Author: Larry Heath

Much has been written about the stunts in Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation – because as in many Tom Cruise films, the idea of “CGI” or “Stunt Doubles” is a thing of make believe. In Rogue Nation, when you see a car barreling down the corners of streets, with Cruise and Pegg inside, that is…

It’s that time of year again as tens of thousands of people head to Chicago’s Grant Park for the iconic Lollapalooza festival – a three day music festival that’s considered one of the finest in the world. Headlining this year we have Paul McCartney, Metallica and recent Australian visitors Florence + The Machine. You may…

Directed by Peter Sollett and starring the incredible ensemble that is Julianne Moore, Ellen Page, Steve Carell, Josh Charles and Michael Shannon, the gay rights drama Freeheld – out in November – is one of the early Oscar buzz films for 2015. And today, a just released trailer let’s us in on what we’re in…

Located between Chelsea and the Meatpacking District on the West side of Manhattan in what was once the National Maritime Union headquarters, a building sticks out with a unique design – like a cruise ship sitting amongst the concrete waters of New York City. This is the home of the not-so-inconspicuous, hip boutique hotel Dream…

the AU review’s Larry Heath had the opportunity to speak with frontman Max Kerman of Canadian alternative rock band, Arkells at Ottawa Bluesfest. He spoke highly of his fan base and made an interesting observation on the crowd ratios. Since their release of their third studio album, High Noon, their music has been well-received by…

Last week we flew to Ottawa, Canada, to cover the 21st annual RBC Bluesfest (you can view our coverage HERE), featuring some of the world’s finest artists – alongside a selection of great Australians too! Along the way we had our highlights, in addition to our favourite discoveries! Here now are our five favourite from…

Pictured: Dropkick Murphys. Photo by Mark Horton. Though Friday marked the ninth day (of eleven) of the 21st RBC Bluesfest in Ottawa, it would also mark our last. And with a focus on bands more suited to a traditional Bluesfest – accompanied by the sort of rainy weather that our own Byron Bay Bluesfest is…

Last week, the AU headed to Calgary in Alberta, Canada for the Calgary Stampede. Now in its 103rd year – though with origins dating back to the 1800s – the event is steeped in tradition and an icon of the Canadian Summer. It’s the sort of festival you have to attend to fully comprehend, and,…

Photo: Run The Jewels. Captured by Mark Horton. North American Hip Hop was a dominating force on the 7th day of the RBC Bluesfest in Ottawa, though a last minute cancellation from De La Soul may have disappointed some (this writer included! They always put on a great show). US powerhouse Run The Jewels, Canadian…

Currently taking over the first floor of the Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney is Energies, a new (and free) exhibition that brings together the works of Australian artists David Haines and Joyce Hinterding, in what is the first comprehensive survey of their combined works from the last twenty plus years, curated by the MCA’s…

We head to the sixth day of Bluesfest in Ottawa, and bring you some photos of Australia’s own Hamish Anderson, John Butler Trio and Mama Kin who played alongside the likes of Lynyrd Skynyrd, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Dan Boeckner’s new project Operators, METZ, Black Lips and many more. Enjoy these photos and…

Photo: Mark Horton captures Sticky Fingers in Ottawa! Australian acts Sticky Fingers (pictured) and Hat Fitz and Cara were among the main attractions on the fifth day of the Bluesfest in Ottawa, Canada this week, with the festival’s stages being closed out by the likes of Richard Thompson, Blue Rodeo, Arkells and CeeLo Green. CeeLo…

Following 10 days of carnival fun, rodeo action, live music, agriculture and a tonne of entertainment, the 103rd annual Calgary Stampede came to an end today in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, crowning their winning riders with huge pay checks and seeing legendary artist Stevie Wonder close out the event with a special performance in the Scotiabank…

For another year, the diversity found in Scandinavian cinema is being celebrated across Australia with the Scandinavian Film Festival. The festival has currently began in Sydney and Melbourne and will be kicking off in other major Australian cities throughout this month. To learn more about the evolution of the festival and what we can expect…

