July 30, 2021

Five TV shows and films to light up your black mirror this week

Screen Time: Keep boredom at bay with THE FACE’s film and TV recommendations from 30th July onwards. Dig in, square eyes.

Another week, another 168 hours to fill with content – if you’re so dedicated to the binge you don’t sleep, that is. Sure, you might have some “real life” plans lined up with, you know, “friends”, but as the UK’s heatwave has officially transitioned into monsoon season, there’s a high chance you’ll find yourself back on the sofa at some point very soon.

As such, we’ve come up with your free time contingency plan: a roundup of five of the best watches available to you right now (or in the very near future). Feast your eyes on this…

For bingeing…

Got time? Watch it all in one go

Ted Lasso series two

If unrelenting optimism is your thing, tune into the second series of Ted Lasso, which dropped on Apple TV+ last week. Played by Jason Sudeikis (Horrible Bosses, We’re The Millers), the titular Ted is an American football coach who somehow now finds himself in charge or British football team – or soccer, as he calls it. He’s too cheery for the job (and perhaps to live in the UK altogether), instantly grating on his new colleagues as he meets every challenge with a smile. Think Ned Flanders but football. Sounds annoying? It kind of is, but stick with it and Lasso will eventually find a way to melt your cold, British heart.

Series one and two are available to stream on Apple TV+ now.

For splurging…

The film worth leaving home to see

Limbo

In today’s media landscape, humanising portrayals of refugees are hard to come by. They’re either framed as a scourge on our society or a group to be pitied. Ben Sharrock’s Limbo flips the narrative, following a group of asylum seekers waiting for their applications to be approved on a remote Scottish island. Full of wit, heart and poignant storytelling, each character is presented as a real person with hopes, dreams and fears for their new lives. Starring Amir El-Masry (Star Wars: Episode IX) and Vikash Bhai (The Stranger, Hanna), Limbo is a must watch against our current political climate.

Out in UK cinemas now.

For thinking…

A docuseries to feed the brain

Watch The Sound

Charli XCX, King Princess, Questlove, Paul McCartney. These are just a few of the names that pop up in Mark Ronson’s new Apple TV+ series Watch The Sound. Following the multi award-winning producer and artist as he unravels the intersection between technology and music, this docuseries unpacks all the miniscule details in iconic tracks that changed the world. Featuring interviews with the aforementioned artists and more, expect to have your mind blown and your Spotify horizons broadened.

Available to stream now on Apple TV+.

For laughs…

Absurd comedy or reality TV to crack a smile

Cooking With Paris

Remember when Paris Hilton taught us all how to make lasagne last year? Well, so does Netflix, so much so that they’ve only gone and given the OG influencer her own cooking show. The best part? She’s also enlisted a bunch of celebs to chow down on her culinary delights with. Kim Kardashian, Saweetie and Demi Lovato will all be making appearances to feast on Hilton’s home cooking. Perhaps the (kind of) simple life is for Paris after all…

Available to stream on Netflix from 4^th August.

For chatting…

Talking points for when your next wave of social fatigue hits

Old

Are all of the above options a bit too, er, mundane for you? No worries. M. Night Shyamalan is back with another kooky concept, giving Split a run for its money on the how-bizarre-can-you-make-a-film-ometre. Here’s the deal: a family travels to a tropical paradise, where they find a hidden beach that looks as though it’s been ripped from a Windows screensaver. Idyllic? Not so much. As their beach day goes on, suddenly everyone starts ageing at an alarming rate and, naturally, they can’t leave. See, those minuscule wrinkles you noticed on Zoom the other day aren’t so bad after all, are they?

Out in UK cinemas now.