Making a powerhouse acting debut, Zain Al Rafeea carries the entire weight of Capharnaüm on his slender shoulders. Playing a young Lebanese boy also named Zain, the untrained talent puts in a raw, soulful performance that nearly bursts off of the screen, all while capturing a truth that is rarely uttered. With a weary expression where an impish smile should be, he conveys the toll of simply existing, a burden that nobody initially asks for. Indeed, when Zain is introduced in court, suing his parents for bringing him into a life of relentless hardship, Al Rafeea's exasperated face alone sells the character's existential angst. While Zain's unconventional lawsuit provides Capharnaüm's entry point, writer-director Nadine Labaki (Where Do We Go Now?) is quick to explore the basis for the 12-year-old's legal challenge. In his dismal Beirut home environment, his parents (Kawthar Al Haddad and Fadi Kamel Youssef) make him work to support the family, his baby sibling is kept in chains, and he witnesses his beloved younger sister (Cedra Izam) sold into marriage for a few chickens. More than that, his birth was never registered, so he can't get the necessary identifying paperwork to attend school or to even prove that he exists. Running away, he's soon caught in another difficult domestic situation — taken in by kindly Ethiopian immigrant Rahil (Yordanos Shiferaw), he cares for her infant son (Boluwatife Treasure Bankole) while she works, but is left stranded when she suddenly doesn't return. Scripting the film with four co-writers, Labaki puts the despairing yet resourceful Zain through even further misery — the type that'd be badged 'poverty porn' if it wasn't drawn from reality and told with such empathy. Those traits prove Capharnaüm's main strengths, aside from the highly sensitive work by the movie's non-professional actors. Much of the cast, including the mesmerising Al Rafeea and captivating toddler Bankole, have lived lives that hew much too close to the events seen on screen, while Labaki's commitment to bringing their plights to light shines through in her narrative. Ranging beyond the feel-good charm of Slumdog Millionaire and the tender reunion of Lion, Capharnaüm actively wants viewers not just to engage with its bleak story, but with the truth behind it. From crumbling shanties to overcrowded juvenile jails, this is a fictional tale wrought from the toughest type of real-life pain, and it's designed to feel that way from start to finish. The key word there is feel. Labaki wants audiences to be moved by her gritty, warts-and-all portrait — and given everything that Zain experiences, that's exactly what happens. Alas, although the actor-turned-filmmaker clearly recognises the potency of her material, she doesn't seem to trust it to get the job done alone. Every stylistic decision, from the lingering camerawork to the button-pushing score (by her husband and producer Khaled Mouzanar) to the lurching narrative structure, is calculated to poke and prod viewers. Every choice cajoles those watching not just to react with sympathy, but to respond harder and deeper, eventually to the point of overkill. There's a difference between stressing the point in an earnest and affecting way, wallowing gracefully to truly communicate the enormity of a character's struggle, and hitting people over the head. Bluntly bludgeon someone for long enough, and they might just stop feeling anything. As a result, even with a Cannes jury prize and an Academy Award nomination to its name, Carpharnaüm can't overcome its obvious contradictions. It knows that it's spinning a worthy tale, but isn't confident that anyone will care about the gruelling minutiae without applying force. It possesses two of the most authentic, endearing child performances committed to celluloid in recent times — on par with its thematic sibling, The Florida Project — and yet packages their naturalistic work with overtly manipulative storytelling. It argues that unthinkingly birthing kids into a downtrodden life is a heinous crime, while also championing a boy whose engaging persona and enduring resilience was forged through weathering immense difficulties. Although it's impossible to ignore these clashes, when Al Rafeea lights up the screen, he'll make you wish otherwise. Stirring but never self-assured enough to be subtle, Capharnaüm is a heartbreaking movie that stops well short of being a heartbreaking masterpiece. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBecbs52Fpo
It's been a year since Welcome to Bowen Hills first opened its doors, and the permanent food truck park is still offering new reasons to stop by. Late in 2018, it added both an onsite pizza joint and a whole heap of arcade games to the mix, and now it's combining the two — and beer as well — in the best possible way. From February 14, Thursdays are now Bottomless Pizza, Pale Ale and Pinnies night, delivering exactly what the name suggests. "I wish I could eat more slices", "geez, I could really go for another beer" and "I just don't want to stop hitting those flippers" aren't things that you'll be saying here. Yes, the main attractions are all endless. For $35, attendees will enjoy as much of Harry's Pizza's finest as they can handle — and the same applies for pale ales from the bar, and playing pinball, NBA, Pac-Man and the other games around the place. If that sounds like your ideal way to spend an evening, the fun runs from 7pm each week. Image: Adam Shaw.
Mid-September brings warmer weather, sunnier skies and the unmistakable feeling that spring has sprung, but it's not really an occasion. Of course, you can always make it one. An endless supply of beer and cider for two hours will definitely help, because if there's one thing that makes everyone feel merry, it's unlimited alcohol. You could show up at Welcome to Bowen Hills on any given weekend and some sort of party would be raging; however on Saturday, September 22 and Sunday, September 23 you'll find a Bottomless Beer and Cider Party. For $49, attendees can enjoy free-flowing tipples while DJs spin tunes and everyone enjoys a happy weekend. Because you should never drink on an empty stomach, food is also included in the price, with everyone receiving 'truck bucks' to spend at the food truck of your choice. Mr Burger, Wild Rissole, Paco's Tacos and Sliced N' Loaded will be in residence, ready to whet your appetite as you get your fill of brews.
Once you've brought mountain pose to Mt Coot-tha, bridge pose to Kurilpa Bridge and balancing cat pose to Boggo Road Gaol, what comes next? Getting Brisbane's yoga lovers to unleash their flexibility on a tennis court, obviously. A space that's usually the domain of racquet-swinging players, the calm and tranquility that can only come from bending and stretching, and taking part in a silent disco yoga class inside Pat Rafter Arena all combine at Sound Off in the Arena, Urban Bliss Yoga's latest adventurous exercise outing. If you thought rooftop yoga, mountaintop yoga and bridge yoga were all exciting, then this yoga session will once again take you to another level. Doing tree pose in the middle of a tennis court is just the beginning Taking place on Sunday, October 7, yogis will step into the arena for this unique Sunday evening session, with all of the fun kicking off at 6pm. Everyone from yoga first-timers to asana experts are welcome — as long as you BYO yoga mat — but tickets are expected to get snapped up quickly. Image: tripletrouble via Flickr.
Like beer? Like monsters? Like your brews named after creepy critters, with bottle, can and label artwork to match? Horror-loving drinkers, there's never been a better time to pair your beverages with your fondness for all things scary — but October 6–7 will be even better than usual thanks to Netherworld's Monster Menagerie Beer Festival. The returning event will bring together eight yeasty tipples, strange creatures and stellar collaborations, all for two days of boozing fun. And if you're wondering why it takes place in October, just think about it for a second. 'Tis the month of Halloween, after all. Everyone from KAIJU to Brewtal to Moon Dog to Two Birds will be involved, plus locals like Newstead Brewing too. Tickets cost $30, which gets you 150ml of each and every one of the unique themed beers, plus a limited edition enamel pin and eight game tokens. Non-ticket holders will also be allowed to join in the fun, but won't be able to enjoy all of the brews.
