The Royal Hotel (out Nov 21) is a gritty Aussie drama about two female Canadian backpackers who, in desperate need of money to fund the rest of their holiday, take jobs as bartenders in a remote mining town. The pace is slow at times (and audiences may want more from the finale) but it's an eye-opening look at a seedier part of Australia. Liked the continually changing dynamic between the two women. Grade: B.