During the Point Break remake, a gang of adrenaline junkies contemplate their next fix. Staring up at a mountain they're about to base jump from, they discuss their limits — or "the point where you break". Dialogue isn't exactly this movie's strong point. Yes, the film expands its remit and titular reference beyond the realm of surfing that was so integral to its 1991 predecessor. No, it's not a smart move. The latest Point Break is as lacklustre as everything that comes out of its characters' mouths, despite its best efforts to distract audiences with scenes of spectacle. In broad terms, the story remains roughly the same: a freshly minted FBI agent tracks a gang of thieves whose crimes are tied to their thrill-seeking antics. Cue an undercover operation that tests the cops-versus-robbers divide, as Johnny Utah (Luke Bracey) is seduced by the swagger of ringleader Bodhi (Édgar Ramírez). This time, Bodhi and his cronies don't just surf and skydive, but snowboard, glide and free-climb too. Seeking spiritual fulfillment, they're attempting to complete the holy grail of death-defying endeavours, known as the Ozaki Eight. Their accompanying heists are designed to give back what they're taking in the process, redistributing the wealth to the poverty-stricken, Robin Hood-style. As a standalone feature, it all makes for the kind of slick film that leans heavily on what's being seen rather than what's being said. When the expositional or faux-philosophical chatter gets grating, up pops a daredevil act; when the script can't quite find a way to move forward, or anything for its characters to do, the same trick is deployed. It's the "look over there!" approach to filmmaking, and while it provides some striking sights, their purpose as filler is never in doubt. With the central bromance weak and the law-and-order side of things formulaic, Point Break becomes little more than a fast-paced, choppily edited mash-up of extreme sports videos and any template police procedural you can think of. Moreover, as a remake of a beloved, breezy '90s action classic, the film fares even worse. In reimagining the Keanu Reeves/Patrick Swayze effort about stoner surfers trying to finance their endless summer, director-cinematographer Ericson Core (Invincible) and writer Kurt Wimmer (Total Recall) clearly think that bigger is better — and that's where their thinking stops. Core has actually toyed with this kind of material before, lensing the car-oriented riff that is The Fast and The Furious. But where that flick spawned a successful franchise, this rehash just peddles in tedium. Sure, he ramps up the stakes, stunts, locations and backstory, adds the requisite updates and throws in a few overt winks and nods (including one that Hot Fuzz did better). But he also strips the feature of its fun, thrills, humour and personality in the process. Indeed, never has there been a movie in greater need of Reeves saying "whoa", Swayze's oozing charm, or Gary Busey being Gary Busey than this choppy dip into been-there, done-that territory. Among the next gen performers, only Ramírez stands out. Aussie actor Bracey plays his role not just blankly but blandly, Ray Winstone phones in his turn as a London-based officer, and Teresa Palmer's love interest appears to exist purely to give someone female a speaking part. To say that this version of Point Break is a wipeout might be a cliché, but it's also the dull reality — and the film doesn't try to inspire anything more than that.
No one in Australia expects to feel cold in January. Summer is in full swing, after all. It's prime beach and pool season, obviously — and, even though the festive period is over and everyone is settling back into the year after the holidays, thoughts of lazing around by or splashing around in a body of water aren't ever too far from anyone's minds. Whether you're fond of cooling down with a refreshing dip, or you prefer to escape to the vicinity of the nearest fan or air-conditioner, you might want to put those plans into action across the rest of this week. From today, Thursday, January 21, temperatures are expected to be mighty hot all around the nation, according to the Bureau of Meteorology's latest major cities forecast. As per BOM's city-specific forecasts, some of those temps are due to stick around a bit longer than that, too. After an expected top of 27 degrees on Thursday, Sydneysiders can expect a few sweaty days, with temps staying at 30 or above from Friday until mid-next week. Still in NSW, Newcastle will hit 34 on Sunday, while Wollongong will get to 31. That isn't as warm as Canberra in the ACT, though — with the Australian capital forecast to hit 38 on Sunday and 39 on Monday. Sunday and Monday will be warm in Melbourne, too, with tops of 35 and 37 forecast. They'll come after a 31-degree Thursday, then expected maximums of 26 and 27 on Friday and Saturday. Thankfully, a drop to 22 is forecast for Tuesday. https://twitter.com/BOM_Vic/status/1351781371715477504 Brisbane will get to 27 on Thursday, 29 on Friday, and 30 from Saturday–Monday, and 33 on Tuesday and Wednesday — so it'll be warm, but also usual summer weather. In Adelaide, the mercury will rise to 35 on Thursday, dip down to 32 on Friday, then soar to 39 on Saturday and a whopping 41 on Sunday. Also in the centre of the country, Alice Springs can expect its maximum temperature to stay between 35–39 degrees for four days from Thursday, while Darwin's will sit at 32-33 across the same period. In Perth, it'll actually get a tad cooler over the weekend — starting with a 34-degree maximum on Thursday, then going up to 36 degrees on Friday, before dropping to 26 on Saturday and Sunday. And down in Hobart, a top temperature of 27 is forecast for Sunday, with 30 expected on Monday — following other maximums of 22, 23 and 25 in the days prior. Of course, while these are BOM's forecasts as issued at 6.05am on Thursday, January 21, conditions may change — so keep an eye on the Bureau's website for the most up-to-date information. For latest weather forecasts, head to the Bureau of Meteorology website.
It's the first day of summer in Brisbane, which usually means blue skies. But it just got rather dark and grey outside. And in this city of ours during the warmer months, that only means one thing: a storm is coming. So if you're currently reading this from somewhere dry and cosy, we suggest that you keep it that way for the rest of your Sunday afternoon. Brisbane isn't just in for any old wet weather, either. The Bureau of Meteorology has reported that "damaging winds and large hailstones" is expected with storms sweeping through the Wide Bay and Burnett, Darling Downs and Granite Belt and southeast coast regions. That includes Brisbane, Kingaroy, Ipswich, Caboolture, the Gold Coast and Coolangatta — and while a specific time hasn't been predicted, the wild weather is expected to arrive "over the next several hours". https://twitter.com/BOM_Qld/status/1200983834923159552 BOM has been forecasting storms across southeast Queensland since this morning, after similar conditions further inland yesterday — in St George, a wind gust of 95 kilometres per hour was recorded. The Bureau also predicts that, when the weather system moves eastward overnight tonight, it'll leave behind "strong, dry, gusty westerly winds", which'll increase the fire danger tomorrow. https://twitter.com/BOM_Qld/status/1200946642209443842 As the storms approach today, the usual common sense tactics obviously apply: secure loose outdoor items and stay inside. Queensland Fire and Emergency Services's number is 132 500 if you need SES assistance. Weather-wise, the storms are set to subside after tonight, with tomorrow set to be a windy but dry 34-degree day. Get ready for more toasty weather as the week progresses — and all summer, really — with temperatures remaining in the mid-30s, and even forecast to hit 37 degrees on Thursday. Stay dry out there. And remember to check Live Traffic, Translink and BOM for warnings and updates.
Keen to escape the heat, check out Brisbane's newest cinema, discover what's become of Red Hill's old Skate Arena and go easy on your wallet? A visit to Enoggera Terrace's new movie-watching spot has you covered. For the five days between Saturday, November 30–Wednesday, December 4, Red Hill Cinemas is offering up discount tickets to celebrate its opening — and you'll only pay $10 for your movie of choice. Or movies. With everything from Last Christmas, The Irishman and Marriage Story to Knives Out, Ford v Ferrari and Frozen II on the cinema's opening bill, there's plenty to watch if you're keen to spend as much time in a darkened room — and within a gloriously graffiti-covered building — as possible. Even better — all five of Red Hill Cinemas' screens feature leather chairs, including in its huge Vmax-style 160 seater. In the venue's four 70-seat gold rooms, you'll also relax in recliners. And yes, all of the above are available for a tenner.
Teen singer-songwriter Budjerah is practically going from one end of the state to the other this November, starting in Lismore near the Queensland border and heading right down to Tumut in the Snowy Mountains. You may know him from an appearance on last year's The Voice, but the youngster from Northern NSW spot Fingal Head has made great strides since then, signing to the same management company as national heavyweights Tash Sultana and Tones & I. So, jump on the chance to see Budjerah at these intimate performances before he inevitably makes it big. The Coodjinburra artist is performing at Lismore City Hall on Saturday, November 14 for $40 a pop — you can get your tickets here. Otherwise you can head to Hurstville Entertainment Centre on Saturday, November 28 or Tumut River Brewing Co. on Sunday, November 29 and catch him for free. You'll still need to book your spot, though, which you can do over here for the Hurstville gig or via the Tumut River Brewing website. For the latest info on NSW border restrictions, head here. If travelling from Queensland or Victoria, check out Queensland Health and DHHS websites, respectively.
Forget microwave dinners. Come the not too distant future, you could be cooking your food in the washing machine. A university student in Tel Aviv has recently devised a new type of instant meal that cooks sous-vide style in the laundry along with your dirty socks. How very appetising. Created by Iftach Gazit of the Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design, the Sous La Vie bags are made from waterproof Tyvek paper, and contain a sealed inner plastic bag — ensuring you don't end up with mixed veggies in your undies, or soap in your salmon teriyaki. "In sous-vide, the food is cooked in a bath-like device at temperatures usually around 50 to 70 degrees Celsius," explains Gazit in a blog post. "The same conditions can be found in a washing machine." "Instead of following a sous-vide recipe and cooking a piece of meat at 58 degrees Celsius for two and a half hours, just set your washing machine to 'synthetics' for a long duration program," he suggests. "Cooking vegetables? Set your machine to 'cotton' for a short duration program." In addition to being a convenient — if rather disconcerting — option for those of us who don't have a lot of time to prepare food, Gazit also believes that his invention could help those who are sleeping rough, pointing out that all night laundromats often double as impromptu accommodation for the homeless. "They offer a hassle-free shelter," he explains. "So why shouldn't you be able to cook some food while there?" It's not clear if and when Gazit's product will ever hit the market, or whether it would ever really be embraced by consumers. Still… surely you'd be curious to try it at least once. Via Dezeen.
No one in the world asked for cough drop-flavoured KitKats, but that's a flavour that the chocolate brand has indeed whipped up. It's known for creating weird and wonderful varieties, as you will have spotted if you've ever been to Japan and perused the confectionary section of a convenience store — and if you're an Australian chocolate fiend keen on some creative sweets this Christmas, the company has quite the feast on offer as well. Actually, KitKat's new Aussie range of festive-themed choccies are inspired by an Australian Christmas feast, with four flavours available in one pack. It's designed to mimic the experience of eating your way through a multi-course Xmas lunch or dinner, so there's a prosciutto, melon and champagne variety to start with — which comes as part of a white chocolate KitKat. Next, it's on to the main course, aka a milk chocolate KitKat that tastes like baked ham with orange and clove glaze. But you can't just have meat without some vegetables on the side, so there's also a honey glazed carrots KitKat, because of course there is. Then, last but not least comes the Christmas pudding with brandy custard version — for dessert, although the whole chocolate spread obviously falls into that category. Folks in Sydney and Melbourne can pick up a KitKat Chocolatory Christmas Feast pack for $25 in-store — and each one comes with one finger of all of the aforementioned flavours. If you're keen and you live elsewhere throughout Australia, you can order packs online to be delivered to your door. For more information about the KitKat Chocolatory Christmas Feast pack, head to KitKat's Australian website.
