!["One day you'll be in <i>Star Wars</i>": Ben Mendelsohn at Sydney Film Festival.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170714011539im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/w/o/v/m/p/image.related.landscape.300x200.gwo6ka.gwh3pg.png/1497219681688.jpg)
Sydney Film Festival
Movies
![Nominated ... Josh Lawson.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170714011539im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/v/n/u/9/0/image.related.wideLandscape.300x169.gxa92f.png/1499923938773.jpg)
Should comic films be up for big awards? Josh Lawson thinks so
The Australian actor thinks entertainment without social commentary deserves to be recognised more often.
Baby Driver director was driven by music
![Edgar Wright (left) and Ansel Elgort on the set of Baby Driver.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170714011539im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/x/9/0/o/m/image.related.landscape.120x80.gx9j7t.png/1499952971813.jpg)
The director of Shaun of the Dead and Scott Pilgrim has made "a car movie driven by music".
Hot tubs and marriage proposals
![Hot Tub Cinema in Sydney.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170714011539im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/x/9/9/0/0/image.related.landscape.120x80.gx98wg.png/1499933518643.jpg)
Quirky trends at the movies include the chance to watch Anchorman or The Lion King from a spa.
End in sight for pirate film booty stoush
![The latest Pirates of the Caribbean was largely filmed in Queensland.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170714011539im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/w/b/h/m/r/image.related.landscape.120x80.gx9tqb.png/1499854281217.jpg)
Dead men may tell no tales but Screen Queensland is determined to keep quiet about how much it paid for Disney to set course for Gold Coast studios.
Baby Driver screams 'put down your phone' to iGeneration
![Ansel Elgort, right, and Jamie Foxx in a scene from Baby Driver.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170714011539im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/x/5/3/1/i/image.related.landscape.120x80.gx9h96.png/1499941677722.jpg)
Every generation reinvents the car movie to suit its own self.
Why this feminist is looking forward to a Barbie movie
![Barbie dolls in various outfits at the makeshift Barbie museum, in 2004.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170714011539im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/x/9/l/m/3/image.related.landscape.120x80.gx9l11.png/1499833143477.jpg)
Everything about 2017, from the resurgence of racism and sexism in public life to Ivanka Trump's star turn as Julie Nixon Eisenhower, feels retro. So it makes a certain amount of sense that I find myself looking forward with pleasure and apprehension to a new movie about an old toy: Barbie is getting another shot at the big time. The way she's getting it says a lot about adults' anxieties about children's stories.
First Girl I Loved is a fresh take on the high stakes of youth
![Dylan Gelula, left, and Brianna Hildebrand give generous, brave and open performances.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170714011539im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/x/3/n/p/f/image.related.landscape.120x80.gx9j1f.png/1499923019057.jpg)
Everything about First Girl I Loved is bold and fresh.
Disney's search for Aladdin actor hits a snag
![Casting the lovers in a live-action Aladdin has proved difficult for Disney.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170714011539im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/1/0/4/r/j/e/image.related.landscape.120x80.gx9czl.png/1499920941491.jpg)
Both Rogue One's Riz Ahmed and Lion's Dev Patel were considered for the role.
Aussie filmmakers front and centre at MIFF 2017
![From left, Nicole Kidman, Elisabeth Moss, Jane Campion and Gwendoline Christie – whose Top of the Lake: China Girl ...](http://web.archive.org./web/20170714011539im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/w/d/b/c/u/image.related.landscape.120x80.gx8vhf.png/1499922660839.jpg)
Jane Campion, David Wenham and more will attend this year's Melbourne International Film Festival.
All six Spider-Man movies – best to worst
![Classic moment: Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst's memorable kiss in Spider-Man from 2002.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170714011539im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/1/0/0/8/8/m/image.related.landscape.120x80.gx82gc.png/1499924368800.jpg)
Which Spidey – Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield or newcomer Tom Holland – and which movie is best?
Daniel Craig set to return as James Bond
![Daniel Craig is set to return as James Bond, slashed wrists and all.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170714011539im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/r/9/o/q/p/image.related.landscape.120x80.gx85o6.png/1499681952537.jpg)
Hollywood's search for 'the next James Bond' has ended right where it began – with Daniel Craig.
'Blindness is a different way of seeing'
![Barbara Blackman and her dog called "Piece of string", at home in Canberra.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170714011539im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/x/8/0/5/u/image.related.landscape.120x80.gx81ef.png/1499658937490.jpg)
"Blindness is not a negative," Barbara Blackman says. "It is a different way of seeing."
