The Odyssey

And this weeks Friday night movie has been.... The Odyssey!

Original image located here. Accessed 4th September 2026

It seems every man and his dog (ha ha) has seen this so I finally got off my lazy arse and got around to seeing it for myself. 

So what's my connection with Homer's epic poem? I knew of it back when I was in primary school: I read a few picture books on it and I later had a paperback edition that filled in a lot of the gaps. So yeah: can't say the source material isn't well known. 
But in all honesty, adapting The Odyssey is just like adapting Shakespeare: The source material has been circulating for centuries so the challenge of adapting it lies in doing something new or unique with something very familiar. 

So what does Christopher Nolan bring to the table? 

I will admit that previous experience with the 'sword and sandal' movies from Hollywood tend to colourful, imaginative and adventurous affairs. So it is a surprise that this is clearly none of those things. It is bleak, is less concerned with the fantastical and more concerned with putting Odysseus through the PTSD wringer. But still: This is different and to that end, it is unique. 
There is certainly some superb displays of creativity and some stunning imagery throughout. Certainly this tale has been told many times before but not like this. 

Holy Days

And this week's Friday night movie has been... Holy Days!

Original image located here. Accessed 21st August 2026

Kiera insisted that we watch this. And the funny thing I would've never have heard of it otherwise. 
So this is a New Zealand co-production which has to have the most unusual elevator pitch behind it: a trio of nuns go on a road trip with a little boy across both islands of New Zealand. 

So yeah, its pretty obvious that the humour will rely on that of 'nuns interacting with the real world'. But what truly makes it work is the three leads - Judy Davis, Miriam Margolyes and Jacki Weaver - who are clearly having the time of their lives in these roles. There's witty dialogue, great jokes and some truly stunning imagery of New Zealand. 
Indeed, a fun movie. 

The Rise of the Red Hot Chili Peppers: Our Brother Hillel

And this week's Friday night movie has been... The Rise of the Red Hot Chili Peppers: Our Brother Hillel!

Original image located here. Accessed 10th April 2026

This documentary has been doing the rounds lately so I grew curious. Not much is said about the early days of the Red Hot Chili Peppers (ie. pre-Under the Bridge/Blood Sugar Sex Magic) so perhaps this will fill a void....

So what this is a biography on both the Red Hot Chili Peppers and their original guitarist Hillel Slovak. In regards to the latter, a lot is revealed about him: His early life, his childhood bonding with Anthony Kiedis and Flea, his passion for art, his mastery of the guitar and, his influence on the Chili Peppers themselves. Both Kiedis and Flea contribute their own recollections as well as former band mates and friends. And AI is used to replicate Slovak's voice to read his diary entries, thereby giving Slovak a say in the narrative. 

While this documentary works as a vital document of the afore-mentioned early days of the Chili Peppers, it's ultimate goal is to paint a portrait of Hillel Slovak: showing everyone who he was as a person. And it's this that the documentary succeeds with flying colours.
It is striking to see Kiedis and Flea speak openly about their former bandmate - particularly with the latter breaking down. Clearly the loss of their bandmate is still being felt decades later and they are still keen on making sure Slovak isn't forgotten. There certainly is some guilt expressed over how Slovak's ultimate fate and both maintain that the Chili Peppers wouldn't turned out the way they did without his involvement. 
Also of note is John Frusciante, Hillel's successor, providing his own words of admiration for Slovak. 

Like any good documentary it's a compelling mixture of triumph and tragedy. And it does the job of filling in a vital, and indeed overlooked, spot in the Chili Peppers' history.
It's very human and very honest.