Moneyball, Bennet Miller’s biographical baseball drama about Billy Beane, general manager of the Oakland Athletics, and his revolutionary approach to managing a sports team, was perhaps a surprise Oscar hit in 2011. It may not have won anything on the night, but six nominations is impressive for such an understated film – even one that … >
The second instalment of ITV’s Marcella from the creator of Scandinavian hit The Bridge begins with Anna Friel’s character in an upmarket doctor’s consulting room, and if we hadn’t already worked it out from her ‘blackout’ last week it’s soon made very clear that she has a problem. Her doctor (Richard Cordery) drops plenty of intriguing hints … >
As June wears on, we learn that both Peter Barden and his accountant Helen were killed in the car crash. The war casts a pall on Helen’s burial, as an air raid sends everyone to the shelter in the Bardens’ basement. Everyone except Frances, who can’t bear to go into the shelter and Sarah, who … >
ITV’s The Durrells continues to impress this week as the family adjust to their new life in Corfu. It’s a particularly trying time for Louisa, who’s already struggling to support her four wayward kids financially, when part of the ceiling collapses and their landlord refuses to cover the cost of repair work. Unfortunately for Louisa … >
One of the many joys with Big Finish’s new Torchwood series, apart from the great stories and range of authors, is catching up with characters we never thought we’d meet again. With ‘Zone 10’, writer David Llewelyn brings back Toshiko Sato (Naoko Mori), last seen dying in the second TV season story ‘Exit Wounds’. In ‘Zone … >
Something so restlessly grim as Line of Duty should not be so damn enjoyable to watch. No, wait. Is enjoyable the right word? Probably not. It’s not like you can say ‘I enjoyed’ when talking about the scene early on where Jonas Armstrong (remember when he was Robin Hood a billion Saturday nights ago?) giving … >
Following last week’s ugly confrontation between Geordie and Sidney, this week’s final episode of Grantchester begins with Sidney working his way through, if not exactly the ten commandments, certainly a series of vices. He’s smoking too much, he’s drinking too much, and he’s even trying to stick his hand up the skirt of the local … >
With the decision made to seek outside help for Joe, the third episode of Peter Bowker’s family drama found the family under close scrutiny from the start. From dad Paul, who uses humour as a defence in classic Chandler Bing style, to Maurice’s awkwardness, Eddie and Nicola’s obvious “unresolved tensions” and sister Becca’s detachment; no … >
In all the years I’ve been watching the show, there possibly hasn’t been quite as hyped an episode as this season finale, as it promised the first appearance of famous comics villain Negan, and an adaptation of his memorably brutal, iconic entrance. Unfortunately, while ‘Last Day on Earth’ comes close at points to capturing the … >
Marcella, ITV’s new crime drama, is created and written by Hans Rosenfeldt, the man responsible for Scandinavian hit The Bridge. With such an impressive pedigree, it would be rash to be too critical of its slightly lacklustre opening instalment. The episode is bookended by scenes of a shaken and bloodied Marcella (Anna Friel) waking up … >