Adapted by Verity Laughton from the novel by Pip Williams, The Dictionary of Lost Words centres around the Scriptorium, where the very first edition of the Oxford English Dictionary is being compiled. It is 1886, and researcher Harry Nicoll (Brett Archer) is working while his four-year-old daughter Esme (Tilda Cobham-Hervey) plays under the table. The…
Gorgeous but unsatisfying, Pedro Almodóvar‘s campy telenovela Strange Way of Life is a sexy short feature that proves the ultimate tease as it doesn’t entirely deliver on the sex appeal of its leads and then climaxes before we’ve even moved on from foreplay. Said leads are Ethan Hawke and Pedro Pascal, playing two perfectly-tailored cowboys…
With the Black Lives Matter and #MeToo movements featured prominently, as well as the overall intertwined arc of the COVID-19 pandemic, Black White and the Greys is a film that eerily encapsulates the emotional push-and-pull we universally experienced. A relatable, at-times uncomfortable drama, Black White and the Greys is a collaboration between Marchelle Thurman and…
Aussie Indie Artists is a series of interviews with lesser known Aussie creators across all forms and fields. The goal is to share exciting new works, find new angles towards the art, and peek behind the scenes. Lara Villani’s music journey began at age 6, when her big sister started singing lessons. Like all little…
The fabulously named Virgin Mary Disco is a four-piece hailing from Melbourne, cranking out kick-arse post-punk new-wave garage rock. Their debut single, “Modern Man” was released earlier this year, and was followed up by “Automation”. We’re stoked to be premiering today their third single, “For Free”, ahead of its release tomorrow. “For Free” is ridiculously…
I’m going to come out swinging. Mike Mignola’s Hellboy is simply one of the best comic book characters ever made. While I’m not an avid reader of comics in general, I’ve certainly read most of these, complete with a unique, yet unmistakable art style, complex and diverse themes and some impressive writing across the board….
Since 1991, Sega’s blue blur mascot Sonic the Hedgehog has dominated the gaming industry with classic side-scrolling adventures, many defining a particular decade or console genertaion. After Sonic Mania re-invented the series again in 2017, the next big 2D platforming game starring our blue hero is finally here. This time around it is 2.5D expereince…
*Trigger warning: This review discusses eating disorders* The satirical possibilities present within Jessica Hausner‘s dramatic Club Zero are ripe. The execution, however, is undercooked; ironic, considering the topic at the core of this truly odd and oft dangerous film. At an elite private school, the enigmatic Miss Novak (Mia Wasikowska) has arrived to teach a…
Given that Jim Weir and Jack Clark‘s frighteningly uncomfortable Birdeater is an Australian chiller set in the outback (at least for the majority of its running time), audiences are justified in thinking it could fall in line with other brutality-in-the-bush titles like Picnic at Hanging Rock or even Wolf Creek. The more accurate comparison though…
Multi-disciplinary vocalist Sampha is set to return to Australia and New Zealand in February/March 2024 in the wake of his successful sophomore album LAHAI. Following the announcement of a coveted Perth Festival slot, the singer/songwriter/ producer will take the stage in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Auckland. With LAHAI, Sampha invites listeners on a transformative journey,…
Trophy Eyes wrapped up their epic regional tour with a bang last Sunday night at the Torquay Hotel, and what a time it was! They brought their buddies, Dear Seattle, along for the ride, and the entire night was a wild rollercoaster of energy and music. After dropping their killer fourth studio album, Suicide and…
Throughout Victim‘s 14 minute running time, the tension laid forth by writer/director Robin Summons is near-unbearable as it traces a radicalised teenager and his increasingly concerned mother. Offspring favourite Kat Stewart brings a sweet yet stern nature to the role of Chrissy, a single mother whose seeming one wish is to have a collected dinner…
For those in the know, South by Southwest (always referred to as SXSW) is an institution. It’s an all-encompassing media, technology, gaming, film and music conference, networking opportunity and party that lasts a week and –some would say – takes a year to get over. It’s been going for 35 years in its hometown and…
From the glamour of Crazy Rich Asians to the Christmas cheer of The Princess Switch 3, by way of being Tom Holland’s romantic rival in Spider-Man: Far From Home, Malaysian-Australian actor Remy Hii certainly forged a formidable path in his career thus far. But I don’t think any of that prepared him for the “Giant,…
