July Film and TV - I have mostly been watching

Murderbot. - this series continued to be both gripping and fun, and by the end with a suitably satisfying ending that leaves room for more.  I love the way Alexander Skarsgård plays Murderbot as seriously uptight but with swirling roboty emotions he doesn't know what to do with - that can be bleakly funny a lot of the time and sometimes it's just sweet.  I love the homages to schlocky sci-fi which is both explicit and also tucked away for us to trip over on occasions.  I have really enjoyed the character development of the hippie scientist group from Preservation Alliance who manage to be both insufferably righteous, and also lovably messed up and human, particularly the gruff and suspicious Gurathin (David Dastmalchian).  I have seen Noma Dumezweni who plays the leader Dr Ayda Mensah in smaller roles, so it's good to see her stretching her wings in a lead - she also has such a calming voice I would definitely follow her into whatever risky but ethical stance she was taking.  I have developed a soft spot for all of these characters and I am really looking forward to another series. (series, streaming on AppleTV+)

The Bear - series 4.  This show often feels to me to be more of a vibe than a story, but this series in particular has been picking up and resolving narrative threads that have been bubbling along since the beginning. This keeps being described as a comedy though and I do struggle with that idea - to me at best it's a drama with some comedy. I have fallen a bit in love with Richie, although Carmy continues to be a self obsessed ass. And I enjoy the way the ensemble has been developed and grown over the last few years, including the inclusion now of Will Poulter who is a perfect ray of stillness.  And we still have Jamie Lee Curtis being face-meltingly fabulous. All of the characters are so well drawn, often we are understanding them just by side conversations and osmosis. . I am not sure if they are planning any more series but I am going to keep worrying about Syd even though she has finally made a decision. (series - streaming on Disney+)

The Handmaids Tale - the final episode landed at the beginning of July and after the rollercoaster and tension of the previous couple of episodes I wasn’t at all sure where this would go.  Interestingly, although it cleared up quite a lot of loose ends it left a lot dangling.  I felt a bit conflicted about Aunt Lydia’s reformation, but I am glad that Jenine got her happy ending, pretty much the only person who did.  I think it is right to end this story here but they have left themselves lots of wriggle room if they want to reboot later.  (series - streaming C4)

We Live in Time - With an amazing cast led by Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh this ought to be irresistible right?  It is certainly good, beautifully written and performed but somehow it just didn’t catch my heart.  I liked that Almut (Florence Pugh) was not always that likeable, although it did make it harder to believe that they would make it in the longer term as a couple.  The scene in the rink was well done, so maybe I have just become a hard hearted cynic, or maybe the great performances and writing couldn’t overcome the cliched heart of this story (Film - streaming on Netflix)

Palm Springs    I'm not sure why it took me so long to watch this romcom which riffs off a Groundhog Day scenario.  I like that it's the woman who takes the lead in solving the time loop, although Nyles is a bit of a cliche useless bloke which is a bit annoying.  I particularly liked that there is a solution which is science based rather than some kind of test to prove themselves to be good enough or love enough.   (Film streaming on Prime).

What it feels like for a girl - This had been recommended to me so many times and I had been putting it off.   I struggled with the first few episodes  but by the end I really liked it.  'Inspired by' a true story, based on the memoir by Paris Lees this is a coming of age story about Byron (Ellis Howard) growing up in a dysfunctional family and trying to find a place to fit.  This was the age of Section 28, and Byron doesn't fit in, going off the rails in spectacular fashion, having a hedonistic but, from an outside perspective, pretty grim time with family, friends, pimps, clients and lovers. Byron is certainly not easy to love or sympathise with as they make terrible choice after terrible choice. Self absorbed, vicious, sharp and sometimes just plain horrible to their friends and family, although often ascerbically funny.  But the way that by the end she owns her choices worked well for her redemption, even if the end was a bit sugary sweet.  It was very entertaining getting a look back at the music and fashion of the time (some of it absolutely terrible!). It's also very very funny in amongst the awfulness and I don't think I will ever be able to look at a toilet brush the same way again.  (series, streaming on iplayer)

The Assassin - enjoyable nonsense with Keeley Hawes as a retired assassin who gets a hit placed on her.  There are plenty of really stupid bits in this and thinking too hard about the plot isn’t recommended but it is fun enough to keep me watching.  Although the main plot was cleared up I suspect they are mulling over a second series which is probably a bad idea but that doesn't mean they won't go for it.  (Series, streaming on Prime) 

Red Road - bleak but beautifully crafted drama/thriller with a youthful Tony Curran and Kate Dickie and a baby Martin Compston.  Kate Dickie as Jackie watches people on cctv for a living, and has a life disconnected from reality in all sorts of ways.  Jackie spots someone from her past and seeks him out, and as she seeks revenge for something we are not clear on, she gradually reconnects with real life.  It’s from 2006 and it feels like all of the two decades away that it is, when cctv had real people watching the feeds.  Set in a gritty version of Glasgow, alienation and grief run through this and it made me want to go to watch Rear Window again.  The reason for Clyde’s actions and Jackie's search for retribution don’t become clear until the end.  It creeps up on you this one, a hard but worthwhile watch, perfect in almost every way. And I loved the Joy Division cover at the end. (Film, streaming on BFI Player) 

Moon (Mond) - this tense thriller focuses on Sarah who is a cage fighter at the end of her career.  She has terrible people skills so she’s not a great trainer.  But she gets offered a job as personal trainer to some Jordanian sisters.   Turns out they are more prisoners than spoilt princesses and Sarah is not cut out to be a saviour.  Claustrophobic and with no happy endings but thought provoking. I was yelling at the telly at one point - so tense but I'm not sure I would be any braver. How far are any of us prepared to go to do what’s right rather than walk away?  (Film, streaming on Mubi)