Gatsby not so great in critics' eyes

US critics were underwhelmed by The Great Gatsby. Picture: Village Roadshow / Warner Bros Source: Supplied

LEADING US critics seem to have been dangerously underwhelmed by Baz Luhrmann's $180 million adaptation of The Great Gatsby.

"It doesn't mean a thing if it ain't got that bling," observed influential industry trade magazine Variety.

"Arguably, the movie reaches its orgiastic peak 30 minutes in, with the first full reveal of Gatsby himself (Leonardo DiCaprio), accompanied by an explosion of fireworks and the eruption of Gershwin on the soundtrack. Where, really, can one go from there?" said chief film critic Scott Foundas.

The Hollywood Reporter was a little warmer in its review, published ahead of the film's May 15, opening night screening at the Cannes Film Festival.

"As is inevitable with the Australian showman who's never met a scene he didn't think could be improved by more music, costumes, extras and camera tricks, this enormous production begins by being over-the-top and moves on from there," said veteran critic Todd McCarthy.

"But given the immoderate lifestyle of the title character, this approach is not exactly inappropriate, even it if is at sharp odds with the refined nature of the author's prose."

Both publications singled out "lithe, long-limbed (Australian) newcomer" Elizabeth Debicki for special mention.

"We don't see enough of Daisy's best friend, the sporty, haughty Jordan Baker ... Debicki, who, with her towering slim build, black hair and pool-like blue eyes resembles an elongated Zooey Deschanel, is terrific," said McCarthy.

Fellow Australian Joel Edgerton also got the thumbs up from the established industry rag.

"Edgerton is excellent as the proud, entitled and seething bully Tom."

And Variety also praised Luhrmann's wife Catherine Martin (already a double Oscar winner for Moulin Rouge) who "once again stands out for her production and costume design."
 

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Heavy metal great dead at 49

Guitarist Jeff Hanneman of Slayer died of liver failure May 2, 2013 at a Southern California area hospital. He was 49. Here, he performs onstage during The Big 4 held at the Empire Polo Club on April 23, 2011 in Indio, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images

Guitarist Jeff Hanneman of Slayer died of liver failure May 2, 2013 at a Southern California area hospital. He was 49. Here, he performs onstage during The Big 4 held at the Empire Polo Club on April 23, 2011 in Indio, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images

SLAYER guitarist Jeff Hanneman has died of liver failure just two years after being forced off the road because of a rare skin tissue disease.

While his bandmates had long harboured the hope he would return to their ranks, the 49-year old founding member of the thrash metal legends died today at a Californian hospital.

When Slayer toured Australia with the Soundwave Festival in February, they said his return to the band was a "wait and see'' proposition.

"Slayer is devastated to inform that their bandmate and brother, Jeff Hanneman, passed away at about 11 this morning near his Southern California home,'' the band's longtime publicist said in a statement.

"Hanneman was in an area hospital when he suffered liver failure.''

The musician and songwriter had to quit touring in 2011 after being diagnosed with necrotising fasciitis, reportedly from a spider bite, which eats skin tissue.

Guitarist Jeff Hanneman of Slayer died of liver failure May 2, 2013 at a Southern California area hospital. He was 49. Here, he performs onstage during The Big 4 held at the Empire Polo Club on April 23, 2011 in Indio, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images

It is not known if the disease played a role in his death.

Hanneman was credited for revolutionising heavy metal guitar playing with his power chord blasts and fierce riffing.

His peers paid tribute to the musician on social media.

"Tonight one less star will be shining and sadly, the stage got just a little bit darker. Jeff Hanneman 1964-2013,'' posted Megadeth's Dave Mustaine.

He is survived by his wife Kathryn, whom he married in 1997, his sister Kathy and his brothers Michael and Larry.
 

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Heavy metal great dead at 49

Guitarist Jeff Hanneman of Slayer died of liver failure May 2, 2013 at a Southern California area hospital. He was 49. Here, he performs onstage during The Big 4 held at the Empire Polo Club on April 23, 2011 in Indio, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images

Guitarist Jeff Hanneman of Slayer died of liver failure May 2, 2013 at a Southern California area hospital. He was 49. Here, he performs onstage during The Big 4 held at the Empire Polo Club on April 23, 2011 in Indio, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images

SLAYER guitarist Jeff Hanneman has died of liver failure just two years after being forced off the road because of a rare skin tissue disease.

While his bandmates had long harboured the hope he would return to their ranks, the 49-year old founding member of the thrash metal legends died today at a Californian hospital.

When Slayer toured Australia with the Soundwave Festival in February, they said his return to the band was a "wait and see'' proposition.

"Slayer is devastated to inform that their bandmate and brother, Jeff Hanneman, passed away at about 11 this morning near his Southern California home,'' the band's longtime publicist said in a statement.

"Hanneman was in an area hospital when he suffered liver failure.''

The musician and songwriter had to quit touring in 2011 after being diagnosed with necrotising fasciitis, reportedly from a spider bite, which eats skin tissue.

Guitarist Jeff Hanneman of Slayer died of liver failure May 2, 2013 at a Southern California area hospital. He was 49. Here, he performs onstage during The Big 4 held at the Empire Polo Club on April 23, 2011 in Indio, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images

It is not known if the disease played a role in his death.

