Author: Peter Gray

Seasoned film critic and editor. Gives a great interview. Penchant for horror. Unashamed fan of Michelle Pfeiffer and Jason Momoa. Contact: [email protected]

Interview: Hushidar Kharas, head of Prime Video Australia and New Zealand, on searching for “the Prime Video Buff”

Australians are obsessed with content, with new research from Prime Video Australia revealing the average Australian has watched 67 movies and TV series this year alone. With tens of thousands of titles to choose from on Prime Video, choosing what to watch can be hard. And let’s be honest, sometimes you just want to leave…

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4K Ultra HD Review: The original Scream remains a horror classic as it upgrades its specs for killer home release

Releasing a horror movie only days out from Christmas doesn’t seem like the smartest marketing ploy.  Add to that a slasher example of the genre at a time when “horror” was a bad word – and so often relegated to the straight-to-video treatment – and you had, essentially, a film slashed dead on arrival.  Such…

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Film Review: Disenchanted sadly lacks the magic of its predecessor

With Hocus Pocus 2 proving a sizeable success, The Princess Diaries 3 now officially in the works, and both Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan discussing their interest in a Freaky Friday sequel, the House of Mouse is more than proving itself in the business of revisiting original titles for the sake of nostalgia, fan…

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Film Review: The People We Hate at the Wedding lives up to its title as it wastes a talented cast on a tired premise and unlikeable script

Well, we can’t say we weren’t warned that with such a title as The People We Hate at the Wedding we’re unprepared to be subjected to people at a wedding that we do indeed hate.  A “comedy” that commits the cardinal sin of trying to make its hateful characters relatable and forgivable of their actions,…

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Film Review: The Menu is an eat-the-rich black comedy that’s prepared and plated to near-perfection

A satire surrounding the wealthy, faux celebrities, foodies and their misplaced importance, or chefs with a God complex seems far too easy to execute for a mock artist.  For director Mark Mylod (What’s Your Number, TV’s Succession) and screenwriters Seth Reiss (TV’s Late Night with Seth Meyers) and Will Tracy (TV’s Succession) it’s low-hanging fruit…

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Amazon Australia announce first stop-motion holiday movie to help raise money for Starlight Children’s Foundation

Amazon Australia has today released a heart-warming stop-motion film with the help of the Amazon Playmakers – ten kids selected by Starlight Children’s Foundation to be the official toy testers for Amazon’s annual Top 100 Toy List. The Playmakers were sent a selection of the top 100 toys to test and review to help Australians…

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It’s Magic Mike’s Last Dance for Channing Tatum in threequel’s first-look trailer

The gang isn’t all here, but the ultimate front-man is in Magic Mike’s Last Dance, the third installment in the Magic Mike franchise from Channing Tatum and director Steven Soderbergh. Just in time for Valentine’s Day next year, “Magic” Mike Lane (Tatum) takes to the stage again after a lengthy hiatus, following a business deal…

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Interview: Megan Twohey and Jodi Kantor on breaking the silence of abuse with She Said

Not only were they voices that spoke loud enough to break a cycle of abuse within the Hollywood system, they are now the faces of a ceiling-breaking movement that has forever changed the entertainment industry. Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey were the New York Times journalists who investigated the abuse allegations against mogul Harvey Weinstein. …

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Interview: Patricia Clarkson, Andre Braugher and Jennifer Ehle on She Said; “It’s very hard to meet heroes and play them.”

In our continued coverage for She Said, the new drama from Universal Pictures detailing New York Times reporters Megan Twohey and Jodi Kantor and their breaking of one of the most important stories of a generation, one that helped launch the #MeToo movement and shattered decades of silence around the subject of sexual assault in…

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Interview: Carey Mulligan, Zoe Kazan and director Maria Schrader on She Said; “I think it changed our own awareness of what’s going on around us and our own behaviour.”

