On September 25, 1981, Sydneysiders got their first look at the revolving restaurants inside Sydney Tower. Exactly 39 years later, the restaurants have reopened after a $12-million renovation, with new looks, A-plus cocktails and a star cast of Sydney hospitality elite. The tower's dining precinct is split into three levels: 70s-inspired Bar 83, opulent fine-diner Infinity and casual buffet restaurant Sky Feast. Each space has a unique design by Loopcreative, pulling inspiration from the likes of space odysseys, Aussie backyard pools and bygone Kings Cross bars. Part-retro, part-futuristic with circular red and white lounges, gold lights and striking mirrors, Bar 83 is officially Sydney's highest bar. Some have suggested the bar looks as if it was pulled straight from an episode of The Jetsons, but Loopcreative director Rod Faucheux says the design is a nod to the building's history and Sydney bars from the 70s and 80s, such as Baron's in the Cross. [caption id="attachment_786071" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Robert Walsh[/caption] As the name suggests, it's towering above the city on level 83, with views across to the edges of the suburbs. While there's no denying the bar's main drawcard is the views, the cocktails are equally impressive. Award-winning bartender Jenna Hemsworth (Restaurant Hubert, The Baxter Inn) has stepped in as venue manager, and is stirring up outstanding cocktails including Pain Pleasure Principle (with cognac, cacao and lemon myrtle) and the Ignore All Rules (tequila, sherry, tomato and basil). Snacks don't push the boundaries too much (oysters, bread and olives, roasted nuts) but you're not here for the food — that's all happening on the levels below. That said, it'd be remiss not to order at least one of the lamb and harissa sausage rolls while you're there. Images: Robert Walsh
Australia has been responsible for many important inventions. The black box flight recorder. The ultrasound machine. Even the electric drill. Yet one Aussie contraption towers above the rest. We’re talking, of course, about the goon bag. A simple silver sack in a durable cardboard exoskeleton, for decades this unsung alcohol container been a symbol of our fair country’s greatest attributes: innovation, inclusiveness and fiscal responsibility, as well as our overwhelming desire to get pissed as quickly as humanly possible. In celebration of this national icon, The Lord Gladstone Hotel in Chippendale, Sydney is hosting its very own goon bag festival. Boxfest: A Festival of the Goon Bag kicks off at 2pm on Sunday, July 5, and will feature top vintages from such box wine all-stars as Yalumba, Stanley and Berri Estates. There will also be food available throughout the day, including a killer selection of cheese and cabanossi plates. Classic. This being a classy affair, you’ll obviously want to pair your food and drink appropriately. For brie we recommend a nice chardonnay, while sauvignon blanc goes best with a gruyere. And of course we don't have to tell you that, to guarantee that traditional heady sensation, the goon should be consumed straight from the bag. Music will be handled by Money for Nothing DJs, who’ll make sure that you’ve got something fun to stumble around the dance floor to as the afternoon wears on. And before you assume that this whole event is just one big excuse to get sloshed, we should point out that money raised from tasting tokens throughout the day will be donated to charity. So basically the more goon you inhale, the better you are as a person. If that’s not a philosophy to live your life by, then we don’t know what is. Boxfest: A Festival of the Goon Bag kicks off at 2pm on Sunday, July 5 at the Lord Gladstone Hotel, 115 Regent Street, Chippendale. Via The Brag. Image: 8 Tracks.
Our modern obsession with packing into cities means that increasingly massive skyscrapers are inevitable. After all, if we don’t head upwards, well, there’s only so much land. One of the problems with skyscrapers, though, is that their behemoth shadows seriously shorten the day of their surroundings. Even a spacious, sunny city like Sydney can feel cold and dark when you’re wedged between towers (just look at the long shadow Barangaroo's casino is expected to cast). Now imagine how gloomy things can get in densely populated metropolises like London and New York — if you've visited, you'll know how gloomy things can get in the financial districts. But a London-based architecture company by the name of NBBJ has come up with a solution: the 'No Shadow Tower'. The concept involves two twisting skyscrapers, to be built side-by-side, which redirect sunlight to the area around their base — right where dreary shadows are usually found lurking. The idea was developed with London’s North Greenwich in mind, at the request of New London Architecture, and was first published in New London Quarterly. "The algorithm design for the tower is based on the law of reflection," the design team told Dezeen. "Our facade has varying angles of panels that distribute light over a certain area at multiple times during the day." The algorithm works by recording the sunlight's angle every single day for an entire year. With this information, the team can predict how light will play on the building at various points during the day, and then construct the skyscraper’s facade to reflect it accordingly. The use of individual panels allows reflection on a pane-by-pane basis; creating circles of light, rather than a single, extremely hot area. NBBJ was motivated by its passion for the public and their environment-determined happiness. "One of [our] principle concerns is public space and the ways the public use and interact with these spaces," the designers explained. "The No Shadow Tower places public space at the heart of the project, along with human interaction and the impact of skyscrapers at street level... The research that we have undertaken could be applied in many locations in the world, each time creating a different form that would relate to its specific context and solar conditions." Where do we sign up? Via Dezeen. Images: NBBJ.
That annual coming together of all things design, Semi-Permanent Sydney, has announced its first round of speakers for 2015, and the guests are as varied as the discipline. Although best known for his work in film and television, actor Noah Taylor has recently earned acclaim for his artwork and will attend Semi-Permanent to talk about this transition. 2011 Archibald Prize winner Ben Quilty will likewise be on hand to discuss the challenges of working as an artist in an increasingly commercial world. Patrick Clair will take audiences through the evolution of his Emmy Award-winning opening titles for True Detective, which have been haunting our dreams since the show wrapped up in March, while leading surfboard designer Hayden Cox will be joined by LA artist Jason Woodside and pro-surfer Craig Anderson to talk about their collaborations. Semi-Permanent has also announced a retrospective exhibition of the work of English artist and writer Stanley Donwood, who is best known for his frequent collaboration with Radiohead, having designed all of their album artwork since 1994. FBi Radio, meanwhile, has been given the job of organising parties, which if last year is anything to go by, should work out quite nicely. The conference will kick off Vivid Sydney on May 22. First round tickets are on sale now – and while a decent portion of the program is still a mystery, this sprinkling of guests has gotten us pretty damn excited. Two-day passes to Semi-Permanent clock in at $265 for students and $430 for everyone else. That includes entry to the event, plus tickets to the opening and closing night parties. VIP passes are available for $650, while single day tickets will go on sale in 2015. Head to the Semi-Permanent website to book.
Get waxed and grab your flares. GiggedIn has announced a huge week of shows on offer as well as its first-ever members-exclusive show — an indie-surf and psychedelic rock affair. Taking over two rooms at the Oxford Art Factory, Lime Cordiale, Wax Witches, Ocean Alley, Mesa Cosa and more top one slam dunk of lineup. We introduced you to GiggedIn back in January. It’s a new service that gives members unlimited access to gigs, for one neat price — kind of like Spotify for live music. Every day, at midday, new shows appear on the website and you decide which you’re going to attend. What’s more, you get access to special events and festivals, like Mountain Sounds Festival, headlined by Art vs Science and Violent Soho this week. Then there's Raury and JOY at Oxford Art Factory, Illy at the Metro Theatre, Radio Moscow at Newtown Social and more. With GiggedIn’s premiere exclusive shindig coming up, now is a good time to sign up. The show will be happening at on Sunday, February 21. If you’ve been hanging out at any of Sydney’s staple live music venues during the past year, there’s every chance you’ve caught Lime Cordiale. They’ve sold out Newtown Social Club, The Standard, Oxford Art Factory and the Metro Lair, and have shared stages with The Delta Riggs, Ball Park Music, The Griswolds, Dispatch and Cosmo Jarvis. Meanwhile, Wax Witches, fronted by Alex Wall, will be delivering a massive dose of garage punk. If you’re tired of saccharine, smoothed-over pop and rock, you’ll get your antidote here. Mesa Cosa, garage punk legends from Melbourne will be there. Rounding out the night are Ocean Alley, a reggae psych-rock six-piece from the Northern Beaches; The Vanns, indie-poppers from Kiama; and The Ruminaters, who describe their music as “hillbilly-folk-psychedelic-garage-yiddish-rock”, among a slew of other acts. For a full list of more shows this week, see below: Mon Feb 15 — Radio Moscow (USA) at Newtown Social Club Tues Feb 16 — Raury with JOY. at Oxford Art Factory Wed Feb 17 — Waxahatchee at Oxford Art Factory Thurs Feb 18 — Juju Wings at Brighton Up Bar Fri Feb 19 — Black Aces at Brighton Up Bar Sat Feb 20 — Mountain Sounds Festival on the Central Coast Sat Feb 20 — Illy at the Metro Theatre Sat Feb 20 — Lunatics on Pogosticks at Brighton Up Bar Sun Feb 21 — Lime Cordiale, Wax Witches, Mesa Cosa, Ocean Alley + more at Oxford Art Factory And more to be announced. Find out more about GiggedIn here.
For many moons, there’s been a secret passed around the ranks of students and young adults: Aldi sells $5 wine that’s actually not awful. In fact, those who’ve sampled it would know that ‘not awful’ isn’t strong enough. Now an official ruling body has declared what we young bohemians have known for a while now: Aldi’s $5 wine is objectively good wine. The Sydney International Wine Competition has announced its winning wine list for 2015, judging the top 100 wines from an entry pool of nearly 2000 and Aldi’s $5 bottle of 2014 South Point Estate rose has picked up a Blue Gold award in its blend category (just FYI the Blue Gold award is official proof that Aldi wine drinkers actually have good taste and aren’t just peasants). Aldi also won awards for their $12.99 bottle of Tudor Central Victorian shiraz and a $14.99 Blackstone Paddock “The Player” Barossa. So ner. So what do the judges look for in a good wine? Well firstly, the competition acknowledges that not all wines are created equal so they divide the plonk into categories according to palate weight – lighter, medium, fuller bodied dry whites (lol at wine terminology sounding like a sick burn) and dry reds. The wines are judged solo, then judged against other wines in each category. Then they pair each category with appropriate food and score on how well each variation complement the flavours of the meal. Then, and only then, do they aggregate the scores and hand out awards in each category. Check out the website to scope out the rest of the results and figure out the best and cheapest wine for your taste. But how do Aldi manage to sell an award winning wine for only $5? Aldi’s buying director told The Huffington Post that the secret is in the low overheads, a simplified range to cut distribution costs and understanding the young consumer. Oh Aldi, you do understand us. All we want in this life of sin is a $5 bottle of award-winning wine. We're just gonna leave this link to Aldi Liqueur online here, along with the fact that they deliver a case of 12 wines to metro areas for only $7. Merry Christmas, ya filthy animals. Via The New Daily. Image: Dollar Photo Club.
Apparently this Saturday is National Burger Day. We're not sure when that became a thing, exactly, but it is, and here we are. Point is, you've got the green light to make a pig of yourself tomorrow, and we know exactly where you should do it. Turns out Barrio Chino in Kings Cross has some gas left in the grill yet, with the recently shuttered Mexican joint finding new life as a pop-up burger spot. Shortening its name to Barrio, the temporary venue began service a few weeks back, and is set to continue cooking until at least the end of June. The menu includes standard single and double cheeseburgers, along with more extravagant options like this one made with a mac 'n' cheese patty. Also making an appearance is the mushroom burger from Barrio Cellar, along with a fried chicken number that uses the same recipe as they do at Fei Jai. Turns out co-owner Peter Lew has his fingers in quite a few pies. {special} house beef patty, maple bacon, jalapeño cheese sauce, tomato & orange chilli jam and a lot of love You would be a fool to miss this beauty #barriokx #kingscross #iloveburgerssomuch #fbas #burgers #sydneyeats A photo posted by Barrio🍔🍟 (@barriokx) on May 18, 2016 at 1:12am PDT In addition to the burgs, Barrio has retained a number of Mexican options, including tacos, quesadillas and barbecue corn. The aptly named Awesome Fries, meanwhile, come smothered in grated cheese and the same special sauce as you'll find in the cheeseburger. As for beverages, they've got a couple of killer shakes, along with margaritas and sangria by the jug. Barrio is located at 28-30 Bayswater Road, Kings Cross. For more information scope them out on Instagram. Via Good Food.
Handpicking some of the globe's best new artists for yet another glorious year (their seventh, to be exact), Sugar Mountain has one heck of a lineup this year, with UK rapper Joey Bada$$, experimental Berlin-based producer Laurel Halo and Australia's Cut Copy headlining. Returning to Melbourne's Victorian College of the Arts on Saturday, January 20, Sugar Mountain has again balanced international drawcards with local talent this year, from Melbourne's all-female five-piece Beaches to UK producer Actress. Other Aussies converging on Mebourne for the fest include Body Type, Stella Donnelly and Indigenous collective Kardajala Kirridarra. As always though, music isn't the only thing on the menu for Sugar Mountain. There'll also be a load artists on the bill, including a collaboration between American artist and dancer Khalif Diouf and Bangarra Dance Theatre's dancer and choreographer Waangenga Blanco and work by Amrita Hepi and Japanese artists Hiroyasu Tsuri and Jun Inoue. The nosh is yet to be announced, but here's hoping Sugar Mountain's immersive on-site restaurant Sensory will be back. Enough chatskies, here's that lineup you're after. SUGAR MOUNTAIN 2018 LINEUP Actress (UK) Ara Koufax Beaches Body Type Cut Copy Dan Shake (UK) Eclair Fifi (UK) Fantastic Man Gerd Janson (GER) Honey Dijon (USA) J Hus (UK) Jamila Woods (USA) Joey Bada$$ (USA) Kardajala Kirridarra Laurel Halo (USA) Love Deluxe Project Pablo (CAN) Sevdaliza (NED) Shanti Celeste (UK) Stella Donnelly ARTISTS VIA ALICE featuring Waangenga Blanco x Khalif Diouf (USA) Amrita Hepi x Pasefika Victoria Choir Justin Shoulder x CORIN x Tristan Jalleh Hiroyasu Tsuri (JPN) x Jun Inoue (JPN) Marcus Whale x Athena Thebus
With a steady string of new live venues opening across the east coast lately, seeing doors opening – rather than closing – has happily become the status quo. Alas, every now and then some bad news reminds us of the opposite extreme that we’d much rather forget. And when it comes to bad news, this could be right up there. The Music is reporting that the company behind The Hi-Fi has been placed into external administration over a dispute with a major creditor. Unable to resolve their differences with The Hi-Fi Group, the creditor has taken over running the business while a new buyer is sought. All three Australian venues have been affected, meaning Brisbane’s West End mainstay, Melbourne’s Swanston Street spot and Sydney’s recently revamped former Forum Theatre location as well. It was due to almost two decades of success in Melbourne that the company branched out into Brisbane in 2009, with Sydney following in 2012. All signs point to the venue remaining open and running — for now. "It's business as usual, see you at the gig," said a post on the venue's Facebook page. Shows are slated from now until June – including The Smith Street Band, Sticky Fingers, Seth Sentry, DJ Shadow & Cut Chemist, and the only just announced debut album tour by Courtney Barnett, depending on the city, so current ticket holders should be taken care of. As for what happens after then: watch this space. Via The Music.
The National Gallery of Victoria has revealed what will be on its agenda at the tail-end of this year, this evening announcing its summer centrepiece in the world premiere of Between Two Worlds | Escher X Nendo. Much like the NGV's 2016's Andy Warhol | Ai Weiwei show, the blockbuster exhibition will celebrate two very different creators: Dutch artist M.C. Escher and Japanese design studio Nendo. It will be the first to unite the two, bringing them together in an assembly of immersive art and design. More than 160 different prints and drawings created by Escher during his career that ran from 1916 to 1969 will be shown, the first time the Dutch artist has had a major exhibition in Australia. Optical illusion being what he is known best for, and the images on display will be drawn from the world's largest collection of his work at the Gemeentemuseum in The Hague. In tandem, Nendo will create an environment to house the works, taking inspiration from Escher to manipulate geometry and space to warp perception. This'll create a fully immersive experience in which to be boggled by Escher's works. It doesn't stop there for the upcoming season, though — the NGV's spring/summer is bursting with art shaped fruit ready for you to pick.Australian artist Polly Borland will also be celebrated via a display of her works of recent times at the Ian Potter Centre. Borland is a locally born, LA-dwelling photographer notable for her photos of well-known figures like Queen Elizabeth II and Nick Cave. Gravitating lately more towards surrealism in her photography and producing disquieting and abstract images, both recent and new works of Borland's will be shown. This'll run from September 28 until February 3. Also on the lineup is an exclusive showing of British artist Julian Opie's mixed media works. To be set in the NGV's gallery and gardens, the exhibition was created specifically to fill these spaces and will incorporate sculpture, video, and art specifically for the children's gallery. Try Hito Steyeri's landmark video installation Factory of the Sun, about workers in a motion capture studio whose actions are used to create artificial sunshine, becoming a metaphor for the way digital screens use and emit light. Or take a bite out of Willian Wegman's work — a man whose Weimaraner dog became his artistic muse, William Wegman: Being Human highlights the artist's versatility across different artistic methods and mediums. And don't forget Designing Women, a 40 year highlight of the role of female designers in shaping the culture and fabric of the design world. Drawing from the NGV's permanent collection, over 50 significant works will be showcased, icons by name and affect, and united by gender. This summer's Triennial was the most visited exhibition in the NGV's 157 years, and this exhibition is sure to get similar numbers through the St Kilda Road doors. Start planning your art viewing now. Between Two Worlds | Escher X Nendo will run at NGV International, Melbourne from December 2, 2018 until April 7, 2019. For more info, visit ngv.vic.gov.au. Image: 'Day and Night', M.C. Escher, © The M.C. Escher Company, The Netherlands.
