Can you think of a better way to spend a muggy, summer night than with an outdoor movie and quality food in Bondi? From January 25 to March 4, American Express is bringing its outdoor cinema to Sydney's coastline. Movies on the big screen this season will include Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Call Me By Your Name, Pitch Perfect 3, Coco, Crazy Stupid Love and The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Salt Meats Cheese will be supplying the movie bites with a daily menu of gourmet food, including their truffle pecorino pasta, arancini antipasti and woodfired pizza. In addition, there will be 40 events across the installation, including live music performances, DJs and trivia. Every Sunday, $3 from your ticket will go to OzHarvest to provide meals for people in need. You'll also be able to make use of the bar, serving 4 Pines beer, Giesen wines, cocktails and frosé all night long. Oh, and it's a dog-friendly space with special picnic platter for the pooch, so you don't need to leave part of your family at home. Plus if you're an Amex user you'll get 15% off selected tickets, plus a blanket.
Being an adult Disney fan in Sydney is easy right now. The Mouse House's movies can be watched and rewatched (then rewatched again) thanks to the company's very own streaming service, and there's no shortage of other events — outdoor cinemas, musicals, drinks, exhibitions in other states and more — popping up or on their way. But if you're looking for something special to celebrate a whole century of the company's wares, and you're particularly fond of all the earworm songs its flicks have gotten stuck in your head over the years, then a big 100th-anniversary Disney concert is just the ticket. Disney 100: The Concert hops on a trend that's been popular for a few years now, pairing beloved movies with a live orchestra playing the soundtrack as you watch. This time, though, you'll be seeing clips of the Mouse House's musical hits rather than watching an entire feature. There's just that much to get through, given the company's massive film catalogue. [caption id="attachment_872472" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Daniel Boud[/caption] Making its Australian premiere at the Sydney Opera House's Concert Hall over three shows between Friday, February 24–Saturday, February 25, the concert will bust out tracks from Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, The Little Mermaid, The Lion King, Moana and Encanto, as well as Pocahontas, Aladdin, Tangled, Hercules and Frozen. The Sydney Symphony Orchestra and maestra Jessica Gethin will be in charge of the tunes — and a yet-to-be-announced a lineup of Australian musical theatre stars will be lending their voices to the production, which focuses on Disney's animated favourites. Also featuring: performers Genevieve McCarthy (Mythic, Les Misérables) and Amy Manford (The Phantom of the Opera) from MM Creative Productions, which is behind the production. If Disney's music soundtracked your childhood — and still does your adulthood — being this show's guest is a delightfully easy decision.
In Joel Edgerton's second film as director and sixth as a screenwriter, the actor-turned-filmmaker also takes a role in front of the camera, as the head therapist at a Christian facility. Sporting a trim moustache and a prim-and-proper look that'd make Ned Flanders proud, Boy Erased's Victor Sykes claims to be able to make teens pray the gay away and embrace heterosexuality. The counsellor expresses little sympathy for his charges. He may also have personal experience with his field of interest, but belittling the kids in his care — and forcing them to unearth family skeletons to apportion blame for their sexuality — is his technique. Sykes is the unmistakable villain of the piece, and rarely more than one-note. And yet, the film he's in thankfully doesn't share the same overall obviousness. Gay conversion should be condemned. It's a horrific and inhumane practice that's somehow still part of life in the US as well as Australia. Worlds away from his filmmaking debut The Gift, Edgerton may paint his character in the most glaring of terms (and do a fine enough job doing so), but Boy Erased itself is much more evenhanded. In the second movie about the subject this year after The Miseducation of Cameron Post, the film directs its quiet but palpable anger towards those humiliating and persecuting queer teenagers in a misguided attempt to turn them straight. For anyone that seeks such services, it offers empathy. In a story about a college kid sent away by his preacher father and dutiful mother, that distinction is important. Based on Garrard Conley's memoir, just with the names changed, Jared Eamons (Lucas Hedges) is the well-rounded son of Arkansas pastor Marshall (Russell Crowe) and his wife Nancy (Nicole Kidman). Soon, he's also an unhappy attendee at the Love In Action therapy centre. After a horrific incident at school forces him to come out, his Baptist parents — and his dad, specifically — deem conversion the only option. Just what Jared and his fellow participants (including singer Troye Sivan and filmmaker Xavier Dolan) endure will threaten both his sense of self and his relationships. Edgerton may write, direct and act in Boy Erased, but one of his biggest achievements stems from how he treats the film's main characters. This is a sensitive, earnest, sombre and understated movie that's shot in neutral tones, and wants to explore what motivates folks like the Eamons. Rather than judge them, it tries to understand these people who clearly love their son yet still send him to a conversion camp. With Jared, the film doesn't shy away from the impact of his experience, the conflict it causes or the difficulties of being a gay teen in general. He's hurt and uncertain, and also defiant and determined. He wants his parents' love, but not the emotional torture he's put through with their approval. Eventually, he also wants to stop self-censoring his identity to please others. Of course, these characters aren't just creations on a page, jumping from Conley's recollection to Edgerton's dramatic script. Edgerton's other big coup with Boy Erased is evident in the portrayals that he nurtures out of his core trio of actors. Crowe grapples with the intersection of Marshall's faith and being a good father, while Kidman helps convey the punishing patriarchal constraints of religion, with both playing their parts in a textured and thoughtful manner. And as he proved in Manchester by the Sea and Lady Bird as well, the supremely talented Hedges excels at internalised performances. Indeed, his work here encapsulates Boy Erased at its best. If Edgerton's own near-cartoonish part represents the movie at its most blatant and furious, then Hedges embodies the complex emotions that swell in almost every scene. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBZQ5F5T51I
What a difference a few drops of water can make. In The Insult, a spurting drainpipe sparks an altercation across religious and cultural lines, a highly publicised court case, and a probing look at Lebanon's volatile political climate. There's more to Ziad Doueiri's Academy Award-nominated drama, including the heated exchange of words that gives the film its title. But at the movie's heart, a simple situation embodies the tensions in the writer-director's fraught, fractious homeland. Just as right-wing Christian mechanic Tony Hanna (Adel Karam) is watering the plants on his Beirut balcony, Palestinian construction crew foreman Yasser Salameh (Kamel El Basha) walks underneath. Annoyed about getting wet and eager to do a good job around the neighbourhood, the latter knocks on the former's door and advises him to fix his drainage. When Tony refuses in an overt display of belligerence, Yasser takes matters into his own hands, repairing the pipe himself. Still irate, Tony then smashes Yasser's handiwork to pieces. In response and in obvious frustration, Yasser calls Tony a "fucking prick". Despite the film's moniker, that's not the only insult hurled throughout the course of the narrative, or the only display of violence. Whether the central duo are tussling on the street, facing off in Tony's workshop or watching their respective lawyers (Camille Salameh and Diamand Bou Abboud) duke it out in court, The Insult hinges upon exchanges steeped in anger, as well as the unrest ignited by a society simmering with division. Indeed, from the moment that Doueiri opens the movie with a Christian political party protest, he doesn't shy away from the broader context that's so pivotal to his plot. And while the filmmaker doesn't avoid emotive touches either — Tony has a heavily pregnant wife (Rita Hayek) as well as a tragic background, while Yasser has been a refugee in the country for decades — every aspect of the storyline helps flesh out the movie's many complexities. Doueiri's approach should feel familiar, and not just because he traversed comparable thematic terrain with terrorism drama The Attack back in 2012. Using a specific scenario as a stand-in for the Middle East's wider troubles is hardly a new cinematic tactic, as Iranian director Asghar Farhadi continually illustrates — and comparing The Insult to the likes of Farhardi's A Separation and About Elly is certainly a compliment. Like his fellow filmmaker, Doueriri possesses a way with words, both in slinging them between characters and in understanding their importance in trying circumstances. He similarly has an eye for nuanced performances, as El Basha demonstrates with a fine-tuned, lived-in portrayal that won him the Best Actor award at the 2017 Venice Film Festival. Furthermore, Doueriri knows how to unpack a moral quandary, sometimes bluntly but always effectively. If there's another filmmaker that The Insult also owes a debt to, it's a seemingly unlikely one: Quentin Tarantino. Doueriri was the first assistant camera operator on Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction and Jackie Brown, and clearly learned a few lessons in visual storytelling from all three movies. There's much greater restraint evident in his work with cinematographer Tommaso Fiorilli, of course, however movies so focused on searing dialogue rarely feel as fluid and energetic as this. A picture doesn't speak a thousand words here, given that so much conversation is flung about. But each frame lends weight, power and a crackling atmosphere to this riveting exploration of both everyday and historical conflicts. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Fd6gDd2f2k
You'll need to take off your shoes, store anything sharp and change into one of the hooded suits that hang beside The Cell before you're allowed into it. This reflects the imprisonment aspect of the title, while the whooshing breath-like noises of the machinery and geometric regularity of the designs (like something under a microscope) allude to its biological connotations. The repetition of the pattern on the suits has the effect of camouflaging the audience into the work, implying natural mimicry, defence and also military uniforms. Crawling through a tunnel, uniformed, one of at most six people, suggests that The Cell could be some sort of resistance or terrorist group. I know, all that from the title. There's a reason it's called conceptual art, you guys. As to what it physically is, well, it's a 12x6x3 metre inflatable, with tiny portholes. The designs on the walls and suits are op-artish enlargements of motifs from the art of the Wiradjuri people. While you do get a sort of spring happening, it's not the bouncing-off-the-walls childhood sensation. It's quite peaceful inside, but at the same time the etiquette of it is pretty awkward: what do you do? How long do you stay? The Cell makes you hyper-aware of your own behaviour and interactions as it makes references to Big Social Ideas, and you get bounced around and made a part of it. I'm still kinda dizzy.
