Rnz: At The Movies

Simon Morris welcomes the revival - films that don't depend on tired old formulae - and hopes it's a lasting trend. He looks at two new one-offs, while Dan Slevin talks to American indie auteur Todd Haynes (Carol, Far from Heaven) about his new film, Golden Globe-nominated May December.

American film director Todd Haynes talks with Dan Slevin about his new movie May December, starring Natalie Portman as an actress planning a biopic about a real-life teacher (Julianne Moore) who caused a scandal when she slept with an underage pupil.

Charcoal sees an impoverished Brazil family and a wealthy Argentine fugitive see if they can solve each other's problems. From the recent New Zealand International Film Festival.

Force of Nature: The Dry 2 is another Aussie cop story starring Eric Bana as Aaron Falk. Not dry this time, it's set in the decidedly wet bush, where one of a group of women campers goes missing.

Simon Morris reminds us that opinions are very rarely unanimous and this week is no exception. Three movies that are likely to divide opinion include a celebrity biopic, a spy thriller with more than its fair share of twists, and a Korean coming of age story.

Priscilla is the story of the woman behind the legend - Elvis's child bride Priscilla Presley. Written and directed by Sofia Coppola (Marie Antoinette) and produced by Priscilla herself.

Riceboy Sleeps is an oddly-titled award-winning Canadian-Korean production about a solo mother and her child setting up a new life across the Pacific. Directed by Anthony Shem.

From the man who gave us Kick Ass and Kingsman - producer-director Matthew Vaughn - comes Argylle, a thriller about a spy novelist who comes face to face with her creation. Stars Bryce Dallas Howard (Jurassic World), Henry Cavill (Man of Steel) and Sam Rockwell (Moon).

Simon Morris returns and discovers that mere size doesn't constitute "a great big movie". He compares films about wrestling superstars, based on smash hit Broadway musicals and a little art film that triumphed at the Cannes Film Festival. Perfect Days is a sweet Japanese character study, directed by German auteur Wim Wenders (Paris Texas), about a middle aged man content to clean Tokyo's famous public toilets. Starring Koji Yakusho (Shall we dance, Babel). The Iron Claw is based on the real-life story of a family of superstar wrestlers, the Von Erichs, and the astonishing run of tragedy that stalked them. Stars Zac Efron (The greatest showman), Lily James (Pam and Tommy) and Jeremy Allen White (TV's The Bear). And the Tony-winning musical of the Pulitzer Prize winning novel The colour purple returns to the big screen. Produced (but not directed) by Steven Spielberg, it features Oscar nominee Danielle Brooks.

The Iron Claw is based on the real-life story of a family of superstar wrestlers, the Von Erichs, and the astonishing run of tragedy that stalked them. Stars Zac Efron (The Greatest Showman), Lily James (Pam and Tommy) and Jeremy Allen White (TV's The Bear).

Tony-winning musical of the Pulitzer Prize winning novel The Color Purple returns to the big screen. Produced (but not directed) by Steven Spielberg, it features Oscar nominee Danielle Brooks.

Perfect Days is a sweet Japanese character study, directed by German auteur Wim Wenders (Paris Texas), about a middle aged man content to clean Tokyo's famous public toilets. Starring Koji Yakusho (Shall We Dance, Babel).

Dan Slevin summarises the fifteen mainstream films that featured in cinemas between Boxing Day and Wellington Anniversary, and reviews All of Us Strangers in which a lonely screenwriter who returns to his family home for inspiration and The Holdovers starring Paul Giamatti as a a curmudgeonly boarding school history teacher who has to babysit the kids who can't go home for the holidays.

Dan Slevin reviews the new film from director Alexander Payne about a curmudgeonly boarding school history teacher who has to babysit the kids who can't go home for the holidays.

Andrew Haigh's film about a lonely screenwriter who returns to his family home for inspiration is reviewed by Dan Slevin.

If you spent the last month on a beach and not in a cinema, what did you miss? Dan Slevin briefly summarises the fifteen mainstream films that featured in cinemas between Boxing Day and Wellington Anniversary.

Dan Slevin reviews Wonka, the origin story of the magical musical confectionery maker, starring Timothée Chalamet; Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget, the long-awaited sequel to the 2000 fowl animated classic from Aardman Studios, streaming on Netflix; and Showing Up, the new film from director Kelly Reichardt and actor Michelle Williams about a struggling sculptor who finds that life keeps getting in the way of her work.

Dan Slevin reviews the origin story of the magical musical confectionery maker, starring Timothée Chalamet.

Dan Slevin reviews the long-awaited sequel to the 2000 fowl animated classic from Aardman Studios, streaming on Netflix.

Dan Slevin reviews the new film from director Kelly Reichardt and actor Michelle Williams about a struggling sculptor who finds that life keeps getting in the way of her work.