Hey there, lonely freelancers working in cafes, on couches and in front of Netflix worldwide. Want some company? We've got a big ol' warm fuzzy home for you. Well, someone else’s home to be specific. Meet Hoffice, the social site dedicated to connecting you with people who've turned their houses into fun, creative workspaces. Whether you've only just quit your nine-to-fiver or you've been cruising solo for quite some time, chances are you're familiar with the challenges that come with the crazy world of freelancing. On one hand, taking charge of your career gives you loads of freedom — you can work in your pyjamas, clock on and off when you want to, and enjoy strictly virtual relationships with your bosses/clients. On the other hand, it's not all strawberries and cream. Unless you became a freelancer mainly because you hated group work at school (and you’re a misanthrope), you might feel a little lonely every now and again. You're productive, sure. But you probably look as relaxed as this: That's where Hoffice steps in. If you’re a freelancer, simply register and start searching your area for a host, who’s set up their home as a place for you to treat as your office. As far as we can see, this new service only has limited Australian/NZ options but we're sure there'll be a few as Hoffice picks up. While some hosts have an open policy, inviting everyone in, others just accept newbies every now and again. If you’d like to offer up your home, find out how right here. On top of mediating between space owners and freelancers, Hoffice also suggests a schedule. Designed to help you get the most out of your workday, it includes time for meeting and greeting, taking breaks, eating and partying. Of course, you don’t have to stick to it if you'd rather not — or you're between projects. Right now, Hoffice is operating in Europe, the States, Brazil, India, China, Japan, Singapore, New Zealand and Australia (Melbourne). No network in your area? Start one yourself. Via PSFK.
Alexandria’s hungry, thirsty workers and visitors are gaining a fun, fresh new haunt. On Thursday, September 17, a new specialty coffee and food bar known as The Grind & Co will open its doors in the Heritage Business Park. Not only is the venue promising excellent coffee and a scrumptious-sounding menu, but it also comes in a custom-made shipping container. So every snack break will feel a bit like a seagoing adventure. “I’ve long wanted to bring something exciting and unique to Sydney,” said Christine Ousman, who owns and runs The Grind & Co in collaboration with her husband, Rani. “I designed the plans twelve months ago and have been looking for the right location. I had such a strong vision for the look, layout and mood of the shipping container. I knew I needed to find a place where I could drop it — and build the place surrounding it — rather than the other way around.” The Ousmans are no newbies to the hospitality game. Rani has been a barista for fifteen years and the duo has run the successful Deluxe & Co Beverage Catering for the past four years. The Grind & Co’s big hook is its majestic, mirrored copper La Marzocco three-group coffee machine, where the coffee-obsessed Rani will be whipping up delicious brews made from Deluxe & Co’s premium, 100 percent Arabica, sustainable blend. You can also expect some innovative specialty coffee experiments, of the hot, cold drop and iced varieties. Meanwhile, on the food front, you’ll be tucking into gourmet sandwiches and wraps, made onsite every day. “There’s a massive focus on freshness and high quality,” says Christine. “One of our signature dishes will be our Middle Eastern-inspired zaatar wrap, with rocket, olives, tomatoes, onions and yoghurt mint dressing.” During summer, special barbecues will be held on Fridays, featuring special dishes, like barbecue burgers and gourmet sausages, accompanied by housemade lemonade and flavoured sparking water. In keeping with The Grind & Co’s emphasis on freshness, Christine has designed the shipping container to house multiple vertical herb gardens, while rustic benches will provide seating for up to 40 guests at a time. “We’re in such a great little spot. I’m really excited about doing something that I’m passionate about, that hasn’t been done in Sydney before.” The Grind & Co will open between 7am and 4pm, Monday to Friday, at Heritage Business Park, 5-9 Ricketty Street, Alexandria. Open from Thursday, September 17,
If you've never heard of Salon - Zur Wilden Renate, you might still have the words 'stay up for days in a Berlin nightclub' on your bucket list. The multi-level, labyrinthine club in the Friedrichshain district takes underground party production to new theatrical levels; attracting regular sets from the likes of Todd Terje, Nicolas Jaar and Soul Clap paired with some seriously avant-garde performances. But the crew are no longer content shaking up the house music scene in Berlin, they're keen to try their hand at hosting a handful of secret parties in Australia. Launching on Thursday, May 28, Number56 is a brand new series of events curated by the Wilden Renate team; attempting to recreate the abstract, underground culture scene that your friends rave about every time they return from the German capital. With no fixed address for the series, each event will pop up at secret locations around Sydney. Once you've registered for free tickets, you'll have to hunt for the party using clues on the @Number.56 Instagram channel (don't worry, you'll nab an email on the day too). To kick the series off German electronic icon and longtime Berghain and Watergate resident Steve Bug will spin a set, alongside Berlin-based Australian expats Deepchild, Claire Morgan, Baron Castle and Christian Vanc — who you'll normally find playing all the beats at Berlin's Stattbad club (an old swimming pool now famous for its Boiler Room parties). Sydney's own Murat Kilic (Spice, FBi Radio) will be spinning too. Plus, there'll be Berlin-style street food and drinks on offer, to round out the whole sensory experience. "We can’t wait to share the essence of Berlin nightlife with the people of Australia," says Wilden Renate's Tom Ettelt, whose actual title is 'Head of Craziness'. "We have some pretty far-fetched ideas for this melting pot of music, creativity, art and self-expression so hopefully they won’t get lost in translation... It’s the people that liven the party so we’re just asking them to bring their A-game and secondly, make sure they find the venue.” Number56's first chapter hits Sydney on Thursday, May 28. Each party runs from 6pm-midnight in a secret Sydney location. Tickets are free but you'll have to register here. NUMBER56 SYDNEY DATES: Thursday, May 28 — with Steve Bug, Deepchild, Murat Kilic. Thursday, June 11 — Claire Morgan & more TBA Thursday June 25 — Christian Vance, Baron Castle & more TBA Thursday, July 9 — Special guests
Because you're reading this, we know you're not someone who received a pet for Christmas, only to decide it wasn't for you. We know you're one of the good folks. You're probably wishing that you did receive a loveable animal as a gift, even if you already have one — or several — that you adore. We understand your yearning, and so does the RSPCA. And, to find permanent homes for pups, cats, bunnies, guinea pigs and ponies surrendered into its care from all over the state, it's lowering the adoption fee to $29 this weekend. The weekend-long initiative is called Clear the Shelters and will run from Friday, February 23 until Sunday, February 25. Although you can't put a price on the happiness a new four-legged friend will bring, it's hoped that the low adoption fee will encourage people who have been thinking about adding a pet to their fam (and have considered it thoroughly) to make the commitment this week. Last year, the RSPCA found new homes for 793 pets in NSW through the campaign. This year, Clear the Shelters will run across Australia in all states except WA and Tasmania. The adoption fees — which usually range from $20–600 — help cover some of the costs of vaccines, training and microchipping for the animals. Whether you're in NSW, Victoria or Queensland, there are hundreds of animals that need a new home full of love and pats. There's more to pet adoption than overdosing on cuteness, of course, with making the commitment to care for an animal is serious business. For further information, read RSPCA's FAQs and head to a shelter this weekend.
Whether he's behind or in front of the camera, making his own version of Nosferatu or documentaries about volcanologists, popping up in Parks and Recreation or playing a villain in a Jack Reacher movie, there's no one in the film industry like Werner Herzog. His voice is famous, including get a use in family-friendly animation not once but twice. His work as a director is thoroughly inimitable. He's one of Germany's cinema greats — and Australia's 2024 German Film Festival is recognising him as such. This year's touring event, which has dates with Canberra, Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth and Byron Bay between Tuesday, May 7–Wednesday, June 5, boasts a Werner Herzog retrospective on its just-announced full lineup. A documentary about him is on the bill, so get excited to see Werner Herzog: Radical Dreamer on the big screen. Also set to flicker through the projectors: Aguirre, The Wrath of God, about searching for El Dorado; Fitzcarraldo, which focuses on trying to move a steamship over a Peruvian mountain; and Nosferatu the Vampyre, featuring Klaus Kinski, as with the aforementioned two titles, but this time as Dracula. There's also Heart of Glass, which gets experimental in a Bavarian village — and The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser, which celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2024. Clearly, the German Film Festival has the past on its mind with its latest program. That also comes through in a second way, by marking 70 years of German Films, the organisation tasked with promoting the country's movies beyond Germany. As part of that retrospective, the Oscar-nominated Jacob the Liar, Oscar-winning documentary Serengeti Shall Not Die, Rainer Werner Fassbinder's iconic The Marriage of Maria Braun and unforgettable recent standout Toni Erdmann will all play the fest. So will Trace of Stones and Yesterday Girl, both from 1966 — the first from East Germany, the second from West Germany. Looking backwards isn't the only thing on the agenda, however. As it usually does, the event will bring some of the best German and Austrian movies that premiered at this year's Berlin International Film Festival to Australia. 2024's fest spans six such titles, starting with opening night's World War II-set From Hilde, With Love, which follows a young woman in the anti-Nazi resistance movement. From there, centrepiece choice Foreign Language features the always-exceptional Nina Hoss (Tár) in a tale about a friendship playing out through letters, while closing night's Treasure stars Lena Dunham (Sharp Stick) and Stephen Fry (The Morning Show). Plus, Andrea Gets a Divorce brings tragicomedy to the program, Scorched Earth gives the lineup a crime thriller and Every You Every Me is a social-realist drama. Elsewhere, highlights come via One for the Road, complete with a dive into Berlin's nightlife, then a switch to attempting to get sober; the Leipzig-set Dark Satellites, which tells of three love stories; Lubo, the latest must-see starring Franz Rogowski (Passages); Blind at Heart, which takes the leap from the page to the screen; and Not a Word, joining the ranks of recent films — such as Tár — to feature a conductor as a key character. And, as always, the Kino for Kids section returns with movies for younger viewers, making heading to the fest a family affair. A comedy about teen sisters who love skateboarding, an adaptation of the novel The Flying Classroom and Lassie — A New Adventure are all on that part of the bill. German Film Festival 2024 Dates: Tuesday, May 7–Wednesday, May 29 — Palace Electric, Canberra Wednesday, May 8–Wednesday, May 29 — Palace Norton Street, Chauvel Cinema, Palace Central, Palace Moore Park, Sydney Thursday, May 9–Wednesday, May 29 — Palace James St, Palace Barracks, Brisbane Friday, May 10–Wednesday, May 29 — Palace Balwyn, Palace Brighton Bay, Palace Cinema Como, Palace Westgarth, The Kino, The Astor Theatre, Pentridge Cinema and Palace Penny Lane, Melbourne Wednesday, May 15–Wednesday, June 5 — Palace Nova Eastend Cinemas, Palace Nova Prospect Cinemas, Adelaide Thursday, May 16–Wednesday, June 5 — Luna Leederville, Luna on SX & Palace Raine Square, Perth Thursday, May 16–Wednesday, June 5 — Palace Byron Bay, Byron Bay The 2024 German Film Festival tours Australia from throughout May and June. For more information, visit the festival website.
He's collaborated with everyone from Kylie Minogue to Kendrick Lamar. Even Grumpy Cat wears that hat. Now, Pharrell Williams has teamed up with choreographer Jonah Bokaer and visual artist Daniel Arsham for a unique multidisciplinary dance project — and it's coming to Australia. From September 14 to 17, Brisbane Festival will host the Aussie premiere of Rules of the Game, which brings eight on-stage performers together in a combination of dance, music, video, art and theatrical expression. Williams crafts his first-ever orchestral score for the stage to accompany Bokaer's crisp, elegant dance moves and Arsham's offbeat, architectural environments. Loosely based on Nobel Laureate Pirandello's controversial play Six Characters in Search of an Author, the piece "recasts dance as something close to moving sculpture" as Bris Fest's artistic director David Berthold puts it. For Bokaer, who is as acclaimed and innovative in the field of contemporary dance as Williams is in music, it's a blending not only "of cultures, but a blending of forms, expressions, and of inheritance". Rules Of The Game's four-day, five-show Brisbane run will mark only the second time it will have be seen by an audience, after debuting in May at the SOLUNA International Music and Arts Festival in Dallas. In fact, the production won't premiere in New York until November. And if you're not in Brissie, you'd better book plane tickets fast, because it won't be showing anywhere else in Australia. Catch Rules of the Game at Brisbane Festival from September 14 – 17. Check out the Brisbane Festival website for tickets and further details.
After months of anticipation, the revival of Chippendale's Old Clare Hotel has at long last been completed. Spearheaded by Singapore-based hotel and restaurant entrepreneur Loh Lik Peng of Unlisted Collection, the revamped watering hole as boutique hotel on Kensington Street is finally open for business — and from what we can tell, it looks pretty bloody spectacular. Reborn from the (metaphorical) ashes of the historic (and dearly beloved) Clare Hotel and adjoining Carlton United Brewery Administrative Building, the newly-opened hotel boasts 62 rooms and suites featuring high ceilings, heritage timber panelling and exposed brick walls, furnished with PSLAB pendant lighting, vintage furniture and cushions 'inspired by Australian flora and fauna'. Further hotel amenities include a rooftop pool and bar, private gym and a heritage meeting space, as well as a day spa expected to launch early next year. Guests can also take advantage of custom-made bicycles to explore the surrounding neighbourhood, or simply relax at the indoor bar near reception and enjoy the honest-to-god bespoke scent created by local perfumed candlers Maison Balzac. That being said, the biggest drawcard might be The Old Clare's three new high-end restaurants. Automata, the first solo venture from Momofuku Seiobo sous chef Clayton Wells, opened earlier this week, with a rotating five-course menu laden with such extravagances as storm clam with rosemary dashi, cream and dulse, and partridge with witlof, burnt apple and caper. Noma alumnus Sam Miller, meanwhile, will open Silvereye on September 22, offering short and long seasonal tasting menus featuring young coconut and mud crab, pumpkin with pomello, leeks with pig feet and white beer, and a plum and coffee tart. Last but not least, there's the Kensington Street Social, by Michelin-starred globetrotter Jason Atherton. No word on their launch date or menu as of this writing, although based on the competition, we have to assume they'll be bringing their A-game. The Old Clare Hotel is now open and taking bookings at 1 Kensington Street, Chippendale. For more information visit the website
Zines aren't a new beast. If you've landed here knowing full well what a zine is, sit smugly for a second. For the initiated, what the heck is a zine? According to the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, "Zines – short for fanzines or magazines – are dependent or self-published publications informed by the DIY ethos, usually handmade and of a limited run." Essentially, they're one of the most hardy, historically avant-garde, no-holds-barred forms of self-publishing we've got today. But you can't just buy 'em anywhere, you have to know where to look. Often you'll find them sitting in creative, bold local stores happy to stock their favourites, and sometimes you can order them online. But the best place to actually hold and flick through a zine — and meet the person who made it — is at a zine fair. Luckily, there's a big one coming (back) to Sydney. Home to many a colossal zine fair over the years, the MCA is one of Sydney's only major institutions that hosts zine events. Their beloved Zine Fair is back on June 11 and 12 for Vivid, with over 100 independent stallholders for you to peruse. Each zine-maker has their own unique style — you'll find political satire sitting next to squee-inducing animal art. So before you head into the fair, we thought we'd introduce you to five of Australia's best and most unique zine-makers, to find out how they got into such a niche art in a digital world. ALEX LATHAM How did you get into zine making? I got into zine making by applying for the MCA Zine Fair and on being accepted realised that I had to make a zine for the Zine Fair or I would have nothing on my table at the Zine Fair. Describe your zine style in five words. Crap. Really bad. Very good. What's your favourite thing about zine making? Using a hack saw. MIKAELA CAILAO How did you get into zine making? A few of my good friends suggested participating in the MCA Zine Fair as a way of being productive and getting my drawings out there. One of them had a stall at the fair last year and had a lot of fun with it, so I thought I'd try it out this year. Describe your zine style in five words. Haven't figured that out yet... What's your favourite thing about zine making? So far, I'd have to say how broad the spectrum is. It's interesting seeing just how unique people's ideas are and what can be made out of those ideas. JESS CHEN How did you get into zine making? I wanted to expand my art range into something different and find ways to expose myself as an artist (at the time I was only making prints and postcards) and so I experimented by collating bits of my artwork into themed zines. MCA Zine Fair was my gateway, and I took the chance, and loved making zines ever since. Describe your zine style in five words. Cute, whimsical, handmade, watercolour, cats. What's your favourite thing about zine making? Seeing that finished result and flicking through it, and seeing your artwork presented in a different form rather than just a single-sided print. SHU How did you get into zine making? I only got into zines quite recently. All the street artists and urbex photographers I'm friends with were doing it, and I was super keen to give it a go. At the time, I had been working on this little character called Monstery, and had been getting her out (on the streets) loads — that first zine I made was a kind of record of what Monstery had been doing that past year. It was a good excuse to get it all together, edit my own work and figure out where to go next with it. Describe your zine style in five words. Cute, quirky, adventure, illustration and street art. What's your favourite thing about zine making? What I love about zine making is actually the same thing I love about street art — that is, the sentiment that you don't need anyone's approval to show the world your work. I think it is really important for people not to wait for someone else to tell them that their art, photographs or writing is good enough to be published. If you believe in it, put it out there. AKISIEW How did you get into zine making? I can't remember exactly, but my first zine that I bought was actually made by an artist called Mel Kadel who lives in LA. I fell in love with it and the way she had used zine making as a way of experimenting with her work and creating a narrative to her work. I had lots of half made stories in my head and in sketchbooks which I wanted to express both in words and illustrations, and zine-making is the perfect medium to do that. Describe your zine style in five words. Cute, narrative driven, illustrative. What's your favourite thing about zine making? That there are so many topics that you can explore and so many different ways to create a story with paper. They are just so expressive and the fact that each and every one is handmade by the artist makes them so very special. They are made for the love of making them and sharing them over anything else. MCA's Zine Fair is happening June 11 and 12 from 10am-6pm. Entry is free.
