The SLMan Culture List: December
THE BIG-SCREEN THRILLER: The Order
Following rave reviews from this year’s Venice Film Festival, Justin Kurzel’s crime thriller is about the hit the big screen. The Order stars Jude Law as an FBI agent who sets out to track a violent white supremacist group led by neo-Nazi Bob Mathews (Nicholas Hoult). Based on a true story from America’s Pacific Northwest in the 1980s, the film tracks the group’s crime spree and their declaration of war on the US government. As the group escalates its terror attacks, using stolen funds to fuel its operations, the agent races against time to prevent further destruction.
Visit Picturehouses.com
THE NETFLIX RETURN: Squid Game S2
This South Korean survivalist horror was a mega hit for Netflix in 2021. It returns with winner Gi-hun diving back into the fight-to-the-death challenge, facing off against new participants for the prize of 456 billion won. Now, Player 456 is determined to find the people behind Squid Game and put an end to their vicious sport. A new wave of challenges – and an even more desperate group of contestants – are only the first obstacles to overcome.
Visit Netflix.com
THE BOOKER PRIZE WINNER: Orbital by Samantha Harvey
Samantha Harvey’s Orbital recently won the 2024 Booker Prize. It follows a team of astronauts aboard the International Space Station as they conduct experiments and collect meteorological data while observing Earth from above. As they circle the planet, witnessing its landscapes and seasons, news of a loved one’s death reaches them, sparking deep reflections on life, loss and the fragility of humanity. Separated from Earth, yet still tethered to it, they confront powerful questions: What is life without Earth? And what is Earth without humanity?
Visit Amazon.co.uk
THE CANNES FAVOURITE: Oh, Canada
Directed by Paul Schrader, this meta film stars Richard Gere and Uma Thurman. Gere plays a Canadian filmmaker who agrees to an interview with a former student to reveal the truth about his life. However, as the cameras roll, they capture a confession. As the couple confront the fallout from this revelation, their marriage is rocked, forcing them to question whether they can recover from the deep rift it causes.
Visit Picturehouses.com
danny Kasirye
THE CLASSIC PLAY: Cat On a Hot Tin Roof, Almeida Theatre
Daisy Edgar-Jones is following her Normal People co-star Paul Mescal’s lead by stepping onto the stage. In this bold reimagining of Tennessee Williams’ Cat On A Hot Tin Roof, Edgar-Jones joins Kingsley Ben-Adir (Bob Marley: One Love) and Lennie James (The Walking Dead) to tell the story of a wealthy Southern family unravelling during patriarch Big Daddy's birthday. Directed by Rebecca Frecknall, the production brings a fresh, hard-hitting edge to the 1955 play that earned Williams his second Pulitzer prize for drama.
Until 1st February
Visit Almeida.co.uk
THE MUSIC DOC: Elton John: Never Too Late
Directed by RJ Cutler and Elton John’s husband David Furnish, this documentary follows the star as he looks back on his life and the astonishing early days of his 50-year career. As Elton prepares for his final concert in North America at Dodger Stadium, he takes viewers back in time to recount the extraordinary highs and lows of his early years, and how he overcame adversity, abuse and addiction to become the icon he is today. The film will also feature a new original song, which will no doubt be in the running for Christmas number one...
Visit DisneyPlus.com
THE COFFEE TABLE BOOK: James Bond Style
Bespoke suits in classic cuts, crisp white shirts, silk ties and slick accessories have defined the style of James Bond for over 60 years. Assouline’s latest coffee table book captures this timeless aesthetic. The book is split by Bonds in chronological order, from Sean Connery to Daniel Craig, with each chapter showcasing each actor’s most iconic looks. It also features behind-the-scenes insights and stories from the costume departments, the big-name designers behind the outfits – including Tom Ford and Jenny Packham – and a host of actors including Pierce Brosnan, Michelle Yeoh and Grace Jones. These anecdotes reveal the sheer scale of the Bond style business.
Visit 007Store.com
THE HARD HITTER: Nickel Boys
Nickel Boys brings Colson Whitehead's Pulitzer prize-winning novel to life, telling the powerful story of two boys, Elwood and Turner, sent to the notorious Nickel Academy, a reform school in Jim Crow-era Florida. The institution is infamous for its brutal abuse and corruption. As they endure the horrors of the school, Elwood holds on to his ideals inspired by the civil rights movement, while Turner takes a more hardened approach to survival. Despite their differences, they form a close bond as they try to survive the injustice that surrounds them in the segregated South.
Out 3rd January
Visit Picturehouses.com
THE FILM TO STREAM: Carry On
Starring Taron Egerton (Blackbird, Kingsman), Carry On is a high-stakes thriller which follows airport security officer Ethan Kopek, who finds himself blackmailed by a mysterious terrorist (Jason Bateman). Forced to let a dangerous package through security during a holiday travel rush, Ethan must navigate a tense and deadly game to protect countless lives. As the clock ticks down, he faces impossible choices that will test his courage and push him to the limit.
Visit Netflix.com
THE EPIC ADAPTATION: One Hundred Years Of Solitude
One Hundred Years of Solitude brings Gabriel García Márquez's great 1967 novel to Netflix. The series follows cousins José Arcadio Buendía and Úrsula Iguarán, who defy their parents’ wishes and embark on a journey to find the town of Macondo. Over several generations, the Buendía family endures madness, impossible loves, war and a curse that condemns them to a century of solitude. A masterpiece of Spanish-American literature, One Hundred Years of Solitude is about fate, memory and the cyclical nature of history, capturing the magic and tragedy of the Buendía family’s legacy.
Visit Netflix.com
THE PODCAST DRAMA: The Mysterious Affair at Styles
Peter Dinklage (Game of Thrones) plays the legendary Hercule Poirot in this dramatised podcast. Agatha Christie’s first Poirot story is set in 1914 – with the world at war. Captain Hastings is invited to recover at Styles Court, a grand country house owned by his old friend. But, when the wealthy matriarch, Emily Inglethorp, is brutally murdered, family tensions come to the boil, and everyone becomes a suspect. Desperate to solve the crime and protect the family, Hastings calls upon an old acquaintance to unravel the mystery and uncover the truth. Enter the brilliant detective…
Visit Audible.co.uk
All products on this page have been selected by our editorial team, however we may make commission on some products.
DISCLAIMER: We endeavour to always credit the correct original source of every image we use. If you think a credit may be incorrect, please contact us at [email protected].
