Wednesday, January 29, 2014

MEGA UPDATE - RANDY ANDY'S WEAK IN REVIEW


So it's been a while and I saw two movies Monday, ripped it up in Canberra over the long weekend and now find myself thinking Australia Day over, the summer slack period over and 2014 feels like it's in full swing. I just posted on my other BLOG Flashing off the Record a mega music update so if your keen for some music whilst reading my mega update go take a peak, you know you want to.

So first up let's look to movies:

FILM FREAK 2014 - 12 Years a Slave {Actual film released in the US in 2013}

When thinking back last year to The Butler and then thinking about this film, there is a big difference in quality and feeling. Yes we all loved Oprah's wigs but it really has nothing on 12 Years a Slave. I was warned about the violence and did find one scene particularly hard to watch but man Chiwetel Ejiofor was just spectacular. It was such a great film and so engaging, I really just loved this picture and on Australia Day my own white guilt just came washing all over me:



So 12 Years a Salve, it's not really for the light hearted by definitely worth a look in and it really makes you think. Oh America I can't believe your history sometimes, just shocking. 12 Years a Slave, wonderful 4 Stars.

FILM FREAK 2014 - Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones

One of the first new films for 2014 and after a year off my list for making me nearly shit myself live in the cinema the Paranormal franchise back. This time a little Latin, this time a little more mature.

With more language, almost sex scenes and some pretty big gun shots this Paranormal Activity film appears to have a bigger budget than the last few. I really enjoyed this film and with the Bridge (US edition) star Carlos Pratts playing a character it appears they are after some more accomplished actors.

You know this was a fun film, short enough for the audience not to get bored and still featured the frights you expect from this franchise:



I enjoyed this and if you enjoyed any of the four prior to this, check it out, 3 scary pants stars.

That's all for movies and I must say how happy I am to have The Following back on TV, season 2 has been great thus far, really liking where they are headed. Spoiler Alert here is where the USA is at:



I must say though a little disappointed with the new HBO gay drama "Looking", me thinks a whole gay cast is a little passé when you can have such great gay characters like in the US version of "Shameless" and of course the other HBO darling "Girls". So much TV right now so little time, also liking but not loving "True Detective" and really am quiet happy that "American Horror Story" is coming to an end, what a shitty season they have had.

Until next time, G Night x

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Post Australia Day LOLidays


After a long weekend in Canberra and a movie double yesterday, the BLOG will be back tomorrow with one hell of a JUMBO ass update.

Until then, it's back to work, SAD FACE.

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Film Freak 2014 - Wolf of Wall Street {Advance Screening}


- Film released in 2013 in other territories - cool way to combat piracy Australia!

So it was the year of the ladies at the Awards this year, the Best Actress category is so strong however  the Best Actor category is a bit blah, until I sat through this film. Leo is amazing! He plays Jordan Belfort oh so well and he is just getting better and better with age.

I loved this film, yes it's long but it didn't feel that way and Aussie newcomer Margot Robbie is fab, well done to the former Neighbours Star starring in a Martin Scorsese film she should be made now, for life.

This film had it all, nudity, oh so much language and drug use, drama and Leo on a roll. He is just getting better with every picture and even better looking too might I add.



I really recommend this to folk over the Australia Day weekend, other than this I believe the only new major film is a reboot to the Paranormal Activity franchise.

The Wolf of Wall Street will shock some but the full cinema I saw it with largely loved it, the large cast and Jonah Hill just being completely outrageous was super fun to watch.

I am going to score this one high, cause it's good, real good! 4.5 Wall Street Stars.

Sunday, January 19, 2014

Film Freak 2014 - SUPER film Weekend


St George Open Air Cinema: 20 Feet From Stardom {Actual Film released in 2013 & up for an Oscar for Best Documentary}: Man this was good and I don't just mean good, I mean real good. Seeing this with a packed Open Air Cinema experience was pure bliss, hearing people sing along, hearing peoples reactions, just great.

I am a massive music fan (if you haven't noticed) so this was a great look at another side of the music biz. A side not a lot of people know about, the back up world. Take a look for yourselves below:



Real people, talking about real music, before American Idol, the Voice & the X Factor, this is real and this is really fine. 4.5 STARS! Cause let's be honest these folk are stars.

Indie Film: Inside Llewyn Davis {Actual Film released in 2013}: The Coen Brothers are back and this time they invite Justin Timberlake along for the ride. Look this isn't a big film nor was it the best film I saw over the weekend (and there was four!) but for a Saturday morning feature it beat Looney Tunes. The performances are all fine but in the past month when I have sat through 2 screenings of films like August Osage County and Blue Jasmine this wasn't that great.

