What We Are Watching This Week
Film & Television worth putting down your phone for
If, like us, you have been more than a little underwhelmed by tv and film of late, fear not! New releases are finally here and we couldn't be happier - from film exploring diversity and culture, to political dramas that thrill - these are our top-picks for the week and weeks ahead!
The Regime
If Succession has left a hole in your life, then this sharp Political satire might be just the one for you!
From the executive producers of Succession, The Regime stars Kate Winslet as the leader of a fictional European autocracy as her dictatorship begins to crumble. Available on screens now, the official synopsis reads:
“The darkly comedic six-episode series tells the story of life within the walls of a modern authoritarian regime as it begins to unravel. After not leaving the palace for quite some time, Chancellor Elena Vernham (Kate Winslet) has grown increasingly paranoid and unstable when she turns to a volatile soldier, Herbert Zubak (Matthias Schoenaerts), as an unlikely confidant. As Zubak’s influence over the chancellor continues to grow, Elena’s attempts to expand her power eventually result in both the palace and the country fracturing around her.”
Described as darkly comedic and cutting arguably quite close to the bone, this mini-series is worth a try! Available on Sky.
Monkey Man
Described as one of the best action movies of our time and drawing parallels to the beloved John Wick franchise, Monkey Man has very much been a passion project for actor, writer and director Dev Patel.
A neon-lit retelling of Ramayana's Hanuman story, Patel plays a character he names 'Bobby' who, as a child, lived in the forest with his single mother as she recounted spellbinding tales of Lord Hanuman, the Hindu monkey deity. One day, a greedy property developer - passing himself off as a spiritual guru - decides he wants this forest, and with the help of a corrupt police officer, brings tragedy to Bobby's door. Now grown, and driven by a desire for payback and terrible vengeance, Bobby infiltrates the criminal organisation, earning money as a bare-knuckled, monkey-masked fighter whilst biding his time to enact his revenge.
With Jordan Peele brought in as a producer, this wild action thriller gives an unflinching view of India's landscape in its retelling of one of the most referenced Hindu mythologies of all time. Set on the unhinged and teeming streets of Mumbai, the film tackles the intersectionality of religion, politics and law, and how casteism, classism and civil unrest is very much alive and thriving in Modi's India. It is without doubt, that this film shines a gleaming light on South Asian representation - from the appearance of Ustad Zakir Hussain to the Hijra (India's third generation) - and the systems of oppression existing within India, but Patel masterfully weaves his revenge epic into a tale that audiences around the globe will eat up.
Quite a feat for his feature debut! In Cinemas Now
Alexander McQueen : A Life in 10 Pictures
From a working-class kid in Stratford to one of the most influential designers in the world, Alexander McQueen was one of the most celebrated designers of his generation. Known for his exploration of dark topics, his designs married artistry with exceptional technical ability.
Now, a handful of iconic photographs and snapshots in this special programme reveal a new story about McQueen’s exponential rise, as well as his troubled mind and drug abuse, culminating in his suicide the day before his mother’s funeral.
This insightful biographical documentary throws a unique lens on the true, turbulent character of Alexander McQueen, the fashion great who died far too young. From iconic shots to private snaps – those who knew him share their stories from his incredible life.
Race Across The World
BBC's Race Across the World is back. Now on it's fourth series, five intrepid duos start from Japan's northernmost point to race to a finish line in Lombok, Indonesia.
Stripped of smartphones, internet access and their bank cards, they face unprecedented challenges on a limited budget to cross six seas and eight borders to reach the serene shores of an idyllic island paradise.
Starts this Wednesday 10th April on BBC One - you can catch up on all the previous series' now on BBC iPlayer!
Scoop
I'm sure we all remember where we were and what we were doing when the now infamous Newsnight interview with Prince Andrew and Emily Matlis dropped!
Netflix's Scoop, starring Gillian Anderson, Billie Piper and Keeley Hawes aims to go behind the scenes - examining exactly how the powerhouse trio of women secured the incendiary interview about the prince’s friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Streaming now, this fictional dramatisation offers an account of the inner workings of both newsrooms and Buckingham Palace. Admittedly the trailer is a little shaky for us - from questionable wigs to accents - but chronicling the work of women here is important, and if it is anything as good as Laura Richard's Interview on the topic with Sam McAlister (the producer and BBC booker of said interview) on the podcast Crime Analyst, it will be a worthy watch indeed!
