Year: 2020

SXSW 2020 Film Festival to include movies from Issa Rae, Tiffany Haddish and Judd Apatow

The SXSW Film Festival is often seen as a launching pad for major studio releases, as well as smaller independent titles and buzz-worthy TV ventures, and this year’s edition looks to be no exception with the features, episodic premieres, and opening night film announced. Running from March 13-21st this year, the 27th SXSW Film Festival…

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10 more Aussie acts have been added to the SXSW 2020 lineup in Austin

It’s that time of year when everything starts ramping up for the annual SXSW Music Festival in Austin, Texas – where from the 16th to the 22nd of March, hundreds of acts from around the world descend on the Texan capital, including dozens of Australian acts. Ten more were added this week! The ten new…

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Iggy Pop, Brockhampton, King Gizzard, Sampa The Great and more line up for the 20th Anniversary of Primavera Sound in Barcelona

The Primavera Sound lineup has dropped for 2020, and as usual the Barcelona festival is an absolute blockbuster. The event, which is celebrating its 20th year this year, is bringing together 211 artists of 35 nationalities, in a lineup that celebrates the best artists of this year, and the past twenty years or more, that…

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Interview: Craig Robinson on the ease of voicing his character in Dolittle and if he’s actually met any of his co-stars

On the eve of the release of Robert Downey, Jr.’s passion project Dolittle (originally titled The Voyage of Doctor Dolittle) arriving in Australian cinemas, The AU Review’s Peter Gray chatted with one of the film’s multitude of voice talents, Craig Robinson, to discuss the isolating process of vocal recording and whether or not he’s actually…

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Film Review: Dolittle; at least it’s better than Cats!

After the colossal misfire that was Cats, audiences may not be ready for another round of CGI-rendered animals.  But, despite none of us really asking for it, Dolittle is here, and we can at least be thankful that it’s not the cinematic car-crash it very easily could have been – at least in comparison to…

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Telluride Film Festival 2020

Five U.S. film festivals that are worth the trip in 2020

Travelling for arts festivals is one of the most enriching experiences an intrepid adventurer can have. Not only are you able to explore a destination as you normally would, and take in the many sights, sounds and experiences on offer, you also have access to a curated program brimming with creativity. Whether that means you’ve…

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Final Fantasy VII Remake has been delayed by a month

Final Fantasy VII Remake, the hotly anticipated remaster of the beloved JRPG, will miss its release date by a month. The game will now launch on April 10, 2020. The announcement came via the official FF7 Twitter account: A message from the #FinalFantasy VII Remake development team. #FF7R pic.twitter.com/NFYIQmytSa — FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE (@finalfantasyvii)…

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DriveSense Ranger Duo Dash Cam Review: A Sony sensor and sleek form makes your safety worth the price

I’ve always wanted a good dashcam. “Good” because the last one I had was on the cheaper side and frequently had write-to-SD card issues, among others. This was a common issue I read of cheaper dashcams at the time, along with just poor quality and build. I always regretted that I didn’t save up and…

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Marvel’s Avengers delayed to September

Crystal Dynamics has announced that Marvel’s Avengers will miss its May 15 release date. The game’s developer announced today that the game’s launch date has been pushed back to September 4, 2020. “When we set out to bring you our vision for Marvel’s Avengers, we committed to delivering an original story-driven campaign, engaging co-op, and…

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Qatar Airways confirm May launch date for new Dubrovnik flights

As if one of the most popular destinations in Europe wasn’t accessible enough already, Qatar Airways have confirmed 18th May 2020 as the official launch date for a new three-times weekly service to Dubrovnik. Operated with an Airbus A320, the route will join Zagreb to become Qatar Airways’ second destination in Croatia. The service will…

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Merivale have now opened Bar Totti’s in the ivy precinct

Fast becoming an institution in Bondi, Totti’s is clearly one of Sydney’s most in-demand Italian eateries and continues to build a cult following thanks to the fresh ideas of chefs Mike Eggert and Jake Ahrens. Now an energetic spin-off has opened, and this time it’s much closer to the CBD. Taking up residence at ivy,…

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Rising stars Hayden Calnin and Riley Pearce to play free all ages show in Sydney this Friday

The Aussie Folk Collective is hitting Sydney this Friday night, with two rising stars of the Australian scene taking part in the first Courtyard Sessions event of 2020. The free event has been running for the better part of the last decade now, seeing the Seymour Centre’s courtyard transformed into a live music venue on…

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PlayStation will skip E3 for the second year in a row

PlayStation made headlines in 2019 when it announced it would bow out of the E3 Expo. E3 is the video game industry’s biggest event, a concentrated blast of marketing and hype that informs the future shape of the industry. Many wondered if PlayStation would return to E3 in 2020. Given that the launch of the…

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Watch this Zelda player nuke Breath of the Wild‘s toughest foe

If you sink enough time into a video game, you’ll eventually come to feel like you’re quite good at it. Practice makes perfect, right? But every now and then, you’ll come across a player who has had such a complete mind-meld with a game’s controls that they are able to accomplish things you didn’t even…

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Here’s the full list of Oscar nominations 2020: Joker in the lead

With the Critic’s Choice Awards and the Golden Globes now done and dusted for another year, it’s time to look toward the Oscars – up next in an unusually speedy awards season. The list of nominees is always a great way to shape up your viewing to-do list before the early February ceremony, and reflect…

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Queen will headline Celeste Barber-hosted “Fire Fight Australia” benefit concert

