It took 45 years as an actress and 122 credits on her resume for Isabelle Huppert to receive an Oscar nomination, earning the long-overdue nod for her work in the rape-revenge thriller Elle. But the French star is just as deserving of awards and acclaim for her turn in the intimate drama Things to Come. The same matter-of-fact determination shines through in both performances, and yet you'd never mistake one for the other. Part of Huppert's genius is the way every character she plays feels united by a shared humanity, but still utterly distinctive in their traits, and in the way she brings them to life. That's Things to Come's Nathalie Chazeaux in a nutshell. Huppert's protagonist may well make you think of your mother — in fact, writer-director Mia Hansen-Løve wrote the role for Huppert with her own mum loosely in mind. Still, for every aspect that's recognisable, just as many remain unique. A philosophy professor, she's wading through a spate of familiar situations as the years pass by. Her husband decides to leave after a quarter of a century together; her mother requires more of her attention while her kids need less; a cat she doesn't want scampers around; and her professional dealings don't always go as planned. Even if you've never been a just-past-middle-age woman dealing with all of the above, Huppert will ensure you forget that for 102 minutes. Hers is such a fine-tuned and thoughtful performance, one that so effortlessly brings the film's universal themes to the fore, that you'll soon be doing just what her character is doing. No, you won't be quoting renowned thinkers and imparting wisdom to students. Rather, you'll be facing a stark truth about the future: it keeps coming, whether things are changing drastically, or seem to be staying the same. Hansen-Løve isn't one for big revelations and realisations, however. She gets to the heart of what it means to be happy and successful, or to try to be, without filling Things to Come with the kinds of huge moments, altercations and declarations that often find a place on screen. It's the same feat that she achieved with her last film, the Paris-set, electronic music-infused Eden. Daft Punk doesn't show up this time, but both movies convey more than you might expect about navigating the ups and downs of everyday existence by focusing on the minutiae that we all wade through. Indeed, the writer-director's sensitive observational style lends itself to lingering on the details — to building a picture from the smallest elements, rather than the broadest strokes. It's what makes Huppert such a perfect fit, and it's also what makes the filmmaker's patient approach so rewarding. Every close-up of Huppert's face tells a story. Every handheld camera movement does as well. They're small, unobtrusive and delicate ways of painting an involving portrait of life going on, and of all the things that will come.
Mega precinct Darling Square just keeps on expanding, with another three retailers now open and two more to follow later this month. The most exciting of these is the long-awaited opening of Kuon Omakase, an 11-seat Japanese restaurant. Here Head Chef Fukada San serves up a 20-course ($180) menu of sushi and sashimi, while patrons sit at the kitchen counter and watch the chef in action. The seasonal menu changes daily and an optional wine or sake pairing can be added, too. Bookings here are a must, with only one lunch sitting (12–2pm) and two dinner sittings (6pm and 8pm) each day. Then, there's Spago, an Italian restaurant that hails from The Hill and is headed by Chef Eddie Leung. It's now open within the Maker's Dozen food court inside The Exchange building. Expect freshly made pasta dishes, with the majority under $20. Build-your-own bowls — with sauces including boscaiola, salsiccia, amatriciana and carbonara — are also on the docket. [caption id="attachment_780910" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Toastiesmith[/caption] Meanwhile, Tumbalong Boulevard now boasts Jackpot Hotpot, a casino-themed, Macau-style hotpot restaurant. It offers seven different broths — including lobster and veggie varieties — made in-house daily. Build your bowl with dozens of premium ingredients, including lobster, abalone, wagyu, lamb and kurobuta pork, plus heaps of vegetables. There's also an extensive booze list featuring wine, sake and whisky, too. And Steam Mill Lane is also now home to Hachi, a dog spa, boutique and cafe. Get your pet professionally groomed, then pick up some clothing and accessories and head to the photo studio. With your fresh snaps in tow, grab your pooch a special treat from the cafe. Opening later this month within Maker's Dozen is Toastiesmith, a sanga-themed cafe offering up 12 different varieties, including roast beef, pork katsu and grilled fish, all topped with an egg omelette. Drinks include coffees, smoothies and house-made sodas. Joining Toastiesmith in late-August is another outpost of stalwart Pancakes on The Rocks, and it'll serve up an all-day menu of diner favourites. To check the new venues' opening hours, head over to the Darling Square website. Top images: Hachi and Jackpot Hotpot.
Since 2011, DJ Tom Loud's travelling dance party Hot Dub Time Machine has ripped up stages the world over, offering a rolling crossfade of the last six decades of pop-music. And two years ago he launched Wine Machine, a series of al fresco get-togethers on some of the country's most-loved wine regions. The Wine Machine events were a success and the tour will this year head to a new winery, Roche Estate in the Hunter Valley, on Saturday, March 23. The boutique event will run from early afternoon through to after dark, and feature a hand-picked smorgasbord of Australian talent, including The Presets, Hayden James and Confidence Man. This will all lead into one of Hot Dub's signature sets, which will see audiences dancing their way from 1954 to today, as the DJ mixes best-known song from each year. Backing up the tunes, expect a tasty lineup of eats, Single Fin Summer Ale and, of course, some sensational vino from these Australian wine regions. Safe to say, it's probably the rowdiest event these wineries will host all year. And we're giving you a chance to go for free. We've got two general admission passes for you and a mate to give away. Enter your details below for a chance to win. [competition]711746[/competition]
Another day, another new Netflix show. This time, the streaming platform seems to be taking its cues from one of 2018's big-screen surprises. Two women met, became friends despite having very little in common, helped each other with their daily lives and then found themselves immersed in something murky in A Simple Favour — and now they're doing the same in TV series Dead to Me. Arriving in early May, the new ten-episode show stars Christina Applegate and Linda Cardellini, with the former playing a just-widowed woman trying to cope with losing her husband in a hit-and-run incident, and the latter popping up as a positive-thinking free spirit. They cross paths at a grief counselling session, and it's a definite odd-couple situation — which isn't helped by more than a few surprises. A dark comedy with plenty of twists, as based on the just-dropped first trailer, Dead to Me also features James Marsden among its cast, with the show created by 2 Broke Girls writer Liz Feldman. The series marks Applegate's first lead TV role since 2011-12 sitcom Up All Night, while it's a return to Netflix for Cardellini, who starred on the streaming platform's drama Bloodline — and also featured in A Simple Favour. Check out the first trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwYBw1raC2o Dead to Me hits Netflix on May 3. Images: Saeed Adyani / Netflix.
Some things in this life are just meant to go together. Such is the way with Snowshoe to Fondue, the ultimate alpine holiday pairing for everyone who values the après in their skiing. Run by tour operators Alpine Nature Experience, Snowshoe to Fondue runs throughout the winter months in Victoria's Mount Hotham. The experience starts with a sunset hike through the snow-covered forest. Snowshoes enable you to 'float' rather than sink into the alpine landscape, so expect a breezy walk that just earns you the cheese extravaganza that is the real reason for this outing. The feasting takes place at Alpine Nature Experience's 'hidden eco-village', inside a tipi with a fireplace. Here, having enjoyed a warming glass of glühwein upon arrival, you'll be shown how to make a traditional Swiss fondue. A reminder if you haven't heard the word in a while: fondue involves melting cheese over a portable stove and dipping food into it. Why this gooey form of eating ever went out of fashion is a total mystery. Alpine Nature Experience's version is made with cheese imported from the French mountains — and it's bookended with soup and cake, making it a balanced three-course meal. The tour includes transport back to your starting point at Wire Plain, from where you can easily return to your accommodation at Mount Hotham and sleep the sleep of kings. Whatever adventures you've planned on the slopes for tomorrow, you'll be properly fuelled for them. Snowshoe to Fondue tours will run daily Wednesdays to Sundays until September 29. To make a booking, visit the website. Images: Fabio Olivera and Georgie James.
Two Good Co, the social enterprise dedicated to supporting vulnerable women by providing pathways out of crisis living, has opened its first cafe and convenience store in philanthropic hub Yirranma Place. Two Good Co first launched in 2015 as a soup kitchen at Kings Cross, before expanding into selling soup products, salads and toiletries to raise funds for its good work. Created in partnership with the Paul Ramsay Foundation, the venue is open 7am–3pm weekdays, serving breakfast and lunch with a strong focus on local artisan and ethically-minded businesses. Brands you'll find within the store include The Bread & Butter Project, Kua Coffee, Mood and T Totaler teas, Blak Cede and Gelato Messina. The cafe will help fund Two Good Co's programs while also employing vulnerable women across the front of house, kitchen and concierge roles. "Training, empowering, and employing vulnerable women is the reason we do what we do," Two Good co-founder Rob Caslick said. "We see our partnership with the Paul Ramsay Foundation as a springboard to showcase this model to other organisations who want their office catering and café service to make a real difference." Alongside the standard breakfast and lunch menus, a special monthly menu curated by culinary friends of Two Good Co is also promised. The organisation has worked with the likes of Kylie Kwong, Maggie Beer, Peter Gilmore and Matt Moran in the past, and is kicking things off with a July menu crafted by Three Blue Ducks chef and co-owner Darren Robertson. Robertson's menu features cauliflower cheese toasties, his renowned chocolate cookies and an Italian sausage, pear, lentil and watercress salad. Expect monthly menus from Belinda Jeffery in August, followed by Matt Moran in September. The organisation has also expanded its catering service for those wanting to host a function while supporting a good cause. The service now offers a variety of options from small breakfasts and grazing boxes to cocktail canapes and large-scale event catering. Two Good Co Cafe is located at 262 Liverpool Street, Darlinghurst. It's open 7am–3pm Monday–Friday.
You did it. You survived another Sydney winter. You made it through the dreary, grey season and we're not even going to judge you for how many nights you spent under a doona, indulging in goodies from the snack aisle and binging Fleabag. And one of the wonderful things about living in this part of the world is poking your head out as spring arrives and jumping on the road for an adventure before the weather gets altogether too hot. With flowers blossoming in Bowral, food markets hitting regional hubs and festival season just around the corner, there's no better time to get out there. Together with MG — in celebration of its new limited-edition MG3S hatchback — we've come up with six activities that will get you out of Sydney and enjoying the spring sunshine in style.
It has been more than two years since Australian fans of factual flicks were first able to head to streaming platform iWonder to get their documentary fix in a big way. It wasn't the first doco-focused service to hit Australia, and plenty of other other streamers also weave non-fiction throughout their catalogues — but it nonetheless launched with more than 500 hours of on-demand content available to Aussie viewers. Now, with more than 1000 titles in its lineup, the service is adding a new reason for Australians to drop by — for Sydneysiders at present, and for anyone who is placed under isolation orders in the near future. The platform has announced that it's offering 50 percent off its subscriptions for folks in lockdown. So, if you're a Sydney resident in need of something new to watch right now, after a couple of weeks at home and counting, this might be timely news. If you live elsewhere, you might want to bookmark this for later. Documentaries currently available on the platform cover a huge range of topics — from fast food social experiment Super Size Me through to gaming classic The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters. Other highlights include the exceptional Sherpa, which explores a series of tense incidents on Everest; Oscar-nominee For Sama, which was shot on the ground in Aleppo over five years; and both Whiteley and Basquiat: Rags to Riches, about the two artists. Under the lockdown deal, the $6.99 per month and $69.90 annual subscription fees will be halved to $3.50 and $35.50, respectively. New users will also receive the 14 days free as part of a trial. The service is available on iOS and Android, as well as online via its website, and on Telstra TV, Apple TV and Android TV — and can be cast to the small screen via Apple TV and Chromecast. The discounted price will remain in place for some time, too, because it's tied to Australia's vaccination rates. iWonder will offer the cheap rate until 75 percent of folks have access to the jab — but you'll have to be in an area under stay-at-home restrictions to only pay half-price. For more information about iWonder, or to sign up, head to the streaming platform's website. Top image: Sherpa.
Dining in the open air is one of the simplest summertime pleasures. Whether it's for a family catch-up, a date night or simply an impromptu lunch break picnic, enjoying a meal al fresco is a surefire way to make you feel relaxed. Sydney has a bunch of beautiful parklands and beachfronts that are perfect for taking a last-minute picnic, so we've teamed up with Betty's Burgers & Concrete Co. to bring you six great spots to enjoy your meal outdoors without having to plan ahead. Each of these sunny spots is conveniently located near to one of its restaurants. [caption id="attachment_792810" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Andrew Gregory; Destination NSW[/caption] CABBAGE TREE BAY This north shore aquatic reserve is the ideal place to lay down a towel and devour a burger, whether it's for a low-key date night, a casual group catch-up or just a chance to adventure away from work. Located a short walk from Manly Beach, the bay also offers the chance to partake in a post-lunch underwater adventure, too (so BYO snorkel if you can). Divers come here to swim with big blue groupers, colourful nudibranchs, small sharks and its resident green turtle in the protected bay. Didn't bring your mask? You can also swim here or in Fairy Bower Pool. The nearest Betty's is found at Manly Wharf. [caption id="attachment_747894" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Destination NSW[/caption] PARRAMATTA PARK Parra Park, as it is affectionately known, is the perfect expanse of green to escape to from the nearby second CBD. While there are 14 barbecues found throughout the park, you're not always in the mood to cook up burgers from scratch or worry about cutlery and other organisational fuss. Instead, head to Betty's Burgers first to pick up a thick shake blended with freshly made frozen custard along with your burger feast. Once you get to Parramatta Parklands, there's heaps of space to find a spot to dine so no need to rush. [caption id="attachment_756230" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Destination NSW[/caption] COOGEE BEACH PARK Bondi is one of Sydney's most famous (and busiest) beaches, which means its southern cousin is sometimes overlooked. However, Coogee has more ocean pools, better parking and is just ten minutes' drive from Bondi. Along with its stretches of sand, it has plenty of grassy spaces under the Norkfolk pines. As the less-busy beach, it also means you don't have to get down here early to nab prime picnic territory. The north end's secluded rocky pools are also a great swimming place, so you can enjoy a refreshing dip after your lunch or dinner. [caption id="attachment_794148" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Chris Jamieson[/caption] CRONULLA PARK This beachside park is the perfect spot to pick when you're hustling friends together for a low-effort picnic. Located at the southern end of Cronulla Beach, the grassy spot has its own gorgeous natural amphitheatre, complete with shade from the trees. It's also easily accessible for prams and wheelchair users, which makes it a winner for large groups of families and friends. It also helps that Betty's Burgers is located just a stone's throw away, so you can sort out your meal, head to the beach and enjoy it with little fuss. [caption id="attachment_677140" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Flickr; Philip Terry Graham[/caption] HYDE PARK As the green centre of the CBD and Sydney's oldest public parkland, Hyde Park has long offered office workers a respite from the concrete jungle. The 40-acre urban park has lush lawns, sprawling fig trees and plenty of seats, which makes it easy to find a spot to relax in. Given its central location, the park is a good choice for office lunch catch-ups. Park yourself by one of Hyde Park's landmarks, including the much-loved Archibald Fountain or Tony Albert's public artwork 'Yininmadyemi Thou didst let fall'. But, before you head there, pick up your burgers from Betty's on Market Street. [caption id="attachment_739368" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jason Tong via Flickr[/caption] TUMBALONG PARK This harbourside park is a favourite for families thanks to its dynamic playground. Though Darling Harbour was once seen as a tourist trap, the rejuvenated area now flips all the tropes and offers amazing views, waterside views and fun vibes. The playgrounds were designed for kids, but adults will be impressed by the vibrant water features, urban seating and ping pong tables. Add in its easy access to Town Hall Station and you have a prime spot for an impromptu picnic this summer, especially if you're working nearby. Plus, Sydney's first ever Betty's Burgers outlet is a short walk away, which means your burgers won't get cold as you find a place to plonk yourselves. Find your nearest Betty's Burgers & Concrete Co., here.
