STACK #160 Feb 2018

YOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO CINEMA, DVDs, GAMES & MUSIC

.com.au

ISSUE 160 Feb ’18

stack.com.au

BE BAD THIS FEBRUARY

DETROIT • BLACK PANTHER • SHADOW OF THE COLOSSUS

YOURMONTHLY GAMES GUIDE TOWHAT’S IN-STORE AT

at stack.com.au

Sign up for your

see inside for more details COMPET I T I ONS • •

at stack.com.au

AVAILABLE AT

WHILE STOCKS LAST

© 2018 Universal Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Australia Pty Limited. All Rights Reserved.

visit stack.com.au

Contributors

Founder Nic Short Editor-in-Chief Paul Jones Film & DVD Editor Scott Hocking

Music Editor Zoë Radas StaffWriter Alesha Kolbe

Issue 160 FEBRUARY 2018

Creative Director Michelle Black DVD Consultant Kerrie Taylor Games Consultant Andre Eivik Music Consultant Mike Glynn Tech Consultant Chris Allen Marketing Manager Fleur Parker Chief Contributors Bob Jones , Gill Pringle Contributors Amy Flower, Jeff Jenkins, Simon Lukic, Billy Pinnell, Jennifer Dou, Denise Hylands, Simon Winkler, Adam Colby, Tim Lambert, Jake Cleland, Holly Pereira, Jayden Perry, Samantha Baldry Social Media Manager Sally Carlier-Hull Production Manager Craig Patterson Production Assistant Alan Netherclift

WELCOME We’re right in the middle of movie awards season with the big kahuna, the Academy Awards, unfurling in early March. Amidst the Golden Globes, the SAGs, PGAs and BAFTAs, the Oscars still stands at the pinnacle, not just of achievement and prestige, but of media attention and focus. Now in its 90th year, public access to the event is unprecedented, with social media coverage tracking and delivering practically every second of the ceremony. Cinephiles and critics line-up next to couture vultures, ready to dissect every win, step, statement and stitch. Each year the same question arises: are the Academy Awards still relevant? Are we really interested in all the saccharine, self-congratulatory pats on the backs of Hollywood’s elite, adorned in Armani suits and Dior dresses? It’s easy to be cynical about the Oscars: the predictability of the winners, the diplomatic selections, and its use as a political platform is a recurrent feature. But the nominees are usually a good representation of Hollywood’s strongest productions for the year, as voted by close to 7,000 Academy members. They don’t always get the winners right, but by and large the nominations are on point. And amidst all the glitz, glam, laborious speeches, and inevitable fashion faux pas, the Oscars still draws attention to the filmmaking business, and all of its different facets. In a world where any free time is competing with a myriad of entertainment options, it keeps movies where they should be: front and centre. Paul Jones, Editor-in-Chief

stack.com.au

Correspondence STACK P.O. Box 2051, Richmond, VIC 3121

RATINGS GUIDE

Disclaimer STACK is published by Scribal Custom Pty Ltd (ACN 092 362 135). © Copyright Scribal Custom Pty Ltd, 2018 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.

The large print giveth, the small print taketh away. “I’m just gonna assume you’re all criminals.”

OWN IT ON BLU-RAY TM

& DVD FEB 7

© 2017STXFinancing,LLC.AllRightsReserved.

NEW ON BLU-RAY ™ & DVD AT

FEBRUARY 14 *WHILESTOCKS LAST

COMPL ETE YOUR COL L ECT I ON THE COMPL ETE SEASONS 1 & 2 ALSO AVA I LABL E

Fear the Walking Dead © 2017 AMC Film Holdings LLC. Artwork & Supplementary Materials are ™, ® & © 2017 AMC Network Entertainment LLC. All Rights Reserved. Packaging © Entertainment One UK Limited 2017. All Rights Reserved.

stack.com.au

Issue 160 FEBRUARY 2018

Games Pages 41 - 63

Music Pages 1 - 27

Extras Pages 8 / 20 - 21

Cinema Pages 10 - 18

DVD & BD Pages 22 - 38

22-23 BAD MOMS 2 In a STACK exclusive, Kristen Bell talks about reprising the role of Kiki in the comedy sequel. 24-25 DETROIT We met with the stars of Kathryn Bigelow’s topical new drama – Will Poulter and Anthony Mackie. 26 THE DEUCE From the producers of The Wire comes a bold new series exploring New York’s seedy 42nd Street strip, circa 1971. 28 6 BELOW The incredible true story of Eric LeMarque, the former NHL star who survived for eight days in a freezing wilderness. 30-34 REVIEWS Bad Moms 2, Daddy’s Home 2, Detroit, Suburbicon, Goodbye Christopher Robin, Walking Dead: S3, Doctor Who: Twice Upon a Time, and more. 36-37 4K UHD GUIDE Discover the dazzling world of 4K Ultra HD with these starter packages. Wonder, Jigsaw, The Deuce: S1, Fear the

10-11 BLACK PANTHER We visited the top secret Atlanta set of the progressive and groundbreaking new Marvel movie. 12 DEN OF THIEVES Gerard Butler and 50 Cent give us their two cents on the set of their new heist thriller. 14 INSIDIOUS: THE LAST KEY Fear is the key in the fourth installment of the hit horror franchise. 16-17 REVIEWS The Shape of Water, The Post, The Commuter, Molly’s Game, Maze Runner: The Death Cure 18 COMING IN 2018 Spielberg, superheroes, dinosaurs and Deadpool – it’s going to be a big year on the big screen!

YOUR ESSENTIALGUIDE TO CINEMA,DVDs,GAMES&MUSIC

YOUR ESSENTIALGUIDE TO CINEMA,DVDs,GAMES&MUSIC

stack.com.au

.com.au

.com.au

ISSUE 160 Feb ’18

ISSUE 160 Feb ’18

MUSIC

stack.com.au

stack.com.au

BEBADTHISFEBRUARY

OUTNOW!

