The OA

Two episodes in and I was 100% hooked on this Netflix series. Yet another supernatural/thriller to come after the critically and audience acclaimed Stranger Things.

This time set in the present and not the creepy 80's like Stranger Things, The OA is an outstanding 8 eight episode binge fest. After one episode I immediately hit the next episode button and couldn't wait to see what this Netflix journey was all about!

Netflix has consistently serves up premium and exceptional content and this series stands alongside previous brilliant titles.

I am only up to episode three but am completely hooked. I have even put Colony Season Two on hold to just smash through the series this Lunar New Year Weekend, year of the Rooster.

What a visionary program to watch this Lunar New Year, supernatural, super addictive and super styled, The OA is yet another success story from the streaming giant.

The OA, gets a very firm two thumbs up from little old TV obsessed me. Well done Netflix.

Silver Screen in 2017 {Jackie}

True sorrow and grief have never been lad out in the raw like in Jackie. I know we have all seen tear jerkers before (hello Lion) but I have never experienced self doubt, loathing of ones self, fear, grief, anger all rolled into one 99 minute film.



It's hard to believe Natalie Portman's career was on a complete road to wreck and ruin with recent efforts in Thor, a bit below par and her last big critical favourite was back in 2010, Black Swan.

Black Swan a cult favourite and the Thor movies are a bit Marvel B Team, rather than The Avenger A Team style and ranking in the Marvel Hollywood ranking system.

Back to Jackie and this film is one I almost missed. Locally in Sydney it was showing at the Dendy (which I dislike) and Event Cinemas. And long time readers will know I dislike George Street cinemas with a passion.

Not only does the City of Sydney/NSW Government want Sydney to look like a war zone and unliveable but George Street cinemas is disgusting.

However props to the young lady working solo who was as sweet as pie, well done love. To the big wigs put more staff on a Sunday morning, surely you're doing well enough to at least have two staff on to deal with a line of twenty.

Ok Jackie. The true sadness and the truth behind what happened on that day in 1963. A woman, she may have been a first lady however a woman/ a wife non the less witnessed her husband being murdered right in front of her.

Dying in her lap, his head so badly shot parts were on the back of the car. Yes this is graphic but true. And never more than now in 2017 with the Trump administration is a film like this more interesting, around the White House and the role of the first lady.

Jackie was glamorous, beautiful, a fan of the arts, a fan of history and Natalie Portman was just 100% beautiful in this film.

I enjoyed this dark and hard journey by a US first lady, heartbreaking and with a pounding score this film touched me. It touched me deep and now I just want to head back into the cinema to see Moonlight. I may have to wait as I have Hidden Figures next Sunday and work all week and weekend. But Moonlight I have you in my eye.

Two films over two days and two extraordinary tales, one true and one an outstanding vision.

4 Stars for this stylish and sensational first lady, Jackie.

Silver Screen in 2017 {Spilt}

Ok The Village & The Happening were fucking terrible films, The Visit was a vast improvement in 2015 but I think I was less trustworthy and waiting for DVD to view this at home.

Now to Spilt, the 2016 film which has just been released in Australia and abroad.



Ok so I found this film EXCEPTIONAL. The tension, the lack of over the top graphic violence and James bloody McAvoy. What an outstanding role for the young Brit.

The young Brit brought to life the original Shameless series in the UK, made an outstanding contribution to the latest X-Men films and co stared with Jolie in Wanted.

He is a brilliant actor and honestly this film sets in stone how amazing this 37 year old is. No discounting Anya Taylor-Joy, she was outstanding also. Actually the whole small-ish cast were all awesome.

I have to say we are off to a good start in 2017, Moonlight is getting a shit tonne of love right now, I am hopefully catching Jackie soon and I have booked in for the latest 50 Shades film for Valentines Day. Oh yes baby give me some Zayn and Taylor lovin'!

Ok so there is no plot spoilers, no revealing nor words for this film, it was honestly outstanding and maybe my first five star film for 2017. Yes that is right 5 STARS.

Can Australia Day just be on the last Friday of January..

Every year???

Now the dust has settled on all the Change the Date, Australia Date debate, should we just offer a simple and fair suggestion to all? The last Friday of January or February be dedicated to a day all about ALL Australians?

