OSCAR WATCH 2016: Four Films

Brooklyn

This is a sweet but powerful film. Set in the 50s Eilis (Saoirse Ronan) leaves Ireland for Brooklyn at the wishes of her older sister. She is young and innocent and nervous but soon finds herself settling in with a job in a department store, study at night, friends, and a lovely Italian beau. Her new world is charming and perfect. When her sister unexpectedly dies she knows she must go home and see her mother. Once home, she is manipulated into staying longer and strikes up a friendship with another man. But which world does she belong to, she has some heart wrenching choices to make.

 

Brooklyn, based on Colm Tobin’s novel, but adapted by the brilliant Nick Hornby is a beautiful sweeping story of one lovely girl and her growth into a woman, which sound so very cliched but it is anything but.

 

The film feels warm and looks sublime, the soundtrack haunting. The acting is superb, it is just simply a lovely film. You almost feel as if you are there with her in the 50s, the costumes are just divine. I loved this film and it’s old fashioned sensibilities so very much.

 

Brooklyn is nominated for 3 Oscars for Best Film, Actress, and Screenplay.

 

I do not think it will fair well, but that is nothing to be ashamed of, this is a great film.

 

45 Years

This is another old fashioned film. The film focuses on the week leading up to a couple’s 45th Wedding Anniversary party. The couple, Geoff and Kate Mercer, are played by the gorgeous Tom Courtenay and the divine Charlotte Rampling. The couple live in the country and have a loving idyllic lifestyle. Kate is younger than Geoff, and he has had heart problems with their 40th party being interrupted.

 

45 years is slow moving, concentrating on the lovely nuances of a couple deeply at peace and still in love with each. It is lovely to see such a relationship on the screen. Courtenay looks handsome and rugged, and Rampling as sexy as ever. But something from Geoff’s past, his past before Kate, turns up during that week and may ruin everything they have. It is a significant thing, but not sinister, it causes little ripples that you see so plainly before the characters even realise what is happening. This is due to the gentle and beautiful direction of the film.

 

Courtenay is great in this role, but the film is all Rampling! She is magnificent! This is not her best role, I have seen her in much better roles, but she is very good and this is really worth seeing.

 

45 Years is nominated for 1 Oscar for Charlotte Rampling, she won’t win, which is a shame, but it is nice to nominated

 

Mad Max: Fury Road

I missed this at the cinemas, to be honest not really my thing. I caught it up on DVD and I really wish I had seen it on the big screen. It was great, I could take or leave the story and the action as such, but it was beautifully shot and the girls were magnificent. This was a kick arse feminist movie and I was down with that. Charlize Theron and her group were great, hard nosed, and action oriented, so nice to see women taking on these roles!

 

The cinematography was outstanding, the colours, the hues the blue and black imagery, the sky and the sand. It looked astonishingly good. The choreography of all those machines on the desert, it was great.

 

Tom Hardy was also great, but really this was Charlize’s film and what a shame she was not nominated, sacrilege!

Fury Road is nominated for 10 Oscars, Best Picture, Direction, Cinematography, Film Editing, Costume Design, Make Up and Hair, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing, Visual Effects, Production design.

 

My thoughts are it will clean up the technical awards but not Picture or Director.

 

The Martian

I also caught The Martian on DVD and loved it. This is a great film and Damon is astonishingly good. I have always loved Damon, but he is really superb in this. It’s his film!

So the story is Damon is part of a crew on Mars, a storm hits and they decide to leave after a colleague is killed (Damon). The thing is he is not dead, so he has been left behind on this inhospitable planet with rescue possibly 4 years away at best. The story is mostly how Damon deals with this tragedy; with rage, humour and everything in between and how those back on earth try to resolve this debacle.

 

It is a great cast, with Jeff Daniels, Jessica Chastain, Kristen Wiig, Michael Pena, Sean Bean, Kate Mara, and Chiwetel Ejiofor. The scenes on Mars are totally believable, and whilst some of the other space bits seem a little far fetched you go with it, it works.

 

This film made me laugh and cry and be right on the edge of my seat in terms of thriller, none of it felt manipulative and it was tremendously entertaining! It also has a great soundtrack, mostly 70s tune, including Bowie and Disco tunes.

 

The Martian is nominated for 7 Oscars, Best Picture, Best actor, Screenplay, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing, Visual Effects, Production.

 

My thoughts are it is nice to be nominated. On any other year Damon might stand a chance, but not this year.

OSCAR WATCH 2016: Four Films

SpotlightThere is no doubt the subject matter of this film is heavy and awful. However it is not completely heartbreaking. The subject matter is treated with the respect and dignity it deserves. The church, thankfully, not so much.

 

Spotlight is more about the investigative journalism team that are working to uncover a story about abuse in the church. The story is more than they bargain for, and it plays out like a thriller that you know the ending of but are waiting for the characters to catch up with. It’s also a great companion piece to All The President’s Men, almost a homage to it in fact. Some shots within the film are almost taken straight from the Redford/Hoffman classic.

 

Firstly things unfold slowly, but as they do, you feel every little ripple and every little shock as the reporters do. None of this is new, but you cannot not be affected by it. By halfway through the film the ‘thriller’ is cracking, and you are just mad, mad, mad. The lies, the inaccuracies, the cover ups, it’s shocking and horrid and devastatingly revolting. Yet it walks a very fine line in terms of presenting the facts and not weighing it up too much. The subject matter is treated with utter respect and is not used in a saccharine way.

 

The ensemble cast is outstanding, with Rachel McAdams and Mark Ruffalo being the stand outs.  But really the entire cast is spectacular as their real life counterparts must also have been.

 

Of course the church comes out as the baddie, that goes without saying. I’m not religious, so I cannot imagine how upsetting this must be for regular people who worship at a church. But I guess it is up to them to shine a light to the standard none of us should ever walk by.

 

Spotlight is the most perfect film of the Oscar season, without a word of a doubt. And it’s most probably the most important. What I found most shocking was not the crimes committed (that goes without saying) but the fact so many people helped cover these crimes. Other clergy, parishioners, reporters, and lawyers. What gives these people the right to let something so abhorrent continue!? Nothing is bigger than decency and treating people kindly.

Everyone should see Spotlight as a civic duty, but it will be – despite the subject matter – a pleasant duty!

 

Spotlight is up for 6 Oscars, Best Film, nods for McAdams and Ruffalo in supporting categories, Directing, Screenplay, Editing.

 

Early thoughts: Deserved of all categories it is nominated in

 

Steve Jobs

I didn’t know a lot about Steve Jobs going into the film, except he is a genius but rubbed people the wrong way. Yeah, he was a lot of an arsehole it turns out, as geniuses can often be. This was a highly entertaining film, especially given the subject matter. It was shot in a clever way, with most action having the backdrop of a product launch. The tumult and excitement of these events added to the high drama that was the life of Jobs. With each time movement, the launches would change, but the feel of the drama and the person not so much.

 

Fassbender was great in this role, but it was Kate Winslet that shone as his long suffering personal assistant, Joanna Hoffman. The rest of the supporting cast do a fine job, especially Jeff Daniels as John Sculley and Seth Rogan as Steve Wozniack.

