Bottomless cocktails, brunch and beats...it's hard to think of a better way to banish a hangover on a summer's afternoon. Introducing Melbourne's first hip hop brunch. On December 10, doors will open at 11am, which is when brunch will be served. This'll give you a chance to get yourself fed before hitting the booze at midday — bottomless cocktails and Champagne will last an hour-and-a-half and help everyone warm up for an afternoon of hip hop karaoke. If the concept sounds familiar, it's because it comes by way of London; this is the first Australian offshoot. The whole thing will go down at Curtin House's Toff in Town. Even though it's called a brunch, it'll inevitably carry onto into the late, late afternoon.
Have you heard of competitive endurance tickling? Neither had David Farrier. The New Zealand journalist came across videos of Adidas-clad men participating in the activity online quite by accident, and was (understandably) fascinated. We've all been sucked in by strange subjects before, but very few internet obsessions turn out like this. Indeed, there's a reason that Farrier decided to pick up a camera and trek from Auckland to Los Angeles with co-director Dylan Reeve to make a doco about the bizarre world he had uncovered. The result is Tickled, the kind of stranger-than-fiction film best enjoyed by those with as little pre-existing knowledge as possible. That said, because it's also a feature that has to be seen to be believed, it's guaranteed to cause a reaction regardless of how much of the story you've already heard. In fact, part of the documentary's success stems from how it balances the laughs with the cringes, making audiences feel incredulous and infuriated all at once. As someone who has, in his own words, made a career out of reporting on "the weird and bizarre part of life", Farrier started his investigation by firing off a few emails asking questions about a barely publicised but well-paying tickling contest. After a couple of responses, each one more hostile and homophobic than the last, the journo realised he had become immersed in a strange world in more ways than one. If you thought the idea of pro-tickling was unusual, just wait until you discover the alarming reality behind it. Bullying, exploitation, intimidation, fetishes and fake personas are just the beginning. In truth, Tickled is about a lot more than its title suggests. In addition to investigating the mysterious company behind the competition and exploring the experiences of others who've turned the touch of a feather duster into something lucrative, the film also serves as a reminder about the unseemly side of our interconnected existence. In that way, it sits alongside the 2010 documentary Catfish, posing queries about modern interactions and examining the ways in which technology can both bring people together and tear lives apart. Farrier himself proves a vital central figure. Whether he's on-screen guiding what becomes a race for answers, or off-screen narrating his exploits over recreated footage, the journalist manages to maintain a sense of urgency while at the same time keeping things intimate and personal. And it is personal, as anyone who has been keeping up with movie news of late will be aware. Farrier and Reeve are still receiving legal threats from the film's subjects, who have also taken to showing up to screenings unannounced. Astonishingly, that's one of the most straightforward aspects of this compelling and confounding film.
Still sad because you missed The Avalanches much hyped comeback show at Splendour? Well, start saving your pennies because they're back for the Falls Music & Arts Festival. They're just one of the artists on the 2016 lineup, alongside Childish Gambino, London Grammar, Grouplove, Broods, Jamie T, Parquet Courts and heaps, heaps more. As always, Falls will be heading to Lorne for four nights over New Year's Eve. The Victorian festival will run simultaneously with legs in Marion Bay and Byron. Falls will also be setting up shop in Fremantle for the first time with Falls Downtown, a two-day city festival slated to take place over the weekend of January 7-8. Anyway, this is what you're after — here's the full lineup. FALLS FESTIVAL 2016 LINEUP Childish Gambino (No Sideshows) London Grammar (No Sideshows) The Avalanches Violent Soho Matt Corby Alison Wonderland* Catfish and the Bottlemen* Fat Freddy's Drop* Ta-ku The Rubens* The Jezabels Ball Park Music Grouplove Bernard Fanning* Jamie T Broods Tkay Maidza Grandmaster Flash Illy MØ Hot Dub Time Machine DMA's AlunaGeorge Booka Shade Client Liaison Vallis Alps Parquet Courts City Calm Down LDRU* Modern Baseball Tired Lion* Remi* RY X Marlon Williams* Lemaitre Shura *Not Playing Fremantle
Hope you're feeling hungry, because Taste of Melbourne is back. One of the biggest, tastiest gastronomic events in town, this four-day foodie festival, which starts cooking on Thursday November 10, will once again welcome some of the biggest names in culinary culture to Albert Park. Hear that? Our stomach's rumbling just thinking about it. While the full Taste of Melbourne lineup has yet to be revealed, the names they've announced so far should more than whet your appetite. Iconic local restaurants including Estelle Bistro, Cumulus Inc, Supernormal and Mamasita (along with their soon-to-open venture Hotel Jesus) will all have a presence at the event, as will their respective chefs. Talk about being spoiled for choice. When you're not busy stuffing your face (let's be honest, that's why you're there), visitors can also try their hand at cooking school, swing by the Jim Bean citrus highball bar, or take part in a virtual reality experience presented by Etihad. Although it's yet to be determined how good a virtual reality food experience can really be.. TASTE OF MELBOURNE 2016 EARLY LINEUP Restaurants Estelle Bistro Pickett's Deli and Rotisserie Supernormal Cumulus Inc. Mamasita x Hotel Jesus MoVida Circa, The Prince Royal Mail Hotel Chefs Andrew McConnell (Cumulus Inc, + Supernormal) Robin Wickens (Royal Mail Hotel) Scott Pickett (Estelle Bistro and Pickett's Deli + Rotisserie) Frank Camorra (MoVida) Casey McDonald (Cumulus) Perry Schagen (Supernormal) Andrew Logan (Mamasita) Nick Peters (Mamasita's Mezcalier) Rhys Blackley (Circa, The Prince)
"Player or watcher?" Nerve asks, and it's not an easy question to answer. The query may stem from the fictional dare-based game that gives the film its name, but there's no missing the real-world parallels. In these Snapchat-sending, Vine-streaming, Pokemon GO-playing times, this tech-savvy thriller feels relevant to the minute. With our lives increasingly lived through screens, our connections and conversations more often virtual than physical, and our days whiled away either posting selfies, or watching others do the same, the question needs to be asked: where do we draw the line? These are the big issues touched upon in Nerve, a film that's hardly subtle about the negative influence the internet has had on human behaviour. Thankfully, the film never tries to lecture millennials about their preferred pastimes. Instead, Catfish directors Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman keep toying with their favourite topics via a slickly and swiftly-told tale that never fails to entertain, even if the underlying narrative doesn't always stand up to scrutiny. But hey, when you're making a film about people doing reckless things for online fame and fortune, a certain number of illogical choices are to be expected. When Venus Delmonico (Emma Roberts) musters up the courage to participate in the live-streamed game, her spur-of-the-moment decision ends up being the first of many. The studious 17-year-old is motivated in part by the prize money she could put towards attending a Californian college, but also by a desire to venture beyond her comfort zone after being rejected by her football hero crush (Brian Marc). Kissing a stranger is Vee's first task, and when she locks lips with Ian (Dave Franco) in a diner, she discovers that he's playing the game as well. At first the viewing public seems eager for them to pair up, venture into New York, try on fancy clothes and get tattoos. But as the young duo begins to lure in more eyeballs, the dares become not just more lucrative, but more dangerous as well. Much of this movie's charms come from simply watching Vee and Ian roam around Manhattan, reacting to the challenges thrown their way and letting their mutual attraction flourish. Indeed, the film's first half doubles as a different take on the usual walk-and-talk movie date scenario. That Roberts and Franco make an engaging and enthusiastic pair helps; that Joost and Schulman are just as vibrant and energetic in their pacing and style does as well. Of course as enjoyable as it is watching the two lead actors race around attempting ridiculous feats, this effort about online entertainment isn't all fun and games. When Nerve wanders deeper into darker territory more akin to David Fincher's The Game, it's not always as successful – in fact, the feature's third act is positively silly. But by then, you're a watcher, and you can't tear your eyes away.
