Author: Peter Gray

Seasoned film critic. Gives a great interview. Penchant for horror. Unashamed fan of Michelle Pfeiffer and Jason Momoa.

Interview: Brandon Routh reflects on Superman Returns and Scott Pilgrim‘s longevity

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s…Brandon Routh! As one of very few actors to play Superman on film, and part of an even more exclusive club who have portrayed two heroes in the same universe, Brandon has thrilled audiences with Superman Returns, had adventures across time as The Atom in Legends…

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Film Review: Kinds of Kindness; Yorgos Lanthimos purposefully alienates viewers with surreal triptych fable

As Yorgos Lanthimos built up his profile with more mainstream-inclined audiences over the years – blending his unique storytelling vision with noticeable, A-list talent – the filmmaker viscerally tells them to essentially f*ck off with Kinds of Kindness, a 164-minute blackly comic, absurdist, and boundary-pushing surrealist drama that makes his previous oddity, last year’s award-winning…

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Interview: Twisters director Lee Isaac Chung on balancing his “summer popcorn blockbuster” sequel with environmental importance

This summer, the epic studio disaster movie returns with an adrenaline-pumping, seat-gripping, big-screen thrill ride that puts you in direct contact with one of nature’s most wondrous – and destructive – forces. From the producers of the Jurassic, Bourne and Indiana Jones series comes Twisters, a current-day chapter of the 1996 blockbuster, Twister. Directed by…

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Film Review: Twisters; Thoughtful and bombastic legacy sequel is a true crowd-pleasing event

The natural disaster film received something of an elevation back in 1996 with the release of Twister.  With a high-calibre collection of talent on hand, both behind the scenes (it was produced by Steven Spielberg, directed by Jan de Bont, off a screenplay penned by Jurassic Park scribe Michael Crichton) and in front of the…

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Film Review: Fly Me To The Moon; Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum’s chemistry soars in delightfully old-fashioned comedy

The authenticity of the moon landing has always been something that’s long plagued history.  And whilst a straightforward narrative around the Apollo 11 project would undoubtedly be intriguing, it’s an entirely safer bet to allude to such a longstanding conspiracy with a surrounding story, rather than court controversy with anything direct. And it’s with such…

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Interview: Barry Conrad on joining the Australian production of In The Heights, career lessons and aspirations, and the importance of authenticity in his work

Barry Conrad’s multifaceted career spans screen, stage and music. After breaking out on the reality series The X Factor, both local and international tours followed, including openings for such R&B icon acts as Brian McKnight, Craig David and Eric Benet. Landing a role on FOX’s Power Rangers: Ninja Storm, his first feature film was the…

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Win tickets to see Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum in the new comedy Fly Me To The Moon

Will they make it? Or fake it? Thanks to Sony Pictures Australia we have 5 double in-season passes (Admit 2) to see Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum soar to romantic heights in the new comedy Fly Me To The Moon, arriving in Australian cinemas from July 11th, 2024. Brought in to fix NASA’s public image,…

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Interview: Greg Berlanti on directing Fly Me To The Moon and the importance of story over star power

Starring Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum, Fly Me To The Moon is a sharp, stylish comedy-drama set against the high-stakes backdrop of NASA’s historic Apollo 11 moon landing. Brought in to fix NASA’s public image, sparks fly in all directions as marketing maven Kelly Jones (Johansson) wreaks havoc on launch director Cole Davis’s (Tatum) already…

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Film Review: MaXXXine; Ti West’s X trilogy comes to a sleazy, slashing close

Back in March of 2022, Ti West birthed a horror trilogy the genre didn’t know it needed. X, a 1970s-set porn shoot-turned-massacre tale, indulged in its dirty aesthetic, before its 1918-set prequel, Pearl, arrived mere months later, similarly revelling in its own unique temperament, one that came across like The Wizard of Oz on a…

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Independent Australian artist IVANA ignites dance scene with debut single Ooh La La La

