vickster51

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Oscars 2024 - My Predictions (& who I'd vote for)

It’s almost time for the biggest night of the year for us film fans. It’s Oscars time! Every year I try and watch all of the nominees. Sadly, unlike last year, I won’t achieve it, with too many of the documentaries and short films not yet available to me, but I’ve seen all of the films from most of the other categories. I did fairly well with my predictions. In terms of likely winners at the…

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Oscars 2024 - My Nominations Predictions

My Predictions for the 2024 #Oscars Nominations! We'll see tomorrow how many I get right!

For the last two years, I’ve made predictions about who the nominees would be at the Oscars and so I thought I’d do the same this year, before the nominations are announced tomorrow. To be honest, trying to predict the nominees is more exciting than predicting the winners, especially when certain categories feel fairly locked in already. Thanks to the stellar programme at October’s London Film…

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Favourite TV Shows 2023

My Favourite Television Shows of 2023

It’s that time of year to reflect on the year and having already discussed my favourite theatre shows and my favourite films, it’s now time to reflect on another year of television and 2023 is a year in which there were some fantastic new shows, as well as returning series. I’m also going to write about my favourite television episodes this year in a separate post, so look out for that later. As…

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Favourite Theatre Shows of 2023

My Favourite Theatre Shows of 2023

It’s hard to believe it’s that time of year again, when I look back at my theatregoing year and look forward to the year to come (that’s coming soon in another post). Although 2023 has seen me see more shows than last year, I’ve still only seen about a third of the shows I’d see pre-lockdowns. I’m slowly getting back in the routine of planning ahead and booking theatre (which is something I’d…

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Favourite Films of 2023

My Favourite Films of 2023.

It’s that time of year to reflect on the year and I’m starting with my film highlights of 2023. Personally, I think it’s been a fantastic year for films, with many smaller indie films rising to top, while some big budget offerings underperformed. Hopefully the film industry will see that you don’t need to spend crazy amounts of money to have a successful film. It was also the year of the…

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Theatre Review - Macbeth, Donmar Warehouse (2023) - David Tennant is back where he belongs - on a Shakespearean stage!

Theatre Review - Macbeth, Donmar Warehouse (2023) starring David Tennant & Cush Jumbo!

(Photography: Charlie Gray Studio / Artwork: AKA UK) It’s always a great year for me when it’s announced that David Tennant is returning to the theatre and especially to Shakespeare and last night I was lucky enough to have a front row seat to the final preview of the new Donmar production of Macbeth. In recent years, there’s been more of a tendency to find a new way to tell some of these…

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Celebrating the National Theatre's 60th Birthday!

On 22nd October 1963, the National Theatre Company, founded by Sir Laurence Olivier, opened their first show – Hamlet starring Peter O’Toole. Yes, their initial home was the Old Vic until their Southbank home, which we all now know as the National Theatre, was ready, but it still means that Sunday was the 60th birthday of the NT! I can’t quite believe it’s already a decade since the 50th was…

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Theatre Review - Groundhog Day is as magical as ever...every time!

Did I mention I love Groundhog Day? 7 years since I first saw this show, here's my review of the current run. You have until 19th August to go!

(Photo credit: Manuel Harlan) For anyone who was reading this blog in 2016, you’ll perhaps remember that the show I absolutely adored that year was Groundhog Day and no one was more surprised than me. I wasn’t a huge fan of the film. Perhaps I was a bit too young when I first saw it, I don’t know, but it’s never been one I’ve returned to much and when it was announced that it was being turned in…

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Television Review - Succession 4.10 "With Open Eyes" - An intense, compelling, perfectly tragic end to one of television's greatest series

What a way to end it. My review of the series finale of Succession.

“You don’t have it.” – Frank Well, we’ve reached the end of Succession. I’m still trying to process the reality of that, but at least the series ended on a high, with a truly perfect close on the world of the Roys after four superb seasons. Having not put a foot wrong all season, I was feeling hopeful I wouldn’t be left disappointed, but it’s still a relief to now be able to reflect on the…

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Television Review - Succession 4.09 "Church and State" - an extraordinary emotional rollercoaster

Another spectacular episode. My review of the penultimate episode of Succession.

