Whilst there is a certain “inside baseball”-like mentality to The Studio – the Seth Rogen–Evan Peters-created comedy series about the moving and shaking of a new film studio head and his attempt to salvage the newly acquired company’s evidently floundering reputation – such is the genius of Rogen and Peters’ handling (the duo co-directing each…
Read more
After its initial November 12, 2024 release date was pushed back to February and then again to March 2025, it stands to reason that Assassin’s Creed Shadows might have gained a little heat as far as expectations were concerned. After all, it’s a wonder it even took this long for the series to reach feudal…
Read more
Pet devices are only getting smarter and smarter, and there’s no doubt that the Enabot brand of pet products is about to be pioneers in this market. While there are so many great products that can keep an eye out on your pet, feed your pets, and even play with your pets, The Enabot ROLA…
Read more
Pet cameras are a great addition to the household to make sure your pets are exactly where they need to be if you need to duck out of the house for a few hours or go for a quick run to the shops. But there are always blind spots that these cameras can’t always catch….
Read more
A queer President. An occasionally profane Kylie Minogue. An unseen Hugh Jackman. A birder-obsessed detective. And a murder most foul. An Agatha Christie-meets-Clue-like mystery series from the Shondaland factory (i.e. Shonda Rhimes, the figurehead behind such TV successes as Grey’s Anatomy, How To Get Away With Murder, and Bridgerton), The Residence is an intelligent, witty…
Read more
If you’re a pet owner, you’ve probably had your fair share of trial and error when trying to find the right product for your pet to drink water from. While plastic water dispensers are great, they can get dirty quite quickly, and the actual bottle itself can be difficult to clean because of how small…
Read more
Whilst his previous film – 2017’s crowd-pleasing Patti Cake$ – had a scrappiness to it, it beamed with a personality larger than its budget. For O’Dessa, director Geremy Jasper delights in supreme maximalism, as his post-apocalyptic musical-romance hybrid projects its bigness through both its visuals and its central thematic of how love can transform one’s…
Read more
Robert De Niro and the role of a gangster have so often gone hand-in-hand that there’s an immediate sense of ease in entering The Alto Knights, with the feeling that, if nothing else, audiences can rest assured that the legendary actor will deliver a worthy performance. De Niro is ultimately the main reason to see…
Read more
If you’ve ever been into a tech store to look for a charger for your devices, be it phones, tablets or laptops, I don’t blame you for being lost in the sheer amount of options. Different brands, ports, wattages and overall compatibility always make things a little tricky. Even if you know what you’re after,…
Read more
As a newcomer to the Monster Hunter franchise, I approached Monster Hunter Wilds with fresh eyes and an eagerness to understand the phenomenon that has captivated players for two decades. While the game didn’t disappoint in delivering epic battles and immersive lore, some aspects kept it from achieving true perfection. I couldn’t help but feel…
Read more
That feeling of being a teenage music fan taps into an obsession that is both incredibly singular, yet universally known. Specific music and, in many cases, the artist behind such can imprint so intimately on one’s psyche, and it’s that worship that forms the core of Emma Higgins‘ debut feature, Sweetness. Granted, Higgins laces this…
Read more
Whilst Black Bag sets itself up as a spy thriller in slightly the same vein as the (former) Brangelina vehicle Mr. & Mrs. Smith, with the two supremely charming (and, let’s face it, beautiful) leads dancing around the question of whether or not two spies in a marriage can stay truthful to one another, director…
Read more
At the centre of Hard Truths, the latest tragicomedy from writer/director Mike Leigh, is a woman who seemingly seeks conflict in each of her interactions, making her personal relationships challenging in the process. The woman – the embodiment of someone who tests patience and will, but still earns enough love from those that she hasn’t…
Read more
Every Little Thing follows retired writer and teacher Terry Masear over a summer as she takes in and rehabilitates injured hummingbirds. Shot with stunning close-ups of the birds against the backdrop of Masear’s storied life, this film is a mediation on human-animal relationships and our capacity for care. Bringing this stunning story to the screen…
Read more
I do have a soft spot for developer Hazelight Studios. While I enjoyed A Way Out, I simply adored It Takes Two. Having played through it with my wife, who I must state does not play games of any sort, and for her to love it as much as she did is a true testament…
Read more
