STACK NZ Apr #83

DVD&BD REVIEWS

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We are all connected... JACKIE

This Oscar-winning drama shines bright MOONLIGHT

Release Date: 26/04/17

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Release Date: 26/04/17

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Chilean filmmaker Pablo Larraín's portrait of iconic First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy is less a biopic than an intensely intimate character study. There's a lot of life to cover, but like The Queen , which took place in the aftermath of Princess Diana's death, Jackie narrows its focus to the week immediately following the assassination of JFK, and its devastating impact on his widow (Natalie Portman). With her striking physical resemblance and distinctive diction, Portman owns the role, personifying a woman both fragile and strong, and

The film that quite literally snatched the Best Picture award at this year’s Oscars – as well as winning Best Adapted Screenplay and Supporting Actor for Mahershala Ali – is a life in three chapters. The subject of this intense character study is the taciturn Chiron, a fatherless African-American youth. Growing up in a tough Miami neighbourhood, his formative years are shaped by his relationship with his mother’s drug dealer, Juan (Ali). Moving on to adolescence, the alienated and introverted Chiron is bullied by his peers and experiences sexual

fiercely resolute in her desire to preserve the Kennedy legacy; in any other year, she probably would have ended up winning an Oscar. Jackie keeps us in the immediate sphere of its subject and the result is a melancholic experience that runs contrary to expectations for a film of this type. Highly recommended. SH

awakening with his best friend. Ten years later finds him following in the footsteps of Juan, living a gangsta lifestyle that’s at odds with the gentle character we’ve come to know intimately. Shot with an almost dreamlike quality, Barry Jenkins measured and moving drama is a journey of self- discovery and sexual identity. Touching and remarkable. AF

Find your happy place TROLLS

They're the voice SING

Release Date: 05/04/17

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Release Date: 26/04/17

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When Lisa Simpson tripped out at Duff Gardens and declared, “I can see the colours!” we suspect that she was hallucinating Trolls. The gaudily-hued little folk with backcombed hair that make Robert Smith look comparatively hairless have existed for some 60 years, entertaining kids and often horrifying parents. There’s no need for the latter to freak out about Trolls the movie, however, as it’s a hearty – and very colourful, naturally – slice of relentlessly happy musical kiddie fun (with a few morsels for patient grown ups). The little guys

There’s no false advertising in this latest from Minions peeps Illumination, as numerous anthropomorphic creatures stretch their vocal chords hoping to win $100,000. However, financially bereft – yet eternally optimistic – theatre owner Buster Moon (a koala that sounds like Matthew McConaughey) meant to offer a mere $1,000, but one typo later... Anyway, he sees an opportunity to save his beloved theatre, and we’re treated to everything from prawns getting their Beyonce on to a gorilla with built-in Auto-Tune and something that

even maintain good humour when a grumpy old Bergen kidnaps their friends, embarking upon a rescue mission that’s both bold and, of course, colourful. Featuring original songs from Justin Timberlake, plus everybody from Simon & Garfunkel to The Notorious BIG getting covered, this could be the cheeriest movie ever. C’mon get happy – and colourful. SH

cracks us up every time: a snail perched atop a microphone letting rip Christopher Cross’ AOR wail-fest ‘Ride Like the Wind’. Will everything turn out much like it did for The Muppets in their eponymous flick with a tres similar plot? Maybe sometimes you just need a little song. Unless you’re the King of Monty Python’s Swamp Castle, natch. AF

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APRIL 2017

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