 

But it was the words of Aaron Sorkin that steal the show, in fact the film showcases those fabulous walk and talks he made famous in The West Wing. Danny Boyle’s direction is also tidy and effective, especially in how he incorporates history and technology.

I learnt lots about Jobs and his early life and it left me wanting more. This is a highly entertaining film.

 

Steve Jobs is up for 2 acting Oscars for both Fassbender and Winslet.

 

Early thoughts Kate is very deserved of Best Supporting Actress, but that is a really tough field this year. 

 

Room

Room is based on the best selling book by Emma Donoghue which was loosely based on the Austrian abduction case. I have not read Room, and braced myself when heading to see the film. It was really well done I must say and while very emotional, nowhere near as bad as I imagined.

 

The film is set in two halves, the first where Ma (I just realised as I typed this and looked up imdb to find out, you never know her name!) and Jack are hidden, and the second half once they are rescued.

 

So Jack and Ma are hidden in this teeny, disgusting room with a sky light. We later find out it is a garden shed. It is obviously sound proofed and time sealed locked. Their existence is one of repetition and boundaries, set my Ma, and by the physicality of the room. Ma’s love for Jack is deep and beautiful. Whilst this situation is horrific, there is beauty within and Ma does everything to ensure Jack is well looked after despite the circumstances and he thinks everything is perfectly normal. Sad as this sounds, it comes across beautifully.

As Ma decides it is time to make an escape, I found myself becoming quite anxious. This was heart wrenching stuff.

 

But it was after their escape, with them back in the arms of their family and struggling to fit into a world so foreign that I broke. This second half is rough, really rough...I think. But so beautifully acted it is worth it. Joan Allen and Tom McCanus are great supports but it is Brie Larson and Jacob Tremblay’s film. Jacob was perfect and lovely and annoying and everything a 5 year old should be. But Brie Larson was luminous in a very non-luminous role. She held everything together, this film rests on her very strong shoulders and she is a star. I knew this already in her turn as Toni Collette’s daughter on United States of Tara.

 

I did want more from the second half, you never really know what Ma or her family think, it is not really articulated. William Macy as her estranged father makes a brief appearance and you want more. I get the book and film is from the child’s pov but I felt that took away from how powerful it could be.

Having said that, this is a stunning piece of film making and acting, very worthy but just remember to take a few hankies.

 

Room is nominated for 4 Oscars, Best film, screenplay, direction and Best Actress.

 

Early thoughts are all are worthy, but Brie is the only one who stands a chance, in fact I’d say she is a lock in.

 

Trumbo 

Trumbo is my favourite of the Oscar films and the last I saw. I love this period of film and am well versed on the Hollywood Ten and their blacklisting. What a scrumptious film this is, filled with footage of the era, stars, writers, directors pottered throughout. I was in heaven, and it was well put together too. The set design, the costumes, the films, filmsets, musical scores!

 

It goes without saying that Bryan Cranston was outstanding, but he had such delicious material to work with. Dalton Trumbo was a genius, and eccentric, and a communist. Really he was a humanist I think. He turned out superb writing and his politics got him in trouble. He was banned from working in Hollywood, along with 9 other writers. Of course many people generally were targeted for similar beliefs at this time. It was awful and parasitic.

We follow Trumbo and his family, including wonderful turns by Diane Lane as his wife, and Elle Fanning as his eldest daughter. We are talking amazing intellectuals here. Of course, the studios are not allowed to employ Trumbo, but many producers soon realise they need a man of his considerable talents and hire him under a pseudonym. He ends up with 2 Oscars for Roman Holiday and The Brave One, but cannot collect them as no one knows it is him.

 

The supporting cast were wonderful, especially Lane, Fanning, John Goodman, Louis CK, Richard Portnow, Alan Tudyk, Helen Mirren, and Michael Stuhlbarg.

 

This was funny and joyous and frustrating and dramatic. Highly recommend.

Trumbo is nominated for 1 Oscar for Cranston and he should win but he will not. 1 Oscar nom, this I do not understand!!! Or maybe some of those old douches are still part of the academy, highly likely!!!

 

 

JANUARY REVIEWS

What I've Been Watching

Jurassic World - this was excellent, I really enjoyed seeing the World in action and the various Dinosaurs, the action was fast paced and edge of your seat stuff, I wish I'd seen it on the big screen

Lucky Them – this was a disappointing film, sounded good on paper. A music critic (Toni Collette) embarks on a journey to find out what happened to her first love who happened to be a great indie artist that disappeared. But it just fell flat, she was good, the story was interesting. Oliver Platt as her boss perfect, and Thomas Haden-Church as a quirky friend/filmmaker who goes along for the ride. But it just didn’t work.

 

Atlantic City – directed by the late, great Louis Malle, I loved this gritty film of gambling, drugs, and would be gangsters set against the infamous backdrop of Atlantic City. Susan Sarandon is a waitress trying to make it good for a better life in Monte Carlo, Burt Lancaster is her would be gangster neighbour. Situations arise and they find themselves together against it all. Malle delivers a gritty noir feel to the film, helped considerably by the crumbling Atlantic City at the time. Both Sarandon and Lancaster excel.

Suite Francaise – this was  a good adaptation of the popular book. Like the book, I found something lacking. The book itself was written by Irene Nemirovsky, a French author, who was captured and interned in Auschwitz where she died at 39. He daughter found what she thought were diary entries after the war and put them away unable to read them, in 1990 she did and found it was a book written during this period of WWII and it was published. I think this is where it is lacking, it is published as is, and I am sure it was only ever a first draft, not a fully realised book. The book was actually 2 of a proposed five novellas depicting war. An outline for the third was written, but only titles for the other two. Nonetheless it is a good story, depicting the life of people in the small town of Bussey in France. The movie takes most of its action from book two which is about a young woman (Michelle Williams) and her austere mother-in-law (Kristin Scott Thomas) hiding a man from the Nazis. They also have a live in German soldier (Matthias Schoenaerts) who has an affair with the young woman.

 

Trishna – Michael Winterbottom is one of my favourite film makers, his diversity is amazing. Trishna is an Indian film, based on Tess of the d’Urbervilles with Freida Pinto in the Tess/Trishna character. It is beautifully filmed with lush interiors and slummy exteriors, and includes some Bollywood type sequences but it is Pinto’s stunningly tragic performance that raises this film.

 

Inside Out ­– I am not a fan of animation (have I said that here before? I either love some or hate them, there is no in between with me) but this I cannot begin to say how much I loved! Firstly, it is a great concept, unique in its vision and beautifully constructed/presented. Secondly, it just works on every level. I would imagine younger kids just appreciate the characters, colour, and humour. Older kids would start to get most, if not all of it, but I don’t think it would be too confronting, and adults, well adults like me, just get it. I loved the whole concept, and it made me smile and weep, boy did I weep. The voice casting was also note perfect. I immediately recognised Amy Poehler as Joy and she was perfection. And the wonderful Richard Kind as Bing Bong just about killed me, I loved his character so very very much. The rest I needed to look up, which is great, I hate really knowing the voice behind an animated character as it can take away from the experience. Phyllis Smith, Sadness, was particularly well cast also. I know everyone has seen this, but if you haven’t you must!

