Prime TV Selections: 7 Essential Movies This Coming Week
Pick of the Week
The Substance Film
Director Coralie Fargeat's daring critique addresses the demanding standards for feminine aesthetics and the dreaded aspects of growing older. Hollywood star Demi Moore offers an inspired performance playing Elisabeth, an aging celebrity forced into presenting a fitness program on the small screen. Forced aside by her slimy boss Harvey, played by Dennis Quaid, she turns to an enigmatic and terrifying process known as this experimental method. This produces a new version of herself named Sue, culminating in a progressively parasitic dynamic between them. This Friday, the streaming service Paramount+
This Mystery Thriller
This Agatha Christie-esque story stars Knightley as Laura, an ace reporter who takes a hiatus from reporting on world issues to join a luxury cruise with an ailing Norwegian shipping heiress and donor, her partner, and other extremely wealthy passengers. However when an unknown lady goes overboard overnight and everyone insists she wasn't real, her journalistic curiosity take over. Streaming currently, on Netflix
This Supernatural Story
Soderbergh pushes his film-making abilities with this nifty supernatural story captured wholly through the eyes of the phantom. As a family with Lucy Liu as Rebekah and troubled teenage daughter Chloe settles into their recent residence, the filming device – as the unseen entity – shadows their actions. Chloe seems aware of the poltergeist, and it looks like protective of her. But why? It's a fun idea that avoids overstaying, including a revelation that may be unexpected. This Saturday, multiple showings, the Sky channel
Nicolas Cage's Meta Comedy
Nicolas Cage wholeheartedly adopts his cult stardom through this self-referential adventure. He plays an egotistical film star named Nicolas Cage who agrees to a million-dollar gig to attend a birthday party in Mallorca for the rich superfan Javi. Contacted by the CIA to investigate the suspected cartel boss, Cage's unconventional method comes in handy. Saturday 11 October, prime time, the Channel 4 network
The Black Phone
Scott Derrickson's contained scarefest holds up well without requiring a sequel. Located in 1970s Colorado, multiple child abductions has left the children anxious. When Finney gets captured by the villain and locked up in a basement, he dreads the worst. Yet the old telephone mounted nearby keeps ringing, with spooky callers providing assistance, and the prophetic visions of his sister Gwen may be his salvation. A genuinely scary movie. October 11th, 10.50pm, the Film4 channel
The Tammy Faye Biopic
In the conflict between spirituality and money, the winner is obvious for materialism in this director's brilliantly over-the-top film adaptation regarding the shamed TV preacher and her felon spouse. Garfield portrays the greedy Jim, who proclaims at the beginning, “God does not want us to be poor,”. He and Tammy Faye commence monetising the American public's spiritual convictions. It's an extravaganza of bad interior design, overdone appearance and hypocrisy, yet the lead actress achieves to present the character as a sympathetic figure. Tuesday 14 October, 1.15am, the Film4 channel
This Espionage Thriller
This period's another release from Steven Soderbergh delivers a espionage tale as sharp as the polo necks used by Fassbender's intelligence officer. He is tasked to discover a double agent within their ranks out of five possibilities – one of whom is Kathryn, played by Cate Blanchett. The two stars excel of understated style, so a delicious psychological game of fact versus fiction unfolds. Additional actors participate the clever spy entertainment. October 17th, various showings, Sky Cinema Premiere