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ESSENTIAL GUIDE

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ISSUE 226 AUG ’23

STACK Issue 226 AUGUST 2023 “Find the line, feel the air, and let it fly.”

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ISSUE 226 AUG ’23

INSIDE:

© 2023 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.

ISSUE 226 AUG ’23

FINDING THE VOICE: THE UNTOLD STORY OF JOHN FARNHAM TOP TECH FOR FATHER’S DAY

SPILLING THE BEANS ON COFFEE MACHINES GOOD GROOMING GUIDE THE CLEAN FACTS ON ROBO VACS ’23 FATHER’S DAY

Your MONTHLY GUIDE to the HOTTEST TECH at

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CONTENTS

ISSUE 226 AUG 2023

MOVIES & TV 6 Intro and Take 5

7 Merch of the month and charts 8 Cinema: Dracula & Equalizer 3 9 Momoa’s Road Rage - The cast of Fast X 10 Goodbye Guardians of the Galaxy 12 Like Farnham Like Son: Interview with Rob Farnham 14 Old Man Slang - Interview with Lucky McKee 16 Discs for Dad 18 New from Imprint Films 20 Out this month GAMING 22 Take 5/Game changers! 24 Immortals of Aveum 26 Moving Out 2 28-30 Incoming games in 2023 32 Out this month/Wham Bam Game Exam! 34 Fast forward/Q5 TECH 38 Intro and Take 5 42-44 Spilling the beans on coffee machines: the complete buying guide 46 Complete coffee control with a manual machine 48 An automatic machine is your personal barista 50 Why capsule machines are the ultimate in coffee convenience 52 Frothing up with alternative milks 54 Chill out with a cold brew coffee 56-60 Get Father’s Day sorted with our good grooming guide 62-68 The clean facts on robotic vacuums 70 Watch the road with the Navman MiVue Pro 4K dash cam 72 Colour your kitchen with the LG MoodUP fridge 74 Level up your laundry with the smart LG WashTower 76 Capture stunning shots with DJI’s Air 3 drone and Osmo Action 4 camera 78 Celebrating ten years of Ultimate Ears’ portable BOOM speakers MUSIC FLIP MAG AND READ FROM BACK 6-9 The Music Room: Chats with G Flip, Didirri, and more 12-13 Cover feature: The Shroom Bloom - celebrating 50 years of Mushroom 14 Lifting the Lid: Britney Spears’ ... Baby One More Time (1999) 15 Vital Vinyl: The Mushroom takeover!

WELCOME

Most movie franchises run out of speed well before reaching a tenth instalment, but The Fast and the Furious shows no sign of slowing down. Fast X was another massive box office hit and is hurtling onto physical formats this month. The winning combination of high-octane – and often totally bonkers – action set pieces, a galaxy of A-list stars along for the ride, and the charisma of leading man Vin Diesel continue to propel the series to greater heights, and Fast X delivers another full-throttle experience for fans. August also sees Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy reassemble for a third and final standalone movie, and an Aussie music icon is celebrated in the documentary feature John Farnham: Finding the Voice . Music finds three Aussie young guns – G Flip, Didirri, and Gretta Ray – clueing us in on the creation of their new albums, and we celebrate Mushroom Records’ 50th anniversary with a collection of features on the revered homegrown company and its late founder, Michael Gudinski. Vital Vinyl gets a fungi takeover with the best of Mushroom’s most recent titles, and we review newies from Blur, Fanny Lumsden, The Hives, and Ian Moss. From coffee machines and robot vacuums to good grooming gear and laundry essentials, this month’s tech section is bursting with great gift ideas for Father’s Day, along with all the latest tech that’s hitting JB. In games, Immortals of Aveum is a brand new magic-themed adventure from the minds behind Call of Duty and Dead Space, and it’s heading to JB this month along with homegrown title Moving Out 2 . And we also look ahead at some of the biggest gaming titles still to come this year. Paul Jones, Editor-in-Chief

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Founder Nic Short Editor-in-Chief Paul Jones Tech Editor Scott Hocking Music Editor Zoë Radas

Music Consultant Mike Glynn Marketing Manager Fleur Parker

Social Media Manager Glenn Cochrane Production Manager Craig Patterson Correspondence STACK editor@stack.com.au

Chief Contributors Gill Pringle, Bob Jones Contributors Bryget Chrisfield, Jeff Jenkins,

Games & Online Editor Amy Flower Movie & TV Editor Glenn Cochrane Creative Director Gary Siewert Movies Consultant Kerrie Taylor Games Consultant Sachi Fernando

Simon Lukic, Billy Pinnell, Denise Hylands, Simon Winkler, Jake Cleland, Holly Pereira, Adam Colby, Bec Summer, Dan Nicholson, Alex Deutrom, Michael Irving, Jacqui Picone

RATINGS GUIDE

Parental guidance recommended

Recommended for mature audiences

Not suitable for people under 15. Under 15s must be accommpanied by a parent or adult guardian

Restricted to 18 and over

General

Disclaimer STACK is published by Scribal Custom Pty Ltd (ACN 092 362 135). © Copyright Scribal Custom Pty Ltd, 2023 All rights reserved. All material appearing in this publication is copyright unless otherwise stated or it may rest with the provider of the supplied material or advertisement. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written permission of Scribal Custom Pty Ltd. No responsibility is accepted for accuracy of advertisements or information. Whilst care has been taken in the research and preparation of this publication, the publishers, writers or anyone else associated cannot accept any responsibility for any loss, injury or hardship arising from the content contained herein or reliance therefrom, howsoever caused, and it remains your responsibility to evaluate the accuracy, completeness and usefulness of any such content. Views expressed are not necessarily endorsed by the publisher or the editor. By the very nature of this publication, things change daily and we cannot take responsibility for any changes or inaccuracies that occur subsequent to going to press.

