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BOX SETS AND ON DEMAND
Biggie: I Got a Story to Tell (Netflix, from Mon)
It’s almost 24 years since Christopher George Latore Wallace, aka the Notorious BIG or Biggie Smalls, was murdered in a drive-by shooting in Los Angeles. He was just 24 years old, but had already been hailed as the greatest rapper of all time, despite the often controversial nature of his lyrics. This documentary, a collaboration between Sean Combs and Biggie’s mother, Violetta Wallace, offers an in-depth look at his life and career, charting his rapid rise to success before being cut down so cruelly in his prime.
Moxie (Netflix, from Wed)
Parks and Recreation star Amy Poehler directs and co-produces this comedydrama. She also has a supporting role, but it’s Hadley Robinson who plays the central character, Vivian, a seemingly shy 16-year-old who prefers to keep herself to herself. However, that all changes with the arrival of Lucy, a new student who shakes things up. Suddenly Vivian realises she’s tired of the ridiculous behaviour of her classmates, so begins anonymously criticising them in an underground magazine. Suddenly she’s at the centre of a highschool revolution, helping her form new bonds and friendships that help them all navigate the pitfalls of teenage life.
Years and Years (StarzPlay, from Mon)
Russell T Davies is riding high at the moment with his most recent drama, It’s a
Sin. But that shouldn’t come as a surprise – Davies’ projects have always provided plenty of talking points, from Queer as Folk to Doctor Who. Years and Years, which hit our screens in 2019 was a bit of a slow burner, but gained further plaudits for Davies. Now there’s another chance to see it. For those who missed the series the first time around, it’s a six-part insight into the lives of the Lyons family; we get to see how a
variety of issues in the near future impact on each member.
Back to the 90s Collection (BritBox, Thu)
For those of us who remember the decade well, it probably seems unimaginable that it’s now more than 30 years since the 1990s dawned. We were all a lot younger then, but were the programmes available for us to watch any better? To answer that question, make sure you stream this new boxset, which contains some key classics from the era. Among the highlights are all six seasons of the delicious newsroom comedy Drop the Dead Donkey, Alan Bleasdale’s wonderful drama GBH, which stars Robert Lindsay and Michael Palin, Hamish Macbeth, which turned Robert Carlyle above into a star, and episodes from children’s TV adventure Jungle Run, Nightmare and the original run of The Crystal Maze.
Amsterdam Vice (Walter Presents/All 4, from Fri)
Police officer-turned-author AC Baantjer is one of the Netherlands’ most successful crime novelists; his series focusing on Inspector De Cock and his sidekick Sergeant Vledder continues to be hugely popular 11 years after its creator’s death. This new eight-part series is a prequel to the novels and is set in the titular Dutch city during the 1980s. The central character is Detective Judd Cox. He and his new partner Montijn’s first case involves a murder, but their investigation leads them to something far more incredible.
FROM Malcom In The Middle to Breaking Bad, Bryan Cranston has proved he is one of TV’s most versatile actors.
And the latest addition to the Los Angeles-born actor’s CV is a 10-part legal thriller. Your Honour – based on the Israeli show Kvodo – sees inimitable Cranston, 64, play Michael Desiato, a respected New Orleans judge whose teenage son, Adam (Hunter Doohan), is involved in a hit-and-run.
Impulsive decisions are made, leading to a highstakes game of lies, deceit, and impossible choices.
Yep – prepare to find it an addictive watch.
Here, Cranston discusses playing flawed characters, injuries during filming, and why we could see him singing in the future.
MICHAEL DESIATO IS SOMEONE WHO GOES AGAINST THE LAW – A BIT LIKE WALTER WHITE IN BREAKING BAD?
There are similarities. You have to find that distinction between them. Walter White was very methodical in his journey, what he was plotting out to do; Michael Desiato in Your Honour is impulsive. He has to make an immediate decision on what is going to save his son’s life, and then has to suffer the repercussions from that decision. So, there are differences, and I hope the audience sees that, and hopefully forget about Walter White and watch Your Honour with an open mind – and be entertained.
HOW DID YOU PREPARE FOR PLAYING A JUDGE?
Well, the first thing I did was go to New Orleans where the story takes place, and go to the courthouse. I watched a bunch of different trials in various stages and observed the judges and how they handle themselves. Some are very “masters of their universe” kind of thing, and they take control. Others like to be in the background.
From the script, and from experiencing the trials for two weeks and different
judges, I started to pick and choose what elements and personality fit best for the story. I think Michael, he’s one to sit back and allow the jury and the lawyers to take control of a trial.
WHEN IT COMES TO CAREER CHOICES, IS THERE A GENRE THAT SCARES YOU?
Musical theatre is something that I’m not comfortable with; I wouldn’t call myself a singer. And therefore, I probably will do it at some point in the future. There are things in life that scare you that you should not do, naturally; you worry about your mental health or your physical wellbeing. And then there are things that scare you that you should still do.
As a performer, I don’t want to look at something and go, ‘No, no, I only do this’. I think it’s very courageous for adults to allow themselves to be a beginner at anything.
WHAT WAS THE MOST CHALLENGING PART?
It was actually the running. When I was younger, I used to run marathons and I was so looking forward to getting into that mindset of being a runner again, but then I got injured. I had to have epidural shots in my spine two different times in order to just have a slipped disc not give me sciatica, and it was troubling.
And then I strained my hamstring muscle in one of the scenes and that put me back a couple of weeks. Your Honour, Sky Atlantic and NOW TV on Tuesday.