Blade Runner 2049 – Movie Review
Director: Denis Villeneuve Starring: Ryan Gosling, Harrison, Ford, Robin Wright, Ana de Armas, Jared Leto and Dave Bautista. It’s been thirty years since Deckard (Harrison Ford) and Rachael (Sean Young) made their escape from the dystopian Los Angeles of director Ridley Scott’s original 1982 classic, Blade Runner. In their absence, the city has continued to […]
Kingsman: The Golden Circle Dir: Matthew Vaughn
Starring: Tarron Egerton, Colin Firth, Julianne Moore, Halle Berry, Mark Strong, Elton John, Jeff Bridges, Channing Tatum, Pedro Pascal, Bruce Greenwood, Emily Watson The long list of stars preceding this review should give you a clue as to what this sequel to 2015’s Kingsman: The Secret Service is all about. It wants to be […]
Beach Rats Dir: Eliza Hittman
It’s a case of desire and denial in this atmospheric coming-of-age tale of a teen struggling with his sexuality in Brooklyn.
6 Days Dir: Toa Fraser
A Kiwi take on one of Britain’s most iconic events of the 20th century, this action-thriller starring Jamie Bell is a gripping account of the real-life siege.
Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked The World Dir: Catherine Bainbridge & Alfonso Maiorana (NZIFF)
Here’s a well-intentioned, ambitious music documentary determined to shine a light on the influence of Native Americans in the history of rock & roll. Its scatter-shot approach hits as many targets as it misses.
Good Time Dir: Ben & Josh Safdie
Electric New York filmmakers the Safdie brothers rob us blind with this heist movie gone wrong, thanks to an illicitly good performance from Robert Pattinson.
Mountain Dir: Jennifer Peedom (NZIFF)
Mountain junkies, classical music lovers and Willem Dafoe fans are all in for a treat, with this enthralling look at what makes mountains move us.
Bill Frisell: A Portrait Dir: Emma Franz
A few days ago I nominated BANG! The Bern Berns Story as the best music documentary at this year’s film festival (read review here). After watching Bill Frisell: A Portrait, I must say that it comes in as a close second.
Happy End Dir: Michael Haneke
Starring: Isabelle Huppert, Jean-louis Trintignant, Toby Jones Austrian filmmaker Michael Haneke serves up a French-language black comedy featuring a dysfunctional family, observations on social media, euthanasia, European class structure and immigration and video surveillance in the age of the smart phone. Unfortunately, the end result of all this is less than the sum of […]
My Year with Helen, Director: Gaylene Preston
My Year with Helen takes an in-depth look at former Prime Minister Helen Clark’s bid for Secretary General, the top job at UN, where she has headed up the Development Programme for six years. For those who have followed Aunty Helen’s impressive career trajectory, it’s a warm and personal step into both her personal and […]
To Stay Alive: A Method – Dir: Erik Lieshout, Arno Hagars & Renier van Brummelen (NZIFF)
“A dead poet does not write”. Iggy Pop reads the words of Michel Houellecq in this film that addresses the issue of struggling artists and their mental health.
Beatriz At Dinner Dir: Miguel Arteta
Starring: Salma Hayek, John Lithgow, Connie Britton At first, Beatriz At Dinner comes across as an American counterpoint to Sally Potter’s very English and very black comedy The Party (reviewed here) and also playing at this year’s film festival.
Tony Conrad: Completely In The Present Dir: Tyler Hubby (NZIFF)
You may be aware of Tony Conrad’s contribution to music and his association with The Velvet Underground, but this lively, entertaining look at the late experimental artist reveals that there was much more to Conrad besides the drone.
The Free Man Dir: Toa Fraser
Feeling a bit over day-to-day monotony? If you can handle the dizzying spectacle, Jossi Wells and his newfound French friends might set you free.
A Date For Mad Mary Dir: Darren Thornton
If you’re after a bit of craic at the NZ International Film Festival you won’t go wrong with A Date For Mad Mary, an expertly handled soulful rom-com.
It Comes At Night Dir: Trey Edward Shults
It’s the Walking Dread in this tightly focused post-apocalyptic survival movie; no zombies just Joel Edgerton out to protect his family at any cost.
The Workshop Dir: Laurent Cantet
Starring: Marina Fois and Matthieu Lucci Want your teenager out of their phone and into some current social debate? Then drag them along to this teen-centric thrilling war of words from the Palme d’Or winning director of The Class.
A Ghost Story Dir: David Lowery
Starring: Casey Affleck, Rooney Mara A Ghost Story has been described as a film people either love or hate. I beg to differ. I viewed the screening at Auckland’s Civic Theatre about 12 hours ago and I am still trying to decide how I feel about it.
BANG! The Bert Berns Story Dir: Brett Berns, Bob Sarles
At the risk of sounding hyperbolic and clichéd…if you see one music doco at this year’s NZ Film Festival, make sure it’s Bang! The Bert Berns Story.
The Merciless Dir: Byun Sung-hyun
Get a taste of slick South Korean hardboiled pulp with this ultraviolent tale of betrayal that could tear a ruthless gang apart.