Month: March 2015

Exclusive Music Video Premiere: Ninth of May "Ramen" (2015)

Today marks the day that Brisbane-based “edgy chunk rockers” Ninth Of May are releasing the music video for the brand new single “Ramen”, and we’re proud to exclusively premiere the track on the AU today. The entirely self-produced project sees jjj unearthed winners collaborating with some of Brisbane’s finest musicians, delivering a striking yet mesmerizing…

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Sydney Film Festival announces first round of films for 2015

One of our personal favourite events to cover each year is the great Sydney Film Festival; the celebration of international and home-grown cinema that is now in it’s 62nd year. Today, the first 27 films that will be spread across the event, from June 3rd to June 14th, has been announced and it includes some…

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Exclusive Interview: Anthony Brandon Wong (Sydney) chats about his character Le Bok on Maximum Choppage

Hello Asia! Editor Johnny Au chats with actor Anthony Brandon Wong about his character “Le Bok” on ABC’s Maximum Choppage, his work as an actor as well as an acting coach and his passion for all things food! You may (or may not) have seen him as “Ghost” in The Matrix sequels but his character…

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Jon Stewart’s The Daily Show successor announced

In news that has fans of The Daily Show across the globe hitting up Google like there’s no tomorrow, retiring host Jon Stewart’s successor has officially been announced as South African comedian Trevor Noah. Most of you may be saying to yourself ‘Trevor who?’ and you wouldn’t be alone. Many fans were expecting a big…

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Exclusive SXSW Interview: Director Jessica Edwards talks about her Feature Documentary Debut Mavis!

While at SXSW earlier this month, Larry Heath sat down with Jessica Edwards, the director and producer of Mavis! – a new documentary about the legendary Mavis Staples, who just so happens to be touring Australia as we publish this piece. The pair talk about the experiences of making this film, the icon herself and much…

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Parasyte: Part 1 gets one day Aussie cinema release

If you are a fan of Hitoshi Iwaaki’s best-selling manga series Parasyte, April 26th is one day you are going to want to have marked down in your diary. For one day only, Madman Entertainment have announced that Parasyte: Part 1, the first part in a planned two-part film adaptation of the series, will screen across…

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Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck announces Aussie cinema run

In exciting news for Nirvana fans, Oscar-nominated filmmaker Brett Morgen’s Cobain: Montage of Heck is set to have a limited release in Australian cinemas, premiering on May 7. The film is the first fully-authorised documentary about the life of the legendary frontman Kurt Cobain, featuring exclusive interviews with friends and family as well as home…

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Film Review: The Book Of Life (PG) (USA, 2015)

‘Dia de Muertos’ aka Day of the Dead has always been a great theme for films to work with, particularly animated ones. Director Jorge Gutierrez has taken the opportunity to inject the Mexican tradition’s vibrancy into The Book of Life, generating a sense of wonderment through stunning visuals and lively characters. The film’s plot revolves…

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Stumbled Upon #034 – Edgarville (United Kingdom)

In the 34th installment of ‘Stumbled Upon’, we meet the UK’s Edgarville and chat about keeping things simple, their upcoming 3 month tour around the UK and get to know a little more about the band. Read on: Band Name: Edgarville Website / Social Media: Facebook Genre: Acoustic Members & their roles: Ed – singer,…

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the AU interview at SXSW: P.S. (Paul Saulnier) of PS I Love You (Kingston, Canada) on Australian bands, the live show, leaving your home and old musicians.

the AU review sits down with Paul Saulnier of Canadian outfit PS I Love You at SXSW to talk about the festival, their latest music with For Those Who Stay, working with Paper Bag Records in Toronto, potential trips to Australia, his favourite Australian bands, evolving the live show “we’ve gotten better at it, I…

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Six local comedians not to miss at the 2015 Melbourne International Comedy Festival (MICF) through 19th April!

Kicking off over the weekend, it’s hard to know where to begin with the 2015 Melbourne International Comedy Festival schedule. Every night there is so much amazing comedy – both from local and international talent – that it’s a job within itself to try and decide what to see. Well, we thought we’d lend a…

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the AU interview at SXSW: Aaron Bruno of AWOLNATION (Los Angeles) talks touring, surfing, the new record "Run" and more!

the AU review sat down with Los Angeles based group AWOLNATION‘s frontman Aaron Bruno while at SXSW earlier this month. We talk about the madness of SXSW, “it’s kind of like how life on the road is in general… I think people come together at South by and experience a little bit of what it’s…

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The best ways to get to Toronto, Canada from Australia (and a few travellers tips for your arrival)

This May, the annual music festival and conference Canadian Music Week will be opening its doors to the world, shining a spotlight on Australia and New Zealand, bringing with it dozens of bands and delegates from our countries up to the great city of Toronto. Why not come and join us? Over the next two…

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Watch M Phazes and Thief join Penelope Austin to cover the Kasey Chambers and Bernard Fanning track "Bittersweet"

Last Tuesday saw the annual tradition of the APRA Music Awards hit Sydney, a celebration of the Australian music which has made the biggest impact at home and around the globe over the past 12 months. Thanks to a special between Moshcam and APRA, the “Song of the Year” live performances were recorded and streamed,…

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Exclusive Single Premiere: Quintessential Doll "Thunder Gods" (featuring Clio Em) (2015)

Self-described as “darkly whimsical folktronica”, Quintessential Doll are an up-and-coming Brisbane outfit fronted by Steph Linsdell, who is today premiering her new track “Thunder Gods”, featuring the incredible vocals of Clio Em, on the AU. The genre-bending track, jumping between the words of Opera, Electronica, Indie Pop and, indeed, “folktronica”, is a stand out of…