I am Big Bird: the Caroll Spinney Story - I cannot begin to tell you how much I loved this documentary about the gentle and beautiful man that is Big Bird (and Oscar). The documentary tells Caroll’s life story, his sad childhood and early life, his being ‘discovered’ by Jim Henson and his initial struggle but lifelong love of Big Bird. We go behind the scenes at Sesame Street and see how they bring Big Bird to life, a remarkably physical role that Caroll is still playing at 80! There are interviews with key Sesame Street people, family, friends. Caroll is truly loved and many say he IS Big Bird. The love story that is Caroll and his wife is also told, and a few intriguing dark moments from his life. One is still giving me goosebumps. Caroll and Sesame Street were approached by NASA for Big Bird to go into space as part of their educational program, to inspire kids about space. Caroll was initially scared and unsure but eventually said yes. But NASA realised Big Bird was just too big to fit into the space shuttle. Which is funny, until you realise Big Bird was replaced by a female teacher and that particular space shuttle was Challenger!!! Caroll is a firm believer of documenting life, so the filmmakers were lucky to have much old footage to draw from when putting this together. It’s funny, melancholy, and simply a beautiful film. For the child in all of us – you must see this!

 

Slow Train Around Africa – this lovely travel series hosted by Griff Rhys Jones takes him on a journey of the train systems around Africa. At times bleak, but mostly upbeat and interesting, Griff shows the more fascinating side of Africa.

 

Walking the Nile – A more subdue documentary, showing a very real and edgy Africa. This documents explorer Levison Wood as he becomes the first man to walk the entirety of The Nile River. This means trudging through awful areas of Africa, mean and dry land, war torn areas, areas thriving on thievery and pirating, dangerous animals, and even more dangerous people. As an ex-solider Lev is pretty level headed about most of the situations, but he comes unstuck many times during the 9 month journey which has quite a bit of real drama and tragedy attached to it. But it’s a must see doco.

 

Redesign My Brain S2 – This is the second season of this unusual documentary with the affable Todd Sampson. This time all roads leading to a high wire walk, whilst the tasks leading up to this were interesting, it was this last task that had my full attention. Firstly as I am a huge fan of Philippe Petit, the French highwire walker and secondly I am terrified of heights, so the brain talk to overcome this intrigued me...I highly doubt it would have worked on me. I won’t give away anymore, but it is really worth checking out!

 

Hiding – I missed this thrilling Australian drama when it showed on television, but was immediately drawn to this misfit family in witness protection.

 

Sons of Anarchy S6/Final Season – the penultimate season of this fave. It begins, as always, slow and builds and builds until you just cannot stop watching it. Shakespearian in story, redneck in acting, but truly stunning to watch. Dirty and violent for sure, but hey Shakespeare was too. This season contains more twists and double crossing than ever and feats of jaw dropping foul. As always Maggie Siff (Tara) and Katey Sagal (Gemma) stand out with raw, edgy performances. Keen to see how this saga ends!

And it was stunning! Shakespearean as always, Sutter really lifted his game in this final season. Deaths a plenty and superb storylines for supporting cast members. You know the entire series was working towards this end, and it delivered, brutally and majestically. I never would have thought I’d love a series about bikie gangs, but I bloody loved this. So very much, mostly due to great writing and superb acting. It’ll be missed.

 

Humans – a compelling and provocative series from the BBC, about cloned robotic ‘help’ that is set in the near future. Starring Katherine Parkinson (IT Crowd) as a lawyer who is overworked and against her wishes her husband purchases one of the robots, Anita, to assist around the house. Lines are blurred and some creepy things start to happen. Something is not quite right with Anita. Around Britain, weird things are happening with some of the robots, and people are on high alert. Meanwhile Doctor Millican (William Hurt) is acting suspiciously and his very old robot is also not behaving as it should. What is going on? I really loved this, we’ve all had dreams about a robot coming in to help, but where do we start and finish with such things and what really would be the impact on our lives. Humans explores this and more. Part sociology, part fantasy, part thriller, Humans is must see.

 

The Escape Artist – this is a British three-parter starring David Tennant from a few years back. He is Barrister notorious for getting everyone off, when he gets a possible killer off things start to unravel in his life and he takes unusual steps to right the wrongs. This is a typical murder thriller, raised by a great turn from Tennant.

Penny Dreadful S1  - I am very late to the party here, but I just loved this Victorian Fantasy series. Based on all the Victorian book characters, Frankenstein, his monster, Van Helsing, Dorian Gray, Dr Jekyll etc, and including witches, vampires, and séances. The story revolves around Sir Malcolm Murray (Timothy Dalton in a great turn!), explorer of Africa, and his quest to find his daughter. Assisted by Vanessa Ives (Eva Green – she is EVERYTHING in this role!) who is very complex with much to hide. They are joined by Ethan Chandler (played with wonderful guts and whimsy by Josh Hartnett) an American cowboy of sorts, that is also more than meets the eye. This first series sets up the lost daughter plot and several other smaller subplots. All these characters interact with each other like a jigsaw being clicked together, things unravel and reveal as the season finishes. Apparently S2 is even better!

The Family Law – this is a fabulous local series from the hilarious book by Benjamin Law. The casting is perfect, and it’s lovely to see an Asian family in a comedy in prime time. This is every family, although the Mum, Jenny, is not every Mum. She is the standout character, although the young Ben is beautifully portrayed. I cannot recommend this show highly enough

X-Files – and so they are ba-ack!!! The first two episodes seemed immense, but brilliantly so, how wonderful to see Mulder and Scully back on our screens, old friends. By episode 3, things were in full swing. It feels like no time has gone since we last saw them. The intensity, the weirdness, the strange and eerie, the humour, the melancholy, all back with the very same introduction.  

What I’ve Been Reading

Bone of Fact by David Walsh and The Making of Mona by Adrian Franklin – I guess these are companion pieces, a memoir by the man and a book about his museum, but both are more than that, they show everything it takes to build an icon and be a builder of an icon. And how each little flicker or nuance in a large life can build towards something quite monumental. I’ve yet to visit Mona, but it’s atop my must do in Australia list.

Audrey at home by Luca Dottit – this was a lovely small sized coffee table type book by her son about her life as her knew it and her love of cooking with recipes etc. I found his tone a little, no one really knew my mother but I did, which does make sense but i felt he was trying to prove a point somehow. Nonetheless this was a nice book with some insight.

From the Heart: a collection from Women of Letters curated by Marieke Hardy and Michaela McGuire – this is another volume of letters from this wonderful live experience. Featuring a range of interesting people from Australia and beyond. My favourite by far was Chris Taylor writing a letter to someone who impacted his life, a girl he met and sort of fell in love with 15 years earlier during a long and unexpected road trip/lift home from a party. It was beautiful, and heart wrenching, and left me all misty eyed. Also a fabulous chapter of Letters to my other half – with letters between interesting couples, not necessarily romantic couples, although they are there. I was lucky enough to see this in the flesh at the Sydney Writer’s Festival a few years back.

