The Stranger
Channel: Netflix
Starring: Richard Armitage, Siobhan Finneran, Jennifer Saunders, Shaun Dooley, Paul Kaye, Dervla Kirwan, Kadiff Kirwan, Jacob Dudman, Ella-Rae Smith, Brandon Fellows, Misha Handley, Anthony Head, Hannah John-Karmen, Stephen Rea
Creator: Harlan Coben
IMDb Rating | 7.5
Humpo Show Rating | 9.5
The Stranger follows the lives of suburban families whose secrets and lies are made public by the appearance of a mysterious woman. Continue reading
Uncle Vanya
Harold Pinter Theatre, London
Director: Ian Rickson
Cast: Richard Armitage, Toby Jones, Aimee Lou Wood, Rosalind Eleazar, Ciaran Hinds, Dearbhla Molloy, Peter Wight and Anna Calder-Marshall
Uncle Vanya is a play by Russian playwright Anton Chekhov, first published in 1898, which explores the disruption and discontent of a small group of people in rural turn of the century Russia. Director Ian Rickson and Irish playwright Conor McPherson have brought this nineteenth century Russian play to London’s West End with a great deal of humour, melancholy and emotion. Continue reading
Berlin Station (Season Three) ★★★★☆
Channel: Epix
Starring: Richard Armitage, Michelle Forbes, Ismael Cruz Cordova, Leland Orser, Richard Jenkins, Keke Palmer, Rhys Ifans, Ashley Judd, Mina Tander,
Creator: Olen Steinhauer
IMDb Rating | 7.9
Humpo Show Rating | 7.8
Berlin Station returns for a third season and it is packed full of suspense and drama, as well as establishing new faces as well as continuing to have a finger on the pulse of European and American politics. Continue reading
Ocean’s Eight ★★★☆☆
IMDb Rating | 6.2
Humpo Show Rating | 6.5
Released: 2018
Starring: Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Helena Bonham Carter, Anne Hathaway, Sarah Poulson, Mindy Kaling, Awkwafina, Richard Armitage, Rihanna and James Corden
Director: Gary Ross
Plot Summary: Debbie Ocean gathers an all-female crew to attempt an impossible heist at New York City’s yearly Met Gala. (IMDb)
Upon her recent release from prison, Debbie Ocean (Sandra Bullock) enlists the help of several other criminals to steal a necklace worth over 150 million dollars from the neck of a famous actress at the Met Gala in New York City.
I love heist films – anything from The Sting and The Italian Job to Entrapment and Ocean’s Eleven- the act of watching a group of people pull off something that is seemingly impossible makes for extremely entertaining viewing. Ocean’s Eight is the latest in a long line to hit the big screen, and with the weight of the previous trilogy on its shoulders, it was set a high bar.
Unfortunately, the film fails to live up to the hype or any of its Ocean’s predecessors. The script and plot is not worthy of the acting talents of Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Helena Bonham Carter, Sarah Poulson and Anne Hathaway. There is a severe lack of thrills, wit and laughs that is characteristic of the Ocean’s films or any other heist. It doesn’t end there I’m afraid to say, there is also a lack of character chemistry, the pacing is sluggish and the cinematography is miles behind where it should be.
Debbie assembles a team to pull off a necklace heist at the famed Met Gala and while that sounds interesting enough, the film doesn’t seem to have a pulse until the actual heist kicks into action. However, even at that point there are too many eyebrow raising conveniences in the film for it to feel as if they’re pulling off something extraordinary.
Ocean’s Eight is a TV-quality film that can be watched and somewhat enjoyed in the comfort of the home with no real expectations attached to it. Despite operating under the Ocean’s banner, try your best to not draw comparisons with the Clooney-Pitt-Damon trilogy as it pales in comparison.
The Humpo Show | Richard
Berlin Station Season 2 (2017) ★★★★☆
Channel: Epix
Starring: Richard Armitage, Rhys Ifans, Leland Orser, Michelle Forbes, Richard Jenkins, Ashley Judd, Keke Palmer, John Dorman, Mina Tander, Thomas Kretschmann, Emilia Schule, Heino Ferch
Creator: Olen Steinhauer
Humpo Show Rating: 8.5
Daniel Miller (Richard Armitage) is tasked with infiltrating a far-right German political party that the CIA believe is planning a terrorist attack in the lead up to the upcoming election in order to swing the vote in the PfD’s way. This clandestine operation is done under the new leadership of Berlin Station Chief BB Yates (Ashley Judd), and without informing the American Ambassador to Germany Richard Danes (John Dorman). Deception is the name of the game, with multiple players keeping their cards close to their chests, and this ambiguity keeps tensions high and the show manages to maintain suspense to the very final scenes. Continue reading
Berlin Station
Channel: Epix
Starring: Richard Armitage, Rhys Ifans, Richard Jenkins, Michelle Forbes, Leland Orser, Tamlyn Tomita.
