STACK #185 Mar 2020

YOUR TO FILM, TV, MUSIC, GAMING & LIFE TECH ESSENTIAL GUIDE

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ISSUE 185 Mar ’20

STACK MARCH 2020

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ISSUE 185 Mar ’20

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ISSUE 185 Mar ’20

AUTOMATE YOUR HOUSE

TURN YOUR HOME SMART WITHOURGUIDE TO THE CONNECTED HOME NETWORKING CHOOSE THE RIGHT NETWORK FOR YOUR LIVING SPACE

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Contributors

Issue 185 MAR 2020

Founder Nic Short Editor-in-Chief Paul Jones Film & TV Editor Scott Hocking Music Editor Zoë Radas Acting Music Editor Bryget Chrisfield 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 Glenn Cochrane, Jeff Jenkins, Simon Lukic, Billy Pinnell, Denise Hylands, Simon Winkler, Nathan Lawrence, Jake Cleland, Holly Pereira, Adam Colby, Dan Nicholson, Alex Deutrom, Bec Summer Social Media Manager Imogene Lewis-Granland Production Manager Craig Patterson Correspondence STACK 33 Jessie Street, Richmond, VIC 3121 Disclaimer STACK is published by Scribal Custom Pty Ltd (ACN 092 362 135). © Copyright Scribal Custom Pty Ltd, 2020 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. RATINGS GUIDE

WELCOME

Awards season is done and dusted, with many of the major category winners already on the shelves at JB H-Fi including Best Picture and Actor Oscar recipients Parasite and Joker , respectively. Joining them this month is the deserving Academy Award and BAFTA winner for Adapted Screenplay, Jojo Rabbit . Taika Waititi’s clever lampooning of the fascist mindset – told from the perspective of a misguided boy indoctrinated into the Nazi Youth movement during WWII – is a heartfelt and genuinely funny throwback to the kind of satire that Mel Brooks did so well. The Kiwi writer-director has his mother to thank for introducing him to the source novel by Christine Leunens, Caging Skies , and also reveals to STACK how he ended up playing a buffoonish version of Hitler in the film. Elsewhere (or in this case, Elsa-where), Disney’s ice queen returns in Frozen II , the record-breaking sequel (grossing US$350 million in its worldwide debut) that brings with it an all-new playlist of earworms that kids won’t be able to let go. And don’t miss writer-director Rian Johnson’s ingenious modern whodunnit Knives Out , which comes loaded with a starry ensemble cast and a holeproofed central mystery that’s a challenge to solve – Agatha Christie would be proud. For the tech enthused or those who are interested in automating their home, we take a good look at the ever increasing popularity of the smart home, and what it exactly takes to get involved. If you’re looking to upgrade your network at home to encompass the seemingly endless list of devices that can now be connected online, our networking feature will provide all the solutions you need. And finally, are you a little confused about Wi-Fi 6? Allow us to explain exactly what it is and what it means for you. Paul Jones, Editor-in-Chief

The large print giveth, the small print taketh away. “Advancing technologieswill be both our saviour and our doom.”

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Issue 185 MAR 2020

YOUR TO FILM, TV,MUSIC, GAMING& LIFE TECH ESSENTIALGUIDE

stack.com.au

YOUR TO FILM, TV,MUSIC,GAMING& LIFE TECH ESSENTIALGUIDE

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ISSUE 185 Mar ’20

ISSUE 185 Mar ’20

GAMING

ISSUE 185 Mar ’20

MUSIC ISSUE 185 Mar ’20

STACK Issue 185 MARCH2020 “Nothingmakes sense anymore.”

INSIDE

AUTOMATE YOUR HOUSE

TURN YOUR HOME SMART WITHOUR GUIDE TO THE CONNECTED HOME

2 0 T H M A R C H

NETWORKING CHOOSE THE RIGHT NETWORK FOR YOUR LIVING SPACE

Smart Home The LIFE TECH

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THE WEEKND AFTER HOURS

ISSUE 185 Mar ’20

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MUSIC

INSIDE

ISSUE 185 Mar ’20

ISSUE 185 Mar ’20

MUSIC

Your MONTHLY GUIDE to the HOTTEST TECH at

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Smart Home The LIFE TECH TLFE

FROZEN II • SMARTHOMES • THEWEEKND

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THEWEEKND AFTERHOURS

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CINEMA 10 MILITARY WIVES : THE NEW COMEDY FROM THE DIRECTOR OF THE FULL MONTY 11 WHAT’S SCREENING IN MARCH: A QUIET PLACE PART II , BLOODSHOT , and MORE MOVIES & TV 12 BOB J: HOLLYWOOD’S ONGOING LOVE AFFAIR WITH A STAR IS BORN 14-15 JOJO RABBIT : TAIKA TALKS ABOUT HIS OSCAR-WINNING SCREEN ADAPTATION 16-17 FROZEN II : NEW SONGS TEST THE VOCAL RANGE OF CHARACTERS OLD AND NEW 18 BLACK CHRISTMAS : the 1974 horror classic gets a contemporary update 20-26 REVIEWS: KNIVES OUT , CHARLIE’S ANGELS , 21 BRIDGES , AND MORE... 27 WHAT’S NEW ON 4K UHD: PIXAR FAVOURITES, ARNIE & JIM, AND MORE

