Thursday, 18 December 2025

December 19th  2025

Avatar: Fire and Ash
The History of Sound
Steve (streaming on Netflix)
After the Hunt (streaming on Prime)

Blockbuster! The third in the Avatar franchise arrives. The other three films reviewed are somewhat less mainstream fare, each distinctively different, two of them for home streaming. 
Coming next week: Hursto's top films for 2025

Avatar: Fire and Ash
Dir: James Cameron
Length: 197 mins
© 20th Century Studios - a visual stunner
The original Avatar in 2009 blew me and the rest of the world away. It made my top ten for the year. Unfortunately this third film in the trilogy won't. But not because it isn't visually and technically spectacular, but simply because it is too long, tries too hard to be epic, and ends up feeling bloated. Your fave characters are still here - Jake Sully (Sam Worthington), a US marine now inhabiting a Na'vi body and married to native Pandoran Neytiri (Zoe Saldana), along with his four kids. Antagonistic marine Quaritch (Stephen Lang) plays a large role, while the new villain of the piece is Varang (Oona Chaplain), vicious and seductive leader of a war-mongering, seemingly brainless tribe, and in cahoots with the humans on the planet. Building a new world is definitely the franchise's forte: every visual is breath-takingly lovely, and Cameron's awesome action scenes are filled with sound and fury - it's just that there are too many of them and they are too repetitive. We revisit the old theme of the humans (or sky people) as the Na'vi call them, being hellbent on pillaging the planet they are trying to colonise, killing all the Tulkun (whale-like creatures) for age-defying substances in their brains, and their new mission: capturing Spider, Jake's adopted son, as he has learned to breathe the air on Pandora, and this would really give the humans an advantage. I certainly enjoyed immersing in the world, (how could one not?) Seeing it in 3D is almost mandatory, but a bit of serious editing and script tightening may have given Cameron the epic he was aiming for.
3 - recommended

The History of Sound
Dir: Oliver Hermanus
Length: 128 mins
© Universal - melancholy with strong
lead perfs and great music
Lionel (Paul Mescal) is a country boy with a gift for music. At the Boston Conservatory in the early 1900s he meets fellow student and composer David (Josh O'Connor) and the two instantly connect and become lovers. War interrupts their life, David is posted, but on his return he invites Lionel to join him on a trip, collecting and recording traditional American folksongs. But their ways part again. Years later, and after various relationships with men and women, Lionel decides to track down David, and to hopefully find the wax cylinders on which they recorded the music. This film has a melancholy understated lyrical quality, redolent of longing and nostalgia. While both Mescal and O'Connor perform wonderfully, the film is a little coy about their forbidden love, not letting us ever feel the depth of their passion. The music collecting is an interesting insight into an era of US folk music (also highlighted in the film Songcatcher), and the film's style and production values cannot be faulted. I'm not sure if the film is a love story, a homage to folk music, or a meditation upon loss. I guess it's all three, and while I'm not 100% emotionally drawn in by the handling of any single one of these themes, the film makes for worthwhile and engaging watching.
3.5 - well recommended

Steve
Dir: Tim Mielants
Length: 93 mins
Streaming on Netflix
© Netflix - a teacher battles himself
and the disturbed boys of his school
Steve (Cillian Murphy) is head teacher at a boys' reform school. The movie follows one chaotic day in the life of the students and the staff. A film crew comes to document the school, and one of Steve's favorite students Shy (Jay Lycurgo) has a near meltdown. The frenetic and immersive style of the film puts the viewer front and centre into the school environment, with constant crises, both small and large. As the movie crew shoot, we get an insight into the boys as they are asked to describe themselves in three words. The staff battle overwhelming odds. Emily Watson plays the school counsellor, trying to maintain a modicum of sanity, but it is Steve who obviously adores the boys but has his own demons of guilt and addiction to overcome. Featuring a gripping performance from Murphy, this is a film that never feels comfortable to watch, but is so important on many levels, dealing with the dedication of teachers, mental illness, and the compassion needed to mend broken lives and a broken system.
4 - highly recommended

