If you liked alternative and indie rock in the late 00s, then Common People probably means something to you. We're not talking about the ace Pulp song, though you should think highly of that as well. We're talking about the club night that used to play all the best tunes. If you ever went along, you'll be keen for another Common People experience. If you didn't but it sounds like your thing, you probably are as well. Either way, you're in luck, with The Foundry once again hosting what's becoming an annual New Year's Eve reunion. Put on some comfy shoes and prepare to dance the night away from 9pm, with everything from The Smiths to The Strokes and Duran Duran to Daft Punk getting a whirl. And Prince, Bowie, Madonna — and anything that fits the bill from the 80s onwards. Entry is free, but RSVPing online is recommended.
In 1997, Christmas changed. With a single episode of Seinfeld, the world became privy to a new form of holiday celebration that eschewed other traditions and denominations. Instead of a tree, an unadorned pole gets pride of place. Rather than share happy stories, everyone gathered airs their grievances. And, instead of settling down on the couch after a hearty meal, attendees compete in feats of strength. Okay, so maybe you still enjoy tinsel, turkey and street cricket with your family on December 25; however Fritzenberger is making sure you can have some Festivus fun as well. It's hosting a trivia night that's all about Seinfeld's take on the season, with Man vs Bear on hand to ask the questions. The evening quiz takes place at the Petrie Terrace burger joint on Thursday, December 20, and over at the Wilston abode on Friday, December 21. Yes, that's a few days before the official Festivus date of December 23 — but hey, if you're not happy about that, add it to your grievance list. We don't know if there really will be a grievances box, but you'll certainly be able to air your unhappiness. There will definitely be feats of strength and Seinfeld-themed food as well as well. Entry cost $5 per person, and registering in advance is recommended — as is dressing up like your favourite character for the costume parade.
Come Friday, December 7, you won't want to be late for a very important date. You will want to play croquet, drink Pimm's cups and eat pizza, however. Sure, you mightn't find gin-based spirits and delicious slices in Alice in Wonderland, but folks at the The Fox Hotel are clearly using their imagination for this themed end-of-week laneway party. Returning for its second year, Garden Wonderland will also boast a pop-up Colonial Brewing Co. bar, dedicated Asahi, Peroni and Cricketers Arms taps and plenty of vodka — and that's just the beverage part of the proceedings. You can also throw some royal shapes to both live and electronic music, should that take your fancy. Or, play giant games of Jenga, Connect 4 and chess. Entry is free, with the fun taking over Fish Lane from 5pm. Pretending that you're following a white rabbit as you wander past two huge flower walls — one measuring six metres, the other measuring three — and just generally hop between bars, games and the dance floor won't cost a thing, either.
When Darth Vader told Luke Skywalker that they're more than just mortal enemies, it became one of the most famous lines of dialogue in movie history (and one of the most mis-quoted). If you've seen Star Wars: Episode V — The Empire Strikes Back, you'll know that it's a powerful, memorable moment that changes the shape of the entire space saga. Even if you haven't, you know what we're talking about. Now, imagine just how epic it'll feel when you're watching the flick on a big screen and listening to John Williams' iconic score played by a live orchestra. Yes, The Force is strong in Brisbane once more, with Queensland Symphony Orchestra staging the next in their Star Wars screening and performance series at 2pm and 7.30pm on December 1 at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre. Jedis, wookiees and droids alike can expect two sessions of tussles between the Rebels and the Empire, Luke learning his true parentage, Han flirting with Leia and getting frozen in carbon, Chewbacca being awesome, R2-D2 being adorable and C-3PO being annoying (well, he is). Plus, it's the flick that marks the first appearance of Lando Calrissian and the first time 'The Imperial March' is heard. If you're thinking that it's a great time to be a Brisbane fan of the George Lucas-created franchise, then you're right. The Last Jedi and Solo: A Star Wars Story are still fresh in everyone's memories, and these types of special events keep on coming — we've got a good feeling that Return of the Jedi will eventually get the same treatment as well. Image: Robert Catto.
Three decades ago, a New York City cop just wanted to spend Christmas in Los Angeles with his estranged wife. He arrived at Nakatomi Plaza with little else on his mind — but before the night was out, he'd be crawling around in vents, battling German terrorists, and proving that absolutely no one messes with John McClane and his loved ones. Of course, that's the plot to Die Hard. With the action classic turning 30 this year, you'd better believe that the Palace James St is celebrating. On Friday, December 21, it's hosting a session of what should be everyone's favourite end-of-year flick. Nothing's quite as festive as Bruce Willis doing his thing in this late '80s slice of explosive excellence. Even better — attendees will receive a gift from Newstead Brewing Co upon arrival. Tickets cost $15 (or $10 for Palace members), and it all kicks off at 7pm.
Eating, drinking, being merry, feeling like you should only wear something stretchy — yes, it's that time of year. Christmas is a time for giving your loved ones gifts and giving your stomach plenty of tasty treats, after all. Before the big day hits, it's also a time for fitting in that last pre-feast workout. If doing a multi-level circuit training session in the middle of Brisbane's new shipping container hangout sounds like your ideal fitness class, then head to X Cargo on Saturday, December 22. With help from the folks at Facilities, the Fortitude Valley spot will make you work up a sweat at its X Cargo Xmas Sweat, which runs from 8–9am. Even better — it's free to attend. That means you'll get rid of the guilt that comes with festive overindulgence (or some of it, at least) without overindulging your wallet. If you're keen to start off your Christmas break by getting active, make sure that you register in advance as numbers are limited. Image: Facilities.
No one has ever eaten just one roll of sushi. Or, if they have, they haven't done so willingly. Once you devour a single piece, you instantly want more — and more, and more, and then even more. You get the picture. Enter Sake's new $25 Monday–Wednesday deal, which serves up all-you-can-eat sushi between 5–6pm each evening. Four types are on offer, so you can dig into as many rolls of spicy tuna, salmon and avocado, chicken karaage and vegetable sushi as your stomach can handle within the allocated after-work hour. The endless array of seaweed-wrapped rice and filling is an ongoing special; however it's the kind of feast that you'll need to be organised to take advantage of. You can't book in advance, so walking in at 5pm on the dot is recommended — and you'll be feasting on a first-come, first-served basis on Sake's Eagle Street terrace.
