Students about to graduate from the SAE Brisbane campus have put together an exhibition, guided by the theme Illumination, and they are opening the doors to the public to view their inspiring work. All six disciplines will be on display - Animation, Audio, Design, Film, Games, Web & Mobile - that make up the Graduate Exhibition, open from 6-8pm. For those students and relatives, there will be an awards ceremony soon after. Head along to this free event for live DJ sets, drinks, as well as the vast and impressive displays of creatives about to make their talents officially recognised. There are some surprises in store, making this an exciting event for students and attendees alike. All you need to do is register your interest on the official website.
If you were to see a fridge standing in the middle of the Queen Street Mall, what would you do? And, perhaps more importantly, what would you hope to find inside? On Saturday, January 20, you can put this situation to the test IRL — and we can tell you now that gelato awaits, plus flavoured milks. Gelato Messina and Westinghouse are teaming up on a giveaway, so one of the latter's refrigerators will indeed be onsite. You'll need to head in front of Burberry between 10am–4.30pm, but getting in quick is recommended as the freebies are only available while stocks last (and any chance to grab some Messina for nothing is bound to be popular). On the menu: mini ice cream pops in choc jersey milk and coconut passionfruit varieties, as well as choc malt, dulce de leche and strawberry flavoured milks. One person will also win the fridge itself, so you might end up treating your kitchen as well as your tastebuds.
Like eating? Like South Bank? Then you're going to love the combination of the two. Yes, it's Regional Flavours time again. If you haven't made it along to the inner-city precinct's signature food and wine festival over the past seven years, don't make that same mistake again. For two days, the length and breadth of the parklands will become a culinary wonderland, complete with themed spaces for all of your favourite taste sensations. At Queensland Taste, you'll find wine and cheese samples, market stalls and live music. At The Hunting Club on Saturday and Sunday, you'll find all things meat matched with beers. Plus, there will be areas dedicated to dessert and picnics. Along with all this, there will be classes, demonstrations and presentations from chefs such as George Calombaris, Darren Purchese, Jocelyn Hancock and Darren Robertson. If you just feel like feasting, there will be a long line of produce stalls and food trucks serving up meals.
Feel a hankering for some chortles, but also watching your budget? Trying to squeeze in as many laughs as possible into your life in general? Keen to finish your working week with some chuckles? Eager to celebrate quittin' time for the week somewhere other than the bar closest to your work? All of the above situations are catered for at Brisbane Powerhouse's returning free comedy night Knockoff. A favourite over the years — and at the Brisbane Comedy Festival — it's popping up again from 6pm on Friday, November 19 to help you kick off the weekend in the funniest way possible. This time around, get ready to giggle along with Angus Gordon, Ting Lim, Chris Martin and Shad Wicka, plus Emma Zammit on MC duties. Just head on down to the New Farm spot and prepare to get your funny bone tickled on Powerhouse's Turbine Platform for 60 very amusing minutes.
Phatchance and Coptic Soldier, two solo indie hip-hop artists from Sydney, have gained a large cult following through a tireless touring schedule – including two national tours and supports for Method Man & Redman, DJ Premier and The Beatnuts – and a high energy stage show. This work ethic is paying off – the accolades are rolling in for the two artists and they don’t look to be slowing down any time soon. Following the success of their unique dual-disc acoustic hip-hop EP and an subsequent at-capacity residency at Sydney’s Oxford Art Factory, the two artists are taking to the road again, unplugged, for the ‘Hey, where’s your DJ?’ tour. Phatchance and Coptic Soldier will play x & y Bar this Sunday, joined by their full live band and supported by close collaborator Jon Reichardt. This will be the only chance you’ll be able to catch the two artists before they go into hiding to work on their respective long player – don’t miss out!
Sunday session: they're two of the finest words in the English language, particularly if you like ending your weekend in style (and forgetting that you have to go back to reality the next day, even just for a few hours). Thanks to Salt Meats Cheese, they're about to be joined by a few more excellent terms: $9 espresso martinis with free tapas. From May 20, that's what's on the menu from 2pm to 6pm every Sunday at their Gasworks store. Farewell your few days off with a sip, a bite and some live tunes — and get a free tapas with every cocktail. Yes, as part of the new weekly event, every mixed boozy concoction (aka not plain old wine, beer or spirits) comes with your pick of arancini on rocket, bruschetta, meatballs, calamari, a mini cheese plate or a deep-fried pizza pocket, with the food costing absolutely nothing. Gathering the gang and settling in for the arvo is highly recommended. Plus, extra dishes will only set you back $6.
It's a terrible thing to watch: a political leader attempting to rap, discuss sport or, really, engage in any pursuit that isn't laying gradual legislative waste to the country. Nevertheless, it is these minor embarrassments that are increasingly served up for public consumption as politicians try to reassure voters that they are, indeed, human. Green Room-nominated playwright Katy Warner's latest work captures a dangerous subspecies of this political animal — the MP convinced they have the common touch. In A Prudent Man, Lyall Brooks plays an amalgam of several conservative politicians. He's an ordinary bloke, y'know? A cobber who'd sit down with you at the end of the day to knock back a raw onion or two. But he's not in his element here. He's recounting an…incident. And he's clearly not happy about it. The façade is starting to slip. Conservative politics is at a very interesting place right now. Brawling has become the new populism. The Abbotts, the Hansons the Duttons have realised that many voters rate naked bastardry as being more genuine than affected decency. A Prudent Man was lauded for its critique of this approach to politics when it did the rounds at the Melbourne and Perth Fringe Festivals, nabbing the People's Choice Award at the latter. Now it's headed into Bjelke-Petersen country for a two-night stint at the QUT Gardens Theatre. It's unlikely Warner will be appointed a dame for her efforts any time soon, but rest assured — she hasn't stinted on the zingers. Image: Adam Fawcett
How do you make it in the theatre when you're neurologically incapable of sticking to a script? That was the challenge faced by Jess Thom, whose Tourette's compels her to shout out words like "hedgehog" and "biscuit" thousands of times each day. A comedic exploration of a misunderstood psychological condition, by its nature no two performances of Backstage in Biscuit Land are the same. Heading to Brisbane after making its Australian premiere at this year's Melbourne Festival, the performances will be "relaxed", welcoming audience members with learning disabilities, movement disorders and other physical and neurological conditions that might otherwise prevent them from enjoying a night out at the theatre.
Only one poem can be considered to have both changed a country and defined a generation. The year was 1955. The writer was Allen Ginsberg. His punchy prose, as first performed at the Six Gallery in San Francisco on October 7, was entitled 'Howl'. That initial public explosion of words — soon earning a follow up, as well as making its way to print — electrified the beat movement, courted controversy and even became the subject of an obscenity trial. It's little wonder then that the occasion is something to celebrate via readings held all around the world. In Brisbane, Avid Reader is doing their bit by bringing together Anthony Lawrence, Bronwyn Lea, Brentley Frazer and Eleanor Jackson, all under the guidance of master of ceremonies Adam Pettet, to lend their voices to Ginsberg's infamous text. Whether you have Howl and Other Poems committed to memory, have seen the James Franco-starring film about it, or even if you're a newcomer, this is something you want to experience in person and spoken aloud.
