..That was so last year

It is now 2014! Wow 2013 went so fast! I feel like all I did was study and work but both have paid off and I managed to have loads of fun and gain many opportunities and experiences that I will always cherish through the coming years.   Here they are...

Highlights of 2013
Scoring a radio Interview with George Kapiniaris Listen here!
Meeting another inspiration- Jane Turner (Kath from Kath and Kim) and this time we were both out of costume!
Attending the King Kong Musical Red Carpet
Seeing the fantastic Chitty Chitty Bang Bang!
Catching up with Sophie.. check out her blog!
5 Day holiday to Sydney organised the day before!
The Good the Bad and the Ethnic
Getting this blog up and running again!
Those spontaneous day trips that started at 12pm
My 21st Birthday Party
Those Gold Class Experiences
Completing my degree!

Fine dining

...and now let's go Back to the Future 2014!
Attain a job in the Media or film and television industry
Gold Coast in January!
Maybe Europe?!?
New media projects
Getting my bloody licence!

Beach days 

I'd like to thank my readers and friends who check out this blog, even just to stalk or insult. Your page click is worth so much!

 'It's going down.. TIMBER, you better move- you better dance!' -Pitbull

....yes I am going to quote Pitbull, Dal'e

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

They're a Weird Mob

Walter Chiari stars as Nino Culotta an Italian immigrant whom just arrived in Sydney, Australia expecting to commence work as a sportswriter for his cousin's magazine. With his cousin and sponsor out of sight, Nino is left to fend for himself in this new land and to look for work and a place to stay. Despite such an insecure start, Nino's optimism allows him to find accommodation temporarily in Kings Bloody Cross, attain a job as a builder's labourer, learn the Australian lingo and all within a few days of being in the country!

This film was one that perhaps gave the Australian Film Industry a second chance at surviving and it was fantastic! Hilarious to watch, great character development and great shooting locations such as Circular Quay, Manly, Bondi and on a Sydney Ferry. These all formed a wonderful movie that could promote the Australian landscape and our bizarre culture. Nothing was shot in a studio either thus real locations were used to enhance each scene.

This movie was based off the bestseller book, 'They're A Weird Mob' written by an author in disguise as Nino Culotta. Chiari is in almost every scene and his energy level and comic timing was seamless. I would watch this movie again, such great acting, scripting and editing. Try and find yourself a copy of this classic which revived the Australian Film Industry.

Interesting facts whilst viewing 'The story of the making of They're a Weird Mob' 

• Extras got paid $9.50 to lay on the sand, surf and enjoy the sun during filming beach scenes at Bondi and Manly.

•  Even the scenes in the water at Bondi Beach were shot... in the water! 

•  Film budget was $600,000 AU which can be argued as not a big budget film.

Prisoners

This movie may nearly be three hours long however it's storyline advances at a pace where you lose track of time and are heavily involved within this well executed thriller. Australian talent aka The Wolverine, Hugh Jackman plays the father who has one of his daughters abducted and he attempts to take the law into his own hands as he captures a suspect until he gets the answers he wants. 

Throughout the film you are constantly guessing who the true capturer is and toss between suspects in your mind after you see what nonhuman things they have done. Jake Gyllenhaal plays detective Loki and is assigned to this case and convincingly portrays  his role which contrasts smoothly alongside Jackman's hot headed and abruptive nature in this film. 

The timespan did delay my viewing thinking that it would drag out but thankfully I was wrong and would class Prisoners as one of my favourite thrillers. Go check it out!!!! 

The Hunger Games Catching Fire

Disclaimer:: So I haven't read the books, haven't even seen the first film.. in fact I never really have had any interest in this novel to movie series... so my perspective will not be as informative and critical to those fans or consumers of the Hunger Games franchise. I went to see this movie with a good friend- (because going to the movies alone is a tad weird!) and I am kinda glad I did!

Staring the amazing Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen and Josh Hutcherson as Peeta Mellark,  Catching Fire is based on the recall of these two into the 75th Hunger Games. 

When watching the film, with no prior knowledge I was a bit ... ok quite a bit- confused as to what was happening. I was especially not with a full understanding of the film up until the presentation of The Hunger Games. I felt it dragged on way too much, too much talking and I even dosed off asleep for 10 minutes or so and I do not think that even impacted my understanding of the film. Despite that,the costuming was amazing, and special effects were pretty cool. The bond that grew between the main characters definitely allowed me to side with them and form an attachment with those whilst they fought in the Hunger Games. When the games started, I was interested in this movie and that was at least 1 hour into this film. If I didn't pay for the ticket I would of turned the DVD off but I am kind of glad that I didn't as the energy of the games itself, won back my interest into the film and I will definitely consider watching the first movie to better my understanding. 

