonham Carter — The Crown Julia Garner — Ozark Annie Murphy — Schitt's Creek BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, LIMITED SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TV John Boyega — Small Axe Brendan Gleeson — The Comey Rule Dan Levy — Schitt's Creek Jim Parsons — Hollywood Donald Sutherland — The Undoing The 2021 Golden Globes take place on Monday, March 1 Australian and New Zealand time. For further details, head to the awards' website. Top image: The Crown, Des Willie/Netflix.
Here's some cluckin' good news — Pappa Flock has opened its first Queensland venue, now slinging its viral crispy chicken from Westfield Chermside. The new Brisbane location marks Pappa Flock's tenth restaurant opening in Australia and is the largest one to date. Pappa Flock has amassed a huge social media following, with its American-style menu being dubbed a Raising Cane's dupe by Aussies desperate to try the famous crispy chicken. Rachel Korbel, Chief Marketing Officer, says Pappa Flock's "TikTok and Instagram have been flooded with comments and DMs begging us to come to Queensland. The wait is finally over, and we're so excited to be here." Customers are lining up to get their hands on the Flock Box, which includes chicken tenders, buttery toast, chips, a drink and, of course, the famous Pappa Flock sauce. Other favourites include chicken sandwiches, loaded fries and freshly squeezed lemonade. Head Chef Eddie Cofie says a "commitment to fresh, hands-on quality is what makes the Pappa Flock difference, and we can't wait for our Queensland Flockers to taste it." The dedication to freshness goes as far as squeezing over 2,500 lemons daily for the lemonade and hand-breading every free-range chicken tender. Pappa Flock intends to continue its crispy chicken dominance, with a new store opening in Mt Gravatt, Queensland, by the end of September. Images: Supplied. Satisfy your fried chicken cravings and head to Poppa Flock's now, or beat the queues and order online.
Plastic straws are slowly but surely disappearing from venues across the globe — including plenty of switched-on bars and eateries here in Australasia. And now, even fast food giant McDonald's is taking a stand against single-use plastic straws, announcing it'll start phasing out the unnecessary drink accessories across its UK stores next month. According to Sky News, McDonald's hopes to reach a point where 100-percent of its packaging is recyclable, having already phased out polystyrene and foam. Although, the company is yet to find an alternative to its plastic drink lids. Its next move is to start trialling the use of biodegradable and recyclable paper straws, in place of its less eco-friendly plastic alternatives. McDonald's UK restaurants will also start keeping its straws behind the counter, making them available only upon request. With 90% of the UK's population indulging in at least one Macca's run a year, and the Marine Conservation Society estimating 8.5 billion single-use plastic straws are used annually across the country, this new initiative is no small win for the planet. No word yet on whether McDonald's restaurants in other countries will follow suit, though here's hoping we're not too far behind.
After spending a day, evening or both sipping on your favourite wine, you might feel as though you've been soaking in boozy grape juice. That's understandable. You'll feel the same when you're enjoying a glass of Edivo Vina's tipples — but expect to dive deeper, literally. Edivo Vina is Croatia's first underwater winery, and they're now open for visitors. Yes, that means doing more than simply plunging your face into a wine glass. You'll descend into the ocean's depths to explore their operations, and check out a sunken shipwreck that's used as their underwater cellar while you're down there. And, you can even help bring your own bottle of vino back up to the surface. Located off of the coast of Drače on the Pelješac Peninsula, the winery first starts their booze-making process on land, where their wines are aged for three months. They're then stored in clay jugs known as amphorae, corked and protected by two layers of rubber, and submerged 18 to 25 metres into the sea for one to two years. Relying upon natural cooling, giving the booze a pinewood aroma and also benefiting from the water's "perfect silence" — because quiet wine-making is the best wine-making, apparently — it's a system that the ancient Greeks used. They are known for their love of wine, after all. Unsurprisingly, after such a substantial stint in the ocean, the bottles come back to the surface coated in shells, corrals and algae. Now that's something you won't find at your local bottle-o. Images: Edivo Vina.
Darlinghurst's Pocket Bar know exactly how much a parking ticket can ruin your day. You're out in the sunshine having a wonderful time, maybe you're getting caught up in a lazy lunch or a movie that ran longer than you thought, then BAM — you get a ticket and the world feels cruel and unjustified. Now, not only are these neighbourhood heroes changing your perceptions of tickets completely, they're rewarding you when you get one. If you're parked anywhere around Burton or Oxford Streets, your car could soon be struck with a "Pocket Notice". Printing out hundreds of flyers that look exactly like parking tickets, this tricky little bar have been distributing sneaky ads for their venue offering drivers 30 per cent off their new street food menu. The offence listed on the ticket is "optimism — just being in the right spot at the right time". Just when I thought I copped a fine...well played #pocketsydney, well played! #pocketbar #darlinghurst pic.twitter.com/DNNnQgvvMf — Shireen Khalil (@Shireenkal) September 30, 2014 If the car's owner is unlucky enough to find themselves with an actual parking ticket, the venue will offer a 20 per cent discount off everything. Pocket Bar owner Karl Schlothauer started the marketing campaign in reaction to the ever-vigilant parking officers of Sydney's inner suburbs. "I have a running battle with rangers," he said. "At one stage I had $7,000 in parking fines." It's not the only thing he's been fined for either. Flyering advertisements on cars is illegal under the NSW Protection of Environment Operations Act as it often prompts people into littering. In 2009, Schlothauer received a $400 fine for leaving a Pocket Notice on a car near Hyde Park. Despite that setback, they continued on with the idea. New notices have been spotted on cars in the last couple of weeks. If you do find yourself with an actual ticket, at least this is a silver lining — you can buy a slightly cheaper drink to drown your sorrows. Via Daily Telegraph. Photo: Angelica Sotelo.
After introducing Australian tastebuds to the double cheeseburger pie — and Tasmanian scallop pies, bangers and mash pies, and chicken parmigiana pies, too — the team at Banjo's Bakery Cafe has launched another culinary hybrid. Pastry is a feature, as usual. This time, though, it encloses layers of pasta, beef mince, tomato, vegetables and cheese. Yes, lasagne pies are now a real thing that exists on the bakery chain's menu. Melbourne's Pie Thief has been doing them since 2019, but now Banjo's is serving up its own version. And, yes, they're exactly what they sound like. The aim: to satisfy your cravings when you just can't bring yourself to choose between a pie and a slice of lasagne. If you're a little indecisive when it comes to choosing what to eat in general, you're probably already a big fan of food mashups that find ways to combine two popular dishes — and you'll likely want to add this one to your must-try list. The lasagne pies have joined Banjo's signature range, alongside the aforementioned other creative varieties. They'll be available from the company's stores from today, Wednesday, May 5, as well as via online click-and-collect orders and Uber Eats deliveries. In NSW, you'll need to head north to Glendale to get your fix. In Victoria, stores are located in Mornington, Traralgon and Mildura. Queenslanders can pick from ten spots, including Darra, Cleveland, Park Ridge and Redcliffe, while pie-loving SA residents can hit up Glenelg — and there's 29 stores in Tasmania. Banjo's Bakery Cafe's lasagne pie is currently on the menu at the chain's stores nationally. To find your nearest location, visit the company's website.
Something delightful has been happening in cinemas across the country. After months spent empty, with projectors silent, theatres bare and the smell of popcorn fading, Australian picture palaces are back in business — spanning both big chains and smaller independent sites in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. During COVID-19 lockdowns, no one was short on things to watch, of course. In fact, you probably feel like you've streamed every movie ever made, including new releases, comedies, music documentaries, Studio Ghibli's animated fare and Nicolas Cage-starring flicks. But, even if you've spent all your time of late glued to your small screen, we're betting you just can't wait to sit in a darkened room and soak up the splendour of the bigger version. Thankfully, plenty of new films are hitting cinemas so that you can do just that — and we've rounded up, watched and reviewed everything on offer this week. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SEoi8r1Z4Y SUPERNOVA Stanley Tucci and Colin Firth aren't lazy, bad or bland actors. The former has an Oscar nomination for The Lovely Bones, the latter won for The King's Speech, and neither can be accused of merely playing the same character again and again. And yet, whenever either pops up on-screen, they bring a set of expectations with them — or, perhaps more accurately, they each instantly remind viewers of the traits that have served them so well over their respective four-decade careers. In features as diverse as The Devil Wears Prada and the Hunger Games films, Tucci has given a distinctive sense of flair and presence to his many parts, as well as his innate ability to appear bemused and sarcastic about life in general. Whether as Mr Darcy in Pride and Prejudice or as Mark Darcy in the Bridget Jones movies, Firth has enjoyed immense success playing reserved, introverted, dry-witted men who are more likely to ruminate stoically than to outwardly show much emotion. Teaming up in Supernova, both talents draw upon these characteristics once more, as writer/director Harry Macqueen (Hinterland) wants them to. But here's the thing about this pair of stars, who shine particularly bright in this affecting drama: far from ever settling into their own comfortable niches, they're frequently delving deeper, twisting in different directions and offering up untold surprises. A famed novelist less interested in putting pen to paper than in peering up at the stars, Tucci's Tusker knows how to defuse any scenario with his charm in Supernova, but it's apparent that he often uses that canny ability to avoid facing a number of difficulties. An acclaimed musician with an eagerly anticipated concert in the works, Firth's Sam often says little; however, the fact that he's grappling internally with feelings he can't quite do justice to in words always remains evident. Travelling around England's Lakes District, they're not just on an ordinary campervan holiday. Neither man has simply been whiling away their time before their long-awaited returns to performing and writing, either. With stops to see Sam's sister (Pippa Haywood, Four Kids and It) and her family, and to reunite with old friends, the couple are making the most of what time they have left together. Tusker is unwell, with early-onset dementia increasingly having an impact on not only his everyday life, but upon the shared existence they've treasured for decades. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilNHPfOOeIs GUNDA Move over Babe, Piglet, Porky and Peppa. Thanks to monochrome-hued documentary Gunda, cinema has a brand new porcine star. Or several, to be exact; however, other than the eponymous sow, none of the attention-grabbing pigs in this movie are given names. If that feels jarring, that's because it breaks from film and television's usual treatment of animals. Typically on-screen, we see and understand the zoological beings we share this planet with as only humans can, filtering them through our own experience, perception and needs. We regard them as companions who become our trustiest and most reliable friends; as creatures who play important roles in our lives emotionally, physically and functionally; as anthropomorphised critters with feelings and traits so much like ours that it seems uncanny; and as worthy targets of deep observation or study. We almost never just let them be, though. Whether they're four-legged, furry, feathered or scaly, animals that grace screens big and small rarely allowed to exist free from our two-legged interference — or from our emotions, expectations or gaze. Gunda isn't like any other movie you've seen about all creatures great and small, but it can't ignore the shadow that humanity casts over its titular figure, her piglets, and the one-legged chicken and paired-off cows it also watches, either. It's shot on working farms, so it really doesn't have that luxury. Still, surveying these critters and their lives without narration or explanation, this quickly involving, supremely moving and deeply haunting feature is happy to let the minutiae of these creatures' existence say everything that it needs to. The delights and devastation alike are in the details, and the entire movie is filled with both. Filmmaker Victor Kossakovsky (Aquarela) looks on as Gunda's namesake gives birth, and as her offspring crawl hungrily towards her before they've even properly realised that they're now breathing. His film keeps peering their way as they squeal, explore and grow, and as they display their inquisitive, curious and sometimes mischievous personalities, too. Sometimes, this little family rolls around in the mud. At other times, they simply sleep, or Gunda takes the opportunity to enjoy some shut-eye while her piglets play. Whatever they're doing, and whenever and where, these pigs just going about their business, which the feature takes in frame by frame. In one of the documentary's interludes away from its porcine points of focus, the aforementioned chook hops about. Whether logs or twigs are involved, it too is just navigating its ordinary days. In the second of the movie's glimpses elsewhere, cattle trot and stand, and their routine couldn't seem more commonplace as well. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbn8-Tpa3no AALTO Sometimes, a documentary doesn't need words, as Gunda wholeheartedly demonstrates. Aalto features plenty, all spoken as voiceover and delving into the life of great Finnish modernist architects Alvar and Aino Aalto; however, the film's visuals would've still kept viewers glued to the screen if not even a single syllable was uttered. For the bulk of the doco's duration, savvy director Virpi Suutari (Entrepreneur) fills the screen with the couple's handiwork. Furniture from the 1930s onwards and buildings up until the 1970s are seen in loving detail, with the feature's imagery zooming in on the former and walking through and soaring above the latter. Some might be familiar, especially on the homewares side — IKEA has taken a few cues from some of their designs over the years — but viewers new and well-acquainted alike will find much to catch their eye. With its smooth bends and sculptural look, the bentwood Paimio Chair is a thing of unshakeable beauty. The unpredictable curves in the pair's various wavy vases are just as vivid to behold. Combining an undulating appearance with rough bricks that Alvar complimented as "the lousiest in the world", Baker House at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology is far more striking than any other college dormitory. And there's minimalistic grace in the buildings at the University of Jyväskylä, which are among the few sites seen in the feature with people in them. To see these pieces and places, and others like them, is to be submerged into the Aaltos' way of viewing the world. Aalto doesn't just stare at the marvellous items designed by its namesakes, though. Suutari also draws upon home videos to tell their story, uses multiple unseen narrators to unfurl and comment upon their tale, and gives voice to letters penned between the pair whenever one travelled away from the other. Indeed, this isn't just a professional portrait, but a personal one, too — and a film made with admiration but not devotion. While Alvar became a world-renowned star, he isn't the sole reason that Aalto remains a famous design name. He also wasn't without his flaws. Accordingly, Aalto doesn't blindly sing his praises, peddle stock-standard male genius tropes or solely peer his way. Yes, the documentary's title mirrors its focus. Aino was a pivotal part of his architectural practice; "regardless of how the drawings are signed, they clearly worked as a team," the film's narration offers. After Aino's death, Alvar's second wife Elissa, another architect, also proved just as crucial. It would've been easy to simply worship Alvar, but Suutari cannily broadens the story around his work — and makes a better, and more interesting and engaging doco as a result. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzvwJiBFhSg CREATION STORIES Whenever someone gets 'Wonderwall' stuck in their head, they partly have Alan McGee to thank. The Scottish music industry executive and Creation Records co-founder happened to be at the same Glasgow bar as Oasis in 1993, and saw the band being turned away by management despite their claim that they were booked to play a gig. When the Manchester-based group was eventually allowed in, McGee checked out their set. He quickly offered them a recording contract and, yes, history was made. His impact upon the music world doesn't end there, either, with McGee managing The Jesus and Mary Chain, putting out records by Primal Scream and My Bloody Valentine, and getting involved in the acid house scene as well. That means that Creation Stories has much to cover. The lively biopic initially frames its episodic jumps through McGee's life via a chat between the exec (Ewen Bremner, T2: Trainspotting) and a journalist (Suki Waterhouse, The Broken Hearts Gallery), but that's just an excuse to leap back into his memories. From there, the film pinballs from his unhappy teenage years with his doting mother (Siobhan Redmond, Alice Through the Looking Glass) and stern father (Richard Jobson, Tube Tales), and his early attempts to soar to music stardom in London, to Creation's many financial ups and downs and his involvement in politics. Creation Stories is adapted from McGee's autobiography of the same name, with Trainspotting author Irvine Welsh and playwright Dean Cavanagh penning the script; however, it often feels as if McGee himself saw Rocketman and asked for his own version. That sensation comes through stylistically, thanks to the frenetic pace, vibrant splashes of colour and ample scenes of drug-fuelled partying. It's also evident in the impressionistic approach applied to McGee's life, telling a tale that mightn't always be 100-percent accurate in every minute detail but is wholly designed to capture the wild mood and vibe perfectly. Both movies boast Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrel stars as their directors, too, with Nick Moran (The Kid) jumping behind the lens here. And, the two films also benefit from standout lead performances, with Bremner as stellar as he's ever been on-screen. Indeed, the actor best known as hapless heroin addict Spud couldn't be more important in Creation Stories. So much of the film's chaotic ride through McGee's highlights and lowlights rests upon Bremner's larger-than-life portrayal, peppy presence, mile-a-minute gift of the gab and deceptive charisma, so its central talent was always going to make or break the film. There's no shaking its general adherence to the rock biopic genre, though, but there's also no doubting its alluring energy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLg86R4Ay-Y THE UNHOLY The Exorcist was not an easy movie to make, as exceptional documentary Leap of Faith: William Friedkin on The Exorcist made clear. But over the past four decades, the horror masterpiece has proven a very easy film to emulate again and again — or, to try to ape in anything that pairs religion and scares, at least. Copying it is nowhere near the same as matching it, of course. That's especially the case when most one-note flicks that attempt the feat simply think that crosses, creepy females and stilted, unnatural body movements are all that it takes. The Unholy is the latest example, to uninspired, unengaging, unoriginal, unconvincing and thoroughly unsurprising results. Adapted from the 1983 James Herbert novel Shrine by seasoned screenwriter turned first-time feature director Evan Spiliotopoulos (Charlie's Angels, Beauty and the Beast, The Huntsman: Winter's War), the movie's premise has promise: what if a site of a supposed vision of the Virgin Mary and subsequent claimed miracles, such as Lourdes in France and Fatima in Portugal, was targeted by a sinister spirit instead? But, despite also boasting the always-charismatic Jeffrey Dean Morgan (The Walking Dead) as its lead, all that eventuates here is a dull, derivative and not even remotely unsettling shocker of a horror flick. The fact that The Evil Dead and Drag Me to Hell's Sam Raimi is one of its producers delivers The Unholy's biggest scare. Looking constantly perplexed but still proving one of the best things about the film, Morgan plays disgraced journalist Gerry Fenn. After losing his fame and acclaim when he was caught fabricating stories, he now makes $150 per assignment chasing the slightest of flimsy supernatural leads. His current line of work brings him to the small Massachusetts town inhabited by Father Hagan (William Sadler, Bill & Ted Face the Music) and his niece Alice (Cricket Brown, Dukeland), the latter of whom is deaf. Thanks to a barren tree, a creepy doll, an eerie chapter of history and a strange run-in with Gerry, however, she can soon suddenly hear and speak. She says that can see the Virgin Mary, too. Swiftly, word about her story catches the church, media and public's attention. Even if Spiliotopoulos had kept the novel's title, it'd remain obvious that all isn't what it seems — the film starts nearly two centuries ago with a woman being burned alive at the aforementioned tree, so nothing here is subtle. But instead of pairing an exploration of the dangers of having faith without question with demonic bumps and jumps, The Unholy embraces cliches with the same passion that satan stereotypically has for fire. The cheap-looking visuals, Cary Elwes' (Black Christmas) wavering accent and the bored look on co-star Katie Aselton's (Synchronic) face hardly help, either. If you're wondering what else is currently screening in cinemas — or has been lately — check out our rundown of new films released in Australia on January 1, January 7, January 14, January 21 and January 28; February 4, February 11, February 18 and February 25; and March 4, March 11, March 18 and March 25; and April 1 and April 8. You can also read our full reviews of a heap of recent movies, such as Nomadland, Pieces of a Woman, The Dry, Promising Young Woman, Summerland, Ammonite, The Dig, The White Tiger, Only the Animals, Malcolm & Marie, News of the World, High Ground, Earwig and the Witch, The Nest, Assassins, Synchronic, Another Round, Minari, Firestarter — The Story of Bangarra, The Truffle Hunters, The Little Things, Chaos Walking, Raya and the Last Dragon, Max Richter's Sleep, Judas and the Black Messiah, Girls Can't Surf, French Exit, Saint Maud, Godzilla vs Kong, The Painter and the Thief, Nobody, The Father, Willy's Wonderland, Collective and Voyagers.
