Toby Woollaston is a film reviewer for NZME regional media
We are your advocate, Aotearoa. Uncovering stories that matter, asking hard-hitting questions of those in power, live-blogging sport events, monitoring the highs and lows of the NZX and providing Premium expert opinion and analysis. Bringing you distinctive, quality journalism and breaking news from across New Zealand and around the world. With specialists working together to create indepth reads, engaging video, and unmissable podcasts.
Will Julia Roberts and George Clooney's new film take you to paradise?
The Hollywood superstars team up as bickering exes in this beachside romcom.
Does The Railway Children sequel leave the station or is it derailed?
We review the sequel to the popular 1970 war time original.
Can House of the Dragon win the war for the water cooler?
Over a decade ago the world fell to Game of Thrones, can its prequel reclaim the throne?
Should you say 'yep' to Jordan Peele's new horror flick Nope?
The master of modern horror returns with his third feature. Is it another charm?
The true story of Britain's worst golfer is a cinematic delight
It's a hole-in-one for Phantom of the Open's classic underdog story, writes our reviewer.
Review: Is 'Elvis' the King of musicals or will it leave you all shook up?
We review Baz Luhrmann's brash, in-your-face, glittery biopic about Elvis.
Is Jurassic World: Dominion a roaring success or creatively extinct?
Old meets new meets prehistoric in the sixth instalment of the dino-action spectacular.
Movie review: The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent
Absurdly stupid but hoo boy is it entertaining.
Movie review: Fantastic Beasts - The Secrets of Dumbledore
The latest Harry Potter prequel is an improvement on previous efforts.
Is the Oscar winning Drive My Car worth its 3-hour ride?
This emotional epic takes you on a restrained journey.
Movie review: Does Peter Dinklage's musical version of Cyrano sing?
It's an odd decision to turn the classic love drama into a musical, does it pay off?
Movie Review: Should you go go to Joaquin Phoenix's C'mon C'mon?
The Oscar winner's new movie is a gentle embrace of humanity.
Movie review: Can Spider-Man escape the MCU's tangled web?
The verdict on Marvel's holiday blockbuster Spider-Man: No Way Home.
Does Lin-Manuel Miranda's 90s musical detonate or is it a fizzer?
Our review of the musical maestro's movie debut Tick, Tick... Boom!
The verdict on Jane Campion's new film The Power of the Dog
The Power of the Dog is a sinister slow-burner that may just be a masterpiece.
Does Fast & Furious 9 get the green light?
Our reviewer buckles up for the latest in the fast car franchise.
Forget substance, slapstick reigns supreme in new Tom and Jerry
It's dumbed-down, yes, but the slapstick antics make for perfect school holiday fodder.
Sopranos star finds himself in Italy
From the Vine is very far from a full-bodied drop but still inoffensively quaffable.
Movie review: The 'intensely powerful film' that deserves your attention
A family holiday is transformed into a screaming nightmare in this must-see Tunisian film.
Does Helen Reddy's biopic I Am Woman do the feminist icon justice?
She put a rocket under the women's rights movement, will this put one under your seat?
Quirky dramedy irksome or humorous antidote to lockdown woes?
The absurd charms of It Must Be Heaven could prove divisive writes our reviewer.
Does cuddly comic Kevin James convince in violent new thriller?
The comedian drops the nice guy act for swastikas and revenge in Becky. We review it.
Movie review: Political satire gets few votes
Given its meaty subject matter, Irresistible is disappointingly bland.
The verdict on The Trip to Greece
Is Steve Coogan's and Rob Brydon's fourth instalment worth your time?
Should you swipe left or right on Queen & Slim?
Two of Hollywood's rising stars are in this movie about a Tinder date from hell.
Movie review: Color Out Of Space
A trippy tale of cosmic horror that occasionally rises above its B-horror roots.
Dafoe and Pattinson weather the storm in The Lighthouse
Robert Eggers' new film The Lighthouse provides a thrilling gothic vision of madness.
Can you stomach the year's most courageous documentary?
For Sama is profoundly intimate yet horrifically heartbreaking writes TimeOut's reviewer.
Terence Malick takes on the Nazi regime in new film
The haunting true story A Hidden Life is a welcome return to form for the director.
Is the star-packed WW2 action film Midway a hit or a bomb?
If you liked Pearl Harbour, then you'll love Midway ... but that's not saying much.
