Pill testing is finally coming to music festivals in New South Wales, with Yours and Owls set to host the state's first trial. At the Wollongong fest's 2025 event, which is taking across Saturday, March 1–Sunday, March 2, patrons will be able to have their substances analysed courtesy of the drug-testing facility at the onsite medical tent. Australia will notch up a first, too — because never before has a government agency run a pill-testing service at a festival, as is happening at Yours and Owls. If you drop in to get your substances analysed, they'll be checked for purity, potency and adulterants. Anyone using the service will remain anonymous, but will be asked to speak with a qualified counsellor as part of the process. [caption id="attachment_906427" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ian Laidlaw[/caption] "We enthusiastically welcome this move by the NSW Government. Pill testing is something we have been fighting for, for some time now," said Yours and Owls Co-Founder Ben Tillman. "While Yours and Owls maintains a zero-tolerance policy to illegal drugs, we are realists and see the abstinence-only approach as unhelpful. Pill testing is not a panacea. However, it is a proven harm minimisation strategy that has been successfully implemented in many countries overseas for the past twenty or so years." "Ultimately, we ask individuals to take responsibility for themselves and their decision-making to ensure they have a great time safely. We also encourage anyone who finds themselves or their mates in trouble to seek medical assistance immediately; there will be no judgment, you won't get into trouble, patrons need to remember their safety and that of their mates is the most-important thing." [caption id="attachment_906426" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ruby Bowland[/caption] "Let me be clear, no level of illicit drug use is safe and pill testing services do not provide a guarantee of safety," added NSW Minister for Health Ryan Park. "There will always be risks involved when consuming these substances. However, this trial has been designed to provide people with the necessary information to make more informed decisions about drug use, with the goal of reducing drug-related harm and saving lives. Illicit drug use remains illegal in NSW. These services will not be made available to suppliers and police will continue to target them." [caption id="attachment_965220" align="alignnone" width="1917"] Ian Laidlaw[/caption] Yours and Owls' 2025 fest sees the beloved event mark a milestone. Yes, tenth birthdays are a big deal, especially when you're an Australian music festival that's been navigating a pandemic and the resulting difficult time for the industry for half of your run, and also grappling with the impact of La Niña. Yours and Owls has been on quite the rollercoaster ride across the past decade, clearly, so of course it's celebrating its big birthday with a massive lineup. Fontaines DC, Denzel Curry, The Kooks, Goo Goo Dolls and Brad Cox lead the roster of talent taking to the stage, as joined by Courteeners, Hockey Dad, The Jungle Giants, Peach PRC, The Veronicas, Elderbrook, Honey Dijon, JPEGMafia and Salute — and plenty more. This year's event is making Flagstaff Hill, a former military fort on the Wollongong foreshore, its home — marking yet another first. [caption id="attachment_906428" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jess Gleeson[/caption] Yours and Owls Lineup 2025 Fontaines DC Denzel Curry The Kooks Goo Goo Dolls Brad Cox Courteeners Elderbrook Hockey Dad Honey Dijon JPEGMafia The Jungle Giants Peach PRC Salute The Veronicas Allday Babe Rainbow Coterie Cyril Dice The Dreggs Frankie Stew & Harvey Gunn Grentperez Isabel Larosa Magdalena Bay May A Mark Blair Pond Richy Mitch & The Coal Miners Sam Tompkins San Cisco Shame Slowly Slowly Sycco Armlock Autumn Sunset Battlesnake Bean Magazine Becca Hatch Bodyjar The Belair Lip Bombs Cheeky Leash C.O.F.F.I.N Crocodylus Giraffehead Keli Holiday Kitschen Boy Kobie Dee Lemonise Le Shiv L.O.W Miss Kaninna Nick Ward Ra Ra Viper Satin Cali Sevilles Sugar Free Total Tommy Y.O.G.A Mark Blair Odymel Tom Trago Mincy Dameeela Lo'99 Sasha Milani Crescendoll Sekta Jun Wan Unknown Associates Jjoska Subtropic Cove Sound System Four on the Floor sezz77 Jade Bates kowojay Liza [caption id="attachment_976058" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Theo Cottle[/caption] Yours and Owls returns to Wollongong on Saturday, March 1–Sunday, March 2, 2025. For more information, and tickets, head to the festival website.
In Sydney, 'going out for a drink' can always be something more. And, given our city is a cultural mecca with a thriving art, music and foodie scene, it's never been easier to elevate your night out. Whether you're looking to make date night extra special or want to add a dash of class to your evening catchup, there's always something new and exciting to see in Sydney. To help you out, we've partnered with Tanqueray to bring you five out-of-the-box experiences you can do in Sydney to get your culture fix — Tanqueray and tonic in hand. CATCH SOME ART AFTER HOURS Wander through rare works by art history icons (thinks Picasso and Monet), then top it all off with a tom collins. Grab your friends or your special someone, and see the latest exhibitions at the Art Gallery of New South Wales' Art After Hours. This spring, catch Australia's French impressionist John Russell (showing until Sunday, November 11) or rare works by the greats like Monet, Picasso, Cézanne, Matisse and more at the Masters of Modern Art from the Hermitage (starting Saturday, October 13). Weekly Art After Hours events kick off every Wednesday from 6pm, and feature a mixture of celebrity talks, guided art tours and live music. After your hump day cultural boost, head to Bennelong for evening drinks and nibbles off the Cured and Cultured menu. To be extra sophisticated, try the wagyu tartare with fermented chilli miso and creme fraiche while sipping a Tanqueray tom collins. UNLEASH YOUR INNER ARTIST Let those creative juices flow while you sip G&Ts at a painting session. Enjoy a fun, semi-ridiculous, night of painting at Cork & Chroma. The concept is simple: have a drink, produce a masterpiece. Okay, so maybe your output won't be quite the calibre of those greats coming to AGNSW, but a enjoyable night out is guaranteed. Literally, zero art experience is required to partake — an artist will take you and the class step-by-step through the evening's tableau of choice, helping you create your finest still life in no time. Also, it's BYO. We recommend ditching the boring vino for a ready-made Tanqueray and tonic. No fuss; just add ice. SEE A PLAY AT THE BELVOIR Catch the latest show, then enjoy a post-theatre tipple. Watch Henrik Ibsen's masterpiece An Enemy of the People or August Strindberg's The Dance of Death at The Belvoir St Theatre this season, then have a post-show tipple at The Dolphin Hotel down the road. Alternatively, for the more frugal folk, check out one of the talks or plays at The Kings Cross Theatre — it's cheaper than Belvoir but still hosts quality performances. Afterwards, splurge with the money you saved and discuss the show over a swish martini at The Roosevelt. SHUCK AN OYSTER OR TWO Savour some oysters then head to the OpenAir cinema and enjoy a cocktail. Winston Churchill once said that the only way to make a martini is with ice-cold gin. You can test his theory — without having to worry about which geopolitical strategy to roll out in Europe this spring — by treating yourself to Tanqueray gin martinis and $1 oysters on Wednesdays at The Morrison. Afterwards, catch a film at the St.George OpenAir cinema for a classic Sydney night out overlooking the Harbour from the Royal Botanic Gardens. Keep your eyes peeled for the full 2019 program, available from Monday, December 3. Previous titles included Call Me By Your Name and I, Tonya so you can expect another blockbuster lineup for this year. ORGANISE A GOURMET PICNIC Stinky cheese, Tanqueray gin and panoramic views by the water's edge. Gather around a picnic at Blackwattle Bay to enjoy sweeping views of the Anzac Bridge and harbour. Elevate your spread from humble hummus and bread territory by going past the IGA and opting for some more decadent treats. We suggest a stinky, gooey cheese selection from The Stinking Bishops or some Japanese-style treats like matcha lamington and yuzu cheesecake from neighbouring Azuki. Just don't forget to grab a bottle of Tanqueray and some mixers. Then, all you have to do is kick back and enjoy your Sunday arvo filled with good food, great company and that stunning Inner West sunset. Celebrate the return of warmer, sunnier days with a Tanqueray tipple in hand at home or around your city.
Now in its third year, the MCA Social at Sydney's Museum of Contemporary Art promises another extravagant night in the name of creativity and philanthropy. With the theme 'Art Eclectic', and the encouragement to go all-out in the fashion stakes, the evening offers the opportunity to make the most of that outrageous Gaga-esque outfit you've been waiting to wear. But what's more, this annual fundraiser offers both budding and established art supporters a chance to actively support the country's best emerging artists. All proceeds will fund the museum's Primavera exhibition, an internationally recognised platform for the promotion of these promising young Australians each year. There'll be an auction and a raffle on the night, with prizes including a 12-month rental from ArtBank worth over $5000. Not only will the work of one of this year's artists, Marian Tubbs, be showcased on the night but you'll also have the chance to mingle with past Primavera creatives between sampling inventive Heston Blumenthal-style canapes and cocktails at the open bar. Expect live DJs, performances and custom-designed projections from La Petite Mort to light up the dance floor. Plus, you'll find a makeup artist in the lift (yes, the lift), on hand to add final flourishes to your look on your way up to the party.
An Irish whiskey expert and a cheese guru walk into a bar. What happens next? You're about to find out. For one evening only, Aussie cheese expert Claudia Bowman will team up with whiskey aficionado Rachael Hand (who is also a bartender at Mjolner Melbourne) for a unique tasting session in Redfern den Vasco. It'll feature an array of top-shelf drops from Bushmills, Ireland's oldest licensed distillery, matched with premium blues, cheddars and goudas from all over the Emerald Isle. Upon arrival, you'll warm up with a Bushmills Whiskey Smash cocktail and canapés, before settling in for your extended tasting. The drinks list ranges from the intense yet smooth Bushmills Black Bush Irish Whiskey to the mighty Bushmills Single Malt Whiskey 21-year-old. The secret to its spicy, fruit depths is 19 years spent in Oloroso Sherry and Bourbon-seasoned casks, followed by two in Madeira casks. Meanwhile, among the Irish dairy delights you can expect to sample are Cashel Blue and Crozier Blue, both from Tipperary; Knockanore, a cheddar from County Waterford; and Durrus, a semi-soft, washed rind cheese from County Cork. Whiskey and cheese may not be the most traditional of pairings (like, say, wine and cheese) but, like many things, with knowledge — and lots of samples — comes appreciation. "Just like wine, whiskey flavours have layers and can be complemented and highlighted with certain foods," said Hand. "This is bound to be a pairing that brings the best of both the Bushmills Irish Whiskey expressions and the chosen cheeses, heroing both products." The Bushmills Irish Whiskey and Cheese Pairing will commence at 6.30pm on Wednesday, November 28. Tickets cost $75 per person and can be purchased here.
The beach and soft serve ice cream are a match made in summer heaven. The only way to improve on this combo is, of course, if the ice cream is free. Sydney beachgoers and soft serve lovers are in luck this weekend, with a Mardi Gras-themed Mr Whippy van handing out free ice cream at two prominent eastern suburbs beaches. If you're heading to North Bondi or Coogee on Saturday, February 27, keep you eye out for the van which will be making an appearance at the North Bondi Surf Lifesaving Club and the new Coogee Beach rainbow walkway. The van will be handing out two colourful flavours of soft serve ice cream, Rainbow Rise, your classic vanilla with rainbow sprinkles, and Love Out loud, a vanilla soft serve in a red velvet waffle cone with strawberry sauce and tutti frutti popcorn pieces. Beloved Australian drag queen Courtney Act will be joining the van at the North Bondi Surf Life Saving Club to unveil her remix of the Mr Whippy ice cream van jingle — you know, the one that would play as the ice cream truck came around your neighbourhood as a kid. Act has remixed the jingle with the help of drag queen DJ duo Jawbreaker. The van is courtesy of W Hotels, one of the partners of this year's Mardi Gras festivities. Anyone that grabs a free ice cream will also be able to enter a competition for the chance to win a two-night staycation at any W Hotel around the country.
