Show Reviews

Last night the Astor Theatre hosted a collage of Italian stars in Ricordi Di Sanremo, a concert covering three generations of memories from Italy’s most popular music festival, for one night only. The annual Sanremo Music Festival, which has been running in the coastal city of Sanremo since 1951, was originally established as a pathway to revitalizing its economy and survives to this day. Accordingly, The Sanremo Music Festival also holds the distinction of being the longest-running annual TV music competition in the world and served as the inspiration for the creation of the Eurovision Song Contest. What sets the…

Depending on your location, the 2023 Jewish International Film Festival (JFF) is fast approaching, from 23rd October to 29th November. This year’s JFF will celebrate the 100th anniversary of Warner Bros by showcasing the documentary Jack L. Warner: The Last Mogul. The Last Mogul tells the story of the reigning figure, Jack L. Warner. Emerging from modest beginnings, he and his brothers embarked on a journey that led to the creation of Warner Bros Studios. Remarkably, for over half a century, Jack Warner held the crown of this cinematic empire, leaving a mark on the history of motion pictures. This…

The JFF is upon us for 2023, and depending on where you are located in Australia, it will run sometime in the date range of 23 Oct to 29 Nov, so be sure to check dates for your local area. With many varieties of film genres available, let’s delve into Aaron Lucus’ short documentary film I’ll Be Frank which is a respectful nod to his grandfather, Frank. The film opens with the information that former German citizens between 1933 and 1945 and their descendants who were deprived of their citizenship shall have their citizenship restored upon application. Thus begins an…

The Crime is Mine is the latest from acclaimed director François Ozon and features French stars Isabelle Huppert and Dany Boon, supported by a stellar cast including Fabrice Luchini, André Dussollier, Nadia Tereszkiewicz, and Rebecca Marder. Take a step back to 1930s Paris, as ‘The Crime Is Mine’ follows young and struggling actress Madeline and her loyal friend Pauline. The film begins with Madeleine being accused of murdering a renowned producer. Assisted by her friend Pauline, a jobless young lawyer, Madeleine is acquitted, claiming self-defence. Astonishingly, her life transforms into one of fame and fortune, with secrets lurking beneath the…

The Italian Film Festival is 23 years young and kicking off in your town. And it’s not just films with a dramatic flair but several documentaries will feature this year, including Il Cerchio – The Circle. Directed by Sophie Chiarello, The Circle chronicles the journey of Italian primary school students over a five-year period, capturing their unique outlook on the world. The Circle is the winner of best documentary at the 2023 David di Donatello and screening at this year’s Italian Film Festival. Over five years, students share their thoughts and feelings on a range of topics during circle time.…

Flick’s “SLUTNIK 2: Planet of the Incels” was a dazzling space age adventure.  It is the extravagant and anticipated continuation of the SLUTNIK™ franchise, following the success of its fabulous predecessor, SLUTNIK™ 1. The enthusiastic opening night audience for SLUTNIK™ 2, comprised of numerous fans of the first installment, is a testament to its popularity and widespread appeal. For those unfamiliar with the backstory, SLUTNIK™ 1 chronicles the journey of a renowned group of lesbian space cannibals, accompanied by their trusty robot MOTHERBOARD, who departed Earth a century ago in search of liberation from patriarchal oppression. The plot centres on…

In 24 Carrot Productions’ outstanding and profound “Grave Issues,” we are immersed in deep examination of a life’s worth.  The audience enters the Bluestone Church Arts Space in Footscray to find themselves at a funeral for an unnamed woman. Upon sitting, we learn that a “procedure” will be performed, where an empirical determination of a person’s inner workings will be revealed.  The play opened on “Senior” and “Junior” (Kate Ball and Karli Riesen, respectively) performing a sort of autopsy of personal qualities in front of an audience of funerary mourners. The findings were such that “Colleague,” “Friend,” and “Lover” were…