STACK #208 Feb 2022

YOUR

TO MOVIES, TV, MUSIC, GAMING & TECH

ESSENTIAL GUIDE

.com.au

ISSUE 208 Feb ’22

STACK Issue 208 FEBRUARY 2022 “If this is what the end of the world looks like, at least we’ll have front-row seats...”

INSIDE:

ISSUE 208

Feb ’22

ISSUE 208 Feb ’22

MUSIC

MEET MARVEL’S NEWEST HEROES, WE CHAT WITH KENNETH BRANAGH AND GO ONE ON ONE WITH SLASH

STACK’s SMART PHONE SPECIAL

Your MONTHLY GUIDE to the HOTTEST TECH at

IN-STORE AT

hot

YOUR MONTHLY MUSIC GUIDE TO WHAT’S

WIN 1 OF 5 SAMSUNG FREESTYLE PORTABLE PROJECTORS

MEMBER EXCLUSIVE COMPETITION

NEW TO 4K ULTRA HD ™ , BLU-RAY ™ &

© 2021 Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. All Rights Reserved. MARVEL and all related character names: © & ™ 2022 MARVEL. MARVEL and all related character names: © & TM 2021 MARVEL. © 2021 Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. and Tencent Pictures (USA) LLC. All Rights Reserved. © 2021 Layout and Design Sony ictures Home Entertainme t Inc. All Ri hts Reserved. MARVEL and all related character names: © & TM 2021 MARVEL. © 2021 Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. and Tencent Pictures (USA) LLC. All Rights Reserved. © 2021 Layout and Design Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

DVD AT

FEBRUARY 16

*WHI LE STOCKS LAST

CONTENTS

ISSUE 208 FEB 2022

MOVIES & TV 6 Take 5 8 Death on the Nile 10 Belfast 12 Eternals

WELCOME This month in movies, Eternals adds ten new superheroes to the Marvel Cinematic Universe; sequel Venom: Let There Be Carnage introduces a nemesis for Tom Hardy; and STACK chats with renowned filmmaker and actor Kenneth Branagh – twice! – about his new films, Belfast and Death on the Nile . Our games cover celebrates the arrival of the hotly-anticipated PlayStation exclusive, Horizon Forbidden West ; we take to the track with GRID: Legends and revisit some classic zombie gaming to celebrate the arrival of

14 Venom: Let There Be Carnage 16 The Many Saints of Newark

18 New from Imprint Films 20 Doctor Who : Season 17 22 Out this month LIFE TECH 24 Life Tech intro 26-30 Mobile gaming

Dying Light 2: Stay Human . In Life Tech we focus on mobile gaming, the latest smartphones to hit the shelves at JB, wireless phone car chargers, and Samsung’s exciting new Freestyle projector. And in music, peerless axe-king Slash tells us why a guitar solo is like speech; we chit-chat with Alt-J, Broods, and William Crighton on their

32-38 Smartphone special 40-42 Wireless car chargers 44-48 Back to Uni 50-52 Garmin 54-56 Headphones for working from home 58 The Freestyle 60 Sony ZV-1 62-64 CES 66 What’s New at JB MUSIC 68-74 The Music Room: interviews with Slash, Alt-J and more 76-77 Oil on Troubled Waters: Midnight Oil cover feature 78-79 STACK Record Club 80 This month at JB 82 AlbumTales: Daft Punk’s Homework (1997) 84-85 Album reviews GAMING FLIP MAG AND READ FROM BACK 2 Take 5/Game Changers! 4 Fast Forward/Q5 6 Horizon Forbidden West 8 GRID: Legends 10 Dying Light 2: Stay Human 12 Accessorise Now! 14 STACK Recommends 15 Out this month

new LPs; look back at Daft Punk’s debut ahead of its 25th anniversary reissue; and in honour of the late Ronnie Spector, celebrate our fave singing sister duos. Paul Jones, Editor-in-Chief

Founder Nic Short Editor-in-Chief Paul Jones Film & TV Editor Scott Hocking Music Editor Zoë Radas Games & Online Editor Amy Flower Creative Director Gary Siewert Movies Consultant Kerrie Taylor Games Consultant Sachi Fernando Music Consultant Mike Glynn

Marketing Manager Fleur Parker Chief Contributors Bob Jones, Gill Pringle Contributors Vale Anthony Horan 1966-2022 Glenn Cochrane, Bryget Chrisfield, Jeff Jenkins, Simon Lukic, Billy Pinnell, Denise Hylands, Simon Winkler, Jake Cleland, Holly Pereira, Adam Colby, Bec Summer,

Dan Nicholson, Alex Deutrom Social Media Manager Imogene Lewis-Granland Production Manager Craig Patterson Correspondence STACK 33 Jessie Street, Richmond, VIC 3121

RATINGS GUIDE

Parental guidance recommended

Recommended for mature audiences

Not suitable for people under 15. Under 15smust beaccommpaniedby a parent or adult guardian

Restricted to 18 and over

General

Disclaimer STACK is published by Scribal Custom Pty Ltd (ACN 092 362 135). © Copyright Scribal Custom Pty Ltd, 2022 All rights reserved. All material appearing in this publication is copyright unless otherwise stated or it may rest with the provider of the supplied material or advertisement. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written permission of Scribal Custom Pty Ltd. No responsibility is accepted for accuracy of advertisements or information. Whilst care has been taken in the research and preparation of this publication, the publishers, writers or anyone else associated cannot accept any responsibility for any loss, injury or hardship arising from the content contained herein or reliance therefrom, howsoever caused, and it remains your responsibility to evaluate the accuracy, completeness and usefulness of any such content. Views expressed are not necessarily endorsed by the publisher or the editor. By the very nature of this publication, things change daily and we cannot take responsibility for any changes or inaccuracies that occur subsequent to going to press.

EXCLUSIVE 4K ULTRA HD LIMITED EDITION COLLECTABLE STEELBOOK OUT NOW

Mature themes, action violence and coarse language

© 2022 Universal Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Australia Pty Limited. All Rights Reserved. STRICTLY WHILE STOCKS LAST

JOIN

FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN 1 of 5 and enter at stack.com.au/competitions/samsung-projector

EACH PRIZE INCLUDES: 1 X SAMSUNG FREESTYLE PORTABLE PROJECTOR & CARRY CASE SAMSUNG FREESTYLE PORTABLE PROJECTORS

ALREADY A MEMBER?

