What if a trio of old guys robbed a bank? That'd be funny, wouldn't it? That seems to be the only line of thinking behind Going in Style, which remakes a 1979 flick of the same name and brings together a thoroughly likeable cast of elderly actors, but doesn't rise above "aren't geriatrics hilarious?"-style humour. Attempting to bulk up its premise with a hefty tug at the heartstrings and a weak statement about ruthless financial institutions proves about as effective as chewing steak with dentures. Sure, you can give it a shot, but everyone knows that it's not going to work. Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman and Alan Arkin play old friends Joe, Willie and Albert, who toiled away for decades together at a Brooklyn steel works, only to find themselves stripped of their pensions after a corporate takeover by an overseas company. But after Joe witnesses a slick holdup at his uncaring bank — an establishment that tricked him into a loan with a nasty interest rate, is now threatening to take his house away, and happens to be handling the pension debacle — the three hatch a plan to reclaim their entitlements via a caper of their own. Given the talent the film puts on screen, Going in Style probably could've worked quite well without throwing in the sob stories. Alas, the script by Hidden Figures writer-director Theodore Melfi is determined to justify the characters' newfound criminal urges in the most blatantly sappy and cliched ways that it can. Accordingly, Joe has to save the home where his daughter and granddaughter also live, while Willie is in dire need of a new kidney. Former musician Albert takes longer to warm to the stickup idea, probably because he isn't blighted with his own sad tale; instead, he's more preoccupied with his new romance with a grocery store clerk (Ann-Margaret). The fact is, Caine, Freeman and Arkin are all much, much better than the material they're saddled with. If there's any fun to be had here, it's in watching the three Oscar winners sit in a diner bickering and bantering. Any time they're tasked with supposedly comic hijinks, you're left wishing they were all in a better film; a horribly executed sequence in which they attempt to shoplift from a local supermarket as a practice run for their big heist is a prime example. Still, they fare much better than their poor co-star Christopher Lloyd, whose hammy performance might make you exclaim "great Scott!" in horror. Although he's helmed two movies already, in Garden State and Wish I Was Here, Actor-turned-director Zach Braff is still best known for starring in the small screen hospital comedy Scrubs. Perhaps it's not a coincidence, then, that his latest effort feels more like a bland, formulaic sitcom pilot than it does a feature film. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6Qq3pIWMHk
For those considering a trip down to Sydney for Mardi Gras this year, Virgin Australia is sweetening the deal by offering a glitter-filled flight from Brisbane full of drinks, drag and DJs. The Pride Flight is a one-way flight from Brisbane to Sydney that will include bottomless beverages, DJs spinning classic pride tunes and mid-air drag performances hosted by Sydney drag queen Ms Penny Tration of Ru Paul's Drag Race. As you would expect, passengers will also be travelling on Virgin's most bright and colourful aircraft, decked out in glitter and rainbows. The flight will leave from Brisbane at midday on Friday, March 5, just in time for the final weekend of Mardi Gras which will include the 2021 parade, hosted in the SCG for the first time this year to abide by COVID-19 restrictions. An array of parties, talks, performances and an Oxford Street protest are all also scheduled for the first weekend of March. Check out Mardi Gras' full program at its website. Tickets for the 200-seat flight went on sale at 6am on Thursday, February 11 and are sure to be snatched up quickly. An economy seat on the flight will set you back $150 one-way or you can upgrade to business for $350. Passengers will have to organise their own less glitter-filled flight home following the weekend's celebrations. Of course, Sydneysiders wanting to experience the one-off flight can also head up to Brisbane prior to the Friday event. Virgin Australia is also currently waiving change and cancellation fees for bookings made before Friday, April 30, meaning you can book your Pride Flight ticket and your return ticket without the stress of hefty fees if a snap border closure or a change in your personal schedule ruins your Mardi Gras plans. Virgin Australia's Pride Flight will fly from Brisbane to Sydney at 12pm on Friday, March 5. Tickets are on sale now from the Virgin Australia website.
There's nothing like a national holiday commemorating the country's past to get everyone thinking about times gone by. The Brightside are getting into the historic holiday spirit, of course, but they're only jumping back a couple of decades. Yep, they're stepping back to the '90s. If you've been to one of their parties before, you know the drill: We Are Servants and That '90s Show will be cranking out all the covers your ears can handle, a host of cocktail offerings will be keeping up the '90s theme, and getting dressed up is encouraged and then some. And if this is your first Brighty shindig, you're in for a treat. Our tip: BYO parachute pants.
It has been a big few weeks in the sporting world, thanks to everything from Wimbledon to the European Football Championships. Australia's own football codes have been ticking along despite COVID-19 outbreaks, too. But, this week, the biggest event in global sport will commence for the first time in five years. That'd be the Olympics, obviously. After being postponed for a year due to the pandemic, the 2020 Tokyo games will finally take place from Friday, July 23–Sunday, August 8. There won't be any spectators onsite due to the pandemic, with neither overseas travellers nor local residents permitted to attend; however, Queenslanders can still watch along locally — including when they're out of the house. Pubs will be screening the Olympics, of course, and so will a heap of pop-up sites around the state. As part of an event called Olympics Live, screens will be set up at a number of locations, including at South Bank's Riverside Green from Wednesday, July 21. Also getting into the spirit: Kurrawa Beach on the Gold Coast, Kings Beach Amphitheatre on the Sunshine Coast and The Esplanade in Cairns, which'll also celebrate the games for the same period. The event will pop up at Tulmur Place in Ipswich's Nicholas Street Precinct and Walton Stores in Toowoomba from Friday, July 23–Sunday, August 8, and in the Bloomfield Street Park in Cleveland from Saturday, July 24–Sunday, August 8 as well. Attendees will be able to hit up the outdoor hubs to get their Olympics fix — and, if you've noticed that some of the sites will start screening before the opening ceremony, that's because they're setting up early to hopefully celebrate Brisbane's bid for the 2032 games. The 2020 games do actually begin some events on Wednesday, July 21; however, that's also the date that the International Olympic Committee is expected to announce who'll be hosting the 2032 event. The Queensland capital looks poised to land the games, with Brisbane named the preferred host for the Games of the XXXV Olympiad back in February. It also received an endorsement from the International Olympic Committee Executive Board in June, so now the IOC itself just has to vote to make it all official tomorrow. https://twitter.com/AnnastaciaMP/status/1416998538001539072 If Brisbane does indeed get the nod as widely anticipated, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has announced that the city will be celebrating instantly. Fireworks will be set off from river barges and CBD buildings when the news comes through. Brisbane's buildings, bridges and City Hall will also be lit up in green and gold hues as well. It's expected that the news will be announced between 6–7pm Brisbane time, if you're wondering when Brissie might start partying. Olympics Live will pop up at South Bank's Riverside Green from Wednesday, July 21–Sunday, August 8 — and at Kurrawa Beach on the Gold Coast, Kings Beach Amphitheatre on the Sunshine Coast and The Esplanade in Cairns for the same period. It'll also pop up at Tulmur Place in Ipswich's Nicholas Street Precinct and Walton Stores in Toowoomba from Friday, July 23–Sunday, August 8, and in the Bloomfield Street Park in Cleveland from Saturday, July 24–Sunday, August 8.
Since selling out two Sydney Oxford Art Factories in less than ten 10 minutes back in January, Foals have relased their third studio album, Holy Fire — a sweeping follow up to their sophomore effort Total Life Forever. Holy Fire is an uninhibited mix of emotion and instrument, and should give Yannis Philippakis and the crew plenty of juice with which to fuel their notoriously savage live sets. But while it doesn't stray far from Foals' addictive sound, a blend of riffy math rock and danceable electronics, the album does sound more cohesive than anything the band has released previously. Tickets for Foals' Tivoli show go on sale Monday, 18 March at 9am. https://youtube.com/watch?v=qJ_PMvjmC6M
It's one of the reasons everyone loves Easter: the long weekend that's even longer than usual. Not having to go to work on Monday morning is your dream and ours, and that dream becoming a reality is rare indeed. This Monday, nothing but laziness beckons for most, which sounds like as good a reason as any to find a funky spot to spend your Sunday. You can settle in for a fun day and a big evening — and if that's your plan, Alfred and Constance have you covered. From midday until late, their Easter Sunday House Party is the place to be, with live music followed by DJs playing all your favourite tracks. Iconic Brisbane band the Jungle Giants are also stopping by to spin some tunes on the decks — and take over A&Cs Vanguard Deck — so you know it really is going to be something special. Long live the long weekend!
When it was announced in April last year that German supermarket giant Kaufland was expanding to Australia, it was surprising news. Now, almost a year later, the chain has made an announcement that's even more surprising: it's not expanding to Australia. In a total 180, Kaufland today revealed to the public and its 200 local employees that it would make an "orderly withdrawal" from the Australian market. The reasons for why it has decided to pull the plug on Australia are still a bit vague, with a short statement merely saying that the company wants to concentrate on its "European core markets in the foreseeable future". The withdraw won't be so simple, either. With plans to open a slew of stores across Australian — including 14 in Victoria and three in Queensland — Kaufland has already purchased numerous properties and even, according to The Sydney Morning Herald, started construction on a store in Adelaide and a huge 115,000-square-metre distribution centre in Melbourne. The Australian reports that the company has already spent hundreds of millions of dollars here. In the statement, acting CEO Frank Schumann apologised for the "disruption" the decision will cause. Launched in 1984 and now with 1200 European stores to its name, Kaufland is owned by the Schwarz Group — the world's fourth largest retailer. The chain is big in Germany and parts of Eastern Europe, but this was set to be its first foray into a Pacific market as an alternative to Aldi. The withdrawal has shocked the retail sector — and while it might be good news to Woolworths and Coles, it certainly doesn't reflect well on the current state of the Australian retail market.