16-17 Album reviews 18 This month at JB

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MOVIES & TV

James Gunn

Gunn began his career at the grimy cult studio Troma Entertainment, where he wrote movies like Tromeo & Juliet (1997) and Terror Firmer (1999), before rising up the ranks to become one of Hollywood’s biggest power brokers as the Co-CEO of DC Studios. His cinematic voice is unmistakable - some of his trademarks are: Soundtrack Gunn’s films have become synonymous with thumping soundtracks, which usually have a strong affinity for the ‘80s. His use of popular hits placed strategically throughout his films elicits an emotional reaction from his audience - whether happy, sad, or just downright pumped! Tongue-in-cheek dialogue Characters in all of Gunn’s films speak facetiously. Moments of great peril are often cushioned with comical quips, insults, or self-deprecation, with villains falling victim to ridicule and humiliation. Unlikely heroes Gunn wrote the two live-action Scooby-Doo movies from the early 2000s, as well as Zack Snyder’s Dawn of the Dead remake (2004), and has also directed films such as Slither (2006), and the R-rated superhero flick Super (2010). These, and his Marvel and DC movies, all feature unexpected or implausible heroes saving the day. A motley crew of Spider-Men/Women/ Spots/Punks/etc swing their way to physical media in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse , while Nic Cage and Nick Hoult vamp it up in Renfield . And don’t miss Michael Keaton squeezing himself back into the Batsuit for the highly anticipated DC movie The Flash . On The Radar

AUGUST

STACK’s ROVING REPORTER

What’s one of your all-time favourite films, and why? One of my new favourites is Mad God . It is a masterpiece of a cinematic roller coaster. A pure love note from Phil Tippett to the stop motion artform that is weird, dark and macabre. What’s one of your all-time favourite TV series, and why? Oh my goodness, The Good Place ! It’s so well thought-out and written, and the characters take you on such a journey. It’s also one that really makes you feel attached to the cast.

JESSICA WEGUELIN @ JB Armadale, WA

What’s the best thing about working at JB? The people. We’ve got a really amazing team here, and being the counter specialist I get to do what I love, which is helping people. What’s a movie you saw as a child that has left a lasting impression on you? The first Rugrats movie. I remember the scene where Tommy and Dill are fighting for the blanket, and they rip it apart instead of sharing – and it broke my little heart. My mum always said I was inconsolable.

The Good Place

What have you been watching lately that you’d recommend? Death in Paradise ! It’s one of the best whodunits around, and it is delightful, dramatic and so much fun. I used to watch it with my mum when the new season would come out, and we would always be so close to guessing who it was.

PRE-ORDER NOW

After several turbulent years of stops and starts, the third instalment of the Tron franchise is back in development. Titled Tron: Ares , the film is spearheaded by Oscar-winning actor Jared Leto, with Evan Peters having recently signed on to co-star. No plot details have been revealed, and it’s still unknown whether Jeff Bridges, Olivia Wilde, or Garrett Hedlund will reprise their roles. Norwegian director Joachim Rønning (2017’s Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales ) is set to direct, with a tentative 2025 release date. IN DEVELOPMENT

Regarded as one of the greatest martial arts movies of all time, Enter the Dragon remains one of the most influential action movies ever made. Not only did it popularise the fight tournament subgenre while exploiting the popularity of spy movies like James Bond, but it has also influenced most fight flicks since. The image of Bruce Lee sporting bloody claw marks across his torso has become iconic, and has practically single-handedly kept the poster industry in business.

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THIS MONTH at

EXTRAS

4K UHD BEST-SELLERS in JULY 2023

1 The Super Mario Bros. Movie 2 Avatar: The Way of Water 3 The Last of Us: Season 1 4 John Wick: Chapter 4 5 Avatar 6 D&D: Honour Among Thieves 7 Shazam! Fury of the Gods 8 Scream VI 9 Evil Dead Rise 10 Top Gun: Maverick

TRANSFORMERS LEGACY EVOLUTION G2 UNIVERSE LASER CYCLE FIGURE

TRANSFORMERS LEGACY EVOLUTION G2 UNIVERSE AUTOBOT MIRAGE FIGURE

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TRANSFORMERS LEGACY EVOLUTION G2 UNIVERSE DEAD END FIGURE

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BLU-RAY BEST-SELLERS in JULY 2023

1 The Super Mario Bros. Movie 2 Avatar: The Way of Water 3 John Wick: Chapter 4 4 The Last of Us: Season 1 5 D&D: Honour Among Thieves 6 Scream VI 7 65 8 Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania 9 Shazam! Fury of the Gods 10 Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero

TRANSFORMERS LEGACY EVOLUTION G2 UNIVERSE TOXITRON FIGURE

TRANSFORMERS LEGACY EVOLUTION G2 UNIVERSE CLOUDCOVER FIGURE

TRANSFORMERS LEGACY EVOLUTION G2 UNIVERSE GRIMLOCK FIGURE

DVD BEST-SELLERS in JULY 2023

CHRIS HILTON-WOOD Commercial drone pilot Chris Hilton-Wood is the owner of DroneFilms and is one of Australia’s leading aerial cinematographers, whose extensive work spans the film, television, commercial and corporate sectors.

1 The Super Mario Bros. Movie 2 Avatar: The Way of Water 3 John Wick: Chapter 4 4 D&D: Honour Among Thieves 5 The Last of Us: Season 1 6 Scream VI 7 Shazam! Fury of the Gods 8 Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania 9 65 10 Black Adam

safety in mind all the time. If the job cannot be done in a safe manner, you walk away. What’s the most rewarding part of your job? I am a passionate pilot and cinematographer/ photographer; drone filming has struck a chord with two of my passions. There are times when I am jealous of my little aircraft up there, having all the fun. If you look up some of my videos online, you will see what I mean.

