2010s

THE FRONT RUNNER: Scandal on the Road to the White House
THE FRONT RUNNER: Scandal On The Road To The White House

When the USA is safely within the next Democratic term of office, expect The Front Runner to be looked back upon more fondly; it’s mightily enjoyable political entertainment.

SUSPIRIA: Guadagnino's Horror Remake Is An Overlong, Dull Mess
SUSPIRIA: Guadagnino’s Horror Remake Is An Overlong, Dull Mess

As a work of storytelling, Guadagnino’s reimagining of the canonical giallo is a boring mess with higher thematic aspirations than it’s able to realise.

57 LAWSON: Stories From The Poets Corner Flats
57 LAWSON: Stories From The Poets Corner Flats

Ben Ferris’ experimental docu-drama hybrid 57 Lawson has aged as an important archive of a brief period of time, a lyrical tribute to Australia’s often ignored lower class population.

AN EVENING WITH BEVERLY LUFF LINN: Has a Unique Voice, But A Weak Ending
AN EVENING WITH BEVERLY LUFF LINN: Has A Unique Voice, But A Weak Ending

An incredibly funny film, An Evening with Beverly Luff Linn is a wonderful example of a film that is able to be surreal, comic, and emotional – even if the ending is really very, very bad.

STUDIO 54: A Fun Watch, But Boy Does it Have Its Problems
STUDIO 54: A Fun Watch, But Boy Does It Have Its Problems

Studio 54 was blessed to be a documentary about something unendingly interesting, unfortunately, by taking on a big topic and failing to ever get specific,it fails to live up to its great potential.

Film Fest 919 Review: ROMA: Cuarón Crafts An Overwhelming Audio-Visual Experience
Film Fest 919 Review: ROMA: Cuarón Crafts An Overwhelming Audio-Visual Experience

Roma is a film that improves with each passing minute; even though occasionally underwhelming, the longer it lingers in your mind, the more of an impact it will have.

Film Fest 919: GREEN BOOK: Friendship & Prejudice On A Journey Through The Deep South
Film Fest 919: GREEN BOOK: Friendship & Prejudice On A Journey Through The Deep South

Green Book is cinematic comfort food, equipped with witty performances and the aura of social importance, yet undistinguishable from the tons of other polite Oscar dramas that came before it.

I STILL SEE YOU: Doesn't Have 20-20 Vision
I STILL SEE YOU: Doesn’t Have 20-20 Vision

I Still See You is another entry to the endless array of young adult fare, and it’s a near flop that doesn’t look to be boundary-defying, instead playing it safe.

HAPPY AS LAZZARO: A Thought-Provoking, If Elusive Elegy For Agricultural Life

Though easily levelling with The Wonders in terms of visual quality, the lack of investment leaves Happy as Lazzaro a rather transitory collection of charming anecdotes.

SADIE: A Coming-of-Age Drama Both Disturbing & Deeply Moving
SADIE: A Coming-of-Age Drama Both Disturbing & Deeply Moving

Disquieting and deeply moving, Sadie takes its story to extreme lengths while still feeling utterly grounded in the emotional reality of its characters.

SAY YOU WILL: A New Approach to Grief and Romance
SAY YOU WILL: A New Approach To Grief & Romance

Avoiding the classic cliches of a grieving teenager, Nick Naveda’s debut Say You Will will pleasantly surprise any movie lover, perfectly capturing the feeling of loss and romantic confusion.

BAD TIMES AT THE EL ROYALE: Deconstruction that’s Stylish to a Fault
BAD TIMES AT THE EL ROYALE: Deconstruction That’s Stylish To A Fault

On the performances alone, Bad Times at the El Royale is worth your time and money, lending itself to justifiable reasons to revisit for multiple viewings.

BLACK ’47: Surprisingly Enjoyable Historical Epic
BLACK ’47: Surprisingly Enjoyable Historical Epic

Black ’47 isn’t a perfect film – the shaky characterisation prevents the emotional undercurrents from truly picking up speed. Regardless, it’s a fantastically captivating historical epic.

MONROVIA, INDIANA: Humor And Absurdity From The Fly On The Wall
MONROVIA, INDIANA: Humor & Absurdity From The Fly On The Wall

The mild and moderately amusing take precedence over any grander scheme in Monrovia, Indiana, lacking a moment of discovery in the mundanity and never evoking superiority.

FOLLOWED: A Lot of What We've Seen Before, With Some Decent Scares
FOLLOWED: A Lot Of What We’ve Seen Before, With Some Decent Scares

Followed, with its contrived shaky ghosts and shoddy script, is the millennial’s answer to The Shining and 1408, without the compelling stories.