Box Office (the Best Of) Film Stage Music Art

The Age

Friday May 30, 2008

Tom Ryan, Chris Johnston, Barney Zwartz, Bill Perrett, Chloe Smethurst

Film -- Tom Ryan

Sex and the City

Will Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker, above) and Big tie the knot? Will Charlotte finally get pregnant? How will Miranda, Steve and baby Brady cope with life in Brooklyn? How many more men can Samantha bed? The big-screen sequel to Darren Star's TV series arrives bearing Big Questions. The future is up for grabs, but some things never change and it's a safe bet that juicy gossip and feisty views on love and life will be exchanged over fancy-looking salads at inviting eateries, that men will mean Trouble, and that loyal and loving gal-pals will prove more valuable than any show-stopping outfit. Opens June 5.

Unfinished Sky

Directed by Peter Duncan (A Little Bit of Soul, Passion), this loose remake of the 1998 Dutch film The Polish Bride is a drama about the relationship that develops between a Queensland farmer (William McInnes, above) and the wounded woman who stumbles into his solitude (Dutch actress Monic Hendrickx, also above, who played the equivalent character in the earlier film). Esteemed Australian stage actor Bille Brown makes one of his occasional visits to the big screen as the employer she's fled. The always reliable David Field (Silent Partner and, memorably, The Night We Called It A Day, as Bob Hawke) plays the local policeman. Opens June 19.

The Happening

First time around, The Happening (1967) was a yarn about hippies and Mafia men: as in, "It's all happening, man." Now, courtesy of M. Night Shyamalan (The Sixth Sense, Signs), The Happening has become something different altogether: as in, "My God, what's happening?" It's a science?fiction thriller in which the apocalypse looms as a Philadelphia man flees town with his family after a strange force seems to take possession of its inhabitants. It stars Mark Wahlberg and Zooey Deschanel, neither of whom was even born when the first film was made ... Opens June 12.

The Incredible Hulk

This makes more sense. The Incredible Hulk is a remake, sort of: in the same way that Batman Begins (2005) was a remake. Written by Zak Penn (also responsible for penning two of the X-Men films) and actor Edward Norton (above), and directed by Louis Leterrier (the Transporter films), the latest incarnation of the story goes back to the beginning of the Dr Banner and Mr Hulk saga, when Bruce Banner began his battle against the monster within and the US army saw great possibilities in his powers. Norton plays Banner, Liv Tyler is Betty Ross, William Hurt her army-general father and Tim Roth an arch-villain with an exoskeleton. Opens June 12.

Speed Racer

This makes sense too: Speed Racer is a remake as well, sort of. Budgeted at about $US120 million, written and directed by the Wachowski brothers, Andy and Larry (The Matrix), who are working again under the guiding hand of producer Joel "but I like explosions" Siegel, this version has been shot entirely in front of a green screen. It also goes back to where it all began, to an animated Japanese TV series made during the 1960s. Played by Emile Hirsch (above right, Into the Wild), our hero, Speed Racer, embarks on a cross-country car race known as The Crucible, and the stakes are predictably high. Christina Ricci plays Speed's girlfriend, Trixie, Matthew Fox is his chief rival, and Susan Sarandon plays Mom Racer. Before the Wachowskis came on board, the project had apparently been doing the rounds of the Hollywood studios, as far back as the early 1990s. Johnny Depp was even attached at one stage, with Alfonso Cuaron directing. Opens June 12.

Carl Dreyer season

One of the cinema's great artists, Danish filmmaker Carl Theodor Dreyer (1889-1968) was a sublime poet of austerity, tiny details and gestures leading the way to an appreciation of his characters' complicated emotional landscape. The Cinematheque's specially imported 35-millimetre season includes his masterworks - The Passion of Joan of Arc (1928), Vampyr (1932), Day of Wrath (1943), Ordet (1955) and Gertrud (1964) - as well as his first film, The President (1919), and a partially restored version of Once Upon a Time (1922). June 25 to July 9, Melbourne Cinematheque at ACMI, Federation Square, city.

