Archive for March, 2010
RAW: Clash of the Titans 3D
Mar 31st
Clash of the cliches is more like it.
100 minutes of recycled highlights from the golden age of sword and sandal classics to Avatar, Alien and even Life of Brian.
Sam Worthington gets the gig as the main man but lacks the square jaw to pull it off. Not that he is helped by all that stilted lingo these films insist on and the special effects that while impressive at times were mostly just kind of limp. None of the characters resonated with Liam Neeson as Zeus (and dressed as Freddie Mercury) and Ralph Fiennes as his unhappy brother, Hades (dressed of course in black) going at it but who cared.
Giggling at it all often seemed the right response. The indeterminable trek across the wilderness (sometimes over the same ground twice) with the aid of scorpions would drug even the most Coke fired up teenage boy. His fighting comrades, who having just been hailed great men, put up unbelievably lame efforts against Medusa. (Nicholas Hoult, you are no Orlando Bloom which in itself is no great rap) and soon (but not soon enough) Worthington takes control and, guess what, wins the day.
Another in the running for worst film of the year. Expect to read a press release from Homer distancing himself from the content.
Kryztoff Rating: 1.5K
RAW: Fire! Santa Rosa, Fire! More Than ‘War Cowards’
Mar 31st
Another sneak peek from Edition 11…
Kryztoff‘s Jason Vandepeer caught up with Fire! Santa Rosa, Fire! just before they launched their new single, Little Cowboys, Bad Hombres last week outside Jive, down an alleyway. The band told us about their new album Sea Priest, their upcoming national tour and highlights of their career so far. They also shared a few vital survival tips…
See the full article in Kryztoff‘s 11th Edition, out Thursday!
> > > Missed the 10th edition? Head here.
RAW – The Mess at Mela
Mar 27th
Mela, Adelaide’s annual Indian cultural fest at Elder Park, ended in farce when headline closing act, internationally acclaim hip hop stars, Street Assassins, were threatened with arrest for daring to entertain the crowd. Microphones were removed, lights turned off, sound systems unplugged in the ensuing complete organisational shambles.
Mind you, problems were brewing a long way out when entertainment was suspended for over an hour around 7.30. (The Premier was blamed for this along with the late start to the formal dinner!) By around 9pm when things resumed, more than 50 performers were lined for their time on stage, many of whom had been due to perform up to 3 hours before and some, like the Street Assassins, never made it before the 10.30 curfew kicked in.
Full story in this week’s Kryztoff out on Thursday. Pics on Facebook by Monday.
RAW: Welcome
Mar 26th
Another teaser from Kryztoff‘s 11th Edition…
Welcome is a true drama, without romance or happy ending. Directed by Philippe Lioret, it is simple, yet very well produced.
Expect some impressive cinematography that presents the story in a powerful and captivating way.
The language of film is key to increasing the appeal of this multilingual film.
For the full review, check out the next edition of Kryztoff… in the mean time, see our current edition here for more film reviews.
RAW: Brothers
Mar 25th
Just a taste of what’s to come in the Kryztoff‘s 11th Edition…
Jake Gyllenhall gives a strong performance. Natalie Portman is acceptable, but this is not her best work. Tobey Maguire’s performance, however, as the physically and emotionally tortured Marine is incredible. While not convincing as a father, his scene-stealing portrayal as a survivor of war is brilliant.
Kryztoff Rating: 3.5K
For the full review, check out the next edition of Kryztoff… in the mean time, see our current edition here for more film reviews.
RAW: Dr Brown Behaves
Mar 15th
This show is totally unique. With a crowd that was fully prepared to go wherever he would lead, Mr Brown took us to new levels or hilarity and awkwardness, engaging and involving every single audience member in weird and wonderful ways.
Words really can’t describe who Dr Brown is or what he does, he simply has to be seen to be believed.
If you missed him this festival, you must catch him when he returns. To miss this act is a sin.
An extraordinarily special physical comedian. Don’t think. Just sit back and roll with it.
Oh, and if you are going to sit in the front row, make sure you are both comfortable with your own sexuality and keen to try new things.
If this is Dr. Brown behaving, I can’t wait to see him misbehave!
Kryztoff Rating: 5K
>> Check out more interviews, videos, feature articles and polished previews in our latest Fringe Guide, http://www.kryztoff.com/fringe
RAW: Bart Freebairn – A Breathtakingly Magical Journey into the Ordinary
Mar 15th
Life doesn’t always turn out as we had wished as a kid. Which is probably a good thing as if it had most of us Gen Y guys would be either Transformers or Ninja Turtles and Prince Charles would be Camilla’s tampon. Realising that he had no magic powers of his own, Bart Freebairn seeks to find magic in the world around him, learning some harsh lessons about how the real world works along the way.
