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ISSUE 135 JAN ’16

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STACK AWARDS • THE BEST OF 2015 • WHAT’S HOT IN 2016

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Contributors

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Founder Nic Short Editor Scott Hocking

Games Editor Paul Jones Music Editor Zoë Radas

Issue 135

JANUARY 2016

Creative Director Justin Buxton DVD Consultant Michelle Black Games Consultant Jeff Kuhl Music Consultants Mike Glynn, Fleur Parker Chief Contributors Bob Jones, Alesha Kolbe, Adam Colby

WELCOME H appy New Year. 2016 is already shaping up to be an exciting year for film buffs, gamers and music lovers, and we squint into our crystal ball to scry what’s hot and on the horizon. But we haven’t left 2015 behind completely – there’s still some awards to present for the best releases across all categories from the year that was. We’ve chosen our Top 10 in film (on DVD), TV, games and albums, and now we want YOU to pick the best of the best. There’s a prize up for grabs for voters, as well as the opportunity to see your very own review published in this illustrious magazine – see page 10 for further details and nominations. Which brings us to Star Wars: The Force Awakens . After what seemed like an eternity of sorting fact from rumour and being drip fed tidbits of information concerning the closely guarded plot, the movie finally opened and the wait came to an end. Now what are we all going to do with our lives? Well, you could always check out what we thought of J.J.’s efforts on page 20.

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Contributors Amy Flower, John Ferguson, Graham Reid, Michael Dwyer, Jeff Jenkins, Emily Kelly, Simon Lukic, Chris Murray, Billy Pinnell, Denise Hylands, Doug Wallen, Simon Winkler, Gill Pringle, Ryan Huff Social Media Manager Sally Carlier-Hull Photographer Chip Mooney Production Manager Craig Patterson Accounts Coordinator Tracy Kingman

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Issue 135 JANUARY 2016

YOUR ESSENTIALGUIDE TOMUSIC,CINEMA,DVDs&GAMES

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YOUR ESSENTIALGUIDE TOCINEMA,DVDs,GAMES&MUSIC

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MUSIC

ISSUE 135 JAN '16

ISSUE135 JAN ’16

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THEREVENANT • WHAT’SHOT IN 2016

SAVAGES • HINDS • PANIC! AT THE DISCO

EVEREST • THEGIFT • TRUEDETECTIVE:SEASON2

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STACK AWARDS • THEBESTOF2015 • WHAT’SHOT IN2016

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YOURMONTHLYDVD & BD GUIDE TOWHAT’S IN-STORE HOT

YOURMONTHLY GUIDE TOWHAT’S AT THEMOVIES HOT

YOURMONTHLY GAMES GUIDE TOWHAT’S IN-STORE HOT

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M U S I C e N e w s l e t t e r FREE foryour

Extras Pg 8–16

Cinema Pg 18–24

DVD & BD Pg 25–40

Games Pg 41–50

Music Pg 53–68

Pg 08 BUZZ In The Big Short Christian Bale stars as a central figure in the GFC. But as he discusses, money has never been a motivating factor for him. Also, Australian lad Luke Bracey riding high on the Point Break remake. Pg 10 STACK AWARDS 2015 was a massive year for home entertainment. We’ve agonised over the best in film, TV, music and video games. Now it’s over to you to pick the best of the best. Pg 12–14 BOB J. The epic power struggle at MGM over John Huston’s The Red Badge

Pg 18–19 INTERVIEW Ben Stiller, the man behind Blue Steel and Magnum, on the return of Derek Zoolander and remaining fabulous and fashionable at 50. Pg 20–22 REVIEWS Our reaction to Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Leo’s latest, The Revenant . Pg 24 WHAT’S HOT IN 2016 10 films we’re looking forward to this year.

Pg 26–27 BEST OF 2015 STACK picks for the best in film and TV from the year that was. And now the heat is on, there’s no better time to check them all out. Pg 28–29 STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON He’s got the confidence, the swagger, and even does his own rapping. O’Shea Jackson Jr. on stepping into the shoes of his legendary father, Ice Cube. Pg 30 THE GIFT Joel Edgerton throws out the thriller rulebook for his impressive and intense directorial debut. Pg 32 A WALK IN THE WOODS Best-selling writer Bill Bryson on the memorable journey that’s become his first film adaptation. Pg 34–38 REVIEWS Everest, The Visit, Bone Tomahawk, Z for Zachariah, Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, American Ultra, True Detective: Season 2 and more.