LIFE TECH 30 THIS MONTH IN Life tech 32-42

MUSIC 58-60 INTERVIEWS:

GAMING 3-4 SHOP TALK AND DEAR DUKE 6-7 animal crossing: New horizon 8 doom eternal 10-16 gaming chairs 18 out this month: doom eternal, pokemon rescue dungeon: mystery team dx, animal crossing: new horizon, ori and the willow of the wisps, bleeding edge, my hero’s one justice, one piece: piarte warriors 4, nioh 2, persona 5 20 STACK RECOMMENDS: Dreams. zombie army 4: dead war

A TRIO OF CONVOS COMPRISING FANNY LUMSDEN, THE CHATS AND BEST COAST 62-63 THE WEEKND: ON THE EVE OF AFTER HOURS’ RELEASE WE REVISIT THE TORONTO ARTIST’S BEST FEATS 64 MUSIC HISTORY: ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT MARCH HAPPENINGS FROM PREVIOUS YEARS 66 ROVING REPORTER HEADS TO QUEENSLAND, PLUS RAD PRE-ORDER OFFERS 68-69 BREAKOUT BELTER: GEORGE MICHAEL’S FAITH 70-76 ALBUM REVIEWS: OZZY OSBOURNE TRACK-BY-TRACK, JUSTIN BIEBER, LAPSLEY, KINGSWOOD, REAL ESTATE, TAMI NEILSON, SEPULTURA AND MANY MORE

what’s in a smart home? we take a deep dive into home automation 46-51 choosing the right network solution for your home 52 what’s new at jb: we pick the must-have TECH out IN MARCH

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STACK ROVING REPORTER

DVD BEST-SELLERS for FEBRUARY 2020

release titles at JB’s Bathurst store when we talk shop with team member Holly Bunyan. “During race week we sell a lot of DVDs,” she adds, “but also cables and a lot of 25 and 30-inch TVs – sometimes three or four a day. Everyone wants to grab some visual tech to use at the race on the Mount. “The race teams and their staff will also come in, and there’s a lot of international customers around at that time

of year, which means lots of overseas credit cards!” When the city isn’t getting all fast and furious, Holly says the store attracts a very broad demographic eager to consume “pretty much everything”, from kids movies and classics to superheroes and horror. “People are always on the lookout for TV dramas like The Crown and Outlander ,” adds Holly, who can’t get enough of the Marvel Cinematic Universe –“ Avengers: Endgame is probably my favourite”– and has a soft spot for TV teen dramas like The Vampire Diaries and Teen Wolf . Holly considers the best part of her job to be working with a great crew at JB Bathurst. “I always have a good time at work. It’s fun, uplifting and a really positive environment with a good sense of community.” The in-store vibe can often be playful, too. “We do a lot of dress-up events, like a Hawaiian shirt day and Christmas-themed dress-ups.” Moreover, a strong relationship between customers and staff has been forged at the Bathurst store, which Holly says also attracts clientele from the surrounding cities of Lithgow and Orange. “That’s the good thing about our store, it serves a wide area.”

SHOP TALK

H ome to Mount race, Bathurst is synonymous with motorsport. So it’s not surprising to discover that Ford v Ferrari has been one of the most requested new Panorama and its world-famous annual

1 Terminator: Dark Fate 2 Joker 3 Parasite 4 Maleficent: Mistress of Evil 5 Last Christmas 6 Zombieland: Double Tap 7 Gemini Man 8 Judy 9 Ride Like a Girl 10 47 Meters Down: Uncaged

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Holly Bunyan at JB Bathurst, NSW

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CINEMA FEATURE

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for long periods of time. Research shows that singing in a choir helps to alleviate stress and contributes to an improvement in isolation, anxiety and depression,” he adds. With more than 75 choirs across the UK and overseas, the military choirs have provided a lifeline to many of these women, their stories resulting in this feel-good crowd-pleaser. Working with a largely female cast was heaven for Jason Flemyng. “I was raised by a single parent so, I'm very comfortable in women's company,” says the Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels actor who plays Crooks. “It's a privilege. There was 30 great strong women and I loved that process of just being with them, because I was the only boy.” Filming at the army base was invaluable to the cast in understanding the women’s daily lives. “It was amazing,” says Horgan. “Jason really loved hanging out with us women. We were together a lot, just hanging out and sometimes getting drunk together. They were just a great bunch of girls actually and it really helped the sense of camaraderie in the film which I hope really comes across because we really did enjoy ourselves. I kind of miss them.” If Cattaneo’s The Full Monty was all about the guys, then his Military Wives is all about the women – albeit without any nudity. But this shouldn’t deter male audiences, with Horgan pointing out, “I think how we talk when we're not around men is always a surprise. That we can be just as raucous and rude and awful as the men.”

STACK caught up with stars Sharon Horgan and Jason Flemyng to discuss the new feel-good comedy from the director of The Full Monty . Words Gill Pringle A successful actress, writer, comedian and producer, Sharon Horgan’s talents are indisputable. Singing, she figured,

Pulling and Catastrophe as well as creating Sarah Jessica Parker’s TV drama, Divorce . Inspired by the BBC’s beloved documentary following choirmaster Gareth Malone as he forms a special Military Wives choir to perform at London’s Albert Hall, the global phenomenon spun into a UK Christmas No. 1 for the ladies with an original song called Wherever You Are .

was not among them. So when she was offered a role in Military Wives – the film version of the musical phenomenon that has changed the lives of wives and girlfriends of servicemen and other women with a military connection – it was a swift “no”.

