Wednesday, 10 June 2026

June 11th 2026

Disclosure Day
H is for Hawk
The Sound of Falling
Primavera
Tuner
CHIFF - Children's International Film Festival
HSBC Spanish & Latin American Film Festival

This week sees a host of wonderful films, plus two new festivals. All worth catching.   

Disclosure Day
Dir: Steven Spielberg
© Universal - Spielberg shows us why he's one
of the world's top directors. 
Loved it, loved it, loved it! Now that I've got that off my chest, I tackle the challenge of saying enough to get you to see it, without revealing too much. The teaser gives the bare bones: If you found out we weren't alone, if someone showed you, proved it to you, would that frighten you? Spielberg returns to some of his favorite themes, but with a very modern spin. The world is on the brink of major war. A quasi-governmental agency, WRDEX,  headed up by Noah Scanlon (Colin Firth), is on the hunt for an ex-employee, Daniel Kellner (Josh O'Connor) who has escaped with a trove of archival footage (along with a powerful technological device) that he intends to disclose to the world; something that will blow the minds of every being on the planet. In parallel time, weather presenter Margaret Fairchild (Emily Blunt), has a meltdown on TV, suddenly speaking in a strange click-like language. Margaret and Daniel are eventually drawn together, giving rise to an action-packed, heart-stopping chase that drives the film along at breakneck speed, as Scanlon's agency desperately tries to prevent the disclosure of the information in Daniel's possession. Other ex-employees of WRDEX, sympathetic to Daniel's cause and led by Hugo (Colman Domingo), race against time to get Daniel to safety. Meantime we are treated to extraordinary happenings, as Scanlon repeatedly employs the secret futuristic technology to get into the heads, the very beings, of others he wants to influence. For those who claim they don't like sci-fi or action films, there is so much more to this stunning film. Underlying themes include the possiblity of a huge conspiratorial cover-up at the highest levels, the function of religion, humans' place in the universe, and above all the concept of compassion as a vital means to rescue humans from self-destruction. With gloriously revisited motifs from ET, Close Encounters of the Third Kind and Minority Report, Spielberg proves his directorial dominance, combining thrills, entertainment, cerebral stimulation, and a plot that feels believable, no matter what you do or don't believe! Thrillingly-crafted action sequences include new and creative twists to well-loved scenarios, the clever recreating of purported archival footage feels authentic, and John Williams' score is, as always, just right. The entire cast is impressive, with Blunt giving a career-defining performance. Her Margaret literally has the last word in the movie, and this word will leave audiences either mystified, or coming to a realisation of how Spielberg's lifelong obsession with extra-terrestrial life could point the way to humanity's salvation. Disclosure Day has just about every positive element you could want from an intelligently scripted, top-notch film, as well as being Entertainment with a capital E!
4.5 - wholeheartedly recommended

H is for Hawk
Dir: Phillippa Lowthorpe

© Kismet - tackling grief in a very
unusual way
Helen McDonald (Claire Foy) was an academic, lecturing at Cambridge. Her father Alisdair (Brendan Gleeson) was a well-respected photographer who worked for years on the Daily Mirror. When Alisdair died suddenly in 2007, Helen was grief stricken, and wrote a memoir about how she coped, by immersing herself totally in the training of a young goshawk that she named Mabel. This film is the cinematic adaptation of that memoir. It's a slow, contemplative film, that is ultimately a study of grief and depression. Foy gives a remarkable performance, as she portrays Helen progressively withdrawing from the human world and increasingly relating to the wild bird she is training. There is a lot of silence in the film, but this is made up for with beautifully-shot scenes of the bird, in glorious flight, or displaying close-up its magnificent plumage. The training of the animal also makes for intriguing viewing, and apparently Foy had to overcome her initial fear and learn to relate to five birds who plated Mabel! Flash-backs of Helen's relationship with her Dad also gives us insight into her very special bond with the man she felt was the only person in the world who understood her. Excellent support is given by Denise Gough as Helen's Aussie colleague and friend Christina, and Lindsay Duncan as her mother. Low key but lovely viewing.
3.5 - well recommended