UPDATE, August 15, 2020: I Used to Be Normal: A Boyband Fangirl Story is available to stream via DocPlay, Google Play, YouTube and iTunes. For many teenage girls, love has a name. It's not their schoolyard crush, or that boy who keeps teasing them in class. Depending on the decade, it's Harry Styles, Nick Carter, Robbie Williams or Paul McCartney. Their great loves sing to them, stare back at them from posters on their walls, and soulfully look their way at packed-out concerts. They croon tunes about holding hands, wanting them back and inner beauty, and — crucially — declare they'll never break any hearts. Whether it's The Beatles in the 60s, the Backstreet Boys in the 90s or One Direction earlier this decade, such is the power of boy bands. Many come together in the most calculated of manners, specifically engineered to appeal to as many swooning girls and sell as many records as possible. But the sentiments they're uttering feel real to their fans. Take 16-year-old Long Island resident Elif, for example. When she talks about One Direction, her face could light up Zayn Malik and company's world like nobody else. She screams at their videos, calls them "the boys" like they're kids that she goes to school with, and bursts into tears when a friend suggests that a band member might deliver their pizza. Alongside 25-year-old San Francisco journalist Sadia, 33-year-old Sydney band strategist Dara and 64-year-old Melbourne TV producer Susan, Elif is one of four boy band aficionados featured in I Used to Be Normal: A Boyband Fangirl Story. Each has fallen hard for a different group and it's changed their life, with the documentary exploring, analysing and celebrating their fandom. Well aware that loving a boy band is so often seen as the domain of silly young girls, filmmaker Jessica Leski examines the phenomenon with joy, affection and irreverence, and with an open heart and mind. She knows a thing or two about the topic herself, having become a devoted Directioner at the age of 31. Cue a delicate balancing act, but one that I Used to Be Normal manages with the skill of a carefully choreographed *NSYNC dance routine. As the bright, upbeat, quick-paced film delves deep into its subjects' thoughts, emotions, hopes and desires, it also dissects the broader allure of manufactured male pop groups and the catharsis they can offer. Dara gives viewers a Boy Band 101 lesson to help cover all angles, however its her own personal story — and Elif, Sadia and Susan's too — that comprises the beating heart of the doco. Set to an appropriate soundtrack, their love of cute men belting out pop ballads is always intimate and genuine, and handled with thoughtfulness and insight. For Turkish immigrant Elif, One Direction connects her to her adopted country and helps unleash her dreams of becoming a musician. Growing up in a conservative Muslim household, Sadia's obsession with the Backstreet Boys helped her explore her teenage urges — and still helped when she suffered from depression in college. Dara's affinity for Take That's Gary Barlow shaped her identity and her sexuality, while Susan's Beatlemania has been a crutch to lean on through decades of ups and downs. Even if you don't know New Kids on the Block from East 17, and even if you'd never want to, these tales are instantly relatable. It's passion that unites I Used to Be Normal's four women, and unites them with everyone watching, too. On good and bad days alike, these ladies filter their lives through something that feels larger than life, which is exactly what sports nuts, comic book-lovers, Game of Thrones tragics and Potterheads do as well. While exposing this truth, Leski acts in much the same way from behind the camera. That's a key aspect of her documentary: she doesn't judge or dismiss or play up stereotypes, because everyone is a fangirl (or boy) for something, including the director herself. There's humour in the film, but it comes from someone who knows what her subjects are going through — and knows that everyone watching knows the same loving feeling. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSQBPzGL8EI
2015's Creed was the best kind of surprise. What seemed destined to be a sad resurrection of a franchise already long past its prime turned out to be a benchmark moment for sports movies, combining heart-pumping pugilism with the same kind of tender romance that underscored and grounded the original Rocky. As Adonis 'Donnie' Creed, Michael B. Jordan delivered a fearless performance laden with vulnerability and irresistible charisma, while Sylvester Stallone's reserved turn reminded audiences that beneath his tough guy exterior remains a fine and gifted actor possessed of a deep emotional range. Those same qualities and performances are again present in Creed II, although the story itself unfortunately fails to match the power and drive of its predecessor. The setup is certainly juicy enough. Viktor Drago, son of Ivan – the man who killed Creed's father Apollo in the ring during Rocky IV – arrives in Philadelphia with his father and challenges the newly-crowned heavyweight champion of the world to a fight. It's a chance to "rewrite history" as Donnie tells his mother. But Rocky's heart is filled with dread, with his sense of guilt over Apollo's death a constant companion. Refusing to train Donnie, he and his protege part ways until a tragedy of sorts brings them back together and it's time for another classic training montage. Outside of the ring, Tessa Thompson gives Creed II some much-needed personal drama as Donnie's girlfriend Bianca, delivering another passionate performance imbued with a great deal of heart despite being disappointingly relegated to a more secondary role this time around. Directed by Steven Caple Jr. taking over from Black Panther's Ryan Coogler, Creed II is clearly at its strongest in the ring, where its glorious combination of POV camerawork and sumptuous sound design contributes to an almost uncomfortably visceral, bone-crunching experience. Slow-motion is used more sparingly than is usual in boxing films, reserved here for the truly devastating body blows and upper-cuts. You really feel the hits in this movie, especially those delivered to the ribs where the accompanying snap will have you hugging yourself tightly for comfort. The writing, however, is notably weaker, due perhaps to Coogler's absence (save for an executive producer credit). The screenplay, co-written by Stallone, still has its moments, but lacks the nuance and restraint that helped make Creed into something special. There are too many lines that sound like they were ripped straight from fortune cookies ("It may not seem like it now, but this is more than just a fight"), while the periodic narration from the TV and ringside commentators that added so much authenticity to the original is downright abysmal in the sequel. Countering this, thankfully, are the fine repeat performances from Stallone, Jordan and Thompson, whose chemistry and closeness continue to sizzle on screen. The joy of seeing Dolph Lundgren return as Drago, too, is a highlight, but one that's sadly short lived as he's given little more to do than scowl and grizzle from his first scene to his last. Similarly, the most interesting character in Creed II is also its least explored. Viktor Drago is an irresistible combination of brute physical force and deep-seeded emotional turmoil, neatly packaged inside the 6-foot-4 mountain of muscle that is Romanian boxer and fitness model Florian Munteanu. Abandoned by his mother, weaponised by his father and ignored by his country until a string of victories bring him into the light, Viktor's most compelling fight is the one that's unseen. As he and his father are welcomed back into Russian high society, the young Drago finds no satisfaction in his celebrity, acutely aware of the fair-weather nature of the fans and disgusted by his father's seemingly instant compliance with those who rejected him (including Viktor's mother). Yet Munteanu finds himself forced to play a caricature – although he manages to sneak in moments of emotional subtlety where he can. Indeed, why they fight is at the heart of both fighters' story in Creed II. Driven by reasons that at first seem clear, both Viktor and Donnie soon find ambiguity and doubt needling their way into their respective psyches. By the time the big finale arrives, they remind you of soldiers on a battlefield, bloodied and beaten, yet ultimately more like brothers than enemies – men sent to destroy one another at the behest of those safe behind the lines. As much a father/son story as it is a boxing one, Creed II's tale of family and redemption ultimately doesn't match the quality of the original. Even so, it's a compelling sequel, and worthy of your time. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-eB1AwpCXI
A feast of Asia-Pacific art is taking over the Gallery of Modern Art and the Queensland Art Gallery until the end of April, but this year's APT (aka the 9th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art) isn't just about walls and halls filled with paintings, sculptures and more. GOMA's Australian Cinematheque is also screening a heap of films from the region under a huge program dubbed APT9 Cinema. The entire lineup is broken into three strands, so you can check out the latest and greatest flicks coming out of India in the New Bollywood: Currents in Indian Cinema selection; a host of new movies from Japan, South Korea, China, Hong Kong and Taiwan in the Contemporary Mellow Dramas picks; and the work of community-based production company Microwave Films, whose films have hardly been seen outside of the Marshall Islands. Different programs feature on different days, with the showcase hitting the big screen on Wednesday and Friday nights — plus Saturdays and Sundays during the day — between December 1 and April 28. Highlights include a number of titles by two of the region's best and most prolific filmmakers, aka South Korea's Hong Sang-soo and Japanese Palme d'Or winner Hirokazu Kore-eda — so get ready for comedies about love, life and soju, as well as empathetic explorations of family. The amusing politics of Newton, road movie Sexy Durga, Chinese mother-daughter effort Girls Always Happy and quirky Japanese love story Asako I & II are among the other international festival favourites getting a run, as is the stunning crime procedural-meets-social drama Angels Wear White.
