The film concentrates on one of the low moments of companies history, 1957. Enzo (Adam Driver) has run the company to the verge of insolvency due to excess spending on the race team. The sad death of his son Dino the year before has had dire consequences on his marriage to Laura (Penélope Cruz) as did his affair with Lina Lardi (Shailene Woodley).

Driver deaths within his team were an all too common occurrence during this timeframe and Enzo’s detachment from the fate of his drivers is only given a single line reason. This misses an important component of the man’s physiological make up and goes someway to solidifying the questions you have about the film’s direction

Driver looks the part of Il Commendatore but it’s odd seeing him without his customary flowing locks. There are so many creative choices that taken have hindered the proceedings and let us not even mention the appallingly bad CGI. There are many fascinating stories that feature the main man Ferrari at the core, it’s unfortunate they chose to concentrate on this one so tightly.
Rob Hudson
www.facebook.com/roadshow/

Brokers on Wall Street use a technique called Short Selling where they bet on the decline of a company’s fortunes to make money. It’s based on borrowing a stock, selling the stock and then buying the stock back to return it to the lender. If the stock price goes down, then you’ll pay less to replace the shares and make a profit.

If that sounds dubious, it’s probably because it is. Dumb Money follows the story of Keith Gill (Paul Dano) a video blog host who helped to lead a group of investors who bought stock of an American retailer called GameStop. Some big money firms had bet that the company’s stock would decrease in value and saw a way to make money off this misfortune. Gill and the people who followed him turned that around.

Hollywood films can do a great job of making a complex issue understandable but not always without dumbing down the subject matter considerably. This film sidesteps that problem by trusting its audience to follow its narrative and pay attention. For those that do, it’s a riveting and entertaining yarn.
Rob Hudson
www.facebook.com/roadshow/

Dumb Money is the ultimate David vs. Goliath tale, based on the insane true story of everyday people who flipped the script on Wall Street and got rich by turning GameStop (yes, the mall videogame store) into the world’s hottest company.

In the middle of everything is regular guy Keith Gill (Paul Dano), who starts it all by sinking his life savings into the stock and posting about it. When his social posts start blowing up, so does his life and the lives of everyone following him. As a stock tip becomes a movement, everyone gets rich – until the billionaires fight back, and both sides find their worlds turned upside down.

Dumb Money also stars Pete Davidson, Vincent D’Onofrio, America Ferrera, Nick Offerman, Anthony Ramos, Sebastian Stan, Shailene Woodley and Seth Rogen. Directed by Craig Gillespie, written by Lauren Schuker Blum & Rebecca Angelo, based on the book “The Antisocial Network” by Ben Mezrich.
www.facebook.com/roadshow/

Bankruptcy stalks the company he and his wife, Laura, built from nothing ten years earlier. Their tempestuous marriage struggles with the mourning for one son and the acknowledgement of another.

He decides to counter his losses by rolling the dice on one race – 1,000 miles across Italy, the iconic Mille Miglia.

Ferrari is directed by Michael Mann and stars Adam Driver, Penélope Cruz, Shailene Woodley, Patrick Dempsey, Jack O’Connell, Sarah Gadon and Gabriel Leone.
www.facebook.com/roadshow/

Snowden was a young and prodigious computer geek that got involved in the US government network of spies and its American citizen electronic scrutiny. He got pulled in, chewed up and spit out when the morality of the domestic spying regime overwhelmed him. He ended up paying a very heavy price for his ethics.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt is outstanding as Snowden and it’s almost eerie how close his portrayal comes to the real person (especially brought to light in the film’s coda where the real Edward Snowden makes an appearance). Rhys Ifans is also very good as one of Snowden’s mentors Corbin O’Brian. The scenes where Ifans literally fills the screen with an overwhelming presence are particular arresting.

As with all good dramas based on real events, Snowden is a great introduction to a story that will have ramifications for years to come or will it? When you read the details of the actual events, it’s very interesting that the story hasn’t really developed that much real world outrage.

Rob Hudson
www.facebook.com/DisneyAUNZ

Their idyllic journey turns upside down when their ship is caught in a huge storm with massive swells. The ensuing damage to the ship changes their lives forever. The film features a non-linear approach and starts with their craft already severely damaged from the storm.

What ensues is a tale of human resolve, the longing for a permanent connection with a loved one and the heights one can achieve when their life is on the line. The events leading up to this moment are told in a mix of back story and future events.

The story is effectively told with frighteningly intense storm scenes that are contrasted with the squalor of surviving on an almost completely destroyed ship and the carefree actions of two young lovers in the paradise that is Tahiti. Their love and emotions form the basis of a survival story that is quite moving.

Rob Hudson
www.facebook.com/AdriftMovie

From Baltasar Kormákur, the director of Everest and starring Shailene Woodley and Sam Claflin, ADRIFT is based on the inspiring true story of two free spirits whose chance encounter leads them first to love, and then to the adventure of a lifetime.

ADRIFT is the unforgettable story about the resilience of the human spirit and the transcendent power of love.

ADRIFT releases in Australian cinemas on June 28, 2018.
www.facebook.com/AdriftMovie

Snowden was a young and prodigious computer geek that got involved in the US government network of spies and its American citizen electronic scrutiny. He got pulled in, chewed up and spit out when the morality of the domestic spying regime overwhelmed him. He ended up paying a very heavy price for his ethics.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt is outstanding as Snowden and it’s almost eerie how close his portrayal comes to the real person (especially brought to light in the film’s coda where the real Edward Snowden makes an appearance). Rhys Ifans is also very good as one of Snowden’s mentors Corbin O’Brian. The scenes where Ifans literally fills the screen with an overwhelming presence are particular arresting.

As with all good dramas based on real events, Snowden is a great introduction to a story that will have ramifications for years to come or will it? When you read the details of the actual events, it’s very interesting that the story hasn’t really developed that much real world outrage.

Rob Hudson
www.snowdenfilm.com

The action-packed third instalment of the blockbuster Divergent Series, Allegiant takes Tris (Shailene Woodley) and Four (Theo James) into a new world, far more dangerous than ever before.

After the earth-shattering revelations of Insurgent, Tris must escape with Four and go beyond the wall enclosing Chicago. For the first time, they will leave the only city and family they have ever known. Once outside, old discoveries are quickly rendered meaningless with the revelation of shocking new truths. Tris and Four must quickly decide who they can trust as a ruthless battle ignites which threatens all of humanity. In order to survive, Tris will be forced to make impossible choices of courage, allegiance, sacrifice and love.

Directed by Robert Schwentke and starring Shailene Woodley, Miles Teller,Theo James, Naomi Watts, Octavia Spencer, Jeff Daniels.

Competition will be drawn 13 April 2016, winners will be notified by mail.