Hanneman was credited for revolutionising heavy metal guitar playing with his power chord blasts and fierce riffing.

His peers paid tribute to the musician on social media.

"Tonight one less star will be shining and sadly, the stage got just a little bit darker. Jeff Hanneman 1964-2013,'' posted Megadeth's Dave Mustaine.

He is survived by his wife Kathryn, whom he married in 1997, his sister Kathy and his brothers Michael and Larry.
 

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Iconic's success 'pretty f***ing great'

The men behind the multi-million dollar online shopping website, Adam Jacobs, Cameron Votan, Andreas Otto and Finn Age Haensel. Source: Supplied

THEY'RE young, they're rich, and they're taking the technology world by storm. Over the next two weeks, news.com.au will be introducing you to some of the world's most successful entrepreneurs and offering you the chance to win $1000 and a BlackBerry 10 phone when you vote.

AUSTRALIAN online fashion retailer The Iconic is close to earning $10 million a month in revenue and the four men behind the venture say it feels "pretty f***ing great".

Well, actually co-founder Adam Jacobs said that, but his three co-founders agree.

Jacobs, along with Andreas Otto, Cameron Votan and Finn Age Haensel all left lucrative day jobs to launch what is now one of Australia's most successful online shopping sites that employs about 350 people.

With three-hour delivery, free returns and 500 brands under the one roof, The Iconic has seen unprecedented growth aided by the launch of its own magazine - starring Joel Edgerton on the cover - and with the signing of Bondi Hipsters Dom and Ade to an ad campaign for the site.

"We saw after a few months our customer base grow really quickly," Adam Jacobs said. " That was the first sign to us that this business model works and, yes, Australians like shopping online."

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Jacobs says the success of the online shopping site stems from the belief that the customer experience is the absolute priority.

"That’s why we optimise the site for easy use, offer free shipping and express options like three-hour delivery in Sydney, have products at a variety of price points, and a local customer service team," he said. “We believe that the customer can and should have it all."

Partnering with a venture capital fund also didn't hurt, because it allowed them to experiment and take risks.

"We had a great venture capital firm behind us which provided us funds," Finn Age Haensel said. "It really motivated us to try new things that were unheard of in the market.

The group launched a fashion magazine earlier this year to help boost sales.

“No other online retailer had done that before. Because we had the support of the venture capital fund to try that, we know that if we failed we'd learn from it but we wouldn't get punished for it.”

What was the "key" to their success? Adam Jacobs says their isn't one but said it is essential to decide firmly on the mission and values of your start-up and to make them the core of everything you do.

"You need to be able to adapt very quickly to a changing environment, while keeping a stable centre with consistent goals to aim for," he said.

Jacobs said the team looked to sites like eBay, Yahoo and Google for inspiration.

"They are known for consistently pioneering technology and also for being great places to work," he said. "These guys were on the front line of internet development, and have innovative cultures and strong track records in success."

At a time when bricks and mortar stores are struggling to compete, it's unlikely most retailers were pleased when they heard they had local online competitor potentially stealing customers away.

This group of mates have created one of the most successful online retail stores in recent times. Find out just how they did it.

However, Jacobs said that "there will always be a space for bricks and mortar retail in Australia because the Australian customer is savvy, and expects a variety of options and experiences".

But that doesn't mean The Iconic won't give retailers a run for their money.

"We believe that online retail will become a huge part of retail, very soon," he said.

"Online retail can offer variety, experience, competitive pricing and convenient delivery in ways that bricks and mortar retail cannot. Like Europe and the USA, Australia will shift to Goliath online industries and very happy online customers."

So what advice do these entrepreneurs have for people who have a great start-up idea but don't know where to start?

"Buy the domain, lodge the patent, start building.”

"In this climate, great ideas are flying, and if you believe in what you’re doing, one of your biggest advantages could be doing it first. Build the skeleton and ask for feedback – from friends, family, and anybody who might use your product.”

Another essential element to success is research and getting to know your environment. Find out whether anyone else is doing it already and think about how you could do it better.

View the original article here

Iconic's success 'pretty f***ing great'

The men behind the multi-million dollar online shopping website, Adam Jacobs, Cameron Votan, Andreas Otto and Finn Age Haensel. Source: Supplied

THEY'RE young, they're rich, and they're taking the technology world by storm. Over the next two weeks, news.com.au will be introducing you to some of the world's most successful entrepreneurs and offering you the chance to win $1000 and a BlackBerry 10 phone when you vote.

AUSTRALIAN online fashion retailer The Iconic is close to earning $10 million a month in revenue and the four men behind the venture say it feels "pretty f***ing great".

Well, actually co-founder Adam Jacobs said that, but his three co-founders agree.

Jacobs, along with Andreas Otto, Cameron Votan and Finn Age Haensel all left lucrative day jobs to launch what is now one of Australia's most successful online shopping sites that employs about 350 people.

With three-hour delivery, free returns and 500 brands under the one roof, The Iconic has seen unprecedented growth aided by the launch of its own magazine - starring Joel Edgerton on the cover - and with the signing of Bondi Hipsters Dom and Ade to an ad campaign for the site.