What kind of venue in Brisbane has jugs of Passion Pop at the ready (don’t pretend like the adolescent in you doesn’t still love that sweet sweet spumante), Mortal Kombat and Space Invaders arcade machines and amazing bands and DJs playing all night long? None! … Until now. Cobra Kai is a brand new club night in a brand new venue that is determined to stand out above the rest. That polka-dotted building that sits over the Monastery’s grave on Ann Street is Oh Hello!, Cobra Kai’s home, and as well as the aforementioned spumante goodness there’s sangria jugs, Monteith’s Crushed Apple Cider on tap and Cobra Kai’s very own Pale Ale, so all tastebuds are catered for. Live music comes in the form of Magic Spells (in their first live show), Keep On Dancin's and Oh Ye Denver Birds (with promises of a Hollaback Girl cover!), and if someone's bagsed the MK machine once the bands finish then you can always play Xbox on the big screen behind the bar. Cobra Kai's got it all and more – find out the goods for yourself this Thursday and every Thursday from here on in.
It might've only opened back in 2015, but Junky Comics quickly became a West End favourite — a comic book store that eschewed all of the usual stereotypes about comic book stores. Sadly, the Vulture Street shop is closing the doors on its current chapter, and location, so it's marking the occasion with a shindig. Between 5–8pm on Friday, February 22, Junky will be selling its wares, as well as some merch, all over a drink or several. Entry is free, but bring your wallet to help send off the shop in style. It hasn't been a great time for Brissie institutions run by local musos. Junky was a labour of love for Major Leagues' Vlada Edirippulige, and the store's closure comes not that long after Southside Tea Room, as run by The Grates' John Patterson and Patience Hodgson said farewell. That said, in a bad news, good news situation, Edirippulige will be continuing the Junky brand within a new creative collective — and continuing to put on events, and to boost local artists. To support the new iteration, you can also contribute to Junky's GoFundMe campaign.
Back when Ekka cancellations were a thing, no one got to throw a ball in a clown's mouth. Hopping on rides, seeing fireworks and browsing for showbags were all scrapped, too. That's obviously no fun at all; however, for the farmers who were due to exhibit at Brisbane's annual show, the impact cut far deeper. So, in response, an idea was born: the Scenic Rim Farm Gate Trail. Since 2021, it has been encouraging Brisbanites to head south, hop between properties and enjoy local wares. And, even though the Ekka returned in 2022 and 2023, the trail has become a regular occurrence. In 2025, it's taking place twice: on Sunday, March 30, and then again on Sunday, July 20. Fancy throwing a little love towards the Scenic Rim's primary producers? Keen on a day out of town? Farmers in the region will be rolling out the welcome mat from 9am–3pm. Follow the itineraries and you'll be hitting up at spots such as Towri Sheep Cheeses, complete with cuddles with lambs; Boxer Brewing Co, where there'll be tastings; and Elderflower Farm, possibly including picking flowers depending on the season. That's just a taste of the list of producers involved — and if you'd like to get up close to some camels and alpacas while you're in that part of southeast Queensland, that's on the cards, too. Most of the trail's stops are dog-friendly, and bringing your esky to fill with produce is highly recommended. Picnic image: Tourism and Events Queensland.
It's usually impossible to upstage Tilda Swinton. But in The Souvenir, Honor Swinton Byrne manages that elusive feat. Adding another acting powerhouse to the family, it's a case of like mother, like daughter — although, even when they're sharing the same scene in Joanna Hogg's deeply moving drama, the younger Swinton never feels like she's just following in her famous mum's footsteps. Tilda always seems to calmly float above the rest of us, whether she's playing an ageless nobleman, a vampire or a witchy dance instructor. By contrast, Honor has a weighty, grounded but nervous presence. She's not only firmly of this world; here, as 80s-era film student Julie, she's increasingly bogged down by it. At first, everything seems simple for The Souvenir's polite protagonist. Julie lives in a well-appointed flat in an upscale area of London, comes from a moneyed family and, like all aspiring filmmakers, has an idea for her first big project. Eager to make a movie about a working-class boy and his mother, she's also aware of her favourable station in life — in a general sense. She tells her friends that she's determined to broaden her horizons, but she's always able to rely on her mother (Tilda Swinton) when things threaten to get tough. And, when she falls hopelessly for someone who's not quite who he appears, she's instantly smitten and beguiled, albeit heartbreakingly unprepared for their relationship's darker twists and turns. A girl, a guy, and all the ups and downs that such a pairing inevitably sparks — at the most basic level, that's The Souvenir. But if ever a movie was more than its most simplistic plot description, it's this perceptive affair. Julie's relationship with the arrogantly refined and charismatic Anthony (Tom Burke) feels like a turning point from the moment they meet, as the young woman is obviously intrigued by the older civil servant. As their lives entwine, however, their romance evolves from exciting to shattering as his secrets slowly spill out. Along the way, Hogg takes her main character on an adult coming-of-age journey, all while barely venturing beyond Julie's apartment. The acclaimed British writer/director also takes viewers through her own formative years, with the film inspired by her own memories. Once again, The Souvenir's star isn't merely walking in someone else's shoes by playing Hogg's on-screen avatar. As Julie endures a traumatic but inevitable awakening — the distressing revelation that life always has an inescapable rough side — Swinton Byrne proves the movie's crucial anchor. She's clearly playing a highly personal part, with her role so intricate and specific that it can only be drawn from reality. In a film overtly placed among society's upper rungs, she's also the wide-eyed bridge that opens Julie's particular plight to the rest of the world. Realising that love and ambition can cut both ways is a universal sensation, after all — and, by peering deep into a precisely defined scenario, Hogg always relays this life-changing sentiment. Gazing back at her own experiences, fracturing the rosy facade of hindsight and not only facing the pain, but laying it open for everyone to see — that's a brave task. Even fictionalised, as The Souvenir is, it makes for stunning viewing. As she's done since her 2007 debut Unrelated, Hogg is unafraid to take aim at all that seems safe, easy and cosy. Committed to unpacking the woes of Britain's well-heeled, she's similarly unafraid to show the hurt that's always lingering beneath the surface, too. Here, she unravels the heady swirls of first romance, the hopeful outlook of a young woman finding her place in the world, and middle-class comfort, watching as they all become toxic. That she does so in long, distanced, cool-hued shots that survey Julie's blinkered realm makes The Souvenir all the more powerful, conveying its alluring beauty and its empty flipside in tandem. Insightfully scripted, lensed and performed — not only by Swinton Byrne, her always-exceptional mother and a pitch-perfect Burke, but by Richard Ayoade in a small but pivotal role — The Souvenir ultimately acts as its own memento. Meticulous, intense and devastatingly astute, the film leaves an imprint that lingers long after its frames have stopped flickering. Thankfully, this quiet but powerful tale won't stop for too long. As the movie announces in its closing moments via text on-screen, The Souvenir's story will continue in a second part, due in 2020. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9Al2nC0vzY
Brace yourself Brisbane, the annual Fete de la Musique is back to sprinkle talented musicians throughout our city. If you're out and about this Friday it will be hard to avoid the sound of music wafting through throughout the heart of Brisbane. Hotspots for the Festival include Southbank, the Queen Street Mall, Fortitude Valley and libraries across town. Musicians may even be brightening your commute to work as surprise shows will be held on public transport, stations and stops. Why not make a day of it and follow the trail of music and enjoy our pretty city. The Queensland Saxophone Orchestra will be getting' jazzy on the Kurilpa Bridge, you can find the gorgeous O' Little Sister entertaining crowds with her dreamy folk tunes in the Queen Street Mall and duo G'day China will help you relax with their soulful songs at Little Stanley Street grassy area. Visit the website for more information about the long list of artists and playing times.
