Converge Newsletter
Great TV series and films.
Music documentary
If you love music, you'll love this documentary. The Art of Listening explores the journey music takes to reach a listener’s ear — from the intent of an instrument maker and composer, to the producers and engineers who capture and preserve an artist’s voice.
🔗 youtu.be
Film
I've wanted to watch this directorial debut from Charlotte Wells for a while as it got such great write ups when it was released.
Animated Short
We seem less able to celebrate quiet, thoughtful people as much as we should imo.
TV Series
This is a really good little Australian comedy series written by and starring Patrick Brammall and Harriet Dyer.
🔗 imdb.com
Documentary
This documentary is a really well put together picture of skater, Tony Hawk's rise to fame.
🔗 youtu.be
TV Series
I devoured this eight part series about the 2022 Tour de France cycling teams and riders in a couple of sittings.
TV Series
This is a fantastic series from Amy Wong. Entertaining chaos and extremely funny dialogue ensue as two rage-fuelled drivers have a life-affirming feud.
TV Series
I'm already twitchy about the impending Succession shaped hole in my life. While it seems almost too obvious to add this to the newsletter, apparently some folks have never watched it?
🔗 hbo.com
Film
This is the story of 25 year old Freddie, who, on a whim, visits her birthplace of South Korea for the first time after being adopted and raised in France.
TV Series
The Gold is a gripping BBC dramatisation of London's 1983 Brink's-Mat gold robbery.
Film
This isn't an amazing film so much as an amazing story. It's based on the true story of two sisters, swimmers from war-torn Syria, and the risky journey they take to Germany to seek refuge, which ultimately takes them to the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Film
No doubt you've heard of this as it was everywhere a little while ago after picking up a whole raft of BAFTAs. But if you haven't watched, you really should – it's an incredible film.
Film
Whiplash is a 2014 film from director, Damien Chazelle. It's been sat on my 'to watch' list for years, but somehow I haven't got round to it until a couple of weeks ago. And man, was it worth the wait.
Film
I recently watched Tehran, the TV series and it reminded me of this fantastic graphic novel made into full animated feature, by Marjane Satrapi. So I rewatched it.
TV series
I picked up this series from an interview with Brett Goldstein (of Ted Lasso fame) as he exec produced it. And it does not disappoint.
TV Series
This is an interesting little collection of thirty minute-ish US immigrant stories, very varied and featuring folks from many cultures and backgrounds. Some episodes are much stronger than others, but the ones that resonate are often quite profound and get you right in the feels.
TV Series
I was late to this series about a group of failed MI5 agents who become embroiled in a far-right terror plot. It's part spy thriller, part black comedy. Gary Oldman is fantastic (when is he not?) as the world-weary, functioning alcoholic, Jackson Lamb.
TV Series
I watched this back in the summer and it’s one of my favourite TV series of this year. It’s excellent, in so many ways.
TV Series
I’m quite early into this series at the moment and really enjoying it. I just hope it lives up to my expectations. The bar has been set high, as it’s another one from German director, Baran bo Odar who’s behind Dark, one of my favourite series from a couple of years ago.
TV Series
I’m only a couple of episodes into The Peripheral and I’m already hooked. Based on William Gibson’s book of the same name (which for transparency I’ve not yet read so can’t draw comparisons to), it’s fun, fast-paced sci-fi looking at a future in which reality and virtual reality blend and are essentially one and the same.
TV Series
Industry is a bit like Succession in that it’s full of loathsome self-serving characters you kind of love to hate. Based on the trading floor of fictitious financial firm, Pierpoint, it’s all about the cut-throat (horrendous) world of trading. What carries it and drives me to want to watch more is the standard of the writing, which is excellent — as is the fantastic cast.
TV Series
‘The tight-knit Garvey sisters have always looked out for each other. When their brother-in-law winds up dead, his life insurers launch an investigation to prove malicious intent—and set their sights on the sisters, all of whom had ample reason to kill him.’
Film
This has been on my watchlist for a few weeks and I finally got round to it. It didn’t disappoint and it’s absolutely bananas. Such a fun, energetic film with mind-bending multiverses and a magic blend of sci-fi and comedy.
🔗 youtu.be
Stand-up comedy
Stewart Lee is a bit like Marmite, but I’m definitely a lover not a hater. In this hour, he offers his usual brand of deconstructive, acerbic comedy, tackling cancel culture, free speech, identity politics, and being woke. All from the position of being a self-confessed nowflake.
Page 1 of 2 — Viewing links 1–24 of 29