When Barbie and Oppenheimer both released in cinemas on the same July 2023 day, they didn't take attention away from each other. Instead, Barbenheimer had everyone flocking to picture palaces to see both. Among the just-announced 2024 Golden Globe nominations, a similar phenomenon is occurring. Since these gongs split the bulk of the awards into dramas and musicals/comedies, Barbie and Oppenheimer have both scored a heap of love largely without competing. Greta Gerwig's take on the toy doll topped the list among the number of nods given to this year's contenders, nabbing nine overall. Christopher Nolan's latest was only one behind with eight. The two do face off in a few fields: Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Supporting Actor (with Ryan Gosling and Robert Downey Jr nominated), and the brand-new Cinematic and Box Office Achievement accolade that's clearly designed to give a shiny trophy to a blockbuster (Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, John Wick: Chapter 4, Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, The Super Mario Bros Movie and Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour are also in the running). Now boasting six competitors per category, the Golden Globes will anoint its latest round of winners on Monday, January 8 Australian and New Zealand time, with Killers of the Flower Moon (with seven), Poor Things (also seven) and Past Lives (with five) also joining the movie-loving party. TV earns affection at these awards as well, with Succession garnering nine nominations, followed by The Bear and Only Murders in the Building with five each. Among the other cinema highlights: Celine Song's debut feature doing so well; Greta Gerwig finally being recognised in the Best Director camp after missing out for Lady Bird and Little Women; Lily Gladstone, always; The Boy and the Heron in the Best Animation field; Suzume doing the same; not one, not two, but three Best Song nominations for Barbie, including for earworm 'I'm Just Ken'; Anatomy of a Fall and The Zone of Interest notching up nods beyond the Non-English Language category; and Barry Keoghan's Saltburn and Andrew Scott's All of Us Strangers noms. Also stellar: Emma Stone getting attention for two absolutely stunning performances on screens big and small, aka Poor Things and The Curse. From the TV contenders, The Last of Us, Barry, Beef and Fargo all thoroughly deserve their nominations. So do Elle Fanning for The Great, Natasha Lyonne for Poker Face, Rachel Weisz for Dead Ringers and Christina Ricci for Yellowjackets, even if the shows they're each in sadly didn't get enough attention overall. The television fields also completely ignored Reservation Dogs and The Other Two, two of the best shows of the year, both of which wrapped up after their third seasons. Australian actors picked up three nominations, with Margot Robbie receiving the nod for Barbie, Sarah Snook for Succession and Elizabeth Debicki for The Crown. If you're wondering what else is in the running, here's the full list of nominations: GOLDEN GLOBE NOMINEES: BEST MOTION PICTURE — DRAMA Anatomy of a Fall Killers of the Flower Moon Maestro Oppenheimer Past Lives The Zone of Interest BEST PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE — DRAMA Annette Bening, Nyad Lily Gladstone, Killers of the Flower Moon Sandra Hüller, Anatomy of a Fall Greta Lee, Past Lives Carey Mulligan, Maestro Cailee Spaeny, Priscilla BEST PERFORMANCE BY A MALE ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE — DRAMA Bradley Cooper, Maestro Leonardo DiCaprio, Killers of the Flower Moon Colman Domingo, Rustin Barry Keoghan, Saltburn Cillian Murphy, Oppenheimer Andrew Scott, All of Us Strangers BEST MOTION PICTURE — MUSICAL OR COMEDY Air American Fiction Barbie The Holdovers May December Poor Things BEST PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE — MUSICAL OR COMEDY Fantasia Barrino, The Color Purple Jennifer Lawrence, No Hard Feelings Natalie Portman, May December Alma Pöysti, Fallen Leaves Margot Robbie, Barbie Emma Stone, Poor Things BEST PERFORMANCE BY A MALE ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE — MUSICAL OR COMEDY Jeffrey Wright, American Fiction Joaquin Phoenix, Beau Is Afraid Matt Damon, Air Nicolas Cage, Dream Scenario Paul Giamatti, The Holdovers Timothée Chalamet, Wonka BEST MOTION PICTURE — ANIMATED The Boy and the Heron Elemental Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse The Super Mario Bros Movie Suzume Wish BEST MOTION PICTURE — NON-ENGLISH LANGUAGE Anatomy of a Fall Fallen Leaves Io Capitano Past Lives Society of the Snow The Zone of Interest BEST PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN ANY MOTION PICTURE Danielle Brooks, The Color Purple Da'Vine Joy Randolph, The Holdovers Emily Blunt, Oppenheimer Jodie Foster, Nyad Julianne Moore, May December Rosamund Pike, Saltburn BEST PERFORMANCE BY A MALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN ANY MOTION PICTURE Charles Melton, May December Mark Ruffalo, Poor Things Robert De Niro, Killers of the Flower Moon Robert Downey Jr, Oppenheimer Ryan Gosling, Barbie Willem Dafoe, Poor Things BEST DIRECTOR — MOTION PICTURE Bradley Cooper, Maestro Greta Gerwig, Barbie Yorgos Lanthimos, Poor Things Christopher Nolan, Oppenheimer Martin Scorsese, Killers of The Flower Moon Celine Song, Past Lives BEST SCREENPLAY — MOTION PICTURE Anatomy of a Fall Barbie Killers of the Flower Moon Oppenheimer Past Lives Poor Things BEST ORIGINAL SCORE — MOTION PICTURE The Boy and the Heron Killers of the Flower Moon Oppenheimer Poor Things Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse The Zone of Interest BEST ORIGINAL SONG — MOTION PICTURE Bruce Springsteen, 'Addicted to Romance', She Came to Me Mark Ronson, Andrew Wyatt, Dua Lipa and Caroline Ailin, 'Dance the Night', Barbie Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt, 'I'm Just Ken', Barbie Jack Black, Aaron Horvath, Michael Jelenic, Eric Osmond and John Spiker, 'Peaches', The Super Mario Bros Movie Lenny Kravitz, 'Road to Freedom', Rustin Billie Eilish and Finneas O'Connell, 'What Was I Made For?', Barbie CINEMATIC AND BOX OFFICE ACHIEVEMENT Barbie Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 John Wick: Chapter 4 Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One Oppenheimer Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse The Super Mario Bros. Movie Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour BEST TELEVISION SERIES — DRAMA 1923 The Crown The Diplomat The Last of Us The Morning Show Succession BEST PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES — DRAMA Bella Ramsey, The Last of Us Emma Stone, The Curse Helen Mirren, 1923 Imelda Staunton, The Crown Keri Russell, The Diplomat Sarah Snook, Succession BEST PERFORMANCE BY A MALE ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES — DRAMA Brian Cox, Succession Kieran Culkin, Succession Gary Oldman, Slow Horses Pedro Pascal, The Last of Us Jeremy Strong, Succession Dominic West, The Crown BEST TELEVISION SERIES — MUSICAL OR COMEDY Ted Lasso Abbott Elementary The Bear Barry Only Murders in the Building Jury Duty BEST PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES — MUSICAL OR COMEDY Rachel Brosnahan, The Marvelous Mrs Maisel Quinta Brunson, Abbott Elementary Ayo Edebiri, The Bear Elle Fanning, The Great Selena Gomez, Only Murders in the Building Natasha Lyonne, Poker Face BEST PERFORMANCE BY A MALE ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES — MUSICAL OR COMEDY Bill Hader, Barry Steve Martin, Only Murders in the Building Jason Segel, Shrinking Martin Short, Only Murders in the Building Jason Sudeikis, Ted Lasso Jeremy Allen White, The Bear BEST TELEVISION LIMITED SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION All the Light We Cannot See Beef Daisy Jones & The Six Fargo Fellow Travellers Lessons in Chemistry BEST PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR A MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION Ali Wong, Beef Brie Larson, Lessons in Chemistry Elizabeth Olsen, Love & Death Juno Temple, Fargo Rachel Weisz, Dead Ringers Riley Keough, Daisy Jones & the Six BEST PERFORMANCE BY A MALE ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR A MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION David Oyelowo, Lawmen: Bass Reeves Jon Hamm, Fargo Matt Bomer, Fellow Travellers Sam Claflin, Daisy Jones & the Six Steven Yeun, Beef Woody Harrelson, White House Plumbers BEST PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE ON TELEVISION Abby Elliott, The Bear Christina Ricci, Yellowjackets Elizabeth Debicki, The Crown Hannah Waddingham, Ted Lasso J. Smith-Cameron, Succession Meryl Streep, Only Murders in the Building BEST PERFORMANCE BY A MALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE ON TELEVISION Alan Ruck, Succession Alexander Skarsgård, Succession Billy Crudup, The Morning Show Ebon Moss-Bachrach, The Bear James Marsden, Jury Duty Matthew Macfadyen, Succession BEST PERFORMANCE IN STANDUP COMEDY ON TELEVISION Ricky Gervais: Armageddon Trevor Noah: Where Was I Chris Rock: Selective Outrage Amy Schumer: Emergency Contact Sarah Silverman: Someone You Love Wanda Sykes: I'm an Entertainer The 2023 Golden Globes will be announced on Monday, January 8, Australian and New Zealand time, streaming on Stan in Australia. For further details, head to the awards' website.
Fresh from causing vehicular chaos in the Fast and Furious franchise — and loving it — Jason Momoa is swapping roads for the ocean in that other big-budget saga he's been known to glisten through: DC's movies. It's been five years since the first solo cinema swim for Arthur Curry arrived, with Aquaman marking just the sixth entry in the DC Extended Universe. Now the series will hit 15 instalments with sequel Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, ahead of a fresh direction for the comic-book company's flicks under new co-head honchos James Gunn and Peter Safran (The Suicide Squad's director and producer, respectively). So, Momoa is back as DC's wettest superhero. What happens for the actor and his character from here, however, hasn't yet been confirmed. Wherever both go, they're going to tussle with Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (Ambulance) as Black Manta again first — as Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom's just-dropped first trailer shows. Slated to hit cinemas on Boxing Day as the fourth DC feature of 2023 after Shazam! Fury of the Gods, The Flash and Blue Beetle, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom also hails from Australian director James Wan (Malignant), as the first film did — and sees Patrick Wilson (Insidious: The Red Door), Amber Heard (The Stand), Nicole Kidman (Special Ops: Lioness) and Temuera Morrison (The Book of Boba Fett) return alongside Momoa and Abdul-Mateen II. Dolph Lundgren (Minions: The Rise of Gru) and Randall Park (Strays) are back as well, all in another movie that dives into the sea, heads down to Atlantis and paddles about trying to save the world. The story this time: Black Manta is still after vengeance, but now has the Black Trident and its powers to help. So, as well as being a father and the new King of Atlantis, Aquaman has to seek his own assistance. That's how Wilson's Orm, Curry's half brother, ends up fighting by his side instead of being his imprisoned enemy. So, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom looks set to splash around a tale about family in a variety of ways. Again, Momoa did just pop up in Fast X — and Wan also has a history with that high-octane realm, directing Fast and Furious 7 in 2015. Wan and Wilson keep loving dipping in the same pool together, too, given that Wan created The Conjuring franchise and co-created the Insidious franchise. Check out the trailer for Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom below: Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom opens in cinemas Down Under on Tuesday, December 26, 2023.
There are many ways to spend Halloween, from dressing up and eating too many lollies to partying and hitting up spooky events. But watching John Carpenter's Halloween on October 31 remains one of the greatest ways to spend the occasion for one simple reason: 43 years on, it's still an absolute masterpiece, as well as one of the best horror movies ever made. This year, you can also pair Jamie Lee Curtis-starring 70s classic with the latest entry in the franchise that it's spawned over the past four-plus decades. Obviously, you can match up the OG Halloween with any of the flicks in the saga each and every year — but in 2021, Halloween Kills is finally hitting cinemas. Since that first movie back in 1978, the Halloween series has been through quite a few ups and downs. Clocking up ten follow-ups and 11 movies in total until now, the slasher franchise has delivered excellent and terrible sequels, veered into remake territory, both killed off and brought back its heroine, and completely erased parts of its own past several times. And, like its mask-wearing villain Michael Myers, it always finds a way to go on. Since 2018's Halloween, that's been especially great news, with the Jason Blum-produced 11th flick in the franchise proving a smart, thrilling horror delight, and ranking second only to the movie that started it all. Indeed, the film was such a success that two more sequels are headed our way from the same team (aka Blum, writer/director David Gordon Green and co-scribe Danny McBride): Halloween Kills and Halloween Ends. Originally, Halloween Kills was due to hit screens last year, in October — when else? — but, as announced in 2020 by franchise creator John Carpenter, it moved back its release to October this year. That's now fast approaching, with fans soon able to make a return trip to Haddonfield. Yes, that means that Curtis' spirited Laurie Strode will have another altercation with her lifelong nemesis, too — because, when it's at its best, that's what this franchise is all about. Picking up where its immediate predecessor left off, Halloween Kills will also take a few cues from another movie in the series, as its initial trailer and just-dropped latest sneak peek shows. Not one but two teasers last year set the scene for the saga's 12th entry, but the latest clips dive deep into the storyline. Following the events of the most recent film, Laurie ends up in hospital with life-threatening injuries just as Michael starts stalking through Haddonfield again — which is the same storyline that Halloween II followed exactly 40 years ago. Thankfully, if the last flick is any guide, Halloween Kills shouldn't prove a needless remake. Green and McBride did a stellar job of nodding to the past while finding a new way forward with 2018's Halloween, after all — and leaving horror fans definitely wanting more. This time, too, Laurie and her daughter Karen (Judy Greer, Valley Girl) and granddaughter Allyson (Andi Matichak, Son) team up with other survivors of Michael's rampages and decide to hunt down their attacker. Check out the latest Halloween Kills trailer below: Halloween Kills will release in Australian cinemas on October 28, 2021. Top image: Ryan Green/Universal Pictures.
A book described as "a modern story of sex, erotica and passion. How the sexiest sales girl in business earns her huge bonus by being the best at removing her high heels," might not be anything to write home about. But what if the author of said book was someone's dad, and that someone decided it would be hilarious to read a chapter every week to the entire world, with some incredibly funny friends providing commentary? Jamie Morton did just that with his father's (pen name: Rocky Flinstone) erotic 'novels', the Belinda Blinked series. And so the audacious and pants-wettingly hilarious podcast My Dad Wrote a Porno was born. Since its premiere in 2015, the podcast about "the best/worst erotica ever written" has racked up over 150 million downloads. And now, off the back of an HBO Original Series featuring a "lost chapter", Morton and his pals James Cooper and Alice Levine are bringing their hilarious smut back to Australia and New Zealand in 2020. As part of a huge world tour, the live show will treat 'Belinkers' across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch in January. Team Porno will read unreleased material from the erotic saga while throwing in a few surprises and interactive elements. Now four books deep — with the fifth due to be cracked opened on Monday, September 9, 2019 — the series follows the sexual escapades of Belinda Blumenthal who works in the sales and marketing department of a pots and pans company. There have been leather rooms and nipples as big as Titanic rivets, anti-erotic ridiculousness with sales reps and young-ish men, references to pomegranates and the popping of vaginal lids, and one truly disgusting flaking prosthetic appendage. If you're a fan of the show, the live incarnation should make you very happy. As Belinda says, "When you get what you want, you feel great." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WotAuoFwF0 'MY DAD WROTE A PORNO' WORLD TOUR 2020 Wednesday, January 8, Sydney Opera House, Sydney Saturday, January 11, Crown Theatre, Perth Monday, January 13, Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide Wednesday, January 15, Palais Theatre, Melbourne Friday, January 17, The Tivoli, Brisbane Monday, January 20, Auckland Town Hall, Auckland Tuesday, January 21, Wellington Opera House, Wellington Wednesday, January 22, Issac Theatre Royal, Christchurch Tickets for My Dad Wrote a Porno World Tour go on sale at 1pm on Thursday, July 18, 2019. Stay tuned for further updates.
Australians, it's time to pack away your gumboots for the year and completely forget about dancing in a field this spring — because music lovers won't be descending upon North Byron Bay Parkland in November. For the second year in a row, Splendour in the Grass has been forced to change its plans due to the pandemic. Like fellow Byron Bay festival Bluesfest, the event will now sit out 2021 completely due to the COVID-19 situation in New South Wales, and will instead reclaim its usual winter slot in 2022. The dates to mark in your diary: Friday, July 22–Sunday, July 24, 2022, as that's when the fest will now celebrate its 20th-anniversary event. And, in a welcome development, festival organisers have confirmed that already-announced headliners Gorillaz, The Strokes and Tyler, The Creator will all still play next year. "With vaccine rollout progressing more slowly than anticipated, we have made the decision to move the 20th-anniversary edition of the festival to July 2022," said Splendour in the Grass co-founders Jessica Ducrou and Paul Piticco in a statement. "We are confident that moving the festival to July 2022 will finally see us enjoying Splendour in the Grass in all its glory. More of the population will be vaccinated, international talent will have the ability to enter the country more freely and we'll be able to deliver the Splendour in the Grass that you know and love." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Splendour in the Grass (@splendourinthegrass) The news is hardly unexpected; Bluesfest made the same announcement just two days ago, on Wednesday, August 18. Also, Splendour had already ditched its usual July 2021 plans in favour of a move to November, and also scrapped a planned pop-up event in Sydney in July as well. One Splendour-related event has gone off without a hitch this year, though: Splendour XR, the event's online-only fest. Who else will join Gorillaz, The Strokes and Tyler, The Creator onstage hasn't yet been revealed, but the festival now has plenty of time to finalise its lineup given that Splendour's new dates are 11 months away. If you have already purchased a ticket for SITG 2020 or 2021, you'll be happy to know that they're still valid for the 2022 edition. And if you don't have a ticket yet, you can head to the festival's website to nab a pre-loved ticket now. Splendour in the Grass has been postponed again and will now take over North Byron Bay Parkland from Friday, July 22–Sunday, July 24, 2022. All 2020 and 2021 tickets are valid for the new dates, with pre-loved tickets currently available via splendourinthegrass.com. Top image: Charlie Hardy.
