Dr Luke Buckmaster
@lukebuckmaster.bsky.social
Guardian Australia's film critic, chief critic of Flicks.com.au and "The VR Critic" (thevrcritic.com). PHD in virtual reality. Creator of Nicolas Cage fan site The Cage Gauge: https://www.flicks.com.au/cagegauge/
Netflix’s new drama dives into the messy events leading up to the assassination of U.S. President James A Garfield. With excellent performances and a cracking script, this ain’t a dry history lesson.
Death by Lightning is a wildly entertaining ride through historical chaos
Netflix’s four-part drama dives into the messy events leading up to the assassination of U.S. President James A Garfield. With excellent performances and a cracking script, his ain’t a dry history les...
www.flicks.com.au
November 7, 2025 at 12:14 AM
Netflix’s new drama dives into the messy events leading up to the assassination of U.S. President James A Garfield. With excellent performances and a cracking script, this ain’t a dry history lesson.
I revisit Keanu Reeves' most under-appreciated film: A Scanner Darkly. It's a visually unique sci-fi that makes a powerful message about the futility of the war on drugs
Why A Scanner Darkly is Keanu Reeves’ most underrated movie
With Keanu Reeves back on the big screen in Good Fortune, it’s the perfect time to revisit his most under-appreciated film: a mind-bending, visually unique sci-fi.
www.flicks.com.au
November 3, 2025 at 3:52 AM
I revisit Keanu Reeves' most under-appreciated film: A Scanner Darkly. It's a visually unique sci-fi that makes a powerful message about the futility of the war on drugs
My review of Deeper - an entertaining and quite well-made film about a team of cave divers exploring New Zealand’s Pearse Resurgence cave system
Deeper review – extreme cave diving documentary offers drama but lacks a little oomph
Following a group of divers – including Richard Harris, rescuer of the Thai schoolboys – this doco is interesting but not exactly visually stunning
www.theguardian.com
October 31, 2025 at 5:14 AM
My review of Deeper - an entertaining and quite well-made film about a team of cave divers exploring New Zealand’s Pearse Resurgence cave system
It says something about the eternal qualities of the late and great David Gulpilil that he continues to be at the centre of remarkable stories, even after his death. My review of Journey Home, David Gulpilil
Journey Home, David Gulpilil review – an elegant celebration of one of Australia’s great actors
This illuminating, buoyant documentary traces the 4,000km trip to return the legendary Yolŋu actor to remote East Arnhem Land
www.theguardian.com
October 29, 2025 at 9:45 PM
It says something about the eternal qualities of the late and great David Gulpilil that he continues to be at the centre of remarkable stories, even after his death. My review of Journey Home, David Gulpilil
Warwick Thornton's sequel to Sweet Country has pacing issues and an emotional throughline that never quite takes hold. My review of Wolfram - a minor work from a major talent
Wolfram review – Warwick Thornton’s sequel to Sweet Country never quite comes together
Set four years after Thornton’s blistering neo-western, this film is impressively atmospheric and has strong performances, though Deborah Mailman is criminally underused
www.theguardian.com
October 28, 2025 at 7:47 PM
Warwick Thornton's sequel to Sweet Country has pacing issues and an emotional throughline that never quite takes hold. My review of Wolfram - a minor work from a major talent
There's never been a documentary quite like The Perfect Neighbor, which uses police bodycam footage to explore how fear and racism fuel tragedy. My review
The Perfect Neighbor turns bodycam footage into a gut-punch documentary
Part true crime and part social study, Netflix’s hit documentary uses police bodycam footage to explore how fear and racism fuel tragedy.
www.flicks.com.au
October 23, 2025 at 3:52 AM
There's never been a documentary quite like The Perfect Neighbor, which uses police bodycam footage to explore how fear and racism fuel tragedy. My review
Reposted by Dr Luke Buckmaster
What a weird name for a dog. But sorry for their loss.
October 22, 2025 at 10:08 AM
What a weird name for a dog. But sorry for their loss.
After playing Star Wars: Beyond Victory, I’m convinced that a mixed reality racing game will one day come along and knock our socks off—but this one isn’t it
Star Wars: Beyond Victory review - flashes of ingenuity
After playing Star Wars: Beyond Victory, I’m convinced that a mixed reality racing game will one day come along and knock our socks off—but this one isn’t it. There are some lovely embellishments, inc...
www.thevrcritic.com
October 20, 2025 at 6:06 AM
After playing Star Wars: Beyond Victory, I’m convinced that a mixed reality racing game will one day come along and knock our socks off—but this one isn’t it
Netflix’s The Twits looks gloriously off-kilter—crooked, colourful, and cheeky. But the script swaps Roald Dahl’s delicious cruelty for something sweeter. My review
Netflix’s The twits plays tug-of-war between nasty and nice
Netflix’s The Twits looks gloriously off-kilter—crooked, colourful, and cheeky. But the script swaps Roald Dahl’s delicious cruelty for something sweeter.
