Tuesday, December 31, 2013

What's On @ the Movies 2013 - The Spectacular Now


Gosh damn, another teenage coming of age/high school film. And it started well but main character Sutter Keely (Miles Teller) and his constant drinking without consequence kind of concerned me slightly.

Other than the constant drinking and the struggles Sutter has which made me jiggle around in my seat feeling bad and awkward for him. Shailene Woodley as the semi main love interest was just divine and she reminded me of Lisa Mitchell, less the guitar and sublime vocals.

The movie for me was good but not great, critics however have loved it but I wasn't 100% sold. It's hard though coming on the back of seeing Blue Jasmine.

Anyhoo let's take a look at the trailer:



Look it's not bad it's just not super great either.

The Spectacular Now is a good view but slightly depressing also, 3 drinking up a storm for New Years Stars.

Happy New Year all and bring on August Osage County tomorrow!

Best Movies of 2013


BEST hyped film of 2013 - The Great Gatsby/ The Hunger Games - Catching Fire/American Hustle - Three way tie

BEST jump out of the seat film - The Conjuring

BEST Teen drama/coming of age/comedy blah - The Way Way Back

BEST film of 2013 - Blue Jasmine

BEST small film - Enough Said

BEST 3D movie - Gravity (So I heard, I was poor and saw the 2D version, sad face)

BEST Aussie Movie - The Great Gatsby

BEST Music film - Battle of the Year (Technically not music but dance, so similar)

BEST controversial film of 2013 - Spring Breakers

BEST Drama - The Impossible/Prisoners


Monday, December 30, 2013

What's On @ the Movies 2013 - Blue Jasmine {FILM OF THE YEAR - Second Viewing}


So tomorrow I will publish my list of high archiving films, I posted a similar list last year. This year I have seen some outstanding films and some not so outstanding (Anchorman 2 comes to mind) and yes indeed my film of 2013 is Blue Jasmine.

My original review was done all the way back in October and I was so happy to be able to see this film again in the silly season. Blue Jasmine really is one of Woody Allen's best offerings as well as Cate Blanchett best acting.

I loved every minute of this film and Cate's brilliant one liners as well as her downward spiral which is just so delicious to watch.

Watching it the second time I noticed how fab Sally Hawkins was in the role of Ginger, Jasmine's sister. Her one liners and amazing facial expressions make her a worthy nominee for best supporting actress - motion picture.

Do yourself a favour make sure you catch this film at the movies or on DVD. It is so brilliant. I rated it 4.75 stars the first viewing but the second I am going the full 5 star treatment, It's rare to see a film that gets better with a second screening. Also why can't more filmmakers and directors get it that 90 minute films are rad.


Come back tomorrow for some more film goodness. Oh yes and Happy New Year's Eve, Eve. Night night...

Sunday, December 29, 2013

What's On @ the Movies 2013 - Anchorman 2 {The Legend Continues}


So first up I am not a Will Ferrell fan, I find him extremely unfunny and most unattractive however I have always had a soft spot for Paul Rudd and throw in a free double pass, free air con and a warm summer day and I'm there.

Here is the trailer:



So I'm going to be blunt, this film was way too long (almost 2 hours) and super long winded. I found most of this movie so uninspiring for Judd Apatow who has created such great works as Bridesmaids and Girls.

Steve Carell's character is particularly dull and his relationship with Kristen Wiig is just plain drab and you wish these scenes would just move along.

Overall I am extremely surprised for this films success. I need to watch the original now to see why on earth they needed a second edition of this underwhelming lame ass comedy.

I now long to see August: Osage County, a great play and hopefully an even better film. Now to my star rating and even a massive lot of guest stars at the last play can't save it (sorry Kanye should have sticked to Yeezus), Anchorman 2 has about as much going for it as Wake Up on Channel 10. Sorry boys 1 star for Paul Rudd and the occasional giggle (trust me it's not a laugh out loud kinda film).

Saturday, December 28, 2013

What's On @ the Movies 2013 - The Railway Man


Reviews were mixed, and to be honest when I heard about this film I thought what a stinker, but the trailer drew me in and after watching it I wish it didn't. All I heard/read was true Nicole and Colin had about as much chemistry as Tony Abbott and Bill Shorten. I walked out thinking with Nicole Kidman's expressionless face this style of film does not suit her anymore. She is really badly cast in this role and I did read she wasn't the first choice.

Colin Firth to be honest is not great either and this isn't because I have never been a fan of his but this movie just never reaches the great heights the trailer promises of a sweeping big boxing day drama smash. Instead at Broadway cinemas it was in one of the three smallest theatres with a couple of old couples and me being extremely underwhelmed by what could be a great film.