If there's a question that no employee wants to hear from the person setting company agendas, pulling strings and signing paycheques, it's "what do we do?". In The Consultant, Regus Patoff (Christoph Waltz, Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio) asks a variation of it early — "what do we make?" he queries at CompWare after he arrives amid grim circumstances. The mobile gaming outfit came to fame under wunderkind Sang (TV first-timer Brian Yoon), so much so that school groups tour the firm's office. Then, during the visit that opens this eight-part Prime Video thriller, a kid shoots and kills the company's founder. That doesn't stop Regus from showing up afterwards clutching a signed contract from Sang and spouting a mandate to do whatever it takes to maximise his legacy. Regus is as stern yet eccentric as Waltz has become known for — a suit- and tie-wearing kindred spirit to Inglourious Basterds' Hans Landa, plus Spectre and No Time to Die's Ernst Stavro Blofield. He first darkens CompWare's door in the thick of night, when only ambitious assistant Elaine Hayman (Brittany O'Grady, The White Lotus) and stoner coder Craig Horne (Nat Wolff, Joe vs Carole) are onsite, and he won't take no for an answer. There's no consultant job for him to have, Elaine tells him. There's no business to whip into shape, she stresses. By the next morning, he's corralling employees for an all-hands meeting and telling remote workers they'll be fired if they don't show up in-person within an hour, even if he proudly doesn't know what CompWare does — or care. Giving the small screen its latest moody and mysterious workplace nightmare, The Consultant adapts horror author Bentley Little's 2016 novel of the same name, but plays like Severance filtered through Servant. Similarities with the former come with the setting, tone and keep-'em-guessing setup, while commonalities with the latter arise from sharing creator Tony Basgallop. Both series kick off with a blow-in, unsettle a group already coping with tragedy and reorder their status quo with severe methods. Both lace the chaos that follows with nods towards the supernatural, and both ask what bargains we're willing to make — or not — to live the lives we're striving for. The Consultant hinges upon two ideas: the disdain all workers have for head honchos who slash and restructure without knowing the daily grind, bothering to understand it or even pretending to get to know their staff; and the lengths someone might be willing to go to, including what they may accept and overlook, to advance their own careers. Regus doesn't waste any time earning ire, whether through arbitrary firings — he claims one worker smells of "putrid fruit" — or by pitting his employees against each other to fight for a management office. But, as he sits in the top-floor suite still splattered with Sang's blood, he also accepts Elaine's self-given title bump to Creative Liaison and rushes Craig's new game into production. There's still plenty getting Elaine and Craig questioning, such as Regus' around-the-clock calls, the basement records room filled with invasive personal files that no one previously knew about, his sudden rule changes — one day, shoes are verboten — and how he whisks off Sang's visiting mother (Gloria John, Shifter), who actually now owns the company, but doesn't take her to her hotel or anywhere else she can be found. Elaine and Craig also have a romantic past to deal with, The Consultant's most obligatory narrative detail. Plus, Craig is preparing to marry the Catholic Patti (Aimee Carrero, Spirited), who isn't fond of his slacker vibe or his at-work friendships. And, there's a helluva mid-series night that involves a sky-high nightclub, a Russian model (Gena Heylock, Chicago Med) with prosthetic limbs and a wild car ride. The heavy splashes of red that colour The Consultant's opening titles and much of CompWare's office lighting aren't subtle. Neither is the "devil made me do it" excuse offered by Sang's boy killer or the soundtrack's use of Elvis Presley's '(You're the) Devil in Disguise'. But Basgallop excels at keeping viewers guessing about whether the diabolical events that come his characters' way have nefarious sources, or if they're as easily explainable via everyday details. His two currently streaming series are also masterclasses in using their confined settings — The Consultant steps beyond CompWare HQ rarely, like Servant and its Philadelphia brownstone — to bubble with unease. The Severance comparisons kick in again here, too, weaponising and satirising a tech company's look and feel, as well as its attitude and atmosphere. While O'Grady backs up her stellar turn opposite Euphoria's Sydney Sweeney in The White Lotus with another astute performance — and character — and Wolff conveys disaffected but driven with ease, The Consultant wouldn't be as quick a binge without Waltz. Quentin Tarantino has built two films around him, with both Inglourious Basterds and Django Unchained winning the actor Oscars, and he's perfectly cast here. There's also a slipperiness to Waltz's involvement that matches Basgallop's fondness for the same trait. Viewers know exactly how the series' biggest-name star will play Regus and he doesn't disappoint, but that alone doesn't explain everything about the sinister character. As Waltz gets menacing and malevolent, and O'Grady and Wolff flit from shock to acquiescence and back again and again, The Consultant makes expected points about corporate culture, its cut-throat dynamics and increasingly 24/7 demands; the 21st-century employment landscape and its ruthlessness towards employees; and the engrained mindset that has everyone dutifully complying with authority. Familiar but still topical, sly, smart and shrewd: that's the thematic terrain the series traverses, and well. Try not to think of recent social-media moves when Regus starts throwing his weight around, for instance. Try not to ponder your own horrible bosses — yes, Waltz has played one before in Horrible Bosses 2 — and career pressure points, too. There's no point trying not to get drawn into this tense, suspenseful and slickly made series, however, which boasts Destroyer and Yellowjackets' Karyn Kusama among its directors, and lures in viewers as easily as addictive mobile games. Check out the trailer for The Consultant below: The Consultant streams via Prime Video.
A superstar Hong Kong bar dedicated to mezcal and tequila has just been named the number one bar in Asia for 2023 at the annual '50 Best' awards which took place in Hong Kong overnight. The victorious establishment COA (pictured above) located in Central Hong Kong and helmed by acclaimed bartender-owner Jay Khan, has retained the number one spot on the list for the third consecutive year, demonstrating that excellence and consistency can go hand-in-hand — even when tequila is heavily involved. [caption id="attachment_909998" align="alignnone" width="1920"] COA's Head of Operations Ajit Gurung and Owner Jay Khan[/caption] The top 50 features bars from 17 cities across Asia from Taipei to Tokyo, providing ample inspiration for destination drinking on your next trip to the continent. The bars that made the top five spanned five different countries. At #2 was perennial favourite Jigger & Pony in Singapore — inarguably one of the most influential businesses in getting the Asian bar scene on the map. At #3 is the glitzy BKK Social Club located at the Four Seasons Hotel in Bangkok. Then at #4 is Tokyo favourite Bar Benfiddich, a delightfully oddball 14-seater bar in the hectic Shinjuku district that champions farm-to-bar cocktails. And rounding out the top five, at #5 is the beautifully-designed Seoul venue Zest, which also took out the Highest Climber Award for 2023 after jumping an astounding 43 positions from last year's 50 Best list. Explore the full list below and start making notes for your next getaway. [caption id="attachment_909985" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Inside Tokyo's tiny Bar Benfiddich[/caption] Asia's 50 Best Bars 2023 1. Coa, Hong Kong 2. Jigger & Pony, Singapore 3. BKK Social Club, Bangkok 4. Bar Benfiddich, Tokyo 5. Zest, Seoul 6. Tropic City, Bangkok 7. Nutmeg & Clove, Singapore 8. Argo, Hong Kong 9. Darkside, Hong Kong 10. Sago House, Singapore 11. Indulge Experimental Bistro, Taipei 12. Vesper, Bangkok 13. Cham Bar, Seoul 14. The SG Club, Tokyo 15. Analogue Initiative, Singapore 16. Republic, Singapore 17. The Aubrey, Hong Kong 18. Sidecar, New Delhi 19. The Cocktail Club, Jakarta 20. Virtù, Tokyo (winner of the Highest New Entry Award) 21. Manhattan, Singapore 22. Mahaniyom Cocktail Bar, Bangkok 23. Lamp Bar, Nara 24. 28 HongKong Street, Singapore 25. Le Chamber, Seoul 26. Penicillin, Hong Kong 27. Atlas, Singapore 28. Alice, Seoul 29. Pantja, Jakarta 30. Employees Only, Singapore 31. Quinary, Hong Kong 32. Stay Gold Flamingo, Singapore 33. Mostly Harmless, Hong Kong 34. The Curator, Manila 35. The Bombay Canteen, Mumbai 36. Bar Trigona, Kuala Lumpur 37. Southside Parlor, Seoul 38. Copitas, Bengaluru 39. Hope & Sesame, Guangzhou 40. Smoke & Bitters, Hiriketiya 41. Vender, Taichung 42. Native, Singapore 43. The Public House, Taipei 44. Bee's Knees, Kyoto 45. High Five, Tokyo 46. Soko, Seoul 47. The Old Man, Hong Kong 48. The Living Room, Mumbai 49. The Bellwood, Tokyo 50. Penrose Kuala, Lumpur Main image: COA
2016: what a year. We saw powerful figures do battle on more than one occasion, witnessed pop culture figures return (and unexpectedly flourish), explored multiculturalism in several western nations, examined the impact of unforgiving and inflexible government bureaucracy, and watched a fascist try to dispense with naysayers — and that's just in the realm of film. Many a superhero flick, plenty of remakes and sequels, and the likes of The Hateful Eight, Goldstone, I, Daniel Blake and Green Room can attest to that. We also experienced everything from alien attacks to bear maulings to ghosts needing busting, and we've still only just scratched the surface of the last year at the cinema. In short, it was a great year to be a movie buff. So what's worth watching? Well, Concrete Playground's film critics have been hard at work staring at screens for the past 12 months watching an insane amount of cinema. So here's our picks for the best films of the year — if you only have time to watch ten films this holiday season, be sure to choose these ones. AMERICAN HONEY As directed by Fish Tank and Wuthering Heights' Andrea Arnold, American Honey takes an almost three-hour road trip through the vast, bewildering, heartbreaking disparity between the have and have nots in American society. A streetwise teen looking for a different life proves our guide after she crosses paths with a smooth-talking travelling magazine salesman with an epic rat tail. The latter is the best work of Shia LaBeouf's career, however it's the revelatory efforts of first-timer Sasha Lane as the former — and Arnold's ability to make her film feel as wide-ranging as its roaming narrative, and as intimate as its boxed-in imagery — that packs the strongest punch. Well, that and the eclectic yet expressive mixtape-like soundtrack. — Sarah Ward https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHOmrolJEiY THE HANDMAIDEN Dripping with sex, Park Chan-wook's adaptation of Sarah Waters' novel Fingersmith is a pulpy, stylish delight. Transplanting the story from Victorian era England to 1930s Korea, the film follows a maid out to steal her mistress's fortune, only for the pair to end up falling in love. Of course there's a lot more to it than that, with the director of Stoker and Oldboy taking viewers on a ride that is both ludicrous and utterly compelling. Aesthetically speaking, every single frame feels perfectly considered, while the twisting narrative will keep you guessing until the end. — Tom Clift MIDNIGHT SPECIAL It's been a great year for showing affection for sci-fi from years gone by — and, before Stranger Things set '80s-loving, TV fans' hearts aflutter, Midnight Special did the same in the cinema. The fourth film from Take Shelter and Mud director Jeff Nichols not only marks his fourth collaboration with the oh-so-great Michael Shannon — and his latest exploration of folks trusting in something bigger than themselves — but also offers an awe-filled, ambitious effort that's also a road movie, a chase thriller, an intimate drama and an otherworldly adventure. — SW THE NEON DEMON Director Nicholas Wending Refn turns his lens on the LA fashion scene with extremely unsettling, occasionally nauseating results. Bringing the same sleek, detached style (punctuated with violence, of course) that he did to his previous films including Drive and Only God Forgives, the Danish provocateur intentionally apes the aesthetic of the world his film inhabits, in order to expose the ugliness underneath. The Neon Demon has its detractors, and understandably so — the last act especially seems designed to test the audience's boundaries. But even those who despise the film would be hard pressed to deny its artistry. — TC CAROL As an actor skilled at bringing complex roles to life, Cate Blanchett just keeps getting better. As a filmmaker fascinated by stories of yearning for a more fulfilling existence, Velvet Goldmine and Far From Heaven director Todd Haynes does too. Combine the two with Patricia Highsmith's ahead-of-its-time 1952 novel The Price of Salt, add a disarmingly delicate performance by Rooney Mara as a shy shopgirl instantly smitten witg Blanchett's glamorous but conflicted older woman, and slow-building romance doesn't get much emotionally resonant and visually radiant than this. — SW DOWN UNDER Although tragically underseen in cinemas, writer-director Abe Forsythe's pitch black comedy set around the Cronulla riots is one of funniest and most insightful Australian films of the decade so far. A satire in the vein of Team America and Four Lions in which the stupidity of the protagonists belies the film's hidden intelligence, Down Under holds a mirror up to the ugly parts of Australian society, while painting bigots and racists as the idiots they so clearly are. Hysterically funny one moment and deeply troubling the next, it's a must see film that feels distressingly relevant today. — TC LA LA LAND It starts with sunshine, colour and song, then often lurks in moody bars and clubs. It spirits aspiring actress Mia (Emma Stone) and avid jazz enthusiast Seb (Ryan Gosling) on a rollercoaster-like romance, and yet doesn't shy away from the pain and heartbreak of both following your passion and falling for someone. It references '50s musicals and '80s pop, but turns its influences into its own tale, proving nostalgic, celebratory and knowing all at once. Yes, Whiplash director Damien Chazelle's La La Land does many things, including bewitch audiences with its block-coloured, big crooning, bittersweet dream about life and love. The film has already been released overseas, but will officially hit cinemas here on Boxing Day. — SW https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8Xvsjy57X0 HUNT FOR THE WILDERPEOPLE Somehow outdoing his previous effort, the sidesplitting vampire comedy What We Do in the Shadows, Kiwi filmmaker Taika Waititi delivered one of the funniest and most charming films of the year with Hunt for the Wilderpeople. Carried on the shoulders of veteran actor Sam Neill and his talented young costar Julian Dennison, this heartwarming indie about a pre-teen delinquent and his foster father on the run from the authorities in the New Zealand wilderness delivers big laughs and an even bigger emotional payoff, and will endear itself to you even further on second, third, fourth and fifth viewings. — TC THE WAILING Films about cops chasing killers are common. Movies about brutal murders and sinister forces with potentially supernatural elements aren't all that uncommon either. And yet, South Korean effort The Wailing well and truly stands alone within a crowded field — and not just because the slow-burn horror effort clocks in at two and a half hours. It takes its time and still proves packed with everything from gorgeously moody landscapes to an increasingly dark atmosphere, plus the undead, exorcisms, ghosts and the kind of nods to genre greats that most scary movies only wish that they could manage. — SW https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMqeoW3XRa0 HAIL, CAESAR! While it may strike some as a lesser entry in the Coen Brothers canon — lacking the obvious dramatic heft of something like No Country for Old Men or Inside Llewellyn Davis — this seemingly silly comedy about a blackmail plot in 1950s Hollywood is as ingenious and subversive as anything the siblings have ever made. Ostensibly a love letter to the golden age of movie-making, Hail, Caesar! is in fact a barbed satire about misplaced faith in artificial institutions, from politics to religion to tinsel town itself. Throw in an A-list cast hamming it up and having a ball, and you'd be absolutely screwy not to give it a watch. — TC These are our favourite films of 2016, but we've also put together a list of the best films hardly anyone saw this year — y'know, the ones that sort of went in and out of cinemas without much fanfare but definitely deserve a watch. Co-written by Sarah Ward and Tom Clift.