Fancy seeing one of Brisbane's most popular spaces in a completely new light? Or, to be more accurate, with different lights flickering over the top of its lush greenery? As every home renovation-focused TV show has told us time and time again, a splash of colour can make a world of difference — and, at Roma Street Parklands' Enchanted Garden, it can turn an already picturesque space into a bright, festive wonderland. While this is a family-friendly affair running from Friday, December 7 to Wednesday, December 19 as part of the city's Christmas fun, don't go expecting the kind of setup that you've been ignoring on every street corner in Brissie's suburbs. Lights will twinkle, decorations will sparkle and music will play; however, this isn't a tacky DIY display. Nope, not at all. That said, a word of warning: people love glittering lights, to prepare for crowds. The brightness will dazzle from 6.30–10pm (with last entry at 9.45pm) and, if you're organised enough, you can always pack a picnic, arrive early and enjoy dinner — and BYO drinks in one of the few public places that allows them in our fair town — beforehand. Food trucks will also be onsite if you don't get around to taking care of your own nosh, and live music will give all the glistening bulbs quite the soundtrack.
Pups and pints: it's a winning combination. And, in 2019, it's back. With Brisbanites going barking mad for downing beers with their doggos in 2017 and 2018, The Brightside's Barks & Brews sessions are serving up another year of drinks. Folks of the two- and four-legged variety, make a standing date for a beverage one Sunday each month. With its appropriate name, the pooch-centric afternoon doesn't really need to offer up anything more than just that — but, it wouldn't be a Brighty shindig without some extra fun. Those heading to Warner Street from 2pm on Sunday, January 13 can also expect free doggie portraits for maximum cuteness, dog markets, an off-leash area, cocktail specials and live music. So grab your canine companion, flock to the beer garden and prepare to sink a few cold ones while enjoying some Brissie sun. And, expect to spend time in the company of plenty of other dog lovers and their pooches too. BYO frisbee.
Trekking across Middle-Earth is a big job. Trying to keep a precious ring safe from an evil lord is too. There's much that's massive about The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, Peter Jackson's second screen adaptation of f J. R. R. Tolkien's beloved novels, particularly the nearly four-hour-long extended version. So you'll want to revisit it on a particularly huge screen — one that measures 44 metres long, perhaps? Set up in the middle of Eagle Farm Racecourse, the aptly named Big Screen on the Green is that giant screen. It hosts films regularly, and from 7pm on Friday, January 18, it'll bringing hobbits, elves, wizards and more to its sizeable expanse. When it screened The Fellowship of the Ring back in September, the session sold out, so consider yourself warned. Tickets cost $15, which gets you a spot on the public lawn — or you can spend $25 and get a large popcorn as well, plus your choice of wine, sparkling, house beer or a non-boozy beverage. You can't BYO food or drinks, but there'll be more available to purchase. Or if you'd like a picnic, bring a pal and nab a $60 gourmet hamper package for two, which includes charcuterie, a cheese platter and breads. You can also rent picnic blankets for $12 and bean bags for $8. Image: Big Screen on the Green.
The Scratch isn't usually known for its coffee, doughnuts and pie, but from 5pm on Saturday, October 27, it's making an exception. The Milton bar is kicking off its latest group art exhibition, which is all about the weird delights of David Lynch's Twin Peaks — and if you're stepping into the show's wonderful and strange world, then you need the kind of damn fine snacks that Agent Dale Cooper would approve of. Attendees can thank Alphabet Cafe and Bunker Coffee for the temporary new additions to the menu, but there'll be beer as well, of course. In fact, there'll be two particular boozy specials. In collaboration with White Lies Brewing, you'll be able to sip on a coffee thickshake white stout — and if you're feeling particularly adventurous, the bar is doing beer milkshakes for the day. Yes, they involve a scoop of ice cream in a beer. As well as artworks that'll probably feature red curtains, black and white patterns, Lynch's inimitable hair, fish in percolators, Bob creeping over a couch and a giant teapot that was once David Bowie, the Twin Peaks Art Show Opening and VCR Viewing Party will also be playing the series' first season. If all of the above makes you want to put on a black suit or wrap yourself in plastic, that's okay — costumes aren't essential, but they're certainly welcome.
Festival season is upon us, and at the Pig 'n' Whistle Brunswick Street, that means a day of brews and barbecue. On Saturday, November 17, the Fortitude Valley pub is playing host to its first Bubbles & Barrels Beer Festival — and in news that'll brighten what's already bound to be a sunny day, entry is free. Held in the venue's beer garden from 10am–6pm, the event will bring together a heap of breweries, with beverages on offer from Young Henrys, Brick Lane, Stone & Wood, Balter, Little Creatures, James Squire, Coopers, Your Mates and more. There'll also be spritzes available, should you need something to break up the beer. And food-wise, Radar Hill Smokers will be whipping up a feast, although the watering hole's regular menu will also be available. While entry won't cost you anything, you do still need to register for a ticket. You can also purchase eight drinks tokens in advance for $40, which you can use for brews on the day. Image: Grace Smith.
Netherworld and Junky Comics are joining forces to unleash a new venture: the very first Brisbane Comics and Arts Festival. Consider it a slice of the latter coming to the former, with the event taking place from 10am on Sunday, November 4 within Netherworld's game-filled home on Brunswick Street. Running until 2pm, the fest will showcase homegrown comics, illustration, storytelling and art, with folks on hand to chat about their pieces — and sell them. All artists involved will have a table highlighting their wares, and you'll be able to buy and take their art home with you. There'll also be a BCAF zine featuring everyone on the roster. For its maiden outing, BCAF is calling itself a mini-fest, but you know how the old cliche goes — good things come in small packages, and all that. With that in mind, the event marks the beginning of a planned annual series of festivals, so prepare to add it to your yearly calendar.
One of life's simple pleasures is getting a day to shine: the simple pleasure of meat between two slices of bread. Or salad. Or mushroom. Or a veggie patty. When it comes to burgers, there's plenty of options. On Saturday, October 13 from 10am, five street kitchens will be taking over Riverland for the day, serving up nine different types of burgers. And sure, you can enjoy a burger at many places around town any day of the week — but there's nothing like sitting at a riverside bar, sipping beverages with a view and taking your pick of burgs during a dedicated Burger Festival. Wing Fix, Carolina Kitchen, I Heart Calamari, Locked & Loaded Fries and Salt, Pepper & Cumin will be doing the cooking, while 4 Pines is setting up a pop-up bar to pump out its latest IPA. There'll also be live music and a DJ, and entry is free. Bring your wallet for the burgs and booze, obviously. Image: Carolina Kitchen.
