Thursday, 28 August 2025

August 28th  2025

The Ballad of Wallis Island
Eddington
The Lost Caravaggio (one night only)
The Thread

Each of this week's films will no doubt have quite a different audience. Old fans of the folk era will love the first film I review, as did I. Then we have Covid era satire, the rarefied air of the art world, and a French courtroom drama. 

The Ballad of Wallis Island
Dir: James Griffiths
© Park Circus / Universal - tender and
funny - can we ever recapture the past?
Charles Heath (Tim Key) has, amazingly, won the British lottery twice. But he lives a lonely life on a remote island, grieving his dead wife, who had been a huge fan of a folk duo comprised of Nell Mortimer (Carey Mulligan) and Herb McGwyer (Tom Basden). Although the duo have long disbanded, Charles gets the inspiration to stage a reunion concert on the island, and is prepared to pay big money. The film may sound slight, but make no mistake - it packs an emotional wallop, seamlessly blending poignancy and humor and with a trio of actors who work really well together. Herb's initially world-weary dour personality is a terrific foil to the cheerfully ebullient and joke-cracking Charles, but underneath both men carry a deep sense of loss, for different reasons. The screenplay is written by Basden and Key, with Basden also being the songwriter. He has composed a delicate lovely collection of folk songs that he movingly performs with Mulligan. Their chemistry and the nostalgia they conjure is a reminder of the long-gone folk era. All up a sweet, funny and deeply reflective film, that reminds us while some things are gone for ever, they can be replaced by something new.
4 - highly recommended

Eddington
Dir: Ari Aster
© Universal / A24  - dark comic satire
on the state of America during Covid
It is May 2020, Covid is raging, and in the small New Mexico town of Eddington, a face off between local Sheriff Joe Cross (Joaquin Phoenix) and mayor Ted Garcia (Pedro Pascal) is brewing. Meantime the local youth are protesting, seething with resentments on issues from mask-wearing, to Black Lives Matter, to the proposal to build a giant data centre in their town. Conspiracy theories abound, with the Sheriff even asserting that there is no Covid in Eddington. If you want a genre mash-up extraordinaire, this is for you. It's a Western, a black comedy, a biting satire and, by the end, a violent psychological thriller. Throw into the mix a homeless man, Ted's gay son, Joe's unstable wife (Emma Stone), her overbearing mother, and a charismatic visiting cult leader (Austin Butler), and you have a recipe for all manner of mayhem. As a reflection on the state of the American psyche, Eddington hits hard, with its unforgiving satire being sometimes a little heavy-handed. The lurching around from genre to genre may be disturbing to some viewers, but no-one can say it doesn't take a good hard look at pandemic era craziness. Phoenix's performance as the progressively unhinged Sheriff is notable, and there is a lot of fun to be had, even if the runtime is a bit long.
3.5 - well  recommended

Espresso Cinema - final film
In a collaboration between Cinema Nova Melbourne and Luna Palace Perth, along with ABCG Films, Espresso Cinema screens top-notch Italian movies viewers would otherwise not get an opportunity to see. The trick is, each screening is a one-night opportunity.

The Sleeper: The Lost Caravaggio
Only this Sunday, 31 August, Cinema Nova
Dir: Alvaro Longoria
© Fandango / ABCG - Ecce Homo (Behold 
the Man) - priceless painting rediscovered
When the Perez de Castro family of Madrid decided to downsize in 2021, they sent one of their paintings to an auction house, where it was listed for 1500 euros. Experts who saw it sounded the alarm: wait a minute! could this actually be by the renowned 16th century artist Caravaggio, not the lesser painter to whom it had been attributed? And so begins a real-life thriller, set in the rarefied world of art dealers, galleries and high-stakes investors. Time is of the essence for an accurate indentification, lest the painting be horrifyingly undersold. Art dealers and Caravaggio have been getting a run of late on the big screen. Following on from the French film The Stolen Painting, and 2023's excellent Caravaggio's Shadow, this is another look at an intriguing world we seldom get to see. This short and sweet doco also looks in detail at the painting technique of the great master Caravaggio, and teaches us much about restoration, along with the high-powered negotiations and rivalry among delaers. Locations are glorious, in the most elegant cities and galleries of Europe, and the impressive soundtrack adds to what is a film art lovers won't want to miss. 
4 - highly recommended

