High Ground Stephen Maxwell Johnson 6 Movie

Stunning cinematography with a very straightforward plot. Constant tension from the possibility of horrible things happening

Possession Andrzej Julawski 8 Movie

I have no idea what I just watched but wow was it powerful

The Hearts Invisible Furies John Boyne 9 Book

Epic and sprawling novel about a flawed gay man Published: 2017 Completed: 09/08/2024 Pages: 588 So…I am finding it very hard to write a review about this epic and sprawling novel, “The Heart’s Invisible Furies” by John Boyne. There is just so much going on that it’s a bit intimidating to find an angle to […]

Deadpool & Wolverine Shawn Levy 2 Movie

Had low expectations going in and somehow the movie still managed to disappoint me

The Last Dinner Party The Last Dinner Party 8 Show

Considering how short their only album is, they did a really good job of turning out a full set. Abigail the lead singer is so magnetic. Fully imagined a life together and a break up all in the one show

Kinds of Kindness Yorgos Lanthimos 5 Movie

Highly challenging and extremely long movie that is typical of Lanthimos’ work. While the surreal story is intriguing, it ultimately felt too long and I was frustrated by my inability to decipher the symmetry in the movie

Blaze Del Kathryn Barton 6 Movie

Visually spectacular movie that displays the artist directors signature style. Light on plot, but still emotionally very impactful

Despicable Me 4 Chris Renaud 7 Movie

Cleverly structured movie designed for short attention spans

On Chesil Beach Ian McEwan 6 Book

A really dumb book about premature ejaculation Published: 2007 Completed: 28/06/2024 Pages: 166 I feel quite conflicted about this short novella about a couple’s first night together following their wedding. Essentially due to them both being virgins, their first sexual encounter is a disaster, with the man prematurely ejaculating and the woman revolted by the […]

Fake: A Startling True Story of Love in a World of Liars, Cheats, Narcissists, Fantasists and Phonies Stephanie Wood 8 Book

A brave and incredible personal story of the author’s experience of dating a fraud Published: 2019 Completed: 15/06/2024 Pages: 325 This incredibly brave and personal book by Stephanie Wood goes through the author’s experience of dating a fraud, and her attempts to understand and come to peace with the ordeal once it ended. This novel […]

Scavengers Reign Joe Bennett 8 Television

Fascinating imagining of life on an alien planet. Lovely animation but irregular in parts where it felt like they ran out of money or struggled with quality control

Evian Christ (as part of Rising festival) Evian Christ 9 Show

Spectacular and original show that was somehow better than the recorded music. While at times it felt like a listening party, something about being literally to feel the music in your body was incredible

Garfield Mark Dindal 3 Movie

Beautiful animation and character design wasted on an awful plot

Arca (as part of Vivid festival) Arca 7 Show

A very messy performance in the main concert hall of the Sydney Opera House. They messiness was actually very enjoyable with Arca seemingly making up the set list as she went along. To this end, some instruments on the stage were never used. Charming and unconventional performance

Jungle Jungle 6 Show

Unremarkable but accomplished. An enjoyable performance. First time I’ve attended a gig at the Hordern

My Hair Is Thinning Anthony Nocera 3 Show

A very early draft work of theatre that at present relies too heavily on technology at the expense of the story

Superliminal Albert Shih 8 Game

Really imaginative game with a novel mechanic that allows the gamer to alter the scale and perception of objects as if in a dream

The One Hundred Year Old Man Who Climbed Out A Window And Disappeared Jonas Jonasson 5 Book

A long sustained joke that I didn’t get Published: 2009 Completed: 03/05/2024 Pages: 384 “The One Hundred Year Old Man Who Climbed Out The Window And Disappeared” by Jonas Jonasson, is a comedic novel that weaves together major historical events of the 20th century, through the adventures of the titular and central character, Allan Karlsson. […]

The Dandy Warhols The Dandy Warhols 6 Show

Sound was very muddy. I felt tired. It’s possible if I had gone and seen this without Rob I might have enjoyed it more, but Rob really loathed the performance making it hard for me to enjoy it

The Rise And Fall Of A Midwestern Princess Chappell Roan 9 Music

Love the lyrics and the style that ranges from Lana Del Rey to Taylor Swift on a good day

Late Night With The Devil Colin and Cameron Cairnes 6 Movie

Above average, but predictable horror. Was not really scary at all and felt very low energy for me

Prelude To Ecstasy The Last Dinner Party 9 Music

Thoroughly enjoying this all female band with the swagger and theatrics of Queen. Love the imagery in their lyrics too

Dune: Part 2 Denis Villeneuve 7 Movie

A successfully epic movie that was so fully realised, it felt at times like watching an alien documentary. It did feel a bit long though

Birth Jonathan Glazer 9 Movie

A powerful movie with the outward presentation of a drama, but is more akin to a horror. Executed in Glazer’s typically spare style. Incredible story with incredible performances to match. Wow

Most Human Post Human Crimsonion 7 Show

Maximalist show that had everything from mentalism, magic, acrobatics and music set to a sermon about AI and our relationship to technology. Could have done with an edit, but I enjoyed the unique take on the mediums https://adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix/most-human-post-human-af2024

