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Brad Pitt Weighs In On Ana De Armas Playing Marilyn Monroe

Brad Pitt has defended Ana de Armas’ performance as Marilyn Monroe in Blonde, an upcoming film that Pitt produced.

Just a few days ago, the first trailer for the upcoming Netflix film, Blonde – which stars Ana de Armas as Marilyn Monroe – was released. Instantly, the film faced backlash mainly because de Armas didn’t quite nail an exact impression of Monroe’s breathy voice and a hint of de Armas’ Spanish accent comes through.

However, Brad Pitt has weighed in and has highly praised de Armas’ performance in Blonde. Speaking to Entertainment Tonight at the LA premiere of Bullet Train, the Oscar-winning actor said:

“She is phenomenal in it. That’s a tough dress to fill.”
Brad Pitt

Some (like Brad Pitt) think Ana de Armas is the perfect actress to play Marilyn Monroe. But many others have criticised her Spanish accent coming through when she imitates Monroe’s voice. Image Credit: (L) Netflix (R) Getty Images

Pitt served as a producer on Blonde and even credited de Armas as the reason the film finally got made after being in the pipeline for years.

“It was 10 years in the making. It wasn’t until we found Ana that we could get [Blonde] across the finish line.”
Brad Pitt

Pitt isn’t the only one who’s defending de Armas’ casting. Variety revealed yesterday that the official Marilyn Monore Estate also supports de Armas playing Monroe in Blonde. The president of entertainment at Authentic Brands Group (the company that owns the Marilyn Monroe Estate), Marc Rosen said:

“Marilyn Monroe is a singular Hollywood and pop culture icon that transcends generations and history. Any actor that steps into that role knows they have big shoes to fill. Based on the trailer alone, it looks like Ana was a great casting choice as she captures Marilyn’s glamour, humanity and vulnerability. We can’t wait to see the film in its entirety!”
Marc Rosen

WATCH: Brad Pitt discusses ‘Bullet Train’ at the LA premiere…

As only the trailer has been released as of yet, we’ll wait until Blonde hits Netflix on the 28th of September before we pass judgment on de Armas’ performance. And in the meantime, you can watch Pitt talk more about Bullet Train at the LA premiere above.

24 Best Men’s Polo Shirts To Wear Every Day

Polo shirts are a must-have for smart casual and business casual occasions. Here are the best polo shirts for men.

The classic men’s polo shirt was originally conceived as activewear for tennis players. But not wanting the ball-hitting elite to have an item of clothing reserved just for themselves, clothing brands decided to push polo shirts for men out to the paying public. Their popularity has sky-rocketed, and now you can find most men in a stylish polo shirt, from slightly-pissed dads at a Sunday BBQ, to British punks who take their fashion seriously.

Don’t let its respective proprietors scare you off though. Wearing a polo shirt won’t turn you into a fifty-year-old bank manager or ‘lad’. In fact, polo shirts are often the crucial ingredient to a man’s outfit that needs to be dressed up, without screaming ‘it’s my first day at the office’. The best polo shirts for men can work equally well with a pair of chino shorts or a linen suit, such is their versatility.

Polo Shirts For Men FAQs

When were polo shirts invented?

While polo shirts can have their history traced back to the 19th century and British polo players, it was Lacoste who designed the polo shirt we know today, back in the 1920s. Designed to help mitigate several problems faced by tennis players at the time, Lacoste's polo shirt has since been imitated by myriad other clothing manufacturers, with specifically-designed versions being applied to the likes of polo and golf.

What to wear with a polo shirt?

The polo shirt's versatility comes from the fact that it doesn't have to be worn for sporting purposes. A slim-fit black polo shirt, for example, can be paired with dark jeans for an evening outfit. You can also find long-sleeved polo shirts that are equally smart in their appearance.

What is a polo shirt?

A polo shirt is a pullover top made commonly made from cotton or knitted fabric, with a turnover collar, two or three buttons and an optional pocket.

A time-old Italian institution – the humble beach lounger – is among various Italian traditions that might be impacted by a new law making its way through parliament in Italy. That’s not to say beach loungers are about to be burnt, or banned, but the families who currently put them out are concerned that over time, this new law will lead to bigger businesses buying out the coast. The ‘Starbucks-ification’ of Italy’s beaches, if you will.

