Towards the end of Victoria and Abdul, Judi Dench's face fills the frame during an extended speech. For the second time in her career she's playing Queen Victoria in a film about the British monarch's relationship with a servant. Whereas 1997's Mrs Brown saw her bonding with Billy Connolly, this time the 19th century sovereign has forged a strong platonic bond with Indian Muslim clerk Abdul (Ali Fazal), but her son (Eddie Izzard) and staff are none too happy about it. Cue a memorable dressing down delivered by a figure well-aware of her power and responsibilities, as well as the type of scene designed to garner awards nominations. That's Victoria and Abdul in a nutshell. The latest regal flick from The Queen's Stephen Frears, it's the kind of film that knows where its strengths reside, and how viewers are likely to react. That's not to downplay Dench's formidable talents, or her ability to inhabit Queen Victoria's many shades and depths. Indeed, she's the best thing on screen. But there's no ignoring the fact that Frears has plunged the beloved actress into a decidedly average historical drama that isn't always worthy of her talents. Despite taking its inspiration from real life, Victoria and Abdul sticks closely to a familiar culture-clash formula. Typically, one of two things happen when folks from different stations in life meet in a movie. Either they get along nicely, but their connection isn't met with the same fondness by those around them, or, after a rocky start, they're forced to learn from their differences. When Abdul is picked to journey to Britain to present the queen with a ceremonial coin during her Golden Jubilee celebrations, the film seems destined to take the second path. Then he breaks protocol by making eye contact with the monarch, she's intrigued by the good-natured newcomer in her midst, and before long they're facing off against institutionalised racism. While Dench plays Queen Vic with considerable texture and nuance — more than early scenes seem to indicate, in fact — the feature around her doesn't share the same fortune. There's a difference between probing engrained prejudices and just presenting a scenario filled with them, with Victoria and Abdul taking the easier, latter option. Adapting the book of the same name by Shrabani Basu, screenwriter Lee Hall (War Horse) keeps things light and simplistic when it comes to scheming naysayers, cultural disharmony and Abdul himself. Given that the film supposedly sets out to dispel racist stereotypes, the fact that Abdul is portrayed as a jovial, exotic outsider who helps Victoria get her groove back is more than a little bit troubling. Where the film succeeds is as a misty-eyed ode to friendship. As Rose-tinted as much of the lavishly shot movie proves, it thoughtfully and tenderly conveys the effect that having someone to talk to, and to listen back, can have. The rapport between Dench and the spirited Fazal helps, ensuring that Abdul remains an engaging presence, even if he's flimsily written. Their time together mightn't delve deep into the intricacies surrounding their characters, but Victoria and Abdul is at its best when its stars share the screen. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtC8jNHSxgQ
Victoria has a brand new winter festival — and it'll deliver both brightness and darkness. The first comes courtesy of the town of Bright and its source of tasty brews, Bright Brewery. The second stems from dark beers, their beverage of focus on July 1. At Darker Days, you'll head to one to enjoy the other. Enjoying the best tipples the craft brewers of the High Country Brewery Trail have to offer is the aim of the afternoon festivities, running from 1pm to 10pm, with Black Dog Brewery from Taminick, Blizzard Brewing from Dinner Plain, Bridge Road Brewers from Beechworth, Sweetwater Brewing Co from Tawonga South and Nightingale Alpine Cider all be in attendance. As well as bringing together quite the range of beverages, there'll also be warm foods, roasted chestnuts, gooey marshmallows, live music and maybe even ghost stories. Plus, making sure everyone is really feeling toasty, there'll also be a ceremonial bonfire, burning a giant wooden structure in the shape of the brewery's logo.
Looking for new threads? Sure, you can head to plenty of markets around town and trawl through food, homeware and other objects, or you can mosey along to Melbourne's dedicated ladies fashion get-together. Round She Goes does one thing, and it does it well. If it's clothing, accessories and jewellery you're after, you'll find it here. Filled with preloved designer and vintage fare, the one-day happening will take over Coburg Town Hall from 10am on June 4. This edition will boast 60 stalls, all specially curated by organisers to deliver reasonably priced, high-quality bits and pieces, and ranging from beloved brands to handmade items to clear-outs by some of Melbourne's most fashionable women. Entry costs $2, and when you're finding that shiny gold coin to get you in the door, make sure you did up some other cash as well. Cold, hard currency is preferred here, and parting with it will be worth it. Your wardrobe will thank you for it.
Winemakers of Rutherglen have been doing good things with grapes for a while now out in northeast Victoria. But, luckily for us, they've decided to come city-side this August for a three-day, one-off wine event, Rutherglen in the City. The pop-up bar will situate itself in Driver Lane, which is just off Little Bourke Street behind Emporium in Melbourne's CBD. Winemakers will take over the whole laneway, transforming it into a 'winter winery' — you can expect fairy lights, free wine tastings and live music. So you can forget you're sandwiched in between shopping centres and dream of open plains and vineyards. You'll be able to sample the wine varieties of the region (Muscat and Durif), meet the winemakers themselves, and maybe even order a few bottles from the cellar door. The best thing about it is you won't even have to drive home — thanks to trams and trains, you can have as many wines as you like. The pop-up cellar door will be open Friday from 5–10pm, Saturday from 12–11pm, and Sunday from 12–6pm.
In 1947, one country became two and the world was forever altered. Following centuries of governance by the British, India was divided into distinct, independent territories along religious lines. One would still be known as India. The other would become Pakistan (and later, Bangladesh as well). Unsurprisingly, it was a massive task requiring significant contemplation and causing considerable repercussions, both for the officials charged with overseeing the partition, and for the locals who would be forced to live with the change. Such a chapter of history seems an obvious candidate for a dramatic film treatment — and that's just what Bend It Like Beckham's Gurinder Chadha delivers, stepping through the upheaval and exploring just how the two groups coped in such a turbulent period. But while she focuses firmly on the emotional toll of the partition, it's hard not to think that the director has actually missed the best story. Viceroy's House concludes on a rather touching personal note, explaining that Chadha's own grandmother lived through the events depicted on screen. Frankly, you could be forgiven for wishing she'd told that tale instead. Instead it's the last British head of India and his staff that drive the narrative of Viceroy's House. Accompanied by his wife Edwina (Gillian Anderson) and daughter Pamela (Lily Travers), Lord Louis Mountbatten (Hugh Bonneville) tries to negotiate an arrangement for the future of the sub-continent that keeps the various conflicting parties and his English superiors happy. Meanwhile, within Mountbatten's luxurious Delhi mansion, servant Jeet (Manish Dayal) yearns for his childhood sweetheart Aalia (Huma Qureshi), a situation complicated by the fact that he's a Hindu and she's a Muslim. Accordingly, a quest to determine the shape of two nations and a Romeo and Juliet-style affair combine, albeit somewhat awkwardly at times. Jumping between bureaucratic manoeuvring and matters of the heart isn't always packaged with the smoothest transitions, and doesn't give either side of the story much depth. Nevertheless, Chadha's main aim, of examining the ramifications for the country as well as its people, is successfully achieved. The film wrings most of its feeling from its many contrasts, be they ideological, political, religious or romantic. Standard as it all might be, Viceroy's House still proves a handsome effort. Think lush visuals and a rich score, plus fine performances. Downtown Abbey's Bonneville stays nicely in familiar territory, while Anderson couldn't be more enjoyable to watch. She mightn't be the movie's main star, but she's given the job of embodying its chief message of rising above prejudice and finding the right path in times of turmoil. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4ZnofZJCD8
Burgers. Giver of life. Mana from heaven. We're pretty keen on this most glorious of food groups – and given how many new burger joints we've seen pop up around town, it seems like you are too. Hell, last year Hank Marvin Market's first ever Burger Biannual drew more than 5000 hungry punters. So, really, it's little wonder they're gearing up for round two. Firing up from 11am on the Monday, March 13 Labour Day public holiday, this year's event will feature more than a dozen of Melbourne's best burg merchants, including Fancy Hanks, Kustom Burgers, Mr Burger, Brother Burger, Gorilla Grill, Sliders on Tyres and Burn City Smokers. They'll even have a vegan burger courtesy of the crew at Rawbeet. Burgers truly are for everybody. Assuming you have room for dessert, you'll also have the run of a number of sweet options from the likes of Little Big Sugar Salt, Whoopies Cookies and Pop-Up Crepes. Collingwood's Stomping Ground will be pouring beers and Canine Wellness Kitchen will make sure your pooch is fed too. Point is, you probably won't need to eat for the rest of the week. Image: Shara Henderson.
