The Pitt and Two Prosecutors Lead This Week's Top Culture Picks
This week in culture brings a stellar lineup of critically acclaimed releases, headlined by John Wells' much-anticipated medical drama The Pitt and Sergei Loznitsa's chilling film Two Prosecutors. From gripping television to haunting cinema, here are the standout picks from the Guardian's best-rated reviews.
Television Highlights
If you only watch one show this week, make it The Pitt, now available on HBO Max. This gory and gripping medical drama has managed to live up to the hype, with Noah Wyle delivering a rock-solid performance that anchors the series. Showrunner John Wells builds compelling stories around Wyle's character, creating a treat for fans of intense medical narratives.
Other notable TV picks include:
- Boom Box: Beats and Betrayal – An astonishing tale of police entrapment in a north London recording studio, raising ethical questions about manipulation and crime.
- Bait – Riz Ahmed's smart meta-comedy uses a James Bond audition to explore Muslim British identity and family values, blending silly fun with emotional authenticity.
- Something Very Bad is Going to Happen – A hellish cabin-in-the-woods shocker from the Duffer Brothers, with an underlying message more unsettling than the horror itself.
- LS Lowry: The Unheard Tapes – A revelatory dramatisation starring Sir Ian McKellen, exploring the bond between a young fan and the reclusive painter.
Film Standouts
In cinemas now, Two Prosecutors is a must-watch. Drawn from a suppressed story by gulag survivor Georgy Demidov, Sergei Loznitsa's haunting portrait of Stalinist insurrection serves as a terrifying parable of bureaucratic evil. The film radiates an icy chill of fear and paranoia, making it a starkly austere and gripping experience.
Additional film recommendations:
- The Magic Faraway Tree – Simon Farnaby's adaptation of Enid Blyton's classic, featuring lively performances from Claire Foy and Andrew Garfield, offers innocent jollity for family viewing.
- Redoubt – John Skoog's black-and-white film based on an art installation, with Denis Lavant delivering a unique performance as an oddball building a public shelter.
- William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet – Baz Luhrmann's 90s update, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes, remains a sunburst of energy that respectfully adapts the Shakespearean tragedy.
- Pompei: Below the Clouds – Gianfranco Rosi's documentary on war, violence, and the climate crisis, presented through brilliantly composed scenes without narration.
Books and Albums to Explore
In literature, The News from Dublin by Colm Tóibín offers powerful short stories about being far from home, lulling readers into complicit attentiveness. Other book picks include We Know You Can Pay a Million by Anja Shortland on ransomware, Enough Said by Alan Bennett with waspish observations, Black Bag by Luke Kennard as a campus novel for end times, and Permanence by Sophie Mackintosh exploring allegories of desire.
For music lovers, Robyn: Sexistential stands out with its suite of idiosyncratic electro bangers, unraveling romantic love fixations. Other albums to check out are Raye: This Music May Contain Hope, an ambitious creative statement; Miroslav Vitous: Mountain Call, a classical-influenced jazz opus; and Fcukers: Ö, a riotous debut from the hyped New York duo.
Now Playing in Theatre
At the Duke of York's theatre in London, Teeth 'n' Smiles features Rebecca Lucy Taylor (Self Esteem) in a timely revival of David Hare's play about the self-destructive side of fame. The show comes alive with every song, making Taylor magnetic and the sound immersive.
This week's culture picks showcase a diverse range of high-quality entertainment, from intense dramas to thought-provoking films and innovative music. Whether you're into medical thrillers, historical parables, or electro-pop, there's something to captivate every audience.
