Moonlight — very worthy, very important, rather dull

Moonlight, the new work from writer/director Barry Jenkins, is a Very Important Film. Its Importance is clear throughout the film — long, lingering takes, lots of silent pauses, plenty of dodgy focusing, no shortage of shaky-cam shots, extended sequences of very…

The Edge Of Seventeen: an angsty mess saved by Woody Harrelson

The Edge Of Seventeen

Nadine, the central character in The Edge Of Seventeen, is the kind of character that could only appear in an American coming-of-age teen tragicomedy — nerdy, awkward, angsty, uncomfortable. The film is the story of Nadine’s unbearable — her comfortable,…

Passengers — a spoiler-ish look at a profoundly flawed film

There are maybe half a dozen films to be found inside Passengers, the new rom-space-com starring Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Pratt. The problem with Passengers is that none of them are the film that its trailer tries to sell. Warning:…

Crave! episode 31: Rogue One, Passengers, Middle School, The Rolling Stones

Middle School

Simon and Steve have both quite enjoyed Rogue One, the latest star in the Star Wars firmament, but they’re altogether more troubled by Passengers, the rather unsettling space romance starring Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Pratt. Steve has found Middle School:…

Crave! episode 30: Ben Harper, Coldplay, The Monkees, Fantastic Beasts, The Founder

Music to the fore this week, with Steve and Simon having a thing or two to say about Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals‘ recent show at the Vector Arena here in Auckland. Steve also had the good fortune to…