It is the kind of work that asks much from its audience. It cleverly sets up the initial elements of the back story with a tilted view from Ellis Island at the Statue Of Liberty. The huddled masses are easily identified as post-World War II immigrants still shell-shocked by the horrors that they endured during that great war.

The focus then shifts to one man, László Tóth brought to life on the screen via an amazing performance by Adrien Brody. We are left to study him and slowly discover his motivations and the angst that drives him into action and overdrives him into obsession. We discover he had a successful career as an architect before the war ended that.

He is given a chance to resume his craft by the rich and inscrutable Harrison Lee Van Buren Sr. played by the outstanding Guy Pearce. Van Buren remains a mystery to the very end. László’s journey is told by circumstance and you are left to process the mostly visual information to work things out. This is hyper-intelligent cinema and a study of obsession driven by the darkest of times, The Brutalist will render you emotionally spent and fascinated by that process.
Rob Hudson
www.facebook.com/UniversalPicturesAU/

The tale begins with Poirot in self-exile in Venice. He is retired and turning down all requests for his sleuthing services. Even though he is highly sceptical he attends a séance at the behest of his friend the famous writer Ariadne Oliver (Tina Fey). When a murder happens during the event he is pulled back into service.

There is much to like about this film, it looks fantastic with an old-school approach to showing the actors in full-frame close-ups. Branagh’s double moustache is a wonder to behold and the lighting and set design fully sells the creepy aspects of the story. It’s classic who done it stuff.

With source material as rich as Christie’s books it would seem a certainty to provide the basis for a quality product. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case and there are quite a few film versions of her books that just don’t excite. An accomplished talent like Branagh side-step this dilemma and was a perfect choice to bring this seductive story to life.
Rob Hudson
www.facebook.com/20thCenturyStudiosAUNZ

Now retired and living in self-imposed exile in the world’s most glamorous city, Poirot reluctantly attends a séance at a decaying, haunted palazzo. When one of the guests is murdered, the detective is thrust into a sinister world of shadows and secrets.

Reuniting many of the filmmakers behind 2017’s “Murder on the Orient Express” and 2022’s “Death on the Nile,” the film is directed by Kenneth Branagh with a screenplay by Oscar® nominee Michael Green based upon Agatha Christie’s novel “Hallowe’en Party.” The producers are Kenneth Branagh, Judy Hofflund, Ridley Scott, and Simon Kinberg, with Louise Killin, James Prichard, and Mark Gordon serving as executive producers.

The film also features a brilliant acting ensemble portraying a cast of unforgettable characters, including Kyle Allen, Camille Cottin, Jamie Dornan, Tina Fey, Jude Hill, Ali Khan, Emma Laird, Kelly Reilly, Riccardo Scamarcio, and Michelle Yeoh, will open exclusively in Australian cinemas September 14, 2023.
www.facebook.com/20thCenturyStudiosAUNZ

In addition, Branagh announced that Hildur Guđnadóttir, the acclaimed composer from Iceland who won an Oscar, Golden Globe®, GRAMMY®, and BAFTA for “Joker” and an Emmy® and GRAMMY for “Chernobyl,” and who most recently scored “TÁR” and “Women Talking,” will compose the score.

“A Haunting in Venice” is set in eerie, post-World War II Venice on All Hallows’ Eve and is a terrifying mystery featuring the return of the celebrated sleuth, Hercule Poirot. Now retired and living in self-imposed exile in the world’s most glamorous city, Poirot reluctantly attends a séance at a decaying, haunted palazzo. When one of the guests is murdered, the detective is thrust into a sinister world of shadows and secrets.

Reuniting many of the filmmakers behind 2017’s “Murder on the Orient Express” and 2022’s “Death on the Nile,” the film is directed by Kenneth Branagh with a screenplay by Oscar® nominee Michael Green (“Logan”) based upon Agatha Christie’s novel Hallowe’en Party. The producers are Kenneth Branagh, Judy Hofflund, Ridley Scott, and Simon Kinberg, with Louise Killin, James Prichard, and Mark Gordon serving as executive producers.

A brilliant acting ensemble portrays a cast of unforgettable characters, including Kenneth Branagh, Kyle Allen (“Rosaline”), Camille Cottin (“Call My Agent”), Jamie Dornan (“Belfast”), Tina Fey (“30 Rock”), Jude Hill (“Belfast”), Ali Khan (“6 Underground”), Emma Laird (“Mayor of Kingstown”), Kelly Reilly (“Yellowstone”), Riccardo Scamarcio (“Caravaggio’s Shadow”), and recent Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh (“Everything Everywhere All at Once”).
www.facebook.com/20thCenturyStudiosAUNZ