FILM

Liam Neeson in Honest Thief.

Honest Thief – 2 Stars

Liam Neeson sleepwalks through this unsurprising action fl ick.

HOMEST Thief follows Tom (Liam ly standard movie; a paint-by-numbers Then there are the cons. The plot is ab- Neeson famously proclaimed a movie Neeson); a notorious bank robber, corrupt cop thriller that struggles to assert solutely as bland and staid as possible, and in 2019 as his last action fi lm, but here he well past his prime, who is colloqui- its reason for existence. That is not to say, you can pick it right from the off . revisits the genre, and his tiredness with it ally known as the In and Out Thief however, that it doesn’t have its perks. There isn’t a single twist or turn that is on full display. He mumbles, fumbles and amongst the community. As his relation- Visually, a lot of the cinematography in this will shock you here, and you’ll fi nd yourself sleepwalks his way through this material. ship with Annie (Kate Walsh) gets more movie feels very professional and creatively easing into a somewhat dissatisfi ed and Certainly, Neeson is a natural with this sort serious, he wants to go straight and lead an engaging, giving it a sheen of quality that unengaged rhythm with the fi lm. As plot of content, so even sleepwalking there is a honest life. To that end, he turns himself helps smooth some of the jagged edges beat after plot beat unfurls in line with certain thrill to his work. into the FBI, intent on giving back the $9 from the performances and script. a million other similar movies, boredom However, this material needs an enmillion he stole, but he is double crossed by Even the disingenuous and boring begins to set in. thusiastic touch, to elevate it from bland the FBI agents assigned to his case. Agent scenes of Tom on the phone in a hotel Coupled with the story is the dia- unbelievability to engaging B-movie cheers, Nivens (Jai Courtney) and Agent Hall (An- room are shot in a way that it feels intrigu- logue, which is incredibly cheesy. With and Neeson seems like he mandated a one thony Ramos), in an ever more desperate ing. On top of that, Donovan and Courtney a little bit of pizazz, this could be a fun take rule – everything he does feels like he downward spiral of criminality, try to kill do admirable work performing with some send up, full of one liners and over the doesn’t want to be there. Tom and take his illicit funds for them- weak material. Courtney in particular top banter, but Honest Thief never truly This is a standard movie with little selves, but come up against both fellow brings a villainous streak that feels over transitions into this type of movie. That enthusiasm from the creatives behind it. It Agent Meyers (Jeffrey Donovan) and Tom’s the top and fun, and you may wind up too is where we run into the biggest prob- is easy to watch,and washes over you with ingenuity. wishing the fi lm itself took more of that lem of the fi lm; the performance from a distinct sense of unsatisfying familiarity.

Honest Thief is an almost aggressive- tone. Liam Neeson. Honestly, a disappointment.

Radioactive – 3 Stars

Rosamund Pike plays the famed Marie Curie in this biopic about the discovery of radioactivity.

MARIE Curie (nee Sklowoska) (Rosamund Pike), travels to Paris to pursue science at the Sorbonne from her home in Poland. Frosty, prickly and obsessed with her independence and her science, she doesn’t win any favours from the male dominated heads of the Sorbonne, and winds up without a lab. Pierre Curie (Sam Riley) takes a shining to Marie, and offers her space in his lab.

Together, they investigate a radical idea of Marie’s: that unstable uranium particles emit ‘rays’ of energy independently, that can transform and release unbelievable power. As their romance grows, so too does their scientifi c acclaim, and they are lauded for their discovery of new elements.

Yet things start to unravel as the negative impacts of radioactivity are revealed – both close to home for Marie and her family and echoing throughout time in some of the most historic moments in modern history.

Radioactive will give you whiplash with its rapid creative tonal changes, and fl ash forwards to the historically seismic impacts of Marie and Pierre Curie’s groundbreaking early 20th century research.

Director Marjane Satrapi, in the most mainstream of her fi ve features to date, struggles to settle on a single tone, and as such Radioactive cuts from historically accurate period imagery to oddly animated uranium chunks, from seyances to brutal horse tramplings.

That’s before even considering the odd interludes with the historical ripples from the discovery of radium. The fi lm cuts from early 20th century Paris to Hiroshima and the dropping of the bomb, to Chernobyl, to the nuclear tests in deserted stretches of mainland USA and to the fi rst uses of radioactivity to cure cancer.

