Godzilla might loom over a hotel and cinema complex in Tokyo, and Studio Ghibli might be one of the happiest places in the country; however there's more to Japanese filmmaking than giant lizards and heartwarming animation. To demonstrate that fact, every year the Japanese Film Festival rounds up a diverse array of the nation's latest movies, sends them Australia's way and tours the country. Running this November and December in Sydney and Melbourne, this year's festival couldn't make that case with a more eclectic range of offerings, with everything from historical martial arts epics to creepy murder mysteries to cats — always cats — on the lineup. Picking just one flick to see from is always a struggle, so we're here to help. Add these six to your must-see list, pair your movie with a bowl of ramen, and you're in for quite the Japanese feast. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dxKD1bhf4Y SNOW WOMAN Japan might be known for thrilling fare that American filmmakers can't stop remaking, but this interpretation of ghostly folklore isn't your usual J-horror affair. Moody, purposeful and graceful with its deliberate pacing, non-linear narrative and black-and-white imagery, Snow Woman tells of a hunter's altercation with a mysterious spirit, his promise to never breathe a word and the identical-looking beauty who soon arrives in his village. He's entranced, they're entranced — and so will everyone watching director Kiki Sugino's hypnotic film. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiUFEm55DLg BEFORE WE VANISH From directing Japanese horror effort Pulse, to helming Cannes prize-winning ghostly romance Journey to the Shore, filmmaker Kiyoshi Kurosawa might be drawn to haunting stories — but he never makes the same film twice. After last year's one-two punch of bad neighbour flick Creepy and French-set Gothic tale Daguerrotype, he's tussling with aliens in Before We Vanish. In this invasion-focused movie, no one actually notices the extra-terrestrials gathering information while hiding out among humanity, in a They Live-like concept that speaks to the busy, self-absorbed nature of modern life. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQYrbqO0d48 HER LOVE BOILS BATHWATER Of the plethora of flicks Japan could've chosen to represent the country at next year's Oscars, it went with Her Love Boils Bathwater. Whether it'll progress in the hotly contested best foreign-language film category is yet to be seen, but it's a moving contender — and a fine example of the nation's dramatic chops. At the centre of the movie sits a dying single mother trying to make sure her bullied adolescent daughter will be able to cope without her, and resurrecting her family's bathhouse in the process. Delicately handled, with both keen insights and warm humour oozing through, this isn't mere movie-of-the-week territory. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lDMdzwMm6c NEKO ATSUME HOUSE How many hours have you spent playing the addictive cat collecting game that is Neko Atsume? There's only two answers: too many to count (for avid fans), or every waking moment from this point forward (for anyone just discovering this time-filler right now). Well, Neko Atsume House turns all that fun into a movie. Enough said, really; however if you want more details, it follows a struggling novelist who gets his groove back after not only encountering a cat, but subsequently transforming his backyard into the kind of space any kitty — plenty of kitties, in fact — would go crazy for. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNtnTCAK5-w KISEKI - SOBITO OF THAT DAY Dentists by day, pop group by night — it sounds like something straight out of an offbeat, upbeat, larger-than-life movie, doesn't it? While the story of Japanese band GReeeeN has been turned into a flick in Kiseki - Sobito of That Day, it's actually a true story. Yes, really. The chart-toppers formed in dental school a decade ago, sung their way to success and managed to maintain their fame by doing something very dentist-like: not showing their faces in public. They say that truth is stranger than fiction, and this tale definitely proves that statement and then some. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kczb7IJJg0g IN THIS CORNER OF THE WORLD Think Japanese animation, and Studio Ghibli instantly comes to mind thanks to their gorgeous visuals, expert handling of story and emotion, and all-round enchanting vibe. In This Corner of the World isn't a Ghibli film, but saying that it feels like one really is the highest praise we can muster. Indeed, writer/director Sunao Katabuchi was an assistant director on Kiki's Delivery Service, however, his latest effort is all his own. Exploring the life of a teenager wed to a young naval clerk in Hiroshima, the World War II-set movie is as poetic as it is perceptive as it combines a coming-of-age tale with a personal account of times of combat. The 2017 Japanese Film Festival screens at Sydney's Event Cinemas George Street from November 16 to 26, and Melbourne's Hoyts Melbourne Central from November 23 to December 3. For more information and to buy tickets, visit the festival website.
Vampires can be slain by staking them in the heart. Werewolves aren't fond of silver bullets. But Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement's addition to the undead world can't and won't be killed — not that anyone would want that outcome. First What We Do in the Shadows jumped from a short film to a hilarious feature-length comedy. Then it inspired a US television remake, which is still in the works, as well as New Zealand television spinoff Wellington Paranormal. Now, after an exceptionally amusing six-episode first season, the latter is set to return in 2019 with 13 episodes. We've said it before, and we'll say it again: trust a mockumentary about the undead to keep coming back in new guises. The Cops-style spinoff follows police officers Karen O'Leary and Mike Minogue, who WWDITS fans might remember came knocking at the vampire share house's door. With the help of Sergeant Maaka (Maaka Pohatu), the cop duo keep trying to keep the city safe from supernatural happenings — including not only bloodsuckers and lycanthropes, but ghosts, aliens and more. Wellington Paranormal's second season will once again explore the spate of paranormal phenomena happening in the city, with a 2019 airdate on TVNZ 2 yet to be set. In Australia, the first season screened on SBS Viceland and was available to stream on SBS On Demand, so fingers crossed that'll remain the same next year. Announcing the funding of Wellington Paranormal's new run, NZ On Air Chief Executive Jane Wrightson noted that "it is really pleasing to see people respond positively to content that has such a unique New Zealand flavour". Of course, for those following What We Do in the Shadows' continued evolution, Wellington Paranormal's success shouldn't come as a surprise. When the show was first revealed, Waititi described it as "Mulder & Scully but in a country where nothing happens" on Twitter, after all. https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=WRO2QfESbEI
Everyone knows that distance makes the heart grows fonder - and this notion now applies to the eye as well. The contours, shapes and colours that the topography the Earth's surface forms are breathtaking marvels not rivalled by any manmade images. Yet they are only truly visible from well above the Earth. Seeing the world from this mesmerizing angle puts the insignificance of humans, when compared to Earth's enormous size, into perspective. Here are some of the most magnificent aerial images of our planet. Guy Laliberté's Space Travels The mastermind behind Cirque Du Soleil, Guy Laliberté travelled on board a Russian Soyez Rocket through space in 2009. While the billionaire was on this trip, he did a bit of sightseeing and documented some of the stunning scenery of the Earth that he was privy to. David Maisel's Vertiginous Vistas David Maisel certainly knows how to poignantly capture the most fascinating and mystifying regions of the world from the vantage point of his four-seater plane. Sometimes the photographer even removes an entire window from his plane - which gets to altitudes between 5,000 and 12,000 feet - to secure that perfect shot. But looking at these two examples we can safely say the effort is well worth it. Landsat 7 Satellite Images These two stunning images depict the Bolivian deforestation and the Bogda Mountains in China. The former shows the destructive impact that deforestation can have on native forests by severely fragmenting the ecosystem, while the latter illustrates the mesmerizing mix of sand dunes and salt lakes of the Turpan Depression laying at the foot of China's mountain range. River Deltas Around the World Water not only serves as the major life source for all living things on Earth, but the patterns it creates when travelling in estuaries throughout the world also create enchanting images. These two photographs depict such beauty from the Betsiboka Estuary in Madagascar and the Ganges in Bangladesh. Satellite Photos of the Earth These enthralling images were also taken from a satellite from outer space. The vibrant colours of these terrains almost appear to be oil pastels, yet they have emerged from genuine landscapes of the Earth. The first shows the icy blue transposed against the blood red in the Malaspina Glacier of Alaska and the second shows the twists and turns of the water and land in our very own Carnegie, Australia. Earth from Above These photos appeared on the Flickr page of a photographer by the name of curiouser*curiouser. Both images were taken over the Zion National Park in Utah from the seat of an aeroplane traversing the region. The parks appear so much more unique and beautiful from this high vantage point, featuring ripples and explosions within the Earth's surface.
Ever wanted to spend a night in Surry Hills' fancy Paramount House Hotel? Has eating at Adelaide's award-winning Africola restaurant been on the top of your bucket list for yonks? Been meaning to top up your wine collection post-holidays with some tasty new drops from Drnks? Buy a ticket for this Bushfire Relief Raffle — for just $50, mind you — and you could win one of them. Plus, a whole heap more. Running until Friday, January 31, the raffle is run by Buffet Digital, a creative content studio for some of Australia's best bars, restaurants and hotels. Which means, it has contacts — and those contacts have donated some pretty incredible prizes for you to win. [caption id="attachment_660514" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Paramount House Hotel by Tom Ross.[/caption] As well as the aforementioned three, the 29 raffle prizes include $200 to spend at Sydney's new pasta and wine bar Ragazzi; five pilates classes at St Peters studio Scout; a box of hot sauces from Condimental; breakfast, lunch and dinner across the three Bills restaurants; a $400 voucher for Cornersmith workshops (so, you can finally learn to make kombucha or bread); Archie Rose gin; a whopping $500 dinner at The Apollo; and a year's supply of coffee from The Little Marionette. The list goes on, too — you can check out all of the tasty prizes over here. If you don't win, you'll be happy knowing your hard-earned cash is going to a good cause. All money from tickets sold will be split equally between the NSW RFS, WIRES and the Red Cross Disaster Relief and Recovery Fund. This isn't your run-of-the-mill meat raffle, folks. Winners of the Buffet Bushfire Relief Raffle will be drawn at 12pm on Friday, January 31. Top image: Ragazzi by Nikki To
Want yet another excuse to make hay while the sun still shines this spring? The 2019 Everest Carnival is wrapping up in a big way this weekend. Taking place at western Sydney's Rosehill Gardens, Golden Eagle Day will send off the carnival with plenty of buzz. So, head on down this Saturday, November 2 for a day of live gigs, fashion and outdoor fun. First up, make tracks to Golden Palms — a leafy Palm Springs-inspired pop-up bar — where you'll catch DJs Charles Oliver and Ms Steve spinning tunes, plus plenty of champagne and cocktails. You can also kick back to some acoustic tunes or gussy up at the onsite pamper lounge. And, to keep you fuelled and well-soused, there'll be plenty of food trucks and pop-up bars around the course. At the end of the day, you'll be dancing your way through the decades with much-loved travelling dance party Hot Dub Time Machine performing live on the main stage. Then, keep the energy levels high and continue on to the afterparty at Rosehill Bowling Club.
