Film Influencer 2025 - Conclave

Oh the Catholics! The pope is dead, the throne is vacant, let's watch this drama unfold!

Conclave, starring Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow & Isabella Rossellini, is doing the rounds now the awards season has started. Well sort of. The California wildfires (in winter BTW) are impacting these now as we speak.

Conclave follows one of the world’s most secretive and ancient events – selecting the new Pope. Cardinal Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes) is tasked with running this covert process after the unexpected death of the beloved Pope. 

Once the Catholic Church’s most powerful leaders have gathered from around the world and are locked together in the Vatican halls, Lawrence uncovers a trail of deep secrets left in the dead Pope’s wake, secrets which could shake the foundations of the Church.

Conclave described as a mystery thriller film. Set in a deeply religious and lavish setting!

Directed by Edward Berger and written by Peter Straughan, based on the 2016 novel by Robert Harris. 

Conclave has taken a minute to get to Australian cinemas, first premiering at the 51st Telluride Film Festival late August 2024. Had a US cinema release (a large number of Hollywood cinemas are also closed now due to the wildfires) back in October 2024, followed by the United Kingdom cinemas in November. 

Conclave has received positive reviews from critics, & grossed $62.1 million worldwide, while being named one of the top ten films of 2024 by the National Board of Review and the American Film Institute.

Back to it's spotlight at the awards seasons, the film received nominations for six Golden Globe Awards, including Best Motion Picture – Drama and won Best Screenplay, and tied with Wicked for a leading eleven nominations at the 30th Critics' Choice Awards, including Best Picture.

I enjoyed all two hours of Conclave. Yes it was long, but with gripping performances from Lithgow and Fiennes & Tucci, it had me on the end of my seat. Even as someone deeply non religious. The wild process that goes into selecting a new Pope, is like selecting a new member for the deeply divided Northern Beaches seat of Warringah.

This was a solid film, 4 Stars. 

Summer Streamin' 25 - Disclaimer (stylised as DISCLAIMER*) - Miniseries

Disclaimer (stylised as DISCLAIMER*) is one Apple TV+ title I missed late last year. With Shrinking, Bad Sisters and Silo all streaming week-to-week, it was hard to keep up with everything. Including this Golden Globe (and now SAG) nominated miniseries.

This R rated psychological/thriller miniseries written and directed by Alfonso Cuarón, is based on the 2015 novel of the same name by Renée Knight. 

Starring former STC royalty and queen, Cate Blanchett as a documentarian who is forced to confront her past, and Kevin Kline as the father of a boy who died in Italy 20 years earlier. 

Also starring in this all star cast, Borat, I mean Sacha Baron Cohen, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Louis Partridge, Leila George, Lesley Manville & features Indira Varma as the narrator.

So what is DISCLAIMER* all about? Catherine Ravenscroft (Blanchett), a famed documentary journalist, discovers she is a prominent character in a novel that purports to reveal a secret she has tried to keep hidden. Catherine built her reputation revealing the misdeeds and transgressions of others. When she receives a novel from an unknown author, she is horrified to realise she is now the main character in a story that exposes her darkest secrets.

As Catherine races to uncover the writer’s true identity, she is forced to confront her past before it destroys both her own life and her relationships with her husband Robert (Sacha Baron Cohen) and their son Nicholas (Kodi Smit-McPhee)

The story is revealed in a non-linear fashion with scenes alternating between a holiday in Italy (young Catherine’s encounter with Jonathan and his subsequent death by drowning) and back home in London twenty years later (the truth emerges, the consequences). 

The series also uses the technique of unreliable narrator in that the events in Italy are told twice: first from Nancy's speculative point of view and later from Catherine's first person experience. Leading to a monster conclusion in episode seven. Watch out spoilers below the trailer. 

In the seventh and final episode, Catherine reveals to Stephen that Jonathan broke into her hotel room, held her at knifepoint, forced her to pose for his photos, then repeatedly raped her before leaving. 

The next day, Jonathan did indeed drown saving Nicholas; Catherine had collected physical evidence of her rape, but got rid of it after Jonathan died, wanting her memory of the experience to die with him. As Catherine finishes her story, she realizes that Stephen has drugged her tea and collapses; Stephen then returns to the hospital to kill Nicholas, but relents when he awakens and calls for his mother. 

