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DANIEL LAMMIN
Daniel Lammin has worked extensively as a theatre director, playwright and actor, and his passion for storytelling recently led to him graduating from the post-graduate Directing course at NIDA (2011). His very candid approach to film critiquing comes from his high standards in all creative pursuits, and love of movies from an early age.

TOP 3 ARTISTS: David Ford, Bob Dylan, Death Cab For Cutie
TOP 3 MOVIES: The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Zodiac
BEST CONCERT: London Symphony Orchestra with Jean-Yves Thibaudet - 2010
FIRST MEMORY OF A FILM: Seeing 'The Neverending Story' recorded from the TV onto a VHS when I was 3 or 4.

daniel@maketheswitch.com.au
www.twitter.com/DanielLammin
www.instagram.com/DLammin

Stan & Ollie - Great performances can't save this lacklustre biopic
STAN & OLLIEGreat performances can't save this lacklustre biopic
It’s a pity that ‘Stan & Ollie’ ends up being as lacklustre as it is. The story has potential, the performances are terrific and the subject manner is fascinating.
Sleeping Beauty - A history of Disney's masterpiece on its 60th anniversary
SLEEPING BEAUTYA history of Disney's masterpiece on its 60th anniversary
It's a masterpiece of beauty and wonder, danger and excitement, humour and heart, but foremost it is a complete work of art, and even after sixty years, there hasn’t been anything like it.
Vox Lux - Art and violence collide in Brady Corbet's ambitious melodrama
VOX LUXArt and violence collide in Brady Corbet's ambitious melodrama
Thrills and surprises in equal measure, for the most part the film feels like an artistic and thematic coup, with yet another stunning performance from Natalie Portman.
Maria by Callas - A moving portrait of an opera legend
MARIA BY CALLASA moving portrait of an opera legend
‘Maria by Callas’ offers a moving, stirring and ultimately heartbreaking portrait of one of the greatest singers who has ever lived and an icon we will never completely understand.
Bad Times at the El Royale - Drew Goddard's intoxicating puzzle on 4K
BAD TIMES AT THE EL ROYALEDrew Goddard's intoxicating puzzle on 4K
‘El Royale’ really was one of the unexpected gems of 2018, and I suspect it’s a film we’re going to be talking about for many, many years to come.
If Beale Street Could Talk - Love is a many splendid thing indeed
IF BEALE STREET COULD TALKLove is a many splendid thing indeed
Barry Jenkins had a lot to live up to after ‘Moonlight’. Yet this film refuses to stand in comparison, rather in compliment. It's deeply beautiful, a work of extraordinary poetry and truthfulness.
Most anticipated films of 2019 - Must-see movies for the coming year
MOST ANTICIPATED FILMS OF 2019Must-see movies for the coming year
2019 is already looking like another year full of great releases, so here are some of the big films to be excited about in the next 12 months.
Vice - A potentially promising film buried under confusion and noise
VICEA potentially promising film buried under confusion and noise
‘Vice’ is a film where all the pieces don’t fit together right. In an awards season more full of disappointments than surprises, the failure of ‘Vice’ is just another to add to the pile.
The Favourite - A delicious work of magnificent insanity
THE FAVOURITEA delicious work of magnificent insanity
There really is no way to prepare yourself for this film. It’s insane and sincere, vicious and heartfelt, thunderous and mournful. No one, including the audience, comes out of this without bruises.
Bumblebee - A Transfomers movie... with heart?! Tres scandaleux!
BUMBLEBEEA Transfomers movie... with heart?! Tres scandaleux!
‘Bumblebee’ is brimming with sincerity and heart, and turns out to be pretty good! The bar in the 'Transformers' series was pretty low, but at least it’s an improvement.
The Madness of George III - Presented by National Theatre Live
THE MADNESS OF GEORGE IIIPresented by National Theatre Live
This is a play of the kind of scale we can’t see in Australia, so this NT Live screening offers us a rare opportunity to see the play at all, bolstered by a tremendous performance from Mark Gatiss.
Roma - A transcendent work of memory and cinema
ROMAA transcendent work of memory and cinema
Alfonso Cuarón has not just delivered a personal ode to a city he loves, to a time and a place that haunts him, to a figure who defined him, but given us the chance to see the same within ourselves.
Incredibles 2 - A thrilling sequel that defies expectations
INCREDIBLES 2A thrilling sequel that defies expectations
‘Incredibles 2’ is just such a joy of a film. It not only lives up to expectations but exceeds them, refusing to play by the tired and safe sequel rule of just giving audiences the same again.
The Meg - A forgettably entertaining adventure with a big-ass shark
THE MEGA forgettably entertaining adventure with a big-ass shark
Don’t expect ‘The Meg’ to rock the boat or leave a mark, but if you’re after a few hours mindless entertainment, this might be the fish for you.
