What to Watch Feb '24 Edition

February was a month for binge-watching old series and taking in some old and some new movies. In writing this, I toyed with whether to include things I partially watched because they were worth the time, or just concentrate on the ones that I enjoyed. I opted for the latter.

Movies

A League of Their Own (1992)

A movie about a women’s baseball league in the USA, that was formed during the war by baseball team owners who wanted to keep making money when all their star male players signed up to fight in WWII. The owners hit on the idea of fielding a women’s league to keep the punters happy and keep the money rolling into their coffers.

The film follows two sisters who are both talented but one is seen to be more talented than the other. The rivalry between the sisters hits its peak when the two must play against each other in the final deciding game of the series. Tensions and tempers flare, will older or younger sister prevail.

I like this movie, it’s a good Sunday afternoon watch and has an interesting foray into the role of women in sports and how it can conflict with their roles as mothers and wives (interestingly this has recently been in the news with major women sports personalities talking about the choices they have to make to pursue their sporting dreams at the highest level) Given its historical slant, set during the War, it also helps to understand that although successful, these ladies were soon thrown back to their ordinary lives as soon as the men came home, despite their success.

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At Middleton (2013)

A soft look at two parents, taking their kids on a college tour, one parent is eager to get their kid into the college, but the kid can’t see what the fuss is about. The other family vice-versa. What gives this movie its conflict is that the parents are basically the polar opposite of each other, but explore in one day, the things that make them who they are and what change they can inflict on each other. The kids too.

The film is a little soppy but it’s lighthearted and an easy watch.

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Constantine (2005)

Keanu Reeves stars as an exorcist with a difference in this cult classic. Constantine is engaged by cop Angela Dobson played by Rachel Weisz, to find out how her twin sister Isabel died. Weisz suspects foul play when her devout catholic sister’s death is ruled a suicide. The appeal of Constantine is the subject matter. He’s not a priest but he can exorcise demons, his abilities are not like anyone else and there’s not a whole lot of priestly activity in the movie. Contantines approach is solely based on his hatred of ‘half breeds’ but you’re long into the movie before you find out why this is so.

This movie has a stellar cast including Tandy Newton as Gabriel, Djimon Hounsou as a voodoo priest and Shia LeBeouf as a taxi-driving apprentice demon hunter and sidekick. The energy, pace and direction are great and the movie is well worth the watch.

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Elysium (2013)

Was this an instant classic? Not really, but a good watch still. It’s definitely one that I have in my library and watch it every few years. Starring Matt Damon, and set in a dystopian world where the wealthy have abandoned Earth in favour of a colony on the Moon, it shines a light on the crap we’re doing to our environment and lends credence (if a movie can do that), to actions we’re seeing play out right now where wealthy capitalists are destroying our natural world and making a race to transport those that can afford it off the planet to a utopian society created to service them.

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Gladiator (2000)

My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius, Commander of the Armies of the North, General of the Felix Legions, loyal servant to the true emperor, Marcus Aurelius. Father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife. And I will have my vengeance, in this life or the next.

The veteran British actor Oliver Reed died while filming this movie, they morphed his visage onto to a body double as part of the post-production process. I remember the first time I watched Gladiator and for me, the standout performance was Joaquin Phoenix’s portrayal of the Emperor Commodus. The depth that he brought to the character was my introduction to his talent and ability to fully inhabit the personality and convey a believable three-dimensional, and in this case highly flawed individual.

This epic production was a hit for me, it won loads of awards including five Oscars.

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Widows (2018)

If you’ve ever watched the 80’s TV series Widows, where the wives of a gang of thieves take over the family business when their fellas are all killed while carrying out a robbery, then you’ll recognise the storyline of this movie. Whereas the original story was set in London, this version is set in Chicago. Directed by British Director Steve McQueen, the movie stars Voila Davis, Cynthia Erivo, and Colin Farrell.

When three of the four wives of career criminals learn that they must pay back a debt owed by their husbands to a Chicago crime boss, they are left with little choice but to plan and execute the plans left to them to repay the debt.

The movie version is slicker and not as gritty as the series, and McQueen’s style is prevalent. The cast is good. I prefer the original but it’s a decent watch

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Series

Black Cake

The limited series Black Cake is It’s a well-crafted adaptation of the book by Charmaine Wilkerson. In the story, two siblings find out that their mother is not who they thought she was and have to deal with the ramifications of a life spent hiding the truth about herself. I’ve written a longer review for Black Cake

Where to watch: Disney+
Bingeable: Absolutely

Mr. & Mrs. Smith

This was ok. Interesting premise, slow to start but got interesting. The trouble is, not interesting enough for me to keep pressing ‘watch next episode’, may try again but probs not.

Where to watch: Amazon Prime
Bingeable: Not for me

Ripper Street

I do love a historical cop drama. Ripper Street is a romp through London’s Whitechapel, home of the Ripper and follows one of the cops who was part of the team that tried to track down the notorious serial killer as he tries to keep the streets of Whitechapel safe from undesirable elements. It’s a great time sink and I got through all six seasons during this short month. Entirely binge-able telly

Where to watch: Amazon Prime
Bingeable: Absolutely