THE BEATLES: GET BACK (M)The one making a big sound investment★★★★DISNEY+Christmas has come early for fans of The Beatles. Director Peter Jackson’s, three-part, eight-hour chronicle of the band coming together for a series of rehearsals, songwriting sessions and a legendary final live performance will be everything you could possible have hoped for. Not so much for the music (much of what will be created and played here in January 1969 ended up later on the spotty Let It Be album). No, what you receive here is the privilege of hanging out at length with the Fab Four for what will be the last period in their lives where they are on genuinely friendly (and openly collaborative) good terms. While that running time may be overwhelming for non-Beatles music fans, it is just right for those who wish to bear witness to four musicians doing both what came naturally, and what would never be repeated again.THE POWER OF THE DOG (M)The one where the bite is worse than the bark★★★★NETFLIXWe have now entered that hallowed time of year where Netflix hits the Oscars trail, pumping out prestige pictures for short runs in cinemas before settling in for the summer on their streaming platform. This period drama from the acclaimed New Zealand filmmaker Jane Campion (The Piano, TV’s Top of the Lake) is going to be a deadset awards magnet, and it all starts with the incredible acting on display. But it does not end there. Benedict Cumberbatch turns in a true career best as Phil, a roughneck rancher of the 1920s who is none too happy when his brother George (Jesse Plemons) suddenly takes a wife (Kirsten Dunst) and hauls her to the family homestead to take up residence. The unpleasant atmosphere worsens with the arrival of the bewildered bride’s teenage son (Australian star Kodi Smit-McPhee in a breakout performance). Phil can sense an opportunity to lash out at anyone and everyone. He takes that opportunity with both hands, and crafts it into something malicious, intimidating and spiteful. Something bad is fated to happen in The Power of the Dog, and as we draw closer to this inevitable moment, a good, and sometimes great movie continues to rise in stature.THE LAST DUEL (MA15+)The one prepared to fight to the death★★★½FOXTEL, DISNEY+ or PREMIUM RENTALThe impressive pedigree of this historical action-drama affair counts for so much throughout here. Direction comes from the great Ridley Scott (Blade Runner). Matt Damon and Ben Affleck co-wrote the screenplay (their first collaboration since winning an Oscar for penning Good Will Hunting in the late ’90s). Best of all, rising star Jodie Comer (Free Guy, TV’s Killing Eve) contributes an anchoring performance that keeps the movie grounded at the very times it might start getting carried away. The setting is 14th-century France, where Comer’s noblewoman Marguerite has accused Jacques (Adam Driver) – the best friend of her husband Jean (Damon) – of taking advantage of her. The movie’s narrative shifts in perspective between the three protagonists, teasing out a truth that speaks volumes across the ages about how men view the women who love (or loathe) them. All storytelling roads lead to the inevitable one-on-one duel, which is staged with brutal efficiency and unrelenting intent. Surprisingly tough and rough stuff from all involved. (Note – if renting, shop around, You should be paying no more than $18.99.)THE WAY, WAY BACK (M)The one about growing up that grows on you★★★★BINGE, STAN or RENTA brilliant coming-of-age movie, delivering the perfect blend of regret, humour, hope and conviction. The lost boy due to find himself in this poignant comedy-drama is Duncan (Liam James), a painfully awkward teen enduring a terrible summer holiday at the beach house of his mum’s new boyfriend. An accomplished acting ensemble led by Collette, Steve Carell and Sam Rockwell make a difficult task look deceptively easy.LAST CHRISTMAS (PG)The one that’s (kind of) like another one★★★NETFLIXThe Love, Actually is very strong with this one. Overpoweringly so. This, of course, is great news for anyone who wished there were more happy-sad British rom-coms about lovelorn Londoners riding emotional rollercoasters all the way through December. Everyone else should immediately turn around and head in the other direction. Inspired by (and featuring) the songs of the late George Michael, Last Christmas centres on the trials and tribulations of Kate (Emilia Clarke), whose messy life gets suddenly cleaned up by the arrival of mysterious new boyfriend Tom (Henry Golding). You would think that a Little Miss Do-It-Wrong finding her elusive Mister Right would be where the story ends. However, it is really just the start of a long, clanking chain of pithy punchlines, poignant revelations and Christmas cliches that shall haul many willing viewers to a place of misty eyes and goofy smiles. Co-stars Emma Thompson, Michelle Yeoh.I’M YOUR WOMAN (MA15+)The one where raising a kid means raising hell★★★AMAZONThis slow-burning revenge thriller requires both constant patience and curiosity sent its way, but does ultimately reward the viewer for the effort. It is some unspecified time in the 1970s. Jean (a mesmerising Rachel Brosnahan) has been married to Eddie (Bill Heck) for quite a while. The couple never got around to having a kid. The reason might have something to do with Eddie’s career as a thief. Then Eddie brings home a baby one day. Doesn’t say where it’s from, but the understanding is Jean will raise the little cherub. Then Eddie disappears, leaving Jean in danger of retaliation from his former associates. To protect herself and her newly acquired child, Jean must hit the road and hide away. Firstly in the company of Cal (Arinze Kene), a stern former partner of Eddie. Then in the care of Cal’s seen-it-all-before wife Teri (Marsha Blake). While this unorthodox movie will be an acquired taste for some, there can be no denying there is something subtly powerful at work here. Keep your eyes on Brosnahan’s shrewdly controlled performance to work out what that something might be. Now streaming on Amazon.
Powered by WPeMatico