It was only a decade ago that fledgeling market startup Finders Keepers launched with 20 stalls and a handful of eager design enthusiasts looking to score an artsy deal. Now the event finds itself sitting as Australia's longest-running art and design market — and this season is going to be huge with an extra evening, longer hours and a bigger spot to hold this bustling artsy medina. Celebrating ten years of giving the city's artisan producers that much-needed exposure, the event will host over 200 stalls for the multitude of market-goers after a bargain, amid a backdrop of live music, bars, coffee carts, food trucks, workshops and a dessert bar. With a friendly entrance fee of just $2 (kids enter free), you'll find everything from hand-crafted furniture, scarves and sarongs, crockery, clutches and many other products from a huge number of local artists and designers. Keep an eye out for Doops Design's bold and bright cushions, J.F.A. Hynd's botanical illustrations and textiles and Brisbane local favourites photographer Kara Rosenlund, fashion designer Alice Nightingale and homewares label Kirralee & Co. Indigenous social enterprise Magpie Goose will also bring fashion items produced in remote NT communities. Finders Keepers runs from November 10–12, 5–10pm on Friday and 9am–4pm on Saturday and Sunday. Images: Samee Lapham
If jungle vibes inside a Brisbane warehouse sounds like your perfect outing, head along to the Jungle Collective's indoor plant sale on Saturday, January 19 and Sunday, January 20. It's the third greenery-filled Brissie market from The Jungle Collective, a Melbourne nursery that stocks all kinds of weird and wonderful species. Yes, it's trucking its way up north again for another Queensland venture. Whether you're after a hanging pot plant, some palms for the garden or a giant Bird of Paradise, chances are you'll find it here. Have a reputation for killing your cacti? Overwatering your ferns? Don't worry — there'll be horticulturalists onsite to give you advice and chat through any questions you might have. With the party and sale taking over a space in Moorooka, you can be inspired by greenery aplenty and learn to incorporate plants into your home and living spaces, all while browsing and soaking up some tunes. Best get in quick though — these markets are always popular, with more than 150 different species usually on offer. Due to the expected demand, the sale will be held in four sessions on both days (8-10am, 10am-noon, 12-2pm and 2-4pm), and attendees will need to register for free tickets from noon on Monday, January 14. Plus, given that the Jungle Collective likes to theme its sales, this one is all about doggos. If you bring your pet pupper in a bag — like you're riding the New York subway — you'll get $5 off your purchase.
For the past three years, Elisabeth Moss has been doing her best to smash and subvert an oppressive patriarchal society, all thanks to The Handmaid's Tale. For seven seasons before that, she had a somewhat similar task in Mad Men, just within the world of 1960s advertising. So if someone has to go face-to-face with an unseen foe in The Invisible Man — an imperceptible figure that happens to be her controlling ex-boyfriend, and that no one else believes exists — then she's a great candidate. As the just-dropped first trailer for this monster movie remake shows, the classic Invisible Man premise has had a thoroughly 21st-century update. Moss plays Cecilia, who's had to flee an abusive relationship with her scientist ex (Oliver Jackson-Cohen, The Haunting of Hill House), but can't escape him that easily. He turns up dead and leaves her a fortune; however strange things then start happening around her. Celia is convinced her violent former lover is behind it — and not only that, but that he's still around, but invisible. Of course, everyone else just thinks she's crazy. Yes, it's HG Wells' sci-fi novel filtered through the concept of gaslighting, in a movie that looks set to stand out from its predecessors — such as the famous 1933 horror version and its many sequels, and 2000's Hollow Man with Kevin Bacon. The Invisible Man marks Universal's latest attempt to revive its iconic monster pictures from the 1920s–50s, after trying to create a Dark Universe series with Dracula Untold and the Tom Cruise-starring version of The Mummy. In fact, a different take on The Invisible Man was initially announced a few years back that'd tie into both of the aforementioned films, with Johnny Depp slated to turn see-through. But then The Mummy crashed at the box office and the studio changed its plans, with Universal now focusing on standalone remakes of its famous horror characters rather than an interconnected on-screen universe. Alongside Moss and Jackson-Cohen, this iteration of the out-of-sight figure also features Australian actress Harriet Dyer (Killing Ground), Aldis Hodge (Straight Outta Compton) and Storm Reid (A Wrinkle in Time). Prolific producer Jason Blum is pulling the strings, and, fresh from the action thrills of Upgrade, Aussie filmmaker Leigh Whannell sits in the director's chair. Also, if any of the movie's surroundings look familiar, that's because it was shot in Sydney. Check out the trailer below. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLAJyugYEiY&feature=youtu.be The Invisible Man releases in Australian cinemas on February 27, 2020.
Adrenaline isn't a standard part of a boozy brunch. No one's pulse is normally racing as they knock back drinks over a mid-morning meal on a leisurely weekend; instead, cruisy vibes are usually on offer. But Vertigo's new Sunday brunch isn't any old brunch, because this Brisbane Powerhouse restaurant isn't any old restaurant — it's located off the side of the New Farm arts venue, 17 metres above the ground. Announced in August 2023, then opening in October the same year, Vertigo is an Australian-first vertical dining experience. A meal here means climbing out to your seat while donning a safety harness, then eating four stories up. Initially, you could only head by for sky-high dinners Thursday–Sunday weekly, but now Vertigo has added champagne brunches on Sunday mornings from 10am to its lineup. On the menu: champagne once you sit down, then fresh fruit and croissants to start. Next, you'll pick between a porchetta and asiago toasted sandwich, spanner crab Spanish omelette, and avocado on sourdough with lime and goat's curd. This brunch features dessert, too, via a death by chocolate flourless torte. You'll also wrap up your time towering over Lamington Street with a coffee. Then comes the second adventurous bit: abseiling off the edge of the building to descent to earth. Once you're back on the ground, you'll sip an Aperol spritz to finish off the experience. The whole thing costs $250, with food provided by fellow Brisbane Powerhouse eatery Bar Alto. Whether you're always on the hunt for new ways to fill your calendar, can't go past a meal with a view, are keen to indulge your adrenaline-junkie side any way that you can or want to see Brisbane from a different perspective, you can tick every box at the riverside venue hanging off Brisbane Powerhouse's industrial facade — satisfying your tastebuds and your stomach while getting your blood pumping. Vertigo's levelled-up meals welcome in tables of two to peer out over Brisbane. There is a big caveat, however, with the restaurant at the mercy of the weather. Something else to note: although you'll get a glass of champers when you sit down, you can't head up if you've been drinking, with everyone breathalysed first and required to return a 0.00-percent blood alcohol reading.
Sure, few of us are able to spend our Christmas day in France — however, we can do the next best thing. Just bring your appetite for tasty cuisine to C'est Bon. Well, that, and a fondness for French tipples. You'll find both at the Woolloongabba restaurant, with the former all included in the $130, six-course lunch menu, and the latter as an additional pay-as-you-go affair. It might sound expensive, but grilled spring lamb tenderloin, twice-cooked free-range turkey galantine with chestnut mousse, and mango and vanilla parfait is certainly worth it. Plus, it'll work out much cheaper than a trip to Paris.
As COVID-19 continues to spread around the globe, travel is in no one's immediate plans — and the airline industry is responding accordingly. In Australia, that means a huge drop in the number of available flights, both overseas and within Australia, with Qantas announcing that it's grounding aircraft and slashing services for the foreseeable future. In a statement, the 100-year-old Aussie airline revealed that it will cut flights from the end of March until the end of May, at least. International flights will be cut by around 90 percent, while domestic flights will fall by approximately 60 percent. Both moves come in response to Australia's current containment and quarantine measures, including the requirement that all international arrivals into the country must self-isolate for 14 days — and, unsurprisingly, the steeply dropping demand for air travel both internationally and domestically. In total, around 150 aircraft will be taken out of service across both the Qantas and Jetstar brands. At present, the company will also stick to its previously announced reductions from late May to mid-September — with capacity cut by 25 percent by using smaller aircraft and reducing the frequency of flights — although that could obviously drop further depending on how the coronavirus situation develops in the next two months. While Qantas hasn't revealed exactly which routes will be affected by the huge 90-percent cut, it's sensible to assume that all of them will. Big changes already announced and operational include postponing the launch of the new Brisbane–Chicago route, sending all Sydney flights to London via Perth rather than Singapore (which, yes, means experiencing that whopping 17-hour non-stop trip from Perth–London), and completely suspending all flights from Sydney–Shanghai and Melbourne–Bangkok. Given the extent of COVID-19's impact, all other airlines are obviously in a comparable situation. While Virgin Australia hasn't updated its plans since March 13, it too has begun reducing services — by six percent overall, including by eight percent internationally. Worldwide, the scenario is the same. Air New Zealand is reducing its capacity by 85 percent overall, and its trips across the Tasman to Australia by 80 percent. Airlines in America, Britain, Europe, Asia and, well, basically everywhere are taking similar measures — as is to be expected as countries everywhere begin to close their borders. For more information about Qantas and Jetstar's reductions, visit the company's website. For further details about Virgin Australia's plans, visit its website. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Australia and how to protect yourself, head to the Australian Government Department of Health's website.
More, less, something, nothing: whether they're used to describe the difference between the amount of time you need and the time you have, or what you have to do and what you'd like to do, these words get bandied about with frequency these days. Have you ever wondered how they apply to artists? Is less more? When they're trying to reflect nothing, can they truly create something? Aaah, minimalism — that's what we're talking about, and it's not a new thing. Less Than: Art and Reductionism tries to condense five decades of thinking into one exhibition. Yep, QUT Art Museum is keeping on trend. The field of reductionist techniques — think repetition, limited or monochrome colour, geometric abstraction, symbolism and the like — is in the spotlight from March 18 to May 21; however, so is a crucial contrast. "The very nature of art is about creating something new, not reducing to less," points out curator Katherine Dionysius. Image: Peter ATKINS, Hume Highway Project (detail) 2010, Fifth of twelve colour screenprints, QUT Art Collection, Purchased 2010.
The Young Chefs' Dinner at Aria is one of the most exciting and unique events in the Good Food Month lineup and offers some truly collaborative and groundbreaking dishes. Six chosen up-and-coming chefs (from The Long Apron, Gauge, Statler & Waldorf, Gerard’s Bistro, Ricky’s River Bar and Esquire)collaborate to create a cohesive menu (one dish each) and then toss the recipes into the fire so they can never be repeated. OK, so we’re not sure they do that, but the dishes are definitely unique to the event. Tickets are $150 (including matched wine and tea/coffee) and are sure to sell out quickly so jump on it. Image: Gerard's Bistro.