THEWOMBATS • FRANZ FERDINAND • ALICE IVY

DETROIT • BLACK PANTHER • SHADOWOF THECOLOSSUS

YOURMONTHLY GAMES GUIDE TOWHAT’S IN-STORE AT

YOURMONTHLY GAMES GUIDE TOWHAT’S IN-STORE AT

at stack.com.au

at stack.com.au

at stack.com.au

Sign up for your

Sign up for your

see inside formore details COMPETITIONS • O •

see inside formore details COMPETITIONS • P •

YOURMONTHLY GAMES GUIDE TOWHAT’S IN-STORE AT

at stack.com.au

at stack.com.au

8 EXTRAS Some fun facts about those Bad Moms, and what RoboCop and Dressed to Kill star Nancy Allen is up to these days. 20-21 BOB J An Oscar, a John Wayne turkey, and a brave finale for Susan Hayward, as told in the concluding chapter on this Forgotten Star of Hollywood’s Golden Age.

42-45 INTRO February at a glance. 46-47 SHADOW OF THE COLOSSUS The action-adventure game hits consoles for the third time. 48 COMING IN 2018: PT2 What will we be playing this year? 50-51 SWITCH GAMES Here are a few titles you might’ve missed on the Switch. 54-55 DLC Ever wondered how the DLC in your favourite games comes together? 56 MINDFREAK We talk Rainbow Six Siege with Mindfreak. 63 OUT THIS MONTH Shadow of the Colossus, EA Sports UFC 3, Dynasty Warriors 9, and more.

4-13 INTERVIEWS We spoke with Franz Ferdinand, Marlon

Williams, Shannon Noll, Ruby Boots, Alice Ivy, The Bennies, Hockey Dad and several more. 14 FALL OUT BOY Rejoicing in the release of Fall Out Boy’s seventh studio album M A N I A , we take a nostalgic look back into the pop-punk act’s first four albums. 18-24 ALBUM REVIEWS DZ Deathrays, Joan As Police Woman, Hockey Dad, Montero, Ruby Boots, Tim Hart, The Wombats, U.S. Girls, Superorganism, and a sackload more.

Download the STACK App It’s FREE!

QUIZ, COMPETITIONS & STACK SOCIAL on pages 64 & 65

DIRECTOR’S EXTENDED EDITION

JAMIE FOXX

EDDIE MURPHY and BEYONCÉ KNOWLES

20TH ANNIVERSARY

Introducing ACADEMY AWARD® Winner JENNIFER HUDSON

006 JANUARY 2018 © 2006 DreamWorks LLC and Paramount Pictures. All Rights Reserved. • PHOTOBOOK with select song lyrics • TheatricalFeatureFilm • Director’s ExtendedEdition • JenniferHudson’s NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN auditionand screen test footage • BuildingTheDream/DreamLogic:FilmEditing/ DressingTheDreams:CostumeDesign/CentreStage:TheatricalLighting/ AuditionsandScreenTests/PrevisualizationSequences WHILESTOCKS LAST.

AVAILABLE ON BLU-RAY ™

AVAILABLE ON DVD

FEBRUARY 7 AT

FEBRUARY 7 ONLY AT

jbhifi.com.au WHILE STOCKS LAST.

© 2007 Polygram Film Productions BV. All Rights Reserved.

THE GAME CONTINUES

NEW TO BLU-RAY ™ AND DVD AT FEBRUARY 7

*WHILE STOCKS LAST

Strong themes and strong horror violence

© 2018 Universal Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Australia Pty Limited. All Rights Reserved.

IMMERSE YOURSELF IN THE WORLD OF

FOR THE ULTIMATE MOVIE WATCHING EXPERIENCE

© 2018 Universal Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Australia Pty Limited. All Rights Reserved.

AVAILABLE FEBRUARY 7 AT

WHILE STOCKS LAST

EXTRAS NEWS

visit stack.com.au

BAD MOMS 2 FUN FACTS

Kathryn Hahn, Mila Kunis and Kristen Bell are all friends in real life, which translates to great screen chemistry.

There have been rumours surrounding a 'Bad Dads' spin- off ever since the original film, but it doesn’t seem to have progressed.

Kathryn Hahn (Carla) wrote Susan Sarandon (Isis) a personal letter requesting that she play her mother.

Also known as A Bad Moms Christmas in the US.

Mila Kunis emigrated from Ukraine with her parents when she was seven years old.

Kenny G makes a cameo appearance.

Bad Moms 2 grossed over US$129 million at the box office, from a production budget of $28 million.

This film marks the third collaboration

between Mila Kunis and Kristen Bell – including the original Bad Moms and Forgetting Sarah Marshall.

Whatever Happened to...

Mark Hamill @HamillHimself George Lucas called @StarWars "the most

NANCY ALLEN

expensive low-budget movie ever made". John Williams' classic score gave the film an epic grandeur & gravitas far beyond its humble beginnings & for that, we all will remain forever grateful. #ThankYouMrWilliams Principal photography is well underway on Sony's Spider-Man spin-off Venom , with our first look at Tom Hardy as Eddie Brock recently surfacing on the web. While it doesn't tell us a lot (and could well be a pic of Hardy in anything), the actor In production

Sci-fi fans know her as Officer Anne Lewis from RoboCop (1987) and its two sequels, as well as time travel adventure The Philadelphia Experiment (1984) and 1950s homage Strange Invaders (1983). Brian De Palma devotees love her as the bitchy Chris Hargensen, who dumped pig's blood on the prom queen in Carrie (1976); the stock market-savvy call girl turned amateur sleuth in Dressed to Kill (1980); and the young woman drawn into a mystery alongside John Travolta's sound technician in Blow Out (1981). She also played Carol Anne's aunt in Poltergeist III (1988), and following a supporting role in Steven Soderbergh's Out of Sight (1998) and the indignity of Children of the Corn 666: Isaac's Revenge (1999), Nancy Allen vanished from the screen, aside from the odd TV appearance and a role in the little seen indie film My Apocalypse (2008). These days she devotes her life to breast cancer awareness and is an executive director of the weSPARK Cancer Support Centre. "I haven't quit but I'm not going to do anything unless something comes along and I get excited about it," Allen has said of her ten-year hiatus from acting. "I hope it does. I miss acting. I love acting. I was recently at Universal, doing a fundraiser, and it reminded me of the first time walking onto a soundstage, going, 'Oh! This is where I belong.'"

had this to say when promoting the film at Brazil's Comic-Con Experience: “I just wanted to say that I give you my word of honour that I’m going to do everything that I can to deliver the best Venom that I possibly can muster." Directed by Ruben Fleischer ( Zombieland ), Venom is scheduled for an October 2018 release and will also star Michelle Williams, Riz Ahmed and possibly Woody Harrelson.

