Heart of Stone has a Rotten Tomatoes score of 29%. Is it really that bad?
Well yes and no.
Gal Gadot shines in this spy action thriller film directed by Tom Harper.
Alongside Gadot, Jamie Dornan, Alia Bhatt, Sophie Okonedo, and Matthias Schweighöfer all star. Legends Glenn Close and BD Wong also have small roles.
Heart of Stone follows an international intelligence operative who must embark on a dangerous mission to protect a mysterious artificial intelligence system known as "The Heart." She is tasked by the peacekeeping operation known as Charter to keep the object safe from falling into enemy hands.
Filming took place in Europe last January to July. With Heart of Stone being released on earlier this month.
While the film has received generally negative reviews from critics, the action scenes, have been deemed it too similar to the Mission: Impossible film series. While critics praised Gadot's performance.
It sounds like Netflix are trying to create their own Mission: Impossible franchise with Heart of Stone. It has been in the top 10 movies here in Oz for some time now. So maybe it works?
Filming commenced in the Alpin Arena Schnals (South Tyrol) in late January last year. Then London in March, followed by Reykjavík, Iceland in April, back to London in May, then finally in Lisbon, Portugal.Filming wrapped on late July, 2022.
I couldn't see a budget online, however this would have cost a mint!
Was the big budget worth it? Well it has been watched in multiple countries by millions, so it could possibly keep a few Netflix subscribers hooked.
Now this was FUN! With a couple F! Red, White & Royal Blue is just the romantic escapism we need right about now!
Directed by Matthew Lopez in his feature film directorial debut, this is based on the 2019 novel of the same name by Casey McQuiston.
The plot, follows a love affair between the son of the president of the United States and a British prince, played by Taylor Zakhar Perez and Nicholas Galitzine.
Also starring Clifton Collins Jr., Sarah Shahi, Rachel Hilson, Stephen Fry, and Uma Thurman, YASS Uma THURMAN!
In 2019, Amazon Studios announced the film's development with Greg Berlanti as a producer. Lopez was announced as director and co-writer with Malawer in 2021.
Filming took place in England June - August, last year, with Red, White & Royal Blue premiering at the BFI IMAX in London last month. Landing on Amazon Prime Video streaming, a few weeks ago.
So if you are looking for some romance, eye candy (Taylor Zakhar Perez) and a few giggles. This could be your perfect late winter @ home film.
I haven't had much luck with streaming films this year (another action film review will land Wednesday) but this is honestly good. I probably would have enjoyed watching this film in the cinema.
Uma also looks a million bucks as the President of the US of A! I love the close Texas election result. Could this be a crystal ball for 2024's big election?
This was fun, easy to watch, light hearted AF, a 4 star fun filled film.
Nancy Drew has less than 400K viewers for its 13th episode and final ever episode on The CW. Paramount+ in Australia.
This was the third Nancy Drew television series, following The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries (1977–1979) and a 1995 Canadian-American version.
The series is narrated and led by the amateur sleuth Nancy Drew (Kennedy McMann), alongside Leah Lewis as George Fan, Maddison Jaizani as Bess Marvin, Tunji Kasim as Ned Nickerson, and Alex Saxon as Ace.
We also see Party of Five vet Scott Wolf star as Carson Drew. Orignally landed with its first season back in October, 2019.
Last March the series was renewed for a fourth and final season which streamed on Paramount+ early June. The series concluded late August, or Friday morning (yesterday). Below includes SPOILERS so beware!
Saving the town required apparent soulmates Nancy and Tristan to sever their spiritual connection, following the discovery that they’re only linked because she murdered him in a past life.
Ace saved Nancy by tethering himself to her, but the process literally cost them their souls, making it impossible for either to be reincarnated. It also destroyed their death curse, allowing them to enjoy the remainder of their last lives together.
As for the rest of the Drew Crew, George got into Northern Seattle Legal College; Nick accepted an engineering position under Tom Swift (remember that short lived series?), while Jade also landed a gig in Swift Enterprises’ PR department, courtesy of Zenzi; Bess is embarking on a global expedition to replenish the historical society’s destroyed artifacts, while Addy is running for local office; Carson and Jean are preparing to welcome their new baby girl.
