Valentine’s Day **
February 18, 2010 by Agencies
It is possible to gather a star-studded ensemble cast and make a frothy, delightful movie about love in its many guises. Richard Curtis did it with Love, Actually and a parcel of international directors accomplished something similar with the duet of Paris, Je t’aime and New York, I Love You. The strengths of those films, however – the ability to tell interesting stories and generate substantive characters despite limited screen time – are absent here. Valentine’s Day’s greatest strength – its cast – becomes its most obvious weakness. With so many actors fighting for a few extra minutes in front of the camera, this feels like a parade of famous faces, not a motion picture. And, while a few of the skits show glimmers of promise, many are time wasters.
The Hurt Locker ***+
War is hell. It’s a cliché, but not one that Hollywood often embraces. There are exceptions, of course, like Oliver Stone’s Platoon, which takes no prisoners in depicting war as the gruesome, dehumanizing business it is. But Platoon and other films cut from the same cloth are more dramas than thrillers. The question is whether it’s possible to generate white-knuckle, grip-the-edge-of-the-seat tension in a war movie without turning it into a glorification of violence and bloodshed. Director Kathryn Bigelow, James Cameron’s ex and the filmmaker behind Point Break and Strange Days, answers this question with a definitive, uncompromising “yes!” On a weekend when the effects-choked Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen staggers into theaters like a stoned 800-pound gorilla and threatens to put audiences to sleep with its brand of deadly dull “action,” The Hurt Locker is the film to see for those seeking an elevated pulse. It’s 20 minutes shorter and about three times more exciting.
Sorry again
February 16, 2010 by Agencies
The Jewish community was strongly represented at a moving interfaith ceremony on Sunday to mark the second anniversary of the national Apology to the Aboriginal People. Read more
Anne Frank exhibition to open in Wellington today
February 10, 2010 by Agencies
New Zealand Prime Minister John Key will open the Anne Frank travelling exhibition at the National Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa in Wellington today. Read more
Westfield welcomes J.P. Morgan to Sydney project
February 9, 2010 by Agencies
The Westfield Group today announced that J.P. Morgan will anchor the new 25-storey 32,800 square metre office tower to be constructed at 85 Castlereagh Street as part of the Westfield Sydney City project that is currently under development. Read more
New Australian ambassador to Israel
February 4, 2010 by Agencies
Foreign Minister Stephen Smith has announced the appointment of Andrea Faulkner as Australia’s new ambassador to Israel. Read more
Over 50 and looking for love?
February 3, 2010 by Agencies
j-junction, the only Australian Jewish matchmaking service is bringing back matchmaker assisted introductions for the over 50’s. Read more
Australia helps facilitate new Israel UN role
February 1, 2010 by Agencies
With Australia’s support, Israel has moved closer to receiving fairer treatment within the United Nations. Read more
170 Aussies plant JNF trees on IDF air force base
January 31, 2010 by Agencies
170 18-yr-old Australians shared the planting of trees on TuBishvat with young Israelis on active duty at the Nevatim Air Force base…a first for JNF Read more
New Yeshiva college shines in schools’ rankings
January 31, 2010 by Agencies
The newly established Yeshiva College Primary School in Bondi, first in Australia to have Torah studies approved equivalent to secular studies with regard to Government requirements, ranked within the top 3 Jewish Primary Schools in Sydney and within the top 12% of all Primary Schools in the State of New South Wales. Read more
Jewish activist calls for compassion in Auburn
January 28, 2010 by Agencies
Danielle Lauren, an Australian Ambassador for the Charter for Compassion, appealed to residents in the Sydney suburb of Auburn and surrounding areas to spread compassion on Australia Day by signing the Charter. Read more
A Sensible Jew joins the AICE
The Australia Israel Cultural Exchange (AICE) has appointed Alex Fein as its Director of Communications. Read more
Shalom L’hitrahot – Sela out in the first round
January 19, 2010 by Agencies
Israel’s only competitor in the Australian Open Men’s Tennis championship has been knocked out in the first round. Read more
Students banned from web site for antisemitic posts
December 18, 2009 by Agencies
A group of antisemitic and anti-Israel bloggers has been banned from a Web site operated by students in Sydney. Read more
Canberra professionals meet the head of the Palestinian Delegation
November 26, 2009 by Agencies
Members of the Capital Jewish Forum were addressed this week by the Palestinian Territories Head of Delegation in Canberra. Read more
The One.Tel’s Wealth of Riches
November 19, 2009 by Agencies
J-Wire calls on an expert commentary of yesterday’s court victory for Jodee Rich and Mark Silbermann against ASIC.
Read Stephen Bartholomeusz’s take here…
Not Happy, Stephen
November 18, 2009 by Agencies
Australian Jewish leaders are irked that the government voted in favor of a “one-sided” and “unbalanced” United Nations resolution on Palestinian self-determination. Read more