UPDATE, March 8, 2021: Hidden Figures is available to stream via Disney+, Foxtel Now, Google Play, YouTube Movies and Amazon Video. Every parent tells their child to dream big. Unfortunately, for many people, a world of factors conspires to stop their hopes and aspirations from coming true. For the three women at the centre of Hidden Figures, the forces blocking them from fulfilling their potential aren't just obvious — they're quantifiable. Faced with both institutionalised sexism and institutionalised racism, friends Katherine (Taraji P. Henson), Dorothy (Octavia Spencer) and Mary (Janelle Monáe) know exactly what's holding them back. But, as smart, savvy human computers at NASA's Virginia headquarters in the segregated 1960s, they're also driven to find a solution. Based on a real-life tale that most won't have heard before, and sending its spirited leading ladies on a fight for equality, Hidden Figures is exactly the kind of movie that you think it is. It's warm, broad and certain to please. It's designed to rouse and entertain as it sheds light on an overlooked part of history, with soft colours and an upbeat soundtrack. It brings together an engaging cast who prove endearing individually and even more so when their affectionate rapport is in the spotlight. Most of all, though, it combines all of the expected elements together just as anyone could easily predict, and still manages to be a thoroughly good watch. Katherine, Dorothy and Mary crunch numbers in the same department, share rides to work and spend time together with their families after hours, but it's ambition in the face of oppression that truly unites them. On any given day, they're expected to be grateful for their jobs, while constantly being underestimated, undermined, ignored, overlooked, and made to use separate bathrooms and even coffee pots. That's a struggle, especially in a place that wants to defy the accepted order by putting a man on the moon. Each of the three have their own goals: Katherine wants credit for her crucial efforts when she's moved into the team trying to send an American beyond the earth; Dorothy seeks the supervisor title and pay raise that goes with the tasks she's already doing; and Mary is trying to take the classes she needs — at a white's-only school — to become an engineer. There's not much surprising about the way that writer-director Theodore Melfi (St. Vincent) brings Margot Lee Shetterly's non-fiction book to the screen, but honestly that's fine. In fact, it's rather apt. It's the sparkling individual components that comprise the ideal equation here, rather than any attempt to craft a new formula. Besides, just the fact that this story is being told at all is kind of revolutionary. Space movies and films about maths geniuses are a dime a dozen, but they're usually about one type of person: white men. Not here. A few pop up — Kevin Costner is memorable as Katherine's boss, while Big Bang Theory's Jim Parsons plays the colleague constantly putting her in her place — but, refreshingly, this isn't their movie. Instead, it belongs to the women of colour at its centre. Played with vibrancy that matches the feature's own mood, there's nothing hidden about the core trio of black female mathematicians. Their real-world determination, infectious spirit, and the fine performances behind them, ensures that Hidden Figures adds up to something really special.
Mindfulness practice — achieving the mental state of focusing on the present moment — is gaining popularity as people attempt to regulate their stressful lives. People have turned to everything from meditation to colouring books to achieve mindfulness, but perhaps few people would think of doing a triathlon to achieve inner peace. Take three activities that promote mindfulness — specifically running, yoga and meditation — and you've got yourself a 'mindful triathlon'. Wanderlust 108 has been running these triathlon festivals since 2014, and the standard day has a few main components. First, there's the five kilometre run, although the site reassures you that you can walk instead of running — or even "prance, skip, stroll or strut" — as long as you reach the finish line. After that, theres 75 minutes of yoga accompanied by a DJ set, and finally 30 minutes of meditation to round out the whole-group activities. Once the structured section of the day has wrapped up, participants can also head to activities such as aerial yoga, acroyoga and hooping, or to lunch. It's part exercise, part dance party, part fest — and 100% focused on helping attendees feel great inside and out. Also on the agenda: walking meditation, essential oil classes and the Mindful Marketplace, which will help you take your new blissed-out state home with you. By Siobhan Ryan and Sarah Ward.
Peel off your socks — it's grape-stomping time. The crew at Noisy Ritual, Melbourne's first urban winery, are celebrating the start of another wine season with their very own festival. We're talking five straight weeks of eating, drinking, live music and winemaking, otherwise known as four of the great things life has to offer. From Saturday, March 4, Noisy Ritual HQ in Brunswick East will throw open their doors to the wine-loving public. Join founders Alex and Cam for a free hands-on tour between 6pm to 8pm on Wednesdays, Thursdays or Fridays throughout the festival, when you'll be able to help out with the winemaking process. Then swing by Saturday night for live music acts including Jess Ribeiro, Jess Cornelius, Leah Senior and Davey Lane. They're also extending their cellar door opening hours, giving you extra time to knock back the 2016 vintage. As for food, you can order pizza courtesy of Mankoushe up the road, or feast on cheese until you can barely get out of your chair.
Catch all seven-and-a-half hours of the newly minted Best Documentary Oscar winner on the big screen at ACMI this weekend. Screening just once, at 2pm on Sunday, March 5, as part of this year's Australian International Documentary Conference, O.J.: Made in America has been called "a masterwork of scholarship, journalism and cinematic art" by the LA Times. Directed and produced by Emmy Award winner Ezra Edelman, the ESPN documentary chronicles the rise of fall of O.J. Simpson, from his legendary career as a quarterback to his notorious murder trial, while also exploring what his life meant for race relations and celebrity culture at the tail-end of last century. Better yet, the screening is absolutely free and Edelman will appear in person to introduce the film. To secure your seat, go here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrB3rOcrJxg
You could probably make a mildly amusing SNL skit out of the idea behind The House. A full-length movie? Not so much. It's safe to say that no one wins big in this decidedly unfunny comedy, which marks the directorial debut of Bad Neighbours writer Andrew Jay Cohen. Not stars Amy Poehler, Will Ferrell, Nick Kroll and Jason Mantzoukas, and definitely not the audience. Poehler and Ferrell play Kate and Scott Johansen, proud parents to college-bound teen Alex (Ryan Simpkins) — until a town-sponsored scholarship falls through, that is. When their recently-separated gambling addict pal Frank (Mantzoukas) suggests turning his home into an illegal casino to cover Alex's tuition fees, they're wary. But helping their daughter pursue her dreams soon wins out, even with a suspicious local cop (Rob Huebel) and city councillor (Kroll) wondering just what it is they're up to. As anyone who's ever seen Parks and Recreation knows, Poehler is a comedic treasure, who frankly should be on our screens much, much more often. Ferrell's movie track record mightn't be stellar as of late, but when he's at his Ron Burgundy best, it's easy to forget his less successful efforts like Get Hard and Daddy's Home. Kroll and Mantzoukas, meanwhile, were both great on The League. The point is, if you're a fan of any of these funny folks, you'd have hoped that together they could deliver at least a handful of chuckles. On paper, it doesn't seem like much of a gamble. Sure, watching middle-aged suburbanites behaving badly doesn't sound particularly new or exciting, but skilled performers can make anything better, right? Yet, in a breezy, montage-heavy flick that thinks overt nods to Casino, The Sopranos and Terminator 2 are enough to garner giggles, there's little they can do. A hip hop heavy soundtrack can't liven things up, and neither can YouTube-like sketches or a big-name cameo in the final act, no matter how much the movie tries to prove otherwise. At one point in The House — immediately after the main trio ponders "what if we were the house?", in case the premise wasn't already clear — a character makes a speech about clichés. Unfortunately, it doesn't do anything to make the ones in the film any less obvious or infuriating. It's never a good sign when a movie's best moments come during the obligatory over-credits blooper reel, as viewers are left to wonder why the stuff that did make the cut was so routine and uninspired. Maybe the producers made a bet that they could squander their cast with as bland a so-called comedy as possible? If that's the case, then they've really hit the jackpot. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gx9s-jbSG2s
Looking for new threads? Sure, you can head to plenty of markets around town and trawl through food, homeware and other objects, or you can mosey along to Melbourne's dedicated ladies fashion get-together. Round She Goes does one thing, and it does it well. If it's clothing, accessories and jewellery you're after, you'll find it here. Filled with preloved designer and vintage fare, the one-day happening will take over Coburg Town Hall from 10am on August 13. This edition will boast 60 stalls, all specially curated by organisers to deliver reasonably priced, high-quality bits and pieces, and ranging from beloved brands to handmade items to clear-outs by some of Melbourne's most fashionable women. Entry costs $2, and when you're finding that shiny gold coin to get you in the door, make sure you did up some other cash as well. Cold, hard currency is preferred here, and parting with it will be worth it. Your wardrobe will thank you for it.
