Film & TV

TV Review: The Mindy Project, Season 3, Episode 8 “Diary of a Mad Indian Woman”

By Amy Nancarrow Who hasn’t seen a friend, family member or significant other’s personal diary and been tempted to sneak a peek at their most intimate thoughts? Danny succumbs to his curiosity in “Diary of a Mad Indian Woman”, and doesn’t necessarily like what he reads. Mindy realises that Danny never stays at her house,…

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Exclusive Interivew: Miyavi (Japan) discusses the film Unbroken and working with Angelia Jolie

Unbroken, directed by Angelina Jolie, premiered this week in Sydney – ahead of its Australia wide release on January 15th. In the film, singer Miyavi plays Mutsushiro “The Bird” Watanabe, a World War II POW camp guard. We spoke to him earlier in the year about the performance and are excited to be able to…

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Film Review: The Hunger Games Mockingjay Part 1 (USA, 2014)

You may be feeling your patience wearing thin while watching The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1; that is, if you’ve only come on board for the tense wheel of brutality in which two tributes from each district are forced to kill each other until one remains. No, there’s no such hunger games here as compared…

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Looking ahead to police drama Chicago P.D (Australian premiere on Thursday 20th November)

Police dramas seem to come naturally to Dick Wolf, an Emmy winner involved in the Law & Order franchise, and the more recent Chicago Fire; so when he dabbles further into the genre, there’s no doubt that the result is worthy of attention. His latest exploration of city crime comes in the form of Chicago…

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Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 gets a trailer…Yes, really.

Well it’s happening. Like it or not, Paul Blart is making a return to the silver screen. Not content enough to weave his unusual brand of justice in his home town, Paul Blart takes a trip to Vegas to attend a security guard convention. (Are those actually a thing?) Its here that Paul stumbles (probably…

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What to Watch: The Iris’ Weekly TV Picks (20th – 23rd November 2014)

Thursday Soul Mates, ABC 2, 9:33 pm AEST Brought to you by the creators of Bondi Hipsters, Soul Mates is a new sketch-show that tackles life’s big questions in a hilarious manner. In this episode, two fundamental creationists visit Travel Time whilst Rocky and Sticks question whether it’s wrong to eat babies. Friday MythBusters, SBS…

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Go behind-the-scenes with the ‘Women’ of Men, Women & Children

Get a inside view of the latest Jason Reitman film through newly released behind the scenes footage with the ‘Women’ of Men, Women & Children – Jennifer Garner (Dallas Buyers Club), Judy Greer (Dawn of the Planet of the Apes) and Rosemarie Dewitt (Rachel Getting Married). The film is a story that follows a group…

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Tropfest’s 2014 Tropscore finalists announced

Tropfest is Australia’s most prestigious short film festivals and is also the largest in the world. Tropscore was developed by Tropfest in partnership with APRA AMCOS, and is the largest film score competition in Australia. It encourage musicians to produce a musical score or synch for a short film clip provided by Tropfest. The finalists…

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Box Office Report: Let’s Be Cops is no match for Interstellar

Despite an impressive opening by Lets Be Cops – one to the tune of $1.6 million – it just didn’t pack enough of a punch to usurp top spot. Interstellar retains its position at number 1 pulling in another $3.7 million. Christopher Nolan’s spectacle has received tremendous reviews, lauded for its ambitious storytelling and sheer scope….

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ABC TV pronounces “Its All Good” with 2015 content line-up

After a scary few months that saw ABC TV almost being axed, the network are back on top following a relieving announcement last week. ABC will again welcome in 2015 with a four-hour entertainment extravaganza to celebrate NEW YEAR’S EVE when we join with the City of Sydney to bring the world-renowned fireworks to audiences…

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Film Review: The Captive (Canada, 2014)

The Captive proves to be a deeply disturbing experience, tackling the stomach churning subject of paedophilia and its resulting organisations/rings. Director Atom Egoyan has accompanied clever scriptwriting with a stellar cast, ensuring a continually spine tingling undercurrent throughout, which no doubt has cemented the film’s contention for the Palme d’Or award at Cannes Film Festival…

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The Iris Interview: Gil McKinney on the success of Once Upon a Time and entering the ‘Supernatural‘.

Ladies, who was your favourite Disney prince growing up? Were you an Aladdin lover? Did you grow up crushing on The Beast/Prince Adam (until you realised how odd it was when you were older)? Or maybe you were a traditionalist and prayed for your own Prince Charming. In 2011, when Once Upon a Time first screened…

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The Iris Interview: James Kyson on the popularity of superheroes onscreen ahead of Supanova!

The  Supanova Pop Culture Expo is coming up this weekend for Adelaide punters, with Brisbane expo-lovers getting their turn during November’s final weekend. In what’s set to be another whirlwind of fan goodness for those of us dwelling in these Australian cities who are more used to missing out on film premieres or other events…

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The Iris Interview: Jamie Bamber talks British & American television ahead of his Australian Supanova visit!

  Full disclosure: I was never a Battlestar Galactica aficionado. I understood its popularity, but Doctor Who and its universe was as sci-fi as I got when I first became interested in this realm of TV shows. It wasn’t until I followed Doctor Who alum Freema Agyeman over to Law & Order: UK, where I became fully hooked on Jamie Bamber, who of…

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Film Review: Maps to the Stars (USA, 2014)

Maps to the Stars is sickening, soulless, horrifying, and one of the most entertaining rides to be had in a cinema this year. David Cronenberg’s (The Fly, Eastern Promises, Videodrome) latest film is a no holds barred Hollywood satire, spitting venom at the vacuous, self-important microorganisms writhing around in the Petri dish that is Tinseltown….