We've lost another one; London Grammar have pulled out of the Splendour lineup due to illness. Frontwoman Hannah Reid is apparently dealing with pneumonia, a pretty fair reason not to jump on a plane and play back-to-back shows. London Grammar issued the following statement: It's with great sadness that we must announce the cancellation of our trip to Australia & Splendour in the Grass this week due to illness. This is an incredibly sad situation for us as our last visit was one of the most memorable of our careers, but we do not feel that we can currently deliver the level of performance that you all deserve from us. Our fans in Australia have been hugely supportive of our music since the very beginning, and it pains us to have to disappoint any of you. We are going to do everything we can to make sure we are back down under as soon as possible and will reschedule our Sydney & Melbourne shows and give you more details very shortly. The preternaturally talented UK trio were slated to play sideshows at Festival Hall and Hordern Pavilion, alongside a hugely anticipated slot at Splendour. They'll now play the shows in March next year. The announcement comes after last week's Foals-replacing-Two Door Cinema Club Splendour shakeup. The party's now in the super capable hands of Sydney's kings of dance shindiggery, The Presets, who have just been announced to play the Friday slot. Splendour co-producers Jessica Ducrou and Paul Piticco issued their own statement: We're sorry to report that Hannah from London Grammar has been taken ill, after cancelling T In The Park we hoped she would recover in time for Splendour but unfortunately has not. It's been quite a challenge finding a suitable replacement at such short notice but we are pleased to announce The Presets have come to the rescue and will play at Splendour this Friday. " Whilst beyond our control we are personally very disappointed with the last minute line-up changes but we are thankful for the support from Foals and The Presets stepping up in lightening speed. Here's to a great show! For those who purchased a single day ticket particularly to see London Grammar, refunds for Friday 25 July single day tickets only will be available from Moshtix until 5pm Wednesday 23 July. More info about refunds here. But all we can say (loudly) is "AHMHEREWITHALLOMAHPEOPLE...MERR.MERR.MERR." https://youtube.com/watch?v=0H40riQv5Jk
Grocery nerds, listen closely. Naked Foods — an organic, packaging-free bulk health food store — has opened on the Bondi end of Oxford Street, and there's hardly an unusual flour or up-and-coming superfood that Brazilian owner Caique Ponzoni doesn't stock. In a stripped-back, concrete-floored space lined with rows of white tubs filled with every type of lentil, nut, spice, grain and dried fruit the I Quit Sugar cookbook could ever call for, Caique and store manager Dolores Romero welcome a range of customers, from the older regulars who have known them since they started doing market stalls six years ago to the assertive, very Bondi 12-year-old he tells me came in one night after her yoga class to do her bulk shopping. Naked Foods' basic philosophy is to be organic, sustainable and waste-free. Bring your own containers or use the brown paper bags supplied around the shop and buy as much (or as little) as you want. He means that, too — you can get one walnut, or 12 kilos of flour. Gone are the days of pantries deep with hardly touched jars and bags of obscure ingredients you needed for that one recipe, that one time, two years ago. "Price is key as well," Caique tells me. "That's the difference between packaged stuff and an organic health shop. It'll always end up cheaper buying here, because you're always going to get what you need." At the front of the shop, Dolores churns out fresh nut butter. Behind her is a sign listing a different nut for each day of the week; the day I'm there she feeds enormous macadamias in, and a creamy, pale yellow, thick butter oozes out. Other products of note include the very aesthetically pleasing baby pink Himalayan crystal salt; chocolate coated nuts, banana and ginger (in dark and milk varieties); flour from the ancient grain khorasan (apparently known for its nutty flavour); and the super hard-to-find 'super superfood' bee pollen (for $79.95 a kilo, no less). Whether you're a proponent or not, there's no denying clean eating (or #cleaneating, as more than 9 million mentions on Instagram have it) is the latest food trend, though Caique might baulk at that term. "It's just a lifestyle, that's the right word. It's just normal. Shop in bulk, eat a lot of greens and raw food. That's the way we lived in Brazil." The organic, sustainable philosophy extends to other products as well. You can do away with your Head and Shoulders and expensive moisturisers. Caique sells organic shampoo and conditioner and assures me coconut oil is better than any high-end moisturiser or aftershave. His skin looks pretty damn soft. I think he's probably on to something. Naked Foods is at Shop 7, 310 Oxford Street, Bondi Junction and online. Its opening hours are 9am to 6pm, Monday to Saturday, and 10am to 5pm on Sundays.
