Juror No 2: Movie Review

Cast: Nicholas Hoult, Toni Collette, Zoey Deutch, Leslie Bibb, JK Simmons
Director: Clint Eastwood

Juror No2 sets out its formulaic store early on in its narrative, with Nicholas Hoult's Justin being told by his wife, played by Zoey Deutch, that he's perfect.

Within 30 minutes of that claim, it's clear he's not.

Sequestered to a jury despite his protestations that his wife's due to give birth in days, Justin finds he's sitting on the case of a man accused of killing his girlfriend after a barroom fallout. 

But seeing the location of the death and the body, Justin realises he was at the bar the night in question and hit something leaving the site - something he thought was a deer, but clearly wasn't....

Juror No2 could have had tension rippled throughout, an obvious courtroom thriller that would have had edges like John Grisham's raft of pulpy thrillers from back in the 90s where Matthew McConaughey drawled his way through. But instead, Eastwood plods through the story, giving it a kind of cosiness that settles more for slow-burn revelations than page-turning histrionics.

It largely pays off though, with a subtle story revealing the layers of the onion rather than a chapter-ending clanger being dropped on screen.

Hoult's impressive in the thriller that's more about how the justice system fails many, imbuing his Justin with the moral quandary that's necessary to bear but struggling with the weight of his own past, his fallacies to live up to his wife's expectations and his survival instinct in the face of doing the right thing.

Collette makes for a great prosecutor as well, a study in underplaying sheer determinance to mark a career for her District Attorney who comes to question her own path toward the justice.

With its ambiguous ending, Juror No2 is designed to spark debate - and perhaps given Eastwood's workmanlike eye behind the camera - from focusing on American flags and Lady Liberty to watching videos of how to be a juror in the American justice system - maybe there's a hint that subtlety was the key here rather than overt acting.

As a result, Juror No2 feels like it lacks a bit of dramatic oomph and opts for one or two misfires (step forward, JK Simmons) - but it's still a solid -if unspectacular - watch from Eastwood in the dying days of his career.

Juror No 2 is streaming now on Neon NZ

Doctor Who: Joy to the World: Review

An emotionally led story with ties to writer Steven Moffat's scripts of yesteryear and a vicious attack on a 2020 event, Doctor Who's latest Christmas special, Joy to the World is yet another reminder of the brilliance of its lead actor Ncuti Gatwa.

Having left behind companion Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson) after the cataclysmic events of Empire of Death, the Doctor arrives a mysterious Time Hotel. It's there he meets a lonely Joy (Nicola Coughlan, Bridgerton, Derry Girls), who's checking into a non-descript hotel room for personal reasons.

But soon the two of them are thrown together on an adventure involving a briefcase, dinosaurs and all of time.

Joy To The World is a return to the kind of festive fare witnessed first in Russell T Davies' The Christmas Invasion, where the threat is largely secondary to the more emotional core and a bit of Christmas cheesiness.

Beginning with a seemingly nonsenical trip around the globe, it takes but seconds to remember why Gatwa's the perfect guide as the two-hearted alien; he is still such a relevation, an amiable and warm presence, making the insane seem normal and pushing the desire to have you come along as a companion.

While Joy To The World largely feels like a series of mini-encounters thrown together for a larger story narrative, there's a lot of cohesiveness to the seasonal message of having friends and being surrounded by people you love (something that allows a scathingly overt rebuke from Moffat at the end to really sting).

A longer diversion provides plenty of fodder for Who fiction fans (and potentially Big Finish audio) as well as reminding of elements of Matt Smith tales The Lodger / Power of Three, but in each section Gatwa's Doctor has warmth with his mini companions - from Joel Fry's hotel worker through to Steph De Whalley's Anita. There's a lot of heart in these interactions.

And while Nicola Coughlan's Joy is not your traditional companion in the truest sense of being in every single scene, she absolutely nails every moment on screen. Shifting the gamut from breaking your heart to a self-aware feistiness swathed in sadness, she's a great foil to bring the Doctor back to life again. (And it would take a fool to not be able to see where Moffat's sentiment lies in this episode, and how it's wrapped up in a big cheesy Christmas glow).

Gatwa's first season may have had some ups and downs and been too short a time to spend with companion and host, but this Christmas special feels like the show's on a new footing once again and this lovely warm-hearted episode is exactly what the fractured world currently needs - without going too overboard on the saccharine.

