This article is part of our series on the 17 most unique things to have come out of Japan. Check out the other 16. International travellers can now try Japan’s super high-tech toilet, with the opening of a showroom at Narita Airport. The toilet comes from the company Toto, which revolutionised attitudes to toilet-going by teaching us to see the bathroom as a site for constant innovation. Largely thanks to Toto, Japan has long had the edge when it comes to toilet technology. The newest invention features a motion-sensing seat, which lifts automatically. And it eliminates the need for paper, providing, instead, a spout of warm water, followed by a warm breeze. The most advanced model allows you to decide at exactly what temperature and pressure you’d like to experience these elements. Go really fancy and you’ll score a seat that you can warm up, lights, music, pleasant scents and the ability to self-clean. The benefits aren't just sensory; they’re environmental, too. “We wash most things with water and wouldn't dream of wiping a dish or anything else with a piece of paper and calling it clean. So why should personal hygiene be any different?” Lenora Campos, a spokeswoman for Georgia-based Toto USA, told the New York Daily News. At Narita, the experience is enhanced with a tranquil, architect-designed space and colourful, glowing walls, where silhouetted women and men are seen dancing in celebration of just how much toilet technology has achieved. Via Quartz.
Independent art and design festival Finders Keepers is back for another season. The twice-yearly fair is a calendar staple for those on the hunt for unique, quality wares. Plus, there's an added bonus: the market supports local and emerging artists. This year, the Sydney event will run from Friday, May 4, to Sunday, May 6, and oh boy, is the lineup looking good. Prepare to set aside a good chunk of time foraging for artsy finds for yourself or a loved one — a friendly reminder: Mother's Day is the following weekend. Luckily, the trading hours this year have been extended to give you maximum shopping time, with things kicking off at midday on Friday. With close to 200 vendors planning to set up shop in Barangaroo's colossal entertainment space The Cutaway, you could quite easily become overwhelmed by choice. Rather than letting you walk around aimlessly, we have narrowed down the list to our top five favourite stalls. Make a beeline to these vendors to discover a bevy of bold, quirky and, in one case, tasty finds. And then you're free to explore the rest — truthfully, they're all stellar. [caption id="attachment_665519" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: supplied[/caption] FOR TOP-NOTCH CERAMICS: HAYDEN YOULLEY DESIGN There is often beauty in simplicity, and this is what makes ceramicist Hayden Youlley's designs so sought-after. His revered Paper collection, a series of classic tableware that incorporate random crinkles to create the appearance of crumpled paper, was first released back in 2011. It remains popular today due to its simple and functional design, and has since been expanded to include pops of colour. Another line titled Tessellate is a collection of small pastel dishes in geometric shapes. All of Youlley's designs are classy but cool — a safe bet for a Mother's Day gift or for adding to an eclectic ceramics collection. [caption id="attachment_665520" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Samee Lapham[/caption] FOR QUIRKY CANDLES: YOU, ME & BONES Sure, candles in glass or ceramic jars are nice. But if your aesthetic is a little more left-of-centre this stall is sure to catch your eye. You, Me & Bones is all about hand-poured wax products that will either make you giggle or squirm, depending on what side of squeamish you're on. Launched with a range of doll heads, the quirky candle line has now branched out to include brains, boobs and even sushi candles. They certainly make for unique gifts and you'll be supporting a one-woman operation, too. Win, win. [caption id="attachment_664988" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Image: supplied[/caption] FOR WEARABLE TEXTILES: VARIETY HOUR If you're of the sartorial opinion that one can never wear too much colour, the prints from label Variety Hour will be right up your street. Taking inspiration from flora and fauna (including our native galah) RMIT design grad Cassie Byrnes's wearable textiles are captivating, using bold colour and distorted patterns. All designs are hand-painted using water colour and pigment inks, which are then digitised and printed onto a variety of silk and linen styles. [caption id="attachment_665532" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Image: supplied[/caption] TO REFUEL: TSURU Given the monumental size of the markets, taking a moment to refuel is highly necessary. This year you have a buffet of choice — from stroopwafels to souvlaki. But we're most excited about the buns and baos from food 'kombi' Tsuru. It specialises in all manner of Asian street foods, including lemongrass chicken in a brioche roll, spicy pork belly buns, cassava chips and pandan pancakes. The perfect mid-shop pit-stop. [caption id="attachment_665517" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: supplied[/caption] TO SUPPORT UP-AND-COMING INDIGENOUS ARTISTS: INJALAK As part of its ongoing commitment to nurturing local and emerging artists, Finders Keepers has launched a new Indigenous Program. The initiative aims to support up-and-coming Indigenous makers and the inaugural recipient is Injalak Arts. This non-profit Indigenous Australian-owned social enterprise supports around 200 artists living in remote communities. Visit the stall at Finders Keepers to find paintings and basket weavings. For more information about the Sydney Autumn/Winter Finders Keepers Market and for the full list of vendors, head to the website. Top image: Mark Lobo
Hamilton may have wrapped up its debut Australian season after stints in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane — including a trip by Lin-Manuel Miranda himself to the latter — and its New Zealand run as well, but musical-theatre fans can stream the smash-hit show's Broadway production whenever they like. Even better: you can now croon the stage sensation's tunes with Miranda, Daveed Diggs (Snowpiercer) and the OG cast, in a way, thanks to Disney+'s just-arrived sing-along version. This is your chance to make your very own home the room where it happens, and to take a shot at the Miranda-penned lyrics that every Hamilton fan has stuck in their head on repeat. Whether you're keen to give 'The Room Where It Happens', 'My Shot', 'Burn', 'History Has Its Eyes on You' or 'Helpless' a spin, you can, all while watching the acclaimed performance. In the words of another of the show's big tunes, we expect that you'll be back, too, singing along to Hamilton more than once. Since premiering on Broadway in 2015, winning 11 Tony Awards and nabbing the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, Miranda's musical has become a pop culture phenomenon. As a result, it was always going to make the leap to the screen in some shape or form, which it did in 2020 — albeit via a filmed version of the stage production rather than a traditional theatre-to-film adaptation. Now, three years later, that recording comes with lyrics, ready for everyone that's young, scrappy and hungry to give it a go. Indeed, the vibrant, whip-smart and immediately dazzling tale of American Founding Father Alexander Hamilton first hit Disney+ on Friday, July 3, 2020 — and now the sing-along version has followed at around the same time, dropping back on Friday, June 30, 2023. If you haven't been lucky enough to catch the popular all-singing, all-dancing production onstage, this "live capture" version is the next best thing. Shot at the Richard Rodgers Theatre on Broadway in 2016, the recording features the show's original Broadway performers, including Miranda (His Dark Materials) in the eponymous role. Also seen on-screen: Daveed Diggs (The Little Mermaid) as Marquis de Lafayette and Thomas Jefferson, Leslie Odom Jr (Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery) as Aaron Burr, Christopher Jackson (And Just Like That...) as George Washington, Jonathan Groff (Knock at the Cabin) as King George III, Anthony Ramos (Transformers: Rise of the Beasts) as John Laurens and Philip Hamilton, Renee Elise Goldsberry (Girls5eva) as Angelica Schuyler and Phillipa Soo (Shining Girls) as Eliza Hamilton. The story, for those who aren't intimately acquainted with US revolutionary history, chronicles the Caribbean-born "bastard, orphan, son of a whore and a Scotsman" from his arrival in New York in the early 1770s. As the musical's informative opening number explains, Alexander Hamilton will go on to become "the ten-dollar Founding Father without a father", with the production charting how he "got a lot farther by working a lot harder, by being a lot smarter and by being a self-starter". It's a tale that, unlike those of US Presidents Washington and Jefferson, you mightn't have heard before — which is one of the themes that the musical addresses. Just who is charged with recalling and immortalising the past, and who is remembered in the process, is a significant factor in shaping a nation's vision of itself. Check out a trailer for Disney+'s Hamilton sing-along below: Hamilton Sing-Along is available to stream via Disney+. Images: Hamilton filmed version courtesy of Disney+.
Hard work and circumstance led British artist Chrissie Abbott to fall into her star role illustrating Brit pop diva Little Boots' trippy CD covers. Her geometric designs manage to radiate all the fertile energy of '70s collage while never failing to look like they've been projected back from some mad, polychromatic future we've all yet to achieve. It's a vision Abbott is bringing to Sydney for Casual Cosmology, her show at China Heights, which will show off the pulsing ebbs and flow of this strange new world. A recent Aussie interview with Abbott described her first glimpse of her artwork at rest on a commercial billboard as a moment where "the universe has shifted a little." In Sydney, she plans to create some new worlds of her own, taking bits and pieces of the now to highlight her vision of the future. Setting aside more commercial vibes, the show will expound her theories of nascent days to come with her trademark mix of the everyday at play amongst the ethereal. Cosmology's time in Sydney is pretty brief, so don't miss your chance to come face to face with the future, and smile. Casual Cosmology is open 6-9PM Friday 27, and 12-5PM on Saturday 28 and Sunday 29. Image by Chrissie Abbott
The 'F' word isn't Amanda Fucking Palmer's legit middle name, but the maverick muso has come to be known that way regardless. And with an aesthetic and persona that outsasses everyone, you can see why. Palmer — known as one half of punk cabaret duo The Dresden Dolls, for her solo work and for the cleverly named Grand Theft Orchestra — will be performing a raft of solo shows exclusively for the Sydney Festival. Running each night from January 9-19 (bar the 13th), her shows will enliven the Sydney Festival's intimate and atmospheric Spiegeltent. With enough tickets for everyone to enjoy, the NY icon's performances are sure to be ten nights of mayhem. Want more Sydney Festival events? Check out out top ten picks of the festival. Image by Shervin Lainez. https://youtube.com/watch?v=_J07cuUW2qI
NSW's famed coastline could soon be home to an expansive new marine park, in a proposal announced yesterday by the State Government. In an effort to protect and preserve the region's natural environment and biodiversity, 25 sites between Newcastle and Wollongong would become part of the proposed conservation park — with the whole thing split into three different zones. In the Sanctuary Zones, designed to boost biodiversity, you'd be able to enjoy activities that don't harm any animal, plant or habitat — including boating, snorkelling, surfing and diving — while the Conservation Zones would restrict fishing — and other marine life extraction — to only lobster and abalone diving. There'd also be Special Purpose Zones, put in place to address a specific threat, or reserved for a certain activity, such as special marine park facilities, or Aboriginal sites. A map of the proposed park shows large Conservation Zones near the Bronte-Coogee area and at Forresters near Gosford, while Special Purpose Zones are planned for spots like Sydney Harbour, Long Reef and Wollongong's Five Islands. While the government hasn't given too many details about how it will protect the sites from threats such as litter and pollution, it says it is hoping to find a balance between keeping the coastline beautiful, seeing its marine life thrive, and allowing residents to continue enjoying it all. The proposed marine park covers only a portion of NSW's expansive coastline — which 1750 kilometres and encompasses 826 beaches and 185 estuaries — it's a start. The NSW Government has also announced plans to drop $45.7 million on the first part of its 10-year Marine Estate Management Strategy, seeking solutions for some of the biggest threats facing the state's marine environment, including litter and pollution. Over the next six weeks, locals can have their say on the proposed marine park, as part of an extensive community consultation. Head here to share your thoughts. Image: Destination NSW
Been sharpening up your swing in anticipation of the Australian Open? Wondering how your skills might stack up in a match against Rafael Nadal or Li Na? The world's first 'connected' tennis racquet is at your service. Unveiled this week at the international CES, held January 7-10, in Las Vegas, the product is the brainchild of tennis equipment company Babolat. It's built according to the dimensions of a regular racquet, but with a difference. Sensors located in the handle measure pretty much every detail of your performance, including power, impact, spin, forehand, backhand, overhead smash and serves. An interface called 'The Pulse' collates and analyses the data, scoring your game in terms of power, endurance and technique. Some of the world's biggest tennis names have put their support behind it. Nadal thinks it's "great because you have the chance to know much more about your tennis, much more about the way you are hitting the ball, the way that you want to improve ... you can have fun with that." Na says, "You get a much deeper understanding of your game." An app allows the user to record statistics, thereby keeping track of when and how their performance is improving. There's also a limitless online community, where information can be shared and compared with others. The Babolat Play retails for US$399. Via PSFK.
April 14, 2018, will forever go down in history as the day Beyoncé took to the Coachella stage and made it her own. If you were lucky enough to be there, you'll no doubt remember it forever. If you watched the live stream — and it became the most-watched live-streamed performance of all time, so you probably did — then you'll never forget it either. Whichever category you fell into, you likely wish you were closer to the action — to the stage for the 137-minute performance, to the 100-plus dancers, to its powerful homage to America's historically black colleges and universities, and to the backstage antics as well. Enter Netflix's Homecoming: A Film By Beyoncé, the concert documentary you definitely knew you needed, but didn't know existed until now. Yesterday, Wednesday, April 17, the streaming platform released the in-depth look at Bey's epic show, revealing "the emotional road from creative concept to cultural movement". Like the real-life performance, the film clocks in at 137 minutes, so expect a lengthy and intimate tour through the festival set everyone has been talking about for a year, including behind-the-scenes footage and candid chats that delve into the preparation process and Bey's stunning vision. You know what else is lengthy? The 40-track live album Bey just dropped on Spotify. Yep, the Queen has blessed us on two platforms this week. We are not worthy. As well as live renditions of 'Sorry', 'Crazy in Love' and 'Soldier' — the latter which was performed with former Destiny's Child group mates Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams — from Coachella, the album, also called Homecoming, features a song by Blue Ivy (Bey's daughter) and two bonus tracks. It's also doubly exciting that the album is available on the easier-to-access Spotify, as Bey dropped her most-recent album Lemonade exclusively on Tidal, her husband Jay-Z's streaming service. The long weekend is here. You have four hours of Beyoncé content to consume. Happy listening and viewing, friends. Head to Netflix to watch Homecoming: A Film By Beyoncé and listen to the album below:
Aussies are known for being passionate about sports — it's kind of our thing. And in January it's all about tennis. Down in Melbourne, the Australian Open takes over the city for more than two weeks of tennis action. Sydneysiders need not despair, as there are plenty of ways to get into the spirit of the Australian Open if you can't make a trip down south. With the season soon to be in full swing, we've put together a few of the best tennis-related activities to jump into if you just can't get enough of the excitement. It'll be ace. HEAD TO THE COOGEE BAY HOTEL TO WATCH ALL THE ACTION If you're after a quintessential Aussie summer experience, round up your crew to watch the Australian Open on a big screen. Preferably you'll want to be outside in a lush garden with a few cold ones, before or after a dip at the beach, in which case Coogee Bay Hotel has you covered. It's bringing all the action to Sydney shores till Sunday, February 2. You can soak up the sun in the garden with an Aperol spritz or a pint of Stella Artois from one of the pop-up bars, and fill your hungry tummy with a burger and schooey special for $25, all while watching the nail-biting rallies go down on the giant outdoor screen. Between sets, you can enter one of the giveaways, with hats, fans and sunnies all up for grabs. You can find more details and RSVP for this one over here. BRUSH UP ON YOUR BACKHAND AT THESE COURTS AROUND SYDNEY There's something truly inspirational about watching sports superstars at the top of their game. So, when you're feeling the urge to pop on a visor, pull your socks up high and hit the courts, there are plenty of great spots around Sydney to hone your skills. Hit a few balls at the Eastern Suburbs Tennis Club (and follow it up with a swim at Coogee Beach), work on your serve at Paddington's Maccabi Tennis, hire a court among the trees at Cooper Park or enjoy Rose Bay views at Lyne Park Tennis Centre. On the north shore, head to Mosman's Rawson Park Tennis Centre or Primrose Park Tennis in Cremorne. If you're keen to get into the competitive spirit, rope a mate into teaming up with you in a mixed doubles match at social tennis event Social Serve, which is hosting a killer Australian Open themed event on Saturday, February 1. FOLLOW ALL THE GOSS ONLINE Keep up with what's happening behind the scenes by giving a few key players a follow on social media, especially all the Aussie gems who are using their platforms to support those affected by the devastating bushfires. See Ash Barty cuddling a koala on Twitter, follow Nick Kyrgios's donation tally on Instagram and Twitter (he's pledged $200 for every ace he hits for the entire summer) and support Dylan Alcott's $800-per-ace donation on the superstar's Instagram. You can also do your part and pledge your own donation as part of the Aces for Bushfires campaign. CHALLENGE YOUR MATES TO A SPOT OF PING PONG If you're not keen on hitting a full-sized tennis court, ping pong is the answer. Plus, it's probably an easier pick for a social afternoon with a couple of brews than heading to a court to work up a proper sweat. Coogee Bay Hotel's Australian Open shindig brings the goods, with ping pong available for a friendly competition or two. Otherwise, check out the free table tennis tables at the Ultimo Community Centre, Darling Quarter or The Goods Line in Haymarket — just be sure to BYO bat and balls. You can also find your closest table to hire on Table Tennis NSW. HAVE A MOVIE NIGHT WITH THESE TENNIS-THEMED FLICKS Hit the bottle-o for a case of beer or cider and invite your mates over for a night of Hollywood's finest tennis movies. Watch Emma Stone as feminist icon Billie Jean King in Battle of the Sexes, relive (or discover) Borg Vs McEnroe — the film about the epic Wimbledon match between the 80s rivals which stars Shia LaBeouf and Sverrir Gudnason — or learn a few things from recent documentary Love Means Zero. For sillier vibes, you can't beat Kirsten Dunst's gloriously cringeworthy Wimbledon or Andy Samberg and Kit Harington-starring mockumentary 7 Days in Hell. To check out the match times and to RSVP to Coogee Bay Hotel's Australian Open celebrations, head this way.