People have orgasms every day, but for decades spent closing her eyes and thinking of England in a sexually perfunctory marriage, Good Luck to You, Leo Grande's lead character wasn't among them. Forget la petite mort, the French term for climaxing; Nancy Stokes' (Emma Thompson, Cruella) big wrestling match with mortality, the one we all undertake, has long been devoid of erotic pleasure. Moments that feel like a little death? Unheard of. That's where this wonderfully candid, intimate, generous and joyous sex comedy starts, although not literally. Flashbacks to Nancy enduring getting it over with beneath her now-deceased spouse, missionary style, aren't Australian filmmaker Sophie Hyde (Animals) or British comedian-turned-screenwriter Katy Brand's (Glued) concern. Instead, their film begins with the religious education teacher waiting in a hotel room, about to take the biggest gamble of her life: meeting the eponymous sex worker (Daryl McCormack, Peaky Blinders). For anyone well-versed in Thompson's prolific on-screen history, and of Brand's work before the camera as well, Good Luck to You, Leo Grande inspires an easy wish: if only Nancy had a different job. Back in 2010, the pair co-starred in Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang, a title that'd also fit their latest collaboration if its protagonist cared for kids rather than taught them. Jokes aside, the instantly charming Leo is used to hearing that sentiment about his own professional choices. Indeed, Nancy expresses it during their pre- and post-coital discussions, enquiring about the events that might've led him to his career. "Maybe you're an orphan!" she says. "Perhaps you grew up in care, and you've got very low self-esteem," she offers. "You could have been trafficked against your will — you can't tell just by looking at somebody!" she continues. There are plenty of "if only" thoughts and feelings pulsating through Good Luck to You, Leo Grande, a film where its namesake's tongue couldn't be more important — yes, in that way, and also because talk is as crucial as sex here. If only Nancy hadn't spent half of her existence in a pleasure-free marriage. If only a lifetime of being middle class and socially conservative, and of internalising Britain's stereotypical 'keep calm and carry on' mentality, hadn't left her adrift from her desires. If only being a woman in her mid-50s wasn't seen as a libidinous void by society at large, a mindset that's as much a part of Nancy as the wrinkles and ageing body parts she can barely look at in the mirror. If only prioritising her sensual needs wasn't virtually taboo, too, especially in her mind — even after, two years since being widowed, she's booked an expensive rendezvous with Leo. Good Luck to You, Leo Grande unpacks those if onlys — not the Nanny McPhee one, obviously, but the idea that Nancy's life is immovably stuck in the same rut it has always been. As played by Thompson at the height of her acting powers, at her absolute splintery, finicky yet vulnerable best even with Last Christmas, Years and Years, Late Night and The Children Act on her recent resume, she's nervous, anxious, uncertain and always on the cusp of cancelling, including once Leo strolls into the room, beams his easy magnetism her way and starts talking about what she wants like it's the most natural thing in the world. Slipping into the sheets and knowing what excites you is the most natural thing in the world, of course, but not to Nancy. As her four appointments with Leo progress, she comes up with a lineup of carnal acts she'd like to experience — and she may as well be reading from her grocery list. But getting her to shed her inhibitions is as much his focus as shedding her clothes, and the twentysomething won't let Nancy keep getting in the way of herself. How simple Good Luck to You, Leo Grande is, and also how complex. That's fitting; sex is the same. Brand has penned a slinky two-hander about an unfulfilled woman tentatively taking charge of her own wants, and the helping hand she needs to do so, and also a movie that layers every stigma about female lust, older women, sex work, boundaries and respect into one frank, empathetic, penetrating and delightful package. That's there in the minute details, such as Nancy's job teaching religion to schoolgirls, to whom she's shown the same stern judgement she directs her own way. It's in the way that Leo asks before making every move, dismantles Nancy's concerns about his vocation and their age gap, and dedicates their time together to putting her at ease in every way he can as well. And, it also lingers in his response to her lack of care about his own work-life divide. The straightforwardness, the complications, the texture, the intense emotional landscape — they all evolve and deepen as Good Luck to You, Leo Grande goes on, as do the weighty subjects that the movie ponders, and the two characters swirling through the frame. Twirl, twist, sway, spin, thrust, tumble: Nancy and Leo do all of the above, physically and verbally, and what a double act they make. You could call Good Luck to You, Leo Grande a chamber piece courtesy of its small cast, chatter-heavy setup and the fact it's largely set in one room; however, the always-phenomenal Thompson and the immediately mesmerising McCormack make every second of the film feel expansive. Movies about women of a certain age attempting to get their groove back aren't uncommon, but movies about accepting that there's even a groove to reclaim, why that's essential, and how not only sex but sex work have a pivotal place in our daily lives are almost as scarce as Nancy's orgasms — until now. Helming her third feature after progressing from the also revelatory 52 Tuesdays through to Animals and now this, Hyde could've just ensured that her regular cinematographer Bryan Mason was peering Thompson and McCormack's way, then let their acting magic happen — and, at times, that's how it appears. But Good Luck to You, Leo Grande does what Nancy never has with herself, and what Leo endeavours to control with his clients: it truly sees its central pair, who they are and who they want to be, and what makes them moan, groan and tick. Hyde is clearly drawn to intricate two-person dynamics and the dances they inspire, whether following a teenager and her transgender parent, two thick-as-thieves best pals or a couple of strangers getting explicit. She blatantly loves telling coming-of-age tales, too, with the emphasis on both the coming and the age in this case. And, she ensures that soaking in the quiet moments, including when her characters are together but alone, says as much as any words bantered back and forth. Sex comedies have rarely felt so lived in, so comfortable, so earnest or so nuanced, or like such a release.
Three years ago, Perth rockers Little Birdy decided to take a break. They'd been in the business since 2002 and, emphasising that their collaborative journey was on hiatus rather than at an end, explained that some solo exploration was nigh. While the boys embarked on various songwriting and production projects, Katy Steele jumped on a plane bound for New York City, drawn to "the largeness, the intensity, the struggle". 2010 saw two returns home — firstly for a massive, sold-out solo tour and secondly to support Richard Ashcroft of The Verve. Since then, Katy's been busy with a new album, and we're hoping to have it in our hands by the end of the year. March 13 marked the dropping of the single 'Fire Me Up', which you can download gratis via Bandcamp or hear on Triple J's Home and Hosed. Mind you, there's no substitute for the indie rock goddess doing her thing live. She'll be touring nationally in April, making her Sydney appearance at Goodgod Small Club. https://youtube.com/watch?v=sGrkPbXnCVA
Ridley Scott directs an all-star cast in The Counselor, the first original screenplay from Cormac McCarthy. Fans of the gritty, unflinching writing behind The Road will definitely want to check out this soon-to-be released drama-thriller. It stars man of the moment Michael Fassbender (currently generating praise for his turn in 12 Years a Slave) as a hotshot lawyer who gets involved in the dangerous world of drug trafficking and, quelle surprise, throws his near-perfect life (good job, beautiful fiance) into chaos. It's worth seeing for Javier Bardem alone, who demonstrates yet again just how well he can play the bad guy and rock an unsettling hairstyle. Although his 'do this time round doesn't quite live up to his No Country for Old Men coiffure in the creep-o-metre stakes. There are also performances from Penelope Cruz, Brad Pitt and Cameron Diaz in a surprisingly hard-edged role that looks set to showcase her dramatic range outside of comedy. The Counsellor is in cinemas on November 7, and thanks to Twentieth Century Fox, we have ten double in-season passes per state to give away. To be in the running, subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter (if you haven't already), then email us with your name and address. Sydney: win.sydney@concreteplayground.com.au Melbourne: win.melbourne@concreteplayground.com.au Brisbane: win.brisbane@concreteplayground.com.au
Before Michael Crichton conjured up an island theme park filled with cloned dinosaurs as seen in Jurassic Park, he took audiences to a different but just as eerie attraction. The year was 1973. The film was Westworld. And it was not only written by the author, but it was also directed by him as well. That's where HBO's futuristic show of the same name starring Evan Rachel Wood, Thandie Newton, Anthony Hopkins, Jeffrey Wright, Liam Hemsworth, Tessa Thompson and Aaron Paul first started. Yes, life really does find a way. Series creators Jonathan Nolan (brother of Christopher Nolan) and Lisa Joy have taken the central idea and expanded it, though, as Westworld's first three gripping TV seasons have shown since 2016. When it comes to tales about a technologically advanced amusement park where people pay to experience Wild West times, and where androids play the park's roles but don't realise that they aren't human, there are oh-so-many stories to tell, after all.
UPDATE, January 8, 2021: It Comes at Night is available to stream via Netflix, Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Amazon Video. When It Comes at Night begins with a man gripped by an infection, viewers are primed to expect a particular type of horror film. Something frightening is clearly in the air, which only becomes more apparent after his spluttering culminates in a wheelbarrow ride towards a fiery end. Death and devastation lurk quietly in this sparse post-apocalyptic realm, and those who have managed to survive trust no one. It's dystopian thriller 101, leaving audiences waiting for zombies or monsters to rear their ugly heads. What they'll find instead is Jean-Paul Sartre's famous phrase brought to life on screen: hell is other people. That observation might seem obvious, but writer-director Trey Edward Shults isn't done toying with common existential worries. Playing on our collective fear of the unknown, he ramps up the atmosphere of suspicion and unease by purposely leaving the details of the film's catastrophic catalyst to the imagination. Whatever it was that sparked disaster isn't nearly as important as how those who remain deal with the fallout — and yet viewers can't help but wonder. It's a smart move, with Shults not only focusing attention on the tense interactions that follow, but mirroring the characters' uncertainty about each other. Here, stoic father Paul (Joel Edgerton), his wife Sarah (Carmen Ejogo), their 17-year-old son Travis (Kelvin Harrison Jr.) and dog Stanley hole up in their boarded-up house in the woods with canned food for sustenance and weapons at the ready. Then Will (Christopher Abbott) somehow stumbles through their locked door in the middle of the night, claiming to be looking for shelter for his own wife Kim (Riley Keough) and their young son Andrew (Griffin Robert Faulkner). It's telling that Shults' first film, the family reunion drama Krisha, also brought a group of people together and then revealed their true nature through conflict. It should go without saying that forcing strangers into close quarters in a traumatic situation rarely leads to a happy outcome, so the movie doesn't say it. Rather it shows it — terse, anxious and unsettling. Cue performances (some brooding, some itching with physicality) that demonstrate just how people bristle up against each other in times of great stress. Accordingly, jumps and bumps aren't anywhere near as terrifying as furtive looks, overheard whispers and what someone else might be plotting behind closed doors. With claustrophobic cinematography and an ominous score, It Comes at Night seethes with intimacy — not of the warm and friendly variety, but foreboding, unnerving and ruthless. Paranoid and uncomfortable, the characters squirm, yearn and threaten to turn on one another. Yet even that's not the most terrifying thing about what Shults has crafted. Instead, as the film lingers in dark hallways and thuds with nervous heartbeats, it's the fact that he has managed to taunt his viewers into feeling the exact same way. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5aq1HClkq0
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.
