Noel Woodward

Category: The Big Little Screen

  • TV Shows That Need to be on Your Radar

    TV Shows That Need to be on Your Radar

    Here’s a bunch of new shows I’m really looking forward to – all neatly categorised according to their respective networks. It’s going to be a good year for television!

    Apple TV+

    No. They haven’t paid me for this post you’re about to go through. But they probably should. There’s a whole standalone piece – Why Apple TV is Slowly becoming a Force to Reckon With – I’ve got in cold storage which, now more than ever, needs to see the light of day. Especially since, Apple’s been gobbling up shows left, right and centre & becoming a safe haven for some brilliant sci-fi projects – The Murderbot Diaries + Neuromancer are on their way as well!

    Masters of the Air

    Now Streaming

    ‘Masters of the Air’ is a shiny to addition and finally completes the set – Band of Brothers & The Pacific. It’s a solid adaptation but if you really want to know where it all started, then here you go!

    Masters of the Air explores the aerial wars of WWII through the enlisted men of the Mighty Eighth Air Force of the United States Army Air Forces.

    Constellation

    Now Streaming

    A strange yet riveting new sci-fi thriller with Noomi Rapace (Prometheus) & Jonathan Banks (Breaking Bad) in tow!

    When a fatal accident occurs on board the International Space Station, a lone astronaut makes the heroic journey back to Earth, only to discover key pieces of her life — including her young daughter — have changed.

    Criminal Record

    Now Streaming

    Peter Capaldi (Doctor Who) & Cush Jumbo (The Good Wife) hold this taut action packed thriller together as a game of cat & mouse ensues.

    In the heart of London, an anonymous phone call draws two brilliant detectives — a young woman in the early stages of her career and a well-connected man determined to protect his legacy — into a fight to correct an old miscarriage of justice.

    The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin

    Now Streaming

    This right here has got serious ‘Our Flag Means Death’ vibes.

    Dick Turpin is a legendary British motorway robber, whose success is defined mostly by his charm, showmanship and great hair. Together with his gang of rogues, he sets out on new adventures, all while trying to escape the clutches of a thief-taker.

    Manhunt

    March 15, 2024

    Part historical fiction, part conspiracy thriller, Edwin Stanton delves into the aftermath of the first American presidential assassination-and the fight to preserve and protect the ideals that were the foundation of Lincoln’s Reconstruction plans.

    Sugar

    April 05, 2024

    Private detective John Sugar investigates the disappearance of Olivia Siegel, the beloved granddaughter of Hollywood producer Jonathan Siegel. As Sugar tries to determine what happened to Olivia, he unearths Siegel family secrets, old and new.

    Dark Matter

    May 08, 2024

    The book was pretty predictable. But this should be fun!

    An expert in astrophysics sheds light on the topic of dark matter which has been one of the primary mysteries in modern physics.

    Franklin

    April 12, 2024

    In December 1776, Benjamin Franklin is world-famous for his electrical experiments, but his passion and power are put to the test when he embarks on a secret mission to France, with the fate of American independence hanging in the balance.

    Presumed Innocent

    June 14, 2024

    I’ll gladly watch anything this man does.

    A horrific murder upends Chicago’s prosecuting attorneys’ office, as one of its own is suspected of the crime.

    Prime

    Prime’s track record has been a little ‘hit & miss’ over the years. However, more than Netflix, I see Amazon as a worthy competitor to HBO.

    Expats

    Now Streaming

    I absolutely loved Lulu Wang’s ‘The Farewell’. But don’t go into this expecting much of the same. Nicole Kidman got on my nerves a bit, but the supporting cast really shines.

    A look at the personal and professional lives of a tight-knit group of expatriates living in Hong Kong.

    Mr & Mrs Smith

    Now Streaming

    Donald Glover and Hiro Murai – you’ve probably seen his stuff but haven’t been paying attention tsk tsk – unite for a crisp, action packed romantic comedy that definitely needs to be on your radar. Even though I adore Phoebe Waller-Bridge (Fleabag), I’m glad she left the show in 2021. Maya Erskine has been a revelation!

    John and Jane Smith become secret agents for a mysterious organisation. Their work puts both their skills as spies and their relationship to the test. The two have to deal with a world full of dangers.