It was the scary sensation of 1999; a documentary-style freak-out that audiences were led to believe was real. A low-budget hit that reignited faux found-footage as an inexpensive but successful method of frightening filmgoers, without The Blair Witch Project, Paranormal Activity and a spate of other imitators might never have existed. And while the original movie already spawned one follow-up back in 2000, it was really only a matter of time before a new sequel wandered out of the woods and back into cinemas. You could be forgiven for not knowing much about Blair Witch, however. Filmed in secret under a fake name, its true nature was only revealed in July. Other than the involvement of director Adam Wingard and writer Simon Barrett (aka the folks behind playful horror effort You're Next and stylish action thriller The Guest) this initial misdirection is arguably the most intriguing part of a film that knows it has big shoes to fill, and tries to do so as faithfully as possible. Blair Witch treads a familiar path quite literally, sending a new group of camera-wielding college students back into the Black Hills Forest, albeit with some updated tech. For James Donahue (James Allen McCune), the creepy camping trip is personal, since it was his older sister Heather who disappeared in the original film. When his life-long quest to find out what happened leads him to an online video posted by fellow interested parties Lane (Wes Robinson) and Talia (Valorie Curry), he rounds up his pals Lisa (Callie Hernandez), Ashley (Corbin Reid) and Peter (Brandon Scott) to head off in search of answers. Decking everyone out with earpiece cameras and a short-range drone, Lisa films their trip for a class project. The on-screen characters mightn't expect the series of events that follows, but audiences certainly will. Immersed in their haunted surroundings, the crew soon starts hearing strange noises and begin to spy spooky stick figures suspended from the trees. When they inevitably try to flee, they end up getting lost and start walking around in circles. And yet, while Blair Witch mightn't chart new narrative ground as it constantly nods to its predecessor, it does conjure the requisite bumps and jumps. The range of visual sources at the film's disposal certainly helps, with Wingard employing urgent, erratic point-of-view shots, as well as lingering glimpses of the sea of trees captured by drone camera from above. Re-teaming with The Guest cinematographer Robby Baumgartner, enlisting seasoned television editor Louis Cioffi, and composing the score himself, where Wingard fares best is in evoking an unnerving mood. It doesn't always matter that you can see where the story is headed if you remain uneasy and anxious in the moment, with the sound design particularly unsettling. However that still only takes Blair Witch so far. When the third act drops its atmospheric ambiguity for more overt shocks, the movie suffers. Obvious dialogue and by-the-numbers performances likewise dull an otherwise effective rehash.
Fine food, great conversation and a fantastic cause — you'll find it all at the second edition of Stories Over Supper. Building on the success of their inaugural dinner back in June, this unique culinary experience from the folks at The Social Food Project will feature a three-course meal from acclaimed local chef Ben Mac, who's worked in the kitchens of Top Paddock and Supernormal. Taking over the pans at Fitzroy's Grub Food Van Monday, September 19, Mac's share-style menu will have a strong focus on local produce, and be paired with matching wines from sommelier Tim O'Donnell. As they eat, diners will hear from speaker Jessica Christiansen-Franks. An urban designer and landscape architect, she's also the CEO of Co-Design Studio, a company that spearheads urban regeneration projects around Australia and the world. A seat at the table costs $85, with 10 percent of all proceeds going to the Australian Food Sovereignty Alliance's legal defence fund.
Take a moment this week to head into Chotto. Meaning 'one moment' or 'a short time', Fitzroy's newest brunch spot serves breakfast a little differently. Championing traditional Japanese breakfast sets and flavours, the short menu is promised to rotate seasonally. At the moment options include ryokan-style breakfast sets with an array of small, vibrant sides. The nana kusa gayu, a seven-herb rice porridge with poached chicken and spring onion is ideal for mixing up your usual Sunday brunch. Sweet tooths aren't forgotten either, with an airy mandarin mille-feuille on demand. Matcha lattes are whisked on demand, with coffee from Monk Bodhi Dharma. The soft, light space fits has just 18 seats. Blond timber tables, polished wooden floors and a single Japanese floral arrangement completes the makeshift interior. The only bad news here is that Chotto is only temporary — but they plan to open a permanent restaurant when the pop-up finished later this year. Chotto is open from 8am-3pm Tuesday to Sunday every week, or until food runs out.
If you've ever worked in hospo, you've been in this situation. And even if you haven't waited, tended bar or cooked up a storm in a professional kitchen, you can probably still relate. Finding a decent place to relax, eat great food and drink fabulous cocktails after the clock strikes midnight isn't as easy as it really should be these days. And so, with that in mind, the Late Night Harlem Supper Club became a reality. Send your thanks Nieuw Amsterdam's way — and then send yourself their way for the first event at 1.30am on October 15. And if you can't make that date, don't worry. Another one will be announced soon. Each Supper Club will see a guest chef in control of the kitchen, with Oter's Florent 'Flo' Gerardin the first candidate. Given that he has worked at venues such as Vue de Monde, Silo and Pei Modern, his three-course menu is sure to impress. Dishes will be matched with Campari cocktails created by Nieuw Amsterdam's bar manager Sean McGuire, and the whole combo will only set you back $60 as an opening special. Night owls, get booking.
You might've heard of Taryn Brumfitt, a photographer and Adelaide-based mother-of-three, and one of Australia's leading voices on the topic of healthy body image. In fact, you've probably seen her before-and-after photos, which defy the all-too-common belief that thin equals happy. Her 2013 Facebook post went viral, seen by more than 100 million people around the world. Ashton Kutcher shared it, international talk shows came calling, and her inbox was flooded with emails from women with stories about their own struggle with body image and shame. Motivated by these experiences, Brumfitt has now turned to filmmaking, crafting a documentary about the onslaught of issues and opinions women face when it comes to the concept of beauty, and the compulsive need people feel to conform to society's arbitrary physical standards. The epitome of an activist picture crusading for a cause, the impassioned Embrace presents a wealth of information about a topic that's clearly near and dear to its maker's heart: encouraging everyone to love their bodies, just the way they are. Indeed, in a world where airbrushed models can be seen on every screen, and the beauty and diet industry rely on insecurity to turn a profit, Brumfitt's film could hardly feel more crucial. Embrace reveals an engrained self-loathing many women feel when asked about their appearance, and emphasises the need for a broader conversation on the subject. That the film was largely funded by Kickstarter contributions shows that she's not the only person eager to talk about the topic, either. Accordingly, in addition to recounting Brumfitt's personal experience, Embrace touches on everything from eating disorders and plastic surgery to recovering from physical harm and finding a space for varied representation in the media. She chats with a model considered plus-sized, and gets a consultation from someone eager to use a scalpel to improve her body. Famous faces such as British TV personality Amanda De Cadenet and American television host Ricki Lake give insights into their ups and downs. Burn victim Turia Pitt also relates her journey, as does German actress Nora Tschirner, with the two offering varied examples of the eternal attempt to be comfortable in one's own skin. It's an inspiring compilation — albeit one that can seem a tad repetitious. Of course, it could be argued that the film's message needs to be stressed again and again, until the battle for a more inclusive and positive approach to body image has been won. On the technical side of things, there's little about Embrace that hasn't been seen before, though again, its just-polished-enough sheen suits its content. Ultimately, when it comes to championing the importance of looking beyond the surface, this documentary does everything it can to make its statement heard.