Embrace the icy weather at Madame Brussels Lane, which, for the fourth year running, will transform itself into a bustling European-style night market each Friday in August. Inspired by the picturesque Christmas markets in places like Germany, Austria, Switzerland and the UK, the market will feature some of Melbourne's most decadent food vendors, serving tasty European goodies to warm your insides and satisfy your sweet tooth. Kicking off on August 4, there'll be a selection of European eats to keep you warm from 4–10.30pm. That's in addition to the live music and entertainment, and, of course, many, many mugs of piping hot mulled wine and warm buttered rum. Short of actually taking a holiday to Europe, this is a pretty great way to finish a busy working week.
Cold weather and decadent cuisine go hand in hand; there's a reason the term "winter feast" just rolls off of the tongue, after all. With the middle of Melbourne's frosty spell fast approaching, The National Hotel are celebrating in seasonal style by putting that popular phrase into action. On July 20, the Richmond hangout is hosting a Winter Feast to end all winter feasts — or, to end your hunger for the evening, at least. The six-course banquet will take your tastebuds through a showcase of Asian eats, with each dish highlighting a variety of textures and flavours, all while you get toasty by the fire. Places are limited, so it's a get-in-quick affair — and two types of incredibly reasonably priced tickets are available. Munch your way to warmth for $45, or add matched wines as well for $95.
Vegans of the north, rejoice. The age of meat is waning and it's nearly your time to inherit the earth. To build your strength, head down to Welcome to Thornbury for the Vegan Vegout, an all-vegan food truck event that rolls into High Street on the first Wednesday of every month. For this month's event, Melbourne burger masters YOMG are going vegan. The burger joint (which started out just doing fro-yo before taking the next logical step towards burgers) has always had vegan options on their menu, but they're pushing the boat out on Wednesday, June 6. The menu is broad — no more having to choose the one weak vegan option and wishing you just went to Lord of the Fries again — with items including a burger with a veggie lasagne fritter (complete with vegan cheese), one with garlic-roasted pulled mushroom and cashew nut mayo, and another with sweet potato crisps. Other snacks on offer will include Polish dumplings from Pierogi Pierogi, dim sims from Woking Amazing, pies from YAY Foods and wraps from Taitas Falafels.
A drama released in 1989 that saw its premiere cut short because of the fall of the Berlin Wall. A tale of corruption in the sporting arena. A documentary about perhaps the greatest German director that ever lived. A lengthy father-daughter comedy that no one can stop talking about (us included). Yes, they're all part of the 2016 German Film Fest's 36-title lineup, which roams around Australia this month. In a nutshell, it's a great year to get your fix of the country's cinematic offerings. In fact, there's so much packed into the festival's heaving program that the aforementioned movies aren't even the only titles on our must-see list — though they provide a great indication of the wealth of choices available. Check some of them out when the festival comes to Melbourne's Cinema Como, Palace Westgarth and Kino Cinemas between November 17 and 30.
When you've already mined the funny side of Irish law enforcement and contemplated the impact of religion, what comes next? If you're John Michael McDonagh, director of The Guard, Calvary and now War on Everyone, you take aim at crooked cops in the United States. Specifically, you focus your third feature on a duo who enjoy their rule-breaking ways, venture into bigger, badder territory than they're used to, and subsequently — surprisingly — start to feel a little conflicted about it. Terry Monroe (Alexander Skarsgard) and Bob Bolano (Michael Pena) are the pair in question: one quick to violence and happily single, the other somewhat contemplative and married with kids. They both like each other, cracking wise, the corrupt niche they've carved out for themselves, and little else ("you can shoot people for no reason," Terry explains when asked why he joined the force). First introduced running down a cocaine-dealing mime, they're soon trying to shake off scrutiny from their boss (Paul Reiser) while attempting to steal cash from a new group of criminals. Alas, as they beat and blackmail their way around Albuquerque — and to Iceland and back as well — their plan unwittingly places them in the path of a far-from-forgiving British aristocrat turned kingpin (Theo James). Spouting dialogue that eagerly, indiscriminately insults any group you can think of, Terry and Bob's war really is on everyone — including, in an extension of their self-destructive ways, themselves. Cue a film that combines irreverent misanthropy, a raft of cop clichés, and a partial journey of self-discovery. Thanks to McDonagh's dripping satire and cynicism, plenty of laughs spring from their antics, but the end result remains hit-and-miss. Think Starsky and Hutch remade for the post-True Detective age, complete with the back-and-forth banter and philosophising the blend suggests, and a dash of awkwardness too. When War on Everyone is good, though, it's very good. It's strikingly shot, energetically paced and extraordinarily well cast as far as its leads are concerned. Indeed, while co-stars such as Caleb Landry Jones and Tessa Thompson are asked to either rely upon caricature or given too little to work with, Skarsgard and Pena enliven every scene they're in, and even make their unsympathetic-on-paper characters somehow likeable. Viewed simply as a collection of buddy cop scenes written and directed by someone who has obviously watched a sizeable serving of '70s American cinema, and starring two actors with a clear feel for the material and a rapport with each other, War on Everyone entertains more often than it doesn't. Where the film struggles, however, is in piecing together anything substantial or cohesive beyond its stylish sights, spiky lines and impressive leads. At times, it plays like the kind of wannabe Quentin Tarantino flick that might have dropped in the mid-'90s. Fun, funny, but nothing to write home about.
See great movies in the great outdoors at Melbourne's most low-cost openair cinema. A free initiative of the City of Boroondara, Summertime Cinema will be popping up in parks around the eastern suburbs on Saturday evenings in the lead up to Christmas. Gather your friends, pack up a picnic basket and find yourself a spot on the grass. The season begins this Saturday, December 3 with a screening of Home Alone at Greythorn Park in North Balwyn. The following week, Riversdale Park in Camberwell will showcase the classic 1942 Fred Astaire/Bing Crosby musical Holiday Inn, before Central Gardens in Hawthorn will wrap up the program with '80s comedy A Christmas Story.
By 1976, David Bowie had achieved many things. He'd pondered whether there's life on Mars, transformed into both Ziggy Stardust and the Thin White Duke, and rocketed up both the singles and album charts. So, he tried something different: a new place, a new sound, and a creative time that would result in three distinctive records. Spanning until 1979, it's what's now known as his Berlin period. This is when the idea that we could be heroes — even just for one day — was born. And when Bowie wrote one of his most famous songs in the shadow of a wall. It's this that Bowie in Berlin pays tribute to, obviously, with a selection of works from the great artist's Low, Heroes and Lodger albums. With this January marking Bowie's 70th birthday — as well as the 40th anniversary of Low's release — when better for musical director Mick Harvey to corral vocalists Kylie Auldist, Dave Graney, Ron Peno, Kim Salmon and Max Sharam into honouring one of most fruitful creative periods? There'll be sound and vision on this fantastic voyage, plus beauties and beasts, as the boys keep swinging and no one looks back in anger.
