Tag Archives: Australia

Notes on “The Devil’s Playground”

Posted on August 2, 2020 by Fabrizio del Wrongo

Fabrizio del Wrongo writes:Though it’s little known even among aficionados, I’d rank Fred Schepisi’s 1976 “The Devil’s Playground” among the great directorial debuts. Few films are so achingly corporeal. Schepisi, who also wrote the picture, keeps us tuned in to … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies, Philosophy and Religion | Tagged Australia, Catholicism, Film, Fred Schepisi, movies, The Devil's Playground | Leave a comment

Notes on “The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith”

Posted on January 14, 2020 by Fabrizio del Wrongo

Fabrizio del Wrongo writes: Fred Schepisi’s unsettled and peculiarly wrenching “The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith,” though it’s finally available on disc, isn’t discussed much among movie buffs. It’s too bleak and too at odds with contemporary values for broad acceptance. … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged Australia, Film, Fred Schepisi, movies, The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith, Tommy Lewis | 2 Comments

Cocktails Du Jour

Posted on December 9, 2015 by Eddie Pensier

Eddie Pensier writes: “Tweedle Rum” (Gosling’s rum, pineapple juice lime, ginger beer, spiced vanilla-pomegranate syrup, and Angostura bitters, with fresh pineapple garnish and freeze-dried pineapple on the side) and “Mad Hatter” (Appleton 12 Year rum, Bulleit bourbon, Hennessey VS cognac, … Continue reading →

Posted in Food and health, The Good Life | Tagged Australia, cocktails, white rabbit | 1 Comment

Spicy Chicken, Ugly Buildings, and Freddie Mercury

Posted on November 1, 2015 by Eddie Pensier

Eddie Pensier writes: A recent business trip to Sydney brought some fantastic culinary experiences and some regrettable architectural ones. I made a pilgrimage to the Central Park shopping centre in Chippendale to visit (among other things) Daiso, that marvelously kooky … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Food and health, Travel | Tagged Australia, bohemian rhapsody, din tai fun, dumplings, flower-covered clownfaced hula-hooping Chinese drag queen on stilts, Frank Gehry, fried ch, ice cream, noodles, Sydney, taiwanese chicken | 7 Comments

Australian Hot Chocolate, Five Ways

Posted on September 20, 2015 by Eddie Pensier

Eddie Pensier writes: There might be more obvious candidates for the title of quintessentially Australian drink. VB, Penfold’s Grange, Bundy, Sullivan’s Cove. But it cannot be denied that hot chocolate is big business here. Not “cocoa”, either, but real, serious, … Continue reading →

Posted in Food and health, Personal reflections | Tagged Australia, chocolate, five ways, koko black, max brenner, oliver brown, san churro | 3 Comments

“The Babadook”

Posted on May 17, 2015 by Fabrizio del Wrongo

Fabrizio del Wrongo writes: In “The Babadook,” Australian writer-director Jennifer Kent marries the haunted house film to the psychological thriller. It’s a potent union, one that allows her to explore inward-looking themes related to grief and motherhood while delivering the … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies, Performers | Tagged Australia, Essie Davis, Film, horror, Jennifer Kent, Mae Marsh, movies, Noah Wiseman, Pauline Kael, The Babadook | 3 Comments

Eyesore Du Jour: National Museum of Australia

Posted on August 6, 2014 by Eddie Pensier

Eddie Pensier writes: Last weekend, frequent UR commenter Tex and I decided to hit two iconic Canberra museums: The National Museum of Australia and the National Gallery of Australia. The latter is a traditional museum, with paintings and sculptures and … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Art, History, Personal reflections, Travel | Tagged Australia, eyesores, national museum of australia, ugly buildings, wtf | 7 Comments

Naked Lady of the Week: Angela White

Posted on June 20, 2014 by Blowhard, Esq.

Blowhard, Esq. writes: Curvy Aussie cutie Angela White got her start modeling for big boob site Score but I first noticed her on Abby Winters. Although we haven’t mentioned it much around here, UR readers are familiar with the Australian amateur … Continue reading →

Posted in Sex | Tagged Angela White, Australia, Porn | 4 Comments

“Jindabyne”

Posted on May 19, 2014 by Eddie Pensier

Eddie Pensier writes: Ray Lawrence’s “Jindabyne” (2006) is a murder drama, not a murder mystery. The identity of the killer is clear from the first scene: creepy electrician Park accosts teenaged Susan O’Connor in her car, murders her, and dumps … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged Australia, gabriel byrne, jindabyne, laura linney, ray lawrence, raymond carver | 6 Comments

Sydney Symphony Orchestra: “Elektra”

Posted on May 7, 2014 by Eddie Pensier

Eddie Pensier writes: Possibly the key thing to know about Richard Strauss’ Elektra is that this opera is LOUD. Delightfully, magnificently loud. How loud? Well, most Mozart operas are scored for 50-60 orchestra members, most Verdi calls for 70-80, and even … Continue reading →