Pg 42 intro Pg 44 LIFE IS STRANGE

Pg 55–56 NEWS Savages, Rachel Platten,

Shearwater, Daughter, Mystery Jets, Panic! At The Disco and more. Pg 58 BEST OF 2015 Each of STACK ’s nine genre album reviewers have picked their absolute fave top two releases of last year. Prepare to be educated. Pg 60 BOWIE’S BACK Graham Reid looks back through Bowie’s catalogue to discern how he came up with something as disparate, and astonishing, as this month’s Blackstar . Pg 64–66 Music Reviews Lush, the Molly soundtrack, Jeff the Brotherhood and Aoife O’Donovan lead our reviews section, which also includes belters from Troye Sivan, Johnny Cash, Erykah Badu, Horror My Friend, and Megadeth.

Sure, decision-based games can be tricky, but what happens when you introduce the ability to rewind time and alter your choices? Pg 46 BEST OF 2015 2015 has finally come to a close. We reveal our top picks from the year that was, including our highly- contested Game of the Year. Pg 48–49 2016 - ON THE RADAR A new year means a new slate of video games for all to enjoy. Let’s have a look at what’s on the horizon. Pg 50 SONY VETERAN We caught up with one of the minds at Sony Computer Entertainment to discuss the overwhelming success of their latest console, and the challenges presented by VR.

of Courage continues... Pg 16 COMPETITIONS

We have some awesome prizes up for grabs as usual! Win an Xbox One Tomb Raider console, plus cast your vote in the STACK Awards to win a JB Hi-Fi voucher.

Test your movie knowledge with Bob J’s FilmBuff Bafflers at stack.net.au

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SURF'S UP!

L uke Bracey can’t keep the grin off his face as he chats with surf legend Laird Hamilton, 51, his instructor on the remake of action adventure movie Point Break . “To hang out with Laird and all these other extreme sports legends was intimidating at first,” says Bracey, 26. “People at the top of their game in what they do – and what they do is terribly exciting and terribly dangerous. I felt very lucky to spend time in their company.” Raised on Sydney’s North Beaches, he’s looking forward to trying out some of his new board moves when he returns home for the holidays. “Not all the sports I learned for the film came so naturally, like the rock climbing. I did hours upon hours inside the gym but then you get to Angel Falls and its 3000ft off that ledge and they go, ‘Are you ready to go over the edge, Luke?’ and you go, ‘Yup!’ And it really informs where you are, you can’t fake that. As much as you can sit there and visualise 3000ft, unless its actually there, you don’t get that real sweat,” says Bracey, who reprises the role of Johnny Utah first made famous by Keanu Reeves 25 years ago. Growing up, Point Break was one of his favourite films. “It seemed to be on TV every weekend during the '90s and me and every single one of my mates can quote it from start to finish. “Being a surfer, it was a pretty seminal film in my life. It’s all about going for it and no cowards: Are we going to jump off this thing or not? And I think it permeated how we lived our lives when we went surfing – all we wanted to do was surf a bigger wave. We didn’t live in Hawaii so we didn’t get 40-footers but when you’re ten years old and its eight foot above you, it’s a bit bigger than you thought it was from the beach. Point Break represents a piece of my childhood that went all the way through into adulthood until I got to this position now.” He received the audition notice while home visiting family two years ago. “For the next week, my friends and I lived our lives purely by quotes from the original movie. My mum got pretty sick of it after a while.” Gill Pringle

BY THE NUMBERS Christian Bale learns the fine art of investment fund management in the financial crash comedyTHE BIG SHORT.

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W ho better to explain the 2008 financial crisis than a naked Margot Robbie in a bubble bath? However, its Ryan Gosling, Brad Pitt, Steve Carell and Christian Bale who do the real heavy lifting in The Big Short , making a comedy out of the financial meltdown. Portraying real-life investment fund manager Dr. Mike Burry, Bale nailed every aspect of his personality, from his obsession with numbers to his passion for heavy metal drumming. In real life, Bale hasn’t a clue about finances. “I’m terrible with numbers, but a few years back, I had to figure out some investments. And I’m an actor, so I just pretended to be somebody who adores numbers, and I would go through and leave no page unturned, and I actually did pretty bloody well with them. But it didn’t last – I’m really somebody who couldn’t be less interested in that world. Fortunately my wife is very good at that kind of thing, so I leave it to her.” As ever, Bale relished