An English/Australian co production filmed in both Queensland and Thailand is only a pass mark for me and for the target audience this is directed at I would take Philomena any day over this half cooked drama, don't let the below trailer mislead you:



I give it 2.5 stars, mainly for the scenery and the flashback scenes, the present day part of the film is kind of shit.

Not the Boxing Day smash at all, still for Boxing Day my pick: Philomena - review HERE

Friday, December 27, 2013

Album of the Year + Best songs of 2013


Well y'all can find them all on the links below:

ALBUM of the Year (2013)

Top 201 songs of 2013 - 201-101 (the second part of the list 1-100 will be posted on Australia Day)

I will post on this very BLOG a recap of some of the movies of 2013 real soon.

Monday, December 23, 2013

What's On @ the Movies 2013 - Philomena {Advance Screening}


- Opens Boxing Day (That's Thursday)

I must say I didn't originally want to see this film but when I saw the trailer on the big screen, it broke me. So without further ado to be broken check this:



Are you broken already? Yes I really don't like Steve Coogan all that much but he really does a good job in this true story. Dame Judi Dench is beyond divine, she is simply stunning in this role. If the trailer didn't break you the film well and truly may.

It has some lovely comic moments in the film and some really touching moments too. It was a Sunday afternoon dream to watch. What a great film and this will get the grey folk into the cinema on Boxing Day.

I read that people have said it's another boring attack on Catholics but really? They are not that harder target right? Imagine being in marketing and in this day and age trying to market Christianity? Not an easy task but any means.

Philomena is just perfection, it rates a big 4.75 STARS, well done, excellent.

Sunday, December 22, 2013

What's On @ the Movies 2013 - Ender's Game


When it comes to School Holidays the movies does dish out some really average films and this is one of them. I should have known from the below average trailer (below) that this Harrison Ford return to sci-fi would be terrible.


The sad thing is this movie starts OK but it gets worse and worse and the ending, OMG spoiler alert - it's shit!

It doesn't surprise me this film is yet to break even, despite reading it's had mainly positive reviews this isn't one of them. This movie went from getting a pass mark to a fail. Harrison Ford's career is on a downward spiral and with this film I think things (hopefully) can only get better.

I can only give this 1.5 Sci-Fi stars. It's super average and maybe only a last resort from the Summer heat.

Tomorrow a great film review for one of the BIG Boxing Day films, yes advance screening film alert, tomorrow I review Philomena. Get your Kleenex ready for this one.

Saturday, December 21, 2013

UPDATE: The Real Sydney Festival - 2014 {PART 2}


Summer has hit and here is an update to my launch of the Real Sydney Festival. So with no advertising in sight and a rather lacklustre feel to the other Sydney Festival let's take a look at some other events to heat up your January/February:

St George OpenAir Cinema - We all love a film, we all love the outdoors in Summer 1+1= ACE! Careful though some movies are super popular!

Unfortunately to one of my previous events in my REAL Sydney Festival - Solange has SOLD OUT! Damn baby doll, you legend! More info on the gig here though.

Also apparently Wet n Wild is off the hook and sold a massive 20,000 tickets already! Good heavens!

Now to my second new event:

Coming in February one of the hottest line up's for the festival scene, it's Laneway and like Solange it's SOLD OUT. More details here and St Jerome's is going to get it's Indie on in Sydney February 2nd 2014. The line up features a few of my Album of the Year artists including Haim, Lorde and some of the hottest talent of 2013 including Danny Brown, Jagwar Ma, Jamie XX, The Jezabels and Vance Joy.

Not only will I be posting 100-1 best songs of 2013 on January 26 2014, but Triple J's Hottest 100 is back, it's an Australian tradition and who will top the countdown? Lorde, Daft Punk or a dark horse like Vance Joy or Matt Corby??? Check this rather fun video out below but gosh damn Lewi. Lachie you will love the shit out of this:



Also in February and the 4th event in my Real Sydney Festival 2014 is CHVRCHES with support from the divine Elizabeth Rose. Tickets can still be purchased here. Get in quick cause both are just divine!

The next gig to transfix Sydney siders in February and this Summer is Josh Pyke at one of my favourite hidden venues it's the Factory Theatre. Josh Pyke is a really talented guy and I am really looking forward to this gig and you can find out some more shit bout it NOW!

So my Real Sydney Festival has grown a bit, full line up at present below:

SOLANGE @ the Metro Theatre - SOLD OUT!
Jagwar Ma @ the Metro Theatre - TICKETS HERE
Field Day @ the Domain - Let's get SWEATY! 
Laneway Festival 2014 - SOLD OUT!
CHVRCHES + Elizabeth Rose @ the Metro Theatre - TICKETS HERE
Josh Pyke @ the Factory Theatre - TICKETS HERE

Non Musical Events:

Wet n Wild - Tickets and info HERE
Beaches - Y'all know where they are..
King Street - Get your google maps out bitches
St George OpenAir Cinema - Tickets and schedule over HERE
Triple J's Hottest 100 - More info

Part three and my spotlight on March and new events coming very soon. Also tomorrow, yet another film review, hooray for the summer movies and free air con!