The new law is set to come into effect from December the 31st, 2023. The law means that beachside concessions – the licences given to beach restaurants, bars and clubs – will be put out to tender. According to CNN, statistics from the Federazione Italiana Imprese Balneari show that of the 30,000 beach-based businesses in Italy, 98% of them are family-run.

(Not so) dolce vita… Family run businesses’ longevity in Italy are allegedly under threat by a new law. Image Credit: Getty Images

CNN reports: “The new law will mean that instead of the families automatically renewing their licenses, they will have to compete against other interested parties from across the EU – which could include big businesses.”

“Although the concessions won’t be up for auction, anyone wanting to bid must produce a plan for the site – and those who have owned bars and restaurants for generations fear that, inevitably, deep-pocketed investors will win – and prices for vacationers could rise as a result,” CNN reports.

The decision was made with increasing competition in mind. As Reuters reported in February: “Italy plans to boost competition for contracts to manage bars and other facilities on its beaches from 2024…after repeated requests from the European Commission for them to be put out to tender.”

Reuters also reported that “the licences to rent out sun loungers and beach umbrellas are traditionally family-controlled…despite rival entrepreneurs saying they have been shut out unfairly from a major business.”

Speaking to CNN, Luciano Montechiaro, owner of Lido Jamaica at Trentova Bay, in the southern Campania region, characterised the law change as: “Selling off Italy’s coastline [to the highest bidder].”

Much like when big retail chains came and put local clothes stores out of business, could this spell the end for Italy’s local beach lounger and beach club scene? Or will it be more a case of Starbucks’ failure to launch in Australia (read: a failure, with the public choosing the more dignified/expensive option)? Or do you simply not care, believing the current beach bed set up, locally owned or not, is an unnecessary addition to what should be a natural beach? Only time will tell.

Reuters reports that the licence system’s reform “is part of a bill Italy approved… to increase competition in product and services markets to spend over 200 billion euros ($227 billion) from a European Union post-COVID recovery fund.”

There you have it. Potentially not such dolce news for your Italy beach holidays post-2023…

‘The Iceman’ Wim Hof Trades The North Pole For Noosa

Extreme athlete and motivational speaker Wim Hof, also known as ‘The Iceman,’ has been spotted in one of Australia’s warmest beach towns. Wim Hof was snapped stretching on the beach in Noosa, and also chatted with a local photographer.

Wim Hof, the Dutchman known for climbing to Everest base camp in just bare feet and board shorts, and for setting the world record for the longest time in direct, full-body contact with ice 16 times (including 1 hour, 42 minutes and 22 seconds on 23 January 2009; 1 hour, 44 minutes in January 2010; and 1 hour 53 minutes and 2 seconds in 2013) has just been spotted in Noosa.

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Wim Hof was snapped by photographer @tonynoosa, who shared what it was like to meet Wim Hof on Instagram, writing: “Well I didn’t think I’d be sitting on the beach having a chat with Wim Hof today. Was so nice to randomly meet him, talk about life. Absolutely made my day when he mentioned I have beautiful energy.”

Wim Hof has made waves in Australia in recent years, with his breathing technique (“take in a strong inhalation through the nose, let out a relaxed exhalation through the mouth, repeat for 30 breaths, on the 30th breath exhale to 90 percent and hold for as long as you can, when you feel your body really needs to take a breath, inhale fully and hold for 15 seconds before releasing”) and cold water masochism bringing many people together.

From Coogee’s How’s The Head swim community to Victoria’s Elevated Springs retreat, cold water therapy (in conjunction with the ancient breathing techniques popularised by Wim Hof) has been bringing Australians all over (particularly men) together and helping them enter the much coveted ‘ego free zone,’ with the ABC calling it “the wellbeing movement bringing tradies to tears.”

If you’ve never tried it, we highly recommend giving it a crack, even if just for the community element. If this has piqued your interest, feel free to read our account of trying cold water therapy or check out Wim Hof’s video explainer of the technique below (after first watching the safety video).

