Stuart Richards
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Articles by Stuart Richards
The Employment Rights Act Improves Trade Union Recognition: Amazon workers in Coventry helped make this happen
The Employment Rights Act is a significant step forward in improving the right of workers to have their trade union recognised by their employer. It not only creates new opportunities to collectively defend pay and conditions, but tackles some of the tactics used by unscrupulous employers to union bust workers’ attempts to build a union in their workplace. This is vital at a time when many people’s working lives are becoming increasingly precarious.
‘Wog’ humour, tense US politics and real-world monsters: what to watch in November
As the year begins to wind down, and the days grow longer, our critics have a fresh slate of films and series to keep you glued to your screen. This month’s streaming picks include a 90s “filmic time capsule”, some tense US political drama (refreshingly set in a non-Trumpian America), and the harrowing real-life story of child sex abuse at a Jewish school in Melbourne. There’s also some sharp, tender animation from the creator of Bojack Horseman.
Mushroom murders, riotous mockumentary and a surveillance thriller: what to watch in October
This month’s streaming lineup has plenty to offer, whether you’re chasing thrills, a nostalgic romcom, or some humour to keep you company as you settle in after a long day of work. If you’re feeling moody, there’s a sleek new Australian thriller on Stan, as well as a true crime series following the mushroom murder trials that shook the nation. Alternatively, if you’re after some comic relief, we’ve got two hilarious mockumentaries that will turn the volume up to 11. So sit back and enjoy.
Over-the-top melodrama, a platonic rom-com and retirement village murders: what to watch in September
With September comes spring: flowering trees, warmer weather, longer days. But just as it felt like spring had sprung, a new cold front came over much of south east Australia. No matter if you’re looking for something to while away the last of the chilly days, or looking for something to watch to escape the dreaded hay fever outside, our experts this month have you covered. There are old classics celebrating 50 years since they hit the big screen, now available on the small screen at home.
Sexy K-pop demons, a human lie detector and shearers on strike: what to watch in July
Tomorrow marks exactly halfway through 2025. Luckily there’s a suite of streaming options to help get you through the mid-year bump. We’ve got iconic classics celebrating major anniversaries, as well as an animated K-Pop spectacle, and a documentary trawling through the controversial tenure of former Queensland premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen.
Feuding mob families, mind control and a murder at the White House: what to watch in May
It’s May! Where did the year go? It must be all the amazing TV we’re watching that’s making the time whiz by. This month’s lineup of expert picks is packed with standout shows across all genres. Whether you’re in the mood for laugh-out-loud comedies, powerful historical fiction, or sci-fi that will leave your brain rattling for days, there’s something binge-worthy waiting for you.
A child killer, parenting struggles and ‘innies’ running wild: what to stream in April
Drowning in streaming choices? If so, you’re not alone – as our experts have a particularly wide range of picks this month. From musicals and comedy, to serial killers and twisted fictional corporations, there’s plenty to get stuck into. The Pitt Binge (Australia), Neon (NZ) The Pitt is best described as a cross between ER and 24. The series follows an emergency room in Pittsburgh in real time across a 15-hour shift. Each one hour episode is an hour of their shift. Creator R.
From the fashion to the speeches to the music, this was an Oscars of few surprises. 5 experts break it down
In a year with few surprises in the awards categories, there was also a dearth of surprises on the red carpet. The sartorial themes included sparkling metallics, coloured menswear and bows, bows and more bows. Metallic gowns that resemble the Oscar statue are a familiar sight at the Academy Awards and this year was no different.
Belle Gibson, teenage lives and trying to find the traitors: what we’re streaming this March
This month, as the weather stays high and you’re likely to want to stay under the air-conditioning, our experts have a cornucopia of shows and films they’re watching to suit every mood. There is Robert de Niro’s romp through politics which “stretches the bounds of credibility”, new seasons of The Traitors from both the United Kingdom and the United States, three new Aussie productions and a new comedy from Aotearoa New Zealand.
Belle Gibson, teenage lives and trying to find the traitors: what we’re streaming this March
Now ICC Champions Trophy 2025: India beat New Zealand to face Australia in semi India beat New Zealand by 44 runs to set up rerun of the Cricket World Cup final against Australia in last four. Spinner Varun Chakravarthy returned figures of 5-42 as India beat New Zealand by 44 runs to set up a semifinal clash with Australia in cricket’s Champions Trophy.
