Take Your Time: Olafur Eliasson

Take Your Time: Olafur Eliasson (3.5/5)

Museum of Contemparory Art, Sydney

December 2009

Quietly stimulating exhibition that cleverly plays on colour and space. A remarkable range of formats from paintings of colour wheels to a walk through kaleidoscope, walk-in crystals of steel and a waterfall. Eliasson’s work has a beguiling simplicity that on reflection gives rewarding pause for thought.

The Damned United

The Damned United (3.5/5)
Dendy, Circular Quay, Sydney
December 2009

(Director: Tom Hooper, Cast: Michael Sheen, Jim Broadbent, Colm Meaney, Timothy Spall)

Focused on Brian Clough’s 44 day succession of Don Revie as Leeds United manager, with flashbacks to Clough’s early years as a manager, “United” takes no prisoners and tells it not quite as it was, with no excuses for Revie’s brutal football or Clough’s opinionated self-confidence. Tightly scripted and well cast, having grown-up in this period (and though not a football fan) I readily identified with the film, though others may find less in this film.

Mercury

Mercury (4.0/5)

Sydney Dance Company

Sydney Theatre

28th November 2009

(Choreography: Kenneth Kvarnstrom)

There was a Scandinavian feel to Kvarnstrom’s new work for SDC, an exploration of Mercury: Messenger, Liquid Metal and Planet. Mercury is true to its namesake in eloquence and the thievishness use of contemporary moves, more creative than innovative, whilst forgoing swiftness for liquid fluidity. The SDC troupe flowed through their moves with precision and strength, complimented by a simple set, lighting both subtle and dramatic and an excellently reproduced soundscape of predominantly electro-music.

System Building

Aphids and the New Music Network

CarriageWorks, Sydney.

23^rd November 2009

(Composer: Rosemary Joy, performers: Diego Espinosa, Eugene Ughetti)

12 minutes of intimate, miniature percussion served Teppanyaki style to an equally compact audience. A collection of timber, glass and metal sculptures inspired by performing arts venues quietly played, disassembled, reassembled and bathed in a soothing red light. At twelve minutes just the right length to be absorbing and warm. For something different, try this.

Concord

Concord (2.0/5)

The Australian Ballet

Opera Theatre, Sydney Opera House

21^st November 2009

(“Por Vos Muero”, Nacho Duato; “Scuola Di Ballo”, Alexei Ratmansky; Dyad 1929”, Wayne McGregor”)

Under-whelming triple bill. Por Vos Muero missed the high and lows implicit in the title “for thee I die”. Ballet school farce “Scuola Di Ballo” was clearly the strongest piece, well danced and well acted - a well choosen piece to off-set the depth of Por Vos Muero if the latter had had any character. Dyad, although new, was just dated and uninspiring with no flow or challenge. The AB can do much better.

Sculpture by the sea

Sculpture by the sea (3.5/5)
Bondi
10th November 2009
Delightful cliff top stroll amongst 114 eclectic sculptures on a beautifully sunny day. Something good, bad and extraordinary is certain from so many exhibits. For a bit of humour, De Felice’s play on familiar signage gives pause for thought and a wry smile (#1). Propato’s colourful flags “arte de las playas” stunningly ripple in a strong wind against a blue sky (#55). There’s lots to like – go a on a sunny day and enjoy.

Moon

Moon (3.5/5)

Dendy Opera Quays, Sydney

(Director: Duncan Jones, Cast: Sam Rockwell)

A genuine attempt at a thoughtful science fiction film rather than the usual scary monster/evil empire genre. This slow burning story of a one-man lunar mining station with a mystery really feels like the Moon and holds your attention throughout. Rockwell is excellent in both parts (I’ll say no more!).