Winery visits and weekend getaways are two things that were largely missing from our calendars in 2020. But if you'd like to make up for lost time now that restrictions have eased, you'll find both experiences rolled neatly into one at famed Nagambie winery Mitchelton. Of course, the property already boasts a luxury boutique hotel and spa, which opened in 2017. But they've now been joined by a very different style of accommodation, this time starring seven shiny, full-size Airstream RVs. Originally set to launch in late December, but now open for bookings, the new Airstream hotel has plans to stick around permanently, gracing the picturesque grounds just a short stroll from the original Mitchelton Hotel. Each of the vintage-style vehicles comes fitted with 20s-inspired interiors, styling touches courtesy of local boutique Harvest Moon Home, and a minibar stocked with gourmet snacks and Mitchelton wines. There are private ensuites, comfy beds and luxurious linens. Guests will also enjoy their own deck area and barbecue set-up, primed for sunset sips. A stay in one of the Airstreams will also get you full access to the rest of Mitchelton's many facilities, including the swimming pool, gym, day spa and the Gallery of Aboriginal Art, which is the largest of its kind in the country. You'll enjoy a breakfast hamper filled with goodies, while the onsite Muse restaurant is open daily from morning until dinner, serving contemporary fare in a newly refurbished space overlooking the Goulburn River. Those keen to do some exploring will also find a range of picnic options available to order from The Provedore. And of course, there's the winery's award-winning cellar door, where you can sample Mitchelton's finest drops, dig into the property's history and choose a few bottles to go. Find Mitchelton's Airstream Hotel at 470 Mitchellstown Road, Nagambie. Prices start from $400 a night for two guests. To find out more and make a booking, head to the website. Images: Brett Goldsmith.
When seasons change, it can be a shock to the system. You're made to bid farewell to a lifestyle (goodbye beach days, hello heaters) and to crack open the other half of your wardrobe. This tough change can be made easier – Stockland has come through with a ton of treat-yo-self activities that are ideal for taking shelter on a particularly chilly day. Check them out below. Get a Beauty Crash Course It's so cold that the only thing you want to do is make your Oodie a plus-one and binge the new series of Bridgerton with the heater on full blast. But it really won't do your skin any favours. The perfect antidote is to book a self-care session at one of Stockland's pop-up beauty workshops, like the Make Up For Ever Mini Masterclass. Hosted by makeup artist and Australian Fashion Week veteran Andrea Damyon, this lesson will cover all bases (pun intended) for mastering the art of foundation. The cost is $15, redeemable towards any Make Up For Ever product purchased on the day. These are taking place at 11am and 1pm on Friday, May 31 and Friday, June 7, inside City Perfume at Stockland Merrylands. Alternatively, consider signing up for a Benefit Cosmetics Brow Masterclass. Led by Benefit's National Beauty and Brow Authority, this bespoke lesson delves into all things brows. You and the other attendees will leave with the expertise to perfect your brows like a pro at home. These sessions are happening at 11am, 12pm and 1pm on Saturday, June 1, at City Perfume in Stockland Merrylands and Saturday, June 8 at City Perfume in Stockland Wetherill Park. Score $1000 When You Stock up on a Stylish Winter Fit According to Pantone, the colours of the season are Tender Peach, Rose Violet and Red Orange. Winter Blues? Not so much (unless they're in the form of comfy denim jeans). Slip on your chunky loafers, strut on over to your nearest Stockland mall and stock up on some new pieces from Australia's best street-style brands, including Decjuba, Sheike and Specsavers. Whether your budget is basic or blowout, you're guaranteed to find a new look that'll convince you to swap your Saturday night in for something a little more special. Although if what you really want is a matching velour trackie to keep you warm while you stay in, there are plenty of those on offer, too. Got your eye on something fancy? The chance to win a $1000 gift card at Stockland Merrylands and Stockland Wetherill Park should make it just that bit easier to stretch your cents a little further as you lean into your fashion era. Treat Yourself to a Glorious Spa Day Beachside dips and lazy seaside strolls are probably not on the agenda any time soon. But what if we told you there was a way to experience all of the feels of a rejuvenating summer swim sans getting into the icy water? And that accessing this special treat is as simple as making a booking at one of Stockland's in-centre spas. From massages to melt away the stress of not making it to Europe for summer to rejuvenating facials to give you a glow so good you could probably fake an overseas trip anyway, your local Stockland can offer an escape of the Greek Island kind. For approximately $8,000 less. Upgrade Your Cosy Homewares Collection Remember all those times you promised yourself that you'd redecorate your bedroom, transform your bathroom or give your living room a makeover only for it to be 40 degrees and that Aperol Spritz just had your name all over it? Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but that excuse is now null and void. The good news is that winter is actually an excellent time to get in touch with your inner The Block-contestant and renovate your spaces. Given the current cost of living situation and rental circus, it's best to put your time and effort into making the most of the home you have. Your local Stockland is chock-full of affordable homewares stores (including My House, Bed Bath N' Table and the magic that is Kmart and its Anko range), you can invest in all the plush throw blankets, scented candles and pot plants you need. Find a New Hobby to Stay Busy on Rainy Days If your New Year's resolution to learn a new skill barely made it to February, allow us to introduce you to the sequel. Find a Hobby 2.0: The Winter Edition. In this version, our suggestions include upskilling with an Idiot's Guides book from your local News Express, investing in some wearable tech) from JB Hi-Fi so you can brush up on an educational podcast or hit one of Stockland's office supply stores to top up on pens, paints and paper to channel your inner Picasso. Your Fashion Era events and giveaways are taking place at Stockland shopping centres on various dates until Saturday, June 15, visit Stockland Merrylands or Stockland Wetherill Park for more information. Header image: Dragen Zigic via iStock
If seasonal change has left you in a dizzy headspin of new colours and fabrics and prints and jackets — or if, y'know, you just like some fancy new clothes now and then — you'll be pretty pleased to know that the Big Fashion Sale is coming back to Paddington Town Hall for four days this September. The name pretty much says it all. This thing is big. You'll find thousands of lush items from past collections, samples and one-offs from over 50 cult Australian and international designers, both well-known and emerging, including Romance Was Born, Isabel Marant, Alexander McQueen, Phillip Lim, Stella McCartney, Dries Van Noten and more. With discounts of up to 80 percent off, this is one way to up your count of designer while leaving your bank balance sitting pretty, too. Prices this low tend to inspire a certain level of ruthlessness in all of us, though, so practise that grabbing reflex in advance. This is every shopper for themselves. The Big Fashion Sale will be open Thursday 9am–7pm, Friday–Saturday 9am–6pm and Sunday 10am–5pm.
You can always count on Jurassic Lounge to produce the goods when it comes to an all-out themed super-fun time. Considering the location at the Australian Museum, it's easy to see why the Lounge is one of Sydney's favourite adult playgrounds. And it really turns things up to 11 for Halloween. This year, Jurassic Lounge is back with a whole mess of DJs, artists, scientists, chefs and dancers to bring your weekend fright-fest to a crescendo. The museum will be crawling with activities, from an eerie silent disco to a 'haunted' gallery tour in the dark (complete with torches). You'll also be able to get a gory makeover from the on-hand make-up artists, perhaps before you partake in some 'after-death' speed dating. There'll also be dance-offs, craft workshops, talks and performances throughout the night. Tickets are $25 in advance or $30 on the door. These events nearly always sell out, so we'd book in advance just in case.
Mockumentaries tend to get a bit of a bad rap in critical circles. 'Lazy filmmaking' is the most common smear, and — to be fair — they are a far gentler form of screenwriting than an out-and-out screenplay. They've also experienced massive growth in recent years, most notably in television, with the likes of Modern Family, The Office and Summer Heights High all achieving both popular and critical success. In film, This Is Spinal Tap set the benchmark way back in 1984 and has reigned supreme ever since — an 11 out of 10, if you will. The newest edition in the genre is What We Do In The Shadows, a collaboration between writer/directors Taika Waititi and Flight of the Conchords' Jemaine Clement. Billed as "a couple of interviews with a couple of vampires", it's a fly on the wall 'documentary' about four vampires sharing a flat in present-day New Zealand and is, quite simply, hilarious. The subjects of the film are: Viago (Waititi), an 18th-century dandy whose anal retentiveness makes him 'that' flatmate; Vlad (Clement), a legendary Lothario and formerly prolific hypnotist; Deacon (Jonathan Brugh), the self-proclaimed 'sexy one'; and Petyr (Ben Fransham) an ancient vampire from the early days. Key to its appeal is the way What We Do In The Shadows presents the needs, problems and activities of vampires as entirely commonplace. It makes them immediately relatable, treating something like the accidental puncturing of a victim's jugular and subsequent living room mess with no more pomp or fanfare than a spilled drink on a beige couch. The flatmates cruise the clubs of Wellington seeking victims like others seek a one night stand, they jeer each other on when a back-alley argument descends into a 'bat fight', and they projectile vomit blood when they absentmindedly eat actual food. Yes, they've their share of 'vampire' problems (sunlight, vampire hunters, etc), but also more normal ones, like having to tell your best friend you're the undead and suppressing the unceasing desire to kill him. What We Do in the Shadows also comes in at the welcome length of just 87 minutes, but its brevity doesn't come at the expense of jokes. It's packed with laughs, both visual and scripted, as well as offering a decent dose of improv (a common trait for mockumentaries). There's also more than a bit of horror and gore (so much so that with minimal tweaking this could easily have been reshaped as a solid B-grade scary film), yet there's no fear of fear thanks to the unbroken procession of gags. If this is lazy filmmaking, then bring on the trackies and couch surfing, because it suits us just fine. Check out Concrete Playground NZ's interview with Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement. https://youtube.com/watch?v=Cv568AzZ-i8
Something delightful has been happening in cinemas across the country. After months spent empty, with projectors silent, theatres bare and the smell of popcorn fading, Australian picture palaces are back in business — spanning both big chains and smaller independent sites in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. During COVID-19 lockdowns, no one was short on things to watch, of course. In fact, you probably feel like you've streamed every movie ever made, including new releases, comedies, music documentaries, Studio Ghibli's animated fare and Nicolas Cage-starring flicks. But, even if you've spent all your time of late glued to your small screen, we're betting you just can't wait to sit in a darkened room and soak up the splendour of the bigger version. Thankfully, plenty of new films are hitting cinemas so that you can do just that — and we've rounded up, watched and reviewed everything on offer this week. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngy7grwzFTw NOBODY As both a comedian and a dramatic actor, Bob Odenkirk has earned a lifetime's worth of well-deserved praise. Writing for Saturday Night Live and starring in Mr Show with Bob and David each sit on his resume, as does his pivotal part in Breaking Bad and lead role in the exceptional Better Call Saul. But in Nobody, Odenkirk highlights a facet of his work that's easy to overlook. Jumping into a new genre, he makes viewers realise a truth that cuts to the heart of his talents. Every actor wants to be the person that can't be replaced, and to turn in the type of performances that no one can emulate; however, only the very best, including Odenkirk, manage exactly that. A movie so forged from the John Wick mould that it's penned by the same screenwriter — and boasts the first film's co-director David Leitch (Atomic Blonde) as a producer, too — Nobody could've featured any existing action go-to. It could've been an easy knockoff of well-known hit, joining the swathe of direct-to-video and -streaming titles that use that very template. It could've given Bruce Willis his next role to sleepwalk through, added yet another Taken-style thriller to Liam Neeson's resume or proven one of Nicolas Cage's more straightforward vehicles of late. Thankfully, though, Nobody is all about the ever-watchable Odenkirk and his peerless and compelling ability to play slippery characters. When Nobody begins, Hutch Mansell's (Odenkirk) life has become such a routine that his weeks all unfurl in the same fashion. Plodding through a sexless marriage to real estate agent Becca (Connie Nielsen, Wonder Woman 1984), and barely paid any notice by his teenage son Blake (Gage Munroe, Guest of Honour) and younger daughter Abby (debutant Paisley Cadorath), he catches public transport to his manufacturing company job every weekday, always puts the bins out too late for the garbage truck on Tuesday mornings, and usually earns little more than polite smiles from his family while he's cooking them breakfast that they fail to eat. Then, the Mansells' suburban home is randomly burgled. Hutch confronts the thieves in the act, has a chance to swing a golf club their way, yet holds back. But when Abby notices that her beloved cat bracelet is missing in the aftermath, he decides to take action — a choice that leads him to an unrelated bus filled with obnoxious guys hassling a female passenger, and eventually sees unhinged Russian mobster Yulian Kuznetsov (Aleksey Serebryakov, Leviathan) threatening everything that Hutch holds dear. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0ox9ExOA1M&feature=youtu.be THE FATHER Forgetting, fixating, flailing, fraying: that's The Father. Anthony's (Anthony Hopkins, Westworld) life is unravelling, with his daughter Anne (Olivia Colman, The Crown) springing the sudden news that she's about to move to Paris, and now insistent that he needs a new carer to replace the last home helper he's just scared off. He also can't find his watch, and time seems to jump suddenly. On some days, he has just trundled out of bed to greet the morning when Anne advises that dinner, not breakfast, is being served. When he brings up her French relocation again, she frostily and dismissively denies any knowledge. Sometimes another man (Mark Gatiss, Dracula) stalks around Anthony's London apartment, calling himself Anne's husband. Sometimes the flat isn't his own at all and, on occasion, both Anne (Olivia Williams, Victoria and Abdul) and her partner (Rufus Sewell, Judy) look completely different. Intermittently, Anthony either charms or spits cruel words at Laura (Imogen Poots, Black Christmas), the latest aide hired to oversee his days. She reminds him of another daughter, one he's sure he had — and preferred — but hasn't heard from for years. When he mentions his other offspring, however, everyone else goes silent. More than once, Anthony suspects that someone has pilfered his beloved timepiece, which just keeps disappearing. Largely, The Father remains housebound. For the bulk of its 97 minutes, it focuses on the cardigan-wearing Anthony as he roams around the space he calls home. But this is a chaotic film, despite its visual polish, and that mess, confusion and upheaval is entirely by design. All the shifting and changing — big and small details alike, and faces and places, too — speak to the reason Anne keeps telling Anthony they need another set of hands around the house. His memory isn't what it used to be. In fact, it's getting much worse than that. Anthony knows that there's something funny going on, which is how he describes it when his sense of what's happening twists and morphs without warning, and The Father's audience are being immersed in that truth. Anthony has dementia, with conveying precisely how that feels for him the main aim of this six-time Oscar-nominated stage-to-screen adaptation. As overwhelming as The Father can be as it wades through Anthony and Anne's lives, its unflinching and unsparing approach is anchored in kindness and compassion, which novelist and playwright turned first-time director Florian Zeller has brought to the screen in a stunning fashion from Le Père, his own play. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Bb2d6DVY28 THE COURIER In 1960, in the thick of the Cold War, British businessman Greville Wynne was recruited by MI6. Chosen because he frequently travelled to Eastern Europe for work — and also because he wouldn't stand out in general — he was asked to visit Moscow numerous times, then return with information about the Soviet nuclear program as supplied by a contact within the Russian government. That's the true tale that The Courier explores, and it's an intriguinng one. Working together until around the time of the Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962, Wynne and Oleg Penkovsky, his source, helped change the course of history. And yet, in a film that looks backwards not just for its content but also in its old-school style, director Dominic Cooke (On Chesil Beach) and screenwriter Tom O'Connor (The Hitman's Bodyguard) seem to have taken the wrong cue from the story they're telling. As everything from years of Bond flicks to Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and Bridge of Spies have shown, Cold War spy movies have comprised their own genre for decades. The Courier knows this, and remains happy to blend in among its peers. It's solid but straightforward, always proving just engaging and rousing enough. It also boasts an excellent performance from Benedict Cumberbatch in his latest historical drama (see also: The Imitation Game and The Current War), but this espionage thriller still has less of an impact than it should. Indeed, Cumberbatch's efforts as an ordinary man in an extraordinary situation rank among The Courier's biggest highlights, alongside the real-life details it delves into. He's calm, flattered and even a little perplexed in early scenes, as Wynne is asked by the CIA's Emily Donovan (Rachel Brosnahan, I'm Your Woman) and MI6's Dickie Franks (Angus Wright, Official Secrets) to do his country and the world a favour. Soon, Cumberbatch is both confident and jumpy as Wynne travels back and forth, strikes up a genuine friendship with Penkovsky (Merab Ninidze, Homeland) and tries to keep the reality of his trips from his increasingly suspicious wife Sheila (Jessie Buckley, Misbehaviour). And, later, he's vulnerable but still determined. He takes the feature's biggest theme — loyalty — firmly to heart, and ensures that it seeps from his pores whether Wynne is in an easy, tricky or brutal scenario. It's still impossible not to notice how standard and risk-averse almost everything around Cumberbatch is, though; however, The Courier is never plodding. Still, there's a difference between skewing classic to do a narrative justice and boxing a true story into a template, with this film frequently leaning more towards the latter than the former. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kP9TfCWaQT4 TOM & JERRY Before Itchy and Scratchy started terrorising each other well beyond the bounds of normal cat and mouse antagonism, another feline and rodent pair got there first. Of course, The Simpsons' adversarial four-legged critters were designed to parody the characters created by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera more than 80 years ago, but they've long since supplanted Tom and Jerry as popular culture's go-to fighting animal duo. Perhaps the new Tom & Jerry movie is an attempt to push its titular creatures back to prominence. Perhaps it's just the latest effort to cash in on nostalgia while hoping that a new generation of children will be interested enough to warrant more big-screen outings, and therefore more chances to make some cash. Watching this all-ages-friendly hybrid of cartoon and live-action, it doesn't seem as if anyone involved knows quite why the film exists — not director Tom Story (Ride Along and Ride Along 2), who cares more about stressing the feature's hip hop soundtrack than paying much attention to its eponymous figures; not screenwriter Kevin Costello (Brigsby Bear), who pens a dull and derivative script about celebrity wedding chaos; and definitely not a cast that spans Chloë Grace Moretz (Shadow in the Cloud), Michael Peña (Fantasy Island), Rob Delaney (Catastrophe), Ken Jeong (Boss Level), Colin Jost (Saturday Night Live) and Pallavi Sharda (Retrograde), all of whom will forever have this misfire on their resumes. The animated animal action starts with Tom's latest vendetta against his long-time rival Jerry, after the latter destroys the former's keyboard and his music stardom dreams along with it. In his quest for revenge, the cat follows the house-hunting mouse to his newest abode at Manhattan's upmarket Royal Gate hotel, where the pair soon wreak havoc. Story and Costello prefer to focus on the resourceful and human Kayla (Moretz) at almost every turn, though. After talking her way into a job onsite, she's soon given two important tasks. The first: help ensure that the nuptials of two nondescript celebs (Jost and Sharda) go smoothly, which of course doesn't happen. The second: track down Jerry, which involves hiring Tom to assist. Somehow, Tom & Jerry is both lazy and overcomplicated. It does the bare minimum with its flesh-and-blood and pixel characters alike, all while completely forgetting that viewers have always loved Tom and Jerry for its fast, smart and entertaining slapstick antics (and definitely not because one day the duo might become bit-players in yet another flick about bland wedding dramas). When the film starts with pigeons rapping A Tribe Called Quest's 'Can I Kick It?' in its entirety, it begs an obvious question: who is this for? No one that's brought this movie to fruition seems to know the answer there, either — and they certainly haven't expended any energy on trying to make the feature funny, because laughs are absent from start to finish. If you're wondering what else is currently screening in cinemas — or has been lately — check out our rundown of new films released in Australia on January 1, January 7, January 14, January 21 and January 28; February 4, February 11, February 18 and February 25; and March 4, March 11, March 18 and March 25. You can also read our full reviews of a heap of recent movies, such as Nomadland, Pieces of a Woman, The Dry, Promising Young Woman, Summerland, Ammonite, The Dig, The White Tiger, Only the Animals, Malcolm & Marie, News of the World, High Ground, Earwig and the Witch, The Nest, Assassins, Synchronic, Another Round, Minari, Firestarter — The Story of Bangarra, The Truffle Hunters, The Little Things, Chaos Walking, Raya and the Last Dragon, Max Richter's Sleep, Judas and the Black Messiah, Girls Can't Surf, French Exit, Saint Maud, Godzilla vs Kong and The Painter and the Thief.
Tennis is a game of serves, shots, slices and smashes, and also of approaches, backhands, rallies and volleys. Challengers is a film of each, too, plus a movie about tennis. As it follows a love triangle that charts a path so back and forth that its ins and outs could be carved by a ball being hit around on the court, it's a picture that takes its aesthetic, thematic and emotional approach from the sport that its trio of protagonists are obsessed with as well. Tennis is everything to Tashi Duncan (Zendaya, Dune: Part Two), Art Donaldson (Mike Faist, West Side Story) and Patrick Zweig (Josh O'Connor, La Chimera), other than the threesome themselves being everything to each other. It's a stroke of genius to fashion the feature about them around the game they adore, then. Metaphors comparing life with a pastime are easy to coin. Movies that build such a juxtaposition into their fabric are far harder to craft. But it's been true of Luca Guadagnino for decades: he's a craftsman. Jumping from one Dune franchise lead to another, after doing Call Me By Your Name and Bones and All with Timothée Chalamet, Guadagnino proves something else accurate that's been his cinematic baseline: he's infatuated with the cinema of yearning. Among his features so far, only in Bones and All was the hunger for connection literal. The Italian director didn't deliver cannibalism in Call Me By Your Name and doesn't in Challengers, but longing is the strongest flavour in all three, and prominent across the filmmaker's Suspiria, A Bigger Splash and I Am Love also. So, combine the idea of styling a movie around a tennis match — one spans its entire duration, in fact — with a lusty love triangle, romantic cravings and three players at the top of their field, then this is the sublime end product. Challengers is so smartly constructed, so well thought-out down to every meticulous detail, so sensual and seductive, and so on point in conveying Tashi plus Art and Patrick's feelings, that it's instantly one of Guadagnino's grand slams. In 2019, the picture's present day — a choice that enables Challengers to avoid everything pandemic-related — Art and Patrick go racquet to racquet in New Rochelle, New York. Pinging in-between their on-the-court confrontation, after they progress through the tournament on opposite sides to clash in the final, are flashes to moments from 2006 onwards. It was in that year, as teen doubles partners known as "Fire and Ice" (and best friends, and childhood tennis academy roommates), that the pair met Tashi. She's as confident when she's not standing on a green surface as she is on it, and on it she's an undoubtable prodigy. They're both immediately attracted to her. They each ask for her number at the same party while all three are together. In Challengers' later timing, however, Art is her husband and Patrick her ex-boyfriend. Art has also enjoyed almost every success that a tennis player can hope for, other than winning the US Open. Completing his career slam is his aim, with the New Rochelle contest about getting him back into form to stop a losing streak. Patrick has to sleep in his car to make the fixture; for him, earning a wildcard to the bigger dance and a chance at the kind of glory his former pal has long been basking in is the mission. The duo hasn't talked in years. The reason: a falling out about matters of the heart. But Challengers doesn't simplistically have its two men battle it out for Tashi as a prize, even when she promises a date to whoever wins their first game against — not with — each other in the mid-00s segments. Tashi is a force to be reckoned with. She'd never let herself become a trophy. Her career is cut short due to injury, sparking a move into coaching Art, and she's as ferocious and strategic there — and in their marriage — as she was when pursuing her own tennis fame. Then there's the inescapable bond between Art and Patrick anyway; Tashi's home-wrecker comments about sliding into the middle of their relationship aren't empty in Guadagnino's hands, whether a three-way kiss or loaded words are being exchanged. The director works with the first feature script by playwright, novelist and screenwriter Justin Kuritzkes — and it's no wonder that authenticity beats at the heart of this deeply sultry, raw and evocative (and horny) movie. While this isn't a tale taken from actuality, Kuritzkes is the husband of filmmaker Celine Song, whose Oscar-nominated 2023 debut Past Lives not only leapt into another complicated love triangle but was loosely drawn from her own experiences. The two movies are playing different games, though, yet share the same richness of chemistry, lingering sexual tension, and understanding of how burning love and pining to be seen are life-shaping and -changing sensations. They're each so precisely helmed in their vastly dissimilar ways that they're works of art, and so expertly cast that their stars will always rank the respective flicks as career and performance highlights. Continuing the trend of Spider-Man love interests giving tennis films a whirl (see: Civil War's Kirsten Dunst with Wimbledon, then Poor Things' Emma Stone with Battle of the Sexes), Zendaya doesn't just make Tashi formidable and unforgettable; her portrayal, which is one of her best ever alongside Euphoria, firmly matches. Neither the movie nor its leading lady polish over the character's fierceness and ruthlessness when it comes to her passion, instead exploring what's behind her intensity from the outset: being a Black star who isn't from a comfortable background in a world that's all about whiteness and privilege. She's magnetic to viewers, and to Art and Patrick, who are brought to the screen with romanticism and vulnerability by Faist, and with spirited but comfortable charm by O'Connor. Challengers loiters at the net, where two sides are pushed together — not as any balls bounce through the bouts depicted, but in unpacking every pairing that can be made from its main trio, racial and economic divides that definte their realities, and the thin line that can become a vast chasm regarding genuinely grasping your dreams versus forever chasing them. As it hops and rushes about — including between time periods, characters, games and romances — Challengers zips and zings, and lunges and thrusts. Guadagnino's knack for immersion keeps working up the bracket film by film, to hypnotic effect here. There's no Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives or Memoria dreaminess to cinematographer Sayombhu Mukdeeprom's lensing, but the same crispness, as seen in his work on Call Me By Your Name and Suspiria as well, remains. New for Challengers is the dynamism of the sports scenes, and of switching from character to ball vantages, each absorbing visual choices. Marco Costa, who returns from Bones and All, edits just as energetically. And amid songs by Donna Summer, Lily Allen and Nelly, Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross' second Guadagnino score, also after Bones and All, is an adrenaline-dripping disco and electronica whirlwind that couldn't better set and reflect the propulsive mood. Talk about an all-round ace.
Opera on a regular stage is one thing, but opera performed on a floating openair theatre atop Sydney Harbour, under the stars? Well, that's some unforgettable stuff. Especially when it's Giuseppe Verdi's famed classic La Traviata that's being given the overwater treatment. The glamorous three-act show is the latest production announced as part of Opera Australia's Handa Opera series, supported by the folks at Destination NSW. It was set to pop up on the harbour in March 2020, but, because of COVID-19, it was postponed. Now, it has been announced that the show will (finally) go on in March 2021. Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour has pulled over 400,000 guests since debuting with La Traviata back in 2012, its mix of drinking and dining options, breathtaking views and nightly fireworks making it one of Sydney's must-try cultural offerings. It's also considered one of the world's best openair opera venues. The upcoming season will see director Constantine Costi heading up a bold new production of La Traviata based on celebrated director Francesca Zambello's original. It tells the famously heartbreaking tale of a free-spirited Parisian courtesan and her tragic love affair with a nobleman. [caption id="attachment_805194" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Prudence Upton[/caption] Expect to be wowed by a glittering nine-metre-high chandelier decked out with 10,000 crystals on stage, while world-class performers — with up to 70 on stage in ensemble scenes — deliver soaring renditions of legendary tunes like 'Sempre Libera' and 'Brindisi'. As you'll be hitting up such a world-class event, why not make a night of it? Make sure you arrive early to enjoy the Italian-themed pop-up food and drink stalls for a pre-theatre snack. And, for those looking to make the affair even more luxe, book in for a staycation by the harbour. Of course, Opera Australia's La Traviata will be a COVID-safe event, following all NSW Government health guidelines and procedures. Top image: Hamilton Lund
The latest production of National Theatre of Parramatta promises some seriously captivating storytelling. Running from Thursday, July 27, until Saturday, August 5, Fade is penned by playwright Tanya Saracho (Vida, Looking, How to Get Away With Murder) and follows the tale of Lucia, played by Camila Ponte Alvarez (RFDS, Nothing Like the Sun), a Mexican-born writer who embarks on her first TV writing job. Lucia navigates the trials of an all-white and male writing room by befriending the janitor, Abel — played by Caspar Hardaker (Interceptor, Poker Face), a fellow outsider in their Anglo-centred world. As their friendship blossoms, Abel's storytelling seems to make its way into Lucia's scripts – providing a multilayered narrative that is both funny and deeply insightful. Fade serves as an incisive commentary on the challenges of breaking through as an outsider and how far one is willing to go for success. Prepare to dive into the complexities of class, race, and power. It's a must-see for any theatre fan. Fade opens on Thursday, July 27, and runs until Saturday, August 5. For more information and to book your tickets, visit the website.
The annual Open Frame festival returns to Carriageworks in June for another excursion into experimental, contemporary sound. Curated by Lawrence English, founder of seminal Brisbane label Room40, Open Frame will feature an eclectic mix of both local and international artists operating right at the fringe of avant-garde. The 2018 edition of the festival splits its focus between senior artists and on emerging voices. It will see the world premiere of Occam Hexa XXIV, a specially-commissioned work by Éliane Radigue, a French composer who draws influence from the minimalist scene in New York in the 1970s, her Tibetan Buddhist beliefs and her native France to create epic, slow-developing works. There'll also be a performance by eclectic US artist Charlemagne Palestine, who has had an amazing career as a musician, composer, visual artist, documentarian and gallerist, to name a few. Palestine recently exhibited an installation of 18,000 stuffed animals (called — wait for it — Ccornuuoorphanossccopiaee Aanorphansshhornoffplentyyy) in Paris, Los Angeles and New York, however it is not yet confirmed whether any of them will be joining him onstage in Sydney. On the emerging-voices side of the equation, Chinese-born, Berlin-based experimental artist Pan Daijing. Her distinctive music doesn't comfortably fit into any category and often combines operatic singing with techo beats and industrial noise. Past iterations of Open Frame have been unusual, unexpected and often flat-out weird, but never less than enthralling. Image: Vitali Gelwich
Hell yes! Get along to the third instalment of the Soul Collective Mixtape series as Australia’s most prominent future-soul, hip hop and electronica groups take over Venue 505 for a night of irresistible groove. Featuring 30/70 (Melbourne), Fortunes (New Zealand), Sydney’s Lana Rita and newly formed electronica/afro-beat supergroup The Cosmodelta, this guaranteed boogie night will have you burning through the soles of your shoes in no time. This event is one of our top ten picks of the Sydney Fringe Festival. See the other nine here.