A Slump in Britain’s Hiring
Two years ago, British companies couldn’t find enough people to work for them. It was the Great Resignation of 2022, and salaries soared. But things have changed dramatically since then. New job vacancies in the UK have dropped by a staggering 23% through the end of November versus the same time last year, according to data from job-posting website Indeed.
Aussie drag, career vampires and a bloody game of hide and seek: what we’re watching in December
The so-called silliest time of the year is here. But for many it can also be a stressful time. Whether you’re frantically planning for Christmas and/or New Year celebrations – or steeling yourself ahead of some longer-than-ideal interactions with the relatives – you’re going to want to let off some steam. We can help on that front.
Flashy Parisian fashion, queer Marvel and the competitive world of K-pop: what we’re watching in October
As we dive into October, here are some captivating new films and series to help fill your evenings on the couch. This month’s streaming picks from our experts feature plenty of strong women characters – from Nicole Kidman’s role as a fearsome matriarch in The Perfect Couple, to empowered young women battling it out in a K-pop reality show contest. Meanwhile, Marvel’s latest offering Agatha All Along brings a fresh feminist-queer twist to the Marvel universe.
Union recognition vote by Amazon staff fails to reach majority
PA Wire A ballot of Amazon workers for union recognition has failed to reach a majority, the GMB has announced. It said workers at the online giant’s Coventry site voted by 49.5% in favour of union recognition, falling just short of a majority. An Amazon spokesman said: “We want to thank everyone who voted in this ballot. “Across Amazon, we place enormous value on engaging directly with our employees and having daily conversations with them. “It’s an essential part of our work culture.
Amazon Workers in Coventry, England, May Soon Be Union
It has been a year and a half since workers at the Amazon warehouse in Coventry shook the retail giant with the company’s first-ever formal strike in British history. From that time, they have become used to seeing the company’s anti-union material displayed in the workplace. But all of this only foreshadowed the scale of the union busting brought in by management as workers prepared to vote in a ballot for statutory union recognition.
Amazon Workers Are Beating the Union Busters
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Swinging ‘60s, a grief-fulled murder mystery and Jessica Alba doing 'spy shit’: what we’re streaming in July
Ready to dive into the latest buzz from the screens? In this month’s streaming list you’ll find not one, not two, but three Australian productions, including one starring a lead you will definitely recognise if you’ve seen Love On The Spectrum. ABC’s quirky new comedy show, Austin, tells the story of a 28-year-old autistic man (played by autistic actor Michael Theo) as he connects with his dad for the first time.
Carriage romps, good vibrations and a web of lies: what we’re streaming in June
June is set to be a month of holding up the mirror to reality, with our experts recommending three new non-fiction watches. No streaming list is complete without some true crime, so we’ve got the long-awaited second season of The Jinx (which comes nearly a decade after the first). We also look at Netflix’s scandalous Ashley Madison: Sex, Lies & Scandal, a three-part docuseries that dissects the infamous site designed for people seeking affairs.
Psychological drama, wilderness reality and everyone’s favourite dog: the best of streaming this May
It seems to be a time of old favourites. This month our experts have recommended two new seasons – the second season of Alone Australia (although oddly enough with that name, it takes place in Aotearoa New Zealand) and the third season of Bluey – a Patricia Highsmith adaptation, and, following the hot new trend, an adaptation of a video game. For a sadder hit of nostalgia, Edith Jennifer Hill has watched Quiet on Set, which casts a new light on old Nickelodeon favourites.
A New Record
Mental-health days, bad colds, fog in the head: Many people take a sick day or two when they feel under the weather. But over the past few years, things have changed dramatically. Sickness has caused a record 2.8 million British people aged 16 to 64 to drop out of the UK workforce, according to recent research from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Before 2020, the total had hovered around 2 million, never exceeding 2.4 million, going all the way back to the 1990s.
