2012

It’s that time of the year again. Presenting Cinetology’s best films of 2012.

Tom Hooper’s adaptation of Les Misérables has received a mixed response from critics. I talked to him about the mammoth task of bringing Les Mis to the big screen.

Having trekked these beautiful Middle Earth mountains so many times before, it’s easy to under-appreciate the first of Peter Jackson’s Hobbit movies. But non-believers may find it too much.

Imagine you’re at a lavish film industry party sipping champagne and nibbling fancy finger food. The head of major Hollywood studio has cornered you, glass of bubbly in hand, and is passionately babbling about his or her awards-nominated titles in the hope of securing your vote. It’s the middle of the awards silly season and [...]

Old school Hollywood legend Jack Warner wouldn’t have made it through director Tom Hooper’s adaptation of Les Misérables. Here’s why.

In 2012 the much-maligned Matthew McConaughey has achieved one of the most impressive career revivals in Hollywood history. How did he do it?

At the peak of its power, Ang Lee’s highly anticipated adaptation of Yann Martel’s best-selling book feels like the cinematic equivalent of touching God. Which is to say, nice work.

The King is Dead! star Gary Waddell has been nominated for an AACTA Award. It would be a damn shame if voters didn’t recognise his incredible performance.

The relationship between movies and memories can be powerful. A recent viewing of a classic film led me to contemplate what experiences I associate with particular titles. Are they pleasant or grim, innocuous or profound?

The feel good and best performing Australian film of 2012, The Sapphires, leads this year’s AACTA nominations. But there were also some surprises.

Blockbuster movie premieres don’t get any bigger than the opening of Peter Jackson’s first Hobbit movie. But the road to get here has been anything but smooth.

It’s hardly a secret that in the movie business, sex sells. But this year Hollywood got its pants off — and took crazy kink to another level.

Skyfall and The Master are the top two items on the menu for this fortnight’s The Parallax Podcast, hosted by myself and Rich Haridy. We also chat about The Sapphires, Killer Joe and Filipino Bond parody For Your Height Only.

James Bond’s 23rd official feature film gives the iconic secret agent something to stew over: an existential crisis.

Dispirited by a bunch of “historical” Hollywood movies that rampantly fudge the facts, I set out to spend an entire day at the cinema wallowing in 100% escapism. This is the story of how my best laid plans went horribly wrong.

Both myself and my three-year-old niece love Finding Nemo and Toy Story. Does having an impact on a person’s formative years feel daunting for a filmmaker? I speak to director Lee Unkrich about this, the colossal influence of Pixar Studios and more.

John Safran joins myself and Parallax Podcast co-host Rich Haridy for a wide-reaching discussion about truth and ethics in documentaries, exploring key issues and revealing some tricks of the trade.