New York Times reporters Megan Twohey and Jodi Kantor broke one of the most important stories in a generation – a story that helped launch the #MeToo movement and shattered decades of silence around the subject of sexual assault in Hollywood. This story that altered American culture forever is being detailed in the new film…

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Film Review: She Said speaks to the strength of female silence-breakers in the face of abuse and corruption

Given the weight and influence that came with the #MeToo movement – founded in 2006 by American activist Tarana Burke – and, by extension (and association), the overwhelming allegations of sexual assault against once-famed producer Harvey Weinstein, it makes sense that a film detailing as such has come to fruition.  Based off the 2017 New…

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Blu-Ray Review: The Invitation‘s “Unrated Edition” adds extra blood but not enough bite

It’s all too easy to wax lyrical these days about trailers spoiling and “giving too much away” for the keyboard warriors who oft decide they hate a film before they even see it.  Whilst the jury is still out on how many will dislike The Invitation, I can attest that, as far as spoilers go, Jessica M….

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Win a double in-season pass to see Bones and All starring Timothée Chalamet

Thanks to Warner Bros. Australia and Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures we have 5 double in-season passes (Admit 2) to see the cannibalistic romance Bones and All, the latest film from acclaimed director Luca Guadagnino (Call Me By Your Name), in Australian cinemas from November 24th, 2022. Bones and All is a story of first love between Maren…

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4K Ultra HD Review: Bullet Train‘s bombastic energy is enhanced by neon visuals and booming audio

The Hitman Vs. Assassin subsect of the action genre is one that rarely deviates from its rather tried and true formula; aside from a hefty injection of cash and a star-studded cast, something as recent as Netflix’s throwaway actioner The Gray Man is proof that the genre, even in 2022, seems comfortable resting on its…

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Interview: Claudia Doumit on labour of love, Dylan & Zoey; “This film feels like a safe space for trauma.”

Australian-born Claudia Doumit may best be known for her deceptively sinister turn as Victoria Neuman in the television series The Boys, but it’s roles in films such as Dylan & Zoey that should truly keep her on the map. As the indie drama releases in US theatres and On Demand, Claudia spoke with our Peter…

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Film Review: Dylan & Zoey tackles sensitive subject matter in an intelligent fashion

Initially, it can’t be denied, Dylan & Zoey does adhere to certain rules that the “Indie film playbook” so often lays out for new filmmakers to navigate.  This is by no means a criticism of Matt Sauter‘s film, merely an observation that the simplistic settings, dialogue-heavy characters and their societal views, and “me against the…

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4K Ultra HD Review: Nope is a visual and technical wonder

It’s understandable to be going into a film like Nope and be expecting horror greatness, given that it’s stemming from the mind of Jordan Peele, who, with both Get Out and Us, redefined the genre with his “woke” sensibilities and penchant for symbolism and commentary. Ominous alien invasion is seemingly what’s promised here.  The trailers (at least initially, before the studio…

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Interview: Deirdre Mullins on female-centric horror film Mandrake and equal representation within the industry

Premiering exclusively on Shudder from November 10th, Mandrake is a Northern Irish folk horror tale that marks the directorial feature debut of Lynne Davison. Premiering earlier this year at FrightFest Glasgow the film follows probation officer Cathy Madden (played by Scottish BAFTA-winner Deirdre Mullins), who is given the task of rehabilitating notorious killer ‘Bloody’ Mary…

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Film Review: Black Panther: Wakanda Forever injects much-needed bouts of emotion and enthusiasm into MCU’s divisive Phase Four

Phase Four of the Marvel Cinematic Universe has undoubtedly divided fans like no other that has preceded it.  Whilst there was a certain uniqueness in how characters and narratives were handled – say what you will about Eternals or Thor: Love and Thunder, but they at least attempted to separate themselves from the norm –…

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Prime Video offering $40K for brand new Prime Video Buff role

Just when you thought remote working was good, along comes remote-control working. Prime Video Australia today announced a nationwide search for a content junkie to fill a brand-new role—the Prime Video Buff. Prime Video is on the hunt for someone who lives and breathes entertainment to be employed in a full-time role** over summer and get…

