David Stratton | Author at The Australian

Detroit’s gut-wrenching reach

A supplied image obtained on Wednesday, October 25, 2017 of Actor Will Poulter who plays a racist police officer in Kathryn Bigelow's new film Detroit covering the city's 1967 race riot. (AAP Image/Supplied by Entertainment One) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY

0:00 AMDavid StrattonKathryn Bigelow’s angry, troubling film is a reminder that racism is never very far beneath the surface.

Light and easy

Magda Szubanski and Kelton Pell in a scene from Australian film Three Summers

Photograph by David Dare Parker

0:00 AMDavid StrattonOver three years people attend a music festival and attitudes and relationships change. Three Summers in a nutshell.

Ode to power of pop

Kyle Mooney (left) and Mark Hamill in a scene from film Brigsby Bear

0:00 AMDavid StrattonBad Boy Bubby — a great Australian film — came to mind while watching Brigsby Bear, which is similar but less rewarding.

Clash of ideas in a town on edge

L-R: Matt Damon and Noah Jupe in a scene from film Suburbicon

0:00 AMDAVID STRATTONMiddleclass America’s bland exterior in the 50s is blown apart by a home invasion and new black neighbours.

Slick homage to Scorsese

Robert Pattinson in a scene from film Good Time

0:00 AMDavid StrattonConnie takes his disabled brother out of a therapy session to help him rob a bank. Good idea, right? Apparently not.

Run back to the future

This image released by warner Bros. Pictures shows Ryan Gosling in a scene from "Blade Runner 2049." (Stephen Vaughan/Warner Bros. Pictures via AP)

0:00 AMDAVID STRATTONBlade Runner 2049 is an impressive cinematic achievement and it would be rewarding to go back for a second viewing.

‘Men are more exiting to watch’

This image released by Fox Searchlight Pictures shows Emma Stone, left, and Steve Carell in a scene from "Battle of the Sexes." (Melinda Sue Gordon/Fox Searchlight Pictures via AP)

0:00 AMDAVID STRATTONThe jaw-dropping chauvinism shown by men in public positions, as seen in Battle of the Sexes, seems almost unbelievable.

Beatriz trumped

Salma Hayek in a scene from the film, Beatriz At Dinner
Image supplied by Roadshow

0:00 AMDAVID STRATTONBeatriz at Dinner frames its political commentary in the confines of a meal during which personalities bitterly clash.

DAVID STRATTONFrightfully ugly endurance test

This image released by Paramount Pictures shows Jennifer Lawrence in a scene from "mother!" (Paramount Pictures and Protozoa Pictures via AP)

0:00 AMDAVID STRATTONIt’s been billed as a new classic in horror, but Darren Aronofsky’s new film mother! is pretentious and overwrought.

Outback saga airs dark past

Award Winners Photocall - 74th Venice Film Festival

0:00 AMDAVID STRATTONSweet Country wins a standing ovation in Venice.

Royal affair with true intent

A scene from upcoming feature film Victoria and Abdul

0:00 AMDAVID STRATTONThere’s scandal in the royal court as Queen Victoria strikes up an unlikely friendship with an Indian Muslim.

Yorkshire echoes of Brokeback

Josh O'Connor and Alec Secareanu in a scene from 2017 film, God's Own Country
Image supplied

0:00 AMDAVID STRATTONIt’s impossible not to describe God’s Own Country as a British version of the neo-western romance between two men.

Migrant’s humorous tale

Osamah Sami stars in the film Ali's Wedding.

0:00 AMDAVID STRATTONGiven the times we live in, Osamah Sami’s insights into the Muslim migrant experience are important.

Dogged quest for Amazon ruins

Charlie Hunnam and Tom Holland in a scene from fillm, The Lost City of Z
Image supplied by STUDIOCANAL

0:00 AMDAVID STRATTONLittle-known British explorer Percival Fawcett ventured to an extremely dangerous part of the world.

The name is Bang — Joe Bang

Logan Lucky Adam Driver, left Daniel Craig, centre Channing Tatum, right

0:00 AMDavid StrattonDaniel Craig has left his James Bond persona far, far behind in his latest movie.

Odd couples blow hot and cold

Elizabeth Olsen and Jeremy Renner in a scene from film Wind River

0:00 AMDavid StrattonSteve Coogan and Rob Brydon deliver more jokes and impressions in The Trip to Spain.

Boy meets girl, and girl meets ghost

This image released by Lionsgate shows Kumail Nanjiani, right, and Zoe Kazan in a scene from, "The Big Sick." The Kumail Nanjiani-led, Judd Apatow produced film made $6.8 million in three weeks of limited release. (Lionsgate via AP)

0:00 AMDavid StrattonThe Big Sick is not a title that would lure me to the cinema, but don’t let it deter you from this delightful rom-com.

Finding natural companionship

Conor (Lewis MacDougall) in a scene from film A MONSTER CALLS, directed by J.A. Bayona.

In cinemas July 27, 2017. An Entertainment One Films Australia release.

0:00 AMDavid StrattonA Monster Calls takes a thoughtful approach to a painful subject.

Beauty can’t outshine the bland

Nicole Kidman in Sofia Coppola's The Beguiled.

0:00 AMDavid StrattonNicole Kidman is in fine form in Sofia Coppola’s The Beguiled but she can’t rescue it from its fate.

Baby Driver’s musical twists

This image released by Sony Pictures shows Ansel Elgort, right, and Jamie Foxx in a scene from "Baby Driver." (Wilson Webb/Sony/TriStar Pictures via AP)

0:00 AMDavid StrattonSongs and music are the driving force behind Baby Driver. It is almost a musical.

Big shoes to fill

Omar Sy in a scene from film Monsieur Chocolat, screening in the 2017 French Film Festival

0:00 AMDavid StrattonFrench film Monsieur Chocolat has a remarkable link to one of cinema’s original clowns

Challenging the patriarchy

Florence Pugh in a scene from 2017 film, Lady Macbeth.
Image supplied

0:00 AMDavid StrattonLady Macbeth is a superb character study of a woman who is the virtual prisoner of her husband.

Lyrical overview of poet

0:00 AMDavid StrattonA Quiet Passion doesn’t shirk from the dark episodes in American poet Emily Dickinson’s life.

Doubts on eve of D-Day

0:00 AMDAVID STRATTONBrian Cox offers a clever impersonation of Britain’s wartime leader in Jonathan Teplitzky’s Churchill.

Killer to rival Hannibal Lecter

0:00 AMDAVID STRATTONActor Stephen Curry a ‘revelation’ as a sick, scrawny sadist in potent new Australian film.

Cannes mirrors global unease

0:00 AMDavid StrattonFestival entries depict societies racked by woes across Europe and the Middle East.

The role of a lifetime

0:00 AMDavid StrattonSally Aitken’s David Stratton: A Cinematic Life was unexpectedly selected for screening at the Cannes Film Festival.

Joyful portrait of exiled poet

0:00 AMDAVID STRATTONChilean poet Pablo Neruda is brought to life in this quirky portrayal of his time in exile.

Going separate ways

0:00 AMDavid StrattonA beautiful new film explores the momentous events of 1946-47 and the partition of India.

Fear stalks familiar territory

0:00 AMDAVID STRATTONRidley Scott has stinted on the blood and gore in his return to the Alien franchise.