Rainbow Studios sits on a bright corner in Darlinghurst, delivering a chameleon-like space that celebrates community, art and the fusion of both. The creative gallery is born from the minds of jewellery designer Brent Gold and his partner Jade Gillett (pictured at top), who together platform artists and their work with regular exhibitions, as well as house an expertly curated array of jewellery, homewares, fine art and more ready to come home with visitors. First up in 2023? Being, an exploration of our collective human experience via the use of colour, form and composition by Noosa Hinterland-based artist Kate Florence and Melbourne-based multi-disciplinary artist Clare Dubina. From Thursday, February 23–Thursday, March 9, the painted works from this vibrant duo will be gracing the walls of Rainbow Studios — an excellent reason to get yourself to this delightful slice of Sydney (a morning visit perhaps, with pancakes being flipped at bills just across the road). Feel free to drop in during opening hours (10am–3pm Wednesday–Friday and 10am–2pm on Saturdays), or arrange a private viewing by appointment. Rich, earthy hues and elongated figures are fused with floral forms in the pair's abstract compositions. While created separately and from unique lenses, when explored in tandem, the artists' bodies of work are perfectly complementary. Rainbow Studios' inaugural duo show will be celebrated with an opening night event on Thursday, February 23 at 6pm. The event is free to attend, though you're encouraged to register your attendance prior. Top images: Clare Dubina, Katy Louise Photography (first, third).
Pucker up, fans of 90s teen flicks — whether you were the exact right age at the time, have discovered them since or found yourself looking backwards thanks to recent films like Do Revenge. After finally bringing its song- and dance-filled take on one of the most influential movies of the era to Australian stages this year, Cruel Intentions: The 90s Musical is making a comeback along Australia's east coast in 2023. It seems that we can't get enough of this bittersweet symphony. We can't stop praising it, either. This time, audiences in Sydney will get a second chance to get nostalgic — at Parramatta's Riverside Theatre from Thursday, February 2—Sunday, February 12. To answer the most crucial question, yes, the musical's soundtrack is filled hits from the period, including The Verve's 'Bittersweet Symphony' and Placebo's 'Every You Every Me'. In fact, Cruel Intentions: The 90s Musical is a jukebox musical, so it's overflowing with a heap other tunes from that late 90s–early 00s time. Think: *NYSNC's 'Bye Bye Bye', Britney Spears' 'Sometimes', No Doubt's 'Just A Girl', Jewel's 'Foolish Games', Christina Aguilera's 'Genie In A Bottle' and Sixpence None the Richer's 'Kiss Me', for starters. The story remains the same, just without Sarah Michelle Gellar, Ryan Phillippe, Reese Witherspoon and Selma Blair (and Joshua Jackson's blonde locks). If you've seen the movie — the original, not the direct-to-video 2001 and 2004 sequels, one of which starred a very young Amy Adams (Dear Evan Hansen) taking over Gellar's role — then you'll know how it goes. Based on 1782 novel Les Liaisons dangereuses, which was also been adapted in the 1988 film Dangerous Liaisons with Glenn Close, John Malkovich, Michelle Pfeiffer and Uma Thurman, Cruel Intentions follows step-siblings Sebastian Valmont and Kathryn Merteuil. Manipulating each other's love lives is their main hobby, a pastime that levels up a few notches when Kathryn places a bet on whether Sebastian can sleep with Annette Hargrove, the headmaster's daughter at their exclusive prep school.
Living in the shadow of a famous father has never been Eliza-Jane Barnes' problem. E.J. has carved a niche independent of her rocker father, Jimmy, having written, recorded and toured the world with New Zealanders Liam Finn (son of Crowded Houses' Neil Finn) and Laurence Arabia. Her new project sees her team up with Sydneysider and long-time friend, Ceci Herbert (formerly of Guineafowl). Together they form Evil J and Saint Cecilia, an adorably analogue psychadelic folk duo. Their debut offering, Strange Beasts, was recorded in E.J.'s home studio and mixed by Rick Will (producer of Boy & Bear and Grinspoon's latest albums). Fresh from a sold out tour of Australia with Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder, Evil J and Saint Cecilia are ready to unleash on Sydney their brand of head down, hip swaying songs of love, family and home. The duo will play Goodgod at 8pm on Tuesday night and the Oxford Art Factory at 11pm on Thursday. Both shows are free. https://youtube.com/watch?v=ahQIhWlB64I
I had virtually given up on Hollywood-template rom-coms, as in the past few years they seem, at best, generic with occasional glimpses of humour and originality and, at worse, a vomit-inducing nightmare of indie love songs and corny romance. Like Crazy is a refreshing take on the genre. The story is simple: Anna (Felicity Jones) comes to LA for a semester and falls for Jacob (Anton Yelchin), but when her student visa runs out, she is romantic/stupid and decides to stay for the summer. This means Anna isn't allowed back into America once she does leave for London, and they are sentenced to make their love last long-distance. The film follows their relationship over a number of years, which is apparent through job changes and new partners but is a little clumsily done with montage and flashbacks, so be advised to take their sudden changes in sentiment with a grain of salt. It does get a little whiny and slow in patches, and it is a shame that the sideline relationships they both have don't get explored, as it seems director Drake Doremus does not want to distract from what he sees as the purity of Anna and Jacob's love, which is almost a character in itself. The thing I liked about Like Crazy was its authenticity. All the frustration, pain and awkward long-distance phone calls were subtle and very much relatable. Jacob wasn't a dashing heartthrob (although Anna was undeniably adorable) and it was a pleasant change not to get caught up with hating them for being too good-looking. As they're both creative (Anna is a writer and Jacob designs and makes furniture), their romantic gestures are sweet and fairly unique, as is the Paul Simon soundtrack running through it instead of the usual top-10 indie hits at the time of the film being made. The story is a very simple one of whether you can overcome the adversity of falling in love with someone whose situation makes it impossible. Having been in a similar situation myself, I appreciated the honesty of the movie but imagined that a lot of other people would find it a little dull and lacking in humour. I'm grateful, however, that the tween market has something to watch that is of quality whilst still being light-hearted. https://youtube.com/watch?v=hTUvX_pYNBM
For the past few years, the minds behind The Beer Run have been using ice-cold beers at the pub as motivation to workout. Jog between breweries and bars, drink a brew at each one — that's how the boozy fun run plays out. No one is going to pubs, breweries, bars or watering holes at present, so The Beer Run's organisers have adapted. Meet The Virtual 5k Run, their isolation-friendly alternative. You'll still run, jog or walk briskly; however you'll do so wherever you like, be it your own street, your local park or at home on a treadmill. And if you'd like a beer afterwards, you'll need to supply your own. The run will kick off at 11am on Sunday, May 31 — and while it mentions five kilometres in the event's name, you can also hit the pavement across one or ten kilometres, too. And if you're wondering what makes this different from just getting sweaty by yourself, a live comedy host will be overseeing proceedings. Plus, there'll be prizes, including for best dressed — because dressing up and having a laugh is definitely encouraged. Keeping the beer theme going, the prizes are sponsored by breweries — and, while tickets start at $15, if you opt for the $25 option, you'll receive a Beer Run medal as well. The Virtual 5k Run is also donating $5 from each entry to a COVID-19 cause, which'll be chosen via votes from participants.
Acclaimed French choreographer Olivier Dubois will bring two performances of his minimalist, contemporary dance work, Tragédie, to Carriageworks in September. Tragédie is a meticulously constructed minimalist dance work that features women and men performing a chorus of hypnotically repetitive, marching movements together. Backed by a pounding bass, it is a risk-taking performance in which all performers are naked. Over-exposed in their nudity, the women and men rid themselves of their psychological, historical and sociological anxiety through the constant back and forth movement of their dance. The performance essentially builds until it becomes a giant, on stage, naked rave. Premiering at the Festival D'Avignon in 2012, Tragédie is famed for the pounding energy that it reverberates through the audience. Dubois was inspired by ideas in Greek history and the philosophy of Nietzsche — particularly The Birth of Tragedy — in which Nietzsche praises the transcendent liberation of dance. Carriageworks is hosting Olivier Dubois for his first performances in Australia. Considered to be one of the great French figures of the dance world, Dubois works with one of France's renowned centres for choreography, the Ballet du Nord, and has travelled the world with his performances. Image: François Stemmer.
Between Thursday, December 8–Wednesday, December 14, Palace Cinemas is giving movie buffs in Sydney an extra present. 'Tis the season, after all. It's not just the gift of great flicks — that is, the chain's daily bread and butter — but the gift of cheap great flicks. The one catch: you need to be a Palace Movie Club member. Head to the company's venues around the city — so at Norton Street, Verona, The Chauvel and Palace Central — across the week in question, and you'll only pay $8 to see a film. Haven't yet seen Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Bros, Don't Worry Darling or Top Gun: Maverick yet? Catching up will cost you $8. Keen to check out Decision to Leave, Bones and All, She Said, The Menu, Seriously Red, Violent Night, The Velvet Queen and Armageddon Time? Also $8. We'd keep naming movies, but you get the picture. Booking in advance is highly recommended, given how much everyone loves going to the flicks for little more than the price of a cup of coffee. If you do nab your tickets online, you will have to add a transaction fee to the cost. You won't be able to use the $8 deal on special events and film festivals, or on two-for-one offers and other deals — but you've now got plenty of movies to see for cheap.
The only think you need to know before going to see Sydney band Cabins live, is that they are really good. There are so many new bands in Sydney at the moment that it can be a little tricky trying to keep up with them all: Who is playing where, who left which band to move to what, who's playing with their friends and which band members are swapping bands or making guest appearances. Forget all the gossip and ‘big thing’ tags being bandied about. If you want to go see some great live music with a post punk flavour and a heap of swagger, then catch Cabins supporting The Scare on the October 30, with giant of the indie world, and the tour’s special guest, Jack Ladder. Good solid live rock. ‘Aint nothing wrong with that.
