US Summer Drama Week: Fear the Walking Dead

Sorry for the lack of posts this weekend, as far as a quiet Saturday with one planned event on before Saturday hit it turned out to be a busy and social day for me and my dog Maverick.

So I have neglected US Summer Drama's this week, I have either been at the movies, at farewell dinners or just generally swanning around Sydney on a delightful week off.

Fear the Walking Dead is the last show I am very briefly going to shine the spotlight on, mainly because unlike it's big brother The Walking Dead I am not 100% mad about this show.

It departed our screens for a long mid season break back in May and returns August 21 (next month) for it's second half of the second season.

Unlike the fast and furious six episode season this season consists of a fifteen episode order and has been largely at sea via here and there.

And for Donald Trump here is what is happening next on the series but in Spanish, oh Spanish, build a wall fast! If not for the Zombies then for whom Trump?



That's a wrap on US Summer Drama week, next week film reviews and features on SING STREET and more!

That Movie Gay #2016

Breaking up US Summer drama week again it's time to head to the movies and the latest Ewan McGregor film, OUR KIND OF TRAITOR.



Also starring the amazing Stellan Skarsgard, Naomie Harris (Skyfall & Spectre) and Damian Lewis (Billions and of course lead in Homeland) this spy film via a novel is top class.

It's a little long but I won't mark it down much for that as Lights Out was in a league of it's own this week with an 80 minute in and out feature.

McGregor, Skarsgard and Harris steal the show whilst sometimes I feel Damian Lewis's best work was that in Homeland and Billions and this role just feels wrong. He was so good in Homeland that the role that most likely will (and has) defined his career has this thing hanging over him. He just needs a Claire Danes character in front of him consistently breaking down and going bat shit crazy.

But all in all Our Kind of Traitor was a brilliant looking film and a quality cinema release. Unfortunately the release was limited with a poor choice of session times and certain cinemas completely ignoring this intelligent thriller. What a shame.

I am going to give this a quality star rating of 3.5 Stars, well done.

US Summer Drama Week: Scream

Another day another US Summer drama under the microscope.

After a horror movie review yesterday, why not go to a TV show adapted from a classic horror film series. Now MTV is not known for it's quality scripted dramas but they are known for good looking casts and Scream and Teen Wolf are proof of this.



My personal favourite is season two regular and creeper Santiago Segura (below), cute!

Aside from the good looks this show has one thing in common with the hit film series, the killers outfit and that is about it.

The goings on also surrounds a high school setting but other than that the show is a horror slasher show with the Scream killer and a lot of good looking twenty somethings playing US school kids.

Look this is an easy to watch 40 minute drama, that has a decent element of whodunnit about it, but seriously this is not going to make any Golden Era of TV lists. Unlike Wentworth which honestly has the best season finale since their last one.

I will talk further about this on the weekend when folks have time to avoid spoilers.

For now Scream airs on Netflix in Australia (weekly new episodes are added) or MTV in the land of the free.

That Movie Gay #2016

James Wan has produced another brilliant thriller, spoiler alert, I actually liked LIGHTS OUT.



Joining Aussie Wan is fellow Australian Teresa Palmer, in Wan's second hit for 2016, following The Conjuring 2, this film takes the audience to another scary as fuck house in LA.

The Conjuring 2 was a huge success and at this stage has exceeded it's budget six times, so it comes with the territory that Lights Out has also exceeded it's tiny 4.2 million dollar budget six times over.

Lights Out also features a handsome new talent Alexander DiPersia as Palmers delightful boyfriend, however it's all about the ladies kicking as in this film, particularly Diana.

Remember than name, Diana. Shit, gets real real fast in this 81 minute thrill ride. Thanks Wan for making the story follow, scare the pants of the audience and then wrap up in a neat package at the end.

Very few filmmakers can hire good editors in 2016, films are usually bloated with too much unnecessary artsy nonsense or just shit that should have been cut.

I was a huge fan of this film, it moved at a rapid past and really cut to the point quick smart. Lights Out is another hit under James Wan very heavy belt now, what an outstanding Aussie export and ditto for Teresa Palmer. This is Palmers fourth film in 2016 with four more in the works, outstanding.

