My Old School: a movie review by Alex First

The true tale of 16-year-old Scott Brandon Lee (not the actor son of Bruce Lee) is remarkable. Read more

True Spirit: a movie review by Alex First

The story made world news. Read more

What’s Love Got to Do with It? A movie review by Alex First

Jemima Khan, the former wife of Pakistani cricket captain and politician Imran Khan, has written a cross-cultural romantic comedy. Read more

Tar: a movie review by Alex First

Surely an Oscar awaits Cate Blanchett for her extraordinary multilingual, piano playing performance in Tar. Read more

Sunday: A Melbourne theatre review by Alex First

Sunday Reed is a firecracker. Read more

Babylon: a movie review by Alex First

Sodom and Gomorrah might be a more appropriate title for a film all about excess and depravity. Read more

Legends in Concert: A musical review by Alex First

Energy and enthusiasm are the hallmarks of a slick tribute show to some of the greatest musical artists the world has seen. Read more

M3gan: a film review  by Alex First

When the most advanced “toy” in history goes rogue, lives are at stake in the engaging horror sci-fi thriller M3gan. Read more

Operation Fortune: Ruse de guerre – a movie review by Alex First

A rollicking, globe-trotting actioner, director and co-writer Guy Ritchie has a lot of fun and keeps things moving in Operation Fortune: Ruse de guerre (ruse of war). Read more

Emily: a film review by Alex First

Tense throughout, Emily is a fictitious account of lauded 19th-century writer and poet Emily Brontë (Wuthering Heights), a role filled by Emma Mackey. Read more

Motherlod_^e: a theatre review by Alex First

Sixty-five minutes of glorious mayhem. Read more

Marcel the Shell with Shoes On: a film review by Alex First

Marcel is an extraordinary, original work with Best Animated Feature at the Oscars written all over it. Read more

Madagascar The Musical:   a Melbourne theatre review by Alex First

A musical for the littlies – I speak of preschoolers and primary school age children – Madagascar The Musical is based on the successful animated motion picture. Read more

The Fabelmans: a movie review by Alex First

Master filmmaker Steven Spielberg’s searing personal memories are illuminated on the big screen in The Fabelmans. Read more

Blueback: a movie review by Alex First

With a strong environmental message, Blueback is a feel-good story about protecting and saving the reef. Read more

A Man Called Otto – a movie review by Alex First

Otto Anderson (Tom Hanks) seems like anything but a nice man. He likes to keep to himself and is curt to the point of rudeness. In fact, he is known for it. Read more

Slava’s Snowshow: A theatre review by Alex First

Vanya Polunin is to clowning what Sir Donald Bradman was to cricket – a genius. Read more

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat: a theatre review by Alex First

A new Pharoah has stepped into Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat. Read more

Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (PG): a movie review by Alex First

Puss in Boots (the voice of Antonio Banderas) first appeared in Shrek 2 in 2004 before showing up again in a couple of other Shrek sequels and then a standalone film in 2011. Read more

The Lost King : A movie review by Alex First

Philippa Langley (Sally Hawkins) is a quirky, intelligent, divorced mother who suffers from chronic fatigue syndrome. Read more

I Wanna Dance with Somebody (M): A movie review by Alex First

The tumultuous life of the world’s most awarded female vocalist is put under the spotlight in I Wanna Dance with Somebody. Read more

Triangle of Sadness (M): a movie review by Alex First

A black comedy focusing on beauty, influencers, ostentatiousness, excess, pretension and power, Triangle of Sadness unfolds in three parts. Read more

The Banshees of Inisherin (M): a movie review by Alex First

What does it take to ruin a friendship? Read more

Moulin Rouge! The Musical: A Sydney theatre review by Alex First

Polished performances, magnificent mashups, elegant and evocative sets, colourful and creative costumes, and charismatic choreography are the highlights of Moulin Rouge! The Musical. A striking spectacle. Read more

Avatar: The Way of Water (M): a movie review by Alex First

Avatar’s magnificent journey continues with awe-inspired distinction in The Way of Water. Read more

Monsters: a Melbourne theatre review by Alex First

As children, what did we fear the most? That the boogie man will get us. Read more

Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat: A Melbourne theatre review by Alex First

Straight from the West End, the new, reimagined production of Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat is a delightful, fun, engaging and dynamic family musical. Read more

The Phantom of the Opera: Alex First reviews the Melbourne production

Cameron Mackintosh’s new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s masterful work The Phantom of the Opera sizzles. Read more

Sunshine Super Girl: a theatre review by Alex First

Respectful, determined and humble. That is the picture that emerges of Australian tennis great Evonne Goolagong Cawley in the Melbourne Theatre Company’s Sunshine Super Girl, a moniker given to her by the British press. Read more

Gundog (Three Fates Theatre) reviewed by Alex First

The rough lot of an impoverished farming clan is front and centre in Gundog, a dramatic and confronting play with lashes of humour. Read more

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