Something delightful has been happening in cinemas across the country. After months spent empty, with projectors silent, theatres bare and the smell of popcorn fading, Australian picture palaces are back in business — spanning both big chains and smaller independent sites in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. During COVID-19 lockdowns, no one was short on things to watch, of course. In fact, you probably feel like you've streamed every movie ever made, including new releases, comedies, music documentaries, Studio Ghibli's animated fare and Nicolas Cage-starring flicks. But, even if you've spent all your time of late glued to your small screen, we're betting you just can't wait to sit in a darkened room and soak up the splendour of the bigger version. Thankfully, plenty of new films are hitting cinemas so that you can do just that — and we've rounded up, watched and reviewed everything on offer this week. THE CONJURING: THE DEVIL MADE ME DO IT Starting in 2013 with The Conjuring, expanding with 2014's Annabelle, and also including The Conjuring 2, both terrible and much better sequels to Annabelle, the dismal The Nun and the formulaic The Curse of the Weeping Woman, The Conjuring Universe now spans eight evil-fighting flicks — and they're all as straightforward as it gets when it comes to battling the nefarious. Circling around real-life paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, the franchise posits that the supernatural exists, darkness preys upon the innocent and its central couple usually has the tools to combat everything untoward. That template remains firmly in place in The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It. With director Michael Chaves (The Curse of the Weeping Woman) and screenwriter David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick (Aquaman) doing the honours — taking their cues from James Wan, the Australian Saw and Insidious co-creator who helmed the first two Conjuring flicks — it once again serves up the usual bumps, jumps and scares that have haunted this franchise since day one. That said, the third Conjuring flick within the broader Conjuring realm does attempt a few changes. Rather than getting creeped out by haunted houses, it gets spooked by a kid and then a teenager who are both possessed. True to form, bone-shakingly horrific things can't simply occur without some kind of excuse and entity at play. The Warrens (Patrick Wilson, Aquaman, and Vera Farmiga, Godzilla: King of the Monsters) are first tasked with saving eight-year-old David Glatzel (Julian Hilliard, WandaVision) from a demon after his family moves to stereotypically sleepy Brookfield, Connecticut. Their efforts seem successful, even if Ed has a heart attack mid-exorcism, but the evil force they're fighting has really just jumped ship. Arne Johnson (Ruairi O'Connor, The Spanish Princess), the boyfriend of David's sister Debbie (Sarah Catherine Hook, NOS4A2), is quickly besieged by strange occurrences. He's soon also covered in blood after stabbing his landlord to Blondie's 'Call Me'. The death penalty beckons; however, the Warrens convince Arne's lawyer to plead not guilty by reason of demonic possession — the first time that ever happened in the US — and then commit to unearthing whatever paranormal details they can to save his life. The trailer for The Devil Made Me Do It teases legal thrills, but in a bait-and-switch way, because this film is barely concerned with Arne's court case. The true tale, which was previously dramatised in a 1983 TV movie starring Kevin Bacon, merely provides an easy setup for souped-up demonic antics and a routine, happily by-the-numbers, never remotely terrifying threequel. Indeed, the fact that more flicks will undoubtably still follow is the scariest thing about the film. Read our full review. LAPSIS 9 to 5 and Working Girl hail from the genre. Everything from Office Space to The Assistant do, too. But films about working in offices, TPS reports and navigating the desk-based daily grind might eventually become a dying breed or a nostalgic retro curiosity. Because art always mirrors life, the gig economy may swoop in and draw the silver screen's focus instead. Sorry We Missed You already has in a resonant warts-and-all manner, and Lapsis now endeavours to do the same via a smart and searing sci-fi satire. There's much to ponder, probe and dissect about the mode of employment that's becoming the status quo, after all, and that isn't bound to change as it spreads and grows. Corporations don't just dictate workers' behaviour during office hours now, supplying a reliable wage and perks such as holiday and sick leave in return. Attempting to monopolise entire fields such as food and package delivery, transportation and caregiving, big companies (you know the ones) hire independent contractors, scrap the benefits, and keep them toiling on-demand or on-call just to earn the bare minimum. This new kind of technology-driven rat race has been normalised, and quickly — and what it means for the labour force, employment, capitalism, corporate greed, class structures and basic human rights demands to be interrogated in thousands of movies as sharp and scathing as this one. In Lapsis and its alternative vision of New York via writer/director Noah Hutton, quantum computing is the next big thing. It requires a network of giant metallic cubes connected via thick black wires, with stringing them together the gig economy's new growth area. It's such an in-demand field and so lucrative for workers, in fact, that cablers can earn thousands of dollars just for a weekend's work. They can also pay off their mortgages within months — if the advertisements spruiking the supposed new employment dream can be trusted, that is. Technology-phobic delivery driver Ray Tincelli (first-timer Dean Imperial) is sceptical, so much so that he won't even use a quantum computer himself, even though they're essential to viewing up-to-date websites and just generally existing in Lapsis' parallel world. But his unwell brother Jamie (fellow debutant Babe Howard) suffers from a pervasive form of exhaustion called omnia, and requires expensive medical treatment. After finding a way into the cabling industry via acquaintance Felix (James McDaniel, The Deuce), Ray's need to make a quick stash of hefty cash quickly overrides his misgivings. Read our full review. BREAKING NEWS IN YUBA COUNTY Celebrity worship is one of popular culture's stupidest side effects. Stars get paid well beyond the average person and live far more lavish lives, but yes, they're people too. And, even if you round up a hefty number of famous faces in the one movie — award-winners and -nominees among them — they can still make absolutely terrible career decisions. Case in point: Breaking News in Yuba County, exactly the type of film that dispels any ridiculous notion that well-known actors opt for better choices than the rest of us. No one has done themselves any favours by featuring in this equally derivative and preposterous mess. No one will by watching it either. Director Tate Taylor might have both The Help and Get On Up to his name, but this addition to his resume sinks lower than The Girl on the Train, Ma and Ava. First-time screenwriter Amanda Idoko pens a script that aims for quirky crime-comedy with a side serving of societal satire, but really just repackages every tired cliche and trope her chosen genre has ever brought to the screen, and every obvious observation about small-town life, middle-aged women and the media as well. Also, every performance seems pitched at a different type of picture to each other — and, even in the silliest cases, none of them gel with the film's perky, almost sitcom-esque aesthetic. Allison Janney (Bombshell) plays Sue Buttons, dutiful wife to local banker Karl (Matthew Modine, Operation Varsity Blues: The College Admissions Scandal). He's inattentive at the best of times, and she's too meek-mannered to say anything — but when she sneakily follows him to a hotel on her birthday, which he seems to have forgotten, their marriage takes a turn. Soon she's telling whoever will listen that Karl has gone missing. Her sister (Mila Kunis, The Spy Who Dumped Me) is a local news reporter, so TV attention follows. But Sue really just wants to be on one particular host's (Juliette Lewis, Music) show, and to elicit the kind of reaction the town has been giving the parents of a missing young girl. That's only part of Breaking News in Yuba County's narrative, though. Karl'x brother (Jimmi Simpson, Unhinged) is trying to go on the straight and narrow to please his pregnant wife (Samira Wiley, The Handmaid's Tale), but his ex-boss (Awkwafina, Raya and the Last Dragon) and her henchman (Clifton Collins Jr, Waves) would prefer otherwise. Jokingly at first, so would his new employer (Wanda Sykes, Black-ish), who is bored of just owning and running a furniture store. The more all of these characters' paths intersect — and those of a local detective (Regina Hall, Little), one of Karl's colleagues (Chris Lowell, Promising Young Woman) and his mistress (Bridget Everett, Unbelievable) as well — the more obvious three things are. Firstly, Idoko has clearly seen To Die For and Fargo more than once. Secondly, her script feels like it was written in the 90s, too, and then barely read again before filming started. And thirdly, this doesn't even approach the same league as its influences, or work as a goofier farce either. BYE BYE MORONS When Bye Bye Morons begins, it's with the kind of overdone setup that hardly screams 'Best Picture winner'. The film did indeed garner that gong at this year's César Awards — and six others as well — and, thankfully, twists its template beginnings into something far more intriguing than it initially seems set to deliver. When hairdresser Suze Trappet (Virginie Efira, Police) is told that she's afflicted with an auto-immune disease that stems from the chemicals she uses at work, and that it'll soon take her life, she's shocked and horrified. She also has unfinished business to attend to, after giving up a baby for adoption almost three decades earlier. That quest brings her into the path of civil servant Jean-Baptiste Cuchas (Albert Dupontel, also the movie's writer and director), who is being replaced by new technology at his paper-pushing job and happens to be staging a suicide attempt when Suze visits the office trying to track down her child. Soon, they're unlikely allies alongside a blind archivist (Nicolas Marié, Knock), and they're all endeavouring to thwart the multiple systems and bureaucracies that have defined and dictated so much of their lives. As its name makes plain, subtlety isn't Bye Bye Morons strong point, but when it finds its heartfelt groove, this French comedy also finds its charm. It helps that Dupontel has cast his feature superbly, including via his own involvement. The See You Up There filmmaker and star turns in a performance that's far more nuanced than the overwhelming bulk of the movie itself, as does the always-watchable Efira — with the pair playing exasperated ordinary folks who leap into outlandish territory not so much out of necessity, but in utter and gleeful defiance of the misfortune-laden cards that the world keeps dealing them. It also helps that, scripting with contributions from collaborating writers Xavier Nemo (Girafada) and Marcia Romano (Losing It), Dupontel fleshes out his characters more than his scenario. In fact, he makes his own on-screen job easier as a result. And, he gives his audience a much-needed anchor amidst all the broad, loose, chaotic and often over-the-top comedy he repeatedly swings in Suze and Jean-Baptiste's direction. Bye Bye Morons isn't short on plot, but when the feature is at its sweetest and most poignant, it's because viewers have become invested in its protagonists, their plight and their connection, rather than the ins and outs of their intertwined crusades. In fact, when the film is at its silliest — and when it attempts to wring easy comedy out of its absurdist and anarchic energy — it's a far less entertaining affair. BREAKING BREAD Food unites us all, or so the oft-spouted rhetoric tells us — and now documentary Breaking Bread does as well. On paper, it mightn't seem hard to demonstrate that every single one of us shares a need for sustenance and a love of culinary delights; however, debut writer/director Beth Elise Hawk doesn't merely explain what we already literally know in our guts. Instead, the filmmaker focuses on Dr Nof Atamna-Ismaeel. Originally a microbiologist, she became the first Arabic contestant to win Israeli's version of Masterchef back in 2014. After that pioneering feat, she set her sights on another: founding the A-Sham Arabic Food Festival in Haifa. Unity is baked into the fest's very existence, with the event bringing together chefs of both Arabic and Jewish descent to cook a range of Levantine dishes, and then share their creations with eager attendees. And, the festival's purpose is never far from view on the plate or in discussions with the participants. The common sentiment: while the conflict in Israel commands the bulk of the attention directed the country's way, that isn't the lived reality for most of the region's residents. Breaking Bread releases in Australia just as headlines again document rising tensions and increasing combat in the area, but Atamna-Ismaeel and her fellow chefs endeavour to espouse the opposite in their delicious-looking meals. The usual food documentary advice applies here, unsurprisingly, because watching on an empty stomach will only get tastebuds watering and hunger pangs grumbling. Hawk isn't above using slow-motion culinary shots that actively attempt to entice salivation, and to use them to pad out the already brief 86-minute feature. That said, every glimpse in the kitchen or at a plate is handsomely filmed, framed and staged, and is never too far away from lively conversation as well. Indeed, the movie's wide range of dishes might whet the appetite, but they're really just the entree. Alongside the engaging Atamna-Ismaeel, the festival's chefs speak through their backgrounds, cooking dreams, experiences with conflict and generational traumas in their own talking-head segments. The doco hears multiple accounts of how the simple act of eating, or of combining different types of food, can and has brought people together, and yet that kind of sentiment will never prove repetitive. Perhaps because of Atamna-Ismaeel's TV background, it's easy to see how a longer project that spent an entire episode or several with these interviewees would provide a satisfying meal — and get its audience thinking even further about the region, food and unity. MINAMATA It has been ten years since Johnny Depp starred in The Rum Diary, openly inviting comparisons to — and happily standing in the shadows of — his role in fellow Hunter S Thompson adaptation Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas 13 years earlier. Minamata boasts no ties to the gonzo journalist, but it does initially endeavour to ape Depp's past work; playing a hard-drinking member of the press will do that. This drama draws its details from reality, though, not mere impersonation. Its subject: photographer W Eugene Smith, and his late-career series of snaps in the titular Japanese town. Informed of a story worth his and the world's attention by a translator, Aileen Mioko (Miami, Tezuka's Barbara), who'll later become his wife, Smith (Depp, Waiting for the Barbarians) convinces his Life magazine editor (Bill Nighy, Emma) to dispatch him to capture the results of chemical company Chisso's dumping of mercury in the local water. It's an important story, both for the celebrated Second World War photographer at the waning end of his career and for the movie now telling the tale, although second-time director Andrew Levitas (Lullaby) stages his earnest adaptation of Aileen and Eugene's book in a blunt manner. It doesn't help that his film arrives after the far superior Dark Waters and its own story of corporate poisoning, or that Depp is once again the point focus in a story where his character is a white outsider looking in, as he also was in the woefully misguided City of Lies. As it charts Smith's quest to bring the coastal spot's plight to the world, as aided by activist Kiyoshi (Ryô Kase, To the Ends of the Earth), Minamata does boast one crucial factor — other than its grim real-life basis. Whether seen for the first time or the thousandth, Smith's photos of Minamata residents afflicted with mercury poisoning (or Minamata disease, as the severe neurological condition particular to the town has been dubbed) are nothing short of striking. Indeed, they say so much in their single frames that a movie like Minamata was always going to feel as if it's merely sketching in filler details around these unforgettable images. As a director working with first-timer David Kessler's script, Levitas clearly understands this, and obviously appreciates the weight and importance of Smith's revelatory snaps. Accordingly, the film is as much an origin story for these famous pictures as it is an explainer for the context around them. The most recognisable photo of all — Tomoko Uemura in Her Bath, which depicts mother Ryoko Uemura bathing her daughter Tomoko — understandably garners the most focus. It's here that Minamata is at its most urgent and affecting, but so much that surrounds it proves the antithesis of Smith's shots: derivative and cliched. If you're wondering what else is currently screening in cinemas — or has been lately — check out our rundown of new films released in Australia on January 1, January 7, January 14, January 21 and January 28; February 4, February 11, February 18 and February 25; March 4, March 11, March 18 and March 25; and April 1, April 8, April 15, April 22 and April 29; and May 6, May 13, May 20 and May 27. You can also read our full reviews of a heap of recent movies, such as Nomadland, Pieces of a Woman, The Dry, Promising Young Woman, Summerland, Ammonite, The Dig, The White Tiger, Only the Animals, Malcolm & Marie, News of the World, High Ground, Earwig and the Witch, The Nest, Assassins, Synchronic, Another Round, Minari, Firestarter — The Story of Bangarra, The Truffle Hunters, The Little Things, Chaos Walking, Raya and the Last Dragon, Max Richter's Sleep, Judas and the Black Messiah, Girls Can't Surf, French Exit, Saint Maud, Godzilla vs Kong, The Painter and the Thief, Nobody, The Father, Willy's Wonderland, Collective, Voyagers, Gunda, Supernova, The Dissident, The United States vs Billie Holiday, First Cow, Wrath of Man, Locked Down, The Perfect Candidate, Those Who Wish Me Dead, Spiral: From the Book of Saw, Ema, A Quiet Place Part II, Cruella and My Name Is Gulpilil.