our chairs, we just talked non-stop. And it was fascinating, a really wonderful conversation, and I liked his company a great deal.” He did recognise some parallels between himself and Burry. “In terms of brain capacity, noooo. Not at all,” he smiles. “But what I believe we share in common is that I do what I do because I am obsessed with it, and I have a passion and a love and a hate for it, and never did I expect to really earn a living, let alone a very good living at it, but it all came from that motivation. And that’s what I see in Mike as well; as opposed to a clichéd Wall Street guy desperate for power and money, Mike came at it from a point of view of an obsession with numbers.” The real Dr. Burry made a fortune for his clients, despite the stress he endured when his clients believed he was making a risky bet. “He got very ill through that whole period, largely because of some of these relationships where people got furious at him, and even afterwards

when he had earned them a fortune and he was proven correct, they still remain furious. It’s confusion beyond belief. It really disillusioned him,” says Bale. Gill Pringle

studying the real Dr. Burry. “I love that part of the work. You get to ask questions and study people in a way that you’d be considered a creepy stalker under other circumstances. We actually sat together for about nine hours; we didn’t get up from

The Big Short is in cinemas on Jan 21

Point Break is in cinemas on Jan 1

JANUARY 2016

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EVILPLAN: ThisMasterwashiding on theplanetMalcassarioposing as the charming elderlyProfessorYana.But contactwith theDoctor awakeneddormant memories,and soonhis truenature emerged. BIO: Before theDoctorcoulduncover the truthbehindhisoldenemy’s return, the Master regenerated intoamore youthfulbodyandescaped in theDoctor’sTARDIS…

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The inaugural

People's Choice

2015 has been a massive year for home entertainment; here at STACK HQ we've been agonising over the ten nominations in each category for weeks. Following meetings, arguments, tears and arm-wrestling, we can finally reveal the very best releases from the year that was.

voting gives you the chance to win a $ 250 JB Hi-Fi voucher and have your review printed in STACK .

BEST FILM of 2015 • Mad Max: Fury Road • Ex Machina • Boyhood • Birdman • Gone Girl • Whiplash • The Gift • Foxcatcher • It Follows • Nightcrawler BEST TV SERIES of 2015 • Better Call Saul: Season 1 • The Leftovers: Season 1 • Mad Men: Season 7, Part 2 • Homeland: Season 4 • Game of Thrones: Season 4 • The Jinx • DoctorWho: Series 9, Part 1 • Fortitude: Season 1 • Empire: Season 1 • Orange is the New Black: Season 2 BEST ALBUM of 2015 • Florence +The Machine How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful • Tame Impala Currents • Courtney Barnett Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit • Parkway Drive Ire • Jamie xx In Colour • Kendrick Lamar To Pimp a Butterfly • Kurt Vile B'lieve I'm Goin Down • Drake If You're Reading This It's Too Late • Bjork Vulnicura • Adele 25 BEST GAME of 2015 • TheWitcher 3 • Fallout 4 • Bloodborne • Metal Gear SolidV: The Phantom Pain • Batman: Arkham Knight • StarWars: Battlefront • Halo 5: Guardians • Rise of theTomb Raider • Destiny:TheTaken King • Super Mario Maker

Voting closes on 22nd January 2016

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M GM Studio Chief Louis B. Mayer was having difficulty controlling his anger as he attempted to persuade Dore Schary, MGM'S Vice President in Charge of Production, not to film The Red Badge of Courage . Leaning across his huge cream-coloured desk, he glared at Schary and said, "Dore, I have been in this business for over a quarter of a century and believe me when I tell you, civil war movies do not make money. American moviegoers don't like to see Americans killing Americans, it’s as simple as that." Schary quietly replied, "But Louis, Gone with the Wind was a massive box office hit for MGM and that had a civil war story." "Yes, but it was never just a civil war film," Mayer retorted, "it had Clark Gable as its star, it had Vivien Leigh and Olivia de Havilland as the female

EXTRAS

Congressional Medal of Honour. Returning from battle-torn Europe in July 1945, he was featured on the cover of LIFE magazine, where actor James Cagney spotted the handsome baby-faced 22-year-old Texan soldier.

