Today
Who is known as The Oracle of Omaha? Take our weekly news quiz
Have you been paying attention this week? Test your knowledge across politics, business and world news.
‘Believable’ Gene Hackman was Hollywood’s consummate everyman
The actor never fit the mould of a Hollywood movie star but became one by playing seemingly ordinary characters with deceptive subtlety, intensity and charm.
The Oscars scandal Hollywood is ignoring
Sean Baker’s stripper drama is the 2025 Oscars frontrunner. But why has the pro-Kremlin work of its Russian cast been forgotten?
‘I made smart decisions, I didn’t want to be poor’: Rachel Griffiths
The actor did her time in Hollywood and now calls her own shots, including producing a new series that looks at brothel life in a uniquely lighthearted way.
Yesterday
Australia’s next Eurovision song is one long double entendre
“Come and take a sip from my special cup, I’ve heard that you could use a little pick-me-up” coos Go-Jo, in the song the former WA footy player will take to the song contest at Basel in May.
Lost opportunity that might have reshaped the Catholic Church
A little-remembered gathering in the 1960s could have stopped the problems which now batter the Church’s reputation, a new book argues.
This sensitive Aussie prison movie escapes the cliches
“Inside” stars Guy Pearce, who shows his inner mongrel in a tense, genre-defying local jail flick.
Being George Clooney is harder than it looks
A big Democrat donor, Clooney said he sees “a lot of cowardice” as the tech moguls bow to Trump.
View to a killing: can Jeff Bezos be trusted with James Bond?
A scheming billionaire has once again put the British agent in peril. Fans are hoping Amazon won’t milk the living daylights from the 007 franchise.
This Month
How much AI is too much in art?
Christie’s first Augmented Intelligence sale brings the question of what constitutes art into sharp focus.
Creative Australia defends quick dumping of Venice artist
In a heated Senate hearing, the federal arts agency’s officials said that its “social licence” demanded they sack Khaled Sabsabi without a right of reply.
Why we need simple signals of elite status more than ever
The more information there is in the world, the more we need simple signals of elite status to cut through it all.
Blue Poles: how Australia came to own the Jackson Pollock masterpiece
This edited extract reveals how Australia acquired one of the 20th century’s most prized paintings – and why then PM Gough Whitlam was so invested in the purchase.
Why Hollywood needs to stop churning out sequels – or die
The reliance on old ideas is an increasingly expensive, time-consuming and legally problematic business – not to mention the public growing sick of superhero films.
Sydney Writers’ Festival ex-chair breaks silence on resignation
Kathy Shand says she was not aware of any plot to remove her from the Sydney author talkfest’s board, although sources said her pro-Israel views had left her “isolated”.
Roberta Flack, piano teacher who rose to rule the charts, dies
The music industry didn’t quite know what to do with the soulful, yet classical-inspired music of the North Carolinian – but Clint Eastwood did.
As Silicon Valley embraces Trump, Hollywood edges leftward
The new media moguls and the legacy studios are reading from very different scripts. Next week’s Oscars will feature the most gloriously woke line-up in years.
Seven shows you must see in March
From a Michael Jackson musical to an anniversary tour of Green Day’s breakthrough album, there are plenty of performances to get you off the couch.
Sydney Writers’ Festival chair quits as culture war spreads
The proxy war being fought in Australia’s arts community over the Israel-Palestine conflict has claimed another high-profile representative.
‘Conclave’, Chalamet win at SAG Awards, setting up Oscars battle
The Conclave cast won best movie ensemble at the awards, the last major honours before next weekend’s Oscars.
Get 2-for-1 tickets* to Melbourne International Comedy Festival
Experience some of the most memorable and joyously unexpected shows at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.
Galleries ‘too afraid of donors’ to speak against Biennale backflip
A week on from Khaled Sabsabi’s sensational sacking from the Venice Biennale over a Hezbollah-linked work, there has been silence from major arts institutions – until now.
Which Australian family is $8b richer this week? Take our quiz
Have you been paying attention this week? Test your knowledge across politics, business and world news.
He won over Shane Warne with a musical. Could Gina Rinehart be next?
Eddie Perfect wrote a Broadway smash in Beetlejuice, a critical hit (but financial disaster) about the leg-spinning legend, and would love to give another prominent Australian the song-and-dance treatment.
Meet the rare male soprano shaking up concert halls
Samuel Marino is one of just a handful of professional male singers with the voice type, but his significance is more than musicological.