I smashed seasons one to three back to back. I did find parts of this season a little of a chore to watch. It wasn't bad, it just wasn't great. I am really not surprised it did get cancelled on the newly purchased The CW. Like Riverdale I feel this series really had run its course. Next up we will head back to the cinema. With a twist though.... the at home version. Yes the streaming services have served up some big films of late! Its catch up time!
Riverdale has now ended after 137 episodes, seven seasons, multiple random AF storylines, the teen drama is now officially RIP.
Mocked from season two onwards, at times this has been a tough watch. With Archie, Betty, Veronica and Jughead Jones getting up to god knows what.
It marks one of the final The CW series airing out a long run. When the writers strike a handful of original runs will air on The CW, however nothing like peak CW with all the Arrowverse shows, Riverdale, Nancy Drew and Dynasty.
The series starred NZ hottie KJ Apa (Archie Andrews) Lili Reinhart (Betty Cooper), Camila Mendes (Veronica Lodge), plus Cole Sprouse (Jughead Jones).
Last March, the series was renewed for a seventh and final season, which streamed in Australia (weekly) on Netflix between late March 29 and last night. Big finale night last night, this morning. And Just Like That... Season Two and the series finale of Nancy Drew! So how'd the series conclude? Well the ratings weren't great! However SPOILERS BELOW! Yes this season the team went back in time? I know right!
In the present day, Betty, now 84, reads Jughead's obituary, and tells her granddaughter Alice that she wants to go back to Riverdale one last time. That night, she wakes up to see teenage Jughead, who offers to transport her back to the last day of senior year.
She finds that Mary bought her own dress shop and married Brooke, Alice divorced Hal, became a stewardess and later a pilot, and remarried, travelling the world, while Polly gave birth to Juniper and Dagwood and lived a long happy life, but retired from burlesque dancing.
At school, she discovers Toni became class president, and Fangs and Midge married after one of his songs became a hit single, but Fangs died after his tour bus crashed, though the money from his songs took care of Midge and their daughter indefinitely.
She finds Kevin studied musical theater writing at NYU, and Clay literature at Columbia, and they lived together in Harlem, with Clay eventually becoming a professor and Kevin starting a theater company, and died at 82 within a few weeks of each other.
She also finds that she, Archie, Jughead and Veronica are in a polyamorous relationship. Reggie is revealed to have played for Kansas State, joined the Lakers, and worked at his family's farm until his parents died, after which he sold the land and became the basketball coach at Riverdale High, and had two sons who run the used car dealership.
At the Babylonium, she finds Veronica moved to Los Angeles and ran a film studio, winning two Oscars, eventually buried in Hollywood Forever Cemetery.
At the Dark Room, she discovers Cheryl and Toni moved out west, lived as artists and activists, had a son named after Riverdale and passed away peacefully, while Julian enlisted and died in Vietnam, Mr. Weatherbee and Mrs. Thornton eventually married, and Frank and Tom were killed by Chic.
At Thornhill, Archie reads the group a poem commemorating their time together, and at the end of the night, proposes that he and Betty may end up together, but she reveals he settles in Modesto, has a family, becomes a construction worker and writer and is buried in Riverdale next to his father.
Before leaving Riverdale, she visits Pop Tate's grave, as he died the beginning of their senior year. She reveals Jughead was the editor of a successful comic, Jughead's Madhouse Magazine, and that she was editor of several successful magazines, and never married, but adopted a daughter.
She returns to the present, and returns to Riverdale, now a ghost town, dying peacefully outside Pop's.
In the Sweet Hereafter, Teenage Betty exits the car and walks into a functional Pop's, greeting her high school friends and sitting in a booth with Archie, Veronica and Jughead. Outside, Jughead gives closure to the series and notes that the gang will stay together, forever seventeen and happy, in the afterlife.
So the ending was much better than the lame ass 50's episodes previously. All 19 of them. I cannot believer they dragged out this season to 20 episodes. Something we will not see in the 2023-2024 network TV season, well that is if there is one!
