At The Movies

Simon Morris glances at the recent Oscars, and finally gets to see the last nominee for Best Picture, Amazon Prime’s Nickel Boys. Also on this, the Millenial At The Movies, Swedish mockumentary The Last Journey, and a new take on legendary Swiss hero William Tell.

Nickel Boys may have been overshadowed at the Oscars, but it was already a critical favourite before it finally dropped on Amazon Prime this week. Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Colson Whitehead (The Underground Railroad), it’s directed by RaMell Ross and stars Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor (King Richard).

The Last Journey is a Swedish The Trip-style blend of fact and fiction by popular TV documentary stars Filip and Fredrik (Hasselhoff – A Swedish Talkshow). Filip wants to retrieve his father’s lust for life, and comes up with a novel way of doing it.

William Tell rounds up some big theatre names (Jonathan Pryce, Rafe Spall, Sir Ben Kingsley) to back up Danish star Claes Bang (TV’s Bad Sisters) as the famous Swiss archer and rebel. Directed by former resident director of the Royal Shakespeare Company, Nick Hamm, it surprisingly does without Rossini’s well-known Overture.

Neneh Superstar is a French film about a little, second-generation African girl who aspires to dance at the world-famous Paris Opera Ballet. It seems all the odds are against her – particularly her hostile teacher, ballet superstar Marianne, played by French superstar Maïwenn (Jeanne du Barry).

Mozart’s Sister is a documentary of the other Mozart, Wolfgang’s sister Maria Anna. Like her famous brother, she was a child prodigy musician, by all accounts she was a very talented composer, so why is she all but forgotten? Until now, that is.

I’m Still Here is a multi-award winning film from Brazilian director Walter Salles (The Motorcycle Diaries). It stars Oscar nominee Fernanda Torres as a mother whose husband has been “disappeared” by the military dictatorship, and what she has to go through to find the truth.

Tinā is another crowd-pleasing Kiwi Samoan film, like Three Wise Cousins, Sione’s Wedding and The Orator. Directed by Miki Magasiva (TV’s The Panthers), it stars the great Anapela Polataivao as a grieving Mum who forms a choir at an exclusive – and very white – school in Christchurch.

Simon Morris looks at two films with a lot riding on them – the new Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy, and the introduction of a new Captain America: Brave New World. But he wonders if Andrea Arnold’s miniscule Bafta nominee, Bird, might be a more helpful way to go.

Bird is the latest from critically acclaimed British film-maker Andrea Arnold (Fish Tank, Big Little Lies.). It was a nominee at both the Cannes Film Festival and the Baftas, and tells the story of a 12 year old girl with an unexpected new friend. Also stars Barry Keoghan (The Banshees of Innisherin).

Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy sees the former Noughties party girl struggling with solo motherhood, and also juggling two conflicting suitors. Starring Renée Zellweger, with Hugh Grant, Leo Woodall, Emma Thompson and dozens more familiar faces!

Captain America: Brave New World sees a brave new Captain – former Falcon Sam Wilson – and several old friends and enemies facing new dangers – including a gigantic Red Hulk. Starring Anthony Mackie, with Harrison Ford as the President of the USA.

Widow Clicquot tells how the manufacturer of Veuve Clicquot champagne became the most successful businesswoman of her era. Produced by and starring Haley Bennett (Hillbilly Elegy), with Tom Sturridge (TV’s The Sandman) and Sam Riley (Control).

Simon Morris looks at the art of “true-ish” movies based on real-life events. When does tweaking a story to make sense bury the whole point of a true story? He looks at three films that try and stick to the facts – September 5, Widow Clicquot and Prime Video’s The Order.