opinion – Page 49

Farewell, My Queen – Film Review

July 22, 2018June 20, 2021yggdrasille

The royal palace of Versailles and its doomed queen Marie Antoinette get a new perspective in this French film, which covers the last fraught days of the monarchy through the eyes of a young woman serving as the queen’s official reader. While ultimately somewhat slight, the movie’s eavesdropping-on-history approach is compelling, and gains a lot from being shot at the real location.

New Music 07/2018 – Gillian Welch, Savages

July 19, 2018yggdrasille

My recent haul from the Dixons Recycled secondhand music store in Fitzroy. Who doesn’t love a bargain?

The Piano – Film Review

July 12, 2018February 12, 2022yggdrasille

I can’t believe I’ve overlooked this 1993 Jane Campion masterpiece for so long, though on the other hand I doubt I’d have appreciated it as much as a teenager; its bleak yet sensuous atmosphere, literary vibe and complicated relationships probably resonate better with my older self.

Annihilation – Film Review

July 10, 2018yggdrasille

Watched the latest unsettling sci-fi mind-bender from Alex Garland, the writer/director of Ex Machina, that got dumped on Netflix for being “too complicated” for the wider audience. I’m sorry that I never got a chance to see it on the big screen, but good on the creative team for refusing to dumb it down.

Deadpool – Film Review

July 5, 2018April 13, 2024yggdrasille

Yeah yeah I’m a couple of years behind on this, but I finally caught up with the world’s favourite foul-mouthed, snarky, fourth-wall-breaking superhero.

New Music 07/2018 – Fever Ray, Courtney Barnett

July 3, 2018yggdrasille

Second solo albums by two of my favourites, which mostly avoid the dreaded second album curse.

The History of Bees by Maja Lunde – Book Review

June 28, 2018October 31, 2022yggdrasille

I’ve always been fascinated by what if scenarios in fiction, and the one explored by this Norwegian author is devastatingly simple: what would happen to the human society if the bees went extinct? Spread across almost 250 years and three stories, all involving bees to some degree, Lunde’s book finishes with a tentative note of optimism but not before taking the reader on a dark ride of dashed hopes and bleak prospects for our world.

Hard Candy – Film Review

June 26, 2018yggdrasille

A tense and disturbing thriller that’s often uncomfortable to watch, but very well-made with two exceptional lead performances. You could regard it as a take on the Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf, if the Red Riding Hood was more like Arya Stark.

Sarah Blasko @ 170 Russell

June 23, 2018yggdrasille

Saw the incredible and ever-enchanting Sarah Blasko last night. I’ve seen her live a few times before, but this concert might have been my favourite, despite the late starting time.

Mazzy Star @ Sydney Opera House

June 16, 2018yggdrasille

A highlight of our recent whirlwind trip to Sydney, this concert was a surprise birthday present from my Mum and a total musical blind date for me. Other than the band name and a vague association with the 90s, I knew literally nothing about Mazzy Star and couldn’t name or hum a single song. Luckily, their live show made for a wonderful night out.