Riverdale has tried to be cutting edge, dip into musical Glee moments whilst also being something to everyone. In the end the audience was so low it was almost nothing to nobody. It had a good first couple of seasons, however the constant genre bending, Sabrina popping by after her series was cancelled by Netflix.
I enjoyed seeing a ripped Archie shirtless, however the plot lines to lead to his chiseled body were so paper thin by the end. The attempt at covering all aspects of sexuality on network TV this season was also a little on the awkward side.
That said this was a sweet finale, an ode to friendship, high school and the people we meet in our short life time. You may say hello to someone, walk along with them for a while, then it ends. It was a decent finale, however this show should have really ended years ago. Good for the actors and writers I guess. Where will they end up next? That will be interesting!
And Just Like That... season three has been ordered! HBO Max or now just MAX, has a number of series still awaiting renewal or cancellation news, however not the Sex and the City reboot. It'll be back once the writers/actors strike is done and dusted!
It was originally set to be a miniseries, however the second season premiered late June, will a third run in the works.
The revival/sequel of the HBO television series Sex and the City sees the OG ladies plus some new faces make their transition from a life in their 30s to a more complicated reality of life/friendship in their 50s.
So And Just Like That... we landed at the anticipated season 2 finale. Which previously had announced that Kim Cattrall will officially return as Samantha for a cameo. Was it worth the wait?
Well it was one of the most publicised parts of the whole season. I for one felt ripped off. However on a whole, I have to say I did enjoy this season more than the first.
It was an easy, breezy, have on in the background, have on after a long day kinda show. No thought required, just enjoy the male eye-candy, the fashion, the music. Also a bit of the gossip and the relationships of folks heading into their 50's and beyond.
Binge has a lot to offer right now, along with former series that are available to BINGE! Where will this finale/series feature on my Winter Watchlist Warmers RATED. Come back this time next month for my full list of series from Winter. A warm, winter!
So maybe next year, Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte and co will once again grace our screens. Until then, And Just Like That... it's bedtime, night, night!
It seven episodes to arrive at the conclusion of No Escape, was it worth in this sun soaked crime drama?
The British (although it has a very international feel to it) miniseries adapted by Kris Mrska from the Lucy Clarke novel The Blue.
It very much has a far North Queensland vibe with Susie Porter with the finale/present parts of the story set at Rockhampton.
Starring Abigail Lawrie, Rhianne Barreto with Aussies Jay Ryan, Sean Keenan, Gary Sweet, Anne Looby alongside Porter as Chief Inspector Sarah Craven. Also starring Colette Dalal Tchantcho, Elmo Anton Stratz, Narayan David Hecter, Josh McConville and Jake Macapagal.
The seven episode series land mid-May, so I continue my catch up on Paramount+.
The main plot revolves around two best friends Lana (Lawrie) and Kitty (Barreto) are escaping their lives in the UK, and hitch a trip on a yacht called The Blue in the Philippines.
The show takes some dark turns with an explosive conclusion you may or may not have seen coming.
No Escape isn't the best mystery streaming series out there, but it's worth a look. Also impressive to see Paramount+ continuing to support local/co-productions.
Next up the And Just Like That..., Nancy Drew (also on Paramount+) and Riverdale finale posts. See you next time!
The Summer I Turned Pretty is back for a BIG second season. Big emotions, tears galore with the love triangle to end all love triangles!
Jenny Han's trilogy of novels is the inspiration for the Amazon series. Amazon has had some big series this winter. Or USA summer. This show had a massive ass billboard at LAX airport for starters.
Lola Tung (Belly) returns with two brothers played by Christopher Briney (Conrad) and the hotter one Gavin Casalegno (Jeremiah). They kind of look nothing alike.
Earlier this month the series was renewed for a third season, which will consist of ten episodes. However just today Amazon has scrapped two series (A League of their Own and The Peripheral) after previously renewing them. That said alongside Citadel, this is for real one of Amazon's biggest hits!
The season opens with Susannah's cancer worsening means her sons coming to terms with her looming death and their conflict over Belly.
