Feminist Ryan Gosling is too Freaking Awesome.

Really.  You just have to see it!

It's Kind of a Funny Story

Some movies are on another level; I leap forward and clutch the footrest-pouf with my knees and elbows, shaking in the tense ecstasy of wise human insanity.  This is one of those.  I won't review it with words.  Just see it.

Here's the trailer (or in Australian English, preview).  But maybe you want to go in with an open mind, as I did.

Maria Bamford on Global Conflict

Crazy talented lady.  All you need to know, really.

Tim Minchin and The Sydney Symphony Orchestra.

He is idea-spilling, heart-rubbing and quick, self-deprecating and in the sound.  The show was an excellent achievement.  Lyrics had me grinning, peace-sign stabbing in a weird 'yes!', thank God someone is saying this.  Singing it, orchestrated, with great musicians and a great fairness of thought.  Human in that honest putting-it-all-on the stage kind of way which actually wasn't indulgent or neurotic.  And his look is just him after a while.  It is the commentary when 'consuming news' that would make life sane: so having it in one musical, funny package is a relief washing through.  A really fantastic height: I imagine it would feel great to reach the point of being able to do a show like this.  He balanced his atheist, intelligent perspective with a respect for belief that resulted in this overriding human quality.  By contrast, for example, Baba Brinkman's show seemed like an example of clever rhetoric in musical/theatre form that is to win an argument, whereas Tim sang in defence of 'sitting on the fence'.  

I'm really glad he exists and that he did this.  And that all the people that helped him did it also.

The Extra Man

It is exhilarating to watch a film with truly vibrant characters.  Even though he is not the protagonist, Kevin Kline's Henry Harrison is a killer character and looks like so much fun to play: as I imagine it was to write.  I regularly exclaimed 'who wrote this?' throughout this movie.  Cracking, cracking lines.  The movie had room to breathe, skirted around platitudes and resolution and was not an overly neat package.  Which is an excellent thing.  Most, most recommended.