Which movie features multiple terrible sex scenes, a ridiculous plot and way too many spoons? Oh hi The Room. When the enigmatic Tommy Wiseau decided to write, direct, produce, fund and act in his own Hollywood breakthrough flick 14 years ago, he couldn't possibly have predicted the cult fame, plastic cutlery and branded underwear that would follow — although, if you asked him today, he'd probably claim otherwise. After all, he spends one of The Room's DVD extras explaining that yes, you really can play football with your friends while wearing a tuxedo and standing three metres apart. Trust him. If it sounds like Wiseau lives in his own absurd world, he'd likely be happy with that. In fact, he once told his pal and co-star Greg Sestero that he'd like to have his own planet. Based on Sestero's behind-the-scenes book about The Room's mind-boggling production, The Disaster Artist is the movie that brings Wiseau back down to earth. Directed by and starring a pitch-perfect James Franco, with supporting performances from his brother Dave as well as Seth Rogen, Jacki Weaver, Zac Efron and Alison Brie, it's a sidesplittingly funny and thoroughly heart-warming look at the man who unwittingly started a phenomenon. A wild true story about obsessively chasing a dream, finding a friend and yearning to belong, this Ed Wood-style effort will make you want to hurl spoons at the screen with sheer joy. With limp black tresses and a vaguely European (or is it New Orleanian?) accent, Franco plays Wiseau not as a joke, but as an eager, aspiring talent who'll climb the walls if he has to. When we first see him channelling his inner Brando in a San Francisco acting class, that's literally what he does. Self-conscious and wide-eyed, 19-year-old Sestero (Dave Franco) is drawn to Wiseau's confidence — enough to ignore the concerns of his mother and move to Los Angeles with his clearly middle-aged new buddy. But the film industry doesn't exactly welcome them with open arms, so Wiseau takes their fate into his own hands. Voila, The Room is born. Much of The Disaster Artist is concerned with revealing how The Room came to be. The now-iconic lines, the stilted performances, the odd non-sequiturs: they're all there, often recreated with shot-for-shot accuracy that'll tear both fans and newcomers apart with laughter. But Franco and writers Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber (500 Days of Summer) are interested in more than just making in-jokes and poking fun at everyone's favourite bad movie. A relatable, genuinely moving and hilarious love letter rather than a lampoon, The Disaster Artist celebrates Wiseau's eccentricity and passion, even when he's sabotaging his own efforts. As such, while there's plenty of comedy, he's never the subject of mockery. When Franco adopts his distinctive mannerisms, it's with sincerity and affection. It helps that, in a different universe, Franco could've very well lived Wiseau's life. Driven by comparable levels of enthusiasm and determination, the Oscar-nominated actor might be one of Hollywood's biggest stars, but he's had more than his share of missteps along the way – including multiple movies that he's directed and starred in that barely saw the light of day. Whether he's yelling Wiseau's unforgettable dialogue or fixing a crooked stare on his co-stars, Franco's turn as Tommy is his best to date, with authenticity as well as earnestness shining through at every moment. His decision to cast his similarly-excellent sibling as Sestero likewise proves a smart one. Together, the Francos evoke an easy familiarity in a movie that is, at its core, about the bonds of brotherhood. With The Disaster Artist, Franco has crafted a riotous film about art imitating life, one that should amuse and inspire regardless of whether you're a fan of The Room or have never heard of Wiseau at all. Not only that, but as award season arrives, it might pull in a few shiny statues too. The older Franco has already won a Gotham Award for his performance, and if he collects a few more trophies, don't be surprised to see Wiseau grace the stage with him insisting he knew it'd turn out this way all along. Whatever happens, The Disaster Artist is one of the year's best movies – and features one of the best on-screen uses of '90s dance track 'Rhythm of the Night' as well. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DT41LF22ZA
During Brisbane Festival, South Bank will be filled with people — but not just in the way you'd expect. Plenty of Brissie folks will flock to the riverside space for shows, gigs and more, and they'll be joined by five giant humanoids eager to explore our fantastic planet. Taking inspiration from the 1973 animated flick Fantastic Planet, this larger-than-life light installation takes over the Cultural Forecourt with a 40-foot-tall spectacle of out-of-this-world sights. With the movie set in a world where such gargantuans roam the earth, rendering humanity as we know it savages, consider this bright, bold piece the next best thing to stepping into that realm.
Sports movies tend to follow a fairly formulaic structure. We meet the competitors; we begin to see their strengths, weaknesses and that potential Achilles heel; we are introduced to their primary competitors; and then, after a couple of well-timed training montages, we watch, bated breath, as our hero manages to defy the odds and win miraculously/lose heroically. If you've seen Rocky, The Fighter, Remember the Titans or a hundred other sports films, then you already know the narrative arc of Ping Pong. Yet despite its predictability, this heartwarming documentary from little-known British director Hugh Hartford manages to sidestep the usual pitfalls of the genre, basically through the sheer strength of the characters. Ping Pong tells the story of the World Over 80s Table Tennis Championships in Inner Mongolia almost entirely through the perspective of the players themselves. There is 81-year-old Terry, who, prior to the tournament, was given a week to live; former bodybuilder Les, who, at 89, still uses weightlifting to prepare for the tournament; the trash-talkin', gun-toting Texan Lisa, whose 85 years have done nothing to diminish her wily competitive streak; and the championship's elder stateswoman, the 100-year-old Aussie Dot. Hartford does what many great documentarians have done before him, retreating from the role of writer. He is happy to simply leave the camera rolling and have the characters tell their own stories — their history, their motivations and what it means to be an athlete in the final chapters of their lives. Yet this picture is far more than simply a series of talking heads. Hartford takes great pains to capture the richness of these characters and their lives. The film takes us into their homes and training venues and watches as they cook strudel, show off old photo collections and, in one of the film's most touching scenes, guide us around the dementia ward that ping pong became a respite from. This level of detail gives the film an immersive quality. Even in a screening filled with cynical critics and hardened media-folk, a championship win from one of the octogenarians had the cinema quietly cheering. Despite the film's fixation on death and mortality, Ping Pong is a surprisingly hopeful and uplifting film. In one scene, Terry boasts that while bowel cancer could take away his penis, it couldn't take away his sex life. We come to see that while these characters may have accepted their impending death, that doesn't mean they're willing to go quietly into that cold night. Add to all this the fact that this may be the first film to show an 89-year-old doing a peck dance. That one was worth the price of admission on its own. https://youtube.com/watch?v=nwFVc2NAt94
Alas! There’s been a murder at Brewsvegas. Was it the brewer? Or perhaps the waitress? Join Embassy Bar on this murder mystery adventure to figure out who did it where and when. Chomp down on substantial canapes while enjoying six of the bar’s finest brews.
Forget everything that you once knew about the Embassy and replace it with chic but rustic decor, 100 craft beers to swoon over and a ridiculously mouth-watering American-style menu, created through the vision of brothers Demetri and Alex Conias. Formerly known for night club-style debauchery, the new Embassy is aimed at a more corporate clientele. The fit-out looks brilliant, with exposed brick and dim light fittings giving the space an organic and cosy feel. The beverage of choice is beer, with 16 taps, a hand pump that is constantly rotated and the aforementioned 100 bottled beers (as well as ciders) to choose from. Beers you may find on tap include well-loved brewers such as Holgate, Stone and Wood and Little Creatures. Chef Rob Campbell is responsible for the very reasonably priced food menu (nothing over $20) that includes mouth-watering bar treats such as jalapeno poppers and buffalo wings. For a larger meal you can enjoy macaroni with three cheeses, Byron Bay beef brisket or swordfish skewers, to name a few.
If you live in the Brisbane City Council, Logan, Moreton Bay, Ipswich, Redlands, Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, Noosa, Somerset, Lockyer Valley and Scenic Rim Local Government Areas, it has been some time since you've been able to flash your smile at people outside of your own home. Since the end of June, in an effort to stop the region's recent COVID-19 cases from spreading, wearing masks has been compulsory across the region — but that mandate is relaxing slightly from 4pm on Friday, August 20. Masks were compulsory under lockdown conditions, obviously, and that requirement remained in place when Brisbane's latest lockdown ended. Come Friday, though, the rules are changing. The big shift: if you're outdoors, you'll only need to mask up if you can't socially distance. Announcing the change — which will be accompanied by relaxed rules regarding gatherings and venues — Queensland's Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young said "face masks have played a big part in our ability to contain the latest clusters. A mask is a simple weapon against a complex virus." She continued: "you must wear it indoors — places like shopping centres, supermarkets, retail outlets, hospitals and aged care facilities — or if you are outside and unable to physically distance." So, you'll now only be required to cover your face in indoor spaces, while waiting for or using public transport or ride share services, at schools, and if you're outdoors and can't socially distance. Also, Queensland has a standing mask mandate for flights, airports and stadiums, so you'll always need to mask up there. And, you'll still always need to carry a mask with you. Indoor and outdoor events and stadiums can have 75% ticketed and allocated seating capacity. People in these local government areas must still carry a mask at all times and wear it when you are indoors, or when you are outside and unable to physically distance. — Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) August 18, 2021 At this stage, the new mask rules will apply until 4pm on Friday, August 27. Queensland currently has 97 active COVID-19 cases, with zero new locally acquired cases reported in the past 24 hours. As always, the usual requests regarding social distancing, hygiene and getting tested if you're feeling even the slightest possible COVID-19 symptoms also still apply — as they have since March last year. Southeast Queensland's COVID-19 restrictions will relax further from 4pm on Friday, August 20, including regarding masks. For more information about the status of COVID-19 in Queensland, head to the QLD COVID-19 hub and the Queensland Health website.
Ahoy there! September 19 is International Talk Like a Pirate Day, a holiday conceived by mateys John Bauer and Mark Summers of Oregon, USA in the mid-'90s. After a plug from American columnist Dave Barry in 2002, a joke between friends grew into an international phenomenon, where ‘arrr’ becomes a universally understood term for a day. In Australia, Talk Like a Pirate Day takes a charitable turn. Talklikeapirateday.org raises a fine loot and then gives it to Childhood Cancer Support, assisting the families of little pirates going through cancer treatment. Share your spoils, mateys! Here are our recommendations for how Brisbane pirates can spend International Talk Like a Pirate Day next Thursday. In the words of Bauer and Summers, “Silliness is the holiday’s best selling point”. So strap on your peg leg and eye patch, switch your Facebook language to Pirate, and off we go! START THE DAY Avast! Didn’t your mother ever tell you that brunch is the most important meal of the day? A good pirate kicks off a long day of mischief with something from Chester Street Bakery & Bar. With its shiny blue wood-fire oven and an all day brunch menu, this is the place pillage some pancakes and throw back some grog. Jug of Bloody Mary? Aye aye! MID MORNING Every pirate needs to be able to sniff out treasure and practice makes perfect. Have your mateys hide your treasure of choice around New Farm Park and hunt it down. Try not to scare too many children. If your treasure hunt works up an appetite, sit down with your crew for a picnic. Ye could even try some of the recipes from the Bake Like a Pirate guide on talklikeapirateday.org. Treasure hunt doesn’t float your boat? Perhaps ye need to get your sea legs back. Catch the City Cat to South Bank – the trip’s not quite long enough to risk scurvy, but just enough to avoid being labeled a blasted landlubber. Smartly now, lass or laddie! Once you’ve reached the hallowed shores of South Bank, pay a visit to the Maritime Museum. There ye can gaze upon some seafarin’ history, including photographs (look out for your pirate ancestors), artwork, and maritime artefacts. MIDDAY If your last few expeditions have yielded plentiful booty, maybe it’s time to spoil your pirate self with a scenic lunch cruise on the Kookaburra Queen. She’s been the grand wench of the Brisbane River for more than 25 years and is a true icon of this great city. Commandeering is not encouraged. If your sea legs have failed and some solid ground is sought, make for either the South Bank Surf Club or Merthyr Bowls club, depending on where ye olde compass points you. At both places you can feast on oysters and fish and chips with a water view worthy of pirate kings. AFTERNOON After lunch it must be high time to walk the plank… straight into the sea monster-free waters of Streets Beach at South Bank. With its tranquil blue waters, white sandy shores and lush surrounds, you’ll feel like you’ve woken up on a deserted tropical island. For the active pirate types, set towards the river once more for kayaking at Riverlife at the bottom of the Kangaroo Point Cliffs. There be no need to abseil (unless that’s the sort of thing that blows your hornpipe) – just follow the walkway along the river. The kayaking tours take you past landmarks like the Botanical Gardens and the Story Bridge. Now there’s a beauty! DINNER A real pirate needs real meaty sustenance – arrr! And what be better after a long day of (nonviolent) pillaging than roast pork carved from the whole pig at Alfred and Constance? Your dinner will be complete with a tropical cocktail from the upstairs Tiki bar, where a model of the famous historical beacon of piracy - Jack Sparrow - shall greet ye. NIGHT CAP The best pirates never have an early night, not when there’s rum to be drunk. Get your crew to prohibition-style hideaway The Walrus Club in Auchenflower. There, ye can soak up the subterranean ambience, enjoy a Cuban cigar and choose from over 300 rum varieties to finish Talk Like a Pirate Day 2013 the way it should be. Arrr!