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7 Reasons Law & Order creator Dick Wolf has kept audiences hooked…

What is it about Dick Wolf programs that has made him one of TV’s most successful producers? What is it about them that has audiences so captivated, sometimes for decades? First debuting in 1990, the iconic series Law & Order is without question Wolf’s most endearing program, running for twenty seasons, making it the longest-running…

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DVD Review: Way Of The Wicked (USA & Canada, 2014)

The Way Of The Wicked is the film version of a dead-end. At first glance it offers some promise as it’s a story about a satanic, teenage boy who has telekinetic powers. But it’s not long before the proceedings go from haunting to staid and the drama becomes predictable and forgettable. The story begins with…

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TV Review: Bones Season 10, Episode 7 “The Money Maker on The Merry-Go-Round” (USA, 2014)

By Kimberley Veart This week begins with a body found under a merry-go-round, and young Christine (Sunnie Pelant) calling her stuffed toy a jackass. It’s an unusual beginning for an interesting episode that quickly turns into Bones’ own version of The Wolf of Wall Street, as the victim was high-flying trader who enjoyed the perks…

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Fifty Shades of Grey gets a new trailer

The hotly anticipated film adaptation of Fifty Shades of Grey edges a bit closer as 2015 peeks over the horizon, and so a new trailer only seems fair. There’s more insight granted to us here, whereas the previous teaser trailer played on people’s imagination, this one reveals more of the visuals that we will be…

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Film Review: My Old Lady (UK, France & USA, 2014)

My Old Lady is a family melodrama that proves there’s no such thing as a free lunch. When a down-and-out American inherits a large apartment in Paris from his late father he thinks all of his pay days have come at once. But the residence comes with some strings attached, namely an old lady, her…

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What to Watch: The Iris’ Weekly TV Picks (17th – 19th November 2014)

By Kimberley Veart Monday Dirty Harry, Gem, 9:30pm AEST One of Clint Eastwood’s best performances, Dirty Harry is a 1970’s classic. Eastwood plays tough cop Harry Callahan against Scorpio who is terrorising San Francisco. Worth watching for Eastwood’s threateningly delivered line, gun in hand, “You’ve got to ask yourself one question: ‘Do I feel lucky?’…

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Win a double pass to the midnight screening of The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 in Sydney

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 begins as Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) finds herself in District 13 after literally shattering the Games forever. Under the leadership of President Coin (Julianne Moore) and the advice of her trusted friends, Katniss spreads her wings as she fights to save Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) and a nation moved by…

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TV Review: The Walking Dead Season 5 Episode 5 “Self Help” (USA, 2014)

As great and effective the character focuses post-Governor were, The Walking Dead was still yet to turn Abraham, Eugene, and Rosita into characters as compelling as their comic book counterparts; though, it hasn’t been that long since they first came onto our screens. After all the fast paced chaos of Terminus, it seemed necessary to…

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HOYTS announces new VIP offering at Broadway

HOYTS Broadway proudly presents HOYTS LUX. Patrons can officially immerse themselves in total comfort as the new VIP experience for movie lovers will include a luxurious space featuring lavish reclining chairs, an in-cinema waiter service and a delectable selection of gourmet food with compliments to an extensive wine list. What’s a movie without popcorn and…

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Australia’s Screen Music Awards announce 2014 winners

Held at Sydney’s City Recital Hall earlier this month, the Screen Music Award – staged jointly by APRA AMCOS and the AGSC – honoured composers across 13 categories, with a mix of first-time recipients and returning award winners. Cezary Skubiszewski, David Hirschfelder, David McCormack and Antony Partos were among those on the winners list. Cezary…

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ABC announces comprehensive cover of G20: Brisbane over the next three days.

This week the world’s eyes are on Australia, as Brisbane hosts the G20. The event is bringing together an unprecedented assembly of world leaders on Australian soil including US President Barack Obama, British Prime Minister David Cameron, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo, German…

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Watch improvisation in action in this exclusive 22 Jump Street behind-the-scenes clip!

To celebrate the release of 22 Jump Street on Blu-Ray and DVD this past week, check out this exclusive 2 minute clip which depicts directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller and actors Jillian Bell (who plays Mercedes) and Amber Stevens (who plays Maya) discussing their experience of improvisation lines for jokes in the film as…

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TV Review: Devil’s Playground (Australia, 2014)

Foxtel’s new locally made, mini-series has a unique history. It is both a sequel to the 1975 Fred Schepisi movie of the same name and an original production. What links both productions is actor Simon Burke who starred in the movie as a 13 year old and reprises his role as Tom Allen in the…

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Australia to receive a Pixar Film Festival in 2015

Do you hold Toy Story close to your heart? Did Finding Nemo make you realise the importance of family? In February 2015, Disney Pixar presents its first ever Disney Pixar Film Festival, exclusive to Event Cinemas, Greater Union, Birch Caroll & Coyle and Village cinemas. The film festival will be running over 5 consecutive weekends from…

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Film Review: Let’s Be Cops (USA, 2014)

Let’s be white chicks! Wait, we already did that… okay let’s be cops! Damon Wayans Jr. (from films including Dance Flick and The Other Guys) and Jake Johnson (from TV ‘s New Girl) team up as best buds and roomies, Justin and Ryan, pretending to be policeman, for a good old fashioned comedy caper. These…

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