STACK #249 July 2025

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JARED HESS

A Minecraft Movie is the latest project from Jared Hess, a filmmaker who – alongside his screenwriter wife, Jerusha – has been delivering delightfully offbeat stories for over 20 years. Ever since shifting the comedy landscape with the seminal Napoleon Dynamite , Hess has carved out a unique creative voice. Let’s take a look at Watching just one of his films gives you a clear sense of the distinct brand of comedy he has perfected. Long stretches of awkward silence and deadpan delivery underpin the humour, while his characters speak with strange mannerisms and a bizarre, unwavering sincerity that adds absurdity to the everyday. Quirky, outsider protagonists Building upon that theme, his storytelling often focuses on underdogs with eccentric personalities. Usually socially awkward with a peculiar enthusiasm for life, these characters, like Napoleon Dynamite and Nacho Libre, receive affection from audiences, rather than ridicule. Retro Americana aesthetic Whether it’s Jason Momoa’s character in A Minecraft Movie being stuck in the ‘80s, or Napoleon Dynamite’s outdated fashion choices, Hess’s films are often grounded in vintage decor, obscure technology, and an op-shop sense of style – bringing a distinct sense of nostalgia to his contemporary storytelling. three of his signature trademarks. Awkward, deadpan comedy

JULY

movies that I would always rent from a video store. It’s an amazing family film

that I still watch to this day.

’ s ROVING REPORTER

What’s one of your all-time favourite films, and why? It has to be Mamma Mia! – one of the best musicals I’ve ever seen. I’m a huge fan of Meryl Streep and everything she’s in. It’s emotional, funny, and keeps you entertained the whole way through. What’s one of your all-time favourite TV series, and why? The Last of Us . I’m a huge fan of the video games, so when they released the TV show, I was hooked. It’s a brilliant adaptation with amazing performances from Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey. I’ve been rewatching Ted Lasso . It’s one of my top 3 shows of all time. There is absolutely nothing to fault about it. It’s a comedy with an amazing presentation of what people deal with in their day to day lives. I can’t recommend it enough! What have you been watching lately that you’d recommend?

KAITLYN HADFIELD @ JB Lakeside Joondalup, WA

What’s the best thing about working at JB? The best thing about working at JB is the people and community you get to be part of. I’ve met some of my best friends working at JB. What’s a movie you saw as a child that has left a lasting impression on you? Cheaper By the Dozen . It was one of those

FUN FACT

Here’s a facepalm fact for you: Quotation marks were added to the title of “ Crocodile ” Dundee on US posters so audiences wouldn’t think Mick

Dundee was an actual crocodile.

QUIZ

Q2 Stromboli was a villain in which Disney cartoon movie? Q3 Who played the lead role in the 1972 movie Lady Sings the Blues ? Q4 In which movie did Jeff Bridges win the 2010 Academy Award for Best Actor? Q5 Actor and comedian Bob Hope had what real first name? Q6 Which actor played the

role of Nelson Mandela in the 2009 movie Invictus ? Q7 What movie holds the record for most Oscars without winning the Best Picture Award? Q8 Who played Johnny Utah in the movie Point Break ? Q9 What was Alan Ladd’s final film? Q10 “ After all, tomorrow is another day ” is the final line of which classic movie?

File this under “Sequels we never imagined would happen.” It’s still hard to believe that acclaimed filmmaker David Fincher ( Se7en, Zodiac ) has signed on to direct a follow-up to Quentin Tarantino’s 2019 hit Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood . But it’s true. Tentatively titled The Continuing Adventures of Cliff Booth , the film is based on a screenplay by Tarantino and sees Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio return, with Booth now working as a Hollywood studio fixer in the ‘80s. Produced by Netflix, the film will also receive a theatrical release. More to come, watch this space… IN DEVELOPMENT

Q1 How many western movies have been filmed about the Gunfight at the OK Corral?

JUNE 2025 (Issue 248) ANSWERS - A1. Bette Davis in All About Eve (1950) A2. Caprice (1967) A3. The Long Riders (1980) A4. Manhunter (1986) A5. Sam Peckinpah in Invasion of the Body Snatchers A6. Doctor Dolittle A7. Black Hawk Down (2001) A8. Francis Ford Coppola A9. Full Metal Jacket A10. Heat (1995) line delivered by Robert De Niro

JULY 2025

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