It takes a brave filmmaker to see cancer and climate change, and think of art, evolution and eroticism in a possible future. It takes a bold director to have a character proclaim that "surgery is the new sex", too. David Cronenberg has always been that kind of visionary, even before doing all of the above in his sublime latest release — and having the Scanners, Videodrome and The Fly helmer back on his body-horror bent for the first time in more than two decades is exactly the wild and weird dream that cinephiles want it to be. The Canadian auteur makes his first movie at all since 2014's Maps to the Stars, in fact, and this tale of pleasure and pain is as Cronenbergian as anything can be. He borrows Crimes of the Future's title from his second-ever feature dating back 50-plus years, brings all of his corporeal fascinations to the fore, and moulds a viscerally and cerebrally mesmerising film that it feels like he's always been working towards. Long live the new flesh, again. Long live the old Cronenberg as well. In this portrait of a potential time to come, the human body has undergone two significant changes. Three, perhaps, as glimpsed in a disquieting opening where an eight-year-old called Brecken (debutant Sotiris Siozos) snacks on a plastic bin, and is then murdered by his mother Djuna (Lihi Kornowski, Ballistic). That incident isn't unimportant, but Crimes of the Future has other departures from today's status quo to carve into — and they're equally absorbing. Physical agony has disappeared, creating a trade in "desktop surgery" as performance art. Also, a condition dubbed Accelerated Evolution Syndrome causes some folks, such as artist Saul Tenser (Viggo Mortensen, Thirteen Lives), to grow abnormal organs. These tumours are removed and tattooed in avant-garde shows by his doctor/lover Caprice (Léa Seydoux, No Time to Die), then catalogued by the National Organ Register's Wippit (Don McKellar, reteaming with Cronenberg after eXistenZ) and Timlin (Kristen Stewart, Spencer). When Crimes of the Future stages one of Saul and Caprice's gigs, it drips not with blood but spectacle and seduction. Indeed, it's no wonder that a curious Timlin utters that catchy observation about medical slicing and intimate arousal shortly afterwards. Alluring, eerie, grotesque and enthralling — and the epitome of the feature's sparse yet entrancing look and mood in the process — it's a powerhouse of a scene, with a self-autopsy pod at its centre. Saul lies still, Caprice uses an eXistenZ-esque fleshy video-game controller to get the contraption cutting, and an enraptured audience hang on every incision. Saul and Caprice do, too, although their visibly aroused reactions have nothing on their time later in the suite alone. (Cronenberg does love eschewing traditional ideas about what titillates; see also: his 1996 film Crash, about characters excited by car crashes. It's a clear precursor to this, and the movie that purred so that 2021 Palme d'Or winner Titane, by filmmaker Julia Ducournau, could rev.) Crimes of the Future's scalpel-equipped coffin is just one of Saul and Caprice's Lifeform Ware gadgets; if eXistenZ, Naked Lunch and Dead Ringers procreated, these are the devices the three flicks would spawn. HR Giger could've conjured them up as well, and thinking of the biomechanical artist's contribution to Alien, which saw him share an Oscar for visual effects, is as natural as feeling spellbound and perturbed by Cronenberg's movie in unison. This is a grimy world where a bed covered with skin and tentacles floats in Saul's home, calibrated to cater to his "designer cancer"-riddled body's needs as it slumbers — and where a chair that looks like a skeleton reassembled as furniture contorts Saul as he's eating, something he is having increasing trouble with otherwise. In other words, it's a world where the old flesh isn't doing what it always has, new flesh is sprouting in a changing and devastated reality, and technology fills in the gaps as it is always designed to. Is Crimes of the Future a Cronenbergian nightmare painted using tools of horror as a brush, just as Caprice uses the autopsy bed as hers? Is it a probing and penetrating pondering of what lies in store on this planet of ours, where machinery keeps progressing, the environment continues to be pushed to its limits, and human bodies are in a state of metamorphosis? The answer: it's both, just as it's sensual and sinister — and, story-wise and thematically, there's still more to come. Writing as well as directing, Cronenberg works with his own original ideas for the first time since the constantly relevant eXistenZ, and doesn't stop questioning what physical, emotional, intellectual and psychological mutations may await humanity. Unsurprisingly, in a script he penned back in 1999, what he posits is bleak — his sci-fi body-horror visions always are — and thoroughly riveting. Connecting the dots, Cronenberg brings Brecken's plight into Saul and Caprice's life via a request by the shadowy Lang (Scott Speedman, Best Sellers), the boy's father, for a public autopsy. The feature has Saul carrying out missions for a detective (Welket Bengué, Berlin Alexanderplatz), and sees a pair of Lifeform Ware technicians (Yellowstone's Tanaya Beatty and Private Eyes' Nadia Litz) hovering around. Plus, Crimes of the Future spans an Inner Beauty Contest, with a zipper inserted in Saul's stomach for the occasion, which Caprice licks in the film's most carnally salacious moment. If Cronenberg's name hadn't already been adapted to describe his aesthetic, fascinations and narratives, it would be based on this movie. Actually, the filmmaker takes it back. He's shared the term with a raft of imitators, but no one holds a blade to Cronenberg at his best. Well, one fellow director comes close: his son Brandon, whose Antiviral and Possessor couldn't be more worthy of the family moniker. Crimes of the Future is an art-world and celebrity satire among everything else — when artists modifying bodies become stars, as happens here, how can it not be? And, joining the list, it's as strong an example there is of Cronenberg's masterful ability to use the instruments at his disposal to bring disturbing but enticing musings to a stunning fruition. There isn't a misstep among his cast, including his cloaked-up A History of Violence, Eastern Promises and A Dangerous Method star Mortensen oozing vulnerability and looking like death (a The Seventh Seal-style figure, to be exact); Seydoux serving up a picture of slinky passion; and Stewart delivering a delightfully nervy supporting turn. Every shot lensed by Douglas Koch (Funny Boy) exudes a ravaged air in multiple ways, and the score by Cronenberg's usual composer Howard Shore is devilishly menacing. Surrendering to their skills, and to Crimes of the Future's thrills, proves just like evolution: inescapable.
Fans of 'hard-to-kill' indoor plants should make tracks to Marrickville's newest nursery, Plant Girl. What started out as a same-day delivery service has now expanded to open a bricks-and-mortar store along Sydenham Road — and it's offering black thumb-proof gifts in brightly coloured ceramic pots. Plant Girl is run by inner west local Felicity Keep, who wanted to add a bit of quirk to your indoor plant game. Customers can mix-and-match any combo of plant and pot, with the goal of creating a highly styled, personalised gift or cute new green baby for yourself — with predominately easy-to-keep-alive plants on offer. The shop is open Wednesday through Sunday and offers a much wider range of plants, ceramics and giftware than had previously been available online. At the moment, the plants on offer include snake plants, zanzibar gems, dragon tails and boston ferns, all of which land in the 'low maintenance' and 'hard to kill' categories. That means you don't need to worry about you or your recipient's green thumb (or lack thereof). For more experienced gardeners, the bird of paradise is also up for grabs. As far as the packaging goes, the vibrant pots range from metallic to turquoise and bright pink. You can also nab neem oil leaf shine or a bottle of indoor plant food (in store and online), both of which will help keep your new babies happy and healthy. For those still after delivery, Plant Girl continues to offer door-to-door service within a ten-kilometre radius of their Marrickville shop, which includes all of the inner west and the CBD, plus a chunk of the eastern suburbs and a bit of North Sydney and the lower north shore, too. You can check out the map over here. And, if you order before 11am, you can opt for same-day delivery Monday through Friday. But, when the weekend rolls around, the only place you'll be able to get your hands on these goods is in store.
It’s been said that the British royal family’s descent into irrelevance began in the late 1960s, when they agreed to be involved in a television documentary cunningly titled Royal Family. Anna Wintour, Queen of Fashion, had better hope The September Issue doesn’t sound out a similar death knell for her.This film offers us commoners a fly-on-the-wall view of the creative processes behind one of the great tomes of the fashion world, US Vogue. Director RJ Cutler’s cameras tail Wintour, the magazine’s editor-in-chief, as she and her staff prepare the September 2008 issue of the magazine â€" and the result is everything you expect. Celebrities are openly ridiculed, sumptuous clothes are flicked carelessly about, and in one brilliant, couldn’t-script-it-better-if-you-tried moment, an impossibly flamboyant Andre Leon Talley (the editor-at-large) intones deadpan his need to preserve his “aesthetic†on the courts, whilst proudly showing off his collection of Louis Vuitton tennis gear. If it all feels a little familiar, it probably is: the film plays out like a (better) sequel to The Devil Wears Prada, a film whose depiction of a despotic fictional fashion editor was widely rumoured to be modelled on Wintour.Dashes of humour and slick editing combine to make The September Issue an immensely watchable film â€" as long as that’s all you’re after. Punters hoping for any semblance of profundity may be partly mollified by telling interviews with Wintour, in which she muses that her successful siblings probably find her job amusing (one brother, for instance, is political editor of highbrow British rag The Guardian). And Wintour’s right-hand woman Grace Coddington, as one of the few Vogue-rs willing to tell her ‘no’, is a welcome slap of reality.Ultimately, if you’re the kind of person who believes the fashion industry is wasteful, that its gatekeepers are over the top, and that it consumes the minds and attention of thousands of bright sparks whose efforts might be better directed towards curing cancer or creating the perfect souffléâ€" well, The September Issue is not going to change your mind. But much like Vogue itself, it does offer a pleasant enough distraction.https://youtube.com/watch?v=xp8iIyKDOtk
Since launching around the country back in 2013, the British Film Festival keeps standing out for three reasons. Yes, it ranks among Australia's most obvious cultural film fests; however, it's also a star-studded affair, and a popular one. If you're keen not only for a slice of Old Blighty, but to watch well-known talents do what they do best, then prepare to spend a few weeks staring at the big screen. 2018's lineup keeps hitting those same marks. Why mess with a good thing? Running in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide and Canberra until November 14, this year's program includes Kiera Knightley's latest star turn, a four-film tribute to Michael Caine that'll blow the bloody doors off, and Star Wars' Daisy Ridley in a playful take on Hamlet — plus these, our five must-see picks. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfWIfwKJ7vA ANNA AND THE APOCALYPSE Anna and the Apocalypse is a zombie movie. It's a high-school comedy. It's a Christmas flick. And, it's also a musical. Just when you thought you'd seen every take on the undead available, this all-singing genre mash-up pops up to prove you wrong. A crowd-pleaser at overseas festivals, it's based on the BAFTA-winning short Zombie Musical — and, story-wise, follows the eponymous Anna (Ella Hunt) as she reacts to the rather inconvenient fact that her Scottish hometown of Little Haven is now filled with the shuffling masses hankering for brains. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qItW6evHbE8 YARDIE After coming to fame with to The Wire, Idris Elba is no stranger to sprawling crime dramas that chart the next generation's involvement in the drug trade. With Yardie, however, he's stepping behind the camera rather than appearing in front of it. The actor's feature directorial debut hops between Jamaica and London, and between the 70s and 80s, at it charts the path of Denis. As a boy (Antwayne Eccleston), he watches his brother get gunned down on the streets of Kingston. As a young man (Aml Ameen), he finds himself selling cocaine in the UK and seeking revenge. The result is a film with vibrant style, that knows what it wants to be and knows when it's hitting familiar beats. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dj5h1kKjVYc PETERLOO Whenever Mike Leigh has a new film, it's reason enough to rush to the cinema. The great director has seven Oscar nominations to his name for the likes of Secrets & Lies, Vera Drake, Happy-Go-Lucky and Another Year, and tends to alternate between character-based and historical-leaning dramas. With his latest, Peterloo, he's operating in the latter camp, examining a momentous event in Britain's past. The feature is named after and explores a massacre in Manchester in 1819, when 700 working folks were injured — and 15 killed — during a peaceful pro-democracy gathering. Yes, it sounds more than a little relevant today. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RE5xbDTkzQQ STAN & OLLIE To the world, they were Laurel and Hardy — one lean and English, the other rotund and American, and both funnier and more famous when they were hitting the stage and screen together. Starring Steve Coogan and John C. Reilly, Stan & Ollie delves into the story behind the fame, when the comedians were approaching the end of their career. The film arrives in Australia fresh from premiering at the London Film Festival, and closes out BFF with the promise of laughs, love and excellent performances. Indeed, when it comes to spot-on casting, it's already a winner. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8YiltlZGB0 THE HAPPY PRINCE Another blast from the past in the BFF program, another look at a well-known figure past their heyday, and another well-known actor making their filmmaking debut, too. With the dreamily tragic The Happy Prince, Rupert Everett steps into Oscar Wilde's shoes — and it's a role that he was born to bring to the screen. Writing and directing as well, Everett approaches Wilde's dying days in a rundown Parisian hotel room with both passion and sorrow, two traits that the poet and write knew well. It's a hardly a happy portrait, despite the name, which riffs on one of Wilde's works. That said, interweaving flashbacks to fonder times and co-starring Colin Firth, it does Wilde justice. The 2018 British Film Festival tours Australia until November 14, screening at Sydney's Palace Norton Street, Palace Verona, Palace Central and Chauvel Cinemas from October 23 to November 14; Melbourne's Palace Cinema Como, Palace Westgarth, Palace Balwyn, Palace Brighton Bay and The Astor Theatre from October 25 to November 14; Brisbane's Palace Barracks and Palace Centro from October 24 to November 14; and Perth's Cinema Paradiso, Raine Square Cinemas, Luna on SX and Windsor Cinema from October 25 to November 14. For more information and to buy tickets, visit the festival website.
A Lego forest pops up in Martin Place. Read more It’s been a strange week here in Sydney, what with fires in Chippendale and wet weather blooms in Martin Place. Stranger still, I’m briefly stepping through the wild and lawless place that is this newsletter, and despite the rain, transport chaos and looming winter months, I’m looking forward to a killer week. If you were with us on Sunday for screen disappearances or chilled wine tastings, you’re probably feeling a little peaked by now. Not to worry, even as you recuperate, the week is drawing us ever onward towards quiet reflection or maybe just some music by the beach. Whatever your plans, waking up to a quiet ANZAC Wednesday this week, you may find yourself filled with a plethora of unusual questions. Is it too late to catch the dawn service? Where would we be without three years of the Rattler? Where do Iplay handball on ANZAC day? And will the Sydney Comedy Festival leave me with a crushing, Poppins-like fear of infectious laughter? Only time will tell. Sydney Comedy Festival 2012 The details: Tuesday, April 24 - Saturday, May 12 @ Various venues Catch internet sensation the Axis of Awesome performing their Tour of 2006, well-established UK acts Akmal and Jimeoin, sketch comedy stars of Edinburgh and Montreal Idiots of Ants, oddball storyteller Daniel Kitson, 30 Rock's Judah Friedlander and many more. Find out more Dimension Crossing The details: Wednesday, April 18 - Saturday, May 26 @ Performance Space at CarriageWorks Welcome to a state of being where you will be rained upon, whispered at and witness work between life, death and virtual reality. Find out more Van She The details: Wednesday, April 25 @ Beach Road Hotel Summer may be over, but that doesn't mean you should leave your smile and good vibes in the sand. Find out more Lord of the Flies The details: Tuesday, April 10 - Saturday, May 12 @ New Theatre Teenage boys try to replicate civil society on a desert island. Should be a cinch. Find out more The Red Rattler's 3rd Birthday Party The details: Friday, April 27 @ Red Rattler Once upon a time, the dream of a legal DIY, warehouse-style performance venue was just a glint in the Rats' eyes. Find out more Cafe de Flore The details: Wednesday, April 25 - Tuesday, May 22 @ Various cinemas Two seemingly distinct stories about love join together in the most surprising of ways in this French film starring Vanessa Paradis. Find out more Wool Modern Exhibition The details: Wednesday, April 25 - Tuesday, May 1 @ Pier 2/3 Upstage your thick winter socks with top notch design, in wool. Find out more Battleship The details: Thursday, April 12 - Wednesday, May 9 @ Various cinemas Just like the board game, assuming the board game cost $200 million and was dumb. Find out more
In 1969, Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin changed the face of comedy forever, with a program titled Monty Python's Flying Circus. Now, 45 years later, Python fans around Australia can catch the group's swan song in a special cinema broadcast. Recorded at The O2 arena in London, the glowingly reviewed gala sees the five surviving Python members come together and re-enact many of their most beloved sketches, from the Dead Parrot routine to the Lumberjack Song. There's also a handful of new animated interludes from Gilliam, plus video footage of Chapman, who passed away in 1989. The group joked that the alternative title Two Down, Four to Go was considered in the event that another one of them died before the show. Monty Python Live (Mostly) will screen in cinemas around the country. For more information, go here.
