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| Knives Out Photo: © 2018 MRC II Distribution Company L.P. All rights reserved. |
As we're entering the festive season, we're bringing you a Christmas selection box extension of the usual Stay-at-Home Seven - and wishing all our readers plenty of good viewing over the next week.
Knives Out, BBC iPlayer
The sequel to Rian Johnson’s murder mystery drops on Netflix on December 23, so now is a good time to catch up with the first instalment. Taking its lead from Agatha Christie, but with the emphasis on comedy, this is the sort of country mansion whodunnit that has ‘open a tin of Quality Street and enjoy’ written all over it. Daniel Craig’s southern fried detective Benoit Blanc steps in to investigate after a novelist (Christopher Plummer) is murdered. The all-star cast inludes Chris Evans, Jamie Lee Curtis, Michael Shannon and Toni Colette. It would be a crime not to watch it.
Back To The Future, ITV, 2.45pm, Monday, December 19
We’re firmly in the film season now and Robert Zemeckis’ time travel blockbuster has lost none of its charm down the years - hell, even some of the outfits like Marty McFly’s bodywarmer have come back in fashion. Marty, played by Michael J Fox, finds himself on a mission to the Fifties to make sure his parents fall for one courtesy of his mate Doc Brown’s (Christopher Lloyd) Delorean. Immersive visual storytelling, including an opening scene that required 20 clock wranglers, sharp characterisation and universal parent and kid themes have ensured its lasting appeal. Look out for the second and third parts of the trilogy on Tuesday and Wednesday about about the same time.
The Jungle Book, 2.45pm, BBC1, Tuesday, December 20
Disney's live-action remakes haven't always delivered on their promise but the best of them - including this and Mulan - succeed by bringing a sense of action adventure to the stories. Writer Justin Marks captures the spirit of Rudyard Kipling as Mowgli (Neel Sethi), the man child, finds himself on the kill list of Shere Khan (voiced with silky menace by Idris Elba) and embarks on a coming-of-age adventure with his friends Bagheera (Ben Kingsley) and Baloo (Bill Murray, in a part he was surely born to play). The jungle here may be a CGI creation but you can feel the rustle of every leaf, while director Justin Favreau embraces the darker elements of the jungle as well as the light to serve up a gripping adventure yarn that is a minor classic in its own right.
Shiva Baby, 11.20pm, Film4, Tuesday, December 20
Jennie Kermode writes: An exceptional young actor with a bright future ahead of her, Rachel Sennott shines in this shrewd, irreverent comedy about a shiva where people are keen to police one another's behaviour but everybody has a secret. Her character, Danielle, has two. There's the one her parents want her to keep: that she used to be in a relationship with another girl in attendance. And there's the one that she wants to keep: that he sugar daddy is there (along with his gentile wife and their shrill baby). She'd also like it if he didn't find out about what she's actually doing with her life, which is difficult when her mother wants to tell everybody everything about her as part of the process of finding her a nice young man. Meanwhile, her ex is frustrated by all the secrecy and questions whether she's serious about her sexuality, but it's clear that there's still something between them. There are plenty of stereotypes here, but they're deftly played, and the film entertains from start to finish.
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, 10.30pm, BBC2, Wednesday, December 21
This superior retelling of John le Carre’s novel sees Gary Oldman step into the world-weary and inscrutable shoes of George Smiley. He finds himself back at MI5 trying to identify a mole after the death of a fellow member of the service (John Hurt). Hard-boiled and fast paced, Tomas Alfredson doesn’t hang about in terms of plotting but that in itself makes this a tension-filled watch. The supporting cast features the great and good of British cinema, including Colin Firth, Toby Jones, Mark Strong and Benedict Cumberbatch.
The African Queen, 1.50pm, BBC2, Thursday, December 22
You might be glad of the cold weather after you’ve watched Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn sweat out the heat in this Oscar-winning classic directed by John Huston. Bogart plays a sailor with a penchant for gin opposite Hepburn’s prim and proper missionary as the pair end up on an odd couple river trip to try to sink a German gunboat. The slowburn romantic elements balance beautifully with the film's more comedic moments and its sense of adventure, as Bogart and Hepburn spark off one another - perhaps helped by the fact that Hepburn was a fan of Africa while Bogart was decidedly not. Shot by Jack Cardiff, the cinematographer had a few tricks up his sleeve, including filling a camera lens with feathers to mimic a swarm of flies. It earned Bogart his first and only Oscar and marks the only time he and Hepburn were cast together. If it puts you in the mood for watching classics be sure to stick around for Casablanca, which screens immediately afterwards.