Louis B. Mayer sitting at his huge raised desk in his MGM office

leads; we made a romantic picture in glorious Technicolor, that's what the people came to see. "This proposed Huston picture has no female role," Mayer continued, "therefore no love interest. It has no discernible plot and worst of all, it has a cast of complete unknowns. Goddammit! Dore, trust me this picture will fail and fail badly." For his second contracted movie for MGM, director John Huston had written an adaptation of Stephen Crane's classic novel, which relates the story of a terrified boy

Following Murphy's army discharge, Cagney signed him as a contract player with his Cagney Productions in Hollywood. However, after several months of actor training and numerous disagreements, Cagney never cast Murphy in a movie and their association ended acrimoniously in 1947. What Cagney never realised was that Murphy was bedevilled with insomnia and deep depression; in fact, he was suffering the early symptoms of combat fatigue, known today as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. He stayed on in Hollywood, appearing in bit parts in two movies, which eventually led to his first starring role in Bad Boy (1949). Universal Studios signed Murphy to a seven-year contract and immediately cast him as Billy the Kid for his first outing with them, and as Jesse James for the second. For most of his film career, Murphy would portray western characters on the big screen. John Huston had already negotiated with Universal to loan Murphy out to MGM for The Red

[This proposed Huston picture] has no discernible

plot... and a cast of complete unknowns

soldier's baptism of fire during a battle of the American Civil War. Although a fictional story, Crane had based it on the actual battle of Chancellorsville, fought during late April and early May 1863, and it read like an authentic account of a common soldier's war experiences. Huston had presented the screenplay to Dore Schary as a potential movie

masterpiece, and furthermore, had given it unique credence by suggesting a real-life WWII hero for the lead role. Audie Leon Murphy had risen to national fame as the most decorated combat soldier of WWII. Amongst his 33 medals and awards for conspicuous gallantry was the US nation's highest honour for bravery – the

Audie Murphy

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Badge of Courage , but Dore Schary let Huston know that he was apprehensive in hiring the novice actor for a starring role. The smooth talking Huston then presented a credible argument as to why he thought Murphy a perfect match for the lead role in the movie. "Dore, I've spoken to the kid about his part in the movie and do you know what he told me?" Schary shook his head. Huston dropped his voice a little, "Murphy said ten seconds after the first shot was fired at him by the enemy, combat was no longer glamorous. All he wanted to do after that was to stay alive. He got so scared that first day in combat he almost ran." Huston continued, "The kid then said that sometimes it takes more courage to run than to stay." Huston waited for a few seconds for that last sentence to be digested by Schary. "Dore, this kid has lived the role in real life and that's why he's a cert for the part." Schary looked directly at Huston for what seemed like an awfully long time, before he finally nodded. "Okay John, we go with the kid." This became the background to the meeting in Mayer's office, where Schary informed him that he had decided to let Huston make his picture and now needed Mayer to agree to the finances. Despite the vagaries of the box office and the subsequent faltering profits under his watch, Mayer still considered himself top dog at the studios that bore his name. He now stubbornly refused to allocate the funds for "Huston's damn civil war picture". Schary rose from the seat in front

The role of producer went to Gottfried Reinhardt, the son of Austrian film director

Nicholas Schenck in NewYork for support in making The Red Badge of Courage , Schenck immediately backed him. Strenuous objections from an enraged Mayer ensued, which were overruled by Schenck. The following morning the Los Angeles Times carried a column written by Hedda Hopper announcing that

Max Reinhardt, who set about procuring Huston's

EXTRAS

pre-production requirements, which consisted of 600 Union blue uniforms, 100 horses, four artillery teams and numerous authentic looking hook- on beards and crepe moustaches. During the initial script-reading rehearsals, Huston noticed that his leading man, Audie Murphy, appeared sullen and unresponsive

Director John Huston coaching Audie Murphy during the making of The Red Badge of Courage

Audie Murphy would star in The Red Badge of Courage , with John Huston directing. She concluded her column with, "For a change, we'll have a real soldier, playing a real soldier on the screen." When Mayer was shown the newspaper column he snorted, "I wouldn't make this damn film with Sam Goldwyn's money." (Mayer had always disliked Goldwyn.) The movie's budget was set at $1.6 million with a 30-day shooting schedule. Huston had wanted to film his battle scenes on location in Virginia where the actual battle took place, but the budget would not stretch that far. Consequently, he decided to film those scenes on his ranch in the San Fernando Valley, which was only 30 miles from the MGM studios, and the rest of the picture on the studio backlot. To further reduce costs, he cast relatively unknown actors for the main supporting characters: Douglas Dick as The Lieutenant; John Dierkes as The Tall Soldier; Royal Dano as The Tattered Man; Bill Maudlin, another WWII veteran, as The Loud Soldier; and a walk-on part for the western character actor Andy Devine, as The Cheery Soldier.

