Though far from perfect, Netflix’s original series have mostly delivered in terms of both quality and diversity. House of Cards, Orange is the New Black, Daredevil, Bloodlines and Marco Polo all bring something very different to Netflix’s lineup. While it has you covered for dramas of a political, fantastical or super-powered nature, the service does…
I often watch an episode of Game of Thrones more than once, and happily re-watch scenes over and over again. But there is one particular scene in “The Dance of Dragons” I won’t be watching again, not because it was boring or mishandled, but because it was emotionally draining and incredibly depressing, even if it…
For people that follow Rooster Teeth, animator and writer Monty Oum sadly passed away in February this year. Not only was Oum a workmate but he was also a beloved friend to the Rooster Teeth community. To commemorate his passing, the team made a beautiful tribute towards the end of this podcast video while using This Will Destroy You’s “The Mighty Rio…
Jebediah hit up the Metro Theatre in Sydney on Friday night, supported by the amazing Front End Loader. Gwendolyn Lee was there and brings us these photos from the night:
Shot by Nathan Atkins for the AU review. “Monet” the Vivid street performer After 18 days of light, music and ideas, the 7th Vivid Sydney has come to a close for yet another year, with Brooklyn’s TV on the Radio closing out the festival at the Sydney Opera House, supported by Sydney’s own Kirin J…
Netflix has acquired the rights to distribute War Machine, the satirical comedy about the war in Afghanistan from Animal Kingdom Director David Michôd. With the superstar lead taken by none other than Brad Pitt, this proves a very big acquisition for the streaming service and could change the way Hollywood approaches them and similar streaming…
Before the National Lampoon lent their name to some terrible straight-to-video films they were ground-breaking. This comedy institution started as a spin-off magazine; graduated to books, radio and stage revues; and eventually yielded cult comedy films worthy of inclusion in Hollywood. Drunk Stoned Brilliant Dead: The Story of the National Lampoon is a funny and…
Presumed dead by his crew, NASA botanist Mark Watney (Matt Damon), is left behind on Mars. In a Gravity like scenario (presumably with less 3D tears), Ridley Scott’s new film The Martian asks the question: how does a man survive on Mars and get home? Let’s just hope things don’t end up in a similar…
Gabriel Ripstein’s 600 Miles is a straight shooter unconcerned with excess narrative baggage, clocking in at 85 minutes with a minimal gun trafficking plot that relies on talented actors and raw cinematography to place this project as a worthy debut feature for the Mexican filmmaker. Veteran Tim Roth brings a solid performance to the film,…
Mysteries and detective stories have long been popular in literature, arts, films, with the story of Sherlock Holmes long enduring time and remake after reboot after re-imagining. In Mr Holmes we take a look at the world’s greatest detective in his twilight years long since retired but still troubled by one unsolved case. Sherlock Holmes…
Those classed as ‘Hood Films’ really made an impact on commercial cinema back in the 90’s. Classics like Boyz n the Hood, Menace II Society, and Juice were met with critical acclaim and appealed to both a crowd that likes intelligent, well-written cinema rife with thoughtful social commentary, and a crowd that just wants an…
Last week, Arnold Schwarzenegger came to Sydney alongside co-star Jai Courtney to showcase a special preview of his return to the mega successful Terminator franchise, Genisys. The film opens on July 1st around the country. While in town, Arnold got photos with fans, selfies with the Sydney Opera House and attended the special screening… among…
The anticipated new Pixar film Inside Out – the first release from the acclaimed animation studio since 2013’s Monsters University – will be premiering in Sydney, Australia next week (Monday, June 15th), ahead of its nstional release on Thursday, June 18th. And to help launch the film, one of the stars of the film, Amy Poehler,…
The stories of the mountaineers who climb Everest has long been documented and fictionalised on our screens. From the 1934 documentary short Wings Over Everest to the 1997 tele-movie Into Thin Air, based on the book of the same name, telling the stories of the men who battle the conditions of one of the most…
The names Kit Lambert and Chris Stamp may not mean much to you unless you know that they were the unlikely managers of The Who during the sixties and early seventies. The pair are a rather odd couple and they’re also the subject of a documentary by James D. Cooper. The result is a vibrant…
