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

Friday 29th 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…

Monos (15) (2019) (Netflix)

Released into cinemas last autumn, this tale of a young band of rebels watching over an American hostage in the wilds of an unnamed South American country is a hypnotic and vivid descent into the lives and minds of child soldiers. As the group are forced from their hostile mountain base into a claustrophobic jungle camp, their regimented existence and their mission gives way to youthful impulses and a violent power struggle. Driven along by a incredible score by Mica Levi (Jackie, Under The Skin), Monos is an atmospheric, absorbing and gripping experience.

In Order Of Disappearance (15) (2014) (Amazon Prime) 

Often hilarious, and always inventive, this sly and entertaining Norwegian revenge thriller takes a delightfully tongue in cheek approach to its subject matter. Stellan Skarsgård stars here as Nils, an introverted snow plow driver working in the wilderness of Northern Norway. When he receives the terrible news that his son has died of an apparent overdose, he takes matters into his own hands to find out what really happened. Uncovering that his son may in fact have been murdered, and a casualty of a local turf war between local crime lord “The Count” and his rivals, Nils goes to work methodically and the body count rises… 

Election (15) (1999) (BBC IPlayer)

Released in 1999, Alexander Payne’s (The Descendants, Sideways) made a breakout star of Reese Witherspoon. Adapting Tom Perrotta’s novel, Election is a biting school-set political satire that focuses on the rivalry between peppy go-getter Tracy Flick (Witherspoon) and her idealistic, downtrodden history teacher Jim McAllister (Matthew Broderick) as Tracy runs for class president. Wound up by Tracy’s privilege and her previous, damaging affair with a former colleague, Jim sets out to derail her campaign and set an example…

20,000 Days On Earth (15) (2014) (All 4)

An intimate and unconventional biography of musician and icon Nick Cave from visual artists Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard, 20,000 Days On Earth melds drama and reality, taking the audience on a trip through a fictitious day in the life of the artist. Starting with Cave getting up, getting ready and introducing the viewer to his thoughts on being a performer and fame, the day progresses with a visit to the psychoanalyst, and Cave sharing stories with friends and colleagues from across his lifetime and career. The result is a truly original and open film, carefully and inventively made to avoid the usual documentary clichés.

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

See you next week,

Chris & Jonny