Raili Simojoki reviews Australian writer Benjamin Law’s debut book — an enjoyable, easy-reading collection of essays about his eccentric yet endearing family.
Reviews
The Rolling Stones’ Exile On Main Street: one album to rule them all
If some music archaeologist of the the twenty-ninth century wanted to understand rock n’ roll, Exile is the album he or she should excavate, says Tim Dunlop: it’s a master class in rock n’ roll.
Book review: Don DeLillo’s Point Omega
Don DeLillo’s latest book is a slim little intellectual ride with an ending that doesn’t quite live up to its beginning, writes Angela Meyer.
Christopher Hitchens reviews Animal Farm
Christopher Hitchens re-reads George Orwell’s timeless dystopian novel Animal Farm: 65 years on, there’s still a lot to learn from a pen of power-hungry pigs.
Album review: The John Butler Trio’s April Uprising
The latest album from Aussie local-lad-made-good John Butler isn’t quite the masterpiece some reviewers are suggesting, says Tim Dunlop, but it has its moments and will sell a motza anyway.
Album review: Johnny Cash’s Ain’t No Grave
Tim Dunlop looks at the latest (and hopefully final) posthumous release from country legend Johnny Cash. It’s a decent album, but it’s time to say “thanks for the memories”, and let this be the end.
A review of Australia’s first 3D TV
Samsung has announced it will begin selling 3D TVs in Australia next week, starting at $2899 a pop. So are they any good? Not a bad start, says AVHub — provided you don’t mind dorky glasses, and don’t watch while drunk.
Album review: Patty Griffin’s Downtown Church
This album of gospelish songs from American folk singer Patty Griffin is uplifting, funny and bracing, says Tim Dunlop. The addition of musicians like Buddy Miller, Emmylou Harris and Julie Miller is just the icing on the cake.
Film review: The Men Who Stare at Goats — WTF?
The Men Who Stare at Goats is a window into a strange-but-we-swear-it’s-sort-of-true world, where soldiers control minds, run through walls and telepathically murder animals. WTF? asks Luke Buckmaster.
Film review: Dear John — sickeningly clichéd
How bad is schmaltzy new romantic drama-cum-war film Dear John? So bad it’s sent our film reviewer Luke Buckmaster off to the GP for a cure. Must have been an allergic reaction to all that cheese…
Book review: David Carlin’s Our Father Who Wasn’t There
Author David Carlin pens his own father’s memoirs, constructed through the memories of others, medical records, his own dispositions and pure imagination. It’s complex, moving and beautifully written, says Angela Meyer.
Film review: Valentine’s Day: too many celebs, not enough smarts
Valentine’s Day is a smaltzy, dramatically inept rom-com with an unaccountably large array of characters played by an ensemble of underperforming celebs, says Luke Buckmaster. There are better ways to spend Feb 14.
Album review: Corrina Steel’s A Fling with the King
Corrina Steel writes excellent rock inflected country music, and her latest album is a winner. But is she really “an Australian Lucinda Williams”? asks Tim Dunlop.
Film review: Precious: outstanding feats of acting
Precious is not easy viewing, but people interested in acting as a craft will be impressed by some extraordinary performances driven by courage and conviction, says Luke Buckmaster.
Book review: Eleanor Catton’s The Rehearsal
New Zealand author Eleanor Catton’s debut novel The Rehearsal requires a bit of audience participation: the reader is all the roles, all the characters and all the actors, says Angela Meyer.
Album review: Dan Sultan’s Get Out While You Can
Is there a bigger hunk of musical, masculine talent and gorgeousness in Australian music at the moment? asks Tim Dunlop. His latest album has all the right ingredients to be a huge commercial success.
Album review: Tom Waits… and waits and waits
Is Tom Wait really the untouchable genius he’s made out to be, or is it a case the Emperor’s new clothes? asks Tim Dunlop. His songs may be good, but…that voice!
Film review: Bran Nue Dae — a missed opportunity
Aussie musical film Bran Nue Dae has all the ingredients to be a blockbuster, says Tim Dunlop, but is wasted with a half-arsed production that tells its story badly and seriously buggers up nearly every song in the repertoire.
Film Review: Sherlock Holmes — a case of shambolic sleuthery
Guy Ritchie’s new flick, Sherlock Holmes feels like a Choose Your Own Adventure that doesn’t work out quite right, and, worst of all, it bores, says Luke Buckmaster.
Guy Rundle: Friday book review: Why You Are Australian
Nicki Gemmell’s latest offering is like a meal of Tim Tams — not too healthy for anyone, and you aren’t too far in before you’re wondering why you ever started in the first place.
Film review: Avatar — beyond blockbuster, beyond epic
Luke Buckmaster reviews the new uber-blockbuster from mega-minded director James Cameron: gorgeously atmospheric and orgies-for-eyeballs good looking.
Guy Rundle: Friday book review: Fishing in Utopia
Andrew Brown’s account of the most successful social democracy in his book Fishing In Utopia - Sweden and the Future That Disappeared serves as a prism for the political questions we face.
Dear Guy Rundle: being an immigrant doesn’t disqualify me from debating Aussie identity
Tim Soutphommasane cranks up the Cold Chisel, cracks open a VB and responds to Guy Rundle’s critique of his new book, Reclaiming Patriotism.
Film review: The Twilight Saga: New Moon: a pubescent Mills and Boon
Luke Buckmaster has one word to describe the second installment of the Twilight films: lame. New Moon is a cheesy soap opera jazzed up by a half-assed supernatural twist.
Guy Rundle: Friday book review: Reclaiming Patriotism
Tim Soutphommasane continues his reign of error with this new book, Reclaiming Patriotism: nation building for Australian progressives, writes Guy Rundle.
