As much as Vincent Grashaw‘s Bang Bang revels in the alpha masculinity that oft dominates the boxing industry and the men it produces, this hard drama laces its narrative with a sadness and humanity that consistently brings the film above its gruff exterior. And much of that belongs to the impeccable Tim Blake Nelson, leading…
Read More
A character losing themself to nature in order to find solitude or correct the course of their life is not a road seldom travelled on screen. And in the case of The Outrun, it’s the windswept Orkney Islands off the northeastern coast of Scotland that serve as a place of rejuvenation for Rona (Saoirse Ronan,…
Read More
The prospect of being stuck in a cab for 90 minutes with a driver that isn’t afraid to wax lyrical about the dynamics of men and women doesn’t exactly sound like the most pleasant experience. And whilst that it is the entire premise of Christy Hall‘s conversation-provoking Daddio, audiences pre-empting their annoyance at such a…
Read More
Whilst it’s understandable that audiences may assume The Exorcism is somehow related to last year’s The Pope’s Exorcist – and given both their closeness in title and sharing of Russell Crowe, you can see why – but Joshua John Miller‘s genre entrant is more a dramatic character study, with many of the horrific elements feeling…
Read More
The idea of wearing a mask – physical or metaphorical – can so often be used to uncover a psyche within the realms of dark storytelling, and for Aaron Schimberg‘s chaotic A Different Man a literal representation is at the core. There’s an undeniably captivating and thought-provoking narrative at play, but the execution feels ultimately…
Read More
Though there is a high-concept present in the narrative forming of My Old Ass – shroom induced time travel could be the easiest elevator pitch summary (so, a high-concept if ever there was one) – Megan Park‘s deliriously sweet, always charming, oft-hilarious venture is, at its core, an uncomplicated affair that simply wants to make…
Read More
There’s a sense of too many eggs in one basket present in Problemista, a loaded-with-ideas, absurdist comedy from comedian Julio Torres who treats his first-time feature as if he may not get the chance to do a second. And there’s nothing inherently wrong with the ideas that Torres – a former Saturday Night Live scribe,…
Read More
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…
Read More
Men behaving badly is at the core of Annick Blanc‘s Hunting Daze, a surreal visualisation of toxic masculinity that refuses to ever pigeonhole itself into one category. It’s horrific without ever devoting itself entirely to that genre. It’s blackly funny, though never satirical. And it’s always engaging, even if the extreme manner in which Blanc…
Read More
Though it leans into the action/thriller genre with a supreme wink, Thelma, Josh Margolin‘s frequently hilarious, always poignant ode to his own grandmother (and, clearly, a love of the action genre), is never spoofing the films it so evidently is earning its laughs from; and it’s that sweetness and keen sense of reinvention that helps…
Read More
The controversial historical treatment of Australia’s native people by white settlers and the continuing generational trauma within the Indigenous communities weigh heavy on the narrative themes of Jon Bell‘s The Moogai. There’s a ripe premise to lean into horror genre sensibilities – “moogai” is the Bundjalung language for a malevolent child-stealing entity that is the…
Read More
The blending of genres isn’t as easy as Richard Linklater makes it look in the deliciously fun Hit Man, a-sexy-romantic-comedy-cum-philosophical-action-film that the School of Rock helmer and lead charmer Glen Powell have co-scribed together in a seamless fashion. Given that Linklater has so often deviated from the expectation put forward in some of his films…
Read More
There’s something of a full circle moment experienced with Am I OK?, Tig Notaro and Stephanie Allynne‘s co-directorial feature debut. The real-life couple, who met on the set of a Sundance selection title (2013’s In A World…), returned to the festival as married women detailing their own journey of self-discovery and acceptance with a film…
Read More
Sonos is well known for its high-quality audio and stylish designs across a variety of soundbars and wireless speakers. But for as good as they are, it seemed like there was a small gap in the market. Sony has done it with the WH-1000XM5. Bose has done it with the QuietComfort Ultra. Everyone’s either seen,…
Read More
Given M. Night Shyamalan‘s penchant for banking the majority of his theatrical narratives on “the twist ending”, it’s understandable to walk into his daughter’s feature directorial debut with the same type of expectation. Whilst I can’t personally speak to whether or not the A.M. Shine novel Ishana Night Shyamalan has adapted is faithfully recreated here…
Read More
After showcasing her stellar comedic delivery across 2022’s Bodies Bodies Bodies and last year’s Bottoms, Rachel Sennott continues her dominance as one of the industry’s most exciting talents with a more dramatic flex in Ally Pankiw‘s I Used To Be Funny, which offsets its lead’s comedic capabilities and humorously-adjacent title with a dark, heartbreaking temperament….