A dynamic force emerging from the spotlight of reaching Top 4 on this year’s season of Australian Idol, IVANA is poised to ignite stages in Australia and around the world, firmly establishing her as an artist destined for international stardom, with the release of her debut single, “Ooh La La La.” With the release, the 20-year-old…

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AIDC to host landmark documentary event Regionality Sunshine Coast in Maroochydore

Presented by AIDC (Australian International Documentary Conference) and Screen Queensland, with the support of Sunshine Coast Council and in collaboration with the Sunshine Coast Screen Collective, the inaugural Regionality Sunshine Coast, set to take place on Friday, July 26, 2024, at the Maroochy RSL in Maroochydore, marks the first time the Sunshine Coast will host a…

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Film Review: Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F is a welcome return to form for Eddie Murphy’s iconic character

After tarnishing the one-two punch of 1984’s Beverly Hills Cop and it’s 1987 sequel with the 1994 threequel – one that even the film’s stars have turned against over the years – the Eddie Murphy-led franchise seemed permanently laid to rest. Though there’s been considerable chatter in the three decades since its release, the third…

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Interview: Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F director Mark Molloy on continuing the franchise and improvising with Eddie Murphy

Australian director Mark Molloy has taken on no mean feat when it comes to announcing himself as a feature filmmaker.  After rumblings of a fourth franchise film in the Beverly Hills Cop series for the better part of three decades now, Molloy has finally brought Eddie Murphy’s loveable wisecracking detective Axel Foley back into the…

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Interview: Austin Butler on The Bikeriders, the freedom of motorcycling, and the “volcanic energy” of Tom Hardy

Riding into Australian theatres this week (you can read our review here), The Bikeriders captures a rebellious time in America when the culture and people were changing. After a chance encounter at a local bar, strong-willed Kathy (Jodie Comer) is inextricably drawn to Benny (Austin Butler), the newest member of Midwestern motorcycle club, the Vandals…

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Film Review: The Bikeriders revels in both the greasy masculinity and surprising vulnerability of its titular collective

Inspired by Danny Lyon‘s 1967 photo book The Bikeriders, Jeff Nichols‘ name-same drama revels in both the greasy masculinity and surprising vulnerability of its titular collective – a motorcycle club known as The Vandals – tracking their rise and evolution between 1965 and 1973. Lyon’s idea for the book was to “record and glorify the…

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The 2024 Taiwan Film Festival announces longest-ever run for Australia

The Longest-Running Ever! The Taiwan Film Festival in Australia is Back for its 7th Edition, Traveling to Six Cities from July to September 2024! The 7th Taiwan Film Festival in Australia will take place from July 25th to September 14th, spanning six cities: Sydney, Canberra, Brisbane, Hobart, Melbourne, and, for the first time, Adelaide. With…

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Interview: Rachel House on her directorial debut The Mountain; “I set out to write a film for our country.”

Sam, a fearless young girl raised outside of her Māori culture, is determined to fulfil her mission of connecting with her mountain in the hope they can heal her from the cancer she battles. Along the way she meets some misfits and new kids in town – Mallory, hoping to find friends, any kind of…

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Album Review: Camila Cabello lets her freak flag fly on the sonically exciting C, XOXO

During Camila Cabello‘s tenure on the US talent reality series The X Factor in 2012 as a member of girl collective Fifth Harmony, at-the-time judge Demi Lovato singled her out during a performance to note that only she shined on stage. Given her mammoth success as a soloist it’s often easy to forget that Cabello…

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Film Review: The Mountain is a warm, welcoming experience that speaks to Māori culture and the whimsical nature of adventuring children

Given that Rachel House so consistently makes an impression on screen with her oft-deadpan delivery, it stands to reason that her move behind the camera garner significant interest too.  Though the regular Taika Waititi collaborator has a slew of short films under her belt, The Mountain stands as her debut in feature filmmaking, with the…

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Interview: Birder director Nate Dushku, writer Amnon Lourie and actor Michael Emery on violent choreography and the importance of an intimacy coordinator

Consent has never been deadlier. Winner of Best 1st Feature at the Melbourne Queer Film Festival, Birder is an erotic thriller that pushes the limits of queer sexual intimacy on screen and tells a compelling story about what it means to be queer, sex positive, and vulnerable. Starring Michael Emery in a chilling turn as Kristian…

