Pick of the week
That Christmas
Weaving together the plots of three children’s books by Richard Curtis, Simon Otto’s studiedly British but bubbly animation is set in a tight-knit Suffolk coastal town just before Christmas. Shy newcomer Danny pines for nice, studious Sam; however, her twin sister – and budding lord of misrule – Charlie is in danger of missing out on pressies when Santa (Brian Cox) flies by. But after a blizzard strands most of the adults out of town, the home-alone kids have the chance to break with tradition, learn those inevitable life lessons and find inventive uses for the brussels sprouts. There’s something for everyone – snowball fights, runaway turkeys, an Ed Sheeran song – in a film destined for repeat viewings.
Wednesday 4 December, Netflix
***
Beatles ’64
David Tedeschi’s documentary – produced by Martin Scorsese and using extensive fly-on-the-wall footage by the Maysles brothers – follows the Fab Four’s 14-day trip to the US, when their appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show (watched by over 70 million people) catapulted them to international stardom. New interviews with Paul and Ringo, and the likes of Ronnie Spector and Smokey Robinson, plus reminiscences from fans, give a real sense of the hysteria the Beatles inspired, while the archive film captures the lads in their cocky, witty, world-beating prime.
Out now, Disney+
***
The Edge of the World
This 1937 drama turned out to be director Michael Powell’s ticket to the big time. It’s a lyrical but clear-eyed yarn about a Shetland island community in its death throes. The escalating conflict between tradition and modernity is personified in Eric Berry’s Robbie, who feels constricted by parental expectation, and childhood friend Andrew (Niall MacGinnis), who is involved with Robbie’s sister Ruth (Belle Chrystall) and wants to preserve the old ways. It’s followed by a quirky 1978 short that takes cast member John Laurie back to Foula, where the film was shot.
Saturday 30 November, 10.30pm, BBC Four
***
The American Society of Magical Negroes
A magical negro here is a “Black supporting character who exists solely to serve a white protagonist’s storyline”. In this satirical romcom, failed artist Aren (Justice Smith) is recruited to the titular secret group (with nods to Harry Potter) and assigned to boost the self-worth of Drew Tarver’s tech startup worker Jason, which includes hooking him up – Cyrano-style – with co-worker Lizzie (An-Li Bogan). If he doesn’t, levels of “white discomfort” could lead to the loss of the society’s magic powers – and racial violence.
Sunday 1 December, 8.35am, 5.10pm, Sky Cinema Premiere
***
The Quiet Girl
A delicate performance from the young Catherine Clinch anchors Colm Bairéad’s beautiful, achingly tender Irish-language film. She plays Cáit, one of five neglected children of a pregnant mother and feckless father, who is sent for the summer to a childless cousin Eibhlín (Carrie Crowley) and her farmer husband Seán (Andrew Bennett). They are attentive and kind but nurse a sadness Cáit can’t fathom in a drama as absorbed in the child’s view of the world as the woes of the grownups.
Thursday 5 December, 9pm, Film4
***
Fly Me to the Moon
Greg Berlanti’s easygoing romantic comedy offers up a new, if fictional, angle on the oft-told story of Nasa’s historic Apollo missions. Marketing specialist Kelly (Scarlett Johansson, ladling on the charm) is hired by the Nixon administration to boost the public profile of the beleaguered US space programme, which she does through PR stunts and product placement – much to the irritation of Kennedy Space Center launch director Cole (Channing Tatum). Naturally, opposites attract – but a top-level directive to secretly fake the moon landing as a backup to Apollo 11 leads to personal and political complications.
Friday 6 December, Apple TV+
***
Wonka
This sugar rush of a fantasy musical from Paddington maestro Paul King brings those films’ homespun eccentricity to bear on an origin story for Roald Dahl’s confectionery genius. Timothée Chalamet (with a surprisingly effective singing voice) is all gangly exuberance as young Willy, who has a vision of selling his magical chocolates – but a trio of established rivals (Paterson Joseph, Matt Lucas and Mathew Baynton) set out to crush him. New songs by Neil Hannon hit the spot, while the scene-stealing Hugh Grant is a hoot as an irate Oompa-Loompa.
Friday 6 December, 7.55am, 8pm, Sky Cinema Premiere