Make your own mind up below:



Inside Llewyn Davis, it's a bit of a fun ride so 3 folk singing stars.

First proper 2014 Release: Jack Ryan:Shadow Recruit: I don't want to start the year nasty but if action films continue just to tick boxes this old duck ain't gonna be a happy camper. No sorry this was very formula driven (driven - including two car chases, yes all action films have at least one of these but this film upped the anti and delivered not one but two) film really gave viewers exactly what one expected and nothing more.

A little disappointing and the sad thing is I can't see this movie being remembered for long in 2014, it was to say the least very forgettable. However all this negativity it does come from a known author in Tom Clancy and look if you want an easy film to watch with no thought required maybe give it a go if all the dramas out there are not your film and it's the man's movie choice night.



Jack Ryan - it's not all bad but it's definitely not all good, 2.5 pass mark for the first official film of 2014 for me to review and be slightly annoyed at the admission price for.

Final film for the weekend: Saving Mr. Banks {Actual Film released in 2013} - Well, well, well after much talk I finally took a leap of faith into a Gold Class seat to check out what all the fuss and noise was about. Saving Mr. Banks, the untold (Disney) recount of how Mary Poppins appeared on our screens.

So Disney have had a really bad run of films which have attracted bad reviews and worst film titles such as the recent Lone Ranger outing and poor old John Carter to name a few.

However Saving Mr. Banks is not going to continue along this path as it's been a box office hit and nominated for a few awards along the way.

Look this does fall into the lovely and super easy to watch category but it is special. Emma Thompson is grand and Tom Hanks plays all American so god damn well.



The trailer unfortunately does give away many of Emma Thompson's great one liners but still as a whole it is a great little film. And I say little because it's not a huge tale to tell, it's essentially like Jack Ryan with Tom Clancy signing over to a studio the rights to his characters and the back story of a movie inside a movie.

So is it enjoyable? Yes and I think the big screen is the place for this film as it captures everything, the flashbacks, Emma Thompson in full flight and more.

Look I didn't think it was as grand as Blue Jasmine or August: Osage County but it's a decent and good drama for those who love well acted and well written pieces.

I don't regret it being on my end of year list for last year but I had a good old time, 3.75 Stars.

Saturday, January 18, 2014

UPDATE: The Real Sydney Festival - 2014 {PART 5}


So in unfortunate circumstances I missed the Solange gig, major sad face but shit, shit that girl was getting on stage @ 10:20pm on a school night, what was I thinking? mmmmhhhmmmm

OK so the other Sydney Festival is in full swing and I heard something way too funny for words, opening night of Opera Dido & Aeneas as reviewed and told by a friend some man heckled the performers yelling "What's this all got to do with Opera".

Oh dear god this is why I ran this piece this year, Sydney Festival has as time goes on missed the mark, this is our city in Summer. Ok lets look at that line:

This is our city, in Summer:

1. It's Summer so in place of seeing a shit Opera complete with hecklers people generally like to be outdoors.

2. Our city, programming should be inclusive not exclusive to the art elite and the very people who usually go to the Opera for the one reason of telling their friends "Oh we did the Opera at the Opera House on Friday, how fabulous". Really they were bored shitless and wished they were home watching Geordie Shore.

So I took the two above points and outline some great acts in and around the City and last night I took my own advice and thanks to the sublime Claudia I had a super ball at the St George Open Air Cinema.

This is a well organised and amazing event, first of all the backdrop is divine, this is Summer and you couldn't get more Sydney if you tried. The Botanic Gardens are so sublime and really I can't say a single bad thing about how this is all run.

So I saw the Oscar nominated documentary "20 Feet From Stardom" and to be honest it was perfect (full review tomorrow in my usual Film Freak 2014 post) and so good for a music lover like me to see another side of the industry.

But really get along to St George Open Air Cinema it is a perfect date night and the food is supreme, great coffee and great view of this beautiful city.

Coming Soon more events to jam in ahead of the end of Summer (or the warm months so March 2014) and my reviews on:

20 Feet from Stardom
Inside Llewyn Davis

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Halfway Thru SUMMER - Ode to Melbourne & Adelaide...


So Summer is halfway done and being a lucky little diva in NSW I am escaping the heat however Melbourne and Adelaide residents I can recommend a few indoor activities and give you another taste of Lily Allen's upcoming third album:



Now I know I usually leave music to my other BLOG, the now famous in France: Flashing off the Record, but I am currently celebrating great achievement in Australian music and celebrating 4 party starting albums so yeah.

Right so indoor entertainment does not get much better than:

The Movies, here are some of my killer picks these Summer season at the Movies:

1. August: Osage County - YES a five Star film, reviewed not once BUT twice. Currently $10 at Hoyts Cinemas till Thursday when Walter Mitty becomes the $10 film of the week.

