When King Richard III was killed in battle in the 15th century, did anyone wonder about a public holiday? Given the era and its working conditions, likely not. There's also the hardly minor fact that the monarch was slain by the forces of Henry Tudor, who promptly became England's ruler, so downing tools for a day of mourning probably wasn't a priority. The world has a frame of reference for grieving a British sovereign, though, and recently. When Queen Elizabeth II died in September 2022, pomp and ceremony reigned supreme. Dramatising the discovery of Richard III's remains, The Lost King wasn't made with the queen's passing in mind. Actually, it world-premiered a day afterwards. But the Stephen Frears (Victoria & Abdul)-directed, Steve Coogan- and Jeff Pope (Philomena)-scripted drama benefits from audiences knowing what's done now when whoever wears the crown is farewelled. The Lost King isn't about chasing a parade, pageantry, and a day off work for the masses in Britain and further afield. Charting the true tale of Richard III's location and exhumation 527 years after he breathed his last breath, it follows a quest for recognition and respect. When the film opens, Philippa Langley (Sally Hawkins, The Phantom of the Open) wants it for herself, as a woman over 40 overlooked for a promotion at work in favour of a younger, less-experienced colleague — and as someone with a medical condition, myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome, who's too easily dismissed due to her health. She's also newly separated from her husband John (Coogan, This Time with Alan Partridge), adding to her unappreciated feelings. It's no wonder that Richard III's plight catches her interest thanks to a production of Shakespeare's Richard III, aka one of the reasons that the king was long seen as a hunchbacked villain. Swiftly an amateur historian, Philippa objects to the characterisation of the last Plantagenet sovereign as monstrous, a usurper and a murderer, and the connection between this dim standing in the annals of history and being a person with a purported disability. As she researches via piles of books, zoom chats and the Richard III Society, aka the Ricardians, she questions what's fact and fiction — not just due to Shakespeare, but also Tudor propaganda from five centuries earlier. Arguing the case, including with dismissive academics, is one thing; however, taking on the search to find the monarch's long-lost skeleton is another. It's a two birds, one stone situation in The Lost King's neat screenplay: restore the denigrated ruler's reputation and put his remnants to rest, and show Philippa's own naysayers — or even just herself — what she can achieve. Yes, she follows a hunch. Yes, there's an obligatory gag about it British cinema loves an everyperson taking on the establishment, and underdogs in general. The past two years have also delivered The Dig and The Duke, after all. The first chronicled another extraordinary find by someone not deemed an expert, and the second delighted in its working-class protagonist's antics with Goya's Portrait of the Duke of Wellington — and, in a case of tonal seesawing, The Lost King recalls both. There's clearly a fascinating IRL story behind this flick, which ripples with intrigue whether or not you already know the details (or you've merely seen the trailer, which spells everything out). There's also a tussle between positioning the film as a bit of a caper and something more serious. Having Philippa see Richard III (Harry Lloyd, Brave New World) — being haunted by the play's version of him and talking to him, in fact — wavers between the two moods depending on the scene. Buried within The Lost King is a sense that Frears, Coogan and Pope — who all collaborated on Philomena, too — aren't always sure how they want the movie to land with audiences. They're patently keen for it to inspire rousing support for everyone who's ever been downplayed, cast aside or ignored, including for their gender and health. They're eager for the same emotions to spark up for anyone ever saddled with a pre-judged narrative about themselves that isn't accurate, as both Richard III and Philippa are, as well. And yet, there's also an air of not quite trusting that the true tale being relayed innately evokes those responses. It does, so everything feels simplified and smoothed out here, given too many quirks and rendered a tad cartoonish. Also noticeable: using the contemptuous academics as easy adversaries, perhaps as conveniently as Shakespeare is said to have demonised Richard III. Getting angry at seeing Philippa pushed aside and underestimated again and again is easy, but so is spotting how The Lost King itself is constructing its story. Thankfully, Frears does trust in Hawkins, the feature's MVP alongside its real-life details (and an on-screen treasure in everything from Happy-Go-Lucky and Submarine to The Shape of Water and the Paddington movies). The two-time Oscar-nominee serves up a winning, earnest and relatable blend of vulnerability, warmth, curiosity and determination, plus the kind of persistence that arises when someone has spent too long being forced to fight just to be seen, let alone valued. Indeed, even when The Lost King is at its slickest and most straightforward — or when it inexplicably focuses on whether John will get a new car — she's its anchor and heart. With Philomena in 2013, The Lost King's key creative trio also unearthed the past. As they do now, they similarly told of addressing secrets and redressing wrongs. And, they centred on a mature woman, enlisted a phenomenal leading lady to play the part, gave Coogan a prime role and set it all to an emphatic Alexandre Desplat (Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio) score. There's no doubting why their latest collaboration has a formulaic feel to it, then, despite the intriguing slice of history it brings to the screen. No one needs the type of intuition that guided Philippa to the Adult Social Services department's car park in Leicester, to a space marked 'R' for reserved, to spy those parallels. No one needs as much force and fantasy as The Lost King deploys, either, to understand that this is a rare and meaningful tale that's told with all the subtlety of the world's latest royal goodbye — so, very little. Richard III and Queen Elizabeth II's deaths mightn't have much in common but, via this still engaging-enough film, they do share that.
On the lookout for a dope new denim jacket? Or do you want to be rid of that weird-looking lamp taking up space in the living room? Then, by golly, you're in luck. The Garage Sale Trail works with local council partners Australia-wide to get as many trash-and-treasure troves happening on the same day as possible. This year, more than 300,000 Aussies are expected to take part at this festival of pre-loved stuff, and hold more than 11,000 sales. A huge array of events will open their doors to bargain hunters, selling millions items. And, when the Garage Sale Trail sprawls across two big spring weekends — between Saturday, November 12–Sunday, November 13, and then again from Friday, November 18–Sunday, November 20 — online garage sales will once again be part of the fun. According, whether you're buying or selling, you have two options: do so in person, or take the virtual route. It's only the third time ever that the Garage Sale Trail is going digital, too. And, digital workshops are still also on the bill, so you can learn everything from DIY wardrobe tips to hosting the best sale. Aside from the retro goodies up for grabs, the Garage Sale Trail is all about sustainability. Instead of ending up in landfill, unwanted clutter becomes a fantastic find. So get that tight pair of sunnies for peanuts and help the environment at the same time. The Garage Sale Trail began humbly in Bondi in 2010 and is growing bigger every year. There'll be a right slew of sales happening all around Sydney, so keep your eyes on the event website — or register online to make a quick buck from your old junk and hang out with the friendly folks in your hood. [caption id="attachment_783811" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Jo Lowrey[/caption] Images: Garage Sale Trail.