Parts of a Lady, Gronk, Day Planner and Ali G Goes to Chicago aren't going to win any shiny trophies this year, because none of them exist. But, after getting a shoutout in Amy Poehler and Tina Fey's very amusing opening monologue at the 2021 Golden Globes, you'll wish these fictional flicks were either showing at a cinema near you or streaming on your platform of choice. They might be an improvement on some of the movies and TV shows that were nominated this year, after all. Poehler and Fey noted that "a lot of flashy garbage" was vying for a gong and, well, they're not wrong. It's always best to remember two things whenever entertainment awards roll around. Firstly, great movies and television shows, and the talents behind them, always remain that way whether they have the silverware to go with it or not. Secondly, finally valuing the exceptional work of women and people of colour in the entertainment industry after so long spent focusing on white men will always remain important. And, while the Golden Globes ceremony this year looked a little different to usual — it was held across both Los Angeles and New York, with Poehler and Fey split across the two cities; nominees called in via video from home in all their finery, rather than attending in person; and winners didn't physically put their hands on a statuette — it did give a heap of recognition to some very deserving folks. Seeing three women contending for Best Director, with Chloe Zhao emerging victorious for Nomadland, really was something special. So was the fact that the first two gongs of the night went to Daniel Kaluuya and John Boyega, two of the best actors working today. Chadwick Boseman's posthumous award was always going to be an emotional moment and, winning special accolades, both Norman Lear and Jane Fonda made moving speeches about their careers and the current state of the industry. Plenty of top-notch talents missed out as well, though, because that's the way these congratulatory proceedings always go — but from everything that emerged victorious, we've picked 12 films and TV shows for you to feast your eyes on as soon as possible. MOVIE MUST-SEES https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSFpK34lfv0&feature=youtu.be NOMADLAND Frances McDormand is a gift of an actor. Point a camera her way, and a performance so rich that it feels not just believable but tangible floats across the screen. That's the case in Nomadland, which will earn her another Oscar nomination and could even see her win a third shiny statuette just three years after she nabbed her last for Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. Here, leading a cast that also includes real people experiencing the existence that's fictionalised within the narrative, she plays the widowed, van-dwelling Fern — a woman who takes to the road, and to the nomad life, after the small middle-America spot she spent her married life in turns into a ghost town when the local mine is shuttered due to the global financial crisis. Following her travels over the course of more than a year, this humanist drama serves up an observational portrait of those that society happily overlooks. It's both deeply intimate and almost disarmingly empathetic in the process, as every movie made by Chloe Zhao is. This is only the writer/director's third, slotting in after 2015's Songs My Brothers Taught Me and 2017's The Rider but before 2021's Marvel flick Eternals, but it's a feature of contemplative and authentic insights into the concepts of home, identity and community. Meticulously crafted, shot and performed, it's also Zhao's best work yet, and the best film of 2020 as well. GLOBES Won: Best Motion Picture — Drama, Best Director — Motion Picture (Chloe Zhao) Nominated: Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture — Drama (Frances McDormand), Best Screenplay — Motion Picture (Chloe Zhao) Nomadland returns to cinemas from March 4, after a sneak preview season in late December and early January. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbE96sCJEjo MINARI Remember the name Lee Isaac Chung. Minari isn't the writer/director's first feature — with 2007's Munyurangabo, 2010's Lucky Life and 2012's Abigail Harm already on his resume — but it's the kind of intimate, heartfelt and resonant movie that cements its filmmaker as a top cinematic talent to watch. Remember the name Alan S Kim, too. The child actor makes his film debut here, but he steals every scene he's in. Considering that he's acting opposite Steven Yeun (Burning), who turns in his latest excellent performance and will hopefully nab an Oscar nomination for his efforts, that's no minor feat. Remembering Minari in general is a given, actually. It's so detailed, vivid and honest, and yet also so universal at the same time. Based on Chung's own upbringing, this tender drama follows the Yi family (which also includes My Unfamiliar Family's Yeri Han and first-timer Noel Cho) as they move to Arkansas to start their own farm. It's a movie about chasing the American Dream, but don't go thinking that you've seen this tale before, or seen any similar story told with such feeling either. The film's overall story can be summarised neatly, but Minari's many deep and thoughtful charms and triumphs aren't ever simplistic. Indeed, as features influenced by personal real-life tales can be at their best, this is a gorgeously and thoughtfully detailed picture, with Chung realising that trading in specific minutiae is far more compelling and relatable than opting for sweeping generalisations. GLOBES Won: Best Motion Picture — Foreign Language Minari is currently screening in cinemas. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSjtGqRXQ9Y JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH The last time that Daniel Kaluuya and LaKeith Stanfield appeared in the same film, Get Out was the end result. Their shared scene in Jordan Peele's Oscar-winning horror movie isn't easily forgotten — if you've seen the feature, it will have instantly popped into your head while you're reading this — and neither is Judas and the Black Messiah, their next collaboration. With Kaluuya starring as the Black Panther Party's Illinois Chairman Fred Hampton and Stanfield playing William O'Neal, the man who infiltrated his inner circle as an informer for the FBI, the pair is still tackling race relations. Here, though, the duo does so in a ferocious historical drama set in the late 60s. The fact that O'Neal betrays Hampton definitely isn't a spoiler here; it's a matter of fact, and the lens through which writer/director Shaka King (Newlyweeds) and his co-scribes Kenneth Lucas, Keith Lucas (actors on Lady Dynamite) and Will Berson (Scrubs) view the last period of Hampton's life. Anchored by two fierce performances that stand out in their own ways — with Kaluuya commanding the screen during every single one of his real-life character's speeches, and Stanfield playing conflicted with a raw, nervy air — Judas and the Black Messiah does what only the best movies that look back at the past and its many problems manage. It roves its eyes over events gone by, shines a spotlight the rampant oppression and the struggle against it, and condenses a wealth of information into a gripping feature. GLOBES Won: Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture (Daniel Kaluuya) Nominated: Best Original Song — Motion Picture (Tiara Thomas, HER and D'Mile, 'Fight for You') Judas and the Black Messiah opens in cinemas on March 11 — check back for our full review then. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ord7gP151vk MA RAINEY'S BLACK BOTTOM Chadwick Boseman, Oscar-winner. That combination of words is very likely to become a posthumous reality for the late, great actor, thanks to his last screen role. Boseman is just that phenomenal in Ma Rainey's Black Bottom. He has earned that term before in Get on Up, Black Panther and Da 5 Bloods, but his performance in this stage-to-screen production is such a powerhouse effort that it's like watching a cascading waterfall drown out almost everything around it. He plays trumpeter Levee Green, who is part of the eponymous Ma Rainey's (Viola Davis, Widows) band. On a 1920s day, the always-nattering, big-dreaming musician joins Ma — who isn't just a fictional character, and was known as the Mother of Blues — and the rest of his colleagues for a recording session. Temperatures and tempers rise in tandem in the Chicago studio, with Levee and Ma rarely seeing eye to eye on any topic. Davis is in thundering, hot-blooded form, while Colman Domingo (If Beale Street Could Talk) and Glynn Turman (Fargo) also leave a firm impression. It's impossible take your eyes off of the slinkily magnetic Boseman though, as would prove the case even if he was still alive to see the film's release. Adapting the play of the same name by August Wilson (Fences), director George C Wolfe (The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks) lets Boseman farewell the screen with one helluva bang. GLOBES Won: Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture — Drama (Chadwick Boseman) Nominated: Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture — Drama (Viola Davis) Ma Rainey's Black Bottom is available to stream via Netflix. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gs--6c7Hn_A SOUL Released early in 2020, Onward definitely wasn't Pixar's best film — but Soul, its straight-to-streaming latest movie that capped off the past year, instantly contends for the title. The beloved animation studio has always excelled when it takes big leaps. Especially now, a quarter-century into its filmmaking tenure, its features prove particularly enchanting when they're filled with surprises (viewers have become accustomed to seeing toys, fish, rats and robots have feelings, after all). On paper, Soul initially seems similar to Inside Out, but switching in souls for emotions. It swaps in voice work by Tina Fey for Amy Poehler, too, and both movies are helmed by director Peter Docter, so there's more than one reason for the comparison. But to the delight of viewers of all ages, Soul is a smart, tender and contemplative piece of stunning filmmaking all on its own terms. It's Pixar at its most existential, and with a strikingly percussive score by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross to further help it stand out. At its centre sits aspiring jazz musician-turned-music teacher Joe (Jamie Foxx, Just Mercy). Just as he's about to get his big break, he falls down a manhole, his soul leaves his body, and he's desperate to get back to chase his dreams. Alas, that's not how things work, and he's saddled with mentoring apathetic and cynical soul 22 (the always hilarious Fey) in his quest to reclaim his life. GLOBES Won: Best Motion Picture — Animated, Best Original Score — Motion Picture (Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross and Jon Batiste) Soul is available to stream via Disney+. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lkCCo63nhM I CARE A LOT Last month, we said that Rosamund Pike may not end up with many shiny statuettes for her efforts in I Care a Lot. We also said that her Golden Globe nomination was thoroughly well-deserved. The Radioactive and Gone Girl star is stellar in a tricky part in a thorny film — because this dark comic-thriller isn't here to play nice. Pike plays Marla Grayson, a legal guardian to as many elderly Americans as she can convince the courts to send her way. She's more interested in the cash that comes with the job, however, rather than actually looking after her charges. Indeed, with her girlfriend and business partner Fran (Eiza González, Bloodshot), plus an unscrupulous doctor on her payroll, she specifically targets wealthy senior citizens with no family, gets them committed to her care, packs them off to retirement facilities and plunders their bank accounts. Then one such ploy catches the attention of gangster Roman Lunyov (Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones), who dispatches his minions to nudge Marla in a different direction. She isn't willing to acquiesce, though, sparking both a game of cat and mouse and a showdown. Dinklage makes the most of his role, too, but I Care a Lot is always the icy Pike's movie. Well, hers and writer/director J Blakeson's (The Disappearance of Alice Creed), with the latter crafting a takedown of capitalism that's savagely blunt but also viciously entertaining. GLOBES Won: Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy (Rosamund Pike) I Care a Lot is available to stream via Amazon Prime Video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Rsa4U8mqkw BORAT SUBSEQUENT MOVIEFILM Of all the twists and turns that 2020 delivered, the arrival of a new Borat movie ranked among the most unexpected. Watching Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery of Prodigious Bribe to American Regime for Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan, however, it's obvious why the famed fictional Kazakh journalist made a comeback at that very moment — that is, just before the US election. Once again, Borat travels to America. Once again, he traverses the country, interviewing everyday people and exposing the abhorrent views that have become engrained in US society. Where its 2006 predecessor had everyone laughing along with it, though, there's also an uneasy and even angry undercurrent to Borat Subsequent Moviefilm that's reflective of these especially polarised times. It's worth noting that Sacha Baron Cohen's last project, 2018 TV series Who Is America?, also used the comedian's usual interview technique to paint a picture of the US today, and the results were as astute as they were horrifying. There are plenty of jokes in Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, which bases its narrative around Borat's attempt to gift his 15-year-old daughter (instant scene-stealer Maria Bakalova) to Vice President Mike Pence and then ex-New York mayor Rudy Giuliani to help get Kazakhstan's own leader into President Donald Trump's good graces, but this is the unflinching work of a star passionate about making a statement. GLOBES Won: Best Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy, Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy (Sacha Baron Cohen) Nominated: Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy (Maria Bakalova) Borat Subsequent Moviefilm is available to stream now via Amazon Prime Video. SMALL SCREEN BINGES https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcqItifbNUA SMALL AXE British filmmaker Steve McQueen hasn't directed a bad movie — and, even after dropping five new features as part of the Small Axe anthology, that hasn't changed. The director of Hunger, Shame, 12 Years a Slave and Widows gifts viewers a quintet of films that are as exceptional as anything he's ever made, with every entry in this new series taking place in England, in the 60s, 70s and 80s, with London's West Indian community at its centre. The first, Mangrove, tells an infuriating true tale about a police campaign to target a Caribbean restaurant in Notting Hill. From there, Lovers Rock spends time at a house party as two attendees dance into each other's orbits, and Red, White and Blue follows a young forensic scientist who decides to join the force to change from the inside. Next, Alex Wheatle explores the life of the award-winning writer of the same name, while Education unpacks unofficial moves to segregate children of colour in schools. There's no weak link here — only stunning, stirring, standout cinema that tells blistering tales about Black London residents doing everything it takes to resist their racist treatment. Every film is sumptuously shot, too, thanks to cinematographer Shabier Kirchner (Bull), and the cast spans everyone from Lost in Space's Shaun Parkes and Black Panther's Letitia Wright to Star Wars' John Boyega. GLOBES Won: Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Supporting Role (John Boyega) Nominated: Best Television Limited Series, Anthology Series or Motion Picture Made for Television All five Small Axe films are available to stream via Binge. It's streaming soon in NZ. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3u7EIiohs6U TED LASSO What do Parks and Recreation, Wellington Paranormal and Ted Lasso all have in common? They're all stellar examples of kind-hearted TV sitcoms that are an absolute delight to watch. By now, the first two aforementioned shows have already established a legion of fans, but the third series listed above — a 2020 newcomer — definitely belongs in the same company even just based on its ten episodes so far. Starring a gloriously optimistic Jason Sudeikis as the titular character, the comedy follows its main figure during a period of transition. A college-level American football coach, he's just been hired by struggling English Premier League team AFC Richmond, despite having zero knowledge of soccer. He's actually been recruited for the role by the club's new owner, Rebecca Welton (Hannah Waddingham, Game of Thrones), who received the organisation as part of her divorce settlement and is determined to tank it to spite her slimy ex (Buffy the Vampire Slayer's Anthony Stewart Head). For much of his career, Sudeikis has excelled at playing thorny, jerkish characters (see: the terrific Colossal) who initially seem likeable. And yet, he's pitch-perfect here, and Ted Lasso as a whole proves just as spot-on. Also featuring excellent work from Brett Goldstein (Doctor Who) and Juno Temple (Maleficent: Mistress of Evil) as an ageing player and a young hotshot's girlfriend, this is a smart, funny and warm gem. GLOBES Won: Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series — Musical or Comedy (Jason Sudeikis) Nominated: Best Television Series — Musical or Comedy Ted Lasso is available to stream via Apple TV+. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0uWS6CnC2o SCHITT'S CREEK The idea behind Schitt's Creek is immensely straightforward, and also incredibly obvious. If one of the obscenely wealthy families that monopolises all those trashy reality TV shows was suddenly forced to live without their money, like the rest of us, how would they cope? If you're thinking "not well", you're right. If you're certain that seeing the results would be amusing, you're on the money again. As envisaged by father-son duo — and the program's stars — Eugene and Daniel Levy, that's the scenario the Rose crew finds itself in, including moving to the titular town that it happens to own as a last resort. Yes, as the name gives away, they're in a sticky situation. The adjustment process isn't easy, but it is very, very funny, and remained that way for the show's entire six-season run before wrapping up in 2020. And, although plenty of other credits on her resume have made this plain (such as Best in Show, A Mighty Wind, Waiting for Guffman and For Your Consideration, all also with Eugene Levy), the great Catherine O'Hara is an absolute comedy powerhouse as the Rose family matriarch. She now has both an Emmy and a Golden Globe for her performance here, too. GLOBES Won: Best Television Series — Musical or Comedy, Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series — Musical or Comedy (Catherine O'Hara) Nominated: Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series — Musical or Comedy (Eugene Levy), Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Supporting Role (Dan Levy), Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Supporting Role (Annie Murphy) Schitt's Creek is available to stream via Netflix. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OiXEpminPms THE CROWN When we say that fans of The Crown had been particularly looking forward to the show's fourth season, that isn't meant as a criticism of anything that preceded it. No disrespect is directed towards the regal drama's previous episodes, or to the past cast that took on the program's main roles before an age-appropriate switch was made at the beginning of season three. But, now more than halfway through the program's planned six-season run, this latest chapter focuses on two big showdowns that changed the shape of the royal family in the 80s. Firstly, Queen Elizabeth II (Oscar-winner Olivia Colman) and British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher (The X-Files icon Gillian Anderson) don't quite see eye to eye, to put it mildly. Also, with Prince Charles' (God's Own Country's Josh O'Connor) marriage to Lady Diana Spencer (Pennyworth's Emma Corrin) a big plot point, the latter clashes with the entire royal establishment. Among a cast that also includes Helena Bonham Carter (Enola Holmes) and Tobias Menzies (Outlander), Colman, Anderson, O'Connor and Corrin are all exceptional — and in a show that's always been buoyed by its performances, that's saying something. GLOBES Won: Best Television Series — Drama, Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series — Drama (Emma Corrin), Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series — Drama (Josh O'Connor), Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Supporting Role (Gillian Anderson) Nominated: Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series — Drama (Olivia Colman), Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Supporting Role (Helena Bonham Carter) The Crown is available to stream via Netflix. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDrieqwSdgI THE QUEEN'S GAMBIT In much of The Queen's Gambit, Beth Harmon sits at a chessboard. As a child (Isla Johnston), she demands that orphanage janitor Mr Shaibel (Bill Camp, The Outsider) teach her the game. As a teenager (Anya Taylor-Joy, Radioactive), she earns a reputation as a chess prodigy. As her confidence and fame grows, she demonstrates her prowess at tournaments around America and the globe, while also spending her spare time hunched over knights, rooks, bishops and pawns studying moves and tactics. None of the above sounds like innately thrilling television unless you're a chess grandmaster, but this seven-part miniseries proves that you should never judge a show by its brief description. Based on the novel of the same name by Walter Tevis, written and directed by Oscar-nominee Scott Frank (Out of Sight, Logan), and dripping with lavish 50s and 60s decor and costuming to reflect its period setting, The Queen's Gambit doesn't expect that all its viewers will be chess aficionados; however, it's made with a canny awareness that anything can be tense, suspenseful and involving — and that every different type of game there is says much about its players and devotees. The series doesn't lack in creative and inventive ways to depict chess on-screen. It knows when to hang on every single move of a pivotal game, and when to focus on the bigger story surrounding a particular match or Beth path through the chess world in general. And it's especially astute at illustrating how a pastime based on precision and strategy offers an orphaned girl a way to control one lone aspect of her tumultuous and constantly changing life. GLOBES Won: Best Television Limited Series, Anthology Series or Motion Picture Made for Television, Best Performance by an Actress in a Limited Series, Anthology Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television (Anya Taylor-Joy) The Queen's Gambit is available to stream via Netflix. Read our full review.
