Maurice Compte and Gerard Butler star in a scene from the movie “Den of Thieves. Photo: CNS/STX Entertainment. By Kurt Jensen The hyper violent Den of Thieves is supposed to be a rollicking, quirky and farcical saga about a gang of bank robbers in dystopian and usually night-time Southern California led by Merrimen (Pablo Schreiber) and pursued by renegade, dyspeptic cop Nick Flanagan...

Animated characters Aunt Lucy, voiced by Imelda Statunton and Paddington, voiced by Ben Whishaw, appear in the movie ‘Paddington 2’. Photo: Warner Bros. By John Mulderig Unlikely as it seems, ‘Paddington 2’ (Warner Bros), an endearing blend of animation and live action, sends the much-loved bear of its title (voice of Ben Whishaw) to the slammer. More predictably, once imprisoned –...

Karen Gillan, Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart star in a scene from the movie ‘Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle’. Photo: Sony. By John Mulderig More than a few parents have, no doubt, had occasion to be alarmed at how easily – and how often – kids become absorbed by gadgetry these days. Perhaps they can take comfort in the fact that such preoccupation is nothing compared to what transpi...

The life of pop entertainment pioneer PT Barnum provides the subject matter for the big, brash musical ‘The Greatest Showman’. Photo: Fox. By John Mulderig The life of pop entertainment pioneer PT Barnum provides the subject matter for the big, brash musical ‘The Greatest Showman’. Ironically, the film arrives in theaters almost seven months to the day after the demise of the 19th-century...

(L-R) David Tunley, Victoria Rogers and Cyrus Meher-Homji, authors of a recent book on pianist Eileen Joyce, which was launched at the University of Western Australia on 4 December. Photo: Caroline Smith. By Caroline Smith When David Tunley, Victoria Rogers and Cyrus Meher-Homji set out to write about the career of Eileen Joyce, their task was a significant one: not only to reveal how...

The animated character Ferdinand appears in the movie “Ferdinand.” The Catholic News Service classification is A-I, general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG, parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children. Photo: CNS/Blue Sky. By John Mulderig Generations of children have fallen in love with the peace-loving protagonist of ...

By Josh Low Now more than ever in today’s society, the father figure is in danger of becoming more and more hidden or even absent. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, there are currently close to 1 million single parent families in Australia, of which more than 80 per cent of single parents are female. The Census however, does not also take into account fathers who may be...

By Daniele Foti-Cuzzola At Christmas time, Italian pastry shops and bakeries produce a number of delicious cakes, pastries and breads that are associated with the birth of Christ. Among the many popular Christmas treats produced at this time, is Panforte, which literally translates to ‘strong bread’. Panforte is a speciality of Siena, Tuscany and dates back to the 13th Century, where it was...

By Daniele Foti-Cuzzola It was only fitting that Melbourne based photographer and journalist Fiona Basile named her debut children’s book Shhh…God Is in the Silence, as it was in the silence that she found her inspiration. After working for several years at the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne’s Kairos Catholic Journal, Basile took a period of extended leave and enrolled in a 30-day silent r...

Animated characters appear in the movie “The Star.” Photo: CNS/Sony Pictures. By John Mulderig A holiday treat suitable for all but the tiniest, The Star (Sony) is a delightful animated version of the Christmas story told from the perspective of some of the animals present in the manger. Director Timothy Reckart and screenwriter Carlos Kotkin skilfully balance religious themes suc...