Wanted

For his US debut, Russian director Timur Bekmambetov draws on the six-issue comic-book series by Mark Millar (Marvel Knights, Spider Man, Ultimate Fantastic Four). It's about a deeply divided superhero in the process of sorting out which side he's on. As in Bekmambetov's visually spectacular Night Watch trilogy, the characters are locked on paths built by forces way outside their control. James McAvoy plays the clock-punching, go-nowhere slacker Wes, Angelina Jolie (below) is Fox, who pulls him into The Fraternity and launches him on his journey of super-hero self-awareness. Opens June 26.

Music -- Chris Johnston

The Presets

One of the best records in what has already been a bumper year in Australian music is the Presets' extraordinary Apocalypso, in which modern dance music manages to pull a sharp U-turn back to the '80s glam-beats stylings of Depeche Mode and the long lost Human League while still being utterly, absolutely, most definitely ultra-modern. The reason the Presets (below) are so good and outstrip their competition is that you can not only dance to them and lose yourself totally in their crisp rhythms, but you can also listen to them: they are both meaningless and deeply meaningful. This tour will go off. June 21 and 22, the Forum, city. Phone 132 849 or see www.ticketek.com.au

Jeff Lang

Jeff Lang is an exciting Australian guitarist. He's down with the blues, he's down with all the branches of the roots music tree - bluegrass and folk and country and reggae and soul and primal rock 'n' roll - and he's a man with a pricked social conscience (witness his recent show at the Maribyrnong detention centre). Lang's new album, Half Seas Over, is refreshing in that no matter how far down the dark tunnel of technology music goes, simple songs well played on wood-and-wire instruments will always win. June 14, Peninsula Lounge, Moorooduc. Phone 5978 8955 or see www.peninsulalounge.com.au

The Galvatrons

Melbourne band the Galvatrons have come out of nowhere, been signed to a big label and look like a bunch of suburban kids living out their rock 'n' roll fantasies for real. This is not like Jet, however, who pretend to be authentic: the Galvatrons are delightfully fake, blending the worst of soft-rock (REO Speedwagon, Boston) with cock-rock (Motley Crue, Bon Jovi) and a very modern groove (think Bloc Party) that rescues them from total crap-ness. Maybe a one-trick pony. But for now this hysterical, meticulously rehearsed band full of slogans and bluster are killing it. June 6, the Esplanade Hotel, St Kilda. Phone 9534 0211.

The Black Keys

In terms of hipster rock 'n' roll, the Black Keys (above), from Akron, Ohio, are one of the coolest bands on the planet on account of their scuzzy, stripped-black blues with a bit of a gothic edge, a nod toward modern means of production and an equally knowing nod toward nice old-school formulas. They've toured with Radiohead and made music for TV ads featuring sexy girl tennis players. Now new album Attack and Release has been produced by Danger Mouse, of Gnarls Barkly. Watch it become a cult item. June 19, the Palace Theatre, city. Phone 136 100 or see www.ticketmaster.com.au

We Love Sounds

There's a big mid-winter dance festival this month. It's called We Love Sounds, and it's appeared in Sydney, but never in Melbourne; when it does it will reprise the idea of the old?school rave held in a Docklands shed except instead of starting at midnight and running until dawn, it starts at lunchtime and ends at 10pm. The line-up is a serious overview of dance music, from old-time favourites the Utah Saints and Deep Dish DJ Dubfire to new underground stars Ellen Alien, from Germany, and Norway's Lindstrom. Eight-piece New York party band !!! also play. June 7, Shed 4, North Wharf Road, Docklands. See www.hardwarecorp.com.au

Magazine

Two of the coolest cult bands ever are Magazine and the Bad Seeds. The Bad Seeds you know - Nick Cave's band. Barry Adamson was in an early incarnation, from around 1983 for about four albums. Prior to that, in Magazine with ex-Buzzcocks guy Howard Devoto, Adamson virtually wrote the blueprint for post-punk, in which the lessons of the punk years were applied to more conventional, learned rock formats, mapping out what would become the whole "alternative" sphere in years to come. Adamson is now an accomplished soundtrack composer and solo artist, and he's just released his eighth album. June 19, the Corner Hotel, Richmond. Phone 9427 9198, www.cornerhotel.com