Jennifer Lawrence is a fantastic actress, focused, and although expressionless in most of the film, you are able to develop a soft spot for her as her acting is immaculate. Nothing compared to Kristen Stewart's expressionless face!! Jennifer does so well! I can't wait to see her in 'Dumb and Dumber To', which is in production stage at the moment (expected Nov. 2014!)

I would give the movie a 3/5 It redeemed itself from the long and boring first hour and was enough to encourage me to see the first!

I would say, if you have not seen or read anything to watch the first film, first- (WHICH MAKES COMPLETE SENSE AND IT WILL MAKE THIS MOVIE MAKE COMPLETE SENSE, - I hope!) 

100 films I should have already seen..

I have a bit of time on my hands so I have decided that I need some good movies to watch!!! Where do I start? I need some ideas so I checked out this list found on TotalFilm of 'The 100 Greatest Movies' and decided to do a little coding to help me select the next film to watch. I also hope that my coding allows you to pick your next screening! BOLD AND BLUE and it is for YOU! 

Key:
BOLD - watch and didn't like it all too much
BOLD AND BLUE -WATCH THIS, I LIKE A LOT!!!
Pink - I want to watch 

Here is the list...

2001: A Space Odyssey 

Alien 

All About Eve 

Amadeus 

Amelie 

American Graffiti 

Annie Hall 

The Apartment 

Apocalypse Now 

Avatar 

Back To The Future 

Badlands 

Bambi

The Battle Of Algiers 

Belle De Jour

The Bicycle Thieves

The Big Lebowski

Black Narcissus

Blade Runner

Blue Velvet 

Bonnie And Clyde 

Boogie Nights 

Brazil

The Cabinet of Dr Caligari 

Casablanca 

Chinatown 

Cinema Paradiso

Citizen Kane 

City of God 

The Conversation 

The Dark Knight 

Das Boot 

The Deer Hunter 

Die Hard 

Dirty Harry 

Donnie Darko 

Don't Look Now 

Double Indemnity

Dr Strangelove 

ET: The Extra-Terrestrial 

The Exorcist 

Fargo 

Fight Club 

Finding Nemo

Gladiator 

Glengarry Glen Ross 

The Godfather 

Goldfinger 

Gone With The Wind 

Goodfellas 

Half Nelson 

Halloween 

Heat 

His Friday Girl 

It's A Wonderful Life 

Jaws 

King Kong 

L.A. Confidential 

Lawrence Of Arabia 

The Lord of the Rings Trilogy 

Manhattan 

Metropolis 

Millers Crossing 

Monty Python's Life Of Brian 

Nashville 

Network 

Night Of The Living Dead 

No Country For Old Men 

North By Northwest 

One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest 

The Passion of Joan of Arc 

Persona 

The Philadelphia Story 

Psycho 

Pulp Fiction 

Raging Bull 

Raiders Of The Lost Ark 

Rear Window 

Reservoir Dogs 

The Seventh Seal 

Sideways 

Singin' In The Rain 

Some Like It Hot 

Star Wars Ep IV: A New Hope 

Star Wars Ep V: The Empire Strikes Back 

Sunset Boulevard 

The Sweet Smell of Success 

There Will Be Blood 

The Third Man 

This Is England 

This Is Spinal Tap 

Tokyo Story 

Touch Of Evil 

The Truman Show

Vertigo 

West Side Story 

When We Were Kings 

Withnail and I 

The Wrestler

If you have some movie recommendations or films you want me to review, like my facebook page and leave a comment! www.facebook.com/thesmallcombo

George Kapiniaris Interview

Check out my interview with Comedy, Stage and Television Screen legend

George Kapiniaris

Well known for playing Memo in Acropolis Now and his standup work these days George is currently in the Musical,  Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and touring with The Good the Bad and the Ethnic! 

For more info about George check out his website georgekapiniaris.com
Or book tickets to Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at: chittychitty.com.au (not JUST the perfect musical for kids!)

Ja'mie Private School Girl

Princess Pictures have yet again produced another series based around the Chris Lilley character, Ja’mie King. The third series is centred around Ja’mie’s final three months of year 12 at the private all girls school, Hillford High. The bitchiness, the stories, the language, the rules, the clichés all are present in this series and the mannerisms are so accurate that it’s scary. The series is highly relatable,moreso than Summer Heights High, due to the fact that I went to an all girls high school and the prestige, assemblys, grovelling and special hierarchy. All on a bigger scale but it was all there and precise. It made me reflect back three years ago to my final year of school and made me laugh so much. Especially when her Mum rocks up at the bustop at 3:07pm and Ja’mie says,

 “I told you 3:10 not 3 fucking 07!”

I remember Dad picking me up from friend’s houses and being a couple of minutes early and I would crack it because he was too early. I could also pick out characters and match them up which is quite sad but you could always pinpoint the popular from the quieter girls. This show is hilarious not only are we laughing at the show but we are laughing at ourselves. Great Stuff Lilley!