Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Another Day in May - Belvoir 25 book launch

I have never been to a book launch before however I have done a million musical launches which are generally filled with old cheap skates wanting a free tea sannie & showbag.

Howver this was a launch with a difference with acclaimed and award winning producer/gensuis Neil Armfield and well a little known man called Geoffrey Rush launching this book.

The room was filled with actors and theatre types whih was a nice change for a launch.

The book looks great and is on-sale now -
www.belvoir.com.au/belvoirbook

Oh and Geoffrey Rush what a speaker, that man needs a job at local ABC radio, what a voice!

Monday, May 30, 2011

Another Day in May - Film Freak {2011} - The Hangover Part 2

I have seen mainly negative reviews and heard mainly negative things about this second part in a possible three part film franchise.

I really enjoyed this comedy and actually laughed out loud in parts. The characters are likeable and real and Bradley Cooper has something about him, as do some of the other very likeable guys.

Zach Galifianakis is amazing, his comic delivery is great and a real asset to this film. He wasn't great in Due Date but he is simply tops in this film and it's original.

The Hangover part 2 is nothing all that new but set outside of the USA is great as we all know American's never travel well.

Overall I must say I liked this a lot more than most 3 and a half stars.

Another Day in May - best show at the Hordern in 2011

Hands down, I LOVE BLISS N ESO!

Bliss N Eso are Sydney's biggest hip hop export and have done some amazing things in the past year, their album Running on Air has gone Platinum, the albums has spawned four monster singles including the latest and one of the best singles "Family Affair".

So now to the show, I went on the Friday as they had a massive two shows meaning the boys have definately came along way from their Enmore and Metro theatre shows.

The boys rocked it with a great support in Horrorshow who I caught the end of their great tight set.

Bliss N Eso did it with full flame machines, special guests from South Africa, a grand piano, gust musicians, it was basically just epic.

Great set list with a wide range of new and old favourites and some great crowd moments. Bliss N Eso are local and fantastic. How they didn't win the ARIA last year still puzzles me.

Anyway this show was terrific. Bliss N Eso have a great career ahead of them, I just can't wait to see what they do next.

So the hip hop show of the year, Bliss N Eso!

5 stars for the local lads

Another Day in May - best play of 2011 hands down - Take Two

So I manged to see the Business again late last week before it closed (very sadly) over the weekend.

What a fantastic show, if you read my earlier review you will know I loved this show more than words.

The cast of this show definitely deserve a BIG round of applause they are all great and I hope they go on to massive things and mega million dollar movie deals.

The Business is super and hopefully it returns again in the near distant future.

5 fully perfect stars this time around for the Business.

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Another Day in May - Top 5 @ 5 - Thu 26 May 2011

1. Lena - Taken by a Stranger
2. Jamie Woon - Night Air
3. Bliss N Eso - Family Affair
4. Kimbra - Cameo Lover
5. Beyonce - Run the World (Girls) - rip off of a Major Lazer tune

Another Day in May - So still to cum

The Business again tonight, best play of 2011, hands down, see my second review tomorrow

Bliss N Eso - Sydney gig, review next week

And soon the review of the Kylie concert SCREAM!!

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Another Day in May - Film Freak {2011} - Water for Elephants

So one of the big winter realeses hits the screen with that vile boy from Twilight, fuck he is ugly.

Anyway onto the story, it is a bit romantic, a bit dramatic, a bit of a thriller, it has parts of all the major genres. Resse Weatherspoon is refreshing after I haven't seen her in something for a while.

The story was okay but a little long winded, some of the scenes could have been wrapped up way quicker.

In the end it all ends nicely and the old man at the start of the story is a nice way of going through the dramas that went on at the travelling circus.

Not a must see and if you don't like animal crulety please don't watch this. An average romantic drama and an average romantic male lead.

3 stars.

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Another Day in May - Film Freak {2011} - Source Code

Jake Gyllenhaal OMG, love him, but didn't love the Source Code, maybe it was a little to close to Inception for my liking but it was a little strange and I heard so many good things prior to seeing it and then just thought nah, this movie ain't all that.

So anyway I enjoyed it but didn't love it, loved Jake Gyllenhaal but the story just bored me a little and the movie was only 90 minutes which is a bit of a worry.

Anyway I can't tell you much about the storyline or it will ruin the movie, so anyway see it if you like Jake and Sci-Fi thrillers but otherwise maybe wait until the free monthly DVD at the Oovie machines.

Source Code gets a pss mark of three stars.

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Another Day in May - Top 5 @ 5 - Tue 17 May 2011

1. Bliss N Eso - Family Affair
2. Kimbra - Cameo Lover
3. Lykke Li - Rich Kids Blues
4. Martin Solveig - Ready 2 Go (feat. Kele)
5. Oh Mercy - Let Me Go

Another Day in May - TV in 2011 {Revisited}

Okay so I said TV in 2011 was in a good way until I sat down to watch Come Fly With Me last night. This show was just terrible. There has been much criticism over the ABC's fantastic new Chris Lilley outing "Angry Boys", however Angry Boys was a whole lot funnier and more interesting than this rather lame and half baked UK comedy.