If you've checked out Arbory's swish outdoor riverside bar and restaurant, you'll already know it's going to make for one hell of a New Year's Eve venue. With the NYE midnight fireworks happening nearby, you'll be nice and close to some of the best vantage points to see the lights. Alternatively, you could enjoy the stellar performances happening throughout the night. Entertainment, including local DJs Agent 86, Daydreams and live performances from Melbourne legend, Karen from Finance will keep the mood light. Dance and performance artists James Andrews and Benjamin Hancock are also on board to liven up your night. If their previous work with Chunky Move, MONA FOMA and Dark MOFO is anything to go by, this will be a fascinating experience. Accompanying these performances is an all-inclusive food and craft beverage package. Also when you have had your fill of celebrations, Flinders Street Station is right next door to make your escape back home on Melbourne's free 24 hour public transport all the easier.
The best festivals make you feel like you've stepped into another world as they treat your senses to a feast of sound, movement, colour and excitement. Add St Kilda's new event, The Pleasure Garden, to the top of your must-attend list then. Taking over Catani Gardens on December 10, it's an immersive explosion of creativity of the arts, performance and music variety — plus rides and a roller rink as well. At the top of the bill sits The Cat Empire, The Opiou Band and Blue King Brown, so that should give you an idea of the funk-infused vibe in store. They're joined by 15 other bands and DJs, seven performance artists and seven installation artists for over ten hours of outdoor fun. Alongside roving theatrical performers, themed stages and an all-round dress-up kind of atmosphere (including prizes, so break out your best garden fest, 'pompous and primped' or 'flora and fauna'-style threads), a range of gastronomical delights are also on offer. ChillBro Paletas and Billy van Creamy will keep things cool, while Kombi Burger, 400 Gradi, Dos Diablos Cantina, Sparrow's Philly Cheese Steaks, Vegilicious and Ironbark BBQ are on more substantial meal duty. And drinks-wise, pick from POPS' boozy Champagne icy poles, Green Coconut's straw-sipping wares, The Pineapple Brothers' fruity cocktails or brews from 4 Pines. Full lineup: The Cat Empire The Opiuo Band Blue King Brown Tash Sultana The Correspondents Dub FX Spoonbill Jakubi Mista Savona Boogs Steve Ward Kodiak Kid Dub Pistols Sound System OKA The Chicken Brothers JPS (Jerry Poon / The Operatives) Mortisville and Friends Beatrice
Choose life. Choose celebrating a movie that defined the '90s, made Ewan McGregor a star and instantly made everyone's favourite flicks of all time list. Choose spending 2017 revelling in all things Trainspotting. Film fans already have long-awaited sequel T2: Trainspotting (which is scheduled for a February release) to look forward to, and now theatre fans in Melbourne can choose something else: Trainspotting Live. Choose 75 minutes of intense, immersive page-to-stage antics, as based on Irvine Welsh's 1993 novel about Edinburgh heroin addicts, and first adapted for the theatre in the UK back in 1995. Yes, that means that Harry Gibson's award-winning original stage version was written before Danny Boyle's iconic 1996 movie — and you haven't really experienced the story of Renton, Begbie, Sick Boy and company until you've seen it acted out, live and in person, right in front of you. Transporting its all-Scottish cast and their distinctive accents to Melbourne's fortyfivedownstairs from March 22 to April 13, Trainspotting Live does more than that — it also brings the audience into the show, starting with an extended rave, and even including the infamous 'Worst Toilet in Scotland' scene. It's no wonder that the production has been selling out shows in London, and earning rave reviews for its no-holds-barred approach. The fact that it's being staged by In Your Face Theatre should give you an indication of what you're in for. Welsh — that is, the man who literally wrote the book, plus a sequel, prequel and Begbie-focused spin-off, and recently floated the idea of a TV adaptation — called Trainspotting Live the "best way to experience Trainspotting", in case you needed any more convincing. Just don't go confusing it with the BBC television program of the same name, which is actually about looking at railways.
How do you make a day of summer tunes, art and sensory dining experiences even better? Get the party started the day before, and add some cute puppies to the mix. That's what the clever canine-loving folks at Sugar Mountain have done for the festival's 2017 iteration. Introducing: the Sugar Mountain x Visions Dog Show. A collaboration with the UK's Visions Festival, who launched their own offshoot for four-legged friends earlier this year, the pooch-centric parade takes place from 6.30pm on January 20 at MPavilion. And if that sounds entertaining enough, wait until you hear the competition categories. Yes, there's old favouries such as waggiest tail, best trick, best in show — and there's also RuPaw's Drag Race (aka dogs in drag) and a fancy dress component (which is an excuse to watch cute critters dressed up as Bowie, Kylie, Prince, Warhol and the like, really). Entry is free for humans and dogs who just want to watch — and while all furry participants will be charged a $10 fee, the proceeds will go to Guide Dogs Victoria. Whether you're enjoying the festivities or entering your pet pup, that's plenty of bark for your buck. Dog Haus DJs will provide the tunes, and yet-to-be-announced guest judges will preside over the action.
Winter's your chance to connect with uniquely Australian choreography, and the best place to start is Bangarra's powerful triple bill OUR land people stories. Featuring works from Stephen Page and Bangarra's emerging choreographers Jasmin Sheppard, Beau Dean Riley Smith and Daniel Riley, this world premiere work celebrates stories from our own backyard. Dedicated to the recently passed David Page, Bangarra's inimitable music director, OUR land people stories honours this iconic and beloved Australian's legacy, his dedication to mentoring emerging choreographers and his enduring place at Bangarra. Running in Melbourne from September 1-10, the show offers a fitting celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, togetherness, storytelling and community. The Melbourne shows are the last leg of OUR land people stories following the show's Sydney premiere and seasons in Brisbane Perth and Canberra.
The Israeli film industry is in the spotlight once again at the 13th edition of the AICE Israeli Film Festival. Leaping onto the screen at Carlton's Cinema Nova, this year's festival program features films across a wide array of genres, from romantic comedies to horror flicks and a healthy contingent of docs. The festival begins with an opening night screening of Amir I. Wolf's Fire Birds, a murder mystery that was nominated for ten Israeli Academy awards. Similarly acclaimed is Ori Sivan's Harmonia, a drama set in the "inner sanctum" of a philharmonic orchestra. The film arrives in Australia direct from the Jerusalem Film Festival, where it won a pair of awards. This year's IFF also features plenty of non-fiction films, which is hardly surprising, given that festival director Richard Moore also coordinates Australia's documentary film festival, Hot Docs. One particular standout looks to be Who's Gonna Love Me Now?, which follows a gay Israeli man who decides to reunite with his estranged family after being diagnosed with HIV.
Eat, drink and dance your way from Spain to Argentina at Melbourne's first ever Latin Spring Festival. A dozen music acts will join food vendors and retailers at the Pentridge precinct in Coburg this weekend, for a two-day celebration of everything Latin culture has to offer. Featured at the festival will be some of Melbourne's best Latin musicians, playing everything from salsa and flamenco to Mexican folk, rock and pop. Naturally you'll want to bring your dancing shoes — and yes, they'll even have lessons for those with two left feet. The festival will also be home to a full-blown Latin food expo, which sounds perfect for when you've salsa'd up an appetite. Expect tacos, paella and Chilean-style hot dogs, along with cocktails and sangria to wash it all down. Image: Cel Lisboa.
