Prepare to drool all over yourself Homer Simpson-style, because the Yaks Ale Melbourne Barbecue Festival is back. Now in its fourth 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 3 and 4 at Flemington Racecourse, the festival will feature live music acts, culinary demos, a cook-off and a butcher battle. 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 Sugarfire Smoke House from the US are but a few of the meat maestros who'll be in attendance. Our advice? Start fasting now. Image: Southside Smokers.
Just because you've gone and left all your Christmas shopping till the last minute (again), doesn't mean all hope is lost. The folks at Good Cmpny are here to save the day with a perfectly timed pre-Christmas pop-up sale this Saturday, December 23. The Melbourne-born clothing brand known for its minimalist unisex staples is throwing open the doors to its Prahran showroom for a one-day sale. And, yes, you should go IRL — it will include some savings you won't find online. All remaining sweatshirts from the 2017 range will be slashed from the usual $125 down to just $75. If it's destined for the present pile, you can even get yours dressed up in some nifty Good Cmpny wrapping paper, ready for the tree. There's also a secret in-store offer for those buying two or more sweatshirts on the day. Surely you deserve a present of your own…
Grab your guitar and a boot-scootin' babe, and saddle up for the biggest event on the Australian country music calendar. The Tamworth Country Music Festival is now in its 46th year and is back, bigger than ever. There will be over 700 artists performing across 120 venues around the city over the course of the ten-day festival, with both ticketed and free events on offer. Tamworth will be alive with the coos of country music, from street corners to pubs to backyards, and everything in between. Spot the next Troy Cassar-Daley at the Australian Country Music Busking Championships and marvel at the Toyota Cavalcade, which features over 100 floats, bands and magnificent groups of horses marching through town. And let's not forget Australian country music's night of nights, the 46th Country Music Awards of Australia, where the best country artists will be named and get to take home golden guitar statues.
From little things, big things grow. That seems to be the thinking behind the 2015 Poppy Seed Festival, a month-long showcase of homegrown theatre blossoming in Melbourne for the very first time. Running from November 10 to December 13 at various venues around town, the inaugural edition of this grass-roots event will feature four different productions from some of the most unique voices in local independent theatre. The festival begins with TBC Theatre's Project Hysteria, a brand new take on two one-act Tennessee Williams plays, The Pretty Trap and Interior: Panic. Next up comes 15 Minutes from Anywhere's The Yellow Wave, a tale of love and sacrifice set against a Mongol invasion of Australia. Thirdly, Man with a Plan presents Gin Sister, a three-woman show that examines female drinking culture through a mix of song, dance and poetic self-reflection. Finally, Fire Curtain Co. will perform Vicky Jones' award winning play The One, a brutal critique of modern-day relationships that took London's Soho Theatre by storm. Tickets costs $30 per show, although theatre-nuts can attend all four for $100. For more information, including precise dates and locations, visit poppyseed.net.au.
Under the light of a full moon, the Queen Vic Gardens will come alive with a fusion of music, dance and experimental art. Curated by Unconscious Collective along with HTRK vocalist Jonnine Standish, prepare yourself for a (free!) nocturnal arts party where the lines between technology and magic aren't as rigid as they might seem. Running from 9pm on Sunday, January 24 until 4am the next morning, M*SYNC will see a number of DJs and musicians perform under the MPavilion canopy. Move to the rhythms of Lisa Lerkenfeldt and Karli White, before sinking into a moon-age bean bag that syncs up your pulse with those of your fellow party goers. There'll also be a witching hour dance ritual from local dancers Benjamin Hancock, James Andrews and Lauren Langlois, plus a Tea Bar which will be open all night.
The team behind the phenomenal stage play Songs for Nobodies are returning for a spiritual sequel. Written by playwright Joanna Murray-Smith specifically for singer and actress Bernadette Robinson, Pennsylvania Avenue showcases Robinson's masterful vocal ventriloquism, as she performs songs by Marilyn Monroe, Aretha Franklin, Bob Dylan and more. The show had its world premiere at the MTC in late 2014, and now returns to the Melbourne Arts Centre for a three-and-a-half week run. Robinson stars as Harper Clements, a staffer in the White House Social Office in charge of booking musicians for Presidential functions. Its conceit is just an excuse to let Robinson dust off her vocal chords, delivering musical impressions so bang on the money you'd swear the actual stars were right there in the room. To read our review of the original run of Pennsylvania Avenue, go here.
The most hyped summer event of 2014/15 is returning once more for you to relive the summers of years past — those when it was stinking hot and the sprinkler never shut off. The world's largest street slide, all 400 metres of it, will be making its way to this city once more, setting up on Lansdowne Street for two summer days only: one in December, and one in February. Each ticket gets you two hours of sliding — which is just as well, because you're going to need a Calippo break at some point. While there's certainly a lot of fun to be had, there are a couple of rules to follow. So before you purchase tickets, it can't hurt to double check with the requirements on the website first. Cloakrooms and change rooms are available once you get there, so you don't have to ride a tram into the city in your bathers. Or you can if you want. We won't stop you.
The latest exhibition at Linden New Art will explore the contributions from six specifically commissioned design studios, as they delve into both the process and the final product. As part of the exhibition, viewers will be offered a glimpse into the design process — from ideas to prototypes to the final product. Object Future III will explore many different fields of design, including industrial, product, furniture, object design, sculpture and contemporary art. Australia’s design landscape presents itself in many different forms, which is exactly what Object Future III carefully demonstrates. Exhibiting designers include Hamish Munro, Hugh Altschwager, Amos Enders-Moje, Kate Stokes and Haslett Grounds from Coco Flip, Rosanna Ceravolo and ACV Studio. Object Future III is curated by Suzannah Henty and Dale Hardiman, and will be opened by the director of Workshop 3000, Susan Cohn.
Some might say, summer is a good drumstick. But is it more than just the combination of nuts and dairy or the piece of coveted poultry at a picnic. Drumsticks are the backbone of any good summer song. And now is your chance to learn the art of drumming and become one of the coolest rock chicks about. Back by popular demand, this intro to drumming workshop is run by Alex Roper and covers the basics, from reading notation to counting a pulse, playing a rock beat and forming a simple groove. And unlike dairy or meat, music is something nearly everyone can enjoy. Right? Roper believes drums are a ridiculously fun instrument, yet there aren't nearly enough girl drummers out there, embracing the snare. "The drums can and should be played by anyone interested, independent of age, gender or experience levels," she says. No experience is required, and drummers will even get tips on practicing without a kit. No doubt music to your mates' ears while you thrash out a rendition of a John Bonham solo. If that's enough to get your pulse racing, you're already halfway there. Grab your ticket (they're $35 each) to the All-Girls Intro to Drumming Workshop running Monday, November 30, from 6.30pm at Work-Shop.
