Top TV Choices: 7 Essential Motion Pictures This Week
Highlighted Choice
The Substance
The filmmaker's daring critique tackles the tyranny of feminine aesthetics as well as the dreaded aspects of ageing. The veteran actress offers a masterful acting turn as Elisabeth, a 50-year-old film star reduced to starring in an aerobics show on TV. Edged out by her unscrupulous employer Harvey, she turns to an enigmatic and gruesome process titled this experimental method. This produces a youthful duplicate called Sue, resulting in a steadily more parasitic dynamic between them. Friday 17 October, Paramount+
The Woman in Cabin 10
This classic whodunit story includes Keira Knightley playing Laura, a top-notch writer who decides to take a break from covering global conflict to join a luxury cruise alongside an ailing Scandinavian billionaire and philanthropist, her husband, plus additional affluent passengers. But after an unknown lady goes overboard one night and the entire crew claims she was never there, Laura's investigative instincts awaken. Available now, the Netflix platform
Presence
Steven Soderbergh pushes his film-making abilities in this innovative paranormal narrative shot entirely from the perspective of the phantom. As a family with Lucy Liu as Rebekah and her distressed teen Chloe settles into their new suburban house, the camera – AKA the Presence – tracks their movements. The teen shows signs of aware of the supernatural presence, and the entity appears guarding her. Yet what is the reason? It's a fun idea that doesn't outstay its welcome, with a twist you might not see coming. Saturday 11 October, 4.35pm, 10.10pm, Sky Cinema
This Self-Referential Film
The iconic actor fully commits to his eccentric image via this autobiographical spoof. He portrays a narcissistic film star playing himself who takes on a million-dollar gig to visit a birthday party on the Spanish island for billionaire superfan Javi. Hired by the CIA to gather intel on the suspected cartel boss, his “nouveau shamanic acting ability” proves useful. October 11th, 9pm, Channel 4
The Black Phone Horror
Derrickson's claustrophobic thriller stands strong without requiring a sequel. Set in the late 70s in Denver, several kidnappings has left the youth frightened. After Finney is taken by “the Grabber” and locked up in a basement, he fears a terrible outcome. Yet the disconnected phone on the wall keeps ringing, with ghostly voices offering help, while the prescient dreams of his sister Gwen could save him. A solid creepfest. This Saturday, nighttime, the Film4 channel
The Eyes of Tammy Faye
In the battle between faith and wealth, the victory is clear for greed in Michael Showalter's brilliantly over-the-top film adaptation regarding the shamed religious broadcaster and her criminal husband. Garfield acts as the corrupt Bakker, who declares at the beginning, “God does not want us to be poor,”. He and Tammy Faye begin profiting from the people's Christian beliefs. It's a spectacle of poor styling, overdone appearance and bad faith, however Jessica Chastain achieves to present the character with compassion. Next Tuesday, early morning, the Film4 channel
Black Bag
This period's additional entry from the filmmaker presents a intelligence thriller as precise as the polo necks sported by Michael Fassbender's intelligence officer. He is tasked to identify a traitor among the team out of five possibilities – one of whom is Kathryn, played by Cate Blanchett. The two stars are experts of understated style, resulting in an engaging psychological game of fact versus fiction unfolds. The supporting cast participate the smart espionage amusement. This Friday, multiple time slots, Sky Cinema
