James Absolon explains how this Pope-themed film, despite its risky premise, works
Alex Pollard reviews Hollywood's biopic of the controversial Margaret Thatcher
Releases: The two main releases this week both fall slightly off of the mainstream radar but are still likely to give a rewarding cinematic experience. The most notable of these has to be Michael Moore’s latest documentary Capitalism: A Love Story where he tries to examine America’s recent economic troubles as well as pointing many a finger at the perpetrators of the recession. Alongside this is a relatively profound segue into the moral implication of such a capitalist society.
Then there is Micmacs the latest release from director Jean-Pierre Jeunet (Amélie, A Very Long Engagement) which is an abstract satire on the arms trade as a man goes to find and destroy all the men responsible for the bullet that has become lodged in his brain. It’s a comedy caper that sees Jeunet return to the eccentric routes that made us first take notice.
For local cinema listings click on the respective cinemas: CityScreen, Reel, Vue
News: A film telling the life story of Kurt Cobain is in the works with a director and writer having been confirmed as signed up to the project. No favourites for the lead role have been named yet, but for such a large role that requires singing the betting on a Jonas brother being approached is sadly rather high. Also in film news this week is the amazing news that Christopher Nolan (the guy who brought us The Dark Knight no less) has been taken on as a consultant for the future Superman movie. Here’s hoping that it won’t turn out as badly as Bryan Singer’s attempt a few years ago.
News: Last Friday’s ambitious live episode of Eastenders was a massive success for the BBC, with peak of 16.58 million viewers tuning in to see Bradley Branning fall to his death whilst running from the police and his new wife Stacey being revealed as Archie Mitchell’s killer. Information is finally starting to come out about the new series of Doctor Who, mostly in the form of a teaser trailer along with a new image of The Doctor and Amy.
Looking on the distant horizon, American network The CW has already announced which of its shows are definitely getting renewals – we’ll be seeing 90210, America’s Next Top Model, Gossip Girl, Supernatural and The Vampire Diaries all back on our screens next year (phew!). But the fates of long-time favourites One Tree Hill and Smallville are yet to be determined...
New Series: Romantic comedy drama Married Singled Other comes to ITV1 this Monday at 9pm with more than a whiff of Cold Feet about it. If you’re feeling a bit risqué, try new series Hung (Thu 10:45pm, Channel 4), the American male equivalent, shall we say, to Secret Diary of a Call Girl.
Listings Highlights and Returning Shows: A new series of Masterchef (a gift of a programme for procrastinators everywhere) started last Thursday and continues this week (Wed 8pm, BBC1), while the second series of BBC1’s apocalyptic drama Survivors finishes on Tuesday at 9pm. And if you’re an idiot and haven’t been watching Being Human every Sunday on BBC3, now’s the time to catch up on iPlayer as it’s the penultimate episode this week, so there’s not much time left to admire its magnificence (and “its magnificence” only partly means “Aidan Turner’s beautiful, beautiful face”.)
With British endings comes American beginnings...sitcom Two and a Half Men returns this week (Mon 9pm, Comedy Central) – will eternal bachelor Charlie really settle down with new fiancée Chelsea? Brilliant award-winning show Damages, which sees Glenn Close playing a ruthless New York lawyer, returns with a new season as well (Wed 10:45pm, BBC1). And if you enjoyed the first season of Deep South vampire drama True Blood, the second season is getting its UK premiere on FX (Fri 10pm).
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