The documentary The Sparks Brothers attempts to address the enigma that is the band Sparks. Was their music art rock, pop, new wave or electronica? Why did lead songwriter and keyboardist Ron Mael have a toothbrush moustache reminiscent of a certain 20th century dictator? For a band that has been around for 50 years, created at least 300 songs, had
Read moreThe energetic but overlong In the Heights is a contemporary urban musical with a New York street setting and Hispanic cultural context that evokes West Side Story as well as social and politically themed hip hop extravaganzas like Hamilton. The film is in fact an adaptation of a successful stage musical from Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda and playwright Quiara Alegría
Read moreThis Friday on ‘Built For Speed’ we take a look at some music-related films. We’ll review musical ‘In the Heights’ which comes from ‘Hamilton’ co-creator Lin Manuel-Miranda. We’ll also tell you about the new documentary ‘The Sparks Brothers’ which looks at enigmatic synth-pop, art rock etc….band Sparks. Just for something different we’ll also have a look at the Chilean documentary
Read moreThis week on ‘Built For Speed’ we take a look at the third instalment in ‘The Conjuring’ horror movie franchise with ‘The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It’. For something slightly different we’ll also review Argentinian caper comedy/ drama ‘Heroic Losers’. We’ll also have a feast of fine music with new Aussie and overseas tracks, indie favourites and classic
Read moreThe rousing and often funny documentary King Otto recounts Greece’s against-all-odds win in the 2004 European Football (ie soccer) Championships and the battle for acceptance by the team’s German coach, Otto Rehhagel. The film’s title refers to 19th century monarch, King Otto of Greece who was himself a Bavarian import. Rehhagel was a famously rugged and aggressive player and a
Read moreThe hypnotic but slow-moving First Cow is what might be termed an arthouse western, a film that takes place in the traditional western setting but one that eschews heroic mythology or sanitised views of the past. This story of an unusual friendship and economic ambition in the brutal 1820’s Oregon frontier takes a while to find its footing but delivers
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