Winter's Bone
Americans love to ponder that hillbillies live parallel to, yet oddly separate from, contemporary society. Bonded by family, tradition and their own moral... read more...
Gainsbourg
Joann Sfar’s biopic of French singer Serge Gainsbourg (Eric Elmosnino) draws its fairytale tone from its origins in Sfar’s graphic novel. It... read more...
Jackass 3D
Roll up, Roll up! Jackass 3D is in town. Prepare to be amazed as Johnny Knoxville, Steve O and the gang hit each other in the balls one more time. If that... read more...
The Social Network
Screenwriter Aaron Sorkin sees this as an epic tragedy. Sorkin’s not subtle about that. The Social Network transcends naturalism, and its real-life... read more...
Summer Coda
Heidi (Taylor) has lived in Nevada since her father walked out when she was seven. Now the surly violinist is returning to Mildura for his funeral and... read more...
Departures
It makes sense that there aren’t too many flicks around about death. Being reminded of your own mortality doesn’t exactly shout “choc-bomb-n-popcorn... read more...
Let Me In
Brief, inspired moments suggest how Matt Reeves could have added American resonances to John Ajvide Lindqvist’s Swedish coming-of-age horror... read more...
John Hughes Retrospective
“Here’s the point, Andie…when you’re feeling real low and dirty, don’t look to me to pump you back up – ’cause... read more...
The White Ribbon
I once endured a Michael Haneke retrospective at ACMI with double bills by the master-director playing over four weeks. Each and every title gave me a... read more...
Lavazza Italian Film Festival
Buon giorno! Been craving an overseas escape? Perhaps a Roman Holiday?! Aching for fine food, wine and some Italian screen time? Get ready to swig the... read more...
Heavy Movie Parking Lot
Forget about people who say things like: “I’ve never been to a movie by myself, EVER. That would be so pathetic, what do you think I am, some... read more...
The Tree
So a rural Queensland dude (Aden Young) dies of a heart attack as his ute comes to rest against the fig tree next to his house. Naturally, his wife Dawn... read more...
The Girl Who Played With Fire
Feels like it was only back in March that Stieg Larsson’s blockbusting trilogy first burst into cinemas. Oh wait – it was. While Hollywood... read more...
Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps
Oliver Stone’s sequel to his zeitgeist-capturing 1987 corporate thriller isn’t so much a movie as a parade of macho aphorisms in designer suits.... read more...
I'm Still Here
I’m Still Here was at first thought (optimistically perhaps) a genuine document of a celebrity’s psychic implosion, with none of the prurient... read more...
Easy A
I was ready to adore this slut-shaming comedy in which Emma Stone fake-loses her virginity and gains a real-bad reputation stoked by fundamentalist Christian... read more...
The Disappearance Of Alice Creed
The opening scenes of this microbudget UK thriller are a triumph. Two men – taciturn Vic (Eddie Marsan) and meek Danny (Martin Compston) –... read more...
Tomorrow When The War Began
A bunch of unfeasibly attractive teenagers go bush. Laughing, flirting, frolicking beside creeks and campfires… Something bad’s definitely... read more...
'The Pride'
A dinner party with someone else is stressful as it is, let alone renovating the kitchen with them. My reno-mate and I turned into exaggerated caricatures... read more...
CinefestOz 2010
CinefestOz may not match Southbound in a ‘Busso-off’, but this French/Oz film festival draws equivalent star power. Steve Bisley (Mad Max, Water... read more...
Boy
Beneath the ’80s nostalgia and New Zealand jokes, Taika Waititi’s Boy is a similar tale of father/son misunderstanding. read more...
The Killer Inside Me
However, while terrible and prolonged, the violence is inextricably part of the disconcerting look and tone. Winterbottom eschews stylisation –... read more...
Scott Pilgrim vs The World
Filmmakers often struggle to incorporate the comic-book form into comic-book adaptations. Dick Tracy tried deep-focus lens tricks and limited colour scheme;... read more...
'Four Lions'
Is it too soon for a farce about bumbling English jihadis? Perhaps for some but fearless British satirist Chris Morris (Brass Eye, Nathan Barley) certainly... read more...