Belly wants to resolve the conflict as well but also wants to help the two families stand up to an apparent threat against their beloved summer house. Valedictorian Steven seems to act strangely after his high school graduation.
Steven is honestly worst than ever. He is the biggest cringe of the show. For real!
Last season we got all eight episodes in one hit. This season the episodes (all almost one hour in length) came weekly. However the first three episodes dropped all at once. That's when I realised (so did others) the shows quality had well.... gone slightly downhill. The drama was a little much, Belly was just, well annoying.
However the season did improve from around episode six to the big finale that streamed yesterday. SPOILER ALERT!
Conrad's continuing conflicted feelings about Belly come to a head when he, Belly, and Jeremiah are stranded in a storm and forced to share a motel room for the night.
Steven convinces Laurel to attend a writers group meeting she fears, and Laurel seems to make a new friend of a fellow suburbanite writer who also attends.
Despite Taylor's ex making a recording that seems to embarrass Steven, he and Taylor admit their feelings for each other.
Jeremiah tells Conrad that he’ll step back if Conrad really still has feelings for Belly. Belly assures Jeremiah they are together and share more passionate kisses. The next morning, after confessing to Belly that he still wants her, he takes it all back saying that he didn’t mean it and they’re friends.
She also reconciles with her volleyball coach after appearing at the volleyball camp, asking forgiveness, with the coach allowing Belly to suit up and re-join as Jeremiah watches her and the team enthusiastically.
So where will season three take the love sick teens/early 20's. Jeremiah would 100% be my choice too. Good job Belly. So if you need some summer lovin' escapism this weekend, look no further than Amazon's The Summer I Turned Pretty.
After travelling to the USA I realised our Disney+ offering is a pile better than the USA version. With ours including Hulu titles like, Tiny Beautiful Things.
The miniseries premiered on Hulu back in early April. So I am playing catch up here.
Based on the 2012 book of the same name by Cheryl Strayed. Tiny Beautiful Things has been adapted by Liz Tigelaar and produced by Best Day Ever Productions, Jaywalker Pictures, Hello Sunshine, and ABC Signature.
The show has since received two Primetime Emmy Awards nominations for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for Kathryn Hahn as lead Clare Pierce. While Merritt Wever (Nurse Jackie) as Frankie Pierce, Clare's late mother was nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie.
The eight half and hour episodes tell the story of Clare (Hahn), a writer who reluctantly becomes a popular advice columnist during a period of turmoil in her life.
Cheryl Strayed had discussed adapting her book of essays Tiny Beautiful Things with Laura Dern & Reese Witherspoon while they worked together making the 2014 film Wild. This was also adapted from Strayed's memoir.
Liz Tigelaar serves as series creator and writer on the project which is being produced by ABC Signature and Hello Sunshine.
Tigelaar is also executive producer, alongside Witherspoon, Dern, Lauren Neustadter, Stacey Silverman, Jayme Lemons, Cheryl Strayed, and Kathryn Hahn. Tigelaar described the show as depicting an alternate version of Strayed "that hadn't hiked the Pacific Crest Trail" in Wild.
So with this superstar group behind the series it goes without saying. This was a great watch. A hidden gem on Disney+ worth checking out.
Now I have seen Disney's offering overseas, we are super lucky here to get all the quality Hulu content like Only Murders in the Building, Life & Beth, Love, Victor and more.
More titles to come in my Winter Watchlist Warmers series as Spring is just around the corner. How warm has this winter been?
The Horror of Dolores Roach is one surprising, good find on Amazon Prime Video.
Starring Six Feet Under star, Justina Machado as Dolores Roach. The series is based on the one-woman off-Broadway play Empanada Loca and the podcast of the same name, created by Aaron Mark.
The eight episode run sees Dolores Roach being released after an unjust 16-year prison sentence. She returns to a now-gentrified Washington Heights neighbourhood, where she reunites with an old stoner friend, Luis.
Luis lets her live and work as a masseuse in the basement under his empanada shop. When the promise of her newfound stability is threatened, she must go to extremes to survive. Being a Blumhouse Television production, you know there is going to be some sorts of horror.
