Need to catch a TV break and don’t know what to watch? Simon takes us through his top picks on must-see shows and films for the week. Click through to see what’s showing for your entertainment needs.
Wednesday 19th August 2015
Charlie’s Country-Masterpiece Movies-8.35pm AEST
There are few films these days that earn the title of being a ‘must watch’ film, Charlie’s Country arguably sits at the top of this category. Written and directed by Rolf de Heer and starring the always mesmerising David Gulpilil, Charlie’s Country should not only be essential viewing for all Australians, but essential viewing for people across the world. An absolute master class in cinema, the film tells the tale of Charlie (Gulpilil), an Aboriginal man whose attempts to return to a life in the bush are halted by illness and the imposed rules of white society. As a piece of social commentary, the feats achieved here are outstanding, ensuring Charlie’s Country will remain to be seen as a classic for years to come.
Thursday 20th August 2015
Rachel Khoo’s Kitchen Notebook Melbourne-SBS-8pm AEST
British celebrity chef Rachel Khoo has led the life most people can only dream about it. After completing a uni degree in art and design, a young Khoo dropped everything to move to Paris and undertake a three-month patisserie course at the infamous Le Cordon Bleu. Seven books, four TV shows and 9 years later, Khoo has taken up residence down under for a miniseries that celebrates the foodie culture of Melbourne. Setting up shop in a converted warehouse, Khoo travels the city to find out as much as she can about the swinging restaurant scene of Australia’s culture capital, before taking everything she’s learnt back to her own kitchen to cook up a scrumptious feast. A love letter to both Melbourne and the art of cooking, this show is guaranteed to leave you with a smile on your face.
Friday 21st August 2015
Dr. No-Nine-10pm AEST
Before you watch Spectre in cinemas later this year, make sure you catch the film that kick started the James Bond franchise in all its glory, Dr. No. Starring Sean Connery, arguably the greatest of actors to fill the role of suave secret agent 007 (sorry David Niven, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig), the film sees Bond sent on a mission to the sunny shores of Jamaica on the hunt for a missing fellow agent. Once there 007 quickly discovers a nefarious plot by the villainous Dr. No (Joseph Wiseman) whilst also falling for an irresistible shell diver named Honey Ryder (Ursula Andress). Dr. No really has it all, a classic film that remains one of the best entries in the Bond franchise to date.
Saturday 22nd August 2015
National Lampoon’s Vacation-Nine-7pm AEST
If you’re looking for a few laughs come Saturday night, look no further than the comedy classic National Lampoon’s Vacation. Directed by Harold Ramis and written by film legend John Hughes, Vacation is not only one of the funniest films of all time but is also widely recognised as changing the comedy landscape of Hollywood in the early eighties (along with other National Lampoon films such as Animal House). Starring Chevy Chase as Clark Griswold, Vacation puts a humourous spin on the classic family road trip, as Griswold forces his wife Ellen (Beverly D’Angelo) and two kids across country to join him at his favourite vacation destination Walley World. Clearly things don’t go to plan, and the Griswold’s soon find themselves contending with vandals, offbeat family members and a hitchhiking corpse.
Sunday 23rd August 2015
Vera-ABC-8.30pm AEST
The Brits sure love their crime dramas, and for obvious reason, they never seem to make a bad one. Vera continues this trend, a detective series based on the novels of Ann Cleeves, which follows the sleuthing adventures of titular character DCI Vera Stanhope (Brenda Blethyn). This week Vera and the rest of the gang from the Northumberland and City Police are hot on the trail of a killer who murders a young woman on a weekend getaway in the country. The synopsis may sound like every other cop show out there but the character of Vera is so unique to the genre that the show ends up being something entirely different to its crime counterparts. Well worth a watch.
Monday 24th August 2015
Show Me A Hero-Showcase-6.30pm AEST
Based on Lisa Belkin’s 1999 nonfiction book of the same name (which itself is based on the life of Nick Wasicsko), Show Me A Hero is a riveting new HBO miniseries that puts the spotlight on an important chapter in contemporary US history. Wasicsko (played here by Oscar Isaac) was not only the youngest big-city mayor when he was elected as the mayor of Yonkers, New York in 1987, but he was also the centrepoint of a legal and political scandal when Federal judge Leonard Sand (Bob Balaban) made an order for desegrated public housing in the city. This may not sound like a hugely exciting premise for a TV show, but with a cast including Jim Belushi, Alfred Molina and Winona Ryder, and David Simon (creator of The Wire), you know you’re in for something special. Stay tuned for the second episode, which kicks off straight after this repeat of the first installment.
Tuesday 25th August 2015
Flight Of The Conchords-Showcase-6.30pm AEST
There are some shows you can watch over and over and never get sick of them, with every watch cracking you up even though you’ve already seen the episode hundreds of times. Flight Of The Conchords fits firmly in this category, a fish out of water comedy that remains one of the funniest things on TV even though it finished six years ago. Starring Jemaine Clement and Bret McKenzie as fictionalised versions of themselves; the show follows the New Zealand folk comedy duo on their search for fame in New York City. Unfortunately for them the path to success isn’t easy, especially when hampered by the likes of their well-meaning manager Murray (Rhys Darby) and only fan/stalker Mel (the hilarious Kristen Schaal).
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