towards him and the rest of the cast. Huston guessed the kid was troubled and it would need a lot of one-on-one coaching from him to ease Murphy into the role of The Youth. The following day Reinhardt contacted Huston and said, "John, we are going to have major problems putting this film together. Schary okayed the 600 uniforms from wardrobe, but now Mayer has countermanded it. You do know we are in the middle of two civil wars – the one on the screen and the one between Mayer and Schary." Louis B. Mayer had indeed grown increasingly critical of Schary's decision to make this movie, and studio scuttlebutt was buzzing with plots and counterplots. Even before he had filmed a single frame, Huston instinctively knew that his motion picture was being held hostage in a political war for the control of MGM studios. Treachery and betrayal would soon follow.

of Mayer's desk and said, "Louis, I'm sorry you feel that way for I believe it has a chance of becoming a highly important motion picture that will bring honour to the studio, and it is even possible that it will be a classic." Schary paused before adding, "I suggest we let Nick Schenck decide." During his short tenure, Schary had turned the studio around and the motion pictures he had green-lit to date had put the profits of MGM back into the black for the first time in two years. Consequently, as far as MGM's parent company Loew's was concerned, their young production chief could walk on water and had now become vital to the reversal of MGM's fortunes. Sure enough, when Schary contacted Loew's president

To be concluded...

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HappyBirthday Nicolas Cage born on 7th January, 1964. Did you know? Nicolas Kim Coppola, aka Nicolas Cage, is the nephew of Francis Ford Coppola and the cousin of directors Roman and Sofia Coppola. Cop-a-load of that! #STACKBirthday #JokeOfTheDay Why did Adele cross the road? To say hello from the other side.

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STACK ’s Fave Movie Quote: “Luca Brasi held a gun to his head, and my father told him that either his brains or his signature would be on the contract...” Michael Corleone, The Godfather, (1972)

From 20 July Sydney From 4 August Perth Thanks to Little Shop of Horrors, The Musical

Q1 The eponymous hero of this rock musical was in fact three years younger than his screen mother and three months older than his screen father. Name the movie. Q2 Who was the first writer to direct his own screenplay? Q3 Who was the first performer to win an Oscar for playing a real-life Oscar-winner? Q4 Because of a successful lawsuit being brought against a movie studio, which was the first film to insert a disclaimer in the

Q8 Which two actors teamed up for a number of motion pictures that were Warner Bros.' answer to Paramount's Hope & Crosby "Road" films? Q9 Which Oscar-winning movie's opening scene was filmed at West Sands, Scotland? Q10 A famous outlaw – living under an assumed name in South America – decides to return to the US. Name the 2011 movie?

credits stating that 'this film is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons living or dead is purely coincidental'? Q5 Who made his first appearance in a dream sequence from the 1948 movie Two Guys from Texas ? Q6 Which 2014 fantasy movie was based on a Stephen Sondheim musical? Q7 Listed amongst the 100 Worst Movies Ever is one that involves a lumbering NYC cab driver being taught to become a C&W singer. Title please.

QUIZ

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A10. The Four Feathers

(1951) A9. Jerry Bruckheimer cast Clive Owen in

A8. James Arness, who starred in

King Arthur (2004) instead of Daniel Craig

Gunsmoke , also played The Thing from Another World

A Star is Born A2. 1989 at the 61st Academy Awards (albeit they changed it back to the original line in 2010) A6. The Angel and the Badman (1947) A7. Jennifer Jones (real name Phyllis Isley). She won Best Actress Award for (1969) A5. Lucien Ballard

A4. Marooned

A3. Ida Lupino directed (uncredited)

(1943)

The Song of Bernadette

Not Wanted

A1. They all starred as the female protagonist in the three versions of

Quiz Answers December 2015 (Issue 134) -

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CINEMA

IN VOGUE Fifteen years after male supermodel Derek Zoolander brought the fashion world to its knees with a single flash of Blue Steel, the strutting sensation is staging a comeback. His alter ego Ben Stiller explains how the timing couldn’t be better…

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FEATURE CINEMA

Meet the Parents

model look, but admits to feeling the pressures of aging in Hollywood. He jokes that within the fashion industry, Hansel and Derek would be considered ‘ancient relics’ but says it was vital they factored this into the film. “Being able to finally make this movie and I'm this age, I had to understand how I could feel like it made sense for the movie. In Derek and Hansel's minds, they are still models and how do models think of themselves at this age? For me, that thing of Derek and Hansel trying to figure out how they belong in this new world is something I could really connect with.” Unlike his alter ego though, Stiller is far from over the hill. In his 28-year career the native New Yorker has written, starred in, directed and/or produced over 50 films. From awkward, family comedy Meet the Parents to great tale of redemption Dodgeball: A True

Zoolander 2

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Underdog Story , Stiller is a formidable comedic force and it looks highly likely 2oolander will be a runaway, runway success.