Each year, we all anticipate the arrival of December 25. Because of the day off, that includes the promise of an afternoon spent dozing in a hammock — and for dessert fiends, it also includes Gelato Messina's annual Christmas cake. We hope you like a certain quintessential Australian dish, because that's what is on the gelato chain's menu again. Yes, Messina is bringing back its version of the trifle. The Christmas Coma will return for its fourth year running — and this time it's particularly decadent. In fact, it's a gelato rocky road trifle, and it comes in a pack with a dulce de leche sourdough panettone, as made in collaboration with Sonoma Bakery. First, the epic ice cream creation. In 2020, the Christmas Coma will once again feature layer upon layer of everything that is good about Christmas — but instead of being soggy and slightly regrettable, this one will have you licking the glass bowl. So what's in it? Well, Messina is going with layers of cherry flummery, rocky road crunch, coconut cream, chocolate mud cake and milk chocolate gelato, then topping it with caramelised peanuts and glace cherries. Plus, it'll come with some Messina brandy custard to douse all over the mess. And, it all serves 20–30 (or less if you really commit). With the 750-gram sourdough panettone, you'll be getting a spiced brioche whipped up by Sonoma's executive pastry chef Alejandro Luna and his team. It takes 36 hours to make, and it's stuffed with Messina's dulce de leche and chocolate, plus Italian dried fruits, nuts and spices. All of the above comes in a Christmas Coma mega pack, which costs $200 and can be pre-ordered from a yet-to-be-revealed date in the week commencing Monday, November 9. Sign up to Messina's VIP list, and you'll get access to a 24-hour pre-sale window before pre-orders open to everyone, too. You'll then be able to pick up your Christmas Coma between Friday, December 18 and Thursday, December 24, all within regular store opening hours — and from all Gelato Messina stores across Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane except The Star. It comes in a Messina cooler bag and, if you keep it in there all sealed up, can survive for up to one hour. In each of the last few years, the trifle sold out super fast, so we suggest you don't wait on this one. The Christmas Coma will be available to order from sometime during the week commencing Monday, November 9. Keep an eye on the Messina website for further details — or sign up to Messina's VIP list to get access to a 24-hour pre-sale window before pre-orders open to everyone.
Twenty-five years ago, a TV sitcom about six New Yorkers made audiences a promise: that it'd be there for us. And, as well as making stars out of Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Matthew Perry, Matt LeBlanc, Lisa Kudrow and David Schwimmer, the hit series has done just that. Sure, Friends wrapped up its ten-season run in 2004, but the show has lived on — on streaming platforms, by sending an orange couch around Australia and by screening anniversary marathons in cinemas. In news that was bound to happen someday — no pop culture entity truly comes to an end in these reboot, remake, revival and spinoff-heavy times — it looks like Friends is going to live on in a much more literal sense, too. The Hollywood Reporter reveals that a deal is in the works to bring back the show for a reunion special on HBO's new streaming platform HBO Max. Naturally, if it happens, all of the gang will be involved. Almost certainly set to be called 'The One with a Reunion', the special will be unscripted — which means that Aniston and company aren't likely to actually step back into Rachel, Monica, Chandler, Joey, Phoebe and Ross's shoes; rather, they'll chat about their experiences on the show. Still, they'll all be on-screen at the same time celebrating the series that so many folks love, which is probably enough for fans. And, really, who knows what could spring from there. We're purely speculating, but if other big 90s sitcoms like Will & Grace, Mad About You and apparently Frasier can make a proper comeback, then surely everyone's favourite Central Perk regulars can as well. Friends creators David Crane and Marta Kauffman are also slated to join the reunion special, if it comes to fruition. If you're wondering when it could happen, THR notes that it'll largely depend on the relevant parties' schedules — although HBO Max is due to launch in the US in May 2020, so perhaps it'll be sooner rather than later. For folks Down Under, there doesn't seem to be a current plan to bring the streaming platform to our shores. Instead, the company appears to be continuing to focus on its existing arrangements with local channels and streamers for the time being. Via The Hollywood Reporter.
UPDATE, January 25, 2022 — Top End Wedding is available to stream via Netflix, Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Amazon Video. If Top End Wedding turns Miranda Tapsell into a huge movie star, then the Australian romantic comedy will have done its job. A shining light on local screens since first appearing in The Sapphires in 2012, she's not only the lead in this likeable film, but a co-writer with Joshua Tyler — and she's glowing across both roles. In fact, Tapsell is one of the key elements keeping the amiable movie bubbling, even when it favours well-worn rom-com cliches and tropes. Earlier this year, she was fierce and frank with Nakkiah Lui in their one-episode takeover of Get Krack!n. Now, she's a delight as an overworked Adelaide lawyer who's not only heading home to Darwin to get hitched, but trying to find her runaway mother before the ceremony. It's a familiar setup, in general terms: nuptials beckon, and so does both personal and professional chaos. Lauren (Tapsell) has been at her demanding boss' (Kerry Fox) beck and call for years, striving to secure a promotion. Then her boyfriend Ned (Gwilym Lee) asks for her hand in marriage on the same day that her work wish comes true. Complicating factors include Ned's newly unemployed status, although he doesn't tell Lauren, and the fact that she's only been given ten days to throw the wedding and return to the grind. Landing in the Northern Territory only adds to the couple's woes, especially with Lauren's mum Daffy (Ursula Yovich) gone AWOL, and her dad Trevor (Huw Higginson) spending his time bawling and listening to love ballads in a cupboard. Although there's no shortage of pals (Shari Sebbens, Elaine Crombie and Dalara Williams) on hand to help with the lightning-fast preparations, Lauren won't tie the knot without her mother present. Tracking Daffy down is a task that's easier said than done, sending Top End Wedding's lovebirds on a tour of the NT. While Australian cinema is guilty of using the country's landscape as an additional character to the point of overkill, director Wayne Blair (The Sapphires) and cinematographer Eric Murray Lui (TV's Rosehaven and Black Comedy) make vibrant use of their locations — indeed, their film is as much of a love letter to the region as it is to its leading lady. Of course, one influences the other. Tapsell is a local, and whether wandering through Kakadu National Park or journeying over to the Tiwi Islands, the movie always feels authentic. Crucially, Top End Wedding also overflows with warmth, which assists the film's template-like narrative considerably. It's glaringly easy to see where the story is heading, and more than a few developments strain the bounds of logic. But two details stand out amongst the hen's night shenanigans, anarchic road trips, convenient miscommunications and multiple layers of family mess. Firstly, there's a difference between lazily adhering to genre conventions and deploying them affectionately, with Tapsell and Tyler's script largely falling into the second category. Secondly, the power and tenderness that emanates from the movie's Tiwi Islands-set third act can't be underestimated. A big-screen sight that's even more rare than an Indigenous Aussie rom-com, the film gives the area a huge hug — embracing and including the local community, highlighting the importance of place to Australia's first peoples and culture, and showcasing this underseen part of the country. The feel-good vibe extends to the movie's performances, with Blair's cast all bouncing along. Like the other rom-com reaching cinemas this week, Long Shot, Top End Wedding also owes a debt to the chemistry between its main couple. When contrivance creeps in (such as detouring for a romantic break when it's already been established that everyone is racing against the clock), Tapsell and Lee surge through. Lee has been having just as a great a year as Tapsell, thanks to his bewigged role as Brian May in multiple Oscar-winner Bohemian Rhapsody, and the two actors make an engaging pair. In Top End Wedding, they help charisma, energy and a fond atmosphere mostly overcome familiarity. When the film finds its broad, joyous sweet spot, especially in its back half, it works a charm. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoDBvGF9pPU
We thought it was pretty cool when we found out you can rent a cave off Airbnb. We got pretty excited when 'Van Gogh' put up his room for rent in Chicago, and we were a little horrified (and, y'know, curious) to know that beds were up for grabs in the Catacombs. But Airbnb have taken their farfetched ideas on where to spend a night to a whole new terrifying level — they're holding a competition to win a night's sleep surrounded by sharks. Blending two things that most of us don't ever want to associate with each other — sharks and sleep — Airbnb are offering three lucky (or unlucky, depending on how you look at it) winners and their guests the chance to spend the night in the Aquarium de Paris. They will sleep in a suspended circular room inside the tank, meaning they will be literally surrounded by 35 circling sharks all night long. Who even needs nightmares? Naturally, the listing for the night at the aquarium has a few house rules. Guests are advised to refrain from taking selfies, avoid seeing Jaws in the nights prior to the visit and to "keep heads and feet in the bedroom at all times". The Airbnb host is freediver and underwater photographer Fred Buyle (we checked out his profile, and he seems legit). He'll introduce the guests to their neighbours for the night, take them on a tour of the aquarium and even get in the tank and "dance" with the sharks. The best news about all of this is that Airbnb will fly the winners to Paris from anywhere in the world. To enter, you've just got to tell Airbnb a little about yourself, where you live and why you belong with the sharks for a night in 550 words of less. Enter here by 11.59pm CET on April 3. Let's hope your Airbnb reviews are good ones.
Trade in the eggs and bunnies this Easter Sunday for an afternoon of beer and beats at the Elephant Hotel's annual block party. Last year their lineup included Delta Riggs and Strewth, and this lineup betters that with some of Brisbane and Queensland's biggest music names. High-flying garage rockers Millions will be joined by Morning Harvey, Bassethounds, Dinosaur Dreams and Big Bag Echo. Before, in-between and after these live sets, James Wright, Brisbane Society of Sound, Pool Boys and Akimbo will be DJing at the Elephant decks. Entry is free, the dress code is relaxed and all will take place in the Elephant Hotel's massive backyard, so bring a crowd of friends along for some holiday celebrating. The party kicks of at 3pm. That's more than enough time to squeeze in Easter lunch with the family, and don't forget the Monday is a public holiday. Make this an Easter to remember at The Elephant Hotel.