There's nothing like a splash of gin to make your day feel a little fancier, summer or otherwise. But if you're after something a little less boozy than a mid-arvo martini, clear some space in your fridge for this nifty line of alcohol-infused condiments. The Amsterdam-born Gin Mayo — and its recently released sibling Gin Chup — are here to help liven up your lunch. Starting life in 2017 as a house-made condiment on the menu at Amsterdam seafood restaurant Mossel & Gin, the boozy mayo quickly became a cult pantry staple, with the brand taking on a life of its own. Packaged in a squeeze-friendly tube, the gluten free sauce is crafted on creamy Zaanse mayonnaise, which is made to a recipe from the 1950s. It's then elevated with a hit of Bobby's Gin, which is distilled in the Dutch city of Schiedam and boasts a base of eight different botanicals. Clocking in at two percent alcohol per tube, the Gin Mayo supposedly is a solid match to some seafood or fried chicken, but also brings a little something extra to that sandwich or burger. Recently, the brand has added to its line of products with a zesty gin-infused ketchup, or Gin Chup, which creators say works a treat when accompanying the likes of a triple-cheese toastie. Like its mayonnaise sibling, it also boasts two percent alcohol per tube — though you can expect that to translate to a festive flavour punch, rather than any overpowering boozy aftertaste. Steadily growing in popularity here on Aussie shores, the gin condiments are now available online and at select specialty food retailers across the country. That includes Sydney's Darlo General and Sorry Thanks I Love You, and Melbourne's St Ali, Blackhearts & Sparrows and Meatsmith. To find out all the spots stocking Gin Mayo and Gin Chup locally, or to buy them online, head to the St Ali website. You can grab a 170-millilitre tube for RRP $15.
This article is sponsored by our partners, Rekorderlig. If there’s one good way to rest your over-worked ski muscles, it’s hanging out in a hot pool. The good news is that Rekordelig is bringing theirs back to Thredbo this year. And, once again, it’s not just an apres swim that’ll be on the cards, but a complete music, food and beverage indulgence. All you’ll need are your swimmers. The famous Swedish cider brand will provide everything else — from towels and umbrellas to blankets and illuminated trees. Even if you’re not too keen on taking the plunge, you’ll be welcome to while away the time poolside. Think kicking back in deckchairs and beanbags, losing yourself in alpine sunsets and contemplating which black runs you’re going to conquer in the morning. On the drinks menu are a couple of special, piping hot drops — warm winter cider and warm orange-ginger cider — as well as Rekorderlig staples passionfruit, pear and strawberry-lime. Both sampler platters and regular bottles will be served up. For tasty, energy-packed invigorating treats, there’ll be meatballs with Rekorderlig Winter Cider sauce and apple cinnamon donuts. Every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night during the 12-week-long ski season, live entertainment will soundtrack the hot pool experience. The Rekorderlig Hot Pool is at the Thredbo Alpine Hotel, every weekend until September.
Sydney fine-dining institution Nel is known for its next-level set menus, with its always-popular Disney degustations taking beloved animated films and turning them into mind-blowing dishes, and its Christmas banquet bringing the ultimate festive cheer with inventive takes on seasonal classics. Now, the CBD venue is going rogue with a 11-course set menu based on everyone's favourite fried chicken fast food chain — the home of 11 secret herbs and spices, KFC. Available for $75 per person across just three days on the weekend of Friday, April 1–Sunday, April 3, the dinner will take iconic menu items from the Colonel and transform them into luxurious, unrecognisable culinary creations. The experience has been created by Nel's owner Nelly Robinson, with each course designed to combine the extravagance of Nel with the fun and playfulness associated with fast food. Highlights from the menu are too abundant to list out, but some exciting concepts you'll be presented with include supercharged wings charred and served on a bed of charcoal, a candle made of gravy that will drip onto a potato bun, and the portrait of Colonel Sanders that's used as the KFC logo recreated on a plate with flavours of fried chicken, tomato, lettuce and pepper mayo. Elsewhere on the menu, you'll find takes on popcorn chicken, Original Recipe drumsticks and the twister — all manipulated and elevated by the chefs at Nel — as well as some yet-to-be-revealed surprises. Wines will be served to compliment the dishes, and finishing off the whole affair will be a nitrogen-dipped chocolate mousse that promises to melt in your mouth. "As a lifelong fan of KFC, creating an 11-course degustation with their most-loved menu items and elevating them to new heights has been a dream come true," Robinson said. The profits are also going to a good cause, with 100-percent of the proceeds from the three nights being donated to KFC's charity partners The Black Dog Institute, ReachOut Australia and Whitelion. With both Nel and KFC expecting this limited-time banquet to be in high demand, you'll have to sign up to a waitlist at KFC's website in order to be in the running to nab tickets to the event. [caption id="attachment_846235" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nelly Robinson[/caption] KFC and Nel's degustation will be happening at a secret location in Sydney between Friday, April 1–Sunday, April 3. You can join the waitlist at KFC's website.
Let's call it 'under the Sicilian sun': the plan that Airbnb has to send one lucky person to Italy for an entire year, that is. If that sounds like how you'd love to spend 12 months from June 30, 2022, the house-share platform is calling for applications. And yes, you'll get to bunker down in one of its rentals without paying a cent to stay there. Whoever wins Airbnb's latest promotion won't just be living in any old property, either. The townhouse up for grabs for a year has been dubbed '1 Euro House' — and it's been given a huge makeover by Airbnb and Italian architectural firm Studio Didea. Located in the rural village of Sambuca in Sicily, population around 6000, it's a three-storey, two-bedroom home that you'll get to both live and work remotely in. You will also need to play host, however, with the second bedroom set to be listed on the platform. You'll get your pick of your sleeping space, though — so you can opt for either the ground floor, which has a master bedroom with king-size bed and en-suite bathroom, plus a small living room; or the first floor, where the bedroom also boasts a king-size bed, and where the living room, kitchen, working space, bathroom and mezzanine also sit. The upper floor will remain accessible to both the competition winner and their Airbnb guests, and features an extra living space with a queen-size sofa bed. The whole promo is rather similar to its giveaway in 2021, when it offered 12 people and their pals free accommodation to hop between Airbnb properties for 12 months — and to work remotely while you're there, too. Unsurprisingly, more than 300,000 people applied. And yes, being able to do your job from this sweet Sicilian spot is still a focus of the new deal, as long as you can still meet your hosting duties and Airbnb's other requirements. The setup is open to applicants in a number of countries, including Australia and New Zealand — and having "a passion for the rural Italian culture and lifestyle" has been listed by Airbnb as a big plus. Also, this isn't just a win for you alone. You can bring a friend, your partner or family, up to a maximum of two adults and two kids. Your accommodation will be rent-free, and you have to commit to staying for at least three months. You'll also take an Italian language course for a month, plus four cooking classes hosted by a local mentor as part of your stay. Airbnb will pay for your flight to Sambuca as well, although you will have to cover the costs of both living at 1 Euro House and renting it on Airbnb — such as personnel, consumables, cleaning services and utility contracts, plus property maintenance. Keen? There's also the possibility that the arrangement could be extended until 2024, if you're looking for a heftier stint away from home. To apply, you'll need to head to the Airbnb website before Friday, February 18. For more information about Airbnb's 1 Euro House promotion — and to apply — head to the Airbnb website. Images: Claudia Zalla. FYI, this story includes some affiliate links. These don't influence any of our recommendations or content, but they may make us a small commission. For more info, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy.
You've saved the date. You loved the lineup. If you're keen to hit up 2025's One Night Stand — and see Spacey Jane, LUUDE, Ruby Fields, 3%, Blusher and Velvet Trip while you're there — you'll now want to make plans to visit Busselton in Western Australia. That's where the Triple J initiative is heading this year, marking its first visit to the state in almost a decade, since 2016. All of the above acts, plus a yet-to-be-announced Triple J Unearthed winner, will take to the stage in Barnard Park on Saturday, May 24. Part of the reason for the long gap between trips west: this music festival does the rounds, setting up shop in a different part of the country each year. Another factor: that One Night Stand took a break from 2020–23 due to the pandemic. [caption id="attachment_996055" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mitch Lowe[/caption] After 2019's One Night Stand, music lovers in regional Australia waited till 2024 for the event to return. Thankfully, there's no five-year delay between festivals this time. In fact, One Night Stand is returning just over eight months since 2024's festival, which took place in the Victorian town of Warrnambool in September with G Flip, Ruel, What So Not and Thelma Plum leading the lineup. Victoria hosted the most-recent One Night Stand and also the first: 21 years ago now, Triple J gave the town of Natimuk a day to remember when the spot 300 kilometres out of Melbourne welcomed its very own major music fest. When the ABC radio station put on the festival every year between 2004–2014, then again from 2016–2019, however, it hopped around states. Fellow Western Australian spots Collie and Geraldton have already welcomed the festival, for instance. [caption id="attachment_996056" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Cole Barash[/caption] Ayr, Dalby and Mt Isa in Queensland; Port Pirie, Tumby Bay and Lucindale in South Australia; Cowra and Dubbo in New South Wales; Sale and Mildura back in Victoria; Alice Springs in the Northern Territory; and St Helens in Tasmania: they've all enjoyed the One Night Stand experience as well in prior years. It was true in 2024 and it remains the case in 2025: the all-ages event is returning at time when the Australian live music scene has been suffering, and after a spate of festivals have been cancelling or saying farewell forever, including both Splendour in the Grass and Groovin the Moo sitting out 2024 and 2025. Tickets for 2025's One Night Stand will cost $15 plus booking fee, and all proceeds will be donated to charity. One Night Stand Lineup 2025 Spacey Jane LUUDE Ruby Fields 3% Blusher Velvet Trip Triple J Unearthed winner to be announced [caption id="attachment_996060" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Savitri Wendt[/caption] 2025's triple j One Night Stand will take place on Saturday, May 24, 2025 in Barnard Park in Busselton, Western Australia. Tickets go on sale from 5pm AEDT on Thursday, March 27, 2025. For more information, head to the radio station's website.
Want to drink wine and support a great cause while you do it? The team at Vinomofo has you covered. The online wine cellar has just launched its limited edition Homeless Grapes Project Yarra Valley chardonnay, and it's donating 100 percent of proceeds to Australians who are sleeping rough. The mineral-rich drop comes courtesy of De Bortoli Wines, Rochford Wines and TarraWarra Estate, who all donated grapes to the project. It goes on sale on Monday, February 4 at $25 per bottle, sold in a case of six, with only few hundred cases available. All proceeds from the sales will go to St Mary's House of Welcome, which provides food, shelter, showers and emergency assistance to Melburnians doing it tough. Last year, the sale of 200 cases of Homeless Grapes Project shiraz raised more than $50,000 and was able to provide housing for 570 clients, over 40,000 meals and 3000 appointments with nurses. The Homeless Grapes initiative has been running since 2015 and has already raised more than $150,000 for charity. "Homelessness is a community issue that can be solved by the community and initiatives like Homeless Grapes," said Vinomofo co-founder Andre Eikmeier. "We can raise money for the front line to help make a real difference. And importantly, we change our attitudes." The Homeless Grapes Project Yarra Valley chardonnay is available from Monday, February 4. To find out more about the Homeless Grapes initiative and to buy a couple of bottles, head to vinomofo.com.
If you're a science-fiction fan — and a lover of 2008's Cloverfield and its 2016 follow-up 10 Cloverfield Lane, specifically — then you might want to cancel your plans for tonight. With barely a few hours notice, Netflix is now streaming the third film in the franchise. Yes, today. No, that's not a typo. Previously called God Particle, it's now going by the name The Cloverfield Paradox, and it's now available worldwide (yes, even on Australian Netflix) via the streaming platform the moment the New England Patriots and the Philadelphia Eagles walk off the field. Haven't even heard of the flick, even though it stars Black Mirror's' Gugu Mbatha-Raw, The IT Crowd's Chris O'Dowd, Inglourious Basterds' Daniel Brühl, Selma's David Oyelowo, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon's Zhang Ziyi and Aussie actress Elizabeth Debicki? That's okay — the first trailer for the movie only aired during the game, bearing the words "only on Netflix tonight" at the end. The news that it'd be available via Netflix rather than in cinemas is a recent development, too. Initially, it was set to release in theatres last year, before being moved to February 1 this year and then later this year. In fact, up until a few minutes ago, we still had the film in our review schedule for April. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8brYvhEg5Aw&feature=youtu.be In taking on a star-filled, decent-budget movie that was originally made to be viewed in cinemas, then releasing it for all the world to see with very little warning, Netflix is in uncharted territory. If this was another sci-fi saga, we'd say they're boldly going where no one has gone before. It's great news for film buffs eager to watch something when and where they want — and not be at the mercy of different release dates around the world — but it's also indicative of a new trend. Paramount, the studio originally behind The Cloverfield Paradox, did something similar with fellow sci-fi title Annihilation, the latest effort from Ex Machina's Alex Garland. As The Hollywood Reporter noted in December last year, it decided to find another avenue for the film after worrying it was "too intellectual" and "too complicated" for viewers. If you think that sounds a little patronising, you're not alone. The Atlantic ran through some of the worries behind the strategy, but, in short, it could be a sign of not-so-great things to come. At a time when cinemas are filled with endless Star Wars instalments and multiple superhero cinematic universes — not that there's anything wrong with that, either — movies like The Cloverfield Paradox and Annihilation are becoming increasingly rare. Not just sci-fi flicks, but anything that doesn't fit into an existing franchise, remake/reimagine/reboot a recognisable property or star The Rock (or, sometimes, all of the above). And while they're frequently the films that do extremely well at the box office, audiences do want to see other things too. We don't just want our cinematic candy — bright, loud, comfortable and familiar — but fare that's are different, intriguing, unusual and unexpected as well. Of course, the Cloverfield franchise has a history of surprise reveals, keeping things close to its chest and doing things differently. The first film, a found-footage monster effort, gave very little away before the movie hit cinemas. The second, which focused on Mary Elizabeth Winstead in a bunker with a possibly hostile John Goodman, only released its first trailer and confirmed that the movie even existed a month before it was released. Netflix's plan of attack with The Cloverfield Paradox makes that seem positively slow. But, when you're settling down to watch the flick from today onwards, here's hoping that you'll still be able to see movies like this on the big screen in the future. The Cloverfield Paradox is now streaming on Netflix here.
A few years ago the gin and tonic seemed like a basic drink order saved only for times of limited choice or hot days when there was no cold beer within reach. But the rise of Australia's own boutique gin production has changed that quite rapidly, with small-scale distillers — like Sydney's Archie Rose and Melbourne's Four Pillars, to name a few — creating some distinctive and downright delicious gins in our own backyard (Pinot Noir gin, anyone?). The latest weird and wonderful gin creation comes from South Australia's Applewood Distillery. They've just released a limited run of one-off Green Ant Gin, which is infused with — you guessed it — green ants. How does it work? Like all gin, it's made up of a selection of botanicals. But along with the usual juniper berries and orange peel, the essence of ants has also been thrown in. That's because ants release a pheromone during the distillation process, which produces a flavour that complements the other botanicals. According to Applewood, the green tree ants give the gin a "lime-licked burst of intense green flavour". While this is the first gin made with green ants we've heard of, Applewood's not the first people to use the tiny insects in gin — Copenhagen's Nordic Food Lab produces an Anty Gin that costs a bomb per bottle, and last year Victoria's Bass and Flinders Distillery released their Angry Ant Gin made with ants sourced from Western Australia. As a general rule we don't allow green ants anywhere near our mouths, but we'll probably make an exception for this one. Bottles are currently going for $120 on Applewood's online store. There's only 300 of them though, so you may have to snatch one up stat.
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.
In 1993, for the first time ever, Triple J asked Australian music lovers to pick their their favourite songs from the year prior. The ABC radio station had run Hottest 100s before, but focusing on all-time faves. With a small but significant tweak, an annual national icon was born — and it's still going three decades later. Over the last 30 years, Triple J listeners have voted en masse. They've had strong thoughts about which tunes were the best of the best, whether picking their choices via pen and paper back in the poll's early days, or with a few quick clicks today. And, they've chosen thousands of songs as the cream of the crop over that period — and more in the broadcaster's other Hottest 100s, including the Hottest 100 of All Time countdowns, the 2011 Hottest 100 of Australian Albums, the Hottest 100 of the Decade (which focused on the 2010s) and the upcoming Hottest 100 of Like a Version. That's a hefty amount of tracks, and quite the playlist. It's also exactly what'll be pumping 24/7 on Triple J Hottest. The broadcaster is launching another new station to sit alongside Triple J, Double J and Triple J Unearthed, this time only giving tunes that've ranked in a Hottest 100 sometime a spin. Denis Leary's 'Asshole', which came in at number one back in 1993? Yes, that's eligible for the playlist. 2022 winner 'Elephant' by The Wiggles? That is as well. Tracks that catapulted their artists to bigger fame, songs you've completely forgotten existed, all-time classics, novelty tunes: if it ranked in a Hottest 100, as all of the above have, then it'll get a whirl. Just looking at the top tens from the past three decades, there's a wealth of tunes in store. Think: Rage Against the Machine's 'Killing in the Name', Silverchair's 'Tomorrow', both '(He'll Never Be An) Ol' Man River' and 'Greg! The Stop Sign!!' by TISM, Coolio's 'Gangsta's Paradise' and '! (The Song Formerly Known As)' by Regurgitator, plus Weezer's 'Island in the Sun', Spiderbait's 'Black Betty' cover, so many songs by Powderfinger and Flume, 'Lonely Boy' by The Black Keys, and even 'Chandelier' by Sia. Kendrick Lamar's 'Humble' and 'King Kunta', Childish Gambino's 'Red Bone' and 'This Is America', Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion's 'WAP': they're just some of the other songs that've enjoyed some Hottest 100 love, and will now hit Triple J Hottest. Launching at 9.30am AEST on Monday, July 17 — meaning that it can include the picks from the Hottest 100 of Like a Version, which airs on Triple J and Double J from 12pm on Saturday, July 15 — Triple J Hottest will also feature archival interviews with Hottest 100-ranking acts, a heap of Hottest 100 history, and other relevant stories about the poll. It's a digital-only station, so you'll be listening 24 hours a day, seven days a week either via the Js' website, the Triple J app or the ABC listen app. And yes, obviously this station will add 100 new tracks to its rotation every year — another perk for tunes that make each year's Hottest 100. Triple J Hottest launches at 9.30am AEST on Monday, July 17 — head to the Triple J website for further details. Top image: Flume, M Drummond.