Death and vengeance are the common threads in Damián Szifron’s Wild Tales, one of the most deliriously savage black comedies to hit cinemas in years. Argentina’s nomination to the most recent Foreign Language Oscar race, the film consists of six separate vignettes, following six everyday people driven to the point of no return. The ensuing mayhem resembles the spawn of the Coen Brothers, Almodovar, Tarantino and Bunuel; a wicked tour de force as sharp as a corkscrew and every bit as twisted. Anthology films can be a risky proposition, particularly when one or more segments falls short. Thankfully, that’s not the case here. Yes, every viewer will have their favourite (personally, I loved the opener), but even the ‘weaker’ episodes are catapulted along by an almost maniacal sense of escalation. Whether it’s a wealthy couple trying to cover up their son’s indiscretions, a lowly waitress taking revenge on the man who ruined her family or just two drivers struck down by a serious case of road rage, every chapter in the film is propelled by a wonderful inevitability: eventually, everything will be thrown horribly, hysterically and often violently out of control. And believe it or not, there’s actually method to Szifron’s madness — an intelligence lurking beneath all that wonderful chaos. The cathartic pleasure we feel watching his characters rebel against what’s socially (and ethically) acceptable comes directly from our own frustrations with the everyday world. Bureaucracy, class inequality and male impotence are but a few of the film’s more pointed areas of exploration, and while we’re hesitant to suggest that the people in the film get what’s coming to them, poetic justice certainly tends to prevail. Many of the shorts also offer a thinly veiled criticism of the country’s endemic political corruption, although you certainly don’t need to live in Argentina for that to strike a chord. The script is matched by top-notch technical specs, with crisp cinematography and eye-catching production design along with some extremely memorable music choices. The cast is likewise terrific across the board, although particular praise must go to Rita Cortese as a burly cook and Erica Rivas as a seriously pissed-off bride. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTXKTj4XCs8
In Italy, rather than having a national dish (spaghetti and pizza hold the title to those outside of Italy), each region has a speciality. You'll find an abundance of the particular product served in the osterias and tavola caldas of the region (only the locals know where to find the very best) and it would be a crime not to order the dish. For obvious reasons, this concept doesn't really exist in Sydney; instead we have a wonderful diversity of cuisines. However, the Italians certainly know what they are doing – eating only the most simple, fresh ingredients, served in a fairly untouched way. The Buffalo Dining Club is doing exactly this; it is a little piece of Campania (a region in southern Italy) dropped into the backstreets of Darlinghurst. As you can probably guess, buffalo mozzarella and buscata (a mozzarella that is mixed with cream in the middle, tied up like a money bag and much softer than the buffalo variety). For $17, you order one of the cheeses and two vegetable sides (each one is $5 after that). With options like Balsamic Carrots, Portobello Mushrooms, Chargrilled Broccolini and Marinated Fennel it is a seriously tough choice. Order it with the Prosciutto or San Daniele (bought by the gram) and you have, in my eyes, a perfect meal. With crunchy little breadsticks, I could eat this meal three times over, every night of the week. If you're not quite full yet, there is pasta of the day, a burger or salad. Wash it down with a Trumer pils or a glass of wine (stick with the Trumer, apparently the wine list is a work-in-progress but it is expensive and not very inventive, or Italian for that matter) and you'll be patting your belly and whispering 'mamma mia.' It would have been one of the best food experiences I'd had in a long time but unfortunately the acoustics upstairs aren't great and the service is a little lacking. The good news is, these things are ironed out over time so don't hesitate, get in there before everyone finds out about and the lines stretch around the corner to Una's. If you're not a huge fan of Italian food, this may not be the restaurant for you, as the menu is small and simple. If the above appeals, be wiping away tears of joy when you visit this ingenious new venture by the Sticky boys. Images: Kimberley Low.
New South Wales' Three Blue Ducks is crossing state borders and laying down roots along the Brisbane River. The eatery has just been announced as the signature restaurant at the soon-to-launch W Brisbane this April. Set in the luxury hotel, the design will hone in on Queensland's laidback vibe and complement the brand's paddock-to-plate ethos by featuring earthy tones, hanging greenery and the use of raw materials. The restaurant is part of the lush new Brisbane Quarter development, which is slated to include an office tower, apartments and two levels of retail. Famed chefs Darren Robertson, Andy Allen and Mark LaBrooy will be serving up their signature menu of sustainably and ethically sourced eats all day, with the seasonal menu featuring local produce from both Queensland and northern New South Wales. The kitchen features a woodfired oven, a rotisserie and charcoal pit, along with a cold seafood section with Moreton Bay bugs, spanner crab and oysters on offer. Many of the venue's much loved dishes will also make an appearance, including the coal-roasted lamb with parsnip puree, burnt shallots and fresh peas; the crab scramble with green mango, bean shoot salad, house-made Sriracha and cashews; and the corn fritters with guacamole, fermented cabbage, herb salad, labneh and poached eggs. For drinks, they're slinging original cocktails, local craft beers and top-notch coffees, just like they do down south. "When approached by W Hotel to embark on a Three Blue Ducks venture in Brisbane, it was important to us to ensure that we shared the same values and sustainable business practices," says the brand's co-owner, Jeff Bennett. "Although our current venues greatly differ in aesthetic, our philosophy and ethos remain very much the same and we can't wait to work alongside W Brisbane with views over the Brisbane River." W Brisbane is set to open at 81 North Quay, Brisbane on March 15, with Three Blue Ducks opening in April. For more info on the hotel, visit the website.
Neil Perry's new Cantonese restaurant, Jade Temple, is all set to open in the original site of Rockpool Est. 1989. Open for business on Monday, July 3, the restaurant is the latest in what seems to be a neverending string of openings from the Rockpool Dining Group, who announced back in March that they'd be replacing the short-lived Eleven Bridge with a Cantonese restaurant. The fine dining establishment will feature classic dishes with an Australian produce twist and a tiki-style cocktail list to boot. The familiar sounding name is no coincidence — Jade Temple will act as the sister restaurant to Spice Temple, which is also contained in the group's portfolio. The redesign of the 11 Bridge Street space has been taken on by designer Grant Cheyne, who has been on Perry's payroll for some time, having also designed Rockpool Est. 1989 and Burger Project, as well as the Rockpool Bar & Grill and Spice Temple locations across Australia. The Jade Temple fitout features two cast iron Chinese guardian lions, traditional Chinese artwork and imported Chinese light fittings, including custom-designed chandeliers and handmade bamboo shades. The kitchen is located behind folding screens and comes complete with a duck drying cabinets and live seafood tanks. The space is also fitted with separate mezzanine and bar areas that are cosy and more intimate spaces for pre-dinner drinks or snacks. The menu focuses on classic dishes that use sustainable Australian produce, featuring dishes like char siu, whole roast duck, lemon chicken, sweet and sour pork and honey prawns, along with fresh seafood served with a variety of Cantonese sauces. For lunch, a menu of dumplings, steamed buns and wontons will be on offer. In proper Lazy Susan family style, all dishes are designed to share, though of course they'll be more high-end than your corner Chinese shop, with banquet menus on offer for $75-95 per person. On the drinks side, the Cantonese-inspired cocktails are made using house-made ingredients, syrups and infusions to achieve a 'Chinese-tiki' spin. They're also named after mythical characters from Chinese folklore, adding a touch of kitsch to the venue. The colossal wine list includes 300 labels from around the world with a focus on regions that pair nicely with Cantonese food — think whites from Austria, Germany and France's Loire Valley and reds from Burgundy and Rhone Valley. A selection of loose-leaf Chinese teas, infusions and tisanes will also be on offer. Jade Temple will open Monday, July 3 at 11 Bridge Street, Sydney.
We love it when art takes over the city, and the Biennale of Sydney does it better than anyone else. Perhaps Australia's best-known contemporary art event, the Sydney Biennale will take place for the 21st time in 2018 with 70 leading local and international artists presenting work across seven of Sydney's top-notch galleries, museums and unconventional spaces. A free exhibition, the Biennale of Sydney is held from Friday, March 16 until Monday, June 11. As per the first announcement, provocative Chinese artist Ai Weiwei is the headline act, which comes off the back of his 2016 double-bill exhibition alongside the works of Andy Warhol at the National Gallery of Victoria — the highest selling event in the gallery's history. At the Sydney Opera House, Weiwei will screen his new feature-length cinematic documentary Human Flow, which explores the global refugee crisis across 23 countries in a single year. He'll also install a 60-metre-long inflatable boat on Cockatoo Island, which will be made from the same materials as the boats used by asylum seekers crossing the Aegean Sea. Meanwhile, there's French multimedia artist Laurent Grasso, whose art considers science and the supernatural; the sculptural works of South Korean artist Haegue Yang who transforms space with found and forged objects; British artist Oliver Beer uses the human voice to take over the Opera House for his acclaimed Resonance Project; and Sydney's own Yasmin Smith takes to Cockatoo Island to create a ceramics studio, an open-air kiln and a new installation that's finished in a hand-made wood ash glaze. The first biennale under the leadership of recently appointed artistic director Mami Kataoka, 2018's event is based around the idea of 'superposition', a quantum mechanics term that refers to often-paradoxical and overlapping events. While it's a tad hard to explain, Kataoka says the 2018 biennale's artists have been chosen for their work's power to "offer a panoramic view of how opposing interpretations can come together in a state of equilibrium". With three months to check out the work of so many great artists, there's no reason why you can't spend autumn cramming in as much art as you can handle. It's all free to attend. Image: Letícia Almeida.
The woodfired breads at Cherry Moon are so good, the bakery regularly sells out. But inner west locals don't just flock to the venue for its doughy goods, the cafe and general store also has impressive house-made ferments, pickles and tasty brunch fare. The 20-seat venue is run by long-time hospitality vet and pastry chef Kimmy Gastmeier (Rockpool, Tetsuya's and The Porteño Group) and her friend Aimee Graham, with a little help from Aimee's husband Kenny Graham (Mary's Underground, The Lansdowne and The Unicorn) and the rest of the Mary's Group. Fed up with the Sydney hospo scene, Gastmeier left for the Blue Mountains some years ago, where she started the Cherry Moon brand by baking her goods out of hired kitchens. But now, Cherry Moon finally has a permanent home — and Gastmeier and Graham are doing things the old-school way. "I'm interested in artisanal food, woodfiring and staying true to the traditions of whole foods," says Gastmeier, who purchased a traditional scotch oven from an old Ballarat bakery (made way back in 1869) for the shop and rebuilt it with a master oven builder. "A lot of people were coming in and thinking we're a regular cafe," says Gastmeier. "But we're more of a bakery and the menu really showcases the oven." All of the bread is made using ancient grains like emmer and spelt, along with stone-ground flour from Gunnedah's Wholegrain Milling Company. The team also roasts whole pumpkins in the fire embers and smokes potatoes in whey, which is leftover from the house-made ricotta (served wrapped in fig leaf) and cultured butter. Apart from all the bread, Cherry Moon is also baking pastries, galettes, fruit tarts and seasonal tarte tatin, along with Italian-style cream puffs. Portuguese custard tarts are cooked in the woodfired oven, too, as are sourdough pizzas. A small cafe menu is also up for grabs and includes the likes of sourdough topped with avocado, tomato, basil and finger lime; and plates of woodfired cauliflower served with burrata, harissa, fermented zucchini and cashew and chickpea cream. Charcuterie and ploughman's lunches are also on the docket for the near future. On the general store shelves, you'll find Aimee Graham's fermented goods, such as sauerkraut, kimchi, keffir and tonics. Other drinks include coffee by Newtown's 212 Blu, a house chai blend and cold-pressed orange and green juices. And, to round out this already impressive offering, Cherry Moon is also scooping ice cream made in-house using all native and foraged ingredients — at the moment, there are fig leaf and saffron, wattle seed, plum and fennel pollen, and peach melba varieties. "I want it to feel like you're stepping back in time to grandma's kitchen," says Gastmeier. "So everything is served on beautiful old crockery, plates and silverware, and there's a lot of 1960s bric-a-brac." Speaking of grandmothers, it was Gastmeier's grandma who put her through chef's school at the age of 16, and the Cherry Moon logo is in her handwriting. Images: Kitti Gould Appears in: The Best Bakeries in Sydney for 2023
Film buffs of Sydney, prepare to spend a whole lot of time in Double Bay. In the near future, heading to the eastern harbourside suburb to catch a movie or ten will become a reality thanks to Palace Cinemas' brand new location. Don't go jumping on a bus or train just yet, though — the just-announced site is still a couple of years away. In fact, an exact timeline for the Cross Street development hasn't been revealed, however, the new movie house will take over a space that's currently a carpark, and form part of a broader retail and residential precinct. Expect Palace to continue to showcase a lineup of arthouse and international fare, and add a new stopover to the itinerary of their many film fests (including Italian, British, Spanish, Latin American, American indie and Scandinavian-focused events), too. The state-of-the-art Double Bay venue isn't the only change that the cinema chain is making in New South Wales, with Palace Verona replacing its seating by the end of this year and upping their screens to eight by December 2017. Plus, up in Byron Bay, Palace is the middle of a revamp that will bring a nine-screen complex to the beachside town by 2018. The news of another cinema joining Sydney's array of film-going hotspots — and more screens being added to existing locations — is a far cry from the days when everyone one was worried about picture palaces dying out, and predicting that we'd all be spending our time streaming flicks on our phones. Okay, so the second part has actually come true, but the joy that comes from sitting in a darkened theatre, watching a film projected onto a giant screen and sharing the experience with a room full of strangers really isn't going anywhere. Instead, it's coming to even more places. If that's not cause for a celebratory trip to the movies, we don't know what is. Palace Cinemas opens in Double Bay soon, opening date TBC.