www.flicks.com.au
October 18, 2025 at 6:40 AM
Netflix’s The Twits looks gloriously off-kilter—crooked, colourful, and cheeky. But the script swaps Roald Dahl’s delicious cruelty for something sweeter. My review
Reposted by Dr Luke Buckmaster
While this bumpily plotted ride is far from a masterpiece - with a couple of scenes (including a soapy epilogue) deserving of immediate deletion - it’s got fun ideas and several surprises, says @lukebuckmaster.bsky.social
How Tron: Ares reimagines the Tron universe
Tron: Ares reinvents the iconic science fiction franchise, bringing its burningly bright virtual world crashing into ours. There are some surprises – and lots of “look, shiny!”
go.weareflicks.co
October 15, 2025 at 1:48 AM
While this bumpily plotted ride is far from a masterpiece - with a couple of scenes (including a soapy epilogue) deserving of immediate deletion - it’s got fun ideas and several surprises, says @lukebuckmaster.bsky.social
The question at the heart of this four-part series is problematically vague; no nation can be reduced to a single unifying idea. My thoughts on The Idea of Australia
The Idea of Australia review – an ambitious but overstuffed series that will make you shout ‘slow down!’
Marcia Langton, Bruce Pascoe, Grace Tame and Kerry O’Brien are among more than 60 names wrestling with the national identity in this frenetic SBS series, presented by Rachel Griffiths
www.theguardian.com
October 14, 2025 at 9:54 PM
The question at the heart of this four-part series is problematically vague; no nation can be reduced to a single unifying idea. My thoughts on The Idea of Australia
Handsome cinematography and beautiful landscapes can’t revive this dreary film – and where on earth is Richard Roxburgh’s accent from? My review of the NZ zombie movie Forgive Us All
Forgive Us All review – a dead-boring zombie film? That’s unforgivable
Handsome cinematography and New Zealand landscapes can’t revive this dreary movie – and where on earth is Richard Roxburgh’s accent from?
www.theguardian.com
October 14, 2025 at 9:39 AM
Handsome cinematography and beautiful landscapes can’t revive this dreary film – and where on earth is Richard Roxburgh’s accent from? My review of the NZ zombie movie Forgive Us All
It's rare to have this many cracking action movies premiering in the same month. Here's five adrenaline-charged new releases - from fiery rescues to criminal capers and nuclear terror.
October is a cracking month for action movies
Action movie lovers, rejoice! This month a handful of adrenaline-charged movies light up our screens—from fiery rescues to criminal capers and wartime terror.
www.flicks.com.au
October 11, 2025 at 3:58 AM
It's rare to have this many cracking action movies premiering in the same month. Here's five adrenaline-charged new releases - from fiery rescues to criminal capers and nuclear terror.
The new film from veteran director Bruce Beresford feels old-fashioned and simplistic, and while it’s told from the heart, sentiment smothers the story. My review of The Travellers
The Travellers review – sentiment smothers Bruce Beresford’s heartfelt film
Bryan Brown, Luke Bracey and Susie Porter give great performances in this story about a theatre-maker returning home to Australia from Europe to farewell his dying mother
www.theguardian.com
October 8, 2025 at 9:14 PM
The new film from veteran director Bruce Beresford feels old-fashioned and simplistic, and while it’s told from the heart, sentiment smothers the story. My review of The Travellers
The “school of hard knocks” drama must deliver students in need of help; a more interesting question is what to do with the teachers. Me on Netflix's excellent new film Steve
Netflix drama Steve breathes new life into the ‘school of hard knocks’ genre
Cillian Murphy burns slow and bright in Steve, a bruising but cathartic portrait of care, chaos, and collapse inside an English reform school—now streaming on Netflix.
www.flicks.com.au
October 8, 2025 at 6:08 AM
The “school of hard knocks” drama must deliver students in need of help; a more interesting question is what to do with the teachers. Me on Netflix's excellent new film Steve
Matthew McConaughey plays a school bus driver barrelling through hell-on-earth wildfire in The Lost Bus, a pulse-pounding disaster movie from director Paul Greengrass. Here's my review
The Lost Bus is a terrifyingly immersive disaster movie
Matthew McConaughey steers through an inferno in this pulse-pounding film, which showcases the intense, famously restless style of director Paul Greengrass.
www.flicks.com.au
October 3, 2025 at 6:27 AM
Matthew McConaughey plays a school bus driver barrelling through hell-on-earth wildfire in The Lost Bus, a pulse-pounding disaster movie from director Paul Greengrass. Here's my review
Mark Wahlberg sneaks, shoots, and connives in Shane Black’s twisty new heist thriller—an action flick that thrives on flipping expectations. My review
Play Dirty is exactly what you want from a Shane Black action movie
Mark Wahlberg sneaks, shoots, and connives in Shane Black’s twisty new heist thriller—an action flick that thrives on flipping expectations.
www.flicks.com.au
October 1, 2025 at 5:22 AM
Mark Wahlberg sneaks, shoots, and connives in Shane Black’s twisty new heist thriller—an action flick that thrives on flipping expectations. My review
There’s the old saying “never meet your heroes.” But what about “never piss off your heroes”? Me on the time I upset one of my favourite directors www.flicks.com.au/features/the...