Being careful what you wish for sits at the heart of most superhero movies. As advice for Spider-Man, Stan Lee even penned an oft-quoted adage about that very notion. Shazam! Fury of the Gods' caped crusaders all know that using their super skills wisely is a duty — yes, with great power comes great responsibility — and they're aware that doing just that comes with struggles. They aren't great at unleashing their magical talents, however, earning the nickname "the Philadelphia Fiascos". But the folks truly realising they should've been more cautious with their dreams are this Shazam! sequel's viewers. Another riff on Big, The Goonies, Ferris Bueller's Day Off and Ghostbusters in DC Extended Universe packaging like its 2019 predecessor sounds a heap better than the forgettable superheroes-versus-gods fare that's eventuated — a movie that isn't that fussed with the powers it has and sports zero responsibility for barely managing to be average. Shazam! Fury of the Gods hasn't completely moved on from nodding to beloved 80s flicks, though, or from referencing other films in general. Early on, it gives 'Holding Out for a Hero', which was originally recorded for the OG Footloose, a perfunctory spin. And, where the first Shazam! instalment was earnest and enthusiastic around all those winks and all that pilfering, this second effort uses E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial's Reese's Pieces product placement as a guide for shoehorning in a Skittles commercial. When it isn't having someone yell "taste the rainbow", it also likes name-dropping titles owned by Warner Bros, which owns DC Studios — or movies connected to its on- and off-screen players. So, in a picture that's about kids and teens transforming into spandex-wearing saviours when they say "shazam!", then fighting the mythical Daughters of Atlas, audiences are subjected to clunky, self-conscious Game of Thrones shoutouts and Fast and Furious gags (a dragon sparks the former, and star Helen Mirren and co-screenwriter Chris Morgan's experience with Vin Diesel's high-octane saga revs up the latter). Speaking of F&F, Shazam! Fury of the Gods also goes all-in on family — but Billy Batson (Asher Angel, High School Musical: The Musical — The Series) and his pals are too young to knock back Coronas. Also, Shazam! Fury of the Gods isn't much concerned with Billy in his normal guise, giving his Shazam self (Zachary Levi, Apollo 10 1/2: A Space Age Childhood) the bulk of the character's screentime. The time for origin stories has been and gone here, but largely ditching Angel robs this franchise-within-a-franchise of one of its main points of difference in the DCEU. None of the series' other flicks are about awkward adolescents learning to grapple with power, and understanding that their wildest dreams aren't as easy as they'd always hoped. Shazam! Fury of the Gods still manages to hit some of those notes thanks to a bigger focus on Billy's best friend and fellow foster kid Freddy Freeman (Jack Dylan Grazer, We Are Who We Are), a person with disability, but sidelining the teenager who turns into Shazam is clumsy and noticeable. Similarly plain as day from scene one: that Shazam! Fury of the Gods got as lucky as any superhero movie can with its new cast members. The film opens at the Acropolis Museum in Greece, where two of Atlas' offspring are determined to get back the Wizard's (Djimon Hounsou, Black Adam) broken staff and reclaim their dad's magic — and those two daughters, Hespera and Kalypso, come in the form of Mirren (1923) and Lucy Liu (Strange World). Despite splashing around the film's fondness for dim lighting and dull CGI early, this introductory sequence lets its big-name talents make more of an imprint standing around in their costumes and looking formidable than much that follows. Indeed, whenever Mirren and Liu are on-screen, and West Side Story's Rachel Zegler as well, Shazam! Fury of the Gods makes a case for pushing aside not just Billy, but Shazam and everyone else. This is still a Shazam! movie, of course, and not solely a vehicle for Mirren, Liu and Zegler to play goddesses and have fun. So, returning director David F Sandberg (Lights Out, Annabelle: Creation) and screenwriters Morgan (Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw) and Henry Gayden (Earth to Echo) have motions to go through. Cue Billy aka Shazam, Freddy aka Captain Everypower (Adam Brody, Fleishman Is in Trouble), and their foster siblings Eugene (Fresh Off the Boat's Ian Chen, then 13 Reasons Why's Ross Butler as a superhero), Pedro (Snowfall's Jovan Armand and From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series' DJ Cotrona), Darla (This Is Us' Faithe Herman and Harlem's Meagan Good) and Mary (Fall's Grace Caroline Currey as both versions of the character) trying to save Philly. And, in the process, cue their efforts to work out how to be careful with their fantastical abilities. Amid the bland jokes, The Avengers get a callout. Rather than being cheeky or funny, that quip among many flat quips acts as a glaring reminder that caped-crusader team-ups are oh-so familiar. Marvel's and DC's superhero franchises both include several, with Shazam! Fury of the Gods hardly distinguishing itself from any apart from its magic utterances. The pixel-frenzy battle scenes definitely don't dazzle, whether or not they involve Skittles. That said, some might've if the monster menagerie conjured up by Hespera and Kalypso had boasted a Ray Harryhausen-style approach. Yes, there's a lot of woulda, coulda, shoulda about the Shazam! films' second outing, which might be its last depending on what new DC Studios heads James Gunn (the director of The Suicide Squad) and Peter Safran (a producer on the same flick, and on this, the first Shazam! and Aquaman) summon up. New head honchos, new era: that's where the DCEU currently stands, with Gunn and Safran taking up their jobs in late 2022. Changes have sprung swiftly, including badging what'll come after 2023's The Flash, Blue Beetle and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom as just the DC Universe. Henry Cavill has been scrapped as Superman, but the Man of Steel will get a new flick helmed by Gunn. Also, more Black Adam is off the cards. The Batman will score a sequel, but there'll also be a Batman who isn't played by Robert Pattinson (and not just because The Flash co-stars Ben Affleck and Michael Keaton). It's little wonder then that Shazam! Fury of the Gods doesn't just feel routine — rarely has a big-budget franchise entry felt like it matters less. At least it gave us Mirren, Liu and Zegler, a trio that everyone should wish for, livening up a by-the-numbers affair.
The grilled calamari comes seasoned with lemon myrtle. Warrigal green gnocchi is its pasta of choice. Peppermint gum lamb is one of its signature mains, jaffa mousse with eucalyptus honeycomb sits on the dessert menu, and a beer that pays tribute to mango and macadamia Weis bars is on the drinks lineup. They're some of the highlights at Brisbane's newly opened Dapl, which serves up modern Australian cuisine with a focus on native Aussie ingredients, and sits inside Creek Street's Amora Hotel. The revamped five-star site was formerly known as the Novotel, then underwent a hefty revamp to the tune of $30 million, with the hotel itself relaunching at the end of 2023. At the time, it officially unveiled its new guise with a rooftop pool deck with skyline views, a lobby bar pouring cocktails and 296 rooms located over 14 floors. The next step: Dapl welcoming in diners. Executive Chef Jamie Renfrey oversees the kitchen, with more than 30 native ingredients taking pride of place in his menu, which is available as à la carte dinner dishes and either two- or three-course set menus. "I grew up experimenting in the back garden, growing various vegetables, such as heirloom tomatoes, which was my grandfather's passion. Dapl's menu celebrates that family spirit while intertwining innovative twists in a vibrant display of Australian cuisine, past and present," says Renfrey of a culinary lineup that also includes scorched king prawns with karkalla, native spice salmon gravlax, kangaroo loin served with a davidson plum jus, and a pork cutlet paired with rosella and honey mustard. The beverage selection includes that Mango Mac kettle sour beer from Revel Brewing Co, gin and whisky from 23rd Street Distillery, and a range of wine and cocktails. Among the latter, the Tropical Punch combines tropical gin with seasonal tropical fruits, triple sec, prosecco and sugar syrup — and the Citrus Sparkler is made with red citrus gin, limoncello, rosemary and tonic. Dapl's nature and botanical themes aren't just on display in its dishes and drinks. They're literally on display in the decor, too, with designers Cottee Parker overseeing the fitout. Think: a feature wall painted with a leafy scene, earthy hues all round and foliage watermarks elsewhere. Find Dapl at the Amora Hotel Brisbane, 200 Creek Street, Brisbane City — open for breakfast from 6.30–10am Monday–Friday and 6.30–10.30am Saturday–Sunday, and for dinner from 6–9.30pm daily. Head to the restaurant's website for reservations and further information.
When the working week is done, folks just wanna have fun. We're paraphrasing Cyndi Lauper because she knows what she's singing about. If your idea of taking her advice involves listening to ace musos belt out a few tunes, then QPAC's Live at Melbourne Street Green is the Friday afternoon session you're looking for. All about live performances, tasty bites to eat and kicking back a stone's throw from the inner city, the regular event offers an ace start to your weekend from 5.30–7.30pm. Across its first season for 2025, running through autumn and into winter, it's happening most weeks except when Friday falls on a public holiday — so there's no tunes on Friday, April 18 or Friday, April 25. Otherwise, each week you can enjoy the cooler weather with an outdoor songfest. The music lineup changes, with Elements Collective, Omiya and talents from Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University all set to do the honours. Food-wise, you can grab a bite from Storytellers, which means burgers, yiros, mezze platters, fish and chips, gourmet toasties and more — while sipping wine and beer, including of the non-alcoholic variety. Entry is free, but you'll obviously have to pay for the eating and drinking part of the evening. [caption id="attachment_963746" align="alignnone" width="1917"] QPAC[/caption]
Calling all steak fiends: South Bank's Little Stanley Street precinct has scored a new Argentinian go-to for a sizzling meal. Hailing from Alemré Hospitality Group, which is expanding a portfolio that includes Olé Restaurant, Mucho Mexicano, Vici Italian and Downtown Istanbul, Calida seats 180 — and naturally has plenty of meat on its menu. Think: empanadas to start with; dishes such bistec tartar, marinated lamb rump skewers, pressed beef short ribs, chorizo pork sausages and slow-cooked whole lamb shoulder; and an array of different cuts of steak from the grill, all served with chimichurri sauce and Australian red gum smoked salt. Even the bread comes with a beef jus. The steak options under Alemré Executive Group Chef Adam Starr's guidance all use S.Kidman beef, whether you're eager for a 220-gram eye fillet, 300-gram sirloin or 400-gram wagyu rump. And if you're keen to sample several choices without having to make too many decisions, you have two ways to go about it: a $120 mixed-grill platter for two or a $63 banquet with a minimum of two diners, with the latter also covering a dulce de leche sandwich cookie for dessert. Those keen for seafood instead can pick between span oysters with vinegar and chives, grilled octopus with potato salad, salmon ceviche and grilled barramundi. There's also a number of cheese-heavy dishes for vegetarians, including ricotta and mozzarella empanadas, smoked baked cheese and roasted portobello mushrooms with manchego cheese. For sweets beyond the dulce de leche sandwich cookie, Calida offers dulce de leche lava cake with vanilla ice cream; guava and passionfruit mousse with flourless white-chocolate sponge; and the traditional Argentinian torta rogel made from layers of crisp pastry and vanilla meringue, plus, yes, dulce de leche. Whatever satisfies your stomach, you can wash it down with wine from both Argentina and Europe, Quilmes beer and Latin-inspired cocktails such as the Fernet con coca — aka Fernet-Branca and Coke. If you order a Margarita de Roca, one of the restaurant's signature sips, you'll be enjoying tequila, dragonfruit, and jalapeño. With the Mermalada, bourbon and marmalade combine. And for something that catches the eye as well, the ¡Viva la Argentina! layers gin, blue curaçao and citrus flavours. Going for a warm vibe to match its food, Calida's design aesthetic favours raw brick and stonework, moody lighting and Argentinian textiles — and, if you're sitting in the booths, look out for the ficus. The fitout backdrops not just everyday meals, but also events focused on the country in the eatery's spotlight, Latin celebrations more generally, and beef and wine dinners. In other words, you have a heap of reasons to head by more than once.
Harrison Ford fans, rejoice: first came the legendary actor's debut regular small-screen role in western drama 1923 late in 2022, then arrived his second such part in comedy Shrinking, and 2023 will also deliver his fifth big-screen stint as Indiana Jones, too. But when Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny arrives midyear, complete with Ford donning the famous hat once more, his new co-star will prove just as exciting: Fleabag favourite Phoebe Waller-Bridge. Hitting cinemas in late June 2023, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny heads back to the 60s, and uses the Space Race between the US and the Soviet Union as a backdrop. And, as both the movie's initial trailer back in 2022 and its just-dropped new sneak peek during the Super Bowl both show, he has his goddaughter in tow — with Waller-Bridge's Helena even dropping in to rescue the hero archaeologist in the latest clip. Wondering what else is in store? As well as Ford, Dr Henry Walton 'Indiana' Jones Jr's famous headwear and that whip — two different looks at Ford, actually, including Indy in the film's present day and Indy in the past, with the movie using digital de-aging technology — there are Nazis to battle and the famous John Williams-composed theme soundtracking the action as well. The archaeologist's latest outing does bring in a few changes to the series, however. Firstly, Steven Spielberg isn't in the director's chair for the first time ever, handing over the reins to Logan and Ford v Ferrari's James Mangold. And, George Lucas doesn't have a part in the script, either with Mangold co-scripting with Ford v Ferrari's Jez Butterworth and John-Henry Butterworth. Cast-wise, expect the return of John Rhys-Davies as Sallah, too, plus Antonio Banderas (Official Competition), Mads Mikkelsen (Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore), Thomas Kretschmann (Das Boot), Toby Jones (The English), Boyd Holbrook (The Sandman) joining the on-screen talent alongside Shaunette Renee Wilson (Black Panther), Oliver Richters (The King's Man) and Ethann Isidore (Mortel). When it crusades across the big screen from June, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny will arrive a whopping 42 years after Raiders of the Lost Ark, 39 since Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and 34 since Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (and 15 years after Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull). And yes, if it's a big blockbuster franchise, it stars Harrison Ford, and it debuted in the 70s or 80s, then it's always coming back to the screen — as Star Wars: Episode VII — The Force Awakens and its sequels have, as well as Blade Runner 2049. Check out the latest teaser for Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny below: Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny releases in cinemas Down Under on June 29, 2023. ©2022 Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM. All Rights Reserved.