'So much sexual harassment on sets', says Zoe Kazan
![Actress Zoe Kazan says sexual harassment is rampant on Hollywood film sets.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170714011539im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/n/9/g/y/1/image.related.landscape.120x80.gx7wgo.png/1499643643153.jpg)
Actress Zoe Kazan has spoken out about the entrenched sexual harassment on Hollywood film sets, revealing she was once asked by a producer if she "spat or swallowed".
The battle to land the next Hollywood blockbuster continues
![Ridley Scott with Katherine Waterston on the set of Alien: Covenant.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170714011539im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/u/n/1/e/s/image.related.landscape.120x80.gx4atr.png/1499602425964.jpg)
With China pitching for studio movies, it's become even tougher for Australia to attract so-called runaway productions.
Emma Stone says male co-stars took pay cut for her sake
![Emma Stone](http://web.archive.org./web/20170714011539im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/w/t/2/u/r/image.related.landscape.120x80.gx78kw.png/1499921374066.jpg)
The pay gap between male and female stars persists, but some in Hollywood are taking matters into their own hands to eradicate it.
New documentary about disability hits a hurdle
!["It's a part of our history": filmmaker Sarah Barton.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170714011539im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/x/5/2/v/5/image.related.landscape.120x80.gx4td5.png/1499477217715.jpg)
For filmmaker Sarah Barton, the diasbility rights movement isn't just political, it's personal.
Now showing: The latest films
![Lady Macbeth stars Florence Pugh, as Catherine.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170714011539im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/x/0/f/e/u/image.related.landscape.120x80.gx63v5.png/1499386377276.jpg)
A reviewer roundup of some of the movies on release at the moment.
Chicken People's clucky charm irresistible
![Brian Caraker believes in singing to his chickens.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170714011539im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/w/z/0/4/e/image.related.landscape.120x80.gx5193.png/1499517927959.jpg)
Nicole Lucas Haimes' debut feature is a film about chickens and people, simply called Chicken People.
The smart creative decisions behind Wonder Woman
![Gal Gadot stars in 'Wonder Woman'.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170714011539im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/x/4/x/y/i/image.related.landscape.120x80.gx4ar7.png/1499434807366.jpg)
Their might be asburdities in the plot but you have to admire what Patty Jenkins has done with the latest superhero hit.
Tom Holland reveals what's under his Spider-Man suit
![Making the best of learning his masked trade in his home borough of Queens is Peter Parker played by Tom Holland.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170714011539im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/x/3/i/w/j/image.related.landscape.120x80.gx4rje.png/1499499566853.jpg)
Being an actor can be downright humiliating.
Tom Holland's new Spider-Man is more like a Spider-Boy: review
![Making the best of learning his masked trade in his home borough of Queens is Peter Parker played by Tom Holland.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170714011539im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/x/3/i/w/j/image.related.landscape.120x80.gx4zuw.png/1499499566853.jpg)
A 15-year-old Peter Parker adds some sugar to the franchise but not much depth of flavour. Fans will lap it up anyway.
James Baldwin's fiery critiques reverberate anew in a divided America
![Writer James Baldwin, centre, whose work has acquired fresh resonance in Donald Trump's America.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170714011539im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/w/m/b/x/z/image.related.landscape.120x80.gx50tm.png/1499434775312.jpg)
Baldwin wanted desperately for his country to deliver on its promise. So does a whole new generation of his fans.
Top Five Films
![Shows a scene from the film Who Framed Roger Rabbit ? Who framed roger rabbit DVD images. 31st July 2003. SUPPLIED PIC. ...](http://web.archive.org./web/20170714011539im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/x/4/b/v/e/image.related.landscape.120x80.gx4bs1.png/1499210405845.jpg)
Our pick of the best of what's showing on the big screen this week.
Tolkien's estate, Warner Bros end five-year legal battle
![Ian McKellen as Gandalf in 'The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug'.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170714011539im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/1/2/c/o/2/3/image.related.landscape.120x80.gx40vj.png/1499356891298.jpg)
After a five-year legal stoush, JRR Tolkien's estate has settled its $100 million lawsuit against Warner Bros.
It Comes At Night: whatever 'it' is, it won't end well
![Joel Edgerton's ambiguous screen persona suits his character in 'It Comes at Night'.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170714011539im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/x/4/6/5/y/image.related.landscape.120x80.gx4bmk.png/1499923192939.jpg)
Joel Edgerton plays a family man on edge as things go awry in It Comes At Night ★★★.
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