Month: September 2023

Interview: Joe Lo Truglio on writing and directing Outpost; “I think a lot of people are not going to like this movie.  And that’s okay.”

Joe Lo Truglio has long made a name for himself within the comedy scene.  Whether it’s as Andy Samberg’s over-sharing right-hand in the acclaimed sitcom Brooklyn Nine-Nine, his various roles in the absurdist Reno 911!, or as one of the many sex-starved “teens” in the cult hit Wet Hot American Summer, Lo Truglio has proven…

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Film Review: Outpost is a promising, if divisive, debut feature from prominent comedic actor Joe Lo Truglio

It’s not uncommon for predominant comedic personalities to flex their talent in opposing genres.  We’ve seen the likes of Jordan Peele and Zoe Lister-Jones move from situational humour to helming their own horror works (the former with Get Out, Us, and Nope, the latter behind The Craft: Legacy) to varying degrees of success, furthering the…

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Game Review: Starfield charts a new course for both Bethesda and Xbox

Few games can capture the attention of an entire gaming generation. That being said, Bethesda has been able to do this with their previous titles, including The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and Fallout 4. While Fallout 76 didn’t quite go to plan, the company seems to be back on track after their much-hyped and long-awaited…

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Photo Gallery: Cub Sport + George Alice – The Forum, Melbourne (08.09.23)

The Forum was filled with nothing but love and warmth last Friday, with Cub Sport celebrating the final stop of their “Jesus At The Gay Bar” tour. Eloise Coomber was in the thick of it shoot the show. Cub Sport Setlist: Always Got the Love High For The Summer Hawaiian Party Chasin Confessions Beg U…

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Live Review: Stand Atlantic and Slowly Slowly rock Torquay Hotel with their co-headline regional tour

The Torquay Hotel was ablaze with excitement on a frosty Friday night, as the co-headlining regional tour featuring Slowly Slowly and Stand Atlantic drew an eager crowd that filled every nook and cranny of the venue. The night had a delayed start, with doors opening at 8 pm, followed by TOWNS at 8:30, Stand Atlantic…

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Win a double in-season pass to see DC’s latest superhero Blue Beetle

Thanks to Warner Bros. Pictures we have 5 double digital in-season passes (Admit 2) to see the latest DC superhero – Blue Beetle. Recent college grad Jaime Reyes returns home full of aspirations for his future, only to find that home is not quite as he left it. As he searches to find his purpose…

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Indigenous Mapuché Chilean / Australian singer Leni Garrido, aka LENI releases debut EP Greenlights

Indigenous Mapuché Chilean / Australian singer, producer LENI has released his debut EP Greenlights today. Produced remotely with Melbourne based engineer Gareth Thomson, the EP is a magnetic blend of alternative pop and neo-soul, reminding one of Frank Ocean and Tame Impala. The latest single, “Chasing Stars” comes from a New Year’s Eve experience, whereby…

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Win a 9.5-litre Ninja Foodi Max XXXL Airfryer worth $399 *CLOSED*

This competition is now closed Time poor? There’s good reason why just about every kitchen-owner in Australia is starting to invest in a good-quality, high-capacity air fryer. These trending kitchen appliances are some of the most valuable things you can have sitting in the kitchen; buckets of heat that push air around a chamber to…

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QT Sydney welcomes all-day French bistro Parlour

Award-winning boutique QT Sydney already has one of the city’s best restaurants in beloved Italian-accented grill house, Gowings, but the eccentric property is clearly not done with revolutionising the city’s hotel dining scene. The low-lit and intimate street-level cafe that was once known as Parlour Cucina has now relaunched as Parlour, a sultry all-day Parisian…

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New Music Discoveries 8th September: Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers, Jem Cassar-Daley, and more

We’re back with another ten tracks added to our Discovery playlist on Spotify and Apple Music. This week’s Track of the Week is “Salt”, the first ever collaborative single from Aussie punk rock rising stars Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers. “Salt”, which comes from the band’s forthcoming debut album I Love You (out Oct 6th),…