UPDATE, March 15, 2021: Brooklyn is available to stream via Netflix, Stan,Google Play, YouTube Movies and iTunes. From its opening frames, Brooklyn feels like a film from another time. Director John Crowley (Closed Circuit) stays patient as he surveys the life of aspiring Irish bookkeeper Eilis Lacey (Saoirse Ronan), and equally unhurried when he follows her to 1950s New York in search of a better life. He watches and waits as she does the same, though the movie doesn't suffer for it. Instead, it becomes a rare effort that knows how long things take to unfold, and isn't in a hurry to rush any moment. A leisurely sense of timing isn't the film's only old-fashioned flourish — and nor is the gorgeous period look it cultivates, showcasing the intricate work of cinematographer Yves Bélanger and production designer François Séguin. The film version of Colm Tóibín's 2009 novel of the same name, as adapted by author Nick Hornby, also eschews the need for extremes. It still ponders conflicting options, as Eilis is torn between her old and new homes, her past and her future, and between two men who love her. It's just that the movie understands a simple truth that many don't: that, regardless of the choice or conflict, the bulk of reality exists somewhere in the middle. Perhaps that's why Eilis' tale — struggling to leave her widowed mother (Jane Brennan) and caring sister (Fiona Glascott), seeking states-side assistance from kindly priest Father Flood (Jim Broadbent), and moving into a Brooklyn boarding house overseen by the strict Mrs Kehoe (Julie Walters) — always feels so honest and heartfelt. And perhaps that's why it continues to feel genuine as Eilis falls for plumber Tony Fiorello (Emory Cohen), then finds her love tested when she connects with Jim Farrell (Domhnall Gleeson) upon a forced return to Ireland. Indeed, what appears to be a straightforward romantic drama soon proves much more nuanced and sincere, with the stellar cast also doing their part. The film's determination to take things slowly doesn't just suit the story, but the performers, particularly the sensitive efforts of Ronan. She plays the shy Eilis as someone who feels much but says little, and there's nothing quite as moving as watching her face convey the character's inner turmoil. Cohen and Gleeson, the former previously a standout in The Place Beyond the Pines and the latter popping up in everything from Ex Machina to The Force Awakens to The Revenant, ensure their respective love interests remain more than narrative complications — and that Eilis' fondness for them both is just as thoughtfully realised. Combine the central trio's textured portrayals with the movie's overwhelmingly bittersweet tone — another outlier in an art form usually obsessed with clear-cut emotions — and Brooklyn becomes a rousing, resonant throwback in the most pleasing and engaging of ways. Here, saying that the film seems much older than it is proves the best kind of compliment.
UPDATE: October 10, 2020: Bloodshot is available to stream via Amazon Prime Video, Foxtel Now, Google Play, YouTube Movies and iTunes. Vin Diesel as Frankenstein's monster? Vin Diesel reliving the same events over and over again, Edge of Tomorrow-style, to right a past wrong? Vin Diesel filled with tiny robots — including in a Terminator-esque scene where half his face is exposed, revealing the nanotechnology gleaming beneath his flesh? Throw in shades of Universal Soldier and RoboCop as well (and some speedy car chases, because Diesel sure does love getting fast and furious behind the wheel), and that's Bloodshot. Yes, as well as tasking Diesel with playing a US soldier brought back from the dead, Bloodshot attempts to revive a variety of parts itself — all cobbled and spliced together from multiple other science-fiction stories and action flicks. That makes it a Frankenstein's monster of a movie as a whole, and the seams show at every point during this patchwork affair. Indeed, the fact that Bloodshot is actually based on a comic book character dating back to 1992 doesn't seem anywhere near as important to first-time feature director David SF Wilson as nodding at a heap of other pop culture titles. The same proves true for screenwriters Jeff Wadlow and Eric Heisserer, with the former stuck in the derivative mode he demonstrated in this year's Fantasy Island (which he both wrote and directed), and the latter leaning more on his experience on remakes of A Nightmare on Elm Street and The Thing than on his screenplays for Arrival or Bird Box. Bloodshot's premise: after not only being executed by a terrorist (Toby Kebbell) in the line of duty, but watching his wife Gina (Talulah Riley) murdered in front of him first, Ray Garrison (Diesel) awakens in Rising Spirit Tech's lab. The company has resurrected him using cutting-edge tech know-how, as head honcho Dr. Emil Harting (Guy Pearce) explains, and the soldier is now its shiny super-enhanced prototype. At first, Ray can't remember anything from his past; however memories of Gina's untimely end weave their way back into his brain. And, although he's supposed to be working as part of RST's similarly tech-augmented team, he only has supremely violent vengeance at any cost in his sights. An unnecessarily prolonged scene featuring a psycho killer dancing to Talking Heads' 'Psycho Killer' aside, Bloodshot is initially economical with its storytelling, cutting to the crux quickly. But in what's designed to be an origin tale that kickstarts a new franchise — the Valiant Comics shared cinematic universe — the twists arrive swiftly as well. Actually, they hit even sooner if you're paying even the slightest amount of attention and you know your pop culture history. Bloodshot might be drawn from the page but, on the big screen, it's so generic and reminiscent of such a large number other works that it's devoid of any surprises, even if you've never read the source material. That been-there, done-that feeling also applies to Diesel, who, at this point in his career, could glare menacingly, growl threats in his gravelly tone and do whatever he needs to for his various on-screen families in his sleep. As previously seen in the Fast and Furious franchise, the xXx franchise and even in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (albeit without the stare given that Groot is 100-percent CGI), Bloodshot calls upon all those trademarks. And, like everything else in the film, Diesel just seems like he's borrowing from his past material. He's at his best when he's letting the smallest trace amount of humour sink in, as is the movie too, but that's not all that often. In fact, Bloodshot doesn't appear to know how far to ramp up its laughs or liveliness, primarily settling for serious, slick and oh-so standard rather than injecting any personality into proceedings. Elsewhere, Pearce wades through the feature's many tropes with more commitment than the film perhaps asks for, in what's still a boilerplate scientist role. Baby Driver's Eiza González effectively adds a dose of sensitivity, while New Girl's Lamorne Morris is the only actor who appears to be enjoying his work — although they too play parts that seem to have been written on autopilot. That's perhaps Bloodshot's biggest struggle. It's so wedded to slotting into a specific stitched-together mould that it squanders the very few highlights it manages to rustle up. In action scenes, standout moments are dwarfed by cartoonishness. Whenever the feature gains even a skerrick of big dumb action movie-style momentum, it attempts to get deep by pondering fate and free will. And, as is so often the case in flicks trying to spawn new franchises, it's more interested in setting up future instalments than the details at hand. Diesel might be looking for another big series to add to his resume, but absolutely nothing about this thin star vehicle screams for a follow-up. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-7ACXBRP-g
Like karaoke? Fond of singing in public in general, whether you're solo or in a group? Then it's time to up your crooning game. Pub Choir is exactly what it sounds like — aka a gathering of folks belting out a tune, together, in a bar. It's basically what happens whenever someone puts 'Wonderwall' or 'Weather With You' on the jukebox, but in a more organised fashion. The event happens monthly; however, after a year of getting musical with a crowd, they're throwing an extra special shindig to celebrate their first year. On March 15, Pub Choir will be heading on over to The Triffid for what's certain to be a loud birthday party — and yes, that means Newstead will be alive with the sound of music this time around. Just like the usual get-togethers, participation costs $10, plus whatever you'd like to drink — and yes, singing and sipping go hand-in-hand. There'll also be cake and special guests, plus more merriment after the sing-along stops. Oh, and a t-shirt gun, apparently. If you're not usually the type of person to unleash their inner Beyonce in front of the masses, don't worry. The great thing about choirs is that everyone is singing, so you are literally a voice in the crowd. In fact, you might just find joining in the fun cathartic. If you can't feel free when you're crooning along with hundreds of others, when can you?
The single greatest cult film this side of The Rocky Horror Picture Show is screening in Brisbane in 2023 — again. The Room never gets old. It's a feat to behold. And even if The Disaster Artist didn't take audiences behind the scenes not that long ago, and Greg Sestero didn't hit up our fair town a couple of years back, it's always worth revisiting. Described by critics as "the Citizen Kane of bad movies", with one comparing the film to "being stabbed in the head", Tommy Wiseau's The Room is an indescribable mess of plot holes, non-sequiturs, blurry camerawork and soft-core sex scenes, topped off by some of worst performances ever put to film. So naturally, we're heartily recommending you go and see it. Of course, the truth is that no one really sees this movie. Rather, they experience it. Screenings of The Room are fully interactive, with audience members screaming lines of dialogue, dressing up like their favourite characters and hurling plastic spoons at the screen. This behaviour is actively encouraged by venues — although, at New Farm Cinemas's next session, you will need to bring your own cutlery with you. The cinema bar will be open ahead of the screening, something you should probably take full advantage of. New Farm Cinema's The Room screenings say "oh hi, Mark" on the last Friday of each month, kicking off for 2023 at 9pm on Friday, January 27. From there, make a date with the same venue on February 24, March 31, April 28, May 26, June 30, July 28, August 25, September 29, October 27, November 24 and December 29.
Present Tense brings together a carefully selected group of artists to explore the contemporary vernacular of abstraction. Dan Hollier, Genevieve Felix Reynolds, Greg Hodge, Paul Williams, Sally Anderson and Will Cooke have all been specially chosen by curator Belem Lett to take part in Present Tense. Why? Because each artist utilises a method of production which interrogates painting processes and object production. Present Tense draws alignments and casts distinctions between each artist's practice, creating an exhibition that pins individual materials, methods and aspects of image in a common light against each other. The curator of this exhibition, Belem Lett, is a Sydney-based artist who has exhibited internationally and won over a dozen esteemed scholarships, residencies and prizes. Present Tense runs from 1 to 24 March, with opening drinks on Saturday, 5 March from 2 to 5pm. Image: Paul Williams, Duplex Dream, 2015.
Well, folks, the game is up. It turns out Transport for NSW had us all fooled when it announced the winner of last year's public ferry-naming competition, giving the honour to Ferry McFerryface as the most popular submission. But, as reported by The Sydney Morning Herald today, the whole thing was cooked. The name Ferry McFerryface actually scored just 182 votes in the 15,000-participant survey and only won top spot because it was the favourite of Transport Minister Andrew Constance. Plenty less comical names were snubbed in the process, including that of Clean Up Australia founder Ian Kiernan, who nabbed 2000 votes and was told the boat would be named after him, only to have the minister change his mind. The ferry — which has been on the harbour since December — will now be renamed after another strong contender in the original competition, late children's author and illustrator May Gibbs. She's the talent behind those iconic Gumnut Babies characters and classic titles you would have read as a kid like the Snugglepot and Cuddlepie series. Let's hope some of that wholesome, honest energy rubs off on Mr Constance. Via The Sydney Morning Herald.
