Movie Review: German Film Festival

With @WatchItWombat

Valentine’s Day Netflix Picks

February is the ‘Love Month’, with Valentine’s Day on many people’s minds. 

That’s why we’ve collected some of the best rom-coms streaming on Netflix. Even if you’re flying solo, these are still great for opening a tub of ice cream and sitting on the couch to ‘Netflix and Swill’ (a glass of wine). 

50 First Dates (2004) – M

Adam Sandler isn’t usually the first name people think of when it comes to heartfelt romantic comedy, but this one proves he can pull it off. Sandler plays a lifelong commitment-phobe until he meets Drew Barrymore, a woman who seems perfect for him. However, she wakes up every day with no memory of the day before. Winning her over once is easy; winning her over every single morning is the real challenge. 

Jerry Maguire (1996) – M

After a crisis of conscience costs him his job, a once-successful sports agent, played by Tom Cruise, suddenly has to rebuild from scratch. With only one loyal client and a former colleague, played by Renée Zellweger, by his side, he sets out to prove that doing the right thing is worth the risk. Leaning more on the dramatic than the romantic side, it’s still packed with laughs. 

My Best Friend’s Wedding (1997) – M

Another 90s classic. When Julia Robert’s best friend announces he’s getting married, she realises a little too late that she’s in love with him. With the wedding just days away, she launches a final effort to win him back, but things get messy fast. 

Hall Pass (2011) – MA15+

Two married guys are stuck in a rut, so their wives give them a surprising solution: a “hall pass.” For one week, the men can do whatever, with whoever, they want. Of course, nothing goes quite the way anyone expects.  

No Hard Feelings (2023) – MA15+

One of the funniest films of 2023. Facing foreclosure, Maddie signs on for a bizarre job: parents of an awkward bloke want her to coax their son into adulthood before he heads to college. She’s got one summer to turn him around…or completely lose her mind trying. Jennifer Lawrence proves her comedic skills rival her amazing dramatic talent. 

New Netflix Christmas Classics

Yes, we all have Christmas favourites, but how about something new to keep the little ones (and big ones) entertained this Christmas? We’ve compiled a list of our top five more recent festive animated features streaming on Netflix that you and your kids may have missed. 

That Christmas (2024) 

Based on the books by Richard Curtis, best known for Love Actually and Four Weddings and a Funeral, That Christmas weaves together several small-town Christmas tales into one big race against time. Like most of Curtis’s work, there’s a lot of light and shade, but if a big warm hug was a movie, this would be it. 

The Bad Guys: A Very Bad Holiday (2023) 

After accidentally wrecking Christmas on their latest heist, the gang works together to help restore festive cheer. I like the unorthodox approach that The Bad Guys movies take; they are more mischievous than a cookie-cutter kids’ film, not to mention the outstanding voice talent. At only 25 minutes long, it should be enough time to keep kids distracted while you try and put up the tree. 

Scrooge: A Christmas Carol (2022) 

The 1983 Mickey’s Christmas Carol will always be my favourite version of this tale. However, this is a great way to introduce Dickens’ classic to a whole new generation through an interesting animation style and a less traditional take. The musical component helps add another layer to the experience, doubling down on festive cheer, which can’t be a bad thing at this time of year. 

A Boy Called Christmas (2021) 

A Father Christmas origin story, Nikolas (St Nick) must journey to find proof of magic with his father. Like most of this list, and most Christmas movies, A Boy Called Christmas is based on a book, which usually means the story should be well thought out, which this one is.  

Shaun the Sheep: The Flight Before Christmas (2021) 

One of the best parts about having little kids was sitting down and watching back-to-back episodes of Shaun the Sheep. Minimal talking, outstanding stop-motion animation and plenty of laughs are the staples of a Shaun adventure, and this doesn’t disappoint. Little lamb Timmy has disappeared, leading Shaun and his flock on a rescue mission. 

British Cinema Comes to Brisbane 

The Russell Hobbs British Film Festival rolls into town this month, bringing a curated selection of British films to enjoy. Whether you’re after sweeping dramas, bold documentaries or timeless classics, the festival’s line-up showcases the depth and diversity of British cinema of yesterday and today. Plus, there are plenty of classics to enjoy, perfect for a rewatch or to experience for the first time on the big screen. Here’s a selection of my highlights. 

The Choral 

Opening night kicks things off with The Choral, a sweeping wartime drama about fractured communities dealing with conscription and the healing power of music. This could be Ralph Fiennes’ chance at another Oscar. 

Anemone 

At the heart of the festival (and my personal hot pick) is Anemone, the highly anticipated directorial debut of Ronan Day-Lewis and marking Daniel Day-Lewis’s return to the big screen. Sean Bean joins him in this powerful drama that delves into the bonds between brothers, fathers, and sons. This will only have limited screenings outside of the festival, so take this chance while you can. 

Classics 

If you’re keen to revisit a few cinematic landmarks, the festival is also screening Billy Elliot: 25th Anniversary, The King’s Speech, Gandhi and more. Including Hitchcock: The Beginning, a collection of ten of Alfred Hitchcock’s early feature films, accompanied by the Australian premiere of the documentary Becoming Hitchcock – The Legacy of Blackmail. 