Spaghetti and spritzes are a time-honoured Venetian combo that can bring a bit of summer into even the most dreary day. But would the pairing have the same effect if both the pasta and cocktail are radioactive blue? Restaurateur Mark Filippelli and his best mate Vince Pizzinga are prepared to serve up just that. This April, they're opening Mark + Vinny's Spaghetti and Spritz Bar along Surry Hills' Waterloo Street, offering Sydneysiders sustainable, ethical and vegan fare, some of which looks like it came from another planet. These colourful creations aren't much of a surprise from Filippelli, who also co-owns Melbourne's Matcha Mylkbar. The cafe's entirely vegan menu made headlines with its blue algae, beetroot and charcoal lattes, and even won our People's Choice Award for Best New Cafe of 2016. Filippelli was meant to expand to Sydney in early 2017, but the cafe never arrived. Instead, he's embarking on an entirely new brand for his first Sydney venture — whilst hanging on to the neon food and trademarked vegan 'egg' that Matcha Mylkbar is known for. There'll be some classic pasta dishes on the menu, including cacio e pepe and spaghetti with short rib ragu, but the eyebrow-raising draws are their more out-there concoctions. Think neon blue spirulina tagliatelle and bright pink beetroot spaghetti, or the charcoal carbonara with vegan egg yolk and cured mushrooms. The vegan eggs are made completely of plant-based products and contain the same protein and amino acid benefits as a real egg — plus they look an awful lot like one, even oozing when poached. Zucchini linguini with chickpea ragu, baby artichokes and avocado velute, and a nut-milk burrata entree also make the menu. The drinks includes a whopping 50 spritzes, with a neon blue spirulina cocktail to match the pasta, of course. Unlike Matcha Mylkbar, the Mark + Vinny's menu will not be completely vegan, though any meat used will be strictly local, sustainable and ethically raised. The family-style menu focuses, of course, on the spaghetti, with fresh pasta made either in-house or by award-winning, Sydney-based pasta maker Joe Cassaniti (Peppes Pasta). The duo have smartly recruited head chef Adrian Jankuloski in the kitchen. He's spent considerable time under the tutelage of Maurice Terzini, first at Icebergs and then at the renowned chef's two other venues — acting as sous chef at North Bondi Italian and most recently as senior sous chef for The Dolphin Hotel under Monty Koludrovic. "[Sydney is] a new exciting market to spread our underlying message to — that a less meat-heavy diet is crucial for the sustainability of our planet's resources and the longevity of our health," says Filippelli. "We are wanting to push the boundaries of food innovation, whilst highlighting the traditional and original Italian recipes, literally passed on from our Nonnas. We think Sydney, and in particular Surry Hills, is the perfect platform to showcase the Mark and Vinny dream." The radioactive-looking food hype may have worked for Filippelli in the past, but we must admit we're a tad skeptical with the way some of these pastas look. The venture's success certainly remains to be seen — or, rather, tasted. Mark + Vinny's will open in April at 52 Waterloo Street, Surry Hills. Keep an eye on their Instagram for updates.
With the Greater Sydney area now in lockdown until Friday, July 9, home cooking and takeaway is back on the menu. Fancy the latter more than the former? Spent too much time baking during last year's similar stint at home? Eager to order in for any reason possible? If you fall into any of the above categories, and you're keen to both support local eateries and keep an eye on your bank balance, Deliveroo is ditching its delivery fees for orders from most restaurants for this week. The delivery service's deal was announced last Friday, June 25, before lockdown was expanded in terms of the areas affected and the duration of the stay-at-home period — so you'l be able to get your meals brought to your door without paying delivery fees until 11.59pm on Friday, July 2. That covers food from thousands of eateries, including the likes of Mary's, Chargrill Charlie's and Gelato Messina. The aim: to encourage Greater Sydney residents to help local restaurants during this stay-at-home period and, because that's the world we live in, to help stop panic buying at supermarkets as well. To ensure that all of the eateries involved aren't missing out on revenue or left out of pocket, Deliveroo is footing the bill for the discounted amount, too. If you're suddenly hungry, you'll need to place an order via the Deliveroo app. There are a few caveats, unsurprisingly, with the free delivery deal not extending to bottle shops, KFC or to places listed in the app as 'delivered by restaurant'. You'll also need to spend at least $10 at most eateries, $12 at McDonald's, Subway and Baskin-Robbins, and $15 if you're purchasing from Red Rooster. Deliveroo is doing free delivery across the Greater Sydney region until 11.59pm on Friday, July 2. To make an order, head to the Deliveroo app. Top image: Chargrill Charlie's.
If you've spied the program for the upcoming edition of the Meriton Festival Village, which will pop up in Hyde Park once again as part of Sydney Festival, you'll know it's packed with enough cultural goodness to keep you busy for days. Luckily, the event — which runs from January 5-28 in 2018 — is also set to feature a solid supporting cast of food vendors, ensuring punters are extra well-fed while lapping up all the other mind-bending experiences. Announced today, the culinary program is just as diverse as the Village's other offerings, featuring a roll call of well-loved Sydney food vendors. Pizzas, deep-fried lasagne and dessert calzone will be flying from Happy As Larry's Italian truck, while the folks at El Capo Food Truck plate up their take on South American fusion fare. Or you might opt for decadence, in the form of fried chicken, and beef and mushroom burgers from Mary's. Meanwhile, dessert time's set to be a nostalgic affair, as Gelato Messina recreates those milk bar freezer classics, like the Golden Gaytime, the Weis Bar and the Maxibon. To wash it all down, the bar will be stocked up with liquid treats from Four Pillars Gin, Tyrell's Wine and 4 Pines Beer. It's all on offer alongside Meriton Festival Village's jam-packed lineup of events and activities, featuring shows and performances in the Magic Mirrors Spiegeltent and a carnival-style antics with a ghost train, a karaoke carousel and shipping container pools. Find the Meriton Festival Village at Hyde Park North (entry via Central Avenue Walkway), from January 5–28, 2018, as part of Sydney Festival. For more info, visit sydneyfestival.org.au.
Greater Western Sydney has a lot of stuff going on, but, unfortunately for more western-anchored Sydneysiders, a smorgasbord of new fancy burger pop-ups is not one of them. Well, until now. Hashtag Burgers are swooping in to the rescue and bringing Dee Why Hotel's renowned burgers to Campbelltown's Orangeville Meat Co. on Friday, March 18. For one night triumphant night you won’t have to trek your weary bones into the city just to feel the sweet caress of a succulent burg betwixt your chompers. Huzzah! Brad Johnson is the evil genius and head chef behind the epic Dee Why burgers that are so good the only appropriate response is an awed Cheesus Christ. He's designed a burger especially for the event featuring an Orangeville Meat Co. wagyu patty, premium Bolognese sauce, double American cheddar, jalapeños, iceberg lettuce, a twice-fried hash brown, Wild West sauce, pickles and a Japanese milk bun with a side of fries. Insert emoji that represents crying with happiness and food anticipation. And that’s not even the end of it. The event will be DJed and Sydney Brewery will be there with a mobile bar packed full with beers and ciders. Orangeville Meat Co. are even planning on serving up a bourbon, maple and vanilla milkshake topped with cream, bacon salt, crisp pancetta and a mini maple bacon donut. Prepare your bibs, friends, it’s about to get messy up in here. The event is ticketed, and you'll have to shell out $22.60 for the Westside Burger and a side of fries in advance. The 7pm and and 8pm sessions are already sold out, so we suggest getting in quick if you want to nab a ticket for the 6pm sitting. The Dee Why Hotel Hashtag Burgers pop-up will be at Orangeville Meat Co., 2/11 Rodeo Road, Gregory Hills, Narellan on Friday, March 18. For more info, visit the Facebook event.
The organisers of Sydney's newest music and arts night aren't about to let those nightlife laws rain on their parade. Instead, they've chosen a venue deep in the heart of the lockout zone to deliver a weekly serve of accessible, cultural goodness. Kicking off at 5.30pm each Sunday, within the CBD's underground whisky bar 80 Proof, Symposium offers a platform for local artists to both grow and show off their stuff. Each week, the night features four musical acts, taking the stage alongside live painting and visual displays by a local artist. Each set is also recorded live as an EP. The initiative offers Sydneysiders the chance to discover great new local talent, with the likes of Andie Isalie, Huckleberry Hastings and Diplazar featured in the lineup so far. As well as the aural and visual treats — which you can check out for free — you'll find $5 schooners, $9.90 burgers and a weekly changing $12 cocktail. Catch Symposium from 5.30pm each Sunday, at 80 Proof, Downstairs, 561 George Street, Sydney. Images: Sophie-Jaye Hayman
When one of the biggest movie franchises to ever grace the silver screen is forced to flee cinemas for more than a year — due to the pandemic, obviously — what happens next? In the Marvel Cinematic Universe's case, it plans a big comeback by releasing not one, not two, but three new movies in less than six months. First up is Black Widow, which is heading to both cinemas and streaming in July. When it does so, it'll mark only the second film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe that solely focuses on a female protagonist. Yes, really. Next, come September, the franchise's next flick will also make history — because Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings is the MCU's first movie with an Asian lead. Achieving that milestone is obviously long overdue; Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings will be the 25th MCU flick, after all. Simu Liu is doing the honours, playing the titular martial artist and trained assassin, who has spent ten years living a normal life but is suddenly drawn back into the shady Ten Rings organisation. As the first trailer and the just-dropped new trailer for the superhero feature both show, Kim's Convenience star Liu will have plenty of chances to show off his character's skills. He'll have impressive company, too. Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings's cast includes Awkwafina, following on from her voice work in fellow Disney release Raya and the Last Dragon; the great Michelle Yeoh, who was last seen on the big screen in Last Christmas and Boss Level; and the just-as-iconic Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, a mainstay of Wong Kar-Wai's films such as In the Mood for Love, 2046 and The Grandmaster. Fala Chen (The Undoing), Florian Munteanu (Creed II), Ronny Chieng (Godzilla vs Kong) and debutant Meng'er Zhang also feature, while Short Term 12 and Just Mercy's Destin Daniel Cretton is on directing duties. And, you can be forgiven for looking out for familiar sights amid the heavy martial arts action when the movie hits theatres — because it was shot in Sydney. On the big screen, Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings will be followed by the Angelina Jolie-starring, Chloe Zhao-directed Eternals, which is due to release in November. Although the MCU has been absent from cinemas since 2019, the franchise has been busy on the small screen in 2021's first half thanks to WandaVision, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and Loki. Check out the latest Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings trailer below: Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings releases in cinemas Down Under on September 2, 2021. Top images: ©Marvel Studios 2021. All Rights Reserved
When it comes to prime summer drinking turf, Chiswick's sprawling green lawn is up there with the best. And you can bet it's set to get a solid workout this season, as the Woollahra restaurant plays host to a series of weekly Wednesday evening pop-up bars, running now until the end of February. Join in the al fresco fun from 5.30–7.30pm each week and make the most of those balmy pre-sunset temperatures with some hard-earned hump day knock-offs. The bar will be slinging a selection of summer-perfect gin cocktails and, to cap it off, there'll be live acoustic tunes setting the mood, plus some free canapés making the rounds. Gin will be served on the lawn every Wednesday evening until February 7. Updated: January 22, 2018.
Here's your chance to become the person you've always wanted to be — that is, a person that takes advantage of sales, instead of just letting them pass you by. Westfield Bondi Junction's Fashion Weekend is on again for the spring/summer season, with up to 30 percent off at Coach, Sass & Bide, Cue, Kookai, Seed Heritage and Witchery. If shopping isn't really your thing, or if you live near Bondi Junction, head there anyway and take a stroll through the centre – free samples will be given out at participating stores and there'll be live entertainment throughout the centre. Spend $500 in participating stores and receive a bonus Lovestar vase.
