At The Movies

Join Simon Morris in the best seat in the house as he reviews the latest movies and dives into the issues gripping the silver screen.

Hosted by Simon Morris

A podcast cover for "At the Movies" with an abstract cinema screen with a big title.

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All episodes:

Review - Lilo and Stitch

Lilo and Stitch – the latest in a string of Disney animated films remade in live action. Lilo is a lonely Hawaiian 6 year old who wishes for a best friend and gets Stitch an anarchic alien who lives for trouble. Look out for cameo appearances from the stars of the original animated version.
New episode
Lilo and Stitch

Review - Tarrac

Tarrac is an Irish-language feelgood tale of an amateur team of women rowers who enter the semis in County Kerry. Can they beat the 20 year jinx? And will they pronounce the name of the sport? It’s naomhóg rowing, by the way…
Tarrac movie 2

Family Values

Simon Morris looks at three different films with one thing in common. They all feature “chosen families” - an Irish rowing team in Tarrac… an extended family of sisters, neighbours and a mischievous alien in Lilo and Stitch… and Bob Trevino Likes It – where a lonely young woman is let down by her real father and finds a better one online.

Review - Bob Trevino Likes It

Bob Trevino Likes It, sees Lily Trevino saddled with this year’s worst father, Bob. Let down once again, she searches the internet for another, better Bob Trevino – and finds one. Based, astonishingly, on a true event in writer-director Tracie Lymon’s life. Stars John Leguizamo (John Wick) and Barbie Ferreira.
Bob Trevino Likes It

Review - The Salt Path

The Salt Path is the story of real-life couple Raynor and Moth Winn who set out to walk the gruelling track around Devon and Cornwall after they lose everything in a bad investment. Based on Raynor’s best-selling book, it stars Jason Isaacs (the last series of White Lotus) and Gillian Anderson (Sex Education).
Jason Isaacs and Gillian Anderson in The Salt Path

Review - La Cocina

La Cocina is one day in the life of popular restaurant The Grill. Although it’s set in New York, it’s based on a 1961 English play and it’s written and directed by Mexican Alonso Ruizpalacios. Stars Raúl Briones and Rooney Mara (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo).
La Cocina is a unique blend of Mexican surreal and kitchen-sink drama.

Review - Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning

Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning seems to imply this is Tom Cruise’s last hurrah in the franchise. Though never say “final”. This features old hands Ving Rhames and Simon Pegg, newer hands Hayley Atwell and Pom Klementieff and very old hand Rolf Saxon, last seen in the very first Mission Impossible.
Tom Cruise in a Mission Impossible: Final Reckoning

FULL SHOW: Place Your Bets

Simon Morris tests the two methods of movie financing – betting a few dollars on small films like Mexican art-film La Cocina and English real-life memoir The Salt Path… or taking a huge plunge on a blockbuster like Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning.
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Review: The Wedding Banquet

The Wedding Banquet is a remake of the 1993 crowd-pleaser, written and directed by Ang Lee. This one stars Bowen Yang (Saturday Night Live), Kelly Marie Tran (Star Wars), Lily Gladstone (Killers of the Flower Moon) and Joan Chen (Twin Peaks).
The Wedding Banquet

Review: Lies We Tell

Lies We Tell tells the story of an heiress whose shady uncle plans to get hold of her fortune by forcing her to marry his son. It was a big winner at the Irish Film Awards, including best actress for star Agnes O’Casey (Small Things Like These).
Lies We Tell (best)

French Film Festival Aotearoa

Fergus Grady, Director of the French Film Festival Aotearoa, previews this year’s programme – a star-studded affair featuring Sarah Bernhardt, Charles Aznavour, Marie Antoinette, the Count of Monte Cristo, Laure Calamy, two films about art thieves and the story behind Ravel’s “Bolero”!
The Count of Monte Cristo

FULL SHOW: I've heard of it

Simon Morris checks out two films based on well-known material - just not well-known by him! Irish film Lies We Tell is a 19th century thriller, The Wedding Banquet is a remake of one of Ang Lee’s first films. He also previews the upcoming French Film Festival Aotearoa.
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Review: The Accountant 2

The Accountant 2 sees the return of Ben Affleck as the eccentric, former criminal accountant who sets out to avenge the murder of his best friend. Also stars Jon Bernthal (The Amateur) and Cynthia Addai-Robinson (Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power). Directed by Gavin O’Connor (Mare of Easttown).
The Accountant 2

Review: Marlon Williams: Ngā Ao E Rua (Two Worlds)

Marlon Williams: Ngā Ao E Rua (Two Worlds) is a documentary about the Kiwi alt-country star and his journey to make his first album entirely in te reo. Spoiler alert: that album went on to top the New Zealand charts first week out.
Marlon Williams on set in Glenorchy for filming of Ngā Ao E Rua - Two Worlds.

Review: Thunderbolts*

Thunderbolts* are the B-Team you summon when Marvel superstars The Avengers are unavailable. Ironically, or not, it’s proving a big hit after a few Marvel misfires. Starring Florence Pugh (Oppenheimer), Sebastian Stan (The Apprentice) and Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Seinfeld).
Thunderbolts*

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