STACK #247 May 2025

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PAUL W.S. ANDERSON

Paul W.S. Anderson rose to prominence in the early ‘90s, causing controversy with his gritty indie debut Shopping - starring Jude Law - before breaking into Hollywood with Mortal Kombat . He has since forged a career notable for adapting pre-established IPs and has directed films such as Event Horizon , Soldier, Death Race, and Pompeii , amongst others. His latest film is In the Lost Lands . Let’s take a look at some of his signature trademarks. Video game adaptations Anderson has become synonymous with video games due to the success of Mortal Kombat (1995) and Resident Evil (2002), four of which he directed and others he produced. His work has redefined the genre, and while often criticised for deviating from the source material, it has garnered a dedicated fan base. Highly stylised action Basing most of his films on established IPs like Death Race and Monster Hunter , Anderson employs every trick to maximise the spectacle of his action. From exaggerated slow motion and rapid camera movements to heavy CGI use, his films showcase a distinct auteurist aesthetic. Strong female protagonists Frequently collaborating with his wife, Milla Jovovich, Anderson often places women in charge when action is needed most. Films like The Three Musketeers and his latest, In the Lost Lands , feature smart, tough women taking charge and getting things done.

MAY

of movies I’ve seen since, or my ever evolving taste, it’s the movie I always come back to.

’ s ROVING REPORTER

What’s one of your all-time favourite films, and why? X . I love the entire Ti West X trilogy, but X is my favourite. I love that each of the three relates to a different genre of horror, but X ’s nod to the ‘70s aesthetic and slasher style appeals to me massively. What’s one of your all-time favourite TV series, and why? True Detective or Always Sunny in Philadelphia , These are two completely different genres of television, but my love for True Detective speaks to how enthralling and well made it is, whereas my love for Sunny is purely just how hilarious it is to me. What have you been watching lately that you’d recommend? I’ve been going through the process of rewatching all Studio Ghibli movies. I find them very sweet and endearing, while also very profound, life affirming, and bittersweet. My personal favourite is Princess Mononoke .

COURTNEY WOOD @ JB Wollongong Central, NSW

What’s the best thing about working at JB? I would have to say my co-workers and the work environment. I’ve created some great relationships in the time I’ve worked at JB and the work culture is so fun and welcoming. What’s a movie you saw as a child that has left a lasting impression on you? Almost Famous . I first watched it when I was about ten and no matter the endless amounts

FUN FACT

Of the cast of Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy , Jim Broadbent, Gemma Jones, Emma Thompson, and Shirley Henderson all appeared in the Harry Potter films.

QUIZ

York detectives discover that people are being murdered after placing ads in a singles magazine? Q4 In which early classic Hitchcock movie is a Dutch diplomat assassinated on the steps of an Amsterdam building in torrential rain? Q5 Who were Larry, Curly, and Moe? Q6 In which film did Richard Widmark debut memorably as a maniacally laughing psychopath? Q7 Who led his Airborne troops into battle to the

sound of Ride of the Valkyries ? Q8 “Nothing like a nice piece of hickory” is a memorable quote from which Clint Eastwood western? Q9 Richard Todd and Liam Neeson played the same role in 1953 and 1995 movies respectively. Who was the character they portrayed? Q10 Which popular American actor made his feature film debut in a 1962 war film set in Korea?

Fresh off the success of the Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown , Hollywood is now turning its focus to another American music icon: Bruce Springsteen. Director Scott Cooper ( Crazy Heart, Black Mass ) is set to helm Deliver Me from Nowhere , with Jeremy Allen White starring as Springsteen. The cast also includes Stephen Graham and Gabby Hoffmann as Springsteen’s parents, alongside Jeremy Strong, Paul Walter Hauser, and Odessa Young in supporting roles. The film will explore the making of IN DEVELOPMENT

Q1 Who was the first actor to portray Edgar Rice Burrough’s character Tarzan onscreen? Q2 And who is the latest actor to portray Tarzan on the big screen? Q3 Name the 1989 thriller movie where two New

APRIL 2025 (Issue 246) ANSWERS - A1. Rebecca (1941) A2. The Martian starring Matt Damon A3. Sunset Boulevard (1950) A4. Cate Blanchett for playing Katherine Hepburn in the movie The Aviator A5. The Searchers A6. Bill Nighy in Love Actually A7. It Happened One Night (1934), the first movie to win all the five major Oscars A8. Lee Marvin, who went on to star in Paint Your Wagon A9. Total Recall A10. Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall. ( To Have and Have Not, The Big Sleep, Dark Passage, Key Largo )

Springsteen’s sixth album, Nebraska .

18 MAY 2025

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