If that sounds like a tough act to follow, Horgan and Scott-Thomas enlisted in choir boot camp.

Meeting with Military Wives director Peter Cattaneo ( The Full Monty ), she had planned on politely refusing his offer to star opposite Kristin Scott Thomas in this inspirational story of love and friendship among a women’s choir. Instead she found herself saying yes. “I’m not a singer so I just didn’t

Military Wives is in cinemas March 12

“But Peter would always freak out if he thought we

...we can be just as raucous and rude and awful as the men

sounded too good, not that it happened very often,” laughs Horgan. Filmed at RMB Catterick in Yorkshire where the first military wives choir was formed in 2010, Cattaneo says, “Perhaps the greatest draw for me was to make a film that celebrates the

know how it would work,” Horgan tells STACK over coffee in a Toronto cafe. “But Peter’s whole pitch was that they shouldn't be singers. I mean they're dull; just real women who needed this thing to give them a distraction. And actually, we were all in the same boat – all the actresses felt like they weren't that good, apart from Jess (Gaby French) who discovers she has a beautiful voice. “But the thing is, when you put everyone together and learn how to harmonise, it sounds good anyway, which is sort of what the film is about – that we’re stronger together,” says Horgan, best known for TV comedy series

emotional power of music and the catharsis of singing together. All the singing was recorded live on set with the imperfections of an amateur choir to achieve an authentic sound. “Families of service personnel move around frequently and it can often be tough to put down

roots or make new friends which can leave women feeling isolated, particularly when loved ones are away

F U R T H E R V I E W I N G . . .

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IN CINEMAS MARCH 2020

John Krasinski's tense and terrifying 2018 nail-biter, A Quiet Place , had critics and audiences alike shouting praise. The eagerly anticipated sequel looks to be even scarier, with flashbacks to the apocalypse and plenty of those blind monsters on the loose. The three surviving members of the Abbott family (Emily Blunt, Millicent Simmonds and Noah Jupe) must now face the terrors of the outside world as they continue their fight for survival in silence. Creeping into theatres on March 19 . A QUIET PLACE PART II

Valiant Comics character Bloodshot comes alive on the screen, played by a nicely cast Vin Diesel. His character, aka Ray Garrison, is a former soldier enhanced by nanotechnology, which gives him powers of regeneration and “meta-morphing”. Moreover, the nefarious company responsible for his condition (headed by Guy Pearce) also control his memories, so Ray doesn’t know what’s real and what’s implanted. Universal Soldier collides with Total Recall on March 12 . BLOODSHOT

DOWNHILL

peter rabbit 2

MULAN

The Trolls are back and this time they’re bringing ROCK… and pop, funk, classical, country and techno! The new brightly coloured musical sequel to 2016’s Trolls will see Poppy (Anna Kendrick) and Branch (Justin Timberlake) travelling to different lands of other ‘troll-tribes’, who each represent different musical genres. With a voice cast that includes Sam Rockwell, Kelly Clarkson, Ozzy Osbourne and more, get ready to just dance, dance, dance again on March 26 . TROLLS WORLD TOUR

Disney's 1998 animated adventure receives a live-action reboot. Based on the Northern Dynasties Chinese folksong The Ballad of Mulan , it tells the tale of how Hua Mulan, the eldest daughter of an honoured warrior, steps in to take the place of her ailing father. Masquerading as a man, she harnesses her inner- strength and embraces her true potential on an epic journey that transforms her into an honoured – and respected – warrior. Opening on March 26 .

Prepare for a powerhouse comedic coupling in this remake of the 2014 Swedish hit Force Majeure . Will Ferrell and Julia Louis-Dreyfus headline this dramedy, which explores the disintegration of a marriage during a ski trip to the Swedish mountains. Miranda Otto and Zach Woods co-star, while the filmmakers who gave us The Way Way Back , Nat Faxon and Jim Rash, direct. Get down to your nearest theatre on March 5 .

Beatrix Potter’s beloved wascally wabbit bounds back into our hearts in a sequel. James Corden returns as the voice of the titular bunny and is joined by the likes of Margot Robbie and Daisy Ridley as supporting characters. This new outing sees Peter unable to shake his roguish reputation at home, leading him to venture into the wider world. Animation duties have once again been performed by Australia's own Animal Logic. Hopping into cinemas on March 19 .

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Hollywood's continuous love affairwith A STAR IS BORN

as an actor, causing him to lose his contract with the studio and culminating with his final swim in the Pacific Ocean. Directed by George Cukor, this version is considered the very best of Garland's "adult" films and received six Academy Award nominations. The next re-incarnation, released in 1976, transfers the story from Hollywood to the world of rock music. Barbra Streisand plays Esther Hoffman, an up-and-coming songstress. Streisand and her producer/lover, Jon Peters originally sought Elvis Presley to portray the self-destructive rock-n-roll singer John Norman Howard, who mentors Esther to stardom. When Presley rebuffed them, they cast singer Kris Kristofferson in the role.

