Author: Meredith McLean

Live Review: The Vaccines + The Belligerents + The Jensens – The Triffid, Brisbane (08.11.15)

The Triffid celebrated with a rock Sunday sesh last week. What better way to do it then with a visit from English rock band The Vaccines who are celebrating their latest album, English Graffiti? Joining them on the night were The Jensens and The Belligerents, both locals and Brisbane favourites of the Brisbane music scene….

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Album Review: Half Moon Run – Sun Leads Me On (LP 2015)

Canadian alt-folk band Half Moon Run released their sophomore album last week. After critical acclaim on their first LP Dark Eyes it seems Sun Leads Me On has searched for a lighter, brighter direction. Dabbling in synths, finger plucking and everything in between the 13-track album creates a diverse and wonderfully lyrical experience for fans…

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Album Review: Neon Indian – Vega Intl. Night School (2015 LP)

The highly praised tribal leader of indie synth returns with his first album in four years. We’re of course talking about Neon Indian and his long awaited LP Vega INTL. Night School, officially available this Friday. Firstly – I need to know: how does one attend this night school? Because they will teach you all…

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Festival Review: Listen Out – RNA Showgrounds, Brisbane (04.10.15)

Listen Out has come back doing the rounds, the lineup having some fan favourites as well as the Red Bull Music Academy stage coming back to bring young talent. This year the festival was simplified to two stages; this idea of festivals becoming smaller and more manageable continues to prove popular amongst music fans. It…

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DVD Review: Infinitely Polar Bear (MA15+, USA, 2015)

Infinitely Polar Bear was both written and directed by Maya Forbes. She seems to have a talent for speaking through children. Her track record of childhood perception is both entertaining and frustrating. Frustrating because sometimes it’s too right and sometimes it’s too simple. There’s nostalgia to this film. Set in the late 70s, the aesthetic…

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Exclusive Interview: Carl Barron talks about his role in Manny Lewis – out now on DVD!

This week the AU had a chat with household name, Carl Barron. The Aussie king of comedy came to us with some different news this time. He’s promoting his first feature film, co-written and directed by Anthony Mir. Released this year, Manny Lewis is a film about an Aussie comic (sound familiar?) who struggles with…

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DVD Review: Survivor (MA15+) (USA, 2014)

This is the next bad sci-fi that you need to see. Critics have spurned it as “the science fiction that even science fiction fans won’t like”. That’s a pretty harsh call. Let’s assess why Survivor did not survive the heat of film reviewers. It has a splash of sci fi favourites like Kevin Sorbo and Rocky Meyers. It…

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DVD Review: Halo: Nightfall (M) (USA, 2014)

Another installment in the Halo franchise has once again satisfied revelers of the Halo story. Much like a piece of the Halo ring floating in space, this feature is also an element that can be part of the Halo universe or a story all of its own. Considered the “origin story” of the one of…

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DVD Review: Plus One (USA, 2013)

+1 or Plus One is the sci-fi horror brainchild of Dennis Iliadis. Though its original release flashed by us at the 2013 SXSW festival, Illiadis felt the production was rushed for festival screening and has since tweaked it for international release. The story takes a rapid-fire spin on horror films and the concept of identity….

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Exclusive Interview: Helen Razer reflects on Triple J ahead of Sounds Like Teen Spirit: Triple J at 40

No matter what you think of the station, Triple J has never been a station to shy away from being the equivalent to the rambunctious rebel that’s chewing gum in an upper-class high school, giving off too many pieces of music trivia that you care about. What it did do for many of us music…

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The Iris Interview: Voice of Optimus Prime, Peter Cullen, speaks on his connection to the character, and more

Supanova is back again to give fans the chance to meet their heroes. Meredith McLean got to speak with one such hero touring for Supanova this year. Optimus Prime, who has been voiced by Peter Cullen for three decades. He shared his experiences over the past 30 years as well as his own relationship with…

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Sydney Film Festival Review: Something Must Break (Sweden, 2014)