Australia's touring all-inclusive music and arts festival Summer Camp is returning in December — and it's just dropped the full lineup of over 100 artists, as well as info on its new venues. Following Summer Camp's inaugural run in 2022 which combined great tunes and LGBTQIA+ pride, the blockbuster event will be hitting St Kilda Marina on Saturday, December 2 and the Wentworth Park Sports Centre in Sydney on Sunday, December 3. Leading the latest lineup announcement is viral sensation Rebecca Black who has had a major career revival since 2021, releasing a slate of acclaimed pop projects ten years after achieving global infamy for her so-bad-it's-good track 'Friday'. Heaven will be a place on earth at the Sydney edition of Summer Camp with Belinda Carlisle joining the lineup, while Ultra Naté will be exclusively hitting St Kilda with her catalogue of hits including the iconic dance cut 'Free'. [caption id="attachment_919632" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Matto Lucas[/caption] Also gracing both Summer Camp lineups: Brooke Candy, Kito, Meg10, The Illustrious Blacks and Tom Aspaul alongside a stacked program of local musicians, DJs, dancers and performance artists comprising more than 100 acts. The BEAT stage will be dedicated to thumping house, disco and techno tunes. Sydney will also be treated to Club Love — a haven for cheesy singalongs and big emotions, while Melbourne's Summer Camp will host a cutting-edge Rave Cave. [caption id="attachment_919633" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Matto Lucas[/caption] The huge program will be headlined by previously announced headliners Jessie Ware and Trixie Mattel. Ware teased that she was playing the festival back in May, advising that she'd be appearing on an episode of her podcast Table Manners with Jessie and Lennie Ware before confirming her place on the lineup in July. It's been a long time between Australian visits for the UK disco-pop queen. The last time she graced our shores was for Laneway Festival all the way back in 2013. In the period since, she's released four albums, including the immensely critically acclaimed What's You Pleasure in 2020 and its equally vibrant recent follow-up That! Feels Good!. But now Ware's drought of Aussie appearances is officially coming to an end. [caption id="attachment_899478" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Raph_PH via Wikimedia Commons.[/caption] The St Kilda edition will be taking place as part of the huge 17-day ALWAYS LIVE program that's hitting the state throughout November and December. The massive program also includes performances from Christina Aguilera, Jai Paul and Eric Prydz. As for the new location in Sydney, the festival has decided to head to an indoor-outdoor facility after facing issues with flooding at Centennial Park last year. SUMMER CAMP FESTIVAL 2023 LINEUP: Jessie Ware Trixie Mattel Brooke Candy Kito Meg10 Rebecca Black The Illustrious Blacks Tom Aspaul Sydney Only: Belinda Carlisle Abby & Tyrone Akala Newman Atomic Blond & Dutch Kiss Ballroom Australia Baschoe Charlie Villas Chic Coach Cleo Rapture Club Chrome Dads Mayo Dan Azzo Diva Cups Dyan Tai Feta James Fried Pork Chop Half Queen Jackie Daniels Jane Jason De Cox Jimi the Kween Karlee Misi King C*ntessa Lady Fur Matt Vaughan Never Enough DJs (Dunny Minogue x Estèe Louder) Rosie Rivette Melbourne Only: Ultra Naté Alex Morris Ballroom Australia Bathesba Crescendoll Daws Dilonce' Disco Daddies DJ Gay Dad Ecterera Ecterrea x Art Simone Fragile Future House of Buffet Jesse Boyd Kat Zowthabag Kween Kong Mz Risk Nick Spurway Saint Eve Sal Simple Sovblkpssy Stone Motherless Cold Sullivan The Huxleys Tilly Capulet Tyoow Vb Unicorns Yo Mafia Summer Camp will be hitting Sydney and Melbourne in December 2023. For further details or to nab tickets, head to the festival's website. Top image: Matto Lucas
From the 1870s to the mid 1990s, the Colonial Sugar Refinery (CSR) in Pyrmont was a vital part of Sydney's economy. The expanding enterprise refined sugarcane, made building materials and at its height, distilled about a third of Australia's rum. Sold in 1995 to make way for residential development, all that remains of the refinery are three huge steel spheres mounted on pedestals in Pyrmont's Waterfront Park. But playwright Alana Valentine knew that wasn't entirely true. Dotted around Sydney are other remnants of the sugar factory – generations of workers who built their lives around CSR's industry. It's on this foundation that Valentine has crafted her latest work, The Sugar House, open Upstairs at Belvoir. The play focuses on three women who have either worked in the refinery or have seen their hometown change as a result of its boom and bust. Delving into their complex histories, Valentine also examines the changing face of Sydney and asks a few pointy questions about what it's become. As Belvoir's Artistic Director Eamon Flack notes, the play is a gift to the city, but it also details the true cost of prosperity. With Kris McQuade, Sacha Horler and Sheridan Harbridge heading up a cast of Belvoir stalwarts, The Sugar House promises a tough and winding account of family and the city. It might also provide a few answers about what exactly those giant balls in Waterfront Park were used for.
When Four Brave Women launched in Summer Hill in April, the restaurant opened with a simple but important aim. As well as serving up delicious food to inner west residents, it provides refugee women and families with the experience, skills and funds to launch their own businesses. Run by not-for-profit organisation The Trading Circle, the eatery offers eight-week placements to its budding chefs, who take on the responsibility of running the place during their tenure — including designing the menu, which changes with each new group. But two months taking care of buffet-style lunch and dinner offerings isn't always enough, so Four Brave Women also started longer barista placements to cover its breakfast service and coffee cart. Next, the outfit is opening a pop-up international bakery and catering company, in another continuation of its core mission. Located next door to Four Brave Women's existing spot in Lackey Street, it'll be overseen by refugee and migrant women who have already been working in the organisation's program. Zara from Iran, and Yulia and Iana from Ukraine and Russia will head up the bakery and work among the catering chefs. Officially launching on Monday, October 8, the bakery will open from 7am—3pm Monday to Saturday, boasting an array of sweet and savoury treats. Like the restaurant, its menu will be feature culinary favourites inspired by the heritage of its cooks. Zara is known for her bespoke cakes and Persian biscuits, while Iana and Yulia will bake specialties such as Ukrainian ricotta donuts, vegan pirozhki (a savoury Eastern European stuffed pastry) and medovik (a Russian layered honey cake). The bakery's temporary lease runs until December 31 — and as well as a wood-fired oven and a large commercial kitchen, it also features an extended outdoor courtyard next to the original Four Brave Women restaurant. For those eager to follow up their baked snack with a coffee or meal, the adjacent eatery will be focusing on dishes from Iraq, Kuwait and Turkey for the next eight weeks, under the guidance of Iraqi sisters Matheel and Vivian. Find Four Brave Women at 26 Lackey Street, Summer Hill. The neighbouring bakery opens on Monday, October 8, operating from 7am—3pm Monday to Saturday.
In true country-WA style, the Southern Forests region is a horticultural hub known for diverse and delicious produce. And the community celebrates that fact each year with the Manjimup Cherry Harmony Festival, where you can taste the best and juiciest local cherries, and cherry-flavoured goodies (imagine enjoying fresh cherry ice cream on a warm summer day). The perfect excuse for a weekend getaway, the festival has a bunch of different free and ticketed events, from street parades, market stalls and live entertainment, to a long table lunch among the cherry trees of Newton Orchards. There's also a cherry tour — where you can learn about food innovation and ride a tractor through one of Manjimup's oldest orchards — and Koomal Dreaming, which will allow you to experience Wadandi and Bibbulman country through the eyes of the traditional owners. Manjimup Cherry Harmony Festival takes place on Saturday, December 14. Find the full program, including ticketing information, on the festival website.
Trailblazing graffiti artist Nychos has landed in Australia. Gracing our shores over late February and early March, the Austrian artist who recently took New York City by storm will be splitting his time between Sydney and Melbourne for this tour, presenting exhibitions, hosting workshops and leaving his unique mark on walls around town — including a brand new work just outside Work-Shop in Redfern. The new piece, titled Translucent June, is a homage to Sir Frederic Leighton's Victorian painting Flaming June. The classical work, which was painted back in 1895, is thought to allude to Greek sculptures of sleeping nymphs. In Nychos' depiction, June is wearing a similar orange dress — however, it (and her skin) is translucent, revealing her blood and bone. Here's the finished product. A post shared by nychos (@nychos) on Feb 28, 2017 at 12:01am PST In Sydney, Nychos just headed a graffiti art workshop at Work-Shop and presented a screening of his street art documentary The Deepest Depths of the Burrow. In Melbourne, the workshop and screening will take place on March 11. He'll also launch a pair of exhibitions, showcasing his new sculpture project, Vienna Therapy, featuring the three-foot-tall Dissection of Sigmund Freud in Federation Square from March 8-12, and his solo exhibition, MONOCHROME ORGANISM, at Juddy Roller Gallery in Fitzroy from March 10-24. Images: Kimberley Low.
One of the Inner West's most popular and beloved markets is set to shut down at the end of February. According to a short message posted to the Glebe Markets' website and social media channels, the weekly food, fashion and assorted goods market will be closing in just four weeks, with its last day of trade taking place on Saturday, February 25. The message didn't reveal the reason for the market's closing, but thanked the community for attending for over three decades. The market is held on the grounds of Glebe Public School every Saturday, boasting stalls from local artisans and community members selling everything from secondhand clothes, books and vinyl to locally made jewellery and homewares — and hosting food trucks and acoustic live music. A petition has been launched both online and in-person at Glebe Public School to save the event, which plays an integral role not just for its regular stallholders and local Glebe businesses, but also for the public school, which relies on money from the markets. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Glebe Markets (@glebemarkets) "We're putting out an SOS — we urgently need a new operator to take over the running of the markets, and an interim solution for them to continue beyond this month if one can't be found," the petition reads. Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne mirrored these sentiments saying: "Glebe Markets is an Inner West institution. The announcement of its imminent closure is concerning and sad. We are looking into the situation and will fight to have the markets continue under new management." The markets are expected to run as scheduled for the next four weeks, so head down before Saturday February 25 to support the stallholders — and to pick up a cane sugar lemonade, a vintage t-shirt or a set of handmade earrings. [caption id="attachment_707153" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Flickr[/caption] Find the Glebe Markets at Glebe Public School, on the corner of Derby Place and Glebe Point Road, Glebe — operating from 10am–4pm every Saturday. It'll close after the Saturday, February 25 event.
Butter has expanded its streetwear and fried chicken empire, opening a third location on the lower north shore. First announced late last year and welcoming in customers since around Christmas, the Chatswood Chase location boasts Butter's signature combo of fried chicken, sneakers and serious champagne. And, it also has something entirely new for the brand: charcoal chicken. The last 12 months have been big for charred chook, with Henrietta opening in Surry Hills and both Frango and El Jannah launching their first-ever drive-thrus. Now, the lower north shore has gotten in on the action. Like Butter's existing Surry Hills and Parramatta stores, the Chatswood Chase shop has a lineup of hard-to-find sneakers from brands such as Raised by Wolves, Hypebeast and Smile + Wave. You'll find them on shelves lit up with neon lighting, alongside Butter's own branded merch. There's a full bar, too, with cocktails including margaritas, sours, spritzes, negronis and boozy iced tea — and a sizeable range of champagne. Executive Chef Julian Cincotta has brought the original Butter food menu over to the lower north shore but with a few added extras — so you can order the same chicken sandwich with pickles and the '3 Pac' box of fried chicken and hot sauce. But there are also new menu items, such as a bigger range of beef burgers, salads and charcoal chook. The smoky chicken is rubbed with Butter's signature red spiced pepper, marinated for 48 hours and cooked over fire. And, it's served with garlic sauce (like El Jannah). As enjoyed at Butter's other stores, the dessert menu goes heavy on Ben and Jerry's ice cream — and, stopping by from 3–6pm is recommended. That's when 'Butter hour' takes place, with $3 wings, $6.50 spicy mini sandwiches, $6 Young Henry's beers and $10 alcoholic slushies. Butter is now open inside Chatswood Chase at 345 Victoria Avenue, Chatswood. Images: Cole Bennetts.