• Zoolander 2 is in cinemas on Feb 11 and is reviewed next issue

Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story

D uring 2015 Paris Fashion Week there was an incident on the catwalk that shocked both the film and fashion world. During the finale of the Valentino show, two runway superstars returned

2oolander, or "two-hundred-Lander?" as Derek says in the teaser, promises plenty of big laughs, fashion espionage and celebrity cameos, including Justin Bieber, Kim Kardashian and Sherlock star Benedict Cumberbatch, unrecognisable as non-gender specific supermodel ‘All’. “Benedict

after a 15-year hiatus: Derek Zoolander and Hansel, aka Hollywood heavyweights

The lead up to it was pretty wild because we were hiding for three hours backstage, the models didn't even know...

Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson, gatecrashing the fashion show to

Cumberbatch is great, he was so game and so excited. I felt really fortunate that people who were fans of the first movie wanted to come on board and be a part of it. There is definitely a few surprises in there,”

announce the long awaited Zoolander sequel. “That was really exciting and scary because it was a big surprise – you can't trip and

it was a big thing we worked on for about a year to get to that point

says Stiller. He does, however, admit to

and keep it a secret, and Anna [Wintour, US Vogue editor] was a big part of making that happen too. The lead up to it was pretty wild because we were hiding for three hours backstage, the models didn't even know...” says Stiller, who plays the hapless male model and also directed and co-wrote the film which is due out in February.

feeling frustrated at having to reveal so much before the film’s release, saying that he wishes "everything could be a surprise" – a statement now all the more poignant since Cumberbatch’s character has caused controversy among the transgender community, some of whom find his portrayal offensive. At 50, Stiller still manages to pull off the male

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STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS

RELEASED: Now Showing DIRECTOR: J.J. Abrams CAST: Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Harrison Ford RATING: M

I t's kind of ironic that a different director can deliver a new Star Wars film that fits more seamlessly into the franchise's established universe than the ones helmed by its creator, George Lucas. Irvin Kershner did it with The Empire Strikes Back and now J.J. Abrams has delivered the first truly worthy successor to the original trilogy. Ok, so The Force Awakens isn't as good as Empire , but it's a better Star Wars film than Return of the Jedi . Abrams is a longtime fan who understands what made Episodes IV–VI work, and he gives the old school fans what they want while introducing the galaxy far, far away to the next generation through a trio of thoroughly endearing new characters – Daisy Ridley's Ren, John Boyega's Finn, Oscar Isaac's Poe – and ball droid BB-8, who's as instantly loveable as R2 was when we first met him. These newcomers serve as the entry point into the new trilogy, while the old guard (Han, Chewie, Leia et al) are on hand to pass the baton, or in this case the lightsaber. Moreover, The Force Awakens is not just a continuation of events post- Jedi , it's a cunningly disguised remake/reboot of A New Hope . By setting the new story within a familiar template, The Force Awakens is able to satisfy fans and prove accessible to those who've never seen a Star Wars film (shame on them!). There's a cute droid carrying vital information who's stranded on a desert The Force is strong in this one.

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planet and hunted by an evil regime. The First Order have filled the void left after the fall of the Empire and they're every bit as ruthless, and packing the kind of hardware, starships and fighters that makes merchandise collectors drool with fetishistic delight. Although villain Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) and his Supreme Leader (Andy Serkis) will never achieve the iconic status of Darth Vader and the Emperor, they're sufficiently sinister enough to pose a dire threat to the heroes, not to mention armed with a planet- destroying superweapon that makes the Death Star look like a golf ball. Abrams' decision to shoot on film using real sets, real locations, models and prosthetics also guarantees an authentic feel that's pure Star Wars, unlike the crowded and cartoonish CGI vistas conjured by Lucas in the prequels. Even the peripheral creatures and characters are given room to register. No movie could possibly live up to the hype and fervent expectation that has surrounded The Force Awakens , but diehard Star Wars fans are unlikely to emerge disappointed. There's enough unanswered questions to set up the next film (The First Order Strikes Back?) and any anxiety that Disney is a bad fit for Star Wars has been dispelled – there's not an Ewok or Gungan in sight. Scott Hocking