After the Hunt
Dir: Luca Guadagnino
Length: 138 mins
Streaming on Amazon Prime
© Prime - the acting is stronger
than the convoluted plot
University academia can be a somewhat rarefied area. But when it gets down to "he said, she said" allegations of sexual harrassment, people are often dragged from their lofty perches. So it is in this provocative, sometimes muddled tale of professor of philosophy Alma (Julia Roberts), her co-worker and friend Hank (Andrew Garfield), and star student Maggie (Ayo Edebiri, well known from The Bear). The number of issues and plot twists are at times too overwhelming and convoluted, but there's no denying the quality of the acting on show here, from the leads and all supporting cast. The film can certainly provide a strong catalyst for conversations on class, academia, truth, and the ever-murky realm of human relationships.
3 - recommended




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Thursday, 11 December 2025

December 12th  2025

Kokuho
The Golden Spurtle
Train Dreams (streaming on Netflix)
The Lost Bus (streaming on Apple)

Another wonderful week for film. The streaming offerings just get better, while the big screen volume of films is ramping up, as is award season! 

Kokuho
Dir: Sang-il Lee
Length: 178 mins
© Palace - personal drama interwoven with
revelations on a traditional Japanese art form 
Say the Japanese word "kabuki" and I tend to think - "boring"!  This beautiful film is anything but boring, and shows the intricate Japanese art form in an intriguing light, all set in a plot revolving around friendship, ambition, rivalry and dedication to one's art.  In Nagasake in 1964 young teen Kikuo (Ryo Yoshizawa) witnesses the killing of his yakuze father. He is then adopted out to a family headed by a top Kabuki actor, Hanjiro Hanai (Ken Watanabe). Alongside his own son, Shunsuke (Ryuseai Yokohama), Hanjiro trains the boys rigorously, sometimes brutally, until they start to master the craft. The film then follows the lifelong friendship and rivalry of the pair. There is an intense depth to this film, which operates on many levels. First we have the showcasing of a beloved Japanese artform with its amazing costumes and vocal gymnastics. (Difficult for Westerners to understand, but this film is an eye-opener). Then the film examines the strictures of that society which make it hard for the highly talented son of a gangster to get his due respect, despite an incredible talent. Then we have the friendship and rivalry than runs over 50 years, making the film epic in its narrative, and its runtime! If you're prepared to totally immerse in a new world, you will be richly rewarded by this lovely film.
4 - highly recommended

The Golden Spurtle
Dir: Constantine Costi
Length: 75 mins
© Umbrella - like or loathe porridge - 
this contest highlights the oat!
Water, oatmeal and salt - the marriage of these ingredients can create the perfect porridge. But who would have thought this humble breakfast food could give rise to a world championship competition? That's exactly what this short and sweet doco deals with. In the picturesque Scottish town of Carrbridge, contestants come from all over the world to try their hand at cooking the perfect porridge in 30 minutes. This is quintessentially British fare - the usual quirky characters, an offbeat style of interviewing them, and a dramatic soundtrack designed to give a sense of grandeur and urgency to what is basically another cooking contest. But the film has its charms, as it's easy to like the characters, especially the retiring Porridge Chieftain, Charlie Miller. There is also an education in the art of porridge making. (For your enlightenment, a spurtle is a specially made stick that is considered the peak porridge stirring implement!)
3 - recommended 