At the heart of mindfulness sits a simple idea, but one that few of us can manage as often as we'd like: savouring the moment. And, as anyone fond of a pinot noir or sauvignon blanc or several knows, at the heart of enjoying a glass of wine sits the same concept. When you sip from a glass of your favourite varietal, nothing else in the world matters just for that instant. It's little wonder that the folks at Handpicked Wines are combining the two in a Winefulness Workshop — aka your chance to learn what mindfulness is all about, and then put it into practice while tasting wines. Taking place from 6pm, it's the best of both worlds, and it'll help you enjoy your tasty tipple even more, if that's even possible. Tickets cost $35 per person, and include mindfulness basics via Kirsten McKenna and tastebuds full of wine thanks to Handpicked. Plus, you'll also gain yet another excuse to drink more wine. Next time you say "it's good for my wellbeing," you'll really mean it.
Steamed parcels of corn dough filled with meat and vegetables, wrapped in corn husks or banana leaves during the cooking process, and topped with salsa, tamales are a Mexican street food staple. They're also the main dish on the menu at The Midnight Special's latest pop-up, with the regional American cuisine-focused Lulu's stopping by for a ten-evening takeover. Serving up flavoursome fare made with ingredients sourced from local and independent producers, Lulu's is driven by chef and owner Monica Luppi. She calls her tamales 'California-style', explaining that they draw upon her childhood in San Francisco, as well as time spent road-tripping along the US West Coast. The results of those American travels feed into her culinary venture, which heads to Newtown from October 4 to 15 to feed hungry stomachs. On the menu during Lulu's stay at The Midnight Special, which runs from Wednesday to Sunday nights: tamales stuffed with 12-hour chipotle pork shoulder or a slow-roasted sweet potato and handcrafted Oaxaca cheese combination, and patacones made from twice-fried plantains (or cooking bananas). Daily specials include jalapeño hush puppies, potato and smoked cheese bombs, and sandwiches of the chicken katsu (topped with fresh shaved pineapple and smoked chilli mayonnaise), grilled mortadella (aka 'The Liz Lemon') and open-faced sausage variety. A quarter of the proceeds from Lulu's pop-up will be donated to OzHarvest. Images: Tajna Bruckner and Nash Ferguson.
Feel like getting crafty? Keen to appreciate someone else's handmade wares? Want to learn a new skill, or pick up something unique that someone else has fashioned? You'd best block out October 6 to 13 in your calendar, then. That's when the first-ever Sydney Craft Week takes over the city, with the Australian Design Centre spreading the craft love all over town. For ten days, if it involves textiles, ceramics, metal, jewellery, glass, wood, furniture, leather, paper, calligraphy or embroidery, you'll likely find it on display, the subject of a talk or workshop, part of a live demonstration or available to purchase. Bookended by opening and closing night festivities at the ADC, the festival features everything from pinot and purl knitting resistance sessions to classes on reusing pre-loved items to open studios aplenty, plus crafting venues open until 8pm on October 11. Because crafting is the kind of thing that goes well with food and wine, other highlights include craft and craft beer evenings, a crafty dining feast matching tasting dishes and beverages to Darlinghurst laneway stores, and a teapot-making date night offering. Claydate — part workshop, part dating — will teach you a new school and help you meet someone new, and for those eager to take some crafty goodness home with them, the ADC's Makers Market and the Hazelhurst Regional Gallery and Arts Centre's Art and Design Market are also on the program. Image: Milly Dent. Photo: Brandon Bakus.
If seasonal change has left you in a dizzy headspin of brand new colours and fabrics and prints and jackets — or if, y'know, you just like some fancy new clothes now and then — you'll be pretty pleased to know that the Big Fashion Sale is coming back to Sydney for four days this October. The name pretty much says it all. This thing is big. You'll find lush items from past collections, samples and one-offs from over 50 cult Australian and international designers, both well-known and emerging, including Stella McCartney, Missoni, Karla Špetić, Studio Elke, Christopher Kane, Benah, Marni and more. With discounts of up to 80 percent off, this is one way of upping your street cred with designer threads that'll leave your bank balance sitting pretty too. Prices this low tend to inspire a certain level of ruthlessness in all of us, though, so practise that grabbing reflex in advance. This is every man and lady for themselves. The Big Fashion Sale will be open 9am till 8pm Thursday, 9am till 6pm Friday and Saturday, and 10am till 4pm Sunday.
Does a whole room packed full of vintage tees sound like your idea of sartorial heaven? Well, the guys at Frankie's Pizza and Surry Hills' Storeroom Vintage have heard your wish, teaming up to host the Frankie's Vintage Tee Market this Sunday, October 1. Kicking off at 4pm, the bar's main room will be filled to the brim with pre-loved, original tees, courtesy of Storeroom Vintage's latest haul of threads, sourced fresh from the US. There'll be fun casual finds, stacks of affordable retro pieces and even some super rare band tour tees to ensure you're primed for festival season. Of course, shopping can be thirsty work, so the Frankie's crew will be on-hand with all their usual goodies, including happy hour pizza prices and drink deals from 4–6pm. Image: Katje Ford.
Indulgence is an entire weekend dedicated to chocolate, and sometimes, that happens outside your own lounge room. Sydney's two-day chocolate extravaganza, the Smooth Festival of Chocolate, returns for 2017 with a weekend live demonstrations, specially crafted desserts and large-scale chocolate sculptures. Taking over the sidewalks, lawns and streets of The Rocks beside Circular Quay, the festival will bring together over 100 artisan chocolatiers, pastry chefs and ice creameries for a celebration of all things chocolate. Local favourites Gelato Messina and Black Star Pastry will be serving up their best, while the folks at Mr Black will host a pop-up espresso martini bar serving Espresso Jar-Tinis topped with Nutie doughnuts. There'll be a 'jungle' created entirely of chocolate, thanks to Josophan's Fine Chocolate, and chocolate beer, as well as Domuts for your furry friends. Chocoholics, expect a sweet weekend of decadence Willy Wonka himself would approve of.
Come July 14 to 24, Sydney's west is the place to be. That's when the brand new LOCALE Festival takes over the Cumberland area, both showering the district in art, performance, food, workshops and more, and showcasing the best in culture that the community has to offer. Across a largely free program, that includes a Bollywood-inspired party, a 1930s Shanghai-style community banquet, tours dedicated to significant Indigenous sites, Turkish cuisine and culture, and Middle Eastern cooking, and a picnic in the park with Auburn's refugee community. Revelling in the diversity of the region is the aim — and with a day of Filipino food and fun, Jerusalem street eats from The Bearded Bakers and a Jollof Rice cooking comp on the agenda too, it's one LOCALE looks set to achieve. Or, learn about picking and preserving vegetables, salting fish, making reusable beeswax wraps and whipping up basic kitchen medicines, because this fest wants you to pick up a few new skills — for free — as well. Plus there'll also be two days of pop-up doggy cafes, photobooths and just general pooch get-togethers, and Liam Benson's all-ages Sweet Shoes workshops, where you'll decorate your footwear and eat lollies.
Sydney, you can't get enough cheese into you this winter. We've brought you evenings dedicated to raclette and wine, French baguettes smothered in melted deliciousness and a new delivery service that'll soon be bringing Aussie cheeses to your doorstep. Now, we present something a little more specific: cheeses from Normandy with matching gin. That's right, this cosy little evening — to be hosted by Moya's Juniper Lounge — is promising to take you on a trip through the rolling hills of northern France. Just a few of the cheeses in which the area specialises include camembert, Pavé d'Auge, Pont l'Evêque, Boursin, Brillat-Savarin and Brin de Paille. Not helping you to pronounce them any better will be several gins, designed to pair with each morsel. If you're in luck, you might find yourself sampling calvados, an apple brandy that originated in Normandy.