Wild by Cheryl Strayed – this is the first book club book of the year and what a remarkable one at that. I saw the film last year, not normally something that would take my fancy, but it did and the book even better. Cheryl, takes on the Pacific Crest Trail, in a effort to gain some control and meaning back in her life. The journey is remarkable, but the inner dialogue even more so. The book takes you deeper into Cheryl’s more intimate thoughts and musings and is a wonder. It is fascinating and admirable, and the book is a page turner. 

What I’ve Been Listening to

25 by Adele – the more I listen to this, the more I love it. Her power in words and vocals is simply stunning. Everyone knows it, you don’t need me to tell you!

Bowie - it goes without saying my playlist this month has been fuelled by Bowie, all Bowie, all the time...I have no words. If you need me to describe his music, the joy, the beauty, the perfection...well, you don't know music and you can't be my friend!

BOWIE: Ain't there one damn song that can make me break down and cry

It’s been just over a month and I’m still bereft...and I know I’m not alone. Every day a new article or video clip turns up online, some make me smile, some make me misty eyed, and some just make me sob like a baby.

 

And that’s ok I think. Grief is a weird thing, it’s difficult to get rid of. And is it really right to get rid of it? I’ve always been a great believer in letting tears flow, it keeps your heart and soul in check. I still cry for my beloved Pop, almost two decades after his passing. Which I guess makes sense, as he was my grandfather and we were close and I loved him.

 

So why tears for someone you never even met, and surely would have never known? I cannot recall ever grieving in this way before, it’s a little disconcerting. Yet it is there, real and raw.

 

His death took me – and most of the world – by surprise. That night I was down for the count I don’t mind saying, those first few days numb, and I cried a lot during that first week. The pain has certainly eased since then but it is still there.

 

On that first awful night I asked a friend why it hurt so much, her response was because he was everything and she was so very correct.

 

Bowie WAS everything, but until his death you just didn’t really know exactly how everything he was.

 

I realise with the exception of family, a few close friends, and The Beatles, he was one of my longest and closest ‘friends.’

 

We first ‘met’ when I was 9. Actually it is highly likely we met prior to that, but my first memory of him is 9. I was watching Countdown as always, and the film-clip to Ashes to Ashes came on. I was immediately drawn to it, despite Bowie was a clown (I don’t like clowns). That amazing song, and that bizarre film-clip rocked my tiny little mind. I recall sitting close to the television (and being yelled at to move back) almost like he was drawing me in. In fact, whenever I see the film-clip for Video Killed the Radio Stars, the little girl drawn to the tele reminds me exactly of that.

 

Whilst I loved Ashes to Ashes it didn’t make me a fan.  A few years later Dad was given a cassette of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars. He had friends who he exchanged music with. They all had great taste, as did he. Ziggy was on one side and I cannot recall what was on the other side. But I played Ziggy constantly and just loved it. It remains my favourite album of his to this day. My favourite tracks were Starman and of course Ziggy, they have become my absolute favourites over the years.

 

And then Let’s Dance hit. Now I know this is Bowie lite, but you have to remember what a big deal it was at the time, especially in Australia. He shot film-clips here and toured and was constantly chatting to Molly on Countdown. It was Bowie all the time everywhere, and I loved it. Modern Love was my favourite track. Let’s Dance made me whine until I got my first pair of red shoes, and have always had at least one pair of red shoes ever since. I was 12 turning 13, it shaped my entry as a teenager, much as Starman had to teenagers early in the 70s. Let’s Dance was the first vinyl album I bought with my own money. It’s still one of my prized possessions.

 

I had some of his other albums on cassette, all played within an inch of their life and long gone now. I actually realised with his passing how poor my Bowie collection was, a handful of CDs and 4 on vinyl. I am rectifying that.

 

So I became that obsessive teenager, and Bowie was up there of course. I begged to go to the Serious Moonlight tour, there were tears and shouting, but I was too young. Sorrow and Rebel Rebel were my favourite songs during that period. I played them often and on rotation, how painful for those around me. I cut clippings and obsessed about Bowie’s hair (so perfect) and cool baggy suits (so 80s) and how he would be my boyfriend. Of course, being the straight innocent young girl I was, I had no freaking idea about his personas. Well I knew what they looked like but it really didn’t mean anything to me as such, lol. I just thought he was cool, and that’s how cool people were.

 

So he was always there, always on high rotation, my friend who sang the songs I loved. Of course as a music lover I had other loves during those years, but he really was the one continual force.

When I began full-time work in the library, my very first friend and colleague who was kind to me was the lovely Nolene. Once she knew I loved Bowie we became firm friends and I then knew compared to Nole, I knew nothing about Bowie! She had been a fan from the get go, had seen him live many times and also met him more than once, getting autographs etc. She collected memorabilia, and knew all these interesting facts. She even stayed with Cherry Vanilla when she was in New York on holidays back in the day. She was part of the early Bowie fanclub in Australia. I was beyond impressed and knew we would be friends for life. We still are.

 

Over the years my love for him grew. I then had access, through the library and earning money, to books, magazines, and the music. And of course Nolene’s encyclopaedic knowledge. I didn’t care as much for his music post late 80s, it didn’t seem to have the edge of his earlier stuff.

 

The one thing that was missing for me was the live experience and he remained on top of my must see live list for many years until finally in February 2004 there I was with Nolene and her husband Vince at the Sydney Entertainment Centre absolutely beside myself with excitement. What a night it was, a mix of new and old songs. There were so many faves he didn’t play, with a back catalogue as large as his how can you play everything. Sure there were songs I would have loved to hear, but I didn’t care. I was just thrilled to be there, in the great man’s presence. In fact as I whispered to Nole after his opening song, Rebel Rebel, “if I died now, I would die very happy.” In was a great night and re-invigorated my love for him.

 

I’ve written a lot about Bowie, but never this live experience. I just have never had the words, how do you describe seeing your hero live after all those years. All I can say it made me weep and gave my goosebumps, and he was perfection. I know I was lucky as he has never been back, and now will never ever be back.

 

I recently had the pleasure of revisiting that concert as such at the wonderful Regal Theatre, they did showed the Reality tour – the one I saw, but form Dublin. Watching him sing the one thing that really struck me was his sheer and utter joy during the performance. You could not wipe the smile of that gorgeous face. His interaction with his band and with the audience, he was just loving every minute of it. That to me is outstanding and incredibly special.

 

So what is it about one man?

 

He did whatever the hell he wanted, no fucks given and I love that so very much. He was unusual, different, enigmatic, and charismatic – I’ve always been drawn to the different. They’re my people!

 

He was an artist in the purest sense of the world, musician, genius, artistic, reader, writer, comedian, visual genius and everything else in between. He liked to call himself a creator.

 

He seemed like a really nice man. (Drug period aside) He was affable, friendly, funny, fiercely intelligent, and didn’t suffer fools. He was a gentleman and a gentle man.

 

His influence is everywhere, film, music, fashion, art, history, technology, economics...he’s a cultural icon.

