Monday, April 30, 2018

Quantico | Season Three


Returning almost a year after season two concluded, Quantico has been rebooted (not like Dynasty or Roseanne or even Will & Grace) with a new showrunner and some cast changes.

We also start off in Italy and not the USA however return back and the best thing is Russell Tovey is a season main, but the beautiful David Lim is out. You can however catch him on S.W.A.T.



So there are some changes, the show also is a much more enjoyable 13 episodes this season, down from 22 episodes the previous two. What this means is less filler episodes, less dragging the show out over many months and less annoying and unbelievable plot twists.

Qunatico returned around a million viewers down on the season two debut, but still the show has made a few TV blogs and the show is close to one million Facebook fans. I wonder how many are fake accounts?

So in comparison another show (even more fab) UnReal has only 146,000(ish) fans and this show is also in it's third season and gets a tonne more attention. I meant heck Zimmer even got a PR tour of Down Under. Right near my house and I didn't go. Sad Face.

ABC is yet to fully announce the 2018-2019 season, however I think this might be Quantico's swan song. Airing so late in the piece, a reduction in viewers and a shorter season order, all not good.

However that said the change of scene, Priyanka Chopra continuing to look fab and Russell Tovey back on the US small screen, this is all good in my eyes.

Sunday, April 29, 2018

Australiana Month: Ends Tomorrow


Flashing off the Record concludes Australiana Month tomorrow, Lanks will be the final feature record with his new record Twentyseven.


Today if you stop by their is loads of love for Missy Higgins, which is fab cause her new record dropped yesterday. There is also a Fresh Friday Countdown and a look at some of the best local releases from Friday.

In the meantime let's check out some stellar Aussie songs currently doing the rounds to set you up for a perfect Sunday soundtrack. You're Welcome.







Saturday, April 28, 2018

Movie Matinee Madness - Unsane


Unsane is pretty much as original as new movies come, in a world full of Avengers having almost every session at every cinema, we look to new and interesting ideas, Unsane is nothing 100% new, but at least there are no Hulks or magic hammers insight, or is there?

The film stars Claire Foy, our Queen from Netflix's hit series The Crown and Jay Pharoah from Showtime's not so hit series White Famous.

Even Matt Damon makes a little guest appearance and Juno Temple plays a fantastic supporting role as Violet.



Claire Foy is outstanding in this very different role and in Australia with a release against the titanic Avengers movie, this film id need some star power.

I am no Marvel hater, I see all the films and watch a few (or all) the series however I love films like this that bring us something new. In this case Steven Soderbergh shot the entire film on an iPhone 7. Amazing right, a good plug for Apple too, apparently they have a product release soon, good timing right?

I'm keeping this short, this was a fun ride, a tense ride and the ending leaves you still guessing. Not really a spoiler alert.

I am happy to conclude my three movie run with this different and interesting picture, will more phones save on production costs and be shot on HD iPhones? Who knows but this is a 3.5 Star film, easy. Good stuff and great to see Claire Foy less royal and more raw, YASS Queen, sorry couldn't resist.

Friday, April 27, 2018

Movie Matinee Madness - Blockers


John Cena is starting to get typecast for these "Adult" comedies, but who are the real stars of this film? Leslie Mann and the three main girls.

Leslie Mann is outstanding as an overprotective, "best friend" style mother and Newton, Viswanathan and Adlon as best friends are truly exceptional and believable as good friends.

Here is the rude trailer, so WARNING, strong content ahead, if you press play!



I have seen Bridesmaids, Sisters, Bad Neighbours, Bad Santa, Bad Moms, Trainwreck, all three Hangovers and the sequels and everything in between so I am well versed in dick and poo jokes, but this does go where others haven't. It's very much from a younger less experienced girls perspective.

Why is this important? Because it's new ground in an over crowded adult comedy market.

It's had decent reviews, has a great cast and explores the horrors and fun of prom night from the students and the parents perspectives.

That said a lot of the jokes and use of new technology does not warrant seeing this on  the big screen (although at time of publish this might have vanished from screens with the release of Avengers) but it's still worth a look.

2018 is heading into the US Summer blockbuster action season, so more superhero films, Jurassic Park is back and probably a sequel/reboot or two to come.

I actually enjoyed this loads more than I expected to and after seeing the disappointing Truth or Dare in the morning, this was a nice return to form on the silver screen.

Simply put this is a 3.5 Star film. Tomorrow Unsane.

