I’m well and truly over superheroes battling mega tyrannical villains, causing loud, elongated mass destruction. Now I enter the cinema to see one of these box office fancies fearing the worst … and so it was with Justice League. In this one, Bruce Wayne (Ben Affleck) has a restored faith in humanity, inspired by Superman’s selfless…
If you are totally immersed in the mythology of James Bond and his adversaries, this show will delight and amuse you. At its core is vengeance and it plays up villainy. It combines a play in three acts with fun facts from the Bond pantheon – comparing the books and the films. The contention of the theatrical…
One of America’s most influential twentieth century plays A Streetcar Named Desire’ is now on at Sydney’s Genesian Theatre. Written in the 1940’s by Tennessee Williams, its content is as relevant today as it was then. Dramatic from start to finish, there is plenty to digest and take home from this finely crafted production. Over…
Eternals is the 25th special effects extravaganza in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). But its storyline doesn’t sustain its bloated running time. That storyline, which introduces ten new superheroes, harks back to the return of half the population in Avengers: Endgame (2019). The return ignited “the emergence”. Now, the Celestials, who have secretly lived on…
The true crime podcaster as investigator is continuing to trend in crime fiction. Recent examples include Benjamin Stevenson (Greenlight), Amy Suiter Clark (Girl 11) and Charlie Donlea (Don’t Believe It). In Double Lives Kate McCaffrey, if anything, doubles down on this trend, as many of the chapters are podcast episode transcripts. Amy Rhinehart is a…
A delightful Indiana Jones-like mystery, Miss Fisher & the Crypt of Tears features colourful characters, lavish costumes and magnificent locales. While this is her first time on the big screen, stylish private detective Phryne Fisher built a solid following in books by Kerry Greenwood, which date back to 1989. Phryne also appeared in three series…
Formed in 2021, Louse have established themselves within the new-wave punk scene. The group consists of Sam Souders on vocals, guitar, and keys; Danny Lovell on bass; Connor Simpson on guitar; Max Enslen on keys; and Bradley Kennedy on drums. Together, they created a project that evokes a mix of nostalgic and experimental tendencies. Passions…
POV (Point of View), is an extraordinary undertaking, unlike anything I have seen before. A 14-year-old – played by alternates on different nights (I saw Mabelle Rose, while the other is Edith Whitehead) – assumes the role of an 11-year-old girl. She, who is fully aware of the conceit of the piece, interacts with two…
Regrets and letting go are the cornerstones of The Midwife. This French drama looks at a fractured relationship between a straitlaced woman and her free-spirited elder. Cesar-winning writer/director Martin Provost’s (Séraphine) film pairs two of French cinema’s most beloved stars, Catherine Deneuve and Catherine Frot. Gifted midwife Claire (Frot) has led a quiet, focused life. She’s…
A superb, creative staging of the Greek tragedy Medea, knowledge of the story before entering the theatre would be a distinct advantage. To say I was excited by what I saw is an understatement. I was ecstatic. Medea: Out of the Mouths of Babes is one of the most remarkable productions I have had the privilege…