One otherwise normal day back in 2019, you probably sat down on the couch, switched on your TV, started scrolling through Netflix and came across a new show. That's a pretty regular occurrence for all of us, but we're guessing that you'll remember this particular instance. Discovering I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson isn't something that's easily forgotten. The best sketch comedy of 2019 — and one of the best TV shows in general, too — I Think You Should Leave's first season is ridiculously easily to binge. You don't even need two hours to get through all six episodes but, once you're done, you'll wish that it went for at least twice as long. Social awkwardness is satirised with absurd precision here, and the results are as offbeat and hilarious as a house completely filled with Garfield items and furniture (trust us). And, in great news, a second season is finally due to hit Netflix on Tuesday, July 6. The streaming platform hasn't dropped a trailer, but it has released an announcement video that's as awkward and amusing as fans have come to expect from the show. Exactly what Robinson will satirise this time is obviously yet to be seen, but the second season is already must-see viewing. And if he seems familiar — other than from I Think You Should Leave's — that's because Robinson was the star of Detroiters, and also spent a couple of seasons on Saturday Night Live. Haven't watched the first season yet, and not sure it's for you? Robinson had plenty of recognisable co-stars by his side over the initial batch of episodes, which he also wrote and produced — talents such as Will Forte (The Last Man on Earth), Steven Yeun (Minari), Tim Heidecker (Moonbase 8) and Vanessa Bayer (Saturday Night Live). And, the series also boasts some big names off-screen too, with The Lonely Island (aka Brooklyn Nine-Nine's Andy Samberg and his regular comedy partners Akiva Schaffer and Jorma Taccone) its executive producers. Check out the season two announcement video below: I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson's second season will be available to stream via Netflix from Tuesday, July 6. Top image: Netflix.
In more ways than one, the 2022 Sydney Fringe Festival has a theme: it will go on. After a couple of chaotic years due to the pandemic, the citywide celebration of independent arts will return in August for its first physical fest since 2019. It'll also pay comic tribute to the movie that got Celine Dion's 'My Heart Will Go On' stuck in everyone's heads forever. (It's still there right now while you're reading this, we know.) Yes, that means that Titanic is sailing into this year's Sydney Fringe — Titanic: The Movie, The Play, to be exact, and into the Australian National Maritime Museum. It recreates the tragic romance of Kate and Leo as two lovestruck ship-dwellers attempting to overcome their different backgrounds, ignoring any rules about getting hot and steamy in someone else's car, and trying to avoid a pesky iceberg. And, you're meant to laugh along. Titanic: The Movie, The Play has been announced as part of the festival's latest round of 2022 highlights, ahead of its full program drop on Monday, August 1. And yes, when Sydney Fringe returns for its biggest ever season, spanning 500-plus events and over 2000 artists across more than 50 venues and nine hubs between Tuesday, August 16–Friday, September 30, it'll have plenty more on the lineup. Also revealed so far: queer pop cabaret YUMMY, which'll bring drag, dance, circus and burlesque to the Eternity Playhouse. And, there's also a huge live mixed-reality transglobal dance party with Box of Birds, also taking place at the Australian National Maritime Museum like Titanic: The Movie, The Play. Rather than 90s romances, though, this'll feature local underground electronic musicians, interactive audio-visual installations and aerial performance artists. And if you're wondering about the mixed-reality and transglobal parts, that's because it'll be streamed between Sydney and Mexico, with dancers in both places. Sydney Fringe is showcasing a selection of 13 award-winning Australian and New Zealand acts at the fest's Touring Hub at the Seymour Centre, too, such as Little Dove Theatre Art's Six Women Standing In Front Of A White Wall, about the objectification of women — and musician and comedian Selina Jenkins' performance BOOBS, about her decision to undergo a mastectomy. Staying local is the Made in Sydney program, which is focusing on work by Sydney-based independent theatre-makers and artists. That's where you'll see playwright Katie Pollock's one-woman play Rough Trade, which explores capitalism and the patriarchy — as well as Not Today, Ally Morgan's one-woman cabaret, plus Introducing Aunty Jude, an ode to women who do things differently. The just-announced shows join a couple of already-revealed highlights, such as the return of Bernie Dieter's Club Kabarett after a run earlier this year, and the return of the Runaway Gardens and Spiegeltent as well; micro-festival Limitless, which is all about celebrating performance and visual artists with disability; an inflatable artwork by Goldberg Aberline Studio that'll take over World Square; and Babylon, which'll fill Chippendale's Kensington Street and Spice Alley with light installations, tunes, dancing, soundscapes, food, booze and performances. Announcing the latest batch of shows and events, Sydney Fringe CEO and Festival Director Kerri Glasscock said that the fest "couldn't be more excited to support and present the work of Sydney's incredible indie arts sector as part of our most ambitious program to date". "There has never been a better time to get out and explore Sydney Fringe, and we can't wait for audiences to experience the very best the city has to offer," Glasscock continued. [caption id="attachment_856315" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Bernie Dieter's Club Kabarett Opening Night Sydney at First Fleet Park, The Rocks, February 2022.[/caption] Sydney Fringe Festival 2022 will take place between Tuesday, August 16–Friday, September 30, with the event's full program set to be announced on Monday, August 1. For further information in the interim, head to the fest's website.
Rarely seen and utterly breathtaking, the ambitious contemporary ballet Kunstkamer has arrived in Sydney for a two-week run of performances by The Australian Ballet. Created by pioneering Dutch dance company Nederlands Dan Theater (NDT), this ballet had never been performed by another theatre company until the Australian premiere at the Sydney Opera House on Friday, April 29. The work of NDT House Choreographers Sol León and Paul Lightfoot, and Associate Choreographers Marco Goecke and Crystal Pite, Kunstkamer is a jagged and boundary-pushing two-part ballet that draws its inspiration from the 1734 book The Cabinet of Natural Curiosities by Dutch pharmacist, zoologist and collector Albertus Seba. The Australian Ballet Artistic Director David Hallberg calls this ballet "truly an immersive experience" and has even come out of retirement to perform as part of the run of shows. "Sol León, who's one of the four choreographers, asked me to come on board in this role," Hallberg said. "It took a little enticing because obviously I have said goodbye to the stage and I wasn't looking for opportunities to return to the stage, but I found that in this role, in this experience, in this opportunity with the dancers, in this work, it was the right time." Two dancers will perform Hallberg's part for the remainder of the Sydney shows, before he returns to the stage once more for the Melbourne premiere next month. Hallberg is not the only special guest dancer to be taking part in The Australian Ballet's Kunstkamer. The ensemble has also been joined by NDT member Jorge Nozal, who is reprising his role from the 2019 world premiere season in the Netherlands for the full run of shows down under. "Jorge is the first guest artist of my directorship, and I am really excited that it will be someone unexpected for the audience and enriching for the company," proclaimed Hallberg. "Jorge is admired by our dancers and artistic team and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to introduce him to our audience, alongside the dancers of The Australian Ballet, in the role that was created for him by Sol León." You can catch the performance at the Sydney Opera House until Saturday, May 14 before it moves onto the Arts Centre Melbourne for a run of shows between Friday, June 3 and Saturday, June 11. [caption id="attachment_852138" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Prudence Upton[/caption] Top image: Daniel Boud
Free rides, demented circus performers, spooky light shows and a killer program of Australia's best beatmakers will take over Luna Park this Halloween, as the Big Top hosts its first ever Ouija Beats party. It's the product of FBi Radio, The Music and LPS putting their heads together for a contemplation of the paranormal. The Halloween action will kick off at 6pm, with every rollercoaster, dodgem car and white-knuckle experience in the joint providing partygoers with free thrills for two hours. Then you can trick or treat your way to nine of Australia's hands-down best electronic artists playing sets all night long across two stages in the Big Top. Leading the charge is Cosmo's Midnight, who inspired a rush of hero worship following the official release of their remix of Flume's 'Sleepless' and have lately played support for XXYYXX, Cashmere Cat and Tokimonsta. Then there’s Basenji (his neighbours call him Sebastian Carlos) who likes 'eating almonds and riding his bike' and has been hitting playlists all over the place with his quirky, dynamic percussive adventures. At the more ethereal end of the electro spectrum are Panama, who've been partaking in some substantial jetsetting of late, selling out rooms in London, New York and LA along the way; Twin Caverns, who, in just one year of music-making, have graced the pages of NME and appeared on stages in the company of The Kite String Tangle, Husky and Thief; and the infectious, airy yet gritty duo Willow Beats. Rounding out the bill are Melbourne's Northeast Party House, Olympic Ayres (whose 'Magic' made the FIFA 2014 soundtrack), Moonbase Commander and the Astral People DJs. By the way, you should start on your costume sooner rather than later, for two reasons. One, there’ll be prizes (like epic home entertainment systems) going to the most inventive, bizarre and creepy couture of the night. Two, the door charge includes $40 Uber credit, so you can ride in style without doing any damage to your get-up. Tickets on sale September 9 via Luna Park.
He's a hip-hop and fashion trailblazer. His latest album Chromakopia dropped in 2024. He's also heading to Australia again in 2025. That'd be Tyler, The Creator — and he's coming with friends, with the genre-bending rapper boasting Lil Yachty and Paris Texas in support. Tyler, The Creator last headed this way on a headline tour in 2022, and played Splendour in the Grass as well. On his latest trip, he has a three-night date with Sydney, playing Qudos Bank Arena across Tuesday, August 26–Thursday, August 28. Luis 'Panch' PerezThe Chromakopia tour follows his 2024 Coachella headlining set, on a bill that also included Lana Del Rey, Doja Cat, No Doubt and plenty more. Before 2022 — which marked Tyler's first set of headline shows down under in over eight years — the last time that the star graced Australian shores was for a series of festival appearances over New Years 2020–21, hitting up the likes of Beyond the Valley and Field Day. [caption id="attachment_823369" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Demxx via Flickr[/caption] Top images: Raph_PH via Flickr.
Surry Hills' Folonomo has switched things up. It has closed its doors as a 'profit-for-purpose' restaurant and is now an events space for pop-ups, parties and one-off collaboration dinners. It's kicking off its new purpose with two dinners this month, when social enterprise The Pure Collective (Portal, Symbol) hosts two of Sydney's top chef's from Hartsyard and Dear Sainte Éloise on Thursday, August 15 and 29, respectively. First up, Hartsyard chefs Jarrod Walsh (Automata) and Dorothy Lee (Saga, Momofuku Seiobo) will be whipping up a seven-course vegetarian feast. Expect the Enmore restaurant's much-loved fried cheese, with hot mustard and pepper berry, to make the cut. Six new dishes will also be on the menu, including smoked celeriac with sake butter and fried bread; and shiitake mushrooms with buttermilk; and cauliflower and cured egg yolk. Tickets will also include Walsh's signature cocktail on arrive: a blend of whiskey, black tea and grapefruit. Then, on Thursday, August 29, Dear Sainte Éloise chef Hugh Piper will be in the house and he's serving up a nine-course Peruvian dinner — a cuisine he learnt during time spent cooking in the kitchen at Lima's Astrid y Gastón, which came in at 39 on The World's 50 Best Restaurants List in 2018. The feast will include dishes such as spicy ocean trout ceviche on prawn crackers, cobia topped with tiger milk and picarones — a pumpkin doughnut doused in fig leaf syrup and corn custard. Pisco sours will be poured on arrival and guests can also opt for an additional South American wine pairing. Monopole's Peter Richardson will even be working the front of house. Tickets to each night will cost $95 a head, with optional wine pairing available at each dinner. And, as always with The Pure Collective, you'll be wining and dining for a good cause. All proceeds from the Hartsyard dinner will be donated to HopeforOllie, which supports research into muscular dystrophy at The Westmead Children's Hospital. Proceeds from the the Dear Sainte Éloise dinner will go to Beyond Blue, a non-profit supporting Australians with depression and anxiety. Stay tuned for more collab dinners, too.
As the great writer Mark Twain said: "Too much of anything is bad, but too much good whiskey is barely enough." Here's your chance to put his wisdom to the test. Much-loved restaurant nel. is gearing up to host a degustation inspired by Bushmills Irish Whiskey. Over the course of one evening, you'll try six decadent dishes, created by award-winning chef Nelly Robinson, each matched to a whiskey drink. On arrival, expect to be greeted with a Bushmills Smash cocktail, before moving on to Black Bush, an intense yet smooth drop aged in former Oloroso sherry casks, served with beetroot crème brulée and vinegar popcorn. As the evening deepens, so will your whiskey. Course number three is a ten-year-old single malt aged in bourbon season casks — whose honey, vanilla and milk chocolate notes are a perfect fit for the burnt hay snapper with lemongrass, grape and charcoal. After that, look out for a 16-year-old single malt — matched with whiskey and coffee-cured beef, macadamia, onion and cabbage. Then, finally, the pièce de résistance: a majestic 21-year-old single malt in the company of banoffee pie. Before heading home, linger over a cheese platter and an old fashioned. Robinson will be joined by whisky expert and bartender Rachael Hand (Mjolner Melbourne) to talk through the pairings. Bushmills Irish Whiskey is handcrafted in small batches at the world's oldest licensed whiskey distillery in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. Of the collaboration, Robinson said "Bushmills works really well with my style of cooking. Each expression has so much warmth and personality which is something I strive to bring out in all my dishes." The Bushmills Whiskey Degustation will take place on Wednesday, November 21 between 6.30–9.30pm. Tickets can be purchased here.
