The Beekeeper
Cast: Jason Statham, Emmy Raver-Lampman, Bobby Naderi, Josh Hutcherson
Director: David Ayer
Rating: MA15+
Synopsis: A former agent of a secretive organization called the “Beekeepers” embarks on a personal mission of revenge that evolves into a national security threat when it’s revealed he has insider knowledge about the group’s clandestine activities and plans.
Reviews
“Statham is ever the pro (one wonders if he’s had enough training at this stage to make a dangerously good assassin for real), but it’s all more of the same. His two non-franchise films of late showed how great he can be when afforded both a little more lightness (Operation Fortune) and a lot more darkness (Wrath of Man), and it would be satisfying to see him try something just a little out of the ordinary next.ny at first but quickly loses steam after the third and fourth reprise (which can also be said about how the film serves up cameos).”
The Guardian
“With previous Statham creations The Transporter and The Mechanic managing sequels off their simplistic premises, The Beekeeper would make for a fine addition to the actor’s seemingly unofficial trilogy of deceptively skilled professionals. We know how intricate and exciting the action genre can be, and even though The Beekeeper pushes against such a grain with standard dialogue and a nonsensical temperament, Statham’s truly the bee’s knees in this lane, and, sometimes, all you need to get the job done is a superficially sweet treat.”
The Au Review
Anyone But You
Cast: Sydney Sweeney, Glen Powell, Alexandra Shipp, Nat Buchanan, Josh Bonello
Director: Will Gluck
Rating: MA15+
Synopsis: After a phenomenal first date, Bea (Sydney Sweeney) and Ben’s (Glen Powell) intense attraction fizzles out, until a chance reunion at a wedding in Australia unexpectedly rekindles their passion.
Reviews
“For long stretches of the story Bea and Ben are positioned more as partners in crime than secret lovers, which turns out to be one of the film’s strengths,”
Screenhub Australia
“There’s a lot to like in Anyone But You, especially in how Sydney (the city) is portrayed on screen. The sun is shining, the harbour is glittering, and the houses are so luxuriously appointed you would never know there was a housing crisis.”
Perth Now
The Iron Claw
Cast: Zac Efron, Jeremy Allen White, Harris Dickinson, Maura Tierney
Director: Sean Durkin
Rating: MA 15+
Synopsis: It’s the true story of the Von Erich brothers who achieved fame as professional wrestlers in the 1980s, guided by their father Fritz. Tragedy struck the close-knit family as four of the six brothers died young. The brothers experienced great success but also struggled with substance abuse issues.
Reviews
“For The Iron Claw, Durkin (once again serving as writer and director) has almost too many historical notes to lift his story from as he lays focus on the infamous Von Erich family, their professional legacy in the world of wrestling, and the overwhelming personal tragedy that befell them. Ultimately, Durkin has removed certain aspects of their story for being too devastating.”
The Au Review
“The Iron Claw is an emotional rollercoaster. It’s so raw and heavy, and going into this knowing nothing about the real story I was floored by just how devastating it is. All of the performances – but especially from Efron, White and Dickinson – are career bests. They throw themselves into these roles and make you feel every single punch.”
Maketheswitch.com.au
The Boys in the Boat
Cast: Joel Edgerton, Callum Turner, Peter Guinness, Sam Strike, Thomas Elms
Director: George Clooney
Rating: PG
Synopsis: The film focuses on the University of Washington’s rowing team in the 1930s, following their humble beginnings during the Great Depression through their triumphant gold medal victory at the 1936 Berlin Olympics.
Reviews
“How like George Clooney, to bring us an inspirational true story about a varsity rowing crew whose get-up-and-go spirit takes them all the way to the Olympics on the eve of the Second World War.”
The Sydney Morning Herald
“On a character level by The Boys in the Boat’s finale, we are as disconnected from half of the crew as we would be just seeing an old newsreel. Despite this, George Clooney takes us on an inspiring journey through time and we can’t help but cheer for these scrappy underdogs. On a technical front, the film does hit all the right notes and even if you already know how the true story ends, The Boys in the Boat is still thrilling.”
Lilithia Reviews
Priscilla
Cast: Cailee Spaeny, Jacob Elordi, Dagmara Dominczyk, Tim Post, Lynne Griffin
Director: Sofia Coppola
Rating: M
Synopsis: When the teenage Priscilla Beaulieu met Elvis Presley, who was already a hugely popular rock-and-roll superstar, he was not what she expected during their private time together. Instead of his public persona, Presley was Priscilla’s exciting crush, a confidant when she felt alone, and her closest friend who also showed vulnerability.
Reviews
“From a filmmaking perspective, it pays excellent attention to the 60s period detail. The costumes and set portray her gilded cage exceptionally well, with close-ups of manicured feet on plush carpets. The interspersed grainy archive footage gives the intimacy of home videos.”