Loved Newtown bar-cum-deli Continental is known for its canned seafood, piles of cured meats and famed tinned cocktails. Now, this award-winning combination is coming to the CBD — a second Continental is opening along Phillip Street later this year. The owners responsible for these cured and tinned delights boast some serious resumes, from Porteño's Elvis Abrahanowicz and Joe Valore to Bodega's Jesse Warkentin. With the Newtown original well-established as a local favourite, the team is ready to expand the brand, though the opportunity along Phillip Street wasn't exactly sought after. "It was the first location we looked at, it got offered to us and that was it," says Abrahanowicz. "We weren't thinking about opening one in the city, but this kind of came up and it fit the bill so we just went for it. That's how we do most of our places, I guess." The CBD space will have elements reminiscent of the Newtown venue, but, unlike the two-storey inner west space, the city digs will have one large open-plan design. "The fit-out always depends on the space and we never have anything set in stone beforehand," says Abrahanowicz. "Once we get in and start working with it, we'll have a better idea of what this one will look like." Patrons will be glad to know that many of the deli's popular items will make their way onto the new menu, including the tinned seafood and famed canned cocktails, cheap toasties and cold-cut platters, as well as a few of the bistro dishes. "We haven't sat down and talked specifically about the menu yet, but I think what makes Continental work is that it's a combination of everything." says Abrahanowicz. "You can come in for just a drink or for dinner, then get some takeaway produce that you can have for brekkie or lunch the next day." The bistro will open for lunch and dinner, with the team expanding the afternoon menu in the hopes of becoming a regular go-to for the CBD lunch crowd — a considerably bigger group than in Newtown. "The thing with Newtown is it's very community-focused, so our customers are the locals," says Abrahanowicz. "We don't know how it's going to go in the city, but Continental is close to our hearts. We all grew up going to delis and the concept just works for us. We don't necessarily think about whether something will work in a specific neighbourhood or not, we just do it because it's what we like." This approach has worked resoundingly well for the gents so far, so we're expecting big things from their newest venture. Continental Deli Bar Bistro will open its second outpost at 167 Phillip Street, Sydney in June/July 2018. Image: Kimberly Low
Goodgod is teaming up with Vivid LIVE this year, transforming the Northern Foyer of the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall into the Soft Future Piano Bar — a 'sustainable concept bar' that focuses on a zero waste philosophy and laid-back vibes. This new space will build on the successful Deep Purple Pool Hall of the previous two years and offer a little festival paradise that invites patrons to enjoy a chilled out space away from the Vivid mayhem outside. The nightly soundtrack will include minimal synthwave, ambient jazz and Balearic sunset vibes, as well as special guest DJs and performers. What really makes this bar standout, though, is its minimal footprint mentality. The furniture will be custom-made from recycled tyre inner tubes and selected to be repurposed after the pop-up is done. For food and drink, think natural wines on tap and slow-cooked meats and charcuterie served in reusable tableware. All food waste will be naturally composted in collaboration with Events by Aria, with the end goal of no more than one bag of food going to landfill. Of course, the bar also has the added benefit of being located front and centre in the world's largest festival of light, music and ideas, boasting panoramic views of Sydney Harbour. The space will be open daily for Vivid LIVE from May 26 through June 4, 6pm until late. Image: Zak Kaczmarek. Feature image: Sydney Opera House.
In March this year, we brought you tidings of a new coastal track in southeast Sydney, which connects Pioneers Park in Malabar with Arthur Byrne Reserve in South Maroubra. Now, walkers in the area are to score another boon. In 2019, a new walkway will open, allowing you to stroll through a previously inaccessible section of the NSW Golf Club's course — all while soaking up incredible ocean views. The 950-metre track will connect the Henry Head Walking Track at Cruwee Cove Beach, which lies on the golf course's southern side, to a public car park on its northern side — opening up a new section of the coast that has been inaccessible to the public. It will hug the coast nearly all the way, taking in spectacular Cape Banks, and golfers will still be able to play unaffected. You can walk the trail in its own right or include it in a longer hike. At the southern end, it links with the Cape Banks Walking Track, which continues westwards to La Perouse through the Kamay Botany Bay National Park. The council is currently in talks with the neighbouring golf courses to extend the track up to Malabar — eventually, the idea is that the track will continue right on up the coast to link up to the Coogee to Bondi walk. The walkway's exact launch date is yet to be announced, but Randwick City Council has announced that construction has begun, so it should open sometime in 2019. Image: Bar Island Fort at La Perouse via Wikimedia Commons.
Lighten your run with Mizuno, then lighten your spirits at the post-race Event Village. Whether you're there to beat Robert de Castella's 23-year-old record for the 10 kilometre race, blow your Personal Best out of Lake Burley Griffin or show off your onesie, the Canberra Times Fun Run team will welcome you at the starting line. Now in its 37th year, the run started as a celebration of the Times' 50th anniversary. Initially a 9.6 kilometre route starting at the Trademan's Club in Phillip, it was altered to its current 10 kilometre course in 1986 by renowned athlete Dave Cundy. There’s a 5 kilometre option for those who like to take things easy. This year, for the first time, a 14 kilometre event will form part of the program. Titled the Capital Run, it's being introduced as the City2Surf's sister run and is part of Canberra's year-long Centenary party. Parliament House, Federation Mall and Old Parliament House are all part of the landscape. Over 195 charities benefit from funds raised by participants in the Canberra Times Fun Run. Partner organisation the Heart Foundation ACT is hoping to see $75,000 worth of donations, which will go towards the continuation of the Warning Signs of a Heart Attack campaign. Runners are invited to create a fundraising webpage through Everyday Hero. Male and female winners of the the 10 kilometre and 14 kilometre races win cash prizes, with $500 going to the first place getter, $250 to the second and $125 to the third. Adidas and Rupert van Dongen are running training programmes for runners of all levels — beginners, intermediate and advanced. Early bird entry prices are available until August 23.
This article is sponsored by our partners, Flickerfest. If there’s one Australian short film festival that has aspiring filmmakers waiting by the letterbox, biting their nails in anticipation of a ‘YES!’, it’s got to be FLiCKERFEST. Having started life as a small-time shindig at Balmain High 23 years ago, the annual event is now an audiovisual extravaganza with tons of prestige. 2014, the organisers tell us, is set to be bigger, better and brighter than ever. Entries poured in by the bucketload, meaning that the selection committee cried, laughed and screamed through an excess of 2,200 hopeful shorts before settling on a final 107, to be screened at Bondi Pavilion between January 10 and 19. Audiences will be treated to 59 homegrown shorts, 32 of the international variety, ten documentaries and six Greenflicks. No fewer than 19 of these will be world premieres and 65 of them have never before screened in front of Australian eyes. January 17 will see the return of FLiCKERLAB — a day-long opportunity to get acquainted with industry leaders. This year, attendees will be able to hear director and writer David Michod (Animal Kingdom, The Rover) in conversation with Garry Maddox (SMH film writer), as well as chat to screenwriters Michael Lucas (Not Suitable for Children, Offspring) and Louise Fox (Love My Way, Dead Europe). The division of the booty will be announced on January 20, with some seriously handsome prizes up for grabs, including $2,500 cash awards for Best International Short Film and Best Australian Short Film. This year’s jury is made up of some of the national film industry’s most respected figures, including Rachel Ward (director, Beautiful Kate), James Mullighan (creative director, Cork Film Festival), Darren Dale (director, Blackfella Films) and Maeve Dermody (actor, Griff and Beautiful Kate). During the past ten years, FLiCKERFEST Awards have gained increasing doses of international prestige, with the Academy® recognising three of the categories (Best Short Film, Best Australian Short and Best Animation) as qualifiers for the Oscars. Plus, in 2010, the Brits were so suitably impressed that the British Academy of Film and Television Arts agreed that any victorious UK films should find themselves eligible for a BAFTA nomination. On top of all that, catching up with 107 of the year’s funniest, whackiest, most moving, most inspiring, most imaginative and best-executed short films is one fine way to finish up a day at the beach — or an excuse (if you need one) to head out there for the evening.
Next time you pick up a club, order a drink and hit the mini-golf greens at Newtown's Holey Moley, you'll be able to swing your way around E.T., Forrest Gump, and Jaws-themed holes — or, if you'd prefer, you can grab a microphone. The popular King Street spot occasionally gives its two nine-hole courses a revamp, with the multi-level venue unveiling its latest creations after refurbishing half of them. As well as making over a considerable part of its existing site, Holey Moley has also made two crucial new additions: two karaoke rooms. If you're fond of belting out a tune, you can jump between pretending you're in Happy Gilmore and living out your A Star Is Born dreams by heading into the two onsite singing suites. For those keen to keep tap, tap, tapping away, the rebadged holes also span snakes, sharks, Lego and pineapples under the sea, and come with names such as 'The Loop Hole', 'Gone Fishin'', 'The Moon and Pars' and 'Draw Fore'. [caption id="attachment_628408" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Holey Moley Newtown by Tom Wilkinson[/caption] While in renovation mode, Holey Moley has also shaken up its menu — and is offering bottomless brunch every Saturday and Sunday between September 21–October 31. For $50, you get a cocktail on arrival, unlimited mini-golf, two hours of bottomless beer, cider, wine and sparkling, and a feed. The latter includes waffle fries, burgers, fried chicken ribs and popcorn shrimp with vegan options available. As Holey Moley loves themed things, the cocktails will match the new holes, with options such as the Shark Bite Colada, BlockManDu (topped with lollies and Lego) and an espresso martini made with Reece's peanut butter cups. While Sydney isn't short on boozy bottomless brunches, this one is great for when you want to do more than just sit down and eat (and drink). Holey Moley's bottomless brunch sessions will run every Saturday and Sunday from September 21 to October 31. It's available from 11am–4pm and can be purchased at the venue.
If pastel wasn't already part of your gig-going wardrobe, it will be at Australia's newest music festival, with Client Liaison launching their own curated touring event. Called Expo Liaison, the seven-hour fest will tour Melbourne, Perth, Sydney and Brisbane across the last two weekends in August, with the yet-to-be-announced lineup selected by the band. There's no word yet on whether they'll be performing themselves, but you'd think that's a highly likely possibility. Just what else is in store is also yet to be revealed too, although the festival bas been badged "a multimedia, multi-city, multiversal experience" in its promotional material, as well as a "once-in-a-lifetime event". They're the kind of descriptions that plenty of gigs and fests throw around, but Client Liaison have a track record of delivering more than just the usual shows — or fashion lines or music videos, for that matter. First release tickets are currently on sale across all four cities, and if you're keen to hear the duo's own thoughts on the festival, check out the Expo Liaison trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgSsrdVHnh0&feature=youtu.be Expo Liaison heads to Melbourne's Flemington Racecourse on August 18, Sydney's Parramatta Park on August 25 and Brisbane's Victoria Park on August 26. Head to Client Liaison's website for further details and to buy tickets.
