As Force of Nature: The Dry 2 treks its way towards Australian theatres, The AU Review’s coverage of the anticipated thriller continues. Following on from his interviews with both director Robert Connolly and star/producer Eric Bana, and producer Jodi Matterson and author Jane Harper, Peter Gray spoke with actresses (and Aussie screen royalty, at this…
Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll paints a vivid canvas of enthralling storytelling that navigates the complexities of female ambition, societal expectations, and the pursuit of success. Knoll, acclaimed for her previous works, including Luckiest Girl Alive, demonstrates her prowess once again in crafting a compelling narrative that delves into the lives of multifaceted characters….
To know Tiny Beautiful Things, at Sydney’s Belvoir, is to know the heart and mind of Cheryl Strayed, the woman upon whose New York Times bestselling book the play is based. For two years Strayed wrote an anonymous advice column for the website The Rumpus under the name ‘Sugar’. It is the letters received during…
Her web connects them all. Thanks to Sony Pictures Australia we have 5 double in-season passes (Admit 2) to see Dakota Johnson as Marvel’s latest superheroine Madame Web, exclusively set for release in cinemas from Valentine’s Day, February 14th, 2024. In a switch from the typical genre, Madame Web tells the standalone origin story of…
Following on from his interview with Eric Bana and director Robert Connolly Peter Gray spoke with Force of Nature: The Dry 2 producer Jodi Matterson and author Jane Harper about the dense reality of filming and what they thought of Bana’s embodiment of his character. The film, set for a national release on February 8th,…
In Force of Nature: The Dry 2, when five women take part in a corporate hiking retreat and only four come out on the other side, Federal Agents Aaron Falk (Eric Bana) and Carmen Cooper (Jacqueline McKenzie) head deep into the Victorian mountain ranges to investigate in the hopes of finding their whistle-blowing informant, Alice…
Every now and again, a major airline loyalty programs will announce a status match. This basically means that frequent flyers with elite status on any rival programs are able to gain complimentary (and instant) elite status with the airline offering the status match. Basically, it’s a play for loyalty. And it seems Etihad Airways have…
California-based artist Petey has been turning heads in the music scene since his debut album hit the airwaves in 2020. Fresh off the heels of his third studio album’s triumph in 2023, Petey is now making his long-awaited debut down under in Australia with a series of nearly sold-out shows. If you’ve been living under…
You may not realise it, but Texas have always been there. Maybe popping up in your brain on an idle Tuesday or keeping you awake at night with the refrain of “I don’t want a lover; I just need a friend.” The Scottish group have never disbanded, and despite some hiatus time (where solo projects…
Playstation have started the year swinging with a stacked State of Play offering looks at previously announced games and a few surprises. The first being that this is just 1 of 2 State of Plays coming this month, with the next set later in the month. Helldivers II looks to be a massive upgrade Stellar…
All About Women Festival line-up is out and talking about equality never gets old. Returning to the Sydney Opera House on March 10 with an incredible line up of talks and workshops in honour of International Women’s Day (March 8th), All About Women showcases both established and up-and-coming voices in the equality space. With topics…
A24 Music has announced “EVERYONE’S GETTING INVOLVED: A TRIBUTE TO TALKING HEADS’ STOP MAKING SENSE,” showcasing an impressive lineup of eclectic artists to commemorate the recent re-release of Jonathan Demme’s concert film of the same name and the 40th anniversary of its soundtrack. In a triumphant return to theatres in 4K, A24’s acquisition of Stop…
We’ve finally made it to February, and we’ve got ten new tracks to add to our Discovery playlist on Spotify and Apple Music. This week our Track of the Week is “Magic Woman Dancing” from award-winning Warnindhilyagwa singer-songwriter Emily Wurramara. “Magic Woman Dancing” is a vast and magical sonic journey, showcasing her warm vocals, innate…
Product of Neglect may not be a name you are familiar with, but the Brisbane deathcore act have today unleashed their brutal debut album, Synthetic Freedom, which will surely put them on the map. Featuring the singles “Perpetual Night” and “Cerberus”, the nine-track project was a long time coming and went through numerous iterations to…
Lonely kid Hailey is dropped off at a holiday camp at – of all places – an abandoned shopping mall. But today, there’s a new girl. Her name is Jen, and together she and Hailey break away from the group and start exploring the mall. Meanwhile, two boys from the camp are also making their…