The Thread
Dir: Daniel Auteuil
© Palace - Auteuil goes in to bat for an
accused murderer, convinced he's innocent
Jean Monier (Daniel Auteuil) is a lawyer who has not run a single defence case for fifteen years, when he was responsible for helping to exonerate a guilty man who went on to kill again. His fellow lawyer and wife Annie (Sidse Babett Knudsen) talks him into going to a case of a man arrested for murder of his alcoholic wife. As the accused Nicolas Milik (Gregory Gadebois) protests his innocence, Jean decides to defend him, convinced to the core that Nicolas, a seemingly loving father of five, is innocent. I really wanted to love this film, as I've always been a big Auteuil fan. But perhaps he's taken on too much this time. Writing the screenplay (based on a true memoir), directing the film and starring in it hasn't allowed him the space to give the story some much-needed oomph. The courtroom proceedings (so mystifying in France!) seem rather pedestrian, played by the numbers, while Jean's relationship with Annie is not developed as it could have been. The flashbacks to what might have happened serve to relieve the one-room court setting, but never take on enough urgency. The shock ending provides an unexpected jolt, but a little too late to really elevate the film, and its, at times, wooden script and seeming ignorance of the existence of forensic evidence! That said, Gadebois and Auteuil give top-shelf engrossing performances; Gadebois brings a cunning ambivalence to his teddy-bear like character, while Auteuil lets Jeans' emotional convictions overwhelm his rationality. The audience meantime is invited to speculate on the nature of truth and evidence.
3 - recommended


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Thursday, 21 August 2025

August 22nd  2025

Kangaroo Island
Irena's Vow
The Last Showgirl (streaming on Stan)
More from Indian Film Festival Melbourne

The new Aussie film Kangaroo Island is a standout this week. But, as always, there are several other worthy offerings! 

Kangaroo Island
Dir: Marc Evans
© Maslow Entertainment - delicate, beautifully
acted, witn an excellent narrative
Already garnering praise at festivals, this latest Aussie offering from a first-time director is a tender, sad and at times funny look at ambition, regret, and ultimately the family ties that bind. Lou Wells (Rebecca Breeds) is pursuing a largely unsuccessful career in Hollywood, when she gets a letter from her father Rory (Erik Thomson) asking her to return home. An amusing series of events sees her on the plane with only the clothes she wears. She arrives back at her island childhood home with sister Freya (Adelaide Clemens), husband Ben (Joel Jackson), their kids, and a simmering pot of  family secrets and recriminations. A film of this nature could run the risk of becoming a soapie, but thanks to excellent dialogue and scripting, absolutely believable characters and some of the most stunning cinematography, it soars above the mundane. The cause of the family friction is gradually revealed in flashbacks, while the reasons for being called home only gradually emerge, and will be something many can relate to. Just seeing the island and its iconic wildlife should get tourists flocking, but it is the authenticity of the characters and their story, so beautifully acted by all, that is a major drawcard.
4.5 - wholeheartedly recommended

Irena's Vow
Dir: Louise Archambault
Length: 121 mins
© - a Holocaust story of courage
Holocaust stories are often a case of truth being stranger than fiction. Here's yet another astonishing true story of how a 19-year-old Polish nurse, Irena Gut (Sophie Nelisse), managed to save Jewish lives through her acts of courage. Studying to be a nurse, when war breaks out, Irena is sent to work first in a factory where several Jews are also forced to work. She is then sent as a housekeeper to a manor commandeered by Nazi officer Rugemer (Dougray Scott). When she hears the Jews are to be rounded up she decides to hide them all in plain sight in the basement of her Nazi employer's villa. Unbelievable! Featuring a memorable performance from Nelisse, the film is testament to a gentile woman's compassion and bravery, as she witnesses horrendous brutality to those who protected Jews, yet retains the stength to do what she believes is right. Although the film doesn't break new ground in its style, and is in English (perhaps not the best choice), it is indeed an inspiring story.
3.5 - well recommended 

