Film & TV

Our Five Favourite Christopher Nolan Films… So Far.

With his highly anticipated new film Interstellar opening on Thursday, it’s easy to be confident that Christopher Nolan has delivered us a cinematic marvel. A quick look at his track record shows that his level of quality makes him one of the best filmmakers of our time. He pushes the boundaries of technology, limiting the…

Read more

TV Review: American Horror Story: Freak Show Episode 4 “Edward Mordrake, Pt 2” (USA, 2014)

Following up from episode 3, we have Part 2 of the “Edward Mordrake” story. Episode 4 is where Freak Show starts to get really interesting. I would consider this to be the ‘Origin Story’ episode. We see Edward Mordrake visit various members of the Carnies in his search for the one he’s been summoned for…

Read more

TV Review: Bones Season 10 Episode 5 “The Corpse at the Convention” (USA, 2014)

By Kimberley Veart After a one week hiatus, Bones is back with an eventful episode that sees Hodgins become a suspect for murder; intern Wendell’s (Michael Grant Terry) return from cancer treatment and a National Forensic Scientists’ Convention which has the ‘squints’ all excited. The episode begins with Brennan nervously preparing for her keynote speech,…

Read more

First official trailer released for Fast & Furious 7

Universal Pictures has released the first official trailer for the seventh installment in the hugely successful Fast & Furious franchise, which comes from Aussie director James Wan (The Conjuring, Saw). The trailer features glimpses of the late Paul Walker who shot scenes for the film before his tragic passing, as well as regulars Vin Diesel,…

Read more

What to Watch: The Iris’ Weekly TV Picks (3rd – 5th November 2014)

By Kimberley Veart Monday Louis Theroux’s African Hunting Holiday, ABC 2, 8:30 pm AEST Louis Theroux, the British documentary maker who goes where angels fear to tread, explores the hobby of the wealthy: hunting. He follows cashed up Americans to Africa where they pay for the chance to shoot big game. It is a fascinating,…

Read more

TV Review: Doctor Who Season 8 Episode 11 “Dark Water” (UK, 2014)

  Well, did you see that one coming? The eighth season of Doctor Who has begun its lurch towards the finish line and in true Steven Moffat fashion, the showrunner has managed to produce a suitably chilling, dark and satisfying result. If we’re honest, this season of Doctor Who hasn’t really maintained the consistency it has in previous years. Peter…

Read more

Film Review: Get On Up (USA, 2014)

The James Brown biopic, Get On Up captures the very essence of the legendary, Godfather of Soul. It is a frenzied account that goes through story arcs like some people change clean clothes. But first and foremost is the amazing music by a true vanguard and the electric and infectious performance by Chadwick Boseman (42)….

Read more

8 Movies you didn’t realise were actually about a dead (or kidnapped) dog all along.

In the new film John Wick, our protagonist’s dog is killed by thugs, which leads him on a epic tale of revenge that our own Chris Singh called Keanu Reeves’ “best role in years” (read the review here). Yes, it’s a film whose main plot line is driven by just how much this man loved…

Read more

International trailer released for The Spongebob Movie: Sponge Out of Water.

Paramount Pictures has released the new international trailer for their new Spongebob film, The Spongebob Movie: Sponge Out of Water. Formerly known for his role in Shrek as Puss in Boots, Antonio Banderas steps in as the super villain, Burger-Beard the Pirate, causing havoc and chaos amongst Spongebob and his friends as he is the accused thief…

Read more

Watch the new film clip, “The Dangers of Selfies” from Men, Women & Children.

Directed by Jason Reitman, Men, Women & Children shows the nitty and gritty aspects of social media and the way we communicate with people on a day-to-day basis. Exploring adult themes of self-image and the nature of romantic relationships, the film showcases a common issue of internet use amongst teenagers, causing great concern amongst their parents…

Read more

Film Review: Pride (UK, 2014)

Based on a true story, it’s 1984 and mining communities across Britain are in crisis. The Thatcher government had announced mass pit closures and thousands of miners would lose their jobs. As a result, the miners went on a yearlong strike causing many families to struggle financially. Seeing similarities between this struggle and the one…

Read more

Film Review: John Wick (USA, 2014)

The last major film Keanu Reeves starred in was the abysmal 47 Ronin, a project which took Keanu out of his element and demanded from him more than he could actually give. David Leitch and Chad Stahelski’s John Wick is an entirely different story, playing to Reeves’ strengths and giving him his best role in…

Read more

TV Review: South Park Season 18 Episode 5 “The Magic Bush” (USA, 2014)

In our last round-up of South Park, we were talking about how there was some inter-connectivity happening between episodes. Well, unfortunately – at least for now – this has come to a pause (with the exception of a brief shot of the “Cissies” toilets from the recent episodes). This week, after a turn away from…

Read more

Film Review: The Best Of Me (USA, 2014)

Nicholas Sparks’ books – just like the film adaptions of his novels – are really only for hopeless romantics. They often require a suspension of disbelief and cynicism. But if the viewer can set these things aside then they’ll often find a pleasant yet predictable romantic drama and tearjerker. The Best Of Me is the…

Read more

Film Review: Kill The Messenger (M) (USA, 2014)

In a world dominated by sensationalist news, Kill The Messenger is part biopic part political thriller part ethically charged drama, that follows the story of investigative journalist Gary Webb and his attempts at uncovering the US Government and CIA’s involvement with Nicaraguan drug cartels. Adapted from the book of the same name by Nick Schou…

Read more

The Many Faces of John Wick: Counting Down our 8 Favourite Keanu Reeves Roles.

