What the Florals of "It Ends With Us" Says About Starting Tough Conversations
After a bit more meaning behind your streaming? We’re happy to deliver! In this month’s movie news, we find a few thorns among the roses of “It Ends With Us”, enjoy a HUGE standing O in Venice, and welcome an Oscar-winning Aussie out of his shell.
good.film
6 months ago
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Your Streaming Picks of the Month
Millions of minutes of streaming at your fingertips… so what’s next? Here’s the best and latest reax from the good.film community to help you decide!
@sandshoes: “Land of Women does a great job of weaving humour and sadness throughout the show. We see the way secrets have shaped their lives and how, as women, they’ve rallied in the face of adversity, time and again.”
@bebesinarms: “Beachy and mysterious and voodoo-y… This is great if what you really want to watch is Vince Vaughn being Vince Vaughn. And isn’t that really all any of us want on a Wednesday evening?”
@sandshoes: “Florida backdrop, sardonic and charming male lead, alligators, good looking women and murder. This show has 100% reeled me in – hook, line and sinker.”
@alisonmclennan: “I haven't seen Australian television this funny, edgy, heartwarming and brilliant since the days I was obsessed with Offspring. I literally snorted, I was laughing so hard.”
Our Streaming Picks of the Month
Still pondering your next binge? Give these shows a spin.
Something Soulful…
With new eps dropping as we speak, now’s the time to catch this profound drama that’s been labelled “one of television’s best.” Viewers are relishing the rich story and phenomenal acting of a saga that journeys between Korea, Japan and America to follow four generations of the Baek family and their immersive world.
Something Chaotic…
Ever wanted to dive into a Greek myth without all the pesky, you know, textbooks and professors? Netflix has your answer. A comic-fantasy riff starring everyone’s favourite effete genius, Jeff Goldblum, this sharp modern take on the ancient fables has been hailed as “refreshing”, “fantastic” and “a clever delight”.
Something Famously Funny…
ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING: SEASON 4
Another murder in the building?! Thank you, streaming Gods! This season sees the true-crimers heading to LA, and like your favourite uggs, TV’s unlikeliest trio are as comfy and seamless as ever. We’re absolutely here for the murderer’s row of cameos and endless meta gags from longtime pals Martin & Short (plus queen Selena) about the only place more lethal than their building… the Hollywood movie industry.
What’s the It Ends With Us Controversy All About?
Experts are unanimous that when a movie or show touches on the theme of domestic violence, it needs to be handled with maximum care. And viewers have a right to get some kind of ‘warning’ of what they’re about to see.
That’s landed actress & producer Blake Lively in some hot water following the (surprise?) success of It Ends With Us, which is on track to scoop up over $300 million worldwide. It’s clearly a hit – but has the film’s marketing been honest in capturing that attention?
On the promotions trail, Lively has leaned in HARD to the film’s floral motifs (she plays a florist in the film, and her character’s name is, ahem, Lily Bloom). It’s straight from the same playbook as Margot Robbie embracing Barbie outfits on the world’s red carpets, and Zendaya’s ‘tenniscore’ looks while promoting Challengers.
But while all three films involve love triangles, the difference here is that It Ends With Us isn’t a sexy sports movie or a comic fantasy about dolls; its core message is far more serious. Lots of people have felt this disconnect between how the film presents and what it’s really about – and they’re calling it out.
“When are they gonna start talking about emotional and domestic abuse in a relationship and raise awareness for that?” one Instagram commenter said. “The clothes are cute but there is a deeper meaning to this movie.”
The promotions team has seemed notably reluctant to offer resources, too, like webpages or phone numbers to DV hotlines (there is one in the movie’s end credits, but not on socials). This absence was felt even more strongly when, just a few weeks later, Blink Twice was released – another film about gendered and sexual violence – and its studio DID put trigger warnings and resources front & centre.
It all goes to highlight that a film isn’t just a few hours out of the house – it’s a social event that can launch a national conversation. Do you think It Ends With Us was marketed responsibly? Shoot us a comment, or read more about the film at the link below.
READ OUR GOOD.FILM GUIDE TO IT ENDS WITH US
A Euthanasia Story with a Twist
Since we hosted the Australian premiere of The Last Ecstatic Days, we’ve been on the lookout for more eye opening films that touch on end-of-life choices. And a brand new film from Spanish auteur Pedro Almodóvar has just shot straight to the top of our must-see list.
The Room Next Door is about two long-time friends, played by Tilda Swinton and Julianne Moore, who haven’t seen each other in years. But they reconnect when Martha, in the late stages of cervical cancer, asks her old friend a favour: will she go on a trip away with her, where she intends to take a pill to end her life?
Just days ago, The Room Next Door had its world premiere in Venice, where the film landed a staggering 17 MINUTE standing ovation. Critics described Swinton’s performance as Martha as “monumental” and the film itself as “vibrant” and “cathartic”. And did we mention it’s Almodóvar’s very first film in English?
“Fans can breathe a sigh of relief that that rare mix of intelligence and unabashed emotions which makes his films so special didn’t get lost in translation here. ‘The Room Next Door’ enchants.” – Awards Daily
“The movie is all about death, yet in the unblinking honesty with which it confronts that subject, it’s powerfully on the side of life.” – Variety
This Snail is Going Places!
Been wondering why we haven’t seen much of Adam Elliot lately? It’s because he’s been head-down on his newest stop-motion masterpiece Memoir of a Snail, which took him and his creative team TEN YEARS to make. Talk about going at a snail’s pace… (sorry, it was right there).
Melbourne audiences were treated to a first look back in August, where MIFF wrote: “Memoir of a Snail is an indelible reminder that while the turmoil of life may force us into our shells, all it takes is a little bravery to break free.”
Now, the Melbourne-based filmmaker behind 2009’s “Mary and Max” and 2003’s Oscar-winning “Harvie Krumpet” is proudly hitting the international festival circuit to show off his endearing new ‘claymation’ feature (and introduce his clay heroine to a few fellow movie stars like Angelina Jolie – no big deal!).
Memoirs of a Snail has already won the top prize at the Annecy Film Festival in June. Just days ago it bowed at Colorado’s prestigious Telluride film fest, where Variety says it left audiences “over the moon — and in tears.” Next stop, the Academy Awards?
Featuring award-winning Aussie voice talents Sarah Snook, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Jacki Weaver and Eric Bana, the film will be released by Madman Entertainment here in Australia on October 17. Take a peek at the one-of-a-kind animation at the link below!
