Cinema Slut #2019 - The Australian Dream

Oh Australia, The Australian Dream is one of two Adam Goodes documentaries that has just been released. The Final Quarter, was recently aired on Channel Ten, however The Australian Dream is now in selected Australian cinemas.



Adam Goodes is an Australian of the Year (2014), twice Brownlow medal winner, on an AFL grand final winning team (twice) and a general all round smart, nice Aussie bloke.

This film was heartbreaking, I was bullied at school and as a gay white man, I am known mostly as gay, not male, not by my name, by by being gay. I felt like Adam in the documentary/film who was known mostly for being Aboriginal.

I'm not by any means an AFL fan, I live in Sydney, but I am not at all interested in Sydney Swans. I do respect the fact Adam was a one club man, he played with the Swans from 1999-2015.

Adam is exceptionally well spoken and Stan Grant also presents some wonderful insights. Australia does have a race problem, Adam called it out and was vilified for it.

I left thinking, why on Earth in Australia would you be famous and have an opinion? Politicians in Australia are allowed opinions however most (I am not saying all) are not leaders but followers.

The right wing commentators in the country are not yet at the Fox News level, but they are still vile gutter dwellers. Andrew Bolt is on of those, he is featured in the film and comes across more vile on the big screen than his nightly small screen appearances on the hateful Bolt Report.

Sam Newman also came across as a complete clown, Eddie McGuire, a man who wanted it both ways. One to have fun with the likes of Newman and another side was to be open to all, but on his terms, I guess as long as there was money to be made. Does Eddie want to be a millionaire?

Australia we can do be better, Australia we can be lead be fit, inspirational, amazing individuals like Adam, we are at the crossroads, S-Mo ain't going to lead us forward, we the people do need to lead. Australia is home to the best musicians, the best broadcasting network (ABC), the best home grown stories and a culture of people we need to and should celebrate. Yes Australia Day needs to be changed to be more inclusive, yes we need to evolve with the times, Australia it's not 1950 anymore, let's evolve and be a better version than we are now. All countries need to grow, all countries need to dream, this was why The Australian Dream was so important.

4.5 Stars.

Incoming TV..

Here are some trailers to wet your whistles....

Succession | Season 2

HBO has already renewed the 2018 summer drama for a third season, no doubt to air summer 2020. Succession is a look into the world of media moguls where a family is so vile and may swear more than the cast of Veep.

Logan Roy (Brian Cox) is a simply vile piece of work who some compare to young Rupert Murdoch. Kieran Culkin one of the sons (Roman) set to take over from his father one day is delicious whilst being so extremely horrific is everything you would expect from a super rich kid.

The kids including Aussie Sarah Snook as Shiv AKA Siobhan Roy is the youngest of the children, but so calculated and wicked, I love it!

If you are sad with a number of shows wrapping up on HBO like Game of Thrones, Silicon Valley, Veep and Ballers this comedy is a good alternative to Veep, mixing it up from politics to media. One of the same really if this is anything like Fox News and the recent Loudest Voice with Russell Crowe and Naomi Watts.

Succession in it's second divine season is streaming weekly now on Foxtel in Australia. It's full of bad language and lot's of back stabbing, brilliant TV. Forget The Block and the Bachie, this is where it's at.

Cinema Slut #2019 - Angel Has Fallen

Following Olympus Has Fallen (2013) and London Has Fallen (2016) comes Angel Has Fallen. Gerard Butler returns as United States Secret Service agent Mike Banning, whilst Morgan Freeman is the President of the USA now.

Joining the fold is Nick Nolte as Butler's rogue AF father whilst Piper Perabo replaces Radha Mitchell as Leah Banning, Mike’s wife.



I was unkind to the previous films, Olympus Has Fallen (2013) and London Has Fallen (2016), so I was surprised I actually enjoyed this film loads more.

It's a well told story of setting up a previous hero into villain status, however it's kind of fun. The drone strike on the lake at the set up of Butlers downfall is fairly epic.

If you watch the trailer and go hey this looks like more fun than Palm Beach, then maybe give this one a go, it's meant to be cold the next few days, so warm up these final days of winter and get off to the movies.

3 Stars.

(Mini) Sunday Spotlight: WAXX

Brisbane band WAXX have just released their debut album, Big Grief. Written with Bernard Fanning and Grammy Award-winning producer Nick DiDia, WAXX created a blistering punk rock album.