Kween Yonce is about to tower over Melbourne. A skyscraper inspired by Beyonce’s fierce aesthetics in the 'Ghost' video clip is set to be built near Melbourne’s Southern Cross Station. Although 'Beyonce' is not yet a recognised religion (give it time), the 76-storey tower will pay homage to the mother of us all by mimicking her monochromatic twists and turns in 'Ghost'. The 13012 Premier Tower will house retail space and hotel rooms as well as apartments and creates those curves with an innovative vertical cantilever system designed to make Beyonce fans weep (and effectively redistribute mass and stabilise the building but whatever). The tower has been designed by the architectural firm Elenberg Fraser, who have a monopoly on the chic apartment market; they're responsible for 42 percent of the apartments under construction in Melbourne right now and we're stoked they're Beyonce fans too (can we please have a 'Crazy In Love' apartment block next?). It may just be a marketing strategy but if so, boy do they have our number. We would love to live inside Beyonce. And we can even discern some graceful and svelte curves in the initial renderings of the 13012 Premier Tower. It’s a case of art mimicking life and who better to mimic than the Kween herself. Bow down bitches. Via The Guardian. Images: Elenberg Fraser.
The 20th annual Sydney Writers' Festival will return from May 22 through May 28, with a bold 2017 lineup. This year's theme, 'refuge', is particularly timely and we're intrigued to see what new artistic director Michaela McGuire has in store. This year's festival will offer up 400 events with over 450 writers across greater Sydney, as well as 27 writing workshops. On the docket this year are Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists Susan Faludi and Thomas Friedman, 2016 Booker Prize winner Pail Beatty and The New York Times Book Review's Pamela Paul. Australian writer Saroo Brierley, the subject of recent Oscar-nominated film Lion will also be in attendance, alongside feminist writer Roxane Gay, crime writer Ian Rankin, debut novelist Brit Bennett, Slate's Culture Gabfest team Stephen Metcalf, Dana Stevens and Julia Turner, My Dad Wrote a Porno's Jamie Morton, novelist Ha Jin, prize-winning author Anne Enright, memoirist Hisham Mitar. Also on the bill, Clementine Ford, Candice Fox, Nikki Gemmell, Stan Grant, Andy Griffiths, Melina Marchetta and more. This year, a day of the festival will also be dedicated to young adult fiction at Parramatta's Riverside Theatres on Saturday, May 27. If you don't live in Sydney, you can still participate through the Live and Local streaming program, which will bring the festival into an additional 30 community venues across each of Australia's states and territories. Tickets are now on sale, with nearly half of the the program free to enter.
While Reykjavik is praised for its "ability to make the most of an inhospitable climate", Auckland for its "unbelievably friendly folk", Budapest for "music... not just concerts, but in the streets, on the radio, and in cafés," and "wonderful pubs filled with laughter", Sydney has taken out the top spot as the friendliest city in the world. Run as a Reader’s Choice award by Condé Nast Traveler and focused on how a visitor feels in each city, the Friendliest and Unfriendliest City in the World poll asks readers to submit reviews of each city with a focus on the overall warm fuzzies generated by their experience. “Everything from location (no one likes an airport city) and political perception (everyone watches the news) to size and basic language barriers can make a destination unattractive to tourists and be a factor in their evaluation of a place’s ‘friendliness’," according to CN. Sydney's been praised for its people skills, regardless of what you might see on George Street any day of the week. "Such friendly people," enthused one voting reader. "So much so that after we met an Australian woman on our flight there, she offered to pick us up at our hotel and spent a whole day showing us her favourite parts of the city." Sydney earned snaps for the Bridgeclimb, the Cruise Like a Local Sydney Harbour boat tour, and Bonza Bike Tours got a big ol' high five as "a great way to see some of the lesser-known sights." Overall, readers found simply "nothing to not like" in Sydney, although importantly, all mentioned experiences are tourist-focused. Last year's friendliest winners were tied: Melbourne and Auckland. Sydney came in at number five; tied with Dublin, who just narrowly missed out on the top spot this year. Of course, Sydney was supremely modest about it. Ha! IN YOUR FACE @dubcitycouncil!! We're the friendliest city in the world! http://t.co/T1WgOPUVu7 via @CNTraveler pic.twitter.com/9rIafVZ59o — City of Sydney (@cityofsydney) August 18, 2015 Australia and New Zealand have done pretty nicely on worldwide city rankings of late — the Great Barrier Reef nabbed #2 on Lonely Planet's Ultimate Travelist and Melbourne ranked #1 Most Liveable City on the Economist Intelligence Unit's (EIU) liveability survey. So Sydney's apparently the friendliest, Melbourne's the most liveable, what do you reckon? CONDE NAST'S 2015 FRIENDLIEST CITIES IN THE WORLD: 10. Reykjavik, Iceland 9. Auckland, New Zealand 8. Budapest, Hungary 7. Kyoto, Japan 6. Edinburgh, Scotland 5. Bruges, Belgium 4. Kraków, Poland 3. Queenstown, New Zealand 2. Dublin, Ireland 1. Sydney, Australia But what of the jerks? The Unfriendliest Cities in the World side of things is a little hairier, with no Australian or New Zealand cities making the cut for another year. Up high. Cannes was dissed for being expensive and "bloated simply by the prestige of its famed film festival," while Jakarta was called "dirty and congested," despite gaining praise for its food.” Moscow got a bad wrap for "dour, unfriendly people" and "deplorable traffic", while Nairobi was flagged as "dangerous and volatile". But Caracas, Venezuela took out the top unfriendly spot as a place of "rampant crime, a scarcity of basic necessities, and a poor quality of life." CONDE NAST'S 2015 UNFRIENDLIEST CITIES IN THE WORLD: 10. Cannes, France 9. Jakarta, Indonesia 8. Moscow, Russia 7. Cairo, Egypt 6. New Delhi, India 5. Nairobi, Kenya 4. Guatemala City, Guatemala 3. Guangzhou, China 2. Casablanca, Morocco 1. Caracas, Venezuela Via Condé Nast Traveler. Image: Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel.
Art buffs and those who enjoy being in the buff will love Nude Live, an orgy of art and dance put on by Sydney's peak cultural bodies, Sydney Dance Company and the Art Gallery of NSW. A ticket to Nude Live buys you entry into the gallery's current exhibition, Nude: Art from the Tate Collection, where you'll be confronted with fleshy masterworks by renowned artists such as Picasso, Matisse, Bacon and Rodin. As part of the experience, you'll also be confronted by some real-life dangly bits too, as a troupe of naked dancers pose, parade and perform, responding to the themes explored in the exhibition. (It's all strictly artistic mind you, so leave the dolla bills at home yeah?) If you're already starting to feel a little constrained by your clothes, there's also a nudist session on Jan 23, which gives you plenty of time to book in that spray tan. Head along to the gallery after-hours for Nude at Night to complete your de-robed experience. This is a world premiere show at Sydney Festival 2017. Check out more world firsts coming to the festival over here. Images: Pedro Greig.
The man who conquered Melbourne’s laneways has set his eyes on the sky. Co-creator of Laneway Festival and the man behind Thousand Pound Bend, Ponyfish Island and Sister Bella, Jerome Borazio will stake his claim to a prime piece of high-altitude Melbourne real estate, with an upscale camping ground on the Melbourne Central roof set to open on May 20. "I was literally just looking at the building, and I had this idea," Borazio tells us. "I’ve worked with Melbourne Central on and off on projects for five or six years now, and I know they’ve been trying to activate it, so I knew the space was available. But I wasn’t just going to put another pop-up restaurant or pop-up bar up there." Christening the project St. Jerome’s – The Hotel, Borazio promises "five-star intelligent design" and "high level personalised service" to go along with panoramic views of the Melbourne skyline. The accommodation consists of 30 canvas bell tents, with a combination of standard 'rooms' and suites. There's the 'Luxe' (a four-metre Homecamp bell tent) and 'Luxe Plus' (five-metre Homecamp bell tent, with mini-bar, electric blankets and heating) option to pick from, both fitted out with pretty stunning bed linen from Linen House's latest collection — and they'll provide you with one of their fluffy white robes too. Guests will have access to a range of amenities including 24-hour concierge service, free wi-fi, a guest-only communal lawn area, complimentary breakfast hampers, morning coffee by Plantation, goodies from the Swisse Body Care range and free Tai Chi and meditation sessions every morning. The St. Jerome’s – The Hotel General Store will be stocked up with everything from postcards to bed socks, amenities to Laurent Perrier Champagne, Victorian wines from Treasury Estate to Melbourne-based Fire Drum Vodka (yeah, not your average camping ground kiosk). The five-star trappings also mean a five-star bill, and Borazio says prices would start from around $330. That puts it about in line with other high-end CBD accommodation, but a tad more expensive than just pitching a tent in your own backyard. But this is a pretty unique stay in a significantly epic setting. The Melbourne Central rooftop has seen sporadic use over the years, and was recently home to a pop-up tennis court during last year’s Australian Open. The space is expected to open for business on May 20, and Borazio remains undeterred by Melbourne’s notorious winter weather. "We actually think it’s quite romantic," he says. "You’ll be in the tent, hearing the rain on the canvas. It's a pretty unique experience." St Jerome’s – The Hotel currently intends to occupy the space for a limited time only. St. Jerome's — The Hotel opens on May 20. Stay glued to their Facebook page for more updates.
Portraits aren’t all regal furs and awkward “Oh, didn’t see you there,” poses. They can be weird, abstract, figurative, unrecognisable, or downright adorable. That last one sums up French-born Sydney artist Bruno Jean Grasswill's portrait of Australian actor and The Castle legend Michael Caton, winner of the 2015 Packing Room Prize and one of the finalists for the Archibald Prize, announced today. One of 47 artworks picked as Archie finalists in the Art Gallery of New South Wales' annual Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prizes, Grasswill's portrait of Caton took home a Packing Room cash prize of $1500, judged by the gallery staff who receive, unpack and hang the entries. There's no jousting sticks in sight, but we're pretty sure this one's going to go straight to a lucky gallery's pool room. Caton apparently congratulated the AGNSW packing room staff “on their excellent taste in art.” What a boss. After 832 Archibald, 653 Wynne and 518 Sulman entries, this year, these 47 Archibald finalists are the top tier of artists trying to make us wake up and pay attention (whether for great or WTF reasons) to Australia’s big ol’ faces. It's not an easy task; capturing a realistic, unrelentingly vulnerable likeness of your own reflection, someone you’ve just met or one of your oldest buds takes a fair few stories, maybe a few beers and a willingness to tackle the intimidating notion of thinking up something new after decades of Archie winners. There's a few standouts for us this year, which you can see when the exhibition opens to the public on July 18. There's this striking portrait of Australian fashion designer Jenny Kee by Carla Fletcher: This pretty damn impressive self portrait of Australian artist and political activist Richard Bell: Adam Alcorn's sharply figurative portrait of Sydney award-winning writer, comedian, podcaster and radio host Alice Fraser: Julian Meagher's candy-coloured portrait of Daniel Johns: And Stewart MacFarlane's got Corey Bernadi holding some kind of whip? The Archibald Prize exhibition opens to the public at the AGNSW on Saturday, July 18. To view all the Archibald, Sulman and Wynne finalists, head over here. Images: Archibald Prize, AGNSW.
If you’re one of those picky coffee connoisseurs whose beverage requires roasting by a particular machine, milk from a certain cow, frothing at the hands of a special barista and ritualistic dances by the full moon, there’s now a place for you. It’s called Haven Café and you’ll find it at 30-34 Chalmers Street, Surry Hills, right near Central Station. Regardless of how fussy you are, your specifications will be embraced with open arms — because Haven’s bringing tailored coffee to Sydney. Its chief mission is to provide every single customer with a drink designed around their set of taste buds. Not only are milk type and brewing styles taken into consideration, you’re also asked to outline what you like in terms of acidity, sweetness, aroma, body, even aftertaste. Yep, for not one microsecond are you to experience a lack of personalised satisfaction. The coffee heavy behind this operation is one Mr Bruno Koo, ex-judge of the sensory section at the Hong Kong station of the World Barista Championship. He wants Sydneysiders to think of our coffee as more than just a desperate morning hit. "Through our coffee tailoring, we are redefining how [they] treat their coffee, from a routine drink to something with higher expectations," he said in a media statement. "We dare to remind coffee lovers that they deserve a better cup of craftsmanship, prompting them not to limit their coffee experience." To match the experience, Haven has an all-day menu on offer, inspired by "rustic elegance". Expect healthy ingredients, big flavours and influences from both East and West. Head chef Thomas Taylor said, "We can’t wait to see the surprised faces from our customers who try our food. The Drunken Chicken Kale Caesar, Pork Belly Kimcheese Burger and Masfogato (an upgraded affogato) are the must-try dishes — along with my baked sweets." Haven Café is open at 30-34 Chalmers Street, Surry Hills with a full menu Monday to Friday between 7am and 4pm, and on weekends for pastries and drinks only between 8am and 4pm.
Those final-round, half-popped remnants of the once-brimming popcorn bag have a solid fan base it seems, with two companies (two!) now selling bags of almost-there popcorn. Washington-based company HalfPops and Minnesota-based company Pop'd Kerns have decided that fully-popped kernels are wildly overrated, now selling half-popped corn as an actual snack. Their premature little bag buddies make for quite the potentially teeth-breaking snack, selling 170-gram bags at over 2000 locations America-wide and online (not for international delivery yet, so we'll have to live with the few skerricks in our popcorn bags for now). How the companies purposely half-pop the corn isn't made entirely clear on either of their websites, so we're willing to conjure up an image of the team hiding behind unsuspecting popcorn eaters and stealing their bags when they're almost done. Hiiiiiissssss, the sweet, sweet half-popped gold! The partially-popped friends made a strong appearance at New York City's Summer Fancy Food Show, the city's first ever specialty food week. Taking over NYC's Javits Centre from June 28 to 30, the inaugural SFFS15 nabbed the title of largest specialty food trade event in North America; a leading showcase of food industry innovation. For three days, American foodies found themselves surrounded by the newest and weirdest edible developments in the game. Half-popped corn wasn't the only thing turning heads at SFFS15. Probably the most grown-up type of ice cream in the freezer, wine ice cream is the work of an upstate New York dairy called Mercer's. Don't think this is simply wine-flavoured, these creamy, creamy confections have up to five percent alcohol. Other 'fancy foods' making waves at the specialty food week included the controversial maple water, tomato butter and the retch-inducing camel milk. Like, milked from a camel. Yeesh. Via The Kitchn.
Semi Permanent, Australia's three-day touring seminar that covers big ideas around design, tech, digital landscapes and the future of the internet, has announced a straight-up cray-cray 2016 lineup featuring speakers from Google, Uber, Netflix and Facebook. If you're in the market for some solid advice from the new generation of entrepreneurs, this is the event for you (you know you're growing up when the idea of a three-day seminar is more exciting than the idea of a three-day music festival, hey). Carriageworks is hosting the epic annual event in May and while tickets are a little pricey ($340 for a general admission single day ticket), but they always roll out mind-boggling content and installations — plus, the networking opportunities are worth their weight in gold. The theme of 2016 is the future of the internet/technology and the future of travel with two panels dedicated to the exploration of both themes. Speakers will include Hector Ouilhet (head of design research at Google), Dantley Davis (design director at Netflix), Jurgen Spangl (head of design at Atlassian), Ethan Eismann (director of product design at Uber), Jon Lax (director of product design at Facebook) alongside a whole slew of tech wizards an industry bigwigs. They'll be ready and waiting to answer your important questions, like is Steven Avery innocent, is uber legal and does Facebook read my messages. Or, you know, better questions. You'll hear from people who turned their ideas into thriving businesses that challenge the status quo and may just inspire you to pursue that tight app idea you have. The National Institute of Dramatic Art will be there too, hosting workshops on building confidence and engagement when in front of an audience (this will definitely come in handy if you ever have to do a TED talk, which we all will at some point because you're awesome). This massive lineup is only the first wave, so keep your ear to the ground for more. Semi Permanent is happening May 26-28 at Carriageworks. Grab a ticket here.
Sydney's sunsets are about to get a whole lot more dramatic, with the Sydney Opera House this morning announcing that they will light up the sails of the landmark nightly. Tonight it will launch Badu Gili, a new sound and light set in celebration of Australia's First Nations culture. Basically, it's like what the Opera House does for Vivid, but very single night. As the sun goes down each day — and then again at 7pm — the House's iconic sails will be illuminated with a projection of a vibrant seven-minute animation. The animation will explore ancient Indigenous stories, First Nations artworks and stunning soundscapes from Damian Robinson of Wicked Beat Sound System. This new work will build upon Songlines, the visual story projection that curator (and Head of First Nations Programming at the Opera House) Rhonda Roberts launched at Vivid Sydney last year. Badu Gili — which translates to 'water light' in the language of the site's traditional owners, the Gadigal people — launches tonight, Wednesday, June 28. It comes on the eve of NAIDOC Week, and coincides with the world premiere of Bangarra Dance Theatre's new production, Bennelong. Heading up the launch will be a traditional welcome and smoking ceremony from 5.30pm, followed by a performance by the Jannawi Dance Clan. If you can't pop by after work to see Badu Gili tonight, the Opera House will be streaming it on their Facebook page from 5.45pm. Of course, it will be on every night, so you'll have plenty of opportunities to catch it — nightly showing times will be listed here. Images: Daniel Boud.
