My Cat's Top Ten TV Picks for 2024

1. Deadloch (Amazon Prime) - absolutely hilarious Australian series, feminist crime

2. Fisk (ABC) - another brilliant Australian comedy with wonderful characters

3. Fargo (Apple) - season 5 - have loved every season of this series

4. True Detectives (Foxtel) Alaska - again, enjoyed each season of this series - brilliant new cast for every season;  beautiful setting, great characters and interesting story

5. Loudermilk (Netflix) - who would have thought that Alcoholic Narcotics Anonymous could be so funny; well rounded and sympathetic characters. 

6. Slow Horses (Apple) - still great, particularly Gary Oldman

7. Life After Life (ABC) - based on Kate Atkinson's superb novel - brilliant adaptation

8. Everyone Else Burns (SBS) - funny take on doomsday prepping for the Apocalypse

9. Call the Midwives (ABC) - often moving and inspiring

10. Evil (Paramount Plus) - again, brilliant characters - Sister Andrea, Ben the Magnificent

Also, loved:-

11. Shrinking (Apple) - enjoyed both seasons, was particularly moved by the last episode Season 2

12. All Creatures Great and Small (ABC)

12. Babylon Berlin (SBS) - fascinating drama set in 1930s Germany depicting the rise of the NAZIs as they gradually take over the judiciary, government etc.

13. Earth (ABC) - with Chris Packham - documentary depicting multiple mass extinctions on earth, how the earth developed geologically and the arrival of life

My Cat's Top 10 Films for 2024

1. All of Us Strangers - moving, romantic, and brilliant soundtrack including Frankie Goes to Hollywood.

2. The Holdovers - again, moving, picturesque setting, interesting characters and depiction of the era

3. Poor Things - imaginative, feminist, hilarious

4. Kneecap - hilarious account of Irish rebellion and the fight to preserve the Gaelic language

5. Fly Me to the Moon - best romantic comedy in aeons

6. Civil War - Kirsten Dunst was sensational; let's hope that this is not what the future holds for the US

 

6. The Missile - 1980s vibe + soundtrack, much cheerier than usual Finnish fare despite a background of the Cold War and worldwide mutually-assured nuclear destruction

7. The Apprentice - don't let the subject of Trump put you off; Jeremey Strong's performance is somewhat similar to his performance in Succession and equally brilliant; fascinating insight into Trump and the development of New York

8. Lee - biography of war photo journalist Lee Miller - strong cast and great story

9. The Fall Guy - Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt were impressive, great action comedy

10. Overall, from my point of view, not a brilliant year for films... not sure if it was the effects of the writers' strike, or just seeing too many films... having said that, I saw Love Actually and Bridget Jones' Diary as a Luna Monday double just before Xmas, and It's a Wonderful Life at the Windsor just before Christmas - have seen all these films numerous times and still enjoy each of these, so in the absence of much in the way of new releases to inspire me, am including these as joint # 10.

Other notable films:-

Argylle - so fun; best cat scenes; & brilliant ice skating scenes

Lies We Tell - even heiresses were subject to appalling oppression in the 1800s - compelling feminist take on the Jane Austen era

Tuesday - quirky, poignant film starring Julia-Louise Dreyfuss as a mother struggling with her daughter’s terminal illness

Firebrand - well acted & scripted depiction of Henry VIII’s last wife Catherine Parr - Jude law is brilliant & almost unrecognisable as the king, Alicia Vikander is superb as Catherine Parr, as is Erin Doherty as a religious activist