It's time to get your hands floury. Chef O Tama Carey (ex-Berta) is heading to Cornersmith on Thursday, September 14 for a pasta-making class. Armed with fresh ingredients, you'll learn how to make two types of pasta and, very importantly, how to cook it just right. Along the way, O Tama will impart a bunch of cutting and shaping techniques. The first dish on the agenda is egg fettuccine, which you'll create and eat on the spot. The second is orecchiette, to be taken home with you. These days, O Tama heads her own Sri Lankan hopper stall (and soon-to-be eatery), Lankan Filling Station. She's been friends with the Cornersmith folks for yonks, having previously run a stock making workshop and hosted pasta dinners. If you've ever been to one of her happenings, you'll know she's all about quality produce and cooking from scratch — and that tickets sell quickly.
Strangers on a Train meets Sliding Doors meets Brick meets True Romance. If that sounds like quite a lot to squeeze into one package, hold on, because writer-director Christopher Smith is just getting started. Detour is the kind of movie that openly nods and winks to its many influences, made by the type of filmmaker that wants audiences to know that he's shouting about his references on purpose. Smith even goes so far as to have one of his characters watch part of a1945 film noir with the same title as the movie they're in. When a filmmaker nods so eagerly at his or her sources of inspiration, one of two things tends to happen. Ideally, they shape those influences into an engaging new package that builds upon familiar parts. More often, they end up being overshadowed by the better filmmakers whose movies they keep reminding you you could be watching instead. Aiming for the former but delivering the latter, Detour proves a feature more concerned with showing viewers what it's doing than actually doing it well. Smith certainly knows and loves the films that he's homaging, but making that plain isn't the same as making an entertaining crime thriller in their image. That the movie's protagonist not only shares his name with a 1966 Paul Newman movie, but has a poster of the film on his bedroom wall, says plenty. So does the fact that audiences first meet Los Angeles law student Harper (Tye Sheridan) as he's listening to a lecture about the escape tactics of pursued criminals. Throw in a grudge against the stepfather (Stephen Moyer) he blames for his mother's comatose state, a chance bar meeting with local thug Johnny Ray (Emory Cohen), and a stripper with a heart of gold named Cherry (Bel Powley), and it all starts to feel rather derivative — even when the movie's big gimmick kicks into gear. Once Harper discovers what he hired Johnny Ray to do during their drunken evening together, Detour splits its narrative into two timelines. In one, the new acquaintances make the sunny drive to Las Vegas with murder on their minds; in the other, Harper stays home, although that still ends up being quite eventful. Smith flits from one story to the other, and frequently splashes them together using slick split-screen imagery. Sadly, the device doesn't help either section shake the been-there, done-that feeling – and neither does the film's predictable destination. Smith does, at least, take a trio of impressive actors along for the ride, even if none are quite at their best. Sheridan, Cohen and Powley have all given much, much better performances in Mud, Brooklyn and The Diary of a Teenage Girl respectively, but at least they try to make their stock-standard characters seem like something more. That's not exactly high praise, but it does sum up Detour's fortunes quite perfectly. A loving attempt to tackle a familiar genre, the film does everything it can to speed into new territory. Alas, it gets lost along the way. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbzZGUJ4MzE
Are you ready, Surry Hills? Madame Truffles is opening her pop-up shop for the third truffle season running, bringing city folk black truffles sourced from Tasmania, Victoria, NSW and Western Australia. These 'gourmet mushrooms' will be available from June 15 until September 3 at the Madame's pop-up shop on Riley Street. As well as straight-up truffles, the shop has an array of truffle-infused goods for you to fill your pantry with. This year, they're stocking truffle and potato ravioli — the ultimate comfort food — along with truffle salt, truffle ice cream and truffle honey. This is made with extra grade black truffle and pure Australian honey from Victoria that's good enough to eat straight out of the jar. If you live in a sharehouse, you might want to hide this from your housemates. Truffles sold in-store are harvested fresh each week, so you know you'll get that fresh truffle smell when you pull them out at dinner (or breakfast, for that matter). The Madame Truffles pop-up shop is open 9am till 5pm, Thursday to Sunday.
Can't wait for the new season of Stranger Things to drop? Watched the trailer too many times to count? Buzzing with '80s-loving enthusiasm over all of the nods and references the next episodes are bound to fit in? Hold on to your ecto-blaster, because you're not alone. In fact, the next time a Friday the 13th rolls around, you can head to the Randwick Ritz to share your excitement with a cinema full of other retro horror movie fans. That'd be Friday October 13, with the eastern suburbs mainstay holding a movie marathon to celebrate the occasion. Expect to dig into a heap of favourites from three decades ago — from a vampire flick from one of the most celebrated female filmmakers around to the ghost movie that'll make you want to touch the screen (or, perhaps not). Kicking things off is Kathryn Bigelow's Near Dark featuring the late, great Bill Paxton, before the Frankenstein take only the '80s and H.P. Lovecraft could make — aka Re-Animator — offers a different kind of unease. Don't fall asleep before the next flick, or you'll be dreaming of Nightmare on Elm Street's red-and-green jumper wearing villain (and a very young Johnny Depp). Finally, the Steven Spielberg-written Poltergeist brings the night to a close with some classic haunted house thrills. Tickets for all four flicks cost $25, or $20 for members.
Whenever Tom Cruise appears on screen, he's playing a part. But he's usually also playing Tom Cruise. Nearly four decades into his megawatt smile-flashing career, there's no mistaking the superstar's recognisable film persona, whether he's feeling the need for speed in Top Gun or living, dying and repeating in Edge of Tomorrow. It's a role he inhabits with charm and ease, as American Made is well aware. Though he's ostensibly taking on the guise of a pilot turned CIA operative turned narcotics smuggler, this based-on-a-true-tale drama is all about showcasing Cruise's well-known talents. That means aviator sunnies, flying high and oozing charisma all over anyone he can. It also means a cruisy (pun intended) vibe when he's stepping into criminal territory, skirting the law, transporting drugs and buddying up to Pablo Escobar's cronies. The '70s and '80s-set story may seem larger than life, but ultimately viewers know what they're getting, energetic central performance and all. If fighting the undead in The Mummy seemed like a bit of a departure for the A-lister, American Made is a beaming, smooth-talking return to familiar territory. Starting in 1978, Cruise plays Barry Seal. He's a run-of-the-mill commercial airline captain until his illegal cigar-ferrying antics catch the attention of CIA agent Monty Schafer (Domhnall Gleeson). Quicker than you can say "show me the way to avoid jail time", Seal agrees to quit his job, become a government consultant and take clandestine aerial surveillance photos in South America. While he's down there, he's also asked to deliver cash and trade arms by the agency — and bring back cocaine by the now-infamous Medellín cartel. It all goes well until it doesn't, as tends to be the case with these kinds of capers. And yet, even after he's caught by the Colombian authorities, forced to fill his wife (Sarah Wright) in about his new gig, and made to relocate his family to a small town in Arkansas, Seal keeps trying to work both sides to turn a profit. "Shit gets really crazy from here," Seal tells the camera at one point, as he recounts his life story down the barrel of an '80s camcorder. And he's right. Re-teaming with Cruise after the aforementioned Edge of Tomorrow, there's no shortage of wild antics for director Doug Liman to thrust onto the screen. In fact, there's almost too many, as the film morphs into an enjoyable but somewhat repetitive mix of Blow, Goodfellas and American Hustle. For what it's worth, that applies not only to the feature's jam-packed narrative, but also to its wavering tone. Call it the Cruise effect. Although Seal clearly isn't the greatest of guys, he's portrayed as a loveable rogue because that suits the movie's star. Call it the Hollywood effect as well, with flicks about affable law-breakers an eternal cinema staple — think War Dogs and The Wolf of Wall Street, just to name a few recent examples. American Made wants viewers to warm to its antihero and laugh at his endeavours, while also laying out the real and serious consequences of his actions. Unfortunately, it doesn't always get the balance right. Still, sunny cinematography, zippy pacing, an era-specific soundtrack and Cruise being Cruise all guarantee you'll be largely entertained regardless. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lolbJquVPWU
Five days, more than 100 features, documentaries and shorts, and all of the weird and wonderful cinema delights a movie buff could ask for. Add them together, and that's the 2017 Sydney Underground Film Festival in a twisted nutshell. Celebrating its 11th year from September 14 to 17, this alternative film fest knows how to venture beyond the mainstream. It's the perfect follow-up to Sydney Film Festival. Take this year's opening and closing efforts, for example. When SUFF kicks off, it'll be with a treasure trove of unearthed VHS finds that you literally won't see anywhere else — and to close things off, it'll bring a flick that sparked walkouts at Sundance to its long-term home at Marrickville's Factory Theatre. The former comes courtesy of the Australian debut of the live comedy and commentary-filled Found Footage Festival, while the latter is the post-apocalyptic, stomach-churning, Hannibal Buress and Tim Heidecker-starring Kuso, and they're set to provide quite the festival bookends. In between, SUFF will venture from the mind-bending cult thrills of The Endless — a destined-to-be cult movie about a cult — to one-take Aussie effort Watch the Sunset and the maternal mayhem of Prevenge, where being pregnant brings murderous messages from the unborn. Michael Cera pops up in Lemon and Nick Offerman in Infinity Baby, two American indies demonstrating humanity's social deficiencies in very different ways. Slasher satire Tragedy Girls, ultra-violent Japanese cyberpunk comedy Meatball Machine Kodoko and a tribute screening of George A. Romero's The Crazies help up the horror quota. From the documentary slate, the festival goes heavy on music thanks to factual explorations of L7, The Melvins, ambient house pioneers The Orb, British DIY duo Sleaford Mods and the family members of late American extreme punk musician GG Allins, and also gives cinephiles an extra thrill via Dawson City: Frozen Time, which journeys through a once-lost nitrate film collection. Real-life exorcisms in Liberami also prove a highlight, as does docu-fiction consumerism takedown Drib and the search for a fake rock in Where is Rocky II? If that's not enough, SUFF will also host a soiree dedicated to 16mm cinema, the return of the breakfast cereal cartoon party (and a new late-night session as well). The 2017 Sydney Underground Film Festival runs from September 14 to 17 at The Factory Theatre, Marrickville. For more information or to buy tickets, visit the festival website.
