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Just my media review Recommendations and ones to avoid from the world of TV, radio and cinema. Enjoy. Any feedback welcome!

If I didn't feature this Poliakoff written and directed drama in my early posts, I should have. I first watched it when ...
17/08/2025

If I didn't feature this Poliakoff written and directed drama in my early posts, I should have. I first watched it when it premiered in 1999 and then again about 10 years ago when I bought the DVD to watch it with Beloved and now, again, on BBC4 recently, it is available on I player and is a must watch.
Beautifully acted, primarily by the classy Timothy Spall and Lindsay Duncan, with a memorably haunting soundtrack by Adrian Johnson, it's an achingly beautiful watch, especially for those of us who aren't absolutely convinced that all technological advances are for the best.
Take you time. Soak it up. Savour every moment.It's worth it.

And here's trouble with these luvvie duvvie nominations.What a load of drivel this was.If I could have walked out after ...
01/03/2025

And here's trouble with these luvvie duvvie nominations.
What a load of drivel this was.
If I could have walked out after 30 minutes I would have done and saved 2 hours of my life that I'll never get back.
Don't waste your money or time. Go and watch I'm Still Here instead.
If The Substance wins ANY award tomorrow night, the Oscars process will have lost any crediblity it had.

Nominated in all kinds of categories for The Oscars on Sunday night, I'd be amazed if this doesn't doesn't pick up a cou...
28/02/2025

Nominated in all kinds of categories for The Oscars on Sunday night, I'd be amazed if this doesn't doesn't pick up a couple of awards - not always a reliable endorsement, having said that.
Either way, this is a really ,really good film, a beautiful film, a worthy film that will linger long in the memory.
It recounts the true story of an ex congressman living an idyllic family life beachside in Rio de Janeiro who gets taken from his wife and 5 children by the authorities in the military state of Brazil in the 70's.
Fernanda Torres is outstanding as his wife but there is so much more.
The casting, sound effects, soundtrack and continuity are all exemplary but the takeaway is the contrast between the before and the after of the family's upheaval and Torres's stoicism in the face of adversity.
A fully merited Oscar nomination in so many ways.

Few words needed. Close the curtains.Switch off the phone. Banish your bewilderment at the staggering counterintuitivene...
12/01/2025

Few words needed. Close the curtains.Switch off the phone. Banish your bewilderment at the staggering counterintuitiveness of Ms Reeves and immerse yourself in Series 2 of Peter Kosminsky's adaptation of Hilary Mantel's novels.
Wollow in it....like a fine wine.
Sublime.

Rewatching Series 1 and 2, before tucking into new series.Absolute quality.
11/11/2024

Rewatching Series 1 and 2, before tucking into new series.
Absolute quality.

Hurry. Rearrange your schedule.You might only have 24 days left on All4 to watch Alice and Jack before they pull it.It i...
20/02/2024

Hurry. Rearrange your schedule.
You might only have 24 days left on All4 to watch Alice and Jack before they pull it.
It is hard to fathom how the majority of critics have waxed so lyrical over the sugar- coated, incredulous One Day to the detriment of Channel 4's similarly themed six parter.
In spite of all the constraints, it's not a film, it's on TV, it's got adverts, it's a love story (just warning you), A & J knocks One Day into a cocked hat.
There is not a single aspect of this drama that I didn't love.Casting, acting, sound, setting, editing, all flawless but the screenplay - Wow!
Take a bow Victor Levin.
Escape all the depressing s**t going on and immerse yourselves.X

Extraordinary these critics. Just watched the first episode of Channel 4's Alice and Ted. There's more wit, intrigue, ch...
16/02/2024

Extraordinary these critics.
Just watched the first episode of Channel 4's Alice and Ted. There's more wit, intrigue, characterisation, credibility, casting, acting, directing, screenplay in this drama's little finger than the whole of One Day.

Have Netflix got all the critics on the take?The amount of effusive reviews had me and Beloved all snuggled up wine in h...
13/02/2024

Have Netflix got all the critics on the take?
The amount of effusive reviews had me and Beloved all snuggled up wine in hand, ready for a bit of Valentine's week romantic viewing, but again, we were woefully hoodwinked by the Netflix gushers.
In spite of the pleasant locations, it just doesn't work.
There is still absolutely zero chance that the 2 leads would ever have met up again after Encounter 1, let alone stayed in touch for several years after.
Dexter is a predictable, nice looking, public school educated swordsman of limited intellect (whether you approve or not), but Emma is meant to be intriguing, beguiling, elusive, quirky and slightly controversial but she's not. Quite the opposite in fact.
4 episodes in, the only redeeming characterisations are an excellent supporting cast.
Don't even bother.You'll be very disappointed.

The second New Year recommendation is MR BATES VS THE POST OFFICE showing now on ITV or catch up on ITVX.Toby Jones can ...
04/01/2024

The second New Year recommendation is MR BATES VS THE POST OFFICE showing now on ITV or catch up on ITVX.
Toby Jones can do no wrong at the moment and he leads a strong cast, commercially directed but it is the story that's the killer.
It recounts the campaign led by Mr Bates to gain justice and to establish the truth as to how hundreds of innocent sub-postmasters were wrongly accused of stealing from the Post Office when actually the knowingly underhand manipulation of a newly installed computer system was to blame.
The subsequent suffering as a result of the bullying and obfuscation of blame over 20 years beggars belief and will leave you angry and distressed.
This is a must see if not from the artistic sense but just to remind you not to accept being channelled around a maze of websites and emails when challenging unaccountable corporate behemoths.

A couple of New Year recommendations for you.The long term Bradley Cooper project, Maestro, is a highly creditable piece...
04/01/2024

A couple of New Year recommendations for you.
The long term Bradley Cooper project, Maestro, is a highly creditable piece of work.
As you will recall, I'm not a huge fan of musicals et al and so a biography of Leonard Bernstein was never going to particularly appeal but the professional aspect intertwined intriguingly with a precarious private life.
The direction, the performances from the two leads, Cooper and Carey Mulligan were faultless and will feature prominently come the Awards season.
As will the make up and costume which provided faultless continuity.
After a slightly frantic and unintelligible opening 20 minutes, this film grows into a masterpiece of cinema which can now be viewed on Netflix if you missed it in the cinema.
I was expecting a bit of self indulgence but what we got was the product of 5 years of devoted craftsmanship.

I thought I'd get in early to fulfill my duty in giving you a relatable opinion on the much hyped 'Napoleon' and ,dear r...
25/11/2023

I thought I'd get in early to fulfill my duty in giving you a relatable opinion on the much hyped 'Napoleon' and ,dear readers,it only requires one word -
Unengaging.

All the hype about Cate Blanchett is fully justified.The combination of her performance and the subject matter make for...
21/01/2023

All the hype about Cate Blanchett is fully justified.
The combination of her performance and the subject matter make for an utterly absorbing film which you could and should watch with your twenty-something daughter(s).
But try to get them to leave the phones behind because this is a slow burner which merits full concentration.
After a measured yet intriguing opening, any thoughts of tiktok will soon be banished as the tension (no spoilers here) is inexorably cranked up.
The high brow content is niche and original but it provides an aesthetically pleasing playing field on which this modern day controversy plays out- right to the very end.
If you do happen to go to see it on the back of this recommendation, please do give some feedback. This is only for and amongst friends and,of course, it is all subjective!

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