Get on Up was the entrée, a biopic on the inimitable, James Brown. But Oscar-winner, Alex Gibney’s documentary, Mr. Dynamite: The Rise of James Brown is the more substantial, main course. For over two hours the audience is treated to a film that is full of music and flamboyance, from old performances on stage and…
Jennifer Peedom’s Sherpa is worthy of praise for maintaining it’s focus when it could have easily been lost in the majestic and overwhelming beauty of Mount Everest. The team behind this documentary explore the increasingly strained relationship between the international climbing community and the Sherpas who make such climbs possible, effectively capturing the anxiety that…
I’ve often been intrigued by the idea of what would happen if you flip a movie on its head. Market it as one thing and then turn it into something completely different. Something that surprises. Something that gets people talking. Imagine, for instance, if Hostel (2005) had been marketed as a raunchy teen comedy? The idea…
The world of music biopic is always a tricky affair. Trying to balance enough rock and roll fantasy and/or exaggeration with reality to create an engaging but honest story about an iconic musician can often serve itself up as a disappointment (De-Lovely and Beyond the Sea are two that immediately come to mind). Focusing on…
The gifted Thomas Salvador directs and stars in Vincent (2014), a French film that tells the story of a man named Vincent who develops extraordinary superpowers when he comes in contact with water. With his recently discovered ability, Vincent spends much of his time in the water, taking in the awe and wonder that comes with developing…
“There will be no subtitles, dialogue, or voiceover” is our introduction to The Tribe, a surprisingly shocking film about a state boarding deaf-school in Kiev, with it’s own seedy underbelly of crime and Lord of the Flies type brutality. Director Miroslav Slaboshpitsky delves into the miserable and calmly observes the bleak, dog-eat-dog world that is…
To celebrate fifty years since the release of “It Ain’t Necessarily So”, Normie Rowe brings FRENZY! – The 50th Anniversary Collection. The new album features 30 of his hits from 1965-1968 remastered for 2015. I spoke to Normie before he hits the road again for his album launch dates – which kick off today!
Long time friends of the AU, Chicks Who Love Guns, are set to play their final show in Sydney tomorrow afternoon, following five years of fun times and great music. The band will hit the stage at 5pm at the Lord Gladstone Hotel, and will be preceded by some other great bands from Sydney you…
Over 86 minutes, this chilling documentary details how a (very) small, quiet town in North Dakota slowly transformed into a breeding ground for hatred and paranoia over the course of a few months. It’s easy to watch Welcome to Leith as a highly effective thriller, forgetting that the events going down in the film actually…
On the surface Last Cab To Darwin is not just a film about euthanasia, but a film about the people you meet on the greatest journey you take of all, living the one single life you have. A road movie that’s a drama with heart and emotion at its core and a cast of genuine…
Station to Station isn’t so much a feature film as it is a travelling art experiment, the execution of a concept born years prior that is now travelling the globe. The film documents a train as it travelled from the Atlantic (we presume Union Station in NYC) to the Pacific (we presume Union Station in…
Every mention of Lily Tomlin is preceded by “the incomparable” because it’s a universal truth, but the famed American comedian has been a rare sight on the big screen in recent years, featuring primarily in supporting roles in TV series like Web Therapy and Malibu Country. Thankfully that drought is over, with not only her…
Being an adult is hard. Relationships are hard. Making new friends is hard. Exercising and eating right is hard. Having big dreams is hard. But what we really want is the result. The thing at the end of all that hard work that makes it worthwhile. Sometimes getting to that point can be a little…
Kim Farrant’s Strangerland has a magical and mythical quality to it, making full use of the Australian outback with rich, rocky-red landscape shots that swallow the film’s characters in expansive, ambitious cinematography. But while visually impressive, Strangerland’s flaws lie in a commitment to ambiguity, presenting itself as one thing and then veering off into another…
In our 53rd instalment of “Stumbled Upon”, we stay in Seattle to meet self-described ‘barf-core/fart-core’ rockers (and all round legends) Mommy Long Legs, and chat about their latest release Life Rips. Band Name: Mommy Long Legs Website / Social Media: Facebook / Bandcamp Genre: Rock Members & their roles: Lilly – Guitar/Vocals Melissa – Guitar/vocals…