The Sound of Falling
Dir: Mascha Schilinski
Length: 155 min mins
© Transmission - beautifully-made, at times
mystifying film
Set in one farmhouse in Germany over the course of a century, with four distinctly different time periods, this is the story (if you can call it that) of several families, young women and girls who have lived there. The film is more like an impressionist piece, that jumps about in time and intertwines characters' lives, such that, at times, I had no idea who was who! Young Alma lives among severe relatives back in the 1910s, and observes death, leading to an array of questions. In the 1940s, Erika is obsessed with Uncle Fritz, whose parents deliberately caused his leg to be amputated to prevent him from serving in the war. In the 1980s, teen Angelika behaves with gay abandon, pushing the boundaries that restrict her, while in the present era pre-adolescent Lenka is besotted with her new friend Kaya. The film has 22 prestigious wins to its name, perhaps because the director really makes great use of the filmic medium. Repetitive leitmotifs, to do with death, warmth, flies, family portraits, and intimate moments help blend and blur time. There is a dreamlike quality to the look and story, and for patient viewers it will reward, despite certain difficulties. Perhaps a second viewing will reveal more?
3.5 - well recommended

Primavera
Dir: Damiano Michialetto

© Rialto Distribution - elegant, heartbreaking 
story of Vivaldi and an orphan violinist
Abandoned baby girls spending their early lives in an orphanage in Venice in the early 1700s, and a music teacher/composer who achieved acclaim then faded into obscurity for the next 200 years. What do they have in common? Antonio Vivaldi taught for 40 years of his life in the Ospedale della Pieta, a real life convent and orphanage. There, the most talented girls learned music, and performed for the Venetian upper class, but always behind a grille or with masked  faces. Based upon an acclaimed historical novel, this elegant and moving film blends the two historical threads, while introducing a fictional element. For his lead violinist, Vivaldi (Michele Riondino) chooses talented and headstrong Cecilia (Tecla Insolia), a girl permanently heartbroken at being abandoned by her mother. And although Cecilia is devoted to music, society of the day  and the money-grabbing orphanage, have other plans for her: marriage to a wealthy man, and becoming forever relegated to the role of wife. Primavera means spring, and is one of the movements in Vivaldi's immortal composition The Four Seasons. Both main characters have a sort of spring revival in their lives, and this beautiful relationship between teacher and pupil is subtly portrayed in deeply emotional performances. Recreation of the era is outstanding, and the Vivaldi pieces, along with divine violin playing and an impressive original soundtrack, all enhance a historical story, that has much modern resonance for the role of women in society. Music lovers won't want to miss this one. 
4 - wholeheartedly recommended

Tuner
Dir: Daniel Roher

© VVS - a heist movie with a difference. Piano
tuning and safe cracking - how do they link?
Niki (Leo Woodall) is a young man with perfect musical pitch, but who suffers from a hearing malady known as hyperacusis. This causes him extreme sensistivity to sound, sometimes occasioning pain, but also making him very suited to his profession, piano tuning. He works with lifelong tuner Harry Horowitz (Dustin Hoffman), who is also his mentor and friend. On a late-night tuning job, he runs into some men from a security company headed up by Uri (the excellent Lior Raz of Fauda fame), and is co-opted into using his exceptional hearing to open a safe. When Harry gets ill, and his medical bills become unaffordable, Niki decides he can earn a bit extra employing his talent for nefarious purposes, but is soon drawn into a vicious, criminal underworld. This quickly threatens the budding relationship he has developed with up and coming pianist Ruthie (Havana Rose Liu). This is an original and fun spin on the heist movie. Woodall is an actor to watch, bringing a tense and charismatic feel to his character, while Hoffman is, as ever, a delight, as the quirky, empathetic Harry. The intricacies of piano-tuning (and safe-cracking) are fascinating to observe, and the film moves along at a terrific pace, with tension, emotion and an underlying theme about artists' relationships with their talents and passions.
4 - highly recommended

CHIFF - Children's International Film Festival
June 6 - July 10
Classic Elsternwick, Lido Hawrhorn, Cameo Belgrave and Ritz Sydney
For everything you need to know visit: www.chiff.com.au

Curated totally with children in mind, CHIFF features 30 films from around the world. Noteworthy are the screenings of Academy Award-nominated Little Amélie or the Character of Rain, also  the acclaimed underwater adventure The Last Whale Rider, and a Family Fun 
Day screening of Disney & Pixar’s Toy Story 5. Two classics also feature:  Flight of the Navigator, celebrating its 40th anniversary, and Fly Away Home, celebrating its 30th anniversary. As I say every year, these films are not only for kids; there is so much adults and viewers of all ages can glean from these powerful stories. The two I've previewed so far are testament to that.

