Apple TV+ Currently Watching

[NoCoder]

In isolation, most of the streaming services are good value, but if you watch a variety and also subscribe to streaming services for sport (Optus Sport, Kayo, Stan Sport, NBA League pass etc) + music streaming,  it all adds up.

 

I've now got most of them on a rotation, where I'll have some on for 1-2 months and the others are off, then switch them back.  I prefer to watch multiple episodes, so as long as I stay away from spoilers, it's fine.

 

A few of them are better on the 12 month subscription, so they're on all the time

[Ian McP]

The Pigeon Tunnel review – inside the extraordinary life of John le Carré

 

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/sep/11/the-pigeon-tunnel-review-the-extraordinary-life-of-john-le-carre

< The Pigeon Tunnel review – inside the extraordinary life of John le Carré

Errol Morris’s gentle interview allows the mesmeric writer to hold forth on how his relationship with dodgy dad Ronnie informed his life as a spy and novelist.

Errol Morris’s interview with the great English novelist John le Carré (born David Cornwell), deferential and unthreatening as it is, provides another example of a great truth in documentaries that the simple spectacle of clever people talking on camera is as gripping as any thriller. This one-on-one set piece in the classic Morris style (though co-produced by the author’s sons, Simon and Stephen Cornwell) was completed just before the author’s death in 2020.

Morris asks le Carré cordial questions about the great themes of betrayal and duplicity in his spy fiction and how they were inspired by his early life. Le Carré answers them with mesmeric fluency and charm, like a brilliant Oxbridge don who has brought a guest from the media to a special high table feast and treats his questions as an opportunity to hold forth. The answers are interspersed with clips from TV and movie adaptations of his work, old archive interviews and some dramatisations commissioned especially for this film.

The title is essentially black comic and bleak, related to the the author’s horribly disreputable father: the bankrupt conman and jailbird Ronnie Cornwell, immortalised in his 1986 novel, A Perfect Spy. Ronnie involved his teenage son David in his crummy, seedy lies, but would indirectly and subconsciously inspire him to find a profession in which shifty untruths could be transformed and redeemed as a good and even patriotic thing – spying. And then there was writing novels about spying: another level of non-truth. >

 

 

 

[Tweaky]

Season 4 of For All Mankind started last night, it poses some interesting possibilities if a few decisions in history had been made differently.

 

Just make sure you pay attention of the news headlines at the beginning of the episode to see what is different in the shows timeline, compared to ours.

 

Also Lessons in Chemistry is turning out to be a good show, it differs from the book in certain areas, but is still a good story told well, with a good script and fine acting.

If the series doesn't deviate from the original book it is based from, I would think this will be a single series show.

[Tweaky]

Well the 6th episode of Slow Horses concluded series 3 today, and a cracking episode it was, as well as set the plot for the forthcoming series 4.

 

The script for all three series has been amazing, easily the best show on TV for the last 18 months.

 

From the trailer for series 4 I saw that there will be a few new actors involved, one being Hugo Weaving.

 

[cazzesman]

14 minutes ago, Tweaky said:

Well the 6th episode of Slow Horses concluded series 3 today, and a cracking episode it was, as well as set the plot for the forthcoming series 4.

 

The script for all three series has been amazing, easily the best show on TV for the last 18 months.

 

From the trailer for series 4 I saw that there will be a few new actors involved, one being Hugo Weaving.

 

 

I read a recent review of Slow Horses (which I love).   The writer suggested that with Gary Oldman's acting and attire, you don't need 'Smell-O-Vision' to actually get a sense of his clothing and body odor.    

 

Classic and oh so true.

 

I will watch the final tonight.

 

Regards Cazzesman

[Ian McP]

Hope we don't have to wait too long for season 4! Hugo Weaving's always very good at playing baddies!

 

https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/ustv/a46128987/slow-horses-season-4/#slow-horses-season-4-potential-release-date-when-can-we-expect-slow-horses-season-4

Edited December 29, 2023 by Ian McP

[Tweaky]

11 hours ago, Ian McP said:

Hope we don't have to wait too long for season 4! Hugo Weaving's always very good at playing baddies!