“Romance is the glamour which turns the dust of everyday life into a golden haze.†(Amanda Cross)Thursday evening, Hugo’s Lounge: Leanne Carroll of El Cee's Designs will be launching her new line of vintage inspired millinery and fashion accessories Queen of HeArTS, with Nadia Garcia’s hand-making bespoke couture. The sparkling headwear will include fascinators and top hats, which will be shown alongside hand-beaded accessories and gowns; not to mention free cocktails on arrival and $5 pizza all night.
If you thought that Michael Jordan was the epitome of cool and Albert Einstein didn't know how to have a good time then prepare to have your perceptions shattered. A significant part of being a successful celebrity is the act of persuasion. This includes the constant act of generating and maintaining a public image that appeals to a wide audience. Kurt Cobain did dense and brooding, Bill Clinton did regal and commanding, and Stalin did intense and intimidating. Yet here are ten photos that prove that sometimes what the spin media show us about famous people is not exactly the whole story. Teenage Eminem adorned in Alf T-shirt Kurt Cobain eating pizza Hillary and Bill 'The Dude' Clinton at Yale Dean Martin and John Wayne cooking spaghetti Hitler looked ominous even when riding a sled Michael Jordan as a dorky College kid Stalin: Part time dictator, part time model Colonel Sanders with Alice Cooper Winston Churchill says 'Line up, ladies!' Albert Einstein: everyone's favourite drunk uncle
Is your dad all stocked up on socks and silly gadgets? That'll make figuring out a gift for Father's Day a challenge. Luckily, Ardbeg Whisky is here to your rescue. On the Father's Day Weekend (Saturday, August 31 and Sunday, September 1), you can get the premium scotch distillery to deliver a bottle of its smoky, peaty, complex whisky directly to your dad. And it'll arrive wrapped up in a gift pack and in the company of Shortie, the Ardbeg dog. He's travelling all the way from Scotland especially to celebrate Father's Day Down Under. For $99, this (adorable) gift includes a ten-year-old bottle of Ardbeg, packaged in a collectable tin, with a personalised card from you. Shortie will be making the rounds over the weekend. Your dad will also get some play time with Shortie to see his tricks in action and take a few pics. Yep, this is for real. The only problem is Shortie can't deliver to everyone. The service will be available on a first come, first serve basis via Dan Murphy's. So, when the offer opens on Monday, August 12, you'd better be quick. Before then, you can register your interest over here.
Nothing screams summer quite as loudly, or more on pitch, than live music and cold beers in the sunshine by the beach. And this season, Merivale — in partnership with Furphy — is delivering just that with its See Sounds Festival series. Across summer, Coogee Pavilion, Bondi's The Royal and Marrickville's Vic on the Park will be delivering a slate of gigs on a weekly basis — and they're all completely free. The lineup is jam-packed with local and international names, but there's one name that Merivale is keeping mum on. On Sunday, January 13, a major secret act is set to take the stage on Coogee Pavilion Rooftop and it's a biggie. We're talking ARIA nominations, international tours, supports for massive acts and appearances at major festivals, like Splendour in the Grass and Groovin' The Moo. It's a very rare opportunity to catch this artist for zero dollars. Coogee Pavilion will reveal all just after midnight on the day of the gig on Facebook and is recommending that you head down around 2pm. While this is a free event, it's expected to reach capacity very quickly. That's where we come in. We're giving away a VIP package which will guarantee spots at the performance for you and a mate, plus dinner and a bucket of Furphys. Enter with your details below. [competition]701431[/competition]
Have you ever thought you could easily step in for Matt Preston on Masterchef Australia? Or are you a budding writer or photographer with a love of food so great you're just itching to start writing about Australia's best restaurants and bars? If so, head to the Vibe Hotel Sydney in the CBD on Thursday, July 25, with a notebook and pen in hand, and prepare to be schooled in being a food critic. Renowned Aussie food critic and editor Grant Jones (Chef's Garage, The Daily Telegraph) will be hosting a one-off dinner and food critic masterclass geared toward teaching you how to review and flat lay like a pro. Set up in the hotel's Storehouse Sydney Café Central and Bar from 6.30pm, the workshop will teach you how to taste and write about food like a critic, as well as perfecting the craft of social media snaps. Dishes will be served share-style with pizza to start, followed by Cone Bay barramundi, beef flank or basil pesto penne pasta. For dessert, the kitchen will whip up zabaglione trifle and chocolate semifreddo. If you're vegan, there'll also be a plant-based menu available on request. It'll cost you $45 all up, including food, drinks and all the tasting tips you can imagine from a restaurant reviewing master. The Vibe Hotel Sydney's Copy the Critic will run from 6.30–9pm on Thursday, July 25. Tickets can be purchased here.
Romantic comedy cliches have earned their label for a reason; the more they're used, the more expected they become. And so it's that films like Love, Rosie emerge, wholly comprised of the seen-before and the been-there-done-that, as rendered with similarly customary sweetness. Here's the gist: girl and boy have clear feelings for each other, but are forced to stumble through a range of obstacles. Even if you've only ever seen one rom-com, you know where this is going. Rosie Dunne (Lily Collins) is an average 18-year-old girl. She's about to finish school and looking forward to a future certain to include her neighbour and lifelong best pal, Alex (Sam Claflin). There's a spark to their friendship that suggests something more, however when they take others to the prom — he escorts Bethany (Suki Waterhouse), and she goes with Greg (Christian Cooke) — it appears fate has other plans. The night has long-lasting repercussions pushing them in different directions. Alex moves to the US for medical school and after falling pregnant, single mother Rosie stays in the UK. Of course, they keep in touch. Cecelia Ahern's best-selling novel Where Rainbows End, upon which Love, Rosie is based, relates its tale through the pair's emails, letters and texts. The film uses the gimmick to a lesser extent, but their correspondence still guides a feature that charts the will-they-or-won't-they of this unconventional long distance relationship. Director Christian Ditter (best known for French for Beginners) and screenwriter Juliette Towhidi (Calendar Girls) don't stray far from the source material, nor do they need to. When it comes to cloying romantic plots, Ahern literally wrote the book. What good rom-coms do well, the most predictable included, is cultivate investment in the central couple. And even when forced into silly situations and saddled with stereotypes, Collins and Claflin are suitably charming, selling the camaraderie central to their close platonic relationship, as well as the uncertainty needed to make their 12-year flirtation endearing. They're the bright sparks in an effort otherwise happy with obviousness. You can count on picturesque imagery, heavy-handed pop cues, and tonal wobbling between contemplative drama and over-the-top comedy. Having each actor play their characters from ages 18 to 30 never quite convinces, but that's a minor issue. That's the film all over — never believable, constantly trite, but endlessly likeable. It's also the rom-com prescription in willingly evoking a necessary wish-fulfillment fantasy. Soppily telling tales of yearning loves and lives dictated by wanting what you can't have, Love, Rosie seemingly aims to be a younger-oriented successor of Bridget Jones' Diary. In its focus on its messy but spirited heroine, its lacings of cringeworthy humour and its adherence to genre formula, it doesn't miss the uninspired mark. https://youtube.com/watch?v=cweASWVpkVM
If you haven't already heard, a blockbuster exhibition by Australian Chinese artist Lindy Lee has landed at the Museum of Contemporary Art. Titled Lindy Lee: Moon in a Dew Drop, the free retrospective is running till the end of summer and features over 70 works, including Lee's early photocopy works to whole-room installations and newly commissioned sculptures. Now, the MCA and its major exhibition partner Telstra have announced a bunch of events running alongside the exhibition for those wanting to learn more about the celebrated artist's life, practice and Buddhist beliefs. First up, you can join in a guided mindfulness session alongside the artist, taught by meditation teacher Patrick Kearney. Happening on Saturday, January 16, the one-hour session takes place by Lee's sculpture 'Secret World of a Starlight Ember' in the MCA's forecourt, right by the harbour. Although it's free to attend, you'll need to get in quick and get your name on the waitlist for when tickets are released. Otherwise, the Museum is running more meditation sessions, dubbed 'The art of mindfulness', which will take place inside the exhibition walls. The intimate sessions ($76–90) will run from 8.15–10am on Saturday, November 21 and Saturday, November 28 for a maximum of 18 people — the first session has already sold out, but you can book here for the latter. There are also a bunch of tours happening, both online and IRL, from kid-friendly walk-throughs to Auslan tours. You can check out dates and times here. Plus, you can catch an immersive 180-degree video of Lee's studio as part of the exhibition. And, if that's not enough art-fuelled fun for your calendar, the MCA's popular Sundown Sketch classes have moved online, which you can join in from 6pm on Wednesday, November 4 and Wednesday, December 2 for $20–25. [caption id="attachment_787817" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lindy Lee, 'Secret World of a Starlight Ember' (2020), installation view, Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, Sydney. Photograph: Anna Kucera[/caption] The MCA is running public program events in conjunction with its exhibition 'Lindy Lee: Moon in a Dew Drop'. You can check out the full program — and book tickets — via the MCA website. Top images: Lindy Lee in 'Birth and Death' (2003), installation view, Campbelltown Art Centre, 2007, image courtesy the artist. Photograph: Robert Scott-Mitchel; and Lindy Lee, 'Listening to the Moon' (2018), installation view, 'Lindy Lee: Moon in a Dew Drop', Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, Sydney, image courtesy the artist and the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, Sydney. Photographs: Anna Kucera.
