What I have seen at the Cinema in 2025… so far

Hi Readers,

2025 has been a great year for cinema thus far. I have been to see a wide range of films in just the six weeks since the year began and rather than cherry pick one to review, I thought I would combine them all into this post. I am not including A Complete Unknown as I have already dedicated a post to the music biopic.

I try not to read too much into a film before watching which may be ironic considering where you are reading this but I like to form my own opinions and then sometimes share them here. I have picked films that I have heard good things about; I am interested in the story, cast or general vibe or I liked the trailer/teaser.

I was late to the party watching Queer (2023) starring Daniel Craig and Drew Starkey. I saw it at a small chain in London at a popular cinema for those who enjoy art films. Discussing with a friend afterwards, we both agreed that the beginning was the stronger half and when the plot began to get more abstract, it started to lose us as audience members. Daniel Craig gave a lifetime best performance as William Lee. For me, it was more in tune with his performances pre-James Bond, gathering what I can from reviews but I plan to dive more into his roles in a future post. I saw Drew Starkey in his breakout role as Rafe Cameron in Outer Banks on Netflix and it was a real change of character for his role in Queer. As the younger character, I related to him more and he seemed the more grounded of the two male leads.

Changing the genre to a pacy, suspense film, September 5 (2024), set during the Olympics in Munich where a hostage situation quickly developed in the village. The quick thinking of the ABC crew nearby ensured that this was the first terrorist act broadcast live on television. It gathered more viewers than the moon landing did. I thought that the film fit really well with its time period, 1970s as there were a lot of analogue noises from the old technology such as switchboards, rotary phones and camera film cases.

I liked that the cast were not as well known. There were a few heavy hitters like Peter Sarsgaard and John Magaro among the lesser known cast. A standout for me was the actress playing Marianne (Leonie Benesch) as her role in the film developed quickly culminating in going to the scene of the hostage taking when it migrated to the airport. The events of the film are told over a single day and most of the cast spend their time at the television centre so it feels like a bottle episode. This could be as we are focusing on the TV crew but I think could also be because large areas would have to be dressed to look like 1970s Munich and there were already many extras used in the scenes at the village. It really added to the film as it kept you focused on the characters and dialled into the action.

The weakest film of all for me so far was Saturday Night. I went in thinking it would be something else and felt almost disappointed with the result. I think the filming and camera work was done well but the acting and humour could have been stronger and there were sections that didn’t quite hit for me. I have been a huge fan of SNL sketches for a long time and I think I expected the film to be more in that vein rather than a more dramatic take of real events. I thought the ensemble worked well together and Gabriel LaBelle was a good choice for showrunner Lorne Michaels but I think more could have been done with it.

A good new slasher film arrived in the form of Companion. This had a great young rising cast; Sophie Thatcher, Jack Quaid, Megan Suri, Harvey Guillén and Lukas Gage. It was cleverly done but I already knew some information about the plot so it tainted some of the reveals. However, I did not know everything so there were still plot twists. Jack Quaid was the stronger lead for me and I don’t know if this was just the script or the fact that she is playing a submissive robot but I felt that Thatcher’s performance was not as strong. I enjoy a tame thriller so the light gore did not bother me and it was not very graphic in other areas.

I was behind the times on Academy Award nominated, The Apprentice but it certainly did not disappoint. I have to start by saying to enjoy this film you have to separate the character that Sebastian Stan portrays on screen from his real life persona. The trajectory shows a relatively normal guy from Queens who does anything it takes to get ahead in business and life by breaking the law and becoming a monster. I am talking about Donald Trump, who was known for his ruthlessness in the boardroom and courtroom before becoming President of America. Setting aside the real world version of the protagonist, I really enjoyed the pace and setting of the film. It had a cool 1970s New York atmosphere with a lot of cut-throat characters and surprising diverseness in the people Trump chose to surround himself with. Jeremy Strong gave a good performance as Roy Cohen who shapes Donald into the person he became but did not understand the error of his ways until it was too late.

It goes without saying that I am not a fan of Trump or any of his policies/ideas but the character he was portrayed as in the film seemed normal at first with a tolerance for a range of people and a level of dorkiness that one would definitely not associate with him today. By the end of the film, he has morphed both physically and mentally into the person he is now but it was strange seeing him as almost normal. Whether these characteristics were exaggerated to give the plot somewhere to go, I couldn’t say but I believe there was a lot of artistic license used. This however worked to their favour to give you an interesting film.

Since starting this post, I have added a couple more films to my list so perhaps they will be coming in a future post.

Happy Watching,

Robyn

Like a Rolling Stone, Timothée Chalamet brings charisma and charm to A Complete Unknown

Hello Readers,

I am back from my holiday hiatus with a review for a film that has created a lot of buzz this awards season. Timothée Chalamet, the king of the December box office is starring in his first musical biopic as the notoriously private and exceptional musician, Bob Dylan. I have heard that Timothée spent six years perfecting his accent and musical talents to play Dylan and it really showed in the film.

I thought the film had an essence similar to the Bob Dylan we see on screen. There was structure but also some mystery and free-wheeling parts where the audience has to go along with the ride in terms of the story. I am always a fan of plot and dates being used so this pleased me but also I do not mind a different narrative structure.

There was a lot of emotion in the film, in part enhanced by Bob Dylan’s relationship with women. He had one long-standing girlfriend, Sylvie played by Elle Fanning and a number of other dalliances including with singer-songwriter, Joan Baez. He does not have many female figures in his life apart from his relationships. He performed with Joan after their relationship which ends poorly. We see some of his mentor to mentee connection with Pete Seeger and his wife, Toshi but none of his family make an appearance in the film.

One part that was dialled back were his views on ending segregation and fighting for racial equality. We see Sylvie watching him at a protest on television and he plays music with people of many different backgrounds but after reading more about him later, I think this portion of his work was sanitised.

A Complete Unknown (2024) Directed by James Mangold

Before watching the film, I did not know much about the early career of Bob Dylan. Throughout his life, he has been private about certain elements but I was even unaware of many public facts. His music has never been one that my family listened to, leaning more towards Queen, David Bowie and 70s rock bands such as Santana, Pink Floyd and Black Sabbath. It seemed so outdated for the backlash he received when wanting to try other genres as in the 2020s, many artists move from country to pop to rock with each new album or even in the same one. Look at Taylor Swift who had her start writing country songs on her guitar in Nashville and has just finished a two year tour spanning her entire musical catalogue featuring pop, singer-songwriter, pop rock and many other sub-genres.