• The Robocop Trilogy is out on DVD and Blu-ray

“That's often the stuff that goes away because people are concerned that the audience might be bored. Some people are going to be bored with what I do, and that's fine. It's not for them. I'm completely comfortable not chasing the biggest audience. If 20 per cent watch this movie and think it's kind of boring, and are just waiting for the violence, that's ok – they're also the people who think that stuff is the best stuff. ”

S. Craig Zahler The director of Brawl in Cell Block 99 is refreshingly honest about his slow burn approach to building drama and character...

008

FEBRUARY 2018

jbhifi.com.au

CTC Check the classification OWN IT ON BLU-RAY ™ & DVD FROM FEBRUARY 28 AT while stocks last wondermovie.com.au Roadshow

wondermovie.com.au

Roadshow

Directed by GEORGE CLOONEY

MA 15+ Not suitable for people under 15.

©2017SUBURBICONBLACK,LLC.ALLRIGHTSRESERVED. Under 15s must be accompanied by a parent or adult guardian OWN IT ON BLU-RAY ™ & DVD FROM FEBRUARY 7 AT while stocks last

CINEMA FEATURE

visit stack.com.au

T wo years after #OscarsSoWhite has become an unlikely ambassador of change, delivering a long overdue cinematic breakthrough in the shape of Black Panther . Directed by Ryan Coogler, Black Panther stars some of the most talented black actors working today, featuring Chadwick Boseman as our eponymous hero alongside Get Out ’s Daniel Kaluuya, Michael B. Jordan, This Is Us’ Sterling K. Brown, Letitia Wright, The Walking Dead ’s Danai Gurira, and Oscar-winner Lupita Nyong’o. Rounding out the cast with veteran stars Forest Whitaker and Angela Bassett, mo-cap maestro Andy Serkis and Martin Freeman Making his comic book debut in 1966, the Black Panther’s inauguration clashed with the founding of the Black Panther Party, causing the comic's creators to distance themselves and re-name him the Black Leopard. But the title didn’t stick, and he soon reverted to his original name. A Black Panther film has been a long time in the making. Over the years, Wesley Snipes, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Anthony Mackie, Djimon Hounsou and John Boyega were all considered for the role of T’Challa, aka Black Panther, while John Singleton was previously attached to direct a version that would have seen Chiwetel Ejiofor as the lead. More recently, Ava DuVernay was approached to direct, although her vision didn’t gel with Marvel’s almighty Kevin Feige and the task fell to Coogler, 31, who received early acclaim with Fruitvale Station , following up that success by directing Sly Stallone to a Rocky comeback in Creed . Coogler’s story opens with T’Challa returning home to the isolated, technologically advanced African nation of Wakanda, where he will succeed to the throne following the death of his father. Fans were treated to a glimpse of the exotic nation at the end of Captain America: Civil War, although STACK ventures deeper into Wakanda when we visit Black Panther ’s top secret set in Atlanta. Wakanda is a century ahead of the rest of the world, thanks to the mountain of indestructible mineral Vibranium its people have been mining for centuries. The super- became the shameful hashtag of the award season, the Marvel Universe serve as rare white faces, portraying a terrorist mercenary and CIA agent, respectively.

STACK visited the top secret set of Black Panther and discovered a progressive and groundbreaking Marvel movie in the making. Words Gill Pringle

010

FEBRUARY 2018

jbhifi.com.au

CINEMA

FEATURE

facts

Black Panther holds the record

for the biggest first day ticket presales of any Marvel movie.

The film’s soundtrack is curated and produced by Kendrick Lamar – DAMN, HUMBLE. Black Panther will be the 18th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Following Black Panther is Avengers: Infinity War , which will bring everyone – Captain America, The Winter Soldier, the Falcon, Black Widow, Star-Lord, Thor, Iron Man, Spider-Man, et al – together to bring down the chaotic titan Thanos. Black Panther made his first comic book appearance in Fantastic Four #52 in 1966. Vibranium – which is mined in Wakanda and is the source of the nation’s prosperity – is a ‘sound- absorbing element’. The region of Wakanda contains a number of religious cults based on Heliopolitan gods of Ancient Egypt. Black Panther is the first black superhero to appear in American mainstream comic books, predating both Luke Cage and the Green Lantern.

Director Ryan Coogler and Chadwick Boseman

T'Challa is a complex and very real character

With her head proudly shaven, Gurira relishes her

metal is used for Captain America’s shield and Black Panther’s bulletproof suit. In the best shape of his life, Boseman ripples a mighty six-pack as we

role as Okoye. “She is sort of betrothed to the throne, so she doesn’t marry; it is a very deep vocation. Not only is she head of T’Challa’s national armed forces, she is also his intelligence

witness a fearsome fight scene. “T’Challa is a complicated and very

and considered as the nation’s next greatest fighter after him.” Fighting words from

real character; I have to learn an accent and a different language. It’s a very emotional storyline, which is unusual for superhero movies,” says the actor who reprises his role in the next Avengers movie. “There’s also a lot of technology involved in playing the character, so you feel like you’re in a sci-fi film too. It’s interesting that he is a superhero despite the fact there is a political aspect to the movie.” Boseman is cognisant of the importance of Black Panther ’s role in black film history. “As a black actor you always have to think about image because there’s usually so many negative image choices being made on your behalf; so many ignorant choices being made because people don’t realise what they’re doing or what they’re saying. But the luxury with this is not having to worry that it's going to look bad on black people, because we have a black director and black cast.” The film also boasts a powerful cast of women. Bassett plays T’Challa’s mother Ramonda; Wright is his sister, Shuri; and Nyong’o his lover, Nakia; while Gurira leads the Dora Milaje, Wakanda’s all-female Secret Service.