"We saw after a few months our customer base grow really quickly," Adam Jacobs said. " That was the first sign to us that this business model works and, yes, Australians like shopping online."

]]>

Jacobs says the success of the online shopping site stems from the belief that the customer experience is the absolute priority.

"That’s why we optimise the site for easy use, offer free shipping and express options like three-hour delivery in Sydney, have products at a variety of price points, and a local customer service team," he said. “We believe that the customer can and should have it all."

Partnering with a venture capital fund also didn't hurt, because it allowed them to experiment and take risks.

"We had a great venture capital firm behind us which provided us funds," Finn Age Haensel said. "It really motivated us to try new things that were unheard of in the market.

The group launched a fashion magazine earlier this year to help boost sales.

“No other online retailer had done that before. Because we had the support of the venture capital fund to try that, we know that if we failed we'd learn from it but we wouldn't get punished for it.”

What was the "key" to their success? Adam Jacobs says their isn't one but said it is essential to decide firmly on the mission and values of your start-up and to make them the core of everything you do.

"You need to be able to adapt very quickly to a changing environment, while keeping a stable centre with consistent goals to aim for," he said.

Jacobs said the team looked to sites like eBay, Yahoo and Google for inspiration.

"They are known for consistently pioneering technology and also for being great places to work," he said. "These guys were on the front line of internet development, and have innovative cultures and strong track records in success."

At a time when bricks and mortar stores are struggling to compete, it's unlikely most retailers were pleased when they heard they had local online competitor potentially stealing customers away.

This group of mates have created one of the most successful online retail stores in recent times. Find out just how they did it.

However, Jacobs said that "there will always be a space for bricks and mortar retail in Australia because the Australian customer is savvy, and expects a variety of options and experiences".

But that doesn't mean The Iconic won't give retailers a run for their money.

"We believe that online retail will become a huge part of retail, very soon," he said.

"Online retail can offer variety, experience, competitive pricing and convenient delivery in ways that bricks and mortar retail cannot. Like Europe and the USA, Australia will shift to Goliath online industries and very happy online customers."

So what advice do these entrepreneurs have for people who have a great start-up idea but don't know where to start?

"Buy the domain, lodge the patent, start building.”

"In this climate, great ideas are flying, and if you believe in what you’re doing, one of your biggest advantages could be doing it first. Build the skeleton and ask for feedback – from friends, family, and anybody who might use your product.”

Another essential element to success is research and getting to know your environment. Find out whether anyone else is doing it already and think about how you could do it better.

View the original article here

New Oz isn't so great or powerful

James Franco, as Oz, and flying monkey Finley, who is voiced by Zach Braff in the film. Source: Supplied

MOVIE REVIEW: All together now : "We'rrrrrrrrrrrre off to see the Wizard, the wonderful Wizard of Oz ..."

Err, hang on. Better change the lyrics to "we're off to see the origin story of the wonderful Wizard of Oz."

All of a sudden, the tune becomes a whole lot less catchy, doesn't it?

Never mind. The target audience of Oz the Great and Powerful non-discerning cineastes aged 10 and under will still be happy enough with this prequel to one of the great children's movies of all-time.

James Franco stars as Oscar Diggs, a dodgy travelling magician from Kansas propelled by prairie tornado to the fabled land of Oz.

As we know from the many books of Frank L. Baum, Oz is quite the dazzling destination, what with its gold-plated thoroughfares and gem-encrusted metropolises.

(I know, I know. Why can't we just refer to the Yellow Brick Road and The Emerald City? Well, these and other Oz bits and bobs are locked under copyright elsewhere. Therefore the makers of Oz the Great and Powerful have had to be very careful with every little thing named or depicted here.)

However, behind the pretty facades of Oz, a ugly power struggle is going on for control of the kingdom.

Once the dust finally settles, there will be wicked witches ruling the roost in the east and west, and good witches holding down the north and south.

Sisters Evanora (Rachel Weisz) and Theodora (Mila Kunis) are the attractively appointed frontrunners for the evil positions. Meanwhile, the best of the nice bunch is the kind-hearted Glinda (Michelle Williams).

So where does Oscar the Wizard fit in? A good question. And one the movie does not always answer satisfactorily.

As he wanders through Oz with a talking flying monkey (voiced by Zach Braff) and an orphaned porcelain doll (Joey King), Oscar keeps getting on the right and wrong sides of all the warring witches.

It is not until the final act that Oscar finally earns his keep in the movie, using his experience as a carny conman in a thrilling scheme to stop Evanora and Theodora having their wicked way with Oz.

Though prone to the odd flat spell where little seems to be happening, Oz the Great and Powerful works well enough to warrant a look-see.

James Franco is more chump than champ in the leading role, and history will probably record he was sorely mis-cast here. Thankfully, director Sam Raimi knows exactly when a lively diversion is needed.
 

Oz the Great and Powerful [PG]

Rating: 3/5

Director: Sam Raimi

Starring: James Franco, Michelle Williams, Rachael Weisz, Mila Kunis, Zach Braff, Joey King

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