These days, Bob Dylan plays to sold-out stadiums filled with fans who love any song he writes and plays but it was a different time in the 1960s when society was at a moment of tension and rebirth. In America, men were being sent to the front line in Vietnam to fight a war they had no stake in whereas black and brown people still could not attend the same schools or even use the same bathroom as white people. It was a time when people started fighting for social change and equality harder than ever before with previous movements such as the Suffragettes only being fought for a small segment of the population and by a small group.

Dylan moves to New York City with little more than a guitar on his back at the young age of 19 to see one of his musical heroes, Woody Guthrie. Upon finding his idol being looked after by Pete Seeger, another famous face in the folk scene, Bob plays his song to them and forms attachments that help project him into stardom. Throughout the film, he becomes more and more famous for his folk songs but yearns to write and perform his own music that is more of a rock nature featuring electric instruments.

Timothée has the perfect nature to play Dylan as you can see his soul through his eyes and Dylan’s quiet persona is a popular trope that Timothée has played many times in films such as Call Me By Your Name, Miss Stevens and Wonka. As Dylan becomes more famous, you can tell the effect it has on him by the strain in his relationships, his wardrobe and his songs. He becomes almost fervent with making music as it is what the record companies and his fans demand of him and the only part of himself that he wants to give.

His up-and-down relationship with fellow folk singer, Joan Baez is a main feature of his early career. Bob can behave in a selfish way in his relationships with women, often coming to them with his problems but reluctant to offer the same in return. Joan fell under his spell, hearing him sing at a small underground bar and despite his current relationship with Sylvie, Bob falls for her too. They are billed to America as the folk prince and princess but after Bob refuses to sing Joan’s song on stage with her, a rift is opened between them.

Sylvie is a young woman that Bob met at church and studies in the city. Bob ends up living with her but during a trip away, his attention goes elsewhere. Sylvie moves on, determined not to be the girl who trails around after a rising star but always has space for him when he drops by including going to the Newport Folk Festival with him, the very same place that she realised Bob was now lost to Baez.

After Dylan’s relationships with Joan and Sylvie, we see him make more male connections, starting to play and record with a band including someone he met at a bar shortly before being punched in the face. He also has male role models in Pete and Johnny Cash to whom he writes often and plays with in Newport.

I think that this film was produced well and while some elements such as protesting for equality were toned down, I think it gave the audience an overview of who Bob Dylan was in the early 1960s before his long-lasting career. We never learn anything about his family or backstory other than his real name is Robert Zimmerman and he lived in the Mid-West. He tells Sylvie stories about living with a travelling circus but she is always skeptical of this. He has one scrapbook of his childhood that is shown briefly but Sylvie chooses to take Bob at his word and not delve too deeply into his past.

Overall, I enjoyed the film and seeing it in a boutique cinema added a class and atmosphere to the film that wouldn’t have happened watching it on a standard screen. I would be interested in watching the film again just to absorb the world that was created and see the talent of the cast. The film has been nominated for Academy Awards, Golden Globes and other awards this season and I think it is deserving but there is a lot of competition and other films with more obvious social commentary or diversity may have more of a shot.

I give it 5/5.

Happy Watching,

Robyn

Again, Again! Films I have Re-Watched in 2024

Hi Readers,

After using the app Letterboxd, I started adding up the films I have re-watched this year so I have had this post in the back of my mind to discuss. There are a wide range of genres listed here and many of these films I have not watched for years and wanted to revisit. There are a few, of course, such as Mamma Mia! that I watch at least once a year and Wicked which I re-watched again after a couple of weeks in the cinema as I loved it so much.

2012 (2009)

This film falls into my favourite sub-genre of film: natural disaster films. This one certainly is a disaster with practically the whole world ending and our heroes racing to find an escape. Through connections, John Cusack’s character discovers arcs designed to survive the extinction level events and with his family and ex-wife’s new partner, they journey to survive. It’s a race against time across America and the world as a whole. The group meet various characters along the way, both friends and foes.

I last watched this film a few years ago and enjoyed it at the time but there’s something about 2000s visual effects and plot lines that is so different to the films of the 2020s. The family themselves are likeable and even the characters that you are supposed to dislike, have redeemable qualities. The film itself is a wider commentary on the uber-rich in the US and further afield. Should only those who can afford it, deserve to survive?

Top Gun: Maverick (2022)

This was my first re-watch since seeing it at the cinema and it was on a projector so felt similar to the big cinema experience. I enjoyed the film as much as the first time but knowing what happens did take a little of the drama and jeopardy away. Still a fun film and I enjoyed the makeover of the genre to make it more up to date in terms of attitudes but also the technology and visual spectacle.

Are You There God, It’s Me Margaret? (2023)

This film is such a cosy watch and the dilemmas of the teenage protagonists feel very relatable despite the film being set in the 1970s. I first saw this film at an outdoor cinema so watching it at home was a different experience. I think this is a film that I could revisit every year or so as on the whole, its very re-watchable with a great cast and nostalgic themes in terms of the period setting and also reminding you of how it feels to be a pre-teen and all the issues that one worries about.

The Devil Wears Prada (2006)

I wanted to re-watch after hearing about the sequel (the musical on the West End is now playing too) and I loved the fashion and characters but of course, some of the dialogue and attitudes towards dieting culture are outdated.

I’ve seen people comment that Nate is the real villain of the story because he doesn’t like that Andy is more successful than him but I think the societal pressure on women to be high-flying career women while juggling a long-term relationship, motherhood, friendships and quality time with yourself is the real enemy.

Nate was very supportive of Andy but he thought her industry was not as important as his and therefore never saw her career as more important than their relationship or events with their friends. Andy began to see the importance of her industry and enjoyed working in the exciting, evolving world of fashion in NYC even if it was not her true passion.

Miranda was a stern character but to be successful as a woman even in a female-focused industry required more of her attention than she was prepared to give her husband. He also did not appreciate the benefits that her career and lifestyle in fashion offered.