Enter now and view full competition details at stack.com.au/competitions/samsung-projector Terms and conditions apply at stack.com.au/competitions/samsung-projector

THIS MONTH at

EXTRAS

visit stack.com.au

STACK’s ROVING REPORTER

What’s one of your all-time favourite films, and why?

The Lord of the Rings trilogy (I’m counting it as one film). I’ve seen every edition dozens of times and I’m still yet to grow bored. It’s one of the greatest book-to-film adaptations of all time. And I don’t think that anyone but Peter Jackson would have been able to pull it off.

DVD BEST-SELLERS in JANUARY 2022 1 Halloween Kills 2 The Last Duel 3 Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings 4 The Suicide Squad (2021) 5 Cobra Kai: Season 3

JAMES GRIFFITHS @ JB West Lakes, SA

What’s one of your all-time favourite TV series, and why?

What’s the best thing about working at JB?

The Newsroom . I never thought a series about a group of journalists and TV producers could be so entertaining and emotional. Hands down, Jeff Daniels’ best performance to date. More people need to watch this series!

6 Jungle Cruise 7 Black Widow 8 Dangerous 9 The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard 10 Fast & Furious 9

I would say the people I’ve met. I’ve made a lot of long-lasting friendships from working at JB!

What’s a movie you saw as a child that has left a lasting impression on you?

What have you been watching lately that you’d recommend?

One example would be Jurassic Park . The first T-Rex encounter is iconic. The shot of the ripples in the glass of water still gives me goosebumps.

I recently saw The Worst Person in the World , a Norwegian dramedy. It’s probably my favourite film of 2021.

BLU-RAY BEST-SELLERS in JANUARY 2022

1 Halloween Kills 2 The Suicide Squad (2021) 3 Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings 4 Doctor Who: Galaxy 4 5 The Last Duel 6 Fast & Furious 9 7 Black Widow 8 Spider-Man 1–3 9 Jungle Cruise 10 Infinite 4K UHD BEST-SELLERS in JANUARY 2022 1 Halloween Kills 2 The Lord of the Rings Trilogy 3 The Hobbit Trilogy 4 The Matrix 5 The Last Duel 6 The Suicide Squad (2021) 7 Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings 8 The Amazing Spider-Man 9 Who Framed Roger Rabbit 10 Spider-Man (2002)

MERCH MONTH of the The DC Multiverse range of action figures is available Feb 16 – PRE-ORDER NOW

DC Multiverse Batman Three Jokers - Batman 7” Figure

DC Multiverse Superman Rebirth 7” Figure

DC Multiverse Batman Three Jokers - The Joker The Criminal 7” Figure

DC Multiverse Superman The Animated Series - The Flash 7” Figure

DC Multiverse Batman Three Jokers - Batgirl 7” Figure

DC Multiverse Batman Three Jokers - Red Hood 7” Figure

FEBRUARY 2022

jbhifi.com.au

6

CINEMA FEATURE

visit stack.com.au

stories, and Branagh concurs. “Yeah, it feels personal and heartfelt. I think that she had her own share of heartache to do with love. So I think all the characters have a relationship to love and to lust. The hunger for sex in Agatha Christie’s original story is very powerful, and people are reckless in their pursuit of it. Their greed for physical satisfaction is dangerous to a murderous degree.” Making a dramatic shift from her Wonder Woman alter-ego, Gal Gadot relished playing Linnet Ridgeway Doyle, a stylish, wealthy heiress from a prominent family. “She’s very self-centered, but at the same time, she has so much heart. She’s very used to having things her way, but it’s lonely at the top, so she has a great void inside,” says Gadot. “Working with Ken was amazing. I learned so much from his performance, as well as his direction. He’s so prepared and organised and that leaves almost no room for any mistakes. But at the same time, he gives the actors freedom to do whatever we want to do. He has this ability to make everyone feel special, and his charisma and charm go a long way.” Chatting with Branagh’s eclectic cast, Russell Brand is the only one brave enough to call it how it is. “I think that most people here were probably attracted to the project because of the opportunity to work with Kenneth Branagh. And certainly I was. It was a very fulfilling experience, other than I’m a West Ham fan and Kenneth is very publicly a Tottenham Hotspurs supporter. That created a great deal of tension and, on occasion, violence,” he teases. The chatty cast fall surprisingly silent when STACK asks who they would choose as their partner in crime in real life. “I would go for Russell,” Hammer eventually relents. "With our powers combined, God knows what kind of crime we would be able to pull off.”

Kenneth Branagh returns to the role of moustachioed sleuth Hercule Poirot in his second Agatha Christie adaptation as director, Death on the Nile . STACK caught up with him and the all-star cast. Words Gill Pringle N ot that he planned it this way, but Kenneth Branagh’s 2022 has already got off to a most auspicious start with two major films in release. While his biopic Belfast is

already receiving major award acclaim, murder-mystery Death on the Nile – the second film in his Agatha Christie series – is set to compete with Belfast at the box office. Delayed almost two years by the pandemic, Death on the Nile ’s original 2020 release date was intended to coincide with the 100th anniversary of Agatha Christie’s first published novel. If Branagh’s 2017 Murder on the Orient Express seemed like a one-off, then, admittedly, he enjoyed playing the moustache-twirling Belgian detective a little too much. When STACK asks what tempted him back

Gal Gadot as Linnet Ridgeway Doyle and Ali Fazal as Andrew Katchadourian

THE ORIGINAL Agatha Christie’s Death on the Nile

mystery-thriller about the deadly consequences triggered by obsessive love, with Poirot’s Egyptian vacation aboard a luxury river steamer turning into a desperate search for a murderer after a glamorous couple’s idyllic honeymoon is tragically cut short. Set against sweeping desert vistas and the majestic Giza pyramids, this tale of passion and jealousy features a cosmopolitan group of impeccably dressed travellers and enough twists and turns to keep audiences guessing until the final, shocking denouement. Armie Hammer and Gal Gadot lead the A-list cast that includes Rose Leslie ( Game of Thrones ), Letitia Wright ( Black Panther ), Sophie Okonedo, Tom Bateman, Jennifer Saunders, Dawn French, Russell Brand and Annette Bening. Death on the Nile is widely considered to be one of Christie’s most personal

was first adapted as a feature film in 1978, starring Peter Ustinov in the first of his six screen appearances as Hercule Poirot, replacing Albert Finney who had played the part in Murder on the Orient Express (1974).

