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New Zealand Herald

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Rating Title | Year Author Quote
4/4
Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002) Russell Baillie It's simply terrific, a sometimes breathlessly exciting, constantly surprising, frequently funny, high-action adventure, which even manages a surprisingly affecting romance.
Posted Apr 21, 2025  Edit critic review
3/4
Strawberry Shortcake's Summer Vacation (2024) Jen Shieff The opening and ending songs are catchy.
Posted Mar 06, 2025  Edit critic review
Tinā (2024) Karl Puschmann Tinā may not be reinventing the genre, but it is singing its own song. One that deserves to be heard.
Posted Feb 20, 2025  Edit critic review
Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy (2025) Karl Puschmann As a farewell to Bridget and co the movie is a well-intentioned and, for its genre, an ambitious send-off. It seeks to inject real weight and poignancy into its genre while still delivering the classic rom-com escapism experience.
Posted Feb 13, 2025  Edit critic review
Alone (2020) Karl Puschmann A film as stripped down as this one really hinges on its actors, and they really struck gold.
Posted Feb 13, 2025  Edit critic review
Jim Jefferies: High n' Dry (2023) Karl Puschmann In comparison to the bite of his early work, this special is every bit as gummy as the edibles he chomps down every morning. While there are laughs to be had, there’s not enough to make it worthwhile.
Posted Feb 13, 2025  Edit critic review
Ricky Gervais: Armageddon (2023) Karl Puschmann The only truly shocking thing about Armageddon is how unfunny it all is. The man who popularised cringe comedy with the original version of The Office is now unironically cringe-inducing.
Posted Feb 12, 2025  Edit critic review
3/5
White Noise (2022) Karl Puschmann Director Noah Baumbach gives it the old college try and for the most part succeeds. Some sections fall flat, understandable as it tackles so many 80s tropes, but when it sizzles it’s jam hot.
Posted Feb 12, 2025  Edit critic review
3/5
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022) Karl Puschmann As fanciful notions play out against implausible situations, it's hard to shake the feeling that it's a little too clever for its own good. That said, Glass Onion is an easy, entertaining, if increasingly convoluted, watch.
Posted Feb 12, 2025  Edit critic review
Next Goal Wins (2023) Karl Puschmann While the film may stick rigidly to the genre playbook, that doesn’t mean Waititi isn’t having some fun with it. He’s playing by the rules, but has still found room to be creative.
Posted Feb 12, 2025  Edit critic review
Uproar (2023) Karl Puschmann James Rolleston and Driver are both as good as you’d expect as Josh’s brother and mum, respectively, and Mark Mitchinson brings the exact right level of conservative authority as the school’s principal.
Posted Feb 12, 2025  Edit critic review
About My Father (2023) Karl Puschmann The movie works hard to get all the pieces in place for big comedy set-pieces and the excellent cast is all given moments to shine but it suffers from one unsurmountable problem; It’s simply not funny.
Posted Feb 12, 2025  Edit critic review
Old Dads (2023) Karl Puschmann It’s well-made, if nearly entirely predictable, and because Burr essentially just transplanted his stand-up set straight into Jack’s mouth, it’s often laugh-out-loud funny.
Posted Feb 12, 2025  Edit critic review
The Out-Laws (2023) Karl Puschmann Despite its star cast, The Outlaws never feels bigger than a made-for-TV movie. If you paid to see it on the big screen you’d certainly feel robbed, but it gets away with being a decent enough, watch-and-forget viewing on a rainy winter night.
Posted Feb 12, 2025  Edit critic review
The Pez Outlaw (2022) Karl Puschmann Its tone is humourous and any darkness in Glew’s personal story is breezed over to keep the story rolling and the entertainment value high.
Posted Feb 12, 2025  Edit critic review
Red, White and Brass (2023) Karl Puschmann It’s tough going at first and in moments you’ll want to quit. But persevere and the project’s māfana, enthusiasm, energy and spirit does indeed win you over.
Posted Feb 12, 2025  Edit critic review
Alien: Romulus (2024) Ethan Sills Spaeny as Rain and [David] Jonsson as Andy are the two clear standouts in this movie... the two are given the most fleshed-out characters, and they have great chemistry together as Andy changes during the movie.
Posted Jan 27, 2025  Edit critic review
Rose Matafeo: On and On and On (2024) Karl Puschmann On and On and On is as wonderfully sprawling and all over the show as the incredibly emo note that kickstarted the whole thing. However, unlike with her note, here Matafeo never loses the plot or her focus.
Posted Jan 23, 2025  Edit critic review
James Acaster: Hecklers Welcome (2024) Karl Puschmann While it’s clever and funny and sees him once again pushing at the confines of traditional stand-up, Hecklers Welcome doesn’t quite match the genius or hilarity of his past efforts.
Posted Jan 23, 2025  Edit critic review
Seth Meyers: Dad Man Walking (2024) Karl Puschmann Dad Man Walking is best described as the Casual Friday of comedy specials; it’s loose and comfortable but still operating professionally.
Posted Jan 23, 2025  Edit critic review
3/5
Page Eight (2011) Jen Shieff Director and screenwriter David Hare’s clever scripting carries the day.
Posted Jan 09, 2025  Edit critic review
4/5
In the Fire of War (2024) Jen Shieff Mike Jonathan’s debut honours Merata Mita and packs a real punch.
Posted Jan 09, 2025  Edit critic review
5/5
The Truth vs. Alex Jones (2024) Jen Shieff Dan Reed also made Leaving Neverland (2019)... in both documentaries he’s unflinching, here selecting footage of Alex Jones spitting his invective about the deep state on Texas-based media platform Infowars, owned by his company Free Speech Systems.