Sorry to Bother You - Boots Riley's spectacular satire on race in America
SORRY TO BOTHER YOUBoots Riley's spectacular satire on race in America
A shockingly intelligent, insanely imaginative, totally unforgiving, endlessly entertaining, consistently surprising piece of satire. Boots Riley has created a film for the ages.
Robin Hood - Stealing nothing but your precious time
ROBIN HOODStealing nothing but your precious time
The definition of a forgettable film - forgettable because it has no purpose, because it’s poorly executed and because it offers absolutely nothing to the story or the entertainment of its audience.
The Land Before Time - 30th anniversary of a breathtaking animated masterpiece
THE LAND BEFORE TIME30th anniversary of a breathtaking animated masterpiece
30 years on, it still has tremendous heart, extraordinary artistry and great integrity, built on the belief that cinema for children can be more than disposable entertainment.
Ant-Man and the Wasp - A charming entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe
ANT-MAN AND THE WASPA charming entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe
This isn’t a particularly memorable film, but it’s a damn entertaining one. Its only intention is to give you a really good time.
The Lord of the Rings - 40th anniversary of an animated oddity
THE LORD OF THE RINGS40th anniversary of an animated oddity
When you tell people that there was an animated version of ‘The Lord of the Rings’, they either think you’re joking or stare in disbelief.
Wildlife - A subtle and moving portrait of family in crisis
WILDLIFEA subtle and moving portrait of family in crisis
Paul Dano is a director to watch, and the performances are excellent. This isn’t a film that tries to make much noise, but it beats with a heart that is clear and strong, and leaves you deeply moved.
The Matrix Reloaded - The second instalment in the Matrix Trilogy on 4K
THE MATRIX RELOADEDThe second instalment in the Matrix Trilogy on 4K
Time may have not made its flaws any better, but without the astronomical expectation that greeted it on release, it certainly makes what works all the more worthy of celebration.
Shoplifters - A gorgeous drama on the families we make for ourselves
SHOPLIFTERSA gorgeous drama on the families we make for ourselves
A gorgeous reminder that the most beautiful aspects of human life can be found in the smallest places, and it’s the string that connects us from heart-to-heart that makes each day worth living.
The Matrix Revolutions - The final instalment of the Matrix Trilogy on 4K UHD
THE MATRIX REVOLUTIONSThe final instalment of the Matrix Trilogy on 4K UHD
It's unlike anything else in American cinema - it dares to dream that cinema can paint on an enormous canvas while grappling with enormous questions, that action and intelligence can go hand-in-hand.
2001: A Space Odyssey - Kubrick's masterpiece makes the leap to 4K
2001: A SPACE ODYSSEYKubrick's masterpiece makes the leap to 4K
This really is a superb transition to 4K for this perfect film, offering a presentation that preserves everything so special about the film while offering greater and richer detail than ever before.
Suspiria - An ecstatic dance to the edge of sanity
SUSPIRIAAn ecstatic dance to the edge of sanity
This is a film that will divide, and is certainly not for everyone. Luca Gadagnino has created a dark symphony in honour of the classic, in the process creating a work just as powerful and unsettling.
Halloween - A thrilling and worthy successor to the horror classic
HALLOWEENA thrilling and worthy successor to the horror classic
‘Halloween’ is more than worthy of the legacy of Carpenter’s foundational classic, and an impressive piece of horror filmmaking in its own right.
Boy Erased - All the best intentions, but never quite reaches them
BOY ERASEDAll the best intentions, but never quite reaches them
There's something quite moving and sorrowful about ‘Boy Erased’, and it gives us the chance to see Lucas Hedges in a lead role, something long overdue and enormously satisfying.
Bad Times at the El Royale - An unexpected and subversive delight
BAD TIMES AT THE EL ROYALEAn unexpected and subversive delight
Is it just a great little genre play on the trope of a group of strangers forced together under unusual circumstances, or is it something much bigger? You’ll just have to find out for yourself.
First Man - An incredible and deeply moving journey into the impossible
FIRST MANAn incredible and deeply moving journey into the impossible
A powerful and moving experience, it will leave you marvelling at the ability of our species to dream, to invent, to strive and to survive.
Beautiful Boy - Great performances drowning in a sea of mediocrity
BEAUTIFUL BOYGreat performances drowning in a sea of mediocrity
There’s such a need to treat an important topic with appropriate weight, but many moments that could have packed more punch thanks to the work of Carrell and Chalamet end up feeling bloated.
The House with a Clock in its Walls - A potentially fun children film that never finds its rhythm
THE HOUSE WITH A CLOCK IN ITS WALLSA potentially fun children film that never finds its rhythm
It’s a pity it doesn’t work as well as it should, because there’s a really great children’s film in there. It’s only just fun enough to make it not totally forgettable.
Tag - A juvenile comic ode to the man-child
TAGA juvenile comic ode to the man-child
There’s something to be said about enduring friendship and the importance of play, but all that gets lost under its dumb execution. There’s just not enough to make it anything other than forgettable.
