News & Opinion

Marvel’s new show WandaVision blends Twilight Zone with sitcom shenanigans
The supreme weirdness of it all is a breath of fresh air.


Pieces of a Woman can’t live up to its astounding opening
Vanessa Kirby is outstanding in this new-to-Netflix drama.


Four 20th century legends come together in One Night in Miami
Cassius Clay, Malcolm X, Jim Brown, and Sam Cooke share a night of civil rights soul-searching and infighting.


Rarely is a film as decisive, deliberate or devastating as Promising Young Woman
Stunning performances propel this searing vision, as scathing as it is uncompromising.


Wonder Woman 1984 isn’t quite the knockout we’d wished for
Wonder Woman finds herself somewhat diminished by her opponents here.


Trent Reznor opens up about Hurt in a new episode of Song Exploder
“When I wrote it I felt alone. Lost. But things will be ok, you know? You’re ok.”


Chadwick Boseman’s swan song leaves you mourning on- and off-screen tragedies
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom is the final act in a career distinguished by elegance, charisma, and talent.


The Croods: A New Age is an incredibly relevant end to this punch-worthy year
The slapstick sure does slap.


Mama’s Music Box and the magic of Christmas movies
Christmas and movies share a similar kind of magic: they bring people together.


Netflix’s Mosul is one of the more unique action movies of the year
“Genuinely moving at times, not least of which is its highly impactful and sombre end.”


Possessor’s scary, surreal sci-fi deserves instant cult status – if you can handle it
The best sci-fi to hit screens in years shows, just like his dad, Cronenberg jr. has a gift for body horror.


Impressive and immersive, Mank is a fascinating world to spend two hours in
An Oscar nomination for Gary Oldman is all-but-guaranteed with David Fincher’s latest.


SIX60 doco is a mostly convincing underdog story about a music phenomenon
No matter how you feel about SIX60, Till The Lights Go Out should instill some warm national pride.


Time-loop rom-com Palm Springs is one of the year’s best comedies
Now (finally) streaming in Aotearoa, Palm Springs turns the time-loop genre on its head.


Gory body-swap horror-comedy Freaky is a crowd-pleasing package
Vince Vaughn’s not as terrifying as his teenage girl counterpart.


Sponge on the Run reminds us there’s no such thing as a bad SpongeBob movie
The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run review: another top-notch SpongeBob movie.


Forgettable new Ip Man movie still offers 83 minutes of thumping Wing Chun fistwork
Watching one dude calmly taking on a horde of thugs hasn’t lost its novelty


Nick Frost and Simon Pegg’s new show Truth Seekers will satisfy fans
Like Shaun of The Dead, the supernatural elements are treated seriously, ie pretty scary


Gorgeous, glossy chess drama The Queen’s Gambit is one of Netflix’s best in ages
Anya Taylor-Joy is the crown jewel in this study of addiction, loneliness and connection.


Baby Done showcases both Rose Matafeo’s dramatic talent and her comedy chops
Further earning her reputation as a comic, Matafeo shines as the lead.


Hitchcock’s psychodrama is missing from Ben Wheatley’s glossy take on Rebecca
Rebecca stands in the shadow, not only of Hitchcock, but also Wheatley’s own films.

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