If you’re going to cryogenically freeze yourself, you might as well do it properly. None of this half-hearted Disney, Fry or Ted Williams jazz – if you’re going to enter the life-lengthening chill, then make sure you return with a bang, Vaudeville style. Vaudeville duo Kitty Witless and Dr. Dan Von Dandy were buried in an avalanche in the 1920s while touring in Antarctica. Now, thanks to Tony PM, global warming has thawed them out and they're back — hotter than ever! From musical numbers, to witty banter, this duo are bringing back the swing of the '20s to the Brisbane Powerhouse. With ragtime sounds, and toe-tappin' tunes you’ll be hard-pressed sitting still in your seat with the Vaudevillians working the stage. This stage show stars RuPauls Drag Race reigning queen Jinkx Monsoon in her Australia debut, and co-stars Major Scales. Make a night of The Vaudevillians, and take advantage of these post-prohibition years with some pre-prohibition tunes.
After two years of hiding in self-determined obscurity, New Zealand’s Cut Off Your Hands are back, and they’ve aged well. During their hiatus they’ve been drawing inspiration from the likes of The Go-Betweens to The Triffids and The Church, and their latest effort Hollow is a matured redefinition of the power pop/post-punk sound that defined the Kiwi band on their 2008 debut of You and I. They’ve been hailed by hipster tastemakers NME as ‘the next Blur, only better’ – and if you don’t believe NME, download their newest single You Should Do Better (it’s free, and totes legal) and hear for yourself – the proof is in the charming riffs! Cut Off Your Hands’ comeback this year is set to be a big one, taking out a coveted slot in this year’s Splendour in the Grass lineup. But before they take on Woodfordia, they’re coming to Lambda. Get a taste of Hollow before its official release in July, see them this Thursday! Image credit: Elizabeth Weinberg
Why did the fried chicken fan cross Hawken Drive? To eat all the greasy chook they could handle, of course. What might sound like a groan-worthy joke has actually been happening in St Lucia thanks to KaiKai Chicken and its popular fried chicken buffet. And, when COVID-19 restrictions on Queensland eateries start lifting at 11.59pm on Friday, May 15, it'll be happening again straight away. The second that KaiKai can reopen its doors to dine-in patrons, it's going to do just that, all by serving up a midnight chook feast. Head on in between 11.59am on Friday, May 15 and 3am on Saturday, May 16 — i.e. a chicken-filled three-hour window — and you'll find an all-you-can-eat selection awaiting, starting at $19.90 for students and $22.90 otherwise. That'll nab you a standard buffet, so prepare to solve the eternal dilemma faced by hungry chook fiends everywhere — aka whether to have one finger lickin' good piece, several, or more than anyone should actually admit to. On offer is an endless array of poultry in multiple different flavours, plus sides, as well as what'll probably be your first nocturnal outing in months. Flocking customers are required to book to get their chicken fix, given that only ten people will be allowed inside at once. So, before you jump into the coop, make sure you contact the restaurant. Images: KaiKai Chicken.
Almost everything these days might be about apps, VR and AI, but sometimes some fair dinkum woodworking classes are what you need to bring you back to IRL. One of Brisbane's favourite woodworking studios, Makeit with Carbatec, offers outright beginners the chance to get stuck in, find your inner craftsperson and leave with something to show off. Over four hours, the seasoned and passionate Makeit instructors will guide you through crafting your piece in the safest way possible — and ensure it's as awesome as possible. You can choose from a number of products to carve, including a serving platter, pepper grinder, table centrepiece, stool, spoon or shelf. Whatever you decide, your newly created piece will make a thoughtful gift or a crafty, rustic addition to your home. There are multiple dates to choose from, with the next crafty workshop taking place on Tuesday, January 16. It may be the digital age, but that's no reason not to discover how handy you are with a hammer and chisel. To see the full schedule and book a class, head here.
Put down the books. Step away from the screen. For your next history lesson, you're busting out your best fancy footwork. History of House commemorates dance music through the decades, covering tunes and beats from half a century. 70s disco? Check. Pop from the 80s? Tick there, too. All things house ever since? That's the star of the show. History of House boasts two big-name talents as well: Groove Terminator and the Soweto Gospel Choir. The Australia DJ and the Grammy-winning, world-famous choral group have been joining forces to break house music's origins and evolution down — and, yes, bring the house down — since the 2020 Adelaide Fringe, where it won the Best Music Show award. House music with the choir that've played with Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder and Queen — plus Bono and Celine Dion — isn't the type of gig that you get to see every day. Now, it's Brisbane's time to make shapes, with the concert hitting up the River City on Sunday, September 10 as part of this year's packed Brisbane Festival program. Your dance floor for the evening: The Princess Theatre in Woolloongabba. Images: Helen Page / Brisbane Festival.
Infectious, polished pop is what Architecture in Helsinki do, and now you can witness it in person. The long-time fan will tell you that every Architecture in Helsinki show is different; for the newcomer, we can assure you that the show is sure to be electric with each track more ecstatic that the last; it will be a celebration of the arts and the beauties of life. Their latest record has been causing a stir on behalf of the band; NOW + 4EVA hit the shelves late last month, boasting the singles ‘Dream A Little Crazy’ and ‘In the Future’, giving fans the satisfaction of an undeniable follow up to the undeniable favourites of the past decade. The band is gearing up for their national tour as part of the Groovin’ the Moo lineup, and have prepared themselves for big shows with Brisbane being no exception. Playful and electric, smart and classic, with a bit of added cheek; Architecture in Helsinki are an exciting live act in the prime of their music-making career.
Brisbane is bursting at the seams with music this week. The Fans Group have added another event to this jam-packed week of creative talent with their live showcase at X & Y on Wednesday evening. Although not part of the official Big Sound program, this evening of home-grown talent is not to be missed. Highly esteemed in the Brisbane music world due to their years of experience, The Fans Group have put together a knock-out lineup. One featured artist is the gorgeous Sydneysider Elizabeth Rose. This chanteuse has been making waves in the scene for her energetic live shows and her sparkling electro-pop sound for a while now. Her vocals recently featured on Flight Facilities track, I Didn't Believe, which gained her a new bevy of fans and recognition. Another act to catch is the Go Violets as these Brissie girls pack a punch with their intricate harmonies and catchy melodies. Bad // Dreems, Fun Machine, Emerson Snow, The Creases and Ali Barter will also take to the stage and show off their skills. Put a bit of excitement into your hump-day this week for just $15.
The sandstone building on the corner of George and Elizabeth streets has been home to many things over the years, including Queensland's first radio station, government departments, offices, cafes and a bank. It's now the site of Brisbane's two newest places to eat, drink and hang out — a luxe underground bar and a new Chinese restaurant. Called the Boom Boom Room and Donna Chang, the duo are the latest ventures from the Ghanem Group, the folks behind Blackbird Bar & Grill on Eagle Street, Byblos Bar & Restaurant at Portside and chicken chain Lord of the Wings. The hospitality company is making its first foray into this area of the CBD, and while these new additions share the same heritage-listed art deco building at 171 George Street, they couldn't be more different. Patrons will need to head down to the basement to find the Boom Boom Room, which can accommodate 250 people in its decadent bunker-like surroundings. If you're feeling ultra fancy, the space also includes private rooms in old bank vaults. Decked out in deep reds, blues and blacks with old-school furniture and lighting, the bar boasts booth seating aplenty, and will play host to jazz and Motown-esque performances. Music also inspires the changing wine, spirits and cocktail list, as thirsty punters will notice in the names of the latter. Plus, bottle service is one of the venue's opulent touches — and, if you're feeling peckish, you can order a snack from a from a shorter version of Donna Chang's menu. Upstairs, spread across both the ground floor and the mezzanine level, Donna Chang fills its open space with pink, green and neutral-toned furniture, while group executive chef Jake Nicholson, head chef Jason Margaritis and head dim sum chef Sam Lie all endeavour to fill your stomach. Their focus: Chinese dishes with Sichuan and Cantonese flavours and influences, as they aim for that highly sought-after blend of the old and the new. Indeed, like its downstairs counterpart, Donna Chang is a place with a distinctive style. Here, the vibe is even a little theatrical. As you're picking from the menu, you can stare at the live grouper and shellfish tank — and yes, you can order fish, crab and crayfish. Other food options range from crispy pork bao and roast duck dumplings in goose broth, to barbecue Peking duck, suckling pig and char sui pork. The list goes on for both lunch and dinner, as does the wine selection. Find the Boom Boom Room and Donna Chang at 171 George Street, Brisbane, open seven days a week.