Bulldog Gin is hosting two gin and tonic pop-ups in Melbourne throughout September to bring out the gin lover within you for the beginning on spring. For one of them, the distinctive gin makers will be at Big Mouth in St Kilda, bringing you $8 gin and tonics until the 30th of September. Make the most of the change in weather by sipping your drink downstairs by the window to soak up the sea breeze. And if you happen to find yourself there on a Friday or Saturday, you might just be lucky enough to have the bar staff shout you one. If you hvane't tried it, Bulldog Gin is a fresh, smooth twist on a classic London Dry gin, including exotic botanicals from around the world inspired by founder Anshuman Vohra's globe-trotting childhood. The quadruple distilled liquor features heavy citrus notes and is infused with Dragon Eye (a close relative of everyone's favourite summer fruit, lychees), juniper (of course), lotus leaves, liquorice, lavender, almond and poppy. Image: Steven Woodburn.
When the bar owners' collective CV boasts the likes of Attica, Cutler & Co and Rockwell and Sons, you know you're in for a treat. Since opening early this year, we've had Bar Liberty's menu on regular rotation. And now they've created another reason for us to visit, starting a monthly wine dinner series on the last Wednesday of every month. The Fitzroy bar is offering an indulgent five-course dinner with matched beverages for a very reasonable $110 per head. Held in their private dining room, each dinner follows a theme. Upcoming themes including islands, Greece and beer — the last of which was (unsurprisingly) the first to sell out. The last dinner was themed around Spain and included beef head croquettes with wild garlic escabeche and a version of chorizo and clam noodles paired with Spanish wines. The next dinner is being held on Wednesday, September 28, and will include food and wine from the islands of Sicily, Corsica, Santorini, Tasmania and Madeira. October's beer dinner is already booked out, but you can still get in for the Greek feast on November 30. Head to the Bar Liberty website to book.
It's not hard to understand why The Wheeler Centre named their upcoming feminist lecture series Hey Girl. It's a phrase that's layered with fluid meaning, from street harassment and solidarity to glowing approval and murky gender identity. These topics and more are under the microscope at Hey Girl, a lecture series running from October 10-14 at the CBD literary hub. The collection of talks explores the common threads of womanhood, like sexuality, race, sisterhood, empathy and fighting the feminist fight. Plus, the series will also make space for stories less commonly heard from the LGBTIQ community. See below for a full lineup of talks and kickass panellists. HEY GIRL 2016 PROGRAM Monday, October 10 Growing Up With Maxine Beneba Clarke — featuring Maxine Beneba Clarke and Santilla Chingaipe. Tuesday, October 11 Raising Girls — featuring Madeleine Morris, Nelly Thomas, Anna Barnes and Mimmie Ngum Chi Watts. Wednesday, October 12 As You Are: A Trans Teen Story — featuring Georgie Stone and Rebekah Robertson. Thursday, October 13 Girls Writing About Girls — featuring Jennifer Down, Marlee Jane Ward, Abigail Ulman and Jax-Jacki Brown. Friday, October 14 YAS KWEEN: Girls on Screen — featuring Judith Lucy, Brodie Lancaster, Mel Campbell, Jessica Knight and Billie Tumarkin. Friday, October 14 Fighting Like a Girl in the 21st Century — featuring Anne Summers and Clementine Ford.
You don't normally associate the MCG with fine dining — it's more overpriced pies and eating an entire six-pack of hot jam doughnuts to yourself. But it appears that's about to change in the lead up to this year's AFL Grand Final, as some of Melbourne's best restaurants set up outside the 'G. Part of this year's pre-GF celebrations, Yarra Park will play host to a four-day Footy Festival (presented by Foxtel) in the lead-up to the big game, featuring music, movies and some seriously good food. Let us list them for you; Estelle, Fancy Hanks, Biggie Smalls and Tokyo Tina are just a few of the heavy-hitters – and you can expect footy-inspired spins on their typical cuisine. Think a kebab-burger hybrid from Biggie, and a meat pie taco (!) courtesy of Lady Carolina. The team from South Yarra's decadent Burch & Purchese Sweet Studio will take care of dessert with their salted caramel footy pops. Clearly Foxtel has at least one foodie on the payroll. You can also have a tipple in the Yaks Ale Watering Hole, the Bulmer's Cider Garden, or Wolf Blass' pop-up wine bar, The Nest. Yarra Park will also be home to the Grand Final Live Site, with activities, live entertainment and broadcasts, plus all 112 past Premiership Cups on display. It will be open from 12-5pm on Wednesday, September 28, 10am - 7pm on Thursday and Friday, and 9am - 6pm on Grand Final day, Saturday, October 1. Disclaimer: you will not be allowed to drink your wine out of a Premiership Cup.
What's better than one annual showcase of French movies ? Two, of course. After giving Aussie audiences the best in Gallic cinema once a year for the past 26 years — and building the biggest festival of French films outside of France, too — the folks behind the Alliance Française French Film Festival are doubling their efforts. In fantastic news for anyone who likes diving back into the great flicks of times gone by, the Alliance Française Classic Film Festival will shine a light on a heap of old favourites. It's the second time the fest has done so, but the first time it has toured around the country. Heading to screens in Sydney, Brisbane, Canberra, Perth and Melbourne during September through to November, the fest will unleash classic efforts starring everyone from Brigitte Bardot to Catherine Deneuve to Isabelle Huppert for your viewing pleasure. Feasting your eyes on the game-changing wonder that is Jean-Luc Godard new wave hit Breathless is a must, whether you're keen for a revisit or you're watching it for the first time. Also check out extravagant French western Viva Maria!, the love triangle-focused Cesar and Rosalie, the Venezuelan-set Lovers Like Us, and black-and-white underworld crime drama Casque d'Or.
Open the cinema doors, HAL, because a new film festival is heading to Australian screens. You won't need someone to strap you to a chair and force your eyes open with a specula to get you to watch this fantastic movie lineup — and you won't have to wander around a maze-like haunted hotel to get there either. Hot on the heels of the Alfred Hitchcock Film Festival, Melbourne's Cinema Nova are turning their attention to celebrating another movie master. This time, the one and only Stanley Kubrick is in the spotlight. From October 6-19, the two cinemas will unleash all 13 of the British filmmaker's full-length features upon eager cinephiles. That means everything from his under-seen anti-war debut Fear and Desire to the controversial Lolita to his final completed effort, the Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise-starring erotic thriller Eyes Wide Shut. Discover why "I am Spartacus!" became such a famous cinema phrase, find out how Dr Strangelove learned to stop worrying and love the bomb, and plunge into the horrors of the Vietnam War with Full Metal Jacket — and even catch special screenings of A.I.: Artificial Intelligence, which Kubrick started developing in the '70s before handing the project over to Steven Spielberg in the '90s. Sure, 2001: A Space Odyssey, A Clockwork Orange and The Shining pop up in retrospective programs around the country quite often, but there's never a bad time to see these classics the way they were meant to be seen. Plus, catching every one of Kubrick's features in one lineup is quite rare. So rare, in fact, that the fest is calling itself a world premiere.