2. Blue Jasmine - Golden Globe winning performance and seen twice and not to mention my film of 2013. Stunning, outstanding and limited screenings around the place.

3. Philomena - Just brilliant, Dame Judi Dench, divine...

4. American Hustle - Jennifer Lawrence you are fabulous!

New ones I am yet to see:




Also don't forget there is some theatre in Melbourne, you can always escape the heat and see young King Kong - grab some tickets right here NOW!

That's it dear readers, return for some more news in Real Sydney Festival soon..

Monday, January 13, 2014

RE: Last Night's Post


LOLZ


Thank god Girls is back on TV, cause that god dang tennis sucks balls and don't get me started on the Big Bash, man I would rather masterbate with a cheese grater than sit through an hour of Australian Summer TV, shit....

Sunday, January 12, 2014

Yes it's true I am an Inner City Lefty


So I have been reading the Sunday Telegraph for a while and thought man their letters from readers make out their readers to be complete fuckwits and then add in columns from Miranda Devine and that vile Piers Akerman I found myself thinking am I that far to the left and do these people have rocks in their heads.

One they are both extremely against the ABC which is a staple in my household. Without the ABC and SBS let's just say the only other thing on my TV would be taken off a USB stick.

So that puts them instantly in my bad books. And then I had a discussion with my grandparents where I found I have way too much compassion compared to a lot of the "older" folk in this country. I find myself never understanding the statement "Stop the Boats" or wondering in gods name why is Tony Abbott prime minister again? Did all Australian comedians elect him and his cast of outcasts for material for the next three years?

Australia is truly a great country but man why do we have to drink ourselves into a Kings Cross style red hot mess? I have never understood all Australian public holidays generally equal bogan attire and loads of alcohol and maybe the odd pack of winnie blues. We don't have a lot of tradition but if one thing is for sure in this country Australia Day, Anzac Day, Queens Birthday Long Weekend, Labour Day, Melbourne Cup Day, Christmas + Boxing Day people will be wasted.

Why do we all need to drink so much? Is life that bad? Why do we need to punch each other? Can't you at least try aiming those punches Miranda Devine or Cory Bernardi? Like really Cory traditional families, go fuck yourself mate, it's 2014, two women can raise a perfect child, two men can raise a real diva, one woman can be a superstar and raise the next X Factor winner, one man can raise a MKR contestant or even a pair of ageing grandparents could bring up a more traditional child. You have no idea how stupid your ideas sound to the rest of the world mate, thank god your from South Australia but I would prefer you to be locked away for saying hateful and uneducated accusations.

How else I know I am an Inner City Lefty? I like music with instruments, local music so basically nothing played on Today FM, NOVA or any of our lovely commercial radio stations. And hey I have said this before, why and how much longer will people to give Kyle & Jackie O their time. Really ad's for shitty local businesses, terrible news, bad interviews and more average competitions and dodgy stunts than times Miley Cyrus has had crabs.

I mean a commercial society is fine, Google tracking ad's online through Youtube and other Google products, newspaper advertising, general online advertising and TV. Not that I could ever watch too much commercial TV, cause god dang, Richard Wilkins, Koochie and Wake Up on Channel Ten, it's enough to make anyone start talking to them selves and pissing in public.

I also know I am a lefty cause I love attending the cinema and glaring at people if they talk or sit on their god dang Facebook app. Yes I hate Facebook too. Why oh why do people need to over share? Most peoples lives are really boring and the only thing more boring than a boring life is reading/viewing (via images and videos) other peoples boring lives. Unless you are like SIA or a volunteer helping out in a less than lucky country like Australia, I'm bored.

Wow this is a real rant, so I will end it with thank god boot camp is back tomorrow and thank god I live in the inner west and I only read the Telegraph once a week cause man I would really have to wonder:

1. Why does anyone find the Anchorman films funny? They fucking suck, they don't suck, they FUCKING suck sweaty salty summer balls.

2. Are Kyle & Jackie O, the most vile people alive?

3. Why do so many people accept average entertainment, average music (Miley I'm looking at you), Today/Tonight and A Current Affair?

So there we have it, I love people from all walks of life, from all backgrounds, I think we are all equal but if you for one minute think people trying to escape a country where their lives are in immediate danger and they get on a boat are wrong or you think their is only one way to parent well I have to say good luck to you because change is inevitable and you just have to keep moving with the times, look at tapes, records and even CD's.

So it's the real working weeks, it's 2014 so let's be nice to others and not judge, I know I got my judge on about how bogan our public holidays have become but come on, we are getting fatter, dumber and less socially acceptable and alcohol is not helping any of those.

