Otago Daily Times: Entertainment

Jolie stunt double sues over hacking

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 08:59:55 +1200

A stunt double for Oscar-winning actress Angelina Jolie has sued News Corp over allegations its British newspapers hacked her phone, the first lawsuit in the United States against the company since the scandal broke two years ago.

Justin Bieber hits photographer with car

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 05:17:40 +1200

Teen pop star Justin Bieber struck a photographer with his Ferrari sports car while driving away from a comedy club in Los Angeles on Monday night, but the accident was not considered a hit-and-run, police said.

Football: Sky loses rights to English Premier League

Daniel Richardson — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 18:20:48 +1200

Sky TV has lost the rights to screen next season's English Premier League and it is believed a new player to the market won the bid to broadcast to the popular football competition.

Nigella's husband admits assault

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 12:17:06 +1200

Former advertising tycoon Charles Saatchi has admitted assaulting his wife, celebrity chef Nigella Lawson.

Mumford bassist on mend after brain surgery

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 06:10:55 +1200

British folk band Mumford & Sons' bassist Ted Dwane has posted a message saying he is recovering after brain surgery to remove a blood clot.

After Earth: Contrived effort wastes Smith's talent

James Beech — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 05:26:00 +1200

Director M. Night Shyamalan has a habit of kicking away the acting crutches of Hollywood's A-list stars, but it is our loss when he takes aim at Will Smith in After Earth.

And the winner is . . . the PS4

Hayden Meikle — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 05:25:00 +1200

The most extraordinary Electronic Entertainment Expo in recent history is in the books. Gaming reviewers Hayden Meikle and Simon Bishop share their highs and lows.

Baptism of fire

Nigel Benson — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 05:25:00 +1200

Shortland Street's latest star comes from close to home. Nigel Benson meets Dunedin actor Ria Vandervis.

Not ennui buster hoped for

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 05:25:00 +1200

Sometimes, when I chew on the fence outside my property I get splinters of wood and thick multicoloured layers of lead-based paint stuck between my teeth.

Nigella flees home in wake of 'choking' photos

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 08:49:04 +1200

Celebrity chef Nigella Lawson has left her marital home just hours after shocking pictures emerged of her apparently being choked by her millionaire husband Charles Saatchi during an argument in a London restaurant.

Review: Deafness brings family interaction into focus

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 05:25:00 +1200

Discussions of deafness often focus on two almost mutually exclusive ''worlds'' - the hearing world, and the deaf world.

Kim Kardashian gives birth to baby girl - reports

Sun, 16 Jun 2013 11:41:01 +1200

Reality television star Kim Kardashian gave birth to a girl fathered by rapper Kanye West, celebrity magazines People and Us Weekly reported today.

Adele honoured in Queen's Birthday list

Sat, 15 Jun 2013 09:30:51 +1200

Grammy Award-winning singer Adele and Mr Bean actor Rowan Atkinson were among more than 1,000 people recognised by Britain's Queen Elizabeth in her Birthday Honours List.

Classical reviews: June 15

Sat, 15 Jun 2013 05:25:00 +1200

Daugherty: Mount Rushmore, Radio City, etc. Pacific Symphony and Chorale, Paul Jacobs (organ). Naxos CD.

Kids are all right

Sam Valentine — Sat, 15 Jun 2013 05:25:00 +1200

Next Thursday, Dunedin ''shoeglaze'' duo Astro Children release their debut music video at Chick's Hotel.

CD Reviews: June 15

Sat, 15 Jun 2013 05:25:00 +1200

Reviewed this week are new albums by Vampire Weekend, Talib Kweli and Queens of the Stone Age.

A plaintive voice from ancient times

Jeff Harford — Sat, 15 Jun 2013 05:25:00 +1200

Sandy Denny (1947-1978) is remembered with deep affection by the musicians with whom she shared the stage and studio.

Film review: The Other Son

Sat, 15 Jun 2013 05:25:00 +1200

The Other Son gives the Israeli-Palestinian conflict a new perspective, writes Mark Orton.

Film review: After Earth

Sat, 15 Jun 2013 05:25:00 +1200

Father-son dynamics are tested in futuristic setting, writes Christine Powley.

George Michael writing new album

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 06:16:11 +1200

British singer George Michael is writing a new album while he recovers from head injuries sustained during a car accident last month, his spokeswoman says.