    Fallout

    April 11, 2024

    I haven’t played the game but this looks like a fun ride nonetheless.

    In a future, post-apocalyptic Los Angeles brought about by nuclear decimation, citizens must live in underground bunkers to protect themselves from radiation, mutants and bandits.

    Netflix

    Aah! Welcome to the land of bloatware. Where anything and everything goes. Don’t get me wrong. Netflix has some certified gems but unless you absolutely know what you’re looking for, you’re probably going to spend most of your evening doomscrolling through the vast catalogue on offer.

    Avatar: The Last Airbender

    Now Streaming

    A fun okay-ish live action adaptation. Hardcore fans may not be excited about this though.

    A young boy known as the Avatar must master the four elemental powers to save a world at war and fight a ruthless enemy bent on stopping him.

    One Day

    Now Streaming

    I really need to see what all the fuss is about!

    After spending graduation night together, Emma and Dexter go their separate ways — but their lives remain intertwined.

    The Signal

    Now Streaming

    The random oddball that sticks out.

    After months in space, a reunion for astronaut Paula and her family seems close enough to touch. But when Paula’s plane vanishes without a trace, her husband Sven and daughter Charlie are left behind – distraught, distressed, and with a terrifying riddle that Paula left them from her travels…

    3 Body Problem

    March 21, 2024

    ‘The Three Body Trilogy’ is to hard sci-fi what ‘Dark’ is to Time Travel. ‘Nuff said.

    When the laws of nature inexplicably unravel, a tight-knit group of brilliant scientists must join forces with an unflinching detective to stop humanity’s greatest threat.

    Ripley

    April 04, 2024

    Calling all ‘Saltburn’ fans!

    A wealthy man hires down-on-his-luck grifter Tom Ripley to travel to Italy to urge his vagabond son to return home; Tom’s acceptance of the job is the first step in a life of deceit, fraud and murder.

    HBO/Max

    Now that the entire rebranding saga has come to an end, we can start focussing on what really matters!

    True Detective: Night Country

    Now Streaming on Jio

    A return to form for the franchise. Yeah, nothing will ever come close to the first season. But that’s the beauty of it!

    Police officers and detectives around the USA are forced to face dark secrets about themselves and the people around them while investigating homicides.

    The Sympathizer

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3HSTmG5Lhc

    April 14, 2024

    Near the end of the Vietnam War, a spy who was embedded in the South Vietnam army flees to the United States and takes up residence in a refugee community, where he continues to gather intelligence and report back to the Viet Cong.

    The Penguin

    Date TBA

    Matt Reeves and Greig Fraser (Dune) deserve all the credit for the tone and style when it comes to their Batman projects. Hope this leads to more spin-offs.

    The transformation of Oswald Cobblepot from a disfigured nobody to a noted Gotham gangster.

    The Franchise

    Date TBA

    Sam Mendes, Aya Cash and Himesh Patel? Count me in!

    The Franchise is an upcoming comedy television series created by Armando Iannucci, Sam Mendes, and Jon Brown.

    Dune: Prophecy

    Date TBA

    There isn’t a lot being spoken about this one. But a political thriller on the Bene Gesserits seems intriguing enough.

    Dune: Prophecy, expands the epic universe of Frank Herbert’s sci-fi masterpiece. Set thousands of years before the events of Dune, the prequel promises a thrilling narrative delving into the origins of the powerful Bene Gesserit order.

    Hulu/FX

    FX has consistently developed solid originals and adaptations over the years. Including one of the most underrated comedies of all time – You’re the Worst

    Shōgun

    Streaming Now on Disney+ Hotstar

    Touted as a cross between Game of Thrones and House of Cards, FX seems to have another certified hit as per of their arsenal.

    Set in Japan in the year 1600, Lord Yoshii Toranaga is fighting for his life as his enemies on the Council of Regents unite against him, when a mysterious European ship is found marooned in a nearby fishing village.

    The Veil

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGMmFC_GpXc&t=29s

    April 30, 2024

    While we wait for the next season of ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’, Elisabeth Moss & Steven Knight (Taboo) serve up a delectable spy thriller.

    The surprising and fraught relationship between two women who play a deadly game of truth and lies on the road from Istanbul to Paris and London; one woman has a secret, and the other has a mission to reveal it before thousands of lives are lost.