According to those who were involved in the production, both Streisand and Peters behaved like tyrants that no one could please – especially the three directors they unceremoniously sacked. Kristofferson deserves enormous credit for his acting when showing a love for Streisand onscreen that he is said to have rarely felt during the whole shoot. The critical reception was not favourable with many reviewers finding it too long and too boring, but once again the

T he movie What Price Hollywood? (1932) starring Constance Bennett and Lowell Sherman chronicles the bittersweet rise of a young cafe waitress to movie stardom, whilst her alcoholic mentor's own film directing career hits the skids, resulting in him committing suicide. This long-forgotten RKO film, produced by David O. Selznick and directed by George Cukor, was not a success at the

public adored the film and turned it into a massive box- office hit. However, it was passed over in all the major Academy Award categories (it would be the only one of the four versions of A Star Is Born that did not receive a Best Actor and Actress nomination). A similar storyline was used for the 2018 version produced,

DID YOU KNOW: It has been speculated that the original story was inspired by the marriage of Barbara Stanwyck and her first husband, actor Frank Fay, which soured when her film success eclipsed his career. Also silent star John Bowers, who drowned himself off Malibu when sound movies ended his film career.

box-office. But its dual rise and fall storyline became a permanent part of Hollywood folklore that would spawn four further film versions. Five years later, Selznick, now working at MGM, developed the idea of the original film into the more ambitious A Star Is Born (1937), written and directed by William A. Wellman. It starred Janet Gaynor as Esther Blodgett – renamed Vicki Lester – a young girl who goes to Hollywood and becomes a star. She marries the famous but alcoholic actor Norman Maine (played by Frederic March). But because of his chronic addiction to the drink, Maine's movie career completely collapses and he becomes solely dependent on his award-winning wife. When he overhears Vicki telling her studio boss that she is going to give up her career to take care of him, he realises the burden he is to her. Telling her he is going for a swim, Maine leaves their beach house and walks into the sea until the waves close over his head. Unlike its predecessor, the film became a sure-fire hit and garnered seven Academy Award nominations. The 1954 Warner Bros. remake came into being through the enterprise of Judy Garland and her then husband, Sid Luft. Garland's contract with MGM had been terminated in 1950 following several years of problems and difficulties between the star and the studio. After four years in the wilderness and one suicide attempt, Garland considered that this

project would be an ideal comeback vehicle for her. In this version, Esther Blodgett is not a starry-eyed hopeful, she is already a professional entertainer, singing with a touring dance band and has no desire to become a movie star. It is film actor Norman Maine (played by James Mason) who, after hearing her sing, convinces her that she has "star quality" and arranges with his studio boss to give her a screen test. The two films now run parallel – Esther is renamed Vicki Lester and eventually becomes an Oscar-winning star. Having fallen in love with Maine she marries him, but his continual drinking saps his vitality

directed and starring Bradley Cooper as country-rock singer Jackson Maine, battling alcohol and drug addiction. He discovers and falls in love with a young vocalist played by Lady Gaga. This too became a box-office smash as well as receiving eight Oscar nominations.

Only time will tell if Hollywood decides to make a sixth version sometime in the future.

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.

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FILM FEATURE

With a freshly minted Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay,TaikaWaititi has even more reason to thank his mother for introducing him to the novel that inspired his hit comedy, Jojo Rabbit . Words Gill Pringle

her attic – even if her 10-year-old Hitler youth son Jojo initially disapproves. “Scarlett is actually like that; she’s a mother and she’s a funny goofball, you learn when you hang out with her. But she’s also fiercely protective, and that’s really what I was looking for in that role. When I became a parent myself, I realised how hard it is. And trying to raise a child alone, it’s hard enough let alone a war, when you are trying to salvage whatever you can from your child who is being brainwashed and pulled away from you. And so you use whatever tools you can in this situation." Part Wes Anderson, part

Rabbit as “a bit of a love letter to mothers,” especially solo mothers. “I have a single mum and I didn’t realise until I had my own children that she would have done anything for me – and she did,” he adds. “That’s why the mother is the most important element in the film for me – and probably the only grounded character in the movie, too. She’s a clown and just trying to save her kid,” he says of Scarlett Johansson’s charming Rosie Betzler, a single mother who hides a Jewish girl (Thomasin McKenzie) in

aika Waititi credits his mum with introducing him to Christine Leunen’s novel Caging Skies (on which Jojo Rabbit is loosely based), even if her interpretation was slightly skewed. “My mum read Caging Skies and was explaining the concept to me, saying how it was about a boy in Hitler Youth and his mother is hiding this girl in the attic. The way she described it sounded so cool and I thought it was a great film idea,” he explains. “But when I read the book, it wasn’t exactly how my mum

described it,” he adds with a laugh. “So I started writing it myself, more like how my mum had explained the book – and then the imaginary friend character came into the story and a lot more of the humour and essentially the core of that story about a young boy who is indoctrinated and has to learn to understand. The idea was kind of like having a monster in the attic, but who is just human.” Waititi describes Jojo

Scarlett Johansson and Roman Griffin Davis

Springtime for Hitler, Waititi’s dazzling takedown of fascist thinking never fails to amuse, using biting satire to convey serious issues with surprising warmth. Indoctrinated into the Nazi youth movement, Jojo (newcomer Roman Griffin Davis) doesn’t initially share the same worldview as his mother. Taught to hate Jews and think of them as monsters, he struggles because of his small size