Train Dreams
Dir: Clint Bentley
Length: 102 mins
Streaming on Netflix
© Netflix - elegaic look at family, loss, progress
with a stunning lead perf from Edgerton. 
The Pacific north-west of the USA in the early part of the 20th century was indeed a tough place to live and work. Robert Grainger (Joel Edgerton) lives a hard-working simple life, working on and off in the logging industry. When he meets Gladys (Felicity Jones), they marry, have a child and build a cabin. Robert's biggest regret is that he cannot stick around for long to be with his family. When tragedy strikes, Robert retreats into a hermit's world, and by the film's conclusion, he realises that  nearly half a century of progress has passed him by. I so wish I had caught this sublime film on the biggest cinema screen. It already has a Best Cinematography award for its sweeping capturing of that part of the world, especially the majestic forests of giant trees. And there are umpteen nominations for Edgerton, including a Golden Globe for 2026. This is the best performance I've seen from him, as he creates a man who is never an archetypal rough-and-tough logger, but a human being with tenderness, and ultimately a tormented soul. The film celebrates the simplicity of that forgotten life, but also what progress means, and the role nature and people play in the relentless moving forward of time. There is an intense sadness, along with deep beauty (and a couple of mysteries) in everything about this stunning film, though it may not be for viewers looking for more action.
4.5 - wholeheartedly recommended

The Lost Bus
Dir: Paul Greengrass
Length: 102 mins
Streaming on Apple
© Apple - remember to breathe as
you watch this white-knuckle true 
disaster film
Bushfire is one of the most terrifying natural disasters, and certainly makes for gripping movie-making. This white-knuckle film tells the true story of bus driver Kevin McKay (Matthew McConnaughey) who was charged with evacuating 22 schoolkids from a fire-threatened area and taking them to safety. The truth of the 2018 fire is that 85 people died, and more than 11,000 homes were lost, so the magnitude of this event cannot be understated. And so much went wrong in the evacuation attempt: gridlocked traffic caused the bus to be caught up for more than five hours, in stifling and smoke-filled surrounds. Greengrass, famous for such other nail-biters as United 93, takes a few liberties with the truth, having the bus head down a narrow rocky track to find a way through, and rocketing its way through a flame-engulfed stretch of road. Regardless, much heroism is shown by both McKay and the teacher Miss Mary (America Ferrara) who was co-opted along for the ride, and this bravery is superbly encapsulated in the film, especially in McConnaughey's blitzing come-back performance. Special effects are amazing, deftly combining real-life news footage of the fire with the film's creative content. This is truly heart-stopping watching that at times becomes almost unbearable, even if towards the end it goes a bit overboard! But, hey, isn't that what good film-making is about?
4 - highly recommended




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Wednesday, 3 December 2025

December 4th  2025

Nuremberg
Twiggy
Careless
One Shot with Ed Sheeran (streaming on Netflix)

An excellent week to be a movie lover! Powerful performances and history in Nuremberg, the delightful story of Twiggy, the challlenges facing older Aussies who wish to age in their homes, and a streaming treat for music lovers. 

Nuremberg
Dir: James Vanderbilt
Length: 148 mins
© Madman - Crowe and Malik play psychological
games in a disturbingly powerful piece of history
The landmark Nuremberg trials, lasting for one year after the end of World War II, saw an international tribunal prosecute high level German officers for crimes against humanity. Prosecutor Robert Jackson (an excellent Michael Shannon) argued that individuals, not only states, could be responsible for war crimes, and helped create a new framework for international law. US army psychiatrist Douglas Kelley (Rami Malek) was tasked with examining 22 Nazi war criminals to see if they were fit to stand trial. Most notable among the defendants was Reichsmarshall Hermann Goering (Russell Crowe), and it is the relationship between him and Kelley that underpins much of this gripping film, which combines courtroom drama, psychological thriller, and war history. It's great to see Crowe back in such a powerful performance. Both he and Malik create an intriguingly weird chemistry, as the relationship between the men wavers between adversarial and at times borders on friendship. The film's setting is austere and subdued, being mostly prison and courtroom based, but one shocking scene will sear into viewers' memory, as five minutes of real Auschwitz footage is screened during the trial. Despite the disturbing nature of such a film, it is important viewing, reminding us how easily countries can veer into dictatorships, and why world-wide vigilance and calling governments to account is so critical.
4 - highly recommended