Like her relatives, Morticia Addams (voiced by Charlize Theron) is supposed to be creepy, kooky, mysterious and spooky — but in the latest version of The Addams Family, she's just creaky. Unleashing tiny spiders to build a bridge over a bottomless pit (in the family's basement, naturally) in one scene, the vampish matriarch coughs up a cringe-worthy line that everyone can see coming: "we call this surfing the web". Morticia's dad joke would prove a grim omen for this new animated take on America's most macabre family, except that it's sadly preceded by plenty of others. By the time the above dialogue is uttered, a groan-inducing town called Assimilation has already sprung up down the hill from the Addams' imposing mansion. And, within said house, sentient, unattached hand Thing has also been seen wearing a watch with an eye on it. To be honest, the pain starts in the prologue, which doubles as an obligatory origin story. As Morticia and Gomez (Oscar Isaac) tie the knot 13 years before the movie's main narrative, Fester (Nick Kroll) tells them to put the lime in the coconut and drink it all up. That's how things are done "in the old country", apparently. This opening gag doesn't nod to the 1930s New Yorker cartoons that first introduced the Addams clan, or the 60s live-action TV series that followed, or 90s big-screen favourites The Addams Family and Addams Family Values. Rather, it references Harry Nilsson's 1971 novelty song 'Coconut' and serves no one — unless this iteration of The Addams Family is aimed at fans of a singer from half a century ago, Quentin Tarantino aficionados who know the tune from Reservoir Dogs, or anyone familiar with Dannii Minogue's 1994 cover (again: no one). The track is hardly obscure; however, even as a throwaway line, non sequitur or piece of absurdist humour, it leaves audiences scratching their heads instead of laughing. Really, it just smacks of the filmmakers giggling among themselves at a bad joke, without considering whether it's relevant to the story they're telling, its characters or their viewers. Alas, as the rest of the flick shows, that seems to be directors Greg Tiernan and Conrad Vernon (Sausage Party) and screenwriters Matt Lieberman (Playing with Fire) and Pamela Pettler's (Corpse Bride) approach overall. Flimsy from the outset, The Addams Family charts the predictable clash when Assimilation's residents — and celebrity interior designer Margaux Needler (Allison Janney), who financed the town — aren't happy about their odd neighbours. This revelation coincides with Pugsley's (Finn Wolfhard) swordplay-heavy coming-of-age ceremony, which brings the extended Addams crew to visit and scares the locals even further. Cue life lessons about accepting those around you, being yourself, not judging spooky-looking people by their appearances and other similar clichés. Margaux and her mob attempt to bully the Addams family out of the area, Gomez stresses over Pugsley's fondness for bombs over blades, and Wednesday (Chloe Grace Moretz) shocks Morticia by befriending Margaux's daughter Parker (Elsie Fisher) and daring to fit in. The fact that the Addams clan stands out has always been their point, ever since their cartoonist namesake created the weird and wonderful figures. In their aesthetics, interests and behaviour, Morticia, Gomez, Wednesday, Pugsley, Fester and Grandma (Bette Midler) are clearly the opposite of the stereotypical American household, and the resulting juxtaposition — and the horrified reactions to their monster-like appearance, as well as their strange and supernatural ways — makes a satirical statement. But, even bringing social media, lifestyle gurus and a few other bits of modern technology into the mix, The Addams Family circa 2019 doesn't have anything new to say. It doesn't have much to say in general, really. Given that the family-friendly film also lacks in story, jokes and creativity, the result is ghoulish, and not in a manner that'd do the fictional characters proud. It doesn't help that, although inspired by Charles Addams' original drawings, the animation is dull — including the character design. Creepy, kooky and the like can look delightful on the screen (and all-ages appropriate), as Corpse Bride, Frankenweenie, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Coraline and ParaNorman have all shown; however, this has more in common visually and tonally with the broad and bland Hotel Transylvania movies. The picture's celebrity voices can't fill in the gaps, either. Mostly, hearing Isaac as Gomez makes you wish that someone had made a new live-action version starring him instead. That would've required more effort, though, which is something this thin, generic and not-at-all offbeat film shows few signs of. Rather, it features Snoop Dogg as Cousin Itt purely so that it can play 'Drop It Like It's Hot' when he's first seen on screen, a level that even abysmal 1998 direct-to-video threequel Addams Family Reunion (no, no one remembers it) didn't stoop to. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFnn4fNsB64
If you needed proof that art can be found on your doorstep, The Height of a Mountain, the Width of a Valley is it. Metro Arts' latest art installation explores the ways in which different perceptions of place — and specifically of Australia — can be conveyed through contemporary artistic practice. Artists Bridie Gillman, Sarah Poulgrain and Kylie Spear met at a group residency in rural New South Wales, which explains how their exhibition came about. Together they've not only captured Australia's beauty, but also its occasional mundane features and familiar green landscapes. Enlisting both found materials and the experiential qualities of time-based media, the trio has created a collection of competing experiences with the nation's scenery. They combine photography and film to show off a culmination of their varying and shared perceptions. The Height of a Mountain, The Width of a Valley shows at Metro Arts from July 22 to August 8, with opening night on July 22 at 6pm.
If you haven't yet had the chance to check out Oche, Fortitude Valley's new electronic darts bar, then consider this your excuse. From midday on Saturday, January 18, the two-level Constance Street joint is donating the entire day's profits to bushfire relief efforts. Chuck darts, help those in need — that's how it'll all play out. Calling the day-long event Bullseye for the Bush, the venue has another trick up its sleeves, too. For every bullseye that someone gets, it'll donate an extra $100 as well. Better start practising your dart-throwing now. Funds will be donated to the Australian Bushfire Appeal, including proceeds from karma kegs provided by Stone and Wood and Two Suns Lager. And if you're wondering just what's on the agenda at Oche in general — aka what you'll be spending your cash on — expect a variety of different electronic darts games, all on boards that look exactly as you expect. There's also an outdoor terrace, two separate bars and a food menu overseen by Ben Williamson (Gerard's Bar).
Add three more names to the hefty list of big music stars heading Australia's way in 2023: Ice Cube, Cypress Hill and The Game. In what's basically a 90s and 00s hip hop and rap fan's dream come true, the trio are teaming up on the same bill for an Aussie arena tour, including hitting the Brisbane Entertainment Centre in autumn. This isn't just any old nostalgia-dripping tour, either. It'll also mark the 30th anniversary of two influential albums: Ice Cube's Lethal Injection and Cypress Hill's Black Sunday. The former was the N.W.A member's fourth solo release, and included singles 'Really Doe', 'You Know How We Do It' and 'Bop Gun (One Nation)', while the latter gave the world 'Insane in the Brain', 'Hits from the Bong', 'When the Shit Goes Down' and 'I Ain't Goin' Out Like That'. Expect to hear plenty of those songs get a whirl on Tuesday, March 28 in the River City. For Ice Cube, the tour marks his first visit to Australia since 2018, when he became the first-ever rap artist to headline at the Sydney Opera House. "I love performing in Australia. It's been four long years since my last visit and I can't wait to return for a couple of history-making shows in 2023," said the rapper, aka O'Shea Jackson Sr (and yes, his son O'Shea Jackson Jr did play him in N.W.A biopic Straight Outta Compton). Ice Cube and Cypress Hill will be joined by The Game, who came to fame in the 00s in the West Coast scene. The US talents will also feature Aussie talent in support, with exactly who else will take to the stage yet to be announced.
