Movie of the Week

• The Wedding Banquet

Cinemas

• The Surfer
• The Uninvited
• Riefenstahl
• Motel Destino
• The Extraordinary Miss Flower
• Ocean with David Attenborough
• Seeking Mavis Beacon
• Birdeater

Streaming/On-Demand

• Nonnas
• The Assessment
• Wick is Pain

CAST: Bowen Yang, Lily Gladstone, Kelly Marie Tran, Han Gi-chan, Joan Chen, Youn Yuh-jung

CREW: Andrew Ahn (director, writer), James Schamus (writer, producer), Caroline Clark, Anita Gou and Joe Pirro (producers), Jay Wadley (composer), Ki Jin Kin (cinematographer), Geraud Brisson (editor)

PLOT: Lee (Gladstone) and Angela (Tran), a couple struggling with expensive IVF treatments to start a family, are friends with partners Chris (Yang) and Min (Gi-chan), who are dealing with commitment issues. Min, the heir to a multinational conglomerate, soon proposes to Angela with the promise that, in exchange for a green card marriage that will allow him to stay in the country, he will give her and Lee the funding for further treatment, but things become complicated when Min’s sceptical grandmother Ya-Young (Yuh-jung) unexpectedly flies in from Korea…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• The classic rom-com formula is given an all-new lease of life in filmmaker Andrew Ahn’s delightfully heartwarming LGBTQI+ romp
• It is a remake of Ang Lee’s 1993 film of the same name, but with many aspects of the storyline updated for an all-new generation of movie-goers
• The charming lead quartet consists of Oscar-nominee Lily Gladstone, SNL’s very own Bowen Yang, Star Wars breakout Kelly Marie Tran, and acclaimed Korean actor Han Gi-chan, with weighty supporting turns from Joan Chen (seen in last year’s Dìdi) and Oscar-winner Youn Yuh-jung
• It has already charmed audiences following buzzy screenings at both Sundance and BFI Flare earlier this year
• For anyone seeking a movie that plays with all the best rom-com tropes in ways that make it all seem so fresh once more, this is absolute dynamite that you will consider a classic for years to come!

BONUS REASON: We had the pleasure of interviewing director and co-writer Andrew Ahn about the film, and you can watch that interview when we post our review later on this week!

The Wedding Banquet is showing in cinemas from Friday 9 May 2025

CAST: Nicolas Cage, Julian McMahon, Nic Cassim, Miranda Tapsell, Alexander Bertrand, Justin Rosniak, Rahel Romahn, Finn Little, Charlotte Maggi

CREW: Lorcan Finnegan (director), Thomas Martin (writer), Nicolas Cage, Brunella Cocchiglia, Robert Connolly, Leonora Darby, James Grandison, James Harris and Nathan Klingher (producers), François Tétaz (composer), Radek Ladczuk (cinematographer), Tony Cranstoun (editor)

PLOT: A man (Cage) takes his teenage son (Little) to the beach where he grew up, hoping to buy his childhood home and, more importantly, to surf the local waves. However, when he is confronted by local bullies who forbid him from stepping foot on the beach, he descends into a pit of madness…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• Nicolas Cage does what he does best in this intense psychological thriller that will have you guessing at every turn
• The film is the fourth feature from Irish director Lorcan Finnegan, who previously twisted minds with cerebral offerings like Vivarium and Nocebo
• In addition to exploring the deeply troubled psyche of its main character, the movie also explores the dangerous side of toxic masculinity and the fragile male egos that buy into its harmful teachings
• Shot in the beautiful landscapes of Western Australia, the pristine beaches play a significant role in the background of some disturbing confrontations
• Above all, it’s said to feature an instantly iconic new addition to the long list of Cage on-screen meltdowns, with the actor taking every possible step to come off crazier than he usually is

The Surfer is showing in cinemas from Friday 9 May 2025

CAST: Walton Goggins, Elizabeth Reaser, Rufus Sewell, Pedro Pascal, Eva De Dominici, Lois Smith

CREW: Nadia Conners (director, writer), Carlos Cuscó, Rosie Fellner and Ariel Taboada (producers), Eric Avery (composer), Robert Leitzell (cinematographer), Patrick Walsh and Todd Zelin (editors)