UPDATE, March 19, 2021: Searching is available to stream via Netflix, Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Amazon Video. It's called 'screenlife': a growing group of horror and thriller flicks that trap their contents within a computer screen. Characters send emails, chat via video and text, scroll through social media feeds and Google whatever the narrative calls for, as viewers watch every move of the mouse cursor. The name is fitting for other reasons, too. Who doesn't live the bulk of their lives in front of a screen these days, after all? Indeed, in so simply yet savvily reflecting society's modern-day reality, this new filmmaking approach is more than just a gimmick — especially when it's put to such excellent use as seen in Searching. At first, the Kim family computer acts as a time capsule, exposing nearly two decades of memories as David (John Cho) and his wife Pamela (Sara Sohn) raise their daughter Margot. Through calendar reminders, emails and clips, the audience witnesses intimate and everyday moments, sees tragedy strike, and watches as David and a now 16-year-old Margot (Michelle La) struggle to cope in the aftermath. But more drama is set to follow. When Margot doesn't come home from a study session one evening and doesn't show up at school the next day either, David is frantic. Her laptop now becomes a sleuthing tool, as he uses every online means at his disposal to track down Margot's whereabouts, both with and without the help of police detective Vick (Debra Messing). A missing person thriller, Searching's premise has been done many times before, furnishing episodes of every procedural crime TV series that you can think of. While first-time writer-director Aneesh Chaganty and his co-scribe Sev Ohanian bring their own twists and turns, the essence of their narrative remains familiar. That's where the film's use of technology comes in. As both easily foreseeable and completely unexpected developments unravel on Searching's screen within a screen, each clue, keystroke and cascaded window feels urgent and immediate. Each choice and reaction that David makes, too. The movie has more than a few smart things to say about humanity's constantly online status, but it's smartest touch is using its immersive style to heighten the tension and suspense — and, in moments of extreme pressure, to show its protagonist reacting as everyone else would. Searching's casting proves as clever as its central conceit, as Cho emphatically demonstrates. Fourteen years after Harold and Kumar went searching for stoner snacks, it's long been a given that the actor should be a huge star. Searching isn't the only recent entry on his resume to back up that point (see his stellar work in Gemini and Columbus), but it is the biggest. The film is trained on his anxious face for the bulk of its 102 minutes, framing it close and tight via FaceTime videos, and he makes the most of every moment. It's not just worry and fear flickering in his darting eyes as David scrambles to find his daughter, but the dawning realisation that the computer knows more about Margot than anyone, even a father, could hope to. Known for Nightwatch, Daywatch, Wanted and Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, Russian-Kazakh filmmaker Timur Bekmambetov is the other crucial aspect to Searching. Here, he's in the producer's chair, adding another screenlife flick to his growing haul. He was behind the surprisingly effective Unfriended, and directed this year's other great computer screen-based effort, Profile, which follows a journalist trying to befriend a Syrian ISIS recruiter. Bekmambetov's studio also created the software that gives these movies their visual language, and has publicly said that he'd like to make 50 of them a year. Basically, the filmmaker is turning what might've been a flash-in-the-pan idea into its own genre, letting each subsequent entry illustrate the style's worth, effectiveness and astute capabilities. With Searching, he makes a resounding case. Even when it serves up a few over-the-top leaps, keeping your eyes glued to a computer has rarely been more riveting. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9eccvs0b_oU
Right now, we're navigating the weird — and often glitchy — world of digital drinks. Instead of clocking off, going down to our local and ordering a pint with some colleagues, we're on Zoom calls and dancing at online nightclubs. But what to drink? By now, we're sure your kitchen either looks like a full-blown saloon or you've at least got some supplies stashed away. So, instead of reaching for the wine, why not take things up a notch with a cocktail? And not just any cocktail, but one worthy of a celebrity. Thankfully, the world has recently been blessed with a fair bit of celeb cocktail content of late — from cosmopolitan queen Ina Garten to suave Stanley Tucci and the ever-classy Meryl Streep. And, unlike Paris Hilton and her lasagne, you can trust these three celebs in the kitchen. So, if you're wondering what concoction to make this afternoon, look no further. INA GARTEN'S GIANT COSMOPOLITAN (SUITABLE AT ALMOST ANY HOUR) Serves one Ina Garten or a household Keeping cocktail hour alive — even though "nobody's stopping by" — is Ina Garten (Barefoot Contessa). And while her catchcry "it's always cocktail hour in a crisis" may not be advisable, it's pretty relatable. Plus, this is coming from a culinary icon. Her drink of choice during iso is the sophisticated cosmo, naturally. If you want to take a page out of the cocktail queen's cookbook, you'll need top-shelf vodka, Cointreau (or any orange liqueur), cranberry juice, limes and ice, plus a jug, novelty-sized cocktail shaker (with strainer) and an extra-large martini glass. Ingredients 2 cups vodka 1 cup Cointreau 1 cup cranberry juice 1/2 cup freshly squeezed lime Ice Method Pour vodka, cointreau, cranberry juice and lime into jug. Stir. Half fill shaker with ice and add in the cocktail mix. Depending on the size of your shaker, you may have to do this in batches. Shake for 30 seconds. Pour into martini glass(es). In the wise words of Garten: "During a crisis, you know, cocktail hour can be almost any hour." So, bottoms up. https://www.instagram.com/tv/B-cJUwUpxbM/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link STANLEY TUCCI'S UNLAWFUL — BUT INTRIGUING — NEGRONI UP Serves one If you can look past the incredibly sculpted biceps, you'll see The Devil Wears Prada actor shaking a negroni. Yes, shaking. While most like their negronis as they should be — on the rocks, with equal parts gin, sweet vermouth and Campari — Tucci's twist is intriguing. But again, it could be the arms. For what Tucci calls a Negroni Up, you'll need gin, sweet vermouth (good sweet vermouth, not that Martini brand he has such disdain for), Campari, an orange, and ice, plus a cocktail shaker (with strainer) and a glass, preferably a coupe. Now, throw whatever negroni-making knowledge you have aside. Ingredients 2 shots gin 1 shot sweet vermouth 1 shot Campari 1 orange slice Ice Method Half fill shaker with ice and add gin, sweet vermouth and Campari. Shake it up, as Tucci does so well. Pour into a coupe, martini glass, or whatever you want. Garnish with an orange slice. Really, a negroni is a simple drink, relying on balance and good liquor. Although Tucci's breaks all the rules, his confidence has us convinced. https://www.instagram.com/tv/B_NkcbTgVfy/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link MERYL STREEP'S MARTINI (WITH A SIDE OF SHOW TUNES AND SCOTCH) Serves one Even Meryl Streep is getting around the quarantini — shaken, not stirred. But she doesn't just make a stiff drink and tell you how to do it, no. The award-winning actor takes her cocktail making to the next level — of course she does — leaving a little guesswork to the recipe. So, you can get creative with this one. As part of Stephen Sondheim's birthday celebrations, which saw celebrities the world over celebrate with a virtual concert, Streep shakes up a martini while singing Sondheim's show tune 'The Ladies Who Lunch'. She's joined by a red wine-drinking Christine Baranski and a bourbon-swigging Audra McDonald and if you haven't seen it yet, do yourself a favour and watch it here, immediately. For Meryl's martini, you'll need gin, vermouth, lemon, ice, plus a cocktail shaker (with strainer) and martini glass. And a chic robe to wear while shaking and singing. Ingredients 50 millilitres gin 10 millilitres dry vermouth lemon twist Ice Method Half fill shaker with ice and add gin and dry vermouth. Shake for about 30 seconds — or the duration of singing: 'Here's to the girls that stay smart / Aren't they a gas?/ Rushing to their classes / In optical art / Wishing it would pass'. Pour into a martini glass theatrically and garnish with lemon twist while belting out 'I'll drink to that'. Once you've sung a bit more and polished off that martini, take a large sip of scotch straight from the bottle — be sure to do it with equal parts class and sass. Then, pour yourself another martini. https://twitter.com/michcoll/status/1254609437492461569
UPDATE, July 31, 2022: Wash My Soul in the River's Flow is available to stream via Stan, Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. A silent hero and a rowdy troublemaker. That's what Ruby Hunter calls Archie Roach, her partner in life and sometimes music, then characterises herself. She offers those words casually, as if she's merely breathing, with an accompanying smile and a glint in her eyes as she talks. They aren't the only thoughts uttered in Wash My Soul in the River's Flow, which intersperses concert and rehearsal clips with chats with Hunter and Roach, plus snippets of biographical details from and recollections about their lives as intertitles, and then majestic footage of the winding Murray River in Ngarrindjeri Country, where Hunter was born, too. Still, even before those two-word descriptions are mentioned, the film shows how they resonate within couple's relationship. Watching their dynamic, which had ebbed and flowed over three-plus decades when the movie's footage was shot in 2004, it's plain to see how these two icons of Australian music are dissimilar in personality and yet intertwine harmoniously. Every relationship is perched upon interlocking personalities: how well they complement each other, where their differences blend seamlessly and how their opposing traits spark challenges in the best possible ways. Every song, too, is a balance of disparate but coordinated pieces. And, every ecosystem on the planet also fits the bill. With Hunter and Roach as its focus, Wash My Soul in the River's Flow contemplates all three — love, music and Country — all through 2004 concert Kura Tungar — Songs from the River. Recorded for the documentary at Melbourne's Hamer Hall, that gig series interlaced additional parts, thanks to a collaboration with Paul Grabowsky's 22-piece Australian Art Orchestra — and the movie that producer-turned-writer/director Philippa Bateman makes of it, and about two Indigenous stars, their experience as members of Australia's Stolen Generations, their ties to Country and their love, is equally, gloriously and mesmerisingly multifaceted. When is a concert film more than a concert film? When it's Wash My Soul in the River's Flow, clearly, which is named for one of Kura Tungar's tracks. Bateman could've just used her recordings of the legendary show, which won the 2005 Helpmann Award for Best Australian Contemporary Concert, and given everyone who wasn't there the chance to enjoy an historic event — and to bask in the now-late Hunter's on-stage glories more than a decade after her 2010 passing — but that was clearly just the starting point for her movie. With Roach as a producer, the documentary presents each of its songs as a combination of five key elements, all weaved together like the feather flower-dotted, brightly coloured headpiece that Hunter wears during the performance. With each tune, the film repeats the pattern but the emotion that comes with it inherently evolves, with the result akin to cycling through the earth's four seasons. First, a title appears on-screen, overlaid across breathtakingly beautiful images of the Murray and its surroundings, and instantly steeping every song in a spectacular place. From there, the Kura Tungar rendition of each tune segues into practice sessions with Grabowsky and the AAO of the same track, plus both text and on-the-couch chatter between Hunter and Roach that speaks to the context of, meaning behind and memories tied to each piece. Hunter's 'Daisy Chains, String Games and Knuckle Bones', which springs from her childhood, gets that treatment. Roach's unforgettable 'Took the Children Away' does, too. 'Down City Streets', as written by Hunter and recorded by Roach, also joins the lineup. The list goes on, and the power that each song possesses alone — which, given the talent and topics involved, is immense — only grows when packaged in such a layered manner. What a story this symphony of tunes and its entwined materials tells, spanning Hunter's recollections about being taken from her family under the guise of a trip to the circus; the coin flip that saw Roach head to South Australia from Mildura after a season spent grape-picking, where he'd meet Hunter when both were teenagers; and Hunter's certainty before that, when she spied Roach on television as a kid, that she'd marry him. The Ngarrindjeri, Kokatha and Pitjantjatjara woman's way with words continues throughout the film, including when she explains how that stroke of fate that brought Roach to Adelaide's People's Palace when they were both homeless adolescents saw her stop "her gambler from his rambling". For the Gunditjmara and Bundjalung man, he shares snippets of his own past alongside his overflowing love for Hunter. Indeed, when he marvels about how she can remember everything in her life, the Murray River's pelicans and the Dreamtime among them, it's a statement of pure and joyous affection. Along the way, Bateman ensures that her documentary tackles a dark chapter of the country's history head on, because it's impossible to relay Hunter and Roach's tales without exploring the nation's Stolen Generations. Her film is a tribute to her subjects and their work first and foremost — a tribute from Roach to Hunter overwhelmingly, too — but the resilience and fortitude that it's taken to weather everything that the government policy sent their way shines just as vividly. Both of Wash My Soul in the River's Flow's main figures are candid although, true to her own self-description, Hunter repeatedly takes the lead. Still, Roach's striking admission that, until the pair met, he thought it was just him and his siblings that'd been forcibly removed from their home, is nothing short of heartbreaking. Also intensely affecting: getting the chance to spend an intimate 90 minutes in Hunter and Roach's company, especially the former, the first Aboriginal woman to be signed to a major record label, following her death; and those awe-inspiring shots of Ngarrindjeri Country, as shot by cinematographer Bonnie Elliott (The Furnace), that keep returning with each soulful song. Combined with the movie's music, plus its dedication to unflinchingly diving into the problematic past, Wash My Soul in the River's Flow becomes a quintessential portrait of Australia. Championing two First Nations icons, their culture and their connection to Country; exploring the injustice they've endured at the hands of the government, and how they've ultimately thrived and healed together and through their talents; and showcasing the art they've made and the land they love — this moving movie couldn't ask for anything more. Letting it wash over you, and its silent hero and rowdy troublemaker with it, is simply inescapable.
Here's one for the money: a huge Elvis Presley showcase, filled with around 300 artifacts owned by the King of Rock 'n' Roll himself, all on display in Australia. Come autumn 2022, you'll want to step into your blue suede shoes and take a trip to the Bendigo Art Gallery, which'll fill its walls and halls with Elvis' clothes, vehicles and other personal items. All those jumpsuits he was so famous for wearing? A selection will be on display. The only car from his movies that was actually his? That red convertible 1960 MG, from the film Blue Hawaii, is visiting Australia for the first time. The Bendigo Art Gallery will also showing some tender love to Elvis' military uniforms, first job application and wedding tuxedo — plus Priscilla Presley's wedding dress. Plenty of the items heading to regional Victoria rarely travel beyond Graceland — so yes, calling the exhibition is Elvis: Direct from Graceland is apt. It'll serve up this hunk of burning Elvis love between Saturday, March 19–Sunday, July 17 in an Australian exclusive, as curated in collaboration with the Graceland archives. "It is a great honour to work alongside the creative team at the Bendigo Art Gallery to bring this unprecedented, detailed and comprehensive look into Elvis' life and career to Australia," said Angie Marchese, Vice President Archives and Exhibits at Elvis Presley Enterprises. "While Elvis was never able to visit Australia himself, it brings us great pride at Graceland to know that his legacy and music lives on there. We look forward to sharing a glimpse into Elvis' life with the fans in Australia," Marchese continued. [caption id="attachment_829957" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Elvis Presley strolls the grounds of his Graceland estate, 1957. Photo by Michael Ochs. © EPE. Graceland and its marks are trademarks of EPE. All Rights Reserved. Elvis Presley™ © 2021 ABG EPE IP LLC.[/caption] Other featured objects include Elvis' 1976 Red Bicentennial Custom Harley Davidson, his first grade crayon box from school and other garments from his personal wardrobe — if you're wondering what else will get the exhibition shaking, rattling and rolling. Costumes from his film career, movie scripts, jewellery worn by him and even vintage Elvis-branded merchandise will all be on display as well. Elvis: Direct from Graceland will step through all the key periods in the rock 'n' roll icon's life, from his early Mississippi days through to his Vegas years — and also peer beyond the pompadour and sequins, exploring his interest in books, karate and horses, and all things Graceland. It's Bendigo Art Gallery's latest huge exhibition to focus on style icons, after previously showcasing Marilyn Monroe, Grace Kelly, Balenciaga and Mary Quant. When it comes to celebrating high-profile figures, it seems the venue can't help falling in love. Elvis: Direct From Graceland displays at the Bendigo Art Gallery from Saturday, March 19–Sunday, July 17, 2022. For further information or to buy tickets, head to the gallery's website. Top image: Elvis Presley in the 1968 NBC television special, Singer Presents... Elvis, later known as the 'Comeback Special'. Photograph: Fathom Events/CinEvents. © EPE. Graceland and its marks are trademarks of EPE. All Rights Reserved. Elvis Presley™ © 2021 ABG EPE IP LLC.
