Welcome to Culture Vulture, your guide to the week's entertainment from an alternative standpoint. Selections and writing is by Pat Harrington and music is from Tim Bragg. Highlights this week include:

The Outfit (2022) BBC1 10:45 PM: A thriller about a tailor who becomes entangled in the dangerous world of organized crime, exploring survival and the hidden costs of neutrality in conflict.

Socrates: Genius of the Ancient World BBC4 11:00 PM: A documentary examining the life and philosophy of Socrates, highlighting his method of questioning and the lasting impact of his ideas on modern thought.

and,

Kes (1969) Film4 1:05 PM: A poignant film about a working-class boy who finds solace and purpose in his bond with a kestrel, set against a backdrop of economic hardship and limited opportunities.

Welcome to Culture Vulture, your guide to the week's entertainment from an alternative standpoint. Selections and writing is by Pat Harrington and music is from Tim Bragg. Highlights this week include:

The Lavender Hill Mob (1951) – A British comedy. It is about a timid bank clerk who devises a plan to rob the Bank of England. It's a classic heist film with a humorous twist.

Source Code (2011) – A sci-fi thriller. A soldier wakes up in another man's body as part of a government experiment to prevent a bombing. He relives the same eight minutes repeatedly to find the perpetrator.

and,

Respect (2021) – A biographical musical drama that follows the life of legendary singer Aretha Franklin. It focuses on her journey from childhood to becoming the Queen of Soul.

A transcript is available here

Welcome to Culture Vulture, your guide to the week's entertainment from an alternative standpoint. Selections and writing is by Pat Harrington and music is from Tim Bragg. Highlights this week include:

Get Carter (1971) - This gritty British crime thriller follows Jack Carter's ruthless quest for revenge in a corrupt, decaying 1970s Britain; airing Sunday, 1st of September 2024 at 10pm on BBC2.

Hampstead (2017) - A charming romantic drama set in London’s Hampstead Heath, exploring an unlikely connection between an American widow and a reclusive man; airing Wednesday, 4th of September 2024 at 6.55pm on Film4.

Another Round (2020) - This Danish film delves into a group of teachers experimenting with constant intoxication to reclaim the joy in their lives; airing Friday, 6th of September 2024 at 1.20am on C4.

A full transcript is here

Counter Culture jumped at the chance to interview comedian and writer Katie Folger. Katie was performing her one woman show, Getting in Bed with the Pizza Man at the 2024 Edinburgh Fringe.

Welcome to Culture Vulture, your guide to the week's entertainment from an alternative viewpoint. Music is from Tim Bragg and selections and writing is by Pat Harrington. Highlights this week include:

Believe (2013) - Saturday 17th of August 2024 at 10:25am on BBC2: An inspiring tale of an underdog youth football team revitalized by a legendary, yet troubled, coach in Manchester.

Roman Holiday (1953) - Sunday 18th of August 2024 at 4:50pm on Film4: A timeless romantic classic where a sheltered princess finds freedom and love during an adventure through Rome.

and,

Boiling Point (2021) - Tuesday 20th of August 2024 at 9pm on Film4: A gripping real-time drama that immerses the viewer in the high-pressure environment of a London restaurant's chaotic kitchen.

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Reine Beau is the lead singer and narrator of The Blondie Story. Counter Culture reviewed the show a few years back and we thought we’d catch up with her and ask her a few questions over a cup of mint tea...

https://countercultureuk.com/2024/08/08/reine-beau-the-blondie-story-and-her-unique-interpretation/

Welcome to Culture Vulture, your guide to the week's entertainment from an alternative standpoint. Selections and writing are by Pat Harrington and music is from Tim Bragg. Highlights this week include:

Woodstock: Three Days That Defined A Generation

This documentary offers a nostalgic exploration of the iconic 1969 Woodstock Music Festival, highlighting its cultural significance as a symbol of the 1960s counterculture movement through vivid archival footage and personal accounts.

Boyz N The Hood

John Singleton's "Boyz N The Hood" presents a powerful depiction of life in South Central Los Angeles, tackling issues of systemic racism, violence, and the struggles of young men striving to escape their circumstances.

The Day of the Jackal

This tense political thriller follows a meticulous assassin's attempt to kill French President Charles de Gaulle, offering a gripping look at the complexities of political violence and high-stakes conspiracies.

There is a full transcript: https://countercultureuk.com/2024/08/10/culture-vulture-1oth-to-the-16th-of-august-2024/

Welcome to Culture Vulture, your guide to the week's entertainment from an alternative viewpoint. Selections and writing is by Pat Harrington and music is from Tim Bragg. Highlights this week include:

All The President’s Men

This political thriller follows Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein as they uncover the Watergate scandal, leading to President Nixon's resignation.

Black 47

Set during the Irish Potato Famine, "Black 47" follows an Irish Ranger who deserts the British Army to seek vengeance on those responsible for his people's suffering.

and,

The Hate U Give which centres on Starr Carter, a young black girl who witnesses her best friend being fatally shot by police, spurring her into activism against racial injustice.

A transcript is available here

Welcome to Culture Vulture, your guide to the weeks entertainment from an alternative standpoint. Selections and writing is by Pat Harrington and music is from Tim Bragg. Highlights this week include:

Serenity (2005): A sci-fi adventure where a group of rebels fights against a totalitarian regime, exploring themes of freedom and the ethics of scientific experimentation.

Deadpool 2 (2018): An irreverent superhero film that follows Deadpool's journey of redemption and protection of the vulnerable, while satirizing the genre and Hollywood's commercialization of violence.

and,

Hell Or High Water (2016): A modern Western about two brothers who rob banks to save their family ranch, critiquing the predatory practices of financial institutions and exploring themes of poverty and morality.

A transcript is available here

Welcome to Culture Vulture, your guide to the weeks entertainment from an alternative standpoint. Selections and writing are by Pat Harrington and music is from Tim Bragg. Highlights this week include:

The Art of the Brick exhibition in Brick Lane, a vibrant display of LEGO art, showcasing over 100 intricate sculptures, including reimagined famous masterpieces and an impressive 6-metre-long T-Rex skeleton, captivating visitors of all ages.

"Britain Behind Bars: A Secret History with Rob Rinder" which delves into the hidden narratives of the UK's prison system, uncovering centuries of untold stories behind the walls. With the nation's prisons facing unprecedented overcrowding and the imminent closure of the historic Dartmoor prison due to safety concerns, the series arrives at a critical moment. Rob Rinder's exploration offers a timely examination of the penal system's past and present, shedding light on the urgent issues at the heart of today's justice

debates.

And, "Blood Simple", a gripping 1984 neo-noir crime film marking the directorial debut of the acclaimed Coen Brothers. The story unfolds in Texas, where a seedy bar owner's discovery of his wife's affair with one of his bartenders spirals into a dark plot of jealousy and betrayal. As the husband hires a private investigator to eliminate the lovers, a series of misunderstandings and manipulations lead to an unpredictable and violent conclusion.

A transcript is available here