PLOT: Rose (Reaser), a former actor turned homemaker, hosts a lavish party with her husband, Hollywood agent Sammy (Goggins), to impress his top client Gerald (Sewell). However, the festivities become intense with the arrival of Rose’s ex, movie star Lucien (Pascal), and confused elderly woman Helen (Smith) who claims to live in the couple’s home…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• This hilarious comedy of errors peels back the skin on vapid Hollywood lifestyles in very unexpected ways
• It marks the narrative feature debut of filmmaker Nadia Conners, who previous co-directed the environmental documentary The 11th Hour
• Conners also casts her real-life husband Walton Goggins, recently seen in The White Lotus, in an ensemble cast that also includes Elizabeth Reaser, Rufus Sewell and Pedro Pascal
• Underneath the sharp satire is a surprisingly touching look at human interaction that may well leave you with a heartfelt smile on your face
• It’s a film that knows how to touch on all the right senses, while still giving you a worthwhile filmic journey to go on

The Uninvited is showing in cinemas from Friday 9 May 2025

CAST: Leni Riefenstahl, Ulrich Noethen

CREW: Andres Veiel (director, writer), Sandra Maischberger (producer), Freya Arde (composer), Toby Cornish (cinematographer), Stephan Krumbiegel, Olaf Voigtländer and Alfredo Castro (editors)

PLOT: The life and career of Leni Riefenstahl, the controversial German filmmaker behind Nazi propaganda films…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• Learn about the chilling story behind one of history’s most divisive filmmakers in this all-access new documentary
• Filmmaker Andres Veiel showcases plenty of fascinating evidence from the late filmmaker’s estate that sheds new light on many of her life-long denials
• Central to the film’s mission is exploring how personally involved she was with numerous top-ranking Nazis, including Hitler himself, which she always publicly denied
• It also sheds light on the international influence of her propaganda films, including the world-famous Triumph of the Will
• You’ll come away with either an all-new respect or a renewed disgust of this historical figure who, as influential as she may have been within filmmaking itself, may have contributed to one of the greatest war crimes on record

Riefenstahl is showing in cinemas from Friday 9 May 2025

CAST: Iago Xavier, Nataly Rocha, Fábio Assunção, Renan Capivara, Fabiola Liper, Isabela Catão, Yuri Yamamoto, David Santos, Jupyra Carvalho, Bertrand de Courville, Jan Moreira, Edglê Lima, Katiana Monteiro, Vanessa Cardoso, Adna Oliveira

CREW: Karim Aïnouz (director), Wislan Esmeraldo (writer), Janaina Bernardes, Didar Domehri, Caio Gullane, Fabiano Gullane, André Novis, Gabrielle Tana and Hélène Théodoly (producers), Amin Bouhafa (composer), Hélène Louvart (cinematographer), Nelly Quettier (editor)

PLOT: In Brazil, Elias (Assunção) and his wife Dayana (Rocha) run a roadside sex hotel where young Heraldo (Xavier), on the run after a hit gone wrong, arrives looking for somewhere to hide, upsetting the established order in the process…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• Get ready to feel more than a little hot and bothered as you experience this intense an unpredictable erotic thriller
• A co-production between Brazil, France and Germany, the film is directed by Karim Aïnouz, the filmmaker behind the recent historical drama Firebrand with Jude Law and Alicia Vikander
• There is some sizzling chemistry between the three lead actors, who each bring their own brand of on-screen sauciness to a plot riddled with suspense and allure
• It competed for the Palme D’Or at last year’s Cannes Film Festival, which was of course eventually won by another sexually-charged picture, Sean Baker’s Anora
• You’ll find yourself sweating from excitement (among other things) as the steaminess threatens to boil toward a shocking resolution

Motel Destino is showing in cinemas from Friday 9 May 2025

CAST: Emilíana Torrini, Geraldine Flower, Caroline Catz, Richard Ayoade, Siggi Baldursson, Nick Cave, Alice Lowe, Mark Monero, Niall Murphy, Angus Sampson, Kate Coyne, Viva Seifert, Saeed Esmaeli, Simon Byrt, Mara Carlyle, Liam Hutton, Ian Kellett, Lovisa Sigrunardottir

CREW: Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard (directors), Stuart Evers (writer), Zoe Flower (producer), Erik Wilson (cinematographer), Marnie Hollande and Luke Thompson (editors)