The best joke in The Boss is the one that no one talks about. Whatever Michelle Darnell (Melissa McCarthy) is wearing, her outfit includes a turtleneck jumper pulled up over her chin. Whether it's meant to be slimming or is simply an eccentric style option, it looks as ridiculous as it sounds — and while there's no avoiding the silly sartorial sight that greets viewers every time the protagonist graces the screen, the unusual clothing choice is actually among the film's most subtle elements. The fact that it remains hilarious while never earning a mention or explanation is refreshing, particularly in a movie that takes every other chance it can to either state or rely upon the obvious. At the beginning of the film, which McCarthy co-wrote with her director husband Ben Falcone, Darnell is a self-made titan of business. After wheeling and dealing her way to the top, she's the 47th wealthiest woman in America, and at the filling stadiums, splashing cash around and dispensing self-help advice stage of her career. Alas, all it takes is an insider trading charge and a stint in prison for her fame and fortune to disappear. With nowhere to go upon her release, Darnell turns to her former assistant Claire (Kristen Bell) to help get her life back on track — and seizes upon a brownie-selling opportunity inspired by Claire's young daughter Rachel (Ella Anderson). The Boss is an awkward film, and not just because it pairs a predictable storyline with clumsily inserted scenes of outlandish behaviour. It's the kind of movie in which school girls brawl with their mothers in the street, and swearing and physical antics are presented as the height of comedy. Yet the bulk of the awkwardness stems from McCarthy herself. Arguably The Boss ranks alongside The Heat and Spy as one of the actresses better starring roles, but with Identity Thief and Tammy also on her resume, that's not saying much. As committed as she remains to doing whatever it takes to garner laughs, there's no escaping the feeling that she's done it all before. The fact is, audiences may well be getting tired of watching McCarthy bear the brunt of violence, become the butt of jokes and deliver expletive-filled dialogue. Showcasing rather than stretching the energetic performer's many talents is the movie's main aim, however it actually fares best in quieter, less exaggerated moments. There's an astuteness and understanding in the ever-changing dynamic between McCarthy and Bell, even if the latter frequently threatens to steal the show from the former. Dissecting the ways women can both come together and tear each other apart, their exchanges provide The Boss with its much-needed heart. Of course, such moments of depth are few and far between, as is demonstrated by McCarthy's other main adversarial relationship with an over-the-top Peter Dinklage as her ex-boyfriend turned rival. That the end result proves a jumble of earnest sentiment, too-easy gags, one-dimensional characters and inconsistent absurdity is hardly surprising. But at least there's always those unexplained turtlenecks to keep you chuckling.
The team at Lazerpig are about to entire their so-called terrible twos. We say so-called because, quite frankly, we can't see anything terrible about it. In fact, the Peel Street pizzeria and bar is set to celebrate the big day with the mother of all birthday bashes. We're talking booze, music and slices at discount prices. Because let's face it: you're never too old for a pizza party. The fun begins at 5pm on Saturday, April 30. There'll be $5 jumbo slices, $5 Coopers tinnies, and a bunch of other drink specials to be announced on the night. The music lineup, meanwhile, will feature a host of local DJs, including Cale Sexton, Jennifer Loveless, Chiara Kickdrum and Jamal Amir. The dining room will double as a dancefloor, where you can work off all that cheese and pepperoni.
When a film goes by the name The Dressmaker, expecting a fashion frenzy is understandable. Of course, the Jocelyn Moorhouse-directed, Kate Winslet-starring movie delivers much more than that. It also serves up a quirky yet satisfying combination of western, comedy, drama, thriller, revenge and romantic elements, as well as a showcase of Australian acting talent; however there's no denying the pivotal role the feature's stunning costumes play. Those celluloid-stopping haute couture creations come courtesy of award-winning designers Margot Wilson and Marion Boyce, and they're getting their moment to shine outside of the cinema. After a three-month stint at Barwon Park Mansion in Winchelsea, the exhibition has moved from one stunning venue to another — it has taken up residency at Rippon Lea Estate. So if you didn't make it out of town to gaze at these fabulous threads, you now have your chance in inner city Melbourne. You'll find the jaw-dropping costumes that graced Winslet's feisty heroine Tilly Dunnage, alongside more than 50 Parisian-inspired designs worn by the likes of Sarah Snook, Rebecca Gibney, Sacha Horler, Judy Davis and Hugo Weaving. For the sartorially savvy, learning how the intricate pieces were created and getting a first-hand glimpse of their detail and artisanship is all part of the experience. And for those keen on turning their visit into an event, we recommend timing it to coincide with a Q&A, an after-dark shindig complete with a pop-up bar, or the recreation of the Footballer's Dance from the film.
The future is pulling into the station well ahead of schedule, as Melbourne's festival of innovation returns for another year. Moving from its usual date in October to the first week in May, Melbourne Knowledge Week will once again showcase some of the most exciting developments in technology and the creative industries, with more than 60 free and ticketed events at venues all around town. Whether you're learning about the applications of 3D bio printing or just kicking back with a headset in the virtual reality lounge, we guarantee your brain is in for a treat. Standout events on the seven day program include a massive community maker day complete with robot building lessons, a virtual reality tour through six decades of Melbourne history, plus panel discussions on everything from women in science to the morality of A.I. Plenty of sessions have already been booked out, so best check out the full lineup quick as you can. Your mind is depending on you.
There's nothing particularly noteworthy about British actors playing Americans, since by now they've pretty much all done it. But it is a little weird when (a) every single one of a film's American characters are played by Brits, and (b) none of them actually need to be American for the story to make sense. In fact, in Bastille Day, the fact that all but one of the Americans also work for the CIA only adds to the mystery, given the film is set entirely in Paris, has nothing to do with America and any other spy agency would have made as much sense, if not more. Still, Americans they all play and – to be fair – they do a fine job playing them. Richard Madden (Game of Thrones) plays Michael Mason, a gifted American pickpocket who steals and then discards a bag from an anarchist bomber's naive girlfriend Zoe (the delightful Charlotte Le Bon), unaware that it contains a powerful explosive. When the bomb goes off killing several French citizens, Mason is presumed to be a terrorist, and – for no particular reason – the CIA decides they want to nab him before the French do. Sent in to retrieve him is the gruff, burly and comically maverick agent Sean Briar (Idris Elba), whose 'to hell with protocol' attitude is so inexplicably extreme it borders on parody. When Briar realises Mason is innocent, the pair teams up to track down the real bombers before they can carry out their final objective: setting Paris ablaze with race riots to provide cover for a daring robbery. Filmed on what appears to be a shoestring budget, director James Watkins (also British) manages to keep the pace snappy and the action altogether interesting, enough to gloss over most of the threadbare plot. The film's rooftop chase sequence would feel comfortably at home in any Bourne movie, while a close-quarters fist-fight inside a minivan provides Bastille Day's most inventive and engaging scene. Everything has a real Luc Besson feel about it, but not always in the good way. Secondary characters are just caricatures, the violence is hyper-stylised and rarely believable, and what little dialogue there is tends towards corny cliches. Bastille Day also contains perhaps the greatest line of instantly-dated dioalogue ever recorded, with one of the villains saying (without a single shred of irony) "the hashtags will tip them over. Release the final hashtag." Much has been made recently of Elba's potential selection as the next Bond, and this film certainly does nothing to harm his action man credentials. Elba is a giant, unstoppable juggernaut whose impressive physicality imposes itself in every scene. When asked early on why he ran from Briar, Mason's reply of "because you were chasing me. Have you seen yourself!?" is as amusing as it is fair. Still, it seems a waste to squander all this acting talent on a film that asks so little of its players and gives so little in return. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5R0bI8EJCQ
Step into one of Australia's most iconic modern horror stories. To mark the launch of their new six-part Wolf Creek miniseries, streaming service Stan is opening a pair of roadhouse pop-up bars in Sydney and Melbourne. Sounds... fun? Maybe our April Fools' joke about that Making a Murderer bar wasn't as ridiculous as it seemed at the time. Opening in Federation Square from May 5-8 and Martin Place from May 11-14, the pop-ups were designed with the aid of the show's set designers, and promise to deliver a "fully immersive" experience. That last part may read as a little unsettling to anyone who has seen the original movie — or, y'know, knows anything about the actual murders that inspired it. But we guess you have to give them credit for really committing to the theme. The bars will serve limited edition beers by Two Birds Brewing, Mick's Bitter and Eve-ning Ale, along with non-alcoholic drinks and an outback-inspired menu. Those who attend on opening night will also get the chance to meet with the stars of the show, including John Jarratt, aka Mick Taylor — if you're game. Visit the Wolf Creek Roadhouse Bar in Federation Square, Melbourne from May 5-8 and Martin Place, Sydney from May 11-14. All six episodes of Wolf Creek will premiere on Stan on May 12.