Australia Gets Its First New Domestic Airline Since 2007

Attention all Aussies who have the travel bug: the first new domestic airline in 15 years is on the way.

Australians will soon have another option when they’re needing to fly domestically come September. Bonza, a new domestic airline, has just received its first aircraft – a Boeing 737 MAX – and, pending regulatory approval, commercial flights will begin in about a month.

According to Traveller, Bonza’s new aircraft left Boeing’s facility in Seattle on Friday, stopped in Hawaii and Fiji to refuel and is now at its permanent “home” on the Sunshine Coast.

Bonza initially plans to fly to seventeen destinations on twenty-seven routes and according to the new Aussie airline, twenty-five of these routes are not currently available through other airlines.

Bonza’s first plane arrived in Australia this morning. Image Credit: Traveller

Since Tiger Airways (which is no longer in existence) was launched 15 years ago, Bonza is the first new airline to launch in Australia since 2007. And the reason for Bonza’s formation is to shake up the market with inexpensive flights to both popular holiday destinations and regional towns.

Chief executive, Tim Jordan confirmed that Bonza’s fares will be half the price of full-service airlines and similar to Jetstar’s fares; and to be perfectly honest, cheap flights will be a welcome change to the Australian domestic flight market.

Another aviation norm that Bonza is challenging is the way flights are booked; the only way to book a Bonza flight will be through its own app – unlike all other Australian airlines, no Bonza fares will be available for purchase via a third-party website.

Sadly, (for Sydneysiders) Bonza will not fly into or out of Sydney Airport due to high fees and a lack of available landing slots; Bonza will fly into Melbourne Airport though.

Along with Melbourne and the Sunshine Coast, – where Bonza’s fleet will be based – Albury, Bundaberg, Cairns, Coffs Harbour, Gladstone, Mackay, Mildura, Newcastle, Port Macquarie, Rockhampton, Toowoomba Wellcamp, Townsville and the Whitsunday Coast are expected destinations Bonza will offer once it’s flights get off the ground (pun intended).

Bonza’s flipping multiple aviation norms… including flight attendant uniforms. Image Credit: Bonza

Bonza’s new aircraft, and the first of its fleet, is the first Boeing 737 MAX to be based in Australia. The airline is expecting a second and third MAX aircraft to arrive in late August and in early September, and eight MAX aircraft overall will be delivered during Bonza’s first year of operation.

If you’re an aviation enthusiast, you’ll know that in 2019 the Boeing 737 MAX was grounded worldwide after its faulty flight stabilisation system caused two fatal crashes that killed over 300 people. However, after changes were made, the US Federal Aviation Administration cleared Boeing 737 MAX aircraft to resume service in 2020.

It’s interesting that Bonza decided to go with the Boeing 737 MAX after the controversy but hey, Bonza’s clearly a nonconformist airline; just look at their ‘woke’ (read: awesome) flight attendant uniforms. Stay tuned to see if Bonza becomes the new Qantas or falls by the wayside like Tigerair did…

Flight Cancellations Are Hitting Airlines Hard, Except This Australian Carrier

Statistics from June 2022 suggest Rex is the least likely Australian domestic airline (if the statistical trend continues) to screw you over with a flight cancellation right now. Qantas subsidiary Jetstar came in second, with the (second) lowest rate of cancellations of late, with Virgin Australia in third, and Qantas in fourth.

According to the Australian Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts, Rex has had the lowest percentage of flight cancellations for June 2022 out of all Australia’s airlines. Rex has a total of 0.7%, while Jetstar had 5.5%, Virgin Australia had 5.8% and Qantas had 7.5%.

Weather and COVID-19-related issues (including illness, staff shortages and – allegedly – staff attrition rates) contributed to the poor performance across the board.

A spokesperson for Qantas told the ABC: “These flight delays and cancellations are not the kind of performance that we were delivering pre-COVID and we know they are not at the level that our customers expect.”

Qantas also pointed out that Sydney Airport was reduced to a single runway for five days because of strong winds and said that “there were also staff shortages across the whole aviation industry including air traffic control, which reduced landing and take off rates on seven days during the month at airports around the country.”