A new book by London based journalist and photographer, William Parry, explores the relationship between art and politics in Palestine. A series of poignant photos capture the essence of a quiet, stoic rebellion — the graffiti that adorns Israel's wall. The spirit of resistance portrayed in Parry's book, Against The Wall, is compelling, and haunting in its very existence, exposing an open wound that seems unlikely to heal any time soon. With photographed work by iconic artists including Banksy and Ron English alongside work by Palestinian artists and activists, Against The Wall is an exercise in documenting solidarity and rebellion, acts that have become somewhat of a rarity in the modern day. The artworks adorning the wall highlight the suffering in Palestine; the lives torn apart by relentless fighting, and appeal to a hope for a brighter day, to the end of darkness. Alongside the images of street art are moving portraits and powerful prose that further accentuate the spirit of the people, and their constant struggle against a myriad of injustices. Against The Wall
With its massive deserts, wild seas and expanses of ancient forest, Australia offers space a-plenty for sculpture parks. Here, we take a look at eight of the most spectacular – from Mornington Peninsula's Pt. Leo Estate, set among vineyards and wildflowers, to Western Australia's Inside Australia, where metal figures appear on the surface of a gigantic salt-crusted lake. Next time you're in the mood for an arty road trip, pay a visit to one of these wonders. [caption id="attachment_641338" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Anson Smart[/caption] PT. LEO ESTATE, VICTORIA Set among vineyards, flowers and oceanic backdrops on the Mornington Peninsula, this 135-hectare park features epic works by local and international artists, all belonging to multibillionaires John and Pauline Gandel (owners of Chadstone Shopping Centre, FYI). Among the main attractions are the late Australian sculptor Anthony Pryor's Horizons (1988) — a spiral staircase that seems to disappear into the sky — and the late Israeli-American artist Boaz Vaadia's Ma'aseyahu. In between wandering, sample wines at Pt. Leo Estate's cellar door and feast at Laura, the stunning on-site restaurant, headed by ex-Rockpool Bar & Grill chef Phil Wood. Where? 3649 Frankston–Flinders Road, Merricks — about an hour south of Melbourne. [caption id="attachment_696465" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism Australia[/caption] NGA SCULPTURE GARDEN, ACT While many sculptures are made with a particular site in mind, at the National Gallery of Australia (NGA), things are topsy-turvy. The Sculpture Garden was landscaped to fit the artworks. Built in 1981, the grounds stretch between the NGA building and the sparkling waters of Lake Burley Griffin. There are 26 sculptures by Australian and international artists, including Japanese artist Fujiko Nakaya's Foggy wake in a desert: An ecosphere, a cool, mist-filled forest through which you can wander, and a collection of Pukamani burial poles from the Tiwi Islands. Where? Parkes Place, Canberra — about three hours southwest of Sydney and seven hours' northeast of Melbourne. BROKEN HILL LIVING DESERT RESERVE, NSW The best time to visit Living Desert Reserve is sunset. This is when the sculptures look their most dramatic, backdropped by endless plains, flooded with the last rays of the day. There are 12 sculptures in total, created in 1993 by artists from all over the world during a sculpture symposium led by Australian artist Lawrence Beck. Each artwork has its own story, told through an accompanying plaque. While you're there, take a stroll through the Flora and Fauna Sanctuary, where you'll find stunning displays of Sturt's Desert Peas and learn about the site's significance to the area's Aboriginal people. For more tips in and around Broken Hill, check out our weekender's guide. Where? Living Desert Reserve, Broken Hill — a hefty 13 hours west of Sydney. MCCLELLAND SCULPTURE PARK AND GALLERY, VICTORIA Also on the Mornington Peninsula is McClelland Sculpture Park and Gallery. Its origins lie back in the 1920s, when artist Harry McClelland and his poet sister, Annie May, moved to Long Island, Frankston, where they surrounded themselves with arty, bohemian types. Harry built his studio on the current site of the gallery, which was designed by modern architects Munro and Sargent and opened in 1971. Dotted among open fields and pretty lakes are more than 100 sculptures by well-known Australian artists, including Inge King, Lenton Parr, Clement Meadmore, George Baldessin, Robert Owen, Norma Redpath, Rick Amor, Lisa Roet and Ken Unsworth. Where? 390 McClelland Drive, Langwarrin — about 45 minutes southeast of Melbourne. GLENORCHY ART AND SCULPTURE PARK, TASMANIA Located one kilometre from the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA), this extraordinary space is a fusion of art and nature. It occupies nine hectares along the shores of Elwick Bay, accessible by a boardwalk that passes through parklands and wetlands. The artworks respond to the site – often through their watery or amphibious qualities. James Guests' Refraction Principle, for example, launched in October this year, is a piece made of marine grade aluminium that marks the spot in the River Derwent where fresh and salt water meet. Where? Brooker Highway, Elwick Bay, Glenorchy — about 15 minutes' drive north of Hobart. HEIDE MUSEUM OF MODERN ART, VICTORIA Like McClelland, Heide Museum of Modern Art began its life at the centre of a bohemian community. Philanthropists John and Sunday Reed bought 15 acres 16 kilometres northeast of the Melbourne CBD and it wasn't long before artists, writers and intellectuals were dropping by, such as Sidney Nolan, Albert Tucker and Joy Hester (who is soon to have an exhibition at TarraWarra). In 1950, the duo established the Gallery of Contemporary Art on the property, which, in 1958, became the Museum of Modern Art of Australia and went public in 1981. The program focuses on temporary exhibitions of modern and contemporary works, including major surveys. Among previous shows are Modern Times: The Untold Story of Modernism in Australia (2009), Cubism & Australian Art (2009–10) and Less is More: Minimalism and Post Minimalism in Australia (2012). Where? 7 Templestowe Road, Bulleen — about 20 minutes northeast of Melbourne. GALERIA ANIELA, NSW Surrounded by the rugged Kangaroo Valley escarpment, Galeria Aniela's sculpture park gives you 7.9 acres of green, landscaped gardens to explore. In between perusing works by Australian and international artists, rest beneath cherry blossom trees and among herb gardens. If you're lucky, you might meet a wombat or wallaby. Indoors are three gallery rooms dedicated to temporary exhibitions. While you're in the area, stop by Southern Pies for a cheeseburger pie and swing by Fitzroy Falls. You'll find more Kangaroo Valley ideas over here. Where? 261A Mount Scanzi Road, Kangaroo Valley — about two hours southwest of Sydney. [caption id="attachment_696466" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism Australia[/caption] INSIDE AUSTRALIA, WA Inside Australia, created by one artist, is the biggest outdoor art gallery in Australia. Its setting is Lake Ballard, a completely flat expanse that lies 11 hours' drive northeast of Perth, in the Western Australian goldfields. The artist is Antony Gormley, a Turner Award winner, who made the sculpture series in 2003, to celebrate the Perth International Arts Festival's 50th anniversary. He has scattered 51 metal figures across the lake, which stand out vividly against its dazzling, salt-crusted surface. Where? Lake Ballard, Menzies — about 11 hours northeast of Perth.
"We're not done with golf": in the just-dropped official teaser trailer for Happy Gilmore 2, they're Virginia Venit's (Julie Bowen, Hysteria!) words to the movie's main character; however, they clearly apply to Adam Sandler, too. Almost three decades after first getting tap, tap, tapping as a hockey player with an anger problem who makes the jump to golf — and after Happy Gilmore became one of the best-known comedies of the 90s, as well as one of Sandler's best-known films — he's back on the green on-screen. In the first film, Happy won the Tour Championship in 1996. As the just-dropped new sneak peek at Happy Gilmore 2 shows, he's repeated the feat several times over, and now has a bust of his head to honour five-time winners to show for. It's been years since he has picked up a club, though, and he's a little intimidated by today's golfers — but soon he's back in the swing again. Alongside Sandler (Spaceman) and Bowen, Ben Stiller (Nutcrackers) and Christopher McDonald (Hacks) return from the original Happy Gilmore. Joining them among the cast: Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio (Cassandro) aka Bad Bunny; Sander's daughters Sadie (You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah) and Sunny (Kinda Pregnant); Travis Kelce; and Blake Clark (a regular Sandler collaborator, as seen in The Waterboy, Little Nicky, Mr Deeds, 50 First Dates, Click, Grown Ups and more). Then there's the lineup of IRL professional golfers, such as John Daly, Rory McIlroy, Paige Spiranac, Scottie Scheffler, Brooks Koepka, Justin Thomas, Will Zalatoris and Bryson DeChambeau. A new happy place, unexpected reunions, broken clubs, more than a few rounds of advice encouraging Gilmore to get back to the sport: they're all part of the new trailer, too, which follows a past teaser to start 2025. Just like with the original, Sandler co-wrote Happy Gilmore 2 with Tim Herlihy (who has also penned or co-penned Billy Madison, The Wedding Singer, The Waterboy and eight other Sandler flicks through to Hubie Halloween), but Kyle Newacheck (Murder Mystery) steps into the director's chair instead of the initial film's Dennis Dugan (Grown Ups 2). Check out the official teaser for Happy Gilmore 2 below: Happy Gilmore 2 will stream via Netflix from Friday, July 25, 2025. Top image: Cr. Scott Yamano/Netflix © 2024.
To put it mildly, it's been a challenging year so far. And though the effects of the first half of 2020 can be felt in almost every corner of the world, small businesses are especially feeling the toll. Which is why investing your hard-earned dollars in local businesses across Australia is a great way to put your money to good use and spend consciously. To help you do just that, we've teamed up with Square to bring you a list of local businesses across Australia that can deliver ethically sourced coffee, a new leafy housemate or a cake to cheer up a friend. Square has the tools to help businesses, even when business is not running as usual, like contactless payment systems and online stores with pickup, delivery and shipping services. So, whether you choose to shop online, pop into these small businesses, or buy a voucher for a future trip, you'll be spending your money wisely and keeping the little guys in business at the same time. BUY GREEN BABIES FROM THE PLANT SOCIETY Set up by Jason Chongue and Nathan Smith in Melbourne in 2016, The Plant Society has you covered for all things green whether you live near one of its stores or not. If you're in Melbourne and Sydney, its Collingwood and Paddington stores have an extensive range of plants — from swiss cheese vines to chinese money and fruit salad plants — as well as handmade ceramics, homewares, planter kits, candles and plenty of gardening gear. But, no matter where you live, you can browse its online store to shop for ceramic planters, keep cups, plants, seeds and candles to brighten up your living space. Plus, to help deliver your goods to you safely, The Plant Society offers free delivery for all purchases over $150. You can also buy gift vouchers from $30, if you'd like to spend now to support the small business in the future. [caption id="attachment_758750" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Erik Dungan[/caption] STOCK UP ON VINO AND FROMAGE FROM THE CHEESE & WINE CO If you're a fan of wine, cheese and intimate date nights, and live in Sydney, you should pay The Cheese & Wine Co in Neutral Bay a visit. The small wine bar features a consistent rotation of the best local and international wines and cheeses, along with charcuterie and antipasto platters. The bar is open for 90-minute seatings for tapas-style dishes, accompanied with stellar drops of wine. Practising social distancing, The Cheese & Wine Co is limiting its capacity right now, so it's best to book online beforehand, and its also open for walk-ins for breakfast and lunch sittings. If you live locally, can also purchase a takeaway bottle of wine by ordering online and picking up in store. HAVE CAKE DELIVERED FROM KOI DESSERT BAR You may be familiar with the name Reynold Poernomo from MasterChef. Before he was winning hearts on national TV, he and his family created KOI Dessert Bar in Chippendale. The laneway dessert bar offers a range of savoury snacks and desserts — think pie tee tart, pumpkin with mascarpone and a guava and green apple meteor. If you're in Sydney, you can book a four-course dessert tasting menu from $95 per person, Sunday to Thursday. Or, for at-home indulgence, you can choose from a rotation of smaller desserts and cakes to take away. Visit KOI's Cake Shop for mascarpone tiramisu, passion colada and pear mousse, or a larger celebration cake, such as strawberry lychee, nomtella or mango yuzu ($55–160). Delivery stretches to Sydney's eastern suburbs, inner west, north shore and CBD, or you can select scheduled pickup at its Chippendale or Ryde stores. SEND BAKED GOODIES FROM FALCO Falco is a small-batch bakery in Melbourne's inner north that boasts a range of baked goods alongside coffee that's been roasted just around the corner. The bakery specialises in traditional methods with innovative twists; its sourdoughs range from oat porridge and toasted sesame to a classic wholemeal. For something a bit sweeter, it's hard to go past its peanut butter and miso cookies, cardamom buns, fruit danishes and jalapeño and cheddar croissants ($4–5). During lockdown, the bakery has daily pre-order and delivery options, too, making it easier and safer to get your baked goods if you're staying at home. Not in Melbourne? Send a gift to a friend, such as the Falco tote ($20) and a bag of single origin ground coffee ($19) within three kilometres of the Collingwood store. HAVE FRESH GROUND COFFEE DELIVERED FROM MARKET LANE Market Lane is a much-adored Melbourne coffee roastery and retailer. The folks here source beans from across the globe and then roast them in small batches in Brunswick East. The beans are then distributed to seven stores across the city, from Prahran to Brunswick East and through the city's CBD. If you're not Melbourne-based, or prefer to brew at home, you can purchase espresso or filter beans from the roastery's online store and enjoy free standard shipping Australia wide on all purchases over $30. There's also a fortnightly subscription (from $20), meaning you'll never run out of coffee again without having to leave your house. Planning ahead? Market Lane has a range ready for Father's Day (September 6), too, including pour over kits, a heavy duty apron, coffee subscriptions and gift vouchers. [caption id="attachment_716231" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kitti Gould[/caption] ORDER VINYL FROM COTTONMOUTH RECORDS If you're a fan of good booze and even better tunes, you'll love what Cottonmouth Records has on offer. The record store and bar, located in Sydney's Enmore, is where you can pull up a pew and sip on a pale ale, XPA or IPA as you peruse the stacks of vinyl records surrounding the bar's walls. Here you'll find black gold from the likes of James Brown, Aretha Franklin, Beastie Boys, Blink-182, Lenny Kravitz, 2Pac and the Spice Girls, among many, many others. Not in Sydney? You can browse Cottonmouth's online record store where it sells an extensive selection of records from Blondie to Zappa, and everything between. Records start from $20, and shipping is calculated according to distance from Sydney. [caption id="attachment_741542" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Simon Shiff[/caption] BUY A GIFT CARD FROM HENRY LEE BARBERSHOP Collingwood's Henry Lee Barbershop may have its physical doors closed due to Melbourne's lockdown, but its online shop is very much still open for business — and you don't have to live in Melbourne to support this small business. Online, you'll find everything from hydrating and volume shampoo and conditioner to miracle treatment, wax, oil and hair putty by Australian brands Eleven, Fatboy and The Groomed Man. While you're there, you can also grab yourself or a mate a gift card (starting from $50) for when the barbershop reopens — after all, we'll all need a little TLC come September. To truly show your local love on your sleeve, you can order some of the barbershop's merch, too, including Henry Lee logo tees from $40. Find out how Square is supporting small businesses with the tools they need to grow, here.
For his latest solo exhibition at the Museum for Contemporary Art in Tokyo, Tokujin Yoshioka has again indulged his fascination with organic structures and natural processes, embracing the interaction between prisms, space and light. In his series of striking sculptures and installations, Yoshioka aims to expose the beauty and energy present within self-generating wonders such as crystal formation, harnessing the process to become part of the art itself. He quite literally grows his artworks, using a special liquid that allows natural crystals to develop into whatever shape they choose, after which he sometimes decides to attach them to a base of some kind. And, like any true gardening fanatic, he believes in playing music to his 'plants' as they grow. His series entitled Swan Lake apparently blossomed under the soothing companionship of Tchaikovsky. Whilst we happen to think the huge fairy floss-like clouds of crystal comprising Tornado 2007 are pretty spectacular, the large-scale installation Rainbow Church has been heralded as the exhibition's highlight: a huge window made of 500 crystal prisms inspired by Henri Matisse's designs for the Rosaire Chapel. Yoshioka is known for combining architecture, design and installation art. His furniture designs appear at Salone del Mobile annually and he has also designed store interiors for high fashion brands such as Hermès and Issey Miyake. Via Yatzer.com. Images from the MOT.