to Poirot, he says, “I guess we are trying to deepen what we did with Murder on the Orient Express and go produce this entertaining mystery with this incredible group of actors, and delve into a dangerous love triangle, which involves this friendship circle. It invites you to work out who do you love and who do you hate and who do you desire?” Based on Christie’s 1937 novel, Branagh’s adaptation is a dazzling

The cast was, naturally, an all-star ensemble – including Bette Davis, Mia Farrow, George Kennedy, David Niven, Angela Lansbury and Maggie Smith – and the film won the Oscar and BAFTA for Best Costume Design.

DON'T MISS

Death on the Nile is in cinemas on Feb 10.

FEBRUARY 2022

jbhifi.com.au

8

CINEMA FEATURE

visit stack.com.au

Looking for a way to describe his approach to the story, Branagh was struck by the way Spanish director Pedro Almodóvar described his 2019 film Pain and Glory . “He called it auto- fiction. It was based on his own life but fictionalised to some degree and that’s what I’ve done here. I’ve written it very much through the eyes of a young boy, Buddy, who is a fictional version of me. He is starting to filter his experiences through exposure to a lot of films and TV and many other imagination- based encounters and stories. Those big screen images had an enormous impact on the development of my imagination and I wanted to show Buddy having those same experiences.”

involves dealing with some form of loss, which can be painful, although the result can also be beautiful and bittersweet, like life is sometimes. So, going back to look at it at a time when we were all considering those difficult losses in our own lives and what is valuable to us, meant that this story had to come out.” Punctuated by a nostalgic Van Morrison soundtrack, this poignant coming-of- age story has already scored numerous SAG and Critic’s Choice nods. When filming began in Belfast in August 2020, five months after the UK’s initial lockdown, the cast quickly became like a real family. “I think sometimes there’s just an alchemy and a magic that happens and I think it’s down to Ken, for creating the space for

Kenneth Branagh’s acclaimed semi-biographical drama, Belfast , might never have been made if not for the pandemic. Words Gill Pringle

W hen STACK meets with Kenneth Branagh and the cast of Belfast , the writer-director admits how this highly personal film has played in his head for some 50 years, although it took the lockdown to finally make it happen. Born in Belfast, Branagh was just nine years old when his working-class Protestant parents, Frances and William, moved to the UK to escape the “Troubles” during which time Catholics and Protestants were pitched against one another. “This film was born from that silence many of us stared into at the beginning of the lockdown and

Kenneth Branagh and Jude Hill on the set

that,” says Caitriona Balfe. “On one of the first days, Ken had Judi, Ciaran, Jamie and myself in a room and asked us questions about our childhood, our parents and grandparents. We shared a lot of stories and, very quickly, we all got to know each other on a very intimate level that broke down any barriers.” Also born in Belfast, Jamie Dornan felt additional responsibility, “We’ve taken this film to many parts of the world and the response has been very

positive and pleasing, which is not always the case for me!” he grins, in clear reference to his Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy. Ultimately, Branagh hopes the take- home message is that, even during dark times, there can be joy. “I feel that audiences can lean in to some of the family problems and they really care. There’s a real personal interest and human investment, which I think has something to do with us not being fully put back together again after what we’ve collectively been through; maybe we need some emotional release, and storytelling has always helped provide that. We need to know that we’re not alone and this movie tries to let people know that we need not be alone.”

the nine-year-old kid who was me, and also try and understand what my parents had gone through,” explains Branagh. But Belfast isn’t just a black and white trip down memory lane, Branagh believing the reason his biopic has resonated so deeply with audiences is because everyone has lost a sense of family during the pandemic, forced to isolate from loved ones. “People from all around the world understand and we all have our versions of this, and one of the beautiful things that the film seems to have unlocked for people is the moments in their own lives when we suddenly felt that Father Christmas doesn’t exist. When you leave, in whatever sense, a home or a place, it

it sent me back in time to that other lockdown I experienced, where both ends of the street were barricaded and you ended up looking inward. “I think a lot of us ended up doing this during the pandemic and felt separated from things that we perhaps took for granted, and particularly from people we took for granted,” says Branagh. Starring Outlander’ s Caitriona Balfe and Jamie Dornan as his fictitious parents, with Judi Dench and Ciaran Hinds as the grandparents, charismatic newcomer Jude Hill portrays a version of the young Branagh. “I wanted to look back and shake hands with

Belfast is in cinemas on Feb 3.

10 FEBRUARY 2022

jbhifi.com.au

MOVIE FEATURE

visit stack.com.au

to work with her and see her vision unfold to bring Eternals to life.” Zhao’s vision for the film was consistent with how she perceives the world through her filmmaker’s lens, resulting in a unique and atypical Marvel movie. “My initial vision for the film can be summed up in the opening of William Blake’s Auguries of Innocence ,” she explains. “‘To see the world in a grain of sand and a heaven in a wildflower, hold infinity in the palm of your hand, and eternity in an hour.’ Blake meant that you can find meanings and the endless beauty of our universe inside

BONUS FEATURES • Audio Commentary by director Chloé Zhao and VFX supervisors Stephane Ceretti and Mårten Larsson. • Immortalised Behind-the-scenes documentary detailing why Marvel wanted to immortalise these superheroes for the MCU. • Walks of Life Reactions from the cast on their involvement in the film. • Gag Reel Some hilarious mishaps by cast and crew. • Deleted Scenes Gravity, Nostalgia, Movies, Small Talk.