For all the sadness and terrifying places that Ester Martin Bergsmark’s latest film takes us there is so much triumph and disclosure on the journey. After all the suffering we feel for the characters in this film it tears you apart. If Something Must Break doesn’t break you, you are either an incredible, strong soul…

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Sydney Film Festival Review: The Queen (Argentina, 2013)

The Queen is a gritty and dazzling short presented by Argentinean director Manuel Abramovic. I’ve called this one gritty and dazzling because it is full of sequins, incredible glittering costumes but also suffering. This film is a short 15-minute vignette of Memi’s life. Memi is only 11 years old and she is going to be…

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TV Recap: House of Cards – Season 2 Episodes 4 “Chapter 17” to 6 “Chapter 19” (USA, 2014)

From where we left off last time Frank Underwood had finally made it right into the middle of the television frame as Vice President of the United States. But I’m sure viewers’ doubt he will rest at that stop. There is plenty more games of cat and mouse for Frank Underwood and steely eyed wife,…

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TV Recap: House of Cards – Season 2 Episodes 1 “Chapter 14” to 3 “Chapter 16” (USA, 2014)

THIS POST CONTAINS SPOILERS! House of Cards has been back on Showtime for the past three weeks now. It isn’t surprising that House of Cards Season 2 has returned to match the same drama and suspense as the previous season. What is surprising is the turn of events so far. For those who haven’t had…

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DVD Review: It’s a Disaster (USA, 2013)

It’s A Disaster is the black comedy feature film written and directed by Todd Berger. It starts at another Sunday “couples brunch” amongst a group of friends. Not only do the relationships of these couples and the friendships amongst them seem to fall apart, but also a mysterious world disaster occurs outside the home. A…

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BIFF Review – Don Jon (USA, 2013)

As BIFF winds down the movies certainly do not. The last screening of Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s Don Jon graced the Palace Cinemas last night and guests were greeted with champagne and a chance to be photographed. It was a nice touch to bring a little bit of Hollywood to Brisbane. Anticipation for Don Jon  has been brimming…

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BIFF Film Review: Foxfire (France/Canada, 2012)

Foxfire screened at Biff Wednesday night at Palace Cinemas. The film runs dangerously close to three hours but thankfully you won’t notice it until you step out of the theatre bleary-eyed onto the busy, buzzing barracks shopping complex. This isn’t the first time Foxfire has entered the minds of girls, women and people everywhere. The…

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BIFF Film Review: Six Degrees of Separation (USA, 1993)

One of the great things about Brisbane International Film Festival is not only the celebration of new films and innovations but also the celebration of old ones. Six Degrees of Separation is almost incidentally nostalgic of New York, the 90s and the fantasy of socialites. Though there’s been enough time to get informed, it’s obvious…

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Iris Interview at BIFF: Joanthan Teplitzky, Director of The Railway Man (UK/Australia, 2013)

Meredith McLean attended the Red Carpet Opening of BIFF 2013 and had a chance to speak with Jonathan Teplitzky about “The Railway Man” and it’s screening at BIFF. Hi, it’s lovely to meet you. Hi I’m Jonathan Nice to meet you, Jonathan. I’m Meredith, I’m from the AU review and The Iris. First of all,…

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On The Red Carpet: Brisbane International Film Festival (BIFF) Opening Night 2013.

It’s that time of the year again when not only the social and cultural Brisbanites band together but people come from all around the world for the Brisbane International Film Festival. A little bit of Hollywood found its way to Brisbane’s renowned Gallery of Modern Art on Wednesday night when the red carpet rolled out,…

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Melbourne International Film Festival Review: Gebo and the Shadow (Portugal/France, 2012)

Gebo and the Shadow is film that prides style over pace. It tells an old tale about money, sacrifice and family. Michael Lonsdale (Munich, Moonraker) is possibly the most recognizable cast member from this French/Portuguese film. It is based on the play of the same name by playwright, Raul Brandao. The director Manoel de Oliveira makes…

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