Cobain town keeping welcome sign

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 05:31:24 +1200

After hearing from fans of Kurt Cobain and Nirvana across the United States, the Washington state city of Aberdeen is keeping the words "Come as you are" on a welcome sign.

'Happy Birthday' belongs in public domain: lawsuit

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 05:30:31 +1200

"Happy Birthday to You," the ditty sung around the world in tribute to everyone from toddlers to centenarians, belongs to the public, according to a lawsuit filed this week.

Music festivals in tune with older, cashed-up fans

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 05:29:29 +1200

Britain's summer music festival season kicks off this week with a line-up ranging from the Rolling Stones to Beyonce to exiled Tibetan monks designed to attract the modern festival-goer - a 36-year-old with a well-padded wallet.

A blaze of light

Charmian Smith — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 05:29:00 +1200

Dunedin's annual Midwinter Carnival celebrates the longest night of the year with giant lanterns, dancers, stiltwalkers, music and many other performers. Charmian Smith talks to artistic director Juliet Novena Sorrel.

Picture-book finalist to read at bookshop

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 05:25:00 +1200

As part of the New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards Festival, picture-book finalist Kyle Mewburn will be giving a reading at the University Book Shop on Tuesday.

Art seen

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 05:25:00 +1200

''The 2013 Review'', various artists (Milford Galleries Queenstown)

The Guide: What's on this week

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 05:25:00 +1200

Gigs
Alibi, the Octagon.
• Fridays, from 10.30pm: Hemi and Bede.

Back where it all began

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 05:25:00 +1200

New Zealand's Poet Laureate, Ian Wedde, will spend almost a year in Germany from October as this year's recipient of the Creative New Zealand $40,000 Berlin Writer's Residency.

Farrell to give fellowship a good shake

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 05:25:00 +1200

A recent University of Otago Robert Burns Fellow has picked up the $100,000 Creative New Zealand Michael King Writer's Fellowship.

Ringo Starr puts life on display in exhibit

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 14:03:46 +1200

Former Beatles drummer Ringo Starr put snapshots of his musical and creative life on display in a new exhibit, "Ringo: Peace & Love," which opened on Tuesday at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles.

Paris Jackson 911 call released

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 10:29:49 +1200

Paris Jackson, the 15-year-old daughter of late pop star Michael Jackson, swallowed 20 pain pills and cut her arm last week in an apparent suicide attempt, according to emergency dispatch audio released.

Dame Kiri: Thin singers not up to it

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 07:18:49 +1200

Dame Kiri Te Kanawa says the pressure young female opera singers are under to be as thin as Hollywood stars is affecting their performance.

Black Sabbath announce new album, world tour

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 05:29:02 +1200

Forty-three years ago Black Sabbath released its debut self-titled album, a collection of songs inspired by occult themes and powered by heavy-metal guitar riffs.

The Great Gatsby: Style is substance

James Beech — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 05:26:00 +1200

Views of NZ a cut above

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 05:25:00 +1200

New Zealand From Above is a televisual extravaganza of looking down on things - a tour de force, if you will, of aerial photography.

Star's haka video mocked

Mon, 10 Jun 2013 07:13:05 +1200

A video of Hollywood actor Jason Momoa performing a haka in New Zealand with two Kiwis has been mocked by American gossip website TMZ.com, which compares them to cheerleaders and says they should be on Broadway.

'Wasp Factory' author Iain Banks dies

Mon, 10 Jun 2013 06:10:42 +1200

Novelist Iain Banks, who enlivened Scottish literature for three decades with his dark humour, has died from cancer just days before the release of his 27th and final novel "The Quarry".

Cowell hit by eggs during 'Talent' finals

Mon, 10 Jun 2013 05:25:55 +1200

A woman who threw eggs at international talent show guru Simon Cowell during the finals of the popular television contest "Britain's Got Talent" will not face charges, show organisers say.

Australia 'better than it looks on TV': Pitt

Sun, 09 Jun 2013 21:08:43 +1200

Brad Pitt says Australia's even better than it looks on TV.

Brown takes on Dante with tried and tested formula

Geoff Adams — Sat, 08 Jun 2013 05:29:00 +1200

Dan Brown fans will find that the emphasis in his latest book Inferno shifts from the art of The Da Vinci Code to poetry.