The 25th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Eternals introduces ten new superheroes dedicated to protecting humanity from a malevolent alien threat. ” E ternal s is an epic, sweeping, multi- millennial-spanning story with a diverse team of ten superheroes that Uni-Mind,” explains producer Nate Moore. “The Uni-Mind is a concept that was borrowed from Jack Kirby’s run in 1976. It allows the Eternals to amplify the power of any single Eternal.

we are excited to introduce to the world,” says producer Kevin Feige. “Though it continues the tradition of the MCU, the film also breaks new ground and is a precursor for what the future of the MCU holds.” Inspired by Jack Kirby’s Marvel comic books, first published in 1975, the film introduces the eponymous alien heroes – a diverse and powerful group of thinkers and fighters from the planet Olympia, who are strongest when working as a team. The Eternals have protected Earth from the predatory Deviants for thousands of years, and when the threat mysteriously returns after being thought lost to history, they must reunite to defend humanity once again. “What makes them different from other groups we’ve had, including the Avengers and the Guardians of the Galaxy, is that they can pool their energy and create something called the

However, they have to be in proximity with each other. It is an amplification device [that] requires the power of all the Eternals together.” On introducing these new characters to the MCU, Moore says, “We want audiences to discover a corner of the Marvel universe they’ve never seen before. We want them to discover a mythology that is a challenging sci-fi movie but also has a human heart. And we want them to meet ten heroes who they hopefully can relate to.” Marvel Studios continues to recruit interesting and diverse filmmakers to bring their own visions to this shared universe – some of whom you wouldn’t usually associate with superhero movies, like recent Oscar-winner Chloé Zhao ( Nomadland ), who favours a cinema verité style, strong commitment to characters, and a dedication to the humanity at the heart of the drama. “Chloé Zhao came in with a

the smallest things on earth, and with the most intimate moments between human beings. We set out to capture both – something as epic as the creation of a sun and as intimate as the whispers of lovers. To find a way for these moments to coexist and to use them to explore our relationship with our planet, the cosmos and ourselves was a challenge that we loved deeply.” Moreover, Zhao reveals that she was drawn to Eternals because she has always been a big Marvel fan. “The MCU is full of heart – a world filled with great characters and epic adventures. It’s made by people who truly love storytelling and have immense respect for their fans. I came into the process as a filmmaker and also as a fan. To be able to make a stand-alone movie, but also to celebrate what came before us, to expand the mythology and to shape the future of the MCU, was an exciting challenge and an honour to be a part of. “We are excited for audiences to go on this epic journey through time and space with a group of immortal heroes. We hope they will have a great time, fall in love with these wonderful characters, learn new MCU mythologies and explore some of the existential questions humanity has pondered since the dawn of time.”

great pitch,” says Feige, “and we immediately were drawn to her vision. Her passion for the project combined with her directing style and ability to see the big picture for Eternals made her the perfect choice

• Eternals is out on Feb 2

to direct. It was thrilling

12 FEBRUARY 2022

jbhifi.com.au

MOVIE FEATURE

visit stack.com.au

debut,” says producer Avi Arad of Venom’s comic book nemesis. “He’s Venom’s ultimate adversary, stronger and more violent in every way. It doesn’t help that serial killer Cletus Kasady is Carnage’s host, enhancing his maniacal worldview into something incredibly sinister. In the comics, Carnage is Venom’s offspring – his ‘son,’ if you will – which makes the conflict between

DON'T MISS

them far greater.” A seasoned performer of CGI characters and the use of performance capture, Serkis reveals that he took on the job directing Let There Be Carnage following a call from Hardy. “When Tom gave me a call out of the blue, saying he thought it would be great if I directed the sequel and asking me to come on board, I think it was because he wanted a director who would be capable of safeguarding his performance, translating it into a visual effects realm, with some degree of authority from experience with that. “I’ve spent a considerable amount of my life playing a character with two sides to his personality,” he continues. “I knew that this film would be about how to free up Tom to imagine Venom’s presence. We knew it would not be helpful for him to act opposite a man in a suit, because Venom is a symbiote, coming out of him.” Consequently, Serkis chose to animate Venom and Carnage with a more traditional CG animation approach. “We wanted to give Tom the freedom in his process to give the performance he wanted.” “Andy has spent years in front of the camera as well as behind it,” notes Hardy. “He’s done performance capture and animation, and he understands story and nuance and vocal landscapes. He’s a great actor, a great director, and a decent man too. He was perfect to direct this and has done an amazing job.”

There’s a nasty new symbiote in town in the FX-laden sequel Venom: Let There Be Carnage , and he’s more than a match for the double act of Eddie Brock/Venom. A s brash reporter Eddie Brock, who becomes an unwilling host to an alien symbiote, Tom Hardy got to

flex his comedic muscle in 2018’s Venom . Reprising his role in the sequel, Venom Let There Be Carnage , the British actor confirmed what viewers had already suspected – he had a blast in the Jekyll and Hyde-like role. “It’s a joy to play two different parts of a psyche because Venom and Eddie are one for me,” he says. “They are just differentiated by the fact that one is the monster and one is Eddie, but they are always contained within one individual.” Mutual mistrust resulted in a fractious marriage of co-dependency in Venom , which is further complicated in Let There Be Carnage ; Venom and Eddie may have come to an agreement but are still driving each other crazy, and must decide whether or not they need each other at all. “The film is a love story

Tom Hardy as Eddie Brock and Woody Harrelson as Cletus Kasady

But they have to be with each other – they can’t live without each other. That’s companionship – love – the things that relationships are really about.”

Further complicating their relationship is the arrival of Carnage, a beloved villain in the Venomverse, who is created when Eddie visits Cletus Kasady (Woody Harrelson), a serial killer on death row. After Kasady bites Eddie’s hand and ingests a fragment of the Venom symbiote, he is transformed into a ruthless and malevolent alien menace, liberated from the restraints imposed by Eddie. “Carnage is who the fans have been waiting for, finally making his big screen

VENOM IN THE MCU? End credits’ teasers in both Venom: Let There Be Carnage and Spider- Man: No Way Home suggest it’s only a matter of time before Venom and his webslinger nemesis finally meet onscreen, with Marvel boss Kevin Feige confirming that Venom is now a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. "You look at the obvious comic connotations between Venom and Spider-Man and it is inherent,” he told Collider . “So the minute Sony made their Venom movie and it worked as well as it did, and Tom Hardy became as iconic as he has become as Venom, then the obvious question is then, 'How do we start to merge them?'" Watch this space…

– but not the love story you might think,” says director Andy Serkis. “It’s very much about the extraordinary relationship between symbiote and host. Any love affair has its pitfalls, its high points and low points; Venom and Eddie’s relationship absolutely causes problems and stress, and they have a near-hatred for each other.

