Month: February 2023

Interview: Ben Aldridge on Spoiler Alert; “It was a really holistic experience.”

Spoiler alert: Ben Aldridge is having a moment! After coming out only three years ago via an Instagram post, and steadily working in television with memorable roles in Fleabag and Pennyworth, Aldridge seems like he’s no longer just on the cusp of fame, but fully fledged within it. After fending off Dave Bautista in M….

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Film Review: Spoiler Alert; this will make you cry!

Telegraphed in both its title and opening sequence, Spoiler Alert braces its audience for an unhappy ending from the get-go.  But, as much as Michael Showalter‘s handkerchief-ready drama adheres to a familiar structure within the “terminal illness romance” genre – ala The Fault in Our Stars or Holding the Man – the film thankfully isn’t…

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Yard Act

Live Review: Yard Act + The Sunday Estate – Oxford Art Factory, Sydney (02.02.23)

On a warm summer night in February, a small English band lit up a small Sydney stage in a display of class, wit and banter. This could be the start of a joke, but Yard Act are no joke; they’re the real deal. In the country for Laneway Festival, Yard Act put their debut album…

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Interview: Frank Grillo on Little Dixie, trusting his director, and the importance of removing ego from the action genre

When a deal goes wrong between a corrupt governor and a ruthless drug lord, ex-special forces operative Doc (Frank Grillo) is caught in the crosshairs. Now, with his family in danger, Doc must take down the Mexican drug cartel and do whatever it takes to protect the one good thing in his life – his…

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Film Review: Brendan Fraser’s rich performance keeps The Whale from sinking under its own shaky commentary

Darren Aronofsky has always been one to push the extremities of his characters’ limit throughout his career.  Whether it be physical or psychological, they have all suffered past their breaking point – often to their own demise – and The Whale similarly submits to this trend, looking at an eating addiction spurned from depression. From…

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Interview: Jessica Watson and the cast and crew of Netflix’s True Spirit

At the age of 16, Jessica Watson attempted solo global circumnavigation.  Departing in Sydney on October 18th, 2009, and returning on 15th May 2010, her incredible, untapped journey saw her cross the equator in the Pacific Ocean before crossing both the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. A Young Australian of the Year Award recipient and awarded…

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Photo Gallery: Yard Act – Oxford Art Factory, Sydney (02.02.23)

Yorkshire quartet Yard Act are in the country at the moment for the Laneway Festival, and have managed to sneak in a few sideshows along the way. We’ve been massive fans at the AU since their debut album The Overload dropped early last year. They turned up the heat in the Oxford Art Factory last…

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Slow Readers Club

New Music Discoveries 3rd February: The Slow Readers Club, BLESSED, Slim Loris and more

As we roll into February we’ve added another ten tracks to our Discovery playlist on Spotify and Apple Music. Our track of the week belongs to Manchester’s Slow Readers Club, with “Lay Your Troubles on Me”. The track is from their forthcoming album, Knowledge Freedom Power, which is to be released on the 24th of…

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Polite Society is a fun, spirited and charming genre mash-up: Sundance Film Festival Review

Polite Society tells the story of two Pakistani-Muslim sisters in London; plucky Ria (Priya Kansara), who dreams of being a stuntwoman, and Lena (Ritu Arya), her world-weary older sister who wants to be an artist. With Lena recently returned home after dropping out of art school, Ria constantly goads her into helping her make YouTube…

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Film Review: M. Night Shyamalan’s Knock at the Cabin is as tender as it is terrifying as it navigates the end of days

If the horror genre has taught us anything it’s that cabins are never going to be the cosy, safe getaway that each inhabiting character tends to think it will be.  But even in the realms of the horror genre, Knock at the Cabin, the latest from genre auteur M. Night Shyamalan, has a few tricks…

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Forspoken Review: A middling mashup

Forspoken is a fantasy adventure with a lot of heart and soul at its core. While some of its magic gets lost in translation, the expansive open world, unique controls and intriguing combat system help the game feel fresh more so than not. The cinematic scope of the story and main missions give it a…

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Friends of Friends interview each other ahead of their national tour

Brisbane indie-rock quartet Friends of Friends are quickly proving themselves as ones to watch this year. After touring with Slowly Slowly in 2022 and releasing their latest single “Morphine” on 24 November, the band will be embarking on an East Coast tour tomorrow to celebrate the new song. The Morphine Australia Tour will see them…

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Dublin Literary Award 2023

Aussie books garner international attention at the 2023 Dublin Literary Awards

Five Australian authors have had their work recognised in the 2023 Dublin Literary Award Longlist; an award that saw 84 libraries across 31 countries nominate worthy recipients. With a prize of €100,000 for the winner, the award is the world’s most valuable annual prize for a single work of fiction published in English. The last time…

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Interview: Jonathan Groff and Ben Aldridge on navigating the intensity of Knock at the Cabin and how being openly queer influences their performance

  The combination of the dangerous uncertainty of M. Night Shyamalan’s narratives and Dave Bautista’s imposing stature is something very few of us would care to endure. Especially if it’s at the supposed end of the world! In the apocalyptic thriller Knock at the Cabin, Shyamalan invites his audience on an intense thrill-ride, detailing a…

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Groovin the Moo 2023 announces stellar line up

Get ready to go bush because the huge line up for Groovin the Moo 2023 dropped today and it’s a corker. The regional touring festival will take place over six dates in April and May, stopping at Wayville (SA), Maitland (NSW), Canberra (ACT), Bendigo (VIC), Sunshine Coast (QLD) and Bunbury (WA). Featuring international stars Fatboy…

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Interview: M. Night Shyamalan on Knock at the Cabin, authentic casting, and making it a family story

Based on Paul G. Tremblay’s acclaimed 2018 novel “The Cabin at the End of the World”, Knock at the Cabin is the latest white-knuckle thriller from genre maestro M. Night Shyamalan. While vacationing at a remote cabin, a young girl and her parents are taken hostage by four armed strangers who demand that the family…

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Arty Ziff

Exclusive Single Premiere: Arty Ziff ft. Lemonade Baby “Rockstar” (2023)

If you need to get dancing again after the rigours of January then have we got just the track for you. Today we have the premiere of “Rockstar” from Melbourne-based producer Arty Ziff. The track features the dreamy vocals of alt-pop artist, Lemonade Baby.  “Rockstar” follows on from their previous release “ByeByeBaby” that featured Jade Alice….

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Dead Space Review: A sci-fi horror epic returns for a new generation

The original Dead Space, released in 2008, still holds up as one of the greatest sci-fi horror games of all time. But 2008 also feels like a long time ago in gaming terms. As a result, Dead Space’s remake feels like that same relevant experience, made all the more satisfying thanks to minor gameplay choices…

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PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo will be skipping E3 2023

It’s not the news we may have wanted to hear, but Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo will all be skipping E3 2023. Originally reported by IGN yesterday, the first physical E3 event in four years will feel a little empty for some, with major releases from all three platforms likely reserved for streams, events and showcases…

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