Think Halloween is just about getting dressed up, playing pranks and eating lollies? Think again. If you can't be bothered thinking of a costume, prefer treats to tricks, or are just feeling a little over the usual revelry, then Seven Deadly Gins is the thoroughly mature option to mark the frightening occasion. Basically, you'll be trading the standard sweets for a more grown-up kind, because isn't that what adulthood is all about? Specifically, you'll be knocking back a heap of different juniper beverages, all with a theme straight out of religious history and a Brad Pitt-starring David Fincher movie. So, what's in the box? Taking inspiration from the sins of pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath and sloth, Proud Henry's have whipped up drinks to suit the mood. They'll be ready for you to sip your way through from 6.30pm on Saturday, October 27, with tickets costing $50.
Now in its eighth year, the Iranian Film Festival Australia returns with another lineup of cinema straight from the Middle Eastern country — with ten features and three shorts in 2018, in fact. Running between Thursday, November 8 and Tuesday, November 13 at the Elizabeth Picture Theatre, it's a lineup that both highlights old masters and showcases new talent. And yes, there's plenty of both. In the tried and tested category sits Jafar Panahi's Three Faces, which sees the filmmaker get playful and star on-screen in his latest combination of fact and fiction. Or, viewers can check out Bahmam Farmanara's Tale of The Sea, a family drama that's also dedicated to the late Iranian auteur Abbas Kiarostami. Then there's Kamal Tabrizi's Sly, a fictional account of a political leader — which features Mani Haghighi, who also directs opening night's dark comedy Pig, about a filmmaker suspected of murder. If you're keen to check out up-and-coming voices, Hendi & Hormoz explores a teenage arranged marriage while touching upon topical issues. And, in only their third feature, filmmaking brothers Jamshid and Navid Mahmoudi achieve something extraordinary with Afghan-Iranian co-production Rona, Azim's Mother, with the movie their third title to be entered into the Oscar foreign-language category by Afghanistan.
Does knocking back a cold brew at the end of a workout session provide you with extra motivation? Or perhaps you just like seeing the city in a different way — and getting a different kind of tour. The Bridge Road Brewers Tour De Brisbane falls into both camps, taking participants on a cycling trip to a heap of the city's beer spots. Taking place from 9.30am on Saturday, November 10, the details are simple. Just sign-up to take part, bring your bike and helmet along, and ride along with the pack. And if you don't have your own two wheels, you can always hire a CityCycle. The Tour De Brisbane is free, but you'll need your wallet if you're keen on a few frothys (or if you need to rent a bike). There are two different rides available, with the Casual Ride venturing to spots between the Story Bridge and Milton at a leisurely pace, and the Serious Ride venturing further, starting at the Gateway and taking a scenic 30.2-kilometre route to the same end point.
One of Brisbane's top chefs is cooking up a feast, and it's the kind you'll want to treat yo'self to. With Josue Lopez's degustation taking place at West Village's The Bromley Room #2 — aka, on the site of the former Peter's Ice Cream Factory — you can guess where the ex-GOMA, Moda and Two Small Rooms culinary whiz is taking his cues from. Josue Lopez at The Bromley Room #2 will feature a seven-course banquet paired with matching wines, and expect ice cream to make an appearance more than once, with five courses featuring the dessert in both savoury and sweet forms. Expect creative combinations, too, in the type of dinner that'll only be held four times. The event takes place on Friday, November 16 and Saturday, November 17 — and again on Wednesday, December 5 and Thursday, December 6. Tickets don't come cheap at $296.49, and there's only 30 spots available each night; however this really is the type of meal you won't get to feast on ever again.
While many of Australia's film festivals showcase the cinema of a particular country, region or genre, the Jewish International Film Festival embraces an entire culture. From films about famous comedians to thrilling docos about strange-but-true tales to award-winning dramas, if it ties into JIFF's Jewish focus in any shape or form — and from almost any country or filmmaker — then it's probably on the fest's program. In 2018, that means Love, Gilda, about original Saturday Night Live star Gilda Radner; The Twinning Reaction, which uses a different angle on the real-life situation also chronicled in Three Identical Strangers; and Israeli effort Redemption, about an devout musician contemplating returning to his rocker ways in a time of personal crisis. In a star-studded lineup, other highlights include Can You Ever Forgive Me? starring Melissa McCarthy as a writer who dabbles in literary forgery, plus Charlotte Gainsbourg in French biopic Promise at Dawn. In Brisbane, JIFF runs from Thursday, November 8 until Sunday, November 18 at New Farm Cinemas. This is the fest's 29th doing the national rounds, with its full Australian program featuring more than 60 films from 23 countries.
If you didn't already have plans from 11.30pm on Thursday, December 13, you do now. And if you did, change them — or factor sending a whole lotta love Queen Bey's way into your schedule. Reacting promptly, impulsively and passionately is just something Beyoncé inspires, and has been doing so for almost two decades. You probably don't even remember a time before Bey ruled our airwaves and screens — and thanks to The Foundry's latest party, you won't have to. This time, the venue is celebrating five years to the date since her self-titled fifth album was released — the one that yet again made sure we were all drunk in love with all things Bey. We're guessing you can also expect her other solo tracks, and even some songs from her Destiny's Child days — plus all of the epic dance moves that go with them. No, it's not Bey's b'day, but you'll be feeling like Sasha Fierce, as well as crazy in love with the pop idol in the spotlight. The joint will be jumpin' jumpin', and we're not telling you what to drink to celebrate the occasion; however you might want to mix it with lemonade.
Never seen a pasta menu that you didn't love? Never stared at the list of dishes without wanting to feast on them all? It's a familiar feeling, but as much as you might like to order several plates of spaghetti, ravioli and gnocchi, that's not always affordable or practical. Until International Pasta Day, that is. Continuing the trend of giving every possible type of food its own dedicated date, pasta's day to shine falls on October 25. And to celebrate, Salt Meats Cheese's Gasworks store is putting on quite the Thursday special — a pasta sample plate that features three types for $25. It's the one-day gift to indecisive Italian food fiends of Brisbane, and it's available for both lunch and dinner. Doing both is completely understandable, but whether you're stopping by for one meal or two, bookings are required.
Setting up shop in Post Office Square earlier this year, Isles Lane already boasts an impressive parkside spot overlooking plenty of greenery — and now, on the fourth Saturday of each month until the end of the year, it's serving up quite the treat as well. Mark October 27, November 24 and/or December 22 for Spritzer Saturdays, which involves two hours of bottomless spritzes over a grazing menu. You can't knock back four different types of beverage without something tasty in your stomach, after all. Choose from Aperol, elderflower, Gordon's pink gin or a sun-soaked spritz, while snacking on cheese plates with ciabatta, soy and sesame fried cauliflower florets with turmeric dip, salmon ceviche with charcoal crisps and Isles Lane's signature croquettes. With sessions running from 1–3pm, 2–4pm and 3–5pm, tickets cost $49 — and while you'll pay on the day, reservations are essential; just phone or email the venue.