Ready or Not is the splattery funny slasher we are ready for
Latest in the "shall we play a game?" horror sub-genre is bloody fun.
'A masterpiece': The film about forbidden love you cannot miss
Portrait of a Lady on Fire requires patience, but delivers the ultimate payoff.
Antonio Banderas delivers masterclass of Pain and Glory
Pedro Almodovar's Pain and Glory will have minds blown long after the credits roll.
The movie that will inspire you to run a marathon
Is Brittany Runs A Marathon a predictable crowd-pleaser or an inspirational triumph?
Is Photograph fully developed or is that a negative?
The romantic drama captures Mumbai's rich textures but is its story worth a look?
Does Animals comes out roaring?
To party or not to party that is the question two young women face in this new film.
The movie that gives new meaning to the term 'cult classic'
Hereditary was harrowing and unsettling. It's follow-up Midsommar is much, much worse...
Female anti-Isis fighters story hits big screen
Girls of the Sun has gritty war scenes, big set pieces and drama. And it's all true.
The new Aretha Franklin doco is simply amazing
Made up of stunning found footage, our reviewer gives Amazing Graces five solid amens.
Apollo 11: The spellbinding five-star doco you cannot miss
Apollo 11 is a marvel which makes you sit back and simply gape in awe.
Is the new Springsteen inspired film boss?
The director of Bend it Like Beckham is blinded by the light.
Emilio Estevez out of his depth with new movie
His heart's in the right place but Estevez struggles with nuance in new movie The Public.
Does hyped teen dramedy Booksmart get an A+ or an F?
Olivia Wilde's debut feature film could be worth sneaking out for.
Forget Crocodile Dundee, Brian Cox is Scottish Dundee
Rory's Way sends grumpy Scotsman Brian Cox to America but will it send you to the cinema?
Movie about transgender ballerina rated 'cinematic masterpiece'
Our reviewer described the brutally honest film an "astonishing statement"
Should you see Sometimes Always Never? Possibly maybe
Bill Nighy, whimsy and a heated game of Scrabble... what more could you want?
By Gaul! There's a new Asterix movie! But is it any good?
Does Asterix: The Secret of the Magic Potion live up to the old animated Asterix classics?
Movie review: The Man Who Killed Don Quixote
Movie review: The Man Who Killed Don Quixote
Diane Keaton gets her Pom-Poms out in new film
Is there more to Poms than just being 'The Full Monty for the aged'?
Movie review: The Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir
Movie review: The Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir
Can the 'unbridled joy' of Shazam! finally deliver for DC?
DC has stopped being so dark and tried to be less cringe - but did it work?
Should you go to Dumbo or is Dumbo a no go?
Is Tim Burton's live action remake of Dumbo the greatest show on earth? Here's the review.
Nicole Kidman sets out to destroy in cop thriller
She's not the first name you'd think of to play a vengeful hard-ass, does she pull it off?
Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem's intriguing mystery
Everybody Knows is an intriguing, immensely satisfying mystery. Or is it?
You'll wish you could get out of this Escape Room
Our reviewer's trapped in this horror based on the popular activity of escaping rooms
Tone deaf or Oscar worthy? We review Green Book
It's attracted both controversy and Oscar noms but what did our reviewer think?
The raunchy period drama heading for Oscar glory
"Part-period piece and part-anachronistic satire", The Favourite isn't for everyone.
Movie review: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Movie review: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Are you ready for a Xmas musical... with zombies?
Anna and the Apocalypse is a different sort of festive film... but is it worth a look?
Movie review: You Were Never Really Here
Bang! Bang! Joaquin's silver hammer came down upon his head...
Lisbeth Salander is back on the big screen
Should you get stuck into The Girl in the Spider's Web? We review the hacker's return
Review: Will the new Queen biopic rock you?
Is there a kind of magic to the Freddy Mercury movie or does it bite the dust?
Will this fireworks doco make you go 'oh-oh-oh'?
Brimstone & Glory shows how one small Mexican village lets their colours burst
Movie review: Westwood: Punk, Icon, Activist
Movie review: Westwood: Punk, Icon, Activist
Movie review: The House with a Clock in its Walls
Movie review: The House with a Clock in its Walls
Movie review: Spitfire
Spitfire is a fascinating look at the impact of the iconic World War II fighter