If koalas are considered among Australia’s national treasures, then a certain cute, cuddly critter must be their king. He’s the one everyone knows by name, even though he’s fictional. He’s graced books since 1933, thanks to author Dorothy Wall. Yes, he’s Blinky Bill. In his second big-screen outing following the 1992 movie that shares his name, Blinky (voiced by Ryan Kwanten) is up to his usual brand of cheeky trouble, though his intentions — like his heart — remain in the right place. When his father, adventurer Bill (Richard Roxburgh), leaves their sanctuary of Green Patch to chase white dragons and hasn’t returned a year later, Blinky decides to search for him. He knows that his mother (Deborah Mailman) will disapprove, but with treacherous goanna Cranklepot (Barry Otto) trying to take over their home, the young koala is certain that wandering the outback is the right thing to do. An animated — in both the colourful cartoon style and the lively antics they depict — escapade awaits in Blinky Bill the Movie, first journeying into a roadside store, and then venturing through several dangerous situations. Along the way, Blinky meets Nutsy (Robin McLeavy), a zoo koala unhappy about the idea of not being in captivity. He also attracts the attention of feral cat (Rufus Sewell) with sinister plans, seeks the assistance of a wandering wombat (Barry Humphries) and a stranded frill-necked lizard (David Wenham), and befriends two emus (Toni Collette) who help him hitch a ride. The celebrity voices, particularly a charming Kwanten boasting his native accent for a change, help enliven a film that’s sweet but standard from start to finish. The feature's primary director, Deane Taylor, is content to stick with cliches when it comes to the story, hence the upbeat goings-on, array of comic sidekicks and fearsome feline. These days, it wouldn’t be an animal-oriented effort without a cranky kitty as a nemesis. Buried underneath a family-friendly caper filled with slapstick sight gags is a slight, brief statement about Australia's treatment of asylum seekers, as seen in Cranklepot's desire to lock off Green Patch from outsiders; however, comic chaos always trounces commentary. The smooth edges you'll see in the computer-generated imagery also extend to the content, it seems, with even the usual environmental message typically included in Blinky Bill efforts absent. What stands out instead, and not always in a good way, is an overdose of Australiana and slang, as often seen in our nation's amusement-oriented, all-ages films. Accordingly, for those who won't just find an anarchic koala fun just for the sake of it, Blinky Bill the Movie works well enough as a piece of nostalgia about an Australian icon. Delving beyond that is less fulfilling, though the film doesn't demand it, given that it really is aimed more at young audiences than the young at heart.
Two of Australia's best modern yarn spinners are heading around the country together this spring. Sydney blues crooner CW Stoneking is embarking on an Australian tour, with Perth singer songriter Peter Bibby in support. Having just wrapped up a huge, 36-show run through the UK and Europe, Stoneking is finally heading back home for a home turf tour. He'll be taking ditties from his most recent album Gon Boogaloo as well as long-loved favourites. It's the last time Aussie fans will get to see Stoneking on a home stage for a while — he's moving to the US to work on some new music. Bibby's been a busy lad too, having released his debut album Butcher/Hairstylist/Beautician last year and made quite the splash at the likes of Laneway Festival around the country. Stoneking and Bibby will hit Sydney's Manning Bar on Friday, October 30, Brisbane's Triffid on Saturday, October 31 and Saturday, November 7 at Melbourne's Corner Hotel.
Michael Ware, the lawyer turned Courier-Mail, Time and CNN journalist turned filmmaker, calls Only the Dead a film that wasn't meant to be made. His documentary is cobbled together from hundreds of hours of footage he shot while in Iraq as a reporter, with a movie never part of his plans. Perhaps that's why the trembling handicam images feel immediate and urgent, even in a time where alarming visuals of combat have become commonplace. Only the Dead charts Ware's obsession with Abu Musab al-Zarqawi following the U.S. invasion and occupation of Iraq. Al-Zarqawi wasn't a point of focus for many at the time, but his brutal methods — starting with suicide bombings, then escalating to filmed beheadings of foreign hostages and worse — certainly earned him increasing attention. The faction he founded would become the Islamic State. There's more to Ware and al-Zarqawi's story, just as there's more behind the documentary's existence. Many of the remarkable sights contained within only became possible after Ware forged a connection with the insurgents, who began to feed him discs of their own videos, wanting him to disseminate them to the western media. Becoming an unofficial intermediary, he was placed in a tenuous and tricky position. While Only the Dead doesn't delve into the ethical side of Ware's interactions, it does chart the clear influence the situation had upon his viewpoint. A picture really does speak a thousand words in that regard, although the film isn't short on the latter — filling in the history of the Iraq war, as well as conveying Ware's reflections. Context is helpful, but verbal explanation almost seems unnecessary given how striking the shaky footage proves. And yet, there's something about the combination of distressing visuals and voiceover insights that hits the mark. Ware is the key, starting out "young and dumb enough for war to have its false sense of adventure", but slowly changing as a result of his time chronicling the Iraqi conflict. As his narration makes plain, even as the film depicts violent and bloody events gone by and horrors occurring in a nation far from his own, this strory is overwhelmingly personal. Entertainment, this is not. Cast Homeland, American Sniper or any other screen effort that claim to dissect the war on terror far from your thoughts. Ware's offering — as co-directed with veteran filmmaker Bill Guttentag — walks in the shoes and offers the mindset of someone who's there, and is then lucky enough to be able to look back at what he lived through. It's worth remembering that his account, though released within a world now brimming with YouTube videos and social media posts from those on the ground, predates this now unavoidable phenomenon. You might have seen the likes of Ware's offering before; however prior to this, you've never been brought not just beyond the front lines, but into the complications of his harrowing journey. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWdi8JJG-7U
For No Vacancy’s latest exhibition, 25 writers, poets and songwriters, including Ali Barter, Bertie Blackman, Lior and Marieke Hardy, have contributed a sentence, a scribble or a song lyric to Duality. These contributions were then randomly paired with local visual artists, who were each given a blank archival rag and seven days to create an artwork inspired by the words. It’s not exactly a typical collaborative project, as the writers and visual artists don’t necessarily interact with one another, however the artist's subjective interpretation of the words given to them allows for the creation of new meaning. It's a genuinely great experiment. Freelance photographer Shannyn Higgins is the brains behind Duality, and this is the second time she has brought writers and visual artists together for this project. The first Duality exhibition was in Vancouver, and Higgins is looking to continue the project in other countries. Don’t miss the Melbourne instalment of Duality, a wonderful example of this city’s creative minds influencing each other’s work.