With Lost in Translation, Sofia Coppola brought everyone's secret desire to the big screen. Who hasn't wished they could roam around Tokyo with Bill Murray, sing karaoke with him, hang out in the ultra luxurious Park Hyatt Tokyo's sky-high bar with him and just generally call upon him for advice? Now, with On the Rocks, the writer/director is giving viewers a new dream. Here, Bill Murray plays a larger-than-life playboy who is still a caring dad, and who moseys around New York helping his daughter discover whether her husband is being unfaithful. Yes, swap cities and exchange Scarlett Johansson for Parks and Recreation's Rashida Jones, and On the Rocks seems to take a few cues from Lost in Translation — but the latter was such a delight, no one is going to mind. Based on the just-dropped first trailer for the Apple TV+ film, however, the mood this time around is a little less melancholy, with On the Rocks serving up a father-daughter comedy about generational differences and complicated modern families. The full setup: Laura (Jones) initially doesn't really think twice when her other half, Dean (Marlon Wayans), suddenly starts working late more often. Soon though — and after her dad Felix's (Murray) not-so-comforting words of wisdom — she begins to wonder if Dean is cheating. That suspicion demands investigating, Felix decides, which sparks an offbeat adventure around NYC, and will also clearly help the pair work through their own complex relationship. Coppola's seventh feature, On the Rocks is also her first since 2017's The Beguiled won her the Best Director award at the Cannes Film Festival — where she became only the second woman to win the prize. And, it's her latest excuse to team up with Murray, with the pair last working together on 2015 Netflix special A Very Murray Christmas. Also familiar in On the Rocks' trailer: the sounds of Phoenix, who provide the movie's music. The French band have also been involved in Coppola's The Virgin Suicides, Lost in Translation, Marie Antoinette, Somewhere, The Bling Ring and The Beguiled in some shape or form, too — frontman Thomas Mars is Coppola's husband, after all. Check out the trailer for On the Rocks below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xn3sK4WiviA&feature=youtu.be&goal=0_745cb9c02a-6077870a17-84180621&mc_cid=6077870a17&mc_eid=30ab429929 On the Rocks hits Apple TV+ in October — we'll update you when a specific release date is announced.
A cup of tea can't soothe all ills, solve any traumas of the past or smooth over centuries of systemic oppression; however, it is how the biggest New Zealand film of 2022 started to spring to fruition. That movie is Muru, writer/director Tearepa Kahi's (Poi E: The Story of Our Song, Mt Zion) take on the treatment of Aotearoa's Tūhoe community by the NZ government and law enforcement. It spins a story easily tied to one event, the October 2007 armed police raids of Rūātoki that were carried out under terrorism laws — acting on supposed suspicion of paramilitary training camps in the Urewera mountain range — but it gleans inspiration from multiple incidents that've blighted the country's history. "This film is not a recreation… it is a response," Muru tells its audience at the outset. That's an important statement. Kahi's approach is to work through the raids — and to draw upon the police shooting of Steven Wallace in Waitara in 2000, and from the arrest of Rua Kēnana in Maungapōhatu in 1916 — to offer a reply that might just prevent such horrors from recurring in the future. His feature lays bare how the community was impacted when police stormed in 15 years ago, and the distress it brought. An emotional film as well as an action-packed one, Muru doesn't hold back, whether it's confronting generations of prejudice, reckoning with its consequences or depicting what that kind of experience is like in shattering detail. When the cups of teas behind Muru began being poured, Kahi wasn't the only one doing the sipping. Also at the table: Tāme Iti, who was one of 18 people arrested during the 2007 raids. His off-screen input was always going to be crucial; his on-screen presence is as well. The activist and Rūātoki local plays himself in the film opposite fellow tea-drinker and NZ actor Cliff Curtis (Reminiscence), with Kahi bringing two famed Aotearoans together for a pivotal cause. Passion radiates from the end result: passion to tell this tale, to do it justice, to reflect the community's ordeal and to make a difference. It's no wonder that Muru has not only resonated on home soil, including opening the 2022 New Zealand International Film Festival midyear and its local box-office success, but also travelled further afield. Berths at the Toronto and Busan film fests, a cinema release in Australia, earning the Asia Pacific Screen Awards' Cultural Diversity Award: they've all followed. As Muru continues to share its story in NZ, in Australia and beyond, we spoke with Kahi and Iti about making a feature that history demanded, those cups of teas, the responsibilities of a film like this and more. ON DECIDING TO MAKE A FILM THAT RESPONDS TO THE TŪHOE RAIDS Tearepa: "Our first cup of tea together was in 2018, but my father and Papa Tāme, and my father-in-law and Papa Tāme, are friends, so the relationship predates 2018. You could almost say 'where did this film start?'. It probably started on the 15th of October 2007." Tāme: "I think those beginnings, it was really talking to people that we can trust. For me personally, it was: who do I need to talk to, and how do we do that, and the purpose? Who's the audience? And so forth and all that. For me, sharing my story, our story, the village's story to Tearepa is based on trust, connections and having those relationships with him and his family. So it has become a family collaboration or participation. It is really the timing too — it happened at the right time — and putting those layers of the story together. They came up with the magic." [Tāme points to Tearepa.] Tearepa: "The three of us — one, two and Cliff — we all started having cups of tea and plotting this chessboard out, really interrogating the themes, and pulling this chessboard of characters together." ON TĀME ITI PLAYING HIMSELF Tāme: "I mean, when Tearepa and I were talking about the character…" Tearepa: "I had a secret. And I kept the secret from him." Tāme: "It was all good. At the end of it, I did agree to it. There was a moment of anxiety, but I got over it and just moved along — it was fun, really." Tearepa: "We surrounded Papa Tāme with the best cast we could produce from NZ at the time of shooting. We were really proud — and the fact is that all of these people came on was because everyone was committed to wanting to bring Papa Tāme's story to life on-screen." Tāme: "And having the experience working with people like Cliff Curtis and Manu Bennett." Tearepa: "And Jay Ryan." Tāme: "And Jay Ryan. That was a new experience for me, working with people that have the craft and they're very good at it, and learning from that, too." Tearepa: "They learned a lot from you too, though. They learned a lot from you Papa." Tāme: "But it was great." ON FINDING THE RIGHT APPROACH Tearepa: "It's not what happened — it's a response to what happened. In that spirit, the spirit that guided us through here, is that this film, Muru, we hope is a prevention from this occurring to Tūhoe or to any Māori community ever again. Two times, our government has repeated their actions. And in many ways this is more than a reminder — it's a clear, strong message that the memory of the community is alive and well. It's saying: 'we know what you've done and we know what has happened, and here is our response. We've taken preventative measures to ensure the safety, the ongoing safety of our communities'. There was another version that was just much more Beehive and Wellington and police-focused, and a sort of very faithful chronological understanding of the machine and the system, and how it reached the moment of pushing the red button. But when we really held that script up and stress-tested it, there's no heart there, there's nothing to learn there. Why aren't we in the community? So we successfully screwed that one up and threw it into the basket, and put our story where it rightfully should be told." ON WORKING THROUGH REAL-LIFE TRAUMA WITH THE TŪHOE COMMUNITY Tāme: "That was my role, and others around us, to have those conversations with the community." Tearepa: "We had two years' worth of conversations. This was something that we carried with us every day, over the entire process. Is the commitment to telling this story going to enact more trauma, or retraumatise? Or, can we do this in a way where the point is so well-articulated, and the kaupapa is so well-understood and carried by everybody involved with this, that we do understand it as a prevention?" ON MAKING THE FILM WHERE THE RAIDS HAPPENED Tearepa: "What was it like staging an action film in Tāme's backyard? It was the most fun we've ever had as a full, experienced crew. We made many decisions from the outset, and one of them was not to shoot this in a West Auckland studio, or on a Lord of the Rings set. So we went to Tāme's backyard, and we spent our time conversing and communicating with everybody there so everyone in the community had an understanding of what was going to happen. It was an incredible amount of fun. It required an incredible amount of focus. Why it was easy was because it was all character-motivated and generated, so we're not imposing this external new worldview into the film — the film and the sequences are driven by the action of the characters. So that made it clear for everyone." ON SHOOTING DURING THE PANDEMIC Tearepa: "It was the best thing for us because it brought us much focus, and it brought us closer together. We're always trying to cast the lightest footprint in and amongst the community, but the amount of focus meant there was no third wheel to lean on. It was really up to us. It was like making an old-school 1980s film, you know, an old-school George Miller or an old-school Geoff Murphy film. It was just us and the crew, deep in the Valley, making this thing happen." ON THE PERSONAL IMPACT AMONG THE COMMUNITY, CAST AND CREW Tāme: "It was a whole new experience for the Valley, and bringing people into the space. Actually, that part was quite fun. After everybody agreed to participate in the making of the movie — it was a big thing for the village, to see something big is happening within our village — they were really excited, particularly my generation, the older folks, the ladies and the men there. And meeting Cliff Curtis and Manu Bennett, and all those guys — they really loved that." Tearepa: "There was an excitement factor, but then down inside each character, our cast members, there was a personal connection to the date, to the day that we're trying to bring to life as well. And that's what everyone was carrying — this personal connection. A lot of people were caught up inside this raid that day, and everyone had a personal story that connected them to someone who had been victimised or someone who had been caught up in this false net, so the personal stakes were really, really high." ON BRINGING THIS STORY TO THE WORLD Tearepa: "Everyone stays glued to their seats when the credits roll. We have been so specific with the Valley, in terms of the dialect, the language, the relationships — they are so specific. And I guess in committing to that level of specificity, you are universalising the story. There's a big undercurrent that's happening worldwide in terms of questions of authority, policing and how they should be protecting communities — there's always been a question mark there. So with that theme of loyalty and protection and authority, there is a lot of international resonance when they watch this specific valley." Tāme: "I had this conversation with Tearepa, sharing some of those experiences, those stories that come from within the village. The experiences we're covering come from well over 100 years — not just what happened in 2007, but what happened in 1916 to Rua Kēnana, what happened in the 1860s, right through that whole period of time. We survived here to tell the story, and to bring that story here and share it to the world really. And of course it resonated to many other Indigenous people, to other people that have been through the same experiences like our village." Tearepa: "To add to it, there is an overall awareness of the why we're making it — but really, in terms of the scriptwriting, it was about understanding and turning inwards. It was very inward-facing, to look into the Valley, to look into Papa Tāme's personal story. And with those themes, how we could bring those themes to life with characters within the village, within the Valley? Muru is screening in Australian and New Zealand cinemas. Read our full review. Images: Jawbone Pictures, Wheke Group Limited.
Melbourne's bubble tea franchise Gotcha Fresh Tea is rapidly expanding across Australia. Having already opened three stores in Victoria and two in NSW, the chain has launched its first in Brisbane. Located inside Sunnybank Hills' Pinelands Plaza, its eye-catching gold facade and pastel pink hues make it easy to spot among the shopping centre's many other offerings. Gotcha also stands out from the pack thanks to its teas, which are all exclusively grown and hand-picked on the Gotcha plantation in Taiwan — the country where bubble tea originated, mind you. The extensive menu goes deeper than your average bubble tea shop, too. Milk teas come in red bean, bamboo charcoal, taro and durian flavours. Fruit teas come with sliced fresh fruit, including lychee, passionfruit, cumquat and mango. They all range from $5.20–18. There are also teas available with cheese, salted egg or tiramisu foams; a range of 'healthy' collagen teas in bamboo, aloe vera and mulberry flavours; and a menu of macchiatos, lattes, health teas and smoothies to choose from. Of course, you can add pearls and jelly to any and all flavour combinations. Gotcha's expansion is no where near slowing, either, with over 15 stores slated to open in 2019. If you're choosing to go out and support local businesses, have a look at the latest COVID-19 advice and social-distancing guidelines from the Department of Health
Getting stuck in the Upside Down mustn't be fun. Fighting demogorgons really wouldn't be either. And, neither would being imprisoned in a Russian jail, fighting secret government agents and seeing your home town rocked by a satanic panic-style witch-hunt. They're all among the grim things that Stranger Things has thrown its characters' ways over the years, including in the just-dropped first half of its long-awaited fourth season — and now waiting for the final two episodes in the season isn't that much fun as well. Obviously, spending the entire month of June listening to Kate Bush is on most Netflix viewers' agendas. But if you're after a bit more than that, the streaming platform has just released its first teaser trailer for the second volume of Stranger Things season four. Due to arrive on Friday, July 1, it'll dive back into the current tussle with Vecna — although, as this clip shows, he's decided that no one can stop his chaos now. The new sneak peek is brief, and it won't make any sense if you haven't already seen what the residents of Hawkins, Indiana have been up to lately. It still keeps the hefty slasher and horror vibes going, though, and teases another showdown between Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown, Godzilla vs Kong) and the series' new big bad. Need a refresher on where things are up to? Season four is set six months after the season three's battle of Starcourt, and sees Eleven living in Lenora Hills, California, with Will Byers (Noah Schnapp, Waiting for Anya), his brother Jonathan (Charlie Heaton, The Souvenir Part II) and their mother Joyce (Winona Ryder, The Plot Against America). But, despite her claims that things are sunny — in letters to her boyfriend Mike Wheeler (Finn Wolfhard, Ghostbusters: Afterlife), of course — they really aren't. The same proves true back in Hawkins, too. There, teens are turning up dead, and metal-loving outcast Eddie Munson (Joseph Quinn, Small Axe) — who also runs the high school Dungeons & Dragons club — is the prime suspect. Dustin Henderson (Gaten Matarazzo, The Angry Birds Movie 2), Max Mayfield (Sadie Sink, Fear Street) and Lucas Sinclair (Caleb McLaughlin, Concrete Cowboy) all know better, though, and enlist help from Steve Harrington (Joe Keery, Free Guy), Robin Buckley (Maya Hawke, Fear Street) and Nancy Wheeler (Natalia Dyer, Things Seen & Heard) to work out what's going on. That's the basic overview — with season four so far also spanning nods to 80s flicks aplenty, a wonderful horror cameo, explorations of Eleven's past and powers, road trips, and Jim Hopper's (David Harbour, Black Widow) whole situation in a Soviet gulag. As for what'll happen next, things look as eerie, tense and chilling as ever. And no, the new trailer isn't set to 'Running Up That Hill'. Check out the first sneak peek at Stranger Things season four volume two below: The first seven episodes of Stranger Things season four are available to stream now via Netflix, with the remaining two set to follow on Friday, July 1. Read our full review of Stranger Things season four volume one.
Brisbane's BlackMilk Clothing is well known for its pop culture-themed attire, releasing everything from Star Wars outfits to Harry Potter activewear in the past. Unsurprisingly, anything designed around the Boy Who Lived always proves popular — so much so that the company is launching another collection, this time specifically inspired by Hogwarts' houses. Whether you're keen to deck yourself out in red Gryffindor tartan pants, don a Slytherin letterman jacket with a snake embroidered on the back or pop on some blue Ravenclaw leggings, you'll be able to do just that. You'll be able to opt for some gold-hued Hufflepuff pieces, too, of course. Spanning trousers, dresses, leggings, crop tops and coats — including pants for both men and women, sports jersey-style shirts and hoodies as well, and overalls adorned with Harry Potter-themed patterns — it's a fresh treasure trove of items for wizarding fans to spend their galleons on. It's the real, official deal, with the School's Out range also featuring other pieces that won't make you feel like you're in training for the Triwizard Tournament, such as sheer and skater tunics in appropriately enchanting prints. A full preview of the collection is available on the BlackMilk website, with the magical selection going on sale at 7am on Tuesday, August 20. Items are available until sold out — and, yes, that often happens quickly. For more information about BlackMilk Clothing's Harry Potter School's Out range, head to their website.
When international art collective teamLab launched Borderless, its Tokyo-based permanent digital-only art museum, the kaleidoscopic space became the most-visited single-artist site in the world in just its first year of operation. Wherever the outfit pops up — be it in Shanghai oil tanks, Japanese hot springs or Melbourne — its installations are always hugely popular. So it's no wonder that the group keeps expanding its footprint by opening more permanent locations. Late in 2019, teamLab launched a new venue in Shanghai, which is also called Borderless. This year, it also started a museum called SuperNature in Macao. And, come 2024, it'll set up shop in The Netherlands as well — thanks to a new permanent digital art exhibition in Utrecht, which'll become the Europe's first centre dedicated to digital art. Called Nowhere, the next teamLab site will take over a 3000-square-metre space — and fill it with a range of the collective's typically vibrant and luminous works. While specific details about these pieces are yet to be revealed, Nowhere will be home to 'Future Park' and 'Athletics Forest' areas like its other venues. That means digital art fans can expect an all-ages, educational range of works, as well as engaging and fun activities that'll get you to physically interact with the pieces on offer. With the space's opening still four years away, clearly more details will be provided in that period; however teamLab will be pondering familiar themes. In a statement about the new exhibition, the group noted that it'll be exploring the expanding and spreading notion of beauty, the way it changes people's perceptions, and the fact that "everything exists in a fragile yet miraculous continuity over an extremely long period of time" — and that it's aiming "to create an experience through which visitors recognise this continuity itself as beautiful". In other words, it sounds like teamLab's next batch light and projection-heavy art will once again dazzle, immerse and get audiences thinking as they wander through and interact with the new space. In terms of its location, Nowhere will form part of an impressive spot, too. It'll nestle into the ground floor of Utrecht's new biodiversity-focused Wonderwoods development, which'll feature more than 360 trees and almost 9750 shrubs and plants in a green urban space next to Utrecht Central Station — so, before you mosey around teamLab's digital wonders, you have soak in some natural splendour as well. Of course, digital art aficionados Down Under will need to cross their fingers that international travel has returned to normal by 2024 — so put visiting Nowhere on your post-pandemic travel bucket list. teamLab Nowhere will open at Wonderwoods, Jaarbeurs Boulevard, Utrecht, at a yet-to-be-announced 2024 date — we'll update you with further details when they're announced. Top image: teamLab SuperNature. Mountain of Flowers and People: Lost, Immersed and Reborn, 2020, Interactive Digital Installation, Endless, Sound: Hideaki Takahashi © teamLab.