Go big by going small. That’s the philosophy of a group of local artists, who’ll next month launch a brand new exhibition space of truly pint-sized proportions. No larger than a breadbox, Sydney’s Smallest Gallery will showcase works the size of thimbles. Who’d have guessed that one of the biggest highlights of Sydney Art Month would require a magnifying glass in order to view it? The diminutive free gallery is the brainchild of Natalie Cheney and Stephen Clement, and will be housed inside the (regular sized) Nauti Studios in Stanmore. Only one person will be permitted to view the tiny gallery at the time, although it will be populated by several equally minuscule patrons. Contributors will include artists Cheney, Chris Kellan and Loni Thompson, as well as community science lab BioFoundry, who have produced a replica of the Mona Lisa made out of bacteria. Members of public can even submit pieces of their own, as long as they're less than 3cm x 3cm x 3cm. Sydney's Smallest Gallery is one of many must-see exhibitions on at this year's Sydney Art Month, which kicks off on Friday March 6 and runs until Sunday March 29. Another big standout on the program is the return of the Collector's Space, an annual exhibit displaying pieces from private collections. This year will showcase the collection of restaurateur Kylie Kwong and her partner, multidisciplinary artist Nell, as well as Max and Gabrielle Germanos’ extensive collection of work by Australian and indigenous artists. Further highlights include Art at Night — featuring after-dark openings of galleries all around the city — as well as ARTcycle tours, in which patrons bike from one art hotspot to another (although the less athletically-inclined might prefer an air conditioned bus). The Art Month program also includes a wide array of public talks, on topics ranging from video art to ceramics to art in the public space. All in all, this year's Art Month Sydney will include more than 100 participating galleries, from the big to the very, very small. For the full program, visit www.artmonthsydney.com.au. Image: Chicquero — Little People Project.
Not all that long ago, the idea of getting cosy on your couch, clicking a few buttons, and having thousands of films and television shows at your fingertips seemed like something out of science fiction. Now, it's just an ordinary night — whether you're virtually gathering the gang to text along, cuddling up to your significant other or shutting the world out for some much needed me-time. Of course, given the wealth of options to choose from, there's nothing ordinary about making a date with your chosen streaming platform. The question isn't "should I watch something?" — it's "what on earth should I choose?". Hundreds of titles are added to Australia's online viewing services each and every month, all vying for a spot on your must-see list. And, so you don't spend 45 minutes scrolling and then being too tired to actually commit to watching anything, we're here to help. From the latest and greatest to old favourites, here are our picks for your streaming queue from June's haul of newbies. BRAND NEW STUFF YOU CAN WATCH IN FULL RIGHT NOW BO BURNHAM: INSIDE Watching Bo Burnham: Inside, a stunning fact becomes evident. A life-changing realisation, really. During a period when most people tried to make sourdough, pieced together jigsaws and spent too much time on Zoom, Bo Burnham created a comedy masterpiece. How does he ever top a special this raw, insightful, funny, clever and of the moment? How did he make it to begin with? How does anyone ever manage to capture every emotion that we've all felt about lockdowns — and about the world's general chaos, spending too much time on the internet, capitalism's exploitation and just the general hellscape that is our modern lives, too — in one 90-minute musical-comedy whirlwind? Filmed in one room of his house over several months (and with his hair and beard growth helping mark the time), Inside unfurls via songs about being stuck indoors, video chats, today's performative society, sexting, ageing and mental health. Burnham sings and acts, and also wrote, directed, shot, edited and produced the whole thing, and there's not a moment, image or line that goes to waste. Being trapped in that room with the Promising Young Woman star and Eighth Grade filmmaker, and therefore being stuck inside the closest thing he can find to manifesting his mind outside his skull, becomes the best kind of rollercoaster ride. Just try getting Burnham's tunes out of your head afterwards, too, because this is an oh-so-relatable and insightful special that lingers. It's also the best thing that's been made about this pandemic yet, hands down. Bo Burnham: Inside is available to stream via Netflix. THIS WAY UP At the beginning of This Way Up, Áine (Aisling Bea, Living With Yourself) is being checked out of a London mental health facility by her older sister Shona (Sharon Horgan, Catastrophe). Her complaints about the lack of a spa are just jokes, but they're also one of her coping mechanisms. She wears that sense of humour like a shield as she steps back into her usual routine — teaching English to folks learning it as a second language, trying to avoid spending too much time at home and attempting not to think about her ex (Chris Geere, You're the Worst). There's shades of Catastrophe in This Way Up, unsurprisingly, and also echoes of Fleabag, Back to Life and Breeders, too. In other words, it has been a great few years for acerbic UK shows about people struggling with all the baggage, expectations and responsibilities that come with being adults — and this addition to the fold, which the always-charming Bea also wrote, continues the trend. Also evident in This Way Up's fellow comedies, as well as here, is a strong focus on women who don't have it all together, or even pretend otherwise. Áine's exploits involve everything from trying to hook up with a fellow rehab patient and getting a crush on Richard (Tobias Menzies, The Crown), the father of a French boy she tutors, to constantly being the third wheel in Shona's relationship with her boyfriend Vish (Aasif Mandvi, Evil), and she stumbles and puns her way through all of it. A second season of her antics is on the way, too, which this first batch of episodes will leave you hanging out for. The first season of This Way Up is available to stream via Stan. STARSTRUCK When Rose Matafeo last graced our screens, she took on pregnancy-centric rom-coms in 2020's Baby Done. Now, in Starstruck, she's still pairing the romantic and the comedic. In another thoughtful, plucky and relatable performance, she plays Jessie, a 28-year-old New Zealander in London who splits her time between working in a cinema and nannying, and isn't expecting much when her best friend and roommate Kate (Emma Sidi, Pls Like) drags her out to a bar on New Year's Eve. For most of the evening, her lack of enthusiasm proves astute. Then she meets Tom (Nikesh Patel, Four Weddings and a Funeral). He overhears her rambling drunkenly to herself in the men's bathroom, they chat at the bar and, when sparks fly, she ends up back at his sprawling flat. It isn't until the next morning, however — when she sees a poster adorned with his face leaning against his living room wall — that she realises that he's actually one of the biggest movie stars in the world. Yes, Starstruck takes Notting Hill's premise and gives it a 22-years-later update, and delivers a smart, sidesplittingly funny and all-round charming rom-com sitcom in the process. When a film or TV show is crafted with a deep-seated love for its chosen genre, it shows. When it wants to do more than just nod and wink at greats gone by like a big on-screen super fan — when its creators passionately hope that it might become a classic in its own right, rather than a mere imitation of better titles — that comes through, too. And that's definitely the case with this ridiculously easy-to-binge charmer. The first season of Starstruck is available to stream via ABC iView. Read our full review. LUCA Unlike Studio Ghibli, Pixar can make bad movies. The main culprit: the Cars franchise. They're a rarity among the Disney-owned animation studio's output, thankfully — because even when it makes a minor delight, like Luca, its usually swims well beyond most of the other family-friendly fare that gets pumped in front of young eyes. Set in Italy over a resplendent summer, this coming-of-age tale might be the closest that Pixar ever gets to making a Frankenstein movie. Forget the whole coming back from the dead part; instead, teenage sea monsters Luca (Jacob Tremblay, Doctor Sleep) and Alberto (Jack Dylan Grazer, We Are Who We Are) just want to belong. But, even though they can't help the fact that they're sea monsters, they'd be shunned by the village they decide to call home if anyone ever worked out that they aren't human. The pair cross paths in the water, but when Luca follows his new pal to the surface, he disobeys his parents' strict warnings. They bond over a Vespa, which they both want. Next, they befriend an ordinary girl, Giulia (first-timer Emma Berman), in a quest to win a race to nab their very own moped. The story is straightforward, but the themes still float along meaningfully in this feature debut from director Enrico Casarosa (Pixar short La Luna) — and the sun-dappled seaside animation is a dazzling treat. Luca is available to stream via Disney+. THE AMUSEMENT PARK In 1968, George A Romero changed cinema forever. Night of the Living Dead, his first film, was famously made on a tiny budget — but it swiftly became the zombie movie that's influenced every single other zombie movie that's ever followed. His resume from there is filled with other highlights, including further Dead films and the astonishing Martin, but one of his intriguing features didn't actually see the light of day until recently. It was also commissioned by the Lutheran Service Society of Western Pennsylvania to preach the evils of elder abuse, which isn't the type of thing that can be said about any other flick. The Amusement Park is incredibly effective in getting that message across, actually. As star Lincoln Maazel explains in the introduction, it aims to make its statement by putting the audience in its ageing characters' shoes, conveying their ill-treatment just for their advancing years and showing the chaos they feel as a result. That's the exact outcome as Maazel plays an older man who spends a day wandering around the titular setting, only to be constantly disregarded, denigrated, laughed at and pushed aside as hellishness greets him at every turn. Romero's film is grim, obvious and absurd all at once, and it's a powerful and winning combination in his hands. The Amusement Park is available to stream via Shudder. NEW AND RETURNING SHOWS TO CHECK OUT WEEK BY WEEK PHYSICAL On a typical early-80s day, San Diego housewife Sheila Rubin (Rose Byrne, Irresistible) will make breakfast for her professor husband Danny (Rory Scovel, I Feel Pretty), take their daughter to school, then run errands. She'll also buy three fast food meals, book into a motel, eat them all naked, then purge. Physical can be bleak — about the pain festering inside its bitterly unhappy protagonist, her constantly fraying mental health, the smile she's forced to plaster across her face as she soldiers on, and her excoriating options of herself — but it also finds a rich vein of dark comedy in Sheila's efforts to change her life through aerobics. Add the series to the list of 80s-set shows about women getting sick of being cast aside, breaking free of their societally enforced roles and jumping into something active. GLOW did it. On Becoming a God in Central Florida did, too. And now those two excellent series have a kindred spirit in this sharp, compelling and often brutally candid show. Byrne is a force to be reckoned with here, in one of her best performances in some time (and a reminder that in everything from Heartbreak High to Damages and Mrs America, she's always done well on TV). Also entrancing, engaging and difficult to forget: Physical's desperate-but-determined tone, and the way it seethes with tension beneath the spandex, sequins and sunny beach shots. The first three episodes of Physical are available to stream via Apple TV+, with new episodes dropping weekly. LOKI With WandaVision, Marvel gave the world a nodding, winking sitcom that morphed into an engaging but still quite standard entry in its ever-sprawling on-screen realm. With The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, it opted for an odd couple action-thriller that hit every mark it needed to, but rarely more. Loki, the third Disney+ Marvel series to hit streaming this year — and the third to focus on characters from the Marvel Cinematic Universe — stands out from the crowd instantly. Having Tom Hiddleston (Avengers: Endgame) step back into the God of Mischief's shoes will do that. Loki's charms don't solely radiate from its leading man, though. He's as charismatically wily as ever (as he's always been in his scene-stealing big-screen appearances in the Thor and Avengers films), but this series is helped immensely by its willingness to have fun with its premise, and also by the great cast surrounding its star. Teaming up duos is obviously currently Marvel's thing, but Loki pairs its eponymous trickster with a time cop played by Owen Wilson (Bliss), gets them palling around in buddy cop-meets-science fiction territory, and also throws in Sophia Di Martino (Yesterday) as a character that best discovered by watching. Here, come for the usual Hiddleston mischievousness, stay for everything this quickly involving series builds around him as Loki is forced to face the consequences of his past actions. The first four episodes of Loki are available to stream via Disney+, with new episodes dropping weekly. RICK AND MORTY Five seasons in, Rick and Morty has long passed the point where its premise is its main drawcard. That setup is stellar, of course, and always will be — as you'd expect of a series that takes it cues from Back to the Future, but swaps in a dimension-hopping, drunken, cantankerous grandfather and his nervous teenage grandson. What keeps viewers coming back, and also eagerly awaiting each new batch of episodes, is the show's constant ability to twist and morph in different directions in each and every new instalment. That, and its cynical-meets-absurdist sense of humour, its ability to weave in more pop culture references than should be possible while never feeling like the mere sum of its influences, and its deeply melancholic musings on life, happiness and connection. All these traits are on display in Rick and Morty season five so far, even just two episodes in. Co-creator Justin Roiland might now have another animated sitcom about an unconventional family demanding his attention — the also excellent Solar Opposites — but his first stab at the genre shows no signs of waning. Rare is the show that proclaims that existence is meaningless with such gusto, while also celebrating life's small wins and moments. Wubba lubba dub dub indeed. The first two episodes of Rick and Morty's fifth season are available to stream via Netflix, with new episodes dropping weekly. LISEY'S STORY The list of Stephen King books that've made the leap to screens big or small is hefty. The number of those on-screen projects that the author has had a hand in himself is far smaller. That alone gives Lisey's Story an air of intrigue, with every episode of this eight-part adaptation of King's 2006 novel penned by him. As the series follows Lisey Landon, the widow of a famous author, King isn't actually the MVP, though. His presence is felt — which, depending on how much of a fan you are, isn't always a good thing — but this show has plenty of other talent to assist. Firstly, the always-great Julianne Moore (The Woman in the Window) plays the titular character. Secondly, exceptional Chilean filmmaker Pablo Larraín (Ema) directs the whole show. When Moore dives deep into a role, as she's clearly given the room to here in one of her rare TV parts, she makes the figures she's playing feel as if they could walk right off the screen and into reality. When Larraín lets audiences see the world through his eyes, every frame he creates is utterly magnetic, and yet also probes and ponders everything it is peering at at the same time. It's these two traits that make Lisey's Story a must-see, although a cast that also includes Clive Owen (back on TV screens after the astounding The Knick), Jennifer Jason Leigh (Possessor), Dane DeHaan (Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets), Joan Allen (Room), Michael Pitt (The Last Days of American Crime) and Sung Kang (Fast and Furious 9) more than helps. The first five episodes of Lisey's Story are available to stream via Apple TV+, with new episodes dropping weekly. CLASSICS TO WATCH AND REWATCH PLANET TERROR + DEATH PROOF The year is 2007. Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez team up on two films that pay tribute to 70s exploitation flicks — and they make their movies, dubbed Grindhouse, as two parts of a double feature. That's not always how audiences have been able to watch Planet Terror and Death Proof, either then or since, but this pair of memorable flicks is well worth viewing back to back exactly as the directors intended. In the first instalment, Rodriguez serves up an OTT zombie film that revolves around a go-go dancer named Cherry Darling (Rose McGowan, The Sound). In the second chapter, QT gives the world one of his best movies ever, all thanks to the psychopathic Stuntman Mike (Kurt Russell, Fast and Furious 9) and the group of women (Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)'s Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Zombieland: Double Tap's Rosario Dawson and seasoned stunt performer Zoë Bell) he tries to stalk with his supposedly indestructible car. Both directors play with familiar stories, and with narrative conventions, but that's a big part of the point. Watching them each deliver the most lurid features of their careers (which, in From Dusk Till Dawn director Rodriguez's case, is saying something) is a delight. And from its perfect casting to its nervy mood and tense car scenes, Death Proof is a flat-out wonder. Planet Terror and Death Proof are available to stream via Stan.
Remember when going on holiday meant asking your travel agent for impartial advice on where to stay, play or party? And though you suspected that Gladys Hamby had never actually stayed in that beachfront cabana soaking up cosmopolitan Broadbeach and throwing back stiff Long Islands, she scored you a free daily continental breakfast so you booked it anyway? These days you’re more likely to do your own research when planning an escape, but even better than scanning through an acquaintance’s holiday snaps on Facebook is new social travel website Hooroo. Enticing pictures are accompanied by untold stories, inside tips and destination inspiration, all from real people who really want to share their travel adventures. Once you’ve decided where to go and what to do once you’re there you can choose from thousands of discounted accommodation options all over Australia, from Melbourne and the Gold Coast to Kangaroo Island and the Fleurieu Peninsula. Get your name on their list before the site goes live on July 18 and those deals will be even sweeter. Go here and start hoarding annual leave. Sponsored post
UPDATE, Friday, March 15, 2024: The Aqua with Special Guests tour has changed venues, dates and lineup. 2 Unlimited are now the only support act. The new dates and venues are: Thursday, March 21 — Metro City, Perth Saturday, March 23 — Hindley Street Theatre, Adelaide Sunday, March 24 — Eatons Hill Hotel, Brisbane Tuesday, March 26 — Enmore Theatre, Sydney Wednesday, March 27 — Margaret Court Arena, Melbourne For the past year, we've all been living in a Barbie world, with Greta Gerwig's Margot Robbie-starring Barbie film the biggest thing in pop culture over the past 12 months. What happens when you combine the planet's love for the pink-hued hit with the never-ending trend that is 90s nostalgia? Aqua touring Australia to bust out 'Barbie Girl' at a big throwback party, that's what. Life in plastic will be fantastic when the Danish-Norwegian band make their first trip Down Under since 2019. Back then, the group responsible for still having their best-known single stuck in your head, plus 'Doctor Jones' and 'Turn Back Time' as well, toured on a bill filled with other acts from the era. This time, they're doing the same thing. Joining Aqua in March 2024 in Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide and Perth: Belgian-Dutch dance duo 2 Unlimited, British boy band East 17, R&B group Big Brovaz, and English dance acts Phats & Small, Booty Luv and Urban Cookie Collective. Hitting up stadiums, these gigs will be a house of love with no limits. Expect everything from Get Ready', 'Twilight Zone' and 'Alright' to 'Stay Another Day', 'Turn Around' and 'The Key the Secret' to get a whirl. Your latest excuse to keep celebrating all things Barbie-related — and to get a big blast from the past — comes after Aqua popped up on the movie's soundtrack with rapper Nicki Minaj and Ice Spice on the tune 'Barbie World'. Also heading to Australia in the first few months of 2024 to party like it's the 90s on separate tours, because nostalgia will never die: TLC and Blink-182. AQUA 2024 TOUR WITH SPECIAL GUESTS LINEUP: Aqua 2 Unlimited East 17 Phats & Small Big Brovaz Booty Luv Urban Cookie Collective AQUA 2024 TOUR WITH SPECIAL GUESTS DATES: Thursday, March 21 — Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane Friday, March 22 — John Cain Arena, Melbourne Sunday, March 24 — Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney Tuesday, March 26 — Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Adelaide Thursday, March 28 — RAC Arena, Perth Aqua is touring Australia in March 2024 with special guests 2 Unlimited, East 17, Phats & Small, Big Brovaz, Booty Luv, and Urban Cookie Collective — with ticket pre sales from 10am local time on Tuesday, January 23 and general sales from 10am local time on Thursday, January 25. Head to the tour website for more information
Little in cinema gets bigger than Godzilla, even if the iconic kaiju's size can change from movie to movie. Soon, little on streaming will be as giant as the famous creature, either, with new American series Monarch: Legacy of Monsters on its way. Slotting into the Monsterverse — aka the US franchise that also includes 2014's Godzilla, 2019's Godzilla: King of the Monsters and 2021's Godzilla vs Kong, with Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire joining in 2024 — Monarch: Legacy of Monsters arrives in November. If you're a fictional movie or TV character facing a towering critter, any amount of Godzilla is usually too much Godzilla. If you're a creature-feature fan, however, there's no such thing as too much Godzilla. Monarch: Legacy of Monsters not only expands its own saga, but comes just as Japanese film Godzilla Minus One is about to hit as well, although the latter doesn't yet have a Down Under release date. In Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, which stampedes onto Apple TV+ from Friday, November 17, the Monsterverse is going the episodic route via a story set across generations and 50 years. It's also expanding its kaiju story with help from Kurt Russell (Fast and Furious 9) — and Wyatt Russell (Under the Banner of Heaven), too. The IRL father-son pair play older and younger versions of the same figure, with army officer Lee Shaw drawn into the series by a couple of siblings attempting to keep up their dad's work after events between Godzilla and the Titans in San Francisco in the aforementioned 2014 film. Monarch: Legacy of Monsters also involves unpacking family links to clandestine outfit Monarch, events back in the 50s and how what Shaw knows threatens the organisation. So, there'll be monsters and rampages, and also secrets, lies, revelations and mysteries. Giving audiences two Russells in one series is dream casting, as both the just-dropped first teaser in September and the newly released full trailer now shows. Also appearing on-screen: Anna Sawai (Pachinko), Kiersey Clemons (The Flash), Ren Watabe (461 Days of Bento), Mari Yamamoto (also Pachinko), Anders Holm (Inventing Anna), Joe Tippett (The Morning Show), Elisa Lasowski (Hill of Vision) and John Goodman (The Righteous Gemstones). Behind the scenes, Chris Black (Severance) and Matt Fraction (Da Vinci's Demons) have co-developed Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, while Matt Shakman (The Consultant, Welcome to Chippendales) helms the opening pair of episodes — and all three are among the series' executive producers. Check out the full trailer for Monarch: Legacy of Monsters below: Monarch: Legacy of Monsters streams via Apple TV+ from Friday, November 17, 2023.
