Movies
Short Cuts
CRAIG MATHIESON 12:15am After Hours, Scandinavian Film Festival, Shakespeare on Film
Latest reviews All the latest movie reviews
Belle and Sebastian: Adventure Continues
JAKE WILSON If you're fond of dogs, children, Alpine scenery, or the French, the fantasy retains a good deal of charm – enough, perhaps, to make up for the lack of anything resembling an original idea.
The BFG
CRAIG MATHIESON The BFG is one of the most simple and straightforward tales Steven Spielberg has directed.
Central Intelligence
JAKE WILSON More than ever, it seems hard for Hollywood to make a straight-up character comedy without a big, unbelievable plot gimmick.
Everybody Wants Some!!
JAKE WILSON Typically for Richard Linklater, the film is a song of innocence, a nostalgic vision. However, this rankly personal statement feels rather forced and thin.
Finding Dory
JAKE WILSON There's something missing from Finding Dory: a wildness, a sense of danger. All the same, the soothing beauty pulls you in.
Ice Age: Collision Course
JAKE WILSON The Scrat segments are the highlights, while the main storyline combines pointlessly glossy animation with dialogue from a mediocre sitcom
Independence Day: Resurgence
JAKE WILSON None of the actors in the sequel have the skillset required to make this kind of unwieldy vehicle take flight.
The Measure of a Man
PAUL BYRNES A dry, grinding kind of story, too mannered by half to convince as naturalism, or even as slice of life.
Mustang
SANDRA HALL Five Turkish sisters challenge cultural expectations, asserting themselves with sensual energy and optimism.
The Wait
SANDRA HALL Atmosphere eclipses narrative drive in this Italian drama with Juliette Binoche.
Warcraft
JAKE WILSON If you can sit through this bombastic epic fantasy – and can give a coherent plot synopsis afterwards – then you surely deserve the title of nerd.
All movie stories
Maggie's Plan movie starring Ethan Hawke, Julianne Moore, Greta Gerwig puts spin on modern romcom
STEPHANIE BUNBURY 12:56pm A gaggle of highly articulate people have children, swap partners and then wonder where it all went wrong in the new film Maggie's Plan.
DVD review: Pride and Prejudice and Zombies
RON CERABONA Jane Austen has done well enough, but if she wanted to be really popular with modern audiences, she would have found a way to incorporate the living dead into her work.
Big Friendly Film Critic's 15 best movies based on kids' books
Steven Rea In time for the school holidays, Steven Rea offers his shortlist of excellent big-screen interpretations of kid-lit classics abounding with magic, adventure, danger and delight.
Scandinavian Film Festival 2016 brings rising star Jakob Oftebro to Australia
Peter Craven The handsome new ''prince'' of Danish TV will be on hand at the Scandinavian Film Festival to talk about his two offerings.
Having wooed Michael Fassbender, is Alicia Vikander about to conquer Hollywood?
ANDREW STEPHENS At 27, the former Swedish soapie star has the film world at her feet.
'Like a shot of vodka': The Scandinavian Film Festival 2016 comes to Canberra
Jane Freebury This year's Scandinavian Film Festival is by turns bold and beautiful, writes Jane Freebury.
Star Trek Beyond: Hikaru Sulu, played by John Cho, comes out as gay
Mr Sulu comes out in new Star Trek movie.
Alex Russell on the authentic heart of Goldstone and breaking big in Hollywood
CRAIG MATHIESON Out in the backblocks of New Mexico, Alex Russell is enjoying a well-earned day off. It's the Fourth of July holiday weekend and the in-demand Australian actor is cooling off after another taxing week on the set of Granite Mountain.
Ghostbusters: Melissa McCarthy and Kristen Wiig pity the 'bizarre' haters
NICK MILLER "How can you not be insulted by people making ridiculous remarks? But you really can't take it to heart. It's sad that people still feel that way in this day and age, and it's disappointing, but you just have to feel sorry for them and move on."
Chris Hemsworth even good at being dumb: Ghostbusters co-star Melissa McCarthy
NICK MILLER Aussie Chris Hemsworth startled both director and cast with an unexpected talent for improvising on the set of Ghostbusters.
Tarzan has never made a box-office blockbuster so why does Hollywood persist?
MICHAEL IDATO He may be king of the jungle, but Tarzan is a box office pauper, so why does Hollywood persist with remakes?
James Bond: Happy Valley's James Norton firms as favourite to replace Daniel Craig as 007
NICK GALVIN Betting markets on who will be the next James Bond have been shaken and stirred by the sudden emergence of British actor James Norton as a red-hot contender.
Zac Efron, Adam DeVine go west to the delight of noisy Sydney fans
Danielle McGrane Eardrums were left ringing following the Australian premiere of Zac Efron's new movie, Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates.
Marvel directors Joe Russo, Anthony Russo to remake cult movie The Warriors into TV series
Erika Vass Can Marvel directors Joe and Anthony Russo pump more 'pulp, sex and violence' into the 1979 cult movie classic, The Warriors? They're certainly going to try.
Film short cuts: Thor 3 starts filming, Matt Damon thanks Bourne and Proof saved
LOUISE RUGENDYKE New Zealand director Taika Waititi has tweeted the first picture from set of Thor: Ragnarok, which started filming on the Gold Coast on Monday.
Filmmaker Michael Cimino pursued grand visions in The Deer Hunter and Heaven's Gate
Justin Chang Cimino was one of the New Hollywood breed who had an uncompromising view – and paid the price for it.
MIFF 2016 program: Joe Cinque's Consolation a major draw
KARL QUINN A dramatic retelling of one of Australia's most infamous murders will be a highlight of this year's Melbourne International Film Festival.