Here are some things that have happened in the stories of American writer David Sedaris: A man goes in search of a stuffed owl to give to his boyfriend for Valentine's Day. Befriending a taxidermist who confirms his interest in formerly alive creatures is strictly non-professional, the man finds himself in a London basement gazing at the 400-year-old preserved head of a 14-year-old girl and the skeleton of a 19th-century Pygmy. They raise questions, uncomfortable ones. Like, 'how much are they?' A man takes a job at Macy's department store as a Christmas elf named Crumpet. He encounters fistfights, vomiting and magnificent tantrums, children with modelling contracts and children with adjectives instead of first names. He tells a child that Santa has changed his policy, and no longer brings coal if you misbehave. Instead he will break into your house, steal all your appliances, and leave you alone, in the dark, with nothing. A father imagines his children forming a jazz quartet. Hoping to make the fantasy reality, the father gifts the son 'that guitar you always wanted'. The son, while regularly petitioning for a brand-name vacuum cleaner, had never mentioned a guitar. He takes lessons from an artistically thwarted midget, until one evening the son admits to his teacher that what we really wants to do is perform a medley of television jingles in the voice of Billie Holiday. David Sedaris has developed a cult-like following for penning insightful, satirical, real-life stories like those above. His latest book is entitled Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls. You could read it, if that is a thing you would like to do. You could also read Naked, Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim, Me Talk Pretty One Day or any of his other fine collections available at your local bookshop. A regular contributor to This American Life, Sedaris will be touring Australia and New Zealand in January 2014. You can sign up for exclusive pre-sales at his website. SYDNEY Sydney Opera House Saturday 18 January MELBOURNE Hamer Hall, Arts Centre Tuesday 21 January CANBERRA Canberra Theatre Centre Wednesday 22 January BRISBANE Brisbane Powerhouse – Powerhouse Theatre Thursday 23 January PERTH Perth Concert Hall Friday 24 January AUCKLAND Civic Theatre, Auckland Sunday 26 January https://youtube.com/watch?v=1msZQjwlebU
Suicide Squad is essentially a remake of 1967's The Dirty Dozen, with two key differences. Firstly, it uses comic book villains instead of WW2 soldiers as its heroes. Secondly The Dirty Dozen was actually good. On premise at least, the two films are identical: in order to defeat a great evil, the US Government takes the worst of the worst from its own prisons and sends them on a suicidal mission with the promise that – should anyone come back – their sentence will be reduced. In substance, though, Suicide Squad is such a red hot mess that all other comparisons to Dozen only serve to highlight the anti-superhero movie's countless, crippling flaws. Start with the characters. Dirty Dozen's dozen were legitimately bad people: rapists, murderers and certifiable psychopaths who never hesitated to indulge their predilections whenever the opportunity presented itself. Suicide Squad purportedly boasts similarly terrifying evildoers, but its cushy M Rating (PG-13 in the States) results in almost all instances of their villainy either being spectacularly watered down or the cameras cutting away just before shit hits the fan. Worse still, they're all ultimately presented as inwardly decent souls seeking redemption and a close-knit family unit, rendering them more babysitters club than actual suicide squad. The best of the worst is Margot Robbie as fan-favourite Harley Quinn, aka the Joker's girlfriend. Decked out in a 'Daddy's Lil Monster' t-shirt like some sort of terrifying by-product of a BDSM fantasy taken to its nightmarish conclusion, Robbie's Quinn is the only character to gleefully embrace the chaos, making her the only one worth watching for most of the movie. Even then, the majority of her few good lines (as with the rest of the film) were given away in the trailer, leaving little else to celebrate. Alongside her stand some genuinely bargain-basement bad guys. There's Deadshot (Will Smith), the hitman who never misses; Killer Croc (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje), the guy who's kind of a crocodile; Slipknot (Adam Beach), the guy who is good at climbing things and Boomerang (Jai Courtney), the Aussie who…well...uses a boomerang. The only other one to hold court with Robbie is Jay Hernandez's character Diablo, whose incendiary powers are almost inevitably untouched for most of the movie because of his determination to never again use them. Together, they battle waves of literally faceless henchmen with all the vim and vigour of a second-rate video game as they come up against Cara Delevingne's Enchantress, whose legitimately spooky behaviour is tragically reduced to stock-standard 'Big Bad' status just as she's hitting her straps. Then, finally, there's the Joker, arguably the greatest villain in comic book history. Played by Jared Leto, his screen time is limited, but that can't hide the fact that the actor's performance is inescapably dull. Compared to Jack Nicholson's whimsical psychotic, or Heath Ledger's unhinged anarchist, Leto plays the character like a pantomime gangster whose only threatening quality is the possibility of more scenes. Everything about Suicide Squad feels rushed, underwritten and overproduced. Additional characters pop up like afterthoughts (most notably Karen Fukuhara as Katana), scenes come and go with neither purpose nor continuity, and the stakes are so absent you don't even know when to be concerned, or what to be concerned about. Don't let the trailers fool you: this is one of the biggest disappointments of the year. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9TpswDIBS8
An underground sensation has been stirring in Australia since 1999. That's when the country's first truffles were harvested, following years of careful preparation, and as a nation we've embraced this black gold of haute cuisine ever since. To see how the prized fungi are farmed firsthand, there's nothing better than to join a truffle hunt and tasting at Black Cat Truffles. This truffiere on the edge of Victoria's Creswick State Forest, just outside of Ballarat, boasts more than 1000 French and English oak trees with truffles slowly, moodily growing on their roots. To help you sniff them out, you'll have a little animal assistance from Black Cat's resident dogs, Ella, Harry and Narla (pigs are famously naturally drawn to truffles, but you don't want to fight one for the rights to its find). Farmers Andres and Lynette Haas will be there too, sharing their truffle-related knowledge, tales and tasting notes. You'll also get to try a selection of truffle-infused dishes, ranging from oozy d'Affinois cheese to potato stacks and ice cream. This is a quintessentially winter activity — truffles aren't in season for long — so prepare to rug up, pull on your wellies and get enveloped in the highland mists. Black Cat's Truffle Hunts and Tastings run from June to August. If you're really enamoured with the catch of the day, it's yours to take home for $2.50 per gram. To find more winter adventures in Ballarat, Daylesford and the surrounds, visit the Wander Victoria website.
Strolls around the city have been much brighter in recent weeks, all thanks to the addition of some unexpected blooms. The CBD's grey, concrete streets have had a makeover as a part of the City of Sydney's twice-yearly 'Living Colour' floral display project, taking over Martin Place, Castlereagh Street, Alfred Street, Queens Square, Cathedral Square, Springfield Gardens, Taylor Square, Sydney Town Hall and QVB, Green Square, Union Square, the forecourt outside St Mary's cathedral and more. But as the nearly 100,000 plants have been blooming since September, these flowers need a new home. Want some more snapdragons, celosia, golden marjoram and bromeliads in your life? On Sunday, November 13 from 8am, St Mary's Cathedral will be the spot to snag some cut-price botanical beauties. For just a gold coin donation, you'll be able to take home everything from petunias to curly parsley. Plus, with the spring displays created in collaboration with the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney as a celebration of its 200th birthday, all funds raised will be heading to the Foundation and Friends of the Botanic Gardens. Add some colour to your own space and feel good about it too. Who could resist adopting these little blooms that've seen it all?
Man against the elements: it's the familiar staple of survivalist film fare, crafted as a feat of cinematic endurance as much as entertainment. J.C. Chandor's nautical All Is Lost adheres to that description to the letter, unraveling in near wordlessness with its emotion carried in Robert Redford's world-weathered face. The combination of existentialism and action on offer, however, reaches beyond the customary depictions of fortitude and perseverance. Details — names, places, dates — are rendered irrelevant; all that matters is "our man", his boat and the endless expanse of sea that forms his surroundings. Awakening to the thud of an adrift shipping container bursting through the hull of his vessel, the film's nameless protagonist pits his resourcefulness against the water, wind and weight of other worsening difficulties conspiring against his subsistence. For 106 minutes of running time and eight days of narrative, Margin Call writer/director Chandor crafts a tension-riddled thriller despite the sparseness of his cast and setting; again, Redford and his sea-faring abilities monopolise the movie to the exclusion of all else. Even the most mundane of tasks — including shaving, eating canned food and conserving water — seethe with suspense. The singular spotlight heightens the anxiety to unrelenting levels, the knowledge that any peaceful moment could take a turn for the worse unable to be shaken. Withholding information about Redford's character similarly amplifies the feature's focus, centring on the circumstances over the individual in its treatise on existence and mortality. As the stoic veteran is battered and beaten by forces beyond his control, eventually acquiescing to his inevitable fate as the title suggests, the feature's commentary upon the broader human condition is unmistakable — but its assurance doesn't hamper its haunting heartbreak. In such context, the who and the why just don't matter. It has been a big year for well-known faces stranded in inconvenient spaces (quite literally for Sandra Bullock in Gravity); however, Redford is the unsung hero in the survivalist race, as is his film. Eschewing dialogue, the actor conveys every ounce of resilience and weariness in his physicality and performance. Though storm-fuelled special effects enliven the drama in a deft display of Chandor's direction, much of the film's power comes from understated scenes of a man at nature's mercy. The sounds, sights and overall thrust emphasise solitude, swelling to operatic proportions due to striking visuals and an immersive score, yet what echoes loudest is the film's vitality. All Is Lost may leave viewers broken in its transcendent contemplation of the beauty and brutality of life, but it also embodies those very aspects. Nothing is easy in the feature's austerity, but nothing is lost either. https://youtube.com/watch?v=no1rl9Gvx-s
Insert Coin(s) combines club tunes, retro gaming, graffiti art and geek culture at Oxford Art Factory. Following on from their sneak peak of The Darkness II, this fourth round of Insert Coin(s) will feature multiple screens of FIFA Street (not out till March 15) and SSX (released March 1). You'll also get access to a custom '80s style milk bar (mmm… alcoholic milkshakes), contemplate foot-long dogs at a New York-style hot dog vendor (wow… so many condiments), and rediscover your skills at pinball, arcade and tabletop units, including Pacman, Addams Family, Donkey Kong, Frogger, Shinobi, Back to the Future, Fish Tales and World Cup Soccer. DJs will spin classic tracks from the '80s and '90s all night long and the Insert Coin(s) team have even got some graffiti artists coming to create live art inspired by the video games of yesteryear. Since the launch event last September, this event series has become a hit with gamers, geeks and social gypsies everywhere, so take a boozy trip down memory lane and revisit the all-time classics from the 8-bit era. What the heck happened to my pinball machine points anyway? Game on!
Considering it's part of the inner city, Erksineville's high street isn't as big or bustling as you may expect. But it does have everything one needs: cafes, takeaway joints, bottle shops, pubs and a grocer stocked with all of your kitchen essentials. The Fruit Village has been around since 2013. It's the sort of reliable local you can count on to have an ingredient you're missing from the fridge or pantry when cooking up a storm. But it doesn't jack up the prices just because it can — it sells everything at bargain rates, particularly in-season fruit (we've seen trays of lemons and mandarins for just two bucks each). Alongside its fresh fruit and veg, it also stocks rice, pasta, Sonoma bread and snacks.
