Simon Morris
At The Movies - Breaking The Rules
Simon Morris suggests that when it comes to breaking the film-making rules, it's best to pick your battles. This week The sitting duck is a real life French miscarriage of justice, Blink twice is a… Audio
At The Movies - Alien: Romulus
Alien: Romulus is the latest entry in the space-horror franchise that goes back to basics, and is all the better for it. Directed by Fede Álvarez (Don't breathe) and starring Cailee Spaeny (Priscilla)… Audio
At The Movies - Jackpot!
Action-comedy Jackpot! stars Awkwafina (Crazy Rich Asians) as a woman who wins a billion dollar lottery, only to find she has to stay alive until sundown if she wants to keep it. Co-starring John Cena… Audio
At The Movies - Ghostlight
Ghostlight is a critically acclaimed indie film about a construction worker and his family who heal when he is bullied into joining a community theatre. Featuring a scene-stealing performance by Dolly… Audio
Stars, Actors and Celebrities
Simon Morris investigates the dark art of casting - which gives you the best value for money, a star, a real actor or a trendy celebrity? He checks three contrasting films - Alien: Romulus, a little… Audio
At The Movies - Bookworm
Bookworm is about an 11-year-old girl's quest to find New Zealand's mythical Canterbury Panther with the unwilling help of her long-lost father. Directed by Ant Timpson (Come To Daddy) it stars Elijah… Audio
At The Movies - Borderlands
Here's a B-movie video-game adaptation with an A-List cast - Jack Black and Kevin Hart (Jumanji), Jamie Lee Curtis (Everything Everywhere All At Once) and, playing her first inter-planetary bounty… Audio
At The Movies - It Ends With Us
It Ends With Us is based on a romantic novel that went viral a couple of years back. The film version may do even better, thanks to a star performance by Blake Lively (The Shallows). It's directed by… Audio
At The Movies for Wednesday 14 August 2024
Simon Morris checks out three films that depend on a star to lift their game. Two succeed - a romance with a sting in the tail called It ends with us and an endearing Kiwi road-movie called Bookworm… Audio
Movie review - The three Musketeers - D’Artagnan
The first part of The three Musketeers - D'Artagnan, is a fresh take on the biggest-selling book after the Bible! Stars Vincent Cassel (Black swan), Romain Duris (Eiffel) and Eva Green (Casino… Audio
Movie review - Trap
Trap finds serial killer The Butcher trapped with 10,000 teenage fans at a pop concert. Stars Josh Hartnett (Black Hawk down) and Hayley Mills (Pollyanna). Directed by M Night Shyamalan (The Sixth… Audio
Movie review - The edge of the blade
Another French swashbuckler, The edge of the blade tells the true story of feminist and occasional duellist Marie-Rose Astié as she joins forces with a fencing master for justice and honour. Written… Audio
At the Movies for 7 August 2024
Simon Morris goes to the first French version of The three Musketeers in 30 years, and another film involving Parisian duels, The edge of the blade. The first part of The three Musketeers -… Audio
At The Movies - Mr Blake at Your Service
French hit Mr Blake at your service sees John Malkovich (Dangerous liaisons) play a British businessman (entirely in French!) who takes a job as a butler in a French stately home. Also starring… Audio
At The Movies - Deadpool and Wolverine
Deadpool & Wolverine sees two Marvel Comics mavericks combine to save Disney's beleaguered MCU. Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman are joined by a dazzling array of cameos, including Emma Corrin (The… Audio
At The Movies for Wednesday 31 July 2024
Simon Morris realizes there are several worlds of movies around this week - from Marvel's Multiverse in Deadpool & Wolverine to the popular French hits, typified by The President's wife with Catherine… Audio
Review: The President's Wife
The President's Wife sees the unstoppable Catherine Deneuve (Belle de Jour) portray another force of nature - Bernadette Chirac, wife of President Jacques Chirac, who became more popular than her… Video, Audio
Review: The President's Wife
The President's Wife sees the unstoppable Catherine Deneuve (Belle de Jour) portray another force of nature - Bernadette Chirac, wife of President Jacques Chirac, who became more popular than her…
Video, AudioMovie review - Divertimento
From the French Film Festival, Divertimento, based on a real-life young woman from the Parisian projects who became one of France's great woman conductors. "Divertimento" is the name of Zahia… Audio
Movie reivew - Horizon An American saga - Chapter 1
Horizon: An American saga - Chapter 1 is a typically epic Kevin Costner (Dances with wolves) western - at three hours it's not even halfway finished apparently. Written, produced and directed by… Audio