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Album Review: Tobias Jesso Jr – Goon (2015 LP)

Our most-loved songs are often from a heartbroken man. And while Goon has an undoubtedly autobiographic touch to it, Tobias Jesso Jr at least takes on the persona of any sad lover pining helplessly for what once was. Sure a whole album dedicated to heartbreak has its melodrama, but Jesso Jr brought his real-life experience…

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TV Review: The Walking Dead Season 5 Episode 16 “Conquer” (USA, 2015)

“Conquer” gave us a heap of great acting and character moments, sprinkled it with a bit of action – courtesy of Daryl and Aaron – and a triumphant return; but it did little more than make the wait for Season 6’s premiere all the more painful. There was a lot here that we wanted to…

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Film Review: The DUFF (M) (USA, 2015)

Every once in a while a phrase or acronym surfaces which unjustly gives legs to a social stereo­type. In The Duff (Designated Ugly Fat Friend) Director Ari Sandel applies his tongue in cheek approach to some of the more serious social undercurrents that continue to plague ‘young people’ working out their place in the world, resulting in a film…

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SXSW Film Review: Lost River (USA, 2015)

When Ryan Gosling premiered his Directorial debut Lost River to a packed house at Cannes last year, it’s fair to say the odds were stacked against him. He couldn’t have picked harsher critics to premiere his film to. This is a crowd who have rarely been fans of Actors turned Directors. Do you remember The Brave – Johnny…

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Games Review: Final Fantasy Type-0 HD (Xbox One, 2015)

This might vilify me in the eyes of die-hard series veterans but I feel like Final Fantasy, as a series, has been in a bit of a rut for years now. And with Final Fantasy Type-0 HD, we see exactly the sort of fresh perspective that could return the series to greatness.

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We “interview” Grumpy Cat and “talk” about the Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards. Because why not?

Earlier today, a certain cat won the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Award for “Aussie/Kiwi’s Favourite Animal”. Before he won, we asked the infamous Tardar Sauce aka Grumpy Cat a few questions about things that are pretty unimpressive like movies, awards, and living in a world of celebrities. Yes, that’s right… we had the chance to do…

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Win a double pass to see The Princess Bride back on the big screen in Sydney!

Some of the most celebrated films are returning to the big screen at Event Cinemas George St, with their In The House Program! Hosted by Channel 7’s Jason ‘Jabba’ Davis, and Quinny from Supanova Pop Culture Expo, the program features a line up that includes Blade Runner, Mad Max 2 and The Fifth Element. A…

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What to Watch: The Iris’ Weekly TV Picks (30th March – 1st April 2015)

Monday 30th March 2015 Three Kings – Go! – 10:00pm AEST David O. Russell’s Three Kings is a comedic adventure that takes places as four American soldiers set out to steal gold in the aftermath of the Persian Gulf War. George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg, Spike Jonze and Ice Cube star in this fresh, unique film…

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Film Review: Cinderella (G) (USA, 2015)

If you can imagine the Disney fairy tale animated film of the same name brought to the screen in all its resplendent glory as live action, then Kenneth Branagh’s version certainly fulfils that. A consistently visually bold film even though it does lack a sense of originality or uniqueness in the story. Regardless it’s still…

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SXSW Film Review: Honeytrap (UK, 2015)

Gang culture and it’s devastating effects are never far away from the front pages of London’s newspapers. 2008 was one of the worst years for gang-related violence. The murder of Shakilus Townsend was arguably the most shocking. Honeytrap, which is based around this murder, follows Layla (Jessica Sula), the girl who would ultimately lead this young man to…

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Live Review: Billy Idol + Cheap Trick + The Angels + The Choirboys – Bimbagden Winery, Hunter Valley (28.03.15)

The line up for today’s A Day On the Green at Bimbadgen Winery in the Hunter Valley has a stellar line up featuring a plethora of talented musicians. The venue appears to be practically sold out as there isn’t much green left to sit on, the regular general admission punters always arrive early to grab…

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Teaser trailer for new James Bond adventure SPECTRE released!

The first teaser trailer for the next James Bond film, SPECTRE has just been released – and it’s a doozy. The film appears to pick up soon after the disintergration of Skyfall, depicting ruins of the bombed out headquarters still smouldering. Moneypenny (Naomie Harris) also has a surprise for Bond (Daniel Craig) – a piece…

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A transformed Jake Gyllenhaal reveals himself in new Southpaw trailer

Jake Gyllenhaal has bulked up in an epic physical transformation to play boxer Billy “The Great” Hope in Antoine Fuqua’s fighter drama SOUTHPAW. Directed by Antoine Fuqua (“Training Day” and “The Equaliser”), SOUTHPAW follows the battles of a boxer (Gyllenhaal) who fights his way to the top, only to find his life falling apart around…

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New Terminator: Genisys reveals a whole new type of Terminator

Watch Arnold Schwarzenegger, Emilia Clarke and J.K. Simmons in new footage for Terminator Genisys When John Connor (Jason Clarke), leader of the human resistance, sends Sgt. Kyle Reese (Jai Courtney) back to 1984 to protect Sarah Connor (Emilia Clarke) and safeguard the future, an unexpected turn of events creates a fractured timeline. Now, Sgt. Reese…

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Stumbled Upon #033 – Big Smoke (Melbourne)

In the 33rd installment of ‘Stumbled Upon’, we meet Melbourne quartet Big Smoke, and chat about their latest track ‘Try A Little Love’, the music that inspired them and find out how they got started… Band Name: Big Smoke Website / Social Media: Facebook / Soundcloud Genre: Rock ‘n’ Roll Members & their roles: Adrian…

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