Movies, shows, documentaries, YouTube and anything else I might view on the Tele
Watched Mayday last night. When a U.S. Navy pilot on a top-secret mission during the Cold War gets trapped behind enemy lines, his only chance at survival is to form an alliance with an eccentric ex-KGB agent. Don’t expect much and you may enjoy it.
My rating: ★★★★★☆☆☆☆☆
Just finished watching The Silence. What do you do when you can’t trust the people you are supposed to trust, when corruption is so deep that threatens to destroy you and everything you value? From IMDB: “An eighteen-year-old struggling to integrate into a hearing world following cochlear implantation witnesses the murder of a police officer. The subsequent investigation unravels a net of police corruption."
My rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆☆
Finished watching Widow’s Bay on AppleTV. It is a dark horror-comedy following Tom Loftis (Matthew Rhys), the mildly cowardly mayor of a foggy, technology-deprived New England island. Determined to build a future for his teenage son, Tom sets out to turn the struggling town into a bustling tourist hotspot. Tom is forced to team up with eccentric islanders to survive the supernatural nightmare he accidentally invited in. I have mixed feelings on this one. It was entertaining and sometimes I was drawn in by the quarky characters, but some of the supernatural stuff just didn’t grab me.
My rating: ★★★★★★★
I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed this movie. One momoent I was crying, the next moment I was laughting, the next moment I was angry…a whole plethoria of emotions in a single movie. I rarely give a movie a 10 rating, but for me this is one of them.
I Swear is a moving biographical drama based on the life of John Davidson, who developed Tourette syndrome as a teenager in 1980s Scotland. Facing misunderstanding, ridicule, and a society with little awareness of the condition, John struggles to make sense of his uncontrollable tics while finding people who see beyond them. The film follows his journey from an isolated young man to an outspoken advocate for Tourette syndrome awareness. Anchored by a compassionate performance and moments of humor amid the hardship, I Swear is an uplifting story about resilience, friendship, acceptance, and finding purpose in life’s unexpected challenges.
My rating: ★★★★★★★★★
During a friendly catch-up chat with my old friend and mentor, she mentioned a movie classic that I decided to watch: Talk of the Town (1942)
Falsely accused of arson, charming factory activist Leopold Dilg (Cary Grant) hides in Nora Shelley’s (Jean Arthur) country cottage–the exact moment an uptight Supreme Court nominee (Ronald Colman) rents it for the summer.
Eventually, justice triumphs and Nora picks her man.
Collision (2009) is a gripping British five-part drama centered on a devastating multi-vehicle crash outside London. As detectives investigate what caused the collision, the lives of the victims, survivors, and witnesses gradually intertwine, revealing secrets, relationships, and unexpected connections. Told through shifting timelines and multiple perspectives, the series blends police procedural, mystery, and human drama, showing how one catastrophic moment can expose the hidden stories behind seemingly ordinary lives.
This looks like it might be worth a watch:
“Brothers” follows McConaughey and Harrelson, who play fictionalized versions of themselves, and whose friendship is thrown into chaos when they uncover a decades-old secret: they might actually be brothers. After Woody’s daughter’s engagement falls apart, he loads up the family and heads to Austin for an extended stay at Matthew’s ranch. But what begins as a healing getaway quickly spirals when Matthew’s mother, Ma Mac (played by Holland Taylor), accidentally lets slip a long-buried secret that the two friends might actually be brothers. As Woody turns the ranch upside down in pursuit of the truth, Matthew finds himself juggling an entirely different identity crisis: a potential run for governor of Texas. The result is a heartfelt, chaotic and wildly funny story about friendship, family, fame and the messy line between myth and reality.
Folk med ångest (Anxious People) is a warm, quirky Swedish Netflix miniseries adapting Fredrik Backman’s novel. A botched bank robbery turns into a hostage situation at an open house, investigated by a clumsy father-son police duo. The six short episodes balance gentle humor with poignancy as eccentric characters reveal their anxieties and quiet struggles. Charming performances and Backman’s signature empathy shine, even if the mystery feels secondary. A comforting, human comedy-drama. I read the book sometime last year and really enjoyed - as I have with Backman’s other books.