 

https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/ustv/a46128987/slow-horses-season-4/#slow-horses-season-4-potential-release-date-when-can-we-expect-slow-horses-season-4

Well they obviously already have some, if not all of season 4 in the can already I would think, given that they have already shown the trailer for it.

From memory I think it was about 7 months between seasons one and two, and about 9 or 10 between seasons two and three.

 

I'll take a guess it shall be on our screens around late May 2024, maybe a bit sooner, as they are always only 5 or 6 episodes to a series, they might make a series 5 to be screened around the same time as this last one, for next year.

I certainly hope so.

 

As I read in a review, just to watch Slow Horses by itself it a good enough reason to get a Apple TV subscription.

[Ian McP]

The books I've heard are a fun read too!

 

https://www.mickherronbooks.com/slough-house-series

[Ian McP]

Getting  good reviews

Criminal Record

https://tv.apple.com/au/show/criminal-record/umc.cmc.1sbjeoma6tvxgda6l0h4bb0x3

 

https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2024/jan/10/criminal-record-review-peter-capaldi-and-cush-jumbo-are-great-alone-together-theyre-mesmerising

 

*  *  *  *

< Criminal Record review – Peter Capaldi and Cush Jumbo are great alone. Together, they’re mesmerising

We need an award for best joint performance and we need it now, for these two and their sublime turns in a clever, timely corrupt cop thriller

 

Apple TV+’s new drama opens at night with Peter Capaldi apparently working as a taxi driver, with two obnoxious characters in the back. The waves of fury and hatred roll off him. I want to note up top that Capaldi marauding the mean streets of London or Glasgow à la Taxi Driver is a show I would watch. Imagine Capaldi as a man forced into nightly proximity with humanity. Wouldn’t you give just about anything to see that?

Fortunately, this show gives him an almost equally sublime role to play. Criminal Record essentially functions as a showcase for Capaldi as DCI Daniel Hegarty, an old-school detective (of the un-bonhomous type), and Cush Jumbo as DS June Lenker, whose race and sex are enough for him to mark her down as part of the new guard.

Their paths intersect when a domestic violence victim makes an anonymous call suggesting that her partner might have previously killed someone called Amelia Burrows. Lenker finds out that Hegarty was the investigating officer on the Burrows case and the victim’s boyfriend, Errol Mathis, was charged with her murder. Mathis is serving a 24-year prison sentence – possibly wrongly.

Alone, Jumbo or Capaldi can hold anyone’s attention. Together, squaring off as adversaries, they are mesmerising. If ever there is going to be an award invented for best joint performance, make it this year, for them. Capaldi is terrifying as the cold predator sniffing round his prey, searching for weakness, prepared to wait for a quick, clean kill. Jumbo is fantastic as an opponent far from unaffected by all he brings to their contest – experience, connections, an indeterminable amount of malevolence – but resolving to go ever harder at him and at the truth about Mathis’s conviction and Burrows’s killer. We see Hegarty meet up with his old crew to check that previous arrangements will withstand a new inspection. >

 

 

[NoCoder]

2 hours ago, Ian McP said:

Getting  good reviews

Criminal Record

https://tv.apple.com/au/show/criminal-record/umc.cmc.1sbjeoma6tvxgda6l0h4bb0x3

 

https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2024/jan/10/criminal-record-review-peter-capaldi-and-cush-jumbo-are-great-alone-together-theyre-mesmerising

 

*  *  *  *

< Criminal Record review – Peter Capaldi and Cush Jumbo are great alone. Together, they’re mesmerising

We need an award for best joint performance and we need it now, for these two and their sublime turns in a clever, timely corrupt cop thriller

 

Apple TV+’s new drama opens at night with Peter Capaldi apparently working as a taxi driver, with two obnoxious characters in the back. The waves of fury and hatred roll off him. I want to note up top that Capaldi marauding the mean streets of London or Glasgow à la Taxi Driver is a show I would watch. Imagine Capaldi as a man forced into nightly proximity with humanity. Wouldn’t you give just about anything to see that?