It will be interesting to see how the magazine industry will be presented in the sequel with Emily being in a powerful role and Miranda’s legacy fading into an increasingly digital world.

Life (2017)

I watched most of this film on a plane years ago when it was new and I might have finished it at some point but this year was when I properly sat down and watched it all. I enjoyed it but I think it wasn’t anything too dissimilar to other space jeopardy films. The humour and alien foe added something but what I think made it enjoyable was the cast. Ryan Reynolds and Jake Gyllenhaal had good on-screen chemistry while Rebecca Ferguson and the other actors provided more of the dramatic acting. During press, Ryan Reynolds and Jake Gyllenhaal got along really well and that came through on screen. I would like to see them in a film together again.

I don’t think I would watch this one again but I am glad I was able to sit down and watch it all through.

Mamma Mia! (2008)

This was originally going to be an honourable mention but of course I ended up re-watching it as I tend to do every year. My family have seen it many times since it originally came out. We like the music of ABBA and the cast and story work really well together. The summer setting gives it a great warm feeling and brings some sun to the winter. I love all the songs and while there are a lot of older themes in the film, it doesn’t feel too intense or adult and everyone can enjoy it. I do also like the second film but nothing beats the original. I have heard a third film is in the works so it will be interesting to see how they do that film, especially as interest in ABBA has had a resurgence with their hologram show in London.

Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021)

I re-watched this film so myself and my family could go and see the new one in cinemas. I saw the first in the cinema and enjoyed it. I have not actually seen the original Ghostbusters films so it was interesting to see it rebooted for a new generation. The cast were good and of course the visual effects and plot were updated so watching the originals may not be as impressive as they were in the 1980s. I liked the inclusion of a female Ghostbuster and that the girl character was the nerd and the older brother was trying to be popular as it is often the other way around.

Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour (2023)

I actually watched this over a couple of days simply because it is very long. I saw it first at the cinema and it was a great experience and I wanted to re-watch when it became available on streaming. There were some extra songs that were not included in the cinema release and it was cool to be able to relive the concert in my own living room. This tour has been widely talked about and I hope that a new version is released including the Tortured Poets Department section of the show. I did not get to see the concert in person but the quality and camera angles of the filmed version were so good that I think I would be disappointed in person especially if I had to sit far away.

Bros (2022)

I first saw this film at the BFI Film Festival and I enjoyed it but the story was a little more complex than the average rom-com with Billy Eichner wanting to make it more authentic to the gay experience. Watching it again helped to put it together in my head and I tried to focus more on the humour and the characters than the plot and the on and off nature of the relationship. The film is the first adult gay rom-com to have the big studio backing and it is surprising that it took so long. They did sanitise it a little to appeal to wider audiences but there were plenty of gay experiences and references shown if a little exaggerated. I liked that the lead characters were gay in real life as it gave more reality to the story.

Wicked (2024)

Of course this film has been talked about widely since it came out with many audience members going to see it multiple times. I am included in this and I wanted to see it again as I loved the film and the scenes and songs. It will definitely be great to re-watch once it hits streaming but the spectacle of the film is really felt on the big screen. The second time, I knew the plot so I tried to focus more on the backgrounds and the little details but there is so much visually and aurally to take in, I think it would take a few more re-watches to fully appreciate everything. This film has set a new boundary of what can be achieved in the industry and I am excited to see what arrives next to try and compete with this film. The second film has been announced as coming out in November 2025 and I am eager to see what happens next and how it is presented.

Happy Watching,

Robyn

Gladiator and Gladiator II Review – How do the two compare?

Hi Readers,

Sequels are very popular in the cinemas at the moment with many franchises rebooting and continuing to provide content for fans of the originals or just wanting to make more money on something they know works. Some sequels have years between them and a new generation takes the reins as the star of the film. This is certainly true for Gladiator II. It takes place 16 years after the original events of Gladiator (2000) which has been even longer in reality. We have a new hero of the film but the story fits into the universe of the original even including a few characters from the first film.

I saw the first Gladiator film at home about a week before I saw the sequel at the cinema and even though Gladiator is a classic, I preferred the story of the second film. In the 2020s, films shown on the big screen have more spectacle and the plot has probably been developed more than older films. Standards have changed and audiences, myself included have higher expectations. Films have to compete with the visual spectacles from superhero films to the Fast and Furious Saga and the quality of stories found in indie films.

Gladiator (2000) and Gladiator II (2024)


To start from the beginning, the second Gladiator film has a more dramatic opening sequence with the Roman Army invading the homeland of our hero, Mano. We see that his wife is also a soldier who fights using a bow and arrow while Paul Mescal’s character is trained in hand to hand combat and strategy. Gladiator starts with a battle but it has a long build up and in the forest, it doesn’t feel as exciting or cinematic as the city barriers in Gladiator II. From a modern perspective, the battle in the first Gladiator film has a very masculine, alpha male energy with a woman not being seen until afterwards but we get to see female fighters and also people of colour in Gladiator II. Our hero in the second film participates in the battle but after seeing his wife fall to her death becomes distracted and is knocked out until the battle is over.

Maximus played by Russell Crowe in the first Gladiator keeps his composure and is undefeated in the first battle, showing us his masculinity but audiences particularly in the Generation Z and Millennial age brackets will have encountered ideals of beta males and that men do not have to be alpha to be real men. This could of course have just been a plot device to keep him alive for the rest of the film but I chose to interpret it this way.

The stories follow similar beats, our hero is shipped to a small fighting arena where he proves his worth and is sent to the Colosseum in Rome for the Emperor’s viewing pleasure. Instead of being a disgraced general, Mano is a simple man who has been raised in combat in his African home. He doesn’t seem to know his family as he was found as a child but we know he has a past. Both heroes in the film lose their wives at the beginning which results in a need for revenge inside them. Maximus knows the Emperor personally and his family were targeted as a warning to him but Mano’s wife was killed as part of a larger battle by the General and Mano seeks revenge on him.

When Mano reaches Rome, we see that there are now twin emperors who are even more unhinged than Commodus from the first film. We also learn that Lucilla, the sister of Commodus is still alive and in the inner circle. She is now married to General Acacius and has managed to protect herself. Her son is also absent. Mano has the skills in the arena like Maximus but the villains of the film are not as obvious as in the first Gladiator.