Since Sally Rooney's Normal People first hit bookshelves in 2018, big things have followed. As well as becoming a bestseller, the Irish author's second novel was longlisted for the Man Booker Prize and won 2019's Book of the Year at the British Book Awards. The next step: bringing this tale of two teens and their complicated romance to the small screen, all courtesy of a new 12-part drama of the same name. In particularly excellent news for fans of the book, Normal People's TV adaptation is penned by Rooney herself — alongside fellow screenwriters Alice Birch (Succession) and Mark O'Rowe (Boy A). And, it boasts some other significant talent in the director's chair, too, with helming duties shared by Oscar-nominated filmmaker Lenny Abrahamson (Room) and BAFTA winner Hettie Macdonald (White Girl, Howard's End). Of course, it's the tale playing out on-screen that's the main attraction, as readers will already be aware — and as the just-dropped first teaser shows. Cold Feet's Daisy Edgar-Jones and newcomer Paul Mescal step into the shoes of the novel's Marianne and Connell, high school classmates in their west Ireland small town who weather all manner of ups and downs as they attend Dublin's Trinity College. At school, she was lonely and aloof, while he was outgoing and popular. At college a year later, their roles have reversed. That sets the scene for an intimate, complex love story — which will unravel in full when Normal People drops on Stan on Monday, April 27. Check out the teaser trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDpWEA2rMB4&feature=youtu.be All 12 episodes of Normal People will be available to stream on Stan on Monday, April 27.
According to the great Aussie poet Henry Lawson, "Beer makes you feel the way you ought to feel without beer." Maybe our national penchant for a good brew began with his outback wanderings. It's hard to say. But what we do know is that nothing cuts through the heat quite like a cold, tasty drop. And with the rise and rise of more complex flavours and creative approaches across Australia, our options are only getting tastier. No longer do our 'beer events' comprise of hanging around in a muddy paddock knocking back a VB or ten. Every year, dozens of annual events pay homage to beer in all kinds of inspired ways, from epic city-consuming festivals to quirky one-offs focusing on a particular pastime (like building boats out of beer cans). Here's your handpicked guide to the most fun events and the finest froth in the next 12 months. SYDNEY CRAFT BEER WEEK Sydney Craft Beer Week entered its fourth incarnation in 2014. For a relatively new event, it's made up some serious ground in a short time, with 100 events held over nine days across 50 venues. Headline parties included all-day/all-night 'Sip and Savour' sessions, where more than 250 beers and ciders were sampled under one roof (that'd be the only roof big enough Sydney, the one belonging to Carriageworks); the James Squire Open Day, which saw beer fans pack into their beloved Malt Shovel Brewery in Camperdown; and a mega closing party hosted by The Rocks Brewery and Bar, where the brewing gets done by sixth generation descendants of convicts. MELBOURNE GOOD BEER WEEK Melbourne Good Beer Week is similarly youthful. First held in 2011, it proved so impressive that numbers doubled in 2012. That is some upward swing. And it isn't merely the punters who are into it. Visiting brewer Brendan Moylan, who hails from California's renowned Moylan's Brewery, described 2012's event as "the best, most professional and most diverse" beer festival he'd ever been to. Diverse is definitely the word. In 2014, more than 200 happenings popped up on surfboards, in vintage trains, in three-hatted restaurants and in local pubs. Melbourne Good Beer Week 2015 is set for May 16-24. WA BEER WEEK In contrast to its East Coast counterparts, WA Beer Week has the distinction of being Australia's oldest week-long beer celebration, which is rather fitting given that Australia's very first craft brewers set up in Fremantle. The event turned 13 in 2014, with more than 60 events held between October 25 and November 2. Craft beer aficionados planed, trained and automobiled their way west to partake in beer degustations, open brew days and behind-the-scenes tours and taste brand new releases. TASMANIAN BEERFEST At Tassie Beerfest, you get to do your sampling in a beer garden edged by 150 metres of water frontage. As the organisers will tell you, that's about the length of 2,500 stubbies lined up. What started as a boutique bender back in 2005 is now one of the biggest beer festivals in the nation. For one weekend in mid-November, at Hobart's Princes Wharf No. 1, Tasmania's best micro- and macro-breweries go head to head with beers from all over the planet. You can expect more than 300 brews and 12,000 people. If you're feeling a touch nostalgic for the festival's more intimate days, check out the Tasmanian Micro Brew Fest, a separate, one-day event that's all about keeping things local. QUEENSLAND BEER WEEK As of 2012, there's been yet another reason to head north while the cold is still holding on down south. Queensland Beer Week makes its presence felt all over the state, from the New South Wales border to the tropics of the Far North. So, in between spotting humpbacks, catching waves and dodging stingers, you can check out the latest in Queensland brewing, wherever you are. Events include masterclasses, new releases, degustations, talks and tastings. BITTER AND TWISTED INTERNATIONAL BOUTIQUE BEER FESTIVAL The Bitter and Twisted International Boutique Beer Festival is every bit about letting out your inner quirk as it is about the 100 or so brews on offer. It's highly likely that the setting has quite a bit to do with it. The event takes over the eerie confines of NSW's Maitland Gaol, which was a maximum security jail up until 1998. There's a foodie element too, with dishes from all four corners of the planet and a cracking live music program. Last year saw performances from The Griswolds, Jebediah, James Bennett and Morgan Joanel, among others. The Bitter and Twisted International Boutique Beer Festival happens on the first weekend in November. THE AUSTRALIAN BEER FESTIVAL Held on one weekend in October (during Oktoberfest), the Australian Beer Festival traditionally sees at least two streets in The Rocks road-blocked to make way for carousers. All the action centres around the Australian Hotel, one of craft brewing's spiritual homes in Sydney, and all the beers on offer are created right here, down under. The program includes live music, blind tastings, 'Meet the Maker' sessions and, for those who reckon their home brew has got what it takes, a chance to dominate in the Home Brewing Championships. THE GREAT AUSTRALASIAN BEER SPECTAPULAR The Great Australasian Beer Spectapular is given a bit of an edge by the fact that breweries in Australia and around the world cook up new beverages especially for the event, including James Squire and Little Creatures. That's right, you'll be testing some flavours that haven't been experienced anywhere else, ever. Plus there's a massive array of extracurricular activities. The last event included paddle art, paddle races (with five full cups on board), table tennis, giant Jenga, cornhole, roaming musicians and a gourmet food market. Spectapular 2015 will be held in two states: May 22-24, at Melbourne's Royal Exhibition Building, and May 30 at Sydney's Exhibition Hall, Australian Technology Park. GEELONG BEER FESTIVAL For the next Geelong Great Australian Beer Festival, to be held February 21, 2015, at Geelong Racecourse, you're invited to dress as none other than the elusive Where's Wally. Or as your favourite superhero. Anything a bit bold and out-of-the-ordinary. The one-day shindig matches 200+ craft beers and ciders with a good dose of local colour. There's a home brewing competition, a beertography photo contest and a bunch of live acts, including roving entertainers, stand-up comedians, cabaret performers and live bands. DARWIN BEER CAN REGATTA No event screams Australia quite like the Darwin Beer Can Regatta. Since 1974, people have been turning up at Darwin's Mindil Beach in their thousands to cheer it on. To enter, you have to create your very own water-going vessel — out of beer cans. (You can add a milk carton or two to the mix, if drinking enough tinnies to get your boat afloat proves too challenging). The only catch is that you're absolutely not allowed to test for sea-worthiness before the day. After all, the whole reason people turn up is to watch your boat slowly disintegrate with you in it. Oh, and there's also a coda, in the form of a thong-throwing competition. The next Darwin Beer Can Regatta is scheduled for July 12, 2015.
You can do away with your internet searching and your book reading; borrow a human instead during Sydney Fringe. In this oral history performance, choose a human and hear them tell you a chapter from their life. From Shane Teehan’s story of Afghanistan imprisonment in a real-life mixed-up spy story to Holly Ladmore’s journey from Olympic track and road racing athlete to cosplay character, you can borrow a 'human book' for 20 minutes across libraries within Marrickville Council. This event is one of our top ten picks of the Sydney Fringe Festival. See the other nine here.
Glenhaven florist Wild Bunch is another must when shopping in greater western Sydney. The lovely staff specialises in wedding arrangements, so you know you're getting an impressive bunch — even when you're just picking up a bouquet for your loved one. Apart from cut flowers, Wild Bunch also offers green and flowering plants, dish gardens and gift baskets with fruit and other goodies. The shop offers daily delivery, so you can surprise your family, partner or friend any day of the week.
Tao Lin is one of those writers who has been described — occasionally with a weary rolling of the eyes — as a "voice of his generation". He is a writer whose style is Facebook-honed, irony-rich and heavy with pop culture references, a kind of writing in constant flux between a Ritalin-fuelled mania and an OxyContin slur. He is the product of an internet-shaped psyche. And he is also very, very good. Sometimes I buy books because of their titles alone. That's how I first came across Tao Lin. A young American writer born to Taiwanese parents, Lin is the author of the novella Shoplifting from American Apparel, the short story collection Bed, poetry collections cognitive-behavioural therapy and you are a little bit happier than i am, and the novels Richard Yates and Eeeee Eee Eeee. He is maddeningly prolific, having also founded the literary press Muumuu House and co-founded the film company MDMAfilms, and his writing gets published in all the right places — Vice, The Believer, Thought Catalog, The New York Observer, Gawker. As a lead-in event to the National Young Writers' Festival (held in Newcastle from 3-6 October), Lin will be speaking to Wilfred Brandt at Alaska Projects about his novel Taipei, with a slideshow of his photos from Taiwan. Taipei was published earlier this year and represents, by all accounts, a great leap forward for Lin. Not simply a catalogue of the various existential crises of Brooklyn's hipster class, Taipei is Lin at his peak. Earlier this year in an interview with Lin on KCRW's Bookworm, Michael Silverblatt called Taipei, "The most moving depiction of the way we live now," describing the book as "unbearably moving". And if that doesn't inspire you to head out to King's Cross on a late-winter evening, then I'm not sure we're going to be friends.
If you've ever wanted to indulge in an immersive fine-dining feast onboard a luxe yacht, here's your chance. Acclaimed chef Nelly Robinson will be plating up a six-course sensory fare for this year's Vivid Sydney. NEL's founder and chef patron will take over the kitchen of superyacht The Jackson on Saturday, May 25, for what promises to be a colourful culinary journey backed by front-row views of the iconic Sydney Harbour. Robinson is known for his avant-garde and often kooky degustation menus, so prepare for the kind unbridled creativity that's been on display in his previous degustations, which span from Disney-inspired dishes and Christmas-themed festivities to a dedicated showcase of native Aussie ingredients and even a bold take on KFC. Upon boarding the multimillion-dollar cruiser, you'll be met with free-flowing sparkling for the first hour, as well as a selection of small bites including beetroot and tuna tarts, smoked oysters and a chicken and macadamia toastie. For the sit-down portion of the evening, you'll tuck into a lemon myrtle-infused poached salmon for entree, lamb shoulder with herb risotto for main and a banana-starring dessert. To finish the cruise on a high, head on upstairs for a boogie accompanied by a rose heart canapé. Tickets cost $325 per person, but you can add an additional $65 for a Tyrrell's Wine pairing to accompany your meal. At the end of the evening, you'll disembark at King Street Wharf where you can continue partying into the night. If you love fine food, immersive creative experiences and fabulous views, you best consider adding this to your list of must-book Vivid Sydney events. Head to The Jackson's website to purchase tickets to A Night with Nelly Robinson before they sell out.
While the battle rages over the impact of lockouts on live music in Sydney, the Metro Theatre continues to churn out gigs. At this stalwart, you'll catch rock, metal, indie and alternative acts from Australia and overseas. Jeff Buckley played there in 1995, and in 1996 You Am I sold out seven shows in a row. See if you can get some last minute tickets and head to the Metro for a boogie. Once you've worked up an appetite, wander over to Chinatown for a feast at Golden Century Seafood Restaurant. Another spot helping to prop up Sydney's late-night economy, it's one of the few eateries that serve food until the sun comes up. Go with a bunch of mates, and spend several glorious late night hours scoffing the banquet menu. Image: @ianieongxx via Instagram.