Acting may be in Gracie Otto's blood, but it looks like the younger of the Sydney thesp dynasty is set to make her real mark behind the lens. The 27-year-old's debut feature film is a documentary, and a rollicking one at that, titled The Last Impresario. Charting the cultural impact of pioneering producer Michael White — "the most famous person you've never heard of" — it includes interviews with Kate Moss, Anna Wintour, Yoko Ono, John Waters and Barry Humphries, all anchored by Otto's good-natured but persistent probing of Michael's memories. The movie had its Australian premiere at the Sydney Film Festival, an event that means a lot to Otto. "For me, every year Sydney winter begins with the excitement of the Sydney Film Festival," she told us. "I am so proud that my film about the legendary Michael White was screened to so many of his friends and my supporters at this iconic festival. I hope audiences love the film as much as I loved making it — Michael's amazing legacy needs to be shared." But it's not just the SFF Otto looks forward to in winter; this is also the time for huddling in art galleries, loosening the belt over an Italian meal, heading mountainside, and appreciating the sudden Melbourneness of it all. To take advantage of these and even more great Sydney winter experiences, go to lastminute.com.au and line up your fun-filled days and even cooler nights. Read more winter in Sydney tips from Vivid Ideas director Jess Scully here. Follow the White Rabbit I love to see exhibitions at the MCA and Art Gallery of NSW there always seems a lot to be going on around this time of year. It's a great time to be inside and be artistically inspired when it's cold outside. I also like to go to The White Rabbit Gallery in Chippendale — they have an incredible collection of contemporary Chinese art. Hit the Laneway Bars In summer I head for open bars and restaurants at the beachside suburbs. In winter I love to experience the many small cocktail bars and wine bars that we have hidden down alleyways and backstreets in the lanes and suburbs of Sydney. It’s the only time Sydney really feels like Melbourne. Enjoy some rich Italian Winter is a great time to indulge my love of eating! Nobody worries about how much food and how many courses they eat when the weather is cold. It’s all about comfort food — steaming hot soups, rich pastas, Sunday baked dinners at home with extra helpings of roast potatoes, desserts! I love Fratelli and Bar Italia when eating out. Retreat to the Mountains It always nice to have a weekend get away and I find the Blue Mountains is a great place to find accommodation. It's close enough that it's not a big trip from Sydney but you feel like you are away and can sit by the fire! Bunker down at the Picture Palace I can never see enough movies so as soon as the Sydney Film Festival is over I head off to the Palace Cinemas in Norton Street and the Chauvel in Paddington and catch up on all the new releases I have missed over the Festival period. The Last Impresario is opening at both these cinemas on 26 June so I am really hoping to run into a lot of people going to see the film! Experience winter in Sydney with lastminute.com.au.
It's blast from the past time — again — thanks to Australia and New Zealand's annual dose of R&B and hip hop nostalgia. Fridayz Live previously went by RNB Fridays, but still serves up the same focus on old-school favourites no matter its moniker. On 2023's bill: Jason Derulo, Boyz II Men, Kelly Rowland and Flo Rida. 'Whatcha Say', 'End of the Road', 'Low', Destiny's Child songs — they'll all get a whirl on this tour, which does the rounds in November. Hitting up arenas at every stop, it'll kick off in Melbourne, before heading to Perth, Adelaide and Auckland. Then it's Brisbane's and Sydney's turn to finish off the run. As well Derulo and his 20 platinum singles, 90s boy band favourites Boyz II Men, Beyoncé and Michelle Williams' former colleague, and one of the biggest fans of collaborations in the business, 2023's Fridayz Live will also feature Jojo, 112, Baby Bash, Travie McCoy and Havana Brown. Making a massive event even bigger, Naughty by Nature's Vin Rock & DJ Kay Gee are on the bill, too, celebrating 50 years of hip hop with a countdown. Just like last year, Yo! Mafia will be on DJ duties, while Abbie Chatfield and Fatman Scoop are both playing host. And yes, it's a glorious time to see huge music names Down Under at the moment, with Fridayz Live's roster of talent joining tours by everyone from Kraftwerk, Devo and Paul McCartney to Sparks, Ms Lauryn Hill and Christina Aguilera, plus Chaka Khan, Fall Out Boy and more, getting retro across a whole heap of genres. [caption id="attachment_915622" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Photo by Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images[/caption] RNB FRIDAYS AND FLAVA PRESENTS FRIDAYZ LIVE 2023 LINEUP: Jason Derulo Boyz II Men Flo Rida Kelly Rowland Jojo 112 Baby Bash Travie McCoy Havana Brown 50 Years of Hip Hop Countdown: Vin Rock & DJ Kay Gee of Naughty by Nature Resident DJ Yo! Mafia Hosted by Abbie Chatfield and Fatman Scoop RNB FRIDAYS AND FLAVA PRESENTS FRIDAYZ LIVE 2023 DATES: Friday, November 10 — Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne Saturday, November 11 — HBF Park, Perth Sunday, November 12 — AEC Arena, Adelaide Thursday, November 16 — Spark Arena, Auckland Friday, November 17 — Brisbane Showgrounds, Brisbane Saturday, November 18 — GIANTS Stadium, Sydney RNB Fridays and Flava presents Fridayz Live will tour Australia and New Zealand in November 2023. Pre sales start on Tuesday, September 5, with general sales from Tuesday, September 12 at staggered times. For more information, head to the tour website. Jason Derulo image: Peter O'Dowd.
Humans aren't the only creatures feeling isolated in the time of COVID-19. At the Sumida Aquarium in Tokyo, spotted garden eels are too. And, like anyone trying to stave off loneliness, they're turning to video chats to stay connected to the world — with help from the venue's staff and, if you're keen, from you as well. From Sunday, May 3–Tuesday, May 5, the currently temporarily closed Japanese tourist attraction is encouraging lovers of marine life to make a video call to the site. Once connected, you'll be able to wave and talk to the tank of eels — more than 300 of them. It's all part of a 'face-showing festival', timed to coincide with Japan's Golden Week. Usually, it's a period of celebration, vacationing and travel, but with the country battling the coronavirus, the focus of this year's festivities is staying home. If you're wondering why eels might need to see humans waving at them via video chats — or why the aquarium has arranged the event, to be exact — it's all about health and wellbeing. Normally, the long, slender fish poke their heads out of the sand in their tank, saying hello to human visitors; however with the site out of action due to the coronavirus, and only the venue's staff in attendance, the aquatic creatures are becoming more than a little sensitive, wary and shy. Sumida Aquarium's garden eels inhabit one long tank, with attendees generally spying many, many thin bodies popping out of the sand. In person, it's quite the sight to behold. At present, though, the eels are burrowing instead — which makes it hard for staff to check on them to make sure they're okay. https://www.facebook.com/Sumida.aquarium.official/videos/3333965059986958/ The aquarium is also eager to ensure that the eels don't forget what it's like to be surrounded by humans, so they don't continue their reluctant ways once the venue re-opens. Although it has been shut since March 1, the Sumida Aquarium is typically rather busy, which isn't surprising given its location: beneath Tokyo Skytree, the towering 634-metre tower that's the second-tallest structure in the world. If you're eager to chat, you'll need to do so via iPhone or iPad — i.e. via FaceTime — with five email address set up so callers can connect. The aquarium is taking calls from 11am–3pm AEST (10am–2pm in Japan) across each of the three days, and asks participants to limit their calls to five minutes each. For further details about Sumida Aquarium's 'face-showing festival', which runs from 11am–3pm AEST (10am–2pm in Japan) between Sunday, May 3–Tuesday, May 5, visit the aquarium's website. Top image: Haya_BS via Flickr.
For some reason Sydneysiders have a tendency to rag on each other's hostility and unfriendliness. This probably has something to do with the city's day-to-day shortcomings — i.e. rage-inducing traffic, waiting for a bus that never comes, having to pay $5 for a soy latte etc. — that could make even Kimmy Schmidt a cranky human for a morning. It also might have something to do with Melburnians spreading the rumour Sydneysiders are jerks in the long-standing Melbourne-Sydney rivalry (which, by the way, is propagated almost exclusively by you, Melbourne). But evidently we all need to take a step back and reassess because it seems visitors to our fair country have quite a different view on things — they've just ranked Sydney as the second friendliest city in the world in the 2016 Condé Nast Traveler Readers' Choice Awards survey. Around 128,000 readers of the international publication voted in this year's survey, and the category for the friendliest and unfriendliest cities in the world was rated against criteria such as how welcome a traveller felt, how helpful its locals were and how easy it was to get around. Sydney topped the list last year, but in 2016 still came in a very respectable second to the US city of Charleston in South Carolina. No other Australian cities got a look in, but Wellington, Auckland and Queenstown all got a place in the top 20. Half the list is made up of U.S. cities, which isn't surprising considering CNT's audience. On the other hand, the unfriendliest cities in the world were named as New Jersey's Newark, Tijuana in Mexico and the Californian city of Oakland, with readers citing that they felt unsafe, overcrowded or — in the case of Newark — just sad. Naw. But here's the places you want to go for the warm smiles and welcoming gestures. CONDÉ NAST TRAVELER READERS' CHOICE AWARDS FRIENDLIEST CITIES IN THE WORLD 2016 1. Charleston, South Carolina, U.S. 2. Sydney, Australia 3. Dublin, Ireland 4. Queenstown, New Zealand 5. Park City, Utah, U.S. 6. Galway, Ireland 7. Savannah, Georgia, U.S. 8. Krakow, Poland 9. Bruges, Belgium 10. Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. 11. Edinburgh, Scotland 12. Austin, Texas, U.S. 13. Santa Fe, New Mexico, U.S. 14. Asheville, North Carolina, U.S. 15. Auckland, New Zealand 16. Reykjavik, Iceland 17. Wellington, New Zealand 18. Jackson, Wyoming, U.S. 19. New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. 20. Burlington, Vermont, U.S. Image: Frances Gunn.
This piece of tour news will get you smiling like you mean it: The Killers are returning Down Under before 2024 is out, announcing their latest stint on Australia's stages. The Las Vegas-born rockers were last here in November and December 2022 — including playing intimate midnight shows — and will head back across the same months this year to get local crowds singing 'Mr Brightside' and 'Somebody Told Me' again. Hot Fuss, the album that gave the world those two beloved tracks — and 'Smile Like You Mean It', 'Jenny Was a Friend of Mine', 'All These Things That I've Done' and more — is the reason for the tour. 2024 marks 20 years since it first released, so Brandon Flowers and company are celebrating. More than that, they're playing two types of gigs on their Aussie trip. Most will be Rebel Diamonds shows, pumping through the group's hits across their entire career. In Sydney and Melbourne, however, The Killers are doing an extra night to work through Hot Fuss in its entirety. [caption id="attachment_972411" align="alignnone" width="1920"] © 2022 Chris Phelps[/caption] Open up your eager eyes, Australia: destiny is calling you to those two concerts apiece in the New South Wales and Victorian capitals, at Qudos Bank Arena and Rod Laver Arena, as well as to single shows at Brisbane Entertainment Centre in the Sunshine State capital and Queensland Country Bank Stadium in Townsville. Sadly, the November/December timing means that The Killers won't be repeating their AFL Grand Final berth after stealing the show back in 2017. They will be in the country for the AFLW Grand Final, however, if you want to start crossing your fingers. Given the band's lengthy back catalogue, The Killers won't just be focusing on Hot Fuss tunes at both kinds of shows on their tour, but have plenty more songs to bust out. Also likely to get a whirl as well: 'When You Were Young', 'Bones', 'Human', 'The Man' and latest single 'Bright Lights', just to name a few. The Hot Fuss gigs have been receiving a workout in the group's hometown of late, where they played a soldout residency at Caesar's Palace from mid-August till early September. The Killers 2024 Australian Tour Dates: Saturday, November 30 — Rebel Diamonds — Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville Friday, December 6 — Rebel Diamonds — Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney Saturday, December 7 — Hot Fuss — Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney Monday, December 9 — Rebel Diamonds — Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane Thursday, December 12 — Rebel Diamonds — Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne Friday, December 13 – Hot Fuss — Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne [caption id="attachment_831494" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Raph_PH via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] The Killers are touring Australia in November and December 2024. Pre-sale tickets go on sale at 3pm local time on Tuesday, September 10, with general tickets on sale from 4pm local time on Monday, September 12. For further details, head to the tour website. Top image: Raph_PH via Flickr.
These days, most Sydneysiders head to the Hunter or the Southern Highlands when they're looking for a local wine. However, back in the 19th century, it wasn't necessary to go so far. Vineyards flourished all over Sydney itself — from Macquarie Street, where Australia's first grape vines were planted 230 years ago, to Parramatta to Narrabeen. You pretty much couldn't travel in any direction without feeling tempted to stop for a glass or two. For the most part, these historical vineyards were paved over at one time or another, to make way for housing, roads and car parks. Now, though, Cracka Wines wants to bring grapes back to the city. How? By getting residents to grow them on their porches, windowsills and in their backyards. And, to encourage everyone to get started, they're giving away vines of the Pinot Noir and Riesling varieties, because they're the ones that grow best in Sydney's temperate climate. This ambitious, citywide initiative is called the Urban Vineyard Project. Once the vines are growing, participants will be invited to upload them to an online map, which lets them see where other vintners are busy at work. While they're at it, they can access some helpful instructions for cultivating and harvesting grapes, and, of course, making good wine. "On average, Aussies drink around 530 million litres of wine each year!" says Dean Taylor, founder and CEO of Cracka Wines. "We want to educate them further on the wine making process and bring everyone together over a shared love of wine." For more information, visit the Urban Vineyard Project website
If you were one of the many (46,000 to be exact) people on the waiting list for London's pop-up nude restaurant The Bunyadi earlier this year, then you'll be stoked with the news that Spain is set to open its own nude restaurant — only this one will be permanent. Yep, there'll be nude meals all year-round at Innato Tenerife, which will be located on the largest of the Canary Islands, Tenerife. According to The Local, the restaurateur behind the concept Tony de Leonardis was inspired by the London pop-up and will have a similar no clothes, no phones policy. Unfortunately that doesn't mean no wallets though — you'll have to pay a hefty price of €70 for the privilege, which includes an all-inclusive buffet. Perhaps most interesting is the table situation — the waitstaff won't just bring your food, they'll stick around so you can eat it off them too. Yum? Apparently they will be wearing loin cloths and vine leaves though. For modesty. Apart from that weird feature, the setting sounds rather nice. Innato will be located in candle-lit private gardens in the town of San Isidro, with room for 44 to dine among fruit trees. Sounds very Garden of Eden. It will open on January 20 next year — here's the Facebook event if perchance you're naked and in town. Via The Local.
It's been a busy couple of months of stargazing, with both the Lyrid and Eta Aquarids Meteor Showers lighting up our skies. Tonight, Thursday, May 7, there's another reason to look up, too: a supermoon. The last in a series of four supermoons in 2020, according to NASA, this one is called a flower moon. If you're more familiar with The Mighty Boosh's take on the moon than actual lunar terms, here's what you need to know: a supermoon is a new moon or full moon that occurs when the moon reaches the closest point to Earth in its elliptical orbit. They're not uncommon; three have taken place since February. But, now, it feels especially nice to have something luminous to look out (outside of our apartments). The flower moon is named after the flowers that are usually abundant this time of year in the US, where it's currently spring. Closer to home, this supermoon corresponds with Vesak, a Buddhist holiday marking the birth, enlightenment and passing of Buddha. https://www.facebook.com/NASA/photos/a.67899501771/10158205507416772/?type=3&theater If you're keen to see it, you'll want to catch the full moon when it's most illuminated, which happens when it's opposite the sun (a term called syzygy). According to timeanddate.com, this will happen at 8.45pm AEST and 10.45pm NZST. Have your cameras at the ready, obviously — and see if you can outdo the last big batch of supermoon snaps. Usually, when a supermoon lights up the sky, we'd advise city-dwellers to get as far away from light pollution as possible to get the best view. That's not possible given the current COVID-19 restrictions in place, so you'd best take a gander from your backyard or balcony. If you can't get a clear view, The Virtual Telescope Project will be live streaming the flower moon from 4.30am AEST (6.30am NZST) here. Image: NASA/Joel Kowsky
After a successful run in Melbourne last year, crowdfunding platform Pozible is bringing its pop-up love-in to Sydneysiders next month. Dubbed Anything's Pozible, the project will be taking over The Makery in Darlinghurst from March 7-13 to celebrate the already existing work of emerging creatives and develop their skills for the future. In a more straightforward way, that means workshops, film screenings, classes and performances — all at artist-friendly prices and bookable as (what else?) Pozible campaign rewards. To celebrate the great work that Pozible has already done, opening night on Friday, March 7, will feature a bunch of crowdfunding success stories, including the EP release of local dreamboat, Oliver Tank. It will also be a great opportunity to hear about the innovation behind smaller projects. See Sydney printmakers Rizzeria detail how they raised funds for a new stencil press, check out Trent Jansen's sustainable bicycle reflectors made from old road signs, or hear how James McKay raised over $65,000 on the idea of a single coffee cup. Throughout the following days, workshops will include printmaking (courtesy of the folks at Rizzeria); online marketing for design, film and publishing (courtesy of The Loop); and general crowdfunding know-how brought to you by Pozible itself. Even if you don't have a creative project on the horizon, it's probably worth heading along and mooching some creative inspiration off these people. Embrace the love-in. Find some ideas worth investing in. Registration for classes and workshops is open from Wednesday, February 5, via Pozible. Images from Melbourne's Pozible pop-up events.