Food truck hangout Welcome to Bowen Hills is adding a new type of event to its lineup: cult cinema nights. On the first Thursday of each month between September and December, the venue will get the projector whirring, screen an excellent flick on its outdoor big screen and serve themed cocktails to go with it. After kicking things off in September with none other than Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction, October will see The Castle do the honours. We don't know for certain what kinds of beverages will be on offer, but we're guessing that you'll want to take them straight to the pool room. A different movie will screen each month, with the full program yet to be revealed. Entry is free, which includes the film, although you will need cash for your drinks — and for whatever you feel like munching on from the food truck lineup. Updated October 2.
Sanctuary Cove's annual day of canine-centric fun returns, so get ready to take your pupper on a road trip. Paws & Pizzazz takes over the Marine Village on Sunday, September 9 with a celebration of doggos that spans everything from obedience to health checks to responsible pet ownership. The free, all-ages affair is the perfect excuse to take your adorable pooch to the coast for the day — and to buy an adorable pup outfit. It wouldn't be a dog extravaganza without a pet parade, of course, with fashions on the field, waggliest tail, biggest smile and pets that look like their owner among the categories your pooch can compete in. There'll also be a photo booth so you can take some souvenirs home with you, and a caricature artist to give you a unique piece of art. Or, if you're heading down without your own animal in tow, folks from Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary will be bringing some along with them.
Until Sunday, October 7, Garden City shopping centre is stepping back in time — but you won't need a telephone booth, tardis or DeLorean to get there. Instead, this blast from the past is all about the retro games, old school kicks and just generally feeling nostalgic. At Old School Cool, you can play pinball, bust out your best Dance Dance Revolution moves in a floor-to-ceiling neon arcade, and mash buttons playing the original Mario Kart — or try your hand at Pac Man and Donkey Kong as well. Or, if you'd rather look back at threads gone by, there's a pop-up sneaker museum showcasing footwear from the 80s and 90s. Entry is free, and if you hadn't realised, the timing coincides with the school holidays — so it's an activity that littlies might enjoy as well. Although, let's face it: staring at sneakers is going to be much more fun for you than it is for them.
All year, the Queensland Museum has been hosting after-hours parties — the type you might call a night at the museum. So far, they've all been focused on the venue's big mummy exhibit, which finished its run in late August. You don't need ancient artefacts to have a mighty good time at this spot, however, and so the site is keeping the Friday evening fun going. You won't find Ben Stiller roaming the halls, of course, but you will find QM's new Monkeys! A Primate Story exhibition as well as its Lost Creatures section. There'll also be music, drinks and demonstrations — plus attendees will get free reign of the space, peering at everything within the South Bank institution's walls. The last After Dark sessions for 2018 takes place from 5.30pm on Friday, October 12 and Friday, November 16. A word of warning — they often sell out so you'll want to nab a ticket quickly.
Someone else's old designer threads could become your new favourite outfit, all thanks to Brisbane's latest secondhand clothing pop-up. Taking place from 10am–1pm on Sunday, October 14, the aptly named Spring Designer Rummage Sale will fill East Brisbane's Hanworth House with pre-loved fashion and accessories. Even better — everything costs just $5. You'll also need a gold coin donation for entry, but once you're inside you can browse and buy until your heart's content. All of the proceeds will go to the Women's Legal Service, to assist women and their children experiencing domestic violence. That means that your wardrobe gets a gift and so does a great cause. If you have your own unwanted designer clothes to donate, you can also do so in the lead up to the day. Just drop off your quality pre-loved wares at the Women's Legal Service in Annerley, at the concierge desk at 111 Eagle Street in the CBD or the office of Aspire Retire on Level 6 at 345 Ann Street.
For two days only, two Brisbane Japanese joints are joining forces — and your broth and noodle-loving tastebuds are set to benefit. While Paddington's Hai Hai Ramen and Woolloongabba's Superfly Funk Eye hail from the same hospitality group, they usually keep themselves to themselves. That's changing with Rahh!Man!, a two-night ramen pop-up. On Friday, August 31 and Saturday, September 1, a visit to Superfly comes with Hai Hai's slurpy goodness in two rich varieties. Opt for the Tokyo shoyu ramen filled with triple broth of smoked chicken, seafood, pork, vegetables and noodles, or the vegan garden ramen with shiitake and konbu broth, marinated tofu, braised leek and noodles — both for $13 a bowl. A small range of sides is also on the menu, including brussel sprouts in yuzu yoghurt, sweet corn with miso butter, pork belly bao and karaage chicken. There'll be Suntory yuzu highballs as well, which is the perfect drink for making you think you're not in Woolloongabba, or Paddington, but about a ten-hour flight north.
Another Brisbane public holiday is upon us, you're keen to spend it in a cinema, but your wallet doesn't want to play ball. Call Dendy Cinemas' latest special a case of great timing, then, with the chain offering up discount tickets that'll solve your problem. All day on Monday, October 1, regardless of whether you purchase online or in person, you'll only pay $5 for your movie of choice at Portside and Coorparoo. Or movies. With everything from A Simple Favour and Crazy Rich Asians to Christopher Robin and Ladies in Black currently screening — plus The Predator and Searching, too — there's plenty to watch if you're keen to spend as much time in a darkened room as possible. The special isn't available for special events, Dendy Arts sessions or preview screenings, but you're certain to find something to watch regardless. Plus, if you haven't had a chance to drop by the chain's still new-ish digs in Coorparoo, here's your excuse.
It's not quite summer yet, but Fortitude Valley's Eleven Rooftop Bar is setting the tone for the season with a weekly series of seafood and rosé parties. Kicking off from midday on September 30 and running every Sunday until the end of summer, the shindigs will combine platters of the ocean's finest, bug rolls and magnums of Pour Les Amour Rosé — plus the venue's scenic view over the city, and DJs spinning vinyl. Two sessions are available each week. You can have a feast and a few tipples smack bang on lunch time, or wait until for a leisurely late meal. Either way, it'll cost you $60 per person for your pink wine and seafood platter, with bookings available for groups of four — so this is really a time to gather the gang and eat and drink your weekend afternoon away.
Where can you swap a lobster for some mussels? No, there's no punchline — it's just how you get dinner at Dutch Courage Officers' Mess in September. Drop by on Thursday nights for the venue's Mad About Mussels evening, where a crisp $20 note gets you a plate of molluscs. Tasmanian molluscs, to be specific. The mussels come Moroccan-style, cooked in a tomato, saffron and 'nduja sauce, and accompanied by toasted sourdough. And, the price also includes a glass of beer and wine. Whether you're just thinking about how broke you normally before payday, or you're in need of a cheap date option, there's your highly affordable Thursday night taken care of. If you're keen to use your stomach muscles to digest some mussels, the special is available from 6pm each week. You'd best plan in advance, however, with bookings essential.
Walt Disney and Hayao Miyazaki might be the biggest names in big-screen animation, but they're really just the tip of the iceberg. If you're eager to delve beyond the usual suspects, the Gallery of Modern Art has just the program for you — three weeks dedicated to the Golden Age of Czech Animation. Between September 7–30, GOMA's Australian Cinematheque is highlighting the work of Czech animators Hermína Týrlová, Jiří Trnka and Karel Zeman. Týrlová has been called the mother of the country's animation, Trnka was dubbed 'Disney of the East' and Zeman was labelled the 'Czech Méliès', which speaks volumes about their respective work and impact. In free sessions, Brisbanites can watch Zeman combine live action and animation in the dinosaur delight Journey to the Beginning of Time, catch Trnka's puppet-filled take on Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, and see how Týrlová worked her magic with rags, yarn and wooden toys. The list goes on, with sessions playing on Wednesday and Friday evenings, plus Saturday and Sunday during the day, until the end of the season.