Did you know that there are around 60 young artists, designers and students who work at ACCA as volunteers and casual staff? As well as working for an excellent artistic institution, they have the opportunity present their own work in ACCA’s Startups program. Startups runs for five weeks out of a shipping container in the ACCA Forecourt, with a different artist inhabiting the space for a week at a time. Each artist will work with the ACCA team to develop their artwork and week-long exhibit. This is the fifth year this program has run at ACCA, and the artwork presented will include video, sculpture and multimedia works. Contemporary modes of communication, modern beauty standards, how constant stimulation and heightened stress are affecting development, as well as the influence that digital technology has on our perceptions on the world will all be thematically explored during Startups. Artists featured in this year’s Startups include Dalton Stewart, Jacqueline Stojanovic, Lucinda Florence, Jesse Dyer and Jacqui Shelton.
It's time to break out the party hats because someone's about to celebrate a pretty big milestone. Since their inception in 2005, the electronic math rockers have gone through a name change, released four excellent albums, signed to indie British label Warp Records, and have played gigs everywhere from Glastonbury to Sydney Opera House. For all the die-hards out there, they’re also doing a 10th anniversary reissue of their first album Make Me Love You. Joining PVT for the momentous celebrations will be local heroes Kirkis and Pearls.
If you've got a hankering for some gumbo and brass band funk — because, really, who doesn't? — head down to Dodds Street for a good old New Orleans Street Party. Food and music collide in spectacular fashion, as you peruse the laneways and embrace the vibrant nightlife in all its glory. Musical guests include Adam Rudegeair's Bayou, Tapestry, Horns of Leroy, The Hoodrangers, The Lagerphones, and the VCA Jazz and Improv Ensemble.
We open on a hotel party, all the horrors of the world: a Hawaiian-themed engagement bash. Upstairs in her room, a single woman in her mid-thirties takes a swig of wine, stares into a mirror and convinces herself to join in… only to immediately abort and instead order room service, don her tracksuits pants and settle in to watch Silence of the Lambs. This is Nancy (Lake Bell), a sarcastic, self-deprecating and utterly cynical romantic train wreck. The following day, however, mistaken identity lands her on a blind date with Jack (Simon Pegg), and — against all odds — they hit it off. What follows is a sort of ‘un-romantic comedy’ transpiring entirely over the course of one evening, and while its outcome is formulaic, the journey is novel enough to warrant viewing. To its credit, Man Up dispenses with the ‘will he find out?’ subplot a lot faster than expected, focusing instead on Jack's subsequent outrage as its primary source of tension and drama. It also boasts some of the most realistic family writing in years, with Nancy’s parents, sister and brother-in-law providing a charming mix of laughs and tear-jerkers in practically every one of their scenes. Pegg and Bell hold the lion’s share of screen time, however, and their obvious chemistry keeps everything cracking along at a jolly pace. Man Up offers an amusing and — at times — honest perspective on modern dating, complete with drunken sobbing, burdensome baggage and unforgettable exes. With its “fuck the past!” mantra and enthusiasm for risk taking, the script's none-too-subtle critique of self-help books ultimately ends up proffering a fairly pronounced message of its own — but it’s not a bad one, and neither is the film.
Get your kicks Italian style at Topshop in South Yarra. The retailer has teamed up with 100-year-old Italian footwear company Superga to launch the latter brand's first ever Australian outlet. Located within Topshop's flagship Chapel Street store, the pop-up concept store will be used to test the waters for a standalone Superga shop in the next couple of years. Viva l'Italia! Opening Thursday, October 22, the pop-up will be decorated in the national colours of Italy, and come complete with living room furniture, foliage and a red Vespa scooter by the entrance. The store will be selling three primary shoe styles for women, including the 2750 Cotu Classic, the 2750 Cotu Shirt and the Cotu Slipon, in a variety of colours. The Sydney Morning Herald is also reporting that Superga are developing a limited edition sneaker in collaboration with a yet-to-be-named Australian designer.
It doesn’t get much more local than Lido Cinema’s 8K Radius Film Series, a collection of short films about real people from the surrounding area directed by award winning Australian director, writer, producer and editor Clayton Jacobson (Kenny). There are eight films in total, each of which runs for four minutes, with Jacobson acting as a fly on the wall as each story is narrated by its star. Some of the characters you’ll meet include Pekx, a blind champion power weightlifter and remedial therapist; Ben, an instrument maker; DJs Fab and Max who run the nearby vinyl record store and café Alley Tunes; and Jaya, a Bollywood dance teacher. Jacobson worked with Lido owner Eddie Tamir on the series to promote the idea that cinemas are community centres for everyone, and that everyday lives can be both engaging and extraordinary. The series will premier to audiences on the evening of July 23, while each short will also play ahead of regular features at the Lido across the following week.
It’s no big secret that Melbourne is full of hidden treasures, what with our street art down unsuspecting laneways, hidden bars and tucked-away cafes. All too often have we stumbled around the city and wanted to know what was behind closed doors, or what certain buildings must be like on the inside. Melburnians, here’s your chance to enter some of the city’s most iconic venues and find out. Open House Melbourne has been running since 2008, allowing people to appreciate the city’s best design and architecture. The free weekend includes access to various houses, buildings, infrastructure and landscapes that have shaped Melbourne into one of the most liveable cities in the world. Alongside the highly anticipated reveal of Flinders Street Station's secret ballroom, a few places that will be open for your perusal include The Myer Mural Hall, State Library of Victoria, Parliament House and the Hotel Windsor, among many others that can be seen here. It's time to get reacquainted with your city in a whole new way.
Of all the gin pop-up bars with bespoke cocktails and seasonally crafted tapas pairings in all the world, you have to walk into this one. Bombay Sapphire, touchstone of the gin world, has returned once again with their pop-up bar and gastronomic experience Project Botanicals. The project is back following the sell-out success of last year’s pop-up and will be held over three intoxicating weeks from June 24 to July 11. Where? Why, at a bespoke location of course. The newly established warehouse digs are being taken over by guest DJs and lush live botanical walls for the event at 64 Sutton Street, North Melbourne. Project Botanicals is a collaborative effort between some of the finest gin bars in Melbourne; Black Pearl, Eau de Vie, 1806,Union Electric and Gin Palace have all created unique (and devastatingly indulgent) cocktails to feature on the menu alongside ten food pairings. MasterChef‘s Gary Mehigan has constructed textured dishes that complement each cocktail. Catch a preview of five of the dishes and cocktail pairings in our feature.
