To call The Morrisons’ debut self titled album “long awaited” would be an understatement. For a band that’s been kicking around for well over five years (and longer if you count their previous incarnations) and has developed a loyal fanbase in the process, recorded music has been something of a rarity. But now with the…
A Life in the Theatre, by David Mamet, is an early play (1977) and considerably out of the usual area and style of his more well known genre – of the ‘Mamet-speak’ with macho, foulmouthed men squabbling over the way to make money; epitomised in his famous Pulitzer Prize winning, Glengarry Glen Ross, of 1984,…
The Thread That Keeps Us – the ninth album from Calexico – is yet another artful collection of stories. They’re told with the band’s eclectic musicality and a mature songwriting sensibility that shows up primarily in strong, impressive melodies. Rooted in the long collaboration of singer/multi-instrumentalist Joey Burns and drummer John Convertino, and favoring a…
– Madame Web – Only in cinemas from 14 February 2024 We have 5 double in-season passes thanks to Sony Pictures. *(Tickets valid in Australia only)* Watch the trailer HERE “Meanwhile, in another universe…” In a switch from the typical genre, Madame Web tells the standalone origin story of one of Marvel publishing’s most enigmatic…
In Nerve, the title refers to a popular on-line social media game in which competitors are set challenges, a bit like an internet version of Fear Factor. The more dangerous the challenge, the more money a person can make, but if you fail to complete the challenge you get nothing. All of the challenges have…
Intended as a feel-good, calamity film for the festive season, this one tries hard but produces few, if any, belly laughs. Morale is at an all-time low at IT company Zenotek’s Chicago office after its hard-ass, pragmatic interim CEO Carol Vanstone (Jennifer Aniston) announces plans sack 40 per cent of its work force and ban…
I’m not sure what’s going on with James Wan’s blockbuster Aquaman. This is a bloated Franken-movie that cobbles together parts of many – mostly better (*cough* Black Panther *cough*) films. Yet by the time the climactic final battle takes place, I found myself cheering for our hero. How does that happen? As a director, Wan’s…
A deeply traumatic beginning gives way to emotionally wrought second and third acts in Kornél Mundruczó’s drama Pieces of a Woman. From a well-to-do family, Martha (Vanessa Kirby) is in a relationship with a rough and ready working class man, Sean (Shia LaBeouf). They both excitedly await the birth of their first child. Martha opts…
Motorcycles, intimidation and sex feature in the new Australian biker movie 1%. In short, everything is about a power game. 1% is a modern-day Macbeth. It follows Paddo (Ryan Corr), 2IC of the Copperheads motorcycle gang. He assumes the mantle of club leader while Knuck (Matt Nable) does three years in prison. Paddo’s vision for…
Some books you save for a rainy day. Season of Salt and Honey by Hannah Tunnicliffe landed on my review shelf a while ago, but I’ve been saving it. I sensed that this was a book for savouring … and I was right. The cover spoke to the foodie in me and finding out there were recipes…
