AN AMERICAN PICKLEAn uneven comedy that hasn't quite fermented enough

Its greatest assets are Seth Rogen's performances and first-time director Brandon Trost, who shows great potential, but it has an uneven flavour, where the many ingredients don't come together.

SERVANTSAn austere glimpse behind the Iron Curtain in Czechoslovakia

While it's certainly impressive, filled with striking cinematography and flashes where we glimpse the strange, surreal world behind the Iron Curtain, it feels like an unfinished film.

MONTY PYTHON'S FLYING CIRCUS: THE COMPLETE SERIESSketches at a revolution

It speaks to the intellectual and primal all at once, to our desire to make sense of the chaos of life while also encouraging us to embrace it. 'Monty Python's Flying Circus' is a miracle.

BOYS STATEA revelation on the power of politics and young minds

An absolute revelation, a blockbuster of a documentary, a rollercoaster ride of endless shocks and surprises, and easily one of the best films of the year.

SHIRLEYA hypnotic dreamscape of one of the greatest writers of all time

It is pure Shirley Jackson and yet entirely a work of its own, and one of the best films of the year so far - one that you'll feel watching you just beyond your periphery long after it is over.

THE PERSONAL HISTORY OF DAVID COPPERFIELDA rhapsodic delight on taking ownership of our own stories

It brims over with humanity, humour and heart, and reminds us of the importance of these things for a rich and satisfying life. This is an absolute gem of a film, and one of the best of the year.

WAR OF THE WORLDS15th anniversary of Steven Spielberg's darkest nightmare

15 years on, it has not lost one ounce of its power. This speaks to its incredible craft and unwavering convictions, but also because the collapse it depicts is a nightmare that has never gone away.

STAR WARS: THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACKCelebrating the 40th anniversary of the legendary sequel

'Empire' reminds us of what lies at the very heart of the 'Star Wars' saga and brings us back to the most thrilling of all the theatres of storytelling - ourselves.

WATERLOOAn epic recreation of the legendary battle

As difficult as it is to emotionally engage with, 'Waterloo' is still an impressive production, and certainly a film that deserves attention.

SORRY, WRONG NUMBERAn inventive slice of 1940s film noir

Its narrative, visual inventiveness and a thoroughly engaging plot make it an enjoyable journey into 1940s film noir.

I MARRIED A MONSTER FROM OUTER SPACEThe world Blu-ray debut of a 1950s sci-fi curio

It doesn't stray too far from the run-of-the-mill 50s sci-fi that has become a pop-culture cliché, but it offers audiences something more substantial than the usual B-grade monster scares.

THE DEATH AND LIFE OF JOHN F. DONOVANXavier Dolan's flawed but fascinating English-language debut

This isn't a hidden masterpiece, but it also is nowhere near a disaster. It's an arresting misstep from a deeply passionate filmmaker who cares about every frame.

LITTLE WOMENGreta Gerwig touches the sublime with another American masterpiece

'Little Women' is the story of being alive, of finding where you fit in the world when age and experience bring you to a point where redefining it is inevitable.

A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBOURHOODA new American classic and a quiet miracle we so desperately need

Marielle Heller's quiet miracle is a classic for all time, but more importantly, a classic for our time. Tom Hanks achieves the miraculous as Fred Rogers; this might be his finest performance.

STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKERMaking sense of the end of the 'Star Wars' saga

It's not the worst film in the Star Wars saga - and yet, it might be the most disappointing. Maybe the stakes were too high, but it feels as though it never had a chance to succeed in the first place.

PIXAR ANIMATION, RANKEDRevisiting and ranking the films of the animation powerhouse

Pixar Animation Studios is one of the most powerful animation powerhouses in the history of film, so we took up the challenge of ranking all 22 films in their canon.

EMMA.A dazzling new adaptation of Jane Austen's classic

The film finds a new language for approaching this great work, realising her wit and humour in new and exciting ways. If you doubt the need for another Austen, let this gorgeous film change your mind.

THE LIGHTHOUSERobert Eggers delivers another staggering American classic

After delivering arguably the greatest horror film so far this century, Robert Eggers has created another insane American masterpiece. It was worth every single second of the wait.

A HIDDEN LIFETerrence Malick's stunning ode to the power of kindness

A remarkable and uncompromising film, 'A Hidden Life' is a work of hope and sorrow and belief in the human spirit. It's another step in the evolution and exploration in Terrence Malick's filmmaking.

NT LIVE: PRESENT LAUGHTERAndrew Scott astounds in this thrilling Noel Coward classic

This is the kind of classic comedy we don't get to see in Australia - executed at the highest quality and without compromise, sexy and immediate and hysterical.