My Grandfather is a Nihonjin: In the early 1900s, many Japanese went to Brazil to work on the coffee plantations. In this lovely animation, set in Sao Paulo, 10-year-old Nobo (born and raised in Brazil) is given a school assignment to learn about his family's origins. He interviews his grumpy Japanese grandfather, and begins to discover his cultural heritage. Depictions of Nobo's interactions with his schoolfriends from varied backgrounds feel very real, as does his anguish at trying to come to terms with exactly where he belongs in life. Lovely painterly scenes, and very relateable characters make this a powerful story for all age groups.
 
My Life at Versailles: The Movie:  Here's another sweet animation about family and fitting in. Violet's parents are killed in an accident and she is sent to live with her large, gruff uncle Regis, who works as a handyman and gardener at the Palace of Versailles. Pragmatic but caring Regis makes for a lovely contrast to the small, grieving girl. Adapted from a graphic novel, the film employs a simple colorful style, and gives insight into one of France's iconic treasures. The film is a good way to tackle deep and possibly challenging themes with youngsters, being a gentle exploration of grief, and coming to terms with death, life, its challenges, and making new relationships. 
CHIFF is, as always, highly recommended

HSBC Spanish Film Festival
Until July 6
Palace Cinemas
For everything you need to know visit: https://spanishfilmfestival.com/
The festival features more than 30 films from Spain, Columbia, Argentina, Mexico, Peru and more. Thrillers, romances, documentaries, culinary adventures and the exciting rhythm of Latin dance - it's all here!  

The Captive (Il Cautivo): Acclaimed director Alejandro Amenabar has come up with a ripper tale, in this story of Miguel Cervantes, author of Don Quixote. Part is based upon truth, and another (large) part, has apparently been fictionalised. In 1575,Cervantes (a very handsome Julio Pena), a Spanish soldier has been captured, along with a host of other high ranking Spaniards, by Ottomans. All are being held prisoner in Algiers until their ransoms are paid. Cervantes discovers that, by telling stories to his fellow prisoners, life within the prison is made more tolerable. He soon attracts the attention of the ruler, or bey, of Algiers, Hasan (Alessando Borghi), who delights in Cervante's tales. Despite prisoner and master growing closer, Cervantes is constantly hatching a plot to escape. Production values and cinematography are impressive, but it is the two leads who really mesmerise, as their homoerotic relationship deepens. The Ottoman way of life is depicted as lush, decadent and sensual, while their cruelty, brutality and the harsh conditions in the prison are in stark contrast. With plenty of Goya nominations and awards, this is a majorly entertaining film, even if it takes very modern liberties with the truth. 

The Tigers (Los Tigres): Two siblings, Antonio and Estrella, work in a dangerous profession as industrial divers performing repairs on petroleum ships and tankers. When financial hardship strikes and Antonio discovers one of the ships to be smuggling drugs, the temptation to make some quick money looms. But when you enter the murky world of drug criminals, your life is at risk. This taut thriller reveals much about the profession of industrial diving, and Antonio is already at risk with a deteriorating heart condition. As well as the many fraught, tension-inducing plot moments, the film is also a good exploration of sibling bonds and loyalty. 






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Thursday, 21 May 2026

May 22nd 2026

The Richest Woman in the World
Becoming Kafka
Mother Mary
The Sheep Detectives
Life Could be a Dream

This week's films are a very diverse lot with my faves being the latest French film starring the wonderful Isabelle Huppert, along with a zany, beautiful story of a flock of sheep who have more brains than one would ever imagine.