Incredibly thoughtful, often insightful and continuously witty, Bart’s show is not the joke-a-second gig that some look for. That didn’t worry me. His jokes are incredibly funny – well set up and nicely delivered; the narrative in between engaging and thoughtful. Taboo topics are tackled bravely and irreverently in a show that could best be summed up as a delightful deviation from the real world for a while.
Oh, and his show is opened by a real wizard.
Kryztoff Rating: 3.75K
>> Check out more interviews, videos, feature articles and polished previews in our latest Fringe Guide, http://www.kryztoff.com/fringe
RAW: Pony Club @ Tuxedo Cat
Mar 15th
What is the Pony Club?
Pony Club is a gig run by the incredible Hannah Gadsby in which a bunch of comedians run amuck for an hour of improvisation, singing, dancing, stand-up and impressions. Like a kind of wheels-fell-off theatre sports, this show had the audience literally crying with laughter.
Check out the final Pony Club line-up: Hannah Gadsby, Adam Hills, Amelia Jane Hunter, Damian Callinan, Deanne Smith, David Smiedt, Dave Bloustien, and Rebecca De Unamuno! All in the one improv show! All of these comedians were at the top of their game, revelling in this fantastic opportunity to just be silly.
For a great night out, make sure you catch a Pony Club at the next Fringe and please give a generous donation at the door. Pony Club – mad bang for your buck. Late night comedy at its finest!
Kryztoff Rating: 4.5K
>> Check out more interviews, videos, feature articles and polished previews in our latest Fringe Guide, http://www.kryztoff.com/fringe
Good Morning Mr Gershwin – Montalvo-Hervieu Co France – Festival Theatre
Mar 14th
Being 20 in the Twenties when Gershwin was at his best was, as Hemingway suggested, great luck. The Montalvo-Hervieu Company of France took us back there with a stunning and delightful exhibition of energy and grace. This show was greatly enhanced by the stage configuration of dance floor, shanty shed (permitting roof top solos) and a massive video backdrop. The video work was highly complex with many under water scenes, a large sandcastle, the board walk over a threatening sea and a monoshrome slum scene that transformed into colour and activity character by character. The ability of this to share and not dominate the whole stage was terrific and in this era of multi media or layered performances, this was as good as it gets.
All Gershwin’s most enjoyed pieces were there and the pace was kept frenetic and rivetting with the large ensemble of 15 delighting with their dance, emotion and humour.
A great show.
Kryztoff Rating 4.5K
Mahler 8 – Entertainment Centre
Mar 14th
One can only marvel at the scale (even if its popularity doesn’t match) of Mahler’s 8th Symphony and the bravery involved in attempting to stage it. Two orchestras, 400 singers, seven soloists all coming from various places around the country and world make for a handful. But under Arvo Volmer’s direction, this monumental show and finale to Paul Grabowsky’s festival was pulled off resoundingly well. It is 32 years since such an ambition was last carried out in Adelaide, then at Centennial Hall at the fifth Adelaide Festival. Much has changed for the city and the festival since then but this music remains a towering piece in symphony lore. The first movement, Veni, Creator Spiritus, is uplifting and magnificent and Russian soprano Marina Shaguch carried the day. The second, Final scene of Goethe’s Faust Pt 111, is somewhat more difficult but the message of love and hope fuses all in the finale.
The use of an upstairs vantage point for the horn signatures and the Mother Mary’s solo was inspired and carried off well. The ability to keep such a large stage contingent up to the beat was a credit to both Volmer and Chorus Director, Carl Crossin.
The disappointment was the amplification used, particularly in the opening 5 – 10 minutes which threatened to ruin it all. After all that money spent on the Entertainment Centre revamp, it is a pity more attention was not paid to resolving these issues and exactly what extra sound boost is required for a stage ensemble of this magnitude (other than for the soloists) is not clear. Mahler’s own first performance had over 3000 in attendance with not a microphone or banks of speakers in sight.
Perhaps as surprising was the spartan use of light and the apparent absence of recording devices to perpetuate the occasion (there is but one recording only of Mahler 8 on i-tunes!) Was this in fact an opportunity missed.
An event for the list of ‘I was there’ and a credit to Volmer and his ASO and badge of honour for the Festival in its 50th year.
Kryztoff Rating 4K