Perhaps the greatest trick the devil ever pulled — the devil that is time, the fact that we all have to get out of bed each and every morning, and the sleep-killing noise signalling that a new day is here — was to create alarm clocks in a variety of sounds. Some are quiet, soft, calming and even welcoming, rather than emitting a juddering screech, but the effect always remains the same. Whatever echoes from which device, if your daily routine is a treadmill of relentless havoc, that din isn't going to herald smiles or spark a spring in anyone's step. The alarm that kickstarts each morning in Full Time isn't unusual or soothing. It isn't overly obnoxious or horrifying either. But the look on Laure Calamy's face each time that it goes off, in the split second when her character is remembering everything that her day will bring, is one of pure exhaustion and exasperation — and it'd love to murder that unwanted wake-up siren. That expression couldn't be more relatable, as much in Full Time is, even if you've never been a single mother living on the outskirts of Paris, navigating a train strike, endeavouring to trade up one job for another for a better future, and juggling kids, bills, and just getting to and from work. At the 2021 Venice International Film Festival, Antoinette in the Cévennes and Call My Agent! star Calamy won the Best Actress award in the event's Horizons strand for her efforts here — and while the accolade didn't come her way for a single gaze, albeit repeated throughout the movie, it easily could've. Mere minutes into Full Time, it's plain to see why she earned herself such a prize beyond that withering gape, however. Calamy is that phenomenal in this portrait of a weary market researcher-turned-hotel chambermaid's hectic life, playing the part like she's living it. In our own ways, most of us are. The first time the alarm sounds, Julie Roy (Calamy) is already lethargic and frustrated; indeed, writer/director Eric Gravel (Crash Test Aglaé), who won the Venice Horizons Best Director gong himself, charts the ups and downs of his protagonist's professional and personal situation like he's making an unflagging thriller. In fact, he is. Julie is stretched to breaking point from the get-go, and every moment of every day seems to bring a new source of stress. For starters, her job overseeing the cleaning at a five-star hotel in the city is both chaotic and constantly throwing up challenges, and the hints dropped by her boss (Anne Suarez, Black Spot) about the punishment for not living up to her demands — aka being fired — don't help. Julie has put all her hopes on returning to market research anyway, but getting time off for the interview is easier said than done, especially when the French capital is in the middle of a transport strike that makes commuting in and out from the countryside close to impossible. Also adding to Julie's troubles is well, everything. The childcare arrangement she has in place with a neighbour (Geneviève Mnich, Change of Heart) is also precarious, thanks to threats of quitting and calling social services. Having any energy to spend meaningful time with her children at the end of her busy days is nothing but a fantasy, too. Trying to get financial support out of her absent ex is a constant battle, especially given he won't answer the phone — and the bank won't stop calling about her overdue mortgage payments. It's also her son Nolan's (J'ai tué mon mari) birthday, so there are gifts to buy, plus a party to organise and throw. Julie is so frazzled that having a drink with her best friend is a luxury she doesn't have time for, because some other task always beckons. And when a father from her village, the kindly Vincent (Cyril Gueï, The Perfect Mother), helps her out not once but twice, she's so starved of affection that she instantly misreads his intentions. All of this might sound mundane, and like the kind of thing that plenty of people deal with — and that's partly the point. Full Time hones in on the rush, hustle and bustle to impress how fraught this vision of normality is, and how draining. It isn't by accident that the film is nerve-wracking and sweat-inducing to watch. Gravel shows why that tired stare when the alarm goes off is the only thing that someone in Julie's situation can possibly sport. With the marvellous Calamy proving indefatigable at playing fatigued, the filmmaker truly sees his central character, her stresses and that she's at her wits' end, and he makes his audience feel every aspect of her struggle. One such tactic, as straightforward as it is, couldn't be more effective: for Calamy and for the frames that capture her alike, there's simply no rest. Every sharp, cold, tourism-flouting shot by cinematographer Victor Seguin (Gagarine) ripples with tension and drips with anxiety, including extreme closeups of Julie slumbering and hurtling almost-chase sequences as she flits around; her plight, and the nonstop slog, is inescapable. That keeps ringing true as she scrambles everywhere — her rustic cottage, which she'd clearly like to spend more time in; the route to her local railway station, even though the trains are barely running; and her workplace, where she's at her most composed in her pristine maid's uniform, although it can't mask her inner turmoil. On the Parisian streets, she's frequently sprinting; calling the movie Run Julie Run instead would've fit. Visually, every image that graces Full Time adds to the bubbling, broiling pressure cooker, so much so that feeling like only a tragic end can come — and desperately hoping and praying otherwise — ramps up the intensity for viewers. Calling the end result frenetic and kinetic still doesn't completely capture what a blood pressure-raising experience Full Time is, while remaining devastatingly empathetic and insightful; if The Worst Person in the World met Uncut Gems, it might look like this. The rhythm amplified by editor Mathilde Van de Moortel (Mustang) doesn't give up, and the score by first-time composer Irène Drésel earns the same description. A wealth of feelings and ideas linger along the way — the ever-swirling array of roles that Julie has to play, which makes Calamy's performance all the more remarkable; the intimate and sensory dive that Gravel takes, ensuring that the full brunt of Julie's experiences is unavoidable; and how the character's tussles and vulnerabilities, and the strike for better working conditions, run in parallel. One of the great feats that Full Time achieves: making all of this linger, and this exceptional feature in general, the next time that your own alarm goes off.
When Sydney got all revved up about Speed: The Movie, The Play a few years back, it was just the beginning of the city's love affair with comical stage interpretations of famous 90s films. And while there's sadly no blank-faced Keanu driving a bus in the other immersive and amusing adaptation that's about to float into town, there's something just as good. Titanic: The Movie, The Play is heading Sydney's way to take on the tragic romance of Kate and Leo — as well as the just-as-tragic collision of a boat and some frozen water. It'll hit town from Thursday, September 15–Sunday, October 2 as part of the 2022 Sydney Fringe Festival. If you fancy being king of the world for a night, you'll want to make a date with the Australian National Maritime Museum. Yes, your heart will go on as two lovestruck ship-dwellers attempt to overcome their different backgrounds, ignore any rules about getting hot and steamy in someone else's car, and try to avoid a pesky iceberg. And, chances are you'll still laugh along — even though you know how it all turns out. Actually, maybe you don't; if anyone was going to work in Winslet's revelation a few years back that there was actually room for DiCaprio on the door that proved so pivotal to the movie's final scenes, it's this spirited bunch.
Sometimes, a bar asks the questions you didn't know you had. When it comes to wild and wonderful margarita flavours, that bar is usually El Camino Cantina. The Tex-Mex chain loves swirling around different kinds ritas, so much so that limited-edition varieties frequently grace its menus — and for three weeks from Monday, July 18–Sunday, August 7, it's giving its signature drinks a Long Island iced tea makeover. What's better than choosing between sipping a margarita or a Long Island iced tea? Drinking a fusion of the two cocktails. That's what's on offer thanks to the brand's Long Island iced tea rita series, and in seven flavours. Yes, as well as splashing together to different kinds of boozy beverages, El Camino Cantina is pouring them in different varieties as well. So, you can choose between cherry, strawberry, passionfruit, mango, lychee, sour melon and lagoon Long Island iced tea ritas. In Sydney, you'll find them tempting your tastebuds as part of the chain's National Tequila Day celebrations in The Rocks, Entertainment Quarter, Manly and Miranda. In an added bonus, there's a limited-edition tacos range to go with them, costing $7–8 each and $2 on Tuesday. Fancy marinated chilli prawns, crispy bacon and cheddar on a taco? Smoked barbecue brisket with coleslaw? Beef mince with pickles, onions, cheese and secret burger sauce? Nacho-crumbed chicken tenderloins with pico de gallo? They're just some of the special options.
Looking for new threads? Sure, you can head to plenty of markets around town and trawl through food, homewares and other objects, or you can mosey along to Sydney's dedicated fashion get-together. Round She Goes does one thing, and it does it well. If it's clothing, accessories and jewellery you're after, you'll find it here. Filled with preloved designer and vintage fare, the one-day happening will take over PCYC Marrickville from 10am on Saturday, July 9. These editions will boast the market's biggest array of storeholders to date with over 70 stalls, all specially curated by organisers to deliver reasonably priced, high-quality bits and pieces, ranging from beloved brands to handmade items and fashion clear-outs. In terms of the bigger brand-name stalls, you can expect to find items from Jean Paul Gaultie, Prada, Romance Was Born, Christian Dior, Balenciaga and Bianca Spender. Entry costs $4 and prices of the clothes and accessories start from $10. Top image: Leticia Almeida
Bangarra Dance Theatre is bringing its renowned work Sandsong: Stories from the Great Sandy Desert back to the stage this winter. The production premiered last year at the Sydney Opera House and marked the company's first new production at the venue since COVID-19 closures. If you didn't get a chance to see the enthralling show in 2021, here's the gist. Set in Walmajarri Country, which spans the Great Sandy Desert and Kimberley regions of Western Australia, this powerful performance explores the displacement and survival of First Nations people in this part of Australia, particularly between the 1920–1960s. Artistic Director Stephen Page and Associate Artistic Director Frances Rings have choreographed this breathtaking work in consultation with Wangkatjungka and Walmajarri Elders, reaffirming Bangarra's place as the leading performing arts company for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. For performance times and to grab tickets to this must-see new work, head here. Images: Daniel Boud
NAIDOC Week is an opportunity for all people of Australia to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. This year, the theme is Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up! and the easiest first step to getting, standing and showing up is making your way to one of the events happening as part of the week. Head along to Broadway Shopping Centre throughout the week and you'll find a heap of NAIDOC Week activations. There's an atrium display from Kamilaroi/Gamilaraay artist Dennis Golding and a portrait and statement exhibition throughout the centre. There will also be a pop-up art gallery and store from the Boomalli Aboriginal Artists Coop running until Sunday, July 10 featuring jewellery from Haus of Dizzy and clothes from the likes of Deadly Denim and Clothing the Gaps. Plus, on Saturday, July 9, local Darug artist Hayley Pigram will be running two all-ages art classes in the centre. Across the free workshops, Pigram will take attendees through the art of Aboriginal painting over the course of 90 minutes. At the end of the class, you'll take away an artwork you've created. Spots for the free art workshops are limited, so head to the Broadway website to reserve your place.