Borrowed Time: Lennon’s Last Decade 

Before you catch the hotly anticipated four Beatles movies to be released in 2028, Borrowed Time: Lennon’s Last Decade celebrates John Lennon’s post-Beatles brilliance. 

Dragonfly 

Contemporary voices are also front and centre, with Dragonfly delivering a tense drama about care, compassion and secrets. 

Hamnet 

Closing out the festival is Hamnet, one to watch out for come Oscar time. Chloé Zhao’s lyrical adaptation of Maggie O’Farrell’s novel is a tale of grief, creativity and the shadows cast by loss. 

Jump on this rare chance to experience British storytelling as it evolves. The festival runs from 5 November to 7 December at two Palace Cinema venues in Brisbane.  

Tickets are available now here.

What’s On This Spooky Season

We’ve created a guide to what’s scary in the cinemas this spooky season with the ‘Pumpkin Scare-o-meter’

🎃 pumpkin = A bit spooky, but still kid-friendly fun

🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃 = Super scary! Watch during the day with friends and maybe even a stuffed toy.

Him – 2 October

A promising young American football player is invited to train at the isolated compound of a dynasty team’s ageing quarterback – what could go wrong? Well, a lot, it would seem. Stars Marlon Wayans and Aussie Jim Jefferies are better known for their comedic work, so it’ll be great to see what scares they bring. There’s a fair bit of body horror in this one, so I’ll award it 🎃🎃🎃🎃

The Black Phone 2 – 16 October

The Grabber (Ethan Hawke) returns, seeking vengeance on Finn (Mason Thames) from beyond the grave by menacing his younger sister. If it’s anything like its predecessor, there’ll be plenty of jump scares, chilling moments and unsettling scenes, so you’re looking at 🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃 with this one. Can’t wait.

Night of the Zoopocalypse – 16 October

Think Madagascar meets Night of the Living Dead. When a meteor starts turning a zoo’s residents into zombies, it’s up to a wolf and mountain lion to save the zoo… and possibly the world. There are some darker moments, but as it’s rated PG, I’ll give it 🎃🎃 because it may be too much for the really little kids.

Mortal Kombat II – 23 October

New Zealand’s very own Karl Urban enters the arena to defeat the dark rule of Shao Kahn, who threatens our very existence. Based on the gory computer game of the same name, I can’t imagine it being scary, but you can expect plenty of blood and guts, so it’s earned 🎃🎃🎃 – still definitely not for the little ones.

Bugonia – 30 October

Not for the faint-hearted. Two conspiracy theory-obsessed blokes kidnap a CEO of a major company, convinced that she is an alien intent on destroying planet Earth. You can expect more psychological scares than monsters with this one, although the scariest part may be how close it is to the truth. 🎃🎃🎃🎃

Movie Review: This Is Spinal Tap

What do a chainsaw, a climbing axe and a clarinet have in common? They’re all used as weapons… on a plane… full of assassins… 40,000 feet in the air.

If that sounds bonkers, it’s because it is, and also bloody good fun – emphasis on bloody. Despite having wads of exposition thrown at you for most of the movie, the plot is pretty simple – Josh Hartnett must survive a plane full of killers to protect the world’s most wanted fugitive.

Similar to blood splatter in a cockpit, Josh Hartnett’s career has been all over the place. Despite a CV full of critical hits and misses, I always feel like he commits to each role. In fact, he’s so committed in this movie, that he performed all of his own stunts and it pays off. This is due to some excellent choreography and tricky camera work from first time feature director James Madigan. Which makes the whole film even more impressive, considering most of the film takes place in the confines of a plane, with enough stunts to make John Wick wince. You can tell the supporting cast are mostly made up of stunt-actors because every brutal bone cracking blow lands hard (plus they’re also given very little to say). Bridgerton’s Charithra Chandran helps bring a lighter, more levelheaded tone to this manic journey.

Final Thoughts and Film Details

Despite the action, there’s also some political commentary jammed in for good measure, but it’s excess baggage and easily ignored. The film’s pace is occasionally slowed by laborious scenes featuring Katee Sackhoff. Let’s be clear, she’s not to blame, she’s clearly having a blast as the villainous boss, she just has no real talent to bounce off of.

Like a nervous flyer, I’d suggest a couple of glasses of your favourite tipple before taking your seat, to really help ease the journey and make the whole experience more enjoyable. Without spoiling anything, the film sets itself up for a sequel and after the amount of laughs I had, I’d be ready for a return flight. The most chaotic film you’ll see all year. 

Fight or Flight is In cinemas from September 4.

Movie Review: This Is Spinal Tap

If you haven’t seen the ultimate rock comedy masterpiece on the big screen, now is your chance. 

A groundbreaking and zeitgeist-defining comedy, this 80s mockumentary (one of, if not THE first of its kind) follows the fictional British rock band Spinal Tap on their disastrous American tour – satirising the big rock bands of the 70s and 80s, and their even bigger egos.  