If you still feel like cooking after midnight, take the party to Funny Funny Korean and whip up a hotpot or barbecue the whole squad can enjoy. Funny Funny's grill-ready meat and vegetables platters, including a pork intestine special — don't knock it till you've tried it — lets you do a late-night meal your own way. For those who'd rather just eat, try the famous KFC — Korean Fried Chicken — with beer, a bibimbap or stir fry noodles. Or, just split some dumplings and a shallot pancake for a satiating snack. Funny Funny also has daily specials, like pork stews and sashimi, and provides the usual kimchi and banchan (side dishes). Relaxed but vibrant, the Korean eatery is open from Monday to Saturday, serving the nighttime crowd until 1.30am every night.
If you love a certain food, you don't need a specific day to celebrate it. But, when each and every cuisine- and dish-focused occasion rolls around, it's a good excuse to tuck into the item in the spotlight. So, although no one needs any encouraging to feast on pizza, consider the period around February 9 a prime time for slices. Because that date falls on a Wednesday in 2022, the Regatta is celebrating early. And, it's turning its courtyard into a pop-up pizzeria to do so. Head by on Saturday, February 5 and Sunday, February 6 from midday, and you'll be able to pick between three varieties — all from the woodfired oven. A mozzarella pizza with a tomato base, cheese, basil and flaked salt sits atop the menu, or you can go for a salami number. And, yes, there's dessert pizza as well — complete with Nutella, strawberries, banana, marshmallows, roasted almonds and chocolate ganache The Regatta's bars will be open as usual, of course, should you need something to wash down your pizza lunch, dinner or snack. [caption id="attachment_794007" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Creative Commons[/caption]
Don’t waste this weekend stomping around, sulking and sooking about the fact you’re not going to Splendour in the Grass – there’s something far tastier happening right here in Brisbane. The fresh little creative team at The .3unker have put together an organic musical showcase free of all things fake, boring and bitter — No Artificial Sweeteners. Known for fuelling and harvesting creative talents, this team knows what they’re talking about when it comes to plucking the finest Brisbane produce and showcasing them in their cosy South Brisbane home. Featuring Brisbane sludge rockers, Rohan, performer/magician/face painter The Girl with the Wooden Box as well as many more, ‘No Artificial Sweeteners’ is all about showing off Brisbane’s best in one night of tricks and tunes. With a range of musical flavours to satisfy any appetite the team at .3unker promise a musical buffet nothing short of sickly sweet – don’t be afraid to indulge a little.
Snow White isn't just a German fairy tale committed to the page by the Brothers Grimm — it's also a piece of film history. Sure, Kristen Stewart has played the lovely lass deemed the fairest of them all, complete with Chris Hemsworth as her sequel-earning huntsman protector; however the story's movie heritage is much, much more significant. You've probably seen the colourful 1937 version, which holds the honour of being the first-ever full-length animated offering to ever reach the big screen. That take on the tale was actually inspired by a live-action, silent effort from 1916, which Walt Disney saw when he was a boy. "I thought it was the perfect story… It had the sympathetic dwarfs… the heavy… the prince and the girl. The romance… the perfect story," he said years later. To celebrate the legacy of Snow White in cinema, Brisbane Festival and the Gallery of Modern Art are joining forces to present both classic movies. So block out your diary for September 11 and 18, because you've got a raven-haired maiden, seven diminutive men, a magic mirror and a wicked stepmother to watch — and a day to spend dreaming about living happily ever after.
It's not quite time for Paniyiri 2019 just yet; however it's not the only Brisbane shindig celebrating all things Greek. On Saturday, January 19, Riverland is saying "opa!" to Greek food, drinks, music and dancing — and plate smashing. Specifically, you can expect to feast on Greek Street Kantina's gyros, souvlaki and grilled haloumi, as well as its chicken or lamb-loaded fries. And, you can expect to sip Mediterranean-inspired cocktail jugs. Pair all of the above with a watery view, and it's the closest you'll come to soaking in the Greece's charms without hopping on a plane. As for the Greek band, zorba dancers and broken crockery, they're on the agenda as well. It wouldn't be a Greek celebration without them. If that's your Saturday sorted, Greek Day runs from 11am until close, with free entry.
If you've ever spent hours falling down the wildlife and nature video rabbit hole online late at night, this one's for you. National Geographic's Symphony for Our World will combine the best of the footage from the organisation's 130-year archives with a live orchestral performance, synchronising the triumphant moments of both music and nature under one spectacle. And, that soundtrack will feature a Hans Zimmer-flavoured score and feature a live choir as well. The natural history footage will be drawn from years of past images, drawing from Nat Geo's shots from all over the world. The accompanying symphony will be created by Bleeding Fingers Music, featuring the work of composers such as the legendary Hans Zimmer, as well as Austin Fray and Andrew Christie. Just like the recent Planet Earth II Live in Concert, Zimmer's score especially will make you feel things you didn't know you could about animals you'll never meet. A five-part composition that'll tour Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, Symphony for Our World will take the audience on a journey from the sea, along the coastlines, across the land, through the mountains and then finally into the sky, with differing orchestral movements for each world environment. It's the story of our planet, but brought to life in a different way — so why not get out of the house and off YouTube and go see some fully immersive nature.
After more than two weeks without any new COVID-19 cases, and the final active case now recovered, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has announced that New Zealand will transition to the lowest possible alert level from midnight Monday, 8 June. All current rules and social distancing restrictions will essentially be lifted. The move means that gatherings of any size are allowed to take place, restaurants and bars can operate as usual without seating limitations, and large public spaces including retail outlets and cinemas won't be required to count heads. Alert Level 1 also sees everyone being able to return without restriction to work, school, sports and domestic travel. Stringent border controls remain for those entering New Zealand, including health screening and testing for all arrivals, and mandatory 14-day managed quarantine or isolation. Which, sadly for Australians, means the trans-Tasman travel isn't quite on the cards — yet. First floated back in back in late-April, the 'travel bubble' was flagged as a potential in step three of Australia's COVID-recovery road map, which could come into place as early as July. Last week, though, when asked about opening NZ to Australian tourists, Ardern said told 7 News reporters: "We're on a great track. Australia is still dealing with cases, so just a little bit more progress is required...It's fair to say we are all eager, but we're eager to do it safely." Australia currently has 455 active cases out of a total 7260. While travel to NZ may still be off the cards for now, the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee — which advises the government on decisions during health emergencies, such as pandemics — is meeting today to discuss "stage three and beyond" of the road map, so it's possible we could find out about other eased restrictions relatively soon. For more information about the status of COVID-19 in Australia, head to the Australian Government Department of Health's website.