The time I accidentally pissed off Paul Thomas Anderson
There’s the old saying “never meet your heroes.” But what about “never piss off your heroes”? Luke Buckmaster remembers the time he upset one of his favourite directors.
www.flicks.com.au
September 30, 2025 at 2:03 AM
There’s the old saying “never meet your heroes.” But what about “never piss off your heroes”? Me on the time I upset one of my favourite directors www.flicks.com.au/features/the...
Did This Is Spinal Tap accidentally give us Donald Trump? Just kidding. Kind of. Here are my thoughts on their new movie—and the tangled extension cords of pop culture
Spinal Tap’s geriatric comeback rocks harder than expected
Spinal Tap II: The End Continues reunites rock’s most pathetic legends – who are now older, slower, but more endearing than ever.
www.flicks.com.au
September 25, 2025 at 10:54 PM
Did This Is Spinal Tap accidentally give us Donald Trump? Just kidding. Kind of. Here are my thoughts on their new movie—and the tangled extension cords of pop culture
Ah yes: the opportunistic city slicker who exits the fast lane and rediscovers the important things in life. My review of new Australian film Kangaroo
Kangaroo review – furry family feature is hard to hate
Made by the director of Looking for Alibrandi and co-written by Melina Marchetta, this children’s film gets a little cheesy – but it’s also full of very cute joeys
www.theguardian.com
September 22, 2025 at 10:37 PM
Ah yes: the opportunistic city slicker who exits the fast lane and rediscovers the important things in life. My review of new Australian film Kangaroo
Reposted by Dr Luke Buckmaster
There’s an electric energy to Paul Thomas Anderson’s #OneBattleAfterAnother, says @lukebuckmaster.bsky.social, who calls it "an exhilaratingly well-made, teeth-gnashing action thriller that unfolds on the ground, close to the gutter"
The electric energy of One Battle After Another
Violent, funny, and unnervingly real, Paul Thomas Anderson’s exhilerating new film crafts a jittery vision of America unraveling.
go.weareflicks.co
September 22, 2025 at 5:16 AM
There’s an electric energy to Paul Thomas Anderson’s #OneBattleAfterAnother, says @lukebuckmaster.bsky.social, who calls it "an exhilaratingly well-made, teeth-gnashing action thriller that unfolds on the ground, close to the gutter"
Critic like me simply must grumble about the glut of sequels and spin-offs clogging up our screens. But I’ll always have time for new adventures from outback sleuth Jay Swan.
Mystery Road: Origin season two review – outback sleuth Jay Swan’s latest outing is classily executed but a little hackneyed
It’s as though Mark Coles Smith has always played the role – the highest of compliments given that he’s filling Aaron Pedersen’s very big cowboy boots
www.theguardian.com
September 21, 2025 at 10:58 PM
Critic like me simply must grumble about the glut of sequels and spin-offs clogging up our screens. But I’ll always have time for new adventures from outback sleuth Jay Swan.
Every frame is like a painting in Kogonada’s beautiful romantic drama. But, do we really feel this work, or admire it from behind glass? My thoughts
The perilous prettiness of A Big Bold Beautiful Journey
Every frame is like a painting in Kogonada’s beautiful romantic drama. But, asks Luke Buckmaster, do we really feel this work or admire it from behind glass?
www.flicks.com.au
September 20, 2025 at 7:51 AM
Every frame is like a painting in Kogonada’s beautiful romantic drama. But, do we really feel this work, or admire it from behind glass? My thoughts
The title "Australia 3D" brings to mind two equally terrifying possibilities. The first: a smorgasbord of stereotypical Australian images. The second: another version of a terrible Baz Luhrmann movie. Thank god this film is neither.
Australia 3D review – the world’s most majestic tourism ad
This Imax documentary features stunning landscapes and images of Australia’s varied fauna – that wouldn’t be out of place on the back of a plane seat
www.theguardian.com
September 18, 2025 at 10:16 PM
The title "Australia 3D" brings to mind two equally terrifying possibilities. The first: a smorgasbord of stereotypical Australian images. The second: another version of a terrible Baz Luhrmann movie. Thank god this film is neither.
The great irony about this film is that its characters save the world by using the devil’s music. I put my fingers in my ears and attempt to understand its phenomenal popularity
The terrible irony at the heart of KPop Demon Hunters
Flicks lead critic Luke Buckmaster puts his fingers in his ears and tries to comprehend the incredible success of KPop Demon Hunters, which is now Netflix’s most streamed movie.
www.flicks.com.au
September 18, 2025 at 5:31 AM
The great irony about this film is that its characters save the world by using the devil’s music. I put my fingers in my ears and attempt to understand its phenomenal popularity