The way Hell or High Water gently and precisely unfurls its plot, the characters and their motivations lifts this above the ordinary.

I, Daniel Blake may be an incensed political film. But it runs on the hope that a decent bloke will get asked just that.

After two hours of hollering bruising, demonic anthems, Slipknot's frontman finally showed his true emotions.

Auckland Shakespeare Company's Lucrece confronts the way rape debases our humanity.

Real-life experiences depicted with humour, intensity and relevance.

Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra's Final Symphony was a marketing triumph, selling out its first performance and occasioning a Saturday night re-run.

It's getting harder and harder to do new things with horror.

As a spoof or spy movie, you have to say this about Keeping up with the Joneses - it sure can't keep up with those Smiths.

Soprano's star status guarantees local release.

British actor Guy Masterson shows why he is a master of solo performances.

Opera double-bill is a refreshing reminder of the art form's rich potential.

Usually, I prefer the offensive type of comic but McIntyre performed a fairly wholesome set at no one's expense and with just as many laughs.

The second Jack Reacher film fails to measure up to just about everything.

Ouija: Origin of Evil is a familiar story but Flanagan throws in just enough creepy and witty twists to keep you interested in how it turns out.

For all its classy production values, Café Society isn't as invigorating as Woody Allen's top-notch work can be.

Is this the comeback album Kings of Leon needed?

Creative excellence and exquisite performances close this year's Tempo Dance Festival.

Does Priscilla, Queen of the Desert still wear the crown?

The eight expert players of the London Conchord Ensemble delivered a high-minded Friday night variety concert.

Dame Kiri Te Kanawa's Aotea Centre recital was a courageous undertaking for the 72-year-old soprano. It was an evening of some entrancement.

Billy Elliot, a story of triumph over adversity.

Director Janice Finn has assembled a dream cast for The Pink Hammer, including The Real Housewives of Auckland star Louise Wallace.

Freeing the Memory is one of the large standout images on display at Artweek.

A CD that well and truly proves Polish music is more than Chopin mazurkas and the 1960s radicalism of Krzysztof Penderecki.

Funny Girls sparkles with promise and frequently delivers piercing insight and always a wild charisma and energy, but it also has issues.

As the 2014 Oscar-nominated anthology Wild Tales showed, Argentinean cinema does like its black comedies.

It's ten years since Tom Hanks first played the dull but exceedingly well-read Robert Langdon in The Da Vinci Code, and seven since he did another lap of art-history orienteering in Angels and Demons.

Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra delivers an evening with a mood of celebration.

Beautiful and thought-provoking show is exquisitely staged and marvellously theatrical.

If a guy orders a tall pint of milk on the first date it's probably not a good sign.