Joe Wright’s adaptation of the AJ Finn novel The Woman in the Window has finally found a home on Netflix after being delayed due to Covid-19. Frankly, The Woman in the Window should never have seen the light of day. Amy Adams ( Arrival, The Master, The Fighter ) leads a brilliant cast as Dr Anna Fox, an agoraphobe who lives alone in Manhattan and witnesses a brutal murder. What follows is a tedious, boring, and predictable 1 hr 40 min slog trying to figure out what happened

Returnal opens with the words: “When you die or close Returnal , you will always be returned to the crash site, and all non-permanent progression will be lost.” What is touted as Returnal’ s main draw is both its greatest feature and biggest setback. Returnal is a hard game to define. It incorporates elements from third-person looter-shooters, rogue-lites, bullet-hells and Metroidvanias to create one gloriously unique package. The game puts players in the shoes of Selene Vas

Cinemas across the state are slowly coming back to life following the easing of Covid-19 restrictions. Lido Cinemas Hawthorn assistant manager Hudson Sowada said cinemas had returned to some semblance of normality, though not to pre-Covid strength. “The effects of the pandemic are still being felt,” he said. Cinemas shut last year on March 23, 2020, when Victoria went into its first lockdown and didn’t reopen until November 8. Mr Sowada said one of the early films they showed

With the anticipated mass exodus of travel-hungry Aussies, there’s no better time to acknowledge that our cousins across the ditch can make some seriously good music. And this time, let’s not pretend they’re ours. Here’s a list of the best New Zealand artists of the last decade that you can listen to on your adventures. Then listen to the selected Spotify playlist (link at end). THE BETHS Marrying the vocal melodies of Middle Kids and Ruby Fields with the manic indie guitar

Nomadland is a slow burn, character-driven story that showcases the beginnings of one person’s solitary journey. It captures the essence of what it means to be connected to the earth and to embrace your roots. Nomadland’s vast landscapes cover thousands of miles, from desert to deep forest. Beneath the beautiful imagery, however, is a story about the need for connection in such isolation. Frances McDormand leads a cast of real-life nomads Swankie, Linda and Bob, in their fi

Another Round – a film about a midlife crisis, alcohol and having another go at life – earned the Oscar for Best International Film for Danish filmmaker Thomas Vinterberg. After his previous film Jagten , nominated in the same category, Vinterberg reunited with Danish superstar Mads Mikkelsen ( The Hunt, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Hannibal ). Mikkelsen stars as Martin, a teacher living through a mid-life crisis who, along with three teaching friends, learn of a Norwegian t

REVIEW Film: Minari Starring: Steven Yeun ; Han Ye-ri ; Alan Kim ; Noel Kate Cho; Yuh-jung Youn; Will Patton Director: Lee Isaac Chung Running time : 1 hour 56 minutes Awards: Academy Award and BAFTA for Best Supporting Actress for Yuh-jung Youn; many others Showing at: Cinema Nova Verdict: Recommended Minari is a soft, tender and loving film that showcases the hardships migrants experience. It explores the pressure they feel when promising their families a better l

Bad Boys Media have launched an ambitious project to help artists get better pay, using a new cryptocurrency. We Are Tribes will help Australian musicians to sell albums, VIP experiences, merchandise and tour packages using non-fungible tokens (NFTs) direct to their audience. An NFT is a unit of data that is stored on a digital ledger that certifies a particular asset – a file such as a piece of digital art, or a VIP music experience – is unique. They act as a one-of-a-kind

Awards season 2021 is kicking off with The Oscars on Monday, wth the industry hoping the nominated and winning films will pave the way for a strong return to cinemas by moviegoers and critics. Last year saw a large-scale shift to how films were made and distributed to consumers, with many film specials, original shows and productions going to audiences direct via streaming services. Newer platforms, such as HBO Max and Disney+, gained mass numbers of new subscribers during t

The rise of Disney+ has brought a new era to the record-breaking Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), with four films due for release in 2021, starting with Black Widow in July. This year also welcomes the first TV shows directly connected to the MCU films, helmed by the creative voice behind the franchise, Marvel Studios president and primary producer Kevin Feige. Finally delving into the streaming world, Marvel Studios has adapted their storytelling to fit the new format give

Singing Bird Studios has managed to navigate a year that bought the local music scene to its knees – and emerged in style. The Frankston recording studio is back and hosting events for the dedicated and eclectic community of music lovers who got them through. Singing Bird Studio ’s manager Stuart Anderson, said the creative hub was saved thanks to passionate local musicians.   “They paid all throughout last year because they just didn’t want to lose it,” Mr Anderson said. [

The man who lived “10 lives in one” received a fitting tribute last night in a state memorial service that highlighted the passion and talent of Australia’s chief music man, Michael Gudinski. Music legends Ed Sheeran, Kylie Minogue, Paul Kelly, Jimmy Barnes, Mark Seymour and Mia Wray paid their respects at Rod Laver Arena last night. Gudinski, 68, died in his sleep on March 2. Music legend Michael Gudinski. Picture supplied: Mushroom Group Australian music stalwart Barnes