This week’s picks
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Why is renowned journalist Katherine Ravenscroft burning books in her kitchen sink so early in the morning? This tricky, enigmatic, and sometimes surprisingly sexually explicit adaptation of Renee Knight’s novel , everything will be revealed in the end. Via flashbacks from various and perhaps unreliable perspectives, the picture focuses on a life shaped by a tragedy during a trip to Italy and a shocking act of selfishness. Elegantly directed by Alfonso Cuaron and starring Cate Blanchett and Kevin Kline, this film explores how we hone our memories as we grow older, and how we hone our memories until they are in a form that allows us to survive. This is a study on how to form the Complex, fascinating, and clever.
Apple TV+, starting Friday, October 11th
La Machina
Wishing you victory…Gael Garcia Bernal and Diego Luna of La Machina. Photo: Hulu
His nickname translates as “The Machine”. But boxer Esteban Osuna is given a very human sense of vulnerability by Gael García Bernal in this lively six-part drama. After the crushing defeat, Osuna is in a slump. He’s nearing the end of his career and, working with his somewhat sketchy manager Andy (Diego Luna), takes on one more fight in hopes of victory, redemption, and one last paycheck before retiring. But soon, the stakes are raised by instructions from a criminal organization with vested interests, and he is faced with an impossible dilemma.
Disney+, from Wednesday, October 9th
curfew
What would happen if men were banned from going out at night? …Sarah Parrish as Pamela Green in Curfew. Photo: Paramount Plus/Vertigo Films
In a world where reports of male violence against women are reported daily, this drama, based on Jane Cowie’s novel After Dark, presents a provocative setting. What happens if a man is not allowed to go out after 7pm? Sarah Parrish stars as Pamela Green, a detective who tries to get to the bottom of an unlikely crime under the circumstances: the brutal late-night murder of a woman. is playing. Investigation quickly reveals fault lines related to power imbalances within the system. Although interesting, it has its flaws. The world-building is never entirely convincing, and gender identity seems to be reduced to just two options in the most binary way imaginable.
Paramount+, from Thursday, October 10th
Ali Wong: Single Woman
Wonderful… Ali Wong: Single woman. Photo: Netflix
Last year’s outstanding dark comedy Beef perfectly showcased Ali Wong’s range of work. The song suggested a performer of considerable depth, oscillating between buttoned-down restraint and surprising outbursts of anger. In this stand-up special (her fourth on Netflix), she returns to the stage and explores a tumultuous period in her life. Their breakup in 2022 ushered in what she describes as the “era of divorced mothers.” She touches on everything from divorce itself to the pitfalls of dating as a single parent.
Netflix, starting Tuesday, October 8th
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killer cake
Great fun… Danielle Harris with killer cakes. Photo: Provided by Prime Video
It’s a baking competition, but this eye-popping two-part series is a far cry from the homely gingham feel of the Bake Off tent. Instead, have edible maggots, a bloody (but very tasty-looking) severed head, and a cake that spits out yellow bile when approached. Hosted by Scream star Matthew Lillard, Killer Cakes sees two teams work with Hollywood special effects artists to create a variety of disgusting and terrifying cakes. There is £20,000 up for grabs for the winner. It’s definitely silly, but still, a lot of fun.
Prime Video, from Tuesday, October 8th
Citadel: Diana
Score to be solved… Citadel: Diana. Photo: Marco Guidelli
This fast-paced and humorous thriller series was released last year and stars Richard Madden and Priyanka Chopra Jonas as they explore the origin story of the titular counter-espionage organization. Now, the world of Citadel has expanded to Italy, and comic book villain Manticore faces stiff competition from other organized crime groups. Our hero is Diana Cavalieri, played by Matilda de Angelis. A Citadel agent with a personal score to settle, he is forced to infiltrate Manticore Italia and destroy it from within in an incredibly cunning and ferociously violent manner.
Prime Video, from Thursday, October 10th
Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft
Full of flash and flair…Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft. Photo: Netflix
While not quite an origin story (the Survivor video game trilogy filled that role), this animated series definitely fills in a huge gap in Lara Croft’s timeline, and is set right before the original game series. is set to . Hayley Atwell voices an all-action adventurer who sets out to recover a Chinese artifact with dangerous powers. But in order to do so, he must abandon his friends and reflect on the events of his past. There’s nothing particularly subtle about this, but it’s accomplished with plenty of flash and flair.
Netflix, from Thursday, October 10th
