It’s award season! Here are some things that have won awards. And some that haven’t. Or won’t. Regardless, it’s a great time for film and TV so here are some of the highlights of the season:
FILM
The One That Will Win Everything:
OPPENHEIMER – in IMAX cinemas and available for purchase
A 3 hour long epic about the creation of the nuclear bomb doesn’t necessarily sound like the sort of film that could lead to being one of the most successful of all time. And yet, Christopher Nolan found the perfect subject matter for his unique style that propels story with energy, speed and by playing with time. Designed to be seen on the largest screen possible, watching on a TV may lack the visual and audio impact gained from seeing the film on a screen bigger than a house, but it’s still one of the very best of last year and a fascinating insight into a truly terrifying event.
The One That Probably Should Have At Least Been Nominated For Everything:
BARBIE – available for purchase
Look, I’ll just say it: not everyone will like this, and that’s ok. But it is brilliant on almost every level. Yes, Margot Robbie and Director Greta Gerwig should have been nominated for Academy Awards for their roles as lead actress and Director respectively, but it doesn’t take away from the fact the film is a dizzying and intoxicating riot of colour, energy and ideas. If nothing else, it was one of the best designed films of the year, with the travel sequences perfectly blending the ‘plastic toy’ aesthetic of Barbie classic travelogue film montages. Also: the soundtrack is brilliant.
The One That You Should Watch Despite What Everyone Says About The Running Time:
KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON – Apple TV+
Martin Scorsese’s latest epic crime masterpiece is much slower and thoughtful than some of his earlier, more kinetic works (GOODFELLAS, CASINO, THE DEPARTED, WOLF OF WALL STREET) but that’s because it’s a thoughtful, compassionate and sincere piece about a story that deserves attention. It is 3 and a half hours long though. Fortunately you can now watch at home via Apple TV+, so pause and take it in, a chunk at a time.
The One That Was a Pleasant Surprise:
WONKA – Coming to streaming soon
The original CHARLIE & THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY is a genuine classic. The 2005 remake is a soulless reincarnation; a shuffling zombie of a film. This ‘prequel’ starring an oddly cast Timothée Chalamet didn’t inspire many with its concept but given that it’s written and directed (and starring) many of the cast and crew from HORRIBLE HISTORIES and PADDINGTON, we should have had more faith. Nominated for a Best British Film BAFTA, Wonka won’t win, but it does charm everyone and radiate with joy in a way few of us were expecting.
The One That Everyone Is Talking About:
SALTBURN – Amazon Prime Video
Perhaps the most ‘viral’ of films on this list. After a relatively quiet cinematic release its availability on Amazon Prime Video over Christmas lead to a huge increase of discussion about it. Why? For one, it has a great cast of recognisable names and faces, including the current King of “where have I seen him before? Oh, everything” Barry Keoghan and it’s true that the scenes with Keoghan doing a whole host of unexpected “things” very explicitly on screen are what grabbed the attention of unsuspecting viewers, but it’s also the case that writer Director Emerald Fennel’s dialogue is sharp, original and eminently “memeable”. I’ll let you decide if that’s a good thing or not
TV
The One(s) That Won Everything
THE BEAR/SUCCESSION Disney+ / Sky Atlantic
Over the last few years, I’ve recommended both for very different reasons. If you’re yet to see THE BEAR, a warning: it’s almost unbearably tense and at times you might wonder why you’re watching. If you’re yet to see SUCCESSION, a warning: the characters are unbearable and at times you might be wondering why you’re watching.
On both though: you should watch as they’re tirelessly brilliant. THE BEAR is a genuinely extraordinary example of how TV can play with your emotions: the one-two punch in contrast of episode 6, Fishes, with episode 7, Forks, is something quite remarkable. SUCCESSION, in contrast, (generally) carries less of an immediate impact and more of a slow dry-heave of discomfort punctuated by a furious, involuntary spitting out of liquid at the bravado of the comedy. It’s a peerless show that ended last year with not only the best final season of arguably any TV show, but a final episode that ranks, rightly, as an all-time classic by itself.
The One That Probably Should Have Won Everything:
BETTER CALL SAUL
Except: I’ve not seen it. Genuinely. Not an episode. But everyone who has seen it loves it. Except those who give out awards it seems.
The One That Everyone Is Talking About:
THE TRAITORS – iPlayer
Another show we’ve recommended before. Another recommendation here after the majestic season 2 that recently finished. If you’ve seen it and want more, or hadn’t seen it but had the astonishing final 30 minutes spoiled, the Australian version of THE TRAITORS, also available on iPlayer, is a worthy companion.
The One That I’ve Not Yet Seen But Really Want To:
MASTERS OF THE AIR – AppleTV+
Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks worked alongside together to produce one of the greatest shows of all time in 2001 with BAND OF BROTHERS. They followed this up with the excellent THE PACIFIC in 2010 and now in 2024, add a third series, MASTERS OF THE AIR. Initial reviews suggest a classically made and faultlessly-produced epicm and I for one cannot wait to indulge.
Ian Moreno-Melgar