Zero gravity circus act meets pop culture-savvy burlesque; there’s something mighty strange afoot at 45 Flinders Lane. The latest show from local cabaret legends Maude and Anni Davey, Retro Futurismus is a futuristic vaudeville production that offers a nostalgia-driven vision of an alternative present that combines dance, theatre, song and god only knows what else. Taking over the space at fortyfivedownstairs Wednesdays through Sundays from June 10 until the end of the month, Retro Futurismus draws on a staggering array of influences, from Fritz Lang to Stanley Kubrick to David Bowie to Björk. Each night will feature a different guest artist, including Polytonix co-director Leah Shelton, choreographer Benjamin Hancock and dance group Glitter and Snatch. It’s a show that’s looking to defy genre labels wherever it can, and redefine what audiences think about when they think about cabaret.
You've probably heard of CollegeHumor, and we don't just mean the bad jokes everyone seems to make when they set foot on a university campus. We're talking about the website founded by two high school friends back in 1999. Today, it's home to some of the internet's funniest and most offbeat content — and the source of much time wasted by those who love to laugh. It's also where comedians Jake Hurwitz and Amir Blumenfeld got their start, though you might know them from their Jake & Amir web series turned TV show. Fellow funny man Streeter Seidell cut his comedy teeth in the site's sketch team, came to fame through his Prank Wars videos, and now he's writing for Saturday Night Live. The trio is travelling down under for the very first time, sharing the CollegeHumor love and telling their stories. You'll laugh, and you'll see rising comic stars in action. Australia’s Josh & Steve, from Channel [V]’s Free Shit Men and Magic 8 Ball, are also on the bill, for those keen on watching some homegrown emerging talent.
There’s magic in the air at the Northcote Town Hall, with the return of the largest showcase of the impossible this side of the equator. Returning for its eighth straight year, the 2015 Melbourne Magic Festival will welcome more than 60 guests from around Australia and the world. Hold onto your hats, because they might be full of rabbits. Among the headliners at this year’s festival are a pair of stars from Hollywood’s Magic Castle, in the form of international superstar Rob Zabrecky and six-time Magician of the Year winner Pop Hadyn. Big names from closer to home, meanwhile, include rising star Simon Coronel and magician comic Lawrence Leung, star of the ABC TV series Maximum Choppage. Play your cards right at the Magicians Invitational Poker Tournament where cheating is permitted (as long as you don’t get caught), and a theatresports-style contest of magical improvisation. There will also be a number of workshops and classes in the town hall festival hub, plus video installations, performance artists and more. For more information about the Melbourne Magic Festival, visit www.melbournemagicfestival.com.
For one night only Melbourne’s art spaces and galleries will stay open well into the wee hours, so visitors can experience art after dark. Nite Art 2015 will include the contemporary artwork of 75 artists, in 30 different locations, spanning over three city precincts. The first precinct is the Arts Precinct, including buildings like Hamer Hall and ACMI, where work such as Fly By Night by Melinda Hetzel & Co. looks particularly interesting. Moving further into the CBD you will arrive at the City Central Precinct, where you will gain access to atypical art spaces such as the Russell Place Substation and the Athenaeum Library. Finally you’ll come to The University of Melbourne Precinct with everywhere staying open from The Ian Potter Museum of Art to Melbourne School of Design. While there is sure to be an excitable buzz coursing through the night's events, we do suggest you still rug up and wear some sensible footwear if you plan to visit all three precincts throughout the night – a mission which we highly recommend.
At some point or another, we’ve all been guilty of wasting food and thinking "it's not that much, it'll be ok" — but did you know that up to 40 percent of the average household bin is comprised of edible items? To highlight this issue, OzHarvest and the UN have teamed up to present Think.Eat.Save, a series of national events that will aid you in doing your bit to combat food waste. Think.Eat.Save is part of a global campaign to increase awareness about food sustainability, so head along, pledge your commitment to #thinkeatsave and opt to reduce your 'foodprint'. You'll also be able to enjoy a free, delicious and hot meal made from rescued produce, and get tips on how to help our food system become more sustainable. Australia's top chefs, politicians and celebrities will unite to address the alarming amount of food wasted in Australia each year. Waste is a huge problem but it doesn't have to be. Image: Untitled via photopin (license).
When a movie character complains about the flimsiness and predictability of the world, it helps if the film they're in doesn't share the same traits. The character in question is Margo Roth Spiegelman (Cara Delevingne), while the feature is Paper Towns. She's the resident high school cool girl that the boy across the road, Quentin — or Q (Nat Wolff) — has spent years pining over. She's also the central mystery in the latest page-to-screen adaptation based on the work of novelist John Green. Those with a memory for melancholy teen fare might remember the last Green-penned effort to reach cinemas: cancer romance The Fault in Our Stars. Swap illness for aloofness, and a visit to Europe with a drive to upstate New York, and you know the kind of earnest drama you're in for. The same writers bring both films to fruition, and Wolff also features in each — then as the sidekick, now as the star. Here, his Q fondly remembers his younger days palling around with Margot before they grew up and into different cliques, only to feverishly relive them after she climbs through his bedroom window seeking his help for a revenge-fuelled adventure. The morning after, still buzzed from pranking Margot's cheating ex-boyfriend and the friends who knew about his philandering ways, Q thinks his life will change — only to find that the object of his affections has gone missing instead. Cue an attempt to track Margot down sparked by a series of clues she has left behind, with the smitten Q certain that they're signs she wants him to do just that. And cue a film that wears not just its heart on its sleeve, but its fantasies about halcyon high school days where important life lessons are learned. You've seen and heard them all before: try new things, follow your dreams, be yourself, cool kids have problems too, don't pin all your hopes of your teenage crush. The list goes on. Paper Towns barely gives anyone older than 18 a passing glance. Yet as it cycles through the usual house party, road trip and prom moments, it feels more like the calculated, nostalgic product of adults looking backwards than an authentic reflection of youth. That's the territory Green plays in — and while director Jake Schreier cultivated genuine emotion in his previous effort, Robot and Frank, just as writers Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber did in The Spectacular Now, the author's formula here is clearly at work. Hence the insubstantial and obvious narrative, the hardly memorable characters, and the other cookie-cutter elements — warm tones, a wistful soundtrack and standard performances included. An amalgam of everything those remembering their adolescence wish to recall, as well as everything those going currently through it wish to experience, Paper Towns just wants to be pleasant and neat. And that's what it achieves — however at-odds with its underlying "don't get boxed in" mantra that may be.
