“From Asteroid City to Official Secrets: The Top Seven Movies to Catch on TV This Week”
Pick of the week
Asteroid City
This is a difficult category to win, but Asteroid City could possibly be considered the most Wes Anderson-esque Wes Anderson film ever created. The main premise of the film appears to be about encountering extraterrestrial beings at a youth stargazing convention in the 1950s American southwest. However, what we are actually witnessing is a group of actors performing in a theatrical production about the stargazing competition. Or perhaps, we are watching a television documentary about the making of a play about the contest. With a complex structure, eccentric charm, and an incredibly talented ensemble cast, it may be challenging to fully grasp the entirety of Asteroid City, but it is certainly a thrilling experience.
On February 23, Sky Cinema will be featuring a premiere on Friday.
Full Time
Laure Calamy, known for her role as Noémie in Call My Agent, delivers a remarkable performance in Éric Gravel’s 2021 drama. Playing a single mother struggling to balance her hectic daily routine in the midst of a citywide strike, Calamy captures the character’s nervous exhaustion with masterful naturalism. From work to keeping her children happy to attending a job interview, she navigates through it all in a relentless and panic-inducing manner.
On Saturday, February 17th at 9pm, tune in to BBC Four.
Moonfall
Roland Emmerich has built a reputation for causing fear across the globe. In Independence Day, it was extraterrestrials. In The Day After Tomorrow, it was an ice age. In 2012, it was a combination of earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and mega-tsunamis. However, these were just warm-ups for his latest film, Moonfall. In this film, Earth discovers that the moon is hollow, serves as a military electromagnetic pulse device created billions of years ago to repel an alien attack, and is drastically off its orbit. It is difficult to find words to express how absurd Moonfall is – but that is meant as a compliment.
On Saturday, February 17th at 9:20pm, tune in to Channel 4.
The Letter Writer
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This film should not be mistaken for the 2011 movie with the same title. It is the first feature film by singer-songwriter Lalya Kaylif, whose screenplay was recognized at the 2015 Dubai international film festival. Taking place in 1960s Dubai, The Letter Writer follows the story of a young Arab nationalist boy who is hired every summer to work as a translator and letter writer. However, his routine of burning British flags is disrupted when he is asked to write letters for a gorgeous English woman. Reminiscent of Cyrano de Bergerac, this film is a heartwarming and genuine tale.
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Official Secrets
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Gavin Hood’s fact-based 2019 drama about Katharine Gun – the whistleblower who exposed an illegal US/UK spy network in the lead-up to the Iraq war – is a searing, angry film that grows and grows in urgency to the point where you’re left gasping for breath at the injustice of it all. Keira Knightley has never been better than as Gun, plus the film boasts stellar performances from Ralph Fiennes, Matthew Goode, Matt Smith, Indira Varma and Rhys Ifans, among many others.
Wednesday 21 February, 11,20pm, BBC One
Castaway
This movie is highly unlikely to be able to be produced in its current state.
The 1986 film Castaway by Roeg has gained an unusual reputation. Initially, the story, which is based on Lucy Irvine’s real-life experience of spending a year on a remote Pacific island with a stranger, may seem like a flimsy reason to constantly show Amanda Donohoe (as Lucy) in a state of undress. However, despite the marketing heavily emphasizing this aspect (one poster was essentially a large painting of a bottom), the film actually reveals a disturbing portrayal of a desperate and aggressive bully in Lucy’s cohabitant, Gerald, portrayed by Oliver Reed.
Thursday 22 February, 10.15pm, Talking Pictures
Mea Culpa
Tyler Perry’s level of productivity is unmatched – in the past decade alone, he has directed 10 films and starred in eight others. However, his latest project, Mea Culpa, takes his productivity to a new level. Described by Perry as a “crazy sexy thriller,” the film follows a lawyer (played by Kelly Rowland) who becomes entangled in a sexual journey with her client, a potential murderer. The film pays homage to the erotic thrillers of the 80s and 90s but also acknowledges its own absurdity, with Rowland’s character aptly named Mea.
Friday 23 February, Netflix
Source: theguardian.com
