Mysteries and detective stories have long been popular in literature, arts, films, with the story of Sherlock Holmes long enduring time and remake after reboot after re-imagining. In Mr Holmes we take a look at the world’s greatest detective in his twilight years long since retired but still troubled by one unsolved case. Sherlock Holmes…
Gabriel Ripstein’s 600 Miles is a straight shooter unconcerned with excess narrative baggage, clocking in at 85 minutes with a minimal gun trafficking plot that relies on talented actors and raw cinematography to place this project as a worthy debut feature for the Mexican filmmaker. Veteran Tim Roth brings a solid performance to the film,…
Before the National Lampoon lent their name to some terrible straight-to-video films they were ground-breaking. This comedy institution started as a spin-off magazine; graduated to books, radio and stage revues; and eventually yielded cult comedy films worthy of inclusion in Hollywood. Drunk Stoned Brilliant Dead: The Story of the National Lampoon is a funny and…
“There will be no subtitles, dialogue, or voiceover” is our introduction to The Tribe, a surprisingly shocking film about a state boarding deaf-school in Kiev, with it’s own seedy underbelly of crime and Lord of the Flies type brutality. Director Miroslav Slaboshpitsky delves into the miserable and calmly observes the bleak, dog-eat-dog world that is…
The gifted Thomas Salvador directs and stars in Vincent (2014), a French film that tells the story of a man named Vincent who develops extraordinary superpowers when he comes in contact with water. With his recently discovered ability, Vincent spends much of his time in the water, taking in the awe and wonder that comes with developing…
Kim Farrant’s Strangerland has a magical and mythical quality to it, making full use of the Australian outback with rich, rocky-red landscape shots that swallow the film’s characters in expansive, ambitious cinematography. But while visually impressive, Strangerland’s flaws lie in a commitment to ambiguity, presenting itself as one thing and then veering off into another…
Being an adult is hard. Relationships are hard. Making new friends is hard. Exercising and eating right is hard. Having big dreams is hard. But what we really want is the result. The thing at the end of all that hard work that makes it worthwhile. Sometimes getting to that point can be a little…
Every mention of Lily Tomlin is preceded by “the incomparable” because it’s a universal truth, but the famed American comedian has been a rare sight on the big screen in recent years, featuring primarily in supporting roles in TV series like Web Therapy and Malibu Country. Thankfully that drought is over, with not only her…
Station to Station isn’t so much a feature film as it is a travelling art experiment, the execution of a concept born years prior that is now travelling the globe. The film documents a train as it travelled from the Atlantic (we presume Union Station in NYC) to the Pacific (we presume Union Station in…
On the surface Last Cab To Darwin is not just a film about euthanasia, but a film about the people you meet on the greatest journey you take of all, living the one single life you have. A road movie that’s a drama with heart and emotion at its core and a cast of genuine…
Over 86 minutes, this chilling documentary details how a (very) small, quiet town in North Dakota slowly transformed into a breeding ground for hatred and paranoia over the course of a few months. It’s easy to watch Welcome to Leith as a highly effective thriller, forgetting that the events going down in the film actually…
The Golden Age Cinema & Bar in Sydney will play host to a program of Studio Ghibli favourites, including several screenings of the newest Ghibli film When Marnie Was There. The film is an adaptation of Joan G. Robinson‘s 1968 British novel of the same name. The film follows Anna Sasaki, an orphan in foster…
Madame Bovary is a pleasant film but it’s an unnecessary adaption. The iconic novel by Gustave Flaubert has been adapted multiple times for film and television over the past few years. But what distinguishes this latest offering is that it is the first one to be directed by a female (Sophie Barthes (Cold Souls)). Here,…
The Daughter is the second Australian film screening at the Sydney Film Festival this year to be adapted from a play (or, more accurately in this case, “inspired by”) that originally appeared at the Belvoir St Theatre in Sydney – that being Simon Stone’s 2011 adaptation of Ibsen’s The Wild Duck (the other, Cowell’s Ruben…
Isabella Patterson’s arrival into the lives of a group of people in New York City brings about a chain reaction akin to a relationship shit-storm in Peter Bogdanovich’s new film, She’s Funny That Way, now showing as part of this year’s Sydney Film Festival. Originally written 15 years ago, it is now seeing the light…
For singer songwriter and musician Amy Winehouse the last couple of years of her life were fodder for tabloids and the entertainment news machine monster. You may not have been a fan of her music but you were familiar with her and her drug-fuelled antics. But sometimes what gets overlooked when her name is brought…
Slow West is the story of a young, wide-eyed Jay Cavendish (Kodi Smit-McPhee) who undertakes a journey to find his ‘true love’, Rose (Caren Pistorius). Silas Selleck (Michael Fassbender) soon enters the picture, vowing to help him survive his journey for a small fee. Unbeknownst to Jay, a bounty has been placed on the heads…
Note: This review contains some spoilers of the film and the original play. “How brave of you to stop drinking alcohol in this alcoholic country” – Zoya (Abbey Lee) With a penchant for young girls, alcohol and most of life’s vices (as well as a “me before you” attitude), Ruben Guthrie isn’t a particularly likeable guy….