The Richest Woman in the World
Dir: Thierry Klifa

© Palace - based upon a true French scandal
Marianne Farrere (Isabelle Huppert) is a billionaire heiress to a vast cosmetics company. A magazine photo-shoot sees her meeting larger-than-life photographer Pierre Alain Fantin (Laurent Lafitte) who suddenly injects a hefty dose of joie-de-vivre and irreverence into her regimented life with staid husband Guy (Andre Marcon). Pierre quickly charms his way into Marianne's affections, and she is soon gifting him vast amounts of money to prop up his life and career. Marianne's daughter, Frederique (Marina Fois), legal heir to her mother's fortune, is horrified, as is her husband Jean-Marc (Mathieu Demy) along with the family's loyal butler Jerome (Raphael Personnaz). What they all decide to do about the situation will have far-reaching ramifications. This story is a free adaptation of a true scandalous case which captivated all of France back in 2007, known as the Bettencourt Case, and revolving around the L'Oreal cosmetics empire. While I recoil at the character of Pierre, with his boorishness and vulgarity, I'm blown over by Lafitte's blustering performance which still manages to make us see his appeal to the stitched-up Marianne. And of course Huppert is simply perfect in this role, as she goes from ice-queen elegance to a woman besotted by this "charmer", and rediscovering her inner devil. This film has been much loved in France and thoroughly enjoyed by yours truly.
4 - highly recommended 

Franz: Becoming Kafka
Dir: Agnieszka Holland

© Sharmill - very original film-making style
for a very original writer
Most people know the name Kafka, but not all have read him or understand his philosophical world view. And that includes me, making it hard for me to review this much-awarded film by an iconic director. The film is described as a "kaleidoscopic mosaic" of the writer's life, and that certainly sums up the daring and innovative style of the filmmaking. We meet Franz at age 7 (Daniel Dongres), dominated by his overbearing father Hermann (Peter Kurth). Then we are introduced to the life and writings of the adult Franz (Idan Weiss). Absurdism, surrealism and existentialism are translated into many of the visuals employed, these scenes transmitting the feeling  of the man and his unconventional take on life. And of course we also get the actuality of his life, especially his fraught relationships with significant women, and his early death from tuberculosis. The film is visually excellent, and every performance feels real. I have the suspicion that this is a seriously good attempt to filmically capture something almost unfathomable, but without having read him, I'm left a little bewildered and less enlightened about the man than I would wish. 
3.5 - well recommended

Mother Mary
Dir: David Lowery

© VVS - some strong acting but a
scattered plot
Gaga-style pop icon Mother Mary (Anne Hathaway) has a new song, and to perform it she needs a new dress. For some years she's been estranged from her loyal costume designer and former closest friend Sam (Michaela Coel), but now she comes back to ask Sam to make the dress for her. Rain-bedraggled, almost plain without her stage makeup, and totally at Sam's mercy, Mary is subjected to all Sam's hurt and wrath over having been sidelined and rejected. There is a ton of strong psychological fodder to be mined in this story, and that's where it works best - an examination of artistic insecurities, the cult of fame worship, but mostly the dynamics of friendship. However, after an impressive start, which features a couple of glitzy set pieces of Mother Mary's stage performances, the film veers off into an irrelevant, contrived, quasi-supernatural nonsense involving a seance - and that's where it lost me. Yes, Hathaway impresses in that she does her own singing, but her performance lacks the power of a real-life diva. Coel is full-on impressive as the spurned friend, but the argy-bargy talk fest that ensues, followed by the pseudo exorcism of Mary's inner demons feels contrived and plain silly. The film doesn't know what is wants to be, and, while I enjoyed it in parts, I didn't ultimately care about the characters! 
2.5 - maybe

The Sheep Detectives
Dir: Kyle Balda

© Sony - so lovely - for all ages
George Hardy (Hugh Jackman) is a caring shepherd who lives in the quaint English village of Denbrook. Every night he gathers his flock around him and reads aloud to them from murder mystery books. Little does he know they understand everything and discuss the cases among themselves! When George is found dead, the distraught sheep decide to solve the mystery themselves. Before you go dimissing this radical idea, let me tell you, within minutes I was drawn into the plot wholeheartedly, so appealing are the sheep characters, and so cleverly written is the script. Using a mix of real sheep, computer-generated imagery and animatronic puppets, the film brings its woolly stars to life with humour, philosophy,  and sheer delight. While there is plenty of fun, underneath it all are wonderful life lessons for children and indeed all ages: moving beyond one's comfort zone, accepting others' differences, even coping with the concept of death. The film boasts a top-notch role call of actors. Among the live action cast are Nicholas Braun (who played Greg in Succession) as the local bumbling police officer, Molly Gordon (Claire in The Bear) as Rebecca, George's daughter, and the ever-splendid Emma Thomson as George's lawyer.  The sheep are voiced by such well known actors as Bryan Cranson, Rhys Derby, Bella Ramsey and more. Despite some levels of predictability, this is a gorgeous film everyone can enjoy and is much-needed in today's fraught world.
4 - highly recommended

