Cinephilia: Opening This Week
If you are at all interested in the future of cinema technology, the energetic retelling of dark age Norse Anglosaxon Anglo-Saxon legends or theme park rides then Beowulf 3D is the thing for you this weekend. The 3D version only screens at Readings and I understand from Roadshow, the distributor, that only two cinemas in New Zealand are equipped to screen it: Readings at Courtenay Central and Hoyts Sylvia Park in Auckland.
The digital equipment required to screen Beowulf in 3D cost upwards of $100k and is only in Cinema 5 (i.e. not one of the big ones). That cost puts it out of reach of all Wellington cinemas apart from Readings (and possibly Sky City at Queensgate) until the economic drivers to replace 35mm film become overwhelming. Check the listings carefully as the 3D version is definitely the one to see. The flat version can also be found at Regent-on-Manners and Sky City Queensgate.
The rest of this week’s new releases after the jump…
Basin Goings On
The “Finance Company Implosion†has seen several name changes for our beloved Basin Reserve over the past few months. It is now known officially as the Allied Nationwide Finance Basin Reserve and the ground improvements continue at good pace. Between the end of the the rugby season and Labour Weekend the wicket block and practice areas were re-laid and improved drainage technology installed. The R. A. Vance Stand is having a new viewing platform built at the back for the media and, I’m guessing, to also improve television camera angles from the Northern (Or J. R. Reid Gate) end of the ground.
Meanwhile, a new edifice is being erected beside the venerable old (actually crap) scoreboard at the Southern End. Any ideas what this will be? It looks like a new replacement or additional scoreboard or a big screen (or some combination).
I walk through the Basin every day and it is looking a picture – the relocation last year of the war memorial to the top of the bank was a splendid move. This summer we have a visit from Bangladesh (recommendation: don’t buy a five-day-pass) for a Test Match from January 12 and England (hence all the media improvements) from March 13.
Nicked!
The above piece of artwork is part of a series entitled Eye Candy and was skilfully hand painted by resident Wellington artist, Brad Williams aka Slope, and until sometime during the 31st of October, was on display at (best late nite venue nominee) Sandwiches.
On which date it was nicked – during daylight hours – and both the Sandwiches lads and Slope are understandably upset.
So, if you happen to catch sight of this piece of work (approximately 2m x 0.7m, so shouldn’t be too hard to see if is in the vicinity) hanging in a flat, for sale on trademe, or under the arm of some shifty-looking charcter on the street, give the cops a call. Cheers.
Hmmmmm…
So, anyone else not trusting this weather?
This Wellington, she is a fickle mistress.
On the Wireless
Continuing the fine tradition of mixing up venues for different purposes comes On the Wireless. It’s radio in the theatre! Yay!
The show is three original and hilarious radio plays performed on-stage with live sound effects and live music.
at 6 at the San Francisco Bathhouse on Tuesday December 4. The show stars Wellington actors Gareth Williams (The Lonesome Buckwhips), Brad McCormick(Stones in His Pockets) and Leon Wadham (The Cape), and the Wellingtonista would like to salute all three gentlemen for appreciating that theatre goes so much better with caberet-style seating and a bottle on the table in front of you.
PS: Don’t worry, we’re assured it’ll be finished in time for Quiz…
2AWA: Wellington Supervillan of the Year
Here are the nominees for the Wellington Supervillain of the Year category for the Second Annual Wellingtonista Awards (2AWA). Who controls the traffic lights? Who keeps starting grammar fights? They do, they do Who keeps buses off the maps? Who keeps lightrail under wraps? They do, they do Who’s in love with John McGrath? Who thinks only of the […]
Can’t get to all the 2AWA nominated sculptures – this is the book for you!
Wellington: A City for Sculpture
edited by Jenny Harper and Aaron Lister, photography by Bruce Connew
Published by VUP in association with the Wellington Sculpture Trust.
(RRP $50.00, Vic Books price $45.00)
Don’t have time to visit, engage and ponder the merits of the sculptures YOU can vote for in the Second Annual Wellingtonista Awards? Buy this book, sit down in front of the computer and peruse to your heart’s content.
