My impression of Sir Laurence Olivier is a sort of vague one of him playing Heathcliff in Wuthering Heights, or declaiming Shakespeare effortlessly. Either that or I associate him with Vivien Leigh, to whom he was married for several years. Beyond that, I have a vague notion of theatrical greatness and, of course, legendary film […]
■ REVIEW: Olivier
The good stuff on a great man Read Post »
Advertising plays a big role in our memories of growing up and this book looks at how New Zealand’s advertising industry has grown up with us. Subtitled “tall tales from the legends of New Zealand advertising”, this is a look back at the history of advertising in New Zealand and the often larger-than-life characters who
■ REVIEW: Sell
Fascinating trip down memory lane of advertising Read Post »
Every song has a story to tell and New Zealand’s pop classics are full of great stories. Freelance music writer and Stuff blogger Simon Sweetman had the job of picking out 30 of the best Kiwi pop songs to feature in this book and I have to say it’s a task I would have struggled
■ REVIEW: On Song
Well-tuned mix of Kiwi songs Read Post »
Leonard Cohen is many things to many people: a poet, a prophet, singer, songwriter, author, peacemaker and all-round good bloke. Cohen has been touring the world pretty much non-stop for the past couple of years and I have to say, his concert in Christchurch just a couple of months after the September 2010 quake was
■ REVIEW: I'm Your Man
Fresh insight into gifted Cohen Read Post »
Back in 1990, when Dave Grohl joined a little-known band as the new drummer, few people would have expected the band was about to explode into the global phenomenon that was Nirvana. Grohl is a bloke who has seems to have experienced every extreme life can offer: highs and lows from selling more than 40
■ REVIEW: This is a Call
Memoir tells of turbulent past Read Post »
You probably know the name better than you know the face. In fact, it’s safe to say that at the height of his career Ace Frehley could have walked down the street without being recognised by any of his fans. He is, of course, one of the original members of KISS and as the flamboyant
■ REVIEW: No Regrets
Hard rocker plays it straight now Read Post »
I missed all the Ellen excitement when she first hit our screens back in the 1990s, because I worked nights and didn’t really watch a lot of television back then. Fast forward a decade or two and I’m now working days and am more inclined to spend my evenings bonding with the television screen than
■ REVIEW: Seriously ... I'm Kidding
Author pronounces on happiness and stuff Read Post »
Quirky British comedian Simon Pegg has tried his hand at writing and the result is an autobiography that feels like the perfect mix of professional overview and personal emotion. Pegg is one of those actors who seems to have the knack of being effortlessly funny. He showed this with his performances in comedy cult classics
■ REVIEW: Nerd Do Well
Pegg’s humour shines through Read Post »
There’s no denying personality Paul Henry has a knack for grabbing headlines and stirring controversy, but he also has a knack for being interesting. And funny – let’s not forget funny. Oh yes, I know it is not considered politically correct to giggle like a schoolgirl at foreign names and hirsute sheilas, but I’m not
■ REVIEW: What Was I Thinking
New insights but no juicy gossip Read Post »
Ian Mune is something of the elder statesman of acting here in New Zealand, with a pedigree that covers film, television and theatre. In this autobiography, the actor, writer and director tells the story of his career, which is also pretty much the story of New Zealand’s entertainment industry ever since the 1960s. Tauranga-born Mune
■ REVIEW: Mune
Sleeping Dogs and other fine stories Read Post »
