We Recommend: Your Friday Freebies
Junkee-endorsed bits and bobs to make your weekend better. Includes Internet Film School, Linda Ronstadt love, Gollum Tony Abbott, and a weird game about immigration.
Each Friday, our contributors send in a bunch of (legally) free stuff they’ve come across this week, to help you waste your weekend. You’re welcome.
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Tumblr: Gollum Tony Abbott
Recommended by: Maddy Newman
So, it turns out Tony Abbott has more in common with Gollum than just being a bitter, spiteful hobbit. They also strike remarkably similar poses, as evidenced in the pithy Tumblr ‘Gollum Tony Abbott‘.
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Film Learnings: The AV Club’s ‘Internet Film School‘ and The Dissolve’s ‘Departures‘
Recommended by: Matt Roden (‘Breaking Bad 5.11: If You’re Watching This…‘)
The AV Club began an ongoing series this week called ‘Internet Film School‘ that aims to take a closer look at directors and their work. This series begins with a very detailed look at the art of framing, and how each second-long snippet can tell us something about story, character, tone and authorial eye. It’s very film school, very nerdy, and a fair bit of fun. The first class analyses Hannibal, a show that I think used the selective gaze of the camera smarter than any other (besides Mad Men) this year — and yes, I’m purposely ignoring you and your ridiculous ‘Gasoline Cam’, Breaking Bad.
Meanwhile, The Dissolve, Pitchfork’s cinematic offshoot, continues to write seriously about things in movies that both do and probably don’t deserve it (1000+ words on the Matthew Broderick flop Godzilla seems indulgent even for the uneditable Nathan Rabin). Their ‘Departures‘ series is particularly nice; a look at directors stretching themselves in successful and awkward ways.
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Video: Antony Green cracks the shits over Senate ballot papers
Recommended by: Ben Jenkins
Confused about the Senate? Well, in this clip, Antony Green won’t necessarily explain it to you, but he’ll certainly make you feel less dumb for being confused. After years of dutiful service, Antony Green finally cracks the shits with our unique(ly stupid) voting system in the Upper House.
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Article: ‘Different Drum: The Power Of Linda Ronstadt’s Voice‘ from The New Yorker
Recommended by: Nicholas Fonseca (‘Lunch Club! Happy Birthday Madonna, We Got You A Supercut‘)
The sound of Linda Ronstadt’s voice, wrote The New Yorker‘s Sarah Larson in a gorgeous appreciation of the inimitable singer, “is the sound of overcoming anything.” I should know — Linda is my go-to housecleaning music! Seriously, though, the news that Ronstadt is suffering from Parkinson’s and can no longer sing has shattered those (and there are many, including Larson) who consider it nothing short of a global tragedy. Which it is: her broad, ageless catalog is legendary, full of heart-rending music delivered in a beautiful, straightforward manner. Read Larson’s piece, then spend some time listening to Linda. Her voice is a salve no matter your mood.
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Game: Papers, Please
Recommended by: Cameron Tyeson (‘It’s Time For The AFL To Fix Its Women Problem‘)
Papers, Please is an indie puzzle game that puts you in the shoes of an immigration inspector at the border checkpoint of a fictional Communist nation. You’ve got to use your guile, wits, and determination to weed out the criminals, dissidents and those with false information from the genuine immigrants.
It’s an emotionally-wracking game, as you have to balance the plight of your own ailing family whilst ignoring the pleas of others. The full game is now available to purchase, but you can play the first 8 levels for free here.
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Game-Changer: ‘A Liberal Voter Explains It To You’, by Nathan C
Recommended by: Steph Harmon (‘Everything You Need To Know About America In 14 Seconds‘)
Because of jobs. And economy. Is broken. And they are not. See.
Lifestyle choices. And gays. And babies. And gays. And that isn’t good for children. And other people.
So remember, on that day, it is not. Vote for him. He is voting for Australia. And it is not. It is voting. And not abortions. Thankyou.
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Website: Narratively
Recommended by: Andy Huang (‘What Is Divergent, And Should You Start Caring About It?‘)
Sometimes the internet can be a bit too much, and navigating news feeds and web streams can be incredibly nauseating and mind-boggling. Sometimes you just need a break from all that, and The Vision From The VMAs That Shall Be Forever Seared In Our Minds. Enter Narratively, a site that’s devoted to the digitally-estranged art of good ol’ fashioned storytelling. Gather ‘round kids…
Narratively launched in September last year, and was included in TIME‘s ‘50 Best Websites 2013‘. Unlike most of the internet, Narratively is not concerned with breaking the latest news stories. Every week, the site features a new theme and every day, it publishes just one story, giving it the time and space to be soaked up.
This week’s theme is ‘Drinking Buddies’. Drinking. New York. Drinking in New York and New York Drinkers. I don’t drink and I’ve never been to New York, but as far as vicarious writerly life experiences go, this is The. Best. Theme. Ever. You know where to find me this Sunday arvo.
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Video: ‘Man Of Steel 2 Teaser’
Recommended by: Adam Kamien (‘Simon Pegg, Nick Frost And Edgar Wright Have A Plan For The Apocalypse‘)
Okay, so you hate Ben Affleck as Batman, we get it. But what about Heisenberg as Lex Luthor? Reports emerged earlier in the week that Bryan Cranston has signed on to play Superman’s arch nemesis in the upcoming sequel to Man Of Steel (think Walter White sans the goatee and you’re just about there). Well, in case you can’t wait until 2015 for the film’s release, some dude with entirely too much time on his hands has posted a fan made trailer on YouTube which’ll blow your tiny mind.
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