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 Place Beyond The Pines (15) (2012) (BBC iPlayer)
Writer/director Derek Cianfrance’s sombre, ambitious epic features a terrific cast delivering mighty performances.  A saga built around the collision between two men, petty criminal Luke and beat cop Avery (Ryan Gosling and Bradley Cooper), The Place Beyond The Pines explores themes of crime and punishment, and fate and fatherhood spanning generations. When sideshow stunt rider Luke meets Romina (Eva Mendes), and discovers he has a son he didn’t know of, he’s eager to begin a life with them. However, the only way he thinks he can get hold of the money he needs is to become a bank robber…

Tommy (15) (1974) (Netflix)
Ken Russell’s bonkers, scattershot musical makes full use of The Who’s incredible songs to take the audience on an irreverent odyssey. After seeing his stepfather murder his father during an argument over his mother, young Tommy goes into shock, suddenly becoming psychosomatically deaf, dumb and blind. As a teenager, Tommy stumbles upon a pinball machine and discovers he is a natural prodigy at the game. Fame and fortune follow for him, as he becomes a pinball champion and later the messiah of a religious cult….

Trainspotting (18) (1996) (All 4)
Danny Boyle’s landmark film combines pitch-black humour and tragedy to dazzling effect. Edinburgh Heroin addict Mark Renton (Ewan McGregor) stumbles through bad ideas and sobriety attempts with his unreliable group of friends in tow – Sick Boy (Jonny Lee Miller), Begbie (Robert Carlyle), Spud (Ewen Bremner) and Tommy (Kevin McKidd).  When Renton finally sobers up and moves to London he finds that his past isn’t quite ready to let him get away…

Encounter (15) (2021) (Amazon Prime)
Riz Ahmed stars in this beguiling new film about decorated US Marine Malik, who goes on a rescue mission to save his two young sons from a mysterious cosmic threat. As their journey takes them in increasingly dangerous directions across the US, the boys are forced to leave their childhoods behind.

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

See you next week,

Chris & Jonny