The Last Showgirl
Dir: Gia Coppola
Length: 88 mins
Streaming on Stan
© Madman  - homage to a dying lifestyle
on the Vegas strip. 
For those who only think of Pamela Anderson as bum, boobs and Baywatch, think again. She shows her acting chops in this film, such that she was nominated for a Golden Globe! This poignant story focuses upon a long-running show in the Las Vegas strip, and its now 50-something year old stalwart Shelly (Pamela Anderson). The show, run by Eddie (a surprisingly tender Dave Bautista) is closing down, and the dancers are faced with what to do with the rest of their lives.  Anderson definitely surprises with the interesting character she portrays - not always likeable, often (impressively) without makeup, but suffused with a poignancy, as her whole identity has been tied up with this show, and many of the younger girls have seen her as a mother figure. Add to this her own daughter Hannah (Billie Lourd) being resentful of her mother's neglect and ashamed of her job, and you have a recipe for all-round sadness. Jamie-lee Curtis gives a star turn as aging alcoholic Annette who now does a sad dance routine in the foyer of a Vegas joint. The costumes are of course dazzling and the film captures the freneticness of getting a show together, although much is about the more mundane side of a supposedly glittering life.
3.5 - well recommended

More from Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM)
On until August 24
Various Cinemas - Hoyts Docklands, Hoyts Chadstone, Village Crown, Geelong, Bendigo, Shepparton and more
To explore the festival, discovering films by language and theme, visit: https://www.iffm.com.au

The festival winds up this weekend, so there's still a chance to catch some excellent films in Melbourne. And if you're in Bendigo, you may like to check out this one:
Shook: This is a gentle story of Ashish, (Sameer Usmani) an aspiring writer living with his mother out in the 'burbs of Ontario Canada. He meets Claire (Amy Forsyth) who is about to relocate to the big smoke of Toronto and they fall into a relationship. Meantime Ash learns that his estranged father Vijay (Bernard White) has Parkinsons, so on every level life is turned upside down. Director Amar Wala strikes a lovely balance between humor, rom-com and personal family drama, delicately intertwined with the issue of how a very Anglo girl and a boy from Indian culture manage their time together. Ash's friends, all from non-Anglo backgrounds, all add a warmth and humor to the story, while Ash's relationship with his mother and father adds yet another very relatable dimension. Commendably, nothing is tied up in a neat bow at the end. It would be nice to see this lovely film get a mainstream release.
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Wednesday, 13 August 2025

August 14th  2025

Life of Chuck
Mr Burton
40 Acres
Indian Film Festival

From the sublime, to the theatrical to the apocalyptic - it's all here this week, plus the packed program of the Indian Film Festival. I'm wondering whether the upsurge in horror and apolcalyptic films of late is a sign of our troubled times. 

The Life of Chuck
Dir: Mike Flanagan
© Studio Canal - you won't see a film as
original as this one. So much to unpack! 
Charles "Chuck" Krantz (Tom Hiddleston), an accountant, is your average guy. This is his story, but the film is anything but average. In fact it's quite extraordinary, and is ultimately everyone's story. Told backwards in three chapters, the first opens with what is basically the end of the world. America is physically falling apart and the universe is imploding, yet people try to keep up a sembance of normality despite their fear. Then the reverse narrative (based surprisingly on a Stephen King novella) explores some of the most profound questions we'll ever ask in life. What makes our lives meaningful from the largest things to the tiniest moments? What does it all mean? If we knew it was the end, who would we want to be with? For teacher Marty (Chiwetel Ejiofor) it's his ex-wife, nurse Felicia (Karen Gillan.) As Hiddleston says in his interview (referenced below), "moments of spontaneity, joy and connection" are what we remember and what must be constantly sought out.  Marty, in the opening sequence discusses with his students a Walt Whitman poem Song of Myself, in which the poet speaks of us all containing multitudes - we are the sum of all we see and experience, and we must wonder what happens to all that when an individual life ends or the world ends. Chuck is the sum of his life, and moving to the middle chapter (based around a drumming busker) we see him going for broke in a moment of unbridled spontaneity, as reflected in an unforgettable dance sequence that had me rejoicing and crying at the same time. Then we experience Chuck's youth, with three brilliant young actors embodying the character at different points in his early life: Cody Flanagan, Jacob Tremblay and Benjamin Pajak. (Thankfully each young man looks as if he could grow up to look like Hiddleston!) We see how Chuck's grandma (Mia Sara) taught him to dance, with other mesmerising sequences featuring Chuck and his schoolfriend Iris (Violet McGraw) immersing in the joy of dance. But Chuck's grandpa (Mark Hamill) wants him to pursue a practical career. Being Stephen King, it's no surprise there are a couple of near supernatural moments, involving seeing into the future, but the true focus of the film is something both mysterious and pragmatic, profound and basic - life and how we can all celebrate ourselves, our internal universe and the wonders of the cosmos around us.
5 - unmissable 
For an inspiring interview with the director and three of the lead actors, go to:


