Features — Popcorn Podcast

Entertainment journalist Leigh Livingstone and movie expert Tim Iffland review the newest film releases, plus break down the latest trailers and movie news. Bite-sized, moreish and a little salty – this is Popcorn Podcast with Leigh and Tim.

All tagged Movie News

10 of the most anticipated movies to watch in September

Aug 30

Aug 30 10 of the most anticipated movies to watch in September

Tessa D'Alfonso

From horrifying prequels and inspiring documentaries to tender Irish tales and adrenalin-pumping survival thrillers, September’s new cinema releases offer something for all movie-goers. Here are Popcorn Podcast’s most anticipated big-screen picks for the month…

Taryn Brumfitt says "the world will be a kinder place" with new documentary Embrace Kids

Aug 24

Aug 24 Taryn Brumfitt says "the world will be a kinder place" with new documentary Embrace Kids

Tessa D'Alfonso

Interviews, Features

Taryn Brumfitt’s documentary Embrace stripped away layers of loathing to promote positive body image. Now, the acclaimed director, best-selling author and body image advocate brings us Embrace Kids. Talking to school-aged children, Brumfitt explores body dissatisfaction, bullying, gender identity, advocacy, representation and more…

Girl at the Window director Mark Hartley and star Ella Newton on their new thriller

Aug 16

Aug 16 Girl at the Window director Mark Hartley and star Ella Newton on their new thriller

Tessa D'Alfonso

Features, Interviews

“I think, as far as most films shot during a pandemic in 19 days go, it's one of the better ones,” says Mark Hartley, director of Australian thriller Girl at the Window…

Who are the real heroes of Ron Howard's Thirteen Lives?

Aug 5

Aug 5 Who are the real heroes of Ron Howard's Thirteen Lives?

Tessa D'Alfonso

When a soccer team became trapped in northern Thailand’s Tham Luang Cave in 2018, a group of the world’s most skilled and experienced divers descended on the Chiang Rai province to help. Before you embark on the hopeful but hazardous journey in Ron Howard's biographical drama Thirteen Lives, meet the real heroes of the Thai cave rescue and the cast who portray them...

Doula: A timely comedy on body autonomy and what to expect when you're expecting

Jul 8

Jul 8 Doula: A timely comedy on body autonomy and what to expect when you're expecting

Tessa D'Alfonso

Reviews, Features

Doula follows expectant parents Deb (Troian Bellisario) and Silvio (Arron Shiver), an unmarried couple who hire their deceased doula's son, Sascha (Will Greenberg), to help them through the final stages of pregnancy. Doula, the first film from Chris Pine's Barry Linen Motion Pictures, is a hearty mix of substance and silliness that is most enjoyable when not trying too hard to be funny...

Melbourne Documentary Film Festival takes over July with a stacked slate of fascinating true stories

Jun 30

Jun 30 Melbourne Documentary Film Festival takes over July with a stacked slate of fascinating true stories

Tessa D'Alfonso

The Melbourne Documentary Film Festival (MDFF) returns for its seventh year with a brand-new batch of thought-provoking documentaries from all over the world…

Jurassic World: Dominion director Colin Trevorrow shares world's fascination with dinosaurs cannot be underestimated

Jun 9

Jun 9 Jurassic World: Dominion director Colin Trevorrow shares world's fascination with dinosaurs cannot be underestimated

Tom Livingstone

Features, Interviews

After countless film and TV projects were put on hold, or delayed, thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, few have been more anticipated than Jurassic World: Dominion. With the cinema release of the epic Jurassic series finale, Dominion writer and director Colin Trevorrow reveals why dinosaurs hold such fascination…

Ablaze director Tiriki Onus on filmmaking legacy and stories of strength

May 25

May 25 Ablaze director Tiriki Onus on filmmaking legacy and stories of strength

Tessa D'Alfonso

Features, Reviews

Imagine getting a phone call with the news that 70-year-old footage has been discovered proving your grandfather might be the first Aboriginal filmmaker. That’s what happened to performance artist and opera singer Tiriki Onus, whose documentary, Ablaze, tells the fascinating story of filmmaker and activist William ‘Bill’ Onus…

How To Please A Woman flips the script on female pleasure

May 19

May 19 How To Please A Woman flips the script on female pleasure

Tessa D'Alfonso

Features, Reviews

How to Please a Woman is about more than one woman’s sexual awakening. The dramedy from first-time feature film director Renée Webster will either gratify your needs or rub you the wrong way. Whether you’re the target audience or not, everyone could learn a thing or two…