At first, Macrinus who runs the out-of-town arena is on the side of the Gladiators and the enemy is General Acacius and the Emperors. This evolves when we learn of Lucilla and the senate’s plot to overthrow the Emperors and bring power back to the people of Rome. We think that Macrinus is part of this plot but it turns out he has a plot of his own to eliminate General Acacius and turn the Emperors on each other. He backs Emperor Caracalla who has become mentally unstable and knows he can control the armies through him.

The visual effects and arena battles are more intense in the second Gladiator film and I thought that they were more interesting. There were opportunities to show Mano’s skills not just in fighting but in strategy. This is similar to how Maximus defeated his opponents. Obviously, the film has violence but I liked the fact that they were saying that violence is not always the answer and brains can outsmart brawn.

In the fight with the monkeys, Mano uses the monkey’s strength against itself, getting it to bite down on its own arm. Other fighters in the arena did not think of this strategy and tried to defeat them with brute force. Against the rhino, Mano knew that he could not defeat an animal of that size so used physics and momentum to get the rider off the rhino and challenge him to hand to hand combat. In the re-creation of the battle at sea, Mano takes charge and again uses physics and the boat’s momentum to win against the other side. It is true that the Romans used to fill the Colosseum with water but I am not sure if sharks were used.

The final fight gets personal when Macrinus takes over having killed General Acacius and knowing that Mano is the son of Lucilla, uses her as bait for him. He tries to protect her but she is soon killed by archers and Mano enacts their plan to lead the gladiators out of the arena and into the streets of Rome. They arranged for Acacius’ troops to come to Rome and Macrinus responds with his own troops.

The second film ends in a similar way to the first with a one-on-one fight between Lucius (Mano) and Macrinus. He manages to persuade the two armies not to spill blood for the sake of it. Both Emperors have been killed along with members of the Senate and Lucius claims his position as the only living heir left, vowing to make Rome for the people instead of the rich.

I enjoyed the modern touches to the second film and the broader diversity of the cast. We see women not just as pawns but as warriors and strategists. Mindless violence is not the answer with the fights in the Colosseum being less about slaughtering and more about entertainment. Even though Lucius is from the royal line, he feels like more of a commoner than Maximus having grown up that way. We saw a man of colour in power which was not shown in the first film. There was also some same sex kiss scenes that were cut but would have shown even more diversity.

The fact that both films were directed by the same man shows that attitudes can evolve over time and directors will make the film that audiences want to see and not just repeat the same story.

Happy Watching,

Robyn

The Best of Sky TV – My 2024 Recommendations

Hello Readers,

I have recently started watching television programmes on the Sky channels and I want to talk through my favourites. I only started about mid way through this year so I have focused on programmes I have heard about or been recommended by friends. There is a vast range of channels but most of these programmes are from Sky Max, Comedy or Showcase.

Breeders (2020 – 2023) Age Rating 18

Series available: 4
Show status: Ended
Cast: Martin Freeman, Daisy Haggard, Alun Armstrong, Joanna Bacon

This show tells the story of two parents Paul and Ally and the ups and downs of their parenting life with look-ins from Paul’s parents, Ally’s boss and persnickety mother. Paul has anger issues and Ally is trying to balance her career with being a present mother. The kids are recast for the 3rd series but all the actors are great in the role. Lots of strong language but would class as a comedy drama.

Rating: 4/5

Avenue 5 (2020 – 2022) Age Rating 18

Series available: 2
Show Status: Cancelled
Cast: Hugh Laurie, Josh Gad, Lenora Crichlow, Rebecca Front, Andy Buckley, Zach Woods, Suzy Nakamura, Nikki Amuka-Bird

Set in the near future, luxury space cruise liner Avenue 5 is making its inaugural voyage around the galaxy. Its journey gets thrown off course and eight weeks becomes three years causing a lot of upset for the crew and passengers. We see mission control trying to handle the mission PR on Earth. I really enjoyed this series and it did end with a cliffhanger but was funny and I like all the references to the future. The ensemble cast worked well together.

Rating: 4/5

Mary and George (2024) Age Rating 18

Series available: 1
Show Status: Limited Mini-Series
Cast: Julianne Moore, Nicholas Galitzine, Tony Curran, Mark O’Halloran

A journey back to Jacobean England where we see Mary and George advance through noble ranks to become close advisors to King James I. George Villiers transforms from lovesick puppy into political player through his relationship with the King. In the background, Mary wields her children to put her into the best possible position in society. The costumes, set and acting were all excellent and the story told is one that has been lost through history. I was aware of George Villiers but had no idea of the role his mother played in their ascent in the King’s Court. There is also an interesting documentary discussing different elements of the show with various cast, crew and historical experts available.

Rating: 4.5/5

The Regime (2024) Age Rating: 15

Series Available: 1
Show Status: Limited Mini Series
Cast: Kate Winslet, Matthias Schoenaerts, Guillaume Gallienne, Danny Webb

Satirical comedy drama about a female dictator in Eastern Europe. Elena Vernham has inherited Chancellor from her father and rules with an iron fist but believes herself to be fair and just for her people. Those around her try to keep her on the right path while she starts taking the advice of an ex-army Corporal with a checkered past. I initially did not get into this series after the first episode but I wanted to try and finish it. I thought Kate Winslet gave a good performance but overall the plot was confusing with each episode having time jumps and Elena’s relationship with Corporal Zubak changing every two episodes. I enjoyed some of the general humour and I could see where they were going with it but in my opinion, it was not as effective as in other programmes.

Rating: 3.5/5

The Tattooist of Auschwitz (2024) Age Rating: 15

Series Available: 1
Show Status: Limited Mini-Series
Cast: Jonah Hauer-King, Anna Próchniak, Melanie Lynskey, Harvey Keitel, Jonas Hay, Tallulah Haddon, Mili Eshet

This show based on a bestselling novel depicts the story of Lale and Gita, two Slovak Jews as they met at Auschwitz concentration camp during World War II. In the future, Lale recounts the story of his romance with Gita and who he had to become to stay alive during his time imprisoned. This show was very intense but told a beautiful story of love in a time of pain and the recreation of the camp was very well done. Acting was outstanding.