It's likely safe to say that no one IRL has met their significant other via the unique combination of a flashed nipple, a dog on the street, then strangers coming together not only to ensure that an injured pooch gets the medical treatment that it needs, but to care for the cute pup together from that instant forwards. It's the type of situation that screenwriters conjure up. In this case, writers and actors Harriet Dyer and Patrick Brammall have done just that. But one of the charms of Colin From Accounts from its first scenes back when its initial season arrived at the end of 2022 is the fact that it takes an only-on-TV (or in the movies) kind of meet-cute and makes everything about it, and also all that's followed between its protagonists, feel authentic. The charisma between Dyer and Brammall was always going to radiate a genuine vibe. They're married. They're also no strangers to working together on an Aussie comedy series where sparks fly between their characters. The now-American Auto and Evil stars, respectively, also teamed up on the two homegrown seasons of No Activity across 2015–16 (they each appeared in the show's US remake as well, which ran for four seasons across 2017–21, and preceded both versions of the show with A Moody Christmas and Ruben Guthrie). To watch, even playing folks who wouldn't have any awareness of each other if it wasn't for an impossible-to-predict series of events as in Colin From Accounts, their shared presence couldn't be more comfortable. [caption id="attachment_881020" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lisa Tomasetti[/caption] There's an ease to Colin From Accounts that spans far beyond its on- and off-screen driving forces, though, and a relatability. Even the sequence that gets Ashley and Gordon, aka Dyer's medical student and Brammall's microbrewery owner, crossing paths unfurls with a sense that each step along the way isn't out of the question. In fact, it all begins as everyone watching has experienced themselves: with two people not knowing what to do when they literally cross each other's path in the street. Kicking off as you mean to go on — with amusing and insightful comedy that manages not to seem too far from reality when it's at its most heightened, with a new couple and their adorable pet, and with a winning sense of humour — is firmly Dyer and Brammall's approach with Colin From Accounts.facc Accordingly, it's been no wonder that the Binge series has proved a viewer favourite at home and overseas, and earned renewal for a second season. It wasn't a surprise, either, when it started collecting a swag of awards — AACTAs and Logies in Australia, also gongs from the nation's writers' and casting guilds, plus the Breakthrough Comedy Series accolade alongside the Outstanding Performance in a Comedy Series prize for Dyer at the first-ever Gotham TV Awards in the US. Speaking with Concrete Playground about season two, which is streaming for Aussie audiences via Binge, Dyer and Brammall give the series the sheen of a miracle, however, thanks to sharing a simple fact: that Colin From Accounts began as a fun thing for the pair to write for themselves, including to act in, but without thinking that anything more would come of it. [caption id="attachment_881024" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tony Mott[/caption] For most, that'll be the least-relatable thing about the hit series: that something this delightful can spring from merely "bouncing an idea around", as Brammall describes it, without having confidence that it'd find its way to the screen. With the pair's resumes — Dyer's also includes Down Under, Killing Ground, Love Child, The Other Guy, The Invisible Man and Wakefield, while Brammall's sports Home and Away, Griff the Invisible, The Moodys, Offspring, Upper Middle Bogan, Glitch, Overlord and Lodge 49, to name just a few other credits for both — the least-believable aspect might be that there was ever any question that the project would, could and should make it to fruition. Season two of Colin From Accounts doesn't dare feel like an easy repeat of the first. Ashley and Gordon are past the will-they-won't-they stage, but now they have the next question to ponder: should've they? The season picks up with them still regretting giving Colin away, so much so that they're desperate to get him back to the point of popping up in the park where he's playing with his new owners, becoming a big part of Colin's new humans' lives — much to the latter's chagrin — and doing whatever it takes to bring their dog back home. But that's just the opening storyline, and something to distract a no-longer-new duo from whether they really are right for each other. From there, the season digs into their romantic histories, approaches to self-pleasure and miscommunication, then what happens when meeting the parents doesn't quite gel and how they might want different things for the future. In addition to the show's original idea and sliding-door moment, we also chatted with Dyer and Brammall about their starting point for the second season, plans for Ashley and Gordon across the series' latest eight instalments, and veering down a new route in its fifth episode. If you've ever wondered how difficult it is to come up with a name that'll work for both a dog and a TV show, we plunged into that as well, then explored the naturalism of Colin From Accounts' dialogue — another factor that makes it feel so authentic — including both when it's scripted and improvised. [caption id="attachment_881023" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tony Mott[/caption] On the Original Idea for Colin From Accounts Springing From a Nipple Flash, a Dog and Strangers Committing to Take Care of a Cute Injured Pooch Together Harriet: "We just made it up." Patrick: "We were just bouncing an idea around, really. I mean, we didn't think it would get made. It was just like 'hey, this would be fun to write something for us to act in because we're actors'." Harriet: "We wanted two people that only had chemistry. They didn't know each other, they didn't have ..." Patrick: "Anything in common." [caption id="attachment_881021" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lisa Tomasetti[/caption] Harriet: "They were not expecting to see each other beyond that moment. It could have been a sliding-door situation where the postman didn't let the dog out, and she just flashes her nipple and he keeps driving and goes 'who was that woman?', and tells his friends at work and that's it." Patrick: "Yeah, that's right." Harriet: "But because the man didn't close the gate properly, then you've got a dog. And that's the kind of magical bit." [caption id="attachment_881022" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lisa Tomasetti[/caption] On the Deliberation That Went Giving a Dog That Name That Also Doubled as the Moniker for a TV Series Harriet: "It's interesting. I never actually loved the name Colin From Accounts as a TV show. I didn't know what else to call it, but I thought it sounded a bit broad, but it's working. It's worked. I can't note it now." Patrick: "Are you kidding? I loved it always." Harriet: "You did." Patrick: "Yes." Harriet: "Yes." Patrick: "We did talk — Binge at one point were like 'hey, do we love the title? Do we think it should be something else?'. And we had a think and the best we could come up with was Dog with Wheels." [caption id="attachment_952631" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lisa Tomasetti[/caption] Harriet: "Dog with Wheels is a different kind of broad." Patrick: "Yeah, yeah. No, not good." Harriet: "It's neither better nor worse, though." Patrick: "Colin From Accounts, I love it cause it's a good misdirect." Harriet: "People think it's about Patty." [caption id="attachment_964082" align="alignnone" width="1917"] Joel Pratley[/caption] Patrick: "Yeah, and that my name's Colin. But it comes from real life because we, a few years ago, fostered a dog for a short time, and he had a name we didn't like. It was Minshu. Like, well done, but we just didn't he looked like a Minshu. And so we literally that conversation we have in episode one season one, pretty much verbatim ..." Harriet: "Airlifted, yeah." Patrick: "... a conversation that we had in life. 'What does he look like? He looks like a Colin. He looks like Colin from accounts'. And we did that, and it amused us to call a dog Colin From Accounts. And so because these two characters, they meet on the same frequency. That's what turns each other on about the other. So that made sense to make that the name of the show, because that's a weird thing when they meet." [caption id="attachment_952629" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lisa Tomasetti[/caption] On the Starting Point for Season Two as Writers, and Diving Further Into Ashley and Gordon's Lives and Relationship Harriet: "We knew that we had to get the dog back, otherwise no one would forgive us. But we knew that it couldn't be that simple —we had to give them obstacles. They couldn't just be like 'oh, here you go'. And so it did feel a little hijinks-y trying to give them — they try, it's blocked, they try, it's blocked, but ultimately, they got him. We just had to get him back. And then once we solved that — we wanted to solve that nicely by the end of the first episode, because we didn't want to spend a lot of time on what felt pretty obvious — but then it was like 'okay, so we got him'. We also talked about do we work without him? We opened the curtain of that, and then we got him back. So that kind of curtain is still a little open, because well, now we've got him, but should we still stay together?" [caption id="attachment_964083" align="alignnone" width="1917"] Joel Pratley[/caption] Patrick: "That's right, because just before that moment happens in episode one, Gordon's like 'you know, let's just see what we're like without him, just us'." Harriet: "And then: knock, knock, knock." Patrick: "And then: knock, knock, knock — and things take over. But really, what we knew we wanted to explore in this season was the baggage that people bring to a relationship. And it's a little bit more Gordon's baggage because he's been a single pants man for so many years. He's in his 40s, and he's just never had a long, meaningful relationship." Harriet: "And he's less front-footed about his stuff. I think Ashley wears her heart and all her BS on her sleeve, whereas he's kind of tucking it away into weird corners. And trying to present this clean guy. And then she finds that box of beers and is like 'what? Just be open about whatever you are'." [caption id="attachment_952630" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lisa Tomasetti[/caption] Patrick: "That's right. So we knew we wanted to open doors in each of them. Now that they're together, what does that mean? So that's what we did. And then we just thought about what do we want the other characters to do?. And we thought of some setpieces in episode four — at the start of episode four, there's a funny kind of moment in our new relationship, which we thought was funny, a bit sexy, and also a bit cringy and real. And we thought that's not only funny, it could be a great conversation-starter for people in relationships to talk about their sexuality." Harriet: "And what their sexuality means to them, and what does it look like when they're by themselves, and habits and all that kind of stuff." [caption id="attachment_964084" align="alignnone" width="1917"] Joel Pratley[/caption] Patrick: "And in episode five, we changed the format of the show a little bit, just to play with something, a particular idea. And the idea we had for that is something that happens to Ashley, and that dictated the form of that show. It's quite different to the other episodes." Harriet: "Yeah, five is a bit different." Patrick: "And then we wanted to meet Gordon's family. And so these things kind of presented themselves, and we placed them around the season where we felt it was appropriate for them to come up." Harriet: "Yep." Patrick: "And then before you know it, you've got a season, you've got eight shows." On Ensuring That the Show's Dialogue Sounds Authentic — Both as Writers and as Actors Harriet: "Because we wrote it, we have a healthy disrespect for it. Learning lines is very easy when you or he wrote it. And also, it's funny, our script supervisor, they're the ones that come over and go 'it's actually and not but' — and we had to pretty quickly go 'we're probably not going to say what we wrote'. But sometimes we have to because we're hitting points. And also sometimes the joke is written so well that you do have to learn exactly the rhythm of it." Patrick: "Yeah." Harriet: "But there's definitely moments that ad-lib happened, and we just always left space for that. And our director Trent O'Donnell [who also directed No Activity] was so good at that. He'd give you a bit to riff on — like that whole bit with the unicycle that was so kind of iconic in season one, 'was this yours? How long have you been single?', that was a bit that he just called out from behind the camera because the props and art department put a unicycle there. That wasn't in the script, but then it ended up in the trailer. So the show is just the sum of its parts like that. Because Patty said ' hey, I want Gordy's house to be filled with half-completed hobbies'. So they had there like herbs, a punching bag ..." Patrick: "A drum kit." Harriet: "Drums, the unicycle. And it was just like this man has so many hobbies and he's not seeing any of them through." Patrick: "That's right, because it speaks to character." [caption id="attachment_964086" align="alignnone" width="1917"] Lisa Tomesetti[/caption] Harriet: "And so that realism that you're talking about, every department delivers on that, and then we just play with all the world." Patrick: "And we always, we're never too strict about the script. As Harry just said, we leave about ten percent for play, because you might find some magic there." Harriet: "And if you've got time, we go 'let's do a fun run', and that's all the characters. Just say your favourite bits of the script, but if there's something else that's popping into your head, say that." Patrick: "Or if the line isn't working for an actor, we'll just go 'don't worry about that. What do you want to say instead?'." Harriet: "But sometimes if the pitch doesn't feel right — especially some day players, they'll have an idea of what Colin From Account is, and so they'll pitch a joke that's just not it. And we'll be like 'oh my god, it's so good, but not that'. But also 'have a go, let's do that, and then we'll just do one as a script because we need it for the big guys upstairs, they're asking for it'." Patrick: "But equally, some people are great at improvising in that way. But the thing to make it feel like 'oh, this does not feel like this is the scripted bit and this is the improvised bit'. It's all got to feel real." Harriet: "Yes, yes." Patrick: "And when we're writing, that's very much one of our primary things is to make it feel like something that humans would actually say, rather than a bit of exposition." Harriet: "That's right. So some of the stuff that is definitely scripted feels improv because it's just a bit throwaway — it's not overly worked." Colin From Accounts streams via Binge, with both season one and season two available now. Read our reviews of season one and season two. Top image: Joel Pratley.
Violent Femmes enamoured audiences in 1992 when they first visited Australia with Nirvana as their support act. They proficiently conducted a Falls Festival sea of fans to sing along to 'Auld Lang Syne' to welcome the new millennium and wrapped up a not-so-brief tour of the country in early 2007. Now, for the very first time, the legendary Violent Femmes will grace the Sydney Opera House at the end of this year. It's been over 30 years since the American trio released their debut self-titled album that sold nine million copies and impressed them into 1980s (and now) music history. The soundtrack to burger-eating and highway cruising, Violent Femmes has most certainly stood the test of time and will see the indie-rock professors perform as part of Music at the House, the program reinvigorating contemporary music at the Sydney Opera House. Founding members Gordon Gano and Brian Ritchie, with new drummer Brian Viglione will be performing the 1983 album that started it all in its entirety, as well as tracks from their impressive follow-up Hallowed Ground. Further Australian tour dates are yet to be released and such a late December diary entry does leave Falls Festival doors open. In any case, we've got 'Blister In The Sun' on repeat and are waiting tight. Violent Femmes play at the Sydney Opera House on Monday 29 December 2014. Tickets start from $59 +BF and will go on sale to the general public at 9am, Friday 15 August. Head to the Music at the House website for all the details. https://youtube.com/watch?v=ekL7o8BQkZM
Firstdraft has one last offering of emerging art to round off 2015. This month will feature four exhibitions, each exploring four very different facets of contemporary life. From the curatorial collective Acute Art Investments International (AAII), Portable Domains will look at how businesses and opportunities takes shape on and offline: the antiquated bricks and mortar model as opposed to the booming era of social media platforms. The collective will dip into the complex web of self-promotion, self-branding and self-curating, working to uncover ways in which artists can work cross-culturally. To quench your culture thirst, you can also catch Make or Break from Connie Anthes and Rebecca Gallo, The Infra from Peter Blamey and like, tabular knit gradient pleats cymophanous cabochon, like from Eddie Hopely.
Whether you want to stay rustic and pitch a tent, find the best spot to park your hippie van or lounge around in a luxe, beachfront bungalow sipping margaritas, there's a place on the Coral Coast for you. Here, we take a look at five of the best accommodation options between Perth and Exmouth — from the lush yet earthy Novotel Ningaloo to the friendly Kalbarri Seafront Villas to the laidback Dongara Tourist Park. LUXURY: NOVOTEL NINGALOO, EXMOUTH Novotel Ningaloo's primary bragging point is that it's the only accommodation on Sunrise Beach. But rather than imposing itself on its pristine surroundings, the resort aims to blend in effortlessly. That means earthy colours, natural materials and organic shapes. Rooms feature king-size beds, spa baths, high ceilings and private balconies, and vary from standard doubles to two-bedroom bungalows. Go for the latter if you're after uninterrupted ocean panoramas. Hit the onsite restaurant and bar for sunset meals and cocktails. HOME AWAY FROM HOME: KALBARRI SEAFRONT VILLAS These neat villas are located on the Kalbarri waterfront. They come with free use of dinghies, so you can explore the Murchison River at your leisure, and should you need any tips, your friendly hosts will help you out. Accommodation varies from studios to villas to a two-storey townhouse, with most rooms offering excellent water views. Plus there's an outdoor pool and a barbecue area. As far as value for money goes, this is one of the best options on the Coral Coast. HOMEY HIDEAWAY: OCEANSIDE VILLAGE, DENHAM, SHARK BAY If you were any closer to the water, you'd be sleeping in a submarine. Oceanside Village is on absolute beachfront, meaning that your door is literally 20 metres from the surf. Accommodation consists of free-standing, self-contained villas. Opt for one-bedroom or get fancy with the two-bedroom arrangement, complete with private balcony and panoramic views. Free Wi-Fi, free Foxtel, barbecue facilities and a pool are all part of the deal. COMFORT: BROADWATER MARINER RESORT, GERALDTON Stroll just 50 metres from Broadwater Mariner Resort and you'll find yourself at peaceful Champion Bay, a favourite swimming spot among Geraldton locals. The resort's 107 guest rooms are beautifully decorated and dotted among landscaped gardens. Choose accommodation to suit you — from studios to spacious, three-bedroom apartments. Next door, the L'attitude 28 Restaurant offers a menu inspired by local produce and a long wine list, with an emphasis on vintage and boutique drops. BUDGET: DONGARA TOURIST PARK Bring a tent, roll up with your caravan or book into a deluxe cabin — whichever way you want to holiday, Dongara Tourist Park can make it happen. You'll find its acres of green, rolling grass right on the coast at Port Denison, 3 kilometres south of the cute, sleepy village of Dongara. The marina is just three minutes away, for easy launching of boats, and during lobster season, you can buy fresh crustaceans direct from local fishers. If, however, you'd rather someone else do the cooking, there's a great restaurant just a short walk away.