Latest album comes together '... Like Clockwork'

Sat, 08 Jun 2013 05:29:00 +1200

After taking a well-earned break, Josh Homme from Queens of the Stone Age tells Scott Kara, of The New Zealand Herald, they finally nailed their long-awaited new album with a little help from their friends.

Promising beginning swamped by historical data

Sat, 08 Jun 2013 05:25:00 +1200

The title of Republic of Ireland travel writer Dervla Murphy's latest excursion to dangerous places (India, Cuba, Rwanda, Ethiopia, to name but a few) should have been A Month by the Sea, Encounters in Gaza and a catch-up on Israeli atrocities against the Palestinian people since 1946.

Mother tells tragic story in hope of justice

Sat, 08 Jun 2013 05:25:00 +1200

There are all too many stories such as that of Christie Marceau, the victim of a horrendous crime executed in the ''safety'' of her own home, all because the justice system in New Zealand let her down.

Bookmarks: New Zealand trivia and more

Sat, 08 Jun 2013 05:25:00 +1200

How did explorer James Cook prevent scurvy in his crew when he voyaged around New Zealand?

Reviews in brief: Young adults

Sat, 08 Jun 2013 05:25:00 +1200

Gillian Vine reviews the latest books for young adults.

Hope and fear of fractious period captured

Sat, 08 Jun 2013 05:25:00 +1200

What a wild roller-coaster ride New Zealand experienced during the years (1984-90) of the third Labour Government - politically, economically and diplomatically.

CD Reviews: June 8

Sat, 08 Jun 2013 05:25:00 +1200

Reviewed this week are new albums by musicians Laura Marlin, Willy Moon and Savages.

Queens to host BBQ; all welcome

Sam Valentine — Sat, 08 Jun 2013 05:25:00 +1200

Dunedin is set to welcome an almost unbelievable slew of high-quality international artists in the coming months, with Unknown Mortal Orchestra and The Veils both visiting in July. Kicking off the procession is Canadian musician and multi-instrumentalist Mark Sultan, aka BBQ.

Classical reviews: June 8

Geoff Adams — Sat, 08 Jun 2013 05:25:00 +1200

> Beethoven: String Quartets. Op.18 Nos. 3, 4 and 5. Allegri String Quartet. Vivat CD.

Following thoughts as if chasing butterflies

Jeff Harford — Sat, 08 Jun 2013 05:25:00 +1200

In the age of the single download, Jeff Harford rediscovers the album.

In the mood for some Miller

Sat, 08 Jun 2013 05:25:00 +1200

The music of Glenn Miller is swinging south for a concert or two, writes Amy Johnstone.

Working out The Kinks

Sat, 08 Jun 2013 05:25:00 +1200

Dave Davies is still working out The Kinks, writes John J. Moser.

Film review: The Great Gatsby

Sat, 08 Jun 2013 05:25:00 +1200

Luhrmann's new film is extravagant and wonderful, writes Christine Powley.

Film review: You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger

Sat, 08 Jun 2013 05:25:00 +1200

Memorable moments and great cast help out this slightly predictable Woody Allen film, writes Mark Orton.

Coro St actor charged with sexually assaulting four girls

Fri, 07 Jun 2013 07:16:18 +1200

Coronation Street actor William Roache, already facing rape charges, has been charged with five counts of indecent assault involving four girls aged between 12 and 16 in the 1960s.

'Hollywood's Mermaid' Esther Williams dies

Fri, 07 Jun 2013 05:29:03 +1200

Esther Williams, whose experiences as a young swimming champion led to a career of Hollywood "aqua-musicals" designed just for her, died on Thursday in Beverly Hills, California, at the age of 91, her spokesman said.

Justin Bieber returning to NZ

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 21:51:43 +1200

Pop sensation and teen heart-throb Justin Bieber has announced plans to return to New Zealand.

TV host to Parata: 'How Maori are you?'

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 08:34:13 +1200

Journalist Rachel Smalley, the host of TV3's political programme The Nation, has been called on to apologise to Education Minister Hekia Parata over questions she asked during an interview.

Stephen Fry reveals suicide attempt

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 05:31:32 +1200

British actor Stephen Fry attempted suicide last year, he said during a podcast interview in which he talked openly about his ongoing battle with mental illness.

