Wreck Ryan J. Brown 6 Television

Mildly amusing TV series that is essentially a variation on Squid Game but suffers the same issues of over staying its welcome

City Of Lost Children Jean-Pierre Jeunet, Marc Caro 6 Movie

Fantastic and hugely influential production design and aesthetic but poor pacing that let it all down

Spell Brendan Walter 8 Movie

Predictable, but well produced, shot, acted, soundtracked and ultimately enjoyable movie. The drab Icelandic scenery was a bit disappointing – this is not a tourism piece – but the overall aura was compelling. Achievable on what should be a modest team and budget?

What’s Wrong With This Picture? John McCaffrey 8 Book

Very short book of short stories. Enjoyable, succinct and at its best, reminiscent of Roald Dahl’s shorts

John Dies At The End Don Coscarelli 5 Movie

Interesting concept, with what appears to be an intentionally bad fx aesthetic. Seems like it was produced for incels

How To Speak Cat Aline Newman, Gary Weitzman 6 Book

Interesting non fiction facts about cats. Was a bit repetitive after a while

Blindness José Saramago 7 Book

Really interesting doomsday premise: rapid devolving of human society into fetid and base animals. Unfortunately like a lot of media in this genre, I was left wanting regarding an explanation of cause

Violent Night Tommy Wirkola 9 Movie

Suspenseful but charming Christmas movie with a hunky David Harbour killing bad guys. Delivers on exactly what it promises

Dawn FM Weeknd 6 Music

Some stand out tracks, but the after taste for me was boredom despite the very obvious Oneohtrix Point Never production signatures

And In The Darkness Hearts Aglow Weyes Blood 8 Music

Loving the slow tempo and depressing lyrics about life after the pandemic

Share or Die Joseph Mazzaferro 5 Movie

A simple and enjoyable budget horror / comedy that doesn’t overstay its welcome

Elvis Baz Luhrmann 7 Movie

Visually spectacular movie, with a very convincing Austin Butler as Elvis. Great typography and art direction as always

Utopia Björk 5 Music

Probably the closest I’ve come to enjoying a Bjork album since Vespertine. Lyrically interesting, but again the arrangement is too intentionally oblique

Vulnicura Björk 6 Music

Very raw, very personal album that was able to let go of some of the intense music theory in service of some more typical melodies

Who Done Did It The Finest Filth 9 Show

I REALLY enjoyed this. Wacky, tacky and dumb, but acted with 2000% conviction. Love the line “Does this look like the labia majora of a serial killer to you?”

Biophilia Björk 3 Music

Was interesting but not enjoyable to listen to

SMITHEREENS Joji 8 Music

Deep bass, thick and mellow vibes. Makes me sleepy but in a good way

Slow Rush Tour Tame Impala 9 Show

Set started off very distorted, with songs I could barely recognise. However, incredibly spectacular stage production. Like being abducted by raver 70s aliens. All the great Tame Impala tracks. 200% would see again as he gets more ambitious every time

Bros Nicholas Stoller 3 Movie

Poorly constructed movie that was hard to watch due to the very annoying central character that does not develop at all through the movie

Dirt Femme Tove Lo 6 Music

An uneven album that gets worse on repeated listens. Some very good singles, but also some really cringy songs

Hello Dankness Sodajerk 6 Movie

Not as cohesive as previous works. It also annoyed me how obvious most of the work was? Very left, very predictable in its appraisal of the Trump presidency

Lightyear Angus MacLane 6 Movie

Lightyear and his cat Sox were great, but the supporting characters were so annoying that it dragged down the whole movie

A Normal Heart Larry Kramer 8 Show

Production design was perfect. Two very strong leads, and some average supporting cast. However was very effective in appealing to the audience’s emotions. First half was better than the second which became too “shouty”

Passenger (supported by Hollow Coves) Passenger 8 Show

Accomplished, expected and entertaining acoustic set

Turning Red Domee Shi 9 Movie

Highly polished, intensely beautiful movie with great characters and accompanying soundtrack. Ending was a bit soft though

Cool It Down Yeah Yeah Yeahs 9 Music

Moody droning music. Not happy. Not sad. Just clocked out. Perfect for me right now