Thursday, April 26, 2018

Movie Matinee Madness - Truth or Dare


I'm not sure whether Truth or Dare is scary or covering any new ground, however it was a fun experiment, and a fun start to my mid week triple movie marathon.

Yes three movies in two days and you will get a new review each day for the next three days. First Truth or Dare...



I'm keeping this short as there is actually very little to say about this B Grade supernatural horror film, except the fact it fails to scare people, in people I mean I didn't jump once.

It's highly predictable and the ending is like so many in this genre that came before Truth or Dare.

So the question is do you like scary movies? Do you like the thrill of finding out how all this weird shit is happening to a group of friends? Do you remember I Know What You Did Last Summer? Man those were the days, pre Facebook and social media and pre stalking people as an OK past time.

Truth or Dare has done fairly well at the box office, has a decent looking cast, it's just the dialogue and the predictability which really let this film down.

Truth or Dare might be a fun game to play but this isn't much fun nor original.

2.5 just passing the pass mark Stars.

Wednesday, April 25, 2018

Australiana Month: ANZAC Day MixTape


Lest we Forget to support Australian Music, Flashing off the Record has celebrated so much Australian music this month and now it's finally here the mid week Anzac Day public holiday.

One day of freedom from the workplace and remembering those who came before us.

Australian music is so hot right now and here are some joints to get excited about and your perfect playlist to a day of fun!










Tuesday, April 24, 2018

Australiana Month: Last Days


It's been a blast all April long featuring Australian music from diverse and entertaining Australian acts. Unfortunately the charts of late have not reflected the broad array of talent Australia has to offer, so let's take a look at some of the few acts that Australian's are currently embracing and are at the top of their Australian music game.










But there is plenty more good Australian music around for you to check in with, help make the charts, stream away and go support live. So get amongst it.

This Sunday over on Flashing off the Record I will also shine the spotlight on the amazing Missy Higgins. Her fifth record is out soon, along with albums from Nicole Millar, Parkway Drive, DMA's (Flashing's feature album all this week), Golden Features, The Rubens, Odette, Mallrat has an EP to come and The Presets are due to release another banger Hi Viz.

Monday, April 23, 2018

The Royals | Season Four


Before The Crown in 2015 came The Royals. Elizabeth Hurley was a sexy queen and her two children (and one presumed dead on an Island somewhere) were outta control.

Throw Joan Collins into the mix and it was an instant camp classic.

With a sexy cast and lot's of romping around, The Royals is one trashy romp and honestly it sucks me in every year. After 8 hours of public service there is nothing better than mindless trash, and to be honest season four has turned it up a notch.

After a near assassination the said third child of Elizabeth Hurley back from the dead and now the King of England, the stage is set.

So in the Golden Age of TV, this is not one of those solid award winning dramas. It's actually light AF and with enough eye candy, it actually all works.

So if you are in the mood to check your head at the front door after a long day in the office, dealing with the public or just in general getting through the day, this could be for you.

The Royals, it's no masterpiece but it's a nice escape from the daily Grindr.


Sunday, April 22, 2018

Movie Matinee Madness - I Feel Pretty


Amy Schumer is back and after the rather tame and at times lame, Snatched, I had high hopes for I Feel Pretty. How'd it go? Well...



So my favourite gym class right now is (Sorry Rach and Anna and all the Body Attack instructors out there) it's Sprint. No, not running sprints silly, it's on a bike.

So well this film spoke to me on an insecurities level and a fitness level.

We all feel like shit some of the time, all of the time or if you are Israel Folau, you just think you are right and anyone different is going to Hell.

So I Feel Pretty, it comes after the brilliant Trainwreck, the so-so Snatched so it comes with a bit of pressure.

Naomi Campbell and Michelle Williams also star in this girl power spin class comedy. There are funny moments, inspirational moments and one killer Schumer monologue and like most comedies that drift above 90 minutes it has a lacklustre lull, you'll know it when you get to it.

Don't get me wrong this film was FUN, I enjoyed it, laughed and after a long ass week it was a good start to the weekend after a rather alarming eye test. Getting old is not much fun.

I Feel Pretty scores an impressive 3.5 Stars.

Saturday, April 21, 2018

A Tribute


To Avicii. I have to say I didn't always love his music but man, this boy is gone too soon and had way too much talent.

I never saw him live, but when I read the NY Times today and saw the headline, I thought clearly this was fake news, however sadly it's not.