Lights Out, it's a brief piece of horror brilliance, shocks a plenty 4 terrifying stars!

US Summer Drama Week: Ray Donovan

Returning to showtime for it's fourth season a few weeks ago my favourite TV mother (next to the supreme Susan Meyer) Paula Malcolmson as Abby Donovan the Liev Schreiber lead dramas hovering around the magic million viewers a week and still an Emmy's favourite.

Ray Donovan continues to meet nasty characters in LA and this season we see Gabriel Mann (Nolan famously in Revenge) join the ever growing cast.

To say I would be surprised to see Showtime green light another season would be an understatement as I am beginning to feel like this show is either wrapping up or looking at at saying next year will be our fifth and final season.

Unlike Shameless not all family members are given equal screen time and the kids are basically just over paid extras in this season now.

You start to feel series like this were once great and still have their moments however the story they are to tell really have run there course.

Don't get me wrong this is streaks ahead of the dreadful American Gothic but sometimes it's time to say goodbye to a show before it goes down the road of Nolan (Gabriel Mann's) previous beast Revenge. That show in it's fourth season was a train wreck. And I'm not talking Amy Schumer Train Wreck good.

Ray Donovan it airs on Sunday in the USA, Monday in Australia. Let's be honest in Australia we have Love Child or fucking Masterchef so really this is heaven compared to white people crying about burnt toast.

OMG YES! CANNOT FUCKING WAIT!

The saving grace of Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice Wonder Woman returns in 2017 (June 2nd to be precise) and I cannot wait. This trailer has just been released and I am SO excited!

This week I will shine the spotlight on US Summer series. Yesterday I gave you a short post on Queen of the South and this week I will bring you some other commentary on what is currently airing across the Pacific Ocean.

Netflix has a load of new releases on the way The Get Down (Baz Luhrmann - August 12), Luke Cage (Marvel - September 30) & Narcos returns for a second series in 40 days.

Until next time, laters.

Queen of The South | Season One

USA Network are currently enjoying the success story that it Mr Robot returning for a much hyped second series and now they launch another showy looking new series Queen of the South.



Queen of the South stars Alice Braga as the lead and her best mate is from Six Feet Under,  Justina Machado who played Vanessa Diaz.

Currently rating the pants of Mr Robot I am sure in 2017 we will see more of Queen of the South as the show looks a million bucks and with Narcos being so popular it's nice to see a female in command.

Honestly I'm not 100% sold on the show, whilst the production is excellent, the cast seem into it, I am waiting to see where this 13 episode first season takes me. That said easily the best new show of the Summer in terms of US television.

Will be back again with some Winona Ryder soon as I now launch into Stranger Things. Oh yes that was part of my $14 Saturday night. Basically the food $14, Netflix compliments of my sister in laws log in, GIRL!

So my budget Saturday night cost me...

$14 thanks Deliveroo and a discount coupon online. Thanks Lisa for your Netflix password and thanks body clock for waking me up at 4:30am this morning.

Bed awaits. I am such a lame nanna right, it's the Saturday of Splendour in the Grass and I will be in bed at 9pm after cheap takeaway and dodgy sic-fi movies.

Wentworth Renewed for Season 5

Praise the Lord, best news all week, full story HERE and for some Friday fun times, Samantha Bee (living legend) went to the Republican Convention in Cleveland, Oh Boy! Man some of these folk are bat shit cray cray!



Make sure you subscribe to Bee's YouTube channel, she is a total legend and in the lead up to the US election, this is the woman to watch.

That Movie Gay #2016

I had a bit of as thing for the last Star Trek film back in 2013 so what about 2016 and STAR TREK BEYOND?



I was told by a good friend this film was action packed and super fun, and that was 110% true. Going for just over 2 hours, this space age action blockbuster produced by J J Abram's and team and produced by Fast & Furious dude Justin Lin is the real deal.

Now school holidays is done and dusted it's time for the grown ups to reclaim the cinema and Star Trek is a step in the right direction.

As a confessed Star Wars not Star Trek lover I found myself emerged in the story, loving the characters and loving the diversity and inclusion of a gay Asian family.