It's the frostiest of Australia's annual film festivals for two reasons — the time of year it arrives, and the region it showcases — and it's back for 2022 with another round of recent and retro flicks. That'd be the Scandinavian Film Festival, which naturally hits cinemas around the country each winter. Well, winter Down Under, that is. This year's fest will play 19 titles, primarily hailing from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, with the program heading to Palace Norton Street, Palace Verona, Palace Central and Chauvel Cinema in Sydney from Tuesday, July 12–Sunday, August 7. That gives film buffs around a month to get their Nordic movie fix, whether you're keen on a historical epic or a dive into Scandi cinema history. Yes, blasts from the pasts are a feature of the 2022 lineup — starting with opening night's Margrete — Queen of the North. Starring Trine Dyrholm (The Commune) and directed by Charlotte Sieling (Lovecraft Country, Homeland), the historical drama is set in 1402, and hones in on Denmark's Queen Margrete, who oversaw the Kalmar Union that brought together Sweden, Norway and Denmark. Also peering backwards: the Scandi Screen Sirens selection, which celebrates leading ladies from times gone by — all in classics. So, you'll catch Ingrid Bergman in Casablanca, Greta Garbo in Queen Christina and Britt Ekland in The Wicker Man. There's also two Liv Ullmann films: The Serpent's Egg, directed by iconic Swedish filmmaker Ingmar Bergman; plus The New Land, the 1972 gem in the festival's closing night slot. Elsewhere, the program includes Dyrholm again in A Matter of Trust, which heads to Australia straight from premiering at the Tribeca Film Festival; Finnish effort The Woodcutter's Story, which played the 2022 Cannes Film Festival Critics' Week; and The Emigrants, a new adaptation of Vilhelm Moberg's novels. The latter first hit the screen in 1971, in a film of the same name — to which the aforementioned The New Land was a sequel. From a selection of 19 flicks all up, there's also the Danish boarding school-set Pretty Young Thing, which will have its world premiere at the fest; psychological drama Quake from Iceland; Berlinale Crystal Bear Award-winner Comedy Queen, about a 13-year-old girl who wants to be a stand-up comedian; and documentary Nordic by Nature, which was filmed in the Faroe Islands, including in its seafood industry, and also covers two-star Michelin restaurant KOKS. And if Scandinavian talent has you thinking of Game of Thrones' Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, he's accounted for A Taste of Hunger from Denmark. It's about the quest for a Michelin star, actually, with the drama following a couple determined to get one for their restaurant.
Plays like You Know We Belong Together aren't a common sight on Australia's stages, and that's one of the reasons that it exists. Created by and starring actor and writer Julia Hales (ABC's The Upside), it features a cast performers exploring the daily reality of Down syndrome — and the fact that actors with Down syndrome are so rarely featured in Australia's cultural output. The starting point is right there in the Sydney Opera House-bound production's name, which should've instantly gotten one particular song stuck in your head. You Know We Belong Together takes its moniker from the first words to Home and Away's theme tune, a soap opera that Hales has been a life-long fan of. Watching the show's Summer Bay-set antics, she also noticed the inescapable fact that she wasn't represented in its melodramatic antics. "I want people to see us for who we are and what we do as part of the world," says Hales. "I watched every single episode of Australian soap opera Home and Away since it first aired in 1988, but I've never seen another person with Down syndrome in the cast." "I used to dream of landing a role in it and finding love. So I created You Know We Belong Together. This is a story for us, by us." Hales continues. You Know We Belong Together features Hales alongside six other Western Australian actors, all of whom draw upon their own lives and personal experiences with Down syndrome. The result combines monologues, video, scenes, dance and song, and also takes place on a replica of Home and Away's diner — allowing Hales to live her Home and Away dream. Co-written by Hales with playwright Finn O'Branagáin and Clare Watson, ex-Artistic Director and Co-CEO of Perth's Black Swan State Theatre Company, the play will hit the Opera House's Drama Theatre from Tuesday, September 6–Saturday, September 10. Watson directs, too. It comes to the venue after proving a hit in WA and overseas, including seasons at Perth Festival 2018, at Black Swan State Theatre Company in 2019, and at Edinburgh International Festival and London's Southbank Centre. As well as being committed to showing how people with disability are needlessly othered, and endeavouring to rectify that, You Know We Belong Together will feature integrated Auslan interpretation and captioning during its film segments. There'll also be a quiet space in the Drama Theatre foyer during the play's Opera House run.
What's better than one indulgent pop-up serving lobster, truffles and champagne in Sydney? Two, obviously. As well as hitting up the Entertainment Quarter for Taste in the City, Lobster & Co is also coming to town for Runaway Gardens at First Fleet Park in The Rocks during Sydney Fringe Festival from Tuesday, August 16–Sunday, September 25, too. Clearly, there's a specific kind of thinking behind this food event: sometimes, your tastebuds just crave something special. They hanker for the kind of dish you're not going to eat every day, aka a treat yo'self type of culinary experience. If that sounds like your idea of an indulgent meal, Lobster & Co will be doing what it does best, with the pop-up van serving lobster rolls with truffle fries and flutes of Pommery champagne. You'll pay $50 for the food combo, which features a whole confit lobster tail served warm on a caramelised brioche bun with buttermilk fennel slaw, plus a side of parmesan truffle fries. A chilled glass of the champers will cost you $20 extra. Also on offer: a second roll, a Thai fusion number, which includes cabbage, green papaya and sriracha mayo — and lobster, obviously — on a brioche bun. Images: Karon Photography.
Sitting in front of a big screen isn't a passive experience. Whether you're watching a gorgeous Japanese animated delight such as Hayao Miyazaki's Ponyo or viewing one of Martin Scorsese's standouts like 1985 gem After Hours, you're engaging with the film before you. It's flickering through your brain, getting you thinking and also evoking your emotions. Movies can make us feel everything from joyous to angry — and it's this process that drives the Art Gallery of New South Wales' new free film season Zany, Cute, Interesting. The three words that make up the lineup's title might pop into your head while you're watching your way through the program. Or, you could have other feelings about the aforementioned flicks, plus Wes Anderson's The Royal Tenenbaums and Frederick Wiseman's documentary Ex Libris: The New York Public Library. Other standouts on the bill include 1938 classic Bringing Up Baby, 2014's distinctive The Wonders and 2019's engaging Recorder: The Marion Stokes Project. Zany, Cute, Interesting's lineup screens on Wednesdays at 2pm and 7.15pm, and on Sundays at either 1.30pm or 2pm, running through until Sunday, May 16. Tickets are free, but bookings are recommended. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQRawYZl-ls
Saturday morning is rapidly becoming the new Friday night thanks to bottomless brunches, with mimosas and prosecco often the tipple of choice. If, however, you're more of a hophead than a bubbles enthusiast, Misfits in Redfern has just the thing for you — Brews with the Crew. The Brews with the Crew series involves three-hour bottomless boozy lunches featuring a different brewery each month. So, expect to see Aussie brewers serving up sumptuous schooners paired with a feast whipped up in the Misfits kitchen. It's $70 a pop and includes three hours of craft beer and a hearty share-style banquet to help line the stomach — think brisket sliders, duck pancakes, onion rings and soy- and sesame-glazed chicken wings. It kicks off from noon on the second Saturday of the month. First up is all-vegan brewery Yulli's Brews on March 13. Then, WA alehouse Beerfarm is taking over on April 10, before much-loved Marrickville brewery Grifter serves up cold ones on May 8. While Misfits has a laidback vibe, bookings are essential to secure a spot at one of these coveted sessions. So, go ahead and book via the website. Images: Steven Woodburn
Pedro Almodóvar has made many a fantastic film over the past four decades. In 2019, however, the Spanish director added one of his greatest movies yet to his resume. We're talking about Pain and Glory. If you saw it, you likely loved it. And, if you hadn't already watched your way through the inimitable auteur's back catalogue before then, the Academy Award-nominee should've inspired you to do just that. You've had a couple of years to start your viewing, of course — and plenty of time over the past 12 months, in fact. But whether you still have some gaps or you're fond of the big-screen experience, Dendy Newtown is giving you a chance to check out eight of Almodóvar's standouts in a cinema. Until Wednesday, April 7, you can swoon over his emotionally charged dramas and rove your eyes over his colourful frames. No one makes movies quite like him, as this retrospective shows. Get ready to spend plenty of time staring at two of his favourite actors, too, with Antonio Banderas and Penelope Cruz each popping up regularly in the director's work. On the lineup: Banderas being exceptional in Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, The Skin I Live In and the aforementioned Pain and Glory, plus Cruz at her stellar best in Volver, Broken Embraces and Oscar-winner All About My Mother. Almodóvar's second most recent movie, Julieta, is also on the bill, so you'll be getting an impressive cross-section of his career. As always with Dendy's retrospectives and film seasons, different movies play on different dates and at various times — so head to the cinema's website for the full session details. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jtrl8Ei15AE
Dancing is permitted again in Sydney again from Monday, March 29, which is just in time for Easter. Yes, that's handy. So, in-between eating all of the chocolate — and other appropriately themed bites — you can give your limbs a workout. One of first potential events on your four-day-weekend agenda: Damn Good Saturday at Redfern Surf Club. Obviously, you now know when it will take place. Kicking off from 2pm and running until late on Saturday, April 3, this day-long party is all about dancing to DJs, having a bite to eat, sipping drinks and making the most of your time off. Hitting the decks are Shantan Wantan Ichiban and Nes, who'll be giving you plenty of motivation to make shapes. Food-wise, the holiday-themed menu will feature popcorn shrimp with chilli lime aioli, spiced jerk fried chicken tenders and shrimp po' boys. And there'll be happy hour specials, spanning both snacks and beverages — such as mango daiquiris and frozen pina coladas — until 4pm. [caption id="attachment_684551" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Images: Pat Stevenson.[/caption] Updated March 29.