What does your job entail? As a commercial drone pilot, I capture video, photos, and utilise ground-scanning technology, and my area is mainly related to film and TV and photography. I have filmed for Red Bull, shot for Peter Jackson, and worked on other feature films. What’s the most challenging part of your job? Covering events while maintaining safety. I have filmed in the European Alps, and I’ve flown drones inside exclusive art galleries – you keep

7

CINEMA FEATURE

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ANDRÉ ØVREDAL SINKS HIS TEETH INTO DRACULA: VOYAGE OF THE DEMETER

Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel Dracula is one of literature’s most beloved and adapted bodies of work, and arguably the most influential horror story of all time. Words Glenn Cochrane

André Øvredal

D espite being strewn with interpretations, the timeline of Dracula films is largely void of the most thrilling and provocative chapter from Stoker’s book, The Captain’s Log , which chronicles Count Dracula’s journey across the sea to London on board the merchant ship Demeter . Director André Øvredal (2019’s Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark ) and Steven Spielberg’s Amblin and Dreamworks production companies have joined forces to bring this chilling chapter to the screen, and STACK caught up with Norwegian filmmaker Øvredal to chat about it. ”Bragi F. Schut, the writer, went deep into the novel, and tried to describe these characters that are just kind of names and blueprints of actions described in the captain’s log,” Øvredal says of expanding

to screen what is an otherwise ambiguous section of Stoker’s work. ”He made them into fleshed-out human beings, and we got these wonderful actors to portray them. And then,” he adds with amusement, ”I get to put my name on it.” Since the very first documented adaptation of Stoker’s novel, 1923’s Dracula’s Death , there have been countless versions of the story upon which its legacy has been built. It’s a tale treasured by generations, of which Øvredal is acutely aware. ”We have to select how we handle the tropes,” he admits, ”because they’re not just ideas by Bram Stoker. By now they’re culture, and they’ve been done a million times. So we have to constantly reinvent and twist and refresh it, to keep them new.” Despite the story’s long history

of exploration, Øvredal explains his own approach to the material is designed to minimise distraction by the pressures of expectation. ”I try not to use references when I’m making a movie,” he says. ”I avoid it because I am terrified of copying. There is enough potential to copy others already, because my head is just full of movies. So, that stuff is always going to come out, whether I want it or not. But what I am influenced by is the awe and wonder of people like Guillermo del Toro, who I have been lucky enough to work with. Also, the humanity of Steven Spielberg’s way of portraying characters in peril. And then, the starkness and darkness of David Fincher. These kinds of things just float around my filter, and with my team of collaborators, they just become the movie.”

On Spielberg; the film is a co-production with Amblin Entertainment, the company responsible for capturing the imaginations of millions of

moviegoers with films like E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982), Gremlins (1984), and Back to the Future (1985), amongst countless others. Working with such an iconic company is a dream come true for any filmmaker of Øvredal’s generation. ”It’s beyond surreal,” he says, proverbially pinching himself. ”I remember having the first meeting, years ago, and I was like, ’What the hell am I doing here?’” he laughs. ”It is completely surreal to see the Dreamworks logo on a movie that I have my name on.”

Dracula: Voyage of the Demeter is in cinemas on August 10.

We’ve seen Denzel Washington’s mysterious Equalizer character take on Russian gangsters, assassins, and kidnappers over two previous films, but this time he takes on the grandaddy of them all: the Italian Mafia. Words Gill Pringle E qualizer 3 finds McCall enjoying retirement in Naples AN OFFER DENZEL COULDN’T REFUSE

them barbarians. Even the Mafia call them the barbarians because they’re younger and a little more aggressive. You know, there’s that old thing about how there used to be a code like in The Godfather - but there’s never a code. It’s just taking advantage of people, is what it is,” he says. Talking about taking the Equalizer story out of the US and setting it in Italy, Fuqua says, ”I have always wanted to make a film in Italy, or a more international story about the Equalizer. I think it’s important to do that. At one point, there was the old Hollywood fable that - especially films with African-American people - it had to be based in some urban setting in the United States. And I’ve never believed that. I wanted to place Denzel, who is international, in an

Antoine Fuqua (director), Gaia Scodellaro,

when he discovers that his friends are being controlled by local crime bosses. When we ask director Antioine Fuqua if he was afraid to take on the Mafia, he laughs, ”I’ve been around that sort of thing most of my life. What I learned is that it’s similar. They’re all the same everywhere around the world, whether they’re Russian, Italian, or African-American gangs. Whatever. They’re all taking advantage of other people,” says the director, who first worked with Washington two decades ago on Training Day . ”What I found interesting about the Italian Mafia in Naples is they really have a stronghold, obviously - but they’re young, very young. I’ve heard people call

Dakota Fanning, and Denzel Washington

ten years old when they first co-starred in Tony Scott’s Man on Fire . ”I think her agent had called and she wanted to meet me,” reveals Fuqua. ”So I met with Dakota and fell in love with her right away. I could see what Denzel loved so much about her. And then when I called Denzel and said, ’Hey, what do you think about Dakota playing a role?’ he was tickled about it."

international setting.” Furthermore, Equalizer 3 also serves to reunite Washington with Dakota Fanning, 29, who was just

Equalizer 3 is in cinemas on August 31.