For those of you who secretly pat yourself on the back with every Facebook notification and retweet, meet your self-esteem boosting sidekicks: Molly and Olly. In case you needed reminding of just how popular you are, these mini robotic siblings are here to stroke your ego by releasing a sweet scent or treat upon every post, mention or retweet received. Created by software developing agency MintDigital, Molly and Olly bring social media interaction to another level. Once plugged into your computer, adorable Olly may be synced with any online network. When you receive a comment or a post, Olly will release a scent into the room; the more online notifications, the more aromatic your room. Molly, the slightly larger of the two, may similarly be synced to any network of your choosing. Instead of dispensing scents to congratulate you on a notification, however, this robot will give you your sugar fix by dispensing an edible treat. Social networking success never tasted (or smelled) so sweet. [via That's Like, Whoa!]
Guess who's back? Marshall Bruce Mathers III, better known mononymously as Eminem — or as his alter ego Slim Shady — is back, again. So, get ready to relive your angsty teen years when the controversial rapper brings the second instalment of his Rapture Tour Down Under in February, 2019. While we can't promise any renditions of 'Without Me', Eminem will be performing songs off his tenth (and latest) album Kamikaze, which was produced by Dr. Dre and features hits like 'Fall', co-written by Bon Iver's Justin Vernon, and 'Venom' from the new Marvel movie of the same name. The album also features appearances by American rappers Joyner Lucas and Royce da 5'9 and Canadian singer Jessie Reyez — and Ticketek has promised special guests will be joining Eminem on this latest tour, too. When Eminem last visited Australia — in 2014, for the first instalment of Rapture to promote The Marshall Mathers LP 2 — he brought Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole and Action Bronson with him, so we can expect some big names to join this time round as well. EMINEM RAPTURE 2019 DATES Brisbane — QSAC, February 20 Sydney — ANZ Stadium, February 22 Melbourne — MCG, February 24 Perth — Optus Stadium, February 27 Wellington — Westpac Stadium, March 2 Rapture 2019 pre-sale tickets are available from 10pm on Sunday, October 21, and general admission tickets will go on sale at 2pm on Monday, October 22. NZ tickets go on sale at 10am on Tuesday, October 23 and can be found here.
Prepare yourself for a serious dose of girl power: Janelle Monáe and Kimbra have announced they're joining forces for an Australasian tour, on sale this Thursday. The two pop heavyweights, who bonded at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland last July, are coming to Australia for The Golden Electric Tour at the end of May. Scheduled for four shows throughout Australia, the dynamic duo is also making a stop in Kimbra's native New Zealand before closing out the tour in Melbourne. The award-winning pop powerhouses will co-headline the tour, combining forces for a portion of the show while also playing individual sets. Kimbra and Monáe first made sweet music together at an impromptu bar gig when they met last year. Their taste for eccentric pop music coupled with fierce vocals proved a heavenly match, thus the idea for a joint tour was born. To (successfully) hype us all up for the endeavour, the pair released an unfathomably adorable video singing a mash-up of Aretha Franklin's 'Rock Steady' and Michael Jackson's 'Wanna Be Startin' Something', both of which are sure to be on the set list. https://youtube.com/watch?v=SyqltX5lRhQ Monáe will feature tracks from her 2013 release The Electric Lady, as well as her celebrated 2010 debut album The ArchAndroid. Kimbra is expected to release the follow-up to her 2011 album Vows later this year, so fans should expect some new gems amongst the singalongs. Tour Dates: Friday, May 16 - Challenge Stadium, Perth Monday, May 19 - Hordern Pavilion, Sydney Wednesday, May 21 - Brisbane Convention Centre, Brisbane Saturday, May 24 - Vector Arena, Auckland Monday, May 26 - The Plenary, Melbourne Tickets go on sale 10am on Thursday, April 17 via Live Nation. Pre-sale is available for My Live Nation members at 10am on Monday, April 14.
Another day, another new film festival announcement — and while we've probably made that claim before, it really is beginning to prove accurate. Come August, movie buffs will be able to immerse themselves in the big screen wonders of Latin America courtesy of Palace Cinemas' newest fest. Meet CINE LATINO: A New Festival of Latin American Cinema. Not content with adding an American indie showcase and an Aussie offshoot of the documentary-focused Hot Docs to the mix already this year, the arthouse cinema chain is keeping the festivals coming. Screening in Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Brisbane and Adelaide, CINE LATINO is the first country-wide event dedicated to Latin American cinema in Australia, featuring films from Mexico, Brazil, Uruguay, Venezuela, Chile, Guatemala and more. Given that Latin America is made up of 20 Spanish and Portuguese-speaking countries with over 600 million people — and has given rise to recent Oscar winners Alejandro González Iñárritu and Alfonso Cuarón — there's certain to be plenty of flicks to choose from. That'll be the task of Alex Castro, who previously oversaw the Melbourne Latin American Film Festival from 2004 to 2007. That makes quite the number of cultural touring film fests gracing the cinema outfit's big screens in 2016, with the French Film Festival currently doing the rounds, the Spanish Film Festival rolling out from April, and the Scandinavian, Israeli, Italian and British festivals also on Palace's slate throughout the year — not that we're keeping count or anything. And while you'll never hear us complaining about too many film festivals, we are mighty curious about what new niche they might move into next. CINE LATINO: A New Festival of Latin American Cinema will screen in Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Brisbane and Adelaide from August 11 to 31. For more information, keep an eye on the festival website. Image: Ixcanul (2015).
UPDATE, July 22, 2021: The postponed 2021 Brisbane Night Noodle Markets will now take place between Wednesday, September 22–Sunday, October 3. UPDATE, July 13, 2021: Due to travel and quarantine requirements stemming from Greater Sydney's current lockdown, the 2021 2021 Brisbane Night Noodle Markets have been postponed. With many of the event's vendors based in New South Wales, the markets can't go ahead as planned on from Wednesday, July 21–Sunday, August 1. New dates haven't yet been announced, but we'll update you when they are. At the end of May, Brisbane's Good Food Month revealed that it was returning for 2021, which is great news for grumbling stomachs across the city. Also part of that announcement: the news that the Night Noodle Markets would also be returning, although few other details were given. Wondering where you'll be perusing the usual hawker-style array of stalls? And when? This year, you won't just be heading to South Bank as usual. Instead, the 2021 Night Noodle Markets will take place at the Brisbane City Botanic Gardens — and you'll be making a trip (or several) between Wednesday, July 21–Sunday, August 1. This'll be the sixth year that the Night Noodle Markets have hit up our fair town, after sitting out 2020 for obvious reasons. It's also a rare physical event for the event of late, with both Sydney in 2020 and Melbourne this year doing at-home versions instead. As for what Brisbanites will be eating this year, and which vendors will be slinging all manner of food, that hasn't yet been revealed. In previous years, as well as more than a couple of pop-up bars, the likes of Chu the Phat, Hoy Pinoy, Waffleland, Puffle, Donburi Station, Bangkok Street Food, Bao Brothers, Little Kyoto, Okonomiyaking and Gelato Messina have served up dishes. And, they've whipped up everything from Malaysian and Indian-style paella, Japanese octopus dumplings and Korean barbecue tacos to cheeseburger puffles and waffle sticks with peanut butter, ice cream, bananas, pretzels and caramel. Obviously, arriving hungry is recommended. This year, so is registering that you'll be attending in advance for contact tracing purposes. And, entry will remain free — but you'll clearly have to pay for whatever you're eating and drinking. The 2021 Night Noodle Markets will pop up at the Brisbane City Botanic Gardens from Wednesday, July 21–Sunday, August 1. We'll update you when vendor details — and the lineup of foods they'll be serving — are announced. Images: Bec Taylor.
If your idea of a relaxing pastime involves moseying through Australia's picturesque landscape by foot, bike or horse, then add the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail to your must-visit list. Spanning 161 kilometres, it runs through southeast Queensland from Wulkuraka, west of Ipswich to Yarraman in the Great Dividing Range. And, with its final stage completed and opened this month, it's now Australia's longest continuous hiking, cycling and horse riding trail — exceeding the Great Victorian Rail Trail's 134 kilometres in length. Inaccessible to cars, the track follows the now-defunct Brisbane Valley railway line, which dates back to the 1880s. Upon closing to trains in 1991, it was converted to a recreational trail; however the final link between Toogoolawah and Moore has only just come to fruition through $3.354 million in funding from the federal, Queensland and local governments. Visitors can now make their way through an array of scenery — including farms, country towns and bushland — across the trail's entire expanse, with the track winding through the likes of Fernvale, Lowood, Esk, Toogoolawah, Moore, Linville, Blackbutt and Yarraman, and including both coffee stops and campsites along the way. Further work is planned along the trail, including a $4.5 million upgrade to the heritage-listed Lockyer Creek Railway Bridge. Image: Brisbane Valley Rail Trail Users Association Inc.
From dead characters to killer plants, M Night Shyamalan's films are known for veering off in out-there directions, as everything from The Sixth Sense and The Village to The Happening and Split has shown. So, when a trailer for one of his movies drops, you can expect that it'll tease a strange twist. That's what the first sneak peek at Old did back in February, with the feature's new full trailer now fleshing out a few more details. As already established in the first 30-second clip, Old follows a family led by Gael García Bernal (Ema) and Vicky Krieps (Phantom Thread) as they head off on a beachside holiday. Finding a particularly secluded spot online, they lap up their scenic surroundings — even when a few more people show up. But then a dead body is spotted floating in the water, putting everyone on edge. Next, the couple's kids disappear behind a few rocks, only to return looking much older than they did mere seconds ago. There's an eerie tone to both the initial sneak peek and the new trailer, unsurprisingly. If you're wondering where Shyamalan will take the concept from there, you'll have to wait until the thriller releases in cinemas in July. The filmmaker has penned the movie's script, too; however, he's based it all Pierre Oscar Lévy and Frederik Peeters' graphic novel Sandcastle. Hoping that it turns out more like Unbreakable and less like The Visit is understandable. As well as Bernal and Krieps, Old has amassed a hefty cast, including Rufus Sewell (The Father), Alex Wolff (Hereditary), Australian actors Abbey Lee (Lovecraft Country) and Eliza Scanlen (Babyteeth), and New Zealand's Thomasin McKenzie (Jojo Rabbit) — the latter of whom will be hitting our screens a few times this year, given that she also stars in Last Night in Soho. If you're already getting big Lost vibes, Ken Leung (Star Wars: Episode VII — The Force Awakens) also features. And no, neither him nor any of his co-stars say "I see old people" in the new trailer. Hopefully that'll remain the same in the movie itself. Check out the new trailer below: Old opens in Australian cinemas on July 22. Top image: Universal Pictures.
The Gold Coast, Australia's beach club capital. That isn't how anyone refers to the Glitter Strip to at the moment, but it might soon become a reality. The tourist spot is already home to a rooftop beach club in Surfers Paradise, and will welcome a pop-up beach club on the sand at Broadbeach this month, too. Plus, sometime early in 2022, it'll also boast La Luna, a new floating beach club at the Marina Mirage. The space is the brainchild of the Gennari Group, which is already behind the Gold Coast's Koi Broadbeach, Glass Dining & Lounge Bar, The Loose Moose, Maggie Choo and Roosevelt Lounge. This new venue will clearly stand out, though — setting up a beach club on pontoons will do that. La Luna will take inspiration from its European counterparts — and from Mykonos and Saint-Tropez in general — with a few cues gleaned from the setups in Tulum in Mexico as well. Think: daybeds, private cabanas and pools, obviously, as well as a bar, and dining both inside and by the water. Based on concept images, the look is light and airy, with splashes of pink and blue against white and cream-hued furniture — including ever-trusty beach umbrellas. Given the venue's moniker, circles, glowing orbs and lunar shapes aplenty pop up, too. And, as well as making you feel like you're on the other side of the world, La Luna is aiming to radiate big yacht life vibes. Basically, it'll be the beach club you hang out in when you want to pretend you're spending your daily lazing around on a boat's deck. Bring your adult siblings, start bickering and you'll feel like you're in Succession, perhaps? While specifics in terms of menu and entertainment haven't been revealed as yet, La Luna will serve up Mediterranean and Asian fusion bites made with local produce, have DJs set the mood and host parties under the stars. Cocktails will be big on the drinks list, naturally. La Luna's restaurant is currently slated to have a soft launch in January, ahead of the full venue opening sometime early in 2022 — so whether you'll be able to add floating pool club hangs (and living the yacht life without the yacht) to your summer plans hasn't yet been confirmed. La Luna Beach Club will open at Marina Mirage, 74 Seaworld Drive, Gold Coast sometime in early 2022 — we'll update you with further details when they're announced. Images: artists' impressions of La Luna Beach Club.
A conglomerate of sights, sounds and savouries, the Auckland cityscape of things to do is vast. From Waitemata Harbour in the north, to Manukau Harbour in the south, there's a bounty of things to eat, drink and discover, not to mention see, with stellar views in pretty much any direction you look. But forgoing the tour guide route, how does one navigate their way through the City of Sails? We all know access to a local's knowledge is the best way, so we've partnered with Adina Apartment Hotels to locate some must-dos from Parnell to Britomart, Devonport to Waiheke Island. What's more, Adina Auckland has a new penthouse to book into, so you can up your city exploration with a stay in this three-bedroom apartment featuring Auckland's crème de la crème at its doorstep. So, break out of the tourist bubble, and venture out to take in the city like a local, order that top-notch coffee, soak up the key vistas of our fine city, and indulge in first class dining experiences. Herein lies our local's guide to some of the best hot spots to add to your itinerary. FOR INNOVATIVE, HANDCRAFTED COCKTAILS: MEA CULPA Cocktails aren't just a drink at Mea Culpa in Ponsonby, they're an art form. A New York-style hole in the wall, the intimate narrow bar is a local favourite thanks to their innovative, ever-changing cocktail list, rustic interior and an eclectic music selection to boot. It's the kind of place where barman and owner Tim knows most by name and will happily stop for a chat while whipping up some spectacular creations. Here, cocktails are king and creativity, presentation and quality produce reign supreme. Everything is made from scratch and everything is organic, plus the team is passionate about supporting local suppliers and buy small batch made product — nothing is mass produced. This is a true neighbourhood gem you'd be crazy to miss. FOR WEEKEND BREAKFAST: WINONA FOREVER When you're feeling a bit dusty on the weekend, you want a big breakfast, you want it central, you want it tasty, and a bit of atmosphere doesn't hurt either. Introducing Winona Forever, a little Auckland eatery making big waves on the food scene. Competing for your attention, sugar-dusted pastries and flaky filo treats sit pretty in the front cabinet, but the real drawcard, however, is on the main menu. Expect beetroot salmon on kumara sourdough, pistachio almond ricotta doughnuts and breakfast bowls brimming with broccolini, kale, avo and lime. The beauty and flavours of each plate will render you speechless, but don't worry the restaurant comes strapped with an alcohol license to get the conversation flowing again over a sneaky breakfast tipple. FOR COFFEE WITH CHARM: ODETTES If you want to be charmed while you have your morning coffee, look no further than Odettes. Boasting the prettiest botanicals and Scandinavian fit-out in the city, there's no argument that this is an Auckland gem. You'll go for the textures, timelessness and luxury of the venue, but rest assured, you'll stay for their eclectic and extensive coffee and tea offerings. Caffeine and fare alike, everything is sourced from local and artisanal producers. A true pleasure to behold, Odettes should be on everyone's coffee itinerary. Image: Anna Kidman. FOR EXPERIMENTAL ICE CREAM: GIAPO Sweet, salty, spicy, sour — whatever ice cream your heart desires will be found within the emporium that is Giapo. Treating every customer like their first —even though they've been open for nine years — the team goes above and beyond to make your visit memorable no matter how short. With feijoa and chamomile, black Perigord truffle, peach and bush honey yogurt, you'll want to taste the lot before making that important final decision. And with their relocation to Gore Street earlier this year, there are even more unexpected food and ice cream pairings to discover, like ice cream with fries, jacket potatoes, gyoza dumplings or arancini balls. These cone connoisseurs have fine tuned the talent of combining technology, art and science into innovative batches of creamy cold goodness, bringing Auckland the tastiest cones in town. FOR DRINKS WITH A VIEW: DEVON ON THE WHARF The City of Sails offers high-ranking bars aplenty, serving up some killer drinks, but if you really want to impress and be impressed, there's one spot you should set your sights on. Make your way to the little bubble of Devonport, the fairy tale town perched on one of the city's most prized peninsulas, adorned with historical villas. Stepping off the ferry, you need not stray far before meeting your destination, Devon on the Wharf. Along with seaside inspired delicacies, crowd pleasing platters and a full gin and tonic menu, DOTW offers double views, either overlooking the city or the wide ocean expanse. Settle in with your drop of choice, and ready yourself for a lengthy afternoon session you won't want to leave. Image: @nattti / Instagram. FOR A WINE-FILLED DAY TRIP: WAIHEKE ISLAND Touring wineries surrounded by lush rolling hills, wandering from one vineyard to the next via pathways through the vines, indulging in several delicious, local drops — not much else compares to a day spent on Waiheke Island. Is there anything better than an entire island dedicated to wine? Rent a bike and wind your way through the hills dotted with vineyards, or jump on the bus that takes you from the ferry, all the way to Onetangi Beach. Stop off at Stonyridge for a glass of their award-winning Larose (best enjoyed on the deck among the olive grove), then wind your way through the vines to Casita Miro to sample their tapas and Spanish sherries, like their famed Madame Rouge. And if you opt for the car ferry from Auckland's CBD, and have a designated driver, the stunning, coastal Man O' War at the end of the island is certainly worth a trip. FOR VOLCANO VIEWS: MOUNT VICTORIA Marked by rolling hills and surrounded by ocean, Auckland holds some extraordinary views from One Tree Hill to Waiheke, but Devonport's Mount Victoria on the North Shore offers some pretty special sights. Challenge yourself, and take the steep 15-minute walk up to the volcano's summit for sweeping ocean views with the dramatic CBD skyline to contrast. Spanning the Hauraki Gulf, Rangitoto Island, the city and the rest of the shore, this picture-perfect panorama is well worth that post-climb burn. Image: russellstreet / Flickr. FOR WEEKEND MARKET EATS: LA CIGALE FRENCH MARKET There's no mystery as to why La Cigale French Market has been voted Auckland's best market for eight years running. Held Saturday from 8am to 1.30pm and Sunday from 9am to 1.30pm, the Parnell market has become so popular it's expanded to a new location in Britomart. Here you can expect produce in abundance, fresh breads and pastries hot from the oven, cheeses, cured meats smoked salmon, giant pans of paella, organic salads and French delicacies galore. Teeming with live music, crepes sizzling, coffees brewing and the scent of fresh baked pastries wafting through the air, La Cigale is a sensory explosion just waiting to be explored. FOR A HIDDEN, SUNNY PICNIC SPOT: CORNWALL PARK Undoubtedly, the city's best place to park up and picnic is at Cornwall Park. Escape to the beautiful expanse of rolling green hills, just a 15-minute drive from the city. The parklands feature wildlife, stunning scenery, walks both on and off the beaten track, and to sweeten the deal, an ice creamery. No matter the season, locals flock here to spend their afternoons sharing the park with herds of friendly cows, roaming sheep and, in parts, free-range chickens clucking about. Lay out your rug in your own hidden valley, and embrace the feeling of leaving the city long behind you — despite being right on its doorstep. FOR NEW ZEALAND'S FRESHEST PASTA: AMANO Housed in a building more than a century old, Amano is one of the most beautiful eateries you will lay eyes on in Auckland. Picture bunches of dried wheat and Nelson hydrangeas hanging gracefully from the ceiling, and Mother of Pearl countertops emerging from Terraza marble flooring reminiscent of Saint Peter's Basilica. Amano means both 'made by hand' and 'with love' in Italian, which suits the fare perfectly. Claiming to have the freshest pasta experience in New Zealand, the restaurant dishes out pastas made with flour straight from their on-site mill and free-range eggs from Whangarei. Pair that with only seasonal and local ingredients — see Wairarapa Coast crayfish and Auckland Island scampi — plus big windows overlooking the port, and you're set for a decadent dining experience by the sea. Book yourself in at the Adina Apartment Hotel Auckland and tick all of these hot spots off your list. Words: Izzie Aldridge, Kristy Mayo and Quinn Connors.