Spoiler alerts as we must talk about the frantic season one finale, Stop Me.
Luis and Dolores make frantic plans to leave New York as suspicion against them mounts. A friend of Dolores confronts her and asks her for a massage. She inadvertently upsets Dolores and Dolores snaps her neck.
Luis frames Nellie, for the murders. The cops come as quick as New York minute, as the season finale whips into a frenzied pace.
Jeremiah enters the basement and tries to find the bodies. Luis kills him. The body count in the finale is HIGH!
Dolores tries to run and is stopped by Luis. She sets him and the kitchen on fire, and uses Jeremiah's truck to run away, leaving everyone to believe she's dead.
In the present day, she concludes her conversation with Flora Frias, and declares her intent to find Dominic. She forces Caleb, the show-runner of the play that Flora ran, to drive her to Dominic's home.
The final shot of the show is Dolores laughing hysterically before staring into the camera and "killing" (maybe) Dominic? Who knows really? But the house they go to is nice AF.
A lot of what's online indicates this is a one and done, however there was a sequel podcast, so maybe Amazon will roll this out for a second season?
The show has been well received with critics, so maybe?
I liked this a lot. It felt fresh, the thirty (or less) minute episodes were seriously easy to binge. Winter Watchlist Warmers RATED top 10 could be dominated by Amazon titles at this rate.
There is so much good streaming series right now, so come back soon for more reviews as Riverdale, Nancy Drew, The Summer I Turned Pretty and And Just Like That... will all end in coming weeks too!
Back in 2018, a little known new shark film, The Mag landed. In 2023 we get Meg 2: The Trench.
Based on the 1999 novel The Trench by Steve Alten. The sequel to The Meg (2018), brings back Jason Statham, while Page Kennedy (Weeds), Cliff Curtis and Sophia Cai return from the first film. New to the film series Wu Jing, Sergio Peris-Mencheta, Skyler Samuels while there is no sign of Ruby Rose anymore. Much like Batwoman!
Like the OG Meg, it follows a group of scientists who must outrun and outswim the titular Megalodons when a malevolent mining operation threatens their mission and forces them into a high-stakes battle for survival. However add in greed and some double crossing scientists, along with Fun Island! It takes a turn for the worse, real quick.
OK back when the OG film was out at the cinema, it was fun, stupid but OK. This was just plain awful. Like literally awful.
Jason Statham went into full blown action star adding in more fighting, insane stunts than I remember from the first film. It felt a little like Fast and Furious on water at times. Particularly at Fun Island.
The film is also very much made for the Chinese market. Which is not surprising as again it was again produced by a Chinese film company.
Meg 2: The Trench is not a good film. After seeing three excellent films back to back. This was a real let down. However the session was near sold out I attended so the heavy marketing campaign is working.
That said the film due to "Barbenheimer" was sent to one of the smaller cinemas.
Look if like me you like a shark film, maybe take on the sequel. However it is nowhere near as fun as the first one. I have a feeling a third film may be on the way. That's after the writers strike however. Well that said this is based on a book series, plus the dialogue is awful so maybe ChatGPT will come up with The Meg 3's script in a super quick turnaround.
Depending on how this week's strikes talks go, films maybe be pulled from release schedules. So as cinema honestly gets back to pre-COVID, event style sales, let's hope the strike doesn't undo all the good work "Barbenheimer" has done to get people back to the cinema. In droves!
In 2023 cinema is back baby! Just not Meg 2: The Trench. 1 Star.
HBO was on a roll in 2023. Then came The Idol where the wheels started the come of the tracks a little while also I have been a huge The Righteous Gemstones, season three just wasn't it.
With an all-star cast of Danny McBride, John Goodman, Edi Patterson, Adam DeVine, Cassidy Freeman, Tony Cavalero, Tim Baltz, Skyler Gisondo, and Walton Goggins, it is not surprising that the series was renewed for a fourth season. This was just ahead of the double episode finale.
In a TV world of strikes and no new productions, renewals are a little few and far between. So to say I was surprised about the renewal, would be an understatement.