Bonham Carter to play Liz Taylor

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 05:28:42 +1200

British actress Helena Bonham Carter will play late screen icon Elizabeth Taylor in a TV movie that will explore Taylor's tempestuous relationship with actor Richard Burton which captivated audiences and headlines.

Paris Jackson in reported suicide bid

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 05:28:28 +1200

Paris Jackson, the 15-year-old daughter of late pop star Michael Jackson, was rushed to a Los Angeles-area hospital after an apparent suicide attempt, her mother, Debbie Rowe, told entertainment TV programme "Entertainment Tonight."

The Guide: What's on this week

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 05:25:00 +1200

Gigs

Alibi, the Octagon.

Signs and meanings

Charmian Smith — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 05:25:00 +1200

Tribes, each with their own rituals and ways of doing things, can be found in families, communities and groups with particular interests, says Fortune Theatre artistic director Lara Macgregor. Charmian Smith talks to her about Tribes, the theatre's upcoming production.

Pacific Underground gets a warm welcome

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 05:25:00 +1200

Caselberg Trust artists in residence Pacific Underground mark 20 years of performance art with a show at the Fortune Theatre on Saturday.

Art seen

James Dignan — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 05:25:00 +1200

''Desk Collection'', Saskia Leek (Dunedin Public Art Gallery)

Soul singer Sharon Jones has cancer

Tue, 04 Jun 2013 05:29:44 +1200

Soul group Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings postponed the release of their forthcoming album and tour after Jones was diagnosed with early-stage bile duct cancer, according to a statement on the band's website.

'Sopranos' tops list of best-written US shows

Tue, 04 Jun 2013 05:27:55 +1200

The New Jersey mob saga "The Sopranos" was listed as the best-written US TV series above comedy show "Seinfeld" in a list compiled by the Writers Guild of America.

Unexpected masterpiece a delight

Tue, 04 Jun 2013 05:25:00 +1200

Metro 2033 was a bit of a cult classic, with a story that was well written, a believable world, but slightly broken game mechanics.

Angelina Jolie in first public appearance after mastectomy

Mon, 03 Jun 2013 09:06:04 +1200

Angelina Jolie has made her first public appearance since announcing her double mastectomy, joining fiance Brad Pitt on the red carpet in London where she welcomed the debate on women's health that the surgery had sparked.

MasterChef favourite prevails in nailbiter

Mon, 03 Jun 2013 06:42:10 +1200

The newly crowned winner of MasterChef New Zealand has revealed the secret of his success - yoga and healthy food.

Lost works raise many questions about arts

Geoff Adams — Sat, 01 Jun 2013 05:27:00 +1200

Gekoski is an erudite and witty writer, presenting true stories in this entertaining hardback. It is a series of chapters broadly based on lost works of art and literature, in which ''lost'' has a number of different shades of meaning.

Fine photos, fascinating stories of New Zealand's wild laboratory

Sat, 01 Jun 2013 05:25:00 +1200

Combine the enthusiasm of a top-flight natural history raconteur and a world-class natural history photographer, friends for more than 30 years, and the outcome is, predictably, magnificent.

Author has write stuff

Sat, 01 Jun 2013 05:25:00 +1200

Merle is mourning the virtual absence of two important men in her life.

Character insight gives new life to tale

Philip Somerville — Sat, 01 Jun 2013 05:25:00 +1200

Surely, I thought as I began this book, what more needs to be written about the first ascent of Mt Everest 60 years ago on Wednesday.

Pub band broadened the language of R&B

Jeff Harford — Sat, 01 Jun 2013 05:25:00 +1200

In the age of the single download, Jeff Harford rediscovers the album.

Tour chance to test new material

Sam Valentine — Sat, 01 Jun 2013 05:25:00 +1200

Former Dunedin band Die! Die! Die! returns tonight as part of its South Island tour with local three-piece Trick Mammoth.

Classical review: June 1

Geoff Adams — Sat, 01 Jun 2013 05:25:00 +1200

George Bohm (1661-1733), was a German composer who was organist at Luneburg's Johanniskirche for 35 years, regarded as a minor figure with a small output of music until a few years ago.

Three chords and the truth

Shane Gilchrist — Sat, 01 Jun 2013 05:25:00 +1200

Tami Neilson, a two-time winner of the New Zealand ''Best Country Album'' award (Tui) and no stranger to the genre having grown up in a family steeped in string-band music, once recalled an essential songwriting tip passed from father to daughter:

CD Reviews: June 1

Sat, 01 Jun 2013 05:25:00 +1200

Cool jazz of this kind won't satisfy those with a taste for more challenging works but will delight those who value its inherent restorative qualities.

