Month: February 2022

Secrets of Bridgewater Bay

Book Review: A one hundred year old tangle of secrets is unravelled in The Secrets of Bridgewater Bay

“Two women set sail for a new life in Australia, bound by a secret that will change everything.” In Julie Brooks‘ debut work of historical fiction, The Secrets of Bridgewater Bay, amateur historian Molly is gifted an historical mystery by her late grandmother, Queenie. Amongst Queenie’s possessions, Molly finds a photograph of two young women…

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Potato Dreams of America is an artificially sweet tale that proves fact is stranger than fiction: Mardi Gras Film Festival Review

There’s that old chestnut saying that truth is stranger than fiction, and it would appear that no one knows this more than writer/director Wes Hurley.  An autobiographical tale of growing up queer in the USSR in the 1980’s, Potato Dreams of America is an often bizarre, occasionally sad, but completely unique feature that, however trite…

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Red Dust set to auction exclusive NBA 2K22 inspired shoes for charity

2K Australia has announced a collaboration between Gamilaroi and Wiradjuri Indigenous artist and basketball fan Allan McKenzie, to design a one-of-a-kind NBA 2K22 inspired shoe for charity. McKenzie has customised a pair of Harden Stepback 2.0 basketball shoes with a vibrant and exclusive design, with all proceeds from the auction to go towards the nominated…

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Film Review: The Greenhouse is an ambitious, fantastical exploration of grief and self-acceptance

Whilst The Greenhouse isn’t always cohesive in its fantastical exploration of grief, Thomas Wilson-White‘s drama is nonetheless an impressive, ambitious debut that takes bold swings throughout its narrative, detailing how the coping mechanism regarding loss is always a uniquely and individually tailored experience. Still grieving the loss of one of her mother’s from years prior…

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Win a double in-season pass to see the new musical romance Cyrano starring Peter Dinklage

Thanks to Universal Pictures we have 5 double passes (Admit 2) to give away for the upcoming release of Cyrano, starring Peter Dinklage, set for release in cinemas from February 24th, 2022. This musical adaptation of Edmond Rostand’s classic play tells the story of Cyrano de Bergerac as he pines for the affections of the…

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Bernie Dieter’s Club Kabarett

Bernie Dieter’s Club Kabarett kicks off in Sydney tonight

Sydney Fringe kicks off in Sydney tonight with Bernie Dieter’s Club Kabarett. Coming direct from London’s West End, it promises to be a night of debauchery, laughs, and just the tonic we all need from the repressed times we have been living in. With Club Kabarett, you can expect breathtaking circus, gender-bending aerial trickery and…

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5 affordable ways to bring luxury interior decor into your home

Luxury does not have to be exclusive or costly. A sense of style, thoughtful detail, or a lively splash of color can all help to boost the indoor and outdoor life of your house. House décor may be done on a shoestring budget, and a few basic tactics can add a touch of luxury to…

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Horizon Forbidden West Review: A remarkable sequel

The Horizon franchise has returned with great anticipation, continuing the story of one of the most successful and beloved PlayStation exclusives of the last generation. With that being said, Horizon Forbidden West is well on its way to becoming the fan-favorite of both last generation and next-generation PlayStation owners alike, presenting an intriguing narrative, functional…

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The Alliance Française French Film Festival has a packed program, kicking off in Sydney on 1st March

The 33rd Alliance Française French Film Festival kicks off on the 1st March, running through until 6th April. 42 films will be shown, including several Australian premieres, and many world premieres. This years program features four directors who are making their feature film debut. In a time when our enjoyment of the arts has been…

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Zac Efron knows better than to play with fire in first Firestarter trailer

In a new adaptation of Stephen King’s classic thriller from the producers of The Invisible Man, Firestarter tells of a girl with extraordinary pyrokinetic powers fighting to protect her family and herself from sinister forces that seek to capture and control her. For more than a decade, parents Andy (Zac Efron; Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile;…

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Win a Suunto 7 Titanium worth $699 so you can nail those fitness goals in 2022

A smartwatch and fitness tracker is one of the most essential pieces of tech you can own in 2022. No doubt you’ve been trying to unleash some pent up motivation, getting out and about to nail those fitness goals this year. Tracking your activity is the best way to do that nowadays, using tech to…

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Jordan Peele’s mysterious Nope trailer asks “What’s a bad miracle?”

