Pike River- 29 families bonded forever

 PIKE RIVER

New Zealand // Drama // English // 138 minutes // 2:39:1  Not Rated  // US Release January 30, 2025 // Website: Brainstorm Media

Directed by: ROBERT SARKIES

November 19, 2010 at Pike River coal mine on New Zealand's West Coast, 29 families' lives were permanently changed.  29 Miners were trapped in the Pike River Mine explosion that could have been prevented if the people in charge had chosen people over profits.

This film is based on a true story and the trauma bond that was developed by Anna Osborne (Melanie Lynskey) and Sonya Rockhouse (Robyn Malcolm) after enduring a lengthy fight to get the mine opened so that they could get Anna's husband, Milt, and Sonya's youngest son, Ben.  A media frenzy developed as people watched the two women lead the fight to save their husbands or, inevitably, to get their relatives to honor them with proper burials.  The world watched in horror as the company fought to hide the truth and the women fought to uncover it.

After a very lengthy court and cancer battle for Anna, the truth was finally revealed, and they received a bittersweet ending to the fight of their lives.

Great performances by Lynskey and Rockhouse.  This film really demonstrates how lifelong friendships develop when people are fighting for the same righteous outcomes.  It's also sad to see how a company's bottom line has consequences for the people who risk their lives every day to put food on their families' tables.

These films are a reminder to be careful about your choices in life and to appreciate the people in your life while you can, because anything can change in an instant.

This is a slow-paced but building film that feels like a documentary and has that tense feel that comes across the screen from the hearts of the families in the film.

Also of note, Lucy Lawless plays Helen, who was the president of the Federation of Trade Unions from 2007 to 2015. 

30 Families have been fighting for justice for over 14 years. 

I hope their fight spares other mining‑town families from enduring the same hardships. Mining remains one of the most dangerous professions, and workers deserve every safety measure available to protect them.

Here is the link to the Trailer: 

https://youtu.be/0Wk4lTU8vKk?si=HHVrpZ-n-trE9FLP

Dead Man's Wire-who is the victim or criminal?

 

    DEAD MAN'S Wire

Directed by Gus Van Sant

Run time: 1hr 45 min.  Rated: R

Cast:

Bill Skarsgard

Dacre Montgomery

Al Pacino

Colman Domingo

Trailer: https://youtu.be/tklpX2Ba8NQ?si=S2zmbKwCl6bh2sdk

Canadian Release date: January 16, 2026

 Based on real events, the 1977 abduction of a high‑profile banker ignites national attention and unexpectedly transforms the kidnapper into a rebellious folk hero. As the media frenzy intensifies, the unfolding standoff morphs into a gripping display of desperation, defiance, and morality—an unsettling portrait of the justice system and the media that makes you question who the victim really is in the situation, and one that still echoes in the current times.

On February 8, 1977, Tony Kiritsis (Skarsgård) storms into Meridian Mortgage, convinced that the company ruined his chance at his American Dream. With the owner, M.L. Hall (Pacino), vacationing in Florida, Tony snaps and takes Hall’s son Richard (Montgomery) hostage, wiring him to a shotgun (dead man’s wire) in a desperation to get justice and his money.

The next 63 hours explode into a media spectacle, a charged police standoff, and a shocking wave of public support for Tony, who becomes an unlikely working‑class hero. Along the way, a laid‑back radio DJ (Domingo), an eager young TV reporter (Myha’la), and a calm cop (Cary Elwes) get dragged into the chaos.

Packed with ’70s flair—from Roberta Flack’s “Compared to What” to Yes’s “I’ve Seen All Good People”—the film feels both retro and eerily relevant.  The film transports you back to the 70's with the look and sounds.

*The real standoff is still taught in media ethics classes today as a warning about how easily journalists can escalate a volatile situation.

The performances were fantastic and chilling.  The brink of insanity by Skarsgård, the cold, intense performance by Pacino, who is only in the film for a short time, but is crucial to Tony's mental health.  Also, the outwardly calm but inwardly terrified performance of Montgomery is a demonstration of character.

What worries me about this film, even though it's based on real events, is the fact that it's been seen in current times, where you see people snap on a dime and are inspired by extreme events.  I hope that this doesn't inspire copycats to do the same thing.

This film screened at TIFF50 and was one of the films I had noted on my blog picks, but I didn't have a chance to see it during the festival.