Interviews
Interview: Director Rhys Frake-Waterfield and star Scott Chambers on their love of horror, gore and Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey II
Whilst it was a film that saw a critical slaughtering at the time of its release – it currently holds a 3% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and is oft-considered now one of the worst films ever made – there’s no denying that Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey, a low budget horror recount of A.A. Milne’s classic…
Interview: Kung Fu Panda 4 directors Mike Mitchell and Stephanie Ma Stine on “The best franchise of all time.”
This autumn, for the first time in almost a decade, comedy icon Jack Black returns to his role as Po, the world’s most unlikely kung fu master, with a hilarious, butt-kicking new chapter in DreamWorks Animation’s beloved action-comedy franchise, Kung Fu Panda 4. After three death-defying adventures defeating world-class villains with his unmatched courage and…
Interview: Jake Gyllenhaal and Conor McGregor on reimagining Road House; “It felt like you were working with your friend”
Road House stars Jake Gyllenhaal as Dalton, an ex-UFC fighter trying to escape his dark past and his penchant for violence, in this adrenaline-fueled actioner. Dalton is barely scraping by on the reputation that still precedes him when he is spotted by the owner of a roadhouse in the Florida Keys. She hires him to be her…
Interview: Arj Barker and director Scott Corfield on their new Australian comedy The Nut Farm; “We wanted that heart and the environmental message to drive it home.”
The new Australian comedy The Nut Job details A failed US crypto trader who inherits a macadamia nut farm in Australia that’s under threat from some evil New Zealand frackers…so, you know, your average, relatable, Aussie battler story. Right? Believe it or not, amongst the heightened comedy of the script, there’s a semi-autobiographical narrative in…
SXSW Interview: Director Kourtney Roy and actress Chloe Pirrie on their Kryptic collaboration; “You can never lean into the obvious.”
A psycho-thriller about a woman’s search for a missing monster hunter and her growing realisation that she is inescapably linked to the creature being pursued, Kryptic is sure to be one of SXSW’s most talked about projects. And it’s why Peter Gray had to speak to the film’s director, Kourtney Roy, and lead actress, Chloe…
SXSW Interview: Director Cutter Hodierne on his crypto-meets-home invasion thriller Cold Wallet
After losing everything in a cryptocurrency scam, a ragtag team of vigilante Redditors attempt to kidnap the kingpin who screwed them over. But when the home invasion takes a turn for the worst, they become victims in a sadistic game. Directed by Sundance-awarded Best Director Cutter Hodierne, Cold Wallet is a topically relevant genre blend of…
SXSW Interview: Writer/director Annick Blanc on Hunting Daze, the navigation of gaslighting, and always sticking to her guns
Nina, a young and headstrong exotic dancer, finds herself stranded in the far North. She convinces her recent customers, five men on a bachelor hunting trip, to put her up for a few days. In this masculine microsociety, by turns hilarious and philosophical, she starts to feel a sense of belonging she never has before. But…
Interview: Director Jeff Wadlow on creating the horror of Imaginary, casting against type, and the dangers of pre-planning a sequel
Unfortunately we can’t always rely on technology. But for Peter Gray, it seemed like there were more sinister forces at play when he attempted to chat to Imaginary director Jeff Wadlow about his latest scarer. After a duo of failed attempts to chat all things Imaginary – the Truth Or Dare filmmaker’s original horror film…
Interview: Director Peter Farrelly, Zac Efron, John Cena and the cast of Ricky Stanicky; “I think you need audacity to make a great comedy.”
When three childhood best friends pull a prank gone wrong, they invent the imaginary “Ricky Stanicky” to get them out of trouble! Twenty years after creating this ‘friend,’ Dean (Zac Efron), JT (Andrew Santino), and Wes (Jermaine Fowler) still use the non-existent Ricky as a handy alibi for their immature behaviour. When their spouses and partners get…
Interview: Director Oliver Parker on The Great Escaper, navigating PTSD, and directing the final on-screen roles of Michael Caine and Glenda Jackson
In the summer of 2014, Bernard Jordan made global headlines. He had staged a “great escape” from his care home to join fellow war veterans on a beach in Normandy, commemorating their fallen comrades at the D-Day Landings 70th anniversary. It was a story that captured the imagination of the world as Bernie embodied the…
Love is in the air as BLUSSH Romance Festival ignites in Brisbane with the Australian premiere of One Perfect Match
BLUSSH Romance Festival is the loving brainchild of uber film producer extraordinaire Kylie Pascoe and heavy culture consumer Sue-Anne Chapman. With a strong desire to bring together their loves of films and books under one festival umbrella, they hope, through the romance lens, to deliver a carefully curated program of stories and events for the…
Interview: The Rooster director Mark Leonard Winter on the undertaking for his feature debut; “It’s every phase of sheer terror!”
