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
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On his own in a strange new country, László settles in Pennsylvania, where the wealthy and prominent industrialist Harrison Lee Van Buren recognizes his talent for building. But power and legacy come at a heavy cost…

Starring Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn, Raffey Cassidy, Stacy Martin, Isaach De Bankholé and Alessandro Nivola, The Brutalist will be released in Aussie cinemas January 23!
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On his own in a strange new country, László settles in Pennsylvania, where the wealthy and prominent industrialist Harrison Lee Van Buren recognizes his talent for building.

But power and legacy come at a heavy cost…

Starring Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn, Raffey Cassidy, Stacy Martin, Isaach De Bankholé and Alessandro Nivola, The Brutalist will be release in Aussie cinemas January 23!
www.facebook.com/UniversalPicturesAU/

This is the tale of the exciting quest of this unlikely trio for the fabled “Rim of Heaven”, the dragons’ final refuge.

It is a magical adventure of courage, self confidence, optimism, confidence, optimism and the beginning of an unusual friendship.

Dragon Rider will be released in Australian cinemas January 14!
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The life and times of theoretical physicist, cosmologist and million selling author Stephen Hawking is told via a screenplay based on a book by his first wife of thirty years, Jane Wilde. We are given a window into his life from his early years and get to spend time with him before the revenges of ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) took over his body.

While the force of the man’s will and his defiance of the medical profession’s estimate of the time of his demise is very inspiring, it’s so hard to watch such a brilliant man struggle with tasks we all take so for granted. The film also shows how lucky he was to have the love and care of his wife Jane who had to muster an unsurmountable amount of courage and energy to take care of Hawking and their young family.

The acting is amazing as Eddie Redmayne (Les Misérables, My Week with Marilyn) transforms himself in the ALS revenged Hawking with sheer acting ability and a minimal amount of prosthetics, it’s a stunning job. Felicity Jones is also outstanding as his wife Jane and the rest of the cast is excellent as well. The screenplay is very intense the first ¾ of the film and then the last reel lightens slightly with some very humorous moments. The effect is one that relaxes the audience and allows them to feel more part of Hawking’s ultimate triumph, that of keeping his humanity and sense of humour throughout such an ordeal.

This is a great film but one that cannot be approached lightly. It demands a lot from the audience but burns itself into your mind and makes you feel so fortunate to have even the small things in life.

Rob Hudson
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The filmmakers have wisely chosen a single case to focus on and it formed an important milestone in Bader Ginsburg’s career. In it she took on generations of prejudice based on gender in American law and won her first important case. In a life filled with many major accomplishments, trying to feature too many cases would have defused the film’s impact.

The story also sheds a spotlight on how marginalised women were in American society in the fifties, sixties and even into the seventies. The struggle of women to acquire an education, raise a family and have a career forms the backbone of this story. Overcoming intrinsic sexism also features heavily in the story arc.

Bader Ginsburg is a rock star of the legal profession and even rose to the heights of being a Supreme Court Judge, a position she still holds. On The Basis Of Sex focuses on the early flame that has burnt so bright ever since. Thanks to her tireless work on behalf on women’s rights, those roles that were so very limited and so clearly defined have slowly begun to expand.

Rob Hudson
www.OnTheBasisOfSexFilm.com.au

The inspiring true story of a young Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a passionate lawyer who dedicates herself to ending gender discrimination when she takes on a ground-breaking case in 1975.

At the heart of Ruth’s journey is a moving romance with her husband Marty (Hammer), her greatest ally in a partnership built on love and equality. Now an Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, Ruth has become an international icon. See where her story began in this stirring, heartfelt drama.

Directed by Mimi Leder (The Leftovers) and starring Felicity Jones (The Theory of Everything), Armie Hammer (Call Me By Your Name), Justin Theroux (The Leftovers), Kathy Bates (Misery), Sam Waterson (Law & Order) and Cailee Spaeny (Pacific Rim: Uprising).

On the Basis of Sex is in Australian Cinemas February 7, 2019!
www.OnTheBasisOfSexFilm.com.au

To enter this great competition just fill out the entry form below.

Competition will be drawn 4 February 2019, winners will be notified by mail.

Felicity Jones (The Theory of Everything) stars as Ruth Bader Ginsburg alongside Armie Hammer (Call Me By Your Name) as her devoted husband, Martin Ginsburg. Justin Theroux (The Leftovers), Kathy Bates (Misery), Sam Waterston (Law & Order) and Cailee Spaeny (Pacific Rim: Uprising) also star.

From acclaimed female director Mimi Leder (The Leftovers, Deep Impact), this equal rights story has unprecedented relevance in current times. To add to the credibility of the feature, Ruth and her children have given the film their blessing, with the script penned by Ruth’s nephew, Daniel Stiepleman.

ON THE BASIS OF SEX releases in Australian cinemas on February 7, 2019.
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Conor is dealing with far more than other boys his age. His mother is ill, he has little in common with his imperious grandmother, and he is the target of bullies at school. Then one night, Conor summons an unlikely ally: a 40-foot-high colossus of a monster who bursts forth from the ancient yew tree in the graveyard behind his house. Guiding Conor through a dark and magical world, the monster brings stories to life. But his tales of noble princes and evil queens reveal unexpected twists; the heroes behave badly; the villains turn out to be innocent; the bad aren’t punished and the good aren’t saved. Why, Conor wonders, is the world so complicated and so unfair?

Based on the award-winning novel by Patrick Ness, visionary director J. A. Bayona brings the fantastic to life in A Monster Calls. With breathtaking special effects, this beautifully crafted film transports us with stories of courage, loss and hope, blending fantasy and reality in a bold and innovative way.

A Monster Calls stars Lewis MacDougall, Sigourney Weaver, Felicity Jones, Toby Kebbell, and features the melodic and imposing voice of Liam Neeson. Directed by Juan Antonio Bayona – IN CINEMAS JULY 27
www.amonstercallsmovie.com.au

Competition will be drawn 26 July 2017, winners will be notified by Mail.

The latest edition skips the third Brown book, The Lost Symbol and drops Harvard University professor Robert Langdon (Hanks) into the usual world of intrigue. Conspiracies play a more reduced role this time and the film plays out with more action and less intrigue. The action is largely set in Venice, which is an excellent choice as it’s one of the world’s most unique looking cities.

The casting is not the film’s strongest suit as Hanks and lead actress Felicity Jones as his caregiver Dr. Sienna Brooks don’t have an overabundance of on-screen chemistry. Ben Foster as the big baddie is underutilized as well. The rest of the cast including Irrfan Khan and Omar Sy put in workman like performances.

In a crowded field of globe trotting super sleuths and action heroes, the Da Vinci Code films rely on the enticement of a good global conspiracy. Unfortunately in this latest film edition of one of Brown’s novels, it just doesn’t capitalize enough on the series’ most obvious appeal.

Rob Hudson
www.sonypictures.com