Sous chefs are regarded as the engine room of the kitchen, but despite their many responsibilities (including defining how dishes are presented and training staff), they often go under-acknowledged. But now they're getting their time. In an Australian first, sous chefs from some of Sydney's best restaurants are coming together for a special dinner series. Taking place at the old Marque space on Crown Street in Surry Hills, Sunday Sous Sessions will bring together chefs from Cirrus, .nel, Fratelli Paradiso and North Bondi Fish. Each will present a five-course degustation dinner every Sunday in September. "Often the unsung heroes, sous chefs are juggling everything from budgets, suppliers, menu creation and working with the team from preparation to service," said event founder Aaron Teece. "This is a chance to have the public experience and see firsthand what our sous chefs can do." Tickets are $165 a head, with a portion of all ticket sales donated to RUOK Day. Session 1 — Sunday, September 3 Andy Ashby from .nel Restaurant Session 2 — Sunday, September 10 Khanh Nguyen from Cirrus Session 3 — Sunday, September 17 Sam Young, Ex Ms G's & newly appointed for Fratelli Paradiso Session 4 — Sunday, September 24 Alex Farrow, North Bondi Fish
The northern New South Wales culinary showcase that is Tastings on Hastings returns to Port Macquarie this year for its 15th year, from October 27 through October 29. With a new event precinct in the works, the foodie festival showcases regional farmers, artisans, food producers, wine growers, brewers, restaurants and cafes across Woolgoolga, Armidale, Nelsons Bay and, of course, the festival's own backyard. Last year's event hosted 115 exhibitors and over 20,000 visitors, with regional producers showing goods like avocados, strawberries and macadamia nuts, as well as meats including free-range eggs, chicken, duck and pork. The area's vineyards and breweries also play a role, with North Coast Wine Growers joining craft brew teams from Wicked Elf Beer and Moorebeer Brewing Co. to bring some bevvos to the day.
What a fantastic idea for a movie. Captured hitman Darius Kincaid (Samuel L Jackson) agrees to testify against alleged war criminal Vladislav Dukhovich (Gary Oldman), but in order to keep Kincaid alive a compromised Interpol must call upon the assistance of disgraced bodyguard Michael Bryce (Ryan Reynolds), whose past missions were consistently imperilled thanks to the very killer he's now tasked with protecting. It's a terrific concept, an amazing cast and, unfortunately, a spectacularly disappointing film. The odd-couple buddy action-comedy format has given us some great films over the years, including several featuring Sam Jackson himself. The mid-90s classics Die Hard With A Vengeance and The Long Kiss Goodnight saw the star paired with perfect yings to his yang. First it was Bruce Willis' no nonsense NYPD cop John McClane, and then Geena Davis' homemaker-cum-assassin Charly Baltimore. Both flicks offered that perfect blend of high personal stakes, high-octane action and high quality dialogue that, when mixed together, added rare complexities to the genre's traditionally two-dimensional character archetypes, and delivered sequences that could make you laugh, wince and grip your armrests until your knuckles turned white. In The Hitman's Bodyguard, by contrast, the overwhelming feeling is that while writer Tom O'Connor understood all the ingredients necessary to make an entertaining blockbuster, he failed to appreciate the subtleties of how to best combine them. And the ingredients really are all there. The film's premise is tailor made to deliver conflict between its leads (to say nothing of the non-stop threats from the villain's henchmen). Yet everything about their relationship feels forced. Ryan's by the books persona sits uncomfortably with the actor's natural sarcastic schtick, while Jackson's foul-mouthed tirades lack both the venom and the wit to carry any real force. What follows features an awful lot of shouting, none of which ever feels like it really matters. Pair that with a truly staggering degree of nonchalance during every fight scene, and The Hitman's Bodyguard ends up a movie robbed of any sustained drama or tension. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4Afusxc2SM
Flowers, stars and mulled wine will collide when astronomy comes to The Calyx in the Royal Botanic Garden. The event — which is running for the second time — invites you to kick back, relax and listen to Dr Angel Lopez-Sanchez chat about the night skies. Dr Lopez-Sanchez is an astronomy research fellow and a science communicator at the Australian Astronomical Observatory and Macquarie University. Surrounded by the garden's botanic surrounds, he'll bring you a whole new perspective on familiar constellations and show you how to find those that are not-so-familiar. Learn to locate the Jewel Box within the Southern Cross, bright nebulae within Sagittarius and Omega Centauri, a globular cluster. Tickets are a reasonable $25, with drinks and snacks available at the bar.
What's better than one annual showcase of French movies? Two, of course. Not content with giving Aussie audiences the best in Gallic cinema once a year for nearly three decades — and building the biggest festival of French films outside of France, too — the folks behind the Alliance Française French Film Festival began doubling their efforts. After launching the Alliance Française Classic Film Festival in 2015, it's back for another retro cinema showcase. In fantastic news for anyone who likes diving into the great flicks of times gone by, the fest will once again shine a light on a heap of old favourites. It's the third time the fest has done so, heading Sydney's Hayden Orpheum and Palace Norton Street from August 24 to 27 (and Canberra, Perth and Melbourne from August through to October too) with a six-film tribute to French star Jean-Paul Belmondo. Alongside everyone from Emmanuelle Riva to Anna Karina to Gerard Depardieu — and under the direction of filmmakers such as Jean-Pierre Melville, Jean-Luc Godard and Alain Resnais — Belmondo will blaze up the big screen in globe-trotting treasure hunts (That Man From Rio), crime thrillers (Stavisky and Doulos: the Finger Man), romantic dramas (Pierrot le Fou) and more. Many screen in gloriously restored versions, including war drama Weekend at Dunkirk (no, not the Christopher Nolan one).
