Film

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…

Read More

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…

Read More

Film Review: Kung Fu Panda 4; Jack Black’s loveable Po proves a welcome return in amusing sequel

Though there was a certain sense of the story coming to a natural close in 2016’s Kung Fu Panda 3, the powers that be at DreamWorks deemed another go-around with the loveable Po (once again voiced with vigour by Jack Black) necessary, and so families are gifted with the effortless joy that is Kung Fu…

Read More

Film Review: The Zone of Interest makes for a cruel and profound questioning of humanity’s dark underbelly

An idyllic family life juxtaposed with the genocidal holocaust horrors next door has made for one of the most gripping and intellectual cinematic gems in years.  The Zone of Interest is by far the most haunting and arresting depiction of Nazi family life and Holocaust bureaucracy you’ll get all year.  Directed by Jonathan Glazer, his…

Read More

Uproar is an uplifting coming-of-age dramedy grounded by a sublime Julian Dennison: Brisbane International Film Festival Review

Outside of New Zealand it’s highly likely that the political clash at the centre of Hamish Bennett and Paul Middleditch‘s Uproar is one that’s never been heard of. Set in 1981, the ultimately uplifting, oft-powerful coming-of-age dramedy centres around the controversy that arose from the South African rugby team touring New Zealand at the time. …

Read More

Pandemic “comedy” New Strains is a nightmarish chore to experience: SXSW Sydney Screen Festival Review

Whilst it’s always best to go into films with zero expectations, plot synopses and narrative outlines at least provide an idea of what audiences can expect from a storytelling perspective – however loose the product itself wants to determine as such.  For New Strains, there was the idea of this being sold as a romantic…

Read More

Film Review: Killers of the Flower Moon is Martin Scorsese at his boldest

In many ways, Killers of the Flower Moon is a celebration of everything we love about Martin Scorsese, whether it’s the flawed gangster charm of Goodfellas or the arresting psychological nuances of Taxi Driver. Though with a budget of between $200-250 million for this epic crime western, you cannot fault this film on being a…

Read More

Film Review: The Creator is equally brilliant as it is flawed

Unless you’re a Spielberg or a Cameron, it seems increasingly difficult to launch an original, high-concept, sizeably budgeted film with major studio backing.  So, in that regard hats must go off to director Gareth Edwards for getting The Creator off the ground and into multiplexes; extra points for doing so with a film centred on…

Read More

The AU Review’s Best Films of 2022

It’s always an amusing statement to hear when people say that “There are just no good movies out there.” You can cry foul on 2022 being “the worst year of movies, ever” all you want – it’s considerably not true – and, perhaps, because certain blockbusters failed to wow you or due to the endless…

Read More

Interview: Umbrella Entertainment’s Ari Harrison on Australia’s revolutionary Feature30 filmmaking competition

Have you ever had an experience or an idea that would make a great movie?  A first of its kind film competition open to everybody is hoping to turn your creativity into reality. Never been done before in Australia, Feature30 is a competition with a difference.  Not only will it reward its winner with a…

Read More

Aussie thriller The Drover’s Wife joins SXSW Film Festival as full lineup revealed

The 2021 SXSW Film Festival has revealed its full line up for its 28th edition for SXSW Online, running March 16th-20th, 2021.  The previously announced Demi Lovato: Dancing with the Devil, a hard-hitting documentary covering the personal and professional life of the pop star, including her fatal near-overdose, will serve as the festival’s opener, whilst…

Read More

Film Review: A Guide to Second Date Sex proves that dating can be a joke

Often when dating and relationships are portrayed on screen they appear to be so perfect. But we all know that the reality of modern romance is quite different. A Guide to Second Date Sex is refreshing because it showcases human foibles and offers a more realistic and funny view of dating. This dramedy will appeal…

Read More

Photo Gallery: Supanova Comic Con & Gaming Expo – Adelaide Showgrounds (03.11.19)

Another awesome weekend of pop culture, comic, gaming and cosplay rolled through Adelaide on the weekend at the 2019 Supanova Comic Con & Gaming Expo, with Supa-Star guests like John Travolta, Deborah Ann Woll, Jason Isaacs and Mark Sheppard. Take a look at some of the fun! Shot by Kerrie Geier.

Read More

Melbourne International Documentary Film Festival Review: Boom! is a rocking trip along some sonic highways

Boom! A Film about the Sonics is a documentary that is cut from the same cloth as Searching for Sugar Man and Waiting: The Van Duren Story. You may not have heard about American group, The Sonics but chances are you’ve heard their influence through other people’s music. This film is an overwhelmingly positive one…

Read More

Film Review: Celebration: Yves Saint Laurent (France, 2007) offers a rare look at the designer’s creative process

Most people have seen Yves Saint Laurent’s creations but how many have wondered what is going on beneath the covers? The documentary, Celebration: Yves Saint Laurent, should answer some of these questions. This French film is shot in cinéma vérité style and gives a behind-the-scenes look at the fashion legend and his army of helpers….