 

The music! Oh boy, the music. He was genius talented. His voice, that range...he could really really fucking sing! Groove, this was a white man who could actually get his groove on. The soundtrack to my life...it’s as simple as that.

 

And so my love for him finally accumulated last year when I experienced all I have just described and more at the spectacular David Bowie Is in Melbourne at the ACMI.

 

This exhibition was the most visceral, stunning, and moving experience in terms of exhibitions that I have ever seen. I think I loved it as much – if not more – than seeing him live.

 

Here is my short recap of that morning at ACMI seeing the exhibit.

 

And so back to his passing. I’ll never forget that moment, unfolding in slow motion as I drove out of the work carpark, the DJ struggling to part with the words. Only two days earlier on his 69th birthday a new album had been released, this could not be. I drove to the carpark next to the library carpark – I was to pick up some groceries. I sat in the car sobbing, and looked up his son on Twitter. I have followed Duncan for years. His tweet from about 20 minutes earlier confirmed it all. I was inconsolable. I dashed into the supermarket, a blubbery mess, and grabbed what I needed. Who can know why!?

They played Young Americans on the radio before moving on to something else while I was trying to calm down in the car. When it got to the end and that crazed lyric, "Ain't there one damn song that can make me break down and cry" I realised every song was going to do that to me on that day.

 

I then drove home and collapsed on the lounge, phone in hand and sunnies still on my head. I stayed there for hours, watching it all unfold online, sometimes conversing with friends. So many people were in shock. It was extraordinarily shocking. And yet it was beautiful and comforting to see so many people mourning on mass online. I have never witnessed anything like it. How wonderful it was to be surrounded by so many other people, all who felt exactly the same. Other like minded people, weeping and loving and remembering. The stories that were shared and then ever since, the clips, the interviews, the titbits you never knew, the decency of a great man. I believe it will continue for some time.

 

It took a while, that night, for me to listen to his music. The sound of his voice set me off in ways I just cannot explain. I’m a fairly fragile person, I needed to take care of me and not collapse under the enormity of it all. Silence and the playlist in my mind was all I needed until much later in the evening when I could finally listen. I tuned into Double J and smiled and sobbed into the early hours of the morning.

 

I’ve caught up on all those saved article, I’ve shed tears. Last week Duncan Jones announced his partner, Rodene was expecting a baby, due in June. His father had known. This still broke me, still does. David loved children, he would have been a really awesome and unique grandfather...circle of life.

 

The one thing I have yet been able to do is listen to Black Star. I just cannot bring myself to at this point, I know I will sometime soon and I am sure I will love it as much as everyone does. I keep looking at the cover, knowing he knew what was ahead when he was creating this last masterpiecce. It’s just too much at this point.

 

But this I do know, David Bowie will always hold a special place in my heart, much as he always has.

 

 

DAVID SEDARIS

This was my second time seeing the wonderful David Sedaris and I think it was better than the first. 

How lovely it was to drive into my beloved Civic Theatre and see one of my favourite writers there...in my hometown!

Sedaris, for the uninitiated, is an American satirist who writes essay length pieces about his family, life and growing up in middle America. The stories are laugh out loud funny but often melancholy and sadness are found underneath the satire. I have been reading his books and articles and listening to him for years now, and his family is so familiar to me I feel like I know them...intimately.

 When Sedaris tours he usually reads new pieces that he wants to publish in a book and thus reads them for reaction. It is quite remarkable. He stands there and reads these lovely pieces, some being already published online or in The New Yorker or similar. He makes little notes as he reads them, subtle changes perhaps, or noting what got laughs and what did not.

 He told us his next book will be diary entries, he is a stringent diary writer. So much so, his family get nervous when he pulls his diary or notebook out to jot down something he has observed. He usually used his diary for ideas to build into an essay. This time he is working out what works and stands alone and will make up some kind of dialogue for a book. He was embarking on this 2 years ago when we saw him at the Sydney Opera House and I initially thought it was an easy way to make money! But two years later he is still working on it, so he really is all about getting it right. 

He read a couple of pieces that had been published, one about picking up litter on the highway near to where he lives in the UK. I had read this before, but listening to it in his sweet, nasally voice adds to its charm and amusement. He also added little titbits at the end regarding things within, which I love. He often gives insight into his craft, which is one of my favourite thing about any artist. How did they get there and create their art!? The other pieces were set at his family holiday home, and include his family and partner Hugh, all familiar to the fans. They were great.

 Finally he moved to random diary entries and they were what had us all in stitches. His view of the world is so incredibly unique and wonderful, but amusing and witty, it is superb.


He was on stage for about 90 minutes and genuinely seemed to love being there. 

After L and I lined up to get books signed, ones we didn’t own. He asked L if she was Greek and me what I did for a living. The exact same questions he asked us last time! Bizarre, he seemed taken aback like he remembered that. Especially when A, who is Greek, popped her head in to say she was and hello. He got sidetracked and made a bit of a mess of what he was writing in my book, but I loved that, made it all the more unusual. He apologised in that lovely voice and how could you refuse. We smiled and walked away.

 Next time, we must think of something highly bizarre to talk to him about...that’s what he loves, and why he talks at length to each fan, it gives him material...maybe we might make the next book!!!

OSCAR WATCH 2016 - Six Films

The Revenant

 

No one wanted to see The Revenant with me, but I love to see as many Oscar films as I can and I love Leo, so it was a no brainer for me.

 

This was a gritty, compelling film, it was long (although it didn’t feel long) and it was brutal...but it was worth it.

 

There is much hype to the bear attack scene, that happens early on in the piece and fuels the vendetta of the film. It was unrelenting and horrific, every time you thought it was done, it continued. It obviously wasn’t real, but it sure felt it.

 

But prior to this scene there was a far more horrific scene/s that went on much longer.

 

The story is set in the 1820s and based on the real life frontier stories of Hugh Glass (Leonardo Di Caprio). The film commences with Glass and pals collecting fur traps but their camp is ambushed by Native Americans. The tension is high, the killing horrendous – on both sides – this felt far more horrific to me than any bear scene. It was presented as it was, you felt sorry for both sides, but also on both sides there was nasty characters and empathetic ones. It was a dire situation, much like any country inhabited by indigenous people. You feel this underlying tension throughout the entire film.

 

The film looks magnificent, directed by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, shot in sequence in natural light with minimal CGI. The snow and sweeping mountains and rivers are majestic and made me shiver. It all felt very real.

 

Ryuichi Sakamoto composed the film’s musical score and it was note perfect.

 

The acting, of course was superb. I am almost (I say almost as it is still early days in terms of predictions) certain Leo will win Best Actor. Not just because he is long overdue (he is very long overdue, he should have won for Gilbert Grape and for The Aviator and nominated for many, many other performances) but because this is an astonishing performance. Tom Hardy, who is always great, is superb as nasty Leo’s nemesis.

I guess The Revenant is not for everyone, but it is a very worthy film.

 

The Revenant is up for 12 Oscars: Best Film, Leo for Best Actor, Hardy for Best Supporting Actor, Inarritu for Directing, Cinematography, Editing, Production, Costume, Makeup/hair, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing, Visual Effects.