I never liked Little Britain so maybe this has something to do with it, I just find the guys unconvincing, every character looks like them in bad drag or bad outfits, it is slightly annoying.

Anyway it is just another kick in the guts for the already poor performing unfunny uncle of the television family, first Ben Elton's woeful comedy show, then the new Eddie "King of Nine" rubbish and now this, three strikes your our channel 9, time for some decent Aussie drama and not woeful attempts at comedy, leave this to the ABC who are way in front in this category.

Also on last night the budget Australian version of the Amazing Race and a brilliant episode of Q&A on the goal kicking ABC. More money to the ABC in the budget please Mr Swan!

Monday, May 16, 2011

Another Day in May - Music in 2011 {thus Far}

2011 hasn't had the best start so far but it's picking up and with alsums like Adele's "21" selling a massive number and also featuring around 4 songs in the iTunes top 200 she must be doing something right.

I have as last year decided to award an album the big Randy Andy's Blog Albyum of the year award again this year and my first niomintion is set to be announced.



A big well done to the Wombats, their second album The Wombats Proudly Present: This Modern Glitch is a piece of pop magic.

With hits behind them "Tokyo (Vampires & Wolves)" & "Jump into the Fog" and now "Techno Fan" and the soon to be released "Anti-D" this album is a real hit. Clocking it at just over 40 minutes with no tracks over 5 minutes and most party friendly with some issues being explored under the fun tunes.

I am super excited to have the first album of the year nomination out of the way before the terrible winter begins.

Well done to the Wombats this year's first album of the year nomination.

Another Day in May - Katy Perry in the heart of Steel City

Oh dear a road trip and a girl who sings I want to see your Peacock-cock-cock.

So I travelled the great old F3 up to the Newcastle Entertainment Centre (AKA an old Barn) with a soundtrack of Hall & Oates and the Young Divas before arriving at my destination to see the wonders of Mrs Russell Brand.

Katy Perry did turn it up with her opening number complete with corography with "Teenage Dream". A good version of a song I didn't know see had until I saw it on Glee.

She had a solid start with favourites like "Peacock" in the mix and then it slowed down for a rather long and boring ballard section.

I however loved her set and when she blew out Whitney's "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" the place went nuts, followed by some big hits and sexy outfits with "Hot n Cold", "Firework" and the big finale was "Calfornia Gurls".

A much better than expected event and a fun night out in the Steel City.

4 stars for Mrs Russell Brand.

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Another Day in May - Top 5 @ 5 - Tue 10 May 2011

1. Alex Gaudino Feat. Kelly Rowland - What a Feeling
2. Calvin Harris/Kelis - Bounce
3. Anna Lunoe & Wax Motif - Love Ting
4. Glee Cast - Born this Way
5. Emma Louise - Jungle

Another Day in May - Film Freak {2011} - Incendies

Incendies is a 2010 Quebec film written and directed by Denis Villeneuve. Adapted from Wajdi Mouawad's play, Scorched, Incendies follows the journey of two siblings as they attempt to unravel the mystery of their mother's life. The film premiered at the Venice and Toronto Film Festivals in September 2010 and was released in Quebec on 17 September 2010. In 2011, it was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film

Now the above is from Wikipedia by my review of this dark and at times extremely disturbing film. From two twins hearing the will from their dead mother in Canada to their travels to her homeland to find out her shocking past.

It is heartbreaking and inspiring whilst being extremely raw in parts.

Incendies is not for the light hearted and for people with short attention spans as this not only contains subtitles but runs way over the 2 hour mark.

Impressive scenery, acting and a full on story make this a three star film.

Monday, May 9, 2011

Another Day in May - best play of 2011 hands down

Big call I know, it's onyl May and I have seen the best play to feature in Sydneys crowded theatre market, but Belvoir do best and do they ever on the Business. Simply faboulous.

What makes a good TV show a dysfunctional family (Six Feet Under, Weeds, Dexter, the list goes on and on...) so what makes compelling live theatre, a dysfuncitional family and a family with real characters.

The Business is superb and by far the best play to be done in Sydney this year, I loved it, my Mum left and my old man loved it, three different age brackets, laughed, were compelled and all left thinking fuck yeah what a play!

The Business actually gets 5 down to business stars, see it now!

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Another Day in May - Thai Food in Sydney

So I love my Thai food and people, I headed to the land of Thailand twice last year, but this weekend gone I had my worst encounter with Thai food and this was at Home on Sussex Street in the middle of Sydney.

It was like one of those meals that will leave you on the toilet for the next 6 months.

I took my first bite of a Chicken Cashew nut stir fry and my tongue felt like it was on fire, Chicken Cashew nut is not a spicy dish right? Anyway this was the worst and most horrible dining experience I have had in ages.

After having to wait for a table and then only eat two or three spoon fulls of my food I felt ripped off and I want to warn you people, the Internet not to be lead into this place and have a horrible dining experience.

Anyway other way better Thai joints in Sydney can be found below to avoid this rubbish:

Atom, Newtown - King Street
Thai Riffic, Newtown - King Street
Capitol Thai, Campbell Street, Sydney
Chat Thai, Campbell Street, Sydney