 |
| Sick Of Myself |
If you like your comedies to come from the darker end of the spectrum then this pitch black Nordic satire from Kristoffer Borgli is for you. Signe (Kristine Kujath Thorp) and her boyfriend Thomas (Eirik Sæther) have taken their competitiveness to almost fight-to-the-death levels. On the one hand, they are partners in crime, enjoying stealing stuff as a pair, but soon their levels of attention seeking prove much more toxic, and in Signe’s case that applies in a quite literal sense. Skewering white privilege and the media’s machiavellian approach to “inclusivity”, it also showcases excellent prosthetics courtesy of an increasing body horror element. Not all the humour lands successfully but the way that fantasy and reality begin to blur in Signe’s mind is never less than compelling.
The Godfather, 9pm, Film4, Wednesday, July 24
There's another chance to see all of Francis Ford Coppola's trilogy about the lives of a Mafia clan in America this week on Film4, with part two on Thursday and the 2020 cut of Part III on Friday. The first instalment is masterful across the board, from the central performances of Mafia kingpin Don Corleone (Marlon Brando) and his son Michael (Al Pacino) to the wide and deep supporting cast, including James Caan, Diane Keaton and Robert Duvall. The taut story shows how power is shifting from father to son amid changes in the post-war crime world. Definitely make sure you catch the follow-up on Thursday, which fits this instalment like hand in glove,although it’s fair to say your mileage may vary where the final film is concerned.
How To Train Your Dragon, ITVX, streaming now
This franchise of three features, not to mention numerous short films and TV series, continues to fly high with young audiences, with a “live action” remake due next year - though where they will find the live dragons is anyone’s guess. This first instalment of the DreamWorks trilogy about a young viking who forges an unlikely friendship is by far the best. Teenager Hiccup (voiced by Jay Baruchel) finds the forever war his viking settlement's adults are waging with dragons might not be the best way forward after discovering one of the creatures injured in the woods. There's plenty of smart observational comedy about what it means to be a teenager confronted with an adult world of recalcitrance in the script to lift above its more formulaic elements, while the dragon flight scenes deliver the adventurous goods.
Queen And Slim, 11.30pm, BBC2, Thursday, July 25
A blind date goes south fast after a young couple (Jodie Turner-Smith and Daniel Kaluuya) - who are most certainly not your usual outlaw types - are pulled over by a racist cop in Melina Matsoukas' twist on couple on the run classics. Far from having a mind for crime, the pair find themselves on the run by accident - although Matsoukas shows clearly how the odds of this happening are stoked heavily by ingrained systemic racism. Turner-Smith - who makes a big impression in her first feature - and Kaluuya are magnetic as the unlikely couple. The tone is sometimes a bit slippery but this is nevertheless an impressive debut from Matsoukas that doesn't pull its punches.
Hell Or High Water, 11.50pm, BBC1, Saturday, July 27
Scottish director David Mackenzie marries heist elements to a western vibe in this Texan take on the crime that sees brothers, ex-con Tanner and Toby Howard (Ben Foster and Chris Pine) robbing banks to save their family farm. Writer Taylor Sheridan knows how to stitch a story fully into a place – with Wind River and Sicario also great examples – although he’s moved more into TV these days with the likes of Yellowstone and Mayor Of Kingstown. In Hell Or High Water, he bakes his tale of brothers against the bank, or perhaps the American Dream, into the sun-cracked earth of the Republican state. As the brothers continue their spree, a close-to-retirement sheriff (Jeff Bridges, at his laidback best) is hot on their trail. The showdowns are suitably showy but it's the well-crafted characters, right down to the diner waitresses, that make this memorable.
The Water Horse, 2.30pm, Great Movies, Sunday, July 28
I feel as though we’ve not been including too much for kids recently in the Stay-at-Home, so don’t miss this family charmer, which transports Dick King-Smith's tale of a young boy who befriends a creature from a magical egg. Alex Etel, who was also fabulous in family film Millions, is terrific as the film's young lead and the Water Horse, named Crusoe, is well-realised. This is a gentle tale but one which builds an emotional but unsentimental resonance and is bolstered by strong support from Emily Watson, Brian Cox and Ben Chaplin.
The Shining, 10pm, BBC2, Sunday, July 28
Back in the schedules no doubt in tribute to the fabulous Shelley Duvall, who died earlier this month, she’s at her finest here as Wendy, the wife of a recovering alcoholic (Jack Nicholson), who has moved with him and their son Danny to the Overlook Hotel in the wintry off-season. Young Danny also happens to have psychic abilities, which adds to the unsettling atmosphere as Stanley Kubrick leans into the ambiguities of Stephen King’s book. There are plenty of haunting visuals and supernatural elements at play here, but this is also a disturbing tale of domestic abuse and psychological fragmentation. Nicholson is at his unpredictable best here as the increasingly unhinged Jack, counterpointed perfectly by Duvall's performance as her character slips into desperation. Viewers of Those About To Die (out on Amazon this week and, frankly, not worth 10 episodes of your time), might note the best thing about it is the blood drenched opening credits which are surely after Kubrick.
To give you an idea of Kristoffer Borgli’s approach to satire, our short selection this week is Former Cult Member Hears Music for the First Time - another dark little number that played Sundance in 2020.