In celebration of the release of John Wick in Australia today – which many are calling Keanu Reeves’ “return to form” – we’re taking a look back at our 8 favourite Keanu Reeves performances from all over the years. So here we proudly present, the many faces of Keanu Reeves: 8. Officer Jack Traven in Speed (1994)…

Read more

The Red Band Trailer for The Gambler is here.

Before the release of The Gambler’s official trailer we’ve been treated to the Red Band teaser. And boy it is packs a punch in its limited time. The Gambler tells the tale of Jim Bennett (Mark Wahlberg), a literature professor with a penchant for gambling. After incurring a debt to Neville (Michael K. Willams) the mob cracks down…

Read more

Kevin Hart’s new comedy The Wedding Ringer receives its first trailer.

Kevin Hart’s (Ride Along) wave of success continues to roll on as we get a first look at his new comedy The Wedding Ringer, Co-starring Josh Gad (Frozen). Gad plays Doug Harris, a husband to be who has a tough time making friends and with his wedding drawing clser he has yet to locate any groomsmen. Enter Jimmy Callahan…

Read more

Box Office Report: Fury doesn’t let Gone Girl see a fourth week at the top.

After 3 weeks on the top of the box office, Gone Girl has been toppled by WWII drama Fury which has made over $2.5 million in its opening week. It isn’t at all surprising for a war film to do solid numbers, especially one that stars Brad Pitt. Gone Girl is firmly planted in second…

Read more

What to Watch: The Iris’ Weekly TV Picks (30th October – 2nd November 2014)

Thursday Stephen Fry: Gadget Man, SBS 2, 8 pm AEST In spite of the title, Stephen Fry does not actually star in this episode. Instead, British comedian Richard Ayoade takes the reigns, leading the viewer on a hilarious crusade to find gadgets to help him conquer Britain’s terrible weather. Bound to be a quirky, ridiculous…

Read more

Marvel Studios has announced its films up until 2019

While Australians layed their heads to rest last night, Kevin Feige, head of Marvel Studio and Marvel held a mysterious press event at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood that ended up boasting some major announcements regarding their cinematic universe. Expecting a couple of minor if not fan pleasing details about future films, we all…

Read more

Win a DVD copy of Good Vibrations!

Terri Hooley is a radical, rebel and music-lover in 1970s Belfast, when the bloody conflict known as the Troubles shuts down his city. As all his friends take sides and take up arms, Terri opens a record shop on the most bombed half-mile in Europe and calls it Good Vibrations. Through it he discovers a…

Read more

TV Review: Doctor Who Season 8 Episode 10 “In the Forest of the Night” (UK, 2014)

  Can you believe we’re already at the point where we’re now staring down the barrel at Peter Capaldi’s first season finale of Doctor Who? “In the Forest of the Night” is your quintessential filler episode before the final pieces of the season-long puzzle fall together. Not to say it was completely forgettable – I quite enjoyed Maebh (Abigail…

Read more

Robert Downey Jr. set to join Captain America 3

According to Variety Magazine, the yet-to-be-titled third installment of Captain America may see the billionaire Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) play a key role in bringing the Civil War storyline from Marvel’s comics to the big screen. The actor is reported to be “in final negotiations” to join Chris Evans in Captain America 3, slated…

Read more

Win a double pass to see Interstellar at IMAX Darling Harbour, Sydney!

In the future, governments and economies across the globe have collapsed, food is scarce, NASA is no more, and the 20th Century is to blame. A mysterious rip in spacetime opens and it’s up to whatever is left of NASA to explore and offer up hope for mankind. Mainly based on the scientific theories and…

Read more

TV Review: The Walking Dead Season 5 Episode 3 “Four Walls and a Roof” (USA, 2014)

Maggie stating to Father Gabriel that the church isn’t a house of lord but “just four walls and a roof” while numerous, chopped up bodies lay at her feet is a nice comment on the post-apocalypse. Because that’s all anything such as a house or a church is now in this world. Iconoclasm or not,…

Read more

Home-grown film Love Is Now to be released nationwide on December 4th.

Eponine Films have partnered with HOYTS Group to release Love Is Now nationally on the 4th December 2014, a debut Australian film written and directed by Jim Lounsbury, producing partner Behren Schulz and Line Producer David Lightfoot (Wolf Creek, Rouge). Starring Eamon Farren (Chained, Red Dog, Carlotta), Claire Van Der Boom (The Square, Red Hill,…

Read more

TV Review: The Walking Dead Season 5 Episode 2 “Strangers” (USA, 2014)

With the fallout from the action-packed “No Sanctuary” it was to be expected that the pace would slow down just a little bit in order for our group – who really just reunited a day ago, seeing as Season 5 picked up right where Season 4 left off – to make sure they were all…

Read more

What to Watch: The Iris’ Weekly TV Picks (27th – 29th October)

By Kimberley Veart Monday The Full Monty, One, 9:30 pm AEST Brace yourself for British humour at its best with the 1997 comedy classic about a group of unemployed steelworkers in the industrial city of Sheffield, who decide they have nothing left to lose and perform together in a male strip tease troupe. Tuesday Dancing…

Read more

TV Review: American Horror Story: Freak Show Episode 3 “Edward Mordrake, Pt 1” (USA, 2014)

Today on American Horror Story we’re learning about Edward Mordrake – Ssh quiet down children. Now with the third installment of Freak Show, American Horror Story has brought us a two part Halloween treat with episodes three and four. Episode three tells the tale of Edward Mordrake; a man with two faces. AHS is keeping…

Read more