If we have to have more superhero movies, and it would seem we've no say in the matter, let's just hope they at least try to be as disruptive and refreshing as Shazam! After early misfires in the shape of Justice League and Man of Steel, DC, at long last, have got another one right. Full of life, laughs and (thank God) light, Shazam! is the kind of carefree superhero film that reinvigorates the fantasy of actually being a superhero. For so long now, the "with great power comes great responsibility" mantra has sucked the enjoyment right out of the genre (at least on the DC side), making the very idea of having extraordinary powers seem like a complete drag. Here, though, thanks to the wide-eyed, goofy-grinning performance by leading man Zachary Levi, it seems like an absolute blast. Levi plays Shazam (Solomon, Hercules, Atlas, Zeus, Achilles and Mercury all rolled into one), a muscle-bound, invulnerable and electricity-enhanced hero whose magical powers lie within his alter-ego, 14-year-old foster kid Billy Batson (Asher Angel). Batson is given his powers by an old wizard in a last-gasp effort to stave off the impending attack from a gang of demons known as the Seven Deadly Sins, who take up residence within the deliciously-evil Thaddeus Sivana (Mark Strong). Where Shazam! departs from most other films of this genre is how long it spends with Batson and his foster-care brother Freddy (Jack Dylan Grazer) as they explore the possibilities and powers stemming from the sudden discovery of superhuman abilities. Can Shazam fly? Is he bulletproof, or is it just his suit? And, most important of all, can they buy beer now that one of them looks like an adult? It may feel a little childish at times, but that's actually a testament to writer Henry Gayden and director David F. Sandberg (Annabelle: Creation), since children is precisely what Billy and Freddy are. Perhaps even more critical to Shazam!'s appeal, though, is its heartfelt relationships. It's a family film about family – the search for a missing mother, the sting of a father's rejection and the love from a family united not by blood but by circumstance. Led by foster parents Victor and Rosa Vasquez (Cooper Andrews and Marta Milans), Billy's new foster home brings together an impossibly endearing gang of multicultural misfits: Mary (Grace Fulton), Pedro (Jovan Armand), Eugene (Ian Chen), and Darla (Faithe Herman). Orphans are just about the superhero genre's most consistent trope, but here it's explored in an entirely new way, and the foster family scenes are amongst the film's best. A word of warning, though: whilst Shazam! is a big bunch of laughs and a whole lot of silliness, there's definitely enough to spook younger viewers. The Sins, for example, are like the red-eyed Gozer dominions from Ghostbusters, and their nightmarish takedown of a company board meeting in the film's opening stages isn't without a heady dose of horror. Still, the rest of the movie offers mostly light fare, and some of its greatest gags are also those most closely linked to the superhero staples (Strong's villainous speech during the film's climax being the best of the bunch). In all, Shazam! is like Superman's goofball cousin; a casual, crazy and cheeky take on the childhood fantasy of being bigger, faster, stronger and, above all, wanted. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=go6GEIrcvFY
Towards the end of Victoria and Abdul, Judi Dench's face fills the frame during an extended speech. For the second time in her career she's playing Queen Victoria in a film about the British monarch's relationship with a servant. Whereas 1997's Mrs Brown saw her bonding with Billy Connolly, this time the 19th century sovereign has forged a strong platonic bond with Indian Muslim clerk Abdul (Ali Fazal), but her son (Eddie Izzard) and staff are none too happy about it. Cue a memorable dressing down delivered by a figure well-aware of her power and responsibilities, as well as the type of scene designed to garner awards nominations. That's Victoria and Abdul in a nutshell. The latest regal flick from The Queen's Stephen Frears, it's the kind of film that knows where its strengths reside, and how viewers are likely to react. That's not to downplay Dench's formidable talents, or her ability to inhabit Queen Victoria's many shades and depths. Indeed, she's the best thing on screen. But there's no ignoring the fact that Frears has plunged the beloved actress into a decidedly average historical drama that isn't always worthy of her talents. Despite taking its inspiration from real life, Victoria and Abdul sticks closely to a familiar culture-clash formula. Typically, one of two things happen when folks from different stations in life meet in a movie. Either they get along nicely, but their connection isn't met with the same fondness by those around them, or, after a rocky start, they're forced to learn from their differences. When Abdul is picked to journey to Britain to present the queen with a ceremonial coin during her Golden Jubilee celebrations, the film seems destined to take the second path. Then he breaks protocol by making eye contact with the monarch, she's intrigued by the good-natured newcomer in her midst, and before long they're facing off against institutionalised racism. While Dench plays Queen Vic with considerable texture and nuance — more than early scenes seem to indicate, in fact — the feature around her doesn't share the same fortune. There's a difference between probing engrained prejudices and just presenting a scenario filled with them, with Victoria and Abdul taking the easier, latter option. Adapting the book of the same name by Shrabani Basu, screenwriter Lee Hall (War Horse) keeps things light and simplistic when it comes to scheming naysayers, cultural disharmony and Abdul himself. Given that the film supposedly sets out to dispel racist stereotypes, the fact that Abdul is portrayed as a jovial, exotic outsider who helps Victoria get her groove back is more than a little bit troubling. Where the film succeeds is as a misty-eyed ode to friendship. As Rose-tinted as much of the lavishly shot movie proves, it thoughtfully and tenderly conveys the effect that having someone to talk to, and to listen back, can have. The rapport between Dench and the spirited Fazal helps, ensuring that Abdul remains an engaging presence, even if he's flimsily written. Their time together mightn't delve deep into the intricacies surrounding their characters, but Victoria and Abdul is at its best when its stars share the screen. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtC8jNHSxgQ
When he's not playing the hero — anti- or otherwise —, Vin Diesel is quite the fan of Dungeons & Dragons. It's worth keeping that tidbit in mind as The Last Witch Hunter unravels, because that's where the film finds its basis. Cory Goodman, one of the movie's three writers, reportedly bonded with Diesel over their shared fondness for the fantasy role-playing game, then wrote a script based upon the actor's witch hunter D&D character. Goodman's love letter to his leading man's favourite pastime has since been filtered through two other scribes (Dracula Untold's Matt Sazama and Burk Sharpless), as well as Sahara and The Crazies director Breck Eisner. But that doesn't stop it from feeling like the indulgent exercise that it is. And while no one is decrying Diesel for wanting to do something on film other than driving fast cars furiously and exchanging lingering glances with The Rock, he's not asked to do much here other than look serious amid some supernatural special effects. As the movie's moniker gives away, Diesel's Kaulder is the final fighter of the bewitching folk who live among humanity, and has been for eight centuries. After he vanquished the Witch Queen in the 13th century, he was cursed with immortality, meaning years of trying to rid the world of the evil and enchanting. As his offsider (Michael Caine) prepares to retire and let a newcomer (Elijah Wood) take his place, a fresh source of wicked sorcery strikes. With his past the key to his present predicament, Kaulder must call upon bar-owning good witch Chloe (Rose Leslie) to help him plunge into his own memories and track down his new foe. That The Last Witch Hunter comes across as Batman-esque isn't just a byproduct of Caine playing a butler-like priest. When a moody, brooding warrior stalks the city streets slaying enemies, motivated by personal losses and a blistering sense of righteousness, it's not hard to find similarities between the two. Alas, the comparison doesn't bode well for the derivative film currently on screens, particularly when there's not much more of a plot to tie it to. Diesel tries his best to make his scowling charm cover up the lack of narrative excitement, but though his efforts are noted, they're not the magic fix the movie needs. Still, other than slick-enough visuals and a few fun touches (a ravenous monster for a prison and a tree bewitched to appear to grow gummy bears, for example), he remains the best element of the surprisingly action-sparse film. He might stand around more than you'd think he should, but you have to admire his dedication to the messiness that surrounds him. Audiences might not be engaged in the occult antics that pad out the film's running time, nor the plodding dialogue that does the same, but at least Diesel is committed — and considerably more so than his seemingly bored co-stars, as doesn't escape attention. Unfortunately, as the later two Riddick films proved, his enthusiasm isn't enough to brighten up the blandness he willingly and affectionately wades into when he's not behind the wheel of a high-octane franchise. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsuG2JUgs_8
Tasers, telephoto lenses and a new spate of crimes terrifying the beachside town of Neptune: yes, Veronica Mars is back. Everyone's favourite pint-sized TV private eye is finally returning to our screens, all thanks to the show's long-awaited, eagerly anticipated fourth season. As played with the usual pluck and determination by Kristen Bell, she's ready to sleuth her way through a whole new mystery. Of course she is. Due to release in the US in July, via streaming platform Hulu, Veronica Mars' revival follows its titular heroine as she endeavours to get to the bottom of a wave of bombings that've been blasting their way through her home town. The fictional seaside spot is quite the tourist spot — especially come spring break — and Ms Mars thinks that someone wants to blight its reputation. After dropping a very brief teaser in April, Hulu has released the first proper trailer for the series — and, as well as showing the no-nonsense Veronica doing what she does best, it features a heap of familiar faces. Her dad Keith Mars (Enrico Colantoni) and on-again, off-again love interest Logan Echolls (Jason Dohring) also pop up, as does her ex-classmate Weevil (Francis Capra). Also set to make an appearance: returning cast members Percy Daggs III, Ryan Hansen and Max Greenfield, plus new inclusions such as Patton Oswalt, Clifton Collins Jr and Bell's The Good Place co-star Kirby Howell-Baptiste. Oh and JK Simmons, too, and it appears that he's the new season's bad guy. Check out the trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wuhCFAtFE-A If you've been following Veronica's story for the past 15 years, you'll know that the TV series originally debuted in 2004, ran for three seasons until 2007, and then set a crowdfunding record to get a film off the ground in 2014. Next came two novels and a web series spin-off — and now, as first confirmed in September last year, this eight-episode revival. Break out the marshmallows, obviously. The fourth season of Veronica Mars hits Hulu on July 26. Details of the show's Australian and New Zealand release are yet to be confirmed — we'll keep you posted.
How'd you like to populate your Christmas feast with local, artisanal goods to make your relatives impressed and your in-laws floored? Carriageworks is bringing back its Christmas Market, where you can buy fresh seasonal produce just a couple of days before Christmas. Importantly, you can also buy gifts just days before the big day — because we know what you're like. Taking over Carriageworks' regular Saturday morning meet on December 22, the market will go all Christmas with a cornucopia of the spoils of 115 of Australia's best producers, restaurants and designers — think homemade plum puddings, succulent hams, fresh cherries, smelly cheeses and more. Expect the best from the weekly Carriageworks Farmers Market and more, including Christmas hams from Linga Longa Farm, cherries from Kurrawong Organics, gluten-free mince tarts from Kitchen Green, Andy Bowdy, from Enmore's Saga, famed desserts and much festive gin from Archie Rose. Plus, there'll be plenty more joining the party — more than 120 stallholders, to be exact — so expect to see Continental (and its much-loved tinned goods), Flour and Stone, Pasta Emilia, Smoking Gun Bagels and Pepe Saya there too. Of course, you can grab a snack as well, with the Fish Butchery, Bar Pho, Single O and Bibim Bowl setting up stalls for the morning. Look at that, Carriageworks just saved Christmas. Images: Jacquie Manning.
He's soft and cuddly, has a hankering for honey and hibernating, and believes that doing nothing leads to the very best something. With wisdom like that, he could be a wellness guru — but instead, Winnie-the-Pooh is a walking, talking teddy bear. There are many reasons to love the best-known inhabitant of the Hundred Acre Wood. Taking inspiration from a stuffed toy cherished by his son Christopher Robin, author A.A. Milne crafted the cute creature with ample affection, making him feel like the best friend that every kid always wanted. With dashings of black ink on white paper, illustrator E. H. Shepard also brought the bear to life with grace and care in drawings that felt like they could wander off the paper. Thanks to an array of short films, features and television shows over the past six decades, Pooh did mosey beyond those pages. That said, he has never taken a stroll in quite the fashion seen in Christopher Robin. With director Marc Forster (World War Z) mixing live-action and CGI, Pooh is an adorable ball of fluff that couldn't look more realistic. He's covered with tufts of naturalistic fur that viewers will instantly want to run their fingers through and, thanks to special effects that give him a well-worn appearance, it looks like plenty of people already have. Courtesy of a script by Alex Ross Perry (Golden Exits), Tom McCarthy (Spotlight) and Allison Schroeder (Hidden Figures), Pooh is also actually dispensing wellness advice to a now-adult Christopher Robin (Ewan McGregor, charming even when he's haunted by stress). Indeed, if there's one thing that Christopher Robin takes seriously, it's the idea of not taking life too seriously. In a movie with the sweetness of Pooh's preferred food — but a dose of melancholy too — the childhood character pops into Christopher Robin's life when he least expects it. (Not that anyone expects a living teddy bear to find them in a London garden, follow them home and start putting their sticky paws on everything.) It has been years since Christopher farewelled Pooh, with boarding school, the Second World War, and now work and his family all monopolising his attention instead. But trying to balance his personal and professional lives, or failing to, has left Christopher in a spot of bother. While his wife Evelyn (Hayley Atwell) and daughter Madeline (Bronte Carmichael) head out to the country, he's stuck at home alone working for a luggage company. Then Pooh shows up, searching for the missing Tigger, Piglet, Eeyore, Kanga, Roo, Owl and Rabbit, and making Christopher realise exactly what he's missing. Much of Christopher Robin follows its two central characters as they roam around the Hundred Acre Wood. It's a hangout movie — viewers not only hang out with characters they love, but watch them hang out as well. While the drama about meeting work deadlines feels somewhat flimsy as a result, just soaking in the film's scenic surroundings and loveable figures offers enough to enjoy. Forster certainly thinks so, with the movie never as buoyant as when it's focusing firmly on Christopher Robin, Pooh and their green sanctuary. Intricate production design assists, ensuring that every swaying tree and meadow of grass is as eye-catching as a certain bear of very little brain. As viewers rove their eyes over Christopher Robin's splendid sights, they're doing just what the film espouses: slowing down, enjoying the moment, and switching off from the hustle and bustle. Still, as you're clearing space in your head thanks to this nice little movie — and it's truly the epitome of nice, soothing, cosy and comfortable — you might notice a few familiar elements. Forster has dallied with a beloved childhood story before in Finding Neverland, while the idea of a fictional animal character coming to life smacks of Paddington and its sequel, and Hook told overworked men to reconsider their priorities more than two decades ago. You may also recall 2017's forgettable Goodbye Christopher Robin, but thankfully Christopher Robin doesn't underestimate its audience or smother anyone in treacly sentiment. In imagining a new adventure for Pooh and his human pal rather than revisiting their beginnings, the film simply wants viewers to delight in the big-hearted pleasures of its gorgeous world. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PakpWVOK37Y