Finished watching the first season of Bergerac on PBS Masterpiece. I didn’t realize this was a remake of an earlier version featured on BritBox. It looks like there were nine seasons for the original and there is only one season of the new version, although most of sources indicate there are two. Ex-cop Jim Bergerac is forced to confront a troubling past case when a wealthy woman is murdered, pushing him to overcome personal demons and reignite his investigative prowess to navigate family tensions and law enforcement scrutiny.
The Count of Monte Cristo brings Alexandre Dumas' classic tale of adventure, betrayal, and reinvention to life in a sweeping new adaptation. After young sailor Edmond Dantès finds his promising future suddenly shattered, his life takes an extraordinary and unexpected course. Sam Claflin leads an international cast in a visually rich production filled with intrigue, romance, shifting loyalties, and questions of justice and revenge. Even if you know the famous story, this Masterpiece adaptation offers an absorbing journey through 19th-century France and Italy–without requiring you to tackle Dumas' 1,000-plus-page novel first.
While at some points I was challenged to keep up with the names and family connections of the characters as the story evolved, I would highly recommend this series as a must see for a classic piece of literature.
Gone subverts the standard missing-person trope into a razor-sharp, character-driven psychological study. David Morrissey delivers a chillingly unreadable performance, matched by Eve Myles’ relentless detective work. It’s a beautifully shot, wonderfully acted, slow-burn mystery that prioritizes emotional tension over cheap thrills.
The Devil Wears Prada 2 was basically what I expected and probably worth watching if you enjoyed the first movie.
Finished watching A Woman of Substance (2026) on BritBox this evening.
Just finished watching the movie United which is based on the true story of Manchester United’s legendary “Busby Babes”, the youngest side ever to win the Football League and the 1958 Munich Air Crash that claimed eight of the their number. The film draws on first-hand interviews with the survivors and their families to tell the inspirational story of a team and community overcoming terrible tragedy.
Just finished binging Call Me Levi - a thoughtful German drama (presented with English subtitles) that follows Levi (Strauss), a quiet young man whose life becomes increasingly complicated as he searches for identity, belonging, and meaningful connection. Balancing family expectations, personal struggles, and unexpected relationships, the series unfolds with emotional depth, understated performances, and a realistic portrayal of modern life. Watching in German with English subtitles adds authenticity and helps preserve the nuances of the characters' conversations and culture.
Prey is a gripping British crime thriller told across two standalone seasons: first, a detective framed for his family’s murder fights to clear his name; then, a prison officer is forced into a dangerous conspiracy to save his kidnapped daughter. Fast-paced, tense, and packed with twists.
Enjoyed the final episode of Grantchester season 11 last night. Hard to believe this series has come to a close and that I’ve managed to watch a show for 11 entire seasons.
After their family ranch faces foreclosure, two brothers embark on a string of carefully planned bank robberies across rural West Texas. As a seasoned Texas Ranger closes in, the pursuit becomes a tense, character-driven exploration of family loyalty, economic hardship, justice, and the choices people make when they feel they have nothing left to lose. Hell or High Water
Sometimes you just need a good laugh - A Madea Family Funeral
Maximizing my BritBox trial subscription before it ends in August. Finished season 1 of Prey tonight.
Finished the series In The Valley of Sin today. Best summarized as “a sad commentary on the destruction and harm that can be done by the unrightous exercise of power.”
Just finished watching House of David and looking forward to future season(s)!
Watched the virtual screening of Lonely with AARP’s Movies for Grownups. Stronger connections start with small steps.
Watched: Time on BritBox.
Identified as “An anthology series exploring life in the British prison system.” Time is a gritty, BAFTA-winning British anthology drama streaming on BritBox that explores the harsh realities of the UK penal system. Season one follows a guilt-ridden former teacher (Sean Bean) and a morally conflicted prison guard (Stephen Graham). Season two shifts to a women’s prison, focusing on three new inmates navigating life behind bars.
How do I post things I’m watching and get them to show up on a page?