Entertainment journalist Leigh Livingstone and movie expert Tim Iffland review the newest film releases, plus break down the latest trailers and movie news. Bite-sized, moreish and a little salty – this is Popcorn Podcast with Leigh and Tim.
All by Tessa D'Alfonso
A shocking plot twist can sometimes save the worst of films, but Don’t Make Me Go takes too many wrong turns in the telling of this father-daughter road trip dramedy to find its way home.
Doula follows expectant parents Deb (Troian Bellisario) and Silvio (Arron Shiver), an unmarried couple who hire their deceased doula's son, Sascha (Will Greenberg), to help them through the final stages of pregnancy. Doula, the first film from Chris Pine's Barry Linen Motion Pictures, is a hearty mix of substance and silliness that is most enjoyable when not trying too hard to be funny...
The Melbourne Documentary Film Festival (MDFF) returns for its seventh year with a brand-new batch of thought-provoking documentaries from all over the world…
Written and directed by Alex Garland, Men is an A24 folk horror film that sounds scarier than it is. The true terror lies in its unsubtle commentary on female trauma told from a mostly male filmmaking team…
The 75th Festival de Cannes was packed with surprises. Regarded as the most prestigious film event in the world, the 12-day French film festival annually showcases and awards new contributions to global cinema. Here, Popcorn Podcast takes you through the winners of the Cannes Film Festival Official Competition prizes, as well as the show-stopping moments and show-stealing films on display…
Imagine getting a phone call with the news that 70-year-old footage has been discovered proving your grandfather might be the first Aboriginal filmmaker. That’s what happened to performance artist and opera singer Tiriki Onus, whose documentary, Ablaze, tells the fascinating story of filmmaker and activist William ‘Bill’ Onus…
How to Please a Woman is about more than one woman’s sexual awakening. The dramedy from first-time feature film director Renée Webster will either gratify your needs or rub you the wrong way. Whether you’re the target audience or not, everyone could learn a thing or two…
This year, we’ve already seen silver screen adaptations from books including Deep Water, Death on The Nile, No Exit and The Sky is Everywhere, but there are many more to look forward to in coming months. Here, Popcorn Podcast has the top book to film adaptations in 2022 you need to add to your watchlist…
It’s 1893. The Australian Outback is unforgiving and fearsome. Only, the true beasts aren’t dingoes, bulls or snakes, but white men. The Drover’s Wife: The Legend of Molly Johnson is the story of Molly Johnson, a pregnant mother of four who awaits the return of her drover husband at their remote homestead. She will do anything to protect her children… and she does…
There’s no denying Nicolas Cage has had one of the most eclectic acting careers in Hollywood history, built on a foundation of abstract independent dramas and fan-favourite blockbusters in equal measure. With the release of The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent in cinemas, let’s look at some of Cage’s most Cage-like roles…
Fronted by the exceptional Javier Bardem, The Good Boss entertains and enrages, achieving an organic balance without tipping the scales. Read on to find out why you should see this Spanish workplace comedy about corruption and misjustice…
Everything Everywhere All At Once is a sight to behold on the big screen. Visionary directors the Daniels have created a strikingly imaginative, genre-bending film that will be the next generation of filmmakers’ paragon, proving you don’t need a huge budget to create art…
Do we really know who carbon is? Filmmaker Daniella Ortega explains how her new science documentary, Carbon: The Unauthorised Biography, will transform the way we think about the most discussed, but least understood, element on earth…
The 94th Academy Awards, back at its Dolby Theatre home on Monday (AEDT), was a night of reunions, dreams (and memes) and laughs – some of which crash-landed, hard. Here are the big Oscars moments you may have missed...
SXSW 2022 Film Festival did not disappoint. Critics are raving and audiences are revelling in the wealth of new contributions to cinema. Popcorn Podcast has the narrative feature highlights that need to be on your film radar…
It Is In Us All is a provoking, yet overly-ambiguous, feature directorial debut from writer-director Antonia Campbell-Hughes that poses a haunting question: what is ‘it’ that sits inside us, waiting to be unleashed?
Australian director Camille Hardman’s star-studded new documentary Still Working 9 to 5 premieres at SXSW Film Festival, highlighting how far we’ve come in the fight for equal rights – but how far there is yet to go. Hardman speaks to Popcorn Podcast about her battle to get the startling film made and how relevant the original workplace comedy starring Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin and Dolly Parton is 40 years later…
Sitting down to watch Self-Portrait, described as a “portrait of humanity as captured by its surveillance cameras”, brings with it preconceived notions. A film made up entirely of footage from low-quality surveillance cameras could be boring…
Feature documentary Facing Monsters from Bentley Dean (director of the Academy Award-nominated 2015 drama Tanna) paddles through the tranquil waters of surfer Kerby Brown’s family life before plunging into the depths of his disturbed psyche.
Founded in 1987, South by Southwest (SXSW) has been supporting ambitious artists and creative dreamers for 35 years, and Popcorn Podcast is proud to cover the 2022 SXSW Film Festival. Among the groundbreaking world premieres, daring documentaries and experimental features is a handful of must-see Australian gems you won’t want to miss, including these top picks…
