The Apprentice: Blu Ray Review

Cast: Sebastian Stan, Jeremy Strong, Maria Bakalova
Director: Ali Abbasi

The Apprentice wants to be an excoriating profile of a man, but when it's one so many people already deeply detest and have seen so publicly, it proves difficult for a biopic like this to present something new.

Fortunately director Ali Abbasi (Border, Holy Spider) and writer Gabriel Sherman focus more on the origin of the Donald Trump character that polarises so many these days. That means zeroing in on the 1970s when Trump had just become a billionaire and was obsessed with creating Trump Tower in downtown New York.

Unable to overcome local bureaucracy and also local law interest in his dealings, Trump (played relatively straight by Sebastian Stan) ends up turning to Roy Cohn (a menacing Strong, all piercing stares and stony-face) after a chance meeting in a club.

Woefully naive and groomed by Cohn to always attack, never admit defeat or the truth, Trump begins to transform his fortunes, as Cohn helps manipulate matters from the shadows, using blackmail to overcome any obstacles.

The first hour of The Apprentice is utterly horrifying stuff - as you realise where Trump got his unswerving addiction to his truth alone, Abbasi uses shaky-cam doco grainy 70s film stylings to horrify and appal.

But in truth, it's Cohn who emerges as the most viciously unlikeable character here, with an utterly unlikeable performance from Strong, whose deadpan veneer is just terrifying. Watching him mentor Trump and mould him into what he became makes for compelling viewing - even if it is only surface-level stuff.

A second half timejump sees the movie move into 1980s territory and with it, a clever switching around of the dynamic as the man once in Cohn's thrall moves out of his shadow to create his own legacy, and make moves on his eventual wife Ivana (Bakalova, sympathetic and strong).

But it's also the film's weakest move as confining Strong's Cohn to the sidelines reveals the weakness of the narrative - and parts of the movie sag as they gloss over moments in Trump's life - from the sexual assault on Ivana to his part in his brother's death, the simpler approach belies what's been built up.

Perhaps it's a case of Trump ennui, in that we already know and abhor the character from his public life and his Presidential time and future tilt - yet it's also indicative of how the second half brings nothing new to the table and betrays the great work of the first hour.

Ultimately, The Apprentice is a film of two halves, a condemnation of ambition and narcissism; but it could have been more - and despite Stan's solid performance and Strong's glassy commitment, it still feels like it's squandered some of its chance.

Babygirl: Movie Review

Cast: Nicole Kidman, Harris Dickinson, Antonio Banderas, Sophie Wilde
Director: Halina Reijn

Nicole Kidman's performance anchors Babygirl, a film that occasionally feels coldly aloof yet startingly familiar in its story about a woman seeking fulfillment in a life that on paper, seems perfect.

She plays Romy the high-powered CEO of a robot automation company in New York. Dissatisfied with her sex life at home, despite the amorous intentions of her husband, Romy meets intern Samuel (Triangle of Sadness' Dickinson) who immediately stirs something in her, thanks to his impertinent questions and seeming demands over her lifestyle.

Initially conflicted, Romy begins a dangerous submission to Samuel - with the stakes edging ever closer to home and higher.

Babygirl is a film that captures the female experience and dissatisfaction angle particularly well.

Yet it's a starkly presented film in many ways, one which doesn't linger through any kind of lens and which captures the unpredictability of an affair and the intense longing of satisfaction within a life.

Consequently, what emerges is a compelling film that is anchored by two increasingly different performances as the power dynamics emerge.

While Dickinson's turn provides the kind of character you'd expect in this kind of film, his very controlled acting feels very much choreographed in its machinations. From moments where he shirtlessly contorts to a song to initial meetings where Samuel demands to be part of an intern process, there's a calculated edge to his acting that gels well with Kidman's uptight Romy.

Yet the attention will rightly be on Kidman's performance as the lost CEO who is guided daily by others and seems to be unable to find her own voice, teetering on the edge of self-destruction with such unease. There's a push for Romy to implode in any way - and Kidman leans deeply and uncomfortably into the moments, provoking much of what will inform the debate around this movie.

A film about female sexual desire, the inability to voice needs and a familiar tale all combine into something that's electric in parts and muted in others. 

It's true that it's a film that will spark different things in different audiences, but given Babygirl's propensity for control and the control of the film's director, that's no bad thing at all.

You're Cordially Invited: Movie Review

Cast: Will Ferrell, Reese Witherspoon, Geraldine Viswanathan, Meredith Hagner, Celia Weston, Jack McBrayer
Director: Nicholas Stoller

An amiable knockabout comedy that knows what it wants to do but doesn't necessarily always achieve it, Forgetting Sarah Marshall director Nicholas Stoller's You're Cordially Invited collapses at the end as it heads into deeply unbelievable territory.

Witherspoon plays Margot, the uptight, alienated from her family sister of bride-to-be Neve (Hagner); Ferrell is Jim, the overprotective and overclose father of another bride-to-be Jenni (Viswanathan). When both Margot and Jim book the same small island venue for a dream wedding for their prospective charges, chaos breaks out.

But as the pair decide to work on a sharing basis, things seem to reach an uneasy calm - until misunderstandings creep in.

You're Cordially Invited has moments where unexpected laughs are delivered as it follows a fairly traditional route to its conclusion. With a Ferrell that's more reined in and less showy than he has been for years, the film settles for more humour than OTT edges. And with Witherspoon channelling both perkiness and a brittle edge for the woman scorned by her family,

But the escalation of a Bride Wars-type level rivalry is unsurprising as each tries to outdo the other at ensuring their charges get their ultimate wedding. And as a result, there's only so far the film can go before it begins to stretch credibility - and its final furlong, it reaches breaking point as it appears the writer had no real idea how to wrap things up.

In large swathes though, You're Cordially Invited is enjoyable enough fare that proffers just enough laughs to justify its existence - as a combative duo, the Ferrell and Witherspoon partnership works sufficiently to smoothe through a few of the back half creaks and cracks that emerge.

You're Cordially Invited streams on Prime Video from January 30, 2025.

Companion: Movie Review

Cast: Sophie Thatcher, Jack Quaid, Megan Suri, Harvey Guillen, Lukas Gage, Rupert Friend
Director: Zach Cregger

Meshing The Stepford Wives with elements of other films too spoilery to mention, Barbarian director Zach Cregger's latest showcases a superb performance from Yellowjackets' star Sophie Thatcher.

She plays Iris, the utterly devoted girlfriend to Jack Quaid's Josh, who's worried about fitting in when they head to a friend's getaway house in the remote country. But meeting up with the group sees their relationship tested in an entirely unexpected manner.

Companion's desire to play with the dynamics of power and control within a relationship does help push some boundaries - and while the initial twist of the situation is revealed fairly early on, the film still has a tendency to surprise in the most unexpected of ways.

While Quaid is suitably smarmy and provides another version of his Hughie from The Boys, the film belongs squarely to Thatcher. Her performance as the oppressed, light-suddenly-going-on Iris is mesmerising to watch, with minor subtleties signalling change, and with key pieces of dialogue dropped lightly into the script hinting, she plays the duplicity well. Plus the story demands a level of complexity for her arc that she handles with ease and aplomb.

But if Companion feels like it slightly goes awry at some point early on with its twists taking precedence over everything else, the back half of the film ramps up the horror - and also the existential questions and moral quandaries.

However, Cregger's latest doesn't lose its light touch when juggling the genres it's dabbling in, providing a genre piece that's as playful and light as it is deep and engaging in parts. Excoriating incel culture, examining relationships and control and providing genre kills and surprises when needed, Companion does a lot more than you'd expect - but without Thatcher's central performance, it wouldn't be nearly as good as it is.

The White Lotus Season 3 trailer

A brand new trailer for the upcoming third season of Mike White's The White Lotus has been released.

Watch the trailer below for the third season of The White Lotus, premiering February 17 on Neon.

Flight Risk: Movie Review

Cast: Mark Wahlberg, Michelle Dockery, Topher Grace
Director: Mel Gibson

Mel Gibson returns to being behind the camera for the first time since 2016's Hacksaw Ridge with this chamber piece set on board a small plane.

When US Marshal Madolyn Harris (Downton Abbey's Dockery) arrests Winston, a wise-cracking accountant (That 70s Show's Grace), he offers to inform against his Mafia boss to save his own neck. But with time running out to get Winston to court, she's forced to take a flight piloted by Mark Wahlberg's gum-chewing hillbilly.

However, it soon turns out not everything is as it appears.

Flight Risk isn't a bad film per se.

It knows exactly what it is and what it wans to be, but somehow it lacks the tension needed to effectively draw out its 90 minute run time (a blessing in these days of overstretched movies).

Falling into a formulaic trap of needless jolts throughout (something which is as bumpy as the turbulence on the film's flight), the film betrays some of the unsettling menace that Wahlberg brings so brilliantly to the table as the unhinged and unnamed pilot, whose motives are murky at best, and murderous in intent.

From a flailing toupee to continual sneers and improvised nastiness, Wahlberg is the sleaziest best part of a movie that seems almost afraid to dip its toes into where it wants to go.

Dockery is solid and serious as the US Marshal whose past hides a secret and Grace is perfectly fine as the gibbering under pressure criminal. But it doesn't feel like there's enough to keep the film going - even if with its flaws, it has frustrating moments of what could have been.

Gibson is workmanlike behind the camera, failing to capitalise on the option for close ups in small spaces to build tension - but his execution of the film's script, which sat on the 2020 Black List, doesn't quite hit the highs it could be.

It's not a complete crash landing, but Flight Risk feels more like a ride that's as down as it is up throughout.

Daredevil: Born Again trailer releases

 

The first look at the upcoming Daredevil: Born Again series launching in March on Disney+ has been revealed.

Matt Murdock and Wilson Fisk face off once again in Marvel Television’s all-new series “Daredevil: Born Again,” premiering on Disney+ March 5.

In “Daredevil: Born Again,” Murdock, a blind lawyer with heightened abilities, is fighting for justice through his bustling law firm, while former mob boss Wilson Fisk (Vincent D’Onofrio) pursues his own political endeavors in New York. When their past identities begin to emerge, both men find themselves on an inevitable collision course.

The series also stars Margarita Levieva, Deborah Ann Woll, Elden Henson, Wilson Bethel, Zabryna Guevara, Nikki M. James, Genneya Walton, Arty Froushan, Clark Johnson, Michael Gandolfini, with Ayelet Zurer and Jon Bernthal. Dario Scardapane is showrunner. Episodes are directed by Justin Benson & Aaron Moorhead, Michael Cuesta, Jeffrey Nachmanoff, and David Boyd; and executive producers are Kevin Feige, Louis D’Esposito, Brad Winderbaum, Sana Amanat, Chris Gary, Dario Scardapane, Matt Corman & Chris Ord, and Justin Benson & Aaron Moorhead. 

What’s on Netflix in February

Here’s everything streaming on Netflix in February.

APPLE CIDER VINEGAR

Premieres on February 6, 2025 

Set at the birth of Instagram, Apple Cider Vinegar follows two young women who set out to cure their life-threatening illnesses through health and wellness, influencing their global online communities along the way. All of which would be incredibly inspiring if it were all true.

Starring: Kaitlyn Dever, Alycia Debnam-Carey, Aisha Dee, Tilda Cobham-Hervey, Ashley Zukerman, Mark Coles Smith, Susie Porter, Matt Nable, Phoenix Raei, Chai Hansen

Country of Origin: Australia

ZERO DAY

Premieres on February 20, 2025 

After a cyberattack sabotages transportation and power infrastructure across the U.S., former President George Mullen is asked to find the culprit.

Starring: Robert De Niro, Angela Bassett, Lizzy Caplan, Jesse Plemons, Joan Allen, Connie Britton, Matthew Modine

Country of Origin: United States

ROYAL RUMBLE: 2025

Live on Netflix on February 2, 2025 @ 12:00PM AEDT

The Road to WrestleMania begins here with a marathon melee as Superstars fight to outlast WWE's best in the legendary Royal Rumble Match.

Country of Origin: United States

KINDA PREGNANT

Premieres on February 5, 2025 

When Lainy's plans to settle down and start a family fizzle, she puts on a fake baby bump, tells a huge lie — and unexpectedly falls for her dream guy.

Starring: Amy Schumer, Jillian Bell, Will Forte, Damon Wayans Jr, Brianne Howey

Country of Origin: United States

SURVIVING BLACK HAWK DOWN

Premieres on February 10, 2025 

In shocking detail, US soldiers and Somali fighters recall the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu and the now-famous downing of three Black Hawk helicopters.

Country of Origin: United States

COBRA KAI: SEASON 6: PART 3

Premieres on February 13, 2025 

Granted one final chance to finish the Sekai Taikai, Daniel, Johnny and the team lay it all on the line in the ultimate championship showdown.

Starring: Ralph Macchio, William Zabka, Martin Kove, Xolo Maridueña, Jacob Bertrand, Mary Mouser, Tanner Buchanan, Peyton List

Country of Origin: United States

LOVE IS BLIND: SEASON 8

Premieres on February 14, 2025 

A new group of singles face the ultimate dating experiment. Will they find their soulmates and get married, or will looks get in the way of love?

Starring: Nick Lachey, Vanessa Lachey

Country of Origin: United States

THE WITCHER: SIRENS OF THE DEEP

Premieres on February 11, 2025 

Monster hunter Geralt of Rivia gets drawn into an epic conflict between land and sea in this animated film from "The Witcher" universe.

Starring: Anya Chalotra, Christina Wren, Joey Batey, Doug Cockle

Country of Origin: United States

THE 31ST ANNUAL SCREEN ACTORS GUILD AWARDS

Live on Netflix on February 24, 2025 @ 12:00PM AEDT

Kristen Bell hosts as the biggest names in film and TV light up the stage for the 31st annual Screen Actors Guild Awards. (Live event in English.)

RUNNING POINT

Premieres on February 27, 2025 

A reformed party girl must prove herself as a businesswoman when she's unexpectedly placed in charge of her family's pro basketball team.

Starring: Kate Hudson, Brenda Song, Max Greenfield

Country of Origin: United States

Nightbitch: Disney+ Movie Review

Cast: Amy Adams, Scoot McNairy, Jessica Harper, Zoe Chao, Mary Holland
Director: Mariella Hellar

A satirical take on motherhood that has occasional flashes of deadpan brilliance amid frustrations over where the story could potentially have gone, Amy Adams gives a mightily impressive performance as a woman foist into motherhood and feeling trapped by having done so.

Having given up a career as an artist for the new role, Adams' character begins to resent the monotony of her routine and the ignorance of her partner (McNairy) who just appears when not working but is mostly absent during the parenting part.

One day when her son tells her she's getting fuzzy, she notices new hairs. Dismissing them as life pre-menopause, it becomes clearer that she's getting more feral and before long, the mother is out at nights as a dog...

What could have been a bizarre body horror drama feels more sanitised than perhaps its source material might suggest, but that doesn't mean Hellar's film is as neutered as that may appear.

Adams gives a stellar performance to the growing, bubbling inner rage of the mother - buoyed by a script that mines the dark humour in sardonic places and the wry observations over the archaic expectations of motherhood, her imagined monologues give way to both some of the film's harshest truths but also its saddest realities.

There are elements which pertain to the loss of identity and the more frustrated she becomes, the more feral she reveals herself to be. And it's here that Nightbitch feels like it's been watered down for the big screen as elements which could have had real bite, feel more muzzled for wider audiences.

In among all this though, make no mistake - Adams soars in the role, making the most of the absurd premise and giving humanity to the hardest truths that are born from the tragedy and bittersweet joy of parenting.

JBL introduces the new JBL Tour Pro 3 True Wireless

JBL has launched a new product for 2025 - the JBL Tour Pro 3 True Wireless.

With the most advanced Smart Charging Case housing the first ever dual-driver JBL earbuds for ultimate convenience and acoustic performance, plus an audio transmitter for everywhere entertainment.

JBL has launched the JBL Tour PRO 3 in New Zealand, the brand’s most advanced True Wireless Stereo (TWS) earbuds yet.

With the introduction of dual drivers, JBL Spatial 360 with Head Tracking, True Adaptive Noise Cancellation 2.0, and an improved Smart Charging CaseTM packing truly unique features, JBL Tour PRO 3 redefines the TWS listening and user experience and leads the way in TWS Smart technology

“The JBL Tour PRO 3 sets new standards in customisation, performance, and convenience. New Zealanders will be particularly excited by the new generation Smart Charging Case. The new audio transmitter technology unlocks so many potential scenarios for improving the listening experience, from air travel to group listening sessions,” says Michael Sherman, Senior Strategy Manager at JBL New Zealand.

Seamless Convenience and Connectivity with ‘Everywhere Entertainment’

At the forefront of the JBL Tour PRO 3's innovations is the second-generation Smart Charging CaseTM. The case not only provides full control of the earbud features, but also acts as a wireless audio transmitter, enabling 'Everywhere Entertainment’ from any USB or analogue source such as an inflight entertainment system. Simply plug in the charging case for an instant and automatic connection to your earbuds.

Better yet, the direct connection between case and earbuds is more stable, and lower latency, than Bluetooth, making it the perfect companion for gaming, calls*, movies and music.

JBL Tour PRO 3 is JBL's first TWS model with full AuracastTM functionality. Easily share audio content with any AuracastTM-enabled device using the AuracastTM button on the Smart Charging CaseTM display. Or join an existing broadcast by simply tapping in with the case and accompanying app so you can listen to the same content as your friends and family.

JBL Tour PRO 3 is JBL's first TWS model with full AuracastTM functionality. Easily share audio content with any AuracastTM-enabled device using the AuracastTM button on the Smart Charging CaseTM display. Or join an existing broadcast by simply tapping in with the case and accompanying app so you can listen to the same content as your friends and family.

The redesigned Smart Charging CaseTM now features a 30% larger screen than its predecessor, all wrapped in a smaller, more pocketable package. The screen provides seamless control over music playback, call management, access to ID3 Tag, caller ID and media file information, and more without needing to access your phone.

Immersive JBL Spatial 360 with Head Tracking

The JBL Tour PRO 3 brings JBL Spatial 360 and Head Tracking technology from any audio source. This feature transforms stereo sound into a fully immersive experience - particularly beneficial when watching movies or playing games. Head Tracking deepens the immersive experience by making sounds appear to come from outside your head and stay fixed in space, even when you move your head.

Legendary JBL Pro Sound

No matter what you are listening to, enjoy it in excellent quality. JBL Tour PRO 3 boasts a hybrid dual driver system in each earbud, a first for JBL TWS, delivering JBL's legendary Pro Sound. The balanced armature driver handles the high notes with enhanced clarity, freeing the 11mm dynamic driver to provide powerful, cleaner bass and vivid vocals. With a dedicated DAC for each driver reproducing a specific part of the frequency range from 20Hz to 40kHz, enjoy every detail in stunning definition, closer than ever to studio sound reproduction.

Further enhancing audio quality, the Hi-Res certified wireless audio codec LDAC**, delivers three times more data than the standard Bluetooth codecs, resulting in exceptional high-resolution sound.

Customised Listening Experience

Earbuds that fit your lifestyle. Most features of the JBL Tour PRO 3 are fully customisable, including the True Adaptive Noise Cancellation 2.0 technology. This advanced system measures over 50,000 times per second, adapting to environmental changes and compensating for sound leakage.

For the best comfort and performance, JBL Tour PRO 3 ships with an extensive selection of ear tip options. Find your perfect fit with five different sized silicon and one additional set of foam ear tips.

With six microphones and a hydrodynamic windproof design, the Tour PRO 3 ensures clear and undistorted voice transmission during calls. The earbuds use a new, proprietary, JBL Crystal AI call algorithm to enhance clarity even in noisy environments. Your voice will now not only be clear in places with low frequency stationary noises such as traffic or at a train station, but also in situations with more sudden high frequency noises such as coffee shops.

Further enhance your calling experience with the new smart call equalizer, Voice Call. This features a sound level optimiser which helps reduce the volume of loud talkers or amplify quiet talkers.

Personalised, Inside and Out

For a fully personalised sound, the Personi-fi 3.0 hearing test offers a customised sound profile. This JBL algorithm accurately measures and adjusts for individual hearing profiles using 12 bands for EQ compensation and 14 warble tones. The adjustments are now made separately for each ear, providing the most personalised listening experience to date.

Additionally, Tour PRO 3 allows users to personalise the display lock screen and wallpaper with any photo and supports display commands in 13 languages.

JBL Tour PRO 3 has an RRP of $429.95 and will be available in Black and Latte colourways from JBL.co.nz and authorised retailers including PB Tech, Spark, JB HiFi, Harvey Norman, Noel Leeming, Smiths City, Heathcotes and Mighty Ape.

What's on Neon in February

Here's everything streaming on Neon in February.

GRACE Season 1 and 2 (February 3)

Brighton-based Detective Superintendent Roy Grace is a hardworking police officer who has given his life to the job, but he's haunted by the disappearance of his wife years ago. 

Based on the best-selling novels by Peter James. 

Stars: John Simm (Life on Mars, Doctor Who), Richie Campbell (Top Boy, The Bill)

THE WHITE LOTUS Season 3 (From 4pm, February 17)

The social satire is set at an exclusive Thai resort and follows the exploits of various guests and employees over the span of a week.

Stars: Leslie Bibb, Carrie Coon, Walton Goggins, Sarah Catherine Hook, Jason Isaacs, Lalisa Manobal, Michelle Manoghan, Sam Nivola, Lek Patravadi, Parker Posey, Natasha Rothwell, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Tayme Thapthimthong, Aimee Lou Wood, and New Zealand’s own Morgana O’Reilly.

YELLOWJACKETS Season 3 (From 7pm, February 14)

Natalie adapts to her new role as leader of the Yellowjackets and the loss of the cabin. A shocking death in the present-day timeline sends the girls reeling, but will the sacrifice improve their lives?

Stars: Melanie Lynskey, Christina Ricci, Tawny Cypress, Ella Purnell, Joel McHale, Hilary Swank and Simone Kessell

MOVIES

FURIOSA: A MAD MAX SAGA (February 21)

A young Furiosa is snatched and falls into the hands of a great Biker Horde. Sweeping through wasteland, Furiosa finds herself in a battle to survive that will lead her through many trials.

Stars: Anya Taylor-Joy, Chris Hemsworth, Tom Burke

BAD BOYS: RIDE OR DIE (February 4)

When their late police captain gets linked to drug cartels, Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett embark on a dangerous mission to clear his name.

Stars: Will Smith, Martin Lawrence, Vanessa Hudgens

BOOKWORM (February 2)

Mildred’s life is upended when her estranged magician father comes to look after her. The pair go on a camping trip to search for a mythical New Zealand beast. 

Stars: Elijah Wood, Nell Fisher, Morgana O'Reilly

SHADOW LAND (February 8)

Former President Robert Wainwright is haunted by nightmares foretelling his demise.

When he calls in a psychiatrist, they discover the threat may be more real than imagined.

Stars: Jon Voight, Marton Csokas

A Complete Unknown: Movie Review

Cast: Timothee Chalamet, Elle Fanning, Edward Norton, Scoot McNairy, Monica Barbaro, Boyd Holbrook

Director: James Mangold

Perhaps it's best to not go to A Complete Unknown expecting an immersive and in-depth examination of Bob Dylan and what exactly made him tick.

In fact, Logan director James Mangold's film is more interested in those who orbit around the mumbling maestro and the impact his gravity had upon them. It's an intriguing compromise for a film that emotionally feels like it has a few beats missing.

Beginning in 1961, it tells the story of a young Bob Dylan (a mumbling and eyes-half-closed Chalamet) heading to New York City to see his hospitalised hero Woody Guthrie (McNairy, in a near mute role).

Finding fellow musician and evangelical folk lover Pete Seeger (Norton, in a warm, humane turn that makes you wish there were more of him) at the hospital caring for Guthrie, the pair strike up a friendship, and Seeger mentors Dylan into the local folk scene.

Success comes quickly for Dylan thanks to a combination of talent and turbulent times that crystallise his appeal. But soon Dylan's tempestuous edges come out and he longs to move away from the folk music that he feels has defined him but is also holding him back.

Based on the 2015 book Dylan Goes Electric! from Elijah Wald, there's much to be said for the cast's ability to inhabit the roles - rather than simply imitate them. But the film's script at times demands too many narrative jumps and doesn't really get into the core of Dylan himself - an idea that perhaps was never on the table. 

However, the film's less interested and labels Dylan unapologetically "an asshole" thanks to character assessments and assassinations. It's perhaps welcome that he remains an enigma and that a different film about Dylan still demands to be made.

Equally, Elle Fanning's turn as the apparent first love of his life in New York initially promises to make her more of a presence in proceedings, before dimming her light and casting her more as a shrew and an emotionally rejected presence.

Yet what A Complete Unknown does bring to the table is a chance to enliven Dylan's music. Perhaps if more had been thrown into the conflict he faced over choosing to go electric instead of staying with folk rather than making him seem like a sullen, stroppy, floppy-haired kid, then Mangold's movie would have been excellent fare. As a result, Chalamet gets the space to breathe and the chance to shamble from one iconic moment to the next - but as no doubt the Oscars come knocking, there's no denying his on-screen presence and commitment.

As it is, it's perfectly enjoyable, at times, utterly electrifying with music sequences by all the main talent leaping from the big screen - even if the aloof and uncertain nature of parts of the story threatens to derail Dylan's appeal and legacy.

What's on Shudder in February

Here's the full list of what's streaming on Shudder in February.

The Dead Thing – Shudder Original Film 

New Film Premieres Exclusively on Shudder and  AMC+ Friday 14 February 

Alex (Blu Hunt, The New Mutants) is trapped in a downward spiral of shallow hookups and tepid  connections, but she is caught off guard when her dating  app swipes lead her into the arms of a mysterious, charming young man Kyle (Ben Smith-Petersen, Mad  Max: Fury Road). Despite their passionate night, when the sun rises, the mystery man is nowhere to be  found. Alex then sets out to find the one person who made her feel alive. Through her investigation, she  reconnects with Kyle, but also digs up a ghastly supernatural secret. The pair quickly descend into a  whirlwind of obsession, dependence, lust and infatuation that has grave consequences. 

Litte Bites – Shudder Exclusive Film 

New Film Premieres Exclusively on Shudder and  AMC+ Friday 21 February 

Little Bites follows Mindy (Krsy Fox, Terrifier 3), a young  widow and mother, who desperately tries to protect her  daughter Alice (Elizabeth Caro) from the grips of a  fiendish, flesh-eating monster named Agyar (Jon  Sklaroff). Mindy has been secretly sacrificing her own life by allowing the creature to slowly feast on her body as she keeps Alice hidden away at her grandmother’s  (Bonnie Aarons, The Nun). Also starring Barbara Crampton and Heather Langenkamp. 

Winnie the Pooh: Blood & Honey 

Winnie the Pooh: Blood & Honey 2 

Films Premiere on Shudder and AMC+ Saturday 1  February 

After Christopher Robin abandons them for college, Pooh and Piglet embark on a bloody rampage as they search for a new source of food. In the sequel, not wanting to live  in the shadows any longer, Winnie-the-Pooh, Piglet, Owl  and Tigger take their fight to the town of Ashdown,  leaving a bloody trail of death and mayhem in their wake. 

The Birthday  

Film Premieres Exclusively on Shudder and AMC+  

Friday 21 February 

Norman, a young man very much in love with his girlfriend, attends her father’s birthday party, held in a  hotel where a sect happens to be preparing for the birth  of the god it worships. Starring Corey Feldman.  

February 1 

Coming Home in the Dark 

A schoolteacher is forced to confront a brutal act from his past when a pair of ruthless drifters takes  his family and him on a nightmare road trip.  

February 3 

The Breach  

Counting down his last days as Chief of Police in the tiny town of Lone Crow, John Hawkins must  investigate one last case when a mangled body with uncanny wounds washes up on the shores of  the Porcupine River.  

The Summoned 

Two high profile couples are forced to examine the cost of success when they’re invited to an  exclusive self-help retreat with a sinister side.  

Open Your Eyes 

A very handsome man finds the love of his life, but he suffers an accident and needs to have his face  rebuilt by surgery after it is severely disfigured.  

Thesis 

While doing a thesis about violence, Angela finds a snuff video where a girl is tortured until death.  Soon she discovers that the girl was a former student in her faculty. 

February 10 

Slumber Party Massacre (2021) 

A remake of the 1982 slasher film about sorority girls attached by a maniac killer with a large electric  drill.  

February 17

Divinity 

Centers on two mysterious brothers who abduct a mogul during his quest for immortality. Meanwhile, a seductive woman helps them launch a journey of self-discovery. 

Blackout 

A fine arts painter is convinced that he is a werewolf wreaking havoc on a small American town under a full moon. 

Deliver Us 

When a nun in a remote convent claims immaculate conception, the Vatican send a team of priests to investigate, concerned about an ancient prophecy that a woman will give birth to twin boys: one the Messiah, the other the Anti-Christ.  

The Brutalist: Movie Review

Cast: Adrien Brody, Guy Pearce, Felicity Jones, Joe Alwyn
Director: Brady Corbet

Director Brady Corbet's take on the American dream follows Adrien Brody's László Tóth, a Hungarian-Jewish survivor of the Holocaust, who finds his way to Philadelphia in 1947.

Taking a job with his cousin's furniture business, Tóth finds favour with Guy Pearce's wealthy millionaire Harrison van Buren after an initially angry meeting. Commissioned to build a monument to van Buren's dead mother, Tóth finds his time taken by the project and also by his desire to reunite with his wife, separated after the war ends.

But as both work and life projects get underway, they are caught up in uncertainty and in life's ebbs and flows - will Tóth be able to survive his design and desire?

The Brutalist, along with its epic run time of over 3hours 15 minutes, is almost an endurance that's not worth undertaking - and is definitely a film of two halves.

The first half, with its familiar immigrant themes, anti-Semitism and uneasy relationship between van Buren and Tóth, is a strongly compelling piece that, while offering little new in terms of story beats, provides the viewer with a degree of meat that's worth chewing into. 

Blessed with a naturalistic performance from Brody and a hoity-toity antagonist in the shape of Pearce's wealthy industrialist who seems unnaturally concerned with Tóth's welfare and that of his family makes the drama feel uneasy and unsettling.

But a second half (after a baked-in intermission) feels more of a symbolic mess than a well-crafted resolution to what has befallen Tóth and his family. Despite being crafted so by design, the film feels like it's falling apart at the seams as subtle symbolism of the relationship between an artist and their patron is overtaken by something akin to a sledgehammer and a nut situation.

It's a disappointment to note as the film's look and industrial-heavy soundtrack both make the movie a standout - it's just the initial absorption fades away in the final furlong, morphing into something that's sort of watchable, but feels more Brutalist on the viewer than perhaps it has any right to be.

Back in Action: Movie Review

Cast: Jamie Foxx, Cameron Diaz, Andrew Scott, Kyle Chandler, Glenn Close, Jamie Demetriou
Director: Seth Gordon

If the idea of former spies pulled back into the game for one last job feels very familiar, it's because it is.

While Prime Video's Mr and Mrs Smith TV series and Citadel may have recently made in-roads into the genre, the more-broadly pitched Back in Action puts Cameron Diaz and Jamie Foxx's Emily and Matt back into the game after their former boss Chuck (Friday Night Lights' Kyle Chandler) tells them they're suspected of still having the MacGuffin they were charged with finding on their final job.

With evil forces narrowing in on the pair, they're forced on the run - along with their two children - to England. But MI5's on their case before they know it.

Back in Action is perfectly adequate fare for those looking for something soulless and mindless on a Friday night.

But as the driver that brought Cameron Diaz out of retirement, it almost seems redundant before it's even started. It helps there's little chemistry between Foxx and Diaz, and the movie simply feels like a string of fight and chase scenes pulled together by the Horrible Bosses' director.

It tries to mix comedy, action and heart, yet somehow fails to master all of the genres, before leaving an open-ended conclusion that deliberately pushes for a sequel that no-one appears to be crying for.

Thankfully, there are moments that this generic movie manages to provide that proffer entertainment throughout - but they are too few and far in between to fill out the 100-minute run time. More effective when it comes to moments of snappy banter than trying to shoehorn in the children's disappointment in their older parents, Back in Action seems to want it all, but doesn't appear cocksure of how to actually get it.

Ultimately, like its generic title, Back in Action is sadly more filler, than killer.

Back in Action is streaming on Netflix now.

Win a double pass to see Babygirl in cinemas

To celebrate the release of A24's Babygirl in cinemas January 30 and starring Nicole Kidman, you can win a double pass!

About Babygirl

A high-powered CEO puts her career and family on the line when she begins a torrid affair with her much-younger intern.

Babygirl stars Nicole Kidman, Antonio Banderas and Harris Dickinson.

Babygirl is in cinemas January 30.

Nintendo Switch 2 unveiled

Nintendo has finally unveiled its first look at the highly anticipated Nintendo Switch.

In an extended video on YouTube, the company showcased the new device, and hinted that it would be released in 2025.

Watch the Nintendo Switch 2 reveal video below.

David Lynch RIP

Visionary director David Lynch has died aged 78, just days short of his 79th birthday.

The Twin Peaks creator's family announced he had died on Facebook on Friday morning.

"It is with deep regret that we, his family, announce the passing of the man and the artist, David Lynch. We would appreciate some privacy at this time. There’s a big hole in the world now that he’s no longer with us. But, as he would say, “Keep your eye on the donut and not on the hole.”

It’s a beautiful day with golden sunshine and blue skies all the way.”

RIP David Lynch.

Amazon's Ring Battery Video Doorbell: Review

Amazon's Ring Battery Video Doorbell has launched to a lower price point, meaning people can take their privacy a bit more seriously from the comfort of their front room - or anywhere they want really.

If you're already familiar with the Ring Doorbell's looks, this latest model won't exactly surprise you with its aesthetics.

But in some ways, that's part of its charm - it may be lower-priced to make it more amenable to wider marketplace, yet it's not skimped on the quality of how it looks. Set-up and installation of the device is a lot simpler than it seems.

Measuring just  6.19 cm x 2.30 cm x 12.65 cm (4.98 in x 2.44 in x 0.91 in), the bell's compact nature and look makes it a fit with just about any front entrance, putting a design aesthetic that's uniquely Amazon's but also a little timeless thanks to its sleek look.

Setup with the bracket will depend on your own DIY skills to be frank, but its simplicity speaks volumes to how easy Amazon wants to make it to help you into their own ecosystem. 

And while the accompanying app takes a little longer to negotiate, once it's done, you're relatively away and laughing. 

From mobile alerts from the button being activated to two-way audio, there's plenty here that you'd expect from a video doorbell. And while it's not a security camera per se, it does provide a peace of mind that's somewhat hard to deny.

Yet while the Doorbell Pro and Plus offer enhanced video, the Doorbell battery's video is good enough for your daily needs. From a 1440 x 1440 pixel HD video feed (labelled a "head-to-toe" vision by the company itself), you can see perfectly well what's outside your door when you need to.

The tech works just as well with other Amazon Alexa-connected devices in the house, but it's really in the app that the phone works best with just a few taps here and there allowing you to see what's going on at the front.

It's hard to call the Amazon Ring Battery Doorbell life-changing, but for those with mobility issues or basic security fears, the comfort level it provides is undeniable. You will need to buy a Chime if you're not already the owner of one, something which in truth feels a little bit of a disappointment given the basic package is a little too basic for just get up and go.

Paired with other devices such as the Amazon Show Echo the video component becomes vital and more than just functional.

And while it comes with a trial of Ring Home, the package that offers 24/7 recording, you will have to fork out more to stay in the eco-system if that's what you particularly want to do. If your Wi-Fi is stable enough as well, the feed will be fine - but wobble on that thanks to your ISP makes the Doorbell a little uncertain in places.

Equally as useful for small businesses as it is for homeowners in general, the Ring Battery Video Doorbell does provide the basics well. It's a shame it's lacking a Chime within the basic package too (though bundle deals exist) - but for getting started and staying connected to your smart home's system, there's no better way to ensure the gateway to your prized possessions is securely guarded and can maintain that from whereever you may be in your own house. 

Monster Summer: Movie Review

Cast: Mason Thames, Mel Gibson, Lorraine Bracco, Kevin James

Director: David henrie

There's very much a vibe of Amblin-esque family horror and Goosebumps style jumps in this unashamedly early teen-focussed movie.

In the summer vibes of Martha's Vineyard in the 1990s, Noah Reed (Thames) longs to be a journalist, following in the footsteps of his absent father. But when a couple of the local kids claim to have been abducted by a witch and reappear near comatose, Noah thinks he has his story.

Stumbling into the yard of former detective Gene Carruthers (a snappy and brusque but ultimately soft-hearted Mel Gibson), the pair team up in a spooky adventure to solve the case - and try and save the day.

There's a decent kernel of a film here, and while it's rare to get films like this that are so family-led in such cynical and blockbuster times, there's an overall feeling that Monster Summer never really quite seizes on its potential.

The teen cast are largely fine, and the likes of Gibson, Bracco and James provide solid support - even if Gibson's curmudgeon arc can be seen a mile off. But given some solid CGI work later on and some reasonable PG-led jump scares, the film feels of an era that it's trying to emulate, rather than one which seizes that area and does something new with it.

Ultimately, it leads to Monster Summer feeling more forgettable than frightening, an intriguing what could have been postnote to a film that may work for those children who are more innocent than forged on the likes of Stranger Things and for families who are looking for unspectacular and undemanding fare.

Atomfall Official Gameplay Overview Trailer Unveiled

In this official gameplay trailer, Rebellion unveils the dangers and mysteries awaiting you in their gripping new single-player survival action game, Atomfall. Atomfall is inspired by the real-life events of the 1957 Windscale disaster and the story picks up five years later in a fictionalised quarantine zone that encompasses rolling countryside, valleys, caves and even a picturesque English village.

But this picture-perfect postcard setting is a hostile landscape that hides a dark mystery. To get to the bottom of what happened at Windscale, players will need to navigate military encampments, delve through abandoned bunkers below ground, and risk your life in Pagan ruins. A trusty metal detector will also help to uncover a few secrets buried beneath the surface!

Central to the dark mystery are the host of eccentric characters and cryptic organisations that inhabit the quarantine zone. These individuals have been cut off from the outside world for years and left to their own devices, so are anything but normal. Your interactions with them are important and will shape your journey. But be careful, they aren’t all friendly and you will need to get to grips with an array of ranged and melee weapons if you are to survive!

Game Features:

• A single player survival-action game, drawing from science fiction, folk horror, and Cold War influences to create a world that is eerily familiar yet completely alien
• Explore a dark and foreboding world with varying environments and locations
• Uncover leads through investigation, exploration, conversation and combat as you attempt to solve a mystery inspired by classic British science fiction such as The Day of the Triffids, early Doctor Who, and The Quatermass Experiment
• Desperate high stakes combat blends expert marksmanship with vicious hand-to-hand combat
• Craft items and weapons that may save your life, ransack ruined houses for supplies, and even unearth hidden treasures using your trusty metal detector
• Define your character through interactions with NPCs, light RPG elements, and skill trees

 

Atomfall® will launch on the 27^th of March 2025 on Xbox Series X, Xbox One and PlayStation 5.

What's streaming on DocPlay in February

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

This month on DocPlay, enjoy remarkable Australian stories, and a must-see, mouthwatering new film from master nonagenarian documentarian Frederick Wiseman. Plus, rock out with Dig! XX, recut for its 20 year anniversary.

Menus-Plaisirs – Les Troisgros

3  Feb  •  Exclusive

The remarkable - and mouth-watering - new film from master documentarian Frederick Wiseman follows the inner workings of a family-owned, Michelin-starred French restaurant.

Mozart’s Sister

6 Feb  •  Exclusive

The story of the other Mozart, Maria-Anna, a child prodigy forgotten to time, as seen through the eyes of musicians, musicologists, and researchers. 

The Bowraville Murders

10 Feb

A gripping investigation into one of Australia's most prominent unsolved serial murder cases – the murder of three Aboriginal children between September 1990 and February 1991 – and the 30-year battle for justice by the victims' families.

Aquarius

13 Feb  •  Exclusive

The dawning of the Aquarius Festival in Nimbin 1973 – an alternative gathering embraced by activists, hippies, and radicals that changed a town (and a generation) forever.

The Road to Patagonia

17 Feb  •  Exclusive

In this Australian box office hit, Ecologist Matty Hannon embarks on an incredible solo adventure to surf the west coast of the Americas by motorbike, from the top of Alaska to the tip of Patagonia. 

Dig! XX

20 Feb  •  Exclusive

20 years after winning the Sundance Grand Jury Prize for Documentary, Ondi Timoner returns with Dig! XX. With over 40 minutes of new material (including the BJM’s recent notorious Melbourne show), Dig! XX continues to chart the mainstream success of The Dandy Warhols and the implosion of The Brian Jonestown Massacre. 

Unstoppable: Movie Review

Cast: Jharrel Jerome, Jennifer Lopez, Bobby Cannavale, Don Cheadle, Michael Pena
Director: William Goldenberg

Rocking as many sporting cliches as is humanly possible, the inspiring true story of the struggle of one-legged wrestler Anthony Robles hits every note it's expected to in its telling.

Spider-Man's Miles Morales Jharrel Jerome plays Anthony Robles, a successful high-school wrestler who wants to up his game for college. But unable to get into programmes and belittled for his disability, Robles has to face his own demons as well as the perceptions of others and problems at home with an abusive father (Cannavale).

To call Unstoppable genial is to sound like it's damning it with feint praise.

But with sporting and training montages playing out against the background of inspiring music, director William Goldenberg does little with the formula to ensure things are different.

Fortunately, Goldenberg's blessed with a lead who carries both the charisma and the screen presence to allow you to go on this familiar formulaic ride and not become weary with its obvious story beats.

Equally, Lopez as Anthony's mother Judy feels like the kind of role she's played before and excelled it. Here, she makes Judy relatable and grounded and the script's sincerity with the story helps her to deliver a solid performance throughout.

Solid but not spectacular, watchable but never unmissable, Unstoppable inspires when it should but never quite hits the consistent highs throughout that would be expected to be sensationally uplifting.

Official Trailer for Reacher Season Three. Premieres February 20

Prime Video released the official trailer for Reacher Season Three. The eight-episode season will roll out weekly, with the first three episodes premiering on February 20, and subsequent episodes dropping every Thursday through March 27, 2025, exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide. After the second season was the most viewed release in 2023 on Prime Video, it was announced that Reacher had received an early renewal for a fourth season which will begin shooting this year.

 

Based on Lee Child’s novel Persuader, in the third season of the action-packed series, Reacher hurtles into the dark heart of a vast criminal enterprise when trying to rescue an undercover DEA informant whose time is running out. There he finds a world of secrecy and violence—and confronts some unfinished business from his own past.

 

Reacher Season Three stars Alan Ritchson in the titular role of “Jack Reacher” with Maria Sten reprising her role as “Frances Neagley.” New to the cast this season are Anthony Michael Hall as “Zachary Beck,” Sonya Cassidy as “Susan Duffy,” Brian Tee as “Quinn,” Johnny Berchtold as “Richard Beck,” Robert Montesinos as “Guillermo Villanueva,” Olivier Richters as “Paulie,” and Daniel David Stewart as “Steven Elliot.”

 

Based on the novels by Lee Child, Reacher is produced by Amazon MGM Studios, Skydance Television, and CBS Studios. Reacher is written for television by Emmy-nominated writer Nick Santora (FUBAR, Prison Break), who also executive produces and serves as showrunner. In addition to Santora and Child, Ritchson will serve as an executive producer, along with Don Granger, Scott Sullivan, Mick Betancourt, and David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, and Matt Thunell for Skydance. Carolyn Harris and Kenny Madrid are the executives-in-charge of the series for Skydance Television.

Like a Dragon Direct Revealed New Footage of Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii

In case you missed it, SEGA and RGG Studio’ Like a Dragon Direct livestream aired earlier today, revealing various updates and new gameplay footage for Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii.

The livestream provided updates on the game’s various locations and a closer look at its combat systems (on land and sea!), ship customisation, crew building, side experiences and much more! New Game+ was also announced as a free, post-launch update.

 

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is a brand-new action adventure that follows Goro Majima across land and sea. One year after the events of Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth™, Majima washes ashore on a deserted island amid the scattered remnants of a shipwreck. Unable to remember even his own name, Majima travels across the vast ocean in search of clues to piece together his lost identity, accompanied by a boy named Noah, who saved his life. Before long, they're caught up in a conflict between cutthroat criminals, modern-day pirates and other scoundrels over a legendary treasure.

 

As Majima, players will assemble a one-of-a-kind crew while upgrading their ship, the "Goromaru," battling enemy pirate ships and conquering seas and hidden islands alike. In combat, players can deliver explosive combos and aerial takedowns by dynamically switching between two fighting styles: dual-wield short swords or deploy pirate tools with the swashbuckling "Sea Dog" style or utilize speed, agility and flair to defeat enemies into submission with the infamous "Mad Dog" style.

 

Players won’t have to wait too long to embark on this epic journey with Majima and crew— Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii launches next month, on the 21^st of February on PlayStation 5!

Sonic X Shadow Generations: PS5 Review

Developed by Sonic Team
Published by Sega
Platform: PS5

Sonic the Hedgehog continues to live on in pop culture.

From the cinematic reinventions to the continual presence in the gaming world, it's clear the blue blur shows no signs of slowing down whatsoever. 

Containing a remastered version of Sonic Generations from 2011, the game shines more with the addition of events from Sonic's enemy Shadow's point of view. Setting him among scenes that have become part of the Sonic canon gives the game an edge and point of difference.

But as well as the 2D platforming of Sonic itself, the 3D iteration of Shadow's game makes everything feel different thanks to new powers and the ability to slow time down to avoid obstructions. This Matrix-style bullet time seems like an odd ability to add in but what it does, is give the game an edge that Sonic's raceabout mentality never really had.

From the Chaos Dash to an ability to fly, the developers have thrown a lot at Shadow to ensure the character stands out and the gameplay feels different. As a result, this new element feels radically engaging in ways that would be totally unexpected.

As a combination, Sonic X Shadow Generations may at times feel like an attempt to flesh out the Shadow character before he appears on screens over Christmas, but as a Sonic game, it does much to add a welcome edge to a consistently high-performing platformer.