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FEATURE FILM

WhileTaikaWaititi can usually find a way of casting himself in his movies, he had no intention of playing Adolf Hitler when he wrote the script for Jojo Rabbit eight years ago. “This was one of the ones where I thought, ‘no way can I justify getting myself in this movie.’ Then I got distracted and went off and made three other movies: WhatWe Do in the Shadows , Wilderpeople and Thor . After that I came back to the script and Fox Searchlight got in touch and said that they loved it and wanted to make it, but they were only interested in making it if I play Hitler. So it was really their idea, and I thought they were crazy. And when I watch the movie, I still think they’re crazy,” he laughs.

Taika calls "ACTION!"

and leans on his own personal Hitler [Waititi] as a sounding board. A cuddly, energetic, pep-talking version of the Führer, he

era while identifying pointed parallels to today's fascist

I'm making a film that has a really simple message, which is 'just be nice to each other'

groupthink. Waititi, who has long had

a gift for infusing even his wildest comedies with real heart, guides this film from taboo-breaking scenes reminiscent of Monty Python or

becomes an unlikely father figure to the boy with an egregious blind spot. Growing up, Waititi found himself wanting a father figure in his life. “So I think it’s no different for a boy growing up in Nazi Germany without a father,” says the self-described Polynesian Jew whose own Hitler is so truly hilarious, even a nuanced expression elicits uproarious laughter. When asked if it’s a risky move making a movie about Hitler and the Nazis in today’s sensitive climate, Waititi concedes that while that could be the case, Jojo Rabbit is unlikely to offend anybody. “There’s nothing controversial about this film. Believe me, I’d love to have the label of ‘the bad boy of cinema’ or a rebel, but I’m not. I’m really polite and from New Zealand, and I’m making a film that has a really simple message, which is ‘just be nice to each other.’ “There are a lot of [comedic] elements in the film that were taken from actual events and stuff,” he adds, “like those robot costumes you see when

Mel Brooks into far more emotional territory – a singular and essential response to both history and our current moment. “In 1933 when Hitler got into power, little by little every single day or every week, there was one small change or one thing where people said, ‘that’s wrong’. But it wasn’t big enough to really get anyone up in arms and it wasn’t big enough until it was too late,” he says, addressing the learned hate which still exists in today’s political climate. “You think it will never happen again but that’s exactly what they said in 1933, ‘Nothing will be as bad as the First World War’. “That ignorance and the arrogance that allows us to forget is a big human flaw. So it’s important to keep telling these stories again and again. We have to keep remembering and keep finding new and inventive ways of telling the same story so children

• Jojo Rabbit is out on Mar 25

the Nazis are hunting for metal. They were taken from archival photos.” Nevertheless, the film still walks a precarious high wire, savaging the anti- Semitism of the Nazi

can listen and grow and move forward unified and with love in the future.”

D o n ' t M i s s !

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FILM FEATURE

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Frozen ’s Oscar-winning song Let it Go might be a hard act to follow, but Frozen II ’s signature tune Into the Unknown is a worthy successor, receiving an Oscar nomination this year for Best Original Song. It’s just one of many new musical numbers that flavour the sequel, with characters both old and new testing their vocal range. Words Gill Pringle O f course Frozen II features Disney princesses and about it. But the first Frozen and Frozen II , in many ways, inverts that,” he says.

themes of female empowerment, but it’s not just about the girls. In one of the film’s funniest moments, Jonathan Groff performs an ‘80s power ballad, Lost in the Woods , which empowers boys to feel free to express their feelings. And the actor – who is both the

“So here’s a man pining after a woman, trying to come to terms with his emotions and sing about it and I think that Frozen II just continues to challenge your expectations of what these stories are and I think for Kristoff, you feel what you feel and your feelings are real, so let down your hair and go for it.” “When I was three years old, I dressed up as Mary Poppins; my mom allowed me to go in full drag. I had great parents in that way, and I hope that kids come and see this movie and feel like they have the opportunity to express themselves.” A newcomer to the cast, Evan Rachel Wood is introduced as the voice of Queen Iduna, the mother of Elsa and Anna, seen in flashbacks. After hearing Wood sing, songwriters Robert Lopez and

voice of Kristoff and his trusty reindeer companion, Sven – was delighted, and hopes it delivers a positive message of acceptance to all little boys. “Oftentimes it’s girls who are singing out about pining

after a man and their frustration at not being able to express it; like now the man has left and they’re alone singing

Kristen Anderson-Lopez immediately set about writing a song for her – All is Found – about a river that holds all the answers. “The