Posted Jan 09, 2025  Edit critic review
3/5
The Royal Hotel (2023) Jen Shieff The Royal Hotel is a well told, if slightly chilling yarn, rough justice providing a satisfying ending.
Posted Jan 09, 2025  Edit critic review
3/5
The Union (2024) Jen Shieff Julian Farino has done a creditable job of directing his first action film, adding to his well-rated line-up of documentaries. The formula works and there will probably be a follow-up.
Posted Jan 09, 2025  Edit critic review
4/5
The Lesson (2023) Jen Shieff Alex MacKeith’s suitably spare script deftly creates a suspenseful atmosphere.
Posted Jan 09, 2025  Edit critic review
We Are Still Here (2022) Jen Shieff With clever interweaving, the film shows eight ugly, brutal, desperate situations.
Posted Jan 09, 2025  Edit critic review
The Pigeon Tunnel (2023) Jen Shieff What drove le Carre to write is the question the documentary asks, and answers in quite a mesmerising way.
Posted Jan 09, 2025  Edit critic review
Nothing to Hide (2018) Jen Shieff While not laugh-out-loud funny, the movie is rather droll.
Posted Jan 09, 2025  Edit critic review
American Symphony (2023) Jen Shieff American Symphony is groundbreaking.
Posted Jan 09, 2025  Edit critic review
Priscilla (2023) Jen Shieff Jacob Elordi convincingly plays Elvis as a melancholy, temperamental narcissist plagued with self-doubt.
Posted Jan 09, 2025  Edit critic review
The Crime Is Mine (2023) Jen Shieff With a level of pizzazz that makes Phryne Fisher look tame, The Crime Is Mine is a racy, comedic triumph.
Posted Jan 09, 2025  Edit critic review
3.5/5
Einstein and the Bomb (2024) Jen Shieff It’s a fascinating story.
Posted Jan 09, 2025  Edit critic review
5/5
The Zone of Interest (2023) Jen Shieff The screenplay, co-written by the author of the book of the same title, Martin Amis, and Glazer, is well crafted and spare.
Posted Jan 09, 2025  Edit critic review
4/5
The Nest (2020) Jen Shieff The casting is perfect.
Posted Jan 09, 2025  Edit critic review
3.5/5
How to Have Sex (2023) Jen Shieff The film is worth seeing for its insight into the party scene and for an interesting angle on giving consent.
Posted Jan 09, 2025  Edit critic review
4/5
Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution (2024) Jen Shieff Plenty here to inspire a new generation of LGBTQIA+ comics, thought-provoking and highly entertaining for the mature general public.
Posted Jan 09, 2025  Edit critic review
3.5/5
Shortcomings (2023) Jen Shieff Full of humour, a refreshing take on how people form relationships and good shots of the Bay area and New York. Thoroughly heart-warming and enjoyable.
Posted Jan 08, 2025  Edit critic review
3.5/5
May December (2023) Jen Shieff The screenplay by Samy Burch is almost creepily polite, with Elizabeth saying thank you to Gracie and her family dozens of times; there's lots of papering over various deceits and self-delusions.
Posted Jan 08, 2025  Edit critic review
4/5
Delicious (2021) Jen Shieff Louise's mysterious purpose adds to an already interesting plot, peppered with accidents and obstacles.
Posted Jan 07, 2025  Edit critic review
5/5
Merkel (2022) Jen Shieff Merkel is a beautifully crafted documentary.
Posted Jan 07, 2025  Edit critic review
Beatles '64 (2024) Karl Puschmann The Beatles ‘64 is a fascinating and unguarded record of life inside a historic and world-changing cultural event.
Posted Jan 07, 2025  Edit critic review
Gladiator II (2024) Karl Puschmann The story and drama of Gladiator II may be fairly dull, but its superb action, visual spectacle and outlandish historical inaccuracy are where the film truly shines.
Posted Dec 04, 2024  Edit critic review
Joker: Folie à Deux (2024) Karl Puschmann It is not good. But it is art. And for that, it should be celebrated. Even while being wholeheartedly not recommended.
Posted Oct 14, 2024  Edit critic review
Wolfs (2024) Karl Puschmann It’s a fun, undemanding ride. But now and then it lurches awkwardly to a crawl as it moves outside of its easy-going comfort zone to try to match the depth of its cinematography.
Posted Sep 30, 2024  Edit critic review
The Lie: The Murder of Grace Millane (2024) Karl Puschmann With its extensive use of CCTV footage, The Lie meticulously and thoroughly presents its terrible truth.
Posted Sep 19, 2024  Edit critic review
Stylebender (2023) Christopher Reive The clear focus is on the character, and the narratives of growth, navigating success, and exploring masculinity are presented with captivating cinematic flair.
Posted Aug 21, 2024  Edit critic review
Jackpot! (2024) Karl Puschmann There’s loads of action in the movie, but it isn’t memorable, funny or adrenaline-spiking, even with all the screaming, explosions, and groins being kicked or punched
Posted Aug 19, 2024  Edit critic review
Heavenly Creatures (1994) Karl Puschmann Heavenly Creatures is a haunting film that stays with you. It’s dark and disturbing and strangely beautiful. Like a lonely walk through a solitary park on a brisk Christchurch afternoon in June.
Posted Aug 05, 2024  Edit critic review
Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F (2024) Karl Puschmann While the improv may be a little flabby compared to the razor sharp original, Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F is an entertaining and thoroughly enjoyable ride that can only be considered a successful return for both Murphy and the series.
Posted Jul 12, 2024  Edit critic review
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