Whilst the 2003 Australian crime comedy Gettin’ Square has its loyal fans and critical acclaim to its name, it severely underwhelmed at the Australian box office upon its release, leading the very existence of Spit to be quite an anomaly in itself. A two decades-on sequel to a flop genre flick is not the usual…
Read more
In some ways it’s unfair for Mickey 17 to use director Bong Joon Ho‘s Oscar-winning Parasite in its marketing, as this bonkers sci-fi effort is quite far removed from that aforementioned satirical thriller, and may lure audiences into a false sense of security. Of course, being a Bong picture, satire is still utilised, but waiting…
Read more
When it comes to the tried and tested buddy comedy, chemistry is key. Keke Palmer, arguably one of the most mega-wattage charm possessors currently working, and R&B music starlet SZA prove quite the dynamic duo in One of Them Days, an extremely spirited genre vehicle that they continually elevate when it occasionally gives in to…
Read more
Whilst it’s been two decades since French director Florent-Emilio Siri dipped his toe in the action genre with the 2005 Bruce Willis vehicle Hostage, it’s evident he hasn’t lost any flair for such, with his relentless Elyas touching on topical themes whilst proving rousing as an exaggerated vehicle in the same vein of a Liam Neeson…
Read more
It’s so obvious to mention the original Doom at the slightest mention of boomer shooters. It wasn’t the first first-person shooter (FPS), but it still feels like the most important in terms of popularity and influence. Not only was the 2016 reboot a hit, but to this day, programmers and enthusiasts continue finding more and…
Read more
A starring role with her talents front and centre always suited Kate Hudson, so, immediately, Running Point lands its lay-up, with the Netflix comedy series giving the actress the material needed to flourish. Inspired by Los Angeles Lakers president Jeanie Buss, the Mindy Kaling-produced series subs in the Los Angeles Waves and Hudson’s Isla Gordon,…
Read more
Whilst there were many movie-goers that may have been surprised at hearing Fernanda Torres‘s name being called at this year’s Golden Globes as the recipient of the Best Actress in a Motion Picture (Drama) over the likes of Nicole Kidman’s acclaimed turn in Babygirl and Angelina Jolie’s seeming front-runner presence in Maria, once I’m Still…
Read more
As ridiculous a sport racewalking may seem – Aussies are sure to have images of Jane Turner and Glenn Robbins powerwalking with all their might come to mind – writing/directing duo Phil Moniz and Kevin Claydon lace such with a tenderness and respect that allows audiences to laugh with the sport’s quirk rather than at…
Read more
Similar to the naturalistic, almost documentary-like aesthetic she laced her film American Honey with, writer/director Andrea Arnold approaches Bird with a realism that, for the majority of its 119 minute running time, rarely lets up to allow audiences a proper escape from the poverty-stricken housing estate setting it largely sits within. Unfolding through the eyes…
Read more
Sid Meier’s Civilization series has long been the gold standard in turn-based strategy, offering players the thrill of guiding an empire through the ages and watching history unfold, one turn at a time. With Civilization 7, developer Firaxis Games reimagines many aspects of the franchise, introducing improvements to combat, a fresh take on diplomacy, and a…
Read more
Whilst there’s certainly nothing wrong with the prestige approach to television and treating an entire season as an extended film, essentially, Good Cop/Bad Cop is a welcome example of the type of throwback, one-hour sittings of pure entertainment, riding off the benefits of a snappy ensemble, familiar rhythms and lived-in characters. Set for release locally…
Read more
After last year’s Longlegs became a breakout success and lent a certain elevated air of relevance to writer/director Osgood Perkins‘ name, there’s understandably a level of expectation surrounding his follow-up, The Monkey, especially with the added gravity of being based off a Stephen King short story and having the producer credit of James Wan (Saw,…
Read more
At the centre of Gia Coppola‘s The Last Showgirl is Shelley (Pamela Anderson), a 57-year old (though she’ll initially tell you otherwise) Vegas all-girl revue performer whose 30+ years in the Razzle Dazzle show are coming to an abrupt end. But just as Shelley’s tenure is closing, and the uncertainty of life sets in, Anderson’s…
Read more
In a time when there’s so much uncertainty in the world, a film like The Last Journey feels even more special and affirming as it projects pure beauty and an uplifting nature in telling its central story around two men and their determination to reaffirm life’s wonder for another. Swedish journalists and television hosts Filip…
Read more
Given that The Gorge is directed by Scott Derrickson, who has helmed such horror pleasers as Sinister and The Black Phone, penned by an action familiar in Zach Dean (The Tomorrow War, Fast X), and is headlined by the reliable duo of Anya Taylor-Joy and Miles Teller, one would feel safe sitting down to stream…
Read more
