Friday 6 January
Whiplash
8:30pm, SBS
MA15+
USA, 2014
Genre: Music, Drama
Language: English
Director: Damien Chazelle
Starring: J.K. Simmons, Paul Reiser, Miles Teller, Melissa Benoist
What's it about?
Before young director Damien Chazelle scooped up countless award nominations for his Hollywood musical homage La La Land, he'd already made quite a splash with the feverish jazz thriller Whiplash. Rising star Miles Teller (War Dogs) plays a young musician who attends a prestigious New York music school in the hope of becoming a top jazz drummer. There, he catches the eye of ruthless teacher Mr. Fletcher (J.K Simmons, who won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor), whose tough love methods will see the young man literally shed blood, sweat and tears for his art.
[link title="Whiplash treats music school like a warzone (interview) " url="node/24087"]
[link title="Whiplash Review " url="node/23289"]
Friday 13 January
Yves Saint Laurent
8:30pm, SBSAvailable after broadcast at SBS On Demand
M
France, Belgium, 2014
Genre: Biography, Drama
Language: French, Arabic, Russian, Turkish, Japanese
Director: Jalil Lespert
Starring: Pierre Niney, Guilaume Gallienne, Charlotte Bon, Laura Smet
What's it about?
French actor Pierre Niney, himself sometimes labelled a prodigy as the youngest resident of state-run theatre La Comédie Française, won a César for Best Actor for his portrayal of fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent. This stylish biopic looks at his life and career from 1958, when he met his lover and business partner, Pierre Bergé (Guillaume Gallienne, Me, Myself and Mum), and the many demons he battled along the way.
[link title="Yves Saint Laurent Review " url="node/18218"]
Friday 20 January
Mr. Turner
8:40pm, SBSAvailable after broadcast at SBS On Demand
M
UK, 2014
Genre: Biography, Drama
Language: English
Director: Mike Leigh
Starring: Timothy Spall, Paul Jesson, Dorothy Atkinson
What's it about?
British director Mike Leigh (Secrets & Lies, Happy-Go-Lucky) explores the highs and lows of the final 25 years in the life of the great, eccentric artist J.M.W. Turner in this delightful biopic. Timothy Spall gives the performance of his career as the grunting, squinting force of nature, which earned him a well-deserved Best Actor prize at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival. Superb acting, sumptuous cinematography, a witty script: Mr. Turner is an all-round masterpiece not to be missed.
[link title="Mr Turner Review" url="node/16883"]Watch the cast & crew's 2014 Cannes press conference
Friday 27 January
X+Y
8:40pm, SBSAvailable after broadcast at SBS On Demand
PG
UK, 2015
Genre: Drama
Language: English
Director: Morgan Matthews
Starring: Asa Butterfield, Rafe Spall, Sally Hawkins
What's it about?
Based on a true story, X+Y follows teenager Nathan, played by Asa Butterfield (Hugo, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children), who is living on the Autism Spectrum. Nathan struggles to connect with people, but he finds comfort in numbers and mathematics, at which he excels. Mentored by his teacher Mr Humphreys (played by Rafe Spall, Timothy's son), he finds new confidence and new friendships when he lands a spot on the British squad at the International Mathematics Olympiad in Taiwan. Upon its release in the UK, X+Y was praised by disability advocates for its considered subversion of the usual movie clichés. Sally Hawkins, in particular, was singled out for her frank portrayal of the challenges associated with raising a child on the spectrum.