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Interview: Director Michael Chaves on conjuring The Nun II; “Watching a movie you want to feel like you’re in the hands of a madman”

Having directed both The Curse of La Llorona and The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, Michael Chaves is no stranger to helming horror in the supernatural space. For The Nun II, the anticipated sequel to 2018’s hit The Nun, Chaves is navigating his boldest narrative yet, with the director noting he’s proud if…

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Live Review: Reb Fountain shakes Melbourne’s Brunswick Ballroom with Ellis King

On Tuesday, multi-award-winning Reb Fountain returned to Melbourne for the second time following the release of her single, ‘Faithless Lover’. The Lyttelton (NZ) based alternative-folk-noir artist recently completed her European tour supporting Marlon Williams, headlining shows in the UK as well as performing at The Great Escape Festival (UK). For Reb’s return to Melbourne, The…

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Film Review: The Nun II; Atmospheric sequel is a step-up from the scare-less original

If you, like I was, are hesitant in seeing The Nun II off the back of the original film failing to make good on the character’s horrific potential or because director Michael Chaves hasn’t exactly got the strongest track record in directing genre films under the Conjuring Universe banner – he helmed 2019’s largely forgotten…

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Never A Hero

Book Review: Vanessa Len’s Never a Hero is an exhilirating, fun and satisfying sequel

The highly anticipated sequel to Vanessa Len’s hit debut Only a Monster, Never a Hero is another wild ride through time and morality as Joan is forced to face the consequences of her actions and take on a new and powerful foe. Joan is still reeling from her decision to unmake the hero. Riddled with…

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Game Review: Tunic is still as incredible as it was a year ago

I had played Tunic when it was released back in March of 2022, but must admit, I never really gave it the chance it deserved. I definitely liked it but simply didn’t put enough time into it in order to uncover its deeper notes and nuances. A year later, Tunic is one of the best…

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Film Review: The placid humour of My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 makes this one event you don’t need to RSVP for

Nia Vardalos truly caught lightning in a bottle when it came to My Big Fat Greek Wedding in 2002.  Produced on a miniscule $5m budget, it garnered favourable reviews from critics and audiences alike, eventually grossing over $365m globally; to this day it remains the highest grossing romantic comedy and, adjusted for inflation, the highest…

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Vietjet to offer millions of $0 tickets to Vietnam for 24 hours this Saturday

On 9 September (9.9), Vietjet offers travellers from Australia a fantastic opportunity to score free tickets within Vietjet’s entire domestic and international network for 24 hours, from 0:00 to 23:59 GMT +7. Millions of tickets will have AUD 0 base fare, and only corresponding taxes and surcharges will apply. Travellers simply need to visit Vietjet’s…

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Interview: Writer/director Mel Eslyn on her unique debut feature Biosphere; “I didn’t want it to become a headline before people saw it and understood the nuances.”

“It’s Mark Duplass, Sterling K. Brown, it’s the end of the world and they’re in a biosphere.” That’s how writer/director Mel Eslyn presented her unique dramedy Biosphere ahead of its premiere last year at the Toronto International Film Festival, and it’s ultimately all you need to know going into it from this week in Australian…

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Film Review: Biosphere; the less you know the better for this wonderfully strange tale

Whilst it’s a general rule of thumb that the less you know going into any movie is for the better, it must be said that it absolutely must be practiced when it comes to Biosphere. A wonderfully strange film, Mel Eslyn‘s two hander focuses on the friendship between Ray (Sterling K. Brown) and Billy (Mark…

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MINI announced as presenting partner for the 2023 Brisbane International Film Festival

Ahead of its launch, the Brisbane International Film Festival (BIFF) – running from October 26th to November 5th, 2023 – has announced its exciting collaboration with MINI as its presenting partner. As a brand synonymous with style, innovation, and a passion for driving, MINI is the perfect fit for the Brisbane International Film Festival. The…