Twiggy
Dir: Sadie Frost
Length: 94 mins
© Transmission - a life that is so much
more than a 60s modelling icon
You may never have heard of Lesley Hornby, but you no doubt know the world-famous model she became. In 1966, at the age of 16, the world discovered the wafer-thin girl with the big eyes, trendy hairdo and androgynous looks. She was declared the face of 1966, and went on to have an amazing life of modelling, acting and singing (Golden Globe Awards, Tony nominations and a Damehood included!) This delightful documentary traces that life, with many nostalgic archival clips, interviews with Twiggy then and now, and much commentary from people who have known her: Dustin Hoffman, Joanna Lumley, Paul McCartney, Brooke Shields and more. The film has a casual, relaxed feel, with Twiggy coming across as a really "nice" person, still true to her lower class roots and with little artifice. Director Frost also helmed the recent film about 60s fashion designer Mary Quant, and this doco similarly captures an era, while reflecting much about British society and class structure at the time. This is an uplifting, happy film to enjoy, and remember that not all fashion and fame has to be uppity or exclusive.
4 - highly recommended

Careless
Dir: Sue Thomson
Length: 88 mins
© The Backlot Films - ageing but still full
of life
Most people don't want to dwell on the topic of growing old, but the truth is, all of us will probably be old one day, and that's the way we want it (better than the alternative!) royal commissions we have, aged care is never made a priority, and for several decades now it has been outsourced to private industry who see it as a money-making enterprise rather than a caring one. This sobering doco focuses on several individuals wanting to grow old in their own homes, and navigating the bureaucratic maze known as My Aged Care. Focus is on Margaret,  the 89-year-old mother of the director, as well as Beverley who has regular in-home care, Olivia, whose daughter has come from England to help her mother, and happily married Italian couple Luciana and Mario. The director never stereotypes old age; we feel keenly the human side of these people, we see photos of them in their youth, and we hear from them their memories, feelings and fears. Nor does Thomson let governments off the hook; without lecturing she makes it very clear that the powers-that-be have never done the right thing by their ageing population. There is enough humour to offset possible gloom, and a cute device of having several young kids narrate emphasises again that age awaits us all. The film won the Audience Award at this year's MIFF. 
4 - highly recommended

One Shot with Ed Sheeran
Dir: Philip Barantini
Length: 61 mins
Streaming on Netflix
© Netflix - spontaneous and joyful -
a musical treat with exceptional filmmaking
Short and sweet - oh so sweet, and stunningly impressive in terms of the filmmaking techniques employed to make this documentary. For those of you who watched the impressive four-part series Adolescence, you may recall each episode was done in one shot. And here again the same director, Barantini, films for one hour, with one continuous shot. This inspired doco features singer/songwriter Ed Sheeran as he does a sound check for an upcoming gig, then heads into the streets of New York, playing his guitar, singing his top hits, surprising people at birthday parties and impromptu marriage proposals and climbing onto a New York bus for a singalong with delighted passengers. This is a privileged insight into a genius songwriter, and there is something so warm and natural in the way he relates to his delighted fans, that you feel you are along for the ride. But it took meticulous planning and a team of thousands (crew, police and more) to make this naturalistic documentary. I suggest you watch the film with subtitles on to get true insight into the depth of emotion and creative genius of Sheeran's lyrics. This is an absolute joy to watch - a happy doco - and testament to the possibilities of the art of film-making.
To see how it was made head to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J49t-rLedKo
5 - Unmissable





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Wednesday, 26 November 2025

November 27th  2025

Dead of Winter
Christmas Kharma
Aileen (streaming on Netflix)
In the Name of the Father (streaming on DocPlay)

Action fans will love Emma Thomson in her latest role; Christmas fans can have fun with a modern version of a Charles Dickens classic, and couch dwellers have two rather disturbing but fascinating docos to absorb.

