Words: Chris Arnsby
Simon
Mayo: “Hello. Welcome to the Pops. If you're sitting at home wondering as to
what the Christmas Number One might be, well study the form over the next half
hour. We have for you performing tonight Chris Isaak, we have Black Box, and we
also have INXS appearing later. First of all, at thirty four, with his thirty
fourth hit, Shaky is back.”
Its time for Mooshy Fox...
One of a raft festive films that pop up on streaming
platforms each year, Jingle Bell Heist is better than most offering
something slightly different from the Crimbo romcom. The title may suggest some
kind of elaborate seasonal operation yet the reality is a small film with just
enough warmth and surprises to keep you interested. Plus it’s a film whose second
half is better than it’s first.
Tis the season to be bloody...
A knowing cross between Home Alone and Die Hard,
this movie manages to have its Christmas cake and eat it. As the title suggests
it is as violent as possible yet it also manages to sneak in a soupcon of
seasonal magic at the same time. Played by David Harbour, this Santa drinks too
much, is bitterly resentful at the way Xmas has turned yet still lights up when
he sees a child’s delight opening presents. In relation to the recent online
debate as to whether Die Hard is a Christmas movie, I can state that Violent
Night (a title that made me laugh when I first heard it) most definitely is
a Christmas movie only maybe for people who don’t enjoy the season as much.
Words: Chris Arnsby
Mark
Goodier: “Good evening if you're watching on BBC1 or if you're listening on
Radio 1 in FM stereo. It's the weekly hit countdown. Top of the Pops. Tonight
we may well see the song which is the Christmas Number One, so stay tuned. And
we start with a song by a band who have been in the top forty twice in the last
three months, Twenty Four Seven.”
Rod
Litherland has taken over Lighting this week and he's using all the colours
that Chris Kempton hates, green and yellow mainly. The lighting of the Triangle
stage looks very much like how the the Film Strip stage was lit last week for
Run-DMC and their prerecorded performance of What's It All About.
Words: Chris Arnsby
Nicky
Campbell: “Good evening. John Major, or no John Major, as music shows go this
is the nation's premier. Top. Of. The. Pops. Remember if you make it to number
ten here, it's good but it could be better. Here are the Dream Warriors, their
definition of a boombastic jazz style.”
Deleted
several lines of abuse directed at Nicky Campbell.
The
Dream Warriors are rapping live on the Main Stage. It's impressive and they do
some good crowd work. I still don't much like them. Sorry about that.
Those familiar with the
Wicked musical will know that the second half is the flipside of the
peppy first act navigating the story towards darker places while lacking in
show stopping songs. This sequel follows suit doubling down on the grimmer side
of this tale while weaving in familiar Wizard of Oz iconography in what
can sometimes prove an awkward storytelling choice. Nonetheless what it does
have are the always impressive performances of Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo to
lift it higher.
Words: Chris Arnsby
In 2007 Tom Basden and Tim Key wrote and starred in a short film called The
One and Only Herb McGuyer plays Wallis Island directed by James Griffiths in which a reclusive lottery
winner Charles Heath pays folk singer Herby McGuyer half a million pounds to
play a gig at his remote island home. Eighteen years later the concept has been adapted by the same team into a full length film with the additional storyline
in which Herb had been part of a duo who had split personally and
professionally. Both are invited to the island without knowing the other will
be present opening up their shared past and present situations. The film is a
delight, a whimsical time spend on a mostly wet, windy island that nonetheless
will warm your heart.