This is not the first time Thomas Hardy’s Far From the Madding Crowd has been adapted, but it’s certainly the finest interpretation out there. The Victorian-era story is based around heroine Bathsheba Everdene (Carey Mulligan) and the fierce commitment she has to maintaining her own independence after inheriting a large farming estate from her uncle….
In exciting news for film fans, Sydney Film Festival (SFF) Director Nashen Moodley has announced that “two new documentaries, Steve Jobs: The Man in the Machine and Among the Believers; along with one new feature, The Assassin, direct from Cannes, will be added to the Sydney Film Festival program”. Renowned documentarian and SFF guest Alex…
Independent filmmakers hub Metro Screen have announced they are partnering with the Sydney Film Festival (SFF) to present two free events at the festival aimed at emerging filmmakers who both run and have a strong passion for film festivals and the role they have to play in the cultural dynamics of the city. Hosted by…
Directed by award-winning Australian writer and filmmaker Violeta Ayala and produced by Dan Fallshaw over the course of 2011-2015, The Bolivian Case follows three Norwegian teenage girls who are arrested with 22kg of cocaine in their luggage in a foreign country. The documentary explores the misdirected way in which the much relied upon media constructed stories based…
Regardless of your opinion on the controversial figure that was Amy Winehouse, there is no denying she was an incredibly talented musician who sadly passed away much too soon. To celebrate the life and music of Winehouse, the award-winning team behind the acclaimed documentary Senna has created Amy, an insightful and moving portrait of the…
The upcoming Sydney Film Festival will play host to the premiere of Australian feature film The Daughter. Starring Sam Neill, Miranda Otto, Paul Schneider and Geoffery Rush, The Daughter follows Christian (Schneider), who returns to his hometown, reunites with his childhood friend, and discovers family secrets that could tear everyone’s lives apart. The Daughter is…
Icon film distribution has announced that the world premiere of their Australian drama Last Cab to Darwin will be held at the Sydney State Theatre on June 6th 2015. And cast and crew from the film will be in attendance at the premiere. In addition, it’s inclusion in the Sydney Film festival program has also been…
So you’ve got your SFF Flexipass but you’re having a hard time choosing between all the hundreds of films that are part of the 62nd Sydney Film Festival. Not to worry, there are many necessary guides out there – like this one – to help you sift through the often overwhelming amount of choices here….
Today the complete line-up of films that will be picking at our hearts and minds during the 62nd Sydney Film Festival has been announced. Once again, those responsible for curating this comprehensive line-up have reached all across the globe to bring us an incredibly diverse and intriguing line-up full of premieres, classics, future classics, and…
Set to open at the official Sydney Film Festival Festival Hub in Town Hall is a special video exhibition staged by Sydney Contemporary. The Sydney Contemporary Video Exhibition will open at the hub on Thursday 4th June and run for the duration of the festival (until 14th June), showcasing works from 12 video artists from…
Sydney Film Festival and Transmission Films have announced Sydney Film Festival Presents, a new initiative to promote quality cinema across Australia. Slow West and Strangerland have been named the first of the selected feature films. In addition to their place at the SFF, the two films will be see national screenings at select Palace Cinemas…
As the Sydney Film Festival draws closer, the event has announced that they will be holding a family friendly program which includes a slew of films that appeal to all audiences. The sessions will even take place during the day. The expanded program now includes: GAYBY BABY Director: Maya Newell | Australia | 85mins |…