Businesses were worried about sickies after public holidays and additional LONGER weekends so this would be sorted, no mid week public holidays and a long weekend for all. Annual leave day or not.

Australia Day has had it's day at January 26 and after reading much history about this date it needs to move. As Australians being inclusive and respective of ALL Australians is the most important message we could send culturally.

In a time of Trump and Brexit we need to unite as the people, if politicians fail to govern and make progress/change people need to rise up and make the politicians/world leaders listen.

Unfortunately Malcolm Turnbull has been a complete waster of everyones time except for Tony Abbott's. The sacking of Abbott was his finest legacy but everything since has just been, well an abortion. Now that word is almost illegal in the USA so it may as well be used here.

The problem with Malcolm is like the old TV series Malcolm in the Middle. He is in the middle of nut-cases from the left and the right. Trying to bend his ear and at the end of the day nothing every seems to work for the left or right, nor for our country.

So get this simple task right Malcolm, give the country a public holiday date we can all be proud of.

Thank you and happy long-ish weekend all?

Australia Day is all about music AND..

Here are some of the BEST Aussie talents right now! There has never been a more important time to put differences aside and listen to the international language of good music. People celebrate and unite, there is no right and left in politics, there is RIGHT and WRONG. If something is wrong (like Alternative Facts) call it out!

Silver Screen in 2017 {XXX: Return of Xander Cage}

Worst. Script. Ever! That's what Toni Collette must have been thinking after her agent handed her the script. Toni Collette is up there with Rose Byrne for me and local leading ladies. She is totally one of my all time favourites but her performance in this film, GIRL! It's up there with Rose Byrne's choice to star in the god awful Speed the Plow @ STC.



Now this does not mean I am going to hate on this. I would be stupid to think this action film would be anything more than a wham, bam, thank you mam affair. The action in this film is totally over the top and super fun and Aussie Ruby Rose may be Australia's next big action lady.

The cast is one of the most multi racial of current times with Kris Wu bringing the Chinese Canadian flavour, Deepike Padukone bringing the Indian style, Donnie Yen @ 53 bringing the danger from Hong Kong, Tony Jaa bringing the Thai heat and Nina Dobrev another Canadian originally from Bulgaria.

The smell of a sequel runs deep and Ice Cube reconnects with the series after his appearance in the second film (which I have not seen, nor have I seen the original, I think). The thing with these action franchises is, it doesn't matter if you have seen the film before it, as the cast change, the story and main aim of the game is all a refresh per film.

XXX The Return of Xander Cage is perfect for the high school kids still with one more long week of school holidays in NSW. This film totally requires you to check the brain at the door and saddle up for pop culture references galore and a big body count.

Collette was an interesting choice and Rose is really on the rise. Well done ladies continuing my love of all things Australian on the lead in to Invasion (Australia) Day on Thursday.

I can only just pass this as no doubt a better action movie will be along soon, maybe even next month. 2.5 shaved down and dirty Vin Diesel Stars.

The Blacklist Season 4, Part 2-ish.

Returning for three episodes after a close to two month break, American shows love to draw out 22 episodes over September to May the following year.

NBC and The Blacklist have done this for four seasons now and this year they launch a spin off (hold the phone for a Blindspot spin off on NBC soon) for an eight week run in between another The Blacklist break. Well that is what I am guessing.

The spin off Redemption is set to commence on Feb 23 and I am eager to see Famke Janssen and Ryan Eggold can bring to the table.

Both characters (one more than the other) have featured on previous The Blacklist seasons and this growth of the series can only mean NBC have a bigger plan for one of their most successful current titles.

The Blacklist has removed itself from the formula it started with, have a blacklisted bad guy, find the clues, use Red and bam they are caught/killed by the end of the episode and the formula starts again the next episode.

Now we are living in a tangled web of Liz and Tom, their baby, Red, Mr Kaplan alive in the woods somewhere and god knows what going on at the FBI.

The Blacklist is one of those shows which is so easy to watch, so easy to come in and out of while doing the shit around the house you put off and it's action is pretty much on par with what competition it has in the action TV world.