Oscar® winner Jordan Peele disrupted and redefined modern horror with Get Out and then Us. Now, he reimagines the summer movie with a new pop nightmare: the expansive horror epic, Nope.  The film reunites Peele with Oscar® winner Daniel Kaluuya (Get Out, Judas and the Black Messiah), who is joined by Keke Palmer (Hustlers, Alice)…

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The nightmare begins in latest Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness trailer

A new dimension of Strange is upon us. With Spider-Man: No Way Home STILL going strong at the global box office, the Marvel hype for the anticipated Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is at an all-time high, with Sam Raimi‘s sequel seemingly looking to pick up where Benedict Cumberbatch‘s Strange left off. A…

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Book Review: Vanessa Len’s Only a Monster is YA at its very best

Melbourne’s Vanessa Len takes all the tropes you know and love and manages to make them feel new and exciting in her debut novel Only a Monster. This urban fantasy adventure features enemies-to-lovers romance, a hidden magical underworld, time travel, hot monster boys, and a mysterious monster king surrounded by a frightening monster court. The…

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Zal & Ardor

Album Review: Zeal & Ardor’s new self-titled LP is the genre mashup you didn’t know you needed

There are very few bands that can take diverse elements from a wealth of musical styles and blend them in a way that creates something new and compelling. Swiss experimental metal duo Zeal & Ardor, consisting of frontman and multi-instrumentalist Manuel Gagneux and drummer Marco Von Allmen, are one of them. Their self-titled third studio…

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Live Review: Pond – Fremantle Arts Centre (11.02.22)

WA-based psychedelic rockers Pond opened the Perth Festival at the wondrous Fremantle Arts Centre on Friday night in front of a gig-starved audience on a glorious late summer’s evening. Pond are much more than a Kmart version of Tame Impala and they showcased that to their tune-thirsty audience, with a fun and groovy display that…

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The Jungle Giants

Photo Gallery: The Jungle Giants + Bag Raiders + Lazy Wax – Thebarton Theatre (11.02.22)

The Jungle Giants hit Thebarton Theatre like a breath of fresh air considering the reduced number of shows in recent times. Opening with some older favourites, before showcasing their latest album Love Signs, the audience were as energetic as COVID restrictions would allow. Bag Raiders and LazyWax warmed up the proceedings with dance and house…

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Live Review: Seth Sentry’s Brisbane return with Skrub was well worth the wait

Melbourne rap legend Seth Sentry’s anticipated Brisbane leg of the Super Cool Tree House tour at The Zoo on Friday 11 February was more like a party than a gig. A night full of comic skits, fan participation, drinking contests and stagedives, the man definitely put on a show. Accompanied by the infamous DJ Sizzle…

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Film Review: Drive My Car is a purposeful drama that’s devastating in its beauty

Only weeks ago Drive My Car would have been considered the best film you’ve never heard of.  Now, with a deserving Best Picture Oscar nomination to its name, it’s hopeful that the same enthusiasm and appreciation that drove Parasite to glory two years ago can be transferred to this foreign-language gem. A Japanese drama that…

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Interview: Director Kiah Roache-Turner and Wyrmwood Apocalypse star Luke McKenzie on the making of their zombie sequel

The idea of making a movie about a viral outbreak during a pandemic is a form of irony that was not lost on director Kiah Roache-Turner or star Luke McKenzie when filming Wyrmwood Apocalypse, but as on the nose it may have been, it was perfectly in tune with the embracement they felt when leaning…