UPDATE: Thursday May 6, 2021 — New COVID-19 restrictions have been announced. We'll keep you updated on this event as the situation changes. For the latest information, visit NSW Health. Got a passion for fashion? Specifically of the sneaker variety? Then head to Stockland Merrylands for House of Kicks — a must-do fashion event featuring music, workshops and New York-inspired photo ops. Running from Monday, May 3–Sunday, May 16, this two-week takeover is the ideal hangout for all things sneakers. Ever imagined having your own personalised pair? You can make it a reality by booking into a sneaker customisation workshop. Use stencils and paints to design your dream shoes on a 2D render, or bring in your own kicks to customise. There'll also be street styling and street art workshops to explore your creative side. While you're there, grab some free nail art and then elevate your socials with a pic of you having your very own moment on a quintessential New York stoop. Plus, if you spend $150 during the House of Kicks campaign, you can enter a competition via Stockland's event page to win one of six new season sneakers from JD Sports. House of Kicks will run from May 3–May 16 at Stockland Merrylands. To secure your place at a sneaker customisation, street styling or street art workshop, head this way.
In 2011, in this very country and galaxy, a pop culture favourite gained a singing, stripping burlesque parody. It's the mash-up that was bound to happen. Who hasn't looked at George Lucas' space opera, its sprawling drama and ample spectacle, and wondered what a steamier, funnier version with more visible butt cheeks would look like? Russall S. Beattie clearly did, and had a good feeling that other people would give it a shot. The Empire Strips Back was the end result. It became a hit around Australia, then took itself overseas to much acclaim. Now it's returning home for a 2020 tour — once again showing local audiences that lightsabers aren't the hottest thing in the Star Wars galaxy. The saucy show promises "seriously sexy stormtroopers, a dangerously seductive Boba Fett, some tantalising Twi'leks, a delightfully lukewarm Taun Taun, a lady-like Skywalker [and] the droids you are looking for", according to its website. Apparently Yoda doesn't get the sexed-up treatment, but there is plenty of song, dance, acrobatics and — because it's burlesque — the removal of clothing. A dancing Chewie and Han is just the beginning of this cheeky take on Star Wars cosplay. Given that it's got an upbeat soundtrack, the costumes are extremely detailed and the show throws out lots of references to George Lucas' original plot, it's not surprising that local audiences — presumably the same ones that pack out Star Wars parties and large-scale screenings with a live orchestra — have latched onto the production. Heading to the Enmore on Friday, February 14 and Saturday, February 15, The Empire Strips Back sits alongside Dame of Thrones in Beattie's pop culture parody stable — so if you've already seen one of your fantastical screen obsessions get the burlesque treatment, then you know what you're in for. If you're super keen, you can also nab a Wookieerotica magazine online: a 116-page, 70s-style men's mag, just casually featuring all of your favourite jedis, siths, ewoks and other Star Wars characters. Either way, it could be a great introduction to burlesque or Star Wars, depending on which way you're coming at it. Pre-sale starts at 9am on Tuesday, November 12. Images: Jon Bauer, Leslie Liu and Josh Groom.
Alongside its huge Japan Supernatural: 1700s to now exhibition, the Art Gallery of NSW is hosting another exceptional show this summer — and this one's free. From Saturday, November 9 until February next year, the gallery is dedicating an entire exhibition to celebrated contemporary Australian artist Ben Quilty and his work over the past 15 years. Simply entitled Quilty, more than 70 pieces will showcase his work from the early 2000s onwards — including his intimate looks at his own reflection, his time spent as an official war artist in Afghanistan, poetic visions of the Australian landscape and his response to other topical events, including the last American election. Quilty's expressive portraits, both of himself and of others — such as executed Bali Nine drug smuggler Myuran Sukumaran — are quite a striking sight. His Rorschach paintings are too, unsurprisingly. And, they're designed not just to catch the eye, but to explore the dark undercurrent of violence and themes of displacement. Including paintings inspired by his visits to Lebanon, Syria and Greece, the exhibition marks the first major survey of Quilty's artistic output in a decade. On Wednesday, November 13, Quilty will be in conversation with ABC Radio presenter Robbie Buck in a special edition of Art After Hours. After the talk, you can catch some live tunes, too. Image 1: Photograph: Daniel Boud. Image 2: Ben Quilty. Rorschach after von Guérard. 2009. Oil and synthetic polymer paint on linen (12 panels) / 230.0 x 804.0 cm (overall). Acquired 2009, TarraWarra Museum of Art. Courtesy the artist. Photograph: Jeremy Dillon.
Moogahlin Performing Arts Australia has created a new production for Sydney Festival 2020, in which Muruwari playwright Jane Harrison takes us back to the shores of Gadigal land in 1788 to see a tall ship drop anchor. The story takes us to a pivotal moment in our shared history to question what could have happened next. In The Visitors, seven senior law men meet to determine their actions: should they welcome these strangers or should they resist? Image: Jamie James.
Carriageworks will host to an exciting new social experiment this summer. They're getting people up on stage to take a lie detector test — and we all get to watch. Truthmachine, run by performance artists Counterpilot, is a subversive, intimate and frolicsome new theatre show that uses biometric sensors and live voting systems to hunt out truths in a world of fake news and alternative facts. Even if you're not the one strapped up to the biometric sensors you're sure to feel the tension in the room. Naturally, it's recommended for audience over 18. Expect the unexpected. Find more Sydney Festival shows here. Image: Dave D'Arcy.
There are two types of beer festivals: the kind you throw for yourself when you're having a few brews with your friends and the ones that pubs put together with plenty of painstaking planning. A mainstay at The Australian Heritage Hotel, the great Australian Beer Festival falls into the latter category. Luckily, come October, the pub's huge three-day street party is back for its 15th year. The Aussie has always been a proud supporter of local brewers, stocking a small-run Australian brews and launching the Annual Australian Beer Festival back in 2004. So, the place knows what it's doing. Across the weekend, expect more than 130 Australian beers and ciders from over 30 different breweries, including Modus Operandi, Grifter, Six String and Balter. You'll also find gourmet food stalls, an oyster bar and blind tastings aplenty. Plus, you can learn all about your favourite ale at 'Meet the Brewer' sessions or simply kick back to some live tunes. Or, watch the Rugby World Cup on the huge outdoor screen thanks to Feral Brewing. It'll be on for the entirety of the beer fest, so you can sit on a bean bag or hay stack and watch away (with a beer in hand, of course). Whilst entry is free, drinks can only be purchased with vouchers. So, if you're looking to skip queues and get your hands on some beer-themed merch, you can grab early bird packages ($20–65) here. Consider yourself a bit of a brewer? In conjunction with Australian Beer Festival, the pub hosts a home brewing competition. If you take out the top gong, your beer will be produced at Akasha's brewery in Five Dock, then later sold on tap at the Aussie. Registrations close Monday, September 30. To sign up, head here. Australian Beer Festival 2019 will take place on Friday, October 11, from 4–10pm; Saturday, October 12, from 12–8pm; and Sunday, October 13, from 12–9pm. Entry is free, but to skip the queues, you can pre-purchase beer vouchers here.
Love live music? What about when you can experience it for free? Well, drop into Misfits, Redfern's much-loved neighbourhood bar, on the first Thursday of the month, and you're in for a treat. Beyond the bar's secret bookcase lies a 70s-style lounge room, where you'll find live music and cheap Aussie beer. Dubbed 'Locals in the Lounge', this free gig series is a collaboration between music lovin' Misfits and Pirate Life, a brewery based in Adelaide. Misfits is one of the few live music spots in the area. So, this gig series is a way to support emerging artists affiliated with well-known platforms such as Triple J or FBI radio. Plus, it celebrates Pirate Life's new Port Local Lager — a cold, crisp brew, which you can nab for just five bucks a schooner on the night. On Thursday, September 5, you'll be kicking back to the sounds of soul and R&B singer Jeremy Gregory. His tune 'That's What's Going Down' spent three weeks in Australia's Top 40 upon its release. He's also recorded with Disco Montego and The Rockmelons. Plus, since 2011, he's been a member of Perth-based band Village Kid. There's only one catch to all this excitement. Misfits' gig venue is pint-sized. And, because the gig costs zero dollars, you can't book. So, make sure you don't miss out by rocking up early.
There are many activities you can do in a two-hour time slot. You could watch all six episodes of the ABC's satirical beauty blog Sarah's Channel, cook 60 packets of 2 Minute Noodles or listen to Pink Floyd's 'Shine On You Crazy Diamond' 4.6 times. But we think the tastiest way to pass 120 minutes is to spend it eating endless plates of tacos. And that's exactly what you can on Friday, October 4, when Sydney's four El Camino Cantina outposts — in Manly, Miranda, The Rocks and the just-opened venue in the Entertainment Quarter — celebrate 'World Taco Day' with two hours of unlimited tacos for just $25 a pop. Rock up at any venue and you'll be able to dig into bottomless tacos topped with cajun chicken and pickled cabbage; minced beef, cheese and lettuce (it's meant to taste a little like a cheeseburger); or mushrooms and chipotle coleslaw. If you want to spend a bit more on your feast, you can also splurge on a $10 lobster or wagyu taco. To redeem the bottomless offer, you will need to purchase a drink of sorts. You can choose from one of the restaurant's five frozen margaritas, a glass of sangria, a Dos Equis or, really, anything else on the extensive drinks menus. Two hours of bottomless tacos are available at El Camino Cantina Manly, Miranda and The Rocks. To book your spot, head to the El Camino Cantina website. Updated: October 4, 2019.
