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Ari Mattes

Ari Mattes

The Conversation

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Beast: Australia’s first MMA film, starring Russell Crowe, is cheesy yet oddly comforting

Beast: Australia’s first MMA film, starring Russell Crowe, is cheesy yet oddly comforting

The new Stan sports drama is brimming with cliches. But there are some standouts among the cast.

yesterday 10

The Conversation

Ari Mattes

Seven good films out of ten – a surprisingly strong year for the Oscars

For the first time in years, most of the films nominated for Best Picture are genuinely good. From Joachim Trier’s Sentimental Value to Ryan...

14.03.2026 30

Pearls and Irritations

Ari Mattes

The Oscars are usually a mess, but this year’s Best Picture nominees are strong. Here’s who should win

Are people once again hankering for a quality cinematic experience? The 2026 nominees suggest so.

11.03.2026 30

The Conversation

Ari Mattes

The 2025 Sydney Film Festival reminded me: there is nothing like a bunch of strangers assembling in the dark

From unsettling horror thrillers to intergenerational social satires, here are the top five films of this year’s Sydney Film Festival.

17.06.2025 20

The Conversation

Ari Mattes