Thursday, February 25, 2010

Theatre 2nite!

Well it sure is a BIG time in Sydney theatre's at present, Wicked is still going strong, Spring Awakening is going off at Sydney Theatre and tonight I am off to "That Face" at Belvoir Street with a killer cast featuring the lovely Marcus Graham.

Review coming soon as is a review of Sydney's Horrorshow and the lovely Dan Sultan @ the Factory Theatre this Saturday.

Top 5 @ 5 - Thu 25 Feb 2010

1. Booka Shade & M.A.N.D.Y - Donut - free download @ triplej.abc.net.au
2. Groove Armada - I Won't Kneel
3. Roisin Murphy - Momma's Place
4. Bertie Blackman - Peek-a-Boo & Black Cats (Shazam REMIX)
5. A-Trak - Loonies to Blow

Film Freak - Shutter Island

Man was the trailer about another film, I totally didn't expect what I saw on the big screen. Shutter Island is the latest offering giving Leo DiCaprio another main role which he definitely deserves as his acting is only getting better with time.

The movie is solid with an interesting storyline and interesting plot developments but at times it just felt really long and drawn out. Leo is great and the supporting cast is also really good, however this story just felt a little too familiar at times.

The island itself is not scary at all like the previews make out and the story really is one big maze so keep your head clear before entering the cinema for this one.

Overall it was entertaining but not one for the best films of 2010 list, 3 stars.

Film Freak - Precious

Okay so there is a lot of hype re: this film, mainly for the acting and the amazing job young Mariah Carey did in her small but meaningful role.

I went into this film excited to see what all the hype was about but in turn for the first time in years seeing a film I was shocked. The movie was a little bit too much in some scenes and the mother of Precious Mon'ique was just too much of a mega bitch at times for even my liking.

Precious story is horrible, there is no light in her life, she has been raped by her junkie father since she was 3, has two children to him and basically her life goes from bad to worse to even worse.

I cannot say this enough if you are easily offended DO NOT see this film, it has graphic domestic abuse that even I struggled to watch.

I believe this film will score well at the Oscars and indeed impress critics as the acting is so good (even Mariah's) however the subject matter is just a bit too much to handle at times.

Precious rates a frightening 3 stars.

Sunday, February 21, 2010

My First Basketball Game in 10 years

Just another one of life's disappointments, a big 50-16 smashing from some beach bums @ Terrigal, on the NSW Central Coast EEEEHHHHHH

Only one more week of Lolidays, reviews to come That Face (Theatre show), Horrorshow (sold out show at the Factory) and Dan Sultan @ the Factory.

Some songs/EP's to listen out for:

Gossip - Love Long Distance - FAKE BLOOD REMIX
Kelis - Scream & Shout
Matt Van Schie's new EP (from Van She)
Art Vs Science's self titled EP (these guys were tops as the Gossip support act last week)

You Win Some, You Lose Some

So I found out my grandma (98 years) has a boyfriend and I am still in hiatus, I nearly stood in poo at Wyong Races yet won $40 five minutes later!

Basketball here I come...

Friday, February 19, 2010

Top 5 @ 5 - Fri 19 Feb 2010

1. Gossip - What's Love got to do with It - LIVE Cover
2. A-Trak - Loonies to Blow
3. Kelis - Scream & Shout
4. Annie - Don't Stop
5. Gorillaz - Stylo (Alex Metric Remix)

What's Gossip got to do with it...

Enmore Theatre, Tuesday 16 Feb 2010

Well the Gossip (mainly Beth Ditto) put on the show of their lives as part of this year's Good Vibrators tour.

First up was a bit of Art Vs Science from Sydney delivering some damn fine intro music to the Gossip set. They played their hits "Friend in the Field", "Flippers" and the song in French, you know the one.

DJ Nick Findlay spun some good and some bad tunes before Beth and crew jumped onto the stage to belt out a lot of the hits from one of the best releases of 2009 "Music for Men". The crowd were eating out of her hands. In particular "Love Long Distance" went down a real treat!