Life Could Be a Dream
Dir: Jasmin Tarasin

© Maslow - good theme not given
serious enough treatment
Sarah (Maeve Dermody) is a real estate agent and mother of 40, with a 13-year-old son Otis (Sonny McGee). Through a series of flashbacks, we learn that she has been enduring an abusive marriage involving financial coercive control. She decides to flee with Otis, taking refuge in an opulent mansion that she is in charge of selling. Together the pair hang out and strengthen their bond, with Otis being a vital support for his mother. The issue of domestic violence is such a serious one, and yet the film's style is too languid, its cinematography too beautiful, to reflect any of the horror and fear. Plot-wise my credibility is totally stretched being asked to believe that the pair would be able to move into this home, let alone that it is still a fully functioning liveable house! Performances are fine, but again the sweet interlude of Otis meeting local lass Sati (Noam Sen-Gupta) seems to detract from the main intended theme. Unfortunately, despite all the good intentions of tackling a relevant and important issue, the film ends up being too flimsy for its purported subject matter. 
2.5 - maybe





 

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Thursday, 7 May 2026

May 8th 2026

All My Sons (National Theatre Live)
The Rip (streaming on Netflix)
HSBC German Film Festival
A Private Life - opening 14th May

A stunning piece of filmed theatre, a tense Damon/Affleck cop thriller streaming, plus the German Film Festival, with the wonderful new film from Fatih Akin. One of next week's releases is reviewed here, as I'll be taking a small, much-needed break from blogging, and will return with reviews on May 21st. 

All My Sons
Dir: Ivo Van Hove
© Sharmill - stage to film: a sweeping success!
In 1946 legendary American playwright Arthur Miller wrote All My Sons, inspired by a true story he read of a woman who reported her father to the FBI for some alleged underhand business dealings during the Second World War. Eighty years on this story still stands the test of time, and the wonderful production by the National Theatre is one of the best theatre-to-film pieces I've seen. If you're expecting a filmic experience you won't get it, but you will get the best seat in the house to a stunningly performed play. Bryan Cranston plays Joe, married to Kate (Marianne Jean-Baptiste; the couple's son Luke went missing in the war but Kate refuses to believe he's dead. Second son Chris (Paapa Essiedu) is in love with Luke's ex-fiance Ann (Hayley Squires). But as certain truths start to emerge, the seemingly solid family starts to crack. The emotion generated by all four leads is phenomenal, and close up camera work reveals it all on their faces. With a minimalist stage setting, one can concentrate on the characters and themes, all of which remain still so relevant. The arc of the story will pull you in right up to its shattering conclusion. A definite must-see for lovers of fine theatre. 
4.5 - wholeheartedly recommended

The Rip
Dir: Joe Carnahan
Length: 113 mins

© Netflix - the Damon-Affleck team do it again!
In this latest action cop thriller from Netflix, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck reunite as police buddies on the Miami-Dade narcotics unit. Lt Dumars, known as LD (Damon) and Sgt Byrne (Affleck) follow a crimestopper tip to a house where they discover a vast amount of cash has been stashed by a Colombian drug cartel. Desi (Sasha Calle) who is inheriting the house from her grandma claims no knowledge of it. Detectives Ro (Steven Yeun), Baptiste (Teyana Taylor) and Salazar (Sandino Moreno) are in on the raid, but gradually each member of the police squad begins to distrust each other, suspecting each other to be potentially dirty and aiming to steal the cash. The film doesn't break any new ground, has several convoluted and credibility-stretching plot points, and settles for a typically American "neat" ending. Despite that, it provides some seriously entertaining thrills. With a moodily-lit and claustrophobic setting, strong editing, and a couple of good shoot-out and car-chase scenes, there's no lack of excitement. The script is cleverly constructed with twists and surprises. Best of all, Damon and Affleck are, as expected, excellent together. 
3.5 - well recommended