Film review: Shopping

Sat, 01 Jun 2013 05:25:00 +1200

Great cast means this New Zealand film shines, writes Christine Powley.

Shopping
Directors: Mark Albiston and Louis Sutherland
Cast: Kevin Paulo, Julian Dennison, Alistair Browning, Maureen Fepuleai, Jacek Koman, Laura Peterson, Byron Coll
Rating: (R16)
Four out of five stars

Film review: The Last Sentence

Sat, 01 Jun 2013 05:25:00 +1200

Film worth the effort, despite a slow pace, writes Mark Orton.

Grumpy Cat gets film deal

Fri, 31 May 2013 10:06:11 +1200

Grumpy Cat, who won fame on the Internet for her permanent scowl, will be getting Hollywood treatment in an upcoming film, the feline's manager Ben Lashes said in an email.

Mariah Carey leaving 'American Idol'

Fri, 31 May 2013 05:48:51 +1200

Pop singer and "American Idol" judge Mariah Carey will leave the TV singing contest and go on a world tour next year, following on the heels of longtime judge Randy Jackson after the show suffered from a ratings slump.

Gatsby gets thumbs up from Aussies

Fri, 31 May 2013 05:29:01 +1200

The Great Gatsby has divided critics, but the Australian public have generally been dazzled by the Baz Luhrmann adaptation.

Velvet Underground, Warhol end banana split

Thu, 30 May 2013 12:07:53 +1200

Velvet Underground, the 1960s avant-garde rock band, has settled a fight with the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts over the rights to an iconic pop art image of a banana that graced the band's best-known album.

Bieber investigated over reckless driving

Thu, 30 May 2013 05:28:57 +1200

Teen pop star Justin Bieber is under investigation for allegedly speeding through his gated Los Angeles-area community in a Ferrari sports car, prompting neighbours to complain to police, authorities say.

Keys of the city

Charmian Smith — Thu, 30 May 2013 05:25:00 +1200

David Burchell has a particular enthusiasm for organs. Charmian Smith talks to him about the one in the Dunedin Town Hall and the one he has at home.

The Guide: What's on this week

Thu, 30 May 2013 05:25:00 +1200

Gigs

Alibi, the Octagon.

• Fridays, from 10.30pm: Hemi and Bede.

Art seen

James Dignan — Thu, 30 May 2013 05:25:00 +1200

''I Hope You Like It'', Javier Mansilla (None Gallery)

Chilean artist and musician Javier Mansilla has chronicled his New Zealand travels through a collection of watercolour portraits of ordinary New Zealanders going about their daily chores.

Keys of the city

Charmian Smith — Thu, 30 May 2013 05:25:00 +1200

David Burchell has a particular enthusiasm for organs. Charmian Smith talks to him about the one in the Dunedin Town Hall and the one he has at home.

Google goes to Hollywood

Wed, 29 May 2013 08:20:27 +1200

When "The Internship," a comedy starring Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson, hits movie theatres on June 7, Google will be taking more than a little interest in how the film is received.

Battalion of Barons needed

Tue, 28 May 2013 05:25:00 +1200

Korvettenkapitan Georg Johannes, Ritter von Trapp, also known as Baron von Trapp, was the sort of Austro-Hungarian navy officer, sir, of whom there should be more.

Dunedin stop for Neutral Milk Hotel

Mon, 27 May 2013 12:48:53 +1200

Neutral Milk Hotel have announced a four-date New Zealand tour.

Lesbian love story wins top prize at Cannes

Mon, 27 May 2013 05:40:11 +1200

An emotional lesbian love story by French director Abdellatif Kechiche has won the top prize at the 2013 Cannes festival, ending 12 packed days of premieres, celebrity appearances, rain and dramatic jewellery thefts.

Fleetwood Mac to play in Auckland

Sun, 26 May 2013 08:23:59 +1200

Dunedin's loss is Auckland's gain, with legendary band Fleetwood Mac confirming they will play at Auckland's Vector Arena this year.

Nazi barbarism recounted in the hand of a child

Sat, 25 May 2013 05:27:00 +1200

Subtitled A Young Girl's Account of Life in a Concentration Camp, this is one more gut-wrenching work to add to those describing the sorry litany of insensate, barbaric practices of the self-proclaimed master race, the Germans (Nazis) in Europe before and during World War 2.

