STACK #188 June 2020

FILM REVIEWS

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The truth has a man on the inside. DARK WATERS

Based on the legendary novel. THE CALL OF THE WILD

RELEASE DATE: 17/06/20

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RELEASE DATE: 03/06/20

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Most adults over the age of 40 will remember the moment when Teflon became the new asbestos. This common coating for frying pans and other kitchen items was discovered to be toxic (although its current form poses no risk). The story of Teflon’s demise is told in Dark Waters , which chronicles a lawyer’s 20-year odyssey to expose the corporate cover-up and seek justice for the thousands of victims. Mark Ruffalo is excellent as the naïve defence attorney who bites off more than he

Since its publication in 1903, Jack London’s classic novel The Call of the Wild has been adapted for the screen numerous times, with this latest iteration starring Harrison Ford as prospector John Thornton. But the real star of the story is Buck, a massive Saint Bernard/Scotch Collie who is stolen from his happy suburban life in California and sold to the postal service in the harsh terrain of Canada’s Yukon. Buck is traded between various owners – and mistreated by most – before ending up in the company of

can chew, and the quality support cast includes Tim Robbins, Anne Hathaway, Bill Pullman and Victor Garber. Directed by Todd Haynes ( Far from Heaven ), this social justice legal drama will appeal to those who enjoyed films like Erin Brockovich , North Country and Silkwood . GC

Thornton, where he discovers his true calling. The magnificent locations are a sight to behold and Ford is fabulous, delivering a heartfelt and often physical performance in a film that evokes a quality of family entertainment rarely seen on the screen nowadays. GC (See page 26)

THE WISHMAS TREE

WE DIE YOUNG

ESCAPE AND EVASION

CREEPSHOW

RELEASE DATE: 17/06/20 FORMAT:

RELEASE DATE: 10/06/20 FORMAT:

RELEASE DATE: 10/06/20 FORMAT:

RELEASE DATE: 03/06/20 FORMAT:

This delightful Australian-made animated tale centres around the titular plant – a tree that legend tells us grew from a seed that fell from the sky, and led to the creation of a sanctuary for animals. Ringtail possum Kerry (voiced by Miranda Tapsell) wants to escape this safe haven and explore the no-go zone beyond, leading to an adventure filled with anthropomorphised Aussie animals, including a sagely frill-necked lizard (Ross Noble). A universal tale with a fair dinkum local flavour, the central themes of righting wrongs and the bonds of sisterhood will appeal to kids everywhere. AF

You can‘t keep an ‘80s action star down, and the now 60-year- old Jean-Claude Van Damme is still throwing punches. In this urban action-drama, JCVD plays an opioid-addicted war veteran who winds up helping a teenage drug runner (Elijah Rodriguez) and his 10-year-old brother to escape from the notorious MS-13 gang, led by the brutal Rincon (David Castañeda). Both a coming-of-age drama and a gritty look at gang violence in Washington D.C., We Die Young relegates Van Damme to more of a supporting role, but he still delivers a physical and emotional performance that's worthy of his heyday. AC

The new film from Australian writer-director Storm Ashwood ( The School ) is a confronting examination of PTSD and the psychological effects of war on returned soldiers. Josh McConville plays the sole survivor of a disastrous mission in Myanmar, whose mental health and family life has been compromised by the experience. He's also being hounded by a reporter determined to uncover the truth about her brother's death, and what really happened during the mission. With a supporting cast including Hugh Sheridan and Firass Dirani, Escape and Evasion reminds us that in war, the job description doesn't end with the mission. BS

Titans of terror Stephen King and George A. Romero joined forces in 1982 for this anthology film that pays homage to the lurid horror comics of the '50s. The best of the five stories on offer are They're Creeping Up on You , in which a germophobe's luxury penthouse is overrun by cockroaches; Father's Day – a tale of revenge from beyond the grave (with cake!); and The Crate , involving a henpecked husband's plot to feed his abrasive wife to a hungry creature under the stairs. Look out, too, for Leslie Nielsen, Stephen King and Ed Harris amongst the quality cast. Long unavailable locally, this cult classic makes a welcome return on DVD and Blu-ray. SH

34 JUNE 2020

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