Goodnight Australia and Miranda, Piers, Kyle + Jackie O try and be good role models it might not get the ratings or get the readership but at least you might not offend another Inner City Lefty like me.

Friday, January 10, 2014

Film Freak 2014 - August: Osage County {Second Viewing - YES - It's That Good}


Alright, alright I know I only saw it the other day and like The Book Thief & Saving Mrs Banks just opened, but this is KILLER! And it's currently the Hoyts Member $10 movie of the Week. BARGAIN!

Now it's a five star film let's get that right first up, but here is a wee sneak peak at the sheer brilliance and acting talent in this very fine play to motion picture:


Meryl is just fab, Julia blew my mind and Juliette Lewis what a hoot!

Such a great film, if you get a chance this weekend go check it out!

Again August:Osage County - 5 MASSIVE bright STARS.

Wednesday, January 8, 2014

UPDATE: The Real Sydney Festival - 2014 {PART 4}


SOLANGE tonight! Hopefully review coming tomorrow:



Vampire Weekend will also be cutting a rug at the Hordern Pavillion tonight.

Still to come:

Jagwar Ma @ the Metro Theatre - Fri 17 Jan:

"Howlin" is one of those hidden gems of 2013, it's been well received in the UK and the boys from Jagwar Ma just seem to be able to do no wrong. Catch them in Sydney before the boys race off and take over the globe.

Get your tickets HERE

CHVRCHES + Elizabeth Rose @ the Metro Theatre - TICKETS HERE
Josh Pyke @ the Factory Theatre - TICKETS HERE

Dan Sultan - Grab yo Tix here
Jurassic 5 - There back! So damn excited y'all! - More Info click here...
Phoenix - There last album was so so but hey they have an ace back catalogue - March 5, mark your diary
Nelly - Oh boy, it's hot in here, but if Nelly does come this could be life changing! - March 15

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

Sunday, January 5, 2014

UPDATE: The Real Sydney Festival - 2014 {PART 3}


So in Part One of the Real Sydney Festival, Solange was going along well but now she is well and truly SOLD OUT, here are the set details for the gig:

DOORS 7:30PM / JUGGERNAUT DJS 8:30PM / MOVEMENT 9:05PM /JUGGERNAUT DJS 9:50PM / SOLANGE 10:20PM

More info for the show can also be found here.

Now if you missed out on Solange, no sweat, VAMPIRE WEEKEND are here to save the day. Tickets are still available so click on Vampire Weekend above and head along to another Real Sydney Festival approved event.

Field Day is also done and the kind folk at Triple J have posted some well wicked pics here...

Now I didn't love Wet n Wild but still for all y'all out in Sydney's West it still beats the heat and alongs one to cool down without heading to Bondi and waiting four hours for a park and then pay $50 for the park y'all get, shit. It's hot right, check it:


Jagwar Ma are also only just around the corner, so get in early and don't miss out like Solange!

Additional MARCH Events:

Dan Sultan - Grab yo Tix here
Jurassic 5 - There back! So damn excited y'all! - More Info click here...
Phoenix - There last album was so so but hey they have an ace back catalogue - March 5, mark your diary
Nelly - Oh boy, it's hot in here, but if Nelly does come this could be life changing! - March 15

Stay tuned the Real Sydney Festival is in full swing y'all....

Friday, January 3, 2014

Film Freak 2014 - August: Osage County


- Film Released in 2013 in other countries (however I totally want this on my year end list - like this)

What a star studded cast and what a play this was. I can't remember when I saw it at Sydney Theatre but I remember just loving the shit out of it. And the film version is just as good and such a treat when it has been a relatively uninspiring holiday film season.


I know this is not going to be everyone's cup of tea by looking up the reviews online but I personally just loved the shit out of it. Meryl & Julia were in the finest forms of their career and look a dysfunctional family sometimes is a little close to home however if you love drama this turned it up to 11.

I really urge you to see this one at the cinema it's just epic the dinner table scene is so mesmerising that you need to be in that cool dark room.

I can't say enough good things about this killer cast and the great play this film comes from. Treat yourself go on and enjoy this new years gem.

August Osage County, family always comes first and this family rates high in my book 4.95 Stars, oh what the hell 5 STARS!

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

Happy 2014!


Sydney put on a real show last night!


A huge thank you to Erin & Phil for being such wonderful hosts and so nice to spend New Years with some very dreamy and delightful people.

Wishing y'all a very happy new year and for some light reading head across to my Music Nerd BLOG for a whole swag of Summer music lists, 2013 in review and more. It's grand go grab a look.

Until my review of August Osage County tomorrow have a great New Years Day x