How great is this party? If you've watched the first season of Apple TV+'s The Afterparty, you'll know that that statement applies in multiple ways. It's part of a song within the sleuthing series. Also, one of its on-screen figures believes the phrase sums up an entire genre of tunes, aka party bangers. And, it's also a great way to describe the whole show so far, which is indeed ace. The team at Apple's streaming platform clearly agree with the latter, too — because they've just renewed the star-studded murder-mystery program for a second season. And if your inner investigator is wondering how that'll work given that The Afterparty's first run of episodes, which just wrapped up on Friday, March 4, felt self-contained, we have two words for you: Detective Danner. That's the character played by Tiffany Haddish (The Card Counter), and she'll be back for season two. While she had top-notch company the first time around — a killer cast that also included Sam Richardson (Detroiters), Ben Schwartz (Space Force), Zoe Chao (Love Life), Ilana Glazer (Broad City), Ike Barinholtz (The Mindy Project), Dave Franco (If Beale Street Could Talk), Jamie Demetriou (The Great) and John Early (Search Party) — this time she'll be poking into a new case, so you can likely expect a whole new roster of names to join her. Presumably, some sort of afterparty will still remain part of the concept — unless there'll be a change of name. If you haven't yet watched the first season, it's set at an afterparty (obviously) at obnoxious autotune-abusing pop star Xavier's (Franco) lavish mansion following his 15-year high-school reunion. When he winds up dead, everyone is shocked but no one is overly upset, which gives the determined Danner plenty of suspects. Of course, while the settings change, and the motley crew of characters involved as well, plenty of whodunnits share the same premise. Take a ragtag group of folks, pop them all in the same spot, kill one off and then start asking questions — that's it, that's the formula. It works for boardgame Cluedo, it worked for Agatha Christie and her lengthy list of Hercule Poirot novels and stories, and it's also been behind everything from Knives Out and The Translators to Only Murders in the Building in the past few years. So, letting The Afterparty have another run at it should be easy for writer/director Christopher Miller (The Lego Movie). Exactly when The Afterparty's second season will arrive, who'll be getting killed and which other recognisable faces will star haven't yet been revealed. For now, keep your fingers crossed for another batch of episodes that twist in its their own directions, tell their tale with flair and approach the show's overall idea with a savvy sense of humour. Check out the trailer for The Afterparty below: The first season of The Afterparty is available to stream via Apple TV+. Read our full review. We'll update you with details about the second season's release date when it's announced.
When Brisbane favourite Longtime shut up shop, it marked the end of an era. The Ann Street restaurant had only been open since 2014, but the Thai joint had amassed a hefty following. Thankfully, when one door closes, another one opens — in this case, new upscale eatery Same Same from the same crew. The focus on street-inspired Thai cuisine remains the same — think salt and pepper tofu sliders, and whole crispy fish with sweet four chilli dressing — however Same Same has plenty of surprises in store. This isn't just a case of transplanting a successful concept to a new spot and giving it a new name. Other food highlights include grilled scallops lathered in a curry butter, banana blossom salad with fermented shrimp salad and grilled sweet soy chicken. Or, you can pick from five types of curry, featuring the likes of lamb shanks, angus beef cheeks, and Queensland grouper. The Longtime chicken burger has made the jump over, sitting on the bar menu, while the dessert lineup is worth a trip all on its own — with coconut pana cotta, tamarind pudding with butterscotch sauce and condensed milk ice cream ($12), and mango sticky rice with coconut foam and toasted sesmae on offer. Dining with seven or more others? Then you'll need to tuck into the $79 or $120 banquet menu. You'll receive a selection of Same Same's most popular dishes, including some of the aforementioned ones — ranging from snacks and mains through to dessert. Located in the same Ada Lane strip as The Calile — one of the best hotels in Brisbane — its location also makes an imprint, joining the busy James Street precinct. Spread across two levels, it's a place with clean lines, concrete and wicker design flourishes, and, on the ground level, a long bar curving around an open central kitchen. Drinks-wise, expect a heavy focus on riesling, rose and rhone on the 140-bottle wine list, as well as a nice range of natural, organic and biodynamic Aussie drops. Given the restaurant's overall Thai flavour, Thai-inspired cocktails are also a highlight. And, if you're particularly keen on having a few beverages, Same Same's upstairs level is home to dimly lit bar LOS — and more than 110 tequilas. It's open from Thursday to Sunday until late. The team has also opened a collection of other restaurants in Brisbane, including Bianca, Honto and Agnes — if you fall in love with Same Same, perhaps give the rest of these a go as well. Appears in: The Best Restaurants in Brisbane
Since Netflix officially launched in Australia back in 2015, their buffet of streaming movies and TV shows has lacked one thing: new original local content. Indeed, it took more than two years for the popular SVOD platform to finally announce that they're making their first Aussie series — and, if the Australian government has anything to do with it, there'll be much more where that came from. During a government enquiry into the sustainability of the film and television industry, Department of Communications content head Carolyn Patteson revealed that the department is looking into quotas for Aussie content on streaming platforms. "We recognise that the system we currently have in place is probably not contemporary for our environment, and what we're really starting to grapple with is the online space," she advised. Just how much Australian programming could be required is yet to be discussed; however, under similar quotas for TV networks, local commercial free-to-air television stations must show a minimum of 55 per cent on their main channels between 6am and midnight. Further sub-quotas apply to Australian drama, documentary and kids' programs. A similar idea has been floated in Europe, with a figure of 20 per cent suggested. In the interim, in addition to their recently announced supernatural crime drama series Tidelands, Netflix has also co-commissioned new comedy series The Letdown with the ABC — their third local collaboration after the second season of Glitch and Monkey Magic reboot The Legend Of Monkey. Over at Stan, No Activity and Wolf Creek have flown the flag for local content on the Australian platform so far, with four new shows currently in the works, as well as feature film The Second. Via The Sydney Morning Herald.
Maybe you first heard of Peloton when US President Joe Biden assumed office, with his use of the company's technology-enabled equipment giving rise to questions about its potential White House security risks. Perhaps you've seen the mocking ad created by Ryan Reynolds' Aviation American Gin, or the recent Saturday Night Live spoof. Or, you could just really like expensive additions to your home gym setup, or getting guided through your workout routine by an instructor without having to leave the house. Whichever fits, Australians will soon be able to get their hands on the brand's indoor bikes and take part in its streamed classes, with the company announcing plans to launch Down Under. An exact date hasn't yet been announced, but Peloton will be rolling out its equipment and at-home workouts in Australia some time in the second half of 2021. Presumably, it won't be doing so by using its controversial 2019 TV commercial, which received considerable backlash and gave rise to the aforementioned parodies. Australians will be able to choose from two Peloton bikes first up, and neither comes cheap. The Peloton Bike will cost $2895, while the Bike+ will set you back $3695. If you're wondering what the difference is, the latter comes with a bigger screen that can rotate 360 degrees, and with a better sound system — because connecting to the Peloton app and streaming its workouts while you're hitting the pedals is all part of the process. You will need to pay extra to access the company's content, which'll cost $59 per month. On offer: instructor-led classes, motivational tracks and curated playlists, with the latter featuring the likes of Beyoncé and The Beatles. The sessions cover cycling, obviously, as well as running, strength training, high-intensity interval training, yoga, barre, pilates, dance cardio, bootcamp and meditation. Time-wise, they span from five to 60 minutes in length and, in terms of skill, range from beginner to advanced. The Peloton app does also include material that doesn't require the brand's equipment, if you're eager to give it a try without breaking your budget. Peloton is also setting up physical showrooms in Sydney and Melbourne, should you want to give its bikes a test run in person. The brand also makes treadmills, although when they'll be available in Australia hasn't yet been announced. When Peloton heads Down Under, it'll set up shop in its fifth country worldwide, after the US, the UK, Canada and Germany. Peloton will launch in Australia sometime in 2021, and set up showrooms in Sydney and Melbourne. For further details, keep an eye on the company's website.
Each year we vow to be better gift-givers, but when the office secret santa rolls around, and Christmas parties start to ramp up, we're left with limited time to find a truly good present, one that says we genuinely care. Well, not this year; this time we're prepared. In partnership with Square, we've searched through Australia's independent shops to bring you a gift guide to match all the colleagues you might be assigned this present-giving season. If you are a small business owner, Square has the tools you need to take payments and maximise your sales, including an ebook with tips to help you get started this holiday season. FOR THE WORK PARENT Plant and self-watering planter from The Plant Society, $30 Melbourne plant hunters Jason Chongue and Nathan Smith set up The Plant Society in 2016 and now the small business ships its green shoots, ceramics, homewares and planter kits to people across Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. When you're looking for a gift that says thank you to the office parent — the one that mops up the spills, has painkillers when you need them and a shoulder to cry on — we suggest giving a little love back. Buy them an indoor plant already potted in a self-watering planter. You can choose the pot colour and plants, which range from tropical philodendron super atoms to the popular monstera deliciosa. FOR THE BIG CHEESE Gift card from Mould Cheese Collective, $25–85 No matter how much you love your boss, when you've drawn the big cheese of your workplace for this year's gift exchange there's a lot of pressure to get it right. Choose a dud: everyone feels awkward. Pick something special: early marks all round. We say, send them a box of cheesy delights from The Mould Cheese Collective, a Victoria-based club for cheese lovers. You can shop for gooey goodness on its website, but for the safest bet, there's a trusty gift voucher of either $25, $50 or $85. The bonus: it's an instant gift, so no need to wait for shipping. The downside: not suitable for lactose intolerant leaders. FOR THE WANNABE DJ Dolly Parton's Blue Smoke from Cottonmouth Records, $55 Sydney's Cottonmouth Records has a loyal local following for its record store and bar in Enmore, but you don't need to live nearby to take advantage of owner Zachery Williams' eclectic vinyl collection. Its online store has black gold in all shades of nostalgia, from Beastie Boys and Mariah Carey to Pearl Jam and The Prodigy. It's not all about the throwbacks — there are plenty of recent releases available on vinyl here — but, when shopping for the coworker who controls the playlist, we think there's a lot of joy in Dolly Parton's back catalogue. We've picked Blue Smoke, but you can also order Jolene for $39, which is an absolute steal. Shipping is $15, or free for orders over $100. FOR THE ETHICAL ONE Face mask from Second Stitch, $18 Melbourne-based not-for-profit Second Stitch is a social enterprise that employs refugees, migrants and people seeking asylum. It beat lockdown in Victoria by making cute reusable cloth masks in uplifting patterns and colours. When your kris kringle recipient is that work mate who likes to support charities and ethical businesses, this practical gift will go a long way. Not only are the two-layer cotton masks an environmental solution to an ongoing pandemic, but also your purchase directly provides meaningful employment for some of the most disadvantaged members in the community. Now that's what the spirit of Christmas is all about. FOR THE SALAD-FOR-LUNCH ONE Citrus Trio from Mount Zero Olives, $25 If the only thing you know about Nic from HR is that they like to bring their own meals to work every day, be the teammate who celebrates their forward planning and discipline by getting them something that'll bring them a little joy every lunchtime. This trio of extra virgin olive oils from Mount Zero Olives is better than your supermarket drizzles, as they're pressed with citrus fruits rather than infused with synthetic flavours. The family-owned Victorian company says the lime, mandarin and lemon oils pair well with seafood, egg brekkies and roast veggies, so they're versatile too. Shipping is $12, or free for orders over $100. FOR THE CAFFEINE GEEK How to Buy It, Brew It from Market Lane, $25 If you've got a work buddy who places coffee high on their daily to-do lists, look to Melbourne roaster Market Lane for a gift to match their beverage of choice. Market Lane ships beans, coffee making equipment and literature across Australia. And, for a present that'll last longer than a bag of freshly ground coffee, you should pick the in-depth guide to a good brew How to Buy It, Brew It, written by Market Lane's co-founder Jason Scheltus. You can ask for it to be wrapped in paper designed by artist Julia Stewart for no extra cost and shipping is just $8. FOR THE IT'S-5PM-SOMEWHERE ONE Four-pack of Peach Sauce from Sauce Brewing Co, $20 We've all got a coworker who's a bit of a craft beer nerd. The one who plans their weekends around brewery crawls, goes out of their way to order the most obscure ales on tap, and loves to share their knowledge of local drops. Lean into the passions of this person and get them a four-pack of tart, tangy, crowd-pleasing Peach Sauce. The berliner weisse is one of many creative brews from Sydney microbrewery Sauce. There's also hazy pale ale Caribbean Fog, New England-style IPA Bubble & Squeak and a tropical Frisson Raspberry, ready for the summer of seltzers. FOR THE SNACK QUEEN Bubble O Bill cookies from Dough Re Mi, $18 Wagga-based bakery Dough Re Mi specialises in custom-made cookies designed to brighten someone's day. And we couldn't think of anyone more deserving of a treat than the snack kings and queens of your office. They're always ready with a bag of chippies or choccies when deadlines are tight and everyone needs a mood booster. You could go all out and order ones with a motivational message, but for us the winning choice is Bubble O Bill's face on a butter biscuit, complete with a bubble gum nose. You can order a single cookie for $5.50, or a gift box for $18. And Dough Re Mi ships Australia-wide. FOR THE NEW PERSON Notebook from Studio A, $15 Thrown right in the deep end, just before the festive season, the workplace newbie has to be one of the toughest people to buy for when it comes to secret santa time. However, it couldn't be worse than actually being the newest person to join the team. Think of all the catching up they've got to do — and that's just on the office goss. Pick them something they'll be proud to use every day, like a notebook designed by one of Studio A's talented artists. The Sydney-based studio supports artists with disability, providing a workspace and materials for artists to realise their aspirations. We like these ones by Lisa Scott, left, and Thom Roberts, right. Shipping is an additional $10, so order one for yourself while you're at it. FOR THE FASHION ICON Sturt's Desert Pea Socks from Julie White, $30 Adelaide-based designer Julie White creates bold and colourful designs inspired by Australian flora and fauna. She draws all the designs by hand, including ones of lorikeets, midnight orchids and Sturt's desert peas. Her head and neck scarves are 100-percent silk, and the silky-feel knee-high socks are nylon. If your secret santa budget is $30, order a set of statement socks for the most fashionable person in your workplace. They'll feel seen. And, as a treat for you, shipping is free within Australia for orders over $30. Find out how Square is supporting small businesses with the tools they need to grow, here. If you are a small business owner, Square has guidance on how best to maximise sales in the run up to the Christmas holiday period in its ebook, found here.