HSBC German Film Festival
Melbourne: May 8-27
Palace Cinemas
For all information re films, bookings, other states visit germanfilmfestival.com.au 

This is Australia's only festival dedicated to German language cinema. And once again it features some of the latest films from Germany, including The Sound of Falling, which won the prestigious Cannes FF Jury Prize. The festival also features several films from Austria and Switzerland, along with a spotlight on acclaimed director Fatih Akin, who has helmed the centrepiece movie Amrum. Kids get their own sidebar of four special screenings, and the director's cut of the classic Das Boot will close the festival. 
I've previewed a couple, with Amrum being a standout.
Amrum
Dir: Fatih Akin
© - unusual and poweful WW2 drama
With plenty of nominations at the German film awards, and several wins at other international festivals, this is a powerful, true, drama about a young lad who learns he is on the wrong side of history in Germany in the final months of World War 2. Nanning (an extraordinary performance by Jasper Billerbeck) comes from a pro-Nazi family. His heavily pregnant mother and her children have been forced to flee bombed-out Hamburg and live on the North Sea island of Amrum, while the father is fulfilling his duty as a colonel in the Reich. After the baby's birth, his mother refuses to eat and Nanning sets about trying to acquire barely available bread, butter and honey which she apparently craves. While the parochial islanders are hostile to the Hamburg residents, Nanning gets to know them and see another side of life than the blindly pro-Hitler stance of his family. This is understated, gentle and inspiring film-making, beautifully shot, and not without its dark and tense moments. It subtly examines themes of indoctrination, and youthful awakening to harsh truths. Diane Kruger is notable in a small but strong role as a local farmer opposed to the Nazi regime. Definitely one for lovers of fine film.
4.5 - wholeheartedly recommended 

Gavagai: An modern "black" adaptation of the Greek tragedy Medea is being filmed in Senegal. Maja is in the lead role and is almost the only white person in the cast. Off-screen she starts a brief affair with her Senegalese co-star Nourou, who plays Jason. Months later, at the film's premiere the couple remeet, and tensions arise when Nourou is subjected to racism by hotel staff. There seem to be plenty of cerebral ideas and philosophies underpinning this unusual film, with such issues as the wisdom of modern adaptations of classic stories, and much around intercultural misunderstandings. At times the film is a little too clever for its own good, but strong performances from the two leads keep it engaging.

Hello Betty: Another true story, this time from Switzerland. Back in the 1950s, Emmi Creola worked as a typist at an advertising agency. When she started coming up with ideas of her own to promote cooking products for a client, she found herself blocked by her patriarchal male bosses. However, as any Swiss person of a certain vintage will know, Emmi went on to become a national superstar. Under the public persona of Betty Bossi she rose to stardom as a culinary and household name. While the film has light and fluffy moments, with a wonderful "vintage vibe", there's underlying serious exploration of women's aspirations, roles and identity, as Emmi (Betty) juggles her professional life with her family one. A sweet, entertaining and informative film.

A Private Life - opening May 14th
Dir: Rebecca Zlotowski
Length: 107 mins

© Transmission - Auteuil and Foster are
so good together
Lillian (Jodie Foster) is an American, living and working in Paris as a psychiatrist. When one of her patients Paula (Virginie Efira) commits suicide, Lillian becomes convinced it was really a murder, and begins to suspect Paula's husband Simon (Mathieu Almaric). She then co-opts her ex-husband and ophthamologist Gabriel (Daniel Auteuil) in trying to "crack the case". I find this film a little disjointed, in that it doesn't quite know what genre it is trying to be. On one level it's a  "whodunnit", on another it's about Lillian herself, her distant, disengaged nature, and tackling change. Then, almost out of the blue, themes of Nazis, Jews and WW2 are introduced. The episodes where the pragmatic Lillian undergoes hypnosis and imagines herself to be living some sort of past life as a man are bizarre and fail to convince me plotwise. However, what does stand out is Foster's impressive performance, inhabiting her character, along with her ability to speak flawless French. Her relationship with her ex is also a high spot of the film as she and Auteuil conjure up some lovely intimacy and moments of humour. So, for the performances of those two alone, I say . . .  
3 - recommended

 
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Wednesday, 29 April 2026

April 30 2026

Wolfram
The Mastermind (streaming on MUBI)

The Aussie film industry is alive and well, with Warwick Thornton directing his latest. And streaming service MUBI continues to deliver fine arthouse fims. 

