Film & TV

As if it needed anything to prove at all, The Feed easily showed that its success and ease in the half hour format was no flash in the pan with its second 2014 episode. The Feed has clearly got its format down-pat with an opening few minutes dedicated to what’s gone down in the day’s…

A new year and, thankfully, a new season of SBS2’s The Feed. After making its debut last year in 15 minute format, the current affairs/news review program has now returned to the airwaves in extended 30 minute version and was clearly in no mood for time wasting. Kicking off with its trademark wrap up of…

Bringing together two giants of Hollywood; Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey, True Detective is the latest offering from quality television provider HBO (broadcast on Showcase, Foxtel in Australia). The story, told across eight episodes in this first season, moves the viewer from past to present as ex-detectives narrate their investigation into the murder of a…

We finally arrive at the big event the season has been hinting at, the “Seven Wonders” witch trial. If you’re expecting a thrilling build up of tension, ambitious witches sabotaging each other or anything that’s generally exciting in anyway you’ll be disappointed. It’s less like watching the end to a triathlon and more like watching…

After such a strong previous episode, there was a module of apprehension about this episode. Would it reach the newly set New Girl standard or would it fall short? With the first mention of Caroline, Nick’s ex-girlfriend who he nearly left the gang for back in season one, it was clear this was going to…

Martin Scorsese’s crime comedy The Wolf of Wall Street has come out on top of the Australian box office chart for the second weekend in a row with $3.75 million. The film seems to be connecting with Australian audiences, particularly those in their 20s and 30s. Last week’s major new release, Oscar hopeful 12 Years a Slave, managed a…

Take two of Hollywood’s heavy-weight legendary actors, both who’ve previously starred in boxing related films, throw in as many nods as you can to the sport, as well as a good helping of comedy and a little drama and that pretty much is Grudge Match. Two aging boxers Henry ‘Razor’ Sharp (Sylvester Stallone) and Billy…

Long weekends don’t usually end up changing your life. Henry is in that tricky period of being 13 years old and belies wisdom beyond his years in choosing to live with his single mother Adele who is coping with depression, played by a beautifully elegiac Kate Winslet. The story is set in 1987 and revolves…

“No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin … People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart” With such beautiful and moving lines, gracefully unaltered from the original source material…

Take some of Hollywood’s greatest actors all in their twilight years and the storyline from The Hangover and you basically have Last Vegas, with a lot more tact and an evenly balanced dose of comedy and drama. A lot less risqué but I guess that’s what happens when you’re targeting the baby-boomer market. Meet our…

Despite repeating structural felonies, I was impressed with the ending to this episode. I didn’t see it coming and it definitely had a shock value that put new motions into practice. The Seven Wonders Witch trials loom, but there isn’t much preparation or focus on them. Instead, the episode prefers to tread on already explored…

The Super Bowl always is home to some of the world’s most entertaining ads and the premiere of new film trailers is always part of this tradition. Transformers: Age of Extinction was one of these premieres today, with this first look trailer, which you can enjoy below: Directed by Michael Bay, Transformers: Age of Extinction…

Released in Australia this Thursday, February 6th, meet the star ensemble cast & director of the brand new film RoboCop in this behind-the-scenes featurette! ———- This content has recently been ported from its original home on The Iris and may have formatting errors – images may not be showing up, or duplicated, and galleries may…

Who doesn’t love an episode that begins with a spot of impromptu vocals by Nick? Completely unrelated to the episode, it seemed, as the plot centred around two primary storylines: Jess’ desperation to have Coach regard her as more than just ‘his buddy’s girlfriend’, and Winston’s decision to look in on Schmidt’s life of marketing…

For anyone waiting for the macabre and gore to amplify are about to have their wishes fulfilled. Episode 11 steps up the suspense and blood levels to create a more engaging episode. This being said, there are still issues with script including scenes that should be tense but aren’t. As far as plot construction goes,…

Never underestimate Martin Scorsese. The legendary director has another hit on his hands with controversial black comedy The Wolf of Wall Street. After opening inAustralia on January 23rd, the film broke two box office records; the biggest opening day for any Scorsese film and the biggest opening day for any R18+ film in Australian history. This is a…