In 1961, on an assignment from the New Yorker, superstar academic Hannah Arendt travelled to her native Germany to cover the trial of Adolf Eichmann, 'architect of the Holocaust'. Instead of being struck by his coldness or inhumanity at the trial, Arendt found Eichmann an "unimpressive" and "unremarkable" figure who presented himself a bureaucrat who merely followed orders. Her reaction was not the one she expected, nor one many people wanted to hear, but her bafflement went on to inform a work which helped readers understand how an almost unfathomably dark chapter in human history had unfolded. The main focus of the biopic Hannah Arendt is the fallout after that article (which was expanded into a book) was published. Many thought it a betrayal of her own Jewish heritage or a slanderous, self-serving provocation. The university where she once received gooey-eyed affection from her adoring students asks her to justify her continued employment there and social schisms spring up as former friends and allies turn against her. Directed in solid, determinedly no-frills style by Margarethe Von Trotta, Hannah Arendt is a reminder that a work which is now almost universally accepted as a key insight into the horrors of the Holocaust and the operation of a genocidal machine was considered incendiary and worse at the time of publication. Read our full review of Hannah Arendt here. Hannah Arendt is in cinemas on Thursday, March 13, and thanks to Curious Distribution, we have ten double in-season passes to give away. To be in the running, subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter (if you haven't already), then email us with your name and address. Sydney: win.sydney@concreteplayground.com.au Melbourne: win.melbourne@concreteplayground.com.au Brisbane: win.brisbane@concreteplayground.com.au https://youtube.com/watch?v=WTQNWgZVctM
Back in the 2000s, if you weren't listing to Interpol and Bloc Party, were you really in the 2000s? No, no you weren't. The former arrived out of Manhattan in the late 90s, then helped define the city's turn-of-the-century indie music scene with The Strokes, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, TV on the Radio and The National. Hailing from Britain and also coming together just before Y2K, the latter initially scored some hefty approval in 2003 via Franz Ferdinand's lead singer Alex Kaprano. From those beginnings, both bands became indie rock greats. Next, they're heading to Australia to remind music lovers why. Busting out everything from 'Slow Hands' to 'She's Hearing Voices', the two groups will share the same bill on a co-headlining tour of the country's east coast in November, including a show at Brisbane's Riverstage on Wednesday, November 22. For Interpol, it'll be their first visit Down Under since 2019, plus their debut chance to play 2022 album The Other Side of Make-Believe in Australia. Tracks from past records such as Turn on the Bright Lights, Antics and El Pintor will also feature. Bloc Party are making the trip after last rocking Aussie stages in 2018, and will perform songs from Silent Alarm, A Weekend in the City, Intimacy and 2022 LP Alpha Games. Bloc Party images: James Kellegher. Interpol image: Ebru Yildiz.
What would you do if you were a little less freaked out by consequences? Would you talk to more new people, fear a bit less, dance a little more like FKA Twigs, quit your desk job and start that business you've always wanted to give a red hot go? Some sparkling young Australians are already flinging their inhibitions into a ziplock bag and seizing this little ol' life with both hands. Concrete Playground has teamed up with the Jameson crew to give you a sneak peek into the lives of bold characters who took a big chance on themselves. They've gone out on a limb and rewritten their path, encapsulating 'Sine Metu', the Jameson family motto which translates to 'without fear' — getting outside your comfort zone and trying something new. After all, we only get one shot at this. Take notes. Dreaming big is easy. Following through on that dream — that's where the hard work begins. Junky Comics' owner Vlada Edirippulige knows this, but a year after opening her own store, she wouldn't have it any other way. Also known as illustrator Junky and as a member of local band Major Leagues, her commitment to boosting Brisbane's arts scene shows just what can happen when you embody 'Sine Metu', set your mind to something and throw caution to the wind. We had a chat to Vlada about how taking a big chance has paid off in a big way. You can read the interview over here. Want to experience a little bit of 'Sine Metu' yourself? Vlada's being a total legend and helping us give away $1000 worth of rare comic books from her own Junky Comics collection, so you can see for yourself what happens when bold humans take big creative chances with big payoffs. This whopping prize includes the complete Walking Dead series 1-23, Hip Hop Family Tree by Ed Piskor, the complete Scott Pilgrim colour hardcover series and The Complete Wimmen's Comix. Enter here to win. And enjoy Jameson responsibly, folks.
Just in time for your summer binge sessions, streaming platform Stan has revealed their next huge addition: a hefty lineup of films and TV shows from The Walt Disney Company. From Friday, December 14, the Australian service will welcome the wonderful world of Disney to its selection. And, that doesn't just mean Disney's own animated and live-action efforts, but movies and series from Disney-owned companies Pixar, Marvel and Lucasfilm, too. Whether you want to enjoy gorgeous animated stories, jump into the Marvel Cinematic Universe or head to a galaxy far, far away, the Disney range will bring a heap of your favourites to Stan — think all three Toy Story flicks, the live-action likes of Maleficent and Cinderella, this year's big superhero hits Black Panther and Avengers: Infinity War, and both Star Wars: Episode VIII — The Last Jedi and Solo: A Star Wars Story. Want to catch up on the original The Lion King before the new version comes out next year? Fancy watching all three Thor films? They're also on the lineup. Other Disney and Pixar titles heading Stan's way include Wall-E, Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, Finding Nemo, Cars, Cars 2, Monsters Inc., Monsters University, The Incredibles and Big Hero 6 — and, if you just can't let it go, Frozen as well. From Marvel's slate, the three Iron Man movies, the first two Captain America films and the initial Ant-Man are all on the bill, and the first two Avengers flicks alongside Infinity War. For younger viewers, animated shows including Tangled: The Series, Star Wars Rebels and Duck Tales will also hit Stan's queue. That's your holiday viewing sorted — and while you can reasonably expect that this big batch of Disney content will be available for a while, it's likely a short-to-medium term arrangement, given that Disney is launching its own streaming platform in 2019. Stan's Disney lineup will be available from Friday, December 14.
"Space movie mashup" isn't the best name for a film, but in Passengers' case, it would've fit. So would've the much too wordy "intergalactic love story with a predictable twist". Let's try a third one on for size: "attractive actors find a way to pair up…as they're hurtling towards another galaxy". The formula is simple, with Chris Pratt and Jennifer Lawrence the good-looking talent in question, a spaceship heading to a new planet their setting, and both sparks and conflict flying. Here's how Passengers starts out: mechanical engineer Jim Preston (Pratt) wakes up on board the starship Avalon, only to discover that he hasn't quite reached his destination yet. Thanks to a hibernation pod malfunction, he's up and moving 90 years too early — and, among the 5000 folks snoozing on board, he's the only living soul wandering the vessel's many decks, rooms, basketball court, dance floor and pool with an intergalactic view. Android bartender Arthur (Michael Sheen) pours a mean drink but is no substitute for real human company, and soon loneliness and despair begin to set in. Much to Jim's relief, pretty young writer Aurora Lane (Lawrence) eventually joins him; however their romantic bliss isn't exactly what it seems. With The Imitation Game's Morten Tyldum directing a script that was actually written a decade ago by Doctor Strange scribe Jon Spaihts, what follows is as standard as it sounds, even with the aforementioned twist. Indeed, while Passengers' big plot development isn't divulged in the film's trailers, it's not at all difficult to guess. Moreover, while the eventual revelation drives much of the movie's drama, it's really just a way to bring the two characters together, tear them apart, and leave the audience waiting for a reunion. The end result is an interstellar effort that veers into creepy territory; a film that recognises the moral dilemma at its core, but doesn't take more than a cursory moment or two to really explore it. The same can be said for its broader existential leanings, both when Jim is alone and when Aurora awakens. You won't find Moon's musings on isolation, Solaris' pondering of love and loss, or Sunshine's psychological complexity here. Still, it's hard not to make the comparison — and before long you may find yourself wishing you were watching one of those films instead. Passengers does its best to coast through the cinematic realm fuelled by star power and shiny surfaces, boasting enough of both to keep your eyes engaged, but not your heart or mind. Pratt and Lawrence are in fine, charismatic form, even if they never particularly sell their rapport. Sheen, meanwhile, is sadly underused as the only other actor with a significant speaking role. All in all, the movie may look the space-bound part, but it ends up feeling far too generic.
You swing by Starbucks before work, longing for a latte or flat white to bring you to life before a morning full of meetings. The barista hands over your cup of energy for the day and with a smile on your face you continue your journey to the office. You finally lift the cup to take a sip, and much to your dismay instead of enjoying the first taste of caffeine your tongue is brutally scalded by the piping hot liquid. You now have a temporary lisp and food is tasteless for the next three days. Not anymore — Coffee Joulies have come to the rescue of burnt tongues everywhere. The coffee-bean sized capsules are made of a thermodynamic, non-toxic material surrounded by stainless steel and are designed to cool hot beverages three times faster than normal and maintain a "perfect" drinking temperature for twice as long. How does it work? The Joulies are made to melt at about 60 degrees Fahrenheit (coffee is typically brewed at 90, give or take), and as they melt they absorb that extra heat from the drink. When the drink starts to cool down, the Joulies release that heat and begin to re-solidify. They may be called Coffee Joulies but they work for any hot drink, tea, hot chocolate, you name it.
A Secret Service agent-turned-bodyguard falls for the superstar singer he's been hired to protect. It's pegged as one of cinema's most iconic love stories, with Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner first tugging at our heartstrings back in 1992. And now, The Bodyguard is set to come alive for the Australian stage, with producers David Ian, Michael Harrison and John Frost today announcing they'll be bringing their award-winning musical show Down Under next year. Set to kick off in Sydney in April 2017, this local production of The Bodyguard — which follows the just-as-awesome news that Moulin Rouge! will finally be made into a stage show — comes off the back of a wildly successful and star-studded run in London theatres, and record-breaking UK tour, which commenced in February this year. Based on the eponymous Warner Bros. film and adapted for the stage by Academy Award winner Alexander Dinelaris, The Bodyguard musical features all those epic Houston tracks that audiences fell in love with the first time around. According to co-producer Frost, the emotionally-charged storyline, along with those "soaring ballads" — like 'Queen of The Night', 'I Wanna Dance With Somebody' and the legendary 'I Will Always Love You' (you know the ones) — were simply destined for the stage. The album is still the biggest selling movie soundtrack of all time. Yep. Still. The Bodyguard The Musical will come to Australia in 2017, and will start its national tour in Sydney. More details, including tour dates and additional cities, will be released soon. If you're a keen bean, a waitlist for priority tickets is now open at thebodyguardmusical.com.au.