Classical -- Barney Zwartz

3MBS Chamber Music Festival

Five concerts that demonstrate why, says organiser Zoe Knighton, Melbourne is the chamber music capital of the southern hemisphere. Ten groups - among them the Flinders Quartet, Freshwater Trio, Benaud Trio and the Parachute Wind Quintet - provide an absolute cornucopia of chamber delights, from Schubert to Shostakovich to Sculthorpe. June 27 to 29, Melba Hall, University of Melbourne, Parkville. Phone 1300 884 654.

Audacious ACO

The Australian Chamber Orchestra under guest director and lead violin John Stongards (below) performs Juozapaitis' Perpetuum Mobile, Hameenniem's Chamber Concerto for Violin and Strings, Ichiyanagi's Interspace, Lutoslawski's Preludes and Fugue for 13 Solo Strings and a Sibelius Impromptu. June 8 and 9, Hamer Hall, the Arts Centre. Phone 1800 444 444.

Flinders Quartet

The second concert by the splendid Flinders Quartet features two Beethoven quartets, one early (Op 18, No. 5) and one from the great late period (Op 127). June 10, Iwaki Auditorium, Southbank, and June 15, Montsalvat, Eltham. Phone 9685 5111.

In Memoriam RVW

The Tudor Choristers mark the 50th anniversary of the death of British composer Ralph Vaughan Williams with some of the most-loved works for choir, organ and soloists; folk songs, anthems, hymns and the Five Mystical Songs for baritone soloist, choir and organ. June 29, 2.30pm, Our Lady of Victories, Camberwell. Phone 9513 9992.

Maritime MSO

The theme of the sea is prominent in this concert of Britten (Peter Grimes: Four Sea Interludes), Elgar (Sea Pictures) and Beethoven's fourth symphony. Young Dutch mezzo Christianne Stotijn sings the Elgar. June 7, Hamer Hall, the Arts Centre. Phone 136 100 or see www.ticketmaster.com.au

Dance -- Chloe Smethurst

To the Rhythm

After rave reviews in London and New York, renowned flamenco guitarist Paco Pena and his company return to Melbourne with this celebration of "pure" flamenco. The production is built around solos and ensemble numbers for the small company of dancers, singers and musicians as they explore a range of rhythmic structures in this simply staged but expertly performed production. June 4, Hamer Hall, the Arts Centre. Phone 1300 136 166 or see www.ticketmaster.com.au. June 5, Frankston Arts Centre. Phone 9784 1060 or see www.artscentre.frankston.vic.gov.au

Ballet classics

Equally at home choreographing for ballet or Broadway productions, Jerome Robbins was one of last century's choreographic masters. The Australian Ballet will present four contrasting pieces in this tribute: A Suite of Dances, a solo devised for Mikhail Baryshnikov in 1994, along with The Cage, Afternoon of a Faun and The Concert, classics he created in the 1950s. June 5 to 16, State Theatre, the Arts Centre. Phone 1300 136 166 or see www.ticketmaster.com.au

Ballet Imperial

This crowd-pleasing Australian Ballet program is something of a history lesson, featuring well-loved divertissements by the original classical ballet choreographer, Marius Petipa, and his most famous successor, George Balanchine. Spectacular snippets from Petipa ballets including La Bayadere, Paquita and Sleeping Beauty will be performed alongside Balanchine's Ballet Imperial, a grand classical piece featuring a large corps de ballet and several soloists, among them Danielle Rowe (below left). June 20 to July 1, State Theatre, the Arts Centre. Phone 1300 136 166 or see www.ticketmaster.com.au