Hereditary - An infernal masterclass in the art of trauma
HEREDITARYAn infernal masterclass in the art of trauma
A dark and thunderous vision of the one of the greatest fears we have - that our own minds may in the end not only betray and destroy us, but destroy those we love most.
The Predator - Another kick-ass franchise bites the dust
THE PREDATORAnother kick-ass franchise bites the dust
It’s just a loud, confusing mess, not schlocky or silly enough to make up for all that it lacks. This could have been such a blast. Instead, it’s a bore.
Whitney - A remarkable portrait of an unparalleled artist
WHITNEYA remarkable portrait of an unparalleled artist
We aren’t given Whitney the icon but Whitney the woman, a brilliant and flawed human being driven by ambition and passion, destroyed by doubt and expectation.
Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again - More ABBA musical madness, for better and for worse
MAMMA MIA! HERE WE GO AGAINMore ABBA musical madness, for better and for worse
So, did ‘Mamma Mia!’ need a sequel? Not really. Is it any good? Of course not. But does that matter? Hardly an inch.
Love, Simon - A gay coming-of-age story we so sorely needed
LOVE, SIMONA gay coming-of-age story we so sorely needed
‘Love, Simon’ has thrown down the gauntlet to mainstream cinema. Put us on your screens. Tell our stories. Not just white gay men, but every queer person of every sexuality, gender, culture and creed.
Die Hard - Yippee ki-yay for the 30th anniversary
DIE HARDYippee ki-yay for the 30th anniversary
‘Die Hard’ is the real deal - a dead-set classic action film that’s still so much more engaging, entertaining and fulfilling than what the action genre churns out now.
Jill Bilcock: Dancing the Invisible - A fascinating portrait of an Australian cinema icon
JILL BILCOCK: DANCING THE INVISIBLEA fascinating portrait of an Australian cinema icon
You’ll walk away with an insatiable desire to go back and watch all her great work again, with your new knowledge of her craft and philosophy, at how she conjures magic out of the marriage of images.
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom - An extinction-level event for the Jurassic franchise
JURASSIC WORLD: FALLEN KINGDOMAn extinction-level event for the Jurassic franchise
This is been devoid of originality, sincerity or wonder, and fuelled by lazy fan servicing that demonstrates no understanding of why we were fans in the first place.
Incredibles 2 - The spectacular sequel we've all been waiting for
INCREDIBLES 2The spectacular sequel we've all been waiting for
It's is a rip-roaring action film, full of heart and electricity, boisterous and bombastic in all the right ways, and delivering in spades after many years of anticipation.
Jurassic Park - Celebrating the 25th anniversary of a defining cinematic masterpiece
JURASSIC PARKCelebrating the 25th anniversary of a defining cinematic masterpiece
Steven Spielberg built a cathedral to our imaginations, John Williams wrote a glorious mass to fill it and we were invited in to stand in wonder at the beauty and ferocity of it.
Rosemary's Baby - Still praying for Rosemary's baby 50 years later
ROSEMARY'S BABYStill praying for Rosemary's baby 50 years later
There’s no blood or gore, or jump scares, and it never complies with any tropes. And yet, it’s a horror film through and through. In fact, even after half a century, it’s still one of the best.
Disobedience - An emotionally rich collision of faith and desire
DISOBEDIENCEAn emotionally rich collision of faith and desire
What binds Ronit, Esti and Dovid’s stories together is less about betrayal or passion, but our duty to our parents, our partners, our community and our faith.
Red Sparrow - A thriller as problematic as it is visually gorgeous
RED SPARROWA thriller as problematic as it is visually gorgeous
The film recklessly crosses lines, which is a shame as there’s a really great film hidden in ‘Red Sparrow’, a thrilling evolution of a genre that was starting to feel tired.
The Matrix - The iconic action masterpiece revisited
THE MATRIXThe iconic action masterpiece revisited
It’s still thrilling beyond description in a way very few of its contemporaries or disciples were ever able to be. ‘The Matrix’ is a perfect action film.
My Friend Dahmer - A haunting portrait of a serial killer as a young man
MY FRIEND DAHMERA haunting portrait of a serial killer as a young man
It’s a portrait of the abyss of loneliness, and how that abyss can swallow you whole. It offers not shock and horror, but something all the more human, affecting and haunting.
The 15:17 to Paris - Yet another unwatchable mess from Clint Eastwood
THE 15:17 TO PARISYet another unwatchable mess from Clint Eastwood
It could have made a tremendous documentary, but there’s nowhere near enough to warrant a film.
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri - A misjudged morality lesson at the most inappropriate time
THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURIA misjudged morality lesson at the most inappropriate time
The film's flaws are more irritating for the great film this could have been, but Martin McDonough deals with blunt blows, straight masculine urges and writing often crippled by its own cleverness.
The Shape of Water - An Oscar-winning fairytale for the ages
THE SHAPE OF WATERAn Oscar-winning fairytale for the ages
The film is just so incredibly beautiful and deeply romantic. Few films are made with such love and passion as this one, and every frame sings as a consequence.
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