This Valentine's Day, No Lights No Lycra invites you to ditch the rom-coms and lose yourself in a dance to all those better-off-alone tunes you've been waiting to queue on your playlist. The concept that was established in 2009 thrives off creating a judgmental-free environment for people to come together to experience freedom of self expression through dance. Taking over the East Sydney Arts and Community Centre on the Wednesday, February 14, this year's NLNL is hosting two sessions: one at 7.30pm and the second at 8.45 pm. It's a space for everyone to come together and show their love — for someone else, themselves or life in general — through movement. No lights means no judgement, so you can dance away the hype of V-Day, either solo or with a group. If you've got a partner in-tow, this could be a good way to avoid any cliche events. Otherwise, be sure to check out these other date ideas under $50.
City of Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore has proposed an idea to make Sydney Harbour more swimmable, as part of her address at the Sydney Water Innovation Festival earlier this week. During her speech, Moore outlined how government-wide initiatives could be implemented around inner-city waterways to reduce water pollution, thus making these bodies of water swim-friendly for locals and tourists. While no concrete plans have been set in motion yet, renders supplied by the City of Sydney and created by Andrew Burges Architects show possibilities for new swimming areas — including ocean pools implemented at Beare Park and Pirrama Park. An ambitious infrastructure project at the Glebe Foreshore, featuring a floating aquatic centre on top of the harbour, is also in the mix. The Beare Park and Pirrama Park concepts would require minimal infrastructure once water quality was at an acceptable level, with swimming areas at Pirrama Park focused on reusing existing infrastructure. The Glebe project, on the other hand, would be a significantly larger undertaking, with the pool sitting on top of a man-made island connected to the foreshore by a footbridge. [caption id="attachment_829140" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Render of Pirrama Park[/caption] "Swimming in the harbour is no pipe dream," Moore said. "Cities around the world are turning to their natural harbour assets rather than building more infrastructure. Copenhagen spent 15 years transforming its harbour from a highly polluted waterway to a swimmer's paradise where wildlife is thriving." The key to introducing swimming to the harbour is cleaning up the waterways, Moore says. Some ways the City of Sydney is already pushing for this is through reducing stormwater pollution entering the harbour and implementing water sensitive urban design. The city council requires support from other sectors of the government in order to convert the harbour into a swimmable body of water. "This vision rests on improving water quality," Moore continued. "Being able to swim safely in the harbour is a wonderful symbol of a healthy water ecosystem. If we can clean up the harbour, we will unleash enormous potential for community recreation and wellbeing." [caption id="attachment_829141" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Render of Beare Park[/caption] The Sydney Water Innovation Festival is held on Monday, October 18–Wednesday, October 20. Registration is free. All images: Andrew Burges Architects supplied by City of Sydney.
Feeling uninspired? Stuck on date ideas? Want free booze? Or even, do you like art? We’ve put together a hot list of exhibitions for you to check out this February, from Sydney’s smallest to most well-known galleries.
After attracting more than 15,000 visitors last year, Blak Markets' National Indigenous Art Fair is back for a third run. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists from all over Australia will take over Circular Quay's Overseas Passenger Terminal for two days with a visual feast of paintings, sculptures, textiles and accessories. Expect to see artworks representing a huge number of remote centres — from Amata's (South Australia) Tjanpi Desert Weavers to Babbarra Women Centre of Arnhem Land's community of Maningrida women. Throughout the weekend, stalls will be peddling artworks, jewellery, gifts, homewares and Indigenous food and drinks. In between wandering the stalls, try some authentic bush tucker from Indigenous food stalls. You can also immerse yourself in the creative process at one of many workshops and demos. There'll be cooking with Australia's first hatted Indigenous chef Clayton Donovan and Melbourne's catering wiz Mark 'Black' Olive, mesmerising weaving collaborations with some of Australia's most skilled weavers as well as some shellwork workshops. The 2019 NAIDOC theme is 'Voice. Treaty. Truth. Let's work together for a shared future' and the art fair's many hands-on workshops and demonstrations highlight this. The market will be soundtracked by live musicians, too. Listen out for Maddie Lyn, pop-folk duo Microwave Jenny and Rebecca Hatch (2017 Triple J Unearthed High Indigenous Initiative Winner). Plus, there will be performances by Wagana Dancers and Jannawi dance clan. The National Indigenous NAIDOC Art Fair will take place between 10am–6pm on Saturday, June 29 and between 10am–4pm on Sunday, June 30. Free entry for all visitors. For more info, visit the website. Images: Destination NSW and Warlukurlangu Artist.
Paddington eatery Porcine is looking to inject a hearty feast into your time in lockdown with its new collaboration with Buffalo Trace. The huge barbecue box is available for pickup or delivery to those within ten kilometres of Porcine from Friday, September 24 and comes with everything you'd need for a meat and bourbon-heavy meal. In order to create the boxes, Porcine chef Nicholas Hill has purchased three full Berkshire pigs. He's carved and smoked the pork cuts to pair with a prune pate en croute, both of which you'll find in the box. Alongside the pork, you'll be treated to spring vegetable vinaigrette, a jar of treacle and trace barbecue glaze, cauliflower cheese pie, banoffee and bourbon trifle for dessert with a bottle of Buffalo Trace bourbon, of course. Orders must be placed by Thursday, September 23 for pickup or delivery on Friday or Saturday.
The already staggeringly-large BIGSOUND lineup just got slightly more colossal. Adding another 40 or so artists to the already 80-strong list, Brisbane's answer to SXSW announced this afternoon that the likes of Seekae, Voyager, Nicholas Albrook, The Funkoars, Pierce Brothers, Hayden James, Art of Sleeping and Canada’s July will be joining the September festivities. The new batch join the existing cohort of already announced names like Gold Fields, DMA’s, Holy Holy, BAD//DREEMS, Client Liaison, KINGSWOOD and REMI. "It's no exaggeration to say that over two nights we'll be showcasing some of the most exciting rock, hip hop, punk, metal, dance, pop, folk, roots and country music in the world, said executive programmer Nick O'Byrne. "We reckon the quality of music and the incredible festival environment will firmly establish BIGSOUND as one of the most dynamic tastemaking events in the international calendar. What makes it even more exciting is the unprecedented influx of music industry leaders who can't wait to see and hear what we have to offer." BIGSOUND attendees will have to change up their highlighter colours to self-schedule the three-day conference program, with the recent announcement of speakers causing a significant amount of squealidge — think Neil Finn, the church, Bluesfest's Peter Noble, James Minor from SXSW, Tom Windish from The Windish Agency, Ben Marshall from the Sydney Opera House, and Jerome Borazio and Danny Rogers from St Jerome's Laneway Festival, all divulging all their long-lived industry secrets. Running September 10 - 11, BIGSOUND brings panels, keynotes, showcases and live gigs to Fortitude Valley for another year. This local love-in will run over 12 locations including Brissy staples like The Zoo, Ric's and Alhambra new sites such as The Underdog, The New Globe, The Elephant, Crowbar, and a new outdoor venue by Brightside and Magic City. You'll have your work cut out for you to see everything, but luckily you can start planning now. Tickets are on sale via Oztix with a two-day pass only setting you back $69+bf. BIGSOUND Live 2014 newly announced artists: the church Seekae Voyager Nicholas Albrook The Funkoars Pierce Brothers July Talk (CAN) Hayden James Art Of Sleeping SAFIA Life Pilot Meniscus Toehider THIEF Felicity Groom Jeremy Neale Harmony James DARKC3LL Mr. Hill & Rahjconkers A Million Dead Birds Laughing Kathryn Rollins Mammals Daily Meds Like Thieves Marlon Williams KU?KA Mise en Scene (CAN) Coin Banks Eden Mulholland Males (NZ) Mosman Alder Jesse Sheehan (NZ) REPTILES Bound For Ruin Mathas My Friend The Betrayer All Our Exes Live In Texas Usurper Of Modern Medicine Dozzi Peter Bibby Rolls Bayce Shellfin Sparkspitter Check out the BIGSOUND website for more info. Words by Shannon Connellan and Meg Watson.