Apparently That's What Happened

Jo Lloyd (below, on the right) has been a constant presence in Melbourne's contemporary dance scene for more than 10 years, first as a dancer with Shelley Lasica, DanceWorks and Chunky Move, and now also as a choreographer. Her new work, performed with Tim Harvey and Luke George (also pictured), looks at the aftermath of some dramatic events and the differing perspectives of those who were present. June 25 to 29, Arts House, Meat Market, North Melbourne. Phone 9639 0096 or see easytix.com.au/artshouse

You're Not Alone, You're Just in New Zealand

These two programs bring some of the best new contemporary dance from across the Tasman to Dancehouse. Terrain, choreographed and danced by Malia Johnston and Guy Ryan, is presented on a miniature stage for a small audience. A mixed bill of short works follows, including creations by Johnston, Julia Milsom, Kristian Larsen and Maria Dabrowska. June 4 to 8, 150 Princes Street, North Carlton. Phone 9347 2860 or email info@dancehouse.com.au

VCA 30th Anniversary

Two programs celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Victorian College of the Arts School of Dance: a retrospective featuring choreography by Anne Woolliams, Jonathan Taylor, Robert Ray, Neil Adams and Becky Hilton; and a new work by Hilton, herself a graduate of the VCA, which traces the lineage of choreographers who have contributed to the school's success. June 6 to 21, Space 28, 28 Dodds Street, Southbank. Phone 9685 9374.

Theatre -- Bill Perrett

Scarlett O'Hara at the Crimson Parrott

David Williamson publicly said farewell to the business of writing for major productions in 2005. Well, here he is, back again. This play offers a Walter Mitty character, Scarlett, who works in a dull job. She escapes with the aid of movie plots and her imagination, but is in danger of missing out on real-life happiness. The wonderful Caroline O'Connor (above) stars in a part written with her in mind. June 11 to July 12, Playhouse, the Arts Centre. Phone 1300 136 166 or see www.mtc.com.au

Pool (No Water)

Mark Ravenhill's first play, Shopping and F**king, perhaps unsurprisingly, shocked some critics, but was also praised for its blackly humorous savaging of contemporary British society. In this play, the resentful friends of a successful artist who, unlike them, has been able to make money from her craft, gather at her house for a party. Various substances are consumed, and the successful artist is involved in an horrific accident and falls into a coma. Her friends decide that her misfortune offers a chance for them to use her body in the making of a work of art. June 13 to July 5, Red Stitch Actors Theatre, rear 2 Chapel Street St Kilda, phone 9533 8082 or see www.redstitch.net

The Children's Bach

Chambermade (above) reliably produce work that pushes the boundaries, provokes and intrigues and sometimes delights. This piece uses Helen Garner's 1984 novel of the same name as its basis. The story concerns the domestic life of Dexter and Athena in inner-suburban Melbourne, unremarkable but for the strain put on it by their son Billy's profound autism. The situation takes a dramatic and unexpected turn with the arrival of Elizabeth, someone from Dexter's past, and her unconventional family. June 19 to July 5, Merlyn Theatre, CUB Malthouse, Southbank. Phone 9685 5111 or see www.malthousetheatre.com.au

Rio Saki and Other Falling Debris

You just never know how people are going to react to the Apocalypse. This piece has six characters in that intriguing situation. Cathy leaves Tom (hopeless TV addict) to find romance with Hannie (greedy for love), sister of Craig (sensible and reliable), married to Charlotte (hanging on to sanity by a thread). Tom's friend Louis is desperately trying to find a supply of drugs - maybe the most sensible solution of all, since a comet is about to wipe out the entire planet. Offered in the gruesomely titillating spirit of Grand Guignol. Sounds like fun. June 4 to 21, Carlton Courthouse, 349 Drummond Street, Carlton. Phone 9347 6142 or see www.lamama.com.au

Love Monkey

Some of us have been eagerly awaiting this third part of the Monkey trilogy since we saw the first bits (Chocolate Monkey and Spacemunki) some years ago. John-Paul Hussey (above) is a talented and original writer and performer, a captivating teller of stories that wind around each other. Love Monkey is set at night in an old Irish hotel, where the narrator, a porter, is occupied in vacuuming a large expanse of carpet. He tells stories about losing his teeth at drug-fuelled parties, about the pain of losing girlfriends. He offers us a new angle on Captain Ahab in Melville's Moby Dick, "walking the ocean floor to contemplate his sins". Music by Kelly Ryall. Until June 15, Northcote Town Hall, Northcote.