Rating: 4/5

Rob Beckett’s Smart TV (2024-) Age Rating: 15

Series Available: 1
Show Status: Renewed for Series 2
Presenters: Alison Hammond, Rob Beckett, Josh Widdicombe

Television based panel game show starring some of Britain’s most loved comedians. Rob Beckett hosts with Alison Hammond and Josh Widdicombe as team captains and they are joined by a host of known British celebrities. Rounds include general trivia, guessing the background artist and finish that line. A fun show with questions that anyone who watches British TV will be able to play along with at home. The three presenters all interact well together.

Rating: 4/5

Girls (2012-2017) Age Rating: 18

Series Available: 1, 2, and 6 out of 6 (Others are available to buy)
Show Status: Ended
Cast: Lena Dunham, Allison Williams, Jemima Kirke, Adam Driver, Zosia Mamet, Alex Karpovsky

Female focused comedy starring wannabe journalist Hannah, uptight Marnie, free-spirit Jessa and anxious Shoshanna as four friends living in New York City in their 20s. I only saw the first two series but I liked the programme. It was weirder and yet more relatable than other friend comedies such as Friends or How I Met Your Mother. I like Lena Dunham’s writing and I thought all the characters were interesting and complex. Would like to watch more if it becomes available.

Rating: 4/5

Manifest (2018-2023) Age Rating: 15

Series Available: 1 (3 out of 4, others are available on Netflix)
Show Status: Ended
Cast: Melissa Roxburgh, Josh Dallas, J.R. Ramirez, Luna Blaise, Parveen Kaur

I watched Series 3 of the show on Sky but the other three are available on Netflix. This show is about flight 828’s crew and passengers as they travel five and a half years into the future during a short journey from Jamaica to NYC. In the following years, the universe gives the passengers callings and visions to try and help each other and stop the world from casting them out from society. I really enjoyed the show and while it took me a few episodes to get into it, I was then hooked. There is a lot of religious story arcs but once you bond with the characters, the story is more interesting. It did well for a show with no big names. I also walked past them filming a scene in Times Square so they do actually film in New York.

Rating: 3.5/5

Bloods (2021-2022) Age Rating: 15

Series Available: 2
Show Status: Cancelled
Cast: Jane Horrocks, Samson Kayo, Lucy Punch, Julian Barratt, Adrian Scarborough, Aasiya Shah, Sam Campbell, Kevin Garry

Classic British comedy set in the world of paramedics contrasting gore with giggles. Centered around Maleek and his new ambulance partner, Wendy, we see their day to day lives as they learn to work together along with the other teams on their squad and no-nonsense boss, Jo. I enjoyed this show and thought it had the right balance of laughs and seriousness especially considering the setting. Starred some great comedy legends and newcomers. Ended on a cliffhanger but unfortunately was cancelled.

Rating: 4/5

The Franchise (2024-) Age Rating: 15

Series Available: 1
Show Status: Awaiting Renewal
Cast: Himesh Patel, Aya Cash, Jessica Hynes, Billy Magnussen, Lolly Adefope, Darren Goldstein, Isaac Powell, Richard E. Grant, Daniel Brühl, Justin Edwards, Ruaridh Mollica

Ensemble comedy around a film crew making a big Hollywood superhero movie in the UK. Our main character is 1st AD Dan with his new mentee, Dag then we have the director Eric who is slowly losing his mind and the plot of the film; action star, Adam and reluctant co-star, Peter along with Steph, Eric’s PA, Bryson, representative of big boss, Shane on set; Pat and Anita, the producers and Rufus, the overused extra. I really enjoyed this show and was clearly written by people who have had these experiences on film sets so I am sure anyone in the industry can relate. Funny but not too over the top; classic Armando Iannucci comedy.

Rating: 4.5/5

The Day of the Jackal (2024-) Age Rating: 15

Series Available: 1
Show Status: Renewed for Series 2
Cast: Eddie Redmayne, Lashana Lynch, Eleanor Matsuura, Chukwudi Iwuji, Úrsula Corberó

A cat and mouse game between assassin and MI6, this series leads the characters all across Europe as the Jackal tries to complete the kills he is hired to do without getting caught. His wife and child wait for him in Spain as their family get more and more suspicious. MI6 agent, Bianca leads the chase but putting her job before her own family is weighing on her. This show is pacy and dynamic with good drama and believable plot lines. Just when you think the Jackal will be caught, he manages to escape but he starts making mistakes and letting his guard down. So many different locations were used, highlighting many cities that you would not normally see on a British drama. I am looking forward to Series 2.

Rating: 4.5/5

On My Watchlist:

Never Mind the Buzzcocks (2021-) Age Rating: 15
Panel Show
Series Available: 4
Show Status: Show Awaiting Return
Presenters: Greg Davies, Noel Fielding and Daisy May Cooper

I’ve seen clips of this show online and looks like a panel show I would enjoy. It’s a reboot of a show from the early 2000s with new segments and presenters. I haven’t got around to watching it so on my list for a potential watch.

The Sympathizer (2024) Age Rating: 15
Drama
Series Available: 1
Show Status: Limited Mini Series
Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Hoa Xuande, Fred Nguyen Khan, Vy Le, Phan Gia Nhat Linh, Tom Dang, Toan Le, Tien Pham

I saw the trailer when it was new out and the show looks interesting but it hasn’t peeked my interest enough to watch yet. I am a fan of Robert Downey Jr. but I am not as interested in this topic but would be willing to give it a go as it is on the Sky Showcase channel.

The Righteous Gemstones (2019-) Age Rating: 18
Comedy
Series Available: 3
Show Status: Series 4 to be Released in 2025
Cast: John Goodman, Danny McBride, Adam Devine, Edi Patterson, Cassidy Freeman, Gregory Alan Williams, Tim Baltz, Tony Cavalero

I didn’t want to do a full review on this show as I have only seen a few episodes of the first series but it’s a funny parody comedy about the rich evangelical church owners you can find in the US. Will carry on watching as and when.

Happy Watching,

Robyn

Wicked: Long Awaited Adaptation makes Magical Silver Screen Debut

Hi Readers,

Anyone who is into musical theatre will have heard of or even seen the musical of Wicked on the stage either on the West End where it currently plays at the Apollo Victoria Theatre or its runs on Broadway and regional theatres around the world.