Doctor Who: Joy To The World streams globally on Disney+ from December 26.

What's on DocPlay in January

Here's everything that's streaming on DocPlay in January.

Enjoy a bumper DocPlay summer: rock out with Blur and Pulp, celebrate the cinematic genius of Powell and Pressburger, and embark on grand oceanic adventures.

Made in England: The Films of Powell and Pressburger

9 Jan • Exclusive

Hear Martin Scorsese wax lyrical about how the mesmerising films of two of Britain’s finest inspired his own adventures in cinema. 

Shackleton  •  13 Jan

The true story of polar explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton and the crew of the Endurance. This epic new documentary streams in magnificent 4K.

Ice Maiden  •  13 Jan  •   Exclusive

Ice Maiden charts the uncompromising determination of Australian Lisa Blair, who became the first woman in history to sail solo around Antarctica. 

Prisoner X  •  16 Jan  •  Exclusive  •  Series

In 2010, a man was found dead in his cell at one of Israel's maximum security prisons. Held in solitary confinement under 24/7 surveillance, the guards didn’t know his name or his crime. They knew him only as 'Prisoner X'. The prisoner’s identity remained a mystery for more than two years, until an investigation revealed the man to be Australian citizen and Mossad agent, Ben Zygier. Digging into the personal and political fallout from his suicide, Prisoner X reveals faults, failures, and systematic silencing by Israel's notorious intelligence agency.

Mister Organ  •  20 Jan

Journalist and filmmaker David Farrier (Tickled) becomes fascinated by the late-night antics of a rogue wheel clamper in New Zealand. 

Blur: to the End  •  23 Jan  •  Exclusive

This all-access documentary captures the emotional return of BLUR, highlighting their new album and sold-out Wembley Stadium shows, showcasing the band’s enduring influence. Blur: Live at Wembley also streams on DocPlay.

Pulp: A Film About Life, Death and Supermarkets  •  23 Jan

Kiwi director Florian Habicht charts the journey of Britpop band Pulp to their 2012 Sheffield farewell concert. Celebrate 10 years of this irresistible and irrepressible music documentary. 

Maurice and I  •  30 Jan  •  Exclusive

A box office hit across New Zealand cinemas, Maurice and I is a powerful and enthralling exploration of partnership, loss and the enduring importance of architecture in shaping and enriching our lives.

What's on Shudder in January

Here's everything that's streaming on Shudder in January.

Dark Match – Shudder Original Film

New Film Premieres Exclusively on Shudder and AMC+ Friday 31 January

A small-time wrestling company accepts a well-paying but too good to be true gig in a backwoods town only to learn, too late, that the community is run by a mysterious cult leader… and their event is now a pay-per-view fight to the death. Starring WWE superstar Chris Jericho, Sara Canning (Influencer, The Vampire Diaries), Steven Ogg (The Walking Dead, Snowpiercer) and Michael Ecklund (Antlers).

Horror’s Greatest – Shudder Original Series

New Episodes Premiere Every Tuesday Exclusively on Shudder and AMC+ 

A deep dive into everything we love about horror -- from fresh looks at classics to unearthing scores of hidden gems, this series has something for every fright film enthusiast. A gallery of ghoulish pros, including actors, directors, writers, composers, and special effects artists, draw on their unique knowledge to answer the big questions: What are the must-see films in horror’s many sub-genres? What’s the appeal of horror tropes, and how do today’s filmmakers subvert our expectations? What shape does horror take in countries outside of the United States? The answers encompass the breath of the nightmares we watch for our entertainment. 

NEW ADDITIONS TO SHUDDER’S FILM LIBRARY

January 1

Mind Body Spirit

An aspiring yoga influencer embarks on a ritual practice left behind by her estranged grandmother. 

Invoking Yell

Set in 1990s, the story of three twenty-something women who venture into the woods to shoot a demo tape for their black metal band.

January 10

Hundreds of Beavers

In this 19th century, supernatural winter epic, a drunken applejack salesman must go from zero to hero and become North America’s greatest fur trapper by defeating hundreds of beavers.

January 20

Creep (2004)

Trapped in a London subway station, a woman who’s being pursued by a potential attacker heads into the unknown labyrinth of tunnels beneath the city’s streets. 