On November 2, it was announced that beloved Sydney institution Freda's would be closing for good. Operating out of a century-old warehouse on Chippendale's Regent Street, the live music venue has survived nine turbulent years of lockout laws, gentrification and a global pandemic, while continuing to make space for up-and-coming, boundary-pushing and diverse artists from Sydney and afar. Opening in November of 2011, the club was named after founder David Abram's mother Freda, a fashion designer and painter who raised Abram alongside his father Phil. Both Phil and Freda are immigrants and Holocaust survivors who Abram credits for his creativity and passion. In his statement on Freda's closing Abram thanked his parents, saying: "they have taught me you can make creativity the centre of your life and succeed. No matter the odds." Freda's was born at a tipping point in Sydney's nightlife, with a newly elected government at the helm that was set to dramatically change the city's creative sector. In fact, according to Abram, it was already changing for the worse — and Freda's was created in opposition to this. "One of the reasons why I started Freda's is that I felt like the arts and creative communities that I'd grown up around in the inner city had fallen victim to the incessant gentrification and development that has blighted Sydney over the last 15 years," Abram told Concrete Playground. "It really bothered me that there were no places for self-expression, young people to meet and interact around their own music and ideas, nor for emerging artists to hone their craft and performance to take to bigger stages." Of course, the creative sector had worse on the horizon. In February 2014, the NSW government introduced the lockout and last-drink laws in the Sydney CBD and Kings Cross in an attempt to curb alcohol-fuelled violence. The fallout from the laws is still being felt today, with hundreds of venues closing over the five years the laws were in place and those that survived within the CBD seeing a 40 percent drop in revenue. Freda's sat just outside the lockout zone, but felt the impact of the laws regardless. The venue was initially limited to a midnight close time before it was extended to 2am on weekends in 2017 and finally 4am last year. [caption id="attachment_790506" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: David Abram and protesters at a Keep Sydney Open Rally in 2016, Kimberley Low[/caption] "Being closely involved in the music community for almost a decade, I have seen the drastic decline in Sydney's nightlife — from the envy of the world to a relative backwater," Abram said back in 2017. "We have lost a large part of our soul in this process." Three years on and this view remains, as Abram says: "the reality is that this lack of spaces has a direct correlation to a lack of arts and music industry prospects and results in one of two things: people give up on their dreams and some incredible talents are lost forever, or alternatively artists and musicians are forced to move overseas to more progressive societies in Europe and elsewhere. The reality is the talent is here. The ambition is here. We just need spaces, support and far less red tape." Despite the extended trading hours, Freda's continued to run into challenges. Six years on from the introduction of the lockout laws and in the throws of a global pandemic, Abram reflects on the difficulties of running a venue in Sydney. "Freda's has been a very personal project with many challenges and complications, and it has often felt like as soon as we have climbed one mountain there has been an even taller one to climb on the other side. Each time you climb one of these mountains it takes a part of you with it," Abram said. "One thing I can say from experience is that you have to be tough to have survived as a venue in Sydney because the last ten years have been brutal." But, Abram has a more positive outlook on the future of Sydney's music, culture and nightlife. When asked about the fallout from the pandemic, he says, "I think right now things appear dire, and I am sure Freda's closing won't change people's opinions about this. However, I am incredibly optimistic and motivated for the future. We have spent enough time in cultural purgatory and just like when the Berlin Wall fell, we too will have our day in the sun." Abram also says the pandemic has produced some unexpected benefits for Sydney's creative industries. "COVID-19 has obviously been devastating for everyone, particularly those in the live music and 'gig' economy, but it has also meant that some of our best artists, performers and creative minds have returned home from LA, Berlin, New York and other corners of the globe they chased their creative dreams," Abram continues. "Further to this, for the first time in decades, landlords are going to have to assess the relentless rental inflation and offer space at a fair price within the city and surrounding areas. It is also in councils, state and federal governments interests to see the live music and cultural industries thrive as we climb out of this pandemic driven recession. We have an opportunity right now to change the narrative and I believe we can." [caption id="attachment_788414" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Carla Uriarte[/caption] For now, however, the city is preparing to farewell Freda's. The announcement of its impending closure was met with an outpouring of sadness and support, with the venue playing host to countless Sydney musicians, DJs, producers, artists and performers over the years. From local up-and-coming musicians like Mildlife, Memphis LK and Egoism to established members of the Sydney arts community, such as Rainbow Chan, Flexmami and former Head of Music and Programming at FBi Radio Amelia Jenner, and international superstars like Mac Demarco, the Freda's stage has housed some of the most talented and influential musicians of the last decade. When asked about how he created a space of such creativity and positivity, Abram said: "exploring how the space can be interpreted has been one of the fundamental objectives of Freda's, and allowing so many different creative expressions to occur under one roof has kept the space dynamic, open-minded and accessible for all who have inquisitive minds. With regards to the positivity of the space, the simple answer was to have a sense of humour, to realise a night out is meant to be fun even if we are sometimes exploring challenging subjects in our art and expression." Abram also has hope other Sydney venues can continue creating such spaces around the city. "The Bearded Tit in Redfern, which is unfortunately still closed (aside from takeaway) at the moment, has always been a kindred spirit in terms of its cultural output and performative programming. The Red Rattler in Marrickville and 107 Projects in Redfern are also community-driven spaces showcasing diverse artists and music. Giant Dwarf has been an incredible incubator for comedic talent these last few years. I'm also a huge fan of party institutions like Mad Racket and Club Kooky that have been part of Sydney's nightlife for over 20 years." Reflecting back on his favourite memories at Freda's, Abram says, "there are so many individual memories it would be impossible to list them all here. But a feeling that has consistently been etched into my mind happens at a certain part of a night when an incredible DJ is in full flight and the dance floor is locked in and free. There has been nothing more satisfying me than being a part of creating this experience for people." Freda's will close on Sunday, November 21, after the Festival of Freda's. Tickets to both Friday's Vibe Positive and Saturday's The End are sold out, but tickets are still available to see The Moving Stills on Thursday, November 19 and the book launch of 'Becoming' by Joel Forman and Edward Mulvihill on Friday, November 20 at Freda's art space Down Under. Top images: David Abram by Carla Uriarte and Freda's by Imogen Grist
Back in 2001, in the ruins of Changnyeongsa Temple in Yeongwol in Gangwon-do Province, South Korea, more than 300 statues were found. Each stone sculpture depicts an arhat — the name given to followers of Buddha who've achieved the enlightened state of nirvana — and they're all thought to date back 500 years. The collection was dubbed 'The Five Hundred Arhats', in fact, after Buddha's 500 disciples. Also, every figure's face conveys a lifelike emotion. And, Australians will be able to see a selection of them without leaving the country thanks to Sydney's Powerhouse Museum. From December 3, 2021, the Five Hundred Arhats exhibition will put a number of the figures on display in Ultimo, incorporating them into an installation created by artist Kim Seung Young. They'll be surrounded by 700 audio speakers, in a piece that's designed to suggest that "the arhats are meditating in an attitude of intimate, reclusive poise amidst a cacophony that evokes the distracting bustle of urban life". The big summer showcase will be presented in collaboration with Chuncheon National Museum and National Museum of Korea — and it's just one of Powerhouse Museum's 2021 highlights. The Sydney venue has unveiled its full program for the year, spanning everything from tiny automobiles and gum trees to Australian ceramics and Persian arts and crafts. [caption id="attachment_799429" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Bayram Ali, Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Scheme, Powerhouse Collection[/caption] On display from today, Tuesday, February 9, is Bayram Ali. It features images of Australia's Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Scheme from the 50s to the 70s, as taken by the Turkish Cypriot migrant and amateur photographer who gives the exhibition its title. Also skewing local, Clay Dynasty will show more than 300 items from Powerhouse's Aussie ceramics collection, in a showcase that'll celebrate 50 years of Australian studio ceramics. Opening on May 28, it'll feature 20 newly commissioned pieces, too. From June 11, 100 Conversations will focus on climate change via an exhibition and talks program. On the bill: live discussions with leading Australian innovators acting on climate change, as well as an evolving exhibition that documents the public conversations. Also in June, Eucalyptusdom is set to explore stories surrounding gum trees, including their importance to Indigenous Australians. Expect to see pieces from Powerhouse's collection, plus new works by Dean Cross, Luna Mrozik Gawler, Julie Gough, Vera Hong, Anna May Kirk, Nicholas Mangan, Yasmin Smith, Sera Waters and Damien Wright with Bonhula Yunupingu. [caption id="attachment_799430" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Paul and Linda McCartney, Abbey Rd Studios, London, 1982. Photo: Robert Rosen.[/caption] Also on Powerhouse's agenda is Iranzamin, from March 19, which'll mark the first time that Powerhouse has put together an exhibition of Persian arts and crafts from its own range. And, from June 11, Microcars will focus on tiny vehicles — with more than 17 automobiles on display from Europe, Japan, the UK and Australia. Australian portrait and social pages photographer Robert Rosen will be in the spotlight from August 6, thanks to Glitterati: 20 years of Social Photography. From September 14, Powerhouse will highlight 20th century designers such as Douglas Annand, Frances Burke and Arthur Leydin in an exhibition called Graphic Identities. Throughout 2021, Electric Keys will also explore the influence of electric keyboards on soul jazz, blues, rock, progressive rock and pop, and The Invisible Revealed will let visitors see nuclear-beam scans of objects from Powerhouse's collection. There's also Future Fashion, a showcase the work of top graduates from four Sydney-based fashion design schools. Five Hundred Arhats displays at Sydney's Powerhouse Museum, 500 Harris Street, Ultimo from December 3, 2021. For further details — or to find out more about the museum's full 2021 slate — visit its website. Top image: Five Hundred Arhats, Chuncheon National Museum.
A health food cafe that serves a coconut water-braised pulled pork and egg roll — that's one way to get your attention. If you're a bonafide health nut or you simply want to pretend for the day, head to Ruby Lane in Manly. A cafe up front and an organic grocer in the rear, if a superfood exists that isn't available at Ruby Lane, we'd be surprised to hear it. In fact, they've got a communal shopping list in the grocer where you can request items you would like them to stock. And if you're used to being confined to the single gluten free, dairy free or vegan option on most menus, prepare to be spoilt for choice. In both the cafe and the grocer, Ruby Lane stock paleo bread, and gluten free crumpets and fruit toast. And in the milk department they offer almond, coconut, soy and cashew. You can even have your coffee with butter if you're so inclined. Ruby's 'Benedict' ($20) comes with your choice of ham or smoked trout and the sauce is made from an emulsion of good oils, MCT brain octane, coconut and macadamia. No idea what that means. But it's delicious.
Few winter treats warm those cockles quite like a hot, steamy pie. And no Aussie festival pays homage to this humble pastry dish, quite like Pie Time — a month-long pie celebration returning to NSW's Southern Highlands this June. Pie Time's 2019 edition features a bigger and tastier lineup than ever before. There'll be pies dished up by a swag of local bakeries — including Heatherbrae's new Ned Kelly creation — a pie-themed train trip between Sydney, Robertson and Moss Vale; various pie and wine trails; and even pie cycling tours. You can even unleash some creativity at Glass Cafe Mittagong's 'Pie, Pinot and Pie Sauce' painting sessions, or take a walk on the wild side with a zipline ride and post-fly pie at Illawarra Fly Tree Top Adventures. Just make sure you're at Bowral's Bong Bong Picnic Racecourse on June 29 and 30, for PieFest, where you'll enjoy cooking demos, browse market stalls and get a chance to taste the winning entries for the NSW/ACT Best Pie Competition. First image: Adam McGrath.
In The Virgin Suicides, in a role for Sofia Coppola that he'll always be known for, Josh Hartnett played the dreamy high schooler who had Kirsten Dunst swooning. A quarter-century later, as his then-director is fresh from a Priscilla Presley biopic and his former co-star just snapped America's divisiveness at its potential worst as a photojournalist in Civil War, he's now jumped from Trip Fontaine to Trap, still with his appearance and its impact upon others a key factor. Cooper Adams, Hartnett's latest character, likely was a teen heartthrob, too. Now he's a kindly firefighter who dotes on his daughter Riley (Ariel Donoghue, Wolf Like Me) to the extent that he's her chaperone at the Taylor Swift-esque Lady Raven's (first-timer Saleka Night Shyamalan) Philadelphia concert. His politeness wins over people quickly, such as the merchandise-slinging Jamie (Jonathan Langdon, Run the Burbs), who's soon doing him a favour. But Trip wasn't completely the charmer that he seemed, and Cooper isn't just a nice dad doing parenting well — he's Trap's killer. It was true in The Sixth Sense of Bruce Willis (Assassin), in Unbreakable with Samuel L Jackson (Argylle), of James McAvoy (His Dark Materials) in Split and with Dave Bautista (Dune: Part Two) in Knock at the Cabin: M Night Shyamalan knows how to draw a gripping turn out of his leads. With well-known names in front of his lens, including Hartnett (The Bear), he's just as aware of how to riff on existing audience understanding and expectations. Not everyone who acts for the Glass, The Visit and Old filmmaker receives the same treatment — but when the approach works, it's worth building an entire movie around. Trap is one such flick, clueing viewers in early that Hartnett has taken a Dexter-esque step into a murderer's shoes. Then, it observes the disconnect between the perceptions of everyone around Cooper and his homicidal urges, all as the cops stage a sting at the gig to catch someone they know solely as The Butcher. When he arrives at the stadium with Riley, Cooper has no idea that attempting to capture him will be the real production of the day. He promised his giddily excited kid that she'd see her favourite singer if she earned good grades and he's delivered; that she's fallen out with her friends and needs something a distraction also factors in. Then Shyamalan, who writes and directs, draws attention to the hordes of police filtering in, plus the profiler (Hayley Mills, Death in Paradise) calling the shots. Cooper equally notices. It's all a ploy, Jamie shares without realising who he's talking to, and there's only one route out. Already juggling checking on his current detainee (Mark Bacolcol, Night Is Limpid) via webcam and being drawn into the schoolyard feud by a fellow parent (Marnie McPhail, Dream Scenario) with ensuring that Riley is having the time of her life, he's now desperately trying to stop his normal-guy facade from crumbling. The famously twist-loving Shyamalan isn't bashful about Cooper's lethal tendencies. Accordingly, that isn't among the movie's surprises. As Trap's protagonist endeavours to stay ahead of his pursuers in a cat-and-mouse game — they've no idea what he looks like, which assists immensely — and reassure Riley when she starts thinking that he's acting weird, plot shocks remain in store, but so does convenience. Frequently staring intimately at Harnett's face especially when it's wearing a loaded smile, the film aligns its perspective with Cooper's whatever-it-takes efforts to stay avoid handcuffs, yet luck has as much as sway on his path as smarts. As he does with dad jokes and awkwardness, Harnett sells every clever choice and stroke of fortune alike, and compellingly gets audiences into the killer's head, though, in a standout role for the Penny Dreadful, Wrath of Man, Black Mirror and Oppenheimer actor; Trap would struggle without his transfixing commitment. Even with opportune turns constantly coming Cooper's way, Shyamalan doesn't have a tension problem, in no small part because watching one of his films means inherently being on edge for the next twist, then the next, then the next again — and he gleefully toys with that fact. But he does have a third-act issue, especially when he branches beyond his solid setup. While that choice brings in a welcome supporting performance from Alison Pill (Scott Pilgrim Takes Off) as Cooper's wife and Riley's mother Rachel, it plunges the feature into Lord of the Rings-style too-many-endings territory. Also too often, Trap's decisions feel like Shyamalan simply thinking that something would be nifty. Enlisting Mills given her The Parent Trap background, Kid Cudi's (Silent Night) winking cameo, giving Saleka such prominence: some hit the target, others wish they did. What lengths will a dad go to for his daughter? That's one of this picture's threads on- and off-screen. In a year that's seen Trap's filmmaker produce the directorial debut of one of his children, with Ishana Night Shyamalan's The Watchers reaching cinemas mere months before his own latest release, he's now penned and helmed a flick that features another of his kids as a pop sensation and has the real-life singer's own music weaved in prominently. As he has long enjoyed doing in his own movies, the Shyamalan patriarch also pops up on camera, this time to praise Saleka's Lady Raven. He's pitched Trap as a Swift gig meets The Silence of the Lambs, but it's as much about wanting to give your children everything, build them up and, when you've got other demands on your focus, still doing your best to be there for them. Aided by cinematographer Sayombhu Mukdeeprom (who shot Call Me By Your Name, Suspiria and Challengers for Luca Guadagnino, plus Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives and Memoria for Apichatpong Weerasethakul) alongside editor Noemi Katharina Preiswerk (Knock at the Cabin, Servant), Shyamalan doesn't take his gift to Saleka lightly. The concert-film elements aren't window dressing. He revels in them, sometimes savvily juxtaposing the show's massive scale with Cooper's life-or-death predicament, sometimes with the indulgence of a dad giving his kid a vehicle for her dreams. The Eras tour boasts many things, a date with screens among them, but it isn't also a psychological thriller; mix that with Grand Piano and Mission: Impossible — Rogue Nation's opera scene, and that's Trap's template as well. When Hartnett sings, albeit not literally, so does the film. Donoghue also does her utmost and leaves an impression. But, while engrossing, the picture they're in often plays like a warmup for a big gig that hasn't pulled off everything that it wants to.
If your ideal weekend includes meandering through a farmers market, picking up fresh fruit and veg, then add Hillview Farms Produce and Artisan Market to your hit list. Happening every Saturday, the market has everything you need to make a Saturday night feast, or to get meal prepping for the week ahead. What began as an apple orchard, then a fruit and veg stall roaming various Sydney markets and an online store with home deliveries, Hillview Farms now has several market stalls and an online store, as well as hosting its own Saturday market in its Leichhardt warehouse — all with the promise of getting Sydneysiders some of the best pesticide-free produce around. Not only can you pick up perfectly ripe produce, beautiful blooms and a large range of artisanal goods from the market, but you can do it knowing that local farmers, producers and growers are being supported. First-time customers get a free takeaway coffee at checkout, should you need some java after a big Friday. Just remember to bring your reusable shopping bags along, then get ready to fill them to the brim. Hillview Farms Produce and Artisan Market runs from 8am–2pm every Saturday. There is free onsite parking, and it is are located 200 metres from Hawthorne Light Rail Station.