Poetry

Sat, 25 May 2013 05:27:00 +1200

Ian Wedde is New Zealand's Poet Laureate. The Life-Guard: Poems 2008-2013 is to be launched at the Auckland Writers and Readers Festival this month.

Thank you for the music

Sat, 25 May 2013 05:25:00 +1200

P-Money tells Lydia Jenkin, of The New Zealand Herald, how his move to New York has brought back memories of the music he loved as a child.

Swansong album of southern soul progenitors

Jeff Harford — Sat, 25 May 2013 05:25:00 +1200

By 1971, Booker T. & the M.G.'s were all but estranged from Memphis-based Stax Records, the label they had served diligently for 11 years.

Strange Harvest ripe for picking

Sam Valentine — Sat, 25 May 2013 05:25:00 +1200

Dunedin darkwave/lo-fi duo Strange Harvest will celebrate the release of their second album, Inside a Replica City, on Friday at Queens.

Classical review: May 25

Geoff Adams — Sat, 25 May 2013 05:25:00 +1200

Southern Cross Soloists is a leading Australian chamber group comprising Paul Dean (artistic director, clarinet), Tania Frazer (oboe), David Mitchell (bassoon), Peter Luff (horn), Kevin Power (piano) and Margaret Schindler (soprano).

Family ties

Sat, 25 May 2013 05:25:00 +1200

The next big things out of America are three sisters whose sound is a mix of Fleetwood Mac, hip-hop and pop, writes Scott Kara, of The New Zealand Herald.

CD Reviews: May 25

Sat, 25 May 2013 05:25:00 +1200

British a cappella group The Magnets, who have spent more than a decade building their technique and repertoire, pull off a coup here.

Let's go Shopping

Sat, 25 May 2013 05:25:00 +1200

Mark Albiston and Louis Sutherland's new film is set in the same era as Boy, but that's where the similarity ends, writes Lydia Jenkin, of The New Zealand Herald.

Film review: The Reluctant Fundamentalist

Sat, 25 May 2013 05:25:00 +1200

Great acting, moving score, and a solid supporting cast makes this film great, writes Mark Orton.

Space trip with DiCaprio auctioned

Fri, 24 May 2013 10:27:29 +1200

A trip to space with Hollywood actor Leonardo DiCaprio has raised 1.2 million euros ($US1.5 million) for charity at a glitzy fundraiser at the Cannes film festival.

Rolf Harris probe to continue

Fri, 24 May 2013 09:39:34 +1200

Embattled entertainer Rolf Harris will continue to be investigated over historical sex abuse allegations after his bail was renewed.

Psy impersonator crashes Cannes party

Fri, 24 May 2013 05:34:37 +1200

Last week, it worked for a man pretending to be Gwyneth Paltrow's bodyguard.

Cannes festival hit by second jewellery theft

Fri, 24 May 2013 05:25:16 +1200

The Cannes film festival has been hit by a second jewellery heist after a diamond necklace worth 2 million euros ($US2.6 million) disappeared during a star-studded party, according to upmarket jeweller De Grisogono.

Living a lie

Charmian Smith — Thu, 23 May 2013 05:29:00 +1200

Making things up might be called telling lies, but if you write it down you are being an author, according to Leonie Agnew. Charmian Smith talks to the College of Education children's writer in residence.

Art seen

James Dignan — Thu, 23 May 2013 05:25:00 +1200

''The race'', Hannah Kidd (Milford Galleries)

Hannah Kidd is getting a lot of much-deserved attention for her impressive sculptures.

The Guide: What's on this week

Thu, 23 May 2013 05:25:00 +1200

Gigs
Alibi, the Octagon.
• Fridays, from 10.30pm: Hemi and Bede.

Microsoft unveils next generation Xbox

Wed, 22 May 2013 08:01:58 +1200

Microsoft gave the world a first look at its new Xbox One today, announcing that its first gaming console in eight years will come with exclusive video and software content, including a "Halo" series produced by Steven Spielberg.

Doors keyboardist Ray Manzarek dies

Tue, 21 May 2013 10:17:19 +1200

Ray Manzarek, a founding member and keyboardist of 1960s rock group The Doors, has died aged 74, the group's manager Tom Vitorino said.

