As we sink into summer nights and look towards a brand new year, it's natural to crave films that will leave a lasting impact and, ultimately, not waste our precious time.
Thankfully for us, the legendary Margaret Pomeranz has selected her favourite films currently available on SBS On Demand. Alongside each selection, she has also offered some priceless insights as to why her picks are must-see gems. Expect descriptors such as "hellish", "sumptuous" and "provocative", naturally.
When Australia's film media icon provides recommendations, we listen (and we watch). Here are 15 films recommended by Margaret Pomeranz herself.
Breath (2017)
"I wanted to include an Australian film in my recommendations, and there are quite a few to choose from. There’s Romper Stomper, a film that David Stratton and I disagreed about, although he later admitted it was very well made with a riveting performance from Russell Crowe. There’s also Samson & Delilah, Warwick Thornton’s love story featuring two indigenous kids, which is a must-see, and Adam Eliot’s Mary and Max.
"And then, there's Breath, with Simon Baker making his feature film debut as director. He also stars as Sando, a charismatic figure to two young surfers, played by Samson Couilter and Ben Spense. It was adapted from the novel by Tim Winton and shot in Western Australia, where Winton had set his story. It has the most stunning surfing sequences, the two young boys were really good surfers and it shows. It also features Elizabeth Debicki in a provocative role, as well as Richard Roxburgh and Rachel Blake. It’s a film really worth seeing."
Stream free On Demand
Breath
Drama • 2017
Drama • 2017
The Death of Stalin (2017)
"An absolute must-see movie is Armando Iannucci’s 2017 film The Death of Stalin. I don’t usually like films with Death in the title — well that’s silly because Death in Venice is a superb film. Considering Ianucci’s reputation as a political satirist, his very successful television series Veep being a classic example, he’d had a stellar career in television in Britain and a successful and critically praised film In the Loop made in 2009.
"The Death of Stalin is the most delicious balance of satire and horror as the aspirants to the seat of power hover around Stalin’s grave. For me, it was a laugh-out-loud experience. A great cast which includes a marvellous Simon Russell Beale as Beria, Steve Buschemi as Krushchev, Ruper Friend as Stalin’s son, Andrea Riseborough as his daughter, Jason Isaacs, Michael Palin, Jeffrey Tambour... the list goes on. They are all fabulous. The film was banned in Russia, but SBS has it for you."
The Death of Stalin will be available to stream on SBS On Demand from Thursday 1 January.
Amour (2012)
"This heartbreakingly beautiful film from Michael Haneke won the Palm d’Or, the best Foreign language Oscar and multiple awards for its two stars, a magnificent Jean Louis Trintignant and Emanuelle Riva."
Stream free On Demand
Amour
Drama • 2012
Drama • 2012
The Babadook (2014)
"This extraordinarily accomplished debut film from Australian Jennifer Kent met with lukewarm response initially but has since been reassessed and is now considered a truly original horror story. Fabulous performances by Essie Davis and Noah Wiseman bring heart to this story of grief and recovery."
Stream free On Demand
The Babadook
Horror • Thriller • 2014
Horror • Thriller • 2014
Train to Busan (2016)
"This is a really effective Korean zombie movie directed by Yeon Sang-ho. It’s set on a train travelling between Seoul to Busan, where a guilt-ridden father is accompanying his daughter to visit her mother for her birthday."
Stream free On Demand
Train to Busan
Horror • Thriller • 2016
Horror • Thriller • 2016
The Conformist (1970)
"I think that when you see a film over and over again and it just gets better every time, it’s got you for life. That is true for me of Bernardo Bertolucci’s The Conformist. It’s set in Fascist-era Italy and Jean Louis Trintignant stars as a man who wants to be normal in the times and so takes on an assignment to assassinate his anti-fascist former university professor, who is in exile in Paris.
"He uses the excuse of his honeymoon after his marriage to Guilia – Stefano Sandrelli – to go to Paris, where he falls in love with the professor’s wife – Dominique Sanda. This film was really the first milestone in Bertollucci’s career. The film is notable for its cinematography by Vittorio Storare, it’s really beautiful and reflects the themes of the film. It’s up there in my list of Best Films of All Time. So I recommend it on SBS on Demand."