Fortunately, this show gives him an almost equally sublime role to play. Criminal Record essentially functions as a showcase for Capaldi as DCI Daniel Hegarty, an old-school detective (of the un-bonhomous type), and Cush Jumbo as DS June Lenker, whose race and sex are enough for him to mark her down as part of the new guard.

Their paths intersect when a domestic violence victim makes an anonymous call suggesting that her partner might have previously killed someone called Amelia Burrows. Lenker finds out that Hegarty was the investigating officer on the Burrows case and the victim’s boyfriend, Errol Mathis, was charged with her murder. Mathis is serving a 24-year prison sentence – possibly wrongly.

Alone, Jumbo or Capaldi can hold anyone’s attention. Together, squaring off as adversaries, they are mesmerising. If ever there is going to be an award invented for best joint performance, make it this year, for them. Capaldi is terrifying as the cold predator sniffing round his prey, searching for weakness, prepared to wait for a quick, clean kill. Jumbo is fantastic as an opponent far from unaffected by all he brings to their contest – experience, connections, an indeterminable amount of malevolence – but resolving to go ever harder at him and at the truth about Mathis’s conviction and Burrows’s killer. We see Hegarty meet up with his old crew to check that previous arrangements will withstand a new inspection. >

 

Looking forward to this.

 

Loved Jumbo in The Good Fight and whilst I didn't really like the show, Stay Close, I still watched it all as she was solid in that too.

 

[STROP]

Coming very soon...Callum Turner and Austin Butler in "Masters of the Air," premiering 26 January, 2024 on Apple TV+. Episode 1. "Masters of the Air," premiering 26 January, 2024 on Apple TV+.

 

[NoCoder]

On 16/01/2024 at 12:27 PM, Ian McP said:

Getting  good reviews

Criminal Record

https://tv.apple.com/au/show/criminal-record/umc.cmc.1sbjeoma6tvxgda6l0h4bb0x3

 

https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2024/jan/10/criminal-record-review-peter-capaldi-and-cush-jumbo-are-great-alone-together-theyre-mesmerising

 

*  *  *  *

< Criminal Record review – Peter Capaldi and Cush Jumbo are great alone. Together, they’re mesmerising

We need an award for best joint performance and we need it now, for these two and their sublime turns in a clever, timely corrupt cop thriller

 

Apple TV+’s new drama opens at night with Peter Capaldi apparently working as a taxi driver, with two obnoxious characters in the back. The waves of fury and hatred roll off him. I want to note up top that Capaldi marauding the mean streets of London or Glasgow à la Taxi Driver is a show I would watch. Imagine Capaldi as a man forced into nightly proximity with humanity. Wouldn’t you give just about anything to see that?

Fortunately, this show gives him an almost equally sublime role to play. Criminal Record essentially functions as a showcase for Capaldi as DCI Daniel Hegarty, an old-school detective (of the un-bonhomous type), and Cush Jumbo as DS June Lenker, whose race and sex are enough for him to mark her down as part of the new guard.

Their paths intersect when a domestic violence victim makes an anonymous call suggesting that her partner might have previously killed someone called Amelia Burrows. Lenker finds out that Hegarty was the investigating officer on the Burrows case and the victim’s boyfriend, Errol Mathis, was charged with her murder. Mathis is serving a 24-year prison sentence – possibly wrongly.