Stephen, finally accepting what Catherine told him, informs Robert, who is overcome with guilt. Catherine awakens and rushes to the hospital where she reunites with her family. 

In the aftermath, Stephen burns all the copies of The Perfect Stranger, Jonathan's photos, and Nancy's belongings, while contemplating suicide. He discovers that one of the photos shows young Nicholas witnessing his mother's rape. 

Unable to forgive Robert for what she’s been through, Catherine chooses to divorce him, and later reconciles with Nicholas.

This is seriously good TV. It also continues Apple's brilliant run of titles in late 2024. It was a stellar year for Apple with Shrinking, this and Bad Sisters all becoming big and bigger hits! This year Severance finally returns, Silo will conclude it's second season and one can only hope The Morning Show finally returns.

Apple TV+ is really leading the charge when it comes to quality over quantity (looking at you Netflix) content. Brilliant work!

31st Annual SAG Awards - My Picks

This morning the SAG nominations were announced. My tradition of "My Picks" in Red + BOLD continues with my first time having a crack at the SAG Awards!

Let's see how I go. 

TELEVISION

DRAMA ENSEMBLE

Bridgerton

The Day of the Jackal

The Diplomat

Shōgun

Slow Horses

DRAMA ACTRESS

Kathy Bates, Matlock

Nicola Coughlan, Bridgerton

Allison Janney, The Diplomat

Keri Russell, The Diplomat

Anna Sawai, Shōgun

DRAMA ACTOR

Tadanobu Asano, Shōgun

Jeff Bridges, The Old Man

Gary Oldman, Slow Horses

Eddie Redmayne, The Day of the Jackal

Hiroyuki Sanada, Shōgun

COMEDY ENSEMBLE

Abbott Elementary

The Bear

Hacks

Only Murders in the Buidling

Shrinking

COMEDY ACTRESS

Kristen Bell, Nobody Wants This

Quinta Brunson, Abbott Elementary

Liza Colón-Zayas, The Bear

Ayo Edebiri, The Bear

Jean Smart, Hacks

COMEDY ACTOR

Adam Brody, Nobody Wants This

Ted Danson, A Man on the Inside

Harrison Ford, Shrinking

Martin Short, Only Murders in the Building

Jeremy Allen White, The Bear

TV-MOVIE OR MINISERIES — FEMALE ACTOR

Kathy Bates, The Great Lillian Hall

Cate Blanchett, Disclaimer

Jodie Foster, True Detective: Night Country

Lily Gladstone, Under the Bridge

Jessica Gunning, Baby Reindeer

Cristin Milioti, The Penguin

TV-MOVIE OR MINISERIES — MALE ACTOR

Javier Bardem, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story

Colin Farrell, The Penguin

Richard Gadd, Baby Reindeer

Kevin Kline, Disclaimer

Andrew Scott, Ripley

STUNT ENSEMBLE

The Boys

Fallout

House of the Dragon

The Penguin

Shōgun

FILM

CAST IN A MOTION PICTURE

Anora

A Complete Unknown

Conclave

Emilia Pérez

Wicked

FEMALE ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE

Pamela Anderson, The Last Showgirl

Cynthia Erivo, Wicked

Karla Sofía Gascón, Emilia Pérez

Mikey Madison, Anora

Demi Moore, The Substance

MALE ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE

Adrien Brody, The Brutalist

Timothée Chalamet, A Complete Unknown

Daniel Craig, Queer

Colman Domingo, Sing Sing

Ralph Fiennes, Conclave

FEMALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

Monica Barbaro, A Complete Unknown

Jamie Lee Curtis, The Last Showgirl

Danielle Deadwyler, The Piano Lesson

Ariana Grande, Wicked

Zoe Saldaña, Emilia Pérez

MALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

Jonathan Bailey, Wicked

Yura Borisov, Anora

Kieran Culkin, A Real Pain

Edward Norton, A Complete Unknown

Jeremy Strong, The Apprentice

STUNT ENSEMBLE IN A MOTION PICTURE

Deadpool & Wolverine

Dune: Part Two

The Fall Guy

Gladiator II

Wicked

Summer Streamin' 25 - Bump - Season Five/Series Finale

Bump is one of Australia's most loved and long running series of recent times. Streaming on Channel Nine (mostly) operated Stan. The series is created by Claudia Karvan and Kelsey Munro.