He won three Oscars and worked on 285 films. He created gowns for everything from 42nd Street to Casablanca, The Maltese Falcon to An American in Paris, and Oklahoma! to Some Like it Hot, and ranks among the most successful costume designers ever to ply his trade in Hollywood. He's also Australian, born Orry George Kelly but better known as just Orry-Kelly. And, as Women He's Undressed rightly assumes, most people have probably never heard of him. For those who haven't, Gillian Armstrong's latest documentary is here to shed light on a life of glamorous ups and heartbreaking downs during the Golden Age of cinema. For those who have, the movie will surely still fill in plenty of gaps, whether serving up interviews with Orry-Kelly's colleagues and those he inspired, or spilling the beans on his famous friendships and status as a confidant to many a leading lady. Either way, his journey from a small town to the big screen makes for quite the story, as do the exploits that followed. He didn't just dazzle with his prolific designs, but also with his defiance, proudly living as a gay man at a time – and in an industry – that was far from accommodating. In a factual effort that bears more than a little resemblance to Armstrong's Unfolding Florence: The Many Lives of Florence Broadhurst, Women He's Undressed doesn't only rely upon talking heads and archival footage, though what it boasts in these areas proves both engaging and illuminating. Instead, it addresses the issue that troubles many docos — not having enough existing content, but not wanting to fill its frames with wall-to-wall secondhand accounts and clips — through cheeky re-enactments. In some films, that's a tactic that doesn't work, but not in Armstrong's skilled hands. She tasks actor Darren Gilshenan (Rake) with both playing and recounting Orry-Kelly's life, with his version of the subject — who is rarely glimpsed in his real guise — speaking directly to the camera. The effect feels more conspiratorial than typical narration, like watching someone talk through their memoir and share all the juicy tidbits that were omitted. In fact, such scribblings are mentioned, as intermingled with an account of his special bond with Cary Grant. More well-known names keep coming up, of course — and with actress Jane Fonda, local designers Catherine Martin (The Great Gatsby) and Kym Barrett (The Matrix), and film critic Leonard Maltin among those offering their memories of and thoughts about Orry-Kelly, there's never any doubt that this is a tribute. If ever a film figure warranted such an adoring approach though, it's this under-sung hero and his brilliant career. Oh, and those ladies he helped in and out of his beautifully made costumes? They included Ingrid Bergman, Bette Davis, Katherine Hepburn, Natalie Wood, Shirley MacLaine and Marilyn Monroe, just to name a few.
After premiering brand spanking new works from some of Melbourne’s leading theatremakers, the 2015 Neon Festival of Independent Theatre is down to its final show. Luckily for us, it looks like a good ‘un. Indeed, it’s hard to imagine a better way to wrap up a season of boundary-pushing, forward-thinking productions than by paying tribute to some of history's leading heroines... and pitting them against each other in a full-scale battle royale. Beginning Thursday, July 9, Elbow Room’s We Get It boasts an enviable cast that includes Tamiah Bantum, Amy Ingram, Kasia Kaczmarek, Maurial Spearim, Sonya Suares and Emily Tomlins. Under the direction of Tomlins and Marcel Dorney, the actors will reimagine five classics for the modern age, in a playful performance that will challenge the way you think about these iconic characters — as well as the women who portray them. The post-show Neon Conversation event on Sunday, July 12 will feature the team at Elbow Room who’ll be joined by freelance writer and general powerhouse Clementine Ford.
As festivals go, they don’t get much bigger than South by Southwest. A ten-day marathon of music, movies and tech held in one of the most lauded cities in the world, no half-decent bucket list could be considered complete without a trip to this geek/music mecca at least once. But as awesome as it would be going as a punter, imagine what it would be like going as a guest. Well, if you’ve ever thought about submitting your film, demo tape or app idea (or are just interested in learning what the festival is about), you can pick up valuable insider info at the free Melbourne meet ‘n’ greet. Kicking off at 5pm on Monday, July 13 at Bar Open in Fitzroy, casual networking drinks will lead into a 6.30pm panel with a number of previous attendees and industry experts, moderated by SXSW Australasia and Hawaii representative Phil Tripp. The panel will then be followed by a screening of Outside Industry, a 90-minute documentary about the history of the festival thus far.
A new festival is coming to The Arts Centre with the aim of taking audiences on a hypersensory adventure. Supersense explores heightened experiences from the euphoric to the ecstatic, through mediums including music, dance, film and light. The festival was curated by the endlessly talented Sophia Brous, who worked with the Asian Performing Arts Program to put together an unforgettable weekend full of transcendental experiences. Some of the highlights among the lineup include John Cale, Gurrumul: The Gospel Songs, The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, Ariel Pink, Discreet + Oblique: The Music of Brian Eno Feat. The Necks, Lydia Lunch, and an intriguing collaboration between HTRK and Chunky Move. Each performance will be conducted in separate spaces throughout The Arts Centre, including some in corners you wouldn’t typically expect to visit. You can either grab a full weekend pass or individual tickets, but be sure to check out their program to create a choose-your-own-adventure experience.
In between running one of Brisbane's favourite vintage cafe bars and teaching us where the best bits of Brisbane are, longtime Aussie music go-to The Grates are back for their first national headline tour since 2011. Brisbanites Patience Hodgson, John Patterson and Ritchie Daniell will be taking their Team Work Makes The Dream Work tour down Australia's east coast with Sydney punk garage band Straight Arrows and Brisbane punk/synth duo Pleasure Symbols. Described as "fun and thrashy pop punk at its best" by triple j, these three have a reputation for giving an incredible live show that'll have you on your feet. The Grates have been seriously productive over the last few months; after releasing their fourth celebrated studio album, Dream Team last year, they went on to absolutely crush it at Splendour In The Grass. The Grates' long-awaited return to the stage is sure to be one of those dance-till-you-drop affairs — here's hoping for a furious '19-20-20' throwback singalong to obliterate our vocal chords once and for all. Want to win tickets to see The Grates? Head over here.
The Corner’s Soul-A-Go-Go nights are by far some of the most fun evenings you’ll spend in this great city if soul music, dancing, and generally great times float your boat. This August there’ll be a very special guest amongst the PBS DJs; the Bamboos leading lady, Kylie Auldist. With one of Australia’s most iconic soul voices, Auldist will perform live with her five piece funk soul outfit, playing tunes from her upcoming album Family Tree. Also appearing for the evening’s festivities is PBS’ Pierre Baroni (Soulgroove 66), DJ Manchild (The Breakdown), Miss Goldie (Boss Action), Richie 1250 (Stone Love), Matt McFetridge (Jungle Fever) and Vince Peach (Soul Time). Although Soul-A-Go-Go is on the first Saturday of every month, this is a very special line up indeed that should not be missed. Grab some tickets quick sticks.