AUGUST 2022

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8

FEATURE MOVIE

WORLDWIDE BOX OFFICE

$207,517,509

$236,350,661

After 22 years, Vin Diesel shows no signs of hitting the brakes on his Fast & Furious saga. Words Gill Pringle MOMOA'S ROAD RAGE

$158,964,610

$360,366,870

$626,137,675

$788,680,968

$1,515,341,399

$1,236,005,118

S ay what you like about Vin Diesel - which Dwayne Johnson surely did, and yet even he has returned to the franchise - the actor has managed to keep the core cast of the original The Fast and the Furious (2001) together, including Michelle Rodriguez, Ludacris, Tyrese Gibson, Sung Kang, and Jordana Brewster. Over many missions and against impossible odds, Diesel’s Dom Toretto and his family have outsmarted and outdriven every foe in their path. Now, they confront the most lethal opponent they’ve ever faced: a terrifying threat emerging from the shadows of the past who’s fuelled by blood revenge, and who's determined to shatter this family and destroy everything - and everyone - that Dom loves, forever. Enter Jason Momoa in the extravagant fashionista form of Dante Reyes - the son of a Brazilian drug lord whom Dom’s team took out in 2011’s Fast Five on a bridge in Rio De Janeiro. What they didn’t know was that young Dante witnessed it all, and has spent the last 12 years masterminding a plan to make Dom pay. ”Dom has met his match,” says Fast & Furious X director Louis Leterrier. ”Dante is fluid - he's a snake. Not only has Dante analysed Dom for all this time, but he’s learned from Dom and is completely unpredictable.” Diesel has had his eye on the Aquaman and

$760,732,926

$726,229,501

Jason Momoa

WORLDWIDE TOTAL $7,464,051,412

join forces. ”Jason is a massive talent who I had been watching, clocking,” says the actor. ”The character of Dante needed somebody who, at face value, you regard as a worthy and formidable adversary. It is unnerving to portray a character that masks such palpable pain and thinks in a way that’s so scary. That’s a feat by Jason, and it’s what makes Dante so entertaining.” Dante is unlike any villain the Fast franchise has seen before. Leterrier argues that the best villains are the ones you fall in love with,

$707,314,078

played a villain in about ten years, and the opportunity to have that role in this franchise meant so much to me,” he says. ”It was fun to figure out his specific balance of playfulness and psychopathy. Dom doesn’t understand how tricky and sly Dante is, and how Dante has duped him into his web.” Momoa considers Dante’s behaviour as having stemmed from the way he was treated by his father. ”If you’re always trying

someone ”whose target and goals you understand, and I think we did this with Dante,” he explains. ”And on top of that, Dante is so funny, and it throws everyone off. Dom is used to having

strong antagonists in front of him, but to have a slithery, slippery fan in front of him - who loves and adores him and knows his every next move - well, now that’s scary.” Momoa was excited

Game of Thrones star for many years, waiting for the perfect opportunity to

to impress someone larger than life, like Dante was to his dad, you’re going to feel like a failure,” he says. ”Dante has a lot of pent-up anger that he’s recovering from, and he ultimately just wants to hurt someone as a result of that.” What’s not to love about this truly awesome villain?

to infuse Dante with his own flair. ”I hadn’t

• Fast & Furious X is out on Aug 23

Vin Diesel

9

MOVIE FEATURE

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the story is that emotional centre of Rocket and the other characters, who are all outsiders who don’t feel as if they really belong. Eventually, the cracks start to open up a little bit between some

In the immortal words of Bradley Cooper’s raccoon Rocket, “Let’s give the galaxy something to remember us by.” And the Guardians gang give us just that in their bittersweet farewell, . Words Gill Pringle N ow based in their new HQ on Knowhere, the Guardians are attacked

• Guardians of the Galaxy: Volume 3 is out on Aug 9

of the characters, and they start to love each other.” In undertaking the gang’s final mission, Pratt is nostalgic. “It’s really special to be reunited with the Guardians family for Vol. 3 ,” he reflects. “It’s rare to have a rapport like we have, and for as many years as we’ve put in the trenches together. We’re still very much a family. What makes it different this time around is we know it’s coming to an end, so I think each of us is processing that in their own way. For me, I know it means just trying to be ultra-present, and drink the moment up and lick the plate clean. It’s been a blast.”

by Will Poulter’s Adam, a Sovereign warrior created by their high priestess Ayesha (portrayed by Australia’s own Elizabeth Debicki), in her bid to destroy the Guardians. With Rocket critically wounded, the team set out to find a way to save his life. Director James Gunn says he’d always hoped to find a way to give “legendary outlaw” Rocket his big moment. “I knew that the core of the story, for me, was Rocket and his story: where he came from, and who he was,” he explains. Having directed all three films

that, because he’s really scared. That loneliness is the centre of the Guardians of the Galaxy. “It’s funny, because people think of these films as lighthearted, fun movies. But everything that drives

James Gunn, director

of the MCU franchise, Gunn adds, “When Marvel first approached me about Guardians of the Galaxy , I wasn’t sure it was something I wanted to do. I never wanted to make a movie that I couldn’t sink my teeth into, that I really didn’t care about with every fibre of my being,” he reflects. “But on my way home from that first meeting, I thought: ‘What if there was a real talking raccoon, and where did that raccoon come from?’ It seemed like the saddest creature in the universe to me. This is a little animal who was taken and turned into something he shouldn’t be, and felt completely ostracised and alienated from every other life form in the galaxy. And [he’s] angry because of

THE ORIGINAL GUARDIANS

The Guardians as we know them are relatively new on the scene, with the first publication of their adventures appearing in 2008. Each of the team members originates from elsewhere in the Marvel universe; Groot made his debut in issue #13 of Tales to Astonish in 1960, Star-Lord first appears in issue #4 of the 1976 comic Marvel

Preview , followed by Rocket Raccoon in issue #7. But did you know that there was another Guardians of the Galaxy team? They exist in an alternative timeline of the Marvel Universe and first appeared in issue #18 of Marvel Super-Heroes (1969). The crew included the characters of Vance

Astro, Martinex T’Naga, Captain Charlie-27, and Yondu Udonta, and they were given their own short

lived series in 1976. Continuing to make appearances throughout other Marvel properties, the original Guardians have since popped up to join the new gang for several adventures.

