SNAPSHOT In the sci-fi thriller Midnight Special, writer/director Jeff Nichols proves again that he is one of the most compelling storytellers of our time, as a father (Michael Shannon), goes on the run to protect his young son, Alton (Jaeden Lieberher), and uncover the truth behind the boy’s special Continue Reading
Movies
Andrew turns the big Five-O: The 50 favourite movies of my life
Ever since my mother took me to see Star Wars in a small wooden single-screen cinema in Ballina, N.S.W. in 1977, I have been enraptured by the power of movies to tell wholly-engrossing, utterly-immersive stories. It doesn’t matter if it’s fun lightweight blockbuster or a serious “issues” movie, cinema Continue Reading
Take off your nostalgia goggles: Stars Wars (the real first one) gets the Honest Movie Trailer treatment
I love Star Wars Episode 4: A New Hope. Seriously love it – watching it for the first time in a small wooden cinema in Ballina, NSW, Australia back in 1977 (yes I’m that old; I saw it in the cinema the first time around when it was just Continue Reading
Andrew turns the big Five-O: My 50 favourite pop culture characters ever
1. Scooby Doo Hanna-Barbera cartoons in general were a major, beloved part of my childhood (and yes, they still are as an adult) but it was Scooby Doo, whose cartoons were one of the anchoring programs of holidaying programming on the one and only commercial TV channel available to Continue Reading
Love surprises in Hello, My Name is Doris
SNAPSHOT After the death of her mother, Doris, an isolated 60-year-old woman, becomes motivated by a self-help seminar to romantically pursue a younger coworker at a hip Brooklyn clothing company. As she finds ways to connect with John (going to an electronica concert, hanging out in hipster coffee shops..), Continue Reading
Watch out Mog! It’s a Christmas cat-astrophe … or is it?
It’s a Christmas cat-astrophe! First appearing in Deborah Kerr’s delightful 1970 book, Mog the Forgetful Cat, and sticking around for a series of delightful books which culminated, at least until this Christmas with Goodbye Mog in 2002, Mog is one very adorably klutzy cat. While she technically died in Continue Reading
“I always knew I would die in an elevator!” Christmas Eve spent in very tight spaces (poster + trailer)
SNAPSHOT When a power outage traps six different groups of New Yorkers inside elevators on Christmas Eve, they find that laughter, romance, and a little holiday magic will get them through—and change their lives in unexpected ways. Starring Patrick Stewart, Jon Heder, James Roday, Cheryl Hines, Max Casella, Julianna Continue Reading
Movie review: Tanna
It was Shakespeare, through the character Lysander in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, who eloquently observed that “The course of true love never did run smooth.” It’s a universal truth that resonates powerfully in Tanna, the first feature film by Australian documentary makers Bentley Dean and Martin Butler, which tells Continue Reading
“We’re just specks of dust in the pop culture universe”: The agonised anticipation of Waiting For That Movie
We’ve all been there, especially in this information-rich, social media-drenched age. Word leaks that a movie, THE movie you have ALWAYS wanted to see, is finally in production! Hallelujah! Let the weeping angels rejoice! A release date is announced and all seems well with the world. Sure, it’s WAAAAY Continue Reading
Happy 25th anniversary Home Alone! Now you can read about Kevin’s adventures too
Home Alone turns 25 today. I’ll step and let that sink in for a moment – right, all good? Yes, the Christopher Columbus-directed film about one 8 year old boy, Kevin McAllister (Macaulay Culkin) who is mistakenly left behind at home by his family on Christmas Eve when his Continue Reading