Month: March 2018

THE ENDLESS REVIEW AVAILABLE AT X-PRESS MAGAZINE

Posted on by Lloyd Marken

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I was lucky enough to get sent a screener of a film to review for X-Press Magazine again. This was for the film The Endless, from the directing duo Aaron Moorhead and Justin Benson. This is their third film together, where Hollywood offered them a lot but they struck a balance between sticking to their roots and upping their ante. So far my work for X-Press has seen me reviewing quality films that may not get a big budget or marketing platform but are all offering something different and strong. Moorhead and Benson are established on a lot of people’s radars already but it is with their third effort that I’ve gotten a peek at their work and all I can say is I believe we’ll be hearing a lot from them in the future. I won’t spoil the plot just to say its a genre film that features all that entails but strongly engages the audience with the mystery of what is going on and focuses on character as much as plot. You can read more of my thoughts here http://xpressmag.com.au/the-endless-gets-8-10-cult-film/

X-Press Magazine was established in 1985 and at one point was Australia’s highest circulating free weekly entertainment publication with over 40,000 copies reaching 1,000 outlets every week.  On the 24th May, 2016 Issue 1527 (the last one in print) hit stands. Like many publications of its ilk X-Press Magazine is now foremost an online magazine engaged globally and making the most of the possibilities that new digital technology offers. It’s roots though are tied to its home city, love of local artists and productions and music which it supports wholeheartedly. Perth a capital city most isolated from all the other capitals is continuing to grow and develop culturally and artistically with its own identity and talent. X-Press has always been there to capture this growth and will continue to do so.

-Lloyd Marken

CONVINCE ME! COMEDY DEBATE REVIEW AVAILABLE ON SCENESTR

Posted on by Lloyd Marken

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I was fortunate enough to review four shows at the Brisbane Comedy Festival for Scenestr Magazine. They were Animated! by ImproMafia, Rich Hall, Tom Gleeson’s Sure Thing and Act/React Theatre Company’s final in a series of Convince Me debates. Having run them for the whole of the Festival every Sunday I went along to one on the very last day of the Comedy Festival. I am huge fan of Act/React and ImproMafia which has artists involved with both and was looking forward to it. While good the show was not everything I believe it can grow into being. You can read my review here http://scenestr.com.au/comedy/convince-me-review-brisbane-comedy-festival-2018-20180328 In any event I was very grateful to see the hard work of so many talented people and really enjoyed my time at the Brisbane Comedy Festival. It has been run for years but I’ve never attended until 2018 working for Scenestr and also my wife also got free tickets for Paul Fenech’s show there as well.

Produced by Eyeball Media Enterprises Scenestr is an online national magazine with local offices around Australia. Celebrating 25 years in 2018 of publishing history they’ve excelled at moving into the digital realm but they remain at heart from the streets. They still publish magazines in print for Perth, Adelaide, Sydney and Brisbane every month. If you’re into music they’re a great read but they do cover all of the arts including festivals, stand-up comics, fashion, theatre and film. I feel very fortunate to get to write for them.

-Lloyd Marken

TOM GLEESON’S ‘SURE THING’ REVIEW AVAILABLE ON SCENESTR

Posted on by Lloyd Marken

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It was a thrill to attend the Brisbane Comedy Festival to review Tom Gleeson’s show Sure Thing for Scenestr magazine last Friday night. Following on from Rich Hall, Animated! by ImproMafia this was the first time Karen and I went to see a performance in the Auditorium at the Brisbane City Hall which has been renovated in recent years. I sent a picture to my mother as my great grandfather had been a caretaker at City Hall. It turns out he played on that organ for her when she was a little girl.

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The organ at Brisbane City Hall Main Auditorium. Copyright Lloyd Marken

It’s a grand venue but not a natural fit for a stand-up comedian so only one at the height of their powers would perform in such a room and only a major headliner would get the chance. Tom Gleeson is such a comedian who I primarily know from all of his television performances. It is not a surprise that he was edgier on stage but he remained as likeable as ever and we had a good laugh. You can read my review here http://scenestr.com.au/comedy/tom-gleeson-review-brisbane-comedy-festival-2018-20180327

In a nice twist the review has been shared on Gleeson’s professional Facebook page with him mentioning “I haven’t heard of this publication but they like my live show, so now I like them.” The review has accordingly gotten some approval from him and his fans. I can’t deny that I’ve enjoyed that and am happy for the magazine.

This is the 50th post I’ve had published with Scenestr 1 year, 1 month and 3 days since my first published post. Out of those 50 posts I have done 17 interviews, 14 films reviews, 14 reviews of theatre shows and 5 reviews of stand-ups performing. I feel really blessed.

Produced by Eyeball Media Enterprises Scenestr. is an online national magazine with local offices around Australia. Celebrating 25 years in 2018 of publishing history they’ve excelled at moving into the digital realm but they remain at heart from the streets. They still publish magazines in print for Perth, Adelaide, Sydney and Brisbane every month. If you’re into music they’re a great read but they do cover all of the arts including festivals, stand-up comics, fashion, theatre and film. I feel very fortunate to get to write for them.