A long-term end-of-week favourite, the Treasury Casino has been brightening up its Friday nights with a series of wine and cheese shindigs over the past year. As 2018 starts coming to a close, it's throwing a Thursday night event as well — and, don't worry, it still has plenty of cheer. On December 6, the CBD venue's blend of dairy and drinks also includes a Christmas theme, with appropriately festive treats. That means the Chrimbo combo of eating, sipping and being merry is well and truly on the agenda. The Christmas Edition of Cheese and Wine goes down between 5–8pm, and features Australian wine tastings, cheese stations, antipasto, assorted dips and artisan breads too. The tastiness takes place in the Treasury's courtyard, so expect a starry backdrop and some live music as well — with the three-hour package costing $59 per person.
Once a year, Brisbane indulges its love of rosé in a big way. Yes, even bigger than this pink wine-loving city usually does. And, while everyone's sipping drinks by the river, they'll be doing so for a good cause. Rosé Revolution is back for a fourth year in Brissie, with 2018's beverage-fuelled event taking place at the Brisbane Powerhouse between 2–5pm on Saturday, December 1. On the menu is three hours of unlimited rosé and canapes, with the former poured from pop up rosé bars — slinging samples from over 21 rosé wineries from around the world — and the latter served up by Bar Alto. Your $65 ticket gets you as much as you can drink and eat, including tastings from Howard Park in Western Australia, El Desperado in South Australia and Rameau d'Or Provence, all to a DJ soundtrack. And, proceeds from your ticket will be donated to cancer charities, so your Saturday afternoon drinking session will be helping others.
La Boite's fourth world premiere production for 2018 is all about getting the hell out of town, following an Aussie in Thailand nursing a broken heart. Andy (Lisa Hanley) might be trying to hide from her pain on another continent, but life goes on — and, in the Bangkok bar where she works and meets Thai-American Arisa (Courtney Stewart), so does both love and karaoke. That's the premise of Neon Tiger, which plays its world premiere season in Brisbane until Saturday, November 17. Hitting the stage at the Roundhouse Theatre, the production is a collaboration between playwright Julia-Rose Lewis, musical comedian Gillian Cosgriff and director Kat Henry, who, between them, have everything from This Feral Life to Tonightly to Constellations to their names. Given that it's about romance and belting out a tune in go-go bars, it won't come as a surprise that this is also a musical. The two-hander features eight original pop songs that are sung with gusto — and while you won't know them going in, they'll likely stick in your head afterwards.
It's been home to weekly jazz sessions and regular markets over the last few years, but now it's time for Vieille Branche to close its doors. The team behind the Albion spot are moving on to their next adventure, so they're saying goodbye with a huge sale. Like something in the fabulously appointed warehouse-slash-event space? It can probably become yours. Just head to 10 Fox Street between Thursday, November 15 and Wednesday, November 28, and you'll find a buying frenzy. It's an everything-must-go kind of deal, where you'll exchange cash for bargains. And if you really do want to nab a good price, definitely bring cold, hard, physical money. There'll also be cheese and plants to purchase, with the event running between 9.30am–4.30pm each day. Getting in early is recommended, because while the sale is slated to last for two weeks, it'll finish earlier if everything has been sold.
Meet Brisbane's longest continuously-running local film festival. While the Brisbane International Film Festival has stopped, restarted and moved venues over the years, the West End Film Festival is still kicking on. It's focused on short films rather than lengthier flicks, but it seems that good things come in small packages as the fest gears up for its 11th year. Taking place between Friday, June 28 and Sunday, June 30 at the Boundary Street Markets Complex, WEFF once again shines a spotlight on homegrown talents keeping things short and sweet in the cinema, with its program split over multiple sessions. Chicken breeders, cannibalism, creepy hotel managers, the #Times Up movement... they all get a mention. And, while the festival keeps its eyes on all things abridged and brief, it'll also feature panels on storytelling, as well as free outdoor screenings in Bunyapa Park. Awards are part of WEFF, too, and you can vote. If you're keen to see who wins, the ceremony takes place on Saturday, June 29 at 8.45pm. Image: The Mother Load. Director: Loani Arman. Producers: Melissa Crabtree, Loani Arma.
With 2019 marking five decades after Neil Armstrong took one small step for man and one giant leap for mankind, looking above and beyond our pale blue dot has been the theme of this year. With the exact anniversary of the lunar landing rolling around in July, expect celebrations to ramp up — including at Palace Barracks' space-themed film program. Across four Friday nights between June 19 and August 9, the Petrie Terrace cinema is sending cinephiles soaring into the stars courtesy of a lineup of sci-fi classics. Each session kicks off at 7pm, costs $10 and will make you remember why space flicks are so beloved. (Spoiler: it's because they're vivid, diverse and provide an imaginative playground to grapple with weighty topics.) First on the bill is the science fiction movie to end all science fiction movies, aka Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey. If you haven't seen it on the big screen, then you haven't seen it properly. Then comes Duncan Jones' stellar Moon, featuring Sam Rockwell, Sam Rockwell and Sam Rockwell (no, that's not a typo), as well as the anime delights of Cowboy Bebop: The Movie and James Cameron's action-packed Alien sequel, Aliens.
Brisbane might not be a beach city, but you can still find patches of sand by the water if you know where to go. Real spots, too — we're not just talking about South Bank's man-made version. Some don't even require venturing out of the city, or even all that far from the CBD. Hamilton Reach at Northshore is one such location, and it's making the most of it to welcome in the new season. Sure, a free winter beach party mightn't sound like your standard kind of shindig. But let's be honest — Brissie's climate is perfect for it. Relax by the river, soak up the sun, splash around in a kayak, play games on the shore and pretend that winter isn't coming. Also on offer between 11am–3pm on Saturday, June 1: barbecue masterclasses, wine tastings, beach limbo, food trucks and live music. And, if you arrive early, a free picnic blanket will be given away to the first 100 people. Images: Hamilton Reach.
How long did Charles Boyle spend dreaming of Jake Peralta and Amy Santiago's wedding? What did Rosa Diaz do before she was a cop? Who keeps swooping in and taking the Nine-Nine crew's cases? Which one is Scully and which is Hitchcock? And which one of the latter duo has a twin? If you can answer all of the above — and name Captain Holt's dog, Terry's kids, Gina's dance troupe and Jake's favourite movie — then you're set for this trivia night. Yes, it's all about the hit cop sitcom we all know and love. You know, the one that was cancelled and then resurrected in the space of 36 hours, and is thankfully coming back for a seventh season. We'd keep asking Brooklyn Nine-Nine questions and dropping tidbits, but we'll save some for the big night. Every time evenings dedicated to B99 hits town, places are snapped up faster than Terry can snap open a tub of yoghurt. This time, you need to register in advance for Burger Urge's trivia night at four of its Brisbane stores — in the CBD, and at Chermside, Windsor and Redbank Plains — and then Tuesday, May 14 can be your night to shine (that can also be the title of your sex tape if you'd like). It all starts at 6.30pm at each eatery, and entry is free. Bring your wallet for burgs, obviously, plus beers. If all this sounds rather noice, get in quick as spots are limited.