Is the type of film festival that dedicates an afternoon and evening to a killer clown your type of film festival? If so, you should be excited about Monster Fest's return. In just a few short years, the Terrifier movies have become horror must-sees if you can't get enough of slashers splashing about gore aplenty. With the latest flick in the franchise on the way, Monster Fest is screening all three Terrifier titles, old and new — so, giving audiences an extended date with Art the Clown — as a key part of its 2024 program. The Australian premiere of Terrifier 3 will follow the OG Terrifier and first sequel Terrifier 2 on Saturday, October 5 in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide. This year's Monster Fest is the first time that the event is running concurrently in all of its locations. The festival kicks off on Friday, October 4 in all five cities, running until Sunday, October 6 everywhere except Melbourne, where it finishes on Saturday, October 12. While getting creeped out by cinema's most-sadistic clown is a big Monster Fest 2024 drawcard, it's The Rule of Jenny Pen from Coming Home in the Dark filmmaker James Ashcroft that's the event's opening-night pick. At the other end of the festival, horror-comedy Frankie Freako by Psycho Goreman's Steven Kostanski is in the closing slot. Both pictures embrace puppets, the first with help from John Lithgow (Killers of the Flower Moon) and the second featuring a dancing goblin. Other highlights playing in all cities include the latest Hellboy movie, Hellboy: The Crooked Man, which heads back to the 1950s; Azrael, as led by Australian actor Samara Weaving (Scream VI), and telling of a woman's attempt to escape from mute zealots; New Zealand body-horror film Grafted; and documentary Generation Terror, which focuses on the horror genre from the late-90s to mid-00s. Some flicks are only playing a few locations, such as Occupation Rainfall filmmaker Luke Sparke's new film Scurry — plus Waves of Madness from The FP's Jason Trost, which brings sidescrolling to the cinema. Unsurprisingly given that it's on there for longer, Melbourne also has a number of exclusives such as Estonia's action-horror-musical-comedy Chainsaws Were Singing, French black comedy Ultimate Chabite, documentary Children of the Wicker Man, and retrospective sessions of The Final Destination 3D and Critters. Scurry and Waves of Madness are just two of the Australian movies on the bill, too. The former is on the program in Brisbane and Melbourne, the second in Sydney and Melbourne, and they have company in various locations. That's where fellow homegrown titles States of Mind (Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney), Fear Below (everywhere except Perth), An American Masquerade (Melbourne only) and Freelance (also just Melbourne) come in — ensuring that this Aussie genre fest embraces the genre at home. Monster Fest 2024 Dates Friday, October 4–Saturday, October 12 — Cinema Nova, Melbourne Friday, October 4–Sunday, October 6 — Event Cinemas Burwood, Sydney Friday, October 4–Sunday, October 6 — Event Cinemas Uptown, Brisbane Friday, October 4–Sunday, October 6 — Event Cinemas Marion, Adelaide Friday, October 4–Sunday, October 6 — Event Cinemas Innaloo, Perth Monster Fest 2024 runs throughout October around Australia. Head to the festival's website for further details.
Every date on the calendar is now an occasion. On May 8, Mates Day is one of them. It's a time to check in with your pals — and, in 2024, it's also time to share a free scoop of a limited-edition Gelato Messina flavour with them. Yes, you do make friends with ice cream. Messina is celebrating Mates Day with a new gelato variety that might get you thinking back to school lunches with your mates growing up. Called Oh Snap!, it's inspired by the tuckshop staple that is the vanilla slice, featuring vanilla custard gelato, passionfruit puree and caramelised puff pastry pieces. The reason for the moniker: this giveaway, which runs from 12pm until stocks last today, Wednesday, May 8, is in conjunction with Snapchat. In fact, to claim your free scoop at any Gelato Messina store around the country, you'll need to show that you have the Snapchat app on your phone. (The only exception: for kids under 13, who can just get a free scoop anyway.) Here's how it works: hit up your nearest Messina, join what's certain to be a line, hope that you get to the counter while there's still Oh Snap! gelato left, then make sure that Snapchat is on your device. That's all there is to it. Obviously, bringing your mates with you so that they can get free ice cream, too — there's only one scoop available per person — is recommended. In Sydney, at Gelato Messina's Surry Hills store, you'll be scoring dessert from an outpost that's been given a yellow makeover — complete with experiences that might be of a pic, plus merchandise — also from midday. The Crown Street venue will also have more supplies of Oh Snap! than other shops, but it's still a while-stocks-last affair. Messina currently has 19 stores in New South Wales, five in Victoria and three in Queensland, plus two in the Australian Capital Territory, and one apiece in South Australia and Western Australia. Gelato Messina's Mate's Day Snapchat scoop giveaway runs from 12pm until stocks last on Wednesday, May 8, 2024, at all of the chain's stores around Australia. Head to the brand's website for more details.
It's been 65 million years since dinosaurs went extinct, but they still keep roaring on screens big and small, in exhibitions dedicated to the prehistoric creatures, and in dino-loving hearts and minds. If you happened to be at Bondi Beach today, Thursday, July 27, you might've also noticed one wandering around — and a seven-foot velociraptor at that. Yes, a dino roamed around one of Australia's most famous beaches. Yes, obviously it wasn't a real dinosaur, but fans of the Jurassic franchise will be happy to go along with it. And yes, this clever girl did look supremely lifelike. Also yes: life really does find a way. The velociraptor was first spotted at Marks Park, then made its way to the beach's south end. Next, following a stint near Icebergs, it ventured up around Bondi Pavilion. That's where it was captured — or, really, where the promotional stunt for Jurassic World: The Exhibition came to an end. Letting a realistic-looking dino loose on Bondi was all about letting people know that the Jurassic World showcase that's been touring the world will hit Sydney this spring, and celebrate 30 years since the first Jurassic Park movie rampaged through cinemas in the process. Before now, the exhibition has made its way to London, San Diego, Paris, Madrid, Seoul, Shanghai, Toronto and more, complete with life-sized and lifelike versions of the movie franchise's animals. What do Bondi Beach and Isla Nublar have in common? Dinosaurs now, although Bondi didn't score its own version of the famous Jurassic Park and Jurassic World gates. That entryway will be on show at the exhibition, however, when it arrives at the 3000-square-metre SuperLuna Pavilion at Sydney Showground in Sydney Olympic Park from Friday, September 22. Tickets are now on sale for Jurassic World: The Exhibition, which is another reason for the promo stunt. Sadly, there were no sightings of Sam Neill, Laura Dern or Jeff Goldblum at Bondi today — just the raptor. Add an ancient critter to the list of attention-grabbing Bondi pop-ups in the past year, including a Stranger Things rift, a giant rainbow sand sculpture in the countdown to Sydney WorldPride and a mass installation for photographer Spencer Tunick, which briefly turned the sandy stretch into a nude beach. It's been a big few years for pop culture-themed pop-ups in Australia, too, including Borat, Nicole Kidman, Homer Simpson and the creepy Red Light, Green Light doll from Squid Game also making an appearance in Sydney. Homer Simpson's huge head made its way to Queensland, too, while Melbourne has scored an Everything Everywhere All At Once-style multidimensional laundromat and a massive Timothée Chalamet mural to promote Dune. Jurassic World: The Exhibition will display at SuperLuna Pavilion, Sydney Showground, Sydney Olympic Park from Friday, September 22 — head to the exhibition's website for tickets.
The state of Colorado is a land of mind-blowing extremes. In one visit, you can climb rugged mountains, wander through arid desert landscapes, canoe down wild rivers and camp by serene lakes. Meanwhile, in the capital city of Denver, which rests a mile above sea level, you'll find gallons of craft beer, creative chefs, loads of indie artists and a buzzing music scene. Colorado-based singer-songwriter Gregory Alan Isakov, who's currently in Australia, embodies the state's spirit: whenever he's not on the road, he's at home on his farm, growing produce and recording in his custom-built studio. To mark his tour around our homeland, we've come up with a tour for you around his homeland. Here, we take you through all the eats, drinks, sights and sounds for you to discover on a trip to Denver, CO. EAT BREKKIE AT SNOOZE Snooze is all about helping you start your day on a high and fully fuelled. Prepare for upbeat vibes, lots of energy and happy, happy people. Nearly every dish on the menu is made from scratch, according to what local farmers have on the go. So, you never know what to expect. That said, if the pineapple upside-down pancakes are on offer, look no further. Or, if sweet in the AM isn't your thing, opt for the Chili Verde Benedict — a spicy feast of tortillas with green chilli sauce, melted cheese, slow-cooked pulled pork, barbacoa-style beef, poached eggs, green chilli hollandaise, pico de gallo and cotija cheese. EAT FRENCH ONION SOUP DUMPLINGS AT CHOLON At ChoLon, a much-adored restaurant in Denver, two of the world's greatest comfort foods — french onion soup and dumplings — collide. Foodies travel far and wide to sample these delights, which are loaded with gruyere and sweet onion, then steamed to perfection. Their creator is head chef and owner Lon Symensma, who opened ChoLon after working at Buddakan in New York City. If you're still hungry post-dumplings, move onto an array of modern Asian flavours — from crunchy Thai shrimp rolls with umami mayo to diver scallops with fennel puree, wok hay grapes and candied pistachios. EAT POUTINE AT EUCLID HALL Have yourself a classic American tavern experience at Euclid Hall, set in a 19th-century building that formerly housed a bar by an infamous Wild West gangster, Soapy Smith. You'll find it in Denver's Larimer Square historical district. Get started with poutine — fries loaded with all kinds of deliciousness, like duck confit, cheddar curds and black pepper duck gravy or green chilli-braised pork with cheddar curds, cilantro, radish and crema. The house-made sausages are hard to pass by, too. Match your pick with a craft beer or signature cocktail, like the Salty Oboe (whiskey, lemon-ginger shrub, orange bitters and lemon). [caption id="attachment_711888" align="alignnone" width="1920"] RiNo Art District, Nick and Marissa Napoletano[/caption] B-CYCLE YOUR WAY AROUND DENVER'S CREATIVE NEIGHBOURHOODS With all the inspiring natural wonder surrounding the city, Denver is a magnet for artists, designers, makers, writers and musicians. To see their creations at a leisurely pace, grab yourself a Bcycle and go exploring beyond the city centre. Be sure to check out the Art District on Santa Fe, the Golden Triangle creative district near uptown and the Highlands neighbourhood. Meanwhile, in RiNo (River North), you'll find plenty of street art sharing the neighbourhood with independent boutiques, craft breweries and unique eateries. Plan for a full day of wandering and window shopping. DRINK LOCAL BREWS AT WYNKOOP BREWING COMPANY Since a man by the name of Governor Hickenlooper brewed the first pint here in 1988, this downtown pub has been a local favourite. It's also the first brewpub to have opened in Denver since Prohibition wound up way, way back in 1933. Set in a 100-year-old former bank with several bars, including one that used to be a vault,Wynkoop has 30 brews on tap — all of which have been made in Colorado. There's a drop for pretty much everyone here — from those who enjoy a lush, hop-heavy ale (opt for the Mile High pale ale) to those after something creamy and semi-sweet (look to the Cowtown milk stout). If you're keen to get behind the scenes, you can also join a tour Tuesday–Saturday at 3pm and 4pm. DRINK AN AVOCADO DAIQUIRI AT THE FAMILY JONES Opened in 2017, The Family Jones puts a bunch of Denver's best distillers, chefs, bartenders and restaurateurs under one (vaulted) roof. It's a paean to craft spirits, creative cocktails and small plates — splashed with copper, blue velvet and greenery. Watch a master distiller in action, while sipping an avocado daiquiri: a decadent concoction of the distillery's Mo Jones Rum, passionfruit, lime, arbor chilli and avocado. And if you're after even more, tours and tastings, which include a seven-strong flight of house-made spirits, take place every Saturday at midday and 1.30pm. Meanwhile, happy hour is 4pm–6pm daily. DRINK SOUR BEER AT CROOKED STAVE ARTISAN BEER PROJECT After sipping brews at the historic Wynkoop Brewing Company, head over to Crooked Stave a 'modern artisan brewery' that's been on the scene since 2010. Crafting a wide range of wild and sour drops, head brewer Chad Yakobson is all about combining art with science to create complex, boundary-pushing beers bursting with flavours. Two of his secrets are the use of brettanomyces yeast (which gives beers — and some wines — that funky textural taste) and barrel ageing. Visit the taproom in Denver to sample the results — from the American-style IPA, which contains five types of hops (Azacca, Galaxy, Amarillo, Motueka, and Citra) to the Nightmare on Brett Raspberry, a dark sour ale aged in Leopold Brothers whiskey barrels brewed with Washington raspberries. [caption id="attachment_708869" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Visit Denver.[/caption] SEE A CONCERT UNDER THE STARS AT RED ROCKS If you're a live music junkie, chances are Red Rocks Amphitheatre is already on your bucket list. This extraordinary concert venue, which lies around 15 kilometres outside of Denver, is a naturally formed amphitheatre, framed by stunning rock formations. Some say you'll find no better acoustics anywhere in the world. Just a few of the acts to have played legendary concerts here under the stars include The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Depeche Mode and Dave Matthews. If you're not able to see a show, consider taking a guided tour or stopping by for a snack at Ship Rock Grille. HIKE, BIKE OR RIDE IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS Just a two hours' drive north of Denver lies the Rocky Mountain National Park. Its spectacular slopes have attracted hikers, mountaineers, adventurers and horse riders for hundreds of years. There are countless walking trails to conquer — from the short but steep and incredibly scenic Alpine Ridge Trail to the 12-kilometre long Timberline Falls Trial, which takes in Alberta Falls and several pristine mountain lakes. Alternatively, jump on horseback for a guided tour and see the scenery like you're from the Wild West. STROLL THROUGH THE GARDEN OF THE GODS Also within a two hours' drive from Denver is the magical Garden of the Gods. As the name suggests, this rather awe-inspiring place, dotted with 100-metre-high rock formations, looks like it was created by giants. If you're not keen to get too adventurous, soak up the views from the glass-walled cafe or, if the weather's warm, the outdoor terrace. Alternatively, take a hike or join a guided tour — be it by Segway, bike or jeep. Ready to go? Start planning your trip to Denver and wider adventures in the state of Colorado.
After a long hard day's work in this busy city of ours, nothing beats a cold hard cocktail and a spot o' Frank Sinatra. Or Sammy Davis Jr. Or Dean Martin. It's the closest we'll get to time travelling to early 1960s New York, where the bands were big and the drinks were stiff. The original Rat Pack leader, Humphrey Bogart, had left this world in 1957, and a new crew of sharp young whippersnappers were settling into the throne: Sinatra, Martin and Davis, Jr. along with less-known folks Peter Lawford and Joey Bishop. But this ragtag gang weren't alone in their late night jams, with the likes of Peggy Lee, Nina Simone, Ray Charles, Nat King Cole and Ella Fitzgerald fuelling the fire. But what were these legendary gallivanters drinking, having late night chats in a dimly lit NYC saloon long after the audience had gone home? According to various accounts, classic Drambuie cocktail The Rusty Nail was a favourite for the Rat Pack boys in the '60s. It's a combo of Scotch whisky and spicy, syrupy Drambuie (which is made with herbs, honey and scotch) served with a twist of lemon (check out our more in-depth history of the cocktail). Now, bartenders all over Sydney are getting creative and giving the whisky-based liqueur screen time in their contemporary cocktails, shaking and stirring it into popularity once again. Sydney jazz club The Swinging Cat is celebrating the notorious liqueur with A Night With The Nail, a series celebrating the Rat Pack era every Thursday night throughout October and November. So we thought we'd put together a little audio time warp before you get there, with a playlist perfect for your next cocktail hour. Loosen your tie, kick up your heels, make yourself a Rusty Nail and dig into a specially-made playlist of our favourite Rat Pack-era tunes. Image: Wiki.
After Australia got its first dedicated KitKat boutique in Melbourne a few years ago, Sydney is now getting its very own, so you can indulge on OTT KitKat flavours whenever you need a break (pun intended). The space will feature a shop, tasting bar and interactive workshop area and have a more extensive lineup of KitKats than you'll find on the supermarket shelf. Opening on Monday, July 6 in Mid City shopping centre on Pitt Street, the KitKat Chocolatory intends to offer a "premium chocolate experience" according to the sugar fiends at Nestlé. You can whip up your own chocolatey creation, with up to 30,000 possible combinations. You'll be matching your pick of chocolate with a bunch of tasty ingredients, then wrapping it up in your own custom packaging. If you'd rather skip straight to the good stuff, you can sample a range of chocolatey goods with a 90-minute dessert degustation at the onsite Tasting Table. But that's not all at this chocolate haven. You can pick up new and limited-edition creations that you won't find anywhere else — think fillings such as yuzu ganache, peanut butter and raspberry, cotton candy, sake and, perhaps the most strange, wasabi crème. Sydney's KitKat Chocolatory is slated to open Monday, July 6. For more information, head here.
