Movies:

tick, tick… BOOM!

tick, tick BOOM! follows the story of the late Jonathon Larson, who famously wrote the hit musical Rent. However, tick, tick BOOM takes place 5 years before the ever-successful Rent reached Broadway, where the not yet famous Jon Larson played by Andrew Garfield- attempts to get his first musical (the innovative, space rock ‘Suburbia’) off the ground. while facing the challenges of daily life in the romanticised slum backdrop that is 90’s, New York.

In essence, tick, tick… BOOM! is yet another musical in a year full of cinematic remakes. But, with the presence of the aids epidemic, a poignant part of American history and Andrew Garfield in one of his best roles to date, tick, tick… BOOM! sets itself apart from the competition.

You can watch tick, tick…BOOM! on Netflix

Made in Italy

The name Liam Neeson is often associated with action, guns and “a very particular set of skills”. However, in the 2020 film ‘made in Italy’ Neeson replaces ransoms for the rugged landscapes of Tuscan Italy where he tries to repair his old family house and his fractured relationship with his son in this comedy focusing on the simpler side of life.

Neeson’s acting flourishes in a film focused on the characters rather than the action. And although this slower-paced film might not be for everyone, the film’s blend of comedy and drama creates a heart-warming story full of emotion.

You can watch made in Italy on Amazon Prime Video here

Last night in Soho

From the mind of one of the best contemporary directors (and my personal favourite), Edgar Wright comes a homage to 60’s London and classic Horror in this phycological thriller. Last Night in Soho follows Eloise (Thomasin McKenzie) as she struggles with life in London in the Present while uncovering the past through a series of dreams where she takes the place of 60’s star Sandie (Anya Taylor-Joy).

Last night in Soho is an instant classic and on par with many of the best horror movies of all time. It even earned praise from the king of horror: Stephen King who loved the movie so much he decided to watch it again!

TV shows:

The Wheel of Time (season 1)

The Wheel of Time is a classic and beloved series of high fantasy books, so when Amazon decided to adapt the series into a TV show there were big expectations, and even bigger risks if the show flopped.

While The Wheel of Time was relatively successful, the show faced backlash from fans of the Books due to minor changes to the original story. However, as a newcomer to the series, I enjoyed the show and found myself excited for what’s to come in season 2.

Reviews of the show differ massively, but if you are a fan of Lord of the Rings, The Witcher or similar films and TV shows, The Wheel of Time is definitely worth watching to form you’re own opinion and get a taster for what could be with Amazon’s upcoming Lord of the Rings show.

You can watch The Wheel of Time on Amazon Prime Video

Music:

Last night in Soho (soundtrack)

While writing about Last Night in Soho, I realised I couldn’t review the movie without the music and yet the soundtrack was amazing in its own right so, in the end, I decided to split the review in two.

Similar to Edgar Wright’s movie Baby Driver the soundtrack to Last Night in Soho is built into the film and helps heighten the story-telling. Originally a playlist of 2,488 songs titled “Soho” Wright’s soundtrack now showcases the very best of the 60’s including artists like Dusty Springfield, The kinks and The who.

My personal favourite from this album is Barry Ryan’s Eloise, which (without spoiling too much) helps create one of the most suspenseful scenes in the entire movie. Although I have to mention Anya Taylor-Joy’s covers of Petula Clark’s Downtown which will be stuck in your head for weeks after watching the movie.

You can listen to the soundtrack to Last Night in Soho on Spotify

Adele 30 

When I last spoke about Adele’s new album -at the time unreleased- I was unsure of the new direction Adele had teased for her new album. However, upon release, I fell in love with the album.

While many criticised the album’s stoic sound, and lack of change to previous Adele records such as 19 and 25, I would argue that Adele’s sound still feels fresh despite the similarities; and the sales figures agree. However, my favourite songs still include the more innovative “All Night Parking” and “Oh My God”.

You can listen to Adele 30 on Spotify or For more on Adele, check out my article defending her in a wave of Vinyl shortages.