Cruising from Melbourne to Sydney

Delayed or limited posts due to possible data restrictions/wi-fi access.

However meet your (Mini) Monday Spotlight for this coming week, Stevie Jean!

Hope you are enjoying this weekends Hottest 100 of the decade. Very happy 212 made it as well as Robyn's anthem Dancing on my Own! Yass ladies!

Until Monday PM, see y'all on the flip side.

Box Office Flop or Blockbuster 2020? - Miss Fisher and the Crypt of Tears

Camp, over the top and a little silly, is Miss Fisher and the Crypt of Tears a Box Office Flop or Blockbuster?

In terms of Australian movies, this will do well, mainly considering the coronavirus situation.

There were four people (including me) in the screening I saw tonight. The cinema was dead when I left at 8pm. Yes the last few weeks of releases have not included any monster blockbusters, but this coronavirus thing, wow!



OK, I was a huge fan of the show but you know sometimes (I am looking at you Sex & the City) some shows should remain just on the small screen.

Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries ran successfully on ABC for three seasons from 2012 to 2015.

Channel Seven had a weird 1960's spin off Ms Fisher's Modern Murder Mysteries which only lasted four episodes.

Yes these episodes were almost the length of this feature film (run time 101 minutes) but the show lacked, well Essie Davis.

Essie Davis as The Honourable Phryne Fisher steals every scene in the film, basically like she did in the TV series.

Unfortunately the globe trotting of the movie, creates this all over the shop plot, with random jewels and murders happening all at once.

The fashion is the main thing in this film. Essie does multiple costume changes like a Las Vegas Cher concert.

The dialogue is paper thin at times, whilst the chemistry between Fisher and Detective Inspector John "Jack" Robinson boils over at times.

This was a fun, camp overly long episode of the once huge ABC series.

It's passable, I did find my mind wandering during the film.So this might just be one for the fans, 2.5 Stars.

(Mini) Monday Spotlight: 070 Shake

Danielle Balbuena AKA 070 Shake is this week's (Mini) Monday Spotlight.

Following two local (Mini) Monday Spotlights it's time to go global for the third instalment for 2020. So let's travel to North Bergen, New Jersey, U.S.A

070 Shake released her debut album, Modus Vivendi, on January 17, 2020. Her solo debut, the 6-track Glitter EP was released on March 23, 2018. Also in 2018 070 Shake gained attention for her guest appearances and involvement with Kanye West's production work in Wyoming.

070 Shake uses female pronouns when describing lovers in her music. In 2017 a Vogue essay on about rising queer stars in rap music mentioned, 070 Shake being in a relationship with Sophia Diana Lodato.

In a 2018 Pitchfork article, 070 Shake said she doesn't like to put labels on her sexuality. In a quote "I don't really identify myself as queer or gay or anything. I just like girls". How 2020.

So it's time once again to discover your next new favourite artist. This week meet 070 Shake.

Happy International Women’s Day!

You can join in the celebrations at Triple J (and their sister stations/sites) HERE.

Tomorrow I will feature 070 Shake as my third (Mini) Monday Spotlight for 2020. This year it's been an all girl affair with Jack River and Banoffee already featured.

Speaking of the ABC I was lucky enough to review the first episode of season two earlier in the week. Here is a recap of my season one thoughts for some light Sunday reading.

Lastly the most girl power anthem of previous times, take it away BEYONCE! Happy International Women’s Day

Mystery Road, Season Two

Season one of Mystery Road aired back in the winters of 2018. It was a big winner of the respective award shows 8th AACTA Awards and 2019 Logie Awards.

The ABC series is a spin-off from Ivan Sen's films Mystery Road and Goldstone. Season one saw Jay Swan investigate the disappearance of two young farmhands.

Season one was a slick six episode affair, I am assuming season two is the same. I was lucky enough for the ABC to flick me episode one to watch as part of their ABC YourSpace program. You too can sign up for the program HERE.

Aaron Pedersen is fantastic as always Jay Swan. Swan from the films and season one is central to all this bad shit going down. Like The Blacklist, US procedurals this show has a central mystery as well as other issues being explored.

I was a huge fan of season one, most likely season two will be rolled out after Stateless which is currently airing on the ABC whilst also getting international attention.

The ABC is a wonderful supporter of Australian stories. Channels Seven and Nine are fighting to cut back Aussie content meanwhile the ABC is already out of the gates strong with new local content in 2020.

I am desperate to watch the debut episode of Stateless, for now my sneak peek of Mystery Road, season two. Is BRILLIANT. I really cannot wait for the remainder of season two to air.

Here is the trailer, until next time.

9-1-1: Lone Star, Final Weeks Season One

Hosting a double finale next week the spawn of Fox's 9-1-1 creatively titled 9-1-1: Lone Star has been one of my favourite Australian summer series.



Proving Ryan Murphy still has it after the rather flat The Politician on Netflix. I am still exciting to see where he goes with Ratched, also airing on Netflix sometime in 2020.

9-1-1 Lone Star features a few familiar faces along with some new ones too. It doesn't feel as over the top as it's LA cousin, simply 9-1-1.

Where 9-1-1 in LA has given us huge events like earth quakes and tidal waves, Lone Star appears to be more about the characters themselves.

Whilst 9-1-1 does a great job with some of it's main crew, this has really seen through the father/son, cancer storyline. Not to mention Rob Lowe having a hunky gay son, who has so much drama in episode one. Thank god for the move to Austin and officer Reyes.

Unfortunately liv Tyler's character is sort of the weakest link here. The mystery of her sisters disappearance/possible death is a little dull and feels forgotten across some episodes.

Having a gay latino cop, a trans male fire fighter (who is also black), a muslim fire fighter, a deeply christian fire fighter married to a black 9-1-1 operator you feel like Murphy is painting Austin as some liberal heaven. However it is so important to have different faces on TV. This is what I enjoyed about this years live Mardi Gras coverage. All the different faces, stories and what people stood for.

9-1-1: Lone Star looks certain to grab a second season, it's been a big winner for Fox in the US who have little to get excited about in 2020.

Get around this when it finally gets to Australia in maybe 2025.

(Mini) Monday Spotlight: Jack River

Holly Isabella Rankin AKA Jack River delivered a perfect indie pop record in 2018, Sugar Mountain. Rankin has worked with Peking Duk, been nominated for multiple ARIA awards and recently released a wonderful new EP Stranger Heart.

Featuring the singles Later Flight and Dark Star, the EP is an excellent seven track release.

Jack River's debut album featured hit singles like Fools Gold, Ballroom, Limo Song and Fault Line.

You would have to have been living under a rock if you missed her debut on the dance scene with Sugar. Peking Duk have worked with a number of acts, but their team up with Jack River was pure magic!

So it's the start of a new week, I'm in Bali and it's time to discover your next new favourite artist. However I have a feeling some of you may be already across Holly Isabella Rankin! Until next week.