When Brisbane Festival comes to an end in 2018 — just for the year, don't worry — it won't just be lighting up the sky with Riverfire. The fest is also putting together a one-day mini music festival within the overall three-week festival, because that's how you throw a closing party. On the bill is Violent Soho, Meg Mac, Methyl Ethel, WAAX and Mane, all hitting the stage on Saturday, September 28 from 2pm onwards. They'll be joined by I Oh You DJs, Tired Lion DJs, Last Dinosaurs DJs — and yes, if fireworks are your thing, you'll be able to see them bursting overhead once evening hits.
It's the studio that's given Brisbanites the gift of puppy pilates and kitten yoga; however with Stretch Yoga's community classes, it's sharing the love around. On various Tuesday nights in the CBD and Sunday mornings in Holland Park, sessions will only cost $6 — and all of the proceeds will be donated to a selection of charities. You'll benefit from bending and stretching for less than the cost of a glass of wine, which is perfect if you're a newcomer keen to finally try yoga, or you're just feeling a little less financial. Good causes will benefit, obviously. And Stretch Yoga's graduate instructors will benefit, as they'll be teaching the classes. The CBD sessions run from 6.40–7.40pm on select Tuesday evenings, with the next sessions lined up for March 3 and 31, April 21 and 28, and May 5. If you're closer to Holland Park, drop by from 10.30–11.30am on Sunday mornings, with classes on March 8 and 22, April 5, and May 3 and 17 Places are limited, so bookings are essential, with all yoga skill levels welcome. Image: Stretch Yoga.
If you like beer and you live in Brisbane, then you've probably noticed a trend in recent years. In fact, you've probably been making the most of it. That's to be expected when a certain patch of turf starts welcoming new drinking spots with frequency. Thanks to Ballistic Beer Co in Salisbury, as well as Helios Brewing Company and Slipstream Brewing Company in Yeerongpilly, there's no shortage of breweries to have a beer at on the southside — and while you've likely been hopping between them all anyway, Beermuda Triangle gives the area's boozy crawl an official spin. Head to one the above list of places between 1pm on Saturday, March 14, catch a bus to the other two and back until 8pm, and drink frothy ales at each. [caption id="attachment_719835" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Slipstream Brewing Company[/caption] Entry is free, more than 30 brews will be on offer, and there'll also be food trucks and live music at each brewery. Plus, obviously, just the general fun of soaking in the boozy Salisbury and Yeerongpilly vibes. Because this edition of Beermuda Triangle is being held as part of Brewsvegas 2020, each brewery will also be whipping up a special beer for the day — using the same ingredients at all three spots, but giving the recipe its own spin. Top image: Ballistic Beer Co.
Does your idea of a perfect meal involved crumbed chicken topped with tomato sauce and covered in melted mozzarella? Do you like having dinner for less than a lobster? If you answered yes to both questions — and you have time to hang out at South Bank — then you'll be pleased with Munich Brauhaus' new special. Until Sunday, March 1, the German-themed joint is serving up the good schnit — and cheap, too. In other words, it's offering up $10 chicken parmigianas. Available for lunch and dinner, your 180-gram parma also comes with fries — and, in terms of conditions, you'll just need to buy a beverage as well to nab the deal. We're guessing that finding something to drink won't be hard in a two-level beer hall, of course. Brews-wise, Munich Brauhaus' selection spans 36 taps and 17 draught beers, including pure Bavarian beers and an extensive list of craft brews
No one really knows when alcohol-loving humans first started mixing their booze with other ingredients, but we do know when they first started referring to the resulting concoctions as cocktails. It was in 1806, so more than 200 years ago. There's some food for thought next time you mix up or knock back a drink — or to impress your date with when you're drinking, chatting and making the most of Jade Buddha's returning cocktail markets. What's a cocktail market? A chance to try plenty of different types, all in sample-sized tastes so you really can wet your lips with a few. Because the latest event is taking place on Valentine's Day, it'll be serving romance-themed tipples — and you can sip them from 6–8pm on Friday, February 14. While entry to the riverside bar is free, $35 will get you four cocktail tokens to use at the special pop-up bar. For each token, you'll get one standard drink. And it's worth remembering the golden rule of cocktails: they always taste better when you're drinking them with other people, especially on this particular occasion. Images: Jade Buddha.
Slurp your way into the weekend at Darling & Co, with the Paddington bar turning every Friday into an Oyster Friday. And while the texture of this seafood morsel isn't to everyone's liking, the feeling it evokes should be — who doesn't want to slide into a couple of days off the way that an oyster slides across your tastebuds? If you are a fan, then your wallet will be as well. Serving up a cheap oyster feast, Darling & Co is slinging natural oysters for $1.50 each and oysters kilpatrick for $2 a pop. Pair them with a glass of sparkling — it's well-accepted advice that oysters and something boozy go hand-in-hand. All that's left is to mosey on down to Given Terrace between 4.30–6.30pm and settle in for your fair share of saltwater bivalve molluscs. After-work drinks? Dinner before you head out? This special caters for both options.
As dairy fiends already well and truly know, adding burrata to any meal automatically takes it up several notches. Add the delicious blend of mozzarella and cream to every dish as part of a five-course dinner and, well, you've got yourself quite the cheesy, indulgent and delicious feast going on. That's what's happening at Burrata Night. Nope, that name doesn't disappoint. Salt Meats Cheese's Gasworks store is whipping up a heap of burrata-topped options on Tuesday, February 4, then letting you eat your way through them. There'll actually be seven different dishes, including truffle and porcini gnocchetti with warm burrata; burrata that's crumbed with panko and herbs, then fried; and burrata that's been hand-stuffed with pesto, then placed on top of a margherita pizza. Or, you can try some arrabbiata spicy spaghetti topped with burrata, opt for cured bresaola and burrata with rocket, or go for the pumpkin sauce-filled burrata served on a blue cheese and mozzarella base pizza. Naked burrata with your choice of filling —truffle mushroom, pumpkin, basil pesto or chilli sauce — is also available. The five-dish dinner will set you back $49, and you can choose which five of the above choices you'd prefer. Or, you can take the plate-by-plate approach and order single serves for $15 a pop. It all kicks off at 5pm, and booking in advance for this one-night-only affair is essential.
Choosing which beer to drink at any given time can be far more difficult than it sounds. There are just so many brands, breweries, types and flavours, so you can be forgiven for feeling completely spoiled for choice. No one wants to start sipping a substandard tipple — or get stuck with a pint of something that's merely average. At Kingdom of Beers, though, it'll be top brews all the way, because that's what this brand new Brisbane beer festival is all about. On Saturday, March 7, across two sessions between 1–4.30pm and 5–8.30pm, 20 of Australia's best breweries will be serving up more than 100 stellar beers. And you'll know they're good because some of them will be medal-winners, with the event held by the the Royal Queensland Food and Wine Show and linked to its RQFWS Beer Awards. It all happens mere days after the best 2020 picks are announced, actually, so everyone will be mighty buzzed indeed. Expect beers from Aether, Bacchus, Felons, Soapbox, Catchment, Newstead Brewing, Stone and Wood, Ballistic, Slipstream, Green Beacon and more, all on offer in the Exhibition Building at Brisbane Showgrounds. Some of the beverages — from 13 brewers, in fact — will have been made using desalinated water from the Pacific Ocean, so that's something you can ask all the chatty brewers in attendance about. [caption id="attachment_707149" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Rachael Nixon[/caption] You'll also be able to grab a bite to eat, including wagyu rolls, German sausages, Italian street food, jerky and gluten-free doughnuts. Live music, inflatable jousting, axe-throwing, giant jenga, handball and live street art are also on the bill. Tickets start at $10, if you nab one online before Monday, February 3 — and will cost you $15 after that, or $20 on the door if any are still available on the day. Top image: Felons Brewing Co.