World-renowned masterpieces such as Michelangelo's David have established the blank human canvas as an artwork; however, a recent series of naturist tours has artist Stuart Ringholt taking this to the next level by not only appearing naked himself but requiring all tour participants to also turn up in the flesh. Officially titled Preceded by a tour of the show by artist Stuart Ringholt 6-8pm (the artist will be naked. Those who wish to join the tour must also be naked. Adults only), the tour has already taken place at Tasmania's Museum of Old and New Art and Melbourne's Australian Centre for Contemporary Art. At such tours, Ringholt has allowed guests to gain a new perspective on existing works by viewing them in a new context where getting kitless is mandatory. Importantly, these tours have taken place outside of the standard venue opening hours, so there is no fear of outsiders or general creepers peeking in. Hypochondriacs will be relieved to know that you can keep your sneakers on, but it might be hard to choose a pair that will match the rest of your outfit. Ringholt's art has long been equally confrontational and controversial. In one of his performance pieces, the aptly titled Embarrassment, Ringholt placed himself in some red-faced situations. These included one instance where he walked in public with toilet paper hanging from his pants. Other pieces have documented a period of his life in the mid-'90s where he suffered from a drug addiction and subsequent psychotic episodes. Sydneysiders will now have a chance to experience Stuart Ringholt in all his naked glory when he conducts these tours at the Museum of Contemporary Art on April 27-29, 2012. Bookings for these sessions open on March 1, and enthusiasts would be wise to get in early after the high demand in other Australian cities. These will be open to adults only. Birthday suit up.
The Sydney Rides Festival, now in its fourth year, is about so much more than cycling. From October 11-25, the city will transmogrify into a kind of two-wheeling utopia. There’ll be bike-inspired art shows, free pedal-powered smoothies, complimentary breakfast and coffee for cycle-commuters, a checkpoint challenge offering loads of prizes, public talks about cycling history in The Netherlands and much more. Whether you’re a riding addict who doesn’t leave home without your bike or a newbie who’s hesitant about taking the plunge into traffic, there’ll be something for you. And to cap it all off, there’s the grand finale: the first ever Sydney Rides the Night event. At the end of the action-packed fortnight, thousands of cyclists are expected to gather at Mrs Macquaries Point for a nocturnal mini-festival within the festival. Between 6pm and midnight on October 25, a 2.5-kilometre course, starting at The Domain and extending along Mrs Macquaries Road, will be illuminated with installations and special effects, creating a kind of surreal adventure with the Harbour as a backdrop. Attendees will be welcome to ride the loop as many times as they like. At the same time, Mrs Macquaries Point will be transformed into a free outdoor party. So, before, after and in-between rides, participants will be able to hang out on outdoor couches watching short films on a big screen, sample fare from a herd of gourmet food trucks, kick back to live DJs and get involved in a silent disco hosted by Today FM. For anyone who doesn’t have their own bike, there’ll be plenty available for hire, including several of the electric variety. And, if you’re wondering how your fitness levels are travelling, you’ll have a chance to find out. “The National Institute for the Experiential Arts are also coming along,” explains City of Sydney marketing manager for cycling James Adams. “They’re setting up an installation, where there’s a stationery bike, which people can pedal. There’ll be a projection of their ride, as well as biometric data, like temperature and heart rate.” Sydney Rides the Night is the first event of its kind for, not only Sydney, but Australia, too. “It’s not just about the bike,” Adams explains. “It’s also about the experience. It’s for people who ride all the time and for those who are new to it. On our Facebook page, we’ve had lots of people commenting that they’ll get their bikes out and fix them up. Hopefully, this will then lead to them riding more often or even commuting to work. Sydney Rides the Night and the festival are all about stimulating interest and encouraging cycling culture in Sydney.”
Over the past few years, Qantas has launched 17-hour non-stop flights from Perth to London, and trialled even lengthier trips direct from the east coast to the UK and US. The Australian airline introduced biofuel into its jaunts from Melbourne to Los Angeles, and committed to phasing out single-use plastics and paper boarding passes. And, since 2014, it has also begun each year in an impressive way: by being named the safest airline to travel on. Earning the highly sought-after accolade again in 2020, the Aussie carrier has now topped AirlineRatings.com's list for seven years in a row. Entering its 100th year of operation, the airline emerged victorious from a pool of 405 carriers from around the world, with Virgin Australia and Air New Zealand also making the site's top 20. The other 17 airlines span EVA Air, Etihad, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, Emirates, Alaska Airlines, Cathay Pacific Airways, Hawaiian Airlines, Virgin Atlantic Airlines, TAP Portugal, SAS, Royal Jordanian, Swiss, Finnair, Lufthansa, Aer Lingus and KLM. If you're a budget-conscious flyer, the website also outlined the ten safest low-cost airlines. While Jetstar made the list last year, it didn't repeat the feat for 2020 — with Air Arabia, Flybe, Frontier, HK Express, IndiGo, Jetblue, Volaris, Vueling, Westjet and Wizz doing the honours instead. Factors that influence a carrier's placement on the two lists include crash and incident records, safety initiatives, fleet age, profitability, and audits by aviation governing bodies, industry bodies and governments. Via AirlineRatings.com.
2023 is set to be a milestone year for one of Sydney's biggest and most beloved events: the annual Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade. Firstly, after moving both the 2021 and 2022 events to the Sydney Cricket Ground due to the pandemic, it's finally returning to Oxford Street. Secondly, the parade is marking its huge 45th anniversary. And, it'll also fall under Sydney WorldPride, with that massive LGBTQIA+ celebration heading to the southern hemisphere for the first time ever. Expect a super-sized shindig as a result, obviously — one so hefty that two new viewing areas are being added for the parade. Due to increased demand already, organisers have announced a couple of fresh ticketed options to join in the fun on Saturday, February 25, 2023: a new party spot called Club Cindy and an all-ages zone named Ruby Road. At the first new addition, which'll set up shop on Flinders Street and is named after Sydney drag icon Cindy Pastel, Kyle Olsen and Rosie Piper will play host. This is a levelled-up standing area, complete with food options, bars and bathrooms, to add a bit of extra comfort to your Mardi Gras Parade experience. At the second new space, bringing a picnic rug is recommended. Here, you'll sit at the Moore Park end of the parade route, aka Checkpoint Dorothy, with uninterrupted views of the parade. You'll also be able to hit up food trucks and bars, enjoy live entertainment, and watch relays of the parade, too, on big screens around the venue. Club Cindy tickets start at $70, while Ruby Road tickets kick off at $50. Given that the theme of the 2023 Mardi Gras Parade is "gather, dream, amplify", the new spaces will also help attendees do just that. Announcing the new spaces, Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras CEO Albert Kruger noted that "if you want to escape the crowds, Club Cindy and Ruby Road are the perfect option for you to celebrate WorldPride, our 45th anniversary and the return to our spiritual home of Oxford Street." "The Sydney Cricket Ground was a fantastic temporary home and feedback from audiences was that they loved the access to amenities that it offered. Now that the Parade is returning to Oxford Street it was important to us that we provide options for spectators." The Mardi Gras Parade makes its Oxford Street comeback after two stints at the SCG — one featuring noted rainbow aficionados The Wiggles — due to COVID-19, restrictions around the pandemic and distancing precautions. With the parade taking place as part of Sydney WorldPride in 2023, that means it joins an enormous bill of pride events across 17 days — with more than 300-plus LGBTQIA+ festivities planned, and over 500,000 people expected to participate. The full program will be released on Wednesday, November 9, but already includes a heap of must-attend events, including Kylie Minogue headlining the opening concert, rainbows aplenty all around the city and a closing gig led by MUNA and G Flip. The 2023 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade will take place on Oxford Street on Saturday, February 25, 2023. For more information, head to the Mardi Gras website. Sydney WorldPride will run from February 17–March 5, 2023. For more information, or for tickets, head to the event's website. Images: Jeffrey Feng Photography. Thinking about Sydney WorldPride's big opening gig, Live and Proud: Sydney WorldPride Opening Concert, too? General admission tickets have sold out, with only Sydney WorldPride's affordability option left — but you can still head along thanks to Concrete Playground Trips. The Sydney WorldPride package includes tickets to the Domain Dance Party and Live and Proud: Opening Concert, plus three nights at the PARKROYAL Darling Harbour Sydney.
UPDATE, November 16, 2020: The Peanut Butter Falcon is available to stream via Amazon Prime Video, Google Play, YouTube Movies and iTunes. Playing a fisherman grieving for his older brother, barely scraping by and unafraid to skirt the law when necessary, Shia LaBeouf is at his soulful best in The Peanut Butter Falcon. Forget Transformers-era, phoning it in LaBeouf, or even his bag-wearing phase — here, he's as dynamic and textured as he was in 2016's American Honey, his last great on-screen role. And yet, LaBeouf isn't this indie comedy's main attraction. He's one of its leads, and he's surrounded by the similarly well-known likes of Dakota Johnson, Bruce Dern, Jon Bernthal, John Hawkes and Thomas Haden Church, but this little film with a big heart actually belongs to first-time performer Zack Gottsagen. In fact, writer/directors Tyler Nilson and Michael Schwartz created their first feature especially for Gottsagen, in order to showcase his acting talents. After Gottsagen has spent mere seconds on-screen as The Peanut Butter Falcon's wrestling-obsessed Zak, it's obvious why Nilson and Schwartz were determined to make this movie around him. The trio met at a camp for actors with disability, as Gottsagen has Down syndrome — and the way that adults with the genetic disorder are typically treated by society is key to this adventure. This isn't a message-driven feature, but a picture that places a man living with the health condition at its centre, letting his hopes, wants, needs and desires lead the story. Zak's dream couldn't seem more simple, with the 22-year-old so eager to attend his idol's wrestling school that he breaks out of the nursing home he's been forced to live in. But the reality of actually getting to his destination is far more complicated than it should be. As someone with Down syndrome — and someone housed in a care facility for the elderly because there's just nowhere else that caters for him — Zak's dreams, ideas, and general ability to do anything and everything are all constantly overlooked. His primary carer Eleanor (Johnson) treats him like a friend, but it's only after his roommate Carl (Dern) helps him to escape that Zak is really able to make his own decisions. With nothing but the underpants he's wearing to his name, he bunkers down in a boat, only to find himself caught up in its owner's mishaps. That'd be Tyler (LaBeouf), who is soon on the run from local crab trappers. Heading to Florida, he agrees to escort Zak to the only place in the world the runaway wants to go: the North Carolina wrestling academy run by faded icon Salt Water Redneck (Haden Church). Cue a series of Huckleberry Finn-style escapades, as The Peanut Butter Falcon's central duo ry to evade the folks on their tail while trudging through fields, building a raft to help them float along the coast and, eventually, unleashing Zak's wrestling persona — which gives the feature its name. Plot-wise, Zak and Tyler's exploits play out exactly as expected, but there's such a wealth of earnestness, affection, tenderness and charm to this movie that no one should mind that the story follows a predictable path. There's an enormous difference between films that stick to a template lazily, because it's easy and because they have no real reason to exist otherwise, and those that mould familiar parts into their own distinctive creation. Anchored by Gottsagen's effortlessly engaging presence, as well as by a protagonist too rarely given such a spotlight, this highly likeable picture falls into the latter category. Thoughtful, meaningful, realistic and empowering representation matters, which The Peanut Butter Falcon boasts in spades. That said, movies like this shouldn't be such a noteworthy occurrence — however addressing that imbalance is far from the film's only strength. So crucial to this warm-hued, good-natured feature is its breezy attitude and approach. This is a coming-of-age buddy comedy about two adults traversing America's south in often over-the-top circumstances, but every element is treated as though it's the most common thing in the world. A blind preacher shooting at Zak and Tyler, then baptising them, is just one of many components of the pair's journey that's simply part of their adventure. So too is a drunken night by a bonfire, a spirited service station encounter between Tyler and Eleanor and, most importantly, everything about Zak. Indeed, recognising that life's chaos happens to everyone is The Peanut Butter Falcon's remit — and showing that even the most ordinary events and extraordinary developments do as well. It's noticeable that, despite Johnson's efforts, Eleanor isn't afforded as much depth as the film's male characters. Actually, it's the feature's main disappointment. But when The Peanut Butter Falcon focuses on Zak's enthusiastic pilgrimage, the sincere bond he makes with another lonely soul, and the change it inspires in both him and Tyler, it's a warm-hearted hug of a movie. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkH7KUlInPg
Butter — Sydney's palace of fried chicken, sneakers, Champagne and ramen — is adding yet another layer to its already over-the-top offering. Butter Brunch Club launches this Saturday, December 1 and will continue every Saturday and Sunday thereafter. On offer are souped-up versions of the venue's beloved fried chicken and doughnut, along with 90 minutes of bottomless booze. As is, the dish ($16) comes with two fried chicken tenders, salted butter and a heaping pour of maple syrup, all atop a hot cinnamon doughnut. Then there's the three 'upgraded' varieties — smoked beef pastrami, miso butter and manchego cheese ($24); strawberry preserve, fresh strawberries and dark chocolate ($23); or blueberry preserve, fresh blueberries and chantilly cream ($22). Known to go all out, the restaurant is also offering bottomless booze for $38 per person. Choose from Chandon S (sparkling wine and orange bitters) over ice, Hennessy Green Tea or Pabst Blue Ribbon. Apart from bottomless, there is also a classic bloody mary ($15) on the menu, with an optional chicken tender addition ($19). And, in true Butter style, a limited edition t-shirt ($60) is also available for the occasion, which will be available in-store and online starting Friday, November 30. As always, there are no reservations at Butter, so be prepared to wait. Butter Brunch Club is happening every Saturday from 11.30am–4pm and Sunday from 12–4pm at Butter in Surry Hills and Parramatta.
