Craig Mathieson
Craig Mathieson is a TV, film and music writer for The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald.
Rashida Jones’ new series packs a lot in but still never feels rushed
A black comedy about grieving, a buddy comedy with a robot, a conspiracy thriller about Big Tech – there’s a lot to absorb in Sunny.
- by Craig Mathieson
Latest
The best new shows to stream in July
Our guide to the best of what’s on the streamers and free-to-air this month.
- by Craig Mathieson
‘An expensive and clunky footnote’: House of the Dragon improves, but is it actually good?
The second season of George R.R. Martin’s Game of Thrones prequel has wisely focused more on the dragons, but the story-telling still feels back to front.
- by Craig Mathieson
They were the hottest stars of the ’80s. Now the ‘Brats’ look back in anger
A revealing new documentary looks at how the “Brat Pack” tag shaped the careers of Rob Lowe, Demi Moore, Ally Sheedy, Emilio Estevez and its other members.
- by Craig Mathieson
The top 10 TV shows to put in your diary for the second half of the year
From Vince Vaughn to Keira Knightley and Cate Blanchett, TV has some treats lined up over the next six months.
- by Craig Mathieson
★★★★½
Streaming
The best Australian drama in years, Fake surgically dissects a sham romance
Inspired by Stephanie Wood’s memoir, this thriller starring Asher Keddie and David Wenham pinballs between exhausting highs and lows.
- by Craig Mathieson
★★★★
Streaming
TV drama Under the Bridge brings humanity to a terrible real-life crime story
The true crime drama traces the friendships and families of the teenagers involved in the grim death of a 14-year-old girl in Canada.
- by Craig Mathieson
The remake of Presumed Innocent contends with fascinating, new perspectives
With a script by David E. Kelley, Scott Turow’s 1987 bestseller has been cleverly remade with Jake Gyllenhaal as flawed family man and compromised prosecutor ‘Rusty’ Sabich.
- by Craig Mathieson
★★★★
Streaming
Truth is stranger than fiction in this Succession-like story of a theme-park magnate
The 86-year-old founder of Texas Renaissance Park is looking to the future in the oddball and delightful documentary Ren Faire.
- by Craig Mathieson
★★★★
Streaming
Kathryn Hahn’s thrilling performance in Tiny Beautiful Things will have you in tears
Hahn gives one of her best performances playing a 50-year-old who has lost control of her life and family until she begins writing an advice column.
- by Craig Mathieson
TV report card: The best shows of the year so far
You don’t get a good start to the streaming television year just because there are some great scripted shows on offer. What you need is the right viewing mix.
- by Craig Mathieson