We have a couple of weeks of this series before it returns for episode 12 of 22. One thing is these long (sometimes drawn out) series can be a bit taxing, however hang in there with The Blacklist, this is one US network show which has actually gotten better with age.

Silver Screen in 2017 {Lion}

2016 wasn't a great year for Australian film, I loved Goldstone and it happened to be the only Australian film I can remember seeing in 2016. According to the 6th AACTA Awards Hacksaw Ridge was the big film of the past year which I have not yet seen in protest to "enough already" with War films.

So to my great surprise Lion was absolutely stunning. Not only following on from the AACTA award winning The Kettering Incident being filmed (some part) in the beautiful Tasmania but this film had real heart.



The real Saroo and team behind Lion have had almost every single PR opportunity in Australia and rightfully so. This film was outstanding and unfortunately for any remaining Australian films this is totally in the running for Best Australian Film of 2017.

Like Edge of Seventeen and in relation to Best Coming of Age film, Dev Patel, Nicole Kidman, David Wenham, Rooney Mara and adorable Sunny Pawar lead this amazing cast of Australians and internationals.

No part of this film disappointed me and mostly the inclusion of Sia's original song Never Give Up (honestly one of her best and most underrated of late) and the entire ending/credits was just exceptional.

I left feeling uplifted and Sia assisted by long time collaborator Greg Kurstin's tune just wrapped up an exceptional film going experience.

I loved every minute of this true Australian story, it needed to be told and it was simply beautiful, a big fat 4.75 Stars for this home grown piece of brilliance.

Shooter Season 1 Finale.

I gave this show a little bit of love a while back when I started the show over Summer Slack (Xmas - New Years period) and now as quickly as it started it's done and dusted until next year.

When it will air next year is completely up in the air.

This show was originally scheduled twice in 2016 and due to actual real life shootings in the US, the USA network held this until November. At least someone has some brains around guns in the USA.

Anyway the show could be back as early as July or it could be another November/main TV season series from here on in.

The show did fairly gosh damn well in the ratings game and a tight ten episode season does me just fine. USA Network has risen to fame with Suits, Queen of the South and Colony recently and Shooter is up there with one of it's best performing shows.

Ryan Phillippe is in fine form, looks a million bucks and some of the action in this season has been off the charts.


Now it does mention the show will return in Summer this year, I guess that is pending there are no other major mass shootings in the US to hold this next season up.

Shooter, one of the only new shows I have given a go this 2016-2017 season and I am not as disappointed as I was with Emerald City.

Gotham Season 3, Part 2-ish.

Ghosts is the title for the 12th episode of Season 3 and the 56 so far of this Batman prequel.

And Ghosts is a great title as we have already seen a large number of characters return from the dead and it looks like we are going down the same road again with Ian from Shameless. Actually I mean Jerome AKA The Joker?

I kind of dislike when a comic book show tries to be realistic and then starts to bring back dead characters? I couldn't bare Jada Pickett Smith's character and when she returned it was like why?

Anyway this series is titled Mad City so I guess it is allowed to be a bit random.

The show has not been rating the best but with ok DVR numbers the show has moved into a steady 5-6 million US viewers per week.

It's a lot more than few series Scream Queens but does Gotham do enough to make Fox say yes to series four? NBC has been generous this week picking up another two seasons of their hit new show of the season This Is Us.

If Fox continues with Gotham where will series four lead us? How will season three wrap up? When will Bruce Wayne and Catwoman grow up? Will Robin ever enter? Or Bat Girl? Hello Alicia Silverstone.

So many questions and no answers just yet. I will be interested to see where episode 13 takes us next week as other DC titles, Supergirl and The Flash also return for 2017.

Girlfriends Guide to Divorce Season 3.

Oh the Summer trash is back, and I love it. Bravo's Girlfriends Guide to Divorce is here for it's third series of it's planned five.

Last year it was renewed for seasons 3,4 & 5 and then when I realised the episode order was dropped to eight I was back in. Thirteen episodes of this show was way too much. Eight on the other hand is perfect.

The drama is back is the girls all headed to a destination unknown with plenty of drama along their way. Unlike Sons of Anarchy which I am currently smashing on Netflix (and on the homeward stretch of the last season) this show has no graphic violence, no bad words and no sexy ladies wrapping their legs around bikies, so it's a nice change of pace.