Gurira, whose combat training will have fans throwing down their Wonder Woman bracelets and taking up spears instead.

Black Panther is in cinemas on February 15

Stan Lee and Jack Kirby co-

created the Black Panther.

011

CINEMA FEATURE

visit stack.com.au

Is there anything this versatile Scotsman can't do?

SINGING Butler belted out those Andrew Lloyd Webber numbers like he was Michael Crawford, in the film version of Phantom of the Opera .

Suited up in body armour and clutching a formidable assault rifle, Gerard Butler takes a break to chat with STACK on the Atlanta set of gritty crime thriller, Den of Thieves . Words Gill Pringle P ortraying a member of an elite unit of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Dept (with Atlanta doubling for LA), Gerard Butler their code of honour is stricter than ours. “My character, Nick Flanagan, is a fantastic

policeman, but he is very conflicted. He’s probably an addict, he parties way too much and has a very myopic view of this world where he lives for his work and the danger. For him it’s all about winning and being the alpha male, the top dog. He will do anything to get ahead.” 50 Cent is chilling in his trailer when we meet him. Admittedly he’s not the most patient of actors. “To me Hollywood is about ‘hurry up and wait‘. Hurry up and wait for someone to give you an opportunity to show how good you are. But I didn’t want to wait. I can’t actually wait. I’m busy. There’s sh-t to do,” says the rap icon who made his screen debut as an actor 13 years ago in Get Rich or Die Tryin’ , a year later co-starring with Samuel L. Jackson and Jessica Biel in Home of the Brave. He’s grateful he broke into acting after he became famous, rather than having to go out on auditions. “I got the luxury of being rich before this sh-t starts. I have to remind people, ‘You’re lucky I’m talking to you, motherf–ker. Get out of my face, alright?’ I need them to make appointments to talk to me. Call me tomorrow at 12, alright? Don’t talk to me right now,” says 50 Cent, who cites Robert De Niro and Al Pacino as his movie idols, co-starring with them in 2008’s Righteous Kill. Born Curtis Jackson, he’s nonchalant about the ups and downs of his career, which involves various feuds, arrests and bankruptcies. “When I do something great they call me a ‘music mogul, entertainer’. I f–k up and they say ‘rapper 50 Cent’. You go right back to rapper.” For Butler, one of the highlights of making Den of Thieves was an opportunity to visit the real Federal Reserve where billions of dollars

and his team are tasked with apprehending the state’s most successful bank robbery crew, who now have their sights set on the impenetrable Federal Reserve in downtown LA. But there’s a thin line between the good and bad guys in this film and nobody is quite who they seem. The directorial debut of screenwriter Christian Gudegast, whom Butler first met when he wrote the screenplay for London Has Fallen , the film also stars 50 Cent, Orange is the New Black ’s Pablo Schreiber and O’Shea Jackson Jr., who made his impressive film debut portraying his dad Ice Cube in Straight Outta Compton . “There’s two tribes in this movie,

SAVING THE DAY London and Olympus fell, and Butler was there to pick them up again. He's also saved the planet from a hacked weather-control satellite.

KEEPING A STRAIGHT FACE In spite of his risible dialogue and plastic armour, Butler remained resolutely professional as Set in Gods of Egypt .

and both fall in close line on each side of the law,” explains Butler, no stranger to playing complicated heroes. “In a lot of ways our guys are no better than the bad guys in this film and, in some ways,

In a lot of ways our guys are no better than the bad guys

are recycled every day. “There was one room that literally had trillions of dollars in there,” he says, eyes widening. “It was interesting to see all the safeguards in place, and even though they know we’re there making a movie, they never once let us out of their sight. So if our guide ever had to turn away, they had another guard behind us to make sure none of us were looking at the wrong things.” And, of course Butler couldn’t resist taking a peek. “Listen, I’m a bad boy, I’m always going to look at the wrong things. I wanted to sneak away and go down a corridor. But it was just incredible to see the amount of money that’s destroyed every day, which is kind of what’s cool. Normally it’s about stealing money, but with this it's like, ‘Let’s go and take the money that nobody’s going to use anyway’.”

Den of Thieves is in cinemas on February 1

012

FEBRUARY 2018

jbhifi.com.au

CINEMA FEATURE

visit stack.com.au

MEMORABLE MOMENTS

KINGPIN (1996) Shaye's ghastly landlady offers Woody Harrelson an indecent proposal in lieu of paying the rent.

STACK braved a visit to the set of Insidious:The Last Key , the fourth film in the hit horror franchise. Words Gill Pringle U nless you’re Meryl Streep or Susan Sarandon, it’s tough getting hired as a sixty-something actress. through four installments, even if her character has died and been resurrected throughout the franchise.

“I think what makes these films so relatable is that they are supernatural stories which also deal with family, personal issues and pain; things we all have in our own lives,” she says. While earlier chapters starred Rose Byrne and Patrick Wilson, this fourth film puts Shaye front and centre. It's directed by newcomer Adam Robitel and written by series creator, Australia’s own Leigh Whannell.

But here’s another name for the list: Lin Shaye, today reprising her role as parapsychologist Elise Raine in Insidious: The Last Key , the fourth movie in this popular low- budget horror franchise. At 74 years-old, Shaye isn’t just a scream queen for the ages – with notable roles in A Nightmare on Elm Street, Ouija, Critters and Amityville: A New Generation – she’s also enjoyed a hugely successful

THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT MARY (1998) Shaye's orange and leathery Magda almost manages to upstage Ben Stiller's infamous hair-gel moment.

Best known for writing films directed by his friend James Wan, including Insidious, Saw and Dead Silence , the Melbourne actor-writer made his own directorial debut in 2015 with Insidious: Chapter 3. However, he is in no rush to direct another one: “I felt like I got it out of my system with the third one, and I wanted to give someone

comedy career appearing in most of the Farrelly brothers’ comedies including There’s

What makes these films so relatable is that they are supernatural stories which also deal with family

Something About Mary, Dumb and Dumber and Stuck on You . “This second chapter of my career leaves me speechless because it’s

DETROIT ROCK CITY (1999) God-fearing mother Mrs. Bruce will do anything to stop her teenaged son from seeing a Satanic band like KISS.

totally unexpected,” Shaye tells STACK during our visit the set of Insidious: The Last Key, deep in the suburbs of Los Angeles.