Mr Burton
Dir: Marc Evans
© Kismet - the teacher who inspired
iconic actor Richard Burton
Richard Jenkins (Harry Lawtey) is the son of a drunken Welsh coalminer. Since his mother's death when he was two, Rich has lived with his sister Cis and her husband Elfred. His cheeky but gifted nature draws attention from his schoolteacher Phillip Burton (Toby Jones), who sees something promising in the lad. When Rich declares he'd like to become an actor, Mr Burton takes the boy under his wing, bringing his passion and dedication for theatre to the  relationship. The young Richard Jenkins is destined to become one of the greatest actors of the 20th century, Richard Burton. The depiction of life in Wales in the wartime 1940s is excellent, except where certain smoke-filled mining backgrounds appear digitally inserted. Also at times the musical score becomes overwhelmingly histrionic and the time leap from Richard's first successful performance through to eight years later feels too abrupt. However, despite these criticisms, I find much to love about this film. This is probably one of the best, most moving performances I've seen from Toby Jones, who embodies a complex character whose motivations we can never be 100% sure of. Lawtey inhabits the young Burton, and he so gets the voice, the sneer, and his eyes could almost be those of the great thespian.  Lesley Manville is a winner as Ma, the very proper landlady with whom Mr Burton and, for a time, Richard live. The film gives an insight into a very talented man destined to self-destructive behaviour and excess, while celebrating the inspiring role a single teacher can play in determining a life's journey.
4 - highly recommended

40 Acres
Dir: R.T. Thorne
Length: 113 mins
Exclusive to Cinema Nova
© Rialto - a fierce mother will do anything to
protect her family
In a post-apocalyptic world, a fungal plague has wiped out animal life and most crops. Famine reigns. Small groups of isolated farmers defend their properties against roving bands of survivors who see other humans as a food source. Hayley Freeman (Danielle Deadwyler) lives on a property with her partner Galen (Michael Greyeyes), their three daughters and her teenage son Manny (Kataem O'Connor). Being ex-army, Hayley runs their lives like a general. Everyone must learn to defend the perimeter and to kill when necessary. Strangers are inherently mistrusted. When beautiful young woman Dawn (Milcania Diaz Rojas) turns up injured, Manny decides to help her, imperilling all their lives. This film is an interesting mix of somewhat predictable plotlines and none-too-credible outcomes, but it also has some excellent and unexpected ideas for a narrative grounded in this gory genre. Hayley's former slave ancestors and Galen's indigenous Cree ancestry make for an interesting take on their fierce defence of their land. The action and tension are constant, and though the gore quotient gets pretty bloody, the story had me constantly engaged and invested in the little family's survival. Deadwyler is a standout as the tough matriarch; she is the film's driving heart, though all the cast are an excellent support. Unfortunately at times I found the dialogue a little muffled and hard to follow, but the content of the film is so viscerally frightening, it really works as both a vision of a potentially horrific future, and a celebration of family bonds, family both of blood and of choice.
4 - highly recommended

Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM)
August 14-24
Various Cinemas - Hoyts Docklands, Hoyts Chadstone, Village Crown, Geelong, Bendigo, Shepparton and more
To explore the festival, discovering films by language and theme, visit: https://www.iffm.com.au

The best of Indian cinema hits Melbourne and regional cities, with 75 films screening. I remind you each year, Indian films are much more than Bollywood. Here are movies reflecting the diversity of cultures and languages throughout the vast country, even heading overseas to reflect stories of the Indian diaspora. Many of the films in the festival are only on for one or two sessions. Of course there are many special events - dance competitions, retrospectives, and special guests. With so many excellent films, it's hard to choose, but a couple I've been lucky to preview come highly recommended.
 