Technology just keeps getting smaller and smaller. UK game developer David Braben has created the prototype for a mini computer, so tiny and efficiently manufactured that it could be provided to school kids for free. It's called the Raspberry Pi USB computer, and it functions as a real PC, with USB and HDMI ports meaning you can hook it up to a keyboard and television screen in no time. The Raspberry Pi Foundation exists to promote the study of computer science and related topics, especially at school level, and to put the fun back into learning computing. "We plan to develop, manufacture and distribute an ultra-low-cost computer, for use in teaching computer programming to children. We expect this computer to have many other applications both in the developed and the developing world," reads a description of the Pi project on the foundation Web site. https://youtube.com/watch?v=pQ7N4rycsy4 [Via Mashable]
When Brisbane's annual four-day weekend rolls around, there's time enough to a little bit of everything. Fancy sleeping in and getting comfy on the couch? Sure, devote 24 hours to that. Keen to roam far and wide, getting a big dose of nature? Again, slot it in the calendar. Want to hang out by the river, drinking brews, listening to live tunes and playing games on the grass? Slot that in for Saturday, March 30–Sunday, March 31, too. The place to head: CBD riverside precinct Howard Smith Wharves, which is hosting Easter Extravaganza on the Main Lawn. For two days, Brisbanites can kick back by the water, have a bite to eat, get sipping and celebrate all things Easter on the spot's patch of turf. On Saturday, you'll want to head from 12pm till late. On Sunday, the fun runs from 10.30am, also till late. Whichever suits, there'll be gelato, gourmet sandwiches and a sausage sizzle to tuck into, plus cocktails, wine and Felons' beers. For kids, there's also an Easter egg hunt at 10.30am on the Sunday, with 10,000-plus chocolate orbs waiting to be found. Entry is free all weekend, but you'll be paying for whatever you eat and drink.
For the past 11 years, Australians that are fond of a tipple have been familiar with one particular figure: two standard drinks per day. Equating to 14 drinks per week, that's the maximum number of standard beverages that Aussies were told they should consume to minimise the risk of health repercussions from their boozing, as per the National Health and Medical Research Council's (NHMRC) guidelines on the subject. But that amount has just been revised as part of the first revamp of those recommendations since 2009. Now, as initially flagged this time last year but officially confirmed today, Tuesday, December 8, by the NHMRC, only ten drinks per week is recommended. Staying within that number will "reduce the risk of harm from alcohol-related disease or injury" in healthy men and women, the organisation advised. And if you're wondering how many of those ten tipples you should have in one sitting, the NHMRC says you shouldn't exceed four standard drinks on any single day. If you need a reminder, a standard drink is defined as ten grams of pure alcohol, no matter what type of beverage you're sipping. That's around 285 millilitres of full-strength beer or a can of mid-strength beer — and 100 millilitres of wine or a single shot of spirits. Sticking within the new guidelines — which aren't rules or laws, but recommendations — means that you'll have "less than a one in 100 chance of dying from an alcohol-related condition", Australia's Acting Chief Medical Officer Professor Paul Kelly says. "Every year there are more than 4000 alcohol-related deaths in Australia, and more than 70,000 hospital admissions. Alcohol is linked to more than 40 medical conditions, including many cancers," he explains. Just how many bevvies you should have a week and a day comprises the first guideline. You'll already be well aware of the other two. They recommend that children and people under 18 years of age should not drink alcohol — which has been legislated, of course — and that women who are pregnant, planning a pregnancy or breastfeeding shouldn't either. The change to the number of standard drinks recommended per week came about after a wide-ranging analysis and review by the NHMRC — into "health effects of drinking alcohol, modelling, data on Australian drinking patterns and best practice guideline development processes", the statement about the change advises. An Alcohol Working Committee was formed, featuring independent health experts such as doctors, medical and public health professionals, researchers and consumer representatives, to guide the development of the new guidelines. And then the NHMRC Council, which includes the Chief Medical Officers of the Commonwealth and each state and territory, endorsed the new guidelines. Alcohol industry body Alcohol Beverages Australia has already voiced its unhappiness about the new recommendation, while the Cancer Council has come out in support of the changes — with the latter noting that three percent of cancers diagnosed in Australia are caused by alcohol. For more information about Australia's new guidelines for reducing the health risks from drinking alcohol, head to the National Health and Medical Research Council website.
To understand why Brisbane-based, extreme acrobatics circus troupe Circa has gained such a dedicated global following, look no further than their new show Humans. After world premiering at this year's Sydney Festival, it's swinging into town to show why the company keeps earning rave reviews. Here, Circa's award-winning director Yaron Lifschitz fuses jaw-dropping acrobatics with contemporary dance and theatre in a joyous celebration of what it means to be human. See amazing poses like the one above, as performers explore the physical limits of their bodies and push themselves to the extreme, as they question how much we can take as humans.
By this stage, most of us have come to terms with the fact that jetting off to USA or Europe is a seriously long slog, made worse by unavoidable (sometimes long, always painful) stopovers. But that European or American trip could soon become a whole lot more bearable, with Qantas not only working towards launching direct flights between the east coast and both London and New York by 2022, but beginning to run trial journeys this year. In October, November and December, the airline will pilot three ultra long-haul research flights, using new Boeing 787-9s. The aircraft will simulate two routes that are at the heart of Qantas' proposed new non-stop plan, which is called Project Sunrise, flying from New York and London to Sydney. That New York trip will mark the first world's first flight by a commercial airline direct from the Big Apple to Sydney, while the London jaunt will be the second time such a journey has been made. The last time the latter happened was back in 1989, when Qantas made the trek on a Boeing 747-400 with just 23 people on board. Don't go packing your bags, though — the aim is to gather data about inflight passenger and crew health and wellbeing, with only around 40 people making the trip. They'll be comprised of crew and Qantas employees, and they'll be fitted with wearable technology devices to monitor their monitor sleep patterns, food and beverage consumption, physical movement and use of the entertainment system during the flights. The results will then be assessed by scientists and medical experts from the Charles Perkins Centre. Pilots will also take part, working with Monash University researchers to record their melatonin levels before, during and after the flights, as well as their brain wave patterns and alertness — to help ascertain the best work and rest pattern when they're commanding those long-haul services. While spending nearly a day on one single plane is better than jumping on and off different vessels multiple times, it's not without its physical, mental and emotional toll — as anyone who has made the trip with Qantas from Perth to London knows, which is what makes this testing so important. Announcing the trial, Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce explained that, "for customers, the key will be minimising jet lag and creating an environment where they are looking forward to a restful, enjoyable flight. For crew, it's about using scientific research to determine the best opportunities to promote alertness when they are on duty and maximise rest during their down time." Back in 2017, Qantas first revealed that it was exploring non-stop routes from Sydney — routes that would eclipse those direct flights between Perth and London, which launched in March 2018. Since then, the airline has been pursuing the idea enthusiastically, putting out a call for aircraft that can handle the trip and widening their plan to include departures to and from Brisbane as well. In numbers, the planes will need to be able to handle more than 19 hours in the air (around 20 hours and 20 minutes between Sydney and London, and 18-hours and seven minutes from Sydney to New York). The airline has done its homework, analysing a decade's worth of wind and weather data to confirm the lengthy routes are actually possible. Now it just needs the aircraft, with Airbus and Boeing both pitching vessels (A350 and 777X) that are capable of doing the job. Qantas is expected to announce their decision, including whether the whole project will progress to making commercial flights, by the end of December 2019. Right now, the world's longest direct flight clocks in at over 19 hours, with Singapore Airlines flying 15,322-kilometres along its Singapore-to-New York route. Previously, the journey from Doha and Auckland earned that honour, taking around 18 hours to travel 14,529 kilometres.
Nominated for the Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film, family drama The Past is writer-director Asghar Farhadi's first film since 2011 release A Separation, one of the most critically lauded films of the past decade. It begins with Ahmad (Ali Mosaffa) arriving in Paris from Tehran to finalise divorce proceedings with Marie (Berenice Bejo). He wanted her to book him a hotel — she hasn't, the first crack in the veneer of politeness. Temporarily back at his former home after a four-year absence, he finds Marie is now living with Samir (Tahar Rahim). The home is a mess of wet paint and half-finished renovations, as though in the process of removing any trace of Ahmad's time there. Ahmad has to share a room with Samir's eight-year-old son, Fouad (Elyes Aguis), who is acting out because of his confusion about the divorce. Ahmad snipes at Marie about this arrangement and the ensuing bickering bothers Samir, who senses there is something too familiar about their disagreements, that the feuds have the tone of a couple with unfinished business. Meanwhile, Ahmad's teenage daughter, Lucie (Pauline Burlet), has become unhappy and is often absent from home, largely because of the circumstances of Samir's split with his wife and his new relationship with her mother, as well as her own guilt at a train of events she believes she has set in motion. The Past starts off being about the final dissolution of Ahmad and Marie's relationship and the messy, unsatisfying experience of formally ending their marriage, but the story soon spirals off into something else entirely. Just when one strand seems to have exhausted itself, another complication arises, adding to the tragic mess these characters find themselves in. Yet while it is a film of revelations, there is never hint of melodrama and the story unfolds with complete, compelling realism. The small details are incredibly well-observed: one scene where Samir asks Lucie to pass him a kettle and she holds it so he has to scald his hands on the hot surface speaks volumes of their relationship, as does his almost comically stoic refusal to acknowledge what is happening. Another scene places Ahmad and Samir at a table together and watches as their silence and awkward refusal to engage with each other grows into something almost painful. Berenice Bejo won the Best Actress award at Cannes for her committed performance here, but The Past is a true ensemble piece with Burlet exceptional as the shell-shocked, troubled Lucie and Rahim having some brilliant moments as his Samir develops from being a sullen figure annoyed by the arrival of his lover's ex-husband into something much more layered and complex. A film that is rarely less than compelling for its entire running time, The Past gets even better in its wrenching unforgettable final scene, which is all the more emotionally powerful for unfolding at a glacial pace. Acting as both a haunting coda to proceedings and shedding new light on the motivations of its characters, it is an overwhelming last gasp of a truly great film. https://youtube.com/watch?v=Z2-_lt4kwXE
In these tumultuous modern times — these times of Pottermore, Fantastic Beasts spinoffs and The Cursed Child — it's comforting to be able to take it back to basics. Basics, here, meaning the score of the Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone film played live by the Queensland Symphony Orchestra. That's right — just like their counterparts in Sydney, the QSO are taking us back to 2001 when the first of the eight Harry Potter films came out. It made us cringe (the acting — so bad but so good), marvel at how not hot Neville Longbottom was (boy, would we learn) and — most importantly — float away on a magical adventure thanks to the incredible score by John Williams. In two sessions taking place next April 1st (and no, this isn't an April Fool's joke), you'll be able relive the magic all over again when the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre screens the film scored by a real, live orchestra. Maybe they'll release live owls! Maybe not because that would be chaos. Maybe they'll release live rats? Actually, absolutely not — we all know rats are secretly fat old criminals hiding from magical law enforcement and waiting for the Dark Lord to rise again (lookin' at you, Pettigrew). As you might imagine, tickets are selling like pumpkin pasties; in fact the first concert was more popular than butterbeer, leading to the lightning-fast announcement of the afternoon session. So, you'd best get in quick or spend eternity griping about it like some Moaning Myrtle-type character. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone will screen at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre at 1.30pm and 7.30pm on April 1, 2017. Grab tickets here.