You’re given an all-access pass to the lives of band members – David St Hubbins, Nigel Tufnel, and Derek Smalls – as they deal with their plummeting popularity, backstage disasters and clashing personalities. 

The genius of this film lies mostly in its improvised moments and committed performances from each actor. You’ll believe that they believe that they are as good as they believe. So committed is everyone on screen that, upon its original release, most audiences thought the band and the documentary to be real. Its influence has spread far and wide and is still emulated today with shows like The Office, Parks and Recreation and Borat.

Louder, Sharper, and Back for More

Although farcical, This Is Spinal Tap is ultimately a love letter to rock and roll and the artists who bring so much joy to people’s lives. Subtly, you’ll start to appreciate what real life bands must have to go through and the challenges they must face.  

I love that this re-release is celebrating the 41st anniversary, as though the band couldn’t get it together in time for their 40th. 

However, the real reason for its release is due to the sequel, This Is Spinal Tap II: The End Continues, rocking cinemas later this year. Don’t worry, you won’t have to endure scratchy VHS quality in the cinema, it’s been remixed and remastered in 4K so you can experience every cringeworthy catastrophe in the highest quality on the big screen. 

This Is Spinal Tap, in cinemas 7 August. 

The Aegean Movie Review

How do you start a new life alone in a foreign country? 

While fleeing his homeland, Theo washes up in a small Greek fishing village in the Aegean Sea. In order to survive and start his new life, he seeks to make a living from the island’s primary source of income – fishing. After convincing the grumpy widower Hector to let him join his one-man crew, they discover they may have a lot in common. It’s not all smooth sailing, as Theo must contend with a thug, determined to wreak havoc on his new life and sever his growing bond with Hector.

Behind the Film: Inspiration, Cast and Visuals

I spoke with the talented director and Brisbane local Jacob Richardson to find out why he wanted to tell this story on a remote Greek island. Jacob said he wanted to make a film that tackled his own experiences with his grandfather. 

“He was dealing with the grief of losing my grandmother and I wanted to do so in a way that took our very small but universal story and told it on this big, expansive, mythic island – grounding it in a broader examination of the refugee crisis,” Jacob said. 

Jacob achieved what he set out to accomplish by creating a universal story that would work in any language, brought to life by a superb cast. Although they may be relatively unknown to some, the pairing of Costas Mandylor’s Hector and newcomer Nicky Dune’s Theo was a great move. The contrast of the two actors, one stoic and the other the epitome of youth, keeps you watching to see how they’ll influence each other. 

Despite the troubling themes of loss and survival, this isn’t a ‘woe is me’ story. The Aegean shows us how we can deal with our losses and learn to create a new life for ourselves without forgetting those that we’ve left behind. 

The breathtaking scenery and cinematography deserve to be experienced on the big screen, so I urge you to grab a seat in a boutique cinema and settle down for an emotional journey about the human condition. Lovers of heartfelt stories set against stunning backdrops, treat yourself to this charming tale.

The Aegean, in Aussie cinemas May 16. 

Spit Movie Review and Interview 

with @WatchItWombat

Is Queensland the new Hollywood? Judging by the amount of movies being made in our backyard, you could be rubbing shoulders with De Niro any day now. 

One Aussie filmmaker who is bringing Tinseltown Down Under is director Jonathan Teplitzky with his new Gold Coast gangster tale, Spit. The film is packed with a largely Queensland cast, including Brisbane local David Wenham, star of 300 and two The Lord of the Rings movies (to name but a few). Although a sequel to the 2003 crime comedy Gettin’ Square, you don’t need to have seen the original to enjoy this, but it definitely adds value. 

Johnny ‘Spit’ Spitieri, played by Wenham, is a hapless crim with a heart of gold. All he wants to do is get home, look after his mates and maybe settle a few scores along the way. Despite being more dramatic and emotional than its predecessor, Spit packs in plenty of laughs and shines a light on how refugees and minorities are treated in Australia. Mateship and family are at the heart of the story, and discovering what lengths you would go to for those you care for the most. 

An Inside Look with the Filmmakers

I was lucky enough to sit down with Jonathan and David and pick their brains, asking firstly, ‘Why the Gold Coast?’  

“Sunshine and big skies,” Jonathan said. “Because the film is about little characters in big environments.”  

David chimed in with his best quiz show impression. “Buzz! It’s a sunny place for shady characters.”  

Well, he could have a point there. 

David said that they never even considered doing a sequel.  

“But of all the characters that I’ve played, Spit is the character that people talk to me about the most,” he said.  

When asked how he deals with stardom, he said he takes it in his stride. Well, almost.  

“It’s always really lovely,” he said. The only time I don’t like it – you’re in a restaurant and you’re just about to put the fork in your mouth and you hear, ‘Excuse me, I know you don’t like to be disturbed when you’re eating, but…’ Otherwise, I love to chat.” 

You couldn’t hope to meet two nicer blokes, so support their film and Aussie cinema and check out Spit. Only in cinemas March 6.

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