Say cheers to beers by the river this summer, all thanks to Brisbane's Howard Smith Wharves precinct. You can stop by the site's resident brewery, Felons, any time you like, of course — but this two-day event will bring a whole heap of booze-makers together, pour plenty of beer and cider, and combine sitting on the grass, soaking in the sunshine and taking in the watery view. Sound familiar? When HSW debuted Beers on the Lawn last year, it said it'd become an annual event. And, just four short months later, this brew fest is here for 2020 — because if there's one thing that Brissie can't get enough of, it's excuses to sink cold ones. Running from 4–8pm on both Saturday, February 22 and Sunday, February 23, Beers on the Lawn will keep the frothies flowing from Felons, Range, Helios, Slipstream and Aether, as well as Semi-Pro, Brouhaha, Ballistic and Soapbox. The brewery list keeps going, with Moffat Beach, Sealegs, Revel, Land & Sea, Your Mates and Noosa Beer Co all coming along, too. And, if you're eager for something other than beer, then wine, gin, kombucha and spritzes will be your friend. In addition to beers and then more beers, attendees will be able to tuck into a smokey barbecue menu — think pork ribs, chicken wings and burgers, woodfired pizzas, and a smoked platter that includes ribs, brisket, pickle cucumber, corn bread, fries and slaw. Plus, in terms of entertainment, you'll be able play lawn games and table tennis, listen to live tunes, watch live artwork and check out home-brew demonstrations. Also, this fest is dog-friendly as well.
After Swan Lake and The Nutcracker, the Australian Ballet is taking on another classic — and treating ballet lovers to another astonishing show. Teaming up again with renowned choreographer Graeme Murphy, the dance company is bringing Oscar Wilde's The Happy Prince to life. Expect dazzling footwork, a specially commissioned score and a vivid spectacle, plus Wilde's playful and touching tale as you've never seen it before. In fact, no one has yet seen this version of The Happy Prince, with the production making its world premiere when it hits QPAC's Lyric Theatre between Tuesday, February 25 and Saturday, February 29. An all-ages delight, the poignant story has been given a thoroughly modern — and Australian — interpretation, ensuring that it's as engaging today as it was when it was first published 132 years ago. A timely reminder that kindness is one of the most important things in life, Wilde's tale follows a lonely swallow and a golden statue of a joyous prince. They cross paths as their hometown is blighted by sorrow — and the results are poetic, moving, and laced with both sharp humour and social commentary. Alongside the stunning choreography, there'll be a score from renowned composer Christopher Gordon, plus masterful set and costume design by award-winning artist and director Kim Carpenter — both adding greatly to the production's already magical retelling of Wilde's classic tale. And, if you're keen to see a weekday production (Tuesday–Friday), you can get a sweet deal on tickets. From midday on Wednesday, February 5 till midday on Monday, February 10, you can nab $88 tickets for A–D Reserve seating (unless already below the discount price).
Once, not that long ago, Brisbane had never played host to a gin festival. Now, that's definitely no longer the case. They seem to pop up every few months, alongside plenty of other regular gin-focused nights, gatherings and parties. We do have several bars solely focused on gin in this city of ours, after all. They all have one thing in common, of course: oh-so-many juniper spirits. And another: oh-so-many G&Ts. That's exactly what's on the menu at Pig 'n' Whistle Brunswick Street's gin-fuelled addition to the fold, aka its returning Ginfused Festival. Taking place from 1–7pm on Saturday, February 29, this patch of the Valley will become a gin mecca — complete with plenty of artisanal gins, a heap of cheese and charcuterie to help soak up the botanical booze, free cocktail masterclasses and live music. Distilleries including Tanqueray, Brookie's, 23rd Street, Four Pillars, Nosferatu, Jinzu, Winston Quinn and more will be slinging drinks, and entry is free. You can also purchase a $40 or $45 package in advance, with the first including five drink tokes and the second nabbing you two beverage tokens and a charcuterie plate.
Every year, when autumn hits, Brisbane's plant aficionados come out in force. Tending to your garden is a year-round pursuit, of course — whether your patch of greenery spans a whole backyard, a few pots on your balcony or that plant in your lounge room that needs a bit of love. But autumn is when the Brisbane Garden and Plant Expo holds one of its twice-yearly get-togethers. For two days at Rocklea Showgrounds, more than 100 stalls will be selling plants and garden-related products, with both native and non-native varieties up for grabs. Folks in the know will also share their expertise across a series of talks — and if you're into edible plants, they're well and truly covered as well. Food stalls, a plant creche to mind your purchases, and live entertainment are all also on the agenda, with the expo running from 9am–8pm on Friday, March 13 and 9am–4pm Saturday, March 14. Tickets cost $8.50 for one day, or $15 if you're planning on heading along on both days. Top image: Brisbane Garden and Plant Expo.
It's hard to go wrong with a sausage sizzle. Bread, snags, sauce, drinks — it's a winning combination. But not all sausages are made equal. The standard variety are all well and good; however sometimes even this simple meal can turn luxe with the right ingredients. So what constitutes a fancy snag? At Stokebar Q's sausage sizzle on Monday, January 27, there'll be lobster and scallop sausages topped with tartare — and we think that counts. Also on the menu: chicken, rosemary and truffle snags topped with sticky shallots, and wagyu sausages with caviar dressing. Each snag will set you back $15 — luxe dish, steeper price — and you can also nab a Balter Lager, XPA or Captain Sensible for $7 a pop. The riverside barbecue will be firing up from midday, and DJ James Wright will be spinning tunes from 2pm. Top image: Stokebar Q.
Like wings? Live in Brisbane? Partial to a food truck gathering? If all of the above applies to you, then the odds are that you've nabbed a wing fix from Wing Fix. You might've even dropped by its first bricks-and-mortar digs in Morningside, too — and now this chook joint it opening a second store. Come Saturday, March 14, this slinger of poultry pieces will open a permanent store at Coorparoo Square, aka your new wing central. And if you head on by between 11am–2pm on opening day, you'll score a free six-wing pack in your choice of flavour — or a free cheeseburger — with every order. Arriving early is recommended if you're keen on a free addition to your lunch. As for what you'll be eating, wings-wise, prepare your tastebuds for six flavours: good ol' buffalo, that other old fave that is honey soy, the delicious flavour combo of garlic parmesan, the succulent delights of some crispy fried pieces — plus a bourbon barbecue sauce and another called 'Nashville Hot'.
