The Screen Critic: Spider-Man Swings Back, Plus a Kiwi Comedy Starring Three Nutty Nuns

The Screen Critic with Jim Schembri

Spider-Man swings in again, a warm French dramedy about dying, a lovely Kiwi comedy with three nutty nuns and a dark doco about love gone wrong

In his latest high-swinging adventure Spider-Man: Brand New Day, everyone’s favourite superhero – next to Batman, that is – confronts a villain who can transfer their evilness into the head of anyone within a short distance.

Tom Holland returns for his fourth turn as Spidey, only this time around all the high-quality action is set to a somewhat sombre theme about how his superhero gig necessitates a degree of isolation.

Made on the usual mega-budget and running a generous 145-minutes, the soiree certainly moves swiftly and reaches deeper than most superhero jaunts as Spider-Man/Peter Parker deals with the emotional sacrifices he has had to make.

In an admittedly trivial footnote, Holland and co-star Zendaya also star in The Odyssey, the all-conquering epic that was given two weekends to run rampant at the box office before this comic book adventure was unleashed.

Over on the arthouse screens, the uplifting French dramedy Bon Voyage, Marie offers a life-affirming story about death as elderly widow Marie (Hélène Vincent) receives a terminal diagnosis and decides to drive to Switzerland to legally end it all.

Along for the ride are her son Bruno (David Alaya), granddaughter Anna (Juliette Gasquet) and under-qualified carer Rudy (Pierre Lottin), the only one who knows the truth behind their scenic journey.

As thorny an issue as voluntary assisted dying is, the film handles it with grace and humour, the gravity of Marie’s situation never bogging the story down in forced sentimentality.

There are many touching highlights, the best being the moments of revelation and a truly memorable finale.

In the warm, spright period Kiwi comedy Holy Days three eccentric old nuns and troubled young lad Brian (Elijah Tamati) journey across the beautiful New Zealand landscape in a bid to save their crumbling convent from a dastardly property developer.

Wonderful performances from veterans Jacki Weaver, Miriam Margolyes and Judy Davis – playing Sisters Mary, Luke and Agnes respectively – neatly complement Brian’s desire to connect with his long lost mother and his refusal to accept the love of his step-mother Liz (played by Nat Boltt, the film’s writer/director).

Laced with spiritual themes combining Christianity and Maori symbolism, the film is a giddy, joyful ride set in 1974 and featuring the luminous presence of a vintage 1965 Holden station wagon. Motorheads will love it. (Opens 6 August.)

And now for another terrific, chart-topping true-crime Netflix documentary to remind us all about how things are not always as they seem.

A Toxic Love Story tells a singularly twisted tale of jealousy, deception and love gone very wrong as a young couple receives disturbing messages from the man’s bitter ex.

Made with the usual Netflix polish and incorporating police body-cam footage – a common feature in crime docos these days – the story has some big twists worthy of a pulp thriller.

It’s an absolute cracker. Don’t miss it.

For more visit jimschembri.com with updates on X at @jimschembri