With cinemas closed and everyone (hopefully) practising social distancing, we are going to provide you with some suggestions to help you get by until things (hopefully) get back to normal. We’ll also provide some alternatives for films that were meant to come out in cinemas this week.
Let us know your own recommendations in the comments below or on Twitter.
Cinema Alternatives
No Time To Die
Directed by: Cary Joji Fukunaga
Written by: Neal Purvis, Robert Wade, Cary Joji Fukunaga and Phoebe Waller-Bridge
Starring: Daniel Craig, Rami Malek, Léa Seydoux, Lashana Lynch, Ben Whishaw, Naomie Harris, Jeffrey Wright, Christoph Waltz and Ralph Fiennes
Synopsis:
Bond has left active service and is enjoying a tranquil life in Jamaica. His peace is short-lived when his old friend Felix Leiter from the CIA turns up asking for help. The mission to rescue a kidnapped scientist turns out to be far more treacherous than expected, leading Bond onto the trail of a mysterious villain armed with dangerous new technology.
The troubled 25th entry in the James Bond franchise and Daniel Craig’s final time in the role was one of the first films to delay itself. No Time To Die is currently scheduled for release 12 November 2020.
Alternative:
Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation
Rotten Tomatoes: 93%
IMDB: 7.4
Metacritic: 75
Year of Release: 2015
Directed by: Christopher McQuarrie
Written by: Christopher McQuarrie (Story and Screenplay by), Drew Pearce (Story by)
Starring: Tom Cruise, Jeremy Renner, Simon Pegg, Rebecca Ferguson, Ving Rhames, Sean Harris and Alec Baldwin
Synopsis:
With the IMF disbanded, and Ethan out in the cold, the team now faces off against a network of highly skilled special agents, the Syndicate. These highly trained operatives are hellbent on creating a new world order through an escalating series of terrorist attacks. Ethan gathers his team and joins forces with disavowed British agent Ilsa Faust, who may or may not be a member of this rogue nation, as the group takes on their most impossible mission yet.
Rationale:
Once upon a time, James Bond was the biggest franchise in movies. Today, that title arguably belongs to Mission: Impossible. Since Mission: Impossible III, the Tom Cruise led franchise has gone from strength to strength. Of the films released so far, Rogue Nation is the film most like a Bond film, with more globe trotting, a strong femme fatale in Rebecca Ferguson and a Bond-like villian in Sean Harris’ Solomon Lane.
Find out where you can watch Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation here.
Alternative:
The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
Rotten Tomatoes: 93%
IMDB: 7.4
Metacritic: 75
Year of Release: 2015
Directed by: Guy Ritchie
Written by: Jeff Kleeman (Story by), David C. Wilson(Story by), Guy Ritchie (Story and Screenplay by), Lionel Wigram (Story and Screenplay by)
Starring: Henry Cavill, Armie Hammer, Alicia Vikander, Elizabeth Debicki, Jared Harris and Hugh Grant
Synopsis:
In the early 1960s, CIA agent Napoleon Solo and KGB agent Illya Kuryakin are forced to put aside longstanding hostilities and team up on a joint mission to stop a mysterious international criminal organization, which is bent on destabilizing the fragile balance of power through the proliferation of nuclear weapons and technology. The duo’s only lead is the daughter of a vanished German scientist, who is the key to infiltrating the criminal organization, and they must race against time to find him and prevent a worldwide catastrophe.
Rationale:
An underrated action comedy spy film with a stacked cast based on the 1964 television series created by Norman Felton and Sam Rolfe. The cast has incredible chemistry and they all went on to bigger and better things. A really fun spy film.
Find out where you can watch The Man from U.N.C.L.E. here.
Movie of the Week
Paddington 2
Rotten Tomatoes: 100%
IMDB: 7.8
Metacritic: 88
Year of Release: 2017
Directed by: Paul King
Written by: Paul King and Simon Farnaby
Starring: Hugh Bonneville, Sally Hawkins, Brendan Gleeson, Julie Walters, Jim Broadbent, Peter Capaldi, Hugh Grant and Ben Whishaw
Synopsis:
Paddington is happily settled with the Brown family in Windsor Gardens, where he has become a popular member of the community, spreading joy and marmalade wherever he goes. While searching for the perfect present for his beloved Aunt Lucy’s 100th birthday, Paddington spots a unique pop-up book in Mr. Gruber’s antique shop, and embarks upon a series of odd jobs to buy it. But when the book is stolen, it’s up to Paddington and the Browns to unmask the thief.
Rationale:
One of the best feel-good movies of all time. A truly delightful family film with a positive message and a brilliant performance from Hugh Grant. A must watch even if you haven’t watched the first film. A ray of sunshine in this currently very bleak world. “If we’re kind and polite the world will be right.”
Find out where you can watch Paddington 2 here.
TV to Binge
Community
Rotten Tomatoes: 88%
IMDB: 8.5
Metacritic: 74
Year of Release: 2009 – 2015
Created by: Dan Harmon
Episodes: 110 x 22 minute episodes
Starring: Joel McHale, Gillian Jacobs, Danny Pudi, Yvette Nicole Brown, Alison Brie, Donald Glover, Ken Jeong, Chevy Chase and Jim Rash
Synopsis:
A lawyer is scuppered when it is discovered that he has falsely claimed to have a Bachelor’s degree. He is suspended and enrolls himself into community college. He forms a study group so that he can get closer to an attractive student. The study group includes a millionaire, a former drug addict, a former quarterback, a single mother, and a film student.
Rationale:
I didn’t discover Community until after its first season had already aired. Admittedly, it was hard to watch legally in Australia at the time as it was aired sporadically here. It was well worth the effort though as Community is one of my favourite shows of all time. A fun half hour sitcom that was constantly taking risks and doing something different. The show peaked with Season 3 before behind the scenes issues, cast changes and the constant threat of cancellation on the horizon resulted in the show never consistently being as good again, although there are some great stuff in those last 3 seasons.
Community was also a proving ground for talent who have gone on to great things, particularly actors Donald Glover and Alison Brie, directors the Russo Brothers and Justin Lin and composer Ludwig Göransson. If you haven’t checked out Community or haven’t done a re-watch in a while, now is the time.
Find out where you can watch Community here.