A glorious handful of Australia's most celebrated restaurants will be waking up with a big ol' smile this morning, finding a spot amongst the mightily prestigious World's Best Restaurants list overnight. Sydney's Sepia and Quay nabbed a highly coveted spot on the list, as well as Victoria's Brae, with the top 51-100 announced separately for the first time ever. Judged by international critics and industry heavyweights, the World's Best Restaurants is a worldwide poll holding some pretty heavy weight. Sydney's longtime culinary leader Quay came in at 58, while super Sydney hotspot Sepia (who was just voted by Australia's top chefs and restaurateurs as Best Restaurant in Australia in the Australian Financial Review Top 100 Restaurants) came in at 84. Dan Hunter's Birregurra restaurant Brae in Victoria came in at 87, a win for the non-CBD-dwelling establishment. The top 50 has yet to be announced, in fact, it's a first that the World's Best list organisers have revealed the 51-100 list already. The top 50 will be announced in London next Monday, at a super fancy awards ceremony with probably insane function food. Who's up for the top spots? Last year's list saw Copenhagen's Noma take out the top spot, followed by El Celler de Can Roca in Girona, Spain and Massimo Bottura's Osteria Francescana in Modena, Italy. There are high hopes for Ben Shewry's Attica, which came in at second in the AFR Top 100 and hit number 32 in the World's Best list last year — the only Australian restaurant in the Top 50. The Top 50 World's Best Restaurants will be announced next Monday, June 1. For this year's 51-100 list, head over here. Via Good Food.
If you happen to be in Thailand in February and you spy Harry Potter's Jason Isaacs, Mission: Impossible's Michelle Monaghan, The League's Leslie Bibb and all-round icon Parker Posey, congrats: you will have spotted some of the cast of The White Lotus season three in the country to film the hit HBO show's next batch of episodes. The best new series on TV in 2021, and one of the best returning series of 2022 as well, The White Lotus is heading to the Asian nation after spending season one unleashing ultra-lavish hell in Hawaii and season two getting scathing in Sicily. Season three's location isn't new news, but the fact that Isaacs (The Crowded Room), Monaghan (The Family Plan), Bibb (God's Favourite Idiot), Posey (Beau Is Afraid), Dom Hetrakul (The Family) and Tayme Thapthimthong (Thai Cave Rescue) will be experiencing a chaotic getaway — or somehow involved with a White Lotus hotel — is a fresh development. [caption id="attachment_934932" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Crowded Room[/caption] The Mike White (Brad's Status)-created, -written and -directed series will also bring back a familiar face from its first season, as it did in season two. As fans of the Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning drama know, sadly Jennifer Coolidge (We Have a Ghost) won't be returning, unless the anthology series tells a prequel in the future, gets the undead involved or makes heavy use of flashbacks. Someone she spent a heap of screen time with in The White Lotus' debut season is popping up again, however: Natasha Rothwell (Wonka) as Belinda Lindsey, the spa manager who had been hoping to get Coolidge's Tanya McQuoid to invest in her dream business. Rothwell, Isaacs and company will obviously have more company, but that's the full list of cast members that've been revealed for now. No storyline details have been unveiled, and neither has a premiere date — but you'll be waiting till 2025 to see what happens in The White Lotus realm next. [caption id="attachment_934934" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Beau Is Afraid[/caption] The show will shoot its third season in Koh Samui, Phuket and Bangkok, with HBO partnering with the Tourism Authority of Thailand "to support the filming and promotion of the third installment", the US network advised. Yes, expect everyone you know to want to vacation in Thailand as a result. Thapanee Kiatphaibool, the country's Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, certainly does. "Thailand has long been considered one of the world's favourite filming locations. The White Lotus project will certainly strengthen the kingdom's status as a preferred filming destination and a beacon of experience-based tourism, inspiring even more visitors to amazing Thailand," Kiatphaibool said in a statement. Based on past seasons, the nation will backdrop a searing — and supremely entertaining — takedown of one percent, their lavish getaways, their deep-seated problems, and the gross inequality between the haves and have nots. And, it'll spark sleuthing, given that someone winding up dead has been part of all prior seasons as well. HBO announced that it was bringing The White Lotus back for a third go-around mere episodes into season two. Originally, the show was meant to be a one-and-done miniseries, but it was that excellent (and that popular) that it's now running with the anthology setup. White has hinted at focusing on "death and Eastern religion and spirituality" in season three. "It feels like it could be a rich tapestry to do another round at White Lotus," he said in a clip at the end of season two's finale. There's obviously no trailer yet for The White Lotus' third season, but you can check out the trailers for seasons one and two below: The White Lotus' third season will arrive sometime in 2025, but doesn't yet have a release date — we'll update you when one is announced. The first and second seasons of The White Lotus are available to stream via Binge in Australia and Neon in New Zealand. Read our full reviews of season one and two. The White Lotus images: Fabio Lovino and Mario Perez / HBO.
With restaurant doors closed to dine-ins and weekend getaways on hold, lots of Victorian producers are living life on the back foot right now. But of course, there's always room in your life for some locally made or -grown goodies, pandemic or otherwise. And now, you can find countless ways to support our homegrown heroes from the comfort of your couch, with the Victorian Government's new Click for Vic campaign. This new website's all about celebrating Victorian businesses and encouraging users to continue shopping local via a curation of online stores. Scroll through to find a handy edit of local booze brands, coffee merchants, fashion retailers, makers and creatives, food producers and more. You can hone in on giftwares to find that special pressie, take a virtual shopping tour of your favourite weekend destination, or browse a selection of eateries offering takeaway and pick-up fare. [caption id="attachment_775941" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Maha on Providoor[/caption] Click for Vic's also partnered up with a handful of other specialised sites to help keep Melburnians connected to their local producers, all of which can be accessed here as well. The Regional Pantry's online store is stocked with a range of goodies from all Yarra Valley producers, while High Country At Home showcases products from across the High Country region, along with expert-led virtual experiences like gin appreciation sessions and cooking classes. Co-Lab Pantry is slinging ready-made meals and pantry staples from a lineup of much-loved Melbourne venues, and over at Providoor, you can order chef-prepared dishes from favourites like Supernormal and Bomba, designed to finish and devour at home. Plus, you'll find a sprawling selection of homewares, gifts, fresh produce, booze and more, to browse and buy online from the Victorian Country Market website. Set up like a virtual marketplace, this one's easy to shop by category or region, with a broad lineup of offerings promising hours of retail therapy. Shop a huge range of local wares by heading to the Click for Vic website. Top images: Co-Lab Pantry
At Boho Luxe Market (the event's term, not ours), Byron Bay comes to Brisbane. Well, the beachy New South Wales spot's general vibe does at least. Forgoing the trappings of the city for bohemian fashion, jewellery, homewares and the like is on the market's agenda, and has been since it made the jump from Melbourne to Brisbane in 2019. Clearly we responded well to three days of dreamcatchers and flower crowns — because it keeps coming back again and again, including for its second stint in 2022 right in the lead up to festive season. If that sounds like your kind of thing, then block out Friday, November 18–Sunday, November 20 in your diary for the market's Christmas event. The Boho Luxe Market will head to The Old Museum for a weekend of browsing and buying, food trucks, live music and more. A picnic spot decked out boho-style and pop-up bars are also part of the fun. Usually there's also be a dedicated vegan section, plus a kombi display and glamping providers tempting you into booking your next holiday — so fingers crossed they'll return. Entry costs $6.36 per day or $11.64 for all three. Drop by and pretend you're somewhere quiet and coastal on Friday from 5pm–9pm, Saturday from 9am–5pm, and Sunday from 9am–3pm. Images: Romana Saeheng Elope / Samee Lapham.
