Sometimes a piece of cinema comes along that does more than simply tell a story — it reaches inside you, takes hold, and refuses to let go. By the time the final image fades and the screen drifts to black, you are left quietly undone, emotionally spent, and deeply moved. Academy Award® winner Chloé Zhao’s […]
Movie Reviews
‘Anchor Me: The Don McGlashan Story’ – Review
As one of New Zealand’s most prolific and beloved songwriters and musicians, Don McGlashan stands as a true original. Across decades, he has carved out a singular, self-determined path through the country’s musical landscape, remaining fiercely true to his artistry while creating songs and albums that have become woven into the fabric of the Kiwi […]
‘Sentimental Value’ – Review
When it comes to the contemporary tastemakers shaping modern cinema, Norwegian filmmaker Joachim Trier stands as one of the medium’s most distinctive and compelling voices. With each new project, Trier continues to captivate audiences through works that thoughtfully explore memory, place, emotion, and personal context. Following his triumphant The Worst Person in the World, he […]
‘Not Only Fred Dagg’ – Review
When it comes to true New Zealand icons, few loom as large as Fred Dagg — the loveable, gumboot-wearing, do-it-yourself farmer who became the embodiment of Kiwi ingenuity, humour, and understated masculinity. Yet as inseparable as Fred Dagg is from our cultural identity, the character was only ever one part of the remarkable man who […]
‘Anaconda’ – Review
Jack Black and Paul Rudd are more than ready to go native, plunging headfirst into the jungle for Anaconda: a wild, unhinged, and gloriously self-aware remake-of-a-remake that fully embraces its own stupidity. Loud, ridiculous, and relentlessly entertaining, this is exactly the kind of sunburnt, beer-in-hand summer blockbuster chaos audiences could use right about now. Doug […]
‘Rental Family’ – Review
2025 has already proven itself to be a year rich with cinematic treasures, delivering film experiences that transcend genre, expectation, and emotional register. As the year begins to crest toward its final act, audiences are gifted something truly special with Rental Family, a heartfelt, deeply resonant comedy-drama from filmmaker Hikari, and one that arrives precisely […]
‘The Housemaid’ – Review
Christmas is almost here, and while most filmmakers are content to serve up cosy sentimentality and sugar-dusted escapism, Paul Feig has other, far more dangerous ideas on his mind. With The Housemaid, the filmmaker behind Bridesmaids and A Simple Favor delivers a seductive, scandal-soaked psychological thriller that slithers under your skin and refuses to let […]
‘The History of Sound’ – Review
Filmmaker Oliver Hermanus firmly cemented his talent with 2022’s Living, an intimate, emotionally resonant masterpiece led by Bill Nighy that quietly emerged as one of the decade’s defining pieces of cinema. It was sincere, deeply human, and profoundly warm: an exploration of life’s small miracles that lingered long after the credits. Now, Hermanus returns with […]
‘Eternity’ – Review
There’s nothing quite like an end-of-year romantic comedy to wrap you up in all the feels, and when A24 is steering the ship, you know you’re in for something truly heartfelt. Eternity is exactly that: a film that’s warm, tender, emotionally rich and overflowing with love in all its forms. It’s funny, it’s moving, it’s […]
‘Oh. What. Fun.’ – Review
Christmas time is here again, and we all know who the true heroes of the season are: MUMS. From wrapping gifts to knitting sweaters, from endless cooking to last-minute pottering about, and delivering all the cuddles, attention and love that make the holidays magic, mums shoulder the emotional (and literal) labour of Christmas. It’s exhausting […]