Tag: thriller

Four fantastic four-star Australian thrillers available on Netflix and/or Amazon

Jeff Mitchell

The Australian 80s band Men at Work claims that women from Down Under glow and the men plunder.  Although this is inherently a mix message, there is no denying that Australians routinely and consistently deliver great movies.  Looking back through Art House Film Wire’s recent rolodex, here are four fantastic four-star thrillers that are available on Netflix and/or Amazon right now, and no question, these movies get glowing reviews from Art House Film Wire. “Animal Kingdom” (2010) – The walls of justice begin to close in on a family of bank…

’47 Meters Down’ raises the bar despite some silliness

Jeff Mitchell

“47 Meters Down” – Just briefly glancing at the “47 Meters Down” poster, one can easily discern the plot of this nifty – but flawed – new thriller from director Johannes Roberts.  Two young women sit in a cage at the bottom of either a very, very large aquarium or the ocean, and a number of sharks (five to be exact) are hovering just above their iron crate. Lisa (Mandy Moore) and Kate (Claire Holt) are sisters vacationing in Mexico, and after a brief heart-to-heart at the pool, they decide…

An interview with director John Madden from ‘Miss Sloane’

Jeff Mitchell

Acclaimed director John Madden (“Shakespeare in Love” (1998), “The Debt” (2010), “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” (2011)) stopped in Phoenix on Nov. 17 to introduce his new film, “Miss Sloane” starring Jessica Chastain in the title role, for a Phoenix Film Society screening at the Harkins Scottsdale 101.   I had a chance to sit down with him for a few minutes on that day as well, and Madden offered some wonderful insight about the title character, the reasons why Chastain was terrific for the part and more. “Miss Sloane”, a thriller…