Book now for your exclusive early screening on Friday, 1 August of the critically acclaimed new film THE LIFE OF CHUCK from director Mike Flanagan and starring Tom Hiddleston, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Mark Hamill.

A life-affirming, genre-bending story based on Stephen King’s novella about three chapters in the life of an ordinary man named Charles Krantz.

“An absolute miracle.” – Awards Radar

“One of the most profoundly beautiful films ever made.” – KTLA

“An unforgettable experience.” – InSession Film

The Life of Chuck – Club Dendy Preview
Friday August 1 2025
Dendy Portside
www.portside.dendy.com.au

The series stars Tom Hiddleston, Sophia Di Martino, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Wunmi Mosaku, Eugene Cordero, Rafael Casal, Tara Strong, Kate Dickie, Liz Carr, Neil Ellice, with Jonathan Majors, Ke Huy Quan and Owen Wilson. Justin Benson & Aaron Moorhead, Dan Deleeuw and Kasra Farahani direct episodes.

The head writer is Eric Martin. Kevin Feige, Stephen Broussard, Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Brad Winderbaum, Kevin R. Wright, Tom Hiddleston, Justin Benson & Aaron Moorhead, Eric Martin and Michael Waldron are the executive producers, with Trevor Waterson serving as co-executive producer.

Marvel Studios’ “Loki” Season 2 begins streaming on October 6, exclusively on Disney+.
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The cast is chock full of Hollywood A-Listers including a man of the moment, Tom Hiddleston, the always popular Samuel L. Jackson (in a bad guy role) and even an attempt at some form of indie cred with Brie Larson, here getting her best Lara Croft on following her star turn in Room. The other A-Lister is that big bad monkey man, who this time out is big but not so bad.

The locations are exotic and the sets are stunning and the emergence of the big guy is played to full dramatic effect. Setting his early arrival amidst the shadows plays well to building the impact of his full reveal. It’s an interesting approach as it gives the film a pacing that engages until the final act as opposed to showing all early and leaving the audience nowhere to go.

The story is a very familiar one and it’s a nod to the filmmaker’s nous that they are so successful at breathing new life into a story so frequently told. Popcorn movies are big and often times bold but few of this ilk work as well as Kong: Skull Island.

Rob Hudson
www.facebook.com/roadshow

The story revolves about the fictional creation of football and being eccentrically British we’re talking about soccer and not the American grid iron sport. The film features mostly a human type cast with a few animals to give it a youthful appeal. However the animals that do frequent the screen add a lot of the film’s laugh out loud humour.

It’s an odd mix of humour and commentary on such adult topics as the privilege of the rich and the social pecking order of the haves versus the have nots. It also tries to impart pertinent messages of the value of family and taking care of ones surroundings.

These messages are delivered with a light touch and the claymation technique with its occasional view of someone’s finger prints in the clay keep the production from being too slick. It lacks the charm of the characters of Wallace and Gromit but its earthiness and accessibility still provide a unique cinema experience.

Rob Hudson
www.facebook.com/earlymanmovie

Set at the dawn of time, when prehistoric creatures roamed the earth, Early Man tells the story of courageous caveman hero Dug (Eddie Redmayne) and his best friend Hognob as they unite his tribe against a mighty enemy Lord Nooth (Tom Hiddleston) and his Bronze Age City to save their home.

Early Man is the new prehistoric comedy adventure from four-time Academy Award® -winning director Nick Park and AARDMAN, the creators of WALLACE AND GROMIT and SHAUN THE SHEEP. Shot in Aardman’s own distinctive style, the film will take audiences on an extraordinary journey into an exciting new world unleashing an unforgettable tribe of unique and funny new characters voiced by an all-star British cast.

Early Man will be released March 29 (VIC & QLD) / April 5 (National) (staggered for Easter school holidays) with Advance Screenings March 30-31 & April 1-2.

It stars Eddie Redmayne, Tom Hiddleston, Maisie Williams, Timothy Spall, Richard Ayoade and is directed by Nick Park.
www.facebook.com/earlymanmovie

This work is the most entertaining Marvel film in many a moon. It’s biggest positive is its engaging sense of humour. It stands out in stark contrast to some of the more serious superhero fare and it’s a very welcome departure. There are even a few uncredited cameos that are a hoot.

Hemsey returns as Thor and is joined by a few members of the Marvel Universe that appear on the poster art work and a few that don’t. Highly decorated thespian Cate Blanchett is fantastic as she chews up every scene she is in. He relish in playing the big bad is infectious.

A great time will be had by all. My only question in regards to intent, is will the American audience get the Aussie and Kiwi humour that is featured so prominently and will the film’s well developed sense of irony fly over the yanks heads?

Rob Hudson
www.facebook.com/Thor

The cast is chock full of Hollywood A-Listers including a man of the moment, Tom Hiddleston, the always popular Samuel L. Jackson (in a bad guy role) and even an attempt at some form of indie cred with Brie Larson, here getting her best Lara Croft on following her star turn in Room. The other A-Lister is that big bad monkey man, who this time out is big but not so bad.

The locations are exotic and the sets are stunning and the emergence of the big guy is played to full dramatic effect. Setting his early arrival amidst the shadows plays well to building the impact of his full reveal. It’s an interesting approach as it gives the film a pacing that engages until the final act as opposed to showing all early and leaving the audience nowhere to go.

The story is a very familiar one and it’s a nod to the filmmaker’s nous that they are so successful at breathing new life into a story so frequently told. Popcorn movies are big and often times bold but few of this ilk work as well as Kong: Skull Island.

Rob Hudson
www.kongskullislandmovie.com

Cut off from everything they know, the team ventures into the domain of the mighty Kong, igniting the ultimate battle between man and nature. As their mission of discovery becomes one of survival, they must fight to escape a primal Eden in which humanity does not belong. In 2017, all hail the King.

KONG: SKULL ISLAND is directed by Jordan Vogt-Roberts and stars Tom Hiddleston, Samuel L. Jackson, Brie Larson, John Goodman, John C. Reilly, Tian Jing, Corey Hawkins, Jason Mitchell, John Ortiz, Thomas Mann, Shea Whigham, Toby Kebbell, Eugene Cordero, Terry Notary. KONG: SKULL ISLAND releases in Australian cinemas on March 9, 2017.
www.kongskullislandmovie.com

It must be said that the film looks fantastic and features visuals never before seen but the plot and action staging is so predictable, it drains all the energy out of the experience. In some genres this would not drive the knife into the heart but with the horror/thriller genre nothing is worse than predictability.

Also not helping is the film score by Fernando Velázquez that telegraphs emotions with such an obvious touch. It’s a shame really as the cast, which includes Mia Wasikowska, Jessica Chastain and Charlie Hunnam do a serviceable job with what they have been given.

If this was a film by anyone other than Guillermo del Toro, it would be far easier to accept its shortcomings, but the man knows how to deliver the goods even when it’s a very commercial project. This is one film I will have to see again in hopes that the second time around the great visuals and solid acting will save the day.

Rob Hudson
www.crimsonpeakmovie.com.au