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Balloon (2018) – A Remarkable True Escape
In one sentence: Balloon tells the astonishing true story of two families who attempt to escape across the Iron Curtain in a homemade hot air balloon. Mark Twain once said “Truth is stranger than fiction, but it is because fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities; truth isn’t”and no quote could ring truer for German…
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Savages (2025) Review – When Animation Takes on Deforestation
In one sentence: Savages is a stop-motion animated film that turns deforestation and overconsumption into an expressive and striking narrative. We hear a great deal about how overconsumption drives deforestation and climate change, but the makers of My Life as a Courgette bring this urgent issue to the screen in an unexpected and striking way;…
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The Call of the Wild (2020) Review – A Journey Back to Instinct
In one sentence: The Call of the Wild follows Buck the dog as he adapts to the harsh Yukon wilderness and discovers his primal instincts. Jack London’s The Call of the Wild is a story that has endured for over a century and Disney’s adaptation proves why it continues to resonate. Using modern technology alongside…
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Delivery by Christmas (2022) Review – A Polish Christmas with Heart and Humour
In one sentence: Delivery by Christmas centres on delivery driver, Maria, whose parcels are tampered with before Christmas, setting off a chain of events that leads to both comedic moments and unexpected romance. We are inundated with cookie-cutter Christmas TV movies and, I will admit, sometimes they have their place. They are easy, undemanding viewing.…
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Wicked (2024) Review – A Spellbinding Spectacle Worth the Hype
In one sentence: Wicked is a film adaptation of the celebrated stage musical that reimagines the early lives of the witches of Oz. In anticipation of the release of Wicked: For Good, I revisited part one. The film arrived with enormous hype from long-time fans of the stage musical and newly converted admirers of the…
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Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf (1966) Review – The Anatomy of a Marriage
In one sentence: Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf is a searing domestic drama that examines a marriage’s fractures through sharp dialogue and convincing performances. This year marks the centenary of Richard Burton’s birth. Given his legacy as one of Wales’ most remarkable screen presences, there is no better film to revisit than Who’s Afraid…
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Rogue (2007) Review – Australia’s Underrated Creature Feature
In one sentence: Rogue is an Australian creature feature that follows a tourist group’s harrowing encounter with a deadly crocodile. Creature features vary wildly in quality, but Rogue, from Wolf Creek’s Greg McLean, is one of the best. Its poor box office performance did not reflect its quality. Fortunately over time it has found the…
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Storm Boy (2019) Review – A Story of Land, Loss and a Pelican Named Mr. Percival
In one sentence: Storm Boy is a tender story of a boy, his bond with a pelican and the environment that surrounds them. Storm Boy is a film that wears its heart openly. It weaves themes of environment, sustainability, friendship, loss and respect in a way that is accessible for children while still offering emotional…
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The Ugly Stepsister (2025) Review – A ‘Grimm’ Retelling of Cinderella
In one sentence: The Ugly Stepsister is a reimagined Cinderella story that delves into beauty standards and unrealistic expectations we have on ourselves and others. We all know Cinderella, or at least we think we do. The story has been told, retold, animated, modernised and Disneyfied so many times that it feels impossible to find…
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Materialists (2025) Review – A Modern Love Story That is More Than Meets the Eye
In one sentence: Materialists follows Lucy, a Manhattan matchmaker whose approach to dating is disrupted when she becomes involved with two very different men, one wealthy and one struggling. Celine Song made waves with her gentle, poignant feature film debut Past Lives, which earned her Academy Award recognition. Naturally, all eyes were on her follow-up,…
Rhiann’s Reels 