Everything worth talking about in Film and TV right now

As we move into August, I have to admit I am becoming more and more excited for autumn and winter. This heatwave has got me craving a frosty morning and a 5pm sunset like never before.

Of course, the height of summer is never the busiest time for film and TV releases and I definitely haven’t been watching as much as I would in the colder months. But in saying that - we have just seen the biggest box office on record, and that has given me a lot of hope for the future of movie theatres.

I am spending my July and August working on a lovely feature film with a brilliant cast and crew; it has meant a lot of hot sweaty sets and electrolytes from the medic, but it has also meant lunches sat on the grounds of stately homes and giggles of delirium as we work late into breezy summer evenings - fuelled by iced coffee.

As I’m sure some of you know, working in the film and TV industry does mean long hours though, and as such I have had little time for the cinema or my TV screen! However, I did manage to make it to some of this season’s biggest releases -

What I have been loving recently

I am thoroughly enjoying season 3 of Silo - I adore this show, and Rebecca Ferguson is an actor I admire so much. What I love about this series the most though is that it’s not necessarily unique or new - the fact that its release is so closely in line with Amazon Prime’s Fallout only proves this - but the way Silo lets its audience discover the story, setting and background is crafted so brilliantly that it feels new. It’s a very very good show, and if you haven’t given it a watch, do. Dystopia doesn’t get much better than this.

I did also get to the cinema to see The Odyssey, and Obsession - both of which I loved. The spectacle of The Odyssey was very impressive - and whilst I do agree with a lot of the criticism around Nolan’s depiction of some of the greatest female characters of all time - I overall loved the experience of watching it. And it was an experience. The sound that the cyclops made? Genius choice. It was haunting.

Obsession, too, I thought was brilliant. Inde Navarette and Michael Johnston were incredible, and it was brilliantly crafted. I was really interested to learn that after initial test audience reactions to the film, they actually re-shot some of it to make it seem even more like Bear was the villain. I agree - he absolutely is, but I still felt the film left it more open to interpretation than I would have liked. At least, I’ve seen a few people on social media still trying to defend him!

And finally, just last night I went to a late screening of Spider-Man: Brand New Day - god Marvel like to make me cry with this franchise huh? I do really like the way Spiderman, and the New Avengers, are really dealing with the aftermath of the events of Infinity War and Endgame; there’s a new emotional depth to these movies that feels very relevant right now. That being said, Brand New Day is also fun, and full of brilliant action sequences and a fantastic performance from Sadie Sink.

What has been happening in the world of film and TV

In the world of film and TV news - aside from every actor ever being cast in a biopic of someone I am not that interested in - it feels like there is a lot going on right now!

HBO announced a Gilmore Girls documentary, which as both a lover of Gilmore Girls and a lover of behind the scenes features I can’t WAIT for. No release date yet but I hope it’s soon…

News of the Barbie sequel also hit headlines this week as discussions over cast contracts get underway, and the deadline of December this year gets ever closer. If there is to be a sequel, it needs to get signed off before then as that’s when Warner Bro’s current deal with Mattel expires - and then who knows what might happen. I hope we get it though, god I want to see what Greta Gerwig does with Barbie next!

Marvel made two big cast announcements - which I’m sure none of you missed; David Jonsson will be taking over T’challa’s crown as the next Black Panther, and Ryan Gosling is Ghost Rider. I have to admit - I don’t know who Ghost Rider is, but I would watch a three hour vacuum cleaner commercial if Ryan Gosling was in it.

We also have a few exciting new releases to look forward to this month - a lot of you seem really hyped about The End of Oak Street - as am I! I mean, what a cast and what a premise. I’ll definitely be getting to the cinema for this one.

And then of course, The Dog Stars - Ridley Scott’s latest, starring a fabulous cast including Jacob Elordi, Margaret Qualley and Josh Brolin. I have seen very little marketing for this and know little of what to expect, but I do love a dystopian thriller so count me in.

Finally, Tony - which debuted to a perfect 100% on Rotten Tomatoes - is probably August’s biggest release. I don’t love biopics if I’m honest (and oh my god there are a lot of them in the works right now aren’t there?) but the brilliant reviews are suggesting this could be an award season front runner, and I am genuinely interested in Anthony Bourdain’s story.

So tell me, what’s exciting you the most right now? Is there something I’ve missed you think people should absolutely be talking about? Let me know.