Whannell couldn’t do his job if he wasn’t a believer, he argues. “Too many people, who I don’t think have a reason to lie, have told me ghost stories. Relatives who I don’t believe would have the imagination or the inclination to make it up have told me some pretty amazing stories. I don’t know if I believe anything concrete, but I believe there’s some sort of energy that I think could, after you die, transmit itself in the form of, like, you could look over and see your grandfather standing there; I think that could be his energy reaching you. There’s a million explanations for it, but I definitely believe in something.” Shaye has the last word. “My favourite expression is: It's only just the beginning. This career is without end and you still need to keep on using everything you have to begin again.” With roles in no less than five upcoming horror movies, you better believe her.

else a chance. Plus my role as Specs is a lot bigger in this than in any of the other films,” says Whannell between takes. “I feel like directing whilst playing this role would have been tough. I have a few other scripts that I’m working on, so I wanted to step aside and let someone else do it.” Talking about his love of the supernatural, he says, “I grew up with the typical high school hijinks where certain neighbourhood houses were supposedly haunted and all those other urban legend stories. “I always had a love of the supernatural, the weird and ghost stories, and when I met James Wan, he was equally as obsessed with true-life ghost stories. He had a ton from his family and we would collect them. A lot of the scares in the first Insidious film were taken from stories we’ve heard from our friends or relatives.”

Tearing up, she says, “This is actually the biggest role of my career and I’ve been in almost 100 movies over 45 years. That’s a pretty intense thought and makes me hyper- aware of all I must bring to this.” A prequel to the original Insidious , a breakout hit in 2011, Shaye is proud to have survived

(L-R) LeighWhannell, director Adam Robitel and Lin Shaye on the set

Insidious: The Last Key is in cinemas on February 8

014

FEBRUARY 2018

jbhifi.com.au

FROM THE DIRECTOR OF NEED FOR SPEED AND ACT OF VALOR

J O S H H A R T N E T T

BASED ON THE INCREDIBLE TRUE STORY

“One of the most amazing tales of survival” PEOPLE MAGAZINE

ON BLU-RAY & DVD FROM FEBRUARY 21 AT

While stocks last.

ON DVD FROM FEBRUARY 21 AT

While stocks last.

HIS DARKEST HOUR.

from executive producer CURTIS ‘50 CENT’ JACKSON

THE COMPLETE FOURTH SEASON

“TV’S RICHEST AND MOST COMPELLING DRAMA” The Huffington Post

ON DVD FROM FEBRUARY 21 AT

While stocks last.

CINEMA REVIEWS

visit stack.com.au

THE POST

RELEASED: Jan 11 DIRECTOR: Steven Spielberg CAST: Meryl Streep, Tom Hanks, Bob Odenkirk, Sarah Paulson RATING: M Before the Watergate scandal made headlines, the incendiary Pentagon Papers – revealing the US government knew that the Vietnam war was a lost cause yet still allowed soldiers' lives to be lost – were leaked to the press and published by The New York Times in 1971. Consequently, the Nixon administration sought and won an injunction to prevent further publication of the damning evidence, citing a threat to national security. Determined to uphold the First Amendment is Washington Post owner Kay Graham (Meryl Streep) and her executive editor Ben Bradlee (Tom Hanks), who have obtained the top secret Department of Defence document and regard its publication both as a means to maintain the freedom of the press and elevate the newspaper to the journalistic big time. But with the legal minefield the exposé will create, and the company poised to be floated, they are faced with an almost impossible decision. Steven Spielberg's effortless direction, with a focus on character and procedural detail, is the same no-fuss approach to historical drama he applied to Munich and Amistad . You could be forgiven for not recognising The Post as one of his films. This is a bold print newsroom drama in the tradition of All the President's Men (1976), Zodiac (2007) and Spotlight , and although not as gripping as the latter Oscar-winner, Spielberg builds tension through a race against the clock to meet a looming deadline. However, some ponderous pacing and a heavy reliance on exposition frequently threatens to stop the press. Scott Hocking THE COMMUTER RELEASED: Jan 18 DIRECTOR: Jaume Collet-Serra CAST: Liam Neeson, Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson, Sam Neill RATING: M Liam Neeson once again makes the gradual – and inevitable – transition from everyman to action man in his fourth collaboration with director Jaume Collet-Sera ( Non-Stop ). He's a 60-year-old ex-cop turned insurance guy, who makes the long daily train commute from the 'burbs to NYC. After learning he's been fired, his day gets a whole lot worse when he receives a cryptic offer from a mystery woman (Vera Farmiga) on the trip home: find a specific traveller who doesn't belong on the train, in exchange for $100K. With no job, two mortgages and a kid bound for college, naturally he agrees. But after breaking the rules of the deal, his family is threatened and he's plunged into a convoluted conspiracy orchestrated by the usual omnipresent "they". The Hitchcock allusions – The Lady Vanishes, Strangers on a Train – aren't exactly subtle, and there's even a corny reverse zoom to ram the point home. A blatantly obvious clue is dropped early, red herrings abound as to the identity of the mystery passenger, and there are plot holes you could drive a locomotive through. Then things go completely off the rails and the film turns into a Die Hard clone. Neeson can play this kind of role in his sleep now, but The Commuter is no snoozefest. It's paced like an out of control express, and despite being wildly implausible, it's highly enjoyable – in a guilty pleasure kind of way. Scott Hocking

RELEASED: Jan 18 DIRECTOR: Guillermo del Toro CAST: Sally Hawkins, Michael Shannon, Octavia Spencer RATING: MA15+

THE SHAPE OF WATER

A sweet, inter-species romance – GDT style.