• Venom: Let There Be

Carnage is out on Feb 16

14 FEBRUARY 2022

jbhifi.com.au

“AN INTERNATIONAL PHENOMENON IN ITS OWN RIGHT.” – BBC.COM

SEASON 8 PART 2 AND THE COMPLETE SERIES BOXSET

Strong themes, violence, sexual

© 2020 Foxtel Management Limited and FremantleMedia Australia Pty Ltd

violence, sex, coarse language and drug use

NEW TO BUY ON F EBRUARY 2 AT

*while stocks last

OUT FEB 2

OUT FEB 2

OUT FEB 2

OUT FEB 2

Cult classic starring Phoebe Cates , Carrie Fisher and comedy legend Rik Mayall . Presented in High Definition!

40th anniversary edition of the romance/western starring John Travolta . AUS 1ST ON DVD!

Starring Australia’s Ryan Kwanten (True Blood), Katrina Law (Spartacus Blood & Law) & Sean Bean (Game Of Thrones, Sharpe, Goldeneye).

The 1988 made-for-TV mini- series starring Michael Caine and Jane Seymour .

OUT FEB 2

OUT FEB 16

OUT FEB 2

OUT FEB 16

Relive the first 165 eps. of the show that inspired the cult TV favourite Wentworth.

29 - disc set includes Seasons 5-8 plus vintage interviews with the cast. With guest stars William Shatner and David Carradine .

Starring Catherine Bell . Includes the bonus feature-length specials ‘Spellbound’, ‘Tale of Two Hearts’ and ‘Curse From A Rose’.

Series 7 - 11 of one of the most loved and successful series of all time. Collection 1 also available!

MOVIE FEATURE

visit stack.com.au

spoken by Giuseppina, explaining, “Luckily, I came across a friend whose parents were from Naples, and he was taught as a little kid how to speak it. It’s just totally different. The things we maybe take a minute to say in sort of the standard Italian, they can get out in ten seconds. It was an interesting thing to do and a nice challenge.” With a stellar ensemble cast including Leslie Odom Jr, Corey Stoll and Billy Magnussen, several names in this prequel will be familiar to series’ fans: Tony’s mother, Livia, his uncle “Junior,” and even youthful gangsters Paulie “Walnuts” Gualtieri, Silvio Dante and Salvatore Bonpensiero, later to become seminal members of Tony’s crew. But all eyes, inevitably, are on Michael Gandolfini, even though

• The Many Saints of Newark is out on Feb 2

Serving as an origin story to the hit TV series The Sopranos , The Many Saints of Newark introduces us to an earlier generation of the criminal clan. Words Gill Pringle R ay Liotta is probably more synonymous with playing a mobster than any of the original TV cast SAINTS & SOPRANOS

he doesn’t feature as much as audiences might have hoped. Cast as the younger version of his father brought back many memories. “I remember running around the Sopranos set and the cast and the crew and everybody being so nice to me,” recalls the young actor who was actually at his father’s side when he died unexpectedly of a heart attack, aged 51, in Rome in 2013. “But I was sheltered from many of the scenes, so I didn’t really know what was going on. I just grew up with it, so I didn’t really know it was unusual,” says Gandolfini, who made his screen debut in Ocean’s 8 (2018). “I’m roughly the age of the show. I was born while they were filming the first season. I’d

DID YOU KNOW? • The film’s title comes from Dickie Moltisanti’s

family’s name, which means ‘many saints’ in English. • Ray Liotta turned down the role of Tony Soprano in The Sopranos , because he didn’t want to commit to a TV series. • Many Saints’ director Alan Taylor also helmed nine episodes of The Sopranos .

of The Sopranos – many of whom were relative unknowns when first cast in the award-winning series. And the veteran actor gets to do it again in the big screen prequel about the beloved mob family. Starring in the Sopranos’ origin story, The Many Saints of Newark , Liotta brings his mobster pedigree to Aldo “Hollywood Dick” Moltisanti in this throwback film featuring an earlier generation of the Sopranos and fellow mob, the Moltisantis. If the late, great James Gandolfini truly inhabited the role of Tony Soprano, it’s bittersweet to see his son Michael Gandolfini, 23, step into his father’s shoes to play a teenaged Tony during the ‘60s and ‘70s. He’s a sweet kid who attempts to bond with his uncle and mentor Dickie Moltisanti (Alessandro Nivola). With “Uncle Dickie” as a twisted role model, what’s a boy to do when his dad, Johnny Soprano (Jon Bernthal), is banged up in prison and his mum, Livia Soprano (Vera Farmiga), too distracted? The filmmakers were all huge fans of Liotta’s performance in Martin Scorsese’s Goodfellas , so he was always the first choice to play Dickie’s father, Aldo. The actor describes his character as a

Michael Gandolfini and Alessandro Nivola

mobster who once hobnobbed with celebrities, now taking a less active role in the family business. “I like to keep my fingers in it, but I’m not as involved as I used to be. I went over to Italy

come to the set and see my dad film funny, goofy scenes. He’d never let me see scenes that were really violent. Tony Soprano, to me, was some chubby guy walking down a street, getting the paper.”

and found myself a young, beautiful wife Giuseppina, and I want to show her off to my son. I’m feeling really proud and happy,” he says. However, when Aldo and his Neapolitan wife move into Dickie’s Newark duplex, long-simmering family tensions escalate, as Nivola’s Dickie also falls in love with his dad’s bride. Prior to filming, Liotta learned to speak some of the Neapolitan dialect

But he doesn’t want fans to think he’s emulating his father. “I was playing Tony, but I didn’t feel the pressure of having to recreate my dad; it was really about doing my job the best I could. I’m just excited for everyone to see it. It’s been a long time coming, but you just hope that you can do justice to the fans and to everyone who loved the series.”