PLOT: After discovering a suitcase filled with letters belonging to a mysterious woman named Geraldine Flower, Icelandic musician Emilíana Torrini is inspired to create an album based on the numerous letters…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• The bizarre life of a mysterious woman is transformed into an even more bizarre visual feast with Icelandic music sensation Emilíana Torrini at its centre
• Directors Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard follow the musician as she creates not just complex new music based on the titular Miss Flower, but also an innovative piece of performance art that brings to life some of the most outstanding letters she received
• Helping Torrini out with her project are the likes of Nick Cave, Richard Ayoade and Alice Lowe, all of whom read aloud Geraldine Flower’s letters while actor Caroline Catz portrays her in dramatised scenes
• The combination of feverish visuals and spellbinding music make for a truly unique cinematic experience that won’t be forgotten any time soon
• You’ll be entranced by the story of its central figure, as well as by the creative avenues taken to preserve her memory

The Extraordinary Miss Flower is showing in cinemas from Friday 9 May 2025

CAST: David Attenborough

CREW: Colin Butfield, Toby Nowlan and Keith Scholey (directors), Toby Nowlan (producer), Doug Anderson (cinematographer), Philippa Edwards (editor)

PLOT: Celebrated broadcaster and filmmaker David Attenborough takes viewers on a cinematic journey through his lifelong love for the world’s oceans, and how they must be preserved to secure humanity’s future…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• The living legend that is David Attenborough returns with an all-new dive (pun intended) into some of our planet’s most beautiful oceanic landscapes
• Some stunning underwater cinematography captures underwater life like never before, from the daily lives of numerous sea creatures to the beautiful coral reefs that serve as home to many of them
• However, it also highlights the long-lasting damage that man-led fishing techniques and coral reef bleaching has done to the ocean, which could also spell bad news for our planet as a whole
• Rather than preach doom and gloom, Attenborough presents an optimistic look at what we can all do to save our planet while there’s still time
• Even though the 98-year-old Attenborough shows no signs of slowing down any time soon, it may well be your last chance to experience his extraordinary worldview on the big screen during his lifetime

Ocean with David Attenborough is showing in cinemas from Thursday 8 May 2025

CAST: Jazmin Jones, Olivia McKayla Ross

CREW: Jazmin Jones (director, writer, editor), Guetty Felin (producer), Fatima Al Qadiri (composer), Yeelen Cohen (cinematographer, editor), Jon Fine (editor)

PLOT: Filmmakers Jazmin Jones and Olivia McKayla Ross embark on an unusual journey to uncover the true face of influential 80s educational software programme Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing, which became one of the earliest breakthroughs in modern computing history…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• The story of the woman that became the face of an infamous typing software leads to some shocking but also timely questions about society in this raw and unconventional documentary
• In addition to following filmmakers Jazmin Jones and Olivia McKayla Ross on their increasingly odd journey into the past, the film also allows us to see their embracing of Black identity which the fictional Beacon paved the way for
• They employ stern detective skills to uncover the identity of the titular online assistant, and more often than not uncover a number of unexpected results
• The history of the software itself is also explored, but also the unfair treatment of its namesake which unfortunately ties into prejudice that was rampant at the time, and to an extent still is
• It’s a fascinating watch for anyone who may have memories of the software itself, but was always curious about who Mavis Beacon actually was

Seeking Mavis Beacon is showing in cinemas from Friday 9 May 2025

CAST: Mackenzie Fearnley, Shabana Azeez, Ben Hunter, Jack Bannister, Clementine Anderson, Alfie Gledhill, Harley Wilson, Caroline McQuade

CREW: Jack Clark (director, writer), Jim Weir (director), Ulysses Oliver and Stephanie Troost (producers), Andreas Dominguez (composer), Roger Stonehouse (cinematographer), Ben Anderson (editor)

PLOT: Irene (Azeez) is invited to join her fiancé Louie (Fearnley) on his bachelor party along with his privileged friends at an isolated house in the middle of nowhere, but it’s not long before the festivities turn into a feral nightmare for all, most of all Irene herself…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• Settle in for the most unnerving bachelor party ever in this dark and feral Australian psychological horror
• It marks the feature filmmaking debuts of Jack Clark and Jim Weir, who made the film on a shoestring budget with a cast of lesser known but more than capable actors
• The film explores themes of toxic masculinity and emotional abuse from a female perspective that puts the whole “boys will be boys” statement to rest once and for all
• Shot in a remote location in New South Wales, the production often ran into financial difficulty and was even partially destroyed by an unexpected flood
• It remains a fierce passion project for a new pair of filmmakers that bring a frighteningly plausible lens to some of our most toxic traits as human beings

Birdeater is showing in cinemas from Friday 9 May 2025

CAST: Vince Vaughn, Susan Sarandon, Lorraine Bracco, Talia Shire, Brenda Vaccaro, Linda Cardellini, Drea de Matteo, Joe Manganiello, Michael Rispoli, Campbell Scott