If you're looking for your latest glimpse of the next Star Wars movie, there's no need to travel to a galaxy far, far away, because the full final trailer has just dropped in this one. Two months before the main franchise's ninth episode (and 11th theatrical flick overall) hits cinemas, Disney has delivered its last sneak peek of Star Wars: Episode IX — The Rise of Skywalker — as well as reiterating the claim that this flick will end the whole Skywalker saga. Don't worry — more Star Wars movies are definitely in the works, courtesy of two big-screen spinoff trilogies by Star Wars: Episode VIII — The Last Jedi helmer Rian Johnson and Game of Thrones creators David Benioff and D. B. Weiss, respectively. Just next month, new TV series The Mandalorian will start screening on Disney's new streaming platform as well. An Obi-Wan Kenobi-focused television show is also in development, with Ewan McGregor returning as the beloved Jedi master. And, even if The Rise of Skywalker wants to tell us otherwise for now, we have a good feeling that we won't see the last of all of the other Star Wars characters that everyone already knows and loves. Given The Rise of Skywalker's title, the way that The Last Jedi wrapped up and the theories that have been swirling around Daisy Ridley's Rey since she was first introduced in Star Wars: Episode VII — The Force Awakens, it should come as no surprise that the scavenger-turned-pilot takes centre stage in the new trailer — as she did in the first teaser earlier this year. Also popping up are Oscar Isaac's Poe Dameron and John Boyega's ex-stormtrooper Finn, helping out the film's plucky heroine once more; Adam Driver's Kylo Ren, wielding his red lightsaber for the dark side yet again; and long-standing series favourites Chewbacca, R2-D2 and C-3PO, of course. The late Carrie Fisher features as well, with the actor's appearance as General Leia Organa made possible by using previously filmed footage. And two other familiar characters also rejoin the fold, including Billy Dee Williams' Lando Calrissian and a sinister figure who's once again heard rather than seen. The huge cast list keeps going, with Domhnall Gleeson, Kelly Marie Tran and Lupita Nyong'o all returning, Mark Hamill also included, and Richard E. Grant, Keri Russell and Naomi Ackie among the Star Wars newcomers. As he did with The Force Awakens, JJ Abrams also sits in the director's chair. Feel the force with the full final trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Qn_spdM5Zg Star Wars: Episode IX — The Rise of Skywalker releases in Australian cinemas on December 19. Images: (c) 2019 and TM Lucasfilm Ltd.
Villeneuve, Denis Villeneuve: that's who is next helming cinema's biggest spy franchise, with the filmmaker locked in to direct the 26th Bond movie. The film doesn't yet have a title. If you're wondering who'll be drinking shaken — not stirred — martinis as 007, that hasn't been announced yet, either. But putting Villeneuve in the director's chair is an impressive development, especially given his recent track record. Since 2017, taking on big-name sagas has been Villeneuve's remit. It has worked spectacularly well so far. Accordingly, after Blade Runner 2049, then Dune and Dune: Part Two — plus the upcoming Dune: Messiah — he'll move into Bond's espionage realm. [caption id="attachment_763765" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nicola Dove © 2019 DANJAQ, LLC AND MGM. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.[/caption] "Some of my earliest movie-going memories are connected to 007. I grew up watching James Bond films with my father, ever since Dr No with Sean Connery. I'm a die-hard Bond fan.To me, he's sacred territory. I intend to honour the tradition and open the path for many new missions to come. This is a massive responsibility, but also incredibly exciting for me and a huge honour," said Villeneuve in a statement "Denis Villeneuve has been in love with James Bond movies since he was a little boy. It was always his dream to make this movie, and now it's ours, too. We are lucky to be in the hands of this extraordinary filmmaker," added producers Amy Pascal (Challengers) and David Heyman (Wonka). Amazon MGM Studios is behind the new take on the British agent. Villeneuve is also one of the film's executive producers, as is Tanya Lapointe — with the latter also working with the former on his Dune flicks. Everything from there, including the movie's plot and cast, is still to be revealed. If you want to start wondering whether the Sicario and Arrival filmmaker might enlist his Dune lead Timothée Chalamet (A Complete Unknown) as 007, that's up to you. Speculation about who'll next portray the character has been swirling since Daniel Craig (Queer) left the part following No Time to Die. There's no shortage of names being floated for the role by the internet, including Aaron Taylor-Johnson (28 Years Later), Aaron Pierre (Rebel Ridge), Theo James (The Monkey), Henry Cavill (Argylle), James Norton (Playing Nice) and Jack Lowden (Slow Horses) — and anyone else you can think of. Whoever gets the part, they'll be in excellent past company. Sean Connery smouldering his way through everything from Dr No to Diamonds Are Forever, Roger Moore stepping into 007's shoes between Live and Let Die and A View to A Kill, Timothy Dalton's two-film run in The Living Daylights and Licence To Kill, Pierce Brosnan's stint as the secret agent between GoldenEye and Die Another Day, Daniel Craig's contributions from Casino Royale onwards, Aussie actor George Lazenby's one-movie appearance as James in On Her Majesty's Secret Service: that's the Bond lineup since 1962. There's no sneak peek yet at the 26th Bond film, obviously, but check out the trailer for No Time to Die below: There's no word yet when the 26th Bond film will release, or its title — we'll update you when more details are revealed. Denis Villeneuve images: Raph_PH via Flickr.
If you feel like Melbourne's getting busier and busier, well, you're not just becoming a grumpy ol' adult. New numbers from the Australian Bureau of Statistics have revealed that the city's had the largest and fastest population growth in the whole country. Having welcomed more than 125,000 extra people between June 2016 and July 2017, Melbourne's now looking at hitting the five million resident mark before the end of 2018. By comparison, Sydney grew by 100,000 people, which has brought its population up to 5.1 million. The ABS found that the increase in population is largely due to migration, with 80,000 foreigners making up 64 percent of the Melbourne's recent growth in 2016–17, and seven percent attributed to people moving interstate. It you average it all out, there's around 350 people moving to the city each day, with Cranbourne East booming larger than any other Aussie suburb. Interestingly, Sydney lost more people to other parts of Australia than it gained. Population growth is mainly concentrated in the three major east coast cities — Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane — though, as Perth, Darwin and Adelaide all saw no more than one percent growth. The revelations have prompted calls for improved infrastructure and public transport across the city — some of which is already underway, but really can't come soon enough.
When the end of January rolls around in Australia, folks get a-counting. The nation loves working through the top 100 tunes of the past year thanks to Triple J's huge annual music poll, and has for decades. And, it loves celebrating the brews everyone is likely sipping while listening to that countdown, too — aka the yearly GABS Hottest 100 Aussie Craft Beers list. This yeasty ranking does for beer what the other Hottest 100 does for bangers, and it has just anointed its best tipple from 2022's brews. Coming out on top is Mountain Culture's Status Quo pale ale, with the New South Wales brewery from the Blue Mountains giving the GABS countdown a new winner for the first time in a few years. In both 2020 and 2021, Canberra's Bentspoke Brewing Co did the honours with its Crankshaft American IPA. In 2022, that brew came in third instead Mountain Culture also bested 2017 and 2018 winner Balter Brewing Company, which notched up second position with its Balter XPA. And, it beat out Stone & Wood's Pacific Ale, the winner of the 2011, 2015, 2016 and 2019 polls, and 2020's second-place getter, which nabbed fourth position this year — as it did in 2021. Your Mates Brewing Co came in fifth with its Larry pale ale, while Better Beer's zero carb variety sits in sixth. Rounding out the top ten are Young Henrys' Newtowner pale ale in seventh, Coopers' original pale ale in eighth, Bridge Road Brewers' Beechworth pale ale in ninth and Black Hops Brewery's GOAT hazy IPA in tenth. Mountain Culture, which is run by husband-and-wife team DJ & Harriet McCready, also placed 15th and 31st with other tipples — and clearly had ample company. 2022's hottest 100 was whittled down from 311 vote-receiving breweries and 2140 of their beers, with more than 60,000 folks having their say about Australia's best craft beers. As a result, the top ten was the most closely contested in GABS history, and a record-equalling 58 breweries made the full list of 100 brews. That includes 28 beers from NSW, 26 from Queensland and 18 from Victoria, plus 11 from Western Australia, nine from the ACT and eight from South Australia. Run by GABS — or the annual festival also known as the Great Australian Beer SpecTAPular, which returns for 2023 this May and June — the countdown is a people's-choice poll decided by booze lovers around the country. If you're thinking "less background, more beer", here's what you've been waiting for: the rundown of the best beverages from the past year that just keep tempting tastebuds. Working your way through the whole 100 isn't just a great way to show your appreciation for locally made brews, either — consider it research for the 2023 countdown. GABS HOTTEST 100 AUSSIE CRAFT BEERS OF 2022: 1. Mountain Culture — Status Quo Hazy Pale Ale 2. Balter Brewing Balter — XPA Pale Ale 3. BentSpoke Brewing Co — Crankshaft American IPA 4. Stone & Wood Brewing Co — Pacific Ale Australian Pale Ale 5. Your Mates Brewing Co — Larry Australian Pale Ale 6. Better Beer — Better Beer Zero Carb Australian Pilsner 7. Young Henrys — Newtowner Australian Pale Ale 8. Coopers Brewery — Original Pale Ale Australian Pale Ale 9. Bridge Road Brewers — Beechworth Pale Ale American Pale Ale 10. Black Hops Brewery — G.O.A.T. New England IPA 11. Gage Roads Brewing Co — Single Fin Australian Pale Ale 12. Capital Brewing Co — Capital XPA Pale Ale 13. Pirate Life Brewing — South Coast Pale Ale American Pale Ale 14. Revel Brewing Co — Strawberries & Cream Sour Ale Kettle Sour 15. Mountain Culture — Cult IPA New England IPA 16. Brookvale Union — Ginger Beer 17. Philter Brewing — Philter XPA Australian Pale Ale 18. Beerfarm Royal — Haze Hazy IPA 19. Balter Brewing — Hazy IPA 20. Black Hops Brewery — East Coast Haze Hazy Pale Ale 21. Balter Brewing — Eazy Hazy Hazy Pale Ale 22. Little Creatures — Little Creatures Pale Ale American Pale Ale 23. Heads Of Noosa Brewing Co — Japanese Style Lager 24. BentSpoke Brewing Co — Barley Griffin Australian Pale Ale 25. 4 Pines Brewing Co — 4 Pines Pacific Ale Australian Pale Ale 26. Coopers Brewery — Sparkling Ale Australian Pale Ale 27. Hawke's Brewing — Hawke's Patio Pale American Pale Ale 28. Brick Lane Brewing Co — One Love Pale Ale American Pale Ale 29. Grifter Brewing Co — Pale Australian Pale Ale 30. Modus Brewing — Modus Cerveza Lager 31. Mountain Goat Beer — GOAT Very Enjoyable Beer Lager 32. Better Beer — Better Beer Ginger Beer 33. Heaps Normal — Quiet XPA Pale Ale 34. Capital Brewing Co — Coast Ale California Common 35. Blackflag Brewing — Rage Juicy Pale Pale Ale 36. Mountain Culture — Be Kind Rewind New England IPA 37. Matso's Broome Brewery — Matso's Ginger Beer 38. Your Mates Brewing Co — Tilly Ginger Beer 39. Coopers Brewery — Coopers XPA American Pale Ale 40. Balter Brewing — Bucket Full Of Nothin' Hazy IIPA 41. CBCo Brewing — Pale Ale American Pale Ale 42. Capital Brewing Co — Hang Loose Juice Blood Orange NEIPA New England IPA 43. 10 Toes Brewery — Pipeline Pale Australian Pale Ale 44. Balter Brewing — Captain Sensible American Pale Ale 45. Ballistic Beer Co — Hawaiian Haze Hazy Pale Ale 46. Bright Brewery — Alpine Lager Lager 47. KAIJU! Beer — KAIJU! KRUSH Australian Pale Ale 48. Grifter Brewing Co — Serpents Kiss Fruit Beer 49. Feral Brewing Co — Biggie Juice New England IPA 50. White Rabbit — White Rabbit Dark Ale 51. Big Shed Brewing Concern — Boozy Fruit New England IPA 52. Green Beacon Brewing Co — Wayfarer Tropical Pale Ale Australian Pale Ale 53. Range Brewing Co — Disco Hazy Pale Ale 54. Stomping Ground Brewing Co — Gipps St Pale Ale American Pale Ale 55. Young Henrys — Hazy Pale Ale 56. Willie The Boatman — Albo Australian Pale Ale 57. Burleigh Brewing Co — Twisted Palm Australian Pale Ale 58. Hawke's Brewing — Hawke's Lager Australian Pilsner 59. Akasha Brewing Co — Super Chill Australian Pale Ale 60. Dainton Beer — Equalizer Hazy Pale Ale 61. 4 Pines Brewing Co — 4 Pines Pale Ale American Pale Ale 62. Kosciuszko Brewing Co — Kosciuszko Pale Ale American Pale Ale 63. Black Hops Brewery — Black Hops Pale Ale Australian Pale Ale 64. Brouhaha Brewery — Strawberry Rhubarb Sour Kettle Sour 65. Moon Dog Craft Brewery ‚ Old Mate American Pale Ale 66. Blackman's Brewery — Juicy Banger Lager 67. Capital Brewing Co — Trail Pale Ale American Pale Ale 68. Hop Nation Brewing Co — J-Juice New England IPA 69. Blackflag Brewing — Astro Punk XPA Pale Ale 70. Gage Roads Brewing Co — Side Track All Day XPA Pale Ale 71. Your Mates Brewing Co — Sally American IPA 72. Bodriggy Brewing Co — Speccy Juice Session IPA 73. Burleigh Brewing Co — Bighead No-carb Lager Lager 74. Coopers Brewery — Coopers Pacific Pale Ale Australian Pale Ale 75. Eumundi Brewery — Eumundi Alcoholic Ginger Beer 76. Rocky Ridge Brewing Co — Jindong Juicy Hazy Pale Ale 77. Young Henrys — Natural Lager Lager 78. Dainton Beer — Blood Orange NEIPA New England IPA 79. Hop Nation Brewing Co — Rattenhund Pilsner 80. Capital Brewing Co — Rock Hopper IPA American IPA 81. Little Creatures — Pacific Ale Australian Pale Ale 82. Diablo Co — Diablo Ginger Beer 83. Stone & Wood Brewing Co — Cloud Catcher Australian Pale Ale 84. BentSpoke Brewing Co — Sprocket American IPA 85. Gage Roads Brewing Co — Hazy As Hazy Pale Ale 86. Wayward Brewing Co — Raspberry Berliner Weisse Berliner Weisse 87. Young Henrys — Motorcycle Oil Porter 88. Mismatch Brewing Co — Session Ale Session IPA 89. Little Creatures — Rogers Amber Ale 90. One Drop Brewing Co — Double Vanilla Custard Pancake Imperial Nitro Thickshake IPA Milkshake IPA 91. 4 Pines Brewing Co — Hazy Pale Ale 92. Balter Brewing — Balter IPA American IPA 93. Coopers Brewery — Best Extra Stout 94. Hawkers Beer — West Coast IPA American IPA 95. Gage Roads Brewing Co — Pipe Dreams Coastal Lager Australian Pilsner 96. Range Brewing Co — Lights + Music TIPA 97. Dainton Beer — Jungle Juice Hazy IPA 98. Lord Nelson Brewery Hotel — Three Sheets Australian Pale Ale 99. Bad Shepherd Brewing Co — Peanut Butter Porter Porter 100. One Drop Brewing Co — We Jammin' Sour For more information about the GABS Hottest 100 Aussie Craft Beers of 2022, head to the GABS website.
It has been more than six months since the Australian Government introduced an effective ban on international travel in an attempt to stop the spread of COVID-19 within the country. And, over that time, there has been plenty of speculation about when jetting overseas might resume — including predictions that the entire global travel industry mightn't return to normal until 2023, and that Australia's borders could remain closed until 2021. When it comes to Australia's prolonged border closure, an exception has been floated, however. Receiving ample chatter over the past few months is the concept of a travel bubble with New Zealand — which would allow international travel between the two countries, even as they potentially remain closed to other nations. Back in June, Federal Tourism Minister Simon Birmingham noted that it was under consideration. Now, in a new media appearance on Sunday, September 27, he has said that it could possibly be implemented by the end of the year. Speaking on ABC News, Senator Birmingham advised that he hoped Australia's border would open back up to NZ by the time 2020 was out. "That would just be a great step, and it would prove the work that is being done to make sure this can be done, again, in a safe way — that travellers between Australia and New Zealand can be given corridors and clearances through our international airports without coming into contact with higher-risk travellers who might be returning from other parts of the region and still have to go through quarantine". Of course, this isn't just a decision that Australia can make on its own, as the Minister also noted. "We're making sure we have all the work done, all the preparations there, so that we can safely achieve that bubble with New Zealand. It's up to them as to whether they choose to open up to Australia, but we're certainly making sure that we're prepared and I'm hopeful that could be this year and then maybe set a model for us to look at for any other countries that meet similar high standards." Today, on Monday, September 28, the ABC reports that New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has also weighed in on the topic — and also mentioned the end of the year. On broadcaster TVNZ, she noted that it might be possible on a state-by-state basis before Christmas. As Brisbane Times reports, that travel might only be one-way, though, with New Zealanders able to come to Australia only. As 2020 has reminded us all over and over again, much can change very quickly during a pandemic — so whether Aussies will be able to head to NZ before the year is out is obviously still yet to be seen. But, if you've been dreaming of leaving the country the moment that any international holidays are permitted again, this might be the ray of hope that you need right now. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Australia and how to protect yourself, head to the Australian Government Department of Health's website. For further information about Australia's current international travel ban, head to the Smart Traveller website.