Dead of Winter
Dir: Brian Kirk
© Maslow - Emma Thomson takes on a
heroic action role
Barb (Emma Thompson), recently widowed, is taking her husband's ashes to scatter them in a fishing hole in a frozen lake in Minnesota, as per his last wishes. When she gets lost in a blizzard she stops at a remote cabin to ask directions. A man, credited only as Camo Jacket, (Marc Menchaca), arouses her suspicions, and she soon discovers a young kidnap victim, Leah (Laurel Marsden) tied up in the cellar. So ensues a gruelling battle of life and death as the man's wife, Purple Lady (Judy Greer), brandishes a shotgun, determined to carry out her original dastardly plan for Leah. There's much fun to be had in this ice-bound thriller, not the least seeing Thompson, usually so very British, playing against type, with heavy American accent, and full of older-woman guts and bravado. While it's great to see a mature female hero, sometimes what Barb achieves beggars belief, but I guess that's the point of this sort of film: believability is not front and centre. For the most part, the tension remains strong, ratcheting up as the film progresses, but it is interrupted too often by sentimental flashbacks of Barb and her husband in their younger years. Petty quibbles aside, the film looks bleakly beautiful, and Thompson again shows her acting creds, as so much relies upon her wordless facial gestures, and physicality. Plus, there's a lot at stake when we realise near the denouement, the real horrific reason for the kidnapping. 
3.5 - well recommended

Christmas Kharma
Dir: Gurinder Chadha
© Rialto - the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future
in a lovely Indian-themed retelling of a classic tale 
Would Charles Dickens turn over in his grave to think his beloved A Christmas Carol was now a contemporary Bollywood-themed extravaganza? Maybe not, since director Chadha delights in blending social messages and blurring genres. Wealthy CEO Eshaan Sood (Kunal Nayyar) is the story's Scrooge - mean-spirited, hated by his employees and lonely. As per the formula, three ghosts visit him, the Ghost of Christmas Past played in Day of the Dead style by Eva Longoria, Christmas Present played by flamboyant singer Billy Porter, and Christmas Future being an almost Zen-like Boy George. Sood's past is the Uganda of Idi Amin, at a time when foreigners were kicked out, and he ended up in England, orphaned and alone, his happy childhood wrecked. We discover what inspired him to chase money and how that destroyed the one love of his life. Unfortunately Nayyar is not a great actor and he lacks nuance in his performance; that's the major downside. Scenes of Christmas Present are seriously sentimental, but also extraordinarily touching, especially when Bob Cratchitt sings to his children a song about finding the boy within the man, to try to explain old Sood's bitter and twisted nature. And of course little, dying Tim is a heart-breaker. Porter is a standout with upbeat soul songs and glitzy presentation. Most of the characters are typical modern-day Londoners, from racist demonstrators, to London cabbies, to Indians running convenience stores, with the multiracial melange feeling quite warm and fuzzy. I must be getting soft in my old age, but this film really got me choked up. There is much to enjoy about the basic message, and the upbeat Bollywood/Christmas songs and dances are a treat. It's the sort of film you have to surrender to, forgive the schmaltziness and the genre mash-up, and just enjoy it for the happiness it can bring.
3 - recommended

Aileen
Dir: Emily Turner
Length: 104 mins
Streaming on Netflix
© Netflix - intriguing and sad look into
the storybehind the infamous killer
Aileen Wuornos is possibly the most famous female serial killer in the USA. Who can forget Charlize Theron's award-winning portrayal of her in the 2003 film Monster. This is a very different take, based upon prison interviews with Aileen before her execution, interviews with her then-girlfriend Tyria, interviews with John Tanner, the prostitute-hating, bible-bashing  prosecuting attorney, and footage of the actual court trials. We learn what horrible life experiences led Wuornos to do what she did, and also discover that the justice system was stacked against her from the start. For anyone with an interest in true crime, abuseof women, the judiciary, and human tragedy it's a fascinating watch.
3.5 - well recommended

In the Name of the Father
Dir: Bat dor Ojalvo
Length: 90 mins
Streaming on DocPlay
© DocPlay - sometimes people who claim
to have faith are the worst of all
Another true crime doco that is possibly even worse than the tale of Aileen Wuornos. An extreme Jewish sect called Breslov set up a community in Israel, under the patronage of a rabbi who called himself Moharosh. The doco opens with community members raving about how loved, in fact worshipped, the old man was, but it's not long before all the nasty truth starts coming out. Moharosh's son Moishe gets involved in a mammoth contesting of a will, and younger people who have now distanced themselves from the community speak out about how much sexual abuse took place, studiously ignored by those given a duty of care. While films of this nature are never pleasant to watch, they are a constant reminder of how important it is to never let people in power get carried away with their own importance, how critical it is to protect young people from bastards in power, and the dangers of any beliefs being turned into what eventually amounts to a cult.
3 - recommended