Keen to escape the house after spending the past few months in lockdown? Eager to watch a movie on a screen that's larger than your television? Want to do all of the above and go easy on your wallet? A visit to one of Event Cinemas' Brisbane sites has you covered — now that they're reopening across the city. For a limited time — with no end date announced for the special as yet — the chain's venues are offering up half-price tickets to celebrate their relaunch. That means that you'll generally pay less than a tenner to see your movie of choice in a standard theatre, and also score discounted Gold Class and V-Max tickets as well. To nab the deal, you will need to be a member of Event Cinemas' Cinebuzz Rewards program. If you're not already, you can sign up for free online. And if you're wondering what to watch, there's plenty on the bill if you're keen to spend as much time in a darkened room as possible. That includes new releases such as The Personal History of David Copperfield and Love Sarah, as well as older 2020 titles like Dark Waters, Emma, Sonic the Hedgehog, The Invisible Man, The Gentlemen, Bloodshot, 1917 and Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn). Parasite is still screening at some sites, too, because of course the best movie of 2019 is still on screens more than a year after it first released, and even after pandemic closures. Event Cinemas' half-price deal is available for a limited time — head to the chain's website for further details.
In response to COVID-19, film festivals around the world have been making the shift to online programs for 2020 — and Australia's fests are no different. Sydney Film Festival is doing just that, as is the Melbourne International Film Festival. Also going virtual: the Human Rights Arts and Film Festival. HRAFF's addition to the digital fold is called Humankind, and it runs between Monday, May 18–Sunday, May 24. Each day, it'll screen a different film online. And yes, while that means that the fest's lineup is quite small, it's also mostly free. Although registering for tickets is still required, six of the seven movies on the program will be made available to viewers without paying a cent. You can opt to donate, though, if you can spare $2, $10 or $50. On the bill: poignant New Zealand drama Whale Rider; documentary No Time for Quiet, about the Girls Rock! camp in Melbourne; and fellow music-focused doco Her Sound, Her Story, which explores the experiences of women in the industry. Or, you can check out environmental documentary Tomorrow, which is co-directed by Inglourious Basterds star Melanie Laurent; Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise, about the African American poet and activist; and Backtrack Boys, which dives into a jackaroo-led youth program. Humankind is also screening excellent Aussie doco In My Blood It Runs, which tells the tale of 10-year-old Northern Territory resident Dujuan — and tickets to watch it online cost $15. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmahNqD3Dvw&feature=youtu.be
How do you show your love for your favourite filmmaker, particularly when the director in question is none other than John Waters? Sure, you could watch a stack of DVDs in the comfort of your own home. Or, you could head to Brisbane's one and only John Waters Fest. Returning for its fourth year, expect the kind of fun-filled screenings only cult cinema guru Kristian Fletcher could've thought of. And expect to enjoy the experience in a concentrated block, with the fest taking place from 6.30pm Wednesday, April 17. It all starts with Cecil B. Demented, aka Waters' 2000 black comedy starring Melanie Griffiths as a Hollywood A-lister who's kidnapped by terrorist filmmakers. Follow it up with A Dirty Shame, because everyone loves a satirical sex comedy — and enjoy two of the director's features that don't regularly show on the big screen.
Talented pooches have been barking their way to big screen stardom since the birth of the medium, and Cannes Film Festival even gives out awards for ace pupper performances. Now, Australia has a dog-themed cinema showcase. At the Top Dog Film Festival, doggos and puppers cement their status as humanity's favourite movie stars in a touring program of pooch-centric shorts. For two hours, dogs will leap across screens in a curated selection of heartwarming flicks about humanity's best friend. Over the last two years, the lineup has included films about dog-powered sports, dogs in space, dogs hiking through the desert, senior dogs and more. The festival hits Brisbane's Schonell Cinema on Wednesday, July 17 as part of its 2019 run, and rushing after tickets the way your best four-legged friend rushes after a frisbee is recommended. Given how much we all love watching dog videos online, not to mention attending pupper-centric shindigs in general, this one-night-only event is certain to be popular.
Pick your favourite movie, change the concept slightly and Hollywood's next big hit could be born. It worked for The Fast and the Furious, which took Point Break's storyline, swapped surfboards for cars and spawned a hugely successful franchise, and it somewhat works in Little as well. Sequels and spinoffs aren't as likely to follow in the current case, but this age-swap comedy serves up a bit of fun with its reversed take on 80s classic Big. To be accurate, it serves up a highly predictable tale, themes to match, a few laughs, energetic performances and a star-making turn from 14-year-old Marsai Martin. Best known for TV sitcom Black-ish, Martin is a comic force to be reckoned with as Jordan Sanders, a character she shares with Regina Hall. The younger actress plays the 13-year-old version of the hotshot technology entrepreneur — both when she was originally a bullied, anxious, science-loving teenager suffering the ultimate humiliation at her school talent show, and when the tyrannical thirty-something is turned back into her adolescent self by a kid waving a magic wand. As an adult, Jordan has been coping with her youthful torment by becoming a rich, unpleasant control freak, unleashing much of her intimidation upon her long-suffering assistant April (Issa Rae). Then she picks on a child, wakes up to discover that she's now a child again herself, and is forced to enlist April to act as her legal guardian. Obviously, there's no question that writer-director Tina Gordon (who also helped pen What Men Want) and her co-scribe Tracy Oliver (Girls Trip) have seen Tom Hanks dance around on a walking keyboard in Big. The link is right there in Little's name. Martin has too, and that's where the film actually sprang from. The teen actress watched the movie, came up with a twist and pitched the idea to the right person. Now she's starring in the end product. She's also an executive producer on the picture — the youngest ever in Hollywood. Thanks to this origin story, there's a shameless feeling of familiarity to the flick — yet it's by design, rather than through arrogance, ignorance or laziness. The film's pace is breezy and its tone is bouncy, creating a feel-good, upbeat, self-empowering vibe, which should surprise no one. The expected jokes and messages also arrive on cue. Indeed, Little is well-aware that everyone knows where it sprang from, that it's never going to be original, and that plenty of other body-swap comedies have also done something similar. As a result, it rarely contemplates breaking the mould. More than that, it doesn't think it needs to. The film does pair its concept with the African-American experience, and calls out the fact that these kinds of antics usually only involve white characters, but it's otherwise content to stick to the formula. And while playing it safe is rarely the path to big-screen success, there's a reason for Little's approach. Instead of stepping into new territory, the movie adheres to the template, relying on its cast to add much-needed personality. In exaggerated mode, Hall has a ball. Finding the sweet spot between affable and awkward, Rae does as well. In the precocious Martin's case, she shines brighter than her character's oversized sunglasses and glitzy outfits. Without her, all of the film's cliches and tropes would take centre stage, from Jordan's initial shock at her sudden transformation, to the inevitable makeover montages, to the just-as-expected learning of life lessons. But while they're still all blatantly apparent, Martin's spark goes a long way. Crucially, she inhabits her character like an adult placed in a kid's body, rather than a child playing dress-up imitating someone older. With the younger Jordan strutting around in designer clothes, confidently ordering whisky at a bar and even flirting with her teacher when she's sent back to school, it's a vital difference, and it shows. Little still belongs to one of today's most pervasive and worrying trends — where everything can, should and must be rehashed over and over and over again — but it finds a way to stand out. In the crowded age- and body-swap genre that counts everything from 13 Going on 30 and 17 Again to Freaky Friday and The Change-Up, that too makes a difference. A big one, fittingly. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWzxkqHn6D4