FURTHER VIEWING

16 FEBRUARY 2022

jbhifi.com.au

FF

‘Best’ is a matter of perspective when it comes to Edgar Wright's films. While the logical starting point for the uninitiated would the Cornetto Trilogy, here are three titles that best represent the diversity of his work. HOT FUZZ BABY DRIVER THE WRIGHT STUFF 3 THE TOP TH WRIGHT STUFF THE WRIGHT STUFF This satirical take on the buddy cop movie is amongst the funniest films of all time, with more layers than last night's lasagna. Exploiting every conceivable trope of the genre, it demands repeat viewings to absorb all of its nuances. HOT FUZZ 3 3 THE TOP HOT FUZZ 3 THE TOP BABY DRIVER LAST NIGHT IN SOHO 3 2 3

FEATURE MOVIE

STACK looks back at the rise of celebrated British filmmaker EdgarWright ahead of the arrival of his new film, Last Night in Soho , on home entertainment formats this month. Words Glenn Cochrane E dgar Wright used to be that guy who made the Cornetto Trilogy. It was an easy way to describe him – following British THE WRIGHT STUFF 3 THE TOP 1

2

LAST NIGHT IN SOHO

1

3 THE TOP

BABY DRIVER

2

Like a wild cross between The Transporter and Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels , Wright’s crime movie out-drives The Fast and the Furious . Boasting a killer soundtrack, it’s the perfect movie to put your home theatre to the ultimate test. 3 2

LAST NIGHT IN SOHO HOT FUZZ

1

BABY DRIVER

cult comedy series Spaced (1999–2001), he made a big splash (or should we say, splat) in 2004 with Shaun of the Dead and followed that with Hot Fuzz (2007), before rounding the thematic three-piece off with The World's End (2013). The trilogy's moniker refers to a running gag of characters eating Cornetto ice creams in each movie, and became a motif that has dogged his career for years. It was clear from the outset that Wright’s talent would propel him onto the world stage, however the level of versatility and ingenuity that would underpin his subsequent work was something entirely unexpected. Not satisfied with simply pumping out silly satirical comedies, he has persistently delivered one banger after another, each leaving a permanent stamp on popular culture. In 2010, Wright proved he was capable of stepping beyond the British scene with Scott Pilgrim vs. the World – a highly stylised romantic action-comedy about a teen who must battle and defeat the seven ex-boyfriends of the girl he loves. Based on a comic book of the same name, it was a critical hit and went on to become one of the biggest cult movies of the decade. His next hit was Baby Driver in 2017 (but not before writing screenplays for Spielberg's The Adventures of Tin-Tin and Marvel's Ant-Man ), which told the story of a young getaway driver whose gift behind the wheel is dictated by a love of music. It was another highly stylised affair with a brand of action that was majestic 3 2 1

LAST NIGHT IN SOHO

1

Soho is a crockpot of action, romance and drama, which boils over into a nightmarish spiral of violence. With a finale far removed from its opening, it’s an odyssey packed to the brim with nostalgia and innovation, and perhaps Wright's most audacious and accomplished work to date.

EdgarWright and Anya Taylor-Joy on the set of Last Night in Soho

HOT FUZZ

and almost symphonic. Most importantly, it was unlike any of Wright’s previous films, yet still encapsulated the techniques and style that qualified him as a true auteur. Wright instilled confidence within his audience with the aforementioned films, which in turn amplified their expectations – his movies have now become ‘event viewing’. He had effectively navigated his career trajectory into the same stratosphere occupied by the likes of Quentin Tarantino, Paul Thomas Anderson and Richard Linklater, and his name alone affords him a rock star status. With the eyes of the world now watching his every move, Wright’s new film, Last Night in Soho (2021), would not only bolster his staying power, but also prove to be his most sophisticated feature to date.

that comes with it. Following the journey of a young fashion student living in London for the first time, the film explores a fantasy-realism trope as she begins to have visions of a woman from the 1960s, whose own ambitions lead her into a twisted world of sexism, misogyny and perversion. Before long, the visions become her reality as she eventually inhabits the woman's body and uncovers a violent crime. From his humble beginnings with Shaun of the Dead , all the way to Last Night in Soho and the music documentary feature The Sparks Brothers (2021), Edgar Wright's career has been as unpredictable as it has been eclectic. If your awareness of his work is limited to just the Cornetto Trilogy, then it’s in your best interests to keep going.

BABY DRIVER

Delving into the world of giallo (a particularly stylised genre of Italian horror-thrillers), Last Night in Soho spins a deliciously macabre tale of glitz and glamour and the price LAST NIGHT IN SOHO

• Last Night in Soho is out on Feb 23

17

MOVIE FEATURE

visit stack.com.au

Get ready for a bundle of laughs this month with Imprint bringing comedy classics featuring Peter Sellers, Jerry Lewis, Jack Lemmon andWalter Matthau to Blu-ray. Words Scott Hocking NEWFROM IMPRINT FILMS The Return of the Pink Panther (1975)

remade in 1999 with Steve Martin and Goldie Hawn, but the original, of course, remains the best. Extras include a new audio commentary by film historian Lee Gambin and the theatrical trailer. Legendary funnyman Jerry Lewis began his career at Paramount Pictures alongside Dean Martin before defecting to rival studio Columbia Pictures in 1966, where he hoped to land more serious roles. That didn't really happen, as the two comedies that comprise the Jerry Lewis at Columbia Limited Edition Hardbox Blu-ray set reveal. Lewis co-wrote, directed and starred in The Big Mouth (1967), playing an avid fisherman who reels in a diver who has hidden a stash of diamonds sought by the mob. Look out for cameos by Rob Reiner and Colonel Harland Sanders amongst the sight gags and slapstick shenanigans. The fishing

F ollowing an 11-year hiatus, Peter Sellers returned to his iconic role of bumbling Inspector Jacques Clouseau in The Return of the Pink Panther (1975), the fourth – and one of the best – films in the comedy series from director Blake Edwards. This installment finds Clouseau on the trail of the famous Pink Panther diamond, which appears to have been stolen by his arch nemesis, The Phantom (Christopher Plummer, replacing David Niven in the role), after incriminating