Bridget bloody Jones is back and, frankly, we couldn't be happier. No, Bridget Jones's Baby is not the most cohesive narrative of the year, and no, it's not going to spur any radical political movements. Still, hardcore Bridget fans can breathe a sigh of relief, because this threequel is still pretty damn good. Fans of Helen Fielding's book series may have already deduced that Baby is not based on the third Bridget Jones novel Mad About The Boy, in which (*mega spoiler alert*) Mark Darcy dies. It's devastating, v sad and not at all Hollywood. Thankfully this is not this story. Instead, this tale is about BJ (Renée Zellweger) getting knocked up, and the antics that ensue as she tries to figure out the identity of the father. Is it quintessentially British barrister Mark Darcy (Colin Firth) or the OTT American love professor Jack Qwant (Patrick Dempsey)? It literally doesn't matter, that's not the point. The point is enjoying the face-palming situations that Bridget creates for herself as she tries to negotiate between the two maybe-baby daddies. The film guns for the same mix of stuffy British and slapstick humour that fans of the series all know and love – but this time around, Bridget is actually doing things that will make you fist pump. She's more like us than ever before: shagging randos at music festivals, looking fierce, texting with emojis, being surgically attached to her phone, kicking ass at work, telling her mother to sod off and best of all, deciding to have a baby on her own. Like a fine wine, modern day Bridget has undoubtedly gotten better with age. The writers have stayed true to the quirks of the original films without being slaves to them, for which we give great thanks. The red PJ pants are back, as are the lonely apartment dance routines and awkward speeches, but as homage rather than easy imitation. The plot doesn't just lazily redo all the bits that worked from the last films, like we're idiots who won't notice. There's no Hugh Grant, although Emma Thompson as a put-upon obstetrician more than makes up for his absence. On the other hand (unfortunately, there's always another hand waiting to slap you down), Patrick Dempsey is completely outclassed by his costars – although to be honest, it doesn't really seem fair to put a very American American in the middle of the most British comedy ever and expect it to go down smoothly. Also the actual plot, which isn't super-duper to begin with, kind of…entirely falls over at the half way mark. When the jokes stop rolling in and the sappy emotional routine starts around the third trimester, things get incredibly cringey. This may be the biggest difference between the decidedly British and smaller budget originals and this rather more shiny update. We expect a few sappy moments from Bridge, made bearable by the presence of a large pair of granny panties or a stripper's bunny outfit, but the saccharine sweetness of this film's final act does get a bit off-putting. Then again, by that point you're already well and truly invested. So it's fine. Or as BJ would say, v good. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nhGGQ_PYyE
Having long impressed Melburnians with its tome-like beer list and impressive wine selection, Cookie is pulling together a few of its favourite recent booze finds for an Artisan Wine & Beer Market on Sunday, September 10. The iconic Curtin House bar has teamed up with wine gun and Rootstock Sydney co-founder Giorgio de Maria for the one-off tasting afternoon, which will shine the spotlight on newproducers from across the country, as well as a few of their international counterparts. Head along from 1pm to sample drops from the likes of South Australia's Gentle Folk, Castlemaine co-operative winery Boomtown, natural wine legend Patrick Sullivan, and de Maria's own Italian-focused distribution company, Fun Wines. Representing the local craft beer scene will be Tassie's Two Metre Tall brewery and Victoria's own La Sirene, while Cookie head chef Karen Batson works her own brand of magic to deliver a top-notch lineup of drinking snacks. $20 tickets to the event include a full wine tasting and snacks, plus the opportunity to pick the brains of some of the country's most exciting wine and beer producers.
In I Am Not Your Negro, Samuel L. Jackson lends his voice to the words of American essayist James Baldwin. He does an outstanding job at capturing the tone and passion required, but it's the text itself, rather than the star uttering it, that's truly remarkable. Stepping through the state of race relations in the U.S. by focusing on the lives and deaths of civil rights leaders Medgar Evers, Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr., every syllable spoken couldn't be more perceptive — or, even though they were written decades ago, still relevant today. It's little wonder that the film was nominated for best documentary at this year's Oscars, with director Raoul Peck matching the verbal content with an illuminating compilation of footage from the '50s and '60s. The film comes to ACMI for a limited season after screenings at MIFF, Sydney Film Festival and Queensland Film Festival.
Vegans of Melbourne, clear your calendars — you now have plans on the first Saturday of every month. From September 2 onwards, Vegan Mini Market is your new regular go-to for animal-free items, with the first event taking place at Abbotsford Convent from 8am. For its initial outing, the fresh addition to the vegan lineup has amassed quite the array of vegetable-loving businesses, so arriving with a full wallet is recommended. Munch on some plant-based Asian street food from Woking Amazing, eat your way through an array cruelty-free comfort nibbles from Yay! Food, or sign up for jam-packed lunchboxes from Good Freaking Food. Or, grab natural bath and beauty products from Polished Petals, stock up on handmade garments from Leo the Label and listen to the sounds of Futuro Vega*Pop. Sweet treats from Lady Rawsome and the organic cocoa goodness of Girl Made Chocolate are also on the menu, and the list goes on. The first market also falls on Vegan T-Shirt day, which is all about wearing appropriate attire to raise awareness about animals, so dress accordingly.
Put on your dancing shoes and head on down to Lounge, where a group of Melbourne DJs are partying for social change. Kicking off on select Sunday afternoons, Out of Wind will feature top Melbourne music talent, including Misty Nights (July 3), Jennifer Loveless and Toni Yotzi (July 17) and Awesome Wales and Yooree (August 4), who'll all be donating their time and talents to raise money for progressive NGOs. In addition to the DJ wages, Lounge will donate ten per cent of bar sales to the chosen organisation – so you can totally justify buying that extra drink. The first beneficiary will be the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, with further NGOs to be announced. Lounge will even offset their carbon emissions by planting five trees after every gig.
Expect things to get steamy at The Toff in Town, with the latest edition of the Wheeler Centre's eternally popular Erotic Fan Fiction. Slipping into something a little more comfortable while their regular space undergoes renovations, The Toff should prove the perfect place for this night of orgasmic fiction, and will feature the oral talents of some of the best comic writers in town. Heating up the cold winter night on Monday, July 4 are a ménage à trois of cunning comedic linguists, each funnier and filthier than the last. Demi Lardner has been on a roll since winning RAW Comedy back in 2013, while Nath Valvo regularly sells out Fringe and Comedy Festivals around the country, and Deidre Fidge writes regularly for The Drum, Archer, The Vocal and SBS Comedy. Between the three of them, you're sure to leave feeling satisfied.
Are you on the lookout for a leafy little friend? You'll find plenty at the fittingly named Pea Green Boat Artist Studio in Brunswick, which this Saturday will be transformed into a massive plant sales floor. From towering ferns to teeny-weeny pot plants, you're sure to find something to liven up your living room. And with prices dipping as low as two bucks per plant, even the most budget conscious among you should be able to flex your green thumb. In addition to all the flora, they'll also be selling furniture — perhaps you'd like to buy a rocking chair from which you can admire your new cactus? Oh, and coffee! We mustn't forget the coffee. Doors open 9am to 3pm. Please bring cash. They can process EFTPOS, but would really rather not.
Melburnians, if you're already wondering how you're possibly going to make it through the next two freezing bloody cold months, here's some news to warm your cockles. The Queen Victoria Market's Night Market Cinema will be making a return to this year's Winter Night Market — and it's free. Every Wednesday in July, between 5pm and 10pm, you'll be able to cosy up in a deck chair, armed with wine, cheese and sweet treats, and kick back to a bunch of short films. And while we're not 100 percent sure how this will work in the depths of Melbourne's winter, we're hoping the market has plans to keep us from freezing our butts off. Either way, blankets are definitely recommended. Kicking things off on July 6 will be VICE, who will take care of programming, presenting a combo of docos, investigative journalism and general wickedness. On July 13, the Victorian College of the Arts' Film and Television School will give you an insight into the future of Australian filmmaking, showing a handpicked selection of quality graduate works. On July 20, you'll be treated to a series of live 16mm film projections presented by Artist Film Workshop and, on July 27, RRR FM will hit the cinema, with a bunch of live-to-air performances by Aussie artists. In between screenings, you'll be able to take a wander through the market, stocking up on winter goodies and tucking into everything from Ethiopian stews to spaghetti from a parmesan wheel to those goddamn potato sticks that make an appearance every year.