 

Early thoughts*: Leo for sure, and effects. Possibly Hardy.

 

*all early thoughts are subject to change between now and actual Oscar post!

 

The Big Short

 

This is a very unusual but highly entertaining film. Entertaining in the way the film was presented despite its dry subject matter. It’s basically about the people who predicted the fall of the US housing market which led to the financial crisis of 2005. It’s more complicated than that of course, but the film presents it in a amusing way that does make it much easier to understand.

 

Whilst I had a fair idea of what went on during that time, I was utterly shocked at the layers of all the subterfuge and bullshit that went on. Shameful.

 

The Big Short has a superb cast with Christan Bale and Ryan Gosling shining and hilariously funny, and Steve Carell being his usual superb self – the man has range. Marisa Tomei (always lovely on screen) and Brad Pitt round out the main cast.

This film is incredibly clever and really worth seeing.

 

The Big Short is up for 5 Oscars: Best Film, Christan Bale for Best Supporting Actor, Adam McKay for Best Direction, Best Screenplay (previously published), and Best Editing.

 

Early thoughts: Honestly, no idea, possibly Screenplay, cause they made dry material interesting and funny.

 

Joy

 

What a perfect title for this film, taken from Jennifer Lawrence’s lead character. Lawrence, as always, shines as Joy. A young girl with promise who has grown into a young woman pushed down by a troublesome family. A mother of two young children, she has her ex husband, parents (divorced with much hatred towards each other) and grandmother living with her in her falling down house. She dreamt of being something, and when things become more awful she decides to put her brain into action and try and make some money.

 

I’m not going to say any more. That was all I knew about this film going in, and the rest totally and utterly surprised me. This is based on a real life story, and quite a remarkable one at that. It’s about life, taking a chance, and trying to see your dreams fulfilled.

 

Joy, at times is not joyous, but in fact a little melancholy, but Joy the character shines so brightly despite so many set backs you don’t ever feel bad. This is an uplifting film in a non-manipulative way.

Jennifer Lawrence is superb, the supporting cast of Robert De Niro, Bradley Cooper, Isabella Rossellini, Virginia Madsen, and Diane Ladd are superb.

 

Go and get some Joy in your life.

 

Joy is up for 1 Oscar: Lawrence for Best Actress.

 

Early thoughts: Not so soon. She will have other chances if she continues on this trajectory.

 

The Danish Girl

 

The Danish Girl is based on the heartbreaking true story of Einer Wegener, a Danish painter in 1926. His wife, Gerde, is also a painter, although not as successful as Einer. When she asks Einer to stand in for the ballerina she is painting, she sets in motion something that had obviously been laying amongst the surface for a long time.

 

And Einer becomes Lili, and after some time, Einer realises that he relates better as a woman. Gerde initially is distraught, but then supports her husband lovingly. This is an unusual story for the time, but upsetting to watch. Especially when Einer decides to undergo gender reassignment surgery, this first person to do so.

Beautifully filmed, The Danish Girl, looks very much like a series of paintings. It is slow paced in parts but worth watching. I’ve done some reading and the film sounds like it may have taken some license with the material, which is a shame.

Eddie Redmayne is beguiling, he will woo you and break you heart simultaneously. Alicia Vikander is outstanding as the lovely Gerde. Ben Whishaw, Matthias Schoenaerts round out the cast. I really loved this film.

The Danish Girl is up for 4 Oscars: Best Actor for Redmayne, Best Supporting Actress for Vikander, Costume Design, and Production design.

 

Early thoughts: I have a feeling this won’t rate too well.

 

Carol

 

Based on the Patricia Highsmith novel, Carol is a stunning film. Set in the 1950s and shot with melancholy and compassion by Todd Haynes. Carol (Cate Blanchett) meets Therese (Rooney Mara) at the department store where she works. Despite an age difference, both are immediately smitten and embark on a close friendship that turns into a love affair.

 

Both Blanchett and Mara are sublime yet subtly understated in their performances. Blanchett looks divine and almost channels Judy Davis in parts with a haughtiness and austerity that is fitting of the era. Rooney simply shines and pretty much steals every scene. Their chemistry is undeniable and it’s lovely to see such an intense love story played out as it was.

 

Kyle Chandler and Sarah Paulson are solid supporting actors. The set design and beautiful costumes portrays the era perfectly and the cinematography is superb, you get a feel of the passiveness and confinement of the time. The score is also beautiful. 

 

Carol is up for 6 Oscars: Best Actress for Blanchett, Best Supporting Actress for Mara, Best Screenplay (previously released material), Cinematography, Costume Design, Original Score.

Early thoughts: All very deserving, possibly Mara getting a shot there!

 

The Hateful Eight

 

I love Quentin Tarantino, I love his passion for film. I love all his films and think that Pulp Fiction is his masterpiece but that Inglourious Basterds and Django Unchained both came very close to absolute perfection (ie better than Pulp FIction) were it not for OTT scenes towards the end undoing the very perfections he’d worked so hard to create. In other words, I love him, but boy he makes it difficult to!

 

And I wanted to love The Hateful Eight, I really did. But I just could not, I didn’t hate it, lol, but I sure didn’t love it.

It starts so beautifully too, very John Ford like with long tracking shots out in snowy mountains. I saw the film at the Titan at Readings and it looked magnificent, especially with the sublime Ennio Morricone soundtrack accompanying it. It had an epic feel to it – much as Basterds and Django did initially too.

 

That first 20 minutes or so I loved. I loved Jennifer Jason Leigh’s performance and Samuel L Jackson. I loved some of the dialogue and the general story within the cabin section. But (I hate buts) it was way too long and way way too violent. I actually don’t mind a long movie, but there has to be a point if you go over 2 hours, there was none here. And violence has never bothered me, I love westerns and adore gangster films, and of course all other QT films are pretty violent, but this was just really full on and I think purely for his own amusement. It was not necessary.

 

And there’s the thing, Quentin DOES make films for his own entertainment. He loves exploitation films and keeps working those into his sweeping tales. I am unsure they work together. Make a big sweeping epic masterpiece or a low budget exploitation film, don’t meld them together.

I am not saying this film is bad or not to go and see it. I really loved parts of it, but not so much other parts. I am still confounded by it all.

 

The Hateful Eight is up for 3 Oscars: Best Supporting Actress for Jennifer Jason Leigh, Cinematography, Score.

 

Early thoughts: All very deserving and possible real shots at getting one, but the mixed reactions to the films may let them down.

 

2016...what will you bring???

I haven’t done New Year’s Resolutions for a long time. I used to do complex Projects, but as I get older I realise a few simple goals are all you need. Nothing to stress you, but things to push you a little out of your comfort zone and enough to think about so you feel some sort of achievement.

Whenever I think of New Year’s Resolution, I think of this Ab Fab moment:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-itpSwRrcMw

I've been reading M Train by the beautiful Patti Smith and here is a quote:

"The transformation of the heart is a wondrous thing, no matter how you land there."