Taking place at Sydney’s ANZ Stadium on Sunday 16th February, “Fire Fight Australia” is yet another massive concert aimed at raising necessary funds to help the country recover from the ongoing bushfires. Announced today, the first batch of artists helping make this a monumental event include Queen, K.d Lang, Alice Cooper and Olivia Newton-John. The…

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Sydney Festival Theatre Review: ‘Black Ties’ is a warm exploration of Indigenous and Maori relations

The wedding comedy is common shorthand through which to explore culture. Those from different traditions are forced to navigate a new frontier, negotiate new sets of terms and decide what parts are most important. Black Ties sees this culture clash cleverly told between an Indigenous and Maori family, highlighting both the similarities and stark differences…

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Flight Review: Premium Economy from Sydney to Noumea with Aircalin

New Caledonia’s flagship carrier Aircalin now have the distinction of being the first ever airline to bring the new-age A330neo aircraft to Asia-Pacific. And of course they’ve used that considerable boost in capacity to enhance their Sydney to Noumea service, making the journey for Aussies looking to explore New Caledonia not just more accessible, but…

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Mary’s will open their first permanent Melbourne restaurant next week

They say good things come to those who wait, and Melbourne is officially done waiting, as the highly anticipated opening of Sydney-born brand Mary’s is finally around the corner. After ubiquitous success in Sydney – from the Newtown original to the more upmarket Mary’s Underground – the crew behind Mary’s are done teasing Melbourne with…

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Here are all the Bushfire Relief food and drink initiatives in Australia

The bushfire crisis in Australia is ongoing, ferocious and will require a long-term strategy of growth and support for those effected. This past week many celebrities around the world have come out and pledged substantial amounts to help with various bushfire appeal funds aimed at supporting a wide range of people and animals who have…

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Photo Gallery: True History of the Kelly Gang Preview Screening – Westpac OpenAir Cinema, Sydney (10.01.20)

Last night, Actress Essie Davis and Director Justin Kurzel attended the Sydney preview screening of the new Stan Australia original film True History of the Kelly Gang, walking the blue carpet along with members of the cast at the Westpac OpenAir cinema. Nathan Atkins was there and brings us these photos from the night. The film is…

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Sydney Festival Live Review: Regurgitator’s Pogogo show is as manic as their regular gigs, except they’re swapping swearing for sugary highs

If you’ve seen Regurgitator perform live you know that their shows are high energy ones. They’re also partial to a great costume and some interesting visuals. Their children’s show, Pogogo has all these same ingredients. The big change however, was that the content of the songs was less G-spot and more G-rated. The trio performed…

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Sydney Festival Theatre Review: The White Album sees Joan Didion holding up a magnifying glass to 1960s America

The White Album may have been a seminal record by The Beatles but it’s also a book of essays by Joan Didion. Published in 1979, it is an evocative text where the author made some piercing observations about her world during the late sixties in America. Sydney Festival played host to a clever adaptation of…

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Mac DeMarco will host a Bushfire Relief BBQ picnic in Melbourne this weekend

Mac DeMarco, down under for a national tour kicking off today, will be hosting a Bushfire Relief BBQ this weekend in Abbotsford. Titled “Grill for Good”, the Canadian artist will be inviting a boatload of talented friends for an all-day, all-ages made up of an old school sausage sizzle with live music, chefs, DJs and…

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Sydney Festival Theatre Review: Double Delicious’ is a heart-warming and fun look at heritage & storytelling told one dish at a time

Food, glorious food can mean so much. It is nourishing and keeps us alive. It’s something we share with loved ones. It can also be a window to certain cultures- you can be an active participant in a small and perhaps unknown community. This is the scene that Double Delicious operates in: it’s a heart-warming…

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Interview: YUNGBLUD (UK) on uniting fans, romantic gestures and a special Australian release.

Dom Harrison, or YUNGBLUD, is a raucous 22-year-old from Doncaster who exudes restless passion – he literally cannot sit still when talking about his fans or his music. Speaking to Dom, it’s instantly striking that he genuinely just wants to connect. He has no time for stats or materialistic achievements: building a community is paramount…

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Five of the most exciting devices announced at CES 2020 so far

The biggest event in the consumer tech industry is going down right now in Las Vegas, as it does every year. Sticking true to its prescient reputation, CES will once again be the incubator for 2020’s biggest tech trends. While an incredible amount of devices, gadgets, and more have already been announced, we’ve gone through…

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Top Sydney chefs will team up this Sunday in support of Australia’s bushfire crisis

On Sunday 12th January, some of Sydney’s most highly regarded hospitality heavyweights will collaborate for a #cookforthebush event in support of the country’s ongoing bushfire crisis. Spearheaded by the team at NOMAD, the supergroup will be staging three culinary events through the day, including a rooftop lunch, a good old fashioned bake sale, and a…

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Here are all the Bushfire Appeal concerts happening in Australia

While Australia continues to deal with the alarming bushfire crisis across the country, and the world begins to take notice (and, for some, action), the local music industry is coming together to raise necessary funds to help. We’ve rounded up all the bushfire appeal concerts we could so you can try attend as much as…

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Lizzo makes history at Bonnaroo 2020 while a few Aussies get set to head to Tennessee

Bonnaroo’s 2020 lineup brought big surprises and a really big moment in the history of the festival. Lizzo will be the first female headliner in its 18-year history. This marks a major moment for the Tennessee festival, and Lizzo isn’t the only lady leading quite the feminine movement at the top of the lineup; Miley…

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