Best Episodes - From the TFR editors

Annette Review By Luke Bradley

From minute one, thanks to an electrically-meta opening musical number (‘So May We Start?’) Annette (Leos Carax, 2021) has you hooked. Whether or not you’re along for the ride becomes clear quickly, but it's nonetheless a testament to the film. Every sequence, every song is charged with a wildly unique blend of emotion, passion, and zaniness. It’s rare to be able to say that a film is unlike any you’ve ever seen before; it’s even rarer for that to be a positive note.

The brainchild of the Mael Brothers - members of the legendary pop group, Sparks – Annette is the love story of Ann (Marion Cotillard) and Henry (Adam Driver). Both are on their own personal journeys and career trajectories as they welcome their child, the eponymous Annette. As with every musical, virtually every word uttered throughout the film is sung, and – considering the two-plus hour runtime – you’d think that you would feel the length. That’s perhaps this film’s greatest achievement: not once during this film did I feel its runtime. The film doesn’t give you a chance, and I mean that in the best possible way. Every aspect of this film is wacky, hilarious, and shocking all at the same time, and I was along for every minute of the ride.

Driver and Cotillard are both exceptionally good, rising to the challenge of brilliantly daft screenplay with mesmerising results. Their relationship serves as the heart and soul of the film, and every mad twist and turn they take is conveyed thrillingly. The film’s editing is equally as erratic, yet once again I was completely in love with it. Director Carax demonstrates an aweinspiring harmony with Sparks’ writing. Annette exemplifies the definition of a ‘winning formula’, and one that definitely just shouldn’t work. If you’re familiar with Sparks (I wasn’t until I watched Edgar Wright’s fantastic The Sparks Brothers documentary, also in cinemas now), then you’ll know their style of music: energetic, snappy, and unapologetically eccentric. One wouldn’t think they’d be an appropriate pair to write the music for a satire filled with operatic love songs, but it just works.

This is undoubtedly a polarising film - fiercely mixed reactions emerged from its premiere at Cannes in July (where Carax won Best Director). Not everyone reading this review will like the film – in fact, I’d wager some of you will hate it. It really is love or hate. It asks huge leaps from the viewer, and spends no time holding your hand as it tears through its bonkers narrative at breakneck pace. But I wouldn’t have the film any other way.

You haven’t seen a film like it, and you probably never will again – that’s an intimidating notion. If you don’t take to its style and story right out the gate, then you’re in for a rough time. But if you go in ready for a wild ride – and this film is so, so wild – then you’ll have a blast. If, like me, you’re playing the original soundtrack on repeat afterwards, then the film has undoubtedly done its job.

Best Episodes

Our editors take their pick on what are some of the best episodes of television today…

Mia’s Picks

It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia: ‘McPoyle vs. Ponderosa: The Trial of The Century’

Bird law, Guillermo Del Toro, perfectly normal sized human hands and enough unibrows to rival Frida Khalo, ‘McPoyle vs Ponderosa’ is It’s Always Sunny at its absolute best.

Chernobyl: ‘Vichnaya Pamyat’

Roughly translating to ‘memory eternal’, the finale of the limited series is a masterful tribute to the lives lost in the Chernobyl disaster and all those who tried to prevent such a tragedy ever happening again. With powerhouse performances from Jared Harris, Emily Watson and Stellan Skarsgård, ‘Vichnaya Pamyat’ is a lesson in showstopping finales.

Seamus’s Picks

Vikings: ‘The Lord’s Prayer’

Vikings follows the life and exploits of Ragnar Lothbrook, a semi-legendary 8th century Scandinavian ruler. ‘The Lord’s Prayer’ is Vikings at its best - a House of Cards-esque finale to season two complete with the gritty action and etherial quality which will keep you coming back to this excellent series.

The Office(US): ‘Dwight’s Speech’

There are many supporters and detractors of The Office(US). As a shameless office acolyte, I can point to this episode as an example of both superb writing and execution in this much discussed American program. It accomplishes something close to sitcom perfection within the 22 minutes of its economically trimmed run time.

Luke’s Picks

The West Wing: ‘Two Cathedrals’

The perfect blending of high-stakes politics and heart-wrenching character drama. Featuring perhaps Martin Sheen’s greatest piece of acting, it’s a textbook example in leaving the viewer entirely fulfilled by a cliffhanger season finale.

Brooklyn Nine-Nine: ‘The Box’

A bottle episode that gives Breaking Bad’s ‘The Fly’ a run for its money, this is Brooklyn Nine-Nine boiled down to its absolute best: Jake and Holt’s dynamic, both as detectives and as ‘father/son’ figures to each other. Featuring a stellar Sterling K. Brown performance, this episode is as funny as it is thrilling - and it’s the show’s finest hour.

Katie’s Picks

Mad Men: ‘The Suitcase’

‘The Suitcase’ is all the best parts of Mad Men distilled into 40 minutes. Featuring one of the show’s best lines. Led by phenomenal performances by Jon Hamm and Elisabeth Moss, ‘The Suitcase’ is a perfect balance of humour and emotion. Mad Men is about flawed people trying to make connections, and in this episode we watch it in real time.

Patrick Melrose: ‘Bad News’

Patrick Melrose starts with a bang in this electric pilot. Set over the course of roughly 24 hours in New York, ‘Bad News’ establishes all the characters and themes of the show perfectly while also being laugh out loud funny.

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