My 2025 Top Movies, Series, Documentaries and all that is watchable... (so far - and in list order)

The rise of Italian fascism through the evil doings of Mussolini (Luca Marinelli absolutely amazing), carried out in a powerful dark comical style, revealing how these monsters treat politics as a game playing with human lives, all for self-serving power and glory under false pretences (similar to what is occurring in the US)… (SBS on-demand / SKY)

A special treat for those who love movies of all kind, with Seth Rogen (best role in a long time) as Matt, the new head of a major studio who finds inner-conflict with making commercial viable films for financial success and passion for the cinema as an art-form. The end result is hilarious if you get the film references, and pure enjoyment with the surprise cameos (with even Scorsese hamming it up), and start handing out those accolades to Catherine O'Hara — and rest of cast… (Apple+)

Explosive first episode that rattles the senses in one long intense shot, that carries on in the remainder of the three episodes, exploring the ramifications of a teenage killer, and how as a society we have come to this (with a little help from social media). More frightening is the attitude to women, and this from a thirteen-year-old boy, where references are made about that self proclaimed misogynistic influencer. Director, Philip Barantini, works his magic as he did in Boiling Point (2021), along with writers, Stephen Graham (who also gives a powerhouse performance) and Jack Thorne, who seems to have his finger in every current successful UK Netflix project...(Netflix)

Supreme documentary on that disastrous war, where there is no waffling expert or academic, but instead personal heartfelt stories from those who fought in the battles (even ex-Vietcongs have a say), nurses who could not keep up with the demand of injured soldiers, and loved ones affected by the tragedies, all backed by amazing news footage… (Apple+)

Would not expect anything less from Conan and gang as they really up the ante in the absurdity sphere at the last hurrah in the Kennedy Centre as the dreadful orange man will eventually take control of freedom. Plus the ending speech by Conan is masterful (and I can see him running for president)… (NETFLIX)

An inspirational and candid documentary for any aspiring actors and filmmakers, revealing how challenging it was for black actors and talent to succeed in a prominent white-led film industry, with great stories of defying adversary and career advice to live by… (Apple+)

Season 3. Mike White really knows how to effectively infuse a country’s culture into storylines with such subtlety, and all in a masterful visual sense, telling the tale of new holidaying guests on a Thailand island, who have issues and hang-ups that draw you in to our modern day problems of life, revealing dark undertones a layer at a time… (MAX)

Second World War film footage hidden in the British museum vaults and unearthed by Sam Mendes and team, putting together the perspectives of two soldiers responsible for the filming, and their horrendous ordeal when discovering a concentration camp. It is hard viewing, but a reminder of what occurs when monsters are in control… (SBS on-demand)

The horrendous 1988 plane crash disaster from Jim Swire’s point of view (respectable performance from Firth), a parent who lost a daughter on that flight, and for over twenty years Jim just kept seeking justice that got buried by the powers-that-be to suit their own agenda. A tightly structured mini-series that will have you binge-watching in one seating. And it only took five episodes to tell this riveting true story (depending on your political point of view), instead of the standard 6 to 10 episodes of stretching a story with useless meandering to other characters, instead focusing on the commitment of one father wanting answers in honour of his daughter… (Binge/Sky)

Season 3. This reality series is refreshing during time of political uncertainty in a restless world, as well as our televisions set alight with hard-hitting topics to take on the many challengers of life. So it is a real joy to watch these honest and humble characters in search for true love, instead of the horrid narcissists attempting to infiltrate our vision via news media or those other nasty reality TV shows… (Netflix)

Season 2. EP 1: It is five years later and the duo find themselves back in the safety fortress of Jackson, Wyoming. But Ellie Williams has grown with an attitude, and is rather pissed off with Joel Miller, who has some issues to deal with, as the story takes an interesting turn with the fungal weed creatures evolving with some intelligence. EP 2: The past has caught up with Joel, and it is vengeance most foul in this shock horror episode, as the barrage of creatures wake from a snow induced slumber and set upon the fortress in the most bloodiest of battles. EP 3: The horrid aftermath, and will the town appease Ellie’s vengeful plan. But there is no stopping Ellie, even with the Seattle Wolf brigade turning out to be a nasty fascist mob…

The casting is spot on, with Mirren and Brosnan as a nasty mob boss couple, the Harrigans, who ignite the screen like dynamite ready to blow away your senses with their evil doings. If that doesn’t put the fear in you, then there is the fixer, Harry Da Souza, played by the cool cold steel talents of, Tom Hardy, also a loving husband and father, who in between carries out the dirty work for the mob family. A small situation gets out of hand, and it is going to get very ugly. So with Guy Ritchie directing the first episode and setting the tone, you know it is going to be a tense bloodbath with anything goes… (Paramount+ / MTV)

First it was the early scenes of stand-up comedy with the outstanding Mrs. Maisel, and now the team of Daniel Palladino and Amy Sherman-Palladino take on the prestige modern ballet world — with humour fully intact. Like Mrs. Maisel, this new series moves at a rapid pace in a world that is renown for stuffy and snobby ballet patrons. In the Sherman/Palladino world, it is a cutthroat industry, made even more delicious with the New York and Paris rivalry, led by characters that are engaging with their wild behaviour and antics. Great to see Luke Kirby brought into the fold after serving the Palladino’s well in Mrs. Maisel. The highlight is Charlotte Gainsbourg, and to top it all of is Simon Callow. Best of all is Lou de Laâge, as the rebel, Cheyenne, adding the sparks that are going to fly in every direction. A sure winner, and pure enjoyment in another brilliant satirical work by those two dudes whose long names I’m too lazy to type up again… (Prime Amazon)