‘Searing glory holes’, a shapeshifting cat and outback UFO tours: what we’re streaming this April
As the weather begins to cool, you might be spending a few more nights in front of the television on the couch (or on your laptop in bed), looking for a new show to lead you into autumn. This month, our experts are recommending everything from steamy historical dramas (slightly inaccurate, as all the best ones are), to reality shows about the high-octane world of glassblowing, to new Aussie crime mysteries. Whatever you’re looking for, they have you covered with what to stream in April.
Streaming picks: from chemical attraction to tensions at the mosque
There’s a range of new streaming shows to dive into in March: from the heartfelt romance One Day, which at the start of this month had already been in Netflix’s top-10 list for three weeks – to a captivating Aussie drama centred on a local mosque community. House of Gods iView House of Gods is a gripping new Australian TV drama. It reveals the inner workings of an imam’s family and community, and the corrupting effects of power, ambition and secrets on family and faith.
Chemical attraction, a whodunit murder mystery and tensions at the mosque: what we’re streaming this March
It’s hard to believe March is here. Where did the time go? By now many of us will be well into our regular routine at work or school. Perhaps life’s demands are starting to catch up and you’re already dreaming of your next break. Fret not. Our experts have a range of new streaming suggestions. From the heartfelt romance One Day, which has already been in Netflix’s top ten list for three weeks – to a captivating Aussie drama centred on a local mosque community – there’s plenty to let off some steam.
Film review: The Zone of Interest
The awful premise, that it was possible to ignore the Holocaust unfolding over the back fence, is never in question. Rudolf Höss and his wife Hedwig have five children, including blond twins and a baby, and take great pride in their house and garden. At the two-storey stucco villa there are domestic helpers to do the drudgery and gardeners to help Hedwig with her dahlias and to train a vine over a fence that looks out onto an unsightly chimney.
Film review: The Rooster
This review contains mentions of suicide. ———– What does it mean to be alone? Who do you live for when it seems like you have no one? These are some of the big questions asked in The Rooster, a deceptively simple film from Mark Leonard Winter. Before opening in cinemas this week, the film played at major film festivals in Adelaide, Melbourne and Brisbane in 2023, and Hugo Weaving recently won the best supporting AACTA for his performance as the hermit.
Red Alert for UK’s Smaller Firms
Every executive knows that the economy has its ups and downs. Sometimes profits balloon, and everyone prospers, shareholders and employees alike. Other times, not so much. And during those other times, frail companies get hit hardest. Such a downturn seems to have come to Britain’s business sector, many of whose firms are approaching red-alert status.
A small film asking big questions: The Rooster is a study of fragile, lonely masculinity
This review contains mentions of suicide. What does it mean to be alone? Who do you live for when it seems like you have no one? These are some of the big questions asked in The Rooster, a deceptively simple film from Mark Leonard Winter. Before opening in cinemas this week, the film played at major film festivals in Adelaide, Melbourne and Brisbane in 2023 and Hugo Weaving recently won the best supporting AACTA for his performance as the hermit.
A small film asking big questions: The Rooster is a study of fragile, lonely masculinity
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Dive deep into love - on film and by the book
Sentimentalists in Brisbane are in for a treat with the debut of a new festival celebrating the love of romance – especially the reading and movie kind. The Blussh Romance Festival, which runs from February 22 to 25, features classic movies of the genre, including premieres, previews, retrospectives and iconic masterworks – all showing at the new Angelika Film Centre at Woolloongabba.
Work From Home, Be Laid Off Less?
Despite some research to the contrary, many workers have maintained since the pandemic that they are more productive at home. But a new survey offers them an even more persuasive argument for staying on the couch. According to a surprising survey from Startups.co.uk, the odds of remaining employed increased the more people stayed out of the office.
Classic Aussie cinema and new twists on old classics: our picks of December streaming
At a time when it feels like it can be impossible to keep up with all the different streaming platforms – both in time and in money – the appearance of a new platform that breaks through the noise is something remarkable. Three of our critics’ picks this month aren’t brand-new releases, but they are new to streaming on Brollie, the new platform from Umbrella Films.
what we're streaming this October Original
If you’ve made your way through our September picks and are looking for something new, this month’s streaming picks have something for everyone. There is a classic romantic comedy, some British crime drama and even some contemporary dance. The weather might be turning, and the sun might be shining – but these picks will have you wanting to spend some more time on the couch.
