Gone Girl is the latest David Fincher movie. Brilliant visually, in the vein of the old Dirty Harry movies. A mix of creepy, mysterious, funny, and over-the-top in terms of its violence and other content. Not for the faint of heart.
Author Archives: cafedave
media: Grand Piano
Grand Piano is an obscure team-up between Elijah Wood and John Cusack. The premise is ridiculous, and it’s clearly a short film stretched out to feature length. Elijah Wood is the virtuoso piano player, back to the stage for the first time in five years after an embarrassing case of stage fright. Cusack, a disembodied voice …
media: Lawrence of Arabia
Lawrence of Arabia is one of those movies I’d always wanted to see, but never quite made time for it. It’s on the best movie lists for a reason – beautiful, sweeping views of the dessert. If you’re looking for strong female characters (or any female characters), you’re in the wrong place.
book: Mindset: How you can fulfil your potential
Mindset: How You Can Fulfill Your Potential On a parenting course, this book was recommended: it makes the distinction between two kinds of mindsets, and explains how to move from one to the other. On the one hand, the fixed mindset – where your response to failure is to blame yourself, and avoid the situation …
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videos for art or profit
I haven’t tried something like this before, but I’ve seen two separate Honda videos this week in a way that might normally be considered “viral”. Today’s one pushed me over the edge: it’s a clever piece that combines two short films in one: the Other Side (you’ll likely need a desktop or laptop to experience the …
Sifter Espresso, Wollongong
Various different coffees. 82 Market St, Wollongong. Follow them on instagram and you could be forgiven for thinking there’s an indoor cafe at play here, but in fact, this is a combination of shipping containers and portable furniture. Sadly there was too much full sun in play for us to linger too long, but the stay …
The Foundery, Port Kembla
Wild Fox coffee. 142 Wenworth St, Port Kembla. There are a number of coffee roasters cropping up outside of Sydney, and this cafe first came up in conversation because of the roasters. More interesting, though, is the ownership and raison d’être of the cafe. It’s run by the Salvation Army as a way to give …
Movie: The Equalizer (2014)
The Equalizer is the new Denzel Washington action film from the director of Training Day. It’s a little over 2 hours long, with a slow build, some well orchestrated set pieces, and a truly disquieting bad guy – some scenes are uncomfortable viewing. It’s a muted performance from Washington, but this well suits the character …
Movie: The Matrix (live with SSO)
Watching The Matrix some fifteen years after its original release (with my then-girlfriend, now-wife beside me again), but this time with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra live at the Opera House along with the movie. With the exception of the flip phones and the occasional CRT monitor, the movie stands up well. Does it pass the …
Apple TV: Doubt (2008)
Apple TV: Doubt When a Philip Seymour Hoffman movie comes up as the 99c movie of the week, you rent it, even if you’re not sure when you’ll have a chance to. Happily, I was able to make time. While not mentioning by name the accusations made against a parish priest (Hoffman), the inference is …