In February 2012, at Moscow’s Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, various members of the balaclava-wearing Russian feminist punk band Pussy Riot attempted to perform a song protesting the close relationship between the Russian Orthodox church and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The three main members of the group were quickly bundled out of the church and charged with “hooliganism motivated by
Read moreThere are a handful of science fiction films such as 2001: A Space Odyssey, Solaris and Alien that have such visual beauty and intelligence that they traverse the science fiction genre to become zeitgeist-defining events and major cinematic works of art. Alfonso Cuaron’s latest film Gravity is almost one of those movies. It is undoubtedly a technical triumph but just
Read moreBecoming Traviata documents the exhaustive rehearsals prior to the performance of Verdi’s opera La Traviata at the International Festival of Lyric Art in France’s Aix-en-Provence in 2011. La Traviata, which was composed in 1853, tells the story of the doomed romance between the terminally ill courtesan Violetta and the young bourgeois lad Alfredo. Traditionally, the opera is set in the
Read moreThe challenge for a sports movie is to keep those who fundamentally dislike that sport glued to the screen. As a non-fan of motor-racing I can say that Ron Howard’s latest film, motor racing drama Rush, does just that. The film dramatises the fierce and often vicious rivalry between the titans of 1970’s formula one motor-racing, James Hunt and Niki
Read moreOne of the cinematic surprises of the year is the thoughtful, low-key drama Thanks For Sharing which focuses on a subject that has gained more recognition in cinema recently: sex addiction. While the film does contain some sex and masturbation scenes, unlike the similarly-themed but very creepy Michael Fassbender film Shame, it won’t make audiences feel like they need a
Read moreBuilt For Speed – Playlist – Friday 4th October 2013 THE PICTURES – Can you hear it. (Aus) CHEAP TRICK – Surrender. PALMS – A supposedly fun thing I’ll never do again. (Aus) THE GOOCH PALMS – We get by. (Aus) KIM WILDE – Kids in America. EVEN – Don’t wait. (Aus) PEARL JAM – Lightning bolt. Q-LAZARUS – Goodbye
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