“He made me breathe funny.” – Roman “Woof, Woof” – Hugo How are we already at the penultimate episode of the season and indeed the series? It’s flown by and although I’ll be bereft without this show, I admire Jesse Armstrong for going out on top and not dragging it out too long. Perhaps it’s the British model he’ll have grown up seeing, where so many great shows only ran for 2-3 years, but…

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Television Review - Succession 4.08 "America Decides" - Politics, self-interest, betrayal & bitterness collide, with chilling effect

It's Election Night! My review of 4.08 of Succession!

“Connor was running for President?” – Frank I know, I’m late again. Moving house is more time consuming than I’d remembered, but I’m now up to date on the latest instalment of this incredible series and I’m imagining this latest episode made many US viewers nauseous watching, on a more personal level than the rest of us, although it was a chilling, anxiety-inducing viewing experience for…

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Television Review - Succession 4.07 "Tailgate Party"

My review of the latest episode of #Succession #SuccessionHBO

I’m a bit late this week with my review, but it has at least meant I’ve had more time to think about not only the latest episode, but also where the series could be heading in the final three episodes. It’s thrilling that we can be so close to the end and yet nothing seems certain. Everything is still so unpredictable, which adds to the excitement I have of being one of the very lucky people who…

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James Bond at 60 - Who's Next?

The Big Question - Who Could Be The Next James Bond? #JamesBond #007 Bond #Film #Bond60

In 2015, as we awaited the release of Spectre, I posted my list of possible candidates to be the next James Bond, as it seemed likely Daniel Craig would be exiting after his fourth outing in the role. A fifth film, pandemic delays and a 60th Anniversary set of celebrations later and the question feels worth revisiting again, especially with rumours swirling and timing-wise, I’d have assumed…

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Television Review - Succession 4.06 "Living+" - A manic LA day of puppeteering and product launches

We're off to LA! My review of 4.06 of #Succession #SuccessionHBO #Television #Review

“Let’s put an end to Joy. Death to Joy.” – Kendall Roy Well, it’s my favourite day of the week, which I rarely say about Mondays, but that will continue to be the case for the next four weeks, while Succession continues its stellar final run. I will admit that this was my least favourite episode of this fourth season, but despite that, it was still an episode that demonstrated how well crafted…

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Television Review - Succession 4.05 "Kill List" - Watch out B-Roll Brothers, Shiv Means Business!

The series that just doesn't disappoint. My review of 4.05 Kill List of #Succession #SuccessionHBO

It’s Monday, so that means it’s time for another deep dive into the latest episode of what is, easily in my opinion, the best show on television at the moment (and if it continues this level of quality, it will take its place as one of the best shows ever made). There’s a lot to unpack this week, with my feelings about certain characters continuing to change based on their actions and with so…

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Television Review - Succession 4.04 "Honeymoon States" - Roses, rotting corpses and a dazzling highwire writing achievement

It's the aftermath & the games have begun. My review of 4.04, another superbly written episode of #Succession #SuccessionHBO

“Can you smell it?” “Sure. Roses and rotting corpses.” (Greg & Tom) The Succession writers are simply unbeatable It doesn’t seem outlandish to say that Succession is the best writing on television right now and this week’s episode, which had the tough task of following last week’s astonishing episode, was a writing masterclass. You don’t even need to be an expert to see the dazzling…

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Most Impactful Television Deaths

After a certain TV event this week, I'm looking back at the Most Impactful Television Deaths for me. Did I include yours? #Television #Review #TVDeaths

WARNING: This article contains spoilers for the following shows – The Good Wife, The West Wing, Buffy, Succession, ER, The Walking Dead, Lost, Angel, Spooks (MI-5), 24, Dawson’s Creek, House of the Dragon, Game of Thrones, Ozark and 1883. Read on at your own risk! This week has seen a lot of discussion about the latest big television death to have taken viewers by surprise. For fans of…