This edition, a prequel is set in the early days of the twentieth century, it starts with the Second Boer War and then fast forwards to World War One. Its main focus is that of Orlando Oxford (Ralph Fiennes) his son Conrad (Harris Dickinson) and his house staff that consists of Shola (Djimon Hounsou) and Polly Wilkins (Gemma Arterton). The two are trusted and very capable.

Unlike the two previous films Kingsman: The Secret Service and Kingman: The Golden Circle, this chapter is almost entirely gadget-free and focuses on the protagonists that end up being the early members of the agency. It also has a lot of fun with historical figures like Grigori Rasputin (Rhys Ifans) and King George, Kaiser Wilhelm, and Tsar Nicholas (all played by Tom Hollander). Ifans’ take on Rasputin is, particularly over the top.

The movie misses the chance to introduce some funky steampunk weapons and hardware but makes up for it by utilising the same hyper-real look and feel of the first two films. This one also tugs the heartstrings in a way the first two did not with their cartoon approach to the storytelling. This should handily restart the franchise from its inception on.

Rob Hudson
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Discover the origins of the very first independent intelligence agency in “The King’s Man,” in a story that follows one man who must race against time to stop a collection of history’s worst tyrants and criminal masterminds gathering to plot a war to wipe out millions.

“The King’s Man” is directed by Matthew Vaughn and stars Ralph Fiennes, Gemma Arterton, Rhys Ifans, Matthew Goode, Tom Hollander, Harris Dickinson, Daniel Brühl, with Djimon Hounsou, and Charles Dance. Matthew Vaughn, David Reid and Adam Bohling are the producers, and Mark Millar, Dave Gibbons, Stephen Marks, Claudia Vaughn and Ralph Fiennes serve as executive producers. “The King’s Man” is based on the comic book “The Secret Service” by Mark Millar and Dave Gibbons, and the story is by Matthew Vaughn and the screenplay is by Matthew Vaughn & Karl Gajdusek. “The King’s Man” opens in Australian cinemas January 6, 2022.
www.facebook.com/20thCenturyStudiosAUNZ/

As a collection of history’s worst tyrants and criminal masterminds gather to plot a war to wipe out millions, one man must race against time to stop them. Discover the origins of the very first independent intelligence agency in “The King’s Man.” “The King’s Man” is directed by Matthew Vaughn and stars Ralph Fiennes, Gemma Arterton, Rhys Ifans, Matthew Goode, Tom Hollander, Harris Dickinson, Daniel Brühl, with Djimon Hounsou, and Charles Dance.

Matthew Vaughn, David Reid and Adam Bohling are the producers, and Mark Millar, Dave Gibbons, Stephen Marks, Claudia Vaughn and Ralph Fiennes serve as executive producers. “The King’s Man” is based on the comic book “The Secret Service” by Mark Millar and Dave Gibbons, and the story is by Matthew Vaughn and the screenplay is by Matthew Vaughn & Karl Gajdusek.

“The King’s Man” releases in Australian cinemas on January 1, 2022.

www.facebook.com/20thCenturyStudiosAUNZ

Discover the origins of the very first independent intelligence agency in “The King’s Man”.

“The King’s Man” is directed by Matthew Vaughn and stars Ralph Fiennes, Gemma Arterton, Rhys Ifans, Matthew Goode, Tom Hollander, Harris Dickinson, Daniel Brühl, with Djimon Hounsou, and Charles Dance.

Matthew Vaughn, David Reid and Adam Bohling are the producers, and Mark Millar, Dave Gibbons, Stephen Marks, Claudia Vaughn and Ralph Fiennes serve as executive producers. “The King‘s Man” is based on the comic book “The Secret Service” by Mark Millar and Dave Gibbons, and the story is by Matthew Vaughn and the screenplay is by Matthew Vaughn & Karl Gajdusek.

