Jim Schembri

REVIEWS Wolfram - Warwick Thornton hits home with a masterpiece about our dark colonial past. See it before it disappears; The Devil Wears Prada 2 - Story-strong sequel about corporate misdeeds & dying media ; Hokum - Nifty little slice of horror schlock. tinyurl.com/4hy8ds8b

REVIEWS Michael - A very good, solidly entertaining biopic about the early years and pre-Neverland rise of MJ. Includes Bubbles and hair fire; Calle Malaga - Beautiful, moving drama about an old woman losing her home; Alphabet Lane - Top Oz psycho-drama. tinyurl.com/u4zwt9x8

REVIEWS The Stranger - Francois Ozon is arguably overrated, yet there’s no argument that his adaptation of the Albert Camus novel is a masterpiece; Fuze - Very good race-against-time thriller about an unexploded WW2 bomb found in London. Great tension. tinyurl.com/4dpf8eej

NGV TRIENNIAL Attended the lively media preview of the upcoming shebang (13 Dec - 11 Apr); had informative chats with NGV curators Ewan McEoin & Anna Honan about the show. Also uncovered the mystery of the inflatable penguin that crashed the speeches. youtu.be/RrW3iTG_hzQ

MICF 2026 - Here are some notes on a handful of shows, all selected at random: 100% Scottish Comedy; Grace Jarvis; Best of Edinburgh Fest; Comedians of Europe; Alexandra Hudson. tinyurl.com/2zb8ujty

REVIEWS The Deb - The directorial debut from Rebel Wilson is an accomplished, breezy, highly energetic musical-comedy as a private school girl goes bush; The Drama - Compelling, hot-button chamber piece about a secret derailing a couple's wedding plans. tinyurl.com/bdzmuxj3

WOLFRAM - Have just been gobsmacked by Warwick Thornton’s riveting, raw, confronting frontier film about our dark colonial past. Brilliant direction, stunning cinematography (also by Thornton). Written by Steven McGregor & David Tranter. A quietly powerful masterpiece. Opens 30/4

REVIEWS The President’s Cake - Superb drama from Iraq about a nine-year old girl tasked by her nasty teacher to make a cake for Saddam Hussein. A real gem; The Super Mario Galaxy Movie - Terrifically bright, breezy, superior sequel to the 2023 film. tinyurl.com/bdzbjpwb

REVIEWS I Swear - Amazing, funny, touching true-life tale of a Scottish lad with Tourette’s syndrome. Brave, uplifting; Hoppers - Terrific, fast eco-comedy adventure. Pixar’s best in years; The Magic Faraway Tree - OK update of the classic Enid Blyton yarn.tinyurl.com/yzney37p

VALERIE PERRINE, 82: Beautiful star of Lenny, Slaughterhouse 5, Can’t Stop the Music, Cannonball Run and, of course, Superman. Taken by Parkinson’s, the treatment cost drove her to crowdfunding. Her sad story seen in Valerie (2019). Thank you, Miss Teschmacher. You were luminous.

JAMIE BLANKS, 54: Shaken at the passing of this talented Melbourne director. Hit big in Hollywood with Urban Legend. Fondly recall an afternoon at his house where, challenged on the depth of his vast film collection, he proudly produced a copy of Laserblast - on laserdisc. Vale.

REVIEWS Project Hail Mary - Way overlong, yappy space adventure that thankfully comes good; Ready or Not 2: Here I Come - Very thin, bloody carbon-copy of the 2019 people-hunting-people hit; Proclivitas - Oz horror that starts strong but ends weak. A pity. tinyurl.com/2upu249h

CHUCK NORRIS, 86: Much-loved movie tough guy whose 1980s output rivalled Sly and Arnie, offering a more grounded action icon. Missing in Action; Invasion USA; Delta Force; TV hit Walker: Texas Ranger. Respected fitness advocate, conservative, author and meme star. Vale, McQuade.

OSCARS 2026 DEBRIEF: A CELEBRATION OF MEDIOCRITY - Look, the show was fine though the two big winners weren’t really all that good. Still, we got some good speeches, a few great lines, several touching tributes and a reasonably funny Conan O’Brien as host. tinyurl.com/yc4jyubf

REVIEWS Anemone - Daniel Day-Lewis returns in a compelling drama; Arco - Beautiful French sci-fi animation; Reminders of Him - A quality multiplex weepie; GOAT - Top family film; Cold Storage - Liam Neeson leads the mayhem in a zippy zombie funfest. tinyurl.com/3arunyp6

REVIEWS The Bride! - Stylistically crazed, Goth-fuelled road romance riffing on Frankenstein. Ripper stuff; How to Make a Killing - Very good black comedy, inspired by Kind Hearts and Coronets; True South - Fine doco about the Sydney-to-Hobart yacht race. tinyurl.com/ubrs4wen

NEIL SEDAKA, 86: Supreme singer/songwriter whose pop hits grace every Boomer’s personal song list. Calendar Girl; Oh, Carol; Solitaire; Love Will Keep Us Together; and Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen, an innocent song that could not survive today. How is there no biopic on this man?

FREDERICK WISEMAN, 96: Pioneer documentarian who prioritised long takes & naturalism over research & politics. Among his best: Titicut Follies; Domestic Violence; High School; Ex Libris; City Hall; and Missile, a personal fave (with a VHS copy to prove it). Simon Says thank you.

REVIEWS Scream 7 - Wow. Never mind franchise fatigue, this jaunt blends horror-movie conventions with wit and ingenuity. A very pleasant shock; The Testament of Ann Lee - Amanda Seyfried gleams as a sect leader in this intense, unusual religious drama. tinyurl.com/3je6s5wt

REVIEWS EPiC - Superb Elvis bio-doc, with remastered archival footage looking like new, esp in the concert segments. A must; Jimpa - Largely dull family dramedy; Pillion - Unengaging gay BDSM sex comedy; Fackham Hall - Sufficiently funny gag-driven lark. tinyurl.com/2hn3d8x4