Rave Reviews: Riot Women & Club Culture – This Week’s Best

From Punk Bands to Supercomputers: The Week’s Best in TV, Film, Books & More

A diverse slate of new releases offers something for every taste, from the raucous energy of a midlife women’s punk band to the chilling intrigue of a tech thriller. This week’s offerings demonstrate a remarkable breadth of storytelling, spanning genres and platforms to deliver compelling narratives and thought-provoking experiences.

Television: A Riotous Return and Cringe Comedy

Riot Women, currently streaming on BBC iPlayer, marks the triumphant return of Sally Wainwright. The energetic drama centers on a group of midlife women who form a punk band,and,according to critic Lucy Mangan,it’s “perfectly seasoned with humour,from the lightest to the darkest.” Wainwright’s signature style shines through, covering a lot of ground without ever feeling bogged down or leaving the viewer wanting more.

For those seeking a different kind of comedic experience, The Chair Company on Sky & Now delivers a “cringe caper” starring Tim Robinson of I Think You Should Leave. Jack Seale notes that the show thrives on surprise,leaving viewers constantly anticipating the next “massive,stupid laugh.”

Channel 4’s How I Made a Million in 90 Days offers a satirical look at hustle culture, following Oobah Butler’s attempt to get rich swift. Rachel Aroesti highlights Butler’s ability to expose “the void – of value, of morality – at the heart of the forces that shape our world” with “deadpan humour and a relentlessly left-field point of view.”

BBC iPlayer presents Leonard and Hungry Paul, a gentle adaptation of Rónán Hession’s novel.Sarah Dempster describes it as a comforting antidote to the “bluster and rat-tat-tat of today’s TV terrain,” offering a “foil blanket and warming mug of Ribena” for weary viewers.

Thrills and Tech on the Small Screen

The Iris Affair, available on Sky & Now, promises a propulsive drama starring Tom Hollander and Niamh Algar. The plot, involving a genius code-cracker, an oddball entrepreneur, and an evil supercomputer named Charlie Big potatoes, is described by Lucy Mangan as a “rollicking yarn” from the creator of Luther. The direction by Terry McDonough and Sarah O’Gorman is “stylish and propulsive,” and the script avoids cynicism, embracing a wholehearted approach to storytelling.

Film: From Quirky Road Trips to Del Toro’s Vision

In cinemas, Sunlight stands out as Nina Conti’s quirky directorial debut. Phil Hoad praises Conti’s ability to be “funny,emotionally astute and kinda sexy” in a film about a man’s road trip with a woman in a monkey suit.

Guillermo del Toro reimagines Mary shelley’s classic tale in Frankenstein, starring Oscar Isaac and Jacob Elordi. Peter Bradshaw emphasizes the film’s distinctive visual style, describing it as “a series of lovely, intricate images, filigreed with infinitesimally exact cod-period detail.”

Ballad of a Small Player, also in cinemas, features Colin Farrell as a high-stakes gambler seeking redemption in Macau. Peter Bradshaw notes the film’s “florid panoramas” and “exotic, sinister interiors,” creating a world of “synthesised grandeur and cavernous spaces.”

Soulemayne’s Story, currently in cinemas, delivers a powerful drama centered on a migrant’s struggle in Paris. Phil Hoad commends director Boris lojkine’s “hazy impressionistic beauty” in capturing the city’s atmosphere.

Streaming Selection: A Descent into Darkness

Available on Amazon Prime (and for rent on various platforms), Requiem for a Dream remains a harrowing and unflinching portrait of drug addiction. Peter Bradshaw describes Aronofsky’s direction as “precise,” creating a film that is “unsettlingly like a gruesome yet compelling vivisectional experiment.”

Literary Landscapes: From Scandals to Science

If you’re seeking a compelling read, After Oscar by Merlin Holland, Wilde’s grandson, offers a nuanced look at the legacy of a scandal. Matthew Sturgis praises the book’s “engaging combination of wit, personal candour and scholarly rigour.”

For those interested in the science behind our tendency to anthropomorphize, Humanish by Justin Gregg provides insightful answers. edward Posnett found the book’s stories “repeatedly surprised and enlightened,” challenging his assumptions about other species.

Finding My Way by Malala Yousafzai offers a personal account of the activist’s journey.Mythili Roa highlights how Malala “wrestles back the story of her own life,” rejecting the constraints of her past.

Big Kiss, Bye Bye, reviewed by Lara Feigel, explores themes of love and memory. The reviewer notes that Bennett is “less concerned with skewering contemporary manhood than with exploring the role of these encounters in making up a life.”

And On Friendship by Andrew O’Hagan, reviewed by Anthony Cummins, delves into the complexities of human connection. Cummins notes the author’s consideration of why certain individuals make good or bad friends, and how bereavement and the internet shape our experiences of friendship.

Musical Notes: From Dancefloors to Debut Recitals

Tame Impala’s new album, Deadbeat, takes a dancefloor diversion while exploring themes of fame and domesticity. Alexis Petridis suggests the album can be read as “a treatise on trying to balance success with some kind of normality.”

sebastian Rochford’s Finding Ways showcases the drummer’s alchemic touch, fusing improv, reggae, and romantic pop. John Fordham praises the album’s “sharply contrasting” sounds and Rochford’s signature chemistry.

Hugh Cutting’s debut recital album,Refound,demonstrates a warm tone and originality.clive Paget notes the album’s “eclectic, idiosyncratic” choices, which are nonetheless “profoundly satisfying.”

On Stage: Jade’s Unvarnished Appeal

Former Little Mix singer Jade is currently touring with a synth-laden show that alexis Petridis describes as “appealing and at times deeply odd.” The reviewer highlights Jade’s “cheerily unvarnished presence” and her connection with her LGBTQ+ fanbase.