Jade Gulliver
The Pundit 2006 Reviews »
Screened in the spacious, ornamental Regent Theatre, United 93 is a film you already know the conclusion to.
The film is told in ‘real time’, recreating from the beginning the hijackers’ start to the day, arrival at the airport, the take off, the nervous take over of the plane, through to the final upheaval at the hands of the passengers.
Cut in between the scenes on United 93 are scenes from Boston, New York and US air traffic headquarters, and even NORAD (North American Aerospace Defence Command). These scenes are generally chaotic, …
The Pundit 2006 Reviews »
Every Other Week is a film that is essentially a celebration of the complicated nature of relationships. The film opens with a Chicken Tonight-esque advertisement that turns out to be a pitch by director Pontus to the advertising agency he works for, as the perfect commercial for a product with a focus on the divorce market. Divorced himself, Pontus and his ex-wife Maria raise their daughter together and even plan to have a baby.
Pontus’s brother Jens, a doctor who is married with three children, is kicked out of the house …
The Pun 2006 Reviews »
Danny Alder is 27. There’s a long list of rock stars who died at 27 – Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison. This means Danny has only until his next birthday to become a rock star. Part music and part stand-up, Danny Alder’s Get Behind Me Elephant, set in the relaxed and cosy red glow of Bar Open, explores what it takes to become a rock star.
In lieu of ‘Australian Idol’ SMS phone voting, Danny uses audience participation in his rendition of ‘Stairway To Heaven’ to gauge whether he should …
The Pun 2006 Reviews »
Tom Gleeson presents Non Stop Tom, a title seemingly derived from Gleeson’s flowing ramble of thoughts, jokes and storytelling. Audience participation is essential, as Tom reveals that he is using this year’s Comedy Festival as an opportunity to search for a girlfriend he can talk about in his act.
Not afraid to go off on a tangent that, somehow, always leads back to the core theme of the show, Gleeson suggests a makeover for Australia, ponders about the life of Superman in country Australia, and marvels at the wonders of a …
The Pun 2006 Reviews »
Housed on the dance floor of Altitude, I Know What You Did Last Monday is perhaps best described as the opposite of the glitzy well polished Gala. It’s an incredibly relaxed atmosphere (Two audience members took to lying down during the performances.) with padded couches, plastic chairs (making for a disorderly yet intimate seating arrangement), and dim red lighting.
The show provides exposure for lesser-known comedians, so that they can build their audience. And for the audience, in return, it provides previews of shows that they may otherwise scan past while …
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