These tonal shifts are also compounded by the fact that when Satrapi cuts to later points in time, we are watching worse reenactments of these moments than seen previously in recent pop culture – the incredible tv show Chernobyl being a perfect example.

That being said, despite the weird and eclectic tone, there is a lot to like here. From a cinematography per-

Rosamund Pike in Radioactive.

spective, there are fl ashes of brilliance, and Director of Photography Anthony Dod Mantle plays well with the Paris landscape and the ominous green glow of radium.

Rosamund Pike gives a brave and pioneering scientific mind in a patriarchal system full form with a compelling performance, and when coupled with the truly intriguing real life story of this scientifi c breakthrough, Radioactive still comes off as an interesting period piece.

Sam Riley is a strong supporting presence, and Satrapi balances the competing condemnation of the system and prevailing attitudes of the time with a genuinely enjoyable romance plot.

Radioactive is a strange, hard to pin down fi lm, but the incredible true story of this historical pioneer and the performance from Rosamund Pike make this a worthy time at the cinema.

Most important Mo you’ll ever grow

AUSTRALIA’s leading men’s health organisation, Movember, is reminding Aussies that in 2020, it will be the most important Mo you’ll ever grow.

In what has been a tougher year than most, the charity is calling on Mo Bros to unite, farewell the follicles and shave down on October 30, to raise funds that will stop men dying too young.

Now in its 17th year, the annual Mo-growing campaign encourages ‘Mo Bros’ and ‘Mo Sisters’ across the country, to rally in support of Movember’s cause areas; men’s mental health, suicide prevention, prostate cancer and testicular cancer.

Movember’s APAC Country Director Rachel Carr said: “If there’s ever been a time to embrace Movember and shed those lockdown beards, it’s now, in 2020. It’s been an incredibly diffi cult year for men, which makes this year’s campaign our most important, yet.

“Research conducted by Movember shows us the eff ects of the pandemic on men’s mental health in particular, is concerning, and is still far from over. Job losses, relationship stresses and social isolation are taking a toll. We’ve been working hard to fast-track digital mental health resources, to address the need.

“Every donation, no matter how small adds up. Signing up for Mo-season is also great way to stay connected within your own social circles, it’s been shown that supporting others can improve your own wellbeing.

“With the help of our community, Movember will continue funding and applying research to prevent our fathers, brothers, partners, sons and friends, from dying prematurely,” she said.

Figures released earlier this year by Movember, as part of a global study carried out by the Social Research Centrei found that:

• Over half of Aussie men (52 per cent) said no one asked how they’re coping during the

COVID-19 pandemic • % of men said their mental health had worsened in the first six weeks of the pandemic, with 30% noting increased feelings of loneliness • Older men are the group most likely to have experienced poorer social connection, with 61 per cent of men aged 45+ years reporting they feel less connected to their friends since the COVID-19 outbreak • In Australia, calls to Lifeline in-

creased by 25% when physical distancing kicked in

Movember’s Global Director of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Brendan Maher said: “Not surprisingly, our research confi rmed that the impact of COVID-19 has hit men pretty hard, in Australia and globally. The statistics show us men are anxious and uncertain about the future.

Where the money goes, 2020 initiatives: • Digital mental health tools, including Movember Conversations, a free online ‘conversation simulator’ to kick start conversations with the men who might be struggling.

• $3.7M into the Social Innovators

Challenge, designed to fund projects aimed at creating social connectedness and mental wellbeing in men. • $3.2M for the Social Connections

Challenge to engage with innovative, crowd sourced digital or technology ideas, to better connect men amid isolation. • Mental health grants for Veterans and

First Responders initiatives with an initial investment of $6.34M over the next two years (supported by DGR).

Visit: www.au.movember.com

INDIAN MULTI CUISINE RESTAURANT DOSA HUT HARRIS PARK

WINNER IN 2019 AND FINALIST IN 2020

2019

WINNER

Dosa Hut Harris Park 69, Wigram Street, Harris Park, NSW Australia 2150 0450114175

Government House Parramatta, 1805. Painting by George William Evans. Source: Mitchell Library, State Medical depot staff, 1919 influenza pandemic. Source: NSW State Archives and Records Library of NSW

City legends revealed in documentary series

THE legendary people and events that have shaped Parramatta’s unique – and sometimes surprising – history take centre stage in a quirky new documentary series to mark Foundation Day.

