Selections and commentary by Pat Harrington | Music by Tim Bragg

As spring air stirs this week’s cultural offerings invite reflection, revelation — and the occasional revolution. Television and streaming cover a wide range of genres, from sci-fi and ska to true crime and torch songs. They deliver stories that challenge, charm, and cut deep.

This week’s guide is curated by Pat Harrington. Music is provided by Tim Bragg. It picks out standout offerings across British TV and streaming platforms from an alternative viewpoint. You might be settling in with a brew. Maybe you're catching up on-demand. There’s something here for the curious. It's perfect for the bold and the discerning.

This week’s top highlights:

• Doctor Who returns with a stylish regeneration and a fresh Doctor.
• Ute Lemper resurrects Weimar Berlin in an unforgettable late-night cabaret.
• The Hunt delivers taut moral suspense in one of the week’s most powerful film broadcasts.

Full transcript here

Culture Vulture 5th to the 11th of April 2025

Selections and writing by Pat Harrington | Music by Tim Bragg

This week’s curated list spans eras, genres, and continents. Each title is chosen for its resonance with the social, political, and emotional undercurrents shaping our world today. The quiet radicalism of Hobson’s Choice is thought-provoking. The relentless pressures laid bare in Boiling Point are compelling. The films and programmes here are both stimulating and enjoyable.

We move from the richly nostalgic surfaces of Hello, Dolly! to the dystopian disorientation of Total Recall, where the illusion of choice is anything but harmless. Meanwhile, Dead Calm reveals psychological fractures under extreme conditions. Donnie Brasco also highlights these fractures. They invite us to question appearances, allegiances, and identity itself.

Elsewhere, stories like The Cruel Sea and Radical remind us of the human toll of war and inequality. Documentaries such as Are You Autistic? and Jack the Ripper: Written in Blood challenge cultural assumptions and offer fresh perspectives on visibility, justice, and memory.

Every programme has been selected by Pat Harrington with an eye for cultural depth and contemporary relevance. The accompanying music is composed and performed by Tim Bragg.

The films, series, and documentaries featured this week invite us to look more closely. We are encouraged to examine not just the screen but the systems and stories that shape our lives. This is culture not as escape, but as a mirror, a question, and, sometimes, a quiet call to action.

Read the full transcript here

Explore this week’s Culture Vulture (March 22–28, 2025)—a curated collection of thought-provoking films, documentaries, and TV programmes. Dive into themes of justice, identity, and resistance across genres like noir, Westerns, and contemporary storytelling. Perfect for entertainment lovers seeking cultural depth.

A full transcript is here

Welcome to Culture Vulture, your alternative, non-mainstream weekly entertainment guide. Our aim is to highlight films and programmes that offer something deeper—whether through social critique, political subtext, or psychological insight. Selection and writing are curated by Pat Harrington, with music provided by Tim Bragg.

Here are three highlights from this week's schedule:

• The French Connection (1971) – BBC Two, 22:00, Sunday 16th March A gritty, uncompromising crime thriller that delves into police obsession, systemic corruption, and the brutal realities of law enforcement. Gene Hackman’s portrayal of Popeye Doyle remains one of cinema’s most fascinating antiheroes.
• The Northman (2022) – Film 4, 21:00, Monday 17th March Robert Eggers’ visually stunning Viking epic explores revenge, destiny, and the destructive cycles of violence, questioning whether vengeance ever leads to true justice.
• Aftersun (2022) – BBC Three, 21:00, Friday 21st March A deeply moving drama about memory, fatherhood, and self-discovery, Aftersun offers a quiet yet powerful meditation on nostalgia and intergenerational trauma.

Longer reviews of some of the featured films are available at Counter Culture, where we explore the cultural, philosophical, and political themes emb

