Localista Articles

The Apprentice review – a timely cautionary tale

With the 2024 U.S. election just around the corner, The Apprentice couldn’t have arrived at a more pivotal moment. For many of us, Donald Trump first entered our lives through reality TV or his presidency, but this film delves into the gritty world of 1970s and 80s New York real estate to explore how Trump became the force we know today. A...

Joker: Folie à Deux review - A brash misstep

Joker: Folie à Deux comes with high expectations, especially following the gritty, tension-filled success of Joker (2019). This time, director Todd Phillips takes a significant risk by adding a musical element, pairing Joaquin Phoenix’s return as Arthur Fleck with Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn. But while there are moments that shine, the film ...

Discover the Best of Italian cinema at the Italian film festival

The 2024 ST. ALi Italian Film Festival is back with an exciting lineup celebrating its 25th edition! Running from 3rd – 23rd October at Palace Cinemas and Luna Palace Cinemas, this year’s festival promises a stunning selection of award-winning films, box office hits, and special anniversary screenings. Whether you’re a lover of Italian drama, co...

Runt is a family delight and a gorgeous advertisement for WA’s country towns

Looking for a film that’ll warm your heart and make you laugh out loud? Craig Silvey’s beloved novel Runt has leapt from the page to the big screen, brought to life by an all-star Aussie cast including Jai Courtney, Celeste Barber, Deborah Mailman, and the legendary Jack Thompson. Runt is the perfect family flick, bringing together quirky Aus...

Don't Worry Darling' review – definitely worth seeing at the movies

Don’t believe the critics on this one. Don’t Worry Darling is definitely worth seeing on the big screen! I can’t understand why the critics were so tough on this one. Perhaps it was the absence of 'woke' or the inclusion of Harry Styles (it’s hard to tell). It seems as soon as a non-professional is included as part of the cast, the critics can’t...

How the truck from Tim Winton's film Breath has transformed into the ultimate Opera serenade for hire

You may have heard them serenading the suburbs - in support of local artists, local company Freeze Frame Opera has taken opera to the streets, all starting on the back of a ute! What began as a plan for a single weekend of street singing has exploded in popularity, with over 100 serenades performed, providing over $20 000 in earnings for local a...

10 embarrassingly addictive reality TV shows you can stream

For some reason, like pop culture raccoons, we are drawn to consuming complete trash now and again. It’s not deep or clever or insightful, but damn if it isn’t entertaining! Here are some of our most binge-able watch recommendations. Love Is Blind (Netflix) If you enjoyed married at first sight but didn’t feel like it had enough of a d...

20 of the world's biggest film festivals join for the Digital We Are One: Global Film Festival

If you’re a film buff who is devastated about the cancellation of film festivals around the world, then you’ll be happy to know that 20 of the world’s biggest festivals have joined together to create a 10-day digital festival, running May 29 - June 7. We are One: Global Film Festival will be streamed on YouTube, featuring films from Berlin Int...

Review: Suburbicon

George Clooney’s latest movie plunges the depths of the American dream with this unsettling mix of satire, hammer horror and thriller. Gardner Lodge (Matt Damon), his wife Rose (Julianne Moore) and son Nicky (Noah Jupe) live in the peaceful, perfect world of Suburbicon, an all-American, suburb. Set in the late 50’s this place is Stepford Wives s...

Brad's Status: a review of Ben Stiller's performance

An upfront meditation on anxiety, modernity and midlife crises, movie Brad’s Status explores issues of mental health and masculinity in a way not seen before. The male midlife crisis is a well-explored concept in films, but Brad’s Status delves into the topic in a way that’s unlike anything that’s gone before. This film is writer and director Mi...

The Only Living Boy in New York: A refreshingly unique film

The Only Living Boy in New York is a charming coming of age story with a heart-wrenching twist. A strong cast and gripping storyline mean this film is refreshingly unique. The Only Living Boy in New York follows the journey of Thomas Webb (Callum Turner), a young college graduate and an aspiring writer who begins an affair with his father’s mist...

Seabirds Crying in the Harbour Dark: Stories of modern humanity

Writer Catherine Cole uses her full powers of observation to craft these realistic, honest narrative nuggets of humanity. It's often the case that a collection of short stories will feature a number of tales that hit the mark, but also ones that miss it by a mile. Catherine Cole's collection Seabirds Crying in the Harbour Dark is very much lacki...