From pioneers buried in Australia’s oldest marked graves to the legacy of the 1919 Spanish fl u pandemic, City of Parramatta Council’s Parramatta Foundations short videos uncover gritty local stories.

“As Australia’s second oldest city, Parramatta is an incredible melting pot of stories, cultures and personalities,” City of Parramatta Lord Mayor Cr Bob Dwyer said.

“Our Parramatta Foundations documentaries take viewers on a journey of discovery through the Indigenous and colonial history of Parramatta – the centre of global Sydney.”

The fascinating fi ve-part series features local Darug people, historians, health experts and ecologists in locations across Sydney’s Central River City.

Popular fi lmmaker and comedian Dan Ilic, who grew up in Parramatta, presents four of the videos. His mother, Gwen Ilic, received Parramatta’s 2020 Australia Day Local Award for Senior Citizen of the Year.

“Parramatta not only is pivotal in the story of the country’s foundation but it is part of my foundation, too,” Mr Ilic said.

“I grew up doing 11 years of the ‘Gang Show’ at the Riverside Theatres. My uncle was a tow truck driver at the Speedway and he’d sneak us into the pit. My father was a solicitor and as a kid I’d escort him to Parramatta District Court and he’d call me his ‘clerk’. It’s what made me the performer I am today.

“Making these videos made me realise the incredible stories, people and place that Parramatta has in Australian history. I hope you enjoy watching them as much as I did making them.” pain of Parramatta restaurants and pubs that have outdoor dining. From November 1 to the end of March 2021, Parramatta Council is removing restrictions on outdoor dining to make it easier for pubs, bars and restaurants to operate live music outside.

This is for venues with outside dining that were previously prevented from having live music.

“Many businesses have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, and as long as social distancing measures are in place, they will continue to be impacted,” City of Parramatta Lord Mayor Cr Bob Dwyer said.

“In the absence of major live music events due to current restrictions, we wanted to bring entertainment to the streets in a safe and manageable way. It will not only give people a great reason to visit the City and support local businesses, but also provide a boost for local musicians and artists who have also had it tough during the pandemic.”

Historian Judith Dunn and Dan Ilic in St John’s Cemetery, Parramatta

Parramatta Pandemics unmasks the impacts of the 1919 Spanish fl u pandemic – and its timely lessons – with Parramatta Heritage and Visitor Information Centre archivist Michelle Goodman.

In Dead Set Legends, local historian Judith Dunn reveals the eye-opening stories of Parramatta icons buried at Australia’s oldest cemetery.

Uncle Chris Tobin shows how his Darug ancestors caught eels in the Parramatta River and we fi nd out about the colonists’

Council will kick-start the pilot and contribute $10,000 towards entertainment at venues across the City, in addition to its popular events and festivals program.

The trial aligns with Council’s recently endorsed Parramatta Night City Framework 2020-2024 and will be voluntary for small businesses with existing outdoor dining approvals.

“Parramatta has always been a great place for a bite to eat and drink over summer – and now with al fresco dining and live music on off er, why would you go anywhere else?” Cr Dwyer said.

“This program is a win-win-win – for businesses who are looking for new ways to bring in customers, for artists looking for work, and for the community keen to reconnect after months of being in lockdown.” crops at Experiment Farm in Parramatta’s Pantry.

We dig into the geology and palaeontology of Parramatta going back 300 million years to when Australia was still attached to Antarctica in Deep Foundations in Deep Time.

And in a special documentary by ABC Radio Sydney’s Parramatta-based producer Dayvis Heyne, the Female Orphan School’s impact on Australia’s social history is explored.

Foundation Day marks the settlement of the Parramatta area by British colonists led by Governor Arthur Phillip on November 2, 1788.

Council commemorates the day annually with events throughout Parramatta, including at the North Parramatta Heritage Precinct. This year, Council is taking its

To watch the documentaries, go to www.netwerx.tv

Live music to cut through Covid pain

LIVE music is set to ease the pandemic

celebrations online due to COVID-19.