Sydney's luxe floating venue Seadeck is heading back to the Harbour for its fourth season of champagne-fuelled parties this spring and summer. From Thursday, October 31 until Wednesday, January 1 the glamorous vessel will be cruising through Sydney waters. Seadeck's vessel spans 42 metres, can accommodate 410 passengers and is the epitome of handcrafted luxury — from the handmade tiles and custom-designed brass bar to the bespoke furniture from every corner of the glove, everything you see was tailored for floating. Even the palm trees, standing four metres tall, took a dozen specialists to make to the right specifications. Each of the three decks is connected by sweeping staircases and cast iron lace railings, an homage to Hollywood's golden age of the 20s, 30s and 40s. Yes, the word 'swank' should come to mind. Seadeck's latest Sydney visit will kick off with a Halloween-themed cruise on October 31, then will hit the water on Saturdays and Sundays until December 8. It'll then return for special New Year's Eve and New Year's Day cruises. Tickets start from $30 for Sundays and $50 for Saturdays, with cruises generally running from 2.30–7pm. The ticket price doesn't include food or drinks — you'll need to pay for those separately. Of course, if you're feeling the need to blow some serious dosh while you're on the river, VIP packages are also available.
More than four decades ago, a filmmaker wanted to journey to a galaxy far, far away, and he needed a republic cruiser's worth of epic tunes to go with it. Enter John Williams and the theme everyone now knows. When the first notes of Star Wars: Episode VI — A New Hope's score started playing over the film's opening crawl, movie and music history was made. Neither Williams nor George Lucas could've known just what they'd unleashed, nor that Luke and Leia, Han and Chewie, and the next generation of wannabe jedis and empire lackeys would still be gracing cinema screens all these years later. To celebrate the space opera saga's longevity, the Sydney Opera Hose is hosting the Star Wars event to end all Star Wars events: Star Wars: The Force Awakens in concert. We've got a good feeling about what promises to be a force-filled evening of sound and vision, with the seventh film in the franchise screening in all its Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac and Adam Driver-starring glory, and Sydney Symphony Orchestra picking up their instruments to perform the corresponding score. They'll play Williams' Oscar-nominated music live across four concerts on Thursday, September 12, Friday, September 13 and Saturday, September 14 — at 8pm daily, with a 2pm matinee on Saturday as well.
The annual Orange Wine Festival is back for its 14th run, with ten days of events highlighting the region's sophisticated winemaking from October 18–27. Patrons can expect wine shows, tastings, dinners and educational workshops, all of which showcase the rich diversity of Orange's rich culinary culture. This year's packed-out program includes over 80 events, which are open to all wine lovers, from the connoisseurs to those still getting to know their palate. The region is known for its cool climate which creates wines with bright fruit and deep, balanced flavours, making them some of the best drops in the country. While there are events on every day of the two weeks, you shouldn't miss the festival's flagship Night Market on October 25 — over 50 food stalls and wine bars will pop up in Orange's Robertson Park for a night of wining and dining under the country sky. If you want to try as many wines as possible, the Orange Wine Show Tasting and Masterclass on October 18 will give you a chance to taste and judge the best of the festival, for a reasonable $80. Even with all the events, you won't have any time to sit still — the region is home to 80 vineyards and over 30 cellar doors. We recommend organising a driver so you can taste it all.
Spring is finally here, and warmer weather means sunny afternoons soaking up some rays with a refreshing beverage in hand. Long weekends, too. All of the above combines at the third iteration of Opera Bar's Rose All Day Festival on this year's October long weekend From Friday, October 4 until Monday, October 7, the harbourside bar with a incredible view of the Bridge will be thinking and drinking pink. Expect frosé, spritzes, pét-nat, cocktails and rosé still and sparkling, with varieties from Provence's AIX, Mojo, Red Claw, Cullen Wines, Cape Mentelle, Cloudy Bay, Chandon and Logan on offer. Buckets of prawns, picnic spreads and alcoholic rosé soft serve will be served up, too, while live music will provide a soundtrack to the weekend. The festival kicks off at 11.30am each day. Tickets cost $35, and include three pink drinks.
Valentine's Day is just around the corner and whether you're single, going steady or somewhere in between, it's a good excuse to have a bit of fun. And, if the same ol' set-menu dinner isn't really your thing, Coogee Bay Hotel's cheeky Valentine's Day party is here to give February 14 a bit of a refresh. The festivities will kick off in the courtyard at 6pm. Get there early enough and you'll get a free pink-hued bevvy to keep the butterflies at bay, too. Then, discover your romantic future with drag clairvoyant Schisandra or get a love prescription from a roaming Love Doctor. You can also join in on a round of speed dating, where you'll meet — and be quizzed on — a complete stranger. Answer the question about your new potential love interest (or friend) correctly and you'll score a free G&T. There'll be a DJ spinning tunes in the courtyard from 7pm till midnight and, if you're keen to keep the good times flowing, head into the Beach Bar where more music will be playing until the early hours of the morning. Plus, the hotel will be slinging some food and drink specials, as well as a bunch of giveaways. While entry is free, you'll still need to RSVP here.
Inner west cafe Warren & Holt is graduating from the terrible twos and turning three this November. To celebrate, it won't be serving up fairy bread, but falafel bowls — for just $3. Swing by from 7am and you can order one of the vegan and gluten-free bowls — filled with five falafels, pickled red cabbage, coconut tzatziki, lentil hummus and grilled lemon — for pocket change, to either eat in or takeaway (if you want to save it for a more lunch-appropriate time). The deal is only valid with drink purchase, so you'll need to pick up a Single O coffee, nourishing smoothie, kombucha or juice, too. If the falafel hooks you in, you can make a return visit to try the cafe's gluten-free hotcakes topped with passionfruit curd, its burger on a Brickfields bun or the 48-hour slow-cooked beef broth served with soba noodles. Warren & Holt's $3 falafel bowls are available from 7am until sold out.
Australia's clash-free, one-day summer festival is back for a fifth year at Parramatta Park. This year, it's bring out flute-playing babe Lizzo ('Truth Hurts and 'Juice') plus Texas-via-California rap collective Brockhampton. If you missed out on tickets to US rapper Lizzo's Sydney Opera House gig (which sold out in minutes) you can still catch her singing tracks from her album Cuz I Love You at the January festival. Modern-day boyband Brockhampton headline the bill, bringing their troupe of rappers, directors, photographers, engineers, producers, graphic designers and DJs to Sydney once again with their catchy pop-led tracks 'Sugar', 'No Halo' and 'Bleach'. Joining Brockhampton and Lizzo is Canadian producer Kaytranada, who's set to drop a new album any day now. Other big names on the lineup include French singer Madeon, UK rapper Octavian and, from the local contingent, hip-hop artist Chillinit and Sydney producer Ninajirachi.
If you've been making plans to revamp your style, but haven't been able to rustle up the coin, here's your chance. For five days, Hugo Boss will be hosting a mega sale at its outlet stores. You'll be able to score a further 50 percent off a massive range of premium clothing — from comfy t-shirts and soft sweaters to suave suits and women's dresses. Whether you're after a suit for a special occasion or looking to level-up your wardrobe, Hugo Boss's end-of-year outlet sale will have you sorted for a fraction of the fashion label's usual prices. You'll have to get in quick to score though, with the sale only running from Wednesday, December 11 to Sunday, December 15. In Sydney, you can head to Birkenhead Point Outlet Centre and DFO Homebush to get these quality threads for such a steal. Opening hours at Birkenhead Point are Wednesday, 10am–5.30pm; Thursday, 10am–7.30pm; Friday, 10am–5.30pm; Saturday, 9am–6pm; and Sunday, 10am–6pm. At Homebush, the Hugo Boss outlet is open from 10am–6pm daily, with the exception of Thursday, when you can shop until 8pm. Hugo Boss end-of-year outlet sale will run from Wednesday, December 11 to Sunday, December 15. To find your closest outlet, visit the website.
