Cinema and music have always had a symbiotic relationship. A soundtrack is often a highlight of a feature film, while musicians use visual media to promote their product and in their live shows. It’s hardly surprising then that filmmakers would be drawn to music as a subject. And while, say, Almost Famous examined music stardom;…
Rosalind Ross’s directorial debut Father Stu is based on the true story of Stuart Long. He was a struggling boxer from Montana forced to quit the fight game after suffering too many blows. He ultimately found religion and after many setbacks became an ordained Catholic priest. The conversion came much to the surprise and chagrin…
A story within a story, set at the height of the Second World War, Their Finest has drama, pathos, humour and subtlety. With increasing numbers of men drafted to fight for their lives on the front line, bombs continued to drop relentlessly on London. Those left behind, made up predominantly of women, children and the…
Have you ever thought about playing mini golf with a tail? No, I am not off with the pixies. Swingers: The Art of Mini Golf, a nine-hole course above Flinders Street Station, gives you that experience. I kid you not. And, I should quickly add, it is far from easy swinging from the hips with…
This is the story of the back up musicians who crafted some of the greatest hits of the 60s and early 70s. They were known by the film’s title, The Wrecking Crew. It is a documentary tenderly produced and directed by Denny Tedesco, son of legendary late Wrecking Crew guitarist Tommy Tedesco. For six years…
Underworld: Blood Wars – the fifth film in the franchise – comes four years after Underworld: Awakening, but it has little that is new to offer. Maybe it’s time to bring the saga to an end as it shows signs of running out of ideas. Kate Beckinsale dons the skin tight leather outfit again to…
A blood feud that can only end badly, this has been adapted from the 1933 tragedy by Spanish dramatist Federico Garcia Lorca. Two families are at loggerheads. They have been for generations. I draw a parallel to the antipathy between the Montagues and the Capulets in Romeo and Juliet. Extend that to the conflict between…
Hero or villain? Murderer? Campaigner for a democratic Russia? These are just some of the triggers in Citizen K, a fascinating documentary about Mikhail Khodorkovsky. He was once Russia’s richest man (head of the oil giant Yukos) but now lives in exile In London. As you can imagine, Russian president Vladimir Putin features prominently. This…
Irreverent, crude, witty, clever and lyrically and vocally adept, The Book of Mormon is an hilarious religious satire. It is a rolled gold hoot from start to finish. Not for naught did it win nine Tony Awards, including Best Musical, a Grammy and four Olivier Awards, including Best New Musical. It starts with a quick,…
Lindy Hume’s darkly delicious production of the Mozart masterpiece Don Giovanni has “hit” written all over it. From the stirring opening overture to the amazing finale, with fifty-odd mostly naked women pushing Don Giovanni to hell, it gripped, titillated, amused, and at times brought gasps of disbelief from a shell-shocked audience. There was no watch…