UPDATE, September 7, 2020: Emma is available to stream via Google Play, YouTube Movies and iTunes. Happiest when she's playing matchmaker, experienced at meddling in the affairs of others and accustomed to a comfortable level of standing in her village, Emma Woodhouse withholds judgement on no one. Since first popping up on the page 205 years ago, Jane Austen's heroine has always been a picture of youthful hubris. Case in point: the 20-year-old member of the upper class wouldn't dream of letting a friend marry a mere farmer. She eventually learns the error of her well-meaning arrogance, of course. That's the journey that Austen's Emma charts, following the titular character's evolution from unthinking snobbishness to genuine compassion. But if the fictional Miss Woodhouse was somehow asked to survey the latest film to tell her story, we're certain that her opinionated tendencies would still shine through. Renowned for eschewing the average and ordinary in the hope of a more romantic option, she'd at least arch an eyebrow at this dutifully faithful, perfectly palatable yet hardly spectacular adaptation. Emma may be stylised on its marketing materials as 'Emma.', as though it's putting a full stop on all big-screen iterations of Austen's novel; however it's unlikely to become the definitive book-to-film version of this tale. That title continues to belong to Clueless, a movie that modernised the details, played fast and loose with certain specifics, and turned Austen's comedy of manners into an even savvier delight than it already was. Devotees of the original text might consider that statement blasphemous, but Emma's musings on love, life, social status and human nature thrived under a bolder spotlight. Indeed, Clueless outshone the more traditional Gwyneth Paltrow-starring adaptation of Austen's novel that came out just a year afterwards, and did so easily. The difference a quarter-century ago, and now as well: Clueless engages with and re-interrogates the narrative and its insights, rather than just reverently recreating it. They all tell the same general story, though. For those who haven't committed the broad strokes to memory alongside Alicia Silverstone's 90s outfits, Austen's tale revolves around Emma (played in this 2020 iteration by Anya Taylor-Joy) and her current matchmaking mission. Her friend Harriet Smith (Mia Goth) receives a marriage proposal from local tenant farmer Robert Martin (Connor Swindells), with whom she's clearly besotted, but Emma is convinced that her pal can, should and must do better. So, she nudges Harriet towards seemingly kindly vicar Philip Elton (Josh O'Connor). As well as earning the disapproval of her neighbour George Knightley (Johnny Flynn), who she treats like a brother, Emma's interference causes significant ripples throughout the village. It doesn't help that the rich, handsome and vain Frank Churchhill (Callum Turner) has just returned to town, and the quietly accomplished Jane Fairfax (Amber Anderson), too — with the former considered a potential match for Emma herself, and the latter the target of her palpable jealousy. Well-heeled chaos ensues — as much chaos that can ensue within stately and sprawling country manors, while compliant, silent servants are always on hand, and amidst polite conversation constantly tinted with gossip (although as Downton Abbey keeps demonstrating, that's plenty). Emma circa 2020 does everything it's supposed to, including using its sumptuous production and costume design to paint a vivid picture of Regency-era England, but it adds little of its own personality. Austen's prose, here shaped into a screenplay by The Luminaries' author Eleanor Catton, still sparkles with wit. Making her feature filmmaking debut, photographer and music video director Autumn de Wilde retains the novel's playful mood, and pairs it with a sweeping sense of visual symmetry that'd do Wes Anderson proud. And yet, this adaptation feels mostly indistinguishable from the many other unchallenging film and TV versions of literary classics that've reached screens over the years. In fact, the end result is fine, but in the passable rather than excellent sense of the word. It can be a strange sensation, watching a movie that hits plenty of marks and still feels just standard, but that's this iteration of Emma. The film's various parts boast a variety of charms, and yet they never manage to leave much of an imprint. The main outlier: The Witch, Split and Glass' Taylor-Joy. There's little in the way of purposeful contemporary parallels in this take on Austen's tale but, in Taylor-Joy's hands, Emma herself seems like she could easily be passing judgement on her peers and their love lives via Instagram. As the overly chatty, far less wealthy Miss Bates, Miranda Hart (Call the Midwife) also stands out, especially when her character becomes the target of Emma's withering comments. But it might be Bill Nighy, playing Mr Woodhouse, that encapsulates the movie best. He's as reliable as ever, trots out all his usual moves, and inspires more than a few laughs and smiles — but you always know exactly what you're in for. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llt7-EQP6dg
Add another date into your doggo's diary — a new dog festival is coming to town. On May 27, Newmarket Village is going to the dogs, but in a good way, thanks to the NewBARKet Dog Fest. Take your pupper along from 11am till 3pm, with everything from pooch parades to puppy yoga to plenty of pats on offer. Pet photography, pampering sessions, dog first aid, and trick and obedience workshops are on the agenda too, so you can show off your four-legged best friend, make them feel special and teach them a thing or two. For attendees of the two-legged variety (no, your clever canine standing on their two back legs doesn't count), there'll also be food and live music. And if you're sadly lacking in the pooch department, don't worry — everyone else will have you covered, so you'll be in for a top day of dog watching.
When Colin From Accounts arrived for its first season in 2022 with a nipple flash, a dog and strangers committing to take care of a cute injured animal together after a meet-cute, it also began with a "will they, won't they?" story. Ashley (Harriet Dyer, The Invisible Man) and Gordon (Patrick Brammall, Evil) crossed paths in the street in Sydney when she gave him a random peek, then he was distracted behind the wheel. Thanks to the titular pet, the pair were soon intricately involved in each other's lives — and, as they endeavoured to work out what that actually meant, sift through their feelings for one another and navigate the respective chaos that fills everyone's existence anyway, a delightful small-screen Australian rom-com (and one of that year's best new TV shows) was the end result. In season two, which streams weekly on Binge from Thursday, May 30, the series picks up after the duo gave Colin From Accounts to new owners at the end of the show's debut batch of episodes, then immediately regretted the decision. A couple of things are different from the outset: after moving in together, Gordon and Ashley are on a quest to get their pup back and they'll stop at almost nothing for their family to be reunited; also, this award-winning series is now in "should've they or should've they not?" territory about its central romance. (Moving from an all-at-once release to week-by-week instalments is another change for viewers.) Falling in love is easy. Being in the honeymoon period, whether or not you've tied the knot — Colin From Accounts' protagonists haven't — is clearcut, too. Taking a relationship further means peeling away the rosy and glowing surface, however, which is where the series follows its medical student and Inner West microbrewery owner in its second season. A television romantic-comedy with longevity can't be solely fuelled by fluttering hearts and butterflies in stomachs, especially one that's as dedicated to eschewing saccharine cliches as this. Colin From Accounts isn't afraid to be sweet, but a not-insignificant amount of its charm comes from feeling lived in as Ash and Gordon's romance keeps developing. Same show, but with a few new tricks: that's season two, then. Like relationship, like series: when it comes to diving deeper than the first season, that also fits. There has always been a spark between Colin From Accounts' lead characters, or else it wouldn't have made it to air in the first place, but the program's return digs into the reality that taking the next step for any couple is a dance through love's equivalent of dog mess on an otherwise pristine lawn. No matter how well you plot out a clear path, how flexible and adaptable you are to obstacles, and how determined you are to evade the crap, no one can avoid dirty shoes 100-percent of the time. As season two sees Ash and Gordon confronting the everyday details of intertwining their lives, it also has them tackling a range of relatable questions again. This round inspires plenty, in fact. Is there more than just chemistry between them? How much do shared interests count? Does a lack of commonalities cast a shadow, and their age gap as well? Will their routines knit together easily enough? Can they weather setbacks and roadblocks, unpack historical baggage and make space for a new way forward? How will their respective dating histories colour the first real serious relationship that they've each been in? Also, as they continue getting to know each other better — warts and all, and through secrets and surprises — will they still feel the same way? Ash and Gordon have another query to face at the outset of this new set of chapters: without Colin binding them together, who are they are a twosome? The first new instalment starts with a happy park playdate and all seeming being well, until it's revealed that the dog's former guardians are just pestering his new ones (Bump's Sam Cotton and Home and Away's Sophie Bloom), who'd really like them to go bark up another tree. From there, unexpected news, meeting family members, former flames and more await, all with their own tests. Plus, Ash's best friend Megan (Emma Harvie, In Limbo) and Gordon's counterpart Chiara (Genevieve Hegney, In Our Blood) are using the couple's home as a love nest while embarking upon an affair, while brewery employee Brett (Michael Logo, High Country) is being pushed out of home by his parents. Creators, writers and stars Dyer and Brammall keep performing their parts to perfection; given that they're married IRL and no strangers to working side by side (see: the also-excellent No Activity, which ran for two seasons between 2015–18), the charisma between them isn't hard to maintain. Neither is the naturalism in their portrayals, but they're not just playing themselves. As scribes, Dyer and Brammall are also particularly gifted with dialogue, ensuring that everything that the show's characters are saying always feels authentic. Sometimes the banter is amusing, sometimes it's heartfelt, and it can be acerbic and insightful, too — and all of the above combined — but it never sounds like something that works fine on the page yet no one would ever utter aloud. When it initially bolted out of the gate, Colin From Accounts was a fast homegrown hit, then had audiences overseas swooning as well. A series this genuinely funny, heartfelt and honest, and that manages to be light yet weighty and grounded, was always going to earn affection — and the same remains true in season two. Again, Dyer and Brammall have crafted a gem that bounces by with help from its directors (the returning Trent O'Donnell and Madeleine Dyer do the honours once more in season two, plus Summer Love's Robyn Butler and Wayne Hope), and that plays like hanging out with old friends. And yes, in lead, supporting and guest roles alike, casting is another of its treats — including with new additions such as Celeste Barber (Wellmania), Justin Rosniak (Wolf Like Me) and Aunty Donna's Broden Kelly (Aunty Donna's Coffee Cafe) this time around. Check out the trailer for Colin From Accounts season two below: Colin From Accounts season two streams via Binge from Thursday, May 30, 2024. Images: Lisa Tomasetti / Joel Pratley.
As proved by Twix, socks and Will Smith, things are infinitely better when they come in two – disregard The Shining. That’s why the collaboration of Brisbane artists Marcel Daniels and Daniel Herberg in The Changing Standards of Dialogue is sure to trigger sequential head nods, pondering glazes and a tirade of questions. The exhibit is one of poignancy – it raises questions regarding the slippages and contradictions between various elements of representation, perception, value systems and identity, all revolving around a central theme of ‘otherness’. Through multi-artistic platforms, such as sculpture, object and image-based works, they’ll be exploring human value and perceptions in a no means standardized manner. The Changing Standards of Dialogue is a culmination of these two artists, their confusingly similar names, dissimilar styles and experiences as the 2013 Artists in Residence at Metro Arts – if you knew their talent, you’d understand the fortune of this artistic marriage and the creative offspring it's produced.
Eager to devour some of the best food the world has to offer, but can't afford a trip to one of the usual culinary hotspots? Stop feeling envious and start eating in your own backyard. No, not literally — but TripAdvisor has just released a rundown of the world's ten best emerging foodie destinations, with Australia claiming three places on the list. While Quebec City in Canada took out top spot and Savannah in the US came in second, Sydney ranked third, Queenstown in Tasmania came fourth and Brisbane ninth. The selection is based on tour bookings via the site, and highlights cities where reservations are on the rise. The list also reveals the most-booked experiences in each location — although, unsurprisingly, the top picks are all tourist favourites rather than local go-tos. A trip to Sydney Tower's 360 Bar and Dining unsurprisingly proves the most popular in New South Wales, while a lunchtime cruise along the Brisbane River on the Kookaburra Queen emerged victorious in Queensland. Other cities named 'foodie destinations to watch' include San Juan in Puerto Rico, Miami and Charleston in the US, Cabo San Lucas in Mexico and Vienna in Austria. For travellers looking for an overseas jaunt to an existing culinary mecca, the site also named the best overall food cities in the world, running through the thoroughly usual suspects from Rome, Florence and Paris to Madrid, Tokyo and Bangkok.