Abby the main player's brother seems to be still missing in action and his gay storyline was one of the main interesting ones so at times I wonder why I am sticking with the dull dramas of Abby and her ex, Delia and her failed wedding and Jo who just seems a bit to whacky to be Abby's best mate.

All in all this show is so easy to have in the background whilst throwing on a load (of washing you filthy minded internet trolls) or blogging (like now).

Girlfriends Guide to Divorce, it's by no means a ripper of a series like Homeland or The Affair (although this season, WTF) but it's a distraction from the bleak (fake) news and home Sydney Summer 2016/2017.

Good night dear readers.

Oh and I promise to get to the movies again ASAP, if not beforehand.

Emerald City Season 1.

There is so much negativity in the world right now and along with fake news who needs anymore bullshit on this very blog? Well NBC helped create the king of golden shower fake news and along with Trump they delivered another well done turd the other week in EMERALD CITY.

So after one episode (not done since the insanely bad Killer Women (2014), cancelled after 6 episodes with two never airing) I am giving the next nine a miss.

This show was originally cancelled by the network back in 2014/2015 with the series meant to air in 2015. Instead it got a second go and is currently airing Fridays on NBC.

Now lets drop the negative and look at NBC's positives. New shows still to come The Blacklists spin off show Redemption, and with the Blacklist in fine form at the moment I am looking forward to this 8 episode mid season filler. Chicago gets a new chapter in Justice, joining successful titles like Fire, Med & P.D.

Whilst new Charlaine Harris novel Midnight, Texas gets a run. After the successful True Blood novel to TV conversion this could be a big hit for the NBC.

Another DC series Powerless joins to NBC roster and the film series Taken gets a crack on the idiot box.

This is Us is clearly their biggest new show with the first episode almost drawing 15 million viewers in the USA.

Today's related audio comes from Dune Rats as a tribute to Emerald City, the song is called BULLSHIT!

Where is Summer Going?

So it's virtually the mid point of Summer and I have no idea where the slow Summer slack period has gone. Maybe it's because I've been doing two jobs the last week plus a full time parent to my dog (which I usually only part time parent on weekends) and trying to maintain my life @ Syd Uni Gym.

I haven't been to the beach once this season and tomorrow rain and cooler conditions will hopefully send me off to the movies and make my Sunday Body Attack and Body Balance double.

Oh yes and the movies how Rogue One and any Star Wars films just kills the smaller films, hello Red Dog prequel.

Music has also not stopped with a pile of big releases yesterday. Over on Flashing off the Record I have been all over The xx's latest Album I See You and you can check that out right now HERE

Yesterday we also saw new releases from the godfather of grime Wiley, Run the Jewels, Bonobo and an EP from Mr Tophat and Swedish pop queen Robyn.

So can someone please tell me where 2017 is vanishing too? Before we know it, it will be Australia Day followed by Lunar New Year, Easter, Anzac Day, the June Long Weekend, Winter kicks in, the October Long Weekend and then the Christmas/New Year period all over again.

RELATED AUDIO:

Sons of Anarchy Season 7.

I have finally reached the holy grail, the final season of Sons of Anarchy. After smashing through several seasons back to back I am starting off the last season and have recently been completely hooked by the family drama.

Yeah that's right it's a family drama, Jax, Clay, Gemma and the revolving door of other characters who come and go in this blood bath.

The later seasons are completely gruesome and the death count just grows and grows.

I had been told I would remain hooked on the final seasons and that season seven is good and the last episode is a let down so I am waiting for it.

Juice played by Theo Rossi still remains my favourite and the son I am totally in love with Jimmy Smits too.

Sons of Anarchy really was one of "those" big shows and a real contender for the long list of shows joining the golden era of TV.

I may or may not do another post for this series but honestly there are a few new shows incoming and other finales upcoming.

Bikies or outlaws some of the characters in Sons of Anarchy really do cut to the core, thanks Netflix for streaming this in Australia and giving me some quality Summer viewing.

Good night readers, sleep tight...