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Film Review: Birder is a grisly, queer chiller that offers refreshing conversation and genre thrills

“Live Free or Die” So says the state motto of New Hampshire, something that some people take a little too seriously, especially those within the realms of Nate Dushku‘s Birder, a grisly, queer thriller centred around an enigmatic serial killer and the nudist camp he preys upon. The “birder” of the title introduces himself as…

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Interview: Neil McGregor on Growing Happiness, the importance of supporting Australian art, and the unlikely American figure it led to.

In the heart of the unforgiving Outback, a relentless drought tightens its grip on the land and small town of Kalbar, Queensland. Two resilient farmers, Jenny and Russell Jenner, hatch a daring plan in an attempt to save their dying town. Undeterred by the seemingly insurmountable odds, they rally the community to stage a vibrant…

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Film Review: The Unexpecteds is a scrappy caper comedy that gets by on its plucky charm

Thanks to the rise of cryptocurrency – and the emphasis that anyone’s voice can now be heard through a variety of social media outlets – scammers have a platform and a mainstream presence.  They were never exactly a hidden, unknown collective, but there’s perhaps a prominence surrounding them now, and as the opening title card…

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The Toronto International Film Festival announces Six World Premieres for its 2024 line-up

As the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) gears up to welcome local and international film lovers to its fine city across September 5th to 15th this year, the Gala and Special Presentation programmes have announced six titles that will be premiering ahead of the Festival’s official program selection. The six titles announced thus far include…

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Fear spreads in creepy, contagious trailer for Smile 2

It will never let go. Following the critical and commercial success of the 2022 original, Smile, the fear continues to spread in Parker Finn‘s eagerly anticipated follow-up, Smile 2. This time focusing on a global pop sensation, Skye Riley (Naomi Scott), who’s about to embark on a world tour, she begins experiencing increasingly terrifying and…

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Win a double in-season pass to see (and hear) how it all began with A Quiet Place: Day One

Experience the day the world went quiet. To celebrate the release of A Quiet Place: Day One, with thanks to Paramount Pictures and Superdream, we are giving away 5 double in-season passes (Admit 2) to see Lupita Nyong’o and Joseph Quinn in the anticipated prequel that shows us how it all began. For your chance…

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Fire F*cking Fire looks at women vocalising their truth in relatable, humorous short-length feature: Tribeca Film Festival Review

When Ally (Rachel Paulson) excitedly calls her bestie, Jess (Capri Campeau), in the morning-after scenario of a pinch-me like hook-up, she can’t quite believe herself when she announces that in her bed is a bona fide rockstar.  Better than hooking up with the high-school teacher she was obsessed with, and “gayer than Rihanna”, Ally’s bed…

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Restless is an emotional and at-times torturous thriller: Tribeca Film Festival Review

The basic narrative at the core of Restless – asking how far one would go to maintain peace in your own home – is perhaps one of the most relatable, and it’s because of that potential familiarity that Jed Hart‘s dread-drenched thriller is all the more chilling. Whether it’s happened directly to us or we…

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Darkest Miriam is a captivating drama grounded by the hauntingly beautiful performance of Britt Lower: Tribeca Film Festival Review

There’s a subtlety and quietness to Darkest Miriam that continually laces this sad, yet captivating drama, with Britt Lower‘s haunting central performance adding a poetry to proceedings that beautifully captures those watching. In a Toronto neighbourhood, Miriam (Lower) lives a quiet life as a librarian, seemingly content with her daily routine of shuffling through the…

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Interview: Cora Bora stars Megan Stalter, Jojo T. Gibbs and Ayden Mayeri on connecting with their flawed characters

After premiering at last year’s SXSW Film & TV Festival, the acclaimed Cora Bora is finally introducing herself to the masses; the film is set for a release in theatres in the United States from June 14th. Starring Megan Stalter (TV’s Hacks) as the titular Cora, the film tells of her fear that her relationship…

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