When The Fast and the Furious took Point Break's premise and swapped surfing for street racing, it seemed like one of those easy Hollywood knockoffs that would speed into cinemas and then race right out of viewers' memories. Eighteen years, seven sequels, plenty of Coronas and a whole lot of talk about family later, we all now know that wasn't the case. It's the high-octane franchise that just keeps tearing up tyres and tearing across silver screen, and it has yet another new addition. The first Fast and Furious spinoff, Hobbs & Shaw reunites two of the series' newer players: Dwayne Johnson's Luke Hobbs, the government agent who has been a F&F staple since 2011's Fast Five, and Jason Statham's Deckard Shaw, the villain from Furious 7 who starts buddying around the gang in 2017's The Fate of the Furious. Directed by John Wick and Atomic Blonde's David Leitch, it's basically an excuse to put the two action heroes in the same movie again, watch as they bicker and banter like a muscular odd couple, and throw in the usual world-saving, car-racing antics. It also sounds like box office catnip. Because two of today's biggest stars isn't enough for this initial foray outside of the main F&F stable, Hobbs & Shaw also features Idris Elba as the flick's villain — plus Helen Mirren reprising her role as Shaw's mother, and The Crown's Vanessa Kirby joining the fold as his sister. Johnson reportedly wanted Hobbs to have some family, too; however bringing Aquaman's Jason Momoa on board didn't work out due to scheduling conflicts. Fans of Vin Diesel and the original gang, don't worry. Ninth and tenth F&F films are due in 2020 and 2021 respectively, so Dominic Toretto and company will be back to live their lives a quarter mile at a time once more. Also on the agenda is a female-focused spinoff focused on the ladies of the franchise, because this series remains furious about stretching out its run for as long as possible. Watch the trailer for Hobbs & Shaw below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Lxu75r3-kI Hobbs & Shaw opens in Australian cinemas on August 1.
Brisbane Festival is well and truly upon us with theatre, music, art and creativity flowing through the streets of the inner city areas. On your Brisbane Festival adventures we know you will be looking for a delicious bite to eat, so we have come up with our top five places for you to eat during this wonderful month in Brisbane. Watt Restaurant + Bar If you've seen a show at the Powerhouse then we recommend that you visit Watt. With a delicious seafood-focused menu, and glorious seating looking over the Brisbane River, you are bound to make your Bris Fest experience a whole lot more delightful by enjoying the laidback vibe here. 119 Lamington Street, New Farm; 07 3358 5464; www.watt.net.au Verve Cafe If you're out in the city at Metro Arts, then you may as well pop into Verve Cafe located in the underground section of the building. Likely to be very busy at this time, you should book ahead, unless you're happy to sit at the bar, and drink from their wide selection of cider. Dimly lit and hidden away, Verve is the kind of place you can go to hide out for a while, so is the perfect place for a performer. The Italian food is delicious and they are very inclusive of gluten-free needs, providing GF pasta and pizza bases. A lively and fun atmosphere to start off your night of theatre. 109 Edward St, Brisbane City; 07 3221 5691; www.vervecafe.com.au Piaf Bistro Close to all of the action in South Bank, Piaf is a breath of unpretentious air. Playing the beautiful music of French namesake Edith Piaf, and serving delicious and inexpensive French cuisine, this little bistro is a simple yet elegant place to dine, or to stop for a class of tasty French wine. 5/182 Grey Street, South Bank; 07 3846 5026; www.piafbistro.com.au South Bank Surf Club Located in the heart of South Bank, the South Bank Surf Club is the perfect place to kick up your heels while the sun goes down and enjoy the spring weather. With a jazzed up surf club menu, the diverse food offerings suits all tastes and appetites. Right in the mix of the action, the atmosphere will make you want to call in sick on a Monday. 30a Stanley Plaza, Parklands South Bank; 07 3844 7301; www.southbanksurfclub.com.au Stokehouse Restaurant For some fine dining with your Brisbane Festival adventure, we recommend Stokehouse, located up the Kangaroo Point end of South Bank. Exquisite views and an exquisite menu will guarantee a happy experience. With attentive waitstaff, and a stylish but relaxed atmosphere, you can enjoy the mediterranean inspired food, wine and views of beautiful Brisbane city. Sidon Street, South Bank; 07 3013 0333; www.stokehouse.com.au
The crew at Beyond Cinema have a knack for turning bedtime stories and big-screen flicks into immersive, larger-than-life adventures. Just look at last year's Great Gatsby-inspired party in a mansion, or the more recent Harry Potter-themed potions classes. Well now, it's the much-loved tale of Alice in Wonderland that gets the Beyond Cinema treatment, by way of an all-new immersive pop-up experience inspired by the nonsensical Mad Hatter. Descending on secret Melbourne and Brisbane locations in February next year, The Alice Bar invites punters to dive through the looking glass and into a fantasy world. Expect things to get curiouser and curiouser across your 90-minute visit, whether you're creating your own liquid concoctions under the guidance of The Mad Hatter, settling in for an indulgent tea party, or getting raucous with the likes of the March Hare and the Cheshire Cat. [caption id="attachment_740466" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Wizard's Cauldron[/caption] As always, Beyond Cinema is keeping most of the details scarce until closer to the date, though they're already old hands at bringing Alice In Wonderland to life. The team's earlier Mad Hatter's Tea Party events have proved a hit over the past couple of years. Beyond Cinema's The Alice Bar event will take place at a yet-to-be-revealed Melbourne and Brisbane location in February, 2020. You can sign up for more details here.
Brisbane's underground home of rum and jazz is at it again. When the Ekka public holiday hits on Wednesday, August 14, The Walrus Club is celebrating the occasion with dark spirits and smooth tunes all afternoon long. Yes, it's going to be a real Rum Royale at the Regatta's prohibition era-inspired basement bar. On the boozy side of the equation, prepare to taste your way through 12 different rum samples, showcasing the best tipples from around the globe. There'll also be food to match, including a tiki-style smokehouse and a pop-up deli — which means plenty of cheese and charcuterie is on the menu. Attendees can also learn more about the beverage in question, and about making cocktails, thanks to a range of masterclasses. You'll receive your own tasting glass, too, which you can take home with you. When it comes to music, a live jazz soundtrack will add to the atmosphere all afternoon long. Rum Royale runs from 3–7pm, with tickets on sale now for $49.
It's the first thing you see when you step into The Triffid: a giant mural, aka the venue's wall of fame, paying tribute to the state's music royalty. And it's about to get a shakeup in the best way possible. Yep, another band will have their name added to the artwork as part of The Triff's new Queensland Album Of The Year Award. If there's a better way to fill the empty spot and keep paying tribute to local music, we can't think of one. After releasing ace records over the last twelve months, Halfway, Cheap Fakes, Sahara Beck, The Jungle Giants and Holy Holy are the five acts battling it out to see their album spine immortalised on the already jam-packed wall for the next year. Now that the Newstead hangout has selected the five nominees, it's up to the public to decide who emerges victorious by visiting The Triff's website. The winner will be revealed at the venue's second birthday party on November 5, which will also include an unveiling ceremony. And because everyone who supports Queensland talent is a winner too, anyone who votes will go into the draw to win a coveted Triffid Green Pass +1 — granting the lucky recipient free entry, with a friend, to every gig at The Triff in 2017. Of course, whoever's name ends up gracing the mural, they'll be in pretty impressive company. With The Triff owned by former Powderfinger bassist John Collins, of course they're up there. So is everyone from iconic '70s punk rockers The Saints to Mansfield alt-rock exports Violent Soho, as well as The Go-Betweens, Custard, The Grates, Screamfeeder, Regurgitator, DZ Deathrays, Fur, Dune Rats, The Riptides and Kev Carmody. There's even a nod to the 'Spicks and Specks'-singing, tight pants-wearing '70s pop outfit The Bee Gees, who hail from Redcliffe. To vote for The Triffid's Queensland Album Of The Year Award, visit the venue's website.