Gone are the fuzzy sound systems, sketchy parking lots and bourbon-fuelled teenage make-out sessions, as the classic drive-in movie theatre lands in Sydney with a contemporary, creative and challenging twist. This November a secret location within three kilometres of the CBD will play host to a drive-in experience for the genuine enthusiast with Downtown Drive-In. Organisers are keeping relatively tight-lipped on the details, but guaranteed is an innovative selection of films spanning a season of three themed nights. A new release, a sentimental favourite and a more mysterious “lost cinephile’s treat” are the three film categories confirmed for the exciting pop-up event. It’s been 60 years since the drive-in theatre took America by storm, which has allowed for both time and technology to facilitate a far superior model. This one will come with top-notch projection and cinema-quality sound, plus an undercover area to reduce the chance of Sydney’s unpredictable summer weather ruining the interior of your dad’s ’59 convertible. More modern luxury rides will also be up for grabs through event sponsor Audi, and for those without any wheels at all there is standard seating available too. Entry prices are set at $50 for a vehicle or $25 per person for standard seating. Stay tuned for the announcement of the venue, theme and schedule, not to mention custom food and drinks menus that will pay subtle tribute to the films. You can sign up for more information at downtowndrive.in
UPDATE, March 19, 2021: Searching is available to stream via Netflix, Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Amazon Video. It's called 'screenlife': a growing group of horror and thriller flicks that trap their contents within a computer screen. Characters send emails, chat via video and text, scroll through social media feeds and Google whatever the narrative calls for, as viewers watch every move of the mouse cursor. The name is fitting for other reasons, too. Who doesn't live the bulk of their lives in front of a screen these days, after all? Indeed, in so simply yet savvily reflecting society's modern-day reality, this new filmmaking approach is more than just a gimmick — especially when it's put to such excellent use as seen in Searching. At first, the Kim family computer acts as a time capsule, exposing nearly two decades of memories as David (John Cho) and his wife Pamela (Sara Sohn) raise their daughter Margot. Through calendar reminders, emails and clips, the audience witnesses intimate and everyday moments, sees tragedy strike, and watches as David and a now 16-year-old Margot (Michelle La) struggle to cope in the aftermath. But more drama is set to follow. When Margot doesn't come home from a study session one evening and doesn't show up at school the next day either, David is frantic. Her laptop now becomes a sleuthing tool, as he uses every online means at his disposal to track down Margot's whereabouts, both with and without the help of police detective Vick (Debra Messing). A missing person thriller, Searching's premise has been done many times before, furnishing episodes of every procedural crime TV series that you can think of. While first-time writer-director Aneesh Chaganty and his co-scribe Sev Ohanian bring their own twists and turns, the essence of their narrative remains familiar. That's where the film's use of technology comes in. As both easily foreseeable and completely unexpected developments unravel on Searching's screen within a screen, each clue, keystroke and cascaded window feels urgent and immediate. Each choice and reaction that David makes, too. The movie has more than a few smart things to say about humanity's constantly online status, but it's smartest touch is using its immersive style to heighten the tension and suspense — and, in moments of extreme pressure, to show its protagonist reacting as everyone else would. Searching's casting proves as clever as its central conceit, as Cho emphatically demonstrates. Fourteen years after Harold and Kumar went searching for stoner snacks, it's long been a given that the actor should be a huge star. Searching isn't the only recent entry on his resume to back up that point (see his stellar work in Gemini and Columbus), but it is the biggest. The film is trained on his anxious face for the bulk of its 102 minutes, framing it close and tight via FaceTime videos, and he makes the most of every moment. It's not just worry and fear flickering in his darting eyes as David scrambles to find his daughter, but the dawning realisation that the computer knows more about Margot than anyone, even a father, could hope to. Known for Nightwatch, Daywatch, Wanted and Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, Russian-Kazakh filmmaker Timur Bekmambetov is the other crucial aspect to Searching. Here, he's in the producer's chair, adding another screenlife flick to his growing haul. He was behind the surprisingly effective Unfriended, and directed this year's other great computer screen-based effort, Profile, which follows a journalist trying to befriend a Syrian ISIS recruiter. Bekmambetov's studio also created the software that gives these movies their visual language, and has publicly said that he'd like to make 50 of them a year. Basically, the filmmaker is turning what might've been a flash-in-the-pan idea into its own genre, letting each subsequent entry illustrate the style's worth, effectiveness and astute capabilities. With Searching, he makes a resounding case. Even when it serves up a few over-the-top leaps, keeping your eyes glued to a computer has rarely been more riveting. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9eccvs0b_oU
Do you remember the first time that you saw a pastel-hued facade, ornate interior detailing, or something gloriously symmetrical indoors or out, then thought "that looks like something out of a Wes Anderson film"? For almost three decades now, we've all done it. Since his feature debut Bottle Rocket, the Asteroid City and The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar director has firmly established his stylistic trademarks, ensuring that a Wes Anderson movie is always immediately recognisable as a Wes Anderson movie no matter which of the filmmaker's regular actors is in front of the camera. Brooklyn-based husband and wife Wally and Amanda Koval shared this line of thinking to the point of creating an Instagram account around it in 2017. Accidentally Wes Anderson now has 1.9-million followers. The social media feed is a curated selection of images from real life that look like Anderson has staged, styled and shot them, but hasn't — and after taking films as inspiration for an online compilation of images, Accidentally Wes Anderson has taken the IRL route itself via an exhibition. At Accidentally Wes Anderson: The Exhibition, 200-plus images await — and they're all coming to Australia for the first time. Following past runs in Tokyo and Seoul, and present seasons in London and Los Angeles, the immersive art experience will make its Down Under debut in Melbourne from Wednesday, September 18, 2024, complete with ten rooms. Some of the exhibition's walls feature facades that Anderson must covet, others find landscape that'd make the perfect Anderson backdrop, and plenty highlight either vintage vehicles or enchanting hotels. Yes, pastel tones pop up frequently. So does symmetry, including in the exhibition's presentation. The idea is to make you feel like you're stepping into Anderson's flicks by showing how the world beyond his frames often conjures up that sensation anyway. To borrow from a different filmmaker, is this the Wes Anderson version of Inception? Attendees enter an exhibition of real-life pictures inspired by an Instagram account that's inspired by Anderson's moving pictures, particularly his aesthetic within them that takes cues from real life. Accidentally Wes Anderson has also been turned into a book, too, plus a website with a map spanning almost 2000 spots across the planet that fit the theme. At Accidentally Wes Anderson: The Exhibition, patrons arrive via the lobby, then explore a space dedicated to portals, then embrace an array of facades. Checking out sections devoted to coastal scenes, planes and trains (and automobiles, of course), sports, accommodation and nature is also on the agenda. There's a space that'll get you watching big-screen travel adventures, too — and, just for Australia, one about Aussie spots that evoke Anderson. For souvenirs, you'll exit through the Accidentally Wes Anderson shop.
You may not be in Florence, Prague or Paris, but that doesn't mean you can't wander the city streets on foot, admire buildings or settle in for a candlelit dinner on the water's edge. Embrace your inner tourist, and you'll discover Sydney has plenty of romantic locations of its own, where historic landmarks, striking architecture and sparkling harbours make for their own soft-focus setting. No need to open the guidebook or ask for directions on the street — we've teamed up with Sydney's long-running Nick's Seafood Restaurant, in celebration of its 20th anniversary, to bring you a full date itinerary for those times when you want to be a tourist in your own city. [caption id="attachment_582765" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Sculpture at Barangaroo.[/caption] MEET FOR GOLDEN HOUR ON THE HARBOUR, BARANGAROO RESERVE This beautiful waterside district with its wide promenades and bustling restaurants, bars and providores is just begging to be explored. Start your date hand-in-hand with an amble through Barangaroo Reserve's six hectares of native greenery, past lapping water, rugged sandstone and fluffy bunches of golden wattle — all while taking in those sweeping water views. (When's the last time you made a point to marvel at our beauty of a harbour?) Plan it perfectly, and you'll make it there for that golden hour when the sun sets everything a glow on the water. It's also the perfect time (and place) for that couple selfie you've been trying to nail. [caption id="attachment_659941" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Cole Bennetts.[/caption] ENJOY SUNSET DRINKS BY THE WATER, BARANGAROO Sunset drinks scream holiday — it's not all too often that you make it out of the office in time to enjoy a cocktail with those gold, orange, pinks and purples. Luckily with daylight savings now on our side, it's a little bit easier to catch the sun. After your golden hour stroll, head to the waterfront for killer drinks with a privileged view. Look to Smoke at level three of Barangaroo House, where you'll find a fine selection of spritz and swizzles, as well as sunsets so dazzling they could make the most stoic cry. Alternatively, waterfront vermouth bar Banksii will have you sipping from its long list of botanically infused fortified wines. Order it on the rocks and take in those last glittering moments of the day with your special someone. DINE BY THE WATER, NICK'S SEAFOOD RESTAURANT A trip to Darling Harbour always feels like an escape to somewhere else (even if you're just walking through). Opt to stay a little while longer and indulge in those tourist vibes with a big Sydney seafood dinner. With its crisp white linen, crystal glassware and shimmering water views, open-air diner Nick's Seafood Restaurant in Darling Harbour has been romancing couples for decades. There are fresh oysters to get you started, lobster and crab meat pastas, seafood platters to share and even some turf to go with the surf. For those looking to make a grand gesture, there's also the whole lobster on offer served fresh, mornay, garlic butter, tomato chilli or thermidor, grilled in a cheesy, cream sauce. There are also ten desserts on the menu, so there's lots to fight (and make up) over. You can pretty much taste the whole lot on Nick's Dessert Extravaganza, which lines up a gooey salted caramel tiramisu with macaron ice cream, seasonal creme brulee and chocolate biscotti, for a guaranteed feel-good end to the meal. What's even sweeter, if you dine anytime during October you'll go in the draw to win a return trip to Greece for two, so you can really play tourist on your next big date out. [caption id="attachment_635252" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jeff Busby.[/caption] CATCH A SHOW, SYDNEY LYRIC It's a rite of passage for any visiting tourist to check out the city's vibrant cultural scene, often by taking in a show. While it's not the most romantic script around, Trey Parker and Matt Stone's smash hit musical, The Book of Mormon will have you laughing until you're crying, then sniggering together for years and singing "hasa diga eebowai" at each other forever. What's more, now that we're eight months into the show, you can nab yourselves a ticket to almost any night you want, perfect for those evenings when you feel like being spontaneous. For everyone else, you can buy tickets online, try your luck at that day's $40 lottery or put your name down for the weekly online $40 lottery. KEEP THE PARTY GOING, CBD After all the singing, dancing and hilarity, it'll be hard to end the night once the curtain closes. Take a leaflet out of the tourist's guidebook and push the evening a little longer, trading up your responsible nighttime routine for a little impromptu revelry. If you're simply looking for a nightcap to get you ready for bed, try award-winning drinking den Baxter's Inn, for one of their many, many, many (800) whiskies. However, if now is simply the start of a big night to come, make tracks to Frankie's for margaritas, retro vibes and top-notch late-night pizzas. Plan an impromptu date night this week, tuck into a seafood feast at Nick's Seafood Restaurant and go in the running for that trip to Greece. Book here or call 1300 989 989.
One minute we were basking in what felt like an endless summer, the next, winter whipped in, bringing icy winds, downpours and frosty mornings. But that's no excuse to hibernate. In fact, the best way to cope with the cold is by donning your mitts, embracing it and heading outside. After all, getting out and about in winter has its advantages. Instead of sunburn, sweat and crowds, you get cool days made for bushwalking, crackling fires perfect for drinking by and moody seas for whale watching. Plus, you avoid turning into a stir-crazy, caged-up creature. All you need is your favourite winter jacket and a reason more enticing than Netflix to cross the threshold into the chilly outdoors. So, we've teamed up with Hahn to come up with a few ideas for some winter enjoyment. Do them all without leaving the city limits. WARM BEER GARDENS Going outside doesn't have to involve strenuous physical activity — or any physical activity, for that matter. Got the strength to drag yourself off your couch and to your nearest pub? Job done. You might normally associate beer gardens with long summer nights, but when winter rolls around, loads of pubs turn theirs into cosy spaces. After all, it doesn't take much — toasty gas heaters or a log fire and a few fairy lights will do the trick quite nicely. Then, of course, there's the warming impact of beer. As author Dave Barry once observed, "When I heated my home with oil, I used an average of 800 gallons a year. I have found that I can keep comfortably warm for an entire winter with slightly over half that quantity of beer." Check out Sydney's best city oasis bars and beer gardens. Check out Melbourne's best city oasis bars and beer gardens. Check out Brisbane's best city oasis bars and beer gardens. BUSHWALKS If you are keen to be active — maybe before hitting the pub — then go for a bushwalk, or three. In fact, cold days are often ideal for tackling trails, especially tough, hilly ones that send your heart rate skyrocketing, and aren't so attractive on 40-degree summer days. In winter, there's no need to worry so much about sunburn, bushfires or snakes, either. What's more, walking, like beer, warm the body and spirit. Why not take advantage of the vivifying effects of both, and pack a brew to drink at a pretty spot along the way? Did someone say winter? What winter? Discover the top walks in Sydney. Discover the top walks in Melbourne. Discover the top walks in Brisbane. NIGHT MARKETS Over the past few years, Aussie cities have developed many impressive and creative takes on the classic night market, which have helped lure the not-so winterly inclined out of their homes. It also helps that these markets celebrate our multicultural make-up, meaning they play host to a slew of chefs devoted to all kinds of deliciousness — from Asian stir fries straight out of sizzling woks, to melting French fondues, to piping-hot Greek doughnuts. At most markets, live music or performance art is on the agenda, too. So, put a pause on your hibernation, call a mate or two, and go a-wassailing around the markets for an evening. Visit the Carriageworks Night Market in Sydney. Visit the Queen Victoria Night Market in Melbourne. Visit Eat Street Markets in Brisbane. WHALE WATCHING One of the best things about being on the east coast during winter is that it's whale watching season. Fun fact: nearly 60% of the planet's whale population is found in Australian waters, and our humpback numbers are increasing by 11% per year. Also, in autumn, they head north to breed and calve in warm waters and, in spring, they return south, often with babies in tow. So, rug up in your warmies, pack a picnic (don't forget the beer) and head to the easternmost headland you can find. For an even bigger adventure, jump aboard a whale watching cruise. Find the best whale watching spots on the east coast. FOOTY GAME If you're not so interested in getting physical yourself, but find it quite warming to watch someone else red-faced and working up a sweat, then grab your mates and book some tickets to a footy game. After all, winter is footy season. Invest in your team's jersey and scarf — or choose based on your favourite colours if you're undecided — and make tracks to an official match in a major arena, surrounded by thousands of fellow fans. Alternatively, you can keep things close, and cheer on your local team at the club down the road. You never know, you might work up enough enthusiasm to sign yourself up for the next training session. Post-match drinks — be they victorious or consolatory — are a must (see Warm Beer Gardens). Watch the footy at these sports bars in Sydney. Watch the footy at these sports bars in Melbourne. Watch the footy at these sports bars in Brisbane. Grab your mates, grab some Hahn and get out there this winter.
Sydneysiders have now been treated to two very special Secret Suppers, courtesy of Red Rock Deli. And, for its final immersive dinner experience in Sydney, the crew at Red Rock Deli has enlisted Shanghainese chef Chris Yan to create a delicious feast. Yan is the group executive chef of Lotus Dining Group — the restaurant group with eateries in Walsh Bay, The Galeries, Darlinghurst, the Chinese Garden of Friendship and Barangaroo (with a third Barangaroo spot due to open in July). And, on Thursday, August 8, Yan will be serving a unique three-course feast that combines his signature Shanghai-style cooking with the flavours found in Red Rock Deli's new Thai red chilli and creamy coconut flavour. The exact menu will remain a secret until the night, but here's what we can reveal: if you nab a ticket, you'll receive instructions to meet somewhere in Sydney's CBD for collection. Then, you'll be whisked away to a mystery location for the intimate three-course dinner. Chris will be on-site to talk you through the menu, and you'll have the opportunity to chat with him, and other food lovers, throughout the night. There are two sessions of this lavish dinner, with room for just 20 guests at each. Tickets to Chris Yan's secret supper cost $110 per person. Enter the ballot below to be given the chance to purchase tickets. The lucky winners will receive a secret link to buy tickets to the evening on Thursday, August 8. Please note, the Secret Supper menu will not cater to ANY dietary requirements or allergies. There are strictly no changes to the menu. [competition]728205[/competition] Image: Kitti Gould.
Here's a restaurant pop-up not to miss. Anyone with Melbourne friends who rave about Supernormal will know you're in for a mighty fine feast. For one afternoon only, Supernormal's head chef Andrew McConnell is coming up to Sydney to serve his ingenious Asian-inspired creations out of Icebergs Dining Room & Bar. Coming off the back of the Belles Hot Chicken pop-up, Icebergs restaurateur Maurice Terzini chose this collaboration to kick off 2015, stating "Andrew McConnell and I have been friends for years and both stared our careers at the same time and are huge fans of each others work. In Melbourne I live 500m from Supernormal and am there every night!" So from 2pm on January 25, you can take your pick from three of McConnell's signature dishes: a New England lobster roll; Cobia fillet with yuzu kosho, fennel and seaweed cracker; and smoked beef tartare with clam mayonnaise and pickled shallot and smoked beef tartare. Each dish is accompanied by your choice of Besserat de Bellefon Champagne or Kirei Shuzo Karahucki 80 Junmai Nama Genshu (2013) sake. And for those wishing to push the festivities on into the night, $10 Aperol Icebergs Sundays will start as usual from 4pm (DJs included). Blending Bondi's breathtaking beach views with Flinders Lane fine dining, this is one Sunday dinner we think you'll want to remember.
