Rnz: At The Movies

Dan Slevin reviews Jonathan Ogilvie’s autobiographical portrait of the Christchurch New Wave music scene in 1979. Ed Oxenbould plays schoolboy Angus, discovering the underground music scene and a community of his own.

Woman Of The Hour is a true-crime thriller about an actress who goes on a TV dating show, only to discover that one of the contestants for a date with her is a serial killer. Starring and directed by Anna Kendrick (Pitch Perfect). Currently showing on Netflix.

Simon Morris looks at three films that owe their audiences to attractive casts – Kate Winslet in the Oscar hopeful Lee…. a star-studded comedy drama, The Critic featuring Sir Ian McKellen and Gemma Arterton…. And a Netflix true-crime thriller, starring and directed by Anna Kendrick.

Lee is the story of one of the great World War Two photographers, Lee Miller, and why she slipped into obscurity when the war was over. Starring – and produced by – Kate Winslet, with Marion Cotillard, Andy Samberg and Alexander Skarsgård.

The Critic features Sir Ian McKellen as a much-feared theatre critic who’ll do anything to keep his job, no matter who gets hurt. Also starring Gemma Arterton (Byzantium), Mark Strong (Kingsman) and Lesley Manville (Mrs Harris Goes To Paris).

Kneecap tells the story of the hiphop group of the same name, starring themselves, with assistance from the likes of Michael Fassbender (Hunger) and Simone Kirby (Peaky Blinders). Kneecap’s point of difference is they rap entirely in Irish. Ireland’s submission to the next Academy Awards.

Last summer is the story of forbidden love between a confident teenager and his stepmother. But writer-director Catherine Breillat (2009’s Bluebeard) offers more than one twist in the tale before it finishes. Starring Léa Drucker (Close).

My Favourite Cake is a bittersweet romance about two lonely 70-year-olds who hook up over cake and wine in modern day Iran. But how will the notorious Morality Police feel about it? It did well at this year’s Berlin Film Festival, despite being essentially cancelled by the Iranian authorities. What’s that line about success being the best revenge?

Simon Morris has a bad day at the office – three films, almost all “not in the English language”. Always a challenge for a radio show! They include festival favourites, Iranian film My Favourite Cake, a French drama called Last summer and a breezy comedy about Northern Ireland hiphop group Kneecap, who only use the Irish language.

A Mistake is a New Zealand film about a medical misadventure and its consequences. Directed and written by Christine Jeffs (Sunshine Cleaning), based on the best-selling novel by Carl Shuker. It stars Elizabeth Banks (Pitch Perfect), with Rena Owen (Once Were Warriors) and Matthew Sunderland (Out Of The Blue).

The Apprentice is the based-on-reality story of Donald Trump’s sinister mentor - notorious lawyer Roy Cohn - while the documentary Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story is the biopic of the actor who came to fame playing the Man of Steel, then suffered a tragic accident confining him to a wheelchair. But it was what happened then that proved truly heroic.

Fergus Grady, Director of the British & Irish Film Festival, previews this year’s programme. Among the highlights are Conclave, starring Ralph Fiennes, We Live In Time, with Florence Pugh, a tribute to the Merchant Ivory team and a documentary on the “lost Rolling Stone”, Brian Jones.

The Outrun is a hit from the recent International Film Festival that’s getting very strong reviews around the world. Starring Irish star Saoirse Ronan (Lady Bird, Little Women) it’s based on the best-selling memoir of Orkney writer Amy Liptrot. Also stars Stephen Dillane (Game Of Thrones) and Saskia Reeves (Slow horses).

Wolfs went straight to streaming service Apple TV Plus, despite stars George Clooney and Brad Pitt. Has the audience for Hitchcock comedy-thrillers finally dried up?

The sequel to 2019’s surprise hit Joker, Folie à Deux, tries to aim at lovers of both dark drama and light musicals. What could go wrong? Stars Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga, with Brendan Gleeson, Steve Coogan and Catherine Keenan.

Simon Morris discovers that audiences aren’t always the best judges of what they may want. Joker: Folie à Deux combines two popular genres, while Wolfs features two hugely popular stars, but both live to regret it. Meanwhile a little gem called The Outrun, starring Saoirse Ronan, proves that quality is the safest bet.

Radical is a Mexican film based on real-life, following in the footsteps of To Sir With Love, Dead Poet’s Society and Dangerous minds. An inexperienced teacher arrives at a poverty-stricken school and turns its fortunes round. A world-wide favourite, it was the most popular film at last year’s Sundance Festival.

The Wild Robot is a heart-warming family film from Dreamworks Animation (Puss In Boots). A robot crashes on a desert island and takes on a job it’s not programmed for – mother to a baby gosling. Voice talent includes Lupita Nyong’o, Pedro Pascal, Mark Hamill and Catherine O’Hara. Directed by Chris Sanders (How To Train Your Dragon).

Megalopolis is Francis Ford Coppola’s multi-million dollar art film - about art, politics and the future. It stars Adam Driver, Nathalie Emmanuel, Jon Voight, Dustin Hoffman and Aubrey Plaza. It’s big, it’s serious, but is there anything in there?

Simon Morris weighs up the relative size of big empty spectacle and smaller stories with gripping characters. Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis is as spectacular as its name, but what’s it about? The Wild Robot is a surprisingly engaging tale of an abandoned appliance looking for a purpose. And Radical is the real-life story of a first-time teacher in a last-chance Mexican school.