Arts and Entertainment Archive

Animated movies have always had their attraction: kids love them, and since parents have to accompany them, these movies end up raking in at the box-office. Occasionally a movie comes along that has a new story to tell, and that becomes a …

Michael Haneke’s French-language Amour will tug longingly at your emotions until you give in to its stark but poignant will. Released in 2012, the French drama has already claimed 52 awards worldwide, including the prestigious Cannes Film Festival’s Palme d’Or. Haneke’s controversial …

Short + Sweet, the world’s biggest short play festival, delivered an interesting selection of short plays this year with a quirky movement-based piece taking out first prize last Saturday night at the Seymour Centre. After a nine-week season showcasing 170 ten-minute plays …

It has been ten years since Bruce Springsteen last brought his legendary E Street band to Australia, but in a blistering show at Allphones Arena in Sydney on Wednesday night he reminded everyone why he is still the boss. In a set …

Just when I thought I could no longer pull men, I went to the launch of the Sydney Comedy Festival and found I was wrong. A little hairy and maybe a tad under age, my new escort was gallant, affectionate and affable, …

What’s it like to direct Australian living treasure John Bell? Jove for Sport Theatre artistic director Damien Ryan can offer some insight. Ryan is co-directing the first Bell Shakespeare production for 2013, Henry 4, in which Bell plays Falstaff as well as directing. …

Several months ago I happened to catch a performance of a band called Video8 at the Annandale. They were tight, edgy, obviously influenced by the sharp end of the ‘80s and surprising. Surprising in their originality and sound but also surprising because …

Audiences of animated family comedy rejoice: Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs 2, the sequel to Sony Pictures Animation’s 2009 hit comedy, is soon coming to the big screen. The movie is based on the children’s book of the same name by …

Filmmaker M Night Shyamalan has earned a reputation in the Hollywood film industry as a creator of critically and commercially acclaimed movies that include The Sixth Sense, Unbreakable, Signs, The Village and The Happening through his knack of creating exciting and intriguing movies …

Anthony Steel doesn’t believe that opera has had its day. With the right packaging and the right selection of operas it is an art form he is certain can still appeal to the young and the uninitiated. The veteran festival director of …