According to Triple J with this week's feature album spot, "the riffs are sick, the energy is explosive, but once again, the highlight is the group's not-so-secret weapon: singer Maz DeVita, who manages to sound raw and pleading one moment and invincible the next".

You can check out a full piece from the Triple J site on the group HERE.

Otherwise take a listen to the record below, check out a video or two below, maybe WAXX could be your next favourite new group from Brisbane.

Until next week...

Cinema Slut #2019 - Palm Beach (2019 film)

A tone deaf movie about rich baby boomers living in a beautiful home in Sydney, never a better time to release a film like this right?

Wrong this movie (despite it's all star Australian/NZ/UK cast) really misses the point.

When I went in I expected drama and secrets with some lies also coming out, instead it's a long winded look at how our baby boomers are blowing cash and day time drinking.



The movie using loads of music to at times awkwardly and abruptly end scenes. The movie swings from couple to couple to expose how age and time can play a tough in role in keeping relationships together.

Bryan Brown was also in a 1980 film called Palm Beach, so maybe this film should have stayed in 1980 too.

The cast is a who's who list of Australian TV, film and stage, but still even Bryan Brown , Richard E. Grant, Aaron Jeffery , Jacqueline McKenzie, Heather Mitchell and Sam Neill can not save this train wreck.

The relationships and getting older bit, interesting in part, but the wealth, small issues of a chimney blocking a view or farting during yoga were all a bit much.

Top End Wedding is easily shaping up to be the Australian film of 2019.

2 Stars for DNSW trying to get behind this as a tourism exercise to get people to Sydney.

(Not at the) Cinema Slut #2019 - Isn't It Romantic

I expected NOTHING when I selected Isn't It Romantic on a recent Qantas flight, however I was happy Netflix and Qantas did a deal to get this on their Inflight Entertainment.



Rebel Wilson stars across from Liam Hemsworth, Adam DeVine, Priyanka Chopra and Betty Gilpin. It's a great little cast and has some magical musical moments.

Rebel did Rebel whilst Liam, Adam and Priyanka really played along with the whole anti rom com vibe.

I did even on my flight laugh out loud, want to sing along and honestly I think my Netflix at home must be stuffed as this never got recommended to me. Side note The Last Summer (KJ Apa and dreamy The Chi cast member Jacob Latimore) was as a Netflix produced film, which was truly shocking.

Isn't It Romantic is a fun little watch, if you have a spare 90 minutes give it a go, give The Last Summer a miss though, it's nowhere as fun as this little rom com romp.

Home again, posts resume as per normal from now!

A preview of this week's (Mini) Sunday Profile, Triple J will feature the album this week, it's Brisbane's WAAX.

Movies to catch real soon and hopefully review -

Palm Beach (local release)
Angel has Fallen (big, DUMB third film in the Fallen series)

TV shows to break down -

Why Women Kill (Marc Cherry x Lucy Liu, YASS)

Handmaid's Tale Season Three finale, what an episode, no spoilers, YET!

Animal Kingdom, finale to come, USA Tuesday, Australian Wednesday Netflix, PM

Queen of the South, Claws, will they be renewed? My trusty USA summer series, will they come to an end?

Succession, Season 2, how many F bombs can they have in one episode, or even one scene?

More to cum, back to normal, it's the end of winter 2019, YASS!

(Mini) Sunday Spotlight: Shura

I'm on holidays in the Dallas USA, next stop San Francisco, then straight home, it's a two flight kinda day!

Some posts may be lighter or shorter than normal, however Sundays are the best days to discover your favourite new acts, so here is a shorter than normal post for Shura.

Hailing from Hammersmith, England the 28 year old Shura (aka Aleksandra Lilah Yakunina-Denton) has just released her sophomore album, Forevher. Following her debut Nothing's Real in 2016, Shura
is starting to get a real following now.

Stream the new record below and check out some previous visuals, another interesting new artist for your Sunday.

Longer posts returning next week, hopefully with a film or two and I may even share with you some more holiday photos, maybe...

Tomorrow, Mexico

Loving travelling around North America but tomorrow it's a tour down south past the border to Mexico. I am so excited to head to unexplored territory for me, I have already been to San Fran before, lived in Vancouver however Denver has been new and a beautiful spot to stop off.

Yesterday we went to the happiest city in America (apparently) Boulder and boy was it beautiful, with a long pedestrian mall, mountains in the background and street performers everywhere the city was vibrant and delightful.

I even saw my first real life person wearing a Make America Great Again hat. Still not sure if the meaning is America was shit before now it's going to get better? Well by the amount of homeless people around and folks on very low minimum wage, I don't know how many American's right now think they are winning.