So this brings me to my first goal for 2016 - to be freer with my love and let my poor wounded heart be transformed. It may appear to some I am a heart on my sleeve, oversharing kind of girl (and I am) but I do keep my most personal stuff very close to my heart and self. I will probably continue to do so in terms of sharing (no one needs to know everything!) but I will prise the steely walls around my heart open a little more, to let love in...in whatever shape or form it comes in. This of course brings more opportunity for it to be wounded - and it probably will - but it also allows for more beauty, and this is what I need for it's transformation. In my experience some amounts of beauty and love can often make up for large amounts of pain and suffering. So thank you Patti for your words and also to my lovely friend Jayne, who has been pruiking the phrase, I Love You, No Big Deal...although as I tell her, it is a big deal!

My second goal goes hand in hand with the first - continue on my online journey looking for love. This whole online thing was an unexpected development late in 2015 and to be honest I don't expect to find true love there, but it helps me understand myself more, hones in on what I am looking for, and gives me the opportunity to mingle and feel more comfortable with those I do not know. For an introvert this is a big deal and will assist me not to screw up if I actually do meet The One! My first piece of work towards this is to tidy up my online profiles, thanks to suggestions and realities given to me by three very special friends. You know who you are!

My third goal is  - to travel more - smaller trips, discover outside my little world, have adventures, catch a train somewhere new or to Sydney to escape in the big city, drive to the country, stay somewhere overnight, or have weekends away, or just a day out. I'm looking for willing participants, so don't be afraid to put your hand up!

My fourth goal is - to see more live music - when I couldn't flesh out a top ten for 2015 I realised how shameful my viewing of live music was, this needs major adjusting in 2016. Again, I am after willing participants.

My fifth and final goal is - to keep hold of my clarity and mojo - I lost it a few times in 2014/2015, I did find it but it phased in and out until later in 2015. This was terribly disconcerting for me, depression and anxiety took hold in quite a severe way. I managed to shake it and feel pretty darn good most of the time at present, which is all any of us can ask. But I need to up my tools for doing this better. There are a whole range of things I already do but probably need to add to to feel better and keep tabs on myself: exercise more, spend time near the water, read more, meditate morning and night, write more, share my feelings with people who understand and make me feel loved, don't be so hard on myself, tell others when I am feeling low, and simply challenge myself to grow into a better person.

On top of these 5 goals, I will continue with Project 42, Project Read, and Project declutter as they are all now part of my life, and important tools for help me achieve these five goals.

I look forward to 2016, it's challenges, and adventures. Time with friends and family, love, fun, escapades, and farnarkling. I already have booking to see David Sedaris; Hoodoo Gurus, Violent Femmes, Died Pretty, Sunnyboys, & Rat Cat; and Madonna coming up in the first quarter of the year. 

I have a very good feeling about this year my friends and I wish you all love, peace, happiness, and health.

 

Top Ten of 2015

1. Fleetwood Mac, Sydney – simply one of the best concerts I’ve ever been to, and this was made all the more better as I really didn’t think it would be that good!

2. Neil Gaiman at Angel Place – finally me and my main man in the same building. He was everything I imagined and more, I was in heaven.

3. David Bowie Is, ACMI – I had the tickets for a year, the reason I went to Melbourne when I did. I was entranced and raptured...I cried and sang and danced!

4. The Lion King, Melbourne – I may be the last person on earth to see this extravaganza, there is nothing like those first fifteen minutes ever...electric and spine tingling.

5. Maria Abramovic is present, Sydney – I still cannnot articulate my experience at this exhibition, it was frightening, warm, divine, and utterly unique.

6. Go Elsewhere Festival with my gals at Nobbys Lighthouse – on a balmy evening, looking over Newcastle, with the lighthouse looking over us, music and my friends.

7. Chuck Close at MCA – I was blown away by Chuck’s art, more than I was prepared for, I still think about it. He is magnificent.

8. Newcastle Writers Festival, esp Helen Garner – Writer’s festivals are my thing, the one in my hometown is the best, the star this year was my hero, Helen Garner.

9. Steve Smyth at The Cambridge – Love this guy and so pleased I show him to my friends, we saw him three times this year, but this performance was by far the best.

10. Frank Gehry addition to the UTS Sydney – I adore Frank and his quirky buildings, to see one up close and personal so close to home was perfection as is “the paperbag”

 

Top 15* Books of 2015

1. Unfaithful Music and Disappearing Ink by Elvis Costello - Lyrical prose, heartfelt stories, history and music, escapades with Dylan, Van, and Cash. Sheer Perfection.

2. M Train by Patti Smith – mystical, serene, meditative, intriguing, fascinating, funny, melancholy, surprising. Everything you want in a book plus it’s Patti!!!

3. Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth  by Chris Hadfield – highly intelligent and scientific, yet written for everyman. For the space geek in all of us.

4. Reckoning by Magda Szubanski – eloquent prose, enlightened storytelling, utterly unique turn of phrase, bittersweet melancholy, dry humour, and shocking tales.

5. Flesh Wounds by Richard Glover – heartbreaking family memoir told with good grace and humour. If you ever thought your family sucked...read this!!!

6. Girl in a Band by Kim Gordon – beautifully written, rock and roll, a story of failed love, a story of strength and conviction, feminism at it’s best.

7. Songwriters on Songwriting by Paul Zollo – stunning stories and interviews with all the best songwriters in the world and why they do what they do.

8. The Art of the Novel by Milan Kundera – 20 years old, but spot on. Musings on the state of the novel, writing, and reading. Philosophical and deep, timeless writing.

9. Bad Feminist by Roxanne Gay – stunning book of essays on feminism, life, love, and everything in between. Funny, warm, sad, and heroic.

10. The Art of Asking by Amanda Palmer – part self help, part memoir, part love story. At times frustrating, but mostly rewarding.

11. Acute Misfortune: the Life and Death of Adam Cullen by Erik Jenson – devastating, anger inducing, yet utterly compelling page-turning. There is more to this story than meets the eye.

12. When the Night Comes by Favel Parrett – the first of 2 fiction titles on my list. Set in Tasmania and Antarctica, this dreamy, poetic book will hypnotise and lure you in.

13. Confessions of a Comma Queen by Mary Norris Proof reader and copy editor for The New Yorker, Mary writes small essay like stories about her life in this fascinating job.

14. Foreign Soil – Maxine Beneba Clarke – Australian short stories about women of colour throughout the world and their issues. It’s heartbreaking, awful, uplifting, and hopeful.

15. Men who Stare at Goats by Jon Ronson – Totally bizarre, utterly compelling, sucks you in. About paranormal activities in the military. Jaw droppingly good!

 

Honorary Mention: Gerald Durrell, I think I consumed every book of his on talking book, and they were delightful.

Special mention: Here’s the thing by Alec Baldwin, not a book but a superb fortnightly podcast, my favourite!

* Yeah, there are fifteen, I read a LOT of great books this year, these were only some of them.

 

Top Ten TV Shows of 2015

1. Fargo S2 - a slow build to sheer perfection, on the edge of your seat thrilling, funny, and a stunning cast.

2. Please like me S3 – this Australian show continues to unravel layer upon layer of delightfully flawed characters, with such heart and warmth and a quirky sensibility.

3. Glitch – Another Australian thriller/fantasy that was in a league of it’s own, with stunning and uniquely Australian storytelling and a great cast.