T he Shape of Water is a sweet fable about two lonely souls who make a connection. That one of them happens to be a fish man is almost incidental. This is a Guillermo del Toro film after all, and the Mexican master is a specialist when it comes to idiosyncratic genre-splicing. His homage to The Creature from the Black Lagoon is a whimsical romance and a cold- war monster movie, steeped in a passion for cinema that's reflected in the exquisite production design and sprinkling of vintage clips from Hollywood's Golden Age – everything from Shirley Temple and the Land of the Pharoahs , to Mister Ed . Its mute protagonist, Elisa (Sally Hawkins), lives above a grand old theatre in Baltimore and works the night shift as a cleaner at a secret government facility, where a mysterious new "asset" has just arrived from South America. It's an amphibious humanoid

man with an electrified prod and losing a couple of fingers in the process. The Russians also want to get hold of it, and when Elisa discovers her new friend is in danger, she hatches a plan to liberate the creature with the help of her neighbour (Richard Dawkins) and feisty co-worker (Octavia Spencer). This inter-species romance reflects del Toro's own passion for monsters. It's a daring concept for a Hollywood film and executed with aplomb; even moments that should come off as schlocky and absurd feel perfect in context. The Shape of Water is sentimental, but it still possesses the bursts of violence and grotesquerie that are a GDT trademark, just like his meticulous eye for detail which captures the rhythm of Elisa's daily ritual and the steampunk design of the lab. If there's a complaint to be made, it's that the story plays out exactly how you expect it to. Pan's Labyrinth remains del Toro's evoking the former film's fusion of real world drama and the fantastic, with an innocent "princess" caught in the middle and finding escape in the company of a fantasy creature. As unconventional as an unconventional love story can be, del Toro's bold vision restores a sense of magic and wonder to the movies. Scott Hocking masterpiece and The Shape of Water runs a close second,

RATING KEY: Wow! Good Not bad Meh Woof!

(resembling Hellboy 's Abe Sapien and played by seasoned creature performer Doug Jones), and while cleaning the lab, the curious Elisa forms a bond with the beast using eggs, music and sign language. Sadistic military man Strickland

(Michael Shannon) is less empathetic; torturing the gill-

FEBRUARY 2018

016

jbhifi.com.au

CINEMA

REVIEWS

MOLLY'S GAME

ALSO SCREENING IN FEBRUARY

RELEASED: Feb 1 DIRECTOR: Aaron Sorkin CAST: Jessica Chastain, Idris Elba, Kevin Costner, Michael Cera RATING: M

Aaron Sorkin's directorial debut speaks for itself.

Aaron Sorkin's dialogue-driven screenplays are the highlight of films like A Few Good Men , The Social Network and Steve Jobs (and of course TV's The West Wing ). His characters are loquacious, but not in the same way Tarantino's are – they have something to say. And when Sorkin's are talkin', audiences are listening. The wordsmith makes his directorial debut with Molly's Game , adapting the memoir of 'Poker Princess' Molly Bloom (played by the always radiant Jessica Chastain). It's an assured first stint behind the camera, and not surprisingly, relentlessly verbose.

A freestyle skier and Olympic hopeful, Molly Bloom's promising sporting career was ended by a back injury, leading her to work as a PA for an obnoxious boss who organises illegal high stakes poker games for Hollywood celebs. Poaching his contact list and striking out on her own, Molly becomes the consummate poker hostess, building a multi-million dollar underground empire without ever being dealt a hand. That is until the Russian mob join the game, putting her on the FBI's radar. Appealing to attorney Charlie Jaffey (Idris Elba), whom she cannot pay, Molly discovers her only chance of avoiding a prison term is to name and shame her clients. But will she? Chastain is always good and has had a great run playing strong women in films like Zero Dark Thirty and Miss Sloane . Here she holds all the cards – as the real power player in a game dominated by powerful men, and the ace in Sorkin's deck. Sorkin's rapid-fire dialogue and fluid direction keep things flowing, but the film loses an extra star for its choppy structure, bloated running time, and some awful mansplaining from Kevin Costner, as Molly's father. Scott Hocking the clutches of WCKD. Aided by fellow Gladers Newt (Thomas Brodie-Sangster) and Frypan (Dexter Darden), and rebellion members Jorge (Giancarlo Esposito) and Brenda (Rosa Salazar), they attempt to catch WCKD in the act and derail their plans. Meanwhile, Teresa (Kaya Scodelario) – a fellow Glader who betrayed the group's location to WCKD, leading to Minho's capture – is still working with the enemy and attempting to craft an antidote using the DNA of other immunes. But where does her true allegiance lie? Maze Runner: The Death Cure is the final book in the series (not including the prequels), and the film closes out the trilogy quite nicely. It's a bit long, but there are enough hard-hitting action set-pieces to sustain interest. You're kept guessing where everyone's allegiances lie, which prevents things from becoming too predictable. from  Love, Actually , he's predictably wonderful here, and O'Brien and Scodelario maintain the resolute performances from prior chapters. It's no Mockingjay , but still a fitting finale for this young adult series. Alesha Kolbe While it's still hard not to see Thomas Brodie-Sangster as the little dreamboat

WINCHESTER

Horror flicks and Helen Mirren aren’t your usual movie match, which makes the new film from the Spierig Brothers all the more appealing. Dame Helen plays the eccentric Sarah Winchester, heiress to the Winchester firearms fortune, who is convinced she's being haunted by those killed by the repeating rifle. Is she mad, or living in a house that ghosts built? Find out if you dare on Feb 22.