X Factor makes its ratings move

Tue, 21 May 2013 07:43:14 +1200

The X Factor's Monday shows have shifted to a later timeslot, ending the competition for viewers with Shortland Street, the juggernaut of locally-made programmes.

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 14: Take a swing at time travel

Hayden Meikle — Tue, 21 May 2013 05:25:00 +1200

Here is a line I have never used in 15 years of writing about sport and video games: Man, that niblick is a handy club.

Look at '80s a let down

Tue, 21 May 2013 05:25:00 +1200

The decade now known as the 1980s was a simpler time.

Cannes - where celebrity sells and celebrities sell

Mon, 20 May 2013 05:31:24 +1200

Film stars come to Cannes to promote themselves and their projects - so where better to launch a wry documentary bemoaning the seeming dominance of celebrity pulling-power over content?

Rod Stewart back on top of UK album chart

Mon, 20 May 2013 05:25:35 +1200

Veteran rocker Rod Stewart has scored his first British album chart number one in more than 30 years with "Time", while the French electro outfit Daft Punk clung to the top of the singles chart, the Official Charts Company said.

Rolf Harris takes stage in Bristol

Sun, 19 May 2013 22:56:08 +1200

Australian performer Rolf Harris has appeared on stage for the first time since it was reported he had been questioned by British police over alleged sex offences.

Denmark's folksy ballad wins Eurovision

Sun, 19 May 2013 11:50:48 +1200

Denmark's Emmelie de Forest won Eurovision before an international TV audience of around 125 million, securing the coveted crown of euro-pop with a folksy ballad backed by flutes and drums.

Actors flee as shots fired at Cannes

Sat, 18 May 2013 08:39:12 +1200

A man was arrested at the Cannes film festival today after firing a starting pistol during a live TV broadcast on the palm-lined waterfront, sending actors Christoph Waltz and Daniel Auteuil running for cover.

Hard read about hard times

Gillian Vine — Sat, 18 May 2013 05:25:00 +1200

Lynette Robinson's memoir, Where the Rainbow Fell Down, records her view of her dysfunctional family, poverty and her relationship with the Catholic Church.

Money, sex and secrets at the Vatican

Sat, 18 May 2013 05:25:00 +1200

When a book is subtitled ''A Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Power, Personalities and Politics at the Heart of the Catholic Church'' then the expectation raised is likely to be of heaps of dirt and loads of tabloid innuendo.

Detective defies definition

Sat, 18 May 2013 05:25:00 +1200

Although The Golden Egg is the 22nd novel in Donna Leon's series about the Venetian detective Commissario Brunetti, it remains as difficult as ever to assign the novels to any particular genre.

Mystery leads to suspicion, insecurity to jealousy

Sat, 18 May 2013 05:25:00 +1200

From the Greek legend of Cupid and Psyche to the Selkies of Scottish folk-lore, many cultures have cautionary tales of husbands and wives who conceal their true identities and flee when their secret is discovered by overly curious spouses.

Fullbrook's voice a point of connection

Sam Valentine — Sat, 18 May 2013 05:25:00 +1200

Tiny Ruins, the project of Bristol-born, New Zealand-raised musician and songwriter Hollie Fullbrook, will perform in the intimate Taste Merchants on Friday.

Classical review: May 18

Geoff Adams — Sat, 18 May 2013 05:25:00 +1200

> Rossini: Petite Messe Solennelle. Orchestra and Choir, National Academy of Santa Cecilia and soloists. EMI 2 CDs

Model-turned-singer was too hot to handle

Jeff Harford — Sat, 18 May 2013 05:25:00 +1200

In the age of the single download, Jeff Harford rediscovers the album.

Opera to Elton, a musical night to remember

Dene Mackenzie — Sat, 18 May 2013 05:25:00 +1200

Few people can take on Freddie Mercury and give even an adequate imitation of the late singer's special qualities. But last night Jonathan Ansell, of the Seven Irish Tenors, did just that.

CD Reviews: May 18

Sat, 18 May 2013 05:25:00 +1200

> Major Lazer.
Free the Universe.
Secretly Canadian

Dead serious

Sat, 18 May 2013 05:25:00 +1200

Soul music legend Bobby Womack talks to Scott Kara, of The New Zealand Herald, about coming back from the dead - both physically and musically.

