There’s no rest for the wicked in the third series of the gritty French cop drama Braquo that launches this week, hot on the heels of series 2. A combination of The Shield and a dark, twisted Scandinavian crime novel series Braquo isn’t the most plausible crime series around, but it’s one of the most addictive. I’m embarrassed to admit it, but I watched the entire series in 48 hours!
There’s no rest for the wicked in the third series of the gritty French cop drama Braquo that launches this week, hot on the heels of series 2. A combination of The Shield and a dark, twisted Scandinavian crime novel series Braquo isn’t the most plausible crime series around, but it’s one of the most addictive. I’m embarrassed to admit it, but I watched the entire series in 48 hours!
Here are my highlights for the week.
Thanks for Sharing (2013)
Starring: Tim Robbins, Mark Ruffalo, Gwyneth Paltrow & Josh Gad
Directed by: Stuart Blumberg
Screening: Rialto Selection, Saturday 16th August, 8.30pm
This is the first film directed by the co-writer of The Kids Are All Right, Stuart Blumberg. It’s a smart, thoughtful film that takes us inside the 12-step program and explores the communities and relationships that develop during recovery, in this particular case following three sex addicts struggling to keep their addiction in check. There’s the recovering novice still in denial (Josh Gad), his mentor who is contemplating his first proper sexual relationship since entering SA (Ruffalo) and the staunch veteran (Robbins). It’s tricky subject matter and occasionally Blumberg struggles to get the right balance of humour and drama, but performance wise everyone is in fine form, especially Pink (credited here by her real name Alecia Moore) who adds some spark to this otherwise restrained film.
Braquo Series 3 (2014)
Staring: Jean-Hugues Anglade, Karole Rocher & Joseph Malerba
Directed by: Frédéric Jardin
Screening: Rialto World, Monday 11th August, 8.30pm
Set in Paris, this Emmy award winning show follows a squad of dodgy, ruthless cops who are constantly at war with those around them. This series has several storylines including retribution for the murder of one of their own and the outbreak of war between the Russian/ Georgian/ Ukrainian/ Armenian mafia based in Paris. You can enjoy series 2 without having watched series 1 and 2 – just prepare yourself for a cast of dark, tortured souls causing carnage on the streets of Paris.
What Richard Did Next (2013)
Staring: Jack Reynor, Róisín Murphy & Lars Mikkelsen
Directed by: Lenny Abrahamson
Screening: Rialto British, Sunday 24th August, 8.30pm
This is a cracker of an Irish drama and a story that will resonate with a New Zealand audience - it’s filled with rugby loving teenage boys who like a drink. Newcomer Jack Reynor is brilliant as 18 year-old Richard, a talented rugby player and the golden boy of his privileged Dublin teen set, whose life unravels after a night out goes horribly wrong. We’ve seen this moral dilemma before, but Reynor’s genuine, subtle and soul baring performance makes it worth watching again.