    Under the Bridge

    April 17, 2024

    Riley Keough (The Girlfriend Experience) and Lily Gladstone (Killers of the Flower Moon) team up in an adaptation of a best-selling true-crime thriller.

    The hidden world of the teenagers accused of a savage murder reveals startling truths about the unlikely killer.

    Showtime/Paramount+

    A Gentleman in Moscow

    March 29, 2024

    The revolution is here!

    A Russian aristocrat is spared from death and placed on house arrest for decades in an attic hotel room while the Bolshevik Revolution plays out before him.

    AMC

    Parish

    March 31, 2024

    We need a Gus Fring spin-off already!

    Grey Parish is pulled back into the crime world after the murder of his son and the collapse of his luxury car service he owns in New Orleans.

  • Top 10 Films, Documentaries & TV Shows | 2023

    Top 10 Films, Documentaries & TV Shows | 2023

    Here’s looking back at some of the best cinema and television – a mix of awesome stories, brilliant performances and spectacular filmmaking.

    Images are clickable

    Films

    Documentaries

    TV Shows

  • End of Year Film Marathon

    End of Year Film Marathon

    30 Films to Watch

    It’s that time of the year again! I’ll be sharing a curated list of films that you should catch before the year ends!

    One film every day! So stay tuned! And happy watching! 🙂

    Note: Click Images for Trailers
  • Good Reads • In Ascension by Martin MacInnes

    Good Reads • In Ascension by Martin MacInnes

    ‘In Ascension’ is a hauntingly nuanced and astonishingly dazzling novel that catapults you from the depths of the ocean to the vastness of space, and plays out in parts as an extraordinarily riveting and nail biting eco-thriller only to surprise us all as it magically transfigures into a sci-fi epic for the ages. 

    Oh boy. What a book. 

    Long listed for this year’s Booker Prize, this intimate, ambitious, and sprawling work of fiction continuously evolves, morphs and coalesces into a living breathing entity unto itself, Martin MacInnes’ ‘In Ascension’ is nothing short of being a literary masterpiece. 

    Everything is connected. Inextricably so. It is the nature of things. 

    “Galaxy’ comes from the Ancient Greek for milk. People looked at the density of stars and saw birth, maternal sustenance scattered across the sky.”

    Forged to take the reader on a thrilling and mind bending escapade – with discovery being a potent & provocative literary device – this slow burn novel soon transforms into a shining light. 

    However, for a book that revels in its ability to invoke a sense of awe and wonder, I was slightly taken aback by the rather long and unnecessary blurb. I urge you to skip past any mention of it and head to the first chapter.

    But here’s a spoiler free variant. Thank me later. 

    An exploration of familial tensions, trauma, abuse & existence through the lens of a Dutch marine biologist – who traverses the world to pursue her passion all the while ostensibly stumbling upon the building blocks of life.

    “It’s a mistake to think of our origins, of all life’s origins, as belonging only to the past. It’s still there.”

    Apart from cementing his position as a gifted storyteller, MacInnes is extremely adept at world building – deeply layered and richly atmospheric – juxtaposed with narratives that depict and investigate the human condition as well as the relationships that bind us together. 

    Clocking in at around 500 pages – do not let that deter you – I found the experience to be exhilarating as I blazed through with an alacrity unlike any other – a testament to the author’s breathtakingly beautiful and impressively lyrical writing style.

    “I imagined a life of this, in close contact, as I saw it, with the stuff of the world”.

    ‘In Ascension’ is a hauntingly nuanced and astonishingly dazzling novel that catapults you from the depths of the ocean to the vastness of space, and plays out in parts as an extraordinarily riveting and nail biting eco-thriller only to surprise us all as it magically transfigures into a sci-fi epic for the ages. 

    There aren’t many books that leave a lasting impression and compel you to start reading them all over again once you turn the final page. This right here, has got what it takes. 

    Oh boy. What a book.

    What are you waiting for. Buy it now!

    P.S. A big shout out to Willow – over at Books & Boa – for urging viewers to dive headfirst into the marvellous depths of MacInnes’ genius. 