With new food crazes popping up all the time (I'm looking at you, dumplings, Mexican, American food et.al.), it can be easy to overlook the mainstays of Brisbane dining. Don't get me wrong; I love all of the aforementioned crazes, but nothing can beat a great Indian curry. Lovers of Indian food have been making regular pilgrimages to Punjabi Palace for over a decade. The West End restaurant is a cumin-scented hive of activity seven days a week, hosting a diverse range of diners from families to business groups to couples to rowdy party-goers. The public restaurant downstairs and private function room upstairs - accommodating up to 100 people - make up the dining areas. Punjabi Palace's popularity is not accidental. The food menu includes entrees, chef's specials, meat and vegetarian curries, breads and accompaniments, and all of it is outstanding. Vegetarians will find their happy place, with the Butter Matar Paneer a particular veggie standout. Of the meat dishes, the Chicken Korma is a favourite. Of course, no Indian meal is complete without a naan bread, so try a garlic or a Punjabi naan to mop up every last drop of that delicious sauce. Best of all, if you can't remove your rear end from the comfort of your own couch, Punjabi Palace delivers to certain suburbs. There is a well priced drinks menu and BYO is also available for dining in. What are you waiting for? Get a group together and affirm your appreciation of Punjabi Palace
For the next two months, visitors to MoMA PS1 in New York's Queens best start looking up. The gallery has just installed its latest installation, Lumen, which turns the venue's courtyard into a environmentally responsive, colour-changing wonderland. Designed by Jenny Sabin Studio, winning The Museum of Modern Art and MoMA PS1's annual Young Architects Program, and on display until September 4, Lumen consists of cellular canopies made from textiles that react to conditions around them: light and heat, namely. As the environment changes — aka the weather gets gloomy, or day turns to night — so do the hues emitted by its digitally knitted fibres. If you've ever wondered what the '90s Hypercolor fad would look like if it was strung across the sky, this dreamy interactive piece provides the answer. So, how does it work? Well, those fibres are solar-active and photo-luminescent. Almost a million metres of them have been turned into 250 hanging tubular structures, and paired with 100 robotically woven recycled spool stools, as well as a misting system that responds to visitors' proximity. The aim is to use insights and theories from biology, materials science, mathematics and engineering to create an adaptive piece of micro-climate-like architecture that behaves like an organism. As Sabin describes, "by night, Lumen is knitted light, bathing visitors in a responsive glow of photo-luminescence; by day, Lumen offers succor from the summer heat, immersing participants in delicious ground clouds of cooling mist." She continues: "Lumen is a feminine form that offers luminous interiorities, informal networks, social fabrics, and fibrous assemblages that are pliable, transformative, and playful." Via: Inhabitat. Images: Lumen by Jenny Sabin Studio for the Museum of Modern Art and MoMA PS1's Young Architects Program 2017. Courtesy MoMA PS1. Photo by Pablo Enriquez.
If eating at one of the world's best restaurants — and Copenhagen's most acclaimed — has long been on your bucket list, achieving that feat now has a time limit, with René Redzepi's Noma announcing that it's closing its doors. It isn't saying farewell forever, thankfully, but it is ending its current operations, transforming instead into a test kitchen and food laboratory. Redzepi's globally renowned, three-Michelin-starred, five-time World's Best list-topping eatery has shut up shop in the past, back in 2016, before reemerging in 2017 as Noma 2.0. Redzepi and his team have already badged the venue's next phase 3.0, and it'll kick off in 2025 — after Noma's present setup says goodbye in 2024. "Winter 2024 will be the last season of Noma as we know it. We are beginning a new chapter; Noma 3.0," said Redzepi in a statement on the restaurant's website and social media channels. "In 2025, our restaurant is transforming into a giant lab — a pioneering test kitchen dedicated to the work of food innovation and the development of new flavours, one that will share the fruits of our efforts more widely than ever before," Redzepi continues. "Serving guests will still be a part of who we are, but being a restaurant will no longer define us. Instead, much of our time will be spent on exploring new projects and developing many more ideas and products." View this post on Instagram A post shared by noma (@nomacph) If you can manage to nab a highly coveted reservation between now and Noma's 2024 closure, you'll experience the restaurant's last days in its 2.0 guise. After that, it will host pop-ups as part of being a food lab, and will also do a season in Copenhagen. Travelling the globe to share its cuisine has long been a part of Noma's remit anyway, complete with an upcoming ten-week residency in Kyoto from March–May 2023. In the past, the eatery has done the same in Tokyo, Down Under in Sydney as well, and in Tulum, Mexico. "In this next phase, we will continue to travel and search for new ways to share our work. Is there somewhere we must go in the world to learn? Then we will do a Noma pop-up. And when we've gathered enough new ideas and flavors, we will do a season in Copenhagen," added Redzepi. "Our goal is to create a lasting organisation dedicated to groundbreaking work in food, but also to redefine the foundation for a restaurant team, a place where you can learn, you can take risks, and you can grow!" Noma 2.0 will close at Refshalevej 96, 1432 Copenhagen K, in 2024, during winter in Europe, before relaunching in 2025 as a test kitchen and food lab. Head to the restaurant's website for reservations. Top image: Amy Tang.
Rumour has it that Obama likes his beats, so as part of the G20 celebrations, The City Sounds is bringing a bunch of music to our city's streets. Running for seven days between November 10-16, Brisbane’s G20 Soundtrack will see 100 musicians showcased in more than 200 live performances all over the CBD. The program features a range of musicians, who will be playing in Queen Street Mall, Reddacliff Place, King George Square, Post Office Square and The Riverside Precinct. Don’t be surprised if you catch some sound around parks, monuments and city green patches as well — everything from funk, blues and rock will be taking over every little nook and street corner. Of course, with G20 traffic and transport restrictions it's not as though you'll actually be able to get into the city to check out these great performers, but we think the talent on show might just be worth the hike into town. Check out the full line up here.
In news that makes my gawky ten-year-old self squeal with prepubescent joy, '90s R&B legends TLC have just announced their first tour to Australia. In a time when 'Genie in a Bottle' and 'Hit Me Baby One More Time' dominated the charts, Tionne 'T-Boz' Watkins, Rozonda 'Chilli' Thomas and Lisa 'Left Eye' Lopes taught a whole generation about girl power, cargo pants and combat boots. These were the ladiez who told me not to waste my time with scrubs (FYI: a scrub is a guy who can't get no love from me). Although nearly two decades have passed since their standout hits 'No Scrubs' and 'Waterfalls', TLC will be touring Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth in June of this year. Of course, since the passing of Left Eye in a 2002 car crash, the band will be performing with just two of the original three members. Although TLC's reps have stated there will be some inclusion of Lopes through audiovisual means (though definitely not a hologram a la Tupac). Beaten only by the Spice Girls, TLC still stand as the second highest selling girl group of all time with a mammoth 65 million album sales recorded worldwide. The trio are also universally acknowledged as the number one iPod selection at both karaoke and horrifically late portions of house parties when everyone feels the need to rap terribly and grind on the d-floor like it's 1994. Although TLC have confirmed they are working on a new album set for release sometime this year, this is inevitably going to be a gig for pure nostalgia. Bonus points for anyone who rocks up in white diamantes or primary-coloured overalls, Converse trainers and condom badges. Also, if you don't know all the words and relevant sassy head bobs to 'No Scrubs', you're straight-up not allowed inside the venue. Tour dates: Friday, June 6: Enmore Theatre, Sydney. Tickets from Ticketek. Saturday, June 7: Eatons Hall, Brisbane. Tickets from Oztix. Wednesday, June 11: Palais Theatre, Melbourne. Tickets from Ticketmaster. Friday, June 13: Metro City, Perth. Tickets from Oztix. Tickets on sale 9am on Tuesday, April 24.
If you just can't wait to spend more time in the photorealistic version of The Lion King's world, here comes a film about the lion that's king of the Pride Lands before Simba gets the job. Mufasa: The Lion King is again styled to look like reality, not animation — and, set to arrive in cinemas Down Under in December 2024, it gives 2019's The Lion King, a remake of the 90s animated hit, a prequel. It also just dropped its first teaser trailer. Call it the circle of cinema. Call it the movie that was always bound to happen once technology was rolled out to bring this beloved franchise back to the screen with visuals that make its animals appear as if they've walked out of a documentary (well, almost, as the last film demonstrated). Donald Glover (Mr & Mrs Smith), Beyoncé, Seth Rogen (Dumb Money), Billy Eichner (Bros) and John Kani (Murder Mystery 2) are all back from the past flick, reprising their roles as Simba, Nala, Pumbaa, Timon and Rafiki. But as the feature's moniker makes plain, this isn't any of those characters' tales. Mufasa, aka Simba's father, sits at the centre of a picture directed by Moonlight Oscar-winner Barry Jenkins. The movie is presented as a story told by Rafiki, Timon and Pumbaa to Kiara, the daughter of Simba and Nala, who is voiced by Blue Ivy Carter. So goes a narrative about an orphaned cub who is taken in by a lion with royal blood, then set on a path that leads to the events of The Lion King. Among the voice cast, Aaron Pierre (Foe) does the honours as Mufasa. Kelvin Harrison Jr is Taka (Chevalier), the lion prince who takes Mufasa in like a brother. Tiffany Boone (Hunters), Mads Mikkelsen (Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny), Thandiwe Newton (Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget), Lennie James (Genius), Anika Noni Rose (Pantheon), Keith David (Rick and Morty), Kagiso Lediga (The Umbrella Men) and Preston Nyman (A Small Light) also lend their vocals to the flick. As well as Jenkins, Mufasa: The Lion King boasts another huge off-screen name, with Hamilton great Lin-Manuel Miranda writing the movie's tunes. "Elton John. Tim Rice. Hans Zimmer. Lebo M. Mark Mancina. Beyoncé, Labrinth, Ilya Salmanzadeh. Beau Black, Ford Riley, the incredible music team on The Lion Guard, and so many musical contributors over the years. The Lion King has an incredible musical legacy with music from some of the greatest songwriters around, and I'm humbled and proud to be a part of it," said Miranda. "It's been a joy working alongside Barry Jenkins to bring Mufasa's story to life, and we can't wait for audiences to experience this film in theatres." Check out the first trailer for Mufasa: The Lion King below: Mufasa: The Lion King releases in cinemas Down Under on Thursday, December 19, 2024. Images: courtesy of Disney. © 2024 Disney Enterprises Inc. All Rights Reserved.
With Queensland's controversial Adani coal mine receiving the go-ahead last week, environmental protestors have shutdown the CBD this morning, Tuesday, June 18 — with two people glueing themselves to a busy pedestrian crossing. Representatives of ecological crisis group Extinction Rebellion Australia — which protests against "climate breakdown, biodiversity loss, and the risk of human extinction and ecological collapse" — affixed themselves to the crossing in the middle of Queen Street at 7.30am, causing delays for busy morning peak-hour traffic, including the closure of the road between Edward and Creek streets. In a statement on Twitter, ERA explained that their members were "glueing themselves to the road and locking themselves together to take a stand against extinction". https://twitter.com/XRebellionAus/status/1140747488959164416 In a quote from one of the two protestors, Serge, on Twitter, the group calls out government inaction on climate change: "Today I'm sacrificing my liberty to be a voice to protect life on earth. It's no longer acceptable to vote and think the government is going to change anything." Other ERA protestors onsite have been seen holding a banner reading "Business as usual = death". https://twitter.com/QLDTrafficMetro/status/1140761048854568961 According to Queensland Traffic, the area between Creek and Edward streets continues to be blocked by police, and visitors to the CBD are urged to avoid the area. Whether you're driving into the city or catching public transport, expect the road closure to have a broader impact on Brisbane's inner-city streets. For further public transport and traffic updates, check Qld Traffic Metro and Translink.
If your love for our national spread goes far beyond merely smearing it onto your toast every morning, this may be the perfect getaway for you. A Vegemite jar-shaped tiny house, called the Vegemite Villa, is popping up in NSW for two nights this December. The four-metre-high and two-metre-wide cabin can sleep two and is filled with some Mitey-fine paraphernalia — think Vegemite-themed socks, slippers, eye masks and an alarm clock, shelves lined with jars of actual Vegemite and even a bed that looks like Vegemite on toast. Spend a night here and you'll be a very happy little Vegemite. The jar-shaped cabin will pop up in Brogo, NSW, near the home of Vegemite's parent company and Aussie dairy giant Bega Cheese. If you do manage to snag one of the two nights here — December 6 and 7, available to book exclusively through Booking.com — you'll need to prepare yourself for a decent drive. Brogo is located a 5.5-hour drive south of Sydney or a 7.5-hour drive north of Melbourne. This isn't the first time Booking.com has created an OTT getaway, either, with the digital travel company previously setting up an Avo-Condo (yes, a tiny home shaped like an avocado) in Circular Quay last July. The Vegemite Villa is popping up at 610 Warrigal Range Road, Brogo, NSW from December 6–7, 2019. A night in the villa will set you back $89, with bookings opening at 10am AEST on Wednesday, December 4 via Booking.com.
