people do want to stay and protect their properties. this is a rural part of australia, we're talking communities with just one or two houses, sometimes miles apart from each other. so, it's a massive job to tell everybody to evacuate. well, they're not allowed to contact us... renata and tony have stopped taking calls from worried relatives. told them they will be in touch, if there is a problem. they are prepping their house in case the flames approach. they've filled the bath, got the masks and goggles at the ready, and they are feeling pretty positive. are you nervous, are you on edge? i think we'll know if it's time to go. as a hunch? a hunch, a gut instinct. the gut instinct of your neighbours is to get out now. well, they've got little children, so that's their priority. they've got other priorities. and there is still bird life around. when the birds desert, time to go. the critters know stuff, we don't. listen to the critters? oh, yeah. they are more in tune with it than we are. high temperatures and strong winds

have fanned bushfires across south—eastern australia. bushfire season doesn't usually get started until february here in victoria, so this year, authorities are stretched. so much so, they urged people to reschedule massive climate change demonstrations to a less risky fire day. to no avail. thousands of people turned out in cities across australia, calling on the government to do more. this has been a bushfire season like no other. but renata and tony aren't afraid. que sera sera, says the sign on the gate, a bit like their approach to these fires. what will be, will be. katy watson, bbc news, north—east victoria. here are your headlines. after years of power—sharing will return to northern ireland. the date the lee mcdill and that putting back the devolved government has been agreed by sinn fein and democratic union is. vigils are held

in canada for some of the victims of the ukrainian plane crash that killed 176 people. iran rejects suggestions that one of its missiles right down the aircraft. a21—year—old woman who disguised himself as a teenage boy to groom a sexually assault girls is jailed for eight years. now on bbc news it's time for the film review. hello and welcome to the film review on bbc news. to take us through this week's cinema releases is mark kermode. happy new year. we are in award season so we have a great selection of movies.

we have uncut gems, a new film starring adam sandler. we have 1917, a war movie directed by sam mendes, constructed in one shot. and seberg, the biopic starring kristin stewart. a lot of variety. let's begin with uncut gems. adam sandler is difficult to talk about because i have not like a lot of his comedies. but he did to punch—drunk love and if you commit that, you know a good film. the most anxiety fuelling drama i've

seenin the most anxiety fuelling drama i've seen ina the most anxiety fuelling drama i've seen in a while. he stars as a new york diamond district bling jeweller and his life is unravelling in spectacularfashion. he thinks that he can sell an uncut gem, a black opal but he has smuggled into the us. time is running out in his business, his personal life and his marriage. here is a clip... i'm begging you, just... just give me another shot. you know what, howard... say yes. what? i think you are the most annoying person i have ever met. i hate being with you, i hate looking at you and if i had my way, i would never see you again. that's cos you're mad. you're mad and it makes sense. you can punch me, if you want. 0h, thanks. commotion. hey, i was ready for it. i don't even have a tattoo. that is going well then. she says you are the most annoying person i have ever met

and that is the centre of the film, yet you're completely riveted by this character as his life unfurls in spectacular fashion. the thing that the directors do is make a film that has a dramatic format like the film bad lieutenant which is set in a time when everything goes wrong. you stay with adam sandler‘s character as he goes from bad decision to bad decision, he is addicted, he has a liar, he is a cheat and he believes that there is a weight of the situation but it is one step ahead of him. i thought he was terrific and it reminded me how much i sat there watching thinking, i can't believe this is the man who has made so many comedies i do not like. it taps into something about adam sandler that is deeply unsettling. there is something about him that is kind of worrying and anxiety ridden and this really captures that. i think the safdie brothers

are extraordinary. at the end of this film, you have to lie down. it felt like a claustrophobic panic attack. i say that in a good way. in a good way! it is not the kind of thing to go and relax. you will come out of this digging your nails into the palms of your hands. it should be nominated. he should be up for all of the awards, best actor. it is a terrific cinematic experience and like having a panic attack for two hours. i am slightly stressed listening to that. 1917, i'm going to see that this weekend. and i am for a treat? you are. the story is very simple at the beginning a world

ww1 picture. the lance corporal is told what they have to do, take a message across any lines to a distant trip to see that has an attack that is going to happen, you have to cover the attack. that is the plot. the camera then follows them in what appears to be real—time because it appears to play at a single shot. it gives you the impression that you're watching the action unfold. it is brilliantly constructed and choreographed. it has at its heart a central performance by george mackay, who have talked about on this show before, i think he is a real talent and he is perfectly cast at the centre of this movie because his face has this mixture of innocence but also world weariness. we really get a sense through watching him that he is somebody who has been made old before his time. as a theatrical experience, there are three moments, at least, in which ijumped almost out of my chair. and yet, the real strength of the film is it makes you care about the characters. what you see here is edited footage but to remind you that those