X-Press Magazine
“A definite contender for all the shiny things during this year’s awards season, PRISCILLA is Coppola’s most confident work in years. Indeed, thematically linked all the way back to The Virgin Suicides, here we watch the artist come full circle.”
The Reel Bits
Wish
Cast: Ariana DeBose, Chris Pine, Alan Tudyk, Angelique Cabral, Victor Garber
Directors: Chris Buck, Fawn Veerasunthorn
Rating: PG
Synopsis: A young girl named Asha makes a wish on a star and gets an unexpected surprise when one of the mischievous stars comes down from the sky to join her. Asha didn’t anticipate such a direct response to her wishing, but now finds herself face-to-face with an actual star who has decided to pay her a visit.
Reviews
“Visually the film is computer animated but aims to give a textured look of the animation that came before it giving a slightly painting like look for scenes that were not heavy on action or lighting but it does add to the goal of the film which does feel more about paying tribute to the films before it than being a stand out for the 100th anniversary.”
Geek Society AU
“Wish is a musical fantasy adventure, celebrating 100 years of Disney magic and playing tribute to the famous wishing star. The film features beautiful music and songs, a fast paced but largely predictable plot and excellent computer graphics set against some more traditional 2D backgrounds. This is a family film suitable for all but the youngest of children.”
Childrenandmedia.org.au
Next Goal Wins
Cast: Michael Fassbender, Oscar Kightley, Kaimana, David Fane
Director: Taika Waititi
Rating: PG
Synopsis: This is the story of the notoriously bad American Samoa soccer team, best known for a devastating 2001 FIFA match in which they lost 31-0.
Reviews
“Like we mentioned this is the warm and fuzzies type film and of course a sportsball one so for some that will be an automatic watch or skip, but if you are a fan of Taika’s non-Marvel work this is a strong addition to it. Next Goal Wins is not the biggest film you will watch this year but it is definitely a worthy one to start 2024 on,”
Geek Society AU
“It’s a remarkable true story that’s summarily flattened into pure formula, its fictional retelling calibrated with calculated charm and flatlining wit.”
abc.net.au
One Life
Cast: Anthony Hopkins, Helena Bonham Carter, Jonathan Pryce, Romola Garai, Johnny Flynn
Director: James Hawes
Rating: PG
Synopsis: It’s the story of Nicky Winton, a young Londoner who rescued Jewish children from the Nazis before WWII.
Reviews
“One Life is a remarkable story of persistence and humility. Winton is presented as a humanitarian, intent on doing the right thing. As a younger man he is the driving force behind a remarkable rescue effort. In old age he finally gets the recognition he so richly deserved.”
The Blurb
“There are numerous reasons why One Life‘s climax works so well. Partial credit goes to the real That’s Life for creating the inspired segment (though, as the film acknowledges, they somewhat wrongly ambushed Winton during the first record). There’s also the hovering thematic weight of the value of life, a quality multiplied by the decades of time passed, that presses down on the heart in this one moment.”
Flicks.com.au
Night Swim
Cast: Wyatt Russell, Kerry Condon, Amelie Hoeferle, Gavin Warren, Jodi Long
Director: Bryce McGuire
Rating: M
Synopsis: A family unknowingly moves into a home with a dark history, awakening an evil presence in the backyard pool.
Reviews
“All of this is hardly hardcore horror, and yet there’s still enough standard generic fun here to enjoy, with a creepy game of ‘Marco Polo’, a ghost girl seemingly trapped in the filter, and an FX phantom that looks a touch like cult star Tor Johnson from Plan 9 From Outer Space. The performances are also good for such familiar material, with Russell and Condon ensuring that this one has just enough, ahem, depth.”
Fifty+SA
“At 98 minutes Night Swim has the perfect running time to set its narrative, build its rules, scare enough of its characters, and figure out how to best the entity at its own game. Somehow, it feels double its length as it spends too much time on the drama of the Waller family and under-delivering on its terror potential.”
The AU Review
The Holdovers
Cast: Paul Giamatti, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Dominic Sessa, Carrie Preston, Brady Hepner
Director: Alexander Payne
Rating: M
Synopsis: A grumpy teacher stays at his boarding school over break with a troubled student and a grieving cook.
Reviews
“If you loved Paul Giamatti in Sideways — and, if you didn’t, that says a lot about you — run, don’t walk, to buy a ticket to see The Holdovers. This gentle comedy-drama reunites Giamatti and Sideways director Alexander Payne, and represents a return to form for the filmmaker, who underwhelmed with 2017’s Downsizing, but previously gave us Election, The Descendants, and Nebraska.”
Thewest.com.au
“Sessa should not go unmentioned, the newcomer making his film debut, who might be able to forge his own Giamatti-style career if The Holdovers is any indication. Like Giamatti and like Payne, he has the ability to find the black humour in a dire situation, and make the whole thing improbably light on its feet. We shouldn’t necessarily want to spend Christmas with these three people in a snowed-in boarding school, but we do, and that may be The Holdovers’ greatest magic trick of all.”
Reelgood.com.au