Friday, December 20, 2013

What's On @ the Movies 2013 - Kill Your Darlings


With a very fine cast and an interesting tale to tell Kill Your Darlings helped me:

1. Escape the heat
2. Enjoy a Friday night wind down which did not involve a Thai massage
3. See some serious gay loving and sexual tension from one Harry Potter
4. See that crazy bitch sister of Weeds lead in a bat shit crazy role

So all in all a good night at the cinema with 3 other folk @ Cinema Paris. Man does anyone ever go to that cinema other than me and some of my nearest and dearest?

Let's take a look at the trailer:



I would have to say I enjoyed this true story a lot more than I expected. A well acted piece and a good piece of cinema to almost see me into 2014.

Kill Your Darlings, is no summer blockbuster but it rates a very well received 4 Stars.

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

What's On @ the Movies 2013 - American Hustle


All I can say first up… the Hair! OMG Christian Bale what is that first scene like! Cray Cray…..

Now first up Jennifer Lawrence steals the show, she is fabulous and Bradley Cooper with those curls is cute as a button.  This movie has an all star cast and a great trailer to boot:


Up for a load of awards this film not only has a stellar cast, a great soundtrack, great chemistry between the characters (some highly unlikeable), some brilliant one liners and the HAIR!

I enjoyed this film, would have liked an earlier session but when going Gold Class it's beggars can't be choosers.

If you are keen for a pre Christmas treat and a well acted, well made Hollywood blockbuster, this is for you. Check it out now before all the kids movies take over the cinema.

Jennifer Lawerence, Christian Bale, Jeremy Renner, Amy Adams & Bradley Cooper make this the near perfect holiday film experience. 4 American Stars.

Sunday, December 15, 2013

Super Saturday - It's Christmas MOTHER FUKKKKAAAAA


Yesterday was a MASSIVE catch up day and a big hello to all my dear friends:

Brooke, so excited for your new incoming bundle of joy, all the best XOXO

Araceli all the best for your big overseas adventures, I am so excited/jealous of you XOXO
James Barker, Renee, Rob (cox cox baby), Titmuss & Hayden, so nice seeing y'all

All my crew last night, Kimmy + Ian & Ashby - Happy Christmas, Cathy T, Pammy + Stevie B, Shaunak, Chu Chu, Zangers, Spudwah, Ninny & Sharda - such a great night. Pretty sure I didn't need that gelato thick shake after dinner though - LOL

So all this Christmas talk brings back my final and revised Christmas gift registry as the big day is coming oh so soon:

Game of Thrones - Season 2 

The Walking Dead - Season 2 

The Following - Season 1

Damages - Season 5 

Hart of Dixie - Season 2

Jamie - Private School Girl

Miss Fishers Murder Mysteries - Season 2/Part 1

Shameless - Season 3

Wentworth - Season 1 

True Blood - Season 5

Arrow - Season 1

The Walking Dead - Season 3

To my last few Christmas parties, I am excited, I am pumped but I also looking very forward to Boxing Day. Man how good is the Christmas to New Years period. I love it!

Also tune into Flashing Off the Record for songs 200-101 to be revealed with Australia Day bring the big 100-1. Also on Boxing Day the BIGGEST and best album of 2013 will be revealed.

Until next post, and they are limited during the busy Christmas events, so keep calm and carry on - LOL!

Saturday, December 14, 2013

What's On @ the Movies 2013 - Battle of the Year


Largely panned and failed to recoup it's budget (but really how many films do in the end after paying talent millions and having massive marketing campaigns actually make money???) this film was not off to a good start but hey guess what I really enjoyed it.

I have alway loved the dance genre and not that this is anything new or breaks any new ground some of the final choreography is jaw dropping. I mean after recently seeing Beyonce live it takes a lot to impress me but the USA team and the Korean team both had some dope moves.

At times it felt almost more like a documentary of a dance crew on the way to France.

Let's lock at the trailer and bear in mind I saw the 2D version and not the 3D version:


Look as I said above there is nothing new here but really for a hot Saturday when your air con at home is fucked due to repair people/trades people living up to their reputation of being anything but accountable this film is a bit of fun & when everything at Christmas is in a vile mood it's nice to put your feet up (on the seats) and chill.

All and all I rate Battle of the Year - 3 passing stars and B-Boy head spins y'all.

