Author: Larry Heath

Once named “the director of the decade” from the late, iconic film critic Roger Ebert (who, in turn, has this film dedicated to him), Ramin Bahrani’s new film 99 Homes is a self-described “humanist thriller”, which takes us into the realities of the American housing crisis, out of which tragedy and corruption has emerged. Set…

Destination: Waiheke Island, Hauraki Gulf of New Zealand Origin: Auckland, New Zealand Travel Time (Each Way): About 40 Minutes Last month on AU Abroad we took you on a cruise through the Hauraki Gulf off the coast of Auckland, New Zealand. This week we’re taking you to the region’s most populated island – Waiheke –…

While in the UK and Europe for a run of festivals last year, including The Great Escape and Primavera Sound, Australian group HOLY HOLY documented their experiences while on the road and share with us their tour diary. From driving through Europe and being regular tourists, to pre-show exercises and visiting the great John Bonham’s grave,…

It’s July. The sun is beaming down on the streets of Montreal and the city is making good on its promise of beauty. A green hill sits in the distance of a city that parades itself as three complementary identities. As a city of business, like any other, skyscrapers loom and threaten to shade you…

We continue our Flight Review series, this time back in the USA on our way to Texas for SXSW. Instead of flying directly to Austin, I flew in via San Antonio – about 90 minutes drive from Austin – flying Southwest to get there via an affordable direct flight, here’s my review of their service:…

You know they love their food in the US, but it’s taken to another level in New York City, with a mix of some of the country’s finest restaurants alongside mouth-watering slices of pizza, cupcakes that people line up for hours for and the “cro-nut” (or whatever the new trend might be). But what are…

Along his journey to Canadian Music Week in Toronto last year – which is just about to return for 2016 – Aussie musician Ash Grunwald encountered electric bicycles, cars, plenty of waves and the contrast of rural Nicaragua and the USA. He’s shared these and more stories with us from his time over the pond… Having a beer…

Melbourne folk & country singer/songwriter John Flanagan took time out of his busy touring schedule to perform a special unreleased song, “Ripples”, for the AU review’s sessions series – The AU Sessions – on the rooftop of the Space Hotel in Melbourne, Australia. Watch John live, uncut, unplugged and acoustic here: John’s new album There’s Another Way…

As reported by Australian Business Traveller earlier this week, Cathay Pacific‘s next generation Airbus A350-900 fleet will be taking to the skies this June, and with it will come some new in-flight internet options – with the Hong Kong based carrier enabling internet for an entire flight for US$20 or US$10 for an hour. The service…

When it comes to an overnight airport stay, there are only three things that really matter: convenience, comfort and cost. Is it easy to get to from the terminal? Will my well earned (and usually rather brief) sleep be a pleasant one? And will I be keeping things within budget? In this respect, Four Points…

From Writer and Director Jeff Nichols, an emerging American auteur who has already slammed two home runs with the brilliant Take Shelter (2011) and the film which arguably reignited Matthew McConoughey’s career, Mud (2012), comes his most ambitious film to date – Midnight Special, which opens in Australian cinemas today. In Midnight Special – which…

Stunt Lounge is the first in a new collaborative arrangement between the Flying Fruit Fly Circus and the Sydney Opera House, where recent graduates – and those at the end of their time with the Youth circus – get the opportunity to perform in the prestigious venue. Its aim is to bridge the gap between the…

Whether you know him from his roles in Hot Dub Time Machine, the US version of The Office or as himself in This is the End, by now US comedian Craig Robinson should be a very familiar face. And now Australians will get their own chance to get up close and personal with that face when…

Making my way from Toronto for a day trip to Niagara Falls, ahead of a long… long flight home to Australia, I knew I had to have a comfortable night’s rest. But I also wanted to make sure I had the best view possible of the falls – and as it happened, at the Hilton…

“What have I gotten myself into?” It’s a thought that I’m sure many other travel writers can relate to. It’s summed up in the photo above; that strange addition to an itinerary that you’re assured is part of the unique local experience. “Today is my birthday. Why am I on my hands and knees recreating…