    Additional Resources

    Good Reads | In Ascension by Martin MacInnes

    Martin MacInnes discusses In Ascension and three books that have “shaped his writing.”

  • Good Reads • Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer

    Good Reads • Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer

    ‘Annihilation’ is a fantastically pieced together work of fiction that is as unnerving as it is delightful – revelling in its ability to be ambiguous and pushes the reader to draw their own conclusions.

    I vaguely remember firing this up on my Kindle a couple of years ago but somehow never got around to reading VanderMeer’s cerebral sci-fi eco-horror thriller. Cut to 2018, and Alex Garland – hot off the critical success of ‘Ex Machina’ – teams up with Netflix to release an adaptation of the book – the first in ‘The Southern Reach Trilogy’, which recounts an expedition by a team of four women who set out to explore a mysterious new ecosystem, called Area X. 

    While visually stunning and conceptually provocative, the psychologically esoteric and philosophically perplexing nature of the film did catch a lot of viewers – including myself – off guard. 

    But here we are. Five years later. And with me having blazed through it in under 3 hours. 

    ‘Annihilation’ is a fantastically pieced together work of fiction that is as unnerving as it is delightful – revelling in its ability to be ambiguous and pushes the reader to draw their own conclusions. Coupled with some slick, fast paced writing chops and tense nail biting sequences, VanderMeer masterfully conjures up imagery that is both hauntingly beautiful and vividly terrifying – evoking a sense of awe and dread of the unknown. 

    The gorgeously atmospheric and refreshingly original, ‘Annihilation’ will leave you clamouring for answers as you are led into a thought provoking labyrinth – coming out on the other side, not really quite the same.  

    Additional Resources

    Good Reads | Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer

    Jeff VanderMeer on the importance of themes, writing out of sequence, Annihilation and much more!

  • Good Reads • How High We Go in the Dark by Sequoia Nagamatsu

    Good Reads • How High We Go in the Dark by Sequoia Nagamatsu

    An ambitious, spellbinding and breathtaking endeavour that raises the bar for fiction across the board. Nagamatsu’s poetic narrative is a magnificent achievement!

    ‘How High We Go in the Dark’ is a hauntingly beautiful genre bending read that accentuates the horrors of climate change – a world blighted by natural disasters and a terrifying plague that escapes from the depths of the permafrost – while focusing on the will of humanity  and the power of resilience. 

    Written before the Covid Pandemic, Sequoia Nagamatsu’s prescient narrative immaculately captures a sense of atmosphere and unfurls a deeply layered and richly textured landscape, all recounted through short vignettes – from how the outbreak began to humanity’s response, spread across a 6,000 year period – ostensibly disparate yet interconnected events. 

    From Amusement Park rides being used to euthanise sick children to Elegy Hotels, the many narratives are as much about death and destruction as they are about grief, acceptance, family and a collective sense of being. 

    ‘How High We Go in the Dark’ refuses to pigeonhole itself into a particular category and renounces the age old tradition of labelling works. With nuance and subtlety, the collection of stories manages to oscillate between pure sci-fi to historical fiction – a heady concoction that is both fantastical and relatable at the same time. 

    Nagamatsu reaffirms the case for non-linear story arcs that make the reading experience all the more engaging and exciting. A sublime piece of speculative fiction – with a dazzlingly rewarding end – that dances, swirls and soars in search of hope and possibility, ‘How High We Go in the Dark’ is a magnificent achievement – one that will continue to transcend time & space as it hurtles its way across the galaxy. 

    P.S. This reminded me a bit of another speculative fiction story. Check out the film review here: Little Fish

    Additional Resources

    Good Reads | How High We Go in the Dark by Sequoia Nagamatsu

    Watch Sequoia Nagamatsu discuss ‘How High We Go in the Dark’

  • Good Reads • Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

    Good Reads • Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

    There aren’t many books out there that definitively explore the nature of friendship and passionate platonic love – one that blossoms and blooms but also withers and wanes. And it’s definitely safe to say there aren’t any with video game developers – as protagonists – in the mix!

    Here’s the gorgeous Book Trailer!

    Enter Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin.

    A charming boy meets girl story that evolves into a fierce relationship that spans three decades – in the author’s own words, “I have a hard time describing the book, but it’s broadly about love, art, video games and time.” 