A free black man living in New York, Soloman Northup (Chiwetel Ejiofor) accepts a job working as a violinist with a circus, does a few gigs in different cities and ends up in Washington. His travel companions trick him, sell him in to slavery and, as the title suggests, the film tells the story of…

Hit show Sons of Anarchy recently wrapped on it’s sixth season in the US near the end of 2013, leaving fans around the world gagging for more with an epic and graphic season final. It returns later this year for it’s seventh and final season, which will finally determine who, out of the bikie community,…

Trudging through the wasteland of found-footage, Paranormal Activity has always managed to stay afloat where others – that attempted a similar style – were quickly dismissed. The feel of amateur footage lends itself greatly to the typical tropes of supernatural horror, adding a slightly more effective dose of realism and making it so much more…

Martin Scorsese’s three hour odyssey into the world of Wall Street excess isn’t the sort of film you might expect from the master filmmaker; one who’s brought us classics such as Raging Bull, Taxi Driver and Goodfellas. Often emotionally brutal, violent and breathtaking in their own right, Marty’s films have rarely shied away from controversy…

Larry Heath sits down with Sydney composer Michael Lira to talk about winning Tropscore, working on the series Rake, moving to LA, the future of his career, his band Darth Vegas… and much more! ———- This content has recently been ported from its original home on The Iris and may have formatting errors – images…

Frozen has done it again! There’s just no stopping this film. The animated juggernaut fought off competition from newcomers Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit and 47 Roninto retain the #1 spot over the last weekend. Jack Ryan and 47 Ronin did quite well considering that fact that the public was not really clamouring for either film; Chris Pine has yet to prove himself as…

We bring you a special behind the scenes video with actor Joaquin Phoenix and director Spike Jonze for the 2013 film HER – which is now showing in Australian cinemas. The film won the Golden Globe for best screenplay (Spike Jonze) over the weekend and is nominated for FIVE Academy Awards ———- This content has recently…

We’re nearing the end to American Horror Story: Coven and episode 10 throws some new tricks into the equation. It starts where episode 9 left off, with Marie Laveau being sheltered by the Coven. The truce that was once over seems to be back, joining forces to tackle Witch Hunters known as The Corporation. Meanwhile,…

It’s been quite some time since we’ve seen Keanu Reeves in a Hollywood blockbuster; it’s been even longer since he’s been in a decent film. Reeves’ famously silent, wooden way of acting has always been strangely endearing, but in Carl Rinsch’s 47 Ronin, his presence is lacking as he quietly broods throughout the film, occasionally…

Another year, another set of Oscar nominations. This year, which sees the 86th Academy Awards take place, has provided us with a brilliant list of nominations.Gravity and American Hustle are the big winners here with 10 nominations each, while 12 Years a Slave has gathered 9. Those three films are seen as the frontrunners for Best Picture at this stage, but…

We catch up with the co-host of SBS2’s The Feed, Marc Fennell, to find out his favourite films of 2013 and look forward to an exciting series of The Feed in 2014, where the nightly program will move from 15 minutes to half an hour! ———- This content has recently been ported from its original…

The Iris is proud to present the second episode of our new Doctor Who Podcast “The Doctor is In” featuring Larry Heath and Sosefina Fuamoli. Larry, a newer fan, gets all the information from Sose, on the upcoming Doctor Who convention tour around Australia featuring Matt Smith, we look back at the Matt Smith Christmas…

New Girl was back with a bang with a surprisingly original episode that really brought out the best of the gang. The episode was essentially a flashback episode, formed under the guise of Jess needing advice concerning the possibility of taking on a new job. Jessica Day, not a teacher? I’m not sure if any…

Based on the Tom Clancy Jack Ryan series, Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit is director Kenneth Branagh’s foray into the political and economic espionage thriller field. It’s also the first to not be specifically based on a Clancy novel, but take inspiration from the series and create a new story for our central character. Setting the…