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MOVIES & TV NOVEMBER

Neill Blomkamp

Since making his triumphant debut in 2009 with District 9 , Neill Blomkamp has earned a reputation as an innovator of sci-fi, with films like Elysium (2013) and Chappie (2015) cementing his place amongst the greats. His latest film, Gran Turismo , is a different beast entirely, yet boasts distinct Blomkampisms. Some of his trademarks are: Cinéma vérité From the moment he arrived on the scene, Blomkamp has told his stories with lots of handheld camera work and a documentary aesthetic. It’s a technique he applies to most of his films for realism and authenticity. Photorealistic CGI Blomkamp runs Oats Studio, a special effects production house that creates photorealistic computer-generated images. His most identifiable trademark is his depiction of tech, which is often grungy and scrapyard-like – the character of Chappie is the perfect example. Blomkamp has also applied photorealism to the racing sequences in Gran Turismo . Social issues Hailing from South Africa’s Johannesburg, Blomkamp often weaves social issues – typically those orbiting race and segregation – into his stories. There’s no better example than District 9 , which is a powerful allegory for South Africa’s historical apartheid.

STACK’s ROVING REPORTER

What’s one of your all-time favourite movies, and why? The Rocky Horror Picture Show : the singing, the dancing, the costumes! I first saw it when I was 12, and played the soundtrack on vinyl every single day for about three months. What’s one of your all-time favourite TV shows, and why? Charmed . The magic, the supernatural, the sisterhood. Having two sisters myself, it really resonated with me. It’s a strong family-based supernatural drama that lasted eight seasons.

On The Radar

KIRSTIE IRWIN @ JB Cairns Central, QLD

Nia Vardalos and her big Greek family lead the way next month with My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 . Blue Beetle also brings his brand of adolescent-turmoil-with-adventure to home entertainment, while Stallone and his old cronies pummel bad guys in Expend4bles .

What’s the best thing about working at JB? Working with a strong, supportive and diverse team, in a small store in the Cairns Central food court. Plus, I live and breathe everything pop culture. What’s a movie you saw as a child that has left a lasting impression on you? Poltergeist (1982). I couldn’t look at the snowy TV for at least two years because I was scared it would suck me in. It also started my love of the supernatural.

Charmed

What have you been watching lately that you would recommend? Schitt’s Creek . I just finished watching it, and it is so wholesome and pure. It just fills your heart with joy and happiness. It’s a nice break from all of the intense, supernatural shows that I watch.

PRE-ORDER NOW

Legacy sequels are all the rage, but one of the least expected is Twisters , the upcoming follow-up to Jan de Bont’s 1996 blockbuster Twister . The story will follow Helen Hunt’s character and her daughter, who has become a stormchaser like her parents. With the original film’s star Bill Paxton having passed away in 2017, Twisters has a very big void to fill and a screen IN DEVELOPMENT

There’s nothing like a 20th anniversary to remind us of our mortality, and it’s scary knowing that Peter Jackson’s Academy Award-winning final chapter to his Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Return of the King , was released two decades ago. The film (and the entire trilogy) remains essential viewing, and will forever be celebrated as one of the greatest achievements in cinematic history. It defined the decade, influenced generations, and is simply one of the best.

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legend to honour. The movie will be directed by Lee Isaac Chung ( Minari ) and is said to have been greenlit based on Steven Spielberg’s

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enthusiasm after reading the script. If Spielberg’s down with it, so are we!

NOVEMBER 2023

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