STACK NZ Dec #58

DVD&BD

REVIEWS

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Knight moves THE DARK HORSE

When home detention goes horribly wrong HOUSEBOUND

Format:

Release Date: 10/12/14

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Release Date: 03/12/14

Format: THRILLER NZ

Cliff Curtis first came to prominence with his role as Bully in Once Were Warriors and there are certainly echoes of that Kiwi classic in this moving drama. Curtis plays Genesis Potini, a brilliant chess champion who has been in and out of mental institutions because of a bipolar disorder. Determined not to go back into care, he sets out to teach a group of disaffected Gisborne youth the joys of chess, promising that he will lead the newly-christened Eastern Knights to the national championships. But when his nephew (James Rolleston)

From Peter Jackson‘s early splatter fests to Black Sheep , Kiwi directors have long shown a knack for mixing horror with humour. And this year, we’ve hit the jackpot twice: the just-released mockumentary What We Do In the Shadows has deservedly garnered a lot of attention here and abroad, but director Gerald Johnstone’s debut feature is also set to become a firm cult favourite among the horror fraternity. The premise is ingenious: stroppy Morgana O’Reilly is forced to return to her family home after being sentenced to home detention for her role in

also joins the club, Gen finds himself on a collision course with his brother (Wayne Hapi), who is preparing his son for his initiation into the gangs. Despite the occasionally bleak subject matter, the blunt humour, naturalistic performances and inspirational themes make this a rewarding – and ultimately uplifting – drama.

a comically inept ATM robbery. She begins to suspect that something sinister is also hiding in the house – unfortunately, if she leaves the property, she will end up in prison. Johnston serves up a winning mix of frights, dark humour and inspired slapstick, while the performances are first rate, too. Put it on your Christmas wishlist immediately.

Banker. Lawyer. Refugee. Spy A MOST WANTED MAN

Time after time PREDESTINATION

Release Date: 31/12/14

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Release Date: 24/12/14

Although we’ll still see him in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 & 2 , this spy thriller features the last lead performance by the late, great Philip Seymour Hoffman. And it’s a fitting farewell; Hoffman is excellent as a German spymaster keeping tabs on a Chechen immigrant who has arrived in Hamburg’s Islamic community to claim an inheritance. Suspecting that the money will be used to finance terror, Hoffman enlists the help of the man’s lawyer (Rachel McAdams) and banker (Willem Dafoe) to uncover the truth. A

If you want a movie that will fry your brain, look no further than the latest offering from the Spierig Brothers. Having already given us a novel take on zombies ( Undead , 2003) and vampires ( Daybreakers , 2010), the Brisbane twins turn their talents to time travel with Predestination , a mind-bending thriller based on a Robert A. Heinlein short story. The less you know about what temporal agent Ethan Hawke discovers in his attempt to stop the notorious “Fizzle Bomber” from striking again, the better. But be prepared for one of the most inventive,

Most Wanted Man is based on a novel by John le Carré ( Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy ), which means a complex plot, international intrigue, covert surveillance, and morally ambiguous characters. A topical and timely thriller recommended for fans of TV’s Homeland .

cerebrally challenging and paradox-laden time travel films since Looper . The production design has a Dark City vibe mixed with a funky ‘70s aesthetic, and rising star Sarah Snook is an absolute knockout as a pivotal character who is recruited by Hawke. Enough said. Now go check it out!

DECEMBER 2014 JB Hi-Fi www.jbhifi.co.nz

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