News & Opinion
Gothic romance slithers onto Apple TV+ with thorny mystery The Essex Serpent
Despite labelling itself as “prestige TV”, there’s more pure period romanticism under this series’ petticoats than expected.
Adventurous viewers will be delighted by Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn
Berlin Film Fest winner oscillates between a cheeky nudge in the ribs and something much darker…
Netflix’s romantic LGBT series Heartstopper is a softcore alternative to Sex Education
Is Netflix’s LGBT series a watershed moment for young adult television? Here’s the good and bad.
The new Doctor Strange is a fun Sam Raimi movie but a weak MCU film
This is the worst example yet of an MCU film requiring you to have a lot of prior knowledge to understand what’s going on in it.
Instead of watching 365 Days: This Day, just watch porn
Exotic location, Europop song on the soundtrack, sex scene, exotic location, Europop tune, sex scene…
Asghar Farhadi’s A Hero is a gripping exploration of reputation and desperation
The behind-the-scenes legal case surrounding the film is also tragically Farhadian.
Shining Girls’ supernatural elements tussle with the show’s taut, sinister tone
Don’t Google what happens in this serial killer thriller with a hearty dollop of horror.
So-so drama Gaslit stars a radiant Julia Roberts and a chin-dribbling Sean Penn
A prosthetics-enhanced Sean Penn is a sight to behold, sinking into all his new chins and stomach rolls.
After Yang is a trenchant family drama viewed through a sci-fi lens
Movies are empathy machines, and Colin Farrell shines in this empathetic tale of a broken robot nanny.
Nicolas Cage plays Nicolas F**king Cage in the zestily entertaining The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent
Nic Cage meets his biggest fan and plays himself AND becomes a government agent in a film that’s catnip for Cage completists.
They Call Me Magic shows a new side of an NBA icon
It’s not quite a deep dive, but this four-part Apple TV+ series fleshes out one of sports more fascinating stories.
Russian Doll returns with a satisfyingly bonkers second season
Natasha Lyonne continues to be terrifyingly cool as she does the time warp again.
Trippy neo-western Outer Range has arguably the best use of Josh Brolin yet
Not only does it honour the western genre, it’s also a work of super trippy science fiction.
Bullock and Tatum’s comedy talents make The Lost City worth a visit
The script isn’t especially clever, but who cares when you can watch leeches suck Tatum’s butt?
Everything Everywhere All At Once is a speeding bullet train of laughs, punches and parallel realities
You’ll want to hang on tight to grasp the multiple realities of this bold, imaginative A24 sci-fi odyssey.
Netflix’s tactful two-part Jimmy Savile expose A British Horror Story feels rushed
The once-beloved entertainer’s career and famous connections are well-detailed, leaving little room for victim testimonies.
Two sharp leads make All the Old Knives a worthwhile spy story
You can see Thandiwe Newton and Chris Pine’s onscreen chemistry visibly fizzing in this spy romance thriller.
I still don’t know what the Secrets of Dumbledore are, after watching the pointless Fantastic Beasts 3
Wish Mads could magically speed up this overlong franchise, especially since nothing happens in the latest film.
Satisfying NZ-shot skin flick X is full of morbid money shots
It’s horror director Ti West’s best film yet, with stirring themes of beauty, sex, and the ravages of time.
Like a fart in church, Paul Verhoeven’s Benedetta is deliriously sacred and profane
Virginie Efira is plagued by messianic visions – and also the Plague – in this racy religious drama.
Apollo 10½: A Space Age Childhood turns the moon landing into a gorgeous dream
Inspired by his own upbringing, Richard Linklater takes viewers on a gosh-darn beautiful journey to the moon.