4. Mad Men – final Season – I loved this show, it’s been my favourite show for many years, and whilst the ending was great, it just didn’t cut it enough to keep it’s No. 2 spot!

5. Orphan Black S1-3 – my new favourite sci-fi show about clones, dramatic, funny, a wild ride with the best female lead since Buffy, Tatiana Maslany.

6. Masters of Sex S1/2 – I finally got around to watching this and I love it so much. Great storylines, stunning attention to detail design, wonderful acting.

7. The Fall S1/2 – oh my. Gillian Anderson is brilliant, on form and stunning in this serial killer thriller. You are hooked from the get go, this is great storytelling

8. Better Call Saul S1 – Loved this newbie, great cast, dramatic and very funny, and a lot of heart. It’s not Breaking Bad, but it’s still very worthy!

9. Brooklyn 99 S1/2 – love this fun comedy, with a great ensemble cast and loads of laughs.

10. The Blacklist S1 – Intriguing plot with the uber-sexy James Spader as the lead...say no more!

 

Special mention: Olive Kitteridge, essentially a mini-series, this was a perfect adaption of one of my favourite books, with an outstanding cast of Frances McDormand, Richard Jenkins, and Bill Murray.

Honourable mentions: Veep, Parks and Recreations, Game of Thrones, Walking Dead, Orange is the New Black.

 

Top Ten DVDs of 2015

1. Rust and Bone – stunning performance by Marion Cotillard as a woman finding her place in the world after a horrific accident

2. The Extraordinary Adventures of Adele Blanc-Sec – a wonderful French Steam Punk fantasy set in Paris in the 20s. Dinosaurs, exploration, Mummies, high fashion, and love.

3. Predestination – time travel with a twist, it’ll keep you guessing until the very end. Ethan Hawke is marvellous but it was the extraordinary performance by Sarah Snook that had me gobsmacked.

4. What we do in the shadows – hilarious NZ vampire film. Cultish and dry. I laughed so much in this.

5. Eye of the storm – classic Australian drama with Geoffrey Rush, Judy Davis, and Charlotte Rampling. Fred Schepsi directing from Patrick White’s novel with stunning cinematography.

6. Locke – this one person thriller seemed wrong on paper, but sitting in the car with Tom Hardy during one night, filmed in real time, had me on the edge of my seat.

7. Nymophomaniac Pts 1/2 – this superb two-parter starring Charlotte Gainsburg was very confronting, but stunning. A Lars Von Trier film, with an exceptional cast but it’s all about Charlotte!

8. Tracks – great Australian adventure about Robyn Davidson who tracked across WA deserts with her camel and dogs.

9. Babadook- I don’t like horror, but this was beautifully done, although it scared the bejesus out of me!

10. Spy – funny, feisty females not being made ridiculous. Never laughed so much!e

 

Special mention: Hail, Hail Rock and Roll, a fabulous doco/concert from the late 1980s remastered and featuring greats such as Keith Richards, and Eric Clapton playing tribute to the Chuck Berry.

Honourable mentions: Snowpiercer, The immigrant, Lucy, Two days and one night.   

 

Top Ten Movies of 2015

1. The Dressmaker and Star Wars – both very different but exceptional, faultless movies with great stories, cinematography, and acting!

2. Love and Mercy – stunning biopic on the life of Brian Wilson with stunning performances from John Cusack, Paul Dano, Elizabeth Banks, and Paul Giamatti. And that superb music.

3. Finding Vivien Maier – astonishing documentary about the life of an unknown photography and the layers behind the facade. Part thriller, part memoir, part history, part art. Absolutely brilliant.

4. Whiplash – great performances, and tight music, fast paced and edge of your seat drama.

5. Amy – documentary about Amy Winehouse, beautiful, genius, and heartbreaking – both describes the artist and the film.

6. Far From the Madding Crowd – period drama based on the classic novel by Thomas Hardy, beautifully filmed and wonderfully acted. Lush and sensuous.

7. When we were young – Great modern drama/comedy, with an all star cast and edgy ideas.

8. A second chance – high drama with this twist of fate Danish film, looking at what a man will do to save his family. Highly disturbing but stunningly filmed.

9. Wild – based on the book, this is a tour de force from Reese Witherspoon, about a woman determined to change her life around.

10. Samba – great French film about refugees starring the superb Omar Sy and Charlotte Gainsbourg.

 

Top 10 Albums of 2015

1. Stay Gold by First Aid Kit – the third album by the Swedish sisters was sublime and heavenly.

2. Girls in Peacetime Want to Dance by Belle and Sebastian – another melancholy/dancey album from my Scottish faves

3. Vulnicura by Bjork – an absolute masterpiece with her status as musical genius sealed, dancey and beautiful and full of so much heart you almost feel yours breaking.

4. 25 by Adele – stunning and powerful, loud and proud, I don’t usually do top ten fodder, but Adele is in a league of her own, this album is a testament to that.

5. Album deux by Baby et Lulu – sublime and sexy, french duets by two Australian talents, I could listen to them all day.

6. Songs in the dark by Wainwright Sisters – Martha and Lucy together for the first time, their harmonies are sweet and soulful, the talent endless.

7. Transmutant by Katie Noonan – that operatic voice on an edgy album of pop, soul, and ballads. Beautiful.

8. No Cities to love by Sleater-Kinney – grunge rock at it’s best, their first album in 10 years and they haven’t lost their edge. Kick A!!!!

9. Beautiful You by The Waifs – always lovely and laid back to listen to, comforting blues and interesting lyrics.

10. 24 Karat Gold by Stevie Nicks – an album of reworked songs that were never used on albums, close listening will help you work out what era they were originally written in, fabulous!

 

Special Mention:  If I can dream by Elvis Presley and the Philharmonic Orchestra – classic live performances with the Philharmonic added in, a gimmick for sure but a bloody good one, the sounds are terrific!

Honourable Mentions: Shadows in the night by Bob Dylan, Talk by Daniel Johns, The Endless River by Pink Floyd.

 

Top 8* gigs of 2015

1. Fleetwood Mac – absolute (and unexpected) perfection

2. Steve Smyth at The Cambridge – the man simply sizzles on stage, a mix of Jeff Buckley and Tom Waits, his energy is mystical and sensual.

3. Go Elsewhere Festival - a balmy evening, looking over Newcastle, with the lighthouse looking over us, music and my friends.

4. Daniel Johns – New funky style possibly borrowing from Prince, electric performance. An adult Johns has arrived.

5. Glenn Shorack at the Apra concert – he might be old, and his songs (to some) a little daggy, but he was the consummate performer and sounded brilliant.

6. Mental as Anything – not the proper band, and for every good song, there were two ordinary ones, but the good ones were worth price of admission!

7. Doubleclicks – indie duo from Portland (natch!) singing about geeky things such a Science, Dinosaurs, Wonder Woman, and being an introvert. Perfection and funny.

8. Fish Fry/ Pow Wow – Jazz/Swing and Jazz/Funk – joyous music with fabulous brass, how can you not dance!?!

* this is shameful, I need to see more live music next year