When the body of his oldest friend is found buried in a shallow grave, Dan, a small-town cop, seeks answers from a volatile Hermit who may have been the last person to see his friend alive. Such is the plotline for Mark Leonard Winter‘s intimate, psychological drama The Rooster, which is arriving in Australian theatres…
Interview: The Rooster producer Geraldine Hakewill on navigating micro budgets, fragile masculinity and working with her husband
When the body of his oldest friend is found buried in a shallow grave, Dan, a small-town cop, seeks answers from a volatile Hermit who may have been the last person to see his friend alive. Such is the plotline for Mark Leonard Winter’s intimate, psychological drama The Rooster, which is arriving in Australian theatres…
Interview: Freya Allan on new horror film Baghead, the unexpected challenges of the genre, and her desire to work with A24
Following the death of her estranged father, Iris learns she has inherited a run-down, centuries-old pub. She travels to Berlin to identify her father’s body and then discuss the estate. Little does she know, when the deed is signed she will become inextricably tied to an unspeakable entity that resides in the pub’s basement –…
Interview: Margaret Qualley and Geraldine Viswanathan on their “horny” new film Drive-Away Dolls; “It was just a safe space to feel free”
Written by Ethan Coen and Tricia Cooke, Drive-Away Dolls is a comedy caper that follows Jamie (Margaret Qualley), an uninhibited free spirit bemoaning yet another breakup with a girlfriend, and her demure friend Marian (Geraldine Viswanathan), who desperately needs to loosen up. In search of a fresh start, the two embark on an impromptu road…
Interview: Ethan Coen and Tricia Cooke on their unapologetic road movie Drive-Away Dolls; “Your mind just gets anchored by weird somethings”
Of all the films to be shrouded in an air of secrecy, a lesbian road movie from a Coen Brother may not seem like the most obvious choice. But, indeed, Ethan Coen‘s Drive-Away Dolls, an original, queer-thinking comedy created with his wife, Tricia Cooke, basks in certain narrative (and visual) reveals that made for certain…
Interview: Nathan Phillips on the guerilla-style filmmaking of new Australian crime thriller Kane and the joys of playing a sociopath
Benny works for old school crime boss Abe, Abe has multiple personalities and is in a gang war with the notorious Frankie. Kane is the deadliest of Abe”s personalities, the next 24 hours will be a killer. Today is a good day to die. Such is the logline for Blair Moore’s ambitious debut feature Kane,…
Interview: Jennifer Lopez and director Dave Meyers on the superstar’s passion project This Is Me…Now: A Love Story
This Is Me…Now: A Love Story is like nothing you’ve ever seen from Jennifer Lopez. Alongside director Dave Meyers, Jennifer has created a narrative-driven cinematic odyssey, steeped in mythological storytelling and personal healing. Dropping in tandem with her first studio album in a decade, this genre-bending Amazon original showcases her journey to love through her own…
Interview: Force of Nature: The Dry 2 cast and guests take to Westpac’s OpenAir Cinema for the Sydney premiere
There couldn’t have been a more contrasting set of circumstances for the premiere of Force of Nature: The Dry 2 when compared to its predecessor. The Dry, one of 2021’s most lucrative Australian box office successes, a desolate, drought-stricken set thriller previewed to a downpour of rain in late 2020 ahead of its release. For…
Interview: Sisi Stringer on Force of Nature: The Dry 2; “I think it’s better than the first one, and not just because I’m in it.”