This Friday, April 17, set your alarm for 5pm. Why? Gelato Messina is giving away free cookie pies — and delivering them to you. Hang on, cookie pie? Yes, it's a pie, but a pie made of choc chip cookie dough and topped with hazelnut crumble. And it serves two–six people — or just you. You bake it yourself, too, so you get to enjoy that oh-so-amazing smell of freshly baked cookies wafting through your kitchen. It's a novel concept, but one we're sure Gelato Messina will execute well — and one we're sure Dean Martin would possibly even approve, too. To score yourself one of these, you need to log on to Deliveroo from the aforementioned time — 5pm, Friday, April 17 — and spend at least $32 on Gelato Messina. And, boom, free cookie pie. You'll need to get in quick, though, as it's only on offer while stocks last. The free cookie pie deal is available at all NSW, Vic and Queensland Gelato Messina stores (except The Star, Circular Quay and Coolangatta) and Deliveroo pop-ups in Manly, Brighton-Le-Sands, Canterbury and East Brunswick.
It's been long eight months since the Queen Victoria Market's sheds last hosted one of their famed soirees, with Melbourne's lockdowns hitting pause on the usual roster of weekly night markets and food festivals. But now, the wait is over and the historic site is gearing up to deliver its first post-pandemic nighttime outing. Melbourne, get set for the multicultural delights of the Festive Food Truck Stop. Kicking off on November 25, and running across four Wednesday nights, the pop-up promises to fill your belly while sating a few of those international travel cravings. A rotation of the city's best-loved food trucks will be slinging their wares — think, goat curry and smashed samosas from Two Fat Indians; Nem N' Nem Viet signatures like noodle bowls and bao buns; and finger-lickin' wings and short ribs cooked low and slow by Bigger Than Texas BBQ. In true QVM style, the globe-trotting eats will be backed by a great lineup of libations, with The Beer Garden pouring an all-Victorian menu featuring Melbourne Gin Company cocktails, beers by Brick Lane Brewing, Coldstream ciders and a range of vino courtesy of Mitchelton Wines. Festive Food Truck Stop runs from 5–10pm.
Of all the country-specific film festivals that reach Melbourne's big screens each year, the British Film Festival might have the weakest reason to exist. Rather than showcasing flicks from a particular part of the world that viewers probably won't get the chance to see in cinemas otherwise, it screens a number of movies that are destined for a bigger release — and a heap of films with very well-known stars, too. But if you want to spend a few weeks immersed in the latest and greatest that UK cinema has to offer, all at once, it's definitely the event for you. And, in 2020 as it does every year, it features a jam-packed lineup. Hitting Palace's Balwyn, Brighton Bay, Como, Westgarth and Kino sites from Thursday, November 12–Sunday, November 29, this year's BFF boasts one of the most anticipated movies of 2020: Ammonite, the Kate Winslet and Saoirse Ronan-starring romance set in 1840s England, as directed by God's Own Country's Frances Lee. The tender tale only premiered overseas in September, so it's coming to Australia rather quickly — and yes, it's already garnering awards buzz. From the 22-film lineup, other highlights include Misbehaviour, in which Keira Knightley helps recreate the true story of feminist protesters at the 1970 Miss World competition in London; thriller The Nest, with Jude Law playing a British entrepreneur who moves his American family to an English country manor; and Summerland, a World War II-set romantic drama led by Gemma Arterton. There's also Blithe Spirit, based on the Noël Coward's comedy and starring Dan Stevens, Isla Fisher, Judi Dench and Leslie Mann — plus folk-horror thriller Fanny Lye Deliver'd, about a woman in 17th-century Shropshire whose unhappy marriage gets a shake up by a younger couple on the run. The British Film Festival also looks back at British greats gone by, so expect to check out 80s sci-fi flick Flash Gordon, and watch Sir Alec Guinness and Peter Sellers in The Ladykillers for its 65th anniversary. Something extra special: a 40th anniversary screening of David Lynch's The Elephant Man, which earned him the first of his three Oscar nominations for Best Director, and is a movie that everyone genuinely needs to see at least once. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cp3WjuJJYB8
UPDATE: JULY 10, 2020 — The Truffle Melbourne Festival pop-up remains open at this time. For full details and opening hours, check out the festival's Instagram and website. And for more information about what you can and can't do during lockdown, head to the DHHS website. If you're walking through the aisles of seafood, cheese slabs and miscellaneous Aussie paraphernalia at the Queen Victoria Market until the end of August and happen to think, "gee, I could really do with some truffles", there's a chance you might be in luck. Once again in 2020, the market is host its annual Truffle Melbourne Festival. Like many things this year, it's going ahead with a few changes — but that means more chances for you to get your truffle fix. No longer just the terrain of your posh great aunt and people at fancy French restaurants, truffles are more accessible than ever (albeit with a price tag). The Truffle Melbourne Festival initially started out at Prahran Market, and has been the biggest event on Melbourne's truffle calendar for the last five years — returning to the Queen Vic Market for the fourth time, and taking place at he Truffle Melbourne pop-up for three months. Expect fresh truffles and other truffle-infused products at the weekday markets from 10am–2pm, and on weekends from 10am–3pm. Expect the likes of truffle aioli, truffle honey and truffle dijonnaise as well — plus more truffle-filled items from the festival's website. While Truffle Melbourne Festival has scaled back its activities — so there won't be live chef demos or mock truffle hunts — you can also book in for an actual truffle hunt. They're ticketed, being run with social-distancing requirements in mind, and will take you scouring for truffles in Gippsland (with Truffle House and Truffle Paddock), Wattle Flat (with Black Cat Truffles) and on the Mornington Peninsula (with Red Hill Truffles).
If you dote over your vinyl collection with obsessive passion — or even if you just casually collect whichever albums you happen to come across whenever you're in your local record store — then you probably have one Saturday in April permanently marked on your calendar. That'd be Record Store Day, the annual celebration of ace music, a beloved format and the shops that trade in both. Sadly, RSD has been postponed in 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions. Instead of its usual timeslot, the huge vinyl event will now take place in June. But that doesn't mean that your record pile has to remain static for the next couple of months, with record companies banding together for a huge vinyl sell-off: The Great Australian Warehouse Sale. Across the weekend of Saturday, April 18–Sunday, April 19 — when RSD was originally scheduled — music aficionados will be able to snap up vinyl galore, plus CDs, DVDs, cassettes and even books as well, via indie record stores. Record companies such as Universal, Sony, MGM, Warner and more will be diving into their vaults, clearing out their warehouses and making as much stock available as possible, while individual shops will also be adding their own spin to the fun. Because we now live in social-distancing times, you'll be able to pre-order your purchases — then either have them posted or delivered to you, or, if and where stores are open, drop by to pick them up. For further details — including a rundown of what'll be available, and which stores are taking part — head to The Great Australian Warehouse Sale website.