Photo Credit: Mark Horton Over the next 10 days, the RBC Ottawa Bluesfest (which kicked off on July 8th) is taking over Canada’s capital city, with an incredible – and vast – array of artists from around the world. The event kicked off yesterday – but as we don’t arrive at the event until July…

Photo Credit: Mark Horton We’re coming to you today from Canada where we’re just days away from heading to Ottawa for their annual Bluesfest. The event officially kicked off yesterday and runs until July 19th (and you thought the Australian Bluefest was massive!). Ahead of the event, we caught up with Mark Monahan, executive and…

There’s something intrinsically human about the idea of wanting to change the past. That idea that if we had a time machine, we would right all the wrongs and do it all differently. Maybe that’s what makes it so captivating on the screen – the articulation of our wildest fantasies out into some tangible reality….

In the year of the franchise, where three films have already topped $40 million in the Australian box office (in 2014, not a single film achieved the same), it was refreshing to see a film come out of nowhere that was as daring and original as Kingsman: The Secret Service. While the title brought back…

It’s almost impossible to write a review without the series Fortitude without using the word “surprising”. A lot. Every aspect of this show comes as a surprise, from the twists and turns within every episode, to its very existence. It’s one of those shows that has come out of nowhere to captivate everyone who watches…

It’s been a fantastic year of music so far all around the world, and now we’re excited to count down for you the 15 tracks our contributors have voted as the best of the year from Australia. To be eligible, the track needed to have an official single or video release between 1 January and…

Another sequel is set to hit screens this Summer, with the follow up to 2013’s Olympus Has Fallen arriving in the form of London Has Fallen – and this week the first trailer was released. The trailer sees star Gerald Butler return as secret service head Mike Banning, and Morgan Freeman is back as the US President,…

It’s been a fantastic year of music so far all around the world, and now we’re excited to count down for you the 15 tracks our contributors have voted as the best of the year from outside of Australia. To be eligible, the track needed to have an official single or video release between 1…

With history and tradition that stems back to the late 1800s, the Calgary Stampede is one of the world’s longest running events. Part rodeo, part exhibition, part Easter Show-esque carnival, part music festival, the Stampede kicked off in Calgary, Alberta, Canada today, starting an impressive ten day event that will bring in over a million…

Amy Poehler is a busy woman at the moment. Though Park and Rec is now behind her (*sob*), she’s dominating the cinema with her lead role in Disney Pixar’s new film Inside Out, she’s the executive producer of one of the most talked about series right now Broad City – and now she’s bringing us…

Though he may have looked the part, the rushed job that was Jobs – starring Aston Kutcher in the lead role – was far from a critical or box office hit. But there has always been another major Steve Jobs film in the pipeline and today we got the first taste of it. Directed by…

July 31 is the date to mark in your calendars, when Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp, a limited 8-episode series, is coming to Netflix. The series is serving as an prequel to the 2001 cult classic movie set at Camp Firewood. Here’s the blurb about it from Netflix: An all-star cast delivers…

As those who just attended Dark Mofo would attest though, it’s a cold winter here in Australia for art lovers. But up in North America they’re well and truly enjoying the heat of Summer. Every State in the US has their own claim to fame when it comes to their galleries and art institutions, but…

Last month, director Ondi Timoner – perhaps best known for her incredible documentary DIG!, among many others – was in Sydney to premiere her new documentary Brand: A Second Coming at the Sydney Film Festival. Larry Heath had the opportunity to talk to Ondi about the film, about collaborating with Russell, his controversial no-show at SXSW…

If you can imagine the Disney fairy tale animated film of the same name brought to the screen in all its resplendent glory as live action, then Kenneth Branagh’s version certainly fulfils that. A consistently visually bold film even though it does lack a sense of originality or uniqueness in the story. Regardless it’s still…

After you survive the day in San Antonio you can read about my day HERE, then it’s time to head out on the town for the evening. There are a myriad of options in the city, and if you know where to look there’s even quite a lot of what you don’t expect. And while…