Celebrate Chinese New Year with a feast fit for an emperor, as some of Melbourne's best Asian food trucks descend on Queensbridge Square. The Hungry Panda, White Guy Cooks Thai, Nem N' Nem Vietnamese Street Food, Flying Wok, the Korean Fried Chicken Truck and Caliko BBQ are just some of the tasty vendors who'll be on hand for Southbank's New Year festivities. In addition to the food, visitors will be able to see performances from members of Melbourne's Chinese community, and marvel at various illuminated installations, including the four-metre high Monkey Arch Corridor and the Chinese lanterns set up along Sandridge Bridge.
It wouldn't be a film adaptation of a Nicholas Sparks book without the glow of sunlight, the shimmer of a body of water, and some all-knowing, overly sentimental narration. Sticking as closely to the formula as it can, The Choice begins with all three. Other Sparks trademarks swiftly make themselves known: an opposites-attract romance featuring would-be paramours from different sides of the tracks; rustic homes in a scenic, small-town location; letters professing feelings of love and longing; and a sudden catastrophe threatening to tear the central duo apart. Original, this certainly isn't. Indeed, while the movie version of The Choice might not be directed or written by Sparks (those honours going to relative newcomers Ross Katz and Bryan Sipe, respectively), there's never any doubt that the author responsible for 18 sappy books to date is the most influential force behind this film. Audiences that have watched Channing Tatum and Amanda Seyfried in Dear John, Liam Hemsworth and Miley Cyrus in The Last Song or Zac Efron and Taylor Schilling in The Lucky One — yes, attractive white people hooking up is another of Sparks' staples — should know what they're in for. This time, charismatic veterinarian Travis (Benjamin Walker) and spirited medical student Gabby (Teresa Palmer) are the star-crossed parties in the spotlight, meeting when the latter accuses the former's dog of knocking up her own beloved pooch. Though Travis is already fooling around with barmaid Monica (Alexandra Daddario) and Gabby is dating local doctor Ryan (Tom Welling), sparks between the two soon fly (pun intended). The will-they-or-won't-they aspect of their relationship isn't the end of their tale, though. The first half of the feature charts their courtship, then the second half moves the characters to a hospital seven years later, where the titular decision comes into play. As it is in all movies made from Sparks-penned fare, wish fulfilment is the aim of the game, peddling the notion of an epic love story that will withstand even the harshest obstacles, and trying to push as many emotional buttons as possible in the process. But while there's nothing wrong with romantic fantasies or old-fashioned weepies, The Choice dials everything up way too many notches — clumsy meet-cute, overly adorable rapport, corny dialogue and tragic twist included. The film isn't just adhering to a template, it's lazily throwing clichés at the screen to see what sticks. At least Walker, who was previously the best thing about Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, oozes the requisite charm, while Palmer is given much more to do here than she did in the Point Break remake. The scenery also proves a highlight, though it's obviously a problem when the picturesque background is more engaging than the narrative. Of course, the more troubling thought is that there are still seven of Sparks' novels that haven't been made into movies… yet. We might all love Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdam locking lips in the rain, but The Notebook has a lot to answer for.
This year's Ballarat Beer Festival is well and truly worth skipping town for, with 35 craft brewers to sample, delicious food trucks and excellent live entertainment on offer at the country festival. On top of all the tastings, there will also be The Sessions: a series of informative talks from brewers and beer aficionados alike. Some of the brews you can look forward to include award-winning drops from Temple Brewing Co. and Two Birds Brewing, an intriguing green tea-infused Japanese ale from 7 cent Brewery called 'Mista Sparkle', and a gluten free chocolate orange porter from Rebellion Brewing. If by some bizarre cruel twist of fate you find yourself having your fill of beer for the day, there will also be plenty of cider options such as Batlow and Blue Elephant, local wines, and even Trumpeters alcoholic iced tea. If you're in town early and looking to kick things off, there will be a Friday degustation dinner on the eve of the festival, where Huxtable's Daniel Wilson will be serving up a four-course dinner with beers to match. And if all the fantastic food and drink options weren’t enough, there will be musical performances by the likes of You Am I, Dallas Crane, Kylie Auldist, The ReChords, Bakersfield Glee Club and The New Savages.
Love mussels? Well, you're in luck, because March 12-13 is the Port Phillip Mussel Festival. Feast on locally-sourced seafood with friends and family at this laidback, two-day seafood street party taking over the streets of South Melbourne. Now in its third year, the free celebration of the tasty sea creatures and local culture has developed a cult-like following — and has been hailed as one of the must-do's for foodies at this year's Melbourne Food and Wine Festival. Top restaurants will be flexing their muscles throughout the weekend, including Claypots, Evening Star, Köy, Paco Y Lola, Simply Spanish, Dandelion and St Ali. They'll all be dishing up crowd-pleasing tastebud sensations in the form of piping hot mussel paella, wok-cooked drunken mussels and Bia Ha Noi mussels. Dance away the summer — and your belly full of mussels — with the perfect mix of high quality, local wine, beer and cider, and a stellar line-up of Melbourne's best New Orleans and Dixeland-style bands.
UPDATE, December 4, 2020: Carol is available to stream via Stan, Google Play, YouTube Movies and iTunes. Telling a slow-building tale of forbidden romance, Carol is a study in clashes, contrasts and control. Within its story and sumptuous sights, everything bristles against something else, is challenged by a counterpart, and has to find a way either to work within, or burst beyond, orderly confines. That's true of the character (Cate Blanchett) that gives the movie its name, and the shopgirl, Therese Belivet (Rooney Mara), who becomes infatuated with her. It's equally true of their attempts to connect in the conservative 1950s, and of the way the film brings their efforts to life. Actually, in making his latest feature — following the likes of Velvet Goldmine and I'm Not There — director Todd Haynes hits the jackpot when it comes to matching his style to the story. An adaptation of Patricia Highsmith's 1952 novel The Price of Salt, Carol doesn't just recount a narrative considered groundbreaking at the time of publication, though writer Phyllis Nagy does a stellar job of translating the content for the screen. More than that, Haynes and company take every ounce of emotion within the book, then carefully infuse it into every aspect of the film, from its warm colour palette and fondness for lingering shots to its sweeping score and elegant performances. Think of every moment, be it an image framed through a car window or a long look at gloves left behind, as an expression of the feelings the movie's characters can't always convey, or the words they can't always say. There's plenty left unspoken between Carol and Therese after they cross paths in a department store toy section just before Christmas. A friendship blossoms, and then something more, during dinners, visits and a road trip. Yet everything seems to conspire against them, thwarting them from embracing their love freely. Carol's pal Abby (Sarah Paulson) is cautious, her estranged husband Harge (Kyle Chandler) and Therese's boyfriend Richard (Jake Lacy) disapprove, and society is far from accepting. The combination of restraint and passion that Haynes perfected in 2002's Far From Heaven bubbles up again here, with the filmmaker once more showing his prowess for probing sentiments forced to simmer below the surface. Watching the way he makes the material his own — continuing his fascination with complex stories of identity and repression, as well as his ability to ensure every frame seethes with beauty and meaning — it's almost impossible to believe that any other director could've done the material justice. Haynes isn't the picture's only source of radiance, of course, with his technical team — particularly cinematographer Edward Lachman (Howl) and composer Carter Burwell (Fargo) — helping the exquisite-looking feature come together. And then there's Blanchett and Mara, both sharing the spotlight despite the film's title seeming to indicate otherwise. Believing their pain and desire is easy, and the pair more than earn the award nominations that keep coming their way. Sure, you've seen on-screen love stories before, but cinema romances this aching and consuming are all-too rare.