We headed to Brisbane to taste test the burgers from around the city. We’ve tasted some pretty incredible burgers and now we’re delivering to you our five favourites, in no particular order. FaB Fish and Burger Grill These burgers are so damn good! Delishiously filling, and the best things? They don’t fall apart! Keep things simple…

Back in 2012, I got stuck in Hurricane Sandy in New York City. Though safe from the danger that many faced, with my flight cancelled, it would be days before I was able to fly out of the country; days which consisted of a mountain of stressful phone calls. In 2015, my long haul flight…

During a Q&A interview earlier this year with the Oxford Union, acclaimed Director Joss Whedon spoke – among many other things – about his decision to leave the Marvel Cinematic Universe at the end of “Phase Two” after the release of 2015’s mammoth hit The Avengers: Age of Ultron. In the interview, which you can view below,…

Last month at SXSW, the new AMC series based on the now classic Graphic Novel Preacher premiered its pilot, over two months before TV screens would screen the debut. After the screening, fresh from completing their second episode (which Rogen called “a god damn nightmare” as they had only 7 days to shoot it), the cast and crew of…

Today we take you to Hong Kong – a city for business, a city for shopping and (perhaps most importantly…) a city for FOOD. It’s hard to go wrong when it comes to a good meal in Hong Kong, but there are definitely plenty of highlights. Here, in no particular order, are five such meals we…

The Holiday Inn hotel chain has undergone a staggering amount of changes over the last decade, taking it from a budget hotel/motel chain that most people associated with overnight stops along highways or airport layovers, into an upmarket full service – though reasonably priced – group of hotels that focus on comfort and quality of…

If you’ve been paying attention to American politics in the last year, you would have undoubtedly heard much about Vermont senator Bernie Sanders, currently running for US President. Understandably, he’s something of a hero in his home state – in recent weeks, they’ve even named a beer after him. Given how much Vermonters love their beer, this…

Cherry Blossom season – which, if you don’t know what it is, the below pictures will show you in detail – is well underway in Japan, with spectacular sights all over Japan. Be careful though! Each area has a specific time frame of optimum viewing and they usually only last a week! Here are some…

Today we look at three brilliant music documentaries that screened at SXSW last month as part of their phenomenal 24 Beats Per Second music focused program: The Smart Studios Story With an 4:3 aesthetic that takes it right out of a 1990s MTV world – all its missing is Kurt Loder’s narration – The Smart Studios…

2016 has been producing some strong music already from some of our favourite Australian artists while some new kids on the block have also been coming through strong and making their impact known with some solid debut albums. Over the past few months, we’ve been looking back at the year that was, 2015, sifting through…

Sydney’s Gang of Youths have announced the dates for their May/June tour of Europe and America, which will see them playing a string of headline shows, alongside festival appearances at the iconic Great Escape in Brighton and Primavera Sound in Barcelona, alongside the likes of LCD Soundsystem and Radiohead. Their debut album The Positions received five…

As we look back on our time at SXSW last month, we wanted to briefly reflect on four comedy films we caught during the festival. We’ll give these the full review treatment closer to their Australian release dates, but in the meantime, here are our first thoughts on the overwhelmingly impressive run of films at…

To say I’ve been anticipating the return of The Decemberists for some time is an understatement. Since first seeing the Portland, Oregon group in Canada almost ten years ago, I’ve jumped at every chance to see the band live. When first in Australia for Big Day Out in 2010, I was lucky enough to catch…

Part of the Millenium group of Hotels and Resorts, Singapore’s Studio M Hotel is a perfect example of the city’s unique ways to make the best of small spaces, something which is typical both of the city’s hotel rooms and the apartments that line the streets. But Studio M takes this concept to another level, bringing…

We return domestically with an East Coast capital city service from Virgin, who have kicked things up a notch in recent times to compete with Qantas more aggressively on the domestic market. Airline: Virgin Australia Route: Sydney-Brisbane, VA931 Seat: 7A (Window) Aircraft: Boeing 737-800 Flight Time: 1 Hour 30 Minutes On Schedule? Yes, departed aircraft…