From The Hunger Games to Divergent, dystopian films aimed at tweens have made serious coin; so why wouldn’t producers keep pouring money into them? They follow a familiar storyline where youngsters are outcasts. And so to the latest incarnation, The Darkest Minds. Based on the popular YA novel by Alexandra Bracken, The Darkest Minds starts…
Spike Lee has to be one of the most influential filmmakers of the past 30 years. From the incendiary Do the Right Thing (1989) to the slick Inside Man (2006), his movies have marked a generation. So when a new Spike Lee “joint” comes along, you better pay attention. The great news is that, after…
King of Pigs is a new Australian play by Steve Rodgers. This play targets domestic violence for discussion. Says director, Blazey Best: I’ve been hearing a lot about the ‘Epidemic’ of Family Violence and – faced with the statistics and the sheer relentless regularity of horrific stories in the news – it’s hard to dismiss…
A psychoanalyst crosses the line and has to find a way out in Saltpillar Theatre’s In Bed with the Bishops. This new world premiere work was written especially for Saltpillar by Melbourne psychiatrist-turned-author and playwright Rob Selzer. The play, filled with sharp one liners, moves along at pace. It’s far from a straightforward journey for…
At a time when we’re hearing that blues rock veterans Jimmy Page is thinking about a 50th Anniversary tour for Led Zeppelin, while rumors are circulating suggesting that Eric Clapton’s playing days are practically over, the fact that elder statesman Buddy Guy – who will turn 82 later this month – is alive and well,…
Noni Hazlehurst (right) has been touring this one-woman masterpiece for more than two years now and everywhere she has packed the venues and earned wide acclaim. After watching her performance at the Cremorne there is no problem in understanding why. The whole package, from words and performance, to lighting, set and sound, was perfect theatre;…
A hip gangster has to get down and get dirty in Superfly. This stylish 21st century remake of the 1972 film of the same name comes from a man who’s noted for music videos for the likes of Kendrick Lamar and Rihanna. He goes by the name Director X (born Julien Lutz). When Director X…
On Chesil Beach introduces elements of theatre into a period drama about the relationship between two sensitive high-achievers. It’s summer 1962, and England is still a year away from the huge social changes of the Swinging Sixties. Florence Ponting (Saoirse Ronan) and Edward Mayhew (Billy Howle), are a couple in their early twenties. Florence is…
I like a good spy movie; but The Spy Who Dumped Me isn’t a great spy movie. It is however a decent comedy exploring the dynamics of female bonding, and that makes it worth seeing. Director Susanna Fogel and her writing partner David Iserson have crafted a rollicking tale that taps into (without ever subverting)…
Cry Baby is an American musical from 2007. It’s based on a John Waters film, as was the musical Hairspray, which ran on Broadway for 2,642 performances. Cry Baby managed only 45 previews and 68 performances. One was a mega hit the other a mega flop. However, Cry Baby at The Hayes Theatre belies those…