Maybe you just like hanging out in Byron Bay. Perhaps you can't get enough of every music festival there is. Or, you could love seeing music legends take to the stage. The experience that is Bluesfest ticks all of the above boxes — and more — and will notch up its 35th anniversary with a couple of stone-cold icons behind the microphone: Tom Jones and Elvis Costello. Jones is no stranger to the event, last playing in 2016. What's new pussycat? Not the Welsh 'It's Not Unusual', 'Delilah' and 'Sex Bomb' singer spending Easter performing to a crowd of thousands in Australia. Costello and his band The Imposters were on the fest's 2023 bill, but had to drop out. So, they'll make the trip in 2024 instead. If you're now making long weekend plans, Bluesfest will take over Byron Events Farm in Tyagarah from Thursday, March 28–Monday, April 1. So far, the festival has named 23 acts and events on its lineup, ranging from Peter Garrett & The Alter Egos through to RocKwiz Live. Among the big names, Jack Johnson will play an Australian-exclusive set, in what's set to be his only Aussie show in 2024. Johnson has a history with the fest as well, first taking to its stages in 2001 when his career was just starting — long before he was a household name. Also heading to northern New South Wales as part of the five-day lineup: The Teskey Brothers, Matt Corby, L.A.B, Tommy Emmanuel, The Dead South and The Paper Kites, with the list going on. [caption id="attachment_913223" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kizzy O'Neal[/caption] BLUESFEST 2024 LINEUP: Jack Johnson Tom Jones The Teskey Brothers Matt Corby L.A.B Elvis Costello & The Imposters Peter Garrett & The Alter Egos Tommy Emmanuel The Dead South The Paper Kites Drive-by Truckers Newton Faulkner Steve Poltz 19-Twenty Taj Farrant Erja Lyytinen Harry Manx Here Come The Mummies Clayton Doley's Bayou Billabong Little Quirks Hussy Hicks Blues Arcadia RocKwiz Live Tedeschi Trucks Band The Cruel Sea Taj Mahal Tim Finn Ian Moss Rickie Lee Jones Dan Sultan The Whitlams Black Stump Band Coterie Playing for Change Band Lisa Hunt's Forever Soul Jackie Venson WILSN Caravana Sun Women of Soul Collective
When the festive season hit last year, Brisbane Quarter lit up in celebration. Now that lunar new year is approaching, the inner-city precinct is doing the same. You won't miss the CBD spot's glowing tribute to the year of the tiger, all courtesy of a vibrant red and gold LED installation. But that's not all that the place has to offer. As well as checking out the nightly light show, you can wander through a cherry tree installation on Podium 1 — where you'll find cherry blossoms, red lanterns and red envelopes, with the latter symbolising good fortune to start off your lunar new year with the best possible luck. At 12.30pm and 6.30pm on Monday, January 31, there'll be lion dances as well. And, with Brisbane Phoenix located at Brisbane Quarter, you can tuck into a feast as well. That part isn't free — or cheap, as you'll need at least six people for the $888 option — but we're sure that the restaurant's garlic king prawns, braised lobster, steamed coral trout, sauteed scallops and cultural cookies will tempt you between Monday, January 31–Sunday, February 6 anyway. On Monday, January 31 only, you can also tuck into a number of the above dishes — and a heap of others — via an a la carte menu that starts at $28.
Here's an easy recipe for a movie, and a TV show as well: take a bunch of famous faces, throw them into the same space, knock off one of their characters and let a couple of them get sleuthing, pointing the finger at everyone else. It worked for Knives Out, gloriously so. It's made Only Murders in the Building a treat across not one but two seasons. And while it hasn't really hit the mark in recent Agatha Christie adaptations Murder on the Orient Express and Death on the Nile — especially the later — the same setup remains intact in both flicks. The next film to give the premise a whirl is new whodunnit See How They Run, which definitely has the star-studded cast part taken care of. As seen in the just-dropped trailer, Sam Rockwell (Richard Jewell) plays veteran detective Inspector Stoppard, while Saoirse Ronan (The French Dispatch) steps into the shoes of enthusiastic newcomer Constable Stalker. And, the case they're tasked with looking into also brings Adrien Brody (Succession), Ruth Wilson (His Dark Materials), Reece Shearsmith (Venom: Let There Be Carnage), Harris Dickinson (The Souvenir: Part II), Shirley Henderson (Stan & Ollie) and David Oyelowo (Chaos Walking) into the mix — and more. Set in 1950s London, and in the West End to be precise, the movie follows the aftermath of a big-name death — a Hollywood director who was set to turn a smash-hit play into a film. Cue Stoppard and Stalker entering the sometimes-glamorous, sometimes-unseemly theatre world, trying to work out who's the killer. Slated to hit cinemas at the end of September, the flick hails from first-time feature director Tom George (TV's Defending the Guilty and This Country), with Mark Chappell (Flaked and The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret) on scripting duties. Then mood: jaunty. The tone: comic. Yes, it's firmly murder-mystery comedy. That's another regular part of the whodunnit equation, of course — turning a shock death and the investigation that follows into an amusing picture, that is. Check out the trailer for See How They Run below: See How They Run opens in cinemas Down under on September 29. Images: Parisa Taghizadeh. © 2021 20th Century Studios All Rights Reserved.
Maybe you grew up listening to Jeff's tunes. Maybe you grew up listening to your dad tell you that Tim's were better. Either way, there's something about the two fated generations of Buckley men that has entranced music lovers for decades, and not just because of their tragic ends. For two nights only, Brisbane Festival will pay tribute to two of the most beloved, iconic and inspirational voices in rock, as overseen by guitarist and producer Gary Lucas. Given that he was the co-writer of Jeff Buckley's ‘Grace’ and ‘Mojo Pin’, it's safe to say that he knows what he's doing. Given he'll be joined on stage by the likes of Martha Wainwright, Efterklang's Casper Clausen, Willy Mason, Camille O’Sullivan, Steve Kilbey and Cold Specks, it's also safe to say it'll be something special.
Arguable the tastiest month of the year, American Express delicious. Month Out celebrates all that makes Australia's beloved dining industry shine. On offer is the perfect vantage point from which to savour your favourites, make moves on your to-eat list and explore a little further from your culinary-home than usual. Across Brisbane (and Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide), there are one-off menus, exclusive events and snazzy discounts to make all of your dining experiences that much nicer. A highlight of the lineup is Pasta & Negroni Night at Gabba hot spot Sasso, happening Wednesday, May 25. A negroni on arrival — plus one for each of the three courses to follow — will set the good-vibes-only tone of the evening, before the trattoria's signature bread and pastas are shared over a two-hour sitting. Dessert and a bespoke bag of goodies to take home will sweeten an already sweet evening (which will be backdropped by live entertainment and the excitement of such fun on a school night). The 6.30pm slot has already sold out, so hurry if you want to secure your spot at the 8pm seating. [caption id="attachment_701804" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Greca by Nikki To[/caption] Jonathan Barthelmess's Greca is a light and airy Greek taverna at Howard Smith Wharves — with a view, menu and aesthetic that screams summer holiday. For the month of May, the waterfront restaurant is ensuring your work lunch is the envy of everybody. From Monday to Friday, you can fuel-up with a souvlaki plate — piled high with charcoaled lamb, pickled veggies and fries — and your choice of house spritz, Felons APA or glass of prosecco for just $25. Head to the website for details. [caption id="attachment_750423" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Stanley Restaurant[/caption] At other Wharves-favourite Stanley, the farewelling of the sun can be enjoyed with the Wine and Dine at Dusk package, available from Monday to Thursday for bookings at 5pm and 5.30pm. The four-course set menu features signature dishes from the loudly applauded Cantonese and Chinese restaurant (helmed by hospo-heavyweight Louis Tikaram). Honey-glazed char siu or peking duck pancakes, perhaps? Or, you might be in for salt and pepper Moreton Bay bugs. With the sommelier hand-choosing a wine from the in-house cellar to pour with each course, the $100 per person menu is definitely bang for your buck. On top of the aforementioned deliciousness, you can enjoy 20 percent off your bill (up to $25) when you use your American Express Card at participating venues, which include Cloudland, Otto, Gerard's Bar, Lune, Mei Wei Dumplings and more. Head to the website to explore the delicious offerings, best served with Amex. Top image: Nikki To (Greca)
Busting out the bibs to enjoy a shellfish feast, hearing the sound of cracking echoing, sipping boozy slushies over a showcase of sports and arcade games: this all became a reality in Bowen Hills in 2023 when Claw BBQ opened its doors. It's the crab shack that King Street didn't know that it needed. Soon, it'll also be the red- and white-hued, American-inspired joint that Brisbane's southeast didn't know that it was missing as well. Come early September 2024, the River City will boast two Claw outposts: the OG location and a new site in Carindale. If thinking about the latter suburb makes you think of the sprawling shopping centre that shares its name, that's where you'll be heading. The eatery will transport the same concept across to its new digs, but with a few features all of its own. So, buckets of shellfish will still be on the menu, as will fried chicken, barbecue ribs, burgers and the like. The brand's eating challenges will also make the jump, getting adventurous (and hungry) patrons attempting to wolf down a one-kilogram burg with a side of fries in just half an hour or half a kilogram of hot wings in 20 minutes. That said, whatever is satisfying your appetite, you'll be doing so in a spot with 4.5-metre boat in its ceiling — which definitely isn't the kind of thing that you see elsewhere. The new crustacean-slinging eatery will also include ice cream shakes and mocktails among its drinks range, alongside a hefty number of tap beers; a heap of large-screen televisions broadcasting all of that sport; and consoles for you to mash buttons at. While Potentia Solutions Leisure's crab shack chain heroes its fondness for seafood in its moniker, including crab in buckets, prepared Louisiana-style and in balls — as well as paired with crawfish, prawns and bugs — the Bowen Hills venue's menu also extends to cheeseburger spring rolls, pulled-pork tacos, whole grilled chickens and more. Add Cheetos mac 'n' cheese as a side, then an Oreos and cream pizza for dessert. To wash down all of the above, cocktails are a big feature at Bowen Hills. The current drinks list features cactus apple margaritas, strawberry and kiwi mojitos, frozen cola with rum and lime, mango macadamia piña coladas and sangrai towers. Beer lovers can go with local and international brews. If you prefer wine, there's a short array of options. Find Claw BBQ Carindale at Carindale Shopping Centre, 1151 Creek Road, Carindale sometime from early September 2024 — we'll update you with more details and an exact opening date when they're announced.
When season five of The Crown arrives in 2022, it'll continue to explore a part of royal history that's been talked about for decades: the difficult marriage between Princess Diana and Prince Charles. As part of the show's latest change of cast, Tenet's Elizabeth Debicki will play the former, The Pursuit of Love's Dominic West will step into the latter's shoes, and the acclaimed Netflix series will tease out the details — but, on the big screen, the Kristen Stewart-starring Spencer will get there first. This isn't quite a twin films situation — where two movies about the same or similar topics appear around the same time, like Armageddon and Deep Impact in the 90s, Finding Nemo and Shark Tale in the animation space, and the two Fyre Festival documentaries in 2019 — but only because The Crown is a TV show and Spencer is a feature. Otherwise, there will indeed be two different takes on the tale hitting screens small and large in short succession. In Spencer's case, it hails from Pablo Larraín, the Chilean filmmaker who has never made a bad film — see: his recent masterpiece Ema — and also directed Natalie Portman to an Oscar nomination in Jackie. In both of these movies, he's honed in on complex women in difficult situations, one fictional and one factual, and shown a stunning eye for emotion and detail. And, based on the just-dropped teaser trailer for Spencer, that isn't going away in his next feature. After last appearing in films as varied as Underwater, Charlie's Angels, Seberg and Happiest Season, Stewart plays Diana in 1991, at a time where her relationship with Prince Charles (Jack Farthing, Official Secrets) is struggling, but the royal family has gathered together for Christmas. Spencer focuses on a few specific days, as rumours swirl about affairs and divorce, and Diana attempts to navigate the obviously complicated situation. Timothy Spall (The Party), Sally Hawkins (The Shape of Water) and Sean Harris (Mission: Impossible — Fallout) also co-star, and the film will premiere at the Venice Film Festival in September ahead of its US release in November. When it'll hit Down Under hasn't yet been announced. Check out the trailer below: Spencer releases in US cinemas on November 5, and doesn't currently have a release date Down Under — we'll update you when one is announced.