A couple embraces. A man thrusts. The next shot shows, from above, a car driving directly up a straight road. Viewers everywhere can put two and two together. The cut from one to the other is actually meant to be subtle, segueing from an adulterous duo to the man they've cuckolded — but it's also meant to complete a tastefully sensual picture. That's The Aftermath in a nutshell: prim, proper and discreet; brandishing plenty of emotions underneath; and obvious even though it's trying desperately to remain restrained. You could say the same about many period dramas starring Keira Knightley, and you'd be right, however this one particularly sticks to the familiar template. Dressing up in her 20th-century finest as she did in Atonement, A Dangerous Method and The Imitation Game, Knightley plays British military wife Rachael Morgan. After spending most of the Second World War alone, even when bombs were dropping on London, she now joins her colonel husband Lewis (Jason Clarke) in Hamburg. He's been tasked with overseeing the city's enormous rebuilding project, and she's once again left in their acquired home while he works. This time, she has the grand building's original owner, brooding German widower Stefan Lubert (Alexander Skarsgård), for company. Whether you've read Rhidian Brook's 2013 novel of the same name or you're coming to The Aftermath with fresh eyes, guessing what comes next couldn't be easier. No film is going to let Knightley and Skarsgård roam around a sprawling, stately mansion without taking the blatant next step, not even when the story is set immediately after such widespread devastation. Accordingly, while Knightley starts out staring daggers and Skarsgård smoulders sorrowfully in knitted jumpers, it doesn't take long for director James Kent to connect the dots. But in making its post-war romance so straightforward, the movie lacks the one thing every torrid affair thrives on: passion. An absence of passion isn't the same as an absence of emotion, and lacking one particular quality isn't the same as purposefully holding back in general. The Aftermath doesn't skimp on histrionics, or on creating an elegant mood, but the end result is just so dutiful and formulaic. Indeed, it's hard to feel for characters caught in a love triangle, let alone get swept away by their amorous entanglements, when every plot development is as glaring and forceful as the many bombed-out buildings lining Hamburg's streets. And the less said about the movie's unconvincing attempts to dig into deeper territory — courtesy of Stefan's Nazi-sympathising teenage daughter (Flora Thiemann), as well as his own thorny past — the better. Kent previously combined matters of the heart with the horrors of combat in 2014's First World War romance Testament of War, which proved both handsome and heartfelt. While The Aftermath isn't helped by its script, the filmmaker has only managed to tick one of those boxes here. There's no denying the film's rich imagery, which recreates the time with stellar detail. That said, there's also no denying that cinematography, costuming and production design rank among the movie's best traits. Pretty pictures are part and parcel of any period drama, but when they steal the show above all else, it's never a good sign. They mightn't always succeed, however Knightley and Skarsgård endeavour to stand out — against the eye-catching scenery and routine narrative, and despite their star-crossed lovers barely being given any depth. Although neither actor is asked to rise to any challenges, when sparks fly between them, it's easy to wish they were carrying a better film. In a way, that's The Aftermath's big problem. So certain of its stars' power, it thinks that the two can simply carry the entire movie. In fact, it largely squanders Clarke in the process. But, even with gorgeous visuals and a striving cast, the heart still wants what the heart wants: in this case, a story that doesn't feel finished before it starts. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPv3e2FZOgo
If your pup's been trying to sad-eye his or her way into your Easter celebrations, but without much chocolatey success, here's a solution for you both. From 11am on Saturday, April 13, Aussie pet-sitting network Mad Paws is bringing its annual Dog Easter Egg Hunt to Brisbane for the first time. For two furry hours, your drooling, slobbering one will be the focus of all attention. More than that — it'll get to scour Kalinga Dog Park in Clayfield for dog-friendly Easter treats. The pupper who finds the most will also win extra prizes, so your cute pooch could enjoy a very indulgent day indeed. While the main attraction is part of a country-wide push to hold the world's biggest dog easter egg hunt (with simultaneous events in Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra and Darwin, too), there'll also be games, dog trainers offering advice and plenty of four-legged cuties everywhere you look. Last year's Sydney festivities featured agility courses, best-dressed comps, pupcakes and massages —here's hoping they all make the leap to Brisbane.
When Little Big House opened its doors, it did so with a strong parmigiana game. The South Bank pub's chicken parmy spring rolls quickly proved worth a trip alone, because some unlikely food combos really are as great as they sound. Plenty of Brisbanites have paired the dish with plenty of beers as a result; however adding a few other parmy delights — and a few more brews — is on the menu come April and May. Every Sunday, the watering hole will be slinging Parmy and Paddle Degustations, so you'd best prepare your tastebuds. Available all day each Sunday — that is, on April 7, 14, 21 and 28, plus May 5, 12, 19 and 26 — this four-course feast will set parmy-lovers back $48. It'll also soak your stomach in oh-so-much chicken and tomato, as well as a different 4 Pines beer with each round. Kicking off the meal with a classic, it all starts with a good ol' chicken parmy with a Pacific Ale. Next, you'll tuck into those chicken parmy spring rolls with a Brookvale Union Ginger Beer, and savour the unusual flavour combo. Third on the lineup is a parmy katsu sando, which comes with a Cold Brew Coffee Kolsch. Then, finishing up the degustation, you'll munch on some chicken parmy wings while downing a Pale Ale. If you dream of parmys afterwards, you'll know why. Updated May 2.
For more than a century, Boggo Road Gaol was the most notorious place not just in Brisbane, but in Queensland. Long closed, these days it welcomes tourists through its gates. The infamous Dutton Park site has also played host to movie nights, and even seen a few yoga stretches unfurl in its heritage-listed surroundings — and now it's about to nab its own music fest. At Jailbreak Festival, The Jensens, Great Såge, Bad Sext, Two and a Half Elephants and more will play the spot, although there's no need to sneak your way in or out to hear their alt-rock tunes. Instead, just nab a ticket to head along from 6pm on Saturday, March 23. And while you're dancing and drinking — yep, it's a licensed event — you'll also be nodding to a piece of local history. The fest's name isn't just an obvious joke, or a nod to a classic AC/DC track. Instead, it stems from Boggo Road Gaol's own past. Back in 1991, the prison experienced its own jailbreak, with four prisoners hijacking a garbage truck and just driving it straight through the gates.
The 90s are the decade that keeps on giving — to nostalgic Brisbanites, at least. On any given weekend, you can usually find a party dedicated to kicking it old school-style, including the city's latest music-themed trivia night. Know everything there is to know about the Spice Girls, Backstreet Boys, grunge, 'Gangsta's Paradise' and chasing waterfalls? Then, come 3pm on Sunday, May 12, it's time to put your 90s-loving brain to the test. Man vs Bear will be asking the questions, Shady Palms will be doing the hosting and you'll be slinging back your answers — if you wannabe the trivia champ, that is. These kind of themed nights always prove so popular, so booking in early for the next one is recommended. Register your team online, and prepare to channel Alanis when your competition gets something wrong — aka to have 'You Oughta Know' stuck in your head.