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Gesticulations

The Existence Of My Bane: Gesticulations take us through their new album, track by track

The Existence Of My Bane is the third album in less than a year from Gesticulations. It follows on from Sense of Purgency and Threadbare which were released in 2021. Gesticulations is fronted by Graham Ashton (The Shambolics and Way Cool Jnr) and he seems to have a never-ending pool of ideas. He has again teamed up with collaborator…

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Film Review: I Want You Back is a simplistic, yet enjoyable rom-com bolstered by Charlie Day and Jenny Slate

With the recent release of Marry Me reminding us that not all romantic comedies have to be relegated to the throw-away click-throughs of a streaming platform (I’m looking at you Netflix), I Want You Back decides to brazenly prove that a quality entrant to the genre can be released to a service – in this…

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Fletcher Gull

Fletcher Gull takes us on an illustrated deep dive into Ancient History Shares A Knowing Smile

Last week Melbourne indie singer/songwriter Fletcher Gull released his sophomore EP, Ancient History Shares A Knowing Smile. The phrase was apparently on a t-shirt and brought a wry smile to the creative artist. We have been watching his progress keenly and was crushing on one of the tracks from the EP when it was released late…

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New Music Discoveries 11th Feb: Jack Carty, Sharon Van Etten and more

This week brings with it another ten additions to our Discovery playlist; including two exclusive premieres. Brisbane-based singer-songwriter Jack Carty‘s new single “Dragnet”, which sees him collaborate with Georgia Mooney, takes out the Track of the Week slot. About “Dragnet”, Jack says it’s “an anti-love song inspired by past infatuations that, on reflection, were superficial flights of…

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Interview: Nervous Light talk debut EP, a secret video and being ‘elder emos’

Brisbane experimental post-hardcore trio Nervous Light are ready to take on 2022 with their hearts on their sleeves and eyes on the prize. The emo punk lads released their awaited debut EP, Bury What’s Left of My Heart in Your Backyard, independently on 4 February. If the title alone wasn’t enough to pull you in,…

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Gourmet Life has your valentines day picnic plans sorted this weekend

Purveyors of taste and decadence, Gourmet Life, are playing it smart ahead of Valentine’s Day this year. The popular online gourmet grocer has curated its top-shelf products into three different Valentine’s Day packs for couples planning to picnic this weekend, offering up what is easily some of the ritziest packs around. From fresh black truffle…

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Valentine’s Day Gift Guide 2022: 5 gifts that anyone would love

Just because Christmas is in the rear-view, doesn’t mean you get a break when it comes to the year’s most notable gift-giving occasions. Valentine’s Day may have lost some of its allure over the years, with an ever-evolving culture where the majority is moving away from the cheaply marketed idea of having a day dedicated…

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Here’s every major announcement from today’s Nintendo Direct

This morning’s Nintendo Direct showcase covered a bunch of new announcements for Nintendo fans. If you missed out, however, allow us to unwrap things for you below. Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Houses returns as a Musou-style hack-and-slash experience, arriving on Nintendo Switch June 24, 2022. Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp…

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Interview: Sarah Silverman, Michelle Buteau and Marry Me director Kat Coiro on crafting the romantic comedy and working with “the real” Jennifer Lopez

In addition to hearing the principle cast of Marry Me discuss the making of the film, Peter Gray chatted one on one with stars Sarah Silverman, Michelle Buteau, and director Kat Coiro. In between being serenaded by the two comediennes, he discussed working with Jennifer Lopez, the Anaconda reunion we didn’t know we needed with…

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Interview: Mark Williams on directing Blacklight with Liam Neeson and filming in Australia

Ever since 2008’s Taken reorganised Liam Neeson‘s career, the actor has embraced his action persona and, almost annually, kept his fans satiated with each subsequent outing. His latest release is Blacklight, a slightly more grounded action film where he stars as FBI operative Travis Block who uncovers a conspiracy within his own agency.  To coincide…

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