The Wolf of Wall Street

  And this week's Friday night movie has been.....The Wolf of Wall Street!

Original image located here. Accessed 31st July 2026

Behold: Another exploration into the filmography of one Martin Scorsese. And it seems this has become one of his best known films in recent years (least not for being the breakthrough role for one Margot Robbie). 

I have seen a number of Scorsese films but seeing this gave the impression that I was still unprepared to see it. It certainly is impressive to see this move as a series of events that get progressive more insane and chaotic the further the film goes on.
The problem is, at least to me, that's all there is. We're watching a guy become ridiculously wealthy through being a stockbroker and committing acts that are both heinous and deplorable along the way. 
Sure it may be fun to see this movie goes next and sure this lifestyle shown may look attractive to some but what is this movie? A biopic? A satire? A cautionary tale? 
I'm not sure myself but what I DO know is this movie left me cold. Sure there are some stand-out moments but I'm not sure what this movie wants from me. 
Oh well....

Phil Ochs: There but for Fortune

  And this week's Friday night movie has been.....Phil Ochs: There but for Fortune!

Original image located here. Accessed 24th July 2026

Anyone heard of this? It's a 2010 documentary about the 1960s folk/protest singer Phil Ochs. 
I came across Phil Ochs in an interesting way: I have a big book on popular music and, while making my way through the 'O' section, I came across this name. What stood out for me was the story of himself: He made a name for himself as a folk singer, was unfairly pegged as 'second best' to Bob Dylan, was written off the critics and sadly met a tragic end - only to be acknowledged years later for his songwriting and willingness to stand for cause. Indeed, a tale worthy of Hollywood.
And so we come to this: a documentary on Phil and his life, with contributions from admirers such as Joan Baez, Van Dyke Parks, Billy Bragg, Jello Biafra, Sean Penn and Christopher Hitchens. Certainly prior I had never heard of Ochs' music but clearly he's a big deal. 

It's a given that this is a documentary takes us through Phil's tumultuous life. What is fascinating is how it parallels with the events in the world around him. As such, we see Phil make a name of himself with his songs based on what he sees at the time, his sense of humour and willingness to stand for many a cause, his belief his song-writing could make a difference, his gradual disillusionment with Kennedy's passing and Nixon's election, and his gradual decline professionally and mentally.

Needles to say, this documentary goes a long way in explaining Phil as a person and what he stood for. True we know how the story ends and his decline is tough to watch, but in the end, his music endures as does his passion to stand for what he believes in. 
We can all learn a lot from that.

My Brilliant Career

 And this week's Friday night movie has been... My Brilliant Career!

Original image located here. Accessed 17th July 2026

Given the passing of Sam Neill earlier this week, this is an obvious watch: His breakthrough role that brought him to attention of the movie-going public. 

And honestly it couldn't have happened in a better film: It seems that this is indeed a classic of Australian cinema, boasting an impressive cast, wonderful cinematography, and showing this country, and indeed the world, how to make a movie about us. 
The thing that stood out of me is just how quiet this movie is: It's telling a story of defying the gender roles of the day but it's less interested in beating the audience over the head with it and more interested in letting everything on screen sink in (case in point: that striking wide shot that ends Sybylla and Harry's final scene). And that's the greatest strength of this movie. 

It's fair to say that Harry Beecham is the Australian answer to the likes of Mr. Darcy and Rhett Butler. And Neill delivers the quiet charisma the role demands - and some. But even then, this movie is still Judy Davis' show, giving her all.

Seems this is a classic of Australian cinema for a damn good reason. 

Career Opportunities

And this week's Friday night movie has been... Career Opportunities!

Original image located here. Accessed 10th July 2026

I think it's fair to say that this movie exists purely because of Jennifer Connelly. Indeed, if people know this movie it's because they've seen the footage of Connelly on the coin-operated horse.
But is there more to it than that? I mean it has John Huston's name as writer so it has to be good, right? Surely this movie has a reason to exist other than Connelly looking stunning?

Probably not. 

Okay seriously, this movie was many things: aimless, obnoxious, amateurish. And yet at the same time it was strangely goofy and our two leads made an oddly compelling duo. Yeah it wasn't great but hey I've seen worse. 

And lets face it: if it wasn't for Connelly, no one would care for this movie.

The Peanuts Movie

And this week's Friday night movie has been... The Peanuts Movie!

Original image located here. Accessed 3rd July 2026

Its another one I have been putting off for a long time. 
I adored Peanuts when I was a kid. At the time, I revelled in Snoopy's personality - whilst struggling to connect with Charlie Brown. And yet, an adult perspective showed that this was a brutally honest comic strip: It may be easy to write Charlie Brown off as the eternal punching bag but there is something to be said about giving it your all no matter what adversity throws at you. Sure, one will say that giving up something one clearly isn't good at is a determination that is either blind or stoic but the refusal to pack it is admirable. 

Needless to say, this was very much in tune with the source material. Some absolute belly laughs, imaginative animation, countless references for the long-time devotees of Peanuts and the ever-present honesty that made the original strip work. And once again, Charlie Brown's everyman quality ultimately drives the whole thing.
And hey, haven't we all, at some stage, felt like the whole world is conspiring against us?