Wild Rose, 9pm, Film4, Thursday, December 22
Jennie Kermode writes: Rose (Jessie Buckley) sings in real life venue the Grand Ole Opry. She dreams of leaving Glasgow to pursue her ambitions in the heartland of country music, Nashville, and yet this whole film is a love song to Glasgow. Her mother (Julie Walters) thinks dreaming is hopeless, uttering that grim phrase beloved of a certain generation of working class Scots, "What's for you'll no go by you," and wants her wayward daughter to focus on pleasing her parole officer and doing right by her kid. They are often at odds, but all the same, this is a film with a great deal of heart. Buckley evinces her trademark rawness and intensity. Nicole Taylor's punchy script is packed with great one-liners and the film mines a rich vein of culture clash comedy with Rose comes into contact with the privileged classes. There's also some great music - Buckley put on a live show after the film premièred at the 2019 Glasgow Film Festival, and her spirit comes through onscreen too.
Pokemon Detective Pikachu, 3pm, BBC1, Christmas Eve
It may be modern but there’s an old school sensibility to this Pokemon outing, which is enjoyably reminiscent of the likes of Who Framed Roger Rabbit? and Zootropolis. The estranged son of a detective (Justice Smith), is forced to team up with his dead dad's Pikachu to find out the truth of what has happened. Cue fun with the usual detective tropes and some added laughs courtesy of the humans' various Pokemon partners, not least a Psyduck, whose head threatens to explode every time it gets stressed - something we can all relate to at this time of year. The film hits that sweet spot of having plenty of parent appeal - Ryan Reynolds riffing as cuddly Pikachu, like a PG-rated Deadpool - plus lots for kids and Pokemon fans who will know before it is 'revealed' in the film what each creature's special powers are. The story is occasionally a bit on the scrappy side but there's plenty of humour and action to keep it on the rails.
Moulin Rouge!, 9pm, ITVBe, Christmas Eve
Power yourself through Christmas Eve with a blast of exuberance from Baz Luhrmann. This musical is big and brash but completely beguiling and, like the Spectacular Spectacular that the denizens of the Moulin Rouge are planning to stage, a "gargantuan bedazzlement".The plot, mirrored by the play within the film, involves a wet-behind-the-ears writer Ewan McGregor falling for star courtesan Satine (Nicole Kidman), who in turn is attempting to woo a rich and obnoxious duke (Richard Roxburgh, sporting a fine, twirlable moustache) so that he gives money to the establishment's impresario Zidler (Jim Broadbent). Essentially, it's show time and Luhrman never lets us forget it right from its big blousy introduction to the establishment which features a mash up of Smells Like Teen Spirit and Lady Marmalade among other things. He finds the sweet spot of sparkle and sleaze so that even though it's incredible on one level, it still feels slightly sweaty and seedy. Hang on to your top hat and enjoy the ride.
Airplane, 1.25am Film4, Christmas Day
If you find yourself still Christmas wrapping or peeling veg late into the night, give yourself a laugh while you’re at it with this comedy classic. Infinitely quotable, Jim Abrahams and David Zucker's film is the undisputed champion of disaster movie spoofs. Leslie Nielsen always knew how to pitch a sight gag perfectly and Lloyd Bridges, though better known for his more serious roles, deadpans along with aplomb. From the passengers assuming "crash positions" to Bridges, "Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit drinking!" and a flight crew "on instruments" on the flight deck, no joke is too silly - and if one doesn't land safely with you, another one is coming in right behind it.
Aladdin, 3.10pm, BBC1, Christmas Day
This action movie remake, directed by Guy Ritchie of all people, may not be as successful as the likes of The Jungle Book, as noted above, but it’s a solid piece of family entertainment to veg out to on Christmas afternoon. It sticks closely to the animated version as a street thief (Mena Massood) meets and falls for a beautiful princess (Naomi Scott), gets hold of magic lamp and transforms into a prince, only to discover winning his true love isn't going to be quite so easy as he thought. The attempts to beef up Jasmine’s role are commendable but the additional song, Speechless, is very jemmied in. The fantastical elements could do with the animation to help them soar but Will Smith makes an entertaining genie - no easy task when you’re stepping into the shoes of Robin Williams.
Catch Me If You Can, 10.55pm, Channel 4, Christmas Day
The true story of serial fraudster Frank Abagnale Jr is brought to the screen with panache and plenty of Sixties styling by Steven Spielberg. Leonardo DiCaprio turns up the charm to stun as Abagnale, making it easier to believe he managed to get away with as much as he did, including impersonating a doctor and an airline pilot. Tom Hanks has the less showy role here, as the FBI agent who will stop at nothing until he gets his man and brings nice comic touches to the part.
Hop on over to Vimeo to watch this week’s short selection - Conor McCormack’s moving and stereotype-busting documentary Christmas With Dad.
