If you’re anything like me a good TV or film recommendation is a handy thing to have. Here are my watches in December….
by Darren Caveney
Well December was – as you’d expect – a busy old month for watching the box.
Here’s what I watched…
Cinema
Withnail and I (The UnAwards 2023)
The phrase ‘cult classic’ is so overused. But in this case it’s truly worthy. I’ve considered this as an UnAwards film for a few years and this year was it’s year. It’s the tale of two unemployed/almost unemployable actors in 1960s London getting by on booze, drugs and black coffee. I think it’s hilarious. And can you imagine anyone other than Richard E Grant playing Withnail? If somehow you’ve missed it put it on your 2024 watch list 8.5/10 (10/10 for the experience and atmosphere seeing it at the UnAwards)
Anatomy of a Fall
Cool French drama this. A husband falls to his death from the balcony of his lodge in the French Alps. But, did he? Or, was he pushed by his famous author wife? And did their young son witness it or not? This is a clever courtroom drama and played in a mix of English audio and subtitles. Mark Kermode, I heard afterwards, rated it as his second favourite movie of the year (behind Past Lives) Definitely worth a watch if it sounds like your cup of café 8/10
Film
The Equaliser 3 (Amazon)
Those of a certain vintage will remember the original Equaliser TV show with the iconic Edward Woodward in the lead role. The thing I recall most were the opening titles – all moody and misty with the beam of Woodward’s Jag’s headlights cutting through the gloom. Lovely. But I have really enjoyed the Denzel Washington movies too and the third (and final?) instalment of the franchise is just as good as the previous two. Washington plays retired CIA operative, Robert McCall (“double CC, double LL”) who has an uncanny ability to take out a small army in 9 seconds flat. Silly but entertaining romp 7/10
First Blood (Amazon)
I must have seen this a dozen times plus over the years, since first watching it on a dodgy pirate VHS tape on its release. It’s a cracker, although give all of the subsequent Rambo films a wide berth is my strong advice. And it’s a Christmas movie too, did you know? I hadn’t realised until I spent a day at Perago’s offices when they chose their team Christmas film watch and this was a contender. “They drew first blood”, said in a very deep voice 8/10
The Infernal Machine (Netflix)
Guy Pearce is an interesting actor isn’t he. Since the super cool Memento he just seems to keep on making good choices on what to appear in. Now this one didn’t score very well on IMDb (do you check there first too?) But actually, of late, I have watched and enjoyed a few movies which didn’t score so well there. In this one he plays a reclusive star novelist living in the wilds of nowhere special - and drinking himself into an early grave - when an obsessive fan gets in touch. And won’t leave him alone. I quite enjoyed watching the puzzle play out 7/10
The Killer (Netflix)
Here’s another movie which the critics didn’t love, Mark Kermode wasn’t a fan at all. It’s by David Ficher (he of Fight Club, Seven and Zodiac) so I was already interested, and it stars Michael Fassbender who – and I could be wrong here – just doesn’t seem to make many films, unless they pass me by. Fassbender plays a ruthless, solitary contract killer who has perfected his art down to a craft and who never makes a mistake. Until his next kill list target. I loved the soundtrack (he only listens to The Smiths, cue lots of jokes about being morbid and miserable) and there is enough action and intrigue here to keep you involved. Pretty decent I thought 7/10
Last Flag Flying (Amazon)
I really did enjoy this. A kind of road movie, bromance, anti-war film starring Bryan Cranston, Steve Carrell and Laurence Fishburne as three Vietnam vets reunited in the wake of the death in service of Carrell’s son in Iraq. Funny, sad, bittersweet all rolled into one. This is a recommended watch 8/10
TV
True Detectives (Now TV)
The first and the best of this quality crime drama series, with the inspired pairing of Matthew McConaughey and Woodly Harrelson. Very dark - but I do like dark - and splits its time between the fraught relationship spats on our detective duo and the sinister disappearances of young people in the deep south of the U.S.A. Well above average for the genre 8/10
Better (iPlayer)
You’ve heard the storyline before, a corrupt cop who skirts too close to danger and the net gradually closes around them. But this time it’s a female lead. It worked well with good performances and nice to see Leeds feature as the city in the story 7/10
Murder is Easy (iPlayer)
Another remake of an Agatha Christie number and a perfect yarn for a watch on a cold, wet winter’s night 7/10
Darren Caveney is creator and owner of comms2point0 and creative communicators ltd
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