Steady stream of drama
WITH SO MANY NEW FILMS HITTING STREAMING PLATFORMS IN THE PAST FORTNIGHT, WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE MOST PROMINENT RELEASES TAKING OVER YOUR LOUNGEROOM
CHA CHA REAL SMOOTH (PG) Rating: hhhhk Apple TV+
Beautifully written and directed by its unheralded young star Cooper Raiff, this understated comedy-drama does not just mark the arrival of a major new talent.
It also happens to be one of the better movies released this year.
Raiff has the lead role of Andrew, a recent college graduate unable to land a decent job until he scores a part-time gig as a pro party-starter on the local bar mitzvah circuit. It is here Andrew befriends Domino (a wonderful Dakota Johnson), a woman who has been politely ostracised by many on account of her colourful past.
In the present day, Domino is mother to an autistic teen, Lola (Vanessa Burghardt), who has also been shunned by her peers. The upbeat incursion of Andrew into both women’s lives generates a sizeable number of unforeseen developments and truly touching moments. Oh, and Raiff’s sense of humour is right on point throughout, earning laughs the hard way and the right way.
Even a final-act swerve into weepie territory is totally justified and comes off without a hitch. This is mainstream feel-good filmmaking of the highest calibre. Do track it down, You won’t be sorry you did. Co-stars Leslie Mann, Brad Garrett.
SPIDERHEAD (MA15+) Rating: hhkkk Netflix
Something just isn’t working for this slick thriller, and it becomes increasingly frustrating trying to work out why throughout.
Chris Hemsworth plays a dodgy doctor testing prototype drugs on prison inmates in exchange for reduced sentences. Miles Teller is the manipulative medic’s prize guinea pig, game to try anything if it means an accelerated release.
When some chemical cocktails begin producing dangerously irreversible after-effects, a weird
battle of wills develops between the two protagonists.
This is a story with some big logistical holes in it, and the uncertain performances of Hemsworth and Teller just can’t cover any flaws for long. Some unnecessary sudden swerves into black comedy just make matters worse. Surprisingly, the director here is Joseph Kosinski, currently slaying cinema audiences around the world with his work on Top Gun: Maverick.
THE CARD COUNTER (MA15+) Rating: hhhjk Binge, Foxtel
This punishingly precise psychological drama is every bit as confronting as its pedigree would indicate (Martin Scorsese execproduces for his old Taxi Driver screenwriting pal Paul Schrader).
Oscar Isaac stars as William, a low-level professional poker player who reluctantly accepts an offer from private financiers to play in higherstakes games. William has one hell of a grim past – including time served as both a prison guard and prisoner – but one solitary bit of bad luck could make his future even worse. This is tough, testing stuff that is not for everybody, but will handsomely reward those up to the challenge.
Anyone who has ever fantasised about playing cards for a living will be scared straight by much of what they see here. Co-stars Tiffany Haddish.
JERRY & MARGE GO LARGE (PG) Rating:
hhjkk
Paramount+
Approach this gentle affair as the family-friendly flipside of The Card Counter, and you just might like what you see.
Bryan Cranston and Annette Bening fill the title roles as an elderly couple who discover a mathematical hole inside a state lottery that guarantees they will win every time.
Remarkably, this is a true story, and it is only this aspect that keeps you watching. The movie leans too hard on a feel-good perspective that should have been allowed to flow more naturally through this fascinating yarn.
If you don’t know how this perfectly legal, yet highly dubious escapade ends for Jerry and Marge, keep it that way and the movie will still find a way to stay on your good side. Co-stars Rainn Wilson.
FATHER OF THE BRIDE (PG) Rating:
hhhkk
Binge, Foxtel
The movies have visited the Father of the Bride premise twice before. Both versions were massive hits.
While this third try won’t be conquering the world in the same way, it is a solid and engaging crowdpleaser throughout.
Andy Garcia has the tough ask of following in the footsteps of screen greats Spencer Tracy and Steve Martin in taking the lead role of Billy, the doting dad freaking out on the eve of his dutiful daughter’s nuptials. Garcia does a fair job of anchoring the picture, even though the comedy scenes stretch his range a bit. Thankfully, the casting of veteran pop star Gloria Estefan as Billy’s longsuffering wife Ingrid gives the movie the warmth it needs to get by.
ZOLA (MA15+) Rating: hhhkk Binge, Foxtel
Here’s something different: a movie adapted from a thread that went viral on Twitter. Most of what you see (and afterwards, can’t unsee) here actually did happen back in 2015.
A Hooters waitress tagged along with her new best friend, a stripper, on a road trip to Florida to make some money the fast way. As anyone with street smarts will tell you, “the fast way” means “the seedy way”.
The pair soon fall out big-time, with the waitress, Zola (played by Taylour Paige), recounting the entire gruesome misadventure to a rapt social-media audience in 100 punchy posts. Riley Keough co-stars as the incorrigible Stefani, the target of Zola’s ongoing wrath, and a living magnet for madness and badness of all shapes and sizes.
THE MAN FROM TORONTO (M)
Rating: hjkkk
Netflix
A feeble action comedy which at best summons a semi-tedious vibe that may send some late-night viewers straight to sleep.
At worst, this is a yappy, crappy car crash that fails to get any lasting laughs from a leading man here for the pay cheque (Kevin Hart) or a costar who couldn’t care less (Woody Harrelson was cast at the last minute to replace Jason Statham). All you need to know is that there will be not much mistaken-identity mirth to be had from a set-up where a failing salesman (Hart) keeps crossing paths with an elite hitman (Harrelson).
Filmed way back in 2019, and there’s good reason why it’s taken this long to see the light of day: it’s simply no good.
EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE (MA15+) Rating: hhhjk
Premium Rental
This hyper-innovative thrill-ride of a movie enjoyed a longer-thanexpected run in Australian cinemas recently, purely based on overwhelmingly positive word-ofmouth. Now audiences at home can check out what all the fuss is about.
As indicated in these pages a few months ago, the production is near impossible to accurately describe.
Let’s just agree it draws elements of science fiction, martial arts, family values and that ever-expanding storytelling device known as the multiverse, and then throws the whole lot in a blender.
It all starts with Michelle Yeoh as a housewife struggling to save her family and career, and later, tasks her with saving the entire world.
Wild, wired stuff.