Three more weeks inside and keeping safe at home, means one thing – I’m back with more film, and for the first time, TV series recommendations to help you get through your weekend.
So go to the shops, stock up on your snacks, put your phone away and enjoy these great films and TV series.
Covering all cylinders, we've got films that are available on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Sky Cinema and Disney+!
Musical: La La Land (2017) – Netflix
Director: Damien Chazelle – 128mins – Age Certificate: 12
I’m not going to beat around the bush, La La Land is the most Marmite film of the 2010s. You will either love or hate this film. It was infamously announced as the 2017 Oscar Best Picture, until the Academy realised they messed up, and the gong actually belonged to Moonlight.
The first 30 minutes of this film is filled with catchy tunes and some wonderful choreography, before it effectively downs tools and transforms into a romance, following aspiring actress Mia Dolan (Emma Stone – who won scooped Best Actress at the 2017 Oscars for this performance) and struggling jazz pianist Sebastian Wilder (Ryan Gosling).
Critics loved this film, as it joined All About Eve (1950) and Titanic (1997) by receiving a record-tying 14 Oscar nominations, winning in six in categories including Best Actress and Best Director.
Personally, this film is a modern great, and if watching with your partner, expect one of you to fall in love with Emma Stone while the other falls for Ryan Gosling. The soundtrack is amazing, it's shot beautifully- it's just very, very good - let me know what you think!
Guy Movies Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Comedy: Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016) – Amazon Prime Video
Director: Taika Waititi – 101mins – Age Certificate: 12
New Zealand filmmaker Taika Waititi is certainly on the cusp of becoming a household name after directing and starring in both Thor: Ragnarok and this year’s hit; JoJo Rabbit. The Kiwi recently signed a deal to direct and write a Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Netflix series; so he's hot property.
2016’s Hunt for the Wilderpeople is another fantastic hit starring Sam Neal (Jurassic Park) and Julian Denninson (Deadpool 2), that’s set in Waititi’s homeland.
Ricky (Denninson), abandoned by his mother, is taken to a remote farm to live with foster parents Bella and Hec (Neal). After the sudden death of Bella, Hec tells Ricky that the authorities will take him back, so Ricky fakes his own suicide and runs off inter the wilderness with his dog; Tupac.
This film is good fun, hilarious and if you like it, I urge you to watch much more of Waititi’s work.
Guy Movies Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Thriller: The Hurt Locker (2008) – Amazon Prime Vide
Director: Kathryn Bigelow – 131mins – Age Certificate: 15
Some may have seen this Kathryn Bigelow spectacle that won six Academy Awards in 2009, including Best Picture and Best Director, but I embarrassingly only saw this for the first time last weekend, and wow, this film is special.
Set in 2004 during the Iraq War, Sergeant William James (Jeremy Renner) arrives as the new team leader of a US Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal, however his teammates Sergeant Sanborn (Anthony Mackie) and Owen Eldridge (Brian Geraghty) aren’t impressed with his reckless tactics and James’ apparent thrill of meddling with danger.
I advise you to continue to wear your smart watch during this edge-of-your-seat war thriller which encapsulates the psychological aspect that soldiers are put through. This film is superb, and everyone should see it.
Guy Movies Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Superhero Fix: Shazam (2019) – Sky Cinema
Director: David F. Sandberg – 132mins – Age Certificate: 12
While everyone decides to make the most of their Disney+ account by binge-watching the Marvel Cinematic Universe (just as I advised you to do so), Shazam! is a recent DC success story.
We’ve all got our own view on Man of Steel, Suicide Squad, Batman vs Superman and Justice League, but Shazam! is DC’s attempt of making a superhero film that doesn’t take itself too seriously.
The premise of the film, an orphan who is chosen by a wizard to grant him the power to turn into an adult superhero when he shouts Shazam, sounds crap. But the script is sharp, the characters are likeable and it’s fun!
It’s far-fetched and stupid at times, but this is exactly what David F. Sandberg wants, and in the current climate everyone just wants a bit of a laugh, don’t they? Give it a go.
Guy Movies Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
TV: After Life Series 1 (2019) - Netflix Director: Ricky Gervias – Six Episodes (24-30mins) – Age Certificate: 15
If you’ve not already seen this, where have you been for the last year? Ricky Gervais’ first series of After Life was an instant hit, and the second season drops on Netflix next week (Friday, 24 April).
Consisting of six 30-minute episodes, it’s an easy binge and even if you have seen it, I urge you to re-watch it this weekend in time for the new series.
Tony (Ricky Gervais), a journalist at the local newspaper the Tambury Gazette, is mourning his wife’s death from breast cancer. Tony is contemplating killing himself as he sees there being no point in being alive, and purposefully acts like an arsehole, knowing if it gets too much; he’ll kill himself.
After Life takes you on a rollercoaster of emotions from crying with laughter to scrambling around the house looking for the last tissue. This series is fantastic and well worth the watch.
Guy Movies Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Family Favourite: Wreck It Ralph (2012) – Disney+
Director: Rich Moore – 101mins – Age Certificate: PG
Disney had some major hits during the 2010s, with the likes of Frozen, Moana and Tangled becoming favourite films for many millennials, but Wreck It Ralph certainly deserves its spot in that list.
Set in an arcade, Ralph (John C. Reilly), is part of the game Fix It Felix, where Ralph’s character causes havoc on the outside of a hotel, while the user controls Felix to put everything back together again.
Tired of being the bad guy, Ralph decides to leave the game in the hunt of being the good guy in another video game, with his actions causing bedlam throughout the arcade.
It’s a heartening and entertaining watch, and if you do enjoy this film then watch the sequel: Ralph Breaks The Internet – another well-crafted Disney film.
Guy Movies Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
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