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Wednesday, 19 November 2025

November 20th  2025

Wicked: For Good
Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk (selected cinemas)
Materialists (streaming on Prime)
Ballad of a Small Player (streaming on Netflix)
House of Dynamite (streaming on Netflix)
Japanese Film Festival in Melbourne now!

Another wonderful week of film. One very mainstream, high-profile entertainment, a documentary that will break your heart, and three good streamers for home-loving movie fans.  Plus apologies: I reviewed the Japanese FF too early, so remind you that it is now on in Melbourne. See link to those reviews: 

Wicked: For Good
Dir: Jon M Chu
Length: 138 mins
© Universal - friendship is at the heart of this story
Full disclosure: I have never seen Wicked the Musical, nor do I remember much about the classic film The Wizard of Oz. But I did see the first movie Wicked, and rather enjoyed it. So I approach this film very much as a stand-alone piece, asking simply whether it is worth going along to see. Both Wicked films are based on the broadway musical, so chances are, if you are a musical fan, you will enjoy this. (That said, some folks may object to new songs being written for the film.) It is big, loud, colourful (almost Barbie-esque), but also with a big heart and plenty of messages for today's viewers. Good versus bad of course takes centre stage, except that Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo), is not the wicked witch she has been painted. She desperately fights to expose the fraudulent wizard (an always entertaining Jeff Goldblum) and his deceptions. Her friendship with Glinda (Ariane Grande) is central to the film, and makes for some surprisingly moving and powerful duets, stressing the importance of friendship over public perception. Grande and Erivo both shine in their roles; both are physically stunning in their contrasting ways, they bring nuance to their characters, and both sing exquisitely. (Pay careful attention to the clever lyrics of each song!) For viewers who like to ponder subtext, there are plenty of sly nudges at political issues such as maltreatment of animals, leaders duping their people and creating scapegoats, abuse of power, and the position of the privileged elite. Personal themes of empowerment, belonging and redemption all play a big part. At times the film feels a bit too full with everything - a visual overload of saturated colour, and vocal ensemble aspirations to rival Les Miz! Scenes go from fairy-floss frivolousness and then launch into earnestness, even including one  vaguely jarring love scene. But overall it works really well, with a fine supporting cast including the dashing Jonathan Bailey, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater and Marissa Bode. Go along prepared to surrender to the story, and especially enjoy the two wonderful leads. Musicals are after all a very stirring and uplifting genre, and you should have a good time with this.
4 - highly recommended

Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk
Dir: Sapideh Farsi
Length: 113 mins
Screening only at selected cinemas including Nova, Westgarth, Pentridge, Lido, Cameo and Thornbury Picture House. 
© HiGloss - the smile belies the tragedy and pain
of her life
Exiled Iranian director Sepideh Farsi, living in Paris, tried to enter Gaza to document conditions there after the October 7th war began. Unable to gain entry, she was introduced, via internet connection, to a 25-year-old Palestinian poet and photojournalist, Fatma Hossona. Fatma spent a year photographing life in Gaza after the war broke out. She also spent a year conversing regularly with Farsi, who has constructed this unique and powerful film, based upon their video calls. The thing that strikes me so intensely is Fatma's apparently constant cheery disposition. Despite the horrors of war, with daily threat of death, she retains a broad smile and upbeat hopes for a return to normality. But her eyes betray the sorrow, while her magnificent photographs, shown at intervals to intersperse the conversations with Farsi, reveal the horrors of the ongoing war and the daily living conditions of the Gazans. A film of this nature is challenging emotionally, being at once heartbreaking and also inspirational. It possibly threatens many people's hard-held beliefs but is also critically important viewing to get a human perspective on one of today's most inhumane situations.
4.5 - wholeheartedly recommended