The days are long and drenched with sunlight, and you've got time on your hands to lie on the sand or in the grass and while it away with a book into the late summer hours. But you want the hours to be worthwhile, and sometimes it's really difficult to make a decision or to know where to start. Moreover, you want something enjoyable and easy to read that isn't going to turn your brain to marshmallow. So to help you out, Concrete Playground has come up with some suggestions for the best books to read over your summer. We've got new stuff and old stuff. Books you've never heard of and books everybody's heard of. Romances, mysteries, high quality smut, and stories both sweet and weird and wonderful. Compiled lovingly by somebody who's found the first legitimate use for her English major, we hope that these books delight you and make summer all the more wonderful. The Savage Detectives by Roberto Bolano If you've spent time in inner-city bookshops over the past couple of years, you've probably noticed a slow infiltration of the name Roberto Bolano onto every 'Recommended' shelf around. It's been a long time since an author has taken on cult status quite like Bolano has. When once asked what me might have done had he not become a writer, Bolano answered "a homicide detective. I would have been the sort of person who comes back alone to the scene of a crime by night, unafraid of ghosts." He said that just a few months before his untimely death in 2003, and ever since Bolano's ghost has been figuratively haunting international literature. The Savage Detectives is one of his greatest works. Divided into three sections, the novel is ostensibly about the adventures of two young Mexican poets from the 1970s until the turn of the twentieth century, as they drink, have sex, travel the world, and argue long and loud, narrated solely by the people they come into contact with. Written in luminous, ferocious prose, you have never read anything like The Savage Detectives before. If you read nothing else this summer but for the newspaper and the labels on bottles of cider, please, we implore you, read this. Citrus County by John Brandon John Brandon is one of 'those McSweeney’s guys'. Trumpeted by Dave Eggers, amongst others, as a kind of modern-day Catcher In The Rye (but then, isn’t everything?), Citrus County pulses with the heat and humidity of the backwaters of Florida. Combining your standard narrative of lonesome adolescence with the most sinister kind of crime novel, Citrus County has become something of an underground literary sensation. The story follows Toby, a fourteen year old with a case of minor delinquency, and his tentative relationship with Shelby, the new girl in his class. The catch is that Toby has kidnapped Shelby's four-year-old sister Kaley and hidden her in a bunker in the woods. The story emerges out of the sluggish apathy of the swamps and sun and hits you like a slap in the face, completely subverting your expectations about what novels are 'supposed' to do. It is at once 'easy to read' when it's too hot to think too hard, while also being a very, very good book. Axolotl Roadkill by Helene Hegemann Axolotl Roadkill, both when it was published in its original German two years ago and then translated into English earlier this year, was smothered in hype, like so many chips soaking in a puddle of cheap pub gravy. For one thing, the book was written by a seventeen-year-old girl, a filmmaker from Berlin who comes across as both bone-achingly cool and distressingly talented. For another, it's a bit like the first season of <em>Skins</em> in novel form. One effusive reviewer aptly praised Hegemann for "conjuring dialogue like David Mamet, romanticising the afterlife like Jack Kerouac and hallucinating as sadistically as the Marquis de Sade." That just about sums it up. Axolotl Roadkill is at once a portrait of a young girl so emotionally stunted there’s no hope for a happy ending or any kind of redemption, and also a broader critique of a society which prefers to float along on the surface of things, refusing to grow up or to ever really care about anything too deeply. The novel isn’t perfect – and got waylaid with nasty accusations of plagiarism which Hegemann, playing semantics, termed 'mixing' – but it is savage, and raw, and completely worth reading, regardless of the suffocating hype. Outer Dark by Cormac McCarthy Cormac McCarthy has the uncanny ability to render both horrific and beautiful descriptions from the same bloody, violent subject matter, in all of his novels. The sentences are long, heartwrenching rambling things which read as though a desert mystic is spinning them out of the threads of the dark universe around him. For that is very much the image of Cormac McCarthy, arguably the world's most adored misanthrope. While his more well-known novels are those that have been adapted to cinema, like The Road and No Country For Old Men, Outer Dark, his second novel, is worthy of just as much rapturous attention. Set somewhere in the deep south at the turn of the century, Rinthy gives birth to her brother Culla's baby, who abandons the baby in the woods. The novel follows the two of them, wandering separately, looking for the baby and attempting to assuage the sin. The world of Outer Dark is one abandoned by God, with no causality, and where human beings are indistinguishable from animals. It may be disturbing and unsettling, but Outer Dark is one of the finest things you could read over the next few stifling months. The Heart is A Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers Regularly included in lists of the top 100 English language novels of the 20th century, The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter was a sensation when it was published in the 1940s, propelling Carson McCullers, a waif-like twenty three year-old in androgynous clothing, into the throes of the literary spotlight. The novel centres on a deaf man, John Singer, in a Southern small town during the depression. Four characters - one an alcoholic labourer, another the owner of a diner, a black doctor and a young, idealistic teenage girl - all flock to him, each believing that he is the only person in the world who can truly understand them, despite not being able to hear a single word they say. No matter the heartache each character expresses, one thing comes across: the bitter loneliness and isolation that plagues the lives of the most disparate people, who cannot connect. Office Girl by Joe Meno In some senses Office Girl is a little like a Zooey Deschanel movie. It's a little bit twee, but not in an un-endearing sense. The semi-experimental novel published by Joe Meno earlier this year is the story of two former art-school kids in late '90s Chicago. Both ride around the city on their bikes, Jack recording the sounds of everyday life, while Odile defaces public advertisements with pictures of hairy genitalia. Often a little absurd and self-conscious, the novel is also an affectionate portrait of what it's like to be creative and lost in your twenties. Appropriately enough for a novel about people who want to change the world through art, the novel comes complete with photographs by Todd Baxter and illustrations by Cody Hudson. Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell Cloud Atlas was published almost nine years ago, so it's hardly a new phenomenon, but given that the film version has just been released, there has never been a more apt time to read the book before you go to sit in a cinema and gaze adoringly at Ben Whishaw while appreciating the sheer moxy of the Wachowskis and Tom Twyker in adapting such a profoundly unadaptable book. The novel is composed of six different story lines, structured in a pattern very similar to Italo Calvino's If on a winter’s night a traveller, but with the added feature of a 'mirror' effect. Stretching from the nineteenth century into a post-apocalyptic future, and dabbling in genres as various as crime, science fiction and South Pacific adventure, each narrative ends abruptly at a moment of suspense, only to be returned to in the second half of the book. Completely original and endlessly entertaining, Cloud Atlas is definitely worth toting around with you to the beach until the pages get logged with sand. Blindness by Jose Saramago Saramago won the Nobel Prize for literature back in 1998 and remains one of the only Nobel laureates whose work is truly enjoyable to read. Blindness is one of his best-known works. In an unnamed city at an unnamed time, an epidemic of blindness begins to sweep through the population, an infection seemingly spread from just looking upon a blind person. For the safety of the rest of the city, the government locks up those afflicted in an abandoned mental asylum in the middle of the forest, fighting an increasingly hopeless battle and leaving them at the mercy of themselves. Eventually conditions degenerate, and the inmates are left to roam the devastated city trying to survive. On the most simplistic level, the blindness is allegorical of lack of sight, from a man who lived through dictatorship, and revolution. In this world it is the small heroisms of individuals that count. NW by Zadie Smith Although nothing Zadie Smith has written, arguably, has equalled her debut novel <em>White Teeth</em>, her books are reliably excellent. NW is all about roots, specifically about what it's like to be from North West London, where with its halal butchers, African hairdressers and housing estate blocks, seems a world away from the clean white avenues of central London. The novel follows four people now in the their mid 30s, all raised on the same housing estate, over the summer of 2010. Like the streets of North West London itself, the things which happen in the story are fractured and volatile, and there are only tentative conclusions. Seen across the complexities of race and class, NW is also about the kind of angst and disillusionment of people who are told they're supposed to be happy, yet can't feel it, let alone see it. Pulphead by John Jeremiah Sullivan Pulphead is a collection of long essays, which, when you say it just like that, doesn’t sound like a particularly riotous thing to read. But the essays in Pulphead are those of a man styling himself as a next generation David Foster Wallace, Jon Ronson or even Hunter S. Thompson. They are, in short, brilliant. With a wit and energy rarely present in journalism, Sullivan takes us to a Christian rock festival and Tea Party rallies. He races across the south in search of obscure lost blues musicians and nineteenth century botanists and then a few pages later we find him pondering the origins of Axl Rose and Michael Jackson. The stories in Pulphead form a journey through the back roads and badlands, with John Jeremiah Sullivan, a journalist previously published in The Paris Review and The New York Time, undertaking a quest for some kind of enlightenment in the parts of America we rarely see or even acknowledge.
For such a tiny island, Jamaica has had a disproportionate impact on global culture. Naturally, Bob Marley's ubiquitous portrait and defiant, uplifting anthems are the first exports to come to mind. But then there's the rest. It's thanks to Jamaica's 10,911 square kilometres of sundrenched Caribbean goodness that we can gawk at physics-defying athletes, fantasise about encountering Sean Connery or Ursula Andress under a waterfall, and luxuriate in the world's finest coffee and rum. THE FASTEST MAN IN THE WORLD One of his legs is a half-inch shorter than the other. During warm ups, when his competitors are stressed to the max, he's usually found dancing. His height measures in at 6 feet, 5 inches — too tall for sprinting, according to convention. And he describes himself as 'lazy'. Against quite a few odds, Usain Bolt, who grew up in a country town in Trelawny, Jamaica, is the fastest man on the planet. At the 2009 World Championships, held in Berlin, he set the current world record for both the 100 metre sprint, at 9.59 seconds, and the 200 metre sprint, at 19.19 seconds. EVERY JAMES BOND NOVEL YOU’VE EVER READ In 1946, Ian Fleming bought fifteen acres on a cliff-face on Jamaica’s north coast, built a house and named it Goldeneye. He then wrangled an agreement with his employer, The Sunday Times, which allowed him to take January and February off work. When each new year rolled around, he'd hole himself up in his Caribbean hideaway and write a new James Bond saga. By his death in 1964, twelve novels and two books of short stories were completed. These days, Goldeneye is a fancypants hotel and resort where people like Richard Branson and Harrison Ford hang out. BLUE MOUNTAIN COFFEE In Jamaica's Blue Mountains grow some of the most expensive coffee beans you'll find anywhere. Online, they'll set you back $180 a kilogram. They're cultivated in small acreages, between 600 and 1500 metres above sea level, where the moist, cool environment increases the ripening period to as long as ten months. Consequently, the natural sugars within the beans have oodles of time to develop, giving them their famous smooth flavour. JERK Finding a local eatery is never difficult to do in Jamaica. That's because the chief national dish, jerk, gives its whereabouts away, as a result of its mouthwatering aroma. Jerk cooking involves rubbing or marinating meat (usually chicken or pork) with a fiery blend of ingredients known as Jamaican jerk spice. Pimento and Scotch bonnet peppers are crucial, but you can also add cinnamon, nutmeg, thyme, cloves, garlic, salt and shallots. PREMIUM AGED RUM FROM APPLETON ESTATE When Christopher Columbus visited Jamaica in the 15th century, he brought with him sugarcane and rum. Thanks to the island’s lush climate, some of the finest spirits to ever pass the lips of humankind were soon in production. One such place is Appleton Estate — Jamaica’s oldest sugar estate and distillery — which is located in the heart of Jamaica on an incredible 4,614 hectares in the picturesque Nassau Valley. Appleton Estate has continued their craft in the traditional way, using copper pot and column stills for the distillation process, American oak barrels for ageing and naturally limestone-percolated water from the hills of cockpit country. A master blender then blends the spirit by hand, creating the distinctive flavour profiles and handcrafted feel for which Appleton is renowned. Fun fact: Appleton is one of the few rums in the world that can claim terroir: the unique flavour that only comes from being wholly produced in a single location. DUNN'S RIVER FALLS Dunn's River Falls is one of the few waterfalls in the world that you can climb without being in constant fear that you're going to tumble to some horrendous watery death. Even though they're 55 metres high, they're 180 metres long, because they're conveniently shaped like stairs, officially referred to as 'travertine terraces'. In Dr. No (1962), Honey Ryder (Ursula Andress) emerges from the sea at the base of the falls, where she runs into James Bond (Sean Connery). REGGAE, SKA, DUB, ROCKSTEADY Bob Marley might be the most legendary of Jamaican musicians, but he's just the start of the record catalogue. Peter Tosh, Jimmy Cliff, and Toots and the Maytals were all raised on the island too. Reggae took hold in the late 1960s, but before that, there was rocksteady, which The Wailers cut their teeth on, and earlier still, ska. With the '70s emerged dub, spearheaded by producers like Lee 'Scratch' Perry and King Tubby. A WAY OF LIFE THAT ISN'T AN –ISM Some people have fallen into the habit of describing Rastafari as Rastafarianism, but it's a term that followers don't use — and don't like to hear. That's because they're generally extremely critical of 'isms'. The Rastafari movement kicked off in Jamaica in the 1930s. Rastas worship Haile Selassie I, who was the Ethiopian emperor between 1930 and 1974. They refer to 'conventional society' as Babylon, rejecting what they see as its oppression, consumerism and way too much focus on quashing sensual pleasures. COOL RUNNINGS Cool Runnings might have been created by Disney, but its story was inspired by Jamaica and parts of it were shot there. The film hit cinemas in 1993, debuting at box office #3, and was the last movie featuring John Candy released before he passed away. It is (very) loosely based on the real-life experiences of Jamaica's national bobsled team, which made its debut at the Winter Olympics in 1998 at Calgary, Canada. CIVIL RIGHTS One of Jamaica's national heroes is civil rights activist Marcus Garvey. He founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) in Jamaica in 1914 before moving to Harlem in 1916. Like Martin Luther King, he was a rousing orator, and spent years travelling across America, attracting thousands and thousands of loyal followers. His major contribution was boosting African Americans' pride in their culture and encouraging their return to their homelands in Africa.
Accustomed to digital deception across all types of visual media, it often takes us more than one look to realise that an effect has been achieved solely by the human hand. The new food-art stylings of Hong Yi, or 'Red' as she is nicknamed, almost look too perfect to be real. An artist/architect, Red set herself the task of creating a new artwork using only comestibles, every day for a month. From a serene cucumber landscape to a dragonfruit dragon in battle rapture, the resulting scenes are highly detailed, innovative and beautiful. Hong Yi loves painting "but not with a paintbrush"; her other works have included a painting made using a basketball, a portrait of Ai Weiwei in sunflower seeds, and another of Adele using melted candles. Check out her Facebook page to see deluxe Louis Vuitton mushrooms and more. Via Colossal.
Kicking goals, winning hearts, starring in a docuseries, inspiring statues, making history on the field and on TV: in 2023, the Matildas have been doing it all. Next, the Sam Kerr-captained squad has been immortalised by the Australian National Dictionary Centre, inspiring Australia's latest Word of the Year. 'Matilda' has been chosen as the Australian National University-based organisation's pick of 2023 thanks to the Tillies' huge successes, plus the devotion they've inspired across the country. With huge crowds heading to the team's games at the Women's World Cup, then backing it up at the recent Olympic qualifiers — and millions of people watching the former on TV as well — the words 'Matildas' and 'Tillies' have certainly been uttered countless times by most of us this year. [caption id="attachment_912965" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Liondartois via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] "The team name (Matildas, or Tillies for short) and singular form (Matilda) were everywhere as Matildas mania swept the country, with Australians transfixed by every minute of play," advised the Australian National Dictionary Centre in a statement announcing its new Word of the Year choice. And if you're wondering about the word's history in Australia, "from the 1880s, matilda was one of the names for a swag, a bag of possessions carried by an itinerant man looking for work," explains the Centre's Director Dr Amanda Laugesen. "These days most people would only know this in relation to the song Waltzing Matilda." "It's only since the mid-1990s that the women's soccer team has been called the Matildas, but after this year's World Cup the word has once again cemented itself in the Australian lexicon." [caption id="attachment_913693" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Rovena Rosa/Agência Brasil via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] Matilda emerged victorious from a shortlist that also included 'noer', 'yesser', 'truth-telling' and 'hallucinate', with the first three linked to this year's referendum for the Australian Indigenous Voice to Parliament. In 2022, 'teal' was the Word of the Year, with 'strollout' getting the nod in 2021, 'iso' in 2020 and 'voice' in 2019. For more information about the Australian National Dictionary Centre's word of the year, head to the centre's website.
