NOT: Alice in Wonderland

Tim Burton is a director with a very distinct view of things. He tends to show the beauty in some of the most unlikely characters, embrace the dark and review a new good within it. Some might say he is the Mad Hatter of the world of cinema.

However, his latest film Alice in [...]

HOT: A Single Man

Colin Firth won a BAFTA a few days ago with his role as George Falconer in A Single Man. If you watch this film you’ll see why.
The first foray of Tom Ford, uber-fashion designer, into film is an intense and elegiac work about the nature of love, loneliness, repression and the small poignant moments in [...]

HOT: The Prophet (Un prophete)

I had no idea what to expect from The Prophet (Un prophete) – I only knew that the French film that had received lots of praise, including a Best Foreign Film Oscar nomination.
“Oh no” I thought as I bit into my choc top and the blood splattered on screen, “It’s going to be two hours [...]

HOT: Bamboo Basket, 190 Grey St, South Brisbane

Bamboo Basket is new addition to the increasingly vibrant and unapologetically modern South Bank precinct. Located at the eastern end of Grey St, there was always the danger that when this Chinese restaurant opened a few months ago it would be a little far from the action. But it hasn’t taken long for it to [...]

NOT: Dakbla Restaurant, 65 Hardgrave Rd, West End

We try to have a new food adventure at least once a week. But there are some times when you just need the old locale, a place where you can be guaranteed a quick, cheap and tasty feed. And then you arrive at 8.15pm and find the place packed to the rafters, so you go [...]

HOT: Buzz Bistro, Shop 22 Emporium, 1000 Ann St, Fortitude Valley

I’m not even going to bother with the puns about ‘buzzing Buzz‘ or ‘lots of buzz about Buzz‘ – you’ve probably heard them all already.
So let me just say that bright and cheery Buzz (love the red and white stripey awnings) served up one of the most satisfying and delicious breakfasts that I’ve had in a while.
I’m a [...]

NOT: Depot Emporium, Shop 31 Emporium, 1000 Ann St, Fortitude Valley

Two years ago when I was a full time Fortitude Valley dweller, breakfast was synonymous with Depot Emporium, but since making the move to the other side of the river, I don’t get to the Valley half as much as I’d like to.  When invited to breakfast last week with my friend JC, who also [...]

HOT: The Road

What distinguishes The Road (based on Cormac McCarthy’s novel) from other post-apocalyptic films is John Hillcoat’s focus on the realistic issues that humanity would face in such a situation, raising questions on the ideals of humanity and human nature. What part of humanity do we expect to last in a situation where the world is [...]

HOT: LR Sushi, QueensPlaza, Ground Level, Adelaide St, Brisbane

The Jetsetting Parents are pretty fussy with their sushi, but they can’t stop raving about LR Sushi at QueensPlaza. Apparently Brisbane office workers have also pegged it as a popular lunch spot. Eat Drink Brisbane also gave it a rave review.
Why? LR Sushi produce nori rolls with a difference. The high demand means a fast [...]

HOT: Up in the Air

Up in the Air does the almost impossible – it makes redundancy humorous.
Ryan Bingham (George Clooney) is a corporate downsizing gun-for-hire who flies around the country firing employees for bosses who are too cowardly to do the dirty work themselves. He’s a smooth operator, full of pretend concern and oft-repeated platitudes but with just the [...]