In the third season, Eli scales back his involvement in the church, handing over greater control to his children. Eli's impoverished sister, May-May (Kristen Johnston), resurfaces, asking for his assistance in keeping her family safe from her ex-husband, Peter (Steve Zahn), a vengeful militia leader who holds a decades-long grudge against the Gemstones.
Meanwhile, Judy's affair with a musician while on tour leads to bitter consequences in her relationship with BJ. This for me was one of the best storylines of the season.
Then we got to the final two episodes. Which I did feel funny they would burn off series so quickly with a double season opener along with a double finale. Maybe HBO has more content done and dusted than we thought. At least the long awaited fourth season of True Detective should be landing next. Right? It's been a minute, there are trailers, it's been promoted for ages. Surely that will follow the Lakers series? Or will the UK based Industry move to Sundays?
So episodes 8 and 9 of the third series (I Will Take You by the Hand and Keep You & Wonders That Cannot Be Fathomed, Miracles That Cannot Be Counted) aired late last month, however with holidays I just missed viewing this ahead of my big departure.
So across two episodes, one which stuck to a traditional 30 minute sitcom whereas the other headed into the one hour network runtime.
Ahead of the finale, Jesse, Judy, and Kelvin are reunited with their families at the hospital and decide to put aside past grievances, though all three are indignant over Eli's refusal to pay the ransom. Peter's militia turns against him over the loss of their compound and the failure of his scheme.
He and Chuck attempt to win them back but ultimately set out on their own with the explosives, leaving the police to arrest the remaining militia members. The siblings resolve to lead the church as equal partners and remain bitter toward Eli, who tells his kids he would have paid the ransom if he believed their lives were in danger and that he loves them.
Eli expresses pride that the three are finally working together as a team, even though they're united in anger against him. Before the Gemstones take the stage for their joint service, Kelvin openly kisses Keefe in view of the family.
This kiss made headlines too BTW!
Jesse, Judy, and Kelvin greet a full audience at the service, their popularity bolstered by the news of their kidnapping and rescue. Peter and Chuck drive their truck full of explosives toward the Salvation Center.
In the actual season three finale, Wonders That Cannot Be Fathomed, Miracles That Cannot Be Counted, to win back Dusty to their cause, Baby Billy suggests that the Gemstones face off against the Simkins on his game show.
Now before I jump into this episode. The final scenes felt very much like a series finale. Did Danny McBride believe the third season would act as the final run for the Gemstones?
While Peter stops to use a Coinstar machine, the truck explodes, killing Chuck. Later, at a gas station, Peter steals Keefe's "Smut Busters" truck. It is revealed that Chuck survived the explosion, setting it off when he knew no one was around.
Before the show starts, Baby Billy gives the Gemstones the cards with the answers, but the Gemstones decide not to use them. May-May, Eli and Gideon confront Peter, who has turned the truck into another bomb. During the show, the Gemstones are losing badly to the Simkins.
A swarm of locusts suddenly emerges and descends on the church. During the chaos, Jesse rescues Dusty, who was abandoned by Vance Simkins as he ran to safety. When the swarm subsides, Peter apologizes to the Gemstones but a final locust causes him to accidentally activate the bomb.
Peter drives the truck away to save the family. Later, Dusty dies, leaving the Gemstones his estate. The whole family gathers (including Peter, who survived the explosion but lost a leg) and take turns crushing old furniture in the Redeemer. Aimee-Leigh's spirit watches her family proudly from a distance.
That last scene was seriously series finale vibes.
Now Edi Patterson as Judy Gemstone is still iconic, however this really wasn't the high grade Gemstones, season one and two delivered.
Hopefully season four will get its mojo back. For now I am waiting for what HBO will drop next. MAX have already delayed the second season of Rap Sh!t, so fingers crossed HBO do still have some content in the can.
Oppenheimer is part two of the 2023 movie phenomena known as "Barbenheimer". You may read my Barbie post HERE.
Spoiler alert. The review was done whilst I was mega jet lagged. That is me again right now after returning from the almighty US of A.
The biographical thriller film written and directed by Christopher Nolan, follows his recent hits The Dark Knight trilogy (2005–2012), The Prestige (2006), Inception (2010), Interstellar (2014), Dunkirk (2017), and Tenet (2020).