A full transcript is available here

#filmreviews #film #moviereviews #movies #TV #TVguide

Welcome to Culture Vulture, your go-to weekly guide for an alternative take on entertainment. This carefully curated selection is brought to you by Pat Harrington. Music by the talented Tim Bragg accompanies the . writing. This week's highlights are thought-provoking and diverse. They feature a compelling mix of historical drama, Shakespearean intensity, and investigative documentary.
First, we have Suffragette (2015). It is a powerful historical drama. It focuses on the working-class women who played a pivotal role in the fight for the right to vote. Carey Mulligan stars as Maud. She is an ordinary woman whose journey of radicalization reflects the courage of countless suffragettes. These brave women risked everything in the struggle for equality. With its unflinching portrayal of the movement’s violent tactics, Suffragette highlights activism's personal cost. It is both an emotional and inspiring watch. Viewers are asked to consider the sacrifices behind societal progress.
Next, delve into the gripping modern adaptation of Shakespeare's Coriolanus (2011). Ralph Fiennes directs and stars in this tense political thriller. The film transports the Bard's tale of war and betrayal to a contemporary setting. Fiennes portrays a proud and unyielding general. His tragic downfall stems from an inability to connect with the people he serves. Urban warfare forms the backdrop of this adaptation. It resonates powerfully with present-day themes of populism. It also highlights the dangers of unchecked authority.
Finally, there’s The Undercover Police Scandal: Love and Lies Exposed. This investigative documentary series exposes the shocking emotional toll and ethical dilemmas of undercover policing tactics. The first episode highlights the harrowing stories of individuals deceived by covert operatives. It focuses on the profound impact of these betrayals on their personal lives. It’s a deeply unsettling yet essential exploration of authority and trust, revealing a hidden world that demands public scrutiny.
A full transcript is available here

Welcome to this week's edition of Culture Vulture, your entertainment guide from an alternative standpoint. We're delighted to bring you a curated selection of thought-provoking films, documentaries, and television programmes that challenge the norm and offer fresh perspectives on the world around us.

In this edition, we've got a fantastic line-up of content that spans various genres and themes, each chosen to inspire, entertain, and spark meaningful conversations. As always, our writing is brought to you by Pat Harrington, with music by the talented Tim Bragg.

Here are three highlights from this week's picks:

1. The Godfather Coda: The Death of Michael Corleone (2020) - Film4 9pm A re-edit of the third installment of the Godfather series, offering a more focused narrative that delves into the consequences of Michael Corleone's actions and his quest for redemption.
2. Dope Girls (one of six) - BBC1 9.15pm A gripping drama based on the true story of young women who become entangled in the world of drug trafficking during the early 20th century, shedding light on the societal pressures and economic hardships that drive their choices.
3. Nomadland (2020) - Film4 6.50pm This critically acclaimed film follows a woman who, after losing everything in the Great Recession, embarks on a journey through the American West, living as a modern-day nomad and exploring themes of resilience and community.

We hope you enjoy this week's selection and find something that resonates with you. Stay tuned for in-depth reviews, insightful commentary, and more from Culture Vulture

A transcript is available here

Welcome to Culture Vulture – Your Alternative Weekly Entertainment Guide. Writing is by Pat Harrington and music is by Tim Bragg.

Highlights this week include:

• The Sisters Brothers (2018) – A revisionist Western that subverts genre conventions, following two bounty-hunting brothers on a journey of survival, greed, and self-discovery.
• Belfast (2021) – A poignant coming-of-age drama set against the backdrop of 1960s Northern Ireland, capturing the innocence of youth amid political turmoil.
• Respect (2021) – A powerful biopic of Aretha Franklin, showcasing her rise to fame, struggles, and enduring legacy through an unforgettable performance by Jennifer Hudson.

A transcript is available here

ture Vulture, your weekly alternative entertainment guide. This week’s pick of films and programmes weaves a compelling tapestry of themes deeply relevant to contemporary life. These stories explore the stark inequalities of Elysium. They delve into the human cost of systemic failures in Idris Elba: Our Knife Crime Crisis. These narratives confront pressing social and political challenges. Ethical dilemmas involving power, justice, and redemption are portrayed. They echo throughout with the psychological intensity of Misery. The artistic ambitions of Mr Turner also highlight these issues.

Amidst these weighty explorations, there is also a celebration of resilience. Creativity is seen in Sound of Metal and Rebecca. These works remind us of the enduring strength of the human spirit. These works encourage reflection on identity, morality, and the search for meaning in a rapidly evolving world. They offer both cautionary tales and moments of hope. These narratives, whether dystopian futures, intimate dramas, or historical accounts, connect us. They link us to the universal struggles and triumphs shaping our shared reality.

Selections and writing are by Pat Harrington, with music by Tim Bragg. We hope you enjoy this week’s alternative entertainment journey!

A transcript is here

#moviereviews #filmreviews #movies #films #TV