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FEATURE FILM

DON’T BE AFRAID OF THE UNKNOWN

Things get grittier for the main characters in Frozen II , and while the film’s themes might be perceived as being a little dark for younger audiences, co-director Jennifer Lee argues that this is nothing new. “Sometimes we forget, but when we go back to old traditional fairy tales, they always have a moment that gets a little scary. And that’s part of what fairy tales are for, so that a child can experience things while being safely in their seat. And I think it helps cope with life. We grew up on those fairy tales and we didn’t want to be afraid of it,” she explains. A mother of two daughters, Kristen Bell, who voices Anna, agrees that sometimes being a little scared is a good thing. “We don’t give kids enough credit because they are projections of us and we want them to be happy and of course we want ourselves to be happy all the time. So we don’t give them enough credit for their ability to digest complex situations and trauma and struggle and I think that’s why the first one hit because these characters identified in kids: what do you do when you feel two different things; like when you feel shy and vulnerable or incredibly powerful? “And I think in this second one, you don’t have to tell them that the world is a scary place, even though it really is. Instead you can let them see a story that has a resolution. It’s kind of like when toddlers have tantrums – and the things that I’ve read is that they’re trying on all these emotions that don’t yet fit because they’re

...I think a lot of these songs are going to be earworms

practicing – so they know how to handle it when they’re older. So I actually think it’s great for kids to be a little bit on the edge of their seats because it’s a safe environment to try on those emotions,” adds Bell.

lullaby is beautiful and I love it because it leaves such an impression on her daughters. You can see why Anna and Elsa love to sing so much. And although she left them too soon, she’s still very much present in their hearts and in their spirits. I think she’s still there to guide them,” says Wood, who practiced the song at bedtime with her own son Jack. Josh Gad, reprising his

• Frozen II is out on March 4

role as snowman Olaf, also has own song, When I Am Older . “I want to apologise ahead of time because I think a lot of these songs are going to be earworms,” he laughs. “I’ve played them in my own household and my kids will not stop signing them.”

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F U R T H E R V I E W I N G . . .

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Many horror fans re-watch the original Black Christmas as an annual tradition, so what is Sophia Takal’s go-to Christmas movie? “I have two – When Harry Met Sally , which I count as a Christmas movie, and another romantic comedy called Starting Over . Die Hard is another fantastic Christmas movie. I think anything with a Christmas tree counts as a Christmas movie.”

Horror specialist Blumhouse Productions has reimagined the seventies’ horror classic Black Christmas for a new generation, with co-writer and director SophiaTakal bringing a modern female perspective to the slasher genre. Words Scott Hocking

really well developed female characters and interesting and frank politics on abortion, the relationships between men and women, and sexual politics,” says Takal. “Also its style and the way it basically invented the slasher genre. It was a movie I thought was so fresh at the time, and what excited me was the challenge of making something that was equally contemporary and exciting for 2019. Again, not just in terms of the themes we’re exploring, but also in terms of the structure and playing with the form of the slasher movie. “My cinematographer, Mark Schwartzband, and I really wanted to riff on that ‘70s American horror style – even though Black Christmas is Canadian. I think it’s a reimagining in the way that Luca Guadagnino’s Suspiria reimagined Dario Argento’s film – the tone and the energy and emotions of the original translated through another filmmaker for a new time. “I think the original Black Christmas is a perfect film, and I hope that people who’ve seen it will take something new

F requently credited with Carpenter’s Halloween , Black Christmas (1974) has since been reimagined (badly) in 2006, with this latest iteration a remake in name only. The premise remains consistent – a group of sorority sisters

director Sophia Takal chose to film in New Zealand in order to meet a December 2019 theatrical release date.

inventing the slasher movie four years before John

...I really wanted to riff on that ‘70s American horror style

“We had to shoot during our summertime, which is of course your winter. There was a particular town called

Dunedin that has a really beautiful university where we shot,” she tells STACK . “I found shooting in New Zealand to

preparing for the holiday break are stalked by a killer – but has now been updated as a girl-powered assault on toxic fraternity culture. That’s not the only difference. Both the original and 2006 version are Canadian productions, but rather than head north,

be an absolute dream. The crew and New Zealand actors were wonderful and talented and passionate, and I felt that even though I was a stranger coming in to a strange land, we all formed a family for the three months we were there.” While fans of the original will be pleased to know that the two staples of Black Christmas – a pointy glass unicorn bust and suffocation by plastic bag – are present in the new version, the big question the horror community will inevitably be asking is, ‘Why revisit Black Christmas again?’ “Blumhouse approached me with the idea of remaking Black Christmas . It’s a movie that I’ve always really loved and admired for its

away from this one. And the people who see this film fresh will go back and get excited by the original.”

• Black Christmas is out on March 25

D O N ' T M I S S . . .

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NEW TO BLU-RAY TM & DVD AT MARCH 25

Mild themes and crude humour.

© 2019 Paramount Players,A Division Of Paramount Pictures.All Rights Reserved.

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Into the unknown... FROZEN II

Release Date: 04/03/20 Format:

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Sing-Along Version of the Film Song Selection Deleted Scenes & Outtakes Deleted Songs The Spirits of Frozen II Did You Know? Scoring a Sequel Gale Tests Scoring a Sequel Multi-Language Reel Music Videos: “Into the Unknown” (Panic! at the Disco version) & “Lost in the Woods” (Weezer version)

