Monster (12A)
Directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda
★★★★

 
THIS complex yet haunting Japanese coming-of-age tale reveals itself gently as its many transformative layers peel away slowly to reveal a completely different beast. 

It follows a protective single mother (Sakura Ando) who demands answers from her son’s (Soya Kurokawa) teacher (Eita Nagayama) and the school when he starts acting strangely. 

Written by Yuji Sakamoto and directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda (Shoplifters, Broker), this is a masterfully made and exquisite drama which sensitively and thoughtfully deals with the themes of sexuality and domestic abuse. 

All is not as it appears as the same events are seen through the eyes of a mum, a teacher and a child. Is Hori (Nagayama) hitting Minato (Kurokawa) or is Minato bullying fellow classmate Yori (Hinata Hiiragi)? The reality could not be further from the truth. 

The mystery rests on the beguiling and captivating performances by Kurokawa and Hiiragi in their first feature film. Their soulful eyes and innocence draw you in and keep you invested in these two beautiful characters as they take you on this surprising journey.  

While Ando gives a heartfelt turn as the stressed-out mum who is determined to fight for her son and get him justice, as the school and its head teacher close ranks around their member of staff. Although they force him to apologise profusely to her they refuse to give her any answers. 

Monster will stay with you long after the end credits have rolled. 

Out in cinemas on Friday.

The New Boy (12A)
Directed by Warwick Thornton
★★★

 
SET in 1940s Australia against the backdrop of the government’s policy to capture and separate indigenous children from their parents and their culture, a young boy is snatched and delivered to a remote monastery run by a renegade nun. 

Sister Eileen (Cate Blanchett) runs a tight and happy Catholic retreat full of aboriginal orphans with the help of Sister Mum (Deborah Mailman) and George (Wayne Blair), but the appearance of the non-speaking New Boy (Aswan Reid) and his special powers threaten to unbalance the monastery’s equilibrium. 
 
Writer-director Warwick Thornton returns after six years with this searing political tale, produced by Blanchett, which explores how Catholicism stamps out any spiritual or religious threat. Blanchett is magnificent as always but it is newcomer Reid’s magnetic performance which is the biggest revelation here. 
 
Fascinating yet disturbing, this is definitely worth seeing. 

Out in cinemas on Friday.

Janey (18)
Directed by John Archer
★★★

 
“FIRST I was cancelled, then I got cancer,” says Scottish comic Janey Godley, described by the press as the female Billy Connolly, as she discusses being called out for the racist historic tweets which virtually ended her career.  

When she tells comedian Jimmy Carr she didn’t know which of them is worse, he looks at her in disbelief, putting it into perspective in this funny yet poignant documentary by John Archer in which he interweaves fly-on-the-wall footage with interviews. The film chronicles what could be Godley’s final tour, aptly named The Not Dead Yet Tour following her terminal diagnosis. 

Godley speaks frankly about her life, being sexually abused by her uncle, and dealing with cancer which she tackles head on with great humour in her stand-up act.   

What is extraordinary is how she is able to perform on stage the day after undergoing chemotherapy. Having witnessed the effects of chemo on my own father, I can attest to this  unbelievable feat. 

One of the highlights is Nicola Sturgeon appearing with Godley who famously revoiced the former first minister’s Covid briefings, while the heart is her daughter Ashley performing with her and dealing with her mum’s prognosis. 

Godley is fearless, wickedly funny and a tour de force. 

Out in cinemas on Friday.

 
Drive-Away Dolls (15)
Directed by Ethan Coen
★★★

 
IT is the compelling odd-couple on-screen chemistry between the two leads in this lesbian road trip/comedy crime caper by Ethan Coen that keeps you engaged. 
 
Directed by Coen and co-written with this wife Tricia Cooke, the film follows Jamie (Margaret Qualley), an uninhibited free spirit, who escapes a break-up to embark on a car ride to Tallahassee with her demure and excessively uptight friend Marian (Geraldine Viswanathan). Things go awry when they are pursued by hapless gangsters who want their vehicle back. 

Qualley and Viswanathan make a formidable double act, though it is Viswanathan who steals the film with her pitch-perfect turn. Their scintillating repartee will make you overlook the film’s chaotic shortcomings and its jarringly uneven tone. 

You can pass the time by ticking off the endless A list cameos. 

Out in cinemas on Friday.