A standout on the program at this year's Next Wave Festival, Under My Skin is the latest work from The Delta Project, a Melbourne-based dance company comprised of both deaf and hearing dancers. Choreographed by Jo Dunbar and Lina Limosani, the show will combine movement, new media and sound as dancers Anna Seymour, Elvin Lam, Amanda Lever and Luigi Vescio explore what it means to listen and be heard. With just six performances set for the first weekend of the festival, tickets are already going fast.
Tasmanian composer Dylan Sheridan returns to this year's Next Wave Festival with his latest otherworldly concerto. Using a mix of cello, violin, saxophone and electronics, this immersive musical work takes listeners 1500 light years through space to the edge of the Horsehead Nebula. Described in the festival program as "a sonic exploration of galactic patterns", The Horse takes over Arts House for eight shows starting Thursday, May 12 and is one of the must-see (and hear) events at Next Wave this year.
They say you should never ask how the sausage is made, but the folks at Meatsmith and Clare Valley Brewing are doing exactly that for Good Beer Week. Over complimentary beers and canapés aplenty, Meatsmith co-owner Troy Wheeler will provide ticketholders with an in-depth ale sausage making demonstration, along with instructions on how to replicate the process at home. And you won't leave empty-handed either — each participant will receive a sausage kit containing pork, sausage skins, butcher ties and a mincer, along with a six-pack of craft beer. Just remember, the booze is part of the recipe, so don't go drinking it all before you get started.
Enjoy the finer things in life at this sophisticated Good Beer Week event beneath the stained glass windows of Richmond's St Stephen's Church. Ticketholders will get the chance to sample six exclusive beers from Belgium's Rodenbach Brewery, each of which has been carefully paired with a selection of cheeses by Yarra Valley Dairy's head cheesemaker Jack Holman. And, just in case you had any doubts about just how fancy this thing will get, the night will also include a performance by some of the best opera singers in the country. It's a far cry from frothies at the footy, that's for sure.
Eating, drinking and being merry is what heading to the Yarra Valley is all about; however, come April 2017, nosh and booze-loving visitors will have even more reason to be happy. That's when the region is holding their first wine and food festival showcasing everything it has to offer. It really is about time. The Yarra Valley Wine & Food Festival will take over Rochford Winery on April 1 and 2, 2017, marking the first time that the area's big and small wineries have come together to showcase their tipples. Names such as DeBortoli Wines, Hanrahan Vineyard, Balgownie Estate, Oakridge Wines, Squitchy Lane and Sutherland Estate will feature among more than 50 producers of plonk. And if you're keen on specific varietals rather than individual winemakers, you'll be able to explore your favourite kinds of drop at the event's dedicated laneways. Fancy a wander down Pinot Noir Lane or Sparkling Lane, anyone? Beer and cider lovers will also be catered for with their own laneways, too, as will many a hungry stomach. In total, over 100 food and drink artisans are slated to take part — including some of the best food trucks from both Melbourne and the Yarra Valley region. The two-day event will also boast a masterclass program that'll teach aficionados the tricks of the trade and let eager drinkers taste rare drops that can no longer be purchased, a wine barrel art competition showcasing the talents of local creatives, live music and entertainment, and segway rides. Plus, every attendee will receive a free commemorative wine glass with their ticket, in case you need any help remembering the occasion.
It's time to party like it's 1999. The iconic children's breakfast show, that once brought you Dragon Ball Z, Pokemon, Sailor Moon, SpongeBob SquarePants and Digimon while you ate your Coco Pops is back and all grown up. For one night only hosts Jade and Ryan from Cheez TV will be serving up nostalgia in the form of "letters from the mailbag", retro console gaming and '90s party tunes. Costumes are highly encouraged and there are door prizes for the best-dressed and best letter to the mailbag. Who knows — maybe you'll find your own Nurse Joy or Sailor Moon, a Hermione Granger to your Ron Weasley or at least someone to battle you on Mario Kart 64. Cheez TV at Beta Bar will also be one of the few places (only place?) you'll have a chance of making out with Princess Peach at midnight.
Prepare to drool all over yourself Homer Simpson-style, because the Yaks Ale Melbourne Barbecue Festival is back. Now in its third year, this weekend-long celebration of all things smoked and slow-cooked will bring together some of the biggest names in local barbecue, along with celebrity pitmasters from Memphis to LA. Held on February 4 and 5 at Flemington Racecourse, the festival will feature live music acts, cooking demos and a four-way "butcher battle" between Troy Wheeler of Meatsmith, Gary McBean of Gary's Quality Meats, Tom Bouchier of Peter Bouchier Butchers, and Glenn Dumbrell of Char Char Char. But let's not beat around the bush here: you want to know about the food. Chances are, you won't be disappointed. Bluebonnet, Burn City Smokers, Fancy Hank's, Southside Smokers and Henrietta's Chicken Shop are but a few of the meat masters who'll be in attendance. Our advice? Start fasting now. Image: Southside Smokers.
The Golden Koala Chinese Film Festival is back for another year, showcasing an eclectic mix of big screen gems just in time for Chinese New Year. Held in Melbourne from February 8–10, this year's festival features a number of intriguing titles across a wide array of genres. Based on a novel by award-winning Chinese-American author Ha Jin, The Song of Cotton tells the story of a female caretaker hired to take care of a former boxer suffering from Alzheimer's disease. The film won big at the recent Shanghai International Film Festival, winning Best Film, Best Actress and Best New Director. Also scoring plaudits on the festival circuit was Dog, an experimental film that screened at the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival, and follows a stray dog as it journeys across the streets of Guangzhou. Other standout titles include dark crime comedy Roberry, and bittersweet queer rom-com Front Cover. For the full Golden Koala program, go here.
The people who've brought you nearly 400 concerts over the past 15 years with A Day on the Green have launched a new venture — a weekend of concerts in Melbourne's picturesque Royal Botanic Gardens. A Weekend in the Gardens will run over the March 2017 Labour Day long weekend, with three days of all-Aussie music acts for punters of both the old and new. On Friday, March 10, you'll be able to relive the best bits about living in Australia in the '80s: John Farnham and Daryl Braithwaite. Yes, both of them, together, on the same bill. They'll be joined by Ross Wilson of Daddy Cool and legendary tune 'Eagle Rock'. And you'll be able to celebrate 40 years of Icehouse on Sunday, March 12. The hugely influential band will be joined by James Reyne and Clare Bowditch. Get your mum a chair, will you? If you're looking for something more contemporary, head to the gardens on Saturday, March 11 for Boy & Bear and San Cisco. Boy & Bear are just finishing up a second Australian tour for their 2015 album Limit of Love, while San Cisco just dropped the single 'SloMo' from their third album, which is set to be released in its entirety early next year. They're both joined by Amy Shark, an up-and-coming Gold Coast artist who recently featured on triple j Unearthed. While the other two nights are BYO deck chairs and picnic rugs, it seems like the organisers don't expect the audience to be sitting down for this one. A Weekend in the Gardens looks set to emphasise garden picnic vibes with the music as well. They'll be setting up The Eatery, an adjacent area featuring food from Melbourne Italian Ladro, smoked food experts Burn City Smokers, Brighton burger experts The Royale Brothers and a sweet setup from Pommery Champagne & Oyster Bar. And if you're willing to add more than $100 to your ticket, you can also snack on three hours of Vietnamese canapés and a cocktail from restaurant Jardin Tan in an exclusive VIP area.