Sunday, December 8, 2013

Summer 2013/2014 | Coming Soon Movies


So exciting so here is via the Hoyts website some coming soon films which I can't wait for. Of course I am not going to quote release dates as we all know with Movies & Music these dates are very fluid.

So here we go, first cab off the rank, Battle of the Year, now this should be out by the end of the year and yes it features Chris Brown, but god damn it's a dance film! And in some screenings 3D, take a look below:


From dance to Vietnamese and I can't wait to check out How to Fight in Six Inch Heels, for those interested, take a peek below:


I saw the next two films trailers at yesterday's film (Enough Said) and look they really pulled me in as much as I didn't want them to (especially when Nicole Kidman is involved) The Railway Man & Philomena just look epic:



This next film I loved on the theatre stage so to say I am extremely excited for the movie version is an understatement it's August: Osage County:


For fans of the action genre this looks awesome! It's Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit:


Unfortunately now we have to wait until the new year but it's worth the wait for The Wolf of Wall Street and Leo is totally on a roll, this looks EPIC!


For those who love Australian films and horror, here is one for you, it's the sequel to the film that kept backpackers at bay, Wolf Creek 2. Maybe the dreamy Abbott government could screen this in Indonesia and Malaysia to Stop the Boats?


Another comic book/action pic it's Captain America: Winter Solider:


The next X-Men film is going to be huge, take a look it's X-Men: Days of Future Past:

Saturday, December 7, 2013

What's On @ the Movies 2013 - Enough Said


What an enjoyable and delightful little film, how good is our Toni Collette? I love an easy to watch, entertaining, well acted piece and that is exactly what "Enough Said" is. I enjoyed this one so much. The entire cast including the late great James Gandolfini (The Soprano's royalty), Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Ben Falcone as Dame Toni Collette's husband.

It is a smart and at times funny look at our second chances at relationships as we move through our forties and after our failed first marriages.

Let's take a look at the trailer:



Ok so how does it rate? Let's say this was a perfect film to distract one from everyone's vile Christmas cheer (or lack of), 4 nearly Christmas stars on top of a Christmas tree.

Thursday, December 5, 2013

What's On @ the Movies 2013 - The Hunger Games: Catching Fire


Mega star Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and one of those Hemsworth boys leads a monster cast into the sequel of the mega famous book trilogy and had big hype behind it due to the massive success of the first film.

The action sequences, the lead up to the Hunger Games, the fantastic cast (man I am loving Lenny Kravitz in films lately) and the whole cinema experience. This is one of those blockbuster see it at the movies or don't bother. The big screen really helps for these big cinema moments. I loved every minute of the lead up, the Hunger Games themselves and the big cliffhanger at the end. SPOILER ALERT!

So the last book is being cut in half. Part I of Mockingjay is out next November and then Part II and the finale will be out November 2015. WOW what a wait. And I can hardly wait.

The movie is rather long but still it's an easy to follow plot so you can have a wee drift off moment every now and then and still follow Katniss and Peeta around the Games.

All in all I enjoyed this film and for a teen book to movie it is well above and beyond the Twilight Saga, 3.75 Stars.

Here is the trailer if you haven't seen it:

Sunday, December 1, 2013

R.I.P Paul Walker



Such a shame, what a talented and very handsome man. 40 years old, Paul showed that some men just get better with age. Unfortunately taken way too soon.

What's On @ the Movies 2013 - Carrie {2013 Remake}


It's no secret I LOVE Chloe Grace Moretz (AKA Hit Girl in the Kick Ass films) and Julianne Moore and I did recently see the musical version of this film, so it was always gonna happen that this weekend I would get amongst seeing this interesting and well done remake.

Let's take a look at what your in for:



Carrie is an interesting look at how cruel people can be at school and how revenge can sometimes be a bitch.

I totally enjoyed this film, it builds up to the main BIG scene and this does not disappoint. I also liked that they didn't turn up the gore too much and Chloe does well when all hell breaks loose in the school hall.

Carrie I had high expectations and I enjoyed it every bit that I thought I would. Carrie is a fun cinema experience, 3 Stars.

What's On @ the Movies 2013 - Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa


I love ten year boy humour and what does this film serve up, 10 year old shit and fart humour. Therefore I loved it! Their is one scene at a cafe (and if you have seen the film y'all know where I am headed) which nearly made me cry with tears.

Look a lot of the fun is ruined by the preview but how many comedies in 2013 aren't, so with that said SPOILER ALERT:



So with all that said, this is so not everyones cup of tea (well hell you can't please everyone these days, there is always an unhappy mother fucker in the room) and look some of this is just downright silly and repetitive but what the hell I laughed, I smiled and it was a tight 90 minute effort.

Johnny Knoxville plays this 80 something year old very well and the young Jackson Nicoll is just ace as his grandson.

I rate this a fart and shit worthy 3 stars.