Season 2. Just fascinated how Nathan Fielder‘s mind works, with the first episode dealing in aviation disasters caused by miscommunication in the cockpit, and how he approaches this dilemma. And it does get more riveting with each zany episode… (MAX)

Between Aeysha Carr’s wicked sense of humour, and director Paul Hunter’s zany music clip background, the two creators and writers have got this absolute hilarious series covered. It is a blend between the Coen brothers and Wes Anderson, with David Lynch in the mix, creating what could have been a basic story and embellishing it with magical creative flare. To top it all off is David Oyelowo, playing the main role of Hampton Chambers to near perfection, entertaining us with the wild antics of an ex-con attempting to make it straight in an unforgiving world. Oyelowo is backed by a brilliant cast who play it right, giving this outrageous story an extra edge with the quirky characters and surreal moments… (Apple+)

Engrossing 4-episodes on the wrongfully fatal shooting of an innocent person during the peak of the London bombings in 2005. The drama plays out like a documentary, adhering to the time line of events and mixing in actual news footage of that period. It all ends up a fascinating and frustrating watch on how the powers that be can get away with so much… (Disney+)

Creator, Paul William Davies, has fun with the murder mystery genre, even with the titles of each episode inspired by classic books and movies. It’s a very entertaining hyper mini-series with snappy and bouncy dialogue that also has a political edge when dealing with flustered and pressured White House staff. Uzo Aduba as the main sleuth plays it to perfection, along with rest of cast, hooking you in for a long eight episode binging session of pure enjoyment on murder, Australians, angry chefs, birding and even Hugh Jackman (along with Kylie Minogue!)… (Netflix)

Daunting task in attempting to bring this classic story in a mini-series form, when even the great Visconti struggled slightly in 1963 with the three hour epic backed with an impressive cast. But this lavish production is well handled by all, crafting a well paced story on the crumbling of a Sicilian aristocrat and his family, attempting to adapt to the reunification of Italy and the new ways… (Netflix)

Being a fan of the classic novel by Laura Esquivel, and even the 1992 movie, I gave up hope on this television series, expecting the usual Mexican telenovela. But glad I was wrong, with this version a poetic cinematic work of joy, where food, love, tears, politics, sex — and more food — is the perfect recipe for a magical love story set during the turn of the twentieth century in turbulent Mexico, mixing fantasy with surrealism, along with passion and desire, when young women where subjugated to a harsh tradition… (SBS on-demand / HBO MAX)

Roy sure knows how to make connection with the audience while exploring the disconnected world we live in via everyday situations that we can relate to in this funny and heartfelt stand-up performance… (Disney+ / Hulu)

Master Japanese filmmaker, Hirokazu Koreeda (Monster, Shoplifters, Broker and the wonderful Netflix series, The Makanai) has adapted novelist Kuniko Mukôda‘s classic story set in 1979 into a 7-part mini-series with a quaint cinematic quality and a perfect seventies tone. The story of four sisters who discover their 70-year-old father’s infidelity to their mother (which at the time was quiet an acceptable norm!), is amusing and also has an emotional depth that draws you in to each sister’s plight. The married sister has to deal with her own husband’s infidelity, while the widowed sister is a mistress, the waitress sister attempts to support the boxer boyfriend, and the conservative librarian sister discovers love for the first time. But when they all get together, it is a joy to watch their convincing banter and silly squabbles, making the sisterly relationship so convincing and adoring in among the family melodrama that unfolds… (Netflix)

Creator R. Scott Gemmill knows his way around the medical field via the classic series, E.R. Now gloves are off for The Pitt, showing warts and all in this adrenaline pumped hospital series where each episode is an hour of the day shift in an emergency ward. Within two hours (in 2 episodes) there is so much that happens, that it even makes the viewer overanxious! To top it all off, there are flashes to the pandemic chaos in the emergency ward, where even that is enough to trigger anybody with PTSD from that period. An intense series that reveals what the poor staff go through each hour of what seems to be an eternity in damnation. Glad it is a weekly screening, because I sure need that break, and I’m only watching this from the comfort of my armchair… (Foxtel/HBO MAX)

The politics of the Wild West was brutal and void of any humility. Only the strong survived the brutality, as shown in this unflinching western of a mother and son on the run from bounty hunters. They soon find themselves in the middle of a bloody massacre, and the situation does not improve as they seek refuge from the madness that the new America has in store for them. Superb screenplay from Mark L. Smith (The Revenant), who manages to interweave three strong stories based around the massacre, that explains plenty about how this tainted history has affected the current state of madness. And having only one director in the greatness of Peter Berg keeps the tone and structure of the series intact… (Netflix)

Director, Justin Kurzel, and writer, Shaun Grant, team up for another gritty project that is right up their alley. This time taking on Richard Flanagan‘s 2013 award winning novel, focusing mainly on Dorrigo Evans‘ ordeal as a prisoner of war, and intercutting with his pre-war affair to the uncle’s new wife, and the aftermath of later-life. Kurzel and Grant have an understanding of each other and work to their strengths in delivering a somber and thought provoking Australian drama that sometimes is hard to sit through, but I guess that was their intention… (Prime Amazon)

I laughed so hard as this reminded me of my upbringing in an immigrant family attempting to assimilate in a new country, but only making it worse as we could not shake off what the local folks called "strange culture behaviour" (Sicilians associated with those gangsters. So you could say that after the release of The Godfather, our lives was never the same as we had to live up to the hype). But this animation series has an edge as it deals with Muslims living in New York on the aftermath of 9/11. To top it all off, it is blessed with the comedic talents of Ramy Youssef, as writer and the voice of the young Rumi Hussein, trying so hard to just be a normal kid, but met with racial intolerance and other obstacles associated with the horrors of pubescence. A fresh perspective on growing up in a hostile environment with a zany family making it even more complicated for poor Rumi... (Prime Amazon)