CREW: Stephen Chbosky (director), Liz Maccie (writer), Gigi Pritzker, Rachel Shane and Jack Turner (producers), Marcelo Zarvos (composer), Florian Ballhaus (cinematographer), Anne McCabe (editor)

PLOT: After the death of his mother, Joe Scaravella (Vaughn) decides to open an Italian restaurant in her honour, employing local grandmothers Gia (Sarandon), Roberta (Bracco), Teresa (Shire) and Antonella (Vaccaro) as the chefs…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• Netflix serves up a real crowd-pleaser of a movie that will send your spirit soaring, as well as your taste buds!
• The streamer reportedly paid over $20 million for worldwide rights to director Stephen Chbosky’s comedy-drama, based loosely on Staten Island restaurant owner Joe Scaravella’s unconventional workforce of spirited Italian grandmothers
• Vince Vaughn leads the cast as Scaravella himself, while screen legends like Susan Sarandon, Talia Shire and Lorraine Bracco play the four elderly women who unite for a good cause
• Its enormous heart leads to some humorous but ultimately earnest moments where you’ll fall deep in love with these characters and their world
• Providing you time your viewing just right, you might just be inspired to take in some Italian food of your own afterwards!

Nonnas is streaming exclusively on Netflix from Friday 9 May 2025

CAST: Elizabeth Olsen, Alicia Vikander, Himesh Patel, Indira Varma, Nicholas Pinnock, Charlotte Ritchie, Leah Harvey, Minnie Driver, Anaya Thorley, Benny O. Arthur, Malaya Stern Takeda

CREW: Fleur Fortuné (director), John Donnelly, Mr Thomas and Mrs Thomas (writers), Julie Goldstein, Grant S. Johnson, Elizabeth Karlsen, Jonas Katzenstein, Maximilian Leo, Shivani Rawat and Stephen Woolley (producers), Emilie Levienaise-Farrouch (composer), Magnus Jønck (cinematographer), Yorgos Lamprinos (editor)

PLOT: In a future where parenthood is strictly prohibited without explicit approval, hopeful parents Mia (Olsen) and Aaryan (Patel) are visited by mysterious government employee Virginia (Vikander), whose job is to assess their suitability as parents over a seven-day period…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• This unpredictable sci-fi thriller goes into all sorts of strange territory as it dishes out a unique commentary on parenthood
• Music video director Fleur Fortuné makes a striking filmmaking debut wherein she employs some memorable visuals and gets her actors to do some truly wild stuff
• Said actors include MCU veteran Elizabeth Olsen, Oscar-winner Alicia Vikander, and Yesterday star Himesh Patel, all of whom deliver career-best work here (especially Vikander who does things here that she’s never done before)
• It offers a bleak vision of the future that’s both mesmerising and horrifying, yet with a twinge of hope in an otherwise hopeless atmosphere
• You’re in for a treat with this solid dystopian nightmare where you’ll be guessing where it’s going all the way through

The Assessment is streaming on Prime Video from Thursday 8 May 2025

CAST: Keanu Reeves, Chad Stahelski, David Leitch, Basil Iwanyk, Erica Lee, Jackson Spidell, Jason Constantine

CREW: Jeffrey Doe (director), Josh Oreck, Gabriel Roth and Matthew Sidle (producers), TBA (cinematographer), Nick Bradford (editor)

PLOT: A look at how the John Wick franchise came together, and how it almost didn’t happen at all…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• Before the anticipated spin-off movie Ballerina arrives next month, this documentary invites you on a whirlwind journey behind the scenes of this century’s most influential action series
• Various franchise participants, from director Chad Stahelski to producer Basil Iwanyk to John Wick himself Keanu Reeves, share candid stories about the troubled origins of the original 2014 film
• You’ll also get to see how that first movie nearly fell apart due to financial issues and other roadblocks, as well as how the filmmakers managed to persist despite the complications
• There’s plenty of striking never-before-seen footage of how the cast and crew were able to pull off some of the most striking stunts and fights throughout the beloved series
• It’s a must-watch for anyone who loves not just these films but heavily choreographed and stunt-heavy action cinema in general – which so happens to be the topic of our newest podcast episode with special guest Jadey Duffield, and you can watch/listen to it from the evening of Monday 5 May on your favourite platforms (or by clicking here)!

Wick is Pain is available to rent/buy on digital platforms from Friday 9 May 2025