It’s been seven years since the record-breaking original introduced viewers to Disney princess Elsa (Idina Menzel), her sister Anna (Kristen Bell), and pals Kristoff (Jonathan Groff) and Olaf (Josh Gad) – and of course the phenomenal signature tune Let It Go , which is still stuck on repeat in everyone’s heads. Kids have played the disc on a loop ever since, so familiarity with the first film is a given when diving into the sequel,

to elemental forces, this realm could hold the answer to the disappearance of Elsa and Anna’s parents. Deftly recapturing the magic of the original with a new playlist of songs and beloved characters that have matured along with the target audience, Frozen II is bigger and of course a bit darker, and the animation is even more eye- popping and exquisite. AC (See page 16)

although Olaf does provide a hilarious recap. Opening with a bedtime story flashback with huge significance to the events that follow, Frozen II sees Elsa and co. embarking on a journey to an enchanted forest in the far north to discover the source of a mysterious song that is calling to the ice queen. Shrouded in mist and home

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An anti-hate satire. JOJO RABBIT

Release Date: 25/03/20 Format:

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Inside Jojo Rabbit Deleted Scenes Outtakes Audio Commentary by Taika Waititi

DID YOU KNOW?

Taika Waititi discovered in his research that WWII Germany was very vibrant and fashionable. Unlike traditional war films that depict it as dreary and dark, Jojo Rabbit instead presents the town as a seemingly celebratory place, dressing the characters as stylishly as possible.

Taika Waititi is a director prepared to take risks, and no more so than with Jojo Rabbit , a story seen through the eyes of a 10-year-old German lad towards the end of WWII. The boy in question is Johannes “Jojo” Betzler (Roman Griffin Davis, in a stunning debut), who has swallowed Nazi indoctrination hook, line and sinker. As a member of the Hitler Youth, he’s knee-deep in completely unsuitable training

great Mel Brooks once said (of his film The Producers ): “If you can make fun of him, if you can have people laugh at him, you win.” Jojo Rabbit succeeds in this respect. The story is dramatic, incredibly moving and often genuinely funny, with much of the comedy springing from the depiction of the Nazis as complete buffoons, not least Waititi’s ridiculous Hitler. AF (See page 14)

when he discovers that his mother, Rosie (an amazing Scarlett Johansson), is sheltering a young Jewish girl in the walls of his home. This leaves Jojo with a lot of questions, none of which are answered by his imaginary friend, Adolf Hitler (Taika Waititi). Hitler hardly springs to mind when thinking of fodder for comedy, however the

FURTHER VIEWING

Hunt for the Wilderpeople

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NEW TO BLU-RAY TM & DVD AT MARCH 25

WHILE STOCKS LAST

Strong horror violence, blood and gore

© 2019 AMC Film Holdings LLC.All Rights Reserved.

NEW TO DVD

MARCH 11

AT

Strong violence

© 2019 Universal Studios.All Rights Reserved.

WHILE STOCKS LAST

NEW TO BLU-RAY TM & DVD AT MARCH 11

WHILE STOCKS LAST

Predatory animal behaviour

© 2019 XIX Serengeti Productions Limited and JPD Serengeti Limited.All Rights Reserved.

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A new world needs new Angels. CHARLIE’S ANGELS

Everyone has a motive. No one has a clue. KNIVES OUT

Release Date: 11/03/20

Format:

Release Date: 11/03/20

Format:

It’s been 20 years since Drew Barrymore, Cameron Diaz and Lucy Liu first brought Charlie’s Angels to the big screen, which is about the same interval between their film and the original TV series. That equilibrium of time makes right now the ideal moment to rejuvenate the franchise for a new generation. Kristen Stewart, Naomi Scott and Ella Balinska are the new Angels, picking up where their predecessors left off; this time chasing a revolutionary energy device that’s fallen into the wrong hands. With an assassin on their trail and

The ‘whodunnit?’ is spit-n-polished for murder-mystery fans. With the ghosts of Agatha Christie and Alfred Hitchcock hovering over writer-director Rian Johnson, Knives Out adheres to classic and conventional sleuthing while updating the genre. The Thrombeys are a wealthy family whose fortune is built upon the success of their patriarch Harlan’s career as a mystery writer. When Harlan is murdered, the scene is set for a fantastic mystery with deliciously decadent twists, macabre revelations and cheeky red herrings. Featuring

allies becoming foes, the Angels’ mission becomes a game of cat-and- mouse with lots of kick-ass action. Fans of the TV show and previous films will welcome the expansion of the CA universe, while a cheeky retrospective within the movie brings newbies up to speed. GC

a massive ensemble cast that the genre demands – including Jamie Lee Curtis, Daniel Craig, Toni Collette, Chris Evans and Christopher Plummer – Knives Out is a whole lot of fun; prudently structured, meticulously plotted and carefully hole-proofed. Agatha and Hitch would be proud! GC

Think your family is weird? Think again. THE ADDAMS FAMILY

The greatest zombie movie cast ever disassembled. THE DEAD DON’T DIE

Release Date: 25/03/20

Format:

Release Date: 11/03/20

Format:

What would the Addams Family be without their penchant for the macabre? Appropriately, this new animated feature is devilishly grim and frivolously dire, but not lacking in charm and fundamental goodness – parental discretion is most certainly advised. Having taken up residence in an old asylum, the eccentric Addams and their extended clan clash with a reality TV show designer who considers their home an eyesore and rallies the locals to help drive the family out of town. Fans