Each year for 17 years now, Australian beer lovers have voted on their top craft brews. Only twice has the same tipple won not just for two years in a row, but in three consecutive polls. The first to manage the feat was Feral Brewing Co's Hop Hog from 2012–14. Now, Mountain Culture's Status Quo Pale Ale has also notched up the same achievement, winning from 2022–24. Emerging victorious in the GABS Hottest 100 Aussie Craft Beers poll for 2024, this Mountain Culture sip just keeps living up to its name, clearly. The brew from the New South Wales outfit in the Blue Mountains was anointed 2022's top drop and dubbed 2023's best tipple as well. So, yes, there is indeed a status quo among Australian beer drinkers of late — and it keeps being maintained. This yeasty poll does for beer what Triple J's huge annual music countdown for bangers — and while there's only been two threepeats in the GABS list's history so far, it sure does love repeat winners. In both 2020 and 2021, Canberra's Bentspoke Brewing Co did the honours with its Crankshaft American IPA. In 2022 and 2023, that brew came in third instead, then picked up fourth place in 2024. In second spot this time: Coopers Brewery's Original Pale Ale, taking over from 2017 and 2018 winner Balter Brewing Company, with its Balter XPA notching up third place — slipping down from second in 2022 and 2023. Gage Roads Brewing Co's Single Fin Summer Ale took out fifth spot, followed by Range Brewing's Disco in sixth, Your Mates Brewing Co's Larry in seventh place, Philter Brewing's XPA in eighth, 4 Pines Brewing Company's Japanese Lager in ninth and One Drop Brewing Co's We Jammin' to round out the top ten. Mountain Culture, which is run by husband-and-wife team DJ and Harriet McCready — and has boasted Australian cricketer Pat Cummins as its first investor since November 2024 — also placed 31st with its Cult IPA, 60th with its Be Kind Rewind NEIPA and 87th with its Scenic Route brew. And yes, it had more than a little company. 2024's hottest 100 was whittled down from almost 400 vote-receiving breweries, with 70 different outfits making the list. State by state, Mountain Culture was the best New South Wales brewery, of course, while Coopers was South Australia's top spot, Balter is the highest-ranked Queensland name and Bentspoke flies the flag for the Australian Capital Territory. Bridge Road is Victoria's top representative, while Gage Road and Fox Friday earn that label for Western Australia and Tasmania, respectively. Held by GABS — or the annual festival also known as the Great Australian Beer SpecTAPular, which returns for 2025 this autumn — the countdown is a people's-choice poll decided by booze lovers around the country. If you're thinking "less background, more beer", here's what you've been waiting for: the rundown of the best beverages from the past year that just keep tempting tastebuds. Working your way through the whole 100 isn't just a great way to show your appreciation for locally made brews, either — consider it research for the 2025 countdown. GABS Hottest 100 Aussie Craft Beers of 2024 1. Mountain Culture Beer Co Status Quo 2. Coopers Brewery Original Pale Ale 3. Balter Brewing XPA 4. BentSpoke Brewing Co Crankshaft 5. Gage Roads Brewing Co Single Fin Summer Ale 6. Range Brewing Disco 7. Your Mates Brewing Co Larry 8. Philter Brewing XPA 9. 4 Pines Brewing Company Japanese Lager 10. One Drop Brewing Co We Jammin' 11. Bridge Road Brewers Beechworth Pale Ale 12. Young Henrys Newtowner 13. Stone & Wood Brewing Co Pacific Ale 14. Blackflag Brewing Rage Juicy Pale Ale 15. Pirate Life Brewing South Coast Pale Ale 16. Rocky Ridge Brewing Co Jindong Juicy 17. Capital Brewing Co Coast Ale 18. Bright Brewery Alpine Lager 19. Seeker Brewing Mystic NEIPA 20. Hawkers Beer West Coast IPA 21. Akasha Brewing Co Freshwater Pale Ale 22. Beerfarm Royal Haze 23. The Grifter Brewing Co Pale 24. Burleigh Brewing Co Burleigh Bighead 25. Black Hops Brewing G.O.A.T. 26. Hop Nation Brewing Co J-Juice 27. Blackman's Brewery Juicy Banger IPL 28. KAIJU! Beer KRUSH! Tropical Pale Ale 29. Reckless Brewing Co BX Lager 30. Fox Friday Craft Brewery Hazy IPA 31. Mountain Culture Beer Co Cult IPA 32. Little Creatures Pale Ale 33. Balter Brewing Eazy Hazy 34. Coopers Brewery Sparkling Ale 35. Mountain Goat Beer GOAT Very Enjoyable Beer 36. 10 Toes Brewery Pipeline 37. Better Beer Zero Carb 38. Hiker Brewing Co Horizon 39. Bodriggy Brewing Company Speccy Juice 40. Little Bang Brewing Co Sun Bear 41. Helios Brewing Co Dionysus Oat Cream DIPA 42. Range Brewing Lights + Music 43. CBCo Brewing CBCo Pale Ale 44. Banks Brewing Cake Eater 45. Moon Dog Craft Brewery Old Mate 46. Shout Brewing Co Mullet Pale Ale 47. Capital Brewing Co Capital XPA 48. Bad Shepherd Brewing Co Peanut Butter Porter 49. BentSpoke Brewing Co Barley Griffin 50. Matso's Mango Beer 51. James Squire One Fifty Lashes 52. Heaps Normal Quiet XPA 53. Margaret River Beer Co In The Pines 54. Moffat Beach Brewing Co Passenger Pale Ale 55. Heads of Noosa Brewing Co Japanese Style Lager 56. Green Beacon Brewing Co Wayfarer Tropical Pale Ale 57. Feral Brewing Co Biggie Juice 58. Wolf of the Willows Brewing Wolf PUP Hazy Pale Ale 59. Hawke's Brewing Hawke's Patio Pale 60. Mountain Culture Beer Co Be Kind Rewind 61. Lightning Minds Pale Ale 62. Balter Brewing Hazy IPA 63. Bridge Road Brewers Bling IPA 64. Sunday Road Brewing Cryotherapy 65. Brewmanity Mouth of Melbourne 66. Big Shed Brewing Concern Boozy Fruit 67. Coopers Brewery Australian Lager 68. Balter Brewing Cerveza 69. Capital Brewing Co Hang Loose Juice Hazy IPA 70. Coopers Brewery XPA 71. 4 Pines Brewing Company Pacific Ale 72. Black Hops Brewing East Coast Haze 73. Stomping Ground Brewing Co Gipps St Pale Ale 74. Byron Bay Brewery Premium Lager 75. Range Brewing Dreams 76. The Grifter Brewing Co Serpents Kiss 77. Wayward Brewing Co Hazy Mid 78. Curly Lewis Brewing Co Bondi Hazy Ale 79. Yulli's Brews Amanda Mandarin IPA 80. Hop Nation Brewing Co Rattenhund 81. Gage Roads Brewing Co Hazy As 82. Blackflag Brewing Affinity Tropical Pale 83. Hawke's Brewing Hawke's Lager 84. Future Magic Brewing Co Hazy Shade of Pale 85. Feral Brewing Co Hop Hog 86. Dangerous Ales Crispy Boi Lager 87. Mountain Culture Beer Co Scenic Route 88. 4 Pines Hazy Brewing Company Pale Ale 89. Gage Roads Brewing Co Side Track All Day XPA 90. Pirate Life Brewing Hazy XPA 91. Fox Friday Craft Brewery Pale Ale 92. Lord Nelson Brewery Hotel Three Sheets Pale Ale 93. BentSpoke Brewing Co Sprocket 94. Burleigh Brewing Co Twisted Palm 95. Mountain Goat Beer Tasty Pale Ale 96. Shelter Brewing Co Hazy IPA 97. White Rabbit Dark Ale 98. Jetty Road Pale Ale 99. Dainton Beer Blood Orange NEIPA 100. Bojak Brewing Calypso For more information about the GABS Hottest 100 Aussie Craft Beers of 2024, head to the GABS website.
Imagine that you're 22, you're settling into your chosen career and you're suddenly the name on everyone's lips. Imagine you've gone from never seeing an episode of the past decade's biggest TV sensation to starring in its prequel, in fact. In other words, imagine that you're Australian actor Milly Alcock, who has had a better, brighter and more chaotic 2022 than the rest of us. Before August, the Sydney-born talent was best known for an impressive resume of homegrown parts. Now, she's forever the young Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen in HBO's Game of Thrones prequel House of the Dragon. Ask Alcock what the year has been like and she's candid. "It's all weird. One day you're you, and then suddenly someone places value on you," she advises. "And you're like 'why me? Why me? Okay, I guess I'll take it. I guess I'll run with it'. So life's been weird, wacky and wonderful, basically, but yeah, it's been such a big year. This year feels like the longest year of my life but in the best possible way." Alcock is chatting with Concrete Playground on the phone from the UK, where she shot House of the Dragon in 2021, and where she's now based as her international career takes off. But after working her way through roles on Australian shows such as Wonderland, Janet King, A Place to Call Home, Pine Gap, Fighting Season and Les Norton, she knows the part that made 2022's dreams happen: her AACTA-nominated role on Upright. Created by Chris Taylor from The Chaser, the show's' first season cast her as Meg, a 13-year-old pretending to 16 who literally collides with Tim Minchin's Lucky while she's running away across the country. An odd-couple dynamic ensues, and so did one of 2019's Aussie TV standouts. Three years later, a second season is here. This time, the headstrong, whip-smart Meg is 17 and no longer speeding across the desert. But Upright wouldn't be Upright if it didn't send Meg and Lucky on another soul-searching, life-defining road trip, this time to Far North Queensland to find Meg's mum. The old adage proves true once again: it isn't just about the destination but the journey. At the heart of the show is a sense of connection and solace, as two lost souls forge a bond that helps them process their individual struggles. That means that Upright's lead performances couldn't be more pivotal; indeed, without Alcock and Minchin as Meg and Lucky, it wouldn't be the success it is, let alone have returned for season two. With Upright's second season now airing on Foxtel and streaming via Binge, Alcock fills us in on the series that helped bring her to attention, making the leap to 2022's biggest TV blockbuster, playing determined young women and handling everything that House of the Dragon's fame has brought her. ON INITIALLY GETTING CAST IN UPRIGHT "You just read the audition scene for Meg and you're like: 'I want to play this character'. You don't even usually see those types of characters on Australian telly at all, and I felt such a kinship with her as soon as I read her on the page. Then when I met Tim, I was like 'please hire, please hire me, this is incredible!'. I owe my Upright my career, because it gave me such a beautiful body of work at such a young age." ON MAKING UPRIGHT'S FIRST SEASON "It was incredibly exciting. I was 18, I just dropped out of school, and I went and travelled around Australia for three months shooting a TV show. I'd never worked like that in my life — I'd never gotten a part like that ever, and I just wanted to do it so well. I just remember being like 'I can't fuck this up, I have to do it right, I have to do it right, I have to nail it, I have to make sure I'm making all the right choices and looking after myself and everything'. I was travelling around and I was without my family, and it got a bit difficult, but it was a massive learning experience." ON RETURNING FOR UPRIGHT'S SECOND SEASON "I didn't think that a second season was going to happen because of the way the story wrapped up — and the time passes. I was like, 'oh it's been three years, we're not going to do another one'. But we did. Meg is such a beautiful person and I'm always excited to talk about Meg, and play Meg." ON CO-LEADING UPRIGHT WITH TIM MINCHIN "We're friends; we just get on and act. And we just go 'these people have chemistry, let's give them the kind of chemistry that this scene warrants because of where they're at in their heads'. I think that Lucky is a bit of a mentor to Meg without her wanting to admit it. He's the only parental figure in her life that kind of guides her in any way. I think Tim and I's relationship reflects that narrative a bit, and we pull from that." ON JUMPING FROM AUSTRALIAN TV TO A HUGE HBO PRODUCTION "It was incredibly daunting. It was the most amount of fear I've felt in my entire life because I was like 'if you fuck this up, you're not going get to another chance'. It really felt like I had to prove myself very quickly, and I wanted to. I was Australian. Everyone was British. It was the pandemic. I didn't get to see my family while we were shooting. I didn't know anyone in London. So I really focused on my work because it was why I was there. I was there to do a job. But quickly, you realise that it's all the same, people are lovely and they're the same — and just the way that it functions is different and bigger because there's more cogs in the machine than there is in a smaller production like Upright, and like other jobs I've done before. I met a lot of amazing people and a lot of beautiful people, and they saw me and were like 'okay, we've got to look out for this one because she's a long way from home'. I was mortified for the first three months, basically. Yeah, absolutely mortified." ON NOT WATCHING GAME OF THRONES UNTIL BOOKING HOUSE OF THE DRAGON "When Game of Thrones is like 'we're doing prequel auditions', and you haven't really done a lot of acting before like I had, you're like 'oh yeah, of course I'm going to audition for this'. It's a massive show — not only a big show, but a very well-written show. It had great characters, and a great story, too. I was like 'yeah, of course'. But I hadn't seen the show before. I knew of it. I knew the accolades, I knew the reputation it had, I knew the status of it, but I hadn't seen it until I booked the job. It was incredibly exciting but also incredibly daunting, because I was like 'oh fuck, I have to do this. I have to live up to that. I don't know if I can do that'. It was exciting and scary. It was a rollercoaster, but you just keep going up. I haven't gone down yet. Then I read a bit of Fire & Blood. I wanted to really get an understanding of what was at stake in this world and be able to contextualise it into the world that we live in on earth. I would go to the library and just kind of study, basically. I would make graphs on what the houses are, what that means, what their titles were, what their status was like in our kind of world — all to understand it." ON PLAYING STRONG, DETERMINED YOUNG WOMEN "That's the way the jobs have landed because until House of the Dragon, I haven't been able to pick and choose — I still can't really pick and choose. I'm so young, I'm still starting out. With House of the Dragon, I was working against amazing actors — Paddy Considine and Rhys Ifans and Matt Smith — who have had a very big and beautiful and broad careers that I admire. I think that it's difficult because on one side, I want to play everyone. But then on the other hand, I know I'll read a script and be like 'this is a great part but I know I'm not that girl'. You just read a part and you're like 'I just can't play her, I'm just not her. In my heart and in my soul, I know I'm not her'. Unless you're a phenomenal character actor like Paddy, like Meryl Streep, like all those kind of legends, you kind of have to lean into parts of who you are. I think that I've been so lucky that there's parts of me that people have picked out and been like 'you can play that role'." ON THE CHANGE THAT HOUSE OF THE DRAGON HAS BROUGHT "I didn't expect anything. I didn't go in expecting anything with this. I think I was protecting myself, because everyone was like 'it could be a flop because it's a prequel'. But I think very early on, we realised that it had a lot of potential just from reading the script alone — but no, I didn't prepare myself at all. I just thought that if nothing comes of this, my life stays exactly the same. If something comes of it, everything changes. I think that for me to be able to do the work while we were shooting, I needed to not get swept up in what could happen because I needed to really focus. The opportunities have changed massively. People around me have changed. A Pandora's box has been opened, and I got to have a little peek inside. I think that just the way that people treat me is a bit different, which is the hardest thing to grapple with. It's weird. One day you're just you and then you're not. And you're like 'why am I chosen, what made me so special?'. I don't see it because I see me every day, I can feel the good bits and the ugly bits — especially the ugly bits, because you're stuck with yourself. It's just tricky. I mean, I'm 22 — I still can barely use a washing machine, let alone [process] what all of this is. But the most important thing is just keeping the right people around me and keeping my head on my shoulders, having that screwed on right — which I think I'm doing." Upright screens on Foxtel and streams via Binge, with both seasons available to watch in full. House of the Dragon's first season is available via Foxtel and Binge. Read our full review.