Don't go saying that you don't have anything to watch between Thursday, August 7–Sunday, August 24. In cinemas around the Victorian capital, for 18 movie-filled days, 2025's Melbourne International Film Festival boasts a program more than 275 flicks deep. This year's MIFF is where The Chronology of Water, the feature directorial debut of Kristen Stewart (Love Lies Bleeding), will screen for the first time Down Under — and where Urchin, which notches up the same feat for Babygirl's Harris Dickinson, will as well. Both are heading to Melbourne fresh from their Cannes premieres. MIFF will also give the city its initial chance to see early pandemic-set western Eddington from Ari Aster (Beau Is Afraid), celebrate a music icon with the world premiere of Jimmy Barnes: Working Class Man, enjoy the full Norwegian Sex trilogy that culminated with 2025 Berlinale Golden Bear-recipient Dreams (Sex Love), get unsettled by Daisy Ridley (Cleaner)-led Australian found-footage horror We Bury the Dead, take the family to animated sequel The Bad Guys 2 based on Aussie author Aaron Blabey's books, pay tribute to The Texas Chain Saw Massacre and much, much more. If I Had Legs I'd Kick You starring Rose Byrne (Physical) is the fest's opening-night pick, Parasite composer Jung Jae-il is coming to Australia to conduct the movie's score live in an Aussie exclusive and Cannes Palme d'Or-winning It Was Just an Accident by Jafar Panahi (No Bears) is on the lineup, too — and so is The Passion of Joan of Arc with a new score by Julia Holter performed live. Richard Linklater's (Hit Man) Blue Moon with Ethan Hawke (Leave the World Behind), Margaret Qualley (The Substance) and Andrew Scott (Ripley) is just one of two of the director's features on the bill. The other: Nouvelle Vague, with the American helmer bringing the French New Wave to life. Her Smell's Alex Ross Perry is another filmmaker with two titles on the lineup. With Videoheaven, a movie essay solely comprised from movie and TV clips, he pays tribute to the video-store era — and with Pavements, he focuses on the band Pavement via an experimental blend of documentary, narrative, musical and more. The director is among MIFF's 2025 guests as well, including as a juror for its Bright Horizons award, the fest's $140,000 official competition for filmmakers that was introduced back in 2022. After Aftersun screened in the comp's debut year, its filmmaker Charlotte Wells is this year's jury president. The aforementioned Urchin and If I Had Legs I'd Kick You are in the running for 2025's Bright Horizon prize, as are the likes of Cannes hit Sound of Falling, Un Certain Regard award-winner The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo, the Bangkok-set A Useful Ghost, and Matthew McConaughey (Agent Elvis)- and Kurt Russell (Monarch: Legacy of Monsters)-starring crime-thriller The Rivals of Amziah King. It isn't hard to find more standouts across the complete MIFF program, such as dramedy Sorry, Baby, which has had the film festival circuit talking since Sundance; Left-Handed Girl, with first-time director Shih-Ching Tsou boasting Anora Oscar-winner Sean Baker as her co-writer and editor; legal drama Two Prosecutors; and Kelly Reichardt's (Showing Up) Josh O'Connor (Challengers)-led The Mastermind. Others include O'Connor again in the small town-set Rebuilding, coming-of-age story Enzo from BPM (Beats Per Minute)'s Robin Campillo, Wagner Moura's (Dope Thief) Cannes-winning performance in The Secret Agent, Bi Gan's (Long Day's Journey Into Night) Resurrection, the surveillance culture examination of documentary The Perfect Neighbor, 1000 Women in Horror's cinematic celebration, Aussie animation Lesbian Space Princess, the true crime-focused Zodiac Killer Project, Peter Dinklage (Wicked) as The Toxic Avenger and horror-comedy Zombucha! with Jackie van Beek (Audrey). The festival's retrospectives titles are always a highlight, and 2025's picks are no different — whether you're keen to mark 25 years since Looking for Alibrandi reached the screen via a 4K restoration; also see Sweetie, the debut feature from Jane Campion (The Power of the Dog), get the same restored treatment; flash back to BMX Bandits; or work your way through MIFF's largest-ever tribute to a single director via the 27-film Chantal Akerman: Traces strand. From Friday, August 15–Sunday, August 31, MIFF Online is also back so you can watch along from your couch.
Today, Sydney hospitality giant Merivale has unveiled the first phase of its 'Ivy 2.0' project, which will see four new venues open in the Sydney CBD this year. First up is Little Felix: a 60-seat cocktail bar and little sister to Ash Street's hatted French bistro Felix on George Street. The space itself — by lauded design firm Acme and stylist Amanda Talbot — is opulent and designed to transport guests back to 1920s Paris — or at least to the set of Midnight in Paris. Think Zelda and F Scott Fitzgerald parties at their grandest. In terms of drinks, Group Bar Manager Sam Egerton has created a succinct cocktail list featuring eight old-world classics made with premium French ingredients and liqueurs. Instead of a straightforward French 75 (gin, citrus and champagne), Little Felix serves up the Paris Meridian, which uses Chandon blanc de blancs and Farigoule de Forcalquier (a French thyme liqueur). Then there's the Le Ricain (the bar's take on a Sidecar), made with Hennessy VS, Cointreau and Armagnac. The wine list is impressive in its own right, too, curated by Merivale's Master Sommelier Franck Moreau and Head Sommelier Jean-Charles Mahe. Expect by-the-glass wines and champagnes to be poured from magnums — 1.5-litre bottles — and a custom-built wine fridge behind the bar. Guests can also order back vintages from the (impressively large) wine list next door at Felix. [caption id="attachment_736325" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nikki To[/caption] To eat, Head Chef Nathan Johnson has created a dedicated menu of simple French dishes for Little Felix, with the focus on charcuterie, cheese and tartines (temptingly spread out on the bar). Order a plate of jambon and melon, creamy duck liver parfait or one of the nine different cheeses. Also joining the group's Ivy Precinct this year is a casual Middle Eastern eatery by ex-Rockpool Chef Simon Zalloua, a sister to Bondi's Italian restaurant Totti's and a new Mexican joint. The precinct is already home to Bar Topa, Felix, Palings, Ash St Cellar, The Royal George and Ivy Pool Club, Den and Lounge. The openings coincide with the big Light Rail reveal and the soon-to-launch George Street pedestrian zone that comes along with it, as well as City of Sydney's newly approved late-night trading plan. This phase of Merivale's 'Ivy 2.0' project is the first step toward entirely redeveloping the site, but that won't come into play for many years to come. We'll keep you in the loop as we learn more about all of the new Merivale happenings. Little Felix is now open at 2A Ash Street, Sydney. Opening hours are Monday through Wednesday from 5pm–10pm, Thursday through Friday from 3pm–11pm and Saturday 5pm–11pm. Images: Nikki To
For nearly a year now, Daniel San has been bringing its rock ‘n’ roll blend of neon, pinball machines, Iggy Pop and Japanese chow down to the Manly seaside. Come this Halloween, it’ll be time to anniversa-rise. So the Daniel San team figured they’d do it the way they do pretty much everything — without any holding back. Welcome to Dead Famous — the Halloween party to wake the dead. As you’d expect from an eatery where diners are advised to “Dress every day like you’re going to Jimi Hendrix’s funeral”, music is a priority. A behemoth lineup of DJs will be gathering for the occasion, including Telefunken, Garth Linton, Shane SOS, Jimmi Walker, Mike O’Connor, Toby Neal and Simon Bell, who’ll be taking over both levels, kicking off at 6pm and spinning and scratching all the way through to 2am. The best news of all is that Dead Famous is free, as long as you RSVP online. Meanwhile, access to The Dojo will cost you a measly ten bucks, with a complimentary drink included. DEAD FAMOUS HALLOWEEN 2015Come out to play this Halloween to celebrate Daniel San's "DEAD FAMOUS" 1st Birthday! RSVP on the link below for a night of DJ's, drinks & debauchery X #letsgetweirdhttp://mgl.io/1XTR8Posted by Daniel San on Sunday, 11 October 2015
Putting birds beside guns may seem a dangerous move, ripe for violence. Actually, it makes for quite a nice dialogue between two new solo exhibitions at the recently relocated Gaffa space. Dan Simon likes playing with guns. Canons, bombs, axes and chainsaws also feature in past and present work. The obvious overtones of violence and destruction are a field within which Simon plays, re-presenting these objects in different ways. By recasting, remoulding and (figuratively and literally) opening up different weapons, an innate aesthetic is exposed which has little to do with the social constructs hovering around them. I was lucky enough to see one observer explaining, in simple terms, the operating mechanisms of a semiautomatic to his young daughter. Be careful not to mistake Simon's fascination for worship, however; context is acknowledged and subtly teased out in different ways. On a slightly lighter note, a walk into the next gallery reveals Andrew Ensor bringing the humble doodle to a whole new level. Bird Brain explores a feathered fascination, through a plethora of twig-like sketches with blobs or scratches of colour. The focus often strays from the birds themselves in a deliberately absent-minded way, providing visual representation for fleeting thoughts or child-like associations: pirates feature alongside pigeons and penguins. Foolishness is fun, and we don't at all mind the weird and wonderful ideas that crop up here. Image by Andrew Ensor.
Movies can sometimes stick to a formula. Picture palaces showing them can do the same thing. At Moonlight Cinema, one of Australia's summer staples, that means playing Christmas films in December and romantic classics in February, for instance. Celebrating Oscar contenders in March is also on the itinerary, as the just-dropped last lineup for the event's 2023–24 season locks in. We can't know right now who'll emerge victorious at Hollywood's night of nights on Monday, March 11 Australian time, but plenty of nominees are showing throughout the month. Whether you're team Oppenheimer or Barbie, they're both on the program. So are Poor Things, The Holdovers and Martin Scorsese's Killers of the Flower Moon. Perth gets Maestro, too, while Sydney and Melbourne can get drawn into the compelling drama of Palme d'Or-winner Anatomy of a Fall. While Moonlight Cinema hits up five locations each year, it winds up in Brisbane and Adelaide in February, hence the March bill is only playing in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth. The details vary per city, but each will also enjoy a range of recent big-screen favourites, too, such as the Mean Girls musical, Sydney-shot rom-com Anyone But You and the sweet Timothée Chalamet (Bones and All)-led treat that is Wonka. Matthew Vaughn following up the Kingsman movies with new spy caper Argylle, Kingsley Ben-Adir (Secret Invasion) playing a reggae icon in Bob Marley: One Love and wrestling drama The Iron Claw will also get a whirl. For some retro fun, The Goonies, The Princess Bride and the OG Mean Girls are on the lineup as well. And, of course, the movies are just one part of the Moonlight Cinema experience. The setting — at Centennial Parklands in Sydney, Royal Botanic Gardens in Melbourne, and Kings Park and Botanic Garden in Perth — is just as important. Also on offer: an official Aperol spritz bar, which is new for 2023–24. Nosh-wise, the event lets you BYO movie snacks and drinks, but the unorganised can enjoy a plethora of bites to eat onsite while reclining on bean beds. There's also a VIP section for an extra-luxe openair movie experience, plus a platinum section that levels up a night at the movies even further in Sydney and Melbourne. A beauty cart is handing out samples, too. And, dogs are welcome at all sites except Perth — there's even special doggo bean beds, and a snack menu for pooches. Moonlight Cinema 2023–24 Dates: Sydney: until Sunday, March 24, 2024 in Centennial Parklands Perth: until Sunday, March 24, 2024 in Kings Park and Botanic Garden Melbourne: until Saturday, March 30, 2024 in Royal Botanic Gardens Moonlight Cinema runs through until March 2024 in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth, with dates varying per city. For more information and to buy tickets, visit the cinema's website.