FURTHER VIEWING: The Empire Strikes Back

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ALSO SCREENING IN JANUARY

Quentin Tarantino's latest strands the titular number of rogues in a snowbound cabin for the usual talkfest punctuated by moments of graphic violence. Ever the old school purist, QT has shot The Hateful Eight on film in glorious 70mm, so it should look magnificent. We highly recommend that you see it in the director's preferred widescreen format in selected cinemas prior to its wide release on Jan 21 . THE HATEFUL EIGHT

RELEASED: Jan 7 DIRECTOR: Alejandro G. Iñárritu CAST: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy, Domhnall Gleeson RATING: MA15+

THE REVENANT

Man in the wilderness.

A rriving with the reputation of being one of the most gruelling shoots in cinema history, Alejandro G. Iñárritu's bleak and beautiful frontier survival story is far removed from his theatre-set Oscar-winner Birdman and the fractured narratives of his Mexican productions, but no less technically astounding. In moving to Hollywood, Iñárritu hasn't sold out to the mainstream; filming in long unbroken takes and using only natural light and remote locations, he achieves the sense of verisimilitude and immediacy that has been his forte since Amores Perros . Putting his cast through an arduous experience both on screen and behind the scenes also helps, and the film is likely to be showered with nominations come Oscar time. Set in 1823 in the harsh frozen wilderness of the Rocky Mountains, Leonardo DiCaprio plays Hugh Glass, a fur trapper who is viciously mauled by a bear (not raped, as risible rumours suggested) and left in the company of his half-Pawnee son and a surly mountain man, Fitzgerald (Tom Hardy). When Fitzgerald murders Glass's son and leaves the wounded man for dead, Glass's survival instincts kick in. He's harder to kill than Jason Vorhees and begins an endurance-testing journey across a forbidding landscape to seek revenge – a dish that is best served cold, after all. A dramatisation of actual events (documented in Michael Punke's novel of the same name), The Revenant shares the same DNA as '70s adventures Jeremiah Johnson and Man in the Wilderness , albeit resequenced by Iñárritu's aforementioned technical virtuoso and grand vision. The initial bear attack is extreme (and features the screen's first truly convincing use

of ursine CGI) and sets the tone for a long and harrowing slog. However, you're more likely to find yourself admiring the scenery and the filmmaking prowess than sharing Leo's anguish, pain and exhaustion. The usually one-note DiCaprio is good here, although his performance is limited to grunts, gestures and vengeful stares when he's not cauterising a throat wound with gunpowder, chowing down on raw buffalo, or slipping into a gutted horse to stay warm (a la Luke Skywalker). Ignore the occasional segue into mysticism and allusions to revenge as a force of nature, and enjoy The Revenant as a sensory experience and a primal throwback to old school, Old West wilderness adventures. Scott Hocking

The 1991 Keanu/Swayze action favourite has been reimagined with Luke Bracey and Edgar Ramirez as FBI agent and heister, respectively. Surf's up on Jan 1 POINT BREAK

CINEMA

Jack Black headlines this live-action feature based on author R.L. Stine's creepy best-sellers for kids. A meta-movie of sorts, the books' most frightening creatures are unleashed on Jan 14 . GOOSEBUMPS

FURTHER VIEWING: The Hateful Eight

The first film adaptation in a new Young Adult trilogy based on the books by Rick Yancey. Set in a post-apocalypse world (of course) in the aftermath of an alien invasion, Chloë Grace Moretz plays the 16-year-old survivor we're all meant to root for. Jan 14 . THE 5TH WAVE

JANUARY 2016

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ACADEMY AWARD ® WINNER ROBERT DE NIRO heads an all-star cast in this non-stop action thriller

*‘ACADEMYAWARD ® ’ is the registered trademark and service mark of theAcademy of Motion PictureArts and Sciences.