Summer is a mere few weeks away and there's no better seasonal combo than a weekend barbecue and icy cold craft beer. We’re on mission to inspire and enhance your barbecue experience this silly season by bringing to you recipes that go beyond the simple sausage sizzle. We've searched Sydney's most talked-about restaurants from the buzzing inner west to the slick CBD, the stylish eastern suburbs and all the way to the chilled-out northern beaches for recipes that will earn you a pat on the back and cheers from your soon-to-be-impressed guests. Ten top-notch chefs from across town with a talent for wielding a set of barbecue tongs have matched one of their favourite grill-friendly recipes with a brew from James Squire's solid craft beer range. Crisp pilsners with zesty Hartsyard octopus for the sun lovers. Strong Porters to wash down Neil Perry ribeyes. Golden ales with Pinbone's barbecued duck hearts for the adventurous. Thank us later; your summer barbecues will be talked about for many moons. BARBECUED DUCK HEARTS WITH CUMQUAT AND MUSTARD — PINBONE INGREDIENTS: Duck hearts Handful of cumquats (or oranges and mandarin) Creme fraiche Hot English mustard Bitter leaves METHOD: Brine duck hearts in a 5 percent salt/water solution for 30 minutes. Remove and dry with paper towel. Grill on the barbecue for 2 minutes on each side and rest. Cut cumquats in half and grill on barbecue until nicely charred (orange and mandarin also work nicely if you can’t find cumquats). Mix equal parts creme fraiche and hot English mustard together and lay the mustard base on one half of the plate. To serve: Season generously and garnish with bitter leaves. Pair with James Squire Stow Away IPA. BBQ FREMANTLE OCTOPUS — GREGORY LLEWELLYN FROM HARTSYARD Serves 4 INGREDIENTS: 1kg Fremantle Octopus separate into individual tentacles only 4L Water 300g salt 100g paprika smoked peel of one lemon 4 cloves of crushed garlic tbsp peppercorn tbsp fennel seed tbsp coriander seed METHOD: Heat half the water with the salt until dissolved. When dissolved pour warm solution into remaining cold water. Toast all spices (minus the paprika) together over a medium/high heat until fragrant. Add to liquid mixture. Add garlic, paprika and lemon peel. When mixture is cool add octopus tentacles and brine for 12 hours. Remove from brine, rinse and dry. Place into a heavy bottomed saucepot and cover with extra virgin olive oil. Cook on stove top at about 75-80°C ensuring the oil does not boil for 2-2.5 hours. Remove the octopus from pot. It should be fork tender with a tiny bit of chew. Refrigerate until cold (this should probably be done the day before). Prepare BBQ to about 200°C. BBQ octopus until suction pads are crispy and the tentacles are evenly cooked but not black. When cooked toss into a bowl with the following dressing: DRESSING: 100ml olive oil 2 tbsp sliced garlic 1 tbsp fresh oregano leaves picked 1 tbsp fresh parsley leaves picked 1 tsp crushed red chilli flakes Cook olive oil and garlic until slightly brown. Add the rest of the ingredients until crispy. Remove from heat. Let cool. Season with the juice of two lemons. Pair with James Squire Four 'Wives' Pilsener. STICKY LAMB RIBS WITH POMEGRANATE AND SOY GLAZE — DANIEL SAN INGREDIENTS: 30gm peeled eschallots 0.1gm pomegranate 60gm cos lettuce 5gm flat leaf parsley 5gm mint 2gm extra virgin olive oil 300gm Junee lamb American ribs GLAZE: 50gm peeled garlic 4gm lemons 80gm frozen wasabi tube 150gm castor sugar 15gm sea salt flakes 60gm sesame oil 400gm pomegranate molasses BRAISING STOCK: 2L water 10ml Kikkoman soy 10ml mirin 10ml sake 5gm radish daikon 20gm young ginger METHOD: Place ribs in braising stock and place in oven on 160°C for two hours. Take ribs out and leave to cool in the stock for one hour. Cook ribs on the bbq and glaze with the above. Serve on cos lettuce with pomegranate drizzled on top. Pair with James Squire's The Constable Copper Ale. SMOKED BARBECUE WINGS w/ BULLEIT BOURBON BARBECUE SAUCE — HENRIETTA SUPPER CLUB INGREDIENTS: 2.5L pork (or beef stock in a pinch) stock FOR BARBECUE SAUCE: 250ml Bulleit bourbon 2 cinnamon sticks 3 star anise 2 cloves 1 lime (juice and zest) 2 lemon (juice and zest) 100ml good sherry vinegar 1 x can of coca cola 1 x can ginger ale 25g whole black pepper corn 100ml real Canadian maple syrup 500ml of store bought barbecue sauce METHOD: Place in a large pot on a medium heat-high heat. Reduce until sticky. pass through a chinois or large sieve. Store in an airtight container and refrigerate once cooled. To prepare the wings, poach desired quality of wings in a good-quality wings chicken stock for 25min. Coat with a seasoned flour (we use 'Cajun flour' — corn flour, plain flour, Cajun spices and seasoning). Deep fry for five minutes on 180 degrees or brown on the barbecue hot plate in good quality cooking oil. Place cooked wings in a steel bowl and coat generously with the barbecue sauce. Garnish with chives and serve with chipotle mayo (real mayonnaise with a slug of chipotle hot sauce like El Yucateco or Tabasco). Pair with James Squire Nine Tales Amber Ale. SMOKED PORK RIBS — PATRICK FRIESEN AND CHRISTOPHER HOGARTH FROM PAPI CHULO INGREDIENTS: 4 USA-style cut pork ribs BBQ rub BBQ sauce Apple wood and oak chips METHOD: Try to find pork ribs with the most amount of meat you can. Clean the silver skin off the back of the ribs using a fork to pry it off and a tea towel to hold onto the silver skin when you pull it off. Season both sides lightly with BBQ rub and smoke straight away. Smoke at 120°C over oak and applewood for one hour. Wrap in foil and smoke at 120 degrees for another hour and a half. Brush with BBQ sauce and enjoy. BBQ SAUCE: 50gm Heinz ketchup 16gm Frank's RedHot sauce 20gm Yamasa soy 10gm water 30gm brown sugar 6gm black pepper 3gm smoked paprika 3gm sweet paprika 2.5gm onion powder 2.5gm garlic powder 5gm Korean chilli powder Mix all ingredients in a bowl and let sit for an hour. BBQ RUB: 100gm salt 20gm cracked black pepper 4gm onion powder 2gm garlic powder 20gm paprika 5gm smoked paprika 5gm cayenne Mix in a bowl right before you want to use. Pair with James Squire Sundown Australian Lager. RIB EYE ON THE BONE — NEIL PERRY FROM THE BURGER PROJECT INGREDIENTS: 4 x 360g rib eye on the bone Sea salt Extra virgin olive oil for grilling 4 lemon wedges METHOD: Heat the barbecue or grill — whether using wood, charcoal or gas — until extremely hot. Salt and oil each side of the steaks and allow to come to room temperature. Place steaks on the grill, cook for approximately five minutes, rotate the steak 90 degrees to get the cross pattern on the meat halfway through the cooking. Turn the steak over and cook for another four minutes. Allow the meat to rest for a few minutes off the grill. Place on a cutting board and slice each of the steaks into five or six slices, form the meat back to its original shape and serve on a plate with a sprinkle of salt, drizzle of olive oil and a wedge of lemon. Pair with James Squire Jack of Spades Porter. LAMB BURGER WITH PICKLED EGGPLANT, WATERCRESS AND HARISSA — MICHAEL RANTISSI FROM KEPOS STREET KITCHEN Serves 4 INGREDIENTS: 750gm good-quality coarse lamb mince 2 teaspoons coriander seeds, toasted and crushed 1 bunch coriander, leaves picked and finely chopped 3 - 4 tbsp olive oil 4 tbsp harissa 1 tsp chilli flakes Salt and pepper to season 4 brioche burger buns, toasted ½ cup makdous (pickled eggplant stuffed with walnuts available from Middle Eastern grocers) 1 bunch watercress Harissa aioli METHOD: Combine the lamb mince, coriander seeds, fresh coriander, olive oil, harissa and chilli in a large bowl. Season with salt and pepper and mix to combine. Once combined, divide the mixture into four and then gently shape the burger patties with your hand. Don't overwork the patties too much as it makes them tough. These burgers can be cooked in a frypan on the stove top or the grill on your barbeque. Cook to your taste, two to three minutes per side for medium rare or longer for your requirement. To assemble toast the brioche burger buns (inside of bun only). Take the base of the burger bun and add a dollop of the harissa aioli, a spoonful of the pickled eggplant with walnuts, watercress, then the patty, add another handful of watercress and another dollop of aioli and then top with the bun. Pair with James Squire One Fifty Lashes Pale Ale. BARBECUE CHICKEN WINGS — CHUR BURGER INGREDIENTS: 1kg mid cut chicken wings BARBECUE SAUCE: 1 onion, finely chopped 6 cloves garlic, finely chopped 100ml olive oil 150g brown sugar 150ml Worcestershire sauce 500g ketchup Juice of 2 lemons 1 tbsp finely chopped fresh thyme Place chicken wings in a large pot and cover with cold water. Bring water to the boil, stir chicken wings gently and then turn heat off. Let wings sit in water for 12 minutes and then pour wings into a colander. Place on trays in a single layer and refrigerate overnight to dry out. Sweat off onion and garlic in the olive oil until soft but with no colour (about 2-3 minutes). Add everything else, bring to a simmer and cook out for about 10 minutes. Cool down and store in refrigerator. Toss in the barbecue sauce mix and then place on hot grill until smokey and charred. Remove from grill and place into a clean bowl and toss with some further barbecue sauce and a squeeze of fresh lemon. Serve. CHIPOTLE MAYO: 1L plain mayonnaise 150ml Melbourne Hot Sauce Chipotle & Cayenne 10g rosemary, chopped 10g fresh oregano, chopped 10g parsley, chopped Mix all together. Pair with James Squire Hop Thief American Pale Ale.
Something delightful has been happening in cinemas in some parts of the country. After numerous periods spent empty during the pandemic, with projectors silent, theatres bare and the smell of popcorn fading, picture palaces in many Australian regions are back in business — including both big chains and smaller independent sites in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. During COVID-19 lockdowns, no one was short on things to watch, of course. In fact, you probably feel like you've streamed every movie ever made, including new releases, Studio Ghibli's animated fare and Nicolas Cage-starring flicks. But, even if you've spent all your time of late glued to your small screen, we're betting you just can't wait to sit in a darkened room and soak up the splendour of the bigger version. Thankfully, plenty of new films are hitting cinemas so that you can do just that — and we've rounded up, watched and reviewed everything on offer this week. MOTHERING SUNDAY Is there anything more intimate than wandering around someone's home when they're not there, gently rifling through their things, and — literally or not, your choice — spending a few minutes standing in their shoes? Yes, but there's still an intoxicating sense of closeness that comes with the territory; moseying curiously in another's house without their company, after they've entrusted their most personal space to you alone, will understandably do that. In Mothering Sunday, Jane Fairchild (Odessa Young, The Staircase) finds herself in this very situation. She's naked, and as comfortable as she's ever been anywhere. After her lover Paul Sheringham (Josh O'Connor, Emma) leaves her in a state of postcoital bliss, she makes the most of his family's large abode in the English countryside, the paintings and books that fill its walls and shelves, and the pie and beer tempting her tastebuds in the kitchen. The result: some of this 1920s-set British drama's most evocative and remarkable moments. Jane is used to such lofty spaces, but rarely as a carefree resident. She's an aspiring writer, an orphan and the help; he's firmly from money. She works as a maid for the Sheringhams' neighbours, the also-wealthy Godfrey (Colin Firth, Operation Mincemeat) and Clarrie Niven (Olivia Colman, Heartstopper), and she's ventured next door while everyone except Paul is out. This rare day off is the occasion that gives the stately but still highly moving film its name as well — Mother's Day, but initially designed to honour mother churches, aka where one was baptised — and the well-to-do crowd are all lunching to celebrate Paul's impending nuptials to fiancée Emma Hobday (Emma D'Arcy, Misbehaviour). He made excuses to arrive late, though, in order to steal some time with Jane, as they've both been doing for years. Of course, he can't completely shirk his own party. Mothering Sunday does more than luxuriate in Jane's languid stroll around a sprawling manor, or the happiness that precedes it — much, much more — but these scenes stand out for a reason. They're a showcase for Australian actor Young, who has graduated from playing troubled daughters (see: 2015's The Daughter and the unrelated Looking for Grace) to searching young women cementing their place in the world (see also: 2020's Shirley). With her quietly potent and radiant help, they say oh-so-much about Jane that wouldn't have sported the same power if conveyed via dialogue. They're also exactly the kind of sequences that screenwriter Alice Birch (Lady Macbeth) knows well, although she isn't merely repeating herself. Helping pen the page-to-screen adaptations of Sally Rooney's Normal People and Conversations with Friends, she's inherently at home revealing everything she can about her characters just by observing what they do when no one's watching. The broader story in Mothering Sunday also springs from a book, this time from Graham Swift's 2016 novel, with French filmmaker Eva Husson (Girls of the Sun) making her English-language debut in the director's chair. Swift didn't choose an annual occasion at random, with the day cloaked in sadness in the Sheringham and Niven households — and across Britain — in the shadow of the First World War and all the young men lost to the conflict. Indeed, marking Paul's engagement is the best way to spend the date because his brothers, and the Nivens' boys too, will never have the same chance. The need to don a stiff upper lip, to keep calm and carry on, and to embody every other grin-and-bear-it cliche about English stoicism is deeply rooted in grief here, and more will come in this touching feature before the sunny March day that sits at its centre is over. Read our full review. If you're wondering what else is currently screening in Australian cinemas — or has been lately — check out our rundown of new films released in Australia on March 3, March 10, March 17, March 24 and March 31; April 7, April 14, April 21 and April 28; and May 5, May 12, May 19 and May 26. You can also read our full reviews of a heap of recent movies, such as The Batman, Blind Ambition, Bergman Island, Wash My Soul in the River's Flow, The Souvenir: Part II, Dog, Anonymous Club, X, River, Nowhere Special, RRR, Morbius, The Duke, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Fantastic Beasts and the Secrets of Dumbledore, Ambulance, Memoria, The Lost City, Everything Everywhere All At Once, Happening, The Good Boss, The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, The Northman, Ithaka, After Yang, Downton Abbey: A New Era, Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy, Petite Maman, The Drover's Wife The Legend of Molly Johnson, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Firestarter, Operation Mincemeat, To Chiara, This Much I Know to Be True, The Innocents, Top Gun: Maverick, The Bob's Burgers Movie, Ablaze and Hatching.
Good news, Sydneysiders — for the first time ever, you can enjoy The Happy Mexican's vibrant dishes without having to book a flight to Melbourne. Julian Romero's Melbourne-based restaurant is now taking up residence inside the iconic Lansdowne Hotel, slinging its coveted Mexican cuisine from Harbour City digs. To celebrate its launch, the Sydney restaurant is doing a bunch of exciting giveaways, including slinging 500 free tacos and tequila shots across three huge days until Saturday, April 13, and dishing out $2 tacos for the entire month of April. The eatery's Sydney home fits up to 500 guests and features dark, moody interiors with emerald green splashed across its walls. The historic charm of The Lansdowne, paired with live gigs and now vibrant Mexican fare, creates an inviting spot to hit up for great food and tunes. The Happy Mexican's Head Chef, Jesus Rios, says he will be "serving up a spectrum of unique, authentic flavours straight from the heart of Mexico to Chippendale." If you're wondering what'll be on offer at the first-ever Sydney spot, look no further. Keep an eye out for tacos galore, with the menu starring roasted chicken breast, marinated pork, beer-battered fish and its signature slow-cooked beef birria tacos, as well as excellent Mexican dishes like chilaquiles, calabacitas and nopales. Rounding out the menu — which runs across both lunch and dinner service — is its famed Jalisco Birria-style quesabirrias with Oaxaca cheese. As for drinks, the plethora of cocktails available spans from piña coladas and palomas to variations of margaritas and mezcalitos, as well as beers on tap. You'll find The Happy Mexican Sydney at 2-6 City Road inside The Lansdowne Hotel at Chippendale, open from 12—10pm from Wednesday–Saturday.