Ever since Freddie Mercury teamed up with Brian May and company back in the 70s, Queen has never been out of fashion. Thanks to Bohemian Rhapsody, however, the band has been roaring up the charts again. You could call it a kind of magic. You could say that their songs must go on. Either way, if you're happy to let the British group keep rocking you — and you need something to fill the void until the remaining band members tour Australia next year — then head along to The Brightside on Friday, May 3. Been feeling a crazy little thing called love for Freddie and his bandmates? Then you'll be in the right spot. And if your approach to the group's music is "I want it all!", that's what you'll hear at Mamma Mia — Let Me Go. And well as ABBA songs, too, because why not? Actually, there's still more to this story. With Elton John getting a 70s-set biopic, as aptly called Rocketman, Brisbanites will be able to feel the love, make sure they're still standing and prove that Saturday nights are all right as well. Yep, it's a good ol' fashioned ABBA vs Queen vs Elton John showdown. The one-night event will break free from 9pm, so get ready to unleash your inner dancing queen, thank everyone for the music and hold someone closer, tiny dancer. Here we go again, indeed. If you're wondering how much money, money, money it'll set all you wannabe rocket men (and women) back, tickets cost $13.98 — and buying in advance is recommended, because it's likely to sell out. Because it's a hard life even when you're doing the crocodile rock, DJs will spin tunes from all three acts, and you and your fellow champions, super troupers and candles in the wind will take a chance on dancing and singing along. You'll be able to say 'gimme, gimme, gimme' to other tracks from huge artists of the 70s and 80s, too. Basically, prepare to step back in time — and if you miss out, you'll feel a little under pressure.
Everyone should get to enjoy bingo. Grab a card, listen out for the right numbers, stamp away and yell out if you match a full line — what's not to love? There are also prizes, obviously, should you need any further motivation. And at Little Big Bingo, there's booze as well. Happening weekly on Wednesday nights (unless a State of Origin game happens to be on), Little Big Bingo is Little Big House's regular reason to get excited about something that your grandmother loves. The South Bank pub is going all out, with hosts, DJs and plenty of fun. We expect there'll be bad number puns as well, because that's what bingo is all about. The bar will be pumping out beverages and, if you're hungry, serving up $1 wings as well. Head along at 6pm to register, with the balls rolling from 6.30pm. And while entry is free, you'll want your wallet for food and drinks, of course.
Is this the real life? Yes, Queen — the legendary rock band behind hits Bohemian Rhapsody, Don't Stop Me Now and We Will Rock You — is coming to Australia. And, they are hoping to rock you. Two of the original band members Brian May (lead guitar) and Roger Taylor (drums) will be heading Down Under, along with long-time collaborator and frontman Adam Lambert — a Grammy nominated American singer who has been touring with the group since 2011 — keyboardist Spike Edney (who's been performing with the band since the 80s), Neil Fairclough on bass and Tyler Warren on percussion. Lambert will be performing Queen hits — made famous by iconic moustached frontman Freddie Mercury, who passed away in the early 90s — from across the band's 15 albums. John Deacon, the band's original bass player, retired in the late 90s will also not be part of the Australian tour. Queen rose to prominence in the 70s and 80s, with their famed Live Aid performance — oft referred to as one of the greatest concerts in rock history — happening at Wembley Stadium in 1985. But, the band has once again been in the spotlight with the release of the Rami Malek-starring film Bohemian Rhapsody. After the biopic was released, the song 'Bohemian Rhapsody' reentered the US top 100 — for the third time. While the Aussie Rhapsody Tour — hitting Metricon Stadium on Saturday, February 29 — won't star Mercury (or Deacon), it's set to be one rockin' show. With tickets most likely to sell out, put the below dates in your calendar ASAP. Image: Queen + Adam Lambert, 2014. Photo: Diana Kat, Wiki Commons.
Feeling a little peckish on your way home — and in the mood for a post-work pint as well? Drop by West End's Catchment Brewing Co between 4–6pm on a Tuesday in May or June, and you'll be able to pair your chosen beverage with a free serve of wings. Three flavours are available, so it's time to decide whether you prefer your poultry pieces crispy, buffalo-style or smothered in sticky barbecue sauce. You won't get a dinner-sized dish, but you'll definitely satisfy your hunger until your main meal. Drinks-wise, given that Catchment is a brewery, opting for a beer is recommended — and there are a number of the joint's own to choose from. The bright ale keeps things fresh and fruity, the pale ale will appeal to fans of malt, while the IPA is all about hops, glorious hops. Keen an eye out for the Boundary Street bar's special releases as well.
One day, in the not-so-distant future, perhaps Brisbanites will take their pet puppers with them everywhere. For now, we'll all just have to grab our four-legged best friends and head to another doggo market. It's the trend that won't go away, and we'd all be barking mad if we wanted it to. More excuses to take energetic ol' Rufus places? More chances to go 'awwwww' over other people's pooches? Count us in. Dog Day Out is the latest such event, taking over Virginia's VEND Marketplace between 8am–4pm on Saturday, May 25. The shindig's name also acts as your instructions, so round up your woofer and take them on an outing. There's even a dress-up competition, as there usually is at these things. That's how adorable pups get even cuter. Also on the agenda: doggy stalls, a dog play area, a dog wash and food trucks (although the latter will be catering to humans). And the northside spot's general array of markets and greenery, too.
Brisbane's idea of cooler weather might be much milder than most, but you can still slide across ice in the centre of the city in our warm part of the world. From Friday, June 21 to Sunday, July 14, King George Square will become a winter wonderland thanks to the return of the Skating At Brisbane Festival. With the event back for another year, all of the frosty fabulousness Brisbanites know, love and won't find anywhere else in the CBD is back too: ice skating, obviously, but also ice sliding, rides, music, food and more. It's the next best thing to heading to Europe when it's oh-so-cool, just without the bone-chilling, teeth-chattering cold. Plus, the lineup of events includes not only regular ice skating, but a romance-themed 'date and skate' night each Tuesday, as well as an 'Ice Ice Baby' 90s and 00s disco evening every Thursday. In previous years, the food offerings also included German sausages, espresso martinis gluhwein (aka warm, mulled, spiced wine), so prepare to really feel like you're abroad. Entry to the area is free, but you'll have to pay for all of the fun stuff, with the fest open from 10am–9pm Monday to Wednesday, 10am–10pm on Thursday to Sunday.
Banish the midweek blues with a satisfying after-work snack and a spirit-heavy sip to go with it. Because there are few things that put the grind into the working week like an average Wednesday, Chu the Phat is serving up a solution — as long as you like dumplings and martinis. That's the menu for the evening, and for just $20. Parting with a lobster nabs you one drink as well as a selection of those delicious parcels that no one can ever get enough of. The regular menu will be on offer as always, so you can always stop by the West End joint for a small bite and a beverage, see whether your hunger (and thirst) grows, and then settle in for the longer haul. When it comes to dumplings, Chu the Phat has a few varieties, so we hope you're hungry. Favourites include the boiled pork with tomato and miso relish, the smoked trout in broth, and sweetcorn with coriander.