Letters from Wolf Street
Aug 16th only 

This excellent documentary already has plenty of awards to its name, including Best Documentary, Best Cinematography and Audience Award at various festivals. Director Arjun Talway has left Delhi and been living in Warsaw for about 10 years. He documents life on the street where he lives, recording the rounds of postman Piotr, and interviewing locals as to how they see their country and how they feel about immigrants. Arjun speaks excellent Polish, but still feels like an outsider searching for a sense of belonging. The nearest he gets to feeling connected is meeting a Polish gypsy family, as they talk of a common heritage. In trying to capture the migrant experience, he also interviews Feras, a Syrian refugee who has married a Polish woman, and Chinese immigrant Mo who helps him with the sound recording. His disarming way of questioning folks on the street gets them to open up, and old prejudices emerge. All is underscored by a cheeky soundtrack of jaunty music that belies the seriousness of  change in modern Europe, especally with the rise of right-wing groups. A terrifically insightful, film which is also funny, poignant and entertaining. 

We are Faheem & Karun
Aug 15th and 22nd

It's not often I've seen Indian films exploring gay sexuality, but this, set on the Kashmiri border between India and Pakistan, does so delicately and movingly. Karun (Akash Menon) is an Indian border security guard and a Hindu. Faheem (Mir Tawseef) rides through the border checkpoint on his motorcycle heading home to his Muslim family. The two men's eyes meet and a spark is ignited. But this is conservative Kashmir where mothers are trying to arrange marriages for their sons, and border conflict is ever-present. It's a bit of a Romeo and Juliet story, but with a serious message about prejudice - both towards gay people and those of other faiths and nationalities. Set in the stunning Gurez valley, the film features awesomely beautiful cinematography, and the opening scene, with its haunting music, is memorable. The two lead performances exude a lovely chemistry, making this a very watchable and moving story which is also politically resonant.

I the Song
Aug 15th only

From the tiny country of Bhutan comes their top film, which has also won directorial awards in Europe. It's the story of  young teacher Nima who is assumed to be the star of an explicit sex video. Deeply upset, she goes in search of her lookalike or doppelganger, Meto. What she encounters highlights the clashes between traditional Bhutan and the influence of the modern world, also epitomised by the theft of a sacred song which has been commercially exploited. Tandin Bhida plays both woman, effectively differentiating their opposing personalities, but somehow the use of flashback renders the plot at times confusing. Regardless, the depiction of this traditional world is fascinating, but it is also a world falling into conflict with modernity and digital exploitation. 
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Wednesday, 6 August 2025

August 7th 2025

Weapons
Future Council
Missing: Lucie Blackman (streaming on Netflix)
Make it Look Real (streaming on Netflix)


The variety this week couldn't be stronger. A gory comedic horror to make you tremble with fear while laughing, a feel-good Aussie doco of kids fighting for environmental change, and two excellent documentary streamers - how sex scenes are handled in movies, and a missing persons case. 


Weapons
Dir: Zach Cregger
© Universal - an angry parent wants answers 
in this funny, terrifying and very clever story. 
2.17 am and 17 children from the one class climb out of bed and walk off into the night. When teacher Justine Gandy fronts to class next morning, only one child, Alex (Cary Christopher) is at school. Distraught parents direct their anger at the teacher, claiming she, or even Alex, must know something. The local police are equally baffled. And so begins an intriguing and very clever deconstruction of the plot: in different segments, each with someone's name heading it up, we gradually discover what happened, sometimes winding back time and repeating a scene from a new perspective. This makes for great viewing; the fun of putting the pieces together like a jigsaw. Ultimately this is a comic horror, populated by a varied assortment of characters: the hated (and vodka swilling) Justine, a local cop and Justine's ex, Paul (Alden Ehrenreich), a concerned parent Archer (Josh Brolin), smarmy school principal, Andrew (Benedict Wong), a neighborhood junkie Anthony (Austin Abrams) and Alex's family, including the rather peculiar Aunt Gladys (Amy Madigan). Creggers talent is how he combines big creepy horror scares with intermittent moments of laugh-out loud comedy. Familiar tropes of reaching for door handles, thumps in the ceiling, and terrifying dreams work extremely effectively, with thoughtful camera angles and suitable soundtrack. Even scenes of ultra-gore retain a bizarre element of humour. The ultimate reveal of what really happened is not quite as intriguing as I might have hoped, but I was never less than entertained. In-depth analysis may unearth possible underlying themes - mass societal panic, the safety and manipulation of children, parental guilt, the use of humans as destructive weapons and more - but overall the film for me succeeds best as a vehicle to shock and entertain. A second viewing may reveal more - if I have the stomach for it!
4 - highly recomended

