Elvis & Nixon: amusing and light-hearted comedy of the meeting between rock star legend and the most powerful politician in the world
Liza Johnson, “Elvis & Nixon” (2016) Based on an actual incident in which the famous
Tag: Hollywood Films
Get Out: social criticism and philosophical inquiry in amongst a bizarre plot and interracial politics
Jordan Peele, “Get Out” (2017) Jordan Peele’s comedy horror film, his first as a director,
Galaxy Quest: affectionate homage and spoof maintains the values of altruism, quest for knowledge and defending the underdog
Dean Parisot, “Galaxy Quest” (1999) Conceived as a homage to and spoof of the famous
Queen of the Desert: a boring and flat movie that mocks a remarkable woman and the people and region she came to love
Werner Herzog, “Queen of the Desert” (2013) Renowned German film director Werner Herzog, maker of
The Truman Show: comedy drama satire encapsulating the search for authenticity for self and community under conditions of control and manipulation
Peter Weir, “The Truman Show” (1998) Once in a while Hollywood releases a film that
Torn Curtain: an unremarkable spy thriller film let down by poor casting and a laboured script
Alfred Hitchcock, “Torn Curtain” (1966) To properly appreciate how good a director Alfred Hitchcock was
Australian and New Zealand Films
Women He’s Undressed: a whimsical and shallow treatment of an Australian country boy who hits the big time in Hollywood
Gillian Armstrong, “Women He’s Undressed” (2015) Hollywood could not have dreamt up a more classic
The Founder: a fictional character study calling into question the American Dream and how it enables control and exploitation
John Lee Hancock, “The Founder” (2016) How do you make an engrossing film about a
The Shining: a histrionic epic horror film saved by its themes of control and alien manipulation
Stanley Kubrick, “The Shining” (1980) In most directors’ hands, a Stephen King horror novel of
Snowden: a riveting character study of personal transformation and commitment to personal ideals
Oliver Stone, “Snowden” (2016) Surprisingly even though I’m familiar with the story of National Security