Enough of that, so I alway promise holiday photos and never deliver, so here goes. 2019 surely has been my year of travel, domestically and abroad. From Bali to Hawaii, Melbourne to the Rock, it's been amazing. Enjoy.

(Mini) Sunday Spotlight: Cashmere Cat

I'm on holidays in the Denver, USA, next stop Mexico!

Some posts may be lighter or shorter than normal, however Sundays are the best days to discover your favourite new acts, so here is a shorter than normal post for Cashmere Cat.

From Halden, Norway the 31 year old Cashmere Cat (aka Magnus August Høiberg) has been releasing tunes since 2012. On Friday a new single from his second incoming album (Princess Catgirl) landed.

Stream his debut album 9, from 2017 below as well as a few videos, including a tune he worked on with queen Halsey. For further reading check out his songwriting credits, boy has worked with some heavy hitters!

Longer posts returning mid/late August.

Cinema Slut #2019 - Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Star studded and Quentin Jerome Tarantino 9th film (Kill Parts I & II considered one film) Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is now screening in North America.

Yes I am in Vancouver so I will keep this brief. Whilst jet lagged as a mother fucker in San Francisco I took in the latest Tarantino film starring Pitt and DiCaprio.

Ok I generally hate long films, whilst Once Upon clocks in at 161 minutes, it's fun, Margot Robbie is delightful as always while Luke Perry and Laura Dern's dad Bruce even have smaller roles.



It all peaks towards the end when you thought you had escaped any real violence, then it comes. Boy does it come hard.

The movie is a fun loving look at Hollywood whilst knitting together real life characters like Charles Manson and Roman Polanski.

The movie opens in Australia on August 15, so don't get me started, distributors if you want to cut down on piracy, international releases for large titles such as this. Come on is it that hard? I know Australia is a small territory and most folks don't know where we are, but come on.

End of rant.

Review totals a sum of 3.5 Stars, so much star power, such a long sitting, go to the toilet during the last credits if you have a weak bladder like me.

(Mini) Sunday Spotlight: Slum Sociable

I'm on holidays in the US of A, some posts may be lighter or shorter than normal, however Sundays are the best days to discover your favourite new acts, so here is a shorter than normal post for Slum Sociable.

From Melbourne, Victoria the duo Slum Sociable have been releasing tunes since 2015. On Friday a new EP landed on all your favourite streaming sites. Listen to it and more from the duo below. Longer posts returning mid/late August.

Cinema Slut #2019 - Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw

I was lucky enough to one see Danger Close: The Battle of Long Tan a week before release, review posted yesterday.

You can catch Danger Close: The Battle of Long Tan at cinemas from next Thursday.

Now it's time for this week's big release Fast & Furious Presents:  Hobbs & Shaw.

So it's a spin off of the Fast & Furious franchise but honestly it's better. Statham and Johnson have a great thing going on, this is a funny, fast paced action film.

The car chases are slightly reduced, however the action is killer, add a half human, half terminator bad guy Idris Elba as Brixton Lore.

It's also fun seeing Helen Mirren make her mark again, whilst Ryan Reynolds and Kevin Hart also have a small role to play.

This is a fun film, it doesn't take itself too seriously at all, it is a breathe of fresh air to be honest.

No awards will be won for this film but honestly Statham, Johnson and Vanessa Kirby all work so well together.

In a recent weeks the cinemas have been filled with dull Disney remake, after Disney sequel or reboot, this is real popcorn shit right here.

3.5 Stars.

Cinema Slut #2019 - Danger Close: The Battle of Long Tan

In early May, 2019 I thought I had seen the best Australian film and for now that is still the case Top End Wedding is still my Aussie film of 2019.

However Danger Close: The Battle of Long Tan is a fairly decent historical account of a battle from August 1966.



Travis Fimmel leads the troops in this must lose battle.

War films are not usually my favourite but this film does a fine job of showcasing the terror of war and horrible lose of young Australian lives in the Vietnam war.

I left the film a little hollow and wanting Australia to not follow the USA into another war we have no place in.

However leaving politics aside, this could be a hit Australian film, Palm Beach is on the way too, so we are finally seeing some more Aussie content on the big screen.

Danger Close: The Battle of Long Tan is shot on the Gold Coast and looks mostly like the deep, dark Vietnam jungles.

The battle scenes are excellent, the build up exposes a few wooden performances, however overall this is not a bad film, just a tough bit of history to revisit. 3 Stars.