A thrilling sports film, heartbreaking drama and eye-opening cautionary tale all rolled in to one, All This Mayhem will transcend your expectations of its subject matter. Ostensibly a documentary about the rise and fall of two former skateboarding champions, in execution the Australian-made production bears closer resemblance to (in the words of its director) a modern-day Greek tragedy, full of hubris, temptation and a reckless disregard for long-term consequences. The larger-than-life characters at the heart of the real world drama are Melbourne-born brothers Tas and Ben Pappas. As kids, the siblings found escape at a skate ramp Prahran, where they quickly gained a reputation as two of the most daring skaters around. As teenagers in the early '90s, they travelled to the United States, where their incredible ability would bring new life to the sport they loved. But with the success came a hard partying lifestyle — and the catalysts for a truly spectacular downfall. Director Eddie Martin uncovers an incredible wealth of footage, drawing on old home movies and DIY skate vids to glossy tournament coverage broadcast on ESPN. Through this mix of high- and low-res video, we watch the Australian duo turn the flagging world of skateboarding on its head. No matter your level of interest in the sport, it's difficult not to be wowed by the aerial acrobatics on display. Moreover, Martin demonstrates a natural flair for narrative, honing in on the bitter rivalry between Tas and Tony Hawk as a means to sucking non-fans into the drama. But as any skater would tell you, what goes up must eventually come down. So as the film moves into its second half, the sense of exhilaration is replaced by feelings of horror and despair. In an extended present-day interview, a rueful Tas speaks with devastating candour about the decisions that ultimately ripped apart his life. At the same time, the absence of any recent footage of Ben makes it clear that something is terribly amiss. Rarely does a movie, documentary or otherwise, make you care so deeply about its characters. It's for that reason that All This Mayhem is as emotionally wrenching as it is. In what is shaping up to be a banner year for Australian cinema, this wild and powerful doco has officially stolen the lead. https://youtube.com/watch?v=8mPlO1WnLHQ
UPDATE, April 21, 2021: A Simple Favour is available to stream via Netflix, Stan, Google Play, YouTube Movies and Amazon Video. A Simple Favour is an unashamed delight: a deliciously twisty mystery with the zest and kick of a strong gin martini (and the visible gloss and sparkle of one too). Based on Darcey Bell's 2017 novel of the same name, the film slings its thrills with an upbeat vibe from director Paul Feig, dynamic performances from Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively, plus a knowing but never mocking tone. It's the fun, fierce movie that Gone Girl might've become had it been vastly more playful, and boasts the flair that The Girl on the Train desperately needed. That's not a criticism of the former film, although it definitely is about the latter. If there's one thing that A Simple Favour knows above all else, it's how to turn a pulpy airplane read into an irresistible big-screen experience. Kendrick plays the widowed Stephanie, a perky, perennially helpful mum who lives for her young son. From overzealously signing up for every school activity that she can, to dispensing mothering tips on her vlog, she's a maternal wind-up bunny, to the point of ridicule by other parents (including Andrew Rannells as a snarky, scene-stealing dad). No one, including Stephanie, would've expected fashion executive Emily (Lively) to pay her any attention. The duo only start spending afternoons together downing cocktails and listening to jazzy French pop because their kids beg for a playdate. It's a chalk and cheese relationship, with Stephanie awed by her new pal's glamorous home, life and husband (Henry Golding), while Emily maintains an air of aloof, self-involved intrigue. Then Emily asks Stephanie to do her a simple favour, and nothing is ever simple again. One of Stephanie's video blogs kickstarts A Simple Favour, instantly revealing that Emily has disappeared. That's the film's basic premise — and when the movie fills in the gaps via flashback, it sets up one of its recurring motifs. As this sleuthing story slinks and snakes along a trail of gloriously unhinged developments, the truth proves slippery. Any good thriller involves duplicity, and all notable detective tales have their fair share of zigzags. Feig frequently serves up both while simultaneously fracturing the flimsy facade of suburban bliss, letting his characters spin their stories as his images expose the reality behind them. It's a technique that the filmmaker has cause to use often, and it adds to an enjoyably devilish atmosphere. Indeed, the director of Bridesmaids, The Heat, Spy and Ghostbusters might be in less overtly jokey territory than usual, but Feig's trademarks are all still on show. His latest female-focused flick throws women into a realm often populated by men, yet firmly retains its own personality. As the movie charts a knotty whodunnit narrative, it also follows its protagonists as they realise just what they're really capable of — be it nice or nasty. Furthermore, A Simple Favour brandishes a cutting, subversive sense of humour, while ensuring that viewers are always laughing with rather than at his on-screen ladies. Even when Kendrick is at her peppiest, and Lively at her most gleefully cunning, siding with the two is consistently on the cards. Whatever Stephanie and Emily get up to — and this is a film with a body count, oh-so-many deep secrets and more than 50 shades of darkness — the actors behind them are flawless. Kendrick nabbed an Oscar nomination for Up in the Air almost a decade ago, and Lively ruled New York's Upper East Side for six seasons on Gossip Girl, but here they're both given roles that are intricately attuned to their individual talents. That remains true emotionally as well as physically, with Stephanie a pocket livewire who's enthusiastic, awkward but never out of her element, and Emily seductive yet savage whether she's decisively making the perfect drink or devastating everyone around her with the sharpest of dialogue. Screenwriter Jessica Sharzer is in her element, too, even if a A Simple Favour doesn't initially seem an obvious companion to 2016's tech-savvy Nerve, her previous screenplay. Both movies share a knack for finding the sweet spot between the silly and sublime as their warped plots turns themselves inside out, A Simple Favour more successfully so. Sharzer's scripts veer into ridiculousness but float above B-grade schlock, and throw winks at the audience yet never act like the whole thing is just an ironic gag — although the source material assists considerably in this case. With help from Feig, Kendrick and Lively, the end result is slick, smart, slightly sleazy and ruthlessly entertaining, and remains thoroughly committed to making viewers eat up every moment. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqsdrYBPjv8
UPDATE, November 3, 2021: The Harder The Fall is available to stream via Netflix from Wednesday, November 3. Idris Elba. A piercing gaze. One helluva red velvet suit. A film can't coast by on such a combination alone, and The Harder They Fall doesn't try to — but when it splashes that vivid vision across the screen, it's nothing short of magnificent. The moment arrives well into Jeymes Samuel's revisionist western, so plenty of stylishness has already graced its frames before then. Think: Old West saloons in brilliant yellows, greens and blues; the collective strut of a cast that includes Da 5 Bloods' Delroy Lindo and Jonathan Majors, Atlanta's Zazie Beetz and LaKeith Stanfield, and If Beale Street Could Talk Oscar-winner Regina King; and an aesthetic approach that blasts together the cool, the slick and the operatic. Still, Elba and his crimson attire — and the black vest and hat that tops it off — is the exclamation mark capping one flamboyant and vibrant movie. Imaginative is another appropriate word to describe The Harder They Fall, especially its loose and creative take on American history. Where some features based on the past take a faithful but massaged route — fellow recent release The Last Duel, for example — this one happily recognises what's fact and what's fantasy. Its main players all existed centuries ago, but Samuel and co-screenwriter Boaz Yakin (Now You See Me) meld them into the same narrative. That's an act of complete fiction, as is virtually everything except their names. The feature freely admits this on-screen before proceedings begin, though, and wouldn't dream of hiding from it. Team-up movies aren't rare, whether corralling superheroes or movie monsters, but there's a particular thrill and power to bringing together these fictionalised Black figures in such an ambitious and memorable, smart and suave, and all-round swaggering film. After proving such a commanding lead in HBO series Lovecraft Country, Majors takes centre stage here, too, as gunslinger Nat Love. First, however, the character is initially introduced as a child (Anthony Naylor Jr, The Mindy Project), watching his parents get murdered by the infamous Rufus Buck (Elba, The Suicide Squad). A quest for revenge ensues — and yes, Nat shares an origin story with Batman. Samuel definitely isn't afraid to get stylised and cartoonish, or melodramatic, or playful for that matter. One of the keys to The Harder They Fall is that it's so many things all at once, and rarely is it any one thing for too long. This is a brash and bold western from its first vividly shot frame till its last, of course, and yet it's also a film about the tragedies that infect families, the violence that infects societies, and the hate, abuse, prejudice, discrimination and bloodshed that can flow from both. It's a romance, too, and it nails its action scenes like it's part of a big blockbuster franchise. As an adult, Nat still has Rufus in his sights. It'll take a few twists of fate — including a great train robbery to free Rufus en route from one prison to the next — to bring them face to face again. The sequence where the outlaw's righthand woman Trudy (King) and quick-drawing fellow gang member Cherokee Bill (Stanfield) take on the law is sleek heist delight, and the saloon clash with marshal Bass Reeves (Lindo) that gets Nat back on Rufus' trail is just as dextrously handled. Nat also has bar proprietor and his on-again, off-again ex Stagecoach Mary (Beetz) on his side, plus the boastful Beckwourth (RJ Cyler, Me and Earl and the Dying Girl), sharp-shooting Bill Pickett (Edi Gathegi, Briarpatch) and diminutive Cuffee (Danielle Deadwyler, P-Valley). Everyone gets their moments, and every one of those moments sashays towards a blood-spattered showdown. It might seem like a pure boilerplate affair on the page, particularly when getting roguish with the western genre — and using it to muse on race — has peppered Quentin Tarantino's resume courtesy of The Hateful Eight and Django Unchained. One of the other keys to The Harder They Fall is how openly and confidently that Samuel knows whose footsteps he's following in, because this is a realm with a past as sprawling as the plains it frequently covets. Seasoned fans can spot the nods in a multitude of directions, including to 60s and 70s spaghetti westerns, and to plenty of other flicks from the same era starring Clint Eastwood. But this is act of reclamation built on the bones of all that's come before, rather than a homage; it slides into a busy field to assert a place for Black cowboys, and does so as beguilingly as Samuel knows how. Perhaps better known as a songwriter and music producer, aka The Bullitts, Samuel brings a thrumming, dynamic, take-charge energy to The Harder They Fall. He writes, directs and composes the movie's soundtrack, too, so that applies across the board. Indeed, the way that he weaves the sounds of hip hop, reggae and afrobeat into a score that also takes cues from the late, great Ennio Morricone — the man behind the music to all of Sergio Leone's spaghetti westerns, as well as an Oscar-winner for The Hateful Eight — perfectly encapsulates his overall approach. Samuel has room for all that's come before, and reverence for it, but he's also committed to challenging and redefining the stories and mythology it represents. The Harder They Fall has purpose, pluck and panache — oh-so-much flair, in fact, that it drips across everything from the cinematography to the production design and dapper costuming. It has pace as well, with its 130-minute running-time whizzing by amid several shootouts filled with rapid-fire bullets and enough strong glares to fuel a franchise of flicks. It also boasts the absolute best posse that Samuel could've hoped for. The Harder They Fall's cast is the kind you build an entire movie around, not that that's the gambit here. It'd be hard to thrust this ensemble together and have something other than a spectacular acting showcase result, but this is a rollicking pleasure with the exact right cast, an abundance of smarts, savvy and style, and an unwavering backbone. Top image: David Lee/Netflix.