Got an empty wallet but a full itinerary? Good news. Melbourne might have its fancy restaurants and exclusive cocktail bars, but it's also the great provider of a true city experience if you're on a budget. Staying at youth hostels has long been the domain of the cleverly thrifty, not to mention those who love meeting new mates and maybe even sipping a beverage on a rooftop bar. Who says a budget trip can't be ritz, too? YHA Australia turns 80 this year, and it's well and truly proved its mettle as a mainstay of budget travellers — not least Melbourne Central YHA. Be you solo travellers (there are plentiful common areas to meet new people) or a group of friends (ensuite rooms and small multi-share rooms are very affordable); a keen stayer-inner (kitchen facilities are available for whipping up a feast) or a ready-to-partier (it's BYO, but there's also a bar on premises) — you're going to have a top time. [caption id="attachment_728172" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Melbourne Central YHA rooftop.[/caption] Need to find some equally thrifty things to do around the city while you're there? We've rounded up our best penny-pinching tips for a weekend down south. Check 'em out, then get booking, 'cause it's fun to stay at the Y. H. A. GET A COFFEE AND CREAM CHEESE BAGEL AT 5 AND DIME BAGELS — $8 5 and Dime is right around the corner from Melbourne Central YHA and churns out traditional, boiled bagels inspired by the way they make 'em overseas. Opened by a New Jersey native, the small cafe honours the bagel's roots in the Jewish communities of Poland and Israel and, in particular, its intense popularity in New York. You'll find schmears, lox and pastrami here to top your doughy treat with. But, the best part, is the meal deal — you can nab a toasted bagel of your choice with cream cheese and a coffee for just $10. It's the perfect fuel to enjoy on the go as you start your busy day of exploring. [caption id="attachment_726133" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Visit Victoria[/caption] CHECK OUT INDIGENOUS ART AT KOORIE HERITAGE TRUST CULTURAL CENTRE — FREE The Koorie Heritage Trust Cultural Centre is an integral part of Melbourne's history and context, and it's smack bang in the middle of town — you'll find it in the Yarra Building in Federation Square. Entry is free (with a gold coin donation to the Trust) and it's open seven days a week. Go in to learn about Koorie culture and heritage and of the traditional owners of the land. It's also an important stop for any art loving out-of-towner — especially now that ACMI is closing for a while. Right now, you can see Ngarigo artist Peter Waples-Crowe's exhibition insideOUT. The solo collection of collages, animations and live-art activation tackles being both queer and Indigenous. [caption id="attachment_726160" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Rushdi Anwar[/caption] KEEP THE DIY ART TOUR GOING AT KINGS ARTIST RUN — FREE Want to clock more free art? Head over to King Street to the small in size (yet hefty in breadth) art gallery Kings Artist Run. Blink and you'll miss the door — so don't. The contemporary gallery and studio space is driven by a community of artists, writers, curators and academics, and the range of art within is worth much more than the free entry. Three exhibition spaces and an array of events pepper the space. Right now, you can catch a collection of Japanese artists approaching the consumption of video as an artefact — Black_Box: And again {I wait for collision}. There's also a study on how artists incorporate language into their practices with these words. HAVE A BARBECUE IN BATMAN PARK — FREE Batman Park is the most urban of Melbourne's parks — it's just a hop, skip and a jump from the city centre and is basically next door to Melbourne Central YHA. The park is small, but it's worthy of a stroll, a run around or a picnic. Eucalyptus trees cloak the smell of traffic and the views of the Yarra cloak any winter coldness you might be feeling. Barbecue facilities mean you can have a budget cook up — just BYO an eight-pack of snags from the supermarket and six-pack of beers of your choosing. Crack a cold one and say cheers to the founding father John Batman. TUCK INTO A JAPANESE RICE BOWL AT DON DON — UNDER $10 If you've spent all that time tramping around arty and historical sites of the city, chances are you're a hankering for a hot (and cheap) lunch. You're in luck — Don Don's Francis Street outpost isn't far from the hostel. Here, you'll find rice bowls for between $7 and $8 — you have a choice of teriyaki or curry. The bowls are big and the service is fast, so it's not a place to linger. It is, however, a place to come back to every day of your trip. You'll need to in order to try the popular Don Don box, with chicken, beef, salad and rice for under $10, plus miso soup on the side for an extra $1.50. It's one of the best value meals you'll find around the traps. CURL UP WITH A BOOK IN THE STATE LIBRARY'S READING ROOM — FREE If you're after some quiet time, let us guide you to the very beautiful, and very free, State Library Victoria's domed La Trobe Reading Room. Reminiscent of eras gone by (it was built in 1913), the reading room is six storeys in height and can be home to any 320 readers at a time — but, since it also houses up to 32,000 books, they're probably not reading what you are. As well as being a perfect space for getting through a chunk of an epic novel, doing some trip planning or even meditating, the State Library also houses art exhibitions and a viewing platform up high for panoramic views of your new calm place. CATCH SOME LIVE MUSIC — FREE A trip to Melbourne isn't complete without checking out one of the sticky (in a good way) dive bars that the city is famous for and catching a gig. Cherry Bar might be your best bet when it comes to music, free stuff and character (via said stickiness). Head to the legendary spot on AC/DC Lane for the regular Sunday Blues sessions. Or, you could pay a visit to Ferdydurke — the venue is similarly equipped to give you a good (free) time on a Sunday with its weekly live hip hop night. [caption id="attachment_726358" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Peterdownunder via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] DIVE INTO GREEK CULTURE AT THE HELLENIC MUSEUM — $10 The Hellenic Museum, based inside the former Royal Mint building, paints a solid portrait of 8000 years of Hellenic history and Greek culture. Now in its 11th year, the space gives the huge population of the Greek community in Melbourne a well-deserved place to both celebrate and inform. The Hellenic Museum's entry fees are $10 (or $5 concession), which includes access to multiple installations it has going at any one time. Right now, you can go and see Oneiroi, a photographic installation by Bill Henson, or Beyond Attica: Art of Magna Graecia. GRAB A BITE TO EAT AT CROSSWAYS — $8.95 One of the best meal deals in all of Melbourne has to be at Crossways Food for Life. The Swanston Street vegetarian spot, run by Hare Krishnas, has fed many a hungry city-goer in the 30 years-plus it's been operating. The menu changes every day but the deal remains the same: two courses, plus a drink, for under $10. Vegan options are available, too. And — the greatest news for hungry travellers — seconds and thirds are free because it's all-you-can-eat. Roll up for dinner and sticky date pudding (if you're lucky). Let YHA Australia help you explore more of Australia without breaking the bank. Plan a trip to Melbourne (or Sydney or Brisbane) and book a stay right in the middle of the city with YHA Australia. Top Image: Jake Roden.
Time to bust out your overalls and dust off the shopping cart. A popular monthly market has returned to Canberra and is going to have you picking up way more than the usuals — a jar of local honey and a handmade soy candle, that is. Love Local Markets will take place on the last Sunday of every month between 9am–2pm at The Plot at Pialligo Estate. Here, you'll find a range of vendors offering local produce and products, including fresh food, drinks and lifestyle goods. While you're there, make sure you check out everything the estate and its neighbours have on offer, including the Pialligo Market Grocer, the Farm Shop Cafe, Wren & Rabbit Interiors, Pink Flamingo Interiors and Bisonhome. Plus, being conveniently positioned near the inner south and Fyshwick precincts, the location makes it a great way to start your day before taking on other activities in the Canberra region. Make sure you grab the loose change hanging around the house or swing by an ATM on the way as the stalls are cash only and there aren't any EFTPOS facilities. Love Local Markets will take place from 9am–2pm on the last Sunday of each month (excluding December) at The Plot at Pialligo Estate. For more information, visit the website here.
If you can't get enough of The Grounds of Alexandria, you can now grab a 6.15am workout along with your morning coffee. The Grounds are teaming up with Sweat for the Good Stuff to bring you Yoga at The Grounds. This 45-minute Vinyasa class kicks off on Wednesday, July 19, with five additional dates throughout August. Flow through your sun salutations surrounded by lush greenery in an indoor garden. The classes are held in their light-filled, heated atrium — so you don't have to worry about the winter chill —and all levels are welcome, from experienced yogis to wannabes. Plus, the $15 spent will not only better only your own mind, body and soul, but also go toward helping others do the same. Sweat for the Good Stuff will donate a portion of the proceeds to charity causes including mental health surf therapy, support for the homeless and suicide prevention. It's a workout worth waking up early for.
You've heard of bed and breakfasts. In fact, you've probably even stayed at a couple. They're all well and good; however a new cocktail-focused hotel is offering up something even better than brekkie with your room: a bed and beverage experience. If you're in the vicinity of Los Angeles from September onwards, head to ten-room The Walker Inn to enjoy an intimate and relaxing evening complete with a nightcap or several (and painkillers when you check out). And no, you won't just guzzle whatever's in the mini-bar in your vintage-heavy room. Instead, you'll get the kind of high-quality home bar setup you could only dream of having in your actual house, complete with a recipe book to guide you through the cocktail-making process. You'll be shaking, mixing and stirring your own drinks in no time. Don't think that The Walker Inn isn't for sociable clientele, though. With the '20s-style hotel also boasting its own bar, you'll have plenty of opportunities to sip on a mixologist-made beverage and mingle with other patrons, if that's what you'd prefer. Some rooms even have their own secret staircase leading back down to the shared lounge area. Basically, think of The Walker Inn as accommodation for those who want a couple of options for winding down after a nice meal out with friends, which is exactly how owner David Kaplan describes it. Similar establishments have popped up in Paris and Los Feliz, so it seems like this is part of a growing trend. Fingers crossed that some clever person brings the concept to Australia — and soon. Via PSFK and Skift.
Sake is a drink known by many but — in Australia at least — understood by very few. It's a beverage that's generally relegated to fancy sushi work lunches where your boss is picking up the bill, but, truth is, the fermented Japanese rice wine is much more versatile than that. You can order a bottle to pair with fish at your next dinner party, but you can also pick up a pull-tab can to take to a party or add some to prosecco and soda for a Japanese-style summer spritz. There are many ways into sake, and we've laid them out below. Need a refresher first? Have a read of our bluffer's guide to sake then get started. [caption id="attachment_628082" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sakeshop[/caption] FOR THOSE WANTING AN EASY INTRODUCTION TO SAKE A Japanese sake providore located in both Melbourne and Sydney, Sakeshop is your one-stop shop for all things sake. Here, tastings and internationally recognised sake courses are held and there's even an extensive Japanese beer selection — so there's really no greater place to immerse yourself in the blossoming world of sake appreciation. Pick up one of the Hanamikura Aya 200ml with its cute little ring-pull tab lid, throw it in your beach bag and sit in the sun sipping on the peachy and pear flavours with the sounds of summer echoing in your ears. FOR THOSE SICK OF APEROL SPRITZES The ultimate in spring and summertime drinking is a Japanese yuzushu made with equal parts one-year-old Junmai sake and yuzu juice (a type of native Japanese grapefruit). It's great either on the rocks or in a spritz — the perfect alternative to an Aperol Spritz for 2017–18. It's lively, fresh and zesty with a hint of a jasmine floral and pink grapefruit character on the nose. On the palate, it's delicate and strikes the perfect balance between tart citrus flavours and sweet characters. Try the Heiwa Shuzo Yuzushu in a wine glass filled with ice, 30ml Yuzushu topped with a dry prosecco (the Dal Zotto from Australia's King Valley is always a winner) and a splash of soda with a twist of lemon. Be careful, though — they're so dangerously delicious that you might be wondering where the bottle went in no time. FOR THOSE WANTING TO ADD A BIT OF JAPANESE HISTORY TO THEIR DINNER Hailing from the third-oldest sake brewery in Japan, which was established in 1548, Yoshinogawa is the Rolls Royce of sake: elegant, high quality and impeccably made. Made by the 20th generation of the Kawakami family, Yoshinogawa Ginjo Gokujo is created using a combination of techniques, both ancient and modern, to craft what is considered to be a classic yet modern interpretation of the style. Floral, with just a hint of umami character, it's almost ethereal on the palate. Pop down to the Fish Markets and pick up some salmon, slice it up and make a ginger and soy glaze while lightly searing the fish in a pan, crank The Go-Go's and pour some of this sake chilled for the ultimate trifecta. [caption id="attachment_645960" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Studio Hortenzia.[/caption] FOR THOSE LOVERS OF JAPANESE AESTHETICS Now, not all sakes are from 469-year-old breweries. Some are just brand spanking new, like the newly released Toji Sake from Melbourne couple Yuta and Shar Kobayashi. Distilled with Yuta's childhood memories of drinking sake with his grandfather, this approachable sake draws upon traditional Japanese flavours but modernised for an Australian palate. Crisp, perfumed and well balanced would be a perfect accompaniment to a trip to see the contemporary art collections at Sydney's White Rabbit or GOMA in Brisbane. Plus, the bottle is a work of art in itself — you'll want to keep it. FOR THOSE NEEDING A MEMORABLE HOUSEWARMING GIFT Your friend's just moved into a new place and you want to bring a housewarming gift that's not a plant (that they will inevitably overwater) or a set of cheese knives (that are beautiful but they'll probably never use). Enter the versatile bottle of sake. Grab an all-rounder like the Dewazakura Dewa Sansan Junmai Ginjo — it's great for sipping on a hot day and can also be used as a base for curing fish because of its signature fragrant perfume and delicacy on the palate. It's also available in a 1.5-litre bottle if you really want to earn your place as friend of the year. Top image: Sakeshop.
The Verge Festival has everything. Experimental Cinema, claims of the Best Comedy Ever, great sunset film screenings and croquet. With origins as a festival of experimental art, the Verge has grown into a University-wide arts festival with events ranging from pure weird to straight up drama — but all of them with something that takes their efforts away from the everyday. Opening night is packed with music and art by its hosts, the charity-supporting Major Raiser, who'll be dedicating the night's efforts to youth mental health — a subject close to their heart. Closing night promises a laser maze on the dance floor, while the middle of the fest sports Pride Week Party and night markets. During the rest of the festival, the Uni's flashy promenade, Eastern Avenue, will be taken over by giant shipping containers as part of Uncontainable, as artists decorate the containers' outsides, and fill the insides with pre-made exhibtions. Some occasional Impro playmaking is promised, while Underbelly artists Fetish Frequency offer a DIY audio story to drag you around the Sydney University campus. There will be nights of nice words at Outspoken, and the Story Club's return from the Comedy Festival, starring Playschool veteran Benita Collings. SUDS is getting into the festival spirit by staging the bloody Titus Andronicus, as well in-situ drama like Animals at the University's tiny Roundhouse and and some Strindberg in the tennis courts.
When you head to a gallery or museum, peruse its walls and halls, and stare at a famous work of art, you spend time bathing in visible beauty. If you're peering at a painting, then colours, compositions and brush strokes grab your attention. Should you be looking at a sculpture, it's the lines, shapes and forms that stand out. Even if you're the most dedicated art fan, you're really only engaging one of your senses — that's why it's called visual art. You can't touch something as iconic as the Venus de Milo, for example. You certainly can't taste it either, and it doesn't emit a sound or aroma. But if you have ever found yourself wondering just what the ancient Greek work smells like, or how some of The Louvre's other notable artworks might tickle your nostrils, you can now douse yourself in perfume inspired by eight of the Parisian museum's pieces. For the first time, The Louvre has teamed up with French beauty brand Officine Universelle Buly to create a range of scents that draw upon the gallery's masterpieces — not only for art-lovers to spray over their body, but in scented candles, scented postcards and scented soap sheets too. As well as the world's most famous statue with missing arms — which apparently smells like lilies and musk — the lineup takes its cues from Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres' La Baigneuse and Grande Odalisque, Thomas Gainsborough's Conversation in a Park, Jean-Honoré's The Lock and Georges de La Tour's Joseph the Carpenter. You can also smell like Lorenzo Bartolini's Nymph with Scorpion or, still on sculptures, you can opt for the Winged Victory of Samothrace. If the latter sounds familiar, that's because it featured in Beyonce and Jay-Z's 'Apeshit' video last year. https://vimeo.com/347284474 Buly's collection of The Louvre-themed products doesn't come cheap — ranging from just under €6 for a postcard, to around €17 for soap, to €125 for a candle or perfume. If you don't have a trip to Paris in your future, you can order the artwork-inspired scented products online.
This Sydney Festival classic returns for yet another evening of gorgeous music by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra under the open night skies. Grab your friends, family, or current flame, pack a picnic basket and a blanket, and relax into the summery dusk for a night of music that will make you feel a bit like you're living in a film. No picnic? No problem: there will be food stalls aplenty on site. It's BYO so, if you're feelin' thirsty, remember to pack a bottle of something chilled. The Crescent, Parramatta Park, 20 Jan. Image: Jamie Williams
Harper Lee wrote one novel. But the novel was To Kill a Mockingbird, and it was enough. Terrence Malick has likewise only directed five films. Pictures that build slowly, like a symphony of long, slow notes. And it's enough. The Palm d'Or winning Tree of Life centres around a father (Brad Pitt), a mother (Jessica Chastain) and their son Jack (Harry McCracken as a boy, Sean Penn as an adult). All of the other characters, the flow of life and nature, and the film's full narrative build around the empty void that the death of Jack's young brother leaves in their family, in his life and in the soul of their mother. Though the film exists in the shadow of a death, its preoccupation is life and how to live it. Jack grows up to be like his dad: a man neither he, nor his father, want to be. Around this, his mother's grief for his brother propels the action. In her imagination she rebuilds the world from nothing, from the big bang to the birth of her son, as though she is searching in the imagination of God, or perhaps only in the world, for some beginning, some end to the reason for his death. Her grief is as big, as cold, as vast, as fiery and pure as these things. It touches everything. Through her, the film constantly talks to God or to nature — it has no preference — and to the totality of the universe, with galaxies endlessly swirling and rock aflame, it poses the question: "What are we to you?" The star of Terrence Malik's film remains the sensual. Everything is touchable. Hands drift through fields of high grasses, hands cup a newborn baby's foot, hands touch rough lawns and sheets, throw stones, throw footballs, hover in prayer over empty dinner plates. This is a great strength of the film, but if Tree of Life has a flaw, it's also this. Despite sharing his characters' dream worlds, grief and inner life, the story in this film is clearly Malik's most of all.
Artists often attempt to picture the world from alternative views and odd angles in order to get a fresh perspective on the quirks and idiosyncrasies of everyday life. For Canadian photographer Laurel Johannesson the world is at its most bizarre and beautiful when viewed through water. While swimming in Lido di Venezia in Italy, Johannesson found herself fascinated by the dream-like world of mirror images, refracting light and warped figures that emerged when she began taking photographs while submerged in water. The resulting photographs provide a mesmerising insight into our world, familiar yet somehow alien in their distortion, with the artist seeing the dream-like vulnerability of the images as alluding to "the equation between desire and voyeurism". And by printing on metallic paper and laminating the images with a thick layer of acrylic, Johannesson was able to enhance the already otherworldly quality of the photographs. For those of us that cannot see the images in the flesh, here is a virtual tour through Johannesson's fascinating new exhibit.
Your worst technological nightmares are returning to your streaming queue. No, we don't just mean forgetting your password, having trouble logging in, getting an error message that your account doesn't exist after you just used it yesterday or being stuck watching buffering instead of the program you're trying to see. First, Black Mirror's Twitter account broke a four-year silence. Next, Charlie Brooker's dystopian sci-fi hit has dropped a sneak peek at its next batch of technological nightmares — aka the first trailer for the show's long-awaited sixth season. This season is being teased as "the most unpredictable, unclassifiable and unexpected season yet", which is saying something given everything that Black Mirror has thrown at the screen in past seasons (and in choose-your-own-adventure-style movie Black Mirror: Bandersnatch). "I've always felt that Black Mirror should feature stories that are entirely distinct from one another, and keep surprising people — and myself — or else what's the point? It should be a series that can't be easily defined, and can keep reinventing itself," Brooker told Netflix about season six. "Partly as a challenge, and partly to keep things fresh for both me and the viewer, I began this season by deliberately upending some of my own core assumptions about what to expect. Consequently, this time, alongside some of the more familiar Black Mirror tropes we've also got a few new elements, including some I've previously sworn blind the show would never do, to stretch the parameters of what 'a Black Mirror episode' even is. The stories are all still tonally Black Mirror through-and-through — but with some crazy swings and more variety than ever before." Wondering when you might be staring at your own black mirror again to watch Black Mirror? The show will return to Netflix in June, ready to add some extra chill to winter Down Under — with an exact date yet to be announced. Cast-wise, the series makes a comeback with another stacked roster of familiar faces, including Zazie Beetz (Atlanta), Annie Murphy (Kevin Can F**k Himself), Paapa Essiedu (Men), Josh Hartnett (Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre), Himesh Patel (Station Eleven), Rob Delaney (The Power), Rory Culkin (Swarm), Salma Hayek Pinault (Magic Mike's Last Dance), Aaron Paul (Westworld), Kate Mara (Call Jane), Michael Cera (Life & Beth), Danny Ramirez (Stars at Noon), Clara Rugaard (I Am Mother), Auden Thornton (This Is Us) and Anjana Vasan (Killing Eve). How exactly will the series manage to be even more dispiriting than reality over the past few years? That's increasingly been one of its dilemmas — and noting that something IRL feels just like Black Mirror has become one of the cliches of our times — but this'll be the mind-bending effort's first round of episodes following the pandemic. No one has ever watched the Brooker-created series for a pick-me-up, though. Since first hitting the small screen in 2011, Black Mirror has spun warped visions of where technology may lead us — and, no matter what tale the show has told so far across its 22 instalments (including that interactive movie), the picture has usually been unnerving. So, imagine what the program will cook up after what we've all been living through since it last aired. Brooker has already riffed on COVID-19 in two Netflix specials, actually: Death to 2020 and Death to 2021, which offer satirical and star-studded wraps of both years with mixed success. For something completely different, he also jumped back into choose-your-own-adventure content with animated short Cat Burglar, which hit Netflix back in 2022, has viewers play through it as a thieving feline called Rowdy and gets you to answer trivia questions to advance the story. Check out the first trailer for Black Mirror's sixth season below: Black Mirror season six will stream via Netflix some time in June. We'll update you when an exact release date is announced. Images: Netflix.