GONE WITH THE WINDWrestling with an uncomfortable past on its 80th anniversary

The controversy around this film reminds us that cinema is not a passive experience but an active and ever-evolving one, where it is vital we continue to engage in conversation with the works we see.

THE AERONAUTSA thrilling adventure on the edge of the sky

Even with its faults, it knows exactly what kind of film it needs to be and does so with great aplomb. If you can see it on the big screen, don't miss the chance. It deserves to be seen on as big a screen as possible.

LES MISÉRABLESA remarkably thrilling act of cinematic protest

A remarkable, electrifying and ultimately shattering film, a stellar debut for Ladj Ly, and most importantly, a work that feels necessary. It's a thrilling act of cinematic protest.

TRUE HISTORY OF THE KELLY GANGA magnificent deconstruction of the great Australian antihero

Using the story of Ned Kelly and his exploits, the film unpacks the concept of Australian myth-making, and questions the stories and figures on which we have constricted our Australian identity.

MOST ANTICIPATED FILMS OF 2020Must-see movies for the coming year

What's on the horizon in cinemas for 2020? Here are our picks for the films to get excited about in the next twelve months.

STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKERThe Skywalker saga comes to an entertaining but messy end

J.J. Abrams clearly cares about this franchise, and the love is on the screen, but if it wasn't so desperate to be liked, the great 'Star Wars' saga might have ended with a bang rather than a pop.

FROZEN 2Elsa and Anna return with the magic (mostly) intact

It is a pity that the story never finds its feet; a combination of this level of craft and a real ripper of a yarn would have made this a slam-dunk. As it stands, the magic is still there.

OFFICIAL SECRETSExposing lies at a time of war

As much as it never quite finds its groove, it's still an often thrilling and genuinely entertaining film, profiling an important figure in the movement against the Iraq War.

PAVAROTTIA perfunctory portrait of an opera superstar

This documentary plays like an artist bio mixed with a best-of album, offering nothing new and leaving almost no impression, thoroughly unlike its legendary subject.

NT LIVE: FLEABAGThe birth of Phoebe Waller-Bridge's masterwork

‘Fleabag’ has changed the cultural landscape. Having the opportunity in Australia to see Phoebe Waller-Bridge's groundbreaking masterpiece is one you simply cannot miss.

MIDSOMMAR: THE DIRECTOR'S CUTAri Aster elevates an already remarkable film to a masterpiece

With his director's cut, Ari Aster has elevated an already incredible film to the status of a masterpiece.

LONG DAY'S JOURNEY INTO NIGHTArt and technology meet in a dream-like film noir

The protagonist’s myth-like search into his physical and metaphysical past is a feat of filmmaking that's as impressive as it is vital, where dream and fantasy and longing flow together.

IT CHAPTER 2The ambitious conclusion to the beloved horror epic

Epic, ambitious, crazy, witty and unafraid to go for the heart as well as the throat. This adaptation of maybe Stephen King’s greatest work feels singular in the landscape of modern horror cinema.

AMAZING GRACEAn extraordinary document on the power of music

An exhalation to the ecstasy of music, how it can affect the body and soul of those who create it and receive it. This raw and beautiful film captures an artist at the height of her powers.

AND THEN WE DANCEDA passionate and remarkable classic in the making

Levan Akin has made a remarkable film, a passionate dance for love, for country, for tradition, for art and for survival. This will easily go down as an LBGTIQ+ classic.

PORTRAIT OF A LADY ON FIREA perfect film on the language of desire

This is a rare and precious film, breathtaking in its craft and intensely honest in its passions, and one of the best films of this or any year. This is great, great cinema.

PAIN AND GLORYPedro Almodóvar delivers a rhapsodic masterwork

A portrait of an artist entering the last act of their lives, looking back at what they have created and the battlefield left in their wake, and facing the fear of never creating again.

A FAMILYA unique and intriguing premise that never finds its feet

There’s a tremendous amount of promise in the film from Jayden Stevens, and while it’s certainly an ambitious undertaking, never comes together in the end.

MATTHIAS AND MAXIMEA magical film on the complexity of friendship and love

This is a tender love story beautifully told, made with such love and care, sincerity and grace, showcasing everything that makes Xavier Dolan such an arresting filmmaker.

THE SOUVENIRA flawed but fascinating act of autobiography

There’s no doubt that we’re witnessing something deeply personal, and some moments are shattering in their honesty, while other aspects seem to lack an objective understanding for its viewers.