Geek of Oz

The surviving Resistance faces the First Order once more in the final chapter of The Skywalker saga… Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker releases in cinemas on December 19

2003. As politicians in Britain and the US angle to invade Iraq, GCHQ translator Katharine Gun leaks a classified e-mail that urges spying on members of the UN Security Council to force through the resolution to go to war. Charged with breaking the Official Secrets Act, and facing imprisonment, Katharine and her lawyers set out to defend her actions. With her life, liberty and marriage threatened, she must stand up for what she believes in… Check out the trailer for Official Secrets form director Gavin Hood ( Eye in the Sky, Tsotsi ). I'm a huge fan of Hood's work. Check out my review for his 2015 Eye in the Sky . Super excited to see this.  Hits cinemas November 21.  Official Secrets is also screening as part of the MINI British Film Festival at Palace Cinemas.  - Stu 

I nspired by the viral New York Magazine article, Hustlers follows a crew of savvy former strip club employees who band together to turn the tables on their Wall Street clients. “ You can either stand in the corner, or get in the ring ” - Romona Hustlers from Lorene Scafaria ( The Meddler ) explores stripping in New York from a female perspective. Their world is turned on its head by the 2008 Global Financial Crisis (GFC) requiring them to shift gears and do what they can to survive. I rather liked 70% of what this film has to offer. Sadly the film ultimately bleeds out to quiet a death via self inflicted wounds (namely writing and a mismanaged framing device). In recent years films such as The Wolf of Wall Street , The Big Short and to some extent Jodie Foster’s hidden gem Money Monster have wrestled with the complicity of Wall Street traders which led to the catastrophic crash. I’ve had enough of the preppy white guy in a suit doing badness for a little while. For m

The Delphi Bank 26th Greek Film Festival is currently on at the moment and screening at Leichhardt’s Palace Norton Street Cinema and Palace Central Sydney, with tickets on sale now at www.greekfilmfestival.com.au After several sold out sessions since Opening Night on Tuesday 8 October, additional sessions have been added to allow audiences to catch the Festival’s most popular films. Audiences will be treated to additional screenings of touching documentary When Tomatoes Met Wagner ; feel-good comedy Perimenontas Ti Nona ; and Perfect Strangers , an adaptation of an Italian box-office hit. EXTRA SESSIONS @ PALACE NORTON ST: Sat 25 Oct – Perimenontas Ti Nona – 7.00pm Sat 26 Oct – Perfect Strangers – 7.30pm Sat 27 Oct – When Tomatoes Met Wagner – 5.00pm - Billy 

A group of women decide to take on Fox News head Roger Ailes and the toxic atmosphere he presided over the network. As we hurtle towards the end of the year, the awards contenders are starting to emerge. Bombshell is the very definition of a stellar cast, boasting the likes of Charlize Theron, Nicole Kidman, Margot Robbie and John Lithgow. Hits cinemas in January. Looks like a must see 

Maleficent and her goddaughter Aurora begin to question the complex family ties that bind them as they are pulled in different directions by impending nuptials, unexpected allies, and dark new forces at play. Director: Joachim Ronning (Kon-tiki, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell no Tales) Starring: Angelina Jolie, Michelle Pfeiffer, Elle Fanning, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Sam Riley, Ed Skrein and Harris Dickinson. So five years ago (that hurts to type) I remember coming out of Maleficent with a resounding sense of apathy. You can check out what I mused here , but basically I found it to be a misstep for Disney. Jump cut to today and I’m back, smack bang in the apathy jacuzzi again. Soaking up all the wasted time and resources of a staggeringly lacklustre film. Now don’t get me wrong I’m a Disney baby through and through. Give me that castle animation and stirring rendition of Wish Upon a Star intro any day of the week. But, even with my mouse tinted glasses on, I can’t

Whilst I’m not entirely sure the world was crying out for a Dr Dolittle remake; we evidently live in a world where everything that’s old is new again. Or kind of new. Fresh off Avengers: Endgame RDJ takes on the mantle of Dr Dolittle, the charming gent who can chat with the animals. Seems as though his performance may be leaning closer to his take on Sherlock Holmes instead of fast-talking Tony Stark, which is fine by me. The trailer has copped the usual negative knee jerk reaction online, but my fingers are loosely crossed hoping for a fun ride. I appreciate the hints of physicality in RDJ’s performance and I’m always down for talking animals. Dolittle hits cinemas January 9th. Would love to hear you thoughts. Feel free to drop a line in the comments below - Stu

Far from home in a landscape strewn with threats two young soldiers face their darkest fears and embark on a journey behind enemy lines to deliver a message that could not only save their brother, but an entire battalion on the unforgiving fields of war. In cinemas January 16 I’m always fascinated when an acclaimed director such as Sam Mendes (Skyfall, Road to Perdition) takes on an epic production. Sure they don’t always land as we hope for, but Lordy it’s a good time had by all when they do. Think Christoper Nolan’s Dunkirk, Terrence Malick’s The Thin Red Line or MIchael Mann’s Last of the Mohicans. Can’t wait to see how Mendes captures the theatre of war. I’ll be in line opening day for this one. - Stu ,