Prime Small Screen Choices: 7 Essential Movies This Coming Week
Pick of the Week
The Substance Film
Director Coralie Fargeat's bold satire examines the demanding standards for female beauty and the feared consequences of ageing. Hollywood star Demi Moore presents a brilliant portrayal playing Elisabeth, a 50-year-old film star reduced to presenting an aerobics show on TV. Edged out due to her deceitful superior her manager Harvey, she undergoes a secretive and terrifying process known as the Substance. This produces a youthful duplicate called Sue, culminating in a progressively toxic connection between them. Friday 17 October, the streaming service Paramount+
This Mystery Thriller
This Agatha Christie-esque mystery includes Keira Knightley as Laura, a top-notch writer who decides to take a hiatus from writing about global conflict to board a luxury cruise alongside a terminally ill Scandinavian billionaire and charitable figure, her spouse, and other filthy rich individuals. But after a mysterious woman disappears from the ship during the evening and all passengers claims she was never there, the reporter's sleuthing skills awaken. Streaming currently, the Netflix platform
Presence
Steven Soderbergh tests his creative boundaries in this innovative ghostly tale shot entirely from the perspective of the phantom. When a household with Lucy Liu as Rebekah plus Callina Liang as Chloe settles into their fresh home, the camera – as the unseen entity – shadows their actions. The daughter appears conscious of the ghostly being, and it looks like defensive toward her. However, the motive remains? It's a fun idea that remains concise, including a revelation that may be unexpected. Saturday 11 October, afternoon and evening times, Sky Cinema
The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent
Nicolas Cage wholeheartedly adopts his eccentric image through this meta comedy caper. He portrays an egotistical celebrity named Nicolas Cage who takes on a lucrative offer to visit a festive event in Mallorca for the rich superfan Javi. Recruited by government spies to spy on the potential kingpin, Cage's “nouveau shamanic acting ability” proves useful. October 11th, evening, on Channel 4
This Creepy Thriller
Scott Derrickson's contained scarefest holds up well despite the lack of a follow-up. Taking place in 1970s Colorado, multiple kidnappings has made the children on edge. After Finney is taken by the kidnapper and imprisoned in a basement, he fears the worst. But the disconnected phone in the room continues to ring, with spooky callers giving advice, and the intuitive nightmares from his sibling Gwen might rescue him. An effective horror. October 11th, nighttime, the Film4 channel
The Eyes of Tammy Faye
In the battle between spirituality and money, it's a knockout win for greed in Michael Showalter's delightfully tacky true story of the disgraced religious broadcaster and her felon spouse. The actor plays the corrupt Bakker, who declares at the beginning, claiming divine approval for wealth. Both individuals set about capitalizing on the people's religious faith. It's a spectacle of tacky decor, excessive cosmetics and bad faith, yet the lead actress succeeds to show the character in a likable light. Next Tuesday, late night, the Film4 channel
This Espionage Thriller
The current week's second offering from the filmmaker presents a spy mystery as precise like the turtlenecks used by Fassbender's British agent. He receives a mission with uncovering a traitor inside the organization from five suspects – one of whom is his own wife. Both actors are experts of deadpan cool, leading to a delightful mind game of fact versus fiction develops. Tom Burke, Regé-Jean Page, Naomie Harris and Marisa Abela participate the intelligent intelligence fun. This Friday, various showings, Sky Cinema
