The modern Indiana Jones clone Uncharted is a rollicking, fun-filled adventure. Nathan Drake was brought up in an orphanage with his older brother Sam, who was constantly getting into trouble. When Nathan was little, Sam took off but promised to stay in touch. He does that through the occasional postcard from an exotic place. Sam…
The Secret Chord fleshes out the David I learned about as a child: the young boy who outmaneuvered a giant with a stone and a sling shot; the boy anointed as King, earning him the enmity of the presiding King Saul; a young shepherd who fought off lions and bears to protect his sheep. Geraldine Brooks’…
Part of the wonder of network television in Australia is its seemingly boundless ability to plumb new depths. If you thought the Honey Badger season of The Bachelor was bad, you ain’t seen nothing till you’ve seen The Masked Singer. In case you haven’t seen it, The Masked Singer is a singing competition (kind of)….
What a privilege it was to be in the audience at the Regent Theatre to celebrate all that is grand in opera, at Opera Australia’s 70th Anniversary Gala. Indeed, it was a very special occasion, introduced by Opera Australia’s CEO, Alex Budd and hosted by ABC Classics’ Mairi Nicolson, resplendent in green. Her love affair…
If you’re looking for thrills and action and suspense, I dare say the first profession you seek might not be accountancy. But clearly that isn’t the case for the character behind The Accountant, Christian Wolff (a role filled by Ben Affleck – Argo, Batman v Superman). He is not only a brilliant number cruncher, but…
Science fiction author Cory Doctorow has taken a stand against big corporations, in particular the use of Digital Media Rights to lock people into particular companies. So much so that the audio version of his new book, The Bezzle and the previous book in this series, are being offered through Kickstarter rather than through Audible…
Some of the most intoxicating circus acts I have had the good fortune to see are among the highlights of Santa’s Magical Kingdom, which has reappeared in Melbourne in the lead up to the festive season for an eighth time. The word “wow” doesn’t do them justice – they are that good. The experience is…
Ghosts of old Hollywood and demons of contemporary life both hang heavy over David Fincher’s Mank. This ostensible biopic of Citizen Kane screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz does a great job of exploring a troubled character struggling with his problems and his art. But it also delves into what Fincher sees as the root of America’s…
Mortido by Angela Betzien is a new Australian play co-commissioned by Belvoir and Playwriting Australia and presented as a co-production by the State Theatre of South Australian and Belvoir. Mortido begins with a storytelling by Detective Grubbe, of a Mexican fable about a Madre – a mother, The Boy – her son, and an Old…
An ostensibly by-the-book police procedural, Force of Nature nevertheless has a few surprises that give it a kick along. In New York, Detective Cardillo (Emile Hirsch) is making out with his cop partner (and fiancé). Against the woman’s protestations, Cardillo answers a call of duty and everything changes. Then we cut to Puerto Rico, where…