Acclaimed musical theatre and cabaret performer Michael Griffiths brings his latest one-man show to Midsumma 2016. Following on from previous shows inspired by the likes of Madonna and Annie Lennox, Cole pays tribute to the life and music of Broadway composer Cole Porter. Written by Anna Goldsworthy, the show was a hit at the Adelaide Cabaret Festival last year. And if you want a little extra bang for your buck, you can catch it on a double bill with Carlotta: Queen of the Cross, featuring local cabaret icon Carol "Carlotta" Spencer recounting her life on the stage.
One of the biggest and most exciting events on the Midsumma 2016 program is the National Water Polo League's inaugural Pride Cup. Hosted at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre (MSAC), the event will feature men's and women's national league matches between the Victorian Seals and the Brisbane KFC Breakers. There'll also be an exhibition grudge match between Australia's only two LGBTQ water polo clubs, the Melbourne Surge and the Sydney Stingers. Naturally, we'll be rooting for the home team. The event also marks the first time that an Australian sporting code has organised a Pride Round as part of its national premiership fixture.
The funniest ladies in the country, together on a single stage. The Lesbian Comedy Gala has quickly become a staple of the Midsumma Festival calendar — and with damn good reason. This year's lineup includes Hannah Gadsby, Cal Wilson, Anne Edmonds, Sal Upton, Lori Bell and Geraldine Hickey. Doors open at 6pm for a 7.30pm start, giving you ample time to grab something to eat from Greek pop-up cafe Angela's Kitchen. Your ticket also gets you entry into the afterparty, featuring DJ Geraldine Quinn and dance tracks galore.
From February 5 to March 5, Gertrude Contemporary is hosting a solo exhibition of artist and filmmaker Amy Amos Gebhardt. The exhibition, named There Are No Others, is being displayed on multiple screens and explores the lives of people who live outside the confines of traditional gender binaries. The portraits show naked forms in extreme slow motion floating against clouds to represent the fluid, free-form nature of gender. Gebhardt collaborated with a team of musicians and cinematographers to pull together the ambient film series, which has recently been shown at Mona in Hobart. Showing alongside There Are No Others are two exhibitions also work a looky-loo: Jamie O’Connell's More day than Beyonce, and Urska Mindre's Slide. The opening night of There Are No Others is on February 5 from 6-8pm, and the exhibition will continue to show for one month afterwards.
Celebrate New Year's Eve like they do in Spain and South America — with complimentary tapas. On December 31, Smith Street's MJR TOM, inspired by the Spanish concept of 'gratis', will be serving up complimentary tapas to revellers from 10pm. Fingers crossed their goreng sliders make an appearance, although we wouldn't say no to the kingfish ceviche, either. Drinks will be available at regular bar prices, making this one of the less exorbitant places in town to ring in 2016. Walk-ins only though — so maybe try and get there a little early to nab a prime perch.
The King is dead, but his voice lives on. Presented by SPARC Theatre, an ensemble made up of adults living in unstable housing around the City of Port Phillip, Are You Lonesome Tonight? mixes songs with personal stories about loneliness and love in a show inspired by the music of the one and only Elvis Presley. This unique show will run for just three nights, starting Friday, November 20, at St Kilda's Greyhound Hotel. With more than a touch of Vegas cabaret glamour, members of the company will draw on personal history throughout the performance, showcasing their diverse range of experiences and talents. According to artistic director Katie Lockett, SPARC helps to "celebrate and give voice to people who are not often seen or heard...connecting our ensemble to their community, and allowing their creativity to shine". Image: Danny Quinlivan, photo by Rachel Edward.
Purveyors of all things creepy and cultish on the big screen and the small, you'll be happy to know Cinemaniacs are presenting a yuletide celebration unlike any other. Taking place this Saturday at Loop Bar in the CBD, The Christmas Trash TV Marathon is an ode to the best worst holiday specials, cartoons, music videos, toy commercials and general Christmas-themed crap. Unlike most events of this nature, however, viewers don't pay to get in. Instead, they pay to get out. See, the organiser's figure most people won't be able to cope with this much terrible retro television — and to be honest, they're probably right. Your time of entry will be written on your hand, and the amount you end up paying will depend on how long you last. Assuming you survive the whole six hours of secret programming, the event will only cost you five bucks. Well, that and your sanity. If you do need to step out for a moment, that's fine — just as long as you don't mind being handcuffed to an attendant. Image: David Zellaby via Flickr
Get your fix of nonfiction filmmaking at the first ever Indievillage Doco Film Festival. Presented by local film distributors Indievillage, this fledgling festival will take over Lido Cinemas in Hawthorn and The Cameo in Belgrave for three straight days of scintillating cinema from all around the world. The festival begins on Friday, November 27 with Alexandria Bombach's Frame by Frame. Part of the official selection at Sundance, SXSW and Hot Docs in Toronto, the film follows four Afghan photojournalists who must forge a path for freedom of the press in a country shaped by oppression and war. A number of the films on the program have a decidedly green bent. Ecocide: Voices from Paradise explores the impact of the BP oil spill on the residents of Grand Isle off the coast of Louisiana, while closing night film The Transparentsea Voyage shadows a group of athletes, musicians, artists and activities as they attempt to draw attention to coastal environmental issues. Anyone looking for something a little more out-there can also check out Danish director Michael Madsen's documentary The Visit, which considers humankind's potential responses to contact with alien life. For the full Indievillage Doco Film Festival program, visit their website.