The Swedish musician born in 1989 (7 years after me) gained worldwide success with Levels in 2011, until now I didn't know he actually was releasing music from 2008. Silhouettes was actually my favourite song of his (even up until now) and despite the amazing Aloe Blacc doing the vocals for Wake Me Up (one of his biggest hits), Silhouettes remained a solid favourite of mine.

He has produced/remixed everyone from Madonna to Coldplay, from Faithless to Robyn. He is a true star of the dance music scene.

This is a huge loss to the dance music family, Avicii, 28 is way too young.

Taking a break from my Australian music features to remember this great musician, he really made great party/club anthems, let's remember him now. R.I.P Tim Bergling.











Tuesday, April 17, 2018

Fearing the Walking Dead..


As The Walking Dead wrapped up, Fear The Walking Dead returned for it's fourth season. We saw Negan and Rick maybe patch things up and SPOILER ALERT, well I sort of spoilt stuff before but Negan lives onto into season nine.

Honestly though Negan has been the saving grace to this series actually falling from grace. This season has not had huge ratings compared to most shows currently airing (and not to mention for their 8th season) but this show was once mega huge, like mega.

Fear the Walking Dead has never rated as well, never had as much interest but here we have it, Fear the Walking Dead returning, crossing over and even having Rick, Carol and Jesus (not that Jesus) having a quick cameo.

There is one good action season in episode one of Fear the Walking Dead, the war is so anti climatic on the Walking Dead and really and truly, both shows did not have the blockbuster night they were maybe hoping for.

HBO also gave Here & Now a quiet send off and Homeland over on Showtime didn't pack as many punches as the last HUGE episode.

Sundays in the USA are blockbuster, so how with FTWD go against the last few episodes of Homeland, Billions and HBO's popular comedies Silicon Valley and Barry. Not to mention all the crap on the US free to air stations.

We have seven more episodes before the mid season break of FTWD and I am already hoping the pace picks up, where will Morgan Jones fit in this unlikable casts?

It's almost time for another finale or two with Black Lightening ending this week, Homeland almost done and UnReal has a double finale next week.

More TV, more Australiana for April coming soon, again sorry the posts have been few and far between, working six days, group fitness and generally trying to be social, it's been a busy few weeks.

OK until next time, night.

Sunday, April 15, 2018

Movie Matinee Madness - A Quiet Place


Horror/Thrillers and Emily Blunt have been having a good run of late, and A Quiet Place is as exciting and amazing as everything you or may not have heard already. If you have been living under a rock here is the almost silent trailer.



You know little dialogue and full on suspense work wonders in this film, there were 100% edge of the seat moments and honestly I was compelled for all 90 minutes of the film.

Blunt was an outstanding lead and her young family all looked as spooked as each other. Her husband in the movie was actually like real life, it was her real life husband, John Krasinski.

Look if you only see one film this April make sure it is the amazing A Quiet Place, like Get Out before it, it's a take on the horror/thriller genre and I liked it.

4 Stars, excellent.

Thursday, April 12, 2018

The Americans | Final Season


Now it's it's sixth and final year, The American's is 30% complete and the ride is rocky AF!



After a flash forward after the end of season five, we are now another three years forward heading to the 90's. Set in 1987 sees the Jennings family almost complete their Russian spy journey.

When this series started their was no Trump V Russia, election tampering and 1980's series was just a brilliant spy show. Making Red Sparrow look shit, The Americans on FX has set the bar high. It's about to return to Australian screens on Foxtel and it's streaming catch ups.

Paige is getting into the spy game and things between Elizabeth and Philip aren't great.

It's always hard watching a TV series you know will wrap and you want it to go out on a high, I think this series will as it comes home when the US 2017-2018 season is coming to an end. After months of shows on again off again it's great for a show like this to return, play out it's ten episodes, bang, bang, bang and then it's done.

Commencing in 2013, it's been a regular fixture on my TV dance card and I am going to miss it. It's been great giving Keri Russell a role where she could finally bury Felicity and take on a meaty role.

The Americans started in a different time and finishes in a very different USA/Russia period. Will the show be revisited in years to come and look at the cyber issues between the two nations? Time will tell.

Monday, April 9, 2018

Movie Matinee Madness - Tomb Raider (2018)


Back in 2001, the world was introduced to Angelina Jolie as a female video game hero, Lara Croft, in 2018 we start the journey all over again this time with Alicia Vikander and a very handsome Daniel Wu.

Lara starts off in the UK, via Hong Kong and then to a deadly island off Japan, hope she was collecting frequent flyer miles.



I remember liking the original, giving the game a play or two back in the day and even being slightly excited about the sequel, how did the reboot go?