This year has been huge for Bong Joon-ho. Not only is the South Korean filmmaker responsible for one of 2019's best movies in Parasite, this same thrilling flick nabbed the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival, took out Sydney Film Festival's top prize and has been named as its country's Oscar contender in the Best Foreign-Language category — all deservedly so. Parasite isn't just a one-off, either. For nearly two decades, the acclaimed director has been making smart movies that continually surprise and delight — and continually defy categorisation, too. Bong delved into real-life murder mysteries in 2003's Memories of Murder, reinvented the creature feature with 2006 standout The Host, and used 2009's Mother to explore an unnerving family relationship. More recently, Bong forced the remnants of humanity to fight for survival on a speeding train, with Snowpiercer enlisting Tilda Swinton, Chris Evans and Jamie Bell among the locomotive's scrambling inhabitants. And, in Okja, the filmmaker introduced the world to a cute super-pig, the girl who adores it and the ruthless corporate executive (Swinton again) looking to profit from it, as well as one incredibly offbeat TV zoologist (Jake Gyllenhaal). If you're keen to rediscover these highlights, or perhaps catch them for the first time, the Korean Film Festival in Australia and Sydney Film Festival are joining forces for a two-day Bong retrospective. Screening at Dendy Opera Quays across Friday, September 27 and Saturday, September 28, it's free to attend — but you'll want to nab an online ticket in advance, as sessions are already booking out.
When Skyfall initially hit cinemas back in 2012, it did so in a big way. The 23rd film in the Bond franchise picked up two Oscars, two BAFTAs, a Golden Globe, two Grammys and a wealth of critical acclaim. The response was understandable. As well as the usual espionage antics, shaken-not-stirred martinis, suits and new standout theme song — all Bond trademarks — Skyfall ranked among the long-running franchise's best films so far. Simply put, it's a pretty stellar film. So, if you've been hankering to revisit it again, you're in luck — Skyfall is returning to Sydney on the silver screen. And this time it's got a live score. Following in the footsteps of the Star Wars and Harry Potter films, as well as Bond's own Casino Royale, Skyfall will grace the Sydney Opera House with help from the Sydney Symphony. The orchestra, led by Australian conductor Nicholas Buc, will perform composer Thomas Newman's award-winning score, plus the franchise's classic theme track (obviously). With three screenings happening across Friday, November 22 and Saturday, November 23, this latest Sydney Symphony film and orchestra pairing is giving you the chance to hear the music behind one of the best films in history like it's never been heard before. Plus, relive Daniel Craig's third stint as 007, as well as Javier Bardem's memorable turn as the resident villain. The Sydney Symphony Orchestra's live Skyfall in Concert performances will take place at 8pm on Friday, November 22 and at both 2pm and 8pm on Saturday, November 23.
Sitting down to non-stop meze plates is most folks' idea of a great feast, and it's on the menu at Stanbuli on Tuesday, November 12. But that's not all that's on offer at this dinner. While you're munching away, the Enmore restaurant's executive chef and owner Ibrahim Kasif will take patrons through the wonders of raki — aka Turkey's aniseed-flavoured spirit. If you're a newcomer to the tipple, this is your chance to learn more. If you feel like you've sipped every other drink on offer across Sydney, this is your opportunity to try something new, too. And even if you're well acquainted with the beverage that's considered Turkey's national drink, you'll knock back more than a few tastes — including different styles — that are all paired to your food. The last time that Stabuli put on this Raki Dinner with Bottomless Meze, it proved rather popular, so nabbing a $90 ticket sooner rather than later is recommended. The evening runs from 7pm, with raki and oh-so-much meze included in the price.
If you want to know what it feels like to have Siri laugh at you, ask them to search for "small garden hideaway with excellent food, drink, music in Sydney's CBD". Once you've done that, head back here so we can give you what you want. Since I Left You is a 21st century city speakeasy nestled in a heritage-listed storehouse in the centre of Sydney. You can check it out any day of the week (except Sundays), but we recommend stopping by the next instalment of the bar's SILY Sessions. The bi-monthly sessions are live gigs, but not as you know them. Rather than spending the day being elbowed in the face at varying intensities, the gig takes place in SILY's courtyard oasis, and is small — 50 people max — and generally acoustic. October's session will see northern beaches busker-turned-musical wunderkind Taj Ralph take the stage alongside the inner west's own Zepha. Tickets are only $20, which includes unlimited access to the antipasti table. The bar also serves up $12 cocktails and six-buck beers all arvo. Take that, Siri.
It's always fascinating to see what happens when two seemingly disparate cultures collide, and that's exactly what director Nick Powers is looking to explore with Two Crews, his show that brings together a pair of very different hip-hop dance groups. France's Lady Rocks are known for their sharpness and combative approach whereas Sydney's own Riddim Nation take a more fluid approach to the discipline of hip hop. Powers has had the opportunity to work with the crews collectively and individually, an approach he'll replicate with the audience, first allowing them to see each crew in isolation before bringing everyone together for an exciting and intimate experience. Image: Timothee Lejolivet.
With Halloween comes the perfect excuse to don your scariest costume and have a ball. To celebrate all things ghoulish, El Topo is letting you party until dawn at Halloween Things. With plenty of bevs, spooky decorations, and tunes to get down to, it's sure to be a cracking night. Head down to Bondi from 9pm on Saturday, November 2 and catch the festivities in full-swing. Tuck into some free fairy floss and popcorn or pick up one of El Topo's cocktails, with everything from punch to brain shots on offer. Then, have a go at some apple-bobbing (there's a bar tab up for grabs) or have some fun with free face painting. Plus, you can put your best, costumed foot forward and get the chance to win a $50 bar tab for you and your crew. Entry is ticketed, but at $15 a head it's a pretty good bargain for a top night out.
Have you been watching Netflix's Big Mouth, remembering your adolescent years and laughing at the all-round awkwardness of puberty? If so, you've been enjoying the work of Nick Kroll. The comedian and actor co-created, writes, produces and performs a whole heap of voices on the hit animated series — and, given that he's popped up on everything from Parks and Recreation to Sausage Party to the US version of What We Do in the Shadows, you'll recognise him from elsewhere as well. Indeed, Kroll's resume runs much, much deeper. Over the years, he's also starred on The League, taken his Oh, Hello comedy double-act with John Mulaney to Broadway (with one of the shows recorded and released as a Netflix special) and played plenty of different characters in sketch series Kroll Show. Plus, he's been in Brooklyn Nine-Nine, The Simpsons, Bob's Burgers, Portlandia and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, as well as movies such as I Love You, Man, Knight of Cups, Loving and The House, too. Yes, the list goes on. On Saturday, January 4, 2020, Kroll will add something else to his name: a live gig in Sydney. Catch his his comic talents at the Enmore Theatre, with the comedian bringing his Middle-Aged Boy tour to town (and maybe too much tuna as well). Tickets go on sale from 1pm on Tuesday, October 29 — with Live Nation pre-sales available now. Image: Storm Santos
In good news for local residents and workers, Darlinghurst's craft beer haven Bitter Phew has just expanded to the ground floor, giving you yet another place to head for an after-work tipple. Dubbed Phew, the space has been revamped into a minimalist wine bar and kitchen, headed by chef Jack Fitzhenry and with a natural wine list created by Jordan Blackman (ex-Chin Chin, Ananas Bar & Brasserie). And it's open five nights a week, from 5pm–late every Wednesday through Saturday. And, in celebration of its opening, the restaurant now has a $10 and under menu of seasonal snacks, which is available until Saturday, November 23. It's not just your regular ol' parmas and schnittys, either. Instead, expect dishes like Hiramasa kingfish ceviche with juniper and black lime, along with morcilla sausages with white bean and globe artichokes for just a tenner each. Even cheaper are the pork jowl ragu loaded on Iggy's thick cut sourdough ($9), the sardines with nduja on brioche ($6) and the shiitake pickle with onion cream on a chickpea pancake ($7). Or, you can level-up your snack game and get the 'Feed Me' set menu for $38. Luckily, you still have time to get the crew together for a cheap-but-sophisticated feed — plus a couple of brews, of course.
If you want to add some culture to your Tuesday night pub feed, head in to Paddo Inn next Tuesday, October 29. The Oxford Street local is presenting its series of expert-led panel discussions accompanied by cocktails, canapes and networking. On the bill for the final talk of the year is a panel discussion with and about female artisans. One of those artisans is rockstar flower artist Dr Lisa Cooper. The Sydney-based florist, author and Doctor of Philosophy has decked out the pub with flowers for spring thanks to a collaboration with Hendrick's Gin. Joining her is cult homewares label Maison Balzac's founder Elise Pioch Balzac and brewer and distiller Carla Daunton of Young Henrys, plus fashion journalist Rosie Dalton, who is hosting the talk. The women will discuss their craft, passion, trade and being a female artisan in this day and age. As part of the $55 ticket, you'll be handed a Midsummer Solstice Spritz on arrival — a delightful concoction featuring the limited-edition Hendrick's Gin, tonic water and sparkling wine, garnished with orange and cucumber. The event run from 6–8.30pm and each ticket includes canapes. This female-led Inn Talks is being held to support Two Good, a not-for-profit organisation that helps feed and employ women in refuges, meaning your Tuesday night out is all for a great cause.