On Sunday, June 9, things are getting hot in Newstead. Tongue-tinglingly hot. Face-meltingly hot. Homer Simpson running, screaming and waving his hands around hot. That's what happens when you spice up your weekend with a chilli festival, after all. Adding some zest to Brisbane, Newstead's Waterfront Park is hosting the Briz-Chilli Fest from 11am. There'll be plenty of stalls offering plenty of chilli, and not just in food form. Of course, there'll be enough edible hot hot heat to help you turn several different shades, but that's just part of the chilli fun. Chilli beer and chilli cocktails will all be on offer, as will a chilli fancy dress competition. Basically, you'll be saying the word chilli so much that it no longer means anything. Early bird tickets are on sale now for $5, and the full lineup of activities also includes six chilli-eating contests for those with cast-iron stomachs, plus live music and workshops — with the event boasting spice on multiple fronts. Our tip, and one we think you'll need: remember that milk is a chilli-lover's best friend.
Brisbane's thriving food truck scene is at it again, serving up more excuses to grab a meals from a mobile eatery. This time, the huge gathering not only offers up plenty of food options, but a bayside view to go along with it. Taking place from 11.30am on Sunday, May 19, the Biggest Shorncliffe Food Truck Fest Ever brings a heap of mobile eateries to Allpass Parade for your eating pleasure. Ending your weekend with some of Brissie's best bites and an ace watery vantage — now that's the life. On the menu: King Of The Wings, That Greek Truck, Flavours of Eataly, Micasa Burger Truck, Ruby the Little Red Ice Cream Van and Rolls Pho Mi, who'll all be taking care of your hunger. In total, there'll be more than 30 food options, plus craft beers, ciders and wines. And to top it all off, live music is also on the agenda.
Since setting up shop in southeast Queensland last year, Karmably has made relaxation-starved animal lovers' dreams come true. Who doesn't want to bend, stretch, breathe, meditate and be surrounded by gorgeous critters? Who wouldn't feel instantly chill by patting a goat while doing some mindful stretching? No one, that's who. Meditating with baby goats and lambs is just one class in the outfit's schedule — and if you're fond of felines, prepare to purr over the next. Be In the Now: Kittens, Yoga and Meditation combines, well, kittens, yoga and meditation. The concept might be self-explanatory, but it's also excellent. Karmably's classes always book out quickly, so consider yourself warned. Feeling calm with cute cats is certain to prove popular, after all. Held at Indigo Soul Wellness, the session features 45 minutes of beginner-to-intermediate yoga with kittens, plus 15 minutes of sound meditation — as taking place on Saturday, May 26 at 10.30am and 12.15pm, and again on Sunday, July 14 at the same times. Updated May 24.
If you've had one high tea, then you know what you're in for — right? That's not the case at W Brisbane's new High Tea of Easter. Like the venue's High Tea of Aus over the past summer, it comes with a distinctively local flavour. As great at ordinar scones and sandwiches are (and then more scones and more sandwiches), this weekend feast takes its cues from Aussie favourites, although not as you know them. And given the time of year, it comes with an Easter spin as well. Serving up meat pies and lamingtons as part of its spread, the hotel is calling its dishes 'reimagined versions' of these trusty favourites — and you can't go wrong where all three are concerned. Keeping the theme going, other treats include spiced fruit hot cross scones with golden butter, marshmallow bunnies, and wattleseed and macadamia mini Easter eggs. Running on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in April until Easter — and on Easter Monday, too — the high tea comes with unlimited blooming tea, classic tea, coffee and hot chocolate for $55 per person, but can also include Champagne or a martini for $69, or rosé Champagne for $74. Bookings are necessary, and can be made online.
Forget worms — the early bird gets gourmet bites to eat, farm-fresh produce to line the cupboards, and an enjoyable morning of browsing and shopping at Milton Markets. Every Sunday morning from 6am — and 7am in winter — more than 80 stalls descend upon the corner of Cribb and Little Cribb streets in the inner western suburb to sell tasty wares. From whenever you feel like waking up until midday, you can wander through massive fig trees to join them. Once a season, the Milton Markets also celebrates the change of weather — and all of the food that goes with it. On Sunday, March 31, it's doing so with Milton Markets: The Fall Harvest, which'll showcase the tastes that make everyone think of autumn. If fresh seasonal fruit such as apples, pears, figs, pomegranate, dates, cumquats and grapefruit gets your stomach grumbling, you can stock up here. If a maple syrup latte with cinnamon infused milk, topped with ginger crumbled snap, does as well, you're in luck again. And if you're hankering for a sweet potato waffle, apple and rhubarb danish or vegan hotdog, arrive hungry. Expect pumpkin to feature, as well, and expect Scenic Rim farmers selling their wares. Themed gourmet food stalls, decorations to suit the occasion, and live entertainment and music are on the agenda too.
Head east on Saturday, June 29 and Sunday, June 30, Brisbanites, and you might just find yourself surrounded by barbecued foods. With around plenty of vendors cooking up a storm at this year's Bayside BBQ & Beer Roadshow, you can probably just follow your nose through Cleveland, straight towards the showgrounds. An array of the city's top food trucks will be on barbecuing duties, covering everything from low 'n' slow meats to international barbecue dishes. Plus, if you'd like to pick up some tips to whip up your own feast at home, there'll be masterclasses as well. Or, watch the experts compete at the Queensland BBQ Championships — which is sure to kick your appetite into gear. Of course, this isn't just a barbecue festival, complete with dishes such as slow-cooked brisket, ribs, pulled pork and gourmet smoked sausages. It's also beer-fuelled shindig, with more than 100 local and international brews waiting for you to sip. And, there'll be markets to peruse, giant games such as human foosball to play and live music to listen to as well. Tickets start at $10 in advance, with general entry costing $25 on the door — and the event runs from 10am–5pm daily.
