Everything Everywhere All at Once
Cast: Michelle Yeoh, Stephanie Hsu, Jamie Lee Curtis, Ke Huy Quan, James Hong, Tallie Medel, Jenny Slate
Directors: Daniel Kwan, Daniel Scheinert
Rating: MA 15+
Synopsis
A middle-aged Chinese immigrant is swept up into an insane adventure in which she alone can save existence by exploring other universes and connecting with the lives she could have led.
Reviews
Everything Everywhere All At Once really does what it promises in the title, propelled by the Daniels’ ambitious ideas (they also wrote the screenplay) in framing a story about family, regret and depression through a bold execution that knows when to ramp up the action and when to let a moment breathe. It’s one of the most exciting films to come along in a long while.
News.com.au
Ultimately, ‘Everything Everywhere All At Once’ is a chaotic film. But beneath the warped humour, frenetic pacing, difficult science, and high-intensity action, there is a message that within the exhausting fast pace of modern life where distractions abound, it’s best to accept your place in it among those who mean the most to you. So, embrace the chaos of ‘Everything Everywhere All At Once’ and you will be rewarded with one of the most delightfully entertaining films of the year.
Scenestr.com.au
Shazam! Fury of the Gods
Cast: Zachary Levi, Asher Angel, Jack Dylan Grazer, Rachel Zegler, Adam Brody, Ross Butler, DJ Cotrona
Director: David F. Sandberg
Rating: M
Synopsis
The film continues the story of teenage Billy Batson who, upon reciting the magic word “SHAZAM!” is transformed into his adult Super Hero alter ego, Shazam.
Reviews
The use of lighting in scenes highlighted to the audience what to focus on or enhanced the meaning of particular objects. This quite was a useful animation effect and worth noting. The monsters in this film were not overly colourful, and would suit most audiences, bearing in mind that the sophisticated imagery of the monsters may not suit a less mature audience.
Glam Adelaide
Although this is a Shazam film, and Levi is effortlessly comfortable in the role, both from a physical and emotional standpoint, the narrative decision to move into a familial directional space is the smartest one.
The AU Review
Creed III
Drama Sport
Cast: Michael B. Jordan, Tessa Thompson, Jonathan Majors, Wood Harris, Phylicia Rashad
Director: Michael B. Jordan
Rating: M
Synopsis
Adonis has been thriving in both his career and family life, but when a childhood friend and former boxing prodigy resurfaces, the face-off is more than just a fight.
Reviews
Like any good film maker, Jordan uses this as an opportunity to show and not tell. The conflict resolution is played out here, some of cuts used threw more emotional weight than any other moment in the film. And this scene is so much more than two men throwing punches at each other.
Lilithia Reviews
The fight scenes are incredibly entertaining to watch with Michael B. Jordan’s creative flair. His love for fight-sequences in anime were an inspiration for these big scenes in Creed III – watch him try not to nerd out when he talks about some of fave influences.
Student Edge
Scream VI
Cast: Courteney Cox, Melissa Barrera, Jenna Ortega, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Mason Gooding
Directors: Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Tyler Gillett
Rating: MA 15+
Synopsis
In the next installment, the survivors of the Ghostface killings leave Woodsboro behind and start a fresh chapter in New York City.
Reviews
Scream VI kicks off in the traditional way: a cameo from a fresh blonde scream queen whose character considers herself a horror aficionado. Things take an interesting turn from there, launching into the most engaging Scream movie since the original.
ScreenHub Australia
A fun, intense and cinematic slasher, which, like all Scream entries, loses credibility upon the killer’s reveal and flimsy motivation.
Canberra Weekly
John Wick: Chapter 4
Cast: Keanu Reeves, Donnie Yen, Bill Skarsgard, Laurence Fishburne
Director: Chad Stahelski
Rating: MA 15+
Synopsis
John Wick uncovers a path to defeating The High Table. But before he can earn his freedom, Wick must face off against a new enemy with powerful alliances across the globe and forces that turn old friends into foes.
Reviews
What we’re dealing with is no unassuming B-movie but a nearly three-hour epic, stately, operatic and full of arty flourishes. Devotees anticipating wall-to-wall carnage may start getting restless around the time of the hilariously extended tracking shot that follows Winston stalking through the Louvre, where the only corpses in sight are those in the paintings.