Their cover of Tina Turner's classic "What's Love got to do with it" had me and a lot of the rest of the sold out crowd singing at the top of their lungs.

Great set great night, great encore in under garments only too!

4 stars

South by South-West Rocks Loliday

Good I love summer holidays and go I love travelling around this brown land we live in.

Firstly though how crap are the Winter Olympics, it's summer for Pete's sake too, like what the???

Okay so pack 5 people into a beach house named "The Sun Ray" eat heaps, swim heaps and talk about poo for five days, that's a holiday!

I had so much fun away on the lovely NSW northern coast line at South West Rocks with a fab crew. The sunburn is still peeling and the smells from the bathroom still haunt me a little but overall it was a superb holiday and totally relaxed me the freak out.

Nearly back to the working station EEEEEHHHHHHHH but I have to look on the bright side, it's almost Easter and Anzac Day super long weekends YAY!

Long time no write due to extended Lolidays!

Coming soon:

That Face - Belvoir St review

Mardi Gras play reviews

Millions more top 5 @ 5 lists

More of my opinions on EVERYTHING!

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

top 5 @ 5 - Wed 3 Feb 2010

1. Roisin Murphy - Mommas House
2. Tegan & Sara - Alligator
3. Tim & Jean - Come Around
4. The Juan Maclean - Happy House (Cut Copy Remix)
5. Gossling -Days Are Over

Best Festival annoucement for 2010 - so far....

Groovin the Moo in Maitland - Check it:

Vampire Weekend
Tegan & Sara
Spoon
Silverchair
Grinspoon
Empire Of The Sun
British India
Lisa Mitchell
Kisschasy
Miami Horror
Bag Raiders
Kid Koala presents The Slew live
Muph and Plutonic
Funkoars
Illy
Ajax
Jonathan Boulet
Yacht Club DJs

Could this be the best piece of Theatre for 2010

The Book of Everything - Belvoir St Theatre

This season has now finished and I caught the final performance, well let's face it I love a closing night, opening night is full of nerves, expectations and disappointments. Closing night is one giant party and back to the local cafes for the actors.

This play was simply amazing!

Written by Richard Tulloch Adapted from the Novel byGuus Kuijer this was simply wonderful to sit through!

The actors as below:

Alison Bell, Peter Carroll, Julie Forsyth, Iain Grandage, Claire Jones, Deborah Kennedy, John Leary, Yael Stone and Matthew Whittet

Make casts like the Twilight Saga (yes watching one of those films is a saga, how can I kill myself quickly and quietly in a cinemnaplex!) look like a bunch of pre-pubescent random emo gothic has beens. With the occasional jock thrown in, that werewolf dude with the waxed chest and apparently is boning that horrid Taylor Swiftless.

Anyway back to the play, being on holidays my concentration is out the window.

The play was almost a kids story with grown up bits chucked in for good measure. A little bit of audience participation in the 2nd act also helped keep me ready for more.

I loved all the characters and Neil armfield has worked wonders directing this number.

This could actually be my favourite play I have seen in a while and I want to give it 4.75 stars!

Almost perfect!

Film Freak - Invictus

I was unsure whether this film would be up my back alley as Matt Damon has never been much of a fav but anyhow, this film did in turn work out well for me.

Well that is besides the vile child who sat behind me screaming and being generally vile, luckily his dopey parents realised they were in the wrong film! Thank the lord!

Anyway back to the picture, quiet a good real sorry, Damon & Morgan Freeman were quiet enjoyable as the main players whilst supported by a good cast.

In the end it was a nice feel good kind of film, nice way to end my Friday really after attending a rather bizarre Sydney Fringe Festival launch.

All in all I have talked more about outside issues rather than the film itself, so see it for yourself, I give it 3 almost footy season for 2010 macho stars.