Inspired by the genius comic, Stewart Lee, I’ve decided to keep a record of all of my TV, film and cinema viewing throughout 2022. Plus, I will write a micro review for each one and list where I watched it.
by Darren Caveney
If you’re like me you’re always on the hunt for a quality watch in and amongst some very average fayre.
So, these recs and ratings might be useful to you.
Here goes for August…
TV
Black Bird (Apple TV)
Black Bird is the true story of busted drug dealer, Jimmy Keene, who - beginning a 10-year prison stretch - gets an incredible offer from the FBI: if he can elicit a confession from suspected killer Larry Hall, he will be freed. He takes up the challenge of a lifetime but at what cost. Taron Egerton is excellent, as is FBI agent Greg Kinnear, but it’s Paul Walter Hauser as Larry who steals the show, creating a frightening new and iconic TV character. The late, great Ray Liotta features as Jimmy’s father in one of his final roles (watch the interview with Egerton about their relationship and it will bring a tear to your eye) Oh and the soundtrack is by Mogwai, I mean, come on. Absolutely riveting and one the best things I’ve seen all year. 8.5/10
Your Honour (Apple TV)
Boy August has been good for TV watching. Just as Black Bird finished I began Your Honour and the opening 20 minutes left me genuinely tense. What a start to a TV series. Brian Cranston is a leading judge who (a little similar to his Breaking Bad character, Walter White character) gets himself into a situation with a local gangster which just gets worse and worse by the episode. A recommended watch 8/10.
Film
The Village (Disney +)
I love M Night Shyamalan’s movies. So creative and original. I’ve seem this before but it’s still a great watch with clever twists and strong messaging. Watch it if you haven’t already 7.5/10
A Dark Song (Amazon)
Steve Oram – he of the simply epic Sightseers – is such a brilliantly quirky actor and stars in this indie British horror. It sees Oram dabbling in black magic to try to bring a distressed woman’s child back from beyond the grave. Slightly weird but in a good way 7/10
Sundown (Now TV)
Blimey the good run continues. I love pretty much everything that Tim Roth does, he never seems to fail. Here, he plays a wealthy man who attempts to abandon his family on holiday in Mexico after the death of his mother. The plot trots along at a frantic pace but Roth refuses to let any of it increase his heart rate by a single beat in a beautifully understated performance. As the story unfolds we find out why. A beautiful movie 8/10
The Good Liar (Netflix)
This was so much fun. Helen Mirren and Ian McKellan star in a thriller about conmen and the conned. Very entertaining 7/10
Wanderlust (Amazon)
Just a fun movie and exactly what you need some nights 7/10
My idiot brother (Amazon)
As above but a much poorer version despite the presence of Steve Coogan 5.5/10
Darren Caveney is creator and owner of comms2point0 and creative communicators ltd
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