Stepping back to its titular year, 1985 is filled with signs of its time — from Walkmans playing Madonna, to bars pulsating with synth, to fashion choices that couldn't come from any other period. And yet, for all of the exacting music choices, production design decisions and costuming touches, it's the film's cinematography that grounds it so firmly in the past. With director of photography Hutch shooting on grainy 16mm, Yen Tan's third stint as a director feels like it was made in the era it depicts, then subsequently unearthed now. That couldn't be a higher compliment. This is how many low-budget movies looked three decades ago, with 1985 not only meticulously recreating the same aesthetic, but quietly nodding to the wealth of queer cinema that came before it. Framed with precision, those speckled monochrome images serve another purpose, too. A film's style can say as much as its story, which is never in doubt here. 1985's black-and-white visuals overflow not only with visible texture, but with meaning and emotion — as seen in its loaded shadows, inky contrasts and jittery flecks. How better to convey a world where so much is left unsaid than to cloak it in grey? How better to express existential turmoil than to strand its protagonist between light and dark? And how better to show someone striving to soak in every last detail than to make each grain jostle for attention? Every inch of 1985 looks and feels as it should — like Adrian Lester (Cory Michael Smith) has returned to his Texan hometown at the height of Reagan's America not just for Christmas, but with much more serious matters on his mind. The 20-something hasn't been back to Fort Worth since he left for New York, where he can express his sexuality openly, and his family haven't forgiven his absence. While Adrian's homemaker mother Eileen (Virginia Madsen) understands more than she'll ever utter, his Vietnam veteran father Dale (Michael Chiklis) openly seethes with hurt and hostility, and his pre-teen younger brother Andrew (Aidan Langford) clearly wishes he'd had a role model over the past few years. Awkward is one way to characterise this stilted reunion; caught between the conservative religious rhetoric spouted by the Lesters' favourite radio station and the reality of Adrian's new life is another. Conceiving the narrative with co-editor Hutch, but penning the screenplay solo, Tan treads delicately around the obvious. Given that his protagonist is a gay man in the mid-80s, and that a climate of fear is evident from the outset, it's hardly surprising that AIDS leaves an imprint on this tale. Given the historical context, it's not difficult to guess where the film is headed either, however the movie's slow reveal is as much about reflecting Adrian's experience as it is about both storytelling and chronicling a pivotal period in the past. When a person is faced with tragedy, their perspective changes forever, and yet the minutiae of everyday life cruelly and relentlessly goes on. 1985's power and poignancy stems from this fundamental truth, as Adrian goes home, sleeps in his childhood bed, spends time with his family and hangs out with his high-school girlfriend (Jamie Chung), all while knowing what no one else does: although he steadfastly wishes otherwise, nothing can ever really be the same again. In taking such an internalised journey — even one so astutely made tangible via stylistic flourishes — 1985 is fond of lingering in certain moments. This patient approach is noticeable, even in such a concise 85-minute movie, but it also has another function. As led by Gotham's Smith and ably supported by Madsen, Chiklis, Langford and Chung, this is a film anchored by exceptional performances that live and breathe when they're given the room to do just that. (Often, visually, Tan literally gives them space by peering at his actors in long and medium shots.) What comes to the fore, too, is the complexity of these characters, who never adhere to one-note archetypes despite initially appearing otherwise. That's another essential truth that 1985 conveys perfectly: no matter how transparent a person's facade may seem, you can never truly know just how they're afflicted by pain and heartbreak underneath. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gw5LfaKTKoI
UPDATE, August 3, 2020: Pet Sematary is available to stream via Amazon Prime Video, Foxtel Now, Google Play, YouTube and iTunes. It's true of beloved family pets who've returned from the grave, and it's true of horror novels turned into movies yet again: sometimes dead is better. Stephen King might've penned that sentiment himself, but Hollywood was never going to take the popular author's advice. As the second film adaptation of Pet Sematary shows, perhaps they should've listened. With King's work frequently flickering across screens big and small, exhuming this creepfest must've seemed like an easy win. This is the ninth movie or TV series based on his writing in the past three years alone, with four more due in 2019 as well. There's plenty to claw into in Pet Sematary, including the many shadows that death and grief cast over the living. There's ample room for unsettling tension, spanning both bumps and jumps and existential unease. But Pet Sematary largely feels like the most standard possible take on its supernatural narrative. Given how standard its predecessor felt 30 years ago (and the original film's 1992 sequel, too), the new version basically re-digs the same grave and fills it with slightly updated corpses. Initially, those bodies belong to dearly departed pets in the town of Ludlow. When doctor Louis Creed (Jason Clarke) moves to the quiet Maine spot with his wife Rachel (Amy Seimetz), eight-year-old daughter Ellie (Jeté Laurence) and toddler Gage (Hugo Lavoie and Lucas Lavoie), they quickly discover that their sprawling new house is adjacent to the local animal graveyard. The burial ground's misspelled sign marks it as a place for kids to farewell their furry and feathered friends, but neighbour Jud Crandall (John Lithgow) knows that something else is afoot. After the Creed family cat meets an unfortunate end, Jud initiates Louis into the cemetery's secrets. On the page and in its previous big-screen version, this story always required a leap in logic — not regarding its overall concept, but some of the minutiae. Only realising that your new home borders a graveyard once you've moved in? Letting your kids play by a highway favoured by speeding trucks, especially after your beloved feline is mowed down? If you can buy that, then you can definitely buy the idea of zombified pets scratching away at their owners' nerves. An engaging tale told well could easily breeze past the aforementioned contrivances, and so could a scary tale told with disquieting precision. Alas, as directed by Kevin Kölsch and Dennis Widmyer (Starry Eyes) and scripted by Jeff Buhler (The Midnight Meat Train), that's rarely the case here. Content to plough along the surface of its familiar narrative, Pet Sematary remains as straightforward as its many horror cliches: the spooky woods, the sacred Native American site, the several layers of sad backstories and the reality that raising the dead never, ever turns out well. King might've invented or at least solidified many of these tropes, however here every single one feels routine. So does the film's by-the-numbers execution. It's the latter that grates more than the former — not the obvious, sometimes egregious plot elements, but the squandered potential. If there's anything worse than a flat-out bad movie, it's an average flick that unearths glimmers of something more yet ultimately leaves them buried. Kölsch and Widmyer know how to make individual moments land, even when the overall beats and simple jump-scares are easy to spot. While the film is shot with the usual dread-inducing look, the directing duo also know how to make individual images stand out. And when they give Clarke, Seimetz and Lithgow room to breathe — and push a young talent like Laurence into the spotlight, too — they know how to ensure that their themes and performances run deep. They just can't sustain any of the above. Certainly not for the movie's 101-minute running time, and not long enough to justify Pet Sematary's resurrection. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7Eq9rYsqnM
Dinosaurs are coming to the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre. Clever velociraptors, a giant tyrannosaurus rex and a triceratops in need of some medical attention, specifically. If the Star Wars and Harry Potter franchises can head back to the big screen with a live orchestra playing their scores, then Jurassic Park can do the same thing. Welcome to... your chance to revisit the classic flick with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra recreating every note ofJohn Williams' iconic music. You might've noticed that he's the common link among a hefty majority of the movies getting the live score treatment, with the composer contributing to a whopping nine Star Wars flicks (including next year's Episode IX), plus three Harry Potter pictures. But, back to Islar Nublar, John Hammond's theme park, the mayhem that occurs when a bunch of humans come to visit and an event that no prehistoric creature would've dreamed of 65 million years ago. A HD version of the film will play twice on Saturday, April 27 — at 2pm and 7.30pm — with tickets starting at $59.
If you're planning a big night on December 31, odds are that you'll be nursing a sore head when 2019 kicks into gear. Time for a dose of the ol' hair of the dog that bit you, clearly. A boozy January 1 is basically an Australian tradition. Combining both vodka and actual nutrition, that's where bloody marys come in — and they're coming in droves at Riverbar and Kitchen from midday. The riverside spot is throwing The Ultimate Bloody Mary Party, which really just means plenty of tomato juice concoctions with a definite kick, as well as plenty of talk about how great 2019 is so far. Also on offer is a spread of grilled chorizo, stuffed olives, pickled cucumber, cheddar cheese, and fried chicken and harissa sliders, which come on skewers that you can stick right into your drinks. Mimosas and live music round out your cruisy first Tuesday of the year. Just don't think about work the next day, if that's in your future.
Whether you've had a good year or an average one, end your year with a bang — or with loud, live music to be exact. While 2018 doesn't wrap up just yet, 4ZZZ is throwing a final 2018 shindig before the holidays hit, with its last party taking over The Bearded Lady on Saturday, December 22. From 8pm onwards, The Stress of Leisure, Bad Bangers, and Adele Pickvance and The Chandeliers will take to the stage. That means plenty of tracks from local talents. It also means a crowd of folks fond of Brisbane's favourite alternative radio station, all celebrating another 12 months of excellent tunes. Even better — entry costs $5 for Zed members and $10 for everyone else, meaning that you can save your cash for the important things in life. A few beverages, Christmas presents for your loved ones or treating yourself to more live music in the new year are all great candidates. Image: Bad Bangers.