Review: Beatriz at Dinner

Mirroring current conversations surrounding the state of global politics, Beatriz at Dinner offers a timely social commentary on the distinction between healers and destroyers. Finding yourself seated next to someone at dinner with wildly opposing political views is a scenario many can relate to. Beatriz at Dinner takes that premise and uses it...

Review: IT

An eerie and adventurous adaptation of Stephen King’s hit horror story, IT. The town of Derry is getting a reputation for all the wrong reasons. Every 27 years children start to disappear, one by one, and are never heard of again. When Bill Denbrough’s little brother Georgie goes missing his family are distraught. But rather than accept that hi...

Mountain: A spellbinding exploration of these natural wonders

A cinematic and musical odyssey, Mountain draws us into a space where sane people may otherwise not dwell ­– the triumph and terror of mountains. Mountain opens by rising up the side of an enormous, monochromatic cliff-side where a climber rests, his chin holding him onto the slightest of crevices, stretching his tired fingers. The film immedia...

Girls Trip: A hilarious comedy with an all-star cast

Gather up your #flossyposse to see one of the most hilarious comedies of the year. Given that Girls Trip is directed by Malcom D. Lee (Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins, Barbershop: The Next Cut), you just know that this is going to be a laugh out loud comedy, and the acclaimed director certainly keeps the standard up in this film. Girls Trip boasts ...

Maudie: A thoughtful, emotional film about painter Maud Dowley

A mesmerising, beautiful film from director Aisling Walsh exploring the life of Canadian painter Maud Dowley. Directed by Aisling Walsh, Maudie is a beautiful story based on the life of Canadian painter Maud Dowley (Sally Hawkins) who, despite having rheumatoid arthritis, finds success with the paintings she sells from her small home in Nova Sco...

Madame: A classy, feisty film that redefines the romcom

A classy, feisty film that redefines the romcom as it follows an unexpected love affair among the cobbled Parisian streets. In Madame, writer and director Amanda Sthers has created a film that tells a tale of love, longing and class conflict. But despite the familiar themes, there's much more to this movie than meets the eye. Rossy de Palma (Ju...

Logan Lucky: An energetic and clever American heist movie

Energetic, fast-paced and boasting an all-star cast – Logan Lucky ticks all of the boxes of a classic American heist movie. Director Steven Soderbergh is probably best known for his Ocean’s trilogy and the Channing-Tatum-ogling Magic Mike. So it’s little surprise that, given the versatility and diversity of his previous films, Logan Lucky is jus...

Hampstead: Heartwarming, full of hope and unexpectedly comedic

At its heart a tale of acceptance and second chances, Hampstead is easy-to-watch flick for anyone who likes a bit of romance. Emily (Diane Keaton) is an American widow living in the London suburb of Hampstead. Desperately unsatisfied with her life, she goes about her daily routine as usual until she meets Donald (Brendan Gleeson) a man living wi...

Review: Coma Land

An uplifting and original tale about identity, family and human kindness from Black Swan State Theatre Company. At the heart of Coma Land is Penguin, a young girl who is determined to fly, but who is trapped in a dream-like world, somewhere between life and death, inhabited by people in comas who are all trying to find their way out. Child-g...

Review: Sami Blood

Hauntingly beautiful and chilling, Sami Blood explores the life of an adolescent Sami girl in Sweden who is forced to renounce her indigenous culture. Screening as part of the 2017 Volvo Scandinavian Film Festival, Sami Blood is based on real events where indigenous Sami children in Sweden were sent to boarding schools and forced to embrace the ...

Review: A Monster Calls

A beautiful and thought-provoking tale about love, loss and knowing when to accept the truth. Scoop Publisher David Hogan and Arts Editor Jen Bowden give their – very different – views on J.A. Bayona’s dark tale of a boy and his monster. What’s it about? 13-year-old Conor O’Malley is being bullied at school and his single mum is terminally ill ...

Review: Dunkirk

Christopher Nolan’s epic is an honest and compelling look at the power of human spirit in the face of hopelessness. The evacuation at Dunkirk is one of the most defining moments in British history; an incredible tale of the power of human spirit in the face of adversity. For those who don't know the story, during the Second World War, British,...

Review: Watch the Sunset

A visceral but gripping thriller that is both innovative and intimidating. There's been a lot of buzz around Watch the Sunset ahead of its world premiere at Luna Leederville last night (Tuesday 11 July); not least because the entire 82-minute movie is filmed in one continuous shot. Screened as part of Revelation Perth International Film Festi...