For someone so pivotal to the story of Jesus, it's surprising how few films have told the tale of Mary Magdalene. The biblical figure has been played by Barbara Hershey, Debra Messing, Monica Bellucci and even PJ Harvey over the years, but she's usually a mere supporting character. More than that, she's frequently painted as a sinner at the very least, and often as a prostitute. Neither proves the case in Mary Magdalene, a contemplative, humanist drama that casts Mary (Rooney Mara) as a woman of determination, devout faith and devotion. In fact, the film proposes that she was Jesus' 13th apostle. An early line gives a clear indication of the movie's focus: "I can't marry," Mary tells her father; "I'm not made for that life." What follows is an account of someone defying convention, sticking to her own path, and finding strength and solace when Jesus of Nazareth (Joaquin Phoenix) comes to town. With her dad and brothers preferring to exorcise her convictions away rather than respect her choices, it doesn't take long for Mary to warm to Jesus' caring and charismatic presence. But his existing offsiders are far from welcoming, with Peter (Chiwetel Ejiofor) especially wary. In fact, it's Judas (Tahar Rahim) who's actually more accepting. As such, Mary Magdalene depicts a strong woman breaking free from the shackles of her patriarchal fishing village, and from the expectation that matrimony and motherhood are all she should hope for. The film watches on as she finds a supportive and inspirational companion in Jesus, and as she bears witness to not only his deeds and perspective, but to his worries as well. Still, for all of its ambition — for all of its attempts to recast Mary as a feminist hero while the usual Jesus tale plays out — the movie can't quite decide if it's championing the titular character, or getting lost in her affection for the preacher and religious leader. Of course, you can't tell her story without him, but the balance isn't always right. More often than not, it appears as though Mary Magdalene wants the audience to understand Mary's connection to Jesus more than it seeks to understand Mary herself. Thank whichever deity you please for Mara, then. As she demonstrated so emphatically in Carol, she's one of the best actresses of her generation when it comes to conveying a whole world of emotion without saying a word. Her eyes flicker as Mary reacts to Jesus, her posture shifts, and viewers can grasp not only what the character sees in him but how that makes her feel. Phoenix is also impressive, his mumbling take on Christ in keeping with the film's down-to-earth air. This isn't a movie that looks to the heavens to find spiritual meaning, but to people, their actions and the impact their deeds can have. It's a fitting approach, particularly with Australian filmmaker Garth Davis (Lion) in the director's chair. While a religious tale seems quite the departure from his acclaimed debut, both prove intimate dramas about lost souls searching for fulfilment. Both also share stirring scores and scenic imagery — courtesy of the late, great composer Johann Johannsson (Arrival) and Icelandic cellist Hildur Guðnadóttir, and cinematographer Greig Fraser (Lion), respectively — but movie magic doesn't strike twice. Instead, Mary Magdalene is an intermittently convincing film about belief, rather than a film to believe in. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dH6A_YDafBw
You might be exhausted from Art Month. You might be saving your energy for Vivid. But there's no reason you can't see just a very few of these instantly fascinating shows opening in April.
Look, doo-wop, funk and punk don’t normally go hand in hand at first glance, however somehow King Khan & BBQ Show manage to pull it off in a flurry of fun and sweat. Canada’s Mark Sultan and Arish Ahmad Khan were formally part of Spaceshits, and actually split up King Khan & BBQ Show in 2010 at the Sydney Opera House. Thankfully this wasn't a long-term grudge situation and they have since returned in 2013, releasing their fourth studio album Bad News Boys in March. For something a little out of the ordinary and hip-thrustingly danceable, head along to their Splendour sideshow.
Be warned, the hike to the top of The Castle isn't exactly a lazy stroll. Located in Budawang National Park, it's a three-hour drive from Sydney. So, if you can't cut an early start, head down the night before and pitch a tent by the river at Long Gully campground — which also gives you time to physically and mentally prep. Expect rock scrambling at great heights. If you'd rather hike with a pro, you can book in a guided tour through Big Nature Adventures on the NSW National Parks website. Despite its difficulty, this hike is worth it — The Castle is hands down one of the best mountain walks in New South Wales, giving you amazing views over Morton National Park, the Byangee Walls and Pigeon House Mountain. Image: Destination NSW
In terms of products that are equally cruel and stupid, skin-lightening cream would have to be up there. And now, thanks to Anchuli Felicia King's White Pearl, it's now also brutally satirised. Fictional cosmetics company Clearday, based in Singapore, turns a very tidy profit exploiting customers' insecurities about the way they look. When one of its ads for skin-lightening products goes viral, the disapproving eye of the digital world settles on the company's pristine open-plan office. Amidst the buck-passing and fallout containment, a transformation begins to occur — what playwright King has referred to as "the shift from socialised hysteria to primal hysteria". With comedy that's blacker than bitumen and grimier than a skip in the CBD, White Pearl is here to raise conversations regarding casual racism and corporate culture. It's unlikely you needed another reason to hate on late-stage capitalism, but King will make you laugh while you do. The play is a co-production between Riverside's National Theatre of Parramatta and Sydney Theatre Company, directed by Priscilla Jackman and showing at Riverside Theatres, Parramatta. White Pearl will be showing every Tuesday through Saturday, from Saturday October 26 to Saturday November 9.
Pyrmont Festival turns seven this year, and they're marking the occasion with one of their best programs yet. Extending the program, this year the festival will run for a whopping two weeks, from May 13–27. The annually beloved event promises a pretty well jam-packed program of live music, wine dinners, exhibitions and sculpture installations featured all around Pyrmont. Every day of the festival program is different, but each event is a particular ode to the tasty food and wine being produced both in Mudgee region and around Pyrmont. As always, the festival will kick off with a free two-day headliner event in Pirrama Park on Saturday, May 20 and Sunday, May 21, with live music, art and over 100 food and wine stalls. You can chat to local producers and sample delicious local goodies, and you can do a wine tasting for $20. The monthly Pyrmont Growers Market will also run on Saturday, May 27. Various events will be held throughout the festival's two-week duration — the lineup can be accessed here.
Sparked by the pandemic, lockdown films aren't just an exercise in adapting to stay-at-home conditions — or a way to keep actors, directors and other industry professionals busy and working at a challenging time. The genre also provides a window into how the creatives behind its flicks view everyday life and ordinary people. Arising from a global event that's placed many of the planet's inhabitants in similar circumstances, these features tell us which stories filmmakers deem worth telling, which visions of normality they choose to focus on and who they think is living an average life. With Malcolm & Marie, a hotshot young director and an ex-addict were the only options offered. In Language Lessons, which premiered at this year's virtual Berlin Film Festival, a wealthy widower and a Spanish teacher were the movie's two choices. Now Locked Down directs its attention towards a CEO and a courier, the latter of which stresses that he's only in the gig because his criminal record has robbed him of other opportunities. Yes, these movies and their characters speak volumes about how Hollywood perceives its paying customers. That's not the only thing that Locked Down says. Verbose to a farcical degree — awkwardly rather than purposefully — this romantic comedy-meets-heist flick is primarily comprised of monologues, Zoom calls and bickering between its central couple. Well-off Londoners Linda (Anne Hathaway, The Witches) and Paxton (Chiwetel Ejiofor, The Old Guard) are weeks into 2020's first lockdown, and their ten-year relationship has become a casualty. Whether chatting to each other or virtually with others, both commit a torrent of words to the subject. Linda has decided they're done, which Paxton has trouble accepting. She's also unhappy with her high-flying job, especially after she's forced to fire an entire team online, but gets scolded by her boss (Ben Stiller, Brad's Status) for not telling her now-sacked colleagues they're still like family. Tired of driving a van, Paxton is willing to do whatever his employer (Ben Kingsley, Life) needs to climb his way up the ladder. That said, he's still tied to the road, with the ex-rebel's decision to sell his beloved motorbike — a symbol of his wilder youth, and its fun, freedom and risks — hitting hard. As Linda and Paxton argue about their past together and future potentially apart, vent frustrations about their locked-down present, and chat with co-workers (including Late Night's Mindy Kaling, The Father's Mark Gatiss, Jojo Rabbit's Stephen Merchant and The Last Vermeer's Claes Bang) and family members (Ballers co-stars and real-life couple Dulé Hill and Jazmyn Simon), at no point do they resemble real people. Rarely does anything that comes out of their mouths sound like something that someone might actually say, either. And, while the stresses of working remotely, being unable to leave the house and having normality put on hold should be relatable — we've all been through it — every aspect of Locked Down's script feels forced. That includes its relationship insights, which are hardly romantic, comedic or wise, even when showing that the most devoted of couples can find their patience tested when the days never seem to end. When Linda and Paxton's professional worlds collide, tasking her with removing a £3 million diamond from Harrods, him with ferrying it to safety and the pair with possibly stealing it for themselves, the plot development smacks of screenwriting laziness and convenience. Steven Knight does the scripting — and although Locked Down arose in a hurry, this isn't the first time that the screenwriter has penned something dull, grating, contrived and often ridiculous. When he's at his best, TV series Peaky Blinders, the Ejiofor-starring Dirty Pretty Things, David Cronenberg's Eastern Promises and Tom Hardy one-man-show Locke are the end results. At his worst, he pumps out the abysmal Hathaway-starring Serenity — a movie so awful that it almost defies belief — and now this. Locked Down's missteps are many, and plenty stem from the script. It repeatedly mistakes more dialogue for more drama, for instance. When it isn't insulting everyone who isn't a CEO, it's whining about pandemic restrictions, with its complaints outdated a year ago and ancient now. But director Doug Liman can't escape responsibility for Locked Down's many struggles. Fresh off of the long-delayed, also-terrible Chaos Walking, the filmmaker who shot banter so engagingly in Swingers, Go and even Mr and Mrs Smith just seems happy to let the camera keep rolling here. The man who made Edge of Tomorrow also treats his big Harrods heist as if he was Richard Linklater filming a walk-and-talk for a Before Midnight sequel called During Lockdown. Perhaps Liman expected his two leads to shine so brightly that they'd carry the two-hour film. They're asked to, but no one could sparkle with this material. Hathaway yells into pillows, swans around in colourful pyjama pants and dances to Adam and the Ants' 'Stand and Deliver' like she's on a stage trying to emote to people in the street outside the theatre. While Ejiofor fares slightly better — when he's not waxing lyrical about a hedgehog he's named Sonic (of course), licking opium from the couple's townhouse garden or airing stale stay-at-home grievances — the existential angst that's baked into his performance gets swallowed by the movie's overall listlessness. You could generously read Locked Down's tedium and monotony as intentionally reflecting the malaise of the last 15 months, but every choice that Liman and Knight makes refutes that idea. There's smugness and pompousness to this never-funny film instead, and it screams of its key creatives thinking they know what COVID-19-era life is like, and that they can turn the situation into something witty and thrilling. They don't and they can't, at least in this feature. Visually, the movie brightens at Harrods, but its third-act wander through the famed department store really just shows what could've been. A far shorter picture with less repetitive griping and more of absolutely anything else mightn't have made viewers feel as if they too are stuck home with someone they hate, for example. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TG-Mxzl88Q&feature=youtu.be
It's a problem that everyone can relate to: your thirst needs quenching, but your tastebuds are craving two completely different things. You could make the hard choice and pick between them — or, if you happen to be hankering for a dish made with nori and beer (and getting your fill of dumplings, too), you could make a beeline to Harajuku Gyoza. From Wednesday, July 14, the Australian gyoza chain is serving up a new tap beer that's made with seaweed. Yes, we mean that literally. The Scottish-style ale has a malty taste and an amber hue to match, and, during the brewing process, sheets of nori are added to the boil — which is where it gets its umami flavour. Given that Harajuku Gyoza has already served up raindrop cakes, Nutella gyoza and salted caramel gyoza, mac 'n' cheese, pepperoni pizza and marshmallow dumplings, and charcoal karaage chicken fondue, its latest menu item is hardly surprising. It has a history of pouring inventive brews, too, with black sesame and matcha ice cream-flavoured beers on offer in 2020. Both then and now, the brews come courtesy of Yoyogi Brewing Co, and use Japanese brewing techniques as well as Japanese-inspired ingredients. If you fancy pairing the new beer with two of Harajuku Gyoza's old favourites — cheeseburger gyoza, which is stuffed with burger pieces, aged cheddar, onion, pickles, mustard and tomato sauce; and mozzarella gyoza, which is filled with the obvious, then deep-fried and sprinkled with Twisties salt — that's up to you. Usually the chain's special additions to its menu are only available for a limited time, so you might want to get in quickly. Harajuku Gyoza's Japanese dessert-inspired beers will be available at all Australian stores — at Darling Harbour in Sydney; at South Bank and the CBD in Brisbane; and in Broadbeach on the Gold Coast — from Wednesday, July 14.
Everyone's favourite 'candy man' is hitting Aussie shores next January, with the announcement that Sydney's Capitol Theatre will play host to the smash-hit musical production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Roald Dahl's classic sugar-dusted tale is being brought to life in its Australian debut by a collaboration between theatre producers John Frost, Craig Donnell, Langley Park Productions, Neal Street Productions and Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures. Following the worldwide popularity of both the original book and the 1971 Gene Wilder film of the same name, the musical has been confirmed a sweet success internationally, scoring rave reviews during its stint on Broadway last year. With original songs like The Candy Man and I've Got a Golden Ticket featured alongside new tunes from the songwriters of Hairspray, this confection of a show promises to lure audiences of all ages into, shall we say, a land of pure imagination. It's directed by three-time Tony Award winner Jack O'Brien, with music by Tony, Grammy and Emmy Award winner Marc Shaiman, lyrics courtesy of Grammy and Tony Award winners Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman, and choreography by Tony Award nominee and Emmy Award winner Joshua Bergasse. Tickets are currently on sale for performances up until April 14. Top image: Joan Marcus, the original Broadway cast 2017.
Sherman Contemporary Art Foundation has been taken over. Hanging from scaffolding is an enormous cardboard structure, a slum created by husband-and-wife team Alfredo and Isabel Aquilizan. The sheer scale of this installation is staggering. From the ceiling to the floor, the shantytown takes over the gallery with hundreds of tiny, modular cardboard elements tacked on and expanding like tumours. The houses expand in every direction and dimension into a floating, horizonless, living city. This is an abstracted version of a real place: a nomadic, seafaring indigenous people called the Badjao live in the Phillipines. A documentary tells us the Badjaos live in houses on stilts so their beds stay dry. The people and their houses are in a constant state of flux: Alfredo and Isabel are in fact from the Phillipines and have since moved to Australia. Their identity swims in a no-man's-land between the two countries. Peeking out from cardboard windows are videos of Badjao children rapping and drumming (busking is their main source of income, and their sound recalls early M.I.A.). The concept is carried out to it’s maximum potential: miniature bamboo skewer ladders connect tiny apartments, there are tiny Badjao drums scattered around the place, and even the hooks that hold the headphones are made from tape and card. Audience members, especially kids, are provided with the means to create their own little cardboard structures which they take home or give to the gallery attendants to add on to the installation. The artists' choice of second-hand cardboard as their main material is genius. It recalls the Depression-era ghettoes where vagrants made their makeshift homes. It's also metaphor for the slum's invisible inhabitants: the Badjao people have been discarded by the rest of society and relegated to the fringe between the land and the sea. The Aquizilans have visually distilled the essence of the migrant experience and ideas about refuge, displacement and poverty. Though it comes from a place of personal experience, In-Habit can't help but be deeply political. Ducking and weaving to explore the massive shantytown, I realised how rare it is for artists to actually transform an entire gallery. The Aquilizans have morphed a cold, white cube into an entire new world that is exciting and treacherous and fun to navigate. Many contemporary art projects employ the idea of “community engagement” as a token afterthought, a measure of lip service, when in reality, they just continue to relate to the same art-going minority. In-Habit is not like that. Though the project is in part aimed at children, it’s not for kids as such: it’s for everyone, and it shows that art at its most excellent can engage anyone, regardless of their art-world knowledge and familiarity. Image: detail from In-Habit by Alfredo & Isabel Aquilizan.
