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| Moonlight - Stay At Home Photo: A24 |
Jenkins' film considers the shifting nature of identity as it dips into the life of gay African American Chiron at three points in his life. Mahershala Ali picked up an Academy Award for Best Supporting Role for his turn as an unlikely father figure, although any of its three faces of Chiron - Alex Hibbert, Ashton Sanders and Trevante Rhodes - is equally deserving of plaudits. The world of cinema is full of cliches about African-American life but Jenkins lifts the cloak to show the multi-faceted reality, in a film that also has a poetic grace in the way that it is shot. Listen out for Nicholas Britell's evocative scoring, which is as full of burgeoning imagery as Jenkins' visuals.
Collective: Unravelling A Scandal, 10.35pm, BBC4, Tuesday, October 4
Alexander Nanau previously made waves on the international festival circuit with Toto And His Sisters, and this damning documentary about the aftermath of nightclub fire that left 37 dead became the first documentary to be nominated from the country for the Oscars. The confidence in it is not unfounded as it became the first Romanian film to ever make the Oscars Best International Feature shortlist as well as snagging a nomination in the Documentary category. Beginning with harrowing scenes from the fire itself - which though a tough watch, are justifiable - Nanau's film goes on to take a deep dive into what happened next, as medics and bureaucrats, incompetence and corruption led to the death of many with what should have been survivable injuries. Nanau takes his lead and his speed from investigative journalist Catalin Tolontan and his team, as they begin to dig into the case and uncover a disinfectant scandal. Fast-paced and urgent, this is not just a documentary about the specific case in Romania but also shines a light on the way cover-ups and rule flouting can breed anywhere, particularly when they have the backing of "populist" media.
Animal Kingdom, 11.20pm, Film4, Tuesday, October 4
This gritty, psychologically-driven crime drama put David Michôd firmly on the map His film tells the story of J (James Frecheville in a breakout role), who after the death of his mother to a heroin overdose, finds himself thrust into his mother's estranged family - Smurf Cody (Jacqui Weaver) and her brood of boys (Ben Mendelsohn, Sullivan Stapleton and Luke Ford), whose violence runs very close to the surface. Weaver, who had been working in Australia for years, made an international name for herself and snagged a supporting actress nomination for her fluffy but foul portrayal of the family matriarch (she lost out to The Fighter's Melissa Leo). Mendelsohn also saw his international career soar after his intense portrayal of Smurf's top-dog son. "There's no doubt that David has that quasi-Shakespearean gift of being able to step into the psychology of any of his characters and take a peek at what the world might feel like for them," Mendelsohn told us at the time.
Laura, 4.55pm, Talking Pictures TV, Wednesday, October 5
Otto Preminger's superior film noir tells the tale of a detective (Dan Andrews) investigating the murder of Laura Hunt (Gene Tierney), who becomes increasingly obsessed. The film has two great lead performances but it's arguably Clifton Webb, as Laura's charming and sarcastic pal Waldo Lydecker and the film's narrator, who steals the show. With its excellent scoring from David Raksin, unpredictable plot and haunting ambiguity, this is every bit as gripping now as it was back in 1944.
The Beach Bum, 2.10am, Saturday, October 8
Jennie Kermode writes: Harmony Korine's playful and indulgent but sharp-eyed comedy drama features Matthew McConaughey as literary one hit wonder Moondog, one of those guys who wanders from party to party basically doing whatever he likes, charming people out of whatever he wants and never taking responsibility for anything. Though this looks on the surface like just another stoner comedy, Korine is smarter than that, showing us the cost of Moondog's behaviour (generally borne by others) and revealing the psychopath beneath the lighthearted banter and the silly clothes. Viewers who find themselves drawn into the dream of living a carefree life in the sun will feel all too acutely the emptiness this leaves behind.
We're back to David Michôd for our short of the week, I Love Sarah Jane, which he wrote along with its director Spencer Susser - whose latest short Ralph, a not-for-children stop motion animation against animal testing, can also be watched here. The earlier short also features an early performance from Mia Wasikowska as Sarah Jane.
Limitless, Great Movies, 11.15pm, Saturday, October 8
Bradley Cooper plays slacker writer Eddie who gets hold of a wonder drug that allows him to access 100 per cent of his brainpower - who wouldn't be hooked? Soon it's not just writing that holds his attention but the possibility of making it big on the stock market. Needless to say, addiction beckons and director Neil Burger puts us inside Eddie's head so that we get a feel of the rush and the comedown. Despite an ending that could have done with more tightening, this is a solid thriller to enjoy with a glass of wine on a weekend night.
Chicken Run, 2.35pm, BBC1, Sunday, October 9
War PoW films like the Great Escape get a feathered makeover in this family adventure - which marked Nick Park and Peter Lord's step up from Wallace and Gromit shorts to feature-length films. Much of the secret of the success of Aardman films is their obvious love of the original movies they are drawing on for their comedy pastiche and they handle the familiar plot beats and characters with care. In this animated adventure, a PoW camp is swapped out for Tweedy's Farm, where chickens show bravery in the face of the impending pie crust, as Ginger (Julia Sawalha) persuades American rooster Rocky (Mel Gibson) to help them get the pluck out. All the trademark Aardman stuff is here, from the culture clash between the very British characters and Rocky to the fiendish contraption the farmers use to turn the birds into pies and the intricate plan the birds hatch to escape.