The Sydney Morning Herald
There’s a wonderful tradition of “guest action stars” in this series, and Yen’s presence here may just be the apex of that notion. His nimble, pointy style provides a satisfying contrast to the heavy, stumbling nature of Wick’s combat. Adkins isn’t as well-served, but it’s still nice that he’s in there. More so than ever, Keanu Reeves’s physical presence in the action scenes is emphasised—you see his face a lot, which has always paradoxically lent these highly ridiculous films a grounded quality.
Flicks.com.au
Living
Cast: Bill Nighy, Aimee Lou Wood, Alex Sharp, Adrian Rawlins
Director: Oliver Hermanus
Rating: PG
Synopsis
In 1950s London, a humorless bureaucrat decides to take time off work to experience life after receiving a grim diagnosis.
Reviews
Living is a morally wholesome movie which discerning audiences should savour. It’s one of the year’s most respected movies that may leave audiences questioning what they would change in their lives if they were soon to meet their maker.
City Hub Sydney
Everything about Living is polished – the script, the fine acting and direction, the music, sound and lighting. Restraint helps give the movie its edge. Much is held back and yet the feelings are clear.
The Blurb
Till
Cast: Danielle Deadwyler, Jalyn Hall, Frankie Faison, Haley Bennett
Director: Chinonye Chukwu
Rating: M
Synopsis
The true story of Mamie Till-Mobley’s relentless pursuit of justice for her 14-year-old son, Emmett Till, who was brutally lynched in 1955 while visiting his cousins in Mississippi.
Reviews
There’s so much to appreciate and admire in ‘Till’, not just its craft and performances but also its compassion. In the end though, it left me feeling unsettled and frustrated. Should a film have been made about the lynching of Emmett Till? This film certainly makes a strong case for it.
Maketheswitch.com.au
Till is a difficult film to watch and there’s a real sense of injustice. Rather it’s about creating awareness about the issues and the Black community supporting each other to demand change.
Brisbanista
Pearl
Cast: Mia Goth, David Corenswet, Tandi Wright, Matthew Sunderland
Director: Ti West
Rating: MA 15+
Synopsis
In 1918, a young woman on the brink of madness pursues stardom in a desperate attempt to escape the drudgery, isolation and lovelessness of life on her parents’ farm.
Reviews
I don’t think the script is as strong this time around. There’s not a lot going on and the supporting players are flimsy. Still, it’s a film to be seen because of Mia Goth’s memorable performance. Director Ti West and cinematographer Eliot Rockett assist Goth with their use of close-ups and long takes.
The Film Pie
Look, I loved Pearl, and I find the character and the performance fascinating. Mia Goth, other than having a great name for either an actor, a singer, a painter, a wrestler or an author gets to shine forcefully in this performance.
movie-reviews.com.au
65
Cast: Adam Driver, Ariana Greenblatt, Chloe Coleman, Nika King, Brian Dare
Directors: Scott Beck, Bryan Woods
Rating: M
Synopsis
An astronaut crash lands on a mysterious planet only to discover he’s not alone.
Reviews
There’s no subtlety to 65. What you see is what you get. It’s not breaking any ground nor is it trying particularly hard to frighten the audience. Perhaps a commitment to family friendly fare defanged it from leaning harder into creature feature territory.
News.com.au
65 would’ve done well taking some cues and pointers from its producer Sam Raimi’s back catalogue as it struggles to bring any spark or magic to life in a simplified sci-fi action flick that could’ve been a B-movie delight.
Jordan and Eddie (The Movie Guys)
Empire of Light
Cast: Olivia Colman, Michael Ward, Colin Firth, Toby Jones, Tom Brooke
Director: Sam Mendes
Rating: MA 15+
Synopsis
A drama about the power of human connection during turbulent times, set in an English coastal town in the early 1980s.
Reviews
Deep-seated sorrow and heartbreak lingers in Hilary in Empire of Light, and not just because the screenplay says it must. The talented actor is a marvel at not only opening up a character’s inner tussles and emotions in her gaze and stance, but making them feel hauntingly real, which Mendes makes exceptional use of.
Concrete Playground
The movie explores societal expectations, friendship and not giving up. It also looks at racism and mental health but not in the usual forced way, the story is enough on its own.
So Binge