Hold onto your butts, film lovers. The 62nd Sydney Film Festival has dropped its full program, and it is seriously impressive. With more than 250 titles from 68 countries, including a number of major grabs from Cannes, Toronto and Sundance, Sydney cinephiles are going to be spoiled for choice when the festival roles around in just four weeks time. The 2015 festival will be bookended by a pair of Australian features, both making their world premieres. Brendan Cowell’s previously announced Ruben Guthrie will open the festivities on June 3, while Neil Armfield’s Holding the Man, starring Ryan Corr, Anthony LaPaglia, Guy Pearce and Sarah Snook, will bring things to a close on June 14. Other Australian films in the lineup include Last Cab to Darwin, starring Michael Caton as a cancer-stricken taxi-driver; The Daughter, theatre director Simon Stone's modern-day take on Henrik Ibsen’s The Wild Duck, starring Geoffrey Rush, Ewen Leslie and Miranda Otto; Strangerland, an outback thriller featuring Nicole Kidman, Hugo Weaving and Joseph Fiennes; and Sherpa, a documentary about disaster on Mount Everest that could hardly feel more timely. The latter three films will compete for $62,000 in this year’s Official Competition, along with nine international features including Italian crime epic Black Souls, American indie dramedy Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, Iranian anthology film Tales, minimalist French superhero flick Vincent and Swedish existential comedy A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence, as well as a sprawling, three-part Portuguese adaptation of Arabian Nights. Rounding out the competition are three films notable for their formal ambition. Raucous American comedy Tangerine, about a pair of transgender sex workers, was shot entirely on an iPhone 5, while German heist film Victoria unfolds Birdman-style in a single elaborate take. But perhaps most exciting is Tehran Taxi, the new effort from Iranian director Jafar Panahi. Once again defying a government-imposed ban on filmmaking, this new work takes place entirely within the confines of a taxi, with the director himself at the wheel. Other exciting titles outside of the competition include Peter Strickland’s lesbian BDSM romance The Duke of Burgundy, harrowing Ukrainian sign-language film The Tribe and South Korean people-smuggling drama Haemoo, as well as the latest work from Abel Ferrara, a biopic about controversial Italian filmmaker Pier Paolo Pasolini. These join previously announced films including German post-war thriller Phoenix and Brian Wilson biopic Love & Mercy. The festival also announced a number of high-profile documentaries. Director Asif Kapadia follows up his masterful Senna with a look at the life of Amy Winehouse in Amy, while special festival guest Alex Gibney explores the murky world of Scientology with Going Clear. A number of local docos will also compete for the Documentary Australia Foundation Award, including Gayby Baby, about children raised by same-sex parents, and Gillian Armstrong’s Women He’s Undressed, about Oscar-winning Australian costume designer Orry-Kelly. The latter will screen on a cruise ship in Sydney Harbour. For sustenance, immersion and inspiration, drop by the Sydney Film Festival Hub at Lower Town Hall throughout the festival.
Lace up your running shoes and join the Central Coast's biggest running event, the Bay to Bay Running Festival. Now in its 21st year, this charity run raises funds for local community organisations. The one-day event offers something for everyone, from a five and 12-kilometre fun run to a two-kilometre kids run and a 21-kilometre half marathon. Whether you run, jog or simply enjoy the leisurely route at your own pace, this community event is a great way to get active while supporting a good cause. Over two decades, the Bay to Bay Running Festival has become a much-loved Central Coast tradition, and continues to bring the local community together through fitness, philanthropy and the great outdoors. The Bay to Bay Running Festival is taking place on Sunday, June 15 in Gosford and Woy Woy, for more information visit the website.
The Lansdowne turns 100 this year, and it's celebrating in the only way it knows how: live and loud. The legendary Chippendale pub and band room has unveiled a month-long program of live music, DJ sets and curated takeovers as it enters its second century of loud, sweaty, unpretentious good times. This June, the inner-city institution — whose stage has welcomed Billie Eilish, Fontaines D.C. and Lime Cordiale, among others — will welcome a stacked lineup of local talent across genres ranging from psych to punk and everything in between. [caption id="attachment_903438" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Alana Dimou[/caption] It kicks off on Wednesday, June 4, as Sydney metal troupe Battlesnake takes the stage alongside special guest acts. Throughout the month, you can also catch performances by the likes of EGOISM, Porcelain Boy, FANGZ, Straight Arrows and a heap more. Head in on Friday nights in June for the Motorik Vibe Council's The Late Show with Motorik!, a free-to-enter late-night electronic session that promises to keep things spinning until, well, very late. On the curated front, expect takeovers by Psyched As., Beat Kitchen Records and more still to be announced. Beyond the music, The Lansdowne is dishing up one kilogram of extra-hot peri-peri wings for $10 all month long, while Inner West brewer Young Henrys is also joining the party, offering gifts to early upstairs gig-goers.
The increasing rise of streaming platforms could mark the death of movie-going as we know it, or so says the popular line of thinking that's been floating around for years. We're fairly certain that online services won't completely kill cinemas, however, even as huge companies like Apple and Disney try to battle it out with Netflix. There's a simple reason, and it's all about the spectacle. If the big screen dies out, all of those huge superhero battles will lose a bit of their sheen — and so will nerve-wracking creature features. It's a truth universally acknowledged that there's nothing quite like watching savage critters attack while you're sat in a darkened theatre, where nothing can disrupt the tension and a whole room of people are reacting to the on-screen horrors. That's one of the reasons Steven Spielberg's Jaws proved such a hit, after all, with the movie credited with inventing the mid-year blockbuster season. Since the 1975 thriller, plenty of films have tried to follow in its footsteps, both seriously and comedically. Crawl is the latest, slinging killer crocodiles at Skins and Maze Runner star Kaya Scodelario — because, well, why not? Directed by Alexandre Aja (The Hills Have Eyes, Piranha 3D) and produced by Sam Raimi (the original Evil Dead trilogy, Drag Me to Hell), Crawl takes place in Florida, just as a huge hurricane hits. Scodelario's Haley is told to evacuate, but she wants to find her missing dad (Barry Pepper) first — and he's injured and stuck in the crawl space of their family home. So far, so unfortunate. But then floodwaters rise, the storm keeps belting down and something with teeth is lurking below the water. If you're not fond of jumps, scares and snapping foes, this won't be for you. If you are, check out the trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4WuVXo_XAM&feature=youtu.be Crawl releases in Australian cinemas on July 11. Image: Sergej Radović. © 2019 Paramount Pictures Corporation. All rights reserved.
The Succulent Corner is Dulwich Hill's much loved nursery that is about to become even more beloved. It's throwing a massive plant sale this weekend, during which the shop's already reasonably priced greenery is being discounted to bargain basement prices. The three-day event will take place from January 11–13, starting at 9.30am each day. The sale will show off the shop's rare and unusual offerings at seriously low prices — succulents will start at just one buck and larger indoor plants at $8. There will be rare succulents and cacti up for grabs, along with fiddle leaf, rubber plants, zanzibar, calathea white fusion and monstera. A range of ferns, palms and ivys will be there, too. Brand new arrivals include the satin pothos, philodendron pink princess and variegated sedum sieboldii. Now, unless you're a horticulturist, these scientific names probably don't mean much. But Google can tell you that they are one good looking bunch that you'll want to get your hands on. Entry is free, just make sure to RSVP on the Facebook page here.
When Bad Moms became one of the big hits of last year, it was the film's great cast and refreshing approach to female friendship that really struck a chord. Indeed, it was those two factors that made an otherwise routine comedy about mothers behaving badly both amusing and empowering. Alas, it seems no one explained that to writer-director duo Jon Lucas and Scott Moore. Or, perhaps they simply don't care. With their inevitable sequel, the pair proves happy to take the easiest route — upping the raucousness, adding even more mums to the mix, and eschewing nuance, depth or any real comic commentary about the expectations placed upon women. This approach — taking aspects of the original and just ramping them up — is not uncommon in sequels. Unfortunately, Bad Moms 2 picks the wrong elements to highlight, at the expense of the thoughtful core that made its predecessor such a surprise. Stars Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell and Kathryn Hahn are as qualified as ever, while franchise newcomers Christine Baranski, Cheryl Hines and Susan Sarandon all impress as well. The material, though? To borrow a scenario that occurs in the movie, it's like stealing a cheap department store Christmas tree rather than finding a real one. Also called A Bad Moms Christmas in other parts of the world, the film's first attempt to heighten these overstressed mums' worries arrives via the festive season. If the holidays weren't anxiety-inducing enough, their own mothers decide to drop by out of the blue, each displaying familiar family traits. Prim and proper Ruth (Baranski) is even more of a perfectionist than Amy (Kunis); stalker-like Sandy (Hines) takes the idea adoring motherhood too far even by Kiki's (Bell) standards; and wild-at-heart Isis (Sarandon) has a looser grasp on responsible parenting even than the free-spirited Carla (Hahn). The end result pits mothers against their mothers in the kind of multi-generational hijinks that's becoming a bit too common of late, with the conceptually similar Daddy's Home 2 hitting cinemas in just a few weeks. It also comes with a heap of problematic messages. Sure, Bad Moms 2 nods to the initial flick's championing of women being themselves and refusing to conform to society's demands. But that means next to nothing when the film's female characters are now depicted as little more than caricatures. That they only bond over parenting, fighting with their mums, or chasing men does not go down well. Nor does the suggestion that they are both the cause of their own mothers' craziness and are doomed to follow in their footsteps. Perhaps the film's standout scene demonstrates the fortunes of Bad Moms 2 best, turning a male stripper's intimate waxing session into a romantic meet-cute. In a feature filled with cartoonish depictions of women with children (and women in general), of course the most relatable and resonant moment takes place between Hahn's lusty, lonely beautician and her attractive client. Lucas and Moore, who clearly aren't doing their own mums proud here, don't even think of extending the same blend of genuine humour and earnest emotions to the movie's ladies when they're together. Instead they saddle the gals with making penis gingerbread and twerking on Santa. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGDOdlBlV08
Across six seasons, Netflix's Chef's Table added plenty of high-profile additions to everyone's culinary bucket lists, celebrating the stellar kitchen skills of talents such as Massimo Bottura, Francis Mallmann and even Attica's Ben Shewry. For the streaming platform's next delicious adventure, it's re-teaming with the documentary series' creators for another food excursion — this time focusing on both famous and lesser-known players in the global street food scene. Available to binge now, the aptly titled Street Food hops around the planet to showcase hawker stallholders, food carts and other folks making a big impact in their small street kitchens. In the show's first nine-episode season, Asian cuisine is on the menu. Get ready to get hungry for dishes from Thailand, Japan, India, Indonesia, Taiwan, South Korea, Vietnam, Singapore and The Philippines. Each country earns its own episode, focusing on various local street food heroes, their stories of hard work and perseverance, and the cultural context behind their cuisine. In Bangkok, the well-known Jay Fai takes viewers through her story, while Delhi's Mohamed Rehan whips up a buffalo stew that's been tempting tastebuds since the 1800s, and Chiayi's Uncle Goat cooks in a giant oven cave. Over in Osaka, Mr. Kita has one of the oldest takoyaki stalls in the city, and Singapore's 85-year-old Master Tang has been making wanton noodles since he was orphaned in World War II. Already feeling your stomach rumble? Check out the trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eI_LjETc_Ak Street Food is available to stream on Netflix now. Images: Martin Westlake/Jisang Chung/M.Synchrony/Netflix. Updated: May 28, 2019.
Here's an excuse to roll out of bed early, then start your day with a cinema date: on Sunday mornings, Hoyts is slashing its standard ticket prices to $10 before midday at its cinemas across Australia, including in Sydney. Head to one of chain's picture palaces and pick whichever film that's playing, as long as it's an early session that begins prior 12.01pm, to score a bargain movie date to kick off winter. Sure, Sunday mornings are prime sleep-in time, but this is a hard deal to pass off if you're a cinephile, on a budget, like spending the colder months indoors, are looking for a cheap date idea or all of the above. Initially, the special was only running for June, but now it has been extended for the foreseeable future, with no end date locked in. Movie-wise, there are plenty of titles to choose from, whether you're keen on the Austin Butler-starring motorcycle drama The Bikeriders, the horror thrills of A Quiet Place: Day One, or getting animated with Inside Out 2 and Despicable Me 4. You can also catch Twisters and Deadpool & Wolverine, which release in July. You don't need to be a Hoyts member to score the discount; however, there are some caveats. The $10 tickets are only available on Sundays; can be booked online, via the Hoyts app or in-person at the cinema; and will attract a booking fee for everything but physical purchases. And again, the deal applies just to standard sessions, not HOYTS LUX and special events — but you can pay extra to sit in a D-BOX motion recliner or get the Xtremescreen experience. Updated Wednesday, July 3, 2024.
North Sydney's latest cafe has opened its doors this week, and it's hoping to become the suburb's new go-to for great coffee and quality lunchtime meals. Glory Days is the first hospitality opening within the towering, glass-walled Dexus development and it's run by hospo guru Aaron Crinis — who is also responsible for two much-loved Wollongong venues, Diggies Cafe and Dagwood Bar + Kitchen. The fit-out is pretty typical of what you'd expect from a lobby cafe — similar to the CBD's Cross Eatery and South by Dukes — with hotel lounge-like seating, timber accents, polished floors and (incredibly) high ceilings. But the menu is a far cry from most basic lobby-side eateries (bar the above, of course). Alexandria's Mecca has even roasted a special coffee blend just for the cafe. [caption id="attachment_724907" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Trent Van Der Jagt for Buffet Digital[/caption] Similarly to his previous venues, Crinis saw a gap in the market that he could fill — in the case of Glory Days, he saw that North Sydney's working masses needed fresher, more wholesome eats. To this end, the cafe's menu consists of coffee, snacks and quick brekkie options for takeaway, with a focus on health-conscious bites and sustainably minded local suppliers. Apart from the coffees and cold-pressed juices, there are Tea Craft teas, Prana chai, Kombu kombucha (in ginger and lemon myrtle or raspberry and thyme flavours) and hot chocolates by Melbourne's Mörk — including one made with cacao, cayenne pepper and almond milk. [caption id="attachment_724904" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Trent Van Der Jagt for Buffet Digital[/caption] For food, there's Brickfields sourdough toast (with both gluten-free and charcoal options), topped with your usual selection of spreads, along with smashed avo and fresh tomato. Then there are Brooklyn Boy Bagels with schmear — at the moment, choose between cream cheese, chilli flakes and chives or smoked salmon with tomato and capers. And, because everyone deserves to live a little, Brickfields is also providing a tasty selection of pastries. Come September, upstairs sister restaurant and bar Glorietta will open and the cafe's menu will be expanded. Details are sparse for now, but we'll update you when the time comes. Find Glory Days at 100 Mount Street, North Sydney. Opening hours are Monday through Friday from 7am–3pm. Images: Trent Van Der Jagt for Buffet Digital.