Materialists
Dir: Celine Song
Length: 116 mins
Streaming on Prime
© A24 - who to choose? Mr Wealthy or an 
impoverished soulmate? The dating
world exposed.
If you loved Celine Song's Past Lives, you should thoroughly enjoy her latest venture, a rom-com with a hard-edged difference. Lucy (Dakota Johnson) runs a high-class matchmaking company in New York. At a wedding for one of her clients, she runs into her ex, Harry, (Chris Evans) who is working there with the catering company. At the same time the groom's brother Harry, a wealthy financier (Pedro Pascal) spies her and decides she looks like the sort of gal he'd like to date. Soon Lucy finds herself torn between a handsome new suitor, and her poverty-stricken old love, who is possibly more of a soulmate than Harry. The clever dialogue in this slick film gives a view of dating that likens it to a financial transaction - what are the gains and losses in any hook-up, the film asks. Is the perfect match someone who checks all the boxes, even if they are not in love? Johnson has come a long way since 50 Shades of Grey. You feel her anguish, torn as she is between money and love, while the two lead male characters are so gorgeous in their own totally opposite ways. The issue of image and cosmetic surgery also cleverly sneaks its way into the plot, as does the more fraught subject of vulnerability to assault when using a dating serivce. It's a thoroughly modern, and very engaging look at transactional romance.
4 - highly recommended

A House of Dynamite
Dir: Kathryn Bigelow
Length: 112 mins
Streaming on Netflix
© Netflix -a  tense and frighteningly possible nuclear scenario
Nominated for a Golden Lion at Venice FF, Bigelow's latest film is taut, terrifying and terrific. The WHSR (White House Situation Room) detects the launch of a missile from somewhere in the Pacific. There's no evidence of which country has done the deed, but the US defence system flies into action with intercept missiles. When this fails, it becomes apparent that in under 10 minutes the city of Chicago is going to be wiped out by a nuclear strike.  Should the President launch a preemptive strike on hostile countries he thinks may be the culprits, or not retaliate and, being seen to be weak, incur more attacks? The tension ratchets up from the word go, and only eases momentarily when the film goes into flashback, showing us the same scenario but from a different perspective, as experienced by all the major players: Cpt Walker (Rebecca Ferguson), in charge of the WHSR, Secretary of Defence, General Brady (Tracy Letts), Admiral Miller (Jason Clarke), Deputy National Security Advisor Jake Baerington (Gabriel Russo), the President himself (Idris Elba) and some of the everyday workers and the public affected. Without the need for fancy action scenes, this feels all too real, with the detail of the inner workings spelled out, moment by moment, creating a ghastly sense that no decision is going to be the right one. With a compelling soundtrack, this is nail-biting and disturbing stuff, masterfully executed.
4 - highly recommended

Ballad of a Small Player
Dir: Edward Berger
Length: 101mins
Streaming on Netflix
© Netflix - Colin Farrell at his roguish best
Macau, gambling capital of the world. Lord Doyle (Colin Farrell), gambling addict. Put them together and you have big trouble. Add in a mysterious casino worker Dao Ming (Fala Chen), who extends Doyle credit, and Betty (Tilda Swinton), who is pursuing Doyle to recoup stolen money.  Farrell is brilliant in this role, as a man who has plenty to hide, is an utter rogue and charlatan yet exudes a certain charm and, amazingly, evokes our sympathy. Macau is shot with a sense of glamour, gaudiness and decadence, yet with a bleak impoverished underbelly. The film depicts a gambler's compulsions vividly, and flirts with the unlikely possibility of redemption.  Cinematography looks splendid, with glitz, style, impressive angles and close-ups, but ultimately there is more style than substance, resulting from lack of depth thematically. Regardless, it is a very entertaining watch, and worth it for Farrell alone.
3.5 - well recommended

Reminder: My index with links to ten years of hurstosfiveminutefilm reviews:


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