Originally streaming New Year's Day 2021. The series concluded Boxing Day 2024. Now I did finish this series last night. However like Karvan in Love My Way, an episode left me shook.

Episode nine of this season had me in tears. Cinders was one of the most beautiful, honest TV episodes I have ever seen. Maybe since Love My Way's unexpected first season episode.

From the first season Bump centres around a high-achieving teenage girl and her boyfriend, both still at school, who have a surprise baby, and the complications that ensue for them, their extended families, and friends.

Bump has always been a drama about Nathalie Morris as Olympia 'Oly' Chalmers-Davis who is super ambitious, has a surprise baby; and explores unplanned motherhood, unwelcome new relatives, unintended consequences and the complications that ensue for two families.

Carlos Sanson Jnr as Santiago 'Santi' Hernández and Oly have a wonderful TV romance across all five seasons. From having their first baby whilst still being stuck in school, to a second baby and successful careers.

At next year's AACTA Awards, or this year's Logies Claudia Karvan as Angie Davis (Oly's mum) needs to be win, big.

It is hard with such a quality series landing on Boxing Day and for folks like me getting to it in the New Year. I really don't want this series forgotten when it comes to award season in Australia.

The entire cast did such a brilliant job with the finale season. Angus Sampson as Dom Chalmers, Angie's ex husband even had one of the most heartfelt moments of the season. Usually saved for humour, Sampson stepped up in episode nine, hard.

I was a real wreck watching that episode, lucky episode ten, Rebirth, changed gears again. The season was interesting like that. With a couple of time jumps back and forth, the final few episodes really gave the show a final, swan song.

What will Stan replace this popular, Aussie family comedy-drama with next Boxing Day/NYE/NYD period?

Scrublands is set to return this year. Black Snow's third episode of the (so far) brilliant second season. Apparently C*A*U*G*H*T is returning for a second season. Finally Channel Nine's Human Error will stream at the end of January. Yes I could have watched it with annoying ad's on Channel Nine's catch up service. But yeah-nah. I'll wait, I'm good.

Until next time, get some tissues ready for the beautiful final season of Bump. Already a front runner for my Summer Streamin' 25 RATED list. So early on. I know!

Summer Streamin' 25 - The Lake - Seasons One-Two/Series Finale

The Lake is an Amazon Canadian title. Making this Amazon's first scripted Canadian Amazon Original series, originally landing in June, 2022. The plot is based in part on the real-life experiences of series creator Julian Doucet.

The Lake was renewed for a second season, which arrived the following June, 2023. Around this time last year, Jordan Gavaris (who plays the lead, Justin) announced The Lake was not renewed for a third season.

So for me, this was a super easy summer watch. All sixteen episodes, over two seasons. 

So what's The Lake all about? After returning from abroad following a breakup with his long-term partner, Justin plans to connect with his teenage daughter he gave up for adoption. His plans to make new memories with her at the family cottage go awry when he discovers his parents left it to his picture-perfect stepsister, Maisy-May (Stiles).

Alongside Jordan Gavaris (plays lead Justin), with 10 Things I Hate About You & Save the Last Dance star Julia Stiles. Honestly where has Stiles been?

Also starring Madison Shamoun, Jon Dore, Carolyn Scott, Natalie Lisinska, Travis Nelson, Declan Whaley, & Terry Chen. With Lauren Holly, Max Amani, & Jhaleil Swaby joining in the second season.

The series was filmed in North Bay, Ontario, Canada.

This was one of the easiest watches I have completed this entire Summer Streamin' 24/Summer Streamin' 25.

The show was high camp, easy to keep up and one of Amazon's most camp titles.

While we are talking about Amazon, they do have a fairly exciting 2025 line up. Deadloch will finally be back for season two. This time based up north in the Top End. Speaking of the Top End, we will also Top End Bub. The sequel to Top End Wedding.

Also (hopefully) we will get the final seasons of Upload and The Boys. I wouldn't mind seeing The Boys spin-off series Gen V return too.

Until then, enjoy the new Summer Streamin' 25 series. Finales for Silo, Landman, The Agency, Sex Lives of College Girls and more coming this month!

