Spoiler Alert: a movie review by Alex First

As the title suggests, the outcome is writ large at the start of the film, which is based on a best-selling memoir by Michael Ausiello. Read more

One blockbuster and two oddments: a music review by Fraser Beath McEwing

There is no doubt that the SSO wanted to please Mahler fans with last night’s opening Emirates concert of the season. Read more

Mary Poppins: a Melbourne theatre review by Alex First

In a word, Mary Poppins is Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious! Read more

The Whale: a movie review by Alex First

The Whale is the film that excites me more than any other since lockdown. Read more

Knock at the Cabin: a movie review  by Alex First

Wen (Kristen Cui) is nearly eight years of age – a bright young girl collecting grasshoppers in a large jar so she can study them. Read more

A Toast to Travel: a book review by Alan Gold

There’s a type of writing which used to be in newspapers called ‘travel porn’, which older readers may remember. Read more

My Old School: a movie review by Alex First

The true tale of 16-year-old Scott Brandon Lee (not the actor son of Bruce Lee) is remarkable. Read more

True Spirit: a movie review by Alex First

The story made world news. Read more

South African documentary on Holocaust survivor

The Ritz Cinemas, Sydney and Classic Cinemas, Melbourne, will present a Q&A screening of the deeply moving documentary I AM HERE. Read more

What’s Love Got to Do with It? A movie review by Alex First

Jemima Khan, the former wife of Pakistani cricket captain and politician Imran Khan, has written a cross-cultural romantic comedy. Read more

Tar: a movie review by Alex First

Surely an Oscar awaits Cate Blanchett for her extraordinary multilingual, piano playing performance in Tar. Read more

Sunday: A Melbourne theatre review by Alex First

Sunday Reed is a firecracker. Read more

What I Wish I Had Known: Resisting the Urge to Live

Jeffrey Cohen reviews Dasia Black’s book. Read more

Legends in Concert: A musical review by Alex First

Energy and enthusiasm are the hallmarks of a slick tribute show to some of the greatest musical artists the world has seen. Read more

M3gan: a film review  by Alex First

When the most advanced “toy” in history goes rogue, lives are at stake in the engaging horror sci-fi thriller M3gan. Read more

Operation Fortune: Ruse de guerre – a movie review by Alex First

A rollicking, globe-trotting actioner, director and co-writer Guy Ritchie has a lot of fun and keeps things moving in Operation Fortune: Ruse de guerre (ruse of war). Read more

Emily: a film review by Alex First

Tense throughout, Emily is a fictitious account of lauded 19th-century writer and poet Emily Brontë (Wuthering Heights), a role filled by Emma Mackey. Read more

Motherlod_^e: a theatre review by Alex First

Sixty-five minutes of glorious mayhem. Read more

Marcel the Shell with Shoes On: a film review by Alex First

Marcel is an extraordinary, original work with Best Animated Feature at the Oscars written all over it. Read more

Living in an Upside-Down World: Finding Meaning in Complex Times

Jeffrey Cohen reviews Rabbi Ralph Genende’s book. Read more

Mozart’s evil hero Don Giovanni brilliantly portrayed writes Victor Grynberg

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) is often described as one of the big three of classical composition, along with Johann Sebastian Bach and Ludwig van Beethoven. Read more

French-Israeli bass-baritone Yuri Kissin interviewed by Murray Dahm

Yuri Kissin began his singing career in a most unusual way – he was a stand-up comedian and doing a sketch that parodied ‘opera singing.’ Read more

Madagascar The Musical:   a Melbourne theatre review by Alex First

A musical for the littlies – I speak of preschoolers and primary school age children – Madagascar The Musical is based on the successful animated motion picture. Read more

Blueback: a movie review by Alex First

With a strong environmental message, Blueback is a feel-good story about protecting and saving the reef. Read more

A Man Called Otto – a movie review by Alex First

Otto Anderson (Tom Hanks) seems like anything but a nice man. He likes to keep to himself and is curt to the point of rudeness. In fact, he is known for it. Read more

Slava’s Snowshow: A theatre review by Alex First

Vanya Polunin is to clowning what Sir Donald Bradman was to cricket – a genius. Read more

The Possibly True Story of Martin Gardiner: A Historical Novel

Jeffrey Cohen reviews the novel written by Graham Cohen. Read more

La Boheme reaches its 200th performance

Gale Edwards’ enduring and much-loved production of La Bohème will celebrate its 200th performance when it returns to the Sydney Opera House this summer. Read more

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat: a theatre review by Alex First

A new Pharoah has stepped into Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat. Read more

Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile (G): A movie review by Alex First

Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile is fanciful fun for the whole family. It is lightweight fare that will put a smile on the faces of littlies, their parents and grandparents. Read more

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