Wednesday, September 30, 2009

LA Roux @ the Enmore Theatre 29.9.09

After producing on of the top dance hits of 2009 with "Bulletproof" and a promising debut single "Quicksand", LA Roux has got on the festival and tour circuit.

With a three piece band of sorts La Roux burst onto then stage singing "Tigerlily" a fine cut from the album and went through the majority of tracks from her debut self titled disc.

A good performance, good hair and a hot crowd! Parklife on Saturday here she comes :)

La Roux rates a La Dance worthy 3 and half stars.

A Matinee @ the Theatre - Gethsme

FAB, one word, FAB

This play was simply terrific, the acting was amazing especially young Emily Barclay in her debut on the small stage.

The political drama that was Gethsme is well worth a look at this stylish, smart and clever cast & well written play by David Hare.

A top production and a much improved outing after the god awful FAME. 4 politically driven stars.

Film Frak - Fame (is LAME!!!)

WTF is all I can say!

Why remake everything? Is it really necessary, have we become that mundane we have to use only old ideas, cover old shit songs?

The movie in a few words is "a complete mess", we follow a few totally uninteresting characters have highly predictive outcomes.

Really if you want dance hire "Step Up 2 The Streets", if you want singing go check out a local band do a live gig, this film blows, half a star.

Film Freak - Up

Well I must say I usually hate kids films but this one struck a note, this film deals with the lonesome film of loss and loneliness,for the kids though the main theme maybe adventure, which is still in there.

I loved this film and even more so in 3D! The film was terrific with it's images, it's themes and it's characters, the two main characters were extremely delightful to watch and there interaction with each other reasonable the interaction between Clint Eastwood and the young kid next door in Gran Tarino.

Up is basically a children's version of Gran Tarino without the violence and swearing, and also all those racist remarks from Clint Eastwood.
The movie rates really high with me and gets a Up there 3 and half stars.

Little Birdy @ Enmore Theatre

I loved this band the first time I heard the opening 5 seconds of Relapse all those years ago now.
The Red Riders were the support for this one and I really thought there weren't that impressive live.

The difference between Little Birdy and the Red Riders was so great it was almost embarrassing for them. Little Birdy are one of the tightest live acts I have seen in a long time.

The started their set and just went for gold. The set (as most times I have seen them) was like a greatest hits gig, hits from all three albums and a tidy cover version in the encore were all present.

Little Birdy really rate and I predict three or four months out "Brother" will be a top 10 hit in the Hottest 100 of the year.

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Comign Soon....

Reviews live and direct from the Little Birdy gig @ the Enmore!

More top 5's and my year in review

Top 5 @ 5 - Thu 17 Sep 2009

Hasn't been one of these for a while:

1. Calvin Harris - The Rain (For his part-tastic new disc "Ready for the Weekend")
2. Beni - Maximus (Featuring one hit Aussie Wonder Sam Sparro)
3. Simian Mobile Disco - Cruel Intentions (Featuring the FAB Beth Ditto)
4. Illy - Picturezs (Great Aussie hip Hop crew)
5. Gully Platoon - Coat of Paint (Great Aussie Hip Hop super group lead by Pegz)

Film Freak - My Sisters Keeper

Well a much different pace from "500 Days of Summer". The story of a family battling one of life's challenges and most heart breaking issues, a sick child.

The story was very good however the use of music to portray emotions and simplify the battles the family encountered was a little annoying at times, as there was about 5 lazy montages.

Cameron Diaz was bearable in the first role I have liked her in for years.

My Sisters Keeper was heartbreaking, emotional, touching and honest but definitely not for those who will need boxes and boxes of tissues.

My Sisters Keeper rates a solid three stars

Film Freak - 500 Days of Summer

Three words, AWESOME, AWESOME & AWESOME

This movie has it all, a hot lead Joseph Gordon Levitt (just dreamy mmmmmm), great music (The Temper Trap, Wolfmother & more!) and a great witty script.

I loved this movie from the opening credits and it just got better.

A love story from a boys perspective and a girl who is just not that into you (so much better than he's just not that into you - worst ROM COM of 2009).

The movie was just such a joy to watch I found myself smiling from ear to ear and then at the point of tears.

I can't say enough good things about this indie American smash hit, 5 and a half stars!

Avenue Q-Less

I have been waiting to post a BLOG about a MEGA Hype and here it is, this musical has received some much (undeserved) hype it's not funny!

I file this under show for 15 year old who still think porn is naughty and farts are funny.

I never liked Sesame Street and I thought this was a tad lame in parts and some of the songs were simply boring. Again could have been one act, I still wouldn't have laughed once nor found anything about this enjoyable.

The thought of leaving at interval started about 3 minutes into the show however when you are two rows from the front this is just rude, four rows back however would have been completely acceptable.

I cannot believe I and only a few others have not enjoyed this musical as the only thing I liked was the set.

Anyway you may like it if your a 15 year old boy with heaps of zits and gets a woody at the thought of puppets rooting.

Half a washed up Muppet star

Lonesome West - a night @ the Theatre

Well another great little downstairs play featuring the super sexy Ryan Johnson and the lovely Sybilla Budd.

The Irish play about two crazy brothers and the lose of their father (well one of them killed him but hey, it's a black Comedy).

The play was well done and very well acted. The interval kinda broke things up as I do like a one act in and out kinda play.

Lonesome West is definitely worth a look in and rates 3 stars.

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Bangarra Dance Company – Fire

YAY I love Bangarra and I love dance! But not so you think you can dance I much preferred Dance Your Ass Off, with the rejects from the Biggest Becky Losers. Anyway I got distracted by Big Losers doing Booty drops, HOT!

Anyhow this show was amazing and showed some very diverse performances with an amazing original score and a showcase of what the kids at Bangarra have been doing for the past 20 years.

Bangarra dance show a social commentary and also showcase a very diverse way of expressing dance including some very fab moves including a soapy surface.

Bangarra dance – Fire a Retrospective rates a fiery 4 stars.

Film Freak - Inglorious Basterds

Quentin Tarrentino is doing the rounds hardcore for this film and rightfully so, it’s good but not great! Brad Pitt is solid as a Nazi hating and hunting American with a very unfortunate scar around his neck (which is strangely never explored). Some of the scenes in this film are terrifyingly long! The dialogue seems to go on and on and you think something is going to happen but NAH!

The film is good, the action is great, the violence is extremely violent and the cast is super!

In a year or so where there has been a pile of WW2 films this one is not unique or by any means the best but still well worth a shot.

This film rates a glorious 3 stars

Film Freak – Public Enemies

Johnny Depp & Christian Bale, how can you go wrong? These guys are definitely adorable!

The film is a decent action/gangster film with good action sequences and some very good acting.

Public Enemies is fun, action packed and a good perve if you like either Johnny or Christian, it rates three fierce stars.

Film Freak – Beautiful Kate

Another Aussie film about a prodigal son returning back home to his fucked up family, well kinda. This well acted and beautiful film (as per the title) is an interesting drama which almost border lines on a well done Aussie Thriller. Rachel Griffiths is simply fantastic as the most stable character in this film and also great to see her doing some in the Aussie Film industry after a run of US TV shows (Six Feet Under & Brothers & Sisters).

The movie is heart breaking and at times challenging to watch however it definitely deserves a viewing and let me tell you, you need an open mind coming into this film.

Beautiful Kate while beautiful also shows us the ugly side of humanity and also the pains felt by some many families when there deepest secrets are uncovered, 3 beautiful shining stars.