STACK NZ Dec #69

DVD & BD

REVIEWS

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Think Flint, not Bond THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E.

Every legend has a beginning PAN

Release Date: 16/12/15

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Release Date: 23/12/15

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Guy Ritchie’s interpretation of the 1960s cult TV series sees US and Soviet spies Napoleon Solo (Henry Cavill) and Illya Kuryakin (Armie Hammer) forced to work together on a convoluted mission that involves saving the world from a nuclear device once devised by Nazis. A celebration of classic ‘60s cinema like Danger Diabolik and The 10th Victim , every frame of this film is simply stunning, opulent, stylish and oozing a lost verve, flavour and class often copied but seldom mastered. Hats off to Ritchie for sticking to his guns and clearly blowing all the money on what’s on

Atonement director Joe Wright's version of J.M. Barrie's classic tale is so unlike the whimsical visions of Disney and Spielberg, it exists in an entirely different universe. Peter Pan (Levi Miller) is kidnapped from an orphanage during the London Blitz and whisked off in a flying galleon to Neverland, a floating cloud island ruled by flamboyant pirate Blackbeard (played with obvious relish by an unrecognisable Hugh Jackman). Peter escapes with the help of Hook (Garret Hedlund), an Indiana Jones-like rogue, meets Tiger Lily (Rooney Mara) and her tribe, and

the screen rather than what’s behind it. We may have seen this kind of spy caper before, most recently in Kingsman: The Secret Service , but never looking this good . A sharp, witty, fast-paced and genuinely fun action romp from a director who's always comes out with both barrels blazing.

discovers his destiny as the 'chosen one'. Yes, it's an origin story. Kudos to Wright and co. for creating a version of Peter Pan quite unlike what has gone before; the Tim Burtonesque, steampunk vision of Neverland is alone worth the price of the disc.

It's never too late to start living LAST CAB TO DARWIN

Meryl rocks out RICKI AND THE FLASH

Release Date: 16/12/15

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Release Date: 02/12/15

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Michael Caton is one of Australia's finest character actors and he gives a truly terrific performance as terminally ill cab driver Rex, who makes the long drive from Broken Hill to Darwin to take advantage of the NT's new euthanasia laws. It's a role far removed from The Castle 's Darryl Kerrigan, imbued with a sadness and resignation befitting the subject matter. But Last Cab to Darwin isn't as maudlin as it sounds; Rex's road trip to die is a lively journey, and like every good Aussie road movie there are quirky folk encountered along the way, stopovers in remote

Meryl Streep plays Ricki Randazzo, supermarket cashier by day and bar band rock chick by night. She's also a mother to three adult children, and when a call from her ex-husband (Kevin Kline) – following the suicide attempt by their daughter (played by Streep's real-life offspring Mamie Gummer) – sends her back home, Ricki must reconnect with her straight-laced Midwestern family. "I was never a traditional mom," she says, which means her homecoming won't be a traditional reunion. Written by Diabolo Cody ( Juno ) and directed by Jonathan Demme

communities (like Oodnadatta and NT's historic Daly Waters pub), and stunning shots of our magnificent landscape. Last Cab also features some wonderful indigenous characters in Rex's neighbour Polly (Ningali Lawford) and his travelling companion Tilly (Mark Coles Smith). Highly recommended.

( The Silence of the Lambs ), this dysfunctional family drama comes to life whenever Streep is on screen, and Demme's experience shooting documentaries on Neil Young and Talking Heads ensures the musical numbers really rock.

DECEMBER 2015

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