A Haunting in Venice: it's Christie and it's camp
By Stuart Richards, University of South Australia Agatha Christie regularly drew upon the supernatural to generate a feeling of uncertainty. We – the audience, and the ensemble of characters – are given limited information regarding a murder. This uncertainty, ultimately, concerns the fear of death. Is something more sinister, dangerous and supernatural at play? Witches, seances and hauntings often appeared as devices in Christie’s writing to generate these macabre tones.
a Gothic horror, supernatural, Agatha Christie murder mystery which all becomes quite camp
Agatha Christie regularly drew upon the supernatural to generate a feeling of uncertainty. We – the audience, and the ensemble of characters – are given limited information regarding a murder. This uncertainty, ultimately, concerns the fear of death. Is something more sinister, dangerous and supernatural at play? Witches, seances and hauntings often appeared as devices in Christie’s writing to generate these macabre tones. A séance is faked in The Sittaford Mystery.
A haunting in Venice - Openforum
Agatha Christie regularly drew upon the supernatural to generate a feeling of uncertainty. We – the audience, and the ensemble of characters – are given limited information regarding a murder. This uncertainty, ultimately, concerns the fear of death. Is something more sinister, dangerous and supernatural at play? Witches, seances and hauntings often appeared as devices in Christie’s writing to generate these macabre tones. A séance is faked in The Sittaford Mystery.
A Haunting of Venice: a Gothic horror, supernatural, Agatha Christie murder mystery which all becomes quite camp
By Stuart Richards, Lecturer in Screen Studies, University of South Australia Agatha Christie regularly drew upon the supernatural to generate a feeling of uncertainty. We – the audience, and the ensemble of characters – are given limited information regarding a murder. This uncertainty, ultimately, concerns the fear of death. Is something more sinister, dangerous and supernatural at play? Witches, seances and hauntings often appeared as devices in Christie’s writing to generate these macabre tones.
A Haunting of Venice: a Gothic horror, supernatural, Agatha Christie murder mystery which all becomes quite camp Original
Agatha Christie regularly drew upon the supernatural to generate a feeling of uncertainty. We – the audience, and the ensemble of characters – are given limited information regarding a murder. This uncertainty, ultimately, concerns the fear of death. Is something more sinister, dangerous and supernatural at play? Witches, seances and hauntings often appeared as devices in Christie’s writing to generate these macabre tones. A séance is faked in The Sittaford Mystery.
Romantic comedies, Japanese reality television and New Zealand true crime: the best of streaming this September Original
We have never been more spoilt for choice when it comes to what we can watch on (streaming) television. But the downside of this gluttony of riches is the sheer overwhelm that can come from having to choose your next show. Have you found yourself reaching to rewatch an old favourite, just to make the choice easier? Us too. But fear not, The Conversation’s writers are on the case. In this new series, our experts will be bringing you the best new shows, films and seasons to watch every month.
A dystopian Australia, stomach-churning physical humour, and several films with donkeys: the best films of the 2022 Adelaide Film Festival
Fri Nov 11 Written by Stuart Richards, Lecturer in Screen Studies, University of South Australia The Adelaide Film Festival is well timed in the festival calendar, as it lands between many films premiering at the Venice Film Festival and their Australian theatrical release. This year’s program balanced big films like My Policeman, TÁR and Banshees of Inisherin with smaller, edgier films. Over the week, I saw a respectable 15 films. Here are my top five highlights.
A dystopian Australia, stomach-churning physical humour, and several films with donkeys: the best films of the 2022 Adelaide Film Festival
The Adelaide Film Festival is well timed in the festival calendar, as it lands between many films premiering at the Venice Film Festival and their Australian theatrical release. This year’s program balanced big films like My Policeman, TÁR and Banshees of Inisherin with smaller, edgier films. Over the week, I saw a respectable 15 films. Here are my top five highlights.
Kenneth Branagh’s "Death on the Nile" forgets Agatha Christie was a master of the murder mystery
Kenneth Branagh's new adaptation of "Death on the Nile" arrives with a lot of preconceived baggage. We know Agatha Christie. We know Poirot. Christie's influence on the murder mystery genre cannot be overstated. Her stories feature heavily in the contemporary media landscape; reruns of various incarnations regularly appear in television schedules. David Suchet's portrayal of her detective Hercule Poirot is iconic – as are Julia McKenzie, Geraldine McEwan and Joan Hickson as Miss Marple.