Radical, revolutionary and just downright ridiculous, the annual Burning Man festival in Nevada's Black Rock Desert (or "the playa" as it is called) is one of the most mysterious and mind-bending festival experiences anywhere in the world. For one week over the Labor Day weekend in August/September tens of thousands of curious backpackers and new age hippies come together to create the temporary metropolis of Black Rock City, a psychedelic celebration of alternative art, community, self-expression and the creativity of the human spirit. Beginning in 1986 on San Francisco's Baker Beach where a few mates burnt a wooden effigy of a man, Burning Man is now a cultural phenomenon like no other with the eclectic mix of body art, DIY sculptures and revelrous bicycle-riders fused together only by a deep sense of mutual respect and this year's deliberately ambiguous theme of "Fertility 2.0". While the yearly ritual of burning a giant wooden effigy remains a constant, the festival otherwise seems to defy any simple definition or explanation and, until you have experienced it for yourself, attempting to describe Burning Man is "like trying to explain what a particular color looks like to someone who is blind" according to the event organisers. So as long as language remains insufficient, here is a photographic tour through the intoxicating world of Burning Man 2012. The 60,000 person metropolis of Black Rock City The famous bicycle-riding culture of Burning Man includes bikes of all sizes Personal expression is not just encouraged but a mandatory component of Burning Man The otherworldly Cloud 9 A laser light show The sky is literally the limit for Burning Man participants Dreamtime Circus light up the stage with their fire twirling performance As the sun goes down, the festival goers get ready to fire up Aerialist Indi-Lou stuns the Crowd with her lyra act This spiralling art installation really gets the party blazing The only thing Burning here is Indigo's throat after the infamous drinking games
If you've ever sat in front of the television and watched NCIS, Criminal Minds and the like thinking, "hey, I could do that," then here's your chance to prove it. Brisbane Street Reads is hosting their next real-life choose your own adventure hunt through Dutton Park this Friday and absolutely everyone is welcome to come along and give it a shot. The day begins with a free guided tour with author of The Escape of Bloggo: Creature of the Maiwar, Jason Theodosis, as well as illustrator Clare Neal. The monster hunt kicks off at 10.50am sharp through the streets of Dutton Park. You'll need the free Story City app (which you can download from the Apple or Android App store), headphones or speaker to listen to where you need to go, and of course water, a hat, sunscreen and all those things your mum would tell you to pack. This is a great, adventurous and fun way to learn about the history of one of Brisbane's most interesting suburbs, as well as having a great day in the sun. Bring your friends, family, and even your dog, and be prepared to be seriously challenged.
That's right, REMI and Sampa the Great are getting back together and touring the nation. Titled Fire Sign, their adventure will bring tunes, hip hop and poetry to big cities all over the country, where every show will see a set from each artist, followed by a joint finale. If you've been keeping an eye on the collaborations between REMI's Remi Kolawole and Sensible J, and Sampa The Great, you'll know that last year they joined forces to create 'For Good', a single that appeared on Divas and Demons, REMI's second album. Featuring a bunch of other special guests, the album took REMI to sold out gigs and several festivals, including Splendour, Field Day and Falls. Meanwhile, Sampa The Great has been going great guns since releasing The Great Mixtape, her debut album in 2015. You might've caught her at WOMAD, Laneway, Sugar Mountain or Golden Plains. From Sydney to Melbourne, Perth to Darwin, expect epic shows from the artists, plus surprises in the form of unannounced performers and a variety of support acts.
How can a hotel take advantage of the social media revolution? 1888, 8hotels' brand-new boutique hotel in Pyrmont, is answering that question with a picture-perfect building that skilfully marries old and new and a host of features for the snap-happy — even a gilt frame hanging from the ceiling for a cheeky selfie, Instagram-friendly walking maps for the area, a free stay offered to anyone with a substantial Instagram following (we're talking 10K+) and a free stay for the guest who takes the best shot of the hotel each month. And "this is only the beginning" says hotel manager Roberto Russo. It's perfectly natural that 1888 should embrace Instagram so enthusiastically, given the amount of care that's gone into the hotel's distinctive aesthetic — it's a thoroughly visual experience. First impressions: the architect and designers have totally respected the original structure (built in 1888, the same year as Kodak launched with a patent for its first box and roll cameras) and capitalised on the pre-existing appeal of its patina-like, distressed brick walls and gargantuan wooden beams. The latter are so beautiful I had to hug one — the splinter I received only adding to the sheer rawthenticity of it all. In the middle of the lobby, an olive tree has been planted to represent the hotel's heart, and it has plenty of space to grow upwards into the five-storey atrium with its fancy glass elevators. The ethos of preservation also shows itself in the upcycling of original wood from the building (formerly a woolstore — and much later, there was even a carpark where the lobby is now located) including gorgeous desks that appear in every room, as well as the lofty ceilings, generous windows and feature walls. Some of the window sills even have graffiti of yore carved into them. These historical details are paired with minimalist custom furniture and brightly coloured vintage pieces to create a design counterpoint that's truly refined. Step into the bathroom of one of the larger rooms and you'll find a tub big enough for two — or one, if you fancy watching your companion perform a hilarious solo synchronised swimming act (as I did). Every room comes with wi-fi and a complimentary iPad which provides general info about the hotel, local places to eat, news and weather, and it also controls the AC. The room service tab is empty for now; plans are underway to expand what's on offer in the hotel's bar and kitchen, which currently serves breakfast from a rustic Italian-inspired a la carte menu and a buffet featuring some epic muesli that I can't get out of my mind. If you're starving you can always raid the mini-bar, which, far from being stocked with the usual junky Mars Bars and tiny Johnnie Walker bottles, sources from local companies with an emphasis on health and yumminess. For intimate functions or parties, there's The Williamson room (appropriately numbered 007) which boasts its own impressive side entrance — perfect for celebrity guests fleeing the paps — and a glitzy bar from the 1950s. The Geddes Room would work for a chic boardroom meeting. As for overnight stays, the Shoebox rooms are some of the best value for money in Sydney at $179, measuring 15 square metres but feeling bright and spacious thanks to the high ceilings and huge windows. 1888's been living up to its own hype, with all 90 rooms booked to full capacity only six weeks after opening. Book in and start hashtagging. 1888 Hotel has a 'Picture Perfect Package' available to book now until September 30. It includes: -A room to photograph – one night for two in a King Room -Foodporn – complimentary 1888 antipasto plate + two glasses of wine -Share-ability – complimentary internet connection and iPads in all rooms -Envy-inducing start to the day – complimentary breakfast Prices start from $239. To make a reservation, phone 02 8586 1888 or visit the hotel website. Instagramming 1888 Words and images by Shirin Borthwick.
Add Weezer to the list of acts that first made it big decades ago that are hitting our shores again, with the Los Angeles-formed alt-rock band heading Down Under this spring. Rivers Cuomo, Patrick Wilson, Scott Shriner and Brian Bell will take to the stage in Brisbane as part of a whirlwind three-day, three-show trip — on Sunday, October 8 at Brisbane Entertainment Centre. Expect the supremely cruisy, holiday vibe-heavy 'Island in the Sun' to get a spin, plus 'Undone — The Sweater Song', 'Buddy Holly', 'El Scorcho', 'Beverly Hills', 'Hash Pip', 'Pork and Beans' and more, all from across the group's three-decade career. [caption id="attachment_912637" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Murphy[/caption] Brissie legends Regurgitator will warm up the crowd — another favourite that began rocking the airwaves in the 90s. Weezer love a bit of a nostalgia, at least where their Aussie tours are involved. Back in 2020, they were announced for the Hella Mega Tour's Down Under run, which was meant to hit the country that November with Green Day and Fall Out Boy also headlining. Then the pandemic hit, and the trio's successful worldwide combined gigs cancelled its Australian plans. Top image: Hunter Kahn via Wikimedia Commons.
Heat, power, light, summer, joy, strength, the changing climate: think about the sun and any of these notions might spring to mind. Expect the artists exhibiting at the 24th Biennale of Sydney to ponder them all and more thanks to the two-yearly art showcase's just-announced theme: Ten Thousand Suns. When the Biennale last popped up in 2022, it did so with a program called Rīvus, which means 'stream' in Latin. It had water on the mind back in 2018, too, when the art event famously showcased Ai Weiwei's 60-metre inflatable boat. For its 2024 run, it's taking inspiration from a glowing source — and it has just revealed the first 39 artists that'll be reflecting on the topic as well. [caption id="attachment_910496" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Joshua Morris[/caption] "The 24th Biennale of Sydney will invoke a spirit of abundance and generosity as powerful political tools, and resist the mainstream mindsets of perpetual crisis that often lead to inaction. This edition revisits legacies of collective resistance, strength and exuberance, embracing a more hopeful and joyful outlook, while celebrating the exhibition as a carnival of rays and radiance, aptly titled Ten Thousand Suns," said 2024 Biennale Artistic Directors Cosmin Costinaș and Inti Guerrero. "Next year's Biennale works across time periods, beyond the borders separating cultural practices rooted in different genealogies, and from all continents. The exhibition owes a profound debt to the rich heritage of what is known today as Australia, especially to the struggles and practices in which First Nations communities and migrants have faced and played key roles." [caption id="attachment_910497" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Creation of My Metaverse (Between this World and the Next) (2021). Serwah Attafuah. Digital 3D render, 3600 x 6000 px. Support: Sotheby's. Courtesy the artist © Serwah Attafuah.[/caption] Running from Saturday, March 9–Monday, June 10, 2024 across Sydney, and free to attend as always — with the list of venues yet to be revealed — the Biennale will feature works by artists such as William Yang, Tracey Moffatt, Serwah Attafuah, Kirtika Kain and Kaylene Whiskey among the homegrown contingent, as well as Sachiko Kazama from Japan, Francisco Toledo from Mexico and Malaysia's Anne Samat. From the lineup of talents so far, Biennale boasts its usual significant focus on local creatives, accompanied by artists from the US, Brazil, Indonesia, The Philippines, Taiwan, New Zealand, France, Guatemala and more. In addition to ample art for attendees to peer at, wander past and experience, the 24th Biennale of Sydney will also feature a contemporary music lineup in partnership with Phoenix Central Park. The venue's curatorial skills will be taken to new locations beyond its stunning Chippendale site, responding to both Ten Thousand Suns as a theme and the works on display. [caption id="attachment_910498" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Cannot Be Broken and Won't Live Unspoken (2022) [installation view]. Anne Samat. Rattan sticks, kitchen and garden utensils, beads, ceramic, metal and plastic ornaments. Wall panel: 365.75 x 731.5 x 61 cm. Floor: 609.5 x 609.5 cm. Commissioned by the Kochi-Muziris Biennale. Photographer: Anne Samat. Courtesy of the artist and Marc Straus, New York.[/caption]"We have long held the view that contemporary music is an art form worthy of elevated presentations in fine art spaces. It's a great privilege to be creating a music program that will respond to the breadth of work curated by Cosmin Costinaș and Inti Guerrero," said Beau Neilson, Executive Producer and Creative Director at Phoenix Central Park. "Together they have assembled a rich and dazzling array of visual art that captures the sociopolitical zeitgeist with a spirit of optimism, and we look forward to honouring this vision with an exciting lineup that will span the duration of the Biennale." [caption id="attachment_837012" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jordan Munns[/caption] BIENNALE OF SYDNEY 2024 — FIRST ARTIST LINEUP: Adebunmi Gbadebo Alberto Pitta Andrew Thomas Huang Anne Samat Bonita Ely Christopher Myers Citra Sasmita Darrell Sibosado Doreen Chapman Eisa Jocson Elyas Alavi Francisco Toledo Freddy Mamani Hayv Kahraman Idas Losin I Gusti Ayu Kadek Murniasih (Murni) Li Jiun-Yang John Pule Kaylene Whiskey Kirtika Kain Marie-Claire Messouma Manlanbien Ming Wong Nádia Taquary Nikau Hindin, Ebonie Fifita-Laufilitoga-Maka, Hina Puamohala Kneubuhl, Hinatea Colombani, Kesaia Biuvanua Orquideas Barrileteras Özgür Kar Pacific Sisters Pauletta Kerinauia Sachiko Kazama Satch Hoyt Segar Passi Serwah Attafuah Tracey Moffatt Trevor Yeung Udeido Collective VNS Matrix William Strutt William Yang Yangamini The 24th Biennale of Sydney will run from Saturday, March 9–Monday, June 10, 2024. Entry will be free, as always. We'll keep you posted on the whole artist lineup and exhibition program when they're announced. Top image: Mr. Cuddles Under the Eave (2021). Trevor Yeung. Pachiras, straps, 7 x 8 x 8m. Photography: South Ho. Courtesy the artist and Blindspot Gallery, Hong Kong