edits are not in there, the camera appears to be following them. and we discover the landscape as they discover it. it is very, very immersive, terrific soundtrack and i think you will find it enjoyable is not the right word, but i think you'll find it hugely powerful. absorbing and one to see. so seberg. huge fan of kristin stewart. here she plastean seberg, a famous actress, who came back to hollywood and became investigated by the fbi in a covert operation to discredit her because of her affiliation, support for the black panthers and her affiliation with hakim jamal. we see the two of them together, reading a script that she has been given, both referring to the script and what is happening in

their personal life. here is a clip... you don't know me, mr rumson. but there's not a woman on this earth who will make you a better wife. you ought to. i paid enough for you. i may be paid for, but i'm not your property. you grab me unwanted like that again and i'll shoot you down like a dog. where did you get that? a woman has her secrets. now put that down or neither of us will have much of a wedding night. two great performances. another great performance in the film byjack o'connell who plays the fbi agent who is sent to basically spy on and discredit her and he starts to wrestle with his own conscience. the film is interesting. the director has a background in theatre and it occasionally

seems a bit theatrical, a bit stagey, but it is a really interesting story about this horrible counter surveillance operation, spying on somebody, trying to discredit them because of their political beliefs and at the centre of it, is a very, very edgy and nervy, electrifying performance by kristin stewart, who captures that quality that makes... firstly, why it was that this person became a star, but also the vulnerability that the experience as they become paranoid about everyone's watching them, everyone's spying on them and the truth is, they are. the film itself is slightly flawed, but the performances are really good and the story itself still bears retelling and, once again, great to see kristin taking on a role that is challenging and difficult and different. it is as if her and robert pattinson have went out of their way to take on other projects.

and best out, you have selected this week little women. i did not love it as much as i thought. i thought it got better. i believed in the house in the world and the environment and the landscape and the characters. the way in which she has appeared at the timeframe of the source so that we start for the running to become back. i don't know. ifeel like i am letting the side down. i did not dislike it. i felt it was two and a quarter hours and it would have benefited from being two for example. i could have had three or four or any miniseries. i just loved it. but there we go. diversity of opinion. thejoy of film.

i did not love it and i did not hate it. they're not putting that on the poster. dvd. very briefly, the by the grace of god about a real—life case of a group of men who got together to take action against a priest who had molested them a younger life. what is interesting about it is because the subject matter is so factually based, it is almost as if he has put aside any style and itjust made the film as straightforwardly and are simply and as a matter. the story itself is very strong, powerful, controversial and it is almost like the film makers said i do not need to embellish this at all, this is how it plays out. the matter—of—fact quality made it all the more powerful. thank you very much. you have to see it again.

i am very busy this weekend. see you and enjoy your cinema going, whatever you go and see. good evening. friday offered a quieter spell of rain and find enjoyment with sunshine but the next system has been making his presence known. gust of wind of around 60 miles an hourand known. gust of wind of around 60 miles an hour and that is only half the story. we've also have heavy and persistent rain, spilling again pushing its way into parts of cumbria and north wales. after a chilly start, temperatures will rise. we start to tap into mild air feeding in off south—westerly winds and it will be when he across the board. the strongest of the winds through parts of scotland in northern england in north wales. the head of the rain we will stay dry but cloudy, behind it turns fresher but cloudy, behind it turns fresher but a little brighter with a few showers which could be wintry over the high ground. away from the fresher conditions it will be a mild date with double digit temperatures,

as we head into sunday, the rain in the wind gradually clears down towards the south in the ease in a cooler day and a blustery day in the wings not as strong as saturday, some sunshine but also some showers, which could be wintry over the hills of scotland.

this is bbc world news today. i'm simon pusey. our top stories: iran has again rejected suggestions that one of its missiles brought down a ukrainian passengerjet killing 176 people. but the picture remains far from clear. new sanctions against iran, including action against eight senior officials involved in targeting us troops in iraq. we don't want war, we want iran to behave like a normal nation. a political breakthrough in northern ireland — the main parties agree to restore a power—sharing administration, after three years of deadlock. tens of thousands of people join climate change protests across australia, as hot, windy weather threatens to fan new bushfires.