    Gabrielle Zevin is completely in tune with the times and orchestrates a sprawling, evocative and vivid tale – with twists and turns not entirely different from the many virtual worlds she envisions as part of the narrative.

    The premise. Sadie & Sam are friends, partners and collaborators. But above all else, they love video games. As they grow older, drift apart and then get together again, they decide to start developing their own games.

    Fleshed out in the form of vignettes – from childhood to their late thirties –  Zevin weaves a delicate yet extremely imaginative yarn that often dives deep into the narrative process of game development and the importance of storytelling – albeit through a completely different medium. 

    There are moments of joy, sadness, despair, arrogance and insecurity layered within themes that explore identity, culture, and fear of the other.

    But above all, there’s a deep reverence for and great understanding of the art of creation that not only exists as part of the story, but also seeps into the visually textured description of some of the games that Sadie and Sam develop together. 

    Zevin incorporates nostalgia, heart and portions of her own upbringing and experiences in the book – which is a creation in itself – and so do our protagonists, whose stories and lives are intertwined within these rich and immersive worlds – that in my opinion, would make gorgeous games in themselves. (They actually went ahead and made one of them! Brilliant!)

    Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow is a modern masterpiece and one for the ages, with Zevin examining the fragility of relationships, the power of collaboration and the oscillating nature of the creative process. A rare gem that takes you on an inspiring, tender and thought provoking journey through time – one that comes full circle at the end.

    P.S. There are some shout outs to her inspiration, at the end of the book, and Indie Game made the cut. Great documentary. Go watch it! 

    Additional Resources

    Good Reads | Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

    Watch Gabrielle Zevin discuss ‘Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow

  • Good Reads • Hungry: Eating, Road-Tripping, and Risking It All with the Greatest Chef in the World by Jeff Gordinier

    Good Reads • Hungry: Eating, Road-Tripping, and Risking It All with the Greatest Chef in the World by Jeff Gordinier

    “Creativity is the ability to store the special moments, big or small, that occur throughout your life, then being able to see how they connect to the moment you’re in. When past and present merge, something new happens.” – René Redzepi’

    Jeff Gordinier takes you on a rip-roaring adventure through the lush jungles of the Yucatán peninsula, past the glistening beaches of Tulum and to the frigid depths of the Arctic Circle – all in search of the best ingredients that would coalesce to give birth to some of Noma’s most iconic, sumptuous and sometimes rambunctious dishes.

    Infused with the verve and vivacity of the force of nature himself – René Redzepi – Gordinier’s masterful prose is on display – a veritable smorgasbord that will inspire, tantalise and ignite a fire that propels you onwards.

    I‘ve followed Noma’s trajectory over the past couple of years and have always fantasised about being able to get onto that waiting list.

    But alas, the sudden announcement about its closure has extinguished that dream and has sent shock waves across the industry, which I’m sure, will continue to reverberate for many more years to come.

    However, there’s always a silver lining – the pop-ups are still a thing! But I digress.

    Gordinier’s work – from writing about food to interviewing Keanu Reeves – has led me down a path that is brimming with creative passion and imbued with excitement, heart, and an insatiable desire to connect with people.

    And in René Redzepi’s words, “Creativity is the ability to store the special moments, big or small, that occur throughout your life, then being able to see how they connect to the moment you’re in. When past and present merge, something new happens.”

    I went in to learn more about Redzepi. I came out discovering a masterful storyteller. For that, I am grateful.

    Additional Resources

    Good Reads | Hungry by Jeff Gordinier

    Longform Articles by Jeff Gordinier | Esquire Magazine

    Listen to Gordinier discuss ‘Hungry’ on The Ritch Roll Podcast

  • Top 10 Films, Documentaries & TV Shows | 2022

    Top 10 Films, Documentaries & TV Shows | 2022

    Here’s looking back at some of the best cinema and television – a mix of awesome stories, brilliant performances and spectacular filmmaking.

    Images are clickable

    Films

    Documentaries

    TV Shows

  • End of Year Film Marathon

    End of Year Film Marathon

    30 Films to Watch

    It’s that time of the year again! I’ll be sharing a curated list of films that you should catch before the year ends!

    One film every day! So stay tuned! And happy watching! 🙂

    Note: Click Images for Trailers