Running the final Gauntlet. RELEASED: Jan 18 DIRECTOR: Wes Ball CAST: Dylan O'Brien, Aidan Gillen, Rosa Salazar RATING: M MAZE RUNNER: THE DEATH CURE

In the final chapter of the steamy trilogy, newlyweds Ana and Christian are enjoying a life of luxury, until ghosts from the past pop up to threaten their idyllic existence. Whip into a cinema near you on Feb 8 , or save it for Valentine's Day. FIFTY SHADES FREED

James Dashner's Maze Runner novels introduce the idea that humanity is subject to a plague known as the Flare, and only a few born are 'immune' to the disease; those who remain will die and become a Crank – aka a zombie. A company known as WCKD are attempting to use the immune children to create a serum that will serve as a vaccine to protect against the Flare. The second film,  The Scorch Trials,  ended with hero Thomas (Dylan O'Brien) teaming up with resistance group The Right Arm to take down WCKD once and for all. However, Minho (Ki Hong Lee) was captured in the process. The Death Cure reunites us with Thomas in the middle of his quest to retrieve Minho from

Jake Gyllenhaal once again gives his all as Jeff Bauman, a survivor of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing who became a symbol of hope. This inspiring true story will lift your spirits on Feb 15. STRONGER

Natalie Portman plays a biologist who signs up for “a dangerous, secret expedition where the laws of nature don’t apply.” This intriguing sci-fi thriller from Alex Garland ( Ex Machina ) opens Feb 22 . ANNIHILATION

017

CINEMA FEATURE

visit stack.com.au

Sequels, superheroes, Spielberg, dinosaurs and Deadpool – it’s going to be a big year on the big screen!

READY PLAYER ONE Due Mar 29 Ernest Cline’s love letter to ‘80s pop culture is a perfect fit for Steven Spielberg, who practically invented a lot of what we love about the era. The virtual world of the OASIS contains more Easter eggs than a bunny’s basket, and geek overload is guaranteed. This is shaping up as a worthy successor to The Matrix, and with Cline onboard as a co-screenwriter, fans of the novel can expect a faithful adaptation. AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR Due Apr 25 The Marvel movie to end all Marvel movies? You’d be forgiven for thinking so, however all phases have been leading to this. Infinity War unites the Avengers, Doctor Strange, Spider-Man, the Guardians, and, well, everyone from the MCU (including Stan Lee) for the long-awaited confrontation with Thanos (looking a bit like Shrek in the trailer). Captain America: Civil War proved that the Russo brothers could wrangle a huge cast of characters without short changing anyone, so this superhero showdown is in very capable hands. April 25 doesn’t seem all that far away now. DEADPOOL 2 Due May 17 The working title is “Love Machine” and while plot details are still vague, with mention of “ninjas, the yakuza, and aggressive canines”, we do know that Cable and Domino are joining Ryan Reynolds’ mouthy merc for the sequel. However, following “creative differences” with Reynolds, original director Tim Miller won’t be back, leaving Atomic Blonde ’s David Leitch a tough act to follow. SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY Due May 25 No waiting until December for the next Star Wars film, but will this second spin-off deliver the goods following a troubled production history that saw Ron Howard step in as director after Phil Lord and Christopher Miller were shown the door? It might be best to keep expectations low. We already know that Han will meet a young Chewie and Lando, and surely we’ll see the Falcon make the Kessel run...

JURASSIC WORLD: FALLEN KINGDOM Due Jun 7 It’s the dinosaurs that need saving this time when a volcanic eruption threatens the island, and Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard are up for the challenge. Jeff Goldblum returns as Dr. Ian Malcolm and will no doubt do the math on the chances of their success – and survival. On the strength of director J.A. Bayona’s previous films, The Orphanage, The Impossible and A Monster Calls , this could be the best Jurassic adventure since Spielberg’s original. INCREDIBLES 2 Due Jun 14 Pixar’s track record with sequels is strong and writer-director Brad Bird is back, so we can expect something incredible here. Mr. Incredible is looking after the kids while Elastigirl fights crime, and discovers the extent of baby Jack-Jack’s superpowers. John Ratzenberger voices new villain The Underminer, and best of all, fashion designer Edna Mode returns! THE PREDATOR Due Aug 2 It’s been eight years since we last saw the dreadlocked alien hunter, and writer-director Shane Black promises an “inventive sequel” with a modern setting. Action veteran Black’s involvement, along with co-writer Fred Dekker ( The Monster Squad ), is reason enough be optimistic, even though there’s no Arnie. HALLOWEEN Due Oct John Carpenter is producing and scoring and Jamie Lee Curtis returns as Laurie Strode for a final confrontation with Michael Myers. That’s good news for fans after Rob Zombie’s trashing of the horror classic, but can the Eastbound & Down team of David Gordon Green and Danny McBride restore the franchise to its former glory?

018

FEBRUARY 2018

jbhifi.com.au

-DEN OF GEEK

S E A S O N 2

‘BEST FANTASY SERIES’ FORBES

©2017Viacom International Inc.andSonarEntertainmentDistribution,LLC. AllRightsReserved. TheShannaraChroniclesandall related titles, logos,andcharactersare trademarksofViacom International Inc. Spike isa trademarkofSpikeCableNetworks Inc.

NEW ON BLU-RAY™ & DVD AT

*WHILE STOCKS LAST

THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON

Once upon a time in America, pleasure became a business.

êêêêê The Times

êêêêê The Telegraph

“Electrifying” - News.com.au

©2018HomeBoxOffice, Inc.All rights reserved.HBO ® and relatedservicemarksare thepropertyofHomeBoxOffice, Inc.DistributedbyRoadshowEntertainment.All rights reserved.

ON BLU-RAY™ & DVD 14 FEB AT

*WHILE STOCKS LAST

it's THE BAT AGAINST THE BUTCHER !

INCLUDES A SNEAK PEEK AT DC UNIVERSE'S NEXT ANIMATED MOVIE 'SUICIDE SQUAD: HELL TO PAY'

NEWON BLU-RAY™ & DVD FEB 7 AT

*WHILE STOCKS LAST

EXTRAS FEATURE

visit stack.com.au

unpleasant and very public divorce, fighting for the custody of her two children. Her lawyers were also trying to avoid her paying alimony to a husband who believed he was entitled to his share of her stardom and wealth. She accepted the role in Howard Hughes' “absurd epic” purely as a temporary escape from the drama of her personal life. The cast and crew were apparently aware of the radiation, but none took the threat that seriously. After location shooting completed, the director, Dick Powell, trucked sixty tons of the Snow Canyon red sand back to Hollywood. This was to ensure that the interior scenes matched the same colour and texture of the location

Susan Hayward HOLLYWOOD'S GOLDENAGE Forgotten Stars of

(1917-1975) Part 3

Location filming in radioactive Snow Canyon, Utah. Scene from The Conqueror .