-Lloyd Marken

RICH HALL REVIEW AVAILABLE ON SCENESTR

Posted on by Lloyd Marken

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I was lucky enough to get to review some shows I wanted to see at the Brisbane Comedy Festival for Scenestr magazine. In addition to the new show Animated! from Impromafia I was able to go along to see Rich Hall perform at the Brisbane Powerhouse This is a man whom I have watched perform on television over the years and always enjoyed. The name may not be instantly recognisable but that face and voice are and he has had quite a long and successful career. His latest show saw him in fine form and you can read more of my thoughts here http://scenestr.com.au/comedy/rich-hall-review-brisbane-comedy-festival-2018-20180326

Produced by Eyeball Media Enterprises Scenestr. is an online national magazine with local offices around Australia. Celebrating 25 years in 2018 of publishing history they’ve excelled at moving into the digital realm but they remain at heart from the streets. They still publish magazines in print for Perth, Adelaide, Sydney and Brisbane every month. If you’re into music they’re a great read but they do cover all of the arts including festivals, stand-up comics, fashion, theatre and film. I feel very fortunate to get to write for them.

-Lloyd Marken

‘ANIMATED!’ BY IMPROMAFIA REVIEW AVAILABLE ON SCENESTR

Posted on by Lloyd Marken

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Impromafia have to be one of the hottest tickets in town when they come up with a new show. An Improv Comedy Sketch Troupe they’re now firmly established in my hometown and still touring around the country and competing in International Comedy Sketch competitions. I was lucky enough to review their latest show Animated! at the Brisbane Comedy Festival for Scenestr Magazine. I had previously seen them last year at the Metro Arts Theatre with their Game of Thrones parody Lord of the Thrones. Some members have also formed Act/React Theatre Group whom I saw perform Love/Hate Actually at the Wonderland Festival in December. In fact some of the performers were different this time but just as good. You can read my review here http://scenestr.com.au/comedy/animated-an-improvised-musical-fairytale-review-brisbane-comedy-festival-2018-20180316 I believe Metro Arts is a better venue for sketch comedy than the Brisbane City Hall and a Saturday night a better time but these guy and gals never fail to put on a first rate show that makes you laugh. All the more impressive for the fact that they come up with the entire thing on the night and no performance is ever the same. I look forward to their next show.

Produced by Eyeball Media Enterprises Scenestr. is an online national magazine with local offices around Australia. Celebrating 25 years in 2018 of publishing history they’ve excelled at moving into the digital realm but they remain at heart from the streets. They still publish magazines in print for Perth, Adelaide, Sydney and Brisbane every month. If you’re into music they’re a great read but they do cover all of the arts including festivals, stand-up comics, fashion, theatre and film. I feel very fortunate to get to write for them.

-Lloyd Marken

INTERVIEW WITH ‘I LOVE YOU, YOU’RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE’ DIRECTOR GABRIELLA FLOWERS AVAILABLE ON SCENESTR

Posted on by Lloyd Marken

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I was lucky enough to interview director Gabriella Flowers for Scenestr Magazine where she talked about directing the musical revue I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change. The show is the longest running off Broadway musical and captures relationships right from their beginnings to the poignancy of romance later on in life. Presented by the Savoyards Musical Comedy Society Inc. it is playing at the Star Theatre in Manly this month. I really enjoyed the chat with Gabriella which touched on mentors, dating apps, support and respect in the workforce and the relevance of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to popular culture. You can check out the interview here http://scenestr.com.au/arts/i-love-you-you-re-perfect-now-change-exploring-relationships

Produced by Eyeball Media Enterprises Scenestr. is an online national magazine with local offices around Australia. Celebrating 25 years in 2018 of publishing history they’ve excelled at moving into the digital realm but they remain at heart from the streets. They still publish magazines in print for Perth, Adelaide, Sydney and Brisbane every month. This interview was published in print in the March Queensland edition of Scenestr which is always a thrill for a GenX guy like myself. A digital version of the print edition can be found here http://scenestr.com.au/read/QLD/2018/1102-QLD/scenestr-QLD-1102.html#p=53 with the interview on page 53.  If you’re into music they’re a great read but they do cover all of the arts including festivals, stand-up comics, fashion, theatre and film. I feel very fortunate to get to write for them.

-Lloyd Marken

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INTERVIEW WITH COMEDIAN DEANNE SMITH AVAILABLE ON SCENESTR

Posted on by Lloyd Marken

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DeAnne Smith is a Canadian-American stand-up comedian who has taken the world by storm and is now returning to Australia with her new show Worth It. When I spoke to her in late January it capped off a week where I had interviewed for Scenestr Magazine fellow comedians Arj Barker and Michael Che and where the bulk of my recent interviews had been with stand-ups. I feel enormously privileged to have spoken to everybody I’ve gotten to interview. These interviews have been the scariest and most fulfilling things I’ve gotten to do in the past year. So I don’t say this lightly, DeAnne Smith was one of my favourite interviews and part of why is the same reason she is a successful comedian.

