Sarah Watt
Film reviewer
Sarah reviewed for the Sunday Star Times until 2019. After a career change to secondary school teaching, she now she works in alternative education with our most disadvantaged rangatahi.
Sarah reviewed for the Sunday Star-Times before joining the Listener in 2019. Following a mid-life career change from legal publishing to secondary teaching she works in alternative education with our most disadvantaged rangatahi. An avid traveller and consumer of culture, Sarah lives in Tāmaki Makarau Auckland with her filmmaker-editor husband.
Check out Sarah’s latest content
French Film Festival Aotearoa encompasses love, friendship and family
Three films from this year's French film festival reviewed.
Wes Anderson’s The Phoenician Scheme is stylish, silly — and sweet
Kate Winslet’s daughter stars as a pouty nun in Wes Anderson’s quirky caper.
True-life drama: Young woman finds better dad on internet
A surprisingly upbeat tale of a woman’s search for her estranged dad.
La Cocina best served in-cinema for glimpse into exciting, exhausting NY restaurant life
Fast-order special captures the flavour of restaurant life.
The Salt Path film adaptation is peppered with inspirational moments
A film about a long walk could be dull but there’s drama, awe and inspiration here.
Queer love and family shine in flawed Wedding Banquet update
Rainbow movie shines intermittently but fails to find pot of gold.
The Accountant 2: Ben Affleck’s sharpshooting amuses audiences in belated sequel
Unexpected box office success leads Ben Affleck back to The Accountant 2.
Drop: A tech-savvy thriller with old-school whodunnit vibes
Suspenseful drama with a techno-fear twist maintains the intrigue.
War is hell and Warfare is a helluva good account of it
While Warfare is disturbing, it’s a completely enthralling and hugely powerful film.
Amateur says it all: Rami Malek miscast as underdog vigilante
A thrilling premise is clumsily executed in underwhelming film.
Paul Rudd and Jenna Ortega play it straight in ridiculously fun horror comedy
Discovery of a lavender-blooded unicorn gives rise to horror & hilarity.
Blockheads: A spin-off from the popular Minecraft game ticks all the boxes
Director Jared Hess has ensured that his fantasy adventure has something for everyone.
Fellini-esque Grand Tour is an enchanting journey
This is a film not so much to watch, but surrender to.
The Seed of the Sacred Fig received Cannes nomination; its director was forced to flee
Drama where Iran's state control forces a family apart mirrors film director's reality.
Nasty bite of the apple: Dopey Disney makeover is enough to make you grumpy
This Snow White presents nothing new and everything recycled.
Marriage licence to kill: Fassbender & Blanchett’s spousal spy thriller
Black Bag has 007 ties but touches of le Carré.
Pamela Anderson a revelation in The Last Showgirl
Former Baywatch Star shines as an ageing Las Vegas hoofer.
Henry VIII’s sixth wife gets her moment in the spotlight in Firebrand
A fascinating, speculative drama about Katherine Parr, the wife who survived.
The film Black Dog is is a simple premise executed well
Touching Chinese bromance between man and pooch tugs at the heartstrings.
Christchurch high school choir drama Tinā sings a sweet tune
Listener critic Sarah Watt reviews Tinā, the homegrown film making international headlines
Oscar-worthy performance explores political turmoil in 1970s Brazil
A wife seeks answers after her husband is abducted by the state.
Bridget Jones: Mad about the boy - or just mad?
Fourth film in hit romcom series arrives with familiar charms and fresh blokes.
Brit Harris Dickinson steals the limelight in erotic Nicole Kidman thriller
Babygirl the latest of recent movies where middle-aged women rediscover their sexuality.
Crime and creativity: Films Emilia Pérez and Sing Sing hit the right notes
Lights, cells, action! In these two films, redemption takes centre stage.
Room for improvement: Great cast under-delivers in Almodavar’s new film
Good actors perform bad dialogue in Almodavar’s ham-fisted first English-language feature.
Ralph Fiennes gives jaw-dropping performance in Vatican thriller Conclave
Based on Robert Harris best-seller, Conclave is steeped in intrigue.
Film review: Paddington in Peru
Three’s a charm as our favourite bear hunts for his aunt.
Anora and All We Imagine Is Light make for satisfying summer movie going
Anora and All We Imagine As Light make for compelling holiday watching.
Robbie Williams’ Better Man: We should applaud his honesty about hollow reality of showbiz
Better Man is an absolute adrenalin ride of pure entertainment. It's also very sad.
NZ comedians Rose Matafeo and Dave Fane shine alongside Hollywood stars in Moana 2
Disney’s latest blockbuster has been released in English and te reo Māori concurrently.
Honouring Taki Rua: A timely look at Māori theatre’s revolutionary past
Film boasts a treasure trove of cultural icons & an inspiring story of self-determination.
Hugh Grant finds midlife calling in true horror style
Hugh Grant breaks out into full-on villain territory.
Jessica Chastain and Peter Sarsgaard shine in drama about slippery nature of memory
Memory is an intriguing and twisty drama about the slippery nature of our recall.
It’s the film everyone is talking about, but Wicked leaves reviewer less than bewitched
Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo can’t save this overlong movie of the hit stage musical.
Lucy Lawless’s doco a fitting tribute to fearless Kiwi camerawoman
New Zealand photojournalist Margaret Moth was our very own Lee Miller of war videography.
Manic movie recalls US sketch comedy Saturday Night Live’s 1975 debut
Excitement of live TV well conveyed in entertaining if exhausting peek at US TV history.
Shot of fame: Portrayal of a WWII snapper Lee Miller fails to inspire
Despite its impressive CV, this biopic doesn't do justice to its subject or star.
Sir Ian McKellen perfectly cast as an intelligent, self-important, pompous ass
In The Critic, Sir Ian McKellen is clearly having a blast.