Dysfunctional Families
Perhaps because it's something nearly all of us can relate to (apart from The Bradys), messed-up families have always been a popular subject for filmmakers in all genres. Whether you're playing it for laughs ('Arrested Development', 'Go For Zucker'), drama ('Kramer vs Kramer', 'Nil By Mouth'), or thrills ('The Quiet Family', 'Olivier, Olivier') the family dynamic is a deep well of ready-made love/hate relationships, seething resentments and hidden secrets. What more could a filmmaker, or a film-watcher, ask for!
Revolutionary Road (2008)
7.3/10
Director: Sam Mendes
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, Michael Shannon, Ryan Simpkins, Ty Simpkins, Ka...
Sam Mendes directs his wife Kate Winslet and her 'Titanic' co-star, Leonardo DiCaprio in this searing adaptation of Richard Yates' novel about 1950s s... Read more
Jinx Sister (2008)
6.4/10
Director: Athina Tsoulis
Starring: Sara Wiseman, Rachel Nash, Jarod Rawiri, William Wallace, Jenni Heka, Rawiri Par...
Laura (Sara Wiseman) arrives in New Zealand after ten years in L.A., sporting an American accent and dressed for Rodeo Drive. Laura's sister Maree (Ra... Read more
Newcastle (2008)
6.2/10
Director: Dan Castle
Starring: Lachlan Buchanan, Xavier Samuel, Reshad Strik, Kirk Jenkins, Anthony Hayes, Shan...
Newcastle, Australia, home to a grim industrial landscape that is offset by idyllic sun-drenched beaches where teenagers hit the surf. Jesse isn't int... Read more
A Song of Good (2008)
5.7/10
Director: Gregory King
Starring: Gareth Reeves, Matthew Sunderland, Ian Mune, Danielle Cormack, Johnathon Hendry
20-something slacker Gary Cradle (Gareth Reeves) has made a pig's ear of his life so far and after a series of botched attempts to get money for drugs... Read more
Finding Amanda (2008)
5.6/10
Director: Peter Tolan
Starring: Matthew Broderick, Brittany Snow, Maura Tierney, Peter Facinelli, Steve Coogan
Matthew Broderick stars as Taylor, a hack TV writer, hopelessly, but secretly, addicted to gambling, alcohol and drugs. Which makes dealing with the c... Read more
Step Brothers (Blu-ray) (2008)
6.9/10
Director: Adam McKay
Starring: Will Ferrell, John C Reilly, Mary Steenburgen, Richard Jenkins, Adam Scott, Kath...
Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly had so much fun on 'Talladega Nights' they decided to re-team in this goofball gross-out comedy. They play a couple of... Read more
Step Brothers (2008)
6.9/10
Director: Adam McKay
Starring: Will Ferrell, John C Reilly, Mary Steenburgen, Richard Jenkins, Adam Scott, Kath...
Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly had so much fun on 'Talladega Nights' they decided to re-team in this goofball gross-out comedy. They play a couple of... Read more
Apron Strings (2008)
6.6/10
Director: Sima Urale
Starring: Laila Rouass, Scott Wills, Jennifer Ludlam, Nathan Whitaker, Leela Patel, Peter...
Samoan-born Aucklander Sima Urale makes her feature debut with this light-hearted, multi-cultural family drama exploring the fine line between motheri... Read more
Smart People (2008)
6.2/10
Director: Noam Murro
Starring: Dennis Quaid, Sarah Jessica Parker, Thomas Haden Church, Ellen Page, Ashton Holm...
Dennis Quaid stars as an intellectually self-absorbed and embittered widower who, despite his fierce intelligence, has managed to completely mess up h... Read more
Nobel Son (2007)
6.4/10
Director: Randall Miller
Starring: Alan Rickman, Bill Pullman, Danny DeVito, Ernie Hudson, Mary Steenburgen, Ted Da...
Offbeat mix of dark comedy and crime thriller about a Ph.D. student (Bryan Greenberg) who is kidnapped just before his self-centered, philandering fat... Read more