Wolfram
Dir: Warwick Thornton
Length: 100 mins
© Bunya - impressive Aussie outback "Western"
that reinforces our sad racist history
It's the 1930s in an outback town called Henry. Two little Aboriginal children Max (Hazel Jackson) and Kid (Eli Hart) have been stolen from their mother and are forced by a white master (Matt Nagel) to work in the tungsten mines. (Note: tungsten used to be called wolfram.) When their boss dies, they are left abandoned. The mother of the two children, Pansy, (Deborah Mailman) now lives far away with her Chinese partner Zhang (Jason Chong). Two evil outlaws Casey (Erroll Shand) and Frank (Joe Bird) ride into town. They look like trouble incarnate. Max and Kid become separated, one being stolen by the outlaws, who visit their cousin Kennedy (Thomas Wright), father to an Aboriginal son, Philomac (Pedrea Jackson), who is treated like a servant. Enough of plot reveal! As you can see, there are a host of characters in this story, and gradually all their story lines become intertwined. While presenting like a real outback "western", this is the story of so much more: the cruelty inflicted upon our indigenous people by whites, and the search to reunite with family. Thornton, who grew up in Alice Springs, knows how to wield a camera and capture the stark beauty and colours of his homeland, making the film a visual treat. The plot is also inextricably linked to his own heritage, as his forbears worked in the tungsten mines. Wolfram also addresses the issues of racism as experienced by early Chinese immigrants, and the linking of  the Chinese and Aboriginal themes works really well. Jackson is a young actor to watch - he has serious charisma as Philomac. This is yet another important film that tells the shameful history of the colonisation of our country.
4 - highly recommended

The Mastermind
Dir: Kelly Reichardt
Length: 110 mins
Streaming on MUBI
© MUBI - failed architect, failed criminal! 
James Mooney (Josh O'Connor) is a failed architect, now unemployed carpenter. He decides to stage a heist at his local museum, targeting four paintings. But everything that can go wrong does go wrong. Reichardt is definitely an indie director, with films that are slow-moving and often subvert one's expectations. So if we are expecting a traditional glamorous art-heist film, this one is anything but. As things go from bad to worse for our main character, we cannot help but feel he deserves what he gets. His planning is pathetic, he teams up with dropkick dishonest accomplices, and he barefacedly lies to his mother (Hope Davis), to extract money from her. His wife Terri (Alana Haim) is definitely wise to his tricks by the film's conclusion. Set against the backdrop of protest against the Vietnam War, and with a memorably cool jazz soundtrack throughout, this understated film is one for the patient viewer who may well delight in seeing a very foolish person get his come-uppance.
3.5 - well recommended
MUBI positions itself as presenting films for the discerning viewer. Often curated as collections, by director, or genre, there are plenty of alternatives here to mainstream streaming channels. 

Link to alphabetical index of reviews August 2015-Dec 2025
Here's the index of all the films I've reviewed on this site over the past ten years. This year's index will come separately at the end of 2026, as it is all becoming somewhat unwieldy size-wise! 
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Wednesday, 22 April 2026

April 23 2026

Michael
Calle Malaga
Alphabet Lane

This week I'm definitely at odds with several other critics, especially on the Michael Jackson biopic, and the new Aussie film. However, the Moroccan film Calle Malaga seems a winner for everyone. Ah well, thank heavens we don't all have the same taste in films! It makes life more interesting. 