Silver Screen in 2017 {Edge of Seventeen}

Already in the running for the best coming of age film of 2017 (view last years HERE) is The Edge of Seventeen.



I love a coming of age film and even more I love flawed characters who both impress you and make you instantly dislike them.

Hailee Steinfeld is a surprising and interesting lead and one of her main squeezes in the film is drop dead gorgeous Hayden Szeto.

The music used in the film is great including Aussie's Angus & Julia Stone and Anderson Paak. Man Anderson Paak is everyone in 2016/2017 right?

I loved this film and the trailer doesn't completely give everything away. It's a gem of small film and I was highly impressed from start to finish.

The Edge of Seventeen makes me happy I am mid 30's. 4 Stars for this teen drama.

Move Your Body - The Anthem Sia just had to release!

Move Your Body is single number four from my runner up album of 2016 This is Acting.

Originally penned for Shakira, Sia put this track out on her superb record This is Acting. The album has of course been a massive success with Alive, Cheap Thrills and the bonus track (and single) The Greatest all being massive hits.

Now I do a little dance class locally called Sh'Bam, it's camp it's fun and a certain Sia song popped up on a recent release. Move Your Body has so much going for it and honestly is one of the most catchy songs from her seventh studio recording.

Sia hasn't officially done a video (lyric or otherwise) for this single however on YouTube you can easily see this has been a fan favourite since the record hit the shelves on the 29th of January last year. Yes this record continues to have a life almost 12 months after release. This just doesn't happen very often anymore in the music scene.

Let's have a look at some of the best videos moving peoples bodies and remember, dance and movement is one of the best things you can do for your own body. Not only do you feel healthier but in a group environment all these endorphins pumping around, their is nothing like it.

Star Season 1. Episode 2 (WHAT, WHAT)

I don't know if it's super bad or just so damn fun I can't even two screen when this show is on!



There was a scene with an EPIC dance tune from back in the days Groove is in the Heart which is honestly one of those moments in TV, it is staying with me for a while. So camp, so fun and just brilliant television.

It seemed to slide a little in the ratings but the appearance of Naomi Campbell just continued the bitchy lines coming in thick and fast!

Naomi Campbell was also cast in Daniels hit series Empire earlier on in the series.

Quincy Brown is also turning up the heat, boy he is CUTE!

I am really enjoying this show and like a star I hope Star has a bright future!

Star is back next week, heaven!

Homeland Season 6.

I can't believe it's six seasons in but it is, Homeland the Claire Danes Showtime drama/thriller recently returned online (early) for it's sixth season premiere episode.

Airing it's episode on cable TV live in the US on January 15h, some early online viewers are already pumped for the latest episode.

Returning to it's Homeland the series moves back from Germany to New York with mounting tension building about the inauguration of a female president. Did the producers of the series get something wrong?



Homeland was held back so it could read how the US election went and with that as a Shameless fan I was given an early Christmas present with Homeland and Shameless switching TV schedule places.

Unfortunately in real life for the US there is no female president and also there is no Claire Danes to save the day.

Rupert Friend also returns as the sexy Peter Friend who is severely troubled in this series, Mandy Patinkin and former Nurse Jackie star Dominic Furmusa join Danes as the series automatically is renewed all the way through to season eight.

At present the eighth season is set to be the last but this show in my eyes has always been on point, lost major characters and ploughed on.

Homeland looks at current issues and deals with them extremely well and Season Six looks as delicious as ever and I cannot wait till episode two airs on January 22, 2017.

Another great few months of TV ahead as the US head into the home stretch of some of their most loved dramas.

Silver Screen in 2017 {Rogue One}

I rated this film as my best for 2016 so it is no wonder I went back for some more Rogue One.



There has never been a more important time for a Star Wars film, a film revolving around good vs evil, family and starting a rebellion against an evil force.

There is more on this film in my first review HERE but all I can add is that outstanding battle in the second half of the film, the way the film ties so neatly in a New Hope and the way as a viewer you now feel like you know the whole story.

I can hardly wait for the 2017 Star Wars film continuing the drama of where the The Force Awakens (my equal best film for 2015, Star Wars is on a roll) left us.

The cinema was jam packed last night for tight ass Tuesday and I feel Rogue One will continue to smash it at the box office with no real new competition this weekend.