Film Influencer 2025 - Nosferatu

New year, new movie series. U like? Film Influencer 2025, will be the one stop, movie review spot! No I am no influencer, to be honest I don't even know what one is or does for that matter.

However I do love film. I want to influence you to see the good, not the bad. Or maybe just warn you about the bad. Just so you can't say, I didn't warn you, but I did!

2025, a new year and hopefully some new hope for cinema in 2025. Let's just say 2024 was a little, underwhelming. Kinda like a singer you likes Christmas record. What I can bad mouth Christmas albums now! It's the new year OK!

Nosferatu is my first film for 2025!

I am a huge True Blood fan, I didn't really vibe Twilight, but there was eye candy. This was no Hollywood vampire film.

Directed by Robert Eggers, this was a remake of the 1922 silent film Nosferatu, which was inspired by Bram Stoker's 1897 novel Dracula. 

Starring Bill Skarsgård, Nicholas Hoult, The Idol's Lily-Rose Depp, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Emma Corrin, Ralph Ineson, Simon McBurney & Willem Dafoe.

This film has been planned for a good minute. With filming took place primarily at Barrandov Studios in Prague, Czech Republic back in February-May 2023.

Nosferatu has received positive reviews from critics and has grossed $56 million worldwide to date.

While the film is dark, it is lots of fun. However be warned, it is long. You all know my thoughts on a long film.

Even in 2025, I will rage on films for clocking in at over 2 hours. Nosferatu goes just over at 2 hours, 12 minutes.

I did enjoy most of the film. It was a sell out, the session I attended. Which I put down largely to the fact adults have been ignored (again) this year at the cinema for end of year/early new year releases.

Nosferatu is definitely not for the school holidays, however for adults it is exceptionally entertaining.

Well acted, intense and oddly romantic.

3.5 Stars.

Summer Streamin' 25 - Interior Chinatown - Miniseries

I really, really, really wanted to like Interior Chinatown. Which on the title screen is stylised onscreen as INT. CHINATOWN. However, there is a massive BUT. I will come to that soon.

Created by Charles Yu, based on his 2020 novel of the same name. His novel won the National Book Award the year it was published. Starring Silicon Valley legend, Jimmy O. Yang as a waiter in Chinatown who is thrust into the spotlight after witnessing a crime. 

Alongside Yang, almost Australian, Ronny Chieng stars with, Chloe Bennet, Sullivan Jones, Lisa Gilroy, Diana Lin, Archie Kao, Tzi Ma, Lauren Tom and full time Australian hottie, Chris Pang. 

In Australia, the ten episodes stream on Disney+, outside of Oz, it streamed on Hulu last November.

Yes before Christmas was hectic, so I missed this little treat. Sadly in my opinion, this show would have worked way better as a 20-30 minute comedy run, in place of longer 40 odd minute episodes, with a little but too much filler.

So what's Interior Chinatown all about?

Willis Wu is a background character stuck in a police procedural called Black and White. One day he accidentally witnesses a crime, and as he investigates, he starts to uncover family secrets and a Chinatown criminal underground, while learning how it feels to be in the spotlight.

Throughout the ten episodes, I wanted so much to love this. I really enjoy Yang and Chieng's humour at the best of times, however this just felt drawn out. So spoilers below. Here is how Willis. Willis Wu, the finale goes down.

The Painted Faces were friends of Jonathan and reveal that their lives are being watched. Willis flees when police arrive and calls upon Turner and Lana. Lana confirms that the company called Hulu is behind the strange events. 

An event honouring Lily's work is being held at the Golden Palace and the gang race there with Green also arriving. Lily quits Betty's team after suffering a moral dilemma. Turner and Green make amends and resume partnership, while Willis also makes amends with Fatty who started a relationship with Audrey. As the police close in, Willis and Lana race to the roof with cameras on them. Willis decides to tell his story, accepting that he is just a regular guy. 

Lana, who realises that Jonathan was communicating within an arcade game, pushes herself and Willis off the roof where they both fall into a dumpster. Willis ends up in a purgatory where he happily reunites with Jonathan. All the events are revealed to be a script that Willis is writing. He is introduced to his new assistant, Lana, as this reality is revealed to be a show as well.

Slightly random, slightly offbeat, this is not your average cop show or comedy. If you need something to look at over the break, all ten episodes of Interior Chinatown stream now on Disney+.