Trolls brings its tiny, brightly coiffed creatures to the screen with plenty of baggage. You might have played with the toys that the film is based on. You probably don't have particularly fond memories of many other toy-based franchises – think Transformers, G.I. Joe and Battleship. At the very least, you've almost certainly had Justin Timberlake's inescapable 'Can't Stop the Feeling', which features in the flick, stuck in your head for months. Here's the good news: as directed by SpongeBob SquarePants veterans Mike Mitchell and Walt Dohrn, Trolls is far from the eye-roll-worthy effort it might seem like on paper. On a scale ranging from The Smurfs to The LEGO Movie, it falls firmly in the middle — even if it does little more than swap blue critters for their brightly coloured counterparts, with elements of Cinderella thrown in as well. Here, trolls are "the happiest creatures the world has ever known," and don't they like to sing, dance and hug about it. The scrapbook-loving, party-throwing Princess Poppy (Anna Kendrick) often leads the charge, and she has plenty to celebrate. Twenty years earlier, the pocket-sized folk were frequently scooped up and eaten by huge, hungry beings called Bergens, but quick thinking on the part of King Peppy (Jeffrey Tambor) saw them escape and live joyously ever after. But their idyllic existance is suddenly shattered when an evil chef (Christine Baranski) stumbles upon their habitat. Soon, a handful of trolls are destined for the plate of Bergen Prince Gristle (Christopher Mintz-Plasse), leaving Poppy with the task of saving them, and cranky survivalist Branch (Timberlake) begrudgingly lending his assistance. There's a reason that the Bergens are so keen on catching and munching on the rainbow-hued critters: when they do, they experience a burst of ecstatic contentment that's probably on par with humans eating Nutella-slathered doughnuts. That sensation, of course, ties into the lesson at the heart of the film. As Trolls works towards the song we all know is coming — and throws up various other pop covers along the way — it serves up a heavy-handed moral about finding happiness from internal sources rather than external ones. Still, somehow the movie manages to find a balance between loud, shiny and sickly sweet, and entertaining enough. Kendrick's enthusiastic voice work helps, as do the handmade-looking visuals, which make the film's CGI appear as though it's fashioned out of felt and other crafting products. On the joke front, just as many light-hearted gags and pop culture references land as languish, which is a better strike rate than many other family films. A word of warning though: it might be dressed up in fuzzy packaging in more ways than one, but Trolls also remains the kind of flick that features glitter fart clouds and cupcakes poop. Consider yourself warned.
Veg out this weekend with the best cruelty free food in town at the first annual Brew & Food Fest presented by Melbourne Vegan Eats. Taking place on Michael Street in Brunswick (of course), this meatless street meet will feature food from some of the city's favourite vegan eateries because, contrary to conventional wisdom, you can make friends with salad. Kicking off at 11am on Saturday, November 5, the festival lineup includes grub from the likes of vegan bakery Baking Bad, Middle Eastern restaurant Tahina, iconic vegan pub The Cornish Arms, and quintessential vegan fast food joint Lord of the Fries. As for liquid refreshment, you can wash down your food with tasty bevs from Young Henrys, KAIJU, Golden Axe Cider and more. Image: The Cornish Arms.
How about an evening of weird and wonderful liquid treats, to balance out all that eating and chewing you'll be doing during Good Food Month? Smith Street's Noble Experiment will be living up to its name and channelling a science lab for this one-off event, with bartenders delivering a lineup of creepy cocktails and creative canapés, the likes of which are sure to blow a few minds. Indulge your inner science nerd, or simply add a bit of mystery and excitement to your usual Thursday night cocktail session. The $75 per ticket includes three cocktails and seven snacks.
If you go down to the NGV this October, you'll get to take a flower home with you. But on two conditions, says Taiwanese-American artist Lee Mingwei: "First, to make a detour from their intended route when leaving the museum for their next destination; second, along this detour, to give the flower to a stranger who they feel would benefit from this unexpected act of generosity." It's part of the artist's new work, The Moving Garden, opening at the National Gallery of Victoria on October 15. Mingwei and NGV have teamed up with Melbourne florist Flowers Vasette, who'll provide 1000 fresh flowers for each day of the exhibition — that's 106 days, totalling 106,000 flowers. One of the world's leading artists in audience participation, Mingwei made headlines this year at the Biennale of Sydney by recreating Picasso's masterpiece Guernica in sand before letting audiences walk all over it. "Lee's artwork inspires contemplation of social themes like trust and self-awareness, by encouraging one-on-one interactions between strangers," says NGV director Tony Ellwood. "The Moving Garden will also challenge the traditional relationship between art and audience, with each flower picked adding the story of the participant to that of the artwork." The Moving Garden is part of Melbourne's major new Asian arts festival, Asia TOPA: Asia-Pacific Triennial of Performing Arts, announced just this week. Mingwei will be conducting a free artist talk on Saturday, October 15, with bookings not required.
Did you wear out many VHS tapes re-watching your favourite movies as a kid? Don't worry, you're not alone. There's a type of fanatical viewing that comes with childhood, as we immerse ourselves again and again in the stories that we love most. For Owen Suskind, however, this rite-of-passage ran even deeper. Diagnosed with autism at the age of three, Owen threw himself into Disney flicks. For him, they weren't just entertainment. They were a way of learning how to process the world. That's the real world narrative that Life, Animated explores — and the heart-warming details are worthy of an animated musical. When the documentary begins, Owen is 23 and getting ready to leave home, an achievement that family members credit to his singular obsession. As he grew up, titles such as The Little Mermaid, Aladdin and Peter Pan helped him understand those around him, giving him the tools he needed to forge a life of his own. Taking his cues from the best-selling book by Owen's father Ron, Oscar-winning director Roger Ross Williams (short documentary Music by Prudence) recounts this moving story, combining home video with new footage in order to chronicle both Owen's childhood and his big move into his own assisted-living apartment. As the film unfolds, Ron and his wife Cornelia step through their two-decade journey, while Owen offers his own thoughts on his favourite films and the role they played in his coming-of-age. Unfortunately, while there's plenty of emotion to be felt here, Williams doesn't trust the audience to feel it on their own. His filmmaking tactics are as heavy-handed as they are steeped in easy emotion, and as repetitive as Owen's own viewing habits. Not only that, but by including countless moments from the movies that Owen loves, Williams trades far too heavily on viewer nostalgia, rather than actually focusing on the true tale he's meant to be telling. As a result, Life, Animated also struggles with tone, wavering between compassionate and self-congratulatory. Interestingly, the documentary's most effective sections aren't the interviews or Disney clips, but animated recreations of the Suskinds' lives provided by artist Mac Guff. These moments convey the underlying sentiment with much more subtlety than you'll find elsewhere. A cautious comment by Owen's older brother Walter, worried about someday having to take responsibility for his sibling's care, also stands out. As magical as Mickey Mouse's output may be, reality still leaves a stronger impression.