10 AUGUST 2023

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MOVIE FEATURE

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A RAD CLASSIC

Unsuspecting viewers of the movie Hot Rod (2007) are often shocked to hear John Farnham’s You’re the Voice appear in the rousing final act. It’s an unforgettable moment, which has a very strange origin. The creators of Hot Rod (Andy Samberg, Jorma Taccone, and Akiva Schaffer – AKA Lonely Island) were fans of the ’80s cult BMX movie Rad , and were obsessed with its soundtrack growing up. One song on that album was Farnham’s Break the Ice , which led them down a rabbit hole until they stumbled across You’re the Voice . Years later, while writing Hot Rod and looking for an epic song to elevate the finale, the trio instantly thought of the classic Aussie anthem.

The untold story of Australia’s favourite son has been told in the box office smash hit documentary John Farnham: Finding the Voice . STACK caught up with his son Rob Farnham, a gifted singer and musician in his own right who fronts the alt-rock band Rival Fire. Words Glenn Cochrane ”C ancer’s a brutal thing for anybody,” says Rob of his old man. ”As offices, and we loved it,” Rob reveals. ”Both he and I went in there, not to tear shreds off it, but to take notes

In the studio

[Dad] said before,a lot of people have walked it, and now it’s his turn.” He adds with relief, ”But he’s cancer-free now, and at home giving Mum grief. All things are positive!” The film chronicles John’s rags-to riches story, giving insight into his

and be prepared if it wasn’t going to be true to life. But after the first five minutes, I put my notes down and just enjoyed it. There’s no bullsh-t in there.” We were shocked to discover that John hasn’t actually seen the film yet, despite its runaway success and

every cinema screen in the country. ”I think it was the highest-grossing Australian music documentary of all time, by miles,” Rob says with a sense of disbelief. ”Our family didn’t want to do it,” he admits, when discussing the early stages of the film’s development. ”Dad, particularly, didn’t want to do it. He still gets shocked when people go to his shows, but Glenn talked him into it and here we are.” Most kids don’t know much about their parents while growing up, so it’s hard to

Rob Farnham

life’s various highs and lows along the way. It’s also a testament to the friendship Farnham held with his longtime manager and best mate, Glenn Wheatley. ”Myself and my brother got an early screening of the film in Sydney at the Sony

overwhelming reception. ”Dad hasn’t even seen the movie to this day,” Rob attests. ”It’s just not something that he can get across. He doesn’t like watching himself on TV, or reading any kind of article. We’ll have

to force him to watch it,” he says with a smirk. ”But I don’t think he’s quite ready yet, because Glenn passed away. That’s a hard watch for him. And Olivia [Newton-John] was really close to him, and he took her passing really, really hard. But we will get him to watch it at some point.” Upon its theatrical release, the film went gangbusters, playing to capacity on almost

comprehend what it would feel like seeing a warts-and-all film about them. We asked whether or not Rob and James learned anything new about their dad. ”I didn’t, because I’m a huge

fan anyway,” Rob smiles. ”When I got into music when I was 15, I went through his back catalogue and found out about all the things he did. My brother, on the other hand, didn’t realise how tough it was for dad to go from ’Johnny’ to ’John’.”

• John Farnham: Finding the Voice is out on Aug 23

John Farnham (R) with manager and best mate Glenn Wheatley

12 AUGUST 2023

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MOVIE FEATURE

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American director Lucky McKee has earned himself a place among the Masters of Horror with powerful films like May (2002), The Woman (2011), and All Cheerleaders Must Die (2013). His latest movie, Old Man , reaffirms his reputation for being a twisted storyteller. Words Glenn Cochrane T he film stars Stephen Lang (2016’s Don’t Breathe ) as a cantankerous hermit living in The screenplay for Old Man , written by Joel Veach, was originally a stage play. “By

Stephen Lang (R), and Marc Senter

McKee admits. “It was the middle of the pandemic and we got a great deal on a fantastic sound stage. We had great deals on gear. There was a lot of crew available, because no one was working. Our rehearsals were just us reading the script from beginning to end on Zoom.” With a mixed amount of excitement, perplexity, and absolute amusement, McKee notes that the film has been retitled elsewhere in the world. “In Russia, they released it as Don’t Breathe: The Beginning, ” he laughs, referring to the distributors’ attempts to capitalise on the popularity of Lang’s 2016 film. “Kind of like the Italians used to do back in the day, with movies like Zombi 2 ”.

a remote cabin, whose existence is disturbed by a lost hiker. The story quickly descends into a paranoid game of cat and mouse.

the time [Veach] came to me,” McKee explains, “he had converted it into a screenplay. I really liked

• Old Man is out on Aug 9

Director Lucky McKee

“He insists that everybody call him ‘Slang’,” McKee reveals of his leading man, adding with a laugh, “I called him ‘Stephen’ one time and he said, ‘Only my mother calls me Stephen!’” The film is striking in its simplicity, boasting a tight and claustrophobic single location setting, comparable to films like Death and the Maiden (1994) and The Hateful Eight (2015). “I love both of those movies,” McKee enthuses.

his dialogue and I could really relate to what was going on in it. I was kind of raised by old country boys, and I felt a personal connection.” The trials of filmmaking during a global pandemic is a common story for recent movies, but Old Man is a rare example of the situation being fortuitous. “It actually worked to the movie’s benefit,”

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for

Doctor Who: Classic Season 9 Collection Send dad back in time – no TARDIS required – with the ninth season of the classic BBC sci-fi series, starring Jon Pertwee as the third Doctor. This limited edition 8-disc set includes all 26 episodes across five classic stories – Day of the Daleks, The Curse of Peladon, The Sea Devils, The Mutants, and The Time Monster – newly restored for Blu ray, along with all-new bonus features.