Open, unapologetically herself but friendly and warm she constantly gets audiences to laugh at things that may have challenged them or threatened some in another context. Worth It deals with money and the value we place on wealth and during our talk a few threads of conversation came from this. It can be painful sometimes to have someone say some truly fascinating things that you have to cut out in service of sticking to a word count. There was a lot of that with the interview I did with DeAnne but hopefully you still enjoy the piece over here at http://scenestr.com.au/comedy/deanne-smith-her-show-is-totally-worth-it Speaking with sincere love for her profession and audiences those who attend, her upcoming tour should be in for a treat.

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Produced by Eyeball Media Enterprises Scenestr. is an online national magazine with local offices around Australia. Celebrating 25 years in 2018 of publishing history they’ve excelled at moving into the digital realm but they remain at heart from the streets. They still publish magazines in print for Perth, Adelaide, Sydney and Brisbane every month. This interview was published in print in the February Queensland edition of Scenestr which is always a thrill for a GenX guy like myself. A digital version of the print edition can be found here http://scenestr.com.au/read/QLD/2018/1101-QLD/scenestr-QLD-1101.html#p=60 with the interview on page 60.  If you’re into music they’re a great read but they do cover all of the arts including festivals, stand-up comics, fashion, theatre and film. I feel very fortunate to get to write for them.

-Lloyd Marken

IN THE FADE REVIEW AVAILABLE AT X-PRESS MAGAZINE

Posted on by Lloyd Marken

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I’m very lucky to have been sent another screener to review a film for X-Press Magazine. In The Fade is a 2017 film from Germany starring Diane Kruger in a performance that won her Best Actress at last year’s Cannes Film Festival. Telling the story of a domestic terrorist act from a very different and personal perspective it is an interesting film with a great performance at the centre of it. You can read the review here http://xpressmag.com.au/in-the-fade-gets-7-10-clear-divides/

X-Press Magazine was established in 1985 and at one point was Australia’s highest circulating free weekly entertainment publication with over 40,000 copies reaching 1,000 outlets every week.  On the 24th May, 2016 Issue 1527 (the last one in print) hit stands. Like many publications of its ilk X-Press Magazine is now foremost an online magazine engaged globally and making the most of the possibilities that new digital technology offers. It’s roots though are tied to its home city, love of local artists and productions and music which it supports wholeheartedly. Perth a capital city most isolated from all the other capitals is continuing to grow and develop culturally and artistically with its own identity and talent. X-Press has always been there to capture this growth and will continue to do so.

-Lloyd Marken

 

BLADE RUNNER 2049 TOP 5 ICONIC IMAGES AVAILABLE AT HEAVY

Posted on by Lloyd Marken

Heavy15I’m lucky enough to have another Top 5 published at Heavy Magazine highlighting the work of cinematographer Roger Deakins. Deakins on the occasion of his 14th Oscar nomination won the Academy Award for Best Cinematography this week for Blade Runner 2049. I felt the film was one of the best of last year and was happy to see Deakins win following such incredible work over the past four decades which includes Sid & Nancy, The Shawshank Redemption, Jarhead, No Country For Old Men, Skyfall and Sicario. You can check out some of the iconic looks of the film here https://heavymag.com.au/top-5-blade-runner-2049-iconic-images/ Feel free to leave a comment or share and I hope you enjoy.

Heavy is an independent magazine and website that is all about the music and specifically heavy music and supporting the Australian music scene in general. Fortunately for me they do cover film as well and I have been fortunate to have a few things published there.

-Lloyd Marken

12 STRONG REVIEW AVAILABLE ON SCENESTR

Posted on by Lloyd Marken

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A new first happened for me a couple of weeks ago while on assignment with Scenestr. I’ve been lucky to be sent to film preview screenings to write reviews for the magazine. These are usually screenings held for the public with tickets won in competitions, etc. The idea being to get word of mouth out for the film. I’ve enjoyed going to these events which usually have prizes or freebies for the crowd. The other night Karen and I went to  a press screening of 12 Strong which took place in a Gold Class cinema where there were less seating and clearly only critics and one guest were in attendance. For someone where being a film critic would be a dream come true this is one more thing to be happy about and grateful for.

So how did the film shape up, well gladly I can tell that 12 Strong is a solid film that mostly comes alive in its action sequences. A mishmash it feels of two intentions that struggle to reconcile with each other, a flag waving depiction of real American heroes and a stoic reflection on the realities of going to war and being a professional soldier. Still there are things to be commended here and at the end of the day soldiers are equipped with standard equipment all the time, why not make a standard action film about them but I’d sure like to read the original book Horse Soldiers the film is based on because their tale sounds incredible. You can read my review here http://scenestr.com.au/movies-and-tv/12-strong-review-20180307

Produced by Eyeball Media Enterprises Scenestr. is an online national magazine with local offices around Australia. Celebrating 25 years in 2018 of publishing history they’ve excelled at moving into the digital realm but they remain at heart from the streets. They still publish magazines in print for Perth, Adelaide, Sydney and Brisbane every month. If you’re into music they’re a great read but they do cover all of the arts including festivals, stand-up comics, fashion, theatre and film. I feel very fortunate to get to write for them.

-Lloyd Marken