In 2002, the world was introduced to a family that made us laugh, cry and above all, appreciate our own family. My Big Fat Greek Wedding became one of the biggest, most surprising cinematic successes ever – and one of the most profitable. The sequel is packed full of nostalgic references as it reacquaints audiences with the…
Growing up watching children’s television in the early ‘90s, it was practically impossible to get through a week without being treated to a parable – or if you were unlucky, a lecture – about prejudice and xenophobia. Cartoons would obliquely or explicitly address issues of racism, religion and even AIDS in the context of a…
I’m not quite sure what to make of SPL 2: A Time for Consequences, a Chinese-Hong Kong martial arts (and guns) action film that’s a “sequel in name only” to Wilson Yip’s SPL. Partly that’s due to my lack of familiarity with the genre; outside of a couple Ong Bak and Raid films, my knowledge…
Modern day cops and robbers tales are all about blurring the lines between criminal and authority, which makes it a perfect fit for John Hillcoat, well known for his fascination with villians and anti-heroes. It’s a pity then that Hillcoat shortchanges himself with Triple 9, squeezing a three-hour story into a two-hour movie, and sacrificing…
I suppose Peanuts, the comic strip, has dimmed in the public consciousness since Schulz’s death in 2000. As a kid’s IP, the ageing Peanuts brand has a lot to do in a world with Minions and Frozen. I left the theatre mostly satisfied; this is the Peanuts you remember – sweet, nostalgic and populated by…
Recently I’ve realised that I’m drawn to documentaries that are recognisant of their own failure – that is, the failure of the documentary as a factual medium. Which means that Listen to Me, Marlon, a biographical doco on Marlon Brando told largely through his own hitherto-unheard personal recordings, answering machine messages and the like, was…
Great Christmas films are always about family. Whether it’s the traditional soppy Santa Claus tale à la Miracle on 34th Street, Will Ferrel trying to reunite with his dad in Elf or John McClane blasting through Eurotrash terrorists to get back to his wife in Die Hard, at these films’ core remains a deeply conservative…
Have you ever struck out on a date because of a careless word or a clumsy gesture? Writer-director, Hong Sang-soo, ponders this quandary in Right Now, Wrong Then, a romantic-drama that plays out like a low-key Groundhog Day. The film benefits from strong performances in the lead roles and, despite some ponderous pacing, the central…
If you’re looking for an action-packed, entertaining blockbuster, you won’t find it in the final Hunger Games instalment. The atmosphere here is dour and soaked in dread; fitting, really, given we’re observing the final days of a bloody revolution. Constricted by the expectations of her role as an icon – much like the actress playing…
Building a long-term relationship is like renovating a house. You construct a space together, bringing your own furniture into a communal area that gradually encroaches upon – but never consumes – each person’s private domain. Maintenance of this communal space requires careful management of memories; positive ones are amplified and reinforced, while the murkier moments…
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