SXSW is taking over Sydney between Sunday, October 15–Sunday, October 22. It's the first time that the world-renowned music, film, tech and gaming conference has left the US — and it has a jam-packed eight-day program in store. Included on the lineup is a slate of over 700 speakers, who will be appearing on talks and panels during the festival's massive conference. You can browse the full schedule at the SXSW Sydney website, but it's pretty overwhelming with plenty of not-to-be-missed sessions popping up each and every day. In order to help you plan out your fest, we've compiled our picks for the cream of the crop — ten absolute must-catch conference sessions at SXSW Sydney 2023. Our recommendations include looks at Australia's arts and culinary scenes, big-name creatives sitting down for exclusive chats, and even a panel that we've pulled together ourselves pondering the future of journalism and digital learning. APPETITE FOR DISTRACTION: YOUTH, INFORMATION AND THE DIGITAL AGE Gone are the days of "I read an article about". Gone are even the days of "actually, I just saw the headline". We're now well and truly in the age of "I watched a TikTok". The way that we absorb information is constantly changing, and right now video is ruling — especially among gen z and millennials. Concrete Playground's very own SXSW Sydney panel is looking at just this, pulling together a group of video-first creatives to discuss how young people are consuming info in the digital age. The panel will feature Pedestrian.TV's Issy Phillips to discuss news and journalism in the era of short-form video; astrophysicist and scientific communicator Kirsten Banks to chat about the role of TikTok, Reels and YouTube in sparking people's love in all things space; and Concrete Playground's very own Ben Hansen to talk about how we're searching for recommendations and deciding how to fill our calendar in 2023. Catch Appetite for Distraction: Youth Information and the Digital Age at 2pm on Wednesday, October 18 at Room E3.9, ICC Sydney. [caption id="attachment_917272" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Anthony Quintano via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF HIP HOP FEATURING CHANCE THE RAPPER "As we celebrate 50 years of hip hop in 2023, I'm reminded of the transformative power this culture has had, not just on the world stage, but on the streets of Chicago's South Side," said Chance The Rapper, announcing his SXSW Sydney appearance. The three-time Grammy winner is appearing on the event's lineup to discuss the global impact of the genre five decades after DJ Kool Herc first isolated percussion breaks, then repeated them — and made history. "Chance The Rapper is renowned for both his chart topping and community advocacy. There's few out there like him, who take what they've made and use it to build the dreams of others," noted SXSW Sydney Managing Director Colin Daniels. The conversation should be top of the must-see list for all hip hop heads and music lovers in general. It also stands as the marquee session in a program full of hip hop — including other panels like Hip Hop How a Generation Is Changing the World, films like OneFour: Against All Odds, and boundary-pushing sets from rappers Redveil, Barkaa, Zion Garcia and Flyanna Boss. Catch 50th Anniversary of Hip Hop ft. Chance the Rapper at 1pm on Thursday, October 19 — check the website for venue details. [caption id="attachment_856346" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Dan Boud[/caption] THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY — MICHAEL CASSEL AM AND KIP WILLIAMS IN CONVERSATION After selling out multiple Sydney, Melbourne and Auckland runs, and before it hits the UK's West End with an iteration starring Succession's Sarah Snook, Sydney Theatre Company's The Picture of Dorian Gray is being dissected at SXSW Sydney. Premiering in Sydney in 2020, this take on the tale uses video and theatre to get its star playing 26 characters. In the Australian runs, Eryn Jean Norvill has done the honours, and brilliantly, with Snook following in the actor's footsteps abroad. Renowned producer Michael Cassel AM will sit down with Sydney Theatre Company's Artistic Director Kip Williams to discuss the imaginative, groundbreaking and thought-provoking stage show. Developed right here in Australia by a local creative team during the pandemic, the The Picture of Dorian Gray is a real success story for Australia's arts scene — and this is your chance to take a look under the hood and hear what's next for the production. Catch The Picture of Dorian Gray — Michael Cassel AM and Kip Williams at 4pm on Tuesday, October 17 — check the website for venue details. [caption id="attachment_820444" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nine Perfect Strangers, Vince Valitutti/Hulu[/caption] A SPOTLIGHT ON BLOSSOM FILMS In a late addition to the SXSW Sydney program, Australian icon Nicole Kidman is joining the event. Adding one of the nation's most famous acting names at home and in America to perhaps the biggest tech, innovation, screen, music, games and culture festival that Australia has ever seen is fitting. 2023 marks 40 years since Kidman starred in BMX Bandits, but that's not why she'll be taking to the SXSW Sydney stage as part of its massive speaker lineup. Instead, she'll be chatting with her producing partner Per Saari about her production company Blossom Films. On its resume: the Nickers-starring Big Little Lies, Nine Perfect Strangers, The Undoing and Rabbit Hole, as well as this year's Elizabeth Olsen (Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness)-led Love & Death. Catch A Spotlight on Blossom Films on at 11am on Thursday, October 19 — check the website for venue details. DERRICK GEE — HOW TO TALK MUSIC (ON THE INTERNET) You may have come across the soothing tones of Derrick Gee's voice on your TikTok or Instagram feeds chatting about Erika De Casier, audio equipment or the international influence of yacht rock. If you haven't, this is your sign to get lost in his videos right now. Gee will be hitting the SXSW Sydney stage to discuss the wonders of discussing music on the world wide web. Sometimes music feels like this indescribable thing, but other times genres feel like they've been talked to death; however, Gee has a distinct way of finding the story and the humanity in the music he chats about. This is a must-see session whether you're a band or promoter looking to change up how you communicate your music online, a lover of all things sound or just like Derrick Gee's videos. Catch Derrick Gee — How to Talk Music (On the Internet) at 11.30am on Friday, October 20 at The Guthrie Theatre, UTS Building 6. INDIGENOUS COLLABORATION: MAKING FILMS THAT HEAL Māoriland Film Festival, the world's largest Indigenous film festival, joins the SXSW Sydney lineup in conjunction with UNESCO Wellington City of Film with a panel featuring award-winning talent from across the film industry. The focus: discussing Indigenous collaboration, plus creating films that facilitate change, and help the audience and the filmmakers heal. On the panel: writer and director Chantelle Murray (My Name is Mudju, Elvis, Thor: Love and Thunder); Chelsea Winstanley (Jojo Rabbit, What We Do in the Shadows, Moana Reo Māori, Talk to Me), the first Indigenous woman to be nominated for the Best Picture Oscar; Māoriland Film Festival Director and producer Libby Hakaraia; and independent film and television producer, director, writer and presenter Tainui Stephens. Catch Indigenous Collaboration: Making Films That Heal at 3.30pm on Monday, October 16 at Cinema Theatre, UTS Building 6. BETTER THAN YESTERDAY WITH OSHER GÜNSBERG TV personality and author Osher Günsberg is bringing two live episodes of his podcast Better Than Yesterday to SXSW Sydney. The man of many talents — including the host of Australian Idol and The Bachelor, creator of the satirical news parody NTNNNN: Night Time News Network Nightly News and narrator of Bondi Rescue — will take to the stage for two long-form interviews about how we can work towards a brighter tomorrow. The first, on Wednesday, October 18, will be with psychotherapist and holistic counsellor Diane Young. Günsberg and Young will discuss the ramifications of addiction — however, they'll do so with the hope of creating a constructive conversation that will leave the audience feeling "better than yesterday". The following day, Günsberg will sit down with activist, politician and Midnight Oil frontman Peter Garrett. The conversation will traverse Garrett's storied career and also see the musician announce a brand new musical project. Catch Better Than Yesterday with Osher Günsberg at 10am on Wednesday, October 18 and 10am on Thursday, October 19 — check the website for venue details. [caption id="attachment_917939" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Netflix[/caption] CHARLIE BROOKER IN CONVERSATION If you're a bit wary of technology's ever-growing influence in humanity's daily lives — be it artificial intelligence, streaming algorithms, social media, drones, augmented reality or online dating, to name just a few examples — then Charlie Brooker and Black Mirror might be one of the reasons. Since 2011, they've been spinning dystopian nightmares about what might happen as tech evolves. In plenty of cases, they've been satirising and interrogating innovations we use today, and what their next step might be. Yes, that makes Brooker the perfect speaker to get chatting at SXSW Sydney. "Black Mirror consistently leads the cultural conversation on what we face in the now or may confront in our future, offering a chance for reflection and change. Charlie embodies what attendees can expect from SXSW Sydney: creativity and innovation," says SXSW Sydney Managing Director Colin Daniels. Catch Charlie Brooker in Conversation at 1pm on Wednesday, October 18 — check the website for venue details. [caption id="attachment_759108" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Alana Dimou[/caption] WHAT IS THE FUTURE OF CHINATOWN? Sydney's Chinatown finds itself in an interesting situation. In some ways, it's continuing to thrive, with the streets packed every Friday night and a fleet of new venues arriving post-lockdown. At the same time, urban sprawl, the cost of living and changing migration patterns have seen the city's Asian diaspora move out to the suburbs more and more. Moderated by Soul of Chinatown's Eddie Ma, this panel will break down where Chinatown is now and what's to come for the bustling inner-city district. The roster of experts joining Ma includes acclaimed chef and Chinatown resident Dan Hong (Mr Wong, Ms. G's, MuMu), property developer and Chinatown advocate Brad Chan, and award-winning architect Qianyi Lim. Catch What Is The Future of Chinatown? at 10am on Wednesday, October 18 at Theatrette, Powerhouse Museum. HORROR & AUDIENCE: WHY WE LOVE TO BE TERRIFIED Whether you love them, hate them or love to hate them, people flock to horror movies — and thanks to studios like A24 and an exciting batch of homegrown horror filmmakers, the genre is having a real moment right now. This panel features four leading voices in horror movies, discussing why they find the genre enthralling, the art of horror storytelling and where the spookiest of films are heading. Daley Pearson leads the lineup of speakers, bringing experience from his eclectic career to the stage, including executive producing Bluey, creating the concept for Danny and Michael Philippou's Talk to Me and playing Thor's roommate Darryl on Team Thor and Team Daryl. Joining Pearson will be Wyrmwood director Kiah Roache-Turner, filmmaker Natalie Erika James (Relic) and Causeway Films producer Samantha Jennings (Talk to Me, You Won't Be Alone, Of An Age). Catch Horror & Audience: Why We Love to Be Terrified at 2pm on Thursday, October 19 at Cinema Theatre, UTS Building 6. SXSW Sydney runs from Sunday, October 15–Sunday, October 22 at various Sydney venues. Head to the SXSW Sydney website for further details. Top image: Brittany Hallberg.
Every quarter, Australia's Bureau of Meteorology releases its climate outlook for the coming season, signalling to the country just what type of weather might be in store. For winter 2020, for example, it advised that we were in for hotter and wetter-than-average conditions. And for the spring just gone — and for the warmer portion of the year in general — it predicted plenty of warm-weather rain. While BOM has already forecast summer's conditions as part of its severe weather outlook in October, it has now released its actual climate outlook for the season — given that summer officially started this week. The organisation noted two key points. First, it advised that temperatures are likely to be warmer than average in much of the country. Secondly, it noted that there's a high likelihood of above-average rainfall between December–February. Expect to feel the heat starting from December, especially if you live in southeast Australia, far west Western Australia and along the Queensland coast — where BOM is forecasting maximum temperatures above the long-term average between December 7–20 with a likelihood of at least 70 percent. Looking more broadly at the three-month period, it also expects the same temperature trend to play out across the entire summer along the coast of Queensland and the Northern Territory, in most of Victoria, and in Tasmania, far west WA and southeast South Australia. [caption id="attachment_793395" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Bureau of Meteorology[/caption] Another key indicator of warmth: how low — or high — the minimum temperature gets to overnight. To end November, Sydney reported its highest overnight minimum since temps started being recorded, for instance. BOM expects minimum temperates to exceed the long-term average this summer for the majority of the nation, and predicts there's more than an 80-percent chance that'll happen everywhere but the eastern interior of WA and adjacent parts of NT and SA, where it's touting a 60-percent likelihood. So, you know that it's going to be toasty. Summer always is, of course; however, again, BOM is predicting temps higher than average. In terms of how wet it'll be, December–February is expected to be wetter than usual with higher-than-average rainfall across most of Australia, especially the northwest of the country, eastern Queensland and along the New South Wales coast. It says there's more than a 75-percent chance that'll be the case in those aforementioned places, while the everywhere else except Australia has a 60-percent possibility. [caption id="attachment_793396" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Bureau of Meteorology[/caption] The predicted extra rain is influenced by La Niña, which is underway in the tropical Pacific — and usually increases the chance of above-average rainfall over eastern Australia during summer. BOM's Head of Operational Climate Services Dr Andrew Watkins advised that large parts of eastern Australia have an increased risk of flooding as a result, too. "Our climate outlook is the opposite of what we experienced last year in Australia. This summer, New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland are expected to see above average rainfall, meaning we face an increased risk of widespread floods," he said And yes, even with the wet conditions, heatwaves are still likely. "This summer's heatwaves may not reach the extreme temperatures of recent years, but may be longer duration and more humid," noted Dr Watkins. In other words, staying cool and dry has just become your number-one mission for summer. For further details about the Bureau of Meteorology's forecast for summer 2020–21, check out its summer climate outlook.
Unlike us, cats love contorting their bodies into confined spaces. Whether it's cardboard boxes, flower pots or bathroom basins, kitties can be often found squeezing their slinky selves into obscure areas. Now, thanks to Oregon-based Etsy seller AtomicAttic, your furry friend can now relax in the stylish confines of an upcycled iMac computer or vintage suitcase. Made from reused Apple computers, the iMac Pet Beds are reinforced at the bottom with a fabric wrapped plywood insert for strength and durability. In addition they come with a removable, triple stitched, machine washable slipcover for cleaning convenience, as well as a fluffy cushion. And if the iMac Pet Beds aren't your idea of a good time, you may opt for the kitsch vintage suitcase Pet Bed made from a repurposed antique travel bag with legs upcycled from a vintage '70s retro chair. AtomicAttic's designs are enough to make any cat owner succumb to bed envy.
James Bond is a fictional character. If literature and cinema's super-suave spy was real, however, he might be interested in a new bar that's set to start pouring cocktails in Melbourne from April. At Le Martini, one drink is in the spotlight. That cocktail can come in an array of varieties, though — yes, including shaken, not stirred — as patrons here will be able to enjoy. This 33-seat watering hole on the ground floor at Crown Melbourne won't just hero one kind of tipple. It'll also be all about one variety of vodka, too. Operating from 5pm–late Thursday–Sunday, the intimate Le Martini is the world's first-ever Grey Goose martini bar, so you know what'll be in each martini. Exactly what kinds of martinis will be on offer hasn't been revealed as yet, but they'll also change thanks to guest bartenders from overseas who'll whip up their own menus. One such person: New York's Dale DeGroff, whose career dates back to the Rainbow Room in the 80s. He's in charge of the opening martini lineup. Whatever the range of curators opt for, you can probably look forward to the alcohol brand's signature martini, which combines its own vodka, Noilly Prat dry vermouth and a dash of orange bitters. French bites to eat will be paired with the beverages, with Bistro Guillaume at Crown Melbourne responsible for the culinary range. "Here, we are creating a place where guests can sip on the very best expertly crafted Grey Goose martinis while immersed in exquisite surrounds," said the brand's Marketing Manager Sander Janmaat, announcing Le Martini. Find Le Martini on the ground floor at Crown Melbourne, Southbank from sometime in April, open from 5pm–late Thursday–Sunday — we'll update you with an exact launch date when one is announced.
The late, great Jim Henson gave the world many things, including the Muppets in general, Sesame Street's loveable puppet characters, Kermit the Frog's memorable voice and all things Fraggle Rock. He also turned filmmaker three times, creating three of the great puppet movies of the 1980s — The Great Muppet Caper, The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth. While Labyrinth still earns plenty of attention for plenty of reasons — David Bowie being one of them, obviously — The Dark Crystal also deservedly holds a place in fans' hearts. Co-directed with his Muppets colleague Frank Oz, the fantasy-adventure flick follows a Gelfling called Jen, who is trying to bring back balance to his own world by finding and returning a broken shard from a powerful gem. Henson and Oz also worked their puppeting magic on the movie, of course. Over the years, a sequel has been mooted more than once, including one with Australian Daybreakers, Predestination and Winchester filmmakers Michael and Peter Spierig at the helm. No follow-ups have ever come to fruition, but Netflix is doing the next best thing: reviving the beloved film for a ten-part series. Releasing at the end of August, The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance is a prequel to the movie — and yes, it uses puppets for its protagonists, not CGI, as both the first teaser and the new full-length trailer both show in stunning detail. Set years before the events of the film, it steps into the world of Thra, which is home to The Crystal of Truth. Both are under threat by the evil Skeksis, with illness thwarting the land as a result. It's up to three Gelfings to reveal the truth, stage a rebellion and fight for the planet. Directed by Louis Leterrier (The Incredible Hulk, Now You See Me), Age of Resistance also boasts quite the cast, with Rocketman's Taron Egerton, Glass' Anya Taylor-Joy and Game of Thrones' Nathalie Emmanuel voicing three elf-like Gelflings. They're joined by a hefty list of names, so prepare to hear the vocal tones of Helena Bonham Carter, Natalie Dormer, Lena Headey, Eddie Izzard, Theo James, Toby Jones, Shazad Latif, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Mark Strong, Alicia Vikander, Mark Hamill, Jason Isaacs, Keegan-Michael Key, Simon Pegg, Andy Samberg, Benedict Wong, Awkwafina and Sigourney Weaver as well. Check out the new trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3_owZfYVR8 The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance hits Netflix on August 30. Image: Kevin Baker.
Trust a mockumentary about the undead to keep coming back in new guises. Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement's What We Do in the Shadows first came to light as a short film in 2005, then made its way to cinemas in rib-tickling feature-length form in 2014, and currently has both a werewolf-focused sequel and a US television remake in the works. As first announced back in 2016, it's also getting a Cops-style TV spinoff named Wellington Paranormal — and SBS has just announced that it will air on Australian TV later this month. The first two episodes of the much-anticipated series will air on SBS Viceland (and be available on SBS On Demand) on Tuesday, July 31, with episodes airing weekly after that. We don't even have to wait too much longer than New Zealand audiences, either — it will air on TVNZ tonight. If you haven't watched the trailer, here's a little background info. Wellington Paranormal doesn't spend more time with everyone's favourite Wellington-dwelling bloodsuckers, even though Waititi and Clement conceived the six-part series. Instead, it follows police officers Karen O'Leary and Mike Minogue, who WWDITS fans might remember came knocking at the vampire share house's door. With the help of Sergeant Maaka (Maaka Pohatu), the cop duo will keep trying to keep the city safe from supernatural happenings — and we're sure viewers will keep watching. When Wellington Paranormal's existence was first revealed, Waititi described the show as "Mulder & Scully but in a country where nothing happens" on Twitter, should you need any more reason to get excited. https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=WRO2QfESbEI
This addition to Northshore Hamilton is here for a good time — a saucy time, too — but not for a long time. Putting a patch of riverside space to use before it starts to become the Olympic Media Village for the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games, At the end of 2023, the Pink Flamingo Spiegeland opened its doors for a seven-year stay on Bincote Street. Get ready for spicy cabarets by the river, plus drinks, all in a custom-designed 400-seat pavilion. If you're a fan of risqué performances, then you might've enjoyed a show over beverages in The Pink Flamingo Spiegeclub in Broadbeach since 2019. Now, it's the River City's turn without hitting the highway. And if you're wondering what a spiegelclub is, it takes cues from both spiegeltents and cabaret clubs, combining the vibe of both. Fans of burlesque, comedy and cabaret — and acrobatics and drag, too — can soak in a production at a purpose-built site that unsurprisingly follows the Gold Coast venue's lead when it comes to its favourite colour: pink, of course, as befitting its name. Hosting eight performances a week, The Pink Flamingo Spiegeland pairs its performances with food and cocktails. And as for what you'll be watching, Suavé, La Teaze and Ripped are the resident productions. All three shows now playing Brisbane have previously graced the stage on the Goldie — and yes, Ripped is a male revue if you're keen on a Magic Mike-esque experience.