Box of Burt Box of Burt is the ultimate Father’s Day gift, featuring five Burt Reynolds cult classics; Cannonball Run 1 & 2, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Stroker Ace, and The Man Who Loved Women .

John Farnham: Finding the Voice

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

Fast & Furious X The end of the road begins. The tenth film in the Fast & Furious saga launches the final chapters of one of cinema’s most storied and popular global franchises.

The untold story of John Farnham’s career is captured in all earnestness in this roller coaster ride of a documentary, which chronicles the highs and lows of Australia’s favourite son and his friendship with the late Glenn Wheatley.

The gang is back for one final hoorah as the MCU expands to the farthest reaches of the galaxy, taking on an all-new foe in this spectacular closing chapter of the series.

Worricker: The Complete Trilogy

Rio Bravo Celebrate Warner Bros.’ 100th anniversary with the stunning 4K UHD

Starring Bill Nighy and an ensemble including Winona Ryder, Helena Bonham-Carter and Christopher Walken, the

release of Howard Hawks’ iconic Rio Bravo . John Wayne and Dean Martin lead an all-star

The Last of Us: Season One Touted as one of the best video game adaptations of all time, The Last of Us: Season One , starring Pedro Pascal, arrives on all physical media formats and is the perfect gift for dads who love The Walking Dead and The 100 .

cast as they band together to ward off an impending jailbreak. Notable for being one of Quentin Tarantino’s all-time favourite movies, Rio Bravo is essential viewing.

Worricker trilogy tells the story of MI5 analyst Johnny Worricker, and comprises the three critically received BBC films Page Eight, Turks & Caicos, and Salting the Battlefield .

Directed by… Walter Hill Curated and selected from five

Rocky: The Knockout Collection Sylvester Stallone’s iconic Rocky series makes its way to 4K UHD for the first time in this Knockout Collection, which includes Stallone’s critically praised Rocky IV: Rocky vs. Drago – The Ultimate Director’s Cut alongside the classic theatrical releases of the first four films.

decades of filmmaking, this Walter Hill Blu-ray collection from Imprint Films showcases Hill’s reputation for delivering thrilling, gritty and highly stylised films. The collection includes Hard Times, The Driver, The Long Riders, Extreme Prejudice, Johnny Handsome, and Broken Trail .

16 AUGUST 2023

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Oscar-winning actresses all boxed up, an undiscovered indie gem, a trip back to 1920s Manhattan, and a chess prodigy makes his move. Words Scott Hocking

BLUE CAR (2002) This critically acclaimed indie drama is a cautionary tale that follows the

complicated relationship that develops between troubled teen and aspiring writer Meg (Agnes Bruckner) and her English teacher mentor (David Strathairn). Nominated for two Independent Spirit Awards, this undiscovered gem makes its worldwide debut on Blu-ray. Extras include audio commentary by writer director Karen Moncrieff, a new interview with Agnes Bruckner, and deleted scenes.

FILM FOCUS: JENNIFER CONNELLY (1991–2003) Since making her movie debut in Sergio Leone's Once Upon a Time in America (1984), Jennifer Connelly has had a busy Hollywood career and is best known for her roles in Labyrinth (1986), A Beautiful Mind (2001), for which she won the Oscar for Best Actress, and most recently Top Gun: Maverick (2022). This limited edition hardbox set brings together a trio of diverse JC movies and performances starting with Career Opportunities (1991), a romantic comedy written by '80s teen-movie specialist John Hughes ( The Breakfast Club ). Next up is the haunting drama Waking the Dead (2002), in which JC plays a social activist and girlfriend to an aspiring politician (Billy Crudup). After she is killed by a car bomb, he becomes convinced that she has somehow returned from the dead. Rounding out this Connelly collection is House of Sand and Fog (2003), a gripping melodrama that pits her against Ben Kingsley (in an Oscar-nominated performance) for possession of her family home, and packs a mighty emotional punch. Extras include new

FILM FOCUS: JESSICA LANGE (1982–1995)

One of Hollywood's most renowned actresses, Jessica Lange made an inauspicious movie debut in the 1976 King Kong remake and went on to forge a stellar career, winning three Emmys, two Oscars and a Tony Award to date. Imprint has assembled four features that showcase her remarkable range, kicking off with Frances (1982), a biopic on troubled 1930s Hollywood star Frances Farmer that features one of her finest performances. Diane Keaton and Sissy Spacek join Jessica in director Bruce Beresford's darkly humorous southern drama Crimes of the Heart (1986), which follows three sisters who have reunited following an untimely death. In the courtroom drama Music Box (1989), she plays an attorney who must defend her father (Armin Mueller-Stahl) against accusations of war crimes and uncover the truth. Completing this quality quartet is Losing Isaiah (1995), starring JL as a social worker who adopts an abandoned baby, only to face a bitter custody battle with the child's now rehabilitated mother (Halle Berry). Extras include new audio commentaries,

SEARCHING FOR BOBBY FISCHER (2002) Fred Waitzkin (Joe Mantegna) is determined to see his son (Max Pomeranc) become a chess champion like his hero, Bobby Fischer. Adapting the true-life story

of young chess wizard Joshua Waitzkin, Oscar-winning screenwriter Steven Zaillian ( Schindler's List ) delivers a terrific, uplifting family drama with his directing debut. Making its global Blu-ray debut, extras include audio commentary and new and archival interviews.

MRS. PARKER AND THE VICIOUS CIRCLE (1994) Jennifer Jason Leigh delivers an acting tour de force in this biopic on Dorothy Parker, the acclaimed critic, poet, and founding member of the Algonquin Round Table – a

(vicious) circle of boozy literary types who met regularly at Manhattan's Algonquin Hotel during the 1920s. Extras include commentary by director Alan Rudolph, new interviews, and the 1994 documentary Would You Kindly Direct Me to Hell? The Infamous Dorothy Parker .

audio commentaries, new interviews with cast and filmmakers, a collectible booklet, and more.

new and archival interviews with filmmakers and cast, and more.