Sometimes, a romantic comedy tries to do something different. Sometimes, it just seems like it does. The film's concept aside, there's little about 5 to 7 that defies convention; however even as it offers up the sweetness and convenience the genre is known for, plus a whole lot of culture clash commentary and comedy thrown in too, it proves an elegant effort to watch. Here, adherence to type doesn’t make for a bad film, just a routine one. 5 to 7 has certain charms, but you have to be willing to go along with quite a few contrived and heavy-handed elements to enjoy them — like being told, repeatedly and through montages, that there's a difference between Americans and the French. Chief among those obvious aspects is protagonist Brian (Anton Yelchin), aka the US-oriented party of the central couple. He's a 24-year-old aspiring writer who has dedicated his youthful years to his dream, preferring words to real-life experiences. If he sounds familiar, that's because he's the kind of earnest fellow many a movie is littered with. And those of his ilk often find their world changed through a chance meeting with a lovely lady, such as as the one that starts Brian's connection with European export Arielle (Bérénice Marlohe). After spotting her on the streets of New York City, Brian and Arielle chat and agree to cross paths again the next week. Their catch-ups then move to the titular hours of 5pm to 7pm, which is when she says she is available. The reason for her limited schedule: she’s married with two kids. While her diplomat husband (Lambert Wilson) is fine with her having an affair — in fact, he's having one as well, with an up-and-coming literary editor (Olivia Thirlby) — confining their extramarital dalliances to that daily period is just the way the French apparently do things. Cue Brian's intertwined infatuation and anguish, playing out over typical rom-com park strolls, hotel room liaisons and long chats about everyone's feelings. His parents (Glenn Close and Frank Langella) share reservations about their arrangement, but are similarly won over by Arielle — which shows just how lightly 5 to 7 skims the surface of its scenario. This isn't a film about challenging traditional ideas about relationships, or even exploring something different; it's simply a standard romance narrative navigating a series of problems, using adultery as a point of difference and wrapping everything up in "but she's French!" sentiments. Somehow, though, the actors and their subtle performances mostly make the movie work. Yelchin isn't helped by the writer-side of his character (with a wannabe author looking for his big break also frequent film fare), yet his awkwardness comes across as genuinely as his rapport with Marlohe. When they're just walking and talking, Woody Allen and Richard Linklater style, they're at their best, even if their dialogue remains a collection of clichés and clunky lines. That first-time feature writer/director Victor Levin likes to largely look on from afar, gives the film a leisurely pace, and knows how to put a graceful image together also helps the handsomely shot offering, which clearly aims to be one of cinema's classic love stories. Of course, 5 to 7 never reaches such heights, but it is a breezy and pleasing-enough attempt beneath the platitudes and predictability.
Melbourne's one-to-watch designers will be hawking their wares this Sunday, November 8, at the latest edition of the much-loved Melbourne Design Market. Launching into its second decade, this twice-yearly showcase of intelligent design is the perfect destination for savvy shoppers, or anyone just looking to drop some hard-earned cash. Hosted once again in the Federation Square carpark, this year’s market will welcome a wide variety of local merchants selling everything from clothing and fashions accessories to high-end stationery and furniture. We’ve got our eye on the super nifty A6 memobottles that fit in your pocket.. But with a total of 50 stallholders, it looks like we may be spoiled for choice. On the off chance that you have any money left over after your shopping spree, there’ll be fair trade coffee for sale, along with food from some of Melbourne’s favourite food trucks. For more information including updates on stallholders, head on over to the Melbourne Design Market website. Image: memobottle.
A backyard barbecue descends into chaos in this critically-acclaimed black comedy by playwright Lisa D'Amour. Winner of the 2013 Obie Award for Best New American Play and a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, Detroit exposes the fragility of suburban existence and middle-class aspirations with a mix of insight and savage wit. Running from Friday, August 28 through to Saturday, September 26 at the Red Stitch Actors Theatre in St Kilda, the play's Victorian debut casts company regulars Brett Cousins and Sarah Sutherland as Ben and Mary. They're a married couple caught in a rut, whose lives are thrown into turmoil after they invite their new, younger, less well-off neighbours Sharon and Kenny, played by Ngaire Dawn Fair and Paul Ashcroft, for friendly an afternoon feed. Director Tanya Dickson is another returnee, having previously worked on Red Stitch's NSFW.
Sixty years after his death in a car accident at the age of 24, James Dean remains both an icon and an enigma. Much about him, including his hair and stare, have become instantly recognisable and commonly copied. Just as much about him, such as the contrast between his rebellious attitude and his evident shyness, still defies proper description. In Life, writer Luke Davies and director Anton Corbijn attempt to replicate what was seen on the outside and unpack what lurked on the inside of James Dean. That Davies wrote the novel and co-wrote the script of Australian drug drama Candy gives an indication of the intimacy of the storytelling. That Corbijn made his leap from photographs to music videos to movies with Control, a portrait of Joy Division's Ian Curtis, shows the style, patience and perceptiveness so keenly needed in such a biopic. Their approach to the smouldering Dean (as played by Dane DeHaan) is to show rather than tell the essence of the moody star, as seen in a snapshot spanning the lead up to the world premiere of his first film, East of Eden, plus his attempt to secure a role in his second, Rebel Without a Cause. Their entryway into his tragic narrative comes via 26-year-old Dennis Stock (Robert Pattinson), then an aspiring but struggling photographer looking to turn paparazzi gigs into acclaim, art and ongoing work. History already dictates that one of Stock's big breaks came courtesy of the series of candid images he snapped of Dean; however, they only eventuated after much convincing. From first meeting at a Hollywood party to exploits across Los Angeles, New York and Indiana, Life tracks Stock's efforts, Dean's reactions, their problems and personalities, and their blossoming friendship. The film bears the name of the magazine that would ultimately publish the photos, though that it doubles as an expression of a pivotal chapter in both its subjects' existences is always clear. Forget on-set antics and other markers of glitz and glamour, though, with the movie determined to stress that Dean didn't ever want to subscribe to the usual star behaviour. "I don't want to play their stupid games," he complains — and that he's often earning the ire of studio head Jack Warner (Ben Kingsley) by avoiding his publicity tasks also makes that evident. Indeed, Dean is painted as a picture of complexity above all else, and afforded a portrayal to match. DeHaan may be following in James Franco's footsteps again — after playing Spider-Man's Harry Osborn, too — but his efforts here do more than impersonate either figure. His mannerisms conjure the famous actor's mix of awkwardness and panache, so much so that taking your eyes off of him is impossible. That's not to discount Pattinson's latest impressive post-Twilight performance, nor the rapport that springs from the two circling around each other — it's just to highlight DeHaan's intensity. A similar level of concentration and attention to detail emanates in the graceful helming of Corbijn — and the visual precision of cinematographer Charlotte Bruus Christensen. The end result doesn't just step beyond the facade of a cinema treasure or tell the tale behind iconic images, it helps to create the same itself. Indeed, there's ample life in this film, which succeeds in capturing something and someone elusive.