The Raid: Redemption

A S.W.A.T. team becomes trapped in a tenement run by a ruthless mobster and his army of killers and thugs.

Dear Kids (aka Strange Behavior)

A scientist is experimenting with teenagers and turning them into murderers. 

The Primevals

When a group of explorers go in search of a yeti, they find themselves taken captive by an ancient race of alien creatures. 

January 24

Lovely, Dark and Deep

Lennon, a new back-country ranger, travels alone through the dangerous wilderness, hoping to uncover the origins of a tragedy that has haunted her since she was a child.

January 27

The Stuff

A delicious, mysterious goo that oozes from the earth is marketed as the newest dessert sensation, but the tasty treat rots more than teeth when zombie-like snackers who only want to consume more of the strange substance at any cost begin infesting the world.

Patrick

A young nurse who’s just started working at a public clinic begins to suspect that a comatose young man may possess the powers of psychokinesis. 

Turkey Shoot

In a dystopian future where deviants are held in “re-education” camps, a freedom fighter and an innocent prisoner try to survive their decadent oppressors’ game of kill-or-be-killed.

New Life

A mysterious woman on the run, and the resourceful fixer assigned to bring her in. Their two unique stories inextricably link as the stakes of the pursuit rise to apocalyptic proportions.

What's on Neon in January

Here's everything that's streaming on Neon in January.

The Pitt (January 10, 4pm)

The Pitt is a realistic examination of the challenges facing healthcare workers in today’s America as seen through the lens of the frontline heroes working in a modern-day hospital in Pittsburgh.

Stars: Noah Wyle, John Wells, Erin Jontow, Simran Baidwan, Michael Hissrich

Night Court Season 3 (January 17)

Unapologetic optimist Judge Abby Stone follows in her late father’s footsteps as she  presides over the night shift of a Manhattan courtroom and tries to bring order to its crew of oddballs and cynics. A reboot of the beloved 80s sitcom.

Stars: Melissa Rauch (The Big Bang Theory), John Larroquette

Harley Quinn Season 5 (January 17, 4pm)

Harley Quinn has finally broken things off with the Joker and sets out to become Gotham City’s greatest villain with help from Poison Ivy and a ragtag crew of DC castoffs, in this adult animated action-comedy series.

Stars: Kaley Cuoco, Lake Bell, Alan Tudyk, Ron Funches, Tony Hale, Diedrich Bader, Matt Oberg

Movies

A Quiet Place: Day One (January 14)

When bloodthirsty alien creatures with super hearing attack New York City, Sam finds herself trying to survive in a dangerous new world where you must move in complete silence.

Stars: Lupita Nyong’o (Black Panther), Joseph Quinn (Gladiator II), Djimon Hounsou

Back To Black (January 24)

The extraordinary life and music of Amy Winehouse. Inspired by her deeply personal lyrics, the film explores the many layers of the iconic artist, and the tumultuous relationship at the centre of one of the most legendary albums of all time.

Stars: Marisa Abela, Jack O'Connell, Eddie Marsan, Lesley Manville, Sam Buchanan, Harley Bird

Asphalt City (January 2)

A young paramedic is assigned to the night shift with an uncompromising and seasoned partner. As they work across a city in crisis, they are forced to make tough choices that can mean the difference between life and death.

Stars: Sean Penn, Tye Sheridan, Mike Tyson

The Clean Up Crew (January 11)

A crime scene clean up crew discovers a briefcase full of money. Now, they must go into battle with all those who want it back.

Stars: Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Antonio Banderas

French Girl (January 8)

Hopeless romantic Gordon is about to propose but his plans are thrown into chaos when his girlfriend is swept away to Quebec by a job offer from her ex – a sophisticated celebrity chef.

Stars: Zach Braff, Evelyne Brochu, Vanessa Hudgens

Freediver (January 16)

In this breathtaking documentary, freediving champion Alexey Molchanov sets out on a daring mission to break five world records. With each dive – and each breath – he risks blackouts and death, testing the limits of human endurance and survival in one of the world’s deadliest sports.

Sonic The Hedgehog 3: Movie Review

Cast: Ben Schwartz, Keanu Reeves, Idris Elba, Jim Carry, Lee Majdoub, James Marsden, Kristen Ritter,Tika Sumpter
Director: Jeff Fowler

The latest Sonic movie is at times akin to an overstuffed family gathering.