House of Sand and Fog (2003)

Frances (1982)

• The new Imprint range is out on August 30 for a limited time only, while stocks last.

18 AUGUST 2023

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THE FLOOD Danger is rising! Casper Van Dien and Nicky Whelan star in this creature feature in the style of Crawl (2019) and Rogue (2007), about a group of inmates staging an escape from a prison that’s been hit by a hurricane. Flooded with relentless, man-eating alligators, the inmates and security guards must band together to survive the night with all limbs still attached.

WHITE LOTUS: SEASON TWO The Emmy Award-winning series returns for its critically praised second season, which is set at the White Lotus Resort in Sicily, Italy. Jennifer Coolidge reprises her role from the first season and is joined by a rabble of odd characters whose stay at the holiday hotel results in an outrageous series of complications for the venue’s strict, no-nonsense manager. Aubrey Plaza, F. Murray Abraham, Tom Hollander, and Michael Imperiolo also star. ENTER THE DRAGON (4K) This iconic and influential martial arts film starring Bruce Lee celebrates its 50th anniversary with this stunning 4K release, featuring a fully restored version of the film, and including three minutes of footage never seen in the theatrical version. Considered to be the quintessential fight film, Enter the Dragon laid the blueprint for what would become the popular fight tournament genre, and is essential for all respectable action movie collections. 23/8/23 TV Comedy RUSSIAN DOLL: SEASON TWO The mind-bending exploits of Russian Doll continue in the highly anticipated second season, which sees Nadia and Alan (Natasha Lyonne and Charlie Barnett), having escaped the mortal time-loop of the first season, finding themselves caught in a time-warp and face-to-face with their former selves. A third season has recently been greenlit, making now the perfect opportunity to get on board. PLANE Gerard Butler delivers another action-packed thriller with Plane . He plays a commercial airline pilot who saves his passengers from a lightning strike by safely landing the aircraft on a nearby island. Unbeknownst to him, there’s a brutal civil war brewing, and most of his passengers are taken hostage by dangerous rebels. In classic Butler style, a can of whoop-ass is opened as he joins forces with an accused murderer being transported on the flight to save the other passengers. 23/8/23 Action 23/8/23 TV Sci-Fi

Horror

9/8/23

VIOLET EVERGARDEN: THE MOVIE Following the events of the 2018 Violet Evergarden anime series, this next chapter is presented as its own movie. It adds greater depth and complexity to the story, which has two teenagers searching for the lost final words of Gilbert Bougainvillea. With a 100% Rotten Tomatoes rating, Violet Evergarden: The Movie is the must-have continuation for all lovers of the original light novel series, and its highly regarded anime TV adaptation. BOOK CLUB: THE NEXT CHAPTER The ladies of Book Club reunite after being forced to hold their weekly meetings over Zoom during the pandemic. When Vivian (Jane Fonda) announces that she’s engaged, the readers break free from the confines of their homes for the adventure of a lifetime, road-tripping across Italy toward a Tuscany rendezvous. Diane Keaton, Candice Bergen, Mary Steenburgen, Craig T. Nelson, Don Johnson, and Andy Garcia join Fonda for this Italian-infused rom-com. 9/8/23 Anime POLITE SOCIETY Ria Khan is a teenager with an attitude, whose world is turned upside down when her sister becomes engaged to a man she believes is hiding a secret. Putting her martial arts training to use, she enlists the help of her friends to stage a wedding heist, aiming to free her sister from whatever wicked things she thinks are afoot… if only she could prove them! This outrageous and highly stylised comedy is packed with action and infused with Bollywood flare. 23/8/23 Comedy

Action COMEDY

23/8/23

Action

30/8/23

NEW TO DVD

NEW TO DVD

AUGUST 23

AUGUST 23

AT

AT

Strong themes, blood and injury detail and medical procedures

XX XXXXXXXXX 2023 Strong violence and coarse language WHILE STOCKS LAST

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ISSUE 226 AUG ’23

YOUR MONTHLY GAMING GUIDE TO WHAT’S

IN-STORE AT

hot

THIS MONTH at

GAMING FEATURE

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STACK’s ROVING REPORTER

BEST SELLERS at

What’s your all-time favourite game series?

Professor Layton or Phoenix Wright. Both rely a lot on skills of observation and attentiveness, leaving you feeling simultaneously intelligent and entertained. Each share a focus on narrative and character personality blended with intuitive gameplay.

JULY 2023

CAMERON STEPHENS @ JB Hi-Fi Artarmon, NSW

1 THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: TEARS OF THE KINGDOM

What have you been playing most lately?

What’s the best thing about working in games at JB?

2 MARIO KART 8 DELUXE

Recently I’ve been playing Ultrakill , a PSX styled, high octane, platforming, boomer shooter with a whole lot of charm. At surface level, it’s a relatively straightforward shooter. If you choose to delve deeper, you’ll discover a world beneath the surface that’ll make you question how you ever played games like you once did.

Getting the opportunity to personally cater to peoples likes, wants, and needs to provide an experience that could be potentially life changing! A JB team member hooked a 15-year-old me with a copy of Dark Souls and granted me the sort of experience I hope to give others.

3 PIKMIN 4

4 STAR WARS JEDI: SURVIVOR

What’s your earliest video gaming memory?

You can only have one games console from any era – what would it be and why?

5 DIABLO IV

Receiving a lime green Game Boy Color with Oddworld Adventures . I remember spending countless hours trying to advance through each screen but never getting super far. The sense of accomplishment that came with overcoming a challenge and visually witnessing the screen scroll to the right implanted a love for difficult video games that has lasted.

