Reviewed by GREG KING Director: Pawel Pawilowski Stars: Tomas Kot, Joanna Kulik, Agata Kulesza, Borys Szyc, Jeanne Balibar, Cedric Kahn. This melancholy romantic drama about a pair of star-crossed lovers kept apart in the divided Europe after WWII has been largely inspired by the experiences of Polish filmmaker Pawel Pawilowski’s own parents. Cold War spans some fifteen years and tells of the troubled romance between a pair of musicians. The film was a big winner at Cannes and is Poland’s official entry into the Foreign Language category for the Oscars. Cold War Continue reading
CREED II
Reviewed by GREG KING Director: Steven Caple jr Stars: Michael B Jordan, Sylvester Stallone, Tessa Thompson, Dolph Lundgren, Florian Munteanu, Brigette Nielsen, Phylicia Rashid, Milo Ventigmilia, Russell Hornsby, Wood Harris, Patrice Harris. In 2015 director Ryan Coogler (Fruitvale Station, Black Panther, etc) reinvigorated the Rocky franchise which had grown tired and stale and gave it a necessary injection of youthful energy. The last couple of Rocky films had been little more than vanity projects for its writer/director and star Sylvester Stallone. With Creed Continue reading
CAN YOU EVER FORGIVE ME?
Reviewed by GREG KING Director: Marielle Heller Stars: Melissa McCarthy, Richard E Grant, Dolly Wells, Ben Falcone, Jane Curtin, Steven Spinella, Christian Navarro, Anna Deveare Smith. Can You Ever Forgive Me? is based on a true story about a struggling writer who, in the early 90s, forged a number of letters from prominent celebrities. It's a strange story about the creative process and the hardships faced by writers, but it gives Melissa McCarthy, better known for her raucous comedies, a straight dramatic role that has been earning her plenty of praise. Lee Continue reading
BACKTRACK BOYS – interview with Catherine Scott
by GREG KING BackTrack Boys is an observational documentary that features the rough talking, free-wheeling jackaroo, Bernie Shakeshaft, and the youth program he runs from a shed on the outskirts of Armidale, NSW. The film follows Zac, Tyrson and Rusty, three troubled boys, as they hit the road with Bernie’s legendary dog jumping team and travel to rural shows across NSW. The dog shows started out as a way to teach kids self-discipline, calm their emotions, build trust, and boost their communication skills, but now they have become the world record holders. In the last Continue reading
CHRISTOPHER ROBIN
Reviewed by GREG KING Director: Marc Forster Stars: Ewan McGregor, Hayley Atwell, Bronte Carmichael, Mark Gatiss, Oliver Ford Davies, Adrian Scarborough, Orton O'Brien, voices of Jim Cummings, Brad Garrett, Toby Jones, Peter Capaldi, Sophie Okonedo, Nick Mohammed. This is the second film this year to focus on A A Milne’s enduring and endearing creation of Christopher Robin and Winnie the Pooh and the other creatures that inhabited the fictional Hundred Acre Wood. It follows Goodbye Christopher Robin, a drama that explored how Milne’s classic children’s tale stole Continue reading