mak_600

Top of the pile crime drama set in Scotland - sharp, gritty, bleak but interspersed with humour too, thrown into the mix at unlikely spots, the ever watchable Matthew Goode plays the loose cannon detective on a mission - from the basement! - hellbent on havoc 90% of the time, his excellent side kicks aiding - and at times abetting - as required. Goode is the kind of actor who draws you in regardless of the material but here he is admirably assisted by a great cast and with a well written and devised stylish police "join the dots - who is it/whodunnit" thriller. A slow burn but a must watch, let's hope they go to a second series because it sure deserves to.

Decent enough Harlan Coben thriller drama set in Manchester and surrounding countryside with a well known and familiar cast, weaving intertwined plot themes, it's well paced and improbable fun, entertaining enough to keep you glued in but definitely a bit far fetched in places - some excellent names in there and well acted but gritty believable realism it ain't. Perhaps that's not the point anyway and if you can turn a blind eye to the very visible plot holes and rather unlikely criminal and police prodecural situations then it's width one's time. But it's a fast food style criminal thriller - enjoyable but ultimately unsatisfying, not a gourmet offering you might be hoping for.

A film about salvation, redemption, second chances and the power of friendships and teamwork based around the real life event that is the Homeless World Cup football tournament - starring Bill Nighy as the England team coach responsible for his team of average players - and one star player - as they travel to Rome to take part in the aforementioned. It's a charming tale the like of which we've seen a thousand times before, but should never tire of regardless - competently acted, scripted, filmed and put together, it does enough to warm the heart and make us remember in this all too often cynical world the one thing that drives us all to keep going is our hopes and dreams...