Glaswegian rock band Texas played a special 35th anniversary show at Sydney’s Enmore Theatre supported beautifully by local Australian artist Sarah Levins. The very chatty and animated vocalist Sharleen Spiteri from the get go had everyone out of their seats and dancing to the classic Texas songs from the 1990s including the smash hit “I…
Burn by Melanie Saward is an emotional read that reflects upon why good kids do bad things through the lens of generational and collective trauma, depictions of decolonised justice systems, the ongoing effects of colonisation, and the harm that can stem from disconnection to Country and culture. Burn is Saward’s debut novel and is developed…
The promise of a trilogy based off a series of books that have yet to be released. A planned spy-centred universe of films that is set to crossover with the similarly themed Kingsman and a yet-to-be-named franchise. Taylor Swift theorists believing she’s the real mastermind behind it all. And don’t forget the heavily marketed feline…
Whether it’s a gangster movie, a fairytale, a comic book adaptation, or a spy series, writer/director Matthew Vaughn always makes sure to bend the rules wherever he can. And after his trio of Kingsman films, the filmmaker is taking on quite possibly his biggest, and most intricate, task yet with Argylle. Based on a series…
Seasoned journalist and well-respected ABC anchor Leigh Sales is usually found discussing politics and the latest breaking news; but in her latest book Storytellers she instead turns the discussion inwards, digging deep into the craft of journalism. Interviewing over thirty people from television news programs, websites and print newspapers, in this book she shares tips,…
I consider myself a casual fan of the Yakuza (now Like a Dragon) franchise, yet, I’ve played almost all of them. Having played this game’s predecessor Yakuza: Like a Dragon sometime after its launch, I was pleasantly surprised at the decision to bring combat into the turn-based frontier, making for a more tactical blend of…
Thanks predominantly to RuPaul, and, more specifically RuPaul’s Drag Race, drag culture has firmly wedged itself in the mainstream. It’s always been there, it’s just more readily acceptable, or at least visible, and Amrou Al-Kadhi’s assured debut feature as both a writer and director, Layla, furthers such with its playful, authentic personality that drives home…
Since first revealing in April of 2022 that she was forging ahead with a long-teased venture into music – she captioned a photo of her on Instagram in front of a microphone “Finally realized it’s time to say f#%! it and saaaannngg!!!!!” – Academy Award-nominated actress Kate Hudson has made good on her word, announcing…
More than two dozen South Australian acts will play at multiple venues across Port Adelaide on the evening of Saturday, 17th of February. With free entry at nine venues, New Found Sound promises to be an exciting night of adventure and discovery. Some of the acts playing on the night include DJ Troy Been, Alana…
Known for their unbridled energy and cheeky lyricism, The Chats have been making waves in the music scene since the explosive release of their viral hit “Smoko” in 2017. Far from resting on their laurels, the boys have continued to make their mark on the Aussie music scene with hits such as “Pub Feed“, and…
Over their last two ethereal records – Strange Trails and Long Lost – Lord Huron have now fully realised their unique blend of Americana, with a more than subtle nod to Roy Orbison and the Phil Spector approach to production. The band’s sold out show at The Tivoli was an absolute treat for long waiting fans…
Molly Schmidt‘s hotly anticipated debut novel, Salt River Road, won the 2022 City of Fremantle TAG Hungerford Award. It has now gone on to be longlisted for this year’s Indie Book Awards Debut Fiction Award, looking to continue Fremantle Press’s tradition of unearthing stand out Western Australian Writers. The story of the Tetley family, and their…
Though there’s an initial graphicness to the manner in which sex is depicted in the opening minutes of Sebastian, Mikko Mäkelä‘s explorative drama shouldn’t be dismissed as just another recent example of queer cinema that leans into sexual explicitness for the sake of shock or organic representation. Yes, the sex on hand is a realistic…
There’s universally strong performances across the board and lush cinematography throughout, but one can’t help but wish there was more plotting to Good One for the understated drama to truly land the emotional impact it aims for. The set-up in India Donaldson‘s film is simple, with 17-year-old Sam (Lily Collias, an absolute breakout) gearing up…
Vermont folk rocker Noah Kahan blew the roof off Red Hill Auditorium on Saturday. The sold-out show was a mix of tenderness and honest emotion from the proclaimed ‘Folk Malone’ who rose to recent fame with handfuls of stunning tracks. With help from Tik-Tok virality, Kahan has gained critical success from his latest album Stick…