Amongst the perfectly manicured lawns, Lucky's Liquors, Wal-Marts and red front doors of American culture, Alan Ball sees something both deeply disenchanting and incredibly optimistic. It's these conflicting sensibilities that make his screenplays so hauntingly eloquent, whether they deal with a depressed suburban father in a mid-life crisis, a family-run Los Angeles funeral home or a race of vampires living uneasily in small-town Louisiana. His candidly provocative television series True Blood, for instance, is not so much about Twilight-esque resistance as it is about indulgence, hate crimes, bloody murders and mass orgies. On September 8, Alan Ball will lay bare his own brutally cynical and achingly romantic mind through a talk at the Sydney Opera House. Alan Ball: Vampires, Death and the Mundane is a discussion of Ball's creative process, and promises to be no less seductive and no less engaging than a naked Mena Suvari writhing around in a bunch of roses. And to inject some straight up hilarity into his idiosyncratic brand of black humor, Ball will be conversing with comedian, writer and super fan Wil Anderson. Make a night of it with a pre-theatre dinner and drinks — and be wary of those not indulging. To win one of five double passes to see Alan Ball at the Sydney Opera House this Thursday, just make sure you're subscribed to Concrete Playground then email your name through to hello@concreteplayground.com.au
This April, the Art Gallery of NSW is unveiling The Essential Duchamp, a landmark exhibition showcasing 125 works and materials from the captivating career of French artist Marcel Duchamp. If you're not too familiar with Duchamp himself, you'll probably still recognise his most controversial works — he's the dude that basically decided a urinal could be considered an artwork if an artist said it was, thus paving the way for manufactured objects to be considered and recognised as art (what Duchamp called 'readymades'). But there's more to his six-decade-long career than controversy. To prime you (art pun intended) for your visit, we spoke to the AGNSW's curator of modern and contemporary international art, Nicholas Chambers, to find out five things you should know about the iconoclastic artist — and obsessive chess player — whose irreverence, agility and refusal to heed the status quo single-handedly changed the course of modern art forever. [caption id="attachment_721134" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Marcel Duchamp: Nude Descending a Staircase (No 2); 1912. Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Louise and Walter Arensberg Collection, 1950-134-59 © Association Marcel Duchamp/ADAGP. Copyright Agency, 2019.[/caption] DUCHAMP NEVER SETTLED Looking back on his career, Duchamp said: "I didn't want to pin myself down to one little circle, and I tried at least to be as universal as I could." A huge part of his ongoing appeal lies in the way he fought against the idea of the artist as a brand, avoiding being pigeonholed into a particular style or becoming a card-carrying member of a movement — even dadaism, a movement that he was a pioneer of. You'll experience Duchamp's diversity as you move through the exhibition, which Chambers promises "reveals just how agile he was as an artist, able to move so deftly between different art forms and ideas". Duchamp welcomed self-contradiction and embraced a broad array of influences, some of which he'd try on for a while, make his own and then abandon — as you'll see in his early painting, Nude Descending a Staircase, No.2 (1912), where he essentially mic dropped a highly original take on cubism, caused quite le scandale at the 1913 New York Armory Show, then decided to leave painting behind to focus on less traditional ways to operate as an artist. [caption id="attachment_721132" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Bride Stripped Bare by Her Bachelors, Even (The Large Glass); 1915-1923, oil, varnish, lead foil, lead wire, and dust. Philadelphia Museum of Art, bequest of Katherine S. Dreier, 1952 © Association Marcel Duchamp/ADAGP. Copyright Agency, 2018.[/caption] DUCHAMP PROVOKED CONVERSATION No stranger to controversy, Duchamp believed that art's purpose wasn't to provide visual pleasure, but rather to shake things up and engage people intellectually. Painting, for example, in his words "should not be exclusively retinal or visual; it should have to do with the grey matter, with our urge for understanding." From Nude Descending a Staircase, No. 2 (1912) to the game-changing readymade Fountain (1917) (that's the urinal) to the "definitively unfinished" glass composition The Bride Stripped Bare by Her Bachelors, Even (The Large Glass) (1915–23), Duchamp's work started conversations — sometimes heated ones — and activated discourse. Seriously, can you imagine some of the reactions to 1913's Bicycle Wheel, his first readymade? Just who is this guy who thinks he can plonk a bicycle wheel on a kitchen stool and call it art? His work remains provocative in 2019, says Chambers, prompting and compelling us "to reflect on questions of taste. How is value determined in the art world? What's at stake when artists, viewers, curators or critics make aesthetic judgements? He provokes us to question the most basic conventions of art appreciation". [caption id="attachment_721133" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Marcel Duchamp: The Chess Game; 1910. Philadelphia Museum of Art, Louise and Walter Arensberg Collection, 1950 © Association Marcel Duchamp/ADAGP. Copyright Agency, 2019.[/caption] DUCHAMP REALLY, REALLY LIKED CHESS Several Duchamp works take chess as a theme, including the early painting The Chess Game (1910), which depicts his two brothers — both of them also artists — hunched over a chessboard in their studio's garden. A lifelong devotee of the game who eventually acquired the title of Master and competed for the French national team in multiple Chess Olympiads, in the early 1920's it was even (falsely) rumoured Duchamp was abandoning the art world entirely to focus on chess full-time. Chambers notes that chess actually "provides an interesting analogy for thinking about Duchamp's project at large: an approach to art and life that's at once playful and strategic". In both art and chess Duchamp believed in taking risks, but could also take a slow and steady approach; he could revel in the endless combination of tactics and moves — or styles and techniques — available, but he could also step outside a trend or movement to see the bigger picture, and triumph. Whether Duchamp ultimately preferred chess over art is a matter of argument; however he is often quoted as saying: "While all artists are not chess players, all chess players are artists." Make of that what you will. [caption id="attachment_721136" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Man Ray: Duchamp as Rrose Selavy; 1921–26. Philadelphia Museum of Art, gift of Jacqueline, Paul and Peter Matissein memory of their mother Alexina Duchamp, 13-1972-9(763a,b). © Man Ray Trust/ADAGP. Copyright Agency, 2019.[/caption] DUCHAMP WAS ENIGMATIC "There was always a lot of mystery surrounding Duchamp — both his person and his productions," says Chambers. Duchamp actively perpetuated rumours he had retired from the art world, loved wordplay and language games and often signed his works with false names, such as Fountain (1917) which is signed 'R. Mutt' — a joke of which even Duchamp became slightly murky on the exact origins. During the 1920s he created a female alter ego named Rrose Sélavy (ask a French speaker to point out the aural gag) whose name adorns several of his readymades. Many of his works feel full of clues to meanings just beyond our grasp, and he could be deeply secretive — the last 20 years of his life were spent working on a piece only a few people knew about entitled Étant donnés (1946–66), which you'll see a digital presentation of in the exhibition. Testing the boundaries of his own image as an artist, Duchamp relished a sense of play, mystery and freedom, stating: "I believe that art is the only form of activity in which man as man shows himself to be a true individual." [caption id="attachment_721135" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Marcel Duchamp Hat Rack 1964 (replica of 1917 original) National Gallery of Australia, Canberra; Fountain 1950 (replica of 1917 original) Philadelphia Museum of Art; Bicycle Wheel 1964 (replica of 1913 original) Philadelphia Museum of Art; Bottlerack 1961 (replica of 1914 original) Philadelphia Museum of Art, © Association Marcel Duchamp/ADAGP. Copyright Agency, 2018.[/caption] DUCHAMP CHANGED THE WAY WE THINK ABOUT ART Duchamp borrowed the term 'readymade' from the fashion industry to describe the everyday, mass-produced, often utilitarian objects he found, modified and declared to be artworks. Works such as Bicycle Wheel (1913), In Advance of the Broken Arm (1915) and Fountain (1917) were ironic, at times humorous acts of rebellion against what he called "retinal art" — their appeal to Duchamp lying in their very banality and visual indifference. It's impossible to overstate just how revolutionary it was in 1917 for an artist to suggest that a standard urinal should be included in a public exhibition. "The readymades on a fundamental level changed what we mean when we use the words art and artist," says Chambers. An artist now had the power to transform and elevate a humble snow shovel into an artwork. An artist by definition no longer had to be someone who uses their skill to make something original by hand — they could also appropriate something someone else (or even a machine) had made, and give it new meaning in an artistic context. Art could be more about an idea than the object itself. And it definitely didn't have to please the eye — it could please the mind instead. You can catch The Essential Duchamp at Art Gallery of NSW between April 27 and August 11, 2019. Admission is ticketed and can be purchased in person or online. AGNSW is open 10am—5pm daily, with extended hours until 10pm on Wednesday.
Everything looks better on as big a screen as possible — and if you've always thought that about your streaming-queue favourites and you live in Sydney, you're now in luck. No, you don't need to upsize your television. Instead, you can head to a streaming cinema, sink into recliners and watch whatever takes your fancy from whichever streaming platform you like. Australia's first venue of its type, and only popping up for a month at 6/6–14 Oxford Street in Darlinghurst, the Nebula Streaming Cinema is indeed exactly what it sounds like. It features a 150-inch screen, upon which you can watch your pick of shows and movies from Netflix, Stan, Prime Video, Shudder, Disney+, Apple TV+, Binge, Paramount+ and the hefty list of other streamers — all while tucking into unlimited popcorn, drinks and snacks. None of the above will cost you a cent, either, other than one key thing: your subscription to those streaming services. But, if you're keen to watch Stranger Things, The Boys, Severance or Ms Marvel on a bigger screen than you've got at home, we're betting you're already signed up to the requisite platform. This is a boutique picture-palace experience, though, with room for just you and three pals. Wondering what's behind it? Nebula, which slings portable entertainment products, is promoting its Cosmos Laser 4K projector. Wondering how it works, too? The projector has a built-in Chromecast, which is how you'll access the relevant apps to log in to your choice of streaming services. To give the streaming cinema a whirl, you'll need to nab a booking for a two-hour slot — which also includes on-demand waiter service, bringing those snacks to you so you don't have to get up. At the moment, only times across the cinema's first two weeks have been made available, with extra sessions popping up on a weekly basis. The Nebula Streaming Cinema runs until Saturday, August 6 at 6/6–14 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst, Sydney. For more information and bookings, head to the Nebula website.
Art so often brings focus to the extraordinary aspects of life that the minutiae of day-to-day can go ignored. Sydney-based artist Dave Wells is working to change this, with his first solo exhibition BriefCase. In a series of 17 acrylic paintings that are being displayed at M2 Gallery in Surry Hills, Wells explores the mundanities and repetition of the white-collar world. His images are bold, macro close-ups of various workday routines and objects — a handshake, a coffee cup, the pressing of an elevator button, all pretty sombre (but brightly coloured) portrayals of a monotonous existence driven by financial oppression. Featured are original illustrations from Wells' comic Bad Luck Bob, which follows the character of Bob, an office worker, through his sad and uneventful daily life. Those with a dark sense of humour will particularly enjoy the exhibition, which runs from February 15-21.
Ivan Sen has always gone it alone. In the world where we live, filmmakers have set decorators, editors, production managers, post-production technicians, concept artists, storyboard artists and legions of other scurrying assistants. Not Ivan Sen. He's an Australian filmmaker who does it all himself, and his outsider approach has so far taken him from his native rural New South Wales to places like Sundance, Cannes and Berlin film festivals. This directive — hands-on, honest, thoughtful, singular filmmaking — now stretches into the guts of his latest film, an outback murder case, Mystery Road. It's a quiet, steady yet thrilling film, held together by Aaron Pedersen's staggering performance as a lone, Aboriginal detective. To talk about Ivan's films, you have to talk about equality. In Sen's film worlds (Toomelah, Beneath Clouds), as in this world, some people are more equal than others. When Julie Mason, an Indigenous girl, is found with her throat cut off Mystery Road near Massacre Creek, no one gives a shit — not the cops, not anyone. This is the crime genre plot-point that opens up to a chasm of inequality. Underneath the high skies and low plains of Mystery Road, something else surfaces — a frighteningly beautiful, dead-on look at a troubled country. THE START OF MYSTERY ROAD "It's been a bit of a journey, this film," says Ivan. "I first mentioned it to Aaron in 2006 in Kings Cross, around midnight. We were passing like ships in the night, and I said, 'brother, I got an idea for you'. And he said, 'alright'. Then five years later, I ring him up and say, 'here's this idea, here's the script, it's time to do it'. It's a story that's come from my own experiences, my own heart, from my family and their experiences. So everything you see in some way comes from reality. The whole thing about Jay Swan being this cop caught between two worlds is something that's very close to my heart, coming from a small town, growing up, not quite belonging to the Aboriginal part of town, and not quite belonging to the white part of town. That's what I've always been fascinated by: the turncoat, the black tracker, the black trooper, the Native American scout. The person who's got a foot in both worlds, walking along the edge." Mystery Road comes at the crest of a wave of Indigenous storytellers making movies for all audiences — films like Bran Nue Dae and The Sapphires. "There are all kinds of young warriors trying to change the face of the industry, trying to tell our stories," says Aaron. "I've done a lot of mainstream material before on television. People used to always tell me, 'you play too many coppers!' Not now, because all those cops got me this job! Ivan wrote the role for me. It's something I'll never forget and a job I'll never get again." "I think [the murder storyline] is something that affects a lot of Indigenous families," says Ivan. "A distant cousin of mine was found underneath the roadway in very similar circumstances, a long time ago now. The killer has never been brought to justice. If you actually pursue reality in a film, that can make things more interesting and suspenseful than all this artificial and contrived conditioning." Adds Aaron, "This film is important to this country, the lessons of healing and understanding. It's about our lives. There are a lot of cold cases in this country, a lot of people left behind after murders." THE ONE-MAN BAND What's behind the all-encompassing role of director, writer, camera operator, editor and composer? "It's just easier to do it yourself," Ivan says. "I just started doing it a long time ago, back in the 1990s. And now technology's caught up and I can edit on the laptop, soundtrack on the plane, write in a cafe. For me, why should film production be the way Hollywood says it is? What right do they have to define all these things?" "Let's hope he doesn't learn how to act, because then there'll be no work for actors!" Aaron's having a go, but you suspect he might be right. "Ivan had all these hats that he'd been wearing [on set], but I'll keep saying 'till the day I die, if he was stressed out, you wouldn't have known. Incredible leader. I was so glad to be part of the project on this big scale — not just as a hired gun, but as someone who helped implement the operation. It was kind of like ceremony in a way. It was really beautiful, really personal. You don't usually have that relationship with a director. We became brothers." SEN GOES SCI-FI I've heard Ivan's next film is a science-fiction epic set in China, his new home. "Yeah, sci-fi," says Ivan. "Set in the future. Big action, romance. Commercial." At first it seems worlds away from the art-film vibe of Mystery Road. How do you cater for the largest possible audience without turning your film to shit? "Someone like Christopher Nolan is in massive demand," Ivan continues. "He puts his heart and soul into what he does, and really wants to give the audience something unique. There's not many other guys with the talent and heart trying to give the masses something special. Because it's all controlled by suits. Chris Nolan's not a suit, but he wears one. He gets the deals without losing any freedoms or destroy his personal approach." It's true — you see a big budget movie with heart and talent and intelligence (Robert Zemeckis's classic space movie, Contact, springs to mind), and you think, hey, that's what Hollywood could be for, that's what all those big budgets and beautiful faces could be doing all the time. They could have big ideas, too. "There's a big hole there, in the commercial arena, for quality," says Ivan. "There's so many shit films for big audiences. You go to the cinema and it's like, 'which crap movie do I have to pick?'" "I actually don't go to the movies very much 'cause of that," admits Aaron. "Too many people are spoon-fed their opinions in this world. That's another audience [than the one for Mystery Road]." Ultimately, for Ivan, leaping into sci-fi just makes sense to him as a filmmaker. "I don't want to make the same film over and over. It's boring. I'm a lover of cinema. Watching cinema gave me emotions that I'd never felt before in my whole eight-year-old life. I'd never felt that connection before." Mystery Road carries this sensibility — beyond being a genre piece, is cuts to the emotional heart of a country that's been torn by dysfunction for too long. At a screening of the film in Sydney's inner west, Aaron spoke plainly, and passionately. "History did not start 225 years ago in this country ... This role is more than a job, it's a chance for me to show my ancestral trauma. This film is larger than this script: it's a cinematic campfire. Sit around it. Take something from it. Be smarter for it. Be a better nation for it."
Every generation has at least one definitive teen movie. You've seen them. You grew up rewatching them. You may have them committed to memory. The Breakfast Club, Heathers, Clueless, Mean Girls, Easy A: these are the films weaved through many an adolescent experience. The list goes on — and there's always a new contender lurking around the corner. Circa 2015, that'd be The DUFF. For those unfamiliar with the term, it stands for designated ugly fat friend — or the pal in each clique that makes the rest look better, and that interested parties can approach for all the goss. Everyone has one, the movie tells us. If you don't know who fits the mould in your group, it might just be you. That's what overalls-wearing, horror flick-loving Bianca (Mae Whitman) discovers when her football jock neighbour, Wesley (Robbie Amell), explains why everyone in the school always asks her about her life-long best friends (Skyler Samuels and Bianca A. Santos). This isn't welcome news, unsurprisingly. To shake the label — and to try to win the heart of the guy (Nick Eversman) she likes — Bianca enlists Wesley's help on a mission of reinvention. Yep, that's deja vu you're feeling, courtesy of a storyline so well worn it should be threadbare by now. Over the course of decades of delving into high school angst and antics, the teen movie genre has assembled a long lineup of cliches, with that wealth of history clearly on display here. Add equal parts makeover fantasy and trawling through social hierarchies, plus the usual schoolyard cruelty led by a mean queen bee (Bella Thorne), and garnish with an ample helping of current lingo and issues (here, text speak and social media horrors such as viral videos). It's a popular recipe, making The DUFF just like all other teen fare — even if it is actually based on a novel of the same name. And yet, within a film that sets its protagonist up to shatter stereotypes but does so little of that kind of subversion itself, there's fun to be had — and not just in the fond memories it conjures for even average movies gone by, like the very similar She's All That. Much of it comes from Whitman, a likeable lead rising above the sometimes-silly flow of the story, and willing to go along with the ample physical comedy required. For fans of Arrested Development, her casting may seem like an extension of the series' long-running joke about her character's blandness, but in The DUFF she's anything but. Indeed, she doesn't really fit the film's title, either; unattractive, she's not. Of course, nestled in first-time filmmaker Ari Sandel's upbeat effort are those other components as commonplace as a prom showdown (also present): the message of acceptance, and the reminder that, deep down, nobody's perfect. That's just the standard topping sprinkled over this by-the-book story, but it's also a fitting reminder for avid teen movie aficionados. In a genre often as formulaic as its typical narratives, they can't all stand out, but they might each have their modest merits.
Looking for fancy accommodation in the heart of Cairns, but still within stone's throwing distance to the water? The Pullman Cairns International provides. It's right in the middle of the CBD but still provides harbour views and tropical pools. It's in the perfect place for maximum exploration of the surrounding region – the Great Barrier Reef, waterfalls, Fitzroy and Green Islands and northern beaches are all your oysters. It's easy to hop on a day tour from here, don a snorkel or scuba mask and find yourself getting acquainted with the sealife of one of the world's largest coral reefs. But by staying in far north Queensland's biggest city, you'll also have access to the wealth of bars, clubs, cafes and restaurants that add an epicurean dimension to your holiday by night. Another perk: you're close to Cairns airport, so you can minimise the transit time and maximise hours logged on sunloungers and sundowners. The Pullman Cairns International is the largest 5-star hotel in Cairns' CBD, and it isn't just its colonial era architecture which make it so luxurious. All rooms have a balcony and a view, and the Cairns International also has a gym, the Vie Spa, and a pool with attached sundeck and jacuzzi. You may never want to be dry and clothed again. Make sure you eat at the hotel restaurant Coco's – all we need say is "seafood buffet" and "share plates". If you're hungry in daylight hours, the Lobby Bar also does a decadent high tea. Once you've eaten, head over to the award-winning Vie Spa for a cheeky massage or three. Try to come up here between April and October — not only you escape the winter drudgery of Australia's southern cities, you'll enjoy the more comfortable conditions of far north Queensland's dry season.
For the Sydney Festival 2022 lineup, this race-conscious Australian retelling of Edward Albee's classic play Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? is adding a fascinating chapter to the storied history of one of the most acclaimed theatrical works of the 20th century. Based on the play that originally starred Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, the story takes place over the course of a single evening in the apartment of academic couple George and Martha who invite their new colleagues, Nick and Honey, over for a drink following a faculty party. What follows is essentially a booze-fuelled cage fight between the hosts. For the Sydney Festival run, acclaimed First Nations director and actor Margaret Harvey takes the reins for a thoroughly contemporary reimagining of Virginia Woolf. The result is a uniquely Australian perspective that explores themes of identity, illusion and desire. Key to this new voice is Harvey's considered stable of players. The production stars Wagadagam man Jimi Bani (Mabo) as George, Susan Prior (The Rover, Puberty Blues) as the powerhouse Martha, with Juanita Navas-Nguyen (Bluey's Big Play, A Doll's House) and Congolese-born Melbourne actor Rashidi Edward (Rabbit) rounding out the cast. Image: Caitlyn Miles (CommonState)
It looks adventurous, but it's actually super easy says Natalie Ng, owner and operator of underground CBD bar Door Knock. Ng created the Berry White shortly after lockdown in Sydney, when she was reopening the doors of her Pitt Street bar to dine-in customers again. It's a twist on the classic negroni, and one of 50 inventive recipes that feature in the free Negroni Cocktail Book, designed to support Australia's bartenders during Negroni Week. "I wanted to make a cocktail that was a little bit more accessible, while staying true to the original negroni," she says. Ng's creation has a deeper, richer and fruitier flavour that might entice new people to the Italian aperitif. "I reckon it's a drink you can savour on a balcony, overlooking an ocean with a beautiful breeze — or in a decadent, cosy, underground bar, too — pairing with charcuterie and cheese." STEP ONE: MAKE YOUR OWN SPICED PORT A key ingredient is Ng's spiced and strawberry-infused port. "It's actually super easy," she says. "In the bar we would have sous vide machines to infuse the port. At home, get a good quality port or porto. You can chuck all the ingredients into a bottle and let it sit there for 48 hours, and let those flavours incorporate into the alcohol." Another option is to simmer the port with cut strawberries and spices at an earlier date, and bottle it for when you'd like to use it. "It becomes a really delicious port that you can drink with cheese, or for dessert." 500ml port 3 cracked cardamom pods 3 black peppercorns 2 sticks of cinnamon 1 star anise 5-6 very ripe cut up strawberries Either place all the ingredients in a vacuum sealable bag and cook sous vide at 50 degrees for two hours. Or, chuck all the ingredients into a bottle and leave for 48 hours. Or, simmer all ingredients together at a low heat. Strain and bottle. Keep for up to six months. STEP TWO: MAKE YOUR OWN SPICED STRAWBERRY LEATHER GARNISH "When I was creating this drink, strawberries were at the height of their season," says Ng, who creates cocktails with the most interesting flavour combinations in mind first, followed by a passion for sustainability. "It's about getting the best out of a particular ingredient." In the case of her garnish, it's a little like a fruit roll-up using the leftover strawberries from making the spiced port. Separate the boozy strawberries from the spices. Add them to a blender and blitz until smooth. Spread the puree in a fine layer on baking paper. Dehydrate the strawberries on medium heat until they have 'leather-like' consistency (3–5 hours). Cut into pieces. STEP THREE: MAKE A BERRY WHITE Ng makes her Berry White with Sipsmith Gin. "We use something that's juniper heavy, but also citrusy," she says. "I recommend any gin that's citrus- or spice-forward to go with the spiced port, but it's a matter of personal taste." She also buys in crystal-clear square ice from Australian company Bare Bones. "It makes the drink really visually impressive. Everyone forgets, but you need heaps of ice when making cocktails or having a dinner party. So make sure you get really good ice trays for large cubes, which are good for negronis as the ice doesn't dilute the drink too quickly. It's better than getting servo ice." 20ml Campari 40ml gin 20ml spiced, strawberry-infused port Sea salt Stir all ingredients in a mixing glass with ice. Strain into a rocks glass over a block of ice. Garnish with spiced strawberry 'leather'. Best served with Barry's tunes playing in the background. Door Knock's doors are open; you can order the Berry White, available on tap, for $22. You can also order the drink via its at-home cocktail service, which has a $100 minimum spend. Negroni Week runs from September 14–20. Download the free Negroni Cocktail Book for 60 different negroni recipes to try at home. Remember to Drinkwise.
If you're a wannabe wizard or witch looking for more Harry Potter magic in your life, there's no shortage of ways to accio up some enchanting fun. Harry Potter-themed potions bars have been popping up across Australia and New Zealand for a few years. Pokemon Go-style game Wizards Unite is available to play whenever you like. In London, the Fantastic Beasts films have even inspired a natural history exhibition. And Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is still casting its spell on Melbourne, a city that's also home to Australia's biggest Harry Potter store — and screenings, parties, escape rooms, scavenger hunts and other HP-centric events are extremely common everywhere, really. Soon, all of above might pale in comparison to the kind of space HP fans can really lose themselves in — and one that, hopefully, visitors would need a Marauder's Map to get around. That'd be a dedicated Harry Potter theme park, which could be coming to Tokyo soon, The Japan Times reports. It seems that the owners of the Toshimaen amusement park in Tokyo's Nerima ward are thinking about closing down, ending its 94-year run. And, at the same time, it seems that Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc is contemplating taking over the venue — waving a few magic wands about and turning it into a Harry Potter-theme park. [caption id="attachment_761496" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Toshimaen. Image: Rsa via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] Few other details have been revealed as yet but, if it does happen, it's unlikely to open until at least 2023. Variety notes that it'll probably feature sets that patrons can tour, rather than rides — so if you were hoping to play quidditch, travel by portkey or ride the floo network, that doesn't seem to be on the agenda. Generally, it appears that the Tokyo park will be modelled after the existing Harry Potter attraction in London, which also spans costumes, props, exhibitions and special events. For Valentine's Day, it's hosting romantic feasts in the Great Hall, for example, while 'A Celebration of Slytherin' will also deck the place in shades of green and silver later this year. Japan is already home to a Harry Potter theme park zone at Universal Studios Japan in Osaka — so diehard devotees just might have to visit two of the country's cities. If it does come to fruition, add the dedicated Harry Potter theme park to Japan's hefty range of pop culture-themed attractions. A Super Nintendo amusement park zone is due to open at the aforementioned Universal Studios Japan in Osaka by mid-2020, a forthcoming Godzilla attraction will let you zipline into the monster's mouth, and a Studio Ghibli theme park is in the works — and Tokyo already boasts huge Godzilla and Gundam statues, as well as the Studio Ghibli Museum just outside the city. Via The Japan Times / Variety. Top images: Warner Bros Studio Tour London.
Australian property developer has announced a proposed plan to build Australia's tallest-ever building in a partnership with the Trump family, with the goal of constructing Australia's first-ever Trump-branded project on the Gold Coast shoreline. Now in its final agreement stages, the partnership aims to construct a 91-storey tower on Rickett Street packed with 272 luxury apartments, a 285-room resort hotel, an exclusive beach club and a retail plaza. According to Altus Property CEO and founder David Young, the starting price of the apartments will be five million dollars, with the hopes of "attracting the world's wealthiest people." It's not set in stone yet, as Gold Coast Acting Mayor Mark Hammel told the ABC that the council is yet to receive a formal development proposal on the tower, which will occupy a lot that's sat vacant since 2013. View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Trump Organization (@trump) In a press release, Eric Trump, Trump Organisation EVP and second son of the mogul and US President, said This development exemplifies the Trump brand's dedication to quality, sophistication, and unmatched service, and we are thrilled to bring this vision to the vibrant Gold Coast community." The enthusiasm was shared by David Young, who travelled to the Trump family complex of Mar-a-Lago in Florida to seal the deal, and wrote, "Trump International Hotel & Tower, Gold Coast will be a truly unique offering in the Australian market, bringing the prestige and allure of a world-class luxury brand." [embed]https://twitter.com/erictrump/status/2025936863001723097?s=46[/embed] The court of public opinion is less enthusiastic. On a video shared by Sky News Australia, one commenter wrote "when can we start pelting it with eggs?", while on X, author Craig Hill wrote, "I don't think Australia should allow Trump to build a tower on the Gold Coast. The man is a convicted criminal, adjudicated rapist and alleged pedophile. He should not be allowed to do business in Australia." Another X user said, "The Trump Tower being in the Gold Coast is the most Gold Coast thing to ever Gold Coast." Petitions are already circulating on platforms like Change.org to have the project stopped, but until the Gold Coast council receives a formal proposal, it's unknown when, or if, the project will commence in earnest.
Fans of huge pop-culture behemoths, we hope you have a comfortable couch, because you're going to be spending a lot of time sitting on it over the next month or so. Not one, not two, but four massive franchises are dropping new streaming series between now and mid-September — and with everyone's queues set to be so busy, one is now arriving a little later than initially planned. That show: Andor, the second Star Wars Disney+ spinoff for 2022, following Obi-Wan Kenobi. Originally set to debut at the end of August, it has just pushed its premiere date out to Wednesday, September 21, arriving after Marvel's She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, Game of Thrones prequel House of the Dragon and the Middle-earth-set The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power — so you'll be waiting a bit longer to dive into its tale of espionage and rebellion. The rest of the series' details remain the same, though — including providing a prequel to 2016's Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, and bringing some spy thrills to a galaxy far, far away. And yes, like Obi-Wan Kenobi, Andor takes a favourite big-screen character and steps back into their story before the events that viewers have already seen. As its title makes plain, Andor focuses on its namesake — Cassian Andor, again played by Diego Luna (If Beale Street Could Talk). Star Wars fans have already seen him as a Rebel captain and intelligence agent, and also watched how his story ends, hence the show's need to jump backwards. The focus: following Andor as he discovers how he can play a part in fighting the Empire. Indeed, charting the rebellion, and how people and planets joined in, is the series' whole remit. Alongside Luna, Andor sees filmmaker Tony Gilroy (The Bourne Legacy) — who co-wrote the screenplay for Rogue One — return to the Star Wars franchise as the series' creator and showrunner. And, on-screen, Luna is joined by the Genevieve O'Reilly (The Dry) — who is also back as Mon Mothma — as well as Stellan Skarsgård (Dune), Adria Arjona (Morbius), Denise Gough (Monday) and Kyle Soller (Poldark). Oh, and a cute-looking new robot that was first scurrying around in the show's initial trailer, although how big a part it'll play is yet to be revealed. Andor also just dropped its full trailer, which teases the titular figure's quest to make a difference against the Empire — with a big push at first, and with help where he can get it afterwards. Unsurprisingly, the mood is grim and weighty. "The Empire is choking us all slowly. We're starting not to notice," Andor is told by Luthen Rael (Skarsgård). "What I'm asking is this: wouldn't you give it all to something real?" Andor is set to span two seasons, both running for 12 episodes each and adding to Disney+'s ever-expanding array of Star Wars programming. Also on its way: the third season of The Mandalorian, which'll arrive in February 2023; and the recently announced Skeleton Crew, which'll star Jude Law and hit streaming queues sometime next year as well. Check out the full trailer for Andor below: Andor will now start streaming via Disney+ from Wednesday, September 21. Images: ©2022 Lucasfilm Ltd & TM. All Rights Reserved.