Exercise in musicology

Shane Gilchrist — Sat, 18 May 2013 05:25:00 +1200

Karaoke and musicals? The influences of Wanaka-based singer-songwriter Liv McBride might not closely align with the alt-country and folkish strains of Into The East's debut album, Fight From The Inside, yet it is clear she has spent more than a few years honing her voice and her craft.

Film review: Broken

Sat, 18 May 2013 05:25:00 +1200

Film about troubled family has problems of its own, writes Christine Powley.

Little ripper proves to be a mountain man

Sat, 18 May 2013 05:25:00 +1200

The latest snow spectacular from Warren Miller films features a young skiier with a snowballing reputation.

Film review: Kon-Tiki

Sat, 18 May 2013 05:25:00 +1200

Attention to detail makes Kon-Tiki a true adventure, writes Mark Orton.

Jane Campion honoured at Cannes

Fri, 17 May 2013 10:01:56 +1200

Another prestigious honour at the Cannes Film Festival has added further weight to Jane Campion's legendary status in cinema.

Aussie dance man alleges Jackson abuse

Fri, 17 May 2013 09:53:28 +1200

Australian dance choreographer Wade Robson says Michael Jackson was a pedophile who sexually abused him and "many others", but denied his belated allegations were a made up attempt to reap money from the deceased singer's estate.

Dylan honoured by Academy of Arts and Letters

Fri, 17 May 2013 05:28:57 +1200

Singer Bob Dylan has been made an honorary member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters, joining the ranks of leading writers, composers and artists in the prestigious 115-year-old group.

Prince buoyed by young, hungry band

Fri, 17 May 2013 05:26:18 +1200

Prince pounded his rhinestone-encrusted cane into the floor to make a point. "I don't have time for old people," he insisted. "I want to work with young people."

The worst of Jane Austen

Charmian Smith — Thu, 16 May 2013 05:29:00 +1200

Murder, drunkenness, theft and bigamy are just some of the bad behaviour exhibited by characters in Jane Austen's early writing, and she behaves badly too, on occasion. Charmian Smith talks to Jocelyn Harris and Terry MacTavish about ''Women Behaving Badly'', their Austen readings.

Kelleher linked to princess

Nigel Benson — Thu, 16 May 2013 05:27:00 +1200

European media has been buzzing with reports of a romantic liaison between former All Black and Otago rugby player Byron Kelleher and Princess Charlene of Monaco.

Art seen

Thu, 16 May 2013 05:25:00 +1200

''A Singular Occasion'', Sue Hawker (Milford Galleries Queenstown)

The Guide: What's on this week

Thu, 16 May 2013 05:25:00 +1200

Gigs
Alibi, the Octagon.
• Fridays, from 10.30pm: Hemi and Bede.

Is Byron Kelleher romancing royalty?

Wed, 15 May 2013 14:17:08 +1200

Rumours are circulating that former All Black Byron Kelleher could be romantically involved with Princess Charlene of Monaco.

Angelina Jolie has double mastectomy

Tue, 14 May 2013 18:40:11 +1200

Oscar-winning actress Angelina Jolie says she has undergone a preventive double mastectomy after finding she had a gene mutation that leads to a sharply higher risk of both breast and ovarian cancer.

TV psychologist Joyce Brothers dies

Tue, 14 May 2013 12:11:45 +1200

US psychologist Joyce Brothers, who parlayed her 1955 victory on the TV game show The $64,000 Question into a nearly six-decade career as a television personality and columnist, died on Monday, her publicist said. She was 85.

X Factor judge hits back at critics

Tue, 14 May 2013 10:02:10 +1200

To all the well-spoken people in Aotearoa, u will all need to learn a new english. Its called Hori lol. Cos thats basically all i speak haha.X Factor judge Stan Walker.

TV journalist Barbara Walters to retire

Tue, 14 May 2013 07:17:02 +1200

Trailblazing broadcast journalist Barbara Walters, known for her interviews with world leaders and celebrities and the first woman to co-anchor a US evening news programme, says she will retire in the summer of 2014.

Robbers make big haul from Bieber gig

Tue, 14 May 2013 05:30:00 +1200

Robbers equipped with ropes, hammers and chisels broke into a strong-room at Johannesburg's Soccer City stadium after a Justin Bieber concert and made off with 3 million rand ($US330,000) in cash, local media and police say.