Simon Morris
Blandine Massiet
One of the undoubted highlights of the Doc Edge International Documentary Film Festival is an exploration of the life and work of one of our most celebrated artists - painter Frances Hodgkins. Simon… Audio
Laura Irish
The big thing in theatre these days is "immersive" - shows like London's Sleep No More, which invited audiences into the world of Shakespeare's Macbeth, and encouraged them to be part of the action… Audio
Jackie goes Prima Diva
She's one of New Zealand's most popular - and versatile - artists: singer Jackie Clarke. On stage in plays like Shirley Valentine, on TV judging NZ Idol, or singing with the famous Lady Killers… Audio
At The Movies - Book Club 2
Book Club 2 The Next Chapter sees four long-time friends take off on a Bachelorette trip to Italy when one of them gets engaged. Starring Jane Fonda, Diane Keaton, Candice Bergen and Mary Steenburgen… Audio
At The Movies for 17 May 2023
Simon Morris looks at three films all, one way or another, about friends. They include an Oscar nominee about childhood friendship, another quartet of senior friends on the road, and a low-budget film… Audio
Review: Hypnotic
Hypnotic is the new film by low-budget thriller maestro Robert Rodriguez. Ben Affleck stars as a burnt-out cop on the search for a bank robber who uses hypnotism to get strangers to do his dirty work.
…Review: Close
Close is the Cannes Film Festival winner, and Oscar nominee about two best friends whose first year at high school causes friction between them. Written and directed by Lukas Dhont (Girl). Video, Audio
At The Movies - The Blue Caftan
The blue caftan is an award-winner at last year's Cannes Film Festival. Set in Morocco, it's the complicated love story between two men and a dying woman, played by Lubna Azabal (Incendies). Directed… Audio
At The Movies for 10 May 2023
Simon Morris welcomes three movies that show a marked improvement on the last few weeks - the first bug blockbuster of the season, and two award winning films from North Africa - one from Egypt, one… Audio
At The Movies - Guardians of the Galaxy
Guardians of the Galaxy 3 is, apparently, the final of the franchise, starring Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana and the voices of Bradley Cooper and Vin Diesel. Directed by James Gunn before he crosses over… Video, Audio
Review: Jos
Jos is an affectionate film about a half-forgotten West Coast photographer, Czech-born Joseph Divis. Video, Audio
Review: Cairo Conspiracy
Cairo Conspiracy is a thriller set in Al-Azhar university, the centre of Sunni Islam. An innocent young student finds himself being used as a spy to manipulate the election of a new leader. Directed… Video, Audio
Booktown
Nestled at the foot of the Remutakas, north of Wellington, sits Featherston - population just over 2000. But it's also the home of one of the most enthusiastic book events in the country. Simon Morris… Audio
Review: Polite Society
Polite society is the first feature from writer/director Nida Manzoor (We are Lady Parts). Budding teenage stunt-woman Ria sets out to save her sister from an unsatisfactory marriage, but can she… Video, Audio
At The Movies : 80 For Brady
80 for Brady sees four octogenarian football fans - Jane Fonda, Sally Field, Lily Tomlin and Rita Moreno - take off on a road trip to the Super Bowl to see their idol, superstar quarterback Tom Brady.
…At The Movies for Wednesday 3 May 2023
Simon Morris looks at three films depending on audiences sharing their enthusiasms - the crime novels of Raymond Chandler, teen comedies blended with action stunts and elderly female football fans. Audio
Review: Marlowe
Marlowe sees the Irish team of director Neil Jordan and star Liam Neeson attempt to revive the film noir world of private eye Philip Marlowe. Also starring Diane Kruger and Jessica Lange. Video, Audio
Italian Film Festival preview - Paolo Rotondo
As autumn turns to winter, our thoughts turn to... well, to the Italian Film Festival. It's the next best thing to an actual Mediterranean holiday, and by all reports, the 8th annual Festival promises… Audio
How NZ On Air plans to reach the TikTok generation
NZ on Air seems to be one of the winners, with the scrapping of the Government's public media entity plan. They get their 42 million dollars of contestable funding back, with an extra 10 million… Audio
At the Movies: Paper Spiders
Indie queen Lili Taylor and up-and-coming American-Kiwi actor Stephania LaVie Owen play mother and daughter in the American art film Paper Spiders. Video, Audio