Come Friday, June 14, it's time for a night at the museum — but you won't find Ben Stiller roaming the halls here. Rather, given what'll be on display at Queensland Museum at the time, the revelry will feel a little out of this world. Walking, talking, drinking and partying like you're on the moon is on the agenda at QM's latest After Dark shindig, which is all about soaring beyond the earth as part of the museum's NASA — A Human Adventure showcase. There'll be music, drinks and demonstrations — plus attendees will get free reign, peering not only at the a whole host of exhibits about space featuring more than 250 items, including pieces that have actually been to space, but also feasting your eyes on the rest of the joint's displays. You'll be knocking back beverages; examining rocket engines, space food, space suits, lunar cameras and moon boots; and just generally pondering life beyond our pale blue dot. A word of warning: these shindigs often sell out so you'll want to nab a ticket quickly.
After a drink or two, or maybe a few more, even the shyest among us have been known to break into song. Alcohol is a great confidence booster — and belting out a ballad with a beverage in your hand just feels natural after you've had a couple of cold ones. Plenty of bars and events have been capitalising upon this idea, as Pub Choir fans will already know. Now, over at Milton venue Mongrel, it's time for a new spin. Tins and Tunes is really as simple as it sounds, with the watering hole serving up cheap brews, providing lyrics and teachers, and asking boozed-up patrons to sing their hearts out. While it's free to drop by and warble your best, you will need your wallet for the beverage part of the equation. Gather the gang and head on down to Park Road from 6pm on Wednesday, June 12. And if you're not known for your beautiful voice, don't worry — everyone else will likely be in the same situation.
It's birthday time at Ashgrove's resident Japanese eatery, and Tsuru isn't letting the occasion pass by without a fuss. For an entire week, the Ashgrove Avenue spot is putting on a huge lantern party. And slinging plenty of food and drink to match, of course. The celebrations start on Wednesday, June 26 with cake. It isn't just any old cake — it's a 20-kilogram sushi cake, which is the kind of thing you don't get to tuck into every day. Head back on Thursday, June 27 for sake tasting and cocktail-style bites, because what's a Japanese party without everyone's favourite tipple? Other highlights across the period, which runs until Tuesday, July 2, include free coffees to start your Saturday morning on June 29, a couple of evenings filled with live tunes, and a $15 beer and izakaya-style food special on Sunday, June 30. Or, head by from 4pm on Tuesday, July 2 to learn an important new skill, and for free: making your own gyoza. Image: Tsuru Japanese.
If there's one thing that Welcome to Bowen Hills has become known for, it's throwing parties and festivals. Any old excuse will do, really. Love chicken? Let's turn that into a shindig. Adore beer? That's reason enough for a get-together. Fancy combining the two? Well, that's the whole point of the venue's new one-day gathering. The Chicken and Beer Festival will serve up chook and brews — in multiple varieties, of course. Whether you're keen on fried poultry, roasted chicken or the bite-sized goodness of nuggets, you'll find them here. You'll also find a whole heap of beer, including at pop-up bars. One such watering hole will even be dedicated to tinnies. While the vendor lineup is yet to be announced, mark Saturday, July 20 in your calendar. The fest will run from 11am–10pm, and entry is free. It'll also feature live music — and, as always, you can bring your dog along as well.
Good Food Month is here for 2019, which means it's time to jump around town and enjoy the best meals and beverages that Brisbane has to offer. Or, you could just block out every weekend morning across the month and make plans to tuck into the best meal of the day — with unlimited mimosas and bloody marys. That's what Pourboy is serving up on Saturdays and Sundays throughout July, with the venue's Bottomless Boozy Brunch running for two-hour sittings between 10am–1pm. It's the drinks that won't stop at the South Brisbane eatery — well, at least within your allocated time slot. Food-wise, you can choose anything from the brunch menu. Seeing your morning slide into the afternoon with a drink in hand will set you back an affordable $45 per person. Unsurprisingly, bookings via email or phone are highly recommended, so gather the gang and plan ahead.
Planning a date night during June? Lock it in for the middle of the week, as Post Office Square has the perfect activity. On Wednesday June 12 — and again on June 19 and 26 — the inner-city space is hosting Rom Coms & Nom Noms. There'll be flicks and food, obviously. Attendees can feast their eyes on the pop-up big screen for free — but if you're keen on a snack, there'll be grazing boxes for available from micro pub Isles Lane. And, if you're thirsty as well, the bar can help with that as well, obviously. As for the movie lineup, prepare to get romantic with How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days on June 12, then swoon over Sweet Home Alabama on June 19, before playing with a modern Shakespeare update in She's the Man on June 26. The event opens at 5pm each week, with films starting at 5.30pm. Image: Isles Lane.
Time is the one thing that no one ever has enough of. That's true in an ordinary day, if you're staring mortality in the face, or when you need to travel back to the past in a telephone booth — not just to round up historical figures so that you can pass high school, but to put you on the path to becoming a world-changing rock superstar. It's a topic that people can't stop pondering, including many a filmmaker. And, it's the subject of the Gallery of Modern Art's new film season, Nothing But Time. For two months between Friday, July 5 and Sunday, September 1, GOMA's Australian Cinematheque is hoping you'll have time to stop by and check out its jam-packed lineup. From time travel classics, to tales of love battling against time, to explorations of memory, to contemplations of time's inescapable nature, there's plenty to watch. Hop in your DeLorean, wake from a dream within a dream within a dream, and take a giant leap over to South Bank, with the paid program running every Wednesday and Friday evening, plus Saturday and Sunday during the day. It all begins with quite the double — and quite the treat on the big screen — aka Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure and Back to the Future. From there, you can revisit a heap recent-ish classics such as Inception, Run Lola Run, Primer, Edge of Tomorrow, 12 Monkeys, Only Lovers Left Alive and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind; enjoy the anime stylings of Your Name and The Girl Who Leapt Through Time; or soak up bona fide greats like Solaris, Ikiru, Wings of Desire, Wild Strawberries, Last Year at Marienbad and Cleo From 5 to 7. Or, you can dance, magic, dance with David Bowie through Labyrinth, then walk and talk with Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy through Before Sunrise, Before Sunset and Before Midnight.