If you have your sights set on one day seeing your films on the big screen at Sydney's Film Festival, or on becoming the next big Aussie radio personality, then you need to get yourself down to AFTRS on Saturday, August 12 for the school's Open Day. During this free event you'll learn about AFTRS 2018 courses, network with industry leaders and imagine yourself in any of their premiere classes ranging from topics like screenwriting, creative producing and cinematography. You'll also get the opportunity to scope out their top-of-the-line studios that could one day help you produce some epic work. Degrees on offer at AFTRS include part-time diplomas in reality TV, animation and feature film, a full-time Bachelor of Arts Screen and postgraduate programs for screen and radio. Go for gold, make your dreams a reality, the world is your oyster — Open Day is just a sneak peek of what could be. And don't fret if you can't make it; AFTRS will be live streaming the whole day on their website and Facebook page. AFTRS is open from 10am – 3pm on August 12. Pre-register here.
Nine contemporary artists come together for Contemporary Female Photo Artists, an exhibition exploring aspects of time and space taking over the main gallery at Artereal from August 2–24. From the emerging to the well-established, each artist displayed uses experimental and cutting-edge photo based practices to overthrow traditional expectations of the medium and challenge our conventional understandings of what photography's all about. You can expect dreamy, nostalgic magic from Anna Carey (her exhibition earlier in the year, In Search of Rainbows, was a total delight), poignant images of the aftermath of a kid's birthday party from Anna MacDonald, Jess MacNeil's directing painting on 16mm film, 'no-camera' burnt images by Zan Wimberley, plus multi-layered works from Rebecca Beardmore that combine printmaking with photography to interrogate the act of looking itself. You'll also see work from Shoufay Derz, Emily Sandrussi, Simone Douglas and Svetlana Bailey. Fans of contemporary photography should definitely put this one in the diary. In caps. Image: Jess MacNeil, Disruptive Continuum (video still), 2013–2017.
There are two types of beer festivals: the kind you throw for yourself when you're having a few brews with your friends, and the ones that pubs put together with plenty of painstaking planning. A mainstay at The Australian Heritage Hotel, the Australian Beer Festival falls into the latter category — and after 13 years of serving brews, it'll make you wish it was on every weekend. Alas, October 13 to 15 is the time to get your ale-loving fix this time round, complete with a packed lineup of beverages. Expect 30 different breweries, more than 120 Australian beers and ciders, and everything from gourmet food stalls and an oyster bar to meet the brewer sessions and blind tastings, all across a huge three-day street party. Brewers on hand will include 4 Pines Beer, Grifter Brewing, Pirate Life Brewing, Balter Brewing and more, shining a spotlight on Sydney and Aussie beer makers alike. Tickets cost $35, which includes a tasting cup and ten tasting tokens — and a brew-tastic day out.
There's no denying that everyone loves a themed party, and Single O is hosting a cracker of one. Lining up the best of the best in black brew coffee to compete in the 2017 Australian Aeropress Championship, the event will centre around the theme 'Aussie nasties'. What does that mean? Well, along with coffee, the folks at Single O are buddying up with some talented inner-west legends to bring you native Aussie food and drink. While the champs behind the machines are brewing some seriously good coffee, Newtown's Rising Sun Workshop will be combining some unusual flavours and deceptively shaping them into classic burger form. The first burger on offer is a match of camel (yes, camel) with pickled cactus, and the second a prickly vegetarian 'shroom' and stinging nettle creation. Add a house-made blood orange soda to the mix and there's a cocktail of flavours to try. If you thought pickled cactus and stinging nettles would be a mouthful, then the Black Tyrant Ant and guava sorbet made by Cow & the Moon will really challenge your tastebuds. Black Tyrant Ants are native to the east coast of Australia and we're told that they have a citrus zing that bursts in your mouth. The Enmore gelato gurus have capitalised on this unique flavour, folding it through the smooth guava sorbet and serving it all up in the classic waffle cone style that they are known for. There will be 25 competitors at the event and the champion will win a place in the 2017 World Aeropress Championships held in Seoul, South Korea. So the comp is pretty serious. Spectator tickets are only $5 and this will also get you a 4 Pines beer on arrival — just in case you need help swishing those ants down. Images: Alana Dimou.
Artereal Gallery are hosting a new series designed to fill in the gaps in your contemporary art knowledge. You can now head along to the Rozelle gallery every Saturday at 11am for their free event, Contemporary Art 101: A Beginner's Guide to Understanding Contemporary Art. Basically it's a chance to get a guided tour through the current exhibition (in September you'll see Points of Interception, the latest show from Sydney-based artist Yioryios) followed by a Q&A where you can pick the brains of a resident art aficionado. The aim is to remove "the intimidation factor" and cover everything you need to know about new and experimental mediums like video art, installation and new media art. The curators will also discuss online sales, art fairs and – for the aspiring collectors in the crowd - how to best navigate them to acquire contemporary art. So mosey over and learn some stuff. Then you can head to lunch feeling smug with all your new art knowledge. Maybe buy a beret. Image: Sam Holt, Suspension of Hope, 2017, oil and acrylic on Belgian linen, photo by Zan Wimberley
Dig out those once-a-year novelty gumboots, Groovin the Moo has unveiled its 2018 lineup. Taking the large-scale music festival out of the city and into regional centres for another year, GTM will kick things off on Friday, April 27 in South Australia and travel through Maitland, Townsville, Bendigo and Canberra before finishing up in Bunbury on May 12. This year sees local talent new and established taking the stage, with the lineup spanning up-and-comers like Alex Lahey, Baker Boy and Winston Surfshirt right through to favourites Flight Facilities and Australian legend Paul Kelly. International talent like Portugal. The Man, Royal Blood and Duke Dumont will make their way to the Moo too. Here's the full lineup. GROOVIN THE MOO 2018 LINEUP Alex Lahey Aminé (USA) The Amity Affliction Baker Boy Ball Park Music Claptone (Ger) Confidence Man Cosmo's Midnight Dean Lewis Duke Dumont (UK) Flight Facilities Grinspoon Lady Leshurr (UK) Mallrat Ocean Alley Paul Kelly Portugal. The Man (USA) Public Service Broadcasting (UK) Royal Blood (UK) Sampa The Great Skegss Superduperkyle (USA) Tkay Maidza Vera Blue Winston Surfshirt Image: Daisy Hofstetter.
Looking for an excuse to catch up with friends on a Monday night? Perched high above York Street's peak-hour traffic rush, The Rook invites you to join its monthly Monday rooftop cinema sessions, that will take place from January to April. And what's an outdoor cinema without a few cocktails? Tickets are $30, and include a complimentary cocktail on arrival. This rooftop cinema boasts a different perspective of the city, as well as a retractable roof and a casual vibe suitable for the start of the week. To kick start the cinema sessions, Cocktail featuring Tom Cruise will be screened at 8.30pm on Monday, January 29. Be sure to utilise the cocktail flare demonstrations, movie-themed drinks list, popcorn and, of course, the bar food offering, which specialises in burgers. Gather a group or come solo but be sure to get to one — or all three — cinema sessions this summer. Image: The Rook/Facebook.
You've made it through Sydney Beer Week in one piece — congratulations. Your head is still throbbing and all you want to do is drink a gallon of water and sleep in a dark room. You could do that, or you could go for the best cleanse out there: SBW's hair of the dog breakfast. A hangover cure of hangover cures, this feast will match six courses with eight expertly paired beers, all hosted by the Rocks Brewing Co. After this, you'll be right as rain and that hangover will be a thing of memory.
Moore Park's outdoor bed cinema has found a pretty good reason to dance Michael Jackson-'Thriller'-style and screen a horror film: Halloween. Mov'In Bed is holding a giant sunset zombie DJ party before screening the suitably terrifying The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. So dust off your Florsheims and start practising your best monster moves. And we suggest purchasing a ticket fairly soon as they're expected to sell out. After the dance, you'll head back to your bed and cower in fear at the 2003 remake of the horror masterpiece. Luckily the beds are fairly roomy, so you can cling on to one or two friends for comfort. Like other Mov'In Bed screenings, you'll also be able to purchase food and drink — and it'll be delivered straight to the comfort of your bed (meals enjoyed in bed don't need to be restricted to breakfast). So, during the more terrifying scenes, you can hide behind a spicy salami pizza from Fratelli Fresh, a cheese and bacon burger from Burger Project or a schnitzel from Bavarian Bier Cafe. If you're not a movie-in-bed type of person, or you need to save some cash, there is the option to sit on the grass (in the 'graveyard') for free — BYO blanket. But you'll still need to reserve a spot through the website as it's limited to 300 people.