“The King’s Man” will be released in Australian cinemas January 1, 2022!
www.facebook.com/20thCenturyStudiosAUNZ

Brühl plays Daniel a well-known movie star who stops for a beverage at a local bar on the way to the airport and gets a lot more than he bargained for from the visit. He becomes engaged in conversation with one of the patrons Burno (Peter Kurth) and is at first amused, then annoyed, and finally horrified by the level of information this man has on him and his family.

It turns out Bruno lives in the building next door to Daniel’s movie star digs and has spent hundreds of hours gleaming all the details of his neighbour’s life. This is a sharp take on the narcissistic tendencies of the movie elite and the isolation from the common folk that is engendered by that level of fame. Unfolding almost like a detective yarn provides you with some great Sherlock moments.
Rob Hudson

Presented by Palace, the German Film Festival will screen the best new films from Germany showcasing Festival favourites, works of auteurs and the best new talent.

This year’s programme, presented in association with German Films, will screen from 25 May – 20 June at Palace Cinemas across Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Byron Bay, Canberra, Perth and Adelaide.

Next Door is playing in Brisbane as part of the German Film Festival:

BRISBANE
PALACE JAMES ST
Monday 7, June 1:45 PM
Thursday 10, June 1:30 PM
Saturday 12, June 6:15 PM
Tuesday 15, June 2:30 PM
Wednesday 16, June 4:10 PM
Saturday 19, June 10:30 AM

PALACE BARRACKS
Wednesday 9, June 2:30 PM
Friday 11, June 1:00 PM
Monday 14, June 11:00 AM
Thursday 17, June 5:15 PM
Friday 18, June 6:00 PM
www.germanfilmfestival.com.au

A little knowledge of that period of Formula 1 does however enhance some of the film’s emotional impact as the sport at that time was incredibly dangerous and killed its drivers with a gruesome regularity. This knowledge puts what is a sporting event into the realm of a real life or death battle.

The film’s main protagonists couldn’t have been any different as well. The British playboy driver James Hunt (played with an impressive verve by Chris Hemsworth) was a live fast and stuff the consequences alpha male type who ran head long into the world of Niki Lauda (Daniel Brühl). Lauda was an exacting Austrian who was precise, organized and made his approach to sport a very calculated one. He also had none of Hunt’s innate charm.

The two locked into a titanic battle for that year’s driver’s championship and in a case of real life being far more unbelievable than anything the Hollywood scribes could make up endured incredible hardships. As a sports film, Rush is top notch but as a study of human nature and our ultimate capabilities, it is almost overwhelming.

Rob Hudson
www.facebook.com/UniversalPicturesAU

The King’s Man will be released in Australian cinemas September 17!
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Woman in Gold ticks many boxes which appeal to a wide audience – it’s a David and Goliath story; it’s courtroom drama; it’s holocaust drama; and it’s art documentary. It’s a gripping story about a fascinating and frightening moment in history and director, Simon Curtis, holds it all together with a sure hand.

The film is structured into two timelines: the present day where we follow Altmann’s attempts to reacquire her stolen possession; and the early 20th century leading to the Anschluss annexation of Austria by the Nazis in 1939 and the subsequent maltreatment of Jews and confiscation of Jewish wealth. These two timelines are deftly edited together to provide an affecting portrait of Jewish persecution and one woman’s attempt to reconstruct the shattered remnants of her life.

Helen Mirren is fabulous in the primary role, which is to say she’s par for her course – has there been a time when she hasn’t been fabulous? Ryan Reynolds is also excellent as Schoenberg, displaying greater depth of character as the story proceeds. The film also boasts an exemplary support cast which includes Charles Dance, Jonathan Pryce, Elizabeth McGovern, Katie Holmes and Daniel Brühl. Tatiana Maslany is also excellent in her portrayal of Altmann as a young adult.

Replete with impeccable performances, direction and a fascinating true story, Woman in Gold is hard to beat. Highly recommended.

Stuart Jamieson
www.facebook.com/WomanInGoldMovie