Back in May, it was announced that beloved Sydney pub and live music stalwart The Lansdowne had been saved from closure after long-time custodians Mary's stepped away from the venue. Taking over the reins would be the team behind another Sydney favourite, the Oxford Art Factory. To celebrate the continued safety of this Sydney icon, the new Lansdowne team is throwing a free 12-hour party on Saturday, June 25 with a hefty lineup in tow. Headling the party is Winston Surfshirt, who will be bringing their catalog of genre-bending hits to The Lansdowne's stage. Joining them will be a host of fan-favourite local Sydney and Australian acts like Donny Benet, RVG, Caitlin Harnett and the Pony Boys, First Beige and Hayley Mary. There's also a stack of talented musicians tackling the DJ decks throughout the night including the beloved duo Stereogamous, the Motorik team, Baby Beef, Tasker, Joey P, Salarymen and Dead Witch. The cherry on top of this jam-packed free event is free beer and food for those that get down early. The gig will be kicking off at 5pm and staying true to The Lansdowne's reputation for late-night kick-ons, continuing through the night until 5am. Entry is free with registration via Moshtix. [caption id="attachment_757840" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Lansdowne Hotel[/caption]
If you were planning to get around on trains this festive season, you might have to rethink your plans. Transport for NSW has announced that sections of three Sydney train lines and one intercity line will close from Tuesday, December 24 to complete upgrades to the network. Which means, lots of replacement buses. Sections of the T3 Bankstown, T4 Illawarra Line and Blue Mountains Line will close temporarily over the holidays, while the T6 Carlingford Line will close permanently from Sunday, January 5 to make way for the new Parramatta Light Rail. The light rail will connect Carlingford to Westmead via Camellia and Parramatta's CBD, but it isn't set to launch until 2023. So, in the interim, Carlingford residents wanting to board the T1 or T2 will need to jump on a bus — the new 535, which will travel from Carlingford to Parramatta. https://twitter.com/T3SydneyTrains/status/1209051055490772992 On the T3 line, buses will replace trains between Central and Campsie from December 24–28 and between Campsie and Sydenham from December 28–January 5, while the train line is upgraded for the second stage of the Sydney Metro project. Together with the Metro North West railway line, that launched back in May, the Metro City and Metro South West will see a new railway linking Rouse Hill to Chatswood, travelling under the Sydney Harbour to the city, then down to Bankstown. Metro West will link the city to Parramatta. Track maintenance will also be performed on the T4 line, causing temporary closures between Hurstville and Central from December 24– 28. The Blue Mountains Line between Penrith and Bathurst will also close from December 26–30, and, currently, buses are replacing trains between Mount Victoria, Lithgow and Bathurst due to damage to rail infrastructure caused by the bushfires. https://twitter.com/TrainLinkWest/status/1208983251760500736 Transport for NSW Coordinator General Marg Prendergast says while upgrades are being carried out over the summer break to "minimise disruption to the community", commuters should plan ahead and allow extra travel time. To find out more about the changes and replacement buses, head to Transport for NSW. For the latest updates on traffic, including impacts from the bushfire season, head to Live Traffic NSW.
There's no such thing as 'just a cocktail', as everyone who's fond of making and sipping them knows. Sourcing the exact right ingredients, combining them in the ideal way, perfecting your favourite recipe — ace all three stages, and you'll find yourself with a refreshing, drinkable work of art. One particular part of the above equation is especially crucial, of course. If you don't pick the right spirit to start with, your cruisy afternoon cocktail just won't taste the same. And, if you can go one better and find a standout local drop — a creative vodka, flavoursome rum or memorable gin, for example — you'll be able to both enjoy a stellar beverage and support a homegrown distillery at the same time. When it comes to great spirits made right here in New South Wales, you might already have your go-to. Or, you could be looking for ideas for your next concoction. Either way, we decided to highlight five of the best distilleries in New South Wales that are pumping out first-rate spirits. Recommended reads: The Best Bars in Sydney The Best Bottle Shops in Sydney The Best Underground Bars in Sydney The Best Bars and Pubs with Fireplaces in Sydney
What do women really want? Sydney is about to find out — with All About Women returning in 2014. Entering into its second year, this is a whole-day festival, presented by Ideas at the House and Daily Life and devoted, solely, to the ladies. Roping in international names and local personalities, the festival speaks to a diverse range of ideas important to women of the millennial, from modern parenting and workplace issues to illuminating perspectives on the goings on in Egypt and Somalia. Featuring talks with the likes of Alison Bechdel (inventor of the 'Bechdel test' for movies and writer of comic Dykes to Watch Out For) and British environmentalist Lucy Siegle, All About Women will also feature panel discussions and a clothes swap, while home-grown heroes Annabel Crabb, Cassandra Kelly and Kaz Cooke conduct 'how to' sessions. In a year where we've been led to reflect women's experience in public life, All About Women provides a safe, dynamic and inclusive platform to get roaring (think Helen Reddy circa 1970 and not that terrible karaoke scene in Sex and the City 2). Tickets are on sale from February 3.
To feel perplexed is to feel completely baffled by something complicated or unaccountable. Aptly titled, Perplex, is a fantastically absurdist German play by Marius von Mayenburg that delves into all the bourgeois contemporary problems a Sydney Theatre Company audience could ask for. Paying bills, dealing with stifling relationships, exploring sexuality, quitting work, renting holiday apartments, employing au pairs and cleaning ladies, being a bit racist and dealing with weird friends at parties is all subject matter ripe for farcical unpicking, and Mayenburg digs in with no holds barred. Directed deftly by Sarah Giles (Mrs Warren's Profession), this is theatre beyond theatre — a highly self-conscious meta work with existentialist philosophy centre stage, wreaking havoc for the four actors and dishing out humour as if it were going out of style. It's a laugh a minute. Nobody and nowhere is what you thought it was, is or will be. Is anything even here or there or anywhere at all? The performances, particularly Andrea Demetriades' realness (even in an outrageous volcano costume) are a highlight. Glenn Hazeldine is also hilarious as a tantrum-throwing 11-year-old-turned-Nazi. The hour and a half is packed with good old-fashioned slapstick, full frontal nudity, fancy dress costumes, a mysterious smell and an unopened package. The setting is a simply furnished apartment living room, which serves as a generic background for the overlapping scenes. The actors keep their same names throughout, though slip into different characters and situations at the seemingly skittish whim of the writer. One character is often left momentarily in the previous scene, a sort of glitch that incites confused questions of identity and truth before he or she adapts to the new truths insisted upon by the newly transformed characters. Tiny fragments — from props to phrases — are woven through the work, another tactic to prompt the residual feeling that everything is, in the end, all the same as everything else. By and large, the writing is intelligent, quick-paced and unpredictable. At its best, the dialogue is sharp and minimal. But this drops off towards the end as the fourth wall breaks down and the actors descend into long, heavy-handed existential musings that kill off a bit of the charm and slow it down. It's saved again though, by the sheer weirdness of the ending. And after all that, you can't help but laugh. Image by Lisa Tomasetti.
Yes, Vivid Sydney is a time to take in bright lights on our streets, but it's also a time to bask in the local talent and creative expression in music, food and visual arts. And this year, plenty are getting in on the action. Take the Hollywood Quarter for example, the micro-precinct near Central Station home to some of Surry Hills' favourite haunts and, during Vivid Sydney, a whole bunch of installations and events. At Paramount House, multidisciplinary Sydney artist Aedan Lee (pictured at top) is using sculpture, light and design to ponder the question 'Can there be order in chaos?' with UNION. The partially suspended dynamic piece (pictured below) brings lasers into the mix too, and will be on show every night from 6pm throughout Vivid's 2023 run. Entry to see Lee's work is free, but you should make a night of it and stay for a drink at the onsite subterranean cocktail lounge Golden Age Bar (and maybe catch a flick), or head to nearby Poly for a glass of vino and a few perfect plates. Hollywood Quarter's Paramount House Hotel will be hosting Aedan Lee's 'UNION' throughout Vivid Sydney 2023. For more information and to plan your trip, head to the website.
This year, the Cannes Film Festival hosted a complete television series screening for the first time in its 70 year history. The occasion was the world premiere of Top of the Lake: China Girl, a mystery series written and directed by Academy Award winner Jane Campion. Now, the Sydney Opera House has announced it will host the Australian premiere on August 1, bringing the series back to its Sydney roots. The series, which has scored Emmy and Golden Globe nominations, stars Elisabeth Moss (Madmen, Truth), Gwendoline Christie (Game of Thrones, Star Wars: The Force Awakens) and Nicole Kidman (Big Little Lies, The Hours, Moulin Rouge!). It follows the story of Detective Robin Griffin (Moss), who recently returned to Sydney and is searching for the killer of a body that washed up on Bondi Beach. The event will include the screening of the first two episodes, followed by a Q and A with Campion, her co-writer Gerard Lee and director Ariel Kleiman (Partisan). Pre-sale tickets are currently available for Insider Members, with newsletter pre-sale beginning tomorrow and general public tickets on sale this Friday, July 7.
Carriageworks will house one of the most vibrant exhibitions you'll see anywhere this summer when Until by American artist Nick Cave opens on Friday, November 23. A play on the phrase 'innocent until proven guilty' — or, rather, 'guilty until proven innocent' — Until addresses topical issues of gun violence, gender politics and race relations in America. It represents the largest solo presentation for both Nick Cave professionally and for Carriageworks to date. Carriageworks joined creative forces with the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art and the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art to ensure this exciting — and completely free — exhibition became a reality for Australian audiences after four years in the making. The unmissable centrepiece is the dazzling suspended installation 'Crystal Cloudscape', a five-tonne feature that combines an eclectic mix of crystals, beads and found objects. For audiences to get a better look at the American culture references peppered throughout this massive work, including black-faced lawn jockeys and vintage whisky decanters, four nearby ladders lead to the gallery's ceiling. Moving further through the exhibition, there's a diverse array of immersive spaces to explore with all manner of kinetic installations. These include a dreamlike 14-channel video work, a towering wall of iridescent metallic party streamers thrust into life by fan blowers and the 'Beaded Cliff Wall' — a soaring work assembled with millions of plastic hair pony beads. To demonstrate Nick Cave's renowned support for art that empowers communities, Carriageworks is hosting a three-month program to accompany the exhibition. This lineup of events will respond directly to Until through visual arts, dance and live music alongside panel discussions and community forums. Nick Cave: Until will run from Friday, November 23, 2018 to Sunday, March 3, 2019. Image: Zan Wimberley, 2018.
