If you’re anything like me a good TV or film recommendation is a handy thing to have. Especially in dark and gloomy January.
by Darren Caveney
Well as you’d expect, cold, dry January was busy for TV and film consumption.
Here’s a quick review of what I watched and whether I’d recommend them to you…
Cinema
The Whale
I went to see a premiere of The Whale. Wow. What a unique and thought-provoking film. It seems to have split opinion amongst the professional critics.
You know that occasional film which comes along and really has you thinking about it deep into the next day.
No spoilers but you’ll probably already know that it stars Brendan Fraser as a morbidly obese, house-bound man who is trying to reconnect with his estranged teenage daughter. If you’re a parent it will resonate on lots of levels. But the film goes way further than that and challenges some our preconceptions and calls out bigotry in many of its forms.
It’s quite mesmerising - all two hours of it. And if I have made it sound depressing then ignore me - it’s a film full of hope and positivity.
Bravo. I really hope Brendan Fraser wins an Oscar for it, along with the top supporting cast 8.5/10
Film
Ready or not (Now TV)
This was very original and lots of fun. A family game of high stakes turns badly for their newest addition who has to fight for her very life. Samara Weaving is a proper badass here 8/10
Documentary
King Rocker (Now TV)
Just wonderful. I can’t believe it’s taken me so long to get around to watching this. It covers three things I love: the Birmingham music scene and the 70s city I grew up in; the majestic King Kong statue which I remember seeing in all its glory as a six year old boy near the old Bull Ring; and the world’s best comedian, Stewart Lee.
So, for a Brummie of a certain vintage this was a huge nostalgia trip. Most of you won’t be that but watch it anyway. Because it’s a warm, funny and uplifting watch about one of the greatest cult bands there is, post punk legends, The Nightingales and their near 5 decade long career led by maverick front man, the uncompromising Robert Lloyd. It’s a joy 8.5/10
TV
The White Lotus (Now TV)
Season 1
What we all need in the bleak mid-winter is entertainment. And this hotel-set murder mystery had it in bucket-loads. The show’s opening scene begins with a dead body. But which hotel guest was it, and who did it? A definite recommend 7.5/10
Season 2
Season two was a slower burn but it got there in the end. A different location – this time Sicily – but a totally different cast except for Jennifer Coolidge who once again delights. Tom Hollander is always brilliant and in this he is no exception. And Sopranos fans will be pleased to see an outing from ‘Christopher’, Michael Imperioli. It didn’t quite hit the fun levels of season one but is still well worth a watch. And oh boy it made me want to visit Sicily 7/10
The night of (Now TV)
A Friday night out of planned partying turns very bad very quickly for Riz Ahmed’s student character. An illegal taxi ride sees him end up arrested and then thrown into the infamous Rikers Island on a murder charge. Ahmed is excellent throughout as he fights for his freedom. His low rent legal aid, John Turturro, is outstanding and the star of the show for me. A very compelling watch 8/10
Billions (Now TV)
Seasons 4 and 5
Season 4 was the usual high standard but season 5 dipped. There were two huge plot shifts in it which bumped up the interest levels but which meant season 6 was very flat. The changes aren’t going to work for me so I’m out. Great whilst it lasted 7 – 8/10
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