UPDATE, Friday, June 21, 2024: May December is available to stream via Binge, Prime Video, YouTube Movies and iTunes. A line about not having enough hot dogs might be one of its first, but May December is a movie of mirrors and butterflies. In the literal sense, director Todd Haynes wastes few chances to put either in his frames. The Velvet Goldmine, Carol and Dark Waters filmmaker doesn't shy away from symbolism, knowing two truths that stare back at his audience from his latest masterpiece: that what we see when we peer at ourselves in a looking glass isn't what the rest of the world observes, and that life's journey is always one of transformation. Inspired by the real-life Mary Kay Letourneau scandal, May December probes both of these facts as intently as anyone scrutinising their own reflection. Haynes asks viewers to do the same. Unpacking appearance and perception, and also their construction and performance, gazes from this potently thorny — and downright potent — film. That not all metamorphoses end with a beautiful flutter flickers through just as strongly. May December's basis springs from events that received ample press attention in the 90s: schoolteacher Letourneau's sexual relationship with her sixth-grade student Vili Fualaau. She was 34, he was 12. First-time screenwriter Samy Burch changes names and details in her Oscar-nominated script — for Best Original Screenplay, which is somehow the film's only nod by the Academy — but there's no doubting that it takes its cues from this case of grooming, which saw Letourneau arrested, give birth to the couple's two daughters in prison, then the pair eventually marry. 2000 TV movie All-American Girl: The Mary Kay Letourneau Story used the recreation route; however, that was never going to be a Haynes-helmed feature's approach. The comic mention of hot dogs isn't indicative of May December's overall vibe, either: this a savvily piercing film that sees the agonising impact upon the situation's victim, the story its perpetrator has spun around herself, and the relentless, ravenous way that people's lives and tragedies are consumed by the media and public. While Oscar nods mightn't have come of it, May December is also an acting masterclass by two thespians who already have one such shiny trophy on their mantles each, plus a performer who turns in a stunner of a portrayal that's his best yet. With Haynes behind the camera, this is no surprise: watching the talent before his lens, even when they're Barbie dolls in Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story (the genuinely plastic rather than Margot Robbie kind), means bathing in pure emotion. In her fifth film for the director after Safe, Far From Heaven, I'm Not There and Wonderstruck, Julianne Moore (Sharper) perfects the clash of control and insecurity within Gracie Atherton-Yoo, the movie's Letourneau substitute. It's a magnificent effort from someone who is never anything less than that — and Natalie Portman (Thor: Love and Thunder), who plays a part so sharp that it cuts as Elizabeth Berry, an actor preparing to play Gracie in a new picture, is every bit her equal. With Charles Melton (Riverdale) as Gracie's husband Joe Yoo, there's a case of art imitating life, in a way. His character spends Elizabeth's visit and his entire time with Gracie coming second, and he's behind his co-stars in terms of fame, but it's Joe's plight that's the core of May December and also Melton's performance that hauntingly lingers. This film begins with faeces as well, which isn't emblematic of what's to come, either, but still an important inclusion. A package of it sits on the Yoo family's doorstep when Elizabeth arrives to meet them for the first time — and Gracie makes it clear that this has happened before. May December sets its narrative 23 years after Gracie and Joe were initially caught together. They were colleagues at a pet store aged 36 and 13, respectively. They now have three kids, one (Piper Curda, The Flash) at college and twins (debutant Gabriel Chung and Somewhere in Queens' Elizabeth Yu) graduating high school, and have built a life after Gracie's prison sentence. Still residing in Savannah, Georgia, as they always have, she baked cakes and he's most passionate about raising monarch butterflies. There's a wariness over Elizabeth's project among the Yoos, but reassurance that this will be a sensitive take is also part of her time with her latest subject and her spouse. Make no mistake, because Haynes and Burch don't: for the role that she's hoping will elevate her beyond the TV series that she's best-known for, Elizabeth sees Gracie and Joe as mere source material. She interviews others, such as Gracie's first husband (DW Moffett, Monarch) and her eldest son from that marriage (Cory Michael Smith, Incomplete), each conversation saying as much about the actor as the woman she's set to bring to the screen. As rigorously rendered by Portman, she also becomes enamoured with the scenario that she's unfurling. A moment where Elizabeth loses herself explaining sex scenes to school kids — and the conflict between portraying pleasure and pretending not to actually feel pleasure — is savagely revealing. As Killers of the Flower Moon also does, this deeply astute movie has much to say about how circumstances like Joe's become sensationalised news and entertainment fodder, what that betrays about society and why people lap it up; add reflecting on its own existence and purpose to May December's many profoundly intelligent layers. When mirrors appear, they're frequently used around Gracie and Elizabeth. Of course, the latter is being a mirror herself. Cinematographer Christopher Blauvelt — Kelly Reichardt's regular collaborator; see: Showing Up, First Cow, Certain Women, Night Moves and Meek's Cutoff — visually recalls Ingmar Bergman's 1966 psychological drama Persona, as the movie in general does, as the lines between its two women start to blur. May December is partly a movie about what Gracie and Elizabeth spy when they're studying what's in front of them, and how divorced from reality both are. Gracie embraces a carefully erected fantasy where there's nothing more than love to her relationship with Joe, regardless of her domination over their household and repeated dissolving into tears in their bedroom. Elizabeth only takes in how she can become Gracie to her own advantage. Although Haynes and Blauvelt ensure that Moore and Portman are everywhere, neither of their characters will or can confront themselves or their manipulations. Finally challenging everything that's been his daily existence since he was a child, and the role that he's been inhabiting whether he truly wanted to or not — or was capable of making that decision at such a young age — is the shy Joe. The only word that fits: devastation. May December knows this before Joe accepts it, which campy lines about frankfurters on bread accompanied by dramatic music — the film adapts and reorchestrates the score from 1971 Palme d'Or-winner The Go-Between, in fact — oh-so-cannily play into. With its rich and meticulous visuals, tonal seesawing that can court laughs and welcome melodrama, and evocatively grand music, Haynes' feature isn't being erratic. It's crafted with shrewd understanding that discomfort is the only way to respond to what it's depicting, and that there's no one mood that suits. So, Haynes plunges May December and its audience into the full emotional spectrum. Consider the film a cocoon where transformation takes place, to soaring results.
Whether you were one of those iso bakers tending to your sourdough starter, or simply glued to MasterChef's elimination challenges these last months, there's certainly been something comforting about spending more time in the kitchen right now. And someone who's made a career out of joyfully sharing his passion for at-home cooking is The Living Room co-host and I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! winner for 2020, Miguel Maestre. The Murcia-born, Australian chef is well known for repping Spanish cuisine, as well as for his flamboyant presenting style. He's the author of best selling cookbooks Miguel's Tapas and Spanish Cooking, as well as being the ambassador for Stockland Shopping Centres and the owner of Maestre Enterprises — one of Australia's largest Spanish food importers. But not everything Miguel cooks is Spanish leaning. In this live-stream cooking class, he'll show you how to make an easy, midweek meal that'll take just 15 minutes to knock up at home. Miguel's Chicken San Choy Bow borrows from Hong Kong origins and is a zesty crowd-pleaser, plus he'll show you a veggie option and some handy cooking skills along the way. You'll also learn how to whip up Miguel's Fudgy Chocolate Cake with chocolate glaze, as another family favourite. Cook along with Miguel from 6pm AEST on Thursday, June 18. The online cooking class is free to watch, and you can find all the necessary ingredients here. Simply click through to the Facebook event post and click 'going' to make sure you're updated with the live-stream link on the day. And if you're keen to share your prep ahead of or during the event, use the hashtag #stocklandfood for your chance to win a gourmet hamper worth $300. Competition ends at 6pm AEST on Sunday, June 21.
Galleries spend a lot of time showcasing art from the past, but until October 11, the Gallery of Modern Art is going to be looking at the present and the future. Assembling new and recent pieces from 31 artists, their latest collection is designed to give audiences a taste of current works being made across Queensland. Vernon Ah Kee, Davida Allen, Chantal Fraser and Anita Holtsclaw all feature, as well as Madeleine Kelly, Liam O'Brien and Grant Stevens, too. If you're familiar with the local art landscape, or have just been to an exhibition in Brisbane lately, you might recognise their names — and if not, you will soon. Their creations help highlight what's going on across the state, but viewing their work is only part of the GOMA Q: Contemporary Queensland Art experience. Free talks and panels are also included the program — featuring author Benjamin Law, Opera Queensland's Lindy Hume, and Brisbane-based artists Michael Zavros and Richard Bell — because chatting about art is just as fun as looking at it. Image: Liam O'Brien, Australia b. 1987 / Domestication 2014 / High definition single channel video, 10 mins 15 sec, ed. of 5 / Courtesy Sullivan+Strumpf, Sydney.
If Four Weddings and a Funeral can come back as a television series, then it appears that another beloved rom-com from the past few decades can too. Continuing a trend that's never going to end — aka building pop culture's future out of its past — How to Lose a Guy In 10 Days is the latest flick getting the small-screen remake treatment. And we do mean small, given that streaming platform Quibi is behind the series. Founded by ex-Disney and Dreamworks bigwig Jeffrey Katzenberg, the newcomer won't launch until next year, but it's being designed as a short-form, smartphone-only service. That means content broken down into eight–to–ten minute chunks for ease of viewing when you're somewhere other than the couch. So, How to Lose a Guy In 10 Days isn't just getting a modernised do-over, but one that'll unfurl in bite-sized pieces. Few details about the rom-com remake have been announced as yet, although it'll be penned by The Mindy Project writer Guy Branum. The underlying premise has been given a bit of a makeover, focusing on an online columnist and an advertising executive who need to prove that they can be monogamous, as TVLine reports. Who'll be stepping into Matthew McConaughey and Kate Hudson's circa 2003 shoes, and whether either will pop up, will be revealed down the line. A release date hasn't been set as yet either, although Quibi is set to drop in April 2020. If and when it'll be available Down Under also hasn't been announced. Until more details hit, check out the trailer for the original How to Lose a Guy In 10 Days below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFGr2_cOOTk
Two Australian music legends. Decades of collaboration. One long-awaited album. One huge tour. That's the maths behind the Australian leg of Nick Cave and Warren Ellis' Carnage tour, which Cave first announced was in the works back in early February via his The Red Hand Files email list. Now, after already locking in dates in Hanging Rock — which have sold out, unsurprisingly — the duo have unveiled their full 2022 Aussie tour schedule. Yes, this is some news to come sail your ships around — with 15 gigs slated in five states and one territory, all from mid-November through to mid-December. The tour will kick off with a two-night stop in Adelaide, before heading to those Macedon Ranges gigs, then to Canberra, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Tamworth and Newcastle. And, to cap things off, Cave and Ellis will hit up the Sydney Opera House's newly revamped Concert Hall for a two-gig big finale. [caption id="attachment_845539" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Palma Sabina[/caption] The pair are doing the rounds to support the 2021 album that shares the tour's name, which actually marks Cave and Ellis' first studio album as a duo. Bandmates across several projects since the 90s — including Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, and Grinderman — Cave and Ellis are Aussie icons, with careers spanning back decades. Together, they also boast more than a few phenomenal film scores to their names as well, including for The Proposition, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, The Road, West of Memphis, Far From Men, Hell or High Water and Wind River. Cave and Ellis are heading home after an American Carnage tour, and following Cave's subsequent tour with the Bad Seeds in Europe. "I can't begin to tell you how happy Warren and I are to be finally returning to Australia to perform. The wait has been way too long. See you all soon for the Carnage experience!," said Cave, announcing the news. [caption id="attachment_845538" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Laurine Payet[/caption] It's already been a big year for fans of Cave and Ellis, thanks to film This Much I Know to Be True, as directed by Chopper, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford and Killing Them Softly filmmaker Andrew Dominik. It explores Cave and Ellis' creative relationship, largely through watching them at work in stunning live scenes. Dominik also made 2016 Cave doco One More Time with Feeling, and his latest flick is available to stream now. [caption id="attachment_845537" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Laurine Payet[/caption] NICK CAVE AND WARREN ELLIS 'AUSTRALIAN CARNAGE' 2022 TOUR: Tuesday, November 22—Wednesday, November 23: Festival Theatre, Adelaide Friday, November 25—Saturday, November 26: Hanging Rock, Macedon Ranges — SOLD OUT Monday, November 28–Tuesday, November 29: Canberra Theatre, Canberra Friday, December 2: Palais Theatre, Melbourne Monday, December 5—Tuesday, December 6: Riverside Theatre, Perth Friday, December 9: Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre Great Hall, Brisbane Saturday, December 10: Gold Coast Convention Exhibition Centre, Gold Coast Monday, December 12: Tamworth Regional Entertainment and Conference Centre, Tamworth Wednesday, December 14: Civic Theatre, Newcastle Friday, December 16—Saturday, December 17: Sydney Opera House, Sydney Nick Cave and Warren Ellis' Australian Carnage tour will head around the country in November and December 2022. Tickets go on sale at 10am local time in each city on Friday, July 29 — for more information, head to Nick Cave's website. Top image: Megan Cullen.