Stream free On Demand
The Conformist
Drama • 1970
Drama • 1970
Gomorrah (2008)
"This crime drama, set mainly in Naples, is the work of Matteo Garrone and is a no-holds-barred vision of the effects of a feud on the lives of five characters. Uncompromising in its violence and its hellish depiction of organised crime."
Stream free On Demand
Gomorrah
Crime drama • 2008
Crime drama • 2008
Gosford Park (2001)
"This upstairs/downstairs murder mystery is set in the home of British toffs who are hosting a weekend shooting party. Featuring a cast of British acting royalty, the film was directed by Robert Altman and written by Julian Fellowes of Downton Abbey fame."
Stream free On Demand
Gosford Park
Mystery • Comedy drama • 2001
Mystery • Comedy drama • 2001
The Ice Storm (1997)
"The talented Taiwanese-born director Ang Lee took on this screenplay by his frequent collaborator James Shamus, based on the book by Rick Moody. It follows the intertwined relationships between two affluent families in Connecticut over the Thanksgiving weekend."
Stream free On Demand
The Ice Storm
Drama • 1997
Drama • 1997
Barry Lyndon (1975)
"This story of an 18th-century Irish rogue played by Ryan O’Neil, was directed by Stanley Kubrick and has since been acknowledged as one of his best. Slow in pace but visually sumptuous, this is a must-see for fans of this director."
Stream free On Demand
Barry Lyndon
Drama • 1975
Drama • 1975
Birth (2004)
"British filmmaker Jonathan Glazer is a chameleon of a filmmaker, starting with Sexy Beast in 2000, he then made Birth in 2004. Birth has one of the most fabulous opening scenes of any film, with wonderful music by Alexandre Desplat and a shocking ending.
"It features a stunning performance from Nicole Kidman as a grieving widow who comes to believe that her dead husband has been reincarnated into the body of a young boy played by Cameron Bright. Lauren Bacall plays the widow’s mother, and she too is just wonderful. I’m mentioning Birth, because I loved it from the start, some others didn’t, many have since come around, but also because SBS is featuring Glazer’s latest, The Zone of Interest (2019). It’s a darling and superbly made film, and I highly recommend them both."
Stream free On Demand
Birth
Drama • Mystery • 2004
Drama • Mystery • 2004
The Zone of Interest will be available to stream on SBS On Demand from Sunday 4 January.
Black Water (2007)
"This tremendously effective horror story involving a malevolent croc was the creation of Australians David Nerlich and Andrew Traucki. Nail-biting stuff!"
Stream free On Demand
Black Water
Thriller • 2007
Thriller • 2007
Boogie Nights (1997)
"Any film by Paul Thomas Anderson is a must-see, and this is one of his earlier efforts. It stars Mark Wahlberg as a nightclub dishwasher who becomes a porn star. The supporting cast is a knockout – Julianne Moore, Burt Reynolds, John C Reilly, Don Cheadle, Philip Seymour Hoffman, William H Macy and Luiz Guzman."
Stream free On Demand
Boogie Nights
Drama • 1997
Drama • 1997
A Short Film About Love (1988)
"This film is an expanded version of the Polish director Krzysztof Kieslowski’s ten-part television series Dekalog, using the Ten Commandments as his theme. It’s about a young postal worker who falls in love with a promiscuous neighbour. Kieslowski’s A Short Film About Killing is also powerful and wonderful."
Stream free On Demand
A Short Film About Love
Romance • 1988
Romance • 1988
Meek’s Cutoff (2010)
"The director Kelly Reichardt selected Michelle Williams to star in this ill-fated journey of settlers through the Oregon High Desert in the middle of last century. Reichardt’s spare style and lyrical images infuse this powerful yet muted drama."
Stream free On Demand
Meek's Cutoff
Western • 2010
Western • 2010
Share