Like a diamond in the rough, Waterloo stalwart Wild Cockatoo is set in the most unassuming of spots on Botany Road — and it's turning out some of the best sourdough in the city. The bakery's organic bread is lovingly displayed in baskets set atop a massive, wrap-around display case. The sourdough is available in heaps of flavours that change daily, including daily specials such as saltbush, nigella seed, rosemary and potato, raisin and wholemeal. The bakery also bakes baguettes, rolls, flatbreads, flaky meat pies and decadently buttery croissants. Wild Cockatoo is open six days per week until sold out — you can bet it'll sell out. While you wait, be sure to check out the many colourful cockatoos that adorn the walls and have a perfect cup of coffee. Images: Cassandra Hannagan
This winter, Tim Burton's cult classic film Beetlejuice is coming to life on stage at Melbourne's Regent Theatre for Beetlejuice The Musical. Starring Australia's own Eddie Perfect in both the lead role and composer of the original score, the show is as bold, fun and camp as you'd expect. Playing at the Regent Theatre, within the city's unofficial 'East End Theatre District', you'll be at the grand entry point to Melbourne itself with laneways, late-night bars and must-try dining experiences just steps away from the show. Whether you're heading in early for a pre-show drink or looking for some late night flavour and fun, you'll find it all within walking distance. All you have to say is Melbourne, Melbourne, Melbourne. Pellegrini's Espresso Bar If you want to start your evening with a little old-school charm, step into Pellegrini's. This Melbourne institution has been slinging short blacks and lasagne since the '50s, and walking through its doors feels like entering a time warp (in the best way). Just a few minutes' walk from the Regent, it's perfect for a quick espresso or a pre-show bowl of gnocchi. Arlechin Hidden down a laneway just a couple of blocks from the Regent Theatre, Arlechin feels like the kind of bar Beetlejuice himself might have slipped into for a negroni. Open until 1am, at the helm of Melbourne restaurateur and chef, Guy Grossi, this moody late-night Italian bar has a low cork ceiling, dim lighting and impressive wine list. Self-identifying as the meeting place of food, drink and mischief, Arlechin is where you'll want to settle in and debrief the chaos you just witnessed on stage. Kafeneion Over on Spring Street, inside the Melbourne Supper Club building, Kafeneion is a hearty restaurant that oozes character. With its vintage fit-out, simple white table clothes and homemade-style Greek menu, it's the kind of cosy, warm place that wants you to settle in for late night hangouts. Perfect for a long lunch before a matinee or a feast after an evening show. Flinders Lane If you'd rather play things by ear, wander down Flinders Lane (aka Melbourne's unofficial eat street) and you'll quickly see why it's a pre and post-show favourite. From cult fine diners like Cumulus Inc. and Supernormal to classic Melbourne-style cocktail bars in laneway basements, this entire street is packed with options. It's the kind of place where one drink turns into dinner, then dessert, then a nightcap. Curious If you're craving something theatrical on the other side of town, Curious at W Melbourne is your next stop. Located inside an architectural wooden tunnel, the bar itself is a work of art, but it's the drinks that really get you excited. Order something from their 'Elemental Playground' cocktail menu like the 'Honey, I Burnt the Beets' or the 'Checkerboard', each inspired by the elements of earth, water, air, and fire. Experimental, bold and very photo-worthy, it matches Beetlejuice's vibe perfectly. Yaowarat Open until midnight every night with nothing over $16, Yaowarat brings the flavours and energy of Thailand and China to Melbourne's CBD. This spot is great for a no-fuss, high-flavour meal after seeing Beetlejuice The Musical, especially if you're hungry for something spicy and shareable. Order your favourite noodles, grab a cold beer, and soak up the buzzing, neon-lit atmosphere. Siglo Want to get some late-night fresh air? Head to Siglo, the rooftop bar perched above Spring Street. Classic white tablecloths are paired with skyline view and a solid drinks list, making this a great wind-down spot once you've had your fill of the city's non-stop energy. Order a dirty martini and look out over Parliament House as the streets buzz below. Melbourne was made for unforgettable nights. If you're heading to Beetlejuice The Musical, continue the fun beyond the theatre doors. There's no better place to go out and get a little spooky in. Head to visitmelbourne.com.au to discover more of what makes Melbourne. Every bit different. By Jacque Kennedy.
Back in 2018, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced that it was adding a new award to the Oscars for Outstanding Achievement in Popular Film. If you can't remember which flicks have won it, there's a reason for that: the gong was scrapped quickly thanks to a heap of backlash. Across plenty of years since, the reason that that accolade wasn't needed has been proven. Black Panther, Joker, Everything Everywhere All At Once, Oppenheimer and Barbie have all featured heavily among the nominations, for instance — and everything except Barbenheimer so far has notched up wins. Both Christopher Nolan and Greta Gerwig's latest films are among the flicks with the most nominations in 2024, with 13 and eight apiece. They're also massive global box-office hits. So, going into this year's ceremony, you've likely seen at least those two contenders — but if you're wondering where to catch everything else, we've got the rundown. We've predicted who we think will emerge victorious, but the winners will be anointed on Monday, March 11, Down Under time. Right now in Australia, you can catch up with 31 movies that are hoping to score trophies. Some you need to hit the cinema to see. Others you can catch on the couch. With a few, you have the choice of heading out or staying home. From Barbenheimer (of course) and twists on Frankenstein to animated Spider-Man antics and devastating documentaries, here's where to direct your eyeballs. On the Big Screen: Anatomy of a Fall Nominations: Best Picture, Best Director (Justine Triet), Best Actress (Sandra Hüller), Best Original Screenplay, Best Film Editing Our thoughts: A calypso instrumental cover of 50 Cent's 'P.I.M.P.' isn't the only thing that Anatomy of a Fall's audience won't be able to dislodge from their heads after watching 2023's deserving Cannes Film Festival Palme d'Or-winner. A film from writer/director Justine Triet (Sibyl) that's thorny, knotty and defiantly unwilling to give any easy answers, this legal, psychological and emotional thriller about a woman (Sandra Hüller, The Zone of Interest) on trial for her husband's death is unshakeable in as many ways as someone can have doubts about another person: so, a myriad. Where to watch: In Australian cinemas. Read our full review. Four Daughters Nominations: Best Documentary Feature Our thoughts: There's a reason that Four Daughters can't include its entire namesake quartet, with just two appearing on-screen themselves and the other two played by actors. Unlike the younger Eya and Tayssir, the older Rahma and Ghofrane are no longer at home with their mother Olfa; instead, they left their family after becoming radicalised, with Islamic State in Libya their destination. So explores Tunisian filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hania (The Man Who Sold His Skin), in a documentary that's as gripping as it is heartbreaking — and uses recreations with a purpose unlike almost any other movie. Where to watch: In Australian cinemas. May December Nominations: Best Original Screenplay Our thoughts: May December takes inspiration from Mary Kay Letourneau, the teacher who had a sexual relationship with her sixth-grade student in the 90s. A simple recreation was never going to be Todd Haynes' (Dark Waters) approach, however. Starring Julianne Moore (Sharper) and Charles Melton (Riverdale) as its central couple decades after the scandal, plus Natalie Portman (Thor: Love and Thunder) as an actor about to feature in a movie about them, this a savvily piercing film that sees the impact on the situation's victim, the story its perpetrator has spun, and the ravenous way that people's lives are consumed by the media and public. Where to watch: In Australian cinemas. Read our full review. The Zone of Interest Nominations: Best Picture, Best Director (Jonathan Glazer), Best International Feature, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Sound Our thoughts: Quotes and observations about evil being mundane, as well as the result when people look the other way, will never stop being relevant. A gripping, unsettling masterpiece, The Zone of Interest is a window into why. The first film by Sexy Beast, Birth and Under the Skin director Jonathan Glazer in more than a decade, the Holocaust-set and BAFTA-winning feature peers on as the unthinkable happens literally just over the fence, but a family goes about its ordinary life. If it seems abhorrent that anything can occur in the shadow of any concentration camp or site of World War II atrocities, that's part of the movie's point. Where to watch: In Australian cinemas. Read our full review. In Cinemas or at Home: The Holdovers Nominations: Best Picture, Best Actor (Paul Giamatti), Best Supporting Actress (Da'Vine Joy Randolph), Best Original Screenplay, Best Film Editing Our thoughts: Melancholy, cantankerousness, angst, hurt and snow all blanket Barton Academy in Alexander Payne's (Nebraska) The Holdovers. It's Christmas 1970 in New England in this thoughtful story that's given room to breathe and build, but festive cheer is in short supply among the students and staff that give the movie its moniker. Soon, there's just three folks left behind: Angus Tully (debutant Dominic Sessa), whose mother wants more time alone with his new stepdad; curmudgeonly professor Paul Hunham (Paul Giamatti, Billions); and grieving cook Mary Lamb (Da'Vine Joy Randolph, Only Murders in the Building). Where to watch: In Australian cinemas, and streaming via YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. Killers of the Flower Moon Nominations: Best Picture, Best Director (Martin Scorsese), Best Actress (Lily Gladstone), Best Supporting Actor (Robert De Niro), Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, Best Film Editing, Best Original Score, Best Original Song ('Wahzhazhe (A Song For My People)', Scott George), Best Production Design Our thoughts: Death comes to Killers of the Flower Moon quickly. Death comes often, too. While Martin Scorsese will later briefly fill the film's frames with a fiery orange vision, death blazes through his 26th feature from the moment that the picture starts rolling. Adapted from journalist David Grann's 2017 non-fiction novel Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI, this is a masterpiece of a Lily Gladstone (Reservation Dogs)-, Leonardo DiCaprio (Don't Look Up)- and Robert De Niro (Amsterdam)-starring movie about a heartbreakingly horrible spate of deaths sparked by pure and unapologetic greed and persecution a century back. Where to watch: In Australian cinemas, and streaming via Apple TV+, YouTube Movies and Prime Video. Read our full review, and our interview with Martin Scorsese. Poor Things Nominations: Best Picture, Best Director (Yorgos Lanthimos), Best Actress (Emma Stone), Best Supporting Actor (Mark Ruffalo), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, Best Film Editing, Best Makeup and Hairstyling, Best Original Score, Best Production Design Our thoughts: Richly striking feats of cinema by Yorgos Lanthimos aren't scarce, and sublime performances by Emma Stone are hardly infrequent. The Favourite, their first collaboration, ticked both boxes. Screen takes on Mary Shelley's Frankenstein also couldn't be more constant. Combining the three in Poor Things results in a rarity, however: a jewel of a pastel-, jewel- and bodily fluid-toned feminist Frankenstein-esque fairy tale that's a stunning creation, as zapped to life with Lanthimos' inimitable flair, a mischievous air, Stone at her most extraordinary and empowerment blazing like a lightning bolt. Where to watch: In Australian cinemas, and streaming via Disney+, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. Via Streaming: American Fiction Nominations: Best Picture, Best Actor (Jeffrey Wright), Best Supporting Actor (Sterling K Brown), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Original Score Our thoughts: Here's Thelonious 'Monk' Ellison's (Jeffrey Wright, Rustin) predicament when American Fiction begins: on the page, his talents aren't selling books. So, sick of hearing that his work isn't "Black enough", he gets a-typing, pumping out the kind of text that he vehemently hates — but 100-percent fits the stereotype of what the world keeps telling him that Black literature should be. It attracts interest, even more so when Monk adopts a cliched new persona to go with it. Wright is indeed exceptional in this savvy satire of authenticity, US race relations and class chasms, and earns his awards contention for his reactions alone. Where to watch: Streaming via Prime Video. Read our full review. American Symphony Nominations: Best Original Song ('It Never Went Away', Jon Batiste and Dan Wilson) Our thoughts: Jon Batiste has enjoyed a dream career so far, with the musician packing more into his 37 years than most people do in a lifetime. Matthew Heineman's (Retrograde) American Symphony isn't that tale, though. Instead, it spends a year with The Late Show with Stephen Colbert's former bandleader and Soul Oscar-winner — a year where he's nominated for 11 Grammys, and endeavours to compose the symphony that gives this intimate and touching documentary its name. Also shaping the 12 months: in his personal life, grappling with the return of his wife and bestselling author Suleika Jaouad's leukaemia. Where to watch: Streaming via Netflix. Barbie Nominations: Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor (Ryan Gosling), Best Supporting Actress (America Ferrera), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Original Song ('I'm Just Ken', Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt; 'What Was I Made For?', Billie Eilish and Finneas O'Connell), Best Costume Design, Best Production Design Our thoughts: No one plays with a Barbie too hard when the Mattel product is fresh out of the box. The more that the toy is trotted through DreamHouses, though, the more that playing with the plastic fashion model becomes fantastical. Like globally beloved item, like live-action movie bearing its name. Barbie, the film, starts with glowing aesthetic perfection. It's almost instantly a pink-hued paradise for the eyes, and it's also cleverly funny. The longer that it continues, however, the harder and wilder that director Greta Gerwig (Little Women) goes, as does her lead-slash-producer Margot Robbie (Babylon) as Barbie and Ryan Gosling (The Gray Man) as Ken. Where to watch: Streaming via YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. Bobi Wine: The People's President Nominations: Best Documentary Feature Our thoughts: In western countries where democracy is entrenched, the system of government is too easily taken for granted. Bobi Wine: The People's President shows what the fight for a nation that's free, fair and gives its people a voice looks like, chronicling the plight of its titular figure. Bobi Wine was an Ugandan pop star, and a popular one. Then, in response to the autocratic rule of Yoweri Museveni since 1986, he turned to political activism. Filmmakers Moses Bwayo and Christopher Sharp, both first-time directors, also show how important and difficult his quest is — and there isn't a second of this documentary that isn't riveting. Where to watch: Streaming via Disney+. The Color Purple Nominations: Best Supporting Actress (Danielle Brooks) Our thoughts: On the page, stage and screen, The Color Purple's narrative has mostly remained the same, crushing woe, infuriating prejudice and rampant inequity included. Musicals don't have to be cheery, but how does so much brutality give rise to anything but mournful songs? The answer here: by leaning into the rural Georgia-set tale's embrace of hope, resilience and self-discovery. Ghanaian director Blitz Bazawule follows up co-helming Beyoncé's Black Is King by heroing empowerment and emancipation in his iteration of The Color Purple — and while it's easy to see the meaning behind its striving for a brighter outlook. Where to watch: Streaming via YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. The Creator Nominations: Best Sound, Best Visual Effects Our thoughts: Science fiction has never been afraid of unfurling its futuristic visions on the third rock from the sun, but the resulting films have rarely been as earthy as The Creator. Set from 2065 onwards after the fiery destruction of Los Angeles, this tale of humanity clashing with artificial intelligence is visibly awash with technology that doesn't currently exist — and yet the latest movie from Rogue One: A Star Wars Story director Gareth Edwards, which focuses on an undercover military operative Joshua (John David Washington, Amsterdam) tasked with saving the world, couldn't look or feel more authentic and grounded. Where to watch: Streaming via Disney+, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. El Conde Nominations: Best Cinematography Our thoughts: What if Augusto Pinochet didn't die in 2006? What if the Chilean general and dictator wasn't aged 91 at the time, either? What if his story started long before his official 1915 birthdate, in France prior to the French Revolution? What if he's been living for 250 years because he's a literal monster of the undead, draining and terrifying kind? Trust Chilean filmmaking great Pablo Larraín (Ema, Neruda, The Club, No, Post Mortem and Tony Manero) to ask these questions in El Conde, which translates as The Count and marks the latest exceptional effort in a career that just keeps serving up excellent movies. Where to watch: Streaming via Netflix. Read our full review. Elemental Nominations: Best Animated Feature Our thoughts: With Elemental, Pixar is in familiar territory — so much so that this film feels like something that was always destined to happen. Embracing the the studio's now-standard "what if robots, playthings, rats and the like had feelings?, it anthropomorphises fire, water, air and earth, and ponders these aspects of nature having emotions. The result from filmmaker Pete Sohn (The Good Dinosaur) is just-likeable and sweet-enough, despite vivid animation, plus the noblest of aims to survey the immigrant experience, opposites attracting, breaking down cultural stereotypes and borders, and complicated parent-child relationships. Where to watch: Streaming via Disney+, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. The Eternal Memory Nominations: Best Documentary Feature Our thoughts: After The Mole Agent, writer/director Maite Alberdi earns her second Oscar nomination in two successive films for a documentary that's just as layered — but she's no longer telling a caper-esque tale. This time, Augusto Góngora and Paulina Urrutia receive her attention. The former is an ex-former journalist and broadcaster. The latter is an actor and politician. Góngora's diagnosis with Alzheimer's disease sits at the centre of this haunting effort, which focuses on how its central couple endeavour to cope with his memory loss, the role that reflecting on the past has on our present and future, and how love endures. Where to watch: Streaming via DocPlay. Flamin' Hot Nominations: Best Original Song ('The Fire Inside', Diane Warren) Our thoughts: The feature directorial debut of Desperate Housewives actor Eva Longoria, Flamin' Hot is a product film, as Cheetos fans will instantly know. If you've ever wondered how the Frito-Lay-owned brand's spiciest variety came about in the 90s, this energetically made movie provides the answer while itself rolling out a crowd-pleasing formula. Eating the titular snack while you watch is optional, but expect the hankering to arise either way. This story belongs to Richard Montañez (Jesse Garcia, Ambulance) — and it's also an underdog tale, and an account of chasing the American dream, especially when it seems out of reach. Where to watch: Streaming via Disney+. Read our full review. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 Nominations: Best Visual Effects Our thoughts: Arriving to close out a standalone trilogy within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 zooms into the saga's fifth phase with a difference: it's still a quippy comedy, but it's as much a drama and a tragedy as well. Like most on-screen GotG storylines, it's also heist caper — and as plenty of caped-crusader flicks are, within the MCU or not, it's an origin story. The more that a James Gunn-written and -directed Guardians film gets cosy within the usual Marvel template, however, the more that his branch of Marvel's pop-culture behemoth embraces its own personality. Where to watch: Streaming via Disney+, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny Nominations: Best Original Score Our thoughts: Old hat, new whip. No, that isn't Dr Henry Walton 'Indiana' Jones' shopping list, but a description of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. While the fifth film about the eponymous archaeologist is as familiar as Indy films come, it's kept somewhat snapping by the returning Harrison Ford's (Shrinking) on-screen partnership with Phoebe Waller-Bridge (Fleabag). If you've seen one Indy outing in the past 42 years, you've seen the underlying mechanics of every other Indy outing. And yet, watching Ford flashing his crooked smile again, plus his bantering with Waller-Bridge, is almost enough to keep this new instalment from Ford v Ferrari filmmaker James Mangold whirring. Where to watch: Streaming via Disney+, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. Maestro Nominations: Best Picture, Best Actor (Bradley Cooper), Best Actress (Carey Mulligan), Best Cinematography, Best Original Screenplay, Best Makeup and Hairstyling, Best Sound Our thoughts: When a composer pens music, it's the tune that they want the world to enjoy, not the marks on a page scribbling it into existence. When a conductor oversees an orchestra, the performance echoing rather than their own with baton in hand and arms waving is their gift. In Maestro, Bradley Cooper (Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3) is seen as Leonard Bernstein in both modes. His portrayal is so richly textured that it's a career-best turn. But Cooper as this movie's helmer and co-writer wants Maestro's audience to revel in the end result — and if he wants love showered anyone's way first, it's towards Carey Mulligan (Saltburn) as Felicia Montealegre Bernstein. Where to watch: Netflix. Read our full review. Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One Nominations: Best Sound, Best Visual Effects Our thoughts: Just as its lead actor's gleaming teeth do, Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One, the seventh instalment in the TV-to-film spy series, thoroughly shines. Like Tom Cruise (Top Gun: Maverick) himself, it's committed to giving audiences what they want to see, but never merely exactly what they've already seen. This saga hasn't always chosen to accept that mission, but it's been having a better time of it since 2011's Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol, including since writer/director Christopher McQuarrie jumped behind the lens with 2015's Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation. Where to watch: Streaming via YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. Napoleon Nominations: Best Costume Design, Best Production Design, Best Visual Effects Our thoughts: When is a Ridley Scott (House of Gucci)-directed, Joaquin Phoenix (Beau Is Afraid)-starring trip to the past more than just a historical drama? Twice now, so whenever the filmmaker and actor team up to explore Europe centuries ago. Gladiator was the first; Napoleon follows — and where the Rome-set first was an action film as well, the second leans into comedy. This biopic of the eponymous French military star-turned-emperor can be funny. In the lead, Phoenix repeatedly boasts the line delivery, facial expressions and physical presence of someone actively courting laughs. When he declares "destiny has brought me this lamb chop!", all three coalesce. Where to watch: Streaming via Apple TV+, YouTube Movies and Prime Video. Read our full review. Nimona Nominations: Best Animated Feature Our thoughts: Bounding thoughtfully from the page to the screen — well, from pixels first, initially leaping from the web to print — Nimona goes all in on belonging. Ballister Boldheart (Riz Ahmed, Sound of Metal) wants to fit in desperately, and is willing to do whatever it takes to achieve it in this animated movie's medieval-yet-futuristic world, where there's nothing more important and acclaimed than being part of the Institute for Elite Knights. But when tragedy strikes, then prejudice sets in, he only has one ally. Nimona's namesake (Chloë Grace Moretz, The Peripheral) is a shapeshifter who offers to be his sidekick regardless of his innocence or guilt. Where to watch: Streaming via Netflix. Read our full review. Nyad Nominations: Best Actress (Annette Bening), Best Supporting Actress (Jodie Foster) Our thoughts: Most sports films about real-life exploits piece together the steps it took for a person or a team to achieve the ultimate in their field, or come as close as possible while trying their hardest. Nyad is no different, but it's also a deeply absorbing character study of two people: its namesake Diana Nyad (Annette Bening, Death on the Nile) and her best friend Bonnie Stoll (Jodie Foster, True Detective). The first is the long-distance swimmer whose feats the movie tracks, especially her quest to swim from Cuba to Florida in the 2010s. The second is the former professional racquetball player who became Nyad's coach when she set her sights on making history as a sexagenarian. Where to watch: Netflix. Read our full review. Oppenheimer Nominations: Best Picture, Best Director (Christopher Nolan), Best Actor (Cillian Murphy), Best Supporting Actor (Robert Downey Jr), Best Supporting Actress (Emily Blunt), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, Best Film Editing, Best Makeup and Hairstyling, Best Original Score, Best Production Design, Best Sound Our thoughts: Cast Cillian Murphy and a filmmaker falls in love. There's an arresting, haunting, seeps-under-your-skin soulfulness about the Irish actor, including when playing "the father of atomic bomb" in Christopher Nolan's (Tenet) epic biopic Oppenheimer. Flirting with the end of the world, or just one person's end, clearly suits Murphy. Here he is in a mind-blower as the destroyer of worlds — almost, perhaps actually — and so much of this can't-look-away three-hour stunner dwells in his expressive eyes, which see purpose, possibility, quantum mechanics' promise and, ultimately, the Manhattan Project's consequences. Where to watch: Streaming via YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. Past Lives Nominations: Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay Our thoughts: Call it fate, call it destiny, call it feeling like you were always meant to cross paths with someone: in Korean, that sensation is in-yeon. Partway through Past Lives, Nora (Greta Lee, Russian Doll) explains the concept to Arthur (John Magaro, The Many Saints of Newark) like she knows it deep in her bones, because both she and the audience are well-aware that she does. That's what writer/director Celine Song's sublime feature debut is about, in fact. The term also applies to her connection to childhood crush Hae Sung (Teo Yoo, Decision to Leave) in this sensitive, blisteringly honest and intimately complex masterpiece. Where to watch: Streaming via Prime Video. Read our full review, and our interview with Celine Song. Rustin Nominations: Best Actor (Colman Domingo) Our thoughts: After Selma, One Night in Miami and Judas and the Black Messiah arrives Rustin, the latest must-see movie about the minutiae of America's 60s-era civil rights movement. All four hail from Black filmmakers. All four tell vital stories. They each boast phenomenal performances, too, including from Colman Domingo (The Color Purple) as Rustin's eponymous figure. His turn as Bayard Rustin, who conceived and organised the event where Martin Luther King Jr gave his "I Have a Dream" speech, isn't merely powerful; it's a go-for-broke portrayal from a versatile talent at the top of his game while digging into the every inch of his part. Where to watch: Streaming via Netflix. Read our full review. Society of the Snow Nominations: Best International Feature, Best Makeup and Hairstyling Our thoughts: Society of the Snow isn't merely a disaster film detailing the specifics of Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571's failed journey, the immediate deaths and those that came afterwards, the lengthy wait to be found — including after authorities called the search off — and the crushing decisions made to get through. JA Bayona (Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom), who also helmed the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami-focused The Impossible, has made a weighty feature that reckons with the emotional, psychological and spiritual toll, and doesn't think of shying away from the most difficult aspects of this real-life situation, including cannibalism. Where to watch: Streaming via Netflix. Read our full review. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Nominations: Best Animated Feature Our thoughts: When 2018's Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse took pop culture's favourite web-slinger back to its animated roots, it made flesh-and-blood superhero flicks and shows, as well as the expensive special effects behind them, look positively trivial and cartoonish. The end result was a deservedly Academy Award-winning masterpiece — and its first sequel Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, which hails from directors Joaquim Dos Santos (The Legend of Korra), Kemp Powers (Soul) and Justin K Thompson (Into the Spider-Verse's production designer), plasters around the same sensation like a Spidey shooting its silk. Where to watch: Streaming via Binge, Prime Video, YouTube Movies and iTunes. Read our full review. To Kill a Tiger Nominations: Best Documentary Feature Our thoughts: A battle for justice sits at the heart of To Kill a Tiger, a documentary that is as powerful as it is heavy, and is also an essential piece of filmmaking. When his 13-year-old daughter becomes the victim of sexual assault, Ranjit is determined to bring the perpetrators to justice. Not that that's a straightforward feat anywhere, but it isn't the same quest in India as it is in western countries, as writer/director Nisha Pahuja (The World Before Her) examines. Ranjit is dedicated to the fight, even knowing how difficult it is — from the backlash that he receives across his village to the horrifying statistics regarding the frequency of rape in the country and the paltry conviction rate. Where to watch: Streaming via Netflix from Friday, March 8. 20 Days in Mariupol Nominations: Best Documentary Feature Our thoughts: Incompatible with life. No one ever hears those three devastating words — one of the most distressing phrases there is — in positive circumstances. Accordingly, when they're uttered by a doctor in 20 Days in Mariupol, they're deeply shattering. So is everything in this on-the-ground portrait of the first 20 days in the Ukrainian city as Russia began its invasion, as the bleak reality of living in a war zone is documented. Directed by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Mstyslav Chernov, that this film even exists is an achievement. What it shows — what it immerses viewers in, from shelled hospitals and basements-turned-bomb shelters to families torn apart and mass graves — can never be forgotten. Where to watch: Streaming via DocPlay. The 2024 Oscars will be announced on Monday, March 11, Australian time. For further details, head to the awards' website. Wondering who'll win? Check out our predictions.
There's never a bad day of the week to see a movie in a cinema. But if you like staring at the big screen and sticking to a budget, Tuesdays are particularly great. Discounted tickets on the second day of the working week is a long-running tradition, and one that probably helped get you through your uni days — and, at Event Cinemas, it's back after a pandemic-fuelled pause. The theatre chain is cutting the price of all adult tickets on Tuesdays by 50 percent, and across all of the different types it has on offer. So, if you prefer Vmax's seating, Gold Class' recliners, to kick back in a daybed or to head to the company's boutique screens, you can do all of the above for half the price. The deal starts again on Tuesday, March 16 — but you do need to be a member of Event's free-to-join Cinebuzz club to get the discount. As for what you can watch, Judas and the Black Messiah, Raya and the Last Dragon, Girls Can't Surf, The Dry, Nomadland and Minari are currently in cinemas — and you can look forward to Godzilla vs Kong, Nobody, Tom and Jerry: The Movie and Trainspotting 25th anniversary screenings, too. Half-Price Tuesdays is available at all Event locations in New South Wales, except Glendale, Skyline Blacktown and Moonlight Cinema.
Where bigger festivals rely mostly on a precise combo of big name international acts plus Pitchfork-approved indies, the Secret Garden sells out each year before its line-up is even announced. How you do that in today's musical climate is pretty astounding, until you look at what else the Secret Garden has to offer, at which point it becomes astoundingly obvious. Free booze, a magical farmland location revealed only to ticket-holders, and bands so close you can smell them all provide good reasons to get your unicorn onesie covered in glittery mud. And the food doesn't suck. "We are pretty different to what's out there," says festival director Clare Downes. "We are completely focussed, almost anal, about putting on a brilliant event. This includes lots of small creative areas, luxury camping facilities, great bars, brilliant music, award-winning food, interactive stuff and surprises. Gardeners love our surprises!" But that's not to say the music isn't a big draw card. This year the organisers have pulled together another excellent slew of bands and DJs that read like a cross-section of rising and risen local talent. PVT-approved Sydney duo Collarbones will make an appearance alongside Cub Scouts and The Griswolds, with The Preatures adding some artful gloom to the glitter. Rounding out the first line-up announcement are Alison Wonderland, DCUP, the Delta Riggs, Frames, Lancelot, Rufus, Spit Syndicate, Vance Joy, and Softwar and Slowball presenting Secret Garden After Hours. Secret Garden is also not a bratwurst in a bun sort of occasion. This year the festival is embracing Sydney's fleet of food trucks, with Eat Art Truck (headed by Stuart Magill of Tetsuya's and Brenton Balicki of Quay), Mexican masters Al Carbon, Tsuru's pan-Asian street food, and Jafe Jaffles confirmed to be in attendance, while Porch & Parlour takes care of breakfast. Knowing that the dinner table is the heart of the family and new dining experiences the soul of Sydney, organisers have also lined up a Secret Garden Banquet. Limited tickets are available for the feast, which will be held in heritage-listed stables in a secret area of the already secret location, and hosted, of course, by a secret group of foodies. The final component of today's announcement is no minor detail; it's the Friday theme, a greatly cherished part of the festivities. In 2013 Secret Garden is extending the hand of friendship to the scene perhaps best known for cosplay, the sci-fi convention, with Secret Garcon. For all those festivalgoers who'd feel outgeeked at Comic Con but have always wanted to dress up as their favourite Star Wars/Mass Effect/Ghostbusters character, this is for you. As Downes says, "Secret Garden is the kind of festival where you can dress as a pineapple, talk to the guy standing next to you, dabble in some karaoke, send a postcard to your mum and listen to some great bands. There are so many elements to it, beyond what happens on the stage and what we serve at the bars." It all comes together to create an immaculately tailored weekend away that you don't have to plan a thing for. Tickets for Secret Garden 2013 have sold out, but the festival is run entirely by volunteers, and it's not too late to become one of those. In exchange for four hours of work on the day, you can then run free at the venue. Secret Garden is run as a not-for-profit, with all proceeds going to the Sarah Hilt Foundation, which helps sufferers of meningococcal disease. Just another thing that separates this festival from the rest. By Hannah Ongley and Rima Sabina Aouf.
