Movie Matinee Madness - The Predator

After a few an eight year break and two crossovers with Alien, The Predator is back.



With a lot of swearing and violence this is perfect for teenage boys and well me...

Handmaid's Tale and maybe Emmy winner today, Yvonne Strahovski was one of the most strangely cast, she is a solid actress now, star of one of the most watched shows around and formerly starring in Dexter, why this? I know you have a child on the way, but why?

Netflix star Boyd Holbrook is Strahovski's husband and the lead and Lily Allen's brother Alfie pops up.

The action scenes are fun and it does have some 14 year old boy humour, but overall it's not great, it's got a super random ending and the set up for the next film is just so obvious.

Box office is not great thus far so let's see if the next film actually gets up.

My session was fairly small in size, despite the fact I wanted to attend a session at Fox Studios, but Sydney roads have an issue. The issue is one issue and the whole system goes to hell in a handbag.

So The Predator, so brutal action, some shocking language, 3 Stars.

American Horror Story TURNS 8...

Opening to just over 3 million live viewers, however getting fairly solid reviews, American Horror Story returns for it's promised crossover series Murder House x Coven.

The only thing is episode one, it was all new characters and the end of the world as we know it.

American Horror Story has been around since 2011 and a fan favourite on FX network in the USA. Unlike the brilliant last season Cult which was for some reason held by Foxtel in Australia, Apocalypse is being fast tracked. Thanks for the consistency Foxtel.

The usual suspects are back, Evan Peters (Pose fame recently), Sarah Paulson, Kathy Bates, Billie Lourd returns for a second outing and Murphy sure likes her after her role in Scream Queens previously. While Emma Roberts, Jessica Lange are set to return and Joan Collins has joined the family.

American Horror Story is a phenomena, it's got a big online cult following, the teasers and lead up to what the theme will be each year gets the online community talking and Murphy is lucky hitting reset at the start of each new season.

Following a few meh seasons, I have high hopes for the future setting of Apocalypse, it started a little slow but the set up is there. Love, tension, suspense and not much hope given for each of our new TV friends.

I look forward to episode two and seeing where Murphy will take up this time around. Season eight of a horror show on TV, that in itself is a huge achievement.

(Mini) Sunday Spotlight: Jungle

Hailing from London, England it's eight piece (yes eight piece) neo soul group Jungle, Friday they released their second album For Ever and today, they are my (Mini) Sunday Spotlight.

Four years ago the group popped up on the scene with their awesome self titled debut. Folks loved The Heat and Busy Earnin' earning the group a fairly loyal fanbase.

We heard four singles prior to For Ever seeing the light of day and you can check them out along with the visuals below.

Jungle have had their music on a variety of TV shows and received this week's feature album @ Triple J.

Funk, neo soul, however you take Jungle's infectious tunes, it's time to discover Jungle ahead of their April, 2019 tour (details HERE for Sydney) check out some highlights below...

Movie Matinee Madness - A Simple Favor

Pitch Perfect legend, Gossip Girl and a Crazy Rich Asian, yes Anna Kendrick, Blake Lively & Henry Golding have all teamed up for A Simple Favor.

Following Paul Feig's biggest directorial hit Bridesmaids in 2011, Feig has put the failed Ghostbusters project behind him and tried to forget last years miss more than comedy hits Snatched for a thriller.



After a few so-so comedies I touched on above, Feig has teamed up with some of Hollywood's finest stars right now. Lively is the standout for me and as a huge fan of Anna Kendrick that is a statement. Henry Golding is seriously good looking and Girls favourite Andrew Rannells is excellent as a bitchy parent at Kendrick/Lively's school.

The twists at the end get a little silly, however it starts strong and does have some funny parenting moments.

Lively shakes off the Serena van der Woodsen days and had me as excited as her outstanding role in the shark film The Shallows.

Rupert Friend has one of the strangest roles in the film as Lively's boss, however it really is a highly talented cast. It just does go on a bit long. Overall though this was a nice change to see Feig ditch another so-so comedy and give u something different.

3 Stars.

Shameless Inches Towards episode number 100!

How many shows inch towards their 100th episode and still have the wind 100% in their sail? Well guess what Showtime's leading Drama-Comedy title Shameless does.

Starting the season a little softer in the ratings, however I think this would be a big DVR title, so give it a week. With 1.31 million US viewers tuning in to episode one this will be a big season, for a number of reasons.

One in a few weeks we will see episode 100, two the season this year has grown to 14 episodes, three, there will be a mid season break for the first time.



I loved the first episode and can hardly wait for next Monday. Sundays are so packed right now with Ballers, Insecure, The Deuce and Fear the Walking Dead, so it takes a lot to standout, but this show is a standout.

It's constantly changing, reinventing the family dramas, finding another thing for Frank to fuck up and I am honestly loving Ian sick. Lip is so gosh damn handsome and Debbie did #MeToo proud.

Fiona (Emmy Rossum) has announced already she is out (most likely) at the end of this season. So will the show return for a tenth season? Time will tell but with Homeland wrapping, Showtime needs a consistent fan favourite and I have a feeling Shameless fans are for life!

Season Nine started with pure fire, loved every minute, YASSSSSS

Movie Matinee Madness - Mile 22

Peter Berg has made some interesting films, collaborated a lot with Marky Mark and told some interesting true stories, reimagined for the cinema, this however is not one of those tales.

Mile 22, looks great, but don't be tricked, it's a complicated thing...



Rotten Tomatoes has given this a shocking score thus far but all credit has to go to Iko Uwais as Li Noor, the material arts and action scenes with him in it, make this a passable film.

Ronda Rousey was a random casting choice, but I guess it gets her fans to buy tickets and Marky Mark was not at his best in this role.

Unfortunately this aimed high, promised a lot and completely 100% underdelivered. Mile 22 is a very average action film and with Predator on the way, Crazy Rich Asians slaying at the Box Office and school holidays incoming (AGAIN) this will be short lived at your local cinema.

2.5 Stars, all for Iko Uwais, that underwear 2:1 fighting scene, WOW!

(Mini) Sunday Spotlight: MNEK

MNEK, where on Earth do we start, well actually the best place is the fact his debut album was the feature all this week on Flashing off the Record. You can stream it, see the videos behind the songs and more...

But MNEK, arrived on the scene around 2012, lending his vocals to Rudimental's Spoons. This lead to a long term collaboration between the two with MNEK appearing on a number of Rudimental tracks.

Around 2014-2015 I feel in love with MNEK's Rady for Your Love with Gorgon City and Every Little Word his debut solo single from the Small Talk EP.

The EP spawned three great singles and I was hungry for more. So when his debut album landed on Friday I was super excited. MNEK also had a hand in songwriting Beyonce's anthem Hold Up.

MNEK has worked with Jax Jones, Stormzy, Zara Larsson, The Knocks, Bastille and so many more. Keep an ear out for MNEK as this is just the beginning!