SAFE (full article at The Guardian Australia)

As Meg 2 is currently swimming the cinematic high seas, it feels like the perfect time to anchor this terrible metaphor and remember what Jason Statham was up to before he fought CGI sharks for a living. A decade ago The Stath was making the type of uncomplicated and hugely enjoyable action movies that felt like a throwback to the heyday of Stallone, Schwarzenegger or Van Damme. And one of his best, most overlooked efforts is Safe.

Read the full article at The Guardian Australia:

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/aug/23/ever-wanted-to-see-jason-statham-beat-up-a-guy-with-a-plate-you-need-to-watch-safe

IMDB: Safe

APOLLO 10 1⁄2: A SPACE AGE CHILDHOOD (full article at The Guardian Australia)

Next week marks the 54th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission, which makes it a great time to catch up with Apollo 10½. Richard Linklater’s semi-autobiographical animation invites us to experience growing up in the 1960’s, with humankind on the verge of landing on the moon. It’s part memoir, part fantasy and a complete and absolute joy to watch.

The year is 1969 and we are introduced to 10-year-old Stan (played by Milo Coy and later by Jack Black) at his school in Houston, Texas. During break, Stan is approached by two men from Nasa, Krantz (Zachary Levi) and Bostick (Glen Powell), who request his assistance with a secret mission. Due to a miscalculation, the lunar module has been built too small to accommodate the astronauts and Nasa now needs a kid-sized pilot to blast into space and deposit the lunar lander on the surface of the moon.

Read the full article at The Guardian Australia:

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/jul/12/richard-linklaters-apollo-10-12-is-a-joyous-celebration-of-the-moon-landing

IMDB: Apollo 10 1⁄2: A Space Age Childhood

ANACONDAS: THE HUNT FOR THE BLOOD ORCHID (full article at The Guardian Australia)

The 1997 all-star reptile rampage Anaconda was a movie notable for an early career appearance from J-Lo, a dicey Paraguayan accent from Jon Voight, and, let’s face it, not much else. Admittedly, defending a sequel that has 25% on Rotten Tomatoes might sound like a fool’s errand but hear me out. With a charmingly silly plot and a raft of unsympathetic characters destined to become snake fodder, Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid succeeds where the original faltered – and cranks up the ophidiophobia.

Read the full article at The Guardian Australia:

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/jun/21/i-wont-pretend-anacondas-the-hunt-for-the-blood-orchid-isnt-stupid-but-its-also-very-fun

IMDB: Anacondas: The Hunt For The Blood Orchid

EMILY THE CRIMINAL (full article at The Guardian Australia)

This gripping and nerve-twisting crime thriller from the writer-director John Patton Ford is packed with nervous energy and spiralling misfortune, moving at a relentless pace all the while taking potshots at the gig economy, student debt and the justice system.

Emily (Aubrey Plaza) is struggling under the pressure of unmanageable debt repayments. She works casually for a catering company, delivering and setting up food for corporate events and offices. She has an assault charge in her history, which continually prevents her from securing any permanent employment. 

Read the full article at The Guardian Australia:

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/may/31/emily-the-criminal-aubrey-plaza-makes-it-easy-to-root-for-this-credit-card-scammer

IMDB: Emily The Criminal

INFINITY POOL (full review at Screen Realm)

Infinity Pool is the third feature from writer / director Brandon Cronenberg, and as you might expect if you’re a fan of either Cronenberg Jr or Snr, it is an imaginative science fiction / horror hybrid that asks some interesting questions around the nature of wealth, privilege and accountability.

Struggling author James (Alexander Skarsgård) and his wife Em (Cleopatra Coleman) are holidaying in the fictional country of Li Tolqa. Staying in a high end resort, shielded and fenced off from the local populace, they befriend another couple, Gabi (Mia Goth) and Alban (Jalil Lester’s) and sneak out of the resort to enjoy a drunken day at the beach. On their way home, a local man is struck and killed by their car. Panicking, they flee the scene.

Read the full review at Screen Realm:

https://screenrealm.com/infinity-pool-movie-review/

IMDB: Infinity Pool

POSSESSOR (full article at The Guardian Australia)

Brandon Cronenberg’s new movie, Infinity Pool, is out this month so why not take the opportunity to revisit his second film, Possessor, a blisteringly imaginative science fiction / horror movie that engages your thoughts and messes with your brain.

Read the full article at The Guardian Australia:

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/may/10/brandon-cronenbergs-possessor-is-one-of-the-most-exciting-horror-films-of-this-century

IMDB: Possessor

LANGUAGE LESSONS (full article at The Guardian Australia)

During Covid lockdowns, while many of us were glugging wine, projecting our insecurities on to our pets and pretending to read a lot, Natalie Morales and Mark Duplass were putting their time to much better use, collaborating on the excellent film Language Lessons. Morales’s 2021 directorial debut is a story of platonic friendship, adversity and mutual support, told entirely through video calls and messages.

Read the full article at The Guardian Australia:

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/apr/05/language-lessons-a-film-about-video-calls-sounds-like-covid-revisited-but-it-will-grab-you-by-the-feels

IMDB: Language Lessons