It tells an untold story of the Wicked Witch of the West when she was just Elphaba and Galinda who becomes the Good Witch of the North. We see the two start as enemies and slowly become friends at Shiz University, long before Dorothy and Toto landed in Oz. The novel that the musical was based on was published by Gregory Maguire in 1995 and based on the original Wonderful Wizard of Oz books by L. Frank Baum and the 1939 film.

The film adaptation of Wicked has been in the works since 2012 and was finally released by Universal in November this year. Actors Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo have made headlines for their stunning performances, live vocals and sweet friendship. They have been a part of a few viral moments in the press such as Ariana holding onto Cynthia’s nail and a reporter asking them about ‘holding space for Defying Gravity’, the song at the end of the film.

The film has just received 4 Golden Globe nominations including for Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande in their roles.

Wicked (2024)

As a musical fan myself, I was very excited to finally see Wicked brought to life on screen. I went to see the film twice with different people as I felt a need to watch it again and take in the spectacle. The production design, visual effects, costumes, props, acting and singing were all outstanding and really put other films to shame with the quality and imagination that went into the creation.

I particularly loved the inclusion of visual effects in the promo of the film with the Visual Effects Supervisor, Pablo Helman and other department members being included in interviews as well as blue screens being visible in promo released for the film. There was a lot of practical and special effects which are to be commended. As someone who has worked on visual effects it was great to see it mentioned when many other films try to hide their use of CGI or VFX.

Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo were perfectly cast for their roles and embodied Elphaba and Galinda with all their mannerisms and tone. Galinda had a great amount of snark and humour as well as being snooty and well-liked. Elphaba was quiet but stood up for the animals and her sister. She takes pride in her talents but feels Galinda and Fiyero are over the top. I love that Elphaba comes from the initials of the author: LFB ( El-ph-buh).

There were so many references to the Wizard of Oz film such as Galinda giving Elphaba her iconic black witch’s hat and cloak. Nessarose wears special silver shoes. The iconic ruby red slippers that Dorothy wears are silver in the original books and Galinda has some red slippers in her closet. When in the Emerald City with the Wizard, Galinda (now Glinda) suggests the Brick Road should be yellow as it is in the Wizard of Oz. We see Glinda visit the Munchkins at the beginning which is actually after the events of the Wizard of Oz film when the Witch has melted.

The songs were a highlight of the film and both Ariana and Cynthia sang live. All of the songs were really amazing with elaborate dance routines and montages and a host of background artists. My favourite songs include: What is This Feeling? where Galinda and Elphaba sing about their loathing for each other after being put in the same room at Shiz; The Wizard and I: Elphaba’s big solo number where she hopes that her life will turn around when meeting the Wizard and of course the finale number, Defying Gravity where Elphaba sings about becoming her true self and not letting anything hold her back anymore featuring Glinda trying to persuade her to stay and prove her innocence.

I am excited to hear the songs in Wicked: Part Two. I have seen the full play on the West End but I don’t remember the songs or much of the story. Hopefully, it will be as magical as the first film.

The ensemble cast all did a great job rounding out the film and I am glad to see people from musical theatre backgrounds get a chance such as Ethan Slater and having wheelchair users play Nessarose both as a child and as the older version was a win for disabled actors. Nessarose becomes the Wicked Witch of the East so I am interested to see how she turns ‘wicked’ as her character is sweet and caring in the first film.

Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero is a character I look forward to seeing more of in the sequel. He has strong charisma and in the film manages to have chemistry with basically every character regardless of gender which was great to see even in a PG as being not just heterosexual shouldn’t be something relegated to more adult themed films.

Overall, I loved the film of Wicked and seeing it on the big screen was a great way to watch it. Next year, hopefully they will be showing double bills with the sequel as it would be great to watch them back to back especially as they were shot in succession. Until then, I will be listening to the soundtrack.

Happy Watching,

Robyn

New Perspectives: Blitz – one boy’s journey to be reunited with his family during WWII

Hello Readers,

Steve McQueen’s war drama featuring the quest of nine-year-old George as he escapes from being evacuated and finds his way home to his mother and grandfather. While the story is not true, it contains a lot of stories that have been forgotten including the struggles of the Black community in London at the time as well as how those in poorer areas coped with the Blitz. As mentioned in many interviews, McQueen saw a photo of a young Black boy carrying his suitcase in London during World War II and crafted George’s story around it.

I worked briefly on this project as a previs coordinator on a shot panning over London after a heavy night of bombing. Seeing the final shot in the film was interesting as it looked different to what I had remembered and dressed up with the visual effects. Apart from this shot, I had not much idea of the plot of the film so I don’t feel my involvement gave me any spoilers or clues to the ending.

Warning spoilers ahead!

Blitz (2024) Directed by Steve McQueen

I have been anticipating this film for over a year since working on it and I was pleased that it was available on Apple TV+ so that I could watch it at home. I didn’t watch it at the cinema but I was able to see it on my home projector and this definitely added to the drama of the film.

I think the star of the film really was Elliott Heffernan who plays George as he carried a lot of the emotion and story line. The other main characters featured are Rita, George’s mother played by Saoirse Ronan, Jack, their neighbour and Air Raid warden (Harris Dickinson) and Gerald, Rita’s father played by Paul Weller. The other characters in the film flow in and out as Rita and George encounter new people.

George at the beginning of the film is quite protected and naive to the struggles of other Black people being raised in his White family and in a nice area of London – Stepney Green. He gets the odd comment but is sheltered from most of it by his mother.

When he finds out that he is being evacuated, he tries to resist as he already feels like an outsider but at least Stepney Green is the devil he knows. Going to the countryside with other children feels like the end of the world for him and he knows he will not fit in or be bullied especially as it seems he struggles to make friends.

Almost as soon as he has boarded the train, George forms a plan to escape and find his way home. Along the way he meets a few different characters but the first boys he meets on the cargo train understand his reasons as they too are escaping back to London. He generously shares his sandwich in an attempt to be friendly but after the shock death of the oldest brother, he does not hang around to be caught.