UPDATE, August 19, 2020: Birds of Passage is available to stream via Stan, Google Play, YouTube Movies and iTunes. Thanks to Narcos, Blow and plenty of similar films and television shows, the term 'Colombian drug drama' conjures up a particular image. But that's not what viewers will find in Birds of Passage, a movie that falls into the same broad category while carving its own niche. Forget Pablo Escobar, piles of cocaine and cartels fighting against the US. Forget the genre's usual slick and shiny sheen, too. Instead, Ciro Guerra and Cristina Gallego (Embrace of the Serpent) immerse their feature within a highly insular indigenous tribe, watching as its way of life is forever changed after getting into the marijuana business. The result: a multigenerational crime saga that's as much a portrait of Colombia's Wayúu community as it is about dealing in illicit substances. If the above description didn't already distinguish Birds of Passage from other drug-fuelled gangland affairs, then its visuals achieve that feat. As they did with their last picture (which Guerra directed and Gallego produced and helped edit), the filmmaking duo take an ethnographic approach, as seen in each of the movie's vibrant images and scenes. Showcasing traditional locations, clothing and ceremonies, the pair don't just present these details — in every shot and sequence, they revel in them. With ample assistance from returning cinematographer David Gallego, Birds of Passage is filled with dusty plains far removed from the Colombian drug trade's stereotypical jungles, intensive rituals used to initiate courtships and striking jewellery that has more than a decorative impact. Indeed, to see the absorbing and engrossing film's frames flicker by is to walk through the Guajira region of in the country's north, bear witness to its first peoples and explore their intricacies. While it should go without saying, other dramas that do this aren't just rare — they're non-existent. It's this specificity that both marks and shapes Birds of Passage, especially as its story purposefully winds down a recognisable path. Guerra and Gallego want their audience to take in everything that makes the Wayúu who they are, but they also want to highlight that devastation can and will plight any culture, even this one, once it's steeped in a destructive cycle of power, wealth, death and bloodshed. When the feature opens in a desert village, such matters appear far from everyone's minds. Emblazoned in red from head to toe, local beauty Zaida (Natalia Reyes) is the centre of attention, with young men lined up to win her heart — and willing to dance until they drop to do so. Rapayet (José Acosta) doesn't falter; however, although Zaida is instantly smitten, her mother Ursula (Carmiña Martínez) is hardly convinced. The formidable matriarch sets a high dowry of 30 goats, 20 cows, five necklaces and two decorative mules, expecting that the determined suitor won't be able to pay. But after a chance meeting with weed-seeking American Peace Corps volunteers, Rapayet and his pal Moisés (Jhon Narváez) discover a way to make all the money they need (and all the goats, cows, necklaces and decorative mules as well). Set across a two-decade span from the late 1960s to the early 1980s, Birds of Passage charts the ups and downs that ripple throughout the entire Wayúu enclave, as seemingly simple choices have far-reaching consequences. It's not difficult to guess where Zaida and Rapayet's tale is headed across its five chapters, or that of their entire tribe — or to foresee that Ursula's fears about her possible future son-in-law will prove well-founded. That said, it's worth noting that she's also obsessed with dreams and omens, interpreting everything around her for signs about her family's future, a technique that Guerra and Gallego also deploy with their narrative. It isn't difficult to discern what'll happen at each turn, but that's the basis of this epic film's sweeping tragedy: audiences can glean what happens next, just as Ursula tries to, and yet everyone remains thoroughly powerless to stop it. The same idea bubbled through Gabriel García Márquez's landmark novel One Hundred Years of Solitude, and the same haunting feeling of inevitability, too. Tint the Colombian author's awarded and applauded 1967 tome with an extra layer of shattering bleakness, bring it to the screen with breathtakingly vivid images and set it in a unique gangster world, and that's Birds of Passage — almost. One of the wonders of this stunningly shot and performed movie is how it nods to literary greats, to on-screen crime sagas like The Godfather and The Sopranos, and even to Shakespeare's darkest accounts of misfortune, and yet remains a wholly distinctive work. In plunging viewers into a specific way of life, beholding its beauty and watching how something so fragile can crumble when plagued by corruption, Guerra and Gallego peer closely and systematically, while also seeing the bigger picture. That's what great ethnographers do — and great filmmakers. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhQsCz0X4Vw
Art cropping up in everyday places and taking inspiration from mundane objects has been going on for years. Warhol loved his Campbell's soup cans and Banksy brings art to streets in every corner of the globe. So, to celebrate art, colour and creativity in the everyday, Stockland Green Hills is bringing a bit of pizzazz to the plaza this week. For four days, the shopping centre will be transformed into an explosion of colour, so you can be inspired on your next trip to the mall. First up, there'll be the Colour Hub — think loud wallpapers and mismatched patterned flooring, plus a ball pit. Each section of the hub will excite a different sense, too. In some areas you'll be encouraged to touch the various textured walls, and in another you'll be listening to upbeat tunes. There'll even be Willy Wonka-inspired scratch-and-sniff wallpaper, plus a candy-filled centrepiece, so you can suck on a gum ball while your feast your eyes on all the surrounding colour. More into getting your hands dirty? Then head to the Creation Station: a pop up where you can tap into your inner child. Channel your undiscovered Warhol with an acrylic painting class, try your hand at the 3Doolder Pen Workshop or decorate (then eat) your own doughnut. Or, if you're more into glitz and glamour, you can score a free mini makeover too. Shake the Rainbow is taking over Stockland Green Hills Shopping Centre from Thursday, October 17 through Sunday, October 20. Some activities require bookings. To nab your spot, head here.
When it rolls around each October and November, Palace Cinemas' British Film Festival, presented by MINI, serves up Australia's starriest cinema showcase. Take 2019's program, for example, which includes Keira Knightley playing a real-life whistleblower in Official Secrets, Helen Mirren facing off against Ian McKellen in The Good Liar, The Theory of Everything's Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones re-teaming for The Aeronauts, and Liam Gallagher getting the documentary treatment in Liam Gallagher: As It Was. Coming to our shores fresh from opening the London Film Festival, The Personal History of David Copperfield also ranks among BFF's highlights, too — as you'd expect from a witty flick based on Charles Dickens' novel, directed by Veep, The Thick of It, In the Loop and The Death of Stalin's Armando Iannucci, and starring Dev Patel, Tilda Swinton, Hugh Laurie and Ben Whishaw. Elsewhere, British movie buffs can catch moving social-realist drama Sorry We Missed You, with I, Daniel Blake's Ken Loach directing his take on the gig economy; Happy New Year, Colin Burstead, the latest darkly comic film from High-Rise's Ben Wheatley; and Hope Gap, starring Annette Bening, Bill Nighy and God's Own Country's Josh O'Connor. Running in Sydney from Tuesday, October 29 to Sunday, November 24 at Palace Verona, Chauvel Cinema, Palace Central and Palace Norton Street, BFF's 2019 program also features a six-film retrospective paying tribute to Helen Mirren's stellar career, plus a 4K restoration of horror classic Don't Look Now. The list goes on, including the latest unsettling documentary from acclaimed documentarian Alex Gibney (Going Clear: Scientology & the Prison of Belief) — with Citizen K focusing on Russian oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky and his exile in London.
If you had time to speed through your reading list over the Christmas break, you're one of the lucky ones — many Australians spent their holidays either fleeing the country's widespread bushfires or helping to contain them. One of the hardest hit areas is NSW's far south coast and, even though it's a fair whack from Sydney, literature lovers can still do their bit to help its local Rural Fire Service. Next Wednesday, January 15, luxe Sydney linen label In Bed will hold an after-work book sale at its Oxford Street store — and all the proceeds on the night will go to the Far South Coast RFS. As well as a slew of secondhand books, local booksellers and publishers — including Ariel Booksellers, Penguin Random House, Bloomsbury and Pan Macmillan — donating new titles, too. Penguin classics, some Murakami, cook books and maybe even a Sally Rooney. Book subscription service Well Read will also be on hand to make some reccommendations. And if you buy five or more books, you'll go into the draw to win some other donated goodies — like Holly Ryan jewellery and some of In Bed's own linen. View this post on Instagram A post shared by IN BED (@inbedstore) on Jan 4, 2020 at 2:10am PST Some other goodies will be available to buy as well, including bookmarks, flowers and In Bed linen book bags. And you can peruse it all while sipping some natural wine courtesy of Drnks. Wander down Oxford Street after work — the sale kicks off at 6pm. If you'd like to donate books for the sale, just drop them off at the store before January 15. And to give directly to the Far South Coast RFS — or any local brigade — go here.
If you're of an age when you can remember burning your friend's So Fresh CD so you could stay up to date with the coolest songs of the season, congrats. You're old now. But also, congrats, because you will seriously enjoy the That's So 2000s Festival. The old-school get-together to end all old-school get-togethers is coming to Hermann's Bar from 2pm on Saturday, January 25, and it'll be playing bangers of the 2000s vintage. You can expect a disturbing percentage of Channel 10 alums (Australian Idol winners/losers and ex-Neighbours actors) as well as way too much Nickelback for polite company. Also, just throwing this out there: we're desperately hoping for a timely comeback of the Duff sisters duet 'Our Lips Are Sealed'. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRfvBPkIQ9M This time around, the retro tunes will come with plenty of party fun, including a ball pit, jumping castle, face painting, and free fairy floss and lollipops. And, because of the date, there will be a slight diversion from the throwback tunes, with Triple J's Hottest 100 also getting a spin. Of course, it's obviously 18 and over — because if you're under 18 you definitely don't know what So Fresh is. Or CDs, probably.