In what might be the bravest marketing move of the decade, ice cream manufacturers Ben and Jerry's are rumoured to be creating a new flavour called 'Schweddy Balls' based on an incredibly popular Saturday Night Live skit from 1998 involving Alec Baldwin. In an interview last night former SNL cast member Anna Gasteyer said of the Schwetty Balls skit "It has this crazy, massive popularity that's kind have had a half life since I left the show. Ben and Jerry's is coming out with a Schwetty Balls ice cream for Christmas this year." Bowery Bogey claims this delicious dish will be available to consumers as soon as September. A Ben and Jerry's representative has refused to either confirm or deny the sweaty speculations, instead choosing to say "we like all our new flavours to have an element of surprise." Surprise indeed, one can only imagine what constitutes a Schweddy Balls flavour. And while this all might seem too be good to be true, it wouldn't be the first time that Ben and Jerry's have released a pop culture inspired flavour. Previous flavours include Stephen Colbert's Americone Dream, Cherry Garcia, in honour of Grateful Dead singer Jerry Garcia, and Yes Pecan in honour of Barack Obama's 2008 presidential victory. https://youtube.com/watch?v=yVChao15oDw [Via Gothamist]
Fond of Netflix? Regal intrigue? Combining the two? Then you're obviously a fan of The Crown. And, if so, you've had a busy few years — not just because the series has dropped four seasons since 2016, but because news around the show's fifth and sixth seasons has changed back and forth a few times. At the beginning of 2020, Netflix announced that it would end the royal drama after its fifth season. The, the streaming platform had a change of heart, revealing it would continue the series for a sixth season after all. Now, the service has announced when the next batch of episodes will air, so mark November 2022 in your diary. When season five premieres next year — with the exact date still yet to be revealed — it'll do so two years after season four. But, that's the gap that The Crown tends to take when it changes casts. After starting out with Claire Foy (The Girl in the Spider's Web) as Queen Elizabeth II, Matt Smith (Official Secrets) as Prince Philip and Vanessa Kirby as Princess Margaret (Pieces of a Woman) in its first two seasons, which aired in 2016 and 2017, the series returned in 2019 with Olivia Colman (The Father), Tobias Menzies (This Way Up) and Helena Bonham Carter (Enola Holmes) in those roles. Plus, it added Josh O'Connor (God's Own Country) as Prince Charles — and, in season four in 2020, Emma Corrin (Misbehaviour) and The X-Files icon Gillian Anderson joined the cast as Lady Diana Spencer and British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, respectively. This time around, Downton Abbey, Maleficent and Paddington star Imelda Staunton will don the titular headwear, Game of Thrones and Tales from the Loop's Jonathan Pryce will step into Prince Philip's shoes, and Princess Margaret will be played by Staunton's Maleficent co-star and Phantom Thread Oscar-nominee Lesley Manville. Also, Australian Tenet, The Burnt Orange Heresy and Widows star Elizabeth Debicki will be the new Princess Diana, while The Wire and The Pursuit of Love's Dominic West will play Prince Charles. Season five and six are expected to follow the Queen in the 1990s and 2000s — so yes, that means that Diana will play a big part, and that the series will traverse some of the same territory that Kristen Stewart-starring film Spencer covers as well. Can't wait till next year? It's too early for trailers for season five, but Netflix has dropped an introductory message from Staunton, which you can check out below: The Crown's fifth season will hit Netflix sometime in November 2022 — we'll update you with an exact launch date when one is announced. Images: Keith Bernstein / Alex Bailey / Netflix
Neo. John Wick. Johnny Utah. Ted "Theodore" Logan. Across Keanu Reeves' almost four-decade acing career, the inimitable star has played many iconic parts — but only one thrust him to stardom as a time-travelling high-school slacker who had to round up famous figures from the past to pass his history report and save the future of humanity. As a result, the Bill & Ted movies have always held a soft spot in Keanu fans' hearts. Since first hitting screens in 1989 and 1991, the franchise has long been the subject of follow-up rumours, too. And now, just when the world particularly needs a reminder about being excellent to each other, the series is returning with its long-awaited third instalment. Nearly 30 years after Reeves last rocked out, grappled with fate and used a telephone box as a mode of transport in Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey, he's back doing the same thing. So is Alex Winter as Bill S. Preston, Esquire, Ted's best buddy, San Dimas High classmate and fellow founder of Wyld Stallyns, aka the garage band that'll change life as we know it and inspire a utopian society — at least according to Rufus (the late George Carlin) in film that started it all, Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure. But as both the first teaser and the just-dropped full trailer for Bill & Ted Face the Music shows, that plan hasn't quite panned out as yet for the franchise's central duo. A quarter-century ago, they played a concert in front of the entire world. One month ago, they played a gig in California for 40 people — "most of whom where there for $2 taco night", they're told. After being reprimanded by the folks from the future for their lack of progress — when you're supposed to write the song that unites the globe and rescues reality, 25 years without any progress isn't going to go by unnoticed — Bill and Ted decide to head forward in time to a point when they've already penned the tune in question. Once they're there, they figure they can just steal the track from themselves. Plenty of hijinks await, naturally, including singing at weddings, playing air guitar with the Grim Reaper (William Sadler) and coming face to face with beefed-up versions of themselves. Oh, and then there's Ted's daughter Billie Logan (Bombshell's Brigette Lundy-Paine) and Bill's daughter Thea Preston (Ready or Not's Samara Weaving), who follow in their dads' footsteps and get in on all the time-travelling fun. If the first teaser was enough to make you exclaim "party on, dudes!", Keanu-style, then this longer trailer will evoke more of the same. Bill & Ted Face the Music is clearly taking more than a few queues from its predecessors, too — as well as needing to create a song in 78 minutes that'll save the world and bring harmony to the whole universe, Bill, Ted, Billie and Thea also enlist some well-known personalities from the past to help. As for what happens next, how often someone will say "whoa!", and what the rest of the cast — which includes Kid Cudi, Kristen Schaal, Anthony Carrigan, Erinn Hayes, Jayma Mays, Jillian Bell, Holland Taylor, Beck Bennett, Hal Landon Jr and Amy Stoch — gets up to, that'll all be revealed when the film hits Australian cinemas on Thursday, August 27. Until then, check out the full Bill & Ted Face the Music trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gnTuWEKSXw&feature=youtu.be Bill & Ted Face the Music is scheduled to release in Australian cinemas on August 27.
Lately, the world has seen all sorts of weird and wonderful shoe creations, from sneakers made from recycled ocean plastic to beer-proof kicks to those chicken-and-waffles-inspired Nikes. But this latest sneaker design find might just be the strangest yet, with some bright sparks in Amsterdam crafting a shoe with soles made from chewing gum collected from the city's streets. Dubbed Gumshoe, it's a collaboration between companies Gum-tec and Publicis One, plus local shoe brand Explicit Wear, and it's out to stomp all over The Netherlands' costly chewing gum problem. Apparently, the country's streets rack up around 1.5 million kilograms of the stuff each year, creating the second biggest litter issue after cigarettes. The Gumshoe sole features a special kind of rubber crafted from used gum that's been recycled into a sustainable material. They're available in black or hot pink, with a map of Amsterdam stamped into each sole. On Gumshoe's website, Mustafa Tanriverdi, from Marketing and Investments, Amsterdam Metropolitan Area said, "with these shoes, we take a step closer towards gum-free streets and at the same time create awareness amongst gum users without being preachy." If you fancy a pair of gum-based kicks for your own feet, head over to the Explicit Wear website. Via Designboom
There's never a bad time to explore the centre of Australia, but if you're keen on a trip this Easter, you've got quite the dazzling motivation. While plenty of Australian cities boast radiant arts and culture festivals that brighten up their streets and spaces, Alice Springs' Parrtjima - A Festival In Light takes the whole concept to several different levels. It celebrates Indigenous arts, culture, music and storytelling, including via an eye-catching array of light installations, and also takes place against a 2.5-kilometre stretch of the majestic, 300-million-year-old MacDonnell Ranges. It's the type of event to add to your travel bucket list, and it has brought its luminous presence back in 2022 — with the event currently running until Sunday, April 17. And, if you're wondering exactly what's brightening up the already-striking Red Centre and how it looks, Parrtjima has unveiled images from its first weekend that just might get you planning a last-minute Easter holiday. As always, the event has taken over the Alice Springs CBD's Alice Springs Todd Mall, plus tourism and conservation facility Alice Springs Desert Park Precinct just out of town — and the festival's main annual attraction, aka a huge artwork that showers the MacDonnell Ranges with light each night of the festival, looks as glorious as ever. When it comes to staring at the stunning natural landmark, this is a 'desert of light experience, as Parrtjima has dubbed it. And yes, from the images, that description is accurate. Also on the lineup: Grounded, which turns traditional and contemporary stories into a projected animation — complete with an immersive soundscape — and consistently proves a crowd favourite. There's Water Tree, too, with the piece inspired by the artwork of Karen Napaljarri Barnes, using acrylic glass to replicate the sight of thousands of budgerigars flocking together, and strung across four archways. Or, attendees can check out Flight, which similarly goes with budgies, this time featuring artwork by Farron Jampitjinpa Furber printed on sheer fabric spears to represent the birds' journey along the Lander River. Another must-see is Eagle's Eye, which takes inspiration from irretye (the wedge-tailed eagle) constellation, and brings a tunnel to life with animation of works by Jeannie Nungarrayi Egan — as well as Wild Wind, by Raelene Ngala Williams, which uses her artwork to celebrate the stories of the whirly whirly through a series of floating and moving structures. There's also the Bindi Mwerre Anthurre Artists' Energy, comprised of eight static bikes and wheelchairs, which attendees jump on and spin the pedals to illuminate and revolve the artworks. And, the 15-metre-high Night Sky, as created in collaboration with artist Carmen Glynn-Braun and Common Ground, is filled with 1200 glowing orbs that are suspended to look like a blanket of stars. Although the ten-night event has been underway since Friday, April 8, Parrtjima's full lineup also includes live tunes, talks, and the films of Sweet Country, The Beach, Firebite and Samson and Delilah director Warwick Thornton. Of course, Parrtjima is just one of Northern Territory's two glowing attractions in 2022, with Australia's Red Centre lighting up in multiple ways. The festival is a nice supplement to Bruce Munro's Field of Light installation, which — after multiple extensions — is now on display indefinitely. Parrtjima – A Festival in Light runs until Sunday, April 17 around Alice Springs in the Northern Territory. For more information or to book tickets, visit the festival website. Images: Parrtjima 2022.
It has been three short months since Banksy pulled what might be the artist's greatest prank yet — ripping one of his own paintings to shreds the very moment it was sold at auction. If you've watched the artist's extended behind-the-scenes video and still just can't get enough of the stunt, that's understandable. Soon, you'll also be able to see the torn piece with your own eyes, with the artwork going on display to the public for the first time. Originally titled Girl with Balloon and now known as Love is in the Bin, the painting will be exhibited at Museum Frieder Burda in Baden-Baden, Germany, from Tuesday, February 5 to Monday, March 3. Anyone that finds themselves in the European town, which is located in the Germany's Black Forest right near the country's border with France, will be able to cast their eyes over the piece for free. Given Banksy's focus on making art available to everyone, the museum's approach aligns those of the art trickster. It's "designed to allow as many visitors as possible to see the picture," the exhibition website notes. Museum Frieder Burda will also host a symposium about Banksy to put his work and creative strategies into context. It's the latest chapter for a stunt that has sparked plenty of chatter both in the art world and in general since October, when the artwork self-destructed as the hammer fell on the winning bid at London's Sotheby's auction house. As the painting was disintegrating, the collector behind the successful bid was buying it for £860,000 (AU$1.6 million). If Banksy's prank had gone according to plan, only torn strips of the painting would remain — and that's all that'd be able to be placed on show. In the nearly three-minute clip Shred the Love: The Director's Cut, which was posted on artist's website, Banksy reveals that the entire painting was supposed to be cut to pieces. "In rehearsals it worked every time," the video notes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxkwRNIZgdY In the immediate aftermath of the October 5 prank, Banksy also released a video — showing a shredder being secretly built into the artwork, with an explanation that this was done a few years ago "in case it was ever put up for auction". Sotheby's has repeatedly advised that it had no knowledge of the prank before it happened. "It appears we just got Banksy-ed," Alex Branczik, head of contemporary art for Europe, told The Art Newspaper. Love is in the Bin will be on display at Museum Frieder Burda in Baden-Baden, Germany, from Tuesday, February 5 to Monday, March 3. Images: Olga Rozenbajgier, The Art of Banksy / Banksy.
Something delightful has been happening in cinemas in some parts of the country. After numerous periods spent empty during the pandemic, with projectors silent, theatres bare and the smell of popcorn fading, picture palaces in many Australian regions are back in business — including both big chains and smaller independent sites in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. During COVID-19 lockdowns, no one was short on things to watch, of course. In fact, you probably feel like you've streamed every movie ever made, including new releases, Studio Ghibli's animated fare and Nicolas Cage-starring flicks. But, even if you've spent all your time of late glued to your small screen, we're betting you just can't wait to sit in a darkened room and soak up the splendour of the bigger version. Thankfully, plenty of new films are hitting cinemas so that you can do just that — and we've rounded up, watched and reviewed everything on offer this week. NOPE Kudos to Jordan Peele for giving his third feature as a writer/director a haters-gonna-hate-hate-hate name: for anyone unimpressed with Nope, the response is right there. Kudos, too, to the Get Out and Us filmmaker for making his third bold, intelligent and supremely entertaining horror movie in a row — a reach-for-the-skies masterpiece that's ambitious and eerie, imaginative and expertly crafted, as savvy about cinema as it is about spectacle, and inspires the exact opposite term to its moniker. Reteaming with Peele after nabbing an Oscar nomination for Get Out, Daniel Kaluuya utters the titular word more than once in Nope. Exclaiming "yep" in your head each time he does is an instant reaction. Everything about the film evokes that same thrilled endorsement, but it comes particularly easily whenever Kaluuya's character surveys the wild and weird events around him. We say yay to his nays because we know we'd respond the same way if confronted by even half the chaos that Peele whooshes through the movie. As played with near-silent weariness by the always-excellent Judas and the Black Messiah Oscar-winner, Haywood's Hollywood Horses trainer OJ doesn't just dismiss the strange thing in the heavens, though. He can't, even if he doesn't realise the full extent of what's happening when his father (Keith David, Love Life) suddenly slumps on his steed on an otherwise ordinary day. Six months later, OJ and his sister Emerald (Keke Palmer, Lightyear) are trying to keep the family business running; he does the wrangling, she does the on-set safety spiels, which double as a primer on the Haywoods' lengthy links to the movie industry. The first moving images ever presented, by Eadweard Muybridge of a galloping horse in the 1800s, featured their great-great-great grandfather as the jockey, Emerald explains. His image was immortalised, but not his name — and, although she doesn't say it directly, that's a fate she isn't eager to share. In fact, Emerald ends her patter by proclaiming that she's available for almost any Hollywood job that might come up. Unsurprisingly, OJ is horrified about the hustle. Her big chance is indeed tied to their ranch, but not in the way that Emerald initially realises either — because who'd predict that something would be lurking above the Haywoods' Agua Dulce property? Just as Get Out saw Peele reinterrogate the possession movie and Us did the same with doppelgängers, Nope goes all in on flying saucers. So, Emerald wants the kind of proof that only video footage can offer. She wants her "Oprah shot", as well as a hefty payday. Soon, the brother-sister duo are buying new surveillance equipment — which piques the interest of UFO-obsessed electronics salesman Angel Torres (Brandon Perea, The OA) — and also enlisting renowned cinematographer Antlers Holst (Michael Wincott, Veni Vidi Vici) to capture the lucrative image. Cue plenty of faces staring up in shock and wonder, as Steven Spielberg has made a mainstay of his films — and cue a movie that nods to Jaws as much as Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Peele makes smartly and playfully cineliterate flicks, which aren't content to merely wink and nudge, but instead say "yep" themselves: yep to all the tropes and symbols that the comedian-turned-filmmaker can filter through his own lens, and his determination to unearth the reality of living in America today, just as he did when he was making some of this century's best skits on Key & Peele. Indeed, Nope is keenly aware of the lure and power of spectacle, especially the on-screen kind, which also echoes through in the picture's other pivotal character. Ricky 'Jupe' Park (Steven Yeun, Minari) isn't involved in the Haywoods' attempts to snap upwards, but the former child star runs a neighbouring theme park called Jupiter's Claim, which cashes in on his big hit role in a movie called Kid Sheriff. He's known for short-lived 90s sitcom Gordy's Home, too, starring opposite a chimpanzee, and moments of the show also pop up in Peele's film. Read our full review. THE PRINCESS Finding a moment or statement from The Princess to sum up The Princess is easy. Unlike the powerful documentary's subject in almost all aspects of her life from meeting the future King of England onwards, viewers have the luxury of choice. Working solely with archival materials, writer/director Ed Perkins (Tell Me Who I Am) doesn't lack in chances to demonstrate how distressing it was to be Diana, Princess of Wales — and the fact that his film can even exist also underscores that point. While both The Crown and Spencer have dramatised Diana's struggles with applauded results, The Princess tells the same tale as it was incessantly chronicled in the media between 1981–1997. The portrait that emanates from this collage of news footage, tabloid snaps and TV clips borders on dystopian. It's certainly disturbing. What kind tormented world gives rise to this type of treatment just because someone is famous? The one we all live in, sadly. Perkins begins The Princess with shaky visuals from late in August 1997, in Paris, when Diana and Dodi Fayed were fleeing the paparazzi on what would be the pair's last evening. The random voice behind the camera is excited at the crowds and commotion, not knowing how fatefully the night would end. That's telling, haunting and unsettling, and so is the clip that immediately follows. The filmmaker jumps back to 1981, to a then 19-year-old Diana being accosted as she steps into the street. Reporters demand answers on whether an engagement will be announced, as though extracting private details from a teenager because she's dating Prince Charles is a right. The Princess continues in the same fashion, with editors Jinx Godfrey (Chernobyl) and Daniel Lapira (The Boat) stitching together example after example of a woman forced to be a commodity and expected to be a spectacle, all to be devoured and consumed. Listing comparable moments within The Princess' riveting frames is easy; they snowball relentlessly into an avalanche. Indeed, after the film shows Charles and Diana's betrothal news and how it's received by the press and public, the media scrutiny directed Diana's way becomes the subject of a TV conversation. "I think it's going to be much easier. I think we're going to see a change in the attitude of the press. I think that now she's publicly one of the royal family, all this telephoto lens business will stop," a talking head from four decades back asserts — and it isn't merely the benefit of hindsight that makes that claim sound deeply preposterous. Later, Perkins features a soundbite from a paparazzo, which proves equally foolish, not to mention a cop-out. "All we do is take pictures. The decision to buy the pictures is taken by the picture editors of the world, and they buy the pictures so their readers can see them. So at the end of the day, the buck stops with the readers," the photographer contends. The Princess isn't here to simplistically and squarely blame the public, but it does let the material it assembles — and the fact that there's so much of it, and that nothing here is new or astonishing even for a second because it's already been seen before — speak for itself. What a story that all unfurls, and how, including pondering the line between mass fascination and being complicit. Perkins eschews contemporary interviews and any other method of providing recent context, and also makes plain what everyone watching already knows: that escaping Diana has been impossible for more than 40 years now, during her life and after her death a quarter-century ago as well, but it was always worse by several orders of magnitude for Diana herself. The expressions that flicker across her face over the years, evolving from shy and awkward to determined and anguished, don't just speak volumes but downright scream. In the audio samples overlaid on paparazzi shots and ceaseless news coverage, that's dissected, too, and rarely with kindness for the woman herself. Read our full review. 6 FESTIVALS Three friends, a huge music festival worth making a mega mission to get to and an essential bag of goon: if you didn't experience that exact combination growing up in Australia, did you really grow up in Australia? That's the mix that starts 6 Festivals, too, with the Aussie feature throwing in a few other instantly familiar inclusions to set the scene. Powderfinger sing-alongs, scenic surroundings and sun-dappled moments have all filled plenty of teenage fest trips, and so has an anything-it-takes mentality — and for the film's central trio of Maxie (Rasmus King, Barons), Summer (Yasmin Honeychurch, Back of the Net) and James (Rory Potter, Ruby's Choice), they're part of their trip to Utopia Valley. But amid dancing to Lime Cordiale and Running Touch, then missing out on Peking Duk's stroke-of-midnight New Year's Eve set after a run-in with security, a shattering piece of news drops. Suddenly these festival-loving friends have a new quest: catching as much live music as they can to help James cope with cancer. The first narrative feature by Bra Boys and Fighting Fear director Macario De Souza, 6 Festivals follows Maxie, Summer and James' efforts to tour their way along the east coast festival circuit. No, there are no prizes for guessing how many gigs are on their list, with the Big Pineapple Music Festival, Yours and Owls and Lunar Electric among the events on their itinerary. Largely road-tripping between real fests, and also showcasing real sets by artists spanning Dune Rats, Bliss n Eso, G Flip, B Wise, Ruby Fields, Dope Lemon, Stace Cadet and more, 6 Festivals dances into the mud, sweat and buzz — the crowds, cheeky beers and dalliances with other substances that help form this coming-of-age rite-of-passage, aka cramming in as many festivals as you possibly can from the moment your parents will let you, as well. This is also a cancer drama, however, which makes for an unsurprisingly tricky balancing act, especially after fellow Aussie movie Babyteeth tackled the latter so devastatingly well so recently. Take that deservedly award-winning film, throw in whichever music festival documentary takes your fancy, then add The Bucket List but with teens — that's 6 Festivals. There's a touch of the concert-set 9 Songs as well, obviously sans sex scenes. Spotting the dots connected by De Souza and Sean Nash's (a Home and Away and Neighbours alum) script isn't difficult. That said, neither is spying the movie's well-intentioned aim. Riding the ecstatically bustling festival vibe, and surveying everything from the anticipation-laden pre-fest excitement through to the back-to-reality crash afterwards, 6 Festivals is an attempt to capture and celebrate the fest experience, as well as a concerted effort to face a crucial fact: that, as much as a day in the mosh pit feels like an escape and is always worth cherishing, it only sweeps away life's stark truths momentarily. The film's core threesome have their fair share of stresses; pivotally, 6 Festivals sticks with believable dramas. James faces his diagnosis, treatment and his mother's (Briony Williams, Total Control) worries, all while trying to recruit the feature's array of musical acts for his own dream event. Scoring backstage access comes courtesy of up-and-coming Indigenous muso Marley (debutant Guyala Bayles), who graces most of the lineups and shared a childhood with Summer, united by their respective mothers' struggles with addiction — and, now they've crossed paths again, offers to mentor her pal's own singing career. As for Maxie, his drug-dealing older brother Kane (Kyuss King, also from Barons) is usually at the same fests pressuring him into carrying his stash. They're the only family each other has, so saying no doesn't seem an option. Read our full review. If you're wondering what else is currently screening in Australian cinemas — or has been lately — check out our rundown of new films released in Australia on May 5, May 12, May 19 and May 26; June 2, June 9, June 16, June 23 and June 30; and July 7, July 14, July 21 and July 28, and August 4. You can also read our full reviews of a heap of recent movies, such as Petite Maman, The Drover's Wife The Legend of Molly Johnson, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Firestarter, Operation Mincemeat, To Chiara, This Much I Know to Be True, The Innocents, Top Gun: Maverick, The Bob's Burgers Movie, Ablaze, Hatching, Mothering Sunday, Jurassic World Dominion, A Hero, Benediction, Lightyear, Men, Elvis, Lost Illusions, Nude Tuesday, Ali & Ava, Thor: Love and Thunder, Compartment No. 6, Sundown, The Gray Man, The Phantom of the Open, The Black Phone, Where the Crawdads Sing, Official Competition, The Forgiven, Full Time, Murder Party and Bullet Train.