The Year of February Forest Claudette 6 Music

Decent funky EP. I didn’t mind it

Hideous Bastard Oliver Sims 7 Music

I want to like this album a lot more than I actually do but I go from liking it to being bored by it. Too cool

Lychee BENEE 6 Music

Overheard while shopping at AS Colour. A few stand out tracks but not memorable to me

Martha: A Picture Story Selina Miles 9 Movie

Great documentary about a modest and talented photographer of the 80s NY graffiti scene. Knew I was going to like this as soon as I saw the typography used in the opening credits

Midsommar Ari Aster 6 Movie

I watched the longer director’s cut, which while expected, was too long. An art house take on the hill billy horror tropes. Great production design, but let down by the use of fake flowers

Renaissance Beyoncé 8 Music

Clubby, empowering, and powerful self affirming music

Gemini Rights Steve Lacy 8 Music

If I could, I would have purchased the CD. Gay funk pop rap? Don’t know why this resonates with me so much right now, but it feels sunny and joyous

Sandcastle Frederick Peeters, Pierre Oscar Lévy 6 Book

A graphic novel with an interesting premise, but ultimately and frustratingly unfinished story.

Lune Croissanterie Kate Reid, Victoria 6 Food

Okay I’ve been here twice. The first time through some freak of chance, I was able to walk straight in without having to wait at all. On this occasion, I can say the croissant was amazing. Totally worth the hype. Like eating the most delicate, savoury, buttery and crisp leaves. The second time, I thought […]

Stranger Things Season 4 The Duffer Brothers 7 Television

Entertaining, expensive and well put together. At the same time, annoyingly deliberate and drawn out

Lisa Mitchell & The Maes Lisa Mitchell 6 Show

Support act was excellent, however Lisa Mitchell was over complicated (literally too many bells and whistles). The loudness of the act also annoyingly made people more comfortable about talking over the music

What We Do In The Shadows Taika Waititi 7 Movie

Very dry, intentionally flat comedy. I enjoyed it

The Black Phone Scott Derrickson 8 Movie

A thrilling and creepy movie with some pretty good child actor performances. Good for a free movie and some entertaining jump scares

Guest House Paradiso Adrian Edmondson 7 Movie

Ridiculously crude and over the top. Some parts have perhaps not aged so well, but still funny nevertheless

Supernormal Andrew McConnell, Victoria 8 Food

I had an excellent time – thank you to your restaurant’s army of staff, from your front of house, to your chefs and wait staff – I felt very well looked after during my banquet (#1) experience. Food wise, I thought the snacks were amazing, but as the banquet progressed, the use of dried chilli […]

Tkay Maidza (as part of Rising festival) Tkay Maidza 8 Show

Thoroughly enjoyable. Tkay is so cute, so down to earth and so gracious. Great staging too

Growing Up Queer In Australia Benjamin Law 6 Book

I am a failed reader. This should have been an easy read, but not all stories were…good? This collection did remind me that I once used to question my gender identity

Licorice Pizza Paul Thomas Anderson 4 Movie

Scattered life collage of 60s teenagers. Bad casting of the central boy actor ruined this movie for me despite its vibrant visual style and pacing

Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness Sam Raimi 6 Movie

More enjoyable than most Marvel movies, but again too long. Over saturated with spectacular VFX, but to the point that they become ordinary. Nice Raimi touches

Chip ‘n’ Dale Akiva Schaffer 8 Movie

A movie full of retro cartoon references. Cute and endearing. Like a cross between “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” and a Gorillaz music video

How To Please A Woman Renee Webster 4 Movie

I felt uncomfortable watching this movie. It was earnestly and sincerely made, but the objectification of men and diminishing of the sole minority male character felt problematic?

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 Jeff Fowler 7 Movie

A bit long but visually impressive movie with some new cute and humorous characters

X Ti West 5 Movie

Being a homage does not forgive the entirely predictable and unoriginal plot

Titane Julia Ducournau 7 Movie

Visually striking and absurd movie that is deep with themes of identity, sexuality and violence. Original and enjoyable