Stephen A Russell

Stephen A Russell is a Melbourne-based arts writer. His writing regularly appears in Fairfax publications, SBS online, Flicks, Time Out, The Saturday Paper, The Big Issue and Metro magazine. You can hear him on Joy FM.

Stephen A Russell's Latest Articles

One Battle After Another. Image: Warner Bros. Streaming on HBO Max.
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One Battle After Another review: a truly killer action thriller

Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another never loses sight of its spectacular characters despite refusing to take its foot…

Mark Coles Smith in Mystery Road: Origins Season 2. Image: Bunya Productions/David Dare Parker/ABC.
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Mystery Road: Origin Season 2 review: intriguing, snappy and addictive

Mark Coles Smith shines in Mystery Road: Origins Season 2.

Top End Bub. Image: Prime Video. Streaming on Prime Video.
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Top End Bub review: sassy family fun

Spinning off from Top End Wedding, not even a tropical storm can dull Top End Bub's sunny glow.

Lesbian Space Princess heads to Annecy. Image: Sydney Film Festival/ SFF.
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Lesbian Space Princess review: uproarious, anarchic and surprisingly wholesome

Australian animated feature Lesbian Space Princess won the prestigious Teddy Award at the Berlin International Film Festival.

But Also John Clarke. Image: Rialto Distribution. best new shows & films on abc iview
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But Also John Clarke review: an abundantly comforting documentary

Lorin Clarke's film about her late, much-loved father John Clarke offers insights and giggles in equal measure.

The Smashing Machine. Image: A24. New movies.
Features

15 best new movies worth seeing in 2025 – films coming soon

Discover the best new movies still to come in 2025, from The Smashing Machine to Avatar: Fire and Ash.

Zombucha! Image: MIFF.
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Zombucha! review: zombies, kombucha, mayhem!

With their relationship hanging by a thread, can Maddie and Leo unite to prevent a full-blown zombucha apocalypse?

Journey Home, David Gulpilil. Image: Allan Collins. Best new films.
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Journey Home, David Gulpilil review: a fitting tribute to a cinematic hero

Directors Maggie Miles and Trisha Morton-Thomas were allowed unprecedented access to David Gulpilil's ceremonial funeral.

Beast of War. Image: MIFF.
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Beast of War review: a snappy WWII nightmare on water

Nyikina actor Mark Coles Smith excels as a VB-swigging soldier of good fortune in Beast of War.

Eddington. Image: A24
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Eddington review: this town’s gonna blow

Hereditary director Ari Aster muses on our apocalyptic times in Eddington, starring Pedro Pascal, Joaquin Pheonix and Emma Stone.

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