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WE'RE LOOKING FORWARDTOTHISYEAR

INDEPENDENCE DAY: RESURGENCE Set 20 years after the events of ID4, Earth utilises technology salvaged from the alien ships to repel a new invasion. Liam Hemsworth joins the fight alongside Jeff Goldblum and Bill Pullman, but Will Smith is MIA. June STARTREK BEYOND With J.J. Abrams having swapped Trek for Wars, the future of the rebooted franchise is now in the hands of Fast & Furious director Justin Lin, who's swapped fast cars for warp-speed starships. The third installment looks to capture the campy tone of the original series; it's Trek via Guardians of the Galaxy and Galaxy Quest . July SUICIDE SQUAD Evil superheroes is a concept we dig, and director David Ayer has assembled a formidable bunch of badasses for this DC Comics spectacular. Jared Leto's Joker is poised to top Heath Ledger's portrayal in the psycho stakes. Aug 4 ASSASSIN'S CREED With Michael Fassbender, Marion Cottillard and Macbeth director Justin Kurzel onboard, and Ubisoft's insistence in retaining creative control over their flagship franchise, the AC movie could well rewrite game-to-film-adaptation history. December ROGUE ONE - A STARWARS STORY Easing the wait for Episode VIII is the first of the live-action SW spin-offs, involving the mission to steal the Death Star plans prior to the events of A New Hope . December

DEADPOOL Ryan Reynolds' passion project – involving a terminally ill, trash-talking mercenary whose treatment turns him into the eponymous crimefighter – could be the most controversial and unconventional superhero movie to date. Kick-Ass meets The Dark Knight? Feb 11 STEVE JOBS Michael Fassbender and director Danny Boyle banish the bad aftertaste left by Ashton Kutcher's rotten Apple with a new insight into the father of iTechnology, scripted by Aaron Sorkin ( The Social Network ). Just don't call it a "biopic". Feb 4 ZOOLANDER 2 15 years after he introduced killer looks Blue Steel and Magnum, fashion icon Derek Zoolander (Ben Stiller) is back. Expect a catwalk full of celeb cameos including Benedict Cumberbatch and Kim Kardashian, and the assassination of Justin Bieber! Feb 11 BATMAN v SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE Batman's a guy in a suit and Superman's an all-powerful alien. So unless Ben Affleck has some Kryptonite up his sleeve, it's going to be a very one-sided contest. But Zack Snyder will blow lots of stuff up, and there's also Wonder Woman. March 24 X-MEN: apocalypse Apocalypse is both the name of the very first mutant and what this ancient, godlike being promises to unleash on the human world. The First Class cast are faced with their greatest challenge yet, under the guidance of returning director Bryan Singer. May 26

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AVAILABLE January 27 and reviewed next issue

EVEREST • THE GIFT • TRUE DETECTIVE: SEASON 2

YOUR MONTHLY DVD & BD GUIDE TO WHAT’S IN-STORE HOT

visit stack.net.au 2015

BEST of

1 MAD MAX: FURY ROAD The Road Warrior's belated return under the direction of George Miller was not only worth the wait, it was even better than expected. A masterclass in filmmaking.

6 GONE GIRL David Fincher's take on Gillian Flynn's best-seller is a blackly humorous look at a toxic marriage, a commentary on media manipulation, and a gripping and unpredictable ride.

7 THE GIFT

Joel Edgerton writes and directs one of the year's best thrillers – a clever subversion of the 'mysterious stranger makes life hell for nice married couple' sub-genre.

2 FOXCATCHER This true-crime story set in the world of Olympic wrestling is an intense and disturbing character drama, anchored by a genuinely creepy performance from Steve Carell.

8 BIRDMAN Oscar-winner is both a backstage satire and an amazing technical triumph. It's also a great comeback vehicle for Michael Keaton. Art imitates life. 2015's Best Picture

DVD & BD

3 IT FOLLOWS Like an arthouse version of A Nightmare on Elm Street , David Robert Mitchell's superbly spooky indie horror turns everyday adolescent fears into a new kind of boogeyman.

Films

4 NIGHTCRAWLER Jake Gyllenhaal is in career-best form in this grimy descent into the nocturnal world of amateur cameramen, who lurk at accident and crime scenes to get 'money shots' for news networks.

9 BOYHOOD

Richard Linklater's coming-of-age drama is the same old story, but shooting it over a 12-year period allows us to watch star Ellar Coltrane grow up for real. Enthralling and bold.

5 EX MACHINA

10 WHIPLASH

Alex Garland's cautionary

The 'inspirational teacher film' is given a Full Metal Jacket -like makeover in this exhilarating look at an ambitious jazz drummer (Miles Teller) and his volatile instructor (Oscar-winner J.K. Simmons).

tale about the rise of Artificial Intelligence is chillingly plausible. A philosophical and thought-provoking look at what it means to be human.

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