See www.myspace.com/johnpauldshussey

Galleries -- Megan Backhouse

Lyndal Jones

She represented Australia at the 2001 Venice Biennale with a video about desire and sexual intimacy and has since turned a dilapidated house in Avoca into an art and sustainability project. Sexuality and ecology might not seem an obvious pairing but they have been recurring themes in Lyndal Jones's performances, installations and videos for more than 25 years. Starting with The Prediction Pieces (in which, over a decade from 1981, she combined theatre, music, visual art, dance, photography and video to look at the act of prediction), this exhibition surveys Jones's use of personal stories and memories and her ideas about the power of the experiential. Darwin with Tears, May 24 to July 20, the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art, Southbank. Phone 9697 9999.

Susan Fereday

Zoned-out drivers, sleeping passengers, abstracted dashboards and horizon-less views - these photographs of people in cars in America in the 1950s and '60s were originally amateur snapshots taken as neither critique nor nostalgia. Yet now that Susan Fereday, who bought them up in flea markets and second-hand shops, has digitised and magnified them, they have become rather a lot of both and present the spirit of American post-war consumer culture as a kind of sleep. Under a Steel Sky, June 20 to July 12, West Space, city. Phone 9328 8712.

Sustainable art

There is nothing toxic or waste-producing here - no petrochemical plastic sculptures, traditional inks or oil paints thinned with turps. Curators Penny Algar and Edwina Bartlem have chosen 13 artists (among them Lorraine Connelly-Northey and Hannah Bertram) who use such materials as pulled weeds, salvaged tin and window panes, dust and found haberdashery. The catalogues will be printed on Forest Stewardship Council-certified paper and the exhibition lighting will be low-wattage. Pictured below is a detail from Haiku 2007-08 by Ros Bandt. June 6 to 29, Counihan Gallery, Brunswick. Phone 9389 8622.

Sean Meilak

Sean Meilak is in his early 30s and most of the people he draws are younger than him. In the past, they've all been very beautiful and well dressed but they haven't looked particularly happy standing around in urban wastelands below powerlines and concrete overpasses. This time, Meilak has videoed eight models doing screen tests and then selected stills of their more unselfconscious moments in between poses to work up into pencil drawings. Pictured below is Greg 1, 2008. June 3 to 28 at Niagara Galleries, 245 Punt Road, Richmond. Phone 9429 3666.

Led Zeppelin

Ted Harvey's photographic record of Led Zeppelin's 1972 Sydney Showground concert is all flowing hair, bare chests and tight jeans. There were record crowds and youthful aspirations and the band were in their heyday. Harvey - who ended up backstage and, later, wandering the streets of Kings Cross with singer Robert Plant - stored the pictures away unpublished 30 years ago; now they are being exhibited alongside more recent Led Zeppelin-inspired works by a roll-call of (male) artists, including Gareth Sansom, Adam Cullen, Danius Kesminas and Nicholas Harding. Led Zeppelin World Tour, May 28 to July 6, Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery, Mornington. Phone 5975 4395.

Giles Ryder

Before heading off to study in Europe for a year, courtesy of one of this year's Samstag Scholarships, Giles Ryder will give us one last dose of his luminous, technicoloured abstraction. On the one hand, we get his super-minimalist compositions of spray-painted aluminium (he never puts a mark out of place, having worked as an industrial painter for six years before going to art school) and on the other we get the more visceral works containing things such as lumpy expandable foam and black power cords blatantly feeding into his found and custom-made neon lighting. Dark Matter, May 28 to June 14, John Buckley Gallery, Richmond. Phone 9428 8554.

© 2008 The Age

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