Alone, Jumbo or Capaldi can hold anyone’s attention. Together, squaring off as adversaries, they are mesmerising. If ever there is going to be an award invented for best joint performance, make it this year, for them. Capaldi is terrifying as the cold predator sniffing round his prey, searching for weakness, prepared to wait for a quick, clean kill. Jumbo is fantastic as an opponent far from unaffected by all he brings to their contest – experience, connections, an indeterminable amount of malevolence – but resolving to go ever harder at him and at the truth about Mathis’s conviction and Burrows’s killer. We see Hegarty meet up with his old crew to check that previous arrangements will withstand a new inspection. >

 

 

Have watched the first 4 episodes of this and have really enjoyed it so far....looking forward to the story unfolding further

[Ian McP]

The New Look

 

https://www.theage.com.au/culture/tv-and-radio/ben-mendelsohn-and-juliette-binoche-are-french-fashion-icons-in-the-new-look-20240209-p5f3oe.html

Ben Mendelsohn as Christian Dior

who would have thought? Ben is very good indeed!

 

 

[keyse1]

1 hour ago, Ian McP said:

The New Look

 

https://www.theage.com.au/culture/tv-and-radio/ben-mendelsohn-and-juliette-binoche-are-french-fashion-icons-in-the-new-look-20240209-p5f3oe.html

Ben Mendelsohn as Christian Dior

who would have thought? Ben is very good indeed!

 

 

I’m liking it but (there is always a but)

Like the airforce one isn’t it a bit colourful in a visual sense

The ugliness of that time isn’t visible through the camera

Sort of too shiny and the lack of darkness makes it tricky for me to really engage with the ugliness of the story and it all seems not that bad

 

Likewise for the airforce show

[keyse1]

On 16/1/2024 at 1:27 PM, Ian McP said:

Getting  good reviews

Criminal Record

https://tv.apple.com/au/show/criminal-record/umc.cmc.1sbjeoma6tvxgda6l0h4bb0x3

 

https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2024/jan/10/criminal-record-review-peter-capaldi-and-cush-jumbo-are-great-alone-together-theyre-mesmerising

 

*  *  *  *

< Criminal Record review – Peter Capaldi and Cush Jumbo are great alone. Together, they’re mesmerising

We need an award for best joint performance and we need it now, for these two and their sublime turns in a clever, timely corrupt cop thriller

 

Apple TV+’s new drama opens at night with Peter Capaldi apparently working as a taxi driver, with two obnoxious characters in the back. The waves of fury and hatred roll off him. I want to note up top that Capaldi marauding the mean streets of London or Glasgow à la Taxi Driver is a show I would watch. Imagine Capaldi as a man forced into nightly proximity with humanity. Wouldn’t you give just about anything to see that?

Fortunately, this show gives him an almost equally sublime role to play. Criminal Record essentially functions as a showcase for Capaldi as DCI Daniel Hegarty, an old-school detective (of the un-bonhomous type), and Cush Jumbo as DS June Lenker, whose race and sex are enough for him to mark her down as part of the new guard.

Their paths intersect when a domestic violence victim makes an anonymous call suggesting that her partner might have previously killed someone called Amelia Burrows. Lenker finds out that Hegarty was the investigating officer on the Burrows case and the victim’s boyfriend, Errol Mathis, was charged with her murder. Mathis is serving a 24-year prison sentence – possibly wrongly.

Alone, Jumbo or Capaldi can hold anyone’s attention. Together, squaring off as adversaries, they are mesmerising. If ever there is going to be an award invented for best joint performance, make it this year, for them. Capaldi is terrifying as the cold predator sniffing round his prey, searching for weakness, prepared to wait for a quick, clean kill. Jumbo is fantastic as an opponent far from unaffected by all he brings to their contest – experience, connections, an indeterminable amount of malevolence – but resolving to go ever harder at him and at the truth about Mathis’s conviction and Burrows’s killer. We see Hegarty meet up with his old crew to check that previous arrangements will withstand a new inspection. >

 

 

And what an extraordinary leap in character for Jumbo after being a bit part in Vera

I assume getting killed in Vera was so she could take this role

I thought that getting killed was way over the top for Vera

[Ian McP]

On 19/02/2024 at 1:14 PM, keyse1 said:

I’m liking it but (there is always a but)

Like the airforce one isn’t it a bit colourful in a visual sense

The ugliness of that time isn’t visible through the camera

Sort of too shiny and the lack of darkness makes it tricky for me to really engage with the ugliness of the story and it all seems not that bad

 

Likewise for the airforce show

plenty of darkness in latest two episodes to air!