Eternal Sunshine Ariana Grande 8 Music

Very easy listening, with lyrics that resonate with me at this point in my life

Coral: Rekindling Venus Lynette Wallworth 5 Show

A planetary style half an hour film about coral reefs utilising the music of Max Richter and the Carol soundtrack. In theory right up my alley but I found the visuals to be too close to appreciate (like sitting in the front row of the cinema) and the music choice lazy https://adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix/coral-rekindling-venus-full-dome-experience-af2024

A Body At Work Frankie van Kan 6 Show

A female strip show first, theatre second. Not much insight into the central character’s biography and a lot of the interest was drawn through the very accomplished strip act. Highlight of the show was a spectacular simulated ejaculation https://adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix/a-body-at-work-af2024

Messy Friends Gendermess Productions 8 Show

Probably the best drag show I’ve ever seen. So good to be reminded of the diversity in artistic drag expression https://adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix/messy-friends-af2025

Galah Galah Gemma Caruana 6 Show

The cabaret genre seems to demand personal anguish and trauma as sacrifices at the altar of entertainment. Gemma’s troubles are relatable and entertaining enough – but I think it needs either to be more polished or less so and more conversational. At this level it feels like a developing school presentation https://adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix/galah-galah-af2024

The Dark Room John Robertson 6 Show

I think with the right frame of mind, this improv, audience driven choose your own adventure would be side splitting funny. Despite the incredible skill, it however didn’t quite click with me https://adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix/john-robertson-the-dark-room-af2024

So Fresh! Hits of the 2000s The Cast Entertainment 7 Show

Relentless non stop 2000s era music mega mix with dancing routines and multiple costume changes. Incredible energy and effort https://adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix/so-fresh-hits-of-the-2000s-af2025

In Pursuit of Repetitive Beats Darren Emerson 7 Show

A well made archive of the acid house movement in the UK. Was very effective at presenting what would have otherwise been potentially dry talking heads in context and made me nostalgic for something I’d never experienced first hand https://adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix/in-pursuit-of-repetitive-beats-af2024

The Nightingale and Other Fables Igor Stravinsky 6 Show

Probably the most enjoyable opera I’ve been to yet. Though having said that, production was a bit of a mess. So many different styles, so many rough edges – at first, this was kind of charming, but towards the end, it became almost amateurish

Outback Patricia Wolf 6 Book

A generic and forgettable crime novel set in the Australian outback that uses every cliche available to the genre and setting Published: 2022 Completed: 25/02/2024 Pages: 356 Outback by Patricia Wolf is a novel that goes over some fairly well trod tropes of the crime genre. The title, tagline (“Two backpackers disappear without a trace”) […]

Zone of Interest Jonathan Glazer 8 Movie

Polished film as a work of art and possibly less about conventional narratives. The experience of this film is to make you forget the horrors of war and realise we are not unlike the perpetrators of crimes

Kings of Convenience Kings of Convenience 7 Show

Visually very boring, and acoustically very samey. You can’t really fault the show because it’s exactly as promised but I can’t help but feel this would have been better as incidental music, i.e., to have people to dance to without watching the band

Carol Todd Haynes 8 Movie

A lush and simultaneously spare slow burn movie. Lovely cinematography and soundtrack. Much better than I remembered!

Memoirs of a Book Thief A. Tota, P. Van Hove, E. Gavin 7 Book

I don’t feel I fully understood this novel, but the story was dynamic and unpredictable. Possibly a bit romanced by the committed artistic and philosophical idealism displayed by the characters within

Blue Velvet David Lynch 6 Movie

An intriguing movie with lots of signature Lynch flourishes and striking images. I still don’t fully understand it but can see how it has inspired a lot of media since

Dr Ahmed Gets Hitched: My Big Fat Gay Greek Pakistani Wedding Ahmed Kazmi 9 Show

Was worried when it opened with a cover of Ce Ce Peniston’s, Finally but developed into an extremely heartfelt and funny personal account. Was ugly crying by the end. Very very good https://adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix/dr-ahmed-gets-hitched-my-big-fat-gay-greek-pakistani-wedding-af2024

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayham Jeff Rowe, Kyler Spears 6 Movie

Was hard to enjoy this uniquely and beautiful animated movie that, like Spiderman, had too much going on visually – and also because Rob loathed it from the outset

Yes, Daddy Jonathon Parks-Ramage 2 Book

Deplorable and unsympathetic main character whose motivations make no sense. Horrible sentence construction, ludicrous scenarios (this must be the modern gothic part) and every single annoying plot outcome you could think of. Could not wait to finish it, then burn it

The Baron In The Trees Italo Calvino 7 Book

A richly whimsical novel of a boy who goes to live in the trees and never comes down. At times difficult to read, but evocative and pleasurable

No Hard Feelings Gene Stupnitsky 6 Movie

Average movie that I forgot I had watched. Was fun but forgettable. Featured a scene with a fully nude Jennifer Lawrence that appeared to have zero social impact

Barbie Greta Gerwig 8 Movie

Visually fun, and perfectly pitched movie that manages to balance all the contradictions of making a movie about a doll

Synecdoche New York Charlie Kaufman 6 Movie

Barely understood what was going on in this movie, but it was fascinating to watch

The Babadook Jennifer Kent 8 Movie

Really well produced South Australian horror movie

I’m Thinking Of Ending Things Charlie Kaufman 2 Movie

Incredibly disappointing, rambling mess of a movie

Leisurevision Leisure 9 Music

A great segue from Jungle. Equally funky and soulful. Have been absolutely hammering this album