Chris & Jonny’s Film (in the) House Watch List

Friday 22nd May 2020

Whilst the world is on pause and your Filmhouse Sunderland visits aren’t possible, we’re keeping the independent cinema flag flying with our new weekly watch lists from Chris & Jonny, the people behind the project.  

Each Friday, we’ll post a list of four films that are currently available across BBC iPlayer, All4, Netflix and Amazon Prime that we think you should seek out.  

This week’s selection is…

Mid 90s (15) (2018) (Netflix)

Jonah Hill’s nostalgic dip into teenage life follows Stevie, a thirteen-year-old in 90s-era LA who falls in with a group of friends who hang out outside the local skate shop. Over one hot summer Stevie bounces between his difficult home life and his new-found friends, finding a surrogate family, experiencing multiple the teenage firsts and learning some lessons about life on the way. Affectionate, charming and packed with authentic retro detail and a great directorial debut from Hill.

The Hunt (15) (2012) (Amazon Prime) 

Director Thomas Vinterberg’s powerful drama places nursery schoolteacher Mads Mikkelsen (Hannibal) in the middle of a fight for his life and reputation when he is wrongly accused of child abuse by a young girl in his class. Mikkelsen won the Best Actor Award at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival for his performance, and it’s easy to see why as he commands the camera with his restrained and dignified portrayal of a man thrust into chaos by hysteria, rumour and suspicion. Gripping cinema.

Kate Nash: Underestimate The Girl (15) (2018) (BBC IPlayer)

This refreshingly candid documentary about the music industry follows UK singer-songwriter Kate Nash ten years after she bounced to fame with her album Made Of Bricks.  The film picks up as Kate has been dropped by her label and is funding her own career. Moving to Los Angeles with the hope to write for other artists and for commercials, we follow Kate as she struggles to make ends meet and tries to orchestrate a triumphant comeback. Not just for fans, the film presents a warts n’ all story of how difficult life for women in the music industry can be, and how it can chew up young talent and spit them out.

Tangerine (15) (2015) (All 4)

One of the most vital films of recent years, Sean (The Florida Project) Baker’s Tangerine was almost overshadowed by the easy press hook that it was entirely shot on an iPhone 5. But not quite. It’s the freewheeling story of transgender LA sex worker Sin-Dee (Kitana Kiki Rodriguez), out of prison on Christmas Eve and trying to find the woman that her pimp/boyfriend has been sleeping with whilst she was locked up. Accompanied by her level-headed best friend Alexandra the pair head out on a road trip across town. A dazzling success of a film, Tangerine is impeccable and a must watch – not only for its technical bravado, but for its humour, heart and honesty. 

We’d love to hear what you think of the films we recommend – let us know!

See you next week,

Chris & Jonny