Definitely a Nintendo 64. Can you name a console with more classics? Seriously, the N64 had no reason to slap as hard as it did!! So many of the greats had their foray into the 3D game space with this console.

6 FINAL FANTASY XVI

7 MARIO PARTY SUPERSTARS

PlayStation Pencil Case

MERCH MONT H M H of the Calling all PlayStation fans! Show your love of all things PS with this cool selection of merch!

8 NINTENDO SWITCH SPORTS

PlayStation Backpack Buddies

9 NEW SUPER MARIO BROS. U DELUXE

10 MINECRAFT

PlayStation Ice CubeTray

PlayStation Symbols Keyring

2009

GAME CHANGERS! A YEAR IN GAMING With hot new hardware settling in, it was time for the software side of things to shine. We saw a release that challenged even the toughest players, a game featuring arguably the greatest band of all time, and a blocky outing that would go on to notch many a record… With music by The Beatles still not

Deemed so hard that it wouldn’t appeal to western audiences, PlayStation decided to keep dark fantasy action RPG Demon’s Souls , the latest outing by FromSoftware, a Japan only release. Eventually licensed for western players, it proved more popular outside of its homeland, and quickly gained a reputation for its instant-death difficulty, which many found

While it wouldn’t garner an official release until 2011, 3D sandbox game Minecraft first launched publicly in May of 2009, and it’s fair to say that it soon became quite popular. In many ways an endless creation tool, there was no real aim other than to exist in the world and play about. Appealing to a broad base from kids to the modding community, in the years since it has become a marketing juggernaut, with regular updates still eagerly awaited by its millions of fans. Oh, and it’s also currently

officially available online, it surprised

a few when The Beatles: Rock Band was

announced. No mere DLC addition to the core Rock Band , this was a standalone, The Beatles only affair that was jammed full of fan service as it spanned the Fab Four’s career from go to whoa. It introduced three-part harmonies to the Rock Band formula and released alongside new hardware including Paul McCartney’s Höfner bass, John Lennon’s Rickenbacker guitar, and George Harrison’s cool Gretsch number. Oh, and there was a big Ringo bass drumhead available, too!

extremely appealing. Now seen as ground zero for the “Soulslike” subgenre of games, it has garnered critical as well as fan acclaim, and directly led to such successful outings as the Dark Souls series and Bloodborne .

the biggest selling video game of all time, with well over 200 million copies sold.

22 AUGUST 2023

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MAGICAL CASTING

A hot new IP from a hot new developer, find out what CEO and game director at Ascendant Studios, Bret Robbins, has to say about their first-person magic shooter Immortals of Aveum . Words Bec Summer I f his name is familiar, you may know it from his work on the likes of Dead Space and Call of Duty . Both of these franchises gave Robbins skills that came in handy for Immortals of Aveum . “ Call of Duty taught me how to make an spells, as well as gear like Sigils, Totems and Rings, to really let you master the playstyle that best suits you.” The game involves three different colours of magic. Robbins elaborates… THREE COLOURS: PEWPEWPEW!

An exciting cast has been assembled for Immortals of Aveum , led by Darren Barnet – you may know him from the series Never Have I Ever , and he’s set to appear in the upcoming Gran Turismo movie – as protagonist Jak. Firefly legend Gina Torres also plays a major part – and keep an eye out for the likes of Lily Cowles (from the brilliant, all-too-short-lived series Braindead ), and Antonio Aakeel (TV’s Slow Horses ).

encouraged to switch and combo their spells together, using the different colours of magic synergistically to defeat their enemies.” Fantasy elements aren’t your typical shooter fare, so with Immortals of Aveum , Ascendant have really brought something new to the genre. “Once we started to prototype the game, it really felt like something new and fresh. I think magic can typically be portrayed as a little soft or ephemeral, not as something you would use in a high intensity combat situation. That was one of the first things we worked on. We wanted to get the feel of visceral, powerful spell casting to work in a first-person shooter. Once we had a great combat prototype, the rest of the game followed.” With such a combination of styles, Robbins believes that Immortals of Aveum may just deliver crossover appeal for both those into shooters and those who are into fantasy. “I think both shooter fans and fantasy fans will really enjoy the game,” he states. “The combat is fast, fluid, and intense. It’s as compelling as any FPS out there. The world building and puzzles and exploration will definitely appeal to gamers that love fantasy or action adventure – and I think everyone loves a good story, that never goes out of style. We’ve written a story that I’m really proud of.”

“Blue (Force) magic allows the caster to manipulate physical energy or gravity, Red (Chaos) magic controls light and energy and Green (Life) magic allows control over life, death, healing, and inanimate objects. In terms of gameplay, there are three main categories of spells, and each has representations of the different colours of magic. So, for example, your blue Strike spell is a highly focused beam of kinetic energy, and your blue Control spell is an energy Lash that can grab

intense, cinematic shooter and how to write a ‘summer blockbuster’ type story,” Robbins tells us. “Those campaigns were incredibly fun to work on. It was the video game equivalent of working on a Hollywood action movie. It also taught me how to work with a large team and hit a triple-A level of quality, because the level of polish on those games was extreme. Dead Space was all about focus. We had a few pillars that we really pushed on and wanted to make great, so in that way, there are similarities to Immortals of Aveum . I had a few key things that I wanted to get right, and we focused a lot on those to the exclusion of other things.” From what we’ve seen in the run

enemies and draw them close to you. I wanted to create a system where the player is constantly

• Immortals of Aveum is out on Aug 22

up to release, Immortals of Aveum is more than just a first-person shooter with magic as your weapon. “Being a magic shooter opened up what we could do immensely, almost to an excessive degree where we had to establish our ground rules as we kicked off development,” explains Robbins. “We realised early on that it was important to start gameplay from a familiar place, to allow it to feel intuitive to players. From there, we added depth to the gameplay with our different

24 AUGUST 2023

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