Humpo Show Rating | 4.5 / 5
We are Thomas Shaw…
Thomas Shaw, an Edward Snowden-esque whistle-blower, has decided to target the CIA’s Berlin Station by leaking some of the station’s secrets to the press, and thus, creating a multitude of problems for the various players of the station. Each of the main characters display signs of shiftiness and secrecy concerning their actions which makes for intriguing viewing as their is a underlying sense of unpredictability throughout the season. For those who enjoy Homeland and Spooks, Berlin Station delivers an interesting and exciting spy thriller that ticks all the boxes as well as conveying a modern day message concerning espionage and the institutions. Continue reading
Who Should Be The Next James Bond?
The next James Bond is a topic that has become a cauldron of discussion by everyone from the producers and directors of the Bond films, the current cast members, the potential replacements themselves, the acting community in general, celebrities not in the acting field and people on social media. James Bond is the creation of the brilliant Ian Fleming and has been successfully transferred from the pages of his books to the cinema screens seen by millions for over half a century.
The favourites are Damian Lewis, Idris Elba and Tom Hardy. Personally, I would prefer if none of them got the role as James Bond. They are all great actors and I love them in some of the films and TV shows that I have witnessed their considerable acting abilities in. These three are the favourites because even though James Bond is a British book and film series, it is increasingly pandering to the global audience it now reaches rather than the formula that made it successful naturally. Lewis (Homeland), Elba (The Wire) and Hardy (Mad Max) have each made a name for themselves in America, which is why they are the favourites for the role of James Bond as SONY and MGM would probably want a Brit who has cracked America to give them a better chance of making it a hit at the box=office. Continue reading
Spooks: The Greater Good Film Review
3.75 / 5
An absorbing thrill-fest.
The Secret Service is under attack by a dangerous terrorist intent on bringing justice onto the powerful people of Secret Services that have ruined his homeland and took his wife away from him. However, all is not what it seems as this escaped terrorist has been used by a traitor within MI5 to bring down Sir Harry Pearce and British control of its own security to hand over to the CIA. Harry, with the assistance of Will Holloway attempt to prevent a number of terrorist attacks on British soil, and to uncover the mole within MI5. Spooks: The Greater Good is good on its promise of thrill-seeking action and fascinating pursuits, as well as the constant battle between good and evil.
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
3.5 / 5
The Hobbit franchise reaches its conclusion in this epic battle finale that concerns all the good and bad of Middle Earth. Men, Dwarves, Elves, Orcs and Wargs and the Eagles all come together to fight in this huge battle in front of the Lonely Mountain which contains an almighty treasure.
I first read The Hobbit around 10 years ago and I have reread it a couple of times since, and I must say that I prefer it to The Lord of the Rings books, it is one of my favourite books and I have on the whole enjoyed the portrayal of Tolkien’s brilliant book into 3 fairly entertaining films, though they have their flaws. Most notably is the length of the trilogy in comparison to the actual book.
The Crucible (Digital Theatre Version)
5 / 5
Powerful, brilliant and intense
After the success of The Crucible at the Old Vic Theatre in London, it has been released to some select cinemas in the UK. Having seen it once while in London and absolutely loving it, I had to see the Digital Theatre Version of it when it came to mine and Richard’s hometown, Leicester. And I can confirm it is equally astonishing even on the big screen.
Into The Storm
3 / 5
Typical disaster film.
As a fan of Richard Armitage, I felt obliged to see his new film even though he himself called the film, “a little bit silly”. Undeterred, I ventured to the cinema with low-ish expectations, especially as it is yet another disaster film, adding to the already saturated genre. My thoughts weren’t improved due to only 8 people came to the cinema to see it! But despite these omens, the film itself wasn’t too bad. The visual effects were very good and it created what someone would think is an authentic feeling of being inside a tornado. But with disaster films, the audience knows that all the main characters will survive and so it proved no different in this film.
Here is the amazing trailer for The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies film.
Enjoy! 🙂
The Crucible Review
Old Vic Theatre, London
5 / 5
A dark, brooding and intensely brilliant production.
Arthur Miller’s The Crucible is an incendiary play that mesmerises audiences with grippingly intense performances from all of the cast and the haunting staging. The events of the Salem Witch Trials are the scene of a dramatic spectacle that holds everyone’s breath until the final curtain.
The premise of the play was the Salem Witch Trials in the 17th century, but Miller’s own life experiences contribute metaphorically through the Communist witch hunts in 1950s America. Simply staged, with furniture brought on when necessary, the audience’s gaze is focused on the actors and the text, and the unique Old Vic stage provides a closeness to the narrative as we are drawn further in to this fantastical production.
An ominous soundscape introduces a long wordless opening where we witness a sinister ritual performed by black servant girl Tituba (Sarah Niles). This ambiguous scene is the catalyst for a chain of wretched events that shake the bedrock of Salem that demonstrates the intractability of the religious fundamentalists, and shows that good people can be tainted by unfounded accusations motivated by jealousy and malice. From the opening sequence, the incessant hum and throb of the soundscape creates a dark and dull atmosphere, made murkier still with swirls of smoke and the grey drapes covering the theatre.
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