Why drink at one watering hole, when you can head to two, three, six or more? That's always been the motivation behind everyone's favourite boozy journey, aka a pub crawl. And, it's the exact same type of thinking behind the Urban Wine Walk. Taking another wander around Sydney, it's the bar-hopping excuse every vino lover needs — if you need an excuse, that is. From 12–4pm on Saturday, February 15, you'll saunter around Surry Hills — and between the likes of Chin Chin, The Wild Rover, Button Bar, The Clock and more — sampling wines and having a mighty fine time. As for the tipples, they'll be taken care of by a heap of top labels, including Dirty Candy Wine and Mr Barval. Tickets cost $75 and places are limited. This moving cellar door will not only serve up more than 30 wine tastings, but also your own tasting glass — plus a voucher for another beverage, and a guide to help you plan your mosey between bars.
Like her relatives, Morticia Addams (voiced by Charlize Theron) is supposed to be creepy, kooky, mysterious and spooky — but in the latest version of The Addams Family, she's just creaky. Unleashing tiny spiders to build a bridge over a bottomless pit (in the family's basement, naturally) in one scene, the vampish matriarch coughs up a cringe-worthy line that everyone can see coming: "we call this surfing the web". Morticia's dad joke would prove a grim omen for this new animated take on America's most macabre family, except that it's sadly preceded by plenty of others. By the time the above dialogue is uttered, a groan-inducing town called Assimilation has already sprung up down the hill from the Addams' imposing mansion. And, within said house, sentient, unattached hand Thing has also been seen wearing a watch with an eye on it. To be honest, the pain starts in the prologue, which doubles as an obligatory origin story. As Morticia and Gomez (Oscar Isaac) tie the knot 13 years before the movie's main narrative, Fester (Nick Kroll) tells them to put the lime in the coconut and drink it all up. That's how things are done "in the old country", apparently. This opening gag doesn't nod to the 1930s New Yorker cartoons that first introduced the Addams clan, or the 60s live-action TV series that followed, or 90s big-screen favourites The Addams Family and Addams Family Values. Rather, it references Harry Nilsson's 1971 novelty song 'Coconut' and serves no one — unless this iteration of The Addams Family is aimed at fans of a singer from half a century ago, Quentin Tarantino aficionados who know the tune from Reservoir Dogs, or anyone familiar with Dannii Minogue's 1994 cover (again: no one). The track is hardly obscure; however, even as a throwaway line, non sequitur or piece of absurdist humour, it leaves audiences scratching their heads instead of laughing. Really, it just smacks of the filmmakers giggling among themselves at a bad joke, without considering whether it's relevant to the story they're telling, its characters or their viewers. Alas, as the rest of the flick shows, that seems to be directors Greg Tiernan and Conrad Vernon (Sausage Party) and screenwriters Matt Lieberman (Playing with Fire) and Pamela Pettler's (Corpse Bride) approach overall. Flimsy from the outset, The Addams Family charts the predictable clash when Assimilation's residents — and celebrity interior designer Margaux Needler (Allison Janney), who financed the town — aren't happy about their odd neighbours. This revelation coincides with Pugsley's (Finn Wolfhard) swordplay-heavy coming-of-age ceremony, which brings the extended Addams crew to visit and scares the locals even further. Cue life lessons about accepting those around you, being yourself, not judging spooky-looking people by their appearances and other similar clichés. Margaux and her mob attempt to bully the Addams family out of the area, Gomez stresses over Pugsley's fondness for bombs over blades, and Wednesday (Chloe Grace Moretz) shocks Morticia by befriending Margaux's daughter Parker (Elsie Fisher) and daring to fit in. The fact that the Addams clan stands out has always been their point, ever since their cartoonist namesake created the weird and wonderful figures. In their aesthetics, interests and behaviour, Morticia, Gomez, Wednesday, Pugsley, Fester and Grandma (Bette Midler) are clearly the opposite of the stereotypical American household, and the resulting juxtaposition — and the horrified reactions to their monster-like appearance, as well as their strange and supernatural ways — makes a satirical statement. But, even bringing social media, lifestyle gurus and a few other bits of modern technology into the mix, The Addams Family circa 2019 doesn't have anything new to say. It doesn't have much to say in general, really. Given that the family-friendly film also lacks in story, jokes and creativity, the result is ghoulish, and not in a manner that'd do the fictional characters proud. It doesn't help that, although inspired by Charles Addams' original drawings, the animation is dull — including the character design. Creepy, kooky and the like can look delightful on the screen (and all-ages appropriate), as Corpse Bride, Frankenweenie, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Coraline and ParaNorman have all shown; however, this has more in common visually and tonally with the broad and bland Hotel Transylvania movies. The picture's celebrity voices can't fill in the gaps, either. Mostly, hearing Isaac as Gomez makes you wish that someone had made a new live-action version starring him instead. That would've required more effort, though, which is something this thin, generic and not-at-all offbeat film shows few signs of. Rather, it features Snoop Dogg as Cousin Itt purely so that it can play 'Drop It Like It's Hot' when he's first seen on screen, a level that even abysmal 1998 direct-to-video threequel Addams Family Reunion (no, no one remembers it) didn't stoop to. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFnn4fNsB64
If seasonal change has left you in a dizzy headspin of new colours and fabrics and prints and jackets — or if, y'know, you just like some fancy new clothes now and then — you'll be pretty pleased to know that the Big Fashion Sale is coming back to Paddington Town Hall for four days this December. And this time round, it's not just selling discounted fashion — it's also donating 100 percent of profits to help those affected by bushfires and raise awareness about the current climate crisis. Which means you can shop big name Australian and international brands — including Kenzo, Alexander McQueen, Isabel Marant, Alexander Wang, Marni, Dries Van Noten, Nike, Romance Was Born, Studio Elke and Acler — and do it all for a good cause, with all your well-spent money going to Red Cross Australia and The Climate Council. You won't be short on things to buy, either. You'll find thousands of lush items from past collections, samples and one-offs from over 50 designers, including the aforementioned and more. With discounts of up to 80 percent off, this is one way to up your count of designer threads while leaving your bank balance sitting pretty, too. Prices this low tend to inspire a certain level of ruthlessness in all of us, though, so practise that grabbing reflex in advance. This is every shopper for themselves. The Big Fashion Sale will be open 9am–8pm Thursday, 9am–6pm Friday–Saturday and 10am–5pm Sunday.
Warm weather means heading outside and not only soaking up the sun, but enjoying summer's sultry evenings. It also means finding as many ways to do just that as possible, so how better than heading to a free film screened under the stars? Every year for the past 19 years, Sydney Olympic Park has played host to Movies by the Boulevard, a free summer film fest that's all about the openair experience. This year, it has combined with Sydney Hills Outdoor Cinema and had a name change — now it's called Outdoor Cinema at Sydney Olympic Park — but, thankfully, it's filled with more of the same great things: food, drinks and free films. Held on a selection of evenings between January 4 and 19, it's serving up a feast of 2019 flicks for your outdoor viewing pleasure. Love Avengers: End Game and want to see it again on the big screen? Missed Aladdin the first time round? Eager for a another dose of childhood nostalgia with Toy Story 4? They're all on the agenda, and more. The rest of the lineup spans from more Edna Mode in Incredibles 2, more live-action Disney with Dumbo and more of Jeff Goldblum in Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom. While you can go and see all of these flicks for free , you can also splash out on some fancy tickets ($17–206). These start with primo seating and free snacks in premium general admission ($17) and go all the way up to the super-luxe VIP tent ($206), which includes your own glamping tent and butler service. If you've been to Sydney Hills Outdoor Cinema, you'll know what to expect from these comfy setups. Also available on site is pizza from the Happy As Larry food truck, slow-cooked barbecue treats and hot buttered popcorn, ice cream and candy. A licensed bar will be pouring beers and wines, too. Gates open at 6pm each night in Cathy Freeman Park, with films kicking off at 8.30pm. BYO blanket and don't forget to register. Top images: Sydney Hills Outdoor Cinema
Hankering for one of Son of a Baker's pastries, but spend your weekends in Sydney's west, rather than the city's south? Over the weekend of Saturday, November 23 and Sunday, November 24, that won't be a problem. For the two days, the patisserie and cafe is taking over Shepherd's Lane Bakery at The Paper Mill in Liverpool. Arrive hungry, naturally. Son of a Baker will be slinging some serious treats, too, including its popular burek — a baked and stuffed Balkan pastry, if you're not already acquainted. You can also munch your way through a ruby chocolate red velvet croissant, which comes garnished with a mini raspberry macaroon (because that's a thing that really does exist beyond your tastebuds' dreams). Or, opt for a 'cookies and cream' -style Oreo biscuit croissant. Co-owner Roman Urosevski, aka the son of a baker (and, naturally, a baker himself), will be there as well if you'd like to meet the man behind the pastries.