The Odd Couple (1968)

theme continues in Hook, Line & Sinker (1969), with Lewis as an insurance guy who's diagnosed with a terminal

evidence is found at the scene. Cue a series of globetrotting escapades and, of course, the animated opening title sequence to the tune of Henry Mancini's beloved theme. Extras include

illness and sets out on a world fishing trip while

HD, including Password and The Fat Farm , which featured in TV Guide 's 100 Greatest Episodes of All-Time. Lemmon and Matthau would return to the roles 30 years later for sequel The Odd Couple II (1998), also scripted by Simon, which sent them on a road trip to attend the wedding of their kids. Extras across

clocking up insurmountable debt. Extras include audio commentaries (TBC), theatrical trailers, photo galleries, isolated music and effects tracks, a Super 8 edit of The Big Mouth , and more. Last, but by no means least, is The Bad News Bears in Breaking Training (1977), the sequel to the much-loved 1976 baseball comedy that featured Walter Matthau as a boozy little league coach. This time it's William Devane who's tasked with coaching the Bears to a win at an exhibition game at the Houston Astrodome. Look out, too, for Jackie Earl Haley in an early role as Devane's estranged son. This forgotten comedy boasts a considerable cult following and returns in HD along with a new audio commentary by film historian Scott Harrison and the theatrical trailer. "Let them play!"

an audio commentary by Jason Simes of the Peter Sellers Appreciation Society, vintage featurette and theatrical trailer. The Odd Couple Collection compiles the film and TV adaptations of Neil Simon's acclaimed 1965 stage play in a 3-disc set housed in Limited Edition Hardbox packaging. The Odd Couple (1968) features one of the screen's great comedy double acts in Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau, playing a pair of divorced friends who decide to share a Manhattan apartment and inevitably drive each other crazy. This comedy gem and perennial fan favourite was Oscar-nominated for Best Screenplay (by Neil Simon) and inspired a 1970s TV series – starring Tony Randall and Jack Klugman – that ran for five seasons. The Odd Couple on Television: Classic Episodes presents ten of the show's best for the very first time in

the three discs include audio commentaries; featurettes; a new interview with Odd Couple II director Howard Deutch; TV series' gag reel and promos; plus two documentaries – Jack Lemmon: America's Everyman (1996) and Walter Matthau: Diamond in the Rough (1997) – and more. Jack Lemmon and Neil Simon teamed up again in 1970 for The Out-of-Towners , a lively farce that centres on the misadventures of a Midwestern married couple (Lemmon and Sandy Dennis) who are en route to New York for a job interview when a redirected flight throws their trip into chaos. This '70s comedy classic was

• The new Imprint range is out on Feb 23 for a limited time only (while stocks last).

18 FEBRUARY 2022

jbhifi.com.au

A FILM BY EDGAR WRIGHT, THE DIRECTOR OF BABY DRIVER

ANYA TAYLOR-JOY

THOMASIN M C KENZIE

NEW TO BLU-RAY TM & DVD

ONLY AT

Strong themes, bloody violence and coarse language

WHILE STOCKS LAST

© 2021 Focus Features LLC and Perfect Universe Investment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

PREMIERE AT HOME MOREMOVIES STRAIGHT TOTHE COMFORTOF YOUR COUCH!

Told with Schrader’s trademark cinematic intensity, The Card Counter tells the story of an ex-military interrogator turned gambler haunted by the ghosts of his past. Release date 16 February Cast Oscar Isaac, Tiffany Haddish & Willem Dafoe In themood for a REVENGE THRILLER

Deadlock crashes though the incredible highs, heartbreak, camaraderie, laughs and bittersweet sorrow of what it is to be a teenager. Release date 23 February Cast Patrick Muldoon, Bruce Willis & Matthew Marsden In themood for an ACTION-PACKEDADVENTURE FILM

The government is asking Eiffel to design something spectacular for the 1889 Paris World Fair, but Eiffel simply wants to design the subway. Suddenly, everything changes when Eiffel crosses paths with a mysterious woman from Arun’s past. Release date 23 February Cast Romain Duris, Emma Mackey & Pierre Deladonchamps In themood for a HISTORICAL BIOGRAPHY

Join The Beach Boy’s Brian Wilson on an intimate journey through his legendary career as he reminisces with Rolling Stone editor and longtime friend, Jason Fine. Release date 23 February Cast Brian Wilson, Elton John & Bruce Springsteen In themood for a NOSTALGICMUSIC DOCUMENTARY

WHILE STOCKS LAST

AVAILABLE AT

© 2022 Universal Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Australia Pty Limited. All Rights Reserved.

TV FEATURE

visit stack.com.au

Douglas Adams

DoctorWho ‘s 17th season saw the brilliant creator of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy , Douglas Adams, join the production team as script editor during a turbulent time for the programme. Words Scott Hocking O riginally broadcast September– December 1979, the last season of seventies’ Doctor Who is notable for a number of reasons. action shut down production. THE HITCHHIKER’S GUIDE TO DOCTOR WHO

LallaWard andTom Baker

COMING SOON The next series of classic Doctor Who to be collected in a limited edition Blu-ray set is Colin Baker’s debut season as the sixth Doctor. Season 22 features a host of iconic monsters – Daleks, Cybermen, Sontarans – as well as the return of second Doctor Patrick Troughton and his companion, Jamie (Frazer Hines). The box set will contain all six stories – Attack of the Cybermen , Vengeance on Varos, The Mark of the Rani, The Two Doctors, Timelash and Revelation of the Daleks – along with all-new and archival bonus material including a brand copies of the Mona Lisa so that his future self can sell them to fund time travel technology. It also features an amusing cameo from John Cleese as an art critic. The result was one of the all-time classic Who stories and received the highest-ever ratings for an episode at the time, with 16.1 million viewers tuning in for Part Four. Things get decidedly bonkers in The Creature from the Pit , not least the eponymous monster, while Nightmare of Eden features muppet-like creatures but another strong sci-fi concept – storing living alien specimens on laser crystals in an electric zoo. And pantomime-like story The Horns of Nimon a whole lot of fun. Ultimately, Adams was unable to juggle his Hitchhiker’s Guide commitments and Doctor Who simultaneously, departing the position of script editor at the end of the season. His tenure may have been short but this late, great and wildly imaginative writer left an indelible production values and over the top performances make penultimate imprint on the series.