Good morning to 2022's newly minted batch of Academy Awards nominees, and to fantastic news for the past year's very best film. The Power of the Dog leads this year's list of contenders with 12 nods, including three for filmmaker Jane Campion — who is now the first woman in history to receive two nominations for Best Director (after also being nominated for The Piano back in 1993), and could become the second female filmmaker in a row to win the coveted field (after Chloé Zhao's 2021 win for Nomadland). The Power of Dog's cinematographer Ari Wegner is also just the second woman to be nominated in her category, while the film's main cast all scored nods — including a Best Actor nomination for Benedict Cumberbatch, a Best Supporting Actress nom for Kirsten Dunst, and Best Supporting Actor nods for both Jesse Plemons and Australian talent Kodi Smit-McPhee. For real-life couple Dunst and Plemons, they nabbed their first-ever Oscar nominations together. For Smit-McPhee, if he wins, he'll become the second-youngest actor to score the shiny statuette in his category. That's the power of The Power of the Dog, clearly. Following Campion's exceptional New Zealand-shot western at the top of the 2022 Oscar nominations list is Dune with ten, including for Best Picture — although the film must've directed itself, with Denis Villeneuve missing out. After the sci-fi epic sits Steven Spielberg's new version of West Side Story and Kenneth Branagh's black-and-white memoir Belfast with seven apiece, also including Best Picture slots in a field that spans The Power of the Dog (obviously), CODA, Don't Look Up, Drive My Car, King Richard, Licorice Pizza and Nightmare Alley as well. Inspired by Haruki Murakami's short story of the same name, Drive My Car is now the most-nominated Japanese film in history, thanks to its Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay nods for filmmaker Ryûsuke Hamaguchi, and its spot in the Best International Feature and Best Picture categories. Also making history: astonishing animated documentary Flee, which became the first movie to nab a spot in the Best International Feature, Best Animated Feature and Best Documentary Feature fields. Other standouts nods: Kristen Stewart's Best Actress nomination for playing Princess Diana in Spencer; Penélope Cruz's place in the same field for Parallel Mothers; Troy Kotsur's nod for CODA, becoming just the second actor who is deaf to be recognised by the Academy; both Olivia Colman (Best Actress) and Jesse Buckley (Best Supporting Actress) getting nods for sharing the same part in The Lost Daughter; Questlove earning some love for Best Documentary Feature for Summer of Soul (…Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised); and The Worst Person in the World picking up places in the Best International Feature and Best Original Screenplay fields. Licorice Pizza's strong showing — including a Best Director spot for Paul Thomas Anderson — is also well-deserved, although the Oscars couldn't find room for Alana Haim's glorious lead performance. Oddities and omissions come with the territory every year, of course. The Academy went big for the average-at-best Being the Ricardos performance-wise, including nominating Nicole Kidman for Best Actress — and Don't Look Up's Best Picture nod probably at least means that filmmaker Adam McKay won't make a followup about how people ignored a movie that riffs on the response to climate change because they were more interested in better features. Also, despite a big public campaign, Spider-Man: No Way Home was only recognised in the Best Visual Effects category. That's a reflection of the film itself, though, and not of any supposed anti-superhero/supervillain flick bias, given that Black Panther scored seven nominations in 2019 and Joker picked up 11 in 2020. From all of this year's nominations, movie lovers will learn who'll emerge victorious on Monday, March 28, Australian and New Zealand time. And if it feels like we just went through all of this, that's because 2021's awards were held a little later than usual due to the pandemic — and because chatter about who's won Oscars and who'll win next, aka the sport of the film world, has become a year-round affair. The 94th Academy Awards will take place on Monday, March 28, Australian and New Zealand time. Here's the full list of nominations: OSCAR NOMINEES 2022 BEST MOTION PICTURE The Power of the Dog West Side Story Belfast Dune Licorice Pizza King Richard CODA Don't Look Up Drive My Car Nightmare Alley BEST DIRECTOR Jane Campion, The Power of the Dog Paul Thomas Anderson, Licorice Pizza Steven Spielberg, West Side Story Kenneth Branagh, Belfast Ryusuke Hamaguchi, Drive My Car PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE Olivia Colman, The Lost Daughter Nicole Kidman, Being the Ricardos Jessica Chastain, The Eyes of Tammy Faye Kristen Stewart, Spencer Penélope Cruz, Parallel Mothers PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE Will Smith, King Richard Benedict Cumberbatch, The Power of the Dog Andrew Garfield, Tick, Tick... Boom! Denzel Washington, The Tragedy of Macbeth Javier Bardem, Being the Ricardos PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE Ariana DeBose, West Side Story Kirsten Dunst, The Power of the Dog Aunjanue Ellis, King Richard Judi Dench, Belfast Jessie Buckley, The Lost Daughter PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE Kodi Smit-McPhee, The Power of the Dog Ciarán Hinds, Belfast Troy Kotsur, CODA Jesse Plemons, The Power of the Dog JK Simmons, Being the Ricardos BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY Licorice Pizza, Paul Thomas Anderson Belfast, Kenneth Branagh King Richard, Zach Baylin Don't Look Up, Adam McKay (story by McKay and David Sirota) The Worst Person in the World, Joachim Trier and Eskil Vogt BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY The Power of the Dog, Jane Campion The Lost Daughter, Maggie Gyllenhaal CODA, Sian Heder Dune, Jon Spaihts, Denis Villeneuve and Eric Roth Drive My Car, Ryusuke Hamaguchi and Takamasa Oe BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILM Drive My Car (Japan) The Worst Person in the World (Norway) Flee (Denmark) The Hand of God (Italy) Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom (Bhutan) BEST ANIMATED FEATURE Encanto Luca The Mitchells vs the Machines Flee Raya and the Last Dragon BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE Summer of Soul (…Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised) Flee Ascension Attica Writing with Fire BEST ORIGINAL SCORE The Power of the Dog, Jonny Greenwood Dune, Hans Zimmer Don't Look Up, Nicholas Britell Encanto, Germaine Franco Parallel Mothers, Alberto Iglesias BEST ORIGINAL SONG 'No Time to Die', No Time to Die (Billie Eilish and Finneas O'Connell) 'Dos Oruguitas', Encanto (Lin-Manuel Miranda) 'Be Alive', King Richard (Beyoncé Knowles-Carter and Dixson) 'Down to Joy' Belfast (Van Morrison) 'Somehow You Do', Four Good Days (Diane Warren) BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY Dune, Greig Fraser The Power of the Dog, Ari Wegner The Tragedy of Macbeth, Bruno Delbonnel Nightmare Alley, Dan Laustsen West Side Story, Janusz Kaminski BEST FILM EDITING Dune, Joe Walker The Power of the Dog, Peter Sciberras Don't Look Up, Hank Corwin King Richard, Pamela Martin Tick, Tick... Boom!, Myron Kerstein and Andrew Weisblum BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN Dune, Patrice Vermette and Zsuzsanna Sipos Nightmare Alley, Tamara Deverell and Shane Vieau West Side Story, Adam Stockhausen and Rena DeAngelo The Tragedy of Macbeth, Stefan Dechant and Nancy Haigh The Power of the Dog, Grant Major and Amber Richards BEST VISUAL EFFECTS Dune, Paul Lambert, Tristan Myles, Brian Connor, Gerd Nefzer Free Guy, Swen Gillberg, Bryan Grill, Nikos Kalaitzidis, Dan Sudick Spider-Man: No Way Home, Kelly Port, Chris Waegner, Scott Edelstein and Dan Sudick Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Christopher Townsend, Joe Farrell, Sean Noel Walker and Dan Oliver No Time to Die, Charlie Noble, Joel Green, Jonathan Fawkner, Chris Corbould BEST COSTUME DESIGN Cruella, Jenny Beavan Dune, Jacqueline West and Bob Morgan West Side Story, Paul Tazewell Nightmare Alley, Luis Sequeira Cyrano, Massimo Cantini Parrini and Jacqueline Durran BEST MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING The Eyes of Tammy Faye, Linda Dowds, Stephanie Ingram and Justin Raleigh Dune, Donald Mowat, Love Larson and Eva von Bahr Cruella, Nadia Stacey, Naomi Donne and Julia Vernon Coming 2 America, Mike Marino, Stacey Morris and Carla Farmer House of Gucci, Goran Lundstrom, Anna Carin Lock and Frederic Aspiras BEST SOUND Dune, Mac Ruth, Mark Mangini, Theo Green, Doug Hemphill and Ron Bartlett West Side Story, Tod A Maitland, Gary Rydstrom, Brian Chumney, Andy Nelson and Shawn Murphy No Time to Die, Simon Hayes, Oliver Tarney, James Harrison, Paul Massey and Mark Taylor Belfast, Denise Yarde, Simon Chase, James Mather and Niv Adiri The Power of the Dog, Richard Flynn, Robert Mackenzie and Tara Webb BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT SUBJECT Audible Lead Me Home The Queen of Basketball Three Songs for Benazir When We Were Bullies BEST ANIMATED SHORT FILM Affairs of the Art Bestia Boxballet Robin Robin The Windshield Wiper BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT FILM Ala Kachuu — Take and Run The Dress The Long Goodbye On My Mind Please Hold Top image: Netflix.
Something delightful has been happening in cinemas across the country. After months spent empty, with projectors silent, theatres bare and the smell of popcorn fading, Australian picture palaces are back in business — spanning both big chains and smaller independent sites in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. During COVID-19 lockdowns, no one was short on things to watch, of course. In fact, you probably feel like you've streamed every movie ever made, including new releases, comedies, music documentaries, Studio Ghibli's animated fare and Nicolas Cage-starring flicks. But, even if you've spent all your time of late glued to your small screen, we're betting you just can't wait to sit in a darkened room and soak up the splendour of the bigger version. Thankfully, plenty of new films are hitting cinemas so that you can do just that — and we've rounded up, watched and reviewed everything on offer this week. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vdaJcoKk0s PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN Promising Young Woman would've made an excellent episode or season of Veronica Mars. That's meant as the highest compliment to both the bubblegum-hued take on the rape-revenge genre and the cult-status private detective series. Writer/director Emerald Fennell clearly isn't blind to the parallels between the two, even casting Veronica Mars stars Max Greenfield (New Girl) and Chris Lowell (GLOW) in her feature debut. Don't go thinking the Killing Eve season two showrunner and The Crown actor is simply following in other footsteps, though. At every moment, the brilliant and blistering Promising Young Woman vibrates with too much anger, energy and insight to merely be a copycat of something else. It's a film made with the savviest of choices, and provocative and downright fearless ones as well, in everything from its soundtrack to its weaponised pastel, peppy and popping Instagram-friendly imagery. You don't include Italian quartet Archimia's orchestral version of Britney Spears' 'Toxic', Paris Hilton's 'Stars Are Blind' and an abundance of vibrant surface sheen in a movie about a woman waging war on the culture of sexual assault without trying to make a statement — and Fennell succeeds again and again. She has also made the smart decision to cast Carey Mulligan, and to draw upon the acclaimed actor's near-peerless ability to express complex internalised turmoil. Mulligan's fierce lead performance scorches, sears and resounds with such burning truth, and so does the feature she's in as a result. When Mulligan's character, Cassie Thomas, is introduced, she's inebriated and alone at a nightclub, her clothing riding up as she slouches in her seat. Three men discuss women over beverages by the bar, and notice Cassie while talking, with one commenting, "they put themselves in danger, girls like that". No woman brings sexual assault upon themselves, with this whole intelligent and astute revenge-thriller rebuffing the bro-ish bar guy's early observation in every way possible, and meting out punishment to those who think similarly. As viewers see in the film's opening sequence, Cassie is offered help by one of the chatting guys, Jerry (The OC's Adam Brody), who is concerned she could be taken advantage of by men who aren't as nice as him — but then takes her home, makes sexual advances, and learns that the medical school dropout-turned-coffee shop employee he's trying to bed has a lesson for him. Colour-coded names and tallies scrawled in a notebook illustrate this isn't a first for Cassie. The script drip-feeds details about its protagonist's motivations for her ritualistic actions; however, the specifics aren't hard to guess. Cassie's central vigilante quest is forced to adapt after she hears news about someone from her past, and the movie takes her to bold places, boasting a relentlessness that mirrors the persistence of grief and pain after trauma. Promising Young Woman never lets its protagonist's rage subside, proving furious from start to finish — and sharing that feeling even in the film's most overt setups and obvious scenes (which are also some of its most entertaining) is a foregone conclusion. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4gSLP9Smlg SUMMERLAND Opening in the mid-70s, Summerland begins with Alice Lamb (Penelope Wilton, Downton Abbey) tapping away at her typewriter and scaring away the children who come knocking at her door. Rewind to the 40s, and the younger Alice (Gemma Arterton, Their Finest) does much the same. She's been labelled a witch by the kids in her seaside village, and she's hardly happy when the pre-teen Frank (Lucas Bond, The Alienist: Angel of Darkness) arrives on her doorstep as part of a government program to evacuate the next generation from London. In fact, Alice demands that he be rehoused instead of interrupting her work; however, she's told that'll take a week. Moving to the big screen after stage success as a playwright and theatre director (and making short film Leading Lady Parts, also starring Arterton), debut feature filmmaker Jessica Swale penned the original script, so Summerland isn't based on an existing text or property — but everyone watching knows Alice and Frank have ample time to overcome their initial animosity, and that that's exactly what'll happen. Indeed, exploring an unexpected connection between a misanthrope and the young boy placed in her care, tackling multiple types of trauma, and espousing the enduring need for hope, this primarily World War II-set drama proves standard, straightforward and predictable in many ways. And yet, it also demonstrates that a feature can be neat, obvious, heartfelt and rivetingly acted all at once. When it spins a story about a woman given a new lease on life via an unanticipated bond that's thrust upon her, Summerland rarely flirts with surprise, let alone delivers many. Again and again, Swale's screenplay makes easily anticipated choices, and yet it also tells a resonant tale in the process. The film feels as if it has been built around Arterton, and it's definitely better for it. Thanks to her lived-in performance, Alice is able to navigate a formulaic emotional journey and still staunchly feel like her own person at the same time. Other than Arterton's memorable efforts, Summerland also benefits from two specific aspects: the backstory behind Alice's demeanour, and the way it unpacks her outsider status. Inescapably, the movie includes an almost-cringeworthy, far-too-convenient twist — but when it leaps back to the 20s, to Alice's immediate attraction to and subsequent time with Vera (Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Misbehaviour) during her university studies, it doesn't just add a love story to the narrative. In its flashbacks and the shadow they leave on Alice's WWII-era life, the film also invests depth and emotion that isn't as strong otherwise, unleashes unexpected elements that aren't evident elsewhere, and offers a quiet yet potent undercurrent of subversion as well. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxGXbsiDhw0 SPREAD YOUR WINGS Whether they're about people helping other creatures find a way back home, spin stories about connections between different species that change everyone involved, or combine the two in one setup, films about humanity's bond with cute critters comprise a hefty genre. French family-friendly drama Spread Your Wings doesn't just belong in this category, but heartily embraces everything that audiences have come to expect from features that fit the above description — and it also shows how charming movies about humans and animals can be when done simply but well. Sharing a storyline similar to 1996 American film Fly Away Home, but actually based on the real-life exploits of meteorologist Christian Moullec, the latest effort from filmmaker Nicolas Vanier (Belle & Sebastian, School of Life) follows a scientist who is certain that he can save an endangered species of wild geese by teaching them a new migration route, even if his superiors scoff at his idea. With the flying waterfowl's usual path filled with hazards, such as airports, powerlines and light pollution, Christian (Jean-Paul Rouve, I Wish Someone Were Waiting for Me Somewhere) plots an alternate course, raises a new gaggle of goslings from birth, then plans to take to the skies in a homemade ultra-light aircraft to show them the way. Working with a screenplay written by Moullec and Matthieu Petit, then adapted by Vanier and Lilou Fogli (Blind Date), Spread Your Wings recognises the strength of its story. Crucially, while it tells Moullec's tale via fiction rather than as a documentary, it doesn't overcomplicate or overdramatise the narrative. Sent to stay with him for three weeks, Christian's teenage son Thomas (Louis Vazquez, In Her Hands) becomes as engaged in the project as his dad, even taking the lead when authorities in Norway try to scupper their flight — and while everything in the plot charts the expected course, including Thomas' involvement and the firm bond he forges not only with all the geese in his care, but with one white waterfowl from a different species, Spread Your Wings always feels as if it's telling a timeless story, rather than a cliched and well-worn one. The lively efforts of Rouve and a tender performance from Vazquez helps immensely, as does the scenic cinematography, which heads above the earth as much as it can. Vanier is obviously well aware that he's soaring into busy territory, and opts for a classic approach — which pleasingly works for viewers of all ages. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6iXpyVQf5Q&feature=youtu.be BUDDY GAMES When Adam Sandler factored into Oscar consideration for his phenomenal performance in Uncut Gems this time last year, he said that if he didn't receive a nomination from the Academy, he'd make a movie that was downright terrible on purpose. He doesn't star in Buddy Games, and this flat-out awful comedy actually premiered six months before Uncut Gems did (yes, even though it is just reaching Australian cinemas now); however, it's the kind of film one would imagine that Sandler was talking about. Directed, co-written by and starring Transformers: The Last Knight actor Josh Duhamel, this oppressively unfunny flick feels like the product of a bet to turn Jackass into fiction, to make it as awful and obnoxious as possible, and to give Duhamel both a cruisy filmmaking credit and the easiest on-screen role of his career. The premise: for years, a group of male friends have gathered together over a boozy summer weekend to compete in challenges, obstacle courses and games, with bragging rights the ultimate prize. Then one of their get-togethers goes wrong, the tournaments are shuttered and everyone loses touch. Jump to five years later, when ringleader Bobfather (played by Duhamel, of course) is convinced to restart the festivities by his struggling pal Shelly (Dan Bakkedahl, Space Force) — and, at the urging of the rest of the gang (Entourage's Kevin Dillon, Psych's James Roday Rodriguez, CHiPS' Dax Shepard and The Wrong Missy's Nick Swardson), to put up $150,000 for the winner. Duhamel and his fellow first-time feature screenwriters Bob Schwartz and Jude Weng must find testicle jokes and cocktails made with semen hilarious, because that's comedic level that Buddy Games operates on. Also covered: men strapping slabs of meat to their head, then trying not to get attacked by a wild reptile; and a chauvinist contest to see who can pick up a woman at a bar, dance with them and land a kiss, all after just taking laxatives and straining to avoid defecating. While meant to garner laughs, the film simply serves up sad middle-aged men trying to assert their masculinity and hold onto their youth in a puerile way — and says plenty about the folks who thought it was a movie worth making. Unsurprisingly given the alpha male traits aggressively on display, women barely feature, and are either stunning but still one of the guys when they do (with The Predator's Olivia Munn the only female cast member with any real screen-time) or painted as the object of no one's real affection. Homophobic references abound, too, and the fact that one of the group is secretly gay (his only character trait) is as cliched and flimsily thought-out as it sounds. Not even the cast appears particularly committed to their parts, other than Duhamel, obviously, and an over-acting Bakkedahl. Adam Sandler didn't end up getting an Oscar nomination for Uncut Gems — but whatever he thinks will be his absolute worst film is bound to be better better than Buddy Games. If you're wondering what else is currently screening in cinemas — or has been throughout the year — check out our rundown of new films released in Australia on July 2, July 9, July 16, July 23 and July 30; August 6, August 13, August 20 and August 27; September 3, September 10, September 17 and September 24; October 1, October 8, October 15, October 22 and October 29; and November 5, November 12, November 19 and November 26; and December 3, December 10, December 17, December 26 and January 1. You can also read our full reviews of a heap of recent movies, such as The Personal History of David Copperfield, Waves, The King of Staten Island, Babyteeth, Deerskin, Peninsula, Tenet, Les Misérables, The New Mutants, Bill & Ted Face the Music, The Translators, An American Pickle, The High Note, On the Rocks, The Trial of the Chicago 7, Antebellum, Miss Juneteenth, Savage, I Am Greta, Rebecca, Kajillionaire, Baby Done, Corpus Christi, Never Rarely Sometimes Always, The Craft: Legacy, Radioactive, Brazen Hussies, Freaky, Mank, Monsoon, Ellie and Abbie (and Ellie's Dead Aunt), American Utopia, Possessor, Misbehaviour, Happiest Season, The Prom, Sound of Metal, The Witches, The Midnight Sky, The Furnace, Wonder Woman 1984, Ottolenghi and the Cakes of Versailles, Nomadland, Pieces of a Woman and The Dry.