The second instalment of Harvest Rock is back in the Adelaide parklands, bigger and better than even the first. After last year’s wet weather, the event organisers ensured plenty of astroturf would keep the mud away if it did rain. Luckily, this weekend we were blessed with glorious weather after a brief early shower at…
In another case of someone making the most of their lockdown potential during COVID, Australian actress Jillian Nguyen auditioned for a voice role as she was confined to hotel quarantine. That role ended up being for the lead in a bold, ambitious new locally made animated feature – Scarygirl. As the family film continues to…
“Before we continue I’d like to apologize to anyone who might be upset or offended by what you saw before the break. It’s not every day you see a demonic possession on live television.” Not the most typical sentence you’d expect to hear from a late night host, but such is the statement made by…
Miles Franklin Award nominated author Briohny Doyle earlier this year released, Why We Are Here, a touching new novel about love, loss, dogs and golf courses. Frankly any book that starts with discussions of dogs’ scrotums and golf course mishaps has succeeded in piquing my interest. The novel follows the story of a girl –…
I grew up in the late 90s watching most of these animated Disney shows, but Gargoyles seemingly evaded me. Be it the limited exposure here in Australia, or my own ignorance, I never really had much of a connection to it. While I’ve certainly watched a few episodes of the series since then, my knowledge…
The BIFF is back! As the Brisbane International Film Festival continues to go from strength to strength as an industry must-do, newly appointed CEO Luke Wheatley and Screen Queensland CEO Jacqui Feeney made sure the festival’s 29th year was worthy of an Uproar-ious reception. A celebration of films for audiences seeking new perspectives and memorable…
There has to be something said for the power of nostalgia. Despite not having any major success in Australia as of late – at least comparatively to when they first burst on the scene in the mid-90s – The Corrs packed out Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena to practical maximum capacity as they delighted fans with…
Providing some of the most memorable titles across nine generations of consoles, from the NES to the PlayStation 5, Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 wraps up a significant portion of this franchise’s history in one convenient package. While there are plenty of reasons to return for the ride, this collection feels like a missed…
Compromising on your personal style while travelling has always been a big issue. You’re limited by luggage, it’s often hard to get a sense of the weather each day, and sometimes you’re too rushed to even think about what to wear. That’s why it’s a good idea to find a balance when you’re travelling. You…
SXSW celebrated its inaugural event in Australia with events happening all across the city of Sydney. While there were over 500 events to choose from, we managed to whittle it down to the five best gaming experiences we had during our time across the various events. Please note, these are in no particular order. Troy…
Fresh from its showcase at SXSW, Lenovo has revealed the launch of the Legion Go, a handheld gaming device that offers console-level performance with a beautiful touch display. The console itself may remind you of another certain hand-held on the market as it “Switches” up its format with two detachable controllers on each side of…
New York quirky rockers The Lemon Twigs packed out the Corner Hotel on Thursday, swinging past the Melbourne venue on their Harvest Rock sideshow tour. With equally enigmatic Jack Ladder as support, the Southside bandroom was truly rocked by the Long Island twins. Eloise Coomber was there to capture the action.
How does someone with more than 60 years of music fit it all into a headline show? The answer is, dear reader, they don’t. It’s simply not possible. Playing night one of two at Allianz Stadium, the legendary Paul McCartney did however manage to warm the hearts, ears, memories and nostalgia of the Sydney crowd…
Speed, accuracy and as low an input lag as physically possible. These are the qualities you’d want from a high-end gaming mouse, such as Logitech’s G303. Luckily for you, it’s part of our run of giveaways in the lead-up to Christmas. And we’ve got two units that’ll go straight to some of our lucky readers….
The fusion between French and Vietnamese is well-recognised but hardly represented as well as it should be in Sydney. There are exceptions. One of my favourite Vietnamese restaurants in Sydney, Hello Auntie, offers a masterclass in Vietnamese cuisine while paying homage to its French roots. And sister venue Hey Chu does it just as well….
Having dealt with a duo of alien invasions for his Occupation films, it makes sense that Australian filmmaker Luke Sparke would want to look at something a little more grounded for his next cinematic feat. Whilst still working with an exaggerated mentality, Bring Him To Me is a crime thriller that bathes in a smaller,…