So no one told us that the 2020s were going to be this way. Nearly three decades have passed since Friends first introduced the world to its close-knit bunch of New York pals, but nostalgia for the show is still in full swing. And, after a replica of the series' couch toured Australia last year, the program's 25th anniversary sparked cinema screenings and rumours about a reunion special just keep buzzing, a bottomless boozy Friends-themed brunch and viewing party is your next excuse to worship at the altar of Monica, Chandler, Joey, Rachel, Ross and Phoebe. Called The One Where They All Went For Brunch (naturally), this Friends-loving get-together is coming to Evie's Disco Diner in Fitzroy on Sunday, April 19, with three two-hour sessions starting at 10.30am. The latest event by the folks behind 2019's roller disco brunch, it'll combine brunch and mimosas with Friends trivia, Friends-themed charades, a Friends costume competition and episodes of Friends playing on a big screen. At $60, tickets will get you a choice of main meal (we're talking a BLT with fries, chicken and waffles, pancakes topped with blueberries and cream, or maple-drenched french toast and bacon) and a mimosa on arrival. You can add bottomless bubbles and bloody marys for an extra $20. Obviously, if you've still been cutting your hair like Jennifer Aniston, have been known to bust out your best Matt LeBlanc-style "how you doin'?" or just like singing 'Smelly Cat', you'll be in your element. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIPSwnHMmNE
Fancy spending a day (virtually) partying in the Old Melbourne Gaol, popping over to Henry Head Battery for a sunset session, then ending the night with some psychedelic light shows and tunes inside a sprawling airport hangar? If so, you'd better clear your schedule for Untitled Group's upcoming Virtual Day Party. Following a blockbuster debut event, which was beamed into more than half a million homes across the world in April, the minds behind Beyond the Valley and Pitch Music & Arts Festival will host a second digital day party on Saturday, May 30 that'll have you cutting shapes in your lounge room. With sets by Hayden James, DJ Boring, Lastlings, Made in Paris, Cassettes For Kids and Adult Art Club, the virtual party will kick off at the Old Melbourne Goal (where Ned Kelly was hanged) at 1pm, then travel to Henry Head Battery for sunset and finish inside the 8400-square-metre Avalon Airport Hangar. The event will be free to stream via the Untitled Group Facebook page, but virtual partygoers are encouraged to chip in and support the stream over here. Plus, if you register over here you can go in the draw to win $1000 worth of Lee, a Jimmy Brings voucher or JBL speakers, among other prizes. While some of Melbourne's COVID-19 restrictions are easing, festivals and big parties don't look like they'll be starting again too soon, so we'll need to make do with some dancing in our lounge rooms for the time being. More time to get your sock slides perfected, we say. [caption id="attachment_771608" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Hayden James by Pat Stevenson[/caption] Virtual Day Party #2 will run from 1–7.15pm. Top images: Lady Drewniak and Instant Crush.
On June 1, Melbourne's pubs, restaurants and cafes will be allowed to reopen to dine-in customers once again. Stomping Ground Brewery is helping you celebrate by giving away 5000 beers at various venues across the city. There are 50 participating venues set to take part in the giveaway, with Viking-themed restaurant Mjølner, Italian eatery Bar Romantica in Brunswick East, Prahran's Mount Erica Hotel and the birthplace of the brew itself, Stomping Ground in Collingwood, already on board. To snag your free brew, you just need to sign up over on the Stomping Ground website, then await instructions on how to redeem it on June 1. The size and style of the beer is at the venue's discretion and free beers will be poured on a first in, best dressed basis. Under Victoria's soon-to-be-implemented relaxed restrictions, alcohol is only allowed to be served alongside food, so you will need to purchase a meal to eat with your free beer. But, spending your hard-earned cash at your local, which has probably been doing it a little tough during the lockdown, isn't such a bad thing. [caption id="attachment_753717" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Old Palm Liquor by Julia Sansone[/caption] STOMPING GROUND 5K PARTICIPATING VENUES Bar Romantica, Brunswick East Captain Melville, CBD Central Club Hotel, North Melbourne Hardiman's Hotel, Kensington Limerick Arms, South Melbourne Marquis of Lorne, Fitzroy Miss Moses, Brunswick Mjølner, CBD Mt Erica Hotel, Prahran Neighbourhood Wine, Fitzroy North Old Palm Liquor, Brunswick East Stomping Ground Brewery & Beer Hall, Collingwood The Fifth Province, St Kilda The Local Taphouse, East St Kilda The Lomond Hotel, Brunswick East Union House, Richmond Up in Smoke, Footscray Whitehart Bar, CBD
Australia's Cine Latino Film Festival is back for 2018, and in a big way. Returning for its third year, the annual showcase of cinema from Central and South America boasts two of the most notable flicks not just from the region, but from the international scene in general over the past twelve months. The first, Roma, is the latest feature from Gravity director Alfonso Cuarón — and this gorgeous, moving black-and-white tale of a domestic worker in Mexico City comes to Melbourne straight from winning the top award at this year's Venice Film Festival. The second, Birds of Passage, is a sweeping Colombian drug tale; however this Indigenous story is unlike any drug war flick you've seen before. In total, 26 movies from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic and Paraguay are on the CLFF's 2018 lineup, with Cuarón's work bookending the fest. Not only is Roma the opening night pick, but the filmmaker's 2001 Gael Garcia Bernal and Diego Luna-starring effort Y Tu Mamá También will close out proceedings. Other highlights include Bernal in The Accused, a drama about a 21-year-old woman on trial for murder; Westworld's Rodrigo Santoro in A Translator, playing a professor helping child victims of Chernobyl; and this year's Sydney Film Festival prize winner The Heiresses. Running from Tuesday, November 13 to Wednesday, November 28, CLFF screens at Sydney's Palace Cinema Como, Palace Westgarth and the Astor Theatre.
This is possibly the best birthday party you'll be invited to this year. The Push is celebrating 30 years with the return of their famous all-ages event the Push Over for Melbourne Music Week. Victoria's foremost youth music organisation has really pulled out all the stops with this one, with performances by rapper Allday, singer-songwriter Ali Barter, plus Triple J-approved up-and-comers Ruby Fields and KAIT. Kicking off at 5pm at Fed Square — and, best of all, totally free — this is a great one for the kids (if you don't mind a few curse word drops from Allday).
Brimming with raw excitement, emotion and urgency, Bloc Party's debut Silent Alarm was an instant hit amongst tastemakers and critics alike upon its release in 2005. Eighteen years has cemented the album's place as a shining example of mid-aughties indie rock, while its singles 'Helicopter' and 'Banquet' continue to fill dance floors around the world. So it's no wonder that the London quartet's announcement that they would be playing Silent Alarm in its entirety at Margaret Court Arena on Tuesday, November 27 was met with much excitement. Whether you remember the music of Bloc Party due to late night raves or long evenings spent nursing feelings of desolate heartbreak, this will be an unforgettable evening for connoisseurs of jagged guitarwork, sparse electronica and truly incendiary indie-pop songs. The band be joined by local indie heroes Haiku Hands for the Australian shows
When Andrew Haigh surveys the world, he sees its small, quiet stories. Peering deeply at everyday life, the British filmmaker finds tales that couldn't be more commonplace — and, as a result, are often simply overlooked. In queer romance Weekend, he spots two men meeting for the first time, connecting and spending three unforgettable nights together. In melancholic drama 45 Years, he gazes at long-married retirees taking stock of a past gone too quickly. And in Lean on Pete, he trains his soulful stare not only at a struggling teenager, but at the horse that the boy loves unconditionally. That said, it's not just Haigh's willingness to tell these tales that makes his filmography stand out. It's how the writer-director explores these stories that's just as important, with his pictures overflowing with empathy. Haigh couldn't look more kindly, warmly and thoughtfully at the characters in his movies, especially Lean on Pete's 15-year-old protagonist Charley (Charlie Plummer). The lanky boy is someone that the world doesn't see, just like his beloved steed, whose winning days are long behind him. In patient moments that show the unspoken bond between teen and animal, in detailed wide shots that place them both within harsh surroundings, and in rare close-ups that make plain the pain in both of their eyes, Haigh notices, cares and feels for them both. Lean on Pete isn't really Charley's horse. He belongs to trainer Del Montgomery (Steve Buscemi), but when Charley stumbles upon them at the local racetrack, the boy finds a kindred spirit in the ageing sprinter. As a respite from his desolate home life — where the dad he idolises (Travis Fimmel) is more interested in his job and girlfriend (Amy Seimetz) and regularly leaves the teenager alone in their ramshackle house — Charley begins to work for Del. While the boy doesn't shy away from hard tasks, it's Pete that keeps him coming back. Jockey Bonnie (Chloë Sevigny) tells him that "horses aren't pets", but that's not what Charley sees in Pete. Rather, he sees his first real