“Everyone at Qantas and Jetstar is focused on turning this performance around… We’re already seeing improvements and things will continue to get better month-on-month,” a Qantas spokesperson said.

“Call centre wait times are now better than they were pre-COVID and our mishandled bag rates are close to what they were before the pandemic.”
Qantas spokesperson

Table showing performance of Australian airlines in June 2022. Credit: Australian Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts

Rex, which has had the fewest cancellations of late, believes this could be past trade-offs coming back to bite the bigger airlines like Qantas and Virgin Australia. Rex says it was the only airline that didn’t sack staff during the pandemic (Rex admits it had to stand several hundred down at one point, but claims it didn’t sack them, so as soon as things improved it was able to stand back up again) and actually employed an additional 500 people during the pandemic (for comparison, Qantas and Virgin stood down thousands of employees).

Rex believes its growth strategy means it doesn’t have the same staff shortages which are now crippling Qantas and Virgin Australia. They also don’t outsource things like baggage handling (Rex says it has made a conscious decision to keep that in-house) thereby maintaining the skillsets of those very professional people.

Although Rex operates far fewer flights than Qantas and Virgin Australia, Rex believes it’s not necessarily the case that this is why its flight cancellation rate is currently much lower. Rex actually has a lot of movement through Sydney airport (where a lot of other airlines’ issues have stemmed from) too, because that’s where its regional network predominately operates from.

Sydney airport has been labelled the sixth-worst for flight cancellations and ninth-worst in the world for flight delays, according to new data from Flightaware.#flashnews #newsflash pic.twitter.com/YeAogBoWyS
— Flash News (@FlashNewsAU) July 26, 2022

Rex attributes its fortunate position to its growth strategy and good morale – and acknowledges their time to experience back luck could also come knocking. Rex admits the other carriers have been dogged by bad luck and compounding issues outside of their control – from weather to staff sickness – and acknowledges it might also be affected by circumstances beyond its control at some point.

As for how Rex was able to employ an extra 500 people during the pandemic, DMARGE understands they stuck to the plan they had in place to grow the business. Rex was also the recipient of federal government assistance (though significantly less than Qantas, as they are a much smaller airline) which allowed them to continue to operate regional routes to ensure those remote regional communities remained connected to the larger cities.

Professor Rico Merkert (Chair in Transport and Supply Chain Management and Deputy Director of the Institute of Transport and Logistics Studies at Sydney University), for his part, told DMARGE: “I am not sure cancellations is the issue. The June 2022 data suggests that whilst Qantas is with 7.5% cancellations slightly worse than Virgin Australia (5.8%), it is the on-time performance of both arrivals and departures (that is with just 62% of scheduled flights operating on time) that is currently a lot worse than last years’ performance.”

Professor Merkert continued: “Rex Airlines performs best with slightly more than 80% of their flights on-time but that is to be expected given their simpler network, less hub-traffic and no international flights. That all said, I have just returned from 3 weeks of travelling within Europe and let me assure you that things are a lot worse over there.”

So, if you are getting hot and bothered over poor airline performance here in Australia, spare a thought for those in Europe. As Professor Merkert told DMARGE of his recent experience: “Every single flight or train service we used over there was either cancelled, disrupted, or massively delayed (mainly due to industrial action but also the heat wave).”

“As such, I agree with the CEO of Qatar Airways, who recently said that the Travel Chaos of long-distance travel will likely persist for at least another 12 months, whilst the industry adjusts to the new normal and deals with staff shortages and industrial action (due to inflationary pressures etc.)”
Professor Rico Merkert

There you have it. The grass isn’t always greener.

Emirates’ Lavish New Premium Economy Arrives Down Under

Emirates’ new premium economy cabin touched down for the first time in Australia this morning. Here are some pretty pictures of it, for you to take your first look.

It’s been floating in the airwaves (and living rent-free in the heads of aviation nerds around the country) but now it’s official: Emirates’ Premium Economy Cabin has landed in Australia. This came as flight EK412 touched down in Sydney shortly after 06:00 this morning.

To celebrate, Emirates has unveiled exclusive images of the first-ever Dubai-Sydney Premium Economy service. Everyone flying it got exclusive souvenirs such as certificates, passport holders, special polaroids taken in a bespoke sleeve, and a special individual cake.

