Take Five

With almost a quarter of 2017 gone already I thought it was time for a list.

I think I’ve watched more quality films at the beginning of this year than I did in the whole of last year. As for TV, with some big names returning to our screens shortly, it’s been a bit thin on the ground, but I’ve already watched one show that’ll make my top 5 of 2017.

Below are a list of shows and films that are worth hitting the couch with a big bucket of KFC and working towards a heart disease.

1. Paterson

Now this film may not be for everyone but I was all over it like a bowl of potato and gravy.

Jim Jarmusch has always been a favorite director of mine as he very rarely does cliché. Paterson is no different, for the most part very little happens in this film story wise. There are no flashy camera or editing techniques, no major stars attached and it doesn’t have a giant animal, monster, or terrorist threatening to destroy mankind.

So why even bother getting your hands greasy with chicken fat you may ask?

Because Jarmusch does simplicity and routine without irony or negativity. In fact, Jarmusch celebrates these traits turning them into the things that make Paterson so worthy.

The film follows a, poem writing bus driver named Paterson, living in Paterson New Jersey, and his stay at home artistic wife, played magnificently by Iranian star Golshifteh Farahani.

Their story of a simplistic and routine life becomes intriguing, humorous and worthy when told by the master director.

At its core Paterson is a delightful film about regular people doing regular things. To be honest like 98% of the world.

So give it a go and enjoy being ordinary.

2. Moonlight

After the fiasco at the Academy Awards most of you will have heard of Moonlight.

The film that didn’t, then did win Film of the Year. Moonlight is truly worthy of the statue, far more than Blah Blah Land anyway.

It actually surprised me that Moonlight won, as the film deals with African American male masculinity in the United States and mixes clichés with issues generally not touched on in main stream film making. Identity, sexuality, masculinity, bullying, family and parenting are all investigated in Moonlight.

The film is beautifully shot and directed and is divided into three chapters—“Little,” “Chiron” and “Black”—the three names used to refer to the same person that we follow from childhood through adolescence to adulthood. He’s a boy and then a man who has trouble figuring out his place in the world, which is also articulated by the character being played by three separate, all-remarkable actors.

I don’t always agree with The Academy but they got it right on this occasion, I highly recommend you watch Moonlight.

3. Taboo

Tom Hardy’s star continues to ascend with his latest role in the TV series Taboo.

The show which follows Hardy as Adventurer James Keziah Delaney, long believed to be dead, returns home to London from Africa in 1814 in order to inherit his late father's shipping empire. Delaney’s business aspirations are hindered by an 1800’s version of corporate greed in the form of the East India Shipping Company.

What transpires throughout the series is an uncomfortable story of vengeance, conspiracy, betrayal and bloodshed. All set against the background of a grimy, poxy, ugly looking London city.

It was the realistic filthiness of both the characters and the city, plus Hardy’s acting which captivated me from the first episode.

Honestly you’ll need a knife and fork for your KFC while watching this, I felt like a shower after viewing each episode.

4. Manchester by the Sea

Despite the negative attention received by Casey Affleck, his acting performance in Manchester by the Sea was worthy of the Academy award for best actor.

Affleck has found it hard to deflect the back cloud hanging over him after he was accused of sexual harassment and fair enough too. It shouldn’t be swept under the carpet just because you’re good at your job.

Manchester by the Sea is a great drama and Affleck’s performance as a Boston janitor who takes on his dead brother’s son is some of his best work.

The film deals with real life issues and Affleck’s character is dealing with his fair share of those. Manchester is not a happy film and Affleck hardly cracks a smile throughout, but despite its bleakness the film is highly watchable. Director Kenneth Lonergan probably better known as a writer does a great job using the surroundings to compliment Affleck’s depressed demeanor.

Despite the bleakness this is a fantastic film and Casey may have finally proved he’s the best actor in the Affleck family.

5. Gimme Danger

When someone told me Jim Jarmusch was making a documentary about Iggy and The Stooges, my excitement levels were similar to when you first smell KFC at the drive through.

Ok maybe that’s just me….

The Stooges who have been described by many as “the greatest rock n roll band ever” needed their story told and, who better than Jarmusch right?

To be honest the director treads lightly on Iggy and the band and you can tell he’s an unabashed fan.

I was slightly disappointed with some of the directors’ techniques especially the use of animation to cut between the interviews, it didn’t really work for me.

I also would’ve liked to have heard more about the drug and alcohol abuse, even if that has been done a million times before. I’m a sucker for excess in all its forms.

Overall though I enjoyed the documentary, and could listen to Iggy tell stories all day.

If you’re old like me and remember Iggy in his heyday this is appointment viewing.

Rents