In completion of the perfect artistic trifecta, Olaf Breuning brings to the Institude of Modern Art, Home 3. No stranger to the weird, surreal and sometimes plain cringe-worthy, Breuning's latest film is possibly the last in his string of astonishing, unclassified documentations of his bold misadventures. The Home films to date have received the type of reception you'd expect from films that invade personal space, disorientate viewers and fare with no filter – a massive fan base, shy of a few haters. The original and starting point, Home, saw Breuning and his counter-part Brian Kerstetter explore the West Coast of America – watch it online here. Their second installment saw the pair go global as they poked at the traditions of Japan, Papau New Guinea, Switzlerand and Ghana in a healthy balance of mockery and ignorance. Home 3 is just as bizarre and revealing, exploring Times Square and Coney Island in typical Breunig form, falling into parties, high end restaurants and Central Park along the way. If you haven't already witnessed the work of Olaf Breaunig, now's your chance to daringly jump on a boat driven by a master and manic.
Kate Martin is a prize of young Australian music. With an impressive recording career under her belt, she boasts a staggering portfolio, having supported The Middle East, Emma Louise and Bluejuice, among many others. Though her style is quiet and delicate, her manner is determined and fierce, and her song writing reputation precedes her. Kate has a new single out now, entitled 'Awaken', and is a snippet of the great things to come from this 22-year-old beyond her years. She’ll be touring her evolving style across November, in preparation for her upcoming album, due for release early next year. Supporting Kate at the ideal venue that is the Black Bear Lodge is Emma Davis, with intricate guitars and classic storytelling, alongside Brian Campeau. Be sure to arrive as the doors open – not only is this sure to be a sell-out show, but the artists beg for a front row view.
Hornbags of Brisbane, get ready to put those post-Christmas muffin tops to good use because Woolly Mammoth is throwing the Kath & Kim-themed party of your dreams. On February 18, Kath & Kim's Aussie Shindig will see the Valley bar celebrate two of our most iconic silver screen heroines, complete with life-sized cutouts, a photobooth and a very effluent crowd. The legends in charge have come up with a cracker of a drinks list, starring Aussie-themed creations like Bloody Marys with vegemite, pavlova shots, lamington shots, and of course, Kim's beloved Cardonnay (the h is silent). There's even prizes up for grabs, going to the best-dressed foxymoron or hunk 'o' spunk on the night. Best start assembling your finest netball skirts, midriff tops, matching tracksuits and lycra in preparation.
UPDATE, December 16, 2020: Richard Jewell is available to stream via Netflix, Binge, Foxtel Now, Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Amazon Video. All it took was a concert and a backpack for Richard Jewell's (Paul Walter Hauser) life to change forever. It's the summer of 1996, and the aspiring cop is thrilled to be working as a security guard at a gig during the Atlanta Summer Olympic Games. But as songs like the Staple Singers' 'I'll Take You There' fill the city's Centennial Park, Jewell spots an unattended bag under a bench. He swiftly informs the police on duty, who figure he's overreacting but evacuate the area anyway. As the crowd begins to disperse, the bomb explodes. While one person is killed, another suffers a fatal heart attack and 111 others are wounded, the toll would've been much higher if Jewell hadn't sounded the alarm. That's the real-life story that monopolised news headlines 24 years ago. It's also the tale that Jewell, with his desperate desire to work in law enforcement, was overjoyed to have attached to his name. And, it's the narrative that Richard Jewell tells, although Clint Eastwood's involvement should make it obvious that it doesn't end there. As demonstrated with gusto in the latter years of his five-decade directorial career, Eastwood is drawn to heroes. He's not just fascinated by people acting bravely, but by true tales of fortitude in the face of pressure, scrutiny, admonishment and even contempt by society, authorities and bureaucracy. American Sniper's flag-waving tribute to the deadliest marksman in US military history, Sully's recreation of the Miracle on the Hudson and subsequent investigation, and The Mule's account of an octogenarian forced to become a drug courier to make ends meet — they all fit the profile, as does Jewell's swift slide from saviour to suspect. Played with equal parts zealousness, assertiveness, awkwardness and friendliness by I, Tonya and BlacKkKlansman's Hauser, Jewell fit the FBI's profile, too. With no other real leads to chase, agent Tom Shaw (Jon Hamm) becomes certain that the security guard's demeanour, portly physique and obsession with cops makes him the culprit. That Jewell lives with his mother (Oscar-nominee Kathy Bates) doesn't help. Nor does the arsenal of guns in his bedroom ("it's Georgia," Jewell notes). So when Shaw slips his theory to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporter Kathy Scruggs (Olivia Wilde) — a woman happy to trade sex for tips and just as dubious in her ethics in general, the movie intimates, a perspective that's been refuted by those who knew her — Jewell's transformation from hero to accused perpetrator becomes official. With Jewell, his devoted mum and no-nonsense attorney Watson Bryant (Sam Rockwell) on one side and Shaw, Scruggs and the institutions they represent on the other, Richard Jewell becomes an us-versus-them battle — between an ordinary guy vilified instead of celebrated for doing an extraordinary thing, and the forces conspiring against him. With his threshold for subtlety waning over his past few films, Eastwood's feature is that blunt, as is the worldview that comes with it. His conservative politics are well-known, so lambasting the over-reaching government and decrying fake news should come as no surprise. Still, the lack of nuance with which Eastwood tells this tale — working with a script by Billy Ray (The Hunger Games, Captain Phillips and Gemini Man), and adapting a 1997 Vanity Fair article by Marie Brenner — casts a shadow over the movie. Jewell went through something that no one should have to endure. Eastwood doesn't downplay that ordeal, including the fact that Jewell's status as a suspect was widely publicised — even though he was never charged — but the clearing of his name wasn't. And yet, when it comes to portraying the FBI and media, Eastwood does exactly what they both did to his protagonist. Law enforcement and the press are treated so simplistically in Richard Jewell, especially Scruggs, that Eastwood slants the film in one direction and doesn't care to look elsewhere. You could read the filmmaker's version of Scruggs as another of his celebrated working-class characters doing whatever it takes to get by. Wilde's brash, committed portrayal of the now-deceased journalist certainly aims for that interpretation. But there's just not enough depth, balance and empathy on Eastwood's part to support it. Scruggs is a clear villain here — so much so that Eric Rudolph, the actual perpetrator of the attack, barely rates a mention. If Richard Jewell proved bombastic across the board, then its treatment of Scruggs mightn't stand out as much as it does. But Eastwood takes great care to show the complexity of Jewell's situation, laying out the details in a manner befitting any weighty police procedural or 'wrong man' thriller. His staging of the bombing is as tense, gripping and superbly crafted as anything in his 38 films behind the lens — and he smartly anchors the movie around Hauser's multifaceted performance as a man teeming with contrasts. What lingers, though, is the glaring contradiction at the heart of the feature. Richard Jewell advocates against one-note judgements while flaunting its own. It champions the truth about someone unfairly pilloried by the media, yet spins its own questionable story about a real-life figure. Yes, this is a film about a hero, but it didn't need to be a movie about a cartoonish villain as well. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpbKh4FqR2g
The holiday season is great for a myriad of reasons – food, spending time with the people you love – but my personal favourite aspect of the holidays is that you can go to a party and not feel guilty about it the next day because hey man, it’s the holidays! Try that at work next time you rock up with a raging hangover on Tuesday morning because, as we all know, Halloween is this Monday. I’m still not too sure on the exact reason why we celebrate Halloween in this country but it’s probably because everyone under the age of 30 secretly enjoys dressing up as a zombie/piece of pizza/Superman/slutty cheerleader but doesn’t have a good enough reason to in their day-to-day life. Thus- Halloween gets integrated quite easily into our true blue standard of living. Cobra Kai is starting the party early at their Night of the Living Dead party this Thursday. As well as the standard tricks and treats (prizes for best costume), there’ll be sets by Some Knights, Kate & Max and Magic Spells. Sydney’s Jonathan Boulet will be headlining with his colourful pop outfit that’ll put a smile on even the deadest of the undead. Drag your limbs down to Oh Hello this Thursday to get your Halloween fix in early.