It's been a long wait in Australia if you want to rock 'n' roll with AC/DC live. 2025 marks ten years since the iconic Sydney-formed band last took to the stage Down Under. It's also the year, thankfully, that they're making their Aussie concert return. After kicking off in 2024, the group's Power Up tour has finally locked in Australian dates, with Brian Johnson, Angus Young and company hitting up five cities in November and December 2025. Getting thunderstruck: Melbourne to kick off the Aussie leg on Wednesday, November 12; Sydney on Friday, November 21; Adelaide on Sunday, November 30; Perth on Thursday, December 4; and Brisbane to wrap up the Australian shows on Sunday, December 14. As one of the biggest bands that the country has ever produced, AC/DC are putting on huge gigs at every one of their homegrown dates. Let there be rock at Melbourne Cricket Ground, Accor Stadium, the bp Adelaide Grand Final, Optus Stadium and Suncorp Stadium, then. This is the first time that the legendary Australian rockers have toured Down Under since their 2015 'Rock or Bust' world tour. For this run of dates, Amyl and The Sniffers are onboard in support to make these massive Aussie concerts even more so, and to give attendees a taste of two different generations of Aussie rockstars. Playing Sydney isn't just part of a fitting homecoming for AC/DC, but comes more than half a century since the band played their first-ever show in the Harbour City. Their 2025 gig will be just over a month and a half short of 52 years since that 1973 debut. Power Up is also the name of the group's 2020 album, their most-recent record — which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, made multiple best-of lists for that year and scored Grammy nominations. For those about to rock, AC/DC's high-voltage current set list spans their entire career, however, including everything from 'If You Want Blood (You've Got It)', 'Back in Black' and 'Hells Bells' to 'Highway to Hell', 'Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap' and 'You Shook Me All Night Long'. So far, the Power Up tour has played Europe and North America, selling more than two-million tickets across 24 shows in the former and notching up ten soldout gigs in the latter. AC/DC will be back in Europe, hitting the Czech Republic, Germany, Poland, Spain, Italy, Estonia, Sweden, Norway, France and Scotland, before their Aussie dates. AC/DC Power Up 2025 Australian Tour Wednesday, November 12 — Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne Friday, November 21 — Accor Stadium, Sydney Sunday, November 30 — bp Adelaide Grand Final, Adelaide Thursday, December 4 — Optus Stadium, Perth Sunday, December 14 — Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane AC/DC are touring Australia in November and December 2025, with tickets on sale from Thursday, June 26, 2025 — at 9am AEST for Sydney, 10am ACST for Adelaide, 11am AEST for Brisbane, 1pm AEST for Melbourne and 1pm AWST for Perth. Head to the tour website for further details. Images: Christie Goodwin.
It has been nearly two years since streaming platform Shudder — and AMC Networks, the American company behind it — told scary movie fans in Australian and New Zealand exactly what they wanted to hear. Back in October 2018, it was announced that the dedicated horror service would make its way Down Under; however, as anyone who likes unsettling flicks and spine-tingling TV shows will have noticed, that hasn't actually occurred — until now. In a case of better late than never, Shudder has finally launched to Aussie and New Zealand viewers — joining an ever-growing streaming landscape, but also providing a very specific lineup. Forget anything that doesn't cause goosebumps, chills, thrills or a generally unnerving, suspenseful feeling, as it doesn't belong here. Instead, you can watch your way through new and classic horror movies, as well as horror-focused television programs. Yes, Shudder takes its chosen genre very seriously. Film-wise, that includes retro favourites such as Hellraiser, several Halloween movies and Maniac Cop; newer releases like It Follows, New Zealand horror-comedy Housebound and creative Japanese zombie film One Cut of the Dead; and fresh platform exclusives such as The Beach House and Host. On the TV front, expect to binge your way through the TV adaptation of The Dead Lands, a new anthology series based on 1982 film Creepshow and a self-explanatory five-part documentary series called Cursed Films. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4LZBEVlSXA If you already have a Netflix, Disney+ and/or Apple TV+ subscription and you're wondering whether you really need to add another, rest assured that Shudder's selection continues — so whether you want to revisit Swedish great Let the Right One In, check out Aussie slasher The Furies, or hear from George Lucas, Christopher Nolan and Ridley Scott in James Cameron's Story of Science Fiction, you'll be covered. Shudder's curated collections also handily compile films on certain topics or themes, should you really love monster movies, tales of possession or haunted house flicks, or want to watch more horror features by female filmmakers. In terms of price, Shudder is offering a seven-day free trial for new subscribers. After that, you'll pay either $6.99 if you opt for a month-by-month account or $69.99 if you sign up for a year. For more information about Shudder — and to sign up — visit the streaming platform's website.
Since setting up shop on Brisbane's southside back in 2017, Slipstream Brewing Company has been brewing, pouring and selling craft beers, all thanks to a Yeerongpilly site that doubles as a bar and a cellar door. It's become one of the area's booze-slinging mainstays in the process, but now it's giving locals another reason to stop by, relaunching its Wilkie Street base with a new brewpub. On Friday, February 19, Slipstream will open the doors to a 250-person space that features indoor and outdoor dining — including a big beer garden — plus 20 taps pouring its brews and a Californian-inspired food menu. The brewpub forms part of the company's revamp and expansion, with founders Deale and Elisa Stanley-Hunt ramping things up on both the production and hospitality side of the business after a $1.5 million investment from Mighty Craft. Yes, that means that Slipstream can now make more beer — to serve at the brewpub, obviously, and to meet customer demand in general. At present, it's pumping out a new Celebration Ale, too, with the 8.5-percent double IPA designed to commemorate the occasion. And, onsite, you'll find other exclusive brews on tap, like its Banoffee Pie Pastry Stout which'll instantly make you start craving dessert. Visitors to Yeerongpilly can also expect to tuck into a range of light dishes overseen by chefs Adam Healey (BrewDog DogTap Brisbane) and Karma Garung (The Smoke BBQ), such as fish tacos with battered barramundi, southern-style fried chicken burgers and popcorn cauliflower with ranch dipping sauce. With an Italian pizza oven and a smoker taking pride of place in the kitchen, you can expect plenty of woodfired pizzas and slow-cooked meats as well. Designed by creative studio Charlie & Rose, and featuring neutral tones and splashes of greenery, the brewpub takes inspiration from America's roadside diners — but you'll also see Slipstream's brewing equipment sitting at the back of the venue. Down the track, the brewery plans to open up for tours, and host beer masterclasses, meet-the-brewer sessions, beer-matching dinners and other events. Find Slipstream Brewing Company at t 94 Wilkie Street, Yeerongpilly from 11am–10pm Wednesday—Sunday.
What type of coffee aroma would characterise the feet of your ideal partner? Arabica or Robusta? Single origin or a blend? The Ministry of Supply's new ATLAS socks promise to replace the smell of sticky, sweaty feet with the more alluring scent of roasted beans. They've been made possible by a wildly successful Kickstarter campaign, which raised a whopping US$200,000, not only through their novel appeal but also through a reward of two pairs of socks for every $28 pledged. The Ministry of Supply team developed the technology through a deep and prolonged study of the human foot. First, they figured out which areas are most liable to the reception of pressure, and therefore to the production of sweat and heat. Then they designed an accordingly padded and ventilated sock, using wicking to maximise aeration potential. The coffee, collected from various cafes and eateries, is infused into the material. Its job is to draw in and capture the nasty molecules that create antisocial smells. Voila, feet so sweet you can leave your socks on for a week. Well, that's the story according to Forbes writer Natalie Robehmed, who claims she wore a pair for five days straight without frightening anyone away. [via Springwise]
Vampires can be slain by staking them in the heart. Werewolves aren't fond of silver bullets. But Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement's addition to the undead world can't and won't be killed — not that anyone would want that outcome. First What We Do in the Shadows jumped from a short film to a hilarious feature-length comedy. Then it inspired a US television remake, which is still in the works, as well as New Zealand television spinoff Wellington Paranormal. Now, after an exceptionally amusing six-episode first season, the latter is set to return in 2019 with 13 episodes. We've said it before, and we'll say it again: trust a mockumentary about the undead to keep coming back in new guises. The Cops-style spinoff follows police officers Karen O'Leary and Mike Minogue, who WWDITS fans might remember came knocking at the vampire share house's door. With the help of Sergeant Maaka (Maaka Pohatu), the cop duo keep trying to keep the city safe from supernatural happenings — including not only bloodsuckers and lycanthropes, but ghosts, aliens and more. Wellington Paranormal's second season will once again explore the spate of paranormal phenomena happening in the city, with a 2019 airdate on TVNZ 2 yet to be set. In Australia, the first season screened on SBS Viceland and was available to stream on SBS On Demand, so fingers crossed that'll remain the same next year. Announcing the funding of Wellington Paranormal's new run, NZ On Air Chief Executive Jane Wrightson noted that "it is really pleasing to see people respond positively to content that has such a unique New Zealand flavour". Of course, for those following What We Do in the Shadows' continued evolution, Wellington Paranormal's success shouldn't come as a surprise. When the show was first revealed, Waititi described it as "Mulder & Scully but in a country where nothing happens" on Twitter, after all. https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=WRO2QfESbEI
Something delightful is happening in cinemas across the country. After months spent empty, with projectors silent, theatres bare and the smell of popcorn fading, Australian picture palaces are back in business — spanning both big chains and smaller independent sites in Sydney and Brisbane. During COVID-19 lockdowns, no one was short on things to watch, of course. In fact, you probably feel like you've streamed every movie ever made over the past three months, including new releases, comedies, music documentaries, Studio Ghibli's animated fare and Nicolas Cage-starring flicks. But, even if you've spent all your time of late glued to your small screen, we're betting you just can't wait to sit in a darkened room and soak up the splendour of the bigger version. Thankfully, plenty of new films are hitting cinemas so that you can do just that — and we've rounded up, watched and reviewed everything on offer this week. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufBK5XheeCU THE BEE GEES: HOW CAN YOU MEND A BROKEN HEART It starts with the disco beats of 'Stayin' Alive' echoing through the cinema. Although he doesn't ever phrase it quite so bluntly, it ends with surviving Gibb brother Barry wistfully and wishfully applying that song's title to his siblings and fellow Bee Gees members Robin and Maurice. In-between, career-spanning documentary The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart steps through all of the band's ups and downs — from the group's humble beginnings when its members were growing up during the British-born trio's childhood stint in Brisbane, to the rollercoaster ride that saw them top the music world several times but also endure time both apart and off the charts. As tales of fame, fortune and trying to survive go, this one has everything, including brotherly rivalries, tabloid-fodder weddings, shock splits and comebacks, and drugs and the stereotypical celebrity lifestyle. It also spans a public call for their music, and the disco genre they were virtually synonymous with in the late 70s thanks to the mega-hit Saturday Night Fever soundtrack, to be literally blasted into smithereens. Through candid recent chats with Barry, as well as the use of archival interviews with Robin and Maurice before their deaths, director Frank Marshall (Arachnophobia, Alive) details it all. From early success 'Spicks and Specks' (aka the song now used as a theme tune for the TV quiz show of the same name) through to the post-Saturday Night Fever single 'Tragedy' — and yes, featuring the track that gives the movie its title as well — How Can You Mend a Broken Heart surveys the band's enormous contribution to music, of course. Getting a Bee Gees' song stuck in your head, or several, is part of the experience of watching. So is instantly imagining how tunes such as Diana Ross' 'Chain Reaction' and Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers' 'Islands in the Stream' would've sounded if the Gibbs had sung as well as penned them in their second life as hit songwriters for other acts. But, whether you've cut a rug to 'You Should Be Dancing' before or you've only ever paid attention to their music in passing, what resonates in this thorough documentary is its candour and its detail, especially when it is focusing on Barry, Robin and Maurice's brotherly relationship and their artistry. Less successful are the intertwined interviews with other musicians, including Noel Gallagher noting that working with family can be a blessing and a curse and Chris Martin spouting mumbo jumbo about how tracks just come to musos out of the air, which always feel like superfluous padding in a fascinating and involving doco that definitely doesn't need it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFOrGkAvjAE SOUND OF METAL When Sound of Metal begins just as its title intimates, it does so with the banging and clashing of drummer Ruben Stone (Riz Ahmed, Venom) as his arms flail above his chosen instrument. He's playing a gig with his girlfriend and bandmate Lou (Olivia Cooke, Ready Player One), and he's caught up in the rattling and clattering as her guttural voice and thrashing guitar offers the pitch-perfect accompaniment. But for viewers listening along, it doesn't quite echo the way it should. For the bleached-blonde, tattooed, shirtless and sweaty Ruben, that's the case, too. Sound of Metal's expert and exacting sound design mimics his experience, as his hearing fades rapidly and traumatically over the course of a few short days — a scenario that no one wants, let alone a musician with more that a few magazine covers to his band's name, who motors between shows in the cosy Airstream he lives in with his other half and is about to embark upon a new tour. That's not all the film is about, though. Ruben's ability to listen to the world around him begins to dip out quickly and early, leaving him struggling; however, it's how he grapples with the abrupt change, and with being forced to sit with his own company without a constant onslaught of aural interruptions distracting him from his thoughts, that the movie is most interested in. With apologies to cinema's blockbusters (which usually monopolise the sound categories come Oscars time), no other feature this year mixes its acoustics together in as stunning and stirring a fashion, and also bakes every single noise heard into its script, and its protagonist's journey, as well. As Ruben takes up residence at a rural community for addicts who are deaf, it expresses Ruben's distress at his situation as immersively as possible; 'intense' is the word for Sound of Metal, but it's also a term that doesn't completely do the movie justice. Making his feature directing debut, and co-writing another screenplay with filmmaker Derek Cianfrance as he did with 2012's The Place Beyond the Pines, Darius Marder turns his picture into a masterful exploration and skilled evocation of the kind of anxiety that's drummed deep into a person's darkest recesses. Viewers don't just hear what Ruben hears, but also feel what he feels as he rages and rallies against a twist of fate that he so vehemently doesn't want yet has to live with. While the film specifically depicts hearing loss, it's so detailed and empathetic in conveying Ruben's shock, denial, anger and hard-fought process of adjustment that it also proves an astute rendering of illness and impairment in general. That's Ahmed's recent niche, as also seen in this year's Berlinale-premiering Mogul Mowgli, and his powerfully physicalised performance shows the fight and fortitude required for Ruben to learn to cope. Sound of Metal is screening in select cinemas in Sydney, and is also available to stream via Amazon Prime Video. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJ0jBNa6JUQ THE PROM A word of warning to filmmakers eager to make the next big on-screen musical: cast James Corden at your peril. It may now seem like a lifetime ago that Cats proved a gobsmacking catastrophe, but that 2019 movie's horrors are impossible to shake — and while Corden's latest, The Prom, thankfully doesn't resort to repeating the word 'jellicle' over and over again to try to convince the world that it means something, it still follows in the feline-focused flick's paw prints as this year's all-singing, all-dancing misfire. The two films' common star is grating and relies upon gratuitous overacting in both features. He's hardly alone in bombing and flailing, though. In The Prom's case, a 2018 Broadway success with an important message about acceptance and being true to one's self has been transformed into an over-long star vehicle, as well as a movie that can't see past its sequin-studded pageantry and smug attitude to actually practise what it preaches. Its continually, needlessly and irritatingly circling cinematography captures its struggles perfectly, because The Prom is too caught up in shiny things, recognisable faces and disposable songs to let everything that should matter, including its main statement, have any real impact. Miscast from the get-go, Corden plays Barry, a Broadway veteran playing second fiddle to multi-Tony-winning drama diva Dee Dee (Meryl Streep, Little Women) in Eleanor!, a new production about former US First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. Initially, the pair is on top of the world after the show's opening night — but then the reviews start piling in and piling on. Distraught from the critical savaging as they drown their sorrows with perennial chorus girl Angie (Nicole Kidman, The Undoing) and Juilliard-trained actor-turned-sitcom lead-turned bartender Trent (Andrew Rannells, The Boys in the Band), they concoct a plan to get back in the showbiz industry's good graces. Scrolling through Twitter, Angie spies a news story about Indiana teenager Emma (feature debutant Jo Ellen Pellman), whose high school has just completely cancelled the prom because she wanted to bring her girlfriend. As quick as a burst of confetti, Barry, Dee Dee, Trent and Angie are on a Godspell tour bus to America's midwest to rally against this injustice and whip themselves up some flattering publicity. In the screenplay written by Bob Martin and Chad Beguelin, both of whom worked on the original stage production, this is all meant to be a joke: that fading, has-been and never-were celebrities shallowly and calculatingly try to use one young woman's horrific plight for their own gain, that is. But The Prom likes the gag so much that it misguidedly decides that favouring stars over substance is the best approach in general. The Prom is screening in select cinemas, and will also be available to stream via Netflix from Friday, December 11. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykWO1FhqTfo THE TROUBLE WITH BEING BORN For decades across the page and screen, science fiction has pondered just where artificial intelligence might take humanity, in ways both positive and negative. The field of science has as well, making some of those possibilities a reality already — however, as The Trouble with Being Born makes clear, we shouldn't just be wondering what AI can do for us, but also what it will and does reflect about our nature. This Berlinale-premiering feature from Austrian director Sandra Wollner asks a plethora of questions, all of them difficult and provocative, about the role of robots in our future. It explores the possibility of becoming dependent on android substitutes for human contact, including in acceptable and abhorrent situations, and examines the emotional toll for both sides of the relationship. With a steely look that's purposefully disconcerting, an opening scene that aims to assault and disrupt the audience's senses to leave them interrogating and intricately observing everything in front of them, and a willingness to pose a severe worst-case scenario (by implication, rather than gratuitous detail), The Trouble with Being Born aims to make its audience uncomfortable while probing these thorny ideas. That it initially focuses on a ten-year-old android girl called Eli who is deployed by her flesh-and-blood owner as a stand-in for his runaway daughter speaks volumes. In Australia, The Trouble with Being Born will always be marked by controversy. It's the movie that the Melbourne International Film Festival scheduled for its 2020 online-only event, then pulled from its lineup after a backlash caused by an article in The Age, which quoted concerns by forensic psychologists specialising in child abuse cases who had either not watched the film in full or at all. But Wollner's feature has taken great pains to approach its subject carefully and sensitively — its child star, Lena Watson, goes by a pseudonym, and is disguised in the movie by under a silicone face mask and via CGI — and to engage viewers in an unnerving but intelligent series of questions about its topic and scenarios. While it rarely makes for straightforward viewing, it's also one of the year's essential films. It is cinema's place to challenge, and to examine aspects of life that are tough and unpleasant; making her second full-length movie after 2016's The Impossible Picture, Wollner accepts and embraces that task. She explores identity and memory as well, and the role in the latter in shaping the former. And, she adds a film both distinctive and important to the growing list of works (see also: AI, Her, Ex Machina, Blade Runner and Blade Runner 2049) that ponder what the creation and use of AI says about humanity. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zi2MK9K1hxc THE GODFATHER CODA: THE DEATH OF MICHAEL CORLEONE The Godfather saga might eventually gain a new chapter. In this time of constant remakes, reimaginings and decades-later sequels, absolutely nothing can be discounted, after all. But The Godfather Coda: The Death of Michael Corleone isn't a new addition to the gangster epic. Rather, it's a recut version of 1990's The Godfather Part III, aka the least acclaimed movie in the Francis Ford Coppola-directed trilogy. As his multiple versions of Apocalypse Now have shown over the years, the filmmaker has a penchant for tinkering with his past work. We've all looked back and wished we could do something over gain, so he's doing just that (last year, he not only released another new version of his Vietnam War masterpiece, but of The Cotton Club as well). Here, by renaming the revised third Godfather movie Coda, he's repositioning as well as re-editing, though. Coppola is telling the world that he sees this feature less as a second sequel and more as an epilogue to the first two exceptional Godfather movies — a message that might seen a bit cheeky, especially given how much this new iteration has in common structurally with the first film, but encourages viewers to give The Death of Michael Corleone more distance from its two Oscar Best Picture-winning predecessors than its has otherwise been afforded. Both upon its release three decades ago and again now, Coppola's third Godfather film doesn't match his first two. It suffers from Robert Duvall's absence, after the studio wouldn't pay him what he asked for to return a third time — and also from Sofia Coppola's inexperienced presence, with the On the Rocks director co-starring as Mary Corleone, daughter to Al Pacino's titular Michael, after Winona Ryder dropped out just before shooting started. But it's still an interesting, ambitious and mostly engaging movie, endeavouring to chart the struggle its eponymous figure endures as he tries to divest himself from illicit dealings and go legit. If you've ever heard the oft-quoted line "just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in", you'll know that achieving this plan isn't easy. Also on the elder Coppola and writer Mario Puzo's minds here: how that back-and-forth struggle between the life one knows and the better future they've been striving for ripples down through later generations, as seen through the inclusion of Andy Garcia as Michael's hotheaded nephew. The changes made to turn The Godfather Part III into The Godfather Coda: The Death of Michael Corleone are minor, other than the astute moving of one pivotal scene from partway through to the film's beginnings; however, as intended, it welcomely forces a revisit and re-evaluation with fresh eyes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47ooNWugxRE OLIVER SACKS: HIS OWN LIFE Three decades ago, one of neurologist and writer Oliver Sacks' books was turned into a film. Drawn from his time in the late 60s treating patients with encephalitis lethargica — people catatonic thanks to a pandemic that spread around the world between 1915–26, and still hospitalised across all those intervening years — Awakenings brought an astonishing true tale to the screen, with Robin Williams playing Sacks' on-screen surrogate and Robert De Niro co-starring as one of the afflicted. The work that led to the text, and the fact that it was adapted into a movie, are both significant achievements. But Sacks' life was filled with many remarkable acts, deeds and successes. He passed away in 2015 aged 82; however, documentary Oliver Sacks: His Own Life assembles a wealth of footage shot as he was facing his end and looking back on his ups and downs. Days after he was diagnosed with terminal cancer earlier that year, he penned an article for The New York Times, called My Own Life, about learning the news — and that same year he published an autobiography, On the Move: A Life — so sharing his thoughts to camera, and stepping through the ebbs and flows of his life that brought him to that junction, was a natural extension of a reflective process he was already going through. There's much to look back on; Sacks might've dedicated his medical career to getting inside the minds of others, and to advancing the understanding of many conditions that affect the brain, but his own life could inspire a comparable wealth of material. Consequently, filmmaker Ric Burns (Made for Each Other: A History of the Bond Between Humans and Dogs) has the job of synthesising the abundance of incidents and details from his subject's eight-decade existence into a thorough and accessible 111-minute film — a considerable feat, but one he masters. Whether you're familiar with Sachs and have read his popular books, you only know him via Awakenings or you're a complete newcomer to his tale, His Own Life unfurls not just the requisite biographical data, but a true sense of spending time in Sachs' inimitable, always-curious, incessantly-thoughtful company. That, and his outlook as he was forced to face the end of his days, are the gifts this doco gives audiences. Sachs' friends and colleagues all pop up as talking heads, offering their recollections and thoughts as well, with Burns structuring his picture in a straightforward fashion — but there's nothing standard about the man at the touching movie's centre, or everything that comprised his life. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fv99TgifpH0 A CHRISTMAS GIFT FROM BOB The true tale behind 2016's A Street Cat Named Bob and now this year's A Christmas Gift From Bob is undeniably heartwarming, especially for anyone who has welcomed a pet — and a friendly feline at that — into their lives and been forever altered for the better. Homeless and struggling to kick a heroin habit, James Bowen finds the companionship and purpose he needs in a ginger kitty that wanders off the streets and into his flat. A firm bond is forged, and much changes for both the two-and four-legged sides of the relationship. That's the story that the first movie charted. This sequel now picks up after Bowen has become a literary success from turning his kinship with Bob into a bestselling book, although he's still busking, selling The Big Issue and working hard to get by. The struggle with both movies, however, is just how sappy and soppy everything feels at every single moment. It really shouldn't take much to be moved by Bowen and Bob's tale, but these films push the sentiment so forcefully, completely failing to trust that viewers will connect with the story without an overdose of mawkishness. It was true of A Street Cat Named Bob, and it still rings accurate in A Christmas Gift From Bob — which, as the moniker makes plain, is set during the festive season for an extra stint of heartstring-pulling. Life may have improved for Bowen (Luke Treadaway, Unbroken) thanks to Bob, but it doesn't take much to put the pair in a precarious situation. A Christmas Gift From Bob's big dramas come in the form of animal control, who threaten to take the cute cat away after they see him out with his owner in the chilly winter weather. That this happens just as Bob needs veterinary attention adds another layer, as does the easily spiral Bowen navigates due to living on a financial knife's edge. In a nicely drawn performance, Treadaway gives his role more depth than either director Charles Martin Smith or writer Garry Jenkins ask for. Alas, that the former's resume also spans Air Bud, Dolphin Tale and its sequel, and the slushy A Dog's Way Home, is telling — as is the fact that the latter returns after penning the lacklustre first Bob film. There's no point in A Christmas Gift From Bob where it isn't advising its audience how to feel via its dialogue, warm colour scheme and sugarcoating in general. There are zero moments that recognise that Bowen's plight doesn't need to be brought to the screen in such an overt and schmaltzy manner, either, and that both his experiences with Bob and in general are inherently affecting. And, even if you're the biggest feline fancier there is, not even a famous cat (playing himself no less) can patch over the movie's troubles, although its makers clearly think otherwise. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fla02yFATuY HOW DO YOU KNOW CHRIS? The sounds of You Am I's 'Berlin Chair' fill its opening moments. An Ivy and the Big Apples-era Spiderbait t-shirt is given by one person to another. The Sydney Olympics are mentioned, too. Accordingly, if Australian film How Do You Know Chris? didn't inform its audience that it was set in 2000, they'd be able to hazard a very firm guess anyway. Spilling out a plethora of details, then asking viewers to piece them together: that's this Melbourne-shot and -set drama's approach. Its characters are in the same situation, after the eponymous Chris (Luke Cook, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina) invites a disparate group of people to his apartment for a party. He gives them all different reasons for the shindig, including telling his boss Shane (Stephen Carracher, The Doctor Blake Mysteries) that it's costumed. He hires a waiter to serve beverages, to keep everyone socially lubricated. But, making them wait, drink, chat, get to know each other if they don't and work through long-held grudges if they're already acquainted — with commerce student Emi (Tatiana Quaresma, another The Doctor Blake Mysteries alumnus) falling into the first category, and high school classmates Justin (Jacob Machin, The Twilight Zone), Claire (Ellen Grimshaw, Bloom) and Blucker (Dan Haberfield, Wrong Kind of Black) in the second — Luke then takes his time to show up himself. Other guests are present, such as couple Ray (Lee Mason, Miss Fisher and the Crypt of Tears) and Dot (Lynn Gilmartin, The Very Excellent Mr Dundee), plus the kohl-eyed Christal (Rachel Kim Cross, Mr Inbetween) — all with different connections to the chameleonic Luke, which get teased out over the course of the film. As a result, first-time feature director Ashley Harris and screenwriter Zachary Perez (a fellow debutant) ask a considerable amount of their cast, with the party attendees' awkward chatter and the general uncertainty they feel about the event driving the majority of the movie. As for why everyone is there, that's a tense puzzle for How Do You Know Chris?'s on-screen figures, but not its viewers. While there's weightiness to the idea of someone taking stock of their existence by inviting key people who've made a mark on their life to the one gathering, and to the big reveal when Luke's guests discover the purpose of the shindig, the movie nonetheless feels overstretched. Still, for its first two-thirds, this low-budget Aussie effort makes the most of its main players, the suspense they're saddled with and the movie's apartment-set cinematography. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-0bUxBs8lE THE WAR WITH GRANDPA There is very little that's impressive about The War with Grandpa, which is based on Robert Kimmel Smith's children's novel of the same name, other than its ability to repeatedly remind viewers that its adult leads have been in much, much better movies. The film not only nods to the Robert De Niro-starring Taxi Driver, but reunites him with his The Deer Hunter costar Christopher Walken. It has Uma Thurman playing the nagging mother of a black bob-wearing teenager called Mia (Decker, not Wallace, but the elbowing in Pulp Fiction's direction can't be accidental). These inclusions are meant to satiate adult audience members either watching along with their children, or just watching in general. Really, though, they just stress that this'll never rank among the standouts on De Niro, Walken or Thurman's resumes. It's unfair to compare The War with Grandpa with any of their career highlights, of course, but aside from its recognisable cast, this family-friendly comedy about a kid who overreacts when his grandfather moves in and takes over his bedroom doesn't boast anything other than overplayed and overly formulaic inanity. It's supposed to garner laughs from all ages; however, older viewers are unlikely to even crack a smile and kids 100-percent deserve more. After widower Ed (De Niro) has trouble with a supermarket self-checkout, accidentally becomes a shoplifter and causes a scene, his daughter Sally (Thurman) decides that it's time for him to live with her family instead of on his own. But her son Peter (Oakes Fegley, The Goldfinch) has to relocate to the attic to accommodate the household's new member and, really just because the movie's premise wouldn't work otherwise, he's brattishly unhappy about the change to the point of acting out. He declares war, in fact, even going as far as penning a letter announcing his plans — and soon grandpa and grandson are both engaged in a battle of escalating pranks over turf. While De Niro has plenty of forgettable features to his name (see also: this year's The Comeback Trail), he's also taken enough roles that just require him to be silly that his casting in films like this is no longer anywhere near funny. And director Tim Hill has a long history working on SpongeBob SquarePants, including helming this year's entertaining The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run, so it is easy to see why he was drawn to the project — this storyline would've likely worked well in an animated format, set under the sea, and with that zany critter facing off against a nemesis — but there's not even the slightest trace of engaging goofiness here. If you're wondering what else is currently screening in cinemas — or has been lately — check out our rundown of new films released in Australia on July 2, July 9, July 16, July 23 and July 30; August 6, August 13, August 20 and August 27; September 3, September 10, September 17 and September 24; October 1, October 8, October 15, October 22 and October 29; and November 5, November 12, November 19 and November 26. You can also read our full reviews of a heap of recent movies, such as The Personal History of David Copperfield, Waves, The King of Staten Island, Babyteeth, Deerskin, Peninsula, Tenet, Les Misérables, The New Mutants, Bill & Ted Face the Music, The Translators, An American Pickle, The High Note, On the Rocks, The Trial of the Chicago 7, Antebellum, Miss Juneteenth, Savage, I Am Greta, Rebecca, Kajillionaire, Baby Done, Corpus Christi, Never Rarely Sometimes Always, The Craft: Legacy, Radioactive, Brazen Hussies, Freaky, Mank, Monsoon, Ellie and Abbie (and Ellie's Dead Aunt), American Utopia, Possessor, Misbehaviour and Happiest Season. Images: The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart courtesy of Ed Caraeff/Getty Images/HBO; The Prom via Melinda Sue Gordon/Netflix.
The winter chill is enough to make anyone head for the airport. That idea is even more tempting now that Qantas has just discounted 350,000 seats across its international network for a huge one-week sale. With economy fares starting at $499 return, perhaps an overseas adventure is the perfect way to cure the winter blues. Featuring discounted flights on more than 30 routes across Asia, the Americas, the United Kingdom, Africa and the Pacific, now is your chance to soak up fascinating (and warmer) destinations. Think the bright lights of Los Angeles, a Tokyo shopping spree or some much-needed beachside bliss in Bali. For those who can't just get up and go, the sale features travel dates from July 2025 to May 2026, offering plenty of time to carve out some space in your calendar. Meanwhile, the sale coincides with the school holidays alongside must-see international events, like the Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival and Disneyland's 70th anniversary celebrations in LA. Ready to depart? There's no shortage of options. Melburnians can book return flights to Bali from $599, while Sydneysiders can soak up the island scenery of Nadi for the same price. There's also discounted return departures from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane to Vanuatu from $549, Tokyo from $949 and Los Angeles from $1099. Plus, holiday-seekers in Perth and Darwin can journey to Singapore from $519, while those in Perth can kick-start a European adventure in London with return flights from $1749. There are heaps more routes on the list too, with premium economy and business fares also discounted for those with a little more room in their travel budgets. "What makes this sale special is the availability during school holidays, which is something we know families really value," says Qantas International CEO, Cam Wallace. "Whether you're looking for a tropical escape to Bali, exploring Los Angeles and Dallas or experiencing the culture in Hong Kong, there's something here for everyone." Qantas' international sale is on now and ends at 11.59 AEST on Monday, August 4. Head to the website for more information.