Rogue One it's standing up for the little guys against the evil big guys, sounds like something happening in the USA on January 20?

A second outing 5 flawless (forgot all the CGI talk) STARS for Rogue One and remembering the brilliant Carrie Fisher.

Silver Screen in 2017 {Assassin's Creed}

How on Earth as a non gamer did I manage to see Assassin's Creed as my first film of 2017?



Well that and more answered in my first film review of 2017 and I am going with the film Silver Screen in 2017, you like? It rhymes at least.

Ok so first up at 39 Michael Fassbender is as hot as fuck in this film, and he also happens to co-produce the film.

Marion Cotillard also stars in my first film of 2017 and was starring alongside Brad Pitt in one of my final films of 2016. Not only do these two talent folk star in this video game to silver screen effort but Michael K Williams and Charlotte Rampling (she was in one of the final seasons of Dexter, among a million other things).

It's been panned by the critics however when I attempted to see this film the Gold Class session, sold out and the regular session close to full. This was in Victoria however where people do actually leave their houses and support either the arts, their respective sporting teams and it also seems the movies. Who would have thought.

Assassin's Creed isn't great but the action is fun and the thought of a sequel is all that you are left with at the end.

Of course there are talks for more films so we will see how that pans out.

Look New Years Day saw the latest Jennifer Lawrence/Chris Pratt film Passengers released and join Boxing Day lightweights like Red Dog 2, Allied, Why Him? and La La Land. The thing is Rogue One is still running supreme in this territory and films like Assassin's Creed just are not big enough to compete.

Unfortunately for the other Boxing Day films, hype about ending marriages (Allied), Golden Globe nominations (La La Land) and a sequel to a local Hit (Red Dog 2) can not even come close to the Star Wars franchise.

This said Assassin's Creed is not a bad film, it's just that it's well a video game with no joysticks and no audience interaction. Maybe the video game is a hit, maybe the rest of the packed cinema was more moist for the storyline but the main thing that got me moist was Fassbender.

Assassin's Creed rates a action packed pass rate of 2.5 Stars, actually it was the first film for 2017 so let's be kind. A revised 3 STARS for Assassin's Creed.

So Long 2016, Hello 2017

A year where a number of legends left this very planet, a year the media got it wrong more times than right and a year when FLUME was my favourite album of 2016. What a year.

You can ready more about Flume and why Skin was the most delicious record of 2016 and the first round of the BEST songs of 2016. So some nice Summer/New Years Day reading.

I have plenty more posts coming today, tomorrow and throughout the year on my Music Blog so read here, read there all is business as usual in 2017.

What is the go with Randy Andy's random blog spot that has no Facebook, Insta, Twitter, Pinterest or any real interest in social media got lined up? Well I would love to attend more live music? But I live in NSW and venues are closing, tours aren't coming to Australia or promoters are setting unsustainable ticket prices for the general public. So that might not happen, more movies? Well yes that gonna happen, I will watch the newly released first episode of Homeland Season Six as soon as I land back in Sydney. Can not wait for the terror drama bringing the hype back to the Showtime network.

I will also talk more TV, more Netflix, more US dramas as last year we saw 451 scripted dramas, this year (2017) we are looking at 500 or more!

I will talk more fitness, my fun at my local gym and it's group fitness goodness.

What else? Maybe the occasional rant about social injustice or the fact Mike Baird has run NSW into the ground and maybe looking at property in Melbourne is a good way to spend one's New Years long weekend. Sorry Sydney but the cunty vibe isn't going to cut it in 2017 and I am going to call it out.

2017 where will it take us, will Donald Trump still be president this time next year, 11 months after being in office? Will the Brexit ever happen? Will the world ever get over different religions and just make peace not useless war? Will the US ever realise not every other country wants a Starbucks and McDonalds on every corner? I guess those are the big questions.

As I write this from the South Yarra, Melbourne, Victoria, I think 2017 will be a good year, I think thinking/feeling positive will bring a change, 2016 was a tough year and we may have hit rock Trump bottom so the only way is UP.

Here is to 2017, watch out though I am calling out turbo cunts worldwide in 2017!