His next encounter is with a friendly Black Air Raid Warden who teaches George more about being Black and vows to help him get back to Stepney Green. Ife is from Nigeria and teaches George about his culture. He unfortunately meets his untimely demise so George goes it alone and is picked up by a criminal gang who recruit him for their looting.

Meanwhile, we see Rita sing at her factory on the BBC radio and learn of George’s disappearance. She recruits Jack to help her and also takes him to a shelter she volunteers at where people don’t have much. The underground stations are not being opened to the public until it is absolutely necessary and we see many people taking refuge there as shelters fill up quickly.

George almost gets caught by the police on one jewellery shop raid but a bombed ballroom gives him the best escape route while his captors are being arrested. He finds his way to London Bridge underground during a bombing but when the tunnels are flooded, he is swept up in the flood but due to his small stature manages to squeeze through the gates and get help. He wakes up in the home of a seemingly nice woman who offers to take him to the police station but he sneaks out of the bedroom and finally returns home to discover his house bombed and his grandfather dead in his bed but the cat and his mother have survived.

I thought the film was well done and while some events were embellished, they created a well thought out story of George’s quest to find his mother and along the way discover his heritage. In flashbacks we see Rita and Marcus, George’s father and the terrible treatment they faced as an interracial couple. After being attacked, Marcus is arrested and deported before George’s birth so he has not grown up having a father figure or Black role model in his life.

The young actor playing George did a great job at leading the film and you could easily empathise with him and his need to be back with the only family he’s ever known. It seems strange in this day and age that it took him many days to get back home when back in London but people did not always travel outside of their areas and even when receiving directions for a way home on the bus, he couldn’t remember them. He had probably never been on the Tube, at least not without his mother so did not know a way on the underground or have the money for it.

Saoirse Ronan’s London accent was very good and I felt more immersed in the film as most of the characters had East End or London accents. There were a lot of little details that were authentic to the time such as Rita and her friends drawing stocking lines on the back of their legs with eye liner as there was a shortage of stockings at the time. I loved all the old signs and buses especially when George is going through Central London or in the tube stations.

To the modern eye, it seems cruel to send your children away to another city/part of the country but the government was making it mandatory and it did save the lives of many children as mostly cities such as London were bombed heavily. Members of my own family were evacuated at the same time as the film is set even though they did not live in London. One did go back home and survived although it was not as long a journey as George had.

I think this time period is a really interesting one to show on film as it is well documented with photos and film but there are few people still alive today who truly remember what society was like. It is certainly the oldest global event in living memory. Previous war films have not really focused on the Black communities in London during the Blitz so it was interesting to have a film from the point of view of a young boy who has been raised in a White community.

Overall, I thought that the film was good, emotional and dramatic. It exceeded my expectations from when I worked on it about 18 months ago and it gave us a war story that has not been repeated ad infinitum. I give the film 4.5/5.

Happy Watching,

Robyn

Paddington in Peru! Is the magic still alive for the bear’s third outing?

Hello Readers,

One of Britain’s most popular literary characters turned screen star is, of course, marmalade-loving Paddington Bear. He has had tea with the Queen, defeated the likes of Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant and is loved by children and adults everywhere. The Brown family along with Paddington have returned in a new film, Paddington in Peru where we see the wee bear discover where he comes from and the meaning of family.

It has been over seven years since Paddington 2 and while most of the cast have returned, we have a new actress playing Mrs Brown, Emily Mortimer. The film did not address the change and any young children who maybe have not seen the previous films will be unlikely to notice. I thought Emily brought a certain gravitas to the role and made it her own.

Paddington gets a worrying letter about his beloved Aunt Lucy and the family decide they need a holiday to Peru to see how Aunt Lucy is getting on at the Retired Home for Bears and whatever could be troubling her. The Brown children are now settled in their identities approaching adulthood and maybe have forgotten the magic of being young. Mr and Mrs Brown feel nostalgic for the children’s childhood and wish to have one last family memory before Judy goes off to university.

Paddington in Peru (2024)

The film starts with a bemusing scene of Paddington attempting to take a photo for his British passport in a booth. Anyone who has had to do this for a baby or small child will know the difficulties but Paddington struggles more than most finally getting a unique photo. We see a brief glimpse of the London crowd with Paddington visiting Mr Gruber and the neighbours and friends gifting Paddington a special umbrella.

The film is mostly set in Peru and while filmed in London, the credits show that it was also filmed in Colombia and Peru so it’s great to see actual locations being used and not just green screens. The Browns along with Mrs Bird encounter the Reverend Mother at the Retired Home for Bears who wrote Paddington with her concerns about Aunt Lucy. She appears to be a harmless nun but as Mrs Bird comes to find out, there is more to her than meets the eye.

We also meet Hunter Cabot, handsome boat captain and his daughter, Gina who let the Browns use their riverboat to search along the Amazon for Aunt Lucy. Paddington found a treasure map and is sure that Aunt Lucy went looking for El Dorado, the famous lost city of gold. What the Browns don’t know is that Hunter is from a long line of gold hunters and this has caused many rifts for his ancestors including in his own relationship with Gina.

After a capsizing and Paddington getting separated from the Browns, he looks for the entrance to El Dorado along with Hunter. Mrs Bird sniffs around at the retirement home and finds a mysterious red wire.

I really enjoyed the film and while I think it is maybe the weakest of the three films, it is by no means poor. There is still the magic of Paddington Bear and his encounters with strangers where he always thinks the best of them. Of course, being a children’s film, the threats to Paddington are mild but he does often end up in a tricky situation.

It was also nice to see more of Paddington’s heritage and history mentioned as apart from Aunt Lucy and his childhood in Peru, we don’t know much about Paddington in his natural habitat and seeing him in his own land confirms that some of his misunderstandings in London are not due to cultural differences but rather his cumbersome nature.

The Paddington films for me have always been like a warm hug showing the best of British values and demonstrating that everyone deserves a family. I think Ben Whishaw does a great voice for Paddington that I do not recognise as his normal voice so with the magic of CGI and VFX, you almost believe Paddington to be his own person.

I don’t think that there were any negatives to the film although I will say I think if the film was a 12 that Gina and Jonathan would have gotten together and it could have added to the drama but as it is for kids, there was more focus on Paddington.