Looking frontwards: Emirates’ new premium economy cabin. Image Credit: Emirates

56 premium economy seats will now be available on the EK 412/413, which is one of the two daily Emirates services from Sydney to Dubai. Customers were able to start booking Premium Economy seats from the start of June, with availability starting on the 1st of August. Emirates says it has recorded “significant demand” for this Premium Economy seat since announcing its debut in Sydney.

In terms of price, Emirates’ premium economy looks to sit roughly half way between economy and business class, in terms of price, with a return flight to London (from Sydney) in October looking to cost about $6,000 or so Australian dollars for premium economy, with business costing more like $14,000 and economy costing around $2,000.

Emirates ticket prices to London (from Sydney) in October. Image: Emirates’ booking page

Sir Tim Clark, President of Emirates, said last year: “We’ve come to an agreement with Airbus to bring forward the delivery of our remaining A380 orders and have secured financing for these units. These new aircraft will also add more highly sought-after Premium Economy seats into our inventory, as we prepare to fully launch this cabin product in the coming months.”

He added: “Emirates will continue to be the largest operator of this spacious and modern aircraft for the next two decades, and we’re committed to ensuring that the Emirates A380 experience remains a customer favourite with ongoing investments to enhance our product and services.”

Emirates said of the new premium economy service coming to Sydney: “The A380 Premium Economy offers a signature experience unmatched in the industry, with a dedicated airport experience and check-in areas exclusive to the Premium Economy passengers; luxurious, non-stain cream seats with more legroom and footrests; dining experience with elements inspired by Business Class; and Emirates’ award-winning entertainment ice.”

Looking backwards: Emirates’ new premium economy cabin. Image Credit: Emirates

Whether you’re a Premium Economy sceptic, or you’re gagging to try it for yourself, premium economy seems to be on the rise, with many airlines cutting down on business class, even, to make way for it.

The Story Of The Most Controversial Soccer Kit In History

Each new season in soccer/football, clubs aim to release some incredible-looking jerseys that will not only sell because of the star players’ names on the back but because of how they look. But one soccer jersey released in 1992, was so shocking, that it had to be banned.

This banned soccer jersey doesn’t belong to one of the big teams from the English Premier League, but rather AFC Fiorentina, an Italian club that currently competes in Serie A, Italy’s highest league for soccer. Before the banned soccer jersey even came to be, AFC Fiorentina was already a club mired in controversy.

WATCH: TikTok user TheFootballShirtClub explain why the 1992 Fiorentina shirt was banned.

It was founded in Florence, Tuscany, Italy in 1926 as the result of a merger between two older Florentine football clubs, but it was the man who instigated the merger that is the source of controversy. Luigi Ridolfi wanted to create an Italian football club that was big enough to rival clubs from Northwest Italy, such as Inter Milan and A.C. Milan. But Ridolfi was a member of the National Fascist Party, created in 1921 by Benito Mussolini.

Despite the club’s roots, AFC Fiorentina gained a solid fanbase and a new stadium (also named after a prominent fascist, Giovanni Berta). The club also experienced some success, winning their first Series A title in the 1955-56 season, and continued to perform well in domestic competition. The club’s second Serie A title (scudetto) came in the 1968-69 season.

Financial troubles ensued over the course of the next couple of decades but the 1990s saw the club under new ownership, who was committed to turning the club’s fortunes around. But, it was in 1992 that the now infamous banned Fiorentina jersey came to be.

AFC Fiorentina has long been nicknamed La Viola, as they have sported a purple-colour kit for much of their history. Tradition and rumour suggest the purple kit was an accident and the result of washing the club’s older red and white coloured kits in the local river. Fiorentina’s club crest is a red flue-de-lis on a white field, and these colours were often used for home and away kits.

So, in 1992, kit maker at the time, Lotto released an away kit that featured purple prominently, along with a jazzy design. Upon its release, Fiorentina’s 1992/93 away jersey seemed harmless, but upon closer inspection, it was anything but.

TikTok account @thefootballshirtclub says Fiorentina’s 1992/93 away jersey is “the most controversial kit in the history of football.”

