Your online viewing guide
Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret
(Neon and other rental services)
Based on Judy Blume’s seminal 1970 coming-of-age book of the same name that dared to tackle sex and religion, this is the story of 11-year-old Margaret Simon, a girl struggling to find her place in the world and navigating the confusing, awkward time that is adolescence. Directed by Kelly Fremon Craig, who helmed the excellent 2017 high school comedy The Edge Of Seventeen, this dramedy stars Ant-Man’s Abby Ryder Fortson, Kathy Bates and Rachel McAdams. “An entertaining comedy that also happens to be a stunning evocation of the fear and yearning that come with standing on the precipice of adulthood,” wrote The Guardian’s Lauren Mechling.
The Marsh Girl’s Daughter
(Prime Video)
Daisy Ridley, Ben Mendelsohn and Garret Hedlund join forces for this psychological thriller based on Karen Dionne’s 2017 novel of the same name. It is the story of a young woman (Ridley) who, convinced that the man (Mendelsohn) who abducted her mother and kept both of them in captivity for years is now after her daughter, heads into the wilderness. “B-movie material elevated by A-level performances,” wrote The Hollywood Reporter’s Frank Scheck.
Obliterated (Netflix)
From the creators of Cobra Kai comes this action-dramedy about an elite team assembled from various branches of the US armed forces who unite to stop a deadly terrorist network from blowing up Las Vegas. However, their raucous celebrations are short-lived when they discover that the bomb they neutralised was actually a decoy. The eclectic supporting cast includes popular 1980s and 90s film stars C. Thomas Howell, Virginia Madsen and Lori Petty.
Shortcomings
(Neon and other rental services)
One of this year’s Sundance Film Festival’s most unexpected delights and sheer crowd-pleasers, actor Randall Park’s (Young Rock, WandaVision) feature debut behind the camera is a hilarious and thoroughly entertaining adaptation of Adrian Tomine’s 2007 graphic novel. It follows three young Asian-Americans as they navigate the joys and pitfalls of modern relationships. “Shortcomings isn’t revolutionary, but it’s authentic, resonant and laugh-out-loud funny,” wrote indieWire’s Proma Khosla.
A new trans-Tasman on-demand streaming service is offering Kiwis an eclectic range of cult and classic movies and television – for free.
Launched on November 23 with more than 300 titles, Brollie has been created and curated by long-running Victoria-based independent film distribution company Umbrella Entertainment. Highlights of the debut line-up include Oscar winners Driving Miss Daisy, Another Round and Babette’s Feast, small-screen series such as Frank Herbert’s Dune, A Town Like Alice, Skippy and the Martin Henderson and Heath Ledger-starring Sweat, as well as beloved Aussie features such as BMX Bandits, Breaker Morant, The Babadook, Les Patterson Saves The World and The Adventures Of Barry McKenzie. Many of these are either currently unavailable online, or only by paying a subscription or rental fee.
Brollie subscribers will also be invited to be a part of the Brollie Film Club, which will allow them access to hand-picked collections of the best of the catalogue twice a month. These collections will also include special features such as behind-the-scenes featurettes and blooper reels.
Stuff to Watch has taken a sneak peak at what’s on offer and come up with a list of six Brollie flicks we recommend Kiwi viewers check out.
An Angel At My Table (1990)
Originally produced as a TV mini-series, this Jane Campion-directed tale is based on Kiwi author Janet Frame’s three autobiographies: To The Is-Land, An Angel At My Table and The Envoy From Mirror City. An award-winner at the Venice and Toronto Film Festivals, it features a star-making turn from Kerry Fox. “This is not a hyped-up biopic or a soap opera, but simply the record of a life as lived,” wrote Chicago Sun Times’ engrossed Roger Ebert.
Death In Brunswick (1990)
It might have been an Australian movie, but two Kiwis were the undoubted scene-stealers of this pitch-black comedy about a down-on-his-luck cook who finds love and accidental murder when he starts working at a Greek restaurant. The scenes involving Sam Neill’s hapless Carl and John Clarke as his gravedigging-mate Dave make you wonder way casting directors didn’t put them together more often.
The Last Emperor (1987)
Winner of no less than nine Oscars at the 60th Academy Awards, John Lone, Joan Chen and Peter O’Toole star in Italian director Bernardo Bertolucci’s sumptuous-looking biopic of China’s Pu Yi. The first western movie made in the country with full co-operation from the communist regime for almost four decades, the film used more than 19,000 citizens as extras.
The Crossing (1990)
Russell Crowe’s first leading film role, this 1960s-set romantic-drama has him starring opposite his future wife Danielle Spencer. It is the story of a young man who returns to his hometown after 18 months away to discover that his girlfriend has taken up with his best mate. Features a terrific soundtrack that includes cuts from The Proclaimers, Kate Ceberano, the David Bowie-fronted Tin Machine, Crowded House and The Cockroaches.
Grace Jones: Bloodlight And Bami (2017)
Shot over five years, Sophie Fiennes’ fly-on-the-wall documentary of the pop-culture icon-cum-provocateur is a fascinating look at the life of a true original. While, at the end, you will still be thinking she’s something of a riddle wrapped inside an enigma, this certainly provides plenty of insight and offers a look at the many sides of this multi-faceted, multi-talented performer. Certainly not a conventional music documentary (Jones pretty much is the documentary’s sole voice), Bloodlight is an entertaining, engaging and somewhat enlightening look at a complicated woman.
Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence (1983)
Partly shot in New Zealand, this adaptation of Sir Laurens van der Post’s two books (The Seed And The Sower and The Night Of The New Moon) about his experiences as a prisoner of war in Japan during World War II starred Tom Conti, Takeshi Kitano, Jack Thompson and David Bowie. Fellow actor Ryuichi Sakamoto also composed the memorable score, which won him a Bafta.