2024’s TV was surprisingly good. This year will be even better
Old favourites like The Bear, Poker Face, The Lincoln Lawyer, The Last of Us and White Lotus are set to return – but there are surprises in store, too.
Review
You’ll never see the huge twist coming in this Vatican drama
Conclave piles on the Vatican intrigue as cardinals manoeuvre the politics of electing a new pontiff. It’s as tantalising as a murder mystery.
A bloody, funny take on the Dracula story
Nosferatu, written and directed by American filmmaker Robert Eggers, is a remake of the 1922 German film of the same name. I left the cinema thinking, ‘Hold on, is this a love story?’
You’ll never guess my NY resolution …
Less carbs, no chocolate, more yoga, more steps, more compassion, fewer finger gestures in traffic, master the French half tuck … but that’s not what I’m swearing off this year.
Opera, theatre, music and dance: special performances of 2024
Rating the best stage performances of the year is impossible, but here are a selection worthy of special attention.
The best and worst of art exhibitions of 2024
There were some welcome surprises on the exhibition calendar, mostly imports, but many metropolitan galleries had a lacklustre year.
Health robbed me of the joy of working this Christmas
It’s a curious thing to stroll into hospital feeling as fit as any string instrument in the orchestra, then wake up in the ICU sporting more tubes than the London Underground.
The best podcasts of 2024
While politics consumed a decent chunk of the airwaves in the run up to the US election, the beauty of this medium is its versatility.
Love, life and crimes: our favourite books of 2024
Heading on holidays? Or looking for something to keep you entertained during your staycation? You’ll find some absolute gems on this list – as recommended by The Australian’s literary critics.
The best TV shows to grace our screens in 2024
Rising high above the writers’ and actors’ strikes, streamers delivered a dizzying array of spectacular shows. Add these to your list for summer holiday viewing.
Which two men did Jackie Lee Bouvier marry in 1953 and 1968?
And which two NRL clubs are joint ventures between previous clubs? Pit your wits against Review’s resident Quizmaster.
Exotic coming-of-age story explores link between beauty and unhappiness
Parthenope is a university student living a complicated life but although she is a ‘goddess’, the film built around her lacks depth.
A school holidays movie that will keep young viewers in their seats
Two young lions are at loggerheads, with a young lionness between them, and the baddies are on the trail and out for blood. If this sounds like a similar story, it’s because it is.
Simply the best: 2024’s greatest musical moments
The Australian’s music writer nominates his highlights of 2024, from the best concerts, songs and albums to the best books and soundtrack usage.
The top 10 movies of the year — and some bonus choices
This year my film favourites are an eclectic bunch … but all of them are well worth your time. How many have you seen?
Tom Odell: ‘Sometimes there’s actually no relief in art’
Confessional Q+A with the British singer-songwriter, whose debut single has become one of the most-streamed Spotify songs of all time, with more than 2.8 billion plays.
Kendrick’s GNX a love letter to West Coast hip-hop culture
Full of raw moments and gloss, album No.6 is another standout release for the acclaimed American rapper ahead of his 2025 Super Bowl halftime performance booked for February.
The young girl who saw a much nicer Chandler
Sybil Davis, whose mother was secretary to the master of noir, recalls a lively father figure who enjoyed the finer things in life.
The love and loss of Boris: Di Morrissey’s Christmas sadness
From sun-soaked beach days to festive celebrations with all the trimmings, I’ve marked the yuletide season in many different ways. But this year I’ll include a new tradition – raising a toast to Boris.
Which books fired your imagination when you were a kid?
The Lord of the Rings was such an overwhelming experience, in my late childhood and early adolescence, that rather than plunging me into a passion for fantasy, it set me off on a quest to understand our Earth and its history and poetry.
Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/arts/review/page/5