Well it was a Sunday morning, 10:30am to be exact and I was in, hook line and sinker. The action sequences were fantastic, Dominic West as Croft's father was a nice segway to him appearing in another season of The Affair.

Daniel Wu though, he is fit as fuck, he is 43 and his real life wife is lucky as hell.

I am wondering whether they will roll with a sequel and whether the studios took a look at the schedule here in Australia. Red Sparrow, strong and popular female lead, Ready Player One, video game inspired, A Quiet Place, Emily Blunt dominates the marketing and finally Pacific Rim: Uprising, more adventure/action fun. It's a packed cinema market right now, less people are going and more are flocking to streaming services.

Either way, let's cut the shit, this is a grade above the regular action/adventure/video game flick.

A good cast, solid action and a fun popcorn movie, Tomb Raider was a decent cinema outing, 3 Stars.

Sunday, April 8, 2018

Australiana Month: More Kylie...


Over on Flashing off the Record, I have been banging on about Australian music all month long so far. And I will continue to do so, today we have shone the spotlight on Ms Minogue. You can check out her new album Golden now, and also my post HERE.

Since her back catalogue is so HUGE, let's hear some more hits below.

A sneak peek tomorrow I will finally return to the movies for some more Girl Power, this time, Tomb Raider the 2018 reboot.









Saturday, April 7, 2018

Australiana Month: Alison Wonderland Feature


Australian Music Month is happening all April on Flashing off the Record and all this week I have been featuring the brilliant second album from Ms Alison Wonderland.

Hailing from Sydney, playing Coachella this year as the highest billed female DJ ever, she is on top of her game!

After her brilliant debut record giving us I Want U, Run, Games, Take it to Reality and more, Alison's Awake dropped yesterday.

Alison has also recently remixed the likes of everyone from Justin Bieber to Duke Dumont. Recently Church copped a sweet remix from The Presets (soon to tour and release a BIG new album!) so let's check that out and some older sweet tunes from Alison, it's Australian music month, all Australiana on Flashing off the Record and next week it's City Calm Down's chance for a load of features...






Wednesday, April 4, 2018

The CW


This week The CW (pretty much my favourite US Network, well Network, free to air TV station) renewed ten of it's current shows. A few surprises were in the ten, including the reboot of Dynasty, Crazy Ex Girlfriend and Jane the Virgin. The later two are critically successful and said to be their final seasons, but Dynasty, has been a ratings nightmare.

That said when Nicollette Sheridan entered stage left of Dynasty, the camp, soap level went to 11. Yass Nicollette queen, YASS!

The super hero shows were almost a no brainer with Supergirl, Legends of Tomorrow, Arrow, The Flash and newcomer Black Lightning all returning.

Like Black Lightning and Dynasty, the Netflix series Riverdale will also return. I truly believe Netflix is the only reason Dynasty will see a second (and most likely final outing) season.

Netflix is the king of content and they love them some CW teen drama and action, so next years 2018-2019 new series (maybe Charmed reboot) will most likely drop on Netflix.

Supernatural also returns and if you like knowing if your fav show is coming back, this page updates frequently.

I have enjoyed the camp ride of Dynasty, Supergirl and the super hero shows have lifted this season and the crossovers are getting bigger and bigger, The CW has a solid base for the next TV season.

Pending decisions for CW shows, iZombie (just started again, weekly on Stan), The 100 (returning this month) and newcomers Life Sentence and Valor which will both most likely get the axe.

More TV news incoming...

Monday, April 2, 2018

Bali Movie Matinee Madness - Ready Player One


Yes I did take off again to Bali for another long weekend, quick getaway, this time at Kuta Beachwalk I finally got to take in a Bali cinema experience. The recently release Ready Player One was showing with recliner chairs and blankets, nice.



I didn't have this on my radar, I was after Tomb Raider or maybe Blockers but I settled for this and in all honestly I was pleasantly surprised.

Aussie Ben Mendelsohn plays bad well and since leaving Silicon Valley T.J. Miller plays well T.J. Miller.

Newish comer Tye Sheridan does a decent job in the main role and Olivia Cooke is a likeable love interest.

Steven Spielberg throws all sorts of culture references across this film as well as a kick ass soundtrack with the likes of Hall & Oates, Blondie, Bee Gees, Twisted Sister and more.

The movie is fast paced and lot's of innocent action fun. Computer gamers will love this and pop culture nerds like myself might also be down for this action packed little sci-fi number.

I enjoyed this, 3.5 Stars.