Ten of the best book to film adaptations coming in 2022

May 11

May 11 Ten of the best book to film adaptations coming in 2022

Tessa D'Alfonso

This year, we’ve already seen silver screen adaptations from books including Deep Water, Death on The Nile, No Exit and The Sky is Everywhere, but there are many more to look forward to in coming months. Here, Popcorn Podcast has the top book to film adaptations in 2022 you need to add to your watchlist…

Why The Drover's Wife is about more than the Legend of Molly Johnson

May 3

May 3 Why The Drover's Wife is about more than the Legend of Molly Johnson

Tessa D'Alfonso

Features, Reviews

It’s 1893. The Australian Outback is unforgiving and fearsome. Only, the true beasts aren’t dingoes, bulls or snakes, but white men. The Drover’s Wife: The Legend of Molly Johnson is the story of Molly Johnson, a pregnant mother of four who awaits the return of her drover husband at their remote homestead. She will do anything to protect her children… and she does…

The Good Boss: Balancing comedy with capitalist critique

Apr 13

Apr 13 The Good Boss: Balancing comedy with capitalist critique

Tessa D'Alfonso

Reviews, Features

Fronted by the exceptional Javier Bardem, The Good Boss entertains and enrages, achieving an organic balance without tipping the scales. Read on to find out why you should see this Spanish workplace comedy about corruption and misjustice…

Everything Everywhere All At Once is sensory overload in the best way possible

Apr 11

Apr 11 Everything Everywhere All At Once is sensory overload in the best way possible

Tessa D'Alfonso

Reviews, Features

Everything Everywhere All At Once is a sight to behold on the big screen. Visionary directors the Daniels have created a strikingly imaginative, genre-bending film that will be the next generation of filmmakers’ paragon, proving you don’t need a huge budget to create art…

Six SXSW Narrative Feature film highlights you need to see

Mar 17

Mar 17 Six SXSW Narrative Feature film highlights you need to see

Tessa D'Alfonso

Features, News, SXSW

SXSW 2022 Film Festival did not disappoint. Critics are raving and audiences are revelling in the wealth of new contributions to cinema. Popcorn Podcast has the narrative feature highlights that need to be on your film radar…

Seriously Red star Krew Boylan shares she got "Dolly-fit" for new movie

Mar 16

Mar 16 Seriously Red star Krew Boylan shares she got "Dolly-fit" for new movie

Leigh Livingstone

Interviews, Features, SXSW

Seriously Red stars Krew Boylan and Daniel Webber talk to Popcorn Podcast about their new film, getting Dolly-fit and pouring out a cup of ambition to create your own opportunities…

Movie Review: It Is In Us All

Mar 15

Mar 15 Movie Review: It Is In Us All

Tessa D'Alfonso

Reviews, Features, SXSW

It Is In Us All is a provoking, yet overly-ambiguous, feature directorial debut from writer-director Antonia Campbell-Hughes that poses a haunting question: what is ‘it’ that sits inside us, waiting to be unleashed?

What you need to know about A Lot of Nothing

Mar 14

Mar 14 What you need to know about A Lot of Nothing

Reviews, Features, SXSW

A Lot of Nothing – actor-turned-filmmaker Mo McRae’s exploration of what people do in extreme moments of conflict – had its world premiere at SXSW Film Festival on March 13 as part of the Narrative Feature competition. Popcorn Podcast has everything you need to know about McRae’s feature directorial debut…

Director Camille Hardman shares why we're still working 9 to 5 in new documentary

Mar 14

Mar 14 Director Camille Hardman shares why we're still working 9 to 5 in new documentary

Tessa D'Alfonso

Interviews, Features

Australian director Camille Hardman’s star-studded new documentary Still Working 9 to 5 premieres at SXSW Film Festival, highlighting how far we’ve come in the fight for equal rights – but how far there is yet to go. Hardman speaks to Popcorn Podcast about her battle to get the startling film made and how relevant the original workplace comedy starring Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin and Dolly Parton is 40 years later…

Movie Review: Self-Portrait

Mar 13

Mar 13 Movie Review: Self-Portrait

Tessa D'Alfonso

Reviews, Features, SXSW

Sitting down to watch Self-Portrait, described as a “portrait of humanity as captured by its surveillance cameras”, brings with it preconceived notions. A film made up entirely of footage from low-quality surveillance cameras could be boring…

Movie Review: Facing Monsters

Mar 10

Mar 10 Movie Review: Facing Monsters

Tessa D'Alfonso

Features, Reviews

Feature documentary Facing Monsters from Bentley Dean (director of the Academy Award-nominated 2015 drama Tanna) paddles through the tranquil waters of surfer Kerby Brown’s family life before plunging into the depths of his disturbed psyche.