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Win a double in-season pass to the Sundance Jury Prize Winning Scrapper

Thanks to Madman Entertainment we have 10 double in-season passes (Admit 2) to the heart-warming father-daughter film Scrapper, in cinemas from September 14th, 2023. Following her mother’s death, a resourceful 12-year-old girl, Georgie (Lola Campbell), continues to live alone in their London-outskirts flat. She makes money stealing bikes with her friend, Ali (Alin Uzun), and…

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“If you take out the hero, you better take out the villain” Vanessa Len on her new book Never a Hero

Vanessa Len is a bestselling Australian author and educational editor, who has worked on everything from language learning programs to STEM resources, to professional learning for teachers. She took time out of her busy schedule to chat with Jess Gately about her writing process, book boxes and her new book Never a Hero. So, first of…

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Film Review: Theater Camp is an affectionate, occasionally salty satire

“You guys are so talented.  So unbelievable.  This will break you.  This will fully destroy you.” Not exactly the type of words you expect to hear from the head of a theater camp said to a collection of young, eager pupils, but such is the way of creative existence at AdirondACTS Theater Camp where camp…

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But The Girl

Book Review: But the Girl by Jessica Zhan Mei Yu is a vividly realised and compelling novel

Author and University of Melbourne lecturer Jessica Zhan Mei Yu is a writer of fiction, nonfiction and poetry. Holding a PhD in Creative Writing, But The Girl, is her first novel. A deeply introspective and at times heavy read, the story transports us to the vibrant streets of London. Here, we encounter an Australian narrator…

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Game Review: Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon provides strong combat and deep customisation

It feels like it’s been over a decade since I played an Armoured Core game last; well, that’s because it has been. Armoured Core 5 might have been released on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 way back in 2012, but the team at FromSoftware have decided it’s about time to suit up and deliver,…

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Stormzy, Steve Lacey, Dominic Fike & more headed our way for the 19th Laneway Festival

Laneway is back and has just unleashed its highly anticipated line-up for the 19th edition of this Trans-Tasman touring mega-festival. The multi-stage is set, and it’s nothing short of impressive, coupling both established icons and rising stars. The power of this year’s line-up is in the inclusion of a substantial number of artists (almost a…

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Game Preview: EA Sports FC 24 steps up when it counts

It seems like only yesterday that we found out that EA Sports and FIFA were parting ways, granting the long-running football franchise a seemingly new identity. Name change aside, EA Sports FC 24 does its best to freshen up many of the game’s nuanced mechanics and motion capture, in ways that feel new and exciting,…

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Sir Hereward

Book Review: Garth Nix’s Sir Hereward and Mister Fitz is the gritty, deadpan bite-sized fantasy you’ve been waiting for

Deadpan humour meets swashbuckling swords-and-sorcery in this collection of short stories from fantasy heavyweight Garth Nix. A series of adventurous tales about friendship and duty, Sir Herward and Mister Fitz: Stories of the Witch King and the Puppet Sorcerer pulls together eight previously separately published stories, plus one new story of the dynamic god-slaying duo….

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Film Review: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem excites with its coming-of-age narrative, visually arresting animation, and relatable humour

Since their creation some almost-40-years ago, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have seen their brand of comedic, family-aimed action spread across six feature films (in three separate timelines) and countless television, comic book and video games.  Despite all this, and each respective creative honing their own spin, the younger, more appropriately teen-aged years of the…

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Live Nation’s ONES TO WATCH announces lineup for BIGSOUND showcase

Live Nation has been committed to changing live music discovery with their series ONES TO WATCH. Unearthing fantastic Australian talent, the series is set to keep up the momentum with the announcement of the new instalment of the series at this year’s BIGSOUND. Taking place in Meanjin/Brisbane on September the 6th, this instalment is set…

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