At The Movies

Mr Burton is the story of a directionless schoolboy in wartime Wales called Richie Jenkins. He is taken under the wing of his teacher, borrows his name and becomes Wales’s greatest theatrical star. Starring Toby Jones, Lesley Manville and in a star-making role – literally – Harry Lawtey as Richard Burton. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

The Friend sees a grieving New York writer find herself the unwilling recipient of her dead friend’s pet – a gigantic Great Dane called Apollo. Starring Naomi Watts, Bill Murray and a gigantic dog called Bing. And the city of New York. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Freakier Friday sees Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan in the sequel to 2003’s body-swap comedy Freaky Friday. Now they find themselves in the bodies of two new teenagers, on the eve of another wedding and another rock concert. Look out for plenty of Freaky cameos! Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Simon Morris looks at three films starring strong contenders to follow Dame Maggie, Dame Judi and Dame Helen. Lesley Manville features in Mr Burton, Naomi Watts shines in The Friend and Jamie Lee Curtis (Lady Haden-Guest in real life) is in Freakier Friday. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Riviera Revenge is another popular comedy from French comedy master Ivan Calbérac (The Tasting). A long-married couple’s lives are upended when some 40-year-old letters prove the wife had a brief affair on the Côte d’Azur. The husband plans belated vengeance! Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Together features real-life husband and wife Dave Franco and Allison Brie as a couple who find themselves getting closer than they intended, with horrific consequences. Co starring Damon Herriman (Charles Manson in Once upon a time in Hollywood). Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

When Fall Is Coming is a Hitchcock-style thriller about a woman who finds herself accused of planning to murder her own daughter to get custody of her grandson. She enlists an unlikely ally to clear her name. Directed by the versatile François Ozon (Potiche) it features French theatre star Hélène Vincent. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Simon Morris looks at three films that aim at very specific audiences – horror film Together, and from France, an elegant mystery thriller called When Fall Is Coming, and a traditional French sex farce, Riviera Revenge. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Dan Slevin reviews two new films in cinemas: In The Fantastic Four: First Steps, the first family of the Marvel Cinematic Universe defend Earth from a planet eating supervillain; The Life of Chuck is a moving adaptation of a Stephen King novella; and Dan interviews film critic Richard Scheib about his new book, A Viewing Guide to the Pandemic. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Dan Slevin reviews a moving adaptation of a Stephen King novella about life, death and mathematics. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Dan Slevin interviews film critic Richard Scheib about his new book - a comprehensive survey of films about plagues and contagion. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

The first family of the Marvel Cinematic Universe defend Earth from a planet eating supervillain – reviewed by Dan Slevin. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Dan Slevin reviews four new films in cinemas: In Friendship, cringe comedian Tim Robinson plays a middle-aged man who thinks he’s found a lifelong pal; The Divine Sarah Bernhardt is a biopic about the world’s first global superstar; I Know What You Did Last Summer reboots the 90s slasher franchise; and in Four Letters of Love, the west of Ireland is the setting for a romantic miracle. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Dan Slevin reviews an adaptation of the bestselling Irish romantic novel starring Pierce Brosnan, Helena Bonham Carter and Gabriel Byrne. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Dan Slevin reviews a remake-slash-reboot of the 90s horror franchise feature g three of the original stars. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Dan Slevin reviews a biography of the French actress who dominated the stage in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and became the first global superstar. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

“Cringe” comedian Tim Robinson plays a middle-aged man who thinks he’s found a lifelong pal in Tim Rudd’s TV weatherman – reviewed by Dan Slevin. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Dan Slevin reviews three films in local cinemas: In Superman, Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn reboots the Man of Steel legend; in Bride Hard, Australian comic Rebel Wilson plays a secret agent bridesmaid saving a wedding from a gang of terrorists; and in the absurdist Canadian comedy, Universal Language, a depressed man returns home to snowy Winnipeg to try and find himself. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Dan Slevin reviews an absurdist Canadian comedy about a depressed man who returns home to snowy Winnipeg to try and find himself. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Dan Slevin reviews an action comedy in which Australian comic Rebel Wilson plays a secret agent bridesmaid saving a wedding from a gang of terrorists. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details