As Sydneysiders, we love a place where we can bring our furry friends — especially when those places sell alcohol. It really does make for a perfect day, and Sydney Beer Week understand this. So for the festival's penultimate day, Grifter Brewing Company and New Zealand Brewery Parrot Dog are joining forces to make for a fun afternoon for both you and your pooch — you'll be able to sip that refreshing brew with your fluffy mate. Head on down to Grifter this Saturday, October 28 with your pup for pints at bar prices.
English indietronica band Hot Chip has been helping crowds break into uncontrollable dance for the better part of two decades with numerous world tours and several critically acclaimed albums under its belt. Hot Chip frontman Alexis Taylor leaves the band at home to perform his third solo record Listen With(out) Piano, a deeply personal project exploring the breakup of his parents, the first time he cried listening to music and the death of his friend, Vince Sipprell. This intimate performance will feature Taylor's iconic voice in full-flight as he performs cuts from his new album, alongside Hot Chip favourites updated for the piano. This intimate, one-night-only performance will feature Taylor's iconic voice in full-flight as he performs cuts from his new album, alongside Hot Chip favourites updated for the piano. Sydney pianist Sophie Hutchings will be guest performing beforehand.
The big screen is going green at the seventh annual Transitions Film Festival, Australia's leading showcase of socially-conscious cinema. In Sydney from March 20 to 22, this year's festival lineup is once again jam-packed with deep-diving documentaries about some of the biggest social, environmental and geopolitical issues facing the world today. While the full Sydney lineup hasn't yet been revealed, the fest's national program is full of interesting selections. Standout films include Food Fighter, about the battle against food waste in Australia; Chasing Coral, a look at the disastrous effects of bleaching on our reefs; and Guardians of The Earth, which glimpses behind closed doors during the negotiations for the Paris Climate Agreement. Other highlights include personal Kenyan farming doco Thank You For the Rain; Albatross, the latest film to explore the impact of plastics in our oceans; and Big Dream, about seven young women pursuing their passions in science, technology, engineering and maths. For the full Transitions Film Festival lineup, visit transitionsfilmfestival.com.
If jungle vibes inside an inner-west warehouse sounds like your perfect outing, head along to the Jungle Collective's indoor plant sale on February 17 and 18. It's the latest greenery-filled market from The Jungle Collective, a Melbourne nursery that stocks all kinds of weird and wonderful species. After opening up their warehouse, which isn't usually open to the public, for a few markets on home turf, they're trucking their way up to Marrickville for a one-off Sydney venture. Whether you're after a hanging pot plant, some palms for the garden or a giant Bird of Paradise, chances are you'll find it here. Have a reputation for killing your cacti? Overwatering your ferns? Don't worry — there'll be horticulturalists on site on the night to give you advice and chat through any questions you might have. Here, you can be inspired by greenery aplenty, and learn to incorporate plants into your home and living spaces, while browsing, eating from The Garden Shed food truck and soaking up some tunes. Best get in quick though — their Melbourne markets are always popular, so we can only imagine that their first Sydney appearance will be as well. Due to expected demand, the sale will be held in four sessions on both days (8-10am, 10am-noon, 12-2pm and 2-4pm), and attendees will need to register for free tickets from noon on February 12. Plus, if you wear a jungle-inspired print, you'll get $5 off your purchase.
For the fifth consecutive year, the Royal Botanic Garden will be hosting its annual Tomato Festival. As well as eating tomatoes — obviously — it'll feature an abundance of cooking demonstrations, talks, tips and tricks that are guaranteed to inspire your creations in the kitchen. If cooking doesn't suit your weekend relaxing plans, take part in the Longest Tomato Lunch, a dining table that stretches 70 metres long on the Garden's foreshore lawn. No surprising for guessing the main ingredient on the menu — yes, you'll indulge in an Italian and tomato-inspired meal, with dishes such as fresh tomato pasta salad and mixed tomato carpaccio. Other highlights include a tomato degustation brunch, a pop-up bar and cafe by Relish, a produce market filled with some of Sydney's highest quality produce, and taste testing a-plenty. Tomatoes will be judged on their colour and smell, and you'll be able to witness some of the best in show, from the best local and homegrown farmers. Just don't wear white.
Can Cava Pinxtos and Wine is giving Sydneysiders a reason to welcome the last licks of the weekend with Sunday Funday. The Bondi bar hosts a weekly party with live music, cheap-yet-fancy booze and Barcelona-style eats. All-day drink specials include $10 cocktails off the seasonal menu — think passionfruit martinis, grapefruit margaritas and daiquiris for summer — and $20 jugs of red sangria. Plus, organic cava, house wine and Estrella beers will all be five bucks apiece. Spanish sounds from flamenco guitarist David Holberton will accompany the drinks from 5–8pm. Of course, the kitchen will be slinging pinxtos throughout the day, including our personal favourites: the whipped goat cheese croquettes ($5 each) and the king prawns with wasabi and paprika ($7). The bar opens at 2pm and the breezy corner spot has plenty of outdoor seating too, making it the perfect spot to round out the weekend after a day at Bondi Beach.
Public demand for multi-disciplinary, multi-media, multi-sensory, cross-genre events is insatiable right now and Carriageworks is about to take them to a whole new level. Introducing Birdfoxmonster, an epic, immersive dining experience combining food, theatre, music and art, created in collaboration with Erth and Studio A. You'll be sampling dishes inspired by the artists' passions and idiosyncrasies, served on Australian ceramics hand-painted by the artists, while watching video projections and interacting with masked performers. Studio A artists involved include Meagan Pelham, a hopeless romantic whose works are full of wedding cakes, bridal parties and wedding dresses, Thom Roberts, a skilled draftsman and creator of transformative installations, and Skye Saxon, a performance and visual artist who draws her ideas from dreams, memories and metaphysical worlds. Meanwhile, Erth's Scott Wright is taking care of direction, while composer James Brown is providing sound art and Elias Nohra digital art. "We have been working towards this point in our relationship with Studio A for the past five years," said Wright. "We have taken considerable time to find a non-physical space in which we could work together, where we could 'remove the expert'. Birdfoxmonster is a beautiful meeting of minds inviting the public to share the love, wonder and perspective of three incredible artists." Birdfoxmonster is part of Carriageworks' New Normal National Strategy and is one of ten new commissions from artists with disability.
When you wander around a gallery, stop to look at the paintings and sculptures that catch your eye, and focus your mind on their artistry and detail, you're doing something mindful — even if you don't really think of it that way. Where better to roam, look and train your brain to only pay attention to what's happening at that very moment, aka the technique that's at the centre of mindfulness? If that sounds easier said than done — or, if you need some help starting at the pieces rather than getting distracted — that's where Art in Mind comes in. Part of The Big Anxiety Festival, it's a morning session that's all about slow looking. Stand, stare, take your time and maybe find some inner peace. Taking place at 9am on October 27, it's the perfect way to start the day if you can score a late start at work. Mindfulness teacher and creativity consultant Steve Pozel will lead the class, teaching you about meditation and other techniques, their usefulness in engaging with art, and their greater use. Afterwards, there'll be tea and chatter as well.
Finally, the lobster pop-up our bank accounts have been waiting for. Y'know... relatively speaking, anyway. Down N' Out, famous for their American-style burger pop-ups, are bringing Westfield Sydney's food court clientele their classiest lunch run yet. It's all happening at Lobster Shack, taking over Cod & Co's kitchen on level 5, and there's even proper Champagne to go with it. For $35, you can experience Maine lobster confit in a freshly baked roll with buttermilk and fennel slaw. The lobster tails are slow-poached in butter before being placed inside a milk bun. You'll also receive parmesan-dusted truffle fries on the side. If you still don't feel like a baller, you can step up the fancy factor with a glass of Veuve Clicquot on the side for an extra $15. They'll be serving from midday until 6pm each day, and until 9pm on Thursdays.