An Oscar and a brave finale

shoot. As a consequence, the cast and crew wallowed in the radioactive mix for another two months. Of the 220 people Dick Powell brought to Utah in 1954, over the following two decades, 91 of them would succumb to various types of cancer. It has never been proven (and probably never will be) but many in Hollywood attribute the extraordinary number of cancerous deaths amongst the cast and crew of  The Conqueror to the radioactive fallout from the “Dirty Harry” bomb. The film itself was considered to be so bad that its release was delayed for two years. Critically slated, it was swiftly withdrawn from circulation after its initial run in 1956. Hayward’s next two films for Fox teamed her with Tyrone Power in Untamed  and Clark Gable in  Soldier of Fortune ; both released in 1955 and both big hits at the box office. But it was her third movie released that same year that grabbed all the headlines. Her gutsy portrayal of the tragic Broadway and Hollywood vocalist, Lillian Roth, and her battle with alcohol and substance abuse, deservedly won Susan Hayward a fourth Oscar nomination.  I’ll Cry Tomorrow was a huge success, taking over $7.7 million ($69 million in today’s money) at the box office. A phenomenal return for a movie made in the mid-1950s. On the night of the Academy Award ceremony, Hayward was concerned that the scandalous headlines of her divorce would scupper her chance of winning the Best Actress Oscar. She was right – morally oriented Hollywood voted for Anna Magnani in  The Rose Tattoo . For weeks after, newspapers and

M ost film buffs worth their salt can link John Wayne with the movie Dirty Harry  (1971) – as the first actor to be offered the part of San Francisco Police Inspector, Harry Callahan. Wayne flatly refused the role that would later make Clint Eastwood a superstar. But seventeen years earlier, the Duke had a lesser known encounter with another “Dirty Harry”. Not a fictional detective but an atom bomb. The US Atomic Energy Commission had tested and detonated numerous atomic bombs in the dry lake bed of Yucca Flats, Nevada, throughout the early 1950s. One of them, nicknamed "Dirty Harry" (due to the amount of Strontium 90 and various radioactive isotopes contained within the 32-kiloton bomb), was exploded in May 1953. Immediately after the

detonation, a sudden and unexpected wind swept a cloud of radioactive fallout more than 150 miles to the east, blanketing the rolling red sand dunes of Snow Canyon in the state of Utah. One year later, Susan Hayward, along with co-star John Wayne and other cast and crew members, arrived in Snow Canyon to shoot the battle and chase scenes for the movie  The Conqueror . Hayward instinctively knew the film would be a total clunker. After reading the improbable script, she said to her agent: “Me, a red-headed Tartar princess, and Duke Wayne, a Mongol warrior: who the hell are they kidding?” In 1954, Hayward was now the highest paid actress in Hollywood, with three Best Actress nominations under her belt. But her private life was a trainwreck. She was in the middle of an

Susan Hayward’s facial expression seems to be saying “What am I doing in this turkey of a movie?” A scene from The Conqueror, with John Wayne as Genghis Khan!

020

FEBRUARY 2018

jbhifi.com.au

EXTRAS

FEATURE

Susan Hayward as Barbara Graham enters the gas chamber. The harrowing execution scene from I Want to Live

Poster for I’ll Cry Tomorrow, which garnered Susan Hayward her fourth Oscar nomination

magazines were bombarded with hundreds of letters from Hayward’s fans complaining that she was robbed of an Oscar for her outstanding performance as Lillian Roth. The following month she was invited to the Cannes Film Festival where  I’ll Cry Tomorrow was to be presented. It turned out to be a triumph for her as she was named Best Actress in the World. When she cabled Hollywood with the news, she signed it Susan Magnani. Fortunately, her second marriage proved more successful than her first. Hayward was now so happy with her private life that she semi-retired and decided to wait for the right movie roles to come along. She turned down countless offers including  The Three Faces of

At last, a Best Actress Oscar for Susan – pictured

below with fellow actor

winners Burl Ives and David Niven at the Academy Awards in April 1959

Eve  (1957), which made a star and Oscar winner of Joanne Woodward. Susan shrugged it off by stating, “The Academy would never have awarded me an Oscar anyway”. But in 1958 that all changed when her old friend and mentor, film producer Walter Wanger, offered her the starring role in  I Want to Live . The film told the story of Barbara Graham, who was one of the few women to be condemned to

Susan Hayward’s final Hollywood movie The Revengers, with William Holden

Actress Academy Award. At the ceremony, after receiving her statuette from James Cagney and Kim Novak, she politely thanked the Academy. When she returned to her seat, she said to her husband, “Finally dear, I’ve climbed to the top of their dung heap.” Robert Wise, the director of  I Want to Live , perfectly described why Hayward was a great movie star when he praised her with the following statement: “Susan Hayward is to the movies what Sarah Bernhardt was to the stage. She has a chemical combination that can excite

and hold audiences as surely as Garbo and few other greats of the screen. She is one of the few actresses who can hold up a movie all by herself.” Hayward starred in a further eight films from 1958-1967. After a five-year hiatus she appeared in her last Hollywood movie, playing a minor role in the western  The Revengers  (1972). That same year she was diagnosed with multiple brain tumours that proved inoperable (the curse of  The Conqueror ? No one knows). Many media reports over the following three years often had her close to death but she bravely fought the disease until finally succumbing to it in March 1975. An exceptionally fine actress and a real gutsy lady all the way through to the end.

the gas chamber in California, and for a crime she may not have committed. Her role as the doomed Graham brought Hayward acclaim and recognition around the world, even from her most stubborn detractors. Her death scene in the film is shockingly realistic. When the prison matron suggests she take a deep breath of the cyanide gas to hasten her death, Hayward calmly delivers the memorable line, “How would  you know?”. Her performance won her a fifth Oscar nomination and finally the Best

Join STACK ’s resident filmhistorian Bob J and our community of cinema buffs to have your say eachmonth in ' Bob J’s Classic Movie Club ' Facebook group.

021