Overall, I loved the film and thought it was the perfect goodbye to the film franchise as I don’t see the need for a further film. Paddington has such a cultural footprint with all of the books and the television animation and even exhibits and stores of his own that the magic will never truly fade. I give it 5/5.

Happy Watching,

Robyn

My Culture Fix – Updated for 2024

My favourite author or book

Hard to pick just one but favourite authors are Alice Oseman, Rick Riordan and John Green. Would read anything that they write. My favourite new book is Wolfsong by TJ Klune and my favourite older book is Love Aubrey by Suzanne LaFleur.

The book I’m reading
The Pairing by Casey McQuiston.

The book I wish I had written
Solitaire by Alice Oseman.

The book I couldn’t finish
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte.

The book I’m ashamed I haven’t read
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.

My favourite film
The Day After Tomorrow.


My favourite play
Prima Facie starring Jodie Comer.

The box set I’m hooked on
Last one was Manifest but currently waiting for the next one.

My favourite TV series
Heartstopper, Outnumbered or Doctor Who.

My favourite piece of music
The Chain by Fleetwood Mac.

The last film that made me cry
We Live in Time starring Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield.


The lyric I’d wish I’d written
Made it out alive, but I think I lost it
Said that I was fine, said it from the coffin
Remember how I died when you started walking?
That’s my life, that’s my life
I’ll put up a fight, taking out my earrings
Don’t you know the vibe? Don’t you know the feeling?
You should spend the night, catch me on your ceiling
That’s your prize, that’s your prize

– Gracie Abrams ‘That’s So True’

The instrument I play
Piano and previously violin.

The instrument I wish I’d learnt
Guitar.

If I could own one painting
Yellow Chair by Vincent Van Gogh.


The place I feel happiest
On holiday either sun or snow.

The movie I’m looking forward to
Avengers: Doomsday.

I wasted an evening watching…
Wolfs with George Clooney and Brad Pitt.

The film I walked out on
Never happened as an adult but there are a few horrors I haven’t enjoyed.

My guiltiest cultural pleasure
Élite – Spanish drama that could rival Riverdale.

Overrated
It Ends with Us (film and book).

Underrated
My Lady Jane on Amazon Prime. First series was amazing but it didn’t get a second.

Disclaimer: Cuarón’s foray into the TV world and why you should watch it

Hello Readers,

I first heard about the show Disclaimer when I heard that it was going to be shown at the Venice Film Festival. This is not common practice for a TV show as far as I have heard but then again not many television shows are written, produced, directed and edited by award winning director, Alfonso Cuarón.

His films in the past have covered a range of topics and genres: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban – family friendly teen fantasy; Children of Men – dystopian drama; Gravity – sci-fi one-woman adventure; Great Expectations – R-rated rom-com and Roma – a love letter to his home country of Mexico.

Disclaimer adds another string to his bow as a twisty psychological thriller told over seven episodes in several periods of time. The basic story is that a woman meets a young man on holiday, something transpires between them and he dies saving her young son from the sea. 20 years on, the young man’s father is seeking revenge for the death of his son and the subsequent death of his marriage and wife. He discovers a novel that his late wife wrote about their son and his death and uses this to destroy award-winning documentarian who he believes caused his son’s death.

Disclaimer (2024)

This show has a fairly simple premise once you work out who each character is but the feelings and pain that the characters carry and act on drives the plot forward and makes it a gripping thriller. The cast selected for the roles were very fitting and played their parts well. Before I had even finished watching the show, I knew I wanted to write a review about it as I wanted to dissect just what made it so intense.

One of the main things that made Disclaimer so powerful was the camera work. Alfonso Cuarón is known for his interesting and dynamic shots and these were certainly used to full effect in Disclaimer. Getting up close and personal to the characters showed us their emotions and even changed the feelings of a scene. There were many establishing shots that were not standard or boring but just reminded you in which location or time period you were.

What really came through for me was the emotions of the characters and how their feelings at root, caused the story. Nancy (Lesley Manville) felt so strongly about her son Jonathan’s death that she was driven to write the book to make sense of his early passing. With the photographs retrieved from his film camera, she pieced together what had happened or what she thought had happened.

Catherine Ravenscroft (Cate Blanchett) is shown as a career-first family-second woman but her story goes deeper than this. She has been unable to form a strong bond with her son, Nicholas who is pushed out of the nest to find a job and some independence. His father, Robert (Sacha Baron Cohen) believes that this is not right for Nick (Kodi Smit-McPhee) but goes along with her. He believes in their special father-son bond over football but Nick really doesn’t feel very loved by either of them.

It’s apparent that Nick does not remember anything of his near-death experience in the ocean when he was four years old but something has stuck around as he carries a trauma that is not explained by anything else as he is in a privileged position. Catherine also holds this experience close to her chest but when Nancy’s book comes to light, she has to start facing her past.

Stephen Brigstocke (Kevin Kline) plays a character that you love to dislike but again may just be misunderstood. His quest of terror is done out of his anger at himself for his son’s death and the staleness that existed between himself and Nancy for the next 10 years until her death. He was a normal man with a family and a good job as a teacher at a private school but having his son ripped away from him caused his life to stand still.

I thought Louis Partridge who plays Jonathan was great in the role, especially in the last episode. We see his quiet and unassuming nature when he meets Catherine and Nick in Italy, how we would expect a 19 year old to be but again, his story has many deeper truths.

A large part of the story shows the systematic destruction of Catherine’s career and home life by Stephen who feels a need to make the world aware of how Catherine let his son drown. We see Catherine’s distress and emotions come out but we don’t see an alternative point of view for most of the show. The thrilling nature comes from not knowing what Stephen or other characters will do next to further discredit Catherine or if her retaliation will go a step too far.

This is certainly a show for older viewers with some explicit sex scenes. They were crucial to the plot but I think were also done for shock factor and as many people have said, sex sells. In my opinion, there was nothing too uncomfortable or prolonged that we haven’t seen before but I would say it’s not suitable for younger teenagers.

I don’t want to go too much into the story as a whole but I will say I was hooked until the end and watched most episodes on the day they were released. Overall, I give the show 4/5.

All episodes are now streaming on Apple TV+

Happy Watching,

Robyn