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My happy place, well one of them anyway, is a cinema where for anyone between 1.5 hours and god knows how long – overlong blockbusters I am looking at you – I can forget the world outside and lose myself in some cinematic magic.
It’s a bliss and a joy but also a deeply expelled breath as all the stresses and worries of life taken a back seat to the immersively compelling storytelling on the screen in front of me.
There’s never a shortage of great films to watch but just in case you live in the cinema and need some suggestions, here’s three films that might pique your fancy.
Everything’s Going to Be Great
(courtesy IMP Awards)
SNAPSHOT
There’s no business like show business — for Buddy and Macy Smart (Bryan Cranston & Allison Janney) that means an unpredictable life working in regional theater while trying to raise their radically different sons, Lester & Derrick. Through it all, Buddy pursues his unstoppable dreams, and Macy is left to pull it all together and keep the family afloat. As the family grapples with identity and belonging, they share a humorous and heartfelt journey of self-discovery, learning the power of owning your spotlight, no matter what stage of life you’re in. Everything’s Going to be Great is directed by the acclaimed Scottish filmmaker Jon S. Baird, director of the films Cass, Filth, Stan & Ollie, and Tetris previously, plus a few episodes of Stonehouse most recently. The screenplay is written by Steven Rogers. Produced by Alex Lalonde, Bryan Unkeless, Steven Rogers. (courtesy First Showing)
Everything’s Going to Be Great opened in U.S. on 20 June after premiering at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival; Australian release date TBC.
(courtesy First Showing)
SNAPSHOT
Stephen Seary (starring Luke Bracey), a charismatic and successful stage designer, returns to his small hometown in Australia to say goodbye to his dying mother. What was supposed to be a quick trip descends into chaos, drama, and at times downright funny moments as Stephen navigates family responsibilities, a difficult relationship with his father, old friends & past lovers, all while trying to return to Europe for a major opera contract. The Travellers is both written and directed by Oscar-nominated prolific Australian filmmaker Bruce Beresford, director of many films including The Adventures of Barry McKenzie, Side by Side, Money Movers, Breaker Morant, The Club, Puberty Blues, Tender Mercies, King David, Crimes of the Heart, Aria, Her Alibi, Driving Miss Daisy, Mister Johnson, A Good Man in Africa, Paradise Road, Double Jeopardy, Evelyn, The Contract, Mao’s Last Dancer, Peace Love & Misunderstanding, Mr. Church, Ladies in Black previously. Produced by Michael Boughen, Kelvin Munro, Matthew Street. (courtesy First Showing)
The Travellers opens in Australia on 9 October; U.S. release date TBC.
(courtesy First Showing)
It’s 1997. The Hale-Bopp comet is passing by Earth, and Maggie Campion (starring Shayelin Martin) is a kid with a secret. She’s always known there’s something different about her: she can see sounds and hear colors, and her senses do all sorts of other unusual things besides. Shy & cautious, Maggie has always kept these things to herself. But when she moves across the country with her family — her goofy theatrical dad Russell (Patrick McKenna), pragmatic mom Helen (Tania Webb), mischievous little sister Evie — Maggie’s world is shaken up. When she starts school and her dad mounts a ramshackle production of The Pirates of Penzance at the local theatre, everything changes. Maggie meets several important people: her first love, her first best friend, a teacher who recognizes her differences, and the family’s loony handyman / exterminator, Gil, who nurses a formidable hidden talent. Together, these oddball folks will lead Maggie to the realization that her differences have a name — synesthesia. And with or without it, she’s remarkable.
Magnetosphere is written and directed by the American indie filmmaker Nicola Rose, making her second feature film after directing Goodbye, Petrushka (2022) previously, plus many other short films. Produced by Tierney Boorboor, Rebeka Herron, Drew Martin. This first premiered at the 2024 Hamilton Film Festival and Dances With Films Festival last year. (courtesy First Showing)
Magnetosphere opens in U.S. on 22 July; Australian release date TBC.