Indie writer-director Jim Jarmusch’s star-studded zom- com is as dry as a newly risen corpse. We’ve seen enough zombie movies to know that when the dead start walking, the living start running. But in the sleepy rural town of Centreville, USA, the situation is met with surprising indifference by the residents and local cops (Adam Driver and Bill Murray in a delightfully droll double act). Not so surprising, though, for viewers already familiar with Jarmusch’s idiosyncratic output ( Dead Man , Only Lovers Left Alive ) – the somnolent

of the previous adaptations – notably the 1960s TV series and the two films of the ‘90s – will be relieved to discover that none of the iconic Addams’ traits are ignored in this fun-filled reboot that will thrill tweens and deliver a healthy dose of nostalgia for parents. GC

characters put the dead into deadpan, ensuring that the film’s one joke lasts the distance. The Dead Don’t Die engages on the strength of its starry cast, sangfroid tone and small town ambience, and Tilda Swinton’s sword-swinging Scottish mortician is alone worth the price of the disc. SH

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BLACK CHRISTMAS FROM BLUMHOUSE, THE PRODUCER OF GET OUT AND HALLOWEEN

NEW TO BLU-RAY TM & DVD AT MARCH 25

NEW TO BLU-RAY TM & DVD AT MARCH 11

© 2019 Universal Studios.All Rights Reserved.

© 2019 STX Productions,LLC..

BASED ON THE UNTOLD TRUE STORY

NEW TO BLU-RAY TM & DVD AT MARCH 11

NEW TO BLU-RAY TM & DVD AT MARCH 11

Strongcoarse language

© 2020 Entertainment One FilmsAustralia Pty Ltd.2020.All Rights Reserved.

© 2019 Focus Features.A Comcast Company.

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The only way out is through him. 21 BRIDGES

0% contained. PLAYING WITH FIRE

Format:

Release Date: 04/03/20

Format:

Release Date: 25/03/20

Black Panther 's Chadwick Boseman finds himself a long way from Wakanda in this slick crime-thriller produced by Marvel heavyweights Joe and Anthony Russo. Boseman plays a disgraced NYPD detective who is given a shot at redemption when he's assigned to catch a pair of cop killers that gunned down eight officers responding to a robbery. To ensure the shooters can't escape from New York, all avenues in and out of the island – namely the titular number of

John Cena headlines this family comedy as one of a crew of hardened firefighters that rescue a trio of rambunctious youngsters from an encroaching forest fire, and must subsequently babysit them at the remote station until their folks arrive. Tough guys charged with impromptu child-minding is a tried and true formula for broad comedy – see also Arnie in Kindergarten Cop and Vin Diesel in The Pacifier – and Cena, Keegan-Michael Key and John

bridges – are closed until dawn. 21 Bridges is comfort food for cop movie buffs who like a flawed hero playing cat and mouse with the bad guys, police corruption, propulsive action and lashings of ultra-violence. It's fun to see Boseman in a supercop role, and he's backed up by a quality supporting cast including J.K. Simmons and Sienna Miller. AC

Leguizamo throw themselves into the slapstick shenanigans with energy, and an appreciation of My Little Pony . Sweet and charming, with the affable Cena once again demonstrating his flair for physical comedy, Playing with Fire arrives in the aftermath of our own bushfire crisis to provide some much needed light relief. AC

CHADWICK BOSEMAN

SIENNA MILLER

“PUTS ITS FOOT ON THE GAS AND NEVER LETS UP.” - THAT SHELF

“BATTERING RAM OF A MOVIE.” - THE NEW YORK TIMES

Strongviolence andcoarse language

DISTRIBUTEDBYROADSHOWENTERTAINMENT

NEW TO BUY ON BLU-RAY ™ & DVD MARCH 4 AT

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“A masterful thriller” - Dave Morales, FOX-TV

Strongcoarse languageand violence

'2020 WarnerBros.Entertainment Inc.All rights reserved.

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They're here to help. FEAR THE WALKING DEAD: SEASON 5

You can't escape what's inside. NIGHTFLYERS: THE COMPLETE SERIES

Format:

Release Date: 25/03/20

Format:

Release Date: 04/03/20

The worlds of The Walking Dead and its spin-off series are more closely aligned in this season, with familiar players from the former crossing over. Stick- fighter and speechmaker Morgan (Lennie James) takes over from the late Madison, leading FTWD's group of survivors with a philanthropic agenda and a determination to make a difference in a world that's gone to hell. Indeed, the mantra 'Here to Help' is the title of the season opener, but of course not

Put Event Horizon , Lost in Space and The Expanse into a blender and the resulting cocktail would resemble Nightflyers . This slick-looking SyFy series is adapted from a novella by George R.R. Martin (which was also the basis for a mediocre movie in 1987) and finds a group of colonists fleeing a doomed Earth in an attempt to make contact with an alien vessel, which may hold the answers to saving the planet. En route to the rendezvous, strange hallucinations begin to affect the crew of the Nightflyer ,

everyone wants their assistance. Throw in a western flavour, a bit of Mad Max-style action, LOTS of Walkers, the return of another TWD character and a Rick Grimes easter egg, and the result is an incident- packed season that culminates in a sucker-punch finale. BS

and a series of brutal and bloody murders ensue. Could a disturbed telepathic passenger be responsible, or has a dark external force invaded the ship? Quality production values and an intriguing central mystery make this a series that sci-fi/horror fans won't want to miss. AC