From the trio of Team Sonic (Knuckles, Tails, and the blue Blur himself) to two Dr Robotniks (played with meta touches by Carrey) and the inclusion of Keanu Reeves' troubled hedgehog nemesis Shadow, there's a lot going on.

Add in the human elements of James Marsden and Tika Sumpter as Sonic's defacto human family, the return of agency GUN and the brilliant Lee Majdoub as Agent Stone, Robotnik's long-suffering lackey, and it's no wonder the beginning third of the film feels like an overload of hyperactive exposition and high speed chicanery.

But when this tale settles down into its planned execution, the amalgamation of Shadow's past contrasted with Sonic's upbringing and the simple message of "Make good choices", the film's more impressive thanks to the chance to breathe and take it all in.

In truth, Schwartz's Sonic borders on the irritating this time around, a series of continual quips undone by a seconds later obvious gag / punchline depriving much of the movie of oxygen. Elba's deadpan hilarity as Knuckles' literal translation of situations playing out never loses its comedy timing and Reeves imbues Shadow, the hedgehog from the wrong side of town, with a sense of both tragedy and emotion throughout.

Carrey's back to nonsensical form and the script peppers his arc with quips catering to his manic edge with ease - some of the best laughs come from his gurning and insanity, in moves that feel distinctly reminiscent of Ace Ventura. It's a welcome return to form for the more maniacal comic who made his name early in the 90s.

Yet the true star of Sonic The Hedgehog 3 is actually the visual FX team, who've ensured every single frame of the obvious green-screenery unfolding feels naturalistic and as real as a practical set.

It's no mean feat as much of the script relies on the Team Sonic's trio speeding through scenery, or being up above earth. Every single second of every little FX feels vital, tangible and utterly incredible to behold.

Sonic The Hedgehog 3 may be as fleeting a film as any on offer this holiday season and offer some vicarious pleasures, it won't be judged as a timeless classic of its genre even though it's fun and more cohesive than the rest - but what is timeless within it is the tireless work of those bringing the world to life and ensuring it doesn't look dated in years to come.

Mufasa: The Lion King: Movie Review

Cast: Aaron Pierre, Kelvin Harrison Jr, Mads Mikkelsen
Director: Barry Jenkins

Disney continues its push to remove the magic of its iconic characters by filling in backstory where there was no need in their latest release.

If you ever wondered how Mufasa became king, how Scar got his scar, how Raffiki found his stick or - believe it or not - how the rock was born where Mufasa roared over his kingdom, well you're in luck with Mufasa: The Lion King.

Whether or not you consider that luck largely depends on how keen you are to dive back into the live-animated world of Simba et al.

Forced to babysit cub Kiara while Nala and Simba disappear, Timon and Pumbaa are regaled by Raffiki's tale of how Mufasa and Scar, then known as Taka, came to be friends and frenemies 

Separated from his family by a flood, Mufasa (Pierre) finds himself lost until he's taken in by Taka (Harrison Jr). But Taka's father King Obasi (Lennie James) refuses to acknowledge the stray, causing a rift and dilemma in his son.

However, the pride faces a larger threat - a roaming pride of outside lions determined to rule everything in the land led by Mikkelsen's angry white lion, who's after revenge as well after the death of his own son at Mufasa's hands.

There is no doubting Mufasa: The Lion King's technical prowess.

From in your face POV shots of the lions as they're running to a seamless feeling you're watching a nature doco,the film feels vibrant and alive,rich in wildlife and deep in details. But a desire to keep cutting back to cave antics and in-jokes during the homeward bound riffing story does the flow no real justice and makes the whole thing feel episodic at best.

And the narrative is stymied by the fact both its protagonists and their band of followers must survive meaning dramatically the film is limp, lacking any frisson of danger despite a series of bloodless confrontations.

It's not helped by songs thrown in that are largely forgettable from Lin-Manuel Miranda, a constant reminder of the brilliance of Sir Tim Rice's ear for a good hook and timeless lyrics from the original animated film.

At 2 hours, the film also pushes patience as far as it's willing to go - there's only so far technical prowess can impress.  And while the lion's share of the joy of this is in its visuals, it's a lack of epic emotional edge that leaves you feeling this doesn't quite have the pride of place in Disney's catalogue as maybe it deserves. 

Still maybe that's the nature of the beast.