Chris & Jonny’s Film (in the) House Watch List 19/11/21

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…

The Outlaw (U) (1943) (BBC iPlayer)
Howard Hughes’ legendary western was once one of the most scandalous films ever made, wrapped up in a censorship battle about star Jane Russell’s cleavage! A telling of the life and legend of Billy the Kid, including his partnership with Doc Holliday and his clashes with the lawman Pat Garrett, The Outlaw is offbeat, not brilliantly acted by the cast, but a fascinating footnote in Hollywood history. Absolutely unmissable!

The Lighthouse (15) (2019) (Netflix)
Utterly gripping, The Lighthouse boasts two powerhouse performances from Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson. From director Robert Eggers, it’s a story of two lighthouse keepers trying to maintain their sanity while living on a remote and mysterious New England island in the 1890s. Beautifully shot, The Lighthouse is an immersive and hallucinogenic trip which will linger in your thoughts for days…

Last Orders (15) (2001) (All 4)
Michael Caine, Helen Mirren and Bob Hoskins are part of a massive British cast in Fred Schepisi’s adaptation of Graham Swift’s novel. The film looks back on the life of Jack (Caine), an amiable London butcher who leaves behind his devoted wife, Amy (Mirren), and a group of loyal pub-dwelling buddies after he dies. Charged with bringing his ashes to the sea, Ray (Hoskins), Lenny (David Hemmings) and Vic (Tom Courtenay) make their way to the ocean with Jack’s foster son, Vince (Ray Winstone), fondly remembering their old friend along the way.

Ad Astra (12A) (2019) (Amazon Prime)
Thoughtful, thrilling sci fi, Ad Astra stars Brad Pitt as Ray McBride, an astronaut in search of the father who went missing in the far reaches of space thirty years ago.  McBride must embark on a daring mission to Neptune to uncover the truth about his missing Dad and a strange power surge that threatens the stability of the universe. Wrapped up in a fantastical premise, Ad Astra is an intimate and compelling film about fathers and sons with a beautifully judged performance from Pitt, as a man learning to gradually unlock his emotions and find out who he really is…

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

See you next week,

Chris & Jonny

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