For the fashionably inclined, you’re probably less slightly less knowledgeable about the musical delights of the shakuhachi flute from Japan and moreso learned on the Melbourne label of the same name. While the musical shakuhachi has been making waves since the 6th century (it’s been used by legendary artists such as Sade and Linkin Park!) it’s the sartorial Shakuhachi that’s getting people’s heads turning in this day and age. Jessie White, the woman behind the label, created a three-piece shirt range for the first Shakuhachi collection, made on a $400 budget and sold through a couple of boutiques in Melbourne. Now, the much sought-after label is a household name and sold on a national and international basis. If you’re yet to own a Shakuhachi piece, no need to panic – current and previous collections will be on sale in the Valley at massively reduced prices, and for three whole days. If you miss out you better have been doing something pretty important - like polishing your bamboo flute for your Linkin Park cover band – because otherwise you’d be pretty silly to miss out.
Less than a year after opening, two high-profile eateries in Petrie Terrace's Barracks complex have closed their doors. Both coal-fire restaurant Burnt Ends Kitchen & Bar and Tuscan-style joint Nativo Kitchen & Wine Bar were run by the TJ Peabody-owned NKB Group, and follow similar closures amongst its other ventures. As reported by The Courier-Mail, staff and suppliers at both venues were informed via email that neither would continue trading this year. A statement on the group's website advises, "it is with a heavy heart that NKB Group has announced that Burnt Ends Kitchen & Bar, Nativo Kitchen & Wine Bar and Nantucket Catering will not reopen in 2018." Nickel Kitchen & Bar, NKB's Fortitude Valley restaurant, shut up shop in late 2017 and is currently looking for new owners. Meanwhile, NKB Express at Indooroopilly is up for sale but will remain open during the process, after its fellow Indro venue Nantucket Kitchen and Bar closed last May. With the fate of a number of Damian Griffiths'-owned sites in Fortitude Valley — Alfred & Constance, Kwan Brothers and Alf's Place — also up in the air, 2018 hasn't started well for the city's hospitality scene.
This April, Broadbeach on the Gold Coast will play host to a fun new addition in Arboria — a huge, blow-up sculpture featuring a walk-through labyrinth of winding tunnels and lofty domes. On exhibition at Kurrawa Park from April 5 to 15 as part of southeast Queensland's new arts festival running alongside the Commonwealth Games, the inflatable structure takes its inspiration from the forest. Incorporating tree-like spaces, stylised leaf patterns and a soundscape from Ecuador's Mindo cloud forest, it creates an immersive, multi-sensory experience for visitors young and old. A maze of pods and domes leads to a stunning central space, where massive columns and soaring Gothic-style windows mirror those of Chapter House at the UK's York Minster cathedral. It's the work of world-renowned group Architects of Air, who've created and exhibited a whole series of these 'luminaria' structures across the globe. Arboria took over Melbourne's Federation Square in January, even delaying its opening due to the city's heatwave. When it comes to the Gold Coast, it won't just bring a wondrous maze to the beachside — it'll do so for free. Arboria will be open from 9am–5pm daily between April 5 and 15. Entry is free, and visit the Commonwealth Games website for further details. Image: Jesus Fernandez via Architects of Air.
The Good Food and Wine Show. They don't dress it up, but they damn well should. I'll readily admit I love my food. I live to eat and not the other way around, and can definitely say I like the good food this show promises. In 2011, Brisbane will host world-class chefs, cooks, food lovers and wine connoisseurs for a three day feast. Manu Feildel, Tobie Puttock and Alastair McLeod will be showing attendees their mad skillz, but what's most exciting is the presence of Ainsley Harriott. You know, the guy who seems happier and more enthused than even our own Huey when he's cooking? The only thing missing is Nigella Lawson, but she's attended before. The Masterchef stars George and Gary will also be there to entice your tastebuds and make you wish you were 8 years old again to make it into Junior Masterchef (screw doing the adult version). If the following list is any indication of the absolute chaos and greatness of this show, then you actually really need to come and check it all out: there's a Fisher & Paykel Celebrity Theatre; the Riedel Decanter Bar for winos; cheese, wine, pasta, Woolworths, Sunbeam, and cocktail classes; coffee tips and chef book signings. Phew. Make sure you take full advantage of a ticket and check out the Good Food and Wine Show. They really should change that name.
Video killed the radio star, or so the song goes. New technology killed the maritime use of Morse code too, although that doesn't sound quite as catchy. Still, that hasn't stopped Angelica Mesiti from trying to turn the predicament into art — or from creating a three-channel work inspired by the last Morse transmission sent by the French Navy. "Calling all, this is our final cry before our eternal silence," they conveyed via dots and dashes at the end of 1997. It's a particularly poetic way to cope with technological obsolescence, and you'll probably find yourself thinking something similar as you wander through Relay League. Its trio of parts include a percussive score from musician-composer Uriel Barthélémi, which echoes throughout the gallery space; a form of physical exchange between two dancers, Emilia Wibron Vesterlund and the vision-impaired Sindri Runudde; and dancer Filipe Lourenço creating his own choreography from Barthélémi's sounds. Together, they have quite the sensory impact, as Mesiti ponders communication, language and expression in its many forms. The work is on display at Griffith University Art Museum until February 24, 2018.
It's hump day, which means it's time to start thinking about the weekend (if you're not already). And, excitingly, the weekend coming up is a long one. With all states, territories and capital cities copping an absolute scorching over the past couple of weeks, we thought we'd take a look at what's on the menu for the Australia Day long weekend. Our capital is going to be bearing the brunt of the heat with the Bureau of Meteorology predicting Canberra will remain in the near-40s from Friday through Saturday, with Sunday dipping to 35 with 30 percent chance of rain. We suggest hitting the sand in the early morning before it gets too hot (and before the UV peaks). Down the coast in Melbourne, Friday is expected to be a fiery 41 — luckily this all-vegan gelateria is giving out 1000 free ice creams to make it slightly more bearable — but Saturday's only hitting a max of 26, with 40 percent chance of showers. Sunday and Monday will also hover around the mid-20s, with minimal showers predicted, so it'll be perfect weather for a hike or splash around in a body of water. There'll be no near-40 temperatures in Sydney, instead just mid-to-low 30s across the board, with little chance of rain. Our mates at BOM are predicting extremely high UV during the day on Friday and Saturday, so do cover up (with clothes, zinc or sunscreen) if you plan to head outdoors to the beach or to Yabun Festival, an all-day celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. Brisbane is expected to be equally subdued, with 33 degrees predicted all weekend. If this sounds like perfect gin-drinking weather to you, you'll be happy to know that two juniper-heavy parties will, in fact, be taking place across the weekend, as well as GABS' much-hyped top 100 craft beer countdown. Across the country, Perth is expected to be dry and balmy, sitting in the mid-20s, while Darwin should expect rain and thunderstorms every day for the next week. Adelaide folk will be cranking their air-cons with 45 predicted tomorrow, before it eases off to the mid-30s for the rest of the week. Hobart will be ten degrees cooler, with mid-20s expected across the weekend. To help you plan your beach trips, we've rounded up our favourite ten spots in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. Images: Lorne by Robert Blackburn; Manly by Paros Huckstepp; Currumbin via Flickr.