“I was ready!” Actress Sisi Stringer knew what she was getting herself into when taking on Force of Nature: The Dry 2. So much so that she became an unofficial expert on filming in the harsh realty of the Australian rainforest. Whether or not that advice was taken on by her co-stars is another story…
Interview: Jacqueline McKenzie and Robin McLeavy on their gripping new thriller Force of Nature: The Dry 2 and surviving the harsh realities of filming
As Force of Nature: The Dry 2 treks its way towards Australian theatres, The AU Review’s coverage of the anticipated thriller continues. Following on from his interviews with both director Robert Connolly and star/producer Eric Bana, and producer Jodi Matterson and author Jane Harper, Peter Gray spoke with actresses (and Aussie screen royalty, at this…
Interview: Force of Nature: The Dry 2 producer Jodi Matterson and author Jane Harper on the dense reality of their sequel; “We went into the heart of darkness.”
Following on from his interview with Eric Bana and director Robert Connolly Peter Gray spoke with Force of Nature: The Dry 2 producer Jodi Matterson and author Jane Harper about the dense reality of filming and what they thought of Bana’s embodiment of his character. The film, set for a national release on February 8th,…
Interview: Eric Bana and Force of Nature: The Dry 2 director Robert Connolly on saving cinema and the pressures of a sequel
In Force of Nature: The Dry 2, when five women take part in a corporate hiking retreat and only four come out on the other side, Federal Agents Aaron Falk (Eric Bana) and Carmen Cooper (Jacqueline McKenzie) head deep into the Victorian mountain ranges to investigate in the hopes of finding their whistle-blowing informant, Alice…
Interview: Argylle director Matthew Vaughn on Henry Cavill’s star power and his film NOT being written by Taylor Swift
Whether it’s a gangster movie, a fairytale, a comic book adaptation, or a spy series, writer/director Matthew Vaughn always makes sure to bend the rules wherever he can. And after his trio of Kingsman films, the filmmaker is taking on quite possibly his biggest, and most intricate, task yet with Argylle. Based on a series…
Interview: Writer/director Roxine Helberg on exploring the power of truth in journalism in her film Cold Copy
Following its world premiere at the 2023 Tribeca Film Festival, Cold Copy is gearing up for its international roll-out, with the tension-filled dramatic thriller first arriving in North American theatres and On Demand this week. Marking Roxine Helberg’s feature film directorial debut, Cold Copy tells the story of two driven women pushing the boundaries of…
Interview: Australian screen visionary Natalie Miller on opening Melbourne’s newest theatrical experience, FoMo Cinemas
Melbourne’s new next-level cinema experience is unveiled today, with FoMo Cinemas opening its East Brunswick doors. A haven for cinema and food-lovers alike, FoMo Cinemas brings together the best of the silver screen with an elevated in-cinema food offering in a first for Australian movie-goers. Housed in the newly opened East Brunswick Village precinct by…
Interview: AACTA Festival ambassador Chris Alosio; “It’s our opportunity as artists to reflect the life and times that we’re living in now.”
In December last year, The Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) proudly announced the debut of the AACTA Festival, a four-day celebration of Australia’s vibrant screen industry that promises an immersive experience for all, from industry professionals to film enthusiasts, school-leavers, families, and aspiring creatives. The festival, including the AACTA Awards presented by Foxtel Group, will be…
Interview: Da’Vine Joy Randolph on navigating grief and class in The Holdovers; “There’s a privilege in showing emotion. And my character doesn’t have that privilege.”
The Holdovers reunites Sideways’ director Alexander Payne and Paul Giamatti in a holiday story of three lonely, shipwrecked people at a New England boarding school over winter break in 1970. Giamatti stars as Paul Hunham, a curmudgeonly instructor who is forced to remain on campus during Christmas break to babysit the handful of students with…
Interview: Paul Giamatti on his Golden Globe Award-winning role in The Holdovers, character quirks and inspiration, and if he thinks he’s become a better actor
The Holdovers reunites Sideways’ director Alexander Payne and Paul Giamatti in a holiday story of three lonely, shipwrecked people at a New England boarding school over winter break in 1970. Giamatti, in his Golden Globe Award-winning role, stars as Paul Hunham, a curmudgeonly instructor who is forced to remain on campus during Christmas break to…
Interview: Night Swim stars Wyatt Russell and Kerry Condon on being smart and surviving the horror genre
Following his interviews with executive producer Ryan Turek and writer/director Bryce McGuire, Peter Gray wrapped up his talks for the forthcoming Night Swim with the film’s lead actors, Wyatt Russell and Academy Award nominee Kerry Condon. Based on McGuire’s acclaimed short film, Night Swim stars Russell as Ray Waller, a former major league baseball player…