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Film Review: On The Line; Mel Gibson’s on-air thriller is more insulting than it is intelligent

There was a point in Romuald Boulanger‘s On The Line where a character utters the line “Elvis has left the building”, here referring to Mel Gibson‘s character Elvis Cooney, a late-night shock jock who has seemingly made a name for himself due to his on-air pranks and general volatile personality.  The line clearly wants to…

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Film Review: Jennifer Lawrence’s stirring performance punches through Causeway‘s subtle nature

A low-key slice of independent cinema that you imagine wouldn’t be given as big of a spotlight had it not been for lead Jennifer Lawrence, Causeway nonetheless deserves its attention as it’s a determined and moving picture about one’s healing, both emotionally and physically. Adhering to the stripped-away mentality that drove her to her first…

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Film Review: My Policeman has grand intentions but mediocre execution

Given how wild everyone – or teenage girls, to be a little more accurate – are for pop’s main man-candy Harry Styles, it will no doubt throw much of his female following off as to how graphic the sexual scenes are in My Policeman, a queer love story that perseveres with grand intentions but, sadly,…

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Aftersun is an exercise in subtly playing with our emotions and expectations: Brisbane International Film Festival Review

The plot for Aftersun is one that we have seen countless times before in one form or another: Adult reflects on a childhood trip with a parent that was often laced with memorable experiences.  It’s how writer/director Charlotte Wells chooses to frame such a story though – almost like a faded memory – that transforms…

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Interview: Jennifer Blanc-Biehn on career highlights, global foreshadowing and what she’s surprisingly recognised from

Though she was born in New York, was on the Broadway stage by age 13, and working in Hollywood only years later, securing roles opposite such talent as Matthew Fox (1994’s Party of Five), Jared Leto (Cool and the Crazy in 1994) Shannen Doherty (1997’s Friends ‘Til The End), and Jessica Alba (in James Cameron’s…

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Interview: Delikado documentary filmmaker Karl Malakunus on battling climate change and defending the Philippines’ last ecological frontier

Director Karl Malakunus is a filmmaker and journalist who has been based in Asia, covering environmental issues, conflict, natural disasters and political upheavals, for two decades. Karl is the Asia-Pacific Deputy-Editor-In-Chief for Agence France-Presse based in Hong Kong.  He is a Sundance Institute Documentary Film Program Fellow and a recipient of the SFFILM Vulcan Productions…

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Film Review: Jon Hamm’s hilariously deadpan performance makes Confess, Fletch a comedy worth investigating

The idea of a Fletch remake/reboot/sequel has long been discussed for almost three decades now.  The obvious suggestions of Jason Lee and Jason Sudeikis were thrown around for contention to follow in Chevy Chase’s comedic footsteps during its production, but after consistent stop/starts it has fallen to Jon Hamm to pick up the mantle and…

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Film Review: The Wonder overcomes any pretention thanks to Florence Pugh’s utter conviction

When The Wonder first begins there’s a rather pretentious and, ultimately, unrewarding additive that runs the risk of undoing all that will follow.  Niamh Algar‘s soothing vocal tone greets us as our eyes glaze over a constructed film set.  Algar informs us that we are indeed watching a film, but the players involve believe in…

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Interview: Todd Lasance on crossing over from television to film, dream projects and attempting comedy

From the beaches of Home and Away to starring opposite Michael B. Jordan in Without Remorse, by way of the acclaimed sword-and-sandals epic series Spartacus, Australian actor Todd Lasance is another homegrown success story carving his own international career. In the lead up to the Brisbane and Adelaide legs of the Supanova Comic Con &…

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Interview: Lincoln Lewis on auditioning, career aspirations and surviving Hollywood

Whether it was his tenure as sensible teen Geoff Campbell for 567 episodes on long-running Australian soap series Home and Away, his turn in the acclaimed Tomorrow When the War Began, or his recurring role as the love interest to one of the country’s most notorious underworld figures in Underbelly: Razor, the fourth season of…

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