Before the pandemic, when a new-release movie started playing in cinemas, audiences couldn't watch it on streaming, video on demand, DVD or blu-ray for a few months. But with the past few years forcing film industry to make quite a few changes — widespread movie theatre closures and plenty of people staying home in iso will do that — that's no longer always the case. Maybe you've been under the weather. Perhaps you haven't had time to make it to your local cinema lately. Given the hefty amount of films now releasing each week, maybe you simply missed something. Film distributors have been fast-tracking some of their new releases from cinemas to streaming recently — movies that might still be playing in theatres in some parts of the country, too. In preparation for your next couch session, here are 13 that you can watch right now at home. BONES AND ALL To be a character in a Luca Guadagnino film is to be ravenous. The Italian director does have a self-described Desire trilogy — I Am Love, A Bigger Splash and Call Me By Your Name — on his resume, after all. In those movies and more, he spins sensual stories about hungry hearts, minds and eyes, all while feeding his audience's very same body parts. He tells tales of protagonists bubbling with lust and yearning, craving love and acceptance, and trying to devour this fleeting thing called life while they're living it. Guadagnino hones in on the willingness to surrender to that rumbling and pining, whether pursuing a swooning, sweeping, summery romance in the first feature that put Timothée Chalamet in front of his camera, or losing oneself to twitchy, witchy dance in his Suspiria remake. Never before has he taken having an insatiable appetite to its most literal and unnerving extreme, however, but aching cannibal love story Bones and All is pure Guadagnino. Peaches filled with longing's sticky remnants are so 2017 for Guadagnino, and for now-Little Women, Don't Look Up and Dune star Chalamet. Biting into voracious romances will never get old, though. Five years after Call Me By Your Name earned them both Oscar nominations — the filmmaker for Best Picture, his lead for Best Actor — they reteam for a movie that traverses the American midwest rather than northern Italy, swaps erotic fruit for human flesh and comes loaded with an eerie undercurrent, but also dwells in similar territory. It's still the 80s, and both hope and melancholy still drift in the air. The phenomenal Taylor Russell (Lost in Space) drives the feature as Maren, an 18-year-old with an urge to snack on people that makes her an unpopular slumber-party guest. When she meets Chalamet's Lee, a fellow 'eater', Bones and All becomes another sublime exploration of love's all-consuming feelings — and every bit as exquisite as Guadagnino and Chalamet's last stunning collaboration. Bones and All is available to stream via Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. THE MENU Getting "yes chef" bellowed his way as Julian Slowik, the head chef at exclusive fictional restaurant Hawthorne, Ralph Fiennes (The Forgiven) is a sinister delight in the vicious and delicious The Menu. With his character terrorising staff and customers alike, but similarly trapped with his employees in the hospo grind, Fiennes is also visibly having a ball in an entertainingly slippery role. He plays the part with the instant presence to make a room of well-paying patrons snap to attention just because he's there, and his facial expressions — his eyes in particular — are a masterclass in passive malevolence. There's a cruel streak in Slowik, as there is in the movie, but The Menu is a black, bleak, vengeful comedy as well. Director Mark Mylod (What's Your Number?) and writers Seth Reiss and Will Tracy (The Onion) know the best thing to eat, aka the rich, and turn their fine-dining factory into a savage, savvy and scathingly amusing satire about coveting $1250-a-head meals but letting the workers behind them slice, steam, stir and sweat through upscale kitchen drudgery. Babbling snootily about mouth-feel before even getting to Hawthorne by boat, Tyler (Nicholas Hoult, The Great) doesn't spare a passing thought for the restaurant's workers. A self-confessed foodie who can't abide by the eatery's no-photography rule for a single course, he's in fanboy heaven after finally scoring a booking — and doesn't his companion Margot (Anya Taylor-Joy, Amsterdam) know it. She's less enthused, and her lack of fawning over her surroundings, Slowik, each plate and the theatre of it all rankles her date. She's the least-excited diner of the evening's entire list, in fact, which also spans status-chasing finance bros (The Terminal List's Arturo Castro, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series' Mark St Cyr and The Now's Rob Yang), a cashed-up couple (Mass' Reed Birney and Julia's Judith Light) who attend regularly, an arrogant food critic (Janet McTeer, Ozark) and her editor (Paul Adelstein, The Greatest Beer Run Ever), and a movie star (John Leguizamo, Encanto) with his assistant (Aimee Carrero, Spirited). The Menu is available to stream via Disney+, Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. MISTER ORGAN A single tweet has sparked many things for many people; however, the chaos started by a social-media missive from New Zealand journalist and filmmaker David Farrier has few parallels. In 2013, he commented on Twitter about a friend parking their car at Auckland's now-closed Bashford Antiques, then weathering an unpleasant experience: the threat of towing, instant abuse, and an immediate demand for $250 in order to be allowed to leave. Farrier next began writing articles about it all, and what seemed like a clamping racket, in 2016. In his first piece, he covered being asked by his employer three years prior to delete his tweet, too. But his own ordeal was only just beginning, because his ordeal involves Michael Organ. "You pay a soul tax for every minute you spend with him," Farrier notes in the documentary he's made about all of the above, complete with far more twists than anyone can imagine going in — and watching Mister Organ, the feeling behind that observation is starkly apparent. As well as helping impose onerous conditions on folks parking outside an antiques store, and becoming the owner's constant companion in the process, claiming to be royalty is also part of this tale. Organ has defended himself in serious court cases, and assisted with bringing legal proceedings against others, including Farrier. His web of interpersonal dealings, as fleshed out through discussions with ex-housemates and acquaintances, brings bewildered and infuriated interviewees into the doco. Finding someone to say a kind word about him is almost impossible, other than the endlessly talkative Organ himself. For newcomers to this situation, it's best to get the ins and outs by watching, stolen boats and all, because no description does them justice — but Farrier's time with Organ, as he tries to get to the bottom of his story, never fails to surprise. Viewers of filmmaker's Tickled and Dark Tourist will easily glean why he was drawn to tell this tale, though; for starters, it's another disturbing, perplexing, so-messy-it-can-only-be-true slice of life. Mister Organ is available to stream via DocPlay, Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. SKINAMARINK Age may instil nocturnal bravery in most of us, stopping the flinching and wincing at things that routinely go bump, thump and jump in the night in our ordinary homes, but the childhood feeling of lying awake in the dark with shadows, shapes and strange sounds haunting an eerie void never seeps from memory. Close your eyes, cast your mind back, and the unsettling and uncertain sensation can easily spring again — that's how engrained it is. Or, with your peepers wide open, you could just watch new micro-budget Canadian horror movie Skinamarink. First-time feature filmmaker Kyle Edward Ball has even made this breakout hit, which cost just $15,000 to produce, in the house he grew up in. His characters: two kids, four-year-old Kevin (debutant Lucas Paul) and six-year-old Kaylee (fellow newcomer Dali Rose Tetreault), who wake up deep into the evening. The emotion he's trading in: pure primal dread, because to view this digitally shot but immensely grainy-looking flick is to be plunged back to a time when nightmares lingered the instant that the light switched off. Skinamarink does indeed jump backwards, meeting Kevin and Kaylee in 1995 when they can't find their dad (Ross Paul, Moby Dick) or mum (Jaime Hill, Give and Take) after waking. But, befitting a movie that's an immersive collage of distressing and disquieting images and noises from the get-go, it also pulsates with an air of being trapped in time. It takes its name from a nonsense nursery-rhyme song from 1910, then includes cartoons from the 1930s on Kevin and Kaylee's television to brighten up the night's relentless darkness. In its exacting, hissing sound design especially, it brings David Lynch's 1977 debut Eraserhead to mind. And the influence of 1999's The Blair Witch Project and the 2007-born Paranormal Activity franchise is just as evident, although Skinamarink is far more ambient, experimental and experiential. Ball has evolved from crafting YouTube shorts inspired by online commenters' worst dreams to this: his own creepypasta. Skinamarink is available to stream via Shudder and AMC+. Read our full review. BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER Black Panther: Wakanda Forever isn't the movie it was initially going to be, the sequel to 2018's electrifying and dynamic Black Panther that anyone behind it originally wanted it to be, or the chapter in the sprawling Marvel Cinematic Universe that it first aimed to be — this, the world already knows. The reason why is equally familiar, after Chadwick Boseman died from colon cancer in 2020 aged 43. At its best, this direct followup to the MCU's debut trip to its powerful African nation doesn't just know this, too, but scorches that awareness deep into its frames. King T'Challa's death starts the feature, a loss that filmmaking trickery doesn't reverse, no matter how meaningless mortality frequently proves when on-screen resurrections are usually a matter of mere plot twists. Wakanda Forever begins with heartbreak and pain, in fact, and with facing the hard truth that life ends and, in ways both big and small, that nothing is ever the same. Your typical franchise entry about quick-quipping costumed crusaders courageously protecting the planet, this clearly isn't. Directed and co-written by Ryan Coogler (Creed) like its predecessor — co-scripting again with Joe Robert Cole (All Day and a Night) — Wakanda Forever is about grief, expected futures that can no longer be and having to move forward anyway. That applies in front of and behind the lens; as ruminating so heavily on loss underscores, the movie has a built-in justification for not matching the initial flick. The Boseman-sized hole at Wakanda Forever's centre is gaping, unsurprisingly, even in a feature that's a loving homage to him, and his charm and gravitas-filled take on the titular character. Also, that vast void isn't one this film can fill. Amid overtly reckoning with absence, Coogler still has a top-notch cast — returnees Letitia Wright (Death on the Nile), Angela Bassett (Gunpowder Milkshake), Danai Gurira (The Walking Dead), Lupita Nyong'o (The 355) and Winston Duke (Nine Days), plus new addition Tenoch Huerta (Narcos: Mexico), most notably — drawing eyeballs towards his vibrant imagery, but his picture is also burdened with MCU bloat and mechanics, and infuriating bet-hedging. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is available to stream via Disney+, Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. BLUEBACK Films about humanity's affinity with animals are films about our ties to the natural world — and doesn't Blueback splash that truth around. Plunging from The Dry into the wet, writer/director Robert Connolly reteams with Eric Bana for another page-to-screen adaptation of a homegrown book; this is another movie inseparable from its landscape, too, again exploring the impact people have upon it. This time, however, Bana isn't the star. He's memorable as larrikin abalone diver and fisherman 'Mad' Macka, and this Tim Winton-based feature would've benefited from more of his presence, but the Dirty John actor is firmly in supporting mode. Set against the enticing Western Australian coast as the author's work tends to be, this is a picture about the sea's thrall, existential importance and inherent sense of connection — as filtered through the bond between a girl and a wild blue groper, plus the evolving relationship between that same child and her eco-warrior mother. Mia Wasikowska (Bergman Island) plays Blueback's fish-befriending protagonist as an adult, with the text's Abel becoming Abby here. Radha Mitchell (Girl at the Window) shares the screen as Dora, her widowed mother, early in the film's year-hopping timeline. Still, in their second of three movies in succession — arriving before upcoming The Dry sequel Force of Nature — Connolly and Bana dip back into familiar territory. Obvious swaps are evident, including a beachside rather than a farming community, and atrocities against the planet and its wildlife instead of crimes against people, but it's easy to see Blueback's appeal as a reunion project. Among the key differences as Abby and Dora fight to save their town and its aquatic treasures, still battling wrongs to strive for what's right: this is an overtly and eagerly family-friendly affair. Blueback is available to stream via Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. SISSY Thanks to everything from The Saddle Club and I Hate My Teenage Daughter to Sweet/Vicious and The Bold Type, Gold Coast-born Australian actor Aisha Dee knows what it's like to live life through screens. She's been acting since she was a teenager, and she's charted the highs of her chosen profession — all in front of a lens. In Sissy, she hops in front of a camera again, naturally, and not only once but twice. In this delightfully savvy and funny Aussie horror film, Dee turns in a wonderfully layered performance as the titular Instagram influencer, whose soaring follower count, non-stop flow of likes and adoring comments, and online fame all stems from her carefully poised and curated wellness videos. Also known as @SincerelyCecilia, the character's sense of self springs from that virtual attention too; however, when she reconnects with her childhood best friend Emma (co-director/co-writer Hannah Barlow), gets invited to her bachelorette weekend and finds old schoolyard dynamics bubbling up, that facade starts to shatter. If Mean Girls was a slasher film set in a remote cabin in rural Australia, it might look something like Sissy — and that's a compliment multiple times over. Every horror movie wants to be smart and savage on multiple levels, but Barlow and fellow co-helmer/co-scribe Kane Senes (reteaming after 2017's For Now) weaponise everything from influencer culture and pastel, rainbow and glitter colour palettes to toxic friendships, all while spinning a clever, cutting and comedic take on the impact of bullying. They also fill their feature with as gloriously diverse a cast as Australian cinema has boasted, and with one helluva lead performance. If Carrie was set in today's always-online world, amid cancel culture and plentiful praise at the press of a button, it'd look like this, too, but this instant Aussie horror classic takes its own bold stab at plenty of genres. Sissy is available to stream via Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. ARMAGEDDON TIME What's more difficult a feat: to ponder everything that the universe might hold, as James Gray did in 2019's sublime Ad Astra, or to peer back at your own childhood, as the writer/director now does with Armageddon Time? In both cases, the bonds and echoes between parents and children earn the filmmaker's attention. In both cases, thoughtful, complex and affecting movies result. And, as shared with everything he's made over the past three decades — The Yards, The Immigrant and The Lost City of Z among them — fantastic performances glide across the screen, too. Here, in a portrait of a pre-teen's growing awareness of his privilege, the world's prejudices, the devastating history of his ancestors, and how tentative a place people can hold due to race, religion, money, politics and more, young stars Banks Repeta (The Black Phone) and Jaylin Webb (The Wonder Years) manage something remarkable, in fact, more than holding their own against a reliably excellent Anthony Hopkins (The Father), Anne Hathaway (Locked Down) and Jeremy Strong (Succession). Repeta plays sixth-grader Paul Graff, Gray's on-screen surrogate, and Armageddon Time's curious and confident protagonist. At his new public school circa 1980, he's happy standing out alongside his new friend Johnny (Webb), dreaming of being an artist despite his dad's (Strong) stern disapproval and disrupting class whenever he can to his mum's (Hathaway) dismay — and outside of it, he's happiest spending time with his doting grandfather (Hopkins). But Paul will start to understand the luck he has in the world, hailing from a middle-class Jewish family, compared to his black, bused-in friend, even if that comfort is tenuous, too. And, he'll keep seeing the way the world has Johnny at a disadvantage in every way possible, from their instantly scornful teacher to Paul's own parents' quick judgement. As lensed with the look and feel of a memory, Armageddon Time is clear about the small moments that leave an imprint, and the small deeds left undone that cause craters. It's a powerful work from a filmmaker surveying happy and sorrowful slices of the past, and doing so with unflinching eyes. Armageddon Time is available to stream via Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. THE VELVET QUEEN "If nothing came, we just hadn't looked properly." Partway through The Velvet Queen, writer Sylvain Tesson utters these lyrical words about a specific and patient quest; however, they echo far further than the task at hand. This absorbing documentary tracks his efforts with wildlife photographer Vincent Munier to see a snow leopard — one of the most rare and elusive big cats there is — but much in the entrancing film relates to life in general. Indeed, while the animals that roam the Tibetan plateau earns this flick's focus, as does the sweeping landscape itself, Munier and his fellow co-director and feature first-timer Marie Amiguet have made a movie about existence first and foremost. When you peer at nature, you should see the world, as well as humanity's place in it. You should feel the planet's history, and the impact that's being made on its future, too. Sensing exactly that with this engrossing picture comes easily — and so does playing a ravishing big-screen game of Where's Wally?. No one wears red-and-white striped jumpers within The Velvet Queen's frames, of course. The Consolations of the Forest author Tesson and world-renowned shutterbug Munier dress to blend in, trying to camouflage into their sometimes-dusty, sometimes-snowy, always-rocky surroundings, but they aren't the ones that the film endeavours to spy. The creatures that inhabit Tibet's craggy peaks have evolved to blend in, so attempting to see many of them is an act of persistence and deep observation — and locking eyes on the snow leopard takes that experience to another level. Sometimes, pure movement gives away a critter's presence. On one occasion, looking back through images of a perched falcon offers unexpected rewards. As lensed by Amiguet (La vallée des loups), Munier and assistant director Léo-Pol Jacquot, The Velvet Queen draws upon hidden cameras, too, but so much of Tesson and Munier's mission is about sitting, watching and accepting that everything happens in its own time. The Velvet Queen is available to stream via Docplay, Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. GLORIAVALE Exploring the story of the religious community that shares its name, New Zealand documentary Gloriavale makes for stunning, gut-wrenching and infuriating viewing. It's been a booming time for NZ films that earn that description over the past few months — see also: Mister Organ above — but this true tale was always going to stand out and leave an imprint. Given that it involves chatting to survivors of the cult-like organisation, particularly excommunicated members relaying their heartbreaking experiences, being aghast at their ordeals is a natural reaction. Feeling angry that this can happen is, too, including as the film charts legal proceedings to bring Gloriavale's horrors to light. What has gone on behind closed doors, in a closed community, in the West Coast-based sect heartily requires this type of exposé — and with brother and sister John and Virginia as their key interviewees, filmmakers Fergus Grady and Noel Smyth (reteaming after 2019's Camino Skies) are up to the task. The specifics date back to the late 1960s, when the organisation was founded and started drawing in members, who were soon living under the sect's strict beliefs. Here, for instance, women are expected to work all through their waking hours to keep Gloriavale running — not even sitting down for meals — and cramming the group's many families all under one big roof is the norm. Also, when sexual abuse claims arise, including with children as victims, blame is directed everywhere but the accused perpetrators. As Gloriavale steps through details like these again and again, it's unsurprisingly harrowing from the outset. Archival footage from within the community only adds to the distressing mood, and charting the legal cases ups the drama, but the accounts of what's gone on at the titular place would be damning and gripping as is even if Grady and Smyth only had talking-head interviews at their disposal. Gloriavale is available to stream via SBS On Demand, Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. WHITNEY HOUSTON: I WANNA DANCE WITH SOMEBODY In the decade since her death in 2012, Whitney Houston has proven one of filmmaking's greatest loves of all. No fewer than five movies have told her tale, including documentaries Whitney: Can I Be Me and Whitney — and that's without including a feature about her daughter Bobbi Kristina, a miniseries focused on her ex-husband Bobby Brown and dramas clearly based on her story. All of that attention echoes for obvious reasons. Houston's mezzo-soprano voice, which earned her the nickname "The Voice", soared to stratospheric and literally breathtaking levels. Still holding the record for the most consecutive number-one singles on the Billboard Hot 100, which she took from The Beatles and the Bee Gees, her career zoomed skyward as well. That swift rise from New Jersey church choir member to one of the biggest bestselling music artists ever was matched by tabloid-fodder lows, however, and that tragic, gone-too-soon passing — and Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody charts it all. Taking its name from one of Houston's most exuberant singles isn't just music biopic 101 (see also: Bohemian Rhapsody, also penned by this film's screenwriter Anthony McCarten). Kasi Lemmons' (Harriet) feature follows the standard Wikipedia entry-like genre template, but the filmmaker wants those titular words to reflect how Whitney (Naomi Ackie, Master of None) just wanted to be herself, to be loved as such, and openly be with Robyn Crawford (Nafessa Williams, Black Lightning), the girlfriend-turned-creative director that her gospel singer mother Cissy Houston (Tamara Tunie, Cowboy Bebop) and stern father John (Clarke Peters, The Man Who Fell to Earth) disapprove of. Instead, after being signed to Arista Records at 19 by producer and executive Clive Davis (Stanley Tucci, The King's Man), Whitney becomes America's princess next door. Ackie turns in a commanding, multi-layered performance as the conflicted singer — even while lip-synching, with the movie smartly using Houston's own vocals — in a film that's impassioned, wisely filled with electrifying performance recreations, yet is happy to just hit every expected note. Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody is available to stream via Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. LYLE, LYLE CROCODILE The Paddington movies did it better. That's a general catch-all statement that can apply to almost anything, zero context required, and it's also the prevailing feeling while watching Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile. Instead of a marmalade-coveting bear, a singing crocodile is trying to win hearts — and the similarities don't stop there. The page-to-screen leap from a children's favourite? Tick. An adorable animal winding up in a family of humans who need its unique presence to make their lives complete, bring them together and show them what truly matters? Tick again. The strait-laced dad, creative mum, nasty neighbour and kindly kid? Keep ticking. Also present in both: the titular critter donning human clothing and craving fruity foods, warm colours aplenty, a vintage look and feel to interior spaces, a tense and traumatic capture, and an accomplished star having a whole lot of fun going big, broad and cartoonish (Javier Bardem here, and worlds away from The Good Boss, Dune or Everybody Knows). Bardem's playful turn as magician Hector P Valenti is the best thing about Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile, which is breezily watchable but so indebted to Paddington and its sequel — so desperate to be an American version of the charming English franchise — that orange conserve might as well be smeared across the lens. As directed by Office Christmas Party's Josh Gordon and Will Speck, and scripted by Johnny English Strikes Again's Will Davies (adapting from Bernard Waber's books), the film is also a musical, with the eponymous croc (voiced by Shawn Mendes) able to sing but not speak. Those forgettable songs pad out a slight story, after Valenti discovers Lyle, hopes to get famous as a double act and loses his New York City brownstone when his gambit fails. Then the new residents, the Primm family, find the reptile in the attic, son Josh (Winslow Fegley, Come Play) finds a friend and his parents (Hustlers' Constance Wu and Blonde's Scoot McNairy) find their own reasons to get snapped up in the critter's singing-and-dancing vibe — although Mr Grumps (Brett Gelman, Stranger Things) downstairs obviously lives up to his moniker. Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile is available to stream via Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. PUSS IN BOOTS: THE LAST WISH Since arriving in cinemas in 2001, Shrek has inspired three more ogre-centric flicks, a heap of shorts and TV specials, and a stage musical for the whole family. It's also the reason that green-hued burlesque shows exist, plus all manner of parties and raves — none of the last three of which are appropriate for kids, obviously. But beyond the Mike Myers (The Pentaverate)-voiced titular figure himself, only Puss in Boots has become solo big-screen fodder from among the franchise's array of characters. Like much in this series, the shoe-wearing feline hails from fairy tales, but the reason for its ongoing on-screen popularity is as simple as casting. Who doesn't want to see a kitty swashbuckler voiced by Antonio Banderas (Official Competition), basically making this a moggie Zorro? Based on the 2011 Puss in Boots' $555 million at the box office, that concept is irresistible to plenty of folks — hence, albeit 11 years later, sequel Puss in Boots: The Last Wish. Pairing the right talent to the right animated character doesn't instantly make movie magic, of course; however, The Last Wish, which literally has Puss seeking magic, is among the best films that the broader Shrek saga has conjured up so far. The eponymous cat begins the picture being his usual swaggering self and caring little for the consequences, including his own dwindling lives. One raucous incident sees him realise that he's died eight times already, though, and knowing this ninth go-around is his last according to feline lore suddenly fills him with existential woe. That's a thoughtful premise for an all-ages-friendly flick, and one that's never dampened by the film's plethora of fairy tale nods, high-energy vibe and usually amusing gags. So, Puss, Kitty Softpaws (Salma Hayek, House of Gucci) and their new canine companion Perro (Harvey Guillén, What We Do in the Shadows) attempt to find a famed wishing star that can make avoiding death a reality — but Goldilocks (Florence Pugh, The Wonder) and the three bears (Black Widow's Ray Winstone, Mothering Sunday's Olivia Colman and Our Flag Means Death's Samson Kayo) are also after it, as is a no longer 'little' Jack Horner (John Mulaney, Big Mouth). Puss in Boots: The Last Wish is available to stream via Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Looking for more at-home viewing options? Take a look at our monthly streaming recommendations across new straight-to-digital films and TV shows — and fast-tracked highlights from January, too. You can also peruse our best new films, new TV shows, returning TV shows and straight-to-streaming movies, plus movies you might've missed and television standouts of 2022 you mightn't have gotten to.
Do you remember the last time you scrolled through TikTok without seeing flowing Biscoff waterfalls, chilli crisp-topped anything, or someone splashing pickle juice into things that pickle juice has no right to be in? Us neither — and neither, it seems, has the team at Surry Hills margarita bar Tio's Cerveceria, which has taken these viral ingredients off your FYP and poured them into your glass with a new menu that's both unhinged and undeniably fun. The new Voted & Viral menu is a tribute to the power of the people and six months of outlandish cocktail experimentation. Over this period, the Tio's crew has been creating wild weekly margarita specials — and now three fan favourites, as decided by public vote, have earned a permanent spot on the menu for six months. [caption id="attachment_1005184" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Dexter Kim[/caption] So, how outlandish are we talking? Let's start with the Biscoff Margarita, a playfully light, fluffy, cookie-forward riff on a sour that boasts sweetness and depth in equal measure. Next up, the Pickle Margarita is like the love child of a dirty martini and a classic marg, starring a house-made pickle mix and finished with three pickles for good luck. Finally, the Watermelon Lao Gan Ma Margarita does as it says on the tin. Fresh, sweet watermelon is paired with the softly spicy, umami-laden condiment from Guizhou, China, that has fast become a staple of both pantries and social media feeds. If you've never tried watermelon and chilli, consider this your spicy gateway. [caption id="attachment_1005182" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Dexter Kim[/caption] Tio's is no stranger to pushing the agave envelope, and this new trio will sit comfortably alongside the likes of choose-your-own-spice-adventure margs and a share-size mega margarita. Naturally, the bar also serves up well-done standards like classic, Tommy's and mezcal margs — which, despite what might trending on your feed, will never go out of style. [caption id="attachment_1005181" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Dexter Kim[/caption] [caption id="attachment_952594" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tio's Cerveceria, Dexter Kim[/caption] The new Voted & Viral menu is now available at Tio's Cerveceria, located at 4–14 Foster Street, Surry Hills. For more info, head to the venue's website. Top image: Dexter Kim.
After being cancelled in 2020 due to COVID-19, the Great Australasian Beer SpecTAPular, better known as GABS, returns to the Sydney Showground from Friday, May 7–Saturday, May 8. From humble beginnings in Melbourne a decade ago, it has now expanded to cover four cities in two countries, and is rightfully considered by most as the best craft beer and cider festival in the Asia Pacific region. Creators Steve Jeffares and Guy Greenstone (The Local Taphouse, Stomping Ground Brewing Co.) will again be wrangling up the best breweries from the region and are offering up hundreds of brews — which will include 120 exclusive festival beers and ciders. These exclusive and often wacky specialty brews are created just for the event and are generally the festival's main draw, giving attendees the rare chance to try brand-spanking new beers while meeting the brewers behind them. Expect collaborations with everyone from coffee roasters and tea houses to gin and whisky distillers. In previous years, brews have also been made with biscuit makers and even an American barbecue smokehouse — so expect plenty of experimental tastes, too. Apart from beer, the event also plays host to a silent disco, live tunes, cornhole, table tennis, giant Jenga and more. The much loved 18-metre-high beer Ferris wheel is always a fixture, as are wandering performances and local food stalls.
It's not a stretch to say that the beer industry is male-dominated. It's also not a stretch to say that the words 'beer' and 'high tea' don't usually appear next to each other. Here's where it all comes together though: a ladies-only beer high tea. Spend the afternoon chatting with some of the women in the industry over nine courses paired with some of Australia's best craft beers. This event is one of our top ten picks of Sydney Craft Beer Week. Check out the other nine.
A lot of doco makers rely on the adage that 'truth is stranger than fiction'. A few supremely lucky ones find a story that is so mind-bogglingly strange that they could sit back and let the film make itself. The Imposter is just such a story, at every stage revealing another layer of the bizarreness of which human beings are capable. British director Bart Layton is no slouch, either; the film is slickly made, metring out its tantalising information and almost single-handedly reviving the use of re-creation as a respected documentary tool. The subject is an incident in 1997 in which a 17-year-old Texan boy, Nicholas Barclay, was returned to his family after having been missing for three years. Except he turned up in Spain, had no physical resemblance to the missing blue-eyed boy, was noticeably older, and spoke with a French accent. He was accepted back into the family regardless. His sister thought she could recognise that smile anywhere. From the relatives to the authorities, everyone around him seemed ready to excuse the differences, taking the 'he's not the little boy you knew' trope to extreme and literal levels. In reality, the boy was French con man Frederic Bourdin, a 23-year-old obsessively seeking the comfort of childhood. At first, it seems the documentary reveals his identity prematurely, almost right from the beginning — but that's just because you don't know, at that point, of all the twists that remain for the story to take. The supremely tense Imposter features sensitive, in-depth interviews with almost all of the major characters in the incident, including Bourdin, the FBI agent who handled his repatriation, the PI whose suspicions uncovered the truth and Nicholas's mother and sister. Without them, no number of re-creations could have carried the story so far or got you close to understanding any of these people's motivations. And as for the re-creations, they're filmed with a keen cinematographer's eye and a sense of enigma, putting them at a long distance from those we're used to on made-for-TV specials. https://youtube.com/watch?v=mENui3UdMOY
Hey everyone, Kanye West is back at his Kanye best — being characteristically mysterious while simultaneously stirring everyone into a frenzy. Today he ambiguously announced on Twitter that he'll casually open 21 "Pablo temporary stores" around the world this weekend. 21 PABLO STORES WORLDWIDE THIS WEEKEND LOCATIONS HERE https://t.co/tYuzqs7kJW — KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) August 18, 2016 He's run this racket before. In 2013, he opened a pop-up shop on Bowery in NYC to commemorate the Yeezus tour and — as you could guess, it went bananas. This time around though the whole world is getting a taste. Life of Pablo pop-ups will open briefly in cities across the globe, including Melbourne and Sydney. It's unclear at this stage exactly what range of merchandise will be available, but Vogue is reporting that each city will be selling custom merch including t-shirts with the city's name spelt out in the custom Life of Pablo font (think of the re-sale value!). At previous pop-ups Kanye's sold copies of the namesake album and associated merch. Other cities that will be graced with a Pablo pop-up are Singapore, Amsterdam, Berlin, London, Cape Town, Toronto, Chicago, Detroit, San Francisco, Portland, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Boston, New York and Miami (so we're in pretty good company). He'll announce the exact locations 24 hours prior to their opening, so prepare to stalk, line up (early) and pounce on whatever Kanye's got in store for us. Via Vogue.
Nadine Labaki directs and stars in this amusing modern fable about a group of women in a remote Lebanese village who try to defuse mounting inter-religious tensions by finding obscure ways to distract their menfolk. Lead by the beautiful Amale (Labaki), the women of the village, both Muslim and Christian, band together to find various ways to stop the men from following in the civil strife that has engulfed their country. In an attempt to keep the peace, the women conspire to hire exotic dancers, lovingly drug sweet pastries and remove weapons from the village. However, not all of their extraordinary ideas go to plan, resulting in a serious of comic, and chaotic, incidents. Following on from Caramel, Labaki's second feature film in the director's chair made official selection at Cannes in 2011 and this year at Sundance, as well as making its debut on Australian screens at the recent Sydney Film Festival. Concrete Playground has ten double passes to give away to see Where Do We Go Now? To be in the running to win a pair of tickets, make sure you're subscribed to Concrete Playground then email your name and postal address to hello@concreteplayground.com.au
When you're Australia's oldest film festival and you screen hundreds of movies each and every year, how else do you keep standing out after notching up seven decades of cinema celebrations? If you're the Melbourne International Film Festival, you start your own major accolade. That was MIFF's approach in 2022, when it announced the new $140,000 Bright Horizons Award. Adding the gong to its lineup annually, the Victorian capital's major film fest has just revealed its 2023 winner: Senegalese-French love story Banel & Adama. When you're such a long-running event and you show so many flicks year in and year out, how do you highlight newcomers worth knowing about? That's the Bright Horizons Awards' remit. In 2023, 11 titles were chosen to compete again as part of the festival's full lineup, but only one could emerge victorious. That winner hit Melbourne fresh from playing in-competition at Cannes, and marks the feature debut of Franco-Senegalese writer/director Ramata-Toulaye Sy. Banel & Adama follows it titular characters (Khady Mane and Mamadou Diallo), who are happily in love in a rural village in Senegal's north. But when Adama shies away from being the future chief, their romance — which has already been complicated by Banel being married off to Adama's older brother Yero first — sparks repercussions. Sy cast her star-cross'd lovers-focused film not only with first-time actors, but with non-professionals hailing from the region she uses as her setting. She also shot her movie entirely in the Pulaar language, a variant of Fulah from the area. To take out the 2023 Bright Horizons Award, Banel & Adama competed against features such Australian efforts Shayda (MIFF's opening-night film) and The Rooster (starring Hugo Weaving, Love Me); 2023 Cannes Un Certain Regard winner How to Have Sex, about three British teen girls on a boozy getaway; Earth Mama, an A24 release by Grammy-nominated music video veteran Savanah Leaf; and Inside the Yellow Cocoon Shell, which follows a musical journey across the Vietnamese countryside. Also, Disco Boy stars German talent Franz Rogowski (Great Freedom) and Animalia explores an alien invasion in Morocco. Fellow contender Tótem, which spends a single day with a seven-year-old, earned a Special Jury Mention for Mexican actor-turned-director Lila Avilés (The Chambermaid). Picking Banel & Adama as the winner, and showing Tótem some love: co-jury presidents Saul Williams and Anisia Uzeyman, who directed 2022's Bright Horizons-winner Neptune Frost; documentarian Alexandre O Philippe (Lynch/Oz, Leap of Faith: William Friedkin on The Exorcist); former Cannes Camera d'Or-recipient Anthony Chen (Wet Season); and Indonesian filmmaker Kamila Andini (Yuni). Announcing their selections, the jury said that Banel & Adama "is a film that speaks directly to the times with a cinematic language and landscape that challenges and confronts while drawing you into its immense beauty. A mysterious and strong first film from a young filmmaker with bright horizons". And about Tótem, it advised that "the rich subtleties and nuance of this circular story draws us in and makes us a part of its family". The MIFF jury also gives out another of fest's prizes: the $70,000 Blackmagic Design Australian Innovation Award. Also first arriving in 2022, it recognises an outstanding Australian creative from one of the festival's movies, and can span span a large number of roles, including the winning flick's director, technical or creative lead, or other craft positions. This year's recipients: Soda Jerk for their latest clip-based satire Hello Dankness, which the jury called "a clear-eyed, sharply satirical take on one of America's most troubling chapters, transformative use of existing footage, and groundbreaking manipulation thereof". The winner of 2023's brand-new First Nations Film Creative Award was also unveiled at the festival's closing night, with directors Adrian Russell Wills and Gillian Moody winning for autobiographical documentary Kindred. And, scoring 2023's MIFF Audience Award: This Is Going to Be Big, about Sunbury and Macedon Ranges Specialist School in Bullengarook staging a John Farnham-themed musical. The 2023 Melbourne International Film Festival runs until Sunday, August 20 in-person, and until Sunday, August 27 via MIFF Play, the fest's online platform.