[keyse1]

2 hours ago, Ian McP said:

plenty of darkness in latest two episodes to air!

I’ve just been to see  Zone Of Interest

You would like it 

Shot in the right colour

[Ian McP]

On 23/02/2024 at 2:31 PM, keyse1 said:

I’ve just been to see  Zone Of Interest

You would like it 

Shot in the right colour

Has had very good reviews but subject matter just too grim for me. Sandra Huller also in Anatomy Of A Fall,

that's on my must see list.

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/nov/12/anatomy-of-a-fall-review-justine-triet-cannes-palme-dor-winner-sandra-huller

If you're looking for something lighter she's excellent in Toni Erdmann. Highly recommended. A few scenes will have you falling off your chair!

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/feb/02/toni-erdmann-review-maren-ade-peter-simonischek-sandra-huller

 

 

[keyse1]

28 minutes ago, Ian McP said:

Has had very good reviews but subject matter just too grim for me. Sandra Huller also in Anatomy Of A Fall,

that's on my must see list.

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/nov/12/anatomy-of-a-fall-review-justine-triet-cannes-palme-dor-winner-sandra-huller

If you're looking for something lighter she's excellent in Toni Erdmann. Highly recommended. A few scenes will have you falling off your chair!

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/feb/02/toni-erdmann-review-maren-ade-peter-simonischek-sandra-huller

 

 

Sounds good
That is 2017 so unlikely to ever see it

Ive seen the Anatomy Of A Fall  it is excellent 

 

[Godot]

“Who is this guy with the incredible cheek bones?”  
 

 

[Ian McP]

 

[Tweaky]

21 hours ago, Ian McP said:

 

I watched about 3/4 of the first episode, which shows his childhood and how he eventually made it onto TV, and came to the conclusion that I didn't realize just how unfunny Steve Martin is.

The clips of his performances from the 60's,70's and 80's are painful to watch, as he dies on stage over and over again.

Although I must admit I did find his movie 'The Jerk' pretty funny

[Tweaky]

On 18/03/2024 at 11:49 AM, Godot said:

“Who is this guy with the incredible cheek bones?”  
 

 

 

I tried watching this series but gave up near the end of the first episode.

The Mighty Boosh was weird and wonderful in a surrealist way, but this tries to take some weak 18th century story and adding a surrealist bent to it.

Its like watching kids dressing up in mummies clothing and putting on a performance in the lounge room.

Result is me changing channels, as this is very weak comedy

[cheekyboy]

25 minutes ago, Tweaky said:

I watched about 3/4 of the first episode, which shows his childhood and how he eventually made it onto TV, and came to the conclusion that I didn't realize just how unfunny Steve Martin is.

The clips of his performances from the 60's,70's and 80's are painful to watch, as he dies on stage over and over again.

Although I must admit I did find his movie 'The Jerk' pretty funny

 

You're probably aware that Steve Martin is a very talented musician, banjo player, and a regular member of the Steep Canyon Rangers. I prefer his banjo playing to his comedy too.

 

 

 

[Ian McP]

1 hour ago, Tweaky said:

I watched about 3/4 of the first episode, which shows his childhood and how he eventually made it onto TV, and came to the conclusion that I didn't realize just how unfunny Steve Martin is.

The clips of his performances from the 60's,70's and 80's are painful to watch, as he dies on stage over and over again.

Although I must admit I did find his movie 'The Jerk' pretty funny

Haven't watched the doco so I suspected that as the case, most American comedy leaves me stone faced.

Perhaps this episode on Robin Williams  is way better?

Dark Side of Comedy: Season 2 Episode 1: Robin Williams

https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/tv-series/dark-side-of-comedy/season-2/dark-side-of-comedy-s2-ep1/2314487875982