Michael
Dir: Antoine Fuqua
© Universal - energy and excitement - Michael
Jackson brought back to life
How can we have a biopic celebrating an accused child-molester, I hear you ask. How do we separate the man from his art? If you are able to put this aside, (some won't, and some will be influenced by negative reviews), you'll get real entertainment from this film. It's the first part in the story of an extraordinary young talent, whose father exploited, abused and terrorised him, but who goes on to become one of the biggest pop stars who ever lived. The film deals only with the early part of Michael Jackson's life, as child star of the Jackson 5, then as a solo performer. Ruthless father Joseph (Colman Domingo), sees his five sons as a ticket to fame and fortune. Young Michael is the real star of the five, and his immense talent and drive push him to forge his own path in life and break free. The film concludes with the singer's first solo concert Bad; the pedophile accusations, his bizarre marriages and his increasing eccentricity, came later. Yes, the movie borders on hagiography - MJ is portrayed in a relentlessly positive light, sweet-natured, generous-spirited and totally committed to his art. Yes, the film gives little insight into the rest of the Jackson siblings, and yes, maybe it simplifies everything. But, taken as a tribute to the soaring talent of MJ, it works really well. And we get an insight into the whys of the star's downfall-to-come - the tragedy that can arise from extreme talent, isolating stardom and never having had a true childhood. The film features two of the most extraordinary performances you'll see in the world of music biopics. Juliano Valdi channels Michael as a small boy, while Jaafar Jackson, real-life nephew of the star, astonishes with his recreation of the grown Michael: the voice, the gestures, the dance moves are all perfect.  And when the camera focuses on that lovely face, we see the loneliness, vulnerability and eternal inner child. Production values are impressive (Graham King also produced Bohemian Rhapsody) with slick editing and above all the driving energy and excitement in the recreation of the dazzling stage shows. Supporting cast of Miles Teller as Branca, MJ's manager, Nia Long as his loving but cowed mother, and KeiLyn Durrell Jones as Bill, MJ's loyal friend and bodyguard all add a little extra to the story. I would hope that the mooted sequel goes into MJ's dark side, though being authorised by the Jackson estate, that remains to be seen.  If you never got a chance to see Michael Jackson in concert, this could be the next best thing.
4 - highly recommended

Calle Malaga
Dir: Maryam Touzani
Length: 116 mins
© Potential - old age, despair, then
new joys discovered
79-year-old Maria Angeles (Carmen Maura) comes from a Spanish family, and was born and raised and lived her whole life in  the Spanish Quarter in Tangier, Morocco. She loves her daily routine, is obvously adored by the locals, and life is sweet. Then her daughter Clara (Marta Etura) arrives from Madrid, about to divorce and needing money. Bluntly Clara tells her mother she intends to sell the family home in which the aging woman has spent her life. A home full of happy memories is something Maria Angeles will not lightly give up. In battling to retain her autonomy, she will find a new and unexpected life along the way. Secondhand furniture dealer Abslam (Ahmed Boulane) will be integral to Maria Angele's rediscovering of a part of herself she thought long gone. The film captures a lovely balance between heartbreaking events (putting an independent woman into an aged-care home), joyous uplifting sequences (hosting raucous soccer viewing events at home), and the tenderness of getting in touch with love and sensuality in one's older years. Maura, a veteran of Spanish cinema, creates a gorgeous chemistry with Boulane. Touzani, who directed a favorite of mine, The Blue Kaftan, has a way of tapping into the small but critically important things in life. There is a delicacy to her direction with nothing ever rammed home. Even the final scene leaves the viewer to decide what the ultimate outcome might be. With many audience awards (and more) to its name, this is certainly a film for lovers of gentle but truthful story-telling.
4.5 - wholeheartedly recommended

Alphabet Lane
Dir: James Litchfield
Length: 80 mins

© Screen Inc - a couple let their 
imaginary friends overrun their lives
Anna (Tilda Cobham Hervey) and Jack (Nicholas Denton) have moved to Cooma for his work on a hydroelectricity project. They live on an isolated country property and seem excited about the tree change. She works nightshift as a doctor at a local hospital and they sometimes cross paths, meeting up for a quick kiss on a country road. When Jack announces one day he met a farmer on the road, the couple start to elaborate on the imaginary friendship they have with said farmer, Joe, and his wife Michelle. Shot on the director's farm near Cooma in NSW, the film looks lovely and conjures up the loneliness of remote country living. The unexpected twist at the end, involving Jack's actual work colleague also named Michelle (Bishanyia Vincent) certainly comes as a surprise, but that's after a fairly plodding plot up to this point. Something about the film really jars with me. The couple use their letters to the imaginary friends to work through issues in their own relationship, but their constant conversations about Joe and Michelle, and the pretence, even with a pair of real friends visiting from the city, simply feels false. I find Hervey's acting style offputting (again she fails to convince me), so overall this film left me generally uninspired. 
2.5 - maybe

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