Based on the 2005 biography American Prometheus by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin, the film chronicles the career of American theoretical physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer.
Oppenheimer predominantly focuses on his early studies, his direction of the Manhattan Project during World War II, and his eventual fall from grace due to his 1954 security hearing.
Starring Cillian Murphy as Oppenheimer, Emily Blunt as his wife Kitty, Matt Damon as General Leslie Groves, head of the Manhattan Project, Robert Downey Jr. as Lewis Strauss, a senior member of the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission and Florence Pugh as Communist Party USA member Jean Tatlock. Along with an all star supporting cast, Josh Hartnett, Casey Affleck, Rami Malek, and Kenneth Branagh.
Oppenheimer also became the highest-grossing World War Two related film and one of the top ten of the highest-grossing R-rated films worldwide.
The film has grossed over $581 million worldwide on a $100 million production budget, making it the eighth-highest-grossing film of 2023. While receiving critical acclaim, with particular praise for its cast, screenplay, and visuals.
Like most Nolan films, this is of course long. My bladder surprisingly made it through the entire three hour film.
It has been a big month or so for cinema with The Meg 2 also landing recently. With more horror on the way with another Nun film, an exorcism revival along with the return of the Saw film series.
Oppenheimer was seriously a good film for film buffs and lovers of the big screen. Nolan continues to deliver big films, with event size releases. Even against Barbie (directly) this film has done seriously well, Like seriously.
So get onboard "Barbenheimer", as this writers strike could put a hold to another BIG release week if discussions don't get well next week between the unions and studios.
Meanwhile this is a 3.5 atomic star film. Well done all involved.
Recently (as in July and August) I have seen LASTLINGS, LIZZO, TOVE LO and now Katy Perry's Play residency show at Resorts World in Las Vegas.
I have only been to one lame residency before. Human Nature doing MoTown on the famous Las Vegas strip. So basically anything could top that right? Yes indeed. Perry did not disappoint.
Informing the audience of her families roots in sin city, the Californian native went through all her hits, with an incredible set for Play.
From Roar to Firework, Swish Swish to I Kissed a Girl. Katy was in peak girl power form. I loved every minute of the show. Even though she was around 30 minutes late! That said traffic from Los Angeles to Vegas is a BITCH!
As my USA trip for 2023 comes to a close this was in fact a highlight. If you are heading into Vegas before her residency concludes. Go get it, PLAY with KATY PERRY!
Talk to Me could be my favourite Australian film of 2023. Why you ask?
This supernatural horror film was packed on a Saturday night in the US of A. With locals experiencing Aussie slang, along with some of our best actors and visual effects.
Stan's Eden, Sophie Wilde stars alongside, Alexandra Jensen, Joe Bird, Otis Dhanji, and Miranda Otto.
Otto is having a huge breakthrough right now. Following her role in the Sabrina reboot, the first Aussie Disney+ work, The Clearing, now as a rather frank and honest mum on a mission in Talk to Me.
Talk to Me had its preview screening at the 2022 Adelaide Film Festival, followed by its world premiere at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival on 22 January 2023. It also has had positive reviews, with critics praising its story, horror sequences, practical effects, and performances.
Danny and Michael Philippou AKA The Philippou brothers have said that they are committed to filming, or at least doing post production, in Australia for all future projects. And gosh do I hope they have more projects on the way.
The US (downtown LA) audience I saw this with, were shook, laughed, scared at the sight of Australia roadkill whilst also experiencing jump scares.
This was top notch horror in a crowded market. Even The Nun from the Conjuring is coming back for a second scare. But who isn't scared of whacked out Nuns?
OK so Talk to Me is based in Adelaide, however it could be anywhere with no major landmarks on display.
The plot moves fast, the soundtrack is great, while Zoe Terakes (Nine Perfect Strangers, Wentworth) as Hayley has some of the best lines (including a C bomb) in the film.
At just over an hour and a half Talk to Me is direct, to the point horror. Full of shock and scares with even a sequel set up in the closing seconds.