friend. With the film based on Willy Vlautin's novel of the same name, Charley and Pete aren't Haigh's original creations, however that's part of the point of Lean on Pete. Its protagonist is every person who's found more kindness on four legs than on two, every soul that's been cast adrift by society, and every child living in less-than-ideal conditions. And, when Charley's father ends up in hospital, the boy's already difficult life becomes even more so. When he takes off in Del's trailer with Pete in tow, hoping to find his estranged aunt, there's even more heartbreak in store. The second of this year's stellar films about young men, desolate plains and caring animals (after fellow festival favourite The Rider), Lean on Pete is an exquisitely tender and affecting picture. Haigh's handling of loneliness, isolation and tragedy is raw yet delicate yet devastatingly authentic, in a movie that's always sensitive yet never sentimental. Scene by scene, it builds a compassionate portrait of life in the margins in America's midwest that dares to look where others don't. Assisted by lingering and visually striking observational shots by cinematographer Magnus Nordenhof Jønck (Hold the Dark), the film crucially doesn't avert its gaze when the going gets tough. Of course, with Plummer to focus on, why would Haigh look away? Last seen being kidnapped in All the Money in the World, the young actor carries Charley's woes with few words but with a world of hurt evident in his every move — and with just as much love beaming from his face when Pete is by his side. It's another great internalised performance under Haigh's direction, and a portrayal that does what only the best can. Not only does Plummer feel like he's walked across America's heartland and straight into this film, but he makes it seem like he's not even acting. Haigh might see Charley, but his lead actor lives and breathes him. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdJonibBDx4
Landmark St Kilda pub The Espy is gearing up to celebrate its much-anticipated reopening, and to show off its hefty makeover when it launches to the public later this month. But on November 22, you can score a sneak peek at the revitalised digs before anyone else, when soul-blues act The Teskey Brothers takes The Espy stage for a one-off gig — as a sort of unofficial christening of this next phase of life (and an unofficial christening of the new-look Gershwin Room). Off the back of a hugely popular Aussie tour through July and August, and a swag of international dates, the Melbourne natives return home to help launch what's set to be one of the city's hottest new live music venues. The quartet will treat audiences to its signature soulful sounds, supported by powerhouse songstress Emilee South and her own explosive live band. We'll update you as soon as we know more about The Espy's official launch date, too. Image: Lisa Businovski
An all-female instalment in the Ocean's series, set at the Met Gala and starring a killer cast of famous faces? On paper, it sounds like a dream come true. Eleven years after George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon and more last fleeced a casino in Ocean's 13, and nearly six decades since Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and the '60s-era Rat Pack did the same in the first-ever Ocean's 11, Ocean's 8 thrusts women into the blockbuster heist franchise. The elaborate setups, easy banter and split-screen imagery all make the jump to this gender-swapped chapter, as does the buddy-movie vibe, which makes it feel like you're hanging out with a group of glam pals as they happen to stage an intricate robbery. But there are a few things missing in this stylish but slight attempt to extend the Ocean's brand – things like actual drama, a decent villain, and a plot that's anything other than a routine walk through familiar territory. The parallels start from the film's opening frames, with the incarcerated Debbie Ocean (Sandra Bullock) trying to talk her way into early parole, just as her brother did back in 2001. And, like her sibling, she's not being completely honest when she promises she'll be a model citizen upon release. Spending five years, eight months and 12 days in the slammer has given her more than enough time to plan a new job, and it takes barely a few hours to convince her righthand woman Lou (Cate Blanchett) to join in. Amassing a crew that includes fence Tammy (Sarah Paulson), fashion designer Rose (Helena Bonham Carter), jeweller Amita (Mindy Kaling), fleet-fingered thief Constance (Awkwafina) and IT whiz Nine Ball (Rihanna), they're soon ready to cause a splash on the first Monday in May. Their plan: steal a $150 million diamond necklace from the neck of starlet Daphne Kluger (Anne Hathaway) during the star-studded party. Actually, the gang is ready to steal big but stay out of sight. As Debbie tells the crew during the obligatory motivational pre-heist speech, "a him gets noticed, a her gets ignored — and for once, we want to be ignored". It's a delightfully loaded piece of dialogue that speaks to our post-#MeToo world, but it's the movie's only step towards making any kind of statement. Instead, Ocean's 8 represents Hollywood's current gender-switching trend at its most basic, doing little more than bringing in female stars to follow the same old path. If the powers that be were worried about a Ghostbusters-style backlash, they've countered it in the most mundane fashion. If they just wanted to capitalise upon the trend as simply and literally as possible, well, that's exactly what they've achieved. Indeed, writer-director Gary Ross (The Hunger Games) and his co-scribe Olivia Milch are happy to follow the beats established by their predecessors, and to mimic the look and feel that served Ocean's 11, 12 and 13 filmmaker Steven Soderbergh so well. Still, you can only pass off a cubic zirconia as a diamond for so long — and in the words of the under-utilised Rihanna, this movie doesn't shine bright like the latter. Bullock, Blanchett and company try their best to liven up the by-the-numbers caper, and do plenty with their evident chemistry. In fact, you'll wish the film spent more time watching the group chat. But that's a feat of casting, rather than any stroke of writing or directing genius. Throw these charismatic ladies into any scenario, and they'd always demand attention. To be fair, there's ample fun to be found in Bullock's rapport with both Blanchett and Paulson, and in Bonham Carter's scene-stealing awkwardness. Having Hathaway skewer her public reputation is among the movie's best touches too, although it's nowhere near as savvy as her role in last year's Colossal. And yet, the sparkling cast can't lift a film that merely watches their characters put a plan into action with minimal roadblocks or tension. A subplot involving Debbie's duplicitous ex (Richard Armitage) is instantly forgettable, as is James Cordon's involvement as an insurance detective — and it never feels like these gals are facing any real threats, stakes or problems. Working through the nuts and bolts of any heist might be one of the thrills of the genre, but without a sense of drama as well, Ocean's 8 is a barely passable knockoff. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KuCqLop7N6w
Content warning: sexual assault In the wake of revelations about rapper Riff Raff and a brave woman coming forward to tell her story, Richmond's Corner Hotel swiftly cancelled the rapper's show at its venue. The rapper's Australian tour was then also cancelled. The Richmond pub then scheduled a forum and fundraiser to replace it: a community-led discussion on sexual assault and predatory behaviour in the Australian music industry called Where To From Here? Music, Community and the "State of Play"'. The forum will be run by LISTEN, a group that aims to initiate change, inclusion and equality within the Australian music scene, and to promote visibility and experiences of marginalised people in the industry. Things will start at 6pm with a discussion with the sister of Eliza Stafford, the survivor who came forward against Riff Raff, then continue with a panel discussion, targeting the pervasiveness of sexual harassment and assault in the sphere of the live music environment. LISTEN will also provide a soundtrack for the night, with female, LGBTQI+ and gender non-conforming artists and DJs taking to the stage post-panel. Tickets are $10 and all proceeds (including $1 from each drink sold in the bandroom) will go directly to non-profit organisations. This event is designed to discuss and illuminate the unacceptable behaviour that occurs at live music events and within the industry, and will be dealing with subject matter that may be triggering – the organisers are working to create a separate space, as well as helpers, for those who may find it tough to hear and experience.
Circus Oz has been stunning audiences with its brand of high-flying acrobatics and antics for the last 40 years, but this September it'll be adding a daring new musical element to its routine in a collaboration with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. Named after the Italian musical term meaning 'together', Tutti sees the two groups of virtuosos join forces for two special nights at Hamer Hall. From high above on a spanning truss arch that mirrors the bridge of a violin, the Circus Oz performers will become the physical embodiment of the music performed by the musicians below. Featuring aerial work, flying trumpeters and a human metronome, this circus will be like none other. Combining the thrilling risk-taking of the acrobats that has built Circus Oz's reputation and MSO's classical music, the evening will see a clash of music and movement, set against moments of silence and beauty. Tutti will be performed on Friday, September 7, and Saturday, September 8 at Hamer Hall. To snag tickets, head to the website.