Did you hear that? We think someone just said free dumplings and beer. Prepare to get all a-quiver because someone actually, absolutely did just say free dumplings and beer. In honour of the foodstuff that fuels drunken nights out across the country, 206 Bourke Street is hosting the first Melbourne Dumpling Festival, complete with a huge (free!) sit-down dumpling tasting event. Dump dump wizards Tim Ho Wan, China Red, China Chilli and Dragon Boat are working with Brooklyn Brewery to bring you a night of dumpling indulgence. From 5-10pm on Friday, October 21, groups of 30 will be seated for 30 minutes to enjoy a gratis dumpling and beer pairing, including three serves of dumplings and three beer samples. Seems weird that it's totally free, but we won't question it. It goes without saying though that you can only sign up to one booking. Tim Ho Wan will also be premiering their lava bomb dumpling, free to the first 200 people who rock up to the pop-up. The lava bomb, just FYI, is exactly what it sounds like - an explosive dumpling, filled with sweet gooey custard. Aside from the dumpling pairing, the one-night festival will also hold a host of dumpling-making demos, calligraphy workshops and live music. You'll also be able to get dumps to eat in or take away. The event is being held at 206 Bourke Street, which is the retail precinct Tim Ho Wan is located in and connects Bourke Street with Chinatown.
Six Catholic schoolgirls travel to Edinburgh for a choral competition. What could possibly go wrong? In Melbourne for the very first time, the National Theatre of Scotland presents Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour, a raucous production about "singing, sex and Sambuca". Adapted from Alan Warner's novel The Sopranos, with music by everyone from ELO to Bach, the show was a smash with critics and audiences in the UK, and is one of the obvious highlights in the theatre section of this year's Melbourne Festival program.
This year's Melbourne Festival will start with a bang, thanks to Basque street theatre company Deabru Beltzak. For two decades, the company has performed the traditional Correfoc (or, fire run) in cities around the world. Now, for three nights only, they're bringing their pyrotechnic display to Federation Square. Pounding drums, elaborate costumes and breathtaking fireworks combine in this after-dark parade, beginning at the corner of Flinders and Swanston Streets before snaking its way through the city. Don't stand too close though — you don't want to get burnt. Image: Raphael Helle.
An intricate, criss-crossing lattice of shimmering red lines, The Home Within stands out as one of the most striking installations at this year's Melbourne Festival. Created by Japanese artist Chiharu Shiota, who is visiting Australia for the very first time, the towering structure is described in the program as combining "the weight of architecture and the ephemerality of organic life". You can find it at various locations around town between October 6-23 — first at Deakin Edge in Federation Square, then at Meat Market in North Melbourne, before finishing up at Melbourne Town Hall. Image: Yurrtas Tumer.
Female musicians, artists and activists will make themselves heard, at the 2016 Listen Conference at Bella Union. Running from October 14-16, this year's gathering of likeminded ladies has been subtitled Feminist Futures, with an eye to furthering feminist perspectives in the music industry moving forward. Keynote speakers at the three-day conference include trans musician Alok Vaid-Menon of the performance art duo DARKMATTER, Kiwi writer and emcee Coco Solid, and local feminist legend Clementine Ford. Joining them on the bill are dozens of other speakers, who'll run workshops and take part in panels on everything from sexism in the music industry to grant writing. In addition to all the talking, each night will showcase a mix of live music and performance, featuring the likes of Ouch My Faces, Hi-Tec Emotions, Brooke Powers and many more.
Melbourne-based Harry Potter fans have clearly been muttering "accio films!" en masse. How else do you explain IMAX Melbourne's next special event? It's the very definition of movie magic. Not one, or a few, but all eight Harry Potter flicks are returning to the massive 32 metre wide, 23 metre high big screen for 11 days of Pottermania. And it's a choose-your-own-viewing-experience kind of deal, too. Maybe you're as eager as Hermione to cram all the movies into four double features over two weekends — or perhaps taking it a bit easier and seeing one per weeknight, HP and Ron Weasley-style, is more your thing. Either way, it's Pottertime — as well as the perfect lead up to the next cinematic excursion into JK Rowling's wizarding world, aka the forthcoming big screen adaptation of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. The eight flicks will screen in IMAX 2D, so the only glasses you need are your own HP-like specs. Tickets are now on sale, and cost $20 per weeknight film, $30 per weekend double, or $100 for the entire lot.
Want to see a burlesque show that tells it like it is? Or circus cabaret that contemplates race relations in contemporary Australia? How about singing and striptease while smashing stereotypes? Or a performance that packs a punch of hip hop politics? All that makes up Hot Brown Honey, as well as dance, poetry, drama and a reflection of everyday problems. Fresh from acclaimed seasons in Adelaide Fringe and Melbourne Comedy Festival as well Sydney and Brisbane, these bold performers aren't just trying to entertain. They're also working through issues of colour and culture — and courting controversy — in a show that's certain to get people talking. The story jumps from the simmering shores of Polynesia to the bogan streets of Australia, peering through the eyes of an Indigenous drag queen and stepping through the life of a single mother who just happens to be a DJ. Hailing from Polytoxic Dance Theatre, Circus OZ and Briefs, the Luscious Lisa Fa'alafi, the Curvaceous Candy B and the Bodacious Busty Beatz package their tale and topics in spicy humour and simmering honesty. Some like it hot, indeed.
More than 30 female acrobats, aerialists, actors, musicians and singers will take the stage in the Women's Circus' production of The Penelopiad. Adapted from the novella of the same name by Margaret Atwood, the show will reimagine Homer's Odyssey from the perspective of Penelope. In doing so, it will shine a spotlight on the prevalence of violence against women in our culture, while giving a voice to those people who are so often rendered silent. Running from November 22 to 27, the performance will also commemorate the 25 year anniversary of the Women's Circus, celebrating a quarter century of empowering, socially engaging productions for and by women across Melbourne. A standard ticket will cost you $30, except on opening night. At $120, those are a little pricier. However, they do include dinner and drinks courtesy of Afrofeast Food Truck and Two Birds Brewing, plus pre-show entertainment from the women of Chaos Magnet and a post-show Q&A with the cast and crew.
"Would you rather wear a hat made of spiders, or have penises for fingers?" It's not just an intriguing question. It's also one of the most memorable lines in modern Australian literature, as anyone who has read Jasper Jones will no doubt agree. Now, thanks to the film adaptation of the best-selling Aussie novel, it's one of the most interesting pieces of dialogue uttered on screen too. That said, pondering such an obviously important topic isn't the only highlight of the beloved book or its new big screen version. For the record though, author Craig Silvey — who wrote the shooting script for movie as well — would choose the first option. Contemplating arachnophobia versus added appendages is one of the lighter moments in a film that starts with a dead teenager, follows the efforts of an outsider to clear his name, and dives into the murky waters of discrimination in a small rural town. At the same time, the seemingly silly question provides an excellent example of exactly the kind of movie that Jasper Jones is. When you're 14 years old, life is filled with mysteries and surprises, both humorous and scary. One moment you're having a laugh with your friend. In the next, you're coming to terms with tragedy, prejudices and the fraught nature of race relations in Australia. After the eponymous Jasper Jones (Aaron McGrath) comes knocking on his bedroom window one summer evening, Charlie Bucktin (Levi Miller) experiences both. By day, he pals around with his best friend (Kevin Long) talking about superheroes and exaggerated dilemmas. By night, he helps Jasper cope with the suspicious death of his girlfriend, for which Jasper fears he will be blamed. That Charlie has a crush on the dearly departed girl's sister (Angourie Rice) complicates matters. That the mixed-race Jasper is viewed with suspicion by most folks in the fictional Western Australian town of Corrigan does too. Australian filmmakers have been keen on coming-of-age tales lately, with Paper Planes and Red Dog: True Blue (which also starred Miller) both gracing cinema screens over the past few years. Still, there's always room for a smart, thoughtful and engaging take on a well-worn premise, and Bran Nue Day director Rachel Perkins delivers just that. The book has earned comparisons to To Kill A Mockingbird, while Perkins has cited Stand By Me as an influence — and blending the two together perfectly sums up Jasper Jones' charms. Of course, a great text and a fine director are only part of the equation. Jasper Jones wins big on both fronts, but it also benefits from a stellar cast. There's a reason that Miller keeps getting work, and if the gifted Rice seems familiar, that's because she stole the show opposite Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe in last year's The Nice Guys. The pair, along with the soulful McGrath and the amusing Long, offer an impressive snapshot into the future of Australian acting talent, which is no easy feat given some of the veterans they're playing against. Toni Collette pops up as Charlie's unhappy mum, and it just wouldn't be a local film without Hugo Weaving doing wearied and grizzled like only he can.