Read More
Whilst this is a franchise that has indulged in its fair share of overtly-violent set-pieces for close to three decades now, there’s something to be said for the fact that Bad Boys: Ride or Die – the fourth in this surprisingly resilient series – is determined to keep the action on hand ageing gracefully. Yes,…
Read More
Over the years, developer Codemasters has done a fantastic job at creating numerous Formula 1 games that look gorgeous, are fun to play, and are meticulously crafted to include a number of customisation options for controller and simulation users alike. The F1 World mode has incorporated online and offline components in unique ways, while career…
Read More
With such a wide range of gaming headsets available these days, each with its own unique features and fits, it can be hard to make the right choice. For those who wish to get the best bang for their buck, the choice becomes a little easier. The Turtle Beach Stealth 500 wireless gaming headset swoops…
Read More
SteelSeries has become quite revered for its newer Nova lineup of gaming headsets, with their top-tier Arctis Nova Pro Wireless option still sitting atop the gaming headset mountain. Even so, something like the Arctis Nova 1 headset is still one of the best entry-level headsets you can get, for its comfort and sound quality. The…
Read More
I really enjoyed Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice when it launched back in 2017, for its intriguing lore, emotional narrative and stellar sound design. That was really all I needed to want to return to this world in Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2. While this sequel feels incredibly familiar in most departments, developer Ninja Theory has made every…
Read More
Similar to the disdain many had when it was announced that Chris Pratt would be voicing Mario for last year’s The Super Mario Bros. Movie, the actor’s involvement as Garfield hasn’t assisted in warming him to the masses that have seriously turned on him in a manner many never saw coming after his winning work…
Read More
Perhaps because we’re simply used to his New Girl persona, or that even in the realms of a horror setting he’s playing with a little uncertain levity, Lamorne Morris‘ presence in the opening moments of Night Shift suggest that The China Brothers (filmmaking duo Benjamin and Paul China) may be preparing their audience for a more…
Read More
It’s hard to believe that the original Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door is 20 years old. Yes, you read that right. It’s also just as hard for me to believe that I remember checking out the original Gamecube version like it was yesterday. This remake will feel incredibly familiar to anyone who has played the…
Read More
We’ve reviewed a couple of Tineco mop vacuums in the past, like the Floor One S5 Combo and the Floor One S6 Pro Extreme. Both have been fantastic all-in-one options for my hardwood floors over the past few months. And yet, The Tineco Floor One S7 Steam feels like another step up. Sure, it’s and…
Read More
John Krasinski has primarily set himself up in the horror space across his directorial career. And though his latest could give way to genre tendencies – imaginary friends can indeed be a terrifying notion – he’s decidedly opted for a more wholesome, family-friendly mentality with the release of IF. IF (which stands for Imaginary Friend)…
Read More
It isn’t an uncommon road travelled for actors to further express their creativity through the release of music. Whilst some commit to both with a certain vigour (Jennifer Lopez, Cher, etc) and others dabble with more consistent subtlety (Keanu Reeves, Ryan Gosling, Russell Crowe), it does feel a little out of the ordinary to switch…
Read More
Dell have always excelled in their XPS range, providing quality materials and performance, in a slimmer form factor. While the specs are usually built to suit the user and their usage, there’s no denying most of these models have been constantly sleek and powerful, something you don’t usually find in your everyday laptop. The latest…
Read More
Mad Max: Fury Road felt like a truly once-in-a-lifetime type event upon its release in 2015. It was continuing a series that had laid dormant for 30 years at that point and, despite still relative success both critically and commercially, the third film – 1985’s Beyond Thunderdome – was so often cited as the series’…
Read More
The concept of e-readers is admittedly alluring and seems to have only grown in popularity in recent years. After all, why look for a literal library of space in your house when you can cram them all into one slim device? Collectors aside, there’s simply plenty to love about the newest iteration of Kobo’s larger…
Read More