Fortunately, the recent trend of animating lost Doctor Who stories meant that Shada could finally be completed by combining the existing footage with animation

It was the last hurrah for producer GrahamWilliams after three years at the

City of Death

helm; it introduced newly regenerated companion Romana in the shape of Lalla Ward (who would ultimately marry Tom Baker); and K9 didn’t sound quite right following the

voiced by the original cast. The version included in the Season 17 Collection Blu-ray Set has been updated from its previous stand-alone release, featuring enhanced animation and presented in six episodes for the very first time, alongside the original 1992 VHS edit and 2017 version. The release of Star Wars in 1977 would also influence the direction of Doctor Who that year. A game changer for visual effects, the BBC subsequently requested flashier FX for “tea money”, according to visual effects designer Matt Irvine. Season 17 may feature some shoddy sets and daft looking monsters, but that’s always been part of the appeal of classic Doctor Who . It’s the writing that really stands out, and many of the stories in S17 are no exception. Adams’ love of high concepts is particularly evident in City of Death (which he co-wrote with producer Williams), about an alien (played by the great Julian Glover) who commissions Leonardo Da Vinci to paint multiple

departure of regular voice actor John Leeson. But it’s the involvement of Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy author Douglas Adams that really gives Season 17 its shine. Adams had written a story for the previous season of Doctor Who, The Pirate Planet , which displayed his sharp wit, flair for killer one-liners, and intellect for hard science fiction concepts – elements that would infuse the 26 episodes of Season 17. Kicking off with the return of

Davros and the Daleks in Destiny of the Daleks , the six stories that comprise Season 17 are a mixed bag, but that’s more a reflection of the turbulent time in which the show was being produced. The late 1970s saw the UK economy in meltdown and consequently, the Doctor Who budget (never a lot to begin with) was drastically cut. Moreover, the epic six-part finale, Shada – written by Adams – was left unfinished after industrial

new documentary on The Two Doctors , updated special effects for Timelash , exclusive new audio commentaries, extended episodes, and much more.

PRE-ORDER your copy today.

• Doctor Who : Season 17 Collection is out on Feb

23 for a limited time only, while stocks last

Doctor Who images © BBC

20 FEBRUARY 2022

jbhifi.com.au

MOVIES & TV PREVIEWS

visit stack.com.au

OUT THIS MONTH FEBRUARY

MOVIES & TV SHOWS

ENCANTO A very musical affair, Disney's latest animated treat features new songs from Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda. The movie introduces the Madrigal family,

MALIGNANT Director James Wan returns to the horror genre with this fright- filled, R-rated shocker. A nurse (Annabelle Wallis) dealing with

domestic abuse suddenly finds herself paralysed by shocking visions of grisly murders. Her

who are blessed with unique gifts – from super strength to the power to heal – except for one child, Mirabel

torment worsens as she discovers that these waking dreams are in fact terrifying realities. Malignant is a grim and gruesome homage to '80s horror flicks.

(voiced by Brooklyn Nine-Nine ’s Stephanie Beatriz). A fabulously feel-good flick that will have the kids singing along.

ANIMATED

HORROR

2/2/22

2/2/22

DEAR EVAN HANSEN This movie adaptation of the Tony- and Grammy-winning musical follows an anxious, isolated high schooler aching for

THE BOSS BABY: FAMILY BUSINESS The Boss Baby (Alec Baldwin) is all grown up now and all kinds of successful. A reunion with his brother Tim (James Marsden) and

understanding and belonging amid the chaos and cruelty of the social-media age. Original Broadway star Ben Platt reprises the role of Evan, and the songs are courtesy of Benj Pasek and Justin Paul ( La La Land and The Greatest Showman ).

family triggers a plot that temporarily returns the brothers to their infant forms for 48 hours, and sends them on a mission to infiltrate BabyCorp and defeat the schemes of a nefarious professor (Jeff Goldblum). More off-the-wall hijinks for kids who loved the original.

MUSICAL

ANIMATED

23/2/22

16/2/22

WENTWORTH: SEASON 8, PART 2 The eighth and final season of the iconic Aussie prison series won't disappoint its legion of devotees. Allie returns to the prison

BROOKLYN NINE-NINE: SEASON 8 All good things must come to an end, and that includes this ace series. In the final season of the Golden Globe award-winning cop-comedy sensation, Jake

after her near-fatal shivving, grappling with her new reality. Believing Lou is responsible, Marie manipulates Sheila’s hatred of Lou, while the Freak finds it increasingly difficult to control her desire for revenge – which is exactly how fans like it!

(Andy Samberg) and his loveable colleagues face a challenging year both personally and professionally, as the squad report for duty one last time. Expect loads of laughs,

tears, and the return of many familiar faces.

TV DRAMA

TV COMEDY

2/2/22

16/2/22

THE CARD COUNTER Writer-director Paul Schrader ( First Reformed ) helms this stylish and measured character drama. Oscar Isaac plays the title role,

ZEROS AND ONES Ethan Hawke plays a US soldier on a mission to prevent an imminent terrorist bombing in Rome. Navigating the capital's darkened,

a lost soul who learned to count cards while serving eight years in a military prison for war crimes. Haunting the casinos, he is offered a shot at redemption by a gambling acquaintance, taking him all the

pandemic-stricken streets, he must uncover the unknown enemy and stop them before they can bring the city and the world to its knees. Cult filmmaker Abel Ferrara ( Bad Lieutenant, The Driller Killer ) directs

way to the World Series Poker tournament.

this tense and gritty conspiracy thriller.

DRAMA

THRILLER

16/2/22

2/2/22

FOXTROT SIX In a dystopian future, an ex-marine rebels against the government and forms a squad of six – comprised of elite military

DROP DEAD FRED This 1991 fantasy-comedy was a star vehicle for Rik Mayall, playing an imaginary friend who returns to unleash anarchy on the life of his

comrades. Together, they fight to save their country from a ruthless political party that's prepared to wipe out its own people in the quest for power. This sci-fi action thriller is executive produced by the legendary Mario Kassar ( First Blood, Total Recall , T2 ).

– now adult – childhood pal (Phoebe Cates). Overlooked on initial release, DDF has since developed a devoted cult following who will be thrilled by this special edition Blu-ray that's

loaded with extras, including director's commentary, featurettes, deleted scenes and an alternate ending.

ACTION

COMEDY

9/2/22

2/2/22

22 FEBRUARY 2022

jbhifi.com.au