Future Council
Dir: Damon Gameau
© Rialto - kids confronting adults and suggesting
answers to the world's environmental problems
After putting out a worldwide call from applicants, eco-warrior and director Gameau selects eight 11-year-olds, puts them in a big yellow bus and drives them around Europe. They visit various large corporations, among them Nestle, and the children waste no time in telling the CEOs how they could do their jobs better in terms of environmental damage. These kids are really articulate and passionate about protecting the planet for their own futures. This and their upbeat personalities make for good viewing. Although nothing in the message is new, it is encouraging and uplifting to see such enthusiasm  and commitment from young people. Gameau, another environmental warrior, with his easy-going and likeable nature, adds to the watchability, and this is something you can definitely take the kids to, as seeing other kids involved is a great way to get the messages through.
3.5- well recommended

Make it Look Real
Dir: Kate Blackmore
Length: 78 mins
Streaming on Netflix
© Bonsai - hard at work rehearsing
a simulated sex scene
Ever wondered about those steamy sex scenes in a movie? Are they really doing it? If not, how do they make it look so real? More importantly, how do the actors feel about the whole thing? Must be pretty awkward! Well, nowadays most films have an intimacy coordinator to smooth the process - find the actors' levels of comfortability, explain to them about protective patches and pouches to avoid skin to skin contact, and work with the director on how to angle scenes so they look like the real thing when in fact it is all simulated. This deeply fascinating documentary explores the world of intimacy coordinator Claire Warden, who, with her empathetic and no-nonsense manner puts everyone at ease. Actors Albert Mwangi, Sarah Roberts and Tom Davis work with director Kieran Darcy-Smith on a fictional film, as the group show just how three pivotal sex scenes in the film are created. It's a real eye-opener, and especially important for women in the #metoo era, as many female actors can now feel so much more comfortable knowing that they will not be exploited or forced out of their comfort zones. The doco eschews prurience, and goes for information and insight, especially  into Claire's caring nature and the perceptions of the actors involved. 
4 - highly recommended

Missing: The Lucie Blackman Case 
Dir: Hiyoe Yamamoto
Length: 83 mins
Streaming on Netflix
© Netflix - a father seeks answers to
his daughter's disappearance
A young girls's dream to go on a working holiday in Japan. Every parent's nightmare when they hear their daughter has gone missing. This true-crime documentary looks at the case of missing British tourist Lucie Blackman and her father Tim's quest for answers and justice. Archival footage, reconstruction, interviews and more, reveal a clash of cultures in investigative approaches between Japan and Western countries, . It also exposes a dark underbelly to Japanese society, and the clubs where many foreign women work as hostesses, rendering themselves vulnerable to predators. While the ultimate details of what happened are shocking, the doco doesn't sensationalise, and is both cautionary and worthy watching.
3.5- well recommended
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Wednesday, 30 July 2025

July 31st 2025

When Fall is Coming
The Friend
The Stolen Painting
The Last Rodeo
CatVideoFest 2025

This week's filmfest is a winner - so much to choose from ranging from the world of high art, to cowboy shenanigans, cat videos, canine friends and old friends. Love for a grandchild figures large in two of them, while dogs, cats and bulls have starring roles in the other three. 

When Fall is Coming
Dir: Francois Ozon
© Rialto - family, friends and past
secrets live in a French village
Sublime! There's no other word for Francois Ozon's latest film, suffused with secrets, recriminations, fresh starts, and the devotion of an ageing grandmother towards her beloved grandson Lucas (Garlan Erlos). Set in the idyllic countryside of Burgundy it is the story of Michelle (Helene Vincent), who spends her languid days foraging for mushrooms with her best friend Marie-Claude (Josiane Balasko). When daughter Valerie (Ludivine Sagnier) turns up with Lucas, and a tragic mistake is made, Valerie's old resentments towards her mother are rekindled. When Marie-Claude's son Vincent (Pierre Lottin) gets out of prison, life brings some unexpected twists for both Michelle and Valerie. The film works splendidly on so many levels - the moral ambiguity of characters' motivations, actions and feelings is ever-present, bringing a thriller-like feel to the events. Autumn is gloriously portrayed visually in the golden countryside, working also as a metaphor for the ageing of both women. Helene Vincent gives an extraordinary lead performance, Lottin's nuanced Vincent keeps us guessing, and nothing is ever quite what it seems, except the various deep bonds of friendship and love.  Perhaps this is Ozon's best film yet. You'll certainly need some tissues for this one! 
PS: The role of mushrooms in the film is quite timely, what with our own local mushroom dramas! 
5 - unmissable

