Pick of the Week: Wuthering Heights
Emerald Fennell has stirred considerable controversy with her new adaptation of Emily Brontë's classic novel. Beyond the casting of a white actor, Jacob Elordi, as the arguably non-white Heathcliff and an unexpected S&M subplot, this bodice-ripping historical romance delivers what most fans crave. Margot Robbie portrays Cathy as a frustrated social climber torn between a life of luxury with Shazad Latif's Edgar and the earthy passion offered by the uncouth Heathcliff. Fennell embraces full gothic aesthetics reminiscent of Guillermo del Toro, featuring stormy skies, unbridled sex on the moors, ludicrous costumes, and bizarre interior design as the love story intensifies. Catch it Friday, 1 May, at 8:25am and 8pm on Sky Cinema Premiere.
Apex
Baltasar Kormákur's thriller may not surpass Cliffhanger as the greatest climbing film, but it delivers plenty of sweaty-palmed vertical tension. Five months after a fatal expedition in Norway with her partner, Charlize Theron's Sasha finds herself in the Australian outback. Her solo white-water kayaking adventure turns perilous when a local man, played by a gleefully unhinged Taron Egerton, takes an interest in her. Theron excels as a character who is physical yet not superhuman, using her wits to avoid being merely a victim. Available now on Netflix.
Eddington
Set in 2020, Pedro Pascal's Mayor Ted imposes a lockdown due to the virus while running for re-election. Joaquin Phoenix plays Sheriff Joe, who opposes Ted over freedom of choice. Writer-director Ari Aster tightens his narrative after Beau Is Afraid, delivering a modern western satire encompassing Covid, conspiracy theories, Black Lives Matter, small-town politics, and social media. This increasingly manic comedy shows how bad choices lead to worse outcomes. Airs Saturday, 25 April, at 8:45am and 10:25pm on Sky Cinema Premiere.
Living
Oliver Hermanus's drama adapts Akira Kurosawa's 1952 classic Ikiru, and its success largely hinges on Bill Nighy's finely graded performance. His 1950s civil servant, Mr. Williams, finds redemption and joy in a stagnant life after a terminal cancer diagnosis. As he abandons his routine, Williams is uplifted by a young colleague, played by Aimee Lou Wood, and a writer, Tom Burke. This touching tale explores how we give meaning to our existence. Airs Saturday, 25 April, at 9pm on Channel 4.
Gold Run
War brings out the best in people, and this stirring fact-based drama follows an ordinary man who does something extraordinary. In 1940, as Germany invades Norway, the government must spirit its gold reserves out of the country. Mild-mannered Labour party functionary Fredrik Haslund, played by Jon Øigarden, is tasked with organizing the transport, aided by a few soldiers, a bank clerk, a famous poet, and his sister. Set against dramatic scenery, this is a picture-postcard thriller. Airs Saturday, 25 April, at 11pm on BBC Four.
Holy Cow
Rural French teenager Totone, played by Clément Faveau, enjoys his life of teenage kicks until his cheese-making father dies in a car crash. Forced to work and care for his kid sister, he tries making the locally prized comté cheese, but his inexperience and shortcuts hinder success. Louise Courvoisier's highly enjoyable comedy of errors explores the limited options for young people in the countryside, with convincing performances from mostly first-time actors. Luna Garret as Totone's supportive sister Claire is particularly engaging. Airs Monday, 27 April, at 11:40pm on Film4.
Small Things Like These
Adapted by Enda Walsh from Claire Keegan's novel, Tim Mielants's heart-rending drama approaches Ireland's Magdalene Laundries scandal from a domestic angle, yet it is no less devastating. Cillian Murphy uses his haunted visage to great effect as 1980s coal merchant Bill Furlong, the son of an unmarried mother and father of five daughters. The brutal treatment of girls at a convent where he makes deliveries ignites his compassion, but he confronts the community's silence in the face of the church's power. Available on Netflix from Tuesday, 28 April.