How so? Well, if you take a close look at the abstract zigzags, you’ll soon see what appears to be the swastika (known for its appropriation by the Nazi party) repeated all over it. As @thefootballshirtclub says, it wasn’t until halfway through the 1992/93 season that people started to notice the controversial symbol and that it was then “removed on political grounds.”

The account goes on to say “the shirts were recalled and many were destroyed, leaving very few in the world today.”

It was certainly an unfortunate event, as whoatallthepies.tv says, the shirt was donned by some of Fiorentina’s most prolific players, including Gabriel Batistuta, Francesco Baiano and Brian Laudrup. Some people believed that, due to the club’s original ties with the National Fascist Party, the swastika was deliberately but covertly integrated into the shirt’s design.

However, many others believe it is simply a case of an accidental mistake by shirtmaker Lotto. In fact, Fiorentina released a statement saying as much, “Fiorentina and the manufacturers, Lotto, would like to underline that the optical [swastika] effect is purely a matter of chance.”

According to thesefootballtimes, the controversial Fiorentina away kit was worn on just 4 occasions before being purged and condemned to history, and was quickly replaced by a more simple plain white kit. Despite its associations, the 1992/93 Fiorentina away shirt remains one of the most sought-after soccer jerseys in history, albeit being more popular among those who don’t support the Italian club.

‘By Order Of The Peaky Blinders’: New Movie To Begin Shooting In 2023

Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight has revealed a few details about the upcoming Peaky Blinders film; including some hints about the cast and release date… Spoiler alert: the following article contains spoilers for Peaky Blinders.

Earlier this year, the sixth and final season of Peaky Blinders – the British crime drama that made flat caps cool again – was released on Netflix. And while the last episode was incredible and wrapped up most plot points beautifully, there were a few plot points that were not finalised; clearly setting up the Peaky Blinders film.

Steven Knight, the series creator, confirmed back in 2021 that there would be a Peaky Blinders film but other than that single piece of information, he has revealed nothing else. Until now…

During a recent appearance on Heart Breakfast, Knight reaffirmed that there’s definitely going to be a Peaky Blinders film.

“I can tell you that there’s going to be a film, a feature film… I’m writing it right now, I mean I’m nearly done writing it.”
Steven Knight

WATCH: Steven Knight discusses the ‘Peaky Blinders’ movie.

Knight then went on to discuss where the Peaky Blinders movie is going to be filmed.

“We’re going to shoot it at the studios in Digbeth and on location in Digbeth in Birmingham. Which is, Digbeth and Smallheath, is where the Peaky Blinders actually roamed so, it’s like Peaky’s coming home.”
Steven Knight

Knight is referring to the real-life Peaky Blinders gang, whom the show’s gang is loosely based on. The real gang operated in the late 1890s to the early 1900s in Birmingham, hence why the show, and presumably the film, is set there. However, the majority of the show, while set in Birmingham, was actually filmed in Yorkshire. So, it’s satisfying to know that the film will be shot where the real Peaky Blinders were active.

That’s not all though, Knight also divulged some details – albeit vague details – about the Peaky Blinders film’s cast and release date. When asked whether we’ll see any familiar faces in the film, Knight responded:

It’s likely that Murphy will star in the film, and we’re hoping that Clafin’s character Oswald Mosley makes an appearance… Image Credit: BBC Studios

“Of course, and some new faces that will hopefully be quite surprising.”
Steven Knight

While Knight didn’t name names, surely his wholehearted agreement to the film featuring ‘familiar faces’ means that Cillian Murphy will reprise his role as Thomas Shelby, right? And hopefully, Sam Claflin will appear as Oswald Mosley – arguably the best villain from Peaky Blinders who escaped Tommy’s assassination attempt at the end of Season 5.

As for the new “surprising faces”, we’ll just have to wait and see. Which brings us to the Peaky Blinders film release date.

Knight said, “Well, I’m hoping that we’ll be shooting in, within eighteen months,” which means the film will begin shooting in 2023. If the Peaky Blinders film follows the same pattern as most Hollywood films, this means it will likely get released in either late 2023 or early 2024. And we can’t wait!