The Friend
Dir: David Siegel & Scott McGehee
© Maslow Entertainment - more moving than
expected - lovely chemistry between Watts and the dog!
Iris (Naomi Wattts) is a reclusive New York teacher and novelist. When her best friend and mentor Walter (Bill Murray) dies, she is saddled with caring for his dog, an enormous Great Dane named Apollo.  You can pretty much predict this one from the outset. When Iris first reluctantly agrees to take Apollo, her life is turned upside down; the canine barely fits in her apartment and is so proprietorial he even takes over the bed, forcing Iris to sleep on the floor. But gradually, as the woman and dog bond, Iris begins to work her way through her grief over Walter's death, tackle her problems with her stalled writing career and self-doubts, and juggle relations with Walter's ex-wives. The film feels at first a bit "stiff" and literary, but it gradually mellows and is anchored by such a lovely performance from Watts, and an unforgettable turn from Bing the dog, that one cannot help but be drawn into the growing bond between them. I'm not a huge "doggie person", but I found the big fella so enchanting it really had me warmly engaged with the film.
3.5 - well recommended

The Stolen Painting
Dir: Pascal Bonitzer
© Palace - "How many million can we
get for this one?"
The rarefied world of art auctions is the focus of this stylish French film, based upon a true story. Andre Masson (Alex Lutz) works for an auction house and specialises in appraising modern art. When he learns that a long-lost painting, possibly by great artist Egon Schiele, has turned up at the home of a young factory worker, he and his ex-wife Bettina (Lea Drucker) head out to check out the work. Trouble is, the artwork was owned by a Jewish family before it was presumed stolen by the Nazis. Who should now get the money for it and how much should it go for?  The film gives an intriguing insight into the world of art dealings, but I found the overall processes involved rather hard to follow (no doubt my ignorance of the field). I was more fascinated by the characters and the questionability of their wheeling and dealing, along with the contrast between them and the integrity of the factory lad Martin Keller (Arcadi Radeff) in whose home the painting is found. While acknowledging the film's appeal to art lovers, for me it remains somewhat too convoluted and emotionally cold, although I find Drucker's performance a stand-out.
3.5 - well recommended

The Last Rodeo
Dir: Jon Avnet
Length: 116 mins
Available to rent or buy on digital platforms
© Rialto - a grandfather's love for 
his grandson drives him to take a risk
Joe Wainwright (Neal McDonough) is three-time bull riding champion of the world, but his last ride saw him severely injured and he's now retired. Grandson Cody (Graham Harvey) aspires to ride like his Pops, while mother Sally (Sarah Jones) is dead set against it. When Cody is diagnosed with a life-threatening brain tumor and the medical costs are unaffordable, Joe decides to re-enter the ring in the Veteran's Championship. With old pal and mentor Charlie (Mykelti Williamson) in tow, the two set off for Tulsa to see if Joe can bring home the winner's purse for his beloved grandson. I sure hadn't expected to enjoy this film as much as I did, not being one for American gung-ho rootin'-tootin' rodeo antics. Plus there is a low-key religious element (Charlie has the faith) that can feel a bit full on. However, the film is intelligently scripted, with credible dialogue and lovely performances from all. The relationship between Joe and Charlie is refreshingly gentle and open; no  stereotyped taciturn cowboys here; rather blokes unafraid to express their feelings. And as for the actual bull-riding scenes - they are quite nail-bitingly tense and exciting. Despite a predictable outcome, and a couple of clunky elements, all in all a warm and entertaining old-fashioned type of film to enjoy.
3.5 - well recommended

CatVideoFest2025
Curator: Will Braden
Length: 74 mins
Cinema Nova ONLY August 2 & 3
Where to catch it Australia wide: https://www.catvideofest.com/where-to-watch-aus-nz
© Oscilloscope - furry friends up
to their old tricks! 
Curator Braden compiles countless videos of  cats - home movies, viral internet clips, animations, music videos and more. You can't catch this whole movie on the net, ONLY in cinemas! Now, I am not one for watching cat videos online, but I must say I found this crazy cat film extremely entertaining, with plenty of laugh-out-loud moments. It's cute, cuddly, at times hilarious and at times quite touching. The film will screen for two days only, Australia wide, and money raised goes to cats in need.
Recommended for all - unmissable for fans of feline antics! 
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