Australia's border rules are changing, allowing Aussies to embark upon international travel again. So, you've probably stopped dreaming about all the overseas destinations you'd like to visit — because you've already started planning your next global getaway. But there's one destination closer to home you still might want to consider, with the Scenic Rim region in southeast Queensland just named one of the best places to visit in 2022 by travel publication Lonely Planet. The only Aussie spot to make the list — which is broken down into the countries, regions and cities — the Scenic Rim placed eighth among the top ten areas to head to in the Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2022 guide. Back in 2020, Lord Howe Island ranked fifth on the same list, but this time it's an Australian destination without beaches that caught the publication's eye. The Scenic Rim was named for its "diversity of attractions" — with the guide pointing out its rainforest adventures, "the misty slopes of Mount Tamborine town packed with cafes, cellar doors and galleries" and "hatted restaurant Homage, which specialises in creative paddock-to-plate fare". It also called attention to Kooroomba Vineyard and Lavender Farm, Summer Land Camels, and the area's "epic landscapes and charming country towns offering a tasty slice of rural life, with cracking Queensland hospitality in plentiful supply too". [caption id="attachment_830275" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism and Events Queensland[/caption] On the top regions list, the southeast Queensland spot is in impressive company. Westfjords in Iceland took out first place, West Virginia in the US came second and China's Xishuangbanna placed third. Next came Kent's Heritage Coast in the UK, Puerto Rico, Shikoku in Japan and Chile's Atacama Desert — while Canada's Vancouver Island and Burgundy in France closed out the rundown. While the Scenic Rim is the only Australian location to make the 2022 guide, Auckland in New Zealand topped the list of the ten best cities for 2022 — with Lonely Planet noting that [NZ's] "biggest and most diverse city has always been beautiful, but one unpredicted consequence of COVID-19 has been the blossoming of Auckland's cultural scene, putting a fresh spotlight on exciting local creativity". Other cities named include Taipei in Taiwan, Freiburg in Germany, Atlanta in the US and Lagos in Nigeria — as well as Nicosia/Lefkosia in Cyprus, Dublin in Ireland, Merida in Mexico, Florence in Italy and Gyeongju in South Korea. On the list of best countries, Cook Islands took out the number one spot, followed by Norway, Mauritius, Belize, Slovenia, Anguilla, Oman, Nepal, Malawi and Egypt. So, there's 30 places all up to add to your must-visit list. For more information about Lonely Planet's full Best in Travel 2022 lists, visit its website.
With almost every new Kristen Stewart-starring movie that has reached screens since her Twilight days, a distinctive feeling radiates. It was true with Clouds of Sils Maria, Certain Women and Personal Shopper, and then with Happiest Season, her Oscar-nominated role in Spencer and also Crimes of the Future as well: each of these films are exactly the types of flicks that one of the most-fascinating actors working today should be making. Then arrived Love Lies Bleeding, which partly sprang from that very idea and couldn't perfect it better. This revenge-driven, blood-splattered, 80s-set romantic thriller about a gym manager and a bodybuilder who fall in love, then into a whirlwind of sex, vengeance and violence, was written with Stewart in mind. As Saint Maud writer/director Rose Glass must've imagined while putting pen to paper, she's stunning in it. Love Lies Bleeding casts KStew as Lou, whose days overseeing the local iron-pumping haven — well, unclogging its toilets and scowling at meathead customers from beneath her shaggy mullet — are shaken up when female bodybuilder Jackie (Katy O'Brian, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania) enters her remote New Mexico hometown. This is a girl-meets-girl tale, but it's also about the chaos of finding the person who best understands you, dealing with a lifetime's worth of baggage and trying to start anew. Here, amid neon hues and synth tunes, that means navigating Lou's gun-running dad (Ed Harris, Top Gun: Maverick) and abusive brother-in-law (Dave Franco, Day Shift), trying to protect her sister Beth (Jena Malone, Rebel Moon — Part One: A Child of Fire), chasing Jackie's competitive dreams and attempting to leave complicated pasts in the rearview mirror. Co-writing with Weronika Tofilska (a director on His Dark Materials and Hanna), Glass didn't just conjure up Lou with Stewart as her ideal lead; she also leapt into a helluva sophomore project that follows quite the experience with Saint Maud. The 2019 movie, Glass' feature directorial debut, marked her as one of the next exciting filmmakers out of Britain. But little about getting the psychological thriller to audiences, and to adoring acclaim, was straightforward. Premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival as all very well and good. So was A24 coming onboard afterwards. The timing of Saint Maud's original April 2020 US release date says everything, though. The early days of the pandemic might've derailed getting the picture to viewers, but it didn't stop it becoming one of the standouts of the past five years. "The release was very odd, because we went down well at festivals, and then 24 picked us up," Glass tells Concrete Playground. "And they'd been planning on doing this whole wide cinematic release in America, and everyone kept saying to me 'oh my god, this never happens with a debut, this is incredible'. And I said, 'oh wow, okay, amazing'. It didn't quite feel real anyway, and then we're literally days away from getting on a plane to come out to America to do a whole fancy press tour, which felt so surreal in and of itself, and then lockdown. Obviously, we all know what happened next." "I'd been nervous about bringing the film out into the world, and people's reactions, but I think a global pandemic certainly helps put things in perspective. It certainly helped to not take it too seriously, I think," Glass continues. Before that, writing Saint Maud was "very stressful and got very unpleasant, because you're plagued by so much uncertainty about whether it's actually going to happen," she shares. Then, "making it was wonderful and just very collaborative — it was just a massive relief that it was actually happening". Consider Glass' Saint Maud journey fuel for Love Lies Bleeding; the filmmaker herself does. The latter veers in an array of vastly different directions from its predecessor; compare Saint Maud's claustrophobic focus on a highly religious carer who becomes obsessed with saving her latest patient's soul versus Love Lies Bleeding's frantic lovers-on-the-run antics. And yet, as much as Love Lies Bleeding can play like a heel-turn response to Saint Maud, they also boast more than a few things in common, such as a fascination with transformation, a deep willingness to push boundaries and, of course, an uncompromising vision. We chatted with Glass about being motivated to make Love Lies Bleeding after her Saint Maud experience, how the idea for her second feature came about, the difference between writing a part for KStew and getting her to actually play it, finding IRL bodybuilder and former cop-turned- The Mandalorian and Westworld actor O'Brian as Jackie, the film's wild ride and more. [caption id="attachment_804112" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Saint Maud[/caption] On Glass' Approach to Love Lies Bleeding After the Response to (and Chaotic Release for) Saint Maud "I'm sure it lights a fire under the arse, or whatever the expression is. I mean, it's wonderful. It definitely exceeded anything any of us were expecting or hoping to happen on the film, so that was very cool. And I think maybe because also it happened during lockdown, so I was getting a sense that people were responding to it well, and it was going down well, but because it was all basically just through [online] — I wasn't used to doing everything over Zoom at that point — it all felt very removed. I was just in my house with my flatmates in lockdown like everyone else, so it sort of felt like it wasn't happening. [caption id="attachment_804111" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Saint Maud[/caption] But, in a way, because we didn't get to do the proper release then with the film, it did mean there was a pent-up frustration, which probably spilled over into making this next one, I think. It definitely gives you a confidence and a fearlessness, which I hadn't really felt before. And definitely there's this feeling of 'oh, wow, I get to make another one — I don't know if I'll get to do another one again after that', so you treat it as if it's the last one. I think maybe also Saint Maud's kind of uptight, obviously, and quite insular and claustrophobic — so I think maybe that combined with lockdown, probably this when I was like 'let's do something bombastic and a bit more extroverted, and try something risky and irresponsible and see what we can get away with'." On Coming Up with the Idea and Story for Love Lies Bleeding "Initially, it was just wanting to do something about a a female bodybuilder. That seemed psychologically and visually exciting territory. And I guess I feel like I'm probably the polar opposite of a bodybuilder — and the obsessive level of discipline is something I can only be fascinated by and aspire to myself, but never quite achieve. So maybe, maybe that's how it became a two-hander between a bodybuilder and a woman who's basically just 'oh, my god, you're amazing'. But I decided that I wanted to try co-writing. I had this initial germ of an idea about a bodybuilder who kind of loses her mind while she's training for a competition. And then I teamed up with my co-writer Weronika Tofilska, who I've been friends with for years. Then, so the rest of the story, all the twisty-turny rest of it, we basically came up with together just bouncing back and forth." On Having Kristen Stewart in Mind While Writing "She's just, I think, a very natural fit for the character. I guess it was just a quite instinctual thing. I like the idea of her playing a moody heartthrob in loose, boyish way — like she's playing someone who's kind of an asshole but you kind of really like her as well. Kristen, she's actually, in person, she's very twinkly and energetic and stuff, but there's I think a more famous version of her which is much more held back and a bit aloof, all this kind of thing, which I think is really what the character needs. She's kind of an enigma, like a mystery — she keeps a lot held back, and then hopefully throughout the film you pick her apart a bit. I just thought she'd be a really hot, moody heartthrob." On Getting Kristen Stewart Onboard as Lou "I couldn't believe it. I met her for the first time — we had an awkward blind date kind of thing, and it was the morning after they'd released Spencer in the UK, I think, so she'd had a late night. I was basically suddenly very starstruck and quite nervous, and just as far as I saw it, I just waffled at her incoherently for an hour, and she went 'mmmm'. But then, luckily, afterwards she sent me a really lovely message, and then I sent her the script. It's weird and awkward having a meeting where you don't actually have something specific — because I hadn't shared the script with her then, it was this awkward thing where I was told that I wasn't actually allowed to, even though I wanted to offer the her the role outright. It was more of like a temperature check. So it's much nicer to have a conversation when you're actually talking about a specific script, and she's agreed, and there's none of this weird awkwardness. Anyways, she basically said she really likes Saint Maud. She's said in interviews since then that she was up for doing whatever I wanted to do next — which is very obviously a very lovely feeling and takes the pressure off a little bit, because I thought I did a really bad job of pitching it to her. But anyway, she was all in." On Finding Katy O'Brian to Play Love Lies Bleeding's Pivotal Female Bodybuilder "Katy's just — I think both her and Kristen, just on a basic level, they're just incredibly charismatic and incredible to look at. They're two people that I'm like 'I would love to watch these two people falling in love with each other'. A lot of the film just has to play on you being like 'oh, these people are amazing'. But with Katy specifically, it's the duality. On the surface, she's obviously got this incredible physicality and a very imposing physical presence, or can be. And so this more steely action-hero stuff comes very easily to her. But actually naturally, in terms of how she is and as a person, you scratch just underneath that and she's incredibly warm and soft. She's described herself as like a snuggle bear. And also, her character goes on a pretty tumultuous up and down, and does some pretty terrible things, but ultimately is still the innocent of the film. There's a naivety to her. Katy is just so incredibly empathetic, I think, which the character needs — because otherwise she'd just lose her and it'd just be 'oh, it's just this crazy woman doing crazy things'. But Katy just makes you so care for her so much. Given it was her first big lead dramatic performance — she's acted before, but more as supporting roles, normally previously in roles which have mostly been requiring her just to do the physical kind of stuff — she jumped into this. We cast like two weeks before we started shooting, and then a few weeks later she's doing all these quite tricky scenes with Kristen. I immediately would just completely forget that it's the first time she's doing a role like this." On Making a Film That Feels Like It Can Go Anywhere and Everywhere, Even While Building in Familiar Elements "In terms of the surrealism, and some of the weird combinations of things, I think it's what comes naturally. Me and Weronika, when we were writing it, we were playing with a lot narrative and character tropes. There's quite a few formulaic elements in the story, which probably are quite familiar to people, which hopefully we then take off course into somewhere a bit more surprising. There's definitely a framework in this. I think there's a lot of elements in the film which are very recognisable and which will probably feel familiar in some way. So hopefully it's setting up an expectation of something to happen — and then, because you know what the expectation is, it's easy to go 'let's go the other way'." On Taking Love Lies Bleeding in the Opposite Direction to Saint Maud in So Many Ways, But Still Finding Connections Between Them "It's kind of intentional. I mean, I think there are quite a lot of things which do connect the films. But each film, you spend a few years of your life just obsessively thinking about that — so I think after several years of just thinking about one particular tone and style of story, it's definitely, I think, a natural instinct to want to mix things up a bit. So yeah, the idea of wanting to do something which was more extroverted and bombastic than Saint Maud was definitely a deliberate, instinctual kind of thing. And I guess also Saint Maud was kind of about loneliness, so in a way this one was like 'oh, if you think being lonely is hard, try being in a relationship'." Love Lies Bleeding released in Australian cinemas on Thursday, March 14, 2024, and opens in New Zealand cinemas on Thursday, April 4, 2024. Read our review. Images: Anna Kooris.
Snapchat is hardly the most discerning of mediums. If you had to break down the subject of all content sent on the service, the vast majority of snaps would surely consist of people's faces perched atop cartoon animal bodies, drunken selfies with indecipherable words slapped across the screen, and an obscene number of dick pics, sexts and various videos somehow including the presence of a penis. You can't expect that much more from a service founded by the king of all dudebros. Anyway. Snapchat is about to get all grown up. According to the Wall Street Journal, the much-loved startup is introducing some news and advertising to your drunken, sext-loving feed. Set to launch this November, these new inclusions are being planned under the moniker of Snapchat Discovery; a service to complement the already released Snapchat Stories. And it's already generating a lot of interest. Lots of brands eager to get into the snap-loving teen market have already started accounts and are now looking for ways to maximise their presence with users. Branded messages with 'Snapchat celebrities' are already a standard practice and straight-up advertising seems like the next logical step. There are reportedly a dozen companies already in line for the service including MailOnline, the online component of The Daily Mail. Allowing users to read news content and watch small portions of TV and movies, Snapchat's self-destruction of messages outwardly seems like a tidy way to deal with copyrighted content. Other than that, it's unsure as yet how any of it will really work. This is the startup's first move to monetise content and everyone understandably has a whole lot of questions. For instance, how many ads for Guardians of the Galaxy am I going to have to wade through before I can see my friend's daily work selfie? At what point can I get my dinner snaps sponsored by Dominoes or Pizza Hut and live off the wonderful oily spoils? Is Snapchat the future of journalism as we know it? The answers: at least one, soon hopefully, and for the sake of all humanity let's hope not. Via Mashable and Wall Street Journal. Images: jeffgoldblum236.tumblr.com and superwholock4lyfe.tumblr.com via Buzzfeed.