This is much more than a book of pretty pictures of sculptures in Wellington. Whilst some of Bruce Connew’s photographs capture the featured works in brilliant sunshine, others are shown against grey or misty skies – an accurate reflection of Wellington’s changeable weather.
Cinephilia: Opening This Week
A whole day late, sorry. Curse this day job.
Director Karen Moncrieff assembled a superb cast for The Dead Girl, a film about the impact of a murder on several different and unrelated groups of characters; told in five chapters. Featuring highly applauded performances from Toni Collette, Marcia Gay Harden, Mary Beth Hurt and temporary Wellingtonian Giovanni Ribisi, plus James Franco and Mary Steenburgen. The Dead Girl is playing now at The Empire in Island Bay and Rialto.
I don’t think I’m giving too much away if I reveal that The Heartbreak Kid is only the third film I have failed to complete since I started reviewing for the Cap Times back in September last year. Ben Stiller reunites with the Farrelly Brothers for the first time since There’s Something About Mary in 1998 in a romantic comedy that is neither. Playing at Readings, Regent-on-Manners and Sky City Queensgate.
Nina’s Journey is a Holocaust drama from Sweden featuring present day reminiscences from the real Nina: Variety called it “low-key but powerfulâ€. It screens at the Paramount, exclusively. The Penthouse gets two exclusives this week. Firstly, art-house drama Bella has been praised by Christian media for what they call a “pro-life†stance; Roger Ebert said, “It’s about lovable people having important conversations and is not pro-choice or pro-life but simply in favor of his feelings – and hers, if she felt free to feel them.â€
Finally, also at the Penthouse and direct from the Festival, is The Secret Life of Words: a follow-up to Isabel Coixet’s lovely and sad film My Life Without Me from 2003. Words also stars Sarah Polley and features Tim Robbins who won’t look quite as tall as usual as he’s playing an oil rig worker being nursed by Polley after an accident.
All these films will be reviewed next week at Funerals & Snakes, and (space-permitting) in the Capital Times on Wednesday.
New Zealand v. Vanuatu
Ahhh, 1982 – when every month was Movember for the All Whites, and our bewhiskered team of British ex-pats and hard-grafting locals (and Wynton Rufer) took on the likes of Brazil at that year’s Football World Cup.
It’s been a long time since the All White’s graced the stage of the World Cup Finals, but, amazingly enough, over the next few months there’s an (outside) chance of the lads going ‘all the way’ again.
Since Australia has joined the Asia Confederation, the Oceania group is now pretty much there for the taking by the Kiwi boys. Barring disasters like the 2006 campaign’s loss to the Solomon Islands, New Zealand is most likely to go through and face the 5th-ranked Asian qualifier (again, a pleasant change from previous qualifying rounds, where the Oceania qualifier would have to battle past the 5th-ranked South American nation), in a home-and-away playoff for a spot in the 2010 World Cup Finals.
Given the current Asian rankings, that’s most likely to be one of Saudi Arabia, Japan, Bahrain or Uzbekistan – any one of whom the New Zealander’s would fancy upsetting on a good day.
But before this can happen, the All Whites need to nail down the Oceania qualifying pool, and, to that end, you can help by heading down the Stadium this Wednesday evening and cheering on the team to a win over Vanuatu – a win that would guarantee our spot as top team in the Pacific.
New Zealand v. Vanuatu
Wednesday, November 21st
Westpac Stadium
Gates open at 4.30 pm.
Kick off is at 6pm.
Adults – $27
Child (15yrs and under)- $15
Family (2 adults and 2 children) – $64
Concession (Senior Citizens 60+) -$15
Students with valid ID – $15
Voting now closed in the Awas!
We are so very, very excited to announce that voting is now open for about the Second Annual Wellingtonista Awards!
Check out the categories here then,
Cast your votes here, and then …
Come along to our awards night! (If you’re not on our RSVP list already, then it’s first in first served at 7pm)
You have no idea how excited we are about this. Woo!
Then eagerly await the results to be posted here. Hurrah!