Pick of the week
Wicked Little Letters
When a series of anonymous poison pen letters are sent to the prim resident Edith, portrayed by Olivia Colman, in a coastal town, suspicion quickly points to her neighbor Rose, played by Jessie Buckley. Rose is an Irish single mother with a boisterous, proto-feminist attitude. Thea Sharrock’s fact-based 1920s comedy highlights the humor in Colman’s habit of swearing, as the creative insults in the letters begin to target the entire community. Behind this curtain-twitching scandal lies a cautionary tale about how the victims of bullying and repression can find dark outlets for their rage. Yet, it’s the dynamic performances of Colman and Buckley that steal the show.
Out now, Netflix
Jericho Ridge
Nikki Amuka-Bird finally takes the lead in Will Gilbey’s real-time thriller, reminiscent of Rio Bravo and Assault on Precinct 13. Amuka-Bird plays a deputy sheriff who finds herself trapped in her station when unknown armed assailants attack. Alongside her are her surly teenage son Monty, played by Zack Morris, and a jailed domestic abuser named Earl, brought to life by Michael Socha. The mystery keeps you guessing as you wonder what the attackers are after. While some of the plot setups might be a bit obvious, the direction is sharp and the tension palpable.
Sunday 28 July, 2.50pm, 10pm, Sky Cinema Premiere
Unbreakable
Following the massive success of The Sixth Sense, M. Night Shyamalan creates another gripping tale with Bruce Willis at its center. In the first of what would become a superhero trilogy, Willis stars as David, an unhappily married security guard who discovers he can never be hurt after surviving a train crash. Samuel L. Jackson’s character Elijah, a comic book aficionado, believes David’s destiny is to be a crime-fighter. The film’s blend of graphic novel elements with an everyman origin story makes it a memorable watch.
Sunday 28 July, 9pm, Great! Movies
The Shining
In what could be seen as a tribute to Shelley Duvall, the BBC is airing Stanley Kubrick’s iconic horror film. Duvall plays Wendy, the wife of Jack Nicholson’s increasingly unstable caretaker, in a performance that earns her the title of “scream queen.” As they and their psychic son stay in an isolated hotel during the winter, they experience events that would leave anyone horrified. This beautifully shot film is designed to be as terrifying as possible and remains endlessly rewatchable.
Sunday 28 July, 10pm, BBC Two
Summertime
With upcoming charges for day tourists in Venice, David Lean’s 1955 romance “Summertime” might soon be the best way to appreciate the city’s wonders. Lean crafts a stunning postcard-perfect view that captivates Katharine Hepburn’s character, a lone American tourist, more deeply than Rossano Brazzi’s local charm. Their affair, tinged with a bittersweet edge, showcases Hepburn’s talent as a woman exploring new horizons mid-life.
Monday 29 July, 4.05pm, Talking Pictures TV
Mo’ Better Blues
Spike Lee’s film gives audiences a cool respite after the intensity of “Do the Right Thing.” “Mo’ Better Blues” tells the story of Bleek Gilliam, a Brooklyn trumpeter played by Denzel Washington, whose love for music drives his life. Navigating relationships with two women, Indigo (Joie Lee) and Clarke (Cynda Williams), and dealing with a power struggle in his quintet led by Wesley Snipes’s Shadow, Bleek’s life is as complex as the jazz music they play. The film is a vibrant celebration of Black jazz, with music penned by Lee’s father, Bill, and performed by the Branford Marsalis Quartet and Terence Blanchard.
Wednesday 31 July, 4.25am, Sky Cinema Greats
Cries and Whispers
Ingmar Bergman’s 1972 film provides a brutal yet cleansing emotional experience. Set in a childhood home drenched in oppressive blood-red hues, the story revolves around three sisters, one of whom, Agnes, played by Harriet Andersson, is dying a slow, painful death. As they await her passing, harsh truths about their repressed lives surface. Regular Bergman collaborators Ingrid Thulin and Liv Ullmann deliver powerful performances as sisters Karin and Maria. It’s a film that promises an intense viewing experience.
Thursday 1 August, 1.15pm, Sky Cinema Greats
Source: The Guardian