If you've eaten more mi goreng than you did back at uni lately, we get it. Not all of us can be baking our own sourdough or learning how to make pasta from an Italian nonna. But, if you're time poor — or your wallet is on the lighter side these days — instant noodles and cans of tuna aren't you're only choice. Now bringing affordable healthy meal packs to homes across Sydney is The Grub Club. So put that packet down and keep reading. The Grub Club is from the teams behind CBD small bar Since I Left You and caterer Shared Affair — so, it's safe to say these guys know what they're doing in the kitchen. The club's aim is to provide tasty nutritious meals without the hefty price tag. Plus, it'll save you a trip to the crowded supermarket. Each meal comes frozen and packed with seasonal veggies and protein at costs just $7.50, which is a hell of a lot cheaper than some other food services going around town at the moment. And all you have to do is heat and eat — leaving more room for living room boogies or movie marathons. The menu changes weekly, but you can expect to be tucking into the likes of Moroccan chicken tagine, Nonna's bolognese, hearty casseroles, heartwarming curries and a lamb shoulder shepherd's pie. You can also go all out and get an antipasti platter for two for $15 and a bunch of desserts for a fiver, including sticky date pudding, Nutella fudge brownie and Persian orange cake. Better yet, it's also got its own wine — with bubbles, white, rosé and red starting from just $15 — pre-batched cocktails and some six-packs available. Did we mention delivery is free on orders over $50? For smaller orders, you'll be able to pick your feed hub from one of the Grub Hubs around town. Right now, you can drop into Since I Left You or The Lord Gladstone, with more locations expected to be added. Although Since I Left You and Shared Affair have been closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, The Grub Club has allowed them to rehire staff to help prepare and deliver meals. So, you can have your cake and feel good about it, too. The Grub Club is offering free delivery on orders over $50 or you can pick up at Since I Left You and The Lord Gladstone. To check out the menu and to place an order, head here.
If you haven't heard of Fairgrounds — Australia's newest boutique music festival — consider this your introduction. A brand new addition to the summer festival season, the festival is sporting a mini-Meredith lineup, an outdoor cinema and an independent record market in one of Australia's prettiest coastal towns, Berry. And it's on this weekend. Taking cues from the always great Meredith lineup, Fairgrounds' folk, pop and garage-focused lineup will see LA-based crooner Father John Misty headline, alongside dream pop legends Mercury Rev, San Francisco's quirky characters Unknown Mortal Orchestra, folk-rocker Jessica Pratt, Sydney's immortal Royal Headache and the gospel dancehall blues of C.W. Stoneking. And in a much welcomed announcement, Brooklyn glitchy duo RATATAT will be along for the ride as well. It's been a long five years since RATATAT brought us some new music, so it's just as well that Magnifique completely lives up to its name. Brooklynites Mike Stroud and Evan Mast have returned to their guitar-driven, electronic rock music roots and the results have been well-received by fans and critics alike. Ratatat are on their way down to Oz for a slew of festival spots and sideshows, so we asked Evan Mast about the new album, their crazy live visuals, and just where the hell is Nightclub Amnesia? How was the writing process different for your latest album, Magnifique, than your last record, LP4? Well, it was much more broken up. We did a lot of different recording sessions over several years in different places. We were at a point where we wanted to take a substantial break from making records and touring those records. We had kind of a hiatus, not really planned ahead of time. It sort of just happened. Magnifique was recorded in Long Island, Brooklyn and Jamaica — what was the benefit of the change of scene? You just get inspired by new places, it's just exciting to be in a new spot. Anything can trigger new ideas when you find yourself in a new environment — you just end up feeling more creative. Do you think it lends itself to more opportunities to be inspired by things you wouldn't usually experience? Yeah, and it's more fun! The reason we went to Jamaica is because I think it was January (in the USA) and we wanted somewhere warm to record. We used to do a lot of winter recording sessions in Upstate New York, and it was just brutal at that time of year. There is certainly a return to a more guitar-focused sound on Magnifique, something similar to Classics. What drew you back to this? Our two previous records, LP3 and LP4 we did in a studio in Upstate New York, and the studio had collected tonnes of different keyboards and drums and all kinds of things. That was our first time being in an environment like that, with all this studio equipment that we had never used before. The most exciting thing to do with those records was to experiment with all these different sounds. We did two albums like that, then the pendulum swung the other way. We simplified some aspects of the music, which kind of made the songwriting more complicated. I heard something like 50 tracks ended up on the cutting room floor in creating Magnifique. Could these tracks be revisited later? I'm not really sure. There’s some tracks that I still feel a little bit attached to, even if they weren't right for the record. But usually when we get together to work on a new album it's much more exciting to start something fresh. I get that. So one of the tracks on your new album is called 'Nightclub Amnesia'. Where is this place? Have you partied there? [laughs] Well the sign that's on the single cover is in Costa Rica — but I think I drove by the place and it was burned down or a field now. I don’t think it exists anymore! For your video clip for 'Abrasive', you drew 4000 pictures to make the animations. What inspired you to do that? I had this idea in the back of my head to do some hand drawn animation for a while and I just started experimenting with it and doing rotoscoping. I did one or two of the individual clips and it took all day, and I thought, "there's no way I can actually get into this, it's too time consuming". But then it became this obsessive thing to go through, and I found myself going back and doing more. It took about 2-3 months to do the whole video. You also drew all the faces for the cover of Magnifique. What's the story there? We [Mast and bandmate Mike Stroud] have both always liked drawing, and there was one trip in particular when we were recording in Long Island and we just got really into it. We'd work on our music during the day and at night we'd sit around and do drawings, flicking through magazines and newspapers and find faces to draw. Just for fun. Your latest live show is big on the projections and lasers. How do you come up with the visual concepts for the live show? The show we have now is a combination of a lot of things we've been working on since we started the band. It has increased in complexity, so now it's got a pretty intense lighting element to it, lots of lasers and several channels of video happening. We always wanted to make the show hypervisual, something to accompany the music. It's probably because we don't have a singer — usually when you go to a show everyone watches the singer, so we wanted to put something on the stage to fill that space. From your catalogue of albums, which ones are the most fun to play live? The new one is really fun to play live, and so is Classics. They are both more guitar-focused, but they were probably the two most difficult albums to make! Do you think we will need to wait another five years for the next album? Or is it something you've even begun to think about? We haven't really made any concrete plans yet. I think we're both really eager to get back in the studio, but I can’t really make any promises! I hope it comes a lot sooner though.
For much of the 19th century and a good deal of the 20th, the Pigalle district in Paris — where the infamous Moulin Rouge lives — was alight with ideas. Its cafes and boarding houses were bursting with would-be artists, philosophers and wits creating and debating in equal measure. Then in the 1940s, with war ripping the country apart, Pigalle drop-kicked its academic hangers-on and became one of the most risqué red-light districts in Europe. Equal parts burlesque, circus and discotheque, Pigalle transports audiences to a time of anarchic abandon and Parisian pizzazz. With an international cast of cabaret heavyweights headed up by Marcia Hines, this is a saucy and occasionally scandalous tour through Paris that other time that it sizzled. Pigalle is part of Sydney Festival's dramatic and diverse 2019 program. Check out the full lineup here. Image: Daniel Linnett
The folks behind Wolfe & Co., Dural's home of Five Senses Coffee and seasonal cafe fare, are on the trail again. Their new venture is a restaurant and bar by the name of Cod's Gift, where the focus is sustainably-caught seafood and high-quality beverages, including natural and biodynamic wines, as well as top-shelf cocktails. You'll find it just around the corner from Wolfe & Co., at 6/53 Ward Place. Cod's Gift will open for lunch and dinner seven days a week. Soundtracking your oceanic feasts will be a steady stream of live acts and DJs, and, if you're not inclined to eat in, you can grab fish and chips and a variety of seafood-based dishes from a separate takeaway section. The only catch? You'll have to wait until August to check the place out. Renovations are in action, but they're at least a couple of months away from completion. Cod's Gift will open at Shop 4,5,6/3 Ward Place, Dural. Keep an eye on the the website and Facebook page for developments.
One of the most affordable spots on the harbour this NYE is at Bar Ombre. For $350, you can enjoy a five-course meal, three-hour drinks package and views of the fireworks from the rooftop of Salt Meats Cheese Circular Quay. On the menu at this openair event, you'll find a selection of shared starters including zucchini flowers, rosemary and garlic focaccia and soft shell crab, as well as an oyster, prawn and tuna seafood platter. You'll then be offered your choice of either crisp-skinned Tasmanian salmon and wagyu scotch fillet with truffle butter and charred broccoli. In the lead up to midnight, you'll be treated to mini cannoli and tiramisu, and prosecco, red and white wine along with beer will be free-flowing through the night. If you want to be among the action and enjoy a hearty Italian meal, but aren't fussed about the fireworks, you can alternatively book a table downstairs, which includes a three-course meal and glass of Moët for $145. [caption id="attachment_723370" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kitti Gould[/caption] Bookings are available via the Salt Meats and Cheese website. Image: Kitti Gould
Ever get sick of beer and find yourself yearning for an ice-cold schooner of Vodka Cruiser? Of course you do. The iconic alcoholic beverage has been constricted to the glass bottle for years now but — finally! — it is now available on tap in selected venues. One such venue is Newtown's The Marlborough Hotel and the team is throwing a party to celebrate. The Marly will be hosting a free Vodka Cruiser On Tap Launch Party on Friday, November 10 to mark the addition of the colourful bevs to its tap list. Expect plenty of guava Cruiser schooeys to be downed throughout the night. And if the pure sight of that bright pink liquid emerging from The Marly's tap wasn't enough to convince you, Murray Cook the original red Wiggle will also be in attendance, taking over the DJ decks to provide the soundtrack for the night. This is not a drill. [caption id="attachment_866427" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Murray Cook[/caption] If you get peckish throughout the night, you can pair your Cruiser with a bite from the pub's Fat Belly Jack's. Burgers are the name of the game here, and the fried chicken burgers are good enough to compete with Sydney's best. Our suggestion: the Fat Belly Burger which features Nashville hot chicken that will seriously blow your socks off.
