Back on one warm Friday morning in late 2014, I walked into a darkened cinema in Sydney, beyond eager (but also a little trepidatious) to watch Paddington, the big screen adaptation of Michael Bond’s much-loved bear. I needn’t have worried because the people who brought this film to life, Continue Reading
Comic book review: Animal Noir (issues 1-4)
It is oft said that you should never discuss politics, religion or social issues. As truisms go, this is one that still carries a great deal of cautionary weight, especially in today’s world where people have retreated to hermetically-sealed belief towers into which no other line of thought should Continue Reading
A fascinating journey: Adam Driver talks about finding his true vocation as an actor
SNAPSHOT Before he fought in the galactic battles of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Adam Driver was a United States Marine with 1/1 Weapons Company. He tells the story of how and why he became a Marine, the complex transition from soldier to civilian — and Arts in the Continue Reading
Fear the Walking Dead: “Burning in Water, Drowning in Flame” (S3, E5 review)
SPOILERS AHEAD … AND POETRY, DAMN POETRY AND BRAIN-EATING CROWS One of the great existential dilemmas of The Walking Dead franchise as a whole has been whether it is possible to stay human (be tender, merciful, cultured, artistic) in the face of an unrelenting threat that, on the face Continue Reading
Rollin’ France: An hilarious animated look at a world where animals are round
You’ve seen Rollin’ Safari – and if you have not, why not, here’s the link, remedy this immediately if not sooner – and now the people who brought this imaginative and damn funny animated conjecturing on what a world of round animals would look like, Kyra Buschor and Constantin Päplow from Continue Reading
Weekend poster art: The Little Hours get medievally saucy
SNAPSHOT The film stars Franco as a servant in the Middle Ages who flees the clutches of his oppressive master (Nick Offerman), ultimately taking up residence with a convent of wild nuns (Plaza, Shannon, Brie, Micucci) in the campy interpretation of Giovanni Boccaccio’s 14th-century work The Decameron (synopsis via Continue Reading
Sesame Street: Whoopi Goldberg and Elmo Draw Picture for Pen Pal in Syria
SNAPSHOT Elmo wants to cheer up his friend Laila from Syria—so he decides to draw her a picture. Millions of children like Laila are missing out on education and need our help. (synopsis via YouTube) Though it is justifiably known and lauded for its brilliant work as a worldwide Continue Reading
The Librarians: Saving the world, one comic book at a time
SNAPSHOT Way back in the swinging ‘70s, movie producer Sol Schick was the guy behind such cheesy classics as Quarry: Bigfoot!, Noah’s Ark: Found at Last! and Heavenly Visitors from the Hell Above. But when he’s murdered – at a film festival! – with a piece of Noah’s Ark! Continue Reading
Book review: Goodbye, Vitamin by Rachel Khong
However you choose to play it, life has a way of constantly mixing it up, turning the tables when you least expect it, reversing roles, and exposing the richness or paucity of your character when you least expect it. We all know this on some level, and yet whenever Continue Reading
Avast ye scurvy Jack Sparrow-loving scoundrels! Here’s the emoji Pirates of the Caribbean
I am a huge fan of emojis. Unlike most 51 year olds, my texts, tweets and Facebook posts are littered with a profusion of the very cute pictograms, and frankly, if I could have them pop up around me while I walked and talked, I would. So it makes Continue Reading