Crack open a beer and catch a movie under the stars at Geelong's new openair theatre. Popping up at the Little Creatures Brewery over summer (where they also brew Furphy), the Furphy Outdoor Cinema will screen a selection of iconic Australian comedies while serving up top-notch grub and ice cold bevs. Fancy a trip down the Princes Highway? Lighting up the night on alternate Wednesday evenings, the season begins on January 25 with Crackerjack. That'll be followed by The Dish on February 8 and Kenny on February 22, before the season comes to a close on March 8 with Rob Sitch's comic masterpiece The Castle. Doors at the Furphy Outdoor Cinema open at 7.30pm for an approximately 8.30pm start. Entry is via the brewery canteen, which will be serving up food (and pints of Furphy) throughout the film.
Art meets environmentalism as part of a brand new initiative between La Trobe University and the National Gallery of Victoria. The latest interactive addition to the NGV Friday Nights program, Living Landscapes will let visitors create their own virtual tree on an iPad, and then 'plant' it in a digital scale replica of La Trobe's 30-hectare wildlife sanctuary in Bundoora. For every virtual tree, the university will plant a real one. "Participants are not only creating their own unique piece of digital art, they are also making a lasting contribution to a sustainable future," said Sanctuary Senior Coordinator Andrew Stocker of the project, which was inspired by the NGV's current David Hockney exhibition. "Living Landscapes embodies David Hockney's unique style by blending technology with old-style painting of beautiful flora and fauna."
Usually a retrospective signifies the tail-end of an artist's career. Generally, it's commissioned by a prominent gallery, and carefully curated to highlight their successes and triumphs and most iconic works. But not if you're DI$COUNT UNIVER$E. If you're DI$COUNT UNIVER$E, you know you don't have to play by the rules and conventions of art and fashion — and if you want to hold your own retrospective, you bloody well do it. That's the idea behind their new show, anyway. The Melbourne-based cult pop punk fashion brand (who's pieces have been worn by everyone from Beyoncé to Kylie Jenner to Madonna) have just announced their It's-too-soon-for-a-retrospective Retrospective Exhibition, which, like their self-described 'anti-fashion', basically subverts the very idea of the retrospective. For one, designers Nadia Napreychikov and Cami James only established the brand six years ago. They're also organising the exhibition themselves, rather than being invited to do so. "In general, as a brand, we purposely go against the grain of what is done in the arena we work in," says Napreychikov. We do this to challenge the system. To prove there are other ways of working. To show our supporters and other young people in our field that it is possible to pave your own path without having all of the resources. To create your own resources." They also won't be presenting a heavily curated selection of their works — they'll be displaying everything. And when we say everything, we mean everything. The exhibition — which will take place in their Collingwood studio gallery space — will include an excess of over 65 mannequins and 500 garments from the pair's personal archives and private collections, their showrooms, as well as garments borrowed back from the famous people who've worn them. This includes the epic Birthday Suit as worn by Katy Perry, the Pray t-shirt Miley Cyrus wore in her Terry Richardson photoshoot (before she ripped them off), and their signature studded biker jackets as worn by both Madonna and Beyoncé. The retrospective is reflective of how DI$COUNT UNIVER$E have used the Internet to gain rapid international success, despite having leapfrogged certain channels traditionally traversed by up-and-coming Aussie designers, such as presenting at Australian Fashion Week and being picked up by one of the big two department stores. The exhibition will run from November 29 until December 9 at their studio space in Collingwood. Open Monday to Saturday from noon until 6pm, entry will be ten bucks, and DI$COUNT will have some limited edition pieces on sale, including badges, patches, t-shirts, wallets, magnets, socks, sequin dresses and caps ranging from a couple of dollars to $400. Image: Daniel Good John.
Throw on a sweatband and work out your thumbs, at a vintage video game tournament hosted at ACMI. Emceed by comedians Andy Matthews and Al Tremblay Birchall, and timed to coincide with the leadup to the Rio Olympics, the Retrolympiad will feature an array of 8-bit sporting and Olympic-themed console and arcade games, from Olympic Gold to Konami's Track and Field. The games begin at 8pm on Saturday July 23. In addition to all the button-pushing action, ticketholders will be able to enjoy a bite and grab something to drink, before hitting the dance floor to a DJ set by none other than Midnight Juggernauts loaded with 80s-inspired beats. The gamers who put up the best showing will be awarded at the end of the night as part of a special medal ceremony. Let's face it: that's about as close to Olympic glory as most of us will ever get.
If video game cutscenes ever made the leap to cinema, Warcraft: The Beginning would be the end result. Fashioning a film from the interactive fantasy franchise, the long-awaited movie version functions in much the same way: advancing a narrative, fleshing out characters, and delving into material that can't always be gleaned during gameplay. That's the good news. The bad news is that it also looks and feels the part. That's not an indictment of the movie's impressive special effects, but a reflection of the unfulfilling way the feature seems like it was pieced together from standard in-game sequences rather than specifically made for the cinema. Directed by Duncan Jones (Moon, Source Code), and co-written by the filmmaker with Charles Leavitt (In the Heart of the Sea), Warcraft: The Beginning takes viewers to the realms of Draenor and Azeroth. The former, the home of the orcs, is dying, with warlock Gul'dan (Daniel Wu) using a magical force called the fel to transport his people to the latter. Durotan (Toby Kebbell), the leader of one of the orc clans, is wary of this plan, but also has his pregnant mate Draka (Anna Galvin) to worry about. Upon their arrival, they're hardly greeted with a warm welcome by Azeroth's suspicious human inhabitants — including King Llane Wrynn (Dominic Cooper), knight Anduin Lothar (Travis Fimmel), mystic Medivh (Ben Foster) and aspiring magi Khadgar (Ben Schnetzer) — although the orcs' penchant for warmongering doesn't help things either. A clash between orc and mans ensues, and at this point, audiences could be forgiven for wishing that the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit films didn't exist, or that their enormous popularity hadn't cemented the template for the action-fantasy genre. Charged with the difficult task of bringing a multi-player game to the big screen, Warcraft: The Beginning takes far too many cues from Middle Earth. The film might gather its details from the game series that dates back to 1994 in various forms, but in turning them into a feature, it's content to dwell in generic territory. Simply put, you've seen this stuff before. A derivative game-to-film adaptation isn't the same as a bad one, though it does struggle to maintain interest. The need to set up potential sequels is made clear in the movie's title; however as the battles stop seeming distinctive, and the characters chart familiar paths, it makes much of the feature feel like filler. Jones knows how to handle action and exposition, and convey a strong sense of grandeur as well, but remains trapped by his world-building mission and the need to stick to the formula. Try as they might in both live-action and motion-captured performances, the cast are placed in a similar predicament, particularly Paula Patton as half-orc, half-human outcast Garona, who is literally caught in the middle. When the best a movie based on a computer game can offer is CGI wizardry, something has obviously gone awry. Once fans have had their fill of clocking knowing references, even they'll likely wish they were just playing the game instead. And for everyone else — don't expected to be recruited to the horde just yet.