The political messages underlying in this film like unity, diversity and embracing difference is well done and I am sure would go over the heads of those at the Republican Convention currently in Democratic stronghold Cleveland.

I don't think I saw the first film in this rebooted series but plan on looking it up on Netflix, this is one reboot done well, Star Trek Beyond is a great action film and rates a solid 4 stars for outstanding action sequences and a great diverse cast.

Ballers Season 2

Man the Rock is handsome as FUCK!



The low rating HBO series is back for it's 10 episode second season. Starting a month later than it's debut season the show is set to run until mid September. Yes Australia Winter will be done and it will be Spring, praise tha Lord!

Oh wait it was like Spring yesterday, Global Warming anyone?

So Ballers is on while the Veep/Silicon Valley off season of Emmy award winning and nominated comedies take a break. HBO however have their highly praised new series the Night Of which I am yet to check out, also currently airing.

HBO still home to some of TV's most amazing and groundbreaking dramas and Veep honestly the best comedy on TV, this year and maybe ever! LOVE IT!

Ok enough of a wank fest for HBO, Ballers is on now!

Pauline Hanson arrives on Q&A tonight!

This will be TV gold, the ABC should kill it in the ratings, whilst Malcolm is currently getting his hole ridden by Leigh Sales.

Meanwhile Channel 7 is wheeling out Bourne Supremacy in preparation for the next Matt Damon action hit, Channel 9 is hoping Love Child actually doesn't drop below half a million and Channel 10 is still cooking with Masterchef and some other light entertainment around 8:30pm.

Meanwhile today Sonia ex-Tina Sparkle Kruger has caused a tidal wave of love and hate. Oh Sonia when your face is so plastic fantastic, your hosting of the Voice and the poor guy who won this series failed to even crack the Top 50 you can hardly throw rocks from your glass house.


Let's look at that poor Alfie Arcuri, Number 89, 11 way from triple digits. What an embarrassment for commercial TV and their reality juggernauts. This shows do people who watch reality TV actually buy the shit advertised and showcased during these poorly produced dull shows.

Alfie mate, good luck in the future for your album, you need it. Clearly the Voice is done and so is the care factor for your "career".

On to other matters, good luck to the next season of the down sized X Factor on Channel 7 this year, 4 judges become 3 and 4 categories become 3. Oh boy.

Until next time as Malcolm once said "There is never been a more exciting time to be an Australia"!

Aussie Drama Week: Wrap Up

After profiling BARRACUDA on Monday and then smashing all four episodes in the mini series later on iView to LOVE CHILD's third series on Tuesday followed by WENTWORTH on Wednesday. I got distracted by this weeks and recent releases but now it's time to wrap up Australian Drama Week.

So two episodes in with the double episode starter I was not 100% sold with THE KETTERING INCIDENT, however the scenery in Tasmania was one in a million I am willing to give the third episode a later this week.

Returning tomorrow night is a special edition of LOVE CHILD as they head to Vietnam and the war with a "Special Event" episode. They would want to help it's a special event with special ratings as this series is hardly setting the world on the fire. Last week the show fell way under the magic million at 740,000.

WINNERS AND LOSERS is the real drama loser in it's final season, last week dropping to just over half a million viewers. The show will also soon see out it's 100th episode.

WENTWORTH is head to head with it and entering it's 11th episode. On Pay TV it has consistently been the most watched show on Foxtel on Tuesday nights. The numbers aren't huge (110,000 viewers), still this show has just been announced to be remade in Belgium and has been sold to multiple countries around the world meaning a 5th season is just around the corner (fingers crosseD).

OFFSPRING has returned for it's 6th season after a big break and honestly Channel Ten is making a slowly but surely comeback with this honestly being one of the most watched dramas. The debut episode was just shy of having a million viewers.

BARRACUDA is being aired as encore on Thursday nights, the ABC's former drama double with Rake and Cleverman doing decent business.

So in summary there is a lot of choice on offer and the gritty dramas still tend to be on the ABC for free to air viewers and Foxtel viewers have been spoilt for choice with Secret City being brilliant (until the finale), Wentworth and The Kettering Incident.

ABC promises August is going to pop with the second season of the Code, how will that fair after the Secret City, another political Canberra based drama.