Prepare for an unforgettable night of elevated dining as Toko partners with Haku Vodka to host an intimate omakase experience. On Tuesday, October 15, just ten guests will have the chance to enjoy a bespoke evening of premium Japanese cuisine paired with luxurious House of Suntory Haku Vodka cocktails, all in Toko's private dining room, for $295 per person. Where's This Exclusive Omakase Evening Happening? This exclusive event will take place in the private dining room in the sleek subterranean restaurant, which is mere footsteps from Wynyard Station and the Light Rail on George Street. Known for its elegant atmosphere and top-tier Japanese dining, Toko is the perfect backdrop for this intimate culinary experience. What's on the Menu? Guests will indulge in a tailored omakase menu featuring expertly crafted Japanese dishes complemented by the refined flavours of Haku Vodka. Guests will be greeted on arrival with a Superstar Martini (more details on the drinks below) before being seated to enjoy the omakase experience. Several dishes throughout the evening will feature Haku Vodka as a hero ingredient, showcasing the versatility of the premium spirit. The first plating includes Pacific oysters with pink grapefruit dressed with Haku Vodka tozazu sauce and topped with ikura (red caviar). This is served along with steak tartare with crispy rice and caviar and Hokkaido scallops with a zingy yuzu granita with Haku Vodka ponzu. The second course is a chef's selection of sashimi and Toko's signature nigiri starring the freshest raw seafood, which may include melts-on-the-tongue tuna, snapper and salmon, along with whatever else is in season and of the highest quality. These are served with Haku Vodka-infused soy sauce. The next plating includes succulent Skull Island Prawn masago arare seasoned with lobster salt and lime. Guests will get their tastebuds tingling with its accompanying dish: seafood gyoza with a fiery sauce. Next, guests will enjoy freshly cooked king crab legs with Hau Vodka-infused miso butter and Wagyu Tajima, one of the most prized Wagyu breeds. Finally, the dessert course. Toko's culinary team have crafted a delightful meringue tofu mascarpone with passionfruit and coulis, plus a palate-refreshing mandarin sorbet. What's Included in the Cocktail Flight? The evening kicks off with a Superstar Martini upon arrival. This special cocktail blends Haku Vodka, apple juice, lime juice, and white chocolate syrup for a softly sweet, fruit-forward drink that pairs perfectly with the omakase offering. But the indulgence doesn't stop there. Throughout the evening, guests will enjoy a five-cocktail flight, each featuring Haku Vodka. The cocktails are designed to complement and elevate the dining experience, offering a sophisticated pairing with each dish. First up is the Amondo Sour, a Japanese twist on a traditional amaretto sour to pair with the first course; next is a Strawberry Firudo a delicate fruity number that perfectly complements the sashimi course; that's followed by Hansamu Twist, literally translated to "a handsome twist"; that's followed by the Obi Wan Wasabi a spicy cocktail to refresh the palate and great contrast for the wagyu Tajima; the final cocktail is the Watashi Kudasai, a subtle sweet concoction that is an excellent pairing to the final dessert course. What's Haku Vodka? Haku Vodka is a premium Japanese craft spirit crafted solely from 100 percent Japanese white rice. Its name, which means 'white' and 'brilliant' in Japanese, reflects the purity and craftsmanship behind its creation. The vodka undergoes a meticulous distillation process and is filtered through bamboo charcoal, resulting in a smooth and refined spirit. With its clean, delicate flavour profile and a hint of natural sweetness, Haku Vodka offers the perfect base for Toko's culinary team to explore a harmonious blend of flavours, textures and aromas throughout their dishes. How to Nab a Spot? This exclusive event is limited to just ten guests, so book your spot as soon as you can. The omakase evening takes place on Tuesday, October 15, at 6.30pm in Toko's private dining room. Seats are $295 per person. Don't miss your chance to be part of this extraordinary event — book now to secure your spot. The Exclusive Omakase Evening with Haku Vodka will be held on Tuesday, October 15, at Toko. You can make your reservation on the website. Haku Vodka's signature serve is the Haku martini — a drink that showcases the craftsmanship, nuanced flavour and exceptional quality of the premium Japanese liquid. To learn more, head to the House of Suntory website. Image Credit: Jude Cohen, Steven Woodburn and supplied
Masters of late night snack fuel Ben & Jerry's have been dishing out pop culture-riffing flavours like Liz Lemon Greek Frozen Yoghurt, Stephen Colbert's AmeriCone Dream and, of course, Schweddy Balls for years. Now, the the masters of frozen confection have gone and opened their seventh store in western Sydney's suburb of Wetherill Park. And, to celebrate, they're giving away free — free! — scoops for four whole hours. Head along to the new shop between 4–8pm on Thursday, August 15 and you can score an ice cream on the house. The hardest part of the night will be deciding what flavour — should you go chocolate fudge brownie? Salted caramel? Vegan caramel almond brittle? Dairy-free coconut almond fudge chip? See, it's not easy. As the new Scoop Store is located inside Hoyts, it could be a good excuse to organise a movie date night, too.
It was just a matter of time, really. Belvoir's new artistic director has been rummaging through the canon again and come across Henrik Ibsen's Ghosts. Eamon Flack will direct his own adaptation of the work with a cast that includes Pamela Rabe, Colin Moody and Robert Menzies. Captain Alving has kicked the bucket. Mrs. Alving couldn't be happier about this, owing to the Captain being a serial adulterer and inviting quite a bit of scandal round for tea. Fearful that their son Oswald might take after his father, Mrs. Alving sent him away to France, but now she wants him back. When he returns, she'll come to realise how the sins of the father have been preying on Oswald since birth. Even adapted, Ibsen plays are always total shame parties. If you've any moral decadence in your bones, purge yourself of it now. If not, you risk having it guilt-flogged out of you by the 19th century's master of the dirty secret in the Upstairs Theatre this month. Image: Daniel Boud.
UPDATE, June 29, 2022: Midsommar is available to stream via Netflix, Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. In the dark, sprawling house at the centre of Ari Aster's Hereditary, nightmares flourished in even the safest of spaces. In the writer-director's sophomore release, Midsommar, devilish deeds and diabolical forces thrive in lush meadows dappled with unrelenting Swedish daylight. Once again weaving a maze of death, trauma, family, secrets, strange sects, unnerving rituals and eerie altercations, the acclaimed filmmaker is clearly fascinated with specific themes and motifs. He has a type, even with the evident change of location and colour scheme. And yet, Aster can't be accused of making the same movie twice. Watching on as a group of Americans encroach upon a secret Nordic community near the North Pole, joining their celebrations during a once-in-a-lifetime festival, Midsommar dives into a whole new world of terror. Crucially, it thrusts the horror genre's lingering malevolence out of dim rooms and musty corners, and into the fresh, vibrant, perennially sun-drenched air. Midsommar commences with the passing of loved ones, in what's become the director's typical fashion. That Aster has already established an authorial pattern just two movies into his feature-filmmaking career (across less than two years) speaks volumes. Midsommar doesn't seem like a rehash, nor like he's filtering his past hit through the somewhat similar The Wicker Man or Kill List. Instead, it feels as if Aster is finding new ways to unpack ideas that keep devouring his mind and soul. Through the grief-stricken Dani (Florence Pugh), he gives the bone-rattling pain of mourning the most distraught face he can, his committed new lead matching Toni Collette's turn in Hereditary for intensity. Then, he pushes his bereaved protagonist much, much further out of her comfort zone. Tagging along with her barely caring boyfriend Christian (Jack Reynor) as he accompanies his college friend Pelle (Vilhelm Blomgren) back to the close-knit commune where the latter grew up, Dani is an interloper twice over. The frat boy-ish Mark (Will Poulter) is visibly unhappy that she's joined their trip and, though fellow anthropology student Josh (William Jackson Harper) offers her kindness, it's obvious that she wasn't initially part of the group's plans. Of course, like their unwanted guest, this motley crew of self-absorbed men don't quite gel at their destination. They're met with hearty smiles, plastered across the faces of serene Swedes who wear white cotton from head to toe, sport floral headdresses and spend their afternoons tripping on mushrooms, but the visitors still stand out. And the more time that Dani, Christian, Mark and Josh spend with the Hårga, as Pelle's pagan community is known, the further they become entrenched in the summer solstice festivities. While it begins with feasts, ceremonies, love runes and laced drinks, disappearances, ominous maypole dances, deaths and worse soon follow. A film steeped in loss, Midsommar is also a movie as much about belonging as longing. The agony and uncertainty someone feels when they don't fit in, and the contentment that springs when they're welcomed with open arms, courses through the picture's veins. Tied to both is Aster's favourite sensation, with dread the movie's emotional baseline. Wherever and whenever he can, the filmmaker layers his sights and sounds with anxiety and apprehension — and with fear and foreboding on top. Unease ripples across the Hårga's leafy haven like a slight but quickening breeze, as made all the more disquieting by the long, wide shots favoured by returning cinematographer Pawel Pogorzelski, and the needling, string-heavy refrains that mark The Haxan Cloak's stirring score. Once again, Aster has crafted a work of commanding control and startling technical precision, each element carefully calculated to disturb viewers with maximum effect. Midsommar is also a work of meticulous pacing, a factor that has more of an impact than might be anticipated. As anyone who has experienced it knows, mourning is a process of waiting for time to tick by, and for soul-crushing sadness to fade from a searing flame to a bearable simmer. Likewise, relishing the joys of feeling safe and wanted also hinges upon time — although, in that situation, no one ever wants their bliss to end. Starting patiently then working up to a frenzy, Midsommar packs much into its 147-minute duration, but mirroring these feelings of grief and of comfort just might be its most devastating achievement. With that in mind, Dani is torn in two conflicting directions, simultaneously wishing her ordeal would finish and hoping that it keeps branching into eternity. Reynor's largely dazed and confused Christian feels the same way, but for his own reasons given that their relationship keeps snapping and straining towards its breaking point. The duo are distressed and drugged, yet they're also caught in the commune's thrall, and Aster asks his audience to share their sentiments. It's easy to do as the director asks, unless you're squeamish. A hallucinatory horror trip that doesn't hold back on its deranged imagery, Midsommar is a glowing, sinister dream. It couldn't look more alluring and idyllic, all while exposing festering miseries and inescapable woes. Every inch a sunlit nightmare, it shocks by bathing its dark heart in gleaming brightness, and intoxicates even as it repeatedly unsettles viewers to their core. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_I9ZeUWXI2s
If seasonal change has left you in a dizzy headspin of brand 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 Sydney for four days this October. The name pretty much says it all. This thing is big. You'll find lush items from past collections, samples and one-offs from over 50 cult Australian and international designers, both well-known and emerging, including Stella McCartney, Missoni, Karla Špetić, Studio Elke, Christopher Kane, Benah, Marni and more. With discounts of up to 80 percent off, this is one way of upping your street cred with designer threads that'll leave 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 man and lady for themselves. The Big Fashion Sale will be open 9am till 8pm Thursday, 9am till 6pm Friday and Saturday, and 10am till 4pm Sunday.
"We found love in a hopeless place," sings Rihanna, the sound of exuberance in her voice. With her declaration of romance gracing the soundtrack several times, American Honey has its unofficial anthem. The song in question couldn't be more fitting in the latest exploration of individuality and independence from Fish Tank and Wuthering Heights director Andrea Arnold. The film treks through desperate, desolate towns, but doesn't dwell in any one spot, or indulge in hopelessness for long. Instead, it combines the heady excitement that accompanies the first flourishes of something new, with the less-than-glamorous reality that inevitably seeps to the surface. Indeed, love isn't the only thing the film's road-tripping teen protagonists find, as they go door to door selling magazines across middle America. Cramped in close confines in cars and cheap hotel rooms, they witness wealth and poverty, meet kind and predatory strangers, and confront memories and emotions they don't have the words to express, but can convey only through their eclectic taste in music. That, plus a crew member who whips out his manhood whenever he can, and Shia LaBeouf sporting one hell of a rat tail. It's LaBeouf's Jake, a middle manager, who inspires 18-year-old Oklahoma resident Star (Sasha Lane) to flee from her sleazy dad and into a vehicle with the ragtag gang. She seeks nothing more than a pay cheque and a different scene, even if the former isn't easily earned, and the latter isn't quite the escape she thought it would be. The quick-thinking, smooth-talking salesman tricks that have served the charismatic Jake so well don't come naturally to Star, though amorous feelings for her new pal quickly do. Staying on the good side of the group's scantily clad, profit-obsessed leader, Krystal (Riley Keough), is a taxing job in itself. Landscapes fly by, spied out the van's windows, yet the more things change, the more they seem the same. Star can't help but have the celestial bodies she's named for in her eyes as fresh experiences, people, places and parts of life open up to her. A first-timer spotted on spring break by writer-director Arnold, Lane is as unguarded and realistic as you could want in such a film, and gives the impression of living rather than acting. Likewise, LaBeouf appears to coast rather than perform, in what may be the perfect vehicle for his careening off-screen ways. In support, Keough electrifies with little more than a steely glare and a no-nonsense demeanour. The entire cast, both leading and background, feel totally authentic — and while that's a term that gets bandied about a lot by film critics, the truth is American Honey oozes it from every frame. It's a product of Arnold truly going the extra mile, taking the cast on the road just as seen in the movie, and adopting stylistic choices designed to immerse viewers in the story. Boxing the film into a 4:3 aspect ratio demands the audience's focused attention, as does the dream-like sheen that tints her minutiae-filled images. Accordingly, there's potent, probing poetry in every shot, just as there is in every element of Star's ebbing, flowing life. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJbJsAdDilk
