She-Hulk: Attorney At Law: TV Review

It's not easy being green - just ask Kermit.

Marvel's latest small screen foray seems the powerhouse studio venture into the comedy world - with varying success, and an occasional feeling of flatness.

She-Hulk is the fourth-wall breaking story of Jennifer Walters, a wannabe district attorney, whose careeer is brought shudderingly to a halt after an accident. Out on a trip with her cousin, Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo), Jen's life is irrevocably changed when the car flips, she's injured and Banner bleeds into her.

Turned into a Hulk by Banner's inadvertent infection, Jen is forced into a new way of living with the beast within. However, unlike Bruce - and much to his chagrin - Jen finds she can control the green giant because she's spent a lifetime suppressing her anger and dealing with society.

"Every day I have to deal with getting cat-called in the street, men who want to explain my area of expertise to me and trying to avoid being described as ‘emotional’, ‘difficult’, or literally getting murdered," she explains in one of the show's more heavy-handed moments as it expresses its message and damns daily life for women worldwide.

What follows in She-Hulk: Attorney At Law (or the first four episodes at least which were available for review) is somewhat of a mixed bag.

For a show that's marketed so heavily on its comedy, it's surprisingly light on that front - and bizarrely seems to rely on everyone else but Jennifer Walters to supply the lion's share of the laughs (somewhat robbing her of her own agency in her own series).

It also leans very heavily on existing Marvel characters to propel the series along, again depriving Walters of a major showcase in the spinoff. Certainly, there's nothing wrong with these cameos, and there's little here that suggests it doesn't warrant it, but the mix doesn't quite feel balanced in the right way.

Its first episode delivers the usual origin story, albeit in a flipped model way, and following ones settle into the law elements a little more - but it never quite finds a tone of its own, and feels like a case of the week story stretched out over four episodes.

Thankfully, Tatiana Maslany more than delivers to make up for some of the failures elsewhere.

Used to juggling multiple characters with ease thanks to Orphan Black's many faceted storylines, Maslany straddles the mixed tones needed with ease, and delivers a perfect combination of the subtleties needed for She-Hulk and the world of Jennifer Walters.

It may be that She-Hulk: Attorney At Law doesn't quite yet have anything new or original to say about a woman's place in the world, dating or the societal pressure to be something different to succeed, but it's certainly a capable enough show of offering a few surprises - here's hoping the back five episodes of the series strive for that and bring a curtain down in style on Marvel's Phase 4 plans.

She-Hulk: Attorney At Law is streaming on Disney+ from Thursday August 18.

What's on Netflix in September

Warning: It’s the month you have been waiting all year long for! This September, Netflix is dropping some of the most long-awaited and hotly anticipated releases for the year. New Zealand, it’s time to buckle in for a wild ride of content like never before! 

 

Untold: The Race of the Century (September 6)

Starting off with some Aussie content hitting our screens this month is the Australian documentary, Untold: The Race of the Century, which will land on service September 6. Tune in to follow the Australia II yacht crew look back on the motivation, dedication and innovation that led to their historic victory at the 1983 America's Cup, the most prestigious trophy awarded in the sport of sailing. With New Zealand taking home its fourth America's Cup victory only last year, this doco is a must watch to get a glimpse into this incredible race on the sea.

 

Heartbreak High (September 14)

Strap in besties because the red hot Aussie TV series Heartbreak High is finally hitting our screens! Let’s travel to Hartley High where a discovery makes Amerie an instant pariah and causes a mysterious and very public rift with her ride-or-die Harper. With her new friends - outsiders Quinni and Darren - Amerie must repair her reputation, while navigating love, sex, and heartbreak. Filmed in Sydney, the show is a reimagining of the 90s Australian YA series which ran for seven seasons and was broadcast in over 70 countries including the UK, US, Germany, Argentina, Mexico, India, Netherlands and Indonesia.

 

Do Revenge (September 16)

Starring Camila Mendes (Riverdale) and Maya Hawke (Stranger Things), Do Revenge is a subverted Hitchcock-ian dark comedy featuring the scariest protagonists of all: teenage girls. A dethroned queen bee at a posh private high school strikes a secret deal with an unassuming new student to exact revenge on each other’s enemies. The cast also includes Hollywood icons Austin Abrams, Sophie Turner and Alisha Boe and was co-written and directed by Jennifer Kaytin Robinson.

 

The Dreamlife of Georgie Stone (September 22)

Even more ANZ content is landing on our screens this month with Georgie Stone taking over! Getting her start on the Australian soap opera, Neighbours, Georgie shares her journey from child to teen transdgender activist in her documentary The Dreamlife of Georgie Stone. Extending over nineteen years, Georgie takes audiences on a ride where she looks back at her life and historic fight for transgender rights and helps change laws, affirms her gender, finds her voice and emerges into adulthood. 

 

Blonde (September 28)

Have you heard that diamonds are a girl's best friend? Actress Ana de Armas is starring as the blonde bombshell and greatest female icon from the Golden Age, Marilyn Monroe in Blonde. Based on the bestselling novel by Joyce Carol Oates, this boldly reimagined fictional portrait boldly reimagines and explores the tumultuous private life of the Hollywood legend and the price she paid for fame. 

UNTOLD: Race of the Century premieres on Netflix September 6

About UNTOLD: Race of the Century

A chronicle of the thrilling 1983 America’s Cup, “Race of the Century” is a classic underdog story. It tells the tale of the scrappy group of Australians who band together to dethrone the New York Yacht Club, and break the longest-running win streak in history— 132 years!— in the most prestigious sailing competition in the world. Key members of the 1983 U.S. and Australian crews sit down for interviews sharing their experience of this ultimate race to victory.

Directed by: Chapman Way and Maclain Way

 About UNTOLD VOL 2

The critically-acclaimed series returns with UNTOLD Volume 2, a four-week docu-series event that once again brings fresh eyes to epic tales from the wide world of sports. From football to basketball and streetball to sailing, these stories aren’t the ones you’ve heard before, even if you think you have. Premiering weekly, each film kicks off at a pivotal moment and then delves deep into what happened beyond the headlines, as told by those who lived it, to reveal the grit, resilience, heartbreak, triumph, violence, comedy and pathos beneath the sweat. Whether it’s the unknown tale of football star Manti Te’o’s online connection, the ref behind the NBA gambling scandal, the rags-to-riches tale of a scrappy company transforming streetball into a phenomenon, or the astonishing Australian upset of the U.S. in the America’s Cup, UNTOLD gets to the heart of the passion and single mindedness it takes to be a champion and the ways in which the triumphs can be undone off the field. Films are directed by Chapman Way, Maclain Way, Ryan Duffy, Tony Vainuku, Kevin Wilson Jr., and David Terry Fine. 

Films releasing weekly for four weeks: August 16, 23, 30 & September 6

Netflix New Zealand

September 2022 New on Netflix Synopses & Imagery

All titles and dates are subject to change.

ORIGINAL SERIES

Off the Hook (01/09/2022)

Realising they both have a toxic relationship to the Internet, roommates Léa and Manon decide to do the unthinkable: abandon all devices for 30 days. 

Devil in Ohio (02/09/2022)

Determined to protect a young patient who escaped a mysterious cult, a psychiatrist takes the girl in, putting her own family — and life — in danger.

Dated and Related (02/09/2022)

Hopeful singles and their siblings head to a lavish villa, where they'll all be trying to find love — and win $100,000 — in this dating competition.

You’re Nothing Special (02/09/2022)

Life in Amaia's new hometown starts to get a lot more interesting when a rumour spreads at school that she's inherited her grandmother's magical talents.

Fakes (02/09/2022)

Teenage best friends Zoe and Becca set out to build their own fake ID empire, but when business starts booming, their life of crime gets way too real.

Buy My House (02/09/2022)

Homeowners from across the US pitch properties for sale to four experienced real estate investors, hoping to make a life-changing deal on the spot.

Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives: Season 2 (02/09/2022)

In a season of fresh starts, the wives redefine relationships, careers and personal goals — all with their signature mix of cheeky quips and camaraderie.

Little Women (03/09/2022)

Three sisters, who only have each other and never enough money, get entangled in a conspiracy involving the rich and powerful.

Once Upon a Small Town (05/09/2022)

Against his wishes, a veterinarian from the big city relocates to the countryside, where he meets a policewoman, a town insider with a friendly secret.

Entrapped (08/09/2022)

In this "Trapped" sequel, Andri and Hinrika dig into the murder of a cult member linked to a biker gang's land dispute and a woman's 2013 disappearance.

Cobra Kai: Season 5 (09/09/2022)

As Terry leads Cobra Kai into a new regime, Daniel, Johnny and an old ally join forces in a battle that goes way beyond the mat.

Merlí. Sapere Aude: Season 2 (09/09/2022)

After receiving life-altering news, Pol struggles to find a new normal. Meanwhile, his classmates navigate their own personal and academic obstacles.

Narco-Saints (09/09/2022)

An ordinary entrepreneur joins a secret government mission to capture a Korean drug lord operating in South America. Based on true events.

The Lørenskog Disappearance (14/09/2022)

When a billionaire's wife vanishes, Norwegian police must deal with the frenzied press and deceitful informants to find the truth. Based on real events.

Heartbreak High (14/09/2022)

An incendiary mural exposes everyone's secret hook-ups at Hartley High. Its author, Amerie, has to grapple with the messy fallouts as a total outcast.

Santo (16/09/2022)

Two cops (Bruno Gagliasso, Raúl Arévalo) must learn to work together to catch the world's most-wanted drug dealer, whose face has never been revealed.

Fate: The Winx Saga: Season 2 (16/09/2022)

Alfea's students must protect Solaria from powerful enemies who may already be within the school, while Bloom struggles to control her powers.

The Brave Ones (16/09/2022)

Reincarnated as a human being to avenge her sister’s death, a goddess must learn to harness her superpowers to defeat her enemies and save her family.

Love Is Blind: After the Altar: Season 2 (16/09/2022)

A new journey begins for singles seeking transformative love — sight unseen. Who will find romance and who will come face to face with heartbreak?

Iron Chef Mexico (21/09/2022)

Rising talents participate in this cooking competition against three of Mexico's finest chefs to win the mythical katana and become the Legendary Chef.

Designing Miami (21/09/2022)

Miami's two hottest designers aren't just competitors, they're also husband and wife. Eilyn and Ray Jimenez are making South Florida chicer one house at a time - she with a minimalist aesthetic and he with a more maximalist approach. Juggling the needs of their deep pocketed clients, their staffs of young designers, their close-knit families (some of whom are also contractors) and their relationship with each other isn't easy, but this talented, stylish duo manages to pull it off while always maintaining a healthy sense of humor.

Snabba Cash: Season 2 (22/09/2022)

Tormented by memories of Salim, Leya can't seem to escape her past as the ruthless chase for easy money continues.

Thai Cave Rescue (22/09/2022)

A Thai youth soccer team and their assistant coach are trapped within Tham Luang Cave, prompting a global rescue effort. Inspired by true events.

The Girls at the Back (23/09/2022)

Five women in their 30s, friends since high school, gather for their annual getaway. But this year, one of them has just been diagnosed with cancer.

Jamtara - Sabka Number Ayega: Season 2 (23/09/2022)

New scams, higher stakes, same old town. In Jamtara, no one is spared from the web of corruption and treachery.

Dynasty: Season 5 (24/09/2022)

Next-level power plays, nasty sibling rivalries and nonstop sabotage mean there’s no rest for the Colbys and Carringtons this season.

Inside the World’s Toughest Prisons: Season 6 (28/09/2022)

Wrongfully convicted former inmate Raphael Rowe continues his investigation of formidable prisons in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cyprus, Greece and Moldova.

Too Hot to Handle: Brazil: Season 2 (28/09/2022)

A new group of gorgeous Brazilian singles puts their emotions and desires to the test in paradise for a life-changing cash prize of R$500,000.

The Empress (29/09/2022)

In 1800s Austria, passionate and rebellious Sisi and Emperor Franz Joseph face love under duress, intrigues and power struggles at the Viennese court.

Floor is Lava: Season 3 (30/09/2022)

Fifteen daring new teams fight to race to the top of a towering volcano to win $10,000. Who's going to triumph and who's going to be toast?

Human Playground (30/09/2022)

Idris Elba’s HUMAN PLAYGROUND sees the Hollywood actor serve as Executive Producer, as well as providing voiceover, on this epic new documentary series brought to you by the same team behind international best seller Before They Pass Away, which has sold hundreds of thousand copies worldwide.

Who Likes My Follower? (Coming soon)

Three successful influencers each help one of their followers narrow down a field of dating prospects, hoping to trade digital likes for real-life love.

NETFLIX SPECIAL

Entergalactic (30/09/2022)

From the minds of Kid Cudi and Kenya Barris comes a story of two young artists navigating the twists and turns of finding love in New York City.

NETFLIX FILM

Love in the Villa (01/09/2022)

Julie's dream trip to Verona, Italy, turns star-crossed when she discovers her rented villa is already occupied by an annoyingly attractive stranger.

Fenced In (01/09/2022)

After a nervous breakdown, Walter trades the city for the countryside. But his hopes for a calm life are shattered once he meets his loud new neighbours.

The Festival of Troubadours (02/09/2022)

An unexpected reunion between a traveling musician and his son opens old wounds as the two set out on a long journey to a troubadour festival.

Diorama (06/09/2022)

As miscommunication and temptations abound, a couple's once-passionate marriage slowly unravels, narrated through humorous dioramas.

End of the Road (09/09/2022)

Recently widowed mom Brenda fights to protect her family during a harrowing road trip when a murder and a missing bag of cash plunge them into danger.

No Limit (09/09/2022)

An extraordinarily talented diver finds deep, destructive love with her record-holding apnea instructor in this visually arresting romantic drama.

Broad Peak (14/09/2022)

After climbing Broad Peak mountain, Maciej Berbeka learns his journey was incomplete. Twenty-five years later, he sets out to finish what he started.

The Catholic School (14/09/2022)

In 1975, three students at a prestigious all-male Catholic high school in Rome commit a horrifying crime that shocks their classmates and community.

Do Revenge (16/09/2022)

After a clandestine run-in, Drea (Alpha, fallen it girl) and Eleanor (beta, new alt girl) team up to go after each other’s tormentors. Do Revenge is a subverted Hitchcock-ian dark comedy featuring the scariest protagonists of all: teenage girls.

I Used to Be Famous (16/09/2022)

A former boy band star unexpectedly gets a second shot at success when he forms a bond with a gifted young drummer.

Jogi (16/09/2022)

Amid tension in 1980s India, three friends of different faiths unite in a noble yet dangerous effort to save hundreds in their town.

Mirror, Mirror (16/09/2022)

Five employees grapple with their respective desires by arguing with themselves in the mirror, ahead of their cosmetic company's 50th anniversary party.

The Perfumier (21/09/2022)

To regain her sense of smell and get back her lover, a detective joins forces with a perfume maker who uses deadly methods to create the perfect scent.

ATHENA (23/09/2022)

Hours after the tragic death of their youngest brother in unexplained circumstances, three siblings see their lives thrown into chaos.

A Jazzman's Blues (23/09/2022)

Tyler Perry's tale of forbidden love and family drama unravels 40 years of secrets and lies against a soundtrack of juke joint blues in the Deep South.

Lou (23/09/2022)

A gruff retiree living a quiet life with her dog battles the elements and her own dark past when a neighbour's little girl is kidnapped during a storm.

Fullmetal Alchemist The Final Alchemy (24/09/2022)

The Elric brothers’ long and winding journey comes to a close in this epic finale, where they must face off against an unworldly, nationwide threat.

Blonde (28/09/2022)

Based on the bestselling novel by Joyce Carol Oates, this boldly reimagined fictional portrait of Hollywood legend Marilyn Monroe stars Ana de Armas.

Rainbow (30/09/2022)

A modern tale of a teenager’s coming-of-age journey loosely inspired by the classic novel “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz”.

Anikulapo (30/09/2022)

After an affair with the king’s wife leads to his demise, a zealous traveler encounters a mystical bird with the power to give him another chance.

Plan A Plan B (Coming Soon)

When an earnest matchmaker moves into an office next to a cynical divorce attorney, their bitter conflict is complicated by a growing attraction.

NETFLIX COMEDY SPECIALS

Sheng Wang: Sweet and Juicy (06/09/2022)

Sheng Wang makes his Netflix comedy special debut in Sheng Wang: Sweet and Juicy, marking Ali Wong’s directorial debut and filmed at the Belasco Theatre in Los Angeles. Sheng finds magic in the mundane as he discusses the upside to owning a juicer you don’t use, the secret to his posture, his heist dream team and much more. 

Rodrigo Marques: King of Uncouth (06/09/2022)

Brazilian comic Rodrigo Marques discusses a particularly crazy trip to a famous archipelago, his life traumas and more in this stand-up special.

Jo Koy: Live from the Los Angeles Forum (13/09/2022)

Returning to Netflix for his fourth original special, Jo Koy takes the stage at the iconic Los Angeles Forum. True to form, Jo gushes about his relationship with his teenage son along with sharing the struggles of living with sleep apnea and more. 

Liss Pereira: Adulting (15/09/2022)

Comedian Liss Pereira gets real about relationships, adulthood and being somewhere in between — not perfect, but not so bad — in a world of extremes.

Patton Oswalt: We All Scream (20/09/2022)

Filmed at Paramount Theatre in Denver Colorado, Patton makes his directorial debut with his fourth Netflix comedy special, We All Scream. Discussing what happens to our bodies as we get older, who he could have been had he just followed the list he created during the lockdown, the Baby Boomer’s last temper tantrum and much more. 

Nick Kroll: Little Big Boy (27/09/2022)

After performing  stand-up for 20 years, Nick Kroll makes his Netflix stand-up special debut with Little Big Boy. Filmed at the Warner Theatre in Washington DC, in a set that is hilarious with an emotional undercurrent, Nick shows a bit of his vulnerable side as he talks getting his heart broken for the first time at the ripe age of 33, the power of mothers, his journey to fatherhood, and  the trick to farting without making any noise … and much more. The special is executive produced by Kroll, John Irwin, Casey Spira and Christie Smith. It is directed by Bill Benz.

NETFLIX DOCUMENTARIES 

Untold: The Race of the Century (06/09/2022)

The Australia II yacht crew looks back on the motivation, dedication and innovation that led to their historic victory at the 1983 America's Cup.

Get Smart With Money (06/09/2022)

Financial advisers share their simple tips on spending less and saving more with people looking to take control of their funds and achieve their goals.

Chef's Table: Pizza (07/09/2022)

Dig into the best pizzas from around the world, prepared by renowned chefs who bake passion, creativity and hard work into every slice.

Indian Predator: The Diary of a Serial Killer (07/09/2022)

When a suspect is found in a journalist's murder, the case is considered closed until a secret diary suggests 13 more victims — and possible cannibalism.

The Anthrax Attacks (08/09/2022)

Days after 9/11, letters containing fatal anthrax spores spark panic and tragedy in the US. This documentary follows the subsequent FBI investigation.

Sins of Our Mother (14/09/2022)

When Lori Vallow's kids vanished, the search for them unearthed a trail of suspicious deaths, a new husband who shared her doomsday views — and murder.

Terim (15/09/2022)

Legendary manager Fatih Terim recounts his football journey, from his playing days to coaching and leading several teams to championship glory.

Skandal! Bringing Down Wirecard (16/09/2022)

Upstart payment firm Wirecard wowed the financial industry with its runaway success — until a tenacious team of journalists exposed massive fraud.

The Real Bling Ring: Hollywood Heist (21/09/2022)

First there was the reality series, then a Hollywood movie. But the truth has never been told…until now. 10 years after the notorious events, the culprits have done their jail time and are ready to tell the real story of the outrageous heists that gripped the nation. This series will reveal how celebrity obsession and the rise of social media played an integral part in their motivations and serve as a cautionary tale to today’s teenagers.

Fortune Seller: A TV Scam (21/09/2022)

Savvy saleswomen or devious scammers? Wanna Marchi and Stefania Nobile became the undisputed queens of Italian TV shopping — until they went too far.

The Dreamlife of Georgie Stone (22/09/2022)

Sharing her journey from child to teen activist, Georgie Stone looks back at her life and historic fight for transgender rights in this documentary.

A Trip to Infinity (26/09/2022)

Eminent mathematicians, particle physicists and cosmologists dive into infinity and its mind-bending implications for the universe.

Eat the Rich: The GameStop Saga (28/09/2022)

This humorous documentary series follows a group of millennial misfits who banded together online to rescue their beloved GameStop from the clutches of Wall Street bigwigs, in a viral David vs. Goliath story for the 21st century.

NETFLIX KIDS & FAMILY

Samurai Rabbit: The Usagi Chronicles: Season 2 (01/09/2022)

With the Yokai no longer their enemies, Usagi and the gang enjoy a short-lived peace but soon must prepare for an invasion by evil aliens.

Ivy + Bean: The Ghost That Had to Go (02/09/2022)

Cold, white mist. Clanking pipes. And an eerie voice that's coming from the drain. Is the school bathroom... haunted? Ivy and Bean are on the case!

Ivy + Bean (02/09/2022)

When Bean learns that her neighbour Ivy has a knack for magic, they team up to cast a spell on Bean's older sister that will make her dance... forever!

Ivy + Bean: Doomed to Dance (02/09/2022)

Ivy and Bean sign up for ballet, only to learn they'll be dancing in a recital in front of hundreds of people. Time to get out of it — tout suite!

Cocomelon: Season 6 (05/09/2022)

Jump into a bright and colorful "CoComelon" world, where cute characters and kid-friendly tunes help little ones learn and grow!

Bee and PuppyCat (06/09/2022)

On a charming magical island, the impulsive Bee and her furry pal get up to all sorts of adventures while working for an intergalactic temp agency.

Ada Twist, Scientist: Season 3 (12/09/2022)

Pint-sized scientist Ada Twist and her two best friends are asking big questions — and working together to discover the truth about everything!

Dogs in Space: Season 2 (15/09/2022)

Fetch — a new planet for us all! With Earth in danger, desperate scientists send genetically enhanced dogs into space to find a new world to call home.

Gymnastics Academy: A Second Chance (16/09/2022)

In the wake of an injury, American teen Kyra Berry gets a second chance to chase her dreams — and a gymnastics scholarship — in faraway Australia.

Go Dog Go: Season 3 (19/09/2022)

The gang's on-the-go adventures take an un-fur-gettable turn when Tag, Scooch and friends welcome a new family to Pawston and show them all around town!

Karma's World: Season 4 (22/09/2022)

New songs and adventures await in Hansberry Heights as Karma rhymes her way through bigger challenges and shows up for her family, friends and community.

Pokémon: The Arceus Chronicles (23/09/2022)

While investigating the legend of the mythical Pokémon Arceus, Ash, Goh and Dawn uncover a plot by Team Galactic that threatens the world.

My Little Pony: Make Your Mark: Chapter 2 (26/09/2022)

Music and magic return as the ponies learn more about the power of their Cutie Marks. But a crafty villain is waiting in the wings with an evil plot!

Phantom Pups (30/09/2022)

A young boy and his family move into a haunted home, where he meets three adorable ghost pups and tries to help them turn back into real dogs.

NETFLIX  ANIME

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure STONE OCEAN: Episodes 13-24 (01/09/2022)

The legacy of the Joestar family continues with Jolyne as she and her companions take on new Stand users behind the bars of Green Dolphin Street Prison.

Drifting Home (16/09/2022)

One fateful summer, a group of elementary school kids set adrift on an abandoned apartment building must look within themselves to find a way back home.

Cyberpunk: Edgerunners (Coming soon)

In a dystopia riddled with corruption and cybernetic implants, a talented but reckless street kid strives to become a mercenary outlaw — an edgerunner.

LICENSED HIGHLIGHTS

Playing Beatie Bow (01/09/2022)

An impulsive 16-year-old girl learns about love and adulthood after being sent back a hundred years into the past while playing a children's game.

The Efficiency Expert (01/09/2022)

A consultant who plans to lay off workers at a small moccasin factory has a change of heart after getting to know the company's eccentric employees.

Rick and Morty: Season 6 (05/09/2022)

Worse for wear and down on their luck, Rick and Morty attempt to bounce back for more intriguing adventures, possibly involving a bunch of dinosaurs.

The Hunger Games (09/09/2022)

In a dystopian future, teens Katniss and Peeta are drafted for a televised event pitting young competitors against each other in a fight to the death.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (09/09/2022)

After her triumph in the Hunger Games, Katniss Everdeen travels through the districts on a "Victory Tour" while a rebellion gathers steam around her.

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1 (09/09/2022)

Back in District 13 after demolishing the Hunger Games, Katniss reluctantly becomes the icon of a groundswell rebellion against the Capitol.

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2 (09/09/2022)

Katniss Everdeen and her allies bring their fight to the Capitol, as they aim to liberate all of Panem by assassinating the dictator President Snow.

The Dry (30/09/2022)

Returning to his hometown, a federal agent becomes entangled with the death of his childhood friend and memories of the tragedy that drove him away.

Good Luck to you, Leo Grande: Movie Review

Cast: Emma Thompson, Daryl McCormack
Director: Sophie Hyde

There's nothing like a good actor and a good set of words to make the screen sizzle.

And in Good Luck to you, Leo Grande, the basics of human connection and intimacy are laid raw, in what's most definitely a play-like setting, but which jettisons any feelings that you're simply watching a three act play in structure.

Thompson is widow Nancy Stokes, who checks into a hotel ahead of a rendezvous with an escort, Leo (McCormack, suave and charismatic). But Nancy is riddled with doubts about her fling-to-be, and despite Leo's best intentions and commitment to his job, the situation soon becomes increasingly fraught as time ticks down and the inevitable must happen.

There's no denying that Good Luck to you, Leo Grande is a film about older women having sex - and with this Thompson leads the charge, encapsulating a performance that is both eye-catching and achingly vulnerable. 

From laying out Nancy's neuroses to embracing her age, Thompson is proudly defiant in the role that makes good fist of clever, rich prose to make you remember the power of the word, and that less is more.

But if Thompson roars, equally her counterpoint McCormack is as strong. Less matched verbally than Thompson's Nancy, McCormack's Leo has the requisite amount of both charm and affable screen presence to sell his lothario with aplomb.

As the script begins to examine what 31 years of being with one partner can do to self-esteem and desire, the film flowers and catches universal truths to be espoused on screen - some of which so rarely get voiced.

It may be that in the film's third act, an out-of-leftfield narrative choice feels like the writers needed to lob some unwarranted drama into proceedings, but with general humour, heart and honesty, Good Luck to you, Leo Grande soars.

Good Luck to you, Leo Grande reminds you just what two actors, a director and great script can achieve - not only though is it a testament to the power of good cinema, it's also testament to how desire, compassion and vulnerability in an older screen hero has been forgotten through the years - and how it's time that changed.

Spencer: DVD Review

With its opening title card of "A Fable from a True Tragedy", Ema and Jackie director Pablo Larrain makes it abundantly clear what it intends to do with this biopic of Princess Diana.

As military soldiers drop off catering boxes filled to the brim with ingredients and chefs march in royal formation into the house of Windsor on Christmas Eve, Kristen Stewart's Diana is lost on the roads. Pulling up at a roadside cafe, she wanders in, asking where she is as all around her go silent.

It's fair to say that director Larrain is in awe of his interpretation of his subject too, as he re-imagines what life could have been for Diana across three days of Christmas within the royal household she so desperately tried to reshape and reject.

But it's a curse to this film in many ways.

So drenched in its desire to be on Diana's side as it is from the get go, the film loses any semblance of what a reality could be, and any hope of partisanship from behind the camera could be proffered by Larrain.

The Chilean director is so enamoured of his subject (as played excellently by Kristen Stewart, all tics and whispered vocal tones) that he doesn't really look to present a rounded portrait of imaginings, preferring to allow Diana only really to interact with a limited number of what could be perceived as real people (the butler, the dresser, the chef) as opposed to the royalty who are precariously placed on the outskirts of the movie.

It may be magnificently helmed with Larrain drowning the screen in the opulence of the surroundings and the excesses of the Royal societal norms (from weigh-ins to the stifling discomfort of stuffy traditions), but Spencer feels like it keeps everyone at arms' length - other than clutching its subject close to its bosom.

As the audience is drawn closer inside Diana's mind, and hallucinations (eating pearls at a dinner, seeing Anne Boleyn), Stewart ramps up the nervier edges of Diana, playing on the tics of twitching hands, subtly moving her head to the side, and dialling down the whispered tones. It's easy to see why she's picked up award plaudits for the role, but it's a polarising one that seems to draw on some of her awkwardness that she demonstrated early in her career in The Cake Eaters.  

Spall excels in his role, moving from cruel taunter and enforcer of rules to potentially hidden ally, and Harris has a warmth as the chef who occasionally meets Diana out of the grounds of Windsor. They're minor roles in the proceedings and in a film whose camera is intent only on following its subject.

Ultimately, Spencer is a polarising experience - a sumptuously presented experience whose cinematography and score from Radiohead's Jonny Greenwood help the onscreen soar. It's a film that never really presents more depth to Diana, nor is it one that will provide more insights - in many ways, this take on Spencer is like a painted canvas that looks wondrous from afar, but up close, it's difficult to fully find a focus.

Full Time: NZIFF Review

With its pulse-pounding drama and tension, set against a backdrop of strikes and one last hope, Full Time very much feels like a 21st century rejoinder to Run Lola, Run.

Call My Agent's Laure Calamy stars as single mum Julie, who's struggling to juggle two young kids, a hotel job as a maid miles away from her home and her ambitions and qualifications, as well as a city grinding to a halt by strikes from commuter providers.

When Julie gets a chance to make an interview, she puts it all on the line - her kids' babysitter, her only secure employment. But what she can't have accounted for is the precarious position the dominoes are in - each small movement has a major knock-on effect.

Driven by a nerve-shredding synth score, À plein temps (Full Time) is a propulsive drama that feels very much like the kind of film you can get swept up in. 

With a central performance from Calamy that straddles both desperation and an underdog charm, director Eric Gravel dials up the tension but never loses sight of the humanity of those stuck within an eternal and universal struggle - making ends meet, spending time with your children and wanting something better.

It's a film where the little moments lead to various dramatic narrative bombs (none of which, it has to be said, feel contrived or overplayed) and where the relatable story is the triumph. At the centre of it all is Calamy, a grounded performer whose Julie is a heroine for the times.

Much like Aubrey Plaza in Emily The Criminal, there's something underplayed here which gets you right behind what Julie is undergoing - and like it or not, you'll be on the edge of your seat in many unexpected ways throughout.

Kainga: NZIFF Review

Anthologies are difficult things to master.

If you get the wrong mix of stories, then the time will drag slowly, and the breaks inbetween stories won't come quickly enough.

But the team behind Vai and Waru, prior hits at the New Zealand International Film Festival know well enough what's required - and waste no time hitting the emotional depths of what's needed and showcasing stories that are seldom told on screen.

Opening with the proverb, "Housed in my home are stories of my becoming," Kainga takes pan-Asian cinema makers and story tellers and gives a canvas to paint something poignant.

All set under one roof, 11 Rua Road, the eight stories showcase different material over different decades.

From a Chinese women entering a predominantly Maori home to mourn her father to a Tamil Eelam sister looking for old memories, these are some softly told narratives which are rarely seen on screen, most of which hit with a poignancy that's hard to deny. They're all stories that have a quiet dignity to them, and while some of them will feel familiar with their themes of isolation and family, they're all told with a splendour that's captivating.

Obviously some will be favourited more than others, but what Kainga does with decency is to showcase stories and languages (shamefully) rarely found on our screens. Each director brings something to each story, and some of the imagery is powerful, while other imagery is simply a representation of a way of life not often projected.

Kainga's portmanteau is emotionally engaging fare and a sign that important stories are still needing to be told.