At The Movies

Simon Morris looks at two movies divided along left and right lines – Paul Thomas Anderson’s comedy-thriller One Battle After Another, and Spanish Civil War drama The Teacher Who Promised The Sea – and a French film – Holy Cow! – in which the answer is cheese! Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

French film Holy Cow tells the story of a teenage ne’er do well who decides to turn his life around by winning a cheese-making gold medal. A multi award-winner for both director Louise Courvoisier and star Maïwene Barthelmy, it was also a huge box-office hit at home. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

The Teacher Who Promised The Sea is a Spanish-Catalan real life account of a teacher who falls foul of the fascists during the Spanish Civil War. Featured at the recent International Film Festival, it stars Bafta Rising Star Laia Costa. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

One Battle After Another sees a retired revolutionary forced to rejoin the struggle when his daughter is captured by an old enemy. Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson (Magnolia), it stars Leonardo DiCaprio (The Wolf of Wall Street), Sean Penn (Mystic River), Benicio del Toro (Sicario) and newcomer Chase Infiniti. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Simon Morris is seduced by some undeniably charming stars – Margot Robbie and Colin Farrell in A Big, Bold, Beautiful Journey, indigenous Australian national treasures Deborah Mailman and Wayne Blair in Kangaroo, and A-Lister politician Dame Jacinda Ardern in Prime Minister. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Prime Minister is the story of Jacinda Ardern’s eventful five years leading Aotearoa New Zealand. With previously unseen footage shot by Ardern’s partner Clarke Gayford, it’s not just a biopic of a fascinating political figure, but it shows this country at its best and its worst. Directed by American Lindsay Utz (Billie Eilish: The World’s A Little Blurry) and Kiwi Michelle Walshe (Chasing Great). Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

A Big Bold Beautiful Journey features Colin Farrell (In Bruges) and Margot Robbie (Barbie) being drawn back into their pasts by magical rental car! Directed by Kogonada (After Yang) and featuring Phoebe Waller-Bridge (Fleabag) and Kevin Kline (A Fish Called Wanda). Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Kangaroo has all the right elements for a feelgood, family movie – small-town outback Australia, a big city idiot and a teenage girl both looking for redemption, and an awful lot of kangaroos. Featuring Deborah Mailman and Wayne Blair (The Sapphires), Ernie Dingo (Crocodile Dundee) and Rachel House (Boy). Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Simon Morris finds himself on the wrong side of history – or at least the general, critical opinion of the new Stephen King movie, The Long Walk, and millennial sex-comedy Splitsville. Though he agrees with most people about whether we really need yet another Downton Abbey spinoff movie. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

The Long Walk, based on Stephen King’s first novel, is set in a dystopian future where 50 young men compete to be the last one standing. If they slow down they’re shot. Directed by Francis Lawrence (The Hunger Games Catching Fire), it stars Cooper Hoffman (Licorice Pizza) and Mark Hamill (Star Wars). Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Splitsville sees the International Film Festival comedy about open marriages get a general release. Essentially a millennial version of a Sixties hit, Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice, with added (male) nudity. Features Dakota Johnson (Materialists). Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale is the third and final Downton movie, we’re told. It features all the old favourite characters – and, frankly old favourite plotlines. With added Noël Coward, and scandal in high places. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Simon Morris looks at three films that use comedy in different ways to make a point – the divorce comedy The Roses, a film about a traumatic event, Sorry, Baby, that uses humour as a healing tool and French farce How To Make A Killingwhich uses comedy to make you laugh! Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

The Roses is a gentler remake of the pitch-black Eighties divorce comedy The War Of The Roses. But stars Olivia Colman and Benedict Cumberbatch turn out to be worthy successors. Directed by Jay Roach (Meet the Fockers). Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Sorry, Baby was a big hit when it debuted at Sundance – the story of a young woman getting over a traumatic event. Star, writer and director Eva Victor had never made a feature film before. Produced by Barry Jenkins (Moonlight). Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

How To Make A Killing sees Laure Calamy (Call My Agent) caught up in a tangle of gangsters, refugees, a big bundle of money – and a gigantic black bear. French farce at its most farcical – and French. See you at the Swinger’s Club on Thursday! Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

The Ballad of Wallis Island is a British charmer about a lonely millionaire who just wants to put his favourite folk duo back together. His solution? A reunion concert for an audience of one. Starring and written by Tim Key (See How They Run), Tom Basden (After Life) with Carey Mulligan (Promising Young Woman). Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Workmates is the latest from husband and wife team writer-star Sophie Henderson and director Curtis Vowell. Can theatre best mates Lucy – Sophie – and Tom – Matt Whelan, get from the friend-zone to love? Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Simon Morris looks at three apparent romances, which all seem to ignore the usual rules. New Zealand comedy Workmates insists they’re just good friends, British music dramedy The Ballad of Wallis Island proves that band breakups aren’t good for love, while action thriller Caught Stealing is more interested in money than “boy meets girl”. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Caught Stealing is a change in pace for ultra-serious director Darren Aronofski (Noah, Black Swan) – an action thriller, starring Austen Butler (Elvis), Matt Smith (Dr Who) and Zoë Kravitzn (The Batman). Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details