Before 2020 rolled around, the Victoria–New South Wales border hadn't closed for more than 100 years. So when it shut last July, it was a rather big deal. In the months since, however, residents of both states have seen the situation change back and forth multiple times. After a COVID-19 outbreak hit Sydney's northern beaches over the Christmas and NYE period, the border closed again, with Victoria starting 2021 by shutting off to all of NSW. Since then, the latter state reopened to regional NSW, then to all but ten Greater Sydney local government areas and finally to all but one LGA. From 6pm tonight, Friday, January 29, it's reopening to that last LGA, Cumberland — which means that no one in NSW will be forbidden from entering. Victoria implemented a traffic light-style system earlier in January, which colour-codes different regions of the country depending on their COVID-19 cases — so, as part of this new change, Cumberland will move from a red zone to an orange zone. That'll mean that folks who've been in the LGA in the past 14 days can enter Victoria, but they'll need to isolate on arrival and get tested within 72 hours. And, they'll need to receive a negative result before they're free to leave isolation. They also have to apply for a permit before entry, too — like all Australians, because compulsory permits are now part of Victoria's process for anyone who wants to enter the state. If you try and enter Victoria without a valid permit, you risk being fined $4957. You can apply for one online. Cumberland isn't the only part of NSW that has been downgraded, either. Victoria is also moving all parts of the state that were previously classified as orange zones to green zones. On the list: the Greater Sydney LGAs of Blacktown City, Burwood, Canada Bay City, Canterbury-Bankstown, Fairfield City, Inner West, Parramatta City and Strathfield Municipality and Liverpool, plus Wollongong and the Blue Mountains. Travellers entering Victoria from a green zone still need to apply for a permit, but do not need to get tested or isolate on arrival, unless they develop symptoms. https://twitter.com/VicGovDHHS/status/1354985485140185093 The loosened border restrictions come as Victoria records its 23rd consecutive day of zero new cases of community transmission. Overnight, the state did record one new case in hotel quarantine. Announcing the change in a statement, Premier Daniel Andrews said that he is "extremely happy to see the last red zone in New South Wales be downgraded. We're reminding people to get tested if they're returning from an orange zone, so we can continue to enjoy an open and COVID-safe summer." For more information on Victoria's new permit system — or to apply for one — head to the Department of Health and Human Services website.
Craft brew lovers in Sydney's southwest, rejoice. The Ambarvale Hotel is bringing a whole heap of exciting beers to your neck of the woods for a one-day craft beer festival called the South West Beer Fest. Running from midday on Saturday, February 25, the festival will boast samples from 12 different local breweries for you to try. You're certain to find your new favourite brew with beers on offer courtesy of Capital Brewing Co, White Bay Brewing, Akasha Brewing Co, Sunday Road Brewing, Mountain Culture and locals Ambarvale Brewing Company among the different beermakers on show. The Ambarvale Hotel also underwent a bit of an upgrade during the pandemic, with the pub's new outdoor In The Gardens oasis set to play home to the beer festival. Entry is free and $35 token booklets will be available to purchase on the day, granting you access to a heap of beer samples. If you're always on the lookout for a good deal, you can nab your token booklet online before the event, too, and save $5.
The problem with Spider-Man movies — all Spider-Man movies — can be summed up in one word: villains. With names like 'Green Goblin', Doc Oc', 'Sandman' and now 'Electro', they're just too 'comic booky'. It may seem a ridiculous argument given these are films based on comic books, but consider the Batman model. There, the villains were also possessed of suitably villainous names like: Ra's al Ghul, Scarecrow, Joker, Two-Face and Bane, but they were — without exception — just men. Specifically, a man with a face, a man with a sack over his face, a man with paint on his face, a man with half his face missing and a man with half his face covered in a Dyson vacuum cleaner. As men, however, mortal and tangible, no matter how outlandish their schemes, they remained believable. Again, it may seem an unfair to invoke plausibility given we're talking here about a franchise built around a man/spider hybrid, but believing in Spidey has never been the problem. We're on board with that. A freak, near-spontaneous mutation definitely pushes the bounds of probability, but it stays just enough inside to feel okay to audiences, helped in no small way by the constant, private and human moments from Peter Parker's life to which we're given backstage passes: the experimentation, the girl troubles, the laundry and even the sniffles. There has been one outstanding Spider-Man villain — a complex, tormented and conflicted soul with whom Spider-Man has battled constantly throughout every film — the only problem is, it's Spider-Man. Not Topher Grace's 'bad Spidey' from 2007's Spider-Man 3, it's literally Spider-Man. "With great power comes great responsibility" proclaimed Peter's grandmother way back in the original Spider-Man, and that dark concord has been the most compelling dynamic to all the films that followed. All great superheroes are, in a way, tortured by their abilities, forced to choose between desire and duty. The demons from Peter's choices make his version of the superhero conundrum all the more engrossing, because (causality scepticism aside) they've led to people's deaths. First his grandfather, then his girlfriend's father — the latter's dying wish being that Peter leave his daughter Gwen alone. For these reasons, of the two concurrent plot lines in The Amazing Spider-Man 2, one is far more appealing than the other. The weaker thread is the 'villain plot', featuring a loner electrical engineer (Jamie Foxx) turned furious spectral Tesla coil by the name of 'Electro'. He's somewhere between a bullied high school kid and an emotional Doctor Manhattan, whose motivations for citywide chaos and suffering are as gossamer as his translucent skin. Ultimately, Electro's only worth to this film is to highlight the choice Peter (Andrew Garfield) must make between the love of his life, Gwen (Emma Stone), and his self-imposed duty to protect the city. This is the story that makes The Amazing Spider-Man 2 a film well worth watching. In fact, if it were just two hours of Garfield and Stone flirting and quipping with each other, not only would it have possibly been a better movie, it would have smacked down most of the other supposed romantic comedies of the past decade. The real-life couple has an outrageously appealing on-screen chemistry, and their exchanges are so well-written that it's a crime when actual crimes are committed to interrupt them. The special effects are, of course, spectacular, and the use of 3D is a rare example of the technique adding to, rather than distracting from, the storytelling. The music, too, is excellent, employing a body-shuddering pseudo dubstep whenever Electro crackles into action. But it's the small-scale, romantic moments that shine most brightly, culminating in an ending that'll have you humming 'We have all the time in the world' as you make you way home. https://youtube.com/watch?v=nbp3Ra3Yp74
If you liked choosing your way through Black Mirror: Bandersnatch — or telling Bear Grylls what to do in interactive series You vs. Wild — then Netflix has more where that came from. Come Tuesday, May 12, you'll be able to decide what happens to everyone's favourite kidnapping victim turned wide-eyed New Yorker in a one-off Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt special. While the Tina Fey co-created, 18-time Emmy-nominated comedy finished up its regular run with 2019's batch of episodes, which closed out the show's fourth season, it's coming back this month to put viewers in control. Netflix has actually been in the interactive game for a couple of years thanks to its children's shows like Puss in Boots, Buddy Thunderstruck and Stretch Armstrong; however this'll mark the streamer's first interactive comedy. Always wanted to curb Kimmy's (Ellie Kemper) ample enthusiasm? Keen to steer ex-socialite Jacqueline White (Jane Krakowski) towards a few sensible decisions? Think that landlord Lillian (Carol Kane) could be more eccentric and misanthropic? Just love everything that aspiring actor and singer Titus Andromedon (Tituss Burgess) does? Then this is for you, obviously. If you're fond of Jon Hamm's Reverend Richard Wayne Gary Wayne, too, you're also in luck — this interactive episode is called Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy vs. the Reverend, after all. A whole heap of other famous faces co-star as well, including Daniel Radcliffe, Amy Sedaris, Fred Armisen, Chris Parnell, Jack McBrayer and Johnny Knoxville. Story-wise, as the just-dropped trailer shows, Kimmy is preparing to marry Radcliffe's Frederick in three days. Then she finds an old library book in her beloved childhood backpack, which sets her on a collision course with the Reverend — who just might have another bunker hidden away. Viewers can expect a wedding, a journey across three US states, explosions, an evil plan and potentially starting a war against robots. Along the way, you'll help Kimmy decide if she should make out with Frederick, and choose whether Titus should wait 4000 minutes for an Uber instead of walking — and they're just the two decision points shown in the trailer. Announcing the special last year, Tina Fey explained that "fans will be able to make choices on behalf of our characters, taking different story paths with, of course, different jokes," in a Netflix statement. Check out the trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZWmRUxOj9g Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy vs. the Reverend will hit Netflix on Tuesday, May 12. Top images: Netflix.
What a difference fleshed-out characters and a committed cast can make. This shouldn't really be news, but plenty of movies seem happy to overlook both — especially in the popular sub-genre that is the big night out comedy. "Who needs more than stereotypes when everyone's drinking, partying and acting like a lunatic?" appears to be the usual line of thinking. "And why bother with good performances when the script is a bundle of cliches?" The answer to both questions is on display in Girls Trip, a genuine and largely entertaining film that'll help wipe Rough Night and the recent Hangover sequels from your brain. As certain as it's a fact that no good can come from drinking absinthe, Girls Trip follows a tried-and-tested path involving four friends, a raucous weekend away and a crazy amount of alcohol. It's not hard to predict what will happen as self-help guru Ryan (Regina Hall), gossip columnist Sasha (Queen Latifah), single mother Lisa (Jada Pinkett Smith) and wild child Dina (Tiffany Haddish) head to New Orleans for the annual Essence festival. Once close college pals dubbed the Flossy Posse, they've lost touch of late, becoming caught up in their own lives and troubles. A lavish vacation and a let-loose attitude might be just what they need. We're not going to reveal exactly what the gang gets up to, since that would spoil the fun. The point is, the details don't really matter. Viewers have seen most of it before and director Malcolm D. Lee knows it — although to their credit, writers Kenya Barris and Tracy Oliver still find a few unique inclusions. Even so, Girls Trip is unmistakably the latest in the recent string of ladies-behaving-badly flick (think Bridesmaids, Bad Moms and Fun Mom Dinner), and it doesn't do much differently, plot-wise. If anything, one of the reasons that the movie stands out is because it isn't pretending to tell a new story. Rather, it's happy evoking laughs while also feeling authentic. And it's that authenticity that's key. Plenty of the gags swing and miss, and some are downright cringeworthy. How much you'll chuckle in certain parts of the film might depend on your threshold for gross-out humour, while other scenes definitely overstay their welcome. Yet there's an energy and intimacy to Girls Trip that's inescapable. As silly, crude and debauched as the antics get, the warmth and joy surrounding the four protagonists continually sets the movie apart from its predecessors. These gals are written and played like real women who are actually friends, instead of bland female figures being humiliated to prove they're just as unruly as men. Kudos, too, to Hall, Latifah, Pinkett Smith and Haddish. Depicting characters who not only seem like they want to hang out with each other, but that audiences want to spend time with, isn't as easy as it sounds. Doing it within a bawdy comedy is all the more difficult still. The quartet repeatedly hit the mark, with Pinkett Smith a particular delight as the tightly wound mum learning to be herself again, and Haddish not only stealing every scene she's in but putting her stamp all over the film. To say that her delivery of bedroom tips will stick with you is definitely an understatement. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HnqkPpSn94Y