Gemma Arterton's resume is filled with roles both forgettable and masterful, in small and blockbuster movies alike, and in intimate and overblown films, too. Her time as a Bond girl in Quantum of Solace sits alongside vampire feature Byzantium, underrated zombie flick The Girl with All the Gifts, romantic drama Vita & Virginia and the Adam Sandler-starring Murder Mystery, for instance. But when she's in a film that feels as if it has been built around her, either wholly or in part — see: The Disappearance of Alice Creed, Tamara Drewe and Their Finest — she rarely fails to impress. Summerland is the latest movie to boast one of her most memorable performances, and it's definitely better for it. Exploring an unexpected connection between a misanthropic writer and a young boy placed in her care, tackling multiple types of trauma, and espousing the enduring need for hope, this primarily World War II-set drama would've proven far more standard otherwise. It's still often a straightforward affair, but it also demonstrates that a feature can be neat, obvious, heartfelt and rivetingly acted all at once. In the mid-70s, Alice Lamb (Penelope Wilton, Downton Abbey) taps away at her typewriter and scares away the children who come knocking at her door. Rewind to the 40s, and the younger Alice (Arterton) does much the same. She's been labelled a witch by the kids in her seaside village, and she's hardly happy when the pre-teen Frank (Lucas Bond, The Alienist: Angel of Darkness) arrives on her doorstep as part of a government program to evacuate the next generation from London. In fact, Alice demands that he be rehoused instead of interrupting her work; however, she's told that'll take a week. Moving to the big screen after stage success as a playwright and theatre director (and making short film Leading Lady Parts, also starring Arterton), debut feature filmmaker Jessica Swale penned the original script, so Summerland isn't based on an existing text or property — but everyone watching knows Alice and Frank have ample time to overcome their initial animosity, and that that'll end up being the case. When it spins a story about a woman given a new lease on life via an unanticipated bond that's thrust upon her, Summerland rarely flirts with surprise, let alone delivers many. Alice specialises in investigating the myths and histories of mirage-like imagery, including visions of a castle in the sky not far from her own quaint cottage — and the curious Frank quickly embraces her field of expertise. It brightens up his own uncertain predicament, not just because Alice is so unwelcoming, but given that his father is a pilot in the thick of the action and his mother remains in the capital as it is under threat from bombing. Frank's interest also helps soften the cantankerous Alice's tough exterior, which is predictably the product of past woes. Again and again, Swale's screenplay makes obvious choices, and yet it also tells a resonant tale in the process. Other than Arterton's efforts, Summerland benefits from two specific aspects: the backstory behind Alice's demeanour, and the way it unpacks her outsider status. Inescapably, Summerland also includes an almost-cringeworthy, far-too-convenient twist — but when it leaps back to the 20s, to Alice's immediate attraction to and subsequent time with Vera (Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Misbehaviour) during her university studies, it doesn't just add a love story to the narrative. In its flashbacks and the shadow they leave on Alice's WWII-era life, the movie also invests depth and emotion that isn't as strong otherwise, unleashes unexpected elements that aren't evident elsewhere, and offers a quiet yet potent undercurrent of subversion as well. Swale needn't stress the point, so she doesn't, but she lingers on moments between Arterton and Mbatha-Raw because they stand out. Period scenes of queer romance will do that in genres and tales that aren't known for them, after all. Before flitting backwards, viewers have already seen that Alice lives alone prior to Frank coming along, so Summerland instantly delves into complex territory. The audience is well aware that Swale has reshaped and recontextualised a largely cookie-cutter narrative, and they're just as cognisant of the hurdles Alice and Vera faced in having any hope of enjoying a happy ending. Also apparent: why Alice has long chosen to cultivate a peppery reputation, and to close herself off to her fellow townsfolk. This is a warm movie with an array of hope, though. Summerland never lets Frank lose sight of it, or allows the embers of hope for a different future to die within Alice. Arterton is particularly compelling when Alice lays bare her heartbreak, even if that's clearly one of the character's much-needed steps on the path to moving forward — and, because it's paired with such a lived-in performance, Alice is able to navigate an easy-to-foresee emotional journey and still staunchly feel like her own person at the same time. There's no avoiding the air of familiarity that hovers over Summerland, of course. It's unshakeable in most of its storyline, its assortment of quirky bit players (including villagers portrayed by King of Thieves' Tom Courtenay and The Secret Garden's Dixie Egerickx) and its postcard-perfect imagery, especially. That said, Swale mostly manages to fly through much-recognised territory, find ways to dive deeper and occasionally transcend a template, and get viewers to share the heartache Alice wears on her sleeves and the desires she has buried inside — with Arterton so crucial to making that happen, it's hard to imagine the film without her. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4gSLP9Smlg
In the humble espresso martini, caffeine and booze combine in glorious style. But why just drink regular ol' coffee-flavoured cocktails in elongated glasses when you can try inventive types? There's a time and a place for traditional concoctions, of course. There's also a time and a place to sip salted caramel espresso martinis, Nutella espresso martinis and jaffa versions as well. Throw in coconut tipples, honeycomb varieties, a fruit-and-nut combo and something called an 'outback espresso' (featuring Australian white spiced rum with spices and bitters), and that's the full eight-cocktail menu for Riverland's riverside Espresso Martini Fest. If you don't like your beverages with a considerable buzz, then this isn't the event for you. Drop by from 11am on Friday, July 26, with the festivities in full swing all day — and with the site's range of street kitchens cooking up food to match until 9pm. Live music will also be on the menu from 5pm, followed by DJs, because all that caffeine will give you plenty of energy to expend.
It's been half a century since The Rocky Horror Show first brought its musical blend of sci-fi, horror and comedy to the stage, and the cult hit itself has the perfect phrase to describe those quickly passing years. Yes, time is fleeting when you're singing about a college-aged couple getting a flat tyre, wandering over to an old castle to ask for help, and finding an extra-terrestrial mad scientist from the galaxy of Transylvania — plus his staff and his Frankenstein-style experiments — awaiting. Yes, the show itself is astounding, too. To celebrate this big anniversary, a new Australian production of The Rocky Horror Show is currently touring the country, starting in Sydney then moving to Adelaide and Melbourne. And, for one night only, the Sydney season is beaming one of its shows into cinemas as well — live as it's all happening at the Theatre Royal Sydney. Movie-goers can do the 'Time Warp' in Brisbane cinema aisles from 6.15pm on Thursday, March 30, which is when the Richard O'Brien-created production will be broadcast from the stage to the screen. In the process, The Rocky Horror Show will notch up a first. For Trafalgar Releasing, who is behind a heap of event cinema-style sessions like this, this is the first time that it has presented a live event from an Aussie venue to cinemas across the nation. Folks hitting up big screens around the country will want to listen closely, and watch, as Jason Donovan as Frank N Furter puts his hands on his hips, then brings his knees in tight. The glorious madness will take its toll with help not only from Donovan — fresh from popping back up in Ramsay Street to farewell Neighbours before it was renewed again — but also from Spicks and Specks' Myf Warhurst as The Narrator. Also featuring: Ellis Dolan (School of Rock) as Eddie/Dr Scott, Darcey Eagle (Cruel Intentions: The 90s Musical) as Columbia, Ethan Jones (9 to 5 The Musical) as Brad, Deirdre Khoo (Once) as Janet, Loredo Malcolm (Hamilton) as Rocky and Henry Rollo (Jagged Little Pill the Musical) as Riff Raff. Of course, this tale is no stranger to cinemas thanks to 1975's iconic big-screen release The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Since first premiering in London in June 1973, The Rocky Horror Show has played in more than 30 countries, with over 30 million people seeing songs like 'Science Fiction/Double Feature', 'Dammit, Janet!', 'Sweet Transvestite', 'Over at the Frankenstein Place' and 'Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch Me'. If you haven't been before and can't make it to the current theatre tour, this is your turn to join in. Images: Daniel Boud.
