The Film Pie

The Film Pie Monopolistic movie news, reviews and insights from Brisbane, Australia.

The opinions expressed by Matt Toomey are final and no correspondence will be entered into.

10/05/2026

Pike River (out May 14) has strong performances and emotional heft. It follows two women in search of closure and accountability following a 2010 mining tragedy in New Zealand which claimed 29 lives. Grade: B+.

10/05/2026

Life Could Be a Dream (out May 14) is an Australian drama centred on a married woman trying to escape an abusive relationship. It does a strong job capturing her tortured mindset and uncertainty about what to do next. Also liked the way it shows the teenage son's perspective. Grade: B+.

10/05/2026

A Private Life (out May 14) is a weird French comedy about an American psychologist (Jodie Foster) who becomes a quasi-detective when she suspects a long-time patient has been murdered. It's a clumsy narrative that I never bought into. Grade: C+.

10/05/2026

Mortal Kombat II (out May 7) is not as fun or as interesting as the 2021 original (which I liked at lot). Some okay battle sequences but the comedy feels forced and the new cast members, headlined by Karl Urban, didn't do it for me. Grade: B-.

04/05/2026

The Sheep Detectives (out May 7) is quality family entertainment. It follows a flock of sheep, who can talk amongst themselves, investigating the murder of their kind-hearted owner (Hugh Jackman). Offering plenty for adults and kids, it's an interesting whodunit with a great voice cast and lots of fun jokes. Grade: B+.

04/05/2026

Hokum (out Apr 30) is an impressive horror-thriller about a rude, reclusive writer who finds himself caught up in a real-life mystery when a woman goes missing at the hotel he's staying at. Headlined by Adam Scott, I liked the characters and the splash of supernatural. Grade: B+.

29/04/2026

The Devil Wears Prada 2 (out Apr 30) comes across more as serviceable fan fiction as opposed to a fun, tightly written adventure. Returning screenwriter Aline Brosh McKenna knows how beloved the headline characters have become and she’s afraid to “go hard” on them. Issues are resolved too quickly. Still, it’s nice to be reunited with the great cast and existing devotees should lap it up. Grade: B-.

27/04/2026

Wolfram (out Apr 30) is another winner from Australian director Warwick Thornton. Serving as a sequel to his 2017 release, Sweet Country, it's set in the 1930s and centred on kidnapped Aboriginal children being used as slave labour in the outback. It's an eye-opening reminder of Australia’s darker histories but beyond that, it’s an engaging drama. Grade: B+.

27/04/2026

Seven Snipers (out Apr 30) is a decent Aussie film about a woman and her daughter, with the help of well-armed friends, trying to evade a murderous villain with whom they have a history. I wasn't convinced by some of the characters' actions, but I like the cast and the concept. Having it set in one location (a remote property) also helps build suspense. Grade: B.

22/04/2026

Michael (out Apr 23) will satisfy those wanting to see/hear Michael Jackson's iconic songs but if you're looking for a movie which provides a deeper understanding of his background, beliefs, and general weirdness, this isn't it. Thumbs up to 29-year-old Jaafar Jackson for his lead performance - it's the element audiences will speak of most fondly. Grade: C+.

20/04/2026

Jean Valjean (out Apr 23) is a touching drama which highlights the power of human kindness. Based on part of Victor Hugo's famous work, it's the tale of a poor man trying to forge a new life after two decades of incarceration. Grade: B+.

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