A Different Man is Afraid
A Different Man composites at least a half-dozen films but nevertheless stands on its own as a wholly original paranoiac satire that pays homage to ‘70s and 80s body horror before detouring into a Woo…
Drama
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Whale Rider is a Story of Courage that Stands the Test of Time
Niki Caro’s delicately laced film of belief, bravery, and true leadership honours the importance of Rangatira (Chiefs) in Māori self-determination while negotiating the inherent limitations of patriar…
The Promised Land (Bastarden) is a Slice of Denmark’s Best
There is hard edged cynicism inside the romantic sweep of Nikolaj Arcel’s Bastarden known in English as The Promised Land. Both titles are apt for the 18th Century set epic. The film wears the skin of…
He Ain't Heavy is the Must See Australian Film of the Year
How do you break the back of a crisis? If you’re writer/director David Vincent Smith (DVS) you shine a spotlight on the humanity that persists through the darkest days. In his feature debut He Ain’t H…
Ralph Fiennes and Indira Varma Anchor a Modern and Industrial Take on Shakespeare’s Macbeth
Under the intelligent direction of Simon Godwin and adaptor Emily Burns, the Shakespeare Theatre Company's live production of Macbeth springs to life on both the stage and screen. Filmed live at D…
Sydney Film Festival: Kid Snow Director Paul Goldman on the Allure of a Boxing Drama
Subscribe to The Curb podcast via RSS feed, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio or Google Podcasts. Download the episode directly here. The boxing film subgenre gets an esteemed new entry in the fo…
Life is a bit tipsy. Loren Taylor on her debut feature The Moon is Upside Down
Thanks to Sydney Film Festival for providing the Curb with the opportunity to speak with Loren. Ozu famously had a character say, “Isn’t life disappointing?” through a fixed and sad smile at the end…
In the Room Where He Waits is One of the Best Australian Debut Features Around
The James Hotel in Brisbane looks a lot like any other mid budget hotel. It has no personality. It’s clean and anonymous. There’s nothing essentially wrong with it except Tobin Wade (Daniel Monks) can…
Richard Linklater's Hit Man is Cheeky, Hot, and a Hell of a Ride
Richard Linklater and Glen Powell’s Hit Man is witty, sexy, and side-splittingly funny. Although it must be said that the first conceit that anyone could find Glen Powell even in repressed academic Ga…
Sydney Film Festival: The Tundra Within Me Director Sara Margrethe Oskal on Love, Tradition, and Individuality in Contemporary Sámi Culture
Director Sara Margrethe Oskal’s Eallogierdu (The Tundra Within Me) is a tale of two worlds. Single mother and artist, Lena has been living in Oslo with her young son. Returning to her hometown in Sámp…
Sydney Film Festival: Ray Yeung on All Shall Be Well (從今以後) and LGBTQ Rights in Hong Kong
“If you really thought of me as your Auntie, you wouldn’t ask that.” For thirty years Pat and Angie have lived together. Now in their sixties they are entering what should be their golden years toget…
Hanna Slak's Not a Word (Kein Wort) is a Symphonic Piece of Maternal Gothic
In Hanna Slak's Not a Word (Kein Wort), Lars Goff (Jona Levin Nicolai) and his conductor mother Nina Palcek (Maren Eggert) share an apartment that is beautifully appointed but austere. The weight…