My One Mann’s Movies round up of five recommended films to watch (UK availability)
It’s Oscar time. And as I write this I’m steeling myself for the usual “all-nighter” awards show. So this month, I provide you with my top five movie recommendations for April. Four of these are nominations for the Oscar Best-Film, available for streaming in the UK (given that “Nomadland” and “The Father” are not yet available). But there’s also a favourite movie you can watch for free on BBC iPlayer.
For the full reviews on One Mann’s Movies, click on the highlighted headings.
“Promising Young Woman”:
Available on Sky / Now TV. This is astonishingly accomplished directorial debut from the multi-talented Emerald Fennell. It follows Carey Mulligan – fabulous as always – as Cassie. She’s waging her own very personal war by ensnaring and shaming sexual predators. It’s the most deliciously unpredictable film with a significant twist in the tail. My film of 2021 so far.
“Sound of Metal”:
Available on Amazon Prime. You’ll need to have ear plugs (or no musical taste!) to get through the first few minutes as trash metal duo – “Blackgammon” (Riz Ahmed and Olivia Cooke) – belt out their stuff. But it’s worth the trouble, since for Ruben, the drummer, his life is about to go into freefall as he loses his hearing. A brilliant film that has the most moving and thought-provoking final two minutes imaginable.
“Minari”:
For the uninitiated among us (most of us), Minari is a Korean vegetable/weed that grows in poor soils. This gentle tale follows wannabe farmer Jacob (Steven Yeun) as he struggles to deliver the ‘American Dream” for his family. But is the success of the farm more important to him than keeping his family together? It’s a funny and moving film, dominated by the quirky relationship between the youngster David (Alan Kim) and his potty-mouthed Grandma (Yuh-Jung Youn).
“Judas and the Black Messiah”:
For those who think “Black Panther” is just a Marvel superhero, here’s a US history lesson from the seventies, as J. Edgar Hoover’s FBI takes aim at the political party of that name. Here, based on real-life, we see Bill O’Neil (LaKeith Stanfield) infiltrating the organisation of Chicago chapter leader Frank Hampton (Daniel Kaluuya). It’s beautifully acted (with Oscar noms for both the leads) and a riveting watch.
And on iPlayer:
“Westworld”:
Long before the recent TV-series reboot, the original 1973 film has Yul Brynner as the black-hatted cowboy robot giving tourists an experience they won’t forget. Richard Benjamin and James Brolin play the tourists, loving the theme park until there’s a bit of a glitch!