Read More

A Star Is Reborn: Why ‘remake’ is not a dirty word

No matter how Hollywood tries to sell it, remake will always be a word deemed blasphemous to cinephiles the world over.  Sure, they can throw out terms such as reboot or reimagining or revisioning, but regardless of the spin, they all refer to the same type of picture.  And because it’s one we have experienced…

Read More

Three Australian Films Have Been Selected for the Venice Film Festival

Three films have been selected as part of the 75th Venice International Film Festival program, which will run from 29 August to 8 September, 2018. The three films selected include Jennifer Kent’s (The Babadook) highly anticipated second feature film The Nightingale, alongside two virtual reality films The Unknown Patient and Awaneva. Director Jennifer Kent’s The Nightingale is…

Read More

13 of the Coolest Film, TV & Gaming Trailers You May Have Missed at SDCC 2018

With San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC) wrapped up for this year, there’s no doubt each year’s conference rules the entertainment universe with its mind blowing announcements from films, TV shows and the latest and upcoming games. So without further ado, let’s recap some of the biggest announcements you may have missed this year. FILMS First off,…

Read More

NSW Introduces New Initiative for Up and Coming Female Directors

The Minister for the Arts Don Harwin has joined some of Australia’s leading female talent in order to announce #SheDirects, an initiative that will aim to bring more up and coming female directors to the forefront the the industry.  Iconic Australian actor and director Rachel Griffiths (Hacksaw Ridge) has jumped on board along with fellow actor,…

Read More

Clint Eastwood’s The Mule Begins Production

Production has now officially begun for The Mule, the next project directed by critically acclaimed actor and director Clint Eastwood (Gran Torino, Unforgiven). And sadly no, there’s no relation to the Australian film of the same name. Produced by Warner Bros. Pictures and Imperative Entertainment, The Mule will see Clint Eastwood in front of the…

Read More

Kaiju fights return on a grand scale in the latest Pacific Rim: Uprising trailer

The second official trailer for Pacific Rim: Uprising has been released, and looks to bring back awesome Kaiju fights on a grand scale. Filmed right here in Australia, the sequel sees Star Wars‘ John Boyega in the role of Jake Pentecost, the son of Stacker Pentecost, played by Idris Elba in the first film. Jake is…

Read More

National Theatre Live has done it again, this time with Hedda Gabler (In Select Cinemas from 1st April)

I officially have a new hobby – seeing any National Theatre Live film that comes to Australia. This is a genius concept that has been going on for a number of years but this particular viewing was my first time. Imagine being able to see the best of British theatre at the cinemas?! Genius I tell…

Read More

ACMI presents ‘Screen It’ 2016 with this year’s theme revealed!

Children creatives, this one’s for you! ACMI (Australian Centre for the Moving Image) are on the lookout for young and inspired children to enter Australia’s student film competition, Screen It. This year’s theme, Mystery, will spark the creativity of school students around the country in making authentic and inventive films, animations and video games. Screen It…

Read More

Tropfest will be shown across eight live sites in Australia

Tropfest made an announcement on Tuesday that it will be shown across eight live venues in NSW, QLD, SA and WA. The film festival is making its triumphant return on Valentines Day, Sunday 14 February 2016, making it such great news for film enthusiasts and creatives alike! With the incredible support of CGU Insurance, the…

Read More

We have a new Spider-Man and a Director for the 2017 reboot. Yes, another one.

In what will be the third incarnation of the series since the turn of the Millenium, Sony Pictures and Marvel Studios have confirmed that Tom Holland will be undertaking the role of iconic superhero Spider-Man in the next anticipated film.

Read More

Aussie thriller Touch hits cinemas in May

Screenlaunch has announced that its Australian thriller Touch will land in theaters on May 21st. Rife with mystery and intrigue, Touch tells the tale of Dawn (Leeanna Walsman) and her daughter Steph (fresh face Onor Nottle, both on the run from a man (Matt Day) Dawn has attacked. Promising remarkable twists and turns, the crew…

Read More

Film Review: The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones (M15+) (USA, 2013)

Upon the trailer’s release, those who aren’t familiar with Cassandra Clare’s novels – the source material – immediately began comparing The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones to Twilight and Harry Potter. While the Harald Zwart-directed film is a worthwhile addition to the tween fantasy genre, it fails in more ways than one and is unlikely to impress anyone over the…

Read More