Kenneth Branagh’s Death on the Nile seems to forget Agatha Christie was a master of the murder mystery
Kenneth Branagh’s new adaptation of Death on the Nile arrives with a lot of preconceived baggage. We know Agatha Christie. We know Poirot. Christie’s influence on the murder mystery genre cannot be understated. Her stories feature heavily in the contemporary media landscape; reruns of various incarnations regularly appear in television schedules. David Suchet’s portrayal of her detective Hercule Poirot is iconic – as are Julia McKenzie, Geraldine McEwan and Joan Hickson as Miss Marple.
My best worst film: Pink Flamingos - 'one of the most vile, stupid and repulsive films ever made'?
In a new series, our writers explore their best worst film. They’ll tell you what the critics got wrong – and why it’s time to give these movies another chance. While some may know John Waters through his family friendly Hairspray (1988) – adapted into a stage musical in 2002 and back to the screen in 2007 – many know him as the Prince of Puke, the King of Bad Taste or the Pope of Trash.
My best worst film: Pink Flamingos – 'one of the most vile, stupid and repulsive films ever made'?
In a new series, our writers explore their best worst film. They’ll tell you what the critics got wrong – and why it’s time to give these movies another chance. While some may know John Waters through his family friendly Hairspray (1988) – adapted into a stage musical in 2002 and back to the screen in 2007 – many know him as the Prince of Puke, the King of Bad Taste or the Pope of Trash.
Film review - News, Research and Analysis - The Conversation - page 1
Displaying 1 - 20 of 141 articles New Line Cinemas October 25, 2020 Called 'vile' by Variety, and banned by Australian censors, Pink Flamingos is a shocking and hilarious film. EPA/MANUEL DE ALMEIDA October 22, 2020 A new Greta Thunberg biopic has drawn criticism from those who don't see the value in the stories of young lives. But children's voices matter — and Thunberg's is potent. Columbia Pictures October 20, 2020 Adam Sandler's slapstick comedy has long been derided by critics.
Deepfake technology unlocks real stories of LGBTQ persecution in Welcome to Chechnya
Mon Aug 10 Written by Stuart Richards, Lecturer in Screen Studies, University of South Australia Review: Welcome to Chechnya, screening at the Melbourne International Film Festival Welcome to Chechnya, screening online as part of MIFF 68½, is a bracing documentary.
Deepfake Technology Unlocks Real Stories of LGBTQ Persecution in Welcome to Chechnya
Welcome to Chechnya. MIFF Welcome to Chechnya, screening online as part of MIFF 68½, is a bracing documentary. This film is part of a queer trilogy of sorts for filmmaker and investigative reporter David France, who also directed 2012’s How to Survive a Plague (for which he received an Oscar nomination) and 2017’s The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson.
Deepfake technology unlocks real stories of LGBTQ persecution in Welcome to Chechnya
Review: Welcome to Chechnya, screening at the Melbourne International Film Festival Welcome to Chechnya, screening online as part of MIFF 68½, is a bracing documentary. This film is part of a queer trilogy of sorts for filmmaker and investigative reporter David France, who also directed 2012’s How to Survive a Plague (for which he received an Oscar nomination) and 2017’s The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson.
And Then We Danced: Queer sounds and movement
And Then We Danced had its premiere in Georgia on 8th December 2019. I got to first experience this tender film at the Melbourne International Film Festival earlier in August. Due to the queer themes explored, the film was met with significant protest from conservative groups, such as The Georgian March and The Georgian Orthodox Church. The film details a queer romance, yes, but is also an exploration of queer Georgian identity.
Prototype review: experimental Australian films as poetic diary entries
With the launch of Hannah Brontë’s music-driven The Sweet Suits last Tuesday, online cinematheque Prototype’s first season came to a close. Every Tuesday, a new film was delivered to subscriber emails curated by Lauren Carroll Harris. The 12 films were personal explorations of the experimental form, with a manifesto about bridging the art and film worlds through a new digital terrain: Prototype is a project of digital utopianism.
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