Seven promises more 800 Words and Nine will give us Doctor Doctor whilst Ten is bringing out a new drama to it's catalogue The Wrong Girl with an all star cast.

So there is a lot of drama in amongst the Bachelors, the Masterchefs, the Voices and X Factors, the House Rules and Block Heads, but I still think we need more creativity in this country. Australian content is fine but let's try and aim higher than an Andrew Bolt viewer and a Courier Mail reader please.

Andrew Bolt has a new Boyfriend (Poor old Tony Abbott, your so five minutes ago)

Oh geez, who is this whack job??? More on Milo soon, he sure says some BIG statements with little evidence. More on him on later posts. Thanks for all the Birthday well wishes yesterday gang.



More posts to come soon.

Bye for now..

That Movie Gay #2016

One for the senior high school students and the adults like me who love this new Zac Efron ditching his Disney past and embracing another sexy role in MIKE & DAVE'S NEED WEDDING DATES.



Zac Efron and Anna Kendrick have amazing chemistry in this film and let's just say the last sequence with the all singing awesome foursome is fab.

Aubrey Plaza who starred along Efron in the lesser film Dirty Grandpa was amazing as Kendrick best lady friend and Adam DeVine was brilliant as Efron's brother.

There is nothing new here but it's the great delivery and the way the four work together. The movie was fast paced and for a week in this film had a fairly packed audience howling out loud. This is where Ghostbusters fell flat. One it was an event screening with around 20 or just under and no one laughed out loud.

To get right into a comedy you need the audience with you and the film and there were laughs a plenty to be had here.

Look I love a comedy and I love sex jokes so this was a winner in my eyes. Writers and folks behind the Neighbours films (Rogen, Byrne and Efron) again did well here. And I think Feig should stick to what he knows, after seeing two comedies back to back, Mike and Dave is definitely a winner.

4 Stars for this smut filled romp, great stuff, This is How U do Comedy. Reference to the brilliant needing, SPOILER ALERTZ

That Movie Gay #2016

In 1984 (I was two) and we were introduced to the male GHOSTBUSTERS, in 1989 we saw a sequel and in 2016 we saw four ladies take on a reboot.



Look Paul Feig is one of my favourite directors, Bridesmaids was easily one of my favourite films of all time, I adored Spy and The Heat made Sandra Bullock watchable again. Unfortunately in Australia Paul Feig needs an MA rating, with a washed down M rating movie without all the bad words it kind of lacks some, laughs.

I am not saying you need loads of swearing for loads of laughs, but sometimes you do and this poorly attended film last night (Girls Night Out) there was not a huge amount of laughter in the cinema.

Melissa McCarthy and Kristen Wiig did their usual thing and Kate McKinnon and Leslie Jones were welcome new additions to the Feig films.

Know I didn't love this film but I didn't hate it either, it was passable but not the brilliance of Feig's previous feature films. Bridesmaids and Spy set the bar high but unfortunately this doesn't reach the heights of the previous films.

As a reboot of a major franchise goes, it was a huge improvement on Independence Day but I think Feig should also stick to standalone films.

Ghostbusters lady version rates 3 Stars.

Aussie Drama Week: Wentworth (Season Four)

To say the fourth season of Wentworth has been blockbuster is an understatement. The series continues to provide water cooler moments and Bea Smith has shown a very vulnerable side which has added to the complexity of this seriously brilliant Australian drama.

The Freak played by the divine Pamela Rabe is heaven as the new inmate and trouble maker and Sigrid Thornton has made a welcome but slightly understated new inmate. The most exciting side story is Bernard Curry, does he have the hots for Will Jackson (I do that is for sure) or is he really into  Vera? And what's he playing at with the Freak?

So many questions and as I watch the 10th episode back this morning we have two to go. Hopefully through the rumour mill I hear season five is a shoe in. This series is seriously good business for Foxtel. Netflix in the US and Canada are streaming the first three series and by looking at their Facebook page international fans are building!

Wentworth it's brilliant Aussie drama at it's best, thank you Foxtel and thank you cast and crew for a seriously awesome home grown show.

Aussie Drama Week: Love Child (Season Three)

On 17 February 2014 Love Child commenced on Channel 9 and had 1.59 million Australian viewers tuned in. The debut season of eight episodes saw each episode score over 1.3 million viewers per episode.

As we stare down the barrel of episode four airing last night this season has only managed one episode over one million viewers. Why is that? I did a feature on the brilliant Miranda Tapsell last week and she is fab but the series itself is a little flat. It's a bloated ten episode season in place of the usual eight too which could prove tricky towards the pointy end of the season.

Being the only drama (excluding Home and Away and Neighbours) on free to air TV tonight do people really prefer reality? The only issue for Love Child is Foxtel! The Kettering Incident has stolen Monday nights PR for TV drama.

Foxtel has been completely serving it to free to air TV with Secret City being a recent hit and Wentworth continues to be brilliant and a top rating show for the pay TV team.

Love Child has had some success in the past however this season's ratings aren't painting a nice picture. Last week the show dipped to 730,000 viewers and the dreadful series The Briefcase has not helped the series along. This disaster of a reality show slowed the shows momentum and I have to say the shows start and end dates never being consistent can't help the shows cause.

The Matthew Le Nevez factor of being on both shows and a major Offspring drawcard may also split audience numbers too.

I know all this sounds negative but the show is one of those great in the background, get some shit around the house done type shows.

I have to say like Wentworth the show has created some great roles for Aussie females and at first this was an interesting idea however I think it's best days have past. Channel Nine it's time to get with the drama over on ABC and Foxtel, let's get gritty!

Aussie Drama Week: Barracuda (Episode One)

So on Free to Air TV I recently was not that kind to Seven, Nine and Ten about there dramas but this week I am going to be nice to all networks (including Foxtel) and shine the light on Aussie drama.

Last week it was all about Naidoc Week and this week, it's Drama, Drama, Drama!

Last night the ABC did another stellar job with Barracuda!



From the author of the Slap and Loaded (later turned into the film Head On) Christos Tsiolkas takes on sport and sexuality along with growing up in Melbourne whilst attending a fancy private school.

The first episode was to be honest, outstanding. I hated the US version of the Slap which gave Melissa George another go at taking on her role in the Australian and original version. The Slap when it aired in Australia was brilliant as was his previous feature film Head On.

I am excited to learn all four episodes are up online now at iView to binge on the remaining three episodes in this highly promoted killer mini series.

I won't go into too much more but Barracuda for me was up there with the brilliance of Wentworth when we look at drama and Australian TV. Well done ABC another major achievement.

That Movie Gay #2016

After a blockbuster yesterday (Tarzan - review below) today was a time for an indie film starring the amazing Julianne Moore and Ethan Hawke in MAGGIES PLAN.



Greta Gerwig was great as Maggie and extremely vulnerable and Aussie Travis Fimmel was terrific as Guy.

I loved every minute of this 98 minute drama. The ugly side of relationships are explored in depth and this scene was beyond brilliant.



That jumper that Julianne Moore has is just divine and those white boots, heaven.

Relationships are messy, sticky and when kids are involved there is a whole new level of WTF moments. I enjoyed this film a serious amount and seeing it in a room full of 75 to near death folks at Sydney's Dendy Opera Quays was all the more, more fun.

I wondered why a lot of the folks attending this film did so on there Sunday mornings. I was honestly the youngest person in the cinema by around 40 years.

So Maggie's Plan, it was a good day and weekend for cinema even though we are smack bang in the middle of the Winter School Holidays.

Maggie's Plan is honest to God a 4.5 Star film.

BRILLIANT STUFF!

That Movie Gay #2016

So Australian Margot Robbie is Jane and the beautiful Alexander Skarsgard is Tarzan (John) in the latest blockbuster film featuring Tarzan it's time for THE LEGEND OF TARZAN.



As School Holidays (Winter Edition) closes in on almost completion it's time for a film for the High School kids.

I was SUPER pumped for this film and I left even more pumped and actually for once wanting a sequel. After seeing loads of sequels I think there is a lot more of a story to tell here and even more of Alexander I was to see on the big screen!

Samuel L Jackson was absolutely brilliant in this film adding comedy and adding another dimension to this beautiful looking film and a well done action feature film.

I loved the scenes with all the animals from Lions to Apes to Crocodiles it had it all.

Just a good afternoon out and honestly one of the best and most action packed films of 2016. I enjoyed this a lot, 4 hot as fuck abs and stars.

RIP True Blood and Eric + Sookie or Eric + Jason sex scenes.

Naidoc Week: Friday {Jimblah}

Hailing from Adelaide, originally from the NT (my only State or Territory I haven't visited in this very fine Brown Land) Jimblah is where we land on a Friday.









Finishing with a cover of another Aussie legend, Mr Matt Corby.

Well that is a wrap on my focus on Naidoc Week, coming my return to the cinema will it be Dory, will it be the latest film where Zac Efron keeps his shirt off or will it be Tarzan? Or something completely different, come back over the weekend for a bit of cinema fun!

Bye, and happy Friday!

Naidoc Week: Thursday {Miranda Tapsell}

Today/Tonight I am turning my ears off music and my eyes onto one of Australia's best and brightest young stars, Ms Miranda Tapsell. The 28 year old is the queen of screen right now starring in Love Child and wrapping up on Cleverman and Secret City.

It has never been a better time for this talented Logie Award winning star!




From decent journalism to Rove & Sam Miranda is a woman here there and everywhere. Tomorrow we will wrap up with another musical week as Naidoc Week is coming to a close.

Miranda - You bloody legend!

Naidoc Week: Wednesday {Leah Flanagan}

Today on this Hump Day of Naidoc Week it's time to discover Leah Flanagan. I found a link to her Soundcloud on Double J who is all over Naidoc Week after there entire month long Punk is Calling last month.

Leah hails from my home Sydney, Australia and has Venetian, Aboriginal and Irish heritage, a mix which would confuse and perplex any One Nation supporter and most likely there vile witch of a leader Pauline Pantsdown.



Leah Flanagan is touring her latest single Chills this July/August for dates and deers - HERE



Until tomorrow, catch ya round and happy Naidoc Week!

Naidoc Week: Tuesday {A.B. Original}

Day two of my Naidoc Week, and today we look at Briggs and Trails fantastic duo A.B. Original. 2 Black 2 Strong has been a huge radio hit this year and Hau from Koolism and Triple J has also joined the power duo on Firing Squad.





Briggs is everywhere right now, on these tracks, appeared on the second series of Black Comedy and now Cleverman. Cleverman has been a huge hit internationally and here locally having a strong following.

Tomorrow I will shine the spotlight on another terrific local act.

Naidoc Week: Monday {Robbie Miller}

It's Naidoc Week 2016 and let's kick things off with some done fine music from the one and only Robbie Miller. Here is his latest cut Road.



Road follows on from the sublime The Pain...



And of course I remember hearing Don't Go Walking Away first up from him around one year ago..



More exciting new music tomorrow as Flashing off the Record celebrates the Avalanches and right here we are musically in tune with our Naidoc Feature Artists.

That Movie Gay #2016

What happens when the last movie you saw (the unwanted, unnecessary and box office flop ID2) sucked so hard that you thought all School Holiday films were dogs? Well you give in and see CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE.



Here's my verdict. Hold my weave back, I'm going in!

I hated Independence Day: Re-whatever-the-fuck they were trying to reboot a dead in the water sequel, but this, I LOVED.

The message of bullies and high school could never be more of a point that needs pushing in 2016 with Social Media and bullying at an all time high.

Kevin Hart and Dwanye Johnson (hot as a mother fucker) are great and together work real well together. Melissa McCarthy is a nice surprise in the brilliant ending and Jason Bateman as Trevor is just an irritating fucker all round and plays it well.

Look this is nothing new, nothing fresh in the world of comedy/action but honestly these School Holidays along with the excitement building for Tarzan and Mike & Dave this is a School Holidays pick for the High school kids. Maybe Dory for the juniors or the brilliant film from across the ditch Hunt for the Wilder People.

Central Intelligence is not super intelligent but it is a lot of fun and I believe that is what Johnson and Hart strive to do so well done!

3.75 Stars, I liked this one, a lot.