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…
Reviews
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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…
Is Inside Out 2 Pixar's Anxiety Meltdown?
Inside Out 2 has no space to be what it is – an acceptable Pixar film which expends most of its charm and energy in the first third of the film and then dips drastically before rallying again. It’s no…
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…
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…
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…
Agniia Galdanova's Queendom: The Fearless Art and Activism of Gena Marvin Against Russia’s Repressive Regime
Living as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community can be an incredibly tough journey, especially in places where acceptance is scarce. Stigma and discrimination can loom large, affecting every aspect of li…
The Three Musketeers: D’Artagnan and Milady Are Brash, Bold, and Frequently Ridiculous
Although discrete films, Martin Bourboulon’s Musketeer series is an epic which can be considered a single entity. Beginning with D’Artagnan and (perhaps) ending with Milady the two films are in some m…
The Civil Dead is a Testament to the Effectiveness of Low-Budget Filmmaking
Indie horror adjacent comedy The Civil Dead is a testament to how effective low-budget filmmaking can be. The creators go all in on their concept with a keen awareness of its absurdity being key to th…