Short-Cuts with Dan Slevin: Kiki's Delivery Service, Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man and Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory

Nights' Dan Slevin, is one of the best film reviewers in any medium, consistently convincing, insightful, unpretentious, perceptive, thoughtful and articulate. He joins us every Friday night, and here's what's caught his eye this week.Nights' resident screen critic Dan Slevin joins Susana Lei'ataua to review:IN CINEMASKiki’s Delivery Service (directed by Hayao Miyazaki, 1989). Returning to cinemas - IMAX in fact - is one of Studio Ghibli’s most beloved animated films. Kiki is a witch and the rules say that when you get to 13-years-old, you have to go out on your own. With her spirit animal (a black cat named Jiji) she tries to make a life helping other people but soon discovers that independence is not all it's cracked up to be.PAID STREAMING - HBO MaxMel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man! (Directed by Judd Apatow, 2025). This week was the one hundredth birthday of comedian and filmmaker Mel Brooks. This two-part documentary was made to celebrate his 99th and riffs on one of his earliest TV characters, The 2000 Year Old Man, featuring appearances from friends Carl Reiner (and son Rob Reiner, both now gone), Ben Stiller, Conan O’Brien, Jerry Seinfeld and Patton Oswalt.FREE STREAMING - Three NowWilly Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (directed by Mel Stuart, 1971). On the subject of Mel Brooks, his great collaborator the late Gene Wilder’s most cherished performance is on Three Now.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details