An Easter Saturday night opening at the Old Fitz. And what an opening. Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo, by Rajiv Joseph, presented by a young independent company, Mad March Hare Theatre, directed by Claudia Barrie, was an unexpected pleasure. One of the highest order. On the eve of the celebration of the Resurrection of…
Evil pervades in the fifth collaboration between writer and director Ryan Coogler and Michael B. Jordan (Black Panther, Fruitvale Station, Creed). We’re in Clarksdale, Mississippi in 1932, which is where identical twin brothers Smoke and Stack (both played by Michael B. Jordan) return after seven years away. They were part of the Chicago gangland scene,…
The latest film from Finnish auteur Aki Kaurismaki is Fallen Leaves, a deceptively simple and quirky rom-com about two-star crossed lovers in Helsinki. Two lonely down-on-their-luck, working class people meet at a karaoke bar. But they find the path to making a connection and maybe finding happiness is not smooth sailing. Holappa (Jussi Vatanen) is…
Six remarkably compelling stories in one, these are imaginative and colourful tales about people caught up in seemingly normal situations until something unexpected happens. Wild Tales concerns inequality, injustice and stress. #1 A model is flying on an aircraft when she is hit upon by a music critic, who discovers they have something in common…
Sam Beam – aka Iron & Wine – brings his soul-infused folk rock to Australia. Touring with a full band, Iron & Wine’s tour of the country hits the mainland capitals, starting later this month. Tickets are now available. Iron & Wine has captured the emotion and imagination of listeners with distinctly cinematic songs. It’s…
– Europa! Europa! Film Festival – Sydney and Melbourne 4 – 27 February 2022 We have 2 double passes to a session at the Festival (excluding Opening Night) Note: tickets are digital *(Tickets valid in Australia only)* Festival website HERE From international film festival favourites to star-studded blockbusters and subversive works helmed by Europe’s most…
Joaquin Phoenix is ideally suited to fill the role of an inveterate drinker who pays a horrendous price for his addiction, Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far on Foot. Phoenix frequently tackles more obtuse material and appears to revel in it. The last day slacker John Callahan (Phoenix), who lives in the US city of…
Spirited and playful, with a series of dazzling and often surprising acts, Cirque du Soleil’s Corteo looks back on the life of a clown named Mauro. He imagines it is his funeral and he is being attended by angels. As other characters drift in and out, it is not a wake, but a celebration –…
The future prospects of our beloved world looks rather bleak, judging by the post-apocalyptic films of recent years. The endless series of disaster scenarios doesn’t bode well. The Maze Runner, Divergent, Mad Max:Fury Road, Oblivion, The Hunger Games, Snowpiercer, Automata, How I Live Now, World War Z … they all show a society that recovers…
David Bowie was unquestionably a creative genius for whom “safe” and “middle of the road” didn’t cut it. He was innovative. He pushed himself. He liked to live life on the edge and admired others who did. According to the family-endorsed documentary Moonage Daydream, he was heavily influenced by his older half-brother Terry Jones who…