One of the best performances in the Marvel Cinematic Universe comes from the man who was first charged with getting villainous, but now leads his own spinoff series as a complex and playful hero. While Tom Hiddleston's acting talents are well-established far beyond playing the God of Mischief — see: The Deep Blue Sea, The Hollow Crown, Only Lovers Left Alive, High-Rise, Crimson Peak and The Night Manager, for instance — the MCU has been all the better for his involvement for more than a decade. A scene-stealer in 2011's Thor, his parts in film after film kept getting bigger until streaming series Loki arrived. Amid Disney's rush of greenlighting shows for Disney+, starting this one couldn't have been easier; as Thor: Ragnarok in particular demonstrated, adding more Hiddleston has always been a winning move. When it slid into queues in 2021 as just the third series in the MCU's small-screen realm, following WandaVision and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Loki proved that more Hiddleston in a six-part TV show was also a delight. Immediately one of Marvel's standout shows, it came as no surprise when this stint of time-hopping trickery confirmed that it was returning for a second season in that run's final episode. Now back for another half-dozen instalments from Friday, October 6, Loki becomes the first of Marvel's television entries to earn a second go-around. That isn't an achievement that it takes for granted. Picking up exactly where season one left off, Loki season two sticks to some familiar beats but also makes its own leaps, and remains fun, funny, lively and smart in the process. It feels more lived in, too, a description that rarely applies to any franchise about caped crusaders and their nemeses, gods, multiverses and temporal chaos, this one among them. Audiences may know and love Loki, including in his small-screen guise as an alternate version of the movies' scamp who turns time cop to save the world, but the figure himself isn't as swiftly recognised when Loki's second season kicks off. Although nothing has changed about him visually, the first season's climactic showdown with Time Variance Authority creator He Who Remains (Jonathon Majors, Creed III) has had repercussions. Now, the Norse rogue is glitching. With multiple timelines in play thanks to fellow Loki variant Sylvie (Sophia Di Martino, The Electrical Life of Louis Wain), the series' eponymous character is being pulled between different worlds. "It looks like you're being born, or dying, or both at the same time," observes Agent Mobius M Mobius (Owen Wilson, Haunted Mansion). He isn't wrong. Time is an inescapable concept in the MCU, especially as it keeps expanding and sprawling. 2023 marks 15 years since Iron Man started the franchise, with The Marvels set to notch up its 33rd film when it reaches cinemas in November. On streaming, five other Marvel shows have joined the fold since Loki's debut season, beginning with 2021's Hawkeye; then spanning 2022's Moon Knight, Ms Marvel and She-Hulk: Attorney at Law; and seeing Secret Invasion already drop in 2023. In the mechanics of the superhero saga, the MCU stresses the same message that Loki now is: as time keeps elongating, jumping here, there and everywhere is inevitable. Once Loki and Mobius are back in their entertaining old rhythm, they need help getting time under control. Hunter B-15 (Wunmi Mosaku, Black Mirror) takes up the battle to save timelines beyond the sacred timeline, plus the people living their lives within them, while Loki and Mobius seek help from TVA tech go-to Ouroboros aka OB (Ke Huy Quan, American Born Chinese). Bringing Everything Everywhere All At Once Oscar-winner Quan into another temporal jumble is as great on-screen as it sounds on paper, even as he's saddled with mentioning time, manuals, looms and pruning repeatedly. There's a weightier air to Loki season two as Loki, Mobius and Hunter B-15's arcs deepen, plus more meaningful emotional paths, but the boilersuit-clad OB is a gloriously energetic addition. Also fun: when Loki flits around, inserting its main duo into different places and times on various legs of their mission. The MCU's penchant for cycling through genres instalment by instalment pops up here in miniature; where the broader saga can be a thriller in one flick (Black Widow, for example), a comedy in others (the Thor, Guardians of the Galaxy and Ant-Man vibes), dive into horror elsewhere (Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness) and spin coming-of-age stories as well (the Spider-Man movies), this series goes from 70s-set London spy antics to a 19th-century Chicago caper and an existential stop at McDonalds in the 80s. The bouncing around doesn't just serve the narrative or suit the tone, but also fits Hiddleston and Wilson's central pairing. Loki does the odd-couple buddy dynamic swimmingly no matter where Loki and Mobius are, and gains another of Marvel's most engaging performances from Wilson as a result. Getting Loki falling in love with himself, aka Sylvie, was as Loki a move as there ever was in season one. In the show's return, their relationship is still complicated. Also, Sylvie remains on a quest to vanquish the man who sparked the TVA, this time via his variant Victor Timely (also Majors). The season has everyone looking for Judge Renslayer (Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Summerland) and Miss Minutes (Tara Strong, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3), too. And, it has a He Who Remains/Timely/Kang the Conqueror problem. As the big bad for the MCU's phase five and beyond — the next Avengers movie due in 2026 is called Avengers: The Kang Dynasty — the latter as pivotal in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. The domestic violence allegations against Majors since that film now cast a shadow, unsurprisingly, as does knowing that recasting could happen. There's no doubting Loki's look, though; it's up there with the Hiddleston-and-Wilson banter and Quan's verve as one of the season's highlights. The colour palette, the technology, the outfits, the retro sheen: it all works a charm. Marvel is obsessed with linking its array of on-screen chapters as it constantly grows and stretches its cinematic universe, which isn't about to change from here. With its aesthetics, plus Hiddleston and Wilson's excellent work — and Quan's, Martino and Mosaku's as well — Loki keeps making the opposite argument, however. If ever there's a segment of the MCU that could happily stand alone and thrive, it's this one. Of course, that isn't the show's route, but leaving viewers wanting more isn't the given that it once was for this franchise as time has passed. Check out the trailer for Loki season two below: Loki season two streams via Disney+ from Friday, October 6. Images: © Marvel Studios 2023. All Rights Reserved.
Spy movies and intrigue go hand in hand. Matthew Vaughn should know. With Kingsman: The Secret Service, Kingsman: The Golden Circle, The King's Man and now Argylle, the British filmmaker has spent a decade bringing the espionage world to the big screen with splashy flair. His latest secret-agent caper isn't just filled with twists in its plot, however. The story around it has been earning its own interest and speculation, including the possibility that Taylor Swift penned the book that it's based on. There's no truth to that rumour, however, but it was a helluva way to get everyone talking about Argylle before it even hit cinemas. The fact that there's many tales about Argylle's genesis IRL befits the twisty spy caper, which stacks narratives within narratives gleefully. Chatting with Concrete Playground, Vaughn describes the film by referring to the Harry Potter franchise. If you imagine that its author "met a wizard for real and the wizard went 'you got a lot of it right, you get a lot of it wrong, and I'm going to take you on adventure," the Layer Cake, Stardust, Kick-Ass and X-Men: First Class director explains, then that's Argylle. "And by the way, Voldemort wants to kill you — let's go." Within the movie, writer Elly Conway (Bryce Dallas Howard, Jurassic World Dominion) has done the penning. Her bestselling saga is also called Argylle, about a suave operative of the same name. The fourth book has freshly hit shelves and she's putting the finishing touches on the fifth novel, but real-life agents are now after her because she knows her stuff a little too well. Elly Conway is also the name adorning the Argylle text that's in bookstores everywhere off-screen, with little other information about the scribe initially given. Hence the Swift conjecture, although the reality is that novelists Terry Hayes (I Am Pilgrim) and Tammy Cohen (They All Fall Down) are behind it, as revealed shortly after the feature started playing to audiences. So, Argylle sparks another spy saga for Vaughn, who isn't one to back away from something he loves. See also: his role as the producer on Guy Ritchie's early pictures, not only including Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch, but also Swept Away; bringing not just one but two Mark Millar comics to the screen in Kick-Ass and Kingsman; and his Taron Egerton ties, producing Eddie the Eagle, Rocketman and Tetris starring his Kingsman lead. And, Argylle spun a gambit around its own existence. It's also home to an impressive cast, and links in with the glorious Sam Rockwell dancing meme. [caption id="attachment_940444" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kate Green/Getty Images for Universal Pictures[/caption] Henry Cavill (The Witcher), Dua Lipa (Barbie), John Cena (Freelance), Ariana DeBose (Wish), Sofia Boutella (Rebel Moon — Part One: A Child of Fire), Samuel L Jackson (The Marvels), Catherine O'Hara (Pain Hustlers), Bryan Cranston (Asteroid City), Richard E Grant (Saltburn), Rob Delaney (Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One), Vaughn and his wife Claudia Schiffer's own cat: they're all featured. As for Rockwell (See How They Run), he plays Aidan Wilde, the agent trying to keep the film's Elly alive after nefarious forces put a target on her back. If you rightly believe that all Sam Rockwell-starring flicks should require him to bust out his fondness for fancy footwork, as the actor himself clearly does, Vaughn obliges in Argylle. We chatted to the director about the tale behind the film's source material, that cast and Rockwell's smooth moves — so, from taking inspiration from pandemic viewings of 80s action-adventure comedies to imagining Sean Connery and Roger Moore in the movie, and also making a female-led action flick that didn't feel like the character had just been gender-swapped from a male protagonist. On Argylle's Secretive Source Material — Which Isn't Written by Taylor Swift — and Vaughn's Broader Inspiration The truth behind the IRL Elly Conway mystery has now been unveiled, with Hayes and Cohen's names made public, and no mention of Swift to be heard. But Vaughn's story about the film's origins involves throwing it back several decades — and, doing what we were all doing at the beginning of the pandemic, aka viewing old movies at home. "I watched Romancing the Stone with my kids during lockdown and they were like 'why can't you make a movie that's a really good feel-good action-adventure film?'. And I said 'well, I guess I could'," he notes. "And then the manuscript came of the book, and then the script arrived as well, which is similar in the idea — and it was about a book and an author, and there was another book. And I thought 'god, I'm gonna create the meta universe of all universes here. I'm going to do it in the spy world." Cue the aforementioned wizard analogy "but translating that into a spy world — and off we went to the races," Vaughn advises. "The book has just come out, and the book's great. The movie is about book four and book five, and book one has just been published." "It was just me wanting to push the boundaries and try and do an original spy movie — or, should we say, a novel spy film." On How Vaughn Imagines His Characters Before He Starts Casting Given the hefty list of well-known names that've starred in Vaughn's work — a pre-Bond Daniel Craig (Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery) in Layer Cake among them — audiences might expect that the filmmaker has his cast in mind early. But he actually approaches his features by picturing icons in the parts first, then matching today's talents accordingly. "I always imagine movie legends, because it's easier that way — and then I haven't got the baggage of real actors of my generation. So for example, Henry Cavill, when we were writing Argylle, I was imagining he was a mixture of Sean Connery and Roger Moore. Those two Bonds could be cut in half and spliced together. You have the humour, but the toughness together. So Henry Cavill, I knew he could do that," Vaughn explains. "Sam Rockwell as Aidan Wilde, I was really imagining primarily Gene Wilder but with a bit of Bill Murray and Jack Nicholson. So that became Aidan Wilde. And so on and so on." This isn't a new approach for Argylle. "Even in Kingsman, I did it. David Niven was the inspiration for Kingsman," says Vaughn. On Bringing Together Argylle's Star-Studded On-Screen Talent Once the director has done his spot of fantasy casting with film legends, how does he pick their counterparts? That's where his connections do come in handy. "What happens with actors, I knew Henry Cavill and I knew Sam Jackson, so that means I could call them up, pick up the phone and call them, and they said yes. And Bryce — I've done two movies with Bryce as well. So those were just phone calls," informs Vaughn. "And then Cranston. I think when I got Cranston, it was amazing. He's like an actor's actor — and Rockwell," he continues, noting that getting the Breaking Bad star and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri Best Supporting Actor Oscar-winner onboard was like catnip for other cast members, "It was interesting watching — you can hear other actors going 'Rockwell and Cranston, I want to be in that film'. So it was just great." On Getting Sam Rockwell Not Just Playing a Spy, But Playing a Dancing Spy It's been true for decades, and gloriously: to watch Rockwell on-screen is to watch him dance. The music video for Flight Facilities' 'Down to Earth' deployed his skills, but the 2015 clip for the Australian duo's song capitalised upon a reputation built in Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, Moon, Charlie's Angels, Matchstick Men, Iron Man 2, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and more. Indeed, Rockwell rarely makes a movie that doesn't involve him dancing. Argylle busting out bops pre-dated Rockwell's casting, however. "It was definitely in the script. But Rockwell is like a dog with a bone when it comes to dancing — just give him an inch and he's taking a mile, and he will dance all day long," Vaughn observes. "But in this one, I wanted to do some action sequences that celebrated beauty and feminism — something where it's action sequences that a woman would be playing." "What's happened in Hollywood and in a lot of the movies, the female characters, all they did was change the name. The idea is that Philip becomes Philippa, or James becomes Jane, and that's it." "And I'm like 'well, I want to be more than that'. And I thought again, instead of John Wick-style action, let's do something where some people will think it's cringey and weird, but I think it's fun and beautiful." Argylle opened in cinemas Down Under on Thursday, February 1. Read our review.
Byron Bay's Bluesfest has lost another name from its 2023 lineup, with acclaimed rapper Sampa the Great pulling out of this year's festival. Just over six weeks out from the Easter long-weekend fest, Bluesfest today announced its playing times for the five-day music program and a revised lineup, both of which were missing Sampa. A member from Sampa's team confirmed to Concrete Playground that Zambian hip hop trailblazer will not be performing at the festival. US supergroup The Soul Rebels & Friends with special guests Talib Kweli, GZA and Big Freedia also appears missing from the set times and revised lineup, however, there's been no confirmation of the group's removal from the lineup. Bluesfest was reached out to for comment on both Sampa and The Soul Rebels, but did not respond before publication. [caption id="attachment_811633" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sampa the Great, Lucian Coman[/caption] The lineup change follows Monday's announcement that King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard had also removed themselves from the program. The band's decision to withdraw from the festival was kept reasonably vague but, in a statement, the Melbourne psych-rock group cited the festival's decision to book content that conflicts with their values as the reason they won't be appearing. "As a band and as human beings, we stand against misogyny, racism, transphobia and violence," King Giz's statement reads. "Surprised and saddened to see Bluesfest commit to presenting content that is in complete opposition to these values." "Given this decision by the festival, we have decided to cancel our appearance at Bluesfest," continues the statement. "We are deeply disappointed to be in this position but sometimes you need to be willing to make sacrifices to stand up for your values. This is, unfortunately, one of those moments." Controversy began brewing around this year's Bluesfest after the unveiling of its sixth artist announcement which featured the band Sticky Fingers. The booking of Sticky Fingers received online backlash from others in the music industry including Jaguar Jonze and Camp Cope's Sarah Thompson. Dylan Frost, Sticky Fingers' frontman, has been the subject of serious allegations which include physically threatening First Nations singer Thelma Plum and harassing a transgender woman at a Sydney pub. Frost and bassist Paddy Cornwall were also caught in an alleged brawl with each other in 2019 which saw Cornwall charged with affray. Bluesfest previously faced controversy after festival director Peter Noble compared a Jewish woman to a Nazi for commenting on the gender imbalance present on the first announcement of the festival's 2018 lineup. The festival will continue without King Giz and Sampa the Great from Thursday, April 6 until Monday, April 10 with headliners including Gang of Youths, Paolo Nutini, Tash Sultana, Bonnie Raitt, The Doobie Brothers and Beck. [caption id="attachment_876098" align="alignnone" width="1920"] King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, Jason Galea[/caption] Bluesfest 2023 will run from Thursday, April 6–Monday, April 10 at Byron Events Farm, Tyagarah. For the most up-to-date lineup, head to the Bluesfest website. Top image: Jordan Munns.
If you're a fan of musical theatre, then you know the name Jonathan Larson, the creator and composer behind smash-hit production Rent. And, you likely know his story, too, with the playwright and lyricist passing away at the age of 35 on the day that that now-huge show premiered its first off-Broadway preview performance, and never seeing the Tony Award- and Pulitzer Prize-winning phenomenon that it would become. Before that, Larson also created another musical called tick, tick…BOOM!; however, it didn't chart the same path. Instead, the semi-autobiographical piece was performed as a solo work before his death, following a character called Jon who worried that he'd made the wrong decision by chasing his dream of becoming a composer. After Larson died, tick, tick…BOOM! was reimagined as a three-actor show, then made its way from off-Broadway to off-West End, as well as West End itself. And, in 2021, it took the leap to the screen, too, courtesy of Netflix — in a film directed by Lin-Manuel Miranda and starring Andrew Garfield, the latter turning in an Oscar-nominated performance as Larson. That's a whole lot of history behind Sydney's latest big musical announcement: that tick, tick…BOOM! will bring its Australian mainstage debut tour to the Harbour City in 2023. First, it'll run seasons at Melbourne's Comedy Theatre and Brisbane's QPAC Playhouse, before arriving at Sydney's Lyric Theatre from Thursday, April 20–Sunday, April 23. If you're wondering about tick, tick…BOOM!'s narrative, the rock musical is set in 1990, with promising young composer Jon as its focus. He's almost 30, living in New York City, and life as an artist isn't turning out as he planned — so he has to decide what to do next. The production is an ode to theatre and a tribute to New York, too, and has kept proving popular since it premiered in its current format off-Broadway in 2001. Playing Larson in Australia: multiple Logie-winner Hugh Sheridan (Packed to the Rafters, House Husbands, Five Bedrooms), with Elenoa Rokobaro (Rent) as Susan, Finn Alexander (Urinetown) as Michael, and Sheridan Adams (Cruel Intentions: The 90s Musical) and Andrew Coshan (A View From a Bridge) also among the cast. Also, tick, tick…BOOM!'s upcoming Aussie seasons will be produced by Adrian Storey from StoreyBoard Entertainment (Chess the Musical, Barnum, Follies, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest) and directed by Tyran Parke (Chess the Musical, Barnum, Follies, Sunday in the Park with George). The Australian production doesn't yet have any footage, either, but you can check out the trailer for the Netflix film below: tick, tick…BOOM! will play Sydney's Lyric Theatre from Thursday, April 20–Sunday, April 23, 2023. For further details and tickets, head to the musical's Australian website.
After selling out of their homemade marshmallows at markets across NSW, Breah Mayer and Joel Twyman decided their sweet and squishy desserts needed a permanent home. So, they opened a bricks and mortar dessert bar in Wyong's historic Chapman Building on the Central Coast. As well as serving up more than 25 different flavours of their famed marshmallows, The Marshmallow Co, as the local couple's dessert bar has been named, also has OTT milkshakes, s'mores, sundaes, ice cream sandwiches made with churro buns, and skillets filled with the likes of cookie and ice cream. Almost all desserts come topped with a marshmallow or marshmallow fluff, too. On the marshmallow lineup, you'll find flavours such as lime and coconut, strawberry and cream, caramel swirl, lemon meringue, Nutella, Oreo, lamington and piña colada. You'll find limited-edition flavours for seasonal events, too, including hot cross bun and candy cane marshmallows. If you can't make it up to the Central Coast store, you can purchase some of the duo's funky flavours online. If you can make it up, you'll also be able to visit some of The Marshmallow Co's Chapman Building neighbours, such as Glee Coffee Roasters, gift